Oh My I'm Bad

Wow this week has been hard and so may temptations I just didn't pass up.







I have been good and walked every day except Saturday because I just didn't feel well (I've been having a migraine more on than off for the last three weeks) and Sunday because it was raining. A loop of my friend's neighbourhood takes just over 15 minutes. Most days I've done two loops, it's just been so hot and humid, and I'm not used to that. My hands would swell with the heat and humidity while out walking.






But today I did three!

There has been too many temptations that I just don't allow myself at home...



There has been Sonic's Summer of Shakes... Peanut Butter and Fudge, need I say more?



Cracker Barrel's Biscuits and Gravy... I lived in the south as a teen so I am familiar with this tasty delicacy.



Another breakfast indulgence, the IHOP and pancakes with cinnamon bun filling.... Oh my heaven!!!









Also we couldn't resist having lunch at Bubba Gump Shrimp! I was a very good girl and had this fantastic salad... Just imagine chicken instead of shrimp (I don't eat seafood). Dessert was just too tempting!

There has been walking as we've gone to see the historical areas of Charleston (twice) and some shopping. Probably not enough to counteract the mega calorie indulgences I've had.



I'm travelling back home tomorrow and hopefully to a more balanced diet, but I am hitting the road Thursday on a 17 hour drive to the East Coast (Cape Breton) to visit another friend. I'm looking forward to packing apples, bananas and a bag of baby carrots to snack on during the drive. It's definitely a challenge being in an environment where lots of fruits and veggies are not the norm.

I've been going with the flow and not freaking out over my diet. I've done the best I can when I can this last week except for the sweets/treats I just can't get at home or won't usually allow myself to have.


- thanks for reading!

Summer Adventures

After today I am offically on my SUMMER HOLIDAYS!  This year it seemed like it took a long time to get here and I'm so ready to be off of work for three and a half weeks!!!

My first adventure starts after work today.  I'm driving down to Syracuse, NY where I'll be flying out early tomorrow morning to spend a week with my best friend Claire in the Charleston, SC area!  I'm looking forward to checking out the LNS Keepm 'em in Stitches.  When I return a week Wednesday, I'm landing early enough in the day that I'm going to have time to go check out Stitcher's Garden near Syracuse before I drive back home.

I may follow this up with a drive out to the East Coast to visit Tracey at her cottage in Cape Breton.  It'll all depend on what the budget looks like after this first trip!   Hopefully I'll find a little time to blog here and there from my ipad on my Summer 2013 Adventures!

I did weigh in this am for a pre-vacation weight, I am up again for the third week in a row.  Last week I weighed in on Friday I was up one pound, 178 lbs and this morning I'm up 0.4 to 178.4.  Its only been a few days so I'm not really concerned about the number, I just wanted to get in and weighed WEEKLY and hopefully it'll help me keep Weight Watchers in mind while I'm travelling.

I really need to stop "pretending" at doing Weight Watchers and really commit to the program.  I've been steadily gaining almost a pound a week for the last month and that's just not good.  To think that at one point I had lost 64 lbs from my start weight and now, I"m to a point where I've only managed to keep 29 of those lbs off.  Its just plain STUPID.  I have steadily gained weight since February of of 2011.  Why I can't do this, I don't understand what's wrong in my head.

Positive notes... I've weighed in weekly for the last 3 weeks (but still haven't had time to stay for a meeting).  I've done well going to the gym each week, and this week when I can't make it to the gym (and I'm not suffering from a migraine... they've been VERY bad) I'm getting out for a good 35 minute power walk.

I can do this.

I'm In Control

I think I'm ready to come back now, I've done a few blog entries over at my stitching blog.  I've been thinking about blogging here for almost a week now.

Mum and I in Quebec City

Its been a month now since my Mum has been gone.  I took a week off of work right after it happened, I wasn't sure how I was going to be, or if my Dad would need my help.  I did help him when dealing with the funeral home, but he seemed content to take care of everything else on his own.  My friends and everyone I know have really come out in full force to support me during these difficult weeks.  It was good for me to get back to work, I'm glad I didn't take longer off... a welcome distraction.  We had private family scattering of her ashes, it wasn't as sad or upsetting as I thought it was, I felt at peace over that.  I've had the emotional day here and there, and I've started going through her crafting supplies (mainly quilting and beading) as I'm the only child who inherited the love of crafting.  I do miss my Mum.

How has this impacted my efforts to loose weight... well its been a rollercoaster ride for sure!  At first I was good, I went to Weight Watchers the first two weeks after Mum had passed.

The first week after her passing, I had a good week a 3 pound loss.

The second week, a one pound gain.

Then there was a two week gap, my excuses?  The end of the school year was insanely busy!  I also felt like I had been eating non-stop for over a week!  There were meals out, and treats galore which were hard for me to resist/say no to.  Instead of going to my meeting I was lured by the temptation of a day out with my friends Tracey and Christin.  I also didn't want to face negativity at the scale like I did at the beginning of June.  This past Saturday I didn't go to my meeting (on Saturday) for a good reason, I needed to get in to see my Sports Medicine Doctor as my Sinus Tarsi Syndrome has flared up again in my left foot.  That appointment and the meeting conflicted, I couldn't do both.

Before hair

Hair - after, being goofy at work us librarians can be quite sexy with a laser/scanner gun!

I took advantage of the day and got my haircut.  That was quite emotional for me, it was something my Mum and I have frequently done together over the years we would go see my hairdresser together and go out for lunch afterwards.  I broke down when Azra asked me where my Mum was.  Boy that was hard, I almost tear up sharing this with you.  My visit to Azra was followed with lunch out with Christin and her parents.  When they heard my Mum had passed they had let me know that when I was ready, they wanted to drive up (they live 2 hours away) and take me out for lunch.  Such a nice thing to do, it made for a really nice day.  Christin's Mom also gave me these miniature roses.

While Azra cut my hair (I have followed her around since 1997 and she always speaks frankly to me I love her to pieces), she talked a little sense into me.  Reminding me that I had to take care of myself and that I needed to be in control of my life.  That we don't have much if we don't have our health.  This has resonated with me this week.  I'm getting better and making the right choices, stopping when I'm full and I'm starting to track again, and doing my best to track my foods honestly.  I'm also trying to move more.  I never made it into the gym this week (I have made more of an effort to go this month) but I've gotten out for a couple of walks which I know is better than nothing.

I also have no excuse to not make it to a meeting or at least weigh in.  I'm spoiled in this area there are so many meetings I could go to if not my own.  Also less than a 5 minute drive from my work there's a Weight Watchers Center!  Today I was resolved to go in this morning during my break (I'm visiting friends this weekend so I can't go to my meeting).  I couldn't stay for the meeting but at least I made it to the scale.  Despite two weeks of destructive behavior, no tracking and bad food choices the result wasn't as bad as I thought it was.

After a two-week hiatus only a 1.2 lb gain.  The up side? I have put back on ALL of the 3 lbs I lost.