So I've been attending WW consistently since July; now I've been a member for quite a while but starting in July I brought a buddy and more importantly the buddy brings me. I am more likely to weigh in and skip the meeting or more than likely skip the whole thing and say "I'll catch up next week" if I'm left alone. Unfortunately 10 pounds later I have not caught up but gained. And so my cycle goes. Start back; lose sight; quit; rejoin; go great guns; lose sight; quit; ...... you get the idea.
Over ten years ago, I had a buddy. We met at the meeting and went to breakfast afterwards celebrating success or encouraging each other. Weight watchers started the Points Program and we knew exactly how many points in a breakfast biscuit at Whataburger. It was a great way to connect on those Saturdays and I treasure that time with my buddy.
Before long I was in a new town and started WW again. On my own I fell into my -go-, -don't go-, -quit-, -restart-. Old habits are hard to break. I found another buddy and as long as I had a buddy to go with, I was good to go.
Again, we moved! By then WW was online and my membership moved with me. I attended....alone and yep you guessed it. YoYo-ing again. I brought Hubby with me (remember, I need a buddy). It's not always the best to bring a man with you as they tend to lose weight lickety-split and yeah, that's what happened. He lost; got annoyed with a certain woman (not me, promise!) who dominated the meeting, and I was alone again.
I wish I was the type that could do it on my own; the type that could go to a meeting and then go home, but I like the socialization. I WANT to go have breakfast with someone and talk and laugh and have girl time so I am on a buddy system. My buddy is losing at a faster rate, but that is O.K. I have a back-up plan in case I'm alone again.
Shhhhh, he doesn't know it, but I'm pointing at my hubby buddy! After all, he promised "through fat and through thin," right?
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Monday, October 17, 2016
Hello, Friend
I was looking in a cabinet and found an old WW weekly that caught my attention. On the cover is a woman smiling and hula-hooping. I must confess I'm not quite sure I can even hula-hoop or even get the hula-hoop over my hips! The title on the cover is "Befriend your Body" June 12-18, 2016 issue.
I have horrible body image. I never liked my body even when I got down to my lowest at 118 in high school! Here's the sad part- a man/child I was dating at the time made me feel that way. I was dating a child in a man's body. I mean who keeps telling their girlfriend "It looks like you've been eating again?" Or grabs a small bit of a love-handle and jiggles it. No matter what I did (starve myself/ exercise/ give in to advances/ etc etc etc....ad nauseum...) I was never good enough. And the even sadder part was I KEPT PUTTING UP WITH IT!!!!
Do you ever have moments you wish you could have a do-over?
Thankfully we do have do-overs. It's called waking to a new day, Praise God! True, we can't go back in time and redo past mistakes, but we sure as heck can make sure history does not repeat itself on our part. That's the clincher- our part. We cannot control what others do or say, but we sure can control how we will respond.
My older and wiser self will befriend my body and it's bumps and lumps and squishy parts. I'm still blaming childbirth on those squishy parts and I will till I die, but I have 4 beautiful, wonderful, loving, made my life complete children who I wouldn't trade for the world and if it means I have a not-so-perfect body in the eyes of the world....well just go to hell.....that is if I believed in hell....which I don't.....so just go to Wal-Mart! ;)
Pop Quiz Time...pull out a sheet of paper and number 1-10....hahahaha....just kidding, but really, let's take a body image test brought to you by the above mentioned weekly with a little tweaking from Strawberry.
1. Overall, your feelings about your body are:
A. "Eh. It'll do."
B. "Yay! Weight loss will make me more confident." (really? Who says that?)
C. "Yuck. I won't be happy until I'm thin."......mints, that is. Oh man, I'm craving Girl Scout cookies
2. When friends compliment your appearance, you think:
A. "They're loyal and kind" (and I want what they are smoking)
B. "They're right!" (pretty full of yourself, eh?)
C. "They're lying to make me feel better" (we do think this sometimes, don't we?)
3. You don't plan to get into a swimsuit until...
A. you have to.
B. your next trip to the pool/beach/lake
C.the bathtub (Okay, I added the bathtub...in which case, you have terrible body image!...just saying)
So how'd ya do?
Mostly As- the article says your body image is neutral so show yourself a bit more love!
Mostly Bs- You, girlfriend, love yourself. Way to go!!
