WHGRN60's SparkPeople Blog

Feeling Like A Fraud

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 20:35:24 EST

The past couple of days my eating hasn't been great. I start out fine at breakfast, but something trips me up mid-day, and that's that. Not going crazy, just off track. This is a hard week with the kids home, and being out of my regular routine. Exercise is suffereing too.

Meanwhile, in the past week, as the weather has gotten warmer (a little...) and I've traded in heavy sweaters for lighter Spring clothes, people are noticing that I've lost weight. I'm hearing a lot of "wow,...

Turbo Kick

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 21:49:04 EST

I thought I was a total klutz in Zumba? That's NOTHING!

OMG this class was hilarious! In Zumba, I just have to watch why my feet are supposed to do. In Turbo Kick, I have to watch for feet and hands! And of course, I was standing behind someone who knows exactly what to do!

Apparently, the class is totally choreographed. All classes follow the same routine, so if I go to a Turbo Kick class on a different day, or with a different instructor, it will be the same. The...

Zumba

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 20:29:00 EST

I went to a new Zumba class today. It wasn't "Zumba Gold"--for "the active older adult, or the true beginner", just regular Zumba. It was a different instructor. And I didn't like it.

For starters, it was dark in the room and very hard to see what she was doing. To make it worse, she really didn't DO any particular thing. She just danced around. It was impossible to follow her. Also, the music was horrible! Just very loud and pulsing, none of the fun Latin rhythms I usually ...

One Year Too Old!

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 20:10:03 EST

Well, I am NOT the Biggest Winner (or the Biggest Loser either!) But if I was still 49, I'd have won by a mile!

They divided us all into groups, men and women, 35 and under, 36-49, and 50 plus. The girl who won in the 36-49 only lost 17 pounds, and only had like 18 or 19 points. I lost 30 pounds and had 21.25 points. But the girl who won for over 50, who only lost 24 pounds, had 22.75 points, so I came up short.

Oh well. As I said before, even though I didn't win th...

The Biggest Winner

Sat, 2 Apr 2011 21:20:59 EST

Today was the final weigh in. I officially lost 13.24% of my body weight! And the head trainer said I had lost the most weight so far today. So there's a chance I could actually win this thing! I could use the $500 prize for more personal training sessions.

In celebration, I did exactly what I'd planned to do today. Got paint for my bathroom, ordered the tile and the light fixture, picked out towels, straightened up, vacuumed, ran to the grocery store and did my time on the el...

Am I Dead?

Fri, 1 Apr 2011 22:02:34 EST

There is a trainer at my gym who tried to kill me tonite. Seriously! I have witnesses! He tried to kill all 22 of us. Who know, I may be dead already--might have died and forgot to fall down.

I went to the "Last Chance Workout" for the biggest loser challenge at the gym. Tomorrow is the final weigh-in. So this was the last chance to burn up some calories. I think I burned up more than calories. My muscles are screaming!!!

There was a lot I couldn't do. This is s...

An "A-Ha" Moment

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:59:19 EST

Today I went out to lunch with friends. I had tried to get the menu online so I could plan ahead, but it wasn't available, so I had to "wing it". I saw what I wanted right away. A lobster salad sandwich. Yes, it was a splurge, but I love lobster, and I almost never eat it. I won't have the chance to do this again until our cruise to New England and Canada this summer. So I ordered it.

It came with coleslaw (eh, whatever) and a pickle (YUCK!!). And homemade potato chips. (Yu...

WHAT A Day!!!

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 22:48:07 EST

I had my day all planned out. Get up, eat breakfast, do 30 minutes on the elliptical, shower, and run a whole bunch of errands, and then chill until time to leave for a birthday party this evening.

I got as far as breakfast.

Before I got on the elliptical, my daughter asked me to straighten her hair. OK, so I did. All the while, she's complaining, irritable, saying how hot she is, can't she wear a Tshirt instead of the sweater she has on, etc. Then, as I finished, s...

Growing Pains

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 20:14:21 EST

My son is 14. But he's tiny, so he looks about 10. I always say he's 14 going on 40--he's like a little old soul.

