Shrinking Piggies II

Wrong? Right? I don't know

2009-07-09T23:38:00.002-05:00

I'm pretty sure that now that all is said and (sorta) done I didn't lose any weight. I mean, I did. I got really close to my secondary goal. The one that was acceptable.

I didn't end up having to give up cookies. I think I have had more alcohol to drink in the last 6 months than I have consumed in a lifetime. Even counting those nights I don't remember. ahem. I can thank skating for helping me out there.

Then I got hurt. And quit skating for a month. But still drank and ate cookies and such as if I WAS skating. And put myself back at the beginning (I think. I can't remember where I began) However, my size stayed down. Today I saw a picture of myself in a bikini and thought, damn, I really do look good. Maybe it was the angle, maybe not, but how often do we get to say that?

Now that I'm back on wheels, I'm sure I will drop the poundage again. It helps that I haven't had time to go grocery shopping. Sort of. All I have to eat are klondike bars and carrots.

It was good though, to weigh in every monday. To know that other people were there to support and encourage. I'd do it again. I would have to be better about getting my emails in, but I think this was worth the little bit of time I put into it. Plus, it was fun to see what new piggy picture was posted every week!

A Journey . . .

2009-07-09T22:00:00.004-05:00

Quest

Plan

Fruit anyone?

Challenge

B o M thanks to M o M

Variety?

D I D

Ew…thanks but, no.

C E L E B R A T E

Skinny this

Realization

The end?

No, this is not THE end. This leg of the journey however, has come to an end. The measure of success in this journey was via the scale, for the goal was to lose weight. Achieving less poundage was but part of the attack to lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol numbers, and ease pains in my knees. The better eating habits, coupled with consistent exercise resulting in decreased poundage has had a positive effect on blood pressure readings, and I am experiencing less knee pain. In a few months I’m scheduled for a full lipid panel and the hope is the cholesterol number is good enough to avoid medications. Further, the blood pressure meds can be ceased at that point as well…if I stay this course, so says the doc.

So no, this is not the end, not by a long, long shot. There is more work to do, more weight to lose, more worlds to conquer.

Ok, maybe that’s too much. What about a healthier self? Yeah, that’s the ticket. The journey continues. It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle.

. . . well, a slammin’ bod wouldn’t be bad either. hehehehe

This has been an amazing journey, and thanks to this group I've sustained much longer, and with better results than any previous effort. Awesome!

Cheers to all, and the very best to you in your own quest.

It's the beginning...

2009-07-09T16:46:00.002-05:00

While I didn't make it to my goal I found the simple process of chiming in every Monday with my 'progress' incredibly helpful. Being held accountable is a powerful thing.

I found in the first five months I wasn't being particularly good at consistency. That's really the key to losing weight, you have to be consistent. By the end of May I was just fed up with not making much progress so I decided if I was going to be consistent with anything it would have to be exercise. Thus began my fevered determination to go to the gym every day or do some similar exercise-ish activity if I couldn't go to the gym. I marked my first day on the calendar - May 21.

Since May 21 I have been going to the gym pretty much every day. I decided not to bother too much with food right now. I would eat and drink in moderation but if I wanted cake, I had me a piece of cake. I haven't lost any weight but, lo and behold, I have lost a size. I have lost inches. And I am getting stronger. It's amazing what being consistent can do. I leave The Piggies with a new goal - constant movement.

I have enjoyed this little communal shrinkage immensely and I wish y'all health and happiness in your battle of the bulge.

Cheers,
eb

The End

2009-07-08T13:02:00.003-05:00

I can't believe that it's been six months since this started. Or that I'm only down 6 pounds. I've learned that I've got to be consistent. When we started off, I was very careful about packing food to take to work and watching what I ate. About April, all hell broke loose at work and I basically threw in the towel and started eating through my shift.

One good thing? I have pretty much quit eating junk food and my blood pressure is almost normal (without medication) despite my weight right now. I've become addicted to brown rice with baked brussel sprouts on top and then sprinkled with a little Parmesan cheese. A bit better for me than going to McDonald's and having cheeseburgers when wanting comfort food.

I did get back on the diet wagon on Monday and I'm going to be less strict about it and give myself more variety. My problem is I'll get in a rut of eating like a bird and then go crazy after awhile and eat too much of everything. My plan now is to just keep my eating in check with no snacking and see where I end up in a few months!

Finish Line

2009-07-08T05:25:00.004-05:00

We've made it, however tentatively! Six months together, with ups, downs, sidewayses, and even some diagonals. Here be the final results. Let's each post a post-race roundup of how this went for us, and talk about what's next.

Shrinklet	Change this week	Total Change	Distance to Goal	% of Goal
Chickie	0	-6	34	15.0%
db grin	-1	-10	20	33.3%
Deborah	0	-24	16	60.0%
eb	0	-18	22	45.0%
Ginamonster	3	-7	13	35.0%
LJS	0	-1	9	10.0%
Renn	0	-14	5	73.7%
Tiff	-1	-12	13	48.0%
Utenzi	-2	4	17	-30.8%
Group Totals	-1	-88		37.1%

Home Stretch!

2009-06-30T06:12:00.004-05:00

One week to go!

It's been 6 months of mountainous terrain, and the finish line is looming ahead like a contented water buffalo.

We're getting dangerously near the 90 pound mark - I wonder if we'll cross that line before the end?

This week we're only missing one little piggie, who gets an automatic nuttin' on the chart.

Deborah has some mojo, and should teach us her ways. Renn is closest to goal - only 5 to go!

Let's have a wrap party next week! I'll bring the cake.

Shrinklet	Change this week	Total Change	Distance to Goal	% of Goal
Chickie	0	-6	34	15.0%
db grin	-1	-10	20	33.3%
Deborah	-1	-24	16	60.0%
eb	0	-18	22	45.0%
Ginamonster	-1	-7	13	35.0%
LJS	0	-1	9	10.0%
Renn	-1	-14	5	73.7%
Tiff	0	-12	13	48.0%
Utenzi	1	4	17	-30.8%
Group Totals	-3	-88		37.1%

One Bad Pig

2009-06-28T20:14:00.002-05:00

Folks, I've dropped the ball right into the pigsty, and for 2 consecutive weeks have failed to post an update.

I have no excuse, and I apologize for my gross piggishness and failure to keep the ball rolling. I updated the spreadsheet and charts, but stalled in the posting department.

Here are the numbers for week 23:

Shrinklet	Change this week	Total Change	Distance to Goal	% of Goal
Chickie	-1	-6	34	15.0%
db grin	2	-8	22	26.7%
Deborah	-1	-22	18	55.0%
eb	-1	-19	21	47.5%
Ginamonster	0	-6	14	30.0%
LJS	1	-1	9	10.0%
Renn	1	-13	6	68.4%
Tiff	0	-11	14	44.0%
Utenzi	0	5	18	-38.5%
Group Totals	1	-81		34.2%

And, the results for week 24, our most recent week. Some piggies are understandably missing - it's hard to tell if it's making a difference if the results aren't posted. I've put zero change in for missing results.

Shrinklet	Change this week	Total Change	Distance to Goal	% of Goal
Chickie	0	-6	34	15.0%
db grin	-1	-9	21	30.0%
Deborah	-1	-23	17	57.5%
eb	1	-18	22	45.0%
Ginamonster	0	-6	14	30.0%
LJS	0	-1	9	10.0%
Renn	0	-13	6	68.4%
Tiff	-1	-12	13	48.0%
Utenzi	-2	3	16	-23.1%
Group Totals	-4	-85		35.9%

It's Still Tuesday

2009-06-09T20:45:00.003-05:00

Week 22 is in the can, and I have numbers to prove it.

As for me, to continue the train theme, it feels like I'm right on track.

Yesterday upon waking I found that I'd gained 6 pounds (SIX!!) since my trip to Michigan, which featured lots of road food and 2100 miles of seat time. I was right depressed, especially since I'd brought my fancy new (real!) running shoes and did a full workout at the riverside park. All that wogging was for naught, it seemed.

I weighed myself again at day's end, hoping for a different result. This time, against all experience, my hopes came true. Turns out I only gained one pound (confirmed this morning), which still sucks to my thinking, but it ain't 6.

As for the rest of us, Deborah is our rock star. Consistently shedding, she's lost the most weight and is the first in her goal category to break the 50% barrier. Way to go!

Also of note, Renn may or may not have dropped 4 this week, but whether one week or two that's pretty awesome. And Lady Jane Scarlett clocked in with a rare change - woot!

Regardless of the fluctuations that plague me, I'm sticking with it. I like this group and the purpose. Plus, I can get a little competitive with myself (usually my couch-potato self wins, but my motivated self is proving to be a fighter).

Shrinklet	Change this week	Total Change	Distance to Goal	% of Goal
Chickie	3	-5	35	12.5%
db grin	1	-10	20	33.3%
Deborah	-1	-21	19	52.5%
eb	0	-18	22	45.0%
Ginamonster	5	-6	14	30.0%
LJS	-1	-2	8	20.0%
Renn	-4	-14	5	73.7%
Tiff	0	-11	14	44.0%
Utenzi	-1	5	18	-38.5%
Group Totals	2	-82		34.6%

Back On the Rails

2009-06-05T11:54:00.008-05:00

When your backup plan works just as well as your initial plan, that's a good thing... Right?

In this case, it means we went 2 weeks updateless (which is very similar to how I spent most of my high school years).

Catching up is now happening:
We are currently ending Week 21.
Week 22 results are due Monday morning.
There are only 5 updates remaining (including the next one).
Two piggies are missing from this update. They get a zero for this week.

Aright, let's see how we fared. We're down a theoretical 5 this week, which is pretty cool. Good joerb fellow shrinkers! We've broken the 80 lb barrier, and on our way to 40% of goal. Here be the charts.

Shrinklet	Change this week	Total Change	Distance to Goal	% of Goal
Chickie	0	-8	32	20.0%
db grin	0	-11	19	36.7%
Deborah	0	-20	20	50.0%
eb	-3	-18	22	45.0%
Ginamonster	0	-11	9	55.0%
LJS	-1	-1	9	10.0%
Renn	0	-10	9	52.6%
Tiff	-1	-11	14	44.0%
Utenzi	0	6	19	-46.2%
Group Totals	-5	-84		35.4%

The Skinny

2009-06-03T21:30:00.002-05:00

….on being skinny.

I’ve decided that the term skinny is relative. I’ve decided that I am relatively skinny.

So there!

That said,

I won’t reach my weight loss goal by July 1st. I am actually and relatively sure of this fact. I’m not far but I am too far to achieve it in the time remaining. I’m not devastated by the short-fall. The goal was optimistic to say the least. The high bar served up personal motivational brio. It moved me to move even more for far longer than I would have otherwise. Being part of this group, spurring me to join other groups provided extra ~~cheese~~ impetus.

I’ve learned some things along this journey. I’ve learned that I can’t lose without moving. I’ve learned that I can’t lose unless a move much. I’ve learned that the rah-rahs, atta girls, and positive reinforcements are important to and for me. I’ve learned that I can. I’ve grown to learn that I will.

Thus, the regime will continue long after July 1st, for not only do I intend to reach my goal, I intend to go further and then to maintain my newer relatively skinny status.

So there.

Week 19

2009-05-19T06:16:00.003-05:00

I could reuse last week's picture, because we're still in bouncy-bouncy mode! So, just scroll down to see it.

We've dropped 3 little pounds collectively, for a new total of 79 since January. The 80 lb/ 30% range has us in a tractor beam and won't let us go - all power to the thrusters!

In that spirit, I'm off to run. Time to move my still-too-pudgy posterior.

Shrinklet	Change this week	Total Change	Distance to Goal	% of Goal
Chickie	0	-7	33	17.5%
db grin	-4	-12	18	40.0%
Deborah	-2	-18	22	45.0%
eb	-1	-17	23	42.5%
Ginamonster	6	-5	15	25.0%
LJS	0	-1	9	10.0%
Renn	2	-10	9	52.6%
Tiff	-1	-10	15	40.0%
Utenzi	-3	1	14	-7.7%
Group Totals	-3	-79		33.3%

Week 18

2009-05-12T07:21:00.003-05:00

We have only 8 weeks and 9 shrinkers left in the current challenge. This week's progress is as varied as the Piggies themselves! We're bouncing all over the place like Tigger hisself.

