I just couldn't help getting caught up in it.
A friend of mine joined Weight Watchers a few months ago and has been updating me weekly on her progress. She's doing great; she's lost more than 20 pounds so far and loves the program. Another friend lost 60 pounds earlier this year on Weight Watchers. And I couldn't help being just a little jealous of them both.
I didn't have 60 pounds to lose, but I did have a pesky 15 or so that I wouldn't mind never seeing again. I'd been too lazy to do anything about them. But after hearing that my friend had reached the 20 mark, I thought, if I had begun when she did, I could be done by now!
The point of Weight Watchers to is retrain yourself to eat the right foods and not eat the wrong foods. I've done programs like Weight Watchers before, and I know how they work, so it was just a matter of forcing myself to put it into practice. So I cut back and stopped the excessive snacking, and I'm five pounds down.
But a little bit of the Weight Watchers mentality couldn't help creeping in. My friend's program is through her work, so she has meetings each week with the other participants in her office. She jokingly calls it "the cult," because the people who are really into it love to talk about it and actually look forward to weighing in and sharing their stories of progress. And they don't even laugh too much when their leader says things like, "you're a butterfly coming out of your cocoon of fat."
I don't know if 15 pounds could really be considered a cocoon (I'd say that what I have is more like a muffin of fluff, or "fluffin"), but the concept is the same. And my way is working for me, although since I don't have much to lose, the last 10 are not coming off easily. But I will soldier on, and I'll keep my eye on the goal.
The point is, whether you want to lose 15 pounds or 50, whether you're on Weight Watchers or some other program, it's all in the attitude you have. You have to not want to go back, and you have to be willing to do some work and make some changes in your life. So I am. It's not like I'm making a drastic lifestyle change; it's just a little extra fluff. But reaching a goal -- any goal -- is very gratifying, so I'm looking forward to the day I say farewell to the fluffin.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Things I Love For No Good Reason
1. getting the mail
2. office supplies
3. opening a brand new jar of peanut butter
4. getting into a stuffy car and not opening the windows till I almost can't stand it anymore
5. stirring the chocolate chips into a batch of cookies
6. the song "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows"
7. gulping soft drink when I'm really thirsty, particularly in the middle of the night
8. trees
9. clocks
10. containers
2. office supplies
3. opening a brand new jar of peanut butter
4. getting into a stuffy car and not opening the windows till I almost can't stand it anymore
5. stirring the chocolate chips into a batch of cookies
6. the song "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows"
7. gulping soft drink when I'm really thirsty, particularly in the middle of the night
8. trees
9. clocks
10. containers
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Going Through The Motions
I went to church alone today.
This in itself is significant, because first, I had never done so, and second, because a big part of the reason I began attending mass regularly of late is because my fiance and I want to get to know the priest and the church we're planning to marry in, and without my fiance, I probably wouldn't be going regularly these days anyway. So for me to go alone while he was out of town this weekend is pretty big for me.
The reasons for which I stopped going regularly, as well as the other reasons for which I started going again, are really not important here. This is not meant to be a pro or con on church or Catholicism or anything of the sort.
But I do think that if one is going to go, one should try to get something out of it, and that's what this is about.
Being at church by myself gave me a chance to really pay attention to the goings on, not only to what was said but how the other congregation members reacted to what was said, whether they looked tired, or bored, or if they were really getting something out of it.
The woman next to me was one of those who really seemed to be getting something out of it. She is obviously a regular churchgoer; she sang along with the choir on all of the hymns, knew all of the appropriate responses and when to say them. And she said them audibly, unlike many other people, who chose to say their prayers under their breath. But something about her just seemed cold. As if she wasn't even sure what she was saying, but she knew she ought to say it because that's the routine.
One of the things I've always liked about going to mass is when the priest asks everyone to show their neighbors a sign of friendship. We shake hands with the people next to us and say, "peace be with you." It's a small gesture, but I've always thought it was a nice part of the mass. A handshake, a good wish and a simple smile.
But today, as I shook hands with the people around me, I noticed something, and I noticed it in particular about this woman next to me. This woman, who obviously feels strongly about her faith, enough to keep returning week after week, limply gripped my hand and didn't even look me in the eye as she half-heartedly said, "peace be with you." A few others did the same.
It made me wonder, why go to mass at all if you're just going to go through the motions? I wasn't expecting a hug or anything, but how difficult is it to smile? If the simplest gesture of friendship is too much, then what good can all the hymns and prayers do?
