Desperate Measures

So it is now November 5th. As in the Holidays are RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. As in Lisa needs to loose the 10-15 pounds (variable by day of the week, point in the month, etc...) that have somehow crept up on her since sometime last winter in the next 3 to 7 weeks or so! Soliciting any and all quick and easy fixes to this pesky little problem here!


I have numerous clothing items in my closet that are still fashionably relevant that just aren't clearing my hips. I haven't had my Rock and Republic jeans on my body since June and I want to reclaim them (Seven's are apparently somewhat more forgiving, but it would be nice to avoid having to hitch them up to avoid plumber's crack before I sit every time.)


15 pounds would be ideal - actually 16 would take me back to my wedding weight and that's kind of my bench mark for self-image satisfaction - 10 pounds I could live with. 24 pounds would take me back to my all time college low, but a diet of black coffee, cigarettes, candy, bagels (hey, it was the early-mid '90s when low fat/high carb was all the rage) and frozen yogurt is pretty much out of the question these days.


I get the whole portion control and exercise thing. I do. But with the realities of work and family, my daily exercise is pretty limited to a brisk walk of a mile or so to and from the metro - and the from will probably be cut in favor of the bus now that it's dark at 5:30. I've tried, oh how I've tried to wake up at 5:00 and get some pilates in, but see work and family excuse above coupled with too many TV shows that require me to stay up to 11 and understand that's a no-go.


I bring my breakfast/lunch to work 4 days a week and it includes yogurt, a couple pieces of fruit, a 100 calorie pack of pretzels, a box raisins and a granola bar and I pretty much snack on that throughout the day. If that doesn't meet the perameters of portion control, I'm not sure what does. Friday I gift myself a purchased salad, or maybe soup and a side salad. Yes, there's the occasional morning when I can't resist the lure of ginger scones from Teaism, but with budget constraints also in place, I passed on my chai latte this morning in favor of tea in the office, and if I can keep that up at least a few days a week the other temptations may be kept at bay. Dinner, on nights when Cesar doesn't have class, is generally a protein, a starch and a veggie/salad - shaken up by the occasional taco or chicken fajita night - it's pretty blah, but I'm sure prepared marinades and sauces up the sodium/carb. content.


So, there you have it, any success stories are welcome. But I probably won't get into Weight Watchers. Even though people swear by it. I just feel like I do better when I'm not following any one program (or heaven forbid the dread "D" word - DIET) And please don't tell me I have to give up my nightly glass(/es) of wine. Pretty please. Maybe actually posting my embarrassing daily scale reads here would help in the motivation department....