Maintain during the holidays? I've heard it twice now

My w. watcher leader was telling us a while back to just maintain during the holiday season. But it seemed a week later she was wanting us to make a small wt loss goal to be accomplished by the end of the year. (Seemed like a double standard) This was before Turkey day and I just wanted to get to 199 by the end of the year so I should be able to get there. I saw this article about comfort food and to just maintain throughout the holidays and how stress of the holidays can make you eat. http://www.ediets.com/news/article.cfm?cmi=2423262&cid=1&code=24422. I guess I just don't want to just maintain, I want to lose a little more. I guess I have it in my mind that I want to lose so much per month, I have it all charted out till next August when I may be close to goal. I know I prob. won't meet my goal then as the wt loss will slow at certain times and especially when I get closer to goal which won't be for quite a while.

Here is another article about 5 Holiday weight gain myths http://www.ediets.com/news/article.cfm?cmi=2423260&cid=33&code=24423. I have never done ediets but somehow I got on their newsletter lists. Some of this info we all already know but doesn't hurt to read it again I suppose.

I found this afternoon and evening I was just ravenous and wanted to eat everything. I think I need to change what I eat and start eating more often and more veggies. How's everyone doing out there this week? I'm doing a lot of walking, elliptical, and some weights. I will swim tomorrow as it's a pretty slow day at the gym. God, how I hate getting on the swimsuit but I am enjoying swimming again and it keeps me from becoming bored at the gym.

weight related articles and finally the picture is up and SNOW!

Wow, finally got this picture to work. It wouldn't work when I tried to edit the other post. Strange. This is Ron (hubby) and Chase last summer after a 200+ mile bike ride. He has done a few triathalons too and now the 1/2 marathon. I'm proud of him and likes that he's found a hobby he enjoys. Though, it does take a lot of time to train!

We got quite a bit of snow, which is unusual for our area. We had no school and swimming so we went sledding and tried to build a snowman. It seems the roads are better so we will venture out as I'm getting bored.

Here is a link to a few weight loss related articles. One from Pamela Peeke about stress can cause tummy fat http://health.discovery.com/centers/womens/weight_loss/ten_tips.html and the other about how ridiculing fat people doesn't help http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/01/AR2006110102969.html?referrer=email. It makes me sad when I hear stories of people being made fun of just because of weight but I've had my own issues with this too. I hope everyone is having a good week out there!

Wow! Got a loss after turkey day!

I'm happy today cause got a loss of -2.4 today!!! WoooooHooooo!! I'm not sure how that happened, the body is a weird thing. I showed really little wt loss the last few weeks and I'm sure it had to do with water retention last week but then I don't try this week as turkey day and hurting my leg so I didn't exercise much and just ate in moderation and now a bigger loss. Ok, got my star today for getting to -45.8!! I can't wait for 50 pds and only need a loss bigger than .8 next week or 2 to get to that elusive 199!! I'm psyched. I knew if I just kept at it there's no way this fat can outlast me.

Sorry, I couldn't get the picture of my hubby and son to go on the last post! I will try tomorrow as I will have more time as school is tonight! Can't wait, 2 more weeks and I'm done for the quarter. Then, I plan on spending more time on the blog and trying to get it to look better. Can't figure the photo thing out as I have been using 'imageshack' that Christie told me about and it was working and now nothing. It seems to work and then I try to put it on the blog and it won't show up. I'm not too teckie so can't figure out why. Hope everyone is doing ok this week! And I'll check on your blog soon if I haven't already.

nice holiday and seeing family and friends

(Picture is of my hubby, Ron and Chase last summer after a bike race, (guess I should ask him if I should share it but oh well!)

