<p>Well, someone’s watching me! I could not resist and went into the garage to sneak a slice of the Euro-cake… Yikes, there was a mousetrap by the freezeer with a huge dead RAT in it! How did that thing get in there?! H came from work and disposed of the dead body. H said he had a few traps out just in case, but nothing ever got in them until today. The cold must have driven the critters to look for warm places. So much for my treat! I think I lost my appetite for the rest of the day.:)</p>
<p>Out here in San Diego - been exercising pretty well; on Friday we took the bikes over to Coronado and biked about an hour (the bike I’m using is fine on flat land but a bit too heavy for the hilly area where we’re staying). Anyway, the biking part was fantastic but probably should have skipped the ice cream after lunch! My goal is to hold steady and maybe lose a tiny bit while we’re out here, then get serious when we’re back home in March.</p>
<p>It’s not my fault that after we investigated some city neighborhoods, DH said he wanted Mexican for lunch and were we anywhere near Old Town (I’m the one who studies the maps and navigates). Why, yes, honey, we’re very close. So too many yummy taco chips for me.</p>
<p>I was a bit concerned because it’s Restaurant Week and since our objective is to see what it’s like to live out here, naturally we have to try out a few restaurants! I figured this week would see my weight go up. However…our first stop tonight was at the grand old Grant Hotel with the highly rated Grant Grill. The restaurant was indeed grand and evocative of times past. The food was good to very good, but the portions - I haven’t seen them that small for several years! They called their RW menu a tasting, and a taste is all you got. If other restaurants follow suit, I got nothing to worry about.</p>
<p>Well, not much progress since the last time I wrote. BUT, we did go shopping yesterday and the house is filled with fresh veggies/fruit. Husband agreed to cook fish 2/week. I cooked a pot of beans yesterday so I can make several bean based meals this week. We are biking more as a couple.</p>
<p>I don’t like counting calories but in the past I have tracked portions with success. I will start that up today!</p>
<p>Marilyn, if you are ever in Old Town again, be sure to see the Mormon Battalion Memorial Visitor’s Center. It has a multi-media tour that is just a lot of fun to see! Took the kids there over the holiday break and we all enjoyed it.</p>
<p>How is it going, everyone? It’s miserable weather here, and now I’m working on the third pedometer…one died, second broke…transferring the lonely battery to the third…</p>
<p>I forgot to update yesterday (weigh in day)…lost another pound…well within that 2 pound range for my WW goal…and wore my skinny NYDJ yesterday (the ones I got for a dollar…brand new…).</p>
<p>Is anyone else frustrated with the muffin top thing? I am down inches in my waist and have lost several pounds but no matter what I do, I still have the love handles. What gives? I miss my flat stomach and waistline :(</p>
<p>I never had a flat stomach and waistline, even when I weighed 112. Sigh.</p>
<p>I finally got my moxy up and had an appt with a surgeon today regarding a potential breast reduction. I also asked about abdomen lipo, seeing as I’d be knocked out and under the knife anyway. She showed me a fat pad I didn’t even know I had. </p>
<p>Page 4? Oh, my that is terrible. Please. We can be dummies, but NOT slackers.</p>
<p>I have been managing to walk most days of the week. The lifting weights has been so sporadic. I am embarrassed. And ashamed. And of course flabbier. </p>
<p>Now I have about three weeks until a personal milestone. Or albatross. Or some kind of stone or weight. The big 60. I have to say - I feel a wave of mild depression. So, from now until this event I will be lifting. Trying to reclaim some semblance of muscle tone. Which seems to rhyme with milestone.</p>
<p>Weighed in today and lost .5 pounds, a Romney-esque weight loss indeed (yes, it’s a loss, but statistically it might not be a loss at all). Unfortunately, the rain is coming in tonight so that could cut down on bike riding for the weekend.</p>
<p>I was a bad girl and ate a chunk of the Euro-cake, then studied the box and discovered that the cake was a Polish creation called* Bird’s Milk <a href=“made%20locally%20by%20a%20European%20cake%20bakery”>/I</a>. I had to look for the recipe… I do not think I will be attempting to bake this cake any time soon, but the generous layer of souffle jammed between the two skinny layers of cake is apparently mostly egg whites. Protein! I do not feel so guilty anymore. :D</p>
