Thanksgiving Food Coma

You don’t really need me to discuss what I ate on Thanksgiving, do you? Or the day following? How many of you were victorious in ignoring the beast within? Did you ignore the “more more MORE!!!” voice squeaking away in your ear?

Did you try anything new? I did–I had butternut squash for the first time in years and loved it. I’m hoping it wasn’t soaked in olive oil and cheese, because if it was that’s obviously why I loved it. I was also pretty well soaked (in wine) myself, which could have been another contributor.

I’m about to go weigh-in at Weight Watchers. I know I’m going to be weighing in *high*. Like eight pounds higher than two weeks ago, but that’s okay. I’m using the next few weeks to find new ways to eat clean for me and my family with plans to reach 100 pounds lost by Christmas. Or at least 95….

What are some of your favorite healthy dishes to have in the Autumn?

Turkey Trot

This year I ran my third Thanksgiving Turkey Trot.

In 2009 I “wogged” it. (That’s what Lori Gibson Washington, my wonderful 2009-2010 Weight Watchers leader, calls walking and jogging.) The morning was beautiful: the sun lit up all the different colors of the trees in the Suisun Valley and it just was a glorious way to start the day. There were people dressed in costumes à la Bay to Breakers and it helped me to run, as I swore I wouldn’t finish behind someone dressed up as my dinner. I’d never participated in a 5k and didn’t know what to expect, so I didn’t get a timing chip. I think I finished somewhere between 40 and 45 minutes, and I was very pleased with myself.

Last year was freezing cold and sunny. I walked less and ran more. I finished in 36 minutes and I was very pleased with myself.

This year it threatened to rain and it drizzled a bit, but the real rain held off. Supposedly there were close to 2,000 people running. I ran as hard as I could. I wanted to run the whole time without stopping. I wanted to finish in 32 minutes. Pushing myself, I only looked at my heart rate monitor watch once–at the halfway mark. Little boys kept running in front of me then stopping, then running again, spastically, whooping and hollering then stopping right in front of me. Once I nearly fell on one of them when he stopped dead about two feet in front of me.

I didn’t walk. I finished strong. In 30 minutes.

When I crossed the finish line and realized my accomplishment I started to cry. I don’t know why. Pride? Exhaustion? Either way, this was a huge accomplishment for me. Goal for my next 5k? Finish in under 30!

Victory Log #2

Today was my Weight Watchers weigh-in day; Thursday was measurement day with Trainer Paul.

Drumroll, please!

Pounds lost: 90.8
Body Fat: 34.4%

Pounds lost in past month: 10.4
Body Fat change: -1.7%  (total since starting with Trainer Paul: 2.8%)

What did I do this month?

Nutritionally: I waffled. A lot.  And when I got back on the bandwagon, I did not track. However, I *did* try to focus on making good choices and stay away from sugar. And small portion sizes, no wonder what I ate.

Physically:  I’m working on strength right now. My big accomplishment: completing 30 regular push-ups with my hands close together. I do cardio on alternate days, sometimes doing intervals with my “burst” level at 8.0. Have tried Zumba, burned 434 calories, but the music was so damn loud I don’t know if I can handle it again.

Goal for the next month: get stronger, stay on track nutritionally to hit 100 pounds.

Kicking Myself in the Face

Do you ever wake up and realize you were on a long, steep, slippery slide back to Fatville? You know the place, where you get buttered popcorn at the movies and then stop at some crappy drive-through on the way home? Where you sit on the couch for two hours, eating cookies and watching The Biggest Loser? Where you wake up to go to the gym, but decide the bed warmth is too delicious to leave?

Welcome to my world.

For the past ten days, I’ve been free-falling down that slide. First, I maintained my weight for two weeks. It was stressful at work and I didn’t have time for the gym or anything else, really. Maintaining is fine. I can handle maintaining at 86.2 pounds lost.

But then Halloween hit.

And my parents came to visit, which happens about once a year, for two nights, tops. They’re kind of like leprechauns. You never know when you’ll see them, but it’s always just for an instant.

So no gym. And there were two parties. And puff pastry. And candy. And cheese. And lots of wine. Lots. Too much. And lovely tiramisu at the Rotunda in Neiman Marcus.

But wait, there’s more. I just kept going. I had buttered popcorn. And we stopped at Taco Bell (on another night). And I roasted a chicken last night and ate a Shrek-sized portion. And yes, we made cookies. And I shoveled those into my gob.

Not to mention the 130 calories worth of dark chocolate pudding I hoarked in anger. Don’t ask. It was spiteful eating (I’ll eat this so he won’t get any!). Which, of course, was ridiculous.

You sure showed *them*.

Today I begin detox.

Detoxing my mind, my body.

Day #1: No sugar, no alcohol. And get thee to the gymmery.