Tuesday, November 30, 2010

PointsPlus

Well, it is here, the new Weight Watchers plan. I think I am going to like it only AFTER I relearn to estimate al my points all over again....sigh.

I understand the science behind the new calculations and the new points values. I liken the new plan to inflation, yes we get more points to spend (I now get 37 daily points and 49 weekly points :-o), but everything also cost more. All fruits and most veggies are free (I beg to differ, I entered 2 cups of mixed green salad and it was 1 point -really, c'mon, lettuce is 1 point?).

I do like the new emphasis on carbs and protein being calculated in. I am just not quite sure how everything plays together so there is no way I can estimate my points anymore. The mobile e-tools site is up and running (and it looks nice compared to what it used to be), but it doesn't always work since I don't always have cell signal. Plus, it's like working with dial-up when you are used to high-speed.

I had heard rumor that WW was going to have a Blackberry app, but I have yet to find it.

On another note, I am sick. Not sick of the plan, truly sick. I went to bed last night with a small productive cough and over the course of the night, I developed a sore throat, fever, runny nose, body aches and a tight chest with painful, tight, productive cough. Oh, joy. I must have gotten it from the kids, because they both have sinus infections.

I found my new comfort food. It isn't on plan, but Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate made with milk is sooooooooo much better than when it is made with water. Unfortunately it is also 7 pointsplus.

Well, the herd is up, I better go get them.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

10% - Woooooo HOOOOOOOOOO

I cannot believe that I have reached my 10% goal!

Last week I lost a mere 0.6 lbs. Today, I weighed in on a Saturday morning, and, lo and behold, I lost 5.6 pounds in 9 days. For a whopping total of 25.6 pounds in 11 weeks. WOW! I am so happy with myself for working so hard to get this weight off. I still have over 50 more pounds to go, but I have gotten a huge chunk off. Wow!

I think the secret to this week's weight loss wasn't the 9 points of activity I earned. I think it was that last week I was really constipated on weigh-in. This week, due to some delicious roasted garlic, I didn't have that problem. So, I don't think I lost all the weight in one week.

To be perfectly honest, despite all the water I am drinking and vegetables I am eating, I still am not going as much as I should. I have tried benefiber supplements, pro-biotics, bulk-forming fiber supplements and nothing much is really happening. I wish I had other ideas other than taking a pills. I don't want to get dependent on them. Maybe I should just eat more roasted garlic......but I don't think my family would like that....lol

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving


Happy Thanksgiving to All!

I started the day out so strong. Until I got to the fire station, where there were tasty treats to be had all around. I tried to be so strong, but, being surrounded by food that was just too good, I couldn't. I tried not to nibble and munch too much during the day, except for the brownies, oops. Then, dinner was served.

Now, we didn't have the usual turkey and stuffing. I might have been able to eat better. John's captain Traegered an phenomenal Prime Rib. I made roasted garlic mashed potatoes and homemade horseradish sauce. Oh, everything tasted to good. Did I ever mention that my favorite meal was Prime Rib, well this meal will be really hard to beat. I've never had prime rib that flavorful or tender.

Even though I went way, way, way over on points, it could have been much worse. I could've had that second piece of Prime Rib, but I was already so stuffed. I could've stayed at the fire station and had pumpkin pie, but I chose to go home. I could've dipped my fingers in the bowls of freshly whipped cream and homemade frosting.

So, I am left with 14 points until next Wednesday night. I have weigh-in on Saturday, to make up for tonight's missed weigh-in. So, I am not too hopeful for next week, but I think I'll do okay.

I am ready to go surrender to my food coma. Good Night.

Oh, by the way, I got a good picture of myself today to show what 20 lbs down will do for your self confidence

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Still going strong

Monday, Monday, oh, did I mess up Monday. I took a trip up to Portland to drop off that paperwork and on the way home I thought it would be nice to take the kids to Red Robin (Yummm!) I looked at the menu, didn't really want a salad, so I chose a sandwich that I thought was healthier than one of the burgers, boy, was I wrong. The sandwich I chose, a patty melt, was 34 points! Good thing I only ate half, phew. I still went over for the day, but you know what, it's okay. I still have weekly points left (17 of them) and I still have activity points (9 of them) and my points reset Thursday morning. I think I can make it through Wednesday without going over all my points.


