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).
Showing posts with label New Me. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Me. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
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.
Friday, August 28, 2009
THE NEW ME
Well, here we are seven days later, and at 186 pounds. I did see 185 some days ago, but didn't weigh after that for a few days, because I didn't want to see it go back up, but of course it did, and on the 26th I weighed in at 186.
In reading the preface for this diet book, I saw that the woman who wrote it lost 150 pounds in two years. She was much younger, but my height, 5'2". She seems to have followed no precise plan, but just changed the way and amounts she ate, and started moving. I figure that she basically lost 1 pound every five days, so I decided to only weigh myself every five days. I don't for one nano-second believe that I can lose 1 pound every five days, but I can try, I guess. So that on the 31st, when I will weigh again, I should weigh 186. What I weigh now.
Perhaps I am too caught up in numbers. She said that she learned to enjoy the whole weight loss process, a concept I can't quite wrap my mind around. But eating better, and getting in shape is a goal all by itself. Even if you weren't overweight.
And to top it all off, this morning's Trib had a small article down at the bottom of a page, that said that as an eating partner, you should never ever eat with a thin person who eats a lot, because you eat as they do, thinking they're thin. Hah!! Guess who has lived with such a person for 41 years. No wonder. I do remember that in the year we dated before we got married, I gained 20 pounds. And I knew it was because I ate as he did.
And I've been skipping exercise. Not because I don't want to do it, but because yesterday it was raining, and today, my knee hurts, and I am reluctant to either dance around the basement on it, or do the weight and stretching exercies which involve my knees totally. It's the humidity, I think. Haven't yet decided about today, but tomorrow, unless it's pouring, I will get up and go trooping down the Path. When the weather is like it is today, damp, dreary, dark, all I want to do is read.
I am trying to remember something I learned when I watched a lot of tennis because I had a thing for Stefan Edberg, the Swede who eventually was #1 in the world for a while. I had started watching him long before that, in the early days, when he was not quite yet in control of his game. And when he made a mistake he would let it get to him, and so of course he would lose. But after a while of this, he began to learn not to obsess on the flub, but to immediately put it behind him and play in the very next moment. And that is when he began to win, and win, and win. I think it must be the formula for all winners. I have never forgotten it, and have tried to apply it to my life, and exercise and weight loss. Sure, it's the old stand-by "Live in the moment", but with the added caveat of "forget your mistakes, or at least learn by them and move forward". Easier said than done, I will admit, and requires great strength of willpower.
So today. I am still rising 30 minutes before dawn, well except for Wednesday night, when for some inexplicable reason, I went to bed at 8 PM, not being able to stay awake one more moment, and did not arise til 7:20 yesterday morning. And slept all that time, except for when the alarm went off, but it was raining, and I wouldn't walk then anyway, as the Prairie Path would just be a mass of puddles. It was odd.
Still eating right. The gram portion of my scale broke, and I have decided not to replace it. Most of this world does not weigh and measure things, and I must learn to do that too.
Still trying. 27 days down.
And I must report on Macy's Glamorata. It was such fun. Would definitely go again next year, and pony up for the more expensive tickets, figuring it goes to a very worthy charity, The Ronald McDonald House. We were in the nose bleed section, but still could see that all the models' legs looked like horses' legs, so skinny we wondered how they could hold them up. Most of the clothes were good, being things that Macy's would sell here, and not so haute couture as would be seen in Paris. The men's wet swimsuit show was a hoot. Generally speaking the men seemed to be having a good time, enjoying themselves, while the women took themselves much too seriously. And they all walked just like you would expect models to walk, slouched forward, and thrown back.
The very best part was just hanging over the entrance balcony and watching all the arrivals, what they wore, how they looked. There was far more of a mixture of humanity than I had supposed. Not at all just the rich and famous.
We watched them all leave too. It was only an hour, and thank god I had my ear plugs, and a spare for my friend, or we could not have endured it. The bass was so turned on you could feel it in your bones. I had never seen or even heard of Ne-Yo but I can now easily understand why he is a Grammy winner. He was terrific. The other two performers were forgettable.
I did wish one of my sons were there to see one of the designers shows. The light design was incredible. I have never seen anything like it.
All in all, a really fun evening. The Chicago Theatre, by itself, is worthy of many pictures, and alas, I had no camera. That place is the very epitome of grand old palaces. Don't die without seeing its insides.
Sunday I went with my daughter-in-law to a Greek festival held at a Greek church way up by Foster and California. I had not realized it was so far. And had thought there would be Greek dancing. We found out that the dancing would only be in the evening and we were there for lunch. I had a Greek salad, which I dearly love anyway. Lots of nummy feta cheese, and yes, I poured on the dressing they gave me, but only one portion. And some whole milk plain yogurt. The church was quite beautiful, in great condition.