I'll let the numbers tell the story.

Shrinklet	Change this week	Total Change	Distance to Goal	% of Goal
Chickie	3	-7	33	17.5%
db grin	3	-8	22	26.7%
Deborah	2	-16	24	40.0%
eb	-2	-16	24	40.0%
Ginamonster	-3	-11	9	55.0%
LJS	0	-1	9	10.0%
Renn	0	-12	7	63.2%
Tiff	0	-9	16	36.0%
Utenzi	2	4	17	-30.8%
Group Totals	5	-76		32.1%

17 Weeks and Goodbye

2009-05-05T06:02:00.005-05:00

Halloo Shrinkers!

We have exciting news for this week's round up. We've lost 7 pounds as a team this week, and only one gainer (who said it was totally worth it, spending some quality time with a baker friend).

The rest of us are getting closer to our goal over last week, with one exception. The inimitable No Celery Please has adopted Lady Jane Scarlett's former robot abilities, and has remained at 100% of her goal for 4 weeks in a row. With that, she's graduating from the Shrinking Piggies with yet another success (but less weight) under her belt. Let's all give our hearty congratulations, mmkay?

Stand by for numbers.

Shrinklet	Change this week	Total Change	Distance to Goal	% of Goal
Chickie	0	-10	30	25.0%
db grin	-1	-11	19	36.7%
Deborah	0	-18	22	45.0%
eb	-1	-14	26	35.0%
Ginamonster	-2	-8	12	40.0%
LJS	-2	-1	9	10.0%
NCP	0	-4	0	100.0%
Renn	2	-12	7	63.2%
Tiff	-1	-9	16	36.0%
Utenzi	-2	2	15	-15.4%
Group Totals	-7	-85		35.3%

Calories Slaughtered

2009-05-03T21:29:00.002-05:00

One thing I lurve so much about Buckeye Outdoors is that you can generate reports. To check progress, to see average speed etc. This feature is oh so very appealing for a Virgo such as myself, although I am disappointed that there are only two numbers after the decimal place. {sigh} I guess I will *make due* with their imprecise records...for now.

In April, I killed/slaughter/burned-at-the-stake over 12,000 calories. (If there ever were a calorie hell, maybe I'd be in the 8th circle along with leg warmers and those "abs of steel" videos).

Dude, that's like 5-6 days worth of eating...just...undone. Hopefully those were the cake days.

Yet I haven't lost a single pound. But, I'm getting *there*. I feel good about my body with strong legs and my abs of not-even-close-to-steel. And my pants feel...bigger. Not by alot, but enough...
...and this makes me smile, despite the fact I haven't reached my weight goal.

May promises to be another massive month of metabolic murder. I think I'm going to exceed, for the first time ever, 90 running miles. Heck...if I'm really consistent, I'll hit 100. Then those little boogers won't stand a chance. Muahahahaha!

I hope that spring finds everyone refreshed, renewed and raring to go!

:) LJS

I'm Late

2009-04-30T16:46:00.005-05:00

No, I'm not pregnant...* and unfortunately, I can't use that as an excuse for extra pounds.

The results are in, and we are not currently Shrinking Piggies. This post is both late and abbreviated, will return to our regularly scheduled program Tuesday morning. It'll be my last week in my current decade, and I hope to have less of me by my birthday.

The spreadsheet is new and improved, can you spot the difference?

Shrinklet	Change this week	Total Change	Distance to Goal	% of Goal
Chickie	0	-10	30	25.0%
db grin	0	-10	20	33.3%
Deborah	0	-18	22	45.0%
eb	2	-13	27	32.5%
Ginamonster	3	-6	14	30.0%
LJS	0	1	11	-10.0%
NCP	0	-4	0	100.0%
Renn	0	-14	5	73.7%
Tiff	0	-8	17	32.0%
Utenzi	1	4	17	-30.8%
Group Totals	6	-78		32.4%

*On April 1, I told the Facebook world I was pregnant. Based on that, one of my best friends started telling everyone we were having a baby (he didn't ask me about it, and also failed to remember I'm a boy - or look at the calendar).

15 Weeks

2009-04-21T06:39:00.005-05:00

We're all eating our roughage and getting back to regular.

Every piggy has been counted on schedule and I can tell you we're down 7 as a group this week! In total, that's 84 lbs. We've lost Stephen Hawking's wheelchair! Boy, he'll be mad.

Anyway, 6 of us are losers, 2 gainers, and 2 holding steady. Congrats go to me for gaining only 1 pound over the last 2 weeks and really messing up the chart... No change in the winners of overall loss (Deborah!) and percentage of goal (Renn!).

What say we hit the afterburners and see if more of us can reach 50% of our goal before May?

Here comes the science:

Shrinklet	Change this week	Total Change	% of Goal
Chickie	1	-10	25.0%
db grin	-4	-10	33.3%
Deborah	-1	-18	45.0%
eb	-1	-15	37.5%
Ginamonster	-1	-9	45.0%
LJS	1	1	-10.0%
NCP	0	-4	100.0%
Renn	-1	-14	73.7%
Tiff	-1	-8	32.0%
Utenzi	0	3	-23.1%
Group Totals	-7	-84	34.9%

Drive By Update

2009-04-15T15:59:00.002-05:00

Easter defeated me in a big way too... Not to mention 10 hours in a car munching on crunchy foods, a weekend of great country cooking by some country friends, and a lack of exercise. Nevermind we were visiting with friends and the weather was crappy, I suppose really dedicated people would find a way - which I am not, evidenced by my Biggest Gainer status.

This week we gained 3 lbs as a group, thanks mostly to me.

Time to get back on the proverbial treadmill, I promise a full update next week.

Shrinklet	Change this week	Total Change	% of Goal
Chickie	-1	-11	27.5%
db grin	5	-6	20.0%
Deborah	-1	-17	42.5%
eb	-2	-14	35.0%
Ginamonster	0	-8	40.0%
LJS	0	0	0.0%
NCP	0	-4	100.0%
Renn	2	-13	68.4%
Tiff	-1	-7	28.0%
Utenzi	1	3	-23.1%
Group Totals	3	-77	32.0%

Oh Easter, you have defeated me!

2009-04-12T17:47:00.002-05:00

It all seemed perfectly fine until after dinner.

I did so well. Only a single Easter egg.

Tons of salad to fill up the dinner plate so only a tiny bit of the unhealthy stuff could fit in on the side.

But... then the desserts came out.

Pecan "wedding" cookies. yes - I ate four.

Sponge cake with lemon curd and pasty cream filling - are pieces of cake supposed to be smaller than your head?

I may weigh myself with my eyes closed in the morning.

Halfway There

2009-04-07T06:37:00.004-05:00

Week 13 is upon us like a squirrel on a bird feeder. It gnaws at our very souls, for it marks the halfway point in our journey. We're not halfway there in results, but time marches on and we'll be all the way to the end quicker than some of us might like - only two of us have reached 50% of our goals.

Collectively, we lost 1 meager pound this week. Hey, it's progress...

Renn is continuing to shred all obstacles and kick our pigbutts in total loss for the week & overall percentage, and Deborah has lost the most weight so far. Way to go!

They say, depending on which They you listen to, that a habit is formed after 10 or 21 days of repetition. So, if you do something for 2-3 weeks in a row, it becomes part of your routine and no longer something that requires you to move heaven and earth to get done. Same goes for breaking habits.

If you could pick one habit to adopt and one to quit toward your healthy living goal, what would they be? Post about it this week, and if you're willing, take it from hypothetical to reality. How will you make it part of your daily life? I've heard it said, "You can't wish your way out of something you've behaved your way into."

Here's the scoop:

Shrinklet	Change this week	Total Change	% of Goal
Chickie	4	-10	25.0%
db grin	-2	-11	36.7%
Deborah	-2	-16	40.0%
eb	2	-12	30.0%
Ginamonster	0	-8	40.0%
LJS	1	0	0.0%
NCP	1	-4	100.0%
Renn	-4	-15	78.9%
Tiff	-1	-6	24.0%
Utenzi	0	2	-15.4%
Group Totals	-1	-80	33.2%

I Give.

2009-04-06T21:30:00.002-05:00

I must exercise.

I'm never going to go anywhere with this whole weight loss if I don't get to moving.

I've started walking. Just a mile a day but that is better than nothing. I will work my way up from there.

Exercise makes me angry. I'm pissed off the whole time I'm on the treadmill. Do you know what I think of while I'm there? Food. What kind of tasty, not bad for me food am I going to eat when I get off?

Tonight it was brown rice (brown rice?! I can't believe I'm eating BROWN RICE!) and some popcorn. Washed down with lots of water.

I hope to report a loss next week!

Bicyling Season!

2009-04-02T15:29:00.002-05:00

Yay for spring-the season of eternal hope. I found a great story that is inspirational. Get your butt outside. Now! ;)

Behold the Amazing Shrinking Man!

:) LJS

84 Days

2009-03-30T21:15:00.005-05:00

Halloo fellow Shrinkeroos!

We have achieved a loss of 79 lbs since we started, almost a pound a day. It's also what this load o' bull weighed at birth.

When I look at our stats, all I can say is what a fairy godmotherly weird set of stats. To wit:

Chickie, Deborah, and eb are all tied for total loss and percent of goal.
Ginamonster lost her entire amount of weight for the year this week.
LJS is solid as a rock, so steady that I wonder if she isn't a robot.
NCP has beaten her goal twice so far.
Renn is winning the percentage of goal for those of us still under 100%.
I'm starting to think I could maybe stay under 1/8 ton for good.
Tiff is catching up, and has matched NCP for total loss!
Poor Utenzi has gone underground (according to the chart), and hopefully will pull back up into positive territory before long.

Here be the nummers:

Shrinklet	Change this week	Total Change	% of Goal
Chickie	-4	-14	35.0%
db grin	-3	-9	30.0%
Deborah	0	-14	35.0%
eb	-1	-14	35.0%
Ginamonster	-8	-8	40.0%
LJS	0	-1	10.0%
NCP	-1	-5	125.0%
Renn	2	-11	57.9%
Tiff	-4	-5	20.0%
Utenzi	3	2	-15.4%
Group Totals	-16	-79	32.8%

Resolve, renewal and rejoice!

2009-03-25T15:20:00.003-05:00

Four-score and three days ago, I proposed to lose 10 pounds by May 17th. It was a noble goal, a noble purpose and a challenge.

I find myself at an impasse with my incorrigible sweet tooth. Not more than 10 hours after resolving to swear off the sweets, I found myself tempted by the goodly goodness of a homemade piece of baklava. I ate the symbolic apple and since then, I have been its slave. (It doesn't help that I made two cheesecakes last weekend for a friend's birthday. They WERE tasty!)

Now that I am less than 8 weeks away from my goal, I am renewing my resolve. To start, I reminded myself of how far I've come and what I can accomplish when I set my mind to it. I visited an online BMI calculator.
First input: Current weight, height. OK! Normal!
Second input: Old weight, same height. Wow! I was overweight!
Upon seeing the improvement in BMI between 2004 and now, I feel glad that I accomplished my goals. And I am reminded that, yes, I can lose weight. It is all within me to do so! I can really meet my weight goal, especially now that I am increasing my mileage and have renewed resolve.

I am thusly armed against the slings and arrows of delectable decadence. I can resist the call of the sweets, at least during the week. :) So, fellow Shrinking Piggies, I will need all the help I can get!

My rejoice? Well, it is spring...mostly! And I am running outside and enjoying the beautiful cool (but not too cold) Michigan weather. The grass is starting to grow, everyday I see new daffodil and crocus leaves emerging from the ground. A world is out there, and I need to explore it.

Week 11 Report

2009-03-24T17:48:00.006-05:00

The news is in! Here, let me show you it.

The tote board is going backwards, with a group gain of 4 lbs. As with any group endeavor, some are doing better this week than others. Congratulations are in order for losers Renn, NCP, and Deborah - steady as she goes!

This week's picture struck me unusually. While I have no idea who made illustration or when, it follows the original gruesome tale of the Three Little Pigs: Unable to blow down the brick house, the wolf tries to get to them via the chimney. The pigs, having lost 2 houses already, know ye olde wolf is serious about eating them, so they light a fire under him, much to his doom.

