A letter to my doctor

As my regular doctor was out on maternity leave (very happy for her btw) I was left in the hands of the other doctor in the practice for my yearly check up.  At this appointment, I wanted to address my concerns that I am having difficulty losing weight even though I am actively working to do so.

Dear Dr. ______

I came in for my yearly physical exam this week and during the 15 minutes you spent with me I was able to bring up my concerns regarding weight loss.  I explained that I am currently at my heaviest weight ever and I can't seem to get the scale to budge.  I came to you for help.  I am aware of all the crazy diet pills and tricks and scams out there in the world, but I wanted your professional advice.

What I got from you was overwhelming negativity.  You opted to hand me a prescription only after telling me that I needed to be serious about losing weight.  You told me that I needed to diet (and only gave me suggestions to which diets I should look too after I asked you to be more specific).  You told me that you would not prescribe this to me again if it did not appear that I was taking my weight loss seriously....and based on your judgmental tone and scowl I doubt you think I do.

All in all I felt like a complete and total failure before I even got the prescription filled.  I now have 4 days to even get this prescription filled before it becomes void.  I did not come to you, a doctor, for sympathetic hand holding or a miracle drug.  I came for medical advice, suggestions from an actual doctor on the best way for me to lose weight and your professional opinion on how to proceed.  I feel that I got none of that in the short amount of time you set aside for me.

I am currently considering going to one of those diet doctors that advertise in the city's monthly coupon book...they seem nice and hopefully will have a few additional minutes to spend with me regarding my weight problem.

Sincerly,
I dislike your doctoring very much

Points for me...or the day I joined Weight Watchers

My jeans don't fit.  Not even my stretchy pair...it's very sad.  I do not want to mourn the loss of these jeans just yet so I suppose I need to do something on my end.

My main problem area is my belly pooch...and I would also like to go back to just one chin in my pictures.  My arms could def be more toned...however I have seen pics of the ladies on both sides of my family tree and have kind of accepted my jiggly arm fate.

I signed up for Weight Watchers today.  It has been successful for a couple of my friends and also was recommended by my doctor a while back.  I had resisted the idea, thinking that I couldn't/wouldn't work on a diet. What made me all of a sudden change my mind?  I stepped on a scale at the gym and realized I was at my all time heaviest.

It's still very new to me.  I signed up online for a three month period.  I've tracked my food today but am currently finding myself guesstimating the amounts.  My big success of day 1 was choosing the vinagrette over the french dressing with my salad.  Yay me!

And so it begins...

Anyone out there been on Weight Watchers before? Any tips are appreciated.

Cheers all

it works!...does it? kind of.

A friend started selling body wraps...and although being skeptical I'm also someone who would love to lose inches around by belly instantly.  I know I'm not alone, otherwise a company like "It Works" wouldn't exist.  Company wise...I'd call them questionable.  They want everyone to be a part of their "Loyal Customer" program which means you get the product delivered monthly for a discount.  Or you can opt to sell their product...I chose neither of those options, so I paid more. Whatev.

I've used the product three times now, and for a couple of days after I do see a small difference in how my jeans fit.  The product says you can use the wrap every three days.  I've used it once a week (I like to put it on after a workout night and then sleep in it).  In the morning I take a quick shower, because while the scent of the wrap isn't terrible, it's not beautiful either.  I feel like for the next couple of days my clothes do fit better. Realistically, I know that this quick fix is not doing anything real...but it might be just the thing to use before a big event...or a day at the beach.

It feels a bit cold at first, and throughout wearing it does get a bit tingly. You simply open the package, place it where you'd like to lose the inches (tummy, arm, thighs) and wrap some plastic wrap over it.  It is recommended you wear it for at least 45 minutes, like I said I wear it overnight.

**This is totally a use at your own risk type of product. Be careful of possible allergies, probably not a good idea on sensitive skin.  The wraps run about $25 a pop, be sure you try it first before you sign up for any of the discounts.**

Thoughts? Comments? Questions?  I'd love to hear from you!

best of intentions...worst follow throughs

Eat right

Drink lots of water

Exercise regularly

What is right?  I recently found out from my doctor that my cholesterol is high.  I had already spoken to her about my struggle with my weight.  I put on 20 pounds in the last year...basically I gained my dog.  Now I'm working to rid myself of some of the extra poundage and get back in shape...or more accurately I'm working on getting the motivation.  I struggle with the motivation, it's much easier to complain about the weight not disappearing like magic. 

Willpower (or shall I say, lack thereof) is my biggest enemy at this point in time. I can get through most of my day just fine and on track...but something snaps at night and I get all munchy...and it doesn't seem to matter on what (candy, toast, cereal, table leg).  Then there is the exercise, oh the exercise.  I want to get it in...I just don't want to do it...does that make sense to anyone out there?  Like I have every best intention then all of a sudden it's time for bed and I'm all like, oops! wait...I was supposed to work out today.  Then I set the alarm for early the next day so I can do it first thing, then when first thing comes...I hit snooze.


