I FINALLY posted again!

Ok, so I have been getting some flack for not posting. Let me just tell you, I have not weighed, but I know I can't have lost weight. I have not exercised, and the diet has been questionable at best.

A very nice person made me a strawberry cake last week. OMG! It was so good! But, what about my ASS says I need a big ole strawberry cake???? Makes great breakfast, by the way. Went to a crop Friday night (that's a gathering where everybody scrapbooks, in case you don't know). Well, everybody brings something to eat, and we share. OMG!!!! Let me just give you a brief run down of Friday night's menu: Homemade Paula Dean pimento cheese finger sandwiches, cucumber/cream cheese finger sandwiches, corn dip with sour cream-eat with Fritos, I took Subway (not bad), AND . . . . . cupcakes from Ivey Cakes!!! This is the place that made Carrie Underwood's cupcakes for her wedding. When you get through eating your cupcake, you realize your fingers are moist from the BUTTER all up in the cupcake. YES it was VERY good!!!!! But, also very fattening. We went a football game Thursday night. This equals cheeseburger for dinner. The worst part about that was it was WAY overcooked, so you ate all those calories, and it really wasn't very good. Wednesday was Fantasy Football Draft Party at Buffalo Wild Wings. We had wings and fries, and oh yeah . . . . FRIED PICKLES!!!! Saturday we went to the pool and we had barbecued shrimp--that wasn't too bad. BUT, we had dinner at Fletcher's Pizza in Donelson--yummy, but also very fattening.

I think that gives you a pretty accurate idea of the TRAIN WRECK that has been my diet of the last few days. Couple this with NO exercise, and you are probably starting to understand why I have not blogged!

On a positive note, although totally against my will, I am going to start walking every day. My neighbor called, and as much as I would rather put a stick in my eye, I really had no good excuse for NOT doing it. So, pray for me. I am going to start walking tomorrow. I asked her if she was going to go get the car and come get me if I couldn't make it all the way!!! LOL!!! (I say LOL, but I really wasn't joking) I will keep you posted!

What's on Your Plate?

Ok, so I have started reading Women Food and God. So far I really like it. I haven't had big blocks of time to read it, but that's ok. Its kind of deep, so its good to read a little and then digest that for a while. I really am enjoying it--I think because it makes me think maybe I'm figuring it all out.

Just one example; one retreat participant said to the author "everything we believe about our lives is right here on these plates." So, the next time you sit down to eat, take a look at your plate. Is it full of Bagel Bites, or maybe a big fat cheeseburger, slathered in mayo, and also covered with bacon??? Or is it full of organic fruits and vegetables? I'm just thinking if what we think about our lives is reflected on our plates, I want the organic fruits and vegetables because that would be the very best for my body. However, that is NOT what has typically been on my plate. Why is that? Am I not enough of a priority to MYSELF? If I had a child I would want them to eat as much organic produce as possible, yet I don't spend that extra money on myself. Does this mean I don't value myself? Or maybe I don't value my body? Like I said, its deep, but it makes you think. I like that.

Big weekend planned. Having friends over today, Sounds game tonight, cookout with friends tomorrow, and I'm not sure after that. Hope you have a good weekend. Ballpark food is probably NOT so healthy, so what will be on my plate tonight???? :-))

Just wanted to post quickly. I am doing better, but still not 100%. I have fruit, but its on the counter and in the fridge waiting to be prepped. I had salad for lunch yesterday, but we had hamburgers for dinner. So, there is still room for improvement. Not sure what will be dinner tonight--maybe salad.

I have book club tomorrow night, and I have not read the book. Nor have I read the other book I bought. I have to do better. I want to read them both. For now, though, I have to go. I need to get ready for work, and if I have any extra time, I can cut up my cantaloupe.

Weigh-in Restart

Okay, so today I weighed for the first time in a few weeks. I have gained 4 pounds. Not bad--all things considered. I have decided I need to set some short-term goals. 100 pounds is such a large goal, and I realize it will take quite a while. In the mean time, I need to put myself on a little bit of a time line. For instance, my current goal is to lose 10 pounds by the end of August. That's a little ambitious, but I'm hoping I can lose the 4 I've gained, plus 6 more. We'll see.

I finally went to the grocery today. I could probably have gotten a few more things, but you need to have a "money" budget as well as a "calorie" budget. I DO have some fruit and some salad in my house now--just like the skinny people! That's good, right??? I have to cut up my cantaloupe and pluck my grapes tonight. I've learned if I don't do all the prep pretty quick after I buy it, I never eat that good-for-you fruit. So, that's the plan.

