I don’t even want to make a big deal out of this even though this is probably one of the more difficult things I have posted. It’s not like anyone is forcing me to do this of course but if you have a goal you better make sure you note a starting point. And with weight loss, pictures are pretty much the best route to go.
I didn’t manipulate these photos in any way EXCEPT brightness and contrast because some turned out so bright and some not so bright. It took me a second to understand how to add text to a picture as you can see from one of the December pics. I never figured out how to delete the text so….you are left with this. Photoshop smart I AM NOT.
Left: October Center: November Right: December
I’m at 137.5lbs in the October pics, 133lbs in the November pics and 127 in the December 10th pic.
Thanks to Danielle for stitching these all together for me!!
This weekend was the infamous Dessert Party thrown by my former client Lina and her hubby Jeff. Lina spent the better part of her December and probably November baking all kinds of delicious treats for this annual festive event. I attended 2 years ago and although I remember indulging in a few treats I honestly can’t remember what I had. I’m guessing I just didn’t care because I wasn’t really watching my weight too closely back then.
This year is obviously a different story. Declining the invitation was not an option because once again, I want to prove that losing weight is possible during the holidays. Plus, I don’t see the need to be anti-social when you’re watching what you eat.
Here is what was presented to myself and their guests upon walking in the door:
Can you say, YUM?
I don’t think this picture does it justice…so here are just a few close ups:
So what do you do when you’re trying to lose weight but you’re invited to a dessert party? You have plan. My plan was to eat enough to be satisfied but not too much that I felt guilt and gluttony.
You also need reinforcements.
I brought a friend with me, Brian, who I assigned the task of “Spotter” to. I told him to spot me and make sure I didn’t go overboard. Unfortunately Brian doesn’t know me well enough to know what is considered overboard in my mind. BUT, he did a great job regardless. 🙂
Lina and Jeff also did a great job supporting me by showing me things that I could have without the added guilt. So awesome of them to think of little old me!
I was going to take a picture of what I ate but I didn’t want the guests there to think I’m an Instagram freak or strange even though it’s becoming quite normal to take pics of your food. So I’ll just tell you the damage:
About 4oz of a white wine spritzer (About 2 sips in I thought “I want to EAT my calories, not DRINK them!”) and switched to water
1 cup of a mix of berries that Lina and Jeff said they provided specifically for moi. Thanks guys! Fruit is always good.
1 tablespoon and a half maybe ( I didn’t bring out measuring spoons but the thought of breaking those things out in the middle of a party makes me laugh) of Angel Food cake with that pudding and strawberry combination. Is it just called Angel Food cake or strawberry shortcake?? Whatever it was it was also very good and although I tried not to spoon too much pudding on the plate I did get a good chunk of it.
1 of the cookies in the middle of that picture there…The one with the green icing in the middle. I WAIT for these cookies when my Mom makes them and Lina’s did not disappoint. A little thicker than how my Mom makes them but oh so good!!!
I stopped for a while and chatted up some people….Taking a break from the madness.
After about a half hour of drinking water and talking I thought I could handle just a little bit more. Brian mentioned the pumpkin pie would be worth it as well as this 7 layer chocolate chip graham cracker ecstasy Lina made (Picture above on the silver plate). So I opted for one little bite of pie and one small piece of the layered goodness.
End result? Worth it. 🙂 I didn’t feel sick. I didn’t feel bloated. I didn’t feel gross. I had FUN! And best of all, I didn’t feel deprived.
HAD I NOT been trying to lose weight I honestly think I would have gone bonkers and probably would have had no self control. The end result would have been ugly.
At the end of the night I still fit in my size 7 pants. I haven’t worn size 7 pants since I moved back to Cleveland from Chicago. And I got them around Christmas time so it’s been 3 years. And they JUST fit. So a bit of advice if you’re attending a holiday party of the same magnitude and find yourself with the same doubts:
Wear a pair of pants that JUST fit…that if you went nuts with food you MIGHT embarrass yourself and pop/rip them.
Okay maybe that’s not the best advice but it worked.
Thanks again to Lina and Jeff for putting on a great party! And thanks for reading my blog!
Interesting Sidenote: On the way out the door I met a woman whose daughter does Figure Competitions right here in Northeast Ohio! How random is that?? Feels so good to meet other women who are doing the same things since honestly, I don’t know anyone locally doing/training for a competition.
