Weekly WI: Skipped The Scale

I skipped the scale this week arriving home from vacation Tuesday evening. 

 

It has been a little difficult getting back into the swing of things but to keep extra pounds at bay, I am back to tracking.  I checked off the exercise box yesterday with a walk outdoors and today with an indoor bike elliptical workout.

 

My trip to Missouri was enjoyable.  We maximized our time seeing family which was the goal.  I didn’t take many photos that didn’t revolve around family so not much to share.  We visited a few BBQ restaurants, and I managed to sneak in two Elks Lodge visits, one in Lebanon and one in Kansas City.

 

Our next big vacation is in December where we will visit our timeshare in Oceanside, CA along with San Diego. We hope to see some of my extended family as well.  And you know I plan to visit some Elks Lodges too.

 

In the month until then, we have some quick weekend trips in our van RV.  We plan to join the Elks for a district campout and attend an out-of-town wedding.  I am looking forward to spending time getting used to van life. 

Looking at the calendar, September will be a busy month.  We get our new CAD system at work which means lots of overtime not only to attend my own training sessions but to cover the dispatch console for others to attend their training.  I have some fun planned but boy will it fly by.  I really like Fall so I am excited to get this party started.

Bermuda

 Bermuda is amazing! 

 

I loved every minute and will put this on the travel list for a repeat destination at some point in the future.

 

Our Bermuda cruise on NCL Getaway was fantastic.  

My only critique…it was too short.  Okay, and that the ship was packed so it would have been nice to have less crowded venues.  None-the-less it was a great time.  I guess I have one more critique, traffic to/from the JFK airport was awful.  We were so happy to finally board the cruise after four hours of waiting with NCL shuttle delays and the lines at the Manhattan cruise terminal.

 

Our time on board NCL Getaway was very laid back.  Either I am getting older and going to less late-night events, or I just wanted to relax this trip.  I met a few people from the Facebook group, socialized at venues, took in a comedy show, watched the dueling pianos, and partially participated in a bar crawl. 

 

The first time ever coming home with winnings from the cruise ship casino

I picked this cruise for the NCL Starbucks partner mug.  I am so happy not only did I sang one, I also found the old style New York state mug too.  WhoooHooo.

This was an overnight port which meant our first day had no rush to get back to the ship on time.  We bought a daily ferry/bus combined pass and took the public ferry to Hamilton, the city center, and boarded a bus to the Crystal and Fantasy Caves.   AMAZING!!! 

 

We hiked up/down 88 steps to the first cave and 83 steps to the second.  We earned a rum swizzle, the iconic drink of Bermuda at the nearby Swizzle Inn.  We also tried wahoo fish nuggets, the local fish of Bermuda.  Both were excellent.

 

We boarded the bus again driving along the cost to St. George in search of the NCL ferry back to Royal Naval Dockyard.  The day went so fast we will need to make a return trip to explore more of the island.  I went in search of the bathroom and found a local brewery.  I love trying local beers.

 

Day two in Bermuda, a shorter day, started with an excursion to visit historic homes and hideaways.  We boarded a smaller boat this time and drove in/out of the inlands learning more about the history of Bermuda.  The highlight of the trip was Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones house.   Ummmm… it is waaaaaay up on the hill and not as majestic as the other million-dollar homes we saw.

 

NOT the house...a fancier one by the water's edge

We ended our time on the island with a quick tour train ride around the Royal Naval Dockyard and a visit to the National Museum of Bermuda.  The views were worth the admission price.  

If you'd like to read about our pre-cruise adventures in New York, you'll find it here <---

Weekly WI: Colonoscopy & Weight Loss

I turned 45 last October and My Chart immediately loaded up a new “recommended” appointment.  Yep, welcome to the colonoscopy-age club.  The good new, unlike joining the mammogram-age club at 40, a colonoscopy is once every 10-years (hopefully).  Mine went fine and I got the 10-year sign off.  It started out as an interesting and wild experience that turned into a hangry miserable experience.  So, I’m glad it is over.  

I selected orange for my drink of choice when mixing the MiraLAX (the easy prep from those who have experienced this joy) and I drink it out of a whiskey glass trying to convince myself I was enjoying a fun drink.

I think it’s a myth that you lose weight after colonoscopy.  Sure, I was down (weighed myself before and after) but since my procedures was on a Friday, I was hopeful my weekly Weigh-In and monthly employee weigh-in on Tuesday would be favorable.  The only sang in this plan…myself.

I was starving on Friday.  I am not a fan of broth and didn’t have any luck during my liquid prep day.  When the morning of my procedure rolled around, I was counting down the hours to food.  I had decided ahead of time I would allow myself only Friday to enjoy whatever I wanted.  Eh…that didn’t end at just Friday.  I swear, I am my own worst support system when it comes to saying on track.

Tuesday rolled around and I was prepping myself for a gain hopefully no more than 2 pounds.  I gained 0.6…what a relief! 

I am headed to Missouri for a family reunion and expect to come back heavier.  I really need to have a serious talk with my inner saboteur upon my return. 

Weekly WI: Less Focused Last Week

Last week was not as focused and disciplined as the weeks prior, which is why you aren’t getting a glimpse at my progress screen shots.  I didn’t track for several days after our Thursday overnight in the new RV which interrupts the correct data points.  I stayed mindful…sometimes…and didn’t hardly log much activity.  

I gained 0.6 pounds this week.

One month.

Three months.

Keep moving forward…that is the focus this week.  I have social engagements on the calendar and my first colonoscopy.  What a wild week it will be.  I also plan to get back to activity.

