I've taken a turn for the....

...BETTER! Woo-hoo! A few weeks ago as marathon training was officially kicking off, I was seriously struggling. My first "long run" at 6 miles with my CARA training group was disastrous, and even with me opting for the 12:00 pace run/WALK group. For realz? UGH.

The following week I had a craptacular night run for the Glo Run 6K, not even 4 miles. To my defense it was humid as hell out, but still. 4 miles?!

And then I took an honest look at my diet. I've been on weight loss mode all year, dropping as much weight as possible for running season, and it's been successful. As I write this now, I've been waivering anywhere between 157.9 (uh, to be exact) to 163ish, depending on a load of factors I'll save for another post. I'm still tracking as if I'm aiming to lose. And yes, I'm eating the extra calories I earn from exercise for what seems like ONCE IN MY LIFE! But I digress....

I was barely eating enough carbs, or quite frankly, or enough calories in general to sustain running regularly. I thought about re-joining Weight Watchers solely for their awesome online tools. I've tested the LoseIt app (hate it), Livestrong both online and the app, and a few others, but none compared to the awesomeness of WW. I mentioned to my WWer-ing co-worked that I was thinking about doing just the online WW version and why, and she suggested I try MyFitnessPal app. (They're online too.) Three words: IT. IS. AWESOME. And I can really get a good feel for my nutritional intake/balance of calories from carbs, protein, fat, etc...

Since then (admittedly just two weeks), I've been eating much more appropriately for running. trying to get between 50-60% carbs, and then protein/fat. I noticed a difference immediately. Like IMMEDIATELY. No more need for run/walk. The week I missed a 7-mile run to run that race? Ran it last weekend. And at an 11:55 pace. I can't scoff at that, because while I've been a 12:00 pace for ages, this was a solid run, no b.s.ing around. My shorter runs have ranged from about 11:30ish to 11:45ish.

So I'm pretty happy with what started out awful, seeming to get back on track. I'm still on the fence about CARA...ya know, I really don't like running late (yes, 6am is late, especially when it's going to be hot out.) And ya know what? I'm not sure I like running in a group and feeling like I should be conversational. I mean...no group will ever compare to my first group. There just will be no Lou or Meg, or pace leader Celia. I don't know how to explain it. And I actually LIKE running by myself. So we'll see. I think this week CARA is doing 8 miles, then 10 next week, then a cutback before the RockNRoll Half, which was ill-placed on the calendar. WTF? July, when it's always been in August? Booo... Anyway, I'm aiming to do 9 on my own this week, then 11 next week.

It's hot like the dickens. Reached 100 today in the Chi. We'll see what happens for Saturday!!!

So that's what's new with me! I'll try to be a better blogger!! p.s. I didn't pay for CARA, so it's not like I'm wasting a ton of money. It was "free" with my charity group. Feeling charitable? Please visit my fundraising page and consider making a donation for an awesome group. Even $1 helps. Really! Donate it anonymously if you want! :)

New Weigh In Day - New Meeting

I think I'm officially changing my weigh in day to Fridays and will try to work remotely at Starbucks until the 11am meeting, go to the meeting over an early lunch, and then head to the office for the remainder of my work day.

Ok..so I did the exact thing (above) this Friday, and liked it. Other than the fact that instead of my usual workout clothes (read: light as a feather) I had on jeans for the weigh in. I'm guessing it added another pound of clothes and maybe my loss was a bit more, but really? At this weight, does it really matter? No, however I will aim to wear the same thing each week from here on out.

Below are some differences from this meeting and the one I was attending on Saturday mornings closer to home (not work and the girls school.)

Old meeting: Average age 60s
New meeting: Average age 30s

Old meeting: I'm walking every day.
New meeting: I'm training for a half marathon and it says I earned 23 activity points on my 8 mile run. Is this possible? Should I eat them?

New meeting: I have trouble eating up what my kids don't clean off of their plates. Does anyone have any good strategies?
Old meeting: Why wouldn't your kids clean their plates?

New Meeting: Friday night flex points. For me, there is no better way to cap off a long work week than a nice veggie thin crust pizza.
Old Meeting: Oh DAMN. Salty pizza the night before a weigh in? pizza = high sodium = potential shady weigh in (at least for me.)

So the new meeting really fits better into my current lifestyle. I seem to have more in common with them. Nothing wrong with the other meeting, but I think I can learn more now from people who deal with some of the same things I deal with: younger children; training for endurance events; etc...

Now I know a few months back there was some random chick who got all offended by my mention of the average age at my WW meeting. (?) Anyway, haven't seen her since--actually I think she chose to add a comment anonymously-LAME. If you're reading and are offended again, please feel free to not read my blog.

Anyway, I'll keep you posted on the new meeting. Turns out one woman is running the Rock-n-Roll Half in Vegas that I signed up for. How cool is that?