As usual, the least favorite part of this plan is the exercise part. So, I will keep you posted on that. I'm optimistic.

Tonight we are having whole wheat spaghetti with turkey meatballs for dinner. It's REALLY good. In fact, my beef-loving husband is the one who wanted it once he found out I had bought turkey meatballs. They are really good.

I ate SO bad yesterday! OMG! It was ridiculous! I have NOT gotten with the program yet. I had FRIED catfish yesterday! (It was fattening as hell, but it was really good) On a positive note, I read 7 pages of Women Food and God last night. That's good, right? I actually did read something that kind of resonated with me. I really want to read that book. I feel like I'm really in the right mind-frame. However, I have a 644 page book club book I need to read before Thursday. So, I want to read Women Food and God so bad, but I don't because I need to read The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. And, I don't read The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo because I really WANT to be reading Women Food and God. Thus, neither book is being read. Its a vicious little circle inside the mind of a procrastinator.

I need to go to the grocery store and I just haven't done it. I did eat some salad this week, but no fruit. Part of the reason for that is there IS no fruit in my house. So, I will take care of that. Plus, as much as I hate it, summer is winding down. Before you know it all those yummy garden vegetables will be gone. We all need to be enjoying them while they last. Soon we'll be eating those wretched tomatoes of winter in the grocery store. Uggghhh! I am hoping to get a watermelon and maybe a cantaloupe too. I hate when summer ends. The only good thing about it is FOOTBALL!!!!! Football is kind of like your little consolation present for summer being over. Here's some football.

Don't give up on me. I'm not. I'm going to lose this 100 pounds. Really. It is a process, and it is difficult to stay focused and change life long bad habits, but it CAN be done.

Eat Your Fruits & Vegetables

Well, I am moving toward healthier eating. I had salad last night--like the skinny people do. Not sure what we're having tonight. I may have salad for lunch today. But, I need to get more fruits and vegetables in. I can tell a HUGE difference when I am eating more fruits and vegetables versus when I am not.

If you think about it, the cave people ate plants and OCCASIONALLY ate meat. There was no refrigerator to store it. I don't know about you, but here at the Hollinsworth House, we are eating meat daily. My husband just cannot understand why anyone would want to be a vegetarian. (I find him very amusing sometimes. Its fun to say "I think we should stop eating meat" just to get a reaction.) I actually HAVE considered becoming a vegetarian, but I know I could never do that. I love steak, and fish, and shellfish, and chicken too much to NEVER eat them.

I do feel differently when I am eating more fruits and vegetables, but it is NOT an automatic thing for me. I have to make a conscious effort to eat more of these good things, and when I DO my body feels better. I can't explain it, but it really does feel better. Its almost like when I am NOT eating fruits and vegetables, my body is never empty--like its always working to digest something when its full of junk. I'm sure it has something to do with the fact fruits and vegetables are full of fiber, thus they travel through your system and exit. Your body has to work hard to digest processed food. I really try to avoid process food, but its not realistic YET for me to say I won't eat ANY processed food. That is my ultimate goal though. (as I sit here eating my Weigh Watchers fake Egg McMuffin) Ultimately I would like to eat no processed food, and everything organic. BUT, I know I'm a long way from that at this point. It is a goal to work toward though.

People Watching

Ok, so I was going to blog last night. Obviously that did not happen. I went with my sister to a consignment sale. Not just ANY consignment sale--Encores and More North. If you are a children's consignment shopper, this sale is a MUST. There was almost an OVERWHELMING amount of stuff. I believe they had approximately 1200 consignors this time. The sale is run by GREAT people, with Christian values. You can get just about anything you would ever want or need, and WAY cheaper than retail. Seriously, I REALLY recommend it to anyone who buys for children.

NOT so seriously, OMG it was some of the BEST people-watching EVER!!!! Do people NOT own mirrors???? Take the woman in the photographs. First, when your legs are fat enough to rub together in such a way that causes your shorts to ride up into your tutu, DON'T WEAR WHITE DAISY DUKES ON YOUR BIG ASS!!!! That's first. Second, its a CHILDREN'S consignment sale--I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOUR TITTIES HANGING OUT THE FRONT OF YOUR SHIRT!!!! Bless your heart. This is NOT attractive. Do you see me wearing shorts??? NO, because nobody wants to see my fat, white, cellulite infested legs. It is JUST not attractive. Capri pants are a big girl's best friend. Ladies, remember this.

