Weigh-in Wednesday: March 4th

I know, I haven't posted a Weigh-in Wednesday in a few weeks.   February has been an all around tough month.   I did go to all my weekly Weight Watchers meeting except one on the 18th because I was out of town on a girl's trip with my mom and sister.    

Overall I've gained 1.8 pounds in 4 weeks.  That number probably would have been higher if I had weighed in tonight but I just couldn't bring myself to step on that scale.   Knowing deep down I didn't feel good about my week or how my body was reacting to it. 

This go around at losing weight has been the hardest to date.   What's ironic is that I've never stuck with Weight Watchers as consistently as I have (been a loyal member since Sept.3rd 2014)  I've never tried to be more active as I have in the last 6 months and it's a bummer to have done all this work and only have 12 or 13 pounds to show for it.  Now don't get it twisted, it's not like I joined a gym or anything and have been doing 2 spin classes a week and am complaining about not getting good results.   But for myself and my lifestyle, this is the most consistent I've been compared to the past. 

After my last post on February 4th  I did go out and purchase a FitBit.  I love it.  It has made me more aware of my daily steps or lack of daily steps. I have a few people I'm friends with on FitBit and we've done some challenges together.  I find myself walking around in circles in my kitchen to get in extra steps, or even marching in place in front of the TV.  Which by the way, I totally made fun of my WW leader for doing and here now I'm admitting to doing myself (Sorry Cathy).    It makes it fun, we can chat, taunt or cheer for each other through the app. It really has helped.  I even went out in this frigid weather and walked to get in more activity.   Did I mention I CANNOT wait for Spring to get here?   Not even wishing for 75 degree weather yet, just having it be above freezing or maybe 40 degrees for more then one day would be nice!?   

Do you have a FitBit?  Want to connect?  You can add me via email, tinavandeusen@gmail.com

Weigh-In Wednesday: February 4th

Oh.My.God. FINALLY a loss!  

Whewww... I can't tell you how good it feels to see a minus.  Although I do feel like it should have been more.  I'm going to shut my mouth and take it.  

I worked hard this week on tracking and trying to follow the Simply Filling plan.  I did pretty well, tracked every single day but eating only power foods wasn't working out for me.  So I concentrated on eating as healthy as I could and to track every single point (good or bad) 

   

Superbowl Sunday was the probably the hardest day of the whole week.  Just knowing everyone else was going to be pigging out on all sorts of wings, pizza, dips, chips and desserts was messing with my mind.  

I had been thinking about cake/cupcakes for a few days. So I thought if I just bought a box of mix and a container of frosting and get it over with, I could stop obsessing about it.  I made the mistake of buying sugar free cake mix and frosting.(thinking I was somehow being "good") 

MISTAKE, BIG MISTAKE.  

It tasted gross and didn't have less points plus value, so I felt myself constantly looking for something else to satisfy the craving.  When I make a cake mix I always use either egg beaters or egg whites and applesauce instead of oil.   So, in hind-sight I should have just bought the regular stuff, made 12 cupcakes (throw out the rest of the batter) and been done with it.  

LESSON.LEARNED. 

At this week's meeting we talked about activity and how to make it more fun.  Not sure how that really works, exercise isn't my thing.   Don't get me wrong, I love going for my walks but I wouldn't exactly call it "fun" and the Gazelle I have sitting in my living room is more like slow torture.  Holy hell, that thing is a workout for a fat girl like myself.  To look at it, you think "oh it's easy, you're just gliding your feed back and forth."  NO. after five minutes I am breathing so hard, my heart is thumping right out of my chest.  But because it's been so cold and snowy here in Connecticut getting out to walk has been almost impossible so I forced myself to do it 3 times this week. 

My meeting leader Cathy had the suggestion to try walking indoors at our local Armory.  Actually she said she's available Monday and Friday mornings and wants to do it together along with my friend Donna who's also at the meetings.   That should be fun, we're always laughing and having a good time.   

I've also been thinking about getting a fitbit for a while.   Cathy said it makes her pay attention to her daily steps because she syncs up with friends and they have a bit of a competition going.   I never thought of it that way.  It's another great way of being accountable.  If I know my friends can see me being lazy or slacking off, maybe it'll be motivation to get my ass in gear.    

