CAVEAT: I’m no doctor. I’m no nurse. I am however a hypochondriac. I’m no dietician or nutritionist. Therefore, this blog post is purely about how I am losing weight—at a snail’s pace.
Trust me. The medical profession thanks me for not being a nurse..or doctor….
Since January of this year, I’ve managed to lose 12 pounds. That’s not great considering we are entering the 5th month of 2023. However, it isn’t that bad either.
Yeah. It’s kind of a “meh” moment. If I were more disciplined I could have lost more.
A bit of backstory: The pandemic had me with a 30-pound weight gain. Pre-Covid I was 140 pounds. At 5 feet 6 inches, it’s a healthy weight—especially since I’m older and do not want to be skin and bones. With my brother’s passing just before the lockdown, I was depressed and food helped to temporary fix the depression—for a few moments. And those few moments lasted about two years.
Yup! I’m everything on this.
Then it was eating from boredom. It was eating from stress. It was just eating too much. I’m sure you know what that’s like.
Me. Me. Me.
This past Thanksgiving, the family was here and it was great, I baked, cooked and ate and didn’t even worry about my weight. I was having too much fun with my kids and grandsons. Christmas was another feast even though we had Covid—it didn’t stop me from eating.
And the work was worth it!!
New Year’s Eve, I got on the scale to a whopping 170 pounds. My Ob/Gyn Appointment was mid-January and with the holidays over, my body managed to come down five pounds. At 165, my doctor told me to lose 25 pounds—which would bring me back to 140.
The first thing I did was to return to Weight Watchers. It worked for me in the past but would it work now?
Not really. You see, Weight Watchers closed the majority of their “in-person” meetings. In my area the only meeting I could possibly attend was on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 PM. That time didn’t work for me. My only solution was to revive my lifetime status and revisit the App.
I’m REALLY pissed off at Weight Watchers for paring down on the physical meetings. For me, those meetings mean accountability and the opportunity to connect with those going through what I experience with weight. It’s now the “APP” and internet meetings. Sorry not sorry. It doesn’t work for me!
Now—the app apparently works for many people; it doesn’t move my needle but I do find the tracking valuable because I’m able to track my meals. Still, given the gazillion “Zero-Point” foods the brand has listed, many are foods I am “meh” about.
My exercise routine is running up and down the stairs. And mostly running up so that I can exercise my hands by…
…taking selfies of myself. At least my fingers are getting a workout!
What I have done is make a conscience effort to cut down on processed foods, carbs and sweets. That doesn’t mean I’m depriving myself. It means I’m more aware of what I’m putting into my mouth and gut.
As of April 28, two days ago from posting this—my weight is 156.7. I’m okay with that.
TBH, this number is better then what it would have been had I gained additional weight!
I had visions of being my target weight in six weeks, when we head back to France. Being at the pool and the beaches, I was hoping to get to that number where I am comfortable.
Ain’t gonna happen. I won’t be down to my goal weight, but I’m still wearing a bathing suit!
It’s not going to happen, yet, I refuse to beat myself up over it. “With age comes wisdom” is a saying that, at times, I’m unsure of—I’m not that wise. However, I’m adding it to my healthier weight journey. Wisdom is that thing one needs to apply when achieving a healthier weight or even life style. I’m not going to deprive myself—especially being that I’m married to the Gallic Gastronomic King—Vincent Premier. But I will say, he’s very supportive even though he likes my body rounded.
So basically, here’s what I’m doing. And I do fall off the wagon from time to time but I catch myself.
So last weekend, I flew out to Cincinnati to see my daughter, Oona, son-in-law Sam, and my precious little ishkabibbles—Owen and Bennett. It was a Birthday surprise from my husband and it was the greatest time.
In flight snack–American Airlines is so generous. There was NO way I would pass up Biscoff cookies on the flight!
And I ate. Saturday morning, Oona took me to a fantastic French-style bakery, Sebastian Bakehouse. And I left no pastry that she bought unturned. My favorite was a savory one “Pig and Fig” and it was the best thing I ever ate in my life. YES! You read it correctly. Better than any pastry I’ve had in France.
The croissants were as good as mine!
THIS!! Hands down, THE best thing I’ve ever eaten in my 68 years!
If I lived in Cincy, I would badger Sebastian until he hired me!
Oona and I also had a “girls’ night out” which began at Emery restaurant and ended at Graeter’s Ice Cream.
This dish from Emery was lemony, cheesy and full of shrimp! The healthiest thing I ate all weekend!
I am shameless in my love for Graeter’s Ice cream. A scoop of Midnight snack and a scoop of Brown Butter Bourbon Pecan made me and my hips and thighs happy!
There was a lot of activity previously in the day when we went to the Cincinnati Museum at the old Union Station. And through it all, even a lunch of wings, I didn’t gain an ounce.
