Day 238 - Weigh In Day

A loss is a loss. Though hard to accept at only 0.4 pounds down. It is better than gaining or maintaining. I did something right last week.

I feel like my year is closing in on me and I've lost the momentum I had. This bothers me. Not because I might miss my 365 day goal, but because I've allowed things to get in my way and was conscious of it happening.

After following up with a doctor since having some medical problems in October, I know that my body has yet to get back to it's normal balance. My estrogen levels are too high right now which I've been able to link to uncontrollable eating. I troll the kitchen for sweet, then salty, then sweet, then salty. Nothing is satisfying me and I've lost the ability to discern between feeling full and feeling hungry (sounds odd, but I've this issue in the past and getting past it has been part of my success in losing weight). I need to get onto medicine to bring these levels down, which will help bring my appetite back to my normal levels.

Also, I've known that exercise would be key in creating a sustainable weight loss pattern--and I've neglected to do so. I hate running. Hate. Withe a capital 'H' kind of hate. I've never liked it (ask most girls who play softball or volleyball in school what their least favorite method of punishment from the coach is... it's usually having to run the bases and run lines, respectively; true for most of the gal's I teamed with in school). But I feel like I need to get past this as It would probably be the easiest way for me get activity in daily. I'm thinking of the Couch to 5K running plan--or C25K if you're in the know, and now you are : ). I was an athlete through most of my younger years and I know I can do this. Some people who don't like running before they start end up loving it and find it to be the best part of everyday. So I'm thinking let's give it a try. I have had many women swear by this program, most recently a couple of very good friends of mine. I trust them--they want to see me succeed in hitting my goal. Many of the blog pages on my links tab have women who focus on eating healthy

So, let's stop chatting about it, and start doing something about it!

Day 159 - Weigh In and Figs

Another loss! -1.2 pounds this week. Not as much as I was hoping for, but a loss is a loss. Clearly I need to begin to readjust my routines, I need to get physical activity back into my daily habits: my rate of  loss has slowed over the last couple weeks (due to a bunch of mitigating factors). I'm thinking of beginning to use the gym at school. They have ellipticals and I LOVE ellipticals!


On a different note...

 Meet the Black Mission Fig!

Black Mission figs; whole and cut

A gal on the boards over at Weight Watcher's mentioned that she has never had fresh figs and asked about them. Well here they are! I love fresh figs. My grandfather had fig trees in his back yard growing up and I remember my father bringing a handful home for me each Friday when they were in season. I greedily ate them all myself.

Black Mission Fig

These scrumptious bite sized deep purple gems of the late summer/early fall are sweet with an edible skin. Pick them by color--look for ones with no light yellow or light green near the stem at the top. The darker, the sweeter and juicier. The insides a a warm pink with little pods that are soft in texture.

Did you know:

• Figs are believed to have been cultivated by humans up to 1,000 years before wheat and barley
• Turkey and Egypt grow the most figs in the world
• They have one of the highest plant sources of calcium and fiber for our dietary needs, especially when dried
• Fig Newtons are not to be considered a viable source of the fruit's best nutritional qualities when dried ; )  Sorry.

Tomorrow: A mouth-watering and healthy use for that 'too small to serve' bit of Riesling at the end of the bottle. Beware- your mouth will crave nothing else after this!

Day 128 - "Sweat is Just Your Fat Crying"

The title up there is a wise quote from one of the 'boardies' over at Weight Watchers. This statement has been plaguing my thoughts for a couple weeks now. Why, you may ask? I haven't been as physically active as I was in the beginning of my journey. I haven't gotten a P90x workout in since May. I'm ashamed *hangs head while typing* to admit this. But I'm putting that factoid out there as a matter of accountability and being honest with myself. I'm worried about plateauing on the scale and losing motivation. So yesterday I got back on the horse!

*I am not affiliated with BeachBody or P90X in anyway. I am a customer that loves this program. I feel the need to say: "Talk to you doctor before beginning any exercise program." I'm not endorsing P90X, just sharing what I do.

The last time I completed a workout with P90X I was 231.2 lbs. and I was doing ok. It was hard work physically, but at that weight, just about any intense physical activity was going to be rough. So when I completed the Kenpo-X routine yesterday, at 209 lbs. I felt fan-FRICKIN-tabulous! I was able to do certain moves I wasn't able to before like Prayer Twist. Since there is a bunch of stretching included to take care of your muscles, I was in positions I'm not normally in and got to see my slimmer body in ways I haven't in a couple months! My feet fit more comfortably in my shoes (yes- even feet get chubby) and my ankles and calves are much more attractive! What a difference 20 lbs. makes at any size. My balance is different now, compared to what I knew of body back in May, so I'm going to have to re-orient myself with gravity. I feel awesome though.

I know I will have down days where I just don't want to do it, and I'll have to push myself hard to get it done. I'm up for the challenge. After all, I'm one dress size away from shopping at any old clothing store now. I want it bad!

Tomorrow- Supportive People, featuring Shinera.