A (Very Late) Thanksgiving Rundown, and Crazy Life in General (Whole75, Day 61)

Two more weeks. Holy shit.

In other news, I completely suck at updating. There's been no spare time to do anything, even listen to audiobooks, between A Christmas Carol and the unholy circus of chaos that work has become and, now, the first few rehearsals of MoMologues...craziness. Anyway I'm really sorry I haven't posted.

Here's what our little Thanksgiving spread looked like:

Yay!

Clockwise from the duck, we have:

Simple baked mashed sweet potatoes (no chipotle peppers this year because the adobo sauce is questionable on Whole30, sorry my beloved Alton Brown!)

Crispy smashed potatoes with avocado garlic aioli (adapted for Whole30 and made with my homemade mayonnaise!)

Good Eats roasted turkey (adapted for Whole30 by omitting the brown sugar from the brine and swapping candied ginger for ground). This is hands-down the best turkey recipe ever...I've tried numerous ways over the years, and while Nom Nom Paleo's spatchcocking method looks awesome, I frankly like the look of the whole bird all trussed up and pretty on the table. The high heat at the beginning makes for yummy crispy skin, and the meat is so juicy and awesome.

Basic underturkey vegetables (purchased in bags and heated in the microwave because I am a fancy fancy lady)

Stovetop stuffing for Dave (not Whole30 so I didn't partake)

Curry roasted carrots (SO FREAKING GOOD)

We had lots of leftovers to last us the following week, and it was really nice to feast and relax and not stress out. The next day we had people over for "Slack Friday" and we watched movies and played cards for a while, which was great. Everyone brought leftovers (my friend Anthony brought a lot of beer and wine which I will definitely be enjoying this Christmas,) so our fridge has been nice and full since then!

My "smaller" jeans can now be removed without unbuttoning or zipping, which is kind of cool, but the next size down is just a squidge too tight so I've been wearing a lot of leggings and skirts...and safety pins...these last few weeks.

A Christmas Carol is going well. Opening weekend was well-received. I'm really looking forward to seeing the production stills taken by one of my favorite theatre photographers, Evelyn Huynh. This is the first time in a long time that I've felt confident and pretty in my costumes. (NOT that I didn't have nice costumes in the past!!! I've been fortunate enough to work with some incredible designers and dressers.) Especially for The Ghost of Christmas Present. I feel attractive in it. It's kind of a nice change.

The MoMologues just began rehearsals on Monday (we run late Jan-mid Feb) and I'm really excited about it. I did the show in the company's first season, when we were performing upstairs of a Spanish tapas restaurant, and it holds a lot of really fond memories for me.

And work...look, I love my day job but even the best jobs can be clownfuck insane sometimes. This is one of those times. My whole department is going to need a stiff drink when 2015 finally comes to a close.

I'm in the middle of Week 7 in my Couch to 5K! Running 25 minutes at a time, which is something I've never been able to do before. FitBit step goal has been reached every day so far, and I can absolutely do it for another 2 weeks. Some friends and I are thinking of doing a virtual Color Run at the end of the year.

I think that's it....gotta get back to the absolute craziness of life. Thanks for reading.

Two more weeks. O_O

One Month to Go (Whole75, Day 45)

It's strange to think that a Whole75 is two and a half months. For some reason that sounds like more than "75 days". Anyway, at a month and a half into this thing, I have 30 days to go. December 23rd, I'm coming for you.

Today's Couch to 5K workout wasn't too terrible. I was careful to jog and not get my speed up too much, so that the motion was sustainable for longer. I figure at this point, it's best to just get used to the rhythm of jogging for long periods of time, and then when that's doable I can work on building up my speed and distance. Perhaps this is the fundamental distance between jogging and running? I'm not sure.

I finally got new work pants. They're more form-fitting than I've worn in the past, which is a bit strange, but so far no one's looked at me in disgust or run screaming from my presence (that I know of), so I assume they're acceptable for this stage of my weight loss.

My mom wants me and Panda to have Thanksgiving dinner at her place, which is awesome, except I feel bad explaining about my food needs on the Whole75. Even the turkey preparation is important, which is why I volunteered to bring the turkey myself. I think it'll be ok (and I'll bring plenty of sides and veggies and fruit), but dining with others can sometimes be awkward on this eating plan. Especially around the holidays.

Still! My mom's cool and understands about putting health first. And we also don't have a dining room table so it makes sense to have the big meal at someone else's house. Slack Friday we can just use the coffee table and sofa, since we'll be lounging around with friends making fun of shoppers.

