Royal After Glow

I think I've finally recovered from the Royal Wedding high I was on yesterday. Four hours of sleep and baked beans for breakfast can do silly things to a Dillypoo:

As planned, I prepared a traditional English breakfast to accompany our wedding watching party. Poached eggs, crisp bacon, buttered toast and scones with clotted cream and orange marmalade. And baked beans:

The scone was devoured before I remembered to take it's picture. It was divine, though. And I'm not sure if English tradition includes bananas, but they were there so I added them. Yum!

Dillypoo was the only one brave enough to eat the beans, though. My mother and girlfriend weren't willing to go there that early in the day. I thought they were pretty good, especially with the egg. Go figure.

We never got around to drinking the tea, though. At 4:30 in the morning, Dillypoo needs coffee. Lots of coffee.

The KaTEA bags will keep as a fun memento of the occasion.

My Britain-based friend on Facebook told me one of William's buddies gave him some of these. I sure hope so! Will and Kate seem like a fun couple who would enjoy the joke.

After it was all over, Dillypoo was home alone by noon and spent the day watching the wedding replay on BBC America and searching for live tidbits about the parties and other festivities.

I was officially done by 8:00 p.m. and sound asleep soon after. The Professor just shook his head in dismay and curled up on the sofa to watch tee vee and let me sleep.

He's my prince charming!

I can now return to my other obsession:

Royal Wedding Bliss

Dillypoo is bleary eyed today. I'm also eternally grateful I had the foresight to take the day off from work. My mother, girlfriend and I rose at 3:45 this morning to watch Will and Kate get hitched.

We started our party last night with dinner, a bottle of wine and goodie bags:

I made sure we each had a tiara, wedding cookie, KaTEA bags and a ring:

With barely four hours of sleep, though, I'm hard pressed to coherently recall details of the last 10 spent since rising before dawn.

What I can remember is summed up best in three simple words:

Regal

Beautiful

Joyous

Congratulations, dashing Prince William and lovely Princess Catherine!

Dillypoo is planning to continue celebrating your romance by taking an afternoon nap.

Last Minute Preparations

Dillypoo brought wedding treats to the office today:

I had extra cookie dough left over after baking the Easter goodies so I made snacks for the office:

It's a bit unfortunate that the bride and groom's initials are "WC."

The festive display accenting my treats arrived in yesterday's mail from a friend in jolly old England! She's been following my nonsense fascination with the royal wedding and decided to send me presents:

Squee! Dillypoo loves presents! Thank you!!!

Right now I'm frantically trying to wrap things up at the office so I can scoot out on time and finish getting things ready for tomorrow morning's festivities.

I have an after-work to do list that includes things like "buy cat food," "don't forget scones and bacon," and "pack tiara."

And post a quick blog update.

More later...

Belted

I love random reminders of how much weight I've lost:

The belt I grabbed this morning was so big on me I had to fasten it through the weave instead of a riveted hole!

I remember when I never wore belts because I thought they were bulky. In my mind, they just added padding to my already overstuffed middle. I also rarely ever wore anything loose enough to require a belt.

My ass was fat enough to keep pants snugly in place without assistance.

About three months after beginning this journey, though, I had to start wearing a belt:

It was my first NSV (Non-Scale Victory). I was seeing the first results in my weight loss efforts and I was pretty excited about it. I went shopping for a smaller size not long afterwards.

(I used to love those white jeans, by the way. Those enormous, size 16, too tight white jeans with the XXL polo shirt from Target. Ugh!)

That was a little over two years ago.

It seems more like a lifetime.

Sweet Easter Treats

I know ya'll have been waiting all day to see what Easter treat Dillypoo cooked up this year.

It wasn't a Spam Easter egg.

It wasn't cake pops.

I didn't dip any Peeps.

And I didn't bake any cupcakes.

Nope, yesterday Dillypoo put on her baking cap and apron and made cookies for today's Easter brunch:

Sweet bunnies, chicks and Easter eggs!

Hoppy Easter, everyone! I wish I could send a cookie to everyone of you.

Two Things I Can't Live Without

Paula Deen was recently asked what ingredient and kitchen gadget she couldn't live without. Her answer? Butter and a deep fryer.

Really? A deep fryer? Would it kill Paula to learn a few healthy kitchen tricks? Just the thought of a huge vat of hot oil makes my arteries spasm.

Believe it or not, Paula, food actually tastes better without all of that grease and butter!

