Promises for 2011

Well, I weighed in Thursday...I have gained about 2 lbs from Thanksgiving to now.  Not bad, I have done worse.  I did not reach my goal weight in 2010...but I did maintain weight loss of the significant amount (50 lbs gone since 2009)  Total weight loss had been 64 lbs.  That 14 lbs has come and gone in the last couple of years.  In 2010 I did reach the LOWEST weight since my 20s...at 183.  Currently I am 186.  I want to reach 175.  I also want to develop my relationship with food.  It is not always healthy.  I enjoy food, but I also turn to it when I am feeling down or upset.  I also use it in celebration.  It has taken me a long time to admit that.  I am also a firm believer that moderation is key.  Listening to my body...knowing when I am full.  Stopping when I am satisfied.  Here are a few promises I want to make to myself for 2011.

1) Keeping my weight off
2) Regular exercise
3) Meal planning
4) Reach goal weight 175
5) Continue to work on my relationship with food

Happy New Year to everyone!

Countdown to Christmas

So...I didn't weigh in at Thanksgiving...went in December 9th and lost 2 lbs...down to 183.8!  I was soooo excited.  This week I weighed in and gained about .4 (yes, that is a decimal in front of the 4).  Not too concerned about that...but this is the week of all of the parties and holiday food.  I have been pretty good.  I decided to go ahead and take small portions of what I liked.  I managed to get through this weekend not getting sick and being too full...but I know when I weigh in I will have gained.  But...just to keep myself in check I will weigh on Thursday.  I keep remembering what our WW leader said.  It is one day...I keep telling myself, it is one time of the year....Christmas is a time when we eat things we don't eat any other time of the year.  I didn't make all of the cookies and stuff I normally make...but I was selective and made what I really enjoy...I tried a salted fudge from WW, I made some buckeyes, and tried some pretzel s'mores.  I know that I will have sweets here and there before then...but I am trying to keep my sweets to a minimum and I don't want to over indulge.  I also know that come January...I will get back on track!  Happy Holidays...and if you have some great strategies...please share!

After Thanksgiving Weigh In

So I weighed in yesterday...lost 2 lbs!  Now I am at the weight I was at the peak of my weight loss...total loss of 64 lbs.  I have never regained the 50 lost...but that 14 lbs has come and gone over the last few years.  I am hoping to keep it off though the holidays will make it challenging.  I have managed to get through the holidays with minimal damage before...I hope to do it again.  I will continue going in and weighing myself until 12/23....and then it may be until January 2011.  I paid for another 17 weeks of WW.  The WW plan has changed.  This will give me a jump start I think...and I have to relearn points and how to calculate.  Now we are taking into consideration Protein and Fiber...and if there are Fat and Carbs the point value of the food goes up...so good news Peanut Butter is less points...but on the bad side, my 110 calorie thin bagels have gone from 1 point to 3 points!  EEK...Anyway, it will be a learning process.  I will get used to it and according to those who started the program last week they did pretty good!  I also have to remind myself that the holidays come once a year.  Often I am eating things that I don't eat regularly...so indulge, not too much...and get back on track, don't let the guilt weigh me down!

Pumpkin Yogurt

This weekend I didn't get the exercise I had hoped for...but I will say that Saturday I spent most of the day cleaning, hauling, climbing up and down a ladder...I think that counts for some activity.  And Sunday, my husband and I rearranged the apartment...which wasn't easy either.  This morning I decided to try something I read about in WW magazine.  I didn't follow it to the letter...but this is what I came up with.

1 cup lowfat vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1 tsp cinnamon plus (Pampered Chef) or use Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 packet splenda to sweeten a little

This is 2 points...and what a yummy breakfast.  The recipe in the WW magazine had you add wheat germ and slivered almonds...I had neither around...and you can use Fat Free Vanilla Yogurt if you want less points and if you prefer.  Anyway.  It is a yummy breakfast.

For dinner, I am making Chicken Posole Soup...I can't wait!

Have a great Monday!

Hooray!

I weighed in this morning...lost 4 lbs!  I am SO excited.  I need to keep this up.  If I can keep this up the holidays won't be so much of a struggle.  Maybe I can lose another 2 or 3 lbs before Thanksgiving.  That stretch between Thanksgiving and New Years is always tricky!  I have managed to do pretty good over the years...but every year I need to encourage myself not to lose focus.  In my WW meeting today, the leader said something that really stuck with me.  Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas...it is just ONE DAY, do what you do, forgive yourself and get back on track...or plan and do the best you can.  Don't let ONE DAY undo your hard work.  For those of you reading...are you thinking about the holidays?  What are your strategies?  And...why did I lose this week...one word EXERCISE, it does make a difference!

And so it begins...

I weighed in Thursday...and gained another 1.6.  I am not eating horribly...every day I say no to things.  But, I am not eating well enough I guess.  What is really strange is the pants that are looser...I feel good.  But, a wake up call for sure.  I am under 190 and want to stay there...and if anything get under 180 at some point.  So...I think exercise is what I need to factor in.  I try...but with school, work, and just day to day life...it is hard to get out there and exercise.  I started Thursday...walking with a friend on her lunch break.  It doesn't always work out...but it is something, and she and I have a similar pace.  Also, I started tracking again...not just what I ate, but the point values.  I am trying to get my husband to encourage me...and I am trying to encourage him.  I have two co-workers who are also doing this...so we talked on friday and vowed to try and encourage each other, share recipes, share wins and losses...just so we know we aren't alone!  Perhaps with all of this...I can be successful.  Sometimes it just boils down to will power and that deep sense of WANTING...nothing else will really work.

So, today we had chicken sausage with roasted butternut squash and green beans for lunch.  I am not a huge fan of squash.  I am trying to learn to like it.  Today it was roasted in the oven with butter (yep, I still use it), fresh thyme and kosher salt.  I had a quarter of a squash...the other half was made into a butternut squash soup.  The recipe came from this month's WW magazine...I just altered the recipe a little based on what I had, and taste.  It will still be 1 point per serving, 1 cup of soup.  I left out the cheese...and will top with some low fat plain yogurt or sour cream when I eat it!

Hope everyone else out there is not losing hope...it WILL happen, small steps!

The Weekend...

Well, it wasn't horrible...but it wasn't good either.  This weekend was the last weekend of the farmer's market...so I had a pain au chocolat.  But...very active at work.  Then...made a pizza...delite from papa murphy's but removed much of the cheese...and added figure friendly items...turkey pepperoni, canadian bacon slices and tomatoes.  Not bad...then I made some chocolate chip bars to mail to someone...ate some cookie dough...and went to bed feeling sick.  Sunday...I managed to eat a couple chocolate chip bars...but made a yankee pot roast (6 points) for dinner and then had popcorn for snack.  But...I plan to do better the rest of the week...and get some good exercise in.  Thursday and Friday I did manage to power walk!  Hopefully I can do that Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  If I can fit a power walk in each day...that will help!  And...I have planned my meals for the rest of the week.  Here's to doing better!