Life in the Aly'hood

HOPE

2010-02-02T13:12:00.004-06:00

As I continue my journey along the Dr. Oz Highway of Health, I sometimes lose a little steam - a little "hope," if you will. When I think about the big picture of how much weight I need to lose, it can be overwhelming. And that's when I lose hope. Because it seems like such an impossible task. And because, like most people, I want results now.

I've always been pretty impatient about things. Actually, that is probably an understatement - just ask my parents and anyone who knew me as a child. I'm still pretty impatient most of the time. And so the whole "slow" weight loss thing is kind of a thorn in my side. That's probably the reason I've never given any diet more than a couple months.

Given the fact that I had been complaining about how my weight loss was moving along much slower than I thought it should, my pal Loriana decided I needed a pep talk. It was exactly what I needed. She reminded me that it's not going to happen overnight and that I have to just keep moving forward and continue to build on the good habits I've developed. This is a life program - not a quick fix. And that I WILL see results, but not to expect too much in a short amount of time. And most importantly - not to compare my results to anyone else's. This could possibly have been the best advice she gave me. It's hard not to get caught up with the quick results you see on "Biggest Loser." It almost brainwashes you into believing if you're not losing 5-10 pounds per week, you aren't doing something right. Loriana made me realize that it truly is a marathon, not a sprint.

And so what if my results are small - they are still going in the right direction. As long as I continue going in the right direction, it's all good.

After my mini "kick in the pants," I took my measurements and was surprised to find I did better than I thought. The scale said I lost 10 pounds, but the tape measure gave me even better news: a total loss of 7 1/2 inches (1/2 inch off my neck, 3 inches off my chest, 2 inches of my waist, and 2 inches off my hips).

So thanks, Loriana, for reminding me of what is important. Suffice it to say my hope has been renewed.

“Hope never abandons you; you abandon it.”
George Weinberg

Back on the wagon.....

2010-01-21T15:45:00.004-06:00

Well, it certainly has been a while since I've blogged. The best of intentions, the poorest of follow through.

But, I have a reason to be back - I've started doing the Dr. Oz diet (based on the program in his book "YOU On a Diet") along with several of my co-workers, and thought I'd blog about my progress. I started the diet back in December right before the holidays, and so far, so good. Although I really shouldn't call it a diet, since I'm really trying to change my eating habits and improve the quality of the foods I'm eating.

In a nutshell, Dr. Oz promotes eating more "whole foods" - no processed junk and packaged foods that contain ingredients you can't pronounce. And as my good friend (and fearless leader of our group) Loriana always tells me, if you can't pronounce it, your body doesn't know what to do with it and you have no business eating it. It's been an eye-opening experience to say the least. I never really paid much attention to the ingredients of the foods I ate, but I certainly do now.

The biggest offenders were the "diet" foods I was eating - fat-free yogurt, low-fat cookies, frozen "diet" entrees, packaged cereals - pretty much anything that comes out of a box. I also had no concept of how much sodium I was taking in on a daily basis. All those packaged foods are loaded with sodium, along with extremely long lists of ingredients that are not pronounceable and look a lot like chemical names.

I have to say, I'm feeling a lot better since I've changed my "diet." The downside is that convenience is something that does not go hand in hand with this. So, I spend a lot of time preparing my meals. But in the end I know it will all be worth it.

And I can't say enough of how much I love the fact my little lunch group is also doing the Dr. Oz program - it is so much easier to stay on track when everyone around you is eating the same. Plus we share a lot of ideas on foods and strategies and will soon start doing some workouts together. So I'm sending a shout-out to Christina, Leigh, and Patrick, who (along with Loriana) keep me honest.

Loriana featured several of us in one of her health stories as we kicked off the plan. Check it out here: http://bit.ly/5dt4er

Stay tuned for updates!

So long java....I will miss you so.....

2009-03-22T14:24:00.007-05:00

The birth and death of my coffee addiction.

We were such good friends for so long, the coffee and me. But, it's time to say good bye. For sooooo many reasons. First and foremost, for how much money it's costing me per month. Something Nelson points out to me on a regular basis. And secondly, all that caffeine isn't doing my health any favors. I've known it was coming for a long time, but it's time. I have to let the coffee go.

