Suzi’s Slimmin’ Down

I have been so busy and it dawned on me that I haven’t blogged for a few days nor have I checked in on you, my friends.

I was so frustrated last time I blogged in that my progress was not producing results. I read each of your suggestions and I think you might be on to something. I don’t think I was eating enough and the reason I say this is because I went on a spontaneous hiatus from program and the scale started to inch its way down. Not a great amount mind you but it was going down rather than up or stay the same. I was eating more than usual too. So I am feeling a little better about things and have decided to eat a few more of my weekly flex points. I will see what results I get at my next weigh in.

I also ordered an interval training program to spice up my exercise and see if that also helps. I should receive it any day now. I will keep you posted on that as well.

Have a great week.

Suzi

14 pounds in 10 months gives me reason to re-evalute my process and its effectiveness. As I have truly struggled to lose weight through diet and exercise I have seen little results and I need to shake things up. My mom was in town during July and is also on Weight Watchers. She was on her last 5 pounds and she looked amazing. She was my constant reminder on my shoulder giving me all her “grand” advise and I just listened to her and thanked her. It wasn’t until she came to visit me from Arizona that she saw first hand my struggles. As I followed program perfectly and exercised and was running my very busy life, she could hardly keep up with me. Each day she would collapse on my couch and say “how do you do it all”? You should be dropping weight like crazy….Well after a week of “perfectness - no lie”, we went to weigh in together. She weighed in first and lost 1 pound. Then I weighed in and lost NOTHING - absolutley nothing! We went through another week together of “perfectness” and weighed in and I lost .4 to her .8. She stood in shock and couldn’t understand why I wasn’t losing. I wasn’t eating my 35 points nor was I eating my exercise points so why were my results not positive? She has since become very concerned and is insisting that I go see a doctor to have a complete blood work-up to see if I have something going on with my body that I am not aware of like thyroid, diabetes, or whatever.

I am planning on doing so but really want to wait until the first of the year.

I think I will start posting my meal and points so you all can evaluate and tell me if I am missing something. Anyone else going through something similar?

You know what I am talking about.  Just take a look at my photo.  I have this shirt in every color available.  They all go with the same white tank that I wear underneath them (of which I have many).  They all go with my one, sometimes, two pair of jeans and they always cover up my bumps and buldges.  They are my safety shirts that ALWAYS fit me so I wear them all the time.  They are my official uniform.

I recently went to a True You presentation that my dear friend was putting on.  It is a program that teaches us how to dress our truth.  It was quite fascinating and I really enjoyed learning about it.  It basically evaluates your personality and facial shapes, i.e., button nose, angular face, square chin, symetrical eyebrows and so forth.  It then categorizes you and tells you what colors look best on you, what hairstyle flatters you the most, what jewelery accessorizes you best, what shapes of clothing works best for you, i.e. pointy shoes or rounded toes.  It is a 3 day workshop and it is very expensive.  It is fairly new on the market and my friend was training to become an instructor (a year long process).  As part of her final training she had to instruct a class of which I was one of her guinny pigs.  Yeah for me - it was free!

At the end of the training we all had to have a makeover done on us in front of the group wearing our new “style”.  It was quite remarkable and there was some well researched advise that really did transform some women.  So…all of the women, except me, were tiny little things - you know, size 4, 6 and 8.  The instructor(s), my friend,  had closets full of clothes for this purpose and had carefully picked out a couple outfits for each of us to try on to show to the group.  I was really really nervous about this because she never once asked what size I was.  She (they) thought they could just guess my size.  Since they were all really little a size 16 to them was humungous!  “Surely that must fit Sue”, they thought.  Well, I sat in that changing room on the verge of tears as I tried to squeeze “the girls” into the size 16 blouse given me.  No way was it going to happen.  After 15 minutes I finally let them know that the clothes weren’t going to work.  I thanked them for considering me so thin and tried to make light of it so it wouldn’t hurt their feelings.  They hurried through the closets and tried to find something else and came back with something that worked but certainly wasn’t cute, nor a positive transformation.

