Well, it's Friday which is good for MANY reasons, but especially great because I weighed-in this morning. I was invited out to dinner tonight with family who is still in town, and since we always do trivia at our Mexican place on Thursdays, that meant eating out twice in a row before weighing in which I'm never too happy about. So, in an effort to prevent myself from skipping out tomorrow on WW because of sodium retention, etc. I made myself go this morning. I still hope to go for the meeting tomorrow but I won't need to weigh myself.
I lost 2.4 pounds!! Since I didn't weigh last week, that's essentially 1.2 each week. That puts me at a total of 14.4 pounds lost thus far. Also, I reached my 5% weight loss goal at WW. I think that was around 13 pounds so I've surpassed it. Feeling pretty good about things and am enjoying this journey so far. I am allowing myself to enjoy foods that I've always loved, but I'm being more conscious of those things and what I eat the remainder of the day. I am enjoying exploring new recipes and ordering new things out that I wouldn't have otherwise thought to do. I am even enjoying the gym, which admittedly has become more challenging as of late, but I still enjoy the feeling when I leave and the confidence it gives me.
I will update more over the weekend, but just wanted to share my excitement!
Friday, May 27, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
No Weigh-in This Week
Sorry for my lack of updates! It has been a CRAZZZZY week and weekend. I blame it on work. :-P I had a really rough 5 days at work (that should have only been 3 days) but instead it took my entire weekend, too. I had to stay up until 4am Friday night working, which resulted in my not going to WW for weighing myself or the meeting. Boo. :-( It was my first missed weigh-in. I promise it wasn't because I had gained, though, because my scale actually looked quite promising. So, I am hoping to keep it off this week and have a good weigh-in on this coming Saturday.
I also have family in town from CT so it has been one thing after another, busy busy busy. Daniel and I barely got a chance to look at each other this weekend. Oh, but we did get away four 5 year anniversary for a few hours. We went up to the mountains to Wolf Mountain Vineyard and Winery (the location of our wedding reception) to enjoy a very special lunch. I treated myself to a glass of wine, and enjoyed full-fat EVERYTHING. But I must say, I didn't overindulge. I enjoyed my food tremendously but I did not eat everything like I normally would have. For example, the pizza I ordered, I only ate 3 slices (it was personal pan - very small). The old me would have eaten every last morsel of it. So, I've made improvements!
I was up until 2am last night typing, so I missed my Monday Aqua Fit class, but that's okay. I've decided I'm going to the gym tomorrow which is not normally a gym day for me, so I will make up for it then. I'm considering starting up some new classes to push myself, so I may do that tomorrow.
Also, I've got some good meals planned this week. Thanksgiving Meatloaf is back on the menu, whole wheat pasta with chicken and broccoli, my favorite WW Chimichangas (got enough for 2 batches so I could have a few for lunches this week), salad with goat cheese and steak, and one other I'm forgetting.......
That's my update for now!
I also have family in town from CT so it has been one thing after another, busy busy busy. Daniel and I barely got a chance to look at each other this weekend. Oh, but we did get away four 5 year anniversary for a few hours. We went up to the mountains to Wolf Mountain Vineyard and Winery (the location of our wedding reception) to enjoy a very special lunch. I treated myself to a glass of wine, and enjoyed full-fat EVERYTHING. But I must say, I didn't overindulge. I enjoyed my food tremendously but I did not eat everything like I normally would have. For example, the pizza I ordered, I only ate 3 slices (it was personal pan - very small). The old me would have eaten every last morsel of it. So, I've made improvements!
I was up until 2am last night typing, so I missed my Monday Aqua Fit class, but that's okay. I've decided I'm going to the gym tomorrow which is not normally a gym day for me, so I will make up for it then. I'm considering starting up some new classes to push myself, so I may do that tomorrow.
Also, I've got some good meals planned this week. Thanksgiving Meatloaf is back on the menu, whole wheat pasta with chicken and broccoli, my favorite WW Chimichangas (got enough for 2 batches so I could have a few for lunches this week), salad with goat cheese and steak, and one other I'm forgetting.......
That's my update for now!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Recipes for This Week
As promised, I am letting you all know what recipes are on the menu for this week. I generally do a weekly shopping spree on Sundays and get everything I need to make a week's worth of recipes. I only buy 5 meals, usually, because I know we tend to go out to eat twice during the week, and then it's back to shopping again on Sunday. Here's what we have planned:
You brown the fresh garlic for a few seconds in olive oil spray, then add the ground turkey. Season with S&P and let the turkey brown for a good 8 minutes or so, cooking out the moisture. Then add the entire can of tomato paste and coat the turkey, and let brown for a few minutes. Then add water (I used a large drink cup out of my cabinet) and let it simmer on low.
You can add the beans (drain and rinse first) to the mixture, or if you're "counting points" like me, you can keep the beans separate and measure those out into your bowl, then measure how much meat you're adding, add some broth (which is "free" in terms of points), then measure the pasta and add to the whole thing. It should be a soupy consistency. Sprinkle with some Parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper. Makes great leftovers! Great family recipe and so cheap to make.
Looking forward to trying some new things this week out of our new cookbook. I've been in the mood for "breakfast for dinner" so the buckwheat pancakes, I think, will be really tasty. I'll add some light butter and real maple syrup (measured, of course) and savor every delicious moment. :o)
Some things that are going to help me stay on track this week (food-wise) are:
Have a great week everyone!!
- Pasta Fagioli (made with ground turkey instead of ground beef & whole wheat elbow pasta)
- Linguine & Peas with Ricotta Pesto (WW recipe made with spinach linguine and fat free ricotta cheese)
- Salad topped with Steak & Goat Cheese
- Buckwheat Pancakes with Eggs & Canadian Bacon & real Maple Syrup
- Grilled Chicken with Mango-Lime Couscous & Sliced Avocado (couscous is a WW recipe)
You brown the fresh garlic for a few seconds in olive oil spray, then add the ground turkey. Season with S&P and let the turkey brown for a good 8 minutes or so, cooking out the moisture. Then add the entire can of tomato paste and coat the turkey, and let brown for a few minutes. Then add water (I used a large drink cup out of my cabinet) and let it simmer on low.
You can add the beans (drain and rinse first) to the mixture, or if you're "counting points" like me, you can keep the beans separate and measure those out into your bowl, then measure how much meat you're adding, add some broth (which is "free" in terms of points), then measure the pasta and add to the whole thing. It should be a soupy consistency. Sprinkle with some Parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper. Makes great leftovers! Great family recipe and so cheap to make.
