I Don't Need No Stinkin' Resolutions

The season of eating with reckless abandon is coming to end (thank goodness) and I've decided to get a jump start on the New Year. Rather than waiting for New Year's Eve to come up with some lame resolution like:

• This year I'm going to lose weight. (who doesn't say that EVERY freakin' year?) or

• This year I'm going to exercise every day. (as if THAT's ever going to happen?)

Nope. This year, I'm starting NOW (did you hear me?)

I know that I am not alone if I say that I let the holidays get the best of me. Or, that I have paid the price. Too much sugar and starchy things...(but mostly sugar) has added 10 pounds to my "post cruise" self. So before those 10 become 20, I'm shaking myself out of my sugary haze and starting fresh. (again).

I briefly considered signing up for one of the membership based diet sites like eDiets or South Beach but in the end, I couldn't bring myself to plunk down any amount of money on my credit card (which is still smokin from the battle scars of December in a dual faith household). There's just too much FREE information out there to support the diet plan of your dreams.

Yesterday, I just jumped right in with both feet determined to use my knowledge for good. I'm relying on what I know has worked for me in the past and the daily scouring of my fellow bloggers wisdom. For tracking, I went back to Spark People to log my food and exercise. (It's FREE, FREE, FREE)

It's Day 2 and I already just plain feel better. Sluggishness...BE GONE!

And soon those 10 pounds will be too... and maybe a few of their friends as well.

I am back! Stay tuned for less of me.

Addictive Eating

I used to be a smoker. I was never a heavy smoker...just slightly more than a social smoker. About 10 years ago I quit…cold turkey. A fact which annoys my husband who still smokes. It’s not that he is upset that I quit but more that he doesn’t understand how I can just up and stop…just like…THAT.

And as I think back on it, it really was easier for me than most. I came down with a horrible case of bronchitis and just couldn’t bring myself to smoke while breathing was such a painful experience. Then, once I was feeling better…well, it just seemed silly to go back. But every trigger was a difficult one in the beginning. So it went like this…

Today I’m not going to smoke on the walk from my apartment to the subway. (OK, I can do that)

Next, I’m not going to smoke on the walk from the subway to my office. DONE.

Throughout the day it was more of the same until several days had gone by and I hadn’t smoked at all. So when these urges passed, I started to truly consider myself a “non-smoker” But it was a daily process…and it wasn’t as easy as I’m now making it sound.

OK, so why am I bringing this up?

It occurred to me yesterday in a moment of quiet contemplation (and kicking myself for whatever I ate that I shouldn’t have) that eating…while necessary to sustain life, is also an addictive behavior.

I need food to live…but do I need cookies? Not really.

What about the peanuts? Hmmm…no.

So why is it that some people are able to eat just what they need and the rest of us eat what we need plus what a small third world nation needs too?

How do I take that “one addictive habit at a time” mentality that I used to quit smoking and apply it to not eating except that which I need to sustain a healthy life?

And why was it so much easier to take weight off in the time leading up to last summer’s cruise than it is now? I obviously know HOW to eat the right things. Yet, somehow, without realizing it...I somehow find myself eating things I shouldn't more often than I'd like to admit.

Perhaps instead of one day at a time, I should apply the one bite at a time theory.

:SIGH:

I’m looking for answers so chime in if you’ve got some and… stay tuned for less of me.

Vitamins as a Key to Dieting Success

Life has been a little hectic lately. Was laid off from one job...found and accepted an offer at another...and in the midst of it all I tossed a lot of dieting caution to the wind. I guess I was of the mindset that "damnit, I have too much on my mind to worry about every morsel that goes in my mouth."

How'd that work for you, Scalemistress?

I suffered the consequences, of course. Too much sugar (i.e the dreaded Oreos) and random eating led to quickly (and I mean REALLY quickly as if by magic) gaining 7 or 8 pounds.

Happily the crisis was averted. Got a new job. Stress eating immediately stopped and I'm back on track. This week, as I settled into my last week at the job I've held for nearly 8 years, I took off 4 of those extra pounds. Hurray for me.

In the process, I had one of those A-HA moments...

My daily vitamin regimen is this: a multivitamin, 600 mg Calcium and 200mcg of Chromium Picolinate. But there are days where I was forgetting to take them and on those days I noticed that my tendency to make some bad food choices increased. However, when I did remember to take them... I found I was less likely to do any random eating or make bad snack choices. Personally, I think it is the Chromium Picolinate. I started taking it back in July when I read about it's effect (in some) on appetite suppression and the effective processing of insulin. Turns out that this appears to be true for me (YMMV).

Who knew?

I'm happily back on track so stay tuned for less of me.

It All Counts

Creep. Creep. Creep.

That's the sound of extra pounds magically appearing when I have banished them from my body.

UGH.

Admittedly, I have been struggling the past month or so with staying on track but today the scale jumped into the 150's as if by magic.

OK, maybe not magic.

Have I been careful about what I put in my mouth? NO.
Have I consistently tracked what I'm eating? No.
Have I been exercising regularly? No.
Have I been sneaking an Oreo here and there? Sadly...Yes.

So who is to blame but me? No one.

Which got me thinking about those universal truths about dieting.
If you don't write it down it doesn't count.
If no one sees you eat it, it doesn't count.
If you eat standing up it doesn't count.
If you just have a "taste" it doesn't count.
If you eat it straight out of the box/jar/container it doesn't count.

IT ALL COUNTS.
Even if you are standing at the counter. Or eat if off your child's plate so it doesn't go to waste. Or in this case it just goes to "waist"

It counts on the scale whether someone saw you eat it or not.

It counts if you eat the Oreo out of the bag in the fridge...especially when you dip your hand in there repeatedly during the day.

It counts if you just put the spoon straight into the jar of peanut butter or (worse) the pint of ice cream.

And it counts if you eat those nuts by the handful...or two or three.

Am I alone in this or have a struck a nerve?

So before my weight takes off like a runaway train, I'm going to start with a few new universals.

This week, I will eliminate those "special foods" that I know are a trigger for me to over do it. Peanuts, Peanut Butter and of course, the dreaded Oreos. (This week's shopping trip will include cookies for my kids that I can stay away from.) I know that if I can just stay away from those three things, then I will have a successful week and get back on track.

And that is really what it is all about. Staying on track and accepting the fact that I am not perfect and will occasionally have to kick myself in the head to be reminded of that. My new favorite blog over at Cranky Fitness, had this to say about that. She's a scream so check it out.

What are your trigger foods? And what do you do to stay away from them?

Holiday Shopping? Already??

We took the kids to the mall last night to get their Halloween costumes and I was mortified to see the beginnings of Christmas decorations going up.

Call me Scrooge if you want. But I’m just not ready.

Problem is I don’t think I’m ever ready. I have grand ambitions of getting the holiday shopping done early but every year I find myself running around in those days before Christmas for that “one last thing.” The fact that we are a dual faith household doesn’t really help matters. Especially this year because Chanukah falls at the beginning of December.

I have a friend who prides herself at having all her shopping done by early December. In fact I think she takes great joy at going shopping on Black Friday and doing it all in one fell swoop and then reminding me of it all December long.

So this year, I am bound and determined to spend as little time in the mall as possible and NOT be still searching for the perfect gift on December 24^th.

