Catching Up

Okay, I have lapsed in blogging but not in my WW program! Okay, so I did just a little bit at the weekend but it was my birthday, my friends made me dinner and bought me a cake, and I had a glass of wine, or three! However, I did not let one bad day/dinner turn into a bad week. I am not really expecting to have lost much this week, but as long as I haven't gained I will be happy.

I haven't really done much exercising either since the weather was not great so I couldn't walk to work, however I braced the cold winds today and walked in and then walked up to the north end of campus after lunch and felt much better for it. I am definitely not a gym kind of person but I am really into walking now.

So weigh in is tomorrow, I will let you know how I do. I am waiting for Karla to reappear when she is ready - she had a vacation in Vegas so I know for sure she didn't give Weight Watchers a second thought! But hey, that's life and you have to do the best you can and indulge when you need to!

Weekly Weigh In

I weighed in tonight and I lost 3lbs this week! I was so excited! That is 5.8lbs total now and I feel soooo much better already. Just think how I will feel when I have lost the full 27.4lbs!

I have been walking so much this week, I even started walking to and from work. Not so bad on the way there, all uphill on the way back! However, I realized that I was getting more of a work out so now I have changed my daily walking habits and instead of walking around the quad 4 times (which equals a mile) I walk to the north end of campus and back, which is the same distance but it is uphill the whole way. I can feel the burn in my legs!

Seriously, I cannot remember the last time I got excited about exercise, but I am so enjoying walking. My legs are toning up and don't feel so jiggly anymore, and I am just enjoying the fresh air. However, I am exhausted come night time and can't wait to get to bed! But then I wake up energized and can't wait to walk again!

Weigh In

It looks like 1.4 is the magic number, because that is how many pounds I have lost this week again! 2.8lbs total. To be honest, it feels like a lot more, but the group leader said that they expect people to lose between 1 and 2lbs a week, so I am on track. I just want to weigh less already! Although I have to say that my clothes feel so much better on me and my legs are not as jiggly as they were, thanks to all the walking and the Sketchers Shape Ups!

Uh Oh

So I am having the dreaded PMS symptoms - bloating, wanting to stuff my face with chocolate! I hope I can make it through the next week without going off my diet because I am working so hard at this. I weigh in tomorrow and want to have a loss rather than a gain! I just don't feel comfortable today though and am extremely tired, which is how I feel a week before my not so favorite friend visits.

Luckily I have some Weight Watchers desserts in the house, so I am hoping that will satisfy my craving tonight and I am going to bed early because (a) I am tired and (b) if I am in bed sleeping I can't think about chocolate or eat it!

On the positive side, I have been doing tons of walking this week and yesterday I did almost 9,000 steps which is about four miles. And wearing these Sketchers Shape Ups, you can soooo feel it!

My Results

So I went to my 2nd meeting tonight. I lost the same amount of weight as Sally...1.4 lbs. Not a lot...but at least I get to move my lil blue elephant down the ticker line a bit.

A Moment of DUH

So since I started WW last week, I've been searching for the WW meals and the yummy snacks that Sally keeps referring to. I first went to a Superwalmart....didn't find them. Then I went to Shop N Save....didn't find them. Today, I went to Schnucks....and found them! However, as soon as I noticed them....DUH! I didn't know WW were the Smart Ones!!! Because, when you look at the box it looks like this:

Weight Watchers
SMART ONES

WTH? In my defense, I didn't have a 3 year old with me today telling me to hurry up! (yep, that's my excuse)

Anyway....I know have a bunch of meals....so I hope they are good. I picked up some Mexican flavored meals because I'm really craving the spice.
I also picked up every flavor of cake treat they had....hey, a girl needs variety!

Tonight is my first weigh in. I've been avoiding the scale......  Of course I want to see results on the scale, however, I didn't get fat overnight....so I'm not going to get skinny overnight either. My clothes feel looser and I feel better....I'm not all bloated and tired. So, that is something to be happy about regardless. However, I would really like to be able to move my little blue elephant on down the ticker line. ;)

Portion Control

Today I made up a batch of spaghetti. I really like the Morning Star crumbles, which is fake meat. Each serving has 2oz of whole wheat spaghetti (3 points), 2 grams of fake meat (2 points) and 4 tablespoons of canned tomato sauce (0 grams).

So each serving is 5 points. I kept looking at it thinking there was no way I could only eat one - I would normally have a serving size of three of those things at a whopping 15 points! But I had one tonight and it was totally satisfying and filling and made me realize that we are out of control with our portion sizes. Using this points system and figuring out exactly what I need to get through the day is so good for me. It keeps me in check with my portion sizes and makes me not want to go over my daily limit.

Adding Exercise

So I am in week two of Weight Watchers where they encourage you to "move" more. Whatever you enjoy doing in the way of exercise, you should do. I am not an exercise person. However, I have been walking a mile each day (in addition to the walking all over the university campus I do every day anyway!) and today I did it, I bought my Sketchers Shape Ups! Yes, they are pricey, although I did get them on sale at Kohls for $99.99 and then I had 15% off, so that helped, but I have heard such great things about them and at this point, anything can help me!