Looking forward to trying some new things this week out of our new cookbook. I've been in the mood for "breakfast for dinner" so the buckwheat pancakes, I think, will be really tasty. I'll add some light butter and real maple syrup (measured, of course) and savor every delicious moment. :o)
Some things that are going to help me stay on track this week (food-wise) are:
- WW Barbeque Crisps - 2 pts per pack
- WW Cinnamon Crisps - 2 pts per pack
- Skinny Cow Chocolate Dreamy Clusters - 4 pts per pack (will probably enjoy half a pack)
- Fresh sliced mango (already sliced from Costco) - YUM! - 0 pts
- Hodgson Mill Multi-Grain Hot Cereal - 4 pts per serving
Have a great week everyone!!
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Yay!
I'm happy to report that I made it back to Weight Watchers on my usual day - Saturdays - and sat for the meeting for the first time in 3 weeks! The last 2 weeks, I've gone on Friday morning and just weighed myself, but didn't stay for the meeting. I was glad to be back and enjoyed hearing other people's stories and how they handle different situations in their weight loss journeys.
I am also happy to report that I lost 2.6 this week! I was definitely surprised that I lost so much, but I knew I had lost something. I was expecting closer to a 1 pound loss, but of course will gladly accept the 2.6! Because last week I had gained 0.6, technically I lost 2 pounds this week to even everything out. That makes for a 12 pound loss so far and I couldn't be happier with that!
I hope to continue the weight loss trend over the next few weeks. My (very) short-term goal has been to reach 20 pounds lost by June 8th when I go to Josh Groban's concert here in Georgia (I'm going to three, actually - the other two in North Carolina the same week! SO excited! But if you know me, you already knew that........)
I am not sure if it's feasible to lose another 8 pounds before then, though. That would average about 2 pounds per week to reach that goal. I think it's probably more doable that I'll reach 16-18 pounds lost by then, but I will keep my goal at 20. "Aim for the moon, and you'll at least land on a star..." Something like that, right?
Today at WW, I bought another cookbook. I really enjoyed the last cookbook but I think I've exhausted it and found all my favorite recipes in there already, so it was time to get some new ones to experiment with. Later today or tomorrow morning, I plan to write out our grocery list and get some new meals on the menu for the week. I'll let everyone know what we decide!
I am also happy to report that I lost 2.6 this week! I was definitely surprised that I lost so much, but I knew I had lost something. I was expecting closer to a 1 pound loss, but of course will gladly accept the 2.6! Because last week I had gained 0.6, technically I lost 2 pounds this week to even everything out. That makes for a 12 pound loss so far and I couldn't be happier with that!
I hope to continue the weight loss trend over the next few weeks. My (very) short-term goal has been to reach 20 pounds lost by June 8th when I go to Josh Groban's concert here in Georgia (I'm going to three, actually - the other two in North Carolina the same week! SO excited! But if you know me, you already knew that........)
I am not sure if it's feasible to lose another 8 pounds before then, though. That would average about 2 pounds per week to reach that goal. I think it's probably more doable that I'll reach 16-18 pounds lost by then, but I will keep my goal at 20. "Aim for the moon, and you'll at least land on a star..." Something like that, right?
Today at WW, I bought another cookbook. I really enjoyed the last cookbook but I think I've exhausted it and found all my favorite recipes in there already, so it was time to get some new ones to experiment with. Later today or tomorrow morning, I plan to write out our grocery list and get some new meals on the menu for the week. I'll let everyone know what we decide!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Tuesday Tidbits
Hard to believe it's only Tuesday! Well, this week has been going nicely in terms of diet and exercise. I made it to the gym yesterday morning for Aqua Fit. I've been on point with my eating, writing everything down and being very good about eating all my points. I've also been snacking more which I think helps at meal time, and I've tried to have early dinners (around 5-6) so I'm not eating a major meal just before bed.
I can't say how it's affecting the scale at this point, but it feels good to be back on track and following the plan 100%. Tomorrow I plan to go to the gym around 10:00 to work on the machines. I have boarding clients coming to my house at 9:00 to drop off their dogs for the week, which messes up my Aqua Fit time, but that's cool, I'll make do doing something else!
Last night we made Chimichangas for the third or fourth time and I never get sick of them. I even had one leftover for lunch today and it was very good filling. Added some extra cheese, sour cream, and salsa - perfect 10 point lunch.
Tonight for dinner we made Slaw-Topped Pork Sandwiches with baked sweet potatoes. VERY good -- definitely recommend trying that one out. You make it with Canadian bacon instead of pork roast, which made it a fast dinner and very lean. Really enjoyed it!
Fingers crossed for weight loss this week!!!
I can't say how it's affecting the scale at this point, but it feels good to be back on track and following the plan 100%. Tomorrow I plan to go to the gym around 10:00 to work on the machines. I have boarding clients coming to my house at 9:00 to drop off their dogs for the week, which messes up my Aqua Fit time, but that's cool, I'll make do doing something else!
Last night we made Chimichangas for the third or fourth time and I never get sick of them. I even had one leftover for lunch today and it was very good filling. Added some extra cheese, sour cream, and salsa - perfect 10 point lunch.
Tonight for dinner we made Slaw-Topped Pork Sandwiches with baked sweet potatoes. VERY good -- definitely recommend trying that one out. You make it with Canadian bacon instead of pork roast, which made it a fast dinner and very lean. Really enjoyed it!
Fingers crossed for weight loss this week!!!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
This Week's Plan
Hello again. :o) Just wanted to get myself mentally organized for the week with my plan for getting back on the wagon.
For breakfast this week, I'm going to get back to my Greek yogurt. I took a break from it last week and well, obviously didn't have good results. This week I'm going to try adding some cocoa powder, Splenda, and raspberries. We bought a huge thing of raspberries from Costco and they are delish. It will be a very low point breakfast, but filling. Looking forward to that tomorrow morning.
For dinners this week, we will be having:
Tonight we made whole wheat spaghetti with seared broccoli & sliced chicken. Add a drizzle (okay, 2 teaspoons....) of olive oil to each portion and some grated Parmesan cheese. It was very good, as usual. One of our go-to pasta recipes. The whole dinner, including pasta (1 cup), chicken (3 oz), broccoli, olive oil, and cheese was 11 points.
I also have No Pudge Brownies currently baking in the oven, so I can get my chocolate fix during the week as needed. ;o) I was going to make a snack tonight to have ready for the week, but hubby couldn't find it at the store. Apparently, Kroger didn't have Kale in any form or fashion. I need to get a bag of pre-packaged Kale and what you do is lay it out on a cookie sheet and drizzle with olive oil (or olive oil spray), Kosher salt, pepper, and you bake it until they're crisp like "chips." You can snack on them all day long for ZERO points (if you use the spray) or if you used the oil and ate everything in one sitting (not likely) it would be 2 points for everything. So, looks like I'll need to make a Publix run.
Tomorrow morning I'll be getting back to Aqua Fit. I will go tomorrow, Wednesday, and then work the machines on Friday. I hope to increase my calories burned on Friday to 300 because last week it was 250. So far, increasing by 50 calories each week on Fridays has been doable.