Mostly Cs- "Your body image skews negative" and believe me, there are too many negative nellys in the world and you don't have to fill that role.
Love the body...love the mind...and let's love each other and show compassion (especially now that we are in such a divisive election year!).
As for me, I'm heading out to purchase a hula-hoop.
Peace Out, Grainiacs
I have horrible body image. I never liked my body even when I got down to my lowest at 118 in high school! Here's the sad part- a man/child I was dating at the time made me feel that way. I was dating a child in a man's body. I mean who keeps telling their girlfriend "It looks like you've been eating again?" Or grabs a small bit of a love-handle and jiggles it. No matter what I did (starve myself/ exercise/ give in to advances/ etc etc etc....ad nauseum...) I was never good enough. And the even sadder part was I KEPT PUTTING UP WITH IT!!!!
Do you ever have moments you wish you could have a do-over?
Thankfully we do have do-overs. It's called waking to a new day, Praise God! True, we can't go back in time and redo past mistakes, but we sure as heck can make sure history does not repeat itself on our part. That's the clincher- our part. We cannot control what others do or say, but we sure can control how we will respond.
My older and wiser self will befriend my body and it's bumps and lumps and squishy parts. I'm still blaming childbirth on those squishy parts and I will till I die, but I have 4 beautiful, wonderful, loving, made my life complete children who I wouldn't trade for the world and if it means I have a not-so-perfect body in the eyes of the world....well just go to hell.....that is if I believed in hell....which I don't.....so just go to Wal-Mart! ;)
Pop Quiz Time...pull out a sheet of paper and number 1-10....hahahaha....just kidding, but really, let's take a body image test brought to you by the above mentioned weekly with a little tweaking from Strawberry.
1. Overall, your feelings about your body are:
A. "Eh. It'll do."
B. "Yay! Weight loss will make me more confident." (really? Who says that?)
C. "Yuck. I won't be happy until I'm thin."......mints, that is. Oh man, I'm craving Girl Scout cookies
2. When friends compliment your appearance, you think:
A. "They're loyal and kind" (and I want what they are smoking)
B. "They're right!" (pretty full of yourself, eh?)
C. "They're lying to make me feel better" (we do think this sometimes, don't we?)
3. You don't plan to get into a swimsuit until...
A. you have to.
B. your next trip to the pool/beach/lake
C.the bathtub (Okay, I added the bathtub...in which case, you have terrible body image!...just saying)
So how'd ya do?
Mostly As- the article says your body image is neutral so show yourself a bit more love!
Mostly Bs- You, girlfriend, love yourself. Way to go!!
Mostly Cs- "Your body image skews negative" and believe me, there are too many negative nellys in the world and you don't have to fill that role.
Love the body...love the mind...and let's love each other and show compassion (especially now that we are in such a divisive election year!).
As for me, I'm heading out to purchase a hula-hoop.
Peace Out, Grainiacs
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Back from wherever
Good morning, Grainiacs! It's been a while, I know.
Let me re-introduce myself.
My name is Strawberry and I'm a food-aholic and a hater of exercise. Truth be told I love Netflix and popcorn but decades of sedentary living and overeating have left me fat and out of shape.
Years ago I started a blog to help keep me real. I shared ups and downs and all-arounds (yes, I AM talking about my hips!). I lost almost 20 pounds...maybe 20 pounds...it's been so long I'm not sure anymore.
What kept me going was talking daily to you. I received "kudos" and "hang in there" and "I know exactly what you're talking about" in response to my posts. I needed that; I needed you; and I still do.
Life keeps happening. I schedule (and you all know I am NOT a scheduler) and blockades keep getting in the way: seminary classes, a move, an ailing parent, yada yada yada.
You know what? Yes! Life does happen, but there are plenty of svelte people out there who have lost weight while attending to "life" matters.
Life is gonna keep happening-- that's a good thing, right? The alternative? Not so great if you aren't ready to die. I need to stop with my excuses and get on board the "lose weight while life is happening" cruise ship. Otherwise I will be buried in a grand piano box.
So, are you ready to walk this bloggy road again with me? I sure need you if you will come along.
Getting back with it, Strawberry
Let me re-introduce myself.
My name is Strawberry and I'm a food-aholic and a hater of exercise. Truth be told I love Netflix and popcorn but decades of sedentary living and overeating have left me fat and out of shape.
