Diet: Day 1

The Diet

Not gonna lie, today was rough. I picked the worst week at work to start a diet and today was probably the worst of it.

My department sold chocolate covered pretzel rods as a fundraiser and today was the day a few people were making them. One of my coworkers held one out to me and I nearly reached out and took it. I remembered at the last second that "I can't." I told him so and he continued to torment me saying "It's only half a pretzel." I resisted.

At lunch the department was rewarded for tending the flowers in the town center last summer. By rewarded, I mean they brought in hoagies and pasta salad for everyone. I resisted.

Being able to resist today gives me confidence for the rest of the week. I'm going to need it as we will be having special lunches Thursday and Friday for St. Patrick's Day.

It was a good day in other ways. I ate all of my fuelings and my lean & green meal for supper (7 oz. of lean beef and a big helping of broccoli). I drank about 50 oz. of water. I'm not a water drinker so it's okay to work up to that. Most of the fuelings were actually pretty tasty and really did fill me up.

After work I went to Sam's Club and shopped for lean meats and veggies. I got some good deals and found some yummy stuff. Now to look for some simple, but flavorful ways to cook everything to maximize my enjoyment.

I am really excited. I weighed myself this morning at the start and I weighed 240.2 and tonight when I showered I weighed myself out of curiosity and I weighed 238.8....and no, the difference wasn't the clothes. I had the same few items on both times. This is just proof to me that the plan works. I will do this strict diet for 12 weeks and weight should come off rapidly during this time. After that the plan begins to start reintroducing "real" food, teaching you how to make healthy choices.

Other Good Things

I went to a basket bash with Mom and a friend of hers yesterday. We got to support a library and I won a Longhorn Steakhouse gift card and two mountain pie irons.

I've found several people I know who are doing this program. It's awesome to know I'll have a group of real life friends to go through this with. 

I was able to contact the woman I'm going to buy a dining room hutch from (Facebook marketplace) and change the pick up date to Wednesday. Today was cold, rainy, and at times snowy. This evening was definitely snowy and we ended up with a dusting of half an inch or so that stayed. Tomorrow is more of the same plus wind. Anyway, excited we could work it out. The piece is a beautiful Pennsylvania House hutch that will replace my great-grandmother's lovely, but falling apart china cupboard and a bookcase along one wall in the kitchen.

'Twas the Night Before the First Day of the Rest of My Life

So, that title doesn't sound cliche or anything. Oh well, trite or not, it is the truth. I am about to begin, not a diet, but a lifestyle change, tomorrow. The diet is simply one component of it.

I've signed up for and begin my first day of the OPTAVIA program tomorrow. I'm excited. I'm not going to lie, the food portion is going to be rough for a while, but the program as a whole is set up to help you succeed. I have a coach, who happens to be someone I know personally...and who has lost nearly 150 pounds herself. She and I will be in contact every day. There is an app and a Facebook community to help with resources, questions, and recovery. I also have two very large books that will walk me through every step. One is more of a textbook and the other is a life journal.

Tonight in a Zoom call with coaches and others new to the plan the speaker challenged us to "Live Loud." By that he meant we should be open, honest, and transparent about the journey we are on. I know my mindset is different this time because I am already doing that. I've told everyone about starting this. 

Even my mom and that is HUGE. She tends to be judgemental and not supportive so I have never told her about any other efforts. I've told her everything about this. I have to tell you, not letting her see me fail is some pretty big motivation.

I've decided that from now on the blog is going to be a chronical of my journey. The title already fits. I'm going to be making a lot of changes in my life and this is just one of the first. I'm not saying I'll never do a meme, but the main focus is going to be how I am doing with the program. I'm hoping that "putting it all out there" will be even more incentive to succeed...and it would be cool if you guys keep me accountable or give me a little pat on the back now and then.

Now I'm going to turn off the computer and the television and not look at my phone. I'm going to read for a little bit before bed. Sleep is vital to success and lately I've been struggling with some insomnia. The screens need to go dark earlier than they have been.

