AmyM's Quest for a Better Bikini Body!

[lovinaz]

Well, I am here in cold Germany! I got in at 8:30pm on Monday night and last night after work, a bunch of us went into Hamburg. Let's just say we missed the last train back to our hotel (that left at 12:30am) because a couple guys in our party wanted to keep drinking and we didn't get back until 4am! And there was plenty of Gluwein (mulled wine) drank... They even put shots in it, so I was getting mine with amaretto. Then after we were done in the Christmas markets, we stopped at a bar and I was drinking amaretto on the rocks. Needless to say, after 3.5 hours of sleep and gallons of alcohol, I was NOT in good shape at work today... I am rather lonely now, all the others have left for the airport. They are flying back to London tonight. I am going to have to get brave and set out for the shops pretty soon. I am debating on whether or not to change my flight back to tomorrow. I don't have any meetings so the only thing I'd be missing would be shopping and exploring. Apparently I am a very social person since I don't relish the thought of doing those things by myself! I didn't get any gifts for anyone last night! I need to do that - it was my main reason for looking forward to this trip! There is going to be another set of meetings here in February. Why can't they wait until summer?!?!?

Eating has not been bad, but it hasn't been great either. I had a bratwurst the size of my arm last night. It was very good, but very filling. For lunch we ate at the cafeteria. The first day was 3 small pieces of meat (1 beef, 1 chicken, 1 pork) with a mushroom sauce. Today was a sausage wrapped in cabbage over mashed potatoes with some kind of sauce on it. Both were very tasty! Yesterday's breakfast was yogurt and fruit, today I had turkey and cheese on a baguette. I can't wait to get back and start exercising. I am so out of shape!!
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Tracey, I have not been affected by jetlag this time around! I only slept for about 3 hours on the plane, I think that might be the trick... We'll see if I'm so lucky on the way back...

Marie, traveling on business is not so bad. You can eat better and stay at better hotels than you would if you were paying for it yourself!

Anna, the hot gluwein kept me plenty warm, however it negated any positive effect I had from walking around the markets...

CJK, time sure does fly when you are having fun! And this month is really going to pass fast since I had this trip. It always makes the month seem really short...

 

[Amy&Dan]

Hi Amy, it sounds like you had some fun while in Germany, good for you! Tight pants is a bummer, but better than not being able to get them on at all which is what most of the people in the world are experiencing during this all out pig fest of a month! I see you signed up for exercise challenge, good for you! I hope you got some shopping done today and have a safe flight back home! I think your food looks pretty darn good considering you are in Germany with all that yummy temptation around! And happy anniversary. Thats funny, I was just thinking the other day that must be coming up right about now. And so is your birthday too right? I sent you some pictures of Daisy, hope you got them!

 

[CJK]

Mmmmm mulled wine with amaretto. I've never had it before, but it sounds like something I'd like! Glad to hear you've been having some fun. Way to go on WANTING to get back to exercise!! I have yet to utter those words! Have a safe trip back!

 

[traceycooper]

Great to hear from you Amy
I like amaretto too, never had it with mulled wine though...will have to give that one a try
Have a great shopping trip, dont spend too much

 

[CACruisin']

Welcome back Amy! Did you find some neat stuff at the Christmas markets?

 

[lovinaz]

