Preparing for the New Year

I'm finishin up some things around the house before I leave for Wisconsin from Chicago to go visit my family for Christmas Eve tonight and Christmas Day tomorrow.

Today's Weight: 226

Today's Revelation: I had to do a health assessment for my company's insurance benefits a few days ago. It had last year's weight and responses listed as well. Yesterday, I was looking at it again, and here's what I found interesting: with all of the ups and downs I've had with my weight, not a single "down" is documented. The ups sure are: This year's weight was entered as 221, which it was the day that I did the assessement. Last year's weight was 190. I think I entered that one truthfully - it occurred during the period where I decided to try something different and gain weight, and so I was on the upward slant.

I looked at all the answers to my questions: Do you eat fruits and vegetables? Yes. Intermittently this is true. I eat all fruits and vegetables and then I go opposite and eat only shit. Currently, I am still in "eating shit" phase.

Other questions: Do you work out and how many times a week? Do you smoke? Do you wear a seatbelt? Do you drink? What is your stress level?

Looking at my answers, I really do live a pretty healthy lifestyle. I cut out smoking, I cut out drinking, I do wear a seatbelt, and I am learning how to look at things so I don't feel stressed as often as I used to. In fact, every aspect of my life seemed to be operating very well. Except for one factor. My weight.

There were four rankings for potential health problems: Low risk, moderate, high, and I can't remember the last one? Critical? Death is Knocking at Your Door? I can't remember it, but I ranked at 49 per cent - "Moderate."

If I lost weight, all the health problems the insurance company is determining as possible risk factors for me would be eliminated. I am living a pretty healthy lifestyle. It's just this weight thing that I need to master. The rest of it is fairly under control.

That's my revelation for the day. In other news, I made some Christmas treats to take up to contribute to the mix. I made some treats that I was pretty much living on for two weeks straight a year ago - they are honey graham cereal pieces mixed with marshmallow and chocolate chips, kind of like a popable s'more. They are YUMMY. I made the mixture, coated my hands in butter, and rolled 54 balls. I didn't have any - not a bite of a ball, not a lick of a spatula, not a scrape of the pan. I rolled all of them, and it didn't even look like food to me. It looked like crack - crack that my family members will love and think I am providing well for their Christmas fun. I didn't realize until after I made them all and put the pan in the sink to soak that I got through it without even desiring to eat any. I was really happy about that - I consider that a great break through.

I also need to bring a dish to pass. I am going to make my Avocado Grapefruit salad. This way, I can eat well for me without being obvious or obnoxious about it. I am going to serve it with salad for the meal, but I am going to keep some separate so I can chow on that with my beloved Fritos Scoops the rest of the day. That way I can snack healthily, and no one will be the wiser. I am very excited about this.

Gotta roll. Merry Christmas! and talk with you soon.