THE NEW ME

On Tuesday, November 10, I weighed in exactly the same, 174, and I'll take it. Especially after all those Ruffles. Finally - the bag is gone. Never again, will I have Ruffles Potato Chips in this house. I simply have no resistance.

Just now, I removed all the other snacks I bought, a huge mistake, to the basement. Last night, I started in on the Ritz crackers, also a fav. So I figure if they're down in the basement, I won't hear them calling me. I hope. Yes, I hear you saying I could just pitch them, but that action is not in me.

There is an article in this morning's Trib about TOPS, which I might check out. Decades ago, I did go to a couple of meetings, but stopped, for whatever reason I cannot now remember, probably five kids and stuff like that.

On Sunday, the 1st, I went to see a terrific flic, "The Damned United", down at Pipers Alley in the city, and then in the evening again out to College of DuPage to see the Thunder Drums of China, an amazing performance, all percussion instruments. Fabulous show. But no walking that day.

Monday I walked, and went to an evening movie, "District 9", probably the best sci-fi I've seen since "Star Wars", terribly under-rated. Walked again Tuesday, but Wednesday went to a Hindu temple in Lemont, rather tired looking if you ask me, and it is all about the architecture as far as I'm concerned, not being a Hindu. There is another one on Rte. 59 just north of North Avenue that is truly a wonder to behold. No expense spared there.

Thursday walked, and that's when I first weighed 174. Friday spent the entire day at SOFA on Navy Pier. SOFA being Sculptural Objects and Fine Art. Had walked to the train, about a mile, and did you know that that Jamba Juice chain serves organic steel cut oatmeal in the morning? Had some in the train station, bused to Navy Pier, walked the mile to the very end, and walked around the show til it was time for me to leave to catch the 8:40 train home. Long, long day. I was so pooped that I called my husband to come and pick me up.
Saturday, walked and babysat, which is exercise enuf in itself. Sunday another movie, this time a documentary about Afghanistan, in which I learned so much. I had driven in and parked at Wacker and Van Buren, then walked to State and Randolph. After the film, bused again to SOFA, and walked around til almost close, this time breaking down and buying a piece of abstract bronze sculpture which just caught my eye about the third time I passed it. Small, but I love it. Called "Quest" by Bruce Niemi, a sculptor who has much public art in and around Chicagoland and the nation. He had his own booth, which allows one to bypass gallery charges, nice.

Monday I walked around the cemetery in Woodlawn for an hour to my tapes, but a slower one, as I tend to ruin my feet walking fast on cement. All day babysitting, lots of movement, very little sitting. Yesterday, the start of another 5 day period, some friends and I walked around Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve for over two hours, although not at any rapid pace. Saw a guy rollerblading with ski poles.

Except for this after dinner snacking, I am in control of what I eat. Always a good breakfast, lunch and dinner. I'm not sure what's going on after dinner, because it's for sure I'm not hungry. I'l try again tonight. And still no wine and very little sugar. Smaller portions now, always.

101 days down and still trying.

THE NEW ME

Well, now I'm getting worried. Weighed in this morning at 174!!!!!, another two pounds gone. This should not be happening. I only trooped down the Prairie Path twice in the six days since I weighed (have decided to go with the 5th, 10, 15th of the month, etc.), and have had a real bad problem with Ruffles Potato Chips. Granted they are the lower fat version, but I know now that I simply cannot have them in the house, and will not rest til they are gone. Last nite, I sat and watched episode two of "Star Wars", which I had never seen, and consumed just a ton of those chips. Which I have been doing every nite I'm not out. How can I have lost another two pounds in six days, especially with all the salt? It's unreal.

Will walk today, but that will be it til probably Tuesday (today's Thursday). Might get a walk around a cemetery on Monday, but the weekend will be spent at Navy Pier at SOFA, a sculpture and functional art show, with many lectures that I plan on attending, which means sitting.

I went to eight movies in the past two weeks too, more sitting. So what's going on? But I have come to realize that there is food for the body, and food for the soul, and movies, and art, and all things cultural I cannot live without. (I had not been to a flic in two months.) Exercise does get in the way of these things, as I probably consume 1 1/2 hours on it when I do do it. That's a big chunk out of my day. But I am so looking forward to this weekend. Exercise be damned.

Still no wine or sugar. Maybe that's the difference. I don't know, but I don't see how this can continue. I look in the mirror and see no difference, but my clothes tell me otherwise. I don't feel any different either.

I will bet money that on November 10th, I will have gained weight.

96 days down.