I happily call myself a Shrinking Piggy, lightheartedly trotting along the wooded path - failing to take my lifelong struggle with extra weight as though it were a wolf out to destroy me for good. It doesn't want to make things inconvenient, be a foil for my comic antics, or follow me around like a hungry puppy. It wants to devour me. Things look different after they're devoured, no? I'd rather remain quite uneaten and healthy, thank you.

As we reach our halfway point, let's evaluate how we're doing. For those of us with such tendencies: No need for doom and gloom, self-flagellation, or apology - we're in this voluntarily and for our own joy.

Now, off the soapbox and on with the numbers:

Shrinklet	Change this week	Total Change	% of Goal
Chickie	0	-10	25.0%
db grin	0	-6	20.0%
Deborah	-2	-14	35.0%
eb	0	-13	32.5%
Ginamonster	4	0	0.0%
LJS	0	-1	10.0%
NCP	-1	-4	100.0%
Renn	-1	-13	68.4%
Tiff	3	-1	4.0%
Utenzi	1	-1	7.7%
Group Totals	4	-63	26.1%

On Hold

2009-03-24T08:21:00.002-05:00

While we wait for the last 2 piggies to weigh in, please speculate on where they might be and what they might be doing.

Also, why not speculate on what YOU are doing? I miss the days of lots-o-posts and comments.

Progress

2009-03-19T20:03:00.002-05:00

As you may have read elsewhere, I've decided to do the 100 push-up and 200 sit-up challenge thingies, because what else is a menopausal woman to do to lose weight besides power-wishing? Exactly.

These silly challenges? SEEM TO BE WORKING!!! I am happy to report that as of just now (and man, how I did NOT want to do them), I am able to do the following:

- 31 girlie (on da knees) pushups in sets of 4, 6, 4, 4, and 'max,' or in today's case 15.

- 114 crunches, in sets of 21, 24, 18, 18, and 'max,' or in today's case 33.

The progress I've made thus far in both these challenges is tremendous. A couple of weeks ago I would never have thought that I could gut out that many on either set of max'es, and so am understandably HEARTENED to find out that indeed this old body can learn new tricks.

If you're interested, here are the sites:

100 pushups
200 situps

As a comparison, my starting stats were as follows: week 3 column 1 for situps, and at week 1 column 1 for pushups. A sad little start, indeed. There's every chance you could kick my wobbly white butt without even trying.

Just don't wait too long to try to kick that butt, because once I finish each challenge, I think I'll go back and make it harder....hands BEHIND the head for crunches, and 'real' (on da toes) pushups. 4 more weeks of this torture and I'll start all over again. By summer I might be able to wear a 2-piece bathing suit, and maybe even a sleeveless top.

Hey - I can dream big.

Week 10

2009-03-17T09:21:00.004-05:00

The polls are closed and we roll ahead with the focus of a band of marauding muppets. Do I hear banjo music? It's probably just me.

Our lovely artwork for today was unwittingly provided by Fifi LePew, a fine Photoshop artist and Farker.

Anywhy, here's the highlight reel:

We piggies have maintained a steady pace, without any big swings in either direction. Except for Ginamonster, who gained 18 pounds for all we know. Gainers outperformed losers by one pound for the week (not counting the aforementioned AWOL piggy). In fact, eb and Deborah were the only losers, which nearly balanced our group scale. eb is ahead in the overall results (yay!).

Without further blathering, here are the numbers:

Shrinklet	Change this week	Total Change	% of Goal
Chickie	1	-10	25.0%
db grin	1	-6	20.0%
Deborah	-1	-12	30.0%
eb	-1	-13	32.5%
Ginamonster	0	-6	30.0%
LJS	0	-1	10.0%
NCP	0	-3	75.0%
Renn	0	-12	63.2%
Tiff	0	-4	16.0%
Utenzi	1	-2	15.4%
Group Totals	1	-69	28.6%

3 Things

2009-03-14T19:21:00.002-05:00

I too will admit to reading the challenge. Also to issuing it, with the knowledge that I'd have to play along instead of sitting in an insulated ivory tower sending out edicts for others to complete. It made me cringe a little, AAMOF.

The challenge was meant to spur us shrinkers into action toward our goals, because I know too well that wishing does nothing to the waistline. Unless it's wishing for cookies, which are the wishes that come true much more often than wishes for millions of dollars or a sunny day or a letter from a particular person. Also, it was meant to be either 3 different things to do in a week, or one thing done 3 times in a week. I left it ambiguous because I only thought of it one way at the time...

My intended things were to join Tiff in the 100 Pushups and 200 Situps challenges, and to move more during the day. Here's how it went.

100 Push Ups is a website that has a program to get you doing 100 push ups in 6 weeks. Pretty self-explanatory, no? You start with an initial test, then follow a track suited to your test results. I've always been pretty good with push ups, so I started at Week 3, column 3. Already, after 4 days of exercise, I feel the difference in strength. I dunno if it's helping me lose any weight yet, but it certainly is helping with the capacity to lose weight (more muscle = more fat burning). Monday's weigh in will tell the tale...

200 Sit Ups is another website, just like the other one only different. Unlike the push ups, I've always sucked large at sit ups. Very very bad at them. My belly is more like Santa's than Brad Pitt's, and I've quit every time I've tried to work on my abs after very short attempts. This time I have a clear goal and a workout partner, and at one week I'm ahead of the last 10 years of efforts. Week one column one for me. Plus, I'm using the exerball instead of the floor to save back pain.

As for moving more, I took a cue from Chickie and did lots of yard work. Ground up the front lawn with a rototiller last weekend, and have spent 3 evenings raking out dead and dying plant material. For work, I took on a small roofing project, which always stretches the legs and has stair-climbing built in, and helped take down 4 trees on Friday. All walking, carrying, climbing, throwing. Also, played tennis one sunny day when it was 75 outside. The high hopes for more of that were dashed by 3 days of cold and rain (and counting).

I think the pushups and situps are making the biggest difference; I can feel it in my arms and gut even at rest. My eating habits are about the same over the last 3 weeks. I'm unlikely to start enjoying jogging, so I hope it's enough to keep me on track.

Challenged

2009-03-14T11:19:00.002-05:00

I admit it. I read the challenge. I read it and then I got distracted by the giant vat of nacho cheese in my fridge. And the bar at Bingo the other night, the sodas, the mudslides, cupcakes... it's been a banner week for falling off the wagon.

Since I can't eat negative cookies, my only real option was to exercise more. While my Derby Bout tonight is technically more exercise and I think I'm drinked out for a bit, I still don't think I will have filled the requirements.

But I don't think I want to make any more cupcakes. or Cookies. And I won't be buying another vat of nacho cheese.

Those are things for the future though. I'm not entirely sure what happened with my now.

Last Week's Challenge

2009-03-11T08:01:00.004-05:00

I will admit that I didn't see the challenge last week until Wednesday night. But that's okay because I'm a procrastinator anyway. I didn't really do three different things but tried to do well by eating better for at least three days. (As witness to my falling off of the diet wagon there was the 5 pound gain last week!) I just tried to get back in the diet routine and it worked!

I've started drinking V-8. This is really big for me because I despise tomatoes so to go to drinking their blood is a big deal. But a glass of that with some grits for breakfast (Grits with NO cheese! Look at me go!) is quite filling. And I burp it up for hours so I remember that I have eaten and don't need to snack.

Last week, I did not buy a hot lunch at work. Just had their soup. Sometimes, the hot lunches are hard to resist but the portions are huge and I hate to waste food. Though the last time I did get a hot lunch there, I had them half it and I shared with my podmate. (She has gained 10 pounds since the beginning of the year. I told her that my weigh had to go somewhere when it came off of me!)

During weeks 1 through 7, I burned myself out on eating cold cuts and cereal bars and am trying to find ways to eat better when I'm in a hurry.

Yowzah, Yowzah, Yowzah

2009-03-10T21:25:00.002-05:00

Or in other words: these three things. The three things: a. ate less. I suppose I could have done more, that is to say ate less more, or ate even less, more or less. Point is a concerted effort to eat less was made.

b. Moved more and by moved that is to say walked. And by more that is to say, much. The actual count is not known due to a faulty pedometer battery. But suffice to say more movement was made.

c. Didn’t drink any alcohol. Well, didn’t drink much alcohol.

I trust greater gains or rather, losses can be made by decreasing even more a, increasing even more and varying b, and decreasing even more c or to put it another way, formula D I D

Yowzah, Yowzah, Yowzah!

I didn't do three things

2009-03-10T11:59:00.004-05:00

But one thing that happened - I got lucky. Or something. Because I was not a good piggie last week. In fact, I was really bad and I must have done just enough good stuff to stave off the really bad. Probably in the end, the really bad wasn't quite so bad. Nevertheless, the badness can't continue.

One thing I didn't do was go to the gym. That's because I had some yard work I did. Yard work is good exercise so I didn't feel too bad. But I really need to go the gym on a regular basis, everyday, if I'm going to make any substantial progress.

One thing that I know I am battling right now, and it happens every time I try to lose weight, I am facing the 'Stop it' battle.

Here is my theory- when you first start losing weight and you lose that first 10-12 pounds, your body rebels. It's been used to carrying the weight. It doesn't want to lose the weight. Like the ring in the Lord of the Rings - it wants to be found. It wants you to find ways to put it back on.

This is why so many people give up and gain back after the first initial loss. That is when you really need to redouble your efforts. That is my goal this week.

My three things I am choosing to do is not eat past 7pm, no refined sugar and using the stairs at work. I'd really like to knock off 2 lbs. a week the rest of the way.

Nothing Could Be Fina Than Weeka Nina

2009-03-10T07:42:00.006-05:00

Week 9 is here, and we're back in gear! Thanks to Deborah for the title.

Progress is this week's theme, with 18 pounds that mysteriously vanished. Looking forward to the Piggie Posts to see how we did it!

Chickie is leading the week's loss. Renn and eb are tied for most melted, and Renn leads the percentage race (if you don't count certain celery-hating overachievers:)). (I just noticed that if you make a smiley within parentheses, it has a double chin. Heh.) Utenzi didn't show up for this week's weigh-in, so I've counted no change for him to keep the charts looking normalish.

As a group, we've stomped 70 lbs into retirement. May they never return.

Shrinklet	Change this week	Total Change	% of Goal
Chickie	-5	-11	27.5%
db grin	-4	-7	23.3%
Deborah	-2	-11	27.5%
eb	-1	-12	30.0%
Ginamonster	-1	-6	30.0%
LJS	0	-1	10.0%
NCP	1	-3	75.0%
Renn	-3	-12	63.2%
Tiff	-3	-4	16.0%
Utenzi	0	-3	23.1%
Group Totals	-18	-70	29.0%

Welcome to March of the Piggies

2009-03-02T07:50:00.005-05:00

This is the Week 8 Roundup. Can you believe we've been shrinking together for 2 months already?

I'd say a trend is emerging, and while the chart would look good for the economy (if the negative numbers pointed down, like they would for dollars), it's not so good for shrinkers! We're almost 1/3 of the way to the end, which is when we might expect the going to be sluggish.

As a group we've gained 10 lbs since last week. I certainly took my fat pills (and spent a week on the couch instead of the court). The good news is each of us is still down from our starting points.

Deborah is this week's leader in the right direction at -4! Chickie and I tied the going-backward race at +5 each. eb is the winner at overall loss so far.

I'd like to offer a challenge for this week (for those of us who are not yet at 100% of goal): Do something more toward your SP goal at least three times this week, and post about it.

Your numbers are humbly presented below:

Shrinklet	Change this week	Total Change	% of Goal
Chickie	5	-6	15.0%
db grin	5	-3	10.0%
Deborah	-4	-9	22.5%
eb	-1	-11	27.5%
Ginamonster	1	-5	25.0%
LJS	0	-1	10.0%
NCP	0	-4	100.0%
Renn	1	-9	47.4%
Tiff	2	-1	4.0%
Utenzi	1	-3	23.1%
Group Totals	10	-52	21.6%

7th Weekiversary of Day One

2009-02-25T09:17:00.005-05:00

All piggies are in the pen, and we can now publish our results for this week. In order to keep things trucking, I'll plan on posting each Tuesday morning. Strange things may happen to your data if you don't weigh in...