In fact, nothing would please me more than to stay completely out of the mall this year.

Enter Couponchief.com. OK, so maybe it’s true that I’m a sucker for a good deal but this site is great because it has all those deals in one place from retailers that we know and trust. In fact, I was really surprised by the sheer volume of choices. All offers have promo codes that carry the offer with you to the checkout.

I have to get working on a list but I found some incredible deals from places like KB Toys, Target and Best Buy. Some of the coupons are for particular items (like $15 off a digital camera) or a percentage off the total. And others are for free shipping which can certainly make a big difference to some between the convenience of shopping online and saving the shipping by picking it up in a store.

Hey, I might actually be excited about the holiday shopping now that I think about it.

Hmmm… let’s see, I can cover all the kids with coupons from KB Toys, a digital picture frame for mom at Best Buy, and maybe I can coax new clothes out of my husband using the DKNY coupon. Gotta get a new wardrobe for my new single digit size, right?

Shopping in my pjs? Saving money? No fighting for a parking spot?

What could be better than that?

Seeking Answers to Life's Questions

The quest to keep my weight down continues so I look for answers wherever I can find them. I started reading Protein Power this week. A few weeks ago I read their follow up book and isn't that so like me to do things backwards. Anyway, I saw enough interesting information in their lifetime plan to want to go back and read the original weight loss plan.

It's a good book and if you are currently low carbing it or thinking about it and want to take a slightly different approach than Atkins, then check out what Drs Michael and Mary Dan Eades have to say on the topic.

I'm only a third of the way through the book so far and some it is stuff I already knew from other low carb sources but what I've found most interesting is the formulas they've put together to determine personal weight goals and protein levels. For instance, based on some simple measurements, formulas and charts, I was able to figure out my body fat percentage, lean body weight, Ideal body weight range and the minimum grams of protein MY body needs.

The good news is that according to Drs Eades, my ideal body weight range is 131-142 which seems far more reasonable than other charts I've seen that do not take into consideration body measurements and age. I feel that range is not only completely doable but reasonable to maintain. It was those charts that had me convinced that I needed to be 125 pounds that had me saying "who are they kidding?"

Once I finish the book, I will work at their plan for a while and see how I do. If you've done Protein Power and have any pearls of wisdom, please share.

In other self-help news... I've been under a tremendous amount of stress lately with an impending layoff hanging over my head. I'm not pleased with how my employer has handled the whole situation and as of yet, I still do not know exactly when my relationship with them will be "severed" However, in the past week, I've had some internal opportunities presented to me, have gone on some great interviews outside the company and have gotten several promising calls from recruiters.

The problem in all of this is that I just don't do change well. Specifically change that involves key elements that are out of my hands. I'm no good at sitting and waiting for the "proverbial" phone to ring. (perhaps it is why I was never much good at dating.) Which is exactly what I am forced to do lately...wait for the severance letter, wait for my phone to ring with invitations to interview and bottom line....WAIT to see where the chips will fall.

There are too many variables in the equation and sometimes I just feel paralyzed while I wait for ANY of the pieces to fall into place. I hate not having control of the situation.

A former boss, knowing my situation and knowing me well enough to know how I was handling it lent me her copy of Who Moved My Cheese? A book not only had I not read but really had no intention of ever reading. It seemed at first glance to be one of those hokey self help books that was all theory with no basis in reality.

But the kicker here is that because of who gave it to me and because I KNOW she will ask me about it on Monday... I felt compelled to read it so as not to look foolish or ungrateful for the suggestion. So if YOU haven't read it, please do. It will take you about an hour to finish. And if you've ever had trouble navigation change, you will find some useful guidance in its pages.

The bottom line is that my life is fraught with change lately and I have to find a way to cope with that change and not stress about every little piece of it. I can only change what I have the power to change...the rest is navigating the maze.

Zen moment officially over.

A Workout for the Exercise Challenged

I hate to exercise. And I resent that losing weight and keeping it off just about REQUIRES me to do some form of exercise.

I have a Fitness Flyer which I've tried to be diligent about getting on for 20 minutes a day. But given the chance, I will find just about any excuse to not exercise.

And I've tried taking exercise videos out of the library with the sincere hope that I'll find one that I really like where the cheeky host doesn't grate on my nerves in the first five minutes. Not an easy task. All those skinny, perky former cheerleaders who never struggled a day in their lives to maintain a single digit size....and the class participants with the same MO is enough to make me want to strangle each and everyone of them. UGH.

Last month, Claire, over at Burning the Scale, posted a blog entry about a promotion that Wrigley was doing in conjunction with the Biggest Loser. The Gumisgood.com web site wanted to know how gum had helped you in your weight loss efforts. Well, this was right up my alley since chewing gum has been one of the constants in my efforts. Keeps me from the vending machine.

So I signed up, told them my little story and in response, they sent me a gift of a water bottle, a pedometer, 5 packs of gum and a Biggest Loser workout DVD. Pretty cool, huh?

But remember...I hate to exercise.

But it was free. So first I took it out of the plastic...then it sat on my nightstand for 3 or 4 days.

Well, today I finally decided to give it a try. And I was REALLY pleasantly surprised.

Instead of the usual one-size-fits-all workout that is usually on things like this, there are 9 different segments to choose from. The opening menu allows you to chose which segments you want so your workout, not only doesn't have to be the same every day but you don't have to spend your time forwarding between segments in the middle of a workout.

The segments are:
Warm Up (5 min)
Low Intensity Cardio (15 min)
Boot Camp (15 min)
Functional Flexibility (10 min)
Cool Down (5 min)

You can also choose a High Intensity Cardio (10 min) or Power Sculpt (10 min)..one for Men...one for Women.

For my first time out, I chose the Warm up, Boot Camp and the Cool Down. (After I had done 15 minutes on the Flyer).

Best part of the whole thing? Bob Harper (the trainer) didn't annoy me. And the participants on the video were former Biggest Loser contestants. NO skinny perky cheerleader types. Real people. Real sizes. Very refreshing.

I'll try it again tomorrow with a different mix. And perhaps I'm on to something. We'll see.

Stay tuned for less of me.

Dedicated to all the Moms out there

I had to share this because it is just about the funniest thing I've seen in a long time. And we could all use a chuckle, couldn't we?

All the Moms out there will find this especially poignant.

Kimkins under new ownership? Who is she kidding?

I guess being banned doesn't preclude me from still receiving the Kimkins "newsletter."

But color me surprised to read the following:

Dear Kimkins Members,

Kimkins is now under new ownership. The website will continue business as usual and the planned site upgrades are almost complete.

The Kimkins Affiliate program is growing rapidly and we thank our affiliates for their enthusiastic support. Kimkins will soon welcome their 1000th affiliate!

Exciting new support resources will be announced very soon for Kimkins members. I will be an adviser and members who want to ask weight loss questions can email me at AskKimmer@gmail.com.

Thanks to everyone who has written incredible emails & PMs of support and understanding.

Kimmer

Under new ownership? Who does she think she's kidding? Sounds like someone's running scared from the Better Business Bureau, the fraud investigation and the pending lawsuit. It's pretty transparent to me that Heidi Diaz is trying to distance herself and her liability in the Kimkins scam. And I'm guessing that whoever the "new ownership" is, the checks are still going into Heidi's bank account.

