Yes, not only did I not LOSE any this week, but I GAINED 1 pound. My elusive 25 pound landmark stays out of range for another week. I'm keeping it in perspective however. I mean, one pound could be the difference between riding my bike to the previous meeting and driving to this one, or the salty food I'd eaten causing water retention, or the allergy medicine I started taking...who knows? I DO know that I stayed with the plan, and that the plan works, so I'm not going to lose focus over a pound.
I will say that tracking and measuring is crucial! Portion control was the topic this past meeting and the timing couldn't have been better. You start measuring the yogurt and getting exactly a cup, then you move onto just putting it in the bowl and saying, "yeah, that looks like a cup" and every now and then you need to check yourself. I'm actually pretty good with the cup, but the tablespoon still misses the mark. That's one of the most important ones for me, because IF the serving size is measured in Tbsp, then it's probably a higher point value item so accuracy is critical.
Spring Break was a lot of fun. We tried to do one "fun" thing a day. They each had a friend over, we went to the movies, the Lego store, the chocolate candy factory, and since they cleaned their rooms and their bathroom before the break started, I didn't have to ask them to clean while they were out of school.
Here's hoping the scale reflects my attitude this week!
Less later,
Laurie
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Day 3, week 10 - What a great week!
Let's get the numbers out of the way first. I lost 3.8 pounds this week, bringing the total to 24.2 pounds in 10 weeks!
Today is the first full day of Spring Break. It's been busy, for sure. I started the day riding my bike 5 miles to the weigh-in and then back again. For someone who hasn't ridden further than 2 miles in the past few years, 10 is making my backside quite sore. Also, my hips and knees have been hurting since I got home. Apparently, I'm not as spry as I used to be.
After that, I spent time cutting a new solar blanket for the pool to get the water in the pool to a swimmable temperature.
Then it was time to help the Brownies do their service project by walking around a neighborhood park during a festival to pick up trash for three hours. Not all that strenuous, but my endurance was tested after the exhausting morning I had.
But think of all of the activity points I earned! It allowed me to have two chicken enchiladas, some tortilla chips, and some GS cookies for dessert when we got home! There's an improvement to Weight Watchers I like a lot. It used to be that, regardless of the amount of exercise you did, you were limited to 3 points maximum for activity points. This is so much better.
Speaking of GS cookies, I have definitely been eating too many of them. I've stayed within the points, but instead of healthy stuff, I've been eating the cookies...not exclusively :), but more than I should. I'll be done with them soon. The cookie sale is now over! I have some paperwork to do, but it's over for 2010. Of course, I bought enough to freeze so they'd last. I just have to forget they're in the freezer and I'll be fine.
I'll sign off for now, and promise to try to eat more fruits and veggies this week, and get some more exercise in. Plus, we'll have some fun this week too!
Less later,
Laurie
Today is the first full day of Spring Break. It's been busy, for sure. I started the day riding my bike 5 miles to the weigh-in and then back again. For someone who hasn't ridden further than 2 miles in the past few years, 10 is making my backside quite sore. Also, my hips and knees have been hurting since I got home. Apparently, I'm not as spry as I used to be.
After that, I spent time cutting a new solar blanket for the pool to get the water in the pool to a swimmable temperature.
Then it was time to help the Brownies do their service project by walking around a neighborhood park during a festival to pick up trash for three hours. Not all that strenuous, but my endurance was tested after the exhausting morning I had.
But think of all of the activity points I earned! It allowed me to have two chicken enchiladas, some tortilla chips, and some GS cookies for dessert when we got home! There's an improvement to Weight Watchers I like a lot. It used to be that, regardless of the amount of exercise you did, you were limited to 3 points maximum for activity points. This is so much better.
Speaking of GS cookies, I have definitely been eating too many of them. I've stayed within the points, but instead of healthy stuff, I've been eating the cookies...not exclusively :), but more than I should. I'll be done with them soon. The cookie sale is now over! I have some paperwork to do, but it's over for 2010. Of course, I bought enough to freeze so they'd last. I just have to forget they're in the freezer and I'll be fine.
I'll sign off for now, and promise to try to eat more fruits and veggies this week, and get some more exercise in. Plus, we'll have some fun this week too!
Less later,
Laurie
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Day 4, week 9 Not much to report....NOT!
Here I sit blogging about nothing in particular except, oh yeah, I forgot...I've lost 10% of my starting weight! I've lost 20.5 pounds! I'm really excited to report this, except that my "mathy" friends will be able to figure out my starting weight. Oh well, I said at the beginning, fail or succeed, blogging will show this all publicly.
10% is a really big landmark in weight loss. That is the loss at which you are supposed to be able to see real changes, AND you body starts to experience measurable health improvements as well. I will concur. The constant pain in my feet has lessened considerably, my sugar highs and lows are much better (no, I wasn't diabetic, or pre-diabetic, but I was always a bit hypoglycemic, so when I was hungry, I felt I HAD to eat), all of my clothes are loose, we've all tried new foods and liked many of them...it's just been a successful experience all the way around so far.
The other landmark is that, for me, this is half of the weight I think I'd like to lose. I may change my mind as I approach the end of the next 20, but halfway to goal is an awesome feeling. I do believe that the weight loss will likely slow down from here on in, but hopefully it doesn't grind to a halt! I've started to add a little exercise at a time and yesterday, as a family, we walked...a lot. Start the morning with a 1 mile walk/run at the zoo event Claire's running club was in, then walked at the Farmer's Market (as well as buying a tomato plant and some other yummies), then went home for a couple of hours of housecleaning/yardwork, then BACK to the zoo for 2.5 more hours and many miles more of walking. We got home and prepared some of the yummy fresh beets and their greens (who knew we'd like those?-except for Claire) and a perfectly grilled burger...ahhhh. Life truly is good.
