AmyM's Quest for a Better Bikini Body!

[lovinaz]

I can't believe I didn't get to the gym today. I am just not mentally back into the exercise routine I guess. I got off work a little late, but had all intentions of going. Next thing I knew I pulled into my driveway. I am going to Germany next week, BY MYSELF. I am really not looking forward to that! Not to mention I leave Sunday and come back Thursday. My poor body isn't going to know what continent it is on! This will be my 4th international trip in 2 months. 2 for work, 2 for pleasure... (where is the dying from exhaustion smilie?)

At least I did awesome with my eating today. The only indulgence I had was 1 bite of DS's pumpkin pie and I made my own "pie" with pumpkin, Stevia and cinnamon with a little bit of whipped cream.

I also had to interview for my job today! Remember when I took this new job it was supposed to come with a promotion? Well, my boss found out that it is quicker and easier to post a job at the next higher level than to actually go through the promotion process. So he posted the job, I applied, and interviewed for it. Gee, I hope I get it... I can't wait to see how much my raise will be!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Amy, I remember when Buckley was a cute little puppy. Now he's a giant pain in the butt, but only when the kids are around. I am still hoping he grows out of the spaz phase! I learned to love apple strudel and German wine last time I was there. And I am meeting a bunch of Brits, and you know they like to party!! I hope it will be fun and that I am able to get to my hotel in one piece (I am taking a taxi, there is no way I'm driving!)

Marie, it's been a while since my pants have been this tight. I hate the feeling! And how do I prove it - by skipping the gym today...

 

[CACruisin']

Hang in there. You are so dedicated that once the holidays are over, you are going to get right back on track. Great job with making your own pumpkin pie too.

Have fun in Germany. Hey maybe with all the FF miles you can all fly first class to WDW next year. Work travel is not nearly as glamorous as one would think, but at least you'll have fun with the Brits!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Amy, don't worry that gym will be right where you left it! This time of year its just plain hard to workout. The impending trip and still getting back into the swing of things after your cruise, all mixed up with the holidays makes for some craziness! And remember, food is the bigger part of the equation so celebrate your good food day because that really counts for a lot.

How much does Buckley weigh? He looks like a nice, big, beagle! He looks just like my mom's old Beagle, Barney (ever notice how most beagles have "b" names?). Benjamin is sick again, I am just not sure what to do. Its gettig to the point that I just don't know how much quality of life he has left, but I love that dog so much I can't bear to let him go. I'll swear I am not getting another one!

 

[traceycooper]

Hi Amy,
boy you are busy! Hope the 'talk' with DS went well
Have a great trip to Germany & dont worry about the gym you dont want to burn yourself out!
Keeping my fingers crossed for your promotion & a great big pay rise

 

[lovinaz]

I did great again with my eating yesterday. Had to work late (again) but I wasn't planning to get to the gym anyway since DD had tap. I stopped by the library to pick up the South Beach Diet book. It's not much different than what the ND told me (except the first 2 weeks part). I haven't decided if I will actually do the Phase 1, Phase 2 is pretty much what the ND recommended. Decisions, decisions... I do know that I am not going to attempt anything dramatic while in Germany. There I will just watch my portions, lay off the desserts and do the best I can. I need to get to the gym today. I have all my stuff ready to go. I just need to make it happen!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anna, unfortunately I can't wait until after the holidays, all my pants are too tight! I am hoping that this week of good eating will at least get me back to "snug" status before I leave... The FF miles are the only thing that is keeping me focused on the positive at this time! You are right, I will probably have enough for 2 coach tickets to Orlando after this trip.

Amy, I think Buckley is around 25lbs. That would be hard to deal with a sick dog, especially since he's been a part of your family for so long. But I think you should get another one, remember how adorable Benjamin was when he was a little one?

Tracey, I should find out within the next week or so how much my raise is. Yippee!!!!!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Amy, great job with the proper eating. That South Beach Phase I is tough but it can be done. Even though I dont really do the diet per se anymore, I still use a lot of what I did in Phase II today. That part is really just like you say, the same sensible plan your ND told you about. Phase I might be good to kick start you after the holidays and Germany are behind you. Even if you only did it for a few days before going right to the next phase. Keep up the good eating!

