A Day Late and a Pound Short

Wow, I've really been busy the past couple days! I can't believe that I almost forgot to blog about my weigh in on Moday and how things are progressing. So, let me tell you about the past few days...

Unfortunately, this has not been a great week (and it just started). For the past four days I have had sciatica pain on my right side in addition to the pain in my left hip. It sucks!!! I'm sick of hurting, I'm sick of having to take pain killers, I'm sick of eating ice cream...oops, that just snuck in there. Luckily, I gave up sweets for Lent so I haven't been pigging out on sweets. Notice the qualifier...sweets. That doesn't mean I haven't been eating.

I may have mentioned that I'm an emotional eater. So, when I get upset I eat more than I should. I don't wolf down a whole pizza, but I don't stop after one piece either. I've been so good about my calorie intake and my water intake these past few weeks, that I'm a little put out by these past few days. The good news is I only gained a pound. I'm just so upset with myself! I just wish I had something new to focus on...
Not necessarily what I meant. You are probably wondering what this is a picture of...drum roll, please...that is my neighbor's shed. Yep, we've had high winds recently. Strong enough winds that my neighbor's shed just knocked down part of my fence and rolled into my yard. Perfect! Something new to agonize over. Of course, the house next door is a rental and getting a hold of the landlord is taking forever! Ugh! I need a vacation, or just something to take my mind off of the "structure" (as my other neighbor calls it) in my back yard.

So, by now, I'm hoping that some of my readers are feeling really sorry for me and wondering how to help. I could be an upstanding person, and say that I don't need anything. Please...of course I want something (preferably covered in chocolate...just kidding). So, if anyone feels bad enough to donate their NCAA tournament tickets to a person in need of a break...I won't turn them down. All I can say is...Let's go KU & Duke!!! Oh, and VCU and Butler, the upset teams I'm cheering for. And Ohio St. and San Diego St., play well...my bracket needs you to win. And UNC, I hope you lose! What did you expect, I'm a Duke fan! And...oh well, I'm just ready for everyone to play ball. To end this post let me repeat my March Madness Wish...

May your teams be nimble, may your teams be quick, may your teams trump the teams that make you sick. May your teams advance to the big dance, as they score and make their way to the Final Four!

How to have a successful blog

When I first started blogging, I was just blogging for myself. It was a way for me to stay honest about my weight loss or weight gain. It was therapy. Yet, somewhere along the way, I decided that I wanted my blog to appeal to others. I wanted to make people smile with my crazy viewpoints on dieting and weight loss. I wanted to take a serious (and sometimes depressing) topic and make it fun and relatable. So, I started researching. I read article after article about having a successful blog. The end result...become an expert on your topic. Seriously, that's all it takes. I can do that! So, below is my first piece of advice from a dieting "expert".

The best way to eat ice cream is to eat it when it is frozen solid and not soft. Trying to get an ice cream scoop through hard ice cream is quite the workout. So, you benefit from this two ways. You use the muscles in your arms, and you eat less since it is hard to scoop. I also recommend using both your right and left hand to scoop. You don't want the muscle on your right to be overdeveloped when compared to the muscle on your left.

Now, I'm sure some of you are thinking...that is her "expert" advice. Of course it is! To have a successful blog, I need to be an expert. Let's face it, if I was an expert on weight loss, I would be a size two! It amazes me that "blogging experts" recommend reading articles on my blog topic, watching videos, and reviewing items because that will make me an expert and a successful blogger. Come on...that just makes me knowledgeable about what works for others. If it worked for everyone, no one would have weight issues. I prefer to be an "expert" on what makes me successful, what makes me laugh about the whole weight loss experience, and making friends with people in the same boat as myself. If that means my blog won't be successful, but I will...I can live with that!

Additional expert recommendation:
Count the number of times I used the word "expert" in this post, and drink that many glasses of water. Not the most fun "drinking game"...but a game is a game, right? Take it from me, I'm an "EXPERT"...Hey, there's another one!

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

Kids, weight loss, and basketball...does it get any better?

