Christmas Is Over

Sunday, December 27, 2009

One of my SparkFriends' statuses today says that she "is glad Christmas is over. What next???" What next, after Christmas, indeed! I like to have things to look forward to, and with the big buildup to Christmas, there's always a mini- (or even a maxi!) letdown afterward. There are bills to pay, decorations to put away, a few presents to sort through and play with or store, diet excesses to repair, renewed dedication to exercise. So I've given some thought to what comes next, with special attention to good things to look forward to.

There's New Year's Eve, of course, which often, of course, centers around drink and food and more drink, but it IS, after all, another opportunity to party and socialize.

There's some pleasure to be had in putting away decorations, putting up a new calendar (yay! now we can call the year "twenty"-something for the rest of the century, not the last decade's awkward "two thousand X" or "oh X"), and cleaning house--traditionally reserved for New Year's Day in my house. (No, wise guy, cleaning house is not traditionally reserved JUST for New Year's Day in my house!)

Then there's Superbowl Sunday, which is fun to look forward to if you're a football fan and especially if your team is in it (which the Pats often are), but there's all that food to watch out for. It has to be the second biggest American Pigout Day after Thanksgiving!

And then there's the premiere of American Idol. My friend Karen and I traditionally insist that Bill make us all a healthy dinner while we get hooked all over again with hilarious auditions of people whose misguided friends told them they should try out because they're great singers.

Yes, Pam, there is a life after Christmas. I'm going out of my way to find things to do and look forward to--not least among them is maintaining my diet and exercise efforts, even though my weight has ticked up and stuck there.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

YARDWALKER 12/31/2009 8:31PM

I love the first days of new months and New Years. I used to write a journal, actually write it, not on the computer. I am starting that again this year. It was always a favorite activity to read it on New Years Eve and look back at the last year. I wish you a wonderful New Year! Report Inappropriate Comment

JOHAL52 12/30/2009 12:38AM

I am excited to start using my new planner. And I'm getting my cat back after her year at dd's, much to dh's disgust (she came with me as part of the marriage deal twelve years ago but he didn't realize she is a night singer.) And I am going to start leading the biweekly Tuesday hikes. Which should be interesting as I have no sense of direction whatsoever. Report Inappropriate Comment

RWETHAIRYET 12/28/2009 10:10AM

Actually, I find it a little sad that we make such a big to-do over Christmas that we have to "Survive it" or "Get Through it" and then "Thank God it's Over" It just tells of the amount of pressure we put on ourselves on trying to "Make that Perfect Hallmark Day". My big goal this year, particularly with the hand made gifts, is not to wait until Thanksgiving to get to it. So, I've already started...let's see how I can keep it going. Actually, once all the goodies are gone and leftovers polished off from Christmas, I don't have that tough a time for the next few months. New Years is quiet and fuss kept to a minimum. Valentines/my birthday are usually a combined meal out. In fact my next big trouble spot doesn't come until next May, when a friend comes to stay for a week and pretty much takes us out to dinner every night that he's here. Thank goodness he's a walker, though, so I stand a chance of burning some of it off, lol. Im really looking forward to having a Great Twenty-ten Report Inappropriate Comment

MORTICIAADDAMS 12/27/2009 3:12PM

I always look forward to the new year and to new beginnings. Report Inappropriate Comment

ZUZUBEE 12/27/2009 2:38PM

Christmas season starts so early these days and can get so intense, that it almost feels good to go back to "real" life. Kind of like exhaling. 2010 sounds good to me!! Report Inappropriate Comment

AUNTIEANNE22 12/27/2009 1:52PM

Christmas just began at my house on the 25. It doesn't end until January 6. Report Inappropriate Comment

LADYIRISH317 12/27/2009 12:14PM

What a great post! Okay, my list: Superbowl Sunday (I'm a football MANIAC) the return of LOST St. Patrick's Day Easter The return of Glee (best show on TV, IMHO) Daylight Savings Time July 4th The start of football preseason Labor Day Football season! Halloween And back to "The Holidays" With tons of knitting in between! Report Inappropriate Comment

Dangerous Thinking

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

As some of you may have noticed, I've been griping about how hard it is to maintain my weight lately. Comments like "I should've at least been able to ENJOY gaining the weight" and "What would my weight be if I DIDN'T watch my exercise and calories like a hawk?" have been heard. They were a clue to my dangerous state of mind, thrown by not being as much in control of my weight as usual.

