Long overdue update!

Current weight: 140
Total lost: 12.8 lbs
Loss since last blog post, two months ago: 2.6 lbs

Wow! I haven't posted here in over two months! Starting TODAY, I need to make a more conscious effort to really, really do this. Part of this is getting my thoughts down, really assessing my actions, and thinking about the best way to really tackle this weight loss.

September was challenging. Work was really starting to heat up, and I just lost my momentum. Had small gains two weeks in a row.

Then in October, I went to Croatia for work. I knew I wouldn't be tracking points there, but really wanted to enjoy the local cheese, olive oil, lamb and wine -- without overdoing it.

A funny thing happened there: I just didn't have much of an appetite - and I ALWAYS have an appetite! There would be times I'd be around this gorgeous pasta, these fantastic anchovies... and I'd only be able to muster a few bites. Maybe it was stress, who knows -- but I was actually pretty thrilled about it!

** I did go running three times while in Croatia -- and even got my iPhone Cycle Meter to work on one run, even though I didn't have a local cell signal. That meant that one evening in Zadar, I was finishing my run and was approaching the hotel, when I checked my distance: 4.75 miles. Well, I couldn't do that, and not do 5 miles! I wound up getting a bit lost, and ended up doing 5.56 miles -- I was so proud of myself!

As a result of the lack of appetite and occasional running, my next weigh-in (Oct 21) showed a loss of 3.6 lbs over 3 weeks, down to 139.4 -- nice! What a fabulous feeling! Not only did I lose weight ... but I finally moved down into the next weight bracket, the 130s! Finally!

Then there was last week. I didn't track 100%, went out to eat too much... and was up .6, up to 140. Huge harrumph.

Next weigh-in is tomorrow morning. I'd love to be back in the 130s, but need to accept that if it's not this week, it'll be soon after. I had really hoped to be down to 135 by my birthday later this month -- even if that doesn't happen, I'll be happy if it happens by my birthday "observed" -- I'm having a big birthday party on December 3rd, one month from today.

Just one potential challenge: I'm going to Japan a week from today, and will be there for 10 days. Japanese food tends to be on the healthy side, but I already know I'm going to be really busy, and won't have much time to work out. Will just have to do my best.

And I'll absolutely have to get more consistent about blogging here!

The challenges of eating out. And dealing with hurricanes.

First -- last Friday's weigh-in:

Starting weight: 152.8
Friday WI: 142.6
This week's gain: .4
Total loss: 10.2

Not terrible -- I realize that I can't always expect to see a loss. And I suspected that last week's awesome 2.8 lb loss may have partially been a "false loss" -- that is, especially low because I had, well, spent a lot of time in the bathroom the day before (not induced! It was merely something I ate...).

Then came the mad rush to stock up on provisions in light of the incoming Hurricane Irene. Lots of people were posting their shopping pictures of Facebook -- lots of beer, wine, Doritos. I was determined to NOT make this an excuse to overeat. I bought lots of salad stuff, fruit, and other healthy ingredients. I worked out -- an indoor "Insanity" workout. That night, I had a few local friends over for dinner -- made a healthy dinner. Drank too much wine, but didn't overeat (much).

Then last night, on a date, I drank too much wine -- again. Today I vowed that I wasn't going to drink again til the weekend, even though I have after-work plans every night this week.

Then tonight -- out to dinner with a work contact. She wanted to check out a new restaurant that specializes in dim sum. The problem with ordering lots of small plates is that, when you have those small portions and a lot of variety, it's too easy to overeat. I didn't realize how stuffed I was til I got home. (but... I stuck to my vow, and didn't drink!)

It's only Tuesday night... if I really watch my points, I can still see a loss by this Friday -- that is, if I also work out tomorrow and Thursday.

This weekend I'm off to Fire Island for the long weekend. Then next week, I have two days of shoots, in four restaurants. Long days -- it's NOT easy to keep healthy eating habits in this situation. Will have to do my best!

Friday WI, then challenging weekend.

Good news from this past Friday!

Starting weight: 152.8
Friday WI: 142.2!
This week's loss: 2.8 lbs!!
Total loss: 10.6 lbs! Yes!

