Scale Saturday 2018: Week 12

I took my own advice this week and pushed myself harder, both in watching what I ate and in intentionally exercising. I was mindful of the kind of calories I ate. I didn't have to add up any cookie calories this week (one little amazingly delicious 2" pistachio cookie came in at 72 calories...and you can't eat just one!) I was able to resist taking even one bite of the boys' cheese bread sticks for supper last night.

Last fall, before I embarked on this weight loss journey, I ordered some new clothes from Old Navy during a big sale they were having. I thought being better dressed would make me feel better about myself. I ordered them in my regular "big" size, reasoning that the brand is pretty generous in their sizing and often things run big for me. However, when the box came, only a couple of the dresses fit. There were two dresses that I had been really excited about that I just could not squeeze into. Yesterday I put one on, a black shirt dress...and it fits great! I haven't tried on the teal knee-length dress yet, but I'm hoping to wear it for Easter. I was going to include a picture of me in the dress today, but when we got home from Stations of the Cross last night, Addie wiped a face full of yogurt all over me. Mom life.

One thing that has really helped me not indulge this week: key lime Greek yogurt. The strange illusion known as Baader-Meinhoff phenomenon happens quite frequently with me...whether it's because of the way my mind works or because everyone's does, I'm not quite sure. You may have experienced it before...you buy a new vehicle that you never see around. Say, a gray Suburban. Suddenly there are gray Suburbans everywhere, including one that drives by your house multiple times a day.

So it happened with me around Christmas. I found a coconut-lime scented candle on clearance, and bought it for the bathroom. And then a sweet friend sent me a bottle of coconut-lime lotion, and every time I use it my mouth waters for key lime pie. The next time I was in the grocery section I wasn't thinking yogurt at all, but I looked over and the first thing that caught my eye was key lime yogurt. I now have half a fridge shelf dedicated to key lime yogurt! One of those yogurts a day makes me feel like I'm enjoying a piece of pie.

So often it is just a mind thing. When I think about it, I'm not really hungry very often. Many times I'm just restless, dissatisfied, and need to break the habit of trying to fix that with food.

In closing, I want to share one of my best weight-loss secrets: children. I never get to eat 100% of  anything I make myself. (It just so happens that yogurt is Addie's favorite food.) And whether it's toting them around on my hip, or doing planks with them sitting on my back, they are great exercise accompaniments! My weight-loss to date totals exactly one four year old Ian!