What activity do you do that's fun?  Do you like to workout alone or with a friend?  

Weigh-In Wednesday : Jan. 28th

Ugh... that wasn't really the result I was hoping for but I'm not shocked by it either.  I had only tracked my points for one day this week.  I just can't seem to get in the habit of tracking.  I have the app on my phone.  Hell, it even sends me notifications every night!  

On a positive note, despite the cold temps and "The Great Blizzard of 2015, I was able to get out and go for a walk a few times earlier in the week.   Even though it never got above freezing, the sun was shining and it just felt so good to breathe in some fresh air.  I can't wait for Spring so I can get out and walk more often.  (Only 50 more days... but who's counting?)  

At tonight's meeting we talked about setting goals and how we can make them more realistic and obtainable.  I know I've already set a long-term goal of losing 18 more pounds by my birthday in May, but I thought it might be a good idea to set small weekly goals for myself. 

Thinking about my eating this past week, I decided that I want to try the Simply Filling plan to get my eating on a more healthy track.    Sure, I can stay within my points every day but having them consist of snacks, pizza and low sugar ice cream isn't going to get me to my birthday goal.   

So my leader Cathy made me a challenge, to eat and track following the Simply Filling plan for 3 out of the next 7 days and bring it to her at next Wednesday's meeting.  I can do that.  I am also going to track my points plus values for the other 4 days and bring those too.  This challenge will be all old school, I'm actually going to write it in a tracker instead of using my phone.  

It's going to be a challenge for sure, but I'm going to kick butt this week and prove I can do it!   

What's your biggest weight loss challenge?  What goals have you set for yourself?  Want to connect? I'd love to give and get support.  

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Weigh-In Wednesday

I just realized that today Jan 21st, is my 21st week back on Weight Watchers.   I'm not sure if that's some sort of "sign" or something, but I'm going to take it as one.   It has not been easy at all, as you can see by this week's weigh in, I gained.   I kinda knew that was going to happen, it's been a week of emotional eating, not really tracking and no extra activity.   Although over the holidays I had lost 2.4 pounds, I ate a lot of sweets.   Let me tell ya, trying to kick a sugar addiction is a hard as hell.       

In the beginning of January I wanted to set a goal of losing 45 pounds by my 45th birthday which is at the end of May.    Sounded good to me, but that would mean I'd have to lose at least 2.5 pounds each week.    My Weight Watchers leader told me that it's unrealistic and I'd be setting myself up for a let-down.  After thinking about it, she's right.   I have to take a more manageable approach to this long-term goal.    

With all that in mind, I counted the weeks til my birthday and it's 18.   If I can lose another 18 pounds (just 1 pound per week) that would put my total weight loss at a little over 30 pounds.  I'd be happy with that!  

So, in order to make sure I stay on track and hit this goal I'm going to concentrate on one new healthy habit each week.    

At this week's Weight Watchers meeting we talked about "Partying Without Panic."  Obviously it's getting us ready to tackle all the food and drinks that are at Super Bowl parties.   This doesn't really apply to me because we normally stay home and watch the game.   But we go to and have parties all year long, so in the spirit of committing myself wholeheartedly to this process I'm going to find, make and figure out the points plus values for two "party" recipes. (1 appetizer, 1 dessert)   Oh, my leader Cathy is going to be so happy with me and of course I'll share it here on my next Weigh-In Wednesday post.  

 

Are you on a weight loss journey?  I'd love to connect, give and get support. 

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The Struggle IS Real #WeightWatchers

Today marks 9 weeks since I started Weight Watchers (for the 100th time) and at tonight's weigh-in I FINALLY hit my first 10 lb goal.     Actually I lost 1.6 lbs for a total of 11.2 lbs.  At last week's weigh-in I was .4 shy of that 10 pounds and I can't tell you how unbelievably frustrating it was.

That was the hardest 11.2 pounds I've ever lost!

I'm not saying that I'm not proud or happy to have that weight off, but in my past attempts at WW it's never taken that long to lose 10 lbs.   I used to be able to lose that much weight in just a month's time, maybe even quicker.  

I'll admit that I'm not perfect with my portion controls, food choices or tracking.  But this time around I have tried harder to be better at all those things and have even adding walking regularly to my routine.    That is what has been the most frustrating!

