THE GOOD NEWS AND THE BAD NEWS

16 July 2003

Well, the good news is that I didn't gain any weight this week.

The bad news is that I didn't lose any weight this week. I didn't even vary by so much as an ounce.

But I take this as more good news than bad, considering that it's been two weeks since my last weigh in ("Bless me, Leader, I might have sinned a little--it's been two weeks since my last weigh-in..." [Catholics will understand that])

In the past two weeks, we've spent several days in Santa Barbara at the huge barbecue and most meals out in restaurants, we've had several other meals in restaurants, I've been in a house filled with ripening avocados, which I've tried to dole out judiciously. I've alternated between taking this thing very seriously and getting so frustrated with inactivity that only peanutbutter would solve the frustration.

So the fact that I've stayed the same is pretty good.

You know, when you're pregnant, it seems that suddenly everybody you meet is pregnant. When you've dislocated your shoulder, suddenly everybody you meet either has a similar story or knows somebody with a similar story.

And, fortunately, when you are at a static point in weight loss, you are not alone either.

So it was fortuitous that I read Bozoette's latest journal entry. She and I seem to have so much in common (though she's farther along the line than I am). And it's encouraging to see her struggling too--and having made the same resolve, for the umpteenth time, as I have.

I had a wakeup call a few days ago as I contemplated how many more days it is until I leave for Australia (57, but who's counting?) and thought about the clothes I bought weeks/months ago for the trip. At the time some of them were "snug-but-they'll-fit-by-September" purchases. Well,  here it is July and September is spittin' distance and it's time to realize that I could be faced with having to pack the old ratty clothes for the trip if I don't stop being blasé about this eating thing.

Yesterday was a great day. I didn't starve, but I ate really low points all day and was pretty good with my nibbles at the restaurant last night (I didn't pass up anything, but I also didn't order heavily sauced dishes, nor did I have dessert when half the group around me did--or ask for a taste of the cheesecake that was just a fork's distance away from me). I also was very good about drinking water.

I've fallen off on my water consumption lately. I'm generally a big water drinker, but you know, it's such a pain going to the bathroom when you can only use one hand--such a comedy of errors taking clothes on and off for bodily functions--that I haven't pushed water like I should be doing.

But I'm pushing water again. For one thing, I've decided to forego fashion and just dress in the loosest thing I own which is easy to get on and off. Thus I'm wearing loud hawaiian print shorts made by Omar the Tentmaker, and a mismatched checkered print shirt, which is the largest one I own.

I did kind of smile a bit as I sat next to the gay man who comes to the WeightWatchers meetings, wondering what he, fashion plate that he seems to be, thought of my get-up, but what the heck--it makes it less like aerobic exercise to make a trip to the loo, and I hardly leave the house anyway, so who cares?

I have a goal in mind for the next 57 days. I want to lose 10 more lbs before I leave. I think that's do-able. It's a bit difficult without adding exercise, but my knee is getting significantly better every day and I really think that by the end of the week I'll be feeling comfortable enough that I can start putting in some serious miles on the exercise bike--or at least starting to get the hang of riding one handed in my family room.

So my aim is to continue eating at the low end of my point range, drink more water, and, as soon as possible, start adding back exercise. I probaby should have been working out one-handed with the 3 pound weights that we have--something I can do sitting down--which at least adds some sort of exercise, but I haven't yet.

But my mind is made up: 10 lbs in 57 days (more would be lovely). I want the see-saw up and down 1-2 lbs to stop today. Today was a plateau. Next week will be the start of another steady downward trend.