We had a nice holiday at my mom's and it was low-key this year with just a few people. My sister's were at their in-laws but I did see one of them later in the day as she lives in the same town as my mom. It is on Whidbey Island, up near the San Juan Islands. I grew up there and when I was young, I couldn't wait to get away. But now, I appreciate the beauty of the island and the little bit slower pace of life there (though it is growing). Saw an old friend from high school that I don't see much so that was nice and then went xmas shopping and got a good start on getting some gifts. I hate the crowds though! Then we went to Seattle, wished I took some pictures to show you! We stayed at a nice hotel so my son could go swimming and then went to dinner and took my son to Gameworks (a big video game place). On Sunday (today) my hubby did the 1/2 marathon. It was raining and just real yucky out today for the race and he wasn't walking too well when he was done. But he's happy that he went a lot faster than he had last summer running the 13 miles. I'm just hoping he didn't pull something as he really didn't prepare and run as much as he should have for this race. I saw a lot people staying at the hotel that I could tell ran the race too. I saw one lady that my hubby had met and she was totally fit w/ a hard body and she's 46! She ran with her daughter and I thought that was cool. Then, I thought, I'm younger than her, and maybe I should get into this!! I can't image thought what it would take. I don't think I've ever run more than 2 miles. I haven't really reached that stage where I enjoy running yet. I do like how you feel after, that kinda runner's high.

I took it easy with eating this week but I didn't count points and didn't exercise too much. I wanted a little break from writing down points and my leg was hurting. So, not sure what the scale will say. Of course, I got on the scale a little while ago and it looks ok, no gain yet, so a little surprised by that. So maybe I'll get a maintain this week and hoping for no gain. Hope everyone had a great week!

slight loss this week and have a breather from school

Sometimes I feel like doing this to my scale at home!!! Just because sometimes I get tired of being accountable to it and wish I could just toss it out the window! No, it is going slow but did show a small loss of -.4 this week. So, baby steps, I guess at this point and at least it is going in the right direction. I did see my scale dip down to 199.5 this week! But I know it is a few pounds difference from the weight watchers scale so I'll probably have to wait a few weeks before I see that number on their scales. Anyone ever weigh in nude at the meeting? Ha ha. Then I could be at onederland!. Then no one would ever go to meetings if they had to face that kind of torture.

Well, at least I am done with my back to back tests and lab wasn't as good as I wanted but other test was good. They were brutal and it felt like mid terms though we only have about 3 more weeks to go. Hurray! The stress was getting to me. I did exercise 4 x this week and didn't journal my food every day so I will be better this week. I don't know what happenned but a new yoga teacher was filling in for the usual one and it was like yoga on speed! She moved so fast through the moves I really didn't like it. I felt a little sore the next day. And then ran earlier in the week and no problem but then ran yesterday and today I have major hip, upper or outside leg pain. I didn't push it more than usual so not sure what is going on. I've decided to take a hiatus from jogging until I drop more weight cause this is painful. Anyone out there took up jogging and been bothered by aches and pains?

We are off to go look at larger screen tv's as we might get one for xmas. Hope everyone has a great turkey day and I hope to at least maintain this week.

Getting to know you, do this on your blog too!

I saw this getting to know you questionnaire thing on 'whataboutyourhips' blog (amanda) so thought I'd borrow it. Put it on your blog too so we can learn a little about each other!

DO YOU SNORE? No, not usually. Can’t stand it when my husband snores, have to poke him to get him to roll on his side or go sleep in another room.

ARE YOU A LOVER OR A FIGHTER? I am a lover. Don’t fight too good but have a memory like an elephant and can use that in my arsenal, ha! It takes me a whole lot to get me mad. Rarely has anyone seen me mad.

WHAT’S YOUR WORST FEAR? Anything happening to my family.

AS A KID, WERE YOU A LEGO MANIAC? No

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF “REALITY” TV? I like some of it.

DO YOU CHEW ON YOUR STRAWS? Yes, sometimes.

WERE YOU A CUTE BABY? kinda cute but too bald.

IS THE SINGLE LIFE FOR YOU? Used to be a long time ago. Enjoyed my freedom and just drinking and having fun with my friends. Married life is good too; wouldn’t trade it .

DO YOU SING IN THE SHOWER? Sometimes.

HAVE YOU EVER BUNGEE JUMPED? No, but I want to learn to sky diving when I get to my weight goal. I love to scuba dive, if that counts for doing something more extreme.

