Scales and Success

Every January, Kalisha is inspired by all the talk of resolutions and makes a decision to lose weight; as do millions of other people. She usually starts out doing really well until the first trip to the grocery and Little Debbie beckons her or the Golden Arches call her name.
This year, I advised her to not tell anyone when she lost a few pounds. It nearly killed her to not post it on FB, but she didn't. We decided when she reached the 10# mark, she could brag a little. She has reached that goal and is determined to keep going.
So what is different this year? I believe there are several factors:
1) she is exercising
2) she has the motivation of wanting to fit into the khaki pants she has to wear to work at Parkview Field in a few months
3) in the food area, we have tried to R-E-A-L-L-Y concentrate on 'portion control' rather than all the things we can't eat (I am saying 'we' because I am doing this, also, only I can't say I exercise)
I want to tell you a Subway story that I found nearly unbelievable. Kalisha had received a Subway gift card and although Subway has healthy options, Kalisha always orders the meatball sub smothered in mozzarella cheese, a bag of chips and a soda.
Her Friday cooking group took a day off from cooking and went to Subway for lunch. This is her story when she came home.
Kalisha: "I asked the guy behind the counter if a meatball sub was good for someone trying to lose weight. He said 'no.' So I ordered the turkey sandwich with no mayo and I didn't get a bag of chips and no soda."
Me: "Wow. Kalisha, I am so proud of you. That took a lot of will power."
Kalisha: "Yes, it did. Oh, yeah, I did get 2 cookies, one for you and one for me."

My theory is you can't conquer all the giants at one time. I was amazed at her choice of sandwich and that she could actually force herself to do it.

Another football-watching day, she wanted to use her coupon for a Papa John's Pizza. I said it would be very tempting to have that in the house. She told me she would only eat one piece and have a salad with it. That is exactly what she did. She froze the other 7 pieces, so she can have one every time she gets hungry for pizza.
It was a good thing she set a good example for me; otherwise I would have had 2 pieces. :)

For a week, she was losing a pound or a half pound a day. Then for a few days, she stayed the same. Then lost a bit again, and then one morning, she gained a pound back. I coached her through the disappointment and said that always happens to everybody and encouraged her to just keep going. She has and when she got to the 10# again, she put it on FB (this morning) She is blessed with many friends who commented and encouraged her.
I also know the experts say you should not weigh every day, but she wants to, so it is ok with me. That is another motivator.

There are so many reasons (besides khaki pants) for her to lose weight.

She has gone out with friends several times and done fairly well with her ordering but if she orders something like the mint swirl shake at Arby's, it isn't the end of the world. I don't want this journey to be self-defeating.

Right now, she is feeling pretty good about it and we will continue working on our goals, but it definitely isn't the only topic of conversation at our house.

 

 

Keeping My Mouth Shut....close to impossible

I read a post on FB today that simply stated: "Some days my biggest accomplishment is keeping my mouth shut."
Since we are in the 'social media' age, for me some days, it is also an accomplishment to keep my fingers from typing the words I want to say. (They aren't nice, in case you were wondering.)
I'm much better at  'Let It Go' when it is on my page or in a string of comments on a friend's page, but I have a very hard time when the comments are directed at Kalisha. I have always been a Momma Bear kind of mother with all my kids, unless I thought they could handle it on their own, but I really have to bite my tongue or shut my fingers in a drawer to keep from pouncing on some people.
Possibly 6 months ago, Kalisha and a friend had an argument about something. I ignored it since it wasn't the first one they had. I could hear Kalisha's end of the phone conversations. I wasn't eavesdropping; she was setting right by me. Kalisha was holding her own until the other person's parent and 2 more friends jumped in. Well, that was all she wrote. I took the phone and didn't stop for breath until I had said all I thought needed to be said.  (no swear words..are you impressed?) Needless to say, that friendship has never totally recovered. Surprise, surprise.

Now...I have already posted about Kalisha and her putting too many posts' on FB. She loves FB and uses it as her morning (and afternoon and evening) newspaper. Occasionally, I insist she delete a post or two.

Last week, she thought she was going to the mall with someone. They cancelled, saying they had to work. THEN the same someone was making plans to go with another person. The only thing Kalisha commented, was, "I thought you had to work."
Wooeee. Several people (females, of course) jumped in with scathing remarks to Kalisha. These were people she didn't even know. I was reading the remarks and wishing I could reach through my monitor and slap the snot out of a couple of them.

I refrained, but my fingers were almost purple from pinching them in my desk drawer. I advised Kalisha to withdraw from the conversation for her own good and because it would have only been a matter of time before I took over. (I know me so well.)

We have a few new rules about posting. Once in the am, once in the afternoon and once at night.
I am very proud of her. She is doing an excellent job. Her mother, on the other hand, is still wishing she had jumped in and retaliated but I'm sure I will have another chance to exercise my willpower, in the future.