Happy Birthday To Me

It's been a busy couple of weeks.  Last Saturday was my birthday.  We had a nice celebration at the house with C-Man, all the kids, plus a  kid's friend.  The fare was party-worthy but not too decadent, thanks in part to Corwin's smart contribution of cupcakes instead of a big birthday cake.  (Cake .... I love cake .... .)  Several friends have taken me out for birthday lunches as well, so while I haven't lost anything more, I'm holding steady.

The problem now is that I'm experiencing pain in my knees and back.  For the past three weeks I'd been working out 5 or 6 times per week, and feeling great!  A couple of my workouts include a lot of squats and lateral movement of the knees, which my poor, beleaguered knobs don't care for much.   As soon as my knees started feeling better, my lower back began acting up to the point where simply walking around hurts a lot, even now.  I've been alternating ice and heat, and taking copious quantities of ibuprofen.  I think for the next few days I'll just do some pilates and other ab routines.  That will continue to rest my knees while strengthening my core, thus helping my back.  I haven't exercised since Monday, and today is Saturday.  I'm afraid that if I don't get going on this soon, I'll once again have to start from zero.  That cannot happen. Today needs to be the day.  Ugh.

So again I'm picking up from a brief hiccup in the new routine.  It will be all right, and I haven't lost focus or determination, just a little momentum.  Meanwhile, I appreciate the comments and encouragement I get from you out there in blog-land.  Next post will be more interesting and amusing, I promise.  Maybe I'll even have some good news!

Two Weeks, and All's Well!

Yes, the news is good.  I weighed in again on Thursday, and I am down another 2 pounds.  That makes 4 pounds in two weeks - a respectable loss.  I've been working out 5-6 days a week, and moderating my food intake as much as I can.  And don't worry - that doesn't mean I'm starving myself.  Far from it!  I've gone down that road before and I know it only makes matters worse.  Besides, I've come to accept the fact that I just enjoy food, cooking, and eating too much to live on celery, plain tuna, RyKrisp, and black coffee. Yuck.  I'd rather be fat.  I am avoiding the obvious no-no's like fried food and desserts, but mostly I am just keeping portions down and not snacking.  In fact, I must boast how I resisted having ANY of the oatmeal-chocolate chip cookies that my kids baked last weekend.  You know Jack Benny's comedy bit about the thief who grabs him and yells, "Your money or your life!!" ?   And Benny pauses and replies, "I'm thinking .... I'm thinking!...."  That's how I am about homemade cookies.   Way to go, Irene!

It also helps me to remember that the wedding is coming up in October.  You've no doubt heard the expression "Nothing tastes as good as thin and healthy feel"?  Well, nothing is going to taste better than being a healthy, confident bride.  It's been easy for me to deny how much weight I gained back since nearly hitting my goal in 2002.   During my tumultuous divorce and career change from teaching to massage therapy, I regained all but 8 of the 70 pounds I'd lost.  My numbers yo-yo'd over the next five years or so while I continued pulling my life and psyche back together.  Little by little, things began to improve for me again - I found the love of my life, bought my own house, and even returned to teaching writing.  I felt great, and still do!  It  is a whole new life.  I feel loved and optimistic.  (What body?  I have a body? Nah....)   Maybe it just felt so nice to be happy again that I couldn't bear to kill my buzz with facts.  Whatever the excuse, my little denial-fest has ended.  I am still too big to fit into some of my fattest pants ever.  That's just not okay.  I'm not getting my wedding dress from Lane Bryant.  Period.

I say these things at the risk of sounding rather shallow, I suppose.  But I know, and people who know me know,  that I'm not hung up on appearances.  Even when thin, I don't spend a lot of money on clothes, and I don't pay much attention to what other people wear, either.  I have never subscribed to any kind of fashion magazine, and I wouldn't know a Prada bag if it hit me in the head.  (Honestly, I think the world would be a much friendlier place if we all dressed for comfort and not style.)  No, I just want to be normal - my word for "not overweight."   That's all for today.  Thanks for stopping by.