Well, I made it back safe and sound! And get this - my weight the morning I left was 141. Weight this morning was 141!!!! I can't believe I didn't gain any weight!! But I am still totally disgusted to be in the 140's, so I'm not celebrating too much. I'm just glad I didn't make the situation any worse on this trip! I HAVE to get to the gym today AND tomorrow. It is already the 9th of the month and I don't have a single minute of exercise for the challenge... I also have to go shopping for DH's gifts while he is out golfing, and go to DD's last soccer game of the season. Plus unpack, etc etc. I sense myself already making excuses to not go to the gym, I have to get out of that habit! I have already decided that today starts my good eating. That means NO gumdrops (I hate that gumdrop tree we have, as cute as it is) and NO biscuits that I brought back from Germany. I already started out right by having Egg Beaters and yogurt for breakfast. After I am done posting and downloading the pix off my camera, I am going to get ready and go shopping. I will have to go to the gym after DD's game (which is at 1:55, right smack in the middle of the day!). It's great to be back, thanks for making sure I didn't fall off to Page 2!!!
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Amy, I did get the pix of Daisy, she is the cutest little thing! And yes, my b-day is on the 18th. I am bound and determined to make my tight pants a thing of the past, starting today! I'm going to make my exercise goal if I have to die trying (OK, maybe not...). I did get some shopping accomplished in Germany, but could not find anything for DH. Which is why I have to go shopping for him today while he's gone...

CJK, the gluwein with the amaretto was amazing! However, when I went back to the Christmas markets on Thursday, everytime I walked past a gluwein booth, my stomach just churned. Apparently there IS such a thing as too much gluwein...

Tracey, I highly suggest trying it with amaretto! It made it taste a lot better in my opinion. Of course I spent too much $$ shopping, what fun is that sticking to a budget?!?

Anna, I did find some neat things. I wish I had more $$ and more room in my suitcase, I would have gotten a lot more. As it was, I added over 10lbs to my luggage and I was only 1.2lbs under the 50lb limit! My new rolling garment bag has a built-in scale and when I left it was 37.2lbs and when I came back it was 48.8lbs!

 

[traceycooper]

Welcome home Amy
Glad you had a safe trip & a good shopping trip
I bought some German mulled wine today....just got to get the amaretto now!
Hope you make the gym & congrats on not gaining - well done

 

[Amy&Dan]

Amy big congrats on not gaining! How many people could go to Germany and accomplsih that? And you know what, you might be down some, flying can pack on the water weight so if you are the same, you may actually be down. The one good thing about tight pants is they are a constant reminder to you not to overeat! Sometimes when my pants are loose thats just a license to pig out! Hope you get your shopping done. Thought I was done then my sis made up with her boyfriend so he's back on my list! Gggghhhrr. Those two, can't keep up! Keep up your good work, the exercise minutes will start adding up. You can't exercise on a transatlantic flight ya know so don't beat yourself up!

And thanks, Daisy is so darn cute, its killing me not to go get her right now! I am going to Wal Mart today or tomorrow to buy some puppy/baby proofing supplies!

 

[lovinaz]

Boy am I blowing it! I did not get to the gym yesterday and I am not going today. There is just too much catching up to do! I also haven't been eating that great. Not awful, but not great. I have decided that I needed a couple days to ease back into reality, so I am bound and determined to make tomorrow the start of a healthy week! That INCLUDES going to the gym at least 3x (I'm shooting for 5x, including the weekend). One good thing is that I have Dec 22-Jan 1 off work, and I already plan to hit the gym hard during that time. So I will hopefully be able to catch up and make my exercise challenge...
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Tracey, let me know how you like the amaretto in the gluwein!

Amy, you are right about the tight pants! I think I am losing muscle because I have definitely gained some volume in my hips/butt/legs even though my weight has been steady. Not a good place to be, I need to snap out of this funk! I did get all my shopping done, I just have to get 1 more thing for DH, but I am going to buy that online. I also need to get him some stocking stuffers. I bought myself some today, DH was cracking up. Daisy is going to be one lucky beagle! I will send you Buckley in the meantime. I think I am going to stop giving him dog food and just feed him cotton snow, Christmas bows and gift tags. He seems to prefer those anyway...

 

[traceycooper]

I dont think your blowing it!!
Your being sensible
I'm impressed that your planning to go to the gym during the xmas holls,
i'm planning to watch lots of movies & eat lots of goodies!!!

 

[CACruisin']

Glad you made it back safe and sound from Germany and didn't gain anything. It is so crazy this time of year under the best of circumstances. Throw in your travel (and the associated "catching up" at work) and it is understandable the gym is not making the cut right now. As you said, you are not eating awful, so don't beat yourself up. I think we are all just trying to not go completely overboard this month and start fresh in January.