This week could be characterized as plateauish, which is the bit where the scenery may get boring. Loss leader for this week is Ginamonster, down 3!

As a group, we've gained a pound. Still, we're 62 lbs lighter than we were in January, which is good.

The numbers follow. The chart is busted and I have to go to work, it'll reappear next week!

Shrinklet	Change this week	Total Change	% of Goal
Chickie	-1	-11	27.5%
db grin	0	-8	26.7%
Deborah	3	-5	12.5%
eb	1	-10	25.0%
Ginamonster	-3	-6	30.0%
LJS	0	-1	10.0%
NCP	-1	-4	100.0%
Renn	0	-10	52.6%
Tiff	1	-3	12.0%
Utenzi	1	-4	30.8%
Group Totals	1	-62	25.7%

Burst of Motivation

2009-02-19T16:07:00.002-05:00

Recent conversation with MoM:

Mom: Are your fingers swollen?

Me: No

Mom: You sure? They look swollen.

Me: No, I mean yes, I'm sure. My fingers are not swollen.

Mom: they sure look swollen.

Me: My fingers are not swollen.

Mom: It's hard to believe they're not swollen, they look swollen.

Me: Ok, they might be swollen.

Mom: You should probably get that checked out.

The conversation takes the trip down the doctors/meds/healthcare system road.

Thanks to mom and my non-swollen, chunky fingers I experienced a motivational burst, or boost if you will.

Problems I never thought I'd have

2009-02-18T09:52:00.002-05:00

So... now that I have managed to rein in my brain and decide that this weight range I am in right now (138ish on Friday to 141 ish on Monday) is a good place to be and the one where I want to stay... I have something of an issue.

Having lost, since 2001, roughly 50% of my body weight, I am left with rather more room in my skin that I require.

Imagine, if you will (or maybe you would prefer not), a frosting bag chock full of frosting. The bag may be big, but the surface is taut. Now, imagine squeezing out half the frosting. Now what does the bag look like? It's not pretty.

But I can't really think of any options for resolving this other than the fairly unappealing one of paying someone to take a knife to me and slice away the parts I no longer need for containing flesh.

This is only slightly unappealing because of the fact that it's major surgery and therefore a life-risking proposition. More unappealing is the idea of having to pay, what? $10,000? $20,000? Lord knows... how much does elective surgery cost?

I know the insurance company would probably have paid for gastric bypass surgery. Do you think if I called them up and told them how much money I saved by doing it without that surgery, they might be willing to float the cost of a tuck here and there? Anyone here in the insurance game?

Six Weeks

2009-02-17T07:30:00.008-05:00

We shrinkers are plowing ahead like a road crew of doom, steamrolling over goals like so many jelly donuts. The interesting things about this week: You can find an image of just about anything online, and NOBODY GAINED! That's pretty cool.

As a group, we're down 63 pounds.

Here be the (New and Improved) numbers:

Shrinklet	Change this week	Total Change	% of Goal
Chickie	-1	-10	25.0%
db grin	-1	-8	26.7%
Deborah	0	-8	20.0%
eb	0	-11	27.5%
Ginamonster	0	-3	15.0%
LJS	-1	-1	10.0%
NCP	-2	-3	75.0%
Renn	-1	-10	52.6%
Tiff	-2	-4	16.0%
Utenzi	0	-5	38.5%
Group Totals	-8	-63	26.1%

Someday I'll be posting the correct data on the first try... sheesh (sorry Tiff!).

And by the overwhelming demand of NCP, here's the updated chart:

Don't lose interest

2009-02-11T13:09:00.001-05:00

We're 5 weeks into this whole ~~stupid~~ valuable exercise, and I must say I'm feeling rather...out of it.

Where'd JANUARY go? How can it be almost the middle of February? And, as a corollary - why aren't I about 10 pounds lighter than I was at the beginning of the year? I should be 10 pounds lighter, really I should, and I could have been.

Except....

I hereby publicly admit I've done NOTHING to get there except maybe eat a little less and a little better than I did a few weeks ago. I have not been working out at all really, I've fallen prey to stress and a workload that can only be described as 'evil,' and I'm not moderating my 'mama juice' intake (that'd be liquor, to all y'all not familiar).

Why am I not? One reason, I think: I've been overweight now for about 10 years, and have gotten used to it. I've forgotten what it's like to be thinner, and instead have made a habit of not thinking about it. Not thinking about how much better it would feel to NOT have a jiggly belly, about how much nicer it would look to NOT have a dimply ass, how much better it would be to NOT have jiggly upper arms. I've gotten used to disliking the way my body feels, what it's like to be over 200 pounds (there. I said it), the adjustments I've made to accommodate this bigger body.

I have not kept my desire to be thinner in the front of my mind. I have begun to believe that it might be possible to THINK away 25 pounds of fat. I have not faced myself down HARD and given myself a stern talking-to, as I need to.

Anyone else in that same boat, or are all y'all just busting out with self-determination and goal-oriented lifechanges???

Cinco de Weeko

2009-02-09T19:44:00.006-05:00

We're here live at Week Five, and the buzz is deafening. There are piggies sailing up and down the roller coaster of life, and it's a wild ride indeed for some. Others are in the golf-cart of life, meandering gracefully toward their goals.

Renn is wearing the yellow shirt today, leading both the weekly loss results AND percentage of goal. Wootus maximus!

eb is winning at overall loss - way to go!

Although we've only shed 2 pounds for the week, we're at 55 pounds of lost fat since we started. No matter how you slice, dice, shred, or melt it, that's a respectable result.

This humble reporter is proud to present the results of our little smackdown in 2 (TWO!) formats:

Shrinklet	Change this week	Total Change	% of Goal
Chickie	3	-9	22.5%
db grin	-1	-7	23.3%
Deborah	-2	-8	20.0%
eb	-1	-11	27.5%
Ginamonster	0	-3	15.0%
LJS	0	0	0.0%
NCP	4	-1	25.0%
Renn	-4	-9	47.4%
Tiff	1	-2	8.0%
Utenzi	-2	-5	38.5%
Group Totals	-2	-55	22.8%

Off the Rails

2009-02-09T11:50:00.003-05:00

I completely lost it this weekend.

The trip to NYC had been relatively behaved until Thursday... when a week of not greeting the morning with stepping on the scale caused me to go all delusional and forget to control the food intake. I think it started with that.

On Friday, when I came home... I am not really sure what happened. But I was tired. Tired of obsessing over my weight. Tired of feeling bad about myself and my body. Tired of the constant mental conversation about whether I can eat something, if I should feel guilty about it, if I am too fat to put that in my mouth.

So, yeah, I got a little overwhelmed with the whole diet thing and totally ran off the rails.

There was Chinese food involved. And Pizza. and Cake. Friday, Saturday, Sunday... all "bad".

So now I am 4 pounds heavier than I was when I weighed in last Sunday, and back to being above the "Goal".

But I don't think I can go back to what I was doing before. I was getting weird and crazy and obsessive... Emotionally, it was bad for me. I was starting to think about losing more than the goal... targeting ridiculous pants sizes... I was unable to appreciate just how far I have come (not overnight) and was totally focusing on this tiny number, these little few lines on the scale. Sometimes, I just go insane... it's part of being me.

So - redefining my shrinking journey is in order, I think. I mean... I was doing quite well losing just a couple of pounds a month over the past year or so. It was real weight loss, not the temporary swings kind of loss based on water and how much food weight is in process in the digestive tract and other silly tricks one can play on a scale. And I was happy with it. I think I got over-ambitious just trying to rush through the last few pounds of this journey and instead of focusing on slow and steady wins the race, I got all jack-rabbity and tried to force it off through restriction and exertion.

To continue this ridiculous tortoise and hare metaphor, I guess this weekend was my "the hare takes a nap" interlude.

So I am announcing a new and redefined Shrinking Piggies goal. The "target" weight is still 140. But I am not trying to get there in February. Or maybe not even March. I am going to accept that sometimes on Monday I might weigh more or less. And I think that as long as my weight on any given day of the week does not go over 145 or under 138, then I will call that "success". I will continue to exercise and eat healthy foods, as I was doing previously, with the much slower weight loss. And I am going to be serious about that lower limit too. I do not want to get in a situation where I find myself trying to inch things down, down, down. That's a slope that never ends or leads to serious problems.

Sometimes I guess I just have to go off the rails to find myself in a place where I can get back on a better track.

Ahoy!

2009-02-06T11:33:00.003-05:00

I really liked EB's post. The scale is both my best friend and worse enemy, but I still hop on every morning. This week is all about the "it swells" part. I am having a bad week. And I was VERY good in California-lots of fish and fresh veggies, only one trip to Bijan bakery.

And this is how my water-retaining, sweet-toothing, corpuscular vesicle treats me?

I will beat this beast back into submission. Fiber will be involved. And more miles on the treadmill of boredom. Each day is closer to running outside without worrying about hypothermia. I want to be prepared to explore the parks on my feet and just watch the world go by along with my thoughts.

Thanks everyone for such inspiring reading while I was in California. I'm happy to be home, freezing my buns off. Because hanging out in that -15F weather really does improve metabolism. Right?
:) LJS

Scale power

2009-02-04T10:27:00.003-05:00

Weight loss is all about mind over matter. There are all kinds of plans you can have but in the end it's a mental game. You have to train your mind to not eat the bad stuff. Your body can handle it just fine. There are lots of good, whole foods you can eat that will keep you feeling full. It's not your body that's the problem. It's your mind.

Using the scale is part of the mental game. It is the one empirical measure we use when it comes to weight loss. The problem with that is the human body is complex. It's like an ocean. It ebbs, it flows, it swells, it wanes. This is why giving the scale too much power can be a very bad thing for your mental health. Yet, it is not easy to distribute that power because the scale is the Grand Poobah of weight loss tools. But, it is not the only tool. Just as you need a hammer to hammer a nail you don't use a hammer to float grout. I suppose you could try. It would be way hard.

Another, more important (imho), tool is your clothing. How do your clothes fit? How is your body changing and how does that relate to your clothes. Are your jeans a little bit easier to put on after they've just come from the dryer? Do your shirts hang a little bit more? And then there's real biggie, do you need to buy new clothes because your old clothes are simply getting too big?

The scale is important. It is a very good measure, but it's not the only measure and the power it has over our emotions should be knocked down a peg or two. You're not on a diet. You're on a mission to change the way you think. Approaching every day with the mental attitude that you will eat right and get some exercise is akin to teaching the man to fish. This may be hard to sustain when you do all the right things but see the scale move up. Don't be dismayed, how do you even know that's a pound of fat? It could be a pound of water.

Taking off the weight is actually the easy part. Keeping the weight off is the hard part and when you get to that point, you'll be glad you've trained yourself to eat right and exercise because that's what you'll need to stay at healthy weight for the rest of your life.

Plus One...

2009-02-04T05:00:00.000-05:00

I wish that I could blame it on the Super Bowl. I wish that a sudden addiction to high calorie chocolate, potato chips or other 'unmentionables' came into play. I wish I could reference that nightmare known as water retention. Unfortunately, none of it would be true.

For the past few weeks, I have experienced a steady decline in my weight. A pound or two a week, which is average. Until this week, that is. This week, I gained a pound.

I'll be the first to admit that, for a minute, I was rather emotional about it. Dramatic, even. I'll be fat forever! I thought. Then I remembered something really important: It's just a frigging pound.

I have been on a diet - off and on - since I was ten years old. I have always been the Sturdy One. The Solid One. The fat one. I have lived on tuna fish (mayo free), dry toast, skim milk. I have eaten food so foul and revolting that entire sections of the food pyramid have been removed from my life. You know, just in case.

I finally pulled the plug on that way of thinking last year. Now, one year later, I am over 20 pounds lighter than I have been in years. I look better - and I feel better. I would have never imagined this to be possible.

So, am I thrilled with this gain? No. I am also not devastated. I will regroup. I will reset. I will re-lose. Today is another day, and so is tomorrow. It will all work out as it should.

And you know what? It won't be eating any tuna fish. With or without mayo.

New resolution

2009-02-03T10:38:00.001-05:00

I must make exercise a habit.

I must habitually exercise.

