It’s Tuesday. And tomorrow is Wednesday. And the weekdays off are now my “weekend off” from work. I am now working weekends. That’s a hard pill to swallow! Time will be of the essence on these two days off but more than that, I have to get used to my new life schedule. Ahhhhh! The schedule of retail.
My weekday new “weekend” look! It’s fun!
Oh, I’m not complaining at all. I mean—after a year-and-a-half (with the exception of the temp position back in October) of lazing idle and searching in vain for employment, this new schedule is actually a good thing (I will keep telling myself this—especially during the summer months). I just have to work at being a bit more organized.
And speaking of organized, I went back to Five Below to purchase another one of those hanging jewelry organizers. There was still a good amount of lip and eye products to be placed in a more organized manner. Look what I did! I even purchased an over-the-door rack to hang both cosmetic holders. I’m so happy–so’s my makeup!
Phase II of my cosmetics organizing! This one is for lip and eye products!
Anyway, my feet and nails were treated to a well-needed mani-pedi earlier this morning. I’m so used to sitting on my ass in front of the computer that standing on my feet for more than five hours at a time was a bit surprising. I wore an old pair of J. Crew ballet flats yesterday and when I got home, my feet were barking.
The result of my mani-pedi. Bonaparte got me in the habit of red nails. It’s timeless and classic and always looks great!
I created the retail workout, however. I took a Swiffer duster from behind the counter and dusted every display in the department. That meant bending, stretching, lunging, and walking at a brisk pace. I also got my share of more bending and stretching when I cleaned the glass counters. I’m digging this new exercise program.
My new exercise theme song. “Bend and Stretch”–from Romper Room. Should I sing this while I’m at work?
Back to today. Listen. The gluten-free way of eating isn’t working for me. I’m very upset about this because since January, I have lost a grand total of 7 1/2 pounds. That’s just a little too slow for my personal happy place of weight loss. Perhaps it could be due to my love of aperitifs that the weight loss was too slow—or all the Easter candy I shoved into my mouth……
Now I’m trying something else. I ordered the 21 Day Fix plan.
Trust me–if I wanted to look like HER, I would have to take the 21-YEAR fix program–and plastic surgery on every part of my body!
I sort of ordered “21 Day Fix” plan lite. The pared-down version if you will. This plan has another version where you spend a lot of money for a special healthy shake powder. If you do purchase this shake plan, you will spend over a hundred dollars. There is no way I am shelling out over a hundred bucks for healthy shake powder. I’ll make my own shakes. Today’s “lunch” was a delicious shake of leftover salad greens, half a tomato, a banana, and almond milk. I call it the “Garbage Shake” because if I didn’t throw all that stuff into the blender, it would have started to rot and then it would have been garbage.
Can you guess what this is? It’s my “Garbage Shake” at the bottom of the glass–and I finished it. There’s bits of tomato in it, and spinach, and radicchio and hearts of palm and almond milk and a banana. I’ve tasted better…
Anyway, the basic premise of this 21 Day Fix plan is exercise and little portion-control plastic containers. I’m pretty sure it’s called 21 Day Fix because it takes 21 days to figure how this program actually works!
I received two CD’s containing the 21 day exercises. Both CD’s are in the cardboard pockets. My exercise today was unwrapping the plastic covering and taking the CD’s out to photograph them. I’ll do my first set of exercise tomorrow………if I remember.
I got a great workout from taking the wrapping off of these CDs. I’m tired now.
Also in this kit were 7 plastic containers. These containers are used to “measure” the daily intake of food. Each color container represents one item on the food chain.
My little containers. And believe ME, these containers ARE little!
While reading the Eating Plan booklet that also came in the kit, I had a good laugh. Claims of “I can eat all that?” are printed to make you think that you are eating a ton of food each day. Guess what? You’re not. But—at this point, I need some structure and boundaries.
And that’s what I did this afternoon. After the mani-pedi I drove off to Wegmans to buy some groceries and I came home, measured out my food for the next few days and crossed my fingers that this will work.
Luckily, I’m at the LOW end of caloric intake. Why am I saying “luckily”? That means I’m eating less than those who weigh more than me!
This is an entire day’s worth of carbs. A half of a sweet potato.
I get more fruit. Two servings this big…
Three helpings of veg..and the biggie. Four helpings of protein. About a cupful!
I’m going to spend the rest of the day reading more about this 21-Day Fix—as far as portion control goes, I think it’s very good. But with that also comes a good helping of willpower. Let’s see if I can muster up some power of the will!
I don’t know why she’s smiling. It cannot be over the small amount of food allowed each day. I think she’s smiling because she’s making millions off fat slobs like me!
