Not So Sweet News. . .

So, the latest news on the pregnancy front is that I FAILED my one-hour glucose test, so I might have gestational diabetes. This makes me happy, not at all.

As a result I've been following a special diet for the past three days and have to take a 3-hour glucose test tomorrow. Fingers crossed that I pass. Like really, really crossed.

My father is diabetic which, combined with 50+ years of smoking and his unchecked high blood sugar, led to massive health problems (stokes, depression, dementia). I don't want to go down that road. I guess it didn't help though that when he found out he was diabetic he continued to eat about a loaf of white bread a day (liberally spread with trans-fat laden margarine) and then further supplemented his new "healthy" eating regime with regular meals of hot wings and frozen Snickers bars. Oh yeah. . .and a few smokes after each meal.

I can never imagine deliberately creating such a time-bomb for myself and, thankfully, I'm pretty knowledgeable about healthy eating and gave up my college smoking habit about 20 years ago.

So, I haven't had any sugar and have been watching my carb intake judiciously. Though oddly, my 3-day test prep diet has me eating a LOT of bread (whole grain for me, thank you), milk (fat free), fruit and juice. I even have to eat half a sandwich, a piece of fruit and a glass of milk before bed each night, which is decidedly weird. And tonight since I have to fast after 8pm for the test tomorrow morning, I have to eat dinner and my "bedtime snack" before then. Usually, we're barely having dinner by then!

Oh, well. All for a good cause. Let's just hope I pass the next test. If I do, I might just go crazy and celebrate with a DQ Peanut Buster Parfait.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. . .health conscious, yes. Perfect? Definitely not.

Easter Indulgences

Easter is fast approaching and I've taken a mad fit in my head to do something a little Eastery. Brunch that is. . .Easter Brunch. Let's just see if I can actually get some people to show up.

While it's a strictly Christian celebration ("He is Risen" and all that), I'm thinking about getting yummy lox and bagels from one of those great Jewish delis in Skokie, plus make an egg casserole, fruit salad, freshly-baked cinnamon rolls or coffee cake. Oh yeah, and Bellinis. I love a good Bellini. It's making me hungry just thinking about it.

Which of course is not good for my diet. I lost no weight this past week, but thankfully didn't gain any either. My possibly-pregnant-but-not nausea combined with pre-period hormonal cravings had me eating some un-point friendly offerings last week. I went a little crazy with the cream cheese and freshly baked whole grain bread if the truth be told. Crazy.

Now though, it's back on the wagon. Counting points and dreaming of Easter morning indulgences. Just keep those damned but so, so delicious Cadbury mini eggs away from me. They are like kryptonite to my super dieting self. I curse you Cadbury.

At the Start of Something Great

I am proud to say that even with all my overwork, "Secret Project" lunacy of the past weeks that I have still managed to stick to my new diet regime. I'm down another 1.5 lbs this week for a total of 14 lbs in the past nine weeks. I realized today, that's like losing one of those plastic containers of kitty litter that always seem so heavy. Wow! I have to say, I do feel lighter and better. My clothes are looser, my joints don't hurt like they did and I just feel more awake when I get up in the morning, more energetic.

I am really pleased with my accomplishments and feel like I'm on a great path.

Other than that, I'm pretty much hanging out this morning to see if I have any last minute assignments from the afore-mentioned "Secret Project" which is finally winding down. Hurray!

As I've said before, I have LOVED making the money on this thing even if the work has been a little overwhelming at times and the subject somewhat dull. It's been good just to have a place to go on some days that wasn't my own home and interact with smart people on a daily basis (versus spending most of my day chatting to the Bug, Grey and the Alley Cat). They are loyal business supporters and good listeners, but have little to offer when it comes to real input (unless the Bug's daily barking rant at the mailman counts).

I'm excited that Spring is on its way and that the sun is shining today. With the end of this big work project, I feel like I'm at the beginning of something great again. Stay tuned and we'll see what it is!

I Can't Believe It's Not Fattening

Just polished off a Weight Watchers approved sloppy joe, fries and baked beans. I had to double check the points, because I was sure I must have exceeded my total. But I've got 3.5 points left for the day. Shocking what you can do when you know how to cook. I can actually make food that tastes too bad for me to be good. . .but it is. Amazing.

We were checking out Tina Turner on the Grammies during dinner. Man! That woman is a wonder. She's still got it, that's for sure (even though her stylist should be fired, I'm sad to report.)

Other than that, I stayed in today because it's been ZERO or below all day. I know I live in Chicago and all but. . .DAMN! That's cold!

It did give me a chance to keep reading "A New Earth" though, which is really quite insightful. I can totally see where my ego has led me into all kinds of missteps over the years. Ego=bad. Authentic self=good. Over simplifying, you say? Ok, maybe I am, but I have a good excuse. I just let the dog outside and think I got some frostbite on my brain.

Weighty Dreams

Last night I dreamed that I was getting dressed or something (I had no pants on) and I had some of the fattest calves I have ever seen. Not just chubby or plump, which mine already are, but like Discovery Channel's Heaviest-Man-in-the-World-fat. In the dream, I just stared in disbelief wondering how all this pendulous fat had attached itself to my lower leg without me ever noticing it sooner.

And then I thought. . .

"Well, now I really have to get serious about my diet."

Good God, Weight Watchers, can't I at least slumber in peace?!?

New Diet: Day Two

One thing I need to seriously conquer this year is my weight/food issues. So, yesterday it was back onto Weight Watchers for me. Counting points is familiar and not so tough once you get in the swing of things and it forces me to make healthier choices. The diet's fiberific nature is also good.

Day One was, as Borat says, a "great success." Day two is off to a good start also--oatmeal with raw almonds, dried apricots, raisins and coffee.

I actually feel a little better already.

Christmas cookies, chocolate Santas, white flour matzos, full-fat just-about-anything (except Danish blue cheese and dark, dark chocolate consumed in moderation): I divorce thee. I divorce thee. I divorce thee. There. I've done it. That was easy.

Get-Up-And-Huh?!?

I am feeling BLAH.

Over the holidays I pretty much ate whatever I wanted and I think my food allergy issues are creeping up on me. My hands and wrists have been sore and stiff for the past couple of days and my knees hurt more than usual. This morning I woke up feeling stiff and achey. It always happens like this. I just wish I could narrow down the culprit.

I thought it was wheat that eventually makes me feel like an arthritic 90-year old. Then I got tested and my doc says I'm not allergic to it. But magically, every time I cut it out of my diet, I feel better in a matter for a day or two.

Is it yeast? Sugar? Something else? God knows.

I guess it's back to fruit, veggies and lean protein for me. That prescription always seems to clear this up.

In the meantime, I need to stop wallowing in it. My aches and pains along with the dark, rainy, oddly-warm weather are making me cranky. Thunderclouds are rumbling in the distance, but, damn them, I have things to do.

Can someone please loan me some get-up-and-go? I promise to get it back to you in a day or two.