Tracking in an untrackable world.

I was told to update my blog.... so I am.

I have been feeling rather low lately - feeling plump (nice word for FAT) and generally unattractive. Knowing spring would finally arrive at some point, I needed a perk, a pick-me-up, something, to make me feel pretty again. Of course, it's all cosmetic and underneath anything I do, is still this plump body... but I am sure there is a skinny person in there just dying to get out!

Saturday morning was delightfully gorgeous! Hot temperatures. I faithfully went to Weight Watchers, again, on Saturday morning to weigh in. I was very disappointed. After having what I thought was a very good week, I was up 1.6 lbs. To say I was frustrated is an understatement. Two weeks in a row - very well behaved in my eating habits. Nothing to show for it. I tried not to be overly discouraged, but how can I help that? I seriously felt like downing an entire bag of Lays Classic potato chips.... with high fat dip!! (focus, focus, focus)

I needed to get control..... Really. I mean it. So..... Let's reverse a day.....Step 1 to the "new improved" me.... Cut hair. Check. On Friday I visited my favourite salon, in Kingston, with my favourite stylist Lisa. She's awesome. She knows me inside and out. She was my confidante, my soul mate, my make-over artist extraordinaire. When I first started going to Lisa (in 1997) she basically did whatever I asked her to do. After regularly seeing her for a little over a year, I called her one day and said "Lisa, I need a change... go watch this movie (and I gave her the title) and THAT'S how I want my hair cut!" When I went into see her the next week, Lisa had a tray all set up for me and said "Heather, I am not doing your hair like that. After about a week you would hate it. Do you trust me?" Of course I trusted Lisa. Lisa then took my shoulder-length dark dark hair (I'm a natural chestnut brunette) and cut it short with incredible blond highlights. I fell in love with my new look very quickly and kept my hair like that for several years, varying the overall length, but basically hooked on blond layers. After moving to Newmarket in 2002 and trying several different salons, in frustration and bad hair, I returned to Kingston to get my hair cut - for another few years. I found someone in Newmarket, she went on maternity leave, found someone else, she quit, found someone else, she went on mat leave. Found a guy, he went on long term 'sick leave' (he's back, but I don't entirely trust him!). Bottom line, I missed Lisa. So, on Friday, as I said, I went to Kingston and had my hair cut and coloured again. I left there feeling rather perky, and very cute. Then Saturday morning struck, and the dreaded 'weigh in.' If I got all my hair cut off, shouldn't my weight go down?


I woke up Saturday to glorious sunshine. Hot temperatures promised throughout the day only bode well for my new cute look (admit it, I'm cute... he he) and perky spring in my step! I faithfully went to Weight Watchers to weigh in. I was very disappointed. After having what I thought was a very good week, I was up 1.6 lbs. To say I was frustrated is an understatement. Two weeks in a row - very well behaved in my eating habits. Nothing to show for it. I tried not to be overly discouraged, but how can I help that? I seriously felt like downing an entire bag of Lays Classic potato chips.... with high fat dip!! (focus, focus, focus)

I met my husband for breakfast afterwards at a little place in Newmarket called Spiducci's. If you haven't tried it, you should. Spiducci's uses no added salt to any of their foods and basically season with spices! Further, Spiducci's does not deep fry anything. Nothing. I had the junior breakfast - 2 eggs (poached), 1 sausage, 1 slice rye toast (no butter) and their signature home fries - THESE are worth trying! Previously cooked potatoes, now tossed on the grill with onions, peppers, a touch of lean ham, and lots of spice! *note - ask for a glass of water at the same time you order these.... and a box of Kleenex to wipe the tears! These are not for the timid taste buds!Saturday breakfast is my indulgence for the week. I was good after that. And hey, it could have been worse. I could have eaten at... *gasp*.... McDonald's! Eeewwww.

After breakfast, a quick trip to the grocery store to 'stock up' on the essentials. We've made the conscious decision lately to only buy what we need for the next few days, thus not allowing our aging brains to forget that we bought 300 pounds of spinach which is now rotting in the fridge (is THAT what that smell is?) Success at the grocery store, and a bill of $78. Not bad.

Home to work in the yard. This meant changing out of my official "weigh in" clothes (my black and now very faded yoga pants.) I donned a summer skirt - and of course had to shave my legs first.... I didn't realize how white my legs really were until I shaved!! 'Nuff said. I wiped down some patio chairs, didn't quite get the table out there yet, talked about how we were going to landscape this spring and took a break. Hey, wiping down two chairs takes a lot out of a person!
Scott needed to buy some topsoil to add to the front yard - so off we went into town to pick up dirt. Since I had a light tan skirt on, I didn't touch the dirty dirt. *Note to self: continue to wear light tan skirt to avoid messy yard work! While Scott worked away in the yard, I opened windows in the house - you can do that in a tan skirt without risk of getting all dirty!

I snacked throughout the day on grapes, yogurt, and for supper (since my husband and a neighbour went to a Jr. hockey game somewhere) I had some leftover pasta from a previous dinner (Catelli Smart Pasta with 9g of fibre per serving... ya baby) and homemade sauce made mostly with fresh veggies, tomatoes, herbs and spices... delicious! I was still in control and I made it all the way to dinner. Saturday evening, however, I began to reflect on my 1.6 lb increase, and ate two packages of weight watchers crisp thingies, and..... Helluva Dip. Who does that???? Feeling riddled with guilt, I washed it down with about a gallon of water.

Back in control on Sunday - breakfast was some high fibre cereal (2 pts) topped with 1/2 c of fresh blackberries 1/2 c raspberries) and 1/2 skim milk. Delicious and very healthy. Lunch was a bowl of Black Bean Soup from PC Blue Menu - also delicious and a whole wheat WW bagel. Now, dinner was a little different a little more challenging....

We were attending a banquet Sunday night and I was a little nervous but feeling still very much in control - soup was course number 1 - cream of leak. ARGH... CREAM SOUP, the dieter's nightmare. I ate it. It was really good! Next came the salad - green with a vinaigrette dressing. Okay, I ate it - not sure of the dressing but there wasn't much on mine so that was okay. Main course - chicken breast covered in a cream sauce of some sort. I scraped the cream sauce off my chicken, and also removed the skin! Okay, I'm good. I ate my veggies, and 1/2 of my mashed potatoes. Oh, and I left about 1/2 of my chicken too. Control level: still good. Dessert - sigh - dessert. A little pastry cup came, lined with chocolate, filled with a custard of some sort, topped with a few fresh berries and whipped cream. I removed the whipped cream from the top, ate the few berries, and about 1/2 of the custardy thing, left the edible cup.
Overall, I would said I was successful! I left the banquet not feeling stuffed, but not feeling hungry either. I basically stopped eating when I no long felt any hunger. I also ate very slowly. Maybe I'm finally catching on? Dare to dream!

So, today is Monday. I'm at work. I ate a healthy breakfast (cereal, skim milk, berries) packed a healthy lunch and a snack. Planned out tonight's dinner before I left for work. I am totally sick and tired of paying to weigh in every week - I need to do this - I HAVE to do this!

Wish me luck.... my skinny soul is screaming at my fat body to make way! My fat body better watch it, skinny me has attitude raging inside!