By Jove, I Think She's Got It!

Ok, peeps, the word on the street is that Moi is weight challenged and not in a good way.  I need to take 75 pounds of me and put it someplace else.  "Just stop eating" they say.  "Move around more"  they chide.  Not. That. Easy.

I have been on a diet since I was about 14 years old.  Ever since my Bobbi Brooks skirts went from an 8 to a 10.  I was officially fat at that point and not fond of the concept.  Plus, I had long hair and split ends.  I was a hot mess.

Solution?  The hair got cut into a cute little "bubble" style which I wish would come back INTO style because it really worked for me.  Now it is considered an "old lady's" haircut.  Blah.  I digress.  I bought a small little calorie counter at the grocery store and set about making things better.  I was crazy.  I wasn't fat.  At 20 I weighed 129 pounds.  I wasn't fat.  But my brain was -- Hahah! Crazy body image disorder.

Fast forward through life, two kids, great stress, personal loss, illness, medications, etc. and here I am needing to do something with this 75 pounds. In my mind I can see this cute little blob of fat, on a skateboard, chained to me and I have to drag it everywhere I go.  It has eyes and a sneaky little grin.  It follows me everywhere, especially the fitting room.  It is so annoying.

I am a champion calorie counter.  I don't even have to measure anymore, I can eyeball a half cup of anything.  I am not great at math but 3500 calories = 1 pound is ingrained in my brain.  Calories in/calories out was my mantra FOREVER.

For whatever reason, it isn't working right now.

I read a book called "The Obesity Epidemic" by Zoe Harcombe.  Well, I tried to read it, very technical and statistic laden, but the gist of it is that the calories in/calories out concept doesn't work.  Not all calories are the same.  3500 calories out does not necessarily mean one pound lost.  She talked about a low carb eating plan.

I am a carboholic.  I never met a cookie I didn't like.  I broke my cookie addiction a few months ago and didn't understand why I didn't just melt away like the Wicked Witch of the West.  Hmmm......could it be because I just replaced the cookies with things like crackers and pretzels?  I wonder.  Sometimes I am so dense.

So, because I can't do anything in moderation, I decided to go very low carb -- as is no carb.  The first day I ate no carbohydrate.  Felt great.  Second day, not feeling so great but did virtually the same.  I had lost three pounds (all water, I am sure, who am I kidding!) Day three I woke up and thought surely I was bound for glory.  I was shaking like I had the DT's.  I could barely hold my head up.  I was close to tears.  I had Carbo Flu.

I have enough health "issues" that I don't need to complicate my life with that.  So, after I ate some cereal and sugar laden yogurt I headed off to church to pray my way out of it.  During coffee hour I had a conversation about it with a friend of mine who is pretty nutrition savvy because of her own health issues.  As we talked a lightbulb started to slowly flicker. Calories aren't equal.  You can't live without carbohydrate.  Balance.  All words bouncing around in my head.

My friend suggested two things -- a look at the American Medical Associations suggestions on macronutrients in our diet and to look back at the dietary requirements when we were children in the 1950's and follow that.  I did both.  Note: I won't be going back to jello salads of my youth, however.

The AMA has a list of how what percentage of each macronutrient is considered acceptable and balanced -- carbs (45-65), protein (10-35) and fat (29-35).  I decided that instead of counting calories I would keep track of my macronutrients and keep it within their guidelines.  I think I have figured out that 150 calories of cookies is not going to be the same as 150 calories of brocolli or 150 calories of steak.  It just isn't.  There is this thing called food value or nutrition going on and that is more important than calories.

I know I sound incredibly stupid but blame it on my generation.  Growing up the idea was to eat less and move more if you want to lose weight.  It is called The General Principal. You have to cut down 3500 calories to lose one pound.  If you cut 500 calories a day at the end of the week you will be one pound lighter. There are a couple of reasons why it might not work -- if you cut down on food you also cut down on energy which makes moving around a little less probable and again, calories aren't equal.  You can cut out 3500 calories in cookies or you can cut out that much in real, whole food and depending on which you choose, you possibly could be cutting out necessary nutrients leaving you with just the fast sugar rush of the cookies and the eventual sugar crash which is oh so amusing.

So, I fired up MyFitnessPal on my phone and started logging in my food paying attention to the percentage of macronutrients and keeping it within the AMA suggested amounts.  I am pleased to tell you that it hasn't been difficult at all to do this, makes more sense to me actually and I haven't gained back the initial 3 pound loss but have gone on to lose 1.5 pounds more.    And I haven't been shaky or feel like my blood sugar has tanked.  All of this since last Friday.  And a side note, my step count has doubled.  Does that mean I have more energy or just more laundry requiring me to walk back and forth to the washer?  It is something to think about.

