Week 1

Today was the end of my first week of Weight Watchers. It was pretty difficult, but easier than I expected. I did well learning the plan, staying within my points (I even had a few of the weekly points left at the end of the week), choosing wisely when eating out, and cutting out unhealthy snacks (luckily I really like fruits and veggies). I was hungry fairly often, but not starving. My weaknesses were not enough daily activity (cramming it all into two sessions isn't ideal), happy hour last Friday (empty calories) and I can't for the life of me drink as much water as I'm supposed to. I weighed in tonight at 4.4 pounds lighter than last Tuesday. I was shooting for 5 pounds, but I'm happy with my progress. Next week I'm going to keep up with the things I did well and focus on portions, attempt to get more frequent and consistent activity, no happy hour, and increase my water intake. My goal is 4-5 more pounds. They say it is easiest in the first three weeks, so it should be attainable. I'll post another update on Monday Nov. 5th because I'll be out of town on Tuesday and Wednesday evening...so I'm hoping one less day in my "week" won't really show.

Weekend Update

It's been a fun weekend! On Friday night, we had some drinks with Sandi and Shawn and some of their friends in Old Town. We started the evening at Chadwicks with a light dinner and met everyone at Union Street Tavern. From there, the group was hungry so Ryan and I had a drink while everyone had dinner at Bugsy's. Our last stop was Murphy's where we listened to some Irish music for a while before heading home pretty early.

Yesterday, Ryan went to Rob's to watch some football and the Penn State game, and I joined some friends from work at Nightmare Manor in Leesburg. It was really fun, not nearly as scary as I expected. They had a few "haunted" buildings and a hay ride. Nothing too exciting happended, but Shira's feet were such a mess as she didn't expect to get messy and wore cute shoes. We stopped at TGI Friday's on the way home. Ryan and I got home within 2 minutes of each other and we watched SNL and fell asleep pretty early again, for a Saturday.

Today we were up early. After breakfast, we decided to go for a bike ride. We rode a total of 16 miles, to Ashburn and back. It is a gorgeous day, and it was relaxing until the end when I was exhausted. I did pretty well though, and Ryan always rides effortlessly. We're hanging out, watching the Steeler game and plan to do some chores later this afternoon. I love relaxing weekends!

Weight Watchers

Five years ago if you asked me if I'd ever be fat, I'd have said I would never let it happen, but I have let it happen. According to my research, I'm obese actually. So, tonight I attended my first Weight Watchers meeting. I'm finally sick of being overweight and have realized that I need to do something about it for my health, not just because of what I look like. I feel fine now, but how will I feel in five or ten years? I can't blame my thyroid issue completely, but I'm glad I know it is there because I know now that it won't be easy to lose weight. I need to take responsibility to change patterns before they really become habits. But, hard core exercise isn't my thing (I can't stick to it) and it doesn't work alone even when I do for a short period of time. I decided I need something that is a healthy response rather than the fad diets and quick fix pills that I've spent most of my life trying. I need to learn how to eat healthy and establish a reasonable exercise plan that I'll follow in order to achieve the overall health I really do want.

Today was really hard. I have to think about what I'm eating rather than just eating whatever I want. I looked up things before I ate them and I was shocked. I'm surprised I'm not heavier than I am. I did well though I think, a couple of points over my goal, but not terrible for my first day. I am pretty hungry right now, but that's probably a good thing and I'm counting on a cup of Green Tea to tide me over until morning. I am excited about this and I'm ready for a change. So why am I making this public? Because I need to be reminded and held accountable. I want people to ask how I'm doing with it, and I want to be embarrassed if I fall off the wagon. Maybe if I stop ignoring it and everyone else does too, it'll force me to start paying attention to what I'm doing. Nothing comes easy in this world...and I don't expect this to.

Happy Halloween!

On Saturday night, we had a Halloween Party. Ryan and Sandi did a phenomenal job designing a Murder Mystery to entertain our 30 or so guests. It was a lot of work for both of them to create the story line, character bios and a scavenger hunt to locate the murder weapon, but it sure was worth it. The story was pretty in depth. Two characters were 'murdered' at separate times and that left five as suspects. As it turned out, Sissy was the murderer. Her motive for 'shooting' Bunny Luce, Sissy discovered that Bunny Luce was a previously unknown heir to her uncle's fortune. Sissy's motive for 'poisoning' her uncle, Richie Bucks, was a need for his fortune to pay her gambling debts and fund her drug habit with the inheritance her uncle Richie willed to "his only living heir." The characters were Rob as Senator Richie Bucks, Justin as host and gun lover Marty Lesser, Shira as flirtatious new hill staffer Bunny Luce, Connie as secret love interest of the senator Foxy Harmony, Jelani as Foxy's jealous husband Sly Harmony, Sandi as spoiled, foofie niece of the senator Sissy Jones, and Shawn as Sissy's bumbling dufus of a husband Dudley Jones.

