SHIFTING GEARS: SETTLED IN SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS
With that in mind, we returned to Sacramento earlier than usual (we normally spend a month here in spring) to get the process started; the various appointments required to prepare for the surgery are our priority now. With luck, he will get away with a partial knee replacement, and we will be able to resume our travels by mid-May.
Since we aren’t traveling, I won’t be blogging as often as I do when we have new sights to see – instead, I’ll be reading everyone else’s travel blogs (and my big stack of books). Our friends Al and Kelly (The Bayfield Bunch) are in Lone Pine, California, right now – which happens to be a favorite spot of ours, along a favorite route, Highway 395 on the east side of the Sierra. They’ve hit perfect weather, and I’m getting great enjoyment reading Al’s daily descriptions of their experiences in the area.
This is how my little workspace looked this morning as I jumped into the new Points Plus program. WW materials are scattered everywhere (by the way, that large file box is my somewhat oversized recipe file), and I’ve marked up just about everything in the kitchen with Weight Watcher point values. My cookbooks bristle with sticky notes marking recipes to try.
This afternoon, we headed to the grocery store to get stuff we usually don't stock: non-stick cooking spray, fat free mayo* (???), lite cheese, bubbly water. Plenty of fish in the freezer, the fruit bowl is overflowing, and the crisper bins in the refrigerator are bulging. Odel doesn’t join me in the ritual of counting points, but he likes to benefit from the healthier menus – and will no doubt lose more weight, and faster, than I will! Wish us luck… well, no, not luck really… how about “Wish us long-lasting motivation”?
* how can “fat free mayo” even be called mayo? Mayonnaise is just a combination of fats emulsified!
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Yep. I joined four weeks ago. The bummer is that the recipes from my first time with WW carry the old point values. New calculations on those old recipes show that they rate more points. DRAST IT ALL! Sigh. Well, one good "recipe" is low-fat GReek yogurt (FAGE) with almond flavoring and Splenda. Tastes very decadent. Watch the quantity for lower points, though.
ReplyDeleteEmjay
Good luck! You will feel so much better as you drop the weight. I wish I would be more motivated to loose some again.
ReplyDeleteHope Odel's knee surgery goes well. I'll b reading your blog to keep up on it.
Are you at CalExpo? I'd like to see you again when I'm over in that area.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck to Odel and his surgery! He'll plow right thru it like everything he does.
ReplyDeleteRod and Loyce
I'll be interested in following your WW journey and hopefully you might motivate me to join.
ReplyDeleteI will also be interested in Odell's knee surgery because Al will be going through it at some point.
Good luck with the WW program, Ellie and I went to some meetings while we were boondocking and now I'm doing it on my own. I refuse to use the fat free stuff--tastes like cardboard, I use the reduced fat instead.
ReplyDeleteSuzy and I have both had knee replacements. We both came out fine, but we had weeks and weeks of physical therapy following. Perhaps Odel will skate through more easily! Can't tell you points, but if you can find Walden Farms salad dressings in your grocery store, they are tasty and have zero calories, zero fat, zero cholsterol.
ReplyDeleteWell, Power ON and good luck to you, Laurie! I have gained and lost those same pounds several times and it all just settles back into the same place, albeit a bit lower on the bod. It is incredibly hard to really change a life style, especially when "real" food is a priority. Aka, "real" butter and "real" mayo, although I drink only skim milk, never drink sodas. Heard lately that if I don't drink soda I could lose 25 pounds in a year. Well, dang, I haven't had soda in a very long time, like years, so that won't help much. Again. Good luck to you!! and dang, when Odel gets that new knee he will be leading the pack far in the distance and we will never catch him!
ReplyDeleteI pray for success of Odels surgery and that he recovers quickly... I need one too but I keep putting ot off. Weight Watchers is an excellent program and you're so right it is great for people who like number crunching. LOL Good luck with it! I will miss your informative and fun post! Keep us posted of your success and Odels surgery!
ReplyDeleteKeep Safe
Donna
I've been wondering if I could follow a Weight Watchers program so I'll be cheering you on hoping their new points system actually works.
ReplyDeleteGood luck to Odel on his knee replacement and good luck to you on the Weight Watchers!
ReplyDeleteI hope everything goes well with Odel's surgery. Are you going to UC Davis Hospital. We've had good experiences there.
ReplyDeleteWe're stuck in SoCal for a while, and we're doing WW and walking 3 times a week. We found a good recipe website:
http://www.kitchenparade.com/2002/10/weight-watchers-recipes.php
There's many good WW recipes with the old points. They're easy to convert. Post on how your program is going, and an occasional recipe.
Oh don't be too much of a stranger I always look forward to reading your blog.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the may. I don't see how there can be a fat free mayo. I find that these days I'm more worried about all the chemicals they use to make things fat free, cholesterol free and calorie free.
