The Year I Learned The Truth About The Big Guy In The Red Suit

I blame my brother.

If it hadn’t been for him I could have held onto my childhood innocence just a little longer before learning the real truth about the big guy in the red suit.

 

I was eight years old.  My brother was occupying the upstairs bedroom (we have a large house with bedrooms both upstairs and downstairs) and we arranged for me to sleep on the top bunk of his bunk beds.  It was Christmas Eve.

Just before we fell asleep my brother asked me if I could hear the noise outside his bedroom door.  I could also see the light on in the hallway.  He told me the noise I was hearing was Mom and Dad.  They were getting our presents wrapped and placed under the tree.  They were also filling our stockings with lots of little toys, gum, candy, and personal hygiene products (didn’t you also get toothbrushes and deodorant in your Christmas stocking?).  He explained that Santa didn’t really exist and that it was just Mom and Dad pretending to be him.  They ate the cookies and carrots that were left for Santa and Rudolph and they left the thank you notes among the cookie crumbs and partially eaten carrot.

It was all a hoax.

I was devastated.  I tossed and turned all night worrying over this new knowledge I had just been given that I desperately wanted to give back.  I tossed and turned so much I fell off the top bunk…

…and woke up with a black eye.

Yep.  Try explaining that to Mom the next morning.  And to make matters worse, I couldn’t say ANYTHING because I had to protect my little sister from learning this truth that now haunted me.

It made opening gifts a little tougher that year knowing that they had not actually been from Santa. 

*On a side note: I always wondered why Santa never filled Mom’s stocking.  The four of us would pool some of our goods and fill it for her.  Now I know why.*

Paying A Preimum For What You REALLY Want

I love apples.  I enjoy cutting them up and putting them into my cooked oatmeal.  I enjoy cutting them up and mixing in some yogurt and peanut butter.  I enjoy eating them whole.  I really love apples (and all fruit!)

But there are times, like winter for example, when fresh fruit is limited but you just still want something other than apples.

 

When I got off work at 6am on Saturday morning I had a huge craving for strawberries.  Honestly there are plenty of berry options at Costco these days but all of a sudden it just sounded good.  I headed to Walmart for some regular grocery shopping and they were completely OUT of strawberries.  I was very sad.

I wasn’t willing to give up on my craving through.  I still wanted strawberries.

I headed to Albertson’s where I know they have cut up fruit all ready to go in cups.  I also know it costs a bit more than just your usual pint of strawberries during the summer season.

Even knowing I would be paying a premium I was still willing to do it.  Once I got to Albertson’s the pineapple looked equally as delicious.  So, $7 later, I left with two cups of fruit that lasted me just that morning and later in the day when I woke up.

 

To some it might seem silly to pay such a high amount of money when I could get apples at a pretty good deal.  I didn’t feel like apples though and sometimes you gotta spend a little money to get what you really want.

Shocked And Surprised

I was shocked, and pleasantly surprised, when I got on the scale at my WW meeting Thursday evening.  Maybe Thursdays are a good day to do my WI?  One will never know!

I knew I had to get on the scale since it was the first meeting in December that I was in attendance.  Even though I knew I was over goal and would have to pay I figured I needed to at least get on the scale.  Then, I could consider passing the rest of the month.

I got on the scale at home that morning figuring I would show a slight gain.  I had eaten out Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday so you just never know what they scale is going to do.  I also ALMOST ate out again Wednesday night/Thursday morning when I met my coworkers for a late night coffee chat at Denny’s.  I had WI on the brain though and didn’t need to spend more WPPAs.  So I enjoyed my coffee and chat then went home and made myself some eggs.

I got to my meeting and stepped on the scale.  I couldn’t see the full numbers due to the position of the scale dial.  I thought it might have been 187 so I was pretty worried.  That is when I got my surprise.

181.4

I finally broke out of the 182s.  But, again, this could only be temporary.  I sure hope not though!

I felt a lot of anxiety when I got on the scale at home that morning.  It confirms that right now my decision to stay off the scale is the best one for me.  I am going to attend a Tuesday meeting next week and will pass.  I’ll plan to get on the scale the following Thursday.  With it being after Christmas I will need something to keep me in check.

Until then, I plan to keep up with my activity and continue to increase my intensity.  I have been trying really hard to get my heart rate into “the zone” and keep it there during my walks on the treadmill at home and my time on the elliptical at the YMCA.

I am also going to look more into the new Simply Start plan WW rolled out.  The new plan looks like it will really help new members a lot.  I am hoping to use the meal ideas and perhaps even do Simply Filling a few days in my week.