Which reminds me, this is a three-day workweek. Score!

Ouch. (Whole75, Day 42)

My right shoulder is all messed up and sore. I don't know what I did, but very likely I fudged it by sleeping awkwardly on it. I'm not happy with myself about it.

Today will be the final workout of Week 4 in Couch to 5K. It has me jogging at 3- and 5-minute intervals. Next week it looks like it's 5 and 5, then 5 and 8, and then on the third workout a 20-minute straight run. I don't know if I'll be able to do that, but I'm going to try. Heh...I fully admit that I'm doing this training not to become a runner but to lose weight. If I become healthier and more coordinated, and develop better stamina/ balance/ clarity in the process, awesome. But I'm hoping somewhere in all the plodding and bouncing I can get rid of some of this extra chub that has sat around on me too long.

Food's been fine. A little boring, but fine. I've been too busy to get really creative with food lately so it's been a lot of the same stuff I usually have. I did go grocery shopping after writing my last entry, and while I got home late it was worth it to have the cupboards full again (and have our Thanksgiving turkey in the freezer.)

Work has been a particular sort of stressful this week. I've been doing a lot of copy writing, which I love and which I think I'm good at. However, I am learning the hard way that you can't be too sensitive (or too attached to your work) in this job. Something I write that I love (and that my manager and her impossible-to-please boss also like), gets to the third or fourth level of review and someone shoots it down simply because they don't like it. No constructive feedback, no explanation of why something that matches every criteria they asked for is unacceptable. "It needs more Stimulus." "It lacks the Delight in the product." This tells me nothing of how you want it to read. Telling me you want it to have more zip and zazz, when you have absolutely no idea how to explain the product yourself, makes me think you probably want a bolder font and perhaps more exclamation points.

Having to replace or amend my own work with the work of others who outrank me (and whose prose, I arrogantly think, aren't as effective) is really hard. It's especially hard with vendors (internal and external) for whom English is a second language...I feel like I have a good understanding of how to construct a sentence, a paragraph, a page, and then I'm asked to write "We are proud to have such beautiful hotels! And you know what! The best part is we are giving away a trip!" :-/

It's been, as I said on Twitter, a Week of Mondays. I'm thankful it's Friday and I don't have to work this weekend (with the exception of a single house-managing shift at the Fox on Saturday, but I can handle that without issue.) Tonight I claimed off from rehearsal - I'm seeing Panda's opening night of Man of La Mancha.

33 more days until I weigh myself and find out if this extended eating plan, and actually exercising every day, has paid off in the way I want to.

My lowest recorded weight when I was on Atkins in college was 160. The goal for this Whole75 is 170, and I hope to hit 150 in the coming year.

To be honest, looking at my body now I think I could probably build some muscle, improve my shape and get down lower than 150 (based on my frame and whatnot.) But I'll reevaluate that when I get to it.

My skin (not the skin on my face) is starting to show signs of weight loss. This is both good and bad. Good in that I know I'm losing some stubborn fat...bad because it's getting itchy and irritated and it looks really strange. I have lotion that I use that's supposed to work for pregnant ladies (firming up the skin on their tummies postpartum), but I don't know how well it'll work on someone whose tummy has been so big for ten years as opposed to nine months.

It's worth a shot, I guess. And I like the smell of cocoa butter, especially when I can't have chocolate.

33 more days.

Ups and Downs (Whole75, Day 39)

I seriously thought I'd written another entry yesterday, but it's been over a week. Maybe I should schedule a weekly post or something just to keep me on my toes.

Work stress is about the same – lots of things going on, which on the one hand makes me feel secure that no matter how stressed out folks get, they won’t up and fire me, but on the other hand, there’s a lot of pressure and mounting to-dos. A coworker whom I’d really liked resigned the other day for personal reasons, which leaves our already small department with even more catch-up to do. On the plus side, I am writing a lot more, and growing ever more skilled in my interactions with high level clients who sometimes deserve a swift kick in the butt more than my patient assistance. For the most part people are pretty cool and I’m learning more about our products, destinations, and vendors each day. I’m seriously jonesing for a nice long vacation (weird, huh, since I stare at pictures of luxury hotels all day). Hopefully, early next year, I’ll be able to start traveling more in earnest. At any rate, we’re going to Disneyland in February and I’m excited about that.

A Christmas Carol is still chugging along. Tonight we’re blocking the final scene (the Fezziwig dance) and then the whole thing will be blocked and ready for cleaning. I’m off-book (having had the advantage of playing most of these roles last year) and watching with interest how things differ from last season. It’s a fun production and I think it’ll be a good one this year, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss last year’s cast.

