172.2 Colin and Me

Today we had a date, Jeff and I, and look who we ended up hanging out with...in my dreams. We went over to this adorable little place called the English Rose Tea Room in Carefree. They've always had a lovely cut out of Queen Elizabeth, and today they had Colin Firth there to greet us.

So things are looking better weight wise. I've settled back into my old routine, lots of fish and veges, and today I was back in my pool, thanks to the heat pump and the cover and the warmer nights. Have a great weekend!

178.5 World Without A Compass

I almost typed World Without End, but I do know this weight loss will end in about 10 pounds.

It's hard to figure where I really am right now weight-wise because I'm weighing on my daughter Miranda's scale and I know in my heart that I weigh more than 178.5. You know, when I started this adventure and Jennifer Scott (check out her website on the right) was very adamant about weighing every day, I really resisted. First of all, all the experts said that weighing once a week was the way to go. (Of course now I believe that she's the expert.) I used to dread getting on the scale everyday but did it. What has happened is that I now value the fact that the scale has become my compass. It informs me of where I am in this vast place called weight and does help guide me through each day. So using Miranda's scale helps me know the block, but not a specific address, and I'm sure I haven't lost around 4 pounds since arriving here!

But right now I do know where I am in space. I am in a small suburb of Boston where we used to live and where our daughter Miranda now lives. We've been seeing old friends, went to a Red Sox game, we've been driving by all the homes in the area of Wellesley and Natick where we once lived (four to be exact in about an 8 mile radius - I know, I did like to move!), and we're looking forward to spending more time with our family and friends here.

Oh, did I mention we've been eating out a lot? We've been having the most delicious, fresh fish imaginable and loving every bite. We were with friends last night who have known us for about 20 years and were remembering what I used to eat and were asking if I didn't miss all the wine, the beef, the desserts, the pasta, etc., that we all used to eat together. What's so exciting and gratifying as a result of this process is that I truly don't miss the those things. I now prefer fish, salad, fresh berries, fresh veggies. And, the compliment I like best of all is not that I look so much more slender. It's that I look younger and happier. Who could ask for anything more?

191.4 Reactions and Strategies

A funny thing happened this morning. As Linda and I started our walk we both agreed it was way too cold and windy to go very far, so we walked to the golf course and ordered breakfast at the cantina there. I always order two scrambled eggs and one pancake, knowing I will eat only half of each item. Without thinking I poured regular syrup on my pancake. You would have thought that I poured gasoline on it. I was horrified and immediately scraped off the syrup and lifted the startled pancake up off of my plate. The waitress, noticing my distress, brought me a new plate and the sugar free variety of syrup. What's important here is my reaction. In the old days I would have blown off the error and gone ahead and eaten the pancake with full strength syrup. I liked my reaction! It proves that my mind has changed and I don't want that sugar in my body. Now some might think that sugar free syrup isn't exactly a great thing to be eating, but it works for me. It's a way for eating something I love without stirring up old cravings and associated problems. And, in the end I did only eat half.

Last night we went to a great steakhouse and I ordered halibut. It was so delicious. And, I ordered two veges, again knowing I would only eat half. For me, it's like buying insurance when we eat out. I don't want to overeat the higher calories things that often come with the entree because I might not be satisfied, so I cover my bases and have plenty of good veges available. Tonight I don't have to cook anything. I brought home half my fish, and have wonderful mushrooms and broccoli ready to be reheated. It's all about the strategies!

194.0 Staying Stuck

I am a little stuck at this weight, but now that I expect to plateau on a fairly regular basis, it doesn't bother me as much. I like this plateau because it is at my lowest weight since being on this program, instead of reaching a low weight and then jumping up a couple of pounds and being stuck there.

So tomorrow is another day. We head home after having breakfast with my sister Barbi and her husband, and guess what? We'll have fish for dinner, with lots of veges and salad. It is amazing how my tastes have changed since I have gotten into this.