Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower.
-- Hans Christian Anderson
P.S. The flowers are called Alstramerias and Dave got them for me at the Farmer's Market yesterday :-)
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Easy like Sunday Morning...
Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower.
-- Hans Christian Anderson
P.S. The flowers are called Alstramerias and Dave got them for me at the Farmer's Market yesterday :-)
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Best Weight Loss Advice You've Never Heard
I saw this article in my WebMd newsletter and thought I would share. It does have a few good points. The one that I used was the frozen veggies. I have lots of them in my freezer ready to go.
Best Weight Loss Advice You've (Supposedly) Never Heard
By Kathleen Doheny
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
You’re ready to lose some weight. But you're tired of listening to all that stale, tried-and-true weight loss advice, like eating more vegetables, limiting portions, and exercising more.
Maybe what you need is a fresh idea or two. So WebMD asked diet experts to come up with some lesser-known diet tips that could make the most jaded dieter drop that cookie and vow, "Oh wow! I'll try that today."
Here are nine diet tips you may not have not heard yet. Some involve different ways to eat, or adding certain foods to your diet. Others involve learning new behaviors or strategies to help you stay on track.
Weight Loss Tip No. 1: Variety Is Overrated
Who hasn't heard the advice to "just take a bite of everything" if you're at a buffet?
But as it turns out, variety doesn't deserve its good reputation, says Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, a Chicago dietitian and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. "We know that variety makes you eat more," she says, citing several published studies and her own experience in counseling weight loss patients. For example, researchers in France found that study participants ate more french fries when they were offered catsup and mayonnaise along with them. And when they were given the option of having cream or whipped cream with their brownies, they ate more than when the brownies were offered plain. Other researchers have found that people who have been able to maintain weight loss tend to eat diets with limited variety.
Weight Loss Tip No. 2: Have Barley for Breakfast
"Barley is the new oatmeal," says Jackson Blatner. Barley got its hunger-fighting reputation after Swedish researchers found that eating barley or rye kernels for breakfast kept blood sugar on an even keel. That's because the carbs in barley and rye kernels are "low glycemic index," meaning they raise blood sugar more slowly than some other carbohydrate foods. This helps you avoid a spike, and then a drop, in blood sugar, which can leave you feeling famished. One caveat: "Buy hulled barely, not pearl barley," Jackson Blatner says. The Swedish researchers used minimally processed hull barley, and they can't vouch for the same effects for more processed forms, such as pearl barley.
Weight Loss Tip No. 3: Beef Up Your Lunch Salad
One of the most common mistakes dieters make is to eat a vegetable salad with little or no dressing for lunch, says Joan Salge Blake, RD, professor of nutrition at Boston University and a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. "Then they are starving by mid-afternoon," she says. A salad is a great choice, she says, if you add some protein and a little fat to help keep you feeling full longer. Top your greens with a 3 oz piece of chicken breast, and you've added about 26 grams of protein but just 140 calories. Add about two tablespoons of light salad dressing, and your salad may be filling enough to get you through the 3 p.m. hunger slump without hitting the vending machine.
Weight Loss Tip No. 4: Stock Up on Frozen Vegetables
Sure, fresh vegetables are delicious and nutritious. But faced with the need to scrape a carrot, wash and slice a zucchini, or cut broccoli into florets, many of us say, "Too much trouble!" and reach for chips instead. To make things easier, stock your freezer with frozen vegetables, Blake tells dieters. "They are already clean, chopped and ready to cook in the microwave," she says. "It's like having Rachael Ray in the freezer." An even better way to be sure you eat more vegetables: Cook the frozen veggies ahead of time. Microwave the whole bag of green beans, for instance. Then keep them in the refrigerator, ready to dump into canned soups, add to a salad, or just eat by the handful.
Weight Loss Tip No. 5: Make Yourself a Party Tray
The type of party tray Jackson Blatner is talking about is a big vegetable platter, maybe with some low-fat dip on the site -- the kind you put on the buffet for weight-conscious guests.
But this one is just for you and any interested family members. Keep it in the fridge at eye level, encouraging you to snack healthy and avoid the higher-calorie contents of your refrigerator.
Several studies have found that we tend to eat more when food is within easy reach. Secretaries who placed candy on their desks ate about 48% more than when the candy was 6 feet away, according to research by Brian Wansink, PhD, director of the Food and Brand Lab at Cornell University.
Weight Loss Tip No. 6: Turn Down the Thermostat
Spending time in a chilly house -- about 61 degrees Fahrenheit -- may boost the fat-burning power of the "brown fat" in your body. Brown fat is considered "good" fat, as opposed to regular or white fat, which stores calories and tends to accumulate. Researchers believe that lean people have more of the brown type of fat, and that the amount of brown fat a person has declines with age. Scandinavian researchers found that exposure to these chilly temperatures boosted the metabolic rate of brown fat 15-fold, helping burn more calories. But Jackson Blatner cautions not to expect too much: "It's not going to be any kind of a miracle," she says. And beware if you're the type who eats more when you feel cold.
Weight Loss Tip No. 7: Downsize Your Dinnerware
Experts say they've seen it again and again: The larger your plate, the more you're likely to put on it. So serving your meals on smaller plates can help you eat less. But don't throw out those dinner plates, Blake suggests. Use the smaller, lunch-size plates to serve dinner, and use the dinner plates for salads.
Weight Loss Tip No. 8: Go Out for Treats
If you're the type who overdoes it on sweets and snacks, Jackson Blatner suggests, make yourself work a little for your favorite indulgences. Don't keep them in the house, but give yourself permission to go out and get them when you really need to. Want a brownie? You have to go to the bakery. Craving a frozen yogurt? You must find the nearest frozen yogurt shop.
"The more hassle tasty treats are, the less likely you are to eat them," says Jackson Blatner, who does this herself and finds her sweets consumption has declined without making her feel deprived.
Weight Loss Tip No. 9: Try on Your Skinny Jeans Every Friday
Find a pair of pants that is tight, but not impossible to zip, Blake suggests to her weight loss patients. "Every Friday morning, try them on," she says. Why Friday? Weekends are typically a tougher time to stay on diets, she says. And the Friday morning try-on will motivate you to watch your eating during the weekend. "If they are loose, you will say to yourself 'I am making progress, I am staying on track during the weekend,''' she says. And if they're snug? That will provide motivation to stick to your diet so they'll fit better next week, she says.
Best Weight Loss Advice You've (Supposedly) Never Heard
By Kathleen Doheny
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
You’re ready to lose some weight. But you're tired of listening to all that stale, tried-and-true weight loss advice, like eating more vegetables, limiting portions, and exercising more.
