Progress!!

This week I have tried to be a bit more careful about what and how much I eat. It seems to be working too! I got on the scale this morning and I'm now at 186! Yes! That's 3 pounds in a week! Doubt that rate will keep up, but its a nice start. I'd love to get to under 180 before Christmas; I know its a long shot but I like a challenge. :-)

A very American weekend...

This weekend has been my "American" fix to get me through the end of the year. Yesterday I had Thanksgiving dinner at Grace's apartment. And I ate so much I could barely move. Of course. Everything was delicious. The only things missing were the Macy's parade and football! It was quite an enjoyable evening, and everyone loved the sweet potato dish that I brought.

Today Shruti (my roommate) and I decided to check out the Subway sandwich shop that just opened in Baden. I've been really missing good sandwiches! The Swiss just don't know how to do it. Hard bread and a slice of meat, pickle, and hard boiled egg do not make a sandwich. I had my favorite! Meatball marinara on parmesan oregano bread (soft bread!) with cheese, toasted. Then topped with lettuce, tomato, cucumbers, bell peppers, and mustard. Delicious!!!! I'm really so excited that we have a Subway now!

Yesterday I bought a GIANT turnip at the farmers market. I'm not kidding you, this turnip has a 6 inch diameter. It's huge! And it was a mid-sized one. I wasn't even sure what to do with it, but I've been so entertained by seeing them at the market that I just had to get one. So tonight I'm goign to attempt to make a turnip and potato soup. Hope it turns out good....

The weight loss campaign is not going so great though. Cold gray rainy days do NOT encourage me to eat light healthy things and get off the couch. However at least I'm not gaining. I'm at 189; so still 1 pound down from my starting weight of 190. Hahaha. At this rate (1 pound every three weeks or so?) it will take me a very very very long time to reach my goal. Sigh. Do better self!

Shifts are bad for my diet...

All this week I've been at CERN on shift. Being on shift means sitting in the control room of CMS for ~8 hours at a time, in front of 6 computer screens (with two keyboards and two mice) plus my laptop. No lunch break, so I eat whatever I bring with me or what I can find in the vending machine upstairs. On the plus side I have to walk up two flights of stairs to get to the vending machine, which is about as much movement as you have the opportunity for. I've been bringing turkey/ham sandwiches (wheat bread with lettuce and bell peppers, no condiments) with me, but I always end up having a cup or two of coffee (which is more like espresso in the US) and usually something from the vending machine. Unfortunately for me, caffeine doesn't keep me awake, so when I need a pick-me-up I need a snack.

It's especially bad when I get the night shifts, like now. Midnight to 7am. Ugh. At least my other shifts this week have been the morning ones, where there is more activity so less snacking for me.

I've tried to get in a little more exercise this week, since when I'm not on shift I've got free time. However the weather has not been terribly conducive to that: cold and raining (snow up in the Jura mountains). I of course have my "The Biggest Loser" workouts on iTunes, but I have to tone them down because I feel guilty jumping around when there is another hotel room below me. (I face the same problem in my apartment; what's the etiquette for that sort of thing?)

I'm not looking forward to seeing what this week has done to my poor 2 pounds of progress. :-( On the plus side, my last two night shifts have been canceled, so when I get off shift at 7am I will go crash in bed for a bit, then pack up and head home two days early! Hooray!