Irish Blessings

03/17/2011

281.3 lbs

I wasn't going to post this, but when I was poaching my image from the St. Patty's Day post last year, I noticed my weight.  I'm 12 lbs lighter. :-)



To quote last year: 

I'm partying tonight. Don't worry, I've got tomorrow off and cab money for the ride home.




Be safe! Have Fun! Go Green!


-jafg


May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields.
And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

I Hate No Pain No Gain.

02/21/2011

283.2 lbs

That is definitely yesterday's weight.  I was in such a hurry to be on time this morning (which, might I add, I was 4 minutes early) that I forgot to weigh myself.  And I really wanted to, too.


I didn't work out Friday night.  I just checked out.  I went home and immediately cracked open a beer (which is actually a rarity to have in the house).  I just wasn't down with the whole idea of trying to get my ass moving after work.  Especially by myself for the first time out of the gate again.  It's just one of those things. 

I did work out on Saturday, tho.  For an hour!  With a new workout buddy!  She's a new friend, met her in December at a Wine Down Wednesday (half price bottles of wine...I heart Wednesdays)/Birthday Celebration.  We were instant BFFs.  Anyway, I asked her if she'd be interested in working out with me on Saturday.  She said yes!  YEA!!  So here she comes, all  4'11" of her, (I should tell you, her size or lack there of, does not bother me in the slightest) in a little tennis outfit 'cause she just got done with a clinic.  I hop on my favorite elliptical machine, which btw, has a lot more "wear and tear" since the last time I've seen it, poor thing, and she hops on the treadmill beside me. 

I do a fairly good incline for 24.43 minutes.  At that point, I could feel a heat rash developing in a location I'd rather not disclose right now.  I forgot about those.  So, I tell her I've had enough elliptical and she says, "we're gonna hit the weights, right?"  Sure.  I'm thinking that my arms could use a little workout, too.  We spend the next 45 minutes on almost every machine in the place. It was awesome.  And hillarious.  I hope that laughing burns calories, too.

There's this bicep/tricep machine where you have to put your elbows down on this ledge and take these handle things and push the weights down and back.  I never used it before.  I always skipped it.  Well, Little Bit added it to our list of machines to use.  It made me discover I have muscles above my elbows.  I know this now because they hurt every time I move more than my fingers and wrists.  I'm talking pain.  Real pain.  Still-lingering-it-hurts-to-pick-up-the-phone-and-lift-my-coffee-cup-two-days-later pain.  My rash is gone, thank GOD, my legs feel no stress or soreness whatsoever, but DEAR LORD my arms.

I remember that I got sore after workout.  I remember feeling like I needed to go to the ER after my first hiphophell class.  Don't laugh, I seriously considered it.  What I don't remember is the actual feeling of the pain.  The soreness every time you move in just the right-or maybe wrong-way and you just want to freeze and never move again. 

Of course, freezing is not an option.  Lack of motion is why I'm so damn sore in the first place.  I know this is the first step [again] in getting healthy, but this is definitely a part of the process I don't like.  I did enjoy the sweating, tho.  And boy, did I sweat!

So, I'm doing it all again on Tuesday.  Yea.  Holy Crap.  Both sentiments really apply.  Little Bit has agreed to work out with me.  She's not a gym bunny which is awesome.  As a matter of fact, as I drank my mojitos and she drank her mimosas over brunch on Sunday.  She was telling me how sore she was, too!

Misery does  love Company.  Especially when adult beverages are involved.

-jafg

Just Another Funny Story. This Has Nothing To Do With Fat.

01/13/2011

283.4 lbs

I have a feeling I'm really going to hate that I've been guessing all week.

So, I'm 35.  I don't look it, actually most people are shocked when they find out.  I'm usually guessed at about 26-29.  Although, I really don't believe the people who say 26, I do so LOVE the people who say 29.  Hell, Even the ones that guess 32.  I believe it's because #1 I've got a full face and full faces don't show wrinkles, and #2 I don't wear foundation.  I use liquid eyeliner for my top lids, blush and lipstick.  When I go out, I use mineral make-up and eyeshadow.  And I try to moisturize regularly.  But I don't drink enough water.  I should work on that. 

So ok.  I really do have a point.  I'm 35.  I had an unhappy "who-who" in November.  I was wondering if it was possible to catch some sexually transmitted disease through texting [refer to yesterday's LDL post ;-) ]when I went to visit a new g-y-n because weird things were happening in the below-the-belt area.  Doc said I had an estrogen shortage.  She gave me these little pills of estrogen to take for two weeks.  They came preloaded in a pill injector.  Yeah.  I didn't take these orally.  It was a weird experience. 

So, I'm 35 and I have this thing called PCOS.  I was diagnosed with it a few years ago.  A lot of heavy girls are diagnosed with this.  It gives you hair in places you don't want (and I've got an ethnically diverse background, this happens already), makes it difficult for pregnancy (not really an issue for me, per say), and means that hormones are hokey.  I've also had an irregular cycle (read as nearly non-existent) all my life.  With one exception:  When I'm on Birth Control.  Which was from about 21-27 years of age.  I smoked then and wasn't too concerned because the "you shouldn't smoke while taking The Pill...Especially women over 35" didn't apply to me.  It was so far away.  35 that is.

So that brings me back to my point.  I'm 35.  I've been placed back on The Pill.   Doc did it to regulate me (turns out the thickening of your uterine lining greatly increases your chances for all sorts of cancers) and balance out my hormones which will help with the PCOS.  She did this to me on November 28.  About 3 hours after leaving her office, she calls me.  Here's the conversation.

DOC:  "I use my lunch time to review the charts of my new patients.  I see you're 35."  -No. Shit.-  "It says here you smoke."  -She called me just for this?-  "You can't smoke and take The Pill."  -Damn my honesty on my new patient forms!-  "The risks for a stroke or heart attack are too high."

ME:  "But I only smoke, like, 4 or 5 cigarettes a day.  A pack can almost last me a week!"  Desparation is really starting to set in.

DOC:  "It's smoking.  There's really no safe level.  Especially on The Pill.  You're 35."  -I heard that the first time.- "You need to make a decision."

I like her and hate her all at the same time.  I tell her that since it's only "a few a day", it shouldn't be a big deal to quit.  It's a nasty habit with no redeeming qualities.  A guilty pleasure whose guilt should outweigh the pleasure.  Blah. Blah. Blah.  So. Ok.  I'm going to quit.  Again.  :-|

I've got a Pharmacist in the family.  I ask her and every other Pharmacist I meet about this whole smoking and The Pill thing. Surely one every now and then would be ok.  A little snack once in awhile shouldn't hurt.

The answer is always the same.  "It's not recommended, especially for women your age."  Bastards. 

It's been a process through the Holiday Merriment.  I made a solid commitment on January 3rd and haven't smoked once since the 4th.  So, I'm on day 10 of smoke-free living.  Go Me!  I traded smoking for bleeding and wacked emotions on a monthly basis.  On a good note, taking The Pill has made my boobs bigger.  I don't remember that happening the first time around.