It all started so harmlessly, about 6 years ago, when I met Allen at Starbucks. Allen was my coffee pusher - the man who got me hooked. He would offer me all sorts of "fun" drinks - I couldn't resist! I was so taken in by his charmful coffeemaking, that I had to introduce him to Nelson. They became fast friends and remain so to this day. Allen was also giving me coffee for free on the side. It was easy to get my addiction going. Then, just like that, Allen was gone. Quit. Left. I had no more coffee favors coming my way. But it was too late...I'd already become addicted.

Fast forward 6 years - Nelson and I consider Allen and his girlfriend Ana among our closest friends. And I'm still addicted to the coffee - more specifically, Starbucks. What's interesting is that I really don't even like Starbucks coffee - it's too strong, bitter and always tastes burnt. But still I go back for it. I disguise it cleverly with lots of milk and sugar-loaded flavor. I would probably be better off eating a candy bar for all the calories my coffee drinks have.

But I find it's not even just about the coffee (well, it's mostly about the coffee.) I've gotten to know all the baristas at "my" Starbucks. Will John, Johnny, Becky, Orlando, Drew - and they all know what I drink. As soon as I walk in, they just smile, say "hey Aly - 7 pump?" and my drink is ready by the time I've paid. Those baristas are more than my friends - they are like family! Well, more like drug-pusher family. ;)

However, all good things must come to an end, and since Nelson and I are currently in the market for a home, I know it's time to stop the madness. Plus, I know that all the crap in that coffee drink is probably not doing my health any favors. And since I've re-started Weight Watchers after a couple month hiatus, I want to start looking for healthier alternatives.

I may venture back once in a while, to say hello. I may even get a tall coffee just for old-times sake. However, for now, it's adieu to my old friend. I loved you so.....

Random Fun

2009-02-07T13:26:00.006-06:00

I had to (well, I didn't really "have to") write a list of 25 random things about myself on Facebook, which is, incidentally, the most addictive thing ever. I mean, where else can you be a hitman, join the mafia, play online games, swap fun stories, compete in fake competitions, and enjoy just total random fun?

So in the spirit of random fun, here are the 25 random things about myself that you may or may not even care about.

Enjoy!

1. I have been happily married for 8 years to the most normal person I ever dated.

2. I think my husband is the most awesome person I know.

3. As a teenager, I always told people I wasn’t having kids until I was 40.

4. I’m incredibly goofy and love to laugh more than just about anything else in
life. Just ask my husband. It should come as no surprise, then that I love hanging out with other incredibly goofy people that make me laugh.

5. I get absolutely giddy when I walk into a book store or library, and have a problem hoarding books.

6. I love reading so much and get so excited about certain books that I often have 2-3 books going at a time. Yeah, I’m a book nerd.

7. I miss my parents. Actually, I miss all of my family terribly and wished I lived closer to them. They are all in Wisconsin and Illinois and I only get to see them all about once every year or two.

8. I’ve always wished I came from a huge family.

9. I feel incredibly blessed that we have such an awesome church family right here in Austin (well, actually Pflugerville and Austin!) and a pastor we adore.

10. I think tattoos are sexy.

11. I wish I knew how to drive a motorcycle, despite the fact that riding on them scares the crap out of me.

12. I think snowmobiling for a week across Yellowstone Park in Wyoming sounds like one of the coolest vacations I could go on.

13. I get panic attacks when I fly. I hate that I get panic attacks, because I desperately want to go to Europe and Hawaii.

14. I’ve hiked up a mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado and slept overnight in a lean-to that I built myself with plastic and sticks.

15. I once picked up a hitchhiker when I was driving from Wisconsin to Michigan.

16. I absolutely hate the fact that I’m aging. I still falsely believe I’m in my 20’s.

17. I hope to write a novel one day.

18. Some day I want to compete in a mini-triathalon.

19. I participated in singing competitions in high school, but completely dropped it when I hit college, due to the fact that I get stage fright.

20. When I attended a semester (only one) at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, I rarely attended classes, and actually slept through my finals. It was soon after I decided maybe taking a break from college was a good thing while I “found” myself.

21. Unfortunately, it took me a LONG time to find myself and I didn’t graduate from college until I was in my 30’s – however, I did so with a 4.0 average, a degree in something I love (English Writing) from a wonderful private university, and about $45,000 of school loans debt.

22. I love, love, love rock music (especially 80’s hair bands!). In my early 20’s I was a total groupie and hung out with rock musicians at questionable bars.

