Hot for the Holidays and Buffets = Evil

I have mentioned a couple of times here that I am on a turtle-paced weight loss journey. I have had some success, and have kept off what I have lost. But it is not enough, and it is not coming off fast enough. So when Missy announced her brand new Hot for the Holidays challenge, I was thrilled. And also a little bit nervous, because she then started talking about posting before and after pictures, and mentioning starting weights and goals. All good things for accountability, but sisters, I am a chicken. That squawking and bawk-bawking you hear would be me running fast and far away from anything that resembles a before picture. So I told Missy that I would be participating, but from afar. Nice and safe, but still a little accountable. And she emailed back that, sure, whatever you want, but it might be nice to lay out some goals.

She was so right. Because it really does help to know where you're going.

So, then - my goals:

1. To amp up the exercise, and focus more on interval training. And also to break out my trusty Tae-bo video (yes, video, as in VHS tape - it's that old). But it is fun and I have lost a lot of weight in the past by doing it faithfully.
2. To limit and hopefully eliminate all bad carbs, sugar, etc.
3. To lose 15 pounds by Christmas. That's totally doable. Then lots more after that, but...baby steps.

And to kick it all off, what better place to go than to a buffet?

Last year, my husband's then-boss gave us a gift card to a local resort/casino here in town. Since this has been a pretty lean year financially for us, we occasionally like to go there and treat ourselves to a free meal. And like all casinos, this one has a buffet, which Ricardo loves. Of course he loves it...he is skin-ny and has to worry more about gaining weight than losing it.

But buffets are evil. They are particularly evil when you have just started a weight-loss challenge. But nonetheless, that's where we headed this evening.

I think I did pretty good. I started out with a heaping plate of salad and veggies, then had some baked fish and more veggies. My splurge was a very small spoonful of mashed potatoes, and they were worth every carbohydrate-laden bite. And I did not get dessert.

I think that bears repeating. I did not get dessert.

My hubby did, though. Lots and lots of it. A chocolate cream puff, and then chocolate cake. Then strawberry cake. Then an ice cream cone. Then he finished off Savannah's ice cream. Then he came home and ate chocolate pudding.

Something is so not fair about this situation.

Ok - in the interest of full disclosure, I did take about 2 bites of hubby's vast sugar selection, but I think I showed some considerable restraint, seeing that I was literally surrounded on all sides by temptation.

So you may have to put up with me posting about this for the next several Fridays until the holidays. I'll try not to bore you - or myself - by keepin' it short and sweet.

Moving on to a happier subject...

Over at the Siesta Fiesta Blog they are organizing a Christmas Ornament Exchange. You may have seen it already and signed up...but if you haven't and are interested in joining in, go on over to find out more about it. I think it's gonna be so much fun and a great way to get to know some more sweet bloggers, and like they said over there - the more, the merrier!