That's the plan!
For breakfast this week, I'm going to get back to my Greek yogurt. I took a break from it last week and well, obviously didn't have good results. This week I'm going to try adding some cocoa powder, Splenda, and raspberries. We bought a huge thing of raspberries from Costco and they are delish. It will be a very low point breakfast, but filling. Looking forward to that tomorrow morning.
For dinners this week, we will be having:
- WW Chimichangas (this recipe has been one we've repeated several times. We never get sick of it and it's SO easy and quick to make)
- Slaw-topped "Pulled" Pork Sandwiches with Sweet Potatoes (this is a WW recipe we've never tried - I will let you know how it goes. Sounded yummy with the warm weather here.
- Turkey Burgers with Salad (burgers topped with avocado slices & pico de gallo)
- Pork Tenderloin with Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes (may add a salad or some broccoli as a side - but the mashed potatoes give us veggies & starch in one!)
Tonight we made whole wheat spaghetti with seared broccoli & sliced chicken. Add a drizzle (okay, 2 teaspoons....) of olive oil to each portion and some grated Parmesan cheese. It was very good, as usual. One of our go-to pasta recipes. The whole dinner, including pasta (1 cup), chicken (3 oz), broccoli, olive oil, and cheese was 11 points.
I also have No Pudge Brownies currently baking in the oven, so I can get my chocolate fix during the week as needed. ;o) I was going to make a snack tonight to have ready for the week, but hubby couldn't find it at the store. Apparently, Kroger didn't have Kale in any form or fashion. I need to get a bag of pre-packaged Kale and what you do is lay it out on a cookie sheet and drizzle with olive oil (or olive oil spray), Kosher salt, pepper, and you bake it until they're crisp like "chips." You can snack on them all day long for ZERO points (if you use the spray) or if you used the oil and ate everything in one sitting (not likely) it would be 2 points for everything. So, looks like I'll need to make a Publix run.
Tomorrow morning I'll be getting back to Aqua Fit. I will go tomorrow, Wednesday, and then work the machines on Friday. I hope to increase my calories burned on Friday to 300 because last week it was 250. So far, increasing by 50 calories each week on Fridays has been doable.
That's the plan!
Back on Track...
Well, I had a not-so-good week. On Friday I woke up, got on the scale, and saw the lowest number on my home scale than I've seen yet. So, I was super excited thinking I was down at least a pound or two and decided to run over to Weight Watchers and weigh-in before I even ate breakfast. I knew I would be super busy on Saturday because of my friend's baby shower that I was hosting, and I had a hundred things to do. When I got to WW, the scale I normally weigh on had no WW staff person behind it, so I had to get in line for a different scale. Much to my dismay, it said I had GAINED 0.6 lbs!!! I was so upset.
Admittedly, I didn't have the best week this week. I didn't do badly by any means, but I was less strict on writing my points down. I'm actually pretty sure I had several days where I was WAY under my points, like still had 5-6 points left to eat, but didn't. I don't think this is good for weight loss because it's almost like your body goes into starvation mode and holds onto everything. I didn't feel hungry and I wasn't depriving myself, but for some reason, just didn't eat all the points.
I also didn't make it to the gym but ONE day because I was so busy prepping for the shower and, of course, still working my full time job. I had to eat out a few times because I was on the go so much, and I made wise decision and counted my points, but I think there's only so much eating out you can do and still lose weight. Plus, the sodium doesn't help at all....
So. I am BACK on track and eager to be so. I am making a healthy grocery list and want to be on my game all week. I'm going to be back to the gym all three times like normal, and I look forward to being back down the 0.6 I gained, and hopefully more.
Admittedly, I didn't have the best week this week. I didn't do badly by any means, but I was less strict on writing my points down. I'm actually pretty sure I had several days where I was WAY under my points, like still had 5-6 points left to eat, but didn't. I don't think this is good for weight loss because it's almost like your body goes into starvation mode and holds onto everything. I didn't feel hungry and I wasn't depriving myself, but for some reason, just didn't eat all the points.
I also didn't make it to the gym but ONE day because I was so busy prepping for the shower and, of course, still working my full time job. I had to eat out a few times because I was on the go so much, and I made wise decision and counted my points, but I think there's only so much eating out you can do and still lose weight. Plus, the sodium doesn't help at all....
So. I am BACK on track and eager to be so. I am making a healthy grocery list and want to be on my game all week. I'm going to be back to the gym all three times like normal, and I look forward to being back down the 0.6 I gained, and hopefully more.
Monday, May 2, 2011
OH...MY...GAWD! Must-Try Recipes!!!
Okay, I am thanking sweet baby Jesus in a manger for making that Thanksgiving Meatloaf for dinner tonight. It seriously changed my life, forever. I will never be the same. That stuff is the most delicious meatloaf I've ever tasted, and super moist (ew, I don't like that word). Let's not forget about the Cauliflower mashed potatoes!! Didn't even know I wasn't eating mashed potatoes! Promise!! Perfect side to the meatloaf, and guilt-free because it's really VEGGIES! It's genius people.
So, even though I already put the Thanksgiving Meatloaf recipe in my post from this morning, I'll repost it here and include the recipe for the Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes. Both are WW recipes. My only suggestion - DOUBLE the mashed potato recipe so that you'll have leftovers to go with your leftover meatloaf!
Thanksgiving Meatloaf - 7 points per serving (makes 6 servings)
16 oz Perdue 93/7 lean ground turkey
1/4 cup Egg Beaters
1 tsp Bell's Seasoning
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 medium carrot, shredded
2 medium stalks celery, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
2 TBSP fat free chicken broth
1 cup Stove Top cornbread stuffing mix, dry (unprepared)
1 (16 oz) can Ocean Spray jellied cranberry sauce
Mix together turkey, egg, Bell's seasoning and 8 oz of cranberry sauce.
Saute onion, carrot, celery and garlic in nonstick fry pan with chicken broth.
Combine dry stuffing mix with vegetables, add to turkey mixture and mix until all ingredients are combined.
Pat into loaf pan and top with remaining 8 oz of cranberry sauce.
Bake at 350 for one hour, let loaf sit for a few minutes before slicing; slice into 6 pieces.
---
Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes - 2 points per serving (makes about four 1/2-cup servings, but you'll want more than just the half cup!)
Let me know what you think!! Don't forget, double the mashed potato recipe!
So, even though I already put the Thanksgiving Meatloaf recipe in my post from this morning, I'll repost it here and include the recipe for the Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes. Both are WW recipes. My only suggestion - DOUBLE the mashed potato recipe so that you'll have leftovers to go with your leftover meatloaf!