So, have I finally discovered the Holy Grail of weight loss for me?  Have I finally come upon an eating plan that will let me lose weight and keep it off.  Have I figured out a way to eat that is healthy that I can actually stay on?  I don't know.  I will let you know.  But, for now, I am celebrating my 4.5 weight loss like I have won the lottery!

A Week --

I can hardly believe that a week has passed since I was here last.  It has been a rather uneventful week -- and slow -- but I can handle slow since some of my facebook "friends" are already counting down to Christmas.  I don't really understand that but since I don't do it I guess it doesn't really matter.

Anyway, I digress.  The week started out with me having a bit of minor surgery.  As many of you know I underwent chemotherapy treatment almost four years ago.  This treatment required me to have a port installed.  Well, I never really made friends with this port -- I didn't name it or anything -- I just put up with it.  It wasn't completely dreadful but it was never really comfortable either.  So, last doctor visit, The Man, Dr. H. asked if I was ready to lose it.  I said "yes, please" but I had a pang of guilt.  I shouldn't have been so callous toward the port -- after all, it did help to save my life -- but, well, I get sappy over strange things.  So, Monday was the day.  I was elated on one hand and slightly terrified on the other.  It wasn't done in a hospital setting but right there in the doctor's office.  I was sort of anticlimactic, actually.  Nothing to write home about.  However, because of my feelings of guilt toward the port -- I brought it home.  In a jar.  It looks brand new.  Like it could be recycled.  Sometimes I am so odd.

So, anyway, I haven't experienced any ill effects from the removal except the reaction to the adhesives on the tape.  I discussed my reactions with Dr. H so he used something that I wouldn't react to.  And I didn't.  I was to remove the bandage after 48 hours.  I did.  However, I decided that I still needed to cover it so I had some gauze pads and paper tape -- good to go, right?  Wrong.  By the next morning I was reacting to the adhesive on the tape.  So, I used some old paper tape I had had for at least ten years.  Yep, still reacted so I took the whole mess off and decided to just let it go.  I am still itching and have little blistery places.  I am healing nicely and the whole area is just a little tender, not painful, but itchy.  I guess I should have followed his instructions and just uncovered it.  Next time I won't try to be so proactive.  I hope there isn't a next time.

So, the rest of the week has been mostly just resting to heal and doing a bit of housework and laundry.  I have started back on my 6 week challenge with Jenn.  While I was resting I got to thinking about what my physical needs are and mostly I need help with my mobility.  I don't move around enough and then when I try to jump into an exercise routine I fail miserable.  So, that got me to thinking about a dance class I took in college.  It was half jazz and half pilates and stretching.  It was wonderful.  Painful but wonderful.  I remember how it transformed my body and how I felt so strong.  I remember the exercises pretty well so I decided to try to do that.  Keeping in mind to be careful of my arm I set out to recreate my college experience.  Of course, I couldn't do as many reps as I did then but I am hoping to work up to it.  I have to say that after doing this for a couple of days my ankles and feet are less painful and I think that this is what I should have been doing all along.  I surprised myself that I can actually bend over and touch the floor.  I didn't think I could do that.

Yesterday I was hit with the worse case of boredom I have experienced in years and years.  I am usually not bored but yesterday nothing was interesting me.  So, I pulled out a small cross stitch project.  I made good progress on it and maybe have a renewed interest in the craft.  I used to do all manner of needlework but somewhere along the line the desire just left me but this was fun last night so maybe I can keep it going -- if I choose small enough projects.  I will post a photo of my finish when I...finish.

Today is grocery shopping.  I don't really care for any of the grocery stores right around me so I have to travel a ways to go to the one I sort of like.  I don't like grocery shopping much at all but it gets me out of the house and it gives me a reason to walk so it is beneficial in that regard.  I don't understand why we don't have more grocery stores -- it almost seems like companies don't think we need groceries anymore.  By my daughter's house they are building grocery stores on almost every corner but not in my part of town.  It is really odd.  I know that people are able to order online these days but I don't think enough people are doing that to close down bricks and mortar stores.  I don't even think I want to start shopping online.  I would never leave my house!

So, that is my week.  Not very interesting - trust me -- I know.  Maybe next week will be better.

