It's My Birthday !!

It was my birthday on Tuesday. Here I am, another year older, and about to begin my life as a 38 year old woman.

I am mostly proud of my accomplishments over the past year. Looking back, I got derailed when it came to the goals I made for myself, but I also achieved in areas that I would not have even thought of a year ago.

Overall work went well. At Christmas I was recognized for the 6 years I have worked at the company with a gift card, plus I received a bonus. Early in 2015 I had a review and got a raise. My only disappointment was a major mistake I made with the mailing list for one of our magazines. I am still happy most of the time but I might look into other opportunities this summer. I did not complete the Legal Assistant online program but I did get a certificate for an Administrative Assistant and that should look good on my resume (combined with my experience).

I travelled to Victoria to see my parents for both Thanksgiving and Christmas last year as well as early September 2015. This year I won't see my parents until my brother's wedding in May. It will be odd, but hopefully we can ease the distance through phone calls and Facetime.

Yes, TJ is finally engaged to his girlfriend and they are getting married in Niagara Falls over the May Long Weekend 2016. We took family photos in February that they have used for engagement photos. I also helped my future sister-in-law find her wedding dress. It is so pretty!

2015 was the year that I travelled more and that was really fun. I went to Chicago for my Fraternity Convention in June. Then I went to Seattle for the Labour Day long weekend in September. Getting my passport updated (and back into my maiden name) was beneficial.

What I am really proud of this year is that I joined the Chapter Housing Corporation for my Fraternity and became super involved as a Pi Beta Phi alumna.  I loved Convention. I also got to go to a wine tasting and the Alumnae Tea. I spent many hours at the chapter house building new dressers and making it a better place for the collegiates. 

I lost almost 17 pounds. Looking back over my posts, I am a broken record, I always wish I could have done more work to lose more weight. I have to stop talking about it and just do it. The only thing in my way is me. I did get more exercise this year but it is truly just a case of eating less and moving more.

37 was a pretty good year, hopefully 38 will be even better !!

Weight Loss Update: Aug 15 to Sept 14

Weight Watchers Weigh-In

Original Weight:  314.8
Previous Weight:  244.2 (Aug 8)
Goal Weight:  169.0

Aug 15:   246.4 (+2.2)
Aug 22:   244.2 (-2.2)
Aug 29:   246.8 (+2.6)
Sept 5:     Missed WW Meeting
Sept 12:   Missed WW Meeting


Change (since Aug 8):  +2.6 pounds
Total Loss (since Nov 2012):  -68.0 pounds

Total Loss since May 2012:  -75.4 pounds
Total Loss since Nov 2005:  -89.6 pounds
Pounds to Lose:  77.8


SP Weigh-In (at home scale)

Previous Weight:  242.8 (Aug 14)
Current Weight:    244.4 (Sept 12)

Change:   +1.6 pounds


Ugh.  Not a great month for me.  I left for my company BBQ/Camping Trip on Aug 29 after just stopping in at my WW meeting to be weighed.  I was up about 2.5 pounds, which put me back to where I was two weeks ago, and a few weeks before that too.  I want to be consistently down 70 pounds with WW and then lose even more.  Enough with the up and down and then back up a bit and then back down.

I know it's because I have been making poor food choices on Saturdays and not exercising.  There is nothing wrong with having a treat on Saturday, but I need to not eat whatever I want for the whole day.

If I want to reach my goals I need to stop with the self-sabotage and start making good decisions.  I know that when I do this I feel good (emotionally and physically).

More US Travel - Seattle

Soon after I got home from Chicago I started to plan my next trip (yes, I know I need to finish posting about Convention, I will get to that).  I am really lucky, in that I now have 3 weeks of paid vacation plus we close the office between Christmas and New Year's Eve and everyone gets those days off with pay.

I wanted to spend time in Victoria and visit with my parents and grandmother.  I did the same thing last year around Thanksgiving.  The year before that it was the Labour Day weekend (thanks for the reminder Facebook).  This time I picked the first couple of weekends in September again.

What was different, and awesome, was that I made my way to Victoria via Seattle.

I left Edmonton on Friday afternoon (Sept 4) and flew to Seattle via Calgary.  After making it through customs & security in Calgary, I ended up waiting at the gate, as our flight to Seattle got delayed about an hour.  What was interesting, is that security was at the gate with the passport of a woman and they escorted her onto the plane.  I overheard a bit of a cell phone conversation she was having, and it seems that her visa had run out and she was leaving Canada for the US (and hopefully figure out a way back to Canada).  It was kind of like an episode of Border Security.  

