Weight Loss Wed on Friday and Other Stuff

On the way to bringing my friend T. back home after the bull run we found this advertising cow for a local dairy and had to take pics.  Wearing the required red and white and while the flowers running down the side of my pants weren't required, I none the less felt they were necessary.

I've been staying with my mom for the past few days trying to get everything she needs for the bank, the real estate agent, and for the new home.  We've been having some strong storms for the past couple of days and it knocked the Internet out at Mom's place and who wants to head out to a coffee shop for Internet when Thor is angry?  J called and said he'd like a bit of my company so I braved the huge thunderstorm and drove across the lake in the midst of a 4inches per hour storm.

A couple of friends who are new to New Orleans aren't used to this sort of thing, (heavy rains and street flooding), so I checked in and found that she found the thunder "very intimidating" and that they hadn't moved the car to the neutral ground, (the median for the rest of the world).  I told her that if the street is known for flooding she needed to move the car so that the water doesn't ruin the carpets.  I don't know if she thinks I'm joking, we'll see...

I ran with the Bulls last Saturday and it was HOT.  I got smacked on the rear with a plastic bat, (yay), and so I was pleased.  Afterwards one of the bulls asked if I was interested in giving roller derby a try.  Hmmm.  Then again I think about how long it takes me to heal up from a fall and I think not.

We had a few things we could have chosen to do this week; at the top of the list was to pay our respects to Uncle Lionel Batiste.  Yeah Sis #2 and I met him, and he flirted with us a bit and talked about how funny life turned out to be.  He said something to the effect of, "You know you go your whole life never knowing what's around the corner.  Look at me; I never thought I'd be world famous!"  Bless him, such a skinny little old man thrilled to death over his newly found"Treme" fame and flirting with a couple of middle aged fat broads.  I don't know about you, but it just makes me want to get the guy a cup of coffee and listen to him gush for a while.  Rest in peace Mr. Batiste.

Okay a quick weight loss update:

I'm at 141, but was down to 140 and 139.5 at one point this past week.  Because I was staying with Mom, (it's just easier on the car, mileage, and gas if I stay up there rather than all the back and forth), I was stuck with Sis #2's 17 day diet, which wasn't a bad thing because I did drop a tiny bit of weight.  I've gotten home and immediately hit a couple of eclairs which was good but I have to say they were too sweet and left me feeling a little sick from the sugar.  Perhaps that will have me thinking twice before I binge again.  Angel food cake is the way to go imho.

Weight Loss Wednesday: Oh Phoo!

Sis#2 has been fostering these two kittens since they were 2 weeks old.  I haven't got any pics so I figure who could resist kitten cuteness?

Well I haven't been here in a while.  For the past few weeks I've just been so tangled up I just didn't have room in my head to remember to do everything or even want to.  J is having a hard time right now, I'm helping mom to buy a house, I've had a birthday party, got really sick and have been to Houston for five days over the past two weeks.  So basically it's been Waffle House, fast food, birthday cake and then when I got sick, (like high fever, aches and chills sick), I threw it all up.  I said all of this to say, I've been at 141-142lbs for the past couple of weeks.  Ta dah!

Exercise:  We all know I'm aiming to do the Run With the Bulls this weekend, and yet I've done nothing to prepare.  Well that is if you don't count the one day running up steps for water slides at Schlitterbahn, and the day we rented an inflatable water slide for Sis #3 & my forty-something birthday party, (yeah, we realized the day after we may be just a tad bit old for this kind of stuff).

Water: I'm trying to catch up, (I'm still dehydrated from being sick), and am doing about four glasses a day because any more than that and I feel nauseous again.

Food:  Mostly hot & sour soup this week.

Confession:  I had waaayyy too much cake.

Congratulations:  I got sick.  (It's was saved me from a horrible scale reading)

Weight loss: None really. Oh Pooh!

Current Weight: 141.5

Dream Weight:

The Upstairs Lounge Fire

Picture from: http://www.bilerico.com/2012/02/new_orleans_inferno_the_upstairs_lounge_fire.php

On June 24, 1973, thirty-two people were burned alive in The Upstairs Lounge in the French Quarter.  Why?  It was a gay bar.  Because some inhumane schmuck decided to throw a flammable liquid on the stairway and light it.  It took the fire approximately twenty minutes to completely engulf the building.

The windows were covered with burglar bars through which only the smallest of men could pass through.  Witnesses helplessly watched as men jammed up to the windows, arms flailing through the bars, burned alive.  Four bodies were found under the piano.  Four men huddled in fear under the piano helpless to do anything to save themselves.  It was the deadliest fire in New Orleans' history.

