Lena’s Journey

Did anyone else read the post by healthnut (I think that’s her id) on the McDonald’s fries?  She had a link to a video that showed the breakdown (or lack thereof) of the fries over an 8 week period.  If you didn’t see it, you should.  I was shocked.  I’ll never eat those fries again!  Of course, you all might have already seen it and I’m just a little behind… but still.  It was eye-opening.

I didn’t have a good day yesterday.  I struggled all day long with cravings and finally broke around 7pm last night.  I went to Taco Bell.  I know, I know… I’m bad and it shows my lack of self-control.  I got two chicken soft tacos and a diet coke.  Which is good for me, as I usually get 2 taco supremes (beef), a meximelt and a 7 layer burrito and a regular coke or dr. pepper.  So maybe when I weigh tomorrow it won’t be so bad.  I feel MUCH better today.  Maybe I should allow myself an off day each week… what do y’all think?  If I have a certain day of the week to look forward to, it might help with the self-control. 

Yesterday I took Corey & Tigger to the vet for their annual check-ups and shots.  Neither of them like going - they think it’s the worst thing ever and you’d think I was sending them to their death.  They shake and pant and whine.  Mean man in the white coat!  Pokes and prods and takes blood and gives shots and sticks that THING up their butts.  What wimps!  I mean, I told them it’s not as bad as an OB/GYN exam, but they didn’t believe me.  They both got a lyme disease vaccine because I’ve been hearing of some outbreaks in dogs in E. Tx.  Since we’re in E. Tx at least twice a month if not more, I figured it would be good to get them vaccinated.  It was expensive!  $27.00 for each vaccine.  I ended up spending a grand total of $301.00 yesterday for both dogs’ exams, vaccinations and 6 months each of heartworm preventative (and it’s the generic heartwormer!).  However, I know it’s always around that price, so I plan for it.  My dogs are worth it!

I’ve done good so far today and the craving monster seems to have gone back into hiding.  This morning I had some Healthy Heart cereal with a banana and two cups of coffee.  It really filled me up.  I’m going to have a lean cuisine for lunch and probably one for dinner - or I might go get some chicken breasts and grill one along with some fresh veggies.

I hope you guys are all having a great weekend!

I’m a chocolate person.  Not a fruity person.  Until 2 weeks ago, that is.  I have always craved chocolate - the darker the better.  Now the studies are out that dark chocolate is actually good for me.  (But in what quantities - that’s the key, right?).  So while shopping for my next two weeks of food, I went seeking some low-fat desserts.  I found a great variety of Weight Watchers ice cream and popsicles and fudge bars, etc.  They’re excellent!  But I also came across PhillySwirl italian ice.  OMG!  YUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!! 

And only 88 calories and no fat!  I’m having one right now that tastes like orange and cherry sherbet.  It’s downright tasty too!  It all started a few weeks ago when I experienced my first slush from sonic.  I wanted something to cool me off and didn’t want a shake, so I opted for a slush - no fat (unless you get cream in it).  I got a grape slush - small.  It was perfect.  Now I’m like addicted to anything icey and fruity.  Better for me than chocolate.  These italian ices have to be eaten slow too - you can’t just dig in like you would a bowl of ice cream.  You kinda have to “scrape” the top and sides with your spoon - so they last longer!  And they are definitely satisfying my ice cream/snacking craving. 

So, I’m down 14lbs now!  I’m so excited… I know it’s not a lot of weight yet, but I’m definitely on the right track.  I’m feeling more energy and some of my shirts are fitting looser.  I haven’t been exercising regularly, but plan to start a regular regimine (sp?) this next week.  I even had the Sears guy come out and lube up the treadmill.  He was HOT too.  <drool> 

Tigger is sitting here staring at my italian ice.  I wonder if it would turn her tongue orangey/red too?  lol!  She definitely doesn’t need to be on a diet - has a metabolism that’s always on high speed - even when she sleeps. 

Work has been a little stressful this week.  I’ve been working on a big project and I managed to finish it 5 days ahead of schedule.  My supervisor praised me on what a good job I did and how wonderful I am and all that.  But HER boss’s FIRST freakin’ question after we told her that phase 1 was complete was “when will phase 2 be complete?”.  No words of admiration from her, no ma’am… a “thanks Lena, I appreciate the hard work, the extra hours, the attention to detail” would’ve been nice, but alas, I’ll never get that kind of feedback from her.  I wanted to say some nasty things, but I held my tongue.  Fortunately, I have a wonderful supervisor and she makes up for most of the bad behavior of “upper management”.  I thank God for her every day.  She gives me great bonuses and frequently let’s me leave early when I’ve had a particularly stressful day.  Not tooting my own horn here, but I’m a very hard worker and at least she realizes it.  Sorry for whiney Lena.  (My alter-ego.    She comes out when Aunt Flo visits each month - I try to keep her in a closet, but it’s virtually impossible!)