Wake up "sheeple" (a favorite quote from radio host Mark Maron)! And wake up Heidi! You're not fooling anyone.

Off-Topic Tuesday Are you the Religion you think you are?

Welcome to Off-Topic Tuesday where I take a little break from all this talk of diet, exercise and dress size to talk about anything else that comes to mind.

First a disclaimer... I am not a religious person by any stretch of the imagination but I am fascinated by the devotion that others have. I was raised Jewish but my family isn't devout either. Like many American Jews, the concepts surrounding Judaism are often more cultural than spiritual. My husband is Protestant, my mother-in-law was a missionary in Africa, and my best friends are Catholic.

With that said, I obviously am surrounded by a variety of religions and the pomp and circumstance that goes with them.

So a few times a year, the concept of religion comes to the front of my brain. typically when all the big holidays converge. Easter/Passover, Hanukkah/Christmas and at Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year).

A few weeks ago (around Rosh Hashanah), a friend of mine sent me an email wishing me L'shanah Tovah, the typical greeting at the new year which means "a good year" but is a shortened version of L'shanah tovah tikatev v'taihatem", which means "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year." (Don't be impressed that I knew that..I had to look it up for accuracy on jewfaq.org...how pathetic is that?) Anyway, because gmail always has those content relevant links surrounding emails, on this one, there was a link to Beliefnet.

And here's my question. Do we believe what we believe because it is what we were born into or because it is truly what we believe? In other words, are you the religion you think you are?

Beliefnet has a handy quiz to help you figure it out. So in my quest for higher meaning, I took the quiz to see if perhaps they would match me up with a religion or set of beliefs that I didn't realize were the ones I really held true. The quiz covers your concepts of God, afterlife, prayer, confession but also covers those topics that make some people squirm like divorce, abortion and homosexuality.

Twenty questions later, the results ranked my beliefs by percentage against 26 different faiths.

And after all that... it seems that what I believe matched 100% with Reform Judaism, the Religion and sect I was born into. Followed by, of all things: Liberal Quaker at 91% (I kid you not) and Unitarian Universalism at 86%.

OK, so the quiz is obviously a little skewed since I didn't answer those questions skewed around Jesus in any way that might have mistaken me for Christian. I guess that's where I lost the 9 percentage points on the Liberal Quaker scale. But it was an interesting exercise and it gave me the opportunity to not only explore my own faith (such as it is) but others as well.

If you don't have the opportunity to learn about other faiths in your every day life, I encourage you to do so on Beliefnet. I think the world might be a better place if we all understood each other a little better.

Thanks for tuning in to Off-Topic Tuesday. Now back to your regularly scheduled blogging.

I'm in Good Company

It's true, my friends. The Kimkins site has officially banned me. :)

I guess they saw my post here yesterday and didn't really like what I had to say about the Kimkins plan and my suggestions (or rather Princess' suggestions) on what you could do with your 60 bucks instead.

My screen names are slightly different from there to here but it wouldn't take more than a few clicks to figure it out. Nonetheless, someone is likely trolling Technorati.

Funny thing is that only way I found out, is when I checked my stat counter today, there was a link from the Kimkins site. When I clicked on the link to see where they came from...I got this:

You don't have access
You don't have access to forums, chat or private messages
Go to Homepage Reason : TOS VIOLATION

The whole thing really makes me giggle. Given all the others who've been banned, I feel like I'm in good company.

Random Low Carb Things

In preparation for a serious jump start, I've been doing a lot of reading and reflecting on what my next move will be. Translated: trying to give myself a good swift kick in the ass. I'm reading one of the Protein Power books and seeking the guidance of other low carb mavens. Atkins has always been the yardstick that I measure low carb programs but there are obviously so many programs out there so I'm looking for THE ONE that is the best for me...long term.

Many of you know that I started this low carb thing on Kimkins and the current controversy still has my head spinning. But here's a few items to chew on:

If you are thinking of starting on Kimkins...Don't waste your money. There are too many questions about the safety of the program and the integrity of Kimmer. If you haven't already read more than you can handle on this topic, check out what former Kimkins moderator, Becky has to say at Winning Weight Loss.

Looking for somewhere else to spend your sixty bucks.? Try these suggestions from Princess at Once Upon a Diet.

If you are looking for the sense of community that was the big draw for many on the Kimkins site... join us over at Jimmy Moore's forum at low carb discussion. No drama. No criticism. You'll find answers to your low carb questions, team challenges and lots of free support from all the best the low carb community has to offer.

In fact, going back to the aforementioned kick in the ass... I've joined up over at lowcarbdiscussion.com with the Smokin Aces team for a Biggest Loser type challenge. So far there are three teams and I'm really excited to get started on this 8 week challenge. It will be my first since leaving the Kimkins forums but many of the people are the same. We start on Monday so I'll keep you posted on the progress. If nothing else it will keep me honest and hold me accountable.

I promise to start writing more frequently again. In fact, I'm thinking of starting a new feature called "Off-Topic Tuesday" so I can get some other random things off my chest and not feel like One-Note-Nellie on this whole diet thing.

In the meantime, stay tuned for less of me.

Scalemistress the Slacker

First let me just say that I have no one to blame but myself. But I have indeed become a slacker.

I have not been as diligent as I know I should be and I've let the Oreos in my fridge entice me. I haven't resorted to sandwiches or french fries so I suppose I have something to redeem my slacker tendencies but still...

So the good news is that I went shopping yesterday. I needed some new clothes for a job interview and I'm happy to report that despite my slacker tendencies I'm still maintaining my single digit status and was able to buy some great pants in a size 8. That said, greedy me, would still like to be a 6. And I really would like to shed another 15 pounds to do it. But more importantly, I don't want to let my slacker tendencies slide me right into those double digit sizes.

I think what I really need is some driving force to keep me motivated. A while back I wrote about event driven goals. And the cruise was certainly that for me. But now I don't have that one THING to drive me towards.

Anyone have any ideas?

On other fronts, I do have a job interview tomorrow that I'm really excited about. I hope the job is everything it appears to be and gets me out of my current situation. I've become somewhat addicted to the job boards which could explain some of my slacker tendencies. (or maybe I'm just grasping at straws.)

More than anything I'd say that I'm distracted. Distracted by a job that I'm growing to hate at a company that has been laying people off seemingly at random. Distracted by our financial woes which seem at any moment to throw us into the pit of despair and distracted by a general sense of discontent at the lack of power I have over the previous two.

:sigh:

OK. Pity Party is now over.

Stay tuned for less of me.

8 things about me

Before my trip, Melodie Gale at Short Girls tagged me for 8 things about me. Seems like the whole low carb community has been tagged lately so I will not be tagging anyone else in this... for now.

But here goes...

I have lived nearly all of my life in the New York Metropolitan area (with a brief exception of 4 years in college in Buffalo). And as a result, I have a secret admiration for those who are courageous enough to pick themselves up and leave everything they know to go and live somewhere else.

I'm an amateur genealogist (because I obviously need MORE reasons to be on the computer). I have successfully traced a branch of my husband's family back to the 1300s and King Edward III. I always knew my husband was a prince, but I had no idea....

I love planning events and entertaining in my home. I have worked as an event planner and planned both my 10 and 20 year HS reunion (yes, I'm that old!)

