Groundhogs, Losers and Crazy Drivers

Cheers for our local weather predictor Shubenacadie Sam for predicting an early Spring.  I sure hope that weaselly rodent knows what he's talking about. 

But I'd rather believe he is correct than consider the alternative.  Winter is not my favorite season so any sign of an end to it makes me happy.

And today was the last offical weigh in at work for our wellness challenge.  I'm a loser.  Yay!!   Only a quarter pound this week but thats better than gaining.  So for the month my grand total was a  whopping 2 and a quarter pounds.  Not fabulous but still - down is down irregardless of the number.    Of our little group the total was 77 and a half pounds.   I think I'll celebrate tonight with a bag of chips :)

Now the driving part of this post.  This afternoon I was heading back to work after picking up Mom at her adult day care. I admit - I was in a hurry as usual.  I get to an intersection and I'm waiting for this black car to go.  Its just sitting there.  So I figure - If you're just gonna sit there and miss your turn, I'm gonna go.  So I whip out .......... and guess who it was?   Deanne.   And even worse, she knew it was me.   Ooops, sorry honey but she who hesitates is lost (or last)  Lol.      I'll buy you a glass of wine Friday night.

I admit it - I'm a crazy driver!

Battle of the sexes

I supposed you may have guessed from this picture that the weekly Weigh-In did not go well today. 

I gained (sob, sob).  It was only .4 pounds (that's point 4  - NOT 4 pounds)  So less than half a pound but still crappy.

However I was not alone.  Seven people gained this week. 

Unfortunately it was all the women.  All the men lost this week.

So you can imagine the conversations.  There was considerable gloating.

About mid morning I heard a couple of the men down at the end of the hall talking in exaggerated loud voices.  This is how part of the conversation went:

"I think we better call the Engineering Department to come up here and check out the building.  I'm not sure it is structurally sound enough to hold all the extra weight on this floor." 

I'm sorry, but there is no other word .........Assholes ! 

There is one week left in the challenge and now the ladies are all riled up.  Look out boys - We're gunning for you next week!

It's Loser Thursday

It is weigh-in day at work for the weight loss / wellness challenge.

Drum roll please . . . . .   I'm a Loser.  Only .6 pounds this week though.    And by the way - I just want to draw your attention to the .6  which is slightly more than half a pound.  I am not rounding down for reporting - I want credit for every ounce.  LOL   So the total weight loss for 2 weeks is now  2 .4 pounds  (but if you want to round UP in this instance to 2 and a half - I'm OK with that.) 

It's funny how we are with rounding numbers eh! 

I know that any amount down is a good thing, and that is exactly what I would tell any of you - but the truth is - I'm a little disappointed.  

I had hoped it would be more but the truth is I know what happened.  I didn't drink as much water each day as I should have and I didn't really do a lot of activity.  All of which are important.  And I spent a lot of time in long meetings this past week - sitting on my butt for 3 -4 hours straight.

But now I'm focused and motivated again.  I want to see that number on the scale drop more next week. 

I wonder if this would work ?

Wouldn't it be nice if it was this easy ?



I'm a Loser

Now, before you all jump to conclusions that I have plummeting self esteem issues . . . . .

Today was the Week 1 weigh-in at work for the January Wellness Challenge.

Despite a ridiculously delicious high calorie french cuisine feast Friday night that led off a weekend of grazing on snack food - - - I managed to lose 1.8 pounds

I was pleasantly surprised.  So that gave me the motivation to keep going for the next week.  After the weekend I figured I had blown it but now I'm ready to repeat the losing trend next week. 

I still haven't cracked the 10,000 step threshold with the pedometer yet but I'm hopeful.

Clever Marketing or . . . . .

Sometimes it is a fine line between savy, clever marketing and down-right manipulation.

To what am I referring ?   Quaker Weight Control Oatmeal.  The clever marketing part - "specially formulated to make you feel full longer"

The actual truth - It is so bad that it actually removes your desire to ever eat again.  Yes people - It is that BAD.

This morning I removed it from the microwave (following the package directions exactly) and as I stirred it up - it was like a glue-like substance.  I bravely and against my better judgement took a bite.  N-O-T  good.  I picked up the spoon, turned it upside down, shook it a little and it didn't move or fall off.  I have another marketing suggestion for the company. . . .

