The Enemy

It's hard to lose weight when you get to be my age.    

I need to learn how to recognize and have the 
willpower to resist the enemy. 

They look sweet and innocent.  
But they are pushers.  


The enemy used to be easy to recognize because
 of their attire.


  But now there are unmarked uniforms involved a.k.a. grandparents, aunts, uncles, and yes...  
even mom's and dad's.   

This is not my fault. 


 I didn't order them.  Hubby ordered them from...  ahem...  a grandparent.


  You can't trust anyone these days. 

Someone needs to be held accountable.

It's Obvious who is At Fault

I'm not usually one to put the blame on someone else.  But in this case, it's obvious who is at fault.  The facts are all the proof I need.  It's his fault.

Fact:  In mid September, when Gary's Uncle Victor arrived to live in the adjoining apartment of our house (our guest apartment), I weighed 143 lb.  I realize some women don't like to reveal their weight or their age.  I don't really care, my life's pretty much an open book.  

Fact: today I weigh 148 lb.  *Gasp*

Is it Uncle Victor's fault?  You bet it is!

It wasn't only requested by him that we go out to dinner with him every Saturday and Sunday... it was expected of us.  

He eats slow.  Very slow.  By the time he's done, I'm ready for dessert... 

waitress: "is that all for you today?"

me: "umm. the peanut butter fudge pie... 

could you give me a piece to go please?"

Get the picture?

So today, it's with fond farewell that we bid Uncle Victor a safe drive back to Florida where he'll spend the winter before heading north again...  and though I will miss him much, I'll be able to focus on eating a little more healthy.  

Gary and Uncle Victor

Dear Diary,

Mom says I have a double.  I don't know what a double is.  Double-stuff oreo cookies.  Do I have cookies?  I think not.

So anyway... Mom got me a new jacket.  It's comfy.  She says it's for when I get groomed and my fur is shorter.  Whatever the case, I love my new jacket...

And I hope my new boyfriend/neighbor 

Max notices me now.

Gracie

Metabolism and Weight

Die-t.  Who thought of the word, and does it have anything to do with wanting to die while taking part in its absurdity?

I've been on every one imaginable, trying to keep at a reasonable weight.  (You don't want to know!)

I've been offered gifts of new wardrobes, contentment, peace and overall better health to just drop twenty-five pounds.  It was easy when I was thirty.  A week of eating nothing but M&M's on the 'm&m diet' was a guaranteed 7 lb. weight loss.

Now that I'm older I've learned the ugly truth about the over-fifty-metabolism.  And the importance of eating healthy.  (Not that being enlightened of these things help me to lose weight... uhhh uhhh)

I can go along great for weeks...  eating nothing but fruits and veggies, lean meat and no carbs and be graciously rewarded a one-half lb. weight loss. 

 Ugh! But hey...  going in the right direction!!

However....  one false move.  One piece of double-chocolate cake with buttercream frosting or any similar and wonderful intake will jack those scales up 2-3 pounds overnight.

So when I make my whole wheat toast with a smidgin of peach preserves and arrange it so invitingly on its plate adding a few strawberries and a dollop of fat free cool whip...

I wonder why I insist on playing this silly game when the results are always the same....

Gracie waits patiently for me to come to my senses and start eating normal again.  And so far, I always have.

My Obsession

I tried it once.  It became an obsession; I needed to stop.  I went 5-years without it… but it was always in the back of my mind…. Taunting me….  Reminding me of its wonderful-ness.  Yesterday I caved.  I even planned my strategy knowing all the while that it was something I should stay away from. 

1. I blew off work. Closed the office. Went on my mission with one thing in mind. I would be fulfilled for the summer. 

2.  Oh, these extra pounds I've gained.  Darn them anyway.  So I chose my rest-stop purchase wisely.  

3.  This antique market was soothing to my soul as my mind ventured back to a simpler place and time.  But no... it was not the fulfillment of my mission.  Not at all. 

4.  Beautiful Deep Creek Lake...  and what a pleasant day it was!  Oh.  But, no.  That was not the obsessive desire that I've tried to separate myself from all these years.  I mean, really.  What harm can a lake be? 

5.  Ummm...  the museum with all the old mining relics of yesteryear and a bearskin rug?  Oh come on.  No harm there... just some good clean fun.

But then it was on to the real reason...  

I've known it was there all this time.  But I kept telling myself, "No!  You don't deserve it!  It will just make things worse!!"

6.  The Creamery on Deep Creek Lake is the most sinful and awesome ice cream I've ever tasted.  It used to be when I worked in Oakland, I'd treat myself every night on the way home.  "Oh, just one scoop," I'd say.  "And could you make that scoop half chocolate/half maple walnut?  And could you put the chocolate on the bottom please?"  (I like to save the best for last).  That was over five years and under 20 pounds ago.  Hmmm.

Ok.  I'll be good now.

  

Every Bite Counts

Just another attempt at losing the weight. You know, the extra 10 lb. I've gained in the past year. The 20 lb. I've packed on in the last two years. Ahemmm... okay... the fifty lb. since I became pregnant and gave birth to my first kid over thirty years ago.

Weight gain is something us women have

a real problem getting over...

"I used to weigh 100 lb. Honest."

Okay. Now the ingredients:

Arnold's Whole Wheat Sandwich Thin

One Egg,

Scrambled with onion

and mushroom and a tiny bit of olive oil.

Strawberries

fat free cool whip

An estimated 4 pts. on Weight Watchers.