Week 21 - The Results Blog - I TOTALLY ROCK!

-3.4

I am totally awesome and stunned that I did this well this week. Lost 3.4! I'm 0.8 away from Weight Watcher's goal of 10%! That means I'll be able to replace my old key chain and start fresh! What an exciting time for me right now. Crunching the numbers I've lost a total of 62 pounds since October 11th, 2008. 18.2 since "officially" rejoining Weight Watchers. And I've done it all in a relatively short amount of time with only 26 more pounds to go. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and it is calling to me!

This past week I was met with plenty of challenges. I met them head on and came out the other side alive. At the party at my Grandfather's last night I did well. I didn't take any potato salad at all. Not a fan of it so why bother taking it if it isn't my favourite. A little tiny bit of macaroni salad. Two hot dogs...only one was on a bun, the other I just dipped in ketchup. MMmmm...hot dogs!

Four months left being at home. I'm going to miss it. I'm having trouble coming to terms with it. My Mom was a stay-at-home Mom and I'm nervous about the mechanics of it and finding time to do everything. Now I can clean while James is napping during the week. I've been trying to convince Brad to take James to swimming lessons Saturday mornings but he has yet to sign him up and I fear now it is too late for July classes. I'm coming to terms with certain issues in my life...not sure how I'm going to handle/solve them...slowly simmering though...slow slow burn that will be turning into a wild fire that will be spectacular. On the positive side? Four more months until I can get back to the gym.

Happy weekend!

Week 21 - Eating Out

First I'd like to thank "Who Am I" for posting a comment and suggestion a while back regarding my stressing about losing a point. She suggested looking over my daily journals and find something I could find a way of cutting down the point value. It never occurred to me to do that. Thank you! Your suggestion worked brilliantly! I had been eating a "fried" egg sandwich at lunch. I'd gotten out of the habit of the sandwich with a side of spinach "salad" because it was using too many of my points for lunch. I've started using egg whites instead. I can use three egg whites for 1 point. A bigger tastier sandwich for less point value! And now that that I've invested in Egg Beaters, I'm not wasting 1/2 the egg...since James wasn't too thrilled with mashed up yolk. We'll try again soon. Thanks! You saved me that point I've been missing.

I've had a busy week as I've previously mentioned. Usually I stress out about it, breaking for a routine that I can follow easily and prevents me from snacking and thinking too much about what I'm going to eat and when. It is all about finding the best possibly choices even at a not so good restaurant. I mentioned before Tuesday I had a Veggie Delight wrap from Subway with no cheese. 5 points (an extra point for the honey mustard...hey, I needed some taste!) instead of the 10 I would normally have had for a foot long turkey sub. It is lunch...gotta change my thinking, don't need a foot long at lunch.

Yesterday was a little more difficult. Mom and I were out most of the afternoon shopping. Mom and I love going to a "diner" for lunch. Before the baby we'd go for breakfast...now I just can't get my butt out the door in time. Besides, I like waiting until James wakes up from his morning nap before going anywhere. Gives me time to relax (and get dressed) in the morning. Diners aren't known for the healthiest of foods. I spent a long time before choosing what I'd have. I finally decided on a 1/2 club sandwich with a side of vegetable soup. Best I figure 2 points for the soup and 8 for the sandwich. Not bad considering normally I'd have a quesidilla or full club sandwich or western sandwich with a side of fries. Oh and of course the ever present diet cola.

Dinner...hee hee...it was a baseball night. I hadn't planned on playing last night. I honestly thought it was going to be rained out since the weather hasn't been the best in Southern Ontario as of late. So I made Brad rush. I stayed at my parents' house and he had to bring over my uniform and baby food after work. We were rushed and hungry so we decided on McDonald's. Riddle me this...how does one manage to have only 9 points at McDonalds and avoid feeling full of grease all at the same time? Get a Happy Meal! I'd forgotten all about my lunches while working in Toronto...I'd walk down the street to pick up either a Mandarin Orange Salad or a Happy Meal. Plus...you get a toy...life is good. 4 McNuggets (4 points) and small fries (5 pts) diet coke...you've got yourself an okay meal. Yey me! Now if only I could get rid of this fear that the ball is going right for my right eye socket after every pitch, I'd be a happy girl. Gah...you get hit by one ball and that's all you can think about for the rest of the season...and unfortunately it is effecting my performance "on the mound".

