the disney effect

I'm not gonna lie, I was worried about what my weigh-in would be like this week. We went to Disney for a few days, and I didn't know how that would work.

On the one hand, I tried to make the best choices I could food-wise (e.g., fruit for snacks) ... but I definitely indulged (mmmm...fried calamari, beer, wine!).

On the one hand, I didn't work out while I was there ... but I did a lot of walking (often carrying a kid).

Turns out, I needn't have worried. On my weigh-in day, I was up a pound or two, but by today, I've returned to normal. So, yay! I'm still maintaining.

The only thing that has suffered in the last week or two is working out. Before the trip, I was frenzied mess of planning and packing and skipped a few workouts. Post trip, I just could not drag myself out of bed. So, I need to get back on track with that ... pronto!

Finally, my eagle-eyed friend, Jenn, noticed in my collage of Disney pictures that I was wearing shorts.

The requesite picture in front of Cinderella's castle.
Not so successful. And can you Photoshop a tan on my legs, please?

For those of you that know me...I have held a very staunch anti-short stance for many years. I did buy a pair of shorts last summer, and bought this pair for Disney...since my usual warm weather uniform of a skirt looks funny with sneakers.

So, I've definitely turned over a new clothing leaf. Though, it's debatable if those can be considered shorts since they pretty much come down to my knee. I think all that's left on my list of clothes I won't wear are tube tops and bikinis. And we can all agree that no one needs to see me in those any time soon!

What about you? Is there an article of clothing (like shorts) that you refuse to wear?

slacker mama eats...at chili's

Since I'm not posting on a regular basis about my weekly weigh-ins, I figured I'd start posting a few tips and tricks that I use to help me lose and maintain my weight. I'll be titling these Slacker Mama Eats...so be on the look out!

So last night, the pantry at the Slacker Mama house was looking a little bare, so we headed out for a mid-week treat of eating "someplace special" which is what the girls call eating anywhere but home. Don't think I'm not offended.

Anyway, we had planned to try the new restaurant that opened up the street from us...but there was a 45 minute wait. So we headed across the way to Chili's. Now, I'm not a big fan of that genre of restaurants (TGIF, Ruby Tuesdays, etc), but if I had to choose one Chili's is definitely my favorite. Their burgers are really quite tasty. But, alas, on the Thursday before Valentine's day weekend and a week before I will possibly be wearing summer clothes and a bathing suit, I was not going to splurge on the Big Mouth Burger.

John suggested the Nachos...and while I really didn't want them, I begrudingly agreed since I couldn't turn down those puppy dog eyes. Big mistake. When I got home, I found that a plate of the nachos contained a whopping 1370 calories and 103 grams of fat. I estimated that I ate 1/3 of them...which came in at a mind-boggling 9 Points! That's my normal alottment for dinner! Luckily, John was just as horrified at that as I was, so that will be in our menu choices from now on. (I did notice that the Chips and Salsa would be a reasonable appitizer (that all Slackers would like)...it's about 10 points for the whole basket of chips!)

For dinner itself, I chose the Guitless Grill Buffalo Chicken sandwich. It came with steamed veggies and parmesean. I thought it would be OK...but it was really, really tasty. And it was 8 points total, which is even less points than I would have estimated. This will definitely be my go-to meal from now on when we end up at Chili's.

So there you have it: Pass on the nachos! Get the Guitless Grill Buffalo Chicken Sandwich and (if you absolutely have to have an app) the Chips and Salsa.

epiphany on the elliptical

The other morning I was watching a TiVo-ed episode of What Not to Wear while working out on the elliptical machine. The mom wore oversized clothes and looked totally frumpy...but she argued that's because she was a mom and her needs would always be secondary to that of her daughters.

I almost fell off the machine from rolling my eyes so much. Yes, kids come first, I thought to myself. But to the exclusion of anything for yourself? Isn't that a bit martyr-ish?

Then I realized that I was the pot calling the kettle black. I mean, I own four pairs of casual pants that fit me. I have a closet full of pants that are way too big...and yet sometime in desperation I wear them...or I wear sweats on my work-from-home days. I have two bras that fit...used to be three except somehow I gouged a *gigantic* hole in one so we're down to two. I have gift cards in my wallet that go unused despite me really needing new clothes and cosmetics.

Though I was bemoaning this woman for not taking a flipping afternoon to herself to go shopping...I haven't done that since I honestly can't remember. The last few times I've been shopping have been with the girls in tow...even when I bought my fancy schmancy jeans.

So this weekend I'm doing it. Shopping by myself. Hilarity, I'm sure, will ensue.