Week 6.5 Update!

Okay, it's been a little busy recently -- my folks are out of town, so I've been pet-sitting for them, trying to keep up with all the critters (3 dogs, 2 cats, 2 snakes, 2 lizards, a turtle & a fish), and wasn't able to make my usual Tuesday meeting at Jenny Craig, but I made it in yesterday.

Due to the wacky schedule I've been keeping as of late, I have strayed from my meal plan -- although I've tried to balance my splurges by downsizing other meals and upsizing my activity level, but I was still worried & decided to cross my fingers for a 1 pound loss. So I stepped on the scale . . .

. . . and I couldn't believe it. 5.4 pounds! My consultant was amazed -- so was I! Whoo hoo! 16.8 pounds total, and I'm about 6 pounds from my halfway mark -- YAY!

As a reward, I'm taking myself out next weekend to buy a new outfit (aleady had to buy new bras) to wear when I go to Wisconsin for a friend's wedding. I can see it now: "Hi there, haven't seen you in over a year, yeah, I cut my hair off & dropped almost 20 pounds, how have you been?" Whoo hoo!

Me, last time anyone from school saw me!

Antidotes for Boredom

While browsing the blog-world this afternoon, waiting ever-so-impatiently for 4:00 to come, I found the following interesting sites. Enjoy!

What Dog Breed Are You? found on Nerd Werd

More disturbing was this, found on Quality Crash Tests.

Curse You J. K. Rowling!!! (okay, not really)

I got my copy of HP And The Half-Blood Prince last Sunday (7/17) and because I knew that once I started I'd be unable to turn back, used every last ounce of willpower to leave it closed until this Saturday. Good thing, too, because I read the whole darn thing, cover to cover.

Oh the betrayal! The anguish! How could [that one character] kill [that other character]? Or, was it just a cleverly planned & unavoidable-albeit-tragic-self-sacrifice?

Please, PLEASE JK Rowling, (and here I'm going to share what an utter HP fanatic I am), "accio laptop" and get typing! I need that last book!

On that note, check out this awesome website, Mugglenet.com, created & maintained by one of the few lucky enough to actually get an INTERVIEW with JK.

The Patriarchy Strikes Again

Okay -- it's Saturday, I'm at work, and just about NOTHING is happening. In an attempt to stay up-to-date on current events (even if they do mention him), I browse around msnbc.com, where I noticed the exciting headline "Weight gain in girls blamed on drop in exercise".

No kidding, really?

But here's what really got me: in a age where women and girls are sharing tips on how to maintain an anorexic or bulemic lifestyle (especially without your parents knowing, because they might actually CARE about your health!), this article ticks me off.

I know the authors, publishers, et al. mean well, but come on, people -- what about weight gain in boys? You can't tell me that all of the 9 million young people in the United States who are considered overweight are female -- that's not even probable!

This ticks me off, and I felt the need to share.

Anyone reading some of my previous posts will know that I've recently started to make some healthy changes in my life -- more exercise, better eating habits -- so it's not like I'm suggesting that obesity isn't a problem -- but please, people, couldn't we have broadened the study in question to include youngsters with Y chromosomes?

While I'm on that, a new article suggests that "U.S. children [are] healthier than ever, report finds" -- and here's a line they use to support that: "'The overwhelming majority of children — about 83 percent — are reported by their parents to be in very good or excellent health,' Dr. Edward Sondik, Director of the National Center for Health Statistics, told a teleconference with reporters.

Well duh! How many parents have we seen that are in denial over their child's health problem? Anybody else remember the "My 2-year old weighs 70 pounds but I let him eat anything he wants" parents from various daytime talk shows? Even if you don't, I assure you, they were there -- and their children were obese.

Thumbs-down for scientific studies that rely on qualitative surveys.

However, there is hope. Check out "this article" about how Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products are joining the quest to help kids eat better. Heck, we use TV characters to promote food that's not-so-good for us, it had ought to work the other way, right?

Thumbs up for Nickelodeon!

Week 5 Update!

I had my weekly check-in with my Jenny Craig consultant, and in the last week I've lost . . . drumroll please . . . 2.4 pounds! Whoo hoo! That means not only have I surpassed the 10-pound-loss mark (11.4 to be exact), but I am also BELOW 170 for the first time in a year! I had to share!

I Got Tagged

Dammit -- thanks to J, I have been officially tagged with a meme. I am elated, because it gives me something to do (other than work) while I am at work on this lovely Saturday morning at seven-freakin-ten in the morning. Here I go . . .

The Meme: What ten events would you care to witness if you could travel in time and observe them.

In no particular order, I present to you my choices...

10. The creation of the universe, however it happened
9. The beginning of life, again, however it happened
8. The Gettysburg address
7. MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech
6. The event that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs
5. The building of "the heads" at Easter Island
4. The building & subsequent rhinoplasty of the Sphinx
3. The last performance of all four Beatles
2. The 2nd Continental Congress & subsequent signing of the Declaration of Independence
1. Gandhi's civil disobedience campaign against the British in India

Yep, I think that's it. Let me know what you think!

Week 4 Update!

Okay, after four weeks on the Jenny Craig program, I'm down 9 lbs. (last week I was off work & didn't stick with my plan, so no loss -- but no gain either!) I've also lost a little over 6 inches -- 2 from my chest (YAY!), 2 from my waist, and another 2-ish from my hips & abdomen. My clothes fit better and/or are starting to get loose -- my JC consultant said pretty soon, I'd be brainstorming ways to shrink all my clothes! This week, I'm refocusing on sticking to my planned menu & hitting the gym at least 3 times, plus I have a zoo overnight -- which means an evening of hiking around the park! More updates to come.....

Week Three Update!

Well, after three weeks on the Jenny Craig program, I have lost . . . drumroll please . . . 9 pounds! Yay! This is my first victory on my journey to better health, because it is my 5% mark! It turns out that losing just 5% of your body weight can lower your risk of all kinds of health problems, including diabetes & heart disease. Check out this article on webmd.com for more info. Yes, ladies & gentlemen, I am 0.2 pounds away from breaking the 170lb mark, which I expect to do next week! I feel better, I have more energy, and my clothes fit better -- whoo hoo!

Just thought I'd let you know -- more updates to follow!