Happy Thanksgiving

Well, I'm officially two weeks in now and I've lost 8.5lbs along with several inches here and there that I'm super thankful to see go! And today is my first 'Splurge Meal' day--for Thanksgiving! Perfect timing. I've already logged all the calories I intend to eat and the count is only slightly higher than the normal daily allowance--totaling out just under 1600 calories for the day, so feeling good about my choices. I'm splurging on a turkey leg (my favorite), a (as in one, single, not plural) Lime-a-Rita, and a little slice of my hubby's Bacon Bourbon Apple pie he baked up last night:

Gorgeous, right?

And don't forget a good dollop of whipped cream!! Passing on the stuffing and potatoes and gravy, piling on the asparagus and Brussels sprouts--mm mm mmm! It's gonna be oh so good!!

Sadly, the Turkey Row has been cancelled for this morning--still too windy and feels like twenty degrees. *Sigh*...I might just have to steal down to the dock for a little bit anyway to watch the waves, breathe in the salt air, and see if I can spy any Thanksgiving seals...I just might do that...Signed up for Sunday's open row--crossing the fingers and toes we make it out!! Need.To.Row!!

Ah...remember our Thanksgiving Tree? Here it is all filled up with thanks:

I'm reading Ann's Greatest Gift for Advent and have all the ornaments ready for our Jesse tree next...

So--thank you as always for stopping by to visit. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a happy holiday season ahead!

And Another One Gone

I so wasn't expecting to drop another pound this morning since I rather took the day off...Unexpected rain showers deterred my leaf raking cardio plans and I just couldn't get up the gumption to pound it out on the treadmill. So off I went for a little more semi-successful Christmas shopping (hubby is proving to be somewhat challenging this year--one elusive item I can't seem to find--grrrr) and then home to a few chores and catching up on the DVR (Project Runway--really?? Jeffrey won??? He so should've gone home like three weeks ago and that jacket was UGH-LEE!! Sorry...just my opinion. And Grey's--which has seriously become so patronizing and pathetic this season. Dangerously close to calling it quits...Bah.) I stuck to my food plan and I was actually *hungry*-ish yesterday...I could've slipped, could've nibbled...fortunately there's nothing really slip worthy in the house--hallelujah, my saving grace! Still, I would've expected that scale to read the same as yesterday so was really very happy to see it go down--again!! Yay! Marching on to another day!

And I'm finally getting back out on the water this morning--I've had crazy withdrawal all week long! Then an email came saying there were four vacant seats yet for the open row--which meant I was the only one signed up, which meant if they didn't fill it the row would be cancelled, and I anxiously waited all day for the cancellation call--but it never came and I be outta here in just a bit to hit the bay!! Hallelujah once more!! Off to see my seal babies!!

I did manage to get a little creative yesterday--another horse I've sort of fallen off of with all the holiday hullaballoo and hustle. My brain has just been elsewhere and time hasn't been my friend--just gone and November has zipped by in blurred blink (Thanksgiving is THURSDAY!!) But I wanted a couple Christmas-y bookmarks and none were to be found at my beloved Barnes and Noble, so, alas, I made a couple!

Just simple and cute, a little Sharpie, a little Derwent Inktense, a little bright 'n happy for my Christmas collection on the nightstand...shazah!!

Delight of the Day!

I did say I was a little hungry-ish yesterday...I've been skipping Bob's "Midmorning Power Boosts" since it usually takes me most of the morning to finish my breakfast items. No, I'm not that slow of an eater, I just typically don't have time to eat everything we're supposed to eat before I have to either go workout or shower or get Bug to the bus, so I split my breakfast up through the morning--which also really helps with managing hunger early in the day. Yesterday's breakfast, though, was a veggie omelet and half a cup of blueberries. Ate the omelet--yum--then had these blueberries just hanging around...I'm not a big fan of eating plain old blueberries by themselves. Squishy. Squirty. Neh. Sitting there in a basket on the counter were three rapidly ripening bananas threatening to be made into bread (another *neh* for Skinny Rules) so the brain got to thinking...blueberries and banana smoothie would make a nice midmorning power boost, still in calorie range since all I was adding to the day (which, truth be told was way under calories to begin with...fine since I wasn't out cardio-ing anything) was a small banana and a cup of Silk...So, plop, plop, zip, whirl, blendify those berries, banana and vanilla Silk--oh.my.heavenly.goodness!! Utter deliciousness!! That's definitely staying on the midmorning menu options for now and evermore!