So I finally landed in Seattle.  Then I had to wait for the Shuttle to my hotel in Lynnwood (which is about 30min north of Seattle, and about 45min from the airport).

My hotel for the first two nights was nice.  Free WiFi in my room, complimentary breakfast, and it has a kitchenette with a full fridge, microwave, dishwasher, cook top, and some kitchen supplies (pots, plates, cutlery, glasses etc).

On Saturday I made my way about 30min North to Tulalip.  I took Community Transit, so the trip took over 2 hours, mostly because the second transfer was not timed well.  It was Saturday and the buses were running on an hourly schedule.  Still, it was way cheaper than renting a car or taking a taxi.  Plus I got to see some of the area, meet some really nice people, and pick up groceries on the way home.

I shopped at the Premium Outlets of Seattle and bought some fancy new purses.  The Coach bag was originally $550 US (about $730 CA), and it was marked down 70% to $165.  Then I did not have to pay the sales tax because I was Canadian.  It ended up being just over $200 CA - score!

I bought another purse and a vest at Van Heusen that were both 70% off - I saved over $120.00 there. I bought $10 US G.H. Bass shoes (comfy blue loafer/deck/boat style ones) and a Guess purse.  I would have gone to Kate Spade, but I was so tired by that point and there was a line up for the store.

Sunday I made my way downtown to the Sheraton for my last night in Seattle.  That afternoon I went up the Space Needle and went through the awesome Chihuly Garden and Glass art museum.

Monday was the Clipper ferry trip to Victoria.  I walked around by the water/piers before I got on the boat.

It was a great weekend, and I walked almost 40,000 steps over 3 days.  On the Sunday, it was almost 20,000 steps just that one day.

I would love to go again.  Most of my trip was covered by Airmiles, and it really didn't take that many for 2 of the nights and the 2 flights.

Weight Loss Update: July 15 to Aug 14

Weight Watchers Weigh-In

Original Weight:  314.8
Previous Weight:  245.8 (July 11)
Goal Weight:  169.0

July 18:  Missed Weight Watchers Meeting
July 25:  245.0 (-0.8)
Aug 1:    245.4 (+0.4)
Aug 8:    244.2 (-1.2)


Change (since July 11):  -1.6 pounds
Total Loss (since Nov 2012):  -70.6 pounds

Total Loss since May 2012:  -78.0 pounds
Total Loss since Nov 2005:  -92.2 pounds
Pounds to Lose:  75.2


SP Weigh-In (at home scale)

Previous Weight:  242.8 (July 13)
Current Weight:    242.8 (Aug 14)

Change:   0.0 pounds



It felt great to receive another 5 pound weight loss star at my Aug 8 WW meeting.  I am actually up a bit since then (mostly because of the water retention at that time of the month) - but it's just a blip and it will go back down.

My goal for the month of September is not to go crazy and gain weight on my holidays.  I am going to visit my parents and grandmother in Victoria for a week after spending the September long weekend in Seattle.  I just have to plan healthier meals and make good food decisions - but also allow myself a treat or two.  One of the great things about visiting the US is there are actually some delicious things that I cannot get here.  Chobani yogurt and some of the WW products are on my list to buy.

What I need to do is kick my lazy ass.  This week I have just wanted to veg on the couch after work.  I actually miss my evening walks.  Maybe I need to pick some new routes so I am not bored.

Weight Loss Update: June 15 to July 14

Weight Watchers Weigh-In

Original Weight:  314.8
Previous Weight:  248.4 (June 13)
Goal Weight:  169.0

June 20:  247.4 (-1.0)
June 27:  Missed WW Meeting
July 4:  Missed WW Meeting
July 11:  245.8 (-1.6)


Change (since June 13):  -2.6 pounds
Total Loss (since Nov 2012):  -69.0 pounds

Total Loss since May 2012:  -76.4 pounds
Total Loss since Nov 2005:  -90.6 pounds
Pounds to Lose:  76.8


SP Weigh-In (at home scale)

Previous Weight:  246.4 (June 13)
Current Weight:    242.8 (July 13)

Change:   -3.6 pounds



Focusing on walking more and eating better on the weekends has started to pay off.  I had losses in my last 4 WW meetings, and lost a total of 4.4 pounds.