Yesterday I completed the first of three Couch to 5K workouts for Week 4, and as you can imagine this is the most challenging setup yet. Running for 5 straight minutes a pop doesn’t sound like much, but it certainly feels like a lot. Yesterday was the first time since beginning this challenge that I actually had thoughts, while I was running, about whether or not I’d need to slow up and walk during a “jog” section. But, thankfully, I didn’t, and completed the workout (while breathing quite heavily and sweating in a most unladylike manner, because whatever, I’m awesome.)

Food is still going fine, just boring. Our cupboards are nearly bare (Panda’s in tech this week for Man of La Mancha and I’ve been going straight from work to rehearsals and not getting home until after 10), so this morning I discovered we were out of eggs and decided, well, tonight’s going to be a late night grocery run.

Which is going to seriously suck, but it’s necessary. Especially since Thanksgiving’s just around the corner and I can’t exactly make a dinner (let alone a Whole30-appropriate one) out of the 2 remaining dill pickles and leftover chicken drumsticks I have in my fridge.
That’s right, I’ll be making us a Whole30-friendly spread since I’m still on this thing for the long haul (but…as I’ve said about a thousand times…Christmas Eve will be my first day off and it’s going to RULE.) I’m thinking I should post my recipes on here of the things I make. Readership’s not so huge that social contract mandates it, but it’ll be a nice way for me to remember what I did to keep things both healthy and delicious during the holidays. And if people reading enjoy and take some recipes for themselves, so much the better! I get to feel helpful and famous. Win-win.

Today is a walking day (thank goodness), so I’m about to head out with my sunglasses and my audiobook and get some steps in. 40 days and counting at 10,000 steps or more – today will be Day 41.

There is a very real chance I will hit my steps goal for every day of this Whole75. I *just* realized I’m over halfway there, both in food and exercise. I do have a specific goal in mind I’d like to see on the scale on Day 76…but even if that number doesn’t come up, I will be very proud of myself for sticking to good habits for this long. It’s the longest I’ve ever gone being healthy. And that’s something to be proud of. *pats self on back*

Don't Cry For Me (Whole75, Day 31)

Welps, I've completed a Whole30's worth of...Whole30, and I'm feeling pretty good. My clothes are feeling looser and even my skin (which is still problematic) isn't as nasty as it has been in the past. Because we're finally (FINALLY) getting some moisture in the air here in drought-plagued California, my hair has gone completely insane, but I'll take that if it means we get some more rain.

I am also very glad to say that I have kept up with the FitBit goals, and have completed 10,000 or more steps for 32 straight days (today will be day 33). AND, I've completed two weeks of training on the Couch to 5K app (today will begin Week 3, which gets significantly more challenging.)

I will need to hit up a Ross or a TJ Maxx for a couple of pieces of "business attire" for this phase of things. Right now I have no work pants, so I've been wearing skirts and dresses (and jeans on Fridays), and with the weather cooling down it makes dress-wearing more challenging. I don't plan on staying this size for very long, so I don't want to spend too much money, but I'd like not to look quite so frumpy at work on a day to day basis.

Evita opened this weekend, and audiences seemed to enjoy it. It's a concept-heavy production, so people unfamiliar with the (true) story of the Perons or the original materials by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice were a little lost, but the performances were good and I was proud of the work people were doing onstage and off. Because I was the director's assistant and he's handed off the show to the SM and MD, my responsibilities are all done, but I'll likely see it another time or two as the run continues. It's cool to watch how shows evolve a bit after they've been in front of an audience for a while (and the performers and musicians become more confident, and little kinks get worked out).

Rehearsals for A Christmas Carol are now in full swing, and I return tonight for continued blocking and awesomeness. I really love this play and am excited to see how the production this year will differ from last year. I did hint (heavily) to the costume mistress that I really loved the red velvet dress I got to wear last year, and she hinted (offhand) that she may be able to take it in so I can wear it again. We shall see.

Panda is on Day 29 of a Whole30, himself! I'm really proud of him; he stuck to it even in the face of some pretty major temptations and has come on a bunch of walks with me, and is considering doing more WholeSomethings for himself in the future. Granted, he talks a lot about all the delicious junk food he's going to enjoy in a few days, but I do that too when I'm near the finish line. ;-) I'll still be on this Whole75 during Thanksgiving, but will be off by Christmas, so I'll enjoy pie and cookies then. Thanksgiving will be about the turkey and yummy vegetables and spending time together. And then sitting around in our PJs on "Black Friday" while crazy people go shopping (have seriously NEVER understood that phenomenon) and watching A Charlie Brown Christmas.

