Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Wednesday, January 19th

Weigh-in, lost 3.2 pounds

Well, when I really become goal-focused I am quite successful!  This week I really watched what I ate, but more importantly I made sure to engage in cardio-intensive workouts.  I should also point out that as a family we made sure to eat more at home over the past week.

People ask me all the time about healthy dinner ideas, so I thought I would include some that we made over the past week:  Sesame Shrimp Stir Fry with brown rice (I measure out one cup of brown rice), Chili with Crescent rolls (I had one large), Chili Dogs and Frozen Fries (I had one chili dog sprinkled with a little shredded cheddar and about 15 frozen fries), Paprika Chicken in the slow cooker with egg noodles, Bacon Leek and Tomato Spaghetti (I make sure to measure out a cup of pasta--well, a heaping cup) with Garlic Toast (one slice), Salmon Croquettes with Crashed Potatoes and corn.  

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Wednesday, January 12th

Weigh-in, gained 1.2 pounds

So, as I was logging my weight on the Weight Watchers website and feeling like a total loser, it gave me a message that gaining is part of the process.  It made me think that I need to accept the results of this past week and move on with a goal of having a good loss next week.

To analyze reasons for my gain, I know that it is mainly food related.  It is true that I returned to the gym this week, but I also ate uncharacteristically for myself.  I was up all night Thursday feeling sick and the only thing I wanted by Friday afternoon was a double cheeseburger from McDonalds.  That by itself it okay, but I also ate 1/2 of a medium order of fries.  On Friday night, Daryl and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary by going to Del Frisco's for dinner.  This is where you will see that my gain was inevitable--I had 2 martinis, shrimp remoulade appetizer, bread and butter, potatoes au gratin, filet mignon, Australian lobster tail, and 1/2 of a complimentary slice of amazing cheesecake.  I have to say that I enjoyed every bite and don't regret the meal at all.  Since then, I have been eating okay...but nothing stellar to really counteract my Friday night splurge.

I am going to get back on track this week and reach my goal.  I will let my gain inspire my loss next week.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Catching Up

Unofficial weigh-in, zero loss and zero gain. 

I have skipped the last two Weight Watchers meetings, but with good reason.  After being diagnosed with pneumonia, I thought that laying low and resting would be in my best interest.  So, my unofficial weigh-in is on my home scale and I've found it to be extremely close to the official scale at Weight Watchers. 

This is my second week off from the gym, too.  I am planning on returning full-force on Monday and I have to admit that I am preparing myself to suck.  Still, I really need to get back into my workout routine not only for my own sanity, but also in anticipation for some ski days. 

I think not gaining over Christmas and a subsequent illness is a good accomplishment, but it is time for me to get back to my goal.  I am only 3 pounds away from achieving my pre-baby weight and from setting a new goal. 

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.