Oh. Doc ends the conversation like this. 

DOC:  "I'm scheduling you for a mamogram.  It's time you get one.  You're 35."

-Bitch.-

-jafg

Facebook Fever and Pretty Panties

01/12/2011

283.4 lbs

I'm sticking with yesterday's guess.

I've been on Facebook as Just Another Fat Girl for awhile.  It's really weird because I get tons and tons of friend requests.  TONS and TONS.  I'm not kidding.  I had to delete over 150 friend request emails alone from my inbox.  And that doesn't include all the "fan page suggestions".  I look at these accounts and I wonder how the hell they found me.  My page only has like 31 fans.  My person account has 339.  Can I just say that I don't have that many fb friends on my super secret identity fb account?  Blows my mind.  I was thinking that most of them are like fad sales people.  Trying to pitch and whatnot, but then I look at the names and the posts and most of them are real life people.  Most of them are using Facebook for their blogging medium.  It's pretty cool.  Although, it does make it a pain in the ass to log into my jafg email account.  I'm changing my setting for friend request emails from fb.  Actually, I'm gonna do that right now...

Whew.  I'm glad I remembered I could do that.  Not kidding, in the time it took me to login and and make those changes (and just accepting like 75 friend requests before I started this post) I got another friend request.  My friend count is now at 340.  YIKES!

Well, folks, I have a Long Distance Lover. I should warn you now, I'm going to be talking about some adult stuff for the next little bit.  Nothing X-rated, but definitely over PG13.  I travel on business several times a year.  I see a lot of the same faces, but my real life work is in a large industry so the opportunity to meet new people is always there.  I met him on a late Summer trip. 

He approached me at a networking event.  That's business speak for party with free adult beverages and food.  Anyway.  I was talking to another male person for a majority of the evening (strictly platonic, I assure you) which actually garnered some attention because he's fairly high profile in my work world.  Anyway, this is how I initially met LDL.

To begin with, it was a brief meeting.  Actually, we didn't even really talk.  He was taking pictures of everyone around and--being the nice girl that I am--I offered to take his picture with Mr. Platonic.  Before an introduction to be made, he was off.  I was a little dissapointed because I really thought he was quite cute.

About an hour later, I'm getting another beverage at the bar and then suddenly, LDL is beside me handing me his card.  He tells me "I don't know what it is about you...I haven't been able to stop thinking about you since I saw you.  Please call me.  It doesn't have to be tonight, but please call me before you leave."  And then, he was off.  Again.  This is by far the best pick up line I've ever heard.  Ever.  By far.  Needless to say, I did call him.  We talked more and eventually got to know each other much better before the end of the trip.

I want to tell you that we didn't have s-e-x. (And if we would have, "protection" would have been involved.  I am a safety girl through and through. There's my PSA for the day.)


That's not to say that the opportunity wasn't there, it just didn't come to that. "It" didn't need to.  "It" was pretty phenomenal on it's own.  I don't really know what "it" was, but damn, there were sparks and fireworks.  Both he and "it" made an impression.
 
I was content in leaving "it" at that.  To be honest, I really was expecting to leave "it" at that.  I mean, we're talking different time zones here.  And then I started getting texts.  And fb messages.  And phone calls.  Not all at once, but enough to know that there was continued interest there.  Let me tell you, this part has been a lot of fun.  A lot. 

Anyway, there are plans in the works for seeing each other.  Over the holidays it was out of the question because of schedules.  Hell, right now it's hard because of schedules.  Plus we're talking serious travel commitment because it'll involve a plane.  And that's a pretty big commitment.  I'm not 100% sold on the idea of travelling just to see him or the other way around, but wouldn't mind seeing if there was still electricity the next time we happen to both be occupying the same space.

So I know I'll be see him again in a month. I'm ok with waiting considering my commitment issues.  What I have been doing in the interim is shopping.  Dear Lord, have I been shopping.  First of all, if you didn't know about Lane Bryant's buy two bras get two free sale, get to that website NOW.  It's almost over (01/17/11).  Haivng said that, I've greatly increased the size of my boudoir.  Nothing makes a girl feel sexy like pretty panties.  And bras.  And nighties.  LB even has some babydolls that have underwire built in.  Underwire!  God Bless the person who finally did that!  I have all sorts of colors now, too.  And lace.  Which can itch at times.  Just sayin.

My point with all this is that Sexy is as Sexy does.  I didn't pursue this guy, although I certainly did notice him the moment I saw him.  Even after "it" happened, he still pursued me (and is continuing to do so).  Somethin I got makes him hot.  And I'm ok with that. 

My arsenal is stocked.  I'll keep you posted.  It may just fizzle instead of sizzle.  In which case, I got new stuff out of it, anyway.

Like my favorite new pair of pretty panties:

The Coral Rumba Boyshort

For the record, I didn't model this.

-jafg

Oh. Fudge.

12/20/2010

281.4 lbs

I didn't want to weigh this morning, but I did it anyway.  For the sake of the Blog.

Thursday night I made a chicken casserole.  I had it at a Christmas dinner earlier this month and decided to make it for dinner myself.  It's pretty basic.  Chicken, campbell's soup, sour cream, and crushed crackers on top.  And a stick of butter.  Yeah, a whole stick.  Well, I substituted panko bread crumbs for the crackers cause I didn't have any Ritz on hand.  I looked at the "1 stick of butter" several times trying to figure out what to do about it.  I then decided to use less-than-a-whole-but-more-than-a-half-a-stick of butter.  I melted it, poured it on and baked the dish in the oven.  Two hours later, after eating said casserole, I was miserable to say the least.  I stayed home on Friday with a still upset tummy. 

This also leads to the feeling of guilt (which I've had more than a few times lately) about my eating habits.  I equate it to quitting smoking.  When I fail to resist the urge to smoke, I feel really bad about it later--and sometimes while I'm doing it--because it's bad for me.  There are no redeeming qualities.  None.  Not one thing about smoking a cigarette is good.  But, I do enjoy it.  Love it, even, when the circumstances are right.  Granted, the enjoyment is fewer and farther between times and I really don't like the idea of smoking stone cold sober (stress is still a HUGE trigger though)  but the fact remains, I enjoy a good smoke like I enjoy a good glass of wine.  Or Jack and Coke. 

My point with all this is unhealthy eating (like NEARLY a stick of butter in a recipe) is so totally ungood.  No redeeming qualities.  Nothing good can come from it.  Thus the Friday ick-fest.  This also takes it's toll mentally.  I'm left alone and to my own devices to obsess over what I've done and whatnot.  Anyway, it can leave a person in a rather insecure state of mind. 

This all leads up to a party Saturday night.  SAG (that's Skinny Athletic Girl just as a reminder) and I are going to this shindig together.  We decide that if it's a bust, we'll head out on the town.  No worries.  Well, it's a bizzare group of people and tons of free good booze.  So, we stay.  Bonus, there's a boy here that I find mentally stimulating.  He's very much an adult and easy to converse with and makes a hell of a drink.  Laid back, educated, funny, basically, someone either to spend a "safer" fun-filled night with (don't judge!) or consider expanding to a more regular friend thing and possibly connect on facebook.  That's what you do these days, btw.  You friend people.  You don't exchange numbers.  It's hard to get used to. 