Well, I've finished meal planning for the week (a busy one, so quick meals), and I've blogged, so it's off to finish laundry, food shop, then go to work at Hallmark this evening.
Less later,
Laurie
10% is a really big landmark in weight loss. That is the loss at which you are supposed to be able to see real changes, AND you body starts to experience measurable health improvements as well. I will concur. The constant pain in my feet has lessened considerably, my sugar highs and lows are much better (no, I wasn't diabetic, or pre-diabetic, but I was always a bit hypoglycemic, so when I was hungry, I felt I HAD to eat), all of my clothes are loose, we've all tried new foods and liked many of them...it's just been a successful experience all the way around so far.
The other landmark is that, for me, this is half of the weight I think I'd like to lose. I may change my mind as I approach the end of the next 20, but halfway to goal is an awesome feeling. I do believe that the weight loss will likely slow down from here on in, but hopefully it doesn't grind to a halt! I've started to add a little exercise at a time and yesterday, as a family, we walked...a lot. Start the morning with a 1 mile walk/run at the zoo event Claire's running club was in, then walked at the Farmer's Market (as well as buying a tomato plant and some other yummies), then went home for a couple of hours of housecleaning/yardwork, then BACK to the zoo for 2.5 more hours and many miles more of walking. We got home and prepared some of the yummy fresh beets and their greens (who knew we'd like those?-except for Claire) and a perfectly grilled burger...ahhhh. Life truly is good.
Well, I've finished meal planning for the week (a busy one, so quick meals), and I've blogged, so it's off to finish laundry, food shop, then go to work at Hallmark this evening.
Less later,
Laurie
Monday, March 1, 2010
Day 5, week 8 --- I'm 44 today!
Happy Birthday to me (singing)! I'm feeling great and losing weight. I've lost 19.8 pounds, so far and can't wait to hit 20 this week. The big birthday plan is to go out to dinner at a steakhouse (TBD) and head home for birthday mini-cupcakes. I made them just now, and can't wait to see how they taste. It's a speedy, easy, low-point way to have your cake and eat it too! Simple:
one box of cake mix (any brand, any flavor)
one can of diet soda (and brand, any flavor)
Mix in bowl by hand until moistened (mine still had some lumps), bake at 350 for the amount of time the box says (10-12 min. for minis). The first tray just came out at 11, just right!
Calculate points using the box label (mix only numbers) and divide by the number of portions you got out of it. I got 48 mini-muffins out of mine, so it's 1 point per muffin. Different brands and flavors will give you different points.
I got frosting (in a tub) for the rest of the family, but I'll dip mine in some cool-whip if it needs frosting.
Point-wise, it's a better deal than Girl Scout cookies. Who knew? You can make different flavor blends...cherry cola with chocolate cake, orange soda with white cake, endless combos.
The weekend was another dreary, cold, rainy weekend. And then Claire got sick. She left for a fun outing with the Brownies Saturday morning, and I was called within the first 30 minutes to come get her. She got sick in their car and came home with a fever and sore throat. She later developed a rash, and I decided that was enough reason to go to urgent care after just a day with fever. I suspected Scarlet Fever and proved why they call us "Dr. Mom". I was right. In fact, the doctor was sad he didn't have students there to show her "classic presentation". The only thing that wasn't textbook was the fact that her fever was not really high. She never really got over 100.5, but it wouldn't break at all for 24 hours.
She's going to be fine and will go back to school tomorrow, and hey, it meant I didn't have to go to work on my birthday! Thanks Claire.
I typed long enough that the cupcakes are done...and they're great! I'd try some flavor combos next time, but you certainly can't tell they're "diet".
Less later,
Laurie
one box of cake mix (any brand, any flavor)
one can of diet soda (and brand, any flavor)
Mix in bowl by hand until moistened (mine still had some lumps), bake at 350 for the amount of time the box says (10-12 min. for minis). The first tray just came out at 11, just right!
Calculate points using the box label (mix only numbers) and divide by the number of portions you got out of it. I got 48 mini-muffins out of mine, so it's 1 point per muffin. Different brands and flavors will give you different points.
I got frosting (in a tub) for the rest of the family, but I'll dip mine in some cool-whip if it needs frosting.
Point-wise, it's a better deal than Girl Scout cookies. Who knew? You can make different flavor blends...cherry cola with chocolate cake, orange soda with white cake, endless combos.
The weekend was another dreary, cold, rainy weekend. And then Claire got sick. She left for a fun outing with the Brownies Saturday morning, and I was called within the first 30 minutes to come get her. She got sick in their car and came home with a fever and sore throat. She later developed a rash, and I decided that was enough reason to go to urgent care after just a day with fever. I suspected Scarlet Fever and proved why they call us "Dr. Mom". I was right. In fact, the doctor was sad he didn't have students there to show her "classic presentation". The only thing that wasn't textbook was the fact that her fever was not really high. She never really got over 100.5, but it wouldn't break at all for 24 hours.
She's going to be fine and will go back to school tomorrow, and hey, it meant I didn't have to go to work on my birthday! Thanks Claire.
I typed long enough that the cupcakes are done...and they're great! I'd try some flavor combos next time, but you certainly can't tell they're "diet".
Less later,
Laurie
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