Due to the holiday, I can't weigh in on Thursday, I'll have to wait until Saturday morning. But, I think I am going to do okay. I'll only be looking for a stay the same weight, especially since Turkey (or Prime Rib) day is upon us. I intend on being restrained, eating a bunch of veggies and staying away from the really tasty stuff. Because, I am coming to believe this phrase, nothing tastes as good as skinny feels. I feel so dang good that my former fat pats are too big. That my skinny pants are starting to get loose. That the pants that I want to get into are just a few more pounds away. I relish the thought when my too small pants will become my too big pants....and then I'll go shopping!


I intend to say goodbye to Women's, Plus-Sizes, 1x, 18W clothes forever. I want to shop in the regular sizes again. (Something I haven't done since before I got married!) It will take work, but maybe by this time next year, it will have happened.


I have lost 1/4 of the weight I want to lose in 2 months. In 6 more months, will I finally be there? Maybe I'll give John a great 40th birthday present by being a skinny wife. Here's hoping and working hard.


Night all.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

A Good Weekend

I feel so much better!

Saturday I worked with the supervisor who helped me get the paperwork snafu fixed and today we played in the snow, sledding and having so much fun. And that is what I really wanted to talk about.

A few months ago I wouldn't have wanted to go play in the snow. I was so big that I didn't have winter clothes that would fit. I didn't have the energy to trudge through the snow. Today, I found a set of thermal underwear that fit, and fit under my clothes with room to spare. Today, I fit into my snow pants with room to spare. Today, I trudged up and down a snow covered hill having fun sledding with my family. It was amazing how good I felt out playing in the snow. I couldn't believe how losing 20 pounds would make this much of a difference.

I have so much more self-confidence. I can't imagine what I am going to feel with another 20 down. I am re-energized and eating well, definitely back on plan and making wiser choices. I am not starving or depriving myself of the foods I like, I am just eating less of them and planning for the splurges.

So, bring on Thanksgiving and the food coma! I am planning for it and I'm going lose weight this week too!

Until next time

Friday, November 19, 2010

Thursday GREAT - Friday - CRAPTASTIC

Even with all the abundance of good food I shoved down my gullet, I still managed to lose 0.6 lbs to make my 20 lb total weigh loss. Yay, I was so happy to get that. I got my 4th star and just couldn't believe how much better I've been feeling. Even though I am not eating perfectly, I am choosing better foods and less of the worse foods.....until today...

Today could be summed up in one word. CRAPTASTIC. I miscalculated the date that state paperwork is due to the state, by a full week. My supervisor's supervisor, BMOC, fielded the first e-mail and after that it was all downhill. It won't be totally over until Monday, because, I get to drive me (and the kids) up there to hand-deliver the paperwork, that will hopefully be done tomorrow.

So, while I am struggling with the aforementioned political crap while struggling to get out of the house with 2 kids that are testing Mommy's limits, I drive all the way to Canby and realize, I left my purse at home. And, the car was on Empty. I broke down, not for the first time today either.

As a surprise, I made my husband a pan of Baklava. Now, if you have never had Baklava or don't know how it's made, let me tell you the ingredients - phyllo dough (pure white bleached flour), butter (and lots of it), nuts (high fat stuff) and home-made syrup (sugar/honey). That's it. It is heavenly good and therefore, high in points (6 points for a full piece, thankfully, I cut my pieces in half).

I got the station, gave my sweetie pie his Baklava and proceeded to nosh on 3 pieces (10 points). It was the best pan I've ever made. I didn't plan lunch, so I had a 10 point grilled cheese sandwich. On the way home after everything I needed to get done was done. The kids were hungry, cranky, and McDonald's was RIGHT there. 12 more points down the drain.