As a kid, I desperately wanted to be a dancer...more specifically, I wanted to be an Ernest Flatt Dancer. They were the dance troop on the old Carol Burnett show. (I'm sure that no one remembers them but me!)

I've never eaten a PB&J sandwich. Really. Peanut Butter, yes. But not with Jelly. In fact, I don't think I had a Peanut butter sandwich until I was in my 20s. (I think I drank coffee before I had a PB sandwich!) My mom doesn't like peanut butter, so she never fed it to me either. But as sacrilegious as it might be, the thought of those two flavors together just doesn't inspire me to run out and make one..... But I do make them for my kids.

I consider myself a pretty staunch Democrat and I take voting very seriously... at more than just the national level. I've always voted but the current administration and 9/11 changed everything regarding my trust in my leaders.

I love to do needlepoint and cross stitch but I'm terrible about finishing projects. As a result I have at least two unfinished projects in a bag in the closet. I just get to that point where you put the finishing detail work on it and I get bored. I'm going to work on that.

I'm a bit of a gadget geek. While other women long for a piece of jewelry or an expensive pair of shoes...I drool over the latest iPhone, digital camera or handheld. (although I do have a bit of a weakness for handbags...but I think if I bring one more home, my husband will divorce me.)

So I guess that's it. 8 random things about me. Do you all feel like know me better now?

Getting Back into Sync

Getting back on track after a vacation is never easy.

After all that great food on the cruise it would be OH, so easy to slip back into old patterns but we all know how that story would end.

So in the week since I've been back, I've done my level best to pick up where I left off. I jumped back into eating (mostly) the right foods and to a regular regime on the Fitness Flyer.

That said, I'm still having a difficult time with snacking and not resorting to too much of a good thing. Don't get me wrong, I haven't resorted to Oreos and Chocolate ice cream. But I am dipping a bit too much into the peanut jar and other assorted lower carb evils.

So, it's back to basics for me. I know that I do better when I write it all down. It keeps me honest. And ever a sucker for a new online tool...today I found My Calorie Counter which is a (fairly) new FREE diet tracking tool which has some really great features in addition to the usual food tracker things. They have a message board, some handy calculators and some interesting articles. But the features I like best are the handy charts and graphs. On a daily basis you can see how you are progressing with your nutritional needs for the day. Or maybe I just have a weakness for cool looking charts and graphs. (Geek...yes, I know!). Whatever the case, check it out if you are like me and find these types of things useful tools in your weight loss quests.

My initial goal of course is to quickly take off the 8 pounds I came home with. With one week since I got home, I've already taken off 2 so there is only 6 to go. And once past that, I'd still like to lose a few more. I don't want to spend my life living on this fence between goal and over goal. I think I'd like to get down to 130 but we'll see how I feel when I get to, say, 135.

Off Topic:
It appears that I may lose my job in the not so distant future. A big re-org has been underway at the company I work for and they are consolidating locations. So I came back from vacation to the news that it will be more of a "when" not an "if" for me and my department.

So far, I'm not terribly worried about finding another job. I have marketable skills and have already been combing the want ads. But I am not looking forward to the stress of job hunting. I truly hate when things that directly concern me are out of my control and hate sitting by the phone waiting for it to ring. (I was horrible at dating too for the same reason!)

Oh, and so she doesn't think I'm ignoring her... before I left, Melodie Gale over at Short Girls tagged me. So I promise to write the 8 things about me post in the next few days (which I know you are all DYING to read!).

I finally feel back in the saddle so... stay tuned for less of me.

My new favorite health news source

I'm still trying to catch up on all my blog reading but this link for Total Health Breakthroughs on Jimmy Moore's blog caught my eye and it is now my new favorite health blog/newsletter.

This is the newsletter for this week but be sure to poke around and check things out.

Back from the Cruise

I'm back!

First, let me just say that we had a truly great time on the cruise. We had great weather and calm seas the whole trip as Hurricane Dean headed West. There's so much to tell you, I don't know where to start...

I got exactly the reaction I was hoping for from each of my family members. First from my Dad and then from the rest of the family as each one arrived in town. The most commonly used phrase was "What happened to the rest of you?"

What a great feeling!

Once we got on the ship, the challenges were obvious. It's no secret that you are simply surrounded by food on a cruise. But what is important to remember is that the more food there is, the more choices there are. So it wasn't as hard as I anticipated.

Breakfast in either the dining room or the buffet offered omlettes so that was obviously fine. In fact in the dining room I was surprised to find turkey bacon the menu. I tried it once, and it was awful so I switched to regular bacon after that.

Lunch on the buffet seemed the best option for me. There was always a carving station or an easily identifyable chicken or fish that could be had with a salad.

The biggest issue with dinner was the amount of food, not necessarily WHAT was on the menu. I could always get a piece of grilled salmon or grilled chicken with veggies if nothing else on the menu tickled me.

I skipped the bread (obviously) and the pasta, rice and potatoes.

So where was the problem?

Dessert and alcohol.

I didn't order desert every night. But as I said before I left, I decided that I wasn't going to deny myself something that I knew was a unique experience that I couldn't get at home. So "hello, chocolate melting cake!" A truly yummy experience.

Add to that a few glasses of wine and "vodka and something" ... and well, you can guess how that adds up.

The good news is that I actually did go to the gym THREE times while on board. I did 30 minutes on the treadmill at a pretty brisk pace (3.8mph) interspersed with short spurts of jogging at 4.5

Aren't you impressed? I certainly am.

With all that said, I also KNEW that by the end of the cruise, I had definitely gained some. I was afraid to see how much.

According to my own scale this morning, I am up 8 pounds. But I am not discouraged.

Today I got right back to strict low carb eating and back on my Fitness Flyer for 25 minutes and fully expect to get rid of that cruise weight pretty quickly.

I'll get some pictures up as soon as I sort through all of them. In the meantime...

Stay tuned for less of me.

GOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL!

Today I reached goal and I am just beside myself with joy!

In just about 4 months, I have gone from 177 to 139.5. From a size 14 (squeezing into a 12) to a size 6. I have NEVER been a size 6.

37.5 pounds GONE FOREVER thanks to a low carb life.

If you've been following my journey, you know that I leave on vacation tomorrow which was the immediate motivation for my quest for the single digit size. And there is no doubt I've reached that goal. But more than the weight loss, I have to admit I've undergone a transformation in other ways.

First, besides what it says on the scale, my shape has changed in ways I didn't expect. My face is visibly slimmer, my midsection seems flatter and more toned and while I've always thought of myself as a busty girl... I can now shop at Victoria's Secret because I'm actually a size they carry. This, I think, was nearly as shocking as the single digit dress size. I went from a 38DD to a 34C in 4 months. Not a place I expected to lose but hey, it's all gotta come from somewhere, right?

I've gone from eating whatever was handy to actually thinking about what I was putting in mouth and taking vitamins daily. Low carb eating keeps my Insulin Resistance in check and prevents my blood sugar from crashing by keeping those levels steady throughout the day.

I spend a fair amount of time reading the blogs and websites of other low-carbers hoping to pick up tips (which I do). And in the process, they have all inadvertently offered a level of support and encouragement that I never got anywhere else.

