Remember When?

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First, I'm sorry that I haven't blogged in awhile.  Life has been strangely busy so let's jump right in and catch up, shall we?

For a few weeks in September I decided to try the Simply Filling technique from Weight Watchers.  I continued to track, because I'm a little OCD that way, and wasn't going over my DPT but every week I stepped on the scale and I gained weight.

At the end of September I headed to Wisconsin to surprise my dad who was being presented an award from an organization he's worked with for more than 30 years.  I mention this because I considered the road trip a success in the eating realm.  Normally I'd stock up on junk food at the gas stations when I'd stop but this time I went into the trip well prepared with a fully cooler of healthy options.  I ate moderately well at the awards banquet and breakfast/lunch the following day but when I got on the scale it showed I'd gained weight, again.

Felt like I was on top of the world.
Then Barbara made me climb even higher!

I decided that it was time to go back to Tracking.  I knew while doing the Simply Filling technique that I wasn't always listening to my body when it said it was full and I knew that'd be a problem.  I also know that when I'm on the Tracking program that I get X amount of food and then I'm done and I do well with those limitations.  At the same time I started back on Tracking I hit the road again, this time to Idaho.  We drove from my house to outside Victor, ID in about 22 hours.

At the Wyoming border you apparently line up by height.
L-R:  Kim, me, Barbara, Naomi

I tried to make healthy choices during the entire trip and since I was with my friend (and coach) Barbara, there was plenty of working out.  We hiked, and ran (at altitude!!), did some gardening and baking and most importantly we laughed A LOT!  Our friends, Kim & Naomi, flew in on Friday and the laughing, running and hiking continued.  I learned a few things on the road trip out that I decided not to repeat on the way home so I packed food for the trip home.

When I got home I was pleasantly surprised to find that I lost weight -- well, I lost what I gained before I went on the trip!  At least it's progress.

How have you been?  Have you learned any lessons or made any changes?

My thoughts pre-vacation ...

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Dan - AK circa 2007

I've wanted to take this trip for five years.  Literally ever since we were in Alaska the last time.  We've been planning this trip for so long and I know that we will have an amazing time but I'll be very honest with you.  I'm scared shitless.  I know that Alaska has practically an endless supply of seafood (which I love) but I am wondering whether the changes I've made over the past two years will stay with me or fall out of the airplane as soon as we begin our ascent.

Sockeye Trip - 2007

The bears were too cool not to show you! - 2007

I am really hoping that the amount of activity that we have planned for the trip will balance out the eating but I don't know.  I'm trying to figure out what my "goal" for vacation should be.  Maintain?  Gain no more than 5 pounds?  I don't know.  Given the level of activity I've been hitting lately it seems difficult to maintain but knowing that training for the half marathon will begin just 2 short weeks after I return really makes me want to maintain or lose weight.  I'm trying to be realistic though - who loses weight on vacation?  


While I'm gone I've got some fabulous guest bloggers filling in for me.  Abby, Mercedes and Stephanie are amazing friends who have so graciously volunteered to entertain and educate you.  I hope that you'll tune in for those posts and show them lots of love in the comments section.


The other thing you can do while I'm gone (because I knew you were hoping I'd add something to your to-do list!) is to donate to my fundraising campaign for Team Challenge.  Don't know what I'm talking about?  Well, let me tell you why less guts means more glory.  If you don't care and just want to donate, then you can go here.

I'm as confused as everyone else

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The end of January I stopped working out because of franken finger (which has healed nicely and the lack of finger prints will surely lead me to a life of crime now).  Then in the beginning of February the weather was nice, the walking path was mostly clear short of a couple of spots with some snow on them and I was itching to get outside.  The first week of February I logged 16 miles and the second week of February I logged a measly 8 miles, due mostly to some really confusing and intensive homework that needed to be done.  The good news is that I finally understand how to convert a dotted decimal address into binary but that's a whole different subject.  Anyway, when I stepped on the scale today I was shocked.  So was my leader.  The scale said I lost 4.2 pounds.

Um... wha?????  So... ok that was good.  The only thing I can surmise is that the working out takes a week to catch up?  If you have other ideas I'd love to hear them so hit me up in the comments with your thoughts.

Our discussion topic today was how to navigate restaurant menus.  There are obviously words to avoid (tempura, fried, buffalo, etc...) but there were also some really great ideas thrown out during the meeting.  Diane suggested ordering a baked potato with a side of salsa or pico de gallo.  Oh my gosh, doesn't that sound so yumalicious?  I'm totally going to do that next time we go out to eat!  Another idea is when you're ordering breakfast ask for poached eggs and dry toast.  Poached eggs are cooked in water so there's no chance of dumping a cup of oil onto the griddle with them.  Now I want to go out to eat just to use some of the suggestions that were passed along.

So what do you guys do when you eat out?  Do you ask that your food be prepared in a special way?  Do you just wing it and see what happens?