What an amazing, amazing feeling! I'm actually starting to see a difference when I look in the mirror -- I feel like I'm getting my old self back -- it's been a while since I've seen her!

Well -- then I had a rather challenging weekend. I belong to a Fire Island share house -- one that happens to be very foodie-centric. Lots of good cooks abound... and lots of great food. (as well as junk food always lying around -- but there's also always fresh fruit on hand...)

Looking back on the weekend, I made some good and some not-so-good choices:

NOT-SO-GOOD:
* not tracking
* giving into chocolate French toast this morning, when I had planned to make egg whites
* not going for my usual morning runs there
* eating *some* chips, M&Ms and chocolate-covered blueberries

GOOD:
* occasionally making smart choices: both days for lunch, I opted for a flaxseed wrap with hummus, feta and lots of veggies -- this was while someone was grilling up hot dogs and hamburgers (trust me, I was tempted!)
* they weren't vigorous workouts, but I walked on the beach for about a half-hour yesterday, swam for a bit, then biked about 40 minutes today
* I didn't eat as much junk as I would have in the past... and I kept a bowl of cherries nearby, and noshed on those in between chips
* I didn't drink all that much -- that, I find easy to cut down.
* got very excited over a few AMAZING, perfect plums -- they were heaven! A thousand times better than chips or candy could ever be.

I need to remind myself: it's a new day, and there's still time for me to register a loss (or, stay the same) in time for this Friday's meeting.

This week's goal: to work out before work for the next four days, Mon - Thurs. (Any combo of running, biking, yoga or Insanity.) Track everything. Plan. Deal with the imminent challenges: a few nights out with friends, dinner with my parents.

Especially: get to bed early so I can actually do those early-morning workouts!

My REAL max weight!

Holy cow!

I was cleaning my apartment tonight, and came across a WW book from earlier this year. I had re-joined for about five minutes back in January -- stuck to it for a week -- then just dropped out. Don't remember why -- work trip, or something lame like that.

Anyway -- this shows my REAL max weight of 152.8! Wow! I previously posted that it was 150.8. I conveniently blocked that higher number from memory.

Anyway, I just like having it out there since it shows that I've come even further than I had thought. AND -- that also means that I'm down 5%! As long as I maintain or lose by this Friday's meeting -- preferably the latter -- that will be "official".

Wow!

Excited.

I'm still feeling really excited and giddy overall about Friday's 2 lb loss, and about WW in general! It's only been 5.8 lbs so far, but I feel like I'm already seeing a little bit of a change in my body -- which is getting me excited about seeing even more of a change. I feel like I really CAN do this... and I AM doing this!

In recent years, I've gotten really into biking. Not fancy / sleek / roadbiking / racing kind of biking -- more like biking on a hybrid / tooling around the city / let's get tacos in the Rockaways kind of biking. I love it -- it's a fabulous way to explore the city.

I did a really fun ride yesterday with the Five Borough Bike Club - my mileage came out to 58.67 miles -- not bad! Starting at Columbus Circle, we biked up to and around the Bronx, meandering through some fabulous parks (I especially loved Soundview Park) over to City Island for lunch (I chose the sauteed shrimp -- a better choice than the fried shrimp I had there a month ago!), then back through the hills of Riverdale.

Good incentive to get in shape over the next few weeks -- there's a few long-distance rides that I'm planning to do:
* Sun, Sept 18: TA Century Ride – shooting for 75 miles. Aiming to be 140 by that time.

* Sun, Sept 25: Twin Lights Bike ride – 55 or 75. Goal weight for that week: 139

* Sun, Oct 2: MS Bike Ride – 50 miles. Goal weight for that week: 138

The goal weights are based on losing an average of a pound a week between now and then. I have some challenging work projects coming up in September -- I'm hoping this will really be seared into my brain by that time, and I'll make it through without gaining.

Speaking of work -- this is the inspirational blog of Jen, the woman from work who first told me about WW back in 1999. She has not only lost an impressive amount of weight -- she's also a marathon runner! Go, Jen!

