Week 10 - Day 1

Next goal: lose 10% of my current body weight
Overall goal: lose 40 pounds
Current status: lost 13 pounds total so far!

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So I know I've been MIA lately. I've been busy with the holidays and work. Too much to do, too little time to do it.

As of today, I've lost 13 pounds!! So proud of that!!! I never thought that I'd ever loose this much - let alone do it in a couple months!!! So really, this is big for me. Just like my old pants are now big on me! GREAT feeling!!

I actually DID hit my first mini-goal of loosing 5% of my starting weight on November 24th. My goal was to do that before Thanksgiving and I made it so WOOT.

I've also hit the 10 pound mark (WOOT WOOT) - did that a few weeks ago.

So now I'm working on my next mini-goal which is 10% of my weight. I'm HOPING to do that by Christmas or by mid January at the latest. I'm getting there.... I'm averaging just around 1.5 pounds a week, but if I keep on track, I'll be ok.

Really I'm just working on not gaining over the holidays. That would totally rock. And if I can LOOSE over the holidays (loose weight that is!), that would be the best gift ever. And that's a gift only I can give myself.

So really, if I just stay diligent and continue to track what I eat and WATCH what I eat, I should be ok!!!

Week 5 - Day 1

First goal: lose 5% of my current body weight
Overall goal: lose 40 pounds
Current status: lost 8.6 pounds total so far

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So today is day 1 of week 5 and I just had my weigh-in at home. I lost another 1.6 pounds and I feel great.

At this point I can FEEL the difference. Not to be all TMI, but I can feel like I have less fluff and jigglies on me. And it feels good. I'm in no way near where I want to be in the end, but I'm getting there.

At this point, I can also feel that my clothing is looser. Anthony notices too. I have several jeans that are loose on me and close to baggy on me at the end of the day. Last night I took my jeans off without unbuttoning them. Can't remember when - if ever - that's happened.

Yesterday, I put my new belt on and found out I had to go one hole more to make it tight. And that's not TIGHT tight...that's so my pants don't fall down tight!

Good feeling.

This morning I put on a button down blouse on that I last wore over the summer. Its a thin fabric - very airy and very summery - and I stopped wearing it because it was tight around my stomach. And tight and airy (read: slightly see through) is just a bad bad combination! Today, since its Fall and chilly out, I put on a cami under it (also as a buffer just in case), and when I put the shirt on....ITS LOOSE. I mean LOOSE. LOVING IT!!

Little things like that are totally pumping me up every day. I've been starting to wear shirts that I've STOPPED wearing because they were too tight on me....and now they either fit or are starting to be loose!! Great motivation if you ask me!!!

I just can't wait for the day I walk into my closet and realize nothing fits because its too big!! I KNOW that will happen....but its up to ME how soon that happens!!

Week 4 - Day 1

First goal: lose 5% of my current body weight
Overall goal: lose 40 pounds
Current status: lost 7 pounds total so far

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Well, this morning was my weigh in. After the free-for-all of food that was my weekend (wedding reception, rehearsal dinner, Anthony's birthday and ensuing cake and Halloween), I figured I'd be toting around a couple extra pounds.

Getting on the scale this morning involved me closing my eyes and thinking skinny thoughts. Guess that worked because I lost another 1.3 pounds this week for a total so far of 7 pounds lost!

HOLY COW!

How could that be? I didn't feel like I denied myself much at the wedding reception. I was the designated driver, so I didn't drink (and slightly wished I had so I could avoid the family's incessant questions of when we'd be the next to marry) but other than that, I ate what I wanted and stopped when I started to feel full.

Maybe that was the key - I started to feel full and didn't keep eating. I then proceeded to record as much as I could remember and overestimated the rest that I couldn't in points. But in the end, my stomach said "enough" and I said "ok" while the rest of my wedding-goer-compadrés continued to gorge on the goodies flowing freely from the kitchen to the reception room.

Either way, whatever I did this week worked....and I survived!

This newest revelation has given me hope. No....motivation.

There are only 3 weeks until Thanksgiving and I WILL hit my first 10 pounds lost before then (or by then at the latest).

Each tenth of a pound I loose makes me wonder what else I can do differently this coming week to add another tenth and another half pound and another pound lost to next week's scale. What can I eat less of? What can I eat differently? What can I do this week to make myself even better next week??

Its almost becoming a game. Is weight loss fun? Not so much my friend....but its a puzzle that I'm slowly putting together, and the more I get into it, the more I HAVE to reach my goal....and the farther I get, the more I KNOW I WILL REACH IT!

