Wednesday morning, the 30th. 60 days of new eating and moving, and I have now lost 13 pounds, my lucky number. Weighed in at 179. And since I felt that I sort've lost my way these last 5 days, I am happy with that.
And 13 pounds in 2 months for someone my age is truly extraordinary. I would gladly have taken 1 pound a week.
Walked to the library twice, round trip two miles, but not at anything but a leisurely pace. Trooped down the Prairie Path twice, at a good clip, and one day just got away from me entirely.
I do always have a good breakfast at around 300-400 calories, but lunch and dinner are slipping away. Last nite I had two servings of reduced-fat Cheese-Its (nasty), just because I was tired of looking at the box. I will not buy them again. I also had 2 3/8 ounces of a lite swiss cheese, 1/2 cup of lite cottage cheese, and some gummy bears, about 6. Not very healthy at all.
I must do better if I am to lose even half of the weight I want to lose, and these upcoming days are going to be tough, both in terms of food and exercise. A dinner out, a lunch out, a wedding and reception, etc. Heaven help me!
I must think positive. 179. Who would have thunk. And on the 8th, we leave for Brooklyn. Oh, the temptation ahead of me. Here's where I must take each day as it comes.
60 days down.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
THE NEW ME
55 days and still 12 pounds - 180. Ok, I'll take it, since I could have been 181 and still been on target. So on the 30th, I only have to maintain, although I sure would like to get down further.
I do get up mostly 30 minutes before dawn, but am not immediately going out the door to exercise. And that's OK. I tie it in to when my husband goes out the door to walk or run. He is absolutely religious about it, so that helps me. Yesterday, when we were babysitting, while the kid was taking a nap, instead of sitting around reading, I had brought my tape, and took a one hour walk in a near-by cemetery, In the past, I would have just sat. Progress.
On the 23rd, a Wednesday, a friend and I walked around the Morton Arboretum for at least two hours. Not any great pace, but a longer time. On Wednesdays, it's senior day, and you can get in for six bucks. It's so lovely this time of year.
I watch what I eat always. Still trying to follow the original diet plan, but not so religiously. If I don't happen to have the particular food on hand, I just punt.
This morning, I went to have my cholesterol and Vitamin D levels checked. They were also giving away free smoothies, so I brought one home and might have half this afternoon. We'll see; they are horribly caloric. Last week I had a heart scan to see about calcium buildup in my arteries. Haven't gotten that report yet. I guess you could say that "I'm taking charge of my health", a mostly overused and useless phrase, as no one can control their genes or the air they breath.
55 days down.
I do get up mostly 30 minutes before dawn, but am not immediately going out the door to exercise. And that's OK. I tie it in to when my husband goes out the door to walk or run. He is absolutely religious about it, so that helps me. Yesterday, when we were babysitting, while the kid was taking a nap, instead of sitting around reading, I had brought my tape, and took a one hour walk in a near-by cemetery, In the past, I would have just sat. Progress.
On the 23rd, a Wednesday, a friend and I walked around the Morton Arboretum for at least two hours. Not any great pace, but a longer time. On Wednesdays, it's senior day, and you can get in for six bucks. It's so lovely this time of year.
I watch what I eat always. Still trying to follow the original diet plan, but not so religiously. If I don't happen to have the particular food on hand, I just punt.
This morning, I went to have my cholesterol and Vitamin D levels checked. They were also giving away free smoothies, so I brought one home and might have half this afternoon. We'll see; they are horribly caloric. Last week I had a heart scan to see about calcium buildup in my arteries. Haven't gotten that report yet. I guess you could say that "I'm taking charge of my health", a mostly overused and useless phrase, as no one can control their genes or the air they breath.
55 days down.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
THE NEW ME
Sorry about not posting Sunday, but life got in the way. I cannot blame the house guest, as she did not arrive til 7:30 pm or so.
Weight Sunday morning - 180. 50 days now and 12 pounds. I am still somewhat in awe of that. 2 pounds ahead, so that on Friday morning, when another five days have passed, I only have to weigh 181. Let us hope not, but it gives me some breathing room.
