Yeah, I did. I fell RIGHT off. Whoop! Plop.
I'm getting back on though. And this BLOG is going to help me stay accountable. I gained 5 lbs. NO MORE. NOT GOING BACK. Gotta eat healthy.
You see, financially, I'm in hell. We don't make ends meet. I've cut every corner there is to cut and we don't have any more corners to cut. We simply have more bills than we have income. And over 55% of it is our mortgage. We could sell, but it's an underwater mortgage. And where would be end up? Paying $1000 in rent each month? So we save $400, but it all goes into the toilet so some other shmuck can pay HIS mortgage? Don't get me wrong. If you gotta rent, you gotta rent, but I would eat raman, dried beans, and potatoes every meal before I'd go backwards.
And that's pretty much what we're doing. I use beef bones to flavor food. I use bulk grain mixed in with ground beef to extend what we have when we actually use beef. I use dried beans and lentils to make soup and then freeze 6 servings to use later. I buy potatoes when they're on sale and we eat potato soup, baked potatoes, and home-made "fries." I buy pasta when it's 99 cents for the box. We have our grocery bill (including everything - not just food, so paper towels, cat food, dog food, shampoo, etc. You get it) down to $300 a month. That's incredible.
Anyway, all the financial stress is getting to me and I've let the diet go....Not anymore. I'm back and I'm gonna kick this body's butt.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Whoa! Full-time Job and Preschool!
For those not following along, my son is autistic. He just turned three on the 14th of this month and so could start preschool after his birthday. This last week was CRAZY. I couldn't have picked a more insane time to start my Mary Kay business, I tell ya.
So, let me start off by saying that I've been SUPER naughty. I've pretty much eaten whatever (but I TRY to keep it within reason) and haven't been good about tracking my food. That needs to STOP. Joshua's birthday was no exception. Veggies, hummus, pita bread wedges, and tzatziki along with loads of cookies instead of cake, were a recipe for overeating. Everything but the cookies were SO good for you, but hummus adds up quickly, and GAWD knows what the tzatziki adds up to be. Nevermind the 4 cookies I ate. Ridiculous.
So wipe that off the schedule and I received my Mary Kay business supplies, ie. the starter kit and my QuickBooks software and some basic filing supplies. Tack on the fact that 50 pounds gone means NOT A SINGLE THING FITS anymore. And, I mean, that's a good thing, right? But Mary Kay would like us to be feminine and wear skirts. I wore my ONLY pants suit to my first meeting and that's when I was told that that was okay, mostly, but skirts were preferred. In fact, I've found that many woman believe that as long as there's a skirt, they can be mostly casual. That's another story...
Anyway, I hit up thrift stores. I'm not ashamed to admit that beggars cannot be choosers. I have SO little cash, that I'm starting up Mary Kay. Hello?! Yeah, I don't have hundreds of bucks to spend on clothes that I HOPE TO GAWD don't fit me in 6 months. So, I hit up Value Village and Goodwill. Less than $90 later, I came home with 4-6 skirts, 3 suit jackets, 1 dress suit, and 2 pairs of really nice shoes. And, all of that is a write-off for my business. And you darn well better know I'm keepin' track. Thank you QuickBooks. OH, that reminds me. Hafta add the QuickBook expense to the Office Supplies Expense Account. Whoops.
So, once again, how about the weight?! I lost another pound. Maybe I'm selfish, but I SO wanna see that number get bigger. But, I don't really deserve it at all. I've been SO BAD. Why should I even have lost a pound?! I should be grateful (and I really kinda am), but I find myself getting all bent outta shape about the whole thing. I want more....Sheesh. I'm being such a baby, right? At least it's a loss.
Anyway, more preschool tomorrow morning where Joshua will spend at least 15 minutes with 3 different therapists and 30 minutes with a speech therapist and then the rest of what's left of two hours playing and having a good time. My day starts at 5:40 am tomorrow, so I'd better head off to bed. I feel a cold coming on and I know that means I'd BETTER get to BED NOW! Mom's can't be sick. We're too amazing to be sick.
So, let me start off by saying that I've been SUPER naughty. I've pretty much eaten whatever (but I TRY to keep it within reason) and haven't been good about tracking my food. That needs to STOP. Joshua's birthday was no exception. Veggies, hummus, pita bread wedges, and tzatziki along with loads of cookies instead of cake, were a recipe for overeating. Everything but the cookies were SO good for you, but hummus adds up quickly, and GAWD knows what the tzatziki adds up to be. Nevermind the 4 cookies I ate. Ridiculous.
So wipe that off the schedule and I received my Mary Kay business supplies, ie. the starter kit and my QuickBooks software and some basic filing supplies. Tack on the fact that 50 pounds gone means NOT A SINGLE THING FITS anymore. And, I mean, that's a good thing, right? But Mary Kay would like us to be feminine and wear skirts. I wore my ONLY pants suit to my first meeting and that's when I was told that that was okay, mostly, but skirts were preferred. In fact, I've found that many woman believe that as long as there's a skirt, they can be mostly casual. That's another story...
Anyway, I hit up thrift stores. I'm not ashamed to admit that beggars cannot be choosers. I have SO little cash, that I'm starting up Mary Kay. Hello?! Yeah, I don't have hundreds of bucks to spend on clothes that I HOPE TO GAWD don't fit me in 6 months. So, I hit up Value Village and Goodwill. Less than $90 later, I came home with 4-6 skirts, 3 suit jackets, 1 dress suit, and 2 pairs of really nice shoes. And, all of that is a write-off for my business. And you darn well better know I'm keepin' track. Thank you QuickBooks. OH, that reminds me. Hafta add the QuickBook expense to the Office Supplies Expense Account. Whoops.
So, once again, how about the weight?! I lost another pound. Maybe I'm selfish, but I SO wanna see that number get bigger. But, I don't really deserve it at all. I've been SO BAD. Why should I even have lost a pound?! I should be grateful (and I really kinda am), but I find myself getting all bent outta shape about the whole thing. I want more....Sheesh. I'm being such a baby, right? At least it's a loss.
Anyway, more preschool tomorrow morning where Joshua will spend at least 15 minutes with 3 different therapists and 30 minutes with a speech therapist and then the rest of what's left of two hours playing and having a good time. My day starts at 5:40 am tomorrow, so I'd better head off to bed. I feel a cold coming on and I know that means I'd BETTER get to BED NOW! Mom's can't be sick. We're too amazing to be sick.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Preschool, Mary Kay, and Other New Developments
Well, if I thought this last week was hectic, I had NO idea what I was going to be doing THIS week.
Last week, in addition to all of the many tasks I juggle and getting to the gym and making sure we have a meal plan in place, my son had his evaluation at our local school with the important departments at our school district. I hadn't heard anything as of the 4th of September and I'd expected to hear something from the district on the 2nd, so I emailed my contact. I immediately got a response back thanking me for emailing and asking me to meet for my son's evaluation TOMORROW (the 5th). I'm flexible. I have to be in order to ensure my autistic son gets the support he needs. At the drop of a hat, I have to be willing to stop whatever I'm doing and meet with staff anywhere at any time. But, more on that to come.
So, I attended his evaluation and they assessed him and took notes. I'd filled out the 40+ pages of my own evaluations so they could review it later. I filled out more while we were there with Joshua bouncing off the walls as a team of experts attempted him to jump through hoop after hoop.
At the end, they had all they could get and I'd be coming back in one week for the "report." Basically, they would sit down and discuss what their findings were and IF my son was eligible for special assistance and schooling through the school district.
Being a mother of an autistic child is challenging in general. My son is what the medical folks call "non-verbal." Mostly. He can't talk. Mostly. The "mostly" is what puts him into the "high-functioning" category on the spectrum. He's only, you know, a LITTLE autistic. Anyway, it's enough to make MY life essentially about my son. What is he doing? Where is he? What is he eating or not eating? What does he need?
I think I need to back up a bit. When my husband and I decided to have our first child, I was working a great job which I loved. He was making a decent wage as a truck driver. One month before I was due, my husband was laid off from his job. Actually, he was fired, without cause in order to keep a large customer happy. That much was proven true. While I was on maternity leave, I received a letter from the company I was working for letting me know that I didn't need to come back. They no longer had a place for me.
So, in two months, we went from having a comfortable living, safe and secure to having virtually NO security whatsoever. And now, we had a baby to deal with. And a mortgage.
Fast forward to today - my son is autistic, my husband is working again in the new economy meaning he works just as hard for less money. In order to survive, we've cut our budget to virtually nothing and refinanced in order to prevent foreclosure on our home. All this and I STILL NEED TO WORK. I just CAN'T.
The most flexible jobs are RETAIL jobs. What retailer is going to be okay with me saying, "Hey, I can only work two hours a day from 9 -11 am, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. MAYBE Saturday, but only Sunday afternoons. Oh, and if my son's teacher/babysitter/dad calls me, I will have to be free to go at any time. And, occasionally, I might have to go to appointments to meet with my son's special care team nevermind his dentist or pediatrician. So, when can I start?"
Not. Going. To. Happen. I can't think of a job in the WORLD okay with those restrictions. That leaves me starting my own business. I'm scared. In this economy, even the well managed businesses fail. So, what business is easy to start with relatively NO capital that doesn't require me to put in 14-18 hour or MORE days?! Avon. Pampered Chef. PartyLight. Mary Kay.
What is my passion? Cooking. Make-up/Skin Care. What do I have experience in and knowledge about? The latter. I've been doing my makeup since I was a dancer at 6 years old. I've been experimenting with makeup techniques practically my whole life. One of my favorite things to do is have an extremely LONG RELAXING facial system set up so I can pamper my friends. I love love love GIRL'S NIGHTS. It was just a no brainer that I should chose Avon or Mary Kay.
I've always thought Avon products were inferior to other products. I've always felt that they were fairly hit and miss on what was good and what was suitable for Walmart-level quality. And their stuff isn't as expensive. They sell it for less. AND, like you almost always DO - you get what you PAY for.
Anyway, this might not be the place to brag about Mary Kay and frankly, why should you believe me? I just started selling it as of LAST NIGHT. But, I will say, I've been using Dermalogica which is sold by professional aestheticians and I've switched to using Mary Kay. Mary Kay is less expensive AND SO SIMILAR that I hardly notice the swap. I'm thrilled to work for a company that can deliver that quality.
Okay, spiel over. So WHAT ABOUT THE WEIGHT?! Right?! What did I lose? A pound. Just a lonely pound. But, I'm one pound lighter than last week and that is a WIN! I'll take it over the previous week's ZERO loss, that's for sure!
In other news, I've had to stop using the patch. I ended up with very severe side-effects including sore/extremely tender breasts, chest heaviness, heart palpitations, nausea. It was BAD. So, I have an appointment on Friday to see about getting the pill, even though I really really wanted the patch to work out. :( Oh well. Hopefully, this will be the end of the insatiable need to feed. I've been SO hungry. I'll be glad to have that AND the HORRID acne I was developing gone. It was SO out of hand. Wish me luck.
And, on that note, good luck to you all. I wish you a light and healthy week. When you see me again, Joshua will have started school, I will have my MK starter kit and be on my way to making a few dollars, we will have had Josh's 3rd birthday bash, and hopefully I'll be on track to get a few moments of peace and quiet just to myself.
Blessings to everyone!
Last week, in addition to all of the many tasks I juggle and getting to the gym and making sure we have a meal plan in place, my son had his evaluation at our local school with the important departments at our school district. I hadn't heard anything as of the 4th of September and I'd expected to hear something from the district on the 2nd, so I emailed my contact. I immediately got a response back thanking me for emailing and asking me to meet for my son's evaluation TOMORROW (the 5th). I'm flexible. I have to be in order to ensure my autistic son gets the support he needs. At the drop of a hat, I have to be willing to stop whatever I'm doing and meet with staff anywhere at any time. But, more on that to come.
So, I attended his evaluation and they assessed him and took notes. I'd filled out the 40+ pages of my own evaluations so they could review it later. I filled out more while we were there with Joshua bouncing off the walls as a team of experts attempted him to jump through hoop after hoop.
At the end, they had all they could get and I'd be coming back in one week for the "report." Basically, they would sit down and discuss what their findings were and IF my son was eligible for special assistance and schooling through the school district.
Being a mother of an autistic child is challenging in general. My son is what the medical folks call "non-verbal." Mostly. He can't talk. Mostly. The "mostly" is what puts him into the "high-functioning" category on the spectrum. He's only, you know, a LITTLE autistic. Anyway, it's enough to make MY life essentially about my son. What is he doing? Where is he? What is he eating or not eating? What does he need?
I think I need to back up a bit. When my husband and I decided to have our first child, I was working a great job which I loved. He was making a decent wage as a truck driver. One month before I was due, my husband was laid off from his job. Actually, he was fired, without cause in order to keep a large customer happy. That much was proven true. While I was on maternity leave, I received a letter from the company I was working for letting me know that I didn't need to come back. They no longer had a place for me.
So, in two months, we went from having a comfortable living, safe and secure to having virtually NO security whatsoever. And now, we had a baby to deal with. And a mortgage.
Fast forward to today - my son is autistic, my husband is working again in the new economy meaning he works just as hard for less money. In order to survive, we've cut our budget to virtually nothing and refinanced in order to prevent foreclosure on our home. All this and I STILL NEED TO WORK. I just CAN'T.
The most flexible jobs are RETAIL jobs. What retailer is going to be okay with me saying, "Hey, I can only work two hours a day from 9 -11 am, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. MAYBE Saturday, but only Sunday afternoons. Oh, and if my son's teacher/babysitter/dad calls me, I will have to be free to go at any time. And, occasionally, I might have to go to appointments to meet with my son's special care team nevermind his dentist or pediatrician. So, when can I start?"
