(week 26). Best. Lunch. EVER.

I am very lucky to work at a place that has not one, but two cafeterias. True, it could work against me (a pizza bar? Hamburgers and fries and gravy-covered goodness?! NOM.) but I have learned to find the better Points Plus values to maximize my food intake.

While I occasionally stop by the salad bar, THIS is what I usually feast on, for 5 POINTS PLUS:


Grilled chicken breast (5), broccoli (0) and mushrooms (0). Add in some A1 sauce (0) and a diet soda (0), and I’m set! Fortunately, this only takes up 1/6th of my daily Points Plus allotment, leaving many PPs left to splurge on dinner and snacks. (Oh, the broccoli gets switched out for a sweet potato occasionally, but the few additional PPs are worth it.)

(week 25). the voyage was very bon…

enjoying our first trip away at sea.

Wow, y’all, the cruise was amazing! We had a very lovely five days aboard the Carnival Ecstasy relaxing, resting, and of course... EATING! To truly celebrate my weight loss, I didn’t count a single point all week. I kept good eating choices in the back of my mind, but this was MY TIME to indulge, if I chose.

biggest indulgence: chocolate melting cake.

To offset that, I was going to use the on-board gym. Honestly—other than the initial tour—I never made it. (I got as far as the spa and then stopped, LOL!) BUT, we used the stairs A LOT (thanks mostly to annoying kids who pushed EVERY BUTTON) and walked the length of the ship often. During our excursion, we traipsed the grounds of Mayan ruins in 100 degrees, or plowed through sandy beaches (a workout in itself!). I more than got my 30 minutes of exercise each day, I think.

That’s probably a good thing, though, because the food could have really set me back. As our cruise director pointed out, you could have 14 meals a day, and it’d all be FREE! The buffet was always open, including a 24-hour pizzeria, the dining room had extended hours, and room service was always included! We tried it all.

lobster and shrimp. ooh la la.

Oh, and the drinks?! Wow. Very fruity, very fun, and very full of alcohol. I can see why Carnival calls themselves the party ships.

resting on the beach. in a bathing suit. GOAL!

Seriously, Alex and I had a fantastic vacation, and were so grateful for the break from it all. (Though we missed our little Noah terribly!)

the bares enjoying the last night of their vacation.

As soon as we hit Galveston, it was back to business as usual. I prepared myself for a gain this week, and was pleasantly surprised when I stepped on the WW scale: I lost 3.2 pounds! Hello, 190!

The numbers are encouraging for sure, but the fact that people around me are noticing my shrinking self is awesome. I’ve really appreciated everyone’s kind words… THANK YOU!

(week 20). i'm not gonna lie...

I gained .06 over the past two weeks. No excuses here, I went on vacation to see my dad, only to come back and be icky sick for a week. Workouts have temporarily been halted, as I continue to cough a lung up (at least it feels that way!). While trying to stick to eating well, there were a few days that I allowed myself a “free pass”. Man, STL has some great food!

Mommy and Noah enjoying our vacation!

But I didn’t totally stray from it all (if I had, I can only IMAGINE the weight I’d have gained). For the most part, I chose sensible meal choices (I won’t mention the cream soda float with a mountain of ice cream, or the awesome ribs I had—TWICE!), opted for water or diet soda and made sure to keep active.

We took Noah to the zoo (he loved) and the Children’s museum (he L-O-V-E-D!), and chased him around the airport, of course.

Noah on his first carousel ride.

Now, being sick for a week now, I’ve really had to just bite the bullet and allow myself to get better. That means a lot of sitting/resting when I get home. No workouts, no over-doing it... Nothing but rest. I used to make fun of people who would complain when they couldn’t work out, but MAN, I’ve been feeling weird and achy without exercise!

I had also been getting super-comfortable with the WW program. So much so, that my food tracking became sporadic. With starting a new WW series today, I’m going back to basics—if it goes in my mouth, it gets jotted down! Here’s what the day has looked like so far:

I’ve been at this almost 5 months, and have lost ALMOST 25 pounds. I’m so proud of how far I’ve come, but am even more excited of where I can take this.

