Happy Thanksgiving to You-hoo-hoo-hoo!

Happy Turkey day, ya'll. I thought twice about posting this picture and laughed both times, so decided to put it up anyway. Hopefully this will discourage you from consuming too much stuffing this weekend, LOL.

Well, it is upon us. Another Holiday weekend (at least for us Canucks). We've posted our plans to get through the weekend, and I'm hoping to read about many successes next week.

I have decided to try Carolyn's Angel food cake, http://canadiancarolyn.blogspot.com/2007/10/thanksgiving-plan-product-review.html and will make them in the muffin tin (paper liners) - I already bought the stuff, so you know it's gonna happen. I also made the Weight Watchers Butternut Squash soup to take with last night. Gonna get some wine, benedryl and head up late tomorrow afternoon.

I missed dance/yoga last night. It was a planned absence as Mark is writing his realtors exam today and I wanted to let him study (Awwww!). Yes, I gave up some precious 'me' time. He's really nervous, but if he doesn't feel good after writing he will continue to study. We find out on the 15th if he passed, but can write it again next month, so it's not the end of the world. Anyway, he doesn't work this weekend, so it'll be great just having some family time.

Cheers, and travel safe.

Octoberbest Coming to an End

So, Octoberbest is over - or here, however you want to look at it. How did it all pan out? I started this 12-week challenge at 174 and convinced myself that I could be well into the 150's by the time it was over. HA! Guess what? I'm so close to the 150s I can taste them. 160.4 as of last night for a total loss of 13.6 in 12 weeks, or 1.13/week average. This included vacation, a mini-plateau, BBQ's, etc.

First, the results of this week: I am down 1.6 lbs

I have lost 15.65 inches in this same time period, and if you scroll down to the bottom of my blog today, you can see my overall WW ticker from May 23 until today and chart of the same.

Now, a little reflection on Octoberbest.

What was good:

• Sparks, first and foremost. I got a lot from the site tools and articles as well as message boards. It kept me focused on trying to build exercise into my day or week at a level that was comfortable for me. This is by far the most difficult thing for me. So, I do attempt to exercise semi-regularly and will continue this focus throughout the Christmas Challenge. IT is getting easier all the time. I like the arm flex measurements and use them to reflect on what other muscles may be building in my body as the weeks progress.


• The people. I have loved meeting people who have participated in the challenge. I really want to thank Kim for opening her personal challenge to so many of us and taking on the responsibility of coordinating this. Also, to Jodi for agreeing to co-captain this. For those of us who looked towards this challenge in any way, shape or form for accountability or personal challenges it was a great benefit.

What was not-so great:

• The message board used could have been a really great tool to bounce ideas around and get support. It was highly under-used and just seemed to be a weekly reporting spot for the most part. I suppose many of us belonged to other boards, have our blogs, etc., and you only get out of a challenge what you put into it. I guess that's why I set my Sparks ticker to start at 174, and created a new Christmas Challenge ticker. When looking at time-specific challenges, I think it's good to look at the results from the bottle, not just your weight loss journey results.

Well, I know I promised pictures, but my camera is AWOL. We're looking for it and I may break down and buy a new one as the one we have is old and doesn't always co-operate as it's been dropped a time or two:0)

OK, onward and upward - er, downward. Christmas Challenge in a bottle.

In-Between Clothes

Last year in August, I bought 2 suites from The Bay, a black one and a brown one. They were quite pricey (I'm a cheapo at heart), but I wanted something nice as I was in "I need a different job." mode. In fact, I did switch jobs late October and am quite happy now.

Anyway, it's funny I think, because I hate to get rid of these suites. I paid a lot of money for them - they're Nygard and, although I'm not a 'name' person, anyone who's worn Nygard (or Lizwear, etc) knows the quality and feel are totally worth it. It's so nice to have a few articles of clothing that fit like that. I compliment with stuff from used clothing stores, Sears Outlet, and Wal-Mart. Today, I have the black slacks on hiked up with a belt and I actually sent the brown suite to the cleaners without even knowing if it still fits.

Yet, because I am a cheapo, I hate to spend money on new suites when I still want to drop 2 dress sizes by Christmas - well, 14s are starting to get loosy and the 12s I have are still tighty. Grrr. I think what I REALLY need to do is go buy a bunch of nylons and start wearing more skirts/dresses (that'll make hubby happy at least). Once they sit too far below the waist they have to go. Skirts tend to be more 'forgiving' than slacks when they get too big.

On the plus side, I'm back in C nylons after several years as a D. I remember when Mark and I were 'courting' (so corny, but then 'dating' doesn't really seem to fit, either) he used to buy me Bs sometimes when I would send him, and I would chastise him, saying C - you know - C, for Candace. Ahh, happy days!

I did make my way to a used clothing store, but in the end, I'm just not ecstatic with the stuff I got. It really is, "It'll do", at least in the pants department. Tops I'm very happy with. I bought 1 pair of brown casual pants and 1 pair of jeans. The jeans are gonna go now, though. After wearing them a few times I'm just not happy. I am tall and long-waisted and am not carrying a lot of weight around in my lower glutes and thighs (some, just not a huge amount). Whoever had these jeans before me did carry a lot of weight there, even if their waist was the same size as me. The effect, baggy ass pants - need I say more. Tummy looks great, butt - not so.

Still not sure what to do. Guess I'll go get my hair dyed, since I've decided to grow it out again. See, this takes the focus away from the clothing dilema for a while. I always hate to look of longer hair with gray strings. I remember standing beside my then-sil as a teen and thinking, "Why doesn't she colour that. It looks aweful." She had long dark hair with not a lot of gray, but the gray that there was was just so...shiny. Unfortunately, I am the same.

I also saw some great undies in a magazine. They had lycra and a seam up the back-side which is supposed to look great and alleviate the 'uni-bum' when wearing pants. I think they were a gazillion dollars each. I bought cotton Ls at Sears Bargain Basement for 99cents each a few weeks ago. One pair has already torn after a trip through the washer and dryer. A gazillion dollars for 'lift' and 'form'. I'll really have to think about this.

I think my feet have shrunk. Did I really have fat on my feet? Anyway, my shoes just seem roomier lately. Great - something else to spend money on. I'll need $50+ gas funds to go to Mardens in Callais so I can buy shoes for next to nothing. Last time I was there I got 4 pairs of shoes for $12.50 plus tax USD. I figured that to be around $5/pair of shoes. So worth the trip. Issue being - my family members have all moved away from St Stephens now so I'd have to come back right away or spend a night which would increase my costs for shoes exponentially.

About the only think that still seems to 'work' is my bathing suite. I just can't figure that one out.

Cheers,