Tonight is a party at my Grandfather's retirement home. Plus it is his birthday. So the family is going there for a BBQ...this will be a challenge for me since I've been having issue with my will power and portion control lately. Tomorrow maybe a family BBQ with the in laws...same issues there. I just have to remind myself that both sides of family know how much weight I gained with James and that I'm a Weight Watchers cultist. They'll be watching me eat...even if it isn't true...going in with that mentality will help to keep me in check.

(Ps...yeah I know softball isn't really 7 points of activity...especially when you suck and need a pinch runner...Thanks Karyn!)

Happy weekend all.

POINTS® Tracker entries
Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Morning
3/4 cup(s) Quaker Life Oat Bran Cereal 2
1 large banana(s) 2
Subtotal 4

Midday
1 1/2 tbsp Fat Free Honey Mustard Dressing 1
1 item(s) Veggie Delite Sub 4
Subtotal 5

Evening
Whole Chicken Leg - Quick-added food 6
1 cup(s) cooked brown rice 4
Subtotal 10

Anytime
Lrg Iced Coffee w/Milk - Quick-added food 2
1 serving(s) Crackers 2
1 serving(s) Animal crackers 2
Subtotal 6

Food POINTS values total used 25
Food POINTS values remaining 0
Exercise No entries for exercise.



POINTS® Tracker entries
Thursday, June 18, 2009

Morning
3/4 cup(s) Quaker Life Oat Bran Cereal 2
1 large banana(s) 2
4c Herbal Tea - Quick-added food 0
Subtotal 4

Midday
1 cup(s) vegetable Soup 2
1/2 item(s) club sandwich 7.5
Subtotal 9.5

Evening
1 small French Fries 5
Happy Meal Sized Diet Coke - Quick-added food 0
4 pieces Chicken McNuggets, Small 4
Subtotal 9

Anytime
2 item(s) English muffin(s), any type 5
2 tbsp peanut butter 4.5
2 tbsp Strawberry Spreadable Fruit 1.5
Subtotal 11

Food POINTS values total used 33.5
Food POINTS values remaining 0

Exercise
120 min softball 7
Activity POINTS values earned 7

Week 21 - Playing it by Ear

I'm journalling this week. At times too late. But I am journalling. I've been at my parents' house soon to be three days this week but have been doing good while there. Yesterday there was a Ritz cracker incident but I came out of it okay.

Lunch was a Veggie Delight wrap from Subway with no cheese and we changed it up a little bit with some honey mustard. Mmmmm....sooo good! Didn't even miss the meat and got in some vegetables.

Then yesterday I went for coffee with friends and didn't get a latte like I normally would. I ordered an herbal tea. With no caffeine. Blueberry tea. Quite nice. Baby steps but baby sets in the right direction right?

Dinner has been going well this week and had been planned out in advance. Monday night we ate at my parents. Ended up having two hamburgers once again even though I only planned on one. Tuesday we had whole chicken legs with roasted asparagus and potatoes. I've got to use a little less olive oil. I'll get it right eventually. Yesterday was whole chicken legs again with brown rice. Doing good, doing good.

Two and a half more days until weigh in...hopefully I can keep this up. I like our home scale MUCH better. Before going to bed last night I was 175...why after eating and drinking all day do I weigh less than I do on a Saturday morning before eating? I don't get it.

Happy Thursday!

Week 20 - The Results Blog

I'm up 0.4 this week. But I am accepting of that on two accounts. These aren't excuses. They are me coming to terms with things.

1. I didn't journal last week and let my eating get the better of me. I cannot keep turning to food when I'm emotional. Bad bad bad. Bad. Time for a Kim shopping trip again I think. I am stressed to the max and need a day away. But I have nothing to do. Sucks.

2. I lost a point. When the middle number of your weight changes, so does your daily point allotment. It usually takes me a bit of adjusting to figure out where I can cut back. I am looking at my breakfast. I'll take out the yogurt (sometimes glass of milk) and just add more coffee. Hmmm...or rather stop the banana on the cereal to keep in the serving of dairy and add more coffee. Either way, greasy sweats or not...I'm adding more coffee. Just can't function with out it.

We have food in the house again. I tried to make a conscious effort on lower point, better for you foods while shopping. We bought most of the food from the fresh food section and hardly any from the frozen food section. Desperately trying to get away from processed. It is so hard without a weekly meal plan. In fact, as I'm writing this, I am realizing my plan for tonight is already screwed. We were going to have bbqed whole chicken legs, potatoes and onions in foil on the bbq and roasted asparagus in the oven....and then it hit me. We're out of propane. And I don't do propane. Poop.