It could be used by bricklayers as a substitute for MORTAR.  Each bite I gagged down seemed to fall to the bottom of my stomach and meld together into one glue-like lump.  At the mid point I even added some extra milk to try and thin it out a bit.   The milk just disappeared and it didn't get any thinner.   That part was a little disturbing.

The only accurate part on the packaging was that I didn't want to eat the rest of the morning.  That lump remained ever present for hours, effectively removing any desire to eat - - - anything. And there was also a very disturbing coating of the inside of my mouth, even after brushing my teeth.   Aaackkkk.

So clearly by now you have figured out this is not a paid endorsement from the Quaker company.  Lol

Other than that little experiment, I have stuck to the Weight Watchers plan today.  There was a tiny moment of weakness around 3pm but I powered through it without cheating.  I'm going to have to bring a piece of fruit or something to work for mid afternoon.  I even have a few points left to spare today.

Now - On to more serious business (If anyone is still here reading this foolishness)  I need your help

 As many of you know I always hook a special rug and donate it in February to an auction to raise money for Palliative Care in memory of my friend Tim.

Well, it is one month away and I have nothing.  I have a nice new piece of linen and a brand new pack of sharpies but no ideas.

Since I'm crunched for time, it can't be a very detailed rug.  Something fairly simple.   And just to muddy the water a little more, I have always incorporated hearts into the past 3 rugs.     Any ideas ?  Suggestions ?  Design thoughts ?

Please help me Ladies - This is for a good cause. 

Starting Fresh

I thought I better keep my hands busy typing a new post so I won't use my hands to stuff food in my mouth. 

Today was the first day back to work and if that alone wasn't rough enough - I had a mental fart and signed up for the January wellness challenge. 

What Was I Thinking ???   I must have been distracted by the discomfort of having to wear real, presentable clothes for the first day in 2 weeks.  Oh, how I missed my jeans and baggy sweater this morning.

All the chips, pretzels etc are gone from the house.  (I miss them already)    I went to the grocery store after supper and picked up some . . . . . "healthy food".  Gosh that was hard to say.  I didn't even walk down the fun aisle.  You know that magical aisle where all the chips and cookies live.  (sigh)

Tomorrow morning this will be breakfast (plus a coffee which has zero calories)

The box says it is specially formulated to make you feel full longer.  Hmmm, I supposed you wouldn't be hungry after eating soggy sawdust.   I also bought some fresh raspberries to throw on top.  I plan to pretend each spoonful is actually a cookie.   Wish me luck.

I also strapped on the pedometer as soon as I got to work.  I'm going to keep a log of steps each day.

Since I was at my desk for most of the day, I didn't break any records.  But every chance I took the long way to try and get a few extra steps in.  So the count so far (and I don't expect it to climb much more tonight) is just under 6000 steps.   I'll try to do better each day. 

I also began tracking my food/calories all day.  I did it in both Weight Watchers on-line with the point system and also in Livestrong.com by calories.  I'll continue with both for a few days to see which system I like the best.   (So far WW is winning because it says I still have 3 points left whereas stupid Livestrong says I exceed my calories by 200)  Pfft Whatever.

I contemplated starting a new blog to track this journey, but to be honest - - - I'm not sure how long my committment to this will last.  LOL  Might as well be honest.

But for now - I'm giving it a try.   My goal is 10 - 15 pounds  and for my arms and legs to not jiggle so much.  

Wish me luck - I'm not well known for having a lot of self control :)     By the way,  did anyone ever notice the first 3 letters in diet - - - -  D.I.E     Just sayin

Eeeeek.....

It was only a matter of time.  I knew this day would come eventually, as it does every Spring.

Last night, as I took Millie out to do her business, I was under attack ---  JUNE BUGS.........Eeeeek

Hitting my head, pinging off the siding, their disgusting hard shells crunching under my flip flops in the dark.  Arrrghhh   I hate them.  I imagine they will get caught in my hair and I might actually have to pick one out.  Oh, the horror !!

All the while, I'm screaming at Millie - "Hurry up, they're going to get us!!"  

