Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Wednesday, December 22nd

Weigh-in, lost 2.6 pounds.

After being under the weather for awhile, I am forcing myself to get back into my workout routine.  The past couple of weeks I have only gone to the gym an average of two times per week.  I usually like to go 3-4 times per week and I really felt the effects on Monday morning.  I tackled my usual workout only to find that my heart rate was a bit higher than normal and I was struggling with my speed.  Yesterday was better, but I need to commit myself in preparation for ski season!

I went to Weight Watchers to weigh in today, but didn't stay for the meeting.  My leader (Amy) was going over the program with a mother and daughter and I could tell they were skeptical.  They told Amy they needed to really think about what $40 per month really gets them before committing.  When Amy stepped away, they asked me about my experience and I really think I inspired them to sign up--what an awesome feeling.  As I was leaving, Amy suggested that I think about becoming a leader myself someday.  Food for thought!  

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Wednesday, December 15th

Weigh-in, lost 2.2 pounds. 

When I plugged in my loss on the Weight Watchers website this week, the warning returned about how I am losing weight too quickly.  I noticed that my average weekly loss is 1.4 pounds--well within the 1-2 pound healthy range.  Upon further investigation, I figured out that I am receiving those warnings because I am still a nursing mom.  I talked to my doctor before starting the program, so I feel okay about ignoring these warnings from now on.

Healthy behaviors to report this week that contributed to my loss...nothing out of the ordinary.  I have been battling a cold, so I actually skipped 2 workouts at the gym.  I also had a great splurge dinner with my fellow MAC artists at Buca di Beppo on Sunday night to celebrate the holidays.  Other than that, I try to make good choices when I have to grab fast food.  Subway is always the best, but variety is the spice of life.  I order a plain double cheeseburger at McDonalds from time to time (no fries, just a diet coke).  A bean burrito and classic taco at Del Taco also tops the list of favorites for me.

Today at my Weight Watchers meeting, my leader asked me to comment on the new Points Plus program since I have been consistent in my weight loss lately.  I really think she choose the wrong person to speak!  I admitted to the group that I haven't been tracking and I just repeat meals that worked for me on the old program.  She challenged me to track the points of the meals that work using the new system, but I just don't think it will happen until I have a bad week at the scale.  She continued to say that the group of people who are not embracing the new program will end up splitting off from the others and there will be division in our meetings.  Geez!  I will give it some more thought.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Wednesday, December 8th

Weigh-in, lost 2 pounds.

I had a good week.  When I plugged in my loss this week using e-tools on the Weight Watchers website, it finally deleted the warning that I was losing weight too quickly and to contact my doctor to make it slow down.  I don't think my healthy loss has anything to do with the new Points Plus system, though.  I had really good intentions of tracking points using all the new values, but it just didn't happen for me.  Instead, I continued to eat exactly the way I have been for several months now and figured it would probably work itself out--and it did.  I am sure that I will have a bad week at some point and I know that I will return to the basics--track points and activity to get back in check.

By the way, I was craving tamales in the worst way and decided to splurge before checking points values for them.  I was really surprised to find that they really aren't bad for you at all and that they are relatively low in points!  

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Wednesday, December 1st

Weigh-in, lost .4 lbs.

(I weighed in last week at Weight Watchers, but did not attend the meeting.  Lost zero, gained zero)

Today was total chaos at my Weight Watchers meeting with the introduction of the Point Plus program.  It was standing room only and I just wanted to get out of there as fast as possible and review the new materials on my own.  I had some extra time at the pickup lane at Logan and Aidan's preschool and pretty much figured out that food items have higher points now, but the daily allowance has also increased to account for it.  The main difference is that all fruits and most veggies now have a point value of 0.  In all honesty, I never really counted points for fruits anyway (especially since I don't care for bananas, which used to have a high value).

Speaking of not counting points,  I've been guilty of this for numerous weeks.  I think I have a good idea of the types of foods I can typically eat while losing weight, while being able to occasionally splurge and treat myself.  Starting tomorrow, I am going to challenge myself to track points using the new system online for the first time in quite awhile.  I am curious to see if I will be able to tell a difference in my weight loss or not.

And to finally comment on my weight loss with Thanksgiving...I feel good about losing .4 lbs, but I am also ready to have an outstanding weight loss week again.  I had lots of splurges last week--popcorn at the movie theater with my twins, Thanksgiving dinner, and I even had 1/2 of a bacon cheeseburger at Chili's with a few fries.  But, I was also relentless at the gym.  On Thanksgiving morning, I did over an hour of cardio--20 minutes on the elliptical, 20 minutes on the treadmill, 20 minutes on the bike.   

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Wednesday, November 17th

Weigh-in, lost 3.4 pounds.

I feel good about my loss this week.  I skipped my Friday workout to have lunch with an old friend and felt like it was totally worth it.  But, I have to say that I take scheduling my time at the gym pretty seriously.  In fact, my mom has told me that I am addicted to exercise more than once now.  I don't think I am truly addicted to the activity, but I do believe that my workouts heavily influence my results at the scale.  So, it would be more accurate to say that I am addicted successful numbers? 

I think I should mention that when I am finished with my workouts, I am not necessarily thinking about losing weight.  I also workout to prepare myself for ski season.  I want to be able to really perform on the runs like I did two years ago, pre-Rylan pregnancy.  Skiing is something I truly love and I need to prepare my body so that I can enjoy it this year.  My husband and I have made skiing a dating activity in the past, but I am also really looking forward to enjoying the slopes with my boys in the future.  I want to be healthy and fit not only for myself, but also for my family.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Wednesday, November 10th

Weigh-in, lost .2 pounds.  Yes, that is POINT 2. 

First, I suppose I should talk about the things that went wrong this week.  I went out to dinner with friends two times, which is definitely one time too many.  I also changed up my cardio routine a little by trying out a new elliptical machine.  A friend at work told me that she burned significantly more calories by using the elliptical with the yellow pedals at Lifetime.  I have always avoided those because they are crowded, but decided to give it a try.  She was right--I did burn more calories, but the sensation was also completely different.  Instead of feeling like I was jogging and sprinting, I felt like I was climbing.

Speaking of crowded machines, I am going to take a moment to vent about gym etiquette.  Nothing annoys me more than when someone hops on the elliptical machine next to me when there is a row of the same machine available.  Why do this?  Are we supposed to motivate each other?  Unless we are personal friends, I would prefer to have space...even just one machine between us, please.  Also, no matter how proud you are of your body, please put a shirt on over your sports bra. 

Okay, back to my tiny loss this week.  I am really not that upset over it since I had two huge weeks prior to this.  Plus, something FANTASTIC happened.  I am officially back into my pre-pregnancy Lucky jeans!  I think that is even better than a 2 pound loss.  :)

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Wednesday, November 3rd

Weigh-in, lost 4 lbs

I'm a little surprised at my success this week.  I really thought I had done some things wrong and prepared myself for a bad week at the scale.  First, I had two slices of Papa Murphy's Jackolantern pizza and one breadstick with the boys on Thursday night.  Then, I had a plain cheeseburger at Sonic on Saturday night after Trunk or Treat.  I also indulged in one fun-size Heath and split a fun-size Kit Kat with Aidan on Halloween.  You might be thinking that I must have gotten my workouts in, but I skipped Friday to go to Anderson Farms with the family.

I am really going to try to not let this go to my head this week as I think about healthy meals and getting my workouts scheduled.