I could tell you...

...that I haven't been tracking, and I've been eating like crazy.
...that I'm so disappointed in myself, and when will I ever be able to put the two together (good exercise habits AND good eating habits)

But even though I've been on this hiatus--haven't been to a WW meeting in WEEKS--I'm ok. No, I know I'm not losing weight because I can feel that I'm not. Hopefully I'm not gaining either.

The other day I started to beat myself up again and say to myself "Geez, it's a shame to do all this running and not lose a pound because you just keep eating and eating and eating." And on some days that's exactly how I feel. But then I realized, no one can take my runs away from me. I earned those runs, whether I'm hovering around 200 pounds or at goal. You can't take those 5am treadmill runs from me...you can't take the 7 mile run along the lakefront at 25 degrees, on 5 hours sleep, even though I really kinda wanted to sleep in last Saturday.

I don't know why I'm having such trouble with my eating. I should probably try to figure it out.

I'm just rambling.

Signed,

One long, deep sigh.

Weigh-in WTHs

So I went to weighh in/pay the piper on Saturday...and I was soooo confused. Ok, so I went to a meeting back on 2/11...it was a Friday at a different location. I remember the meeting. I don't remember weighing in, well ok, I do NOW. But for whatever reason, I never logged it in my blog, and I literally had forgotten all about it. What I remembered was wanting to skip the weigh in and just attend the meeting. And I also had forgotten that the previous weigh in was one at home. I couldn't for the life of me figure out why that 196 wasn't in the WW system. And how I had a loss instead of a gain. Well I had a loss only because I had a huge gain 2 weeks back. WTH? I'm wayyyy to busy if I can't remember stuff that happens 2 weeks ago. At first I thought it was just a mental thing--like, I blocked it out because I didn't want to remember. But I had a similar experience in paying for lunches at the girls' school. I thought I owed money, but I'd paid the Friday before. ?

Anyway...back to weigh-in. I've been playing around with the same 8-10 pounds since November. This is stupid. When the going gets tough, I seem to revert back to old habits. Time to knuckle down and get on with the next 25. There are no tricks. Eat the right amount of points. Write them down. (Or in my case, use my WW iPhone app EVERY DAY FOR EVERY MEAL.) Exercise. Lose. Seems so simple, but it's not.




Take # 4,389.

CTRL-ALT-DEL

According to Wikipedia, Control-Alt-Delete (often abbreviated to Ctrl-Alt-Del, also known as the "three-finger salute")[1][2][3][4][5] is a computer keyboard command on IBM PC compatible systems that can be used to reboot the computer, and summon the task manager or Windows Security in more recent versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system. It is invoked by pressing the Delete key while holding the Control and Alt keys: Ctrl+Alt+Delete. It forces a soft reboot, brings up the task manager (on Windows and BeOS) or a jump to ROM monitor. In most X desktops it brings up the Logout dialog. These keys are sometimes referred to in computer manuals as interrupt keys, since they are often used to interrupt the operation of a malfunctioning program.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

So you might have been wondering where I've been. Ok, maybe not since I'm not sure who is actually paying attention to this blog anymore since I barely do. You might also think that those two recent WW weigh-ins could not be possible. Believe me...it's possible, and they're TRUE. FOR. FUCKING. SHAME.

See what had happened wuzzzzzz...
-continued work stress
-no vacation even though I had one scheduled in late December that never happened, due to said stressors.
-no working out at all (b/c I was ggetting up at 4am to work before GOING to work, then working all day, then coming home and collapsing into a heap after fixing dinner.

Then one blessed Friday night work finally eased up, and the girls and dude went off to Champaign for 24 hours. I should have gone to the gym. I should have gone to WW at the ass-crack of dawn that next morning (please excuse my language, or do yourself a favor and just stop reading my blog.) But no. I rented 3 movies. I watched them. I slept in. Then I went to the movies and saw 2 more movies.

Overall, I did not work out for 14 days in January. (still have somehow managed to get in 50+ miles, a minor miracle.) And before now, I never understood those weirdos at WW meetings who rave "OHMYGAWD I just LOOOOOOOOOOVE peanut buter." I was always like "yeah, whatever. why can't you just put it down?" Then all of the sudden my girls started liking PB&J sandwiches (remember that new year's resolution to start packing our lunches 4 out of 5 days? yeah, well we tried new things.) And goodness gracious, St. Ignatius, if that Skippy Creamy PB isn't the best stuff ever?!?! I've since put it down, but I've had more PB&J sandwiches and all out spoonfulls of PB in the past month than I've had in probably my entire life. Ok, well maybe not THAT many, but definitely a lot.