<p>We just finished off Restaurant Week (four dinners and one lunch out in six days); weight has been fluctuating within about 1 1/2 pound range. I admit that I’ve been a little devil-may-care in my choices. It’s been a lot of fun but they make you order dessert with dinner :o. The only thing that’s been saving me is that we are taking long walks almost every day. And I’m starting every day with 20 minutes of Wii Fit aerobics. Today we went to Balboa Park - DH biked and I walked (and shopped for souvenirs for family). I’m doing stairs/steps all over that I wouldn’t have attempted last June before starting this program so yay.</p>
<p>I’m not really frustrated at the “plateau” because I know exactly why it’s happening. I’m not sure if my increased sleepiness is due to increased carbs or having a nice drink every night (and one day - that mai tai was wicked).</p>
<p>BunsenBurner - I always maintain that souffle (also meringue) is just air with a touch of sugar. Harmless. ;)</p>
<p>Congrats Mspearl !! When you get to that 10+ pounds loss you can really feel it.</p>
<p>Managed to get a 40 min walk in this morning in between the thunderstorms in Atlanta this morning. I like to do at least an hr on the weekends. Maybe I will get D2 to show me how to do aerobics on the Wii.</p>
<p>Question- healthiest options for eating at Mexican? H loves to go to our local restaurant on Friday nights. His relaxation after a hard week. I am staying away from the chips and cheese dip and last night skipped the wine. I had a cup chicken soup and a spinach /mushroom quesadilla ( just one tortilla) . Any healthier recommendations?</p>
<p>3 weeks in and still at it. Having the Weight Watchers tracker on my Iphone is a huge factor in making this easier. Track points, exercise. Since i am also tracking all my expenditures it is a real habit already. Anything you track changes, right? Plus, I am using muscles which apparently have been dormant for 5+ years. 7.5 pounds lost in 3 weeks. I am good with that. Gave up Cappuccino in favor of Americano but that is the only real ‘sacrifice’ to points so far!</p>
<p>I think the best Mexican are shrimp fajitas… lite on the sour cream…</p>
<p>Well, Worknprogress, at least your upcoming milestone hasn’t robbed you of your wit and rhyming capabilities. That probably happens at 61. :)</p>
<p>I would also like to know the best choice at a Mexican restaurant. Sometimes I order a shrimp dish or Fish tacos but who knows what calories I’m consuming? I do know that the Margaritas are not my friend. Or are they?</p>
<p>I am so inspired by you–the eating and writing food down part has been great this week. Exercise…not so much. I just am a fair weather walker…and there hasn’t been much fair weather… I am kind of holding out until S2 goes back to college, and then I can jump on the cable “on demand” Zumba and other videos. I want privacy…not commentary! Lack of cardio aside, I’ve lost 3 lbs in the 2 weeks I’ve been seriously at it. And S3 got accepted to his “match” college, and where he will probably end up, so that’s a huge stress release. Now, if nobody looks at me sideways, I won’t grab the chips and salsa during the 49er-Giants game!</p>
<p>A simple trick is to buy some weights. Not necessarily to lift but as a reminder: pick up a 5 lb and a 10 lb weight. It feels heavy. Carry it around in your hand: your arm will get tired. (My arm gets tired and I work out a lot.) Then realize this is one small part of the excess weight you are carrying around all the time. You don’t feel that weight much of the time because it is part of your body and the 10 lb weight is in your hand. </p>
<p>If this doesn’t work, try getting some sort of weight belt, the kind you put on around your waist. Or get some ankle weights. You will notice the weight, especially the ankle weights. </p>
<p>There are few better reminders than experiencing how much you have on your stomach, arms, legs, etc. That reinforces willpower. </p>
<p>I weigh 170. I’m strong, fairly muscular, not particularly tall. I have anywhere from 10 to 20 excess pounds on me. Two simple exercises I do involve 10 lb weights: single leg lifts (where you hold weights in your hands and bend forward while lifting one leg) and alternating one arm raises where I put the weight to my opposite toe and then lift it across my body and up. Do some of those and you get tired. But I can hold one of those weights and see it on my stomach.</p>
<p>Another trick is to find the extent of aerobic exercise you can do without unleashing your hunger. Many people spend all their time on exercise machines, but those don’t burn as many calories as you may take in during a 5 minute binge caused by extreme hunger. To reduce this, do more with weights, particularly free weights. You don’t have to lift a lot of weight; it’s more doing old-fashioned fitness exercises. You probably burn a similar amount of calories, strengthen your overall body and maybe avoid turning on the hunger monster.</p>