23. I own a bowling trophy, my own bowling ball, bag, and shoes. And yes, I was in a bowling league for years when I lived in Green Bay. I was also in a dart league. Don’t hate – there’s nothing else to do in the winter in Wisconsin.

24. I have an unnatural fear of sharks and because of it, hate swimming in the ocean.

25. I wish I could say I’ve had no regrets in my life, but that would be a lie.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

2008-12-22T00:09:00.006-06:00

I believe that today is the first day that it hasn't snowed since I arrived in Green Bay, Wisconsin last week. That means it's been snowing for about 5 days. Now I love a white Christmas as much as the next guy (or girl), but I think I've had my fill for some time now. Sadly, although it's stopped snowing, now the wind chills are dropping temperatures below the zero mark. The fun just never stops in the great white north!!!

Check out what the view was like the last few days:

And our poor Texas car....buried in snow.....

But it hasn't been all bad. I was able to reconnect with some of my favorite girls in GB, have some coffee, some laughs, eat at a couple of my favorite restaurants, and spend quality time with the parents. But sadly, tomorrow morning Green Bay will be but a memory, and an image in our rearview mirror, as we head south to Illinois. To more below-freezing weather.

I'm counting the days til I'm back in Texas.....

What Do You Mean, Dogs Don't Wear Jackets?

2008-12-02T22:58:00.006-06:00

That was my response to Nelson when he told me our dog, Denver, didn't need a jacket to keep him warm during our trip up north to Wisconsin. This, despite the fact that it will probably be hovering somewhere around zero or something equally insane, and that our little guy has never experienced weather colder than probably 35 or 40-degrees. After all, he IS a Texan and has never traveled outside the state. But being the concerned dog mommy that I am, I defied Nelson and picked up this sporty little number for him anyway. Pretty cute, no? And just look how "happy" Denver seems to be!! Can't you sense his joy?Notice the fancy hood?I bet he's thankful every day that he gets to live with us!

Why I'm Thankful

2008-11-30T14:36:00.005-06:00

Since it is Thanksgiving weekend, it seems to be as good a time as any to reflect on things I'm thankful for. Here is just a short list:

My wonderful, patient husband.
My sweet, cuddly little dog who keeps my feet warm at night.
My family who keep me grounded and encouraged.
My friends who keep me laughing and feeling loved.
A job that pays my bills.
A solid roof over my head.
Food on my table.
Cooler temperatures.
Religious and political freedom.

Oh, and I can't forget how thankful I am for not gaining weight over Thanksgiving! Of course, the week's not over and neither is my next WW weigh-in, but I'm pretty confidant I'll have a loss this week. And speaking of losses, as of my last weigh-in, I'm happy to report that not only did I lose the weight I gained two weeks ago, but I lost a couple pounds more for good measure.

But now on to some sad news. As the deadline for the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) looms close (hours away, at this point), I must admit I did not finish my novel. Nope - not even close. I did, however, at least get out of the starting gate with over 1000 words and an actual plot/idea. So, no celebration parties for me, or "eleventh hour" freakouts getting the last few words in. Just complete defeat. But, even though I didn't get it written in a month, I'm going to keep at it and maybe, just maybe, it'll actually turn into a real novel one day. Here's to hoping!

And the Good News Keeps on Coming...

2008-11-20T20:24:00.005-06:00

On the heels of our week-long AT&T debacle comes this.

After a very uneventful day, I was so looking forward to coming home, making a delicious fish dinner for Nelson and myself, and relaxing while watching Survivor. But God has a sense of humor, as always, and clearly that was not in the cards for us tonight.

Instead, I'm in our computer room (blogging, of course) and waiting on Nelson to make sandwiches for us to eat in here. In front of the computer. On the futon bed. Why, you may ask, won't we be in our dining room or living room watching our favorite show? Well, it is currently "under construction" due to a leak that apparently sprung sometime today and has soaked our carpeting and some of our wall.
Sooooo...our furniture is currently in the middle of the living room, there is a huge hole in our ceiling, and plaster and debris are pretty much everywhere. Oh yeah, and a cloud of dust that is hovering over the entire space that is making it hard for me to breathe.