So last Monday night when my co-worker asked if I could drop her off at her WW meeting I decided, ya know, it's time to see what the damage. I argued with myself that it wouldn't be so bad. It would be this strategic way of getting back on the wagon. What, with having eaten crazily, going to weigh in at the END of the day (we all know that can account for an additional 3 to 5 pounds), wearing regular clothes instead of my standard "weigh-in outfit, well it wouldn't be my true weight, and that the next time I weighed in, it would be a loss no matter what. (Yes. I have a sick, sick mind.) The idea was that since I wouldn't be able to weigh in on Saturday at my usual meeting, I'd wait until the NEXT Saturday. So I weighed in and saw 206.2. I rationalized that maybe I was really around 203 or 202. That was more palatable, and to be honest, not knowing for sure made it easier. (I'm a sick one, eh?)

I got home from picking the girls up that evening, packed their lunches, laid out their clothes, my clothes, AND my workout clothes. And at 4:30am on Tuesday thru Friday, I made my way to the gym, hitting the elliptical and treadmill. Yes, I could workout on my treadmill at home, but there's something to be said for "peace of mind" and realizing that no little 5 year old is going to come tugging at my sleeve to interrupt. Plus the bright lights of the gym make me feel like I'm supposed to be there, not the dull, lifeless atmosphere in my basement. Shhhhh! Shhhhhh! You'll wake someone!! On Thursday I went all out, and ran 3 miles STRAIGHT, which I can't even recall the last time I did that. It's been awhile. I went to the gym again yesterday (but at 8am, much more reasonable), skipping my usual 6:30am WW meeting because I was tired.) I generally stayed on points, although in something totally new, I pretty much ate every activity point I earned..I was SO hungry at night.

But last night (Saturday night), I could feel myself slipping. That self-destructive thinking that sounds a little like this: "Oh, go ahead and order some pizza. You can eat the whole damn thing, you don't have weigh-in until next Saturday." I needed some kind of meeting. Maybe I should weigh in. So this morning, I snuck out of the house while the cherubs and dude slept, and went to WW. 198.8, down 7.4, but still up a bit from my lowest. That's ok. I'm cool. And after weighing in, I went grocery shopping, and came home and made a points friendly breakfast. GASP. And then walked on the treadmill (easy, light day) for a nice 4 mile walk. GASP. The GASPing is because I've gotten into the habit of eating a bunch of my flex points after weigh-in. Starting with a sausage mcmuffin in the drive thru a mile or so from my WW homebase center...for the love of all that is greasy and fattening, WHY ARE THOSE SO GOOD?! And $1.10 from the 99 cents value meal and Cook County taxation. A bargain! Not today though.

So...I think I'm on track. I feel good. I went back and looked at some of the meals that I like and realized I'd stopped eating: my 4 point turkey sandwich snack that was so awesomely filling. And cottage cheese (dude, it's friggin HIGH in protein!) My after-workout protein shake. Weird how you skip buying something once or twice at the store, and it's like it becomes erased from your brain. ??? I'm back at the gym tomorow morning, and may not even be able to go midweek if we get the snow they're talking about...but whatever...one day at a time. right?

Sigh. I think in my "former life" I wouldn't even catch this. I would go all the way back to start, so I'm feeling ok. Minor bump in the road. Next up? 195.0, the 30 pound mark.

p.s. My race season is shaping up. I'm feeling good about this year and not the sense of dread that I had last year (in which I ended up doing NOTHING.) I've signed up for a few half marathons. I am still unsure (and maybe that means no) for the 2011 Chicago Marathon. I did enter into the NYC lottery awhile back, so we'll see what happens with that. I kind of like the idea of letting fate decide...I'll keep you posted. Of course all of this could change when 2011 Chicago Marathon registration opens on Tuesday, which they will send me 100 reminders before then.

Happy almost 2nd month of the new year.

December 26, 1979

The day after Christmas, when I was 8, I remember eating and eating and eating until I was sick. Someone familiar with the popcorn lover in me gave me one of those huge tins of popcorn. This one had cheese, caramel and "plain" (butter). And even though I knew I shouldn't, and even though I had gone way past the point of being hungry, I kept eating until the whole thing was GONE. I kept eating because it tasted so good! I keep eating because I could! I kept eating because it was mine and ALL mine! And within a few hours of scarfing down that last handful of popcorn I was sick. Sick as a dog!

And some 31 years later, I still have this unhealthy relationship with food, at times. Eating because I can, and no one is going to say "Hey, haven't you had enough?" And even if someone did, honestly, I'd be pissed anyway...I mean, who are you to play food police with me?!

The holidays are hard. This past week has been one of those hard weeks. And while I didn't manufacture extra space in my stomach for that slice of Key Lime Pie yesterday that I really wanted to have, I did have too much macaroni and cheese at dinner...and I did nibble multiple times on so many of the 5 different cookie recipes I made throughout the week. Sigh.

But I won't let one bad week translate into "well, I'll just start over after New Year's," or some other lame excuse. Counting points again today. Sigh. It's not rocket science.