Thanksgiving Meatloaf - 7 points per serving (makes 6 servings)
Ingredients
16 oz Perdue 93/7 lean ground turkey
1/4 cup Egg Beaters
1 tsp Bell's Seasoning
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 medium carrot, shredded
2 medium stalks celery, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
2 TBSP fat free chicken broth
1 cup Stove Top cornbread stuffing mix, dry (unprepared)
1 (16 oz) can Ocean Spray jellied cranberry sauce
Instructions
Mix together turkey, egg, Bell's seasoning and 8 oz of cranberry sauce.
Saute onion, carrot, celery and garlic in nonstick fry pan with chicken broth.
Combine dry stuffing mix with vegetables, add to turkey mixture and mix until all ingredients are combined.
Pat into loaf pan and top with remaining 8 oz of cranberry sauce.
Bake at 350 for one hour, let loaf sit for a few minutes before slicing; slice into 6 pieces.
---
Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes - 2 points per serving (makes about four 1/2-cup servings, but you'll want more than just the half cup!)
Ingredients
| | |
| | 8 oz cauliflower, florets |
| | 3 small uncooked Yukon Gold potato(es), peeled, cut into 1-inch chunks (about 10 oz) |
| | 2 clove(s) (medium) garlic clove(s), peeled |
| | 1 tsp table salt, divided |
| | 1/4 cup(s) low-fat milk |
| | 2 tsp butter |
| | 1/8 tsp black pepper |
| | 1 Tbsp chives, fresh, snipped |
Instructions
- Place cauliflower, potatoes, garlic and 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a medium saucepan. Add enough water to cover ingredients and bring to a boil. Boil until vegetables are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes; drain and return to saucepan.
- Stir in milk, butter, remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt and pepper; mash with a potato masher until smooth. Stir in chives and serve. Yields about 1/2 cup per serving.
Another Week...
Hello, Monday, nice to see you.
It was a busy weekend with a few occasions of having to eat foods that I was uncertain of point values and portions, but I made wise decisions (I think) and did my best and certainly didn't let it spiral into an unhealthy pattern. It is Monday and I'm back on track. Yesterday was actually a good day, too, counting my points and recording everything I ate.
This morning I went to Aqua Fit at 9:00 and once again, enjoyed it. My muscles feel worked and my whole body has an overall warm feeling that is telling me I *did* something, which is good! I'm noticing some clothing differences -- things fitting looser, and fitting into a couple of things that I couldn't fit into just a few weeks ago. So, all in all I'm feeling happy and motivated to continue this journey and keep seeing those changes!
I am throwing a baby shower on Saturday this week, so unfortunately it may interfere with my regular WW meeting again, unless I'm really set up for the shower and have some time to kill. It looks like I may weigh-in again on Friday just to make sure I'm accountable since it's not convenient this Saturday, but I'll know more about that as the week progresses. I'm looking forward to my weekends getting back to normal after Mother's Day. I shouldn't have anything too important that will get in the way of my meetings, which I enjoy and need to help me stay on track and get new ideas.
I feel like having lost 10 pounds, I'm probably to a point where 1 pound loss per week is reasonable to expect. I am not expecting big losses anymore right now, but who knows, maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised? I will certainly try my best. I would be really happy with 2 pounds a week for the next month so that I can reach my 20 pound weight loss goal by June 8th - the Josh Groban concert!! Gotta look hot for my musician man! LOL A photo opportunity could happen since I have front row tickets & special VIP stuff included, so I want to feel really great about myself! 20 pounds is the goal!
For meals this week (including last night) I have planned:
I am still debating what meal to make for tonight. I'm thinking the Thanskgiving Meatloaf sounds good. Here's the recipe:
Thanksgiving Meatloaf
Ingredients
16 oz Perdue 93/7 lean ground turkey
1/4 cup Egg Beaters
1 tsp Bell's Seasoning
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 medium carrot, shredded
2 medium stalks celery, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
2 TBSP fat free chicken broth
1 cup Stove Top cornbread stuffing mix, dry (unprepared)
1 (16 oz) can Ocean Spray jellied cranberry sauce
Instructions
Mix together turkey, egg, Bell's seasoning and 8 oz of cranberry sauce.
Saute onion, carrot, celery and garlic in nonstick fry pan with chicken broth.
Combine dry stuffing mix with vegetables, add to turkey mixture and mix until all ingredients are combined.
Pat into loaf pan and top with remaining 8 oz of cranberry sauce.
Bake at 350 for one hour, let loaf sit for a few minutes before slicing; slice into 6 pieces.
---
I will need to calculate the points for the whole recipe, then divide it by 6 for the portions. I think it's going to be relatively low points since the only thing to consider is the turkey, cranberry sauce, and stuffing mix.
That's all for now, folks!
It was a busy weekend with a few occasions of having to eat foods that I was uncertain of point values and portions, but I made wise decisions (I think) and did my best and certainly didn't let it spiral into an unhealthy pattern. It is Monday and I'm back on track. Yesterday was actually a good day, too, counting my points and recording everything I ate.
This morning I went to Aqua Fit at 9:00 and once again, enjoyed it. My muscles feel worked and my whole body has an overall warm feeling that is telling me I *did* something, which is good! I'm noticing some clothing differences -- things fitting looser, and fitting into a couple of things that I couldn't fit into just a few weeks ago. So, all in all I'm feeling happy and motivated to continue this journey and keep seeing those changes!
I am throwing a baby shower on Saturday this week, so unfortunately it may interfere with my regular WW meeting again, unless I'm really set up for the shower and have some time to kill. It looks like I may weigh-in again on Friday just to make sure I'm accountable since it's not convenient this Saturday, but I'll know more about that as the week progresses. I'm looking forward to my weekends getting back to normal after Mother's Day. I shouldn't have anything too important that will get in the way of my meetings, which I enjoy and need to help me stay on track and get new ideas.
I feel like having lost 10 pounds, I'm probably to a point where 1 pound loss per week is reasonable to expect. I am not expecting big losses anymore right now, but who knows, maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised? I will certainly try my best. I would be really happy with 2 pounds a week for the next month so that I can reach my 20 pound weight loss goal by June 8th - the Josh Groban concert!! Gotta look hot for my musician man! LOL A photo opportunity could happen since I have front row tickets & special VIP stuff included, so I want to feel really great about myself! 20 pounds is the goal!
For meals this week (including last night) I have planned:
- NY strips, baked sweet potatoes, and broccoli
- Thanksgiving Meatloaf with Cauliflower Mashed "Potatoes"
- Crockpot Lasagna
- Grilled chicken sandwiches with Spring Salad & soft goat cheese
- Whole wheat linguine pasta with seared chicken, broccoli, and olive oil
I am still debating what meal to make for tonight. I'm thinking the Thanskgiving Meatloaf sounds good. Here's the recipe:
Thanksgiving Meatloaf
Ingredients
16 oz Perdue 93/7 lean ground turkey
1/4 cup Egg Beaters
1 tsp Bell's Seasoning
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 medium carrot, shredded
2 medium stalks celery, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
2 TBSP fat free chicken broth
1 cup Stove Top cornbread stuffing mix, dry (unprepared)
1 (16 oz) can Ocean Spray jellied cranberry sauce
Instructions
Mix together turkey, egg, Bell's seasoning and 8 oz of cranberry sauce.
