sadinplaid's Friends

Still unseasonably cold today. High is not expected to reach 50. But, the sun is out, so they might just be wrong.

Lots to do today, so will burn some of those Vigorous and Multiple Household Chore calories. That's one of my favorite CC exercises!

The fun part of the day has not yet been set, so as I am optimistic that there will be plenty, I will not plan to c**k dinner.

Egg and muffin sandwich today for breakfast, only this time I sprinkled on about two teaspoons of grated sharp cheddar to be toasted on the muffin.  It was the right amount to give it the extra flavor without getting ridiculous with the cheese cals. In the days of yore I'd have broken up an entire slice and layered the entire thing on the bun so that it oozed out whilst eating because the cheese was all I considered. That does not seem so appealing anymore because too much cheese competes with the wonderful flavors of the egg and muffin.

Cheese was always one of my least mindful over indulged high fat/cal items. It is not anymore. I do not feel cheese deprived. I am not restricting, I am just mindfully considering all the flavors in the meal and use the right amount for whatever I'm eating at the time. Very satisfying way to eat.

Have done likewise with the chocolate monster. I keep dark chocolate covered almonds, pistachios, and blueberries in the house on a regular basis - we all love them. However, instead of filling a little bowl and munching away or making frequent trips for refills, I select about 6 - 8 pieces and savor each wonderful nugget. I do not restrict myself to that amount, it's just what seems the right amount to enjoy. Very satisfying.

I took a look at my own relationship with food this morning. When I began at CC I had some woe is meisms in my journals. Sometimes it was exaggerated for humorous effect, but there was a kernel of truth to the feelings written. Very happy to see the evolution of thinking that had me walking down the path to mindfulness.

Mindful works. You can enjoy food - all food. You can enjoy eating out. You can enjoy c**king (if that is your thing). You can enjoy holidays. You can enjoy gatherings of family and friends. You can be happy. You can do all this and lose weight.

So this is something I posted in the Pregnancy and Parenting Forum, but I wanted opinions, so I am writing it again.

I am thrilled to bits to be having a baby girl, but I am also secretly a little disappointed, I think. I have rather troubled thoughts sometimes about having a girl. I know its silly, but all mothers and daughters seem to have a love-hate relationship. I love my mom  very dearly, I talk to her overseas at least three times a week, I am protective of her, and I owe everything I am proud of in myself to her- but I am also so intensely aware and critical of her flaws it scares me! I am so impatient with her sometimes.

I sometimes wish it had been a boy because I know boys and their mammas have an incredibly special relationship. My mom and my brother have a much less complicated relationship than her and me!

On the other hand, I always wanted a little girl, so I am very happy! Daughters love their moms too. And I grew up without a father, so to know that my daugher will have the most wonderful daddy in the world makes me want to cry sometimes....

Are these thoughts strange? Anyone have such conflicting emotions?

will i ever get a bust? they are like 2 fried eggs :(

Today I woke up and said "I've got so much to do today. I think I'll skip the workout. Besides, I'm tired and stiff and kinda blah feeling. I'll just hit the gym at the hotel tomorrow evening." well, we KNOW that won't happen after travelling all day - and I HATE working out in the evening.

So I got dressed and ate breaky (All Bran Medley and 1c skim milk). Put some laundry on, did a few dishes, scooped the cat box and then forced myself out to the garage to get on the elliptical. Last year I made up a list of songs on my mp3 player that starts off slow, then faster, then a bit slower, then even faster, and on and on until 45 minutes are up. I usually burn about 500 cals doing that workout. I did it today and felt pretty good.

When I got back int the house I felt energized! I had a bunch of water and then decided I would test out a music list I made on the weekend for running. All the songs are paced so that they match 5.5 mph on the treadmill and the list is 34min and 45 seconds long. I wondered how far that would take me...so I headed to the spare room and the treadmill. I did a few minutes at 4 mph to warm up and then started my play list. 33.5 minutes later I hit 3.12 miles - 5K!! And I NEVER FELL DOWN! I even finished the entire playlist for a total of 3.17 miles non-stop! HOLY CRAP! I am toally amazed by me! I really am!

So, next time that lazy thing in your head tells you you're too tired to workout, get up and get dressed. Give that thing a kick in the a**, tell it you believe in yourself and get out there and do it! You can do it - you just have to get started. Nothing great was ever achieved by lying in bed!  Get motivated and do it!!!

"People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily." Zig Ziglar

Memorandum

To: MDOT
From: Pavlovkitteh
Re: Your extreme suckage

Last night marked the first snow of winter here in West Michigan.  Big, fat flakes of pristine white were drifting down from the sky last night as I drove home.  The naked branches of late fall became draped in their winter finery.  It was a beautiful start to the season.

You know what is not beautiful?  The *@$&)#% roads!  That's what's not beautiful.  It's the first snowfall of the year.  Are you out of money already?  Are you using an army of homeless people armed with salt shakers to de-ice the roads and it's taking them time to find their rhythm or something?  What is wrong with you people?!

The article that appeared in the news yesterday detailed how prepared you were.  Was this actually referring to the fact that all your employees had lubed up their Toro's at home?

I resent the hell out of all of you.

Sincerely,

Pavlovkitteh

In Houston. A record setting day. I did not move far enough south.

*Whines* We just had snow five years ago!!!!!! Not again!!!!!!!!