My life could not get any better than it is right now! I just spent a great (and busy) five days watching my four nephews. It was a little crazy at times, but they were a lot of fun! I especially enjoyed waking up at 4AM with my sister's youngest. Colt was wide awake and more than happy to point out my nose and eyes. I wanted to be mad at him, but he has a smile that just melts my heart. Carston spent the most time with me. One night I was lying on the couch with my book, and the next thing I know Carston is lying at the other end of the couch with his book. I love that he is my reader!!! Cooper, the second oldest is the definition of sweet! He missed his mom and dad. He would show me a picture of him and his mom that was taken at his school's "T" party. He was so proud of that picture, and showed it to me daily. Finally, there is Cade. He is the oldest and loves all things sports. He and I went to church on Saturday, and then made it home for the second half of the KU/Texas game. We cheered the Jayhawks to victory and talked basketball most of the night. It was great! Could my life get any better?

Yep!!! Now, the best news of all...I lost another 2 pounds! I'm sooooo happy I could scream! I wasn't sure how I did this week since I didn't follow my diet plan as well as I would have liked. I mean, I quit drinking water and lived off of Sonic's Diet Cherry Vanilla Diet Dr. Pepper for three days! I was like an addict that needed a fix. I'll be honest, I wouldn't be surprised to know that the Sonic carhops know my name and car. Seriously, I was there a lot! I blame it on Happy Hour...the 2 best hours of my day. Who doesn't love half price drinks? I'm just "happy" that Happy Hour didn't hinder my weight loss!

Speaking of Happy Hour...my week will be full of Happy Hours as the NCAA Basketball Tournament starts this week. This is my favorite holiday of all time! I'm still campaigning to make March Madness a recognized holiday. It is a special time (she says with tears in her eyes). Such hard work, such dedication, such drama...I live for this stuff! Rock Chalk Jayhawk....Go KU!!! and Let's go Duke!!!

March Madness 2011 Poem
Tournament time is here,
Let's give a big cheer,
for the teams that are great,
and make the top 68.
The teams have been drawn,
and TVs will be on,
to watch the fellas,
and hopefully some Cinderellas,
fight to advance,
to the big dance.
It is my wish,
that the guards dish,
to the guys down low,
and they make at least a free throw.
All I can say,
is that I love each day,
that I get to view,
my favorite teams...Go KU!

I hate to toot my own horn...but "TOOT TOOT"!

First off, let me welcome Jo and Anne to the blog! Thank you so much for your kind words, and taking time to share your thoughts with me. I appreciate your kindness!

Last week was a great week! I actually stuck to my diet plan and lost...wait for it...drum roll please...is the curtain ready?...by the way did I mention I'm dramatic?...or maybe I'm annoying...I guess it depends on who you talk to...so, where was I? Oh yeah, I lost THREE pounds last week. I hate to toot my own horn, but TOOT TOOT!

First, I want to thank the academy. Wait, wrong speech! First, I want to thank Dillons and Ron's. Your great sales on Lean Cuisine and Smart Ones made my week (5 meals for $10, 2 meals for $4, and 2 meals for $5). Thank you to Dunkin' Donuts! Without your coffee I would not have made it through the week. Thank you to my water filter. My 64 ounces a day tasted great! I couldn't have done it without you. Finally, thank you to the big people (and no I'm not referring to your size...little people just seems condescending). My family, friends, and fellow bloggers...you have been behind me 100%. I'm sure that is not the view of me that you would prefer, but maybe you have noticed that my behind is smaller. I couldn't have done it without your support! Thank you for your kindness, words of wisdom, and good humor. It is because of you that I have made it this far.

Seriously, this past week has been great. I had a healthy breakfast, a healthy lunch, and either a Lean Cuisine or Smart One for dinner. I kept my calories between 1000 and 1200 calories per day, and I drank my 64 ounces of water. I can't wait until I feel up to exercising because I'm sure that it will make my experience that much better. I have an appointment with the hip specialist at the end of the month. If he rules out my hip pain as being caused by my hips, then I will need to reconsider back surgery. I'm not sure which to hope for, but I'm ready to start exercising! I'm so excited!!!

