Long, drawn-out entry about exercise / dieting to follow.
Not likely to interest anyone besides myself. (Sorry!)
For a while now (a couple months? maybe longer...), I've been trying to exercise more regularly. I'm not doing intense workouts, but I do try to do a little fast-paced walking and/or Wii boxing (Gold's Gym Cardio Workout) almost every day. (I do occasionally skip a day if I'm feeling under the weather or need a break.)
Along with the light exercise, I've also said goodbye to soft drinks. I probably should've taken note of the latest no-more-Coke starting date, but I didn't. It's been three or four months, probably.
Anyway, with the exercise and the water-instead-of-Dr. Pepper and a serious effort at not totally pigging out on unhealthy food (without actually forbiding myself a few treats now and then), I've been hoping to see some results.
The Wii balance board has been telling me that I'm slowly losing weight, but you (probably) know how it is. You lose a couple pounds, but in a day or two you're back to where you were. Then you lose a couple more and maybe only creep back up one pound. It's definitely not a speedy, steady, all-one-direction process.
So, with the numbers not being particularly inspiring, I look for other sources to confirm that, yes, my not-exactly-hard work is paying off. My arms feel slightly more toned, thanks to the boxing game. That's nice, but still not quite what I'd hoped for. I try to pay closer attention to how my clothes fit. Maybe something that used to be a bit tight is fitting more comfortably. (Please? It'd be nice...) Nope, no obvious changes there. (That is disappointing. I guess I need to ramp up my efforts or cut back further on the less healthy food. Or just give it more time, maybe.)
Then. Today. This morning. While getting dressed to go grocery shopping, I put on my wedding ring. (I'm not one who wears jewelry-- even my wedding ring-- every day. In fact, I usually only put it on when I leave the house.) The ring has been a little tight for a while, now-- especially in the hotter time of the year, I think. Well, despite the heat of August, it was noticeably looser on my finger. (!!!)
What? Why aren't you all jumping up and down? Why do I not hear squealing? ;o)
This may not seem like much, but it was enough to make me happy!
It's amazing; that exercise / watching your diet stuff really works, huh? (Even if it takes longer than we'd like.)
...Now I just hope it wasn't a fluke. Maybe the next time I go to put on the ring, it'll be back to its former slightly-tight status. If you hear a distant, furious scream ending in a sigh of defeat, you'll know my fingers have re-pudgified and that I will soon be defiantly stuffing my face with pepperoni pizza (in between gulps of Dr. Pepper). (g)
Seriously, though, I'm going to stick to my no-Coke diet for the foreseeable future-- and try to keep up with the exercise and (somewhat) healthier eating. Getting into the habit is the hard part. By comparison, staying there with it isn't so difficult.
Showing posts with label weight. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weight. Show all posts
Friday, August 20, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
What a Surprise!
My new driver's license came in the mail today.
What a surprise! I look positively awful in it.
(Of course they gave me a temporary print-out the other day, but I never even looked at the thing. Delaying the inevitable moment of shock and disgust.)
Why can't they manage to get a decent photo at the DMV? Why can't they let you bring in a photo of your own (for the worker to look at and ascertain that, yes, that is an accurate photo)? I know it's probably not practical, but I really don't care. I'm tired of being ashamed to show my hideous license photos!
Seriously, DMV. I may not weigh a mere 115 pounds, but neither am I truly that fat and round-faced. I look in the mirror every few days, and I would know if I were.
I know it's not that important-- or important at all-- but it's simply not necessary for the photo to be this atrocious.
What a surprise! I look positively awful in it.
(Of course they gave me a temporary print-out the other day, but I never even looked at the thing. Delaying the inevitable moment of shock and disgust.)
Why can't they manage to get a decent photo at the DMV? Why can't they let you bring in a photo of your own (for the worker to look at and ascertain that, yes, that is an accurate photo)? I know it's probably not practical, but I really don't care. I'm tired of being ashamed to show my hideous license photos!
