Success comes in five pound increments!

Having decided to lose this fluffy exterior that made me feel like the Pillsbury dough girl, I decided the best way to go for me is to turn weight loss into a game. After joining a big loser club better known as Weight Watchers, yes I am proud to be a Loser!, I set about a way to consider myself successful. The only way this is going to work for me, seeing as I have a short attention span and am easily overwhelmed, is to shed five pounds at a time and I must admit it’s working well; just about the time I am getting bored, I hit the five pound mark and bamo it’s another game for me. The next five are just around the corner!

I had to chuckle at my last meeting, our leader was recounting the latest reports about losing weight, saying that those who track their food intake are more apt to take off weight and keep it off. Thing is, weight watchers has been saying that for years and years.

Seems that those who have battled the bulge know for certain how it’s done, not that we all practice it with regularity. I have come to realize that I am not perfect, that I am going to do things that I might go GAH why did I eat that, but if I track it then I can look in the mirror and say to myself… GAH I ate that, then be done with the guilt and move on. I refuse to use self guilt as a reason to not get this done!

Even with eating out this last couple of weeks while my favorite Aussie family were visiting the states, I’ve managed to still lose weight by being careful and tracking what goes into my mouth! They say if you the LNB (licks, nibbles and bites) will do you in. So you put it down and amazing you don’t seem so inclined to say, “ooh just one bite won’t hurt me”

Remember, the only one who can lose the weight is you!!!

Weigh in is tonight … I’ll do the weight update as an edit after the meeting!

That’s it for now

Signed one fluffy girl better known as
KAT!

The longer I’m doing Weight Watchers the more I’m realizing that it’s not as complicated as some might think. As a foodie, I can appreciate the fact that they aren’t telling me what I can and can not eat, I’m doing that on my own. Expense wise, if you consider the fact that most of the other “diet” plans out there require you to buy their food PLUS veggies and other items they don’t supply, you actually save money with Weight Watchers, while learning how to eat for life.

I’ve been reading a book called “You Are What You Eat” by Dr. Gillian McKeith, in the book she basically tells you the same things I’m learning through WW. She is a big proponent of the home made smoothie; you sip your way thin while enjoying all the health benefits of the nutrients of the fresh fruits, veggies and juice used to make them. Something about a nice chilled smoothie on a warm day just makes everything right in the world!

One of the many things she states is this happy formula, Breakfast like a King, Lunch like a Queen and Dinner like a Pauper. Amazing but true, you wake up with energy, you maintain that energy during the day with your light snacks and then you eat a light meal so your body isn’t weighed down by a heavy dinner.

After a month following WW, making my meetings and being honest with myself about what choices I’m making… I’m finding that I need to buy suspenders for my pants!

To date I am down 11.2 pounds!!! YAY Me!

If your thinking it’s that time for you to shed a few pounds, think about becoming a big loser too!! Remember we can lose weight if we keep it to 5 pounds at a time. Weight loss is not impossible unless we chose to make it so!

Have a fabulous hump day! You’ll see less of me in my next posting!

Kat

In preparation for Summer 2010, better known as bikini top and board shorts weather, I’ve been slowly dropping some much unwanted poundage. While being “fluffy” does have its advantages, such as one will float vs. sink, it has a decidedly huge down side as well.

As you know I began this year with great optimism on losing weight, knowing how to eat right and tracking my intake was the greatest challenge I faced. With little to show for my efforts, I finally admitted that I can’t do this on my own; I needed some guidance from professionals who know their way around weight loss, so I made the decision to go back to weight watchers.

Now, you might say Weight Watchers is for losers and guess what YOUR RIGHT. I am proud to say that I am a member of a big losers club. Turns out the lady who is leading the class I take, well she is normal. She’s down to earth and keeps weight loss real, supports everyone in their battle of the bulge and reminds us take it 5 pounds at a time. We can lose anything we wish, if we don’t set our goals so high they seem unattainable.

Really the only way you’re going to lose weight is by being accountable to yourself, learning how to eat both right and correct portions, making healthy choices at the restaurant or dinner table. Weight Watchers isn’t a program that tells you what you cant have, it actually encourages you to do what is right for you, just be willing to make choices, such as I can chose to go to a restaurant, buy a hamburger that has all the works, including but not limited to the artery clogging gunk that is so tasty we can’t seem to pass it up when it calls our names, a burger worth all the points I’m allotted during the entire day, or I can chose a better alternative that will fill me up and allow me to eat other delicious meals during the day, I’m being told one thing, be accountable to yourself for what you CHOSE to eat.

So far an 8.4 pound lost and a lot more to go, but I’ve chosen to get back to my old beach body self!! Updates will come =)

Have a fabulous Monday; Spring has sprung as your allergies can attest!!!

Enjoy!

Kat

Just recently, I had headed down to my local grocery store to buy feminine hygiene products, as I was out and the “auntie” came to visit. I moseyed over to the correct isle and while I was checking out the various products available to us women, I noticed a gaggle of sales clerks. So, the assistant manager, so his tag said…asked “Can I help you find anything?” I responded with a polite “No, thank you, I think I have this one covered” he then asked “Are you sure, we don’t mind helping you” I smiled and replied “I’m quite sure, but thank you for the offer.”

