About Me, For a Change

Since childhood, I (like so many Americans) have struggled with weight issues. In 1996, while directing a production of Romeo and Juliet in which I also played Friar Laurence, I went on a strict diet and exercise program, resulting in a 70 lb loss. I looked (if I do say so myself) and felt terrific.

Of course, since then I have gained it all (plus more) back. Last year, I joined Weight Watchers at work. I lost close to 20 lbs and then got bored. Over last winter, I gained much of those 20 lbs back. It made me sick and angry. This year, I am determined to get rid of the flab once and for all.

Using what I learned from previous regimens and WW, I put myself on a new diet. All grains must be whole; all foods must be low-fat and high protein. Currently, my knee issues make it all but impossible to get back on the treadmill (10 minutes of walking result in 48 hours of pain). But I've truly changed my eating habits. I eat smaller portions of high-fiber, low-fat, high-protein foods in several small meals about 5 times a day. I am rarely actually "hungry' and find I have more energy.

The real payoff, however, came today.

I have been wearing shorts every day this summer (mostly to show off the fabulous new ink on my left calf). The shorts all have elastic waistbands with drawstrings (my day job allows for very casual attire). Today, the weather in the Northeast was particularly cool and I decided to wear jeans for the first time in several months. I put the jeans on and found loads of room in the waistband, prompting me to use a belt for the first time since May. To my surprise and delight, I had to move up one notch on my belt! Yay! The last time I was weighed (about a month ago) I had lost 16 lbs. I can't wait to go back to my doctor now and see how much more I have lost.

Hopefully, once my Synvisc treatments are complete, I will once again be able to jump on the treadmill and lose even more. This is honestly the best day of this summer since the final performance of The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told.

Should you care? No. But I just had to crow a little.

More, anon.

Prospero

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Not That You Care...

This is my "Mad Men" caricature. It's also currently my facebook profile picture. It's fairly accurate, though I think there's a bit more brown in my hair. Still, it definitely is recognizable to those who know me.

Speaking of facebook, here's one of those "Questions About Me" things you are supposed to share and flag friends with. I figured I'd do it here and let the fb friends who read my blog to come here to see it. Then no one is obligated to respond or flag anyone or make a big hullabaloo out of it (and yes, I actually typed the word "hullabaloo." So what? It's a good word and I don't care if makes me sound like I wear white bucks and listen to Chubby Checker. Plus, it fits in with the whole "Mad Men" doo-hickey). Anyway, for your consideration (or not - I really don't care) is YES or NO (my answers in red; links, as usual, in blue):

1. You can ONLY answer Yes or No.

2. You are NOT ALLOWED to explain ANYTHING unless someone messages or comments you and asks—and believe me, the temptation to explain some of these will be overwhelming nothing is exactly as it seems.

Now, here’s what you’re supposed to do: Copy and paste this into your notes, delete my answers, type in your answers and tag as many of your friends as you’d like to.

Kissed any one of your Facebook/Myspace/Twitter friends? Yes.
Been arrested? No
Kissed someone you didn’t like? Yes
Slept in until 5 PM? No
Fallen asleep at work/school? No
Held a snake? Yes
Ran a red light? Yes
Been suspended from school? Yes
Experienced love at first sight? Yes
Totaled your car in an accident? No

Been fired from a job? Yes
Fired somebody? Yes
Sang karaoke? Yes

Pointed a gun at someone? No
Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t? Yes
Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? Yes
Caught a snowflake on your tongue? Yes
Kissed in the rain? No

Had a close brush with death (your own)? No

Seen someone die? Yes
Played spin-the-bottle? Yes
Sang in the shower? Yes
Smoked a cigar? Yes
Sat on a rooftop? Yes
Smuggled something into another country? No
Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes? Yes
Broken a bone? Yes
Skipped school? Yes
Eaten a bug? Yes
Sleepwalked? No
Walked a moonlit beach? Yes
Rode a motorcycle? Yes

Dumped someone? Yes
Forgotten your anniversary? No
Lied to avoid a ticket? No
Ridden on a helicopter? No
Shaved your head? No
Blacked out from drinking? No
Played a prank on someone? Yes
Hit a home run? No
Felt like killing someone? Yes
Cross-dressed? Yes
Been falling-down drunk? Yes
Made your girlfriend/boyfriend cry? Yes
Eaten snake? Yes
Marched/Protested? Yes
Had Mexican jumping beans for pets? Yes
Puked on amusement ride? No
Seriously & intentionally boycotted something? Yes
Been in a band? No
Knitted? No
Been on TV? Yes
Shot a gun? Yes
Skinny-dipped? Yes
Gave someone stitches? No
Eaten a whole habeñero pepper? No
Ridden a surfboard? No
Drank straight from a liquor bottle? Yes
Had surgery? Yes
Streaked? Yes
Taken by ambulance to hospital? No
Passed out when not drinking? No
Peed on a bush? Yes
Donated Blood? No
Grabbed an electric fence? No
Eaten alligator meat? Yes
Eaten cheesecake? Yes
Eaten your kids/siblings Halloween candy? Yes
Peed your pants in public? Yes
Snuck into a movie without paying? No
Written graffiti? Yes
Still love someone you shouldn’t? Yes
Think about the future? Yes
Been in handcuffs? Yes
Believe in love? Yes
Sleep on a certain side of the bed? No

More, anon

Prospero

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