Since we’re not getting up to the cabin these days and my projects are slim pickins, I thought I’d be cooking up a storm and showing you all some recipes, but I’m just not feelin’ it. And truthfully, I’m not doing much decorating for the holidays either this year. The rental just doesn’t feel like home, but more of a stopping off point, and since we’re not at the cabin much before Christmas, I’ll do something simple on the mantel, but that’s about it.
Lately, I’ve been spending some time trying to find a dress for my daughter’s wedding. Tomorrow I’m going to Long Island and maybe Queens with a friend whose son is also getting married in the Spring. We’re on a common mission. Not just to find a dress, but to lose weight. I joined Weight Watchers last week and I’m determined to lose 20 lbs. Right now, I’m a size 12 and I would love to be an 8 or even a 10. It doesn’t matter really. I’m not size obsessed. I just want to get rid of my muffin top. I used to work at the Personal Shopping Department at Nordstrom’s, and some women would come in and spend several thousand dollars on clothes that didn’t fit right, all because they refused to ‘wear a size 14’ or whatever it was. Women should understand that when something doesn’t fit well, it will make you look heavier, not to mention it will be uncomfortable.
Would you believe a lot of stores don’t even carry sizes higher than an 8? That’s strange to me, considering that the average woman is a size 14. Apparently, higher end stores that cater to wealthy women don’t carry large sizes. Guess they can afford to have lipo :).
I rarely diet. This is only the second time I’m consciously trying to lose weight. It wasn’t until I went through menopause that things started going south and I gained weight. Big surprise. I’ve always worked out fairly regularly, taking boot camp and zumba a few times a week most recently, but unless you’re a marathon runner, working out isn’t going to help you lose weight. At least not for me. It just helps me feel a little better.
I really don’t believe in diets, unless you’re doing it for a special occasion and acknowledge the fact the weight will come back on unless some lifestyle changes are made. My mother was literally a ‘feast or famine’ dieter, so I’ve seen first hand how futile dieting can be. Moderation is the name of the game if you want to win it. I tried Weight Watchers several years ago and liked it, but as soon as I stopped going to the meetings and not writing down what I ate, game over. For me, it’s all about carbs. I’m staying away from ‘white food’ as much as possible, which thankfully isn’t that hard. The only thing I love more than fruits are veggies, so this is not a difficult process for me. And did you know that most veggies and fruits are zero points? Love that! I went to a friend’s birthday party on Sunday and had a zeppole and a couple of bites of some pastries, but you have to allow that sometimes or it just won’t work. My daughter is coming home on Friday for 10 days, and on Monday we’re going to the venue for a tasting. See what I mean?
It’s always somethin’, Rosanadanadana…
I’m going to leave you with a little video that I hope will make you smile.
Some of you know that my grand dog Charlie is in Singapore. Lately, our daughter decided that Charlie needs to earn his keep so she brings him to work and tries, albeit unsuccessfully, to get him to be productive.
A little background: Charlie is the world’s sleepiest dog. He can easily sleep 16+ hours a day, no problem. A simple walk around the block will put him into a catatonic state for hours, and the walk to the office pretty much wipes him out for a week.
He knows we miss him so he made this short, 10 second video so we can hear his little voice and see his fuzzy face whenever we want. It’s hard to see his mouth moving because he’s so dark, but moving it is! Don’t you think he looks handsome in his red tie?
There’s an app for everything these days!
Now if only someone can come up with an app that can rid me of my muffin top, THAT would be newsworthy.
To read more about our famous talking Charlie, and Bubbles, our former Bichon, go here.
Sharing At
All Things Thursday
Brenda Callis says
Are you sure Charlie moved in that video? Oh, he’s so cute! I smiled seeing him and also being reminded of “It’s always something’.” And it truly is.
Doreen, perspective is everything, I guess. What I wouldn’t give to be a size 14! However, I know this is an important event and you want to look your very best, and be even healthier while you’re doing it. I do know that when I keep a food diary and write it all down I do better. Good luck to you through all the wedding preliminaries and in finding a dress you love.
Julie says
Hi Doreen, thanks so much for letting me know about that issue on my blog and I think it’s fixed now. Thanks to you I didn’t even know it was on and thanks for that. Congrats on your daughter’s wedding. I really like Weight Watchers because it lets you basically eat a lot and not have too many restrictions. I think a lot of it is portion control. I love the store Nordstrom’s! Your dog is so cute too. Take care and have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Julie at julieslifestyle.blogspot.com
joy says
Congratulation with your daughter’s wedding!