I am aware that this time around I have more stress, health challenges, sleep issues and of course AGE working against me.

I'm not giving up.  I am going to keep pushing along.

I've decided to set goals/challenges for myself.   I'm just trying to make sure they are realistic and to somehow make them fun.   Maybe make a creative, cute board to hang over my desk?  Something like that. Something I will see every day to remind me to not give up.
I've seen on Instagram where someone had made themselves a challenge chart to run 100 miles by a certain date.   She has a board with 1-100 and she crosses off each mile she runs.   I love the idea of doing something like that.

Do you have any creative ways to help you reach a goal?   I'd love to get some ideas.    

Til next Wed..........

Jumping Back On The Weight Watchers Wagon

Two weeks ago I joined Weight Watchers...... AGAIN.

It's probably my 6th or 7th attempt at trying the program.  But believe me when I say it's NOT Weight Watchers' fault that I've joined, dropped out, joined, dropped out, etc..etc.   I know it's 100% me and my issues with food that have prevented success in the past.  I tend to get to a point of losing 20-25lbs and then think, "I'm good, I've got this."  Yeah, no, I don't.  

Weight Watchers is one of the only diet plans I would spend money to follow.  It's more then a diet, it really does teach you to make better choices and if sometimes you don't, that's ok too. I like it because you eat normal, everyday foods.  I don't do good with strict diets where you only eat certain foods at certain times.   For me it's also about accountability, not that there's any judgement when you get weighed in at a meeting but deep down inside I want the ladies at the scale to be like "wow, good job you're down this week."   (I know I sound like a commercial or something but I swear I'm not getting paid to write this.) 

I'm one of those people that eats when I'm happy, sad, angry, stressed, bored or in social situations. So you get my drift, I eat all the time, whether I'm hungry or not.  Honestly, as I sit here writing this post all I can think about it the box of cake mix and chocolate frosting in my pantry.  "Do I make a batch of cupcakes?"   It's a real convo that goes on in my head every single day.  
So, I decided to share all about it here. I'd also love to connect with anyone who too struggles with weight loss as well.  Support and knowing you're not the only one with crazy food thoughts is just as important in this whole journey.

Since I started Sept. 3rd I've lost a total of 5.2 lbs.   I wish it was more, I know it could be more.   This week I'm going to focus on tracking my food more consistently.  It's always been something I don't do well with, which might have a lot to do with why I haven't been as successful as I could be.  

 

Hanging Out at "The Corner of Happy and Healthy" with Walgreens, #BalanceRewards #cbias

It's been a long, cold, snowy winter here in Connecticut and that does not make it easy to stay on a healthy eating or exercise plan.   But now the warmer weather is just around the corner and that means shorts,
t-shirts and the dreaded... bathing suits!   The thought of all that  puts a  fire under my butt to get back on track with eating healthy and getting outside to walk.

This year I have a little extra fuel to that fire.  I am planning my 25th High School reunion in October and would really like to look and feel my best for that as well.  

I had just heard about Walgreens new Steps With Balance Program  and how you can earn points on your Balance Rewards card that you can in turn be used to purchase whatever you want at a Walgreens store or online.  It's a win-win in my book!
It's a great way to keep yourself on track and earn a reward at the same time!

It's so easy (and free) to sign up for.   You can even do it right on the Walgreens App like I did.

Here's a quick video from Allison Sweeney, the host of The Biggest Loser explaining the program and the rewards!

As if getting healthy and earning rewards isn't enough, Walgreens is also giving you a chance to win a trip to your choice of one of the four Biggest Loser Resorts.   Wow, that could be a LIFE CHANGER!  

You can log on everyday for your chance at an instant prize.  And let me tell you, the instant prizes are no joke!  They are awesome!  

I don't know about you, but I'm heading to Walgreens right now to find some stuff to help me get going on this plan of mine!  I've only got 70-something days until Summer and about 180-something days until my High School reunion.  YIKES, I better get going! 

To check out what I found at Walgreens you can see pictures from my whole shopping trip on Google+.  For other real stories by real people in the Social Fabric Community you have to check out the Fun page on AisleShare.  If you want to, you can also "like" Walgreens on Facebook or "follow" them on Twitter to get the latest on everything you need to stay Happy and Healthy!  
I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Walgreens. #cbias #SocialFabric #BalanceRewards