I missed 2 meetings - the one where I was in Chicago, and the one after I got back.  I was up at least 5 pounds at home on July 4, and it was mostly water weight.  I had no control over the salt content of the food at the convention.  As you can see, I got back on track and all the "weight" came off in a week plus more.

Seeing these results lets me know that I don't need to binge on Saturday nights.  I can just pick one or two treats to enjoy and I actually feel better that way.  I am enjoying my evening walks (thank goodness the heat wave is over for now and I can get back out there).  I actually like getting my arse off the couch and moving more.

Weight loss is the best reward for my hard work.

Pi Beta Phi Convention 2015 - Part 1

I have been back home from Chicago for over a week.  It was truly an awesome time spent with all of my Pi Phi sisters.

Day 1 started with travelling to the Edmonton airport and catching my flight to Chicago.  I was halfway there when I realized I never put my FitBit back on after my shower.  Oh well, I wish I could have seen how many steps I was getting each day travelling around the hotel - but it was not worth going back home to grab (although I would have had time).

Of course I realized once I got to the airport that I would go through customs in Calgary.  So I had an hour and 15 min to debark the plane, grab my suitcase, go through customs, go through security, and get on my plane to Chicago.  I made it, but they were loading Zone 4 (the last passengers at the front of the plane, including my seat) when I got to the gate.

Landed in Chicago about 6:30 pm and found a member of our collegiate chapter waiting for her luggage as well.  We took the shuttle together to the hotel.  Once I was checked in I grabbed a salad and some fruit and hung out in our room.  My roommate arrived soon after I got settled.  Apparently at past conventions they would mix up the room assignments, but for the most part us Alberta girls were all placed together.  I shared a room with the president of our Chapter House Corporation, whom I know pretty well as I am the secretary on CHC and we were active members of Pi Phi at the same time.

Day 2 I woke up and leisurely got ready for my day.  Grabbed some Chobani yogurt and a muffin for breakfast.  I went to registration and got my tote bag and convention information.  Found Pi Phi Express and bought a couple of shirts, a necklace, and a key chain.  Then I met up with the group going on the artchitectural boat tour of Chicago.

It was drizzling rain and I wish I had an umbrella.  This really nice woman from Alabama named Linda bought us both plastic ponchos.  I took a million pictures of all the awesome buildings.  When we got back to hotel it was time to change for dinner.  After dinner we headed into our first General Session.  By the time we finished that I just crawled into bed and slept.

Those first couple of nights were the ones where I got the most sleep.  Apparently Convention is not about getting your beauty rest.

I will continue the rest of my trip in the next couple of posts . . .

Weight Loss Update: May 15 to June 14

Weight Watchers Weigh-In

Original Weight:  314.8
Previous Weight:  251.0 (May 9)
Goal Weight:  169.0

May 16:  250.6 (-0.4)
May 23:  248.8 (-1.8)
May 30:  251.2 (+2.4)
June 6:    250.2 (-1.0)
June 13:  248.4 (-1.8)


Change (since May 9):  -2.6 pounds
Total Loss (since Nov 2012):  -67.4 pounds

Total Loss since May 2012:  -74.8 pounds
Total Loss since Nov 2005:  -89.0 pounds
Pounds to Lose:  79.4


SP Weigh-In (at home scale)

Previous Weight:  246.4 (May 9)
Current Weight:    246.4 (June 13)

Change:   -0.0 pounds



I am definitely back on the right track and losing at a nice rate over the past few weeks (except for May 30 which was my time of the month and some bad food choices).

Part of what has helped with the losing trend over the past few weeks is that I am getting off my arse in the evenings and going for a walk.  This was I am getting in 10,000 steps/day.  Now I just need to work on getting in those steps on the weekend, especially Saturdays, as well as making better food choices on Saturdays.

I am not happy that I am down only 7 pounds in 6 months (since the beginning of 2015).  I keep gong up and down.  If I would just keep those up weeks to a minimum (in both occurrence and the amount I gain), I would see much more success.  I know I needed to switch things up, and I am working on it, especially with moving more.

It's hard work, but I have to stop being lazy.  My Fitbit is motivating me to walk more and I am really enjoying my evening walks.