It's starting to get darker, earlier! Between that and the silvery/ rainy/ thundery weather, my spirits are lifting significantly. The vegetables may also be helping my moods, but I like to think it's just the world getting a little colder and spookier towards the end of the year. :-)

Happy Monday.

Sexy Pants (Whole75, Day 20)

Yesterday was kind of nice at work. I was in the break room refilling my coffee, and out of the blue a coworker asked how much weight I'd lost. She was supportive and happy for me when I said "90 lbs, so far!"

Then while passing between desks another coworker/ friend told me "you missed it when I said it before - you look a lot thinner, you look great!"

So that was nice. I posted on Facebook that I must have been wearing my sexy pants. It garnered a lot of attention...apparently sexy pants strike a chord with people. Heh.

And the sexy pants aren't snug, either! Maybe even before the end of the 75 I'll try on a size smaller and see how they feel.

Anyway it's Day 20 and I'm feeling fine, although my skin has been particularly troublesome lately. It may be the added stress from work, although I should point out that this stress is busy, and high-energy, and more annoying that anything (we're crunched for time and have too much to do), but it's not unhappy stress. I really like my job. Which is strange - typically in high stress positions I've had in the past (most notably customer service) I've just been miserable, and it's been my awesome (but also miserable in the job) coworkers that have gotten me through the day to day.

I still have awesome coworkers and we're still exhausted and stressed out. But ...I don't know. It's weird and wonderful to enjoy what I do. Especially at a "day job." Heh.

Oh and speaking of jobs, I was cast again in A Christmas Carol and will be rejoining the show in 2015. I'm playing literally all the same roles as last year, except one: no more Mrs. Cratchit. Instead I'll be playing The Ghost of Christmas Present, as well as the Collector, Mrs. Fezziwig, Dilber, and "voice one" (one of three narrators from the ensemble). While I'll miss playing Mrs. C (that was a bittersweet role for me, especially remembering my Grandma and my friend Mark who'd passed away), I am beyond jazzed about playing Present. It's a much cooler role than some people might think, and I *love* that the company occasionally has a woman play it. I'm still waiting to hear about other friends who've auditioned, so keep your fingers crossed for them!

On the FitBit front, the streak is alive and well at 21 days (today will be 22...can you believe that shiz???). I'm very hopeful that this will push things along a little faster. It would be so amazingly awesome to have lost 100 lbs before the end of the year.

My third Couch to 5K workout will be tomorrow (turns out you're not supposed to do them on consecutive days...whoops...no wonder my ass and thighs are so stiff and sore). But I continue to walk every day (and sometimes at night when I need additional steps) and I think it's doing me some good to get fresh air, as well as the cardio exercise and stamina training.

Speaking of which...time to slap on some sunscreen and set the timer (and put on my sneakers). It's almost time for my daily constitutional (adjusts lorgnette) don't you know.

Serendipity (Whole75, Day 17)

Seventeen's always been a lucky/ augurous number for me. And Day 17 is no exception, apparently.

For one thing, this happened:

Another Day One to record!

I completed the first full workout for a Couch to 5K. Granted, this is a pretty remedial thing (jogging and walking at intervals, spaced out pretty gratuitously) but for someone like me, who previously couldn't get through even the first few minutes of this workout without turning it off and stopping to catch my breath, this is a big victory. It's my hope that I can complete the whole circuit to improve my jogging stamina and (please please) accelerate the weight loss.

Then, as I was walking back to my office all sweaty and disgusting and glowing with victory, I got a surprise email from my friend Ashley. She's not only a fitness buff (seriously, her FitBit stats blow everyone else clear out of the water) but a world traveler with an enviable schedule of adventures. 

She asked me if I'd be interested in perhaps joining her late next year in Paris, to run their first-ever Disneyland half-marathon.

Ordinarily, I'd chuckle at such an offer and be like "yeah, dude, you go ahead and 'run' or whatever, I'll eat me some Mickey Mouse beignets and cheer you on from the sidelines." But this came mere minutes after the above screenshot was taken.

This sounds crazy...but it's a little too convenient to be a coincidence that she sent that message right after I'd started actual honest to goodness training to run.

So I said yes.

I will very likely be taking a shorter run option (5K or 10K...it's a year from now but I'm not sure a half marathon is realistic even with that amount of time to train). But I'll be going, and I'm going to run. And I haven't been to Paris since 2004. I need to remedy that!

Motivation's a helluva thing, isn't it?