Bout Day

Today is the Season 8 Opener for the Rose City Rollers.

It marks my third season opener.  Though, the first one I'm pretty sure I was oblivious to it being a season opener as I was still somewhat new.

This bout is more magical because it is held at Memorial Coliseum and it's a double header.
We don't often do double headers.  We do 2-3 bout weekends instead.
In some ways, I wish we'd do more double headers.
But our fans don't like them as much.

This particular bout also happens to overlap Rat Cities Season Opener.
As well as a few other minor leagues who are having bouts.

Things are becoming more mixed up in our worlds.
More bouts are overlapping.  Even over tournament weekends.
Or maybe that's just us - silly Rose is having a 3 day bout weekend the same weekend as a
tournament that is in our own state.

At any rate, after this bout I'll be taking 3-4 weeks off.
I need to regroup, and decide what role I want to continue with.
If any.

I also really wish I didn't have a head cold.
I'll be bringing a box of tissues to the event.
Along with my water bottle (though, that's typical)

The Loss

Tonight I attended my third WW meeting.
I weighed in and found that I had managed to loose 3 pounds this week.

I blame it on making my lunch/dinner for the week on Sunday, tracking religiously, and getting in exercise.

Now - can I keep it up this week?
I sure hope so.

I just have to find something inspiring to eat this week.

And I need to get in more exercise.

That last sentence will probably be my mantra for the rest of my life.

A Before Photo

I suppose I should put a before photo on here.
This is really a before photo.  It's from my first summer here in Portland - summer of 2010.
I lost 30 of it that Fall - but put most of it back on.  Though, in a different way.  My face isn't quite as full.

Either way - it's a size I don't want to be ever again.

Cooking, Cooking, Cooking

So I am tragically poor.

Thankfully, when I thought I had money I had purchased a spaghetti squash and salmon.
Today I managed to spend under $40 at the store and have spent the day cooking for the week.

Lunch will be 1oz salmon which was cooked in the toaster oven.  I only added lemon salt and some other seasoning.  Along with the salmon will be 3oz of spaghetti squash.  Today was my first time ever making it!
The hardest part was cutting the squash in half.  After scraping out the guts I placed it cut side down on a baking sheet and put it in the oven for about 40 min (oven was set at 375).  Once cooked, I scraped out the inside with a fork and added in a little olive oil and some garlic powder.  I'll be adding in some cooked down arugula (it ends up being 3 points plus)

Dinner will be Potato Kale Soup.  I took the recipe in one of the WW cookbooks, but did it all in the crock pot.  I added a little pepper for taste and Kale! The broth is pretty tasty.  It comes out to 5 points plus per serving.  It's highly likely I'll add some chicken.  We shall see though.

I'm crossing my fingers that I don't get bored with all of this.

I'm proud of myself for getting this done on the weekend.
Though, I do need to go make a few smoothies.  So I've got that done also.

On a side note - I totally have my outfits for the week picked out.  This is not the usual.
Trying to form new habits and do things that are good for me.

Paleo?

I know nothing about the Paleo diet.

But I think I will research it.

I'm posting the links to these two blogs here so that I don't forget them.
And perhaps someone out there who might come across my little blog will find them useful or at least have something to say about the Paleo diet.

http://paleopilgrimage.com/

and

http://nomnompaleo.com/recipeindex

There you have it.

Or perhaps, there I have it.

ch ch ch ch changes....

Weight Loss Excuses

I have a bunch of excuses.
Reasons why this week I lost but 1 little pound.

Don't get me wrong - I am happy I managed to loose.
A loss of any size is movement in the right direction.

My sister and her husband were here and we ate out.
I did a horrible job at tracking.
I went back to work and it was stressful.
Aunt Flo was visiting and well, she made me eat things that I didn't really need.

See.
A bunch of excuses.

I am down a total of 3 pounds.
That's three pounds less of me taking up your space.
And for that, you are welcome.

At my meeting on Thursday I stayed for the after session.
I like the leader - she's sassy and quick witted.
The group is a good group of ladies - many of whom attended the same meeting I went to the first time I joined WW.
I decided to purchase the 360 kit.  In it there is a measuring tape.  Of which, I plan on using this weekend.
I plan on doing a lot this weekend.
Reevaluating how I am getting in my fruits and veggies.
Planning out my exercise routine.
Making a few goals.

It's the only way that I'm going to make this happen.  And I'm doing it for me.
Knowing some of the crap my mom is going through right now - health things, a lot of them due to her weight - inspires me to Not want to have to deal with it all when I'm in my 60's, or even younger.  I already battle with achy joints. And I know when I lost weight the last time, some of that went away.

My mantra for this week: I am strong.

Do I Step Out Completely?

Last night as I was lying in bed attempting to go to sleep I found myself writing a letter in my head to an organization.

One that I've given 2 yrs of my life to.
As I was writing this letter I realized that I don't find what I'm doing fun.

I've lost my zeal for it.

I think I somewhat realized this awhile ago - but fully realized it last night.

There is so much negative energy right now and so little being done about it.
And I find myself not wanting to be there.

I used to be able to cheer for all in some way.  I might have preferred certain folks, but I could get behind everybody and show support.
That feeling is gone.
Left the building.

I still love the concept. What they do for the community.

Here's my problem - what I've been doing the past year and a half, there's really nobody who is primed to take my place.  There's nobody that has shown interest.  Most are involved in some other capacity.
So stepping out would make me feel guilty.  I can't completely blame the organization.  I'm the one who dedicated so much time. Who let them use me to the best of my ability.
Guilt via a volunteer position.
That's not right is it?

I'm so unsure of what to do right now.