Partners in Crime

Sometimes in life, you get lucky to find a friend really early on who will be there at so many important events in your life. Your first college job, for example:

(God we look young) (and thin)

Your first college party (or parties):

(I promise we were 21...I think)

Someone who will, several years later, stand by you as your Matron of Honor on your wedding day:

Someone who, out of alllllll the people our age who are having babies, will incite the first genuine tears of happiness at this news from your not-quite-ready-yet self:

(At Anna's baby shower. Pardon my crazy red hair and crazy eyes)

And someone who, almost 10 years later, will come home from a long day of teaching and let you help give her sweet baby a bath, cook dinner for you, and share an evening of planning for the next big event together:

I am so excited that Anna and I will be doing yet another major event in our lives together.

From the college years, through boyfriends and finally to husbands, weddings and babies -- now as we both approach (gasp!!) 30 years of age, we will, yet again, be standing by one another for a new milestone as we walk 60 miles together in the fight against breast cancer.

I cannot wait to post the pictures of us together on the walk and as we cross the finish line together! I love you Anna Banana!

(this post cross-posted at http://mandywalks60.blogspot.com)

20!!

It's unbelievable how much positive reinforcement goes a long way in this journey. I have the most amazing support network of family, friends and even strangers that are cheering me on as I make my health goals a priority in my life and as I commit to training for The 3-Day.

As of today, I have raised $810 towards my goal of $2,300.

Also, I have lost 20 lbs out of the 40 lb weight loss goal I set for myself.

I have been a bad girl about going to the gym consistently, but I have done everything in my power to be active even on my nights off from the gym. My sweet puppy Carmen has benefited from that, since my activity on non-gym nights usually means a long walk for her and Mommy. But, I would rather be at the gym, at least until the weather warms up (for more than a day) and the days are longer. I really don't prefer walking in the dark in my neighborhood, and Carmen is certainly no protection against would-be attackers. :)

However, when I have gone to the gym, I've slowly been building up my endurance. I'm learning how to control my breathing when I jog and how to be constantly aware of my posture. Even though I'm training to walk 60 miles, I figure it's just as beneficial for me to learn how to run. Because after the 3-Day is over, I'll have to set some new goals...maybe even a 5k or 10k somewhere down the line.

As usual, my husband has been incredibly supportive and is happy for me and proud of me. Occasionally he ribs me about the fact that I'm walking that far, and that I'll be "roughing it" (he got an especially good chuckle over the fact that I'll be sleeping in a tent on the two nights) for 3 days. But of course it's all good-natured, and I know he's proud of me.

My friends have been amazing.

We had a reunion two nights ago (Saturday) for a show we all did together a year ago, Crazy For You, which was also a celebration of two friends being in from out of town AND a birthday celebration for one of the cast members. I haven't seen some of these people since New Year's Eve, and some since even further back than that. Kevin was especially proud:

It was SO UPLIFTING to see their faces when they walked in and saw me, came over and hugged me, and commented, "Oh my GOD look at you! You look so great!"

I really did just get tears in my eyes typing that. I don't know what I did to be blessed with such awesome, genuine friends, but I'm thankful for it because they're here and supportive when I need them the most.

I know I've got a long way to go in reaching my 40lb weight loss goal (much less Goal B Of Which We Never Speak Out Loud) and in being able to walk this 60 miles. But damn. I really do feel like I'm over the biggest hump, which was getting started and believing in myself.

I'm so. excited. to see what happens over the next few months!

(P.S. this post is cross-posted here on my 3-Day blog)

Annoyed

This blog will be short and sweet.

I'm finding myself getting more and more annoyed as I continue on my weight loss progress towards my goal(s).

I'm annoyed when people, even with the best of intentions of checking up on me and keeping me accountable, ask me what I'm eating every. damn. day. Like they're keeping tabs on my meals, as if I'll binge if they don't. I've got this...I really do.

I'm annoyed with all the varying pieces of advice I'm getting, unsolicited. "Don't make food a reward." "Cut out all your carbs." "Make sure you're not eating processed foods." "I can't believe you eat anything with white sugar."

I'm annoyed with any and all signs, ads, commercials, billboards, etc. that are offering SlimQuick, NutriSystem, The Hollywood Cookie Diet, ad nauseum. I can deal with Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig because I know they work for long-term changes.

I'm kind of annoyed when I tell people I'm doing the Komen 3-Day and they ask me ASININE, OBVIOUS questions such as "You know that's 60 miles, right?" "You know you sleep outside in tents, right?" OMG of course I do.