I NEVER plan ahead to have a treat or a day when I indulge myself, but it had to happen. Last night, Bill and I went out to dinner, to celebrate his birthday and have a holiday treat for ourselves. We were planning on going to our old favorite, the Chinese buffet, but changed venue at the last minute to a cozy restaurant on the Exeter River, where we went downstairs to the little basement bar--all warm, happy, crowded, and beautifully decorated for Christmas. Figuring that this was our holiday treat, I ordered whatever I felt like. I started with the spinach salad with gorgonzola, walnuts, and cranberries, and delicately picked my way around much of the cheese and nuts, and had balsamic on the side, to keep the calories down a little. Then my seafood risotto arrived, and all caution was thrown to the winds. My plan had been to eat mostly the seafood and leave much of the risotto. Fool, I! I LOVE risotto. What was I thinking? I ate pretty much the whole thing. The two glasses of wine didn't help.

At least we didn't order dessert, right? Right! But at home waited a boxful of evil desserts that a friend had brought over the night before. I had resisted them up until then, but no more! One of them was a key lime parfait, another a white chocolate cake, and another an intensely chocolate experience. I had some of each, thank you very much. And then ate as many of my addictive butter spritz cookies as I could stuff in my face.

When I go off the rails, you have to admit I do it with enthusiasm.



So, today I'm getting back on track and trying to be content with not gaining any more!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

IFDEEVARUNS2 1/2/2010 11:29AM

I think the only thing I would have resisted are the butter spritz cookies. Learn to incorporate these enjoyable eating experiences into your plan, and move on. You're here for the long haul! Report Inappropriate Comment

ZUZUBEE 12/24/2009 9:01AM

Wow, my mouth was watering just reading about all that yummy food! Just enjoy the memory of a wonderful evening with your husband - you seem to have a good deal of self control most of the time, so it'll all work out in the end... I over-indulged myself last night at (egads!) 9 o'clock at night. : ( Just going to keep on moving, and make the best decisions I can for today! Still thinking of that spinach salad you mentioned -yum! - what's a girl to do? Have a very Merry Christmas! Report Inappropriate Comment

MORTICIAADDAMS 12/23/2009 8:13PM

Forgive yourself and move on. We all do it. It sounds like yours was worth it at least. LOL. Report Inappropriate Comment

JEN40311 12/23/2009 6:03PM

Hi Sue I've been having problems with resisting temptation too. I find it easier to control my eating and exercise routine when I'm at work. When I have off time however; I don't plan my meals and then I just pick up what's handy or I'll ask myself "what do I have a taste for?" The answers: hot wings, french fries or steak n shake. In the past when I've fallen, I'll just give up and beat myself about it so bad that I tell myself I'm no committed. Nowadays, as corny as it sounds, I use the "one day at a time" or "one meal at a time" motto. That's been working for me so far. Just do the best that you can and try not to beat yourself up too much over it. Comment edited on: 12/23/2009 6:04:51 PM Report Inappropriate Comment

Snowy Sunday

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Boy, I got out of bed all cranky this morning, for no reason I could put my finger on. But once I got my butt in gear, my outlook improved. First I stripped the bed and popped the bedclothes in the washer, so I couldn't get back into it. Made some tea to work up my courage to bundle up and go out in the snow with Dingo. It's still coming down here in NH, the light powdery kind that fluffs when you scuff it with your toe, and not slippery at all, which makes me happy. So we got our usual morning walk, and now I'm planning the rest of the day over another cup of tea.

I think some housecleaning is in order, and another batch of cookies. I'll see if I can find hokey Christmas movies or music to put on while I do that, plus turn on all the lights in the house. So much for the electric bill and greenhouse gases--I want it cozy in here!



(Not our house, but close!)

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

RWETHAIRYET 12/21/2009 10:59AM

Spent most of my weekend doing house chores too...fortunately we missed out on any snow! My NJ friends have all called to whine, lol...not getting a whole lot of sympathy...especially the son-in-law who we told to go out and get a shovel before the storm...and didn't. Imagine trying to clean up 20-30 inches of snow with a push broom Report Inappropriate Comment

MORTICIAADDAMS 12/20/2009 1:33PM

Loved the blog. I'm with you. Lots of indoor work to do today and it should be warm and cozy. More tea for me too. Report Inappropriate Comment

GIANNA345 12/20/2009 12:13PM

Good for you. Get cozy. Have a great day. It doesn't look like I'll be able to relax today. Somehow, I woke up feeling okay, but I'm cranky now. I'm not usually very talkative in the morning, but I have spoken with my hairdresser multiple times about rescheduling the appointment that I missed yesterday, and still can't make it to today; interacted with my husband as he determined whether we could get to his play today (a local affair), and cleaned up the kitchen. I persuaded my children to go out and shovel, I've taken multiple calls about various other rescheduled appointments, had several interruptions from the kids, and my son just decided to practice his baritone (right next to me on the couch). I'm so scattered I don't even remember what I was trying to do! Report Inappropriate Comment

Getting a jump on New Year's resolutions

Friday, December 18, 2009

I'm now 5 pounds over my low weight from the summer, and I could almost sense why--but not quite--until just now, when I pawed through my fitness and nutrition trackers.