Years ago I started a blog to help keep me real. I shared ups and downs and all-arounds (yes, I AM talking about my hips!). I lost almost 20 pounds...maybe 20 pounds...it's been so long I'm not sure anymore.
What kept me going was talking daily to you. I received "kudos" and "hang in there" and "I know exactly what you're talking about" in response to my posts. I needed that; I needed you; and I still do.
Life keeps happening. I schedule (and you all know I am NOT a scheduler) and blockades keep getting in the way: seminary classes, a move, an ailing parent, yada yada yada.
You know what? Yes! Life does happen, but there are plenty of svelte people out there who have lost weight while attending to "life" matters.
Life is gonna keep happening-- that's a good thing, right? The alternative? Not so great if you aren't ready to die. I need to stop with my excuses and get on board the "lose weight while life is happening" cruise ship. Otherwise I will be buried in a grand piano box.
So, are you ready to walk this bloggy road again with me? I sure need you if you will come along.
Getting back with it, Strawberry
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Tuesday Morning and it's all good
"It's all good" is a favorite phrase of my friend. When someone complains about something, she will end with "it's all good."
But is it?
Ranting for women is a release...like tears. We have to get it out of our system otherwise we'll explode.
But can we go too far?
Yes! Of course.
Last night I had one such episode. I told a friend "Okay, here is a rant coming on." And we laughed about it, but I didn't exactly let it go and I told Hubby. And we both got worked up.
And then we ate Mexican Food!!!!
And our digestive systems got worked up too! (TMI, I know, but hey...all you South Texas folk know what I'm talking about! Absolutamente!!)
So can we take a release/rant too far? Yes.
Sometimes I think my friend would really like to say "whatever" instead of "it's all good" and maybe that is because she knows if you don't stomp that release in the bud it can turn into a full-blown rant with Mexican Food results!
Why am I talking about this after being on such a long hiatus? Because I could rant about what's been happening in my crazy-busy-never a dull moment life; OR I could say
"It's All Good!"
But is it?
Ranting for women is a release...like tears. We have to get it out of our system otherwise we'll explode.
But can we go too far?
Yes! Of course.
Last night I had one such episode. I told a friend "Okay, here is a rant coming on." And we laughed about it, but I didn't exactly let it go and I told Hubby. And we both got worked up.
And then we ate Mexican Food!!!!
And our digestive systems got worked up too! (TMI, I know, but hey...all you South Texas folk know what I'm talking about! Absolutamente!!)
So can we take a release/rant too far? Yes.
Sometimes I think my friend would really like to say "whatever" instead of "it's all good" and maybe that is because she knows if you don't stomp that release in the bud it can turn into a full-blown rant with Mexican Food results!
Why am I talking about this after being on such a long hiatus? Because I could rant about what's been happening in my crazy-busy-never a dull moment life; OR I could say
"It's All Good!"
Thursday, July 14, 2016
A New Vow
Last night I finished binge-watching The Tudors....and guess who I dreamed about? Yep, Henry VIII. Oy vey...he is NOT the man I want to dream about.
I woke up with a new resolve: no more binge-watching. I got on my glider and glided for about 10 minutes. I'm going to eat healthy and not binge-eat! you know what I'm talking about....that mindless...WHAT! I ate the whole family size bag of chips by myself???!!!
Tonight I am going to practice the discipline of Examen. (I'll post about that later). I have to get ready for the big WI today. Wish me luck!
July 14, a Thursday, is a good day to take a new vow.
Do you have one, Grainiacs?
I woke up with a new resolve: no more binge-watching. I got on my glider and glided for about 10 minutes. I'm going to eat healthy and not binge-eat! you know what I'm talking about....that mindless...WHAT! I ate the whole family size bag of chips by myself???!!!
Tonight I am going to practice the discipline of Examen. (I'll post about that later). I have to get ready for the big WI today. Wish me luck!
July 14, a Thursday, is a good day to take a new vow.
Do you have one, Grainiacs?
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Wednesday, July 13th
I have no catchy title today. Maybe it will come later. My brain feels full. Have you ever experienced that feeling? Brain Full. I think if one more thing is required of me, my head will burst like an overblown balloon!