Today we went ice skating which I was really looking forward to as that is the one form of exercise I would do every day if I could. However, we don't really live that close to a rink so it is not something I can do even every weekend. Unfortunately we went to one of the ski resorts as they have an open air rink and the conditions were terrible. It was a beautiful sunny day but they had had lots of snow and they didn't clean the ice properly and we could barely skate so we got off after 10 minutes! Next time we will take the time to drive down to the one at South Lake Tahoe which is far more superior and worth it.

But tomorrow, I am going out walking in my new shoes!

Oh, and today, I saw my friend and her husband and he has not seen me for a few months and neither one of them know that I am on Weight Watchers and he actually told me I am getting skinnier! Those were his words, not mine! So that felt awesome!

Not too shabby

So I've been on the points system for 3 days now. I was thinking this morning that the hardest part for me so far was just simply getting started. I've been wanting to lose weight for months....but it never seemed a good time to start. Maybe after this event or that event. But, now that I finally started...its not so bad.
I seemed to be really hungry the first day. I think because I was constantly thinking about food. I'm a stress eater though....and its been a stressful week at work.
But I'm finding already that I don't go home so sluggish. I'm sure that is partly due to the fact that I'm not eating fried, fatty foods - and partly due to the fact that I started taking Vitamin D. My doctor had told me I needed to start taking it back in August...and I finally got around to it. Yes, I really am a procrastinator!

A couple of things I've learned so far:

1. Healthy Choice meals have the Weight Watchers points on the back of their box. Very convenient!
2. Here is a really cool website that gives lots of recipes (includes the points) and the points for foods at tons of different restaurants:  Dotti's Weight Loss Zone.

I'm looking forward to spending some extra time this weekend shopping for food for next week. Maybe I really can become a planner!

Weekly Weigh In

Okay, so it is not the result I was hoping for but I did lose 1.4lbs. Of course, when I got on the scales this morning I was 163, now I am 166! But losing is better than gaining! I am eating the right amount of food, not gorging myself, not craving sweets too much and my clothes do not feel as tight on me as they did a week ago. I have more energy, I actually want to exercise and for me, that is huge! I walked a mile today and I am going to try and do this every day, perhaps twice a day if I can fit it in. I just need those damn Sketcher Shape Ups now! It would be lovely if $100 just dropped into my lap!

Tasty Treat

Okay, so I am not a huge yoghurt fan but this is really damn good! I just ate one and it was so smooth and tasty, and totally satisfying. White Chocolate Raspberry. Yay for 1 point yoghurts that taste this good!

Good, But Not That Good

This is what $37 worth of fruit looks like - if you shop at Whole Foods!

I am a mad mad woman!

Shopping Splurge

I decided to stop off at a grocery store near my dentist today to pick up some fruit. It looked beautiful. It looked so fresh and luscious. It cost me $37!!!!

$7.22 just for a bag of grapes. What the hell was I thinking?!

Well, after work on a crown today and four injections later, I guess it will be the only thing I can eat anyway!

My First Day!

So, today is my first day on the Weight Watchers Points plan! I've been wanting to do something.....anything....for awhile now to try and get healthier and get my weight under control. Right now, my weight is controlling me....and I don't like that!


There are many reasons why I am doing this. I'm tired all of the time, I have no energy, I don't like the way I look, I'm grouchy.....ok, that last one may be just the way I am. Anyway, I have a 3 year son, Zander, and I want him to start off eating healther - not having to learn how to do it down the road when its harder.


Another BIG reason is my Dad. He had a Cardiac Cath done this last Monday and they found a small blockage. So he had to have a stint put in. It is his 2nd stint since he had his heart attack in 2001. We're all very lucky that he hasn't had one since, but he has reverted back to his old eating habits, so I fear its just a matter of time. My mother is saying now that they are going to change their eating habits (again). I'm hoping if we all do this as a family, then it will be easier. I believe if Zander sees me making healthier choices, he will too. So, while I'm wishing to lose weight, I really hope to stick to this so that I feel better as well.


I'm a bit frugal, so having to go to a meeting every week that I'm paying for will hopefully motivate me as well. And, of course, Sally will be a great motivation for me too!


Thanks, Sally, for letting me participate on your blog with you!


Ok, so quickly before I clog up anymore of the blog.....last night was my first WW meeting. I weighed in at a whopping 177 lbs and I'm allowed 22 points a day. That first number is yet another reason to do this!


So, I begin now............

Hump Day

I can't wait for the weather to warm up as it is clear, that once I eat my dinner, I want to continue eating. Not because I am hungry, but just for the sake of eating. It is a pattern that I have had for a very long time and one I need to break. But if I have an activity to do that will get me away from the house, then I lose the need to eat. So when the weather is warmer and the clocks go forward, I will be grabbing my son and we will be taking a nice long walk! We live in a nice neighborhood too with a park nearby so at least the scenery will be pretty. I also want to buy a pair of Sketchers Shape Ups as I have heard such good things about them and if I am going to be walking, I want the shoes to tone up my legs!

Tomorrow night is weigh in. I am nervous and excited. I want to have made a good dent in my weight during the first week so hopefully this will show. It will also tell me if my scales at home are accurate too.