As for my "diet status", I have been off the plan this week. Not totally. But, I'm ready. Really. Some things I have done very well this week, and some I have not. Some meals I ate perfectly, but other times I REALLY did badly. I know I cannot have potato chips in my house. They are like crack to me. I can't resist them. I have decided I will only have baked chips in my house. I will eat "real" chips only at social gatherings. It'll be like a treat.

I finally watched the Tony Robbins "Breakthrough" show. Wow. I used to listen to Tony Robbins, and I like him, but I see how the show would NOT appeal to the masses. I think he does good things, but the show just wasn't . . . ummm . . . I don't know what word I'm looking for. I would watch it SOMEtimes, but I don't think it will be topping the ratings chart. I was hoping this would be a show that we could all REALLY get something from. I do, however, recommend his CDs. I very much like his material.

So, I hope you don't think I was mean for what I said about the lady above. You will NEVER see me in shorts. I don't own any. I have capri pants. Walking shorts would be ok--you know, the long ones that come to your fat, little knees. You will NEVER see my knees (until I lose my 100 pounds) unless you see me at a pool. I haven't found a bathing suit that covers my knees yet.

I may start weighing in on Friday mornings. I will definitely start losing again. I'm also going to exercise. Its very important for lifelong health. I'm also going to put more lettuce in my life. I need to get back to having more salads at dinner time. Stay tuned for more weight loss. I promise its coming! Have a great weekend!

Thank you very much for your encouragement. It means a lot to me. Somehow its helpful to know you are not alone in your struggles. I had a pretty good food day. I DID eat Chinese for dinner, but I only ate half. I will eat the other half tomorrow for lunch. Besides, it had broccoli in it, so that makes it healthy, right??? :-))

I HAVE to haul my ass to the Y----soon!!! Record-breaking heat does NOT make me want to exercise (because you KNOW otherwise I'd be there. LOL!!). As for my eating, I have been eating a sandwich for lunch, and instead of chips I have been eating one tomato and one cucumber--fresh from the garden. Delicious! Better enjoy all this fresh produce while we can. Before you know it all the GOOD stuff will be gone, and we'll be back to eating those God-awful tomatoes they sell in the winter at the grocery store. Bad. Bad. Bad.

I taped that new Tony Robbins show "Breakthrough". I haven't watched it yet, but I'm about to. I'm just curious to see if it has anything of value for ME. I almost never buy into any one's motivational "stuff" 100%, but most of the time I can find at least ONE good nugget. I'll let you know if Mr. Robbins had anything for me. Although, it IS 8:00 p.m., and I think the new season of Dark Blue just started. Might have to put Mr. Robbins off 'til tomorrow. :-))

So, how do you like that? I VOWED I would blog EVERY day, and then didn't blog for the next 4 days! I'm AWESOME! See, procrastination is a real issue for me. I absolutely WILL improve though--or die trying.

So, on a diet front, I didn't even bother to weigh this week. I am confident I did not lose weight. This is the part where I normally QUIT the whole "diet" thing. I'm not going to do that this time. I have to get back on track. I have to permanently change the way I eat and the way I think about food. I don't want to be fat and out of shape when I go on vacation. Nor do I want to be old and unable to get around because I didn't take care of myself when I was younger. Its time to get healthy. (Sounds good, right?)

Here's a little insight to how I think. Today has been a pretty good "food day". BUT, exercise has always been my greatest challenge. SO, I need to exercise today, BUT I promised my sister I would tag some stuff for consignment. That's what I will do tonight, and I don't feel like I can spare that 30 minutes to exercise. This is exactly the type of thinking that keeps me from exercising. Remember what I said in the first paragraph??? Procrastination is a real problem for me. They say KNOWING you have a problem is the first step to fixing the problem. So, what's step two? I still want to get Women Food & God. I WILL too, (here comes the procrastination) BUT I have a 644 page "book club" book to read, so I put my personal reading on the back burner. If you watch Biggest Loser you see a lot of contestants who always put themselves last. Maybe I do that. I never really thought I did, but these are two examples of me wanting/needing to do something for myself, and putting my stuff off to do other things. I'm a "people person", and I never want to disappoint anyone. Hmmm. I might be on to something.

Well, the next thing I'm going to be ON is a turkey burger. Dinner is almost ready. Hope you have a great evening.