A month ago I actually took up some exercise. This was no easy feat 'cause I am LAZY. Ok, maybe lazy isn't the right word. More accurately, I have other priorities and figuring out where I was going to fit exercise has never been one of them. But rationally, I knew that if I really wanted to get the rest of the weight off, I was going to have to get my butt in gear somehow. So for all you couch potatoes out there...do something. Anything. I inherited a Fitness Flyer and the first week I committed to 10 minutes a day, every day. Then I worked up to 15 minutes. Now I'm up to 20.

So I'm not running a marathon anytime soon but it's something. And I've only missed ONE day since I started (and that was due to a business trip).

The bottom line is low carb eating works for me in a way that no other program ever did. I have more energy which is partly due to how I'm eating and partly due to my 5'3" frame not struggling to carry around 37.5 extra pounds.

Perhaps my initial motivation was the trip but my continuing motivation will be to stay this size because a size 6 feels wonderful.

And this time I will NOT be the fat girl in the cruise pictures.

Tomorrow, I'll get on a plane to Florida and gather with my family before we take off on our cruise. I have not seen my Dad and brothers since months before I started my low carb program. I have also not told them about my journey. I am looking forward to their reaction almost as much as the trip itself... almost.

Have a great week, everyone. I hope to see less of all of you when I return. ;)

Carribean Cruise vs. Low Carb Eating: Is success possible?

I know I can't be the only one on a low carb program who is taking a cruise this summer. And anyone who has been on a cruise knows what an overabundance of food there is at every turn.

You can literally eat yourself into oblivion 24/7.

Needless to say, after all of my hard work, I'm working myself into a bit of a frenzy over striking a balance between enjoying myself and not undoing all my hard work.

I've pretty much decided that I'm not going to deny myself anything that I REALLY want. But I also don't want every meal to be an invitation to overdo it.

So can it be done? Can I make good choices so that those "special" meals or treats are truly special? What can I do to offset the straying from my normal eating routine that is just plain bound to happen? And what consequences am I willing to live with so that I'm not at square one when the trip is over?

First things first. YES it can be done. I found this article from Cruise Traveler's magazine which has some great tips for staying on track even when surrounded by the temptation of a cruise. Most of this was stuff I already knew from my cruising experience but it was great to see it all in one place and remind myself that it's not impossible.

My plan is this:

• I will make good food choices whenever possible.
• I will stay away from high carb foods like bread, pasta and potatoes.
• When drinking, I will stay away from the fruity drinks that are full of sugar.
• I will allow myself to indulge in ONLY those foods that represent an experience that I cannot get anywhere else.
• I will not eat dessert every night just because I can.
• I will make every attempt to get to the gym on board several times during the week. (REALLY!)

Consequences:

• I am prepared to come back a few pounds heavier than when I left.
• I will not let it discourage my success after the trip.

And finally, I am determined that whatever extra weight I come back with will not give me an open invitation to gain it all back.

I will keep this single digit size long after the cruise is over.

If you've taken a cruise while on a low carb program, I'd love to hear from you and hear about how you faced these challenges.

Stay tuned for less of me.

Remove whatever makes you unhappy

About 20 years ago, I stumbled upon the quote below by poet Nikki Giovanni. For years I carried it around in my wallet as kind of a mantra. But Melodie's post today over on Short Girl's Low Carb about being ready for change made me think of it. I hope after all this time that I remember it correctly... this is from memory...

"There is always something to do. There are hungry people to feed, naked people to clothe, sick people to comfort and make well. And while I don't expect you to save the world, I do think it is not asking too much for you to love those with whom you sleep, share the happiness of those you call friend, engage those among you who are visionary, and remove from your life those who offer you depression, despair and disrespect."

Remove from your life all that makes you unhappy. What have you got to lose?

20 Percent

Two big pieces of news today.

One...I'm down another pound bringing my grand total to 35.5. And I'm obviously ecstatic about that.

Another pound and a half will put my BMI in the normal range. Yea, believe it or not, despite my new size 6 figure, those darn BMI charts still say I'm overweight. Go figure. Something is sick and wrong about that, dontcha think?

Another pound and a half also brings me to my original goal weight of 140.

Ideally, I'd really like to get to 135 so I feel like I've got some cushion....and because it would give me a big thrill to be in the 130s. Most of the ideal weight charts I've seen seem to want to put me in the 130s as well.

But, the other big news for the day is that with today's results on the scale, I can say that I have dropped 20% of my body weight. How incredible is that? Unbelievable if you ask me.

One more note... I'm re-reading Atkins for Life again. It the quest for a low carb life, I think you have to just keep reading, keep picking up tips because there is always something to learn.

Stay tuned for less of me.

Today's Epiphany

One week to go.

One week until I put my skinnier self on a plane and head to Florida for the trip I've been looking forward to and working towards for months.

And as I've mentioned before, I've been struggling with these last few pounds and I've come to accept that I may not get to that goal weight by next Thursday. I'm 2.5 pounds from it as of this morning. I'm watching what I eat and drink. I'm mixing things up so as to not fall into a rut and I've actually been (GASP) exercising. Last week was my first week using my inherited Fitness Flyer. I started out with 10 minutes a day...every day. I missed one day when I went to Boston but got right back on the next morning. This morning, as I close out the second week on the Flyer, I'm now up to 20 minutes. A true accomplishment from this self proclaimed couch potato.

But whether I hit that magic number by the time I step on a plane isn't the issue... because what is different THIS TIME as opposed to any other time, is that it is NOT just about losing the weight for this trip. It must be about losing the weight and keeping it off forever.

So what has changed?

Aside from making real life altering changes in the way that I eat and life altering changes in the way that I approach food in general. I've come to recognize that it is my responsibility as a wife, mother, daughter and friend to take care of myself. And that isn't easy. It's EASY to go to the fridge and put the first thing your hand touches in your mouth. And it's EASY to order dessert when you go out to dinner. But it's HARD to accept the responsibility for my actions if I take the easy way out.

And how can I expect to be an example to my daughters if I take a "do as I say not as I do." attitude?

I set out on this journey (this time) with that quest for the single digit size...but to be honest, I don't know that I 100% believed that I would get there. I had tried so many times before and fallen short. But I kept plugging along....and will continue to do so (beyond this glorious vacation). No one... and I mean NO ONE is more surprised than me at my success to date. At the ripe age of 42, am I finally showing some maturity and some responsibility for my actions?

I mean really? Whose fault is it that I was 177 pounds? Nabisco's? Breyers? Oh, I know, McDonald's!? Of course not. The fault was mine because I took no responsibility for what I put in my mouth. I blamed the food I ate for what it did to my body. I blamed the clothes in my closet for not fitting right. I blamed the fashion industry for not making clothes I liked in my size.

But in the end, it was no one's fault but my own. And I am certainly not saying it is easy. Everyone one of us who struggles with their weight...truly STRUGGLES with their weight and knows that it is HARD.

But keep going.

If you are struggling, keep going! The end result is SO worth it.

Stay tuned for less of me.

Low Carb Communities Popping Up Everywhere

It seems that the theme this week must be "great minds think alike." There's been much discussion about finding the right community for us low carbers. There's already a few well established ones out there but after the whole message board debacle over at that other program, many of felt there was room for new communities where we could feel at home.

If you are looking for a place to belong, the following new low carb boards have sprouted up thanks to some great low carb bloggers. Check them out and join the discussions.

