DAY 6: Pampering, Shopping and PF Changs

On day 1 off of WW for the weekend, I just didn’t think about what I was going to eat.  I let that be the sideline.  I woke up, got a Brugger’s Bagel with Cream Cheese and a Venti Iced Mocha with Extra Espresso and Caramel Shot because it was 9 AM on a Saturday and I was up at 6 AM for god knows why.  I headed to the best salon in town Belleza Vibe for my radical red infusion.  I enjoy my stylist/friend Michael so much, lots of laughter and some of the best music videos in town.

Then I called the hubby and asked him to meet me for lunch at Earth Fare because I figured I could find a lot of the ingredients for my Rick Bayless recipe I was making on Sunday.  We met up, I got a good portion of my recipe items and I had 1/2 of a grilled cheese sandwich with a side of mac & cheese.  We had a nice surprise of an invitation to dinner from two very good friends whom I’ve missed so dearly.  Some “weirdness” had creeped in because we hadn’t talked about some life changes that had happened throughout the last few months.  I took the risk and emailed one of the two in an effort to open the communication and I am so glad that I did. We met up for dinner at one of my favorite places, PF Changs and had the most enjoyable, and wonderful dining evening with friends we’ve had in a long time.  It felt like old times with them and I cherished that feeling more than I can explain.  I must say, working with friends through “odd moments” in your friendships is so worth it.  I love them so much.   I didn’t go too overboard on dinner either, 2 shrimp dumplings, shrimp and pasta and 2 mini desserts.  Yummy and so worth my night off.

I must admit, I struggled a bit today with finding the ingredients for my recipe (see THE RETROMODERNS for more details); but all ended well.  I worked on my German and prepped for a day of cooking!

Day 5: Alles Gut on Weigh In Day!

Well my friends or readers or anyone who cares, my first week of sticking with WW religiously is over.  I have been so good and I’m looking forward to a weekend off and then a return to religiosity on Monday.  I weighed in today and I lost another 1.4 pounds which puts me at 6 pounds since I started haphazardly sticking with it a month or so ago.  That 6 does not factor into my 101, I just consider it a “bonus”.  So, 101 to go and I’m on it.

Today was a good day and I planned for it as a good friend was coming to town (co-worker), so I planned my lunch and was happy to have enough points left over to enjoy some sushi.  The best thing about today is that my co-worker and I got to meet with 2 of our clients.  Both amazing women who are probably in their 70s who’s life experiences are so amazing and different, but it reminds me of the wealth of joy that our older generation has to offer.  It sadly makes me miss my mother even more, but I am very happy to be working on my German lessons because I hope to shock the socks off my Dad when he visits in November.  As far as my German lessons are going, I am LOVING the Rosetta Stone method.  It truly is reminicsent of how we learned our first language.  I find I”m picking it up a lot easier and feeling a lot more confident attempting to speak it.  I mean I’m walking around telling Jim that “Das it meine Hund!  Meine kleine Hund ist Uli, und meine gross Hund ist Easton.  Easton is a gute Junge!” (Translated, that is my dog!  My small dog is Uli, my big dog is Easton.  Easton is a good boy! – hey I’m a happy camper).

Still no word on the results of my stress test and it’s driving me nutsy…need to just wait, I’ll know soon enough.  Tomorrow I have a hair appointment and then I shop for the ingredients to my exciting culinary adventure planned for Sunday!  IN the meantime, here’s what I ate today:

Friday, August 28, 2009

Morning
2  cup(s) black tea, without sugar	0
Subtotal	0
Midday
1  cup(s) canned tomato sauce with tomato tidbits	1
8  serving(s) Fresh mozzarella ball (packed in water)	12.5
1  cup(s) tomato(es)	0
2  serving(s) Pizza Crust Mix	6.5
16  fl oz Diet Coke	0
Subtotal	20
Evening
12  piece(s) shrimp tempura roll sushi (1 1/2-in diameter, 1-in thick)	16
6  cup(s) water	0
Subtotal	16
Anytime
No entries for this meal time.
Subtotal	0
Food POINTS values total used	36
Food POINTS values remaining	0
Activity
No entries for activity.
Activity POINTS values earned	0
Check off these important items daily:
Liquids Milk & Milk Products Fruit & Vegetables Multivitamin/Mineral Healthy Oil Activity Lean Protein Whole Grains

Day 4: Being A Good-Girl Is Hard Work

Okay, I must admit that for the last 4 days I’ve wanted to eat everything in sight that wasn’t nailed down.  That’s not exactly true, I don’t overeat a ton, but I do frequently make point-unfriendly food choices and this week I’ve just wanted to eat things that were not point appropriate.  I’m so glad I’m taking the weekends off.  Today, was no exception and unfortunately I gave in and had a double McDonald’s experience – which didn’t help my plan or my mood in general; ah the fleeting  joys of eating crap cuisine.  Tomorrow morning I weigh in and I will know my starting point for losing 101 pounds, plus I’m going to have the hubby take the official “before photos” – urgh, not looking forward to that.  So many parts of my body look like ham hocks that you’ll want to throw me in a pot and make some split pea soup…but I digress.

So today, even though I ate all take-out food/fast-food I stuck with it all day.  I’m proud of me because I wanted to go off so bad.  I don’t exactly know why?  Perhaps it’s so much structure that I want to buck it at times.  I dunno, I have 361 days to figure it out.  On the health side, I called the physician and they still haven’t received any of the results from the stress test so I’m still waiting…patience is not one of my virtues either.  Basically I want to know so that I can get my act together with exercising.  Oh well, tick tock.

