a weird week

Tuesday/Wednesday my knee was really bothering me, a lot more than it ever has. So, I opted out of going to Tang Soo Do those nights. My cycle started early -- and I use oral contraceptives, which are supposed to help regulate that -- what's up with that?! As you might imagine, I'm always a little leery of wearing my white do bok pants on the earliest days of my cycle. So I opted out of Tang Soo Do on Thursday and Friday as well. Saturday morning, I woke up with the beginnings of a migraine. Took an ibuprofin, went back to bed, thinking my husband would wake me up in time for class. I slept until 1:30pm. I was glad to get the sleep, but I wish I had tried to go to class at least.

My weight has been weird too this week: up two, down two, up two again, every day something different and unexpected. Rather a lot like the weather, actually. I'm sure both will settle down soon.

outside perception

I won a t-shirt at a raffle on Wednesday. When I went to pick it up, the woman at the desk apologized because the smallest size they had was XL.

weekly weigh in - no challenge

week: -1.5
total (since Jan 2007): -54

Tales From the Scales has not announced a new challenge, but the check-in post still comes up every Wednesday.

So here's where I stand. It appears that my winter plateau might be breaking: three of the last four weeks have seen declines, and one week had no change at all. So that's encouraging.

Last weekend was our Tang Soo Do testing. I wasn't perfect, but mostly I was very good (in my own opinion, which counts for beans). I broke the boards (two thin boards, instead one thick one) on the first kick; my partner and I sparred enthusiastically (I have the bruises to prove it). Technically we won't know for two weeks whether we are being promoted, but I'm pretty confident.

Yesterday I had a super-early appointment, so I decided to go to the gym afterwards, since I had a big gap before my next responsibility. The gym itself was fine, not too crowded, but the showers appalled me. I have NEVER been a fan of public showering, all the way back to middle school, but I have tried to get over it for my own good now. But when I saw a roach wing stuck to my foot, that ended my prospects of showering at the gym for good. It's after work or free days only from now own, so I can come home to my own lovely shower.

Look Great in '08 - Wrap Up

week: -1.5
total: -14.5

Losing weight in the winter is hard. There are too many holidays, thus too many parties, thus too much food. Here on the Gulf Coast, that means it starts at Thanksgiving and does not end till after Mardi Gras. But I think my metabolism thinks I'm still a Midwestern girl, and feels like it must hold on to every little calorie to get me through the cold dark days and nights -- even though there were actually a few days in Feb. when we turned on the cold air during the day.

I think I might finally have broken my plateau. The last two days have seen record low weights for me (since I started keeping track). I've been consistent with my exercise (the pressure of testing really helps) and I've gone to bed hungry a few nights this week (cf. Jan's NLNE). Haven't been as good about taking my lunch. There's always something to work on.

I like having the Challenge, and I hope there is another one now that this one is finished. I don't think I really need the challenge for motivation, per se, but I like making the permanent record via these blog posts (I don't think I would have done so without the Challenge, in fact). I like knowing that others are coming here to check on me, and I like reading the other members' posts too.

ups and downs.

Last week was an up week, so this must be a down week. Let me check.

week: -1.5
total: -13

Indeed.

I had to attend a professional conference last weekend. At the reception Friday night, I was literally surrounded by chocolate. Fortunately (?), we had gone out to dinner beforehand, and gotten properly filled up, but that didn't stop me from snacking. There was a plate of strawberries though, which I happily mixed in with the brownies.

It didn't stop, either, since at the conference center there were all sorts of coffee cakes for breakfast, snacks, coffee breaks, etc. I have to admit, I tried one of everything. So good, but so bad. We did Mexican at a local place for lunch, where I got a fish fillet instead of an enchilada, so at least I redeemed myself. And we hit the gym on Sunday, so the weekend was not a total wash.

This week, we have to attend our Tang Soo Do class more reliably than we did last week. Promotion testing is 8 March, and I'm a little nervous that I won't measure up this time.

weigh-in week 21

week: +1.5
total: -11.5

If I am completely brutally honest, I might consider that I've been snacking a fair bit, and I haven't really gone to bed hungry lately. But at least I'm snacking on good stuffs, like apples, cheese, and hummus (not together). I've also fallen off the brown bag bandwagon, so I've either been buying lunch, or forgoing it entirely. I have time today to pack a proper lunch though, so I'll do that in a bit.

We don't really celebrate Valentine's Day here, so that's a load of pressure (in more ways than one) that I don't have to deal with.

surprise! weigh in!

week: -3.5
total: -13

My computer is broken, so I am posting this from husband's.

I am totally shocked by this weight, since this whole weekend has been nothing but a flurry of food frenzy. BIG Mardi Gras party on Saturday, Super Bowl party on Sunday, Fat Tuesday in New Orleans and dinner in a fancy hotel restaurant after the parades. Like so many others, I am unable to account for the good reading on the scale.

I'll just wait and see where I am next week.