Not. Going. To. Happen. I can't think of a job in the WORLD okay with those restrictions. That leaves me starting my own business. I'm scared. In this economy, even the well managed businesses fail. So, what business is easy to start with relatively NO capital that doesn't require me to put in 14-18 hour or MORE days?! Avon. Pampered Chef. PartyLight. Mary Kay.
What is my passion? Cooking. Make-up/Skin Care. What do I have experience in and knowledge about? The latter. I've been doing my makeup since I was a dancer at 6 years old. I've been experimenting with makeup techniques practically my whole life. One of my favorite things to do is have an extremely LONG RELAXING facial system set up so I can pamper my friends. I love love love GIRL'S NIGHTS. It was just a no brainer that I should chose Avon or Mary Kay.
I've always thought Avon products were inferior to other products. I've always felt that they were fairly hit and miss on what was good and what was suitable for Walmart-level quality. And their stuff isn't as expensive. They sell it for less. AND, like you almost always DO - you get what you PAY for.
Anyway, this might not be the place to brag about Mary Kay and frankly, why should you believe me? I just started selling it as of LAST NIGHT. But, I will say, I've been using Dermalogica which is sold by professional aestheticians and I've switched to using Mary Kay. Mary Kay is less expensive AND SO SIMILAR that I hardly notice the swap. I'm thrilled to work for a company that can deliver that quality.
Okay, spiel over. So WHAT ABOUT THE WEIGHT?! Right?! What did I lose? A pound. Just a lonely pound. But, I'm one pound lighter than last week and that is a WIN! I'll take it over the previous week's ZERO loss, that's for sure!
In other news, I've had to stop using the patch. I ended up with very severe side-effects including sore/extremely tender breasts, chest heaviness, heart palpitations, nausea. It was BAD. So, I have an appointment on Friday to see about getting the pill, even though I really really wanted the patch to work out. :( Oh well. Hopefully, this will be the end of the insatiable need to feed. I've been SO hungry. I'll be glad to have that AND the HORRID acne I was developing gone. It was SO out of hand. Wish me luck.
And, on that note, good luck to you all. I wish you a light and healthy week. When you see me again, Joshua will have started school, I will have my MK starter kit and be on my way to making a few dollars, we will have had Josh's 3rd birthday bash, and hopefully I'll be on track to get a few moments of peace and quiet just to myself.
Blessings to everyone!
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Apples - Fruit from Hell
That probably got your attention. Apples. Not. A. Fan. Actually, I like their flavor. I like how easy they are to grab and go. I love slicing them and packing them for snacks.
Unfortunately, they HATE ME. Every single time I eat an apple, shortly after eating it, my stomach begins to cramp up like I'm hungry again. Within minutes, my stomach hurts so bad that I can barely focus on what I'm doing. It's really very uncomfortable.
As you can imagine, this makes the prospect of grabbing an apple on my way out the door, well, less than appealing. I actually have anxiety about eating apples thanks to my adverse reaction.
Okay, so why don't I just NOT eat them?! Why do I keep trying to eat something that tears my stomach apart?! Because I really really like them. I like how they're easy to grab, don't bruise as easy as the other grab and go fruits like bananas and pears. They're sweet and filling. They're fiber rich and SO good for you. Yeah, I love apples. But we're going to have to break off our rather destructive and unhealthy relationship.
Okay, enough apple talk.
What about the weight? I lost ZERO pounds. Nothin'. Nada. I'm wondering if it has something to do with my going on the birth control patch. I have been "snackier" than normal and generally uncomfortable. I haven't really been able to control my appetite this last week and this week isn't shaping up to be much better.
I said that this blog would be honest. I would share the good and the bad, the successes and failures. This week sucked. Losing nothing sucks. I won't pretend to be just fine about seeing no change on the scale. The difference between then (when I've tried diets before) and now (Weight Watchers) is that I'm not going to let this get me down. I'm going to get on track again. I'm going to adjust. I'm going to lose weight again. Maybe not this week or next week, but as long as I don't quit, I'll keep losing. Quitting now would be like quitting a team because I missed one goal, but made the last 40. That would be ridiculous.
So, onward and upward. Off to next week. See you all soon.
Unfortunately, they HATE ME. Every single time I eat an apple, shortly after eating it, my stomach begins to cramp up like I'm hungry again. Within minutes, my stomach hurts so bad that I can barely focus on what I'm doing. It's really very uncomfortable.
As you can imagine, this makes the prospect of grabbing an apple on my way out the door, well, less than appealing. I actually have anxiety about eating apples thanks to my adverse reaction.
Okay, so why don't I just NOT eat them?! Why do I keep trying to eat something that tears my stomach apart?! Because I really really like them. I like how they're easy to grab, don't bruise as easy as the other grab and go fruits like bananas and pears. They're sweet and filling. They're fiber rich and SO good for you. Yeah, I love apples. But we're going to have to break off our rather destructive and unhealthy relationship.
Okay, enough apple talk.
What about the weight? I lost ZERO pounds. Nothin'. Nada. I'm wondering if it has something to do with my going on the birth control patch. I have been "snackier" than normal and generally uncomfortable. I haven't really been able to control my appetite this last week and this week isn't shaping up to be much better.
I said that this blog would be honest. I would share the good and the bad, the successes and failures. This week sucked. Losing nothing sucks. I won't pretend to be just fine about seeing no change on the scale. The difference between then (when I've tried diets before) and now (Weight Watchers) is that I'm not going to let this get me down. I'm going to get on track again. I'm going to adjust. I'm going to lose weight again. Maybe not this week or next week, but as long as I don't quit, I'll keep losing. Quitting now would be like quitting a team because I missed one goal, but made the last 40. That would be ridiculous.
So, onward and upward. Off to next week. See you all soon.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
My Birthday Gift - Get to Goal
This week, I celebrated my 32nd birthday. I still managed to lose just over a pound despite the food, the drink, and the lack of working out thanks to much celebration.
I also had a break from my son, some respite, thanks to my parents who watched him for almost 4 days. He had a blast going to two baseballs games (my parents hold season tickets) and playing with my parents several cats and three dogs. Mommy and Daddy got some fun in with a friend from out of town and actually got some serious plumbing done in our bathroom which we have gutted and are remodeling. Until it's finished, we have ZERO shower/bath. We have ONE toilet and ONE sink. Life kinda, well, stinks right now. I feel perpetually filthy.
I also had a break from my son, some respite, thanks to my parents who watched him for almost 4 days. He had a blast going to two baseballs games (my parents hold season tickets) and playing with my parents several cats and three dogs. Mommy and Daddy got some fun in with a friend from out of town and actually got some serious plumbing done in our bathroom which we have gutted and are remodeling. Until it's finished, we have ZERO shower/bath. We have ONE toilet and ONE sink. Life kinda, well, stinks right now. I feel perpetually filthy.
So, I'm doing okay this week. Managed to lose some weight. I'm feeling a little sweet-tooth-ish. I'm having a hard time NOT grubbing on ice cream and cookies. Those things aren't even in my house and I'm having a hard time avoiding them. It's been tough, but I've handled it okay.
It was TOM this week and so cramps and bloating was my birthday gift to myself this year. Oh, well. That's life, right?
Anyway, next year, I think I'd like to give myself a better gift. I think next year, I'd like to reach my goal weight before my birthday. I don't think it's completely unreasonable. If I'd like to lose about 60 pounds, figuring about a pound and a half per week, that's 40 weeks. That puts me in July? I think... Anyway, it's still before my birthday by, like, a month or so. Like I said, I don't think it's totally unreasonable. It doesn't take plateaus into account, but it doesn't take the occasional two or two and a half pound loss weeks into account either. For now, that's my LONG RANGE target. I have a much closer goal to focus on right now.
My next goal is to get under 175 pounds. I haven't been 175 pounds in almost 10 years. Before that, I was that weight my junior year of high school. It's a mental weight loss hurtle I intend to get over.
Okay, so, I'm pooped guys. I'm going to run. See you all next week. Until then, stay healthy, eat right, and move your body!
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Stuffing Face
Okay, so last week, I never posted. I'm REALLY sorry. I had a crazy week. I ate too much. I know I did. I kept snacking and I didn't track EVERYTHING I ate.
As a result, I dropped only .8 pounds. Less than 1 pound. But I'll take it because it's a loss, right? Sure, I'd liked to have had more, but I can't be ungrateful for the loss. After all, I know I didn't do that well.
This week isn't shaping up much better. This weekend is my birthday weekend and all this week has been a blur of family get togethers and the like. It doesn't help that I've been RAVENOUS this week. Again, I can't stop eating and exercise has been hard to fit in with all the family stuff and appointments. I'm feeling pretty gross this week and I expect a gain.
When I lost the .8 pounds, I finally went over the 50 pounds lost mark! Yay! I was really excited. I'll be shocked though, if I manage to keep it. I think I'll gain and then I'll just have to do better to get back to that "50 pounds lost " mark again.
I'm also feeling sick. I feel like I have a cold or something, which could just be my period coming. A lot of times, I end up getting stuffed up and feeling sick in my PMS week. I liken it to the symptoms pregnant women feel when they get pregnant. Their mucus production increases and they can feel like they have a cold. I think my body must do something similar. I have no idea. I'm SO not a doctor.
Anyway, so this is my PMS week. I'm in the hell that is before TOM shows up. And when TOM or Aunt Flo get here, I'll be very happy. I'm also looking forward to using the birth control patch. I've never used it before. I've always been on the pill, although I'm not on anything at the moment. I chose the patch because I just don't think I can remember to take my birth control pill every day at the same time. I can't even get here to blog once a week!! I end up forgetting that! I'll forget the pill.
Okay guys, it's 9 o'clock here. I'm pooped. I'm gonna wrap this up. Wish me luck this Sunday, but I'll accept whatever that scale says.
As a result, I dropped only .8 pounds. Less than 1 pound. But I'll take it because it's a loss, right? Sure, I'd liked to have had more, but I can't be ungrateful for the loss. After all, I know I didn't do that well.
This week isn't shaping up much better. This weekend is my birthday weekend and all this week has been a blur of family get togethers and the like. It doesn't help that I've been RAVENOUS this week. Again, I can't stop eating and exercise has been hard to fit in with all the family stuff and appointments. I'm feeling pretty gross this week and I expect a gain.
When I lost the .8 pounds, I finally went over the 50 pounds lost mark! Yay! I was really excited. I'll be shocked though, if I manage to keep it. I think I'll gain and then I'll just have to do better to get back to that "50 pounds lost " mark again.
I'm also feeling sick. I feel like I have a cold or something, which could just be my period coming. A lot of times, I end up getting stuffed up and feeling sick in my PMS week. I liken it to the symptoms pregnant women feel when they get pregnant. Their mucus production increases and they can feel like they have a cold. I think my body must do something similar. I have no idea. I'm SO not a doctor.
Anyway, so this is my PMS week. I'm in the hell that is before TOM shows up. And when TOM or Aunt Flo get here, I'll be very happy. I'm also looking forward to using the birth control patch. I've never used it before. I've always been on the pill, although I'm not on anything at the moment. I chose the patch because I just don't think I can remember to take my birth control pill every day at the same time. I can't even get here to blog once a week!! I end up forgetting that! I'll forget the pill.
Okay guys, it's 9 o'clock here. I'm pooped. I'm gonna wrap this up. Wish me luck this Sunday, but I'll accept whatever that scale says.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Losing TOO Fast?!
Happy Wednesday everyone! Well, this has been one crazy week. For starters, last Wednesday marked the first day we were going to have our friend from Canada come stay with us for about a week. Delayed for various reasons, he actually arrived two days late. Nevertheless, our routine was changed and this can mean serious trouble for diet and exercise. I've been on high-alert this week, for sure. I'm glad I'm in charge of the meal plans! :)
On Sunday, I weighed in at 189.6 pounds. That was a 2.8 pound drop from the previous week and it put me into the 180's and right out of the 190's! It's really something to celebrate, right? I was excited for sure.
I didn't post "Part 2" because it's only about 38 seconds long, has similar information that's covered in Part 1, and you can certainly find it yourself, if you're very curious.
I know losing weight slowly is important. Weight Watchers doesn't let you forget it, either. This week, when I lost 2.8 pounds and made my second high-loss week in a row, a warning popped up saying I was losing at an unhealthy rate. Sometimes though, I think my body just decides to drop weight. I cannot predict sometimes, what it is going to do.
I didn't eat very little or exercise very much this last week. I ate far more than my daily Weight Watchers points every day. Some weeks, I lose very little. I've had plenty of 1/2 pound or less lost weeks. I think it evens out; at least I hope so.
On the Weight Watchers website, I see many people losing 3-5 pounds EVERY week. I'm sure they're excited about dropping the weight fast and not ever dipping into their Weekly Points. I'm certain they are ignoring the warnings thinking that saying they're losing too fast is CRAZY. However, losing this fast is setting them up for failure. It can potentially (and most likely) mean they will gain the weight back and possibly be one of the many Weight Watchers repeat customers.
I don't want to be a repeat customer. I want to get to my goal and STAY there. Who DOESN'T want that for themselves?! I refuse to yo-yo diet EVER AGAIN!
If this Sunday, I get on that scale and see another large number, I will adjust what I'm eating to slow my loss. I seriously doubt I will see another big number, however. I typically do NOT sustain the large loss weeks and, like the contestants on The Biggest Loser, which I'm currently only on Season 5, I have a "not so good week" after a "great week." So, I am anticipating a small loss as my body hangs onto the weight. We'll see.
