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14 October 2011

Come Thursday it'll be a year since my surgery. An awesome year in many ways, too. One of the best things is that I've managed to maintain my weight within a fairly close (for me) range since. That's something that's never happened before. So, what I have learned? Well, probably a lot more than I'm aware of. Have I "arrived"? Uh...no. It's still a process and I believe it'll never be "done". I still hang on to the hope that one day I will just eat "normally" and maintain my weight. But let's see... I've learned that in my case, at least, there's no way to lose weight and continue to lose weight, and certainly not be able to maintain weight loss, unless I work out, as well. I've heard it said before, but I think it's true for a lot of us, especially once we're of a certain age.

I've also learned that the snack monster is alive and well. In order for me to control that urge to snack, I have to have planned snacks and "allow" myself things that aren't necessarily good for me. But life is precious and life is short and as a bumper sticker I have says - Life is too short to drink bad wine! hahahaha... I think that also applies to the occasional treat or planned snacks.

I've learned that I am a lot stronger than I ever thought. Physically - sometimes I almost amaze myself! lol... okay, sorta kidding, but still. I NEVER thought I'd have the strength and stamina needed to work out for an hour most days of the week. Or to be able to take 10 - 12 mile rugged desert hikes and LOVE them. I believe discovering these things about me has also made me a stronger person mentally and emotionally. Of course, feeling much better about myself probably does that at least as much as the exercise, itself, does.

I'm LEARNING (notice the present tense) that some body parts are not going to look 20 years old no matter what I do. Some things would require more surgery and although I'd do it in a heartbeat, being this satisfied with my original surgery and outcome, and all the subsequent things that came along with that - it's not in the budget and may not be. So I'm in the process of trying to accept those things that I cannot change. Still have a very difficult time with this one. I honestly believe I couldn't really work out much harder than I do. Well, I guess I could, but I am not aiming for a 14% body fat - not at my age. I've learned that women over a certain age actually DO need a certain amount of fat to soften the lines. :D

I've learned that the support of family and of friends is CRUCIAL. Can it be done without those things? Eh... maybe. If one were stubborn enough and had enough whatever it takes to "prove" they can do it in spite of the odds. But I'm SO grateful I have this support - both at home and from my friends here on FS.

In case anyone has read to the end - I just had to put this one in here.... I've learned that men like boobs. Regardless of their age or your own! lol... People treat you differently when you have breasts and it's really NOT just the way I project myself out there. Because there have been many days I've been "out in the world", feeling pretty crappy about myself and how I feel I look on a particular day - and yet I notice people treating me differently. Men are generally nicer and more courteous, and even some women treat me in a more positive way. Of course, there are sometimes those "haters", but not so many. I just think it's weird, or funny, maybe - that people treat one another differently based solely on how they appear. Probably a sad comment on society, if you think about it, but right now? Uh, have to say I like it. As shallow as that sounds! In case anyone doesn't really know me? I do NOT have a big ego, I generally have self-esteem issues, and I always seem to find something about myself I don't like. But that said, this is the best I've felt about myself in years.

And so the journey continues...

Weigh-in: 127.0 lb

lost so far: 48.0 lb

still to go: 2.0 lb

Diet followed reasonably well

(15 comments) gaining 0.3 lb a week

11 October 2011

It's been a good day food and exercise wise. Well, I guess lots of other ways, too! :D

I did 45 min. of the Crunch kickboxing party DVD. Pretty fun and did that first to get my metabolic rate up. Then I did 35 min. of the Piloxing strength and toning DVD. I don't like that DVD nearly as much as her other one, but have to admit it DOES seem to work muscles the others don't. Felt good about a good, strong workout.

I've eaten healthy foods so far today. I just hope to not mess it up with my wine. Not the wine calories - I've accounted for those. For the drop in willpower that comes with a bit of wine! lol

I'm feeling pumped and optimistic. If all goes as expected, then Thursday I should get some great news. My husband should be among those chosen for the company trip to Atlantis this year and the spouses, of course, go as well. We've been on a couple others and though fun, there are those things you have to do being a company "vacation". Ugh. Like the Olympics. Not so fun, even though I'm much more fit than previously. It's just that the "event" takes up most of the day. Then there are two or three other things that are required. A welcome dinner/party thing and the awards presentation dinner. Other than that, you're pretty much on your own and they generally include at least one or two activities to choose from - a snorkeling trip or kayaking or what have you. The trip is in less than 8 weeks, so hopefully enough time to try to tighten up the flab. I honestly don't know what else to try - the legs. omg... horrible! I'm open to suggestions. By the way... I do hundreds of squats and lunges every week, kickboxing, pilates, some cardio... soon to start hiking once again (I hope - depending on hubby's health and endurance). I'm at a loss as to WHY this stuff remains flabby, saggy, disgusting and hanging there.

Well, heck. I WAS in great spirits! lol... Okay, it's another one of those things that IS what it IS. (still open to suggestions, though!)

(6 comments)

07 October 2011

Maintenance is not easy :D.

