FINDING What Not to Wear

FINDING What Not to Wear


I'm watching a What Not To Wear's episode about a girl (Courtney) who lost 170 pounds. I'm grateful that I have not had to lose that much. I hope that I haven't gone to the extremes that she did … but I do recognize some things. I used to search for a loose fit. When you weigh 270, not a lot is loose. But anything that fits, showed my rolls … REALLY icky.

Now that I”ve lost some of the weight, I do have an urge to make up for lost time. I keep having to remind myself that I'm 55. Somethings will look ridiculous. I purchased a couple of dresses/skirts that may be too short. Leggings would be one way to handle it, but do 55 year old women wear leggings?

Like WNTW pointed out, I do find it easier to get a good fit in dresses or skirts, than in pants … but for the opposite reason that Courtney experienced. She has a smaller waist than the rest of her body would indicate. I'm just the opposite – still thick through the middle.

In my 20s, I wore a lot of turtlenecks. I have a long neck and well … there was a lot of room in a B cup. Then, it looked good. My body now is different. Stacy and Clinton made some points about the slimming and elongating effects of an open or V-neck.

Wednesday Morning Weigh-in,

Still 190.  I binged after Beth left.  I missed walking Sunday because it was too windy.  Yeah, I'm lucky I didn't gain. 

When Your FAMILY Doesn’t Recognize Your FACE

You know you’ve lost a lot of weight when your mother doesn’t recognize your pictures.

I sent pictures of the kids at Christmas to my sister-in-law to share with the western branch of the family. She commented on how much weight Eric has lost since she saw him last. He looks great. I mentioned that I’d lost 80 pounds and sent a picture. Mom didn’t know who it was.

I’ve told Mom several times that I was losing weight. I’ve always suspected that she didn’t listen, so this proves it.

It’s happened off and on for the past 2 years. People don’t recognize me till I speak. The voice is a give-away.

FUNNY Tuesday: A Weight Loss Plan for Men

Did you hear about the guy who had tried every diet in the world in an attempt to lose weight? He tried the Scarsdale diet, the Navy diet, Weight Watchers, etc. and none worked. He was reading the paper one day when he noticed a small ad that read, "Lose weight $1.00 a pound." And it simply listed a telephone number.
Having little to lose the man called the number. A voice on the other end asked, "how much weight do you want to lose?"
To which the man responded, "ten pounds."
The voice replied, "very well, put you check in the mail and we'll have a representative over to your house in the morning."

About 9:00 A.M. the next morning the man gets a knock on the door. There stood a beautiful redheaded woman, completely naked except for a sign around her neck stating, "if you catch me you can screw me".

Well the overweight fellow chased her upstairs, downstairs, over sofas, through the kitchen, all around the house. Finally he did catch her and when he was through enjoying himself, she said, "quick, go into the bathroom and weigh yourself!" He did just that and was amazed to find that he had lost ten pounds, right to the ounce!

That evening he called the number again. The voice on the other end asked, "how much weight do you want to lose?"
To which the somewhat less overweight man replied, "twenty pounds".
"Very well", the voice on the phone told him, "put your check in the mail and we'll have a representative over to your house in the morning."

At about 8:00 A.M. the next morning the man receives a knock on the door. When he opens the door he sees a beautiful blonde dressed only in track shoes and a sign around her neck stating, "if you catch me you can screw me". The chase took awhile longer this time but the man finally did catch her.
When he was through she told him, "quick, run into the bathroom and weigh yourself!" He ran to the bathroom and found he had lost another 20 pounds!
"This is fantastic!" He thought to himself.

Later that evening he called the number again and the voice at the other end asked, "how much weight do you want to lose?"
"Fifty pounds!" The man exclaimed.
"Fifty pounds?" The voice asked. "That's an awful lot of weight to lose at one time."
The overweight man replied, "my check's already in the mail. You just have your representative over here in the morning." Then he hung up the phone.

About 6:00 A.M. the next morning the man gets out of bed and gets all fancied up, ready for the next representative. At about 7:00 A.M. he gets a knock on the door. When he opens the door he sees this large gorilla with a sign around his neck stating, "If I catch you, I'm going to screw you."

FOOD is not love

In preparation for the long drive to Chicago, Beth wanted me to run by the store. I got 5 kinds of snacks. Every time I think I'm getting a handle on emotional eating, I do something like this.

Of course, Wednesday night, it snowed. We loaded up the car and parked at the neighbor's. Their driveway doesn't blow shut … unlike mine. Beth was so excited that she barely slept. We left Thursday at 7:30 a.m., and didn't pull into our motel till 2. It normally takes half the time. Only one lane was plowed for most of the way. The road sludge on my windshield was like driving in fog. I thought they fixed the washers. Wrong!
Thursday night, neither one of us slept well. Strange bed. Excitement. Nerves. I paced around the motel room Friday morning and stuffed a bunch of treats in her luggage (which the airline has lost, by the way). At 11, we went to the airport and met Whitney. I got us lunch at Mickey D's. The girls checked in. When they went through security, I had to say good bye. I watched her for a few moments, but just standing there was … well, I was going to cry and there's no point in that.
The drive home was a breeze. I was seriously doubting the decision to go up a day early, until Guy Morris called. He'd been by to dig me out. There were about 15 inches of snow in my driveway. (It's low and drifts.)
Then at home, the silence set in. My youngest child is on the other side of the globe. I want her to have this adventure, but I'll definitely miss her. We didn't eat very many of those snacks in the hotel, but I plowed through a lot Friday night.