Benjamin was about 18 pounds in his day, today when I took him for his final visit he was probably more like about 13-15. My mom had a beagle that was in the high 30's he was huge! So Buckely isn't realy that big, I have just forgotten what healthy, young beagle looks like I guess. Give him a big hug from me, I love those dogs, pita that they are.

 

[toystoryduo]

Hi Amy,

Your dog is soooo cute! I told my DH that I want my next dog to be a Beagle.

I did SBD for a couple of weeks and phase one is kind of strict.... I did lose over 6 pounds in those two weeks, but I am a carb addict and fell off of the SBD wagon quite easily.

I hope you have a great trip to Germany!

 

[traceycooper]

Well done on a great food day
I'm sure those pants will feel looser soon

 

[lovinaz]

I have been so swamped lately at work! I can't keep up with everything and it is really stressing me out. I was so frazzled today that I had to ask a co-worker what number to dial on my cell phone to get my voicemail. I thought and thought and couldn't for the life of me remember! I need to calm down, take a deep breath and get over it...

I did great yesterday with the exception of a cinnamon raisin bagel w/LF honey almond cream cheese and 1/2 of a frozen cookie ball. I was very proud of myself for putting the other 1/2 of the cookie back into the container. I just mindlessly ate it, which I am trying to get out of the habit of doing. Today I had a piece of apple struesel that was awesome (a lady in my first meeting made it, I was obligated to have a piece ). But I resisted pastries at my other meeting, so that was an accomplishment!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Amy, I haven't decided about South Beach yet. I probably won't do it, I'll just do what the ND told me (I know that works, I just have to stick with it!). We'll see how I feel about it when I get back from Germany. I gave Buckley an extra hug for you. He is so funny, he just sits there and lets you hug and kiss him on the head and face. He stays completely still...

Tracy, thanks! I think my dog's cuteness is the only reason I haven't gone insane with his antics! I am also a carb addict although I am fine living on 2-3 servings per day.

Tracey, my pants are finally back to "snug" instead of "tight". This is a good thing! Hopefully I can maintain that during my trip.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Amy, sounds like the little bit of splurging you did was on stuff worth spluring for! No way can you turn down someone's streudel, that would not be nice, you had to eat some! Benjamin always let me hug and kiss him. Beagles are just really affectionate dogs. I should know, Ben was my fourth! Give Buckley some more hugs from me, it sounds like he doesn't mind too much. If doing the plan the ND gave you works than stick with that. SB is about the same thing but if you are like me just being on some new "diet" can backfire and stress you out. Speaking of stress, hope tomorrow is better in that area. Thanks for your support with my beagle woes

 

[toystoryduo]

Hi Amy,

I hope things settle down for you at work soon....

Have a great weekend!

 

[lovinaz]

Weigh in this morning was 140. I actually lost a pound! Of course I am still out of my comfort zone and I would REALLY like to lose a couple more lbs by the end of the year. Getting to 137 or less by Dec 25 would be the ultimate Christmas present, but with traveling it might be tough. I'll do my best! In addition to the apple streudel at my meeting yesterday, I had 1.5 cookies. Again, in the past I would have had 3-4 cookies, so I am making some progress! I doubt I will get to the gym today, we are going to put up the Christmas tree. We'll see, I have all my stuff in the car, but I'm not planning on it. I think mentally I am just prepared to wait until I get back from Germany to get back into it. I believe I will sign up for the Dec Exercise Challenge, I obviously need the motivation. I need to seriously think of how many minutes to shoot for...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Amy, the kids had a book about dogs and it said the sweetest dogs were beagles. I had to zap Buckley this morning - he attacked a pillow off the couch (again). I did the actual zap instead of the warning beep (which usually gets his attention) because I really want him to stop doing that! It's only on Level 3, but I still feel so bad when I do it... You are right about the new diet, I would be stressing out about it if I messed up. I think I will stick with the plan the ND gave me. I know it works and it is pretty easy to stick to (except in Germany...)