Maybe what you need is a fresh idea or two. So WebMD asked diet experts to come up with some lesser-known diet tips that could make the most jaded dieter drop that cookie and vow, "Oh wow! I'll try that today."
Here are nine diet tips you may not have not heard yet. Some involve different ways to eat, or adding certain foods to your diet. Others involve learning new behaviors or strategies to help you stay on track.
Weight Loss Tip No. 1: Variety Is Overrated
Who hasn't heard the advice to "just take a bite of everything" if you're at a buffet?
But as it turns out, variety doesn't deserve its good reputation, says Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, a Chicago dietitian and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. "We know that variety makes you eat more," she says, citing several published studies and her own experience in counseling weight loss patients. For example, researchers in France found that study participants ate more french fries when they were offered catsup and mayonnaise along with them. And when they were given the option of having cream or whipped cream with their brownies, they ate more than when the brownies were offered plain. Other researchers have found that people who have been able to maintain weight loss tend to eat diets with limited variety.
Weight Loss Tip No. 2: Have Barley for Breakfast
"Barley is the new oatmeal," says Jackson Blatner. Barley got its hunger-fighting reputation after Swedish researchers found that eating barley or rye kernels for breakfast kept blood sugar on an even keel. That's because the carbs in barley and rye kernels are "low glycemic index," meaning they raise blood sugar more slowly than some other carbohydrate foods. This helps you avoid a spike, and then a drop, in blood sugar, which can leave you feeling famished. One caveat: "Buy hulled barely, not pearl barley," Jackson Blatner says. The Swedish researchers used minimally processed hull barley, and they can't vouch for the same effects for more processed forms, such as pearl barley.
Weight Loss Tip No. 3: Beef Up Your Lunch Salad
One of the most common mistakes dieters make is to eat a vegetable salad with little or no dressing for lunch, says Joan Salge Blake, RD, professor of nutrition at Boston University and a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. "Then they are starving by mid-afternoon," she says. A salad is a great choice, she says, if you add some protein and a little fat to help keep you feeling full longer. Top your greens with a 3 oz piece of chicken breast, and you've added about 26 grams of protein but just 140 calories. Add about two tablespoons of light salad dressing, and your salad may be filling enough to get you through the 3 p.m. hunger slump without hitting the vending machine.
Weight Loss Tip No. 4: Stock Up on Frozen Vegetables
Sure, fresh vegetables are delicious and nutritious. But faced with the need to scrape a carrot, wash and slice a zucchini, or cut broccoli into florets, many of us say, "Too much trouble!" and reach for chips instead. To make things easier, stock your freezer with frozen vegetables, Blake tells dieters. "They are already clean, chopped and ready to cook in the microwave," she says. "It's like having Rachael Ray in the freezer." An even better way to be sure you eat more vegetables: Cook the frozen veggies ahead of time. Microwave the whole bag of green beans, for instance. Then keep them in the refrigerator, ready to dump into canned soups, add to a salad, or just eat by the handful.
Weight Loss Tip No. 5: Make Yourself a Party Tray
The type of party tray Jackson Blatner is talking about is a big vegetable platter, maybe with some low-fat dip on the site -- the kind you put on the buffet for weight-conscious guests.
But this one is just for you and any interested family members. Keep it in the fridge at eye level, encouraging you to snack healthy and avoid the higher-calorie contents of your refrigerator.
Several studies have found that we tend to eat more when food is within easy reach. Secretaries who placed candy on their desks ate about 48% more than when the candy was 6 feet away, according to research by Brian Wansink, PhD, director of the Food and Brand Lab at Cornell University.
Weight Loss Tip No. 6: Turn Down the Thermostat
Spending time in a chilly house -- about 61 degrees Fahrenheit -- may boost the fat-burning power of the "brown fat" in your body. Brown fat is considered "good" fat, as opposed to regular or white fat, which stores calories and tends to accumulate. Researchers believe that lean people have more of the brown type of fat, and that the amount of brown fat a person has declines with age. Scandinavian researchers found that exposure to these chilly temperatures boosted the metabolic rate of brown fat 15-fold, helping burn more calories. But Jackson Blatner cautions not to expect too much: "It's not going to be any kind of a miracle," she says. And beware if you're the type who eats more when you feel cold.
Weight Loss Tip No. 7: Downsize Your Dinnerware
Experts say they've seen it again and again: The larger your plate, the more you're likely to put on it. So serving your meals on smaller plates can help you eat less. But don't throw out those dinner plates, Blake suggests. Use the smaller, lunch-size plates to serve dinner, and use the dinner plates for salads.
Weight Loss Tip No. 8: Go Out for Treats
If you're the type who overdoes it on sweets and snacks, Jackson Blatner suggests, make yourself work a little for your favorite indulgences. Don't keep them in the house, but give yourself permission to go out and get them when you really need to. Want a brownie? You have to go to the bakery. Craving a frozen yogurt? You must find the nearest frozen yogurt shop.
"The more hassle tasty treats are, the less likely you are to eat them," says Jackson Blatner, who does this herself and finds her sweets consumption has declined without making her feel deprived.
Weight Loss Tip No. 9: Try on Your Skinny Jeans Every Friday
Find a pair of pants that is tight, but not impossible to zip, Blake suggests to her weight loss patients. "Every Friday morning, try them on," she says. Why Friday? Weekends are typically a tougher time to stay on diets, she says. And the Friday morning try-on will motivate you to watch your eating during the weekend. "If they are loose, you will say to yourself 'I am making progress, I am staying on track during the weekend,''' she says. And if they're snug? That will provide motivation to stick to your diet so they'll fit better next week, she says.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Fa Fa Fa Friday
I did not meet up with my mom last night. I waited too long to eat dinner and grazed a bit on some walnuts. I never knew how high in calories they were... Wowie! They are good for you but whew!
(This is the one I ordered)
As I mentioned yesterday, I need a new swimsuit because the other one is way too big. Yes, I am glad it is too big BUT having to shell out $100 for a new one was no fun. Same thing with friggin bras! Although... I am not happy about my boobs shrinking. Circumference is okay but not cup size. I still have not purchased any new bras. I have been looking at Just My Size and they have a few reasonably priced cute ones but I don't know how well ordering them online will work. I have never really been a fan of buying bras. When I am at goal I will be going to Victoria's Secret and buying some matching sets but until then...
