So I'm lame

and I haven't posted in forever....but I just wanted to dangle a little carrot. I'm starting a new regimen tomorrow...but I'm not going to say what it is until I have some success. Wish me luck. It's very strict but I'm good with structure so hopefully this will be the key for me!

5 weeks with Weight Watchers

I had a rockin' weigh-in today at a 3 pound loss.  Normally, I think anything more than 2 pounds is excessive, but last week -- right before my weigh-in I had a GINORMOUS dinner (eating all of my extra points in one meal, it was delicious).  I bumped up from last week, so overall I'm still losing 1.6 pounds/week'ish. :)

Last week I only ate 11 of my extra 35 points.  We didn't go out to eat at all {boooo}, we had friends over on Saturday night.  We really need to do that more often, because while we still had a great dinner it was figure-friendly.

I actually went to a weight watchers meeting, so I wanted to share a few things I think about Weight Watchers now that I've seen both sides.

1.  The images.  OMG, those women -- they really strip to very little to do their weigh-ins.  Honestly, I think WW should kind of speak-out against it.  I mean, it's open to both sexs and obese women in sports bras and biker shorts just isn't my idea of a good time.  I weigh in each morning in my PJ's.  Yes, that might add a pound or two but I'm looking for overall loss.  Not just a low number.
2.  Costly.  I paid 57 (I think) dollars to be an online member for 3 months.  I went to the meeting and spent just under 40 to get the literature.  I'm really glad that I did.  I can calculate my own points better now and I don't want to be an online member forever.  I am going with my friend to one more meeting on Saturday which will add another 13.  Total cost for just my 3 months will be over 100 dollars but if the weight keeps coming off, I'm fine with the money spent.  It's well worth a few hours at work.  I did keep thinking I could do it on my own, but my life is super busy right now, and I can't realy concentrate on food too well once my kdis are home and in the evenings.  It really helps me portion control.
3.  Points.  I'm fine with my 29 points/day.  I usually have about 10-12 during the day and splurge a bit on dinner.  I save almost all of my points for a weekend evening at a restaurant.  I prefer to have one meal that I don't really have to "count".  I figure if I have like 55 points saved up and I've been eating well all week I won't over-do it.  Frankly, I might -- but I like that freedom.

Anyway, that's what is on my mind as of late about the WW.  I'm obviously quite happy with the results.  I just keep to keep up my good work!  I've done a lot of lowfat recipes lately, I'm gonna post some of the ones our family really enjoyed on my blog sometime today.

Processed Vs. Healthy

As I'm navigating this WW world I'm just torn.  It seems like there are SO many people out there trying to get you to eat processed, nasty foods that I personally consider "fast" foods.  100 calorie packs should be a once a week treat, not a standard on any diet for me.  They're expensive, they usually contain really bad ingredients, tons of sodium.

I saw that 100 calorie packs were on sale at Safeway last week, and I was close to getting some, but I'd really rather feel like, "fine, I'm having an oreo, it's 2 points -- yum, wasn't that good" rather than eating them daily.  Or, perhaps not even buying crap like that (although, with 3 kids I like to give them a treat every now and then, and I'll admit the cookies they eat aren't always homemade).

If it's about being healthy, then be healthy, but realize that you're going to make some un-healthy decisions every now and then.  Be proud of them and move on.  Am I right? 
Of course, I'm right, because no one else reads this blog.  Except Sarah. And I love her. :)

BTW, I love the 100 calorie strawberry cupcakes.  I can't believe they're only one point, but I'm fully aware that there isn't an inch of benefit in eating them.  I do adore them though.  Almost brings me back to the ol' BYU Cherry Chews.

WW week 4

Guess who got her 5 pound star today!  That's right over 5 pounds of weight loss in the four weeks I've been doing WW (and one of them was a "throw-away" week thanks to Utah and the funeral).  I'm pretty happy.  My goal for the year is a pound a week for the whole year, a total of 52 pounds.  Go me.