 

[CACruisin']

Congrats on the loss . Sorry work is so crazy right now. Good plan to not stress too much about the gym until after Germany. There are only so many hours in the day and work, kids, DH and christmas stuff are definitely more important right now. You are doing a great job with your eating inspite of the all the "holiday" extras around. The gym will still be there when you get back. Have a great trip and enjoy Germany. Have you been before?

 

[traceycooper]

Well done on the weight loss,& controlling your portions with the cookies

 

[lovinaz]

Yikes, after eating well all week I definitely blew it last night! We put up the tree and DH decided he didn't want to grill the tri-tip I had thawed, so we ended up getting Mexican. I didn't portion out the chips and salsa, but we only got 1 basket for the 4 of us, so it wasn't completely awful! And I did skip the margarita!! DH thought I had completely lost my mind when I didn't order one. I got the chicken machaca, ate 1/2 the rice and 1/2 the tortilla. I also snagged about 10 of DD's fries (we go to a Mexican place and she orders chicken strips ). WHen we got home, I ended up eating 2 cookies and a chocolate truffle. But I've gotten it out of my system and today I am going to behave! ANd tomorrow I leave for Germany. I have already started mentally prepping myself for the plane ride (first class again ). Just because they are shoving food in your face for 10 hours doesn't mean I have to eat it! I am also going to try a new strategy to avoid jetlag. I am not going to sleep on the plane. This will be tough going there as it means I'll be up all night, but I really hated the jetlag. My boss told me about this trick and I did it on the way back last time and it worked pretty well. I plan on posting one more time before I go and I am taking my laptop so hopefully I'll be able to keep posting while I'm away.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anna, I've heard there are Christmas markets all over Hamburg this time of year, I am kinda looking forward to going! My trip got extended by 1 day (coming back Fri instead of Thu) and if I can't get a meeting arranged, I will have the whole day to do whatever I want. Shopping will definitely be a priority! I have been to Frankfurt before, but I have never been to Hamburg. I LOVE German wine, so that will make braving the 47 degree, rainy weather all worth it!

Tracey, one day I can control it with the cookies, the next I can't... I hope you are feeling better!

 

[lovinaz]

Yesterday was our 1 year anniversary! I can't believe it's been a year already. We had the kids this weekend so we did our romantic dinner out last weekend. So we didn't do anything unusual (went to DD's soccer game, they won! ). Today I am scrambling, trying to get laundry done and packed. I don't have to leave until this evening (we'll leave the house around 6pm) but there is so much to do! I always worry about DH and the kids when I'm gone. I know he gets the stuff done, it's just not the way I'd do it and that is hard to deal with sometimes...

I did have a major eye-opener yesterday! I tried on my dress pants and they are tight!!!! It was awful but there is no way I have time to go buy another pair (plus I REFUSE to buy a bigger size, these are 8's). So I am going to have to be on my best food behavior on this trip. Which will be hard since I love the apfelstrudel and all the Christmas markets sell mulled wine... But I will just have to think of those pants and I bet I will snap out of it! Today I am eating stuff that will not get eaten while I am gone. When I am done posting I am going to have a lunch of cottage cheese, broccoli and cucumbers w/hummus...

I will try to keep posting while I am gone, but I can't promise anything. Wish me luck. I have never travelled by myself to a foreign country. This will be interesting!

 

[traceycooper]

Amy
Hope you have a safe flight & the jet lag isnt too bad!
Hope you can give us an update whilst your over their,
have a great trip
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

 

[kmp1191]

Amy~ have a safe flight and a great trip!
You'll do fine...I'm jealous...I wanna go overseas!!! Germany, France, Italy....that would be cool....but not on business!!
Check in when/if you can! We're thinking 'bout ya!!

marie

 

[CACruisin']

Have a great trip! Walking around the markets will be some exercise and doesn't your body burn more calories when it is cold outside just to keep warm?

Happy Anniversary!

 

[CJK]

I probably missed you before you left, but I hope you're having a wonderful time! Maybe calories don't count when you're travelling in a foreign country! Enjoy the markets and just think of all that walking! Happy Anniversary too! Doesn't the time go by quickly??