I am still trooping down the Prairie Path almost every day, and I do think the new shoes have helped. Plus the icing when I come back. I do try and walk around town whenever and wherever I can, to the library, to a friend's house, etc. And I'm noticing that my gait is faster, consciously, but still. And perhaps, although I'm afraid to put this down in writing, my energy level is up. I do find that while watching television at night, I have to get up during commercials and move around. Even a DVD, I will stop to get up and do something.
On the 16th, went to a Women's Health Fair in the Yorktown Shopping Mall, and was it ever terrific! Free blood pressure screening, diabetes tests, eye tests, skin assesment, free pens, food, skin care products, just stuff. For my friend, who is unemployed, it was a gold mine. Took us a solid two hours to get through it all, and even then we did not have time to stay and get the free massages offered. At several stations, so you could get more than one. My blood pressure is a little up, 123/76, and it used to be 110/70, so that is another goal, to get it back down.
Several meals out, and I did good. One at my daughter-in-law's, although she graciously cooked a delicious meal she knew I could eat, and had some scrumptious fresh pineapple for dessert. It was perfection. A book discussion, with all sorts of goodies on the table, and I limited myself to the fresh fruit and a few homemade biscotti. An evening of cards with all sorts of snacks, but also fresh fruit that I had. It was hard to pass up the chocolate cake, and lemon pound cake, but I did. And to be fair, it wasn't that hard. Breakfast out Sunday morning, and I also did good, just having a bowl of kiwi fruit, an English muffin, and coffee, for which I had asked for some skim milk. I am not cooking up a storm for the house guest, as I might have in the past, but just serving simple meals, pork chops, baked potato, broccoli, hamburgers tonite. And this morning, a coffee get-together, again a lot of food set out, and I only had some blueberries, and some plain yogurt.
All this detail is by way of showing you that I have come off of the strict diet plan, and am still managing. This is a huge, HUGE, milestone for me. Just a few hours ago, there was left on the table half of a blueberry muffin that everyone was raving about, and I was so sorely tempted. Not because I was hungry, but just to finish off that half. I even put it on my plate. Then I looked at it hard, and said NO. A biggie for me.
50 days down.
Weight Sunday morning - 180. 50 days now and 12 pounds. I am still somewhat in awe of that. 2 pounds ahead, so that on Friday morning, when another five days have passed, I only have to weigh 181. Let us hope not, but it gives me some breathing room.
I am still trooping down the Prairie Path almost every day, and I do think the new shoes have helped. Plus the icing when I come back. I do try and walk around town whenever and wherever I can, to the library, to a friend's house, etc. And I'm noticing that my gait is faster, consciously, but still. And perhaps, although I'm afraid to put this down in writing, my energy level is up. I do find that while watching television at night, I have to get up during commercials and move around. Even a DVD, I will stop to get up and do something.
On the 16th, went to a Women's Health Fair in the Yorktown Shopping Mall, and was it ever terrific! Free blood pressure screening, diabetes tests, eye tests, skin assesment, free pens, food, skin care products, just stuff. For my friend, who is unemployed, it was a gold mine. Took us a solid two hours to get through it all, and even then we did not have time to stay and get the free massages offered. At several stations, so you could get more than one. My blood pressure is a little up, 123/76, and it used to be 110/70, so that is another goal, to get it back down.
Several meals out, and I did good. One at my daughter-in-law's, although she graciously cooked a delicious meal she knew I could eat, and had some scrumptious fresh pineapple for dessert. It was perfection. A book discussion, with all sorts of goodies on the table, and I limited myself to the fresh fruit and a few homemade biscotti. An evening of cards with all sorts of snacks, but also fresh fruit that I had. It was hard to pass up the chocolate cake, and lemon pound cake, but I did. And to be fair, it wasn't that hard. Breakfast out Sunday morning, and I also did good, just having a bowl of kiwi fruit, an English muffin, and coffee, for which I had asked for some skim milk. I am not cooking up a storm for the house guest, as I might have in the past, but just serving simple meals, pork chops, baked potato, broccoli, hamburgers tonite. And this morning, a coffee get-together, again a lot of food set out, and I only had some blueberries, and some plain yogurt.
