Recently I wrote about measuring your success with a measuring tape. It's also a good idea to measure your calves. Who notices you're calves are smaller? Not me. That was until a few days ago when I slid my blue jeans into my boots, zipped them up, and then stood still for a moment when I realized: wow, I could not have done a year ago.
Left: Dec. 2012 in Punta Gorda, Florida
Right: Dec. 2011 in Washington, DC
It was a cold and rainy December day when I bought those boots; my first new pair since 1972. I was on vacation in Washington, DC and my feet were tired, which I find is the best time to buy shoes, and I was determined that was the day to buy myself new boots. I tried on boot after boot, but I couldn't get my foot in any of them. I had trouble keeping my balance, but I would not let the salesman help me put on the boots. After all, if I bought them I would have to do this by myself at home.

The salesman brought out a bigger size boot and that was the trick for me. Like Cinderella, my foot slipped into the boot and was a perfect fit. I remember being nervous about catching my skin in the zipper, but they zipped all the way up without a scratch. I was elated. They were beautiful, comfortable, expensive, and they were mine. I wore them out of the store and walked the half hour back to the bed and breakfast in Vernon Square.
Linda boots by Mephisto
In addition to measuring your body, calves, and arms, have someone take front and side photos every month, so you can see your weight loss more clearly. Put aside your "I don't like my photo taken" issues; you don't have to show anyone the photos. In the months ahead, you can view the photos and see the undeniable difference. 

I was looking through this blog for photos from that DC trip, to put photos from Dec. 2011 next to Dec. 2012, but I was disappointed to discover I hadn't written anything about my DC trip nor had I posted photos. I went into my photo files this morning and found the photos I added to the top of this page.

Sometimes life gets too busy to stop and write about it and this was one of those times. I blogged about my trip to Florida and the hot chocolate run that happened between the two trips. But there was a lot of changes going on for me physically and spiritually during that trip in DC, so I'm going to reflect back now.

It was Dec. 2011. I was so proud about how much walking and running I did all over DC. Eleven months earlier I did not have the stamina to walk and run as I did all day for a week. Six months earlier I was in Alaska and I wish I had the energy in Alaska that I had when I was in DC. Heck, I wish I had the energy I have today when I was in Alaska, but I can only change today. Besides, this is all relative. The year before, I could not have done the amount of walking I did in Alaska.

I was full of energy because I had dropped a lot of sizes. Today, as I look back through my blog, I see how my sizes were all over the place during these past two years. How is it that I was in a size 18 pants last year, but recently was excited about fit into size 18's? Not all size 18's are created equal. My recent purchases were 18's from JC Penney and my old 18's were from Lane Bryant. This all goes back to my point from a few days ago: successful weight loss is best measured with a measuring tape...and photographs!

The two friends I traveled with in DC, rented scooters (for completely different medical reasons). They weren't bound to the scooters, but without them, getting around town would have been a challenge for all of us. Most of the time I jogged along side and sometimes ahead of them, as we made our way from the bed and breakfast to museum after museum. I felt like a little school girl who had been indoors all day and was finally allowed outside to run and play. Rain, snow, or bitter cold, could not dampen my excitement one bit. One of my friends said to me, from her scooter, "sometimes I feel like your running coach."
Michelle (left) and Mary (right)
One beautiful crisp winter morning, I visited a friend another friend in DC, who was staying at her daughter's in Eastern Market. I chose to walk to the 3 miles to the restaurant instead of taking the metro or bus. After we ate, we spent most of our time walking at the Farmer's Market and then I walked her half way home, so I could get a sense of the neighborhood, which was full of beautiful homes.
Easter Market, Washington, DC
After we went our own ways, I took a side trip and met Mary at a museum about ten minutes away. Due to major construction, I got terribly lost. Every ten minutes I checked Map Quest and it told me I was 7 minutes from my destination. For an hour, I walked in circles and I was always 7 minutes away from the museum. I was exhausted by the time I saw Mary.