But it could be worse. The people who live upstairs, where the leak originated, have a huge whole in their floor AND they won't have any heat tonight, since the leak was in their hot water unit. Or something that sounds like it heats things. In their apartment. I guess that means no hot water for them either. Now THAT would suck. (In case you were thinking, no big deal on the heat thing, you live in Texas. Well, a cold front is blowing through and it is supposed to be in the low 30's tonight). Nope - we got off pretty good. Instead, this is what we have to look forward to: no living room for several days while they pull the carpeting back and put big blowers on it to dry it out.
And people in and out of our aparment for several days while they patch the hole in our ceiling and fix the pipe(s). But, at least the drilling has stopped. And can I add that we have the BEST maintenance guy ever?? He was here within 15 minutes of us calling, after hours, and with a smile and happy attitude.

Denver, our dog, of course could not be happier that there is a new person in our apartment. Every time the door opens, Denver plays "beat the mom to the door" and practically trips me on the way so he can see who's there. Even though you'd think he would have figured out by now that it's the same person. And I would bet money on the fact that he's plotting his escape from the bedroom tonight to nose around through the dust to see what treasures he can find. No doubt the smell of wet plaster seems inviting to him. Oh to live the life of a dog!

At any rate, our night has kind of gone downhill from here, and we're subjected to sandwiches for dinner since our water had to be turned off for a bit while the leak was being located. Thus making the whole cooking thing difficult. But hey, at least we have heat tonight!

Three Steps Forward, One Step Back

2008-11-19T13:10:00.004-06:00

Soooo...today was my 7 week weigh-in at Weight Watchers, and sadly, I'm up 2.5 pounds. As much as I know I will obsess over how it happened, the reality is this is my first week with a gain since starting the program. All other weeks I've been averaging 2-2.5 pound losses. While I'm not surprised I gained this week, I'm surprised at how much I gained. The source of the damage, you may ask? One delicious deep fried meal at RC Fowlers (or is KC Fowlers? I can NEVER remember the name of that place!) consisting of chicken tenders with wing sauce, waffle fries, chips and queso. To my credit, however, I did count every last thing "on program", wrote it all down in my food journal, and used all of my extra "flex" points (plus maybe a few I didn't have). Not to my credit was the yucky tummy I had to deal with all night. Apparently, the body gets used to healthy food and rebels when something nasty accidentally finds its way there.

I find that I've also been relying heavily on Lean Cuisine meals, so maybe the sodium finally caught up with me. I've cut way back on Starbucks, so I can't blame that this time. Overall, however, I've lost a total of 15 pounds, 9 pounds with Weight Watchers, so I'd say I'm doing ok.

I'm also happy to report that instead of using it as an excuse to "throw caution to the wind" and "eat everything in sight since I gained anyway", I actually sat down and contemplated how I could do things differently to not have a gain next week. Strangely, I actually ate below my points today because I just wasn't all that hungry.

On another note, I've been watching the show Ruby on the Style Network, and I just can't say enough how much I love her and find her inspirational. She is beautiful inside and out and just exudes this amazing energy. While I don't have as much weight to lose as she does (I believe she started the show around 470 pounds), I can still relate to the struggle and desire to be "normal" and able to do the same things that "skinny" people do. And I appreciate the fact that she is losing her weight the old fashioned way - which I still believe is the best way there is.

This week's show focused on the return of her ex-boyfriend and her feelings over how things ended between them. He said if only she would have lost weight, he probably would have married her. Whatever. That's a LOT of pressure to put on someone. Chances are that even if she had lost the weight, he probably would have eventually found something else that wasn't good enough. I really question his return at this point in her life. My guess is that he caught wind of the fact that she was on TV and didn't want to be left out of the spotlight.

But Ruby didn't fall for it and said that she wants someone who loves her for all of her - weight and all. And I say Amen to that! Ruby closed by saying for the first time she is falling in love with herself. And what could be more beautiful than that?

The Good, the Bad, and the Healthy

2008-11-11T14:37:00.006-06:00

For anyone wondering what ever happened with our AT&T U-verse, I'm happy to report, after MANY MANY MANY phone calls between my husband and AT&T customer service, that we now have cable and internet. However, we still don't have a home phone because Time Warner Cable has decided to "not release it" for two weeks just because they can. I'm told they do this so that they can try to convince us not to leave them. Well....funny, but we haven't gotten any phone calls offering us some incredible deal to make us want to change our minds. Oh wait....they can't.....because we HAVE NO PHONE SERVICE! HA! I guess the last laugh is on them. And, Nelson is currently on his way to Time Warner to turn in our equipment, so it's already a done deal.