As he and his group of clerks walked away, I heard one of the girls say to him, “I can’t believe you did that to that poor lady” I started to laugh as I heard him respond, “What, I have three daughters, I know about those products”

While it’s not exactly what one would expect, need or desire, the fact is he reached out to make sure my needs were met. This folks is customer service at it’s finest.

Have a fabulous day!

Kat and the kids

In the spirit of trying to keep my new years resolutions up and going, I’ve knuckled down and re-logged into a site I’ve known about for years. Fitday.com, is a free food tracking site and I must say it’s wonderful. I first discovered it way back in 2001 and have used it off and on over the past 8 years, now the only kicker is to actually LOG in and USE IT.

I tried doing the no caffeine thing, but I’m finding that being a coffee drinker, you take my caffeine away and I’m difficult at best to live with… ask the kids! So today I broke down and had a cuppa joe, only to find out what the caloric count was. So… I’m going to learn to make due with one cup a day.

Last night I actually took a night off to sleep, which for most would be nothing but to me, that’s a huge accomplishment. I couldn’t focus on the screen, so I took my happy self to bed at 11pm and lasted until 5am when I woke up thinking I had over slept. I will get this sleep thing down soon!

Outside of that… this New Year is shaping up slowly. I have various trips planned to see friends and family over the next 6 months. I’ll keep you posted!

Now, I’m going to finish savoring this cuppa joe and get back to work!

Happy Hump Day Y’all

Kat and the Kids!

It’s that time of year where we, take a couple of moments to toss about ideas for resolutions. So… here I go.

I resolve to do the following:

1. Shed 30 pounds
2. Post to the blog, at least once a week
3. Take time off to smell the proverbial roses
4. Meet up with my various friends who are all over the country for a long weekend here and there.
5. Enjoy the ones I love.

This year it’s only five little items, but sometimes making our resolutions obtainable means, results in them actually coming to fruition.

Here is wishing each and every one of you an incredible New Years! Take time to enjoy 2010!!!

Love,

Kat and the Kids

I’m pleased to announce the birth of my newest nephew, Benjamin David. Weighing in at 8 pounds 3 ounces, measuring 21 inches long, he’s a pretty darn big boy. From all reports my Sister and the lil man are doing wonderfully.

What a way to ring in the holiday!

Here is sending all my love.

Auntie Kat

You know it’s funny. When we take a job as a ‘worker bee’ for a large company there are certain expectations, that we as workers are afforded;

1. That we will be allowed do to our job without interference from supervisors who feel they should share their personal lives with us.

2. That our decisions, be it good or bad, will be reviewed by the company.

3. That we have the right to go to the proverbial bat for our policy holders.

4. That we won’t be singled out by a supervisor because we chose not to share our personal life with them.

Now, before you wonder if this is in regards to me, I have to say no its not. This would be a little blog about how a certain Geico Supervisor on the East Coast, has the ability and wear with all to harass, harangue and in general make life miserable at work for a certain male, yes I said MALE employee.

It seems that she feels it’s ok to corner him at work to discuss her sons issues with his penis, her mother in laws incontinent issues and more. Now when this male employee doesn’t chose to share his personal life with said supervisor, she feels well within her power to make his work life a living hell.

Now let me ask you. Is this considered sexual harassment in Geico’s book? Apparently not, as he was pulled into a room with two other supervisors to be told that he is considered a substandard employee for NOT being willing to discuss his personal life.

Why the blog you might ask? Because this employee feels that if he escalates his issue with this supervisor, he will be put in a situation that he doesn’t wish to be in… i.e. moved to another department or another job or worse yet fired.

Lets think about this. Over the years, women are conditioned to register a complaint with the human resource department, when they feel they are being harassed at their work place. We are also conditioned to submit complaints when we feel we are working in a hostile work environment, however let a male do this and what happens… his issues are swept under the rug because he’s a guy and we all know men shouldn’t have this issue.

Honestly, I feel this is quite unfair for the employee who is just doing his job. He gets up every morning, goes to work, healthy or sick, not to mention he was so sick recently and while his boss took a mental health day, he was encouraged to not leave work to deal with this virus and proceeded to spread it through the office, thereby costing the company several employees, who were allowed to take legitimate days off for being ill.

Sad to say that this supervisor is akin to an office Hitler and that doesn’t bode well for Geicos bottom line. It leaves them open for a potential lawsuit, this employee open for continual harassment and at the end of the day a bad taste in the mouths of those who feel that Geico is a company that does not support it’s employees.

Is this really the type of company who we’d want to insure our vehicles, homes and other items?

I wish this ‘worker bee’ the best of luck with his situation, as we all can attest that one bad supervisor can spoil the working environment for all.

Here is to hoping that Geico will actually step up and sort this issue out for this gentleman.

Have a wonderful friday!

~Kat and the Kids

Good lord what was I thinking. I made the mistake of complaining to my family in Seattle that I was missing the warm weather and I’ll be if God didn’t take notice.

We here in So. Cali are going through the first of I’m sure many heat waves, with temperatures rising to a hot 95+ yesterday today is looking even worse, some areas are expecting triple digits, all I can say is Oi, be careful what you wish for because you might just get it.

Having three kids (cats), I am leaving on an air conditioner so that they too can experience some balmy temperatures in doors like I do during my day at work. Ah… such is life of the cat.

Stay cool!

Kat and the Kids

Please join me in wishing my niece Meggie a very happy third birthday!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEGGIE!!!!

Love,

Auntie Kat