I accept this award.....

Hey there! It's mid February 2017.  All is well.  Loretta and I started a new diet plan on January 9.  I know you all are thinking, "another diet plan? when will she ever learn?".  I've made a new friend; her name is Trish.  She is a weight loss coach.  I am following a plan that really seems to be working.  I've lost 20 pounds in a month.  I know that pace will not continue, but it's a really good start.  What's more impressive though is Loretta is deflating.  I've lost at least 2 inches of Loretta!  The plan is not the most exciting diet I've ever been on and Loretta tries to break my willpower every so often.  The plan is high protein, low, very low carb, no dairy, no beans, no nuts, no BOOZE.  Basically, it is meat, fish, eggs, and above ground vegetables.  Loretta gets pissed because there is no real variety, but she gets over it.  I consume extra protein with protein shakes, protein fruit drinks, protein breakfast items, and protein entrees.  It takes a bit of imagination and creativity to make these protein items 'yummy', but it can be done.

Once again, another Valentine's day and Kate and I are on a diet.  So, no chocolate, no wine, no extremely fattening, delicious Valentine's Day dinner.  Oh well.  Loretta cried.  Poor Loretta.  She feels like she moved to a 3rd world country.   Loretta loves all holidays and special occasions.

Speaking of special occasions, this is the year my best friend, Deanna Harrell Keehn, turns 60.  OMG!  60!  Unreal reality.  In the usual DHK fashion, there will be a gala to celebrate her entrance into yet another decade.  The theme for this celebration will be the "Oscars"; red carpet, paparazzi, awards, and, of course, evening gowns.

This is the dress I plan on wearing.

Loretta is not invited.  

Getting into this dress will be a tall order, but I'm confident I can do it.  Loretta, of course, thinks otherwise.  She has laughed and snickered more than a few times.  She still thinks she is going to accompany me to this party.  No, no Loretta.... really..... you are not invited!

Brief recap

Well, here it is 2 years since I last blogged.  I'll take a stab at recapping what has happened and what has not happened.  The not happened part is pretty easy and straight forward.... I had plans of being at my weight loss goal many months ago.  I'm still not there.  Not. Even. Close.  I'm not complaining, just still working at it.  I have not lost sight of my health goal.  In fact, my real goal is to improve my health and keep my blood sugar in check as not to become a type 2 diabetic.  In these past 2 years I've had a drop in my A1c from 8.9 in January 2015 to 5.9 in December 2016.  No meds just diet and exercise.  I initially dropped 47 pounds in 8 or 9 months, then, of course, managed to gain about 20 pounds back.  And guess who is still running the show??  You got it, Loretta!

Back in January 2015 Loretta and I joined the gym and forked out some serious cash on a personal trainer for 9 months.  Enter Personal Trainer, Tom.  Tom was awesome.  He didn't judge me or Loretta.  He was all for the breakup though.  He could see how Loretta would take over.  She was always in the way and did her level best to make every exercise as difficult as possible.  She wanted me to quit, but I did not.  

Tom taught me about lifting, which I've grown to love.  Bench press, deadlift, and squats with the barbell.  Loretta and I got into some dumbbell exercises as well.  Tom had us sweating and feeling super about it.  My A1c went from 8.9 on 1-30-15 to 6.3 on 4-27-15.  At the end of the 9 months with Tom I had dropped 47 pounds and quite a few inches, but you know who was still lurking.  Although she wasn't quite as big as when I started, she still maintained a pretty impressive existence.  She's one tough broad!

While training with Tom he suggested I cut my carbs and increase my protein considerably.  I really dogged on some proteins and was having about 60-70 carbs a day. This combination helped me to drop the A1c.  Even my medical doctor was impressed.  I'm, however, not impressed with my medical doctor.  I don't think she's all that smart and she aggravates the hell out of me with the way she 'cares' for me.  I have little confidence or respect for much of the medical community.  I despise the insurance industry.  I've yet to find a medical doctor I can really work with.  So, I'm just biding my time with this gal.  I am working toward the day I can walk into her office and tell her to kiss my ass!  Anyway, I'm not here to bad-mouth my doctor.  She has no real part in any of this.