Today he came home from school and proudly presented me with an application for working papers. What?!?!? You can't get a job--you're a little boy! But some of his friends have jobs, and his guidance counselor told him of a few places that will hire you at 14.

"Please Mom, can we go to Foodtown so I can apply for a job?" So after dinner, we went. We as...

Back in ONEderland!

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 19:53:49 EST

I've been working really hard for the past 6 weeks to get my weight back down under 200. I am not happy with the fact that this was even necessary, but my "vacation" from SparkPeople was a bit too long and too "free", and so there I was.

So after a plateau lasting 2 weeks plus (which is unusual for me), I FINALLY got there this mornng! WooooHoooo!!!

Hopefully, I will now be a permanent resident of ONEderland. "Vacations" are nice, but there's no place like home!

The Perils of Overtraining

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 16:23:30 EST

Well, I've learned something new this week. And that is, that 3 strength classes plus 2 sessions with my trainer is TOO MUCH!

Well, duh! Everyone tells you to strength train 2-3 times weekly, with at least a day's rest in between. So what do I do? 3 classes and a training session in 3 days! I am so sore, I can't even walk normally--I'm hobbling around like an old woman. (Oh, wait...)

Needless to say, I won't make this mistake again. One strength class on Wednesday...

Gastric Bypass (Warning--RANT!!)

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:33:47 EST

Someone on one of my Spark Teams commented about a person who had Gastric Bypass and was eating chips and popcorn. That prompted a response from me, which turned into a rant, so I made it into a blog.

I know someone who had gastric bypass and stopped at Sonic for a jumbo burger on her way home from the hospital!!! Why bother having the surgery? I know many people who gained back all their weight, which is really sad. That said, it's not brain surgery. The desire to eat doesn't...

Making It Work

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:02:19 EST

Today I had a very special lunch meeting to go to, where I was inducted into an organization, along with 2 other women. I never know what will be served at these meetings, so I made a decision awhile back that I would do the best I could with what was served. The menu today was garlic bread and lasagna. Not the healthiest choices, but not too bad.

I picked up a small piece of bread, thinking it was just plain Italian bread. Wrong, it had the yummy garlic and butter topping. ...

Cutting the Apron Strings (Just A Little...)

Wed, 9 Mar 2011 22:32:45 EST

I've really been agonizing over my kids' eating habits. They don't make healthy choices, they've both put on a good deal of weight, their cholesterol and triglycerides are high. I don't want them to grow up and face what I've dealt with all my life.

But I also can't be a control freak. I do NOT want my kids to have an unhealthy relationship with food, especially one caused by me! And at 14 and 15, they have to take at least SOME responsibility for their health and their food ch...

You Can Lead A Horse To Water...

Sun, 6 Mar 2011 20:41:54 EST

You know the old saying. Well, it's true about kids and eating right too! I'm really trying to get my kids to eat better, even at home, where it's been pretty good all along, but needs some tweaking.

Last night they were with their father for dinner. So what does my daughter eat? Cheesy wings, and a banana split!!! 18

Tonite, I made a nice pot of chicken and barley soup. It was yummy. OK, needed salt (I don't cook with salt--you have to add it when you ea...

Another Generation?

Tue, 1 Mar 2011 20:11:37 EST

I've noticed lately that my 14 year old son has been putting on weight. I know his new medication can cause weight gain. Last night he got on the scale and he's gained SIXTEEN pounds since December! And he only started at 73, so that's a LOT of weight! Everyone is telling me that boys go through a "chubby stage" just before they start puberty. I hope and pray that's true!

Meanwhile, my 4'10" 15 year old daughter has been packing on her own pounds. Only about 5 or 6, but still...

Branching Out

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 13:50:51 EST

As part of the "Biggest Winner" challenge at my gym, we have to take 3 different types of classes each week. After talking to my friend, who has taken almost every class offered, I got some good recommendations of what classes I should try. All I can say is, "who knew?"

On Saturday I did "Gentle Tone". Well, it wasn't gentle, but it was fun. I could do most of the stuff they did, and I know I'll improve over time. Add that one to the list.

