Wow this holiday season creeped up and attacked me. I can hardly believe it is New Year's eve. The past month has been a whirlwind of friends family fun and food. I think I have been holding my own it the war against additional weight but I am not willing to risk a setback by stepping on the scale. Yet.
I do feel that the last two weeks has served as a form of aversion therapy....I'm done. I have eaten all I want to. I have shopped until I dropped. I have held my tongue in check while staving off exhaustion.
I think everyone enjoyed not only their gifts but each others company and Christmas Eve services were very special with not only my former husband and his family in attendance as well as my husband's first wife. my stepson was home fr the first time since finishing his tour in Iraq. I was so happy to see his face and to have a little time to get to know his girlfriend.
So here I am ...on New Year's Eve ....at home...in my pajamas and happy for a little peace and quiet.
I wish you all a Happy New Year....here's to 2007
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Low Glycemic Eating
In an attempt to stave off the inevitable holiday weight gain I have embarked on a program of low glycemic eating. Yes it is somewhat boring but that may be because i need to weight for my taste buds to adjust.
I am not a woman who naturally discards sweets...in fact I LOVE them. I might even go so far as to say that I crave them. That is why drastic measures are called for. The warm weather held a little longer than usual this year. What that meant in my world was that I did not drag out the winter clothes until this week. I looked longingly at the skirts and pants and even jackets that I want to slip into again like the familiar skin they had become.......that was before menopause.
I the last three years I have dragged around an extra twenty pounds that truth be told I am not that fond of. I can embrace my aging wisdom and grace. I can get with the thought that no longer have to prove myself....What I can't seem to let go of is this dissatisfaction in having to drag around the extra weight.
I lift weights I work out (though increasing the aerobics is part of the program) and now I am cutting out the bad carbs in lieu of whole grains, beans and lentils. I am cutting out the sugar gradually and readjusting my taste buds. I have found something called agave that is a natural sweetener that has minimal impact on blood sugar. I am trying to cut down on that as well so that my taste buds get used to not having much of a sweet taste.
I will say that I miss the great apple pie from Thanksgiving but I am determined that some of this weight has got to go.
I am not a woman who naturally discards sweets...in fact I LOVE them. I might even go so far as to say that I crave them. That is why drastic measures are called for. The warm weather held a little longer than usual this year. What that meant in my world was that I did not drag out the winter clothes until this week. I looked longingly at the skirts and pants and even jackets that I want to slip into again like the familiar skin they had become.......that was before menopause.
I the last three years I have dragged around an extra twenty pounds that truth be told I am not that fond of. I can embrace my aging wisdom and grace. I can get with the thought that no longer have to prove myself....What I can't seem to let go of is this dissatisfaction in having to drag around the extra weight.
I lift weights I work out (though increasing the aerobics is part of the program) and now I am cutting out the bad carbs in lieu of whole grains, beans and lentils. I am cutting out the sugar gradually and readjusting my taste buds. I have found something called agave that is a natural sweetener that has minimal impact on blood sugar. I am trying to cut down on that as well so that my taste buds get used to not having much of a sweet taste.
I will say that I miss the great apple pie from Thanksgiving but I am determined that some of this weight has got to go.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Outsmarting the Female Fat Cell
The female fat cell and how to out smart it is my project for the next few months. Midlfe brought with it an unexpected struggle with weight. I have always been more on the curvy side and yes I have indeed been one of those women that all I had to do is look at anything fattening and it immediately applied itself to the most unsightly parts of my body.
I always resented it especially since I have been surrounded with very thin women friends for most of my life. ( idon't resent my friends mind you...just that weight seems to glue itself to my body).
That being said, if I put my mind to it...... I have always been successful in losing weight. That is until menopause visited itself upon me. Who knew? Yes I had heard rumors that weight gain was often associated with menopause but I am somewhat embarrassed to admit I thought I would be different.
Now in my own defense the only information I had to fall back on was the evidence that I had lost weight in the past when I put my mind to it.
Well the last couple of years have been a challenge I have yet to overcome. Those extra pounds they reference when "they" speak about menopause seem as determined to stay as I am to get rid of them.
I am using a lot of self coaching and am determined to out smart the damn fat cells.
Please wish me luck.
I always resented it especially since I have been surrounded with very thin women friends for most of my life. ( idon't resent my friends mind you...just that weight seems to glue itself to my body).
