Mar
12
March 12, 2007
I was just watching the local news and there was a story about a man charged with abusing his four year old son by starving him. The boy was taken into protective custody, and subsequently to the hospital, after police went to his home following a request from CPS. He was so weak he couldn’t sit up on his own. He weighed only 22 pounds.
I can’t even imagine what that child looks like right now. Riley weighs 25 pounds, at 18 months old.
When JB and I saw the footage of this man, his face ducked to avoid cameras, I think we both felt the same thing: a desire to hurt him. I don’t think this guy should get the benefits of our justice system, I think he should be locked in a room with some angry people brandishing heavy weapons, and when his bones are nicely fractured and he, too, is too weak to sit up on his own, then he should be left to starve to death.
I guess that would leave the boy without a father, but really, I don’t think he’d be missing anything good.
:::
I’m glad you guys weighed in on the remodel stuff, I’m now re-considering the possibility of granite countertops and maybe a nice warm brown or gold or cream or olive or something for the wall colors. Boy, I can’t wait until this work gets underway and I am washing dishes in the bathroom sink and cooking in the garage and the living room is filled with workers and dirt and chaos! Oh wait.
:::
I’ve been so good on this diet of mine that when I stepped on the scale this morning I fully expected to see some dramatic number reduction. Annoyingly, it read 143, which is exactly what it read last Monday.
I know better than to live or die by the scale but COME ON. I’ve been eating salads. I’ve been eating sugar-free Jello. I’ve been eatings beans (they truly are the musical fruit, by the way) and green vegetables (seriously, this should be called the Ass Trombone Eating Plan) and fat-free cheese, which is, what, thinly sliced vinyl? Are there calories in vinyl?
In honesty I’ve been doing really well with food, sticking with low-calorie, healthy choices that taste good. Well, except for the tastes-like-human Tofurkey a few days ago, but I haven’t made THAT mistake again.
I’ve been exercising, too. I’ve done that Turbo Jam DVD enough now that I can actually do most of the moves, and I don’t even feel like barfing up both my lungs halfway through. Just the one lung. (What, it’s a challenging workout.) I’ve been doing some weights and last night, I shit you not, I did some crunches. For real, I just got down on the floor and did some crunches like a totally fucking crazy person, like some kind of psycho who subscribes to Shape magazine and drinks WATER all day long. Jesus.
My abs hurt today, by the way. Or, whatever “abs” are called when they’re less like muscle and more like veal.
The point is, I really feel that I should be rewarded with some movement on that scale. I do feel like my clothes fit better, and when I look at myself in the mirror there’s some subtle changes happening there, but still, I’d feel much more impressive about the whole endeavor to date if I could also say I lost a few pounds, you know? I know muscle weighs more than fat but doesn’t it take more than a week to build enough muscle density to affect the scale?
I am feeling good about my progress, though, and I feel positive about sticking with it. It was really hard at first, but it seems much easier now that I’ve figured out some meals that work for me. If you’re at all interested in this sort of thing, here’s my list of low-cal foods I’ve been rotating:
• Salads, and lots of them. Bagged greens with cut up cucumbers, mushrooms, and raw cauliflower, tossed with a dressing using a small amount of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, mustard, and a bit of Splenda.
• Weight Watchers “2 pts” cereal with blueberries.
• Beans and rice, rice and beans. With salsa mixed in and sometimes some melted fat-free vinyl.
• Stir fries with lean chicken, baby bok choy, broccoli, water chestnuts, etc.
• Whole wheat pasta with marinara sauce.
• Snacks: sugar-free Jello, 100-calorie popcorn packs (with Splenda and salt dumped on top), apples, bananas, Weight Watchers mini chocolate cake thingies.
Those of you who said the hunger lessens after the first week were right. I’m sure my brain was just rebelling to a new regime of portion size and non-junkfood choices (bye bye, Nutter Butters) because I felt barely in control at first and now I’m getting it on like Donkey Kong, baby.
Anyway! I’ll be sure and give you another thrilling update next Monday, when that scale better display a number lower than 143 or I’m throwing its cheap digital ass out the goddamn window.
:::
You know, bitching about scale numbers aside, life is pretty good these days.
Well, except maybe for Dog. God, won’t anyone pay attention to her?
Comments
-
My product review site:
[
Very inspiring! Maybe I’ll get a Greek salad tomorrow for lunch instead of the grilled cheese + fries I was planning on.
Keep on keepin’ on! Keep motivating the rest of us!
I saw that jerk on the news also. First, I hope while in jail the other inmates find out what he did and beat the ever living shit out of him. That is usually what the do to child molesters so I am hoping the same applies to this asshole. Second, if a mother ever did that to a child the world would want her head on a platter. I hope our justice system makes an example out of him.
