A Season for Everything

I’m just back from the gym. Sorry. Stand down wind….or is it up wind? Anyway, I thought I’d mention it. ‘Cause I’m so darn proud of myself! I am sticking with this Curves thing if it kills me. It isn’t like I’ve lost weight yet or shrunk a size, but I do feel more energetic and if nothing else, I can tell the difference in my legs.

I bought the book on the Curves program last Friday and have been reading it when I can. The diet plan outlined in it sounds pretty sensible to me, provided the “facts” in it aren’t just a bunch of hooey. How is a person supposed to know who knows what they are talking about these days? According to the book, the Curves gyms are supposed to teach the food plan along with the exercise program. I asked this morning. The one I belong to doesn’t. In fact, none of the ones owned by the same people teach the food plan. The manager at my gym pretty much trashed the plan. Well, poo on them all. I’m going to give it a go. Goodbye, my sweet, precious carbs.

That said, I’m hungry. Hey, when you get up at 4:00 a.m., 10:30 or so feels like lunchtime.

The hubster and I are planning ahead. A conversation last night led to a plan. A plan to celebrate our 25th anniversary (2009) in either Mexico or somewhere in the Caribbean. I’m too excited just thinking about it. I’ve never been out of the country. Canada doesn’t really count. It’s more incentive to stick with Curves, too. No way am I going to the islands fat.

Bought myself one of those keychain digital cameras yesterday at Wally World. It’s pink. How sporty. I thought I’d keep it handy to snap pictures of interesting things. And I will. Just as soon as I figure out how to use it.

Puppies make me tired. And I think they may be completely made of poop and pee…judging by the number of messes I clean up every day. And when, oh when, are those razor sharp baby teeth going to fall out? He is chewing EVERYTHING!! That includes us. Megan looks like she fought with barbed wire and lost.

The elderly should have to retest for their drivers’ license every year or two to prove they are road-worthy.

Now that the weather’s nice, Tim’s drooling over these again.

I wish we could manage it, but I think it’s going to have to wait a year or two. Too bad with gas at $2.95.

Ryan Seacrest should be shot. That whole thing at the end of American Idol last night with Ace and Chris standing there. OMG! Megan and I about had a stroke thinking America would actually boot Chris and keep Ace. Thank God the viewers finally voted Ace off of American Idol. I don’t think he’s cute. I don’t think he’s talented. He should have been gone a long time ago. I still think Chris is the best performer on the show. Totally consistant. Kelly’s going to be a star no matter where she finishes up just because she’s such a personality. Kind of like Dolly without the boobs. Taylor will end up okay win or lose because of his huge fan base. Catherine? I don’t know. I guess she’s technically pretty good. I just don’t like her. Paris is cute, but I don’t see her winning. Elliot is terrifically talented and a real sweetheart. I just don’t think he has the “it” factor Simon is always talking about. And let’s face it. Idol is nothing but a popularity contest in the end.

I just got back from Curves and I’m feeling pretty good (and more than a little proud of myself). I’m doing something for me that in the long run is going to be good for the people around me, too. It was my first time back since I tried the place out last week and joined. So, it was also the day to get weighed (ugh!) and measured (ugh! ugh!). I’m not telling anybody those numbers. They will go to the grave with me. You don’t have to get weighed or measured, it’s a personal choice. I did it so I can (hopefully) see my progress when I have it redone every month. The only thing that takes a bit of shine off the moment is grunting along on some machine with all the grace of an elephant doing the tango and realizing that all the little old ladies are doing the same routine as you, but they’re doing it faster and more energetically and they aren’t even sweating a little bit. I got through by thinking of my mommy dearest. She, who thinks that being overweight is the worst fate there is, she who thinks fat people are the scum of the earth, she who lets me know in a million hurtful ways how disappointing and embarassing my size is to her…..she could not do the whole workout. Of that I am certain. She may be thin, but she is as toned as a pile of mashed potatoes. I’ve got that on her and my goal is to be thin and toned so I can one day run victory laps around her. Revenge will be mine! BWHAAAAA-HAAAAA!

