Michelle: A Little Sad (Week 3)

This week I seem to be battling the blues. It's funny, because I've never been busier as I am this week, with an event (or two) every night through Sunday. So, onwards to the depressing post of the week.

I think the blues are tied to several things. Among them, it's the one year anniversary of my father-in-law's death this weekend. He died at age 58 from early onset Alzheimer's.

He also died almost a month before my little sister suddenly passed away. So that's looming on the horizon as well. My dad has been calling with updates on the headstone.
When do you finally get past things like this? Does it get easier?

Finally, I'm organizing a wine tasting for tomorrow night for the scholarship fund in memory of my sister. Usually, I've got a whole committee behind me. This time, however, it's just me organizing everything, trying to get people to attend, sending out press releases, and more. The rest of the committee has no interest in wine. (You'd think they'd have interest in helping promote the event, but that's another gripe for another time.) There are still 8 seats left, folks, if you want to come. Regardless, the whole situation is both stressful and upsetting.

Anyway, I'm feeling rather defeated and like a grey cloud is following me around. I've had a headache for 3 days. My first reaction is to eat. Of course, eating when I'm stressed and/or upset is what got me into this mess in the first place. I remember when being sad would actually cause me to lose weight. It was only last year that I started reaching for food to make me feel better.

Of course, it's sort of a vicious cycle. When I stop myself from grabbing the chocolate bar, I then get depressed that I got myself into this weight issue to begin with. It's all terribly self-defeating.

Knowing that I'm doing this to myself doesn't seem to help. I sort of feel like I'm drowning and that only a string of licorice or a Pixie Stick (or a whole package) will keep me afloat.

Total pounds lost - 7
Pounds this past week - 1, Who knew?

Amy: Week Three - A pox on my house

Call it what you want, I’m calling this week a HUGE SUCCESS - double exclamation point!!

I lost 0.8 lb, for a total of 24.8. Missed that 25 lb mark by inches. I was disappointed at first. I really felt I nailed things this week. I wasn’t as active as I could have been, but my eating stayed steady and controlled. So while I would have preferred 1.8 - I’ll take it.

The reason this week remains a huge success is that the little devil that sits on my shoulder constantly telling me “psss...you’re deserve those M&M’s...we could really use a milk shake...wouldn’t Taco Bell be so good for a midnight snack?” was in rare form since Sunday.

Like most Sundays, the Cribbs Family spent the morning in prayer...at Children’s Hospital. Little Miss Parker had the oddest looking rash which had been gradually growing since Friday. Sunday morning it exploded. Freaked me out. I was convinced we had spiders (deadly poisonous ones of course) or bed bugs (from all that world traveling we do) or a witch had cast some sort of warting spell (if could happen). I should probably mention that I’m not the rational one in times of illness with my daughter. I often have to be talk down from the ledge and I prefer that talking come from a board-certified surgeon whenever possible.

Turns out despite the immunization shot she received, P has chicken pox, atypical chicken pox making her unique, unpredictable and lumpy.

So began our ointment/benadryl/oatmeal bath/stop/rinse/repeat regimen. Add that to the fact Doug ran away from home/had to leave for Indy for work shortly after we received the diagnosis, and you have the perfect storm for this overeater anonymous.

She’s doing quite well - the pox aren’t as full blown (fingers crossed) as they would have been had she not had the shot and the anti-itch options seem to be helping. But man after that third or fourth calamine lotion soaking, the Oreos were calling to me. It was that or drink heavily and I needed to be awake for the next round of gunk on her trunk. Good thing I was too embarrassed to take Parker out in public because we would have spent the day at Aglamesis.

But I stayed strong.

My only real exercise was bench pressing Parker as I checked her for new spots, but I didn’t binge. I made the healthy meals I had planned instead of eating the pound of cheese I really wanted. Luckily, because of my new grocery shopping motto (Don’t have it in the house today, you want have it on your ass tomorrow) there weren’t a lot of things there to tempt me. I did hit the wine from time to time (you gotta give me something) but I didn’t over-indulge and I didn’t mindlessly munch while doing so.

I’m happy - 0.8 is gone - and I proved that I can stay the course even under the most stressing times. So, how did your week go?

No, I have no idea what this picture means.

PS: Don’t forget to sign up to win one of two Weight Watchers Memberships. Click here!

Shannan: A Milestone (week 3)

This weekend something exciting happened. I was able to fit into a pair of pants that I had not been able to wear for nearly two years. It was an amazing!

I am not sure what made me decide to try them on, as I mentioned before, I had not been able to wear them since 2006. For whatever reason I did and they fit.

It's such a small thing but I feel like it's given me that extra boost of encouragement I needed. I mentioned to some of you that I had a horrible diet week last week. Between an anniversary dinner and then dinner out with my girlfriends on Friday I hadn't done much at all to move the needle backwards on the scale.

This week I am feeling a new energy. Just that little taste of success has really made me want to loose this weight more than ever. Who knows. Maybe I'll be able to fit in go one of my "going out"shirts from the good ole days by the time this is over?!?!?!?!

Weight lost this week (no idea how this happened): 1 lb

Total Weight Lost: 5 lbs

Update: Ok. Because Amy asked, here is one of my favorite shirts from back in the day. The picture doesn't do it justice!

Kate: Rollecoaster (Week 2)

I think I'm a little bit more sensitive than the average bloke.

I read subtlety between the lines of conversation with friends, and sometimes come away with disappointment, hurt or distrust.

My family has always been a source of emotional conflict - usually relating to feelings of inadequacy, neglect or rivalry.

Whatever the scenario, I have found a friend to help me cope through the heartbreak. I don't know when it started. Maybe over cocoa and Girl Scout cookies. Maybe over a piece of pie leftover from one of my mother's dinner parties.

Food became a tool to fill the void in my heart. When I was young I had no idea I was really filling the void in my stomach (and fat cells).

These days I am acutely aware of this paradigm.

I know that I reach for the ice cream or cookies or chips or cake or you-name-it when I'm feeling empty. That's why I have eradicated any sort of decadence from my refrigerator, freezer or pantry (save for some semi-sweet chocolate chips that are mostly used for baking but sometimes doled out in limited qualities to appease a sweet fix.)

Instead, I relegate my indulgences to one-of experiences requiring a trip to the ice cream parlor, bakery or grocery.

More likely, I fix my need to feed with delicious, sauteed veggies seasoned by whimsy - sometimes flavored with special curries and spices I picked up in Europe, other times I feel like an apothecary finding the perfect cure for the blues in my traditional spice rack. Other times I turn to small bits of cheese and delicious fruits.

That I use food to comfort my mood is the true problem at hand. I know I need to find other ways to address emotion - whether it be with long walks, hikes, bike rides or moments of book reading.

But until I can fix that Pavlovian relationship, I will have to take comfort in knowing I am at least making wiser choices when fixing my feelings with food.

(broke even this week/1.6 lost total)