December 19, 2012

Wed. Weigh in, and paying it forward

It feels so good to be home right now! I had a lot of fun with my family, but I am definitely ready for a good night's sleep. I probably slept a total of six hours in the three nights we were there. We packed up and left this morning, and got home at around 12:15. I expected the cats to all come and greet us like they usually do, but I think they were mad that we left. ;)

When I got home, I was curious to see what my weight was. I'm used to weighing myself every day, and now that I'm on maintenance (which means eating more PointsPlus than I'm used to), I was curious to know what happened with my weight while I was gone. There was SO MUCH temptation the whole time we were there, and it was extremely difficult for me to stay on track.

But I felt really good about all of my choices, and on the way home, I was thinking about whether I would have done anything differently. Honestly, I feel like I did pretty awesome, and I wouldn't have changed anything.

I had already eaten breakfast and had a quart of water this morning, so when I got on the scale this afternoon, I wanted it to be around 134 or less. I stepped on the scale to the nice surprise of 133! That's my goal weight, and the same weight I was last Wednesday. So the first week of maintenance was a success--during vacation, and the holidays, at that :)

I've been eating a little over 40 PointsPlus a day (32 is my maintenance target, and then I use some activity PP and weekly PP every day). That is a good amount to where I can have a treat every day, but I don't feel like I'm gorging myself, either. I get a grand total of 273 PP per week PLUS my activity PP... so that averages out to 39 PP per day (plus activity PP, which always depends on how much running I do that day). I'm happy to know I can eat all the PP available to me and still maintain (so far, at least... it's only been a week, so it's too soon to look for a pattern)

I went to the school to pick up homework for the boys (they had to miss three days of school) and then I went to Kroger to restock some groceries. While I was in line to pay for my groceries, I came across the perfect "pay it forward" type of opportunity.

Two years ago, just before Christmas, Jerry and I were at Goodwill with the kids. I love Goodwill, and shop there regardless of our money situation, but we happened to be strapped for money because I had just broken my jaw and we had a ton of medical bills (and Jerry had taken time off work). Anyway, while we were shopping, an elderly woman came up to Jerry and held out her hand to shake hands with him.

He was a little confused, but just thought she was being friendly, so he shook her hand and she said, "Merry Christmas." He felt a piece of paper in his hand, and looked down to see a $50 bill. He was startled and looked up to ask her what that was for, but she had already walked halfway out of the store. She left with who I am assuming was her husband.

We were totally shocked, and it really made our day! I thought that was a really cool way to do something nice for someone, and I think of that all the time, especially around Christmas. And now, when an opportunity presents itself, I think of that woman and I take advantage of the "pay it forward" opportunity.

So anyway, at Kroger today, there was a young woman ahead of me in line, and she had already scanned her groceries. She had two kids with her, and they looked very young--maybe 18 months and 3 years old? She seemed a little frazzled, and I saw her explain to the cashier that she forgot her wallet at home, and she would have to go home and get money and come back.

She started to leave, and I told the cashier I wanted to pay for her groceries ($25). It was the self-checkout, so I quickly swiped my card and paid for them, while the cashier got her and told her that I'd paid for them. She was really grateful, and thanked me over and over. I told her that I know how hard it is to go shopping with your kids as it is, let alone bring them to the store twice.

She said that they were buying the stuff for her and the kids to make Christmas cookies tonight, and when she realized she'd have to go back to pay, she wasn't sure she'd have enough time to make the cookies. I felt so good about helping her out, especially when she explained about the cookies--after the Newtown tragedy, I think it's more important than ever for parents to spend quality time with their kids.

After that, I came home and just threw together a very quick dinner of pita pizzas. I bought some thick, square pita bread that turned out to be perfect for pizzas!
The kids had a ton of homework to catch up on, so Jerry and I spent two hours after dinner helping the kids get that finished up. I felt like I needed a really strong drink when I was done halfway through--what a headache! But at least they'll be caught up when they go back tomorrow.