So, its been a really crappy day and I want it to end. So, I am going to bed. I will hopefully put this day behind me and tomorrow will be better. (But, it probably won't be)

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Hanging Tough

Well, it's Tuesday afternoon and I am still hanging tough. I only have 6 weekly points left because I forgot to account for hush puppies in my seafood feast. And those little suckers are 1 point each, jeeesh!

I have been sucking down the water lately and I just don't feel like I can get enough to drink. It has to do with an antibiotic I am on that causes a dry mouth, metallic taste in mouth and dizziness. Great.

So, if I trust the science of WW, they say that if I track faithfully, count all my BLT's (bites, licks and tastes) that even if I use all my weekly's I will still lose weight. I just don't see how that works, but it must. I still feel guilty for using my weekly's. Hopefully, I will be able to survive the rest of the week and lose at least 0.6 pounds so I get my star.

I still haven't figured out how to add enjoyable exercise (isn't that an oxymoron) to my life. Hmm. Any suggestions?

Monday, November 15, 2010

So There I Was....

Wow, it's been a while since I last blogged. For those of you that do follow this blog, my current status is - I am still on plan and doing well. I've lost a total of 19.6 pounds. I hope to get my 4th 5 pound star this week. I hope, but I am not going to plan on it because of a little restaurant called Joe's Crab Shack.

You see, on Nov 20, John and I will celebrate 11 years of marriage. We couldn't take the 20th off, so we celebrated a week early. His annual surprise trip took us to Camas, Washington, where we stayed in a beautiful, renovated old hotel with the most comfortable bed I've ever slept in. I'd seen commercials for Joe's Crab Shack for months and have wanted to go there. I was so good all week. Not using a single weekly point, knowing that I was going to blow it all at Joe's.

John and I talked about staying on plan and he suggested we split a bucket. I am so glad he did. We both nibbled during the day, so by the time dinner rolled around, I still had 27.5 points for the day and the 35 for the week. I literally gorged myself. I ate crab-artichoke dip, crab legs dipped in clarified butter and drank 3 Long Island Iced Teas (they were pretty weak). We got done with dinner and I literally waddled to the truck. Then we drove back to the hotel, where after a few hours and a few more cocktails in the bar we called it a night.

When we got home today, I entered all the points for everything I had consumed yesterday and today (I've been so good today) and I still have 11 weekly points left to last til Wednesday night.

Maybe, just maybe, I will be able to lose this week and get my 4th star. I am 5.6 pounds away from my 10% goal. I might actually be able to do this by the end of the year!!!

So, here is hoping and I'll try to blog sooner rather than later.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Did Okay til I Got Home

I was at EMT-Basic lab today. I got up at 0450 this morning, was on the road by 0530. I was so good, I packed healthy snacks to eat all day, even filled up a pitcher with lemon water. I snacked on a 2 point bagel, an apple and a cheese stick. I didn't even realize that was all I had until lunch. I was hungry, but not bad, and I made wise choices at Subway.

Then, Denise brought in the most evil looking Rice Krispy Treat - it had butterscotch chips, peanut butter and chocolate. I was doomed! But, instead of going overboard, I ate 2 small pieces. Oh, it was heaven. Thank goodness was at a fire station and people were watching me, so I didn't eat any more of that delicious evilness and guesstimated 5 points (I promise, they really were tiny pieces)

The afternoon passed without me realizing it. I drove home snacking on my food again. I was so good, until........I got home.

I don't think I've ever mentioned that I absolutely love Bailey's Irish Cream. It's not the alcohol that makes me want to drink it. It is the delicious full body taste of cream, chocolate and a little nip of whiskey. I love sipping it over the rocks, sometimes diluted down with half-n-half. I went to the liquor store the other day to buy some. I made a good choice and instead of getting a full bottle, I got the little refrigerator minis. Limit the temptation, etc.

If you hadn't realized, but there isn't any nutritional labels on spirits. I found the nutritional value of Baileys and nearly had a cow. 1 oz of the stuff is 3 points. The little bottle is 9 points. WTF. My favorite drink is 1/4 my daily points?!?!