I'm finding how to work around my points.  I'm finding some better food choices, and I'm finding that I really enjoy a lot of vegetables.  For me, I'm still eating almost everything I want (besides sugar cookies, they just seem to do something WACKY to my system... but I digress).  The key is taking how many points I have and then having a portion that fits the points.  I am rarely hungry in general and while I do have cravings, I don't find myself really "hungry" (unless I forget to eat, which happens when you have 3 kids).

Anyway, I was really getting down on the "system" last week when I gained weight.  I was pretty sure that it was a carry-over from Utah, but I'd felt like I had stuck to the plan once I was home.  Anyway, it's nice to have a loss again.

I'm continuing with Your Shape.  Someitmes the workouts are HARD and sometimes they're not.  It's kind of like the lottery and some days I win with a lighter workout.  Doing that 3 times a week, and then walking once and some serious yardwork once a week. 

Go team! :)

Monday Weigh-In

HELLO losing with lovers compadres.  Where ARE you!? 

Well, I was in Utah, and I ate.  I ate a brick oven, and Magelby's Fresh, and I loved it.  I didn't particularly limit myself, and when I came home I hadn't actually gained any weight, but it looked like it caught-up to me.
This week I gained 1.4 pounds, I think.  Boooo... Hisss.....

But you know the good thing?  Today's a new day!  I am back on the program, and I know it works when I do it the right way.  I will, I know I can and I will.

So far I've been planning out what I'll eat that day, and that helps.  Much like grocery shopping, if it's not on my list, I don't buy it.  That doesn't mean that I won't eat a sugar cookie or two this week (btw, this weekend I we ate fondue and made sugar cookies -- it's a miracle I don't look like the pillsbury dough boy!), but it will have to be planned into my day's eating.

GOOD:  This week the kids are out of school so I can catch-up on sleep, get a little out of my regular drudgery and I am working 3 days, which I usually don't eat much during.

BAD:  Kids are out, we just made sugar cookies and we're gonna go somewhere yummy to eat on my day off. 

Planning,  Planning.  Heavens knows I am a planner.

Updates

- I slacked last week and only worked out 3 days. Compared to what I have been doing that felt like slacking. But my goal was no less than 3/week so I still feel ok about it. Endurance wise tho, I'm progressing more slowly and that frustrates me.

-Periods really make it hard for a girl to feel good about diet and exercise and staying motivated. Stupid chocolate/sugar gremlins....

-To my pleasant surprise, I am down another half lb. Seeing as I was up 3lbs yesterday due to the fluid retention that Aunt Flo brought this is a happy thing after my weekend of fighting with the sugar gremlins.

-Answered my own question about why I lose weight when I haven't worked out for a few days. It's because when you exercise your muscles have to repair themselves and you get that "sore" feeling. Well you also get a little bit of swelling or inflammatory response as well. So when I don't work out the "swelling" goes down.... Ta Da!!! That's why I always weigh more after snowboarding and not less after burning like 1000 calories! That has always frustrated me so bad!

Weigh in Week 1.

My weigh ins are on Monday, and while I don't go to "meetings" I figure this is just as good.  I'm not really one for meetings in general.... anywho...
Drumroll please....
I've lost 4 pounds in 7 days.
The points thing is totally for me.  I'm super anal, I love budgets of all sorts.  When I calorie counted before I would yo-yo how much I ate from around 1100 to 1700/day.  Frankly, I think I was eating too little on many of the days.  With WW, I'm eating 30 points every day with some splurging (which I tend to split in 2 for eating out a couple of times/week).
In general, I'm not finding myself hungry... just eating a litle better.  Trying to skim recipes for how many points they have. 

As far as working out goes, of the 5 sessions I want to have, I only got 2 in.  I was sick, and just trying to make it.  I did 1/2 an hour this fine am though.  For those of you who have done WW -- did you use your "activity points"?  So far, I haven't.

Drew, lost 8 pounds last month.  I am trying not to get down about my uterus, but it is hard.  I am proud of him though, and between the two of us, we only need to lose 8.5 more "points" to get us a wii fit.  Feel the joy.

I'm feeling really positive right now, hoping this will make the difference.

Anyway, here's a time for a check in for each of you.  How's your healhty lifestyle going?