So after that successful work during the week, I went ahead and had dinner out with my husband. Not only did not make the best choices (onion rings instead of fresh fruit), and not only did I eat most of what was on my plate, but I also had a scoop of peppermint ice cream for dessert! UGH what came over me? DANG IT....
Right now: cool, cloudy, feels like we'll get more rain today, but it is not currently raining. Another unstructured day... I might go for a walk, especially if it remains cloudy like this.
It continued to sprinkle on and off, so the walk never materialized. That's OK. It's hard for me to slow down, but on Sunday afternoons, I watch old British & Australian mysteries on PBS, which I find very enjoyable and relaxing.
My daughter finished up my leftover onion rings.
I feel that I did better with food today, but when I went to the freezer in the garage to get a big bag of frozen vegetables, I noticed that there is still graduation cake leftover. 1 really big piece or 2 medium pieces, or one small corner piece and then 2 smaller regular pieces.
I guess I've really thought through that cake- LOL! Anyway, I really want that corner piece, so I'm having decaf coffee with the chocolate flavored creamer, and 16 dark chocolate chips (80 calories). After I finish typing this up, I'm going upstairs for the nighit.
Progress as of today: 58.5 lbs lost so far, only -8.5 lbs to go!
At the lower end of the maintenance range this morning -- take THAT, darn title company donuts! (LOL...)
I feel that it's important for Logical Donkey to remind myself that this is maintenance. I find that this helps keep a practical, manageable perspective. (Crazy Donkey does not have a healthy perspective on numbers.) It would be nice to be able to stay at the lowoer end of my maintenance range, but during the cold and dark season here in Illinois, it gets much more difficult. Throw the holidays in there, and the slippery slope into winter weight begins.
So what changed this week? I had a couple of days during the week where I had a lower caloric intake -- more vegetables. I also had a couple of extra walks in the evening, so my step counts were higher a couple of days.
My drinking-water-during-dinner challenge seems to have dwindled down to 1 cup of water during dinner. I would like this to change back to 2 glasses: this will be my goal this week. I do make a point of drinking water on my drive home, so that when I get home and sit down to dinner (which is usually within 10 minutes of getting home), and then I continue to drink water after dinner.
Another thing I've been thinking of changing up is the decaf coffee (with flavored chocolate creamer) I have after dinner. I'm wondering if a flavored tea wouldn't be more satisfying with less calories. I have a cranberry vanilla tea that might hit the spot to satisfy that "after dinner sweet" craving that has been quite persistent.
Progress as of today: 58.5 lbs lost so far, only -8.5 lbs to go!
also, when i used to drive on my commute, driving home or to the gym or from the gym or whatever, always involved lots of liquids / drinking :)
The day before weigh-in and the title company rep comes in with a bunch of bowls of fresh fruit, boxes of cookies and donuts. ****
So while I did not gorge on the fruit - like I did last time, which resulted in my face breaking out AND a weight gain - I still had 2 bowls of fruit... and then I did a little more nibbling after that.
Did well at dinner --- really wanted 2nd helpings but didn't -- but ran out of decaf coffee, so had only 1/2 a cup... and 18 dark chocolate chips.
I'm afraid this isn't going to be a good weigh-in for me this week. Gosh, blast it all! 
I didn't have much to say yesterday. Work went much better -- I must continue to remind myself of the personal boundaries required for my work efficiency. Gonna work hard at that.
Leaving at 5:30p-ish really does me well. Gives me enough time to get in an evening walk. I needed that yesterday; came home for lunch instead of walking, due to storms. Coming home for lunch also screwed up my eating. I'm not sure if I ate enough yesterday, but I just wasn't hungry.
Progress as of today: 57 lbs lost so far, only -7 lbs to go!
so many people here like to go to lunch as a group. i'd MUCH rather go out and walk and do my own thing outside. after all, after sitting in an office all day, it's nice to get away from people even if they are nice!!!!! haha
Today was a MUCH better day.
I ran yesterday's scenario past my Male Co-Worker this morning -- not that I trust him, but because I think he has the most objective perspective and insights that I find really helpful.