Speaking of shopping - I have been doing A LOT of shopping as of late. I have fully enjoyed it don't get me wrong but my spending habits in the past have mirrored some of my old eating habits and I felt a little out of control. The only big purchases we have planned now is a new computer and to fix the dent in my car. I have an old laptop at home that is becoming outdated (not compatible with my iPhone, etc.) . I just recently resolved a lot of my outstanding debts thanks to Dave and have got caught up which is a G-R-E-A-T feeling. My only outstanding debt now is my Student Loan which I will probably be paying off until I retire - LOL!
As most of you know I have also been on a CCC (Clear Clutter Campaign) and have successfully purged a whole bunch of unneeded items. I left no stone unturned and it has taken me at least the last 5-6 months to do so. It was time well spent though because I don't feel so bogged down with *stuff* I am trying to adopt a minimalist attitude when it comes to decorating too so I don't have too many things to dust. Seems to be working. I even told Dave he can only put Katie approved items on display on our dresser, nightstands etc. :-)
On another unrelated topic. Anne H over at Carb Tripper bequeathed me with a Sunshine Award. Thank you Anne! According to the "official" rules the Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspires others in the blog world. I am truly honored! It should be passed on to 12 bloggers of your liking.
Here is my list of 12 but like Ann said the list could go on and on forever. Here they are in no particular order...
- Kristina at Off the Couch
- Candace at Believing in C
- Kat at Fit-Mind-Body-Spirit
- Tiffany at Project 365
- Leslie at Something Brilliant is Brewing
- Patsy at Musings on 100lbs+ Weight Loss Journey
- Miss Journey at Journey Beyond Survival
- Mary at Chronicles of Meps Reconstruction
- Mary at Curvy is the new black. Right?
- Deb at Deb will be thin
- Julia at Jewelia-Goulia
- Candy at Melting Candy
Hoping to see my friend Debby over the weekend. She and Larry have been my besties for 25 years but I have not seen them much the last few months because they have been travelling. Deb came back from their latest trip sick so if she is on the mend then maybe we could get a visit in. I miss them A LOT!
Well that is surely enough rambling for today. Hope you all have a great weekend. Until next time...
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Trepidition Thursday
I did well on food and water again yesterday. I did check the scale and I am down another 2 lbs. Yay on that! I managed to get all my water in by 8:00 p.m. so no potty breaks in the middle of the night.
I did end up doing the workout DVD but like the dork that I am, I forgot to put my bugg back on so I could see the calories burned. It is called Walk it off and Tone it up (yellow) and I bought it at Target. If you click on the link, there is a coupon for $2.00 off. I only did it for 15 mins. because I thought Dave and I were going to go on a walk but we ended up not going but it still was a good thing. It is broken up into individual miles and it goes up to 5. The resistance bands (evil pieces of rubber) are introduced in the 2nd mile. HG made dinner while I exercised and it was all good. At one point he was standing there watching me and I just gave him stink eye and told him he was blog fodder if he kept standing there. He just rolled his eyes at me and walked away. Whateve dude! By the way, Sarah, I have not been swimming at the Sr. Center yet. I need a new bathing suit because my other one is too big. I will show you what suit I picked out tomorrow.
In addition to the good dinner, HG made some muffins from Trader Joe's. They are Triple Berry and they have bran and flax seed. They are darn tasty and only 130 calories each. Yummy! I don't think I have ever had a bad thing from Trader Joe's.
I am supposed to meet my mom for dinner and also get together with her on Saturday. I am not really in the mood to meet her tonight and have been basically avoiding her but that is a whole other post. We will see how it all pans out. Plans are always subject to change in Katieworld. Until next time...
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Woeful Wednesday Weigh
I did well on food yesterday AND water! Note to self: Drink water during the day so you don't have to get up and pee during the night. It was a little relentless getting all that water in and I did feel pretty sloshy but I will try again today. I got on the scale this morning to face the music and I am up 7 lbs. I am upset about it but all I can do is move forward. By the way, did you know that 4 - 16.9 ozs. of water weighs 5 lbs? Another thing that did cross my mind though is TOM. TMI ahead for those of who are squeamish. I have an IUD called Mirena and I don't get a period. I couldn't tell you the last time I had one. Now, I do experience other symptoms like bloating, moodiness, etc. but without the bleeding. I am due to be seen at the gyno so I will ask her about it.
Nothing on the agenda this evening. Dinner will most likely be chicken. I would like to do a workout DVD. It will require making HG leave for awhile but tough tu-tus. Why should I put things on hold for him? It will be a non-issue soon enough but I am up to my eyeballs with the situation. I just want it to be done and over with. He is a good guy don't get me wrong but I am just done with having him be a bump on the couch. Anyways, it should be interesting to see how it plays out. Until next time...
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Tentative Tuesday
I forgot to grab my bugg this morning so no screenshot for yesterday. I did fine on food though. Since I did not have my car yesterday, I brought a Lean Cuisine Panini for lunch and then had soup and a turkey and cheese sandwich for dinner. I was mentally spent so I decided to go to bed early and was asleep by 9:00 p.m. I got on the scale this morning and I am down 2 of the 10 lbs. which made me feel a little better. I am just going to acknowledge it and move forward. That is where I would fail before and why this journey is different. I will not unravel all my hard work just because of one binge or failure along the way.
I still am not drinking enough water which I really need to work on. Why is it so hard for me to drink it? Is drinking 64 ozs. okay or do I need to drink 80 ozs? Here are some of the many benefits:
- Regulate appetite
- Increase metabolism
- Boost energy levels
- Less water retention
- Alleviate some headaches
- Help reduce blood pressure
- Help reduce high cholesterol
- Ease joint pain
- Decrease in risk of some cancers
- Less chance developing kidney stones
- Release toxic waste products
- Improves skin
It is not as if it isn't available. I have bottled water at work AND at home. I have all sorts of "cute" water bottles. I have Crystal Light and other packets to add to make it palatable. I have lemons to help with the flavor too. So why? I am sure it's like anything else. There is an adjustment period and once you get used to it - then its not a hassle. One resistance for me is that when I am at work, I need to have someone cover the phone each time I use the restroom. I feel like a pain having to get coverage know what I mean? I suppose I am just over thinking it but I do worry about it. I will try working up to it and see how it goes. Until next time...
Monday, February 22, 2010
Morose Monday
Hope you all had a nice weekend! Saturday we took my car to the shop to get tires, brakes and servicing. It will be finished today. Then we went down to the Outlets and I got two new pairs of shoes. A pair of black pumps for work and a pair of Anti-Gravity athletic shoes. They are the most comfortable pair of shoes I have EVER worn! The technology is that there are millions of nitrogen bubbles in the sole which makes them lighter then air. They absorb shock, they distribute your weight evenly and make you feel like you are walking on air. Literally!