Part of the experience was for the instructors to take the students on a shopping spree to find clothes to match their new “style”.  She was really excited to take me because she always sees me in my “uniform”.  It never came to fruition because I finally had to tell her that the “women’s department” is not like the regular department.  They really don’t have that big of a variety of stylish nor flaterring clothing.  The reason I always wear the “uniform” is because there really isn’t much else to choose from for me.  I have the most success at Dillards and not many other places so that deflated our “shopping spree”. 

Oh, to be shopping out of the woman’s deparment - wouldn’t that be a beautiful thing?  Some day I will let her tag along and help me “spruce up” my look - but not until I have some decent choices to choose from.  What an experience.  And if my friend ever reads my blog…you know I love you!

Okay, I told you I was facing the scale head on and I did.  It was actually worse than even I thought it would be - but in my defense….

1 - I weighed in at night this time rather than morning

2 - I weighed in the jeans - capri pants - I usually wear something lighter

HOWEVER, that said, I need to quit trying to “trick” the scale.  In the end it doesn’t really matter if I wear jeans or if I weigh in at night.  When I truly lose the weight the scale will be true to me.  Each day I suspect I can flucuate between 1 to 5 pounds during the day depending on what I eat, drink, and wear.  The scale is not going to be my enemy but rather a tool to help assess my progress.

Next week when I weigh in I should see my loss even out.  I will weigh in with the clothes I am wearing for that day and not let myself play those dreaded mental games.  This is a lifestyle change for me.  It may take 5 years to lose the weight but I will continue to improve my discipline and my habits and most importantly, my health.

Cheers!

I don’t know what’s wrong with me but I feel like I just gave up this last week. Weigh in is today in 3 hours and all I had to do was lose 1.2 pounds to get my 15 pound start or 1.6 pounds to get into the 220’s, but no I just gave up, quit, and crashed.

I haven’t gone on an eating binge nor am I OOC (what’s OOC you ask? - My husband and I started saying OOC, which rhymes with Luke, years ago to each other when one of us starts eating too much. It stands for Out Of Control. It has been our little teaser back and forth and we “get it” when we say it to each other. So, I’m not OOC - at least I don’t think I am - I just quit journaling and counting points on paper. I haven’t exercised but once in a week.

My concern is that this is WAY too early in my weight loss process for me to start this nonsense. Snap out of it I say. Get back on that horse. For once do something for yourself that can really impact your life, your quality of life, and the lives of your family. You can do it Sue, you can, I am rooting for you all the way to the finish line. You are worth the trouble!

Okay, that self pep talk might have helped with the exception that I can hear my mother’s voice when I have this little conversation with myself - and her tone is quite strict and I know she means business. I can also see my rebellious side coming out wanting to challenge her - you know? What does she really know about weight loss? She weighed 95 pounds after giving birth to her 4th child (me) and all four of us are just one year apart from the next. She has never struggled with weight the way most of us have so to hear her voice lecturing kinda rubs me the wrong way. Yet on the other hand I am a mother. I want what’s best for my children. I want to help motivate them and cheer them on when they try to acheive a goal. I know it is with love that she encourages and lectures me…so, that said, I need to stop being selfish and just “get er done”. I am capable of doing hard things - I’ve done them before - and this is going to be one of the hardest, if not THE hardest, thing I will ever do. So I will go to weigh in tonight with my chin up and my attitude adjusted. I will succeed!

Thanks for listening.

Suzi

I have been reading so many journal entries and have been truly insprired by your jouney’s and your successes. Funny that I sit here wondering why I feel so alone. I was hoping to meet friends who were sharing in my struggles of weight loss and the day to day battle of each of our journies. I wanted so much to feel like Sally Field at her oscar acceptance speech and say “they like me they really really like me”. But I sit here wondering why I feel so lonely.

As I ponder my loneliness and hope for a change I am reminded of my daughter who is struggling right now with friends. She is a beautiful 16 year old girl who is an elected officer of her student body. She is fun, beautiful, and a delight to be around. I have sat in awe wondering what it is that brings her home each day alone during lunch. Why is she sitting at home during her school’s football games. Why is she friendless? I don’t understand! I have suggested that she make it a goal to invite someone new to lunch each day and try to establish new and exciting friends. She looks at me with a blank stare as though I have asked her to chop off her right arm.