That's it for now. I hope you'll all be cheering me on.

Saturday 9: Pass Me By

Saturday 9: Pass Me By (1965)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

 

1) In this song, Peggy Lee tells us she wiggles her toes in the sand. Have you been to the beach yet in 2023? Do you expect to wiggle your toes in the sand when you're on vacation this year?  No, I haven't been anywhere near a beach yet. As for expecting, I don't have vacation time until after November 1 so the only thing I'm hoping for this year is a weekend at the beach on Lake Erie with the grandchildren.

 

2) She also sings that contemplating nature can be fascinating. What flora and fauna can you see from your window as you answer these questions?  Nothing, because it's dark. Even if it was light out there wouldn't be anything to see. It's mid-March so everything is gray and dormant.

3) With this song, she's telling everyone to take her as she is or leave her be. Does that reflect your attitude? Or are you a "people pleaser" who worries what others think of you?  I used to be such a people pleaser, but my attitude has shifted in the last few years and I really don't care much what others think of me. I've finally realized that what people think of me usually has a lot more to do with them than it does with how I live my life.

4) These lyrics were written by Carolyn Leigh. She began her career as an advertising copywriter but, since she showed a flair for poetry and rhymes, she was urged by a music publisher to write lyrics. Have you ever tried your hand at poetry?  Years and years and years ago.

5) This song was composed for the 1964 movie Father Goose, starring Cary Grant. Are you a fan? Do you just vaguely know the name? Or are you wondering what a Cary Grant is?  I have seen Cary Grant movies and enjoyed them, but I wouldn't say I'm a "fan."

6) This was a top-20 hit for Peggy Lee. As a girl in North Dakota during the 1930s, Peggy lived above the train station where her father was depot agent. Today that depot is home to a museum which features a Peggy Lee Exhibit. Have you recently visited a museum?  No. The last one I visited was the Night of the Living Dead museum with one of my former clients. Not my thing at all, but he loved it.

 

7) Designer Bonnie Erickson was also grew up in North Dakota and used her girlhood idol as the inspiration for her most famous creation: Miss Piggy. A diva with flowing blonde hair and jewelry, the puppet was originally called Miss Piggy Lee. As the character gained in fame with The Muppets, the name was shortened to Miss Piggy because Bonnie didn't want to offend Peggy Lee, whom she genuinely admired. Tell us something you have done recently to spare someone's feelings.  I kept my mouth shut.

8) While Peggy Lee often changed her hairstyle with the times, she was always a blonde. She considered those lustrous locks her trademark. Are you having a good hair day today?  

9) Random question: What's the perfect way to spend a lazy afternoon?  Alone and reading a good book.

Thankful Thursday

There's lots to be thankful for this week!

** No major damage in last Friday night's big wind storm.

** Taking the plunge and signing on with a weight loss program.

** Reconnecting with my elementary school bestie through a Facebook group.

** Not quite as much pain on Tuesday...thanks to using my custom inserts, wearing an ankle stabilizer, and not lacing my shoe all the way. Oh, and making sure I took the maximum allowable amount of Aleve.

** The podiatrist confirmed the pain in my ankle isn't anything too serious. It's tendonitis caused by overuse. Not much I can do about that given my Tuesday work schedule, but he gave me a steroid prescription to clear up the inflammation. After that there are some tips to help reduce it so it doesn't get this bad again.

** Continued mild weather and a decent amount of sunshine.

** I'm sleeping a little bit better than I have in quite a while.

** My husband, my family, my friends, and all of you.

I am blessed!

Currently...

52*/Sunny

Watching...some show about earthquakes on Netflix. I could have watched anything all day because Tim worked and the kids went away for the weekend, but something was up with the Roku connection and I had to wait for our daughter and son-in-law to get back and come fix it. Now Tim is due at any minute so there's no point in getting involved in something.

Listening...to nothing. The house and the neighborhood are quiet today.

Feeling...great, excited, purposeful, accomplished, inspired...take your pick. It's been a great day. 

