A couple of weeks ago, I went all ninja on my closet and tossed out just about everything. Many of the items didn't really fit or had permanent stains. Some were just ridiculous choices to begin with. In fact, I have a new rule. If it looks really good on the hanger, but it's on the clearance rack for five bucks, it's probably not going to be a wardrobe staple. Hello awkward hats and flower jeans, I'm talking to you!
When I finished, I was down to a half a rack of basic sweaters and tops, and a half a rack of pants, including jeans. That's good, because I needed the room for my growing collection of workout clothes. For some reason, I can only take workouts seriously when I'm in a uniform beyond the usual t-shirt and sweats. Anyhow, what is left in my closet are clothes that fit well at this point or barely fit. "Aspirational outfits" is how I describe them. My thinking was that I would live with this very limited--and a bit disjointed--selection until I truly move into a new size (hope, hope, hope) later in the spring.
This morning, I attempted to cobble together a spring-like outfit from my tiny collection. I chose some pants, a cami, and a white spring sweater that was in the barely fit category. I figured I would cover the tightness with a scarf. I put everything on and realized...the sweater was TOO BIG! Whoo hoo! I still needed a scarf, but now it was to disguise the volume. Yay!
The unofficial count since the end of January when I began taking this seriously is 12 pounds and at least 9 inches, with a total of 36 pounds overall. I have a long way to go, but for now I'm enjoying being a loser.
Now off to do some shopping!
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
It doesn't look like that in the picture
It's gym day!
Leave work earlier than usual.
Count every extra minute spent in traffic.
Run from the car to the bedroom shedding clothes while searching for a workout outfit.
Put on workout outfit while yelling to husband to fill water bottle and find car keys.
Run to car.
Run back to kitchen to get water bottle.
Run back to car.
Circle gym parking lot looking for a space.
Look for gym pass in usual area of purse.
Realize purse is still on the kitchen counter at home.
Make up today's story about why you don't have a gym pass.
Run back to car to get water bottle.
Run to locker room to drop stuff.
Run to fitness room and squeeze into a space as class starts.
Work out.
Go home and collapse.
Repeat at least 3X per week.
Count every extra minute spent in traffic.
Run from the car to the bedroom shedding clothes while searching for a workout outfit.
Put on workout outfit while yelling to husband to fill water bottle and find car keys.
Run to car.
Run back to kitchen to get water bottle.
Run back to car.
Circle gym parking lot looking for a space.
Look for gym pass in usual area of purse.
Realize purse is still on the kitchen counter at home.
Make up today's story about why you don't have a gym pass.
Run back to car to get water bottle.
Run to locker room to drop stuff.
Run to fitness room and squeeze into a space as class starts.
Work out.
Go home and collapse.
Repeat at least 3X per week.
One of the biggest barriers to exercise for everyone is lack of available time. That's been my number one excuse for years. When I made the decision to change my life, I knew it would mean giving up time that I normally reserve for catching up at work, doing laundry, buying groceries and generally organizing my life. In an attempt to fit everything in, I've read all the hints about how to change your schedule and habits to achieve a healthier lifestyle:
- Get up a half hour early to make your lunch and pack snacks for work. I just can't force my head off the pillow at 5 a.m.
- Use a half hour at night to perform above activities. I get home from the gym at 8:30, check email and catch up on work to make up for leaving a little early. I eat dinner. I check in with the husband and kid for 5-10 minutes. Now it's 10:30. I'm exhausted.
- Spend Sunday preparing food. Or, after a morning workout, spend Sunday catching up on work, cleaning the bathroom, running errands and buying groceries.
- Always put your gym card in the same place. This assumes that you always put your purse in the same place.
My vision of making the gym a habit included a naturally together persona I've always associated with "the gym people." My reality is that I'm more disorganized and stretched than ever.
In the big picture, I know the trade offs are worth it. I give up a few hours a week to get a few extra golden years. I get that. For now, I ask for a bit of patience as I drag my frazzled butt to the gym, dropping keys and forgetting appointments along the way.
Also, please give me a heads up if you happen to notice that I have absentmindedly left the house without pants.
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Fatniss Goes to Costco
For the past several weeks, I've avoided the mother of all temptations--Costco. Now, it was time. I had a print to pick up at the photo center, so of course my husband and I grabbed a cart to look around.
We started with our usual discussion about whether an 80-inch TV is a need or a want. I still come out on the "want" side of the argument, but he is making headway.
Then we headed to movies and games. That's where I spotted Zumba for Xbox 360. I have become a Zumba devotee--the live version--so I picked it up to try out in our basement. Score one good choice for Fatniss!
We moved along rather quickly, passing all of my old temptations. Cheese. Fancy cheese. Cheese spread. The samplers were out in full force. I was tempted by some yummy looking tuna salad, but I quickly calculated how much it would cost me in Weight Watchers points for the day and kept walking. You go, girl.