Low Carb Discussion (set up by Jimmy Moore)
Short Girls Forum (although all are welcome!)
Healthy Low Carb Living (set up by Sparky's Girl)

Low Carb Challenges When Out of Your Comfort Zone

I'm fortunate that I don't have to travel often for work. But about once a month, I find myself spending a night or two in a nice hotel in Boston. (which is where I am as I type this). Traveling is mostly a hassle but even more so when you are watching your carbs. As we know, convenience food is typically wrapped in bread or sugar.

I usually travel by train (which takes about 3 hours) and there is a cafe car but like airplane food, it's not exactly low carb friendly. So, I tried to be smart about it and packed in my purse some low carb bars and some carb friendly trail mix.

Then I actually had a salad on the train and didn't have to dig into those snack bars at all...but I sure was glad I had them.

So it's not impossible to stick to the program even when out of your comfort zone of your own refrigerator. Not easy. But not impossible.

Tonight, I'll head out to dinner with a co-worker which is a challenge whenever a restaurant is involved. but I was able to check out the restaurant's web site and was thrilled to see all the broiled steak, grilled chicken and lots of fish. I'll let you know how well I do.

Also as little side note, since I tweaked my program, I've been struggling a little with appropriate carb, fat and protein levels. I completely expected my weight to fluctuate while in this transition phase. I went up and down all week and ultimately landed a half pound more than last Thursday. I'm not worried though. A few things are contributing to it, I'm sure. First, I'm so close to goal so I know my body is settling in... plus there's the adjustments in my diet, some bloating, and perhaps my daily efforts on my Fitness Flyer. (humor me and tell me the part about muscle weighing more than fat.)

We leave on our trip in exactly two weeks. I'd like to lose just 5 more pounds by then and I will do my best to get there!

Stay tuned for less of me.

Event Driven Goals

I seem to spend a freakish amount of time reading blogs lately. I'm fascinated (and perhaps a little obsessed) with the morsels of fact and opinions that I get from my fellow bloggers. Especially my fellow low carb bloggers. So, today I read a post by Deb over at Confessions of a Jersey Girl about the whys of weight loss and she made a comment about event driven goals.

Hmm.

Have I ever successfully dieted without an event driving it?

Let's see.

NOPE.

The last time I lost 40 pounds low carbing, it was for my 20th high school reunion. I was one of the planners of the event so choosing not to go wasn't an option. And you know how things like that are. Afterwards, all anyone remembers is which girls got fat and which guys are losing their hair. If you've ever been to a reunion, you know that I'm only exaggerating a little.

In any case, I was determined not to go to the reunion in a size 16 dress (as if we wear the dress size on the OUTSIDE of the dress, right?). So in January of that year, I set out on Atkins and by November I had taken off 40 pounds as was down to a size 10....Where I stayed for about 5 minutes before I went back to eating the way I'd eaten before. Not immediately. But a little bit here, a little bit there and before I knew it, 30 of those 40 pounds had crept back on.

So fast forward a few years to this year and the now-infamous cruise I'm going on next month. Once again, my motivation for this life change was not being the fat girl in the family cruise photos.

And I jumped back on the low carb bandwagon. It worked before, it can work again.

I had that date circled on the calendar as the driving force to "get there" by THAT DATE.

OK, so don't get me wrong. I am jumping-out-of-my-skin-happy that I've taken off these 33 pounds. But I have a number in my head that I'm trying to reach and that would mean losing another 7 pounds (or at least 5 more) in the next 2 weeks. And rationally, I know that may not happen.

So am I a failure for not reaching my "event driven" goal?

Of course not. (she says with some conviction).

But I sure feel a little like one. And even as I type those words, I know how RIDICULOUS it sounds to even THINK that.

I mean I've lost 33 pounds. THIRTY THREE. And even if I don't lose another ounce before the trip, I can proudly say that I lost 33 pounds and went down nearly 4 dress sizes. I am thinner now than I think I've been my entire adult life. I have more energy and feel like I am closer than I've ever been to the size I'm supposed to be.

But the true test of my success will not be the weight I've lost to get here but how well I keep it off after my trip. And that's the event we should all be driving towards.

Stay tuned for (a little) less of me.

Further Validation of Low Carb Benefits

In case you need more evidence that diets high in carbs may be a bad idea, check out this quote from Dr. Joseph Mercola at his great web site mercola.com

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, chances are very good that the excess carbohydrates in your body are, in part or whole, to blame:

• Excess weight
• Fatigue and frequent sleepiness
• Depression
• Brain fogginess
• Bloating
• Low blood sugar
• High blood pressure
• High triglycerides

We all need a certain amount of carbohydrates, of course, but, through our addiction to grains, potatoes, sweets and other starchy and sugary foods, we are consuming far too many. The body's storage capacity for carbohydrates is quite limited, though, so here's what happens to all the excess: they are converted, via insulin, into fat and stored in the adipose, or fatty, tissue.

Any meal or snack high in carbohydrates generates a rapid rise in blood glucose. To adjust for this rise, the pancreas secretes the hormone insulin into the bloodstream, which lowers the glucose. Insulin is, though, essentially a storage hormone, evolved over those millions of years of humans prior to the agricultural age, to store the excess calories from carbohydrates in the form of fat in case of famine.

Insulin, stimulated by the excess carbohydrates in our overabundant consumption of grains, starches and sweets, is responsible for all those bulging stomachs and fat rolls in thighs and chins.

If you want to read this whole article, check it out here. And be sure to poke around over there for some other helpful and healthful advice on a variety of topics. I like this guy's no nonsense style.

Turning a New Page

This dieting thing, it's certainly a work in progress.

Initially my goals were really to drop about 40 pounds and wear a single digit size in time for my big vacation next month. But that's truly just the tip of the iceberg.

Did I need to drop the weight? Absolutely. (you've seen the pictures!) But the bigger issue (pardon the pun) was that I needed a long term solution to the ongoing struggle I've had with my weight.

As many of you may know from reading my other blog, I travelled down the Kimkins road back in April and embarked on a low fat/ low carb diet that helped me lose a lot of weight in a short amount of time. And as I've said before, no one was more surprised than me. I am down 33.5 pounds and now wear a 6 or an 8. A size I have not been probably since junior high.

Lately, however, I've done some careful consideration on whether this was a long term solution to my issues. And the answer was a resounding "no". A few weeks ago, I started digging around and asking a bunch of questions about maintenance on Kimkins (which seems to be made up as it goes along) or maintenance on Atkins. Or some other mutation. I figured that if I did enough digging, I would come up with an answer that made sense to me and the way I live.

It's that work in progress thing again.

Ironically, I think that once I started thinking this way, I started eating more Atkins-like anyway. I increased my fat intake and as a result my calorie count... and I still continued to lose weight. I am living a low carb life in a way that makes sense to me.

Add to that, the fact that I've been doing my own bit of research and been reading the blogs of several people who's opinions I trust (see the links on the right) and we all seem to be reaching these same conclusions.

So, somewhere in this whole mess is a tweaked version of a low carb life that works for me. It may take me a little while to figure out exactly what that is, but it is my new quest to do so. I've gone and re-read Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution. Read a few other low carb books on the market and reserved Atkins for Life from the local library. I'm doing my best to (re)educate myself and make decisions that are not just about that single digit size but about long term choices that will keep me there.

