WW Weigh-In #21

 Well, it's weigh-in day again, which brings a nice departure from all my focus on buying a house. Here's what the numbers have to say:

Last week: 184.8 lb
This week: 186.0 lb
Total gained ost this week: 1.2 lb

Weight loss target: 181.8 lb
To reach target: 4.2 lb

I'll admit, I was a little surprised by this. I didn't have the best week, food-wise, but I was thinking a half-pound loss wouldn't be unreasonable. I'm also realizing I need a new plan of attack, as I find myself stuck in the 80s - and not in a fun, John Hughes kind of way.

I've talked before about my happy weight and that maybe I'm nearing that and that's still possible. But I do believe that I can get down to 181.8 lb and that I should get down to there.

(As a reminder, 181.8 lb marks a loss of 10% of my body weight, based on my weight when I started WW. I really want to hit this target.)

It's often believed that it's easier to gain weight in the winter, due to comfort food and such, and to lose weight in the summer, because apparently people only eat salad. I'm sure this holds true for many, many people but it's actually the opposite for me. I find it easier to lose weight in the winter (Christmastime excluded) because I'm more likely to stay in and cook and make good food; I don't go out drinking as much; and it's not too hot outside to have the oven going all the time. In the summer I'm more likely to have a few beers, hit a patio and eat a burger and, the next morning, feel my few beers and need pizza. I hibernate in the winter but by doing so, I'm less likely to eat bad food.

Perhaps I need to pretend it's still January and eat like it's -20C?

Tomorrow's weigh-in

Weigh-in tomorrow could be scary. See, this past weekend the Beau and I got together with his siblings and their partners and we had a fabulous dinner party. And by fabulous I mean artichoke dip with tortilla chips; baked brie with crusty bread; bacon-wrapped, cornbread-stuffed Cornish hens; homemade mushroom risotto; Caesar salad with amazing homemade dressing; and a few bottle of delicious red wine. Understandably we were too full for a chocolate and caramel fondue. Next morning, however, we were able to have eggs Benedict with bacon (two kinds!) and mimosas.

It was a great time and I didn't count points at all on Saturday or Sunday. I got back on track Monday and Tuesday but I'm pretty sure I maxed out all my bonus points (and then some) on Saturday night, so my tracking on Monday and Tuesday won't exactly be accurate. But that's okay. Saturday was such a lovely evening that it was worth burning through too many points. And it's not something I'll be doing every weekend either, so there's nothing wrong with indulging now and then.

Off the hooch

I've decided to stop drinking.  I've done this in the past and enjoyed it when I was on the wagon and I want to do it again.

Why?, you may ask.

In the past, when I've taken a booze break, some people have viewed my decision as a tacit condemnation of their own drinking habits and insisted on me having even just one.  And that's not it at all.  There are three reasons why I'm doing this:

1.  Drinking doesn't make me have more fun 
In fact, the more I drink in one sitting the less likely I am to remember any fun I've had.  I'd much rather be able to recall a deep/hilarious/thoughtful conversation than say, "I was so drunk last night I don't remember a thing!"

2.  I feel like crap the day after and I lose that day
My hours are pretty intense so my weekends mean a lot to me.  When I tie one on, I'm on the couch the next day and pretty much out of commission.  While there's nothing wrong with a day on the couch, I'd rather it be by choice, not necessity.

3.  All those extra calories
Alcohol has calories, which is bad, but the post-drinking hangover food also kills my diet ambitions.  Yesterday I ate eggs with mushroom gravy, a panzerotto, chicken pieces, party mix and Miss Vickie's chips.  Not a stellar diet by any stretch.

Now, you may be noticing that as I talk about my drinking habits I'm pretty much an all-or-nothing girl.  And it's not that I can't stop after one drink.  It's that when I'm in a situation where there are drinks it's the kind of situation where no one stops after one.  So here's where I add a caveat: I will still have a glass of wine with dinner or at a celebration.  But just one.  And only on special occasions.  And, let's face it, we're on the cusp of the season of special occasions.  There will be family dinners, friends' birthdays, New Year's Eve - and I will have a drink to mark these festivities and that's it.

I don't judge other when they imbibe for a night and I won't become judgmental just because I'm not joining in.  But for the reasons listed above, it's the right thing for me to do now.  And I'll toast to that.