I must stop making excuses, running out of time, being lazy, being uninspired.

I must move.

I must, or y'all are going to beat me at this weight loss game, and I cannot have that. It is unacceptable.

Now, where can I buy some inspiration? I seem to be fresh out.

Pigs On Parade V4.0

2009-02-02T19:15:00.003-05:00

By the way, that's not my belly in the reflection

Another week has left our behinds 20 lbs lighter! Woot! We've punted 53 pounds altogether, which is a feat for feet stronger than mine. Fifty-freakin'-three! That's a border collie we've been smuggling under our shirts.

Chickie has blown all our doors off, apparently giving birth, so congratulations (unless it's a really ugly baby, in which case we offer our sympathy and a stack of paper bags).

We're on a good pace to make our goals, if slacking is not allowed to creep in as it did for me this week (dinner with friends: Apple pie. Superbowl: Beer. Because they're so good: Chocolate chip cookies. And so on).

As they say, let's do the numbers:

Shrinklet	Change this week	Total Change	% of Goal
Chickie	-9	-12	30.0%
db grin	-3	-6	20.0%
Deborah	-1	-6	15.0%
eb	-5	-10	25.0%
Ginamonster	-4	-3	15.0%
LJS	0	0	0.0%
NCP	0	-5	125.0%
Renn	1	-5	26.3%
Tiff	-1	-3	12.0%
Utenzi	2	-3	23.1%
Group Totals	-20	-53	22.0%

I lost 5

2009-02-02T10:06:00.003-05:00

But did I really lose 5? No, not very likely.

More likely, I didn't really weigh my original starting weight. Why? Ladies, you know the answer. Because that "special visitor" we have every month is a trickster. She is the evil doer of uneven weigh-ins. I must say, when I first stepped on the scale it did seem a bit higher than the usual high, but I thought, "Ok, I can deal with this."

Then, this past week, my real body was returned to me. I could tell by the way my clothes were fitting - a little on the looser-ish side. So now, for two weeks, I get to have my regular body back and then I'll probably gain 2 or 3 pounds, just because it's fun (!), when it's 'that time' again.

I have decided it's time to kick it up a notch (I hate quoting Emeril cause I can't stand the guy, but there it is). I may as well take advantage of the momentum.

Onward and downward!

But How?

2009-01-31T18:02:00.003-05:00

I'm not entirely sure how I managed to gain a pound last week. I replaced cookies and junk food with celery and peas. I practiced extra hard. I had a couple of drinks and some soda, but not nearly as much as I tend to have. I only have ONE monkey cupcake.

The temptation to go back to my cookie gorging days was there this week. Especially when they passed around the chocolate cream pie at my pre-bout meeting on Monday.

But I didn't. Not one bite. Because I know that one week isn't going to do for me what several weeks of consistancy will. According to my graph, I need to lose 2 pounds a week for 9 weeks to be at goal. I suppose if I don't i can resign myself to the idea that this is what I weigh, but I don't think that's the case. Who knows? Maybe I will have lost 4 pounds last week! I can do it! I know I can! I haven't had any soda or treats this week! Can you tell I'm proud? because this has been really hard...

Birthday Celebration

2009-01-30T09:27:00.004-05:00

No, not me. I am so not in need of a birthday. We went out last night to celebrate my stepson's 24th birthday. He is in school to become a chef and revealed to us last night that this might not be a good idea because there are a lot of foods he doesn't like. I guess that would make it problematic. Why he didn't figure it out earlier is anyone's guess.

Nevertheless, I indulged. What else could I do? Be good and have a freakin' salad? Well, I did have a salad but - I supplemented. Ok, ready?

We started out with an appetizer of batter fried shrimp and cheesy grits with bacon. Uh, yeah. We ate it.
Then I had the most wonderful Caesar salad ever. Really. It wasn't your regular Caesar. There were tomatoes and hearts of palm and capers and it was all simply awesome. Hey, I can kind of stick to the diet thing.
For an entree I ordered the succulent and perfectly cooked beef tenderloin with a side order of bleu cheese mashed potatoes. Yep, ate that too.
Oh, yeah, I had two glasses of wine. Oops.
Then, we went to another restaurant, and because I was so delirious I somehow ordered a piece of Tres Leches. I ate that too.

Ok, now I'm trying to convince myself it was all a dream and never really happened. The question is, can one day - nay, one evening - of indulgence lead to weight gain? How can that be? I refuse to believe it. I'll continue to refuse to believe it until Monday morning.

What?

2009-01-30T00:50:00.002-05:00

Bacon Encased Sausage!!!

2009-01-29T12:59:00.001-05:00

My arteries are hardening just reading the article... but MAN that sounds tasty.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/28/dining/28bacon.html?no_interstitial

I wonder how many calories would be in just one teeny slice?

Don't they SOUND healthy?

2009-01-28T22:56:00.004-05:00

This recipe grabbed from the first site that had a link to "wheat germ cookies," because we have a bottle of wheat germ in the cabinet that needs et.

WHEAT GERM COOKIES

1/2 c. oil
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. whole wheat flour
1 c. wheat germ
1/2 c. honey
1 tsp. salt
1 c. quick oats
1/2 c. milk
Chopped nuts (optional)

Mix well. Drop by spoonful onto oiled cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

(Ed note: no mention in the recipe of how BIG the spoonful should be, or how many calories per nebulously sized spoonful-o-dough, or nuttin.' Frustrating. HOWEVER, it beats throwing out a rancid batch of wheat germ, becaue the stuff doesn't last forever no matter how much you want it to.)

Somethings else to do with wheat germ:

- mix with yogurt
- cereal topper
- stealthy pancake-mix add-in
- splendiferous addition to banana-nut muffins (esp the "Laurel's Kitchen" variety)

Probably lots more, but these are the few I've used lately in my quest for nutrition-packed hippe-style eatin'. Y'all have more ideas? Let us know, or tell us about your new fave food...hippie-style or no.

Pigs On Parade; Week 3

2009-01-27T07:00:00.008-05:00

Ah, finally all are results are in and we can POST THEM!

We have a great show lined up for you today: Drama with scales, drama with the things scales say, a bit of steady progress, and some overachievers. We have a group total of 33 pounds lost in just 3 weeks (no thanks to me - sucks to go backwards).

Congrats to Utenzi, this week's biggest loser, and to Renn, the overall loss leader!

Also to No Celery Please for beating her goal already, and for teaching me to be a better person for not calling her mean names just because I'm having trouble keeping up...

And, the corrected data that pulls from the correct cells this time (good thing I'm not an accountant, huh?):

Shrinklet	Change this week	Total Change	% of Goal
Chickie	-1	-3	7.5%
db grin	3	-3	10.0%
Deborah	-1	-5	12.5%
eb	-1	-5	12.5%
Ginamonster	1	1	-5.0%
LJS	0	0	0.0%
NCP	-2	-5	125.0%
Renn	-1	-6	31.6%
Tiff	0	-2	8.0%
Utenzi	-4	-5	38.5%

Food of Doom

2009-01-25T18:27:00.003-05:00

This video will make your blood thicken up; viewer discretion is advised.

Food issues, anyone?

Watch CBS Videos Online
(just over 5 minutes long, with a commercial at the beginning)

Brutal honesty of children

2009-01-23T21:28:00.003-05:00

My lovely, knitter wife, Maxine and I are babysitting our nephews this weekend while my sister and her husband play in Las Vegas. One of our instructions was to allow the oldest, Bobby, to eat whatever he wants. Currently he is taking medication and he's losing too much weight. Oh to have Bobby's problem right now.

We had to pick the boys up at their afterschool daycare tonight. When we got there Bobby (age 7) admonished us for being sooooo late. 'What took you so long? I thought I would have to be here for two whole dayssss!"

Then, as we were making our way through the daycare maze of rooms to get his younger brother, Bobby informed us that he could eat anything he wanted. "Yeah," he said, "I need to gain and get fat like you two!" All this with the complete innocence that is a seven year old child.

But still. I said to myself, "Great, just great. Thanks for annoucing that to the world, Bobs."

Bit the Shed

2009-01-23T19:28:00.002-05:00

Our somewhat trusty bathroom scale, which was purchased before the first Shrinking Piggies smackdown, has apparently gone schizophrenic.

It's a little disconcerting to weigh more after a good poop than before, but it can be overlooked since it's not an expensive piece of equipment. However, when one of us got on this morning and found the weight of a leg missing, and the other got on and was well over 300 pounds, I figured it's flown the coop. Bitten the dust. Given up the ghost of accuracy and justice.

Last time it died was just before our first weigh-in this month, but that was the batteries. It said so in broken robotese. I stepped aboard and it read '54tt', which I thought meant 'fat' until I tucked my belly between my knees and leaned in for a closer look. Battery replaced, the display lit up like when it was new. Until this week.

I know we're only weighing in weekly, but I was curious. The first number didn't make sense - I didn't feel 10 lbs heavier, so I stepped on again - and was 30 lbs lighter. One after another, it kept spewing random numbers like a lottery easy-pick generator.

Tonight, we got a mechanical scale (by the same company... cue ominous music). It said alternately that I'm 340, then 299, then 320. That thing is going straight back to the store.

Any recommendations on a scale that doesn't suck monkey butt?

Momentum

2009-01-23T10:35:00.002-05:00

So I feel like if I can manage to behave myself over the weekend, I am on track to knock off the last of the four pounds and see that scale sitting on 140 on Monday morning.

And so I was thinking. "Well, sure, I've been hungry, and I miss the cake. But this hasn't been so bad. Perhaps I should just target a few more pounds, just one more size..."

Where does it end? At what point is it that I will stop feeling fat?

When I used to weigh 275... the very idea of weighing less than 200 seemed like nirvana.

At 200, well, then 180 seemed like a good weight to be.

When I weighed 165 and finally was in a weight range considered "not obese", I was ok for a while, but eventually, I just started thinking that I need to be less.

I now weigh a weight that I literally have not seen since I was a young child. I am in a proper weight range for my weight. I am healthy. I am fit.

What's with the yearning?

I suppose that's a central question in life... as we all yearn for something. But I keep reaching goals that I seriously though were unattainable, and all it makes me do is think that perhaps, I could just go a little... bit.. farther.

Stupid brain. Maybe it would shut up if I gave it some cake.

PS - on re-reading this, it seems whiny and pathetic, but I'm posting it anyway... if I can't whine here, where can I?

Waist Not, Want Not

2009-01-22T15:07:00.001-05:00

Weekday lunch time is hard. I bring food stuffs to work, mostly fruit, fresh veggies to nosh, veggies to put together a salad, crackers, tortilla chips, salsa, yogurt (had my first taste of Greek yogurt yesterday), and now and again deli meat (turkey, usually) and cheese for sandwiches.

I try to mix it up, keep it fresh, a constant rotation. But still, tiresome.

It becomes tiresome after awhile. Sometimes I crave heat, not heat as in spicy I can chomp on a pepper for that. But, I want hot food. Oh sure there is a microwave and I can heat soups, stews, chili, or other leftovers from home, but even that, yeah can becomes tiresome. I want hot food prepared fresh, made to order, or at least there waiting for my order.

You know, like a big, thick, juicy, burger with mushrooms, bleu cheese crumbles, onions, and of course, a side of fried potatoes. Or deep-fried chicken. Or enchiladas. Or lasagna. Or any of a thousand choices for lunch within a 10 block radius of where I work.

I walk at lunch time and I walk by many of them. American, Indian, Italian, Asian, Mexican, Greek, all that and more are represented in this neighborhood. The aromas can be dizzying.

And then there is the chocolate. I don’t know exactly where the chocolate factory is located, not in the immediate area, as far as I’ve surveyed, but you can smell ‘em brewing the stuff up. Some days, when the wind is just right, well, let’s just say I’m glad the chocolate café moved away several months ago.

Most days I’m able to resist, for not only am I fighting the battle of the bulge but I’m also ~~watching my pennies like a hawk~~ in a constant tug-o-war with my wallet. So, I’m walking by many of those fine eateries at lunch time.

But it is hard.