Rides and games for children, and a craft fare. Of course I bought some stuff. But I dearly would have liked to see the dancing.
In reading the preface for this diet book, I saw that the woman who wrote it lost 150 pounds in two years. She was much younger, but my height, 5'2". She seems to have followed no precise plan, but just changed the way and amounts she ate, and started moving. I figure that she basically lost 1 pound every five days, so I decided to only weigh myself every five days. I don't for one nano-second believe that I can lose 1 pound every five days, but I can try, I guess. So that on the 31st, when I will weigh again, I should weigh 186. What I weigh now.
Perhaps I am too caught up in numbers. She said that she learned to enjoy the whole weight loss process, a concept I can't quite wrap my mind around. But eating better, and getting in shape is a goal all by itself. Even if you weren't overweight.
And to top it all off, this morning's Trib had a small article down at the bottom of a page, that said that as an eating partner, you should never ever eat with a thin person who eats a lot, because you eat as they do, thinking they're thin. Hah!! Guess who has lived with such a person for 41 years. No wonder. I do remember that in the year we dated before we got married, I gained 20 pounds. And I knew it was because I ate as he did.
And I've been skipping exercise. Not because I don't want to do it, but because yesterday it was raining, and today, my knee hurts, and I am reluctant to either dance around the basement on it, or do the weight and stretching exercies which involve my knees totally. It's the humidity, I think. Haven't yet decided about today, but tomorrow, unless it's pouring, I will get up and go trooping down the Path. When the weather is like it is today, damp, dreary, dark, all I want to do is read.
I am trying to remember something I learned when I watched a lot of tennis because I had a thing for Stefan Edberg, the Swede who eventually was #1 in the world for a while. I had started watching him long before that, in the early days, when he was not quite yet in control of his game. And when he made a mistake he would let it get to him, and so of course he would lose. But after a while of this, he began to learn not to obsess on the flub, but to immediately put it behind him and play in the very next moment. And that is when he began to win, and win, and win. I think it must be the formula for all winners. I have never forgotten it, and have tried to apply it to my life, and exercise and weight loss. Sure, it's the old stand-by "Live in the moment", but with the added caveat of "forget your mistakes, or at least learn by them and move forward". Easier said than done, I will admit, and requires great strength of willpower.
So today. I am still rising 30 minutes before dawn, well except for Wednesday night, when for some inexplicable reason, I went to bed at 8 PM, not being able to stay awake one more moment, and did not arise til 7:20 yesterday morning. And slept all that time, except for when the alarm went off, but it was raining, and I wouldn't walk then anyway, as the Prairie Path would just be a mass of puddles. It was odd.
Still eating right. The gram portion of my scale broke, and I have decided not to replace it. Most of this world does not weigh and measure things, and I must learn to do that too.
Still trying. 27 days down.
And I must report on Macy's Glamorata. It was such fun. Would definitely go again next year, and pony up for the more expensive tickets, figuring it goes to a very worthy charity, The Ronald McDonald House. We were in the nose bleed section, but still could see that all the models' legs looked like horses' legs, so skinny we wondered how they could hold them up. Most of the clothes were good, being things that Macy's would sell here, and not so haute couture as would be seen in Paris. The men's wet swimsuit show was a hoot. Generally speaking the men seemed to be having a good time, enjoying themselves, while the women took themselves much too seriously. And they all walked just like you would expect models to walk, slouched forward, and thrown back.
The very best part was just hanging over the entrance balcony and watching all the arrivals, what they wore, how they looked. There was far more of a mixture of humanity than I had supposed. Not at all just the rich and famous.
We watched them all leave too. It was only an hour, and thank god I had my ear plugs, and a spare for my friend, or we could not have endured it. The bass was so turned on you could feel it in your bones. I had never seen or even heard of Ne-Yo but I can now easily understand why he is a Grammy winner. He was terrific. The other two performers were forgettable.
I did wish one of my sons were there to see one of the designers shows. The light design was incredible. I have never seen anything like it.
All in all, a really fun evening. The Chicago Theatre, by itself, is worthy of many pictures, and alas, I had no camera. That place is the very epitome of grand old palaces. Don't die without seeing its insides.
Sunday I went with my daughter-in-law to a Greek festival held at a Greek church way up by Foster and California. I had not realized it was so far. And had thought there would be Greek dancing. We found out that the dancing would only be in the evening and we were there for lunch. I had a Greek salad, which I dearly love anyway. Lots of nummy feta cheese, and yes, I poured on the dressing they gave me, but only one portion. And some whole milk plain yogurt. The church was quite beautiful, in great condition.
Rides and games for children, and a craft fare. Of course I bought some stuff. But I dearly would have liked to see the dancing.
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