As my WW leader reminds us, we shouldn’t always look at what this week’s scale says, but at what you’ve accomplished so far. She’s so right. Big picture, people!

(NOTE: .06 is NOT bad!)

(week 13). make progress or make excuses.

The title of my blog is a quote we were left with in today’s WW meeting. According to my leader, she heard it from a Real Estate guru (who’s name escaped her, sorry), but felt that it applies to weight loss. I absolutely agree. I find it encapsulates my journey. Basically, “put up or shut up”... “try or fail”. I’m in this to make progress, and I need to work on not making excuses about my faults. BUT, without an excuse or two, I wouldn’t have a blog, so…

After the past two weeks I’ve had, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I was down another 2.6 pounds! (Please know, I did NOT weigh in last week)

After the last weigh-in, I was very focused on the plan. Then Noah got sick. It happened so fast, that it was hard to focus on anything else BUT him (as it should be). He was diagnosed with RSV and pneumonia, and we were admitted to the hospital for a few days (read about it here: http://mamabare.blogspot.com/2011/01/week-from-hell.html).

Now, kids, for what you SHOULDN’T DO on WW. NOTE: while I ultimately had a very successful weigh in, don’t follow this. Basically, “do what I say, not what I do”, got it?

I didn’t count at all. I tried to keep track of SOME things in my head, but for the most part, I said eff it. I managed my portions by sight, and I can tell you now that some were waaaaay off. There was a day or two where I just couldn’t eat, then I found myself wanting to snack on everything! Swedish Fish, Doritos, Crackers, Popcorn, Cookies… if it was in front of me, I wanted it in. my. belly.

I’m sure the stress of it all did a number on me, and I need to work harder on doing this the right way ALL THE TIME.

*end of the bad junk. time to tune back in*

Alex and I are talking about joining a gym, and have it narrowed down to two. We are looking for CHEAP, with child care and exercise equipment, of course… other than that, we don’t really care. Otherwise, I’ll step up my activity level with more walking and the wii. It sounds silly, but playing the wii for even 15 minutes a day can really get you moving!

I love getting messages from all of you, talking about your own experiences with weight loss or WW, so keep them coming! We can all learn from one another! That’s why I’m blogging about this now; it is not only keeping myself accountable, but it’s sharing tips with all of you, and hopefully motivating you to get healthy!

(week 11). nom nom.

This past week, my WW leader challenged us all to track our food. Of course, this is essential to helping the program work, but some get comfortable with the daily routine.

Even I skip tracking a snack or two... But this week, I was diligent with it, and it looks like it paid off: another pound (well, it was almost 1-1/2, but whatever) down!

It’s amazing to see what I end up consuming each day, especially when I compare my eating habits from a year ago. My biggest change, of course, was exchanging Dr. Pepper for his diet counterpart. That saves me up to 16 points each day! (Yes, I was ending up consuming up to 48-oz. each day) I’ve always been into fruit and vegetables, but now, I’m making a conscious effort to pile them on at (almost) every meal! Instead of running out for a hamburger or happy meal, I’m stopping for a salad, or filling up on power foods and packed lunches.

I think the key to my success has been snacking. Whether it’s popcorn, a piece of fruit or drinking a glass of water, I keep myself fueled with bits of food. I even keep point-conscious snacks at my desk, so I’m never without something to munch on.

I have been working on my self-control (one cookie, not two), and I’m succeeding more often than not. Some days get the best of me (last night’s shepard’s pie was calling my name!), but I’m working on it.

But no matter what, if it goes in my mouth, it gets tracked.

I had mentioned to someone my next over-arching goal is to lose 20 pounds in the next three months. Does that sound reasonable to you all? That’s an average of 1-1/2 pounds per week, which is something I think I can do... Thoughts?