Off the wagon, on the bike

2009-01-22T13:15:00.002-05:00

Greetings everyone! This week has been good. So far, I feel like I've been consistent in a) eating more fruits and veggies and b) working out at the gym. But I am agog at the sugar content (30 grams) of an apparently innocuous container of yogurt. 1/3 of the total weight from sugar?! Dude! So, maybe another way to put calcium into my diet. Maybe adding just a bit of sugar to plain yogurt...that way I control the amount of sugar. (BTW: I hate fake sugar. It tastes gross to me, so I don't eat that low-carb or sugar-free stuff.)

My husband and I made homemade salted caramels to celebrate the inauguration. Apparently, President Obama and his wife really like them. So we made them over the weekend and only about 1/2 of the batch made its way to the lab on Tuesday. Delicious, and a great treat. I'm looking forward to the next time I get to make them.

As for next week, I'll be conferencing. Less working out, more temptation. I'll be coming here often for strength and panache in the face of a bakery the size of a city block.

:) LJS

Damage Control

2009-01-21T20:33:00.003-05:00

This weekend I ate crap (okay, not crap. chimichangas. movie theater popcorn. a real soda. and a corn dog.) and forgot to take my blood pressure medicine which all resulted in a weight gain last week. It also resulted in my face breaking out something horrible on Monday. So far, this week has been better.

There was a potluck at work on Tuesday and I managed to resist all of the tempting homemade goodies. I don't cook much at home so I am always tempted to eat until I'm ready to pop when there is a potluck.

I'm making better choices whether grocery shopping or eating at the cafeteria at work. I bet I have eaten the weight of a small toddler in mushrooms and broccoli since Monday. Something that really helps is getting up early enough to have a bite of breakfast. Two packages of instant cheese grits and I'm on my way without being tempted by the sweet hamlets (hold the egg!) that tempt me when I drive past The King on my way to work. If I sleep in too late to take 10 minutes for grits, I will get a couple of slices of sandwich turkey and a piece of string cheese.

I miss eating junk food. But I like the way that I'm starting to feel more than I miss it.

Stressy McCortisol, reporting for duty.

2009-01-21T12:03:00.003-05:00

So, my workload is a total and unconditional PITA all-consuming nightmare right now, and all I want to do is go home, crawl into bed, and swig a half-gallon of pixelated eggnog to drown the stress. Mmm, eggnog.

I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, unless one of you happens to be filthy rich and spends their days lounging around your indoor pool while nubile servants of your choice bring you warm tea and fluffy towels as you bake gloriously in the warmth of your well-earned well being. Even so, being stinking rich must have its own stressors. I'm sure if you are well-heeled beyond all reason you still have experienced the conundra of "which servant shall I bed this afternoon?" or "what color body butter goes with 'smug'?" or "whatever shall I do with last season's Louboutons, given them to Goodwill or sell them on E-bay?" I share your pain, friend, and want you to know that I stand with you when you resist the urge to take a nip from the Krystal bottle and a bite of pate to ease the swirl of important issues that muddle your mind.

Won't you return the favor, and stand with me as I juggle my white-hot flaming balls of anxiety over here in the corner for your entertainment?

Thanks. I knew you would.

All of which is a way of saying that it's a darned good thing I only have three bucks for lunch. It's baked potato bar day at the cafeteria ($3.59 per 'tater), and man, doesn't a 3-pound baker with chili and sour cream and cheese sound like just the thing for drowning out the din of nearing doom?

I resisted

2009-01-21T00:47:00.004-05:00

Had a meeting last night before practice at a local chain coffee shop/restaurant. The kind where they leave full color, laminated dessert menus laying around on the table. I have a REALLY hard time resisting the chocolate cream pie. Or Ice Cream. Heck, a couple of weeks ago, I had a damn brownie sundae for dinner.

But resist I did. The biscuit with butter and honey wasn't much better, but it was a lot smaller of a serving than pie or ice cream and the honey quenched my sugar craving.

That's not why I'm proud though. I'm proud because 4 cupcakes walked into my office today piled high with whipped cream frosting. I could SMELL the sweet whipped creamy perfume. They winked and sashayed and flipped their hair at me (last Friday the same kind of cupcakes wandered into my office and I ate TWO) They blew kisses and showed me their cleavage.

And I walked away. I want to enjoy my weekly treat and if the boy decides to take me out to dinner and ice cream, I don't want to have to watch him eat it because I couldn't walk away from a handful of cake. Plus, I would really like to be able to post a loss next week...

I have fallen

2009-01-20T19:56:00.002-05:00

Uh oh, Piggies. I regret to report that I have fallen. I was riding along and then the proverbial bump appeared in the proverbial road. Did I navigate it with grace and aplomb? Hell no.

I am in San Antonio in a wonderful hotel located on the Riverwalk. I am attending a work convention. I did just fine this morning - fruit and a skinny chai latte. I did OK this afternoon - a bagel with jam. Not too bad. Not exactly avoiding 'The White,' but not a ton of calories either.

Then, around 4:30 I took a little walk along the river. The weather is beautiful here today. And, an outdoor cafe beckoned. It beckoned! What could I do? There was beckoning involved. Yes, I answered. I will not speak of my indulgences. They were not completely over the top but they did involve an 'r' word. Alas, my willpower broke down and I succumbed t the dark side (they really do have cookies).

No bother, as with all falls, one must get up and begin again without self flagellation (which sounds really horrible).

Member of the club

2009-01-19T21:30:00.002-05:00

It’s official, and now I have to stick to it. I’m really going to miss pancakes and bacon, but I think as long as it’s an occasional treat instead of a weekly stuff fest, I should be okay.

I figured it out today, 2 pounds a week for 9 weeks will put me at goal. 140. I haven't seen it in 5 or 6 years. I made a pretty little graph. I offered to send it to B, but he didn’t think he was interested in joining in my neurosis. The important thing is that I asked him to support me in my attempts to lose weight by not tempting me with yummy treats. We have a tendency to go to dinner and cap it off with ice cream or a milk shake. I think that any lifestyle change has to be supported by the people around you. Especially the person you’re dating.

So here it is. The Plan.

I’m going back to one treat per week. That’s sweets, alcoholic beverages, soda. I can only have one. Not one of each, so I will pick wisely. And savor it all the more.

I’ll be eating more fruits and veggies. Less in the breads and pastas, although I have not really been eating too many of those. Brown rice instead of white. I already eat lean meats. Haven’t had a bratwurst in months. Mmm. Bratwurst. Veggies cannot mean gorging myself on carrots. Apparently, they have a lot of sugar in them. I think I have been pretending they are good for me and that I didn’t know that. No wonder they taste so good…

Smaller portions. No more stuffing myself until I can’t move. I do that a lot. I’m taking in way more than I should.

More exercise! I realize that for most people 4 hours of hard skating a week is a lot. But if I am going to be serious about losing, I need to add a bit more. So I’m pulling out the hula hoop. 15 minutes per day, or at least I will try. Hit the Marina more often, even if not on skates; my friend Dimebag Cheryl has started walking there and it would be fun to join her. I can always grab the dogs and run around with them for a little bit each day. They would certainly like it and maybe they will be too tired to get into the trash.

Healthy fun for everyone.

Pigs On Parade - Week 2

2009-01-19T17:34:00.006-05:00

The numbers are in, and thanks to all for timely inboxing!

.
.
.
.
.
.

Here's what we have, alphabetically this time (I recombobulated the spreadsheet, and it's got colors and don't want to sort for results, for fear of smearing the paint):

Shrinklet... This week... Overall... % of goal
Chickie:.................... +3 ..............-2 .................5
db grin:..................... -2.............. -4 ...............20
Deborah:.................. -2............... -4 ...............10
eb:............................. -4............... -4 ...............10
Ginamonster: ............0................ 0 .................0 (Welcome!)
Lady Jane S:............ -2 ................0 .................0
No Celery Pls:.......... -1 ...............-3 ...............75
Renn:........................ -2 ...............-5 ...............26
Tiff:............................. 0 ..............-2 ..................8
Utenzi:..................... +4 ...............-1 ..................8

So far we've lost a total of 27 pounds (that's about the weight of all the brains among us), for 11.2% of our total goal. When we're done, we'll have lost 241 pounds. That's a bunch!

Go us!

Or Else

2009-01-17T13:09:00.004-05:00

It's my turn to post a plan.

As for intake, it's all about quantity. In general, I eat pretty healthy stuff. Not much fast food, not many sweets, lots of fresh meat & veggies. I've been lunching at home instead of on the road, which is way better for me in quantity and quality. I'll be taking smaller portions and not going for seconds and thirds. Instead of having an entire sack of CFG (Crunchy Food Group, such as Tostitos) at the teevee, I'll bring a small bowl.

Exercise shall be brisk long walks at least 3x per week, and tennis when the weather cooperates. I plan to get back on my bike when the temps climb from the pit of despair.

Knowing myself, and my tendency to be a bit procrastanative, perhaps even a tad undisciplined, I've decided that there shall be consequences for my level of success. The article on incentives that was posted many weeks ago (and is no longer available - dangitt!) made sense to me. Internal motivation is ideal, but I need something more to do difficult things.

The reward side of meeting my goal will be fitting into smaller pants, not huffing and puffing when bending over or crawling on my knees (installing tile, baseboards, etc. means lots of knee time), and a flattter belly. The punishment side: If I don't make it halfway to my goal by halfway through the challenge (15 lbs by April 6), I'm going to shave my head. I don't want to be bald; I won't look nearly as good as the likes of Bruce Willis, Jason Stratham, Michael Jordan, or my friend Farrago. But negative reinforcement works, so that's my plan.

My Plan

2009-01-15T20:31:00.002-05:00

I previously stated my goals over at rennratt. However, I did not go into great detail with regard to my plan for exercise and overall health.

So, to recap:

I will be following the Weight Watchers Flex Plan. My goal is to lose (and keep off) a total of 19 pounds by July. At that time, I will reassess my health with the help of a doctor. If it is shown that additional weight needs to be taken off, I will readjust my goals accordingly.

Winter is the hardest time for me to exercise, as the cold can greatly impact my arthritis. As a result, I am aiming, each day, to walk a little more around the office. I also aim to begin using my exer-ball again. As the winter ends, I anticipate more time outside - and more walking.

I also plan to play the Wii again, rather than simply watching my husband and daughter while they play. I figure small changes here and there can turn into something great down the line.

Going Postal

2009-01-15T16:35:00.003-05:00

I rolled out of bed at 7:30 this morning. I've been trying to get up at 5:30 so as to get to the gym and be all exercizy without rushing. In the past, if I rolled out of be at 7:30, I would have nixed the gym. I would have declared no time for such gym frivolities and been off to the shower. I don't really like getting the gym at 7:30. It just seems way too late in the morning to be exercising. Then I asked the question: WWAPWD?

What would a postal worker do? Would a postal worker not go to the gym? Would a postal worker shirk her duties? And then I remembered the famous creed carved into the US postal building in New York City:

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds

I was swept over with a wave of guilt (ok, it wasn't that bad). I mean really, if a postal worker will go out in 'gloom' then I can surely get my fattus buttockus to the gym. And thus, I willed myself to do it much like Yoda willing Luke's plane out of the swamps of Dagobah. Actually, I think I had to use more mental energy than Yoda.

I have decided that I will go to the gym every day no matter what. As long as I'm healthy enough to go to the gym, it will happen, every day. Perhaps there are people who can lose weight without exercising, but I am not one of those people. Exercise must happen. And so it shall.

I love it when a plan comes together!

2009-01-14T11:21:00.003-05:00

Since everyone else is doing it, I think I should also. Here is my plan:

My exercise plan:
1) Run at least one half-marathon and one 10K in the spring
2) Weight train 2x/week
3) Increase the number of days that I run to 5x/week
4) Be more consistent about Saturday yoga

My food plan:
1) Desserts only on weekends
2) One mid-afternoon latte during the week as a treat
3) Have a fruit or veggie with every meal
4) Drink water (or herbal tea) more consistently
5) Find some great tasting recipes for vegetables

Drinking pop isn't a problem for me-I don't like pop. And my husband has been great for helping me with my #5 food plan. He grew up in a family that raised vegetables and knew how to cook them. Since he's moved here, I've been introduced to artichokes, brussel sprouts, avocado, fennel, and squash. And I've liked them all!
:) LJS

My Lame Plan

2009-01-13T22:07:00.002-05:00

Hi, all! Since The Boss said we needed to post our diet/exercise regimens, here I am. I've kind of put this off because I don't have any exercise plan. I'm the laziest person you will ever meet.