Mary traveled without her scooter that day and she was determined to cover a lot more distance on foot that afternoon. I knew when to stop and take care of myself and that's just what I did. After walking really fast and not being able to keep up with her, I finally said she should go on without me and that I'd catch up with her later.

A few minutes later, I stopped for a late lunch. I remember that was the first time I'd had spare ribs in decades, they were incredible. Ribs became a favorite item for me when I ate out after that. After lunch, I phoned Michelle and learned she was just a few blocks away, so we met up.

Walking home with Michelle and her scooter, my feet were killing me. Along the way, we passed a Mephisto store with beautiful boots in the window. I asked Michelle to go in with me and teach me what she knows about buying boots; she lives in Vermont and knows a lot about boots. I didn't try any on that day, but she showed me what to look for and what to avoid. A day or two later, I went back and bought my new boots.

Me and my traveling buddies departing Washington, DC, Dec. 2011
I made this chicken recipe tonight and it was delicious! That's roasted butternut squash on the side. I have three more pieces of chicken in the refrigerator and I've invited one of my work buddies to have lunch with me - after our workout of course.
Chicken and goat cheese. Photo by Theresa
Ingredients
  • 3 whole (6 split) chicken breasts, bone-in, skin-on
  • 12 ounces goat cheese, with garlic and herbs
  • Fresh basil leaves
  • Good olive oil
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  1. Place the chicken breasts on a baking sheet. 
  2. Loosen the skin from the meat with your fingers, leaving one side attached.
  3. Cut 12 thick slices of the goat cheese and place 2 slices plus a large basil leaf under the skin of each chicken breast. 
  4. Rub each piece with olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. 
  5. Bake the breasts for 35 to 40 minutes, until just cooked through. 
  6. Serve hot or at room temperature.
Recipe source: Food Network

My grocery store carries chicken breasts, with bones and skin, two to a pack, so I made this recipe with 4 breasts. The goat cheese came in 4 oz. packages, so I bought two of them and used one and a half packages, which I found to be just the right amount of cheese.
I didn't see a message that work was delayed 2 hours until 7:30, after my physical therapy session. With two hours of found time, I decided to pick up some groceries on my way home and do some cooking.
What's for dinner?
I hadn't packed a lunch or made plans for dinner, so the spare time worked out great. I boiled the chicken and while that was cooking I made a double batch of meatballs. After I rolled all the meatballs and dropped them into the crockpot, I pulled out my food processor and turned chunks of chicken into flakes. I added onions and celery to the chicken salad, but I only added mayonnaise to the portion I'm going to eat today.

It feels great to have cooked up a storm this morning and now I won't have to tromp across campus in the snow to get lunch at the deli, and dinner will be ready when I come home! There's othing like home cooking. (6:40 pm update: I left my lunch in the refrigerator and had to trek through the snow anyhow! Ah well, it got me out of the office at least!)

Anyone else out there cooking this morning? I live in a condo, so I didn't have to do any shoveling, which I'm sure many of you are doing even as I type.

I hope everyone's doing well out there getting dug out of the snow.
I'm on program, in the river (eating the right foods), and exercising, although not as much as I'd like (I'm still doing PT for my arm/neck issue). But that's not everything I should be doing. I dropped the ball on a really big one: measuring my success.

I'm really kicking myself for not following Julie's suggestion to measure ourselves along the way. If you haven't measured yourself, go do it now. Don't wait!

I wrote down some crazy encrypted notes about my measurements when I first started, but I can't figure out my own code. I live alone, so how nuts is this that I didn't want anyone to know my measurements, so I wrote them in such I way that I can't decipher them. What do 5 numbers mean? Why is the first number smaller than the second number? Even if I take away the first number, there is no way those measurements can be right. I know I've lost more than 5 inches off my waist!

That's the old me. Today, I'm taking control of my measurements. I've written them down and I'm going to write them down once a month until I reach my goal size, so I can see my progress.