Being away the past few days made me pretty far behind on blog comments and e-mail and all that, so I'll try and catch up this weekend. Tonight, I'm going to catch up on Dexter! ;)

37 comments:

  1. That pay it forward story really made me tear up.I would love to do that for someone. Congrats on 133!

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    1. Thanks Carly! And yes, it was fun to be able to do something nice for someone :)

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  2. Great job on the 133 during vacation and Christmas!!!

    You're act of kindness to that mom was awesome. She will not forget it :)

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    1. Thank you! I was so worried about weight gain over the vacation, but seeing that I maintained gave me some more confidence that I can do this whole maintenance thing! :)

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  3. I'm so glad to hear the your maintenance target is 32 points. I hadn't known what the maintenance numbers looked like and I was slightly paranoid I had to live on 26 points for the rest of my life. I eat about 35 (which is my target) on a daily basis, and only more using my weekly or activity on special splurges. And that feels totally manageable. 26 points seems sooo low and does scare me a bit- but hopefully it scares me to just move more so I can eat my activity points!

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    1. I don't think I've ever eaten JUST 26 PointsPlus in a day--that's nearly impossible (for me, anyway)! I definitely feel like 32 PP + my Weekly PP + my Activity PP is liveable in the long term :) When you get there, that extra 6 Daily PP feels like a LOT at first!

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  4. I love, love, love what you did to help that woman!!! I did that earlier this year-the night before Valentine's Day-when the woman in front of me was trying to buy her kids some small valentines day candy/gifs and some food for a nice dinner. She was on public assistance and she didn't have enough on her Food Stamps debit card (she was short $19.72) She was really upset and trying to figure out what she could put back and started taking out the candies and little toys. I knew I was meant to help because I was born in 1972 lol I tapped her on the shoulder and told her that i knew it was weird because she didn't know me but that i'd like to pay the balance for her so she didn't have to put the gifts back. This woman instantly started crying and said that she felt like she should say "no" but that she really wanted to make the day special for her kids because she doesn't get to do a lot of "extra" things for the kids.

    She was so incredibly grateful. Over the past 6 years i've had many strangers help me and I try to pay it forward any opportunity I can-it usually doesn't involve money because I'm a single mom on social security because i had a kidney transplant so I don't have a lot but in this case, I just couldn't stand by and watch.

    It's so nice to hear stories like these, especially afte everything that happened Friday. It really restores my faith that there are selfless, giving people in this world.

    Bridgette

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    1. Bridgette, that story made me tear up! That was so generous of you, and I'm sure that you made those kids' day!

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  5. Good job all around! We tried to do that at a grocery store once and the woman started yelling at us that she wasn't poor. We said we knew that but who couldn't use a little extra money in their pocket and she said she was fine and swiped her card real quick. Um, okay lady. So we've been very leery about doing that since so I'm glad someone got to do it without getting verbal lashings! LOL

    You will LOVE Dexter. If you're emotional like me, have tissues the last 5 minutes. ;)

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    1. Wow, that never even occurred to me that she might not be happy that I paid! When that woman at the thrift store gave us the $50, we were speechless and just so touched that a stranger would do that--we never thought of it in a negative way.

      Dexter was AWESOME!

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  6. Last week during our weekly grocery trip we bought a $100 gift card and asked te cashier to give it to a family that had a grocery bill of over $100 an tell them to have a Merry Christmas. It's good to know that there are still good people out there!

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    1. That's amazing! I just got chills when I read that. I hope it went to a family that really needed it at that moment :)

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  7. I'm glad you had a great time AND kept on track! I read somewhere that the average American gains 7lbs between Thanksgiving and New Years, so to maintain is a pretty good thing to do =)

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    1. I'm usually TERRIBLE with weight gain on vacation/trips. I'm shocked that I didn't even put on a single pound of water weight!

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  8. I Love your pay it forward story Katie! I absolutely agree that we all have to try to take care of each other in this world. I don't often go through a drive through, but sometimes when I do, I pay for the car behind me- just because I love the idea of making someone's day. I like to imagine the look on their face when the cashier tells them their order is paid for by a stranger:-) It makes me smile for the rest of the day!