Have a good week and hang in there.

PS - I love your Buckley stories!

 

[lovinaz]

I was really naughty yesterday! DH wanted to go out to breakfast, which he never does, so we went and got breakfast. I had Egg Beaters (cooked in butter, I'm sure ), 2 pieces of bacon and hashbrowns. I also ate 3 multi-grain pancakes! And of course my tummy was upset for a couple hours afterwards, that's what I get! I didn't eat lunch, but I kept grazing on junk (2 cookies, some biscuits from Germany, trail mix (but just 1 handful! ), and spice drops). For dinner I had tri-tip and green beans with a couple bites of mashed potatoes. So I think I've gotten it out of my system! I AM going to the gym today, I am mentally ready. And I AM going to eat 100% healthy today! I already had a great breakfast, snack and lunch. I got plenty of red peppers and cucumbers to dip in hummus during that awful 4-6pm snack attack. I am going to to it! My goal is to be under 140 by Friday's weigh-in. And I never want to see that ugly number again once it's gone!
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Tracey, my kids will be with their dad during most of the holiday break, so going to the gym will keep me occupied and not missing them so much... Plus the whole tight pants thing is getting really old!!!

Anna, I will gladly loan you Buckley so you can have some stories of your own... He has unwrapped one of DD's presents TWICE now! It is a little box of earrings from my dad. I re-wrapped it yesterday and when I came back from picking the kids up, it was on my dresser, unwrapped again. I asked DH what happened (I know what happened, he wasn't watching the dog!) and he said Buckley must have done it while he was outside cooking the tri-tip (or downstairs watching football?? ). And of course DD said "wow, he really likes that present!". I will wrap it ONCE MORE and douse it with bitter apple. Of course that will just ensure he'll eat a different present next time...

 

[lovinaz]

I did great yesterday! I didn't eat a single spice drop (and boy was that tree calling my name!) or any other treats. I did have a near death experience at dinner though. I made burritos for everyone and for me a huge salad with taco (turkey) meat, red peppers, cheese and sour cream. I mixed it all up, took a huge bite and the sour cream had gone bad! I felt awful wasting all that food, but there was no way I could have choked that down, plus I would have regretted it later... So I took that as a sign that I was supposed to have a burrito (with a whole wheat tortilla). I hadn't had any carbs the whole day, and that tortilla put me at 2 servings, right where I should be according to my ND's plan.

And I got to the gym finally!! I am actually a little sore, but I deserve it. I haven't worked out since Thanksgiving weekend, what did I expect?

Travel update - I just got word that I will be going to the UK the week of 1/22/07. It's for the quarterly meeting that I went to in Oct. And I also found out that the Greece trip won't be happening anytime soon. It'll be lucky to happen in January. And with my luck it'll be the same time I have to be in the UK...

 

[traceycooper]

Oooh your coming back
Any where nearer this time or same place???

Well done on having a healthy day & getting to the gym
Keep that up & those scales will behave on Friday
Have a great week
Tracey

 

[Amy&Dan]

Way to go making it to the gym. And I am glad yesterday went so well with the food. One burrito is a good thing and it sounds like you actually needed those carbs anyway. When I hear about Buckley opening presents I think what have I gotten myself into? Next Christmas, Daisy will be doing the same thing heaven help me! So one more month til you go to England gives you time to get back into your routie post holidays before another trip. Good timing!