My dog gets the same pittiful look on her face too. :)
De-Lurking to comment..I didn’t see this story but I am a foster parent (hoping to adopt) of 3 girls…3 years old and 7 month old twins. When they came into our care the twins were 7 weeks old and in the hospital with broken ribs, broken leg, multiple fractures on the skull. One now has a shunt in her head that drains fluid into her abdomen because of the abuse caused her brain to fall into the opening that normally drains the fluid, thankfully she is okay and developing well. Her sister? when we met for the first time had a 20% of survival, not only did she have the broken bones but was considered a shaken baby and during the abuse it was so severe that she had multiple strokes. She is now 7 months old but with a 1 month old development. She is in rehab and getting better but want to know the shitty part? yes it gets worse. The parents that did this to them sees them twice a month for visitation. Yes, you read that right, the same people that tried to kill them and failed gets to see them. Now theres the justice system for ya….BTW, Riley is so darn cute!
May the bastard rot in the fiery pits of hell. People like that make me sick. Keep us informed.
Jenn, I hope for the best with your children. I do not understand how people can do that and then be allowed to have any contact whatsoever with their children. I think there is a special part of hell waiting for them.
I thought dog looked adoring rather than pitiful, actually. She’d much rather gaze at JB’s face than whatever Riley and JB are so enraptured with. “I wuf yoooooo”
I won’t mention what I’m eating right now (mocha ripple with almonds ice-cream! but I earned it because …it’s Monday! and…it’s got 44% less fat which won’t make any difference because I can’t stop eating it).
Riley’s chair cracks me up. Dog cracks me up.
I don’t know if you plan to have a hardwood floor in your new kitchen but I can highly recommend it as long as it’s well verathaned. Hardwood flooring in a kitchen is a dream. Very easy to clean and so classy looking.
If you’re going to be washing your dishes in the bathroom, be sure any workers that bring their own lube use a port-o-potty!
Re: the abusive man. Although I can understand people getting angry and frustrated sometimes with their kids, I’ll never understand people who methodically hurt and injure children. That’s just diabolical. I also can’t understand why it takes so long for CPS to get it’s ass in gear on these cases. I hope that child finds a loving nurturing home. And the dad rots in hell. (Mother too, if she allowed it.)
P.S. Jenn, you are in my prayers for a CLOSED adoption. Yikes. Is the State mentally ill?
Yeah, seriously, don’t sweat the scale — muscle weighs more than fat. Keep doing the lung-exploding workouts, and I am telling you, you will see results. Crunches are definitely The Devil, but they too will definitely help. If you aren’t torturing yourself enough, though, and want to know some total pain-inducing, fat-obliterating exercises, let me know — my sergeants seem to come up with new methods of torture like that on a regular basis, and I would be more than happy to pass them on, for misery certainly loves it some company.
Can’t even comment on the asshole who hurt his baby. Disgusting. Our small town just had a similar situation here and the letters to the editor basically stated that the man who caused the misery better NEVER show his face around here or horrible things will happen to him (and I hope they do)
The whole “muscles weighs more than fat”….whatever. I know that is true, but I ate NOTHING (basically) for a week and ran 2 miles every day. The result? I gained 3 pounds!! When I was whining about it at work, everyone told me that “muscle weighs more than fat” Come on, 3 pounds of muscle in one week? Don’t think so!! Maybe our bodies are rebelling and they will “give in” this week and reward us. Good luck!
Just a few notes on some of the comments.. Muscle doesn’t actually weight more than fat. One pound of muscle weighs exactly the same as one pound of fat. Muscle takes up less volume than fat though so more than one pound of muscle fits in the same place that one pound of fat fits in.
excellent point nic. also, something to remember is that your bodys metabolism is changing–slowing down, much in part to the reduced caloric intake over this past week. until you get rid of some of the fat by doing the cardio work and put on some muscle with the weight training, it can take a few weeks to see any changes on the scale. once you get the muscle going, your resting metabolism will rise and youll start seeing a change on the scale as you body utilises your fat stores to fuel your muslces while theyre resting. your initial change should be that you FEEL so much better. youll have more energy and that will make it easier to keep moving! hang in there….its tough at first, but once you get the ball rolling its difficult to stop. its a lifestyle change thats totally worth it.
and as for the picture of “the boys”…i love the chair but how did you manage to get BOTH OF THEM to sit still long enough to snap a picture? what ARE they watching? ;)
My aunt was going gangbusters on WW when she came down for a visit last Sept. She had hit a plateu and decided she was going to enjoy her visit and not worry about points for that week. When she got home she found she had lost a pound or two! I did really well last week, although I only worked out that one time. I’m hoping to get more exercise in this week because it’s going to be eighty-frickin-degrees tomorrow. WTF???