When I got home I had 9 points left over. Hmmm, a WW meal or Baileys....I'll let you guess what I chose, but at least I only chose 1 and not both, and I know the consequences of choosing both. The dreaded gain at the scales.

Until tomorrow.

PS - Bernie, if you are reading this, give me a call tomorrow. My hubby is at work and I got the kids all day. I could use a cup of coffee.

Friday, November 5, 2010

WTF

Last week was, by far, the worst one I have had on plan. I ate like crap, didn't drink my water, didn't exercise. I only had 7 weekly points left over. Didn't earn a single activity point. As I posted before I started eating Halloween candy and just couldn't stop. One piece led to 20 pieces. Thank goodness John took the leftovers to work and let the firefighters eat 'em.

I figured that I would be lucky just to stay the same and not gain. I was so down on myself and feeling guilty. And, for the first time since starting my WW journey (homage to Kourtney, our fearless meeting leader) doubts began to creep in that I would not be able to lose my super-duper goal of 87 pounds. I began to wonder if I could just lose 25, my 10% goal, and how long that would take. I had a secret goal of hitting the 30 pound mark by the end of the year.

So, imagine my surprise, I lost 2.2 pounds. A full kilogram! I even got below the 240 mark and had to lose another daily point. I am down to 31 daily points now. So my total lost is a whopping 18 pounds. Only 7 more to go to reach my 10%!

Back to my WTF! I had the worst week on plan ever, ate like total crap and I still lost more than the weeks I was doing so well!?!?!?!? On Wednesday and Thursday, I admit I did eat better, much more veggies and water. And, on Thursday, I didn't eat or drink too much. I had 20 points left after weigh-in.

The meeting helped a lot. I took away a new knowledge of metabolism and why it is so important to exercise and get your heart rate up. I still hate exercise. And, I admitted to the group that I am having doubts for the first time since I started. I took away 3 key points that really helped.

1. It wasn't really a mistake if you learned a lesson from it. - The lesson I learned is that I cannot be around that much candy. If I want candy (which I can't have for a year because of I promise I made to a certain deity that if John's bond levy passed, then I wouldn't touch the stuff for a year), I can't have unlimited supplies of in the house. This goes for all things that I have aforementioned are my evil foods. I also can't buy any of those WW 1 point cakes. I bought a box and ate the entire box in one night. 12 points - grr.

2. (My favorite) A bad day on plan is still better than a good day eating like you used to. So true, at least I accounted for all my points and still tried to stay with it.

3. Forgive yourself - You had a bad day, forgive yourself, learn your lesson, get back on plan. Don't let a moment or 2 (or a dozen) of weakness stray you from your path.

So, here is my dilemma. I had 1 week where I was an average of 5 points under plan every day and I lost 1.6 pounds. The next week I ate all my points, and touched about 10 or so weekly points and I lost 1 pound. This week I eat all my points and have 7 points left over, and I lose 2.2 pounds. What should I do? Should I try to eat all my points and weekly points and see where it takes me? Should I go back to just eating my dailys? I dunno.

Well, it is late, I have to be up early and be on the road at 5:30. I am headed to bed.

PS - By the way, I ate really well today, made good choices even though hubs and I went out to eat and cooked crab fettuccine Alfredo for dinner. I am a little over for the day, but it was well worth it because I feel better than I have in a while.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Permission to Eat

Oh, boy. I am not looking forward to WW weigh in this week. I've really, really, really blown it. I haven't really worked out, I haven't been careful about what I've been eating.

I started eating Halloween candy last night and couldn't stop myself. I am such an addict to that stuff. Yes, I estimated how much I ate and how many points, but I went over my daily and hit into my weekly points allowance. I will be lucky if I stay the same this week, much less lose. I haven't been drinking my water either. Hell, the other day I drank 2 full sugar sodas.

I feel like I have lost my will.....I was going so strong and now I feel myself weakening to tempation. I will take a look at my paper and hope that I can be strong.

I am headed home from class tonight, maybe on this commute I won't eat 2/3 of a bag of Cheetoh's Flaming Hot Lime.