All this detail is by way of showing you that I have come off of the strict diet plan, and am still managing. This is a huge, HUGE, milestone for me. Just a few hours ago, there was left on the table half of a blueberry muffin that everyone was raving about, and I was so sorely tempted. Not because I was hungry, but just to finish off that half. I even put it on my plate. Then I looked at it hard, and said NO. A biggie for me.
50 days down.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
THE NEW ME (AND CHICAGO)
Okey dokey then. 45 days and 11 pounds. Now I'm at 181. Hurrah!!! On the 20th, when I will weigh again, I only have to be at 182, so I'm ahead again. So far, so good.
I got the new Asics yesterday, and will try them out today, trooping down the Path. We'll see. Threw out the old Adidas. I also bought a pair of Avia, and a new Adidas, the top rated ones in "Consumer Reports", August. I just happened to have it on hand when I was looking at new shoes, because it was a kitchen issue, and I hope to remodel my kitchen in the near future. How coincidental was that? It had nothing to do with my alpha obsession.
Now I'm trying to walk every day, sometimes fast, sometimes slow. But every day I ice my knees for 20 minutes when I come back. With packs of frozen vegies. The left one still bothers me, so I am hoping the new shoes might take care of that.
And I have come off the diet plan, mostly. I feel stronger now about my food choices. I think that is the big change in these past five days. At the Celtic Fest on Saturday, I had a corned beef sandwich, which consisted of a ton of very lean meat, on two pieces of quite fresh rye bread, and not humonguous sized bread either. Some mustard, and a dill pickle sliver rounded it off. Plus some iced coffee with Splenda and no milk, because all they had was half 'n half. I think I did all right there.
I have stuffed my freezer with all kinds of meat choices and frozen vegies, bread, bagels, waffles, and the fridge with fresh fruit, all the yogurt in the world (there was a sale), and low-fat cheese and lunch meat, tuna, eggs, milk, and salad makings. I should be good for a long while now, and can just make my own choices. I'm not too sure about the yogurt, as it has a lot of sugar, but at 100 calories it would make a good choice for something sweet, and not too caloric. Plus there are still some 30 calorie frozen popcicles, and a container of mango sorbet, which is out of this world, and a ton of vitamin A.
So we'll see how all this plays out in the coming days and weeks. I pulled off the shelf again my old stand-by cookbook, in which I am working my way thru the index. "1,001 Low-Fat Recipes". I do have a couple of reviews of it on Amazon, because it is a strange cookbook, and if you don't know squat about cooking, don't even think about it. Not that it's hard, it's just that sometimes it's plain wrong. I had stopped at "pizza" (I've been working on this index since 2002), so that's where I will pick up, at fajita pizza. I must be careful here. But I think it's the serving size that I must follow. And be very careful with the ingredient list, as that will influence the calorie count, which is listed for each recipe.
And a house guest is coming in Thursday, I musn't get carried away in food prep for her either.
45 days down.
THE CELTIC FEST
How great is this city or what!! On a perfect autumn day, Saturday the 12th, we attended the Celtic Fest, and what a wonderful time we all had. Free!! Although if I had known about the flat $25 rate that the Monroe underground garage was charging, I would most certainly have made other arrangements. But it was right across the street.
We got there around noon, and left at five, all of us just feeling so energized and alive. Definitely a must for next year( minus the parking fee).
Where else in the world can you sit and hear an amazing, fabulous Irish band, Larkin and Moran Brothers, while watching a huge bare mast lazily float by behind them on Lake Michigan? Incredible. Bagpipes, which I love, crafts, sheepherding, stupendous Irish dancing, just all things Gaelic and Celtic. And of course watching men walk around in sexy kilts. For free, mind you, all free. No wonder I think Chicago the greatest city in the world. Sure New York is great too, but it's Central Park cannot compare to our Lakefront. No way. Of course I must admit the weather played it's part in this most delicious day.
Three cheers for Chicago (with or without the Olympics).
I got the new Asics yesterday, and will try them out today, trooping down the Path. We'll see. Threw out the old Adidas. I also bought a pair of Avia, and a new Adidas, the top rated ones in "Consumer Reports", August. I just happened to have it on hand when I was looking at new shoes, because it was a kitchen issue, and I hope to remodel my kitchen in the near future. How coincidental was that? It had nothing to do with my alpha obsession.