As we all begin another week, I wish all of you out there the best with whatever you may have going on...oh, and Happy Coachella (Weekend One!)!!!

pretty booked up (my book pile)

Someone suggested that I start reading the Game of Thrones series, and offered to let me borrow their set...then I looked around and realized that my current TBR (to be read) pile is growing at an alarming rate...

Right now I'm reading:

"On Hitler's Mountain", by Irmgard A. Hunt.

A little German girl growing up during World War II.  As a small child she really only knows about war and nazis from what she hears from the adults around her.  It' an interesting perspective.

"The Skinny", by Melissa Clark and Robin Aronson

Basically, a diet book that talks about how to eat instead of what.  Rather than telling you how much kale and tofu to eat, it talks about eating what you want (in moderation of course).

 "How to Master the Art of Selling", by Tom Hopkins

I understand that selling and retail will most likely be a large part of my       occupation (once I find a job again).  So in an effort to be a better salesperson, I picked this up.

It's pretty much just what it says. I'm still not quite sure what I think about it.

"Hope in a Jar, The Making of America's Beauty Culture" by Kathy Peiss

Another beauty history book, this has a focus on products and how makeup went from being forbidden (only daring women and prostitutes dared to wear in public) to being something we can use everyday.

Have you read anything interesting lately? What's next on your list?

getting pretty sweaty...as seen on TV

So after my recent struggle with my pants, and with the super evil "bodyshapers"...I opted to to try "The Belly Burner" (as seen on TV!!) Now, admittedly I seem to somehow have missed their infomercials in between all the ones for Insanity and the Brazilian Butt Lift.  I went online and Googled "weight loss belt" this one had decent reviews and I had a 20% off coupon for Bed, Bath & Beyond...so there you go.

Oh my! The good ole days.

I've been to the gym twice with it on now (as discreetly as possible beneath my top).  It does really seem to heat up the area around my belly.  I can feel the sweat starting to form as I hit about 7 minutes on the elliptical.  It for sure heats up my core temperature (or feels like it anyway).  There doesn't appear to offer too much info on how it works, just basically that "The special Neoprene cell fabric creates a sauna around your mid-section, melting inches off your waist." (From The Belly Burner box).  I assume that I'm just losing water weight...but I'm at the point where an inch is an inch (not that I've measured inches, I'm just hoping my pants will fit better soon).  My two trips were a little spread out (a Friday and Monday)...so, I'm going to give it a little more time.  It doesn't bother me to wear it to the gym; however there were several reviews on Amazon saying that the belt stained their gym shirts (I just wear dark shirts with it anyway because it would show through a light shirt and I'm self conscious about that).

My heart goes out to anyone out there fighting with their pants!! (My pants are so not invited to the pants party!) heehee ;)

not a pretty sight (or my dressing room ordeal with spanx)

Around mid-April I began noticing that my pants were fitting a little more snugly...fast forward to now where my "just in case the weight comes back" jeans don't fit.  I refuse to buy new jeans.

I've been hitting the gym at a pretty frequent rate for the last couple of weeks.  I've upped my veggie/fruit intake. I've cut out soda. I'm not adding salt. I'm watching my portion size. I decided to go to Spanx or other such brand for help (it's not like I'm in any position to be picky).

I went to Target, because I figured there's no one lurking around wanting to help me...(cause let's be honest no one really wants to help someone look for tummy hiding undies).  I opted for two types, an undie that offered superior support and a camisole that boasted it's "tummy tucking" skills.  I reached the dressing room with five of the items in assorted sizes.  Then it began.  I wiggled, and jumped and who knows what else to get myself squeezed in.  The underwear style worked at getting my jeans to fit, I'll give them that.  So I put my top on over to see the overall look.  Below my bra area and above the (crazy high) panty line was all the jiggle that was missing from my tummy. That was not going to work. I moved on to the camisole, which may have worked, had I been able to somehow get it on...but it just kind stuck around my shoulders.

I went back to the body shaper section. I grabbed two pairs of those super long shorts, that cover from below your bra to over your thighs. Getting into them was still not pretty, but I made it.  I tried the overall look again...well hello back fat, I don't believe we've met...I sighed.  I didn't sit down to ponder (I had images of splitting the seams and having to run from Target never to return again).

After working myself out of the tummy/thigh control shorts fiasco, I quietly put my items on the "no thank you" rack and handed over my number card thingy without making any more eye contact than necessary and fled the store.

Hello sweatpants, I'm home.