Seriously, DMV. I may not weigh a mere 115 pounds, but neither am I truly that fat and round-faced. I look in the mirror every few days, and I would know if I were.
I know it's not that important-- or important at all-- but it's simply not necessary for the photo to be this atrocious.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
A Matter of Great Importance
I have to renew my driver's license this month.
This has brought up something of a mini-dilemma.
No, it's nothing to do with how to make sure the photo is decent this time. I've long since given up on that. I will look chubby, round-faced, remarkably unremarkable, and probably oily, no matter how carefully groomed and posed I am. But I guess that's ok. I hardly ever have occasion to show the horrid thing, and practically everyone's driver's license photo is awful, right?
No, the thing that's got me worried (or okay, not "worried" so much as "perplexed"... and not "perplexed" so much as "idly curious") is a weightier issue altogether. (Ha ha. "Weightier". The wit continues to sparkle.) You see, it's my weight.
As far as the great State of Alabama knows, my weight hasn't changed since I got my first driver's license at the age of eighteen. (I was a late bloomer, automotively speaking.) However, as far as I (and my clothes... and those who've been around me the last 10+ years) know, my weight actually has changed. That's right. I know it's hard to believe, but I don't really weigh a mere 115 pounds. (I hope I didn't shock any of you too much just then...) Honestly, I may not have weighed quite that little even at eighteen. Back then, I foolishly expected that they would weigh you and measure your height at the DMV, like they do at the doctor's office, so when the time came to fill out the paperwork, I had to guess.
I've had my license renewed a couple of times since then, but unless I'm remembering incorrectly, no-one ever comes right out and asks, "Is this your real weight?" They may ask if the address-type information is still correct, but they've never looked at me, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Um, ma'am, it says here you weigh 115 pounds... and since that's obviously not the case..." In brief, no-one has called me out for allowing the state to keep believing I'm skinny. It is perhaps unlikely that anyone ever will. (I wonder, though. At what point will they come out and gently suggest that maybe you weight closer to 400 pounds than 120?)
However. I don't see myself ever being 115 again. It probably wouldn't even be a healthy weight for me, at this point. I'd like to work my way down 20 pounds or so-- see where in that range is a good, healthy, maintainable weight for me, but that's going to take time. More than the week or two I have left to renew my license, certainly. (Darn it. Too bad it's not that quick and easy!)
So my dilemma is this-- Do I come right out and say something about it, this time? "Oh, by the way, my weight is wrong on the old card. I'm actually XYZ pounds, now." (And hope they won't notice what a big jump in numbers that is... (g)) Or do I keep quiet and let Alabama go on thinking I'm supermodel thin? ;o) I'm sure the workers (most of whom are women) can tell when a woman weighs more than her information says-- and most of them probably fudge the truth a little, themselves. (Doesn't everyone?)
Also, if I do decide to correct the number, how far should I go? I mean, I am trying to lose a little weight. If I tell them the exact number I am now, and then I succeed in losing 10 or 15 pounds (or more) in the next four years, I'll have to get them to change it again. (And I wouldn't want to create too much extra work for them, you know. That's the only reason I'd ever want to not tell them precisely how much I weigh at this very moment, of course.)
One way or the other, I'll have to decide soon. The old (hideous photo) license expires August 1st.
P.S. Oops. Accidentally hit "publish" before I was done. Sorry if you RSS-feed readers got this one twice!
This has brought up something of a mini-dilemma.
No, it's nothing to do with how to make sure the photo is decent this time. I've long since given up on that. I will look chubby, round-faced, remarkably unremarkable, and probably oily, no matter how carefully groomed and posed I am. But I guess that's ok. I hardly ever have occasion to show the horrid thing, and practically everyone's driver's license photo is awful, right?
No, the thing that's got me worried (or okay, not "worried" so much as "perplexed"... and not "perplexed" so much as "idly curious") is a weightier issue altogether. (Ha ha. "Weightier". The wit continues to sparkle.) You see, it's my weight.
