What a Weekend

I flew to Chicago Friday evening and got stuck there. Long story but airplanes parked on runway and airplanes that push back early from the gate equalled a free night's stay from United. Anyway, I arrived in Michigan on Saturday morning for the 50th wedding anniversary and it was a great party. I know I drank three glasses of wine over 4 fours and ate far too many bite size sinful pieces of food. Then early Sunday we took off on the 13 hour drive back to South Dakota. Funny how riding in a Blazer makes one want to munch. We had mostly healthy snacks but it seemed like we munched and drank (decaf and G2) all the way home. Needless to say, I needed to exercise today.
I think there is some stress in my life right now that is testing my ability to not eat because I am stressed. Our state legislature is cutting education funding dramatically and it will effect my staff and our organization. I am alarmed at the foresight of our governor and legislature.

Patience Alice

A news flash from Alice in Onederland, patience is the name of the game. I lost one pound this week. Now that is 4 sticks of butter and I should be happy, which I am! However there are other things that should spark my trip down this road. And they do! Like here is a picture of me today being able to cross my legs!

Small thing? Not for someone who has been overweight all her life. Crossing your legs is like awesome. I feel so slim when I cross my legs.

And, how about being able to lean over and paint your toenails?

I was able to do that this morning because no longer do I have that huge belly that gets in the way. I have always been able to stand straight legged and touch my toes because I am so short, but painting my toenails has been a challenge for many years. I would have to bend my knee and paint behind me. You can see that picture. So it is a great day.

I just need to have patience in the Onederland and give myself the pats on the back that I need. One added picture is of one of my precious grandsons wearing a hat that I knit for him. He is one of the important reasons I am changing my lifestyle.

Is It the Dreaded Plateau?

Well, that is what I would deserve, if it is! I was admonishing those bandits for whining and here I am. I went to weigh in on Wednesday morning with Thomas and he had left town early because of the frigid temperatures here in balmy South Dakota. It was above 0 degrees today! So, one of the guys at the Rec and I got the scale out and calculated my weight. It was 202! I about died. Then I called Thomas yesterday and he said they allow four pounds for clothing and we had only allowed one pound so that calculates that I lost 8 ounces in a week. Now I know what you are thinking! BUT, I worked out six out of seven days and I really believe I was eating sensibly. My sister-in-law suggested that the bean soup I created last Sunday might be causing some bloating. Nice thought.
Anyway, I had already decided that if I didn't lose, I was not going to get discouraged, BUT that is a half a pound over two weeks because I didn't lose anything last week. So, take my own advice. Drink more water! I also think I will try to get in two exercise sessions on the weekends from now on.
You would think my body would be burning calories just to keep warm. One of my colleagues announced that she and her family tested the 42 degree below zero temp by spitting on the sidewalk and it froze solid in 3 seconds. Now that is SCIENCE!

Where I Blog

Nola started something. This is my desk where I blog. I added the beads to the lamp shade in one of my craftier moments. My blackberry lays close to the keyboard so I am never more than a click from the schools we serve. I have an Obama button next to the candle on the right knowing that his term may serve to brighten our country. The picture on the wall in this picture is of my oldest grandson when he was three. He is my buddy. Notice the mug. I love to drink skim milk with decaf expresso and some sugar free white chocolate flavoring. The desk was a wedding gift from my mother to my father and they were married in 1941 so it is vintage. I love it because I was very close to my dad.

My office is in the gradsons' bedroom in our home on the second floor. I painted the wall stripes a number of years ago. I love the color as it goes with the down comforter on the bed. I also made the curtains out of some cute animal panels to entertain the boys. There is a twin bed and a crib in this room to accomodate the five boys. Oldest is now 10 and youngest is 7 months. They don't all come to visit at one time.

Lastly, is the view from my desk to the hallway. The words say, Grandma's Little Angels Welcome Here. I have various pictures of all of the boys. When I get a newer one for the great room downstairs, the picture gets moved to this wall. Needless to say, my boys are pretty important to me.

Great idea, Nola. Hope this gives you a window on my life.

Colder than a bandit's tiny hiny!

I just drove home in a real South Dakota blizzard. 50 mile an hour winds and snowing to beat the band. Trucks and cars on the interstate traveling 20 miles and hour and I even saw a Highway Patrol in the ditch. If anxiety is a weight loss program, I lost 10 pounds in the 70 mile trip.
Now that I am back in town, I will go to the Rec and do some real exercise. Wednesday weigh-in is just around the corner.

Continued. . .while at the rec center I watched Oprah while I biked. She was talking about her "new life" series and how people who have lost a great deal of weight have gained it back and are ashamed to carry on. I think that is an internal fear that I have. My husband tells me to convert that fear into a motivator to stay on my target. I had decided two years ago that I needed to exercise to become more healthy. I had hoped an added benefit would be weight loss. It didn't happen and I want to tell you, I worked at it hard.