There was an In 'n Out burger so we stopped there. We split fries but I got a Double Double with Cheese. On our way back we stopped at Rasputin and got some CDs. Dave bought me Pink and Mary J. Blige. We also stopped at Trader Joe's and got some muffin mix that Dave saw in their ad. I went overboard getting snack stuff and was throwing random things into the cart. Well once we got home I basically grazed for the evening. I had sweet potato chips, some baked snap peas and some other assorted items (I lost track)
Yesterday was a little better but not much. It was raining on and off so I did not venture outside. I did go through some boxes of photos/frames and got rid of some more crap. Oh and I colored my hair. We made more room in the closet which was needed. HG made some brownies and I had 3 of them. The only good news was they were fat free.
I haven't binged on food like that for a long time and I have been trying to figure out what triggered it. Boredom was part of it and frustration I think... HG is getting on my nerves... He has been staying with me/us since mid November because he was down on his luck and needed a place to stay. Dave was still in the program and I saw it as an opportunity for us to help each other. I needed help moving stuff and he needed a place to stay. Win-Win. Well Dave came home and it has been the three of us since the end of December. At first it was going to be until Dave got out. Then it was to the end of the year. Then it was mid February... The most frustrating part is that he is not doing anything to correct his situation. I know it is hard out there trying to find a job but he is doing nothing about looking for one. No Monster.com, no looking in the paper, no hitting the pavement, nothin... I have seen jobs posted and mentioned them to him... still nothin. So Dave said this morning that we will tell him he has to be out by next Sunday the 28th. We will see if we can stick to that... it isn't easy knowing that he is going to be sleeping in his car but how much do you help someone that won't help themselves...
I got on the scale this morning to assess what damage I might have done and the scale said I was up 10 lbs! Can you freekin believe that? Ughhhhhh!!! It has to be some water weight because I did not consume 30,000 calories but sheesh. I feel bloated as all get out but I am back to task - got my bodybugg on - eating my yogurt and cereal bar and drinking my water. New week - new beginnings right? Until next time...
There was an In 'n Out burger so we stopped there. We split fries but I got a Double Double with Cheese. On our way back we stopped at Rasputin and got some CDs. Dave bought me Pink and Mary J. Blige. We also stopped at Trader Joe's and got some muffin mix that Dave saw in their ad. I went overboard getting snack stuff and was throwing random things into the cart. Well once we got home I basically grazed for the evening. I had sweet potato chips, some baked snap peas and some other assorted items (I lost track)
Yesterday was a little better but not much. It was raining on and off so I did not venture outside. I did go through some boxes of photos/frames and got rid of some more crap. Oh and I colored my hair. We made more room in the closet which was needed. HG made some brownies and I had 3 of them. The only good news was they were fat free.
I haven't binged on food like that for a long time and I have been trying to figure out what triggered it. Boredom was part of it and frustration I think... HG is getting on my nerves... He has been staying with me/us since mid November because he was down on his luck and needed a place to stay. Dave was still in the program and I saw it as an opportunity for us to help each other. I needed help moving stuff and he needed a place to stay. Win-Win. Well Dave came home and it has been the three of us since the end of December. At first it was going to be until Dave got out. Then it was to the end of the year. Then it was mid February... The most frustrating part is that he is not doing anything to correct his situation. I know it is hard out there trying to find a job but he is doing nothing about looking for one. No Monster.com, no looking in the paper, no hitting the pavement, nothin... I have seen jobs posted and mentioned them to him... still nothin. So Dave said this morning that we will tell him he has to be out by next Sunday the 28th. We will see if we can stick to that... it isn't easy knowing that he is going to be sleeping in his car but how much do you help someone that won't help themselves...
I got on the scale this morning to assess what damage I might have done and the scale said I was up 10 lbs! Can you freekin believe that? Ughhhhhh!!! It has to be some water weight because I did not consume 30,000 calories but sheesh. I feel bloated as all get out but I am back to task - got my bodybugg on - eating my yogurt and cereal bar and drinking my water. New week - new beginnings right? Until next time...
Friday, February 19, 2010
Foggy Friday
Dave had a volleyball meeting so I was on my own for dinner last night. I chose Mexican food and had ceviche (shrimp) and a chicken taco. Yummers and not too bad calorie wise. I am still on my Clear Clutter Campaign and was going through some paperwork and found these pictures.
It is supposed to represent what I "might" look like at goal. The picture was taken in Feb/March around the time I started my blog. Personally, I think the "after" pic is funky especially around the neck and face but it gives me a glimpse of what is underneath eh? This picture did help me see that I have made some progress. This blouse actually hangs on me now.
Dave is going to make spaghetti for dinner tonight. I don't like spaghetti or angel hair pasta but I will eat any other shape of noodle. Call me a weirdo but I just don't like the long and stringy noodles. I do like Chow Mien though... go figure.
I am hoping to go to the Gilroy Outlets tomorrow. I need some new work shoes and they have an Easy Spirit store there. I could use a new pair of athletic shoes too. They used to have stores at the local malls but now the closest actual store is in SF which is 60 miles away. Other then that I don't have any plans. Maybe I could get my fat ass to the gym?!?!? I have been trying to think why I am so resistant to going? What am I afraid of? Something to think about for sure.When I first started out last year I was pretty religious about wearing my bugg everyday and all day. Now I take it off as soon as I get home and ditch it for the weekend. I need to keep it on more consistently. It is a constant reminder to be cognizant of what is going in my mouth and it's impact on my calories consumed. I have been getting a little to lax on the weekends and I think this will help. Well, I hope you all have a great weekend. Until next time...
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Elastic: Friend or Foe?
Nice deficit huh? Pretty pitiful! How can I expect to achieve the goals I have set when I get results like that. Ugh...
Anyways, in case you missed it yesterday, I updated my progress pictures so you can check them out here. I know we are our own worst critics but I am not seeing much of a change. I do notice the difference in my face though.
I wanted to talk about elastic waistbands. Ever since I can remember I have had elastic waisted pants. Even as a young girl in grade school. All my classmates where wearing Dittos and Chemin de Fers (dang I am old) and I was wearing polyester pants with an elastic waist. Now during jr. high and high school I was able to get into "some" regular pants and wore 501s for awhile but for as long as I can remember it has been me and elastic.Now weight loss experts will tell you that you shouldn't wear elastic because you are not aware of your expanding waist if it just keeps stretching to accommodate your girth but at my highest weight it was hard to find anything that fit let alone without elastic. I do agree with them but when you have limited options you work with what is available.