He mentioned that this co-worker assistant is a Drama Queen. Her whole life is drama. There is ALWAYS something going on in her life that is bad/sad news. And whether it's intentional or not, she draws drama into the workplace. "She stirs things up" were his exact words.
This was SO HELPFUL. Once I realized that this is part of who she is and what she does - intentional or not - I realized that I have it within my own personal power NOT to allow myself to get drawn into her drama. So I did a few things:
My lunch walk was shorter today because I took lunch very late. Why do people think that lunchtime is a good time to call me? Hello, it's my lunchtime! But during my walk, all I could think about was Horn's GOOD advice: KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT AT WORK. Yes, and to this I want to add, for myself: STAY OUT OF OTHER PEOPLE'S DRAMAS.
My eating was on track today for the most part. At around 3:30pm, I wanted to go into the breakroom and snatch a few chocolate covered almonds, but couldn't because the downstairs clinic was having a staff meeting. This right there saved me probably 250 calories.
I left work at 5:30p which allowed me the time to take a walk after dinner, to make up for the short walk at lunch. So nice!
Now that my work issues are resolved - for now - I hope that I sleep better tonight. I haven't been sleeping as well the past 2 nights, and I do feel it.
Progress as of today: 57 lbs lost so far, only -7 lbs to go!
I woke up this morning feeling extremely anxious about my files at work. This set up my whole day for an epic fail.
My one co-worker, who has been an assistant to our associate attorney --- yes the one who stabbed me in the back --- for many years has decided today to start dictating what happens with that attorney's files. So rather than just forwarding the email to me to address, she sends it to our stupid intake assistant (the one who makes a million mistakes on every file she touches) to handle.
I told her, please do not have (Mistakes Girl) send out anything. Let's try to keep people working on a file to a minimum. It's bad enough that they're sending her settlement statements and closing confirmations.
Then she decides that she'll start preparing closing documents --- just out of the blue. No, please check with Male Co-Worker to make sure he's on board with that, because otherwise, he won't know what the hell is going on with the file when he gets it from me.
And on and on and on.... Maybe I'm just being overly sensitive, but we have a system, and she's not really following it. And that's a problelm for me, because I need to know what's going on with the file. I know Male Co-Worker doesn't care who does the work -- the less work he has to do, the better -- especially if it's not him. I just feel completely overtaken or trounced on by this assistant.
One added benefit of all this angst and anxiety: I took a longer walk at work, and I sure didn't feel like eating much today.
Progress as of today: 57 lbs lost so far, only -7 lbs to go!
I mentioned the volunteering to my son and he was quite receptive to it (surprisingly to me). Now let's see if he has the motivation to do something about it. Getting started is the hard part. I want him to do this on his own, not have me walk him through it. He mentioned that one of his instructors had mentioned about volunteering with dogs as a way to prepare himself, if being a dog handler is what he wants to do.
I was reading some posts in the groups on the FitBit boards. One guy was showing off (deservedly so) that he reached a personal best of over 100,000 steps in a day. He mentioned that he can easily get 60+ just at work, and that he can run 4 miles in like 25 minutes. Presuming he's telling the truth, and not clipping his FB to his dog, it got me thinking about how sedentary I am at my job. I know that when I buckle down to get emails cleared out, I can easily lose an hour or 2 of any activity. I started increasing my activity at work by printing at another printer that I have to walk more steps to than the one that I share with the attorney. I've also broken up print jobs, so that I print documents on the printers at opposite ends of the office. I take the mail out, I try to bring the mail in. I'll go downstairs to get something out of the refrigerator in the conference room.
If not for my efforts, I would not get in many steps at all! Yuck!
In my search for low-carb success, I came across a keto page through Facebook. I've been looking for a NO CALORIE sugar substitute. I love my saccharine (Sweet n Low) but I know that stuff is not good for you. And I don't like agave, which still has calories. And I cannot stand the taste of stevia -- way too bitter.
Anyway, I've been looking into sugar alcohols, and the keto page had receipies for Swerve, so I ordered some (to fill out an Amazon purchase), and I have to say... I don't like it enough to order it agan. It was quite expensive for what I got. It's not quite as sweet as sugar, so I have to use more of it.