We grabbed a large bag of popcorn to have around for a snack, then looked one more time to be sure we hadn't missed any must-haves. We got in line with our nearly empty cart, proud of ourselves for our restraint. To us, Costco is simply known as the $300 Store, so this sparse haul was a victory.
Then I spotted THEM. A woman two customers in front of us was paying for two large jars of Jelly Belly jelly beans. I am not a jelly bean fiend by a long shot, but something came over me, and I just had to have them. I asked my husband if I had time to look a few rows back in the candy aisles. He kind of nodded, and I was off. A quick scan did not reveal the beans. I was becoming desperate.
The lady with the Jelly Belly duo of goodness was nearly done paying. I feared my chance to obtain 49 wonderful flavors was fading quickly. I jumped in front of the next customer with a worried "excuse me!" and reached over and tapped the lady at the register.
In a desperate voice, I pleaded with her to tell me where she found the Jelly Belly jars. With a pitying look, she informed me that they were way in the back by the wine.
The customer in front of us had moved into position. Opportunity was fading. I looked at my husband to see if I had his support in this mission. He shrugged. Good enough for me. I started running to the back of the store. Did you read that? I started RUNNING! And it was easy, too.
I made my way back past the movies, through the wine, and over the baked goods. That's when I spotted their colorful goodness, neatly packed in a jar.
I grabbed the beans, tucked them under my arm, and started running back. I heard them shaking in the container like maracas as I moved my feet. Suddenly I envisioned the viral video that was going to result from Fatniss clutching bulk jelly beans, running through the store like a madwoman.
I slowed down to a fast walk and rushed toward the register. I could see my husband talking to the cashier. Wanting him to know
that I had acquired the beans, I yelled and held them over my head triumphantly. Again, look for that photo on Twitter somewhere.
We paid, and I proudly carried my candy trophy to the car, looking up Jelly Belly recipes on the way. I had already calculated that 10 beans was about one WW point. On the way home, I enjoyed a blueberry muffin (two blueberry beans mixed with a popcorn), a s'more (a chocolate, two marshmallow, and a caramel corn), and French toast (cinnamon, popcorn, and caramel corn).
And I had plenty of points left for dinner.
We started with our usual discussion about whether an 80-inch TV is a need or a want. I still come out on the "want" side of the argument, but he is making headway.
Then we headed to movies and games. That's where I spotted Zumba for Xbox 360. I have become a Zumba devotee--the live version--so I picked it up to try out in our basement. Score one good choice for Fatniss!
We moved along rather quickly, passing all of my old temptations. Cheese. Fancy cheese. Cheese spread. The samplers were out in full force. I was tempted by some yummy looking tuna salad, but I quickly calculated how much it would cost me in Weight Watchers points for the day and kept walking. You go, girl.
We grabbed a large bag of popcorn to have around for a snack, then looked one more time to be sure we hadn't missed any must-haves. We got in line with our nearly empty cart, proud of ourselves for our restraint. To us, Costco is simply known as the $300 Store, so this sparse haul was a victory.
Then I spotted THEM. A woman two customers in front of us was paying for two large jars of Jelly Belly jelly beans. I am not a jelly bean fiend by a long shot, but something came over me, and I just had to have them. I asked my husband if I had time to look a few rows back in the candy aisles. He kind of nodded, and I was off. A quick scan did not reveal the beans. I was becoming desperate.
The lady with the Jelly Belly duo of goodness was nearly done paying. I feared my chance to obtain 49 wonderful flavors was fading quickly. I jumped in front of the next customer with a worried "excuse me!" and reached over and tapped the lady at the register.
In a desperate voice, I pleaded with her to tell me where she found the Jelly Belly jars. With a pitying look, she informed me that they were way in the back by the wine.
The customer in front of us had moved into position. Opportunity was fading. I looked at my husband to see if I had his support in this mission. He shrugged. Good enough for me. I started running to the back of the store. Did you read that? I started RUNNING! And it was easy, too.
I made my way back past the movies, through the wine, and over the baked goods. That's when I spotted their colorful goodness, neatly packed in a jar.
I grabbed the beans, tucked them under my arm, and started running back. I heard them shaking in the container like maracas as I moved my feet. Suddenly I envisioned the viral video that was going to result from Fatniss clutching bulk jelly beans, running through the store like a madwoman.
I slowed down to a fast walk and rushed toward the register. I could see my husband talking to the cashier. Wanting him to know
that I had acquired the beans, I yelled and held them over my head triumphantly. Again, look for that photo on Twitter somewhere.
We paid, and I proudly carried my candy trophy to the car, looking up Jelly Belly recipes on the way. I had already calculated that 10 beans was about one WW point. On the way home, I enjoyed a blueberry muffin (two blueberry beans mixed with a popcorn), a s'more (a chocolate, two marshmallow, and a caramel corn), and French toast (cinnamon, popcorn, and caramel corn).
And I had plenty of points left for dinner.
 |
| My sweet, sweet trophy |
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