I remember the first time I tasted a carrot. Really tasted a carrot. I was about 10 and pretending I was alone and lost in the wilderness (Dillypoo was a weirdo as a child). Starving, I had to eat what the land provided. That day, the land (kitchen fridge) provided a bag of raw carrots. 

Little Dillypoo was used to eating carrots that had been at least peeled and usually boiled, but that day I had to eat my carrot raw. And I liked it. That carrot was so sweet and crunchy! Prior to that moment, I was a pretty fussy eater, but the realization I'd been missing out on tasty carrots made me want to try other things. 

It's something I still like to do. I love eating new foods. When I began my weight loss journey, I eagerly explored new, healthy ways of eating. 

And the question posed to Paula Deen got me thinking about what ingredient and kitchen gadget I couldn't live without. Two years ago my answer would've been saltine crackers and my microwave oven.

These days, it's vanilla yogurt and my Magic Bullet.

I eat at least one or two containers of yogurt a day. I top fresh berries with it, pour it over cereal or oatmeal, add it to my fruit smoothies and eat it plain out of the container.

Before learning to eat healthy, I'd buy yogurt only once in a blue moon, and then it was the kind loaded with extra sugar and artificial flavors.

Now I buy nonfat yogurt in 4 oz containers, usually vanilla.

My love affair with the Magic Bullet began in January and has yet to wane:

A mix of frozen fruits, a fresh banana, a tablespoon of milled flaxseed, a yogurt and some flavored water, and voila! Breakfast! After work snack! Dessert!

Or add a scoop of whey powder and voila! A nutritious, hydrating protein shake after a long run!

I wonder if Paula Deen has even heard of Magic Bullet.

This post is part of Brandy's Fat Ass Friday linky! Check it out.

Waiting in the Cold

This pretty much sums up Dillypoo's morning:

 

I had my annual girl check-up today. My OBGYN retired and this was my first appointment with the new doctor.

I arrived 10 minutes early and was promptly escorted to an exam room where a 13-year-old nurseling, bundled in a hot pink hoodie to ward off the air conditioning, updated my medical history with a lot of questions:

Nurseling: "Any major changes since your last visit?"

Dillypoo: "I've lost almost 60 pounds."

Nurseling: "Any changes in your appetite?"

Dillypoo: "Many."

Nurseling: "Any fluctuations in your weight?"

Dillypoo: "I've lost almost 60 pounds."

Nurseling: "When was your last period?"

Dillypoo: "Seven years ago. It lasted four months and ended with a hysterectomy."

Nurseling: "Any possibility you could be pregnant?"

Dillypoo: "No."

After the inquisition, she handed me a threadbare hospital robe and told me to "take everything off" and wear the gown with the opening in the front. Then she gave me a paper blanket to cover my lap and left the room.

As she closed the door behind her, I heard her complain to another nurseling that the office was freezing.

That was at 8:55 a.m.

At 9:15 I was still alone in the exam room, shivering under my paper blanket and trying to ignore the cold by playing games on my iPhone and updating my Facebook status:

At 9:25 I opened the door, flagged down the nurseling and asked how much longer I had to wait. I also told her I was freezing. She said the doctor was in the adjoining office and I was next.

She didn't offer me her hoodie.

By the time the doctor showed up at 9:40 (a full hour after my scheduled appointment) my toes were numb and my sense of humor on ice.

Doctor: "Hello! How are you today?"

Dillypoo: "Freezing and irritable. I've been waiting for an hour."

Doctor: "I'm sorry you had to wait. My last patient had a lot of questions."

Dillypoo: "I can appreciate that, but it would've been nice if one of your nurselings had let me know how late you were running. It's cold in here and I have a lot of things to do this morning."

Doctor: "Point taken. Let's get on with your exam."

I admit she was pretty good at calming me down. She was also a much better listener than her staff. I only had to tell her about the hysterectomy once. By the end of the appointment, I'd almost forgiven her for leaving me cold, naked and alone for an hour.

And as my temper cooled and the appointment progressed, I discovered that my new doctor is also a runner (she ran her first half marathon this past weekend!). I brought up my number one problem with running.

She was very sympathetic and after a physical examination determined my plumbing is in decent shape. I don't need surgery or medications to control the problem, just some simple exercises, dietary changes and thoughtful planning before a run:

• Continue with the Kegel exercises
• Cut back on caffeinated beverages, especially on run days
• Cool down after a run by walking until I feel muscle control return
• Wear a tampon to support my bladder

I admit her last suggestion was a curve ball I didn't see coming! The first three I'd already begun on my own initiative, but I hadn't thought about plugging it up (so to speak).

