Weight loss total

I haven't mentioned this at all and I really should! I've lost a total of 17lbs since I started my "plan". :) Unfortunately (or fortunately) my sick total has been an 8lb loss and that has really helped my total.

Still sick....and heading for trip #2

I've had this cold for over a week now and I'm going back to work on Monday. I'm actually looking forward to getting back to work. I am nervous about next weekend though! I'm flying to San Antonio, TX to support my husband and I have a tendancy to get sick again when I go on a trip so soon after being sick. I've really stuck to my guns at home and rested the entire week. No frills trips, lots of naps and liquids and I'm hoping that helps. I'm famous for going right back to work too soon so I'm hoping that's not the case this time.
So for the trip: we're staying at a hotel on the famous Riverwalk! My hubby is getting recognized for the great job he does at work (as are a lot of other wonderful sales people) and I'm really excited to be there to support him. I also get to see my friend Tony (he used to work with me at the bank and moved to San Antonio a few years ago) and Stephany (she just moved to Austin a couple of weeks ago). It's going to be a busy but fun few days. We fly home on Wednesday, I work Thurs and Fri and repack on Saturday because on Sunday...I fly to Dallas, TX for my work conference! It's going to be a crazy couple of weeks. I'm tired just thinking about it.

Being sick has it's advantages...

Okay, so I've been sick. This horrendous cold has been going around my work and lucky me, I caught it. It started with a sore throat, next a cough, sinus congestion and today it's been a terrible headache. I hate being sick!!! There is nothing fun about trying to take care of 4 other people when they count on you and you can't deliver.
Ahhhh....but there's a silver lining! I've lost 7 lbs! In one week I've lost 7 lbs. Not the way to lose it (yes, I know!!) but when you've been stagnant for two weeks and didn't lose anything, 7 lbs is a victory. To answer your questions, YES I've been eating, NO I haven't spent all my time in the bathroom. I believe that coughing is a great form of exercise! ;)
I'm tired and going back to bed. Wish me luck that next week will be a healthier weightloss..

Support! And I don't mean what's under the clothes...

I am finding that a support network is a good thing. When I started this venture in January, I didn't tell anyone right away. I kept this blog secret, I wrote down what I ate and only my husband knew what I was really doing. Nothing worse than everyone knowing and me failing.

I manage a small Help Desk for a local bank. It's my passion and my life. I created the group in 2002 and love my staff and my customers. I decided to tell my staff what I'm doing and they have been sooooo supportive! One of my "girls" reminds me on my "walk" day that it's time. She's very encouraging and it really helps. Right now I'm walking 3 days a week doing a 20 minute power walk with weights. I get a good sweat going and my heart pumping and it feels good. I have a friend in the building next to mine that wants to be my "diet buddy". I've never had a "diet buddy" so this is a new concept to me. Hopefully we can encourage each other and continue on this journey together.

Rain rain rain...

It's been raining for days....but not on my parade! LOL.
I'm not giving up on my exercise just because of a little water. When the weather gets bad and my head hurts from the weather changes, it would be so easy to skip it for the day. I'm not letting it get to me. I took walk yesterday despite the rain. I had a lucky break in the clouds and grabbed my walk. It's energizing. My husband won a small iPod (the clip shuffle) that's perfect for a walk. I loaded up all the songs from my video iPod on it and made a funky dance shuffle that's fun to walk to. I wish I could see the faces of the drivers who pass me on the road as I'm singing to whatever is playing! The best part is that I don't care what they think! I'm having fun, losing weight and feeling good.
Today I was craving chocolate in a bad way. It was a very strange feeling because I'm not a "sweets" person. I'd rather eat a fresh-out-of-the-oven loaf of sourdough bread and spread fresh butter on it than chocolate any day. I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't had a secret "stash" in my office drawer! I grabbed a 100 calorie pack (Chips Ahoy) and that took care of my craving. It's great to have options. Another day.....another challenge.

Back from Vegas....and I'm UP and Down!

Last week I was in Vegas for a TradeShow with my husband. We go every year and I love to help him get ideas for his clients.
So.....how was it for me? Well I'm shocked. I had such a great week!! I am not a gambler....I'm afraid to lose $10. First night, I went downstairs to play my favorite machine "Texas Tea" on the nickel slots. I put in my $10 and did a $2 spin. The machine gave me free spins! And coins and free spins and coins and it didn't stop for over 5 minutes! I walked away with $182 for a $2 bet. I was on cloud nine for the rest of the night.
Meals could have been scary, but they weren't! We had dinner with several of my husband's friends at some really great restaurants. I had Grilled Prawns, Filet Mignon, Baked Potatoes, raspberry cheesecake....mouth watering yet?? I even had dinner at a buffet. I knew I wouldn't deprive myself on this trip but I would eat responsibly during the day. Mornings and lunches were well under 500 calories and dinners were fun. Did I mention that we walked approx 8 hours per day? Yeah well...it helped. I lost 2 lbs!
My old mind is finally figuring this whole thing out. I can eat some of the things that I want some of the time as long as I exercise off of the excess calories. Duh.
While we were in Vegas we took one day to just walk the strip and see what's new. (We usually go a few times a year). The Planet Hollywood casino stripped the old "New"Aladdin from it's Morroccan theme and it has a futuristic look to it. We were there during the opening of the Palazzo Hotel (next door to the Venetian). The hotel is nice. While my husband and I were walking thru the lobby, we ran into James Denton from Desperate Housewives. He's TALL! :) He was there with his wife and they looked like they were having a good time in Vegas.

Scales. Scary.

So I weighed myself yesterday. Surprise! I lost weight! I was so excited to see a lower number then I talked with my boss about it and she told me to ignore the scale. It's all about inches. Whatever. I have a smaller number and I'm thrilled! My husband found a website to help calculate how many calories I should eat on a daily basis based on my weight, height and age. I think it helps to be OLD! It also has a calculator for exercise. If I am this tall and this fat and I want to do this exercise for this amount of time, how many calories will I burn? I love it! Whatever works. I'm losing weight and I'm not sacrificing everything to do it. That's the best part.

Today was crazy rainy. Didn't get to do my walk but did walk around the house and walk around work a bit. Not the same but its what I could do. Tomorrow is a new day.