If I have a low number, I won't change a thing until I have a streak of low numbers. If I change my tactics every time I have high numbers or low numbers, I'll never do the same thing one week to another. Unless my body PROVES to me that something is NOT working, I won't change it. I like to cut my body some slack to adjust itself to the drastic changes I'm forcing it through.
Well, everyone, I've done fairly well with the rest of the time we had guests. Now, our house is back to normal and we can re-focus a bit. We'll have to wait and see how my body reacts this Sunday! I'll update you next Wednesday! Until then, stay stress free, get moving, and eat well!
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Drop the Fries and Other Self-Abusive Issues
Okay, so FOR-SHAME! I missed Wednesday. I didn't post anything new and I'm really sorry. My son had to go in for a sedated hearing test at our children's hospital. It was extremely stressful for me for lots of reasons. This was the first time Josh has ever been under anesthesia and I just could NOT handle them holding him down while he screamed to put in the IV. I left while Daddy stayed to help and watch. I only came in once he was sleeping. He passed his test, so his hearing is normal. This means we've ruled out hearing problems for his lack of speech and behavioral abnormalities. It's a step in the right direction, but it does bring us closer to autism as the most definite diagnosis. I keep hoping the doctor is wrong, but it's not looking good.
So, all that happened on Wednesday, so I TOTALLY spaced on my blog. Sorry again!
Good news though! I lost again this week. I'm down another 2-1/2 pounds putting me over the 45 pounds-lost mark. Yay! It's getting to be a little unreal now. 45 pounds is a lot of weight and it's hard to wrap my head around losing more than my son weighs. Feels great though.
I'm starting to see and really feel the differences in ways I've never anticipated. Sure, I feel better, stronger, less sore, less sick, less tired. You know that's coming; we've heard of those benefits over and over again. But I'm noticing the cool stuff. I'm noticing that I can cross my legs again (something that I lost the ability to do around size 22). I can tie my shoes without getting a cramp in my stomach from pushing so hard to fold in half. I can hold my ankle while I stretch my quads. That may not seem like much, but I had SO much fat on my thighs and my butt, that my leg wouldn't fold far enough so that I could reach my ankle. Sad, but true.
I'm also noticing kinda funny things. Like, I use less body wash, shaving lotion, and body butter. It takes less time to shave my legs, by seconds, but I notice. I can see the car's seat on either side of my body/legs. Before, I took up the ENTIRE thing. I eclipsed the passenger seat. Yeah. Eclipsed. My motherhood charm bracelet and my wedding ring are getting looser. There's SO much to notice after 45 pounds. Seriously.
Something that I'm also noticing is this nearly overwhelming urge to grab heavy people I see and shake them and say, "Oh my GOD! Come with me! We need to stop the madness! Get healthy with me!! DROP THE FRIES!" It's painful to see heavy people. I'm heavy, yes. I know. And I'm not planning on staying that way. But, when I see other heavy people, I wanna scream like I wish someone had screamed at me! I want to save them - take them aside and teach them to eat right and how to exercise - the way I wish someone had done for me. I want to hug them and say, we'll get to the bottom of this together. We're going to save your life! I wanna save them like I'm saving me.
That brings me to the final thing that really gripped me this week. I need to find counseling. And it's gotta be cheap. I can't afford, well, anything right now. If I don't deal with my past issues, they will just crop up and make me gain the weight again. See, I emotionally eat sometimes, but it's not like sadness or anger makes me eat. I eat because I'm scared. I'm scared of being pretty.
I was sexually abused by no less than five different men over the course of 21 years. First when I was very little by family. Then, just before I was a teen by a stranger. Again, when I was 13 by a neighbor. Once more at 15 by another family member (who served jail time for crimes he'd later commit), and finally as an adult (the worst abuse I'd experienced). I've been through hell. I've gained weight to the point that men are not attracted to me (that's my plan anyway). Subconsciously, I've piled on the pounds until men stopped cat-calling, asking me out, inquiring as to my status, etc. Every time I'm approached, I break out in a cold sweat and a panic attack ensues. And yet, there's a large part of me that wants to be pretty; wants to be attractive. Unfortunately, some men took that freedom from me. Now, I'm scared to be looked at and terrified of being approached. That fear is rising up as I'm losing weight and I'm afraid that I'll feel naked without my fat when I lose the weight for good. I need counseling to DEAL with that fear. That and a healthy dose of female self defense classes and some martial arts classes. (After about 75 lbs lost, I plan to enroll in defense classes.)
Okay, so that's been MY week. A lot to do. A lot to think about. And some weight lost for good! Have a good week everyone! Until next week, stay healthy!
So, all that happened on Wednesday, so I TOTALLY spaced on my blog. Sorry again!
Good news though! I lost again this week. I'm down another 2-1/2 pounds putting me over the 45 pounds-lost mark. Yay! It's getting to be a little unreal now. 45 pounds is a lot of weight and it's hard to wrap my head around losing more than my son weighs. Feels great though.
I'm starting to see and really feel the differences in ways I've never anticipated. Sure, I feel better, stronger, less sore, less sick, less tired. You know that's coming; we've heard of those benefits over and over again. But I'm noticing the cool stuff. I'm noticing that I can cross my legs again (something that I lost the ability to do around size 22). I can tie my shoes without getting a cramp in my stomach from pushing so hard to fold in half. I can hold my ankle while I stretch my quads. That may not seem like much, but I had SO much fat on my thighs and my butt, that my leg wouldn't fold far enough so that I could reach my ankle. Sad, but true.
I'm also noticing kinda funny things. Like, I use less body wash, shaving lotion, and body butter. It takes less time to shave my legs, by seconds, but I notice. I can see the car's seat on either side of my body/legs. Before, I took up the ENTIRE thing. I eclipsed the passenger seat. Yeah. Eclipsed. My motherhood charm bracelet and my wedding ring are getting looser. There's SO much to notice after 45 pounds. Seriously.
Something that I'm also noticing is this nearly overwhelming urge to grab heavy people I see and shake them and say, "Oh my GOD! Come with me! We need to stop the madness! Get healthy with me!! DROP THE FRIES!" It's painful to see heavy people. I'm heavy, yes. I know. And I'm not planning on staying that way. But, when I see other heavy people, I wanna scream like I wish someone had screamed at me! I want to save them - take them aside and teach them to eat right and how to exercise - the way I wish someone had done for me. I want to hug them and say, we'll get to the bottom of this together. We're going to save your life! I wanna save them like I'm saving me.
That brings me to the final thing that really gripped me this week. I need to find counseling. And it's gotta be cheap. I can't afford, well, anything right now. If I don't deal with my past issues, they will just crop up and make me gain the weight again. See, I emotionally eat sometimes, but it's not like sadness or anger makes me eat. I eat because I'm scared. I'm scared of being pretty.
I was sexually abused by no less than five different men over the course of 21 years. First when I was very little by family. Then, just before I was a teen by a stranger. Again, when I was 13 by a neighbor. Once more at 15 by another family member (who served jail time for crimes he'd later commit), and finally as an adult (the worst abuse I'd experienced). I've been through hell. I've gained weight to the point that men are not attracted to me (that's my plan anyway). Subconsciously, I've piled on the pounds until men stopped cat-calling, asking me out, inquiring as to my status, etc. Every time I'm approached, I break out in a cold sweat and a panic attack ensues. And yet, there's a large part of me that wants to be pretty; wants to be attractive. Unfortunately, some men took that freedom from me. Now, I'm scared to be looked at and terrified of being approached. That fear is rising up as I'm losing weight and I'm afraid that I'll feel naked without my fat when I lose the weight for good. I need counseling to DEAL with that fear. That and a healthy dose of female self defense classes and some martial arts classes. (After about 75 lbs lost, I plan to enroll in defense classes.)
Okay, so that's been MY week. A lot to do. A lot to think about. And some weight lost for good! Have a good week everyone! Until next week, stay healthy!
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Photo Page Update
Check out the Photo Transformation page with my most recent photos as well as an additional "before" photo!
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Planning Paid Off - But Here's AF!
So, it turns out that all that planning on the camping trip paid off. Although I appeared to gain .6 lbs when I returned from the trip, this last Sunday, I weighed in at -2.5 lbs. That means that in two weeks, I lost 2-1/2 lbs, which isn't bad when you throw a camping trip in there.
I haven't crunched the numbers, but I think this week is PMS week. If my hollow leg and craving for food that I don't usually miss at all is correct, then I'm burning those extra calories preparing for AF to show up. If that's not what it is, then I'm a little worried. But, seriously, I have other clues too, but that's not this blog...
I didn't know the contents of the hypnosis tape (as it was a supplement to the live hypnosis) and was horrified at that technique. As a result of that experience, I was VERY critical of the ones I downloaded. The speaker has a soothing, well, hypnotic voice and I am extremely pleased with the content. I think it keeps you very much in control of your body. It encourages safe and consistent methods of healthy eating and exercise.
I haven't crunched the numbers, but I think this week is PMS week. If my hollow leg and craving for food that I don't usually miss at all is correct, then I'm burning those extra calories preparing for AF to show up. If that's not what it is, then I'm a little worried. But, seriously, I have other clues too, but that's not this blog...
So when I'm not feeling like THIS ^^,
I'm feeling like THIS ^^.
Turns out that Weight Watchers and my period (actually, just the PMS week that proceeds it) don't get along. At 28 points, I feel like I can't eat when I want to eat EVERYTHING in my house. I just wanna pig out and go nuts when this week comes along and at this new 28 points, I feel like if I eat another piece of fruit or one more carrot, I'm going to turn into a vegetable!
This is where I really rely on my hypnosis. If you aren't up to date with what I'm talking about, let me fill you in. I listen to self-hypnosis recordings on my iPod at night, especially when I'm having a hard week. I'll listen to them all week. I have a Weight Loss one, a Weight Loss Supplement (part 2, basically), a Fat Burning one, a Fitness one, and a Procrastination one. I listened to all of them wide awake to check them out and make sure they weren't wacky.
I had a bad experience with hypnosis once - I paid $1000 to join a hypnosis program that used aversion tactics such as "imagine your favorite splurge food in your mind. Now bring it to your lips. Take a big bite or large drink of that amazing food or liquid. Now, as you feel it in your mouth, imagine it suddenly turning into maggots in your mouth. Spit it out. This food disgusts you. You find this food repulsive."
I didn't know the contents of the hypnosis tape (as it was a supplement to the live hypnosis) and was horrified at that technique. As a result of that experience, I was VERY critical of the ones I downloaded. The speaker has a soothing, well, hypnotic voice and I am extremely pleased with the content. I think it keeps you very much in control of your body. It encourages safe and consistent methods of healthy eating and exercise.
If you're interested, here is the link to their website. After enjoying the free downloads, I DID donate to the site in order to have greater access to all of their downloads.
Okay everyone. It's time for me to get to my son's hearing test, so I have to run. Please enjoy my link and wish me luck with this difficult week! Until next Wednesday!
Friday, July 20, 2012
Bonus Post - ONEDERLAND
How on EARTH did I miss the opportunity to tell everyone that I DID reach Onederland?
I was going through my posts and I was looking for when I posted about reaching that SUPER-DOOPER, all important point when one drops below 200 pounds. And to my AMAZEMENT, I found NOTHING! NOTHING!!
I can't find anywhere where I posted that I finally dropped below 200 pounds and my weight now begins with a ONE! Ahhh, Onederland. I reached Onederland on June 17th when I dropped to 197.6. I wasn't in Onederland by much, but it was all I needed. (I've since hit a bit of a plateau and haven't dropped below 197 lbs, but I'm not worried.)
In celebration, I went out with my good friend, Ashly, and pierced my nose. That has a personal history of it's own. I have wanted to pierce my nose for a while, but have always thought my nose would look AWFUL pierced because I've always hated my nose. All that went away when I met my half-sister for the first time a little over a year ago. We looked very similar and shared the same nose. Her nose was pierced and didn't look bad at all. In fact, it suited her quite well. That got me thinking. Perhaps it was all a matter of perspective and my being over-critical of myself. Maybe my nose wasn't so bad after all. So, I got the courage to pierce it, but wanted to make it a reward for hard work. Reaching onederland seemed like the perfect place for that reward. It was between that or a small tattoo, but tattoos cost more and are more permanent. I like tattoos, but I think I'll wait for my goal weight to get my next tattoo.
Anyway, so, even though it's not Wednesday, which is my normal posting day, I had to get this posted because onederland is a HUGE milestone in my weight-loss journey. I can't believe I missed my chance to tell you all about it!
Here's to staying under 200 and committing to this new lifestyle of fitness forever after! Good luck everyone and thanks for reading!
I was going through my posts and I was looking for when I posted about reaching that SUPER-DOOPER, all important point when one drops below 200 pounds. And to my AMAZEMENT, I found NOTHING! NOTHING!!
I can't find anywhere where I posted that I finally dropped below 200 pounds and my weight now begins with a ONE! Ahhh, Onederland. I reached Onederland on June 17th when I dropped to 197.6. I wasn't in Onederland by much, but it was all I needed. (I've since hit a bit of a plateau and haven't dropped below 197 lbs, but I'm not worried.)
In celebration, I went out with my good friend, Ashly, and pierced my nose. That has a personal history of it's own. I have wanted to pierce my nose for a while, but have always thought my nose would look AWFUL pierced because I've always hated my nose. All that went away when I met my half-sister for the first time a little over a year ago. We looked very similar and shared the same nose. Her nose was pierced and didn't look bad at all. In fact, it suited her quite well. That got me thinking. Perhaps it was all a matter of perspective and my being over-critical of myself. Maybe my nose wasn't so bad after all. So, I got the courage to pierce it, but wanted to make it a reward for hard work. Reaching onederland seemed like the perfect place for that reward. It was between that or a small tattoo, but tattoos cost more and are more permanent. I like tattoos, but I think I'll wait for my goal weight to get my next tattoo.