ANY SECRET TALENTS? Well, can play the piano. Told I am good at putting out fires (work related) and staying calm in the eye of the storm and mediating problems between others.

WHAT’S YOUR IDEAL VACATION SPOT? Love to go to a warm tropical location with crystal blue water and go out to scuba dive and then come back to lay on the beach and have a tropical drink with someone special while watching the sun go down.

CAN YOU SWIM? Yes, I am swimming ½ mile once a week in the pool. Hate getting on the swimsuit though! Want to train for a mini triathalon for next summer.

HAVE YOU SEEN THE MOVIE DONNIE DARKO? No.

DO YOU GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE OZONE? Yes, try to use ozone friendly products, etc.

HOW MANY LICKS DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO THE CENTER OF A TOOTSIE POP? 300? Don’t know! That’s an old joke.

CAN YOU SING THE ALPHABET BACKWARDS? No, but I swear when I was pulled over once when I was 19 and at college a cop pulled me over late at night w/ my friends and asked me to recite it backward. I’m like ‘who could even do that?’. He was looking for drunk college kids and thankfully I was the designated driver and sober.

DO YOU PREFER ELECTRIC OR MANUAL PENCIL SHARPENER? Electric.

WHAT’S YOUR STAND ON HUNTING? For sport, I’m not in favor of it.

IS MARRIAGE IN YOUR FUTURE? Been married 15 years!

DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? So, so.

WHAT ARE YOU ALLERGIC TO? nothing really but did get a reaction from a certain med. that was precribed to me.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAID, “I LOVE YOU”? Last night to my child.

DO YOU CRY AT WEDDINGS? Not usually but sometimes, if I’m close to the person I'll tear up a little.

HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR EGGS? Scrambled or over easy.

ARE BLONDES DUMB? No!

WHERE DOES THE OTHER SOCK END UP? I don't know, in the space time continuum?

WHAT TIME IS IT? 9:27pm

DO YOU HAVE A NICKNAME? Depends on the person, sometimes babycakes to my sister, sometimes poker (to old friends). Used to be a rhyme, 'Pitty, Patty, Poke, Shoe a wild colt'(grandma used to sing).

IS MCDONALD’S DISGUSTING? No not usually, but have really limited my eating there after that Supersize Me movie. I do eat there fruit/walnut salads. My son loves to get the toys in the happy meals there but kinda hate they cater to kids with the meals and toys and the food is mostly crap.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WERE IN A CAR? About 8pm, went to the grocery store.

DO YOU PREFER BATHS OR SHOWERS? Showers usually but do like a nice hot bubble bath once in a while. Better if it is for two!!

IS SANTA CLAUS REAL? In our house it is this year!

DO YOU LIKE TO HAVE YOUR NECK KISSED? Yes, usually.

ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK? No, not really. Unless I am in a big city and feeling uneasy in a cruddy part of town.

WHAT ARE YOU ADDICTED TO? Lately – exercise.

CRUNCHY OR CREAMY PEANUT BUTTER? creamy.

CAN YOU CRACK YOUR NECK? No.

HAVE YOU EVER RIDDEN IN AN AMBULANCE? No.

IS DRUG FREE THE WAY TO BE? Yes, now. Not to say I didn’t party a little in my younger years. I hardly drink anymore either, as my husband doesn’t anymore.

ARE YOU A HEAVY SLEEPER? No, I wake up at the slightest peep.

WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR EYES? green.

DO YOU LIKE YOUR LIFE? Yes, most days.

ARE YOU PSYCHIC? No, but I have good intuition that once in a while I listen to and it steers me in the right direction.

HAVE YOU READ CATCHER IN THE RYE? No, but heard of it.

DO YOU PLAY ANY INSTRUMENTS? I can play piano a little.

HAVE YOU EVER STOLEN MONEY? No.

CAN YOU SNOWBOARD? No, but I can ski pretty good!

DO YOU LIKE CAMPING? Sometimes if it’s not too cold.

DO YOU SNORT WHEN YOU LAUGH? Not usually.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC? No.