I guess I'll give it a try. I'll have to find that aisle again at the Super Target, though. It's been awhile since I've shopped for feminine products.

Did I mention I've had a hysterectomy?

Easter Sweets

Easter is this weekend. Time for another family gathering at my brother's house.

Holidays with my family are usually about the food. My sister-in-law is the queen of breakfast casseroles, my brother weeps with pride over his grilling skills and my sister-in-law's sister's husband makes The. Best. Guacamole. Ever. The feast is almost always anchored with a spiral cut ham lovingly selected by my parents at the local ham store.

Assuming my mom doesn't leave it sitting on her kitchen counter again. No, I'm not letting that go, mother. Dillypoo isn't interested in noshing out of the kids' Easter baskets for lunch.

Pack the damn ham!

As always, Dillypoo is in charge of dessert and I am planning something fabulous. It wouldn't be Easter without something sweet (or weird) from Dillypoo's kitchen.

Remember the Spam rabbit?

Easter 2007

I usually do something sweet, although the chocolate dipped Peeps were a bit sugar-coma inducing:

Easter 2008

And the cake pops, while cute, were a major pain to make:

Easter 2009

Last year I took the easy way out with cupcakes:

Easter 2010

But not this year! Dillypoo has something special planned. I can't say much more now, but I'm looking forward to spending some quality time in my kitchen this weekend.

And no, it doesn't involve Spam!

Although sculpting a giant Spam Easter egg has occured to me more than once.

Royal Lampooning

Because I can't help myself. Enjoy!

Dillypoo Day 2011

Yesterday was Dillypoo Day! I hope everyone had a lovely celebration. I did. This year, I met my mom and best friend at a day spa where we spent FIVE hours being rubbed, scrubbed, dipped and pampered.

I had a one hour massage.

And a body sugar scrub.

Followed by a facial.

And lunch.

Topped off with a manicure and pedicure.

And wine.

It was wonderfully relaxing. I fell asleep during the facial.

Afterwards, my friend and I bade farewell to my mother and headed to the Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival, one of the biggest art fests in the Southwest.

I look forward to Main Street every year. I always take the day off from work and save my pennies so I can buy a bauble or two. There's always something fabulous to take home. This year it was jewelry.

A pair of granite earrings:

And hand-crafted sterling silver earrings and matching necklace with pearls:

Love!

I also got to eat my mandatory festival nachos:

I tried to be a good girl on the booze and snacking this year, not only because I'm a healthier me, but because I knew I had to get up with the roosters this morning to run another 10K event: The Zoo Run!

I set my alarm for 5:55 a.m. Dillypoo does not normally rise before 7:00 a.m. on Saturdays, but my new obsession with running overrode any objections my sub-conscious may have had to getting up early.

Since The Professor and I live a scant one mile from the zoo, I decided to walk instead of drive. As I was leaving, The Professor made a gallant offer from under the bed covers to drive me there, but I'm pretty sure he was hoping I'd say no. Which I did.

Enjoy your Saturday sleep in, darling!

It took me 15 minutes to walk there, which was a nice warm up for the run. It would've taken me more time to find a parking space had I driven.

It was surprisingly cold this morning! After seeing temperatures in the upper 80's for the past two weeks, 48 degrees felt pretty nippy today.

But cold is good running weather. No worries about overheating and peeing all over myself when it's nice and chilly!

The gun went off at 7:00 a.m. sharp! I managed to work my way close to the front of the crowd again and crossed the starting line a few seconds after the horn.

The first part of the race went through the zoo. The only animals I saw up at that hour were flamingos and animatronic dinosaurs, which was pretty fun.

But it was all uphill after that.

I'd heard this run was hilly, and boy was it! I had decided not to focus on speed this time but instead keep a steady pace so the hills didn't wear me down or tire me out quickly.

And guess what? I beat my time from the Cowtown 10K! Granted, I only ran it 26 seconds faster, but it was still faster!

Did I mention the hills?

The rest of the day was filled with errands, a haircut and post-race, celebratory pancakes for dinner:

Tomorrow I think I'll sleep in and spend the day pretending I'm a hermit.

Royally Sweet Wedding Treats

I wonder if M&M's will jump on this:

(Chris Jackson, Getty Images/SWNS)

Cuz I'd definitely buy Will and Kate candies for my Royal Wedding Watching party! They'd go swell with the tea bags I ordered:

I wonder if room service will send up breakfast tea to the love birds with these on their honeymoon?

14 days and counting!

Yes, I've Lost My Mind

It's time for Dillypoo to commit to a new goal for this year.