See...? There's always something!

POINTS® Tracker entries
Saturday, June 13, 2009

Morning

Weight Watchers Brownie Bar - Quick-added food 2
1 cup(s) black coffee 0
Chocolate Caramel Just 1 pt Bar - Quick-added food 1
Subtotal 3

Midday
2 slice(s) whole-wheat bread 2
1/2 cup(s) Sugar-Free Cherry 0
4 slice(s) turkey breast lunch meat (3-1/2 square) 2
Kraft Cheese Slice - Quick-added food 2
Diet Pepsi Max - Quick-added food 0
Subtotal 6

Evening
2 Spinach Tortillas - Quick-added food 7
1 boneless Skinless Chicken Breast - Quick-added food 3
1/8 cup(s) fat-free sour cream 0.5
1/2 oz cheese - Quick-added food 2
Subtotal 12.5

Anytime
3 serving(s) Mr. Christie Arrowroot Cookie 2
1/2 cup(s) Peanut Butter Chocolate Persuasion Ice Cream 6
Subtotal 8

Food POINTS values total used 29.5
Food POINTS values remaining 0
Exercise 30 min walking, leisure 1
Activity POINTS values earned 1

POINTS® Tracker entries
Sunday, June 14, 2009

Morning
3/4 cup(s) Quaker Life Oat Bran Cereal 2
1 large banana(s) 2
1 serving(s) Source Yogurt 1
Subtotal 5

Midday
2 slice(s) whole-wheat bread 2
5 slice(s) turkey breast lunch meat (3-1/2 square) 2.5
Kraft Cheese Slice - Quick-added food 2
1 tsp Classic yellow mustard 0
Diet Pepsi Max - Quick-added food 0
Subtotal 6.5

Evening
2 item(s) hamburger bun(s) 6.5
2 burger(s) Tuna burger, 98% fat free 4
1/2 oz Mild marbled cheddar cheese 1.5
Subtotal 12

Anytime
Brownie Bar - Quick-added food 2
Chocolate Caramel 1pt Bars - Quick-added food 2
2 cup(s) Cinnamon Toast Crunch 7
Subtotal 11

Food POINTS values total used 34.5
Food POINTS values remaining 0

Exercise
90 min gardening, hedging 5
Activity POINTS values earned 5

Week 20 - Unmemorable

This week kind of got away from me. I have been journalling but without much enthusiasm. Haven't spent much time at the computer so I have e-mailed my food journal buddies nor have I written my blog. When you have an unmemorable week, it is hard to come up with things to write about.

I do know it has been stressful for no other reason than I think too much. The 8 months at home are starting to get to me. Wednesday and Thursday I went for a walk. Wednesday's walk was to clear my head and relieve some of my inner tension. Yesterday's walk was purely to drop some papers off at the bank...but an hour walk is an hour walk right?

Have learned that on baseball days it isn't a good idea to clean the house, go for a walk and NOT drink coffee. I was practically falling asleep in the parking lot. Luckily I drank Brad's energy drink....and couldn't sleep last night.

The house is empty of most healthy non processed foods so finding things to eat for breakfast and lunch has been challenging. I think it has actually helped me this time. I've had to be more creative and get away from the usual Shredded Wheat and yogurt blah blah blah.

Not going to bother posting my journal since I haven't updated my on-line one at all this week and my time is precious when James is napping.

Happy weekend everyone. Be good!

Week 20 - NOT at the Zoo :(

Gah. What a waste of a vacation day for my poor husband. We're obviously NOT at the zoo. With expected showers and thunder storms for today, we weren't chancing it. Besides. It is rather cold. Maybe I can convince the men in my life for a walk down by the Harbour Queen. Not at all with ulterior motives since there is a Timothy's Coffee Pub there as well.