ARE DOGS A MAN’S BEST FRIEND? No, people are though I like dogs too.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN DIVORCE? I wouldn’t want it for myself, but I do see some that don’t divorce and they should - they making themselves miserable and their children. Or some just settle in old age and live in separate bedrooms and lives. It's sad and I'm determined that won't happen to me.

CAN YOU DO THE MOONWALK? No.

DO YOU MAKE A LOT OF MISTAKES? Not usually, but once in a while.

IS IT COLD OUTSIDE TODAY? Mild, probably 50 fahrenheit. But I feel we are going to have a bad winter.

WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Oriental chicken salad.

DO YOU WEAR NAIL POLISH? Once in a while. For a reward, I will soon get a pedicure!

HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU LIKE RIGHT NOW? Like my family and friends, and most people I meet.

WHAT’S THE MOST ANNOYING TV COMMERCIAL? Just that there are too many on all the time!

FAVORITE SONG AT THE MOMENT? Think it’s called ‘lips of an angel’ by Hinder.

stress and feeling like I'm in slow mo and why I chose angelfish!

Have been getting real stressed out this week with my anatomy/phys. class. We dissected cat muscles for 2 weeks and finally had the test on the cats and human cadaver and it was damn hard! I'm pissed I wasn't as prepared as much as I though I was. We had to know the origin of the muscle the insertion onto the bone and the action that it makes. It seemed she showed things in different orientations, (front, back, side) and I got confused sometimes what she was pointing at! I'm just glad we are moving on the the nervous system and brain. Anyway, another long test on Saturday that takes me like 12-14 hours or more but at least it's a take home test but I hate the essays! Hope I didn't gross anyone out!

It feels like I'm in slow motion for my wt loss lately. The scale will go down 2 pounds and then a few days later it's up two pounds though I am still on the ww program and eating within my points range and exercising, cardio/weights/yoga. Only thing that has changed is the stress level I'm feeling. I am trying to practice patience, patience, patience. Just need to keep that as my mantra. I would really like a loss come Monday but we'll see.

In case you were wondering why I chose Angelfish as my blogger name, it is because I used to be a scuba instructor and just like those angelfish! Also, my dad is an Alaska fisherman and so fish and the ocean has always been in my blood. Last, but not least, I'm a pisces sign and feel I have to be near and live in driving distance to the ocean! I really enjoyed my time in Hawaii and the Cayman Islands when my hubby and I used to teach. Seems like a lifetime ago. When I need to go to my happy place, like we do when in yoga to de-stress and relax, I always find my thoughts returning to the ocean and beach on a sunny day! What I wouldn't do to go on a warm vacation at this time of year. It's funny though, when I first started blogging this summer I was just replying to Fat B's site and though I was just signing in to comment actually on a post of hers about patience and now that's the name of my blog. Ha, don't want to change it now though! It's a good quality for me to have now that the wt loss is slowing. (Though it would be funny to have a nice blog name like 'thin girl within' or 'fat buster' or something!) Hope everyone is doing well this week!!!

What's your plan for the holidays?

What is everyone's plan for the holidays? Will you continue on the wt loss journey, go for a maintain, or a gain? I choose, a little wt loss this season. A week ago at ww, we were asked to pick a goal to achieve by the end of the year (called storyboarding). I chose to get to wonderland, I mean onederland and never return to 200 (ha, I hope)!! Need to lose about 4 to get to 199. I'll settle for 199 point whatever. I don't want to go off and gain and that would just put me a month or two behind. Not going to happen this time! You can kick me in the butt if I don't heed my own advice! Also, what is your plan on Turkey day? I will bring a veggie/fruit tray and I will make the lowfat ww pumpkin cheesecake or some other dessert. I will eat that dessert and no other and if no one likes it then so be it! Most of the sister's are going to their in laws anyway so we won't have a huge crowd at my mom's this year. I asked her to tone down the menu and not make as much food as she always does but I can only ask. Tell me what you will do these next 6 weeks? We can do this, we just need to keep exercising and choose to do this! I am in control of what goes in my mouth, not the food!!! (Off do do my studying of the darn cat and human muscles for my big lab test tomorrow! Why the heck am I procrastinating on the web!!arrgghh!!)