Me last summer, before my 40 lb weight loss and nose piercing.
My half-sister, with her nose pierced. We DO have different facial features, but the nose is the same. See? It looks good on her.
Here's to staying under 200 and committing to this new lifestyle of fitness forever after! Good luck everyone and thanks for reading!
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Camping - Staying "On Plan"
Okay, so Weight Watchers gives you tons of tools for how to stay "on plan" or "OP" while you're on vacation. I had it all worked out. I was going to eat well, fill up on veggies, eat lower fat foods, drink lots of water and only some diet and diet caffeine-free sodas. I was going to resist the urge to splurge.
Hahaha! I'm hilarious. I did the best I could. I ate lower-fat Spam and eggs (my husbands FAVORITE camping breakfast), we had turkey hot dogs for the trip and I used only lower-fat olive oil mayo for the sandwiches.
Then, I had Texas Toast with one breakfast and formed hashbrowns for another. I ate 2 hot dogs at a time WITH Doritos (limited to about 1 serving or 12-16 chips) and diet sodas. I drank little water and then had S'mores with EVERY dinner and once on the last day after breakfast. And I didn't just have S'mores. I had some normal S'mores and then half of my S'mores were made with...wait for it......
REESES peanut butter cups!! Yeah. I can easily say, I SERIOUSLY doubt I was on plan.
Without any data-enabled devices and no service anyway, I had NO way to track. I also had NO way to weigh myself on my usual Sunday weigh-in day. I had NO idea how I was doing. I won't officially know until this Sunday. However, that being said, I DID weigh myself this morning in order to gauge the damage and....I gained a little less than a pound. WHA?! Yeah. Let me say that again. A LITTLE LESS THAN A POUND.
Hey, I'll take that. After the week I had, I was afraid I was going to over 3 pounds, putting me back over the 200 pound mark and right out of Onederland. I think I would have taken it like a champ, but I would have been crying on the inside. It goes to show that even if you DO splurge, a little forethought and effort goes a long way. I tried to resist having a 3rd S'more. I didn't skimp on my vegetables when I was hungry. I tried to dish up my Doritos rather than sit down at the camp-fire with the whole bag. If I snacked, I grabbed fruit and veggies, because we HAD them available. I piled my sandwiches HIGH with lettuce, cucumbers, and tomatoes, and then added lean meats and only a little cheese. I used whole grain/whole wheat bread.
I also made a conscious effort to hike whenever we could. I didn't meander or stroll to the bathroom; I ran when I could. I ran there and then ran back. I ran with my son up and down the camp-ground road to wear him out and get myself moving. I hiked the interpretive trails and hiked to the river and back and again and again. I walked quickly and with purpose. I used to HATE hiking because I would be SO tired afterward and I'd have to stop SO often that I couldn't enjoy the view. I would get winded walking to the bathrooms and so I wouldn't want to walk anywhere with my family. This trip was totally different. I found myself looking for reasons to get moving and wasn't humming and hawing about going to see the sights like I have for 15 years.
Weight Watchers might have suggested I do a BETTER job of tracking and eating well, but doing my best, I managed to keep myself in reasonable check. I'm sure that in years past, a camping trip would have meant a several pound gain as I pigged out and then moved very little, sleeping most of the days.
I want to take this time to say, if you identify with what I'm saying; if you've found yourself "relaxing" on a camping trip meaning sleeping in the tent all day, sitting around the campfire eating hot dog after hot dog, eating S'more after S'more, snacking all day and then feeling TOO worn out or tired to walk the trails and visit the beach/water/landmarks, then listen up. There is FREEDOM from that feeling. Weight Watchers is helping me get there and I'd recommend it if you have the weight to lose. Learning to eat well and get moving has changed my life. Weight Watchers has changed my life. How will YOU get there? Please, join me.
Until next week everyone. Happy Trails!!! ;)
Hahaha! I'm hilarious. I did the best I could. I ate lower-fat Spam and eggs (my husbands FAVORITE camping breakfast), we had turkey hot dogs for the trip and I used only lower-fat olive oil mayo for the sandwiches.
Then, I had Texas Toast with one breakfast and formed hashbrowns for another. I ate 2 hot dogs at a time WITH Doritos (limited to about 1 serving or 12-16 chips) and diet sodas. I drank little water and then had S'mores with EVERY dinner and once on the last day after breakfast. And I didn't just have S'mores. I had some normal S'mores and then half of my S'mores were made with...wait for it......
REESES peanut butter cups!! Yeah. I can easily say, I SERIOUSLY doubt I was on plan.
Without any data-enabled devices and no service anyway, I had NO way to track. I also had NO way to weigh myself on my usual Sunday weigh-in day. I had NO idea how I was doing. I won't officially know until this Sunday. However, that being said, I DID weigh myself this morning in order to gauge the damage and....I gained a little less than a pound. WHA?! Yeah. Let me say that again. A LITTLE LESS THAN A POUND.
Hey, I'll take that. After the week I had, I was afraid I was going to over 3 pounds, putting me back over the 200 pound mark and right out of Onederland. I think I would have taken it like a champ, but I would have been crying on the inside. It goes to show that even if you DO splurge, a little forethought and effort goes a long way. I tried to resist having a 3rd S'more. I didn't skimp on my vegetables when I was hungry. I tried to dish up my Doritos rather than sit down at the camp-fire with the whole bag. If I snacked, I grabbed fruit and veggies, because we HAD them available. I piled my sandwiches HIGH with lettuce, cucumbers, and tomatoes, and then added lean meats and only a little cheese. I used whole grain/whole wheat bread.
I also made a conscious effort to hike whenever we could. I didn't meander or stroll to the bathroom; I ran when I could. I ran there and then ran back. I ran with my son up and down the camp-ground road to wear him out and get myself moving. I hiked the interpretive trails and hiked to the river and back and again and again. I walked quickly and with purpose. I used to HATE hiking because I would be SO tired afterward and I'd have to stop SO often that I couldn't enjoy the view. I would get winded walking to the bathrooms and so I wouldn't want to walk anywhere with my family. This trip was totally different. I found myself looking for reasons to get moving and wasn't humming and hawing about going to see the sights like I have for 15 years.
Weight Watchers might have suggested I do a BETTER job of tracking and eating well, but doing my best, I managed to keep myself in reasonable check. I'm sure that in years past, a camping trip would have meant a several pound gain as I pigged out and then moved very little, sleeping most of the days.
I want to take this time to say, if you identify with what I'm saying; if you've found yourself "relaxing" on a camping trip meaning sleeping in the tent all day, sitting around the campfire eating hot dog after hot dog, eating S'more after S'more, snacking all day and then feeling TOO worn out or tired to walk the trails and visit the beach/water/landmarks, then listen up. There is FREEDOM from that feeling. Weight Watchers is helping me get there and I'd recommend it if you have the weight to lose. Learning to eat well and get moving has changed my life. Weight Watchers has changed my life. How will YOU get there? Please, join me.
Until next week everyone. Happy Trails!!! ;)
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Been away TOO long!
Okay, so I know I've been away for a long time. I'm really sorry about that. Joshua, my boy, smashed my laptop screen and it had to be shipped to ASUS to be repaired. They repaired it for free and shipped it back, which was awesome. We weren't actually covered by our Accidental Damage Plan, but I was told we were by one of the repair techs and they had it recorded. After some trouble, they said they'd fix it anyway at no cost to us, which is exactly the way good customer service works. I'm happy with the way they handled it and I'm THRILLED to have my laptop back.
So, what's been happening? I've lost a total of just over 40 pounds now. This last week, I ate all of my Weekly Points, over my Daily Points, all of my Activity Points, and then went OVER all of that. I didn't exercise but one time (my training run). I still lost .6 pounds. I was sad, but relieved at the same time. I expected a gain.
I can't remember, at the moment, if I've mentioned my training. I'd really like to run a 5K. So, I'm doing the couch to 5K training. I'm trying to run 3 times a week. Unfortunately, I'm having to drag out the training because my body isn't handling it well. I try to do at least some of the training at the gym so I can track my heart-rate (since I can't find my heart rate monitor). My heart-rate was too high the last time I ran week 4 (?). Whatever week it is, it's doing two sets of 1-1/2 min running, then walking, then 3 min running and walking. On the second set of running 3 min, my heart-rate spiked at almost 180 and I had a nasty heart palpitation (I get them sometimes when I'm overtired too and I've had them checked out by a cardiologist who said my heart is strong and that they're not life-threatening). Even though I know it wasn't a big deal, I knew I was over-exerting. I've backed off to the previous week and when my heart-rate stabilizes at more around 155 or less, I'll drive myself harder again. I'm not comfortable with 178 bpm. So, it might take me more than 9 weeks to get there, but the training isn't the race. I'll get there when I can.
Finally, I have to say, my daily point value has dropped to 28 and I've never before eaten SO many of my weekly points and activity points. I don't even know HOW to eat at 28 points. I just found out that the minimum points for those who are losing was updated to 26. I will drop to 26 points eventually and that freaks me out. I'm gonna have to eat LOTS more veggies. Although fruit is free, I need to keep it at about 3 servings because fruit still has a lot of sugar in it. And, besides, I'm not really a fruit person. I much prefer vegetables. I guess that's a good thing. I'm SO glad they're 0 points with Weight Watchers.
Okay, folks. I'm going to go. I have A LOT to do before we go camping and I gotta get on it. I'll have to miss my weigh-in as I'll be camping and I won't be back until Wednesday. Hopefully, I'll be able to weigh in on Wednesday and get here so I can blog my results!
See you all next week! Until then, stay healthy!
So, what's been happening? I've lost a total of just over 40 pounds now. This last week, I ate all of my Weekly Points, over my Daily Points, all of my Activity Points, and then went OVER all of that. I didn't exercise but one time (my training run). I still lost .6 pounds. I was sad, but relieved at the same time. I expected a gain.
I can't remember, at the moment, if I've mentioned my training. I'd really like to run a 5K. So, I'm doing the couch to 5K training. I'm trying to run 3 times a week. Unfortunately, I'm having to drag out the training because my body isn't handling it well. I try to do at least some of the training at the gym so I can track my heart-rate (since I can't find my heart rate monitor). My heart-rate was too high the last time I ran week 4 (?). Whatever week it is, it's doing two sets of 1-1/2 min running, then walking, then 3 min running and walking. On the second set of running 3 min, my heart-rate spiked at almost 180 and I had a nasty heart palpitation (I get them sometimes when I'm overtired too and I've had them checked out by a cardiologist who said my heart is strong and that they're not life-threatening). Even though I know it wasn't a big deal, I knew I was over-exerting. I've backed off to the previous week and when my heart-rate stabilizes at more around 155 or less, I'll drive myself harder again. I'm not comfortable with 178 bpm. So, it might take me more than 9 weeks to get there, but the training isn't the race. I'll get there when I can.
Finally, I have to say, my daily point value has dropped to 28 and I've never before eaten SO many of my weekly points and activity points. I don't even know HOW to eat at 28 points. I just found out that the minimum points for those who are losing was updated to 26. I will drop to 26 points eventually and that freaks me out. I'm gonna have to eat LOTS more veggies. Although fruit is free, I need to keep it at about 3 servings because fruit still has a lot of sugar in it. And, besides, I'm not really a fruit person. I much prefer vegetables. I guess that's a good thing. I'm SO glad they're 0 points with Weight Watchers.
Okay, folks. I'm going to go. I have A LOT to do before we go camping and I gotta get on it. I'll have to miss my weigh-in as I'll be camping and I won't be back until Wednesday. Hopefully, I'll be able to weigh in on Wednesday and get here so I can blog my results!
See you all next week! Until then, stay healthy!
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Checking in.
Okay, random, but short post. I JUST got my laptop back today. It's fixed and I feel human again. I got very used to being able to multi-task before I lost the laptop. Having our only computer in a back room with an active (possibly autistic) toddler, and it means you use a computer ONLY when he's sleeping. And, then, you're trying to catch up on everything you've put off.
You should be able to have some more faithful Wednesday posts about my weight-loss now.
See you guys tomorrow! :)
You should be able to have some more faithful Wednesday posts about my weight-loss now.
See you guys tomorrow! :)
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Wednesday is the New Sunday
I think I need to stop trying to post to my blog on Sundays. It never works. I always end up really busy with family stuff on Sunday and then, before I know it, Sunday's over and I've never managed to post to my blog.
Wednesday is the new Sunday. I think I'm going to start posting on Wednesdays. I find myself thinking about my blog on Wednesday. It's a day that falls between Tuesday's Gym Day and Thursday's Gym Day. It's a day far enough away from Sunday that I've had time to absorb and consider the weigh-in from Sunday and it's close enough to the next Sunday for me to be looking forward to my results to come.
I think Wednesday is a good day. Yes. That'll do. So, for everyone waiting on the edge on Sunday to see what I lost that week, you'll have to wait until Wednesday.
That being said, my weigh-in on Sunday revealed a two pound loss! YAY! I'm within two pounds of Onederland. This week has been that special time of the month for me though (Aunt Flo, Cousin Tom, you know), so I might actually see a gain this week. Especially since I DIDN'T get a great workout yesterday. We missed our gym class and I tried to get some dancing in with little success due to a lack of time. Top that with having a very sick child (he was running over 103 degree temp with a sore throat) and being a human garbage can with an insatiable hunger, and I'm not sure I'll see a weight drop this coming Sunday.