WW is a tool I use to help me change my life. Without my drive and motivation to make it work, it wouldn’t. That’s the ultimate key here. If you don’t want it and WORK for it, it simply won’t happen. Work for it with me, people.

(week 10). do a little dance...

In my WW meetings before the holidays, I’d listen as my fellow WWers waxed on about how hard the Christmas season would be. Parties, food, alcohol... All the vices that got us here would come back to haunt in force.

Armed with tactics to get us through, we abandoned our meetings for TWO WEEKS! I promised myself that, while I would eat sensibly and maintain awareness, I would not track points or weigh myself until meetings resumed.

I think there were some moments of doing more than I should (steak and a margarita, and Christmas goodies to boot), but for the most part, I think I did well!

And the scale proved it... I lost 4.6 pounds over the few weeks away! For a girl who’s goal was to simply maintain, that is PHENOMENAL! That puts me at just about 14 pounds down in the 10 weeks, with my next goal—10%—a mere 8 pounds away!

But that’s not the only goal I’m shooting for. In three months, husband and I are going on a cruise. I’d like to see myself lose another 20 by then. Hopefully that’s a decent weight to feel comfortable in a bathing suit again. I haven’t been that size since I got engaged, I think. It’s crazy to think it’s actually attainable, as long as I stay on track!

Also, I’m happy to let you all know that the pedometer is really working out for me. The first two days, I walked an average of 9,000 steps, with me reaching about 11,000 steps yesterday! The number on the screen excites me, pushing me to (legitimately) get it higher. I hope to do 15,000 over the weekend. I can sense a long walk in Noah and mommy’s future...

I have been getting a lot of messages from friends, asking about my experience with WW. All in all, WW has been a super positive thing for me to get into. I’m learning about what I should and shouldn’t eat, all while not depriving myself (like actual diets do). I’m becoming more aware of activity, and pushing the little things I already do in my day to step it up. Most of all, I’m learning to love and appreciate who I am, all while working toward the best, most healthy me possible!

If you find yourself interested in not only losing weight, but becoming a more healthy person, consider joining. It may be hard to get used to tracking your food, but believe me, it’s so worth it. You’ll be amazed at how second nature it will start becoming. I’m not saying I’m there yet, but I’m on my way. Join me.

(week 6). I didn’t lose, I gained.

... and that’s a positive! Yes, I lost 2 pounds today. That’s 32 ounces of CRAP that just burned off of me. While I “lost” the weight, it’s such a gain for me. A gain of life, of self, of further motivation... I gained today by losing!

I control my own destiny in this. I pick the foods. I choose how active I am. It’s up to me how “in it” I become. I can’t blame anyone else but myself if I stop succeeding.

Here’s something I’m finding I need to work on: holiday time snacking! There is so much just lying around, waiting to be gobbled up. Today, bagels, brownies, donuts and more were part of the workplace spread. Of course, I couldn’t resist my favorite: wheat bagel and shmear. (8 PointsPLUS) ...that’s not so horrible when I pair it with a well-stocked salad for lunch, but it doesn’t help to munch on another half bagel (5 more PP!) and some Swedish Fish (4 PP for an OUNCE!). Ugh. I’m down 24 points for the day, and I still have dinner to go. Soup it shall be for me...

I can do this, I can do this, I can do this...

I got a few WW books today that can tell me the PP values of food... I counted it up, and the typical Olive Garden meal I’d have would be worth more than my daily point allowance! O. M. G. No wonder I gained the weight that I did. The chicken parm alone was 15, and that didn’t include the spaghetti side ... add in a few breadsticks and the salad (one serving of the salad is 8 PP, thanks to the dressing and the cheese), and you’re screwed.

