Friday, January 30, 2009

Innocence and Playdoh

I had such a wicked day today. Who doesn't love Fridays? It is amazing how you can work hard all week and still have energy. I love my job, I really truly love my job! Today, I was full of pride as we had a staff meeting with all our new team members. I tried hard not to be giddy with excitement while we were planning ALIVE's next marketing and publicity campaign. Everyone left the meeting pumped and ready to take on the world. I love my job.

I am so glad I ended my week on such a positive note. It was so close to being devastated by a sweet, adorable, 6 year old playdate with a cute English accent. Yes, this little boy, so full of innocence, almost ruined my week. You ask HOW? Well, let me tell you! I had helped set up the playmates at the kitchen table to play with Playdoh while I started dinner. Socializing at such a young age is always amusing to listen to. Until the young lad asked my daughter "Why don't you exercise?". Abby replied, "We do." To the young lad answered "No you don't, you are fat. And so is your Mom." I can't remember how fast my head turned, maybe because my jaw was on the floor! I thought breathe, this is only a kid, a very innocent kid that doesn't know any better. Kids tell you how it is. That doesn't mean you have to like it. And I didn't like it. I wanted to tell him to go home, but since I had to drive him, that wasn't going to work. I could of let him know that what he said are hurtful words to friends but not my job to parent him. I bit my lip and let my daughter work it out with him.

I talked about it with Abby after the playdate was over. It was not an easy conversation. The problem was that MY feelings were actually hurt too. Can you believe that I let a 6 year old hurt my feelings. It is not that I feel FAT, I see fat on my body. It is the image that is hard to get around. We are bombarded with images of skinny, skinny, skinny and no happy medium. If you have ever carried weight, there is always an insinuation that you should lose weight. No one EVER says the words "you are fat". Instead we hear things like, the boot cut is more flattering for your curves (your hips are huge), your girls look great in that top(so I don't notice your spare tire), this babydoll shirt is better suited to your shape (look, no muffin top). My heart also ached for Abby, she is built like Momma and she will have some years of battle ahead of her. We eat well but she does need more exercise. She is always tagging along Jayla's soccer games and practices, never has any of her own.

I feel like a horrible parent, I am the role model and all they see is a FAT Mommy. I always tell the girls to love themselves. They don't have self esteem issues, not with a dad like Ben! I just want to make sure that they don't end up like Mommy and never take care of themselves. It has motivated me more to take action. I got on that treadmill this morning with a vengeance and was disappointed I had to get off and go to work! I will not let a 6 year old break me, I will power through like it never happened. But it did and it will always ring in the back of my mind. I lost another pound though, I am almost 160. When I hit 158, I will have a little party for myself. Hmmm, not food, something else. Any ideas?

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

2 Buffets and a wedding cake

Ahhhhh a computer. Please forgive me, as I have been away with no access to a computer! But I am back and ready to tell about my weekend!

My daughter, Abby, and I drove up to Edmonton for a wedding. We had to rush out of Calgary to make a 2:00pm wedding ceremony. I packed snacks, good ones too! I was so ready for the day, the day of no schedule and no place to eat prepared meals. Ugh, Tim Hortons breakfast - no donut - and then mall food! Oh the choices, seriously, I could have Mary Browns Chicken, A&W, or Chinese Buffet. Yuck!! And I was just so confused and hungry, I chose the Teen Burger combo with a Root Beer, what was I thinking!!!!! Oh I inhaled it like it was the last Teen Burger on the face of the earth. The second I finished; I let out the worst smelling belch EVER, and it tasted no better either. I looked down at the carnage of the wrapper, ketchup droppings and runaway onions. There was no going back. I sat there and contemplated what I was going to do, like I could erase time or something. I think my only option was to go bulimic in the bathroom. But I couldn't do that cuz A. I just spent money on that burger and B. I would be hungry again soon anyway! sigh.... I promised myself, I will watch what I eat at the reception.

Okay, who am I fooling now. Have you ever heard of a portion/calorie wise wedding dinner?! I haven't either. Let me tell you about the buffet, or should I say BUFFETS. There were 2 buffets, yes 2 buffets with perogies, sour cream (full fat by the way), cabbage rolls, chicken in mushroom sauce, prime rib with gravy and endless salads - all with heavy cream sauces of sorts. I was doomed. Done, I think I gained 10 lbs at that moment. I wouldn't of moved forward if there was not some crazy Aunt behind me grumbling at how slow I was. I tried to fill my plate with salad, but it was Caesar Salad with WHITE croutons. 2 lbs there for sure. Then there was more salads with sauces all white and creamy, 3 lbs there. I piled on some olives and pickles to take some space on my GIANT dinner plate. It took everything in my to walk by the cabbage rolls but I came to a dead stop at the perogies. Yup, it was all over once I put the first perogie on my plate. But hey, I passed on the gravy.