My second running group ends Saturday with the Fort Worth Zoo Run. If I survive the 10K (and survival is debatable - I peeked online at a course map), then I'll be ready to move forward with my third fitness goal for 2011. Coach Molly thinks I'm ready to train for a half marathon.

That's 13.1 miles. Thirteen point one. Miles.

I think I may have brain damage from running in the recent heat because I've decided to do it. Dillypoo begins training with a new group in two weeks for a half marathon in November or December. I'm planning to stick with the group through the summer until I get too busy to run after work.

You remember my fall work schedule. Starting in mid-August, Dillypoo gets to work longer and longer hours until I eventually spend more time at the office than I do at home. It'll culminate sometime in early October with an 80+ hour week.

Always something to look forward to.

Not.

I discussed my upcoming schedule issues with Coach Molly as she brainwashed discussed the long distance training with me. So long as I can make the Saturday morning long runs and get some shorter runs in before work during the week, she thinks I'll be fine to run my first half by the end of the year.

In addition to training, I'm also going to check in with my doctor about my "number one" problem with running. My last two runs were dry ones, but only because the temperature was below 70 degrees. I've noticed that I have problems only when it's humid and/or hot out. With summer coming up fast, that means I may drown on the trails if I don't find a fix soon.

Kegel, one, two, three, relax. And again.

I broke 100 miles run since January! Woot!

Bizzy Saturday

6:09 a.m. Wake up six minutes ahead of alarm clock. Slip out of bed, get dressed and feed the beasties.

6:30 a.m. Wake up grumpy The Professor and start hauling stuff to the front yard for a tag sale.

7:00 a.m. Strap on my fanny pack to hold yard sale cash and get a reality check on how much weight I've lost since our last yard sale:

7:15 a.m. Sell $36 of crap treasure to first customers.

7:20 a.m. Dash back upstairs and change into running togs.

7:30 a.m. Kiss grumpy The Professor goodbye and take off for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K.

7:45 a.m. Detour around race traffic stopped on the freeway and park a half mile away from the starting line. The walk is a good warm-up for the run.

8:30 a.m. Gun time! I'm at the head of the running pack and take off.

8:50 a.m. Hit a steep hill and think I'm going to die going up it.

9:00 a.m. Cross the finish line with dry panties and in record time: 30 minutes 47 seconds! Grab a bottle of water, an apple and a banana and start hiking back to the car.

9:20 a.m. Arrive home to lots of folks rummaging through crap treasure in the front yard. Yay!

9:50 a.m. Head outside to help The Professor with the sale after taking a bath and fixing a fruit and whey powder smoothie. Yummm!

11:30 a.m. Pay it forward by giving the treadmill to a buddy in my running group:

2:30 p.m. Visit with Auntiepoo and The Divine Miss E, who picks through the leftovers to furnish her new playhouse.

3:00 p.m. Load up the leftovers and head to the Goodwill.

4:00 p.m. Lunch! Finally.

5:00 p.m. Weekly trip to Costco to feed The Professor's Coke habit and Dillypoo's need for enormous bags of fruit.

6:30 p.m. Grocery shopping at the Super Target. And maybe a detour to shop for summer tops at Cato's.

8:00 p.m. Tidy up the house, start laundry and make a sandwich for dinner.

10:30 p.m. Crash at the computer to catch up on blogs and do a little blogging.

My Number One Problem with Running

Dillypoo loves running. Dillypoo loves what running does for me. Dillypoo's bladder, however, does not love running.

Staying dry is becoming more of a challenge now the weather is getting warmer. The longer I run and the hotter it gets, the more likely I am to wet myself after a run.

It's both worrisome and just a bit embarrassing.

The first time it happened was last summer after returning from Germany. It was one of my first outings to the park in triple degree weather. Imagine my surprise when I finished my walk and pissed all over myself.

And it's happened more than once over the past few weeks, usually after running in 80+ degree temperatures.

Like this evening.

I don't usually stop when I run, but tonight Coach Molly insisted we take water breaks to stay hydrated. I finished the first 1.75 mile loop, paused my Nike+ GPS app and had a small cup of water. I stopped again after the second 1.75 mile loop, paused my Nike+ GPS app and had another small cup of water.

And then I peed myself.

I crossed my legs. I bounced up and down. I kegled like crazy.

But there was no closing those gates once opened. I told Coach Molly I would not be completing the last .75 mile loop and hopped to my car for a wet drive home.

And what really pisses me off (pardon the pun), is that I had to stop a half mile short of seeing 100 miles since I began tracking my runs in January:

Oh well. I'll see that milestone on Saturday after I run the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K.