I get that WW is not a program to deprive yourself of the things you love, but it’s definitely making me rethink the things I used to eat. And that’s not a bad thing, I’ve got to say. 50 years ago, we didn’t have the obesity problem America has now. Candy and junky snacks were treats, and fruits and veggies were staples (not the other way around, like it seems to be today). People didn’t gorge on ginormous portions—they ate until they were satisfied, and moved on. Food was social, but in a very different way. Kids were more active than they are now, too! We need to go back to that. We may not have our parents around to force us to “eat our vegetables” or “go play outside”, but we should listen to the smart, healthy voice in our head, prodding us in that direction.

Who’s with me?

Now, someone pass me the green beans...

week (almost) 5. ready for the scale?

It’s been almost two weeks since I weighed in last. I’m nervous—especially since I didn’t deprive myself of Thanksgiving goodness—but excited. Despite not being AS hardcore over the weekend, I think that I’ve been doing well. As long as the number decreases some, I’ll be happy. Even if it doesn’t, I’ll just keep trying until next time!

Like I said previously, the baby is with my mom for the week. It’s been harder on me than I thought it’d be. I find myself occasionally bored, listless and feeling without purpose. What happens when Jen gets that way? She eats. I didn’t go overboard, but I did more than I probably should have. Steak! Sweet Potatoes! Cheesecake! That’s right, I had it all. Delicious, yes, but I felt awful afterward. I thought about all the points I just ate, or how much I’d have to compensate for to make it balance out.

I’m finding myself more conscious of what other people eat around me. Eating with friends at lunch, I watch them down multiple servings of butter-drenched, fat-laden foods. Do they realize what they’re doing? It’s not even about the points—the caloric intake that some people consume is just INSANE! Last night, husband ate an Oreo dipped in (lite) Cool Whip, and I just about died. I probably annoyed him with my gasps and “ick faces”—I need to just focus on what I’m eating instead of what everyone else chooses to put in their tummy.

In other news ... my MIL joined WW again yesterday! This is going to help us both stay accountable. Plus, it’s pretty nice that the two cooks in the house can be point conscious!

WW also announced a new “PointsPlus” system yesterday. I’ll learn more about it Thursday at my meeting, but from what I’m reading, fruit and (most) vegetables are free! This should definitely encourage all WWers to make healthy decisions and choose more of what we SHOULD be eating. Plus, my point allowance has gone up, thanks to their new formula. Sweet!

In regard to my “I LEARNED A...” two weeks ago: the soup and popcorn trick is working out so well! Yummy soups fill me up for just a couple points, and the popcorn serves as an all-afternoon snack! Yum!

I LEARNED A ...
SNACK TIP: “Fiber One” bars are amazing for your 2pm hunger pangs. They’re chewy, tasty and only a few points! Plus, the fiber helps keep you fuller longer. Making it to dinner is even easier!

not too much to say ...

we did discover the fundamental difference between instant rice, and regular rice ... the amount of water used.

we've cooked rice several times since switching over. it used to be one cup of rice to one cup of water.

normal rice, not so much.

for one cup of rice, it takes 2-1/2 cups of water.

no WONDER it's been so crunchy.

lol, alex has always been in charge of rice (the rice cooker is so darn fun!) and i guess he didn't really realize there was a difference (neither did i, really).

we're always learning!

other random thoughts:

"the eating every few hours" thing is beginning to taper off. not sure if that's a good thing or not. i don't want to force things in me "just because."

plus, the past few days i've been feeling really bloated, so why add to that?!

i'm craving wha?!

so, i was just sitting there, and i felt a rum-bly in my tum-bly.

"time to eat again," i thought.

what did my body tell me to eat?

SALAD!

all weekend, SALAD!

not because i had to, but because it is GOOD!

not to worry, i'm not turning into a rabbit.

alex and i decided to extend our menu to fish.

it looks good, doesn't it?


and here's our fresh green beans and fresh mushrooms ... mmmm ...


lastly, we got some raw almonds to snack on, but decided it was a bit too plain for us. so we roasted them in our homemade granola sauce.


btw, i gave ground turkey another shot last week (via our spaghetti). it was the BEST ever!

eating is fun again!

eat this, not that

i just picked up a copy of "eat this, not that" by david zinczenko.

it's got lots of pretty pictures.


more importantly, it's got awesome information (what to eat at the mall, what dressings are best for salads, etc.) that helps you through the day in a sea of potential cheats.

i'll share some of the highlights in the days to come, i'm sure!

relapse.

you know how most job sites have those "accident free since ..." signs? well, this site needs one, too.

