Datapoint Three

A couple of weeks ago when I decided to not count WeightWatchers points and see how it goes, I had a phenomenal loss (3lbs) in one week. I decided that one time was not enough and to collect more data to see if it really works. The second week I lost 2lbs. Today I had my third weigh-in since then. I lost again, but only a measly 0.2lbs. I am not disappointed - far from it! My eating this past week was completely out of whack with my long days and lots of eating out. I was actually expecting a gain, so a 0.2lb loss seems like a pretty good success to me. When I saw the minuscule loss on the scale, I started giggling. I don't think the scale liked that because it went back up 0.2 lbs immediately. So I stopped giggling and the scale now appeased returned me to the originally calculated loss. Good old scale! The day after tomorrow I go out of town and God knows what the scale is going to tell me at the next weigh-in.

In other news, I joined another dancing class - it's a square dancing class. This one is an hour and a half long and does not weigh on my knee as much as the folk-dancing does. It's also a smaller class. I loved it!

Datapoint Three - Not disappointing.
Square Dancing - Exhilarating.

Breakfast
Same old idlis and Sambhar

Lunch
Quinoa Salad, Orange, Chocolate Chips

Snack
Jasmine Tea, Chocolate Fudge

Dinner
Perugu Garelu - This is the Andhra version of Dahi Vada. It consists of pieces of medu vada in yogurt spiced with ginger and chillies. It was the last of the yogurt, so I ate it right from the pot.

Spinach Pakodas. I ate this. Then ate three more.

Exercise
Square Dancing

Getting Better at Dancing

I went to my third contra dance gathering today. I am still pretty crap at it, but am getting slightly better. I don't bump into people as much. I am counting contradancing as two of the week's quotas for exercise. I danced from 7:45-11:00 and sat out only one dance. It was fantastic. I danced with some new partners and a few partners I danced with before. They are all so nice. And some of them are such beautiful dancers - it is a delight to watch them.

Today is also the first time since Tuesday that I ate all meals at home - it feels really good to do so. I am not cooking much this weekend. I want to finish up all the food in the fridge before heading out to the conference in Seattle on Wednesday.

Breakfast
Idlis and Sambhar

Lunch
Whole Wheat Flatbread w. Hummus and Spinach; Orange

Rice Cake w. Apricot Preserves, Cottage Cheese, Honey

Movie Snack
I watched Unstoppable and snacked on Kettle Corn and Green Tea

Dinner
Whole Wheat Flatbread w. Strawberry Preserves

After contradancing, I came back to: an orange
Then I ate: 3 Veg Gyoza, Rice Cake w. Hummus, Rice Cake w. Honey

Contra-Dancing

My weekend was pretty uneventful food-wise. Both on Saturday and Sunday, I woke up late enough to not have breakfast. Yesterday, I went contra-dancing. Contra dancing is sort of a hybrid partnered folk dance. I have gone once before to this contra dance group and it is great fun. I've mentioned before about how I will never be a good dancer. But the music is fun and fast-paced and since everyone moves so fast, it is not as embarrassing. I danced from 8-11, with a few breaks. I was exhausted at the end, and my body was sore when I woke up this morning. Consequently, despite my 3x/week exercise resolution, I don't feel so bad about exercising only two times this week.

I wish tomorrow was not Monday. It's Weight Watcher's weigh-in day. This is the first week since I began when I did not count points at all. We'll see how it goes. :-)

SATURDAY

Brunch
Piping hot tea - you can see the steam. :-)
French Toast, Toasted Pecans, Honey. Didn't eat the Orange.
I rarely buy eggs - only when I bake. And then I try to use them up as soon as possible. Yesterday's omelette and this French toast is in aid of this.

Snack
Colby-Jack Cheese

Dinner
Cornbread Muffin w. corn, Belgian Truffle

I was famished when I got back from dancing. I started with Popcorn w. Chilli Oil and Root Beer. But I was ravenous, and ended up also eating a Paneer Tikka Pocket and cheese.

SUNDAY

Lunch
Woke up too late for breakfast.
Rice, Yogurt Gravy, Ivy Gourd. I ate the pear, not the orange.
Unphotographed Extra-Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Tea
Tea w. LF Milk

Orange Belgian Truffle

Dinner
Chapatti, Mutter Paneer, Orange

Folk Dancing with Two Left Feet

I have never been a coordinated person. I walk into things, bump into people and am a bit bumbling in real life. When it comes to actually moving my limbs in some form of rhythm, I am what any sane person would consider to be "abnormal". I avoid dances like the scourge because I usually feel intensely embarrassed. So, a few weeks ago when my friend Anne invited me to go contra-dancing, I very very very reluctantly agreed.

It turned out to be great fun. Firstly because I was not the only bumbling one there. And secondly because this dancing involved a set of pre-assigned steps that were to be repeated over and over and over again. I could do that. Sort of... Anyway, I had a lot of fun and it was probably the best workout I have had in years.

So, when Anne invited me to a Folk Dance class, I agreed to sign up. Today was my first class. It was sort of like contra-dancing in that there are repetitive actions. The difference is that rather than move both arms and legs, it involves moving mostly the legs - a challenge for me. I did it - it was not pretty, but I managed to get through the class. I promptly forgot everything they taught on the way home, but it was fun. I think I'll return next week. This was not really exercise at all - I barely got my breath sped up unlike contra dancing where I was out of breath after the first 10 minutes. But it was an hour more of movement than I would have got had I stayed home.

And thus, I did the very first bit of exercise this year. I am going contra-dancing on Saturday. So, all I need is one more day of exercise and I will have met my 3x/week exercise goal for this week. :-)

Breakfast
Sprouted Wheat Toast w. Strawberry Preserves
Cottage Cheese, Pear, Banana

Snacks
Amaretto Cappuccino - a stray packet at the office. It did not taste particularly good, but I wanted something hot to drink (and hold) at an 8am meeting.

Unsweetened Spice Chai. It tastes less like any kind of spice and more like licorice.
I will not be buying this brand (Stash) again.

Lunch
Yummy Cabbage Noodles my friend made for NYE. I will be recreating this.
Jalapeno Cornbread, Apple

Snack
Chocolate-coated Coffee Beans, Peanut Brittle

Dinner
After the Folk-Dancing, I came home to a bowl of Rice, Yogurt Gravy, and Stir-fried Ivy Gourd
Colby Jack Cheese. (I did not eat the Orange)

I have been wanting to try Wholly Guacamole for ages!

Guac and Triscuits. This was good, but I like my homemade version best!