An afternoon with the grandboys kept me active!
What’s on my usual plate these days?
Well, as I stated, I’m not depriving myself. Last night we had escargot for starters. I follow Chef Ludo’s recipe and trust me, there is no skimping on the butter.
We also had a good (i.e., over $100) bottle of wine that did not keep me up with GERD nor did I throw up. Everything stayed down. My innards were very happy and satisfied!
During the workweek, I pare down. As I work part-time, Monday through Thursday, I skip on lunch and drink so much water that I feel, I could swallow a few fish whole and they would thrive swimming around in my gut. I eat lighter during those four days.
I drink so much water that my stomach can possibly be turned into an aquarium
Friday and Saturdays are my days to indulge. This Friday I met my girlfriend Grace at “Couch Tomato”, an adorable little place in Conshohocken. I had a great salad and skipped on the dressing.
I had no idea Couch Tomato was a chain–that’s how much I go out to eat!
Actually, that’s the way I prefer salad—without dressing. It’s weird—I realize that but I can’t stand salad drenched in wet or creamy dressing. Actually, I’m not a big salad maker—for some bizarre reason, making salad is a chore for me. That’s right—I’ll spend three days making croissants but making a salad is a chore!
I like my salad naked–without dressing!
Hummus? I make my own, using Chef Jay Hajj’s recipe. Homemade hummus is so much better than store-bought and lasts, for me at least, around two weeks. I also, for that “extra” touch, add a few slices of Preserved Lemons.
Almost gone. I swear this hummus is the best ever. My grandson Owen LOVES it!
Preserved lemons. They add that little extra zing to all dishes!
Speaking of preserved lemon…. the syrupy liquid that sits in the jar after a few weeks is a great addition to sauces and…………….yes, salad dressing!
Oatmeal is another item I love. I don’t buy the processed, ready-made envelopes. I buy the rolled oats and cook them with raisins or dates and add a touch of fig jam. It satisfies on all levels—I don’t eat it for breakfast either. It’s dinner for me. In fact, as I write this, I have to send my husband out to the store to buy more. I’m out!
Yes. The Old Fashioned Oats are what I dig. Raisins or chopped dates with a bit of…
..this fig jam make for a very appetizing light and quick weekday dinner.
My bestie, MaryBeth, got me hooked on these little chicken and cilantro mini dumplings. Eight of them in a bowl of chicken broth is all that is needed for a sated appetite. (One of the few processed items I eat.)
And these are low in WW points. Every time we go to Costco I make sure I come home with a bag!
Eggs. Hey. I just had bloodwork done after ten (yes TEN) years of being afraid to go to the doctor and my cholesterol is fine. Eggs are the most versatile food I know. While the Frenchman is addicted to my egg salad (Simple. Nothing more than hard cooked eggs, mayo, salt and pepper) and it is a staple for him, I love my eggs wet-scrambled, poached, sunny-side up, soft boiled or any way possible.
Ahh…the incredible edible and most versatile egg! From cooking to baking–and easter egg decorating, they are amazing nuggets of everything good!
I’m adding a little warning regarding eggs though. I made wet scrambled eggs during the week (if you are unfamiliar with “wet” scrambled eggs—they are cooked underdone), and the eggs I used were “farm” eggs—i.e., not purchased in the grocery store and not pasteurized. I got violently ill. The stomach cramps had me bowled over. At the office, I spent most of the day in the bathroom—and thank God my work area is steps away from the ladies’ room or I would have had to go home to change! It was so bad that my husband wanted to take me to the ER. By the next day I was fine.
Yes. I did it. All day in the ladies room!
Laughing Cow Light. Okay, so perhaps I do have a few items in my repertoire that are processed, but these little cheese wedges are an item I cannot do without. Being a cheese lover, I need to take a step back for the time being from devouring half a wheel of brie or camembert. Cream cheese? Best thing to come from Philly but I am also taking a step back from enjoying a cream cheese and jelly sandwich these days.
These little wedges are life-savers and take the craving for other cheese away!
I put Laughing Cow on Bagel thins, I enjoy it on Trader Joe’s rice cakes. I put it on little crackers. It is a staple for me. And I have to keep it away from my husband.
I also spread hummus on these..
…and on these! Separately from the Laughing Cow though!
Pasta. Contrary to popular belief, pasta on its own is not going to mar weight loss. It’s all the sh.., stuff one loads upon it. Alfredo sauce, vodka sauce, meatballs, sausage and other things is what adds the calories and fat. Luckily, I cannot stand tomato sauce. I can’t eat it. The GERD appears. I’ve never liked tomato sauce and never will. Don’t get me wrong- I love a good tomato with salt or in a salad but as sauce or gravy. Nope!