Despite the obvious issues getting U-verse installed, I have to say that I LOVE IT!!! The DVR is awesome - it can record up to four shows at a time and can hold some ridiculous number of hours of shows - like 120 hours, or something like that. And, no more having to rewind, fast forward or hunt for available VHS tapes, which I'm guessing will soon be obsolete anyway. And I love that I just go through the menu, push the ok button on the show I want, tell it to record, and VOILA! Done. I.Love.U-verse. And the not having a phone part? Not so bad.

What I don't like is that I no longer have Exercise TV On Demand. I may have to write a letter telling AT&T that so far it is the only flaw I find in their service. They do, however, have Fit TV, but not on demand. So, instead of being sad at losing my hundreds of options of various workouts (did I mention how much I LOVED Exercise TV On Demand???), I've decided to go through and DVR some of the Fit TV workouts. It doesn't have all the cool workouts like Biggest Loser, Leslie Sansone, Jackie Warner or any of the rest of the top trainers, but at least it is something. I've already canceled my gym membership, since I never used it anyway, so it's good that I can at least have some variety for working out at home.

I just finished doing a Tai Chi/Kickboxing workout, and I have to say I feel very invigorated - so I'll definitely be keeping that one. I also think I am digging the Tai Chi part and that it may make an excellent workout to do before bed. I am going to have to check into that. Either way, I believe I'll have to start building my DVD exercise video library. So, if anyone has current workout DVDs that they are loving, I'd be happy to hear your recommendations!

Can You Feel the Change?

2008-11-05T23:22:00.004-06:00

Barack Obama = inspiration and hope.

Today I am proud to be an American.

AT&T, Thanks for Nothing!

2008-11-03T19:30:00.004-06:00

As I type, Nelson is on the phone, yet again, trying to straighten out our installation of AT&T's Uverse - something we were VERY excited to get. Being the hopeless TV addicts that we are, when we heard we could get all the same channels as we were getting on Time Warner Cable, along with Starz, and DVR that can record up to 4 programs at a time, and all for the same price, we were pretty excited. And, this all happened quite coincidentally at the same time as our local NBC affiliate, KXAN, and Time Warner were having some ridiculous dispute over paying for NBC's signal. Since they couldn't resolve it, Time Warner pulled KXAN off the air. All the signs pointed towards Uverse.

So, we waited patiently for WEEKS to have it installed, and on our scheduled day, this past Saturday, we got up early and were prepared for the nice installation person who showed up around 8:30am. Cancelling all other plans, we stuck around all morning while she was doing her thing. Half-way through, she announced that she couldn't get the phone line up and working. After calling the office, she found out that somehow that portion of our order didn't make it through, and if we didn't mind not having a phone for 2 weeks, she could reschedule the phone hookup, and we could get the cable and internet part done that day. No problem, we said, we have cell phones. We can live a couple of weeks with no pesky calls from telemarketers, who are about the only people who use our land line anyway.

After another hour or so, she informed us that she had more bad news - now she couldn't get a signal on any of the hookups - phone, cable or internet. Seems AT&T scheduled our hookup for November 28th. Which is kind of baffling, since SHE showed up November 1st to hook it up. Which is the date they told us on the phone. Soooooo....I'm not sure how she would have known to show up or where to show up if the appointment wasn't really scheduled until later in the month. It appeared to be just as baffling to her and everyone she talked to at AT&T, because they couldn't provide an explanation that made sense. Something about our order getting "lost" in the system, and that it was stuck somewhere along the way....whatever. She was kind enough, however, to reschedule it for us on Wednesday, as an evening appointment, between 6 and 9pm.

Unfortunately, I had an appointment for that night, but I gladly moved it so that one of us could be home for the installation. (We only have one car - so if I have an appointment after work, Nelson has an appointment after work)

Today Nelson gets a message saying that the install is all set for Wednesday between 12pm and 2pm. HUH????? When he calls to let them know that's not what we were told, the friendly customer service rep tells him that because it's a new install, there's no way they can do an evening appointment. Despite the fact that all the equipment is in our apartment, our furniture pulled apart, in anticipation of just getting a signal. He then tells Nelson that our appointment was actually scheduled for November 28th.

So, it's now 7:50pm, and Nelson's been on the phone since about 7pm trying to straighten it out. After they had an initial "bad connection" on their end (big surprise, right?) and had to call him back. Then he had to call yet another department - I believe the third or fourth he's spoken to since this morning.