So, what's a girl to do when she's feeling like the same size? Go buy some new blue jeans! Yup, that's what I did yesterday. I feel great in them. They're a size 18 from JC Penney's, which has to be smaller than a size 18 from Lane Bryant. I know not all sizes are created equal, so I'm going to be focused on how good I feel in these jeans instead of why they aren't smaller.

I was rambling on an on the other day: How come my jeans from summer 2011 aren't falling off me yet. Why haven't I lost more weight? When is this belly of mine going to dissolve. Am I still on a plateau? When am I going to reach my goal? It left me wondering what else am I not doing that Julie suggested?

Well, my weight is coming off in different places. My rings are too big; my favorite opal rings swirls around and around. I missed the window of opportunity to wear it; now I need to get it made smaller. My wrists are much smaller. Recently a friend was going on an on about how small my wrists are now. I hadn't noticed! Another friend was complimenting me on how much my face has changed, how much smaller it is now. Weight loss doesn't only come off our hips!

So, yesterday, I got out of my own way and stomped into JC Penney's, determined not to leave until I had at least one pair of jeans to take home. I found two different styles and colors and went home happy. I felt great wearing them all day today!

Have you measured yourself yet - go do it now!


Anonymous posted this comment on Before Your First Session (May 2012):
I have been on the program for 6 months now without cheating at all. It has been fairly easy so far although I am nervous about the day I begin the maintenance part of the program. This will really be the test of my willpower! I started at a size 20 bottom and 1x/2x top. I am now a size 12 and med/lg. I am 5'8" with a large frame so probably size 10 is where I will begin maintenance. Good luck to all of the beginners...let the fast results motivate you to continue. You will be thrilled with the results!!

Ingredients
  • 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
  • 3 cloves crushed garlic
  • 3 tablespoons ground ginger
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 limes, juiced
Directions
  1. Pound the chicken to 1/2 inch thickness. 
  2. In a large resealable plastic bag combine the garlic, ginger, oil and lime juice. 
  3. Seal bag and shake until blended. 
  4. Open bag and add chicken. 
  5. Seal bag and marinate in refrigerator for no more than 20 minutes.
  6. Remove chicken from bag and grill or broil, basting with marinade, until cooked through and juices run clear. 
  7. Dispose of any remaining marinade.
Ingredients 
  • 3 lb pumpkin
  • 3 cups chicken stock
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, roasted 

Directions
  1. Preheat the over to 400˚ F.
  2. Cut the pumpkin in half and roast it for 45 minutes. 
  3. Scoop out the seeds. 
  4. Put the pumpkin into a blender along with the roasted garlic, onion and chicken stock.
  5. Mix to your desired consistency.
The carotene's found in pumpkin are converted to Vitamin A, which is essential for a strong and healthy immune system. One cup of pumpkin a day will get you to the recommended daily dose. This pumpkin soup recipe from Dr. La Puma is is so easy to make and delicious, you’ll want to freeze it to always have on hand.

Source: Chef MD's Big Book of Culinary Medicine: A Food Lover's Road Map to: Losing Weight, Preventing Disease, Getting Really Healthy by John La Puma, M.D. 
By Chris Laferriere Rapose

Sloppy Joe Pie

Ingredients

2 large eggs
1/4 cup half and half
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp or 1 packet mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp white vinegar
4 oz mayonnaise
1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
2 stalks large celery
1 clove garlic
1/3 cup chopped onions
4 oz tomato sauce
1 lb lean ground beef
8 oz shredded cheese

Directions
  1. Brown the hamburger with the celery, onion and garlic; drain fat.
  2. Add tomato sauce, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, salt and pepper. Mix well and let simmer uncovered about 10 minutes or so to blend the flavors.
  3. Put meat mixture in the bottom of a well greased glass pie plate; mix in about 1/2 the cheese. Spread remaining cheese on top.
  4. Beat the eggs in a small bowl and whisk in the mayonnaise and cream.
  5. Pour custard mixture evenly over the cheese.
  6. Bake at 350 °F (175 °C) for 30-35 minutes until nicely browned.
  7. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.