"binge-free since april 2nd."

i was doing so well with everything ... until yesterday.

first of all, i didn't make it to the gym (my mouth was in serious pain, and i just couldn't make it. totally understandable, but personally disappointing)

secondly, my mom had made alex and i some DELICIOUS little muffins to bring home last week. in my favorite flavor: cranberry.

throughout the day, i had seven. SEVEN!

oh, emotional eating, you got me again!

*NOTE: i only ate two fat-free yogurts, a small salad and a fresco burrito, but that doesn't matter. it was the act of eating without knowing or recognizing my limits.*

why?!

i miss my dog. i'm tired. i'm overwhelmed by our messy apartment. i had to go to the dentist. i was in pain.

i'm not excusing my behavior, but recognizing it so i can move on. i had a fabulously delicious cheat, and despite how mad i am at myself, i just need to move on.

i can fail. i can succeed. the choice is my own.

today, i continue to choose success, even in the midst of my stumbles.

i can't let this get me down!

good eats.

last night, i passed the ultimate test.

alex and i went to red lobster.

you know the place ... cheese biscuits, creamy pasta, and butter galore.

my mouth waters just thinking about it.

i wanted nothing more than to sit down with a plate of coconut shrimp, shrimp pasta, and a basket of cheesy, biscuit-y goodness, but i settled for steamed lobster, a few bites of the pasta, and half a biscuit.

top it off with yummy salad and a water, and i was set. i set boundaries for myself, and i surprisingly kept to them. yay me!

here's our lobster and crab mess:


yummy.

(best part? i didn't feel like i deprived myself!)

i wasn't surprised by the weigh-in, especially since i hadn't made it to the gym in a few days, but i'm still very pleased with my results. things are getting smaller. tighter. lovelier.

in the three weeks since starting this whole thing, i've lost six pounds. that equates to this:


wow. all in all, the burger weighs in around nine pounds, but the patty is six. that used to be in my thighs. eww.

btw, i've established a new goal for this week: actually make it to the gym three times this week (at least). oh, and remove the white pasta from my life.

here are a few goals i've already woven into my day-to-day ... try them! (but be prepared to lose, lose, lose!)

1. choose 1 cup skim milk (90 calories) instead of 1 cup whole milk (150 calories).
you save 60 calories a day. do this once a day and save 21,900 calories per year, which is equivalent to 6.25 pounds of weight.

2. choose 6-oz. light, fat-free yogurt (80 calories) instead of 6-oz. full-fat yogurt (double calories, at 190).
do this 4 times a week and save: 22,880 calories per year, or 6.5 pounds of weight.

3. eat three cups of air-popped popcorn (90 calories) instead of 3 cups microwaved caramel popcorn (a whopping 280 calories!)
you will save 190 calories per serving; do this 4 times a week and save 39,520 calories per year. this simple change is equal to losing 11.3 pounds of weight! (i don't really eat popcorn, but if i did, it'd totally be the air-popped kind)

4. take 1 teaspoon of Splenda® (< 5 calories) in your coffee/tea, instead of 1 teaspoon of sugar (16 calories).
you save 11 calories each time. do this 4 times a day and save 16,060 calories per year - the equivalent of 4.5 pounds of weight.

5. also, if you take a brisk 15-minute walk (equivalent to one mile) each day, you'll burn between 100-130 calories each time. over the course of a year, this burns a total of 36,500-47,450 calories, equal to 9.5-12 pounds of weight.

i'm on a mission, and i won't stop until i get there.