Well my weight has not been stable for some time now and I was thinking about joining weight watchers. I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with this org. and can give me your opinion.  Does it work, or is it just as good as just plain ole counting calories.  Truth is I need a little motovation, and thought that being around people with the same goals as me and actually weighing in front of a person would keep me in line and make me do better.  I know WW goes by a point system but what do those points mean?  Anyone know?

   Good day...though, a tad of a relapse, energy wise, I sunk again..also haven't slept right in several nights.. for last week have had so many hotflashes (not the Jann kind- much less invasive) that I couldn't tell between that and the fever...

    But when I get one I just sing, "I'm having a hot flash, a tropical hot flash, the temperture's rising and ain't it surprisin' I'm havin a hot flash"... so the boys know and they do back up sounds a la Tropicana, circa 1949....so all in all it isn't so bad...

    Did pretty much nothing today... got up, did yoga x... felt happy to get through that... set up tree with GG and last night HWonder did indoor led lights over and around my happily sprouting up narcissus garden ....it is so beautiful.... the first narcissus bloomed today... from now through the new year it will grow and grow... and fill the house with heavenly fragrance...

    After laundry and dishes and such, including, oklay... yes, I DID DECORATE.. but I took my time.. at anyr ate.. I collapsed into bed at 3:00 and slept for an hour... felt great...

   Rob made a fabulous dinner.. scallops wrapped with bacon (but I only had a taste for a slice..) with newly harvested meyer lemon juice... pan seared.. side of fabulous greens, and about a 1/3 cup of lovely egg noodles.. divine dinner...

   Lunch was a chicken parm sandwich.. also good.. breakfast was a greek yogurt with the leftover baked appple from last nights dinner and protein powder... I haven't been able to eat five or six times a day... I just cannot get the timing right.. so although that is a goal of mine.. I am taking it one day at a time.. today was well within my 1400 and below marker for cals.. and a nice workout deficit.. so I am happy (also had 2 no sugar hot cocoas)

  Tried to get the boys to go see the Ninja Assasin film they want to see (and I don't) 'cause I am no good to decorate tonight any more... and all I want to do is be in the quiet and watch a Harry Potter movie... so I am doing that now... but I cannot get my homebody boys out of the house... Golden Son the Willmeister is down there playing his heart out...

   98 percent of the time I am fascinated, delighted and overjoyed at his playing.. tonight is a 2 percent time.. probably because we have been together ALL DAY for TWO DAYS...nearly three.. which , again, I love his ideas, talking and joking, its heavenly... but not when I am tired..I get annoyed too easily... OMG.. he's got giant drum sounds going now... he's in a real drumming period...

  So... I go to Harry Potter world.. a place I utterly enjoy... (and plan to be one of the first to visit when it opens in Orlando...I may even try to work there... can you imagine me as a Witch...happy happy times)

    Anyway, dear journal, thanks for getting me to write and be accountable for my food, health, activities and exercise all so important in this next phase of my work here at CC....

Had a fun breakfast this morning. I toasted a whole wheat English muffin and while that was toasting I sprayed pam in a cereal bowl and put an egg in it, gave it a swish, and nuked it for less than one minute - put it together and ate it like a sandwich. Fast easy to eat breakfast.

I am all alone in the orifice today. This is good because I had to get down and dirty with Numbers. Numbers are not my friend. We frequently engage in mortal combat - I always win, but the Dratted Numbers put up efforts that are unbelievably fierce. Today, they were chastened by the silence and I had them all lined up in no time. When you have a hotel bill of $20k for two days of seminar meetings, there's a lot of numbers to whip into submission. There's always numbers that do not belong in the group - so I have to play One of These Numbers is Not Like the Other quite a bit. Routed out those sneaky devils fast this morning.

Took myself out to lunch today at a Mexican place around the corner. Had Tacos al Carbon, way good, paid attention to quantity and think I've got a reasonably accurate number in the log.

Was finally able to take Beowulf (Seamus Heaney ed) along for lunch as the Walking Buddy is still on vacation. I keep meaning to read the thing at lunches and etc. The last time I started it I only got to the part where his ship arrives. Today, I only got to where he requested an interview with Hrogarth (as the tacos demand two hands). I love the book and decided it will stay at work no more so it is sitting under my purse and will go home with me today.

Dinner, TBA

Yesterday I woke up to snow on the ground and today it's record-breaking December temperatures with pouring rain! I think I am going to need a wet suit...or to grow gills or something. I'm sick of this weather!

BUT I do love my treadmill when this weather hits. I've always been leery of walking when it is slippery as I go fast and can slip really easily. No worries about that! I don't even have to put on warm clothes! It's great! 

Have been pretty consistant about food and exercise this week...except for the pizza on Tuesday night and some apple crisp last night (still warm from the oven). As you know, I'm just not that stressed out about the scales anymore. I ate the pizza (two pieces as well as some garlic fingers) and enjoyed it! Wednesday I did 57 minutes on the elliptical and ran 3 miles on the treadmill (took 34 minutes) and then walked 2 miles (30 mins) at 4 mph to stretch things out. No pain today! So I was back on the elliptical today for 45 mins and then an hour-long walk on the treadmill - 4.2 miles! I feel fine and am surprised that I don't have any pain in my knees. Guess I am not overdoing it!

Just two more sleeps until my trip. Hopefully things will warm up down there - today it's the same temperature in Miami as it is here in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Crazy! At least it looks nice off Mexico for next week: 30C (86F)and sunny! I can't wait for that warm sun...Yeesh - What will I do when winter officially starts? We usually vacation in February to break up the winter...but this was a good deal...and then I will come home and f-r-e-e-z-e my butt off! AHHHHHH