Is it?

World's Worst Blogger

How dare I start Thursday 13 and miss on just the 2nd week! That's really pathetic.

How dare I have a GAIN for the first time, and not even share it. I had my whole post planned out, too. So I gained .6 last week. And I followed my points to the "t". I'm sure it was the multiple all-nighters for work again. (All-nighter at Age 35+ is defined as taking a short nap, to arise at some ungodly hour like 1 or 2am and staying up until the normal time you would go to bed the next night.) It's not an all-nighter in the traditional sense of the collegiate "I went to three classes all semester, I'd better pull an all-nighter to get this research paper done," but hey. So anyway, I figure my weight gain had to do with a combination of:

--multiple all nighters for work
--not drinking enough water
--two last minute treadmill jaunts.

Normally I'm good about drinkning my water. But as I struggled with wrapping up multiple projects at work, I found myself glued to my desk. The whole day would go by, and I wouldn't have even gotten halfway through my 32 ounce water bottle. WTH? I did this just about every day at work last week.

So when I woke up on Saturday morning and saw my puffy fingers, I knew it probably wasn't going to be much of a loss. Alas...a gain.

So I was going to tell you that I would exercise no matter what, that I'd drink at least three of my 32 ounce water bottle fill-ups, and that I'd get more sleep.

So here's what I ACTUALLY did:
--did NOT pull any all nighters for work
--pulled ONE all nighter for my cookies
--drank about 2.5 to 3 water refills each day
--exercised ONCE.
--went to a holiday party Sunday evening and stayed within my points
--in some sort of post-traumatic holiday party disorder, I went crazy Monday night and ate macaroni and cheese, two big bowls of ice cream, and chips & salsa

Double WTH?!?!?!?!

So even though I know this is a silly game of tit for tat, I resolved to eat lower on my points for a few days, opting to eat about 23 points for 3 days. We'll see what happens tomorow at weigh in. Loss or no loss, I'm not repeating the madness of this week, either.

This coming week at work will be busy, but not crazy...and then I'm off the following week. I'm looking forward to getting back on a regular schedule for exercising.

Rambling....

untitled post

well, wrapping up week one on the new program...i like it, i think i did fairly well, though my weight loss was kinda "eh." rough week at work, ended up working two very long days on wednesday and thursday nights, getting up at about 2:30am each day and working straight through the entire next day. that and no exercise. but i DID stay on points. Plan to make it to the treadmill or some for of exercise this week. and get more sleep.

cheerio!

Reporting on Day 1

Ummmmm....that was EASY!!! It's weird, but even though some points went up. Like WAY up, I'm feeling full. How could this be? Gonna keep this short and sweet. Got my Old Navy fleece pajamas on, so sleep is calling. Looking forward to Day #2. (Ok, I guess technically I just completed Day #2, but it feels like #1, since it's the first day with e-tools up and running.) I have NO idea how some people can do this without e-tools or mobile apps. I just don't like writing this stuff out. Surely there are those who feel the exact opposite of me, and together we all make the WW-world go 'round!

G'nite, I hope you all fared well!

Introducing: Weight Watchers PointsPlus

So as mentioned in the post below, I ventured out early this morning into the cold, urban tundra that is Chicago to see about this rumored new and improved program. As I approached my WW center, I noticed quite a few more cars than yesterday morning. The place was packed. I "checked in," because all members coming this week have to check in, regardless of whether or not you're weighing in or not. I was handed a new PointsPlus Getting Started book, a pocket guide, weight record and weekly journal. (ACK! Gimme my new iPhone app NOW, please.) Even before the meeting, I decided to buy the points calculator (half off for now) because even though my iPhone app will have it, I just won't be able to easily eyeball things, etc...and this week could prove to be hell without it, should my app not be up and running right away. $5 for sanity, even if just a week, is fine with me. I'm rambling...

New Gear

So upon checking in, I got my new points target, which is 30. That number meant nothing to me. Could be a lot, could be nothing, could be about the same. The new points values consider fat, fiber, protein and carbohydrates. No calories. The Getting Started guide says that "PointsPlus values take into account the energy after you've processed a food." (page 38.) See below:



As such, some foods that you eat will go up tremendously, others will go down, and some will stay the same. The example here shows how much microwave popcorn is effected. I calculated by super-duper lean ground beef (96/4) and it actually went down. My cheese I use for tacos stayed the same. (which really means it went down, since my points went up, right?) My favorite protein drink went up by 1, but again, my daily points went up.



