4 Women Losin’ it with Weight Watchers


Long time, no blog
April 17, 2008, 4:09 pm
Filed under: Struggles, goals, self-forgiveness

Well, I’m back. SnarkyChic, CraZ, & I have all been going through/dealing with big changes in our various lives. I am trying to find a job in another state. (in my experience, job hunting does little for one’s self-confidence, I am just thankful for having great friends like these guys and the rest of you!)

I still don’t have a job in that other state yet. But I am still working on it and have a few leads. I will let you know when I get one!

In the meantime, I have been not doing very well on my healthy lifestyle efforts; I fell off the C25k wagon. I am going to get back on the wagon though!

Yesterday was the first time in a long time that I stayed within my calorie goals. Right now, I am using sparkpeople.com instead of weightwatchers. But you can use it with WW. I love it. It is similar to WW online but free and I think it might have more content but I’m not sure. I think that both WW online and this system are great because they provide you with so much information and support. Like I said yesterday was Day 1. Today is Day 2. Tomorrow I will be able to report that I stayed within my goals again today. If I can do Day 1 I can Day 100, Day 200, and Day 365.

Sparkpeople tells me that I should reach my goal weight in a year. Of course, I want to reach it this month but that is not reasonable, one year probably is.

It is pretty close to the end of day 2 and it looks like it will be a great day 2! I have had plenty of water, exercised, stretched, and stayed within my calorie guidelines. I am pretty tired though.

This afternoon I found a fun way to both nerd out and get some exercise motivation. On sparkpeople there are different groups one of them is called the Eowyn Challenge. In the movie version of the Lord of the Rings, Eowyn walked with her people from their main city/keep to a fortress refuge. It was a long walk. When the LOR movies where coming out, some women started the Eowyn Challenge – to walk as far as she did. It has become a challege to walk the paths of the various characters of the books. SnarkyChic & I are walking from Bag End in Hobbiton to Rivendell – 458 miles. Tonight I logged my first 1.8. Only 456.2 to go! Woo hoo! I am still hoping to finish the C25K program this summer after the move, in the meantime, I am getting stronger and building endurance.



2 steps forward . . .
March 17, 2008, 9:29 pm
Filed under: Struggles, goals, self-forgiveness | Tags: , ,

I wonder why I keep losing 10 pounds and then sabotage my efforts. I am sure this is something I should try to figure out so as to learn to not do it anymore.

The family wedding was last weekend. It was very nice. I had a great time and even found something to wear. I am trying to get back in focus and make significant progress both with my weight loss and finding a job. I need to get more organized on both fronts and get a plan.

Tonight I started my couch to 5k program. I barely survived my first program! But I can do this! I just noticed found the podcasts that tell you when to run and when to walk with music. I am going to try one next time. It is a 9 week program. That means the soonest race I could do would be the week of May 19.  Here is where I will track my progress.

On May 26, 2008, there is the Brian Kraft Memorial 5k. Last year, there were 297 male finishers and 187 female finishers. The fee is $20 ($25 on race day) and I get t-shirt. My brother & his friend are doing a fundraiser that involves hiking the the Appalachian Trail this summer. Maybe if I do a 5k or two, I can learn about organizing one and some day organize a 5k for MLD. I will have to keep my eye out for another 5k that I might want to run in sometime after May 19.



The little things . . .
February 27, 2008, 4:46 pm
Filed under: Struggles, goals, questions | Tags: , ,

Making big changes can be daunting and overwhelming. Back In Skinny Jeans has a post called Two Tiny Changes Tuesdays.

I feel like I should say something like “and here are the two tiny changes I am going to make”. But I am drawing a blank. I’m sure I’ll come up with something.

Update: I decided that my first little thing would be to add 1 extra serving of vegs to my diet a diet this week.  (it’s a start . . .) That will mean I have 3 servings a day.  Then in a week or two I will add another serving.



What a Tuesday
February 26, 2008, 2:27 pm
Filed under: goals, points | Tags: , , , , , , ,

So my morning started out with some serious anxiety. I knew I was ready for it but jury trials are an anxious sort of thing. I had a good breakfast, put the kid on the bus and headed out.

The charges were dismissed, last week. I got NO notice. So I ate a WW Smart One for lunch (did not like it). Am still on plan.

Stupid trial even messed up last night’s workout as I got distracted and couldn’t finish.

I will be putting in a good work out tonight.

