Houston Bound Again

Dillypoo and The Professor are traveling again. We're in Houston to attend the Hunting Art Prize Gala tomorrow night. It's a grand art party with lots of good food and free booze.

And there's always the chance that The Professor will walk away with the $50,000 prize.

This is the same event we were headed to last year when The Professor got the sudden urge to go shopping.

No such desire manifested itself this year, though. One trip to the Men's Wearhouse in this lifetime is apparently enough. He intends to wear that finery again tomorrow.

I packed an extra tie, though. Just in case he can be persuaded to change things up a bit.

Without the diversion of a trip to the mall, Dillypoo entertained herself by playing the Alphabet Game, drinking coffee and studying her feet during the four and a half hour drive.

That's how I discovered the bruise on my big toe. My foot has been hurting for the past couple of weeks but I didn't realize I had an actual boo boo:

I didn't know walking on a treadmill could be so hazardous!

Closer to Goal

Dillypoo is quiet and content this evening. I got to watch a little tee vee and eat a good supper. The Professor went to bed early and I'm thinking about doing the same.

But I wanted to drop by with a quick Weigh Day Update before tucking in for the night.

I lost .4 pounds this week which means I weigh less than 160! I weigh 159.8 pounds to be precise. That's 42.8 pounds gone since beginning this journey last year. And I'm less than 12 pounds away from goal.

It also means I lose another point in my daily target. Which is one less snack during the day. I can live with that.

Especially if it gets me to goal sooner!

Every Picture Tells a Story

I keep looking at this photo of me from yesterday's race:

I look and feel so healthy and skinny! I'm still not used to seeing myself like that. I'm more used to this:

I found this photo lurking in a folder on the server at work last week. It was a bit of a shock! As much as I'm still getting used to my newer, fitter self, seeing old snaps of the bigger me is still jarring. Notice anything missing on my hand? That's back when I couldn't get the ring my mother gave me on my chubby finger.

Looking at these two pictures was motivation for me to go out and walk four miles in the park today even though my legs were sore from yesterday's race.

That hill was a killer!

I can't really explain how this past year has changed me, and I don't mean the weight loss. It's the exercise. The movement. I look and feel so different!

I have more energy and fewer aches and pains. I feel better and I'm happier.

Something in the past two weeks has suddenly clicked into place. I'm no longer craving sugar and crap. I'm starting to think of food as fuel for my body. What does it need to walk faster and farther? What does it need to burn off the rest of this fat?

And I'm actually contemplating running. In the park. Something I never, ever thought I'd consider much less do.

I feel like I just opened a door and I'm about to take a step through it.

I'll keep you posted...

Walking in Pink

Today was the Race for the Cure and The Professor and I got up early to save the bazoombas!

We joined a team at the invitation of my Club WW leader. This is most of the group:

I'm in the front row, second to right. The Professor is off camera to my left. I think he was shy about showing off his new shoes:

This was my second 5K and I'm getting used to the idea that there's a lot of standing and waiting before walking. So I took The Professor's picture:

And then he took my picture:

I asked a stranger to take our picture together:

And then I took a picture of our shadows:

iPhones are useful entertainment while you're waiting.

And then the race began and we were off! I wanted to improve my time from the Cowtown Marathon last month, which I finished in 50:08. Today's course had a hill and I wasn't sure if I could do it.

Dillypoo hasn't quite worked inclines into her workouts yet. I may need to start doing that.

But we managed to keep a good pace and we finished the course in 47:13! A new record for Dillypoo!

And thanks to all of you who sponsored us, we raised $587.68! Which makes The Professor's new blister seem like a trifling inconvenience.

I should probably buy him some decent socks now to go with his new shoes.

Those Shoes Aren't Made for Walking

Tonight I convinced The Professor that he needed a decent pair of walking shoes. His Saturday in the Park walking togs are his standard uniform plus a hat and a pair of Teva sandals. With socks:

I know! I'm a lucky gal.

This ensemble was fine last summer when Dillypoo could barely walk a mile in 25 minutes. Our trips to the park were more like leisurely strolls with frequent stops to take pictures of the river, squirrels and ducks:

Since then, though, I've picked up the pace. Last weekend we walked four miles in 62 minutes. That's an average of 15.5 minutes per mile. And I'm trying to convince The Professor to go farther. I'd like to start walking six miles, which is the distance between the zoo and downtown and back again.