At church, rather than a normal service, the elders had one of their question and answer sessions. People can submit questions at any time by dropping them in the offering box and then once a quarter the elders will do their best to answer. I love those sessions and learn a lot during them. 

I've been wanting to get more involved at church and today I got started with a ministry to send cards to shut-ins and those who may just need a pick-me-up at any time. I also got a list of area businesses to call about donations to A Very Special Prom, the "prom" for adults with special needs in our community (physical and intellectual disabilities). This is the first time the prom is being held since Covid changed the world. My church has always stepped up and done the majority of the organizing and preparation. I'm excited to participate.

Finally, I took a huge step this afternoon. I met a woman from the next town over, a friend of a friend and a pastor's wife. She is a health coach for a weight loss program whose name is still a mystery to me. Her personal success is what first attracted me. She has lost over 100 pounds since 2020. Also impressive is all the people she has coached who have also had great success on the program. And these are local people not anonymous people from Kalamazoo or some such place. The program is pricey but the success of all those verifiable people can't be denied and it's designed to wean you from the program back into choosing normal foods in the right way. Plus, the woman is your personal coach. She is in contact with you every single day and you can contact her at any time. All of her clients meet online for a weekly meeting to share stories and there's a private Facebook page for them, too. Anyway, I'm really excited to get started on this and I'll be posting about it once my starter package arrives and I get started on it.

Looking forward to...going to a huge basket bash next Sunday with Mom, my daughter, and a friend of mom's. Those are always a fun time. This one is a fundraiser for a small town library that is totally funded by donations and fundraising and staffed entirely by volunteers! As a former librarian it is one of Mom's pet charities and we both make the drive to it a few times a year to support them via their used book sales.

Loving...the sunny weather after Friday's nonsense.

Thankful...that when the sun came up yesterday and we got out to take a good look around, our damage from the wind was slight. Once stuff was cleaned up out of the yard, the worst we had was a couple of small scratches on Tim's truck and a few shingles to replace. The kids had more damage with shingles blown off, gutters bent or blown off, the shed destroyed, and the smashed trampoline that also caused extensive damage to our sil's father's truck that was in their driveway. But the kid's bikes and toys that were in the shed are okay, the houses are still standing, no trees fell on anything, and most importantly, no one was hurt.

Tonight's menu...tacos.

This week...

• Calling businesses about donations.
• Seeing the podiatrist on Wednesday about this business with my ankle.

Saturday 9: Wagon Wheel

I love, love, LOVE this week's song, so I'm hoping the power and Wi-fi hang in there long enough for me to post. We are experiencing some wickedly crazy wind this evening. 

How crazy, you ask? Well, as of now we don't have any major damage that I'm aware of. Our daughter's family, who live right next to us, lost the kids' trampoline when the wind lifted it, breaking in half the concrete blocks holding it down. It blew the trampoline up against the side of her in-laws' truck that they're borrowing, leaving several good-sized dents and scratches as it hit and then rolled up and over it to land in our neighbor's garden. An hour or so after that the wind lifted an older metal shed on their property and destroyed it before landing it near the trampoline. The destruction of the shed also scattered the kids' bikes and outside toys all over the neighborhood. 

Also, Colton and Leah were at their other grandparents' after school because our daughter and son-in-law had to be away all day today, not getting home until just a bit ago. We ended up having to go get them because their other grandparents live in the woods with trees blowing down all over the place and their power went out and stayed out (while ours is only blinking on and off every now and then).

So, yeah, it's that crazy out there tonight.

Anyway, on with the Saturday 9 before everything decides to go off and stay off.

Saturday 9: Wagon Wheel (2013)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This week, Darius Rucker sings about hitching a ride to reach his lady love. Have you ever thumbed a ride?  No. I had the dangers of doing so preached to me from a very young age.

 

2) Along the way, he loses his money in a poker game. Successful poker players are good at bluffing, or misleading others about about their cards. Are you good at bluffing, whether at cards or in life?  I know I am at cards and I think I am in life. I learned early on not to let anyone see it when I was hurting. Most of the time when people think I am so calm...I am on the surface, but I'm freaking out on the inside.