Last week, I bought a pair of Seven Jeans. They generally retail for about $70-$80 a pair which is way more then I would EVER pay for a pair of pants, let alone jeans but they were on sale for $15.99!! I bought them in a Size 22 but they do not quite fit but they will soon enough. This is my first pair of designer jeans and I am 43 years old! HOLY CRAPOLA! They are also one of the few pairs of pants that I own that do not have elastic. I look forward to the day that I don't "have" to have elastic waistbands. Hey, I may be able to sport a belt one of these days too. What a concept! Until next time...
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Weigh-In Ash Wednesday & Progress Pics
Nothing too exciting about yesterday. I tried to eat mellow foods since the overdose of popcorn wrecked my belly. I am feeling better but I am still bloated. I got on the scale this morning and I am up 3 lbs. but I am not surprised. I need to flush out my system of all the evil sodium so I am going drink copious amounts of water today.
I took some updated progress pictures if you want to look at them here. I didn't get around to doing measurements though. I need Dave to help me with that so maybe I can do them this evening when he gets home. He has been ramping up for baseball season the last two weeks. For those of you who are new, Dave (my boyfriend) is an umpire for high school sports. Baseball is his favorite but he also does football, volleyball and some basketball.
The winner of my Blogiversary Giveaway is Rach at Losing it for Real. Congratulations hon! I will be sending out your package shortly. Just need to add a few more goodies ;-)
That is about it for now. I am working on a post about elastic waistbands. Hoping to post it tomorrow. Until next time...
P.S. Is anyone else having trouble viewing pictures on other people's blogs? Blogger has been acting weird lately...
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Post President's Day Post
It was soooo nice to have a long weekend! Makes you wish every weekend was a 3 day! Oh well, wishful thinking...
Brunch went well with my Mom and Danielle on Saturday. Whew! I am so glad to have finally done that. I even got an email from my mom saying she enjoyed meeting her and that she seemed nice. Mission accomplished. After we had brunch we went shopping for a little while and then came home and called it a day. Watched movies and hung out for the rest of the day.
Had a great Valentine's Day. Dave got me some dark pink roses and a pair of silver heart earrings with a purple stone that I picked out ;-) For the rest of the day, Dave and I were road warriors. We went to every Wal-Mart in a 50 mile radius and we went to the Flea Market. Too bad I didn't have my bodybugg on because last time I was there I got in 11,000 steps so it would have been fun to compare. Anyways, we did find what we wanted. Dave's mother had a TV that was bigger then what we had BUT it did not fit in my entertainment center. Entertainment centers are now made to accommodate flat screen TVs which we will get one eventually but in the meantime... we found one that will work for both. What a friggin project! Oy! I am SO glad to be done with that. I have looked at every furniture store in the whole bay area and I am done done done. Ughh....
Yesterday we hung out for most the day and I packed up stuff to move out of the entertainment center. I have about 30 Disney movies on VHS which I actually do watch on occasion. Well I don't have any room for them anymore so I asked one of my coworkers who has 2 daughters that are 3 and 5 if he could use them and he said they would LOVE them. I am glad they will go to a good place and be appreciated. I don't know why I am having such a hard time parting with them. Now if I could part with my Beanie Babies next...
Food has been on and off. Yesterday I ended up snacking too late on popcorn and ended up with a belly ache this morning. I know I am bloated from extra sodium so it will be an interesting weigh in tomorrow. I haven't been obsessed with the scale lately which is kinda nice. I was weighing a couple times a day there for a little while. I honestly have not gotten on the scale since last Wednesday. Weird...
Hope you all had a nice weekend and Valentine's Day. Until next time...
P.S. I did not update measurements or pics but will do it tonight. Also, I will announce the winner of my Blogiversary giveaway tomorrow.
Brunch went well with my Mom and Danielle on Saturday. Whew! I am so glad to have finally done that. I even got an email from my mom saying she enjoyed meeting her and that she seemed nice. Mission accomplished. After we had brunch we went shopping for a little while and then came home and called it a day. Watched movies and hung out for the rest of the day.
Had a great Valentine's Day. Dave got me some dark pink roses and a pair of silver heart earrings with a purple stone that I picked out ;-) For the rest of the day, Dave and I were road warriors. We went to every Wal-Mart in a 50 mile radius and we went to the Flea Market. Too bad I didn't have my bodybugg on because last time I was there I got in 11,000 steps so it would have been fun to compare. Anyways, we did find what we wanted. Dave's mother had a TV that was bigger then what we had BUT it did not fit in my entertainment center. Entertainment centers are now made to accommodate flat screen TVs which we will get one eventually but in the meantime... we found one that will work for both. What a friggin project! Oy! I am SO glad to be done with that. I have looked at every furniture store in the whole bay area and I am done done done. Ughh....
Yesterday we hung out for most the day and I packed up stuff to move out of the entertainment center. I have about 30 Disney movies on VHS which I actually do watch on occasion. Well I don't have any room for them anymore so I asked one of my coworkers who has 2 daughters that are 3 and 5 if he could use them and he said they would LOVE them. I am glad they will go to a good place and be appreciated. I don't know why I am having such a hard time parting with them. Now if I could part with my Beanie Babies next...
Food has been on and off. Yesterday I ended up snacking too late on popcorn and ended up with a belly ache this morning. I know I am bloated from extra sodium so it will be an interesting weigh in tomorrow. I haven't been obsessed with the scale lately which is kinda nice. I was weighing a couple times a day there for a little while. I honestly have not gotten on the scale since last Wednesday. Weird...
Hope you all had a nice weekend and Valentine's Day. Until next time...
P.S. I did not update measurements or pics but will do it tonight. Also, I will announce the winner of my Blogiversary giveaway tomorrow.
Friday, February 12, 2010
I Love You!
I want to thank you all again for such wonderful comments and words of encouragement on my blogiversary post yesterday. It means SO MUCH to me and I can't tell you how flattered I am that you care. I love you guys!!!
I did not have my bugg on yesterday so no screenshot again. Dave took me to Andy's BBQ (Mr. Steer, Shelley!) and I had their salmon special. It was really good. They serve these huge baked potatoes and I ate the whole thing skin and all. I love potato skins and always have. I put a few too many chives on it though and my belly felt it this morning. I love onions but they don't really love me back. The M&Ms are gone so no more temptation there. I will have to rethink the candy for holidays thing. I obviously can't resist the temptation and I can't just have a few and walk away.
