Girl's Just Wanna Have Fun

I had a really good week last week and when I say good, I mean I had a good time with good friends and ate good food! I finally went to the Grilled Cheese Truck! I split a sandwich with Mary Jo called the Cheesy Mac and Rib (cheesy macaroni and cheese with bbq pulled pork and carmelized onions!) Then I split my half with Anne who got the Brie Melt (brie, fig paste and smokehouse almonds!) to top those off, we also got the Parmesan crust on each sandwich. To add to the mixture, I got a shot of tomato soup and we all split some delicious tater tots! We all ended up at Shannon's house and it turned into a fun girl's night out. It doesn't get much better, great friends, grilled cheese and wine.

The next day was a wonderful girly day, with Betsy, shopping in Pasadena. Eileen Fisher was having an in store charity event and had Porto's food and champagne. We had some champagne, but I wasn't even tempted by Porto's which is not like me all! I think a big motivator was fitting into a few medium size articles of clothing! I've known Betsy since I was 18 when we both worked at Contempo Casuals together and she is really a sister to me.

Well, I didn't think it could get much better, but Saturday night was Bunco. When I first got this group together my vision was a group of great women who not only like to have a good time, but would eventually become a support group for each other. I didn't tell any of them that, but I secretly hoped it would turn out that way and it has. I love and care about each one of these women and I feel like we all have each other's back. Bunco is always a pot luck and we have some terrific cooks! Irish Stew, Meatballs, Cheese Puffs, Vegetarian Lasagna, Pear and Goat Cheese Salad (my contribution) and all kinds of breads and appetizers. We are a foodie group! For dessert French Macaroons and mini Cupcakes. I tried it all and was not disappointed!

To top it all off I spent Sunday in Santa Barbara with Stefani and Sheila. It tuned out to be a beautiful day so we had to go Brophy Bros. on the pier and sit outside on the patio. I had a beer, fried clams and their yummy clam chowder! I can't say enough how relieved I am to have Stef and Sheila live so close to me now. It was a long 5 years apart!

My point to all this is that I had a fulfilling weekend both emotionally and physically and I still somehow lost half a pound.  I think part of it was that it wasn't really about the food, okay the Grilled Cheese truck was about the food, but then it turned out to be about good friends.

I could not do this successfully without the love and support of my good friends. They are kind and and encouraging and want to see me happy. I am fortunate to have such a great group of friends in my life. Some people are lucky enough to have one or two good friends, but I can count on both hands (and maybe a couple of toes!) friends that are like family to me. I work on my friendships as hard as I work on my WW plan. I don't take either for granted and know it's a always a big pay off in the end!

Five Second Rule

I haven't done WW for a while, but I thought I remembered acknowledgments every 5 pounds. You know, first 5 pound, 10 pounds, etc. Since I'm only focusing on 5 pounds at a time it seamed like a good idea. We could celebrate my 5 pounds together! Yesterday I got to the next "5" pound goal for a grand total of 15 pound lost! At the end of every meeting, the girls in the front of the office that do the weigh ins gather all the information for the meeting and give Rosie, the team leader,  the "ribbons" (which are actually paper book markers)  to be handed out. They can range from 5 pounds lost to 100! So I wasn't too surprised when Rosie started handing out the 5 pound cards and she called my name, "Did you lose 5 more pounds?" yes, I did! Rosie said, "Well don't just sit there! Stand up and take notice!" So I stood up and waved my ribbon high in the air, but before my butt could touch the seat, I heard  a small voice from the back of the room say "excuse me?" I didn't have to turn around. I recognised the voice, it was the OTHER Alison. "I think that's my 5 pound ribbon?" It was as if everything was in slow motion as I turned over the card that read "alison" not alyson. I handed over the card with the big "5" on it. Rosie turned to me innocently and said "Did you lose another 5 pounds this week?" Of course I had! I wasn't trying to take the other Alison's glory. Now I was feeling defensive and embarrassed. Rosie thought that my ribbon was further down in the pile since she had just started with the 5's, but after handing out every award, my name was never called. There was no ribbon for my 3rd 5 pounds.  Now I was really embarrassed! The meeting ended and I slithered out. I was trying to remember the last time I felt like that. I think it was Jr. High School! The feeling was wanting to never show my face at that meeting again! I quickly realized that no body was going to remember what happened a week later, but it was a knee jerk reaction. I just wanted to go home and wallow in my misery. I had plans to go walk, but I felt like, forget it! I just want to go home and comfort myself with some chocolate! Instead, I stuck to my plan that night and walked around the mall. I even wanted to quit early, but I stuck with it and felt like I fulfilled a commitment. So I had made a fool of myself. I still had lost 15 pounds! I wasn't going to let my ego get in the way of my success!