Even with some of my problems today I stuck with it and managed to come out a winner in the end.  Plus, I even put my Project Runway on hold to finish Lesson 4 of my German on Rosetta Stone. I’m proud of myself how much I’ve remembered, however it is getting harder.  I need to keep it up and keep going – I do think I’m driving Jim crazy naming all the things in the room that I know the German word for.

Now, to watch my Project Runway…

Oh, and I put out a call to my friends on Facebook to see if anyone is courageous enough to eat my first culinary adventure in Rick Bayless’ Mexico…I’ll let you know who takes the bait (going to make it on Sunday).  In the meantime, here’s what I ate today:

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Morning
2  cup(s) water	0
2  item(s) Breakfast Breakfast Burrito	14.5
Subtotal	14.5
Midday
1  serving(s) Musselman’s Healthy Picks Raspberry Acai	1
10  piece(s) Chicken McNuggets, Large	12
24  fl oz Diet Coke	0
Subtotal	13
Evening
1  serving(s) Subway Club Salad	2
1  serving(s) Subway 2 Half Cirlces of Provolone	1
2  serving(s) Subway Olive Oil Topping	2.5
Subtotal	5.5
Anytime
3  cup(s) water	0
20  item(s) Baked Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips	3
Subtotal	3
Food POINTS values total used	36
Food POINTS values remaining	0
Activity
No entries for activity.
Activity POINTS values earned	0
Check off these important items daily:
Liquids Milk & Milk Products Fruit & Vegetables Multivitamin/Mineral Healthy Oil Activity Lean Protein Whole Grains

Now tomorrow is weigh in day.  Always good to know where I’m starting out!  Write again on the morrow.

DAY 2: Germans, Fat Dancers and Fears

Today has been okay overall.  I met with 2 clients and then got swamped with phone calls and questions, so I got side-tracked from my plan to get some solid paperwork done today.  That’s frustrating.  On top of all this, I wanted something quick and easy for breakfast and I am surely thinking that what I ate wasn’t worth all the points I spent on it.  Oh well, live and learn.

The other issue that rose today was for the first time in a while a lot of folks were in my office and we went to lunch!  I totally behaved myself and had a very lovely and luscious meal for only 9 points at Ruby Tuesdays.  I felt very good about this, and realized that I could go out with everyone and still be in control.  Sadly, when we returned to the office a huge migraine started to roll into my head like dark clouds over a prairie.  I’m still dealing with that headache because all I got on hand is Excedrin Migraine and that has caffeine in it.  Damn it!  To get a migraine the night before my nuclear stress test which means, NO caffeine 24 hours before the test.  URGH.

This does lead me to my fears for tomorrow.  I’m worried about the contrast dye, I’m worried about not being able to keep up, and I’m worried about what they might find.  I’m hoping they won’t find ANYTHING of worry or concern, but I feel a lot better exploring the concerns rather than letting things go and not dealing with whatever realities I may have.  I need to get to bed at a decent hour so I can get up because I’m due at the doctor’s office at 7 AM.  Again, URGH…and that is without caffeine.

So one good and bright spot of the day is that my Rosetta Stone German arrived today!  I have already installed it and have actually completed 1 lesson on Level 1 (scored all A’s too!)  I have picked up a lot over my years as a daughter of a German immigrant, and that will undoubtedly help me on this journey to finally learn how to speak and understand another language.  I think I’m going to do another lesson tonight.  I’m pretty excited and happy about it.  I will keep you posted on my thoughts about the program as they form.  It’s too early to tell.

So, as I wrap this up tonight, I’m watching the Season Finale of Oxygen’s Dance Your Ass Off!  I want to be on this program so bad, but I mean who can afford to take off from work and be on a reality TV show?  Sadly, not I.  So I’m watching my DVR copy and am routing for Ruben or Shayla (the girl from PA annoys me so much – sorry, she just does).  I’ve been very happy for the people on the show who have lost so much weight, not ridiculously like on The Biggest Loser.  It appears so much more consistent and stable to me and more realistic in general.  To be honest, I love the concept of showing that weight is not a limiting factor for being a dancer…something I feel I’ve proved through my whole life.  So…who won?  WELL UM…apparently there’s another week left.  Durf.

So that’s where I’m at…here’s what I ate today.  I missed 1 fruit/veggie today, and I’m sucking on this whole grain concept.  Oh well, tomorrow is another day.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Morning
2  item(s) Breakfast Burrito	14.5
2  cup(s) water	0
Subtotal	14.5
Midday
1  serving(s) Ruby Tuesday 7oz Sirloin	5
2  serving(s) Ruby Tuesday Green Bean Side	3.5
2  cup(s) water	0
Subtotal	8.5
Evening
2  serving(s) Stouffer’s Chicken Rigatoni	11.5
Subtotal	11.5
Anytime
2  cup(s) water	0
1  item(s) Kool pops freezer bars	1
Subtotal	1
Food POINTS values total used	35.5
Food POINTS values remaining	0.5
Activity
No entries for activity.
Activity POINTS values earned	0
Check off these important items daily:
Liquids Milk & Milk Products Fruit & Vegetables Multivitamin/Mineral Healthy Oil Activity Lean Protein Whole Grains