What's really annoying is that when the nice installation girl hooked our Time Warner back up, she didn't route it correctly, so we don't have the ability to tape one show while watching another.

The good news? I got a full workout in tonight, since the DVD seems to work just fine.

The REALLY bad news? We now have to pay for a month of Time Warner AND AT&T since we didn't disconnect Time Warner by the first of the month, as planned.

Will we get AT&T Uverse? Will we stick with Time Warner Cable? Will we blow up our TV's and swear off all television? Stay tuned.....

A Walk in the Park

2008-10-27T21:30:00.008-05:00

One of the reasons I love Austin so much is the number of great parks hidden in the city. And since the weather here is so nice this time of year, it's the perfect time to check out some of the local trails. And despite his tiny size, Denver will never turn down a hike if it's with his favorite peeps (that would be us). Actually, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't turn down a hike with any peeps, favorites or not, since he's never met a human he didn't like.

Since doing workout tapes in the sanctuary of my living room can be a little claustrophobic when it's a balmy 80 degrees outside, exploring local parks is a great alternative for getting some much needed exercise. Thus, Nelson and I have embarked on a "tour de trails" of Austin.

Our first was this past Saturday morning, in a very residential neighborhood that we never would have found except for Nelson's super sleuthing skills (i.e. Google). It was the perfect place for a relatively easy hike and lively political discussion. It's interesting how you think you really know someone, after 10 years, and then get caught off guard when you hear what their REAL political views are.

At any rate, behold the beauty that lies deep within the city of Austin, whether you fancy political talk or not.

And check out the best little hiker under 12 pounds, along with the always elusive Nelson, looking very dapper in his very "non-hiking" attire.

Biggest Loser and I are friends again....

2008-10-24T13:17:00.005-05:00

So ok, despite my earlier thoughts on how Biggest Loser may not be as motivational for some as others, I do have to say that the workout DVD's are pretty awesome. I'm currently doing the Power Sculpt workout that features Jillian, Bob and Kim from the show.
So far, I've only done Jillian's portion, but it's one of my favorite workouts now. I like that she uses contestants from past seasons, so that I feel I'm working out with "real" people. The moves are mostly compound moves, which I like because it feels like I'm getting more done in a shorter amount of time. You can also do one, two, or all three workouts - kind of like a "mix and match". So if you are short on time one day, you can just do the 20 minute workout, or if you are looking to be more challenged, you can add on one of the other two. I'll soon be adding Bob's workout, which I'm SURE I will love because he's just really pretty to look at. :)

On another note, I had my second weigh in yesterday at Weight Watchers, and am down 2 more pounds, which makes a total of 6 pounds in two weeks. Whoo-hoo!

Random Picture of the Day

2008-10-24T13:11:00.003-05:00

Is that a boot on your head, Nelson, or are you just happy to see me?

And people think I'M the crazy one in the family.

Stepping Out in Faith

2008-10-21T19:04:00.006-05:00

"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

This is the quote on the bottom of my food diary page from yesterday. And it's so relevant, for so many reasons. First of all, my faith has been a major part of my life since an October night in 1997. Stepping out in faith is something I practice on a regular basis.

Ironically, I'm currently participating in a bible study, with an awesome group of women, called "If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat." We often talk about "stepping out of the boat." And for me, that's exactly what I do each morning when I wake up - I step out of my boat of safety, having faith that I'll be able to follow a healthy eating plan, and have the energy to workout, and that by doing those things, I will bring happiness and health into my life. If I didn't have faith in that, what would be the purpose?

The second part of the quote says that you just have to take the first step, even if you don't see the whole staircase. Which is interesting, since looking at a major weight loss seems like an eternal staircase with no end in sight. But if I choose to look at it in steps, the first is easy. All I have to do is follow a healthy eating plan and workout. Should be a no-brainer. And if I look at the next step as just losing 10 pounds, how hard can that be? And if each time I lose 10 pounds, I look to the next 10 pounds, pretty soon it will add up, and eventually spell out a major weight loss.

So I'm going to continue to step out in faith, and continue to look forward to the success that I will enjoy along the way.