very slight loss this week

Well, I was a little disappointed that my weight only changed -.2 this week. I didn't journal all my points food every day though I'm pretty sure I was still in my points range as I only ate a little more on one day. I did increase my weight workout and had sore muscles over the weekend so I could be gaining some slight muscle mass. I looked back over my excel weight track that I have made and for the past couple of months, I would have 3 weeks of loss and then no loss or slight gain/loss (usually a week before time of month). So could be bloating and just the way my weight loss is going to happen. It's funny though, when I got on the scale at home today and could tell I was about the same if not more (I was down a few a few days ago), I thought, we should just go out to breakfast and have anything I want. Then, I thought, no!! That wouldn't be progress. It's these little baby steps and eating right and going to gym, it will pay off, it has paid off and there is no throwing in the towel this time! I will get to my goal in due time and to onderland in December probably as the holidays will be tough as I will be out of town and out of my element. Gotta run off to night school. Hope everyone is having a good week!

assumptions and observations

As I mentioned, I have turned into a gym rat and go to the Y at least 5 or more times per week. As I started jogging and doing yoga I noticed a young hard bodied lady who seems real fit. I see her jogging effortlessly, doing yoga like a pretzel and see her quite often at the gym. I assumed she was young and single and has all the time in the world to keep her hard body. I assumed wrong when I went I saw her get her 6-7 yr old daughter out of the daycare and think I saw her with a school aged son the other day too. Why do I assumed that someone doesn't have kids cause they have a fit body? I tell myself that I shouldn't make assumptions about people but we all seem too. Why do I think that when some people have kids (like myself) that it is the beginning of at least 20lb extra on your body that is hard to be rid of? At the gym, I see a lot of mom's that are either a little overweight or look pretty darn good! Some of my friends who are mommies are in that category, they have an extra 20 lbs or they are fit and looking good. Why did I fall into that thinking like 'I used to be fit, when I was young and before kids'. I'm not buying it anymore! We all can have a fitter and thinner version of ourselves if we put in the hard work and change our eating habits for good. That's my plan anyway! (I can't seem to make this blog do paragraphs, help anyone?) On another note, my ww leader confessed that when she is at a party or out and about, she will mentally look around the room or area and figure out the percentage of overweight people! I was like, arrrggghhh! She said it is from being in the wt loss profession. Usually she will see a great many overweight people, say 60% or more. At a recent ww leaders meeting she went to of 400 or more people, there was only like 4 that had a little weight on them. It makes sense, they have to look good and fit to lead meetings. We need an incentive that they can be successful in their wt loss and maintain it. I was reading another blogger site, 'half my size' a while back where she says that she will compare herself to others and think 'am I fatter or skinnier than that person'. I was like, I try not to do that! But I think we all do to some degree. I do it more like this. I will see a person jogging around the indoor track and I'm like, 'she's a good runner, why can't I be then?' Or 'she looks damn good for her age, why can't I to?' Or if you see a really heavy person, you think, I never want to be like that. I can't let my weight affect my mobility as I get older. I don't want to slow down like I have been for a long time. I want to be active and a part of everything in life again. Not be on the sidelines watching. What are your thoughts out there on these topics? Hope everyone is having a good week!

emotional fitness (article and other thoughts)

