rachelpink rides the bus

The Weekend, In Numbers

Episodes of Buffy watched: 7
Naps taken: 0
Movies watched: 1
Money earned for market research survey: $100
Books read: 1
Smoothies consumed: 2  
Money spent on fruit: $6
Hours spent in the office: 5 
Hours spent on the subway: 3 

Sun

When I was all young and goth-like I loved rainy days and grey skies.

I am now 34 and dork-like and I really really really would prefer a sunshine day. 

The whole city is ready to snap. Tolerance for accidental subway-jostling is at a low. I worry about us. 

So, seriously, sunshine? Show up.

In Other News. . .

So I'll pause from the man-angst to report on my Weight Watchers doings. 

I've discovered this--I really like roast chicken and mangos more than donuts. 

Today marks two weeks of Points. Tomorrow is my second weigh-in. Of course, I've been checking in daily on the ol' scale, and barring some freak instance of water-retention I'll definitely be down a few more pounds. I didn't dip into my daily points cache this week at all, and most days I was a few Points under. And believe me, I'm not starving myself. Monday and Tuesday were difficult days, but I think stress was a factor. I've also hit all my water, fruit/veg, dairy, and good fat targets every single day.

There are TWO things I'm doing 100% differently this time and they seem to be making all the difference. 

1. De-emphasizing Dessert

The last time I did the Points I would eat teensy tiny meals so I could have three 2-pt. Skinny Cow sandwiches after my veggie burger and dry salad. Sure, I lost weight because the calories were still low, but I still had the taste (and the incessant craving) for sweets. I definitely wasted at least a third to a half of my daily Points on dessert. Still lost 70 pounds, but never lost the desire for Ben and his yummy friend Jerry. 

2. Eating Whole Foods 85% of the Time

Yup. Whole foods like bananas and brussels sprouts instead of 3-pt. fat-free banana cupcakes and Lean Cuisine meals. My body just can't deal with all that stuff anymore. As with everything, I'll blame age. But whatever the reason, I'm pleased to pieces with the result. I'm ridiculously energetic and sleeping better and my mind seems clearer (I know--v. weird but true). 

Here's the good news--this hasn't been two super easy weeks. Work has been stressful. Life has been complicated (as it always tends to be). And not once did I have the urge to drown my sorrows in anything more harmful than a bowl of sliced up strawberries. 

And I'd be remiss not to mention my good fortune in being surrounded by kind, supportive and endlessly patient friends. God, I am too lucky to have them all. 

My Latest Google Searches

Here's a list of my Google searches in the past 24 hours. 

"why does Dawn just show up in season five of Buffy"

Chipotle calorie calculator

"americal girl place" nyc price of photo shoot

stormtrooper head 

cincinnati lego store

trader joe's union square store hours

That was kind of amusing. Let's do that more often. 

More on Bananas

So I've been on quite the banana kick lately. First, the food. In one week I've gone from banana hater to banana lover. Frozen bananas, banana smoothies, bananas on peanut butter toast. My potassium is at an all-time high. 

I also finally had the chance to play some hand-hand combat BANANAGRAMS. It's a really simple game--just a bunch of scrabble-like letters in a pouch that's shaped like a banana. 

What total fun! You can play with a bunch of people or a few people. You can play with 9 yr. olds and 5 yr. olds and 35 yr. olds. There are a few versions of the game. On Sunday we played banana smoothie--everyone took an equal amount of tiles. Whoever used up all their tiles first won. It sounds so easy. . . it is not. 

This is the summer of BANANAGRAMS.

Bananas

I'm giving bananas another chance. Historically, I've hated them. 

Last night I had peanut butter toast topped with half a banana and a drizzle of honey. 

This morning I added the other half of that banana to my breakfast smoothie. 

Susan said if I freeze a banana it will taste like ice cream. That I doubt. I'm not there yet. 

Points

It's Sunday. Earlier in the day I plunked down $60 and joined Weight Watchers Online. 

I'm convinced it's the right thing to do, but I'm nonetheless conflicted. 

Thanks to this book, I've come to better understand the dangers of dieting. I've read alot about HAES (health at every size), and I do believe it. This particular girl is never going to be a waif or a wisp or even a double waif or wisp. And that's cool. Now I get that, and my goal for this go-round of WW is not to fit into a particular size. I just want to get mindful about what I'm eating and whatever size I am when that kicks in is the size I plan to be. Yup, I'm starting a diet and I don't want to fit into a bikini when I'm "finished." 

If I can happily do yoga again that's enough. If I stop considering cinnamon donuts as a major food group, success! If I can start getting in that requisite 5 fruits and veggies, tadah. 

For the record, my blood pressure and blood work and all that good stuff is snappy. I'm more active, thanks to city life, than most of my sistahs (hahaha) in the suburbs who don't need to walk to the supermarket. Fat hating folks don't like to hear that but it's true. You can be big and healthy (donut habit notwithstanding). And a lifetime of dieting is something that can seriously screw a girl up. And, well, dirty little secret--have you noticed that most people gain back their weight? Why do we all assume that it's the fault of individuals in the face of collective and collosal evidence to the contrary? 

Anyhow, I'm healthy but I want to be healthier. Active but I want to be more active. I kind of love Rachelpink as she is now, and I'll still love her when she turns into a great big brussels sprout. 

Dirty

Today the shelter was a teensy bit less crowded than it was last time. It was still so darn crowded. 

Because of this, that, and the other I was the only one cleaning dog cages. Blurgh. 

And of course today was the rare day I needed to go to Target post-volunteering. And it was the first day in ages I didn't wear a sweatshirt or jacket over my t-shirt. 

In conclusion, I went to Target in a light-blue shirt dotted with animal detritus. 

I didn't feel good about it, but it's a pain to get to Target and it's only a few blocks from the shelter. My dvd player kipped out, and a girl without cable can't be expected to also forgo Buffy DVDs and other Netflix delights. 

Shame? A little. But practical matters trumped all. 

RIP Black Skirt

This has been my go-to, happiest-making, bestest skirt for years. It's a plain black cotton skirt. At one point, it had a white cotton lining. Months ago it got so threadbare I had to cut the lining out. Sure, the 

skirt then became immodestly transparent, but it didn't bother me. I was going to extreme measures to save my beloved cheap cotton black skirt. 

For the past year I've searched for a replacement skirt. Nothing fit the bill. And then today I took a quick look through the big-girl clothing pit in Target and nestled among some hideous sporty shorts was a simple, plain, perfect black cotton jersey skirt. It's a miracle of a garment. Comfortable. Adorable. Functional. $15. Tonight I wore it and it easily took over the role of its predecessor. It might even be better. 

So farewell skirt friend. I've worn you in good times and bad, now it's time for you to rest your weary elastic. 

Sleepless in Astoria

This is night two of sleeplessness. 

First, I blame the cats. 

Add to that extreme work francticness, family worries, hot dogs for dinner, and a minor little dumb medical thingy and I have good reason to be anxious. But sleepless? F. I hate that. There's nothing I like more than a good night's sleep and I should be smack dab in the middle of a dream right now. Instead. . . I'm here with you and entertaining the idea of playing a game or two or three of Bejewled on Facebook.