As far as the great State of Alabama knows, my weight hasn't changed since I got my first driver's license at the age of eighteen. (I was a late bloomer, automotively speaking.) However, as far as I (and my clothes... and those who've been around me the last 10+ years) know, my weight actually has changed. That's right. I know it's hard to believe, but I don't really weigh a mere 115 pounds. (I hope I didn't shock any of you too much just then...) Honestly, I may not have weighed quite that little even at eighteen. Back then, I foolishly expected that they would weigh you and measure your height at the DMV, like they do at the doctor's office, so when the time came to fill out the paperwork, I had to guess.
I've had my license renewed a couple of times since then, but unless I'm remembering incorrectly, no-one ever comes right out and asks, "Is this your real weight?" They may ask if the address-type information is still correct, but they've never looked at me, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Um, ma'am, it says here you weigh 115 pounds... and since that's obviously not the case..." In brief, no-one has called me out for allowing the state to keep believing I'm skinny. It is perhaps unlikely that anyone ever will. (I wonder, though. At what point will they come out and gently suggest that maybe you weight closer to 400 pounds than 120?)
However. I don't see myself ever being 115 again. It probably wouldn't even be a healthy weight for me, at this point. I'd like to work my way down 20 pounds or so-- see where in that range is a good, healthy, maintainable weight for me, but that's going to take time. More than the week or two I have left to renew my license, certainly. (Darn it. Too bad it's not that quick and easy!)
So my dilemma is this-- Do I come right out and say something about it, this time? "Oh, by the way, my weight is wrong on the old card. I'm actually XYZ pounds, now." (And hope they won't notice what a big jump in numbers that is... (g)) Or do I keep quiet and let Alabama go on thinking I'm supermodel thin? ;o) I'm sure the workers (most of whom are women) can tell when a woman weighs more than her information says-- and most of them probably fudge the truth a little, themselves. (Doesn't everyone?)
Also, if I do decide to correct the number, how far should I go? I mean, I am trying to lose a little weight. If I tell them the exact number I am now, and then I succeed in losing 10 or 15 pounds (or more) in the next four years, I'll have to get them to change it again. (And I wouldn't want to create too much extra work for them, you know. That's the only reason I'd ever want to not tell them precisely how much I weigh at this very moment, of course.)
One way or the other, I'll have to decide soon. The old (hideous photo) license expires August 1st.
P.S. Oops. Accidentally hit "publish" before I was done. Sorry if you RSS-feed readers got this one twice!
Saturday, November 29, 2008
This Holiday Weekend
It's hard for me to remember, sometimes, that this isn't a holiday week for some readers.
Here's what we've been up to:
Wednesday was Donald's 36th birthday. It was a regular workday, but we still managed to find some time in the morning and evening for fun, and he got to talk to both his parents and his brother on the computer. (If you'd like to talk to people for free over the Internet, do check out Skype. The sound quality is impressive-- better than through a telephone, I think.)
Wednesday afternoon, my parents were out in the clearing burning a pile of brush while Grandpa L. continued discing (disking?) nearby. We went out and spoke with them for a while (and helped gather a few more things to throw on the fire). It looks like they're going to move forward with their house plans, so there should be some interesting changes in the local landscape, soon.
Thursday was (of course) Thanksgiving, which we spent with my father's side of the family. All the aunts, uncles and cousins were in attendance, including those who live in Georgia. They brought their bulldog ("Gertie", if I'm spelling it correctly) down with them, and she provided the entertainment once the kids (my two young cousins) had gone to visit their other grandmother.
Friday, we did our Day-After-Thanksgiving shopping from home, which in some ways has been nice, but in other ways, it's been less than ideal. Also, though it seems like it ought to be better, not having to get up early, stand in long lines, deal with traffic and possibly be jostled by complete strangers, that's all part of the experience, and without it things just don't feel as much like the kick-off of the holiday season.