That being said, if I put my mind to it...... I have always been successful in losing weight. That is until menopause visited itself upon me. Who knew? Yes I had heard rumors that weight gain was often associated with menopause but I am somewhat embarrassed to admit I thought I would be different.
Now in my own defense the only information I had to fall back on was the evidence that I had lost weight in the past when I put my mind to it.
Well the last couple of years have been a challenge I have yet to overcome. Those extra pounds they reference when "they" speak about menopause seem as determined to stay as I am to get rid of them.
I am using a lot of self coaching and am determined to out smart the damn fat cells.
Please wish me luck.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Acting Our Age
You know this is neither a rant or a jusgement...o.k. maybe a little of a judgement. Mostly it is an observation.
I do not watch much TV. Occasionally though I love to watch some junk TV. I think of it as an ice cream sundae for my eyes and ears. it doesn't offer much value but occasionally it is so so sweet and delicious.
The other night it was Dr.90210. The reality show about plastic surgery. I so think I have a morbid fascination of the before and after and I do think that Dr. Rey is too much in touch with his feminine side even though he is the one to go to if you want your breasts enlarged.
There was a young woman on the show...seeing Dr. Rey for breast enhancement.
She was really quite lovely and dressed according to today's trends but not overboard in my humble opinion.
This is what I found curious...her Mother who was at least 25 years older than her daughter and at least 30 pounds heavier was dressed the same way. And you know what? It didn't look to good. I am all for looking good and I certainly like to follow the trends and adapt them to my 40 plus age range. I too have a 25 year old ...but I don't want to dress like her.
Why? Because I can't pull it off.
There is no reason not to dress appropriately for your age...but still insist on looking gorgeous and sexy but not trashy or desperate.
I wanted to do an immediate mid-life makeover on this woman.
But we all know you can't change anyone. You can just be ready to lend a hand if they want to change
I do not watch much TV. Occasionally though I love to watch some junk TV. I think of it as an ice cream sundae for my eyes and ears. it doesn't offer much value but occasionally it is so so sweet and delicious.
The other night it was Dr.90210. The reality show about plastic surgery. I so think I have a morbid fascination of the before and after and I do think that Dr. Rey is too much in touch with his feminine side even though he is the one to go to if you want your breasts enlarged.
There was a young woman on the show...seeing Dr. Rey for breast enhancement.
She was really quite lovely and dressed according to today's trends but not overboard in my humble opinion.
This is what I found curious...her Mother who was at least 25 years older than her daughter and at least 30 pounds heavier was dressed the same way. And you know what? It didn't look to good. I am all for looking good and I certainly like to follow the trends and adapt them to my 40 plus age range. I too have a 25 year old ...but I don't want to dress like her.
Why? Because I can't pull it off.
There is no reason not to dress appropriately for your age...but still insist on looking gorgeous and sexy but not trashy or desperate.
I wanted to do an immediate mid-life makeover on this woman.
But we all know you can't change anyone. You can just be ready to lend a hand if they want to change
Monday, November 06, 2006
The Worlds Greatest Roller Coaster
Boy oh boy I wish I was talking about some incredible amusement park with the biggest scariest roller coaster around....that would be fun wouldn't it??
Uness you happen to be afraid of heights as I am (oh well there is still time for me to get on one of those huge suckers)
No I am actually talking about peri-menopause ....the 5 to 10 years or more when our body starts preparing to no longer make babies.
I am a member of an online discussion group where we can share our symptoms and how we deal with them.
This is advice from the trenches not delivered from a doctor in a white coat talking in the abstract or worse yet dismissing our symptoms because they may not fall into the everyday category.
Yes there are plenty of reports of hot flashes and interrupted sleep. Of moodiness and depression. Of aches and pains of all sorts....not to forget our actual periods or lack there of.
They come and go and come back again after months of nothing and this whole rollercoaster of symptoms can start anywhere from mid thirties to mid fifties.
That is a wide range.
Of course there is no class we take or special seminar that prepares us...sure we know it is coming....but when???
Right now I suggest that we read as much as we can or participate in these types of groups.
Until we actually know what is happening and with the symptoms being somewhat vague and unique it is nice to have some info so we don't jump to the conclusion that we are dying from some mysterious illness.
Even Oprah was confused. Why should we be any different?
