So, yesterday morning would have typically been weigh-in time. However, yesterday was not a typical day. Somehow, my husband and I both neglected to set alarms. He woke up at 8:03 am and said, "Crap," to which I replied, "Wait, is it Thursday?" and we both quickly jumped out of bed, calling and emailing our jobs. Ugh...not a good feeling to be that rushed in the morning. Needless to say, weighing in was not at the top of my priority list.
When I finally did weigh myself late yesterday afternoon, I was less than thrilled with the result: 166.3. I am not disappointed or upset, just not thrilled. 0.2 lbs lost. That is still success. I still lost. Now, on to losing the final 6.3!!
Lately, the battle of the bulge has boiled down to exercise. The diet -- the lifestyle, I should say -- is swell. But the lack of exercise lately is certainly a culprit in the lack of poundage lost. And it's not only the scale that is relaying this message to me -- my dogs are also letting me know. They are also a lot happier after a good long walk, or a fun jog. If not for me, the exercise is essential for them. Motivation!
So, let's get off the couch, reach for the leashes/tennis rackets/gym bag/jump rope and get moving.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
Blame it on the Alcohol...but own it.
I've been away for a while, but I'm back!
The weigh-in last week (Thursday 4/12) didn't go as I hoped, but crossing fingers doesn't count as a weight loss trick. I didn't lose any weight, but I also didn't gain any. I stayed right at my previous weight.
One of the great things about Weight Watchers is the tracking method. It was no surprise that I hadn't lost any weight -- looking back on the week, there were a great deal of choices I made that weren't the best for me, especially when it came down to drinks.
Celebrations, like holidays, are tough times to stick to diet plans. Simply spending time with friends who have no worries about watching what they eat can also make your will crumble. Sure, I'll have a breadstick...or two...can I have more cheese on this one? Should we just get a pitcher of beer? It'll be more cost-effective. It goes on and on. And I made this mistake, and I will own it. No one made me eat a slice of pizza, and no one made me drink a beer or two. And I am not concerned with my having done this one evening, but Easter and a meal out AND a lack of exercise certainly did not lend a helping hand in getting closer to my goal. But that's on me.
I will not dwell on one unsuccessful week. Instead, it's important to learn from the choices I've made and continue to pursue my goal with the same excitement and patience that I have had since the beginning. I've let this be a lesson in self-control.
Once the introduction of alcohol (delicious, caloric, enjoyable alcohol...) has made it to the table, our will to watch what we eat becomes more dilapidated. Throughout this journey, I've continued to indulge (yes, just like brownies or fondue, alcohol is an indulgence) in the occasional glass of wine with dinner, beer with popcorn, or cocktail with friends. In doing so, it's important to tailor the rest of the day's choices and create a limit. Once you've indulged too much, you're less likely to make good food choices, but we already know this, right? It's just important to remember that the good ol' college-style run to Taco Bell after a night of drinking really isn't a great idea...and really never was (but I don't regret it! Haha).
In your weight loss journey, don't dwell on days gone "not so well". Review, learn, and move on...and don't get sloppy on cosmos. :)
The weigh-in last week (Thursday 4/12) didn't go as I hoped, but crossing fingers doesn't count as a weight loss trick. I didn't lose any weight, but I also didn't gain any. I stayed right at my previous weight.
One of the great things about Weight Watchers is the tracking method. It was no surprise that I hadn't lost any weight -- looking back on the week, there were a great deal of choices I made that weren't the best for me, especially when it came down to drinks.
Celebrations, like holidays, are tough times to stick to diet plans. Simply spending time with friends who have no worries about watching what they eat can also make your will crumble. Sure, I'll have a breadstick...or two...can I have more cheese on this one? Should we just get a pitcher of beer? It'll be more cost-effective. It goes on and on. And I made this mistake, and I will own it. No one made me eat a slice of pizza, and no one made me drink a beer or two. And I am not concerned with my having done this one evening, but Easter and a meal out AND a lack of exercise certainly did not lend a helping hand in getting closer to my goal. But that's on me.