 Anyway, I’m gonna go take the dogs for a walk.  I hope everyone’s having a great week so far!

 In response to Veronica’s question about the sugar and carbs in the PhillySwirls… Carbs: 21g, Sugar: 18g.  Not good for the low carb folks.  Sorry!!

I’m so freakin’ tired today…. it’s the PMS.  Don’t y’all just LOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEE PMS?  It does such nifty things to our bodies and our minds.  I’m so bloated and my face is icky and it’s just gross.  However, I did VERY well this weekend!  I stayed busy and stayed out of the kitchen!  I don’t have much to write today because I’m in a really really pms’y mood.  I hope everyone is having a good Monday.  Stay strong!!!

It’s another Saturday morning and here I sit wondering what I’ll have for breakfast.  I’m thinking a banana and some toast and coffee.  I haven’t blogged much this week at all.   Work has kept me incredibly busy - I go to the office during the day, then come home and work until I pass out from exhaustion.  I have big projects going on right now, but I hope to have them finished by this coming Wednesday.   I love my job!

I have done very well this week with eating healthy.   I’m pms’ing, so it’s been a small struggle not to binge, but not as bad as I’ve experienced in the past.  I’ve been practicing self-talk.  When I run to the fridge for something to eat or snack on, I’ve been making myself stop and ask “am I hungry or is there another reason I’m doing this?”  If my answer is “just because”, I walk away from it and then the urge passes in about 10 mins.  I have habits with my food addition… I guess that’s normal?  And it’s hard to break a habit.  But I’m slowly but surely working on it. 

I’m having a lot of internal diaglogues with myself and they seem to be helping.  I also talk to my dogs.  (LOL!)  They ‘re always good listeners.  Well, except Tigger.  She’d prefer I eat all the time so she could have a bite.  Little glutton.  And she’s skinny.  She’s like one of those women who can eat anything they want and as much as they want and never exercise and never gain a pound.  Of course, Tigger is a very high energy dog.  She burns calories by just blinking her eyes.  Corey, my corgi mix, could care less.  I’m using him as my mentor… giggle.  He could care less about the food that’s around.  I could be eating a steak and he’d be like, “Yeah?  So?”  and then go lay back down.  (All the while, Tigger is drooling on my foot).

Speaking of Corey… he’s afraid of my digital scale.  When I go to weigh, he tucks his tail, gets that frightened look in his eye, and goes to hide.  I think it’s the “beep” that he doesn’t like.  I tried to introduce him to the scale the other day and told him that it REALLY is our friend, but he’s not buying it.  (He’s also afraid of the remote control, the camera and my cell phone… apparently an aversion to electronics…?)

So anyway… I’m hoping to have a very productive weekend.  Cleaning, laundry, some furniture rearranging, lots of water and lots of things to keep my attention away from food.  I have a good attitude right now and I hope it stays that way!

I’m holding at 10lbs folks.  I’ve been away since the 4th - got back late last night.  I went to E. TX to spend the holiday with my mom and grandma and various aunts/uncles/cousins.  It was good and bad.  Good because I got to be with my family and shoot lots and lots of fireworks, eat the typical 4th crap and hear the silence of the woods.  Bad because my aunt’s mom passed away on the 4th so we had to do everything that goes along with a death in the family.  I’m glad I already had the time off from work. 

I didn’t gain or lose any weight and I’m neither happy nor sad about that.  I suppose I should be happy huh?  I mean, it’s a requirement to eat a hot dog on the 4th, right?  And cookies and cakes and drink sweet iced tea and another hot dog and chips and dips.  (gag - I won’t eat hot dogs for a year).  Then there was all the funeral food - honestly, I’ve never seen so much food in my life.  It was unreal.  My family that lives in E. TX will have enough food to feed 5 for a month!! 

 The dogs had a good time getting to run around in the woods.  I had to watch them carefully though because we’ve got an infestation of feral hogs running around in the area.  They’d look at my babies as a “snack”.  They’re mean suckers!!!  Tigger had 2 seizures while we were there and it worried me.  She’s had them since I got her in 2002, but only like 1 every 4-5 months.  I’ve never seen her have 2 in one day… poor baby.  I just hold her and make sure she doesn’t hurt herself while she’s having one of them.  She’s not on anti-seizure medication because of the infrequent episodes.  However, if she starts having them all the time, we’ll revisit that decision.

Anyway - sorry this post isn’t exciting.  I’m feeling kinda blah today - but wanted to let you all know that I haven’t given up the fight.  I’ll be back up to speed in a few days once I get rested up. 

Hugs all around… xoxooxxo