So far he's resisted my efforts, although he says it's the time and not the distance that he's opposed to.

I don't believe him. I think his feet hurt.

So I talked him into parting with some green backs to buy a pair of shoes. The fact that he agreed to return to DSW and try some on confirmed my suspicion.

Dillypoo: "Do you want to get a pair of walking shoes?"

The Professor: "No."

Dillypoo: "I think you should buy a good pair of walking shoes. Your feet hurt after we walk in the park."

The Professor: "My sandals are fine."

Dillypoo: "No, they're not. Do you want to buy a pair of good shoes?"

The Professor: "Ummm..."

That hesitation was all I needed. We were at the shoe store 10 minutes later, where he found a pair of Saucony walking shoes.

And I found another sweet pair of Cole Haans:

I love it when a plan comes together!

Tomorrow we walk in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. If you'd like to contribute to our fundraising efforts, you can click here to sponsor me or click here to sponsor The Professor, who will be walking in his new shoes.

Tuesday Night Distractions

Dillypoo is distracted tonight. That's not necessarily a bad thing. It just means I'm not being very productive.

I really should be catching up on work and paying bills, but with Crystal's amazing performance on Idol and Sue's simply UNBELIEVABLE performance on Glee, well, I think you can see why.

Assuming you are as addicted to American Idol and Glee as I am.

If not, then you really should drink the Fox Network Kool-Aid and start watching tee vee on Tuesday nights. It'll make posts like these easier to follow.

I'd love to have been in the writer's room when they were brainstorming tonight's Glee episode:

Writer A: "How can we make Sue sexy?"

Writer B: "Whips and chains?"

Writer A: "Too cliche. She needs to be believable."

Writer B: "Have her channel Madonna and wear a cone shaped bra while faithfully reproducing Madge's Vogue video?"

Writer A: "Brilliant!"

Weigh Day Update: Dillypoo's plateau seems to finally be over! I lost 1.8 pounds this week, which means I've now lost 42.2 pounds total. Another .3 pounds and I'll finally be under 160!

And thank you to everyone who's contributed to my fundraising goal for Saturday's Walk for the Cure. Of course, if you'd still like to contribute, you can do so here.

Race for the Cure

Dillypoo and The Professor are walking in the Race for the Cure this Saturday. This will be my second 5K and his first.

Wow! I can't believe I just wrote that.

In addition to walking, I'm also collecting. I have a $100 fundraising goal. If you'd like to help me reach that amount, you can donate here.

And speaking of The Cure, it's TMI time here on Dillypoo Chatter. I went for my mammogram last week. When was the last time you had one?

I had to go back for a second screening because they found something abnormal. Everything is OK, though. The second x-ray was fine.

But it was a disconcerting phone call and made me a bit jittery for 24-hours. My grandmother survived breast cancer and a mastectomy.

I remember taking her shopping for fake boobs after her surgery. It was one of those hilarious girl bonding trips that we'd laugh about.

And even though you're not around anymore, I'll be walking this for you, Grandma!

The Honeymoon is Over

Signs that you and your beloved have been together a long time:

The Professor: "Are you texting on the crapper?"

Dillypoo: "What's it to you?"

The Professor: "You hate it when your Dad calls from the bathroom!"

Dillypoo: "That's different! You can't tell where someone is texting from."

The Professor: "I know you're texting on the crapper."

Dillypoo: "I'm not texting you. Go away!"

And why do boys have to call a commode a crapper?

Sing, Sing a Song

Dillypoo has joined the Glee party...albeit about four hours late.

I finished watching the first season about 30 minutes ago. Which means I missed tonight's Season Two premiere.

I hope it's on Hulu so I can watch it during lunch tomorrow.

I'm dying to know what this is all about:



Don't tell me!!! I'll find out soon enough on my own. And then we can discuss.

Weigh Day Update: I lost .6 pounds! I'm now at a total weight loss of 40.6 pounds. Yay!

Fruit Chew Flavored Evil

(Image found here. Original source unknown.)

Dillypoo was doing well with trigger foods. Today I started eating Starburst candies as if they were the bowl of grapes I was ignoring in the fridge.