I don’t know what Dog is pouting about; she gets table scraps, the baby doesn’t. That should even things out, right?
Many times when I hear stories such as the one you mentioned, I have a complete visceral almost vomiting reaction. Jen – I hope that the situation with your children turns out for the best. I cannot believe that the state allows those parents to see their kids.
And kudos on sticking to the WW and exercise plan! I know all too well that the scale can suck (I’m hovering right around the same weight as you, except I’m sure that I would kill to have your well defined legs). Keep up the good fight!
Don’t worry too much about the scale. It’s a fickle bitch. Some weeks, you may not lose a pound — you may even gain, but it all works out in the end. You just gotta keep on keepin’ on.
Nabsico (I think) makes some kind of sorry excuse for Nutter Butters in those 100 Calorie Pack versions. They are tasty, if you don’t think they’re supposed to taste just like Nutter Butters — no creamy, peanut buttery spread — but I tell you, when you rip open the package, they SMELL exactly like Nutter Butters.
So. I guess my point is that if that doesn’t feel like a total tease to you, try them. Otherwise, avoid them like antifreeze because you’ll be disappointed.
SIX WEEKS. Please don’t despair that I just said that but give it six weeks. When I began a better eating/exercise program it took six weeks before the scale started to move. I think all the changes at once threw my body in to shock. I know I did a ton of reading and 6 weeks popped up a lot as a marker. Once it started it steadily slid off so hang in there. It’s worth it.
Ugh – scales suck. I know some days are very discouraging, but hang in there! It sounds like you’re doing great!
Adorable fam. My poor dog has handled his demotion to dog pretty well, but still gets jealous of my 1 y.o.
Re: the abuse case, we were just talking about the guy in Pittsburgh who put his 2 y.o. outside in the freezing cold (she froze to death) because she wouldn’t stay in her bed. This was while he was awaiting trial on child molestation charges (for a different child). There’s a special place in Hell for people who hurt kids. It just makes me sick to hear stories like this and what happened to Jenn’s kids. I’m adopted & it amazes me that it’s such a difficult and long journey for adoptive parents, and the law seems to side with biology, even when it’s obvious that biology doesn’t necessarily determine what’s best for children.
Try taking your measurements and gauging your success by that. I have to say that I would be pretty darn pysched to have a weight of 143. Good luck!
Here is where I give my annoying WW advice (but it’s helpful! I swear!)… Make sure you’re eating ENOUGH. A lot of people stick to their daily points, or try and stay UNDER their daily points, and don’t use their flex points – but more often than not, I see that it hurts people more than it helps them, because their bodies think they’re starving, and their bodies hold onto all their fat. If you haven’t been eating your flex points, or if you haven’t been eating the points you earn from Turbo-Jamming (which should be quite a few points, as I assume lung-exploding = high intensity), then you should give that a whirl. Eat all your APs (the points you earn from working out), and try to eat at least a good portion of your flex points each week, and it might help you with the weight loss. I eat every damn point I can find (I only get 22 daily) and I’ve lost 7 pounds in 2 weeks. Of course, if you’re already eating those points, then this whole paragraph is useless. But, best of luck!! And try the Grasshopper and Chocolate Chip cookie 100-calorie packs by Keebler, and also Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches… holy YUM.
I’m totally not an Atkins fan or Zone or anyting like that, but maybe try getting a bit more protein — add some to your rice & beans (while beans are full of protein, they are also quite starchy), and maybe some tuna or chicken to your salad. Also? The muscle you are building is good — just think of it like you have spent a week (and now do another week) building an engine. In another week the little engine will take off and start destorying that fat. The engine needs complex carbs and protein to get to where it needs to be for weight loss — once built you can get back into more low-cal simple carbs (bananas, 100 cal packs of cookies, etc.)
I paid a dietitian to be my friend for awhile.
Oh, Dog. Such love and adoration. Dog’s expression makes me want to gently place JB’s hand onto her sweet head.
Dog is so sweet! What a cute picture. Also, Riley looks like such a little man in his grown-up chair.
And I can’t even imagine the kind of people that hurt their children like that. It is so horrible it hurts to even think about it.
stories about children being abused is horrible. i came across a similar one today that is closer to where we live. so so sad. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,258420,00.html
hang in there on the WW thing. i was doing good, after the holidays, then girl scout cookie holiday arrived. and uh, well…is one roll of thin mints at a time too much? oh hell, who am i kidding! at this point i’m just on a big cookie binge so the damn things will be gone from my life and i can move on!