So far, my plan has been to quit eating fast food and not eat anything that is just straight up crap. Since ending my affair with Burger King, I've even noticed that my skin has cleared up and I don't feel like a slug all of the time. I've been eating a lot of salad, apples, lowfat cheese (Ick. Sawdust. But it is still, technically, cheese. And I love cheese!) and just a small portion of whatever I cook for the family for supper.

For what it's worth, last week, I thought about getting on the treadmill. That isn't a thought that has ever crossed my mind before. Maybe I will get on it sometime.

My plan for banishing that wretched back fat

2009-01-13T13:52:00.009-05:00

Oh hi! The Taskmaster (that's you, db) has noted that I might perhaps be the only Piggie who has not posted their shrinking plan, and so, in a fit of pique (does that burn calories?) I have pulled together this multimedia presentation for y'all for enjoy like a boiled egg on dry toast.

My Plan, by Tiff.

Less of this (I'll miss you!)

More of this (oh dear Lord)

And this (zoom!)

so I stop looking like this (a modest exaggeration, I must note)

and end up more like this (also - exaggeration, but a girl can dream of what life MIGHT be like with about 50 pounds lost).

Specifically - no drinkies 4 days a week, exercise EVERY day for 30 minutes, and that's it. I'm not going to sacrifice eating, because in truth I don't do too badly there. The cuple too-tree cocktails a day? Gotta go. The sitting on my butt all day and think thing that washing dishes is a workout? Also gotta go. But best of all, that double chin doesn't know it yet, but it's HISTORY. Just ask Jack, he knows how:

Everybody, fingertips on eyebrows, and 1 and 2 and 3!

Something to look forward to...

2009-01-13T11:53:00.002-05:00

I am a member of the National Weight Control Registry.

It's a scientific study that tracks people who have lost significant weight and kept it off for at least one year.

I joined back in 2003, after I lost 110 pounds and had kept it off for a year.

They track what you eat and how you exercise and how your weight fluctuates over time by sending out an annual questionnaire.

They use the data to help researchers determine the best methods for losing and maintaining weight loss.

I use it because I know that once a year they are going to ask me how much I weigh and what I've been eating and that kinda keeps me on the straight and narrow because I don't want to report that I gained all the weight back. (not that there haven't been years when I had to report a 10 pound gain, because there were). Also, the idea of being able to join the registry helped motivate me to stay on the original diet.

I'll be very pleased to report an additional loss this year and attribute it to the roller derby - hey! Maybe someone will do a study on the health benefits of derbying!

So once all you shrinkertons are done shrinking... plus one year... go out and register yourself - you'll be helping science!

Pigs On The March

2009-01-13T07:27:00.003-05:00

All our results are in for our first full week o' challenge!

In future I'll post fancy schmancy charts, but with only one round of results in so far, it's a boring chart. Not for long.

In order of magnitude, here are the numbers:

Chickie: -5
Utenzi: -5
db grin: -4
Renn: -3
Tiff: -2
No Celery Please: -2
Deborah: -2
eb: 0 (she joined during start week, so this isn't a result but a start)
LJS: +2 (the UN has given her permission to go backwards, like they do)

Woot and yay! This is awesome! 21 pounds are gone - 2 bowling balls gone from our collective pants.

LJS: Week 1

2009-01-12T16:07:00.004-05:00

I'm +2 for the week, within my usual yo-yo range. But still disheartening. I gave up my Wednesday mid-afternoon latte for this?!

Can I claim refugee status under the UN Water Retention Act of 1987?

Wherein it is stated that:
"All personages, either real or imaginary or Canadian, can claim refugee status described thereafter in the following circumstances. As alluded to in the aforementioned statement, protection from flesh-eating ovine oppressors is hereby offered to H. Sapiens females between the age of 14-45 that are under the duress of female lunar syndrome. Reported symptoms include: excessive water retention, hygeine resembling that of a Tasmanian devil, chocolate cravings not unlike a wildebeest and itching to walk into a saloon to wrassle locals."

Didn't think so. Back to my carrots!
:) LJS

Week 1

2009-01-12T13:21:00.000-05:00

Today I weighed in at 208.0, 4 pounds less than my weigh-in last week when I was 212. This is within the amount I normally vary so I can't claim any credit yet.

Like Celery Please wrote earlier, the thing is to eat less and exercise more. The main item I cut out when I diet is soda. I love the stuff and drink a lot of it. It's not really all that caloric--there's less calories in soda than in comparable fluids like fruit juices---but even 120 calories per 12 ounces adds up when you drink 5 or 6 a day. 5 * 120 calories = 600 calories a day * 7 = 3,120 calories a week. That's almost a pound of fat (3,500 calories) as long as you don't replace the soda calories with anything else. In my case, I go with water so there's no additional calories.

By eliminating soda, I figure to lose 3.5 pounds a month, on average, and by doing more hiking I hope to drop another half pound. Like how I'm rounding that to change my 3.5 to 4? So I hope to drop 4 pounds total a month. As if! In reality, with the way the body works I'll be lucky to drop 2 but that's still progress.

Shamelessly Plugging My Exercise of Choice

2009-01-12T11:59:00.003-05:00

So while I admit that actual roller derby might not be for everyone (because I do understand that there are people for whom getting knocked on their hind quarters 15 times in a night by crazy women dressed in booty shorts and fishnets might not be a description of "fun")... I do want to point out that even though it is not a contact sport, regular roller skating, either inline or with quad-skates, is some of the best exercise you can get.

Here's a few points of interest you might like to know about roller skating...

Studies have shown that roller skating provides a complete aerobic workout and involves all of the body's muscles, especially the heart.
Roller skating is equivalent to jogging in terms of health benefits-caloric consumption, reduction of body fat, and leg strength development.
Just one hour of moderate roller skating burns 330 calories for a 143-pound person. If that same person roller skates vigorously, he or she will burn up to 590 calories in an hour.
The number of calories burned per hour while skating at 6 mph is 350 and 600 while skating at 10 mph.
According to a study conducted at the University of Massachusetts, in-line skating causes less than 50 percent of the impact shock to joints compared to running (not so hard on the knees!)
During a 30-minute period, on the average, in-line skating at a steady, comfortable rate expends 285 calories and produces a heart rate of 148 beats per minute.

But here's something none of the "benefits of skating" people tend to mention. Roller skating is FUN! It's not like slogging to the gym and pedaling an elliptical machine for an hour. It's not like running endlessly on a treadmill... There's music! And other people having fun! You can go to your local rink and start skating, and before you know it an hour or even two has passed and you've been exercising all that time without any of the horrible boredom that goes along with the gym!

----- End shameless plug for the roller skating industry -----

Plaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan

2009-01-12T08:49:00.002-05:00

The thing is to eat less and exercise more.

No matter how many commercials I see for miracle pills, plans, diets, cleansing plants, creams, rubs, etc.

It all comes back to eat less and exercise more. This is what is has always had to be.

Specific to this shrinking outing... my plan is to eat less cake. Must get the cake problem under control. But I'm not willing to live a cake-less existence forever, so I shall have to come to some sort of detante with the cake. I cannot let it win. I am not willing to let it go. We shall find some sort of accomodation eventually.

With a significant cake reduction and the continuation of my regular exercise plan as well as the Roller Derby, I will get to the goal.

Everyday is day one

2009-01-12T07:54:00.003-05:00

And so it begins, although it's been beginning for the past 10 years. But this time it will always be beginning.

Like Deborah, I am not a calorie counter. I don't plan on counting anything because the real goal is to change the way you eat, right? We all know that. We all know that we should eat whole foods. We all know we should drink lots of water. We all know we should stay away from refined sugar. And, we all know we should move our bodies in some fashion, preferably every day.

If I know all this, then what's the deal? For me, the bottom line has always been will power. Just sticking with it. Not getting lazy. The real trick is tricking your mind. So I have decided that I will wake up everday with this mantra - Today is day one.

I think everyone starts out on day one with determination. No going back. But then, day two comes around. Not too bad. Then there's day seven and you just don't feel like walking the stairs or it's much easier to go get a burger than to make salad. But this time around, every day will be day one. I will think it and breathe it. It will be my drug of choice.

I just went to the gym and did my work out thang for about 45 minutes. I will get up tomorrow and do the same thing. I will not talk myself into not going. I will go. I will remember to eat. You can't lose weight if you don't eat. Ironic, eh?

I weighed myself today. I'd like to think that I have a really crappy scale, but I'm sure it's accurate. I was talking to Deborah about this last week and before I joined this little group I was going to put a little graphic on my blog with my weight. Known only to me, and Deborah, this would at least keep me honest.

There is something about disclosing one's weight. It's like telling people how much money you make. You just don't do it. But I will brave it here because, well, what the hell. I weighed in this morning at 235. Wow, I don't feel like I weigh that much. But I guess I do. My goal is to get under 200. So 40 lbs is what I'm shooting for. My final goal is to get to 160.

Today is day one.

Aweigh I Go

2009-01-12T00:52:00.006-05:00

A.M. & P.M. workout 1/10/09

The plan is to plan meals and exercise. Then to execute said plan and finally, to stick with said plan until the goal is achieved and beyond.

Specifics of the plan, to put it bluntly, are to eat less and move more. I’m not the tracking and recording calories kind of woman, so I’ll accomplish my eat less feat by utilizing diet conscious recipes, adding even more fresh fruits and veggies, diminishing the use of heavy creams and sauces, controlling over-all portions, limiting desserts, and fast foods. Ta-Ta WingZings.

My personal nemesis is indiscriminate snacking. I nosh. The plan is to get a handle on that and / or at least plan to have more prudent noshing choices lying about.

Movement of the body might prove a little trickier as my knees like to pretend they are not of this mind. They have a mind of their own and can be stubborn. I have come to notice though, that they appear more agreeable when I weigh less. So, until I'm back to their desired level, we'll be negotiating, carefully.

The immediate plan for more movement is to add steps to regular day. I’ll do this my taking an alternate route to work 2—3 days a week, adding a mile to my walking on those days. I’ll walk during my lunch hours (when weather permits) and take the stairs whenever possible. Since I don’t drive many of my errands involving walking and the plan is to keep to that program and extend it wherever possible.

Once the weather clears I’ll get back to riding my bicycle.

Once the knees are back in my camp 100%, I'll jump rope.

Otherwise, I’ll dance around my living room, probably not in my underwear, not thinking I’m Madonna.

Oh, and water. I’ll drink more water and less vodka.

Defending Food

2009-01-10T14:08:00.002-05:00

A couple weeks ago, I had heard a great interview with Michael Pollan, author of "In Defensive of Food", on NPR that discussed the relationship we have with food (aka what are we eating and how).
Click here to read the introduction.

So what are we eating? It's not food. It's food products, or even scarier sounding "edible foodlike substances". The primary culprits are: high-fructose corn syrup, processed white flour, and food science. These were revolutionary in their times because they allowed more families to work, expanded who could get vitamins and simplified home cooking. However, they are the modern bane of massive proportions (no pun intended).

He postulated that much of the "old-wives" wisdom about food and nutrition has been lost because of the recent rise of food science. One key example was the rise of margarine-grammas knew that butter, in moderate proportions, was ok but they were told by food scientists that they were wrong, that margarine was now the advanced butter (healthier, better tasting etc). But! It was actually margarine that was more unhealthy and butter actually is better.

Here are some of his simple suggestions for eating food!
1. Stay on the outside of the grocery store (just like no celery please suggested!)
2. If you can't pronounce it, don't eat it
3. If your great-grandmother wouldn't recognize it as food, stay away from it (I foresee "WWGGE" what would great-gramma eat bracelets)
4. Don't buy something if it has more than 5 ingredients (note: this doesn't mean that cassaroles, spaghetti sauces etc are verboten, especially if you make them yourself)

So, keep it real fellow piggies! Enjoy your food!
:) LJS

Next time, I'll ponder why we eat alone.

Stay away from white

2009-01-08T20:57:00.002-05:00

That will be my eating philosophy. I am avoiding white. White is not the new black. White is more like avocado green shag rugs from the 70s - something to avoid completely. There are, however, exceptions to the white rule.