Last night the meeting was about what we have learned while on the program and how to turn our mistakes into valuable learning lessons. Especially how not to beat ourselves up when we feel that we've been "bad". I've changed my vocabulary since I've been on WW and don't use words like "bad" or "good" when focused and unfocused are better options. So what have I learned? Well, I call it my Five Second Rule. When I eat something that wasn't the best choice or feel that I've lost focus I look at it like why let one little side step ruin 3 months of hard work. Like when you drop something on the ground and you immediately pick it up, brush it off and, depending on where it fell, go right back to business as usual. I tripped and fell, emotionally, but I picked myself up, brushed myself off, and went right back to the task at hand.  I didn't need to go for comfort food to make myself feel better. I worked it out by myself and actually found some humor in it. Learning to laugh at yourself is a great gift!

I've also learned not to expect anything at the meetings in terms of a "reward". There are a lot of people to keep track of and they're bound to miss something. Besides, I'm not losing weight t o get awards.  My weight loss is my reward.  I'm looking forward to my continued weight loss, but if Rosie calls out "Alyson" again, I'll definitely be asking "which one?"

Lucky Number 13

I lost 2.2 pounds last week for a total of 13.6 pounds. I’ve been on the program now for 8 weeks and I can’t believe how fast time has gone by.  It doesn’t feel like 2 months and it certainly doesn’t feel like I’ve lost 53 sticks of butter. I know my body has changed because I now can fit into jeans that are one size smaller, but I don’t feel it yet and I really don’t see it physically.

Where I do see it is in unusual places like my trash. I know it sounds strange, but I don’t have a full trash can every week. That’s saying something for the environment! And my wallet seams to stay fuller longer. Making my own lunch has made a big difference with my budget.  I never thought I would be a “bring your lunch to work” kind of gal, but not only do I bring my own lunch, I look forward to it! I now find other ways to socialize at work. That part was difficult for me, because I work in a studio with only 2 other people and I really enjoyed going to the commissary and seeing everybody, but now I bring my own and sit out in the patio with my worker friends.

Making a commitment to myself and keeping it is a big thing for me. I could easily make a commitment to anyone else, but when it came to myself I always put myself last. I was never my first priority. What a big lesson. You know when your on an airplane and they go through the emergency shtick about putting your mask on first before you can help someone else? I never had time to put my mask on. It’s amazing how long you can go without any air.

My changes are coming from the inside first. I have to get use to feeling different. I’m still astonished that I’ve not only stuck to losing the weight, but that it’s actually working. I just thought I would always be this that way. I will never underestimate myself again. All I have to do is stay on point and keep track. It’s sounds so simple, but not always easy to do. I’ve learned this week that the less I think about it the more weight I lose. Stop thinking about it and just do it! For once it’s nice not to worry about how and why it works, it just does. I’ll leave that up to all those people that WW pays the big bucks to figure out. As for me? I’ll just relax with a glass of wine (4oz=4 points) and a bowl of my favorite salty/sweet Popcorner Kettle Chips (28g. = 3 points).

I Told You So

We love to prove ourselves right. “I told you so” is a phrase we learn early on in our life. It reinforces the thinking that we can’t do something and we will fail if we try. It raises every excuse in the book.

