Week 3: Recap

It seems that being more aware & measuring accurately pays off. I lost 4.2 pounds this week! I’m only .4 away from 10 pounds lost. Next week for sure.

As for the things I wanted to work on last week:

* I did a better job drinking my water. I’m not sure that I reached my “recommended” amount each day, but I wasn’t too far off.

* Moving more: yeah, not so much. I just keep telling myself that I’m working on getting my eating right, then I’ll start exercising. Likely excuse, right? I’ve thought about joining a gym, there are a few in the area that aren't too expensive, but I’ve been known to join in the past then not go. I know think I’d be a lot more likely to go if I had a partner, but it’s hard to find someone who’s on the same schedule, etc. Yes, excuses again.

* I was definitely more accurate in my measuring last week. Obviously it made a big difference.

Next week I want to continue improving in these areas and work on the following:

* Multivitamin – I’ll do the shopping on Tuesday and will make sure to put these on the list. Remembering to take them will take a little more effort, but first things first.

* Spread my points out a little better throughout the day. One day last week I had six points left over after dinner. Six! I hate when I get to the end of the day and am left rummaging in the kitchen for things to make it up. On this particular day I wound up eating a WW ice cream bar & 4 Reese’s eggs. Not the best option.

* Don’t use Saturday as a “free day”. It’s a little late for this week. Jboy & I went to a birthday party yesterday and I just ate & drank soda to my hearts content. For dinner we picked up a pizza & breadsticks and, well, let’s just say I didn’t really practice any restraint. There’s nothing wrong with picking a day & “splurging” a little, but I still need to be conscious of what I’m eating and count the points. That’s what the 35 points weekly allowance is for.

Hopefully I can make some progress in these areas and have good results next week too.

small victories

Sometimes it’s the little things.

For example yesterday, after I dropped Jboy off at school, I had a couple of errands to run and had yet to eat breakfast. Before, I would’ve been at Dunkin Donuts, ordered my strawberry frosted donut and chocolate milk, paid my $3.05, and driven off before you could say “bad for  you”. Yesterday I had quite the discussion with myself as I approached the entrance. I was figuring points {12 for the donut & milk!}, trying to figure out what I could have for lunch & still have dinner… Boy did I want that donut. But I resisted.

This was a pretty big deal for me. Just a few short weeks ago I would’ve had that donut & milk {several days a week}, felt guilty, and probably made horrible food choices the rest of the day because I felt I’d already screwed up.

One thing I love about the Weight Watchers plan is that I could have had the donut & milk. As long as you count the points, you can have pretty much anything you want. It’s about portion sizes and making better decisions. Yes, the donut & milk would have been very tasty, but my Honey Nut Cheerios were quite good too.

And I didn’t have to choke down the side order of guilt.

full disclosure

In the interest of full disclosure, and because I want to document my failures* struggles as well as my victories, I have a confession to make.

Last night, even after I wrote that post, I ate several spoonfuls of icing. Ack! I had made cupcakes for Haley to take to a party, and had quite a bit of icing left over. I’m not really someone who craves baked goods, but give me a can of frosting and a spoon & well… it’s not good.

This morning I put the container in the trash. Then I took it out again. But, I only took it out to put some water in it so I wouldn’t be tempted to pull it out.

Today is a new day! I’ve counted & tracked every bite I’ve eaten and have stayed within my points. One thing we’ve talked about several times at meetings is that just because you screw up one meal, doesn’t mean you have to blow the whole day. You can start over with the next thing you eat. I’m really trying to put that into practice as I’ve always been one of those who would think, “well, I’ve messed up lunch, might as well eat whatever I want for dinner.” Next thing you know it’s, “well, I screwed up yesterday, I’ll just start over on Monday”, etc… Every meal is an opportunity to make a good decision.

* I crossed out failure because one thing that’s always stuck with me from even my first experience with WW is this: Feedback not failure. Learn from your mistakes and use what you’ve learned to help you make better decisions in the future.

