Epiphany

Maybe dieting is just not for me? :)

Where to start?

I started this blog because I had it in mind that I would post things about being a librarian, and about my progress towards being healthier, more fit, yada yada yada. I see now that I hardly ever post about library stuff, and since my weight struggles have stalled out, I haven't posted at all!
So I am going to just post a quick little catch-up about the pursuit of wellness. Several weeks ago I met with the Exercise Physiologist at work. We got some basic measurements, and I knew I needed to loose some weight. I signed up for Weight Watchers at Work, and set a follow-up appt with the physiologist. I have been on WW for approximately 5 weeks (Maybe more like 6?), and went to my follow up and got some bad news. I had lost a miniscule amount of weight (1-3 pounds or so?), gained 1.5% body fat, and gained a total of 3 inches in size (1 inch gain in shoulders, 1 inch gain in stomach pooch, 1 inch gain on waist). I am going the wrong direction. The physiologist made some ammendments to my WW diet, and I am incorporating them. This was about a week ago, and I meet her again next week to get follow-up measurements done. If I haven't lost anything significant after incorporating the changes, I am going to get some blood work done to try to figure out what's wrong with me. I have even been exercising. Not a LOT, but significantly more than I had been, so there's got to be something going on. Amiright? It's hard to get motivated to blog about weight stuff when the weight is not falling off. WW is not easy. In fact, it is very much the opposite. If it weren't for my faithful coworker that goes with me, and my good friends that are on it, I don't think I could or would do it. So I'm trying to draw together my internal strength, and figure out what to do after this 10 week cycle of WW is over. Should I renew? Should I focus less on food and more on exercise? Should I try a different diet? Lots to think about in the coming weeks, but I'm going to try to do better about blogging through it. The worst case scenario is that I'll have a solid record of what didn't work.

WW first official weigh-in

After much anxiety, I went to my first official weigh-in at WW, and am happy to report a loss of 2 pounds! It isn't as much as I hoped, but since I was afraid I had actually gained weight, I am happy. Maybe I can do this afterall!

Tonight I am planning to exercise with some friends. I think meeting people and being accountable to someone is good for me, so I hope this works!

WW FAIL

I have been on Weight Watchers for almost 2 weeks now, and have stuck to the plan quite well... until this weekend. For the Labor Day weekend, my hubby and I decided to go visit my sister, bro-in-law, and their 4 kids in Alabama. It was partly for fun and partly for "work," as my hubs needed to assess some children to get practice for his school work. He's working on a PhD in School Psychology and needs to practice assessing children, so my nieces and nephews are great candidates. I ate "on plan" until we got to Alabama, and didn't get back "on plan" until we headed home. I used up all my weekly points and then some, but it was glorious.

My sister is such a great cook. It would've been a crime not to have eaten the great food she prepared. But now I am paying the price! Oh well, we had such a good time, hanging out with family, and stargazing, and roasting marshmallows, going to the lake, boating.... the kids are great, the parents are great. Hopefully I can get back on plan for the weigh-in tomorrow!

Weight Watchers

So, exercising hasn't really been working out like I had hoped, so I decided to try Weight Watchers. There is not enough time in my day to go into all the background of my issues with food, so I'll just start here. I started weight watchers a week ago. It is hard. I know that it works, because I've seen it work for multiple people in my life. After trying it for a week, I wonder how anyone can make it a serious life-long change. But since I paid for 10 weeks of moderated discipline, I'm going to stick with it. How much have I lost so far? Zero pounds. However, I have not gained weight, so maybe it's just taking a little while to get the weight-loss momentum going. My biggest grumble is that I feel hungry and unsatisfied. However, I expect this to improved as my appetite diminishes and as I learn "tricks," like little things to eat that keep me more full, and for longer. I fully anticipate that things will get better. I have to believe they'll get better. One other downside to weight watchers is that I have less energy and have a harder time concentrating. I want to include exercise in my life, but I just don't feel like I have it in me. If I were to exercise, I would earn extra WW "points" which would allow me to eat more. But I expect myself to do the work THEN get the reward, and without consuming an edible reward, I don't feel I have the energy to get going. It's kind of a catch 22. However, in the end, I know it all boils down to excuses. I need to stop making excuses. What is the common thread in all successful weight loss stories? People get motivated enough to quit making excuses. They just do it. That's what I gotta do.
I have to give a major shout-out to Anya for keeping me interested in and motivated to learn about fitness and healthy eating. I don't always do what Anya says; I don't always do what I know I need to do. But I have a much better chance of succeeding when I am armed with the knowledge. Just gotta hang in there.

Blar blar blar

For the most part, life is grand. Great husband, great job, great friends. Leave it to human beings to find one little negative thing and focus totally on it. But here it is: I feel like such a fatty. This weekend some friends are getting together to go tubing to celebrate one friend's birthday. I love that friend dearly, and tubing sounds like a lot of fun, but I am just really dreading this trip. Husband tells me that when tubing, people wear swimsuits. Well I will not be wearing a swimsuit. I thought that maybe I'd go buy some lightweight cargo pants with secure pockets so that I could be the keeper of the keys... but that plan was foiled when I went to the mall and to Target and left feeling like the Goodyear blimp. :/

I have been exercising, but not as much as I should. So i think I might go to the Rush to inquire about a membership again. I see their ads that say $19/mo with no enrollment fee. That is quite fair. I know I enjoy Zumba classes a lot more than I enjoy going to the gym at work. It's nice to come home and eat and decompress and then go exercise. Please wish me luck, or pray, or do whatever you do. I am tired of feeling like an undesirable blob.

Oh dear.

I've been away from my blog for a little while but I'm back! I was sick last week, so I didn't exercise at all, but I hit the gym hard yesterday, and on Thursday I plan to go back to the Zumba class with my good friends, Karen and JeMiale. I feel good. Fat but good. At least I'm doing something about the fatness, so I need to focus on the positive side. ;)

I'm getting the hang of things at my new job, but it's keeping me really busy! I feel like I've already learned so much, but many many new things come up every day. I hope I always love my job as much as I do right now. Even the frustrating computer stuff is fun in its own little way.

And things at home are grand as well. This past weekend, my oldest sister came to town to visit. She stayed with me and my hubby for the first time ever, and she didn't have any of the kiddos with her. She has the world's greatest kids, but it was really nice to get to just spend time with her. She taught me some sewing basics as I am learning how to quilty. We've been designing a quilt top by email and phone for a couple weeks, and we managed to get the whole quilt top put together this weekend. So next time she comes to town, we will back a back and we'll make a quilt sandwich. We got to spend time with our other sister as well. The three of us had a great outing, going to the Farmer's Market at Market Square, eating at the French Market (mmmmm nutella crepe!), going to the quilt show, going up into the sunsphere, and hanging out. If and when I get the pictures from the weekend, I'll have to post some. We had a great time, but I am/was exhausted.

So that's what's going on in my world. What's going on in yours? :)