There's gonna be a whole lotta calculating going on in the next few weeks! I personally don't mind. It's good to re-tool, and I guess I sorta feel that after having reached a cool milestone yesterday (under 200 + 25 pounds gone), now's as good a time as any to change. Some people at the meeting were livid. "Does this mean the 1 point bars I bought on sale yesterday are now higher? That's false advertising!" "This is STUPID!" "Not counting calories? That's a mistake!" Now I'm not making any conclusions, but all of those mad seemed to be on the other side of 60. I'm just reporting observations, no conclusions. Make your own assumptions. (ahem.)

Like I mentioned above, I bought the new calculator if for nothing else, to save my sanity for this week. I mean, technically I should be doing the old program until next Saturday since, in theory, that's what the rest of them are doing. But I will tell you what, I want to be able to use my iPhone app the moment it updates. My iPhone notice said it'd be a couple of days. At the meeting they said all smart phones will be up to speed by next Monday. (side eye glance.) E-tools switch over tomorrow, which is supposed to include all of your recipes re-calculated. Guess we'll see about that. In the interim, I'm walking around with this little number that looks kinda like a birth control pill pack from the outside.



I calculated my breakfast and what I plan to eat for the remainder of the day, sans my chicken/cheese soup. I'm just gonna wing it and see how it re-calculates tomorrow via e-tools.



What is super cool is that most fruits and veggies are now 0 points. We were told by WW leader Jennifer (she seemed cool!!) that the stipulation is that we eat to be satisfied, not stuffed. (errr, ok. I could eat my weight in black grapes.) Note that this is SOME fruits and veggies, and sadly, not avocados. WAHHHH! But I didn't for one second think that those would be one of those freebies. A girl can dream though, can't she? Anyway, on the way home I picked up some bananas. To add to my beloved Clementine cuties already on my kitchen counter. ;)

Other important notes about the new program:
*We still earn activity points
*I think we all re-set to a new 5% and 10% goal.
*Those 35 flex points are increased to 49 points
*Every meeting this week will be an introductory meeting
*E-tools up and running Monday 11/29
*All smartphone apps completed by next Monday 12/6

So, that's pretty much what I found out this morning. My WW leader yesterday said that the reason they started this now during the holiday season is because WW members who come during this time of the year are generally more dedicated to the program. They will try it out, and then by the time the new year rolls around and you have to arrive 20 minutes early just to get a seat in your meeting (due to all the New Years' resolutions,) you'll be able to say how great the program works. And you won't be bombarding WW staff with 1,001 questions at the same time a bunch of newbies are. (I added that one, they didn't say that.) I mean, really though...imagine if they did this in January and a bunch of new members see established members looking worried and in disarray.

Let me know how the new program works for you, I will do the same!

Unveiling the New Weight Watchers Plan: POINTS PLUS

So I went to my usual WW meeting today, which is T minus 1 day until the new WW program is officially unveiled. I CAN tell you that it is called Points Plus, which is what our leader told us. (I'd heard already that it would either be that or something similar. There's all sorts of information if you google it, but still not 100% details.) What seems pretty clear to me is that the new points equation involves fat, fiber, protein and carbs. Anyway, at my center, the first meeting is at 7:30am, likely before the girls wake up (especially since I'm going to keep them up late tonight ON PURPOSE FOR THIS REASON), so I'm gonna go find out the deal. I'll post here back here as an update tomorrow morning. :) I'm not too worried, as I'm a huge fan of protein and have inserted many different options into my artillery of filling foods: turkey, chicken, 96/4 lean ground beef, and EAS myoplex protein shakes (check the awesome stats). The only thing I'm worried about is supposedly my iPhone app will go down at some point, and may not come back online for a few days. wha-wha-wha WHAAAAAAAAAT? Say it ain't so! See ya tomorrow, to whomever may be reading.

UPDATE: Going to do a new post instead of an update. (I mean, if you're looking. You probably should have already seen that.)

Sticker Shock

Once featured as one of Oprah's favorite things, yes, Garrett popcorn really IS that good. I've been digging in (on occasion) for many years. The only flavor that's worth it is the "Chicago Mix," which is a caramel/cheese mix. Just when you can't take the savory "gooey" cheese, a sweet crunchy taste of sugary goodness flips the script on your tastebuds. It's incredible. It's best when served warm, right after it's made. It turns your fingertips orange. It's not cheap. It's well worth the wait--(lines have been known to wrap around the corner and cost you 30 to 45 minutes of your life.) But it's a 45 minutes and $6 to $20 well spent.



So while out doing what one does on Black Friday (read: spend too much money) the girls and I were at Navy Pier, which is pretty much a tourist trap I never set foot in, except we met friends for a trip to Build-A-Bear Workshop and the Chicago Children's Museum, so it was ok. My friend decided to pick some Garrett's up as we left, and the girls claimed they wanted some too. Got a large bag. They didn't eat it, they were too preoccupied with their "bears" (which weren't even bears.) So now I have this LARGE bag sitting on the table downstairs. Maybe I'll have some tomorrow....flex points, ya know?