Now I'm trying to walk every day, sometimes fast, sometimes slow. But every day I ice my knees for 20 minutes when I come back. With packs of frozen vegies. The left one still bothers me, so I am hoping the new shoes might take care of that.
And I have come off the diet plan, mostly. I feel stronger now about my food choices. I think that is the big change in these past five days. At the Celtic Fest on Saturday, I had a corned beef sandwich, which consisted of a ton of very lean meat, on two pieces of quite fresh rye bread, and not humonguous sized bread either. Some mustard, and a dill pickle sliver rounded it off. Plus some iced coffee with Splenda and no milk, because all they had was half 'n half. I think I did all right there.
I have stuffed my freezer with all kinds of meat choices and frozen vegies, bread, bagels, waffles, and the fridge with fresh fruit, all the yogurt in the world (there was a sale), and low-fat cheese and lunch meat, tuna, eggs, milk, and salad makings. I should be good for a long while now, and can just make my own choices. I'm not too sure about the yogurt, as it has a lot of sugar, but at 100 calories it would make a good choice for something sweet, and not too caloric. Plus there are still some 30 calorie frozen popcicles, and a container of mango sorbet, which is out of this world, and a ton of vitamin A.
So we'll see how all this plays out in the coming days and weeks. I pulled off the shelf again my old stand-by cookbook, in which I am working my way thru the index. "1,001 Low-Fat Recipes". I do have a couple of reviews of it on Amazon, because it is a strange cookbook, and if you don't know squat about cooking, don't even think about it. Not that it's hard, it's just that sometimes it's plain wrong. I had stopped at "pizza" (I've been working on this index since 2002), so that's where I will pick up, at fajita pizza. I must be careful here. But I think it's the serving size that I must follow. And be very careful with the ingredient list, as that will influence the calorie count, which is listed for each recipe.
And a house guest is coming in Thursday, I musn't get carried away in food prep for her either.
45 days down.
THE CELTIC FEST
How great is this city or what!! On a perfect autumn day, Saturday the 12th, we attended the Celtic Fest, and what a wonderful time we all had. Free!! Although if I had known about the flat $25 rate that the Monroe underground garage was charging, I would most certainly have made other arrangements. But it was right across the street.
We got there around noon, and left at five, all of us just feeling so energized and alive. Definitely a must for next year( minus the parking fee).
Where else in the world can you sit and hear an amazing, fabulous Irish band, Larkin and Moran Brothers, while watching a huge bare mast lazily float by behind them on Lake Michigan? Incredible. Bagpipes, which I love, crafts, sheepherding, stupendous Irish dancing, just all things Gaelic and Celtic. And of course watching men walk around in sexy kilts. For free, mind you, all free. No wonder I think Chicago the greatest city in the world. Sure New York is great too, but it's Central Park cannot compare to our Lakefront. No way. Of course I must admit the weather played it's part in this most delicious day.
Three cheers for Chicago (with or without the Olympics).
Thursday, September 10, 2009
THE NEW ME - POSTSCRIPT
Well, those braces won't work. I am too fat, and they horribly constrict my lower thigh. Shoot. I went walking anyway, but at a much slower pace today. And iced my knees for 20 minutes the second I came home. They're all right now. Am looking forward to those new shoes.
One thing I've been meaning to relate about my Prairie Path walks. The path is right under a glide path for O'Hare. Many years ago I took an antiques class at Willowbrook High School on Tuesday nites, and that's when I first noticed this phenomenon. When you look to the southwest, and can pinpoint exactly where the planes are coming from, it's quite a thrill to see that pinprick, that tiny dot, appear in the sky, or if there happen to be clouds, then you see the entire plane suddenly loom in the sky. It's sort've like a Star Trek thing, you can imagine that the plane is dropping out of warp drive into our time. First there is nothing, then there is something, seemingly out of nowhere. And I can experience this walking down the Prairie Path. But only going west.