And I haven't experienced the laxative effect that some folks have with using sugar alcohols. Either I'm not using enough of it (no, thanks) or I have a very stubborn GI tract. Not that I was looking for a laxative, but I appreciate anything that helps things move along smoother, if you know what I mean.
So I'll use it all up, but I'm still looking.
Progress as of today: 57 lbs lost so far, only -7 lbs to go!
i hope your son can do it on his own to set up the volunteering...if for some reason he doesn't i do think you'd have to go with him when is conveninent for you but i do agree that you should just try to motivate him with words and talk at home, before you actually and hopefully don't have to go with him...
100,000 steps is huge. he must have been traveling or touring!
I can't believe I'm about to write this, but I was actually praying last night for a weigh-in under 130 this morning. Such things are vaniety! And that's really not what praying is for! So I guess what I really meant is that I was praying for a little encouragement -- or at least asking for less discouragement, after the kind of week that I had at work. My prayers were answered, LOL...
I plan to relax this weekend. I have nothing on the agenda -- and as you may recall, this is kind of dangerous for me, because when I don't have anything to do, then I tend to get into trouble with eating too much. I'd like to get some outside walking in and I'd like to take my son shopping at the thrift store to pick up some shorts.
A few things to update on, that are not weight-loss related, but kind of are because I'm a stress-eater:
More to come...
Progress as of today: 57 lbs lost so far, only -7 lbs to go!
I totally agree...tough love is in order. Our oldest got 2 football scholarships but chose not to use them. His best friend was going off to college in the fall.....right after sons high school graduation...he informed us he was taking the summer off before starting work...I thought D was going to have a stroke!!!!!!! he told him that now he was an adult and he would not be getting anymore summers off...that he would be either going to college and working summers or going to work 12 months a year....son was quite surprised!!!! Said "OH"....and went to start his apprenticeship......After 13 years of summers off and working at jobs as he wanted to like helping on area farms and in a egg factory...he figured the summer vacation thing was just going to continue. He started his carpenter apprenticeship...and moved out when he got engaged...he was 20 or 21 then. I also had all of the kids start doing their own laundry between the ages of 12 and 15. Since he is a legal adult...if he isn't paying you room and board...he can also be responsible for things like lawn, landscaping, snow shoveling etc...the older he gets and the longer he just lays around the house...the more entitled he will get.....he's a man now. We raised a couple of boys...and we had to teach them the ropes about adulthood....they don't always understand or want to do it all themselves...
i do hope he's still exercising and he might way to look at what is required fitness wise for what he wants to do so he isn't ill prepared (like i was).
i also crave weekends to relax after lots of activity and social events! i hope you enjoyed relaxing. it's something we do need, as i always agree with you especially if you are a person who enjoys your quiet time! that is important!
I do not know how anyone can say that they really love and appreciate the work that I do for their clients and then turn around and say, "I know she can be unaccessable or crabby sometimes..." WHAT?!? OMG... Well, fire me then, so that I can collect unemployment. My male co-worker says that I can't really let these things bother me. They've all happened to him and then are forgiven. Whatever. I'm unaccessable because the client needs to speak with an attorney and they are out, shopping, at the law library, having lunch at the title company, having lunch with the family, running errands, etc. If I sound crabby, well... I push. I push to get things done. Clients may not like that but I do what it takes to get the deal done. I'm not a counselor, I'm not an attorney, I'm not a fairy godmother with a magic wand.
Came home, ate dinner, loaded up the dishwasher, walk around the yard with my son showing him spots for tomorrow's mowing that need attention. Come back inside and it's 7:30p.
I stayed up too late on Tuesday because we had to take Daughter to the ER -- for nothing. Last night, the cat got all upset about a visting cat on our deck, so that woke me up at 3:27a. Then I figured I should go outside and get my purse out of the locked car because someone might just break in. Woke up EXHAUSTED. So 2 days at work where I'm running on empty before I even get started.
In all this exhaustion and craziness, I'm finding it very hard to just eat my way through everything. My male co-worker, who is under as much stress as I am, just grabbed a big bag of chips and started plowing right through it.
Now it's time to get ready for bed.
Progress as of today: 57 lbs lost so far, only -7 lbs to go!
I feel you on realizing you left something in the car that you can't live without and then being restless in the middle of the night because of it.