I will not dwell on one unsuccessful week. Instead, it's important to learn from the choices I've made and continue to pursue my goal with the same excitement and patience that I have had since the beginning. I've let this be a lesson in self-control.
Once the introduction of alcohol (delicious, caloric, enjoyable alcohol...) has made it to the table, our will to watch what we eat becomes more dilapidated. Throughout this journey, I've continued to indulge (yes, just like brownies or fondue, alcohol is an indulgence) in the occasional glass of wine with dinner, beer with popcorn, or cocktail with friends. In doing so, it's important to tailor the rest of the day's choices and create a limit. Once you've indulged too much, you're less likely to make good food choices, but we already know this, right? It's just important to remember that the good ol' college-style run to Taco Bell after a night of drinking really isn't a great idea...and really never was (but I don't regret it! Haha).
In your weight loss journey, don't dwell on days gone "not so well". Review, learn, and move on...and don't get sloppy on cosmos. :)
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Thursday = Weigh-in day!
Weight Watchers has completely changed the way I approach food. I think so much more about what I eat. Not in an obsessive way, but in an educated and interested way. I simply can't say enough about how much I've learned by trying to eat foods I want by reinventing them -- or still just eating them, in a smaller quantity.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with letting yourself eat "junk" every once in a while. HOWEVER, the attitude that you have about food cannot be altered after having a slice of pizza or two one night! If I could go back and tell myself to stop thinking, "Well, I didn't do well last night, so might as well enjoy what I want tonight as well. I'll get back to the diet tomorrow," I might have lost all this weight forever ago!
That's the slippery slope that so many people talk about.
I can't stress the importance of knowing that having a slice of cheesecake is not a diet ruiner! But, it also won't make you feel great. Sometimes, I think I deserve a reward for my hard work, so I let myself have chips and queso. Chips and queso do not love me as much as I once loved them. But I don't obsess about it or feel like a failure because every morning, I wake up with a brand new day to make brand new decisions in.
Starting weight: 220
Last week: 168
Today: 166.5
6.5 lbs to go to hit goal weight. I am ecstatic!!!
There is absolutely nothing wrong with letting yourself eat "junk" every once in a while. HOWEVER, the attitude that you have about food cannot be altered after having a slice of pizza or two one night! If I could go back and tell myself to stop thinking, "Well, I didn't do well last night, so might as well enjoy what I want tonight as well. I'll get back to the diet tomorrow," I might have lost all this weight forever ago!
That's the slippery slope that so many people talk about.
I can't stress the importance of knowing that having a slice of cheesecake is not a diet ruiner! But, it also won't make you feel great. Sometimes, I think I deserve a reward for my hard work, so I let myself have chips and queso. Chips and queso do not love me as much as I once loved them. But I don't obsess about it or feel like a failure because every morning, I wake up with a brand new day to make brand new decisions in.
Starting weight: 220
Last week: 168
Today: 166.5
6.5 lbs to go to hit goal weight. I am ecstatic!!!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Shopping
It's not a secret -- I absolutely LOVE shopping. There are not many things that get me more giddy than when I walk out of a store with a brand new pair of jeans! or pair of shoes! or sweater! Even when I had gained all the weight, I enjoyed shopping. But now, I love it so much that it's nearly a problem!
People laugh when I say things like, "Man, I'm going to have to buy a new pair of pants." They laugh because it seems like such a silly "problem" to have to put up with while losing weight. It's only a "problem" because I already have the shopping appetite of a 1980's mall rat. Never having the need for much (if any) of an excuse to shop, dropping sizes is like a drug...I just have to have more clothes! Clothes that fit!
I'm getting better about setting guidelines for my shopping addiction, and I'm certainly not robbing my husband or myself of our savings. It's just so much fun to see what I can fit into now!
I've been motivated to get healthy. That's how this whole thing began. But now, I'm totally motivated by setting limitations to my shopping habit -- if I hit a certain goal, I am allowed to buy a certain thing I need. I own shorts now! Shorts! Rarely if EVER did I wear shorts last summer (or ever, once again) and in Dallas, that's TOUGH. I was ashamed of my legs and how awful I looked in shorts. Also, I hated how much my thighs would rub together so much that my shorts would creep up into...well, that's enough of that because I think you get the picture. So I got away with wearing jersey skirts for the most part, but that doesn't keep your thighs from rubbing. Oh, the heat rash!! Yowzers!