My friends and I went to see Any Grammar in concert last night.  He was great!  The concert venue is standing room only and it was a sold out concert.  We had a good few for the opening singer, his wife, but then we kept getting pushed around like what I assume a mosh pit feels like.  We ended up moving for a less favorable few.  I am just too old to stand at a concert for 3 hours!  My feet and legs are pretty sore today.

I think I’ll log activity on my bicycle as I need to return some beef broth that was leaking from the seal when I got home.  After all, the no eating starts tomorrow…wish me luck on my colonoscopy prep.

Weekly WI: Down This Month. Yippie!

Hello and Happy Wednesday!  I am on my last swing overtime shift (4pm-2am shift) for the month of July and I’m super happy about that.  I signed up to help cover the abundance of overtime on the night shift team due to staffing issues.  Hopefully the month of August runs smoother.  I also didn’t sign up for any late overtime shifts next month.

 

Anyway…on to Weekly WI.  My commitment to my WW program paid off and I lost 2.2 pounds this week.  I am also lower than last month and down for the year.  Hallelujah!

 

With our overnight RV trip to Fort Hall and Idaho Falls, I would still like to keep the momentum going.  It will be a couple days of high point meals, and I am brainstorming ideas to help keep me somewhat in-check.  The biggest win will be balancing the high point days within the rest of my week.  Which is what I did last week.

 

My Friday, my planned high point day, I was in the negative for weekly points.  Not as high of a negative balance as the week prior.  I noticed that if I went over my daily points, since I didn’t have a weekly points budget to cover the overage, it showed me “out of budget” for the day.  While this did bother me a little since my goal was to be in budget more than out, when I look at my macros, I was happy with the daily results.

 

Here is Saturday’s points/macros.

 

Here is Sunday.

 

I was happy with where my total calories ended each day.  Sometimes you must look at different numbers to gain a different perspective.

 

On Tuesday evening, I met my friend Janet at Jaialdi in downtown Boise where she completed in the Pilota games.  It was fun to watch, and I wish the game had gone longer.  Since I am working overtime tonight, I will miss her game this evening.  The men’s team did amazing, and the game went so long.  

While I was on the Basque Block, I got a chorizo and an order of croquetas.  Mmmmm….

 

I am focused on the same goals as last week again this week:

·       Activity.

·       Water before coffee.

·       Meal planning/eat at home more.

Weekly WI: Another Gain...But It's Okay. I Have A Plan!

Hello and Happy Wednesday.

 

I am working my overtime shift until 2 a.m.  Our night shift was understaffed, and I signed up for some night shift overtime to help during July.  While most Wednesdays it works out okay, there are some that staying up so late is a struggle.  Let’s hope my afternoon nap helped me today.

 

My Weekly WI went better than I had expected.  I’m sure you can see why I was worried.

 

After a 1.8 pound gain last week, I had waaaaaaay more days outside my points budget.  In fact, I ended the week with -153+ weekly points.  If that tells you anything.  I’ll take the 0.4 pound gain!  And I’m also making some changes this week.

 

Water Before Coffee: I started building this habit after our weekly technique two weeks ago.  I shared with my members that when I get downstairs from getting ready for work in the morning, I am ready for coffee and have trouble drinking water first.  I realized I could drink my water while I was getting ready and thus, would have my water done and am able to enjoy my coffee.  This is a habit I plan to continue this week and beyond.

Get Back To The Gym: I planned to return to the gym last week and that didn’t happen.  I also have not resumed exercise since I was sick a month or so ago.  This week, my goal is to get back to the gym!  I have signed up for a fitness class on Thursday so I can’t back out.  I also put in my calendar an EGYM appointment today and Saturday.  Today didn’t happen as planned and while I didn’t get to the gym, I went for a 30-minute walk. 

Meal Planning: One of my biggest hurdles last week was social situations and not enough planning ahead.  I have two new recipes to try this week, both Instant Pot and easy, and I have a meal idea for two more which including cooking ground beef once for two recipes: WIN-WIN!  I have social plans on Friday so that will be my high point day.  The rest of the week, I’d like to keep my points/calories in check.

 

I hope you all are having a great week.

 

 

 

Weekly WI: A Gain

Hello and Happy Wednesday!

 

My Weekly WI this week was not as successful as last week.  I was hoping for a small gain but instead, gained 1.8 pounds.  I’d like to think some of that is temporary and some is hormonal.  You just never know!

 

Monday was a long day with a 2:45 a.m. wake up call, a 12-hour shift, a second job shift, and helping an Elks friend with some technical snags.  When I brought a pizza home from Kenyon it was no surprise that I wanted pizza too.  Instead of just eating one or two slices, I had three…the day before weigh in.  That is partially why I am hopeful this bump was temporary. 

 

That doesn’t negate the fact that I’ve been craving all the things lately.  I’m not sure what has spiked it because I’ve liked what I’ve been eating.  I had a pre-planned high point day on Saturday.  By Sunday, I was craving pizza and on Monday, I gave into those cravings.  Even Tuesday was a higher day than planned.  That is why the second part could be hormonal.

 

I’ve also started out my week with some high point days.  Gah!  I better get this under control STAT! 

 

On a random side note, we had our tree removed in front of our house and I LOVE it!

 

It was an ornamental plum (messy) and starting to look sick.  My neighbor decided to remove her tree because it was diseased and impacting her sprinkler system.  We didn’t get HOA approval so we will take it as it comes if they notice.  I think the tree removal makes our house look better!  We have so much natural light now inside the kitchen.

 

The van RV had to go back to the service center.  It has been a process and a huge learning curve.  Some days I’ve been really bummed out by it all.  We are trying to stay positive and not let this set the tone of all the fun yet to come.  Fingers crossed it all gets sorted out soon.