All rightee...it's time to get moving here. Happy Saturday! Happy approaching holiday!! Happy Skinniness!

One Week Down

Well, technically, it's been a little over a week-just a day over- but, I'm holding steady with sticking to the plan. I'm drinking all my water every day, only eating what I'm supposed to be eating--with one exception yesterday--a good exception and well within my calories and restrictions for the day. I woke up with horrible cramps and just felt like crud. Typically on a day like that I would go running for the comfort food and stuff myself full of sympathetic sugary sabotage. But I stuck to my guns: no Dunkin' lattes, no creamy chocolate Caramellos. I still did my strength workout then made it home from the grocery store with bags overflowing with veggies and a beautiful package of pre-peeled and cut butternut squash--I so knew what I was gonna do! I had a quart of veggie stock in the cupboard, sautéed a little onion, a little garlic, poured in the stock and plopped in the squash, simmer, simmer, simmer 'til it was all soft deliciousness, gave it a good zip and a whirl with the immersion blender, and poured myself a nice big cup of butternut squash soup. Not only was it thick and sweet and as creamy, comforting as any cup of cocoa, it was so pretty--that beautiful golden squash sunshine in a mug! And I divvied up the remainder into three more (large) servings (it's squash and broth--the servings can be large!) and stashed them in the freezer for future gloomy days of cramps or aches or PMS hormone rages:

Isn't it pretty?

So yummy and good...and I'm down another half pound this morning--five and a half all together so far. Not bad for a first week! I'm just really missing rowing--tomorrow, tomorrow...Today I'll be out raking and mulching the leaves I had intended to do yesterday until monthly misery descended and sucked the life out of my day...bah...

I am certainly looking forward to my first splurge meal coming up on Thanksgiving, though I plan to not crazy overdo it. A little turkey, a little sweet potato, a pile of Brussels sprouts, and a little slice of pie will do nicely--mm, mm, yum!! Anything but salad--haha!!

And here is a better pic of my Boo Baby wishing you all a happy, skinny weekend! Thanks for peekin' in!

A Whole Lotta Food

Yesterday was craziness--in a good way, just super crazy busy. One of those non-stop days with a hundred things to do and you actually get them all done because you don't stop...Got my strength workout done bright and early before we had to head to the bus stop, then whisked off to Dartmouth for another round of Christmas shopping--oh the lovelies I found! Came home and wrapped, wrapped, wrapped and stashed everything all away. And as much as I've gotten done Christmas-wise already, it's hard to believe I still have four more full weeks of shopping, baking, and decorating to tackle yet...I don't know how the last minute folks do it all and not lose their minds...

But, down another pound this morning--yay!! I have to say there is an insane amount of food to eat every day to the point that I just can't eat it all. I'm so full at the end of the day, I have to stop. What a fantastic change that is! No more cravings or temptations to dig through the pantry for something salty, crunchy, sweet, or simply time-passing (I'm a big boredom eater...) I'm too full!! There's also a lot of prep work that goes in to the week that Bob suggests getting it all done and out of the way Sunday night--which I suppose would be better for those who have to be out and gone into the world every day with no other time for all this prep work--but! There's eggs to boil (about a dozen), chicken breasts and vegetables to roast (a ton), turkey meatballs to cook, and filling the fridge full of healthy fruits and veggies to chow on. I've spread that all out over a few days (though I could make another veggie run...maybe tomorrow...?)

The turkey meatballs were like working with the pink slime that was all the hot controversy a couple years ago:

Ewww--stuck to everything!!

Cookin' 'em up!

But I can tell you they're pretty tasty and next time I'll be sure to mix and measure it all with spoons rather than my hands (blech!)

This was my roasted veggie omelet yesterday morning (so yum!):

You eat a LOT of veggies, roasted and otherwise with Bob's Skinny Rules!

Sadly today and Friday's rows have been cancelled--not enough (crazy enough to be out on the water in 26 degrees) rowers--but, there's still Saturday's open row and the possibility of subbing Sunday and/or Monday, and I've signed up for the Thanksgiving Turkey Row--which it could be SNOWING!!!! So thinking today I'll bike it after McBugga gets off to school, see what remnants of leaves are fighting to hang on the neighborhood trees yet...

