Going Great!

Last week: 164.5
Today: 164.2

The weight is still coming off.  But, more importantly, I'm getting fit and feeling really good about that.  I've been going to the gym and working out regularly, and am actually enjoying it.  I especially like the cardio cinema, where you can watch a movie and work out simultaneously!  I haven't gotten to a Zumba class yet, but I'm hoping to do that soon.

As far as food goes, I'm trying new recipes and we are all enjoying them (well, except for Jackson, but he's a hard one to please in the food realm!)  Last week, I made chicken stir fry and it was a huge success!  I also lightened up my stuffed pepper recipe with brown rice and egg beaters with great results.

I'll post my chicken stir fry recipe later.  Now, it's time to make dinner because the kiddos (and I) are hungry!

Big Loss!!

Last week: 167.1
Today: 164.5

Yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!  That's a 2.6 lb loss this week!!  I was so thrilled to see those numbers on the scale this morning.  I guess my "no leftovers" mantra worked out great.  I didn't have any cookies in the house (or I would have been tempted to eat them, I'm sure!) and I didn't take anything from dinner, other than a couple of lean pieces of ham.  I did have ice cream cake for Natalie's birthday and champagne for New Years Eve, but other than that, I was pretty good.

So, on to my resolutions.  I made a new dinner last night: Pork Au Poivre from Food Network's Healthy Appetite show.  I found the recipe online, and tried it out for our New Years dinner.  It was pretty good, and low in points.  I'll tweak it next time I make it (I tend to do that will all my recipes!) and it'll be really good.  If you want the recipe, let me know!

I'm also heading out for a run this morning while Joe watches the kids.  I usually only get to run on the weekends lately because it's too dark before Joe leaves for work and after he gets home.  But, I haven't run in two weeks due to the holidays and all the craziness.  It'll feel good to get out there, especially with all my new gear.  Thanks, Mike and Aunt Diana!

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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!

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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Not Too Bad at All!

Yesterday was my second weigh-in: 169.5 

I am down 0.3 lbs from last Monday and I'm pretty happy with that.  No, it wasn't a big loss, but it was a very tough week!  Temptation stared me down literally every day I was at home in PA - from Thanksgiving meals to Vincent's Pizza (legendary at the Brewers!) to leftovers and desserts, I had my work cut out for me!

I'll admit - when I first saw the number on the scale, I was a little disappointed.  After losing almost 2 1/2 lbs last week, I was hoping to see a bigger loss.  Then, I came back to reality and realized that losing ANYTHING over the holiday week was a success.

This made me curious about weight gain and the holidays, so I just Googled the average weight gain during the holiday season.  I was thinking it was probably 2 or 3 lbs.  But nope: the average American (according to http://www.healthguidance.org/) gains 7 to 12 pounds over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season.  WOW... that number surprised me!!  I know that the next few weeks will be tough, with Christmas cookies and candies and treats at every corner, but I'll just have to be strong and avoid the temptations!  Of course I'll indulge every once in a while, but I'll make sure to be smart and use my WW points wisely to fit in some treats.

So, here's to staying strong and sticking with WW during the holiday season!!  I know I can do it, and will be so happy when I do.  Instead of going into New Years with another new resolution to lose weight (like every year!), I'll go into New Years lighter and fitter than I was before Thanksgiving. 

Take that, Mr. Healthguidance.org statistic!!!!!!!!!!

Goodbye 170's! Don't Come Back.

I weighed myself this morning: 169.8! 

Last Monday, I was 172.2 and bummed out.  I was frustrated and ready to change.  Now, I'm excited and proud and 2.4 pounds lighter!

Here's what I noticed over the last week:

- I'm hungry more often, which means that instead of fueling cravings or boredom, I'm actually fueling my body.
- I'm drinking more water and less soda, and actually liking it.
- I'm very conscious of everything that I eat and drink
- I'm making good decisions

All in all, I'm happy with how the week went, and with the weight change.  I was able to go out to eat, go away for the weekend, and snack while losing weight.  Now, I just need to keep up this positive momentum going into this week, which will be a HARD one. 

Yep, I'm talking about Thanksgiving.  Ugh.  I'm not looking forward to all of the temptations I'll encounter this week, but I need to remember how good I felt looking at that lower number this morning.  I need to think about how I'll feel next Monday morning.  Will I be proud, or disappointed?  Is eating that big slice of pie or that second helping of turkey worth the disappointment?  I don't think so. 

So, here's my strategy:

- Try a little of everything, but just taste... don't shovel :)  And, drink lots of water.  And chew gum directly after dinner to avoid snacking!
- Save all of my extra weekly WW points for Thanksgiving day.  That way, if I want that slice of pie, I can have one.  But, just one.  And, if I don't finish my extra points that day, I can use them for the rest of the weekend if I want to.
- Go for a run Thanksgiving morning.  Joe already said he'd come with me!

If anyone else has any strategies to add, I'd love to hear them.  Let me know!!  Now, it's time to make some breakfast.  Good thing, too, because I'm hungry!

Let's Be Honest...

Some of you might be reading this and thinking - wow, she's baring it all via the web.  Has she gone crazy?  Nope.  In fact, I think this might be one of the best ideas I've had in a long time!  While I am definitely not thrilled to be admitting to everyone that I need to change, I DO need to change.  So, I promise to be brutally honest in this blog (and to myself) in order to get healthier.

I weighted myself this morning: 172.2lbs.

Before I got pregnant with Natalie, I weighed around 165.  Before Jackson, 150.  I'm inching up the scale, and definitely not happy with that upward movement.  So, it's back to Weight Watchers for me.  I know firsthand that it works.  I just need to stick with it.

After my wedding in 2006, I began Weight Watchers for the first time.  I weighed around 160 at the time and wanted to be thinner.  I followed the program, and lost 22 lbs.  I weighed 138 at my lowest, and it felt great!  Then, I got lazy and started gaining some of that weight back.  Then, I got pregnant.  Now, I have two wonderful children and a saggy waistline.  While the kids were so worth gaining that pregnancy weight and those stretch marks, there is no reason for that weight to be hanging around.

So, I started this blog.  Partially to keep me accountable to someone other than myself and partially to give myself an outlet for all the frustrations of losing weight.  I know that losing weight is much more than dieting - it's a lifestyle change.  So, here goes...

My goals:

1) Track all of my food intake with Weight Watchers online etools, and stick to my target points.
2) Weigh in every Monday morning, and post that number (good or bad) online
3) Run at least three times a week, either outside or on the dreadmill :)
4) Use this blog to vent frustrations, and celebrate victories

If you're reading this (or any of my upcoming posts), feel free to comment, make suggestions, give advice or scold me (haha, I know I'll need that eventually)!!