Sunday Stealing

June 3, 2017

The Random Questions, Part 683

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on WTIT: The Blog

authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. You may have heard the expression, “honor among thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we try to credit the blog that we stole it from. We also provide a link to the victim's questions in our "Previous Victims" widget. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") Sometimes we edit the original meme, to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, to select the best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from recently asked questions from a previously post.

We found this gem from a blogger named Kontan from Kontan’s Place. She explains that she stole the questions from "Tense". But, it was probably stolen at that blog as well. So, of course, that will be as far as we go. Tracing back our theft's thieves might take some time. Please consider liking WTIT on Facebook. Click here. Or on Twitter @wtit.
 
Sunday Stealing: The Random Questions, Part 683 


1. How old do you look? About my age --
 

2. Where do you live?  Texas

3. Are you waiting for something? Yes, I am waiting to go to a doctors appointment later today

4. What’s one pet peeve of yours that is not common?  I don't have pet peeves -- I don't think

5. Do you want/have kids?  I have two kids and I wanted them.  They are all grown up now and really can't be called kids.

6. Have you ever thought about converting your religion?  No.  I started out Methodist, became Lutheran, became Episcopalian and am now Anglican.  I think that is enough conversion.

7. Last shocking news you heard?  That a relative has a terminal illness

8. What was the last thing you drank? Orange juice

9. Who do you most look like in your family?  My father

10. If you could have something right now, anything, what would it be? Somebody else to go to the grocery store for me

11. Where does most of your family live? Texas

12. Where did you grow up? San Antonio, Texas

13. Where do you want to go on vacation?  I would love to go to the Northeast, like Boston, but the reality is I am going to San Antonio -- maybe.

14. Have you ever had a panic attack?  Yes

15. What can’t you wait for? Nothing right now

16. When’s the last time you told someone you loved him or her and meant it?  Yesterday

17. Have your parents ever smoked pot? Oh good grief no. At least that I know of.

18. Want someone back in your life?  Well, I wouldn't mind having my parents back.  Every now and then I think I would like to touch base with an old boyfriend but having him back in my life?  Uh -- no.

19. What do you order at the bar?  No bar -- don't drink.

20. When was the last time you cried really, really hard?  I don't remember

21. What are your nicknames? Liss, Lissie Lou, Mom, Nona

22. What is your favorite thing to eat with peanut butter?  I don't eat peanut butter anymore

23. Where were you on July 4th, 2008?  I have no flipping clue.  Probably at home or my daughter's house.  I don't "do" the 4th of July.

24. If you could go foward in time, how far forward would you go? 5 p.m. today

25. If you could go back in time, how far back would you go? Back to the 50's again -- sounds like a song.  Although, with that said, the 60's were great -- maybe travel both decades.

Happy Birthday, Hubs!

Today I will tell my husband "Happy Birthday" for the 51st time!  That in itself is sort of amazing.  However, here is something else that is sort of amazing  --

His mother was here and able to attend his family birthday gathering.  Not many 70 year olds have their mom at their birthday party.  So, here is a lovely four generation photo -- they all look pretty perky, don't they?

We had dinner at Cousin' Bar-B-Q with Granny, our daughter and son-in-law, our daughter-in-law and three granddaughters.  Our son and grandson were at a previously committed activity.  What a great photo that would have been however.

So, Happy Birthday, Hubs!  You still haven't told me what you want as a gift. 

The Start of Summer, Debbie Macomber and my 6 Weeks to Summer Challenge

Hi, there! Did you think I had disappeared?  Nah, I never REALLY disappear-- I might get lost once in a while but I am never truly gone.  So, where  have  I been you might ponder? Well, ponder no more -- I will share my incredibly mundane existence with you.

The Hubs and I are babysitting this week.  We are at my daughter's house during the day through Friday while Mom is finishing up in her classroom.  Today was an especially good day because Bean decided the thing to do was to surprise her mother by cleaning the WHOLE house -- spotless-- and she did.  I did very little and it wasn't really the whole house but enough so that Mom was quite impressed.  She thought it was fun!  Yay!  Who am I to tell her that after about the first 35 years it gets really boring?  I will let her figure that out on her own. 

Then, I finished the first book in the Cedar Cover series by Debbie Macomber.  The title is "16 Lighthouse Road".  It was a great read.  Of course, I will have to start the second one now -- another series I am roped into -- but I think it will be ok.  I enjoyed this one even though I had seen the miniseries.  The odd thing is that when I first saw the books in the bookstore I wasn't interested.  When the miniseries aired originally, I wasn't interested.  Then I watched it on Netflix and it was really good and the books are really good so what do I know?  Don't listen to me except yes, they are a good read.

