The Frost is on the Pumpkin

Over a decade ago, when I worked at Wal-Mart one of my co-workers remarked that almost every holiday has a chocolate connection. Let's review:  Valentine's Day, boxes of chocolates; Easter: hollow chocolate bunnies with eating- the-ears- first protocol: Memorial Day and Fourth of July: have you ever been to a potluck with no chocolate cake or chocolate chip cookies or brownies?; Halloween candy: isn't the "good candy" the real chocolate candy bars?; Thanksgiving, well not everybody likes pumpkin pie...; Christmas brings us to red and green M&Ms.  Well, you get the idea!

How many years ago was the Mounds and Almond Joy candy bar slogan, "Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut; Sometimes You Don't"?  I can still hum it...

Don't get me wrong. This is not a rant on why chocolate is evil.  I love chocolate and I still eat it while losing weight.  I just eat less of it than I used to.  Sometimes it is one of those "trigger" foods that makes me hungrier after I eat it, but at least now I notice.

But on Halloween day when little children may knock on my door and ask for the "good candy" I just needed to share why there will not be any bags of "fun-size" candy bars in my house.  Because I would eat more of them than the trick or treaters.  And I am trying to change that...

Maybe a few less cheeseburgers?

Well, my cholesterol was relatively unchanged.  Except my good cholesterol number went up to 49, and the ratio is better than last time.  I did lose five pounds since my last appointment, so I guess I was not at the plateau I thought.


However, not dreading the doctor's appointment was an accomplishment and now I know that food choices do have quite a bit to do with those numbers.  So, maybe a few less trips to the drive-through and a few more baked or grilled fish dinners will help me be and feel healthier.


And a weekend of indulgence does not have to throw me off the track for the rest of the year.  I actually do like my own cooking, but my taste buds need to be trained to recognize the long-term bad choices and not get distracted by the immediate "tastes good" gratification.


They are trained to prefer diet soda and low-fat popcorn instead of all the sugar and all the fat.  Baby steps, baby steps...

It is not about the numbers

I remember them talking about this at Weight Watchers.  Sometimes it is better to track your measurements than the number on the scale.


The number on the scale is barely moving, but after walking for over a month I can fit into a smaller size.  We are talking hips here, people.  Nice feedback to fit into smaller, non-elastic waist pants.  Woo hoo!


On Friday, I will get actual feedback from my blood test.  I am actually looking forward to seeing how much my cholesterol numbers went down.  That's a change, too.  Usually I am dreading the bad news.


Another number has changed, too.  My BMI is no longer in the obese range.  Now, I am merely overweight and heading toward normal.  Well, normal weight, anyway...

Have fun storming the castle...

If you are a fan of  "The Princess Bride" you know the line that comes next.  "Do you think they'll make it?"  "It would take a miracle!"


There are lots of inspirational lines in that movie.  Which is why my husband and I and now our daughter have watched it over and over again.  We even have a back-up, back-up copy because we like it so much.


But the miracle for today is that for the first time since I started this 4 to 6 times a week walking thing, my right knee did not hurt!  Or at least this was the first day I noticed.  Maybe it is harder to notice something that isn't there.  Inconceivable!


The other miracle is that my daughter wants to come with me now.  She challenges me to run for a little bit and she is delighted with how easily she can beat me!  Some mornings she would rather sleep, but having her join me may mean it will be easier to keep going when the weather gets uncomfortably cold and the mornings are dark.  That is a good thing.

Why did the tree leave?

Ahh, the colors of fall are on the ridge over the trail and at Kohl's.  There was this kind of perfumed air, but on my way back I found out it was someone steam cleaning their car's carpet.  I have a cold, but I did think it was kind of a different smell than leaves usually have.


A couple of mornings ago I saw three deer on the path.  I kept walking just slightly slower and they watched me until I was invading their "personal space".  Off they bounded.  Said a little thanksgiving prayer because the three of them reminded me of our family of three.


The darkness keeps getting closer to our start time for walking, but it is still beautiful weather.  Now I remember why our anniversary is in October.  It is one of my favorite times of the year.