A Day Trip

J-boy and I took a day trip yesterday to see some of his 'people'.  They are nearly 4 hours away by car, so nearly 8 hours just going & coming keeps us from visiting as much as any of us would like.  So I had not seen a couple of the women since I'd begun my weight loss journey a year and a half ago.


We were greeted warmly when we got there, and P1 started talking about how great I looked and how she wouldn't have recognized me had she just run in to me out someplace.  She was effusive in her praise, but that is the kind of person she is.


Having just got out of the car from a nearly 4 hour trip, I had to go to the restroom.  While I was in there P2 came in.  I could hear them talking as I was taking care of business.  P1 said something along the lines of 'wait until you see her' and 'I didn't recognize her'.  I was prepared, then,  for P2's response.  She was very complimentary of my new look, and showed appropriate interest how I'd shed the pounds. 

It was a real ego boost for me, and just what I needed to stay focused through the end of the year.  I think I'd lost sight of just how far I'd come on this journey.  The rest of the weight will come off when it comes off.  All I have any control over is how much I eat and how much I move.  The scales/clothes sizes will take care of themselves when the time is right.

Discussion Topic

I visited with my Primary Care Physician yesterday. It was a follow up exam primarily to aid in weight loss. As I've noted before on this blog, my PCP is very kind and understanding. He has never, ever fussed at me about my weight, not even at 254.4. Whenever I mentioned the desire to lose weight, he was right there willing to offer his encouragement. I have always been able to speak freely with him about whatever was happening. Yesterday was no exception.

I thought going in that I'd lost 3 lbs since my last visit, but I did not go back and look at my many, varied graphs and spreadsheets to verify that fact. I knew that he'd be pleased with a loss no matter how much, and I'd just not tell him that at one point over the summer I'd been down even lower.

He doesn't even weigh me anymore. He just asks what did my scale say that morning. He used to both weigh me and ask, but the difference between the scales must have been consistent enough that all he does is ask. I told him my weight yesterday morning adding that I thought that was three pounds below the previous weight. Imagine my surprise when he told me that I had actually gained 5 lbs since my last visit!!

I confessed that my weight have even been lower than his last recorded weight, and that I'd planned just to keep that my little secret. He responded in his usual way saying that he was the last person to "do this" as he pointed is finger at me and shook it as he laughed. He typed some stuff in his laptop though, so I might have lost my no scale privileges for a while!

Everything physically checked out fine. I assured him that I had not given up in the weight loss department, but that my job had become so demanding and I was working such long hours that I wasn't focusing like I had in the past. I don't really know when this will end, as far as the work situation goes, so I've got to figure a way to schedule things a little better so that I can plan meals and exercise like I was this summer. He offered to schedule a follow up in 90 days if that would help keep me on track, because that is just the kind of guy he is. I declined, because, one I think I can do it without that authority accountability, and two scheduling something else just about gave me a stroke!

So, we set an appointment for the end of April. Then he suggested that I set a goal to lose 10 pounds before that date. It was my turn to laugh, and I told him that I needed a real goal. He gave me the standard, don't set yourself up for failure argument. While I understand that, and I know that most of this battle is mental, I still think that I need a goal that is going to make me work. I think a goal of 10 lbs in 6 months is so easy that I won't even try until sometime in March.

This is my dilemma - goal setting. It has been all along. I  mentioned very early in this blog how I attributed my past failures to poor goal setting as far as a goal weight went. I have a much more reasonable goal weight, which the doctor confirmed yesterday. My problem now, is how long should it take me to get there. When I set my four goals just a few weeks ago, Sharon said she thought they were too much of a stretch. I really, really appreciated her honesty. It turns out, she was right.

So now, I'm turning to you my faithful blog readers. How do you set goals? What do you do if you don't meet them? What is a reasonable amount of time to lose 10 pounds? I have some goal setting to do. I need your help.