Ok, there are 22 comments before mine, so I’m sure someone already said this: muscle weighs more than fat, so you won’t see a dramatic drop on the scale while you’re working out regularly. The good thing is that every pound of muscle you put on burns an extra 50 calories a day.
I learned all that at WW : )
Keep up the good work, Linda. You’re doing great! (Except for the Tofurkey incident, but everyone’s allowed to slip up once.)
Ugh, I have been feeling your pain on the diet thing for longer than YOU have been feeling the pain. I too have been having salad for every meal and no sodas, and Egg Beaters for breakfast for two months … guess how much weight I’ve lost? None. But of course this is because I’ve been working out and building good muscle tone. But still … NO weight shift? Give me a break!
Hand to god, if we weren’t both already married and straight, “Or, whatever “abs” are called when they’re less like muscle and more like veal.” would have caused me to immediately get a plane to Seattle and force you to elope with me, possibly by threatening you with non fat cheese (which really, the mozzarella isn’t too bad, it’s the sliced cheddar that is better suited for shoe soles).
…the Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches really are pretty tasty, and I mostly hate anything labeled “fat free”. Although the “Just 2 Good” salad dressings are really not that horrible.
And I laughed out loud at “Ass Trombone” and Dog’s pathetic little face.
Have you ever tried VitaMuffins? They are only 100 calories and pretty good! You can find them in the freezer section (usually with the healthier and/or organic stuff). They have good whole grain and fiber… and did I mention 100 calories?
And I second the fact that Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches are good… I like the mint ones.
We just (almost) finished building our new house. We went with maple cabinets, dark wood floors, and dark granite cabinets. Most of our walls are a light beige/cream color but we painted on brown accent wall in the kitchen. We put in all stainless appliances, though they aren’t featured in the following picture. I’m really happy with how it turned out. I’m sure your kitchen will be beautiful, too. Oh, Home Depot has some good prices on granite. The company that actually does it for them is Precision Countertops, so you may want to call them first. There are also some places in West Seattle that will sell you granite slabs for a pretty good deal. There is also a place in West Seattle that just “skins” existing countertops with granite. My FIL put it on his sailboat and it looks great!
http://i5.tinypic.com/4hsxh5x.jpg
2 quick things before heading back into lurk-dom…
1) Just say no to granite! It’s so over done, and you know what? You can have so much more fun with other solid surfaces. Formica Solid Surface is probably my favorite widely available option –so beautiful! And unique! And Modernish!
2) Just say no to fat free cheese! Not worth it… spend the points on a little of the 2% milk stuff… it’s so much better tasting, and good for you. Also, I know it’s frustrating not to see a change on the scale, but look at it this way: your body is in shock from all that good stuff you are putting into it, and it needs some time to gather it’s wits and start doing what it’s supposed to.
[…] What is up with Weight Watchers? I swear I have read countless entries this week about Weight Watchers. Is it post-holiday diet time? Is the plan THAT good? Sounds like a cult to me. […]
WAY TO GO!! That is awesome – I am on Weight Watchers and you are inspiring me.
Oh – if you want something in between laminate and granite Wilsonart make a High Definition (I know – lame to use a TV adjective) Laminate that is REALLY awesome. Truly! I love it!! I work for a remodeler in Texas and our clients LOVE it! Not as pricey as granite and it still has depth and texture. Just a thought :)
It swear, it’s news stories like this that caused me to stop watching the news. I go online and choose what to read about because since becoming a mom stuff like that just fills me with both sadness and rage. I say put the guy in a room with a bunch of parents, baseball bats, pillowcases full of bricks or whatever and shut the door. Something is broken when this kind of thing isn’t discovered until the kid is 4 and when biological parents who are known abusers aren’t just cut off from their kids forever.
OK, must stop ranting. No advice on the WW other than to say it has worked really well for my mom and some friends. It wasn’t overnight, but over time it really had results. Hang in there.
To return to the previous discussion, two years ago we replaced our laminate tops with granite, and it’s probably made the single biggest difference in a kitchen remodel that included painting the cheap-ass “wood” cabinets (bc/buying new ones was too expensive), painting walls and ceiling, adding new lights, and putting in stainless steel appliances. You are SUPPOSED to reseal the counters every year, but we haven’t done this so far. I don’t think I know anyone with granite tops who does reseal annually. We’ve been very happy with the granite — no chips, scratches, or other problems.
