HAPPY NEW YEAR .......may it be the one ........

Well it is time to get back to business and get healthy and happy in 2011.  I've been doing a lot of thinking about all that has gone on in my life in the past 12 months and just how poorly I have managed not only my weight but events that have occurred.  Poor management leads to stress which leads to eating which leads to gaining with leads to more stress which leads to more eating and around and around the circle goes.

I was thinking about how I could handle things better and still manage to live a "normal" life and eat like normal people.  I remember a while ago I wrote about the stomach only being as big as the size of a closed fist.  So I sat and looked at my closed fist and pondered how much food would the size of a closed fist be.  It looks to me to be about a cup or 8 oz.  Now if that is the size of my stomach what the hell am I doing to it by pushing cup after cup of food into it?  Obviously the answer it stretching it and making myself uncomfortable.

So I have dug out my trusty kitchen scale and decided that I am going to eat three meals a day that weigh no more than 8 oz combines with 3 snacks a day of no more than 4 oz.  That's 36 oz of food per day.  Now before you decide to tell me that is not enough food to live on I must tell you that it is plenty depending on what you are eating.  8 oz for breakfast will give me 4 oz of yogurt, 1 egg and 1/2 slice of toast, etc.  That to me is more than a sufficent amount of food for breakfast, nice and nutritional as well.  I have planned out some very nice meals all at the 8 oz amount and they are more than you would think.  Now if I should decide to have a dessert I must include it in the 8 oz.  A small piece of cake is 2 oz so that definitely takes away from the amount of good food I can have.  But it is my choice and one that I have to live with.  Is the piece of cake worth it?  Will have to wait and see because I know that there are times when I am going to want that cake. 

Hubby bought me a new kitchen scale, it is a really slim model that can fit into a small tote bag or even my purse, for when we go out to eat.  Will I feel foolish weighing my food in a restaurant?  I don't thnk so because I know that I am going to be a winner when all is said and done.

So there you have it, my New Year's resolution.  Not only am I going to keep to my 8 oz per meal I am also going to maintain my blog with posting my foods, get some regular exercise every day, and start back to my OA meetings. 

I have determined that I cannot do an OA meeting every week, it is just to hard with TOPS on Mondays and OA on Tuesdays.  The part I need most from OA is the first meeting of each month which is a Step meeting.  So I will attend those and do my workbook as part of my program.  I need to see if my sponsor is still willing to be my sponsor if I am only going once a week.

The other thing I am going to learn to do is say "NO" and "No thank you".  "NO" to those that want to take advantage of my good nature and always try to get me to do something I just don't have time for.  "No thank you" to those that offer me food over and above what I am allowing myself.

Water is going to start and play a big part in all of this as well.  I have managed to come up with a method of having my ice water at work so that it is always available.  Can you believe it was as simple as taking an ice cube tray to work and making my own ice....duh, how simple is that.

Now comes the best part of all........a challenge.  I hereby challenge any one that is interested to see if we can weigh in with a lose every week for 2011.  You don't need to lose a big amount just have a lose.  Just half a pound a week is 26 pounds in a year.  Think about it, it a really simple concept.

I wish each and everyone of you a happy and prosperous New Year.  May all your hopes, ambitions and dreams become a reality!!!

Merry Christmas One and All

Just a short message to wish each of you a blessed Merry Christmas.  If you are travelling please be safe.  May the time you spend with family and friends be pleasant and fullfilling.  As we celebrate please remember the Reason for the Season is birth of our Lord and Savior.

With love and hugs
Tessa

Still around ...........

Hi everyone, I am still here just not posting much of late.  Life has been a merry go round but slowly coming to a wind down.  Have organized and made happen the Lifestyles luncheon at work; did the two shut in drop arounds; attended a union luncheon; attended an Employee Engagement Session luncheon and had our first Christmas with family and friends.  Still to come is our TOPS dinner tomorrow; work pot lunch on Thursday and of course Christmas on the weekend.

As you can see most of these events have been centred around food and I am afraid that I have fallen somewhat.  Trying hard to keep it together but the scales are creeping up a little at a time.  I am actually not going to worry about it right now and just do the best I can.

I am wishing you all a blessed Merry Christmas and all the best in 2011, may it be the year of reaching goals and getting healthy for all of us.

Luv to you all
\Tessa

Monday's Weight In

Well I was up by a pound but that is ok with me especially with the stress that I have been under.  This time of year it is really hard to maintain never mind adding life's pressures to the mix.  I apologize for not posting more but I'm so tired after working 12 - 14 hrs/day that basically I just do not have the energy.

It's been quite an exciting time in my life.  On Sunday my niece and her mom came up from Calgary for a surprise visit.  Not only was the visit a surprise but so were some of the events that happened while they were here.  Lelia has never met my parents (her grandparents) as her parents separated when she was a baby.  So we were sitting around chatting and she mentioned she was now ready to meet them.  My mom has not been in my home for over 3 years and has just recently begun to speak to me again.  I called my dad and told him that Lelia would like to meet them and could they come for tea.  Now I knew my dad would come but never dreamed my mom would.  She did.......at first she wouldn't talk to anyone but by the time she left she was talking and even a smile crossed her face once in awhile.  Thank you God for small miracles.

Saturday one of my co-workers and I did a baking marathon.  We baked for 14 hours, now I know that probably seems a bit excessive but we have several girls in the office that have just recently had surgery and I know they can't do any baking for their families this Christmas.  So we have made up trays to take to them.

Christmas activities are moving along nicely.  The upcoming days/weeks are pretty much filled up on a daily basis.  It always seems like there is a big build up and then poof it's over before we know it.

Well that is pretty much my week in review.  Today I am heading to the clinic for my annual mammy squeeze then tonight some of us from work are heading to the first co-workers for a visit. 

Take care everyone and I'll be back soon.