I’m putting that into practice this week.

Week 2: Recap

So, my weight stayed the same this week. Bummer. Though I can’t say I was terribly surprised, I was still a bit disappointed.

I counted my points & tracked my food all week {well, not so much Saturday, but the rest of the week}. There were a few times when I didn’t measure certain things: salad dressing, Splenda, things of that nature. Now, it may not seem like much, but little things like that add up.

Every week I’m amazed at how the topic at the meeting is exactly what I need to hear. This week’s meeting was about underestimating your points and not measuring your portions. Um, hello. Were they at my house last week? Seriously.

Take an apple, for example. A small apple is 1 point. So, one day you choose an apple, thinking it’s “small” and count it as one. Only, it’s really “medium” and therefore 2 points. This is when a scale comes in very handy. Our leader used the Weight Watchers scale this morning & it was awesome! I have a digital scale, and use it regularly, but theirs can actually calculate the points for you. Like that apple; you choose “apple - fresh” on the screen, then place yours on the scale. Viola! Now you know exactly how many points it is.

As for the things I wanted to work on last week… well, one out three ain’t bad. Right?

I did drink more water, but not quite as much as you’re “supposed” to. I’m also drinking more soda than I should, but probably less than before.

The multivitamin? I forgot to buy some at the store during our last grocery trip, so that will have to wait until we go again.

Moving more? Yeah, not so much. I am not one who enjoys exercise. At all. I’d love to be one of those people who just love it & can’t imagine a day without it… but I’m not.

Obviously I have a lot of room for improvement. So, I guess the things I’m going to work on this week look an awful lot like last week.

* Drink my recommended amount of water each day. And less soda.

* Move more. It doesn’t have to be in the form of “exercise”, but even if I just turn on the 80’s music channel on TV and dance around the room with Jboy. At least it’s something.

* Measure, measure, measure. Well, I do measure most things, but I need to be more accurate.

Stay tuned to see how things go!

stuff

I haven't posted in a few days, but all is well. So far I've still been staying within my points for the day and, in some cases, have a few left over. This usually happens to me right at the beginning as I re-learn how to spread my points throughout the day. You're not supposed to end the day with unused points, so I always try to find something to make up the difference. Last night, for example, I had 5 points remaining after dinner. I had made a chocolate/peanut butter shake that was 3 points, but I only had about 2 sips. For some reason it wasn't nearly as good as I remembered. I wound up eating 2 packages of Jboy's fruit snacks! LOL

Recently I came across Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes. She posts recipes that have been altered to be more WW friendly and also posts the points values. I have yet to make any of the dishes, but here are a couple I intend to try very soon.

Makeover Banana Nut Bread {image courtesy of Gina's WW Recipes}

Doesn't it look delicious?! When I make it, I'll leave out the walnuts & probably include chocolate chips. Yum-o!

Chicken Enchiladas {image courtesy of Gina's WW Recipes}

Those who know me well know my love of Chicken Enchiladas at Frontera. I could seriously lick the plate they're so good. The reviews for the enchiladas on Gina's site are all great, so I'm hoping they can scratch the itch, if neccessary. Granted, I'll still be going to Frontera, but it will be nice to have a lighter version also.

Do you have any good recipes to share?

Week 1: Recap

So, week one was a success. I weighed in this morning & lost 5.4 pounds! Goodness it feels good to see that number go down. That puts me at 245.8 pounds. I’m so happy to be below 250, I can’t even begin to say.

Something I’ve learned about myself in past experiences on WW is that I need to be careful what goals I set for myself. For some reason I tend to sabotage myself when I reach a goal or get very close to one. I’m not really sure how to overcome that, but it’s something I’m working on. Any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated.

This time I’m not really going to set any “big” goals. I’m just trying to look at it 5 pounds at a time. So, yay, first goal reached!