Day Eight Report and Clothes Shopping

This morning I weighed 180.2!! It was quite surprising considering my activity level and eating for the day. I think perhaps the popcorn had a little more salt than I am used to and I know I didn't get all of my water in, so I'm thinking the two combined lead to the jump. I'll know for sure in the morning if the weight is gone. I'm doing fine today, right on target with my food and water intake.

I want to tell you about shopping for blue jeans on Saturday. I think the whole thing is too funny!  Right now I have only one pair of blue jeans that are size 18. Admittedly they are too big, but they aren't ridiculous yet. I really haven't put much emphasis on my casual wardrobe since I spend most of my time is business attire. One pair of blue jeans and a pair of sweatpants has been plenty for me lately for around the house. That is until I got behind on laundry and both things were dirty.

I had to delay my Saturday activities outside of the house, while I was washing my blue jeans. Besides being dirty, they fit better right out of the dryer. (I would not have left the house in the sweats even if they were clean.) I wound up with a pair of J-boy's flannel pants on while the laundry was going. I had on a top that matched and house shoes. He asked if I was going shopping like that and I explained that I was waiting for the laundry to finish before I left. He said, "Good, I don't want you to wind up on one of those 'People of' websites." I feigned offense since the clothes were the same color scheme and the pants were even his, although I knew I looked rough.

One of the trips we had planned for the day was to the dollar store. They have recently added blue jeans to their inventory so J-boy suggested that I purchase I pair there. I agreed. They are inexpensive and if they don't hold up it really doesn't matter since I don't plan to wear them very long. The issue is the store does not have dressing rooms since they have not previously been needed. We knew this going in, so I measured my waist before we left and took the tape measure with me. My size 18 jeans are at least 10 years old, so I have no idea what that equates to in today's sizing world.

We got to the store and made all of our other selections first and then went to the blue jeans. I picked up a pair of 14's not really expecting them to be big enough. I measured the waist, and sure enough the figure was different from my waist. Then I realized my waist measurement was smaller, so I picked up some 12's and measured. They were closer but still more than an inch too big. So, I had J-boy measure. He got the same as me, and I was getting giddy. I was mentally preparing the post about buying a pair of size 10 jeans. I asked J-boy if he thought they'd fit because they looked so small. He held them up to me as if to measure the length!! They didn't look too small to him. I would have turned a cartwheel right there in the store if I knew how. I couldn't believe it. I was going from and 18 to a 10!!

The store manager came by at that point and kindly offered to open the restroom so that I could try on the pants. I took the 12's trying not to look to eager. They were too small.  Alas, I forgot about the ever lowering waist of women. My 10 year old jeans actually came up to what I'd always called my waist. My 10 year old jeans are now affectionately deemed "Mom Jeans", or "High Waisted." I've avoided the lowering waist because of my belly, fearing that once I sit, the belly fat will pop out and push the pants down.  Now I had to launch out and go with the low waist.

So, having my ego back down to normal size, I measured myself again at few inches below what I always thought was my waist and went back to the pants. I got 16's. I thought they were a little loose and J-boy thought they looked tight. Go figure. I sure am glad the store manager happend along and allowed me to try on the pants.  I probably would have bought the 10's done a post and then had to do a retraction! At least now, I won't have to wear his flannels! 

Day Seven Report

 I was down 0.2 lbs this morning.  That brings my total weight loss to 4.0 lbs.


We just got back from Fall Fest/Trunk or Treat at church.  It was a blast and exhausting.  I ate a little popcorn but ate nothing else, not even a bite of candy.  The left over is going straight to work tomorrow.

Here's a shot of me me & my nephew handing out candy.  We didn't actually decorate our trunk, we just put a card table in front of our car.  The picture does not do justice to the cuteness of our set up!

Day Six Report

This morning the scale read 179.2!!  That is a loss of 1.8 lbs since yesterday and 3.8 since I started the drinks.  That is an average weight loss of 0.633 per day, not too shabby, especially considering Thursday! I have 24 days left on my commitment to the drinks.  If I keep up a pace of 0.5 lbs per day that is 12 more pounds or 167.2 lbs on November 17.  The original goal my doctor gave me was 165.  So, I'm setting a new goal to weigh 165 by November 17.  It is definitely a stretch.  I have proven to myself over and over that my goals have to be a stretch for me to stay focused.  If they are too easy, I'll ease up on myself and won't make any progress.