I hope everyone is loving their Monday as much as I am. Have a good one!!!

Goals...I guess I should have some

Many of you might not know this, but I'm not an organized individual. I'm a fly by the seat of my pants kind of girl. I don't do lists,
I don't do outlines, and I don't have an organizer. It just isn't me. My mind just wanders too much. I mean, I try to log-in to calorie counting websites, but I would rather calculate it in my head. Weird...I know! However, I figure that it is time to get serious about my goals and (gulp) write them down.

So, let's see, how do people normally do this? Do I need numbers or dots? Better yet, does anyone have a list template? Nope...ok, I'll give list making my best shot.

1. Lose weight (too generic)
2. Lose 61 pounds (Wow, that is a lot)
3. Re-evaluate the actual weight loss number as I lose dress sizes. A size 8 would be ideal. (I think the last time I was that size I was eight...hum)
4. Drink 64oz of water a day (Thank goodness for the 32oz cup I received from the hospital at my last surgery. It is a HUGE help in keeping track of my water intake. Of course, it probably cost me $100 for that cup...darn hospitals).
5. Eat smaller portions. (I'm rocking this goal. I eat meals off of a salad plate to keep my portions small).
6. Exercise! (This one is huge. I don't exercise at all right now. That is not something I would recommend to anyone! Hopefully, after my next doctors appointment this will improve).
7. 1st Goal - 175 pounds
8. 2nd Goal - 150 pounds
9. Final weight loss goal...135 pounds or a size 8.

Wish me luck!

Oh, by the way, I was wrong in my last post. You can win on Top Chef when you make risotto. Who knew! Have a great weekend everyone!!!

The Best Diet Aid of 2011

Finally, I have found it! The best diet aid ever...or at least in 2011. The best part is it doesn't cost you a thing. Unless you don't have cable, then it might cost you a little bit. This aid will work for anyone. OK, that isn't true. It will only work for people that don't want to cook or people that don't like to cook. The answer...drum roll please...everyone have their pencils handy...the best diet aid of 2011 is THE FOOD NETWORK!


Now, I'm sure many of you are confused, so let me explain. I'm not much of a cook, and I really have no desire to cook. I blame this on being single. I used to cook meals for myself, but then I always had leftovers that went bad. It was so frustrating. To make matters worse, I'm a snacker...cookies, crackers, chips..oh my! Now, this is where The Food Network comes in.

I'll give you an example of a typical evening. So, it is Monday night and I'm watching an episode of Castle. A commercial comes on for ice cream, and it is all I think about. I have to have ice cream. I can't watch Castle fight the bad guys without ice cream! Oh no...I can't get that creamy, cold, confection out of my head.

Now, it is Tuesday night, and I'm watching Cupcake Wars and Chopped. All I can think is about is cupcakes and a picnic basket full of crazy food items. You know, thoughts like...wow, that baker is putting salmon in her cupcake. She is crazy! How did that chef brown the meat like that? Why did they pick risotto? I know that risotto is a difficult dish to do correctly in a short amount of time. Ugh...I don't even know what risotto is but I know it is a risk. Seriously, risotto will most likely not be the winning dish.

So, have you noticed a difference? Apparently, I can watch any cooking show (Chopped, Top Chef, Cupcake Wars, Cake Boss, Ultimate Cakes, The Next Food Network Star) and not crave a snack. I don't even crave a meal. I mean, I'm loving what they are making, but I have no desire to do it myself. It is funny, but on the days when these shows air, my calorie intake is lower.

Isn't it amazing? Who knew that cooking shows were a weight loss tool for the cooking challenged! I'm excited, I'm thrilled, I've lost weight...Thank you Food Network, TLC, and Bravo. You have been my greatest dieting aid.

You know, this has me thinking...scary I know. If watching food shows doesn't make me want to eat, then maybe seeing Archie Bunker sitting in his chair will make me want to exercise. Probably not, but a girl can dream.