The end.

15!

(click on the picture to see larger!)

This is my very first attempt at a Before and After picture. The picture on the left is me in mid-December, weighing in at 210 lbs (vomit). The pictures on the right are from this past weekend of Show Boat performances, weighing in at 195 lbs.

Fif. Teen. Pounds.

And the fun part? You can totally tell. At least, I can!

It's funny...when you look at yourself every day, or someone ELSE sees you every day, you don't really notice. My own husband has been so supportive and happy for me when I do a happy naked dance out of the bathroom after a weigh-in (though maybe he's just happy about the happy naked dance? hmmm). But last night when I showed him these pictures side by side, he seemed genuinely surprised. His response was, and I quote, "Wow, honey! Great job!"

I still have about 25 lbs to go for my goal, but I am so pumped up.

I can't wait to keep going and, now that my lungs are back to almost 100% capacity, I can't wait to get back on the fitness wagon. Which brings me to my next point...

Since I got paid today, I totally plan on registering for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk for the Cure (November 5-7, 2010) in Dallas this year. It's a hell of a commitment, I know. Each registrant has to pay a $90 registration fee AND commit to raising $2,300 before being eligible to participate in the walk. AND you have to train yourself to be able to handle the 3-day, 60 miles walk.

Bring. It. On.

Every time I think I can't do it, I think, "You know? People who participate in this walk...some of them are going through or have gone through chemo and cancer. If they can do it, I sure as hell can get off my fat butt and do it!"

I'm really excited about doing this, and I already have some fundraising ideas swimming around in my head.

Here's to the next 15!!

Questions and Cravings

Today is the first really tough day I think I've had since starting on my journey. Well, this whole weekend, really. Is it a coincidence that it all happened right after I reached my first milestone in my weight loss goals? Possibly, but I don't think so.

You see, I don't know where to go from here. I'm not sure which goal to set next. I'm not sure whose advice to follow, or if I should follow others' advice at all. I know me best, right? Or do I?

I may as well be honest with you all. It's helped so far.

When I had the Day of Reckoning and the subsequent meltdown that was the catalyst for the change I started immediately afterwards, I bought a scale to start tracking my progress. Some encouraged me to, so that I'll be able to celebrate every little victory, even the .5-2lbs of weight loss during a week. Others said, "No! Throw the scale out and buy a measuring tape! Judge how your clothes fit you, let that be your guide!" Honestly, with the exception of the one instance of ScaleGate 2010 (I'm still not sure what was up with it that day, other than the fact that it is a $7 analog scale and therefore prone to error, surely), the scale has helped my morale. Tremendously. Seeing it go to lower and lower hash marks (even if it's just one or even in-between) has been a big motivator.

So the first time I stepped on that scale, I weighed in at....*deep breath*...210 pounds. I was just starting to have to buy size 16 pants and dresses. I am 5'3". This is not a good thing.

Yes, I cried.

Remember, this was AFTER the meltdown, in which many tears had already been shed.

However, it only served to further motivate me to get on the right track. My first goal? Get under the 2-bill mark. This is an unacceptable weight for someone of my height and build. And on Thursday of last week? The little red needle on the scale stopped just a couple of hash marks shy of that evil, wicked number.

The sense of accomplishment I felt was intense. My size 16 pants quite literally start falling off of my hips with every step I take, even fresh out of the dryer. I'm fitting back into my size 14 pants and dresses easily and without much struggle.

But the struggle is now in my head. What's next? What do I shoot for? Do I shoot for another 10 lbs? For my size 14s to start getting baggy? I don't know. I don't know what my next goal is, and I am being advised differently from all sides. Sometimes I want the advice, sometimes I don't because I think they are MY goals, it should come from ME, not the advice of others.

I also have people asking me how I celebrated my milestone. Well...I kinda did and I kinda didn't. I chose to have a McDonald's sausage biscuit and a medium Diet Coke from McDonald's for breakfast on Friday morning. Some people said "Good for you, you deserve a treat!" Others said, "I don't advise using food as a reward."

This weekend, amidst rehearsals and general busy-ness, I felt, for the first time since starting this journey, a real struggle not to just stop by Sonic and grab some fries and/or a shake. A struggle to not get frustrated with myself when I still see what i don't like in the mirror. Some of the joy has taken a backseat to my frustration with this process.