I need a vacation from my volunteer work; seriously! I know I keep saying this....so why in the hell do I keep doing this to myself? Am I suffering low self-esteem that I need to make everyone like me? Do I over-commit because I possess Savior Syndrome? Do I have so many good ideas and I'm the only one who can do them? Yes, yes, and yes!!! I suffer through all of them at times, but now the Trifecta has come home to roost in my little pea brain.
Sooooo....what to do? Well, first of all I am binge-watching on Netflix instead of working. I am hooked on The Tudors (a Showtime Original). It is for mature audiences but I have to say, we are talking porn in some scenes. Why? Why? Why? The content is so good. The writing and acting are terrific. The humping and nudity are, in my humble opinion,.....UNNECESSARY! I use those scenes to run and refill the drink (think commercials only there are no commercials on these Netflix shows). So this is my disclaimer: I recommend The Tudors on Netflix but beware!
Back to my saga, I think I see light at the end of the tunnel. I think I've blogged before that when I get through July, my August is pretty smooth sailing. The stepdad is going out of town the first part of August and I'll be down in B-town with the Graini-Mom. If you want to eat a breakfast taco and have a cup of coffee....I'm game.
Until then...stay positive, Grainiacs.
I need a vacation from my volunteer work; seriously! I know I keep saying this....so why in the hell do I keep doing this to myself? Am I suffering low self-esteem that I need to make everyone like me? Do I over-commit because I possess Savior Syndrome? Do I have so many good ideas and I'm the only one who can do them? Yes, yes, and yes!!! I suffer through all of them at times, but now the Trifecta has come home to roost in my little pea brain.
Sooooo....what to do? Well, first of all I am binge-watching on Netflix instead of working. I am hooked on The Tudors (a Showtime Original). It is for mature audiences but I have to say, we are talking porn in some scenes. Why? Why? Why? The content is so good. The writing and acting are terrific. The humping and nudity are, in my humble opinion,.....UNNECESSARY! I use those scenes to run and refill the drink (think commercials only there are no commercials on these Netflix shows). So this is my disclaimer: I recommend The Tudors on Netflix but beware!
Back to my saga, I think I see light at the end of the tunnel. I think I've blogged before that when I get through July, my August is pretty smooth sailing. The stepdad is going out of town the first part of August and I'll be down in B-town with the Graini-Mom. If you want to eat a breakfast taco and have a cup of coffee....I'm game.
Until then...stay positive, Grainiacs.
Friday, July 1, 2016
Something New
When certain things are no longer working for you, you have to change or get them to change.
My old laptop was getting well, old and slow and I worried each time I typed that it might break down, close down, or go "kaput!" Have you been in the middle of a project/ letter/ reading an article online and zap...the screen goes black and boom, you are sitting there cussing at this inanimate object? The problem with changing something out is you have to get use to the new thing. I'm still getting use to my new laptop. My old files are condensed into a folder called "Desktop." I haven't taken time to move them to my desktop on my new laptop so they are stuck in a folder...neatly hidden away.
Recently Big Black Beast chased the blonde cat and knocked over a full glass of water...right onto the built- in table in the couch. Needless to say we have A LOT of stuff on that horizontal space and unfortunately the TV switcher was not hidden away in a nice little folder. It got wet as well as a bunch of papers. The papers dried...
But the universal TV switcher didn't like getting wet....at all...and even when it dried it revolted by not working! Take that, Triple B and Blonde Ollie!
In keeping with this certain thread, I noticed the Batmobile was not working up to snuff. It lunged and felt a little sluggish at the stoplight. I prayed it would keep moving as I drove home. I told Hubby. Of course I don't know what I'm talking about when it comes to cars so he decided we would drive it to B-town 40 miles away. No sooner had we lunged out of the driveway and down the street, I remarked "it shouldn't be doing that, right?" I could tell he knew right away something was wrong and we were soon making a circle back to the house. hmmmm I drive enough to know when something is wrong. It must have Hubby worried enough that he is now looking at cars on a website!
Thing come in threes, correct? I pray that these 3 mechanical blips will be it for a while in the Strawberry Patch.