FOOD is not love.

She called this morning. She's so tired and stressed that she's teary, but that'll pass. She will remember the next few months for the rest of her life.

Monday's FAVORITE Web Site: Bugs

Christopher Marley make art out of beauitful bugs.
http://www.formandpheromone.com/

FRIDAY FOTOS: Beth Says Good-Bye

Thursday Video FEATURE: Palindrome

No, it has nothing to do with Sarah Palin.

A palindrome reads the same backwards as forward.

This video reads the exact opposite backwards as forward.
Not only does it read the opposite, the meaning is the exact opposite..
This is only a 1 minute, 44 second video and it is brilliant.
Make sure you read as well as listen…forward and backward.

This is a video that was submitted in a contest by a 20-year old. The contest was titled "u @ 50" by AARP. This video won second place. When they showed it, everyone in the room was awe-struck and broke into spontaneous applause. So simple and yet so brilliant. Take a minute and watch it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42E2fAWM6rA

Not FREEZING Your Toes Off

Why buy a treadmill, when outside is such a pretty place to walk? WEATHER! The Midwest has plunged into the deep freeze, but I managed to walk outside over the weekend … once. I’m not crazy. As long as the wind is low, you can bundle up and stay warm.

I wore 2 of everything ... 2 hats (a knit cap and my hood) ... 2 shirts (a turtleneck and sweatshirt) ... 2 coats (Ok, it’s actually a 2-piece windbreaker and quilted coat that can be zipped together) ... 2 pairs of sweatpants ... 2 pairs of gloves (a knit pair on the inside and a pair of leather work gloves over that) ... and 2 pairs of socks

It wasn’t that bad. The first 10 or 15 minutes was chilly until the exercise warmed me up. After that I was fine … even my ears and fingers were comfy. Then, I started walking into the wind. I didn’t notice it while it was at my back. But full on my face was uncomfortable.

At one point, I walked back wards for a bit, to give my nose a break. (It’s a big nose and sticks out a long way. The poor thing chills easily.) Yeah, walking backwards was not a good idea. I walk with my dogs and Annie (the black hole of need) tends hover around me. Not all the time, but apparently when I walk backward. I tripped over her. Fortunately I was wearing so many clothes, that it really wasn’t that bad.

Wednesday Morning Weigh-In

Well, finally.  Today, I hit 190 again.  I'm not sure I deserved to lose weight this week, but am grateful for it.  Beth has been saying good bye to food she won't get while she's in England.  We've had mac and cheese, Asian B, Taco Bell and pizza -- all the Amercian staples.  My weight loss this week was a miracle.

FINDING Resolution

It’s the resolution time of year … the season when every other commercial is on taxes, quitting smoking or (you guessed it) losing weight.

 

If you only need to drop a few pounds, it’s a good time to go for it. But for those people, like me, who allowed weight to become a real problem, you need more than a diet.

 

You need to change.

 

I’ve been trying to change for the past 2 years. In the process, I’ve lost 80 pounds and that’s good. But I wouldn’t say I have the problem licked.

 

My New Year’s Resolutions are

1. to drop the remaining 30 pounds,
2. to keep exercising,
3. and to work on not eating unless I’m actually hungry … not bored, depressed or all the other emotional reasons I turn to food.

FUNNY Tuesday: FITNESS Thoughts

My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She's 97 now & we don't know where the hell she is!

The only reason I would take up jogging is so I could hear heavy breathing again.

I joined a health club last year, spent about 400 bucks. Haven't lost a pound. Apparently you have to show up?

I have to exercise in the morning before my brain figures out what I'm doing.

I don't exercise at all. If God meant us to touch our toes, he would have put them further up our body.

I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.

I have flabby thighs, but fortunately my stomach covers them.

The advantage of exercising every day is that you die healthier.

If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country.

I don't jog... it makes the ice jump right out of my glass.

Looking for Other FATTIES

I signed up for Google alerts on “diet” and “calories” ... just to see what else is out there. Everyone is trying to sell you something. I’m not.

I’ve lost 80 pounds. I’m trying to lose another 30. This blog is about how I’ve done it and … well, a lot of other stuff I find interesting. I don’t belong to any weight loss program. I don’t have a personal trainer. I’m just eating les junk and walking.

And since I’m miles from perfect (I used to weight 270 … so MILES from perfect), I’m also pretty open about my mistakes.

I’d like to talk to other people, like me, who want to feel better and weigh less.

Monday's FAVORITE Web Site: 50 in 52 Journey

Dafna Michaelson, a single mom, set out to interview one person is each state that was moving Amercia forward.  These are her stories. 
http://www.50in52journey.com/

Diet Quote from Totie Fields

I've been on a diet for two weeks and all I've lost is fourteen days. -- Totie Fields

FRIDAY FOTOS: Christmas with the Kids