Anyway, I bring all of this up because not everything about weight has to be about health and numbers. It can be about finding an outfit to show off a new sense of security. Wearing a two-piece bathing suit. Fitting into a dress you wore on your first date. After all, nothing is more sexy than confidence, so if you've got it, love it!
People laugh when I say things like, "Man, I'm going to have to buy a new pair of pants." They laugh because it seems like such a silly "problem" to have to put up with while losing weight. It's only a "problem" because I already have the shopping appetite of a 1980's mall rat. Never having the need for much (if any) of an excuse to shop, dropping sizes is like a drug...I just have to have more clothes! Clothes that fit!
I'm getting better about setting guidelines for my shopping addiction, and I'm certainly not robbing my husband or myself of our savings. It's just so much fun to see what I can fit into now!
I've been motivated to get healthy. That's how this whole thing began. But now, I'm totally motivated by setting limitations to my shopping habit -- if I hit a certain goal, I am allowed to buy a certain thing I need. I own shorts now! Shorts! Rarely if EVER did I wear shorts last summer (or ever, once again) and in Dallas, that's TOUGH. I was ashamed of my legs and how awful I looked in shorts. Also, I hated how much my thighs would rub together so much that my shorts would creep up into...well, that's enough of that because I think you get the picture. So I got away with wearing jersey skirts for the most part, but that doesn't keep your thighs from rubbing. Oh, the heat rash!! Yowzers!
Anyway, I bring all of this up because not everything about weight has to be about health and numbers. It can be about finding an outfit to show off a new sense of security. Wearing a two-piece bathing suit. Fitting into a dress you wore on your first date. After all, nothing is more sexy than confidence, so if you've got it, love it!
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Eatin' Well
Sometimes, I get cravings that I can only compare to those of an exceedingly hormonal pregnant woman. And really, I don't really have any idea how much exceedingly hormonal pregnant women crave things, but I can only imagine it's at least as bad as I do every once in a while!
Last night, the craving was for Chinese food. Mmm...deep friend anything covered in high-calorie sauce and plenty of puffiness-inducing, sodium-packed soy sauce. Egg drop soup with loads of crispy, deep fried wonton strips. Can't forget the side of fried rice, either. Putting this food into words, however, really does make it sound less appetizing, right? How about describing the makings of a fast food cheeseburger or chicken "nuggets"? Okay, I know, we see enough about this stuff in the media (ah, delicious ammonia-treated boneless lean beef trimmings), but are we REALLY seeing it? Are we REALLY engaged in this battle against our bodies and our health?
Alright, enough already. The purpose of this is not to go off the deep end about the vast and growing issues with the production of large quantities of cheap, eco-terrorizing and nutrition-less crap that we sometimes grab because we simply are too tired to cook dinner or crave it terribly. I really just want to highlight the simplicity of thinking about food in a different way, maybe by just putting it into words. As you reach for a not-so-healthy food, try asking yourself, What does this do for me? What is it made of? How could I reinvent this to make it more nutritious?
I had homemade egg drop soup last night with homemade spring rolls. Hit. The. Spot. My husband and I made this dinner together after one heck of a long day. The meal was wonderful and was almost as good as the time we spent together making it. It was a double-whammy of happiness-inducing good stuff.
For the spring rolls, you only need a few ingredients:
Wonton/egg roll wrappers
Olive oil
Coleslaw (this can be purchased pre-slawed...you know, without the dressing...)
Low sodium soy sauce
Pinch of sugar
Broccoli (if you like it -- try other veggies too, like green onion!)