I have a doctor's appointment on Tuesday.  I wanted to get to 173.4 by then.  I'm not going to make that.  Maybe I'll weigh 177.8.  That would be a loss of about 5 lbs since the last time I went to the doctor.  He'll be pleased if there has been any loss at all.  He'll probably want to see me again in 6 months to make sure I'm still losing.  Every time I go now, I think next time I'll be at my goal.  I will get there one day and that is the most important thing to remember.  It may (will/has) take longer than I want it too, but I will get there. All I have to do is not quit.


Have a happy Saturday everyone.  J-boy and I are off to the store today to get some last minute supplies for our Fall Fest at church tomorrow.  We have Trunk or Treat too.  Last year we won third prize in the trunk decorating and we really weren't trying.  (There wasn't much competition)  Now that we've had a small taste of victory, we think we're contenders and we do have a good trunk planned.  I'll share the results on Monday.  I may not blog tomorrow.  I expect to have a very full day.  Don't worry, I'll stay on my eating plan even if I don't write about it.

Day Five Report

This morning I was up 0.6 lbs back to 181. I was pleasantly surprised that it was that little. I'm back on board now, and feel confident that little gain will be gone in the moring and maybe a little more.

Last night's meal was one of the very best I've had in my entire life. No exageration. I've had meals with an outstanding element, but not any that across the board every single dish was fabulous. I'll refrain from describing it for all our sakes. I don't want to plant images in anyone's head so that they need to rush out and get the food, nor to I want do that to myself. I could never afford to eat like that anyway.

One thing I will say is that the portions seemed small on the plate when it was served, and although I wanted more because it tasted sooooooooo goooooooood. It was enough. I had a salad, entree and dessert, and felt quite satisfied afterwards. I did not feel stuffed and uncomfortable as I probably would've if I'd eaten a salad, entree & dessert at a typical restaraunt.

I am trying to key in on the lesson of portion control. I know myself well enough to know that I want to eat whatever is on my plate. Not eating it is wasteful, and often it isn't as good reheated. At home, I do a pretty good job of 'small' servings. I know I can get more if it isn't enough, but it is almost always enough. Eating out is my problem. Besides the fact that it is hard to know just how something is prepared, even when specific requests are made, it is just too much. Sometimes J-boy and I will split an entree when we go out, but just as many times we don't and I overeat. I'm trying to tuck away the feeling from last night, the pleasant, satisfied feeling of a nice meal, well prepared. I want to store that away for the times when I want to keep eating and I know I've had enough.

Day Four Report

I stayed the same weight-wise this morning, probably because I had to be up a full hour earlier than usual to get to the breakfast meeting. My body had to rebel somehow!! My total weight loss on this experiment is 2.6 lbs. That is a good loss.  I'm not complaining about staying the same, particularly after the big loss yesterday.

For breakfast, we were served a traditional southern fare of scrambled eggs, bacon, potatoes, biscuit & fruit. I ate a little of everything, but not all of anything. I quit when I felt satisfied. Oddly, it isn't hard for me to do that in situations like this one. In the past, when I was obese, I was incredibly self conscious at business meals. The instant I was served, I'd start thinking about what I was going to leave on my plate. I was definitely not going to eat everything and have people look at me and think "no wonder she's so fat." This time, that thought did not even enter my head. I just stopped at enough.

I had my protein drink for lunch and am still satisfied. I have learned that the menu tonight is surf & turf (Chilean Sea Bass & Fillet Mignon)!! Dessert is tiramisu. I'll probably have a sampling of everything. I've gotten all of my water in, but I won't have time to exercise between work & dinner. I don't know what time we'll get home, but it is a safe bet, I won't exercise after either. I'll probably collapse in to bed.

Keep a good thought for me tonight as I make my food choices, and in the morning when I face the music on the scales.