On Monday I did a Zumba cl...

WHAT?!?!?!?

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 21:15:36 EST

I just checked our weather forecast, and we are expecting 2-4 inches of snow and sleet overnight tonite! What? Where the heck did THAT come from?

This could seriously mess with my fitness plans for tomorrow. I am scheduled to meet with my trainer at 8:30, and then return to the gym late morning for a Zumba class. Yes, I can just do my elliptical here at home, but I NEED that class this week!

Please, please, may this be one of the many times the weatherman is WAY off ...

Where There's A Will, There's A Way!

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 17:58:48 EST

I have guests for dinner tonite, and wanted to make my mom's wonderful Spaghetti Pie. But the recipe isn't exactly figure friendly. I was having trouble fitting it into my food plan for the day. And then I thought--"I can adjust the recipe!"

So I decreased the amount of cheese, and the number of eggs. I used less meat. I changed the sauce a bit. And voila! A much better version that fits nicely into my day.

Think I'll go post it on Spark Recipes...

Always, Always Have A "Plan B"

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 20:07:52 EST

I had a lunch meeting today, and had no idea what would be served. I thought about bringing my own, but decided "this is real life", so I opted to go with whatever was served, in a reasonable amount, making the best possible choices from what is available.

Ugh! A casserole of chicken with cream of mushroom soup, topped with packaged stuffing. A jello salad. Mini cranberry muffins. Plus a whole bunch of desserts. So I had a small portion of the casserole and the jello salad, o...

Pulling My Hair Out

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 21:52:39 EST

It's been a day from hell. Work sucked, home was worse. All I wanted to do was eat chocolate. Or run away from home...)

But I didn't do it. I ate the dinner I'd planned, ate the snack I'd planned, and now I'm headed to bed a bit early.

I may lose my sanity (and my hair!), but I'll be damned if I'm blowing my program over it!

My "Vacation" Is Over

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 17:58:00 EST

After a LONG 'vacation' from my program, I realized it was time to get my butt in gear and go back to my healthy habits. How did I know. Well, first my "fat pants" didn't fit, so I bought "fatter pants", and now THOSE are tight. Ugh. So Tuesday night, I decided to bite the bullet and step on the scale. I knew it was going to be ugly, but it was even worse than I thought. I have a LOT of undoing ahead of me.

The good thing is that my gym is doing another "Biggest Loser" thing...

NOT The News I Was Expecting

Fri, 9 Jul 2010 21:57:09 EST

I went to see the kidney doctor today. A routine follow-up visit. I'd seen him in May after my lab work from my annual physical was a bit off kilter. Nothing big, nothing expected. Check the labs (which the nurse had told me 6 weeks ago were normal except for a slight elevation in my Creatinine). Get his blessing and see him in a year. (And that was only because my dad is in end stage renal failure, on dialysis and waiting for a kidney transplant, so my risk is higher than usual)
...

OK, It's the Fluff Blog--just Random Facts About Me

Thu, 1 Jul 2010 23:21:41 EST

Random Facts About Me

A - Age: 49—I’ll be 50 in October!

B - Bed size: King (my dog takes up a lot of room!)

C - Chore you hate: planning dinner

D - Dog's name: Duke

E - Essential start your day item: the bathroom!

F - Favorite color: red

G - Gold or Silver: Silver (which is funny, because for 45 years it was gold!)

H - Height: 5'4”

I - Instruments you play: Played piano y...

I Had Quite A Day Today

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 22:39:13 EST

've had quite a day.

First, I get to the gym early, set up all my equipment for my fitball class, and went to do the elliptical. Came back just as class was starting, and someone had taken my things! So I had to hunt down equipment from other rooms, find a spot in the room, etc. I was not amused.

Then, I noted a "weak soreness" in my left upper hip as I was sitting on the ball. I've felt this before, so didn't worry; I did the first few exercises and realized it wa...

The Biggest Loser Challenge--The Results

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 20:37:17 EST

I am NOT the Biggest Loser. but that's ok, because I really didn't expect to be. The winners all lost over 10% of their body weight (WOW!) and had tons of points. The guy who won lost 38 pounds!