As you may already know, I'm certainly not a wall flower.  I'm a confident 30something woman.  My size very rarely is a thought in my mind when I'm out on a town and meeting people.  Never has been.  (Online dating is a whole other topic all together and one we'll discuss at a different time).  Remember, though, I'm still fighting a few fresh food demons here. 

So, I'm talking with Mr. Potential all night, floating back and forth among the guests who aren't necessarily people that I'd be around regularly but still having a good time.  Yes, I may be a bit of a snob, but seriously, who isn't?  As the night progresses, things get weird.  People are drinking more and well, I realize that the folks I do know are dwindling.  SAG has gone to a show and I decided to stay (let's face it, because of Mr. Potential) and continue with the merriment.  Before I know it, the hostess is making out with another chick and a male gay couple inform me they like taking women to bed. 

W. T. F.  I should leave, but for whatever lack-of-judgement reason I do not. 

Let me state here that whatever someone's preferences are or are not when it comes to bedroom, does not bother me.  Truly.  However, I was not prepared for where this party was heading. There's no judgement here, but it was a freakin "Christmas Party"!  None of the Christmas parties I've ever attended have ended up like this. 

I decide to go outside, smoke a cigarette with Mr. Potential (I've been drinking) and down a shot of tequilla (I've been drinking).  Tequilla is never a good thing.  I still don't know how I got the shot in the first place.  Then, a 6-foot Amazonian 23-year-old comes outside and starts talking about ulcers and migranes.  I have a tendancy to give free advice even in my most sober of states.  This night was not one of those states.  I try to coherently tell her she's way to young to have migranes and ulcers and she tells me it's because she had gastric bypass surgery at 17.  She says this like three times before it hits me.  "17?!" I say, (again, standing next to Mr. Potential) "17! she says and then procedes with this statement:  "I can tell that you're overweight...".  

She said some other things after that, but I don't recall actually hearing the words.

Let me let you know how this went down in my head.  Have you seen "The Christmas Story"?  Remember the scene with the flat tire and Ralphie gets to be a big boy and help his dad change it?  And he somehow drops all the lugnuts and also drops the f-bomb "Oh Fudge" line?  Well, that slo-mo-drawn-out-hyper-pronounced speaking is how it sounded in my head when I hear the "you're overwieght" part from 23YO Glamazon Chick.  To say awkward is an understatement.  I'm maintaining my composure, actually trying to sustain the conversation like it's not a big deal, and about 1 minute later, Mr. Potential wanders back inside and I drink more.  Like any sensible girl would.  Oy. Vey. 

I am now so far out of my comfort zone.  Straight people are gay.  Gay people are straight.  And I've been pronounced "overweight" by a 23YO Glamazon in front of Mr. Potential.  Bye Bye Healthy Ego.  I'm reeling inside.  My emotional pshyche is in a tailspin. My head may even be spinning a little from the whole adult beverages thing, as well.  And then, the tequilla shot kicks in. Needless to say, tequilla jafg isn't a pretty jafg.  She's mean.  And now that she feels exposed/rejected, she's on a warpath. 

Here's the deal, when you're drunk you make an ass out of yourself.  Sometimes, it's remembered as the life of the party, and other times it's remembered as "that crazy chick last night".  It's going to end one way or the other.  Trust me, this comes from years of experience.  I usually stay on the side of life of the party.  I'm proficient enough in my 30something years to know where the line is between the two.  Well.  Saturday night, I crossed it.

I can't really bare re-living the humiliation of the rest of the evening which lasted about 20 more minutes.  There were some inappropriate comments I make to The Man Formerly Known as Mr. Potential which led to overheard inappropriate comments and then I left.  What the FUDGE was I thinking? I wasn't.  I was hurt, embarrassed and wanting to pick a fight.  The last part can be partially blamed on the environment and on the tequilla.  But, Holy Crazy Parties, I was so not prepared for that evening. 

Look, I have tough skin and have dealt with emotional blows enough that I can somewhat quickly recover; or successfully compartmentalize, anyway.  Humiliation, either self inflicted or from external sources, isn't easy to admit.  I'm trying to find something funny about all this, but really, right now, I can't.  I'm a grown-up.  I've put my "big girl panties" on so to speak [which really takes on a whole new meaning in this context] and moved forward and won't be attending any more events at that house again.  But I'm still licking my wounds.

Thanks for listening.  I can't say that I really feel better, but at least I got a blog post out of it.


Also, Mr. Potenial will forevermore be referred to as Mr. Douche. 


-jafg

An Unexpected Turn

04/16/10

276.2 lbs

Ok.  For the record: Saturday morning said 273.6 lbs and Sunday afternoon said 273.0 lbs.  To say this morning was a disappointment would be an understatement. I'm sure it had nothing to do with the box of macaroni and cheese I ate for dinner last night or the gallon or so of Royal Flush shots consumed over the weekend.

You know I have a little weight tracker at the bottom of my blog.  I doubt it gets any facetime because, well, it's at the bottom of my blog.  Esthetically speaking it's the best place for it; however, it really isn't when it comes to viewability.

Anyway, I wanted to show it to you that it's been on a steady downward trend since I started back up in March.  I've been living healthy, relatively speaking, for 5 months and have lost 20-23 lbs.  It could have been more had I been really sticking to things.  I mean really staying on task.  However. 

I have been looking at this whole thing as a change in my life.  I'm living differently.  I'm not on a diet.  I am eating healthy food, not diet food (I don't buy into the whole "fat-free" marketing.  I believe natural is better.  Ingredients are more important than nutritional info to me.  Having said that, I heart I Can't Believe It's Not Butter spray.) I am exercising.  I'm trying to drink more water.

I also eat pizza and boxed macaroni 'n' cheese.  I drink my fair share of adult beverages.  I opt to stay in my PJs and watch movies all day instead of exercising.  Basically, I'm living a normal life.  I'm living a lifestyle that I can maintain and isn't unduly burdensome to me.  Well, exercising is almost always annoying. But that aside, I know I've got a path set in front of me that works.  For me. 

I have no idea why my blog took this path today.  Perhaps it's because I saw a 3 lb jump on the scale.  Or maybe because I'm still hung over and a bit pensive.  I dunno.  I had a hell of a weekend and will be sharing as much of the details that I dare for your reading pleasure tomorrow.

I will also be in touch with all my VWBs and working out again this week.

Well.  Starting tomorrow.


-jafg

A New Day

08/09/10

276.4 lbs

Yippee!  I actually made it through the weekend and L-O-S-T weight.  I am almost to my lowest point on this blog again.  This is a moment to celebrate. 

I love Nina Simone.  I love this song.  It seems appropriate and I hope you'll all take it with you through the week.

I'm happy to report that the VWBs all celebrated great things over the weekend.  Angela Pea rocked out a class at the Y on Friday.  Roxie kicked jogging's ass on Sunday.  Kimert killed 6 miles on Saturday.  Amanda conquered the elliptical, too.