So I went to their website and HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They have the "nutrion"al info all there. 3/4 of a cup is 170 calories, TWELVE grams of fat, and 2 grams of fiber. 4 points. Who eats 3/4 cup of popcorn? The small bag is probably at least 6 cups. I have no idea what that large bag is sitting downstairs. At 6 cups (essentially 8 servings), my trusty iPhone WW app tells me it's 34.5 points. wha-wha-wha WHAT?! That's one week's flex points that I could devour in a very short time, I'm sure.

That-there bag will be eaten by others. Not even sure if I wanna waste my flex points on that. I mean, it's good, but I also kinda like spreading my extra flex points out over Saturday and Sunday. It "feels" like cheating when it's not.

Wow. Special occasion flex point kinda thing, I guess. Yeesh!

Nerves of a Wet Noodle: Part II

Ok...so it's been a weird week. Have barely made time to work out (just Sunday) though I plan to this evening, tomorrow and Friday. These fall-colored M&Ms and Brach's Autumn Mix candies have been calling my name from the kitchen. Solution! I packed them all up today. Some went to the first grade Thanksgiving hullabaloo, the others in the kitchen at work, in a bowl, with spoon next to it and paper cups. They're gone and I can't hear them anymore. YAY!

"Just one of me won't hurt!"

"Just a few, just eat 1 point worth! C'mon, you can stop when you want!"

Since we last spoke, i've still been obsessing. You haven't missed a beat. Here's what I have already journaled* in my food diary for the big day tomorrow:

MORNING:
2 pieces of Healthy Life white bread (1 point)
2 egg whites, seasoned with salt and pepper (1/2 point)
1 american cheese slice, 2% (1 point)
Total Points: 2.5 points (but that protein will keep me satisfied for a bit.)

MIDDAY (also known as "gametime")
1.5 cups cooked collard greens (1 point)
4 ounces turkey breast, roasted, no skin (3 points; turkey you ROCK)
4.5 ounces Honey Baked Ham brand (8 points and worth EVERY BIT OF IT, mmmm)
2 servings (1 cup) Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, a WW recipe (1 point)
1/2 cup Stove Top Stuffing (pretty sure we're getting box version) (4 points)
Total Points: 17 deeeeeeeelicious points.

EVENING
3 ounces Honey Baked Ham (brand) (5 points)
2 servings (1 cup) Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, a WW recipe (1 point)
1 cup fresh spinach (0 points)
1 small tomato, cut (0 points)
1 T FF balsamic vinaigrette dressing (0 points)
Total Points: 6 points

That's a 1/2 point over. I guess I won't quibble about a half a point on Thanksgiving. I feel good about this now. I will report back to you on how I do! Wish me well!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

*Is it really journaling if you're doing it via the WW app on your iPhone? Hmmm

UPDATE: I did great! While I didn't stick 100% to my already journaled plan above, I improvised. Here's how it went down. The dressing (stuffing) was not Stove Top--not that that's my preference anyway--but it looked like a lot of calories. I decided since it may/may not be great, why waste the points on it? There were also deviled eggs. Which. I. Love. So I had that instead, and dropped my soup as well. Then instead of leftovers for dinner, I just really didn't feel like it. I had a bag of 94% FF microwave popcorn instead. And that was it! Hooray. Tomorrow is weigh-in, let's see what happens.

UPDATE #2: I lost 2.0 pounds this week, but better than that, I hit the 25 pound mark AND went below 200. Yay!

Nerves of....a wet noodle?

What's a WW'er to do? Thanksgiving is coming! On Thursday. You might already be aware of that factoid. And Saturday is weigh-in day. Usually on Thursdays I'm mindful about what I eat even more than the rest of the week. Ya know, like that can of soup with 67% of my recommended salt intake for one serving..that's something I tend to avoid on Thursdays or Fridays so as not to get one of those nasty "I'm retaining water" artificial weight gains. I'm mean yeah, it's artificial, but it's still disappointing. So you can just imagine all of the potential pitfalls on the upcoming Thanksgiving thursday are playing over and over in my head.

At the meeting this past Saturday we discussed t-giving strategies. Here's a few mentioned by my fellow WW'ers, relative to the actual dinner (not cooking/tasting strategies; eating breakfast instead of skipping; etc):

1) I've planned exactly what I'm going to eat, and I'm going to stick to it.
2) I'm going to exercise more so I have extra points
3) I'm going to save all my flex points and use them all.
4) I'm not going to take any leftovers

YIKES. That #3 is scary to me. Yes, it's Thanksgiving, and technically yes, I could use all my flex points, but I just can't have a gain on Saturday, a mere two days later. Why? Again, mentally it's no good for me. Secondly, I'm soooo close to 25 pounds down, and being under 200. I want that! I don't wanna wait another week (unless I legitimately lose less, not because of stuffing my face 2 days prior.) And third and most importantly, I know myself. I might eat that 35 in side dishes and desserts along, and keep going in that kind of setting. And you might say it's just one week's weigh in, but it's only gonna get harder. The very next DAY after my Saturday weigh-in, the WW program is changing to its new-fangled version. Maybe adjusting to the program will be difficult and take adjusting. And the week after that is my work holiday party with food galore. And of course, there will be other invitations to events. With food. So I'd rather just aim to keep it all together and keep doing what I've been doing. Flex points only on the weekend, and after weigh-in, of course.