I don't really have any concrete plans for the weekend except that Danielle and I will be meeting my mom for brunch at Carrow's. They have never met. Danielle and I have been friends for about 7 years now. Early on in our friendship we had a falling out of sorts. I forgave her and we remained good friends since but my mom had formed her opinion of her and did not like her. Well, she has softened now and agreed to meet her. I am nervous but glad we will be able to do it because it is about time. As for the rest of the weekend, I will just play it by ear. I want to check out my new Leslie Sansome DVD and hopefully Dave will do it with me. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Happy Valentine's Day! Until next time...
Thursday, February 11, 2010
One Year Blogiversary
What a difference a year makes huh? If you had told me a year ago that I would have a blog with 229 followers, have lost 60 pounds, moved apartments and moved in with Dave I would have thought you were a crazy person but here we are!
Then
When I first started this journey I weighed 315 lbs. I did not really have much quality of life. I was a middle aged woman (who me?) taking 7 different medications for high blood pressure, cholesterol, acid reflux and other ailments. I also was doing 100 ccs of insulin twice a day and sleeping with a CPAP machine. My doctor had suggested WLS but I was very hesitant. I told her that I would try to lose weight on my own and would do the surgery if I was unsuccessful. I was at my breaking point and knew I just HAD to do something or I was going to die. Literally. Die. Everybody has a different bottom and that was mine. I had to make some lifestyle changes QUICK or ELSE! I was desperate and depressed.
During
I did not want to go on a diet. I had to make it something that would be sustainable for the long haul so I tracked the calories I was consuming and the activity I was getting through the bodybugg. I did remove beer, french fries and fast food from my repertoire but otherwise I basically just adjusted my portion size. I had a very warped idea of what an actual portion was. If I was going to equate it to any other program I would say it is most like WW.
I have learned so much from blogging. I had always wanted to write in a journal but this venue was a lot easier and also there was TONS of support in the blogosphere that I was not even aware existed. My goal was to lose 40 lbs. by the time I went on an Alaskan cruise (July 09) and I was able to lose 45 by cruise day. I managed to not gain any weight on the cruise either.
To be honest, I did think they weight would come off a little quicker but you get out of it what you put in right? Exercise is where I falter. I have not been consistent about it and would probably have lost more had I been but I won't make excuses. I will tell you that at 255 it is a WHOLE lot easier moving around then it was at 315.
Now
I am happier then I have been in YEARS. I am now 37% done with my goal. I have lost 19% of my body weight and I have lost 28" as of December. I have reduced also insulin by 70%. I am only taking one of the BP medications now and my blood sugars are "normal" and my doctor is very pleased with my current stats. My current goal is to lose 40 lbs. by July for our Cruise to Alaska (again!) and that will bring me to 100 lbs. lost and then 55 to go after that. It still seems a little daunting but I know it is achievable. If I were to ramp up on the exercise I could probably be at goal by the end of this year or shortly thereafter. I still can't help but want it to go away faster!
Now the fun part! I decided to do a giveaway to celebrate the blogiversary. I will be giving away the Weight Watchers Make it in Minutes Cookbook. We are all pressed for time these days so who couldn't use a quick, healthy and yummy meal? I will be adding some surprise goodies to the box as well. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post to enter. If you decide to mention it on your blog, I will add an additional entry for you. This giveaway is open to ALL of you, even those of you who are international. I will do the drawing and announce the winner on Tuesday, February 16th.
I just want to thank you for being along for the ride. I am truly blessed to have you as readers. Cheers to another year of blogging! XOXOX! Until next time...
P.S. I updated my profile pic (taken this morning) I will be updating my progress pics and measurements this weekend.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Blogiversary Eve
I forgot to wear my bodybugg this morning so no screen shot for today. I feel naked without it! I did fine on food. Did some running around last night and ended up having a frozen dinner which was actually decent and it was only 350 cals. I did have a few handfuls of M&Ms too. I have a candy dish on my desk at work that I put Jolly Ranchers in. I always keep them full but I am not tempted by them at all but put M&Ms out and I am like a moth to flame! Note to self: I should not buy more then one bag of M&Ms.
I wanted to tell you how touched I was by all your comments on my Milestone post yesterday! Sniff, Sniff... It means so much to me that you read my ramblings and support my efforts. I really think it has been one of the biggest keys to my success. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Well I am working on tomorrow's Blogiversary post and I need to take my mom to the Eye Doctor in a little while so until next time...
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Well Hello Milestone!
Last night I was in a bad mood. As you know I have been on this major Clear Clutter Campaign and when I got home I discovered that there was furniture all over and it felt like the walls were closing in on me. I don't handle transition very well... I had Chicken tenders, spinach and scalloped potatoes for dinner. Played with the phone and watched some t.v. and called it a night.
I realized yesterday that I have been so distracted that I haven't weighed myself for the last week which is unusual. I was doing it daily and sometimes more then once a day. Well... I got on the scale this morning and it said 255! That means I have lost 60 lbs and got down to an all new low on this journey! Wahoooo!!! I am so thrilled it made my WHOLE day!
Now for my smilestone treat I had a New Outfit for 60 lbs. I bought a blouse that did not fit so I am going to call that my new outfit but I also bought myself another charm from Jenn so I will call this my 60 lb. treat. It is a flower with pink stones. Very cute!
Tonight I am going to color my hair and try to rearrange some chaos in my apt. We got a new t.v. from Dave's house which is too big for my current entertainment center so we are going to get a new one to accommodate the new t.v. but that means rearranging everything AGAIN. I just want to feel settled in once and for all. I moved in the 1st of November and here we are at the beginning of February and I am still moving things around! Anyways... I will just try not to let it get to me. Until next time...
Monday, February 8, 2010
Ran the Gamut
I hope you all had a good weekend. I had a good one but I ran the gamut as far as emotions go. It started out on Friday night. I usually stay home Friday nights and Dave had a baseball meeting. HG was at the bar drinking and came back around 8:00 p.m. Well he was on tangent from the moment he stepped in the apt. He was ranting and raving about life and how he just didn't want to deal anymore and would shoot himself in the head if he could. It was very upsetting to me to hear him say this stuff. Here I was looking for a quiet Friday night to hang out at home and this is what happens. Ughh! He eventually calmed down and went to sleep but meanwhile I was shaken up. Dave came home and I went to bed but didn't say anything about his outburst until the morning.
Saturday was a great day! HG was gone because he was helping his friends band set up for a gig. We went to A&W and I had a Papa burger with fries and a Root beer. It brought back childhood memories for sure. It tasted soooo good! It was a nice treat and I don't regret it. Dave and I went to the AT&T store to get him a cell phone and we ended up getting an iPhone for me! OMG I love love love it! If any of you have one and have any recommendations on cool apps let me know. After that we went to Target and got a towel rack and small vanity for the bathroom. I also got a workout DVD. It is Leslie Sansome's Walk away the Pounds: Toning. It came with two evil pieces of rubber. I asked Dave if he would do it with me and he agreed! Yay for that!