Saute onion, carrot, celery and garlic in nonstick fry pan with chicken broth.
Combine dry stuffing mix with vegetables, add to turkey mixture and mix until all ingredients are combined.
Pat into loaf pan and top with remaining 8 oz of cranberry sauce.
Bake at 350 for one hour, let loaf sit for a few minutes before slicing; slice into 6 pieces.
---
I will need to calculate the points for the whole recipe, then divide it by 6 for the portions. I think it's going to be relatively low points since the only thing to consider is the turkey, cranberry sauce, and stuffing mix.
That's all for now, folks!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
This Week's Weigh-In
I decided to weigh-in yesterday (Friday) morning before I went to the gym because this weekend was going to be crazy busy and I did NOT want to find myself giving excuses of why I could not weigh-in. So, in an effort to stay on track and focused, I went yesterday morning. I was pleasantly surprised to have lost 3.2 pounds!! That put me at a total loss of 10 pounds so far. It's a great feeling and I'm already noticing changes in my appearance and clothes fitting differently. My confidence has boosted and I notice myself doing my hair & makeup more often and I was even able to pull out a cute shirt yesterday that hadn't fit in a while and wear it to the cookout we went to! That was a good feeling.
I definitely "let my hair down" at the cookout, but I don't think I did too badly. There was no way to count the points for everything I ate, but I had a relatively low point breakfast and lunch before the cookout, so I had 20 points left for the cookout. I ate a hamburger (on a regular bun), a couple small spoonfuls of sides (mashed potatoes and potato salad- I had MUCH smaller portions than I would normally have gotten), and then I munched on Ruffles & French Onion dip throughout the night. I also drank alcohol for the first time in a long time. I brought 64 calorie beer for myself, so "extra light" beer, but I also had a mixed drink. So I'm considering that I used some of my 49 flex points last night and I have an ENTIRE week to get back on the ball and eating right.
Weight Watchers is all about not depriving yourself. I enjoyed myself yesterday, didn't go crazy with food, but still had tastes of things and enjoyed it. I made No Pudge brownies and brought them to the party which were also guilt-free, but SUPER yummy.
Yesterday at my workout, I burned 250 calories, which met my goal for the week of increasing from 200 to 250. I also did Aqua Fit workouts earlier in the week, but I am not sure how many calories I burn (aside from "estimated" numbers I've read online).
This morning I was back on track food-wise and plan to be the rest of the day & week. If there's one thing about weight loss, it's that when you start feeling good about your accomplishments, it doesn't make me want to ruin things by getting off track. It feels good to get back on the wagon today after a fun, "unknown" food day yesterday.
I definitely "let my hair down" at the cookout, but I don't think I did too badly. There was no way to count the points for everything I ate, but I had a relatively low point breakfast and lunch before the cookout, so I had 20 points left for the cookout. I ate a hamburger (on a regular bun), a couple small spoonfuls of sides (mashed potatoes and potato salad- I had MUCH smaller portions than I would normally have gotten), and then I munched on Ruffles & French Onion dip throughout the night. I also drank alcohol for the first time in a long time. I brought 64 calorie beer for myself, so "extra light" beer, but I also had a mixed drink. So I'm considering that I used some of my 49 flex points last night and I have an ENTIRE week to get back on the ball and eating right.
Weight Watchers is all about not depriving yourself. I enjoyed myself yesterday, didn't go crazy with food, but still had tastes of things and enjoyed it. I made No Pudge brownies and brought them to the party which were also guilt-free, but SUPER yummy.
Yesterday at my workout, I burned 250 calories, which met my goal for the week of increasing from 200 to 250. I also did Aqua Fit workouts earlier in the week, but I am not sure how many calories I burn (aside from "estimated" numbers I've read online).
This morning I was back on track food-wise and plan to be the rest of the day & week. If there's one thing about weight loss, it's that when you start feeling good about your accomplishments, it doesn't make me want to ruin things by getting off track. It feels good to get back on the wagon today after a fun, "unknown" food day yesterday.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Cheesy Goodness
I thought I'd share one of my favorite go-to snacks that I keep in the fridge at all times right now. They're basically the same exact thing as the old fashioned Laughing Cow Cheese but they're WW brand. They taste exactly the same, but for some reason they're $1.00 cheaper per package at my grocery store, so that's why I went with the WW brand. Just 1 point for a triangular shaped piece of soft cheese. I've really enjoyed it with a granny smith apple, a few crackers, grapes, or even just munching on it by itself. In searching for this photo, I found that there are other flavors, too! I will have to figure out how I can get some other flavors... like the jalapeno one. Yum!
Wake Up in Hawaii
So, this morning I got a little creative with my breakfast. I had some fresh cored pineapple that sparked my fancy, so I thought about how I could use it in my breakfast without just the typical eating some fruit on the side or mixing it in yogurt.
I decided to make one of my self-proclaimed infamous breakfast "sandwiches" with no bread. I find using less carbs is much easier in the morning for me than it is at lunch or dinner, so I try to do as low carb as possible at breakfast.
I felt like this breakfast sandwich was a little taste of Hawaii, probably because it's a common combination on a Hawaiian Pizza. I shall call this, Breakfast in Paradise. Because I'm cheesy like that. (Oh, and there's cheese)
3 pieces of Canadian Bacon - 1 point
1 slice cheddar cheese single - 2 points
1 pineapple round - 0 points
Brown the Canadian bacon and pineapple in a pan until you see some good color on everything. Then build the sandwich: Bacon, cheddar, bacon, pineapple, bacon. I actually ate this one in the car on the way to the gym, but it was quite juicy from the pineapple so I would recommend eating it at home, but it's really not necessary to use a fork and knife. It was SOO tasty and refreshing with that pineapple. I've always loved ham/bacon with pineapple so this was a special treat.
If you want it to really mimic the flavor of a Hawaiian Pizza, you could use mozzarella cheese instead of cheddar and you could even top it with a bit of 0-point marinara sauce much like I top my other breakfasts with salsa. That's a great idea - I may try that next! How great would that be to enjoy the flavors of (one of my favorite) pizzas, but without all the carbs?
Someone try it and let me know what you think!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Tuesday Tidbits
Well hello there, hope everyone is having a healthy start to the week. This morning for breakfast I had one of my favorite healthy breakfasts that I've only discovered in the last few weeks. It is heavenly and I'm sorry I didn't know about it even when I wasn't "dieting" because I certainly would have loved it then, too. I like to call it, Breakfast Cheesecake.