Breakfast: Special K with Milk -3 (21)
Snack: Cheese & Crackers -2 (19)
Lunch: WW Smart Ones Chicken Enchilada Monterey -6 (13)
Snack: Banana -2 (11)
Snack: Hostess 100 Cal. Ch. Cupcake -1 (10)
Snack: Kashi PB Bar -2 (8) (Oh crap, I only have 8 points left for dinner!)
Dinner: Kraft Mac & Cheese Spirals & a Kashi Bar-7 (1)
Exercise Points: Treadmill Alternating 1 min. med 2 min hard for 30 minutes & 20 mins strength training +5.5 (6.5)
Special K w/milk -3 (2.5)



New Morning, New Week, New Attitude
February 24, 2008, 12:44 pm
Filed under: goals, points, reviews | Tags: , , , , , , ,

Yesterday, I kept track of nothing; I ate more than I should have; I ended up with an agitated stomach. but I work up this morning ready to start again. Tonight I have a Book Club meeting so I will have to get my exercise in early today.

I am going to lose that next 1.5 pounds this week. I will.

Breakfast: Special K with Milk -3 (21)
Snack: Oats & Chocolate Fiber1 Bar -2 (19)
Lunch: WW Chicken Parmesan -5 (14)
Snack: 100 Calorie Ch. Cupcakes -1 (13)
Snack: Cheese & Crackers -2 (11)
Dinner: PB & J Sandwich, Fiber1 Bar -7 (5)
Water Count: 54 oz.

WW Smart Ones Chicken Parmesan: Grade B
For 5 points, this was a decent lunch. There was quite a bit of pasta and quite a bit of marinara sauce. The chicken was a good size and was mostly good. It did have a tough spot or two, but was really pretty decent. I did have to cut the chicken with a knife so I don’t think I’d use the word tender but neither was it really tough. The marinara was nothing exciting but was most certainly plentiful. The pasta was thick and plentiful. I could also really taste the touch of cheese & I LOVE cheese. Love it! Definitely something I think I will add to my weekly lunch routine.



Reconcilliation
February 21, 2008, 9:42 am
Filed under: goals, points | Tags: , , , , , ,

The scale and I have reconciled. I am back down to the -8.5 total. I don’t know if I will hit my first goal this weekend or not (Goal #1 = Lose 10 pounds). I sincerely hope I do. Last night I had a good workout. I did not, however, stretch out enough. The result is an uncomfortable morning. I will have to do a good stretching routine tonight after the treadmill. I have a difficult time timing my strength routine. And although I am glad I answered my phone in the middle of my strength routine last night (because then I got to see the eclipse) I am going to try not to answer the phone or do anything else between sets. I think that will make keeping my heart rate up easier as well as timing easier. Timing is important to calculating my points.

I noticed that again I am not eating enough veggies. So I do have some broccoli for my lunch and maybe I will have some tomato soup for dinner. (Seems more likely I’ll have cerel.)

Breakfast: SpecialK w/ milk -3 (21)
Snack: Little Bites 100 Cal pack C. Chip -2 (19)
Lunch: LC Roasted Veg Pizza + Broccoli -6 (13)
Snack: 3 musketeers mint -3 (10)
Dinner: cheese & crackers, cereal & milk -6 (4)
Snack: 2 point WW ice cream bar thing; english muffin, 1 T jam & 1 cheese wedge -5 (-1)

Water Count: 48 oz.



I hate the scale
February 19, 2008, 9:39 am
Filed under: Struggles, goals, points | Tags: , , , , , ,

I am up 1.5 pounds today. I was yesterday too. (It is the same 1.5 both days.) Sort of ticks me off. But I will not let that scale defeat me. I will continue to eat only 24 points plus my exercise points every day. I will continue to exercise. Stupid scale better have a smaller number on Saturday – a number 3 pounds smaller.

Breakfast: Cheese Wedge on a Thomas Light English Muffin -2 (22)
Snack: WW Chocolate Cake Snac; Cheese Wedge with Crackers -4 (18)
Lunch: Applebees – Chips & Dip; Tom Basil Soup; Grilled Cheese BLT; 1/2 dessert shot -24 (a guess) (-6)

Oh Noes!

photo from lolcats – i can has cheezeburger.

Okay so even after I work out I have 0 points left ZERO! Damn, I can’t eat out anymore.

Plus I had 2 more WW chocolate cakes -2 = -8. Damn

Water Count: 16 oz.

p.s. Ladies, I thought you were going to blog more this week . . .



A new week
February 17, 2008, 10:39 am
Filed under: Struggles, goals, points, self-forgiveness | Tags: , , , , , ,

Yesterday was a good day, in terms of enjoyment of friends and family. My god-daughter was baptized with her older sister. I enjoyed an afternoon of fabulous food and drinks. I decided early in the day I wouldn’t be counting which is good because Tanya’s mom made her yummy lasagna, there was a good cake with ice cream, there was sherbert punch (with Grey Goose Vodka), and there were cookies, and later in the day some chips & dip. Oh Lord! I did not weigh myself this morning. I am sure I didn’t destroy my progress. Onward with the good fight!

I didn’t hit 10 pounds with yesterday’s weigh in so I have this week to get down at least 1.5 pounds! I will have to figure out how to celebrate without using food as a reward.

Today, I am taking K to my Aunt’s so she can spend her week off with my Aunt and Mom. I am sure there will be a meal involved so that will be a challenge. I hope she doesn’t make something too fatty. I will bring my Complete food companion so I can guesstimate how bad the meal is. I will have to make sure that squeeze in some exercise before I get K and take her over there. That should off-set some of the badness. . . .

Breakfast: 3/4 c. Special K (Chocolate of course) 1/2 c. milk -3 (21)
Snack: Laughing Cow Cheese Wedge & crackers -3 (18)
Exercise Points: 30 minutes intense cardio + 40 minutes strength training +5 (23)
Lunch: Wendy’s Jr. Cheese B + Small fries -13 (10)
Snack: 100 calorie Petridge Farm Dark Chocolate Cookies -2 (8)
Dinner: Laughing Cow Cheese+ crackers, Special K + Milk -7 (1)

Water: 96 oz



Weigh-In Time!
February 17, 2008, 10:27 am
Filed under: goals, weigh in | Tags: , ,

A’s Weigh-In was yesterday (2/16/08): weekly -3.5 total -8.5 (woo 1.5 pounds to go until goal #1 – yippeee!)

 Snarkychic’s Weigh-In (2/18/08: weekly – 3; total – 8 lbs (yipee, the stomach flu paid off)



So close to a goal . . .
February 15, 2008, 9:53 am
Filed under: Struggles, goals, points | Tags: , , , , , ,

One of my first goals is to be down 10 pounds Wednesday I was done a total of 8.5 and today a total of 9. If tomorrow (my real weigh-in day), I am at one of those, I will be happy. And it looks like by my weigh-in a week from tomorrow I’ll definitely be there.

One of the things I struggle with is not letting K see much of my obsession/struggle with food and my weight. Last night, she wanted to exercise with me. Being 8/nearly 9, she isn’t old enough to use hand weights, as I understand it isn’t good for her joints. So I told her she could work out with me, but she couldn’t use the hand weights. Half way through she ran and got 2 Barbies to use as her weights. I also told her that she isn’t supposed to work out too much as I don’t want her losing any weight. She had gymnastics last night too so she had already exercised. How do you encourage girls to exercise, get used to exercising, learn to enjoy exercising without creating little girls who are obsessed with exercising? It is also hard for us to have the same dinner. I am trying to make it a practice to introduce her to new foods and new vegetables. But sometimes, it is hard not to just have a PB&J – which is okay for her too with vegs & fruit & milk – or a Lean Cuisine – which I don’t want her to have too often.

For lunch today I had the Lean Cuisine Three Cheese Chicken. The box says it is grilled white meat chicken strips in a three cheese sauce with broccoli and red peppers. It also claims to have 2 servings of vegs. There was lots of cheesy three cheese sauce, enough that I ate my chicken, which was pretty tasty, and then put my vegs in it, delicious, then I ate the left over cheese sauce. The whole deal was 4 points and quite good. As a creature of habit, this meal may become one of my new habits.

It is Friday night, I have 10 regular points left & 25 flex points. I have 3 hours before I drop of K. I have my weigh-in in the morning. What to eat for dinner? I had been thinking that we’d have dinner with C & watch movies but he’ll be a while getting home. That plan had involved thin-crust domino’s pizza. But no Domino’s here in town. I shall have to check on the calories and points in a thin crust Hungry Howies. we aren’t big fans of HH, really at all, better pizza joints and better delivery in general is one of things we are looking forward to with the big move. I have never had their thin crust so maybe it doesn’t suck as much as the rest of their pizza. 2 slices which is 1/4 of the pizza has 266 calories, barely a gram of fiber, and 7 grams of fat to make for 6 points. hmmmm, if it isn’t good, it’ll be a waste of 6 points. The good news is we don’t like their bread at all so no temptation there. Little Caesar’s is the only other joint in town and they don’t have a thin crust. Oh, the dilemma’s of the food obsessed. I suppose we could go to a restaurant like AppleBee’s where they put the points in the menu. I believe we will go with the HH thin crust, then we can spend some time with the dog and not feel bad.

I found a good site that lists alcohol points. I may use some of my flex points to have an adult beverage later this evening.

Breakfast: 3/4 c. Spec. K. Chocolatey Delight 1/2 c. milk 3 (21)
Lunch: Lean Cuisine Chicken in Cheese Sauce with Broccoli, Banana, 100 cal pack (chocolate chip this time, not as good as chocolate brownie) 8 (13)
Snack: Laughing Cow Light Cheese (mmmmm, yummy) crackers 3 (10)

Water Count: 60 oz.