My tug of war

It's been a week now. Even a few days more than that. And nothing. Nothing. It shouldn't bother me but... it does. And I don't know how much longer I can take it.

I haven't lost a pound.

Well, that may not be true based on the day of the week. Let's just say my body is apparently losing in it's tug of war over 2 pounds. Lose 2. Gain one. Lose one. Gain two. Lose two. Gain One. Lose one. Gain two.

I'm going a bit batty. So, I looked at what I've been eating. I knew my sodium was too high. Every day I made at least one sodium error but I tried to balance it out with lots and lots of water. Apparently that wasn't quite enough.

So, today I bought fruit before work (though I was so busy at work I didn't eat any - but I've sworn I will tomorrow) and I got fresh veggies and more fruit on the way home. We made a stir fry tonight with left over chicken and fresh veggies and brown rice and doesn't that sound good? When I ate it, all I could taste was the sodium. The left over marinade from the chicken apparently cooked down enough that it just tasted really salty. Sigh...

I'm not going to stop eating "healthy" just because I'm not seeing results. I'm just going to try to eat better and better and bring in more activity. I can't be at a plateau on week 3. It just doesn't work like that. Or does it?

I might just have to cave in and buy a new scale. The Evil Scale is looking more and more menacing each day. And yet I get on. Not quite believing - but hoping.

Just another day - in a good way

Ok, so I missed a day. I tried. I did. But it was not meant to be.

But, in the spirit of my new lifestyle/diet, I will continue on as one day's error does not a ruined diet/lifestyle make. Or something like that.

I worked at home today (WOO HOO!) which was lovely. No wasted gas. No AC even on most of the day. Used only sunlight to light my way. Just my two computers chugging along. Yea, 2 computers. Not the best ecological decision, but unfortunately a requirement for now. I'd like to think that in the end I came out ahead on the ecological points game.

Staying home is also great for food choices. I was hesitant that I'd give in the the bags of Doritos or the Nutter Butters in the pantry. But no. Didn't grab a snack all day. At work when I'm looking for an escape or have free time, I end up thinking about food. At home I pet the cat, go put away some dishes or get something ready for dinner. There are SO many other options available that food is automatically demoted in the "think about it" list.

Thinking smart and making good choices. That's what it's all about.

Under the wire, over the limit

Why is healthy so hard? Restaurant I went to today had no real healthy options. Sure, side salad w/ no dressing and you'll be ok. Beyond that? Nada. Major city, and located downtown. And this isn't some burger joint. We're talking lobster bisque, custom pizzas and steaks. But not one blessed simple non-high-calorie meal. They had a whole low carb section - but for a low calorie gal the bacon and cheese etc in each of those sort of took off the shine there.

One blessed chicken breast/broccoli and rice kind of dish. That's all I want. Maybe a salad with low fat dressing and grilled instead of fried chicken to top it? Something? So, I had to eat something bad for me. I picked one of the better of the options - but I won't let that happen again. I could feel the extra calories meeting their friends and holding on tight.

Sigh...how's a girl supposed to eat independently, locally and healthy while maintaining a busy life?

Death by embarrasment

I think I may have mortally embarrassed The Girlfriend today.

We went to dinner, and while I chose one of the best places in the area - I knew that evil calories and sodium lurked behind every innocent chicken breast and lettuce leaf. So I did what any responsible dieter would do. I asked to see the restaurant's nutritional information guide.

It was almost a fatal blow. She tried to convince me it wasn't necessary. She did the hand over the eyes "you can't see me" move to the waiter. It wasn't pretty.

A few moments later when our server returned with a 3 inch binder filled with nutritional information he cautioned, "It's not good. You won't like anything you see here. You might not even want to look before you order." Kinda ruins the whole thing then, doesn't it?

So, turns out I'd picked the best item on the menu before I even got the nutritional info. After the pat on my back - I was overwhelmed by the sodium content. Over 2K mg's for chicken tacos?? Are these things brined before they're cooked? I don't get it. It's insane. 5 gigantic glasses of water later (ok, 3) I was hoping I'd helped to even the score, yet privately knew it wasn't true. I still needed to make up for the half of a smoked turkey leg from the State Fair last night. Not pretty. But darn tasty - and better than the Fry Bread taco I really really wanted. Much better.

3 days in a row huh? I think I'm impressed with myself. And not just for the blogging.

Nice...

Dia de los Challenge!

Yesterday, I accepted a challenge to write an entry every day. It wasn't even my challenge, and I took it anyway.

Yesterday there was also a posting in a group I'm a part of on TDP that issued a challenge. A much more important challenge. I thought about it ALL day. As of today, I've officially accepted. The goal is to be UNDER 200 lbs by the end of the year.

This is going to be freakishly hard. 20 lbs in 2 months may not seem like an outrageous amount to some folks but I honestly can not remember the last time I was under 200. I am pretty sure it happened when I lived in my apartment - but as that was 7 years of time, it doesn't exactly narrow things down TOO much. Some time between 23 and 30 - but I know it wasn't near the latter end. I'd guess 25ish. But I'm just not sure at all.

No matter how hard it seems though - I am amazed at the idea that I could be celebrating the new year at under 200! I tried to get The Girlfriend to get pumped about it. But Law and Order was on so I was just some pest interrupting her TV QT. She eventually said something like "I'm already trying to do that. So, sure, whatever you have to do." So...yea... she's pumped.

As a side note - what's up w/ me accepting challenges? That is SO not who I used to be!

Oh - and for those of you playing along at home - yes, I've lost some more weight. I'm at 220. The heavens didn't open or anything, in fact I've been popping back and forth a bit around there the last week. But I think it's here to stay now.

Now I just need for it to go - with 20 more of it's friends. :)

Accepting the challenge I didn't get

As I was saying to myself, Self, you haven't posted lately. Have you been so driven by the counting of calories that you've forgotten your old friend the blog? And I answered back, No Self, not really. I just haven't been particularly inspired. And is it better to blog about nothing, or to wait until you have something of value to say?

Well, later that day I saw that my friend (who blogs quite a bit) had just accepted a challenge to blog every day this month. He felt he was setting himself up for failure. Somehow, the idea of it inspired me. Hey - maybe I have something to talk about after all?

So - I'm going to try it. Can I make it every day for 30 days? Should be fun to find out.