When I went back to analyze my weekly cardio now compared with the summer and fall, I discovered that I'm doing on average MORE cardio now. I must be compensating successfully for my fear of winter slothfulness. So that isn't it. It must be food.

So now I have to be honest with myself all over again. Weighing, measuring, and counting accurately. Assessing whether I'm really, really hungry enough to have that afternoon or evening snack. I knew in my heart that I hadn't been doing those things, and a look at the nutrition trackers tells me exactly how and where. I've been looking mainly at the total calorie count for the day and rejoicing if it's within my range, when I should really be staying BELOW my range. I've been slacking off and using the cold weather as an excuse for unnecessary eating. And I'm shocked to see that I've been having more wine in the evening than before. At least my weighing and measuring was accurate there--I just wasn't paying attention to it!

So, I'm rededicating myself to weighing, measuring, eating only when I'm hungry, and being aware. I haven't been relaxing about my physical activity; why should I relax about my eating?

So, much better to get a grip now, rather than wait until New Year's and make all those resolutions then. That's part of what makes early January such a drag, so I'll do it now instead!

Wish me luck!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MORTICIAADDAMS 12/18/2009 4:25PM

Sounds like a very sensible plan. Alcohol stalls a lot of people out. It is metabolized differently and you can't burn any calories while you have any on board. That's why some low carb gurus ban it. I have been cheating a lot and paying for it. My exercise is saving me from being huge. LOL. Report Inappropriate Comment

RWETHAIRYET 12/18/2009 1:42PM

Best of luck, and you can do this! And so much better to catch it now instead of waiting. When you were talking about weightgain/winter, I was remembering my grandmother always telling me that it was much easier to lose weight in the winter. Of course, she was coming from a time when many of the "modern conveniences" didn't exist, when snow was shoveled by hand, the "transportation" had to be fed, watered and groomed, wood had to be chopped, ice had to be broken from the water supply, etc, etc. So I'm going to take it it was a little easier to remain active in temperatures that send us running for the covers. But what's really tough is how the appetite pics up. These last few days, the slightest thing sets my stomach rumbling. I left work to go to lunch today and the smell of grilled onions from the cafeteria had already set my stomach rumbling. I came back, definitely satisfied with my lunch, but then I started to get the smell of fried potatoes through the air vents (maintenance, which sits right below us is having their Holiday Gorgefest downstairs this afternoon.) I know I don't need to eat, but the smell is just about driving me bonkers!! So it is definitely the food that I'm struggling with at the moment, though so far I'm resisting the temptations, lol. On the other hand, in the summer I struggle a little more with the exercise, because of heat, but I tend to compensate by having a smaller lighter appetite. Comment edited on: 12/18/2009 1:45:51 PM Report Inappropriate Comment

ZUZUBEE 12/18/2009 1:41PM

Better to turn that ship around now when you're only 5 pounds over your summer weight - that's manageable....good luck on your renewed commitment! (I'll admit, I recently found myself in the same situation, only in my case, I'd slacked on the exercise through the fall, so I've got to get myself moving!) Report Inappropriate Comment

Brrrrr morning

Friday, December 18, 2009

I woke up ten minutes early and figured I'd just get up anyway. It hurt to get out from under those two comforters, because the house was down to 55 with a wind chill of arctic, so I nudged the heat on and turned on the bathroom heater just to weigh in au naturel. Eating with winter gusto has inched my weight up a little ... oh well.

Fed the animals, sipped some tea, and bundled up: longjohns, T shirt, sweatshirt, jeans, neckwarmer up to my eyes, hat pulled down past my eyebrows, furry coat hood up, fingers rolled up inside gloves and stuffed in my pockets. (I need mittens, I think!) And out we went for our usual mile walk.

It didn't feel like a wind chill of 9 below, but it was what it was. The few households awake were running their cars early. And Dingo, god bless him, moved as fast as a windup dog with 16 motorized legs all going like mad. I appreciated that!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

GRAMMYEAC 12/18/2009 11:20AM

DH did'nt complain complain this morning, even though our dog kept him out longer than the usual this morning. Maybe he's getting acclimated to the brisk weather! Report Inappropriate Comment

RWETHAIRYET 12/18/2009 10:38AM

Nothing like a hard cold snap to get some dogs moving on their walks, lol. One of hubby's pet sit clients are a pair of bassett hounds...they didn't waste any time on their afternoon "business run" yesterday, and generally he's moaning about how slow they are. You were definitely brave to venture out this morning...good for you. Report Inappropriate Comment

BILL60 12/18/2009 7:09AM

You're a tough person. Congratulations!! Report Inappropriate Comment