I signed up for this challenge because I needed a kick-start. The old habits had returned and I needed to get back on track. I set a goal to lose 15 pounds. I surpassed that goal.

So no, I'm not the biggest loser. But I just might be the biggest winner!

Biggest Loser Weigh-In and An "Off" Day From Exercise

Sat, 19 Jun 2010 18:22:27 EST

I got up this morning and hopped on the scale. Woohoo! Down almost 15 pounds since May 3. But I knew I had, um, a little extra weight still in me, so I went out and played around on Facebook until I felt the urge to, um, get rid of that extra. (trying not to be too graphic here!) So, I got back on the scale and WOW!!!!!! The official weight on my home scale is down 15.4 pounds. My goal was to lose 15 and I did it!!

So, I put on my shorts and a tank top and my sandals and hea...

My Biggest Loser Triathalon, Day 3

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 20:39:10 EST

It's done! I can't believe I actually did a triathalon--albeit a modified one.

I got to the gym this morning with a plan to do 30 minutes on the elliptical and then an hour with my trainer, and to come back this afternoon for the spin class and the 15 mile ride.

It didn't work out that way.

I saw the trainer who does the spin class, and asked her how crowded the class usually is. I planned to come in early to be sure I didn't get closed out of this class tha...

What Other People Think

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 22:07:34 EST

I really thought it didn't matter to me anymore. If someone doesn't like me, oh well. The only opinions that mattered were people I care about.

WRONG!!! The fallacy of that belief hit me upside the head today.

Just yesterday I'd been glowing with the compliments and congratulations I've been getting from people at the gym for doing this triathalon. Plus, lots of nice comments about how great I look. Hey, a little encouragement is a good thing, right.

Well...

My Biggest Loser Triathalon, Day 2

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 11:00:30 EST

Today was the day I was dreading. I am NOT a swimmer. I've got a pretty decent doggie paddle thing going, but that's it. Plus, I'm SLOW. Add to that the fact that the last time I swam 50 laps was in college, over 30 years ago....well, you can imagine.

Fortunately, the day started out alot better than yesterday. No weigh-in today. Plenty of oatmeal to make my full breakfast. The kids even behaved reasonably well. I put on my bathing suit, capris, and an old T-shirt with the ...

My Biggest Loser Triathalon, Day 1

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:24:05 EST

The day did not begin well.

I hopped on the scale to find I have GAINED 2.5 pounds since Friday. HUH? I mean, I know I ate some cookies yesterday, but come on!!! Gave myself some positive self talk and kept going.

I went to make breakfast, and was nearly out of oatmeal. As in, I only had 1/4 cup and I needed 1/2 cup. I almost bought some last week, but I just KNEW I had 2 more boxes at home. Wrong. So I only had 1/2 of my usual serving. Not great on a high activi...

The Curse of the Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 21:54:23 EST

My mom makes the world's best chocolate chip cookies. Seriously. They are famous all over the world! Spain, Turkey, Finland, Croatia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea, Kosovo--you name it. And those cookies are responsible for more than a few of the extra pounds I was carrying around for so many years.

Today my mom baked cookies in celebration of my daughter's swimming success at the Summer Olympics this weekend. I grabbed a quick bite of the dough (the best part!) and told myself tha...

Life Happens

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 18:16:45 EST

And it's happening big time this weekend! My daughter is swimming in the NJ Special Olympics Summer Games (Go Marlins!!), so I'm spending the weekend at my parents (they live 5 minutes from the site of the games). In addition, I'm eating meals away from home (lunches) and prepared differently than my usual fare (dinners).

Today for lunch they had burgers and dogs. Yuck. My daughter didn't even want any! She begged me to bring her a sandwich. So I got one for myself too. Pull...

I Do Believe I've Lost My Mind

Fri, 4 Jun 2010 16:37:43 EST

Completely. Totally bonkers. Whacko! Yup, that's me!