Yesterday, I started a new exercise regime...(translated: I started exercising at all!) I have a hand me down Fitness Flyer (like a Gazelle). I did 10 minutes last night (no easy feat, I assure you). And then 10 more minutes this afternoon. Trying to work my way up to 30 minutes without killing myself or losing my enthusiasm.

And tomorrow, I will do it again as well as I embark on an Atkins-like Induction to try and get the last few remaining pounds off before my trip which is less than 3 weeks away.

Stay tuned for less of me...and a better me. Will you join me?

Great Low Carb Recipes

I just added a new link to the Dieting Links on the right for Adventures in Low Carb. She's got some really great (and EASY) low carb friendly recipes.

I'm always looking for ways to make things interesting and yummy. If you are too, be sure to check out her blog. I'm sure you'll find something you like.

It's all a conspiracy, I tell ya!

The goddess of retail was not with me today.

I did a little shopping for my upcoming trip at Kohl's. I really just wanted to pick up a few things since I obviously don't' have anything in my new size.

Ironically, everything I picked up was only available in 12s and 14s (my OLD sizes). All I wanted was a few pairs of shorts, maybe a pair of capris and a NEW bathing suit.

Ultimately, I did find what I was looking for in shorts and capris but struck out on the bathing suit front.

I just found it incredibly funny that when I was a 12 and a 14 and a 16, all I saw on the rack were's 6s and 8s. And now that I'm a 6 or an 8, all I find are 12s and 14s.

It's a conspiracy, I tell ya! Good thing there are still 3 weeks before the trip!

Stay tuned for less of me.

Insulin Resistance, Supplements and the Low Carb Diet

Something you should know about me. I'm fairly obsessive when I latch on to something. No, I'm not a stalker or anything. But I've found that when a topic truly interests me, I latch onto to it and my quest for knowledge about it is like searching for the Holy Grail.

Such has been the case with me over the last few months while I work to take off this weight.

Several people have asked me why I have pursued a low carb diet instead of a low fat one.

OK.

A- I've tried the low fat ones (like WW) and they don't work for me long term. and
B- 42 years on the planet have taught me that low carb works for me in coping with more than just the number on the scale.

In 1996, I was diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) and while I seem to have a mild case of it (but serious enough that it kept me from getting pregnant without the involvement of teams of experts). But once I learned this, I latched on to that piece of knowledge with all of my might and found out everything I could about it and what was in my power to do with that knowledge. One of the key factors is that most women with PCOS are Insulin Resistant and at the risk of oversimplifying... if you are insulin resistant, you respond better to a low carb diet in the quest to lose weight.

Another little consolation prize for being insulin resistant is that it's often also referred to as "pre-diabetic" And while I don't (now) have any of the symptoms one usually associates with Diabetes. I did develop gestational diabetes when I was pregnant so I've been warned that this is something that may come up again later on.

Gee, thanks.

You would think that with this knowledge, I would have immediately gone on a low carb diet... but I didn't. I was a little slow on the uptake. I lost 40 pounds in 2003 but almost instantly gained most of it back when I went "off my diet" and went back to the bread, pasta, chocolate ice cream and oreos that have been my downfall.

But now I have latched on and taken to it like a fish to water. (let's see how many cliches I can fit into one blog post).

There is no lying that I feel better...who wouldn't with 33 less pounds to carry around. But I also realize that if I plan to stay this size, then low carb has to become a permanent part of my life.

A Way of Life, as they say.

And I'm constantly tweaking this life of mine. What works for a while, doesn't work forever. So that will mean that I must constantly try new ways to make low carb work for me.

This week's thing I'm latching on to is supplements. I NEVER thought I'd ever be saying this but I think I need to take more vitamins.

There was a time when a bottle of multi-vitamins would sit in my cabinet for so long (because I'd forget to take them regularly) that eventually I'd have to throw them out because we weren't even still in the same calendar year as the date on the bottle. Sad, I know.

But NOW... I'm taking my multi-vitamin religiously along with a calcium supplement and a dose of chromium picolinate... because I read that it works to increase the efficiency of insulin to optimal levels. AND I'm investigating what else I should be taking (like Omega-3 and a few others). What has happened to me??

And perhaps "investigating" isn't the right word... I'm obsessed. I find myself following every link I can find on the correlation between low carb diets and nutritional supplements not to mention asking every low carb acquaintance, expert and friend "what are you taking?", "how much?", "how often?" and "why?"

I know what you're thinking... "why not just call your doctor and ask him, Scale Mistress?"

Because that would involve calling him, making an appointment and seeing him. And while I don't really have a thing about going to the doctor like some people do, I just can't seem to find the time.

Again... you're thinking "get off that darn computer and pick up the phone."

And you would be right. But where's the fun in that?

I think I'll go see what else I can find so...

Stay tuned for less of me.

Before and After

I'm continuing the keep both blogs for a while but I just posted my before and after photos over there and I'm too lazy to reformat them again over here. Please check them out if you are interested in my progress.

I am continuing to tweak my low carb program. I can no longer really say that it is strictly Kimkins but it's also not quite Atkins either. Perhaps I need to just wean myself off one onto the other. Or perhaps there is some gray area in between that will be the right combination for me. I increased my calories and fat content and hope to get down to 142 by the end of the week. We'll see.

In the meantime, I continue to scour the web looking to pick the virtual brains of other low carbers and gain some insight for the long haul. I've found some great resources that I will continue to add to the links on the right. Check them out if you too are looking for answers. And take a look at that "before" picture and you will see what happens when I forget the low carb lifestyle. It's not pretty.

I think perhaps I need to carry that picture around in my wallet or post it on my fridge as a constant reminder of what will happen if I get sloppy.

In the meantime, stay tuned for less of me.

Who's that pretty girl in that mirror there?

I went shopping today for the first time really since taking off all this weight.

My husband found a merchandise credit in a drawer from Lands End that I can't even remember how I got. Well, Sears sells Lands End but I can't use the credit in the store...only online.

So off to Sears I went...to try some things on.

After the size 8 jeans experience the other day, I picked up a few things in an 8 but once I was in the fitting room, found that two of the items were actually a 6. Which I didn't notice until I had them ON. A SIX, are they kidding? Must be a fluke.

I quickly tried on something else in a 6...and it fit too.

How can this be? When I look in the mirror, I see the same person I saw 3 months ago. More or less. This is the same person who was squeezing into a 14. Is Lands End trying to play some cruel joke on me or it is possible that I am really a 6? or an 8? Whatever. I don't really care which.

Kind of makes me want to wear a big freakin' sign that says "yes, these pants are a 6!" But no one would care but me...and perhaps a few friends and family who know how hard I've struggled with my weight.

Next, I ventured to the (gasp) bathing suits. Lands End carries these great tankini separates that are actually cut for grown ups. I picked up a size 10 top (because, ironically, I couldn't find one smaller) and a 6 bottom. And yes, the 10 was too big and the 6 fit perfectly. I'm seriously still in amazement that the size 10 top was too big. I'm standing the fitting room thinking...."they must've labeled this wrong"... or "some bigger girl tried it on and stretched it out."

But what if that's not it?

What if I really am that size?

Why don't I see it?

I mean, I know what the scale says. I know that I've lost 33 pounds. And I know how badly the clothes in my closet fit me...so why am I having so much trouble accepting what is staring me in the face in that fitting room.