Then I looked around the church. I saw families, offering their signs of peace to each other. Husbands giving their wives pecks on the cheek, a father putting his arm around his son and smiling, tousling his hair. And a few of the strangers next to me, shaking my hand like they really meant it and looking into my eyes when they said, "peace be with you."
I was glad to see that most of the people in the congregation had paid attention, had really understood what it means to offer your neighbors a sign of peace. I hope that one day, the lady next to me, and the others like her, will take a moment while they say their prayers to think about what they're saying. And maybe then, they'll be able to look into the eyes of their neighbors and mean it when they wish them peace. And maybe, just maybe, they'll find a little peace themselves.
This in itself is significant, because first, I had never done so, and second, because a big part of the reason I began attending mass regularly of late is because my fiance and I want to get to know the priest and the church we're planning to marry in, and without my fiance, I probably wouldn't be going regularly these days anyway. So for me to go alone while he was out of town this weekend is pretty big for me.
The reasons for which I stopped going regularly, as well as the other reasons for which I started going again, are really not important here. This is not meant to be a pro or con on church or Catholicism or anything of the sort.
But I do think that if one is going to go, one should try to get something out of it, and that's what this is about.
Being at church by myself gave me a chance to really pay attention to the goings on, not only to what was said but how the other congregation members reacted to what was said, whether they looked tired, or bored, or if they were really getting something out of it.
The woman next to me was one of those who really seemed to be getting something out of it. She is obviously a regular churchgoer; she sang along with the choir on all of the hymns, knew all of the appropriate responses and when to say them. And she said them audibly, unlike many other people, who chose to say their prayers under their breath. But something about her just seemed cold. As if she wasn't even sure what she was saying, but she knew she ought to say it because that's the routine.
One of the things I've always liked about going to mass is when the priest asks everyone to show their neighbors a sign of friendship. We shake hands with the people next to us and say, "peace be with you." It's a small gesture, but I've always thought it was a nice part of the mass. A handshake, a good wish and a simple smile.
But today, as I shook hands with the people around me, I noticed something, and I noticed it in particular about this woman next to me. This woman, who obviously feels strongly about her faith, enough to keep returning week after week, limply gripped my hand and didn't even look me in the eye as she half-heartedly said, "peace be with you." A few others did the same.
It made me wonder, why go to mass at all if you're just going to go through the motions? I wasn't expecting a hug or anything, but how difficult is it to smile? If the simplest gesture of friendship is too much, then what good can all the hymns and prayers do?
Then I looked around the church. I saw families, offering their signs of peace to each other. Husbands giving their wives pecks on the cheek, a father putting his arm around his son and smiling, tousling his hair. And a few of the strangers next to me, shaking my hand like they really meant it and looking into my eyes when they said, "peace be with you."
I was glad to see that most of the people in the congregation had paid attention, had really understood what it means to offer your neighbors a sign of peace. I hope that one day, the lady next to me, and the others like her, will take a moment while they say their prayers to think about what they're saying. And maybe then, they'll be able to look into the eyes of their neighbors and mean it when they wish them peace. And maybe, just maybe, they'll find a little peace themselves.
Monday, September 11, 2006
An Open Letter To Whoever Came Up With The Idea Of The 100-Calorie Pack
Dear Whoever Came Up With The Idea Of A 100-Calorie Pack,
I write today to thank you for this simple, yet revolutionary, idea, that if we didn't eat so much, we might not be so fat. The idea that it is acceptible to eat cookies, just not 15 at once.
Yes, it's true that there are much healthier things to eat. A piece of fruit, a container of yogurt, a bowl of spinach. But it is also true that people like cookies and crackers, and they're going to eat them no matter how unhealthy they are. A third truth is that people don't actually read nutrition information when they eat those things, so a bag with four servings can easily be consumed in one sitting by someone who isn't paying attention and/or doesn't care. So having a tasty snack in a one-serving container is perfect.
And the variety! When Nabisco first debuted the 100-Calorie Pack, there were only a few products available in this size. But a visit to my local Super Target a few days ago showed me that not only has Nabisco expanded its 100-Calorie realm, other companies have joined in. I can get 100-calorie bags of all of my favorite snacks, perfect for lunchtime, snacktime, anytime!
I realize that you are a mere cog in a large snack-making corporate machine, but I am glad you are there. I don't think you're going to make America thinner, and I'm pretty sure that some people are just going to eat the whole box full of 100-calorie bags at one time, rather than eating just one and leaving the rest for later.