I have signed up for a triathalon. Not a real one, mind you, I'm nowhere NEAR that level. But it's a thing at my gym, as part of the Biggest Loser Challenge. We have to cycle 15 miles, walk 8 miles on the treadmill, and swim 50 laps in the pool. We have a week to do it all, but each segment has to be done in ONE DAY! OK, the 15 mile ride is what I do in a normal 1 hour cycle class, so that's no problem. 8 miles on the tr...

It Really DOES Make A Difference!

Tue, 1 Jun 2010 21:26:27 EST

I've been eating properly for quite awhile now. I've stayed away from dairy, wheat, and eggs due to food sensitivities. Because of this, my seasonal allergies have been much better than usual, despite the horrible year for allergies that everyone else is moaning about. I've been feeling really good about this.

Tonite I went to a dinner that was prepared by my daughter and her teen chef classmates. I knew in advance that the menu contained all of my sensitive foods, but chose t...

Listening To My Boday

Mon, 24 May 2010 17:05:30 EST

My body has been talking to me lately. Alot. I ignored it for awhile, but finally realized I needed to listen to what it was trying to tell me. And in doing so, I've learned some rather interesting things:

I can do more than I think I can. Whether it's an untried Pilates move, a cycle class, or just keeping on walking, I continue to be pleasantly surprised by what my body can do. So I should try before I say "I can't do that!"

Just because it's on the menu plan for ...

Random Thoughts

Thu, 13 May 2010 19:46:19 EST

On Friday, my BFF turned 50. That means I only have about 5 months to go. We went out to dinner with a mutual friend who I haven't seen in years. It's hard to believe that it was 40 years ago that we were the 3 little girls on bicycles riding around the neighborhood. Where have the years gone?

I got a salad spinner for Mothers' Day. Who knew a little thing like that could get me so excited? I love it! Makes salad making SO much easier.

Monday I took a Zumba Gold c...

What's WRONG With These People???

Mon, 3 May 2010 16:53:21 EST

OK, I just want to know one thing. Who is the sadistic creep who invented the bicycle seats for the Spin class I took this morning????

The instructor is a friend of mine from church, and she's been after me for over a year to take her class. I promised I would get there someday. Today is someday.

I've signed up for the Biggest Loser challenge at my gym. I desperately need the incentive and motivation to get my big butt in gear and back on track. One of the things yo...

My Legs

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 17:30:35 EST

This was written in response to a DailySpark blog that really hit me.

Thank you SO much for that wonderful poem! I really needed to hear that today.

Maxing out at 486 pounds, I know all too well what you experienced. People can be beyond cruel, and they seem to think that just because you're fat means you can't hear either, or have no feelings.

"Oh my God, look how fat that girl is, and look at how much she's eating"
"Good grief, look how fat she is! I...

Taking the Bull By the Horns

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:08:58 EST

As I sat here yesterday, looking at the huge quantity of snow outside and lamenting the fact that I couldn't get to the gym. I really did not feel like another battle with the Wii Fit, so I spent the time cleaning out a closet that desperately needed it. Probably a better workout than the Wii anyway...

So, I got to thinking, "Damn, I really wish I had an Elliptical here at home!" I've often said if I ever owned another fitness machine, it would be an Elliptical. But where would...

Another Blizzard...UGH!

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:38:20 EST

For the second time in a week, we are getting slammed with a snowstorm. 16 inches over the weekend, and this time we are forecast to get 16-22 more. Right now it's coming down hard and fast.

Heavy snow means I get stuck at home. Now, this is not completely a bad thing (although my kids are known to drive me crazy on snow days). But stuck at home means no going to the gym. And that IS a bad thing.

On Saturday, I made do with 30 minutes of Wii Fit. Not bad, but it pa...

My Battle With the Wii Fit

Sat, 6 Feb 2010 22:15:52 EST

Since we were in the middle of a major snowstorm today, I was unable to get to the gym. So I decided to get on the Wii Fit for the first time in ages. It was fun doing the different exercises again. Admittedly, I'm a little rusty after all this time.