This first week, for me, has mostly been about getting back into the groove of watching my portions, counting points & journaling everything I eat. Tracking my food has always been a huge part of the process for me, and it still is.

There are a few things that I would like to try and work on this next week:

* Drink more water

* Take a multi-vitamin. This will probably be in the form of a prenatal vitamin since we’d like to add to the family soon.

* Move more. Thanks to my friend Mae I now have a brand new pair of running shoes. Time to put them to work.

I’m so happy that this first week has gone well. I know that I won’t lose 5 pounds every week, but as long as I make good decisions & journal my food I’ll be successful.

5 days in…..

So, I’m 5 days into my new way of life. It’s going well so far. I haven’t really struggled {yet} with making good decisions or staying within my points for the day. I know that it won’t always be this easy. Oh how I know it.

One thing I’m really liking that’s different this go round is being able to use the Weight Watchers site on my Blackberry. It’s a great tool when I’m out & about and need to journal my food or look up the points for an item. I think it will help me make better decisions because I can be more informed.

I have also come to the conclusion that I need to try to eat at restaurants that post their nutritional information online or that WW already has the points info calculated. I know I can still make good decisions, but the control freak in me needs to know the exact points for what I’ve eaten.

Saturday is weigh in day and I’m looking forward to seeing the number on the scale this week. Not something you hear every day. ;o)

why am i doing this?

As I take the first steps on my way to a healthy lifestyle, I want to make note of {some} of the reasons I'm doing this. There are many more, but here's a start.

In no particular order:

* I want to have another baby.
* I want to like what I see when I look in the mirror.
* I don't want my joints, back, feet, etc... to hurt from just being.
* I want to weigh less than my husband.
* I'm {relatively} healthy now, but I know that's going to change one day if I don't do something.
* I want to know my grandchildren.
* I want Chris to be proud to be seen with me.
* I don't want to worry about breaking chairs, or fitting in seats.
* I want to ride roller coasters & not be worried that I won't fit.
* I don't want Jonathan {and future children} to be embarrassed that I'm their mother.
* I want to weigh what my driver's license says I do. {Actually less!}
* I want to be more confident.
* I want to be able to shop anywhere, not just the women's section.
* I don't want to hide from the camera.

These are things that should keep me going. When I'm having a rough day {because I know it will happen at some point} I need to refer to this list to remind me that it's worth it. Maybe I should print this list & hang it on the refrigerator, and the pantry door, and my bathroom mirror, and in the car, and....

putting it out there

On my family blog, It's a Mann's World, I've talked several times about my issues with weight. I've had many successes, and many not-so-successes. As of Saturday, March 6, 2010, I have started a new journey. And with that new journey, I decided to start a new blog to journal my progress.

I don't really know where to start, but I do know that I'm just going to put it all out there. I'm even going to post my actual weight. *gasp*

Buckle in, this is going to be a long one.

A little bit of history. During my childhood years, I didn't have a weight problem. I thought I did, but looking back, I was perfectly healthy. As I hit junior high I started having issues with my self-image. I wasn't heavy, but I thought I was. I went through a period where I didn't really eat. I got really skinny, and if I remember correctly, my parents even took me to the doctor because I was losing weight. {Mom & Dad, if you're reading this, maybe you can refresh my memory.} I don't really remember what happened, but apparently I came out of that "phase" and returned to a normal weight.

Throughout high school I continued to struggle with my self-image. Mind you, I still didn't have a weight problem, but thought I did. I was at a healthy weight.

I didn't start putting on weight until after I got married. At our wedding, in 1998, I estimate I weighed around 140 pounds. Perfectly normal for my height, around 5' 3". Just about anyone who's married can tell you that once you've snagged that special someone, it's like you don't try any more. Chris and I both put on weight, I just put on a lot more than he did.