Here's an article that I got on my email. It is asking, "are you emotionally fit"? Having to do with not dealing with emotions and how that relates to being overweight. Here's the link http://www.ediets.com/news/article.cfm/1/cmi_2422446/cid_33/code_24289/. I've never seen it put quite like that. As I reflect on what they are saying, yeah, I know I have used food to stuff down some emotions. Especially stress! Just eat and the stress will go away! Ha, well it worked sometimes but then I felt guilty for over indulging. Also, I think I wasn't really ready to go on this weight loss journey until I or (we, me and hubby) dealt with some simmering marital issues about a year and 1/2 ago. We decided finally to go to therapy and that helped immensely. Not sure why I am sharing that, it's just that was one of the reason that I was stalling and yo yo ing on my weight. Unresolved feelings that needed to be dealt with. Sometimes, you get problems and you sweep them under the rug and think you can deal with it. Before you know it you have a huge pile of crud and man, it really stinks and you have to deal with it or it will get the best of you. Anyway, on other topics, I'm more dedicated than ever to get to onderland! It has been like 6 or more years since I've been there and it will feel good. And then around the corner at around -50 will be the 1/2 way point. Can't wait! I am a little worried about the holidays but do have a plan of action. I will bring fruit or veggie trays to snack on at holiday get togethers. I will remember that it is a holi-day, not holi-week or holi-season!! (in the words of w. watchers). How will all you out there in blogland deal with the holidays?

Had a loss this week!

Had a loss of -1.4lb this week! Woohoo. I've decided to be happy with whatever loss the scale will show as I know it will get harder to lose more as it already has this past month. I will be happy w/ at least a 1lb loss each week (if not more) as I know weeks are coming next year that I will wish for a pound loss. Closing in on the elusive 199 but it will take me longer than I thought it would. Probably just in time for Thanksgiving and then I will really have to watch it over the holidays as that is always a really hard time for me to stay on program. Our leader said just to maintain over the holidays. I would like to continue losing a little over the holidays if I can. Gotta rush today to get to night school tonight, so bye. Hope everyone is doing ok this week!

Ever have one of those days?

That's what's been wrong on certain weeks! I've been weighing myself all wrong! Well, have you ever had one of those days? It's started out good, we fiddled around at home, it was a no school day so took my son to the gym. I worked out for an hour and promised him we would go swimming after. So, we swam and I knew it was getting late as I was supposed to go to meet his Dad after work to drop off my son as I was going to meet my ladies group for a lesson on salsa dancing in Seattle. It's about hour or hour 1/2 to Seattle from where I live. First, I was running late after I figured out what to wear for salsa. Then, it was raining cats and dogs for like 24 hours and traffic was horrendous. So, we missed meeting my husband at the train station and so drove around for like 1 1/2 hrs and then had to backtrack to meet him on the other end of the train. We stopped to go to the bathroom and while I was trying to hurry, I bonked my food good on a door stopper attached to the door and bruised my foot real good. By that time I was crying from the pain and picked up my hubby and just said Fu*k it! I wasn't meant to go to Seattle tonight and just went out to dinner w/ the family. Some days, I would like to just stay under the covers but I know can't. And I'm bummed that I missed the salsa lesson and dance and girls night out! Oh well, mama said we would have days like these...Now, off to do my all day take home test. At least it's a takehome but it's darn hard and going to take me all day and night. And sick w/ a major cold! Ok, miss negative, let's find some postive from these experiences. Hope everyone is having a better weekend than me!

Had fun on Halloween

We had a fun time taking our son out trick or treating with our friends and their daughter. They got lots of candy and that was prob. cause one guy basically dumped all of his candy in their buckets as he wanted to be done giving out treats. We got a but*load of snickers, want any? I'm having a little trouble staying away from the candy but just trying to limit myself to 2 pieces for 2-3 days. Guess I was feeling a little deprived due to being pretty strict with my diet. Here's some pics of me and my son and him and his girlfriend. They were Anakin Skywalker and a good witch. It was nice to see their parents too as the girls dad has been working on the east coast for like 1 1/2 years or more so it's always nice for them to have him visit. Well, I've been messing around with my points on ww and kind of tried eating high points one day (and exercised a lot on that day) and then low points and take it easy on the exercise. So far seems to be working as the scale seemed to jump up after high day and jump way down after the low day. So, maybe there is something to this wendie plan. I'll see what happens come Monday and hope to have a good weekend. How is everyone doing out there? Staying away from the candy if you have any left? Maybe my son can hide it from me. ha ha. A big thanks to Christie for helping to get my photos posted! I'm having trouble w/ the blogger and have a lot to learn! Have a good week!