Thankfully they are only around for a short time.  Then it's the earwigs - oh joy oh bliss. 

On a less creepy note - I have lost my hooking MoJo the last week or so.  I can't get going.  I have blank burlap, wool etc but nothing that makes me want to hook.  So I popped into Deannes at lunch and asked Brenda to find me a small project to get me moving again. 

We picked out this very funky flower.  Perfect for inspiration.  Actually it really reminds of Cathy's work at Orange Sink.  And since I love her patterns I had to try it.  I know it won't match her fun style but it will be fun for me to give it a whirl.

And....I bought myself a new camera lens and it arrived today.  I hope the weather forecast changes so I can test it out this weekend.  I have to stop buying lenses now or else get a larger camera bag.  This one does not have a zoom but takes a wider angle shot for landscapes etc.   The photography lessons start in a couple of weeks so I want to practice.

Oh, and in the interest of public safety I did have 1 cookie last night.  Just one though. 

TGIF

Wednesday Word of the Week

Ferocious

fe·ro·cious   [fuh-roh-shuhs]

–adjective


1. savagely fierce, as a wild beast, person, action, or aspect; violently cruel: a ferocious beating.


2. extreme or intense: a ferocious thirst.

OK, I have been on a diet since Sunday.  No treats, no snacks, no over-flowing plates, no sugar.
 
Quite frankly, when I'm hungry and off sugar it just makes me mean --- like ferocious, mad dog mean.
 

I had the day off today.  I had an appointment in Moncton and planned to spend a relaxing day shopping.   Well, that was the plan before this stupid diet idea.  I avoided the food court because I was scared I might turn ferocious and knock some old lady down for a cookie.   And what is the deal with baby strollers now that are the size of a Volkswagon Beetle??  Good Grief - get out of my way --- I'm on a friggin diet and I'm in a mood.....

Thank goodness no drivers cut me off on the way home because I seriously might have chased them down.
 
I want a cookie........................ or an entire bag of chips............................

Lets hope I lose these ten pounds quickly or things could get ferociously ugly.

P.S.  Thanks for all you who visit Miss The Sea's blog.  Blogging is so much more fun when you have some followers and comments. 

Fiddleheads and Sunday ramblings

Mmmmmm, it's fiddlehead season again in Atlantic Canada.  I love these marsh greens and you can only get them for about 2 weeks a year.  I waited in a small line at the produce aisle of the grocery store as people scooped them up.   They are tender young ferns that grow in marshy soil. 

I posted about them last year and got lots of funny comments.  They do taste better than they look.  I like them hot with melted butter and a splash of vinegar.

I'm going to try and eat healthier and am going to seriously try and stop stuffing myself with crap in the evenings.  I have always been a night-eater but I guess I don't have the metabolism like I did in my younger days.  I have been digging out the spring/summer clothes and tried on a pair of last years pants.   I even tried laying down on the bed to fasten them and it didn't work.  That was the last straw.

I turned on the Wii Fit Plus today.  The program keeps track of your progress.  When it started up it said my last visit was 440 days ago.  OMG.....................   So I weighed myself, set a weight loss goal for the next month and exercised for an hour.   I'm going to try and keep this up for awhile.  I refuse to buy all new pants and shorts for the summer.  But all I really want tonight is a can of Pringles......Give me strength........

I finished binding up the birdhouse rug too.  I was rushing to finish hooking it and now I can't remember what I wanted to do for a new project. 

This is how I finished the backing, with a little whipping and some binding tape.  I am going to Moncton later this week to try and find some of those printable fabric labels.

I have my long work day tomorrow.  We have a Committee of the Whole meeting after regular working hours that can last anywhere from 3-5 hours.  Most nights we are home around 8pm but we have been know to go til 9pm.  That makes for a loooong day.  I hope it is short tomorrow night so I can get home in time for DWTS.  (Priorities, right!)

One more thing before I go - I would like to ask you to stop by and visit Miss The Sea blog. It is a sweet little blog from a New England gal.  She took a blogging break for a few months but is back at it again and needs some new followers.  The blogging community is all about supporting each other.  You won't be disappointed.

Have a great week. And lets all hope it stops raining soon.