Let's get back to me and Loretta.  So, during the course of the last 2 years and following the 9 months of training, I gradually added back some carbs into my diet.  I've stayed away from the white stuff, you know, bread, pasta, flour, rice, all of that crap.  I found that I gained some pounds back but my A1c remained in check.  Gotta feel good about that.

So here I am in 2017, the year I will turn 59 fucking years old.  Loretta continues to 'hang on' to the relationship.  I'm still determined to get her out of my life, out of my bed, out of my clothes.  Loretta, Loretta, oh, how you sicken me!

Get blogging you silly girl!

Good morning!  Here it is the start of 2017.  There has been some progress with Loretta since I last posted, although she still remains in the picture, in EVERY picture.  My last blog was, I believe, the beginning of 2015.  Loretta and I joined the gym in 2015 and continue to be faithful to a consistent workout schedule.  Even through out of town trips/vacations I made sure our accommodations had a workout facility.  There has been weight loss and some weight gain.  There has been health improvements and smaller sized clothing.  The past 2 years will need some recapping.  I don't have time to get into all of that right now, but I will a little later.  For right now, everyday is a new beginning, stay true to yourself, love yourself, smile, be honest, be respectful, find goodness, and alway, always be kind.

Armed with the Fitbit..... Beware Loretta!

Loretta Reigns Supreme

Well, I decided to take a look back at my blog.  No posts since 2012.  Reason being... Loretta!  She kept her head down, remained cool as a cucumber, and just lurked, simply waited for me to let down my guard.  And, I'll be damned if she didn't attack.  Sneaky and sly Loretta has not only gained back her ground but she has exceeded her presence.  As usual.... she continues to be the almighty bitch. Loretta is like an unprotected, street walking whore.  She cares not who she infects.  She cares not who she destroys.  There must be something that can be done about her.  This is no longer a love/hate relationship with Loretta.... only the hatred remains.

Loretta befriended my co-workers at my new place of employment.  She made everyone think she is the life of the party, the culinary expert, the connoisseur of all things delicious.

So, here it is January 4, 2015 and I'm back at square one.  I've let Loretta totally run the relationship and she shines bright.  A lot has happened since my last blog post, the most notable being the loss of my dad.  His passing in May 2014 absolutely knocked me on my ass.  I sure didn't expect to lose him so suddenly.  I miss him everyday and still have a hard time believing he is gone.  He struggled with the 'food demons' and I am certainly my father's daughter.  The type 2 diabetes was probably the biggest contribution to his deteriorating health.  He wanted to ignore it and act as if it wasn't as serious as it really was.  I will be in the very same shape as he was if I don't do something to correct the problem.  The problem is Loretta.  Loretta equals illness.  She must go!

I know all the things to do to deal with Loretta.  Blogging is actually very good therapy.  There is a lot of accountability when one blogs.  Everyone knows there is really only one way to accomplish the goal of improving health through weight loss.... portion control and exercise.  Those are two things Loretta does not want to address.  Loretta is more of a "bring on some more of that" and "uh, exercise, I don't think so" kinda gal.

Well, Loretta has been trying to ignore the newest piece of artillery I've acquired.  It's a Fitbit.  Everyone knows what a Fitbit is by now so I won't go into explaining it.  Again, accountability is so important and for me that is what the Fitbit is going to contribute to the fight against Loretta and her army of fat cells.

continuing on the right path

Knocking on the door of 30 pounds.  Loretta has not put up much of a fight so far.  I'm still not counting her out though.  She is a tough old bird who can and will turn on me at any moment.

I have several occasions coming up and I'm wondering what Loretta and I are going to be wearing.  First event is next weekend when my niece gets married.  We have a few weddings to attend this year... April, June, July and August.  I'm hoping to not take Loretta to the August event.  She will probably still be tagging along, but she will not be the life of the party, that is for sure!

Loretta and I have a new job starting on April 23rd.  We are leaving the St. Charles County Circuit Court and going to St. Charles County Municipal Court.  What's more important is we are leaving all of the food days, the grazing table, the birthday cakes, the chili cook offs, the cinco de mayo fiesta and Gaylene's constant onslaught of expired chips, cookies, crackers and such.  We will be working in an office of 3 (not counting Loretta, of course) starting April 23rd.  Looking forward to the solitude and a lot less calories.

Loretta, your days are numbered!

minus 24

Down 24 pounds.... TAKE THAT LORETTA!!