This got me thinking about weight loss. I don't really like change when it comes to eating. I like my comforts. It is a struggle to not make mindless eating choices. I have to constantly think about what I'll eat. This morning was one of those choices. I had a conference call scheduled and I was running late with my morning rituals. Unfortunately it was 9 a.m. (time for the call) and I was hungry. Former Strawberry would have grabbed a pop tart out of College Son's stash and nibbled on it while sitting down for my conference call. New thinking Strawberry pushed the "mute" button and clinked and clanked the pans while making an omelet. These choices will not be as easy as today. I have to be a better planner. If this meeting was out of the house, I would have been out of luck and not able to make an omelet.
My "something new" is my new planner. Career Girl introduced me to The Happy Planner last year and the crazy thing about this planner is it starts in July! Remember my "you are not behind" mantra? How cool that it is July 1st and these Happy Planners are in stores now starting the year in July???!!!! On Instragram I have joined a Happy Planner challenge. Day 1 challenge is to decorate your intro page. I received this card from the b-i-l/s-i-l. I love it. It says "It's not just the clothes, it's the attitude" and it looks like a young Strawberry! I really love this card. I decided to decorate my happy planner with it and yes, I smile each time I open my planner. Now I've decorated my first page....
I was talking with Graini-Mom on Tuesday remarking that life is sweeping by. She said "Yes, time is marching on."
Try something new today, Grainiacs. Love life. Live.
Happy Friday, Grainiacs.
My old laptop was getting well, old and slow and I worried each time I typed that it might break down, close down, or go "kaput!" Have you been in the middle of a project/ letter/ reading an article online and zap...the screen goes black and boom, you are sitting there cussing at this inanimate object? The problem with changing something out is you have to get use to the new thing. I'm still getting use to my new laptop. My old files are condensed into a folder called "Desktop." I haven't taken time to move them to my desktop on my new laptop so they are stuck in a folder...neatly hidden away.
Recently Big Black Beast chased the blonde cat and knocked over a full glass of water...right onto the built- in table in the couch. Needless to say we have A LOT of stuff on that horizontal space and unfortunately the TV switcher was not hidden away in a nice little folder. It got wet as well as a bunch of papers. The papers dried...
 |
| Have box. Have a home! |
But the universal TV switcher didn't like getting wet....at all...and even when it dried it revolted by not working! Take that, Triple B and Blonde Ollie!
In keeping with this certain thread, I noticed the Batmobile was not working up to snuff. It lunged and felt a little sluggish at the stoplight. I prayed it would keep moving as I drove home. I told Hubby. Of course I don't know what I'm talking about when it comes to cars so he decided we would drive it to B-town 40 miles away. No sooner had we lunged out of the driveway and down the street, I remarked "it shouldn't be doing that, right?" I could tell he knew right away something was wrong and we were soon making a circle back to the house. hmmmm I drive enough to know when something is wrong. It must have Hubby worried enough that he is now looking at cars on a website!
Thing come in threes, correct? I pray that these 3 mechanical blips will be it for a while in the Strawberry Patch.
This got me thinking about weight loss. I don't really like change when it comes to eating. I like my comforts. It is a struggle to not make mindless eating choices. I have to constantly think about what I'll eat. This morning was one of those choices. I had a conference call scheduled and I was running late with my morning rituals. Unfortunately it was 9 a.m. (time for the call) and I was hungry. Former Strawberry would have grabbed a pop tart out of College Son's stash and nibbled on it while sitting down for my conference call. New thinking Strawberry pushed the "mute" button and clinked and clanked the pans while making an omelet. These choices will not be as easy as today. I have to be a better planner. If this meeting was out of the house, I would have been out of luck and not able to make an omelet.
My "something new" is my new planner. Career Girl introduced me to The Happy Planner last year and the crazy thing about this planner is it starts in July! Remember my "you are not behind" mantra? How cool that it is July 1st and these Happy Planners are in stores now starting the year in July???!!!! On Instragram I have joined a Happy Planner challenge. Day 1 challenge is to decorate your intro page. I received this card from the b-i-l/s-i-l. I love it. It says "It's not just the clothes, it's the attitude" and it looks like a young Strawberry! I really love this card. I decided to decorate my happy planner with it and yes, I smile each time I open my planner. Now I've decorated my first page....
 |
| It's the attitude! |
I was talking with Graini-Mom on Tuesday remarking that life is sweeping by. She said "Yes, time is marching on."
Try something new today, Grainiacs. Love life. Live.
Happy Friday, Grainiacs.
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