Hmmmmmm...........

Well, it's been almost 3 weeks.  I haven't weighed myself and don't plan on it.  Been trying to figure out some way to check my weight loss (if any).  My clothes don't feel as tight and I'm sticking to the "diet" fairly close.  I'm not watching my carbs, but my sugars.  I try and eat only a things that have 3-4 grams of sugar per serving (or less).  I have learned doing this that I need to watch how many nuts I eat because even tho they have no sugars, they are extremely high in fat.  Now, it's "good" fat, not "bad fat", but it's still fat and I don't want to add anymore of that to my body.  I have had no bread in three weeks, no flour tortillas, only a few chips (I'm a sucker for chips and salsa), 2 pieces of chocolate cake (my daughter's birthday - but the 2 pieces were spread days apart).  Anyway, when I do eat something with lots of sugars, I'm controlling how much I eat.  This has changed a lot from what I used to do before.  I am become more aware of what I put in my mouth.  I use Splenda for my tea (which I drink almost all the time) and I've noticed I am using less of it.  I am realizing that my "sweet tooth" is shrinking.  I am not craving sugar or sweets like I used to. 

I have found a couple of recipes that really appeal to me.  Breakfast is a really hard thing for me.  I've never been a breakfast eater, but in January, I started cooking breakfast for my daughter before school.  I finally found an spinach omelette recipe that I liked.  Lunch is much easier as is dinner.  I made red chile meat this morning.  It should be really good tomrrow for breakfast. 

Lunch has been chicken salad (recipe on my blog), salads, hamburger patties and beans. 

Dinner has consisted of broccoli, salmon, shrimp, anything that doesn't have any flour products or sugar. 

It's been an interesting journey so far.  I have come to realize that I am not as tired as I was.  My body feels so much better.  I feel like I have a lot more energy.

So, what am I going to use as a way to judge my progress.  I'm thinking I'll use my wedding band to see if I can get it to fit my figure eventually. 

March on.....

A New Journey - losing weight one Sugar gm at a time

17 Years ago I gave birth to our daughter.  Since that time, I have yet to get rid of the excess weight I gained.  It's now time to try and get rid of it.  My first concern is the possibility of having diabetes.  No, I haven't been tested, but if you looked at my dad's side of the family, it's rampant.  My Mom's side, none.  I know that most things run from the Mom's side, but I just don't want to take that chance.  So, I decided 2 weeks ago to try and lose some weight. 

I think the biggest problem for me has been "hitting the wall".  You (or at least I) have to finally reach a point where enough is enough.  You are miserable in your clothes, refuse to buy a bigger size, don't want to look in the mirror and don't want anyone (especially your hubby) looking at you because you feel like you're bigger than your house.  The last one I know is not true, but at a certain time of the month, it sure can feel that way :-)

I have tried diet centers, weight loss clubs, gyms, walking, the Wii, the treadmill, my exercise machine, all to no avail.  I tried last October to lose weight.  I actually did it.  I tried eating 1500 calories a day.  I counted EVERYTHING that went into my mouth.  Do you know how tiring that is?  How frustrating it is to keep it at 1500 and not go over?  I hate living by my weight.  I want to go out and buy a size 8 pair of pants again.  I want to buy a Lg. shirt instead of an XL (which won't ever happen because I have really broad shoulders, but it's nice to dream).  I want to be able to wear my wedding bad.  I haven't worn it since I had my daughter all those years ago.  It sits in my drawer, very sad. 

In October I lost about 20 pounds, but then the holidays came and that counting calories went right out the window.  I welcomed all those lovely carbs into my life with open arms and an open mouth. 

Now, I'm not obsessed with food, but I do like it.  I love to cook and bake and share my goodies with my friends and family.  Thankfully, regretably, my husband only likes white cake with white icing, Snickers and peanut M&M's.  Oh, and cinnamon rolls, but I don't make them too often - they're a lot of work.  So, there normally isn't baked goods laying around my house.  There are however, chips and salsa and candy, lots of candy.