But with every failure there is a success.

I lost focus last week. The week started out great! I won a Golden Reel Award from my peers for “Inception” and for the first time in along time, I had a fun time at the award dinner. I saw people I haven’t seen in years and I felt terrific. I had a confidence that had been lacking for awhile now both personally and professionally. There were many gifts that night and I was open to receiving them.

Then monday was my WW meeting and I had exceeded my goal of 10 lbs to 11.5 total! Another great evening, feeling pretty good about myself, but as the week went on I found myself having to deal with some stressful events and by Friday night I was eating 3 pieces of pizza. I knew what I was doing and I enjoyed myself at the time, but I knew I would have to pay the price. Sure enough, yesterday I had not gained or lost a pound. I was the same exact weight as the Monday before. I was happy that I didn’t gain anything, but I was disappointed in myself for not losing.

But I had gained something, I gained the knowledge of knowing that every action has a reaction. Even if you’re not honest with yourself, the truth will always prevail. Cheating on your diet is only cheating on yourself. I know that I have what it takes to be successful in losing this weight, but sometimes you have to take a step back to see the whole picture. I also had lost something too. I lost the excuses that I always used to protect myself from feeling like a failure. I lost the negative inner dialogue. I wasn’t going to let a few bad days undo all the hard work I had done for weeks. I started right back on my diet and have kept moving forward. I still expect to lose another 5 lbs. by the end of the month. My goals have not changed, but my attitude has. As Rosie pointed out yesterday, the word Attitude adds up to 100. You have to do the program 100 percent or it won’t work. Trust me on this one. Measure and count your points. It’s very simple.

You just have to do the math!

Girl Scouts Honor

Friday night we had a blackout. The lights went out at 7:30pm (prime time!) and didn't come on again until 11pm. I had just finished dinner, had a roaring fire going and was completely snuggled in for the night. There was a storm a brewing outside so I was ready for an evening watching movies and catching up on my recorded shows.  Thankfully I have plenty of candles and I knew where the matches were, but my flashlights all needed batteries. I was mostly prepared, but would I have been prepared if this were a real disaster like an earthquake? Not really. I'm pretty proud of the fact that I was a Girl Scout. It made a real impact on me. I'm usually the one who always has a bandaid in her purse. I like the motto "always prepared" and I still help old ladies across the street. It made me think about what I have to do to get ready. Bottled water, food for me AND for Riley and the cats, batteries, a wrench by the gas valve and a bag packed with a pair of shoes, socks, underwear, sweatpants and a sweatshirt. Sounds like a lot, right? These are just the basics. Think about it, what would you to survive a week?

It's really helped me to be successful in my new eating plan. In the morning, before I go to work, I get all my food ready for the eight hour day. Everything I eat will generally be in that bag. An apple and banana for a snack that I usually pair with Sunflower seed butter and little prepackaged pieces of cheese I keep at work, Arugula (I keep Grape seed oil and Rice vinegar at work as well), Lean Cuisine and these great single serving veggie containers from Green Giant that are an awesome addition to a meal or alone between meals and a little something sweet, either a WW 2 point bar or a little square of chocolate. I'm also fortunate to have a Starbucks at work so if I need a pick me up I can get a short latte. By the way, did you know that Starbucks has a "short" option? It's a perfect size if you don't want a lot of milk. It's a lot of food, but it's what I need to get through my day.  I know what I have to eat and can manage it better that if I were just flying by the seat of my pants. I try to eat every 1 1/2 to 2 hours and try not to get too hungry.  When I get home I tend to eat dinner earlier in the night which is so much better for me. Although I am snacking all day long, it's on things that are healthier for me and not just food that's filling me up.

Being prepared not only makes me feel in control, but it gives me a sense of accomplishment because it works! I'm less than a pound away from my 10lb total loss.  I have a black tie event tonight so we'll see what tomorrows weigh in brings. I hope to be onto my next goal of 5 more pounds!