The Walmart brand of Great Value pasta is just as good as the other brands and almost half the price!
I’ll take my pasta with a bit of pasta water and salt and pepper.
Vegetables. Not gonna lie. Peas—whether frozen or the canned baby peas are my favorite vegetable. And I often add them to my pasta. The canned ones are not safe with me because I’ll eat them right from the can. I’m also a fan of brussels sprouts but more so in winter than summer. Spinach—at any time. Fresh asparagus? Always. And in winter I love turnips, rutabaga and parsnips. But it isn’t winter now.
Presently these frozen peas are on the counter because later this evening I’ll have them on my pasta!
Spinach ..or is it chard, and beans is also a good meal.
Fruit. I’m weird with fruit. I’ll eat apples only in autumn and they have to be Gala apples or I can’t eat them. In addition, they have to be fresh and not old. Old apples taste grainy and I can’t stand that. Bananas? All year? Berries? I can’t eat those Driscoll brand strawberries with the white middle. Ugh. They are completely tasteless. For me, strawberry season is only during the two weeks we are on the Côte d’Azur. The Collobrieres strawberries are tiny (like French people) and completely red and so sweet. I have them practically every night. Blueberries? I love them. All year.
These are the strawberries I live for. No white middle. Sweet and tiny.
Figs? My favorite! Other than that, I’m not crazy about fruit.
During Fig season, just call me this!
Being of the “lazy” nature, given the choice of the gym or reading a book, I’ll opt for the novel. I’m exercising my brain. And not everyone enjoys exercising. I’ve yet to see a runner passing by with a smile on their face—they look miserable.
One of my favorite books of all time. And to this day, I am flummoxed as to why it wasn’t made for the cinema!
Walking? This is tough for me. When I lived in NYC I walked everywhere and was in the best shape of my life. Especially when I had the three kids with me, two in a stroller and one in a Snugli. And I adored walking in the city because you never see the same thing twice.
I loved walking my dogs when we lived in New Jersey, as a SAHM, I would do so in the early afternoon before the kids arrived home, it was “me” time with Ruby and Dorothy.
My girls Dorothy (a rescue) and Ruby (not a rescue) I still cry sometimes about Ruby. I loved her more than many people!
Now? In the suburbs? I’m petrified that if I look at someone cross-eyed (which I happen to be naturally, I have amblyopia and strabismus) I’ll get shot. Trust me, the suburbs are more dangerous than a city.
That’s how I was born. I’m petrified to look at strangers due to what they could do to me.
Basically, it just comes down to making better choices.
How about you? Are you super-disciplined (the opposite of me), or do you take a more laid-back approach?
Congratulations on your weight loss. It’s so hard at our age to lose and so easy to gain! You’re an inspiration to me, and as soon as I’m home from my current 6 weeks in England and Ireland – land of the cream tea, seafood chowder, Irish brown bread with good butter, etc etc- I plan to emulate your example!
Congratulations on the weight loss. You are approaching it the right way too. Just dial in what needs to be and continue with life. I also had a visit with the doc as cholesterol was a tad high. Told her not to bother with statins ( I hate them) my diet was not bad ( retired nutritionist;( but I had severe sitonmyass-itis! Very severe…so I started walking 2 then 3 then 6k a day. I haven’t lost a ton of weight but clothes fit better you know the. NSV’s or non scale victories sleeping better, less bitchy, making better choices, don’t feel like there is something constantly following me..oh yeah my butt! just overall feeling better in my 67 yr old skin. I hope to drop a few pounds (or more) but I’m not obsessed. It’s a journey… you always look great. Keep on doing what you’re doing.
I too congratulate you on taking weight off. You are doing it the right way. No fad or starvation diets. They never work long term. I like that your husband is fine with getting a bit more of you to put his arms around. That’s a big help in the self- esteem department. You are doing it for you, not him. Both my husband and I make conscience choices of the amount of food we eat at meals. That works better for us, than taking certain foods off our menu. Feeling deprived leads to bad eating. Keep up the good work. Set your sights on the fabulous time you’ll have in France. I look forward to hearing all about it.
Congratulations on the weight loss! I rejoined WW, too, and you’re 100% right about the zero point foods. Some of those zero point foods are definitely no zero points. I am the opposite of you as far as Covid weight. I managed to lose 25 pounds during the pandemic. But, when the vaccines became available and the idea of being around people again made my anxiety skyrocket. And, I ate and ate. I gained 20 pounds, then 30 pounds, then 40 pounds. I’ve done it before, and I’ll do it again. But, geesh, it would be nice if it were more noticeable more quickly.
Isn’t it funny how we can just look at something and gain a pound? I’ve always found when I go on vacation, I either lose a couple of pounds or stay steady. I tell myself it’s because I’ve somehow or other boosted my metabolism. In any case, those pig and fig pastries look delicious. Though, I’m not sure there’s a pastry that doesn’t!