About dieting, I dont do it either. I am just lucky that I dont gain weigjt:)
Cute dog you have by the way:)
Doreen Sargente says
Charlie is not my dog Joy, he’s my grand dog. Thanks for stopping by!
Denise says
So sweet that your daughter sent the video of Charlie! My catsitter sends me photos via email when I’m away on vacation. Always makes me smile.
As for losing weight, I saw a nutritionist a few years ago. Lost 30 pounds. Boy was I happy! And looked great. Once I stopped following the plan, the weight came back on. Until the day I feel extreme motivation to lose weight again, I’ll just stay fat and happy! xxD
Jane says
You must be so excited over the wedding!! Good luck with the dress. I had the hardest time finding one for my son’s wedding. All the high end department stores seemed to stop a size 12, as you said, and the ones in my size either ran too small or big. When Emily got married in May I went through her bridal shop. I found the style, chose the color and they measured me from head to toe. Then they ordered my size and I had fittings until it was perfect. I hope this helps. I was so happy!
Good for you with WW. I did it online a few years ago and I just couldn’t get the weight to budge. Since summer I have been doing a clean eating sort of regimen and watching portions and carbs. No carbs after 3:00 pm as you don’t burn them off as well.
Your daughter’s pup is a doll, I didn’t see him move in the video, maybe it’s just my laptop. Have a great day!!
XO,
Jane
Doreen Sargente says
We had a productive day Jane, all three of us found dresses we love, but mine was black which I don’t want to do, so I’m gonna keep on looking. I’m hoping I can drag my daughter with me next week to get her opinion. (Good tip about 3:00 pm!)
There is a high end store in town and my friend told me she went there with another friend and the owner was at the door and said ‘we don’t have anything for you ladies’ as soon as they entered. They’re both about a size 14 and her friend said ‘how do you know we’re not here for our daughter’s who are size 0’? And the owner said ‘oh, I didn’t know’, and she said ‘exactly’, and they walked out. So rude!
Charlie’s mouth is moving, but it’s hard to see unless you look close. So cute!! I love him so much!!
Magali@TheLittleWhiteHouse says
Charlie is so cute! Good luck on finding the right dress for the wedding. It would be a nightmare for me!
Vashti Quiroz-Vega says
Hi Doreen! Charlie is adorable and that voice…ha,ha! Don’t worry you are going to look fabulous for the wedding. I’m sure of it. Cutting out the white foods will definitely do the trick. I can’t wait to see the wedding pictures.
Vashti xx
Angela says
Love Charlie! Hope you’re successful in finding a dress soon! How ecstatic you must be at your daughter coming home!!! Happy for you! Once you land at the lake, send me pics of snow please!~~Ang
Poppy says
Hi Doreen,
I’m sure you will find a beautiful dress that looks very pretty on you; it’s out there and just waiting for you to pick it up and make IT look lovely!
I couldn’t agree more with you on all points regarding the dieting dilemma! I have been so frustrated with my own sudden weight gain, it literally came out of nowhere and fast, about 9 months ago. I realized soon after, that I was heading towards menopause, and my hormonal fluctuations and diminishing estrogen had something to do with it! I even wrote a post on it, which was quite cathartic, but the calories kept climbing on effortlessly!
I have never tried Weight Watchers, but know of so many who have and have had success. I have made it a point to walk daily now in the fall and winter, after having spent the summer swimming every day for an hour and managing to lose 15 pounds, albeit in 4 months, but at least I haven’t ‘seen’ those unwanted pounds return as of yet.
Good luck with the dress and stay positive; your baby girl is getting married, what a joy!!!
Poppy
Manuela@ A Cultivated Nest says
He’s adorable! Corey is the same way, we’ll take him for a walk and then he comes home and crashes for a few hours.
Andi says
Oh…good ole’ muffin top. I’ve got news…When I trained for my 2nd marathon, I lost zero poundage. I was eating way too much and the running was NOT making up for it! Hate getting older…back in my 20s all I had to do was think about losing 5 pounds and they were gone, just like that. Now in my 40s it’s just work work work!!! Good luck! 🙂
-andi
Doreen Sargente says
Thanks Andi! So far I’ve lost 2 lbs, and I’m happy with that (it’s a little over a week). My goal is around 15 so if I keep up at this rate I’ll be fine by the Spring. Yes, getting older definitely takes its toll on the body. Wait till menopause rears its ugly head!