If it were not so cold outside, I would take Chippy out for a nice long walk. However, Spring has decided to go back into her cave to hibernate and the weather is still freezing!
Have a great rest-of-the-day. I’ll be back tomorrow to talk hair! Yes. HAIR! I’m on another rant!
An appropriate song for today. The Kinks. Skin and Bone! XOXOXOXO!
Catherine, good to hear from you again. Good luck on the 21 Day Fix, I am interested in hearing how it works for you. Glad the job is going well – have a happy day friend! 🙂
Thanks Terry! I’m interested to see how this works too. I’ll definitely be reporting! XOXOXO!!!
Hey Hey GF!!! Your looking So Fine!!! 😄😄 Looking forward to hearing your take on ‘The Fix’….Enjoy the rest of your ‘weekend’ xoxoxox
Hi Linda. Oh. I’ll be reporting on “The Fix” for sure. More fish tonight!!!! XOXOXO!
Fish is good!!!! 👍👍
Catherine, looking at the amount of cosmetics you have managed to stuff, sorry, put, into the bag with little pockets, I was just wondering if you didn’t have a little too much make-up. Just a thought. Hope you are having a relaxing mid week. Bises xx
LOL–Rosemary, I have WAYYY too many cosmetics. But–alas, they are sorely needed! Definitely having a relaxing mid week. Thank you! Bises to you too! XOXOXO!!
I don’t know how you guys drink these shakes. Just the thought of downing one makes me gag! Hope it works out for you, though. To lose weight in France we just eat less of everything. Less bread, less cheese and above all, no processed food. More fruit, veggies and fish. Some rely on cigarettes to curb their appetite; but that’s not me. Have a good breakfast (no cereal as they’re calorie and sugar bombs and won’t tide you over to lunch), a filling lunch with lean meat and veggies and then a light dinner. And absolutely NO snacking, unless it’s fruit!!! And water, drink lots of water; NO soda. You can continue enjoying your apéro on the weekend. 😉
Then some moderate exercise. We do a lot of walking. To the shops, the train station, to the office….I know you guys can’t walk everywhere as we do but I’m sure there is a way. I work out with weights and go swimming twice a week.
I hope you have fun times at your new job. How does the US law work; will you be able to take time off in June?
Xx
Hi Bougie. Oh…don’t get me started! Moving to the suburbs was my demise–both physically and mentally. When I lived in NYC I was 30 pounds lighter. I walked EVERYWHERE. That’s why I love being in Paris so much. I challenge Bonaparte to walking v. driving! I also grew up with absolutely no snacking as well. Haven’t had soda in years. Years! My thing is just portion control. I’m too used to large American portions and need to cut down. Oh..I told them at my job interview that I was going to France so it’s no big deal. I’m looking so foward to the trip!! XOXOXOXO!!!
Hi Catherine and if I haven’t said it before good luck with your new job! And one day you will get that health insurance as well – such a difference to the Uk with our universal, non-insurance and free at the point of access healthcare. It may have its downsides but at least it’s there! And good luck with the diet as well. After my babes I was very big but now I’m slim and really stable with my weight. But a lot of my friends have tried the 5/2 diet which is the one where on two days you eat hardly anything and the others you eat nearly everything – it works for some I believe. Let us know how both the job and the diet goes. And your work face is just great! xxxxxx
Hi Penny! Thanks for the encouragement. I’ll tell you, Bonaparte has made mention that if Cruz or Trump is elected, there is a chance we would be moving to his home country where the healthcare is accessible! XOXOXOXO!!!
I’m not sure how I’d do on that health plan, Catherine. My first action would definitely to be to try to find small, square-shaped doughnuts to fit into those boxes.
Bun. Surprisingly. VERY surprisingly. Doughnuts–be they square, round or oval, are one of the few foods that I don’t like. It’s astonishing that I feel that way but I just don’t like them! XOXOXO!!!
Sorry, Catherine, I think there must be something in my eye obscuring my vision of the screen. It looked like you said you don’t like doughnuts…
Bun. There is nothing in your eye! I don’t like doughnuts! XOXOXOXO!!!
In a world of finite doughnut resources, I have to look on this as unexpected but welcome news, Catherine. 🙂
Wow! What an amazing make up stash. Good luck with the 21 day fix.
Hi June. Yeah. I’m a makeup junkie. Drugstore brands. High end brands. I love ’em all! Thanks for the good luck–I’ll need it! XOXOXO!!!
As always, you made me smile and laugh.
Thank you darlin’. It’s always my pleasure! XOXOXO!!!
XOXO