Uness you happen to be afraid of heights as I am (oh well there is still time for me to get on one of those huge suckers)
No I am actually talking about peri-menopause ....the 5 to 10 years or more when our body starts preparing to no longer make babies.
I am a member of an online discussion group where we can share our symptoms and how we deal with them.
This is advice from the trenches not delivered from a doctor in a white coat talking in the abstract or worse yet dismissing our symptoms because they may not fall into the everyday category.
Yes there are plenty of reports of hot flashes and interrupted sleep. Of moodiness and depression. Of aches and pains of all sorts....not to forget our actual periods or lack there of.
They come and go and come back again after months of nothing and this whole rollercoaster of symptoms can start anywhere from mid thirties to mid fifties.
That is a wide range.
Of course there is no class we take or special seminar that prepares us...sure we know it is coming....but when???
Right now I suggest that we read as much as we can or participate in these types of groups.
Until we actually know what is happening and with the symptoms being somewhat vague and unique it is nice to have some info so we don't jump to the conclusion that we are dying from some mysterious illness.
Even Oprah was confused. Why should we be any different?
Thursday, November 02, 2006
How Grocery Shopping has Changed
I was cleaning out the refrigerator yesterday, and I must add throwing a lot of good food away because it had spoiled. I have been shopping for a lot of years and it has been at the minimum for a family of four, one of them being an active teenage boy.
Now there is only my husband and myself. My daughter left for Massachusetts several years ago and I am not expecting her back any time in the near future. With my son in Florida that leaves only my husband and myself. I am sorry to say that we are starting to fall into the trap of just nibbling and not eating. It seems like a lot of work some nights to cook a complete dinner. I am often out working 3 or more nights each week and dinner time has become a rushed affair.
This is not ideal, but given the way life is right now and the fact that we seem to be joining in the battle of the bulge it appears not to be changing anytime soon.
So I must adapt and retrain my shopping brain so that I am not throwing away good food.
I also can no longer use my son as the excuse as to why I have candy and ice cream and cookies in the house. I have to own it.... Ugh!
Now there is only my husband and myself. My daughter left for Massachusetts several years ago and I am not expecting her back any time in the near future. With my son in Florida that leaves only my husband and myself. I am sorry to say that we are starting to fall into the trap of just nibbling and not eating. It seems like a lot of work some nights to cook a complete dinner. I am often out working 3 or more nights each week and dinner time has become a rushed affair.
This is not ideal, but given the way life is right now and the fact that we seem to be joining in the battle of the bulge it appears not to be changing anytime soon.
So I must adapt and retrain my shopping brain so that I am not throwing away good food.
I also can no longer use my son as the excuse as to why I have candy and ice cream and cookies in the house. I have to own it.... Ugh!
Monday, October 30, 2006
All the Kids Are Gone
My 19 year old son left for Florida yesterday to live which finally made it official. I am now an empty nester.
It looks funny as I peek into his room. There are not piles of clothes on the floor waiting for the laundry. No more standoff.....was he finally going to bring them up to the laundry room or was I finally under duress or because I couldn't take asking him to do it one more time going to scoop them up myself. I know in my heart that I shouldn't give in but sometimes when you are the youngest, people cut you a little more slack.
Isn't it funny the things you start to miss? He took the electric guitar and amp as well and I notice how quiet the house has become.
I am trying not to keep the TV or radio on....I have to get accustomed to the quiet. I am trying to give him his space and not call. It's important that he call first, at least in my mind. That way he can feel as though his Mommy is not checking up on him.
This will be a great exercise in impulse control....I'm not sure how I am going to fare.
It looks funny as I peek into his room. There are not piles of clothes on the floor waiting for the laundry. No more standoff.....was he finally going to bring them up to the laundry room or was I finally under duress or because I couldn't take asking him to do it one more time going to scoop them up myself. I know in my heart that I shouldn't give in but sometimes when you are the youngest, people cut you a little more slack.
Isn't it funny the things you start to miss? He took the electric guitar and amp as well and I notice how quiet the house has become.
I am trying not to keep the TV or radio on....I have to get accustomed to the quiet. I am trying to give him his space and not call. It's important that he call first, at least in my mind. That way he can feel as though his Mommy is not checking up on him.
This will be a great exercise in impulse control....I'm not sure how I am going to fare.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)