Mirror Image

I was in a room with two mirrors at right angles to each other.  If I stood in the right place, it took off 50 pounds.  This was an awesome effect, until I realized it also took out my head entirely!  So here was this delightfully skinny body with no head.

Don't we sometimes (often) lose our heads over our weight?  We go on ridiculous diets, or we fail to enjoy the moment because we are so busy comparing ourselves to the skinny people around us?  I used to be so slim, size 8 slim, and I sometimes waste time and emotion missing those days.

Last week I got to spend time with my lovely, thin siblings.  We even got our picture taken all together.  I admit to a moment of "hiding," putting the slim ones in the front, but for the most part I just enjoyed the moments.  I spent time with some people I love much but don't see often, had a wonderful visit, and have a nice picture as a souvenir.

That's me on the far left.  How did I get so short?  I'm pretty sure they all  have high heels on!  Incidentally, the plane in the background is the kind our dad flew as an Air Force Lieutenant in the 1950's.  We didn't realize this until later, but my husband, our photographer, had put us in front of the b-29 on purpose.

Stinky Fish

At work I am constantly subjected to smells of things I can't eat, but which smell delicious!  Yummy cheesy things...buttery popcorn...bread...pasta...

and they bring treats, nearly all gluten-based, dairy-based, or both--which I am fine with, because I don't expect them to cater to my diet. 

There is a sign in the break room asking us not to cook fish or broccoli because some people don't like the smell. And I can't even argue it, because it's a sales matter if it wafts out and lingers in a public area, no matter how healthy and tasty it is.

I will obey, keeping fish at home and eating nuts or cold tuna if I need protein on the job.  I won't even make a fuss about their cheesy buttery bread smells, though it does seem a bit unfair. Not enough to risk my job over, because I love my job and it's really a great company to work for. So I won't even name the company here, in case anyone has ever heard of it.

Not So Jolly.

I ate a Jolly Rancher today.   You know how they kind of start out sticky and then settle down to being a hard candy?  Well, I put it in my mouth and rolled it gently around, savoring the watermelon flavor, when I realized it had assumed a rather abnormal shape.  I pulled it out and looked at it, and there was a dental crown stuck right in the side of it.

Eating sugar sometimes has unintended consequences.  Now I need a dentist first thing tomorrow.

Got my book

I ordered a brand-new copy of "Walk Away the Pounds".  After I did the last post, I checked the mail and there was my book.  Hurray!  I sat right down, tied on my tennis shoes, and got up and walked.  1 mile down...

Even the wedding isn't motivating me.

My son is getting married in about 12 weeks.  That's just enough time to work through Leslie Sansone's six week program...I do each week twice and then move on.  At least that's what I did last time.  I thought having a deadline would motivate me, but  here it is Friday and I can't seem to make it a priority....


It's not that I think I am going to magically shrink to a size 8 by the wedding...I just thought having a definite date to finish the first phase of the program would get me going. 

Maybe I should get off the computer!

Paying the Price--and Loving It!

Yesterday I went to a church conference with 12-13 year old girls.  They taught them a fun dance that the older kids are doing.  It is kind of like a line dance, just good, clean active fun.  I joined in along with some of the other leaders.

The dance was fun, and mostly not too hard (my head and feet don't always connect to each other) and very active.  It involves a lot of arm movement, and today my arms and neck are feeling it.

Was it worth it?  YES
Would I do it again? YES

If only all exercise could be that fun.

This morning, being Sunday, I went for a nice sedate walk with my husband.

Dinner Adventures Can Fall Flat

Eating out with food sensitivities is an adventure.  We ate at a little mom and pop diner in Fort Madison, Iowa. They can range from wonderful to terrible....from cheap to expensive.

This one had a lot of food for the buck!  Unfortunately, it was terrible food.  They had no gluten-free menu, but assured me there was no barley in the soup, they fry their fries separately, etc.

The reality was that all the food was processed, and likely had gluten in it. Even the steak was braised, not broiled, probably with bouillon....but it was very tender, just flavorless.

We should have walked out. I try not to be too tired and hungry to care.

I have to admit the entertainment was spectacular...a middle aged, loud-spoken truck driver airing his laundry to the public...he was quite amusing.  I quietly entertained my husband by making soft comments about what the guy said.  This cheered me up immensely.

Last time we ate out, there was a couple with a teenage son, giving him the riot act about his grades and his homework.  That was disturbing. Maybe they had the discussion in public so they wouldn't beat him up, with fists at least.  They did it with words instead.

After we left the restaurant, we drove through Burlington, and there was an Appleby's...and a Carlos O'Kelly's...

Next time we will hold out a little longer.