ZOOOOOOOMBA

So I finally got around to taking a zumba class today. I can't dance for shit so I checked with the instructor ahead of time because it was held at a dance studio. She assured me I didn't need experience, and she was right. So were all of you guys: It was SO MUCH FUN. Small class, just five of us and the instructor. I loved it, I really did enjoy it enough that I didn't feel like I was working too hard. My right foot and right knee felt it, though, so I'll have to be careful. But I will definitely go back.

I am (mostly) over my snit about the tight band and PB yesterday. Thanks for the sympathy and compassion. I had a Zone bar for breakfast and some soup for lunch and all is going down fine. I'm having an artichoke tonight, come hell or high water, so I'm being really careful before then. We're supposed to be having Chinese at my mother-in-law's house tonight because some cousins are visiting from Houston, but I'm planning to have a little soup and wait till I get home to enjoy my delectable artichoke.

I just finished a great book, The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance by Elna Baker. It's a memoir by a formerly fat Mormon girl who's trying to launch a performing career and find the love of her life while remaining a virgin in New York City. It was great, partly because I moved to New York after losing a boatload of weight and some of our experiences were similar (minus the preserving virginity part). The books spends a lot of time talking about how Elna's life changed as she lost weight, how the world treated her differently and changed the way she saw other people. Anyway, I totally enjoyed it and wanted to pass it on.

Public Service Announcement (For Women Only)

It's been said before but I'll say it again: My band is tighter during my period. For some reason, I forget that every month and then - BAM! - have some unpleasantness.

Off to warm up my soup...

Perspective

Well, hi there. Yes, I know I'm still on the left (GAINED) side of the Summer Meltdown Challenge weight-loss graph, thanks for the reminder. My period is due any day and I'm sure that will be followed by a precipitous drop. For sure.

We had the Hubs' extended family here yesterday for Father's Day brunch, which was fun. For the first time in a while, it really bothered me that I couldn't eat a bagel. I really, really would have liked one.

Later, we were sitting outside and the kids were playing and my husband looked at me and said, "This is the life. Our children are healthy, we're healthy and all four of our parents are healthy. We will look back on these days as the best we ever had." He's totally right. It doesn't get better than this. That reminder put missing out on a bagel into pretty good perspective for me.

Meltdown Update

Well, a few days ago I said I was going to stick with my old scale during the challenge but I think I'm going to reverse that decision and use the new scale.

1. There is a discrepancy between old and new scales (this morning 215 old/ 216.4 new) but it's not in my favor so I won't be cheating for the challenge.
2. I really like having a more accurate and precise reading. Old scale goes in half-pound increments; new scale goes in two-tenths of a pound.
3. I've been waiting to transition to a new scale, waiting to find a time when I wouldn't be mentally anguished by "giving up" a pound or two in exchange for more accuracy. I'm there now - going "up" to 216 doesn't bug me. Much.

I hope you've all had a good Father's Day. I've been thinking especially of Jacquie and her family today, and sending my warmest wishes to all of you.

Melting Before My Eyes

On the heels of the horrid stuck/vomiting episode on Wednesday, yesterday the Hubs and I finally caught the kids' stomach virus. By the end of the day I had a few saltines, a package of Cup O'Soup and a glass of flat Coke. My surgeon doesn't do the anti-nausea meds, apparently, but "prescribed" the Coke. Super.

The good news is, I weighed in this morning at 214.6. Yay for that. Feeling much better today, although not entirely back to normal.

Have a good weekend, everyone. I'm taking my little men to see Toy Story 3 this afternoon. I love me some Buzz Lightyear.

DISASTER

I am so embarrassed to even post this, after my rah-rah, I'm going to the gym posts, this morning and yesterday. I considered just slinking away for a few days till my next gym appointment on Friday, but decided to come clean.

I grabbed some tortilla chips and some American cheese on my way out the door to the gym, and had a **horrible** stuck and throwing up episode. As in, into a plastic bag while I drove, pulled over for more, finally got to the gym and went inside, only to turn around and get outside to do it alll over again in the car. And then again at home.

F-ing nightmare. All I said to the trainer was that I had gotten sick. I said I'd be back for my Friday appointment.