That's the way it goes though, right? There are good weeks and bad weeks. What matters is that I don't give up. I can hope for the best, but just deal with the worst. If I gain weight this week, I'll take it for what it is and try to move past it and onto a new week.
Wish me luck! I can't wait to post next WEDNESDAY! :)
Wednesday is the new Sunday. I think I'm going to start posting on Wednesdays. I find myself thinking about my blog on Wednesday. It's a day that falls between Tuesday's Gym Day and Thursday's Gym Day. It's a day far enough away from Sunday that I've had time to absorb and consider the weigh-in from Sunday and it's close enough to the next Sunday for me to be looking forward to my results to come.
I think Wednesday is a good day. Yes. That'll do. So, for everyone waiting on the edge on Sunday to see what I lost that week, you'll have to wait until Wednesday.
That being said, my weigh-in on Sunday revealed a two pound loss! YAY! I'm within two pounds of Onederland. This week has been that special time of the month for me though (Aunt Flo, Cousin Tom, you know), so I might actually see a gain this week. Especially since I DIDN'T get a great workout yesterday. We missed our gym class and I tried to get some dancing in with little success due to a lack of time. Top that with having a very sick child (he was running over 103 degree temp with a sore throat) and being a human garbage can with an insatiable hunger, and I'm not sure I'll see a weight drop this coming Sunday.
That's the way it goes though, right? There are good weeks and bad weeks. What matters is that I don't give up. I can hope for the best, but just deal with the worst. If I gain weight this week, I'll take it for what it is and try to move past it and onto a new week.
Wish me luck! I can't wait to post next WEDNESDAY! :)
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Broken Computer = No posts
My son broke my laptop screen....Asus will repair it for free, but it means shipping it to them and waiting and waiting and waiting until they fix it and ship it back. This means very little time for me on a computer. My only computer is in a back room of my house and requires that my toddler be out of sight while I use it. Basically, that means I don't really get to use it.
That being said, I'm only slightly over 3 pounds from Onederland, as we like to call it. Once I drop under that 200 pound mark, I plan to reward myself. I just need to nail down what that is going to be.
Any suggestions? I was trying to decide if it should be my nose ring or something more like a pedicure or something else. I would love to hear what you guys think. What would YOU do if you reached a major milestone in a personal journey?
I haven't been under 200 pounds in almost a decade. And I'm anxiously looking forward to getting there.
I have posted new photos on the Transformation Photos page. They aren't great quality and I apologize for that. Because of the quality, you can't really see the difference (and it's really only about 10 pounds too). Still, I'm in my smallest pair of "18s" and on my way to that size 16! Exciting!!
Wish me luck. I'm at the minimum weight watchers points plus point level now, so this is how much I eat until I'm ready to maintain (29 points, btw). It's nice to know I can't go any lower. Yay!
Anyway, my toddler is wreaking havoc in the front room, so I must go. I hope to be back on Sunday. Thanks for your patience as I get my laptop repaired!
God Bless you all!!!
That being said, I'm only slightly over 3 pounds from Onederland, as we like to call it. Once I drop under that 200 pound mark, I plan to reward myself. I just need to nail down what that is going to be.
Any suggestions? I was trying to decide if it should be my nose ring or something more like a pedicure or something else. I would love to hear what you guys think. What would YOU do if you reached a major milestone in a personal journey?
I haven't been under 200 pounds in almost a decade. And I'm anxiously looking forward to getting there.
I have posted new photos on the Transformation Photos page. They aren't great quality and I apologize for that. Because of the quality, you can't really see the difference (and it's really only about 10 pounds too). Still, I'm in my smallest pair of "18s" and on my way to that size 16! Exciting!!
Wish me luck. I'm at the minimum weight watchers points plus point level now, so this is how much I eat until I'm ready to maintain (29 points, btw). It's nice to know I can't go any lower. Yay!
Anyway, my toddler is wreaking havoc in the front room, so I must go. I hope to be back on Sunday. Thanks for your patience as I get my laptop repaired!
God Bless you all!!!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Getting Excited
This week, I easily fit into new/old clothes and I was so excited I wanted to scream. I only lost .4 lbs this last week, but a loss is a loss and I got to reap the rewards. I ironed several shirts that I'd tried on months ago. When I tried them on then, they were so tight, I couldn't even pull them on all the way. I remember feeling SO fat. These were 1X shirts and I was too fat to wear them. Last week, I put them on and they looked great and felt fantastic. No problem. I was THRILLED. I also get into my size 18 jeans (down from a 22) with ease. This has got to be the best part of losing weight right after getting more energy!
This last weekend was Mother's Day and I celebrated. OH did I EVER. It started Saturday morning with homemade biscuits and gravy. Then, I followed that up with taking my mom out to lunch for Mother's Day. It didn't stop there, though. I then went to my in-laws for a Mother's Day BBQ. I ate 57 out of 30 points the day before my weigh-in day. I was surprised I lost .4 lbs. I really didn't expect much, so I was happy. I want to note, the only food splurge planned for that week was the biscuits and gravy. I'd thought about a spa day with my mom, but it turned into lunch and then, at 8:30 in the morning, my brother-in-law called me and wanted to have a BBQ for our mom in the evening. But, that's what I love about Weight Watchers. I'm in charge. And I can eat whatever I want. I just see those results at the end of the week. If I don't eat well, I don't lose as much. And I can get over it, because success isn't a straight line. I'm in this for good. This is my new way of life.
That being said, right now, I am eating with a calorie deficit which means I'm choosing to eat less. I'm choosing to lose weight by eating fewer calories. And, I'm in the process of learning to make BETTER choices. This week, my bathroom mirror is sporting the quote, "No food tastes as good as it feels to get a better health report at the doctor's office." For my husband, this would mean a normal blood pressure and reduced heath risk report instead of potato chips. For me, this means a possible go-head for a VBAC - my dream for my second child - instead of chocolates. I know I may not ever get a VBAC, but even so, being healthy and THEN getting pregnant means for less risk all around and that IS worth the sacrifice.
That quote also means a lowered risk for type II diabetes, in my case - a disease that runs in my family and that affected me during my pregnancy with Joshua. How angry will my children be if I end up with diabetes and they find out I never really tried to do something as relatively simple as losing my weight? I can't change my genes. I can't alter my past. But I CAN lose weight...for me AND for my children and their children. What greater gift can I give them than a mom who'll be around and an example of how to live? I can't think of any. It's not just about me anymore and THAT is why I'll succeed.
I hope all you mother's out there enjoyed your special day and I pray that you will live as a shining example for your children. Those of you who are not parents, be that shining example to all of us! We need healthy role models to look up to! I need healthy role models to look up to! lol!
Enjoy the rest of your week!
This last weekend was Mother's Day and I celebrated. OH did I EVER. It started Saturday morning with homemade biscuits and gravy. Then, I followed that up with taking my mom out to lunch for Mother's Day. It didn't stop there, though. I then went to my in-laws for a Mother's Day BBQ. I ate 57 out of 30 points the day before my weigh-in day. I was surprised I lost .4 lbs. I really didn't expect much, so I was happy. I want to note, the only food splurge planned for that week was the biscuits and gravy. I'd thought about a spa day with my mom, but it turned into lunch and then, at 8:30 in the morning, my brother-in-law called me and wanted to have a BBQ for our mom in the evening. But, that's what I love about Weight Watchers. I'm in charge. And I can eat whatever I want. I just see those results at the end of the week. If I don't eat well, I don't lose as much. And I can get over it, because success isn't a straight line. I'm in this for good. This is my new way of life.
That being said, right now, I am eating with a calorie deficit which means I'm choosing to eat less. I'm choosing to lose weight by eating fewer calories. And, I'm in the process of learning to make BETTER choices. This week, my bathroom mirror is sporting the quote, "No food tastes as good as it feels to get a better health report at the doctor's office." For my husband, this would mean a normal blood pressure and reduced heath risk report instead of potato chips. For me, this means a possible go-head for a VBAC - my dream for my second child - instead of chocolates. I know I may not ever get a VBAC, but even so, being healthy and THEN getting pregnant means for less risk all around and that IS worth the sacrifice.
That quote also means a lowered risk for type II diabetes, in my case - a disease that runs in my family and that affected me during my pregnancy with Joshua. How angry will my children be if I end up with diabetes and they find out I never really tried to do something as relatively simple as losing my weight? I can't change my genes. I can't alter my past. But I CAN lose weight...for me AND for my children and their children. What greater gift can I give them than a mom who'll be around and an example of how to live? I can't think of any. It's not just about me anymore and THAT is why I'll succeed.
I hope all you mother's out there enjoyed your special day and I pray that you will live as a shining example for your children. Those of you who are not parents, be that shining example to all of us! We need healthy role models to look up to! I need healthy role models to look up to! lol!
Enjoy the rest of your week!
Monday, May 7, 2012
So Close, I Can Taste It
I'm fast approaching "onederland." Onederland is that moment when I can say my weight is ONE something something. This week, I'm within 9 pounds of being able to do that. I'm SO close. Maybe a month or two and I'll be there, if everything goes well. I will celebrate when I get there. I'm not sure how I'll reward myself yet, but I have to. It's been YEARS since I've been ONE hundred and anything.
This week, I lost 2.8 pounds making me 208 pounds. I've still got a long way to go, but every week brings me closer to a healthier weight and a healthier body. This is SO exciting.
This week, I tried a new recipe. My husband, Steve grilled up some salmon that I'd seasoned with salt and pepper. When he flipped the fish, I put on a mixture of fresh herbs (a seafood medley), lemon zest and lemon juice with some olive oil. This created a sort of Lemon Herb Crusted Salmon. It was delish.
My husband had much to celebrate (and what better way than to grill yummy food) because this week, he lost an amazing 6 pounds. For the previous two weeks, he'd gained weight and was frustrated. I convinced him that by not eating his points for the day, he was eating far fewer calories than his body needed. I suggested that he cut out some of the simple carbohydrates he was eating and bump up his protein and fat. In the morning, he ate a breakfast sandwich with one egg, three pieces of real bacon, two sausage patties, and american cheese on an english muffin. EVERY DAY. The rest of the day was packed full of protein and fat with some carbs. I made healthy dinners and he handled managing his lunch. He ate twice or better what I did for dinner. He lost SIX POUNDS! When Weight Watchers says you have 71 Points Plus Points, EAT THEM. He thought he was doing himself a favor by eating 50-60 points a day and he NEVER got to his weekly points allowance. In reality, he was starving his body. That would have been like me eating about 25 points (below the Weight Watchers Points Plus minimum for anyone). I'd starve. My husband NEEDS to eat his daily points value to succeed on this plan. He sees that now.
As for me, my 30 points has been a struggle, but I find I eat a heck of a lot of veggies and fruit (mostly veggies, as I'm not a huge fruit fan). That's not a bad thing, so no big deal. It's better than my old habits of eating half a tub of cookie dough from Papa Murphy's for breakfast or frozen chicken with nothing else for lunch and then ending up really hungry and binging on sweets or chips. I really had some seriously bad habits that I didn't even see until I starting eating right.
Just because you like sweets or junk food, doesn't mean you can't eat right most of the time. I still have chips. I still eat chocolate. I still have strawberry shortcake and cheesecake. I just use my brain to eat in moderation and now those foods are more special. They're a treat rather than my every day indulgence. Everyone can do this. If I can and my husband can, you can.
Weight Watchers is saving my life and I'm SO grateful.
This week, I lost 2.8 pounds making me 208 pounds. I've still got a long way to go, but every week brings me closer to a healthier weight and a healthier body. This is SO exciting.
This week, I tried a new recipe. My husband, Steve grilled up some salmon that I'd seasoned with salt and pepper. When he flipped the fish, I put on a mixture of fresh herbs (a seafood medley), lemon zest and lemon juice with some olive oil. This created a sort of Lemon Herb Crusted Salmon. It was delish.
My husband had much to celebrate (and what better way than to grill yummy food) because this week, he lost an amazing 6 pounds. For the previous two weeks, he'd gained weight and was frustrated. I convinced him that by not eating his points for the day, he was eating far fewer calories than his body needed. I suggested that he cut out some of the simple carbohydrates he was eating and bump up his protein and fat. In the morning, he ate a breakfast sandwich with one egg, three pieces of real bacon, two sausage patties, and american cheese on an english muffin. EVERY DAY. The rest of the day was packed full of protein and fat with some carbs. I made healthy dinners and he handled managing his lunch. He ate twice or better what I did for dinner. He lost SIX POUNDS! When Weight Watchers says you have 71 Points Plus Points, EAT THEM. He thought he was doing himself a favor by eating 50-60 points a day and he NEVER got to his weekly points allowance. In reality, he was starving his body. That would have been like me eating about 25 points (below the Weight Watchers Points Plus minimum for anyone). I'd starve. My husband NEEDS to eat his daily points value to succeed on this plan. He sees that now.
As for me, my 30 points has been a struggle, but I find I eat a heck of a lot of veggies and fruit (mostly veggies, as I'm not a huge fruit fan). That's not a bad thing, so no big deal. It's better than my old habits of eating half a tub of cookie dough from Papa Murphy's for breakfast or frozen chicken with nothing else for lunch and then ending up really hungry and binging on sweets or chips. I really had some seriously bad habits that I didn't even see until I starting eating right.
Just because you like sweets or junk food, doesn't mean you can't eat right most of the time. I still have chips. I still eat chocolate. I still have strawberry shortcake and cheesecake. I just use my brain to eat in moderation and now those foods are more special. They're a treat rather than my every day indulgence. Everyone can do this. If I can and my husband can, you can.