I’m always glad when I receive a notification of a new post from you!
I just read that Jenny Craig is also shuttering its brick and mortar stores. Like WW, they’re all online now. WW just isn’t doing it for me this time around. I don’t like the new program so I’m letting my subscription run out the clock.
Congrats on the weight loss! I have more to lose than you, but I’ve lost 22 lbs since January (doctor’s orders). I’m having knee replacement surgery in August, so gotta lose those lbs! (I’m terrified of this surgery).
You always look great AND you’re a great cook! I don’t know how you do it!
Catherine, good for you! At this stage in life any progress is great. It’s so much harder when we’re older. I’m a lifetime member of Weight Watchers but haven’t been since the late 90’s. Do they still give you the lifetime member discount since Oprah took over? I seriously need to get back in the routine, I’ve gotten to the prediabetic stage which is worrisome. I’m great with the 10,000 steps fitbit routine which is my saving grace and blood pressure is good. Thanks for the update and info you give us gals of a certain hope and laughter! ps I prefer the in person ww meetings too, they are more motivating.
Left out a word “gals of a certain AGE” HA!
Thank you for writing in such an energetic and heartfelt fashion. I always enjoy reading your posts. As practically every woman in this part of the world, I also have struggled with my weight and my perception of my own body. It’s crazy the amount of pressure we put ourselves under because of this one topic! I finally after over fifty years of obsessive behavior (since probably about 12 years old) stopped – and now eat for simple enjoyment and health.
I also wanted to say that I agree with your last post. Not sure anymore about this country that I so fervently love. Thanks for sharing your feelings and opinions.
I am so with you. Please keep on updating us. I love the idea of oatmeal for dinner. I have it with raisins and walnuts. But it’s a great idea. I too need to lose 5-10 pounds so i appreciate your tips.
Well done on the weight loss – in fact well done on any weight loss now we are getting older. I love porridge, used to hate it, but time living in Scotland taught me slightly salty porridge is the absolute biz, especially with a little stewed rhubarb, some hazelnuts or blueberries and a good dollop of greek yoghurt – the trick is to not make it a sweet slop and also to soak the oats overnight (half water and half skimmed milk I suggest). As for dressing on salads – well I like dressing to the side (I love hummous, I love good mayo), and generally I love salads and I also love soup, but soup-salad as it were where those delicate little leaves are backstroking about my bowl and doing a deep dive? erm yuck basically.
I do take issue with one tiny point, “falling off the wagon” nope be kinder to yourself, honestly unless that wagon has gathered speed and left town you are doing fine… let’s try and reframe it as having a normal life, and enjoying those treats as we go rather than feeling bad and wasting the pleasure they give us. Life is all about balance – that’s what we are striving for, learning tools and tips to keep us happy and enjoying the best we can grasp with both sticky paws.
You are not too far from Valley Forge Park. That is a wonderful place to walk.
It is also essential that women resistance train to maintain muscle mass after menopause. Have you thought about adding that?
Of course, it is very important to get adequate protein as we age; most women are woefully deficient. Based on the foods you mentioned, It doesn’t seem that you are getting enough. Protein helps with satiety as well.
I so enjoy reading your posts….you are so REAL! The thing that works best for me and my husband is to weigh every morning right after getting up (after peeing) and record weight on a calendar…I keep last years right under the current one and can compare…I’m typically the same from year to year…I will be 66 on my birthday in a few months and this simple plan really works…it’s much easier to cut back if I’ve put on a few pounds and I give myself a three pound range…good luck with your weight loss and continue to be kind to yourself❤️
Congratulations Catherine! Losing weight is sooo hard. Most of my adult life, my weight was stable, and I was fit. Menopause and my divorce interfered with my routines. And I struggle with depression-yuck. I need to find a new modality to motivate myself to exercise. My eating is quite healthy, and my weight is stable. But it is just too high. Sharon, I am about to turn 66 too. And Catherine, I loved Let the Great World Turn too. I am just finishing The Sympathizer, and it is amazing. I appreciate this community. You are all fabulous!!!!
I take a more laid back approach but do cut sugar out with coffee and tea. My problem is after dinner snacking while watching tv, it’s stress relieving for some reason.
Your grandboys are the cutest! Sorry to hear about your sickness after eating farm eggs. I’ve always thought they were fresher/better than supermarket eggs and have wanted to try them but I don’t think I will now. Glad you’re feeling better now. Thanks for the hummus recipe, it looks like a good one and I’ll be trying it with preserved lemons too. Your dogs are beautiful, I cry for my old dogs too. There’s nothing like their unconditional love.
My egg salad is like yours with one difference. I add a smidge of horseradish. Takes it up a notch!