But for those of us who do not want to join the legions of obese Americans, for those of us who understand the concept of portion control, but who are still too lazy to read the nutrition information on the back of food containers, thank you for putting the important stuff on the front.
Sincerely,
Erika
I write today to thank you for this simple, yet revolutionary, idea, that if we didn't eat so much, we might not be so fat. The idea that it is acceptible to eat cookies, just not 15 at once.
Yes, it's true that there are much healthier things to eat. A piece of fruit, a container of yogurt, a bowl of spinach. But it is also true that people like cookies and crackers, and they're going to eat them no matter how unhealthy they are. A third truth is that people don't actually read nutrition information when they eat those things, so a bag with four servings can easily be consumed in one sitting by someone who isn't paying attention and/or doesn't care. So having a tasty snack in a one-serving container is perfect.
And the variety! When Nabisco first debuted the 100-Calorie Pack, there were only a few products available in this size. But a visit to my local Super Target a few days ago showed me that not only has Nabisco expanded its 100-Calorie realm, other companies have joined in. I can get 100-calorie bags of all of my favorite snacks, perfect for lunchtime, snacktime, anytime!
I realize that you are a mere cog in a large snack-making corporate machine, but I am glad you are there. I don't think you're going to make America thinner, and I'm pretty sure that some people are just going to eat the whole box full of 100-calorie bags at one time, rather than eating just one and leaving the rest for later.
But for those of us who do not want to join the legions of obese Americans, for those of us who understand the concept of portion control, but who are still too lazy to read the nutrition information on the back of food containers, thank you for putting the important stuff on the front.
Sincerely,
Erika
Friday, September 08, 2006
Stranger Danger
I read a lot of crime stories, so maybe I'm a bit of an alarmist, but I can't help feeling unsettled after an encounter I had last night.
I stopped for gas at a local place and was trying to get the stubborn gas pump to work, when two ladies on the other side of the pump asked for my help. They were a little older, and very flustered, and they were having trouble getting the machine to take their credit card.
The door of their car was wide open when they asked me to walk over, and I had my own credit card out so I could pump my own gas. Walking over to their car could have been an invitation for them to grab my card and run, or to shove me into their vehicle and drive me off into the middle of nowhere. The fact that they were older ladies was the only reason I actually walked over to them. Had these two been men, I would have just said, "I don't know" and driven away as fast as I could.
It was only later that I thought of the safety of the two ladies. They, too, had their credit card in hand, ready for the snatching, and with the car door wide open, I could have gotten in and driven off, possibly shoving one of them in first. If the person who had pulled up to the opposite side of the pump had been some scary creep instead of me, who knows what might have happened to them.
They asked me for directions to a certain restaurant, which I happily gave them, but they said they'd been lost for awhile and were a little flustered as well. The restaurant was only a few miles away, and very easy to find, but I feel a little guilty that I didn't just drive to the place and have them follow me. It wasn't that far out of my way, and I would hate to think that these two ladies got lost again and had worse luck with whoever they found after they spoke to me. This area is very safe, but you never know who you're going to meet, and you can never be too careful.
I just hope that the ladies got to their destination -- and home again -- safely.
I stopped for gas at a local place and was trying to get the stubborn gas pump to work, when two ladies on the other side of the pump asked for my help. They were a little older, and very flustered, and they were having trouble getting the machine to take their credit card.
The door of their car was wide open when they asked me to walk over, and I had my own credit card out so I could pump my own gas. Walking over to their car could have been an invitation for them to grab my card and run, or to shove me into their vehicle and drive me off into the middle of nowhere. The fact that they were older ladies was the only reason I actually walked over to them. Had these two been men, I would have just said, "I don't know" and driven away as fast as I could.
It was only later that I thought of the safety of the two ladies. They, too, had their credit card in hand, ready for the snatching, and with the car door wide open, I could have gotten in and driven off, possibly shoving one of them in first. If the person who had pulled up to the opposite side of the pump had been some scary creep instead of me, who knows what might have happened to them.
They asked me for directions to a certain restaurant, which I happily gave them, but they said they'd been lost for awhile and were a little flustered as well. The restaurant was only a few miles away, and very easy to find, but I feel a little guilty that I didn't just drive to the place and have them follow me. It wasn't that far out of my way, and I would hate to think that these two ladies got lost again and had worse luck with whoever they found after they spoke to me. This area is very safe, but you never know who you're going to meet, and you can never be too careful.
I just hope that the ladies got to their destination -- and home again -- safely.
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