My 6 Weeks to Summer challenge has gotten a bit derailed.  I sort of ruined myself on Saturday.  We went to the zoo.  It was the hottest day of the year so far.  The heat index was 103.  I wore Tieks and decided the thing to do was to carry the cooler.  Granted, it was nylon but fully packed it was like a bunch of bricks.  I walked from the car to the ticket counter and I was done -- and we weren't parked far away.  So, for the next four hours I was in severe pain with aching feet and knees, I was exhausted from carrying the cooler and I was annoyed that I was such a disaster.  So, Sunday I couldn't move or walk, I was in so much pain, Monday was a little better -- not quite so tired but still oh so sore.  Tuesday better and am just now feeling like I can actually stand on my feet.  Note to self -- next time I head to the zoo, everybody carries his/her own lunch or we eat at the cafe.  Done.

So, yeah, summer has begun for us, the weather is warm and a bit stormy right now and I am looking forward to many days of reading and decluttering and getting back to my challenge but I am not up to exercising quite yet.  

Unconscious Mutterings -- Week 746

 

 

Here is another offering from Unconscious Mutterings hosted by LunaNina at subliminal.lunanina.com.  Check it out if you would like to play along.

 

 

 

     Week 746

7 hours, 7 minutes ago

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Corner :: store
2. Establish :: build
3. Cartoonish :: got nuthin'
4. Request :: special
5. Disappointing ::  my diet
6. Recluse ::  spider
7. Anti- ::  against
8. Jeans ::  uncomfortable
9. Ridiculous ::  almost everything
10. Soul ::  deep

TeamUnleasedFitness -- 6 Weeks to Summer Challenge -- Day 1

I have joined a group on Facebook called TeamUnleasedFitness and we are beginning a 6 weeks to summer challenge.  You choose your method of exercise and your eating plan and you are accountable for reporting in.  It began today so here are my photos and stats --

my mineral water and my pedometer-- sorry it is sideways

let's bring in the e-reader

and the pedaler

This is the most fun thing to do as far as I am concerned.  I am limited by allergies as to how much outdoor exercise I can get in so I try to do what I can indoors.  And see, I can read while I pedal and drink my mineral water and watch the cardinals out the back door!  It is a win-win.

I put my pedometer in the photo as well because I count walking as exercise, even if it just back and forth to the washing machine.  I like to know, at the end of the day, how much walking I have done. 

I do have a Garmin Vivofit fitness tracker but it irritates the skin on my arm and it isn't waterproof so I find myself taking it off and putting it back on all the time.  It is annoying.  I like the pedometer just as well.  My house is built in such a way that I can walk laps through it, each lap being 100 steps.  It works well for me to walk like this -- haha -- the washer is  on the circuit so I can do the laundry while I am walking. 

So, for my pedaling today here are my stats --

Speed -- 14.5 mph
time -- 30 minutes
distance -- 6.9 miles
calories burned -- 168.5

I will edit this later with my daily total of steps.  I can guarantee you it won't be the recommended 10,000 -- not even close -- but maybe I can challenge myself each day to do more. 

Whatever I do, I need to get out of this chair and move around for sure.  So, welcome to day 1 of my challenge.

Him or Me

Here is a new-to-me meme for Saturday.  I snitched it off of Joysweb.  It looks like fun.

 

 

 

Him or Me

Welcome to Saturday 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme! 

Saturday 9: Him or Me -- What's It Gonna Be? (1967)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, a man pleads with his girlfriend to make up her mind. Do you consider yourself decisive?  I am very decisive.  Most of the time.

Since this song is all about either/or, we're using that as our theme this Saturday ...

2) Choose a condiment: Catsup or mustard?  Mustard

3) Choose a sci-fi series: Star Wars or Star Trek?  I guess Star Wars as I have never watched Star Trek but I haven't seen all the Star Wars movies either.

4) Choose your spy: James Bond or Jason Bourne? Bond, James Bond.  Sean Connery James Bond to be specific although I do like Daniel Craig as well.

5) Choose your winter sport: Football or hockey?  Football

6) Choose your breakfast: Pancakes or waffles?  I make chocolate chip pancakes for the Bean all the time so I guess pancakes.

7) Choose your side: French fries or potato chips?  Neither.  I can eat only about three french fries and I just don't care for potato chips.

