Weight Watchers

What a name - Weight Watchers - so is that what we all do? Watch our weight? Well, if you are me the answers is yes. I have been watching my weight go up and up ever so slowly for years now. If I was lucky it would go down - a pound or two - and then go right back up. And to be honest it hasn't gone down in over a year. Time to do something.

Now my daughter Cristy is a dietitian. She has been trying to "teach" me how to eat for years. I have been fighting her - why? - because I love fat. It tastes good. Oh, the thought of an Oreo Ice cream sundae just makes my mouth water - and the seams to my pants scream. So I have finally reached the point where I know I must do something about my eating habits. I love my daughter but she is not always available to answer all my questions about food - so I have joined weight watchers. They teach the same stuff Cris has been trying to get me to do for years only their stuff is easier to look up.

I am amazed how bad my diet really was. I never realized how much I ate out. I hope I can stick to a healthier diet now - for the rest of my life.

Now that is not to say that I haven't splurged now and then. When in D.C. I took everyone to "Uno's" a very good Chicago Pizza Restaurant. I would be safe to say that one piece of pizza was my allotted calories for the day. But I haven't been able to eat at Uno's in years. It was great!!! Well, almost great - wasn't quite what I remembered - but it was still good. I felt lousy that night but it was still good. OK - OK - OK - I have learned that when you splurge you do that small also. But Ice cream is another story.

I have also learned something about myself. I am no longer a young woman who can burn off a pizza just by thinking about exercise - I must actually do it!! Aging is just cruel. I used to be able to do so much - now.... well, to give an example. Last week my Father bought 2 and half yards of top soil. For those of you who don't know - a yard of soil is two scoops of soil with a front loader (tractor) . So Dad had the dirt dropped on my front lawn since most of that dirt was for my front yard. That meant that Dad and I had to shovel the dirt into a wheel barrow and then wheel the dirt to the place in the yard we wanted it and dump it. IN 85 DEGREE WEATHER. Not that that made a difference. My Father is 84 years old and he worked circles around me. I kept coming up with excuses - "Dad - time to drink some water" "Dad - let me barrow that rake for a second" "Dad - I'm going to die now, just put the rest of that dirt on top of me"

So, I'm trying to ride my bike again - the weather is co-operating and I've been going out at least 4 times a week. Mandy and I are walking too - when it isn't so hot. Matt and I walk on the week-ends also. I'm getting off the couch.

Oh - just in case you where wondering I have lost 9 pounds so far. Nothing to sneeze at but it is a start. Matt is doing this with me and yes he has lost more than me. Maybe by Christmas we won't mind the kids posting pictures of us on their blogs.

Wish us luck!!!