Now I know you know the drill, eat a huge buffet dinner and then promptly undo the top button on your pants. Relief, you can breathe. I think the bride was trying to torture me because she sat me so close to the head table under the bright lights, where all 250 guests could see me. I was probably in every shot the photographer took of the happy couple! There was no way I could undo my pants, I couldn't even slouch. I had to sit up straight with my SPANKS cutting off the circulation from my ribs down. I think that SPANKS are only good for keeping food from digesting cuz your stomach is so tightly wrapped as to slim down 2 sizes!

You know what was worse than stuffing myself with potato heaven and sour cream, is wedding cake. Not that awful fruit stuff that has a shelf life of 80 years, the fluffy white kind with the most amazing, sweet to perfection icing,melt in your mouth kind of wedding cake. Guess what every table got after the meal? A plate of wedding cake to share. Seems like that might not be so bad, well let me tell you. My table of 8 had 4 kids - who were already off playing, and 4 adults - where 1 was was off supervising those children. Leaves 3 adults with a plate of enough cake to feed Jayla's soccer team. I played the game, you know, don't want to be the first person to take a piece. The lady next to me was playing the same game, we would smile politely at one another, just waiting. I really did not want cake or need it. I was extremely full. I just have no will power with sweets. I was so ashamed of myself to sitting there contemplating how I was going to get cake with no one watching. Like they would judge me, I will probably never see these people again. In the end, I ate a piece or so, let's leave it at that.

You know, all that thinking is so tiring. I want so bad to just not have to think about it. I want to be able to have the option to eat the cake without guilt or just not even be interested in the cake at all. I want to walk into a buffet and not even think about it and I sit down with my well balanced meal to enjoy with my company. I don't want to wear SPANKS!! I think I will burn them when I achieve my goal. Yes, burn them!

I hit the gym with a vengeance, I didn't even have to convince myself that a workout was what I needed. I worked out hard, did all my reps and sets without convincing myself. I just did it and I ENJOYED it! I drove home today and felt yucky sitting in a car all day. I am hitting the gym tomorrow.

By the way, I only gained 1 lb and I will have that off by Thursday for sure!

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

static in the dressing room

I survived a 3/4 day of cleansing. I lost 1 pound and it is still off! YES! Thank goodness something came of my torture. I think I will try it again next week and actually do the 2 whole days of the cleanse.

A client asked me today how my weight loss is going. I have to say I was rather ashamed that it is not going well. I actually need to exercise now. I am really dreading the workout, I feel like I haven't worked out in so long. I have decided, I am going to do cardio tomorrow morning, just do it. I will feel great. I know I will, my little devil in the back of my head is actually saying "no you won't, your bed will be so warm in the morning and you won't get out of it to do any sweating in the basement" The weather network says -18 tomorrow, ugh, I just want it to be nice out. I actually want to be outside and get some sunshine on my face.

So I am off to a wedding this weekend. I want to go for the bride was a bridesmaid in my wedding. But I also know there will be many people from the town I grew up in. Cringing, me cringing. I just am really scared to say that I own a successful personal training studio and have people look me up and down. You know the half nod with the eyes quickly scanning the full length of your body. I actually get that so often when I meet people who meet Ben and hear him talk about his wife. When they meet me, there is ALWAYS the half nod and eye stare. Some even say, "you are not what I expected". I know, I know that it is not always judgement. Most of the time they are wondering who would marry someone like Ben (if you have met him, you would know what I mean. If you haven't, Ben is one of those creatures that lacks the power to think about what he says before he says it!) I really do have a wonderful, amazing, sexy husband with a wicked sense of humor.

But back to me, I do feel a little bit ashamed of my body when that happens. I think that I must look like some bikini model for people to think that I fit in. Crazy I know, that is why I am here and trying to get over crap like that.

Speaking of body problems, there is nothing worse than a change room mirror. Come on, who made those things. How do they possibly think that women will buy the clothes they try on when they see themselves in those ridiculous circus mirrors! I thought I would look for a nice top to wear with pants to the wedding. I am definitely NOT wearing a dress! Can you say cankles? That and I got these amazing red shoes from my mom for Christmas. I took a huge pile of potential buys into the change room. Some were very wrinkled (okay, I was at Winners), some have deodorant stains, and then the rest were all very staticky! So to top off the ridiculous circus mirrors, and the wrinkles, there had to be so much static! Any top that could have been the one, was annoyingly stuck to my bare skin. It added more rolls and bumps that I didn't know I could possibly have!!!!!!!!!! sigh......

I eventually found something nice and very conservative. Ben will object cuz no cleavage. That sometimes works, the cleavage I mean. Takes away from the mid section quite nicely!

Monday, January 19, 2009

The last nacho chip in the bag

My day started off great, fruit for breakfast, an hour later fruit, more fruit 1 hour after that. Everything was going fantastic until about 12 noon. I started to feel "funny", not really hungry but like low blood sugar. A headache was forming quickly. I was chugging back the water, ate 2 bananas instead of one. I was determined to make it through the day on my cleanse. I kept telling myself "just get through the day, it is only 1 day".