Bad Dillypoo!

And I was so happy with myself for resisting this yesterday:

Dillypoo to Total Stranger: "Excuse me, but do you mind if I take a picture of your nachos?"

Total Stranger: "Ummm....what?"

Dillypoo: "I'm a blogger on a weight loss journey and I want to take a picture of nachos to post on my blog as one of the things I didn't eat today."

Total Stranger: "Okay! Wow. I'm getting married in a couple of weeks. I probably shouldn't eat these, either!"

And so Dillypoo destroyed a perfectly good snack for someone yesterday.

If only I'd had that same power today. I wouldn't have a tropical fruit chew stain on my food journal this afternoon.

Guess I better go and fix something healthy for dinner and reverse the damage.

I'm sure The Professor will be happy to see me in the kitchen.

Same Time Last Year

What a difference a year makes! This weekend was the Main Street Arts Festival. Last year, I ate and wino'd my way through one of the biggest art events in the South and gained a full pound.

This year I parked on the fifth floor of the parking garage and walked the stairs both coming and going:

Last year, I wallowed in gluttony, eating until my food coupons were gone and more than one wine bottle was empty. This year, I took an apple and a small bag of pretzels and treated myself to a skinny vanilla latte from Starbucks.

Last year, I was still wearing XXL polo shirts and size 14 jeans:

I don't even own those clothes anymore! This year, I'm wearing size 8 capris and a cute top from the juniors department:

Last year, I collapsed from exhaustion after spending two days shopping and eating and drinking. This year, I went for a four mile walk in the park with The Professor after spending two hours perusing the booths:

Last year, I bought a lot of crap while under the influence of red wine. I sort of recall getting a ring stuck on my finger, too.

This year, I used my food money and bought a pretty necklace:

And I didn't even miss the nachos, hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy and goodness knows what.

Yes, what a difference a year makes!

Not So Green Thumb

A few days ago I confessed that Dillypoo has a defective (well, virtually non-existent) maternal instinct. I should also confess that I'm not very good with plants, either. I killed our Christmas tree again this year:

I guess you can say I'm not the nurturing type.

I forgot to water our tree last year. This year I overcompensated and drowned it.

Overwatering seems to be a theme with me lately. Remember my poor water-logged iPhone?

Moral to this blog: Don't ask Dillypoo to babysit your children or take care of your houseplants while you're on vacation. Unless you don't want them to survive your absence.

Crabby-Poo

Dillypoo is going to bed a little crabby tonight.

It's late, I just balanced my checkbook (sort of), paid some bills and moped about my .4 pound gain this week.

And I may have had a chocolate truffle (or three) as I sulked.

I won't deny it. I'm getting frustrated. I stepped up my exercise this week. I managed to keep my food journal. And yet I STILL showed a gain.

I'm beginning to think it's going to take as much time to lose this last 15 as it did to lose the first 40.

Tomorrow is a new day (and it's only 23 minutes away). I'd better go to bed so I can get up and hit the treadmill again.

I'm not giving up! I'm just stuck. In a rut.

And rhyming badly. Did I mention it's late?

Hoppy Holidays

The Professor and I spent the afternoon at my brother's house, gobbling up ham, casseroles and deviled eggs, and chasing kids away from our iPhones and the App Store.

As is customary for most holiday gatherings, Dillypoo was in charge of dessert. I baked cupcakes and used my fancy new cupcake tree, which distracted from the less than perfect symmetry of my baking:

(I accidentally over-filled the baking cups which meant I had 12 cupcakes buried under one gigantic cupcake top. The decapitation wasn't pretty. Thankfully, copious amounts of frosting can fix a lot of kitchen sins.)

Every year I try and bring something a bit festive, something that screams Easter. Like the cake pops I made last year and the Spam rabbit I did a few years before that:

Nothing makes Easter memories with nieces and nephews like cake and canned meat products! And I know my plan is working because my oldest nephew brought up the rabbit again today.

He has no recollection of the cake pops, however.

And in preparation for the assault of sweets and a buffet lunch, I walked four miles in the park yesterday and I did my full treadmill and Nordic workout this morning.

And did I mention that Dillypoo wore a dress today?

I'm pretty certain it's been at least 15 years (give or take a few) since the last time I wore one. Daddypoo was impressed: