Beating the Odds

Last Monday: 167.5
Today: 167.1

So much for that average 7-12 pound weight gain over the holidays.  I totally kicked that statistic's butt!!  Instead of gaining over the holiday season, I lost 2.4 pounds instead (between Thanksgiving and Christmas)!  Yesss!!

I wrote a long, awesome blog post earlier, but my computer ate it and I don't have time to write it again.  It's my daughter's first birthday, so I'm getting ready for a day of fun!

I'll write more about my holiday eating later.  But, for now, I'll just end with...

YAYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Boredom = Eating

That's what I realized this week: boredom = eating (for me, at least).  I didn't realize this by being bored and overeating, though.  Just the opposite.  I have been keeping myself busy all week, finishing a book, Christmas shopping, getting packed and ready to head to PA.  And, I haven't been snacking.

Hmmm, maybe that's the key.  Stay busy to avoid mindless eating.  I think I can do that, especially now that I have my Kindle, and my energetic kids.  Instead of picking up the snacks, I'll start doing something instead.

Speaking of doing something, today's tasks are calling!  Here I go.....

Another Loss!

Last week: 168.2
This week: 167.5

I know I've been a bad blogger.  Things have been very busy, with the kids' birthdays and Christmas coming up.  But, I'm still doing well with WW, and still losing!  This past week was a tough one, with all the cake and goodies from Jackson's birthday and temptations from a holiday party.  So, I'm pretty happy with my 0.7 lb loss.  I have a feeling that next Monday won't be so pretty, after all the holiday craziness. 

Ok, so here's my plan for this week:

1. Stay on track with WW Monday through Thursday, while we're home.  Exercise as much as possible.
2. Be good on Friday, and try to track while at the in-laws' house.
3. Splurge a LITTLE on Saturday.  It is my birthday, after all!!
4. Taste everything on Sunday (just like I did on Thanksgiving) but don't go crazy.
5. Monday = back to WW and stay on track!

This seems like a pretty good plan to me.  I'm not expecting to be perfect this weekend, but I'm not saying that all bets are off and I'm going to eat anything I want.  It's a good balance, I think.

I'll try to blog some this week, but I'm not promising anything.  I still have gifts to buy, bags to pack, house to clean, laundry to do...  Whewww!  Only 6 days until Christmas!!!!!!!

Slooooooow, but Steady

This week: 168.2
Last week: 168.3

Well, this week's loss was a bit disappointing, but I have to remember that a loss is a loss.  That is 0.1 lbs gone and, in the grand scheme of things, I know the weight will continue to come off.  I'm not looking for an instant cure, after all.  Like I've said before, it's a lifestyle change so, if I stick with it, the weight WILL come off.

This week will be a challenge, as Jackson is turning 3 and we all know that birthdays aren't complete without the cake!  I'll just have to be careful, have a small piece, and count WW points for it.  No problem - I can do it.  And, if I want more, I'll just drink some water and pop a piece of gum... and send everyone home with the leftovers!

While I'm planning for the inevitable cake-fest this month (which includes Jackson's, Natalie's and my birthday), I should also start preparing myself for the holiday season.  Last year, when I was enormously pregnant with Natalie, I was eating all of the Christmas goodies I could get my hands on - cookies, candy, chocolate.  This year, I'm avoiding.  Well, not completely avoiding, but just tasting instead.  Ugh, it's hard.  But I can do it.  After all, I did manage to lose over Thanksgiving.  But, that was only one day.  Christmas eating has seemed to engulf the entire month.

I can do it.  I can do it.  I will stay strong.  I will not eat my weight in cookies.

Stay tuned to see how cake-fest (part 1) turns out!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Ok, not quite yet, but my birthday is coming up in two weeks.  I told my husband that, for my birthday, I wanted a night out (sans kids) for dinner and a movie.  Since my parents are in town this weekend, and offered to watch the kiddos, we had my birthday celebration last night.

When Joe asked me where I wanted to go for dinner, I said I wanted sushi.  I haven't had it since before Natalie was born (and even then, I only had the cooked stuff since I was pregnant).  So, we went to Leesburg to a place my brother recommended - Noku.  It was great!  Since it was my "birthday" and since I had run in the AM and saved all of my extra weekly points, I just ordered what I wanted.  Miso soup, salad and a spicy roll combo.  Yummm!!

Then, since we didn't like the movie selection, we headed to the casino to check out the horse races and play some slots (read: deposit money into a machine and leave empty handed).  That was fun, and, since I was so stuffed from dinner, all I had was a Coke Zero.  No need to use any more points. 

So, this morning, I tallied up the damage on my WW e-tools... not too bad!  I would have eaten MANY more points if we'd have gone to a different place.  Luckily, sushi is not too unhealthy (unless you get anything "tempura" aka fried!).  I'm pretty proud of myself, and hope to see another loss tomorrow morning.

Stay tuned!

Run Run Rudolph...

I started running this past summer, and really got into it.  I did the Couch to 5K program (which I would HIGHLY recommend!) and completed my first 5K on Oct. 1.  I did my second 5K on October 28, in a freak snowstorm!  I loved the races, and can't wait to do my next one. 

However, I am finding it hard to keep running over the winter.  During the summer and early fall, I'd get up and run at 6am, before the kids woke up and before it got hot.  It was so great to go out and run with the sun coming up.  Now, since the sun has practically disappeared in the morning and evening, I haven't found a good time to run.  And I hate the dreadmill (read a couple of weeks back about that).

So, the last time I was able to run was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.  Ugh.  I miss it.

Now, I'm hearing about an impromptu Reindeer Run 5K this Saturday morning in Frederick.  It's not timed, but just for fun.  I think I might have to run it, just for a chance to get out there again.  Plus, it'll be fun to dress up in festive garb and don my favorite reindeer antlers to run :)

Starving!!

I'm sitting here, kids in bed and wanting to snack.  Must. Resist. Temptation.  Now, I didn't go over my points today, which is amazing and pretty surprising, but I didn't eat a whole lot either (which is why I'm starving).  Let me explain...

It all basically revolves around Christmas cookies.  Now, I LOOOVE Christmas cookies, so I have a hard time saying no.  Today, I was in a situation where I had lots of yummy cookies in front of me, so what did I do?  Did I say "screw it" and eat whatever I wanted?  Nope (although that crossed my mind!)  I did, however, taste a few cookies.  We're talking bites, not whole cookies.  Luckily, I have two kiddos who were happy to finish Mommy's cookies for her :)

When I went to calculate my WW points, I guessed how many points my bites added up to.  That, combined with my slice of pizza for lunch, didn't leave me with a lot of points for the rest of the day.  But, I did it.  I resisted temptation.  And my stomach is growling.

Time for a big glass of water and bed!

All About Food (and my weekly weigh-in, of course!)

Today: 168.3
Last Monday: 169.5

Yay!  1.2 more pounds gone.  Lots to go still, but I'm inching closer and closer to my goal of 145lbs - slow and steady.  This past week, I did well tracking my points and measuring my portions, even though I ate out quite a few times.  I had Chick Fil A twice, Panera Bread and even Papa John's pizza. 

So, today I wanted to blog about favorite go-to foods.  Even though I track everything I eat in my WW online program, I still like to make lists every now and then so that I can see what's working and what's not.  Here's what I've been eating and snacking on lately:

- Brown ricecakes and peanut butter (very filling, and really good!)
- Banana-blueberry smoothies with milk, splenda and vanilla extract
- Flatout brand wraps
- Buffalo chicken deli meat
- Nathan's NY style kosher pickle halves (SOOO good!)
- Orbitz bubble mint sugar-free gum
- Baked Lays (BBQ)
- Walmart brand sugar-free drink mix (cherry and grape are my favorites - tastes just like koolaid)
- Diet Dr. Pepper (I'm a borderline addict)
- Yoplait 100 calorie yogurts - I love lemon meringue pie and french vanilla
- Polly O string cheese
- Tacos on soft corn tortillas - delicious and surprisingly low in points
- Chicken kabobs with rice
- Smart pop mini-bags of microwaved popcorn

I also love getting ideas for healthy snacks and food swaps from http://www.hungrygirl.com/.  This website is great, and posts WW points right on the recipes.  So easy!  http://www.skinnytaste.com/ is another website that I'm always browsing.  The blogger has some great recipes, and also lists the WW points. 

Anyone have other great ideas for healthy snacks, dinners or swaps?  I'll post mine here and there, but I'd love to hear other ideas!!



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