 

[lovinaz]

I did really good with eating again. I did snack on some PB, but it wasn't over 2tbsp, which is good for a change! DS had his orchestra concert last night, so DD couldn't go to tap. I don't think she was too bent up about it... I am taking DS to get his braces off today! He is so excited. Of course he will most likely have to get them on again in a couple years (this is the end of phase 1, they have to wait until all his other baby teeth fall out and permanent teeth come in) and the nightmare with the retainer starts. I am predicting it will be lost or destroyed AT LEAST once. I am going to make every attempt to get to the gym today. DS's appointment is at 2:20, and I have to be at a fancy work dinner at 6:00 (and it is at least 1/2 hour drive). Hopefully I can at least squeeze in some cardio before dinner. It all depends on how long DS's appt takes. We are going to Roy's Hawaiian Fusion for dinner, entertaining a couple people from the Royal Netherlands Air Force. DH is not happy that I have to take away family time to go to a work dinner (I'm not either!) but it's not like I have a choice here. I assured him this is not going to be a common occurrence, maybe a couple times a year (if that!). He's still not thrilled, but he's just going to have to get over it! We rarely argue or disagree about anything, so this is very unusual, I don't like that he is upset about this. But what can I do??
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Tracey, I will be going to the same place as last time. Probably 90% of the time I am in the UK will be in the same place.

Amy, I am actually surprised that Buckley doesn't mess with the Christmas decorations more than he does. It's still annoying to have to watch him like at hawk at all times, but he isn't stupid. He waits until you are in the bathroom and he knows you can't see him and he has a couple minutes of opportunity...

 

[traceycooper]

Maybe Dh is worried cos its the air force, perhaps he thinks some dashing pilot is going to sweep you off your feet
Hope you made the gym
Tracey

 

[Amy&Dan]

Yeah, I am with Tracey, maybe he's thinking some hot air force dude will get you under the mistletoe! Good job with the food. If you ate pb, its likely because you needed some fat and protein. So you did your body a favor! Personally, I can't keep pb in the house, it became an "issue". Sort of like chocolate, chips and pretty much all other forms of tasty food! Hope you got a workout in, if not tomorrow is a new day! Sounds like Buckley is being a good boy all in all. I remember finding lots of tinsle in Ben's poop that first Christmas. He loved to eat that stuff which is why I stopped putting that on the tree! He's probably up in dog heaven right now with his head in a trashcan full of God knows what. I'll see you when I get back. And I'll have a piece of cheesecake at Coral Reef in Epcot and think of you! Keep up your good work with the eating, this hard month is almost half over for us all!

 

[lovinaz]

I managed to get a little info out of DH. He is afraid that certain people at work are taking advantage of me and that I shouldn't have to be taking customers out to dinner and that if I agreed to this dinner, I will have to do it all the time. I assured him this would be happening 2-3x per year, THAT'S ALL. No big deal, it's done and over with! We went to a really nice place, I had 2 very yummy Hawaiian martinis, a roll and macadamia mahi mahi with a lobster butter sauce. Skipped dessert (I would have had something but I was with all men and of course dessert just isn't that important to them!). I did NOT get to the gym, DS's appointment took over an hour! And I wouldn't have had time to get to the gym, shower and get ready. But I did walk to pick up DD from school, 25 minutes roundtrip. DS looks so handsome without his braces! He has to get 4 bottom teeth pulled on the 22nd. Poor guy... Tomorrow will be a tough day food-wise. We are having an employee appreciation lunch (I have no idea what will be served) and there is a retirement party, which of course means cake. I will do my best to behave!
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Tracey, one of the guys is a pilot, but I wouldn't describe him as dashing... Plus both of them are married and have little ones. Very nice guys, it was an enjoyable dinner.

Amy, I can't wait to hear how my cheesecake tastes! Let me know how it was, I will have to eat it vicariously through you! I can lay off the natural pb much easier than the sugary stuff. I switched to natural and my kids never even said a word. They also only get SF jam and don't know it... Have an awesome time on your trip, can't wait to hear all about it!

 

[CACruisin']

Great job at Roy's. They have such amazing food (and drinks too!) Glad you and DH could clear the air too. Congrats to DH on getting the braces off! DD got hers off last spring. So far she has managed to hang onto the retainer, but lost at least 6 retainer cases . Poor DS getting teeth pulled right before Christmas - what a scrooge type present!

Good Luck at the luncheon and retirement party. You are doing an awesome job this month resisting all the extra treats.