1/2 cup Kashi Go-Lean Crunch - 2 points
1/4 cup Nonfat Greek Yogurt - 1 point
Splenda to sweeten - 0 points
Fruit of choice, diced up - 0 points
Mix everything together and enjoy.
This morning I chose strawberries because they're incredibly sweet and in season at the moment, but I usually do bananas. The sweetened Greek yogurt tastes like cheesecake when you mix in the cereal, which tastes like the graham cracker crust of a cheesecake, and then the fruit or berries tastes like a cheesecake topping. It is seriously delicious and only 3 points!! It is so very filling because of all the protein and fiber.
I trained a friend today to do the type of work that I do and we hadn't seen each other in quite a few years, so it was great to catch up! Naturally, we wanted to go get lunch together, but I hadn't even planned for that. I assumed I would whip up some leftovers here at the house, so when we decided to go to lunch, I had to think quick. We decided to go to Applebee's. I am not usually a huge fan of Applebee's BUT they have Weight Watchers endorsed entrees on their menu with point values already labeled on the menu! How cool is that? So, I was able to have an 8 point lunch, plus we split chips and salsa so I added 4 points just to be safe. It felt great to choose a healthy option from the menu and know exactly how it impacted my day!
Tomorrow is another Aqua Fit day at 9:00 a.m. My days start to get quite busy from here on out this week, so it's time to get focused and stay on plan. There is no reason not to because I can still enjoy myself tremendously while watching what I eat. I still haven't decided whether or not I'll weigh-in on Friday morning instead of Saturday morning. I think I may actually stick to Saturday and just bring myself a Subway sandwich to the cookout on Friday so I know exactly how many points I'm eating - and I love them, anyway, so it's not like I'm sacrificing to not have a hamburger or hot dog! I also plan to bring chips & dip for everyone to share, and I think I'll make a batch of No Pudge Brownies to share, which are SOOOOO good, but only 3 points per brownie! Can't beat that with a stick! (I'm turning into my husband)
1/2 cup Kashi Go-Lean Crunch - 2 points
1/4 cup Nonfat Greek Yogurt - 1 point
Splenda to sweeten - 0 points
Fruit of choice, diced up - 0 points
Mix everything together and enjoy.
This morning I chose strawberries because they're incredibly sweet and in season at the moment, but I usually do bananas. The sweetened Greek yogurt tastes like cheesecake when you mix in the cereal, which tastes like the graham cracker crust of a cheesecake, and then the fruit or berries tastes like a cheesecake topping. It is seriously delicious and only 3 points!! It is so very filling because of all the protein and fiber.
I trained a friend today to do the type of work that I do and we hadn't seen each other in quite a few years, so it was great to catch up! Naturally, we wanted to go get lunch together, but I hadn't even planned for that. I assumed I would whip up some leftovers here at the house, so when we decided to go to lunch, I had to think quick. We decided to go to Applebee's. I am not usually a huge fan of Applebee's BUT they have Weight Watchers endorsed entrees on their menu with point values already labeled on the menu! How cool is that? So, I was able to have an 8 point lunch, plus we split chips and salsa so I added 4 points just to be safe. It felt great to choose a healthy option from the menu and know exactly how it impacted my day!
Tomorrow is another Aqua Fit day at 9:00 a.m. My days start to get quite busy from here on out this week, so it's time to get focused and stay on plan. There is no reason not to because I can still enjoy myself tremendously while watching what I eat. I still haven't decided whether or not I'll weigh-in on Friday morning instead of Saturday morning. I think I may actually stick to Saturday and just bring myself a Subway sandwich to the cookout on Friday so I know exactly how many points I'm eating - and I love them, anyway, so it's not like I'm sacrificing to not have a hamburger or hot dog! I also plan to bring chips & dip for everyone to share, and I think I'll make a batch of No Pudge Brownies to share, which are SOOOOO good, but only 3 points per brownie! Can't beat that with a stick! (I'm turning into my husband)
Monday, April 25, 2011
Monday Munchies
I thought I would write out what my day looks like in terms of food. Today is a pretty typical day.
Breakfast:
I like to call it a Fork & Knife Breakfast Sandwich.
2 slices of Canadian Bacon browned in a pan - 1 point
1 egg (I break the yolk & fry it) - 2 points
1 Cheddar single (the real stuff) - 2 points
Salsa to taste - 0 points
I put it together like a sandwich with the Canadian bacon acting like the bread, egg and cheese in the middle, and then top it with some salsa. It is SO yummy and filling, lots of protein, and only 5 points!! It takes like 5 minutes to throw together, too. Easy.
Lunch:
We'll call this Gourmet Italian Grilled Cheese.
Breakfast:
I like to call it a Fork & Knife Breakfast Sandwich.
2 slices of Canadian Bacon browned in a pan - 1 point
1 egg (I break the yolk & fry it) - 2 points
1 Cheddar single (the real stuff) - 2 points
Salsa to taste - 0 points
I put it together like a sandwich with the Canadian bacon acting like the bread, egg and cheese in the middle, and then top it with some salsa. It is SO yummy and filling, lots of protein, and only 5 points!! It takes like 5 minutes to throw together, too. Easy.
Lunch:
We'll call this Gourmet Italian Grilled Cheese.
1 Whole Wheat Thin Bun - 3 points
1/4 cup shredded, part skim Mozzarella Cheese - 2 points
Slices of tomato, as much as desired - 0 points
Fresh Basil - 0 points
Balsamic Vinegar - 0 points
I open the Thin Bun and drizzle each side with a bit of balsamic vinegar. Then I put my fresh basil (I use the basil in a tube found in the produce area. It's already chopped and it doesn't have any oil or anything, just convenient!). I put half of the cheese on one bun, then add my tomatoes, put some salt and pepper on them, then top with the rest of the cheese, and put the top bun onto the sandwich. In a small frying pan, spray with Olive Oil Pam spray and grill the sandwich on both sides like a regular grilled cheese. It is SO FREAKIN' delicious, this has been one of my favorites and I've made it several times over the last few weeks. It truly tastes like I'm eating something from Panera or in an Italian deli and I feel like I'm cheating on my diet. It's only 5 points, so I could actually have two if I wanted to since I have 38 total points in any given day to use up.
Snack
This afternoon I made myself a cup of coffee (with Splenda and Fat Free half & half) and had two Weight Watchers treats, pre-packaged. They are both delicious and satisfy a sweet tooth plus curb some afternoon hunger. Try these out if you haven't before:
WW Cookies
WW Chocolate Cake
Each is 2 points (sorry, the chocolate cake picture is lying when it says 1 point - it must be an old photo from back when it was the old point system). They are REALLY good, even though they are pretty small in size. I was disappointed when I saw the size, but totally excited when they were super tasty and almost overly sweet, thereby curbing my need to have a bigger quantity of them.
Dinner
Tonight for dinner I'm making Sauce with Hot Italian Turkey Sausage & Cannellini Beans
2 large cans of crushed tomatoes - 0 points
2 cloves of garlic, chopped - 0 points
6 links Hot Italian Turkey Sausage cut into thirds - 1 point per third link (3 points per whole link)
2 cans Cannellini beans, drained/rinsed - 2 points for 1/2 cup
1 lb. whole wheat spaghetti - 4 points per cup
Basil, dry or fresh - 0 points
Brown cut sausage links in Olive Oil Pam spray. When nearly finished, add garlic and let cook until fragrant (30 seconds or so). Add beans and stir for a few minutes, then add both cans of tomatoes. Add basil, salt and pepper to taste and let simmer...the longer the better.
Cook pasta just before serving. 1 cup of pasta plus 3 portions of sausage & sauce (assume sauce serving has 1/2 cup of beans in it - no real way to measure) and your whole dinner is 9 points!! You can add some more sausage to your helping to boost up the protein and, of course, how full you will feel. It is REALLY tasty and makes TONS of leftovers. Highly recommend.
1/4 cup shredded, part skim Mozzarella Cheese - 2 points
Slices of tomato, as much as desired - 0 points
Fresh Basil - 0 points
Balsamic Vinegar - 0 points
I open the Thin Bun and drizzle each side with a bit of balsamic vinegar. Then I put my fresh basil (I use the basil in a tube found in the produce area. It's already chopped and it doesn't have any oil or anything, just convenient!). I put half of the cheese on one bun, then add my tomatoes, put some salt and pepper on them, then top with the rest of the cheese, and put the top bun onto the sandwich. In a small frying pan, spray with Olive Oil Pam spray and grill the sandwich on both sides like a regular grilled cheese. It is SO FREAKIN' delicious, this has been one of my favorites and I've made it several times over the last few weeks. It truly tastes like I'm eating something from Panera or in an Italian deli and I feel like I'm cheating on my diet. It's only 5 points, so I could actually have two if I wanted to since I have 38 total points in any given day to use up.
Snack
This afternoon I made myself a cup of coffee (with Splenda and Fat Free half & half) and had two Weight Watchers treats, pre-packaged. They are both delicious and satisfy a sweet tooth plus curb some afternoon hunger. Try these out if you haven't before:
WW Cookies
WW Chocolate Cake
Each is 2 points (sorry, the chocolate cake picture is lying when it says 1 point - it must be an old photo from back when it was the old point system). They are REALLY good, even though they are pretty small in size. I was disappointed when I saw the size, but totally excited when they were super tasty and almost overly sweet, thereby curbing my need to have a bigger quantity of them.Dinner
Tonight for dinner I'm making Sauce with Hot Italian Turkey Sausage & Cannellini Beans
2 large cans of crushed tomatoes - 0 points
2 cloves of garlic, chopped - 0 points
6 links Hot Italian Turkey Sausage cut into thirds - 1 point per third link (3 points per whole link)
2 cans Cannellini beans, drained/rinsed - 2 points for 1/2 cup
1 lb. whole wheat spaghetti - 4 points per cup
Basil, dry or fresh - 0 points
Brown cut sausage links in Olive Oil Pam spray. When nearly finished, add garlic and let cook until fragrant (30 seconds or so). Add beans and stir for a few minutes, then add both cans of tomatoes. Add basil, salt and pepper to taste and let simmer...the longer the better.
Cook pasta just before serving. 1 cup of pasta plus 3 portions of sausage & sauce (assume sauce serving has 1/2 cup of beans in it - no real way to measure) and your whole dinner is 9 points!! You can add some more sausage to your helping to boost up the protein and, of course, how full you will feel. It is REALLY tasty and makes TONS of leftovers. Highly recommend.
Great Workout this Morning
Went to Aqua Fit at LA Fitness this morning at 9:00. This is my 5th class (I go twice a week) and I think it might have been the best workout I've had yet -- possibly tied with last Wednesday. I think part of it is I'm pushing myself harder each time and trying to not take it easy on myself at any point. I already feel a bit sore and I've only been home for an hour!
This weekend is going to be a challenge to stay on track and focused because I have a really busy week ahead. Today is somewhat normal, but tomorrow I'm training a person at my house for my job for a few hours, then have to work the rest of the afternoon. Wednesday I have a full day of work, then I have to do an evaluation for a dog training client that evening at 6:30 and most likely will be bringing the dog home with me to start her 3-day training program. If that's the case, then Thursday, I will have to work in the morning, then do my work delivery to Atlanta, all while balancing out dog training workouts throughout the day. Trivia Thursday night as usual at Lupitas Mexican Restaurant.
I'm planning to weigh-in on Friday morning at Weight Watchers because we have a cookout to attend Friday afternoon and I'm not sure what I'll be able to eat and how it will impact my weight (mostly because of sodium). I will be working all day plus training the dog throughout, and on Saturday we have another cookout/housewarming party to attend to in the afternoon. Daniel will be working on some house stuff all weekend as well.
So, it's going to be a really busy week and it will be easy to get lost in the shuffle, but I am going to do my best to eat healthy, get to the gym at my normal designated times, and stay focused. I may not see the best weigh-in result this Friday or Saturday, but there will always be weeks like this where some things are out of my control and I just have to do my best and go with the flow. I'm even contemplating bringing my own food to the cookout! (healthy hot dog, wheat bun, snacks, fruit, etc.)
We shall see!!
This weekend is going to be a challenge to stay on track and focused because I have a really busy week ahead. Today is somewhat normal, but tomorrow I'm training a person at my house for my job for a few hours, then have to work the rest of the afternoon. Wednesday I have a full day of work, then I have to do an evaluation for a dog training client that evening at 6:30 and most likely will be bringing the dog home with me to start her 3-day training program. If that's the case, then Thursday, I will have to work in the morning, then do my work delivery to Atlanta, all while balancing out dog training workouts throughout the day. Trivia Thursday night as usual at Lupitas Mexican Restaurant.
I'm planning to weigh-in on Friday morning at Weight Watchers because we have a cookout to attend Friday afternoon and I'm not sure what I'll be able to eat and how it will impact my weight (mostly because of sodium). I will be working all day plus training the dog throughout, and on Saturday we have another cookout/housewarming party to attend to in the afternoon. Daniel will be working on some house stuff all weekend as well.
So, it's going to be a really busy week and it will be easy to get lost in the shuffle, but I am going to do my best to eat healthy, get to the gym at my normal designated times, and stay focused. I may not see the best weigh-in result this Friday or Saturday, but there will always be weeks like this where some things are out of my control and I just have to do my best and go with the flow. I'm even contemplating bringing my own food to the cookout! (healthy hot dog, wheat bun, snacks, fruit, etc.)