I, on the other hand, was down for the count.  All weekend.  Before you get all sadfaced and let down because I didn't make it though my 7-day challenge, I must tell you that I had a 24-hour stomach bug (which may have been brough on by the egg drop soup I made for the first time) and...(queue "dreadful" music)...a UTI. 

The positives. I've never consumed so much water in my freakin life.

The negatives. BB's bachelorette party is this weekend. I can't consume alcoholic beverages for two weeks (thank you, Antibiotics). I'll be playing the role of Mother Hen this weekend, I guess. Sigh.

Can you say UGH?  I'm glad to know that Friday wasn't just a punked out day.  I was feeling a bit bad that I didn't hit my finish line.  Once I realized that my body was busy addressing other issues, well, I felt a little better about it.  See, the challenge wasn't to prove that I could be active for 7 days straight, it was to build momentum.  And it's done that.  I've done that.  Me and my VWBs!

So.  Today is a new day.  It's a new week and a new game plan for the VWBs.  Right now, I'm not up for a lot of movement.  This does not mean that I'm off the wagon.  I am simply going to focus extra hard on eating right and drinking plenty of water.  As a matter of fact, that is my VWB gameplan this week. 

I want to know that the girls are doing their workouts as needed.  That means Kimert and her morning sessions, Pea and her Y classes, Roxie and her jogging/BL sessions, and Amanda and her strength training.

What I need this week is encouragement to continually drink water and eat right.  Stay the course.  Keep the momentum.

'Cause I'm feeling good.  Sort of.

-jafg

My Girl Friday

08/02/10

281.6 lbs

>:o|.

So, it's a good thing I wasn't lying about The Game Plan.  I got a lot of responses from that little teaser post. 

I also got a lot of responses from Help Wanted.  I want to thank each of you on the feedback on my dating bio.  I made some recommended changes and we'll see how it goes.  I signed up for three months.  90 days should be enough to tell me if it's working.  I'll be sure to share all the lovely ups and downs of that experience.  Who Knows.  Maybe it'll lead to another blog.

Well. I want to begin by saying that having followers is inspirational.  Having commenters is, like, unbelieveable. My interaction with my Tweeple is always heartwarming and fun.  I count you all as my support system and it's so great to know you're out there cheering me on.  I'm cheering for you too! (Even though I did lose a follower over the weekend.  Sadface.) 

But, sometimes I need a little bit more.  Which is why I sent out the bat signal last week.  What I need is someone(s) to prod me with a cattle poker and make sure I'm getting off my ass when I'm supposed to.  That means in the morning when I'd rather be in bed, or at night when I'd rather be watching TV.  Or you know, all the other times I need that motivation.  SAG is very wrapped up in tennis (she does all these tourneys which is great for her, but she never works out at the gym now) and BB is wrapped up with wedding stuff and is working out with Her Beau.  That leaves me with myself.  And between you and me, I can rationalize my way out of anything.  And I mean Anything. 

Well that leads us up to The Game Plan.  I'd like to introduce you to Team JAFG.  Please say hello to my little friends!

My Gal Monday

Kimmert
http://anotherrunningmom.blogspot.com/

My Gal Tuesday

Angela Pea
http://ktf-skinnyme.blogspot.com/

My Gal Wednesday

Amanda
http://amandajustice.blogspot.com/

My Gal Thursday

Roxie
http://theroxieproject.blogspot.com/

These beauties are my virtual workout buddies (henceforth known as VWBs).  I was hoping for one and I got four!  That's one for every workout.  I'm giving each VWB my cell number and my name and we're doing real time one on one support.  There are still some details to work out.  Scheduling, Planning, Emailling and whatnots.  As a matter of fact, Kimmert and I started this morning.  We decided on 5:45am morning workout.  Well, it turns out that Kimmert's 5:45 is about an hour before mine is.  "How?" you ask?  Well, she's an Eastern girl and I'm a Central girl.  Fortunately, I slept through her first text.  It's quite funny really. 

Let's talk about that weight you see up there.  I ate food like it was facing extinction this weekend.  Friday night I had BBQ for takeout.  Saturday, I hit up fast food breakfast and then went to a wedding Saturday  night.  A Catholic Wedding.  At 7:00pm. With an open bar.  We left the reception (which had a shrimp and grits bar among other things) around 11:30 and hit an "after party".  It was at a neighborhood hang out.  It's always great to show up to one of those places all dressed up in about 4 cars.  We stayed there until it closed and then a smaller group headed to an "after hours" place.  Needless to say, I didn't get home until after 4:00am (which, btw, would be 5:00am Kimmert time).  I don't know if I told you this before, but I have a party rule:  If you're home before 4:00am it's still the night before; if you're home after 4:00am it's the next day.  I didn't know I still had it in me to be honest.

A night of one too many leads to a day of poor eating choices.  You may not understand this, but that's ok; you don't really need to.  My Hangover required two things:  A breakfast burrito and a creamy milky something.  I opted for a milkshake.  When you feel like I did, you have to listen to what Hangover wants.  And then, a nap (read as coma) with Kitty on the couch and then a creamy pasta dish from Macaroni Grill for dinner.  YIKES. I am choosing not to think about the calories and saturated fat content of all the digestables I had.  Actually I don't have to.  I simply had to get on the scale this morning.

I'm not beating myself up because I did get up this morning.  It wasn't exactly 5:45.  After realizing that Kimmert had already done her workout before God was awake, I rationalized myself to sleep until 6:45.  Then I laid in bed with open eyeballs and finally forced myself up 10 minutes later (6:55am).  I knew I didn't have time for my 30 minutes of Elliptical.  I didn't puss out though. I made myself do something that I never never ever do.  I did crunches.  Twenty of those bastards.  I have so much junk in my front-trunk that I forget I even have  abdominal muscles so this has been a real shock to the system.  I then did 5 pushups.  Yes, they were girl push-ups or "Pink Push-ups" as I like to call them, but still, I did them.  And then I did these 5 bicycle exercise things.  It's where you're on your back and you lift your legs up like you'd be sitting on a bike.  You then push one leg straight leaving the other at a 90* angle.  You hold the position for like 10 seconds and then you rotate legs.  Two leg movements one count.  It's a lot harder than you may realize. My thigh muscles are talking to me a bit this afternoon.

Since Angela Pea and I both use the YMCA for our gyms, she's my gym VWB.  That way, I can text her from the class and not feel like I'm all alone in that big scary room.  It'll be on Tuesdays after work. My choices are Body Pump or Cardioenergy.  Truth be told, I'm a little scared of both of these.  They sound like a real ass kicker.  I'm open to suggestions on which of the two I should take.  I'm also going to wear a sleeveless shirt.  Maybe.

I'm still working out the details about Wednesday and Thursday (pretty much those two gals are learning about their official team placement through this blog...Hi Ladies!).  Amanda as indicated something about weights and resistance training.  I have those circuit machines that perhaps we can work out a routine on. 