But that stupid machine told me I'm obese! Hello? I have 26% body fat--that is NOT obese! Not only that, it says my body age is 59. Which is 10 years older than I actually am. Now, I'm in pretty decent shape, so I find this har...

What on EARTH is Going On Here??

Fri, 5 Feb 2010 19:56:26 EST

My food has been perfect. Only one very minor "cheat" (an extra 1/4 cup of granola one night last week, dutifully logged, BTW) in 4 weeks. I've been right around 1600 calories daily, with the proper mix of protein, carbs and fats. My sodium intake has been fine. I've been at the gym 5 days a week, doing cardio and strength training. I'm drinking water like a fish.

So WHY is the scale UP 3 pounds???

It's not TOM--I'm long done with that. I don't seem to be retaining...

The Amazing Adventures of Duke, the (Stevie) Wonder Dog

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 12:45:25 EST

Early this month, I noticed that my dog was having a hard time finding toys when I threw them, and was bumping into furniture. When he missed the chair he was jumping on and fell on the floor instead, I called the vet. Diagnosis--SARDS. Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome. Quite simply, he's blind. It happened in a matter of days. One weekend he could see, the next weekend he could not.

In the past 3 weeks, I have watched my little guy adapt to his newly dark world....

Random Thoughts About Food

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:17:25 EST

The sodium level in restaurant food is incredible. I had lunch at PF Changs today, and for a 1/2 order of a Chicken with Almonds & Cashews Lunch Bowl, there were 2085 mg of sodium! That's nearly an entire day's worth. I usually don't come close to that on a given day. I wonder what affect it will have on the scale tomorrow.

Sometimes I feel like I just have too much food to eat. I had my snack late, and even with waiting 3 hours to have dinner, I wasn't hungry. I tried to eat...

One Week Down, A Lifetime to Go

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:49:29 EST

It's been a week since I returned to SparkPeople and my healthy eating plan. I've lost 6 pounds, and I feel SO much better! I went to the gym twice last week and rode the bike a little, and did some elliptical. It went pretty well, so I am going to add the gym into my routine, and increase it slowly to my tolerance. Hopefully I can get back to my trainer in about a month.

I'm reading The Spark and enjoying it. I laughed out loud when I came to the part about your tastes changi...

Back In The Saddle Again

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:21:35 EST

So, I've spent the last 3-4 months eating my way into a 16 pound weight gain. Eating all the things I know are not good for me. And loving every minute of it.

But along the way, I noticed (NOT for the first time) that as much as I enjoyed eating those foods, I didn't much care for the way they made me FEEL. Tired, headachy, bloated, nauseous. It wasn't pretty. Oh, and did I mention my pants didn't fit? I even had to buy new jeans, a size bigger.

Now, I have a valid...

Hello Again!

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:20:30 EST

Wow, it's been 2 months since I wrote last! Alot has happened in that time.

I went to Scotland and had a FABULOUS time. I also ate my way around the country. But I did alot of walking, so I only ended up gaining a few pounds, which I was fine with. I came home, gave myself 2 days to get over the jet lag, and climbed back on the food wagon. That lasted exactly 3 days.

Then my Dad had a heart attack, and I spent the next 10 days running between my parents' house and t...

"I Didn't Recognize You!"

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:33:55 EST

I've been hearing that alot lately. I have seen several people in the past couple weeks who I haven't seen in years. And the response is always the same. "Oh my gosh, I didn't even recognize you!"

How do I respond to that??? "Thank you" comes to mind, but seems a bit presumptious. I usually just give a little laugh and stand there feeling stupid. I USED to say "I don't recognize myself half the time either!", but that really isn't true anymore, as I've gotten used to the "new...

Doing What Comes Naturally

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:58:44 EST

For the past several weeks I have noticed my eating getting more and more sloppy. Candy and lemonade were becoming daily visitors to my tummy. I was frequently in a "baking mood", making cookies, brownies, pies, even a cake. And, of course, eating them. But other than gaining back the few pounds I lost after surgery (which admittedly put me too low), I am still here, in my maintenance range, just hanging out.

I feel like I've gotten a "get out of fat free" card or something. I...