One thing I've been meaning to relate about my Prairie Path walks. The path is right under a glide path for O'Hare. Many years ago I took an antiques class at Willowbrook High School on Tuesday nites, and that's when I first noticed this phenomenon. When you look to the southwest, and can pinpoint exactly where the planes are coming from, it's quite a thrill to see that pinprick, that tiny dot, appear in the sky, or if there happen to be clouds, then you see the entire plane suddenly loom in the sky. It's sort've like a Star Trek thing, you can imagine that the plane is dropping out of warp drive into our time. First there is nothing, then there is something, seemingly out of nowhere. And I can experience this walking down the Prairie Path. But only going west.
THE NEW ME
I knew it; I did jinx myself. 183 this morning, 40 days into the Plan. But here's where that 1 pound every five days helps. Because I only had to weight 184. So while, on one hand I'm really bummed, on the other, I figure I'm still ahead. And in the next five days, I only have to stay at 183.
And I must admit, I have not been rising 30 minutes before dawn, and exercising, as I said I would. So I am probably getting more sleep. And while I have been walking, I have not been doing anything else, and some days that means nothing at all. I cannot afford that. All the data says I should exercise for an hour each and every day. Hard.
But I have not been off the food plan, at least. And oddly, I have never even been tempted. My daughter-in-law is a superb baker, and over the weekend she made an apple pie. I love pie, but I was not even remotely saying "I want that". I had some watermelon chunks, which I love also, and a small container of yogurt. It was fine.
My knees are still iffy, and that may be part of the reason I have laid off. Yesterday I bought three pairs of shoes online, and we'll see if they help. My husband says my pair of Adidas, which I have had so long, I can't even remember when I bought them or where (and I usually do remember that stuff), has broken down totally. He is out now to see about knee braces. Maybe they will help. It would be nice if the humidity would cooperate.
So I will continue, onwards and downwards, I hope. I think tomorrow I will rise early and try to exercise again. Today, I plan to march down The Prairie Path and see if the braces help. Or whatever they're called. 40 days, nine pounds, I should not complain.
On another note, I do plan to reconnect with those bus routes. The reason, well several, that I have not been doing that, is gardening season hit me, and more importantly, the route #7, the next one, is thru what I think is an iffy neighborhood, and I was reluctant to do it. And I may find that that is a totally preconceived prejudice. But now my husband says he will go with me, so we are planning that for one day next week. Watch for it.
And this weekend, I will attend the Celtic Fest, and report on that. Years ago, I went to a smaller one, held in OakBrook Terrace, on the grounds of Butler Golf Course. And loved it. Can't wait to be at this bigger one in Grant Park.
40 days down.
And I must admit, I have not been rising 30 minutes before dawn, and exercising, as I said I would. So I am probably getting more sleep. And while I have been walking, I have not been doing anything else, and some days that means nothing at all. I cannot afford that. All the data says I should exercise for an hour each and every day. Hard.
But I have not been off the food plan, at least. And oddly, I have never even been tempted. My daughter-in-law is a superb baker, and over the weekend she made an apple pie. I love pie, but I was not even remotely saying "I want that". I had some watermelon chunks, which I love also, and a small container of yogurt. It was fine.
My knees are still iffy, and that may be part of the reason I have laid off. Yesterday I bought three pairs of shoes online, and we'll see if they help. My husband says my pair of Adidas, which I have had so long, I can't even remember when I bought them or where (and I usually do remember that stuff), has broken down totally. He is out now to see about knee braces. Maybe they will help. It would be nice if the humidity would cooperate.
So I will continue, onwards and downwards, I hope. I think tomorrow I will rise early and try to exercise again. Today, I plan to march down The Prairie Path and see if the braces help. Or whatever they're called. 40 days, nine pounds, I should not complain.
On another note, I do plan to reconnect with those bus routes. The reason, well several, that I have not been doing that, is gardening season hit me, and more importantly, the route #7, the next one, is thru what I think is an iffy neighborhood, and I was reluctant to do it. And I may find that that is a totally preconceived prejudice. But now my husband says he will go with me, so we are planning that for one day next week. Watch for it.
And this weekend, I will attend the Celtic Fest, and report on that. Years ago, I went to a smaller one, held in OakBrook Terrace, on the grounds of Butler Golf Course. And loved it. Can't wait to be at this bigger one in Grant Park.
40 days down.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
THE NEW ME
Incredible!!!! This morning I weighed two pounds less, 182. In five days. This simply cannot continue. 10 pounds in 35 days.