Today, I was sharing this frustration with someone I like and respect a lot as a friend, a mentor, and a fellow artist via instant messaging...and he asked me, "Why do you think you gained the weight in the first place?"

Hmmm. Good question. I am not an emotional eater, at least not enough so that I would call that a problem. I either eat or don't eat when stressed or upset...it's not consistent. So that's not it.

I answered, "I think it's because I've never been punished for gaining weight. I still have friends who love me, I still get cast in shows in lead roles...2009 being a great example, and my husband still can't keep his hands off of me."

Then, we started talking about my mother, whom I have been known to blame for my weight issues. But that's starting to become uncomfortable. Why should I blame someone else for what is, quite obviously, my problem? Yes, she has made comments about it to me since I was young...but I honestly think it's because she has no idea what it's like for me.

(Parents always say "I know what you're going through, I went through the same thing at your age." I have tried to make a mental vow to NEVER say that to my child because, while I may have been in a VERY similar situation, I am a completely differnet person than my someday child will be, and will therefore react to and be affected by every situation differently than he/she will.)

Yes, my mother struggled with her weight, a lot. The woman was anorexic. She's a health and fitness nut even now...the type of person who, with the total belief that she is being helpful, will point out to you how many calories are in what you're eating. Her struggles, while valid, are and were completely different from mine. These types of things are very personal.

So I was discussing this with my friend this morning, and it's honestly easier to just copy and paste some of the chat rather than try to summarize. He is in blue, I am in red. I've underlined the parts that really got to me.

I'm being very selective in how much of this new journey I share with her...and, God bless her, she has been very careful with what/when she asks me about it

She just doesnt' know when to stop. Example: She'll tell me that she's very proud of me, and that she's always thought I was beautiful... but then she'll put her hand on my knee and say "I was just worried about your health. You can get diabetes or heart problems late in life if you're overweight."

aaaaaaaand there was the line, Mom.

Interesting. Why is that the line? Because, from an outside perspective, there seems nothing wrong with it. A little disingenuous (sp), perhaps, but nothing more.

Because...I don't know why, it just IS. It's like she still wants to lecture maybe? Or just saying "I'm proud of you" should be enough. "I'm proud of you." "Thank you." The end

I mean, I'm one of those people that really never thought I was overweight, but I feel like SHE always thought I was.

Well. You can't change what she says or does. You can only change how you receive it.

When I was 12 and starting to hit the really awkward phase and put on some weight, she told me "If you gain any more weight, I just won't buy you bigger clothes." I mean...WTF? who says that to a 12-year old?

This is interesting. See, we've gotten at the root of your weight gain, perhaps.

It's not so much that you were being punished. It's that you were punishing someone else (and yourself in the process).

It's not just that you're rebelling against her by not being a fitness nut. You're also rebelling by putting on as much weight as you want - and proving that you can still be likable, attractive, marketable, and sexy.

And maybe part of your misery with it all is that she STILL doesn't accept that fact. So...you lose.

And now, not only have you lost that batttle, but you're now uncomfortable with your body and with your health. So you lose twice.

She also always seems so close to my cousin and my sister-in-law...and I always partly felt like a) it was because they do what SHE thinks is the right course of action in life: get married, buy house, buy car, have babies, but also b) b/c they could all share clothes, etc and be all skinny together

I tend to feel like such an outsider, b/c I'm the only woman in my family who appears to NOT be predisposed to being thin, but I also choose a different lifestyle with my husband


Here's the other thing you might be doing - and I can't be sure, but I know I'm guilty of it.

Think of this - you craved your mother's approval. You felt like her lack of approval stemmed from this one issue. So now, you're spending your life testing everyone else's affection for you, in a way. How fat can I get and still be loved? Will person X behave the way my mother did - if I just gain enough weight?

It sounds ridiculous...but ponder it for a few days.

It's a weird kind of protective measure.

I will definitely ponder that...it seems a bit uncomfortably accurate

It's what we do to protect ourselves, I think.

I mean...if you're raised to believe that you can't be loved if you have quality X, it's difficult to believe that anyone could love you unconditionally. Because you're afraid of being hurt by that, you have to test it...kind of make it happen sooner rather than later.

And when it doesn't happen, when they love you anyway, you just don't know what to do, so you end up miserable.

But here's the other thing I'll throw at you.

Though you've spent your whole life thinking that it is - this is not your mother's problem. It's yours. She may very well have a problem, but you can't solve that one. Only she can. If you can solve your problem, hers will probably hardly affect you at all.