While the oven gets pre-heated to 375 degrees, heat 2 tsp of olive oil over medium heat. Add coleslaw (one small package will do the trick -- we used Dole brand last night) and stir until softened. Add 1 Tbsp of low-sodium soy sauce and pinch of sugar until blended. Let cool slightly. Spray baking sheet with nonstick spray. To prepare rolls, simply wet the edges of each wrapper with water (using your fingertips works just fine). Spoon about a 1/2 cup of prepared filling onto the middle of the wrapper. Fold two corners toward the center, then finish by rolling one remaining corner over the filling and to the other. Place on baking sheet and lightly spray with nonstick spray. Bake until golden (roughly 15-17 minutes). Delicious! Plus, you can totally add a dash of sesame seeds to the mix. Nothing fried. :)
For the soup, we just heated some organic low-sodium chicken broth (vegetable broth works great too!) with chopped green onion and bok choy (if you haven't tried bok choy yet, your are missing out!). Once the broth and veggies are brought to a boil, lower to medium heat. Scramble an egg or two in a bowl. While stirring the broth, pour the egg into it slowly. We added a little cayenne pepper and garlic powder as well, to give it a little extra oomph.
I would be a total hypocrite if I said I never ever eat fast food, or that I never dine out. I do. However, those outings are considered special occasions, or even sometimes necessary. It's difficult to argue with the options available outside of gas station munchies while on a long road trip. I definitely enjoy a good meal out, but I really enjoy a great meal in.
Last night, the craving was for Chinese food. Mmm...deep friend anything covered in high-calorie sauce and plenty of puffiness-inducing, sodium-packed soy sauce. Egg drop soup with loads of crispy, deep fried wonton strips. Can't forget the side of fried rice, either. Putting this food into words, however, really does make it sound less appetizing, right? How about describing the makings of a fast food cheeseburger or chicken "nuggets"? Okay, I know, we see enough about this stuff in the media (ah, delicious ammonia-treated boneless lean beef trimmings), but are we REALLY seeing it? Are we REALLY engaged in this battle against our bodies and our health?
Alright, enough already. The purpose of this is not to go off the deep end about the vast and growing issues with the production of large quantities of cheap, eco-terrorizing and nutrition-less crap that we sometimes grab because we simply are too tired to cook dinner or crave it terribly. I really just want to highlight the simplicity of thinking about food in a different way, maybe by just putting it into words. As you reach for a not-so-healthy food, try asking yourself, What does this do for me? What is it made of? How could I reinvent this to make it more nutritious?
I had homemade egg drop soup last night with homemade spring rolls. Hit. The. Spot. My husband and I made this dinner together after one heck of a long day. The meal was wonderful and was almost as good as the time we spent together making it. It was a double-whammy of happiness-inducing good stuff.
For the spring rolls, you only need a few ingredients:
Wonton/egg roll wrappers
Olive oil
Coleslaw (this can be purchased pre-slawed...you know, without the dressing...)
Low sodium soy sauce
Pinch of sugar
Broccoli (if you like it -- try other veggies too, like green onion!)
While the oven gets pre-heated to 375 degrees, heat 2 tsp of olive oil over medium heat. Add coleslaw (one small package will do the trick -- we used Dole brand last night) and stir until softened. Add 1 Tbsp of low-sodium soy sauce and pinch of sugar until blended. Let cool slightly. Spray baking sheet with nonstick spray. To prepare rolls, simply wet the edges of each wrapper with water (using your fingertips works just fine). Spoon about a 1/2 cup of prepared filling onto the middle of the wrapper. Fold two corners toward the center, then finish by rolling one remaining corner over the filling and to the other. Place on baking sheet and lightly spray with nonstick spray. Bake until golden (roughly 15-17 minutes). Delicious! Plus, you can totally add a dash of sesame seeds to the mix. Nothing fried. :)
For the soup, we just heated some organic low-sodium chicken broth (vegetable broth works great too!) with chopped green onion and bok choy (if you haven't tried bok choy yet, your are missing out!). Once the broth and veggies are brought to a boil, lower to medium heat. Scramble an egg or two in a bowl. While stirring the broth, pour the egg into it slowly. We added a little cayenne pepper and garlic powder as well, to give it a little extra oomph.
I would be a total hypocrite if I said I never ever eat fast food, or that I never dine out. I do. However, those outings are considered special occasions, or even sometimes necessary. It's difficult to argue with the options available outside of gas station munchies while on a long road trip. I definitely enjoy a good meal out, but I really enjoy a great meal in.
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