Takes me a LONG time but I've lost 5 pounds just by cutting out dessert and eating smaller portions.
Hope your plan works for you and do keep blogging about whatever you are doing. We have to keep up with your WW and Odel and hooping and how you spend your days............... inquiring minds - LOL
Sherry
www.directionofourdreams.blogspot.com
Good luck to both of you! The bonus may be that with Odel's healthy diet (and maybe losing a few pounds, although he really doesn't need to) the recovery from knee surgery might go even faster.
ReplyDeleteWishing you long motivation, happy and long health, and a safe surgery and short recovery!
ReplyDeleteMayo, lite or regular has mustard seed or mustard flour in it, to which I am allergic.
ReplyDeleteAlso the low fat varieties of anything have so many other ingredients in them, usually sugar or HFCS too, that they are really just processed food, so there is no advantage in eating them.
So I use Fage Greek Yogurt instead.
http://www.fageusa.com/recipes/
It is great replacement for mayo in chicken, tuna, pea, quinoa and egg salads, too.
Also it is very good for you. It is more expensive, but what price are you going to put on your health?
Pleae keep us posted about Odel's knee, and prayers will be said for his quick recovery. I know it hurts at first, but it is worth it.
Happy Trails, Penny, TX.
good luck with Camp WW..here at our camp?..no bread, pasta, rice or potatoes!..been going on for three weeks now!..getting use to it!..happy counting to you and we wish you good motivation!!!
ReplyDeleteHere's another website/blog that correlates to Weight Watchers recipes and products. Good stuff:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.hungry-girl.com/
Emjay
So sorry to hear about the surgery. I wish him a speedy recovery! Nina
ReplyDeleteTell Odel that McGuyver broke is kneecap and had it put back together a while back...good as new! FYI, I use Hellman's Mayo made with Olive Oil...don't know if WW allows that, but I love it! Good luck to you both!!
ReplyDeleteGood luck in losing the weight. I can't find my keys but I can always find the weight I lose.
ReplyDeleteHope Odel's knee surgery goes well and good luck with the WW efforts. I think we all could benefit from that!
ReplyDeleteI really like the new Points Plus plan of Weight Watchers. One thing I've discovered: lite mayo is far superior in taste to fat-free and the points are still a bargain. The other stuff looks (and in my opinion tastes) disgusting!
ReplyDeleteI wish Odel the best of success for his knee surger. My Mother had her's done last year and could not figure out why she waited so long. I am two weeks into the new WW plan. It takes some getting used to. I don't use fat-free mayo. I use fat-free Thousand Isle dressing for a change of pace.
ReplyDeleteI've been there with WW & know how you must have felt after working so hard all week. Keep on pluggin'!
ReplyDeleteWe are full-time RVers also and I had a total knee replacement mid-Jan. I had complications (which I'm sure Odel will not so I'm not getting into that). I had a shoulder replacement a year ago and that went smoothly so this must have been a fluke!
Anyway, living in a RV as you do I just want to give you a couple hints that I found helpful. First, I didn't have a "grabber" and can't imagine how you would use it in an RV. You will be there and everything is so close. Just pack a basket to set near him with books, paper, pens, snacks, etc. The docs will want him to walk immediately so crutches aren't needed. I did use a walker for about 1-1/2 weeks but inside the RV was cumbersome. It helped when I went in the car anywhere or on a walk. I then used a cane for a longer period of time. I got the cane at WalMart, along with the walker. I used a shower stool for about 2 weeks but had a hard time finding one to fit good in an RV shower. I ordered it online through WalMart. It's round. Most are made for tubs and are too big. I didn't use a sock device. Hubby put my socks on for me! I wore slip-on shoes. I bought a long-handled shoehorn but felt it was too flimsy & I really didn't need it. (Spouses will help a lot!) For the toilet, have Odel do some testing now to see if he has something to hold on to when getting up. Again, RVs are so small that there is usually a wall or door or vanity handy. You'll get instructions for steps but remember to start down on the operated leg. Coming up - start with the good leg. I did it opposite only ONCE!!! Ouch! Just practice going through a daily routine to get a preview on how to do things. Good luck to Odel. He'll do fine! Mary
Laurie and Odel,
ReplyDeleteOn 3/ll/2009 I started WW again, been a member for 40 years. on 3/ll/20ll, I weighed in again after not attending WW meetings for the last six months. Lost another 8 pounds. Total 70 pounds. Standing ovation, first time ever in my life that I have kept it off and even lost more.
On Odel's knee surgery, listen to the physical therapist, do what she/he tells you and more, take drugs for the pain, do stairs, and you to will be up and walking without a limp for the rest of your life. I had mine about l0 years ago and it still works great.
Miss you both, Terry is doing well from his radiation seed implant. Glad we stayed home for the winter, it has been great for family and getting reaquianted with our home friends.
V & T Webb