I don't own a scale -  I haven't in years.  I threw the thing out because I went to a diet place that had you weigh in EVERY DAY!!  Do you know how much your life ends up revovling around that darn thing?  I decided enough was enough and tossed it.  I now gauge by the size clothes I wear and in the scheme of things, I'm not doing bad.  I still wear the same size and have for the past 17 years or so.  The problem is, that is not where I want to be. 

So, where to begin.  Well, I have two dear friends who both have diabetes.  One of them lost a lot of weight by watching her sugars (not sugar, sugars).  She has been an encouragement to me and my other friend to finally jump in with both feet and get started to what I hope will be a successful endeavor.  This is a record of my journey.  It may be a short journey and total car wreck, but I'm going to give this my best shot and I'm bringing you along for the ride.  Hold on, it'll probably get bumpy.

Shawl We Knit?

 I am a new knitter by most standards (going on 4 years) and I'm pretty much self taught.  I took a few classes at our LYS until it went out of business, so I got most of my basics, but the rest comes from trial and error, YouTube, friends, websites and magazines. I recently learned that I am a "thrower" when it comes to knitting.  I never knew how I knit has a name to it.  What's really funny is I learned to crochet when I was very young.  My Nona taught me "by copy".  She had a 2nd grade education (via Italy) and couldn't read or write.  So, when she taught me, she crocheted a block and then I would tear it apart and crochet it back.   I still have my many samples to refer back to.  But I digress.  When I crochet, I hold my yarn in my left hand and the hook in my right (not correctly either.  My mom used to say you hold it like a pencil.  I hold mine with almost a death grip, but not nearly as tight).  When I knit, I hold my yarn in my right hand and "throw" the yarn around the needle.  When I decided to take up kntting (right after my mom passed), I decided to do it right and take classes, thus the few that I took at our local store.  Since then, I've ventured out and tried socks (too big but I'm not giving up - they're on my "to do" list), hats and scarves (TONS of both), shrugs, dischlothes, and now..........shawls.  I am fascinated by knitted shawls.  And not just any knitted shawls, but lacy ones.  I'm not up to the "super fancy" shawls, but lacy ones, nonetheless. 

These past few months I have paired up with a friend of mine (Hi Rachael!) to knit a couple of shawls.  We are quickly realizing that there are more shawls that we want to knit than time.  I guess if I had to narrow what I like down about certain shawls, it would have to be easy to follow directions, stunning yet simple designs, the size of the needles and how quickly I can accomplish or finish them.  That being said, here is a list of what I am working on, have worked on and what I want to work on.  Maybe you might enjoy a few of them as well.  I am constantly on the lookout for patterns and I'm sure my list will continue to grow, but at least I can keep my wish list all in one spot.  Now, if I could only decide on the yarn to use for each one of them.....but that's a whole 'nother post.

http://knittingasfastasican.com/forest-canopy-shoulder-shawl/     (This was my very first one and I've made it at least 3 more times)

http://www.tuecherrausch.de/download/Die-WollLust-Wabenschal.pdf  (Ok, this isn't officially a shawl, but it's still lacey and I loved making it - I've made it at least two times)

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEss10/PATTannis.php  (I just got done with this one and have yet to block it - I learned a lot with this pattern - especially how to CAST ON 363, YES, 363 stitches).  I plan on doing it again very soon. 
http://feministy.com/saroyan/  (Love this pattern so much I've made it 4 times)

My future plans:

http://stickfrossa.blogspot.com/2008/09/sjalmnster-annas-shawl.html

http://www.loopknitlounge.com/2010/05/loving-my-old-maiden-aunt/

http://www.zenyarngarden.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=938

http://stickchicky.blogspot.com/2008/06/waltz.html

http://www.missbabs.com/store-detail.php?cat=89&ID=8

There are more, but this is a start.  Maybe you'll enjoy a few of the ones I listed.  Now, any yarn suggestions?