Small Slice

Attention ClubMom Digest readers - come check this entry out!

Sorry for the lack of posting this week - I've been trying to rest my sore neck and shoulder as much as humanly possible.  And it worked!  I'm healed!  I'm free to move about the cabin!

Awesome Rae suggested that we set up a 3-month Big Slice weight loss war over at Weight Loss Wars.  I think that a formalized challenge is a fantastic idea.  There is a $10 entry fee to use the site, however, and I don't think that it would be fair to ask you guys to shell out money to participate.  I'm going to see if I can't get to the nuts and bolts of their program, and replicate it here on Big Slice.

I'm feeling spunky, ready to do some trash-talking and extra laps.  More than that - I'm ready to put up some actual prizes here.  Like $50 ClubMom gift card-type prizes.

So - let's figure this out.  How do we track it?  Most pounds lost or percentage of total goal achieved?  Or do we do an exercise-based challenge and agree on minutes or distance...I need your thoughts.  Would you guys be interested in this type of intensive challenge?

Tell you what... leave me a comment telling me you are in.  I'll put together a rough schedule of events based on what I can ferret out from Weight Loss Wars and from other sources. We can go mano-a-mano or break into teams.  I think Mel with her team of Naked dieters could be some stiff competition. 

I'd like to set a start date for this as Monday, March 5th.   

Posted by Jenny at 10:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBacks (0)

Does anyone else have a family member that has to be more whatever than anyone else?  In my house, it is my husband.  If the kids are sick, he's instantly sick.  And if I get hurt or sick, whooo boy.  I love the man with my whole heart, but the sick-offs are getting ridiculous.

Me: "Ow!  My neck is killing me.  I need some ibuprofin."
Him: "My back!  It twinged!  My head aches.  My throat is sore!  I am dying."
Me: "You win.  Now get me some ibuprofin, you sad sack of dung."

We talk so lovey-dovey to one another.  We're all about keeping the romance alive. 

So, yesterday, I finally made an appointment for my (still aching, thankyuhverramuch) neck - they couldn't see me until today.  Fine.  Whatever. 

Seriously, five minutes after I told my husband that, he had managed to book himself a same-day appointment for a throat swab, claiming his throat was sore and it must be strep.  I bet if you look at his medical records, they say "Wannabe Strep Haver.  Just swab him and send him away.  Easier than talking him down."  He has done this about 500 times before, and never once has he had strep. 
Which, in the scheme of things, is good.  I'm thinking of helping him find a new pet disease to claim everytime he's competing for the title of Lauck's Most Sick.

He called this morning for his results.  Not strep.  But he's curled up in bed with a cup of tea and acting like death is right around the corner.  Aaargh!

Me: "Hurt neck!  Neck hurts!  Maybe it's a tumor!"
Him: "Oh, I'm feverish and weak.  My back.  My throat.  My legs hurt."
Me: "Drink your tea, and I'll go make you a medal for melodramatic hypochondriac of the year."
Him: "And can you get me some crackers?"
Me: "Aaaaarrgh.  (Ow, my neck!)"

Good times.

Posted by Jenny at 12:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

My neck is still killing me, so I'm seeing a doctor tomorrow, and will be hopefully kicking this pain to the curb.

That said, I'm feeling the need to have some sort of motivational event to work towards.  I tend to pick things too far in the future, or just flat out lose steam and quit.  I'm going to give myself until Monday the 26th to get my pain corrected, but then I'm looking for a new short term fitness goal.

I was watching Weighing In on the Food Network last night while waiting for the cotton sock that I stuffed with dry white rice to heat up in the microwave.  They had a three month weight-loss goal for each participant, and weekly exercise goals.  I really liked the show and thought about taking that approach for my own benefit. 

I mean, I have sort-of been aiming in that direction, but there has been a whole lot of flaking around BigSliceLand, and I frequently find myself looking for the reset button.  Just take a look at my sidebar goal tracker.  I'm not sure when I last took a stab at that action.  Let's not even talk about my demons...I've got my head firmly in the sand over those.

So - I'm going to get this neck thing fixed, and then I'm going to throw myself in to a very structured couple of weeks. 

Now I just have to figure out what kind of structure is going to work.  I have this idea that I have to be in the driver's seat, and that 'packaged' diets and exercise routines aren't creative or flexible enough for me. 

HELLO!  I'M A LOUSY DRIVER!  I'll be working on my eating plan and workout plan over the weekend, and will post it Sunday night.  Let's start a new Month of Motivation!