Weight this morning: 127lbs. The meal plan Coach Davies has me on is clearly working very well. I still feel energized, still in a great mood, still making progress!
I did a much better job planning my meals for the week and even had time to help out my family making pierogies yesterday! YUM! (Potato of course…sorry can’t do the sauerkraut).
I can see from my page views here that I’m flatlining these past few days because I haven’t posted anything….and I haven’t posted because my competition training has taken over! This is both a good and not so good thing. Good for me but bad as far as keeping my blog going.
While I have some time, I thought I’d write a quick update on my progress as well as some funny little anecdotes that you will hopefully appreciate.
So Sunday night my Plan arrived in my inbox from my coach, Mike Davies. It included pretty much everything you could ask for in a plan; what to eat and when to eat, how long to workout for and what specifically to do with regards to training/cardio.
It was slightly overwhelming at first to see all these emails and instructions. But more than apprehension, I felt excitement about finally getting on a specific plan.
Monday morning after cardio was a visit to the store to stock up on some key proteins that I was lacking, mainly flank steak and salmon. I opted for just flank steak for now since one high priced protein is enough per week for this cheapass low budget gal.
Without getting into every detail, I’m absolutely thrilled with this plan! The foods I’m told to eat are already foods I like, although I had never had flank before. I’ll be working out twice a day (cardio in the AM and weights and other cardio in the PM).
Since I just started Monday, I’m already feeling the effects. Maybe it’s just psychological but I don’t care. I feel a great amount of energy and I’m not starving. I have no desire to eat anything sweet despite the fact that my Mom is making a new Christmas cookie/pastry/ everyday this week. She offers me some but she understands why I’m saying No…for now. Coach Mike said I can have a cheat day on Christmas as well as New Years. Since we celebrate Christmas on the 22nd this year, I’m saving my Christmas cheat for the 26th when I’m traveling to Chicago to see my friends. As for New Years Eve, well…this year I won’t be on crutches like last year (let’s not talk about that) I might actually go out but I’m not a huge drinker. I’d rather EAT my cheats than drink. So we’ll see about that.
Maybe I’m talking crazy but I don’t WANT to be able to cheat. I think just the fact that I was told that I COULD, makes me not want to. Why undo what I’ve worked already so hard for?
What else has happened since my last post? My mood has improved like, a thousand percent. 🙂
I was telling someone just the other day that I’m extremely happy lately. Like, goofy can’t wipe this grin off my face content happy. At first I thought it was because I’m downing Fish Oil like it’s candy once again. And I know from past experience that stuff improves your mood. I would also say the fact that I’m working out twice a day now and that I’m finally seeing results, is probably a huge reason for my sudden joyfulness.
I’m actually kind of upset I didn’t get myself on a real plan like this sooner. It’s so nice to have someone telling me what to eat and when to eat it. I never understood why my clients wouldn’t follow a meal plan. I followed one when I had a trainer 10 years ago (wow really? unreal that I’m this old ha!) and the results were awesome! And I didn’t even think I needed a trainer back then. (I totally did). Maybe it helps that my goal is so lofty. Maybe I’m celebrating way too soon. Maybe I’m being naive about how difficult the holidays are going to be.
I’m choosing to put those maybe’s aside and all the negative thoughts and just enjoy this journey.
As for some little funny stories, here are a few:
I texted my friend Ronnie on day 1 (yes day 1) of this plan to say that I was sorry for ever thinking drinking egg whites out of the carton was gross and abnormal. 🙂 I haven’t gotten that desperate yet but I can completely relate to why I might have to do this.
I’m really appreciating the fact that I asked for a Costco membership for Christmas.
I told my former co-workers at the gym I used to work at that “I’ve lost 10lbs since leaving this place!!” Probably not the best incentive for working there, ha!
I’m officially a gym rat as I now belong to 2 gyms and work at 2 other studios.
I’m scheduled to go on the Polar Express tonight (those who don’t have kids or are unaware of this, just google it) and I actually am already figuring out a way to pack my food on the train. Perhaps asking for Tupperware for Christmas would have been a better gift to myself?
Drinking 2 gallons of water a day has been…interesting. Ha! I feel like I’m training for my half/full marathons again!
This is all for now…More stories to come this weekend!
The Joyful Celibate 