This doesn't mean that I'm only in contact with my VWBs on the assigned days. Oh no.  We'll be in contact on a very regular basis.  Via texts, emails, what-have-yous.  This just helps me really stay on track and  keep the variety going.

You may be wondering about the other days of the week.  Well, when I was exercising before I didn't have a problem getting to the Concierge Gym on Saturday or Sunday.  Which brings me to

My Gal Friday

Me!

BB has indicated a workout this evening may be possible so I'm planning on hitting the elliptical tonight.

My pants fit too tightly not to.

-jafg

Monday Musings

07/19/10

278.4 lbs

Technically, that belongs to yesterday since I didn't weigh today.

Right now I was Starbucks SO BAD.  I'm going to settle for a coffee from downstairs with powdered creamer (read empty calories and a little bit of fat) and a splenda.  Whatever.

I feel somewhat returned to the land of the living.  I don't have that super stressed feeling that's been sitting on me for like the past month.  I took a few days, put things on paper, and see now that the sky isn't actually falling.  So now what?

I totally binged on fast food breakfast Sunday.  There's my weekend confession.  I had been out having an adult beverage or two the night before and totally caved to the temptation.  It's been a long while and it was good.  I'm glad that's out of my system.

Well, yesterday I bought groceries.  I meal planned and ended up with one guilty pleasure for which I totally do NOT feel bad about, stuff to make baked tacos.  It's made with flour tortillas.  I also got lean ground turkey and will have plenty lettuce and tomato for the top.  I did get low fat sour cream.  I don't believe in fat free unless it's naturally occuring.  That's just me.   Other than that, I have some beautiful sweet potatoes, lean centercut pork chops, chicken cutlets and thighs.  Also, I have plenty of steam bag veggies which last longer.  I hate it when I don't use my produce and have to throw it away.

Speaking of spoiling produce, I've signed up for a veggie co-op program and am looking forward to my first delivery this week. Not only will I be supporting local farms, but I will also be getting food that is SO fresh. I can't wait! It's costing me about $150 a month with weekly deliveries. That isn't bad for fresh organic locally grown produce. I'll let you know how it goes.

So I was inspired by JewliaGoulia's Friday post in which she laid out her pantry and fridge details.  She had all pre-portioned pre-prepared food for her easy access.  I decided I can do something similar too.  I got two pieces of watermelon ($.80 each!!!) and chopped them up.  It was a great evening snack because it's so sweet and succulent.  Plus, that $1.60 worth of watermelon will totally last me through the week (as long as it doesn't go bad)!

Well, BB's bachelorette party is set for the weekend of August 13.  We were going to the beach, but in light of all the oil issues, we've opted for New Orleans in stead.  Awesome!  I can't imagine what kind of trouble will ensue. 

I'm  setting aside bail money, just in case.

-jafg

Roller Derby, Anyone?

06/16/10

279.2 lbs

I'm still evaluating my recently past behavior.  I am also going to the gym tonight. 

I'm still a little high from all the twitter and bloggin love I've gotten over the past few days.  I have grown to 53 followers!  I always find it to be an exciting/humbling experience when a new follower sprouts up.  I also do my best to follow you all and add you to my blogs I heart a lot list.  (If you're not on there, please let me know!).  I accidentally selected to follow myself one day--which apparently you can totally do--and now I don't want to unfollow cause I don't want to decrease my numbers.  I heart you all!  Love You Mean It!

While every comment and follower means the world to me, the love received over the picture posting was SO unexpected and encouraging!  I'll tell  you, I have a regular square-ish screen on my laptop and have a widescreen monitor on the desktop (which I use most of the time).  I posted those pictures on the regular square-ish screen machine.  I think, after seeing them on the widescreen, had I seen them on this machine first, I SO would not have posted them.  EGAD. Widescreen makes a difference.

Bygones.

So, I played laser tag last night.  And I went skating.  Yeah, skating.  Like old-school-orange-wheeled-fake-suede-horrible-shoelacey skating.  I learned a few things.  Firstly, skating rinks still smell like stinky feet and sweaty kids.  Secondly, there is no such thing as a fat skater.  I have the videos to prove it. 

Don't get me wrong.  There were some kids in there that still had a fair share of baby pudge going on.  But I'm talking a lack of Big People.  Not the parents sitting on the sidelines, but the folks out on the rink.  Most of them were under the age of 10, btw.  Then a good many of them were under the age of 15.  There was some dude there that was totally sporting the scary 70's porn mustache and I never exactly saw him with a kid.  I'm still a little concerned about that one.  Anyway, point is NONE of them were fat. 

So BB's little 15 year old brother came for a two week visit. Because of this, BB and Her Beau are trying to find "minor friendly" things to do. Last night, it was half price night at this game park. So, we piled in the car and headed for some laser tag. I've never played laser tag before. It involves a black light and 10 year old kids. I think next time I'll have a few drinks first. Of the Adult Beverage variety.


Well.  We play 2 rather fast rounds of laser tag and decide that's enough.  As we're walking out the notion hits me...How freakin fun would it be to roller skate again after like 20 years?  (Holy. Shit.  It HAS been 20 years. 8-/  )  We all head over--after a little convincing-- for the skate exchange where you give Them your shoes and They give you hideous skates.  I'm still stoked anyway.  We then sit down on the box benches (ohmawgaw, they still use those carpet covered box benches!) and begin to put on said hideous skates. 

A new notion hits me.  How freakin stupid is this idea, anyway??!!?

...Dear Lord.......Please Please Please don't let me die!...

I did survive.  I stayed on the carpet area (which was a cookie monster blue) so I'd have a little more traction on the wheels of death.  I actually made it almost completely around the rink floor once.  I was clinging with all my might to the poor 15YO's arm.  I bet he still has white marks where I was gripping so hard.  Thankfully, though, I never fell.  I also got one hell of a strength training workout for my legs.  Believe me.

It wasn't until I sat down and took the hideous skates off that I had the revalation about the fat people and skating and how there wasn't a single one of them in there besides me.  I was the biggest girl on the block, or in the rink, or whatever.  I can't tell you why I realized this and I find it a little odd that I had the thought, to be honest.  I can tell you, though, I didn't feel self conscious...not once.

I was too busy concentrating on not breaking my ass.

-jafg

Awesome!

06/11/10

278.4 lbs

Where to begin, where to begin...

Firstly, Yea on the weight-front!  I actually was gone from my abode for 7.5 days and managed to LOSE weight.  3 lbs even!  Awesome!  I'm pretty excited about that.  It was great to be back at Beach Town, even with the threat of the looming oil spill (for which I am sincerely soliciting your prayers so they will get the well stopped and at least have an end to the leak itself).  It's truly made a negative impact.  The beaches were sparsely attended and this was the first full week of the season.  Usually, you'd have to scope a place out at like 7:00 in the morning.  Now, you can walk out at 2:00 in the afternoon and grab a fairly large patch of beach all to yourself.  Anyway, I could write for days on this subject.  It just breaks my heart. 

On to less serious matters...