Today, I'd like to think this city would react better, but then, in 1973, many bodies weren't claimed because of the stigma of being gay.  Many churches refused to hold services for the victims because they were gay.  Worse, the city's population felt like these men and one woman got what they deserved.    J. remembers the incident and remembers the general feeling that these people deserved to burn alive.

I could post about my birthday, or my cats, or my weight, but I think that remembering these people today is important.  No one claimed them back in 1973, so today I'll claim them.

In memory of:

JOE WILLIAM BAILEY

CLARENCE JOSEPH McCLOSKEY, JR.DUANE GEORGE MITCHELLLOUIS HORACE BROUSSARD.MRS. WILLIE INEZ WARREN.EDDIE HOSEA WARREN, son.JAMES CURTIS WARREN, son.REV. WILLIAM R. LARSON.DR. PERRY LANE WATERS, JR.DOUGLAS MAXWELL WILLIAMS.LEON RICHARD MAPLES.GEORGE STEVEN MATYI.LARRY STRATTON.REGINALD ADAMS, JR.JAMES WALLS HAMBRICK.HORACE GETCHELL.JOSEPH HENRY ADAMS.HERBERT DEAN COOLEY, bartender.DAVID STUART GARY, pianist.GUY D. ANDERSON.LUTHER BOGGS.DONALD WALTER DUNBAR.JOHN THOMAS GOLDING, SR.ADAM ROLAND FONTENOT.GERALD HOYT GORDON.KENNETH PAUL HARRINGTON.GLENN RICHARD GREEN.ROBERT LUMPKIN.FERRIS LeBLANC.Three Unidentified White Males.  (Names from: http://www3.gendisasters.com/louisiana/1484/new-orleans,-la-cocktail-lounge-fire,-june-1973)

Weight Loss Wednesday: How to gauge just how out of shape you really are...

The scale and my pants say I'm lighter, but the camera still says, "wow look at those ham hock arms."

There was an incident the other day where I chased down a receipt for someone in the local "mart" parking lot.  It's been a really mild 90 degrees and breezy this week so that receipt went flying.   I found myself running across a several rows of cars before I caught the thing.  I was gasping for air,  saw a few stars, and am fairly certain I was beet red when I handed over the receipt.  I got into the car with Sis #2 who was laughing at my condition and I turned to her and reminded her that she is going to look the same when we run with the bulls in July.  

Actually you don't really run, this is New Orleans and it will be July, and frankly no one here has any desire to move quickly for anything.  It's more of a jog/walk/panicked run thing.  It goes like this: You line up in a big crowd of other "runners" they start you off and you jog a bit from the pure adrenalin and then you run into someone you know and slow into a walk and have a little catch up convo and then people from behind get louder and run past you shouting, "Oh my GAWD here comes a bull, (roller derby girl with a plastic bat), RUN!"  And then when someone gets hit and the "bull" moves on everyone settles down and walks again.  See jog/walk/run.  Anyways they've extended the route because the thing has gotten bigger, (I hate it when word gets out on these little festivals) and now after the "mart" run I figure it couldn't hurt to hit that orbital machine again.  Right?  

Exercise:  Okay once this week in the pool @ mom's condo.  

Water:  abt. 4 glasses a day, (on a good day)

Food:  Still trying to opt for more veggies, smaller portions, and less sauce.  Oh the horror less sauce!

Confession:  Mom is feeling anxious over buying a house, I'm still worrying over, well a huge worry that J doesn't want me to discuss, and Sis #2 is just flat out depressed so we purchased three different cakes, sat down and watched the entire first season of Downton Abby and Abraham Lincoln Zombie Hunter while finishing off all three cakes.

Congratulations: Cousin's DH gave us some trout he caught  a couple of weeks ago and so we've been eating fish, which is good for you.

Weight loss: I think this makes 10 lbs in total, but I don't remember what my starting weight.  It was either 151 or 149.  I'm going to have to look that one up.

Current weight: 141!  Yay.

Dream weight: 115

Weight Loss Wednesday: Meh, I'm over it.

Well this week finds me once again with a bit of a weight gain and you know what?  I don't care.  Okay well, I care, but I'm not prostrate with grief over it.  Perhaps it's because we are wringing our hands over so many things right now.  Keep your fingers crossed or send us a little prayer.  J is having problems and we haven't heard a thing from our bid on what we hope to be mom's new house. We are still grieving over Maw Maw, the kitchen faucet leaked all over the floor and damaged the cabinet underneath, but it could be worse and I've been trying to follow Dumbledore's words of wisdom.  So here's the run down...