Yesterday was another good day. Dave and I went to Office Max in the morning and got a writing desk for our bedroom. Dave is going to take my old laptop and he is going to get a new one for me. We have a friend at HP who can give us a family discount. I decided that I wanted to stay home instead of dealing with drunk people at the bar. I dinked around with my iPhone and watched Real Housewives of Orange County and read Redbook. It was really nice being home alone. I watched The Who for the halftime show and went back to dinking around on my phone. HG came back after halftime was over and I did let him know that I was upset by what transpired on Friday night. I didn't want to rehash the whole thing but I wanted him to let him know it had an impact on me. He was apologetic and really did not want to talk about it either so we let it go.
Sidenote: Last week I bought a bag of peanut M&Ms and put them in a cute heart shaped bowl and set them on the end table. I started munching on them on Friday night and by Sunday they were gone. Both Dave and HG commented that "You ate all those M&Ms?" Thanks for noticing and commenting guys. Kiss Kiss.
Tonight I am planning on going with Danielle to go TV shopping. She won some $$ yesterday so she wants to get two new TVs. They have some good deals at Wal-Mart so that is where we will most likely go. I have been a freakin shopping machine lately! More on that topic later...
Just wanted to mention that my One Year Blogaversary is on Thursday. I have a surprise in store so stay tuned. Until next time...
Saturday was a great day! HG was gone because he was helping his friends band set up for a gig. We went to A&W and I had a Papa burger with fries and a Root beer. It brought back childhood memories for sure. It tasted soooo good! It was a nice treat and I don't regret it. Dave and I went to the AT&T store to get him a cell phone and we ended up getting an iPhone for me! OMG I love love love it! If any of you have one and have any recommendations on cool apps let me know. After that we went to Target and got a towel rack and small vanity for the bathroom. I also got a workout DVD. It is Leslie Sansome's Walk away the Pounds: Toning. It came with two evil pieces of rubber. I asked Dave if he would do it with me and he agreed! Yay for that!
Yesterday was another good day. Dave and I went to Office Max in the morning and got a writing desk for our bedroom. Dave is going to take my old laptop and he is going to get a new one for me. We have a friend at HP who can give us a family discount. I decided that I wanted to stay home instead of dealing with drunk people at the bar. I dinked around with my iPhone and watched Real Housewives of Orange County and read Redbook. It was really nice being home alone. I watched The Who for the halftime show and went back to dinking around on my phone. HG came back after halftime was over and I did let him know that I was upset by what transpired on Friday night. I didn't want to rehash the whole thing but I wanted him to let him know it had an impact on me. He was apologetic and really did not want to talk about it either so we let it go.
Sidenote: Last week I bought a bag of peanut M&Ms and put them in a cute heart shaped bowl and set them on the end table. I started munching on them on Friday night and by Sunday they were gone. Both Dave and HG commented that "You ate all those M&Ms?" Thanks for noticing and commenting guys. Kiss Kiss.
Tonight I am planning on going with Danielle to go TV shopping. She won some $$ yesterday so she wants to get two new TVs. They have some good deals at Wal-Mart so that is where we will most likely go. I have been a freakin shopping machine lately! More on that topic later...
Just wanted to mention that my One Year Blogaversary is on Thursday. I have a surprise in store so stay tuned. Until next time...
Friday, February 5, 2010
Are you wearing Red?
Did fine on food yesterday. I did not meet my mom last night. The new fridge got delivered and it is beautiful! Mom and I be meeting for lunch today. She likes going to Carrow's which is right down the street from my work. I ended up going to Sizzler with Danielle for dinner . I had Malibu Chicken and Shrimp. I did not eat all the shrimp and only had a few bites of the baked potato. I used to be able to eat all the shrimp and then some but not anymore.
Are you wearing Red today? I am!! Today is National Wear Red day. From their website: Mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts — everyday women are dying at the rate of almost one per minute. Speak up. Make a difference. Show your support for the fight against heart disease in women by wearing red. It’s an easy, powerful way to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease and stroke. If you aren't wearing red today you can still help by raising awareness and doing your own Wear Red day at work or school. Their website has all sorts of tools to help you. Please check it out when you have a chance.
Not sure what the plan is for the weekend. The Can't Say will have a spread for Superbowl including Tri-tip and all the fixings. I could give a rat's patootie about the game so I am not sure I will even go down there. I am hoping the sun will be out so I can get outside. I definitely need to get some EXERCISE! I also have a few movies I want to watch including Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants II. Hope you have a great day and weekend! Until next time...
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Coordinating Chaos
Did fine with food yesterday. Dave said he could not find a recipe that appealed to him in the magazine. Really? Out of 120 recipes? So he ended up getting a frozen lasagna which was 350 cals per serving and we had a salad and garlic bread. Yogurt for desert. I thought the magazine would be full of yummy healthy recipes and even subscribed to it for a year... Oh well... It was $15 for 10 issues. Not the worst thing I have spent money on.
Last night I was once again motivated to work on my closets/cabinets. So while I am working on my project I needed to pee. So I use the bathroom, flush the toilet and get back to task. Dave came out to check on me about 10 minutes later and he discovered there was 2" of water on the bathroom floor! Glad I just put down those two new rugs and new wood wastebasket. Grrrr! So 15 cazillion towels later we get it cleaned up and he washed all the towels.All sorts of things are happening at Camp Katie's today. I am getting a new refrigerator because the one I have is leaking badly. I have 3 windows that need new screens. There is a window crank that needs replacing and the guts of the toilet will be replaced. These are all things that should have been taken care of when I moved in - except for the fridge because I didn't know it was a problem back then. Also, my DSL should be working as of this evening. Yay!
I will most likely meet up with my mom tonight for dinner. We have not been to Fish Market in months! I was actually getting bored with it so it before so it will be nice to go back. It will just be for a couple hours so I can handle it. She has mail for me including my W-2 so I can start gathering stuff for taxes. Yippee! Until next time...
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Slicker then Snot
Had a decent day food wise yesterday. Would have been a bigger deficit if I had not had Strawberry Cheesecake ice cream for dessert. (Secretia, I hear you now!) Today is weigh day and I am down to 258 which is a -1 lb. loss this week. I am now just one pound away from my lowest on this journey so far so if I bust arse this week I can meet or surpass that. I need to kick into high gear if I am going to meet my goals.