So here are my personal strategies:
1) I'm not having one BITE of macaroni and cheese (because I simply can't do it, and I will end up eating 2 over-sized servings worth. Well, and also because (hallelujah) no one is making it, and i didn't offer!)

2) I'm going to fill half of my plate with veggies, and 1/4 stacked with meat that i've secretly weighed in a discreet place in the kitchen. This includes turkey and my special treat, Honey Baked Ham. Mmmmm. Thanks, Dottie, for the points calculations!

3) I will have 1/4 of my plate for other stuff, which i will play by ear, but choose wisely.

4) I plan to take leftovers ONLY of the meat and veggies. Real veggies, not that bean, cream of mushroom, fried onions casserole.

Late last night, I added one more "strategy." I will use absolutely no flex points, because they're NONE AVAILABLE. Nipped that notion in the bud real quick, using my flex points at an informal Mom's Night gathering for all the first grade Moms. Enjoyed every single one of those points, too. Shake your head if you want, but like I said...I'm gonna keep going with what's been working for me on this journey until it doesn't work anymore.


Obsessively yours,
Lindy

UGH! What a weekend!

I will keep the details brief:

Friday
-clean, Clean, CLEAN!

Saturday-WW weigh in...I won't complain I won't complain I wont complain, a loss is a loss is a loss.

-Jada's ballet class (morning). Rush rush rush, last minute details prepared. Party prep and stress in full effect. Jada's afternoon Holiday Show ballet rehearsal. Zoe's birthday party. 18 kids, 17 adults.

Sunday-Cookie order for 100 cookie favors. Delivered by noon. And finally a chance to relax, FOOTBALL for the remainder of the day.

I'm in the bed, halfway paying attention to this Steelers-Patriots game, and sort of thinking I should hop on the treadmill for a few. Hmmm. Watch the box on the right and see if something shows up for 11/14...

Calling all WW'ers...share your insight...

So as I travel down this WW journey once again, I realize that you really have to make the program "yours." What works for you might just not work for your friend. That two-bit snack she eats may send you into a dizzying spiral of chocolate transgressions. Rather than telling people what they should do, I'm just going to share what works for ME. Won't you tell me some of your "secrets" too? Maybe I can learn another little helpful trick that makes it work. Maybe something will stick for someone else.

Here are some things that I'm finding are really helping me:

**Protein! I used to fear eating meat. But I've found that if I don't have protein, I tend to snack. I aim for a nice dose of protein in the morning (protein shake, or a few slices of lunchmeat turkey) and make sure lunch and dinner involve lowfat protein as well. If I'm feeling especially hungry, I may opt for turkey or cottage cheese as a snack. Yes! Cottage cheese has a surprising amount of protein!

**Fast Food. I'm a fast food junkie. While I may not eat the traditional McD's or BK a lot, I do like some local fast food options that include Potbelly Sandwiches and Jimmy John's, and I'm a big fan of Chipotle. I've taken the time to figure out points for a few menu items on their company websites or other sources, and I don't deny myself their food. And contrary to my own prior thinking, I can actually have Chipotle WITHOUT GUACAMOLE. I even tried my usual option without cheese, but then i decided it's never THAT serious. A non-negotiable? I always, ALWAYS get the rice. Worth. Every. Point. My newest find? Doggonit, those Subway breakfast melts (egg whites) are really good. And cheap!

**Flex points. We get 35 points to "play" with. I eat EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. Gasp? Really, I do. I weigh in on Saturday mornings, and at the same time my points re-set and I get my new extra 35 points. I use them all. My rule is that whatever is not used by Sunday night, I pretend they're gone anyway. In my few short weeks back on plan, there was only one time that I didn't use them all.

**Activity points. On the flip side, I aim to earn about 20 APs per week. I don't eat a single one. Ok, that's a lie, because I did eat ONE a few weeks back. I dunno, I sort of feel that is the "punishment" for voraciously gobbling up those flex points. Once I really get back to running longer distances, I will begin to think about eating APs again.

**WW products. I kinda think they're a waste of money, especially the two point/one point bars. They are pretty pricey, and you can find equally as tasty items in similar point ranges at the store. (KUDOS, for example.) But overall, those kinda of sweets tend to send me over the edge anyway. Plain and simple, it's hard for me to stop at 1. A 50-bar pack from Costco is a disaster waiting to happen.