I just hope I don't drown on the way home afterwards.


I decided to link this post to Brandy's Fat Ass Friday linky dink thing. Brandy is awesome! Check her out.

Wedding Plans

Only 23 days until Wills and Kate say "I do!"

Dillypoo's plans to watch the nuptials unfold on tee vee with my mom and girlfriend are still intact. I've found most of my outfit for the ceremony, including the fancy tiara above and this fabulous new pajama set lounge suit:

Thank you, eBay! I'm still shopping for the perfect bathrobe morning coat, though. I'm thinking something with a feather boa would add that additional splash of sophistication I'm looking for.

And I'll probably need new slippers shoes. I always need new shoes.

I haven't made any major changes to the party menu, although it's been suggested I add kippers. I probably won't, though. I've tried the Vegemite and I think I can handle baked beans for breakfast, but I'm going to draw the line at small, oily fish.

Which leaves me with this next big party decision: What tea to serve? Earl Grey with lemon or English Breakfast with cream?

Crack Tuesday

Dillypoo got her crack fix tonight:

It may not look like much to you, but I could eat that salsa with a spoon. Of course, I prefer it with CHIPS.

And I found two new items to add to the Forbidden Food List:

Chocolate dipped, chocolate mousse Easter Peeps and Peepsters.

OMG

I wonder if I bought a bag now would they last until October so I can eat them on Halloween?

Just Say No

I recently discovered that David Kirchoff, the Supreme Mugwump of Club WW, has a blog. I was skeptical he was the true author of this blog, though, and assumed a team of marketing monkeys drafted and published posts based on a strategically concepted list of topics.

But now I don't think so. Now I think ol' Dave may be writing his blog from the heart, just like the rest of us. He gets too personal for it to be a team writing effort. That, and a professional copyeditor would never use double spaces between sentences.

This morning I was reading his latest post, a confessional about eating breakfast cereal. In it, he lists a personal list of forbidden foods, which got me to thinking about my own personal food ban.

One of the reasons I chose Weight Watchers as my preferred weight loss tool was because they promised I could eat whatever I wanted and lose weight. Nothing is forbidden on the points plan.

To me, that meant I could continue eating things like Taco Bell burritos, french fries and the occasional donut. Maybe not all at the same meal, but I could eat them if I wanted to.

Of course, there's a cost for eating those foods. WW makes you pay for them with their precious points, and every Club WW member knows to hoard their points! Eventually, the realization sets in that a 14 point Big Mac just isn't as satisfying as a small lean steak with steamed vegetables, applesauce and a piece of buttered toast (one of my dinners from last week).

And although I'm pretty good about making healthy choices these days, there are some foods that I simply can't have around. Like Dave, I have a Forbidden Food List:

• Chips - Chips are like crack to me. Corn chips, potato chips, cheesy chips. I can't buy them. If I go to a party and there is a bowl of chips, I will park myself in front of them until it's time to leave or the bowl is empty. I love chips. I cannot have them in the house. The only time I permit myself to eat chips is when The Professor and I eat at our favorite Mexican restaurant. I eat their chips and salsa without guilt. I also try and limit our visits there to no more than once or twice a month.

• Fast Food - Specifically Taco Bell and Jack in the Box. I refuse to order any food that is served in a paper sack through a drive up window. You can try and talk me into getting a potato and chili from Wendy's, but I'd rather watch you eat a heart attack in a bag while I sip my diet Coke. I'll grab dinner when I get home.

• Donuts - There is absolutely no nutritional value in donuts. They are fried balls of fat rolled in sugar. Granted, they are delicious fried balls of fat rolled in sugar, but I will not eat them ever again. Never. Ever.

• Candy Bars - I used to treat myself to a candy bar whenever I went grocery shopping. I'd pick out my snack, make sure the cashier handed it back to me so I could put it in my purse and then chow down on the drive home. I have forbidden myself to ever buy a full-size candy bar ever again. I may occasionally grab a mini-bar at the office, but I try and avoid those, too. The only time I permit myself to eat candy is on Halloween. That is the one night of the year I eat as many chocolate covered caramel, peanut butter, nougat bars as I can.

Two years ago, a banned food list would've elicited pouts and foot stamping. I didn't want to be deprived of my favorite treats. But today I relish my new fit self and understand that even though I can eat those things, I don't want to. I've gotten used to the taste of healthy food. And I don't ever want to go back to craving those things that have nothing but artificial flavor going for them.


This post was inspired by Brandy over at You Don't Know.