And just a couple quick puppy pics!!

I wish this turned out clearer--Boo baby enjoying the crisp, cool weather

Tuck all smashed up against the sliding door, soaking up sunshine

I had a shot of Pea sunbathing as well, but she's so white and the sun was so bright, she looked like a giant glare...ah, Pea baby...Who is pestering me for breakfast, so I'ma skedaddle! Happy Wednesday all!

It's All in the Details

I think perhaps a little clarification may be on hand-if just to soothe my own sorry mind. I mentioned that my weight had reached an all time high. True. However, I am actually still thinner *somehow* than the last time I was close to this weight. Then I was busting out of my 14's but now I'm still as one can comfortably be in my 12's (which is still two sizes bigger than I'd like to be). The top of me (I measured this morning), though wider than I was in 2009 (the last time I'd measured) still is well in the 'medium' range. Boobs I shall never have. Ever. But that's really quite fine, I like less loose things flopping flabbily around. The bottom is, and always has been, my downfall. Most likely always shall be. *Sigh*

So, yes, I measured today. Got out the handy dandy tape measure and jotted down the cold hard facts. It's not the prettiest picture. But that's why we're here, right? If it was pretty, I'd be blogging about something else altogether. Oh, and I also found out that I fit into neither shape category of the traditional pear or apple--I am, in fact, an avocado. Didn't even know that category existed until this morning (the things I am learning on Spark People with their Waist/Hip Ratio Calculator) It's all thanks to this little belly pudge thing that's happened of late due to middle agedness and pre-menopause--are we really at that stage of life?? And, when I say 'we' I totally mean I am taking ya'll down with me 'cuz misery loves its company, my friends, and no one wants to walk this road alone...

Today is looking like a rest day. I was asked to row and, although it is a balmy sixty degrees right now, the winds are picking up and thunderstorms loom in the forecast, I doubt any whale boats will be leaving the dock this morning. Just as well--I need to head to the grocery store to stock up on a few delicious delights Bob suggests for a properly prepared pantry and fridge. I hard boiled a bunch of eggs and whipped up a batch of homemade hummus yesterday. Today I'll be roasting chicken breasts and cooking off some turkey meatballs. I'm trying to eat my Greek yogurt this morning but it's frozen solid...Lunch is Bob's Cobb Salad and dinner will be vegan greens 'n beans. Mmmm, good! I can always take the Tuckster for a walk once the weather clears up later this afternoon to burn a few more calories as well.

So, happy Monday, all--let's make it great!

And We Begin

Losing weight over the holidays. Insane, right? But when you get sick of looking at yourself getting softer and rounder and lumpier week after week, then step on the scale to see an all time high number, the world cracks. You have to do something--enough is enough.

So, I discovered Bob Harper's book, The Skinny Rules while perusing my favorite go-to weight loss site, Spark People--really, the only plan that's ever worked for me to lose weight is hanging out on Spark People! Bob's book (in case you live under a rock, this is Bob of Biggest Loser fame--fab trainer extraordinaire? 'Kay? 'Kay.) Anyway--his book lays out in detail twenty simple rules for eating right, losing the weight, and keeping it off. Simple, right? Plus he's got a month of menu plans and an entire section of new recipes to play with--so golden.

I've been trying to drop the weight myself with old routines that worked a few years ago and nothing's happened. Well, something's happened-I've gotten fatter. It's so hard to stay motivated when you don't see any results which leads to fudging and slipping and gaining--so vicious. So downright awful. Stuff some more crap down the craw...*sigh*...

But! (Cue the Hallelujah Chorus....) I'm four days in and four pounds down! I've not been hungry. I've not been tempted to splurge. I have caboodles of energy. It has helped that I've been out rowing almost every day this past week, then stepping out for a walk with my Tucker when I get home from the water--he's totally my champion companion! But I'm full, I'm happy--I'm really happy seeing the numbers finally going DOWN!!!!

Bob's plan allows for one splurge meal a week, but not for the first two weeks--gotta get your head right in the game first. Fortunately my first splurge meal will fall on Thanksgiving (again, Chorus) so I'm not so nervous about that. I have a long road ahead...I know those pounds won't keep dropping as quickly and effortlessly as they do in the beginning...but, I've got the plan. I've set my goals. I'm ready to begin...Let's get Skinny!!