Posted by Jenny at 1:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

I think I got a spider bite on the neck, right at the base of my skull behind one ear.  The area isn't particularly inflamed, although it does have a blister-looking thing.  But the muscles and tendons in that area are knotted up directly under the bite area, and it is quite painful to turn my head.  This has been going on since Sunday evening.  Anyone else had one of these types of things?

I'm taking tylenol.  And looking straight ahead.  Heh.

I'm also quite shaky today.  Given the amount of forbidden fruit that I consumed (alcohol, cookies, chocolate-dipped macademia nuts by the pound, caffeine-laden drinks...) I think that I'm just going through withdrawal, but I'm almost hoping that it is a spider-bite related reaction.  I hate to think that I'm going to be paying for my vacation eating transgressions by being queasy and shaky for a week.

I weighed myself this morning, for the first time in a week.  170 pounds.  Woo!  Or, should I say...woo.  It is hard to be too excited about the lack of change.

After a breakfast of one scrambled egg and a whole wheat english muffin, I'm feeling motivated to take on the day.  I might take a trip over to the local running shoe store, and see if I can't get a proper pair of shoes that will eliminate the shin-splints.  I don't really have any major desire to be a runner, though, so perhaps I will spend my exercise time today jumping on the trampoline while I switch loads of laundry.

Or maybe, I'll don the grass skirt and coconut bra (again) and make up a hula routine to impress my children when they get home from school.  I wonder what the neighbors would say if I ran my errands in that getup.  Can you just see me dropping off the kids' lunch money at the school, visiting the bank, dropping into the grocery store?  I can, and it is making me laugh. 

Alas, it is only 60 degrees.  I'm not that brave.

Posted by Jenny at 10:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

I've returned from the lovely island of Maui! 

This was a family reunion rather than a true vacation, and yet I packed a lot of relaxation into the four days I spent on the island.  Seeing my brother marry the love of his life was a beautiful experience, and although the photos of my not-so-svelte figure make me cringe, the captured smile on my face is a testament to the wonderful time I had.

I even had the chance to get an amazing massage at the Four Seasons spa.  I'll write more about it in the coming days.  I also managed to arrive home with a coconut bra and grass skirt in my suitcase.  There could be hula dancing in my future. 

If I never eat another chocolate-covered macademia nut, it will be too soon.

So!  Back to whole grains, lean protein, lots of veggies.  And water water water.  I'll post this week's menu once I get my bearings.  I have a feeling this is going to be a tough week of detoxing off of the sugars I consumed for the last week. 

I did have the chance to talk to several members of the bride's family who have recently lost a considerable amount of weight on the South Beach Diet.  They recommended the recipes - I'll be taking a look this week.

It is good to be home!  I'm off to have myself an iGallop ride, and catch up on American Idol on TiVo.  Hope you all are well!

Posted by Jenny at 7:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Oh we're going to a hukilau, A huki huki huki huki hukilau...

Well, I'm going.  I'll be back with tales of tropical fruit consumption, coconut bra and grass skirt wearing and potentially fire-baton twirling.  Depending on the strength of the drinks at the luau.

Will I fall into a pit of lava or be washed out to sea?  Check back Tuesday to find out what sort of mayhem I get into, up to and including the wedding of my baby brother to his longtime sweetheart, taking place as the sun sinks into the Pacific. 

Posted by Jenny at 9:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

With Valentine's Day arriving tomorrow, I'm almost relieved that my husband is out of town.  Not because he's not the love of my life... but because every year, he presents me with a giant box of chocolates.  And every year, I eat the whole thing, almost before the "thank you" has faded from my lips.

My self-control is still faulty right now.  One sweet is enough to set me off on a bender, even if it isn't a particularly good sweet.

I'm hoping for flowers.  Or a card.  A card would be perfect.

I feel like I should turn in my membership to womanhood card.  Sigh.

Posted by Jenny at 7:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

For all the griping I do, you would think that things never go my way.  When I bought my ticket for my upcoming trip to Hawaii, it was with the certain knowledge that I would be taking Aunt Flo along with me. Guess who showed up a week early?  This means I can frolic on the beach without the added fun of bloating and mood swings!  Woooo! 

Too much information, I know.  But I can honestly say that this is a "Happy Period." (That is seriously the strangest advertising campaign ever.)

Noting my weight daily on the calendar is really motivating for me.  I'm starting to see the trends in my own weight fluctuations again - yesterday?  174.  Today?  170.  Hi, four pounds of mystery!  Where did you go?  Knowing that I bloat is one thing.  Seeing the actual numbers makes it less frustrating.  I'm not crazy.  It happens, and it doesn't mean I'm failing at my diet.