Exercise:  Just those pee pushups by Sheila

Water:  Doing better, still not up to 8 a day.

Food:  Okay, keeping an eye on the portions.

Confession:  I had an Elmer's heavenly hash two nights in a row.

Congratulations: I'm working on the fireplace and am burning extra calories.

Weight loss: none gained 1.5 pounds

Current weight: 142

Dream weight: 115

Two Weeks of Weight Loss: I'm baaaacckkk.

This is the "Before I Die Wall.  Guess which one is mine. : )

The past two weeks have been depressing, (we have many worries right now), and as usual busy.  Mom is looking at buying a house.  We put in a bid and are crossing our fingers.  This means that I've been up at her house and without the Internet.  Well I could have gone to a coffee shop or to the library, but by the time we were done going through some very dirty houses in 90 something degree weather, I didn't want to get back in the car.  Anyways I have good news on my weight loss project...

Exercise:  I've been doing those pee push-ups (idea from Sheila) and while I'm pleased with the tone I'm getting in my biceps I find my triceps flabby and so I alternate from doing push-ups on the counter to working the triceps on a chair.   I am pleased with the bicep progress and find that this fits my style better than standing in front of the TV doing a workout.  

Water:  I've fallen off the wagon and need to get back on.  I am down to four pints of water a day, (and for the past three days I didn't drink any water, bad me.)

Food:  I am working on portion control.  I am cutting my food in half and am trying to eat slowly, which is annoying J because he is a fast eater.  I make an effort not to eat until I feel stuffed, but until I feel full.  Yesterday I think I under did it at lunch because I stuffed my face with chips and candy last night.

Confession:  I stuffed my face with chips and candy last night.

Congratulations:  I feel like I am eating less and trying to be more consistent with my meals and choices.

Weight loss since the last post: 3.5 lbs!

Current weight: 140.5 (Oh my gosh my skinny jeans are feeling loose!!)

Dream weight: 115


Two weeks ago I was feeling so upset with myself for back tracking.  Today I am celebrating almost hitting getting out of the 140s.  Not sure I'm liking how my weight loss is affecting my mood.  We're going through some hard times right now and I don't need a little backslide in this little project to upset me.  J is a great guy and has loved me thick or thin, and I don't want to add to his stress with mood swings over weight issues.  I sometimes think of him as Saint J, but then he doesn't close the microwave door, or leaves his dirty socks in the middle of the floor and I remember he's just as male as the rest of them.






(Answer: Before I die I want to: write on this wall.  All the good ones were taken:  Become a Jedi, get my letter from Hogwarts, survive WWZ, win the Powerball, have fun storming the castle ...  My wants are simple

Weight Loss Wednesday on Thursday: :

To be honest I didn't want to come on here and make a post on my weight at all and so I am forcing myself to do this today.  I gained weight.  I tried on a couple of outfits to wear to my kid's graduation and the one I liked least is the one I looked best in and I just don't want to face the world with my weight gain.    I started this weight loss thing because I was feeling uncomfortable, unhealthy and wanted to look better.  I didn't go into this with impossible expectations or the idea that my weight affects how I feel about myself as a person.  I'm beginning to wonder about that last one.

When the dress that I so happily found looking much better last week wasn't looking so great this week I felt depressed, frustrated and like I had disappointed J.  I hate that.  My weight doesn't have anything to do with who I am and yet when I saw pictures of myself in a bathing suit on Saturday I wanted to cry.  I know I'm 50 pounds overweight, but geez I was shocked to see me looking like a fat middle aged woman.

This past week has been filled with a Memorial Service, an interment and dinner, three birthdays, and a graduation party.  Basically that's been five cakes, a thousand tiny muffalettas, jambalaya, meatballs, brownies, cupcakes, pizzas, brisket, BBQ, etc.  I have eaten my face off and the gain of just a couple of pounds shows big time.

So I said all of this to say this:  Backsliding on the weight loss has given my ego a hit and I hate that.  I may not be one of those confident people who always seem so certain they know who they are and what they are doing, but I don't want to be one of those people who are always beating up on themselves either.  I used to be that person and I don't want to go back to being that person.  I'm going to get back on the horse, but I'm wondering how to handle weight loss failures so that I'm not telling myself I'm horrible because I look horrible.  Sigh, here are the stats:

Weight loss: none

Current weight: 144

Dream weight: 115