None of this journey is "easy", but I find keeping the weight off almost more difficult than getting it off in the first place. I am proud that I have maintained my weight within a reasonable range for a year now. For me that IS success as I've never remained at a stable weight throughout my entire adult life. I have always either been gaining or losing - never stayed the same.

That said, I will admit to gaining several pounds, scaring myself at the ease with which I gain and slip back into old habits, then get serious and drop the excess again. I think I always felt once I was where I wanted to be, liked the way I looked, felt comfortable in clothes, felt comfortable in my own skin, the keeping it there would come easy. It doesn't. Not for me.

I think about this often and I believe one of the main reasons I still find this so difficult is that I've never really given up convenience foods and will opt for lazy over cooking something from scratch every time. NOT proud of this and I certainly have the time to do so. I don't enjoy cooking though and have no imagination when it comes to putting a meal together.

Where I feel I have succeeded is that I continue to exercise regularly. I've gone several days at a time without exercise for various reasons, but I feel good about myself in that I've always gone back into the habit. I aim for six days a week and usually follow through on it. I would not say I love to exercise, or even that I look forward to it very much. I DO feel so much better when it's done, both the immediate physical sensations and the mental/emotional ones.

Now... if only I would follow through with my goal to eat whole foods almost exclusively.

(3 comments)

05 October 2011

I knew it'd been a while since I journaled last, just didn't realize it'd been THIS long.

Today IS a new day and today I am back to eating healthy and watching my calories. I spent a wonderful three nights in Scottsdale with my husband last week - had a lot of fun and didn't spend a lot of money. I'd bought one of those Groupon deals, so we had a one bedroom suite, three nights, for $159. It was a time share resort, and we agreed to attend a presentation when we found out they would give us a $75 Visa card and two nights at another of their resorts. They have one in Sedona we can do for another cheap, quick getaway, so we'll probably go there. So really, all in all, we will end up paying approx. $17/night for a resort! :D Am I the consummate shopper, or what? lol

We walked around Scottsdale along the new "waterfront" district there, ended up at a nice little bar for drinks and snacks that day. Spent time at the pool and jacuzzi a few times, even checked out the jetted soaking tub for two in the room ... ;D Another day we took the trolley around Scottsdale, got off at a few different stops along the way. Walked around Old Town Scottsdale for a while, through a beautiful nearby park, then ended up at the Rusty Spur Saloon there for burgers and beers. Cute place, the "oldest" watering hole in town. We always seem to fall for things like that - the oldest, the biggest, the tallest, etc. hahahaha... we're suckers that way. But it was a cute place with a lot of history (for a place with almost no history). We even stopped for ice cream that day.

Went to Scottsdale Fashion Square on the trolley, too. My husband is NOT a shopper - hates it. But he said - we're here - let's see what the big deal is with this mall. Mostly just window-shopped, walked off some burger calories, and even did a little Victoria's Secret shopping. :D

We checked out on Sat. and I had another Groupon deal for a Mexican restaurant nearby, so we went there after checking out and had a delicious meal (and beers.. it was a BEER trip for me! lol). Then we stopped at a park on the way back that I'd read about - the McCormick Stillman Ranch Railroad park or some such long name. They have a few rail cars you can tour, a railroad museum, a room with several model trains set up to walk through, and a replica of the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway there you can ride on. We didn't do that, but will when my brother, his daughter and HER daughter come out for Thanksgiving. We had a great time, though. But now I'm paying the price in belly bloat! But worth it. Life is good.

(5 comments)

26 September 2011

ugh... no work out for two days running. I'm going to go workout now, though. Taking off Wednesday for a little three night getaway with my husband. Only going to Scottsdale at some resort, but it'll be nice just to be away from home. When we planned this, my husband hadn't come down with Valley Fever or pneumonia yet, so I'd made a lot of tentative plans that we most likely won't be able to keep. His energy level is so low still. We may end up mostly hanging around the resort's pool area. I'm sure we'll have sunshine - this IS AZ, but hope the pool is heated. The pools here cool off so quickly at the end of "summer", even with daytime temps of 100 degrees.

Still, hope to do some things around town that won't wear him out too much. There's a free trolly that runs through town and has stops at a lot of the major points of interest - shopping, the new waterfront area (yeah.. AZ with "waterfront" ... means along the canal! lol) I'd wanted to go horseback riding, but that's probably out of the question. Riding takes more energy than one would assume it would. He's not much of a shopper, so Old Town won't hold much appeal for him. Thought about wine tasting, but he's not much of a wine drinker, although I know he would for me. We did that in Sedona and had a good time. I'll look for a comedy club to go to, that won't take much energy. Doubt if we'll do much walking along the canal there and won't be taking any nearby desert hikes. Looks like we'll be eating! lol... That doesn't take a lot of energy. Anyway, we'll come back home on Sat. and he'll have the weekend to recuperate from his time off :D...

Here's to a day of healthy eating and some good exercise for us all!

(2 comments)

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