Everybody is different and you need to find the diet that works for you, but what helped me lose those last stubborn 5 pounds (off my hips and ass) was the following: big breakfast that included eggs, full-fat bacon or sausage, 4 slices well-buttered toast, and cup of coffee with whole milk; lunch: small yogurt and an apple and another cup of coffee; and an early dinner (because that yogurt doesn’t last too long) — a large Caesar salad or maybe a small hamburger or blt sandwich, often accompanied by a glass of chocolate milk (whole) and the occasional small dessert. Sometimes, snacks of whole grain cereal or some nuts. Weekends: more or less whatever, within moderation, with one meal (breakfast or lunch) substituted by a piece of fruit. Plus the usual daily hour-long workouts I had always done.
I never eat low-fat or sugarless things that should have fat and sugar. (i.e., desserts) I would rather have a small piece of something that I really want than a large piece of something that’s a pale shadowy substitute for my True Desire.
I feel your pain! Lord! I spent 3-4 months going to the rec center here at my university EVERY NIGHT or close to every night, and did 45 minutes on a elliptical. According the machine, I burned 500 calories nearly every night. I saw changes. My legs were stronger, my gut was beginning to shrink. I could see my pubic hair without sucking my gut in! My jeans were loose. I actually gained 6 pounds. T_T and then I moved to a new dorm room and didn’t go for over like 3 weeks. My jeans are tight again, my stomach is larger.. BUT I’VE BEEN EATING LIKE A VEGAN. AUGH!
I feel your pain.. I feel your pain
Your diet meals actually sound right on the money. I’m guessing it’s just going to take a little longer and then, whoosh, the pounds will start flying off all at once. Either that or it’s just a bloaty time of the month. My weight regularly fluctuates five pounds no matter what I eat or how much (or how little) I exercise. Damn human bodies.
Yeah, I gave up eating any sweet anything for Lent (THREE WEEKS AGO!) and my scale has not yet gotten the memo. Bitch.
Hang in there!
Keep up the eating healthy and exercise, it really will work over time. Last spring I got on the same kick just to see if I could make the scale budge after 2 yrs of the same number, by national standards I am sure that I was borderline overweight but for me, I just didn’t like the way I looked in my Old Navy pants, I wanted to look & feel better in clothes and in general. I worked my butt off, red faced, out of breath, sore muscle work-outs and ate so healthy it was insane but from Jan-May I slowly slowly slowly lost 30lbs and never felt better in my life (except maybe when I was 12 and a beanpole and ran around all day playing & burning calories without knowing it!).
I think I just amazed myself by learning that by moving my body and eating well, one actually does have the capacity to change their body & their overall health. I keep that image of my self-motivation and determination from last year at the front of my mind as I enter my 9th month of pregnancy (having barely worked out since getting that plus sign) and I am so eager to shed the 40+ pounds this kiddo (ok, I did it to myself) has put on my hips, thighs, butt, you name it! Keep it up, I need the inspiration to be a healthy fit mom post-baby! AP+1
Lose the fat free cheese. It definitely tastes like crap. Use small amounts of extra sharp cheddar, feta, blue – all the really strong tasting cheeses. Small amounts give big flavor and still have small points to go with them.
Dramatic color in kitchens rock, and you already have that great red wall, why not compliment the kitchen with another great color (besides a bunch of it gets covered with cabinetry, so it really acts as an accent). But not lime green, NOT LIME GREEN. I saw one of those renovation, flip this house shows over the weekend and they painted the living room lime green……sheesh!!
Don’t give up on the diet! Seriously…scale be damned! Good for you for making the effort. I might actually be inspired to try something myself. MIGHT be…
I notice cat is missing from the “life is good” photo…coincidence? or catta-dence?
Hi, I know it feels like defeat, but don’t rely on your scales. When I’m dieting, sometimes the scales stay the same, yet my clothes feel different. Go more by the difference in your clothes, jeans or pants are the best, they will let you know far quicker where you’re at than the scales will. It’s fantastic that you’re sticking with it! Good luck to you XXX
That look on Dog’s face made my heart hurt.
I love the look on dogs’s face…it is the same look that appears on my dog’s face when he is playing the “woe is me card”…..as for WW….I agree…get rid of the fat-free cheese…it is NASTY.
You don’t have to say goodbye to Nutter Butters!! Nabisco has the 100 cal pack on the cookie aisle. No creamy peanut buttery goodness in the middle, but yummy just the same.
from one trying to eat better girl to another …
Best diet food ever?
Weight watchers Giant chocolate fudge bars in the ice cream section of the supermarket.
totally yummy and only 1 point!
JB’s t-shirt makes me happy. Kudos to him.
Excuse, and what you think concerning forthcoming elections?
cool blog!
cool blog!
nice photos of this blog