What a crazy 2 weeks......

It's hard to believe I haven't written an entry in 2 weeks.......the time has flown.

I spent one day in Crawfordville, GA traffic court.  Crawfordville, GA population 520.  I had to go to the Magistrate's Office for a hearing with the Magistrate, Court Clerk  and "the officer". I was charged with violating the "move over" law.  By the time we were done, the points were dropped and the ticket lowered from $300 to $200.  The "move over" law required that if you are driving in the right lane and there is a police officer on the right shoulder of the road with someone pulled over you "should" move into the left lane if it is safe.  I determined that it was not safe for me to make the move and for that reason I was given a ticket.  I made 2 trips to Crawfordville in order to plead "not guilty".  I was offered a trial with a jury of my peers but chose to meet with just the Magistrate.  The speed limit is 25 in the town itself.  The court room appears to be in a store front but once inside it looks like the Taj Mahal.  The Crawfordville PD was disbanded and taken over by the county but before that took place the town had collected $2,700,000 in traffic fines in just a few years.   So do you think I stood a chance.......not!! I was offered the opportunity to return a 3rd time and go to Superior Court.....really.....another day off from work and another 230 mile drive round trip?????I just wanted it over........

During the last 2 weeks, took the dog to the vet 4 times for a skin condition (this included two medicated baths at $30 each).  Jenn and I decorated the inside and the outside of the house.  I went for blood work and to the podiatrist.......all in all a very hectic couple of weeks.

Oh and I had a birthday.......it turned out very nice.  Lunch with a good friend, a pedicure and just the kind of day I wanted.

Thanksgiving had it's highs and it's lows.  My sister came to visit and that was great !! Jenn and I went Black Friday shopping Thursday night and Friday morning which is always an event and fun.  Other than that Thanksgiving was a minus 5 on a scale of 1-10. Read between the lines.......

I am trying to set time lines for the changes I need to make.  And I am definitely rethinking what I want to do for Christmas.........

I will figure it out......... 

My goal is to get through the holidays and maybe go down a little on the scale and worst case scenario remain the same.  Not overly ambitious goals but what I think are reasonable.....then like everyone else kick it back into high gear after the New Year.  I will make good choices this month but also don't want to feel deprived.......I have done this before and was successful so this year should not be any different.

I am feeling a bit down right now but focusing on the future and the opportunities I have ahead of me give me a reason to be hopeful.  I have made strides some areas this year and will continue to focus on those along with the news goals and changes.......I know that the down I am feeling will pass as it always does........looking at the lights on my beautiful Christmas tree makes my heart happy and gives my soul peace........

See you next week........

Ok So I Can't Be Trusted.......

My great plan to not know how I am doing on the scale each week........I will admit I peeked today......ugh not what I wanted to see......still down a lot but up a little while I wasn't looking.......so I should be due for a down week next week....hopefully.......but I won't peek......hopefully......

Last week was Jenn's birthday.  We did our traditional make-overs.  They were fun and we were both pleased with the results.This time I actually volunteered to take a picture......not something I normally do!!

We also went to see the movie "Home Alone"(one of Jenn's favorite when she was young) on the  big screen.  I love that some theatre's are bringing back some classic movies to movie theatres.  The original "Miracle on 34th Street" is coming to a theatre in December.  We already have our tickets to see "It's A Wonderful Life" a few days before Christmas.

The funny thing was while watching "Home Alone" there was  a scene when Kevin (the main character) is walking home from church......I started to cry.  You could see homes with families together celebrating the holiday.  I miss doing that with my family.  I guess we just take it for granted when we have those times and miss them when they are gone.

Anyway after the movie, we went to a local restaurant for dinner....Pasta Fresca.....that sounds like trouble doesn't it?? Well I was very pleased.......they had a veggie dish with artichokes, mushrooms, red peppers and tomatoes in a marinara sauce. But this is the great part......instead of being on a bed of cheese tortellini....... I had it on a bed of fresh spinach.  (OK it did cost more to opt for the spinach which always confuses the heck out of me that it costs more to eat healthy) but it was delish and I even brought home some leftovers.

This week's topic was at my WW meeting was  ......Thanksgiving.  We were given points values for what we might put on our dinner plate.  Yes, to white turkey meat (3 points for 3 ounces and I think I may have 2 servings) but no to the skin.......yes to mashed potatoes (3 points for 1/2 cup so I might go for a full cup) no to sweet potato soufflé......yes to canned gravy.....yes I said canned gravy.........yes to green beans (() points) no to green bean casserole.......yes to a tiny bit of stuffing......the total points value.......not too bad.  Now dessert......I love pumpkin pie.......one slice 8 points but skip the crust only 3 points......I will have to think about that but a big no to pecan pie at 14 points.