I can't keep blaming her for my weight issues. I know. She doesn't deserve that.

She can certainly be a pain, but parents are like that sometimes :)

See, but this is the thing - the weight is not the issue. If you solve the real issue, the weight will most likely take care of itself.

Because you'll like and care about yourself more and have more faith in yourself.

I always thought I WAS confident, but now that I think about it harder...I think I was TELLING myself I was confident b/c people like me...I'm funny...I know I'm talented...but like you said, somehow I still wasn't happy with myself

Well, and that veneer of confidence is also another protective measure. If you look like your happy, maybe people won't needle you about this or that. Maybe they'll think it has no effect and leave you alone.

I'm....my brain is scrambled right now. In a good way.

This whole process is so...soul-baring and sometimes uncomfortably so. I'm being forced to stop blaming other things/people (my mother, "politics" in theater/casting, society's views of what is beautiful, etc) and to face my biggest enemy: myself.

I've cried a lot in this process. Sometimes it's because I am frustrated or not sure what to do. Sometimes, like at the very beginning, it was because I couldn't believe what I was seeing in the mirror, on the video screen, in the photos. Sometimes it's tears of pure joy at the positive lifestyle changes I've made and AM making, and the subsequent healthy, light feeling both in body and spirit.

Today it was because I had to face some realities. Finding out WHY I let it get so far and so bad. And starting to think about what I need to do in my own heart and mind and soul to make sure I don't let this continue.

I'm not even sure if all I just typed makes any sense, but in the interest of complete honesty and word-vomit, I am not even going to edit it. So...the hard part is to click "publish."

Here we go.

Ups and Downs

I apologize for the length of time between posts...it's all a result of being busy and, in the case of this past week, SICK.

So what's been going on since my last post, where I ever-so-jubilantly posted about my 5 lbs of weight loss? I'm glad you asked!

On January 4th, I started the challenge set upon me by my awesome friend and AMAZING inspiration and accountability partner, Kelsey, which was to do something that made me sweat for 30 minutes a day...for 14 days straight. I know, right? Tough, especially when rehearsals for my latest project were about to get underway. But, I knew I could do it.

I managed to go 10 DAYS IN A ROW, and I was getting really into the groove...actually looking forward to working out if you can believe it. I wasn't even doing the same thing every day....just trying out new things and seeing what I liked the best (including Jazzercise, Yoga, running/walking either on the treadmill or outside with my pup, etc). I was really starting to feel strong and even made it to a point where I could run for 15 minutes on the treadmill without stopping...I know, big deal. But for me it is.

Then last Wednesday, I got sick. I woke up feeling like total ass, so I stayed home from work. I felt really frustrated that I couldn't finish my 14 days in a row, but I seriously barely had the energy to even get out of bed. Thursday I felt just as crappy, so I called and made an appointment to go see my physician on Friday morning.

Friday morning, I decided to weigh in. I hadn't been on my scale in a while, so I wanted to see how I was doing. I stepped on my $7 analog scale from Target.....and was completely and utterly dismayed to see a 3 lb weight GAIN. So, not only was I feeling sick, I was now feeling completely bummed out and discouraged. My friends (via Facebook and text messages) talked me off the ledge as I was sitting in the waiting room of the clinic, but I was still really down.

Then I got on the scale at the doctor's office...and I had LOST 3lbs from my last weigh in....bringing my total weight loss down to 8.2 pounds! You guys, that's almost 10 lbs! I decided that the doctor's office fancy digital scale was probably a BIT more accurate than my cheap piece-of-crap analog scale, and my day got exponentially better (obviously), despite the nasty upper respiratory infection that led me to being at the doctor's office in the first place!

So I left the clinic with a prescription and a MUCH better outlook on the weight-loss front. I still haven't worked out since Day 10 of my Challenge, due to my significantly decreased lung capacity, but I'm still making good eating choices, and my work pants and jeans are getting baggy to the point of ridiculousness.

Speaking of choices...it feels REALLY good to be in control of what I'm eating. I honestly don't even crave the nasty (but delicious), bad for me foods anymore. I feel healthier and my body is so obviously on my side in all this. It likes getting healthier foods and more water, I can tell! But, I went out to eat twice with my husband this weekend, and both times it was a conscious choice, and not just an instance of weakness. But I will tell you.....when we went to that Chinese food buffet on Saturday night, NOTHING HAS EVER TASTED SO RICH AND DELICIOUS as that food did! ;)

Also...my pants, which I'll admit are a size 16 at the moment (blearghhhhh....I hate admitting that, but it helps in letting others know for accountability's sake how far I have to go), are getting baggy to the point of being indecent. I can seriously pull them off and on without unbuttoning OR unzipping them. Woo hoo!!!