Biggest Loser is Not My Friend

2008-10-17T19:13:00.003-05:00

So yesterday was my 2nd week at Weight Watchers, and my second weigh-in. I'm proud to say that I've lost 4 pounds!! Although what I WANT to say is that I've lost "only" 4 pounds. You see, unfortunately, the show Biggest Loser has completely ruined me. And I know I'll probably get hate mail for this, but I think the show has set me up for disappointment. Now don't get me wrong, I think the idea of helping so many people lose great amounts of weight is awesome - after all, I'm trying to do the same. On my own. And that is where the problem begins.

On the BL, the participants generally lose pretty large amounts at once - many times up to 15-30 pounds their first week. So, in comparison, 4 pounds seems like a rather weak weight loss. Now I know they are "at the ranch" with top trainers, all the healthy food they could want, non-stop workouts, yadda yadda yadda. And that usually 2-3 weeks in, their weight loss becomes more like 3-5 pounds. But what is troubling is that when they do hit those slowdowns, the trainers are always so upset - and always ask what they've been doing wrong. They essentially get chastised for not having as successful of a week as what the trainers had hoped for. And that just makes me sad. Aren't they supposed to be setting examples for the millions of people watching - most of who are NOT going to have the luxury of trainers, cooks, etc?

This is why I love Weight Watchers so much. Every weight loss, great or small, is applauded and rewarded - and it adds up week after week. I'm not getting fancy trainers or someone planning my meals for me every day and standing over me several hours a day while I sweat it out. But I am getting an idea of what it looks like to be healthy, and how I can maintain that every day for the rest of my life. And the best part? I don't HAVE to work out 6 hours a day to see results. After all, who has that much extra time on their hands?

It may take me a lot longer to lose it, but at least I know the odds are better of me keeping it off. And in the end, that's what it's all about, right?

Dancing With the Stars? Not so much.

2008-10-14T19:08:00.004-05:00

My obsession with dancing began in the 5th grade. It might have begun even earlier than that, come to think of it. I remember my Uncle Dave babysitting me in the late 1970's, teaching me how to disco in the living room when my parents went away for a weekend. He was the coolest uncle ever, and I thought I was the luckiest girl in the world, learning to dance so fancy. (By the way, I still think he's the coolest uncle ever.)

You can only imagine my delight, then, when the popular show Solid Gold debuted in 1980. I didn't just love the Solid Gold Dancers, I wanted to BE a Solid Gold Dancer. They were soooo thin and beautiful and shiny. The way they danced around to the hot 1980's music made me so envious. And I knew I had what it took to be a dancer. After all, I had created all kinds of fabulous dance routines in my basement to the likes of Donna Summer, the Bee Gees, Irene Cara (remember her??), Kool and the Gang, and KC and the Sunshine Band.

Since I didn't really have any money, being only 12 and all, I couldn't afford to buy any cassette tapes. (You may remember cassette tapes - they followed the 8-track cartridge as the more advanced way to listen to music without a turntable.) I did, however, have a father who loved to tape music and always had blank cassettes on hand. So I did what every other thrifty 12-year-old of the day did, and that was wait patiently all day by my radio with my tape recorder ready to roll. When one of the songs played that I wanted to tape, I just held the recorder up to the speaker and hit record. Admittedly not the most efficient way to record music, but nonetheless, it afforded me the ability to have my very own "mix" tape that I could use at any time. Technology sure has changed, hasn't it?

Despite having all the best dance tunes and a basement to use freely, I never did take a single formal dance lesson, instead choosing singing as my musical outlet. But I never stopped yearning to be a dancer. The closest I came was being a cheerleader and doing a dance routine during half time at the basketball games. Not quite the same, I know, but for 4 minutes once a week, I got to at least pretend.

Fast forward to adulthood, and I still have that little girl in me who would love to be a dancer. So when I decided to embark on my big weightloss journey, I knew that I would need various workouts to hold my interest. Dance videos seemed like the perfect option. Since I love Dancing With the Stars, I was delighted to discover they had put out a dance workout DVD - all for just $9.95 at Walmart. I figured, how hard can it be? It's only a workout video.

Famous last words. It's HARD. And the skinny, smiley, way-too-happy instructors make it look sooooooo easy. They appear weightless as they bounce about, kick-ball-changing around the dance floor, barely even developing a flush. I, on the other hand, keep tripping over my feet, running out of breath, missing every other step, and looking like some kind of clown who's been drinking.