In 2001 we began talking about starting a family. We did get pregnant, but unfortunately, that pregnancy ended in an early miscarriage. Around that same time I decided it was time to do something about my weight. It had been going up increasingly in the 3 years that we'd been married.

The first time I darkened the door of Weight Watchers I weighed 197. {Goodness, did I just put that out there? It gets worse.} I thought I would keel over & die. I was almost 200 pounds? Shoot me now, please. It was a wake up call & I worked the WW program like a pro. The weight came off steadily until I was at around 160. I looked better, I felt better. Then I got comfortable. The plan fell by the wayside and the pounds started creeping back on.

Unfortunately, most of the time, when you lose weight & then put it back on, it brings friends. That's exactly what happened.

The number on the scale kept getting higher & higher and my self-esteem kept getting lower & lower. But did I do anything about it? Of course not.

In 2003 we bought our first house & decided we were ready to start a family. Unfortunately, we struggled with infertility, which in some part was caused by my weight. However, God is faithful and in October 2006 we were blessed with the birth of our son, Jonathan. {Referred to most times as Jboy.} In one of my early appointments, my OB stated that since I was quite overweight, he wanted me to try and keep my weight gain at around 10 pounds. For the entire pregnancy. Ummm, okay. Well, needless to say, that didn't happen, but all in all it wasn't too bad. I think I gained around 30 pounds or so. {I think it was all in my belly. And if you saw me near the end, I think you'd agree.}

Fast forward to just after Jboy's first birthday. I had, again, reached an all time high with my weight. This time, I knew what to do. Weight Watchers really works for me, when I follow the plan. So, November 2007 I rejoined at 234.2 pounds. {Ack!} Well, hello almost 40 pounds that I had lost, so kind of you to bring 35 friends with you.

Anyway, I found my groove & the weight started coming off again. I really thought I had it in the bag this time. My mind was in the right place and I was seeing results.

In September 2008 I reached 50 pounds lost!!! Amazing. 184 pounds. Again, I looked better & felt better. I'll give you three guesses as to what happened next, and the first two don't count. Yeah, I fell off the wagon. Again.

Seriously? Haven't I learned my lesson. Apparently not. You know what happens when you start eating all willy nilly? You gain weight. So, yeah, it all came back.

Press the fast forward button again to the present. We've decided that we're ready to make Jboy a big brother. I've been to the doctor & the same issues apply as last time, but now I'm heavier. Not going to help. That isn't the only reason I've started this journey again, just one of many. {Be looking for a separate post about that.}

I wasn't too sure how Chris would react to me wanting to join Weight Watchers again. We've invested a lot of money into this in the past & I obviously haven't really kept my end of the bargain. Thankfully, he's wonderful & ridiculously supportive. He was all for it. We know it works for me.

So, long story WAY longer, I re-rejoined Weight Watchers this past Saturday. I'd finally hit a wall & knew that I couldn't do it on my own. I'd tried a few times over the last few months, but I really need the structure & accountability the plan & meetings offer.

I had a fairly good idea of what the scale would show, and I was about right. Okay, here we go.... 251.2 pounds. {Whoa, that was hard to put out there.} On my little 5' 3" body, that's a lot! Let's do the math, shall we? 184 when I quit, 251 today. That's a 67 pound swing in, what, 18 months. Can we say unhealthy?

So, here I am. This is a new journey. I'm trying very hard to put out of my mind where I've been, and just concentrate on today. Do I have a guarantee that I'll reach my goal & maintain it this time? No, of course not. But I can make better decisions. For today. For this meal. For this minute.

In an effort to show where I am & eventually where I've been, here are some "before" photos. These were taken on 3.5.10. Look closely, hopefully you won't see this girl again.

I don't know how often I'll post. I'm thinking at least once a week with my results from weigh-in, but I'm really hoping to also use this as a journal for how I'm feeling, what I'm struggling with, and what's working for me.

I hope you'll ride along with me on this journey. (I promise I won't write novels every time.)