It was a long two hours of questions for the characters, but they were fantastic! The remainder of the guests were the detectives, and they really got into it. In fact, it got pretty heated when the solution and winners were revealed, as Ben and Gareth thought their teams should have won the game. Ryan and Sandi thought Andrew, Jessie and Erika had beaten them to the punch so they won the first bottle of ice wine. All was well in the end, no hard feelings, just some a good competitive spirits. Erika also won the contest for best costume, with the most votes for her outstanding Cruella Deville costume. It was great - no one debated she deserved that bottle of ice wine.

Thanks to everyone for contributing food, drinks, time and energy. We had a lot of fun and hope everyone else did too! We'll do it again sometime, perhaps a little less ambiguous and a little easier clues (except for Gareth, we'll spend the next year making his cryptogram, since he seemed to be a whiz at cracking that code).

Happy Halloween to all!

Check out the pictures here: shared pictures:
share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8BZM2zlq3csSm

Pre-party Pix

Here are a few pix of the house before the Halloween Party/Murder Mystery on Saturday:

Annual Pumpkin Carving Party

This is the third year we have carved pumpkins with our friends (we actually missed it last year). Each year, we bring our own pumpkins and one of us hosts a night of food and games along with the carving of the pumpkins.

This year we went to Connie and Jelani's for the annual event. Sandi and Shawn and Jennifer and Chu also came for the fun. Connie made a yummy pumpkin punch, pumpkin bars, and had pitas, hummus, chips, salsa, and guacamole. The ladies had a chance to hang out a little while the guys finished watching some football. Then we all gathered in the dining room and carved our pumpkins, roasted pumpkin seeds, and played Taboo. Sandi and Shawn headed home, Jennifer and Chu headed to bed, and Ryan and I played a friendly game of Spades with Connie and Jenali before heading home.

It was a relaxing, fun night. I can't wait to do it again next year!

Ryan's Monster Pumpkin

Erin's Pirate Ship Pumpkin

Here are the pictures of the evening: http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8BZM2zlq3csSE&notag=1

A sneak peak...

Ryan and I took the day off and headed to West Virginia to see if we could catch a glimpse of what is hopefully to come to Northern Virginia sometime soon...the changing of the leaves. It was a relaxing 12 hour day and we found a few patches of colorful trees - lots of brights reds this year.

We stopped at a pumpkin patch near Romney, WV. It was the highlight of the day for sure. We picked our own pumpkins off the vines. The first pumpkin I picked up looked beautiful on the top, but it was already taken - by a rat! I tried to pick up the pumpkin and the rat scurried around my foot. I was apparently stealing his dinner. I tried, but I couldn't scream...I must have reacted though because Ryan asked "what?!?" as it ran almost over his foot. We proceeded a little more carefully and found two perfect pumpkins. We left the place with 2 bails of hay, two large pumpkins (total of 34 lbs.), 20 gourds, nine pieces of Indian Corn and two cans of pop for $27. It was great! We couldn't even buy one pumpkin around here for that. The farmer and his wife were so nice - the wife took our picture as Ryan stuffed two bails of hay in the trunk of my Accord - guess they aren't too used to the city folk around there. It reminded me of how much I miss home (PA) and the the simple life there...and of course the friendly farmers who provide a days worth of fun for next to nothing, even though they've worked like dogs every day for the past year just to provide us with the experience.

I haven't quite had my fill of the foliage this year, so we plan to take a shorter trip once the leaves change around us. But it was so nice to drive around with no destination in mind, have time to just talk about everything and nothing, and stop to eat whenever we got hungry. I love days like today!!!

I love our neighborhood...

Over the past few months that we've lived here, I've learned just how great it is to be a part of a neighborhood where people actually care about one another and take time out of their busy lives to chat and even hang out. They are willing to let you borrow anything and just pop in whenever. I love this neighborhood...

Ryan and I were just sitting in the living room watching football at about 8:15pm and the doorbell rang. Ryan answered the door and this is what he found:

Greetings

The air is cool, the season is fall
Soon the Halloween Spirit will come to all
The ghosts are looking for things to do
In fact, a ghost has brought this to you
BOO is a shield from the witching hour
Just hang it up and watch its power
At your house is where it works
It wards off the creepy and scary who lurk
The treats that come with this note tonight
Are yours to enjoy with delight
Make two copies of this note for your friends
So they will have fuzzies that will not end
We'll all have a smile upon our face
No one will know who boo'd your place
Just one short day to work your spell
Quickly and quietly so know one can tell
Don't forget a nifty treat
Hide something cute or something sweet
Please join the fun, let's really hear it
Spread some fun and Halloween spirit

Directions:
1. Enjoy treats
2. Leave BOO on front door until Halloween
3. You have 24 hours to copy this poem twice and BOO two other people that don't already have a BOO sign

A plate full of cookies arrived with the poem - and I think I know by how good the cookies are, just who pulled this fun little trick. Guess I'll have to start baking and pass it on...