These are the 10 Commandments of the new covenant of the (mostly) non-white food eater:

10. Thou shall not eat white rice
9. Thou shall not eat white bread
8. Thou shall eat only whole wheat pasta
7. Thou shall look upon refined sugar as the visage of Satan himself
6. Thou shall shun the inside of the grocery store and shop the perimeter avoiding most processed foods
5. Thou shall accept fat free milk as the divine drink it is
4. Thou shall not covet they neighbor's Oreos
3. Thou shall worship whole grains every day
2. Thou shall avoid salt as much as possible
1. Thou shall eat thine vegetables like thee mother told thee long ago

e nomine padre et filii in spiritus sancti

Now, where's the Communion cracker and wine?

Sucker

2009-01-08T16:05:00.004-05:00

I was clicking along merrily last morning, minding my own email, when SUDDENLY (as Stacy Keach would say while narrating Most Disastrous Things That Happen To Other People Caught On Tape), a banner ad made me click it.

YARLY, it reached through my eyeballs, manipulated my nervous system, and dragged my flabbyish arm into clicking position.

The hook was a 'blog' which testimonialized about this awesome product and how Oprah said it would help me lose weight. The 'blogger' was suspicious, as was I, but eventually she became convinced she should try it. She lost all kinds of weight and had slick before and after pictures to prove it, and there's a Free Trial (just pay shipping and handling).

I signed up for my Free Trial. I entered my card number. I printed the receipt. In the fine bits at the bottom, it had an ominous warning about the Terms and Conditions to which I agreed.

I went back to the website and found said T&C. Apparently, I have 14 days from yesterday to call and cancel (regardless of whether my Free Trial makes it here in order to be tested for my satisfaction), or else they get to automatically charge me EIGHTY FARGING SEVEN DOLLARS for another 30 tablets.

Oh hell no. I can buy 3 pairs of sneakers for that kinda money, and maybe have enough left over for a jump rope and a bag of carrots.

I'll let you know if my Free Trial was worth the $3.95 for handling.

*****

Welcome aboard a new Shrinker, name o' eb, by way of Middle Girl! Our numbers are increasing, which in this case is OK.

Things I Like... You Might Too!

2009-01-08T13:07:00.003-05:00

Quaker Lower Sugar Apples and Cinnamon Oatmeal - Two words... Apples. Cinnamon. You can't go wrong with THAT, people. Plus... lower sugar = 110 calories per package. 2 of those puppies in a mug full of hot water makes a yummy at-desk breakfast in the morning and will hold until around noon. Plus - hey! Oatmeal lowers cholesterol!

Campbells Select Harvest Soups. They have several varieties that are under 150 calories "per serving" (yeah, 2 "servings" in a can makes no sense, but, whatever). That makes for a nice 300 calorie lunch (add some light crackers or something iffn you are allowed a slightly higher intake than that). Mexican Style Tortilla is super-yummy. As is the Italian Wedding soup. And the teriyaki chicken noodle. There's some listed on their web site that I'd like to try but my Walmart does not seem to stock them. I prefer these to the progresso "light" soups because Progresso makes their soup "light" by putting in 3 chunks of whatever the soup is supposed to be, then filling the can with water. I prefer these because there is actually soup in the soup... even if they do have a few more calories.

Gardenburger Breakfast Sausage - OK, I don't think I ever met a gardenburger I didn't like... but these breakfast sausage patties ROCK! To me, they taste just like "real" sausage... only without all the grease and the vaguely nauseous feeling that comes from consuming oily spicy pork products. I cook them for 5 minutes on my foreman grill and have them with a big bowl of mixed veggies. At 60 calories each, 2 of these plus the veggies with spray butter can do a filling dinner for under 300 calories. (I've also had them for breakfast with fake eggs, but fake eggs are tough to take)

Speaking of spray butter... One calorie per spray, people!!! Parkay Spray is made of soy, but it taste like actual butter. OK, OK... if you're used to eating actual butter, this probably tastes more like margarine. But once you get away from butter for a while, this is some tasty, buttery stuff. Plus - added bonus. Unlike "I can't believe it's not butter" spray (which I TOTALLY can believe is not butter) - this stuff actually MELTS when you put it on stuff. Great on toast.

Finally, the fine people at the Kozy Shack corporation bring you sugar-free tapioca and rice pudding. Unlike Jello's so-called sugar free "pudding" products. These actually taste like something you want to eat. I am seeing on their web site that they have WAY more than those two flavors... but the Mart only carries the plain rice and tapioca. I'm willing to be some of those others are pretty good, though. (oh - not the apple pie ala mode, though. That's just gross)

SHRINK, daggone it.

2009-01-08T12:56:00.002-05:00

OK - when searching for article on if anger burns calories (don't ask, please), I came upon this page as an example of how to jump-start a slimming routine.

The Three-day Diet.

There is no mention of beer or bourbon in this diet. I am thinking this is not the one for me... still though, some of y'all might want to give it a shot.

Enjoy!

I'm off to take a walk instead of pursuing even a mere 3 days of diet. I simply don't have it in me yet to delve to this depth of delectables denial.

181

2009-01-07T14:01:00.002-05:00

Update! We have a joiner, and our collective efforts will now be my wrestling weight in 11th grade. Welcome aboard!

That was a long time ago.

Woot!

PS - still taking on shrinkers for the next week, the more the merrier!

A nice online tool to track exercise

2009-01-06T15:14:00.003-05:00

Hi everyone,
I'm so excited about being a part of the Shrinking Piggies! (Well, except for the whole needing to lose weight thing.)
I would like to invite you to try Buckeye Outdoors as a tool to track your progress as you exercise. It's great! I like that I can save my routines and my running routes. There's a nice tool that you can add to your blog and show everyone what great progress you are making. And (my favorite), you can also generate reports that will show you how many calories you have slaughtered!

Good luck! :) LJS

141

2009-01-06T12:16:00.001-05:00

That's the collective goal of the Shrinkertons. 141 pounds, or one entire adult human. Gone from the face of the earth, gone from waistlines and wardrobes.

Go us!

Kickoff!

2009-01-05T08:34:00.003-05:00

OK shrinkertons! It's Monday the Fiff of January, and time to get this party started.

The busyness and travel and craziness of holidays, family get-togethers, and weddings (for some of us) are behind, as well as the days of munching on anything I can reach.

Here's the deal: Send me your weight loss goal and target date, and I'll add you as an author to this 'ere blog. That way you can share your pain, your plan, and your progress as we chug toward our goals. Tiff and I are planning on keeping this challenge going for 6 months.

Participation is defined thusly:

Weigh on the same day once a week, and send that number via email.
Write out your plan to reach your goal - include eating and exercise changes
Post about your experience whenever you feel like it, no limit

The idea of incentives got no traction, so fuggeddaboudit.

Here is the address to which to address your emails: spiffytown (at) g mail dot com.

Feedback Needed

2008-12-13T09:42:00.003-05:00

As we roll toward our start date of Monday, January 5, we'd like to get your input on the best way to run this circus. We're going for something that would be effective, and work for everyone.

Here's an article that Tiff found on incentive. The results are impressive - go read it, we'll wait.

Welcome back! OK, so there are a few ideas that have worked for other folks I know, and they go something like this (dollar amounts are just for example):
1. Everyone kicks in $10 at the beginning. Those who make their goal share the winnings. If nobody wins, it goes to charity.
2. Everyone kicks in $5 each week to keep it active. Winners get the (much bigger) proceeds.
3. Everyone kicks in some $10 at the beginning. If you make your weekly goal, you owe nothing for that week - but if you don't make it, you contribute $3 per pound. Winners get the proceeds.

Finally, here's a spiffy little doodad that will gather opinions. Please only vote if you're participating, because as unscientific the poll is, spam would make it even more unscientifical. You don't want to be a spammer* now, do you?

*Spam is made mostly of piggies, so we'd be offended, you can bet your curly little tail

Starting Again

2008-12-07T14:58:00.002-05:00

A recent blogly conversation revealed that now, over 14 months since the last fizzlings of our first weight loss challenge, it's time to go after it again.

Joiners welcome - we'd like a herd of shrink-minded folks to stampede with! Starting this January, we'll plot a course and set off to be all healthy and stuff.

What's the point, you ask? Well, it's proven that support helps no matter what difficult thing you try. And even though there are enough weight-loss gimmicks, websites, books, gurus, and products to fill the craters of the moon, you get to own this one. You set your own goals, track your own progress, police your own self. This is where we can share the encouragement and reality checks that will make it work.

Sign up via email or comment, let's get a-shrinkin, y'all!

Say 'bye to our old mascot

2008-12-06T15:30:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Grampy of Fark fame for creating the animation that inspired fear, dread, and reflux for our last contest. Time to retire the ol' bat and get on with a fresh new look for 09!

OK - where were we?

2007-10-01T14:10:00.000-05:00

Check it out. Since we restarted the challenge, Biff's lost 5 pounds, as has Tiff. Neither of us have lost anything in the last month.

Um. Yeeeeah.

Anybody else want to pipe up with their results?

Um, hello?

2007-09-12T20:23:00.000-05:00

20 pounds, remember?

Tiif's UP a pound.

So's Biff.

Renn? JC?

Let's hit the gym.

Hey - weigh in already!

2007-08-28T08:53:00.001-05:00

And either send me the results or post 'em in the comments so we can get this party started.

I'll start, because by some miracle I've managed to lose a total of 5 pounds so far. I'm pretty sure it's the meat and bean diet I seem to be on right now; little to no starch seems to be a good thing for my system. Mmmmm, meat.

This is probably the LAST time I'll be so happy to post results, because I can't believe that this'll continue, so there it is: my lone brag.

How about y'all?

At Last - A Sure Thing!

2007-08-27T14:37:00.000-05:00

Ladies an gentlemen, the future of weight loss:

The Diet Fork.

Anybody out there?

2007-08-23T10:18:00.000-05:00

We have a few folks signed up for the race to the end of the year. Let's start the weekly weigh-ins and begin tracking our progress toward our goal a 20-pound wweight loss goal.

If you're NOT doing 20, please say so.

Standings as of today - Tiff's down 2, Renn's unchanged. Biff? JC? Where are you at?

Starting over.

2007-08-05T11:12:00.000-05:00

When last we checked, the Shrinking Piggies had a couple of weeks to get to goal. Here it is over a month later. Oops.

Another oops is that, well, I'm pretty sure that none of us reached our goal for weight loss. HOWEVER, we did all lose, and that's a good thing.

"Good" simply isn't good enough though, and so the weight-loss challenge has been issued once more. I'm going to try to drop 20 pounds by the end of the year, and Biff is going for the 35 pounds he was shootin' for in the first place. Weigh-ins should take place tomorrow, and the race will be on once more.

Anyone care to join us?

11 June progress report

2007-06-12T07:54:00.000-05:00

Well y'all, we're nearing the end, and SOME of us are still making progress.

That SOME would be Renn. She's down another pound for a total of 16 lost! Yay Renn! That's 66% to goal!

Tiff, not so much. No change. Daggone it! I'm going to have to get back to the gym, it appears.

No word from Biff. This means either that he's hoarding the weight loss news for a big finish, or he's afraid to report.

Which do YOU think it is?

The 03 June Edition

2007-06-04T07:53:00.000-05:00

I'll just bet some of you thought we'd quit.

You'd have thought WRONG! We're still at it!

---------------------------------------

Renn's down a total of 15 pounds. That's 62.5% to goal.

Tiff's down 25 pounds, or a total of 68.6% to goal.

Biff is holding on tho the 18 pound loss, which is 51.4% to goal.

--------------------------------------

One more month folks, until the smackdown results are in.

Can.We.Do.It?

It's been a while

2007-05-25T09:07:00.000-05:00

Here goes, the SP update for the END of May.

Renn (as of last report) down another pound! That's 13 gone! Yippee!

Tiff down another 2, for a total of 22 lost. I'm patting myself on the back here folks.

No word from Biff. Hmmmm, one does wonder. Think he's gone into hiding?

So, by 04 July, to meet goal, Renn's got 11 to lose, Tiff's got 13, and Biff has 17 (if he's not lost any more since the last weigh in). Does anyone out there think we can do it?

My money's on Renn for the big win.