Good job making your son earn his keep by mowing. He can also play matchmaker... hook me and Molly up with any 40+ non-married vets, lol.
keep up the good work. on days when i'm tired, i am MUCH hungrier too. that's why i try to get sleep when i can.
i hope your daughter is ok? sound like she is :)
enjoy your weekend, it's here in a few hours for you.!!
i bet you were more tired due to houseguests...now you can decompress this weekend.
I'm still here, just too busy lately, mostly trying to catch up at work from the shortened work week.
The cake is out of the refrigerator, so this is no longer an issue for me. I strongly suspect that it isn't completely gone, but out of sight.... well it's still on my mind, obviously! (LOL!!!)
Our houseguest, the boyfriend, left today. I did not have the opportunityto say good-bye last night as I had planned, so I ended up leaving him a post-it.
I've been eating more than usual lately, so I have no expectations for Saturday's with-in, but I'll keep trying. Most everything is in check, but my lunches have been larger and with more carbs.
I think I mentioned that they changed the taste of the protein powder I've been buying, so I no longer take shakes to work for second breakfast. Tastes yucky. But what to do with all that leftover powder? I have been adding a small scoop (1 Tbsp?) of the vanilla protein powder, thanks to happy's suggestion. It's delicious!
Progress as of today: 57 lbs lost so far, only -7 lbs to go!
you can offer it to your son.
i put the protein powder in my oatmeal to make it more satisfying and filling since oatmeal doesn't generally have much protein. i add extra sweetener (stevia as you know i use) bc i also don't love the taste of my protein powder...
now that bf has left, i think your eating will go more back to normal.
[ Previous Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 Next Page ]
It's okay....you are maintaining...and that allows some goodies too.....then if you seriously diet other days......you will drop a bit...and then you can eat what you want again....you are good....
Thank you - this was very helpful to hear. I second-guess myself a lot!
horn_of_plenty on 06/11/2018:
I do agree with BCGG...maintenance does allow some treats. I'm learning this too- still i'm learning as i'm generally a very all or nothing type of person...
Yesterday the bridal shower did have cake - it wasn't too good actually! and the coffee was GREAT...i wish it came earlier but it hit the spot!
The woman i was sitting with has one kid that's 4 1/2 and also a baby 9 month old girl. She already lost practically all her pregnancy weight. This girl is a picky eating who eats plain foods. She's not into fancy food or anything and doesn't eat a lot of greasy food or fried things. She's healthy. maybe doesn't eat enough fat. but, she's also a very mindful eater. She doesn't binge or ever had a food problem to my knowledge. she enjoyed trying bites of the desserts and was able to take just a moderate amount of food from the buffet and didn't even think to have to clear her plate. me on the other hand, i took tons of veggies, but also some treats of fried potato stuff and ravioli (just small amounts of all the treat foods) but i ate to finish so even though she ate tastes of everything her servings were probably smaller and my calories (despite a lot of healthy food) may have come out higher...ok...
so my point is that mindful eating and eating in moderation is always best for weight loss.too bad i like to eat to being full full! lol.
i'm glad you enjoyed one scoop. that's a good size. and an onion rings side with a meal is not necessarily the worst thing. what did you eat with the onion rings??
also, wonderful snack at home! the coffee and choc chips...
also, i think i'm done with my huge servings of whipped cream. it's so over the top...so unhealthy. i'm going to try to cut my portions a little bit at night...lol. we'll see.
I had what was essentially a chicken gyro sandwich with the onion rings. Also a cup of chicken noodle soup. I saw the lady across from me got the fruit plate side dish (instead of the onion rings) and I should have gotten that. There was a LOT of beautiful fruit.
My mom used fat free Cool Whip to help her in her weight loss journey. She would freeze it and then eat it like ice cream. I personally do not care for the taste of Cool Whip. It's just my biology -- I would love to have something like that, that I could use as a dessert crutch.
happy-1 on 06/11/2018:
You get treats. Tells your body there's no famine... but I dunno I'd want old cake, lol.
LOL on the old cake. You know -- I hadn't thought of it as "old cake"... I'm still thinking of it as "graduation party cake", but your observation is more accurate: Old Cake. Do I want Old Cake? Really? Hmm...