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?

Weight Watchers

I'm thinking about joining weight watchers.  Probably just the online stuff.  Heavens knows I keep up well with online communities and I also have friends that are doing it too.
Thoughts?

Input...?

Ok I need input. Something strange has happened....I haven't worked out in 4 days due to feeling a little under the weather this weekend and frankly, when I wasn't catching up on sleep trying to feel better I was a chicken with my head cut off running around. As a result I also didn't have time to cook or grocery shop so the only snacks I ate were sugary stuff I already had. booo....

But needless to say, when I got to work today and weighed myself (yes, I don't own a scale so I'm forced to weigh myself at work with clothing on. It's more realistic since the Dr.'s office always weighs you with clothes on too...right?) I had lost yet another pound. My theory is that I've lost a slight bit of the muscle mass I have gained due to regularly working out. So I will test my theory by getting back on the horse this week and see if I gain back. Mind you, I am back to my healthy eating once again. What do you think caused this strange phenomenon? Has this happened to you before? I tell ya what though....It almost makes one not want to work out. ALMOST. But I know it's good for me and it makes me feel good so I won't be fooled by the little devil on my shoulder just yet.