Okay, so probably nothing I have ever done or can/will ever do is gonna make me look like Jessica Simpson. She’s just way too young, way too enhanced and let’s face it, she was blessed with better genes to begin with….and I’m not talking about her Daisy Dukes. But that’s no reason to give up hope, right? Right! I can’t be Jessica Simpson but I can be a leaner, lighter, healthier me. So, applause, applause….I joined Curves today and got my backside moving. It was fun! The program keeps you moving from one piece of equipment to the next every 30 seconds so you don’t have time to get bored with any of the machines. That’s a good thing for me. A very good thing.

Bought myself a Magnavox jogproof (not that I need that feature) portable CD player with MP3 playback. It’s a sweet little toy.

If I’m going to get serious about the exercise portion of my “lifestyle change,” then I’ve got to do something to get myself motivated about moving. Studies show that people who exercise to music are more likely to stick with it, push harder and be more successful. I like hard-driving music with a beat that reaches down, pulls you up off your butt and makes you want to move. I figure blaring that into my ears will (aside from permanently impairing my hearing) keep me moving and be more fun than actually having someone walking along behind me kicking my butt with each step. Maybe I’ll just get so darn fired up I will need that jogproof feature after all. Nah….even when I was an athlete playing basketball and softball and was in excellent condition, I loathed jogging, running, suicide drills, and the like.

I may still reward myself with an MP3 player if when I hit my April 1 weight loss goal, but I’m actually thinking maybe I’ll give myself a digital camera instead. We’re spending a week on the beach in Chincoteague, VA this summer and maybe I’ll actually want to be in some of the pictures. Or maybe I’ll get myself a tatoo (yes, it’s something I’d really consider).

Technically, that Slim-Fast shake I had at 5:00A.M. (along with the handful of vitamins and herbals I take every morning) was breakfast, but by the time I get home from work in the morning at 9:30, I am starving. So, I fix something. Usually a full meal and eat by 10:00. I don’t eat again until supper so I count my 10:00 meals as lunch even though it’s still morning.

Anyway, I had a small pizza today. What?! I can see your heads shaking in disappointment. Aren’t I shelling out money to Weight Watchers every week to get my butt kicked learn how to change my lifestyle? What am I thinking? Well, neener-neener-neener to you! It was a Weight Watchers pizza and I only added a tiny little bit of extra cheese seasoned with sun-dried tomatoes and basil for flavor. Still, can you tell I’m probably not going to WW tonight? This past weekend with all our running around, company and the Super Bowl party, was not kind to the diet. I don’t want to go and get that “look” when I get weighed in and they find I’ve gained back 2 lbs. It isn’t what WW advises. They say never, ever skip meetings…except possibly for your own funeral or the end of the world, but even then, if you can possibly make it… I’d rather get my rear back in high gear and diet and exercise my butt off (literally, please) for the next week and go back looking successful.

Woooohooo! Go me!

I missed my Weight Watchers meeting last week because of the crappy weather and I haven’t been as good as I could have been (darn playoff parties), so I really wasn’t expecting to do that well. To be perfectly honest, I was expecting to hear that I’d gained a pound or two. But every once in a while the clouds part, the sun shines and God smiles on you me. I lost another 1.2 pounds! That makes 7.8 so far. Just another 14 will get me to the goal I set for April 1. If I make it, I’m going to reward myself with an MP3 player.

As a Weight Watcher, I suck. I’m not following either the Core or Flex plan at all. I don’t admit that to my leader at the weekly meetings. I don’t see the need to when I’m losing weight. 6.6 pounds in two weeks, thank you very much!

So, what am I doing? I’m trying to avoid processed foods as much as I can, which is sort of the Core plan but I’m not eliminating them totally. I switched to diet pop, which I hate (I really miss Pepsi), but diet cherry vanilla Dr. Pepper and black cherry vanilla diet Coke are less gross than most and I still get caffeine….though I’m trying to cut back on that, too. I’m eating more fruits and veggies and only whole wheat breads and pastas. Oh, the rice must be brown. More water. Smaller portions. Less snacking. Since the weather has been unnaturally nice for January in Pennsylvania I’ve been walking.

Whatever it is I’m doing, it’s working so far but I’m not suffering any delusions. I know that pretty soon I’m going to have to get serious about following one of the plans if the weight’s going to keep coming off.

Anyway, just reporting in and keeping myself accountable.