The hard part is it is my birthday the same week.  I already have plans for breakfast with one friend and lunch with another,  I will have to plan and make good choices.  Breakfast at Cracker Barrel .......fortunately, they have a healthy options menu now so I can get through that......lunch at DePrato's......I will have to really think about that.......I will just adjust my dinner menu so it shouldn't be too bad.........hopefully.......

Speaking of birthdays........I have been really struggling with this one.......yes the first number starts with a "6".....I don't know how it happened......how could all the years have passed so quickly.......I know.... I know....suck it up Donna......you are going to turn 60 on November 24th whether you like it or not........is 60 the new 40 or at least the new 50??????

On the upside, I am entering this decade weighing less than I did when I entered my 50's  or 40's.......and sometime next year (not saying when.......) I will weight less than I did when I turned 30.

Now that is something the CELEBRATE!!!!!!! I have extended my life by making the changes and choices since joining weight watchers. When I think about being 75 pounds less than my all time high....I should celebrate.....just not with food.......

I  think of some in my life who would have given anything to blow out 60 candles on their birthday cake........my Dad.....my niece Maria......and some other family members and  friends come to mind........a coworker reminded me a birthday is to be celebrated not dreaded.......

So for the next 9 ....count 'em.....9 days......I am still in my 50's but the better part is the 75 pounds gone and the hope that when I am blowing out my 61st candle I will weigh what I did in my late 20's.......it may take longer but I will get there.

You may get tired of seeing them but I need to remind myself of where I was just 2 years ago and where I am now.......so here are the pic's........

July 2013

Nov 2015

See you next week........

Ok So My Plan From Last Week Didn't Quite Work Out Like I Planned......

I wrote last week that I didn't want to know how much I gained or lost each week.  I wanted to work on a 4 week average.  It would make each week less stressful.  I went to my meeting this morning and told my leader and the lady that weighs me in my new plan.

Suzanne (the lady behind the scale) asked me if I wanted to know if I was down? I said no.  I gave her my WW card and the book I have with my record.  I got on the scale.  Then she said "I have to tell you".  I said "no".  She said again "I have to tell you!!!!"  I said "NO".  She said "you will really want to know this!!!!"  I started to laugh and said 'OK tell me".  Well, I was down a lot and am very close to 65 pounds.  I said to her while I was laughing "next week I do not want to know!!!"

OK so much for my plan.......what I think I will do is tell Suzanne that I do not want to know if I am up or down unless it is a big loss or I pass another 5 pound increment.......that should work.

I told the other members during our meeting about my plan to only know every 4 weeks where I am at. Most of them nodded their heads and understood my struggle. Then when I told them about how Suzanne and I went back and forth at the scale with Kay (my WW leader) in the middle of it......everyone was laughing.

So much for the best laid plans.......

I did try to switch things up again this week.  I tried a new recipe of chicken I had marinated in chicken broth, pineapple juice and lite soy sauce.   It was great!!

Fortunately, we had a lot of trick or treater's so there isn't a piece of candy to be found anywhere in the house.  I am thrilled that there isn't any calling my name from the pantry.  Plus, we didn't buy any of my favorite which is Almond Joy's.

Well, Halloween is over on to Thanksgiving.......the year has flown.  Hard to believe that in just a few short weeks the tree will go up. I already checked and a small local movie theatre (it only seats 100 people) will be showing  "It's A Wonderful Life" on the big screen less than a week before Christmas.  I will be purchasing tickets as soon as they are available.  I went last year and really enjoyed it.

I will be looking for small (and inexpensive) things to do from now until January 1st.  I will keep you posted as I find events and activities to attend.  While I focus on continuing to get healthy......

Oh one more thing......I told Jenn when my weight is where it should be......I want to go zip lining.....LOL.....yup....I said it........ zip lining.......for me that would be a real adventure.  No bungee jumping or parachute jumping  in my future but the thought of flying along a line high in the air is a challenge I think I can handle.......oh yes there will be pictures when that event happens and you will all know when it does.......I am also very brave saying this when I have a lot more weight to lose before I take on that challenge.......let's see what happens when the time gets closer....LOL.................

See you next week...........