I went shopping yesterday for a special occasion dress for the show I'm doing, and we all know how fun THAT can be when we're not thrilled with our bodies....but I am happy to say that I found a BEAUTIFUL dress at Dillard's and I zipped myself easily into a size 14. That's not a SMALL size, I know, but it just felt good to NOT struggle zipping up a dress and squeeze myself into it. That dress will be too big in the bodice area MUCH sooner than later, and it's just so beautiful that I'll gladly pay to have it altered once it is.

So, even though I've been knocked on my ass by this plague I've had, I'm still plugging along, eating well, and taking care of my body as best I can.

Have I mentioned how I could NOT do this without the amazing support of my friends? Kelsey and Lynn and Rachel are my DAILY encouragement, and all of my friends and family on Facebook and Twitter that "like" my posts and comment on them and of course all of you who read this and leave such supportive comments....wow. I mean I really could not do it without you. So, thank you from the bottom of my heart!

2010: A Weight Loss Odyssey

or..."New Year, New Me."

So, I know I haven't posted since "Days 3 and 4," but it's definitely NOT because I've "fallen off the wagon" or have been struggling through the holidays. Today, my first day back at work, is honestly the first time since I left for holiday vacation that I have sat down at a computer for an extended amount of time. Any Facebook and Twitter updates have been from the ol' BlackBerry, and I have to say...I've enjoyed my time away from the blinding screen.

However, here we are, back to the daily grind and onto 2010, which I am dubbing the Year After the Reckoning.

Over the holidays, I shared with several family members and close friends my goals to start a healthier lifestyle immediately. First I was going to cut down to 1500 calories or less every day. I wish I had a nickel for every time someone asked me "Dude! Why not just wait until January 1st and enjoy yourself during the holidays?!" Because! I don't want to stuff my face when I'm already unhappy and then have MORE weight to lose come 01/01/10! I am so thankful to those who did NOT give me that crappy sentiment and instead applauded me for taking one of the toughest times of the year to start my weight loss goals and begin my journey toward a healthier ME.

Traveling was the hardest part. Not everyone cooked or prepared a menu that made sticking to my diet easy. We sometimes were in an aiport where my choices were limited. However that's the key word: choices. Every day, I made choices. I chose to only have a little of the raw seafood spread that was an appetizer at my Italian in-laws' Christmas Eve feast, because I knew dinner would follow. I chose not to have cocktails all evening, opting instead for one small glass of red wine for toasting at dinner. I chose not to have Death By Chocolate dessert.

However, I also chose to enjoy a 3-course meal at a French Bistro on Long Island, where we were given a gift card as a Christmas gift. I chose to have a piece of pizza at Ray's Pizza on 53rd in New York City. I chose to drink (too much....oye) on New Year's Eve.

So, even though I felt great and I knew I was making, overall, very good choices, I was ridiculously nervous to step on that scale when we got back from New York. I prayed all the way down the hall, "Please PLEASE God let me have not gained any weight...even if it's EXACTLY the same that's fine!"

I stepped on the scale.......

and I had lost five pounds!

YES! You read that correctly! During the MOST difficult time of the year, I lost FIVE pounds. In 8 days. Which is a lot of weight to lose in a week, I know, but you have to understand that I have changed my diet pretty drastically. A LOT of that was probably water weight and just my body going, "What the...???" I know it won't be that obvious or drastic every week, but DAMN! What a motivator!

I couldn't have been happier. I practically danced down the hall to my husband to share the news. I KNOW I can do this.

Now, I know it won't always be easy, especially the more I lose. I'll probably try to make excuses for myself since I'm losing weight. I'll get lazy. I'll have days when I would kill my own mother for a plate of cheese fries with bacon and ranch dressing....oh man just TYPING that out made me want some.

But it will not override the joy I felt when I saw the results on my scale. :)

So, I AM making changes as of the new year. Today was the first day back to a normal(ish) routine for me, so I've got to add some exercise in. I think that when I get home I'm going to change clothes, stretch, and take the pup for a LONG, brisk walk around the neighborhood. God knows we BOTH can use the exercise.

Next weigh in is on Wednesday morning. Thank you ALL for your comments and support!

Let's go, 2010!