BFF arrived late Tuesday night.  Wednesday morning, we woke up about 9ish and went for a workout.  We then had a very healthy breakfast and I started backing.  I actually crammed 7 days' worth of clothing into my middle suitcase.  I still can't believe it made it all in.  I felt bad for the thing really.  I knew there wasn't a weight limit since we were driving and not flying, so I unzipped the extender (it has one built in which will expand the width of it, L-O-V-E It!) and loaded it up.  I threw my extra shoes and bathroom necessities into two grocery-totes-turned-carry-ons.  We finally got on the road about 1:30. 

Oh.  Let me share with you the best part.  I called the nice, upscale, beachfront hotel prior to our departure because I didn't think we'd make the 4:00pm checkin time.  Well, when on the phone I let them know that I'd need two beds and not one and here's the response I got:

"Oh, Ma'am, you don't have to worry about that.  You have a 3 bedroom suite.  You've been upgraded."  Pregnant Pause.  "Well.  Thank you.  I'll see you when I get there."  I totally didn't even mind that she called me ma'am.

We get to the hotel, we get our key and BFF is in charge of directing the bellhop with our luggage while I hurry off to find my first official gathering.  You must remember, this is for a work conference, but it's more like a big party.  These are all friendly industry colleagues.  We all know each other and mostly love each other.   We get together annually so it's always like a reunion.  There was a Meet & Greet that had already started so I ran over to it to offer my "Hi How Are Ya"s.  I must make nice with the masses.  I also have to rub in the fact that I have been upgraded to a tower suite whilst all the peasant peoples have been relegated to regular rooms.  I get fantastic reactions and grab two drinks from the complimentary bar (one is for BFF) and head up to said suite.

Well, I take the elevator to the 16th floor (there are only 17, btw).  After making it to the top, there's this door and no hallway.  I'm thinking "uh did I take the wrong elevator?"  Well, I push through the door and am now outside on a breezeway.  It's an entry like a motel.  Suddenly, the visions of my 3-bedroom palace shrink to a room with two queen beds and a hide-a-way.  How am I going to live this down?

I walk to the end of the corridor to my room.  Awesome!  At least it's a corner unit.  Noise can only come from one side and, in turn, I can only bother one neighbor.  Okay.  I open my door and Holy. Crap.  It really IS a palace!  Actually, it's a condo unit with a wrap-around balcony, full kitchen, washer/dryer unit, master suite to DIE for with a master bathroom to DIE for even more!  The master suite has a private balcony which became my second home.  I totally had the party pad for the week.  It was awesome.

There wasn't a night that I didn't see 3am.  As a matter of fact, Friday, I actually was greeted by the Sunrise.  Yikes.  It was a moment to say the least.

Food was provided either by the conference or by the hotel.  There was a fantab breakfast buffet which served omlettes and the best sausage gravy and biscuits.  I had them 3 mornings in a row.  I ate healthy lunches and barely touched a dinner and because of that, I maintained and even lost lbs!  Awesome!  I had the most awesome marinated portobello sandwich for lunch one day.  Scrum-Chus.

Friday Moms had driven down for a visit to the beach and Sunday BFF headed back home.  My Gramps was turning 81 on Tuesday (as in just this week...BFF's bday was Wednesday) so I planned on not coming home until then.  Since I'd be in town on a weekday and would not be working, I made an appt with my Dr whom I love.  I haven't found a replacement for her and don't know that I will.  I may just continue to plan mini-breaks around my visits with her.

I hadn't seen her since January of last year and hadn't had "the visit" since the summer before that, so I took care of The Works. I won't horrify you with all the details, but I did talk to her about my weight.  Turns out my highest weight was 287 lbs.  This past trip I was 273 lbs.  Now, before you get too excited, her scale has always ran 5 lbs lighter.  That means the 287 lbs was actually 292 lbs and the 273 lbs is actually 278 lbs.  That also means that I'm 13 lbs lighter than January 2009.  For the first time in as long as I can remember, my wieght has decreased from year to year. 

I feel pretty damn awesome about that.

-jafg

6 Months Into 2010

0506/01/10

281.4 lbs

Virtual Sigh.

Life at Lakehouse was very nice.  Except for the thousands of "no-see-um" bites all over my extremities.  That's another blog-tale.  Benadryl anti-itch cream is my BFF right now.

I actually didn't head out until Saturday afternoon which I am SO glad about because it's in Deliverance country.  Not really, but there are very narrow, winding roads and I surely wouldn't have been able to find my way in the dark of Friday night.  I did bring food and beverage and all were well-received.  Especially the strawberries and cherries which were all eaten up by day 2.  BB made the Knorr Spinach dip sans Hawaiian bread.  We dipped organic carrots and celery into that and it was heavenly.  All meat was grilled, we had a "pork butt" which is aparently the shoulder, not the butt, and boneless chicken breasts.  There were scalloped potatoes and potato salad and good fresh salad to eat too.  There were also turtle brownies a la Betty Crocker (or was is Duncan Hines) Sunday night. 

Aside from the food, there was lots of fun.  We sat around drinking mimosas on a rainy Sunday morning and played  Go Fish.  That's right, I said Go Fish.  I dare you to remember exactly how to play.  Between the three of us, we made something up that resembled it and then played for a few hours.  We jumped on the boat and tootled around got some sun (yes, I was in a make-shift sun-getting outfit) and then headed back for food.  After food was more boat time and sunset hunting time.  It was totally worth the chill in the boating air for what came next. 

Here are a few shots for your viewing pleasure:

And...

Simply breathtaking, isn't it?

After heading back from the sunset we settle in for some movie and turtle brownie time.  There's no real TV in the boondocks so we watched an old Cary Grant movie and called it a night.  It really was fun!

Even though I have added a few lbs from the holiday weekend, I will do my best to be healthy in the food department in the upcoming week.  I head out for Beach Town in the morning. 

It sure would be nice to come back to lost lbs...

-jafg

Foot Loose & Fancy Free

05/28/10

278.4 lbs

Finally!  I pushed myself back down.  I've gotten rid of last weekend's mishaps and settled back to 18 lbs lost.  Whew.  Just in time for a mini-break (lymie speak for long weekend).  I've decided to bring some good, portable friuts and veg to the Lakehouse. I mean, who doesn't love a banana?

I just bought two "tankini" tops and a pair of girl swim-shorts from Land's End.  Here goes round 3 of the bathing suit fight. They're having a sale, $10 off the price for mix and match separates.  The link'll take you to the sale items.  In case you're keeping score at home, so far the count is 2-0 favoring the bathing suits. 

After this weekend, I'm back at work for a day and then heading down to Beach Town for a "work conference".  This is the one little conference a year where it's all fun.  The people are great the meetings are quick and it's play play play until the wee hours of the morning.  I'm staying in a beachfront, upscale hotel and I don't have to pay for it.  As if it couldn't get better, I'm staying some extra days to see friends and family.  I'm looking forward to it, but I really really really have to pay attention to food choices and make sure they're healthy ones.  Also, since I'll have BFF in tow, I hope to have a workout partner for the hotel gym.  They have one.  I checked.  That leaves me with my favorite gourmet pizza places and martini bars and Pińa Coladas on the beach.