Oh - I said I'd post pictures. Here we go. I'm nervous about this.

Bought this as an incentive bikini recently - it hasn't been out in public yet.

*Starting* to see some waist definition.... but still back rolls.

If the pics seem a bit dark, it's because I took them with my iPhone -- I lost my camera to a glass of sangria on July 4th weekend (don't ask!), and I have yet to buy a new one.

The bulk of my weight is in my midsection. It's been a very very VERY long time since I've had a flat stomach, and I'm psyched to get back there!

Friday weigh-in -- good news!

Quick, happy update!

Starting weight: 150.8
Today's weight: 145
This week's loss: 2 lbs
Total loss: 5.8 lbs

Yes!!! Got my 5 lb sticker, and gold star on the app!

BACK to the drawing board!

It's kind of crazy that I haven't even peeked at this blog in nearly two years! It was meant to be a countdown to age 40 -- I was going to get in kick-ass shape in the two months before that happened.

I'm now 41 -- and will be 42 in November. That's about 3 months / 14 weeks away. I recently hit my highest weight EVER of 150.8, and am doing my damnedest to nip that in the bud! (or butt, as the case may be).

NEW goal: to lose 17 lbs by then, and hit 130. I've already started with 3.8 lbs -- hopefully a bit more, after tomorrow's weigh-in! I'm newly inspired and I'm really really really doing it this time -- for good.

A little history on me: I was a pretty skinny kid, and it was easy to stay that way, since I was a picky eater. I became much more open to trying new foods once I went to college -- so much so that the freshman 15 was more like 20. I hit my highest weight at the time of 138. (ha - and to think, 138 is almost thin for me these days!)

The summer after my freshman year, I went on a crash diet -- I lived on nothing but a bran muffin a day (I made it last allll day), and did up to two hours of hard-core aerobics per day. I know -- crazy. I went from 138 to 117 that summer, and was thrilled with the way I looked.

Throughout the rest of my college years, my weight stayed in the 120s. Normal, but I was never really happy with it -- I never really felt "thin".

In my 20s, my weight gradually crept up -- I did Weight Watchers for the first time in 1999 at age 29, inspired by a co-worker's weight loss. It had never occurred to me to try Weight Watchers before. I remember my sister trying it as a teenager, and it seemed like a program for very obese people.

Well -- I went to my first WW meeting in Jan 1999 at 141 lbs -- by that April, I had reached 128, and was thrilled with the program, results, everything. I know 13 lbs may not seem like a lot of weight, but at 5'4", it can make a huge difference.

Throughout my 30s, I did WW on and off, as my weight yo-yo'd. I got my dream job at age 32, working for a food / travel TV series. (I'm still working for this show -- I'd rather not say the name here, since I don't want searches bringing people here -- but if you'd really like to know, email me privately).

Long work days + being surrounded by lots of amazing food + not a lot of time to work out = a formula for weight gain. Or - that's the excuse. I'm on the road *maybe* a week out of every six weeks or so -- which leaves 5 weeks in between to work on healthy eating habits, exercise, etc. And even when I'm traveling -- sure, I can try the amazing meatballs, but I have to remember that ONE taste will suffice, as opposed to 10 tastes. Or 20.

As I mentioned -- I hit 150.8 this winter. I can't even recall what my "aha!" moment was -- I just knew that being in the 150s was unacceptable to me. I went back to WW back in May -- only half-stuck with it throughout the early part of the summer -- and have been fully on board since July 14. And I'm loving it, and loving the way I'm feeling.

Every time I've done WW and did well, it was always something specific:
* the first time, it was just the novelty of it all, and the fun of counting points -- it was like a game.
* another time, it was having the support of the community boards on the WW website
* this time: I got an iPhone for the first time a few weeks ago -- and am SO in love with the WW app! It's almost like a buddy to me! (and -- I just found a new group on the WW website -- will get to know them a bit more, and will maybe "introduce" them here!)

Thanks for reading -- and thanks in advance for any words of support you may have, advice, stories, etc!

Next time: pictures! And details on tomorrow's weigh-in!