Weight Watchers is saving my life and I'm SO grateful.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
I'm Still Here
If anyone is reading this, they know I've dropped off the blogger earth for two weeks. The first week I was missing was simply a "whoops!" I got very busy on Sunday and forgot to post anything. Honestly, by the time I remembered, it was Tuesday of the following week and I thought, I'll wait until next week.
That Sunday, the 15th I believe, I lost 2.4 pounds. I was thrilled! It was a good week, but busy. I've been dealing with having my son enter into the evaluation system to discover if his language delay is due to some medical reason or if it's just him taking his sweet time to talk. That week was busy thanks to loads of phone calls and yet another meeting and my own things going on as well. I was just overwhelmed with stuff to do.
Fast forward to the second week I didn't show up. I should have. I probably had a responsibility to post SOMETHING. I didn't lose any weight that week. I was shocked. I'd been OP (On Plan) all week. I hadn't been "bad." I hadn't cheated myself by not measuring or by not tracking snacks or candy or ANYTHING. I'd been amazing in fact. So, I was, well, pissed. And I was in NO mood to post a whiny poor little me post. I came around, though. Eventually, I let it go. In fact, I did more than that.
Since I didn't lose last week, this week I dove into those weekly points that are over and above what you get daily. I even waited until late in the week to do so. I had ice-cream, pizza, Subway, curry and rice (twice!), Doritos, chocolate candy (which I didn't track...). I did this with some trepidation, but also with strategy. I know when you eat with a calorie deficit, your body can get used to only eating that many calories and it becomes very efficient. Sometimes it gets so efficient, it doesn't allow you to burn the fat you're intending to. It's actually a very good system; our bodies are amazing things! However, I don't want my smarty-pants body to get used to burning only those calories. So, I threw loads of calories it's way to jump-start my metabolism. It doesn't always work, but I was hoping for the best.
Getting on that scale this morning was a little scary. I was pleased to see I'd lost 2.2 pounds. It had worked. This week, I'll just play my meals by ear. If I go over my new point limit (30 from 31, due to my new weight), I won't sweat it.
Perhaps I'll start off the week with steak, shrimp, and a baked potato with fat free Greek yogurt and butter. Mmmm.....Yeah, you can eat that and still lose weight. Isn't that wonderful?
That Sunday, the 15th I believe, I lost 2.4 pounds. I was thrilled! It was a good week, but busy. I've been dealing with having my son enter into the evaluation system to discover if his language delay is due to some medical reason or if it's just him taking his sweet time to talk. That week was busy thanks to loads of phone calls and yet another meeting and my own things going on as well. I was just overwhelmed with stuff to do.
Fast forward to the second week I didn't show up. I should have. I probably had a responsibility to post SOMETHING. I didn't lose any weight that week. I was shocked. I'd been OP (On Plan) all week. I hadn't been "bad." I hadn't cheated myself by not measuring or by not tracking snacks or candy or ANYTHING. I'd been amazing in fact. So, I was, well, pissed. And I was in NO mood to post a whiny poor little me post. I came around, though. Eventually, I let it go. In fact, I did more than that.
Since I didn't lose last week, this week I dove into those weekly points that are over and above what you get daily. I even waited until late in the week to do so. I had ice-cream, pizza, Subway, curry and rice (twice!), Doritos, chocolate candy (which I didn't track...). I did this with some trepidation, but also with strategy. I know when you eat with a calorie deficit, your body can get used to only eating that many calories and it becomes very efficient. Sometimes it gets so efficient, it doesn't allow you to burn the fat you're intending to. It's actually a very good system; our bodies are amazing things! However, I don't want my smarty-pants body to get used to burning only those calories. So, I threw loads of calories it's way to jump-start my metabolism. It doesn't always work, but I was hoping for the best.
Getting on that scale this morning was a little scary. I was pleased to see I'd lost 2.2 pounds. It had worked. This week, I'll just play my meals by ear. If I go over my new point limit (30 from 31, due to my new weight), I won't sweat it.
Perhaps I'll start off the week with steak, shrimp, and a baked potato with fat free Greek yogurt and butter. Mmmm.....Yeah, you can eat that and still lose weight. Isn't that wonderful?
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Dear Scale, I Don't Believe You. Sincerely, Me.
Today, I got on the scale SURE I was going to see a gain. I'd been weighing in off and on (I know, I know...you're not supposed to) to gauge what to expect and I was SURE I'd gained two lbs. At the VERY least, that I'd managed to only maintain last week's weight.
Surprise! The scale said 216 lbs. Liar. I weighed in three times. Liar. No way I lost a pound. Not after the week I had. NO WAY.
So, I fully expect to see a gain next week because I think my scale was just trying to make me feel better. It'd better get its act in gear and start speaking the TRUTH!
Anyway, late post today because, as you know, today was weigh in day AND Easter. Happy Easter to all. I hope you made it through okay. I did not. I ate the ears off my son's rabbit. (sigh) His peanut butter filled chocolate rabbit. And as if THAT wasn't enough to condemn me to some severe hours of Jillian Micheal's Last Chance Workout, I turned around only hours later and ate a caramel Cadbury egg.....God save me. The gym and that wicked woman Jillian are going to be MY life this week.
On a positive note, I finally took the terrifying leap and planted green stuff. Herbs. With all this healthy eating, I'm really getting to love my greens. Unfortunately, lettuce may be cheap and you CAN find green peppers on sale, but herbs basically kick your pocketbook's behind. Every time I buy herbs, I can almost HEAR the grower laughing maniacally as I pay obscene prices for this little tiny plastic package of leaves on worthless stems. So, today, I took the plunge. I planted chives, Italian parsley, basil, oregano, and rosemary. If I don't KILL them all, I'll be the one laughing as I reap what I've sown. Okay, ever elusive green thumb! Show yourself!
So, to recap, I'm down a miraculous one pound, I didn't make it through Easter without indulging in absolutely horrible candy, and I've planted myself herbs that I pray to God I can actually grow.
I'm sorry this was so late, but again, I hope you had a blessed Easter and happy Monday, my friends! Until next week!
Surprise! The scale said 216 lbs. Liar. I weighed in three times. Liar. No way I lost a pound. Not after the week I had. NO WAY.
So, I fully expect to see a gain next week because I think my scale was just trying to make me feel better. It'd better get its act in gear and start speaking the TRUTH!
Anyway, late post today because, as you know, today was weigh in day AND Easter. Happy Easter to all. I hope you made it through okay. I did not. I ate the ears off my son's rabbit. (sigh) His peanut butter filled chocolate rabbit. And as if THAT wasn't enough to condemn me to some severe hours of Jillian Micheal's Last Chance Workout, I turned around only hours later and ate a caramel Cadbury egg.....God save me. The gym and that wicked woman Jillian are going to be MY life this week.
On a positive note, I finally took the terrifying leap and planted green stuff. Herbs. With all this healthy eating, I'm really getting to love my greens. Unfortunately, lettuce may be cheap and you CAN find green peppers on sale, but herbs basically kick your pocketbook's behind. Every time I buy herbs, I can almost HEAR the grower laughing maniacally as I pay obscene prices for this little tiny plastic package of leaves on worthless stems. So, today, I took the plunge. I planted chives, Italian parsley, basil, oregano, and rosemary. If I don't KILL them all, I'll be the one laughing as I reap what I've sown. Okay, ever elusive green thumb! Show yourself!
So, to recap, I'm down a miraculous one pound, I didn't make it through Easter without indulging in absolutely horrible candy, and I've planted myself herbs that I pray to God I can actually grow.
I'm sorry this was so late, but again, I hope you had a blessed Easter and happy Monday, my friends! Until next week!
Sunday, April 1, 2012
It Was Bound To Happen
Well, today brought me my first gain. It wasn't much; just .4 lbs, but it doesn't take much to feel crappy.
I'm swinging back and forth between ticked off about it and shrugging my shoulders and saying, "Hey, that week is in the past. There's a new week to worry about." I'll get over it. I'm sure that I'll have more gains over time and even plateau and not lose anything for weeks. Sure, nobody wants that to happen to themselves when they're trying to lose weight, but this journey isn't always a straight line. There will be bumps in the road and what's important is that you get there eventually. For now, I'll hope next week is better and that I won't see 217 ever again on that scale. We'll see.
Tomorrow morning, I'm off to Breintenbush Hot Springs and I'm gonna pamper the heck out of myself (not with food, but with soaking for hours in mineral pools in the middle of nowhere with quiet relaxation). I'm gonna eat good food and soak up some much needed relaxation. Of course, being in the middle of NOWHERE, I'm coming with a body alarm and mace. Call me overcautious or whatever you like, but I grew up in a bad town. There's no such thing as too careful.
Anyway, I'm gonna have a good time and get over this .4 lb gain thing. No big deal. This next week is PMS week already, so here we go. Willpower don't fail me now!
Finally, I said I'd try to come up with a recipe for some Easter food with a healthy spin. Here's one from Eating Well Magazine that looks fantastic: Healthy Carrot Cake - Eating Well. Also, I'm a sucker for deviled eggs around Easter (I mean, what else do you DO with all those EGGS?!). I found a great recipe for mayo-free deviled eggs that use Greek Yogurt (much like sour cream, but lighter) instead: Healthy Deviled Eggs.
Enjoy! And if you're trying to get healthy too, don't let this Easter holiday derail your plans. Plan accordingly for those pieces of chocolate and expect that you won't avoid EVERY temptation that comes your way. That doesn't mean you can eat those ears off your kid's bunny either. ;)
Happy Easter All!
I'm swinging back and forth between ticked off about it and shrugging my shoulders and saying, "Hey, that week is in the past. There's a new week to worry about." I'll get over it. I'm sure that I'll have more gains over time and even plateau and not lose anything for weeks. Sure, nobody wants that to happen to themselves when they're trying to lose weight, but this journey isn't always a straight line. There will be bumps in the road and what's important is that you get there eventually. For now, I'll hope next week is better and that I won't see 217 ever again on that scale. We'll see.
Tomorrow morning, I'm off to Breintenbush Hot Springs and I'm gonna pamper the heck out of myself (not with food, but with soaking for hours in mineral pools in the middle of nowhere with quiet relaxation). I'm gonna eat good food and soak up some much needed relaxation. Of course, being in the middle of NOWHERE, I'm coming with a body alarm and mace. Call me overcautious or whatever you like, but I grew up in a bad town. There's no such thing as too careful.
Anyway, I'm gonna have a good time and get over this .4 lb gain thing. No big deal. This next week is PMS week already, so here we go. Willpower don't fail me now!
Finally, I said I'd try to come up with a recipe for some Easter food with a healthy spin. Here's one from Eating Well Magazine that looks fantastic: Healthy Carrot Cake - Eating Well. Also, I'm a sucker for deviled eggs around Easter (I mean, what else do you DO with all those EGGS?!). I found a great recipe for mayo-free deviled eggs that use Greek Yogurt (much like sour cream, but lighter) instead: Healthy Deviled Eggs.
Enjoy! And if you're trying to get healthy too, don't let this Easter holiday derail your plans. Plan accordingly for those pieces of chocolate and expect that you won't avoid EVERY temptation that comes your way. That doesn't mean you can eat those ears off your kid's bunny either. ;)
Happy Easter All!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Met My 1st Goal Today!
Today, I met my first "Goal." Weight Watchers asks you to set small goals, like so many weight lost strategies. The whole idea is that if you set your only goal as your total loss, especially in cases like mine where I have SO much to lose, then you will have a hard time actually reaching that ultimate goal. By breaking your weight loss into segments, you can take it one step at a time and reward yourself for the smaller, but meaningful, accomplishments along the path to success.
I don't remember what my first goal was, but I took Weight Watchers advice and simply accepted the first goal they set for me. 21.4 lbs lost and I've reached that first goal. The next Weight Watchers Goal they asked me to set was 214 something. I chose to set my own goal. I chose 200 lbs. It's less of a jump than my first goal and I feel like I'll feel very accomplished once I get to 200. 38 lbs lost will be really something awesome to celebrate. I'm looking forward to it.
Until then, I sure hope my body continues to be THIS predictable. I lose on the average of 1.5-2 lbs for two weeks. Then PMS week hits and I start retaining water and eating like a horse. I lose about .5-1 lbs for that week. Then, the actual period week hits (sorry if this is TMI, but it's not MY fault - talk to Mother Nature), and I loose about a pound. Then, the next week (this week, for example) I make up for it and dump the water weight and get my actual weight loss (3.8 lbs this week).
I know there must be plateaus coming and I'm sure I won't ALWAYS lose at this rate (although, it would be great if I would), but I'll be happy if I lose at the rate I am. Losing more than 20 lbs thus far is pretty dang incredible. I'm REALLY HAPPY! I'm praying that Steve keeps up his losses too. So far, he's losing much faster than I am, but I'm excited for him. He's lost over 20 lbs already! YAY for him!
If you have weight to lose, I don't think it's WHAT program you use or whatever, but it's the mindset. Although, I DO like Weight Watchers and the idea that 1. I eat what I want so long as I don't go over my daily points (so essentially, my calories for the day), and 2. That food I eat comes with consequences. If I want to eat more points (calories), I have to work them off that week. If I eat cheesecake, I'd better swim for a few hours or dance my rear off to make up for it. Surprisingly, perhaps, is that I've NEVER thought about food in this way. I NEVER have accepted the concept of calories in = calories out and that the remaining balance means weight gain. You'd think I'd get that, but it's never stuck. I've never felt in control of my food. I've felt like food controls me and that I had no hope. Weight Watchers has changed that and if there was any reason to recommend it, that would be it.