And hopefully a whole lotta "Damn, you look good!" motivation.

-jafg

S.O.S.---W.W.Y.D.---S.O.S.

05/27/10

279.4 lbs

I had mexican yesterday so I'm thrilled that it didn't move an ounce. 

I've decided to go to the Lakehouse this weekend.  I am super excited so I know I made the right choice.  I now have a new dilemma.  Food. 

From Friday night to Monday morning, I will be living/breathing/sleeping/eating Lakehouse life.  If you've been reading for awhile, then you know that I'm not exactly a timid jafg.  I have an opinion and share it pretty much freely (but always with a smile).  However.  I would never want to be rude.  Especially in a hospitality situation.  All the food's being provided, and even the adult beverages.  I've been partaking of adult beverages long enough to know that even when said beverages are supplied, I should always bring something "for the house".  Well, what if I want to bring my own food?  Would that say "Sorry, BB and Her Beau, but I'm too good to eat that hotdog you're trying to serve me." 

Now, if it were just for one day, I'd suck it up and eat that hotdog (and secretly love every bite of it), but we're talking an extended stay at the beer-n-brat household.  Especially on a holiday weekend like M Day. 

I need some advise my fellow bloggin-kids.  What Would You Do in a situation such as this?

-jafg

Cause and Effect

05/17/10

285.0 lbs

Damnit.

I am seriously considering a water fast.  At least for 24 hours.  I need SOMETHING to jumpstart the weightloss again.  I want SO badly to see the 70's I can't stand it! 

I've had three days of business travel hell.  I got up at 4:30 AM Wednesday morning and got home at 12:10 AM Friday night.  Well, actually, that would be Saturday morning.  What. A. Nightmare.  I was going to DC which is one of my all time fave places, but didn't get to enjoy the location once.  Sadface.

I have learned that two things affect food decisions:  Exhaustion and hangovers.

I was thrilled that I was making healthy choices on the food front.  I had a mushroom, mozzerrella, spinach sandwich (eating little bread) for lunch, and a mostly sensible dinner considering I was at a "dinner reception" and had no choice on the menu.  I did skip breakfast and had lunch in my room on Thursday which consisted of roasted peppers, spinach, feta and hummus on crostini (6 mini pieces) and a garden salad, dressing on the side.  I had a martini or two for dinner. 

I should tell you that I was meeting someone (two someones to be specific) for a business drink at the lobby bar and could find NOTHING healthy to snack on on the menu so I passed.  I have not partaken of more than one drink at a time since the big 30 party for SAG last month.

So, there I was, sitting at the lobby bar, waiting on my business persons to arrive.  I was early (shocker) and they were late (another shocker).  Well, I decided to have a beverage (cosmo) prior to their arrival.  Holy Moly. I hadn't had a cosmo that good in I can't remember. Truly.  Well, I'm finishing up my drink when the business duo arrives.  They order a round, as business people do, and before I know it, I'm on Martini #3. 

I have to go to the ladies' and at the point of walking to the ladies' and walking back, I realize that I have had nothing to eat for hours, what I did have to eat is long gone and I have had three of the strongest martinis ever served in DC.  Rookie Mistake.

Well, I went to bed early that night. 

I woke up Friday not feeling quite so great.  I had room service for breakfast.  That would be 2 eggs scrambled with cheese (most of it left on my plate) two pieces of bacon (all left on the plate) a carrot-raisin muffin (top eaten) and the best toasted bagel with cream cheese anb butter I've ever eaten.  Yeah, I ate the whole bagel.  With shmear and all! Oh, I also had two glasses of soymilk. 

I had a late flight and nothing to do with my luggage so I headed to the airport early.  At this point, I'm tired, perhaps slightly hungover, and just wanting to get home.  I ate dinner there.  I had a burger and fries.  And a coke.  So, 10 hours after getting to the airport, I finally land.  I'm taking a cab home and, I can't believe this, I asked him to drive through McD's because I'm hungry again.  I ordered a fish filet combo with a water.  I feel good about that water. 

I slept most of the day on Saturday and ordered a thin crust veggie pizza for dinner.  Sunday I was back on track.  I worked out with The Moms and had a very healthy food day and bought groceries for the next few weeks.  Publix had the most awesome icecream on sale...it's actually a Gelato.  Everything was healthy in my basket excepting those icecreams which were a B.O.G.O.F. deal.

I had a small scoop of that last night.

And I wonder why this weight isn't moving.


-jafg

Fiesta Siesta

04/30/10

284.6 lbs

Yesterday will probably show up tomorrow. Grr.

Firstly, thank you all for your encouragement yesterday!  I know I'm a snarky little blogger, but I do have sincere moments and this is one of them.  I really appreciate you folks taking time to send me comment love.  I smiled when I read each one of them and they really did warm my heart.

As you know I had a brown food day yesterday.  I went out with SAG last night.  After that fried food lunch, I had a fried food dinner.  And drinks.   As in a half a bottle of wine and then a few vodka beverages for dessert.  I begrudgingly filled out my food diary on myfitnesspal.com (which is the greatest thing since sliced bread...and that's not a paid encorsement for either myfitnesspal or sliced bread) and after completing the entry for the day it told me I had consumed 3,364 calories.  HO. LY. CRAP.  I was also told that "If every day were like today... You'd weigh 291.7 lbs in 5 weeks".  Isn't that a not so gentle reminder of why I don't eat like that.

So, today's a new day.  I didn't exercise at all yesterday 'cept for a  20 minute walk around the work 'hood.  I have logged everything I've eaten today and haven't drank nearly enough water.  I even put down in my exercise diary (another reason to love myfitnesspal) that I'm exercising tonight.  At Concierge Gym.  That means no shorts, the elliptical, the circuit machines (if anyone know what they're officially called, please let me know cause I'm not sure circuit is right) and Rage Against The Machine. 

I've commited to a dinner menu and the day's allowed snacks and cannot deviate from it or else I risk blowing my calories today like yesterday.  Well, maybe not as bad as yesterday.  But I would lose my deficit.  I had mexican today for lunch. 

I am SO sleepy right now.  I hope I have the energy to do my necessary workout.  Otherwise, today's gonna suck eggs.



-jafg

Tales of the Come-Back Kid. Again.

04/27/10

285.6 lbs

Overall, this is pretty good.  However, when I tell you that Scale said on Saturday that I had made it to 283.8 (I checked it twice) and then yesterday said I was at 287.2 you see there's not much room for excitment or sadness.  Still, I'll take this as a victory.

Look, I figured up the caloric intake of the adult beverages consumed for this birthday bash and it totals 1688 calories.  I am so cursing right now. As my ramblings have indicated in my previous posts, I am not such a healthfully minded chica on the morning after a night of partaking.  That leads to Bacon.  And lots of other things off of the breakfast buffet at the hotel like grits, potatoes, cheese, bacon, waffle, bacon, cheese danish, bacon.  And a poached egg.  And french fries and a frosty (both small) from Wendy's on the way home. Nice.  I did have a healthy dinner.  It's my lowfat version of a tuna melt with an egg.  It's actually very good and some other time, I will share it with you.