I have given up dancing around the basement and the weight and stretching exercises, at least for now, until my knees seem better. But I have upped the speed on the marching tapes to four mph. And I can keep up with that pace, although I will admit, I'm exhausted when I walk back in the door. And only every other day. The off day, sometimes I walk to the library and back, about two miles, but at a leisurely stroll.
Still keeping to the food plan. The whole thing this week was hard because on Tuesday I received the news of the death of a friend's grandson. A bike accident. He was 19. This was a blow, as maybe 10 years ago she lost her only daughter (not the mother). She is a very good friend, we have season tickets to The Goodman together, and have frequently gone away to various B&B's. I was devastated, as were all her friends. We stood in line for a solid hour at the wake Wednesday nite, he had so many people who loved him. It was particularly hard for my husband and I because in 1980 we had lost his 19-year-old daughter suddenly also. She fell off a cliff at Starved Rock State Park.
At the lunch after the funeral Thursday (which was very emotional, as you can imagine) I did manage to eat properly, in spite of the macaroni and cheese and rhubarb pie, both things I adore. And at our table where there was only one woman of normal weight (besides my husband of course) I made a point of seeing what she ate. Learn from the pros. She had one thin slice of roast beef (I had taken a pretty good slab of the end), a small piece of chicken breast, a roasted fresh broccoli crown, and a very small portion of the mac and cheese. Plus a salad plate which may or not have had any dressing on it, but it sure wasn't the heavy creamy stuff I saw. I was sorry I could not be behind her in line, I would have chosen as she did. But I did alright, with the roast beef, broccoli, some cherry tomatoes, cukes and pickled onions, and a small roll with a tad of butter. I did have to put cream in my coffee.
Anyway, that was the five days. Tuesday, the day I received the news, I was paralyzed. Could not do any exercise at all. But didn't overeat, at least. "Learn to enjoy the weight loss process". I'm tryin', I'm tryin'. On Thursday, when I weigh again, I only have to be 184, and I do not plan on gaining any weight (now have I jinxed myself?). So I'll be happy to remain at 182.
35 days down.
I have given up dancing around the basement and the weight and stretching exercises, at least for now, until my knees seem better. But I have upped the speed on the marching tapes to four mph. And I can keep up with that pace, although I will admit, I'm exhausted when I walk back in the door. And only every other day. The off day, sometimes I walk to the library and back, about two miles, but at a leisurely stroll.
Still keeping to the food plan. The whole thing this week was hard because on Tuesday I received the news of the death of a friend's grandson. A bike accident. He was 19. This was a blow, as maybe 10 years ago she lost her only daughter (not the mother). She is a very good friend, we have season tickets to The Goodman together, and have frequently gone away to various B&B's. I was devastated, as were all her friends. We stood in line for a solid hour at the wake Wednesday nite, he had so many people who loved him. It was particularly hard for my husband and I because in 1980 we had lost his 19-year-old daughter suddenly also. She fell off a cliff at Starved Rock State Park.
At the lunch after the funeral Thursday (which was very emotional, as you can imagine) I did manage to eat properly, in spite of the macaroni and cheese and rhubarb pie, both things I adore. And at our table where there was only one woman of normal weight (besides my husband of course) I made a point of seeing what she ate. Learn from the pros. She had one thin slice of roast beef (I had taken a pretty good slab of the end), a small piece of chicken breast, a roasted fresh broccoli crown, and a very small portion of the mac and cheese. Plus a salad plate which may or not have had any dressing on it, but it sure wasn't the heavy creamy stuff I saw. I was sorry I could not be behind her in line, I would have chosen as she did. But I did alright, with the roast beef, broccoli, some cherry tomatoes, cukes and pickled onions, and a small roll with a tad of butter. I did have to put cream in my coffee.
Anyway, that was the five days. Tuesday, the day I received the news, I was paralyzed. Could not do any exercise at all. But didn't overeat, at least. "Learn to enjoy the weight loss process". I'm tryin', I'm tryin'. On Thursday, when I weigh again, I only have to be 184, and I do not plan on gaining any weight (now have I jinxed myself?). So I'll be happy to remain at 182.
35 days down.
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