Planet Abell

Bloated me. I suspected this week was going to be a challenge, but that's a word and a half. My Saturday weigh-in was fine: no change, 0.02 from my goal of 155. But a mere six days later I am at 171! That is a gain of 16 pounds. I don't see it. Nancy doesn't see it. I still fit fine in my goal-weight pants. But, I have been eating a lot this week, and not exercising as much, and that is what happens. I don't think I'll be tipping the scales at what is my July 9 weight (week 20 ) tomorrow morning. But I'll almost certainly be in the 160s. So what happened? I was on vacation this week, away from work and at home for an extended period for the first time since I began Weight Watchers seven months ago. Four of these six days I didn't track. Monday we had a no-holds-barred anniversary dinner which included Margaritas, beer, a burrito that could have sunk the Titanic and even dessert. I've been snacking too much on salty things. I've been ...

I don't know why I was on the 'undisclosed recipients' list this went to, and have no idea who Trev was. But there was something about the proper, restrained, just plain British-ness of this anouncement which I found very moving: Just a note to say Trev passed away peacefully on 16 August surrounded by his family.   His services will no longer be available. Should you have  any  questions or issues please don't hesitate to contact myself (niece) or his son via the email  address: [redacted] and we will endevour to help where we can.   I would like to thank those of you for your emails of concern. This is very much appreciated. Trev will be sadly missed.     All the very best to you all.     Regards     Dawn +John C Abell

I closed my seventh month on Weight Watchers with another unusual week, scheduling wise. It allowed me muy best opportunity to far to test new theory of eating — and the result is a solid loss of 1.6 pounds . My Google Spreadsheet says I've lost 100 percent to goal, but the truth is that I am 0.02 pounds from my goal of 155 pounds (I mean I was , before enjoying myself thoroughly last night, which is my custom on weigh-in day...) My new mantra is, don't call them "meals," and don't even call them "servings." The nomenclature can be pejorative and can allow one to manufacture a behavioral paradox in which over-eating is unavoidable, or at least easier to justify. It's not a new problem, this business of having meals versus grazing. Huge numbers of fit and healthy people are in both camps. My judgement is, however, that a substantial number of people who need to learn how to eat properly, again, for the first time, would be better off grazing ...

My home workspace, with makeshift risers under the front legs of my desk. I've added a new little dimension to my health-kick lifestyle : Standing as much as possible. I've always had an affinity for standing, although people who stand for a living will tell you that any chance not to is Heavenly. But even U.S. Marine grunts have a rule about this which, from any other outfit, might sound downright lazy: Never stand when you can sit Never sit when you can lie down Never stay awake when you can sleep I still remember my uncle telling me when I was six or seven that standing while riding the New York City subway was good practice about learning to keep your balance, which, he said, would come in very handy while on a ship at sea. Since our family had no maritime history or prospects I had no idea how this random suggestion could be a practical life skill. But my uncle was/is a cool guy, and it sounded cool, the way the acquisition of almost any skill does.   As it h...

Crazy week. I put on 1.6 pounds , putting me that amount above my all-time low weight. In and of itself, not to worry. That kind of fluctuation is normal, and when on maintenance anything within two pounds is a gimme. Prior to my last weigh in on Saturday it was the week of Hurricane Irene, and while the storm itself was meh the aftermath was pretty interesting: We had a four-day power outage in my neck of the woods. On the first day even the data networks on my mobile phones were dead, unwiring me off in a new and strange and exceedingly pleasant way. After Saturday's weigh in I somehow managed to balloon to nearly 168 pounds by Tuesday — 10 pounds above the low-water mark. I was off the reservation  on Saturday and Sunday, but not horribly or more than I had ever been (there was a gin factor, and a bit of Open Bag Syndrome with the Pop Chips, and maybe too much protein bar indulgement. So, I cut back on portions of free "power" foods. I eat a lot of fruit, w...

It was a triple witching Saturday: I reached by goal of 160 pounds, hit the 75-pounds-lost milestone and attended the first meeting with a new leader after having gone six months with the same one. But, for a number of reasons, I've decided to re-set my goal for the second and last time, to 155. The least silly of those reasons is that 160 is the highest acceptable weight for my height (5'6") it the highest, and it strikes me that shooting only for that would be the sort of cop-out I've been trying to vanquish. It seems like a blur, and that it hasn't take very long to get here. And that makes me wonder how hard I will work to protect my position. A big part of the reason that I have tried to be so transparent is so I couldn't retreat very easily. I'm at 158.5 as of this morning, another new decade and the last I intend to crack. I'm told that maintaining can be tougher than losing, as you learn to adjust to eating more — but not much more. I...

Joan says goodbye. First, the good news ... For my weekly meeting weigh-in on Saturday I tipped the scales at 160.8 : a frustratingly 0.02 pounds away (relatively speaking, of course) from the 75-pound, trinket-level milestone   and 0.08 from my goal weight of 160 pounds. It was the usual nutsy Saturday morning on the scale: Despite a very tame Friday and not eating terribly late the night before, my wake-up weight was 164.8 — more than two pounds above my previous weigh-in despite an entire week of behaving myself, and nearly four above my best weight during the previous seven days. With my usual morning workout, perhaps a bit heavier on the cardio, I shed four pounds of what I can only assume was water weight. Sheesh. This means that I am likely to hit my goal next week about six months after I started Weight Watchers in as winter waned. It marks the end of a beginning in what our leader describes, without a hint of the schmaltziness it must seem in print, a "journ...