Well, I am taking my own advise and reaching out to you. Who needs a friend and a partner in crime as we battle the buldge? Is it you? If so, let me know. I want to be your friend and “go to lunch” with you. I may not be an elected blog officer or your first choice of an “anonymous” friend, but I am a good listener and a loyal comrade.

So I am extending my hand of friendship to each of you to let you know that I would like to meet you and you meet me. Any takers, let me know.

Suzi

This is one of my all time favorite recipes, especially this time of “pumpkin pie” year.

Mix together:
1 (15 oz.) can of pumpkin
1 small box of sugar free fat free vanilla instant pudding
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
2 - 3 tablespoons splenda

Divide mixture into 4 parts. One part (serving) is zero points.

In blender add 1 cup fat free milk (2 points), 1 part pumpkin mixture, and 3 ice cubes (or more if you like it really slushy). I like mine more of a smooth milkshake texture. Blend and enjoy!

This is so filling and so yummy. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

My loss for the week - 2 more pounds!

Cheers,

Suzi

I have not exercised for a few weeks and I am starting to go again. The last time I went (last month) I was walking/running for 45 minutes, then I was lifting weights for 30 minutes and then did 75 sit-up crunches. The scale was not working in my favor probably because my muscles were retaining water and such. I got discouraged after 4 weeks, life got crazy and I didn’t make time to go so I am starting up AGAIN!

However, funny story about my sit-ups. Before I figured out that there was a “crunch” machine at my gym I was looking around to find something to hold my feet in place so I could try and attempt a sit-up. I noticed some guy using this inclined bench, tucking his feet under a padded component and away he went doing sit-ups. I thought to myself “how hard can that be” right? Well, I positioned myself on the bench, tucked my feet in the appropriate place and laid back at an incline. Immediately I knew I was in a “situation”. I did a few crunches knowing full well I couldn’t bring my body to the “sit-up” position. As I laid there I realized I had no way of getting off the machine - gracefully. I couldn’t pull myself up to grab on to the bar so I could release my feet. I couldn’t slide down the bench or step off the side of the bench. My only options were to 1) do a backwards sommersault off the bench or 2) roll over to my side and roll off bench. Neither option was graceful and I knew I would gather stares of disbelief.

I mustered up all my strength and quickly rolled over and fell off the bench. I acted as though I knew what I was doing and quickly got up and moved on to a new machine. I was absolutely horrified and vowed right then and there that I was not allowed to use the equipment unless I researched it better and I was confident that I could got on and off without incident.

Warning to my weight loss friends….don’t use anything with an incline!

Have a great day. Eat healthy and move your body.

Suzi

Any thoughts? I was Slimming Susan previously but I wasn’t crazy about the name so I am trying something new. What do you think? Any other suggestions? I have THOROUGHLY enjoyed reading about everyone’s journey. Roni, this is a wonderful way to connect with others and their weight loss adventures. Thank you for all the time and energy you put forth on all of our behalf. I am so impressed that you read all the posts (at least you appear to do so) and comment occasionally. It truly makes me feel as though I am not on this journey alone. Thanks again.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ALL!

My weigh in yesterday was okay - .4 pounds - and I will take it. I had an unpredictable week and I was honestly expecting a weight gain. We had friends come into town and we all went to dinner at THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY. Although I had a reasonable meal (Mahi Mahi Mediteranian) I splurged on cheesecake. Honestly, it was soooo good but not really worth it. I went home feeling too full and miserable. I should have shared a peice with my hubby - lessons learned on a daily basis!

I also helped my previous employer with their annual FOOD SHOW. If you’ve ever been to one you know the problems they can create. 200 booths showcasing their food specialties and giving out samples all day long. I actually did pretty well and stayed away from the desserts and ate a pear, grapes, and yogurt - oh yeah, and half of an ice cream sandwich and some deep fried coconut shrimp. I tried to be responsible and not over indulge and I think I did pretty well - weigh in was the next day and I showed a loss still.

I have been working on my blog, updating it with pictures, goals and progress. I think this will help me to stay focused. I would love to see a 3.2 pound loss by next Wednesay so I can earn my 15 pound star at weight watchers. I love getting those! Makes me feel quite proud of myself. So, in order for this to happen I need to stay faithfully on program and haul my behind to the gym. I think I can do it - or at least come close.

Tootles,

Slimming Susan