When will my brain catch up with my body and see what is staring me in the face?

A thin person.

Stay tuned for (a little) less of me.

Defining Diet Success

Note: I'm double posting this entry on both blogs because I feel it's relevant in both places.

It seems that I may indeed have reached my goal of the single digit size despite not yet having reached my goal weight.

As I mentioned in the last post, I can now fit into a pair of size 8 shorts but I was skeptical (surprise, surprise) that this was really my size. After all, women's sizes being what they are...is one size 8 the same as another?

And since I didn't think I owned anything else in an 8 to make a fair comparison, I figured that I would just keep doing what I was doing until the last of the weight came off. Hmm.

But I found a pair of jeans buried in my closet that I swear must be 15 years old. They are undoubtedly my "skinny" jeans. The labels inside is from the Limited and says size 7/8. Good Lord, when was I EVER a 7/8?? But I do recall wearing them and I suppose I've held onto them all this time as the measurement of "if I could only get into these..."

But I did...and without effort.

So does that mean that I am done? I honestly don't think so. I still feel like I want/need to lose 5 or 10 more pounds. I'm weighing in now at 144.5...down from the 177 that I was in early April. I'd really like to get down to 135-137 and then settle somewhere around there. I know it's only a number but I'd really like to get below 140 and stay there.

Decisions. Decisions.

I set out for the single digit size. And now I'm here. But obviously that 's just not good enough. I want that bit of cushion before I settle in on what my lifetime goal weight will be.

So stay tuned for (a little) less of me.

The tools to track what we eat while on a diet

If you've spent any amount of time trolling the diet web sites...or maybe that's just me... you've noticed that there are a bunch of free tools out there to help you track what you put in your mouth.

I've tried several of them so I thought I'd share what I've learned.

First let me say that whichever one you choose... CHOOSE one. Every successful dieter I know finds some way to keep track of things. At WW, they used to say "don't think that if you don't write it down, it doesn't count." And they are right. It's easy to "forget" about that one cookie or extra serving of something if you don't write it down.

The reward is that if you write it down (or in my case...type it in), you can not only see where your shortcomings are...but also where you succeeded. When I'm having trouble getting over the latest hurdle, I will look back a few days to see "what did I eat?" Or go back to a week that was exceptional and say "how can I make that happen again? What do I need to eat?"

SparkPeople (a funny name for a really outstanding weight loss site) has not only a good food tracker but a wealth of other tools as well. Their food tracker has a large database of foods to choose from that also includes fast food items as well as the usual things you will find in your fridge. SP will also let you track other nutrients if you need to. So if you are especially worried about sodium or cholesterol (more than the rest of us), then one check to a box adds it to the nutrient it tracks for you. What I really like about SP is that it is a great source of information about all areas of dieting. They don't care what program you are following. They also have an active message board and a place to start your own journal. The fitness section gives you suggestions on exercises specific to your goals, lets you track your calories burned and even has video demonstrations to show you the right way to do things. Bottom line is that SP does a fabulous job of covering ALL the bases of dieting and fitness without being preachy and best of all, they do it for FREE. Can't beat free, right? Oh, and if you are motivated by a points system, SP also gives you points for things you do on the site and when you reach various goals (not all of them scale oriented). So it's a fun little way to feel like you are getting somewhere instead of measuring your success only by the number on the scale. (WOW, did I really say that?)

FitDay is another great food tracker that I first learned about when I started Kimkins. Nearly everyone on the Kimkins boards uses fitday. The upside of fit day is that it's really easy to navigate for the food tracker. One caveat however about fit day, is that the default portions sizes are sometimes a little dumb. For instance, choose balsamic vinegar and the default portion size is a LITER. EWW! When in my life would I EVER need to log a liter of vinegar. So if you use fitday and the numbers look out of whack, check your portion sizes and edit accordingly. They also have handy charts and graphs if that is your thing. The fitness area is just OK and I think they try to cover the other bases but not as well. Their food tracker is their strongest feature. If you want more bells and whistles, you can pay extra for the paid version of their software but with other things out there, I don't really see the point.

Someone on the Kimkins boards recently pointed me to The Daily Plate which also has a great food tracker. You can sign up for a free membership which gives you the food tracker, some goal setting and permissions to post on the message boards. For $29.99 more, you can get a paid membership for 6 months which (again) gives you some more bells and whistles. What I really like about TDP is their database of foods because it includes just about EVERY brand out there. Because sometimes there is a difference between the Oscar Meyer turkey bacon and the Jenni-O variety and you might not have that package right in front of you. However, I've had some buggy problems with logging into TDP that are just plain annoying. It works fine on my computer at work but at home, I cannot seem to log in. I'm pretty computer savvy so I've tried all the obvious (to me) things to fix the problem but so far, no luck. A few generous people on the boards have tried to help but I'm still having problems. It's turning me off to the site (perhaps unfairly) because I'm basically impatient and I just want the darn thing to work without issue. Again... it could just be me so YMMV.

They all

• have large databases of food.
• Will track your weight.
• Will give you some way to track your exercise.
• Give you a way to manually enter foods not in the list and to keep a running list of those food you eat often.

Fitday has no water tracking. But the others do.

I've tried them all and I think that if you want an all inclusive site with a good food tracker, articles, message board, water tracker, goal tracking and fitness info, go with SparkPeople. But if all you want is the food tracker, you'd be safe with fitday.

As a funny little side note, I have to say that I started out using SP about a year ago and switched to fitday but now that I'm reading my own blog post, I think I'll switch back. Guess I'd gotten into such a habit with fitday, I didn't remember how much I liked SP until I started writing. Apparently, I've swayed myself.

If you know of others, please share.

Stay tuned for less of me.

What's Your Story, Scale Mistress?

Hey there.

If you've followed me over from my other blog... welcome. And if you are new to my musings... well, hugs to you as well.

Here's the scoop. Back in April of this year, I started on this quest to once again, shed myself of some unwanted pounds...well, ok... 40 unwanted pounds. Having had some success in the past with low carb programs, I decided to try Kimkins which is a low carb/low fat program. I was more than a little skeptical but I've had great success and to date, I've lost 32 pounds. I'm in the home stretch now with only about 10 more to lose. This has always been my quest for the single digit size. I'm one size away.

The other blog was about the journey on Kimkins. But now I am so close to goal and I'm starting to actually think of myself as a thin person (and one who doesn't cry getting dressed in the morning) that I decided to embark on this new blog and share just how I'm going to keep my girlish figure AND the single digit size.

A little background. I'm 42, married 12 years, mother of twin 6 year olds, a bit of a computer geek and opinionated as hell. Oh, and I have a weakness for chocolate ice cream and oreo cookies. The last two items are obviously what got me into trouble but the opinionated part does that sometimes too.

Next month, I'm headed off on an 8 day cruise with my extended family. This really was the kick in the pants that got me started dieting. Knowing that I would have to put on a bathing suit AND face my family was enough to keep me off of chocolate ice cream and oreos for a while.

I've come to realize that low carb living is the answer for me. There is a wealth of information out there and I will do my best to share what I pick up along the way. I don't profess to be an expert but I know that I'm not alone and with information comes power.

I promise to poke fun at myself often. Feel free to do the same. I will post links to other blogs and links to products I believe in. If you have something to add... please share.