It's Sunday night. I checked my comments from the weekend and noticed that Casey was trolling for updates on HASAY. I started laughing as I read it, first a small giggle, then a full on belly laugh as I considered all the "nutrition" I had consumed this weekend.
Of course, the week went well for both John and me. We have a well established routine and even the cold that attacked John and tried for a repeat performance with me didn't stop us from exercising.
Then came the weekend.
It's hard to plan a party for children, especially when so many of them are picky eaters. Sprite is not discriminating when it comes to food, she's never met a broccoli spear she hasn't liked, but I can't imagine florets would go over well with the other eight children, even if served with accompanying ranch dip.
So, out came the pizza and juice boxes, cake loaded with frosting in colorful hues, M&Ms for the potty trainers (even for non-trainers who wanted chocolate), and chips for the grazers.
Surprisingly, the smallish veggie tray I purchased as an impulse buy (Hey, put ANYTHING by the register and chances are people will pick it up.) went quickly. Of course, we had some leftover pizza and a few small cakes left over, but the majority of the junk went out the door with the party guests.
Yes, I had pizza. After almost a year of denying myself melted cheese, soft baked bread, and the wonderful spice of pizza sauce, I succumbed to the powers of Papa John's (Sorry, Cameron, Domino's wouldn't deliver to our zip code, but at least it wasn't Pizza Hut!) and gave my stomach a few punches.
Yes, I had cake. I made the damn things, I owed it to myself to make sure they were palatable! My sister Lee helped me with the cakes, so I can't take all the credit for the 500 or so calories I consumed on just cake batter alone, I can blame Lee for that extra inch on my thighs. Thanks, sis. I owe you.
This morning, after all was said and done, bits and pieces of leftover crap made its collective way to the trash can. Waste not, want not? More like waist not want that. So, without a smidgen of guilt, okay, maybe a smidgen, but not a smudge, I tossed an entire pie's worth of pizza, half a bag of chips, and noshed my way through the rest of the M&M's, a handful really. And the saying is true. They do melt in your mouth and not in your hands. (Of course, today was cold, so my research may not be reliable.) I even brought back the unused juice boxes (Sprite rarely has the stuff anyway, so I figured the fifteen dollars I spent on high fructose corn syrup would be of better use on actual groceries.) and two unopened cans of frosting. (I did attempt to play a joke on the cashier at Customer Service and put a Pillsbury top on a can of Betty Crocker... She didn't get it either.)
John ended up a wash in the numbers this week. Maybe it was the beer he had at the party. (Or the pizza.) (The cookies?)
I stepped on the scale this morning, half covering my eyes as the numbers flashed. 1 pound down.
Seriously?
All the work and effort I've put into weight loss since August with barely a nudge in the downward direction and it takes one weekend of food related debauchery to knock a number off the score?
I may just try this experiment for Thanksgiving then.
FIRST!!! Will comment when I get back from taking Meggers to school. Can't believe I'm first. YAY!
Posted by: Kirsten | November 17, 2008 at 08:28 AM
You denied yourself pizza for a YEAR??? You are a stronger woman than I, because I would have died. DIED!!!
I make my pizza from scratch (not because I'm pretentious, because I'm broke!) so it's healthier than the other stuff- but it's still full of cheesy, bubbly goodness!
Posted by: Jacqueline | November 17, 2008 at 09:10 AM
CONGRATS!! That's awesome! And I too am all kinds of impressed that you gave up pizza for a year... it's left me speechless.
Posted by: Deemarie | November 17, 2008 at 09:25 AM
Wow, I can't believe you've waited a year to dig into some pizza. It's a staple in our diet, although we're cutting way back with HASAY. Papa Johns is the best choice, in my opinion. I can't believe you didn't know about the "eat a bunch of junk and lose weight" diet. I've been on it for years. Don't feel guilty about the cake and pizza, you put up with a house full of toddlers, it was either cake or alcohol, I might have had both. Great work on the lost pound. Don't worry, I'll wait a few days before I go "trolling" for more updates! :)
Posted by: Casey | November 17, 2008 at 09:35 AM
Wow, that's a long time with no pizza, lady. I gave up yogurt for a year, but not on purpose, I just sort of forgot about it until last week. Not as impressive as your abstinence from pizza, but it's still abstinence, none the less.
Posted by: steenky bee (jenboglass) | November 17, 2008 at 10:06 AM
Child's Party = Full Excuse To Eat Whatever You Want.
Wow, no pizza for a year?!?! I went without a beer for two days and I thought I was kickin ass.
Posted by: Cameron | November 17, 2008 at 10:15 AM
Yikes, when you just casually say people are amazed at your willpower, I did not fully understand....pizza is my downfall. The only time I didn't eat it was when I worked at a pizza restaurant in grad school....maybe that's a great way to pick up extra holiday change and lose some LBs??