I think about 1 o'clock I knew I was in trouble. I couldn't concentrate, I was getting cranky. I even told a possible client that was really wavering on cost that maybe a studio like ours was not the place for her....what the hell was going on with me! I would never talk like that to a potential client. (it must of worked for her cuz she bought a package bigger than what she started out with) But still, crankeeeeeee! The gals at work thought I was going through carb and latte withdrawal. I seriously looked around the room at that moment to see if a latte was handy! mmmm skinny hazelnut....

By 4 0'clock I was done for. I couldn't handle it anymore. I broke down Nacho chips were the first handy carb. Before I knew it, I had inhaled more than a serving if you know what I mean. oh, the guilt. All that fruit eating to end up with a headache and full belly of nacho chips. I had a very nice salad for dinner and another piece of fruit before bed. I don't think I followed the cleanse to a T but I think I am better prepared to try it again. Oh and by the way large quantities of fruit opens many pathways many times (re: previous entry).

I thought about asking a friend to do the cleanse with me. I decided against it only because we would just be miserable together. And I don't think either one of our workplaces would enjoy that kind of misery! So I will venture on this journey alone. I haven't decided if I will try the cleanse again tomorrow. Let's just see if I can get through the night without sneaking down for spoonfuls of peanut butter.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

You want me to cleanse what?!

I have been thinking about weight loss for years, off and on forever actually! I am actually very comfortable in my skin. Being in an amazing marriage really helps. I could have a 3rd eye and I would still be beautiful to Ben! My weight issues come up intermittantly. Like when the formal office party requires shopping for a new dress, or my youngest daughter says "I love your jiggly tummy" and she is poking me and giggling! I always tell myself, I really need to lose some weight. And I think about it and make a great plan, actually a no-fail must succeed type of plan to lose the weight. Right now I am imagining that I just peel off my fat suit and TA-DA...

Okay, back to earth. I have tried so many different combinations of exercise and nutrition. You know, carbs, no carbs, fruit, no fruit, red meat, no red meat. I never stick to anything. It is like I am secretly wishing that I would fail and lo and behold, I do. sigh....

Well no more. I have had enough. My girls don't need Mommy to do everything for themselves anymore. Jay(10) makes a mean grilled cheese and Abby(6) can open a can of tuna. They will survive if I start taking care of myself! I am seeing my own nutrition guru, he is so much more than that though. He is taking on my MIND! He, without a doubt, believes that I can lose 30 lbs. He has me so convinced that I even envision myself 30 lbs lighter. He is the reason why I am writing this blog. I am going to prove to the world, or maybe just you that I am going to lose 30 lbs. And I will be happy doing it, for the most part.

I have been meeting Lars for almost 2 months, he has been holding my hand getting me ready to jump off the fat train. My first job was to start planning my meals. I cook on Sundays for the week and put all the carefully measured food into tiny food containers. Hardest part is eating what is in the containers by the end of the week, some variety helps. I was always eating out by Friday! Now I think I have mastered that a little more and make 2 different types of meals to pick from. Next step is getting my bowels in order. Lars loves to talk bowel movements, we must cleanse the system for it to run efficiently. How will our bodies use the food we eat properly if it just gets stuck in our bowels. We must cleanse. How do we do that you ask? Well, I started with natural grains, fruits and veggies. I am a nicely regular 1 x day gal, I feel very comfortable with that. I am actually proud to say that. I think my jaw hit the floor when Lars told me that 3-4 x day would be better. Who or what did he think I was? Are you kidding me? Who does #2 that many times of day? Honestly! Then I needed to know how he thought I was going to do that. We are starting with a fruit cleanse. 2 days of just fruit and a combo of supplements. Just to get things "moving" he says...

Tomorrow is the day. Ben picked up mangoes, pineapple, bananas, oranges, apples and grapefruit. I think I am prepared. We will see how it goes and if we get "moving"... Wish me luck because I think I need it!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Sleepy in Somerset

I am sooooooooo incredibly tired right now. And I really want something, anything dipped in chocolate and then rolled in salt. And I really think my kids should be able to get themselves ready for bed and maybe while they are at it, they can wash, fold and put away the laundry....

The last thing on my mind is my weight loss goal, cuz really, I can think about that AFTER I get my chocolate. I have a serious case of ADD right now. I know sleep will help but I think about all the other things I should do before bed. A mom's job is never done. We cook, clean, wash, drive, coach, teach, study with and for our families. Why do we never take care of ourselves? Ben reminded me that I have been wanting this weight loss/body change since he has met me. What has stopped me? Why do I put everything else first? Excuses? Procrastination? Am I not worth it?

Where is that chocolate?

Someone told me that I could lose 20 pounds in a month. Ya RIGHT! But then I realized that, no, I cannot lose 20 lbs in a month. But I can lose 20 lbs! Yes I can! I can lose 30lbs, I KNOW I can. He told me that to shock me, and it worked. Now it really is not a big deal to lose the weight. I think he tricked me, sort of. I will get into tht later.

I am so glad it is Friday tomorrow. Even happier that I am getting my hair cut and colored! NOTE: it has been 8 months since the last time. Ben gets his hair cut every month and cringes when I say I am getting mine done once a year! Men don't get price of vanity.

I will let you know how it goes.

Good Night!