The New Year: For Better or For Worse

Well, the new year is here. I think. I slept through most of the festivities that evening. I'm old and tired and going to bed was much more appealing than staying up and watching a bizarre Dick Clark count down to midnight.

Of course, I spent my week off carb loading before the Monday, January 5 deadline. I think it's normal for most people to gain 5 pounds over the holidays. I must have done 10-15 in damage. I'm such a carb junkie!

On Monday, I started my South Beach diet again. I've been very very successful with this in the past and hope to reap some rewards. I must admit, it's been hard this time. For one, I had to give up caffeine and the headaches I've gotten because of that have been murder. The other is the amount of food I'm eating has been reduced and I'm hungry. The only thing that seems to stave the hunger and the headaches is to eat a little bit of cards. I have about 5 crackers with cheese or some chocolate (polishing off the last of my Santa...I should throw it out but I just can't!).

Today is Thursday and things seem to be going a bit better. The headaches haven't come yet today and I started packing more food. I make a salad and meat for lunch. I bring 2 Jellos instead of 1. I picked up sugar free gum to keep my mouth busy.

Of course, I was too chicken to get on the scale on Monday so I wouldn't know if I lost any weight this week or not. But I'm trying not to worry about it and go by how my clothes are fitting. I do know I'm eating a lot move veggies than I was before, so if anything that's a plus. And I've cut out the bagel with butter and Coke everyday, which also has to be a major plus.

Being fat sucks. Dieting sucks. I keep doing all this work time and time again and never seem to stop going back to the bad habits once the weight has been lost. So, here I go again.

On a positive, fun note I saw the Off-Broadway play Rock of Ages for New Years. The most fun I've had at a play in a long time. The 80s songs are worth going for! It's moving to Broadway and I think will do great. Highly recommend it!!

Christmas is Coming...the Mommy is Getting Fat

Well, getting wouldn't be the right word. Is fat would be a more accurate statement. I keep thinking about the New Year and what I'd like to do to remedy the situation. A few years ago I did a diet challenge with some ladies at the office and lost about 50 pounds doing South Beach. I'd like to say the diet is hard and easy at the same time. When you're a picky eater like me, breakfast can be hard. Eggs every morning gets to be unbearable...and it's still hard for me to swallow the thought. But the diet works. My commute was hard and I didn't have time to make it to the gym much and I still lost the weight. I'd love to start a diet challenge, even without cash, but as a motivator with other mommies. Who knows...maybe I'll put more thought into it. There's a great website/blog called Mommy Later Than Sooner that might be an avenue for it. I wouldn't want to know anyone's actual weight (God knows I wouldn't want to share mine), but would want to know inches lost and pounds lost. I'll add it to my to do list.

On a positive note, I have started taking my vitamins again in the morning. I can't remember the last time I ate a real veggie, so I definitely need to be a person who takes their vitamins. One teeny tiny small step in the right direction.

I want to try the recipes in that Jessica Seinfeld books as well. I own it. It sits on my kitchen counter. Guess osmosis isn't really going to happen. Nor will be hiring a chef, so I'm thinking I might have to open the pages and add items to my grocery list.

I'd also like to try adding a new thing to my life each week. You know, ridding ones self of bad habits, adding healthy habits into my life, trying new things, etc. For example, (and I don't know when this stopped happening) to brush my teeth each night before bed. A horrible habit to get out of, I admit. I think these kinds of things are doable, and instead of failing at all my New Year's resolutions, these are ones I can be successful at. Oh, joy!

I'm also hoping that little voice in the back of head that keeps going "I don't want to be the fat mommy" becomes louder and louder and forces me into action. Anyone have a used treadmill they'd like to sell me?????

Welcome!

Today is the first day of my blog. I'm not sure yet the direction I want to take this...so many issues and topics rolling around in my head that I'm sure others can understand and deal with. So, I guess I'll start with a brief introduction about myself and call it a day for now.

I had my daughter in November of 2007 at the age of 37. Being a later in life mommy (or, as the box on the medical forms called it "advanced age") wasn't by choice, but mearly the course of action life took...and maybe my destiny. I met my husband when I was 34 after years and years of dating disasters. We married right before my 36th birthday and quickly followed up with the purchase of a house and the adoption of a starter baby (our dog). Thankfully I became pregnant fairly easily and quickly, and my pregnancy was petty uneventful minus the gestational diabetes and constant exhaustion.

Our 9 pound 9 ounce (!) bundle of joy arrived on Sunday, November 4, 2007 via c-section (can you guess why? LOL). My husband and I, not to mention all three sets of grandparents, were beyone thrilled. She is the light of our lives and our greatest accomplishment.

During the course of my year long introduction to motherhood, I figured a few things out about being a later in life mommy. One is why most people have children when they are younger. You need that boundless energy, that ability to function on 4 hours of sleep, that ability to bounce back quickly, seeming ability to lose weight easier, and that carefree attitude. Two is that having kids later in life does bring many advantages...experience, wisdom, financial security, less narcisstic behavior, etc. When I think about the advantages and disadvantages, I must say, I think the deck is evenly stacked.

I also work full-time, which brings with it its own set of issues (and rewards) that I struggle with...along with my weight. I have a feeling these topics will rear their heads many times and I hope for support, suggestions and whatever else those in bloggerland have to offer.

Of course, none of this matters because my daughter chose to find me when she did and I will happily take her no matter what my age is or was.

Back to work...