A good day, today.  Ate my oatmeal.  Went to church.  Came home.  Did’nt pig out.  Counted points…hooray!  Even made cookies with my son to take to a meeting, and I ate two…and gave all the leftover ones away to others at the meeting.  Score big for me! 

Today I made hamburgers…and since it’s still not BBQ weather here, and I didn’t want to fry them, (hate the mess and the grease) I tried something I read in someone’s blog awhile back…baked em!  400 degree oven, on a little grill rack thingy placed over a foil covered sheet pan.  Topped em with a bit of salt and some Montreal Grill seasoning, and dang…better than fried, good as grilled!  I blotted the little bit of grease off with papertowels.  No mess, no stinky burned meat smell in the house or grease spatters on the wall and no disgusting fry pan to clean out…and we all loved the burgers.  It’s a keeper!

My son saw them sitting on the table and said YUM!  With a little happy smile!  Microwaved a few baked potatoes (4 tato’s, poke em with a fork and nuke for 10 minutes then leave microwave closed for a few minutes more–less time for fewer potatoes) and topped em with sour cream and cut up green onions. Good meal, easy, fast, and no mess.  My kinda meal!  Will be a repeater.  Plus I didn’t eat too much.  Go me!  For the queen of the king size portions, that’s a small triumph.

I like celebrating the small victories, the good choices on a daily basis.  Not all days are good, but I no longer have to  “punish” myself for a bad choice with two weeks more of bad choices.

Now, if I can just get off my booty and exercise and drink my water, my two big downfalls…that’s my goal for the week.  4 days exercise, and 4 days of perfect water.  Oh yeah…and count the ^*&^*^% points!!  You all know now…next week I’ll report.

Lets do this thang!

Glanced in a mirror at a men’s store today, while out shopping with the hub for a new suit for him.  Even 20 pounds–probably more like 15 because I’ve had a backslide and it’s been a steep one (few weeks of eating crap) down, I don’t like what I see!!

Denial is a nice state to live in…but that glance in the mirror was  a great motivator!  We went to Olive Garden (hub’s choice) with the kids after that, and I did GREAT.  Me, the queen of cream sauces and 14 plates of fat laden salad, I DID NOT pig out.  One plate of salad (yum) and I ordered this amazing Apricot Chicken that was served with a side of asaparagus and broccoli…all things I love.  So good.  My son had alfredo noodles, and I had a couple bites, and that was all I needed.  A bite of hub’s mashed potatoes, also plenty…I think it was Fran Drescher who once said (on her weight loss and maintainence secrets) that she tastes everything…just little bites.  Ever notice the first two or three bites of ANYTHING taste better than the later ones?  Especially something rich and decadent?  That shall be my goal now…to TASTE whatever I want, but not devour it and get more.

 We spent the day shopping in the city a two hour drive north of us…no mall in my town, too small.  An hour and a half thru the mountains to do any real shopping…I went to Old Navy to get some cheap “interim” jeans since I have NONE left (holes in both my favorite, and only, pairs that fit) was REALLY REALLY frustrated that I could not find any long enough.  I’m 5 10, and inthe past, Old Navy Longs have been fantastic…great fitting, flattering, and good length.  Not the new ones.  (I did find a great bag though, big enough for work crap, cranberry red moc croc and it looks expensive though it wasn’t!!  Hub went pale when he saw it, til I showed him the receipt) I rarely get time to shop, between running a buisness, kids, and the fact that the only stores in town are two crappy cheapo discount superstores, and one teeny tiny JC Penny with hardly any selection…so I won’t get to go back and look for quite some time.  I miss malls!  If you live near shopping, count yourself LUCKY.  I’ll check Pennys, but since I don’t want “mom jeans” I’m not optimistic.  It’s either Juniors or Gramma land at this particular Pennys, because its in a small town.  (I’m not bashing Pennys, their stuff is nice, but my town’s store doesnt have the selection of the big mall anchor stores)  And I hate shopping online or in catalogs, I just end up returning everything because I’m picky as hell and have a 36 inseam and a flat butt and nothing ever fits right!  Arrgh!  Oh well.  I’ll  just keep wearing the holey ones and hope no one sees my inner thighs!  And get the hell into my skinny jeans (A cute pair of size 10 or 12 Gap jeans…classic straight cut so they still look good)

Need to remind myself of my favorite saying:  ”THE PLAN DOES NOT REQUIRE PERFECTION.  IT REQUIRES PERSISTENCE.”  I think I need to add “AND DETERMINATION AND EFFORT ” to that also…being as lately I’ve been a real lazy ass when it comes to the food thing…no planning of what to eat, no planning meals, just grabbing whatever crap is easy (usually eating out) and worst, no counting of the points. 