The day after Thanksgiving is the traditional day for many (most?) people in the U.S. to put up/decorate the Christmas tree, but as I wrote in the previous entry, I'm thinking of putting that off for another day or two. No sense doing it when I'm not in the mood to enjoy it, right?
In Donald's family, as in most Swedish families, they don't decorate the tree until Christmas Eve morning, but they then leave it there until January 13th. (I think. . .) That's definitely a difference in our traditions! I think Mom was always eager to get the Christmas tree down soon after Christmas day. . .
This afternoon, we went to Aunt Debbie and Uncle Jim's Iron Bowl party. While most of the others watched the game, Carrie, Kimberly, Donald and I played card games. It was nice to see everyone, and fortunately, the "right" team won, so everyone who actually cared about it was happy and easier to live with than if they'd lost. ;o)
The downside: There was a group photo, and when I saw it later that night (at home), I was less than pleased with my part of it. Gross. I don't really look like that, do I? (Please lie to me, if necessary. Otherwise, I may well cry.) Seriously, I don't look that bad in the mirror. . . I know that if I lose some weight I'll be somewhat more photogenic, but in the meantime, I'd much rather be behind the camera than in front of it.
Okay. I know I'm not completely unattractive. There are probably even people who'd happily trade bodies/general physical condition with me. That said, I'm still feeling fairly depressed about this, and I'm not looking forward to being forced into family photos this Christmas. I certainly won't be printing them up for display in my own house.
Anyway. Putting vanity aside.
All in all, a nice holiday weekend, despite unflattering photos and rain. And I definitely have a lot to be thankful for, even if I do look chubby in photographs. I should be thankful to live in such a land of plenty that chubbiness is the problem instead of not having enough to eat-- and I am thankful for that, among so many, many other things. It's good to be reminded to take the time to remember all those blessings. . .
Here's what we've been up to:
Wednesday was Donald's 36th birthday. It was a regular workday, but we still managed to find some time in the morning and evening for fun, and he got to talk to both his parents and his brother on the computer. (If you'd like to talk to people for free over the Internet, do check out Skype. The sound quality is impressive-- better than through a telephone, I think.)
Wednesday afternoon, my parents were out in the clearing burning a pile of brush while Grandpa L. continued discing (disking?) nearby. We went out and spoke with them for a while (and helped gather a few more things to throw on the fire). It looks like they're going to move forward with their house plans, so there should be some interesting changes in the local landscape, soon.
Thursday was (of course) Thanksgiving, which we spent with my father's side of the family. All the aunts, uncles and cousins were in attendance, including those who live in Georgia. They brought their bulldog ("Gertie", if I'm spelling it correctly) down with them, and she provided the entertainment once the kids (my two young cousins) had gone to visit their other grandmother.
Friday, we did our Day-After-Thanksgiving shopping from home, which in some ways has been nice, but in other ways, it's been less than ideal. Also, though it seems like it ought to be better, not having to get up early, stand in long lines, deal with traffic and possibly be jostled by complete strangers, that's all part of the experience, and without it things just don't feel as much like the kick-off of the holiday season.
The day after Thanksgiving is the traditional day for many (most?) people in the U.S. to put up/decorate the Christmas tree, but as I wrote in the previous entry, I'm thinking of putting that off for another day or two. No sense doing it when I'm not in the mood to enjoy it, right?
In Donald's family, as in most Swedish families, they don't decorate the tree until Christmas Eve morning, but they then leave it there until January 13th. (I think. . .) That's definitely a difference in our traditions! I think Mom was always eager to get the Christmas tree down soon after Christmas day. . .