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    1. It IS fun to imagine putting a smile on someone's face for such a simple gesture :) That's awesome of you!

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  9. I love your Pay it Forward story Katie, that's wonderful. I am on my own this Christmas, my daughter is spending it with her dad and my family have all gone away and while friends have offered, I always feel awkward when I go to friends who are spending it with their families. Anyway, I decided I wanted to volunteer on Christmas Day, in a homeless shelter or a soup kitchen or even an old age home. Well I've been offering my help around and no-one wants it, I'm so disappointed. I'd have thought all these charities and other organisations would be happy for extra volunteers but no. So I'm going to spend Christmas with lots of alcohol and chocolate watching TV. It'll be fun.

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    1. Alcohol + chocolate + watching TV sounds like a heck of a good time to me! ;) No, I'm surprised that nobody wants a volunteer. I've heard that a lot of people tend to volunteer on holidays, so maybe a lot of other people just had the same idea as you.

      The movies are usually open on Christmas, so maybe go see a movie and bring some goodies for the employees? Jerry and I did that on Easter, and they LOVED it--they even gave us free tickets for the show, AND tickets to use in the future :)

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  10. Now THAT is what this seasons is all about. And it shouldn't just be at Christmas time and I know it's just that time of year, but seriously, what a wonderful world this place would be if everyone took a moment to think of others ... simple things that would make their lives just *that* much easier in the moment. What an amazing gift you gave that woman, Katie!

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    1. I agree! I love hearing stories of random acts of kindness, and it always inspires me to do something nice for someone :)

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  11. Oh! And congrats on the maintaining during vacation! You should be SUPER proud of yourself! That's awesome.

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  12. Congratulations on your successful vacation! and God Bless you for doing such a kind thing.

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    1. Vacation was very difficult, but I'm SO glad I stuck to my plan :)

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  13. Hey Katie! I know every one is commenting on the Pay it Forward act which I do think it awesome. However, I CAN NOT wait for you to watch DEXTER. I can't wait to hear what you think.

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    1. Dexter was AWESOME!! I wasn't too crazy about the start of the season, but the whole Hannah thing changed my mind. And the season finale?? Wow! Totally left me wanting more :)

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  14. I had almost the same experience in the grocery store a few years ago. A young woman with some small children was trying to buy stuff to make cookies for Santa (it was Christmas Eve) and didn't have enough money for everything. I helped her out and she was so grateful. When I left the store, a man approached me and I was just a little scared and it turns out it was her husband and he wanted to thank me too. It's a hard decision to make though. I tried to help someone else out and they yelled at me and told me they didn't take charity. I didn't think of it as charity, I thought of it has just helping someone out. Take care and have a great holiday!!

    Sue

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    1. That's awesome, Sue! I think moms with kids are more likely to accept the help; that's too bad someone yelled at you for trying to do something nice, because I can see why it would make you think twice about doing it again.

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  15. What a wonderful thing you did. You have inspired me in so many ways and now...one more. I'm going to do that (pay it forward) somehow, sometime before Christmas! I bet it made you feel great and you know how it made that woman feel, since you had the same experience a couple years ago. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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    1. It's always fun to do something nice for a stranger. Let me know what you end up doing to "pay it forward"! :)

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  16. I envy that you get to catch up on Dexter. I've already seen the outcome of the season, and I'm going to miss it until it comes back next year for the series finale.

    Great job on maintaining! You keep inspiring me.

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    1. I'm bummed that the season is over! It was a great finale.

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  17. That's a fantastic feat! Way to go. You should be proud. ;-) Cheers~

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    1. Thanks! It was tough, but I'm so glad I made a plan and stuck with it :)

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  18. That is such a wodnerful thing you did. You have inspired me to "pay it forward" the next chance I get!!

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    1. That's great, Stephanie! Let me know what you end up doing :)

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  19. What a wonderful blessing that you gave that woman. It made me all teary just to read it!! Truly awesome!

    And congrats on maintaining after being gone!! That's awesome!

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  20. Katie, you continue to inspire me! I got choked up reading this entry. I've been super selfish all day today and this was definitely a wake up call!

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