Oh well. My comfort is that I have no witnesses but the dog, and occasionally my husband who normally hides out to avoid the debacle. Maybe it's just more practice that I need. After all, practice makes perfect, right???

Wake up, it's Tomorrow!!

2008-10-12T18:30:00.000-05:00

That's right. It IS tomorrow. You know how they say tomorrow never comes? Well, I'm not sure who the collective "they" is, but "they" are wrong. Tomorrow does come. It comes when you decide to do what you've been putting off til then. And for me, that is today.

Thus, my first blog entry. I've been saying forever that I'm going to start a blog. And in my mind, I'd think "I'll just do it tomorrow." I have a habit of saying that a lot. I've also sworn to start my diet tomorrow, clean the house tomorrow, start my workout plan tomorrow, get organized tomorrow, blah, blah, blah. But this time I mean it. And actually, I mean it about all those things. But first, the writing. After getting my degree in writing from St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas (the best little private college ON EARTH!), I swore I was going to write all the time. Get published. Write really, really "smart" things. But, turns out, when you graduate from St. Edward's with a degree in writing, you pretty much write non-stop until you graduate. To say I was tired of writing by graduation day would have been an understatement. So I thought perhaps I would take a short break and at least read some great literary books. But, nope, didn't do that either. Instead I OD'd on mindless magazines like People and Us. Now don't get me wrong, I love celebrity gossip as much as the next girl and maybe even more. However, I wasn't really sinking my teeth into anything meaty. I worked my way up to Chick Lit, and it earned a little place in my heart which will always be there. (Chick lit, not my heart. although I always hope my heart is there too.)

I'm happy to say though, that 5 years after graduating, I'm actually following through on my promise to write. And to read some good literary books. As a matter of fact, I'm going to start a book club with my dear friend Terri, who by the way, is one of the coolest chicks ever. Right now it's just the two of us, so either that means we are very intimidating, or nobody likes us. I like to look on the bright side and think that hey, at least we get to pick all the books we read!! And speaking of books, I found this cool website about 1001 books you should read before you die. I can't wait to dig into the list. And for anyone who wants to join me and discuss, you can check out the list here: htttp://www.1001bestbooks.com/

And just to add a little more to my writing plate, I'm also going to write a novel in 30 days. Yes, you read that write (pun intended). 30 days. Am I crazy?? Yes. Am I still going to do it? Yes. It's all part of a fabulous website called National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo for short. You can read more about that here: www.nanowrimo.org. If you've got any great plot ideas you'd like to see turned into a novel, I'm taking suggestions. :)

God Has a Sense of Humor
Yes he does, and I can prove it. So like I said, I have a problem with putting for today what I can do tomorrow. That includes losing weight and exercising. That is until a person who is very important in my life and whose opinion I care about greatly, finally pointed out the obvious. And that is that I have a weight problem, whatever I'm doing isn't working, and I need to take action now before I suffer some dire consequences. Ouch. I'll admit it stung a little. It's not as if I walked around believing I was a svelte size 4 or anything, but I like to think I'm sort of "incognito." How I can think that, I have no idea. I also suffer from the opposite of body dysmorphic syndrome in that I think I'm way skinnier than I really am. Thus I hang out with all kinds of beautiful, thin people and think I fit in. How sobering it is, then, when I can't fit into a booth, bend over to tie my shoes, walk around the block without being able to catch my breath, and all the other indignities that come with being overweight. Actually, a LOT overweight. But, my dear friend's words finally hit something deep inside me, and I decided it was time to act. On a promise to her that I would join Weight Watchers, I actually did just that the very next day. There is one close to where I work and they offer it during lunch time. I've been to it before, and figured I could just walk there. Clearly, I have a bad memory, since I didn't realize it was going to take me half my lunch hour just to walk there, uphill. In bad shoes. Really bad shoes. By the time I arrived for my first weigh-in, I had shin splints and I could feel the sweat dripping down my back. Yay me!! But I did make it, joined, stayed for the class, and then realized I had to make the trip back. More shin splints, in even hotter weather, but fortunately downhill. Sadly, by the time I got back to work, my hair was sticking to my neck and I felt like I had run a marathon. The good news? I got over 40 minutes of exercise in on my first day - all before lunch!! So yes, God has a sense of humor. I kept saying I was going to work out and he made sure I stayed true to my word! Stay tuned for more updates on how my weight loss journey progresses. And please pray for me. I'm going to need it.