I will attempt to post my first photo set today (hopefully a before and after (-20lbs)). Other than that, until next week friends! Easter is coming! I'll try to come up with a healthy recipe to share for that indulgent holiday before next week!
Okay, I'm updating this post with news of the first before and after photos. Unfortunately, I didn't take a starting photo, so I had to find my best "before" picture that I could. In May, I'll be able to get a more "comparison worthy" photo set for you. Please check out the Photos tab at the top of the page under the title for the new additions and look for more to come in May! Thanks for being patient and waiting for these!
I don't remember what my first goal was, but I took Weight Watchers advice and simply accepted the first goal they set for me. 21.4 lbs lost and I've reached that first goal. The next Weight Watchers Goal they asked me to set was 214 something. I chose to set my own goal. I chose 200 lbs. It's less of a jump than my first goal and I feel like I'll feel very accomplished once I get to 200. 38 lbs lost will be really something awesome to celebrate. I'm looking forward to it.
Until then, I sure hope my body continues to be THIS predictable. I lose on the average of 1.5-2 lbs for two weeks. Then PMS week hits and I start retaining water and eating like a horse. I lose about .5-1 lbs for that week. Then, the actual period week hits (sorry if this is TMI, but it's not MY fault - talk to Mother Nature), and I loose about a pound. Then, the next week (this week, for example) I make up for it and dump the water weight and get my actual weight loss (3.8 lbs this week).
I know there must be plateaus coming and I'm sure I won't ALWAYS lose at this rate (although, it would be great if I would), but I'll be happy if I lose at the rate I am. Losing more than 20 lbs thus far is pretty dang incredible. I'm REALLY HAPPY! I'm praying that Steve keeps up his losses too. So far, he's losing much faster than I am, but I'm excited for him. He's lost over 20 lbs already! YAY for him!
If you have weight to lose, I don't think it's WHAT program you use or whatever, but it's the mindset. Although, I DO like Weight Watchers and the idea that 1. I eat what I want so long as I don't go over my daily points (so essentially, my calories for the day), and 2. That food I eat comes with consequences. If I want to eat more points (calories), I have to work them off that week. If I eat cheesecake, I'd better swim for a few hours or dance my rear off to make up for it. Surprisingly, perhaps, is that I've NEVER thought about food in this way. I NEVER have accepted the concept of calories in = calories out and that the remaining balance means weight gain. You'd think I'd get that, but it's never stuck. I've never felt in control of my food. I've felt like food controls me and that I had no hope. Weight Watchers has changed that and if there was any reason to recommend it, that would be it.
I will attempt to post my first photo set today (hopefully a before and after (-20lbs)). Other than that, until next week friends! Easter is coming! I'll try to come up with a healthy recipe to share for that indulgent holiday before next week!
Okay, I'm updating this post with news of the first before and after photos. Unfortunately, I didn't take a starting photo, so I had to find my best "before" picture that I could. In May, I'll be able to get a more "comparison worthy" photo set for you. Please check out the Photos tab at the top of the page under the title for the new additions and look for more to come in May! Thanks for being patient and waiting for these!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Hell Week - Redefined
So, it's been a while since I've been in college and I never really experienced "Hell Week," but I understood the concept. This week isn't quite that bad, because nothing would be or could be as bad as being in my first year of university again. Well, ALMOST nothing.
This week has been "Hell Week" for me in this weight-loss journey. First, I figure out that I can't stop eating because it's the week before my period. So, my body is FREAKING out. Then, I start getting the ol' dizzy spells again after having them go away for almost 3 days. They get really bad and I end up in the ER. They checked everything from my urine to my blood to my brain. Nothing is wrong with me, at least nothing THEY can put a finger on. Time to go to my regular doctor.
All this stress and worry and over-eating because of my PMS and I STILL lost 1.2 lbs. That brings my total to over 17 lbs lost so far. Yay! I feel like I had some advantage because I KNEW coming into the week that the PMS was going to be a factor, so I worked my tail off to compensate. I wasn't anticipating spending most of my Saturday night (St. Patrick's Day) in the emergency room though.
Anyway, my inches are ALL down this week with one exception (my, um, boobs get bigger around this time of the month) and that's fantastic! It's been a while since ALL the numbers dropped.
I came into this week figuring it was going to be a wash unless I could pull a pretty sweaty miracle out of my butt. Looks like I did. I'll take -1.2 lbs and I'll call it a major win!
Until next week guys! Hopefully, I'll get my post up earlier and I'll have more interesting news to share! <3
This week has been "Hell Week" for me in this weight-loss journey. First, I figure out that I can't stop eating because it's the week before my period. So, my body is FREAKING out. Then, I start getting the ol' dizzy spells again after having them go away for almost 3 days. They get really bad and I end up in the ER. They checked everything from my urine to my blood to my brain. Nothing is wrong with me, at least nothing THEY can put a finger on. Time to go to my regular doctor.
All this stress and worry and over-eating because of my PMS and I STILL lost 1.2 lbs. That brings my total to over 17 lbs lost so far. Yay! I feel like I had some advantage because I KNEW coming into the week that the PMS was going to be a factor, so I worked my tail off to compensate. I wasn't anticipating spending most of my Saturday night (St. Patrick's Day) in the emergency room though.
Anyway, my inches are ALL down this week with one exception (my, um, boobs get bigger around this time of the month) and that's fantastic! It's been a while since ALL the numbers dropped.
I came into this week figuring it was going to be a wash unless I could pull a pretty sweaty miracle out of my butt. Looks like I did. I'll take -1.2 lbs and I'll call it a major win!
Until next week guys! Hopefully, I'll get my post up earlier and I'll have more interesting news to share! <3
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Hungry, Thy Name is Woman
I'm late to post. I know. I was moody and busy and Sunday barely saw me get weighed. I nearly forgot. I DID forget to take my measurements. I have to do that tonight.
And I was going to post yesterday, but I'm having a really bad week. I finally checked it out and this is my PMS week. The grumpy, poopy, chocolate-craving, bloated, water-retaining week before the storm. I HATE this week. And so does my scale. This coming Sunday, it will surely tell me the bad news as all the crap of this week culminates into a very low loss, no loss, or even a gain.
I'm STARVING. I want to eat everything in sight. Bread, peanut butter, chocolate, apples (which I have some crazy allergy or sensitivity to - making my double over in pain), candy, cookies, steak, eggs, ham. You name it; I'm craving it.
And, I tested the theory that, perhaps, I wasn't REALLY hungry. I nearly passed out. I got dizzy and sick. I ate and was better. I'm really, actually, honest-to-God, hungry. My body just doesn't get that I'm on a diet! Hello! Body! I'm not stuffing my face one week out of EVERY month. NOT HAPPENING!!
Ugh. Talk to you next week. Until then, I'll TRY to not eat ALL the food in my house and then come to your house and eat all your food too!
And I was going to post yesterday, but I'm having a really bad week. I finally checked it out and this is my PMS week. The grumpy, poopy, chocolate-craving, bloated, water-retaining week before the storm. I HATE this week. And so does my scale. This coming Sunday, it will surely tell me the bad news as all the crap of this week culminates into a very low loss, no loss, or even a gain.
I'm STARVING. I want to eat everything in sight. Bread, peanut butter, chocolate, apples (which I have some crazy allergy or sensitivity to - making my double over in pain), candy, cookies, steak, eggs, ham. You name it; I'm craving it.
And, I tested the theory that, perhaps, I wasn't REALLY hungry. I nearly passed out. I got dizzy and sick. I ate and was better. I'm really, actually, honest-to-God, hungry. My body just doesn't get that I'm on a diet! Hello! Body! I'm not stuffing my face one week out of EVERY month. NOT HAPPENING!!
Ugh. Talk to you next week. Until then, I'll TRY to not eat ALL the food in my house and then come to your house and eat all your food too!
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Feeling pretty powerful
Well, today was good. I weighed myself six times this morning. Over and over and over because I couldn't believe I'd lost over 3 lbs this week. Of course, that meant that the Weight Watchers tracker thing had to warn me to slow down. You're losing TOO FAST. The way I see it, I only lost a pound last week. So, this isn't a big deal. If I lose more than 2 lbs next week, I'll be concerned that I'm going too fast. (To date, the tracker says I've lost almost 15 lbs)
Man, if you'd told me six months ago that I'd be watching to make sure I wasn't losing weight too fast, I'd have said you were out of your mind. But, I've learned a lot since then. You can't lose too fast or your metabolism takes the hit and your weight loss won't be possible long term. Your body FREAKS out and thinks your starving it. It goes into "starvation mode" and slows the metabolism to keep you from dying during the "famine" you're in. You've got to eat enough to keep it going and losing rapidly is a sign that you're burning your muscle, not your fat stores, and your body will protect itself eventually by shutting down that "fire" so you don't get hurt.
That being said, I'm not worried this week. We'll see about next week. Until then, I'm going to rejoice that this week went great (despite eating SO MUCH FOOD and really splurging quite a bit). I can really do this. I'm finding myself really craving whole foods and that rocks. It's nice to have healthy food cravings sometimes (even if the horrible ones still get me). I know I can keep this up. I really really can. I have motivation this time. I have a purpose. I can do this. I KNOW I can.
I labored with my son for 37 hours. Most of that time was without any pain killers. I've already proven to myself that if I have a PURPOSE for the pain, for the struggle, then I WILL ENDURE as long as it takes. If I can be in labor for 37 hours, I sure as hell can manage some food cravings, some difficult workouts, being sick but eating right anyway, getting back into exercise after I get well again (I have a horrid cold right now - but did my hip hop dance for two hours anyway), and all the life-changing, old-thought overhauling needed to go from the gross, tired, weak, sick person I've been to the beautiful, healthy, strong, energized person I need to be for my family.
I just pray I get through the struggles that I know lie ahead. I'm learning from others. I'm building a support system of people who know me and people who don't. People who know me have derailed me in the past. They don't always practice tough love. My hope is that by surrounding myself with successful people who've done this and those who are going through this - people who've never met me but need me to succeed or want me to succeed - that I will have the support I need to get through the plateaus and the weight gain that is inevitable on this path to a healthy me.
I can't wait to see what this next week holds. Thank you, Lord, for this time in my life! Here we go!
Man, if you'd told me six months ago that I'd be watching to make sure I wasn't losing weight too fast, I'd have said you were out of your mind. But, I've learned a lot since then. You can't lose too fast or your metabolism takes the hit and your weight loss won't be possible long term. Your body FREAKS out and thinks your starving it. It goes into "starvation mode" and slows the metabolism to keep you from dying during the "famine" you're in. You've got to eat enough to keep it going and losing rapidly is a sign that you're burning your muscle, not your fat stores, and your body will protect itself eventually by shutting down that "fire" so you don't get hurt.
That being said, I'm not worried this week. We'll see about next week. Until then, I'm going to rejoice that this week went great (despite eating SO MUCH FOOD and really splurging quite a bit). I can really do this. I'm finding myself really craving whole foods and that rocks. It's nice to have healthy food cravings sometimes (even if the horrible ones still get me). I know I can keep this up. I really really can. I have motivation this time. I have a purpose. I can do this. I KNOW I can.
I labored with my son for 37 hours. Most of that time was without any pain killers. I've already proven to myself that if I have a PURPOSE for the pain, for the struggle, then I WILL ENDURE as long as it takes. If I can be in labor for 37 hours, I sure as hell can manage some food cravings, some difficult workouts, being sick but eating right anyway, getting back into exercise after I get well again (I have a horrid cold right now - but did my hip hop dance for two hours anyway), and all the life-changing, old-thought overhauling needed to go from the gross, tired, weak, sick person I've been to the beautiful, healthy, strong, energized person I need to be for my family.
I just pray I get through the struggles that I know lie ahead. I'm learning from others. I'm building a support system of people who know me and people who don't. People who know me have derailed me in the past. They don't always practice tough love. My hope is that by surrounding myself with successful people who've done this and those who are going through this - people who've never met me but need me to succeed or want me to succeed - that I will have the support I need to get through the plateaus and the weight gain that is inevitable on this path to a healthy me.
I can't wait to see what this next week holds. Thank you, Lord, for this time in my life! Here we go!
Monday, February 27, 2012
Try to stay positive!
Try to stay positive. That's what I'm telling myself. This isn't a straight line to the finish. Weight loss is a long, crooked, difficult process.
I'm a day late to post. I celebrated my Dad's birthday yesterday and the start of the week began with a massive amount of calories. Clams, shrimp, steak, cranberry gorgonzola spinach salad, green beans with bacon, sugar snap peas, cheesecake with raspberry and chocolate sauce, and ginger apple crisp. Yeah, great start to the week...
And that was after only losing 1 pound last week. 1 pound!!! I was already upset and then to start out this week SO crazy... I'm just worried. I really have to get back under control. I started out this morning so hungry and SO not interested in breakfast that I dove into a Jimmy Dean Breakfast Sandwich. So, 14 points gone including coffee. The rest of my day is going to have to be angelic. And this week, I'm going to have to work my tail off.
I know I can get through this. I just don't know what I'll do if I see a weight loss of 1 pound again. I know everyone experiences plateaus. I know that I'll see a ZERO loss and maybe even some gains during this journey. It doesn't make it any easier seeing that I only lost a pound last week.
I'm going to have to focus and be disciplined this week. Maybe I'll see a 2 pound loss. That's what I'm praying for anyway. I could use the boost of encouragement! But, I'll accept whatever comes my way - even if I cry at first. ;)
I'm a day late to post. I celebrated my Dad's birthday yesterday and the start of the week began with a massive amount of calories. Clams, shrimp, steak, cranberry gorgonzola spinach salad, green beans with bacon, sugar snap peas, cheesecake with raspberry and chocolate sauce, and ginger apple crisp. Yeah, great start to the week...