This afternoon, we went to Aunt Debbie and Uncle Jim's Iron Bowl party. While most of the others watched the game, Carrie, Kimberly, Donald and I played card games. It was nice to see everyone, and fortunately, the "right" team won, so everyone who actually cared about it was happy and easier to live with than if they'd lost. ;o)
The downside: There was a group photo, and when I saw it later that night (at home), I was less than pleased with my part of it. Gross. I don't really look like that, do I? (Please lie to me, if necessary. Otherwise, I may well cry.) Seriously, I don't look that bad in the mirror. . . I know that if I lose some weight I'll be somewhat more photogenic, but in the meantime, I'd much rather be behind the camera than in front of it.
Okay. I know I'm not completely unattractive. There are probably even people who'd happily trade bodies/general physical condition with me. That said, I'm still feeling fairly depressed about this, and I'm not looking forward to being forced into family photos this Christmas. I certainly won't be printing them up for display in my own house.
Anyway. Putting vanity aside.
All in all, a nice holiday weekend, despite unflattering photos and rain. And I definitely have a lot to be thankful for, even if I do look chubby in photographs. I should be thankful to live in such a land of plenty that chubbiness is the problem instead of not having enough to eat-- and I am thankful for that, among so many, many other things. It's good to be reminded to take the time to remember all those blessings. . .
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Wanted: Fat Pants
Pants that fit me last year no longer want to button comfortably (or, in some cases, at all). I knew I wasn't exactly losing weight, these past several months, but neither did I think I was (still) gaining it. We have a bathroom scale, of course, but not being a fitness-geek, I never step near the darn thing. (Well, would you, if it kept insisting you were getting pudgy?!) I prefer to ignore concrete numbers whenever possible, but now my own once-beloved pants are turning on me.
(sigh) This means I have to figure out some way of losing weight-- meaning some way that I can actually stick with long enough to see results. We're coming up on what is universally acknowledged as the peak seasons for weight-gain (festive meals, desserts galore, cold-weather cravings for all sorts of goodies-- and that holiday feeling that you really deserve to indulge), but if I ever want to wear half my wardrobe again, it has to be done.
Why, oh why can't typing/mousing, TV-remote-pushing, and page-turning be aerobic exercise?! Those are the types of things I want to do in my free time-- not sitting for hours on the bike or (shudder) running. Cruel world!
The most irritating thing? Knowing that no matter what I do, I'm not going to be able to slim down noticeably in time for all those holiday photos. Nope. The 2008 "out of shape" me will be captured forever in untold numbers of digital photographs. Oh well.
(Hey, you family photographers out there? If you could, whenever we get ready to take those pictures, please tell me how to pose so that I at least don't appear to have too much of a double chin. You know, "lower your chin a little" or "angle yourself more to the right" or "wrap this scarf around your neck". ;o) Please?)
If When If -- Ok, let's be optimistic here!-- WHEN I lose enough weight, I'm going to take a gazillion photos of myself to look at and show off when I'm old(er) and gray(er) and have earned the right to not care so much if I put on a little extra weight.
(sigh) This means I have to figure out some way of losing weight-- meaning some way that I can actually stick with long enough to see results. We're coming up on what is universally acknowledged as the peak seasons for weight-gain (festive meals, desserts galore, cold-weather cravings for all sorts of goodies-- and that holiday feeling that you really deserve to indulge), but if I ever want to wear half my wardrobe again, it has to be done.
Why, oh why can't typing/mousing, TV-remote-pushing, and page-turning be aerobic exercise?! Those are the types of things I want to do in my free time-- not sitting for hours on the bike or (shudder) running. Cruel world!
The most irritating thing? Knowing that no matter what I do, I'm not going to be able to slim down noticeably in time for all those holiday photos. Nope. The 2008 "out of shape" me will be captured forever in untold numbers of digital photographs. Oh well.
(Hey, you family photographers out there? If you could, whenever we get ready to take those pictures, please tell me how to pose so that I at least don't appear to have too much of a double chin. You know, "lower your chin a little" or "angle yourself more to the right" or "wrap this scarf around your neck". ;o) Please?)
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