We shall see!!
Saturday, April 23, 2011
My Goals This Week
I have a couple of goals that I would like to focus on this week:
1. Drink more water.
I am BAD about this. While Diet Coke is not bad to drink, I know drinking water is healthier and I know I need to drink more of it, too. Water helps flush out the fat and also flushes out sodium. So, in an effort to achieve this goal of mine, we bought a soda machine today. Here is the exact one if you want to check it out: SodaStream
Basically, it turns tap water into soda water which is still water, but fizzy and refreshing. There are also a bunch of flavors so it takes like you're having a soda, but it's still just water! There are diet flavors which are zero calories, etc. but there are also "regular" flavors that are still just 25 calories per 8 oz. Right now I'm sticking with the diet stuff. I hope this helps improve my intake of water!
2. Increase my calories burned to: 250.
On Mondays/Wednesdays, I do Aqua Fit so I actually don't know how many calories I burn in that span of an hour. But on Fridays, I do have the ability to see how many calories I'm burning and each week I want to reach a higher number. This week, I'd like to burn 250. I know some people burn 1,000+ calories in one workout, but I'm simply not there yet. 250 will be my goal this week because it's 50 higher than last week. I think small increments will build my stamina and keep me from getting burnt out too quickly.
1. Drink more water.
I am BAD about this. While Diet Coke is not bad to drink, I know drinking water is healthier and I know I need to drink more of it, too. Water helps flush out the fat and also flushes out sodium. So, in an effort to achieve this goal of mine, we bought a soda machine today. Here is the exact one if you want to check it out: SodaStream
Basically, it turns tap water into soda water which is still water, but fizzy and refreshing. There are also a bunch of flavors so it takes like you're having a soda, but it's still just water! There are diet flavors which are zero calories, etc. but there are also "regular" flavors that are still just 25 calories per 8 oz. Right now I'm sticking with the diet stuff. I hope this helps improve my intake of water!2. Increase my calories burned to: 250.
On Mondays/Wednesdays, I do Aqua Fit so I actually don't know how many calories I burn in that span of an hour. But on Fridays, I do have the ability to see how many calories I'm burning and each week I want to reach a higher number. This week, I'd like to burn 250. I know some people burn 1,000+ calories in one workout, but I'm simply not there yet. 250 will be my goal this week because it's 50 higher than last week. I think small increments will build my stamina and keep me from getting burnt out too quickly.
Welcome!
Well, hello there. Admittedly, I've been known to create blogs for just about anything and everything, but I feel especially empowered to do so at this juncture in my life. I would like to document my journey to being fit & fabulous and use this as a tool to help me stay motivated and accountable.
Three weeks ago, I signed up for Weight Watchers and also joined LA Fitness. Although I have done WW in the past, my joining was never really initiated because of me. I joined because family members were joining and so I tagged along, usually lost 25 pounds, and then promptly lost motivation or hit some sort of plateau. This time around, I joined for me. It's something I considered doing for several weeks while watching The Biggest Loser on TV and feeling my motivation growing more and more as time went on. Finally I just decided to do it. I made a rash decision to sign up on the computer and attend my first meeting two days later at the first moment it was possible with my schedule.
Deciding to join the gym was also a big deal for me. I've joined once before in college with my roommates, but once again, it wasn't for me. I just tagged along and definitely didn't use the membership but a few times. I also did classes/machines that I may not have normally picked for myself because I was doing it to be with the girls.
Now, I am attending Aqua Fit on Mondays and Wednesdays at 9:00 which is, essentially, water aerobics. I love it. There are lots of old people and I feel like I rock in that class because everyone else is, well, old - and not doing much. I make it a great workout and really push myself and it isn't hard on my joints at all. On Fridays I go and do cardio on the machines. The recumbent bike has been the greatest so far - also not tough on my joints but definitely a killer workout. So far I've been burning around 200-250 calories on Fridays and I hope to increase that number a little bit each time.
My first week I lost 4.8 pounds. My second week I lost 2 pounds. I am now into the beginning of Week 3 and am feeling great about things! It's amazing what losing 6.8 pounds feels like. My energy has definitely increased and my desire to keep going and keep feeling better is burning bright. I do have quite a bit to go. I have not set an ultimate goal or even a timeframe for that matter, but I am hoping to reach my 10% weight loss within a couple of months (that will be 25 pounds). I am pretty sure if we go by my height I need to lose at least 100 pounds, but it does me no good to concentrate on that number right now. Small, attainable goals is where I'm at.
So, I will update this often (possibly more than once a day) with meal/snack/recipe ideas, workout plans/achievements, updates after my weekly weigh-ins, and I may even include some pictures from time to time.
Three weeks ago, I signed up for Weight Watchers and also joined LA Fitness. Although I have done WW in the past, my joining was never really initiated because of me. I joined because family members were joining and so I tagged along, usually lost 25 pounds, and then promptly lost motivation or hit some sort of plateau. This time around, I joined for me. It's something I considered doing for several weeks while watching The Biggest Loser on TV and feeling my motivation growing more and more as time went on. Finally I just decided to do it. I made a rash decision to sign up on the computer and attend my first meeting two days later at the first moment it was possible with my schedule.
Deciding to join the gym was also a big deal for me. I've joined once before in college with my roommates, but once again, it wasn't for me. I just tagged along and definitely didn't use the membership but a few times. I also did classes/machines that I may not have normally picked for myself because I was doing it to be with the girls.
Now, I am attending Aqua Fit on Mondays and Wednesdays at 9:00 which is, essentially, water aerobics. I love it. There are lots of old people and I feel like I rock in that class because everyone else is, well, old - and not doing much. I make it a great workout and really push myself and it isn't hard on my joints at all. On Fridays I go and do cardio on the machines. The recumbent bike has been the greatest so far - also not tough on my joints but definitely a killer workout. So far I've been burning around 200-250 calories on Fridays and I hope to increase that number a little bit each time.
My first week I lost 4.8 pounds. My second week I lost 2 pounds. I am now into the beginning of Week 3 and am feeling great about things! It's amazing what losing 6.8 pounds feels like. My energy has definitely increased and my desire to keep going and keep feeling better is burning bright. I do have quite a bit to go. I have not set an ultimate goal or even a timeframe for that matter, but I am hoping to reach my 10% weight loss within a couple of months (that will be 25 pounds). I am pretty sure if we go by my height I need to lose at least 100 pounds, but it does me no good to concentrate on that number right now. Small, attainable goals is where I'm at.
So, I will update this often (possibly more than once a day) with meal/snack/recipe ideas, workout plans/achievements, updates after my weekly weigh-ins, and I may even include some pictures from time to time.
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