So what are your own personal tricks of the trade? Care to share?

Don't you hate it when...

...you spend all day planning to try out a new recipe...there's a long list (relatively) of ingredients that your prep, you prepare, you let things sit where they need to in the fridge, you let flavors marinate...and then when you finally taste it, it's like BLAH??!! And not to mention a whole lot of WW points that just weren't worth the BLAH-ness. Oh well. I thought I'd get to post tonight and rave about a new recipe. But instead I will spare **UNNAMED WEBSITE** the embarrassment. And no, it's not Weight Watchers.

Positive Vibes

So I MEANT to write this last Friday when I was all on-top-of-the-world and stuff. :( I mean, I'm fine now, but feeling a little less than 100%. Sore throat, tired, et al. Anyhoo, so all last week I was jam-packed with lots to do, especially mid-week, where Tuesday going into Wednesday's to-do list looked like this:

-Finish presentation for big meeting on Wednesday
-Figure out what clothes the girls will wear for their school pictures
-Finish draft plan and email to client (40 pages)
-Exercise on Tuesday and stay on points
-Argue with girls about what clothes to wear for their school pictures
-Get girls up extra early to comb their long curly tresses
-DO presentation on Wednesday, but not before RACING there in fear of being late
-Continue finishing draft plan and email to client
-Stay on points even though I'd much rather be at my desk eating a box of crackers and sweets while working.
-Somehow fit in exercise Wednesday night, though exhausted. (which I did. from 11pm til just after midnight on the treadmill. File that under 1001 Reasons to Have a Treadmill.)
-Worry about this weekend. Should I weigh-in BEFORE I head off to NYC or while I'm there? Early weigh-in means only 6 days...Weighing in there is a hassle and time consuming, given I'm only there 48 hours.

BLAH BLAH BLAH, cut to the chase, RESULTS:
-Got all my work done
-Stayed on points even while stressing out at work
-Exercised each day that I aimed to at the beginning of the week
-LOST 2.8 pounds!!!

VERDICT STILL OUT:
-Whether the girls will have great school pics this year.

But wait! There's more!
So by weighing in Friday morning before my flight, I had to go to a different location. I opted for one on the north side. As I'm walking into the building, I almost got run over by some chick leaving the parking garage. (ok, not really, but we'll write it this way in the script for the movie version.) Then I see the Michigan State plates and it's MEG!!!! My running buddy Meg. I texted her as I was hurrying into the building and we chatted via text. Of course she texted only at stoplights.

So I'm in line, scoping out the unfamiliar new location (I liked it) and just as I'm about to meet my maker at the scale, someone's a-calling me. It's LOU!!!! My other running buddy (and running buddy of Meg, too.) Um...it just occurred to me. We're all friends now. Maybe I should drop the "running buddy" moniker. Anyway...so I weigh in, hooray, 2.8 down. And then I wait for Lou who is looking all fabulous and drawing stares of people who are wondering "what is SHE doing here?" So she weighs in. And. Ok, I can tell, she's had enough time to tell people so that I'm not all like taking away her celebratory moment...but she didn't make goal this week. She made goal for 6 WEEKS STRAIGHT, meaning she made "lifetime." In other words, she met her weight loss goal and has show she's hot shit and can keep it off. HOOOOOOOORAY! And it was incredibly inspiring to see her achieve that! So I was super glad to have made the decision to go to that particular location instead of my usual one. And strange that it happened without any planning amongst us. I don't think either of them normally go to WW at that time, either.

Anyway...until next time, friends.

A case of the "don't feel like it's"

It's 10:46pm and I'm tired, but I promised to earn 22 activity points before my weigh-in on Saturday morning. (That's WeightWatcher-ese for you regular folk.) 5 points tonight, 5 points tomorrow. Now I can do this in about 65 minutes of walking...or quicker if I mix in some burst of running. I'm SUPER low on energy, so i guess I'll just walk it. This morning's rerun of Oprah is coming on at 11pm, hope it's interesting...chat later, just checking in.
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UPDATE: I did a run/walk treadmill workout, alternating between running and walking and ended up with 2 miles running at 5.0mph and walking another 2 at a slow and comfy 3.4mph. Decent workout. I know there will come a time when I will laugh at needing to run/walk 4 miles, but that time is not now.

Why hello there

Is anyone there? Maybe I'll start blogging again, and see if anyone's paying attention. What's happened. I haven't been running. i've gained a bunch of weight back-and then some. Hmmm. Not gonna talk about what I'm gonna do, I'll just do it. And maybe I'll blog about it.

So here's where I am: I (re)joined Weight Watchers (WW) on 9/18. I signed up for a 5k/15k race on 11/6. I'm almost sure that I will be running the 5k. Hmm.

See you sooner or later.