I've found a way to get in some milk AND caffeine without hating that I am drinking away my points. Homemade latte. Seems obvious right? I just always assumed that it was too difficult to make a latte. Almost as good as my Second Cup lattes (but not up to par with Starbucks). We bought dark roast coffee and it tastes like ass IMHO. What do you do with strong coffee? You make lemonade! Er...or you get the idea. 1 cup of strong hot coffee, 1 cup of hot milk (first I attempted it in the microwave...it boiled over and made a hell of a mess. Next tried it on the stove and burnt the bottom of the pan...so the perfect cup is in the middle somewhere). In large mug add milk to coffee (so far 2 points) then add in 1tbsp of Quik Chocolate Syrup for 1 point. And VOILA! 3 point Mocha Latte! Much cheaper, accessible and tastier than going out for one. I'm so smart! S-M-R-T!

That was about the only highlight of the food journal weekend. Busy day Saturday. Boring day Sunday which leads to over eating for me.

Here's the journals. Lost a point so have to adjust. And MUST MUST MUST track this week and stay on program. While I may not have been an angel this past weekend, I once again journalled EVERYTHING. That is key. ALWAYS journal even if you think you've screwed your day (and week) up. WRITE IT DOWN. It really does help me stay in the proper mind set. I've had weeks where I've had a bad weekend, didn't write it down and I keep up that kind of momentum for the rest of the week. Last time it took me three whole weeks to get tracking again. Don't do that to yourself. Always write it down.

Have a great day everyone!

POINTS® Tracker entries
Saturday, June 06, 2009

Morning
1 large banana(s) 2
1 cup(s) black coffee 0
1 cup(s) Multi-Grain Cheerios Plus 2
Subtotal 4

Midday
1 item(s) Foot Long 14
8 fl oz Diet coke 0
Subtotal 14

Evening
6 oz cooked lean beef steak 7.5
Medium Potato - Quick-added food 3
Subtotal 10.5

Anytime
1 bar(s) Oats & chocolate 2
2 serving(s) Mr. Christie Arrowroot Cookie 1.5
Coffee Toffee Twisty Frosty - Quick-added food 12 <-----NOT WORTH IT. Spend the money and extra points and get a frappicino if you are craving something icecream and coffee like.
Subtotal 15.5

Food POINTS values total used 44
Food POINTS values remaining 0

POINTS® Tracker entries
Sunday, June 07, 2009

Morning
1 cup(s) black coffee 0
1 cup(s) low-fat milk 2
2/3 cup(s) The Original Shredded Wheat, spoon-size 1.5
2 serving(s) Source Yogurt 1.5
1 tsp Spoonable brown 0
Chocolate Syrup - Quick-added food 1
Subtotal 6

Midday
2 item(s) whole hard-boiled egg(s) 4
2 slice(s) whole-wheat bread 2
Subtotal 6

Evening
2 slice(s) cooked lean pork 4.5
2 cup(s) potato, red, white 4.5
1 cup(s) canned green peas 2
Subtotal 11

Anytime
2 piece(s) pineapple upside-down cake (2 1/2 inch square) 11 <---- Brad baked...how could I not?
24 item(s) tortilla chips 6
1/2 cup(s) salsa 0
Subtotal 17

Food POINTS values total used 40
Food POINTS values remaining 0

Week 19 - The RESULTS Blog

-3.2!!

If there were a way to make that number flash and blink and dance I would. This week I managed to lose 3.2. There are however a few asterisks involved with this week's results.

1. I missed weighing in last week. So this is actually a two week result.

2. I didn't have a very good week prior to this weigh in so I may see the damage at this coming Saturday's weigh in.

3. It is in my nature to diminish my accomplishments by saying yes...but. Why must I do that to myself?

So my weight is now officially out of the 180's and I'm tipping the scales at 179! Great news for me! I now lose a point a day though. I must now stay within 23 daily points. Crap. I was having enough trouble with 24.

Crunching the numbers I've now lost at total of 59 pounds since October 11, 2008. I have 29 more to go. 26 if you want to get technical and go back to where I was pre-pregnancy. This number (29) seems a lot easier than the 32 I was stuck at forever.

The body certainly doesn't look (or feel) the same as it did before. I've been trying to remember what my body looked like the first time before I joined Weight Watchers. Did my belly button of that folded over line, lived in look? Will my tummy go flatish again? Will my arms get toned again? Will my butt get rounded again rather than have these flat spots? Will my freaking thighs stop rubbing together? I remember the first time around when it dawned on my that my thighs no longer rubbed when I walked to the office from the subway station. The next day I wore a skirt without nylons (middle of the summer, MAN I was grateful) and I smiled the entire way. That was a moment when I knew I could to this. I'm still waiting for that to happen.

I'll get there. In due time. Patience...