The scientific reality is "calories in, calories out". Some of us were born with genes that make life more challenging. I believe my early life hysterectomy and my recent thyroid issues have not been my best buddies either. Nevertheless, this band and I are in this for the long haul.

My new slogan is:

Workin' 2

A healthier me!

Quilt til ya wilt

I have really taken my behavior seriously this week: salads for lunch at the office, bike and/or walk everyday for 40 minutes, and quilt so I won't be close to the kitchen. For those of you who read my last post, I have excused myself from the South Dakota bandsters yahoo group. I don't have time for that and I find my blogging bandits a far healthier crowd.
Not that we are holier than thou, but I read some self criticism in our blogs and not so much self "woe is me". From my viewpoint, we are pretty touch on ourselves and the attitude is that we want to be healthier and that is why we chose to change our life styles.
If you wonder at the comments, Mom is not my mom but my "sorta ex" sister-in-law. She is a wonderful support cheerleader. She has known me practically all my life and she knows how much obesity has hurt my self esteem. I have not been married to her brother-in-law for almost 23 years but I have remained very close to his family.
I had a wonderful chat with my daughter this afternoon. She was cleaning her closet and offered me some of her 16s and 14s that are now too big for her. She has been going to the gym faithfully and I know she works hard at keeping herself in good health and shape. I didn't give her the best of genes and her father was 6'3" with a large bone structure. Anyway, she is thinking that some of her professional clothes will help me through the spring and summer. I wonder where I will end up in the clothing department?
It is snowing in such a beautiful way this evening. No wind, just constant flakes. My cozy slippers and knitting are calling my name.

Oh Holy Cow

I just vented on a Yahoo users group to some real whiners. I feel cheated because they live in my area and I could benefit from some local support. But oh well, I probably won't be hearing from them again. I will share what I said because I do so believe in this. Hope I did the right thing.
Copy of my e-mail:
"I joined this group to listen and sometimes add if I felt I had something to say. I have my own blog and have some followers from around the world who are fellow bandits. We communicate regularly and I have learned much from them. With all due respect, I don't think a "fill" or "less of a fill" is the answer that some of you need. I never hear any of you talk about exercise. I go to the rec six days a week to exercise. I am a busy person, working full time, but exercise and eating correctly are two things we all have to do if we are going to be successful. The band is a tool to help us eat less not the answer to weight loss. I suppose after I vent, I should leave the group and not submit my thoughts again. I too have been thinking this group is a waste of time. Attitude is so important. I travel to Sioux Falls to the support group at Sanford because the leaders are motivational and the bandits are too. I was banded on August 27 and I have lost 44 pounds. I am not special and I am not unique. You too can lose 1 or 2 pounds a week if you exercise, use the band to tell you when you are full, and believe in the whole process. Excuses don't get you anywhere. If you have a problem with PBing and you think it is a problem, then you have a doctor that needs to hear what you have to say and you need to stop second guessing the problem. Small bites, some foods aren't tolerated, some foods are a waste of high calories and shouldn't be consumed everyday just because they taste good, and we all need to chew more and eat more slowly. I have gone on enough. Getting a lapband is a personal choice, no one made me do it. I wanted it and I will continue to have a positive attitude and surround myself with those sort of folks. If anyone is interested in some tough talk, feel free to e-mail me, otherwise I will keep my mouth shut. Sylvia"

It is Snowing

I know it means Vince will need to shovel the drive and sidewalks but I do believe if it is going to be cold, then snow is perfect. It is January in South Dakota.
I went to the Rec early today because it is right after New Years so everyone has made a promise to exercise. It was busy but some of the regulars were hanging in there. I rode the bike for 30 minutes and then walked on the treadmill for 10 minutes. It feels good. Can't believe I am saying that. I have to work harder now to get my heartrate up there where it will burn some fat.
It is a great day to be alive! I am listening to the last of my Christmas CDs and then I will put them away until next year. We have put some decorations away as well. Need to get back to normal so that I can hit the road hard on Monday.

Day One in Onederland

It is a beautiful sunny day here in South Dakota but cold as can be. I love these kind of days. I have been quilting all day and contemplating some personal goals. This is that time of year. I have talked a great deal about weight goals but I have some others as well.
I have decided to read the Bible over the next two years. It would be the first time I have ever done that. It is on my bucket list. I also want to make certain I write thank yous to people who give me gifts or do special things. I think that e-mail has become too convenient for me and I need to make a better effort to say thanks.
I was watching a television program tonight about Obesity in America. It featured a woman who had once lost over 111 pounds and had been honored on a Richard Simmons program. Since then she has gained all of her weight back and again some. This really scares me as they were discussing the genes and fat cells she had and how her body fought her to get back. I called Vince into the room and we discussed my fears. I forget that with the band, one is not starving the body as she was on a very low calorie diet. I just have to remember to eat sensibly and let the band tell my brain that I am full. I wonder if I will ever lose the fear. Perhaps that fear is a good thing.
I added a picture to the slideshow of me, last night. The slacks are the size 16 I just found. I do have to work on the fat around my middle. More sit-ups!