Last night I had a bad stuck episode (no vomiting) and I guess I was still swollen. Didn't take the all-liquids rule to heart today.

My throat has been on fire. Just sat down with some soup now. 24 more hours of liquids.

So no gym today. Mortifying.

PHOTOS!

I've got two pictures for you - one "during" shot and one "before" shot. Both taken on the same day.

Hmmm. Sounds like a case for Encyclopedia Brown, no?

This is my during weight loss photo. Please note my hair remains in a ponytail because I HATE doing my hair. If someone gave me money for a completely frivolous expenditure and forbade me from using it for anything useful to myself or others, I would totally have someone come to my house every morning and blow my hair out for me.

Here's me, 50 pounds down:

Can you believe how short my legs are? I mention it every time, I know. But it never ceases to amaze me. It's like God doesn't love me or something.

BUT! NSV: Those white pants are pants I bought in 2007 after my sister's wedding. I took them to be hemmed and by the time I picked them up from the tailor, I already couldn't wear them anymore. Yesterday, I put them on, and with thanks and praise to almighty Spanx, they fit.

And here's the before shot, of the aforementioned criminally awful upper arms:

I know, right? I know. The good news is, any improvement will be major. At noon I will have a heart-to-heart with my trainer and tell him that even though I *look* like a person who could use a whole-body makeover, what I really want to focus on is getting Michelle Obama arms.

Well, I Done Did It.

I made a gym appointment. Tomorrow, 12 noon. Haven't been there since late last summer. But my friend sent me some pictures from her wedding, and my upper arms should be outlawed. For serious.

In other news, the scale is inching back to where my ticker is, ever so slowly.

I Like to Think It's My Independent Spirit Shining Through (Also: Sushi Question)

The fact that I gained weight the first week of the challenge, I mean. I'd hate to go along with the crowd and lose a shitton of weight in a single week, so I ate like a heifer and here I am, two point five pounds heavier than last Sunday. You're welcome.

Actually, this morning the scale read 218, so I managed to shed half a pound overnight. Yee-haw. I got a new scale last week and its readings are very close to current (old) scale. But I'm keeping old scale at least through the end of this challenge so I'm consistent from week to week, and I'm using the old scale for my official Sunday weigh-in reports to Kristen.

We were away for the weekend, back to Delaware and Pennsylvania (it never seems to be anywhere glamorous like Southampton or Nantucket) for my aunt's 70th birthday party. Middle son got a stomach virus on Friday night so I left him home with the Hubs and took older son and baby. Baby threw up all over her pretty party dress 10 minutes before we arrived and then was miserable from, I assume, the same stomach bug that felled her brother. Oy.

So I ate party food on Thursday and Saturday, and then snacked on Jordan candied almonds on the lonnnggg drive home yesterday. Not great.

Today I am back to my "normal" routine, which I hope will translate to a downward trend on the scale. Also planning to spend more time commenting on blogs. The typing keeps my fingers busy, so I can't snack. ;)

On to the Sushi Question: When you eat it, do you cut it up? I can't imagine taking the whole thing in one bite with a band. Walk me through this, please...

The Scale Is Not My Friend

Last night's cocktail party went well, we had about 60 people - all new families to my kids' nursery school for next year, plus some board members and the school director. I swear, it felt like every mom in this town is an Amazon woman. And they wear really high heels. I was easily the shortest and outweighed every other woman in the joint by 60 pounds, minimum.

However, I didn't spend much time worrying about it. Everyone was friendly and mixed well; I think they were pretty happy to meet other parents. Wine never hurts either.

My mom was here, and that woman worked like crazy. So many people came up to me to say, "Wow, your mom is amazing." She totally is, I owe her a massage or something. At least a mani/pedi.

The scale is completely betraying me these days. I've been busy gardening and cleaning for the party all week and haven't had time to eat much so I don't know exactly what's going on. I'll keep drinking water and hope the scale starts sliding the right way soon.

I've been reading your blogs but for the most part haven't had a chance to comment. Doesn't mean I'm not keeping up with you, though. Have a great weekend, ladies. xoxo