In my shopping escapades, I bought some new bathroom rugs at Kohl's. They are reversible which sounded great to me. One side is looped and the other is plush. It is like getting two for the price of one right? Well I brought them home, put them in the bathroom and HG stepped in there and almost fell. He said "Those rugs are slicker then snot, Kate!" After I regained my composure I pulled out the rugs. I went to Bed Bath and Beyond at lunchtime and bought some of that gripper stuff and it worked out just fine. The place is coming together nicely if I do say so myself. I will be taking some pictures of it soon.
I picked up a Food Network Magazine (can we say impulse buy?) and it has 126 recipes in it. So I gave it to Dave to pick out a new dinner for me to cook. He will pick up the items needed and have it there for when I get home from work. That should be fun! Plus HG will help me prep. Dave knows my preferences so he will pick something good for sure. I definitely need to add some recipes to my repertoire. Hope you are all having a good week so far. Until next time...
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Don't mess with my 2/2
Not much of a deficit for yesterday. I was extra hungry for some reason. I had a Florentine omelet for dinner which I usually cut in half and save but last night I ate the whole darn thing. Then I was putting jam on my English muffin and had a spoonful or two in addition to what I put on my muffin. Do any of you do that with jam, jelly or peanut butter?
I bought this cute little charm from Jenn over at Watch My Butt Shrink. She has an eBay store and a website and sells charms that fit my Pandora bracelet. How freakin cute is that huh? There are all sorts of cute charms but I tried to control myself and only bought one today ;-) I am thinking of starting a necklace as well. If you have never seen Pandora bracelets and charms you need to check them out. I just LOVE mine!
We had a land line put in yesterday and in the process of hooking it up they disconnected my DSL. Grrr! Supposedly it will be rectified by Thursday and no one needs to come out to install it. We shall see... Their service has been less then stellar.
Not sure what is on my agenda tonight. It is bowling night but I am not in the mood really. I need to do a hardware store run and organize a cabinet so I may do that. Would like to get in a walk to but it might rain so we shall see. Until next time...
Monday, February 1, 2010
I get Buy with a little help from my Friend
Hope you all had a good weekend. What a whirlwind it was!
So Friday night we went and bought the bed. My neighbor Clara works at Sleep Train and she is one of their top sales gals in the entire country so we were in good hands. We got a Simmons Beautyrest in a Queen size. I got really educated on the different materials and thicknesses etc. Interesting stuff! Price and firmness were our driving force. We did try the Tempur-pedic and the high end beds just to check them out - boy howdy there are some cushy beds out there. After we bought the bed we walked across the parking lot to Chili's. I got a BBQ Ranch Chicken salad. It was 880 cals. I was looking at the N.I. on the other salad I used to get which is a Quesidilla Explosion and it is 1400 cals alone! Holy crap! I did have a Presidente Margarita and some chips and salsa but had only had 3oo cals by dinner time so I felt like I had some wiggle room.
Saturday I spent the entire day clearing out the hallway closets which included my holiday decorations. I used to be festive... seems like after my dad died I kinda lost the desire but this year I actually decorated for Christmas and as I was cleaning things out I found all my Valentine's Day stuff so I have that out now. I put window clings on the windows and they look really cute. Make me smile to look at them :-) We had Mexican food for dinner and I overate and was a little uncomfortable. Waited too long to eat I guess. They finally delivered the bed at 10:20 pm! Poor guys and we weren't even the last delivery for the night.
Sunday Danielle and I went shopping to Kohl's and Bed Bath & Beyond. I got new pillows, sheets, bathroom rugs, washcloths, a wastebasket and a few other little things. We hung out at the bar for a little while in the afternoon and I had a couple beers. Had stuffed Chicken breast for dinner and finished moving stuff into drawers. I was a woman on a mission and had a cup of coffee at like 8 pm and did not go to bed until close to midnight. Needless to say I am a little sleepy this morning.
Dave's mom house is no longer theirs after today. It is so sad to me. I have been struggling with being happy about the inheritance. It is really a blessing to have some money in the bank and some big bills paid off now but at the same token I almost feel guilty about enjoying spending some of it. I did primarily support Dave and I on my wages over the last couple years so I guess I should not feel guilty but I can't help it. There are a few more things that we want do do like fix my car and book our Disneyland trip. As for the rest of the money, we will be meeting with a Financial planner in the next week or two to properly prepare with the rest of it. Until next time...
So Friday night we went and bought the bed. My neighbor Clara works at Sleep Train and she is one of their top sales gals in the entire country so we were in good hands. We got a Simmons Beautyrest in a Queen size. I got really educated on the different materials and thicknesses etc. Interesting stuff! Price and firmness were our driving force. We did try the Tempur-pedic and the high end beds just to check them out - boy howdy there are some cushy beds out there. After we bought the bed we walked across the parking lot to Chili's. I got a BBQ Ranch Chicken salad. It was 880 cals. I was looking at the N.I. on the other salad I used to get which is a Quesidilla Explosion and it is 1400 cals alone! Holy crap! I did have a Presidente Margarita and some chips and salsa but had only had 3oo cals by dinner time so I felt like I had some wiggle room.
Saturday I spent the entire day clearing out the hallway closets which included my holiday decorations. I used to be festive... seems like after my dad died I kinda lost the desire but this year I actually decorated for Christmas and as I was cleaning things out I found all my Valentine's Day stuff so I have that out now. I put window clings on the windows and they look really cute. Make me smile to look at them :-) We had Mexican food for dinner and I overate and was a little uncomfortable. Waited too long to eat I guess. They finally delivered the bed at 10:20 pm! Poor guys and we weren't even the last delivery for the night.
Sunday Danielle and I went shopping to Kohl's and Bed Bath & Beyond. I got new pillows, sheets, bathroom rugs, washcloths, a wastebasket and a few other little things. We hung out at the bar for a little while in the afternoon and I had a couple beers. Had stuffed Chicken breast for dinner and finished moving stuff into drawers. I was a woman on a mission and had a cup of coffee at like 8 pm and did not go to bed until close to midnight. Needless to say I am a little sleepy this morning.
Dave's mom house is no longer theirs after today. It is so sad to me. I have been struggling with being happy about the inheritance. It is really a blessing to have some money in the bank and some big bills paid off now but at the same token I almost feel guilty about enjoying spending some of it. I did primarily support Dave and I on my wages over the last couple years so I guess I should not feel guilty but I can't help it. There are a few more things that we want do do like fix my car and book our Disneyland trip. As for the rest of the money, we will be meeting with a Financial planner in the next week or two to properly prepare with the rest of it. Until next time...
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