Support

So my lovely blog friend Karla will be joining in and posting about her journey on Weight Watchers too. I convinced her to join today and she is going to her first meeting tonight! Congratulations Karla, can't wait to see how skinny we get together!

Obsessive Compulsive Weighing!

I know it is wrong to weigh myself every day but I can't help myself! After losing 4lbs, gaining 3lbs back because of my Oscar party on Sunday, I am now 3lbs down again. I have my official weigh in on Thursday night so let's hope that I have lost 5lbs, that would be awesome!

That's What I Call Control!

I was supposed to go to this hotel today to do a taste test for an event we are holding there in May. My colleagues and I were going to sample the food to decide which we would choose for the menu. I sent them off without me this morning and I am so glad I did! They just came back with leftover dessert that looks like it would take up my whole 21 points plus some!

I am so going to win this battle!

The Food

Hmm, 2 posts in one day, I must be enthusiastic!

So, I joined WW on Thursday of last week and weighed in at 167lbs. I decided that part of my problem with food is of course, having the wrong kind in my house and having no portion control. I am also really tired of thinking about food. Planning the shopping list, planning the meals, cooking the meals. Yes, I know it sounds lazy but I work full time, have a couple of side jobs and an almost 6 year old boy who keeps me busy and by the time I get home of an evening, I am exhausted. Cooking is a means to an end - we have to eat therefore I have to cook. I don't enjoy it and it becomes a burden.

Wouldn't it be lovely if we were all like celebrities and could have personal chefs make us the food that we wanted, when we wanted, and the right portion control and calorie content? That would be fabulous. Alas, I am just a regular average Joe and have not bought new work clothes in three years, therefore I highly doubt I could ever afford a personal chef!

The answer for me was the WW food. It is cheaper than Jenny Craig and okay, Jenny delivers to your door but it is flipping expensive! WW is available at Walmart and much cheaper! I am not a big fan of boxed foods, I know that they are loaded with sodium and usually taste like crap, but I thought I would give it a go. I only bought a couple of boxes to start with, thinking I would hate them and didn't want to overstock on food that would go to waste.

I could not have been more wrong! I love them! They taste so good, not at all like the cardboard meals I was expecting, and they are portion controlled. They even give you the points right on the front of the box so you can easily add up what you are eating. Best of all, they have desserts, and for my sweet tooth that was a deal breaker! The desserts are kind of high in points, usually 3 or 4, but someone told me about these Cafe Latte bars that are huge and only 1 point. They are delish! So far I have sampled a few of the meals and the only one that I disliked was the Chicken Carbonara, but they have turkey bacon in it and I am not a huge fan of bacon, turkey or otherwise.

I am allowed 21 points a day, with an allowance of 35 points per week. This does not have to be used, it is an extra bonus if you are eating out or go slightly over your points each day. I have tried to stick to my 21 points per day but yesterday was a disaster. In just three days I had lost 4lbs and was very happy. I had eaten portion controlled meals, felt full and satisfied and my energy level had increased by 80%. I felt amazing. Then my friends came over and we watched the Oscars, drank alcohol and ate fatty foods. I felt awful after. Not just mentally because I knew the foods were bad for me, but physically. It was almost like my body was trying to reject what I had eaten and it felt so bad. I didn't sleep well, like I had eaten too much and was bloated, and this morning I woke up with a headache.

So it is back on track today and I started with a WW quesadilla that was 4 points and already feel so much better. Snacks will be blueberries, low fat popcorn (Trader Joe's have individual bags that are 2 points each and really tasty), WW yoghurt for 1 point and a banana if I still need to snack in between meals.

I am determined to have lost a good amount by the time I weigh in on Thursday!

SSDD

Same Shit, Different Day.

Not anymore! All of my life I have struggled with my weight. My heaviest - 190lbs on the day I gave birth to my son. My lightest - 105lbs 11 years ago after a year of working for a very demanding boss. My weight today - 167lbs.

That is only 23lbs less than when I gave birth - almost SIX years ago! I am tired of feeling tired, tired of feeling slobbish, tired of not having any energy and most of all, I am uncomfortable. I have dieted before. I did South Beach a few years ago and lost 20lbs. It was great! I felt so good and swore to lose more. But I get cocky when I lose weight and I think that I can sneak in a dessert or three and it won't matter, but of course it does.

So I woke up last week and decided that I needed to do something about it. I need to be healthy and lose this weight and maintain it, so I joined Weight Watchers. The registration fee was waived and it is $12 a meeting - however if you don't go you don't pay. I weighed in at 167lbs, which was 3lbs less than I was expecting. My goal weight is 140lbs and anything beyond that is a bonus.

I know that it won't happen overnight and I know that I may lose more weight in the first couple of weeks and then it will slow down. But I am determined not to give up.

This is just going to be an online diary for me - if someone reads it, great, if they don't, then I am making myself accountable. If you have joined Weight Watchers or are thinking about it, let me know and we can be accountable to each other. It's all about supporting each other and not berating each other when we slip. Because we will slip. We are only human and therefore I am only 99% perfect!