 

3) Darius began his career as the lead singer of 90s soft-rock band Hootie and the Blowfish. Today he's a country singer. Let's say you're stuck in traffic and only one radio station comes in clearly. Would you prefer it play soft rock or country?  I like both, but if I have to choose one radio station I want it to be the one playing classics from the 70s and 80s.

 

4) Darius Rucker will be on tour throughout 2023, playing dates all over the country and making a couple stops in Cancun. Have you ever visited Mexico? If so, where did you go?  I've never been to Mexico.

5) Darius has lent his talents to fundraising for The First Tee, a non-profit that teaches children "life lessons, self-confidence, and resilience through golf." Did you participate in organized sports as a youngster? If yes, what did you play? Not as a little kid, but through school I did. I played field hockey, softball, and basketball.

6) A big sports fan, he has six TVs in his home so he can watch several games at once. His largest set is 70". When it comes to TV screens, do you believe bigger is better? Or are you just as comfortable watching from your laptop or phone?  I don't particularly like watching TV or movies on my phone or even my laptop. Our biggest TV is 60" (the hubby is just waiting for it to die so he can get a bigger one) and the smallest is 40".

 
7) In 2013, when "Wagon Wheel" was popular, fans were flocking to the movie theater to see Catching Fire, the second in the Hunger Games series. Are you a Hunger Games fan?  Nope. I've never read the books or watched the movies.

8) Also in 2013, the word "selfie" was added to the Oxford Dictionary. Do you take a lot of selfies?  I rarely take selfies and I am horribly bad at the angles and such when I do.

  
9) Random question: If we paid you $5,000, would you get Saturday 9 tattooed on your right forearm?  I would consider a tattoo (I already have one on my leg), but not one that says Saturday 9. 

** Storm update. I had to stop in the middle of answering questions because the above mentioned shed blew into our front yard and was heading towards Tim's truck. We were all out there holding it so he could strap it to a tree until it can be cut up tomorrow. Like I said, it's crazy out there!

** Update of the update. The strap didn't hold the shed. It hit Tim's truck. I am not looking forward to tomorrow morning and assessing all the damage this wind has left behind.

Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday...that means it's time to show a bit of gratitude for some of life's many blessings. 

This week finds me thankful...

** The thought over there on the left is true. One of the surest ways to be happy is to look for the good things in life and be thankful for them. It's simple. Focus on the good things and be happy or focus on the garbage and be sad, anxious, stressed, etc. It's a choice you can make every day.

** Yesterday was absolutely beautiful for the first day of March. It was sunny and 70 degrees.

** Our son-in-law has a good bit of vacation time saved up so he's able to take it this month and go ahead and start his new job.

** Our daughter has officially switched to being casual at her job...meaning she has no regular shift and can accept or decline open shifts as they fit with her husband's new swing shift schedule.

** The church's GO Committee (outreach) had a productive meeting last night. So many great ideas and some great events coming up in the next few months.

** My ankle, which I could barely put weight on after work Tuesday, is doing better. I'm still going to have to see the podiatrist at some point, but at least I can walk.

** Our daughter's family is going away this weekend and my husband is going to work Saturday and Sunday. I will have all weekend to finally catch up on laundry and cleaning. Trust me, that's a very good thing!

** Some of my coworkers and I ordered Chinese in for lunch at work yesterday. I love working in a place where things like that are possible. And the food was yummy. And I had enough left over for a quick supper before the church meeting.

** Pinterest and the unlimited craft ideas to use at work.

** One of the consumers (client) at work met the daughter she gave up nearly 30 years ago for the first time this past weekend. Her excitement just tickles me. Her daughter is being so nice to her and not treating her poorly because she has intellectual disabilities. She has allowed her to meet her granddaughters (who are just as cute as can be!) and son-in-law and shared about her life. It is just the most heartwarming thing and I am so glad it happened for her.

** Of course, for all of you!