Congrats on the EABOJALW diet!
Posted by: cyndi | November 17, 2008 at 10:24 AM
1000000 points for determination!
I, on the other hand being Italian couldn't genetically give up pizza, but I have attempted giving up sweets with very poor results...
:)
Posted by: anita doberman | November 17, 2008 at 10:31 AM
1000000 points for determination!
I, on the other hand being Italian couldn't genetically give up pizza, but I have attempted giving up sweets with very poor results...
:)
Posted by: anita doberman | November 17, 2008 at 10:33 AM
I think you've found the secret!! Now hurry up and write a book before someone else beats you to it! "Weigh to Defeat the Plateau"!!
AND....to answer your question on my blog - Audrey in Little Shop and Sandy in Grease! Now how 'bout you??
Posted by: HeatherPride | November 17, 2008 at 10:47 AM
Congrats on losing a pound!! Yay! It must have been all the dancing at the wedding ;). I mean NOT dancing at the wedding.
Glad you didn't get Pizza Hut, heh. And yes, 1 year without pizza is a long, long time.
Posted by: goodfather | November 17, 2008 at 10:51 AM
i think i gained weight just reading this post. damn it.
Posted by: jen | November 17, 2008 at 10:54 AM
I did the pizza thing too, but it went faster than I thought and I hardly consumed any, which turned out to be a good thing. I'm not going to lose weight this week after PMS last week and stress at work that threw me right off schedule.
Sounds like the party went great, though. Or at least good. Veggie tray? Great idea! Way to go on that one. I love those and as a kid I did too so hopefully you converted some kids! Heee!
Posted by: Lisa @ Boondock Ramblings | November 17, 2008 at 11:08 AM
Umm, yeah, you are way stronger than me! I could not go a year without pizza!! Heck I can't go a month without it!!! I really need to get my ass together and get in shape - instead I will live vicarioulsy through you and Casey and the rest of the do gooders at HASAY
Posted by: Krystal | November 17, 2008 at 12:25 PM
I think it was an awesome show of willpower to toss the pizza. I think you deserve 2 free pounds for that ;)
Posted by: Jim | November 17, 2008 at 12:40 PM
I am going to adopt your winning strategy as my own for Thanksgiving. Love it!
I cannot believe that you were able to throw away all that goodness... leftovers are my total weakness!
Posted by: bessie.viola | November 17, 2008 at 01:28 PM
Congrats on losing weight. Chasing toddlers will do that.
But Girlfriend, no pizza for a year? I gave up meat years ago but there was no way pizza was making it out of my diet. Pizza, chocolate and wine all stayed.
Posted by: Michele | November 17, 2008 at 02:56 PM
I'd comment on the fact that you've had no pizza for a year but I'd probably be the only one that noticed that and I wouldn't want to stand out in a crowd being new here and everything.
I like pulling jokes on cashiers. hehehe!
Posted by: Anndi | November 17, 2008 at 03:48 PM
I have been dreaming of pizza since I got here (tallahassee). I am getting Banaby's pizza tonight (it is one of a kind pizza). going a hole year is insane. Could not do it, at all.
Posted by: carrie | November 17, 2008 at 04:10 PM
Hey! I didn't force you to eat all those goodies! :) If I have to blame myself for indulging then so do you! Admit it,it was fun! You know you liked it!
Love ya sis! :)
Posted by: Lee Ann | November 17, 2008 at 06:07 PM
Wow she didn't blame Baba for once. The party was great! Now lets talk about what happened at the breakfest table the next morning.
Posted by: Baba | November 17, 2008 at 06:45 PM
Wow a whole year without pizza woman! Holy Moly. I can't go one week without it! But, I must have Old Chicago and a Beer. MMMM...it's heaven.
Posted by: Heather | November 17, 2008 at 07:10 PM
Hey, great job!!! I love when you eat a lot and still lose. It actually has a scientific reason, but its like calorie shifting - another diet. You eat really well for so many days and then pig out for a few days and then eat well again. Its a method to trick your body into not getting used to any "diet". You have some will power, sister, I will give you that!!
Posted by: D.M. Wright | November 17, 2008 at 07:13 PM
Congrats on being down a pound! But I have one question. You went a year without pizza? OMG! I thought I was doing well to just have it once a month! I'm so depressed now! lol
Posted by: Wendy | November 17, 2008 at 11:45 PM
That is some crazy willpower you're sporting. A year without pizza. Inconceivable! Good job accidentally losing a pound. I had a weekend affair with cake batter as well and it wasn't for a battalion of small children either. All mine.
Posted by: mrsbear | November 18, 2008 at 02:36 PM