I signed up for myfitnesspal.com, which I heart a lot and would love to add you as a buddy if anyone's interested but I don't know how that works, and I am SO not registering any of my weekend debauchery. 

I was smart and took yesterday off.  I knew that I wouldn't be fully recovered.  Getting old does this to a girl.  There was a time that 3 hours sleep between "gigs" seemed totally doable.  Now I need two days to recover from blow-out bashes like this.  At least I know my limits.  Anyway.  I took yesterday off.  I had some bacon left over from when BFF and Her Hubbie visited that I had shoved into the freezer.  Well, I sliced some of that off, scrambled me two eggs and had a slice of kraft 2% american cheese on it.  Then I had two pieces of peanut butter toast for snacks.  I had my tuna melt for lunch and a porkchop and a half of sweet potato for dinner.  I slept most of the day but what I did do (which I didn't want to do) was exercise.

YEA ME!  I went to HHH class.  Can I just say that I thought I was going to die?  I know I've said that before, but, like, this time, I was really wondering what would happen if I collapsed of a heart attack in the middle of the session.  That would be so embarrassing. 

While I was contemplating coronary issues, I also noticed that I was bouncing a lot more than I first did.  Perhaps I was so worn out because I was pushing a little harder this time.  Perhaps.  I don't know for sure, though.  I was also thinking I really can't miss my Saturday workout.  I will HAVE to make time for a workout when on trips, otherwise, it'll feel like starting over again when I get back to class.  I hate feeling like I'm starting over again.

I uploaded my pics from the trip to FB (my real world FB account, not the JAFG account) and had a pleasant surprise....aside from having kept all my clothes intact over the trip, I was also looking thinner!


-jafg

Welcome to Bizzaro World

04/13/10

288.0 lbs

Everybody pull out your best Wayne's World flashback routine.  If you're too young to get that reference, well, I don't like you anymore.

Think back with me to July 2009.  Back to my very first post.  Firstly, I see that my weight is like 287.6 lbs.  I could be dissapointed, but I'll look at it as "Wow, I've managed to balance my weight for almost a year."  I was also smoking then.  This is something I only do when partaking of adult beverages.  I'm pretty damn proud of that.  Getting back to that post....

I mentioned then (and several times since) that I am sorely lacking in the motivation to exercise department.  As a matter of fact, it wasn't until after my 5 month hiatus (4 months and 17 days to be precise and for which there is no good explanation) that I ever contemplated exercise at all.  Like, actually doing it, I mean.  I thought about it alot.  Thinking doesn't burn calories in the quantity I need, however.  I wish it did.  I digress.  Eating healthy isn't an issue, I enjoy healthy food.  I just wanted that AHA moment to kick me in the ass to get me moving.  I figured it would be like a storybook revelation.  The lightbulb and everything, ya know?  It wasn't like that. 

Actually, I went shopping and realized that I had to be a larger size.  This is larger than what I was already wearing which was a really freakin large size.  Then I realized that if I got any larger, I wasn't going to be able to shop even in the fat clothing stores.  WHAT??!!  Well, maybe that was my AHA moment.  Most plus sized stores either start at a 12 or 14, which is stupid IMO (<==I threw this in for you young people==>) but whateves.  Most of them end at a 28. 

When the big clothes at a plus sized store are too small, there's something wrong.  Like really.  Go see a doctor.  Not to be a Debbie-Downer, but something needs to change or you're gonna D-I-E die. 

After the whole clothes incident, I decided it would be best to get on a scale again.  Ew.  I first stepped on it and realized I was 4 little pounds away from the big 3-0-0.  Damn.  That sucks.  I began to really miss my blog.  I wasn't quite ready for the reality of that, though.

I did some things with my income tax return (I gave the Gov't too much money again last year).  I bought clothes and shoes, a lot of clothes and shoes, and decided to get a Wii.  I wanted something that I could use to get moving in the privacy of my own home.  I did some polling in my real life and found a great recommendation, She-Devil or Your Shape with Jenny McCarthy.  It's pretty good really.  I also got Sports Resort.  It has table tennis and sword play.  That game is awesome.  Anyway, I did these things because I needed to do something. 

I also had the good news of BB (Blushing Bride for any new readers out there) and Her Beau's engagement.  Kismet really.  She wants to workout, she's so young that I can't be intimidated by her.  It's physically impossible.  She's like a puppy.  Who can be intimidated by a puppy??  I'm stoked because since Her Beau is in school at night and she's new to the area, we can spend a lot of time together with the workouts.  It's also nice to see my friends in a sober state.  But that's a different story. 

I also picked up the proverbial pen again.  In the very few weeks it's been since my return to the "big screen" I've began to freakishly pay attention to my food (measuring it in some cases and portioning it in other cases) and I'm working out.  Sometimes even twice a day.  And sometimes by myself.  I'm also talking to my friends about  all the working out and getting real encouragement from them.  I look forward to sweating and getting my ass kicked by a workout. 

But the weirdest thing of all...I found out I now like blue cheese. 

What Bizzaro World have I dropped into here?!?

--jafg

Sláinte!

03/17/10

293 lbs

I'm partying tonight.  Don't worry, I've got tomorrow off and cab money for the ride home.

Be safe! Have Fun! Go Green!

-jafg

Back From The Ends of The Earth. Sort Of.

03/16/0910

293 lbs. 

Let me start off by saying this:  No, I'm not dead.

I didn't go crazy or get maimed by a pack of bears.  I am still JAFG (plus some).  I simply got busy and like most of my diet expiditions, I relapsed by not putting the effort into blogging.  Shame on me.

I missed you people! I can't tell you how many times I started titles in my head, how many paragraphs were penned in my brain, how many times I went to get on the computer to post and then...I just got side tracked. Or, worse yet, just said "I'll do it later". Kinda like when I'm gonna lose weight. Later. Tomorrow. In this case, my tomorrow turned into almost 6 months!

A whole lot of nothing much has been going on. 

I went up a dress size (like I wear dresses...ha!) and I bought a Wii.  Yeah, I don't believe it either, but I did.  Currently, it's sitting at SAG's house (she sold hers, but not to me) from a Wii party.  Long story.

I tried to buy a "fitted just for you" bra and it was an experience to say the least. 

I think I went on a date, but I hope not. 

I bought a new fantabulous wardrobe and got even more fantabulous "deconstructed" jeans.  Back in the day, we just called them ripped.

I have several friends getting married or having babies. 

I thought about a personal trainer and couldn't afford extra $500 a month.  I am still teetering on the idea of joining a gym, but we all know how that went last time. 

I've had more adult beverages than I'd care to talk about.

Bygones.

I hope I haven't shocked you all too much or thrown off the world's rotation or anything.  I am jumping back on the horse's bandwagon or something like that.

I'm gonna have to work on my cliche' use.  I can already tell. 

-jafg