The journaling of the food is still difficult - I'll admit that it is hit or miss right now.  But I'm trying to make it a non-thought-involved issue.  I just scribble down the food and move on. 

Posted by Jenny at 8:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

Is this really Thursday?  This week has been so crazy, and I haven't had a moment to slow down and compose an entry.  I've been sticking to my menu, and it has been fantastic (and easy) to pull together a lovely meal.  Now, if only I could make it to the store to replace my camera batteries...

I've been faithfully riding my iGallop while catching up on TiVo'd episodes of 24 and American Idol, and I'm shocked to report that I've lost 1/2 an inch off of my waist and another 1/2 inch off of my hips.  I haven't measured my upper thighs yet, but I suspect they are smaller as well.  I really need to give it a name after all these daily sessions of mine.  I just can't come up with something that doesn't sound dirty.

I'm still weighing in at 174 pounds this week.  I'm just noting it on the calendar, and moving on with my day.  Same thing with the food journaling, and water drinking.  Doing it, not obsessing, just moving on through.

I'll be back tomorrow with some things I've been thinking about, but I've got my trusty steed whinning at me in the living room.  Heh.

Posted by Jenny at 8:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm going to get back to posting my weekly menus, along with photos of my dinners over in the Small Slice album.  It feels like forever since I made anything to eat that rocked my socks off, and frankly, that sucks.

I got up this morning and walked the kids to school, and then came home determined to make a good menu and cook from it for the next two weeks.  I don't know how I got off track, but I'm not dwelling.  It is time to move forward!

So!  This is the plan for the next two weeks: 

Monday: Crustless Quiche made with red bell pepper, onion, and zucchini, served with baby spinach salad and sliced apples.
Tuesday: Vegetarian chili with whole grain flatbread topped with broiled cheese, served with steamed broccoli
Wednesday: Chicken and brown rice casserole with a chopped salad.
Thursday: Tea-party dinner - mini-sandwiches (egg salad, watercress and cucumber with cream cheese, turkey with cranberry sauce) sliced fruit and raw veggies.
Friday: Homemade pizza with whole wheat crust.
Saturday: Baked sweet potatoes, TJ's Soycotosh, teriyaki glazed chicken breast
Sunday: Leftovers
Monday: Whole grain pasta with green beans, red peppers and fruit
Tuesday: Breaded Tilapia from TJs, spanish rice and brussels sprouts
Wednesday: Whole grain mac and cheese, made from scratch, with steamed broccoli and cauliflower

You know what?  I'm going to stop right there.  The following morning, I'll be boarding a flight for Hawaii, and I'll be filling my freezer with quick and easy foods that my husband can nuke for the kids while I'm away.  If I'm not cooking it, I'm not going to overthink the menu right now.

Shopping list below the fold:

Posted by Jenny at 10:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm so glad to know that I'm not the only person who freaks out about journaling, but is trying to do it anyway.  I've got a sheet of paper on my counter, and I'm scribbling down what I eat as I get ready to sit down for a meal.  I'm not obsessing on the ounces, grams of protein, whatever.  I'm just trying to get in the habit of noting it down.  Next week, I'll up the ante, but I'm going to have to leave fitday alone for a while.

I also bought myself a large clear water bottle with clearly marked ounces on it.  I've been keeping it handy, and my water consumption has gone way, way up.  Just seeing it sitting on the counter with water still in it reminds me to drink.

Even though I am very open about how much I weigh to the world at large, I've been avoiding being accountable.  I've blamed my recent gain on whole grains, dairy fat, my husband, the weather, my cycle, even the additional water I'm drinking.  I have slipped back into the pattern of glossing over the lack of loss, and focusing instead on positive things. 

Well, I'm still exercising, right?  And I'm eliminating sugar!  And...

And I'm sick of being fat. 

I am hanging a calendar on my bathroom wall, right over the scale.  I'm going to step on the scale daily, and write the number down on the calendar.  I think the visual of the numbers is very important to my motivation.  So is having my husband see the numbers as well.  He's never uttered a negative word about my figure, and usually has great comments when he sees me succeeding.

I'm going to keep on keepin' on.  I'm going to write down what I eat and how it makes me feel, even when it makes me feel pissy.  I'm going to be mindful of my food choices, and I'm going to eat foods that taste good.  Since I read Potatoes Not Prozac, I've been convinced (and seen it again and again) of my sugar sensitivity.  I embraced whole grains, and abandoned protein and veggies to be side dishes.  I need to up the veggies and decrease the grains a bit, and I think I'll start seeing some weight loss. 

Maybe.

Posted by Jenny at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)