And that was after only losing 1 pound last week. 1 pound!!! I was already upset and then to start out this week SO crazy... I'm just worried. I really have to get back under control. I started out this morning so hungry and SO not interested in breakfast that I dove into a Jimmy Dean Breakfast Sandwich. So, 14 points gone including coffee. The rest of my day is going to have to be angelic. And this week, I'm going to have to work my tail off.
I know I can get through this. I just don't know what I'll do if I see a weight loss of 1 pound again. I know everyone experiences plateaus. I know that I'll see a ZERO loss and maybe even some gains during this journey. It doesn't make it any easier seeing that I only lost a pound last week.
I'm going to have to focus and be disciplined this week. Maybe I'll see a 2 pound loss. That's what I'm praying for anyway. I could use the boost of encouragement! But, I'll accept whatever comes my way - even if I cry at first. ;)
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Slow, but steady!
I've heard the saying, "Slow and steady wins the race." It always makes me think of the tortoise and the hare, of course. Those crazy, "Lose 10 lbs this week!" diets have never been for me. I know the hare loses. Every. Time. I've always known that this was going to be a long process. I'm the tortoise. I have to be.
This week, I lost 1.6 lbs. Not the huge exciting number of previous weeks, but a loss nevertheless. Slow and steady. I consider 1.6 pounds a huge win considering that I worked out on Tuesday at the gym, but no aerobics. And, I did Pilates, but didn't get back to the gym on Thursday. In fact, my husband and I celebrated Valentine's Day on Thursday night together at an Italian restaurant where I loaded up a HUGE salad from the salad bar and then topped it off with 4 pieces of their wood-fired, thin-ish crust pizzas. Oh, yeah! I saved up my Weight Watcher's Points all week so I could go out and go nuts.
Unfortunately, I found out that going crazy (I had 78 points that day to my 33 daily allowed), made the next day, hell. I saw for the first time how overeating leads to more overeating as my body screamed at me the next day to match the day before. I used 44 points on Friday - 11 points over my goal. Yesterday, I got back on track, but it was hard.
I consider this last week a bust. I'm happy to see that I lost anything. I was prepared to see zero weight loss, so still meeting the recommended 1.5-2 lbs/week was a major thrill. I certainly can see that I would not be happy if I went out and had a binge night every week (which is one system some use). I would rather use my weekly points as a safety net in case I go over my daily points.
This week will hopefully be better than last week and I hope to see a bigger loss. Unfortunately, I get to start my next week (not this Sunday, but next Sunday) out with my Dad's birthday celebration, which will surely result in clams, shrimp, salad, and CHEESECAKE... Eek. We'll see how well I do then. God knows what temptations I'll face.
Watching the Biggest Loser, which I've never watched before, has been a big will-power booster. It keeps me going and I can watch it whenever I find myself struggling. Those trainers and the contestants are huge inspirations. I hope I can stretch the show out for a while. I have a lot of seasons to catch up on and that's good.
So, let the week begin!
As for the infection I mentioned last week, I got that horrid answer, "Nothing." Yeah, and it's better, but still there. There's still a little lump in my chin, but it's smaller. So, who knows. I guess I won't worry about it. It's clearly not cancer itself, or it'd show up and then get bigger and bigger. I'd like to know why my lymphatic system is flipping out, but I guess I have to wait and see.
Anyway, here's to another week of loss. I've almost lost 10lbs since starting. I will do this. I can't wait until that 10 pound mark gets here. I'm so EXCITED! BRING ON THE SMALLER PANTS! YEAH!
This week, I lost 1.6 lbs. Not the huge exciting number of previous weeks, but a loss nevertheless. Slow and steady. I consider 1.6 pounds a huge win considering that I worked out on Tuesday at the gym, but no aerobics. And, I did Pilates, but didn't get back to the gym on Thursday. In fact, my husband and I celebrated Valentine's Day on Thursday night together at an Italian restaurant where I loaded up a HUGE salad from the salad bar and then topped it off with 4 pieces of their wood-fired, thin-ish crust pizzas. Oh, yeah! I saved up my Weight Watcher's Points all week so I could go out and go nuts.
Unfortunately, I found out that going crazy (I had 78 points that day to my 33 daily allowed), made the next day, hell. I saw for the first time how overeating leads to more overeating as my body screamed at me the next day to match the day before. I used 44 points on Friday - 11 points over my goal. Yesterday, I got back on track, but it was hard.
I consider this last week a bust. I'm happy to see that I lost anything. I was prepared to see zero weight loss, so still meeting the recommended 1.5-2 lbs/week was a major thrill. I certainly can see that I would not be happy if I went out and had a binge night every week (which is one system some use). I would rather use my weekly points as a safety net in case I go over my daily points.
This week will hopefully be better than last week and I hope to see a bigger loss. Unfortunately, I get to start my next week (not this Sunday, but next Sunday) out with my Dad's birthday celebration, which will surely result in clams, shrimp, salad, and CHEESECAKE... Eek. We'll see how well I do then. God knows what temptations I'll face.
Watching the Biggest Loser, which I've never watched before, has been a big will-power booster. It keeps me going and I can watch it whenever I find myself struggling. Those trainers and the contestants are huge inspirations. I hope I can stretch the show out for a while. I have a lot of seasons to catch up on and that's good.
So, let the week begin!
As for the infection I mentioned last week, I got that horrid answer, "Nothing." Yeah, and it's better, but still there. There's still a little lump in my chin, but it's smaller. So, who knows. I guess I won't worry about it. It's clearly not cancer itself, or it'd show up and then get bigger and bigger. I'd like to know why my lymphatic system is flipping out, but I guess I have to wait and see.
Anyway, here's to another week of loss. I've almost lost 10lbs since starting. I will do this. I can't wait until that 10 pound mark gets here. I'm so EXCITED! BRING ON THE SMALLER PANTS! YEAH!
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Perhaps we're past body panic...
Well, these last two weeks have been hell. Only in the last two days have I started to wonder if, perhaps, my body is starting to adjust to the new lifestyle.
Right about then, I come down with some wicked kind of face infection - or lymph node swelling - or SOMETHING. I'm not sure what's going on, but I'm going to the doctors. Praying that it's something easy to take care of and not serious. And I'm also praying that my answer isn't, "Oh, it's nothing." I hate that answer as it always makes me think, "Oh, nothing? Really. Hmmm. Then, what exactly are the typical symptoms of 'Nothing' and how are they treated? Because, I clearly have it." I mean, seriously?! Does "Nothing" usually cause low-grade fever? Ear aches? Swollen lymph nodes? Facial pain?
Alas, I'm off track. Anyway, I'll go to the Dr. Monday.
The best news I have is that I'm not spending the entire day STARVING. Today, I weighed in at over 8 lbs lighter than when I started and 4 of those pounds were in this last week. I'm feeling loads better about this. I can do this. I CAN succeed. This is an uphill battle, but I will face it head on without FEAR! I can do this. I can do this.
Right about then, I come down with some wicked kind of face infection - or lymph node swelling - or SOMETHING. I'm not sure what's going on, but I'm going to the doctors. Praying that it's something easy to take care of and not serious. And I'm also praying that my answer isn't, "Oh, it's nothing." I hate that answer as it always makes me think, "Oh, nothing? Really. Hmmm. Then, what exactly are the typical symptoms of 'Nothing' and how are they treated? Because, I clearly have it." I mean, seriously?! Does "Nothing" usually cause low-grade fever? Ear aches? Swollen lymph nodes? Facial pain?
Alas, I'm off track. Anyway, I'll go to the Dr. Monday.
The best news I have is that I'm not spending the entire day STARVING. Today, I weighed in at over 8 lbs lighter than when I started and 4 of those pounds were in this last week. I'm feeling loads better about this. I can do this. I CAN succeed. This is an uphill battle, but I will face it head on without FEAR! I can do this. I can do this.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Oh, this isn't gonna be easy...
Okay, so I intended on creating a new post on Sunday - one week after starting Weight Watchers. But, here we are on Tuesday. Oh well. If anyone actually followed my blog, someone might care. LOL. Anyway, I'm HUNGRY. HUNGRY HUNGRY HUNGRY. And my husband can't eat enough to reach his point value. WHAT?! Um, not fair.
I've eaten more vegetables in the past week than I have in the past month because I need to eat zero point value food. I've had more fruit. I've been drinking more water. I've taken my vitamins. And I'm HUNGRY.
My husband is eating like he used to. And not meeting his points. He's usually 20 under. Meaning, he could eat an entire meal or two more than me and still be good to go.
No one said this would be easy, but come on. I'm hungry....so hungry.
I can do this. I just keep hoping my body will adjust.
On the plus side, I think I've already lost at least 1 lb!! That would be sweet! I'll know by Sunday!
It's all worth it if I can lose weight. I'm not really keen on the idea that this could take me TWO YEARS, but it took me years to put it on, right?
I've eaten more vegetables in the past week than I have in the past month because I need to eat zero point value food. I've had more fruit. I've been drinking more water. I've taken my vitamins. And I'm HUNGRY.
My husband is eating like he used to. And not meeting his points. He's usually 20 under. Meaning, he could eat an entire meal or two more than me and still be good to go.
No one said this would be easy, but come on. I'm hungry....so hungry.
I can do this. I just keep hoping my body will adjust.
On the plus side, I think I've already lost at least 1 lb!! That would be sweet! I'll know by Sunday!
It's all worth it if I can lose weight. I'm not really keen on the idea that this could take me TWO YEARS, but it took me years to put it on, right?
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Today I Begin
Today, I did something crazy. I signed up for Weight Watchers Online. I'm finished being fat. Yeah, I'm not going to sugar coat it. It's fat, excess fat, that is hiding my body. It's not chub. I'm not chubby. It's not "bigness" clinging to my muscles and under my skin, so I'm not "big." I'm fat. I'm 5' and maybe 1" if I'm generous on the tape measure. I'm also 230 lbs.
So, there it is. And I'm done with it. Today, without any further ado, I begin the long journey of weight loss. My hope is that by using the Weight Watchers Points System, I can make eating healthy easy without committing to eating "plan foods" so that it's a long lasting change. I'm hoping that by taking it one day at a time, I can get through this.
I'm terrified that I'll fail. Again. I've failed other systems and plans in the past. I've even gained weight while working with a personal trainer and nutrition coach. He couldn't understand HOW I gained weight.His disappointment was so disheartening. So, I quit. I worked with my doctor after that, and worked out daily and kept a food diary that adhered to my doctor's prescribed diet. After losing 30 lbs, my doctor asked me how many pants sizes I'd lost. I told him I'd only dropped one pant size (18 to a 16). He said that was impossible that I should have lost several sizes (I realized later, that as a man, he was used to every 2 inches equaling a pants size - not so with woman's sizes). I felt like a failure, so I quit. AFTER 30 lbs!!
I'm so determined this time and I hope, like quitting smoking or alcohol or drugs, that each time I try and fail, I come closer to actual success. This time, I'm going to succeed. I'm going to do it myself this time. I'm not using the meetings, partly because of my failures in the past. I'm competitive, but I tend to give up when I'm not at least meeting par. I need to stay away from people who would look at me confused when I don't lose any weight this week. I need to avoid seeing people around me looking better while I feel the same (I didn't feel any different after losing 30 lbs - I didn't feel like I looked any different which compounded the effect of my doctor's statement.). This time, my husband is on board with me.. This time, I have a little boy who needs me, who wants to run and play with Mommy.
My goal for this blog is to track my progress, publicly announce my successes and failures so I can stop hiding, and maybe, if I can succeed, someone will be encouraged by my story.
Today, I did something crazy. I decided to take control of my body.
So, there it is. And I'm done with it. Today, without any further ado, I begin the long journey of weight loss. My hope is that by using the Weight Watchers Points System, I can make eating healthy easy without committing to eating "plan foods" so that it's a long lasting change. I'm hoping that by taking it one day at a time, I can get through this.
I'm terrified that I'll fail. Again. I've failed other systems and plans in the past. I've even gained weight while working with a personal trainer and nutrition coach. He couldn't understand HOW I gained weight.His disappointment was so disheartening. So, I quit. I worked with my doctor after that, and worked out daily and kept a food diary that adhered to my doctor's prescribed diet. After losing 30 lbs, my doctor asked me how many pants sizes I'd lost. I told him I'd only dropped one pant size (18 to a 16). He said that was impossible that I should have lost several sizes (I realized later, that as a man, he was used to every 2 inches equaling a pants size - not so with woman's sizes). I felt like a failure, so I quit. AFTER 30 lbs!!
I'm so determined this time and I hope, like quitting smoking or alcohol or drugs, that each time I try and fail, I come closer to actual success. This time, I'm going to succeed. I'm going to do it myself this time. I'm not using the meetings, partly because of my failures in the past. I'm competitive, but I tend to give up when I'm not at least meeting par. I need to stay away from people who would look at me confused when I don't lose any weight this week. I need to avoid seeing people around me looking better while I feel the same (I didn't feel any different after losing 30 lbs - I didn't feel like I looked any different which compounded the effect of my doctor's statement.). This time, my husband is on board with me.. This time, I have a little boy who needs me, who wants to run and play with Mommy.
My goal for this blog is to track my progress, publicly announce my successes and failures so I can stop hiding, and maybe, if I can succeed, someone will be encouraged by my story.
Today, I did something crazy. I decided to take control of my body.
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