8) Choose your chore: Washing dishes or doing laundry?  Wow, this one is a toughie.  Neither?  Ok, if I had to chose one it would be laundry.

9) Choose your nextdoor neighbors: Munsters or Addams Family?  The Addams Family -- tv cast -- I like John Astin and I always like Carolyn Jones.



 

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!

Bridging

This year I had the honor and privilege of helping my daughter with her Girl Scout Daisy troop.  This was their second year as daisies and a busy year it was! There were service projects like making dog toys for the Humane Society and collecting used eye glasses.  They learned new things like compassing while visiting a nature preserve. They studied their faith during Jubilee Year of Mercy. They laughed, they cried, they giggled, they ran, they turned cartwheels and tonight...

They bridged.

 That means they completed their second year as Daisies and tonight they became full-fledged Brownies.  In order to do this certain criteria had to be met.  They had to have an older Brownie talk to them about what it would be like next year as they start their time as Brownies.  Then, in turn, they had to talk to a younger Daisy about some of the things they did during their time as Daisy.  For the most part, we could do any sort of ceremony we wanted -- it could be simple or elaborate, indoors or outdoors, short or lengthy -- but we had to have a physical bridge. 

So, here are our girls on their bridge.

And, of course, there had to be cake.

So, our girls are growing up -- they are Brownies now! One even told us that she thought she had grown as she walked over the bridge.  I wonder which one that was?

Mother's Day, Church Picnic, Confirmation

Yesterday was Mother's Day.  I have mixed feelings about Mother's Day as a holiday.  I love mothers, I believe in mothers, I AM a mother and I think mothers should be honored and appreciated.  Everyday.  Not just on some Sunday in May.  To me, it is somewhat of a Hallmark holiday, like Valentines.  I guess that is a bit bah-humbuggy of me, right?

Well, anyway, yesterday was a banner day at church.  It was Mother's Day and it was so good to see families together.  It was our Bishop's annual visit and confirmation day! And, it was the blessing of our new playground and church community recreation area.

We had a picnic.  The meat was provided by Fr. Estes and the rest of the chow was brought to us by Feastivities -- a catering company owned by one of our own.  It was delish!  The congregation provided the desserts and ohmygoodness, they were good.  I never heard of making banana pudding with Chessmen cookies -- so much better than vanilla wafers.

So, I thought I would share some snaps of the big day.  Of course, there were none taken in church of confirmation but it was a beautiful event, trust me on that.  But, here are some of the festivities afterward!

So, yeah, this is our new playground with some really gorgeous play equipment.  What isn't pictured is a lovely new basketball court.  This area will be used for our kids to play, for some Sunday School instruction and for congregational gatherings like this one.  It is beautiful, the folks who worked on it this whole last year have done a wonderful job and we are truly blessed!

The Weekly Muse is posted, here, every Sunday, and invites you to participate by either (1) answering these questions, privately, in your journal, (2) answering the questions on your blog, and then coming back to link that post here in the comments at Life, Unleashed, or (3) leave your answers directly in a comment here, on that week’s post. However you choose to participate is completely up to you!


Weekly Prompts:

• What went well, for you, this past week?
• What didn’t go so well?
• What can you do differently in the week to come?
• List your top 3 priorities for the next 7 days.

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Weekly Muse post, or share your answers directly, right here at Life, Unleashed.


Ok, this is a new one for me and it doesn't involve anything specific, like reading or crafts or anything like that.  This could be anything so let me get started.

What went well, for you, this past week?

I stayed on my eating plan and I am keeping up with the household chores fairly well.

What didn't go so well?

I am having a bit of difficulty with my noontime main meal.  I keep forgetting to take out meat to defrost.  I prefer eating our main meal at noon -- I feel better -- but getting my head around it has been a challenge.

What can you do differently in the week to come?

I think maybe some meal planning is in order, taking out meat to defrost in the refrigerator a day or two ahead is a reasonable idea.  

List your top 3 priorities for the next 7 days.

Ha! To defrost meat.

To keep up with the housework.  We cleaned house on Saturday and it would be helpful to do a bit in between so I don't have it all to do next Saturday.

To exercise.  I really need to exercise.  I would like to walk outside but we have an Ozone day today so I won't be doing that but I can walk inside.  I have the equipment and the need -- just not much motivation.

So, there you go.  This wasn't the most exciting meme in the world but it gave me a little focus.  So, for your viewing pleasure ....