Point Envy

My friend started WW about a week after me. We’ve been comparing notes and recipes and just giving each other lots of encouragement. The problem is that my friend gets almost twice as many points as I do! I have trouble just keeping mine at 29, but my friend gets a whole 52 a week! Plain and simple, I have point envy. We laugh about it, but it’s been hard trying to figure out how my friend can eat all their points. It’s interesting how difficult it is to eat 52 points and be healthy. I mean, eat a few candy bars and cheese burger and you’ve got it covered, but to eat 52 healthy points is a challenge. Now here a few things I didn’t tell you. My friend is a man. Men have it a little easier than woman do. They cut out desserts for a week and lose 5lbs. I can imagine how hard it is when your trying to lose weight and your partner isn’t. It’s difficult enough with my own temptations, but ad another person’s to the equation and yikes!

Helping out my friend is really great for me. It’s as if I’m also speaking to my “inner” self and confirming that the plan works, as long as you’re doing it. It’s also nice to have someone to talk to about new food finds and recipes. I made some delicious Cherry Brownies from a recipe I got from Hungry Girl and he’s making some great meals from these Shirataki noodles that are zero points! I found out about the Green Giant steamers from him and then I found the single serving size. They are a great way to get your vegetables and they are a tasty 1 point serving. This weekend we’re both going out to eat so we helped each other figure out what the best options are.

One of my goals is to be off my high blood pressure medications. It’s not about losing weight as much as it is about being healthy. We’re really motivating each other. What a great gift you can give a friend. It’s no calories and fits every size. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

The Oprah Factor

A few years ago when Oprah was celebrating her 50th birthday, she got into incredible shape. She said that she didn't want to be "fat and 50!" Her  desire and motivation over rode her years of struggling with her weight and she looked amazing. I remember talking to my therapist about Oprah and how she motivated herself to lose weight. My therapist said 5 little words that struck me: "Do not compare yourself to Oprah". She proceeded to explain that Oprah is not like you and me. She never has to go to the market and shop for food, (she doesn't even have to drive!) she doesn't have to prepare a meal, (not to say she never cooks, but she did have her trainer/nutrition Bob live with her) and she doesn't have the same stresses that the average woman has. Not that she doesn't have problems, but her life is managed a lot more closely that mine is. Her point was that Oprah talks to her audience as if they are all in the same boat with her, unfortunately she's in a yacht and I'm in a row boat. I know she still struggles with her weight, but she went through a period, when she was thin, where she didn't have much empathy anyone. That's when I stopped watching her. It was as if she had conquered her demons and had little patience for those still fighting their demons. Of course, as we all know, Oprah's weight came back. This time she blamed it on her thyroid. Accountability is all I ask for. So if Oprah still struggles, and let's face it, she can pay somebody to feed her by hand, what chance do I have? I think it just goes to show that even if you have all the money in the world, there are some things that we all still have in common. I realized that I was not being empathetic to Oprah. Weight struggle is universal. It knows no boundaries.

It got me to thinking about how we compare ourselves to other people. Why can my friend Tyson eat an entire bag of cookies and gain no weight and I eat two and I gain a pound? You know why? Because, as my mother always said, life's not fair. It really helps when you're having a pity party for yourself to repeat those words. I have no control over the fact that Tyson can eat whatever he wants, but I do have control over what I put in my mouth. So life isn't fair. Boo Hoo! Now pick yourself off the floor and take that cookie out of your mouth and stop blaming everyone else. It's no ones fault that my metabolism isn't that of a super model. The fact of the matter is that I come from a long line of curvy women so lucky me! I will embrace those curves, I just want them in the right places.

So my message to you and Oprah and myself is to take responsibility for yourself, be kind to yourself and stop comparing yourself to other people. Life is tough enough without beating yourself up. If you fall off the horse, dust yourself off and get right back on and while your at it, don't forget to forgive the horse.