I’ve been doing this on my own, following the WW plan, weighing in, and couting points. In my town there is only one meeting a week, and unfortunately I have a conflict with the time.  I’m thinking of still joining though, and trying to make it now and then, and just go to weigh in weekly.  I’ll see.  Thinking about it.  Having to spend the money on it might make me a little more likely to stay OP.

A little exercise now and then might help too…YA THINK???? Duh.  Why is it so hard to just DO IT? 

Well, I’m going out to my hot tub now to unwind.  Then go to bed.

Ok so the title is silly.  My dear Dad, a farmer and the king of silliness, would recite that poem every spring.  It’s tradition! 

Springtime is a busy time every year for me…busier than the holiday season if you can believe it.  Hub and I do a ton of work in our photo studio that we own and run full time, and spring is just a crazy busy time.  It’s all good though, but it means less time to cook and more eating out…we’ve eaten out every day this past 7 days except Sunday!  And not all good choices.

Today though, I had a good day.  BBQ chicken for lunch (reasonable amount) McDonalds with the kiddos and I had my fave, the Asian salad with grilled chicken.  Good.  I shared a hot fudge sundae with my son…not bad, didn’t eat it all…just enough to enjoy.   One fat free hot dog (45 calories) tonight cuz I really was hungry.  Not bad!  I need to get back in the mindset…rather stay back in the mindset of tracking what I eat and watching the calories and points.

I’ve let busy be an excuse for not being as careful. Haven’t weighed, and the jeans aren’t getting looser.  Time to rein it in!

One happy note, I tried on a pair of 14 capri pants that I’ve had for several years, still in style, and….they fit!  Tight, but I can wear em!  And I do.

Jeans…My 16’s are fitting ok…I know 14’s would not look good right now, and damnit, I’ve worn holes in the inner thighs of both my 16 pairs of jeans.  I DO NOT want to buy new jeans right now…not until I can look good in 14’s.  Whats a girl to do? 

WE GOT OUR HOT TUB!  Built a patio out back, and the spa was installed last Friday and we’ve been in it at least once every night since.  I LOVE it.  I sleep so well, and it really helps with the stress level.  We keep the temp low enough that even the kids can get in, with us in there with them of course.  It’s fun, and really a great family time!  Yesterday my kids were giggling as they poured cup after cup of water over Daddy’s head…so cute.  We hang out in the hot tub every night.  I feel like I’m on vacation every night.

Now on to finish the yard out back…grass, fence. And garage will be done by mid June.  Such a nice change from the weeds of years past and parking by the side of the house!  I’m so glad it’s warming up, though the weather has been so wierd.  Cold, warm, cold warm, literally.  One day it was 70, the next day 38.  Spring here is nuts. 

Ok, tired, time for bed.  Goodnight and good eating!

Marie

Wooh!  Long time since I blogged last…not giving up just busier than a one armed paper hanger!!

Epiphany of the week:  It’s AMAZING to me how little actual food is needed to physically satisfy my  hunger.  And it’s amazing and sad how much food I can eat and still not find emotional satisfaction.

Now, when I get that ol urge to snack…sometimes I catch myself and I whisper “why?”  If I’m really hungry (and it’s so cool to actually feel real physical hungr) I can eat a sensible snack.  I’ve found I love grapefruit!  Me, the anti-fruit girl!  I think about it and my mouth waters.  And snow peas, steamed lightly…I could eat them all day long.  I’m out, and I’m going to the store to get some tomorrow.

With as busy (and stressed) as I’ve been, this weeks not been too great.   Stress eating has been a bit…excessive, shall we say?  Burger King, Chinese Buffet, you get the picture.  And no workouts.  Oops.   I should be in bed (another busy day tomorrow) but decided I need to blog, and I need to get remotivated.  So…thanks for the support and blog-friendship!  See you tomorrow.