Last Day - Week 3

First goal: lose 5% of my current body weight
Overall goal: lose 40 pounds
Current status: unknown

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This past weekend was a perfect storm of food for me. It was Anthony's birthday (which required dinner and a cake of course), we had a wedding to go to (waaaay too much food), a rehearsal dinner, and Halloween.

REALLY?

So I really don't know what my weigh-in tomorrow will bring. I'm bracing myself for little to NO loss this week, but I tried to be good over the weekend, so I'm hoping for no gain.

We'll see tomorrow.

The one GOOD thing (great even) is that last week, I under-grew my old belt. I say "under-grew" because I don't fit it anymore, but that's because its too big.

So I got the same exact belt one size smaller (I really really like the belt).

Today I put it on for the first time, and guess what?

IT BUCKLES ON THE SECOND NOTCH!!!!!

WOO HOO!!!

Talk about great news!!

So really for ME, that's progress....no matter what the scale says tomorrow!!

Though, I'll be happy if it goes down! :)

Week 3 (lost count of the days...)

First goal: lose 5% of my current body weight
Overall goal: lose 40 pounds
Current status: lost 5.7 pounds

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Well, weigh-in #3 was this morning....and I've realized eating (for me) is a little like shopping.

Back in the day, if I went shopping and wanted something, I'd get it. Didn't matter if I had the money or how much it was. Now, true, I never just went and spent willy-nilly on a pair of Manolo's or anything (yes, I saw SATC2 last night), but a little spent often enough adds up. And all that adding resulted in me having credit card issues. Well, basically I owed. A lot.

Over time, I realized that I was just buying to make myself happy. I wasn't happy with a lot of what was going on in my life, and maybe subconsciously, I thought that a new pair of shoes or a new shirt would make me happy. And they did - but only temporarily... Then I'd want to shop some more.

But when I realized I CAN be happy and have it NOTHING to do with shopping, I started shopping in a more discriminate fashion. Did I really NEED that rainbow scarf or those green Crocs? NO. Did I want them? YES. BUT instead of just BUYING them right then, I learned to wait. If I was still thinking about them tomorrow or next week, then I really DID want them and would choose to spend my money on them.

That has lead me to be able pay down a lot of my debt and to really truly enjoy when I DO actually spend money on myself...

I'm learning the same can be said for food.

In the past 3 weeks, I've gone from being anxious about every meal to realizing that I have options. I've stopped to think about what I really want to eat, and made healthier choices.

The other night, I went out to the diner and was faced with getting something fun like chicken fingers and fries or even a veggie burger and fries. That's what my first instinct told me to get... But I stopped and thought about my options. An egg white omelet with spinach, tomatoes and feta cheese is just as filling but A) way healthier and B) waaaay less points. And who doesn't love breakfast for dinner?? I LOVE BREAKFAST FOR DINNER!!

Point is, I was able to realize that the fun and happiness I'd get from bad food would last only a short while but the fat and badness I get from it would last way longer on my arse and anywhere else it landed - sort of like my credit card bills!! So, if I'm going to "charge" the points, why not owe less?? It turns out I was JUST as happy and didn't "pay" as much!!

WIN WIN!

I love shopping and eating. And I admit there ARE still times I want to both spend money and eat willy-nilly, but will it make me happy long run? No.

Besides, I love loosing weight even more! WOOT!

Day 11

First goal: lose 5% of my current body weight
Overall goal: lose 40 pounds
Current status: not sure

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Well, yesterday, my weight dropped below that magic number I never want to be over again. This morning, it was back over it. Now I know I can't micro manage my weight loss. Its only natural to bobble a pound or two given even the time of day...

BUT it was also a wake up call.

You see, this weekend, I was so busy doing stuff at home and running around here and there, that I didn't eat much. And so obviously, when I weighed myself with NO food in me (even though it wasn't on purpose), I seemed to have lost a lot. But when I ate - even eating breakfast today - I gained. A lot? No. And I'm still below my last official weigh-in from last week, so I'm happy.

Basically, this reminds me that while I can't eat like its going out of style, I also have to remember to eat.

I keep good food in the house now - BONUS. So mid way through my Saturday when I'm running around cleaning like a fiend, I need to remind myself to STOP and eat. Even just some carrots or an apple.

I don't need a 4 course lunch - but I do need A lunch!

So today I was better.... I had my cereal for breakfast, and had carrots and apples throughout the day. I didn't have lunch since again, I was so busy @ work, but I did have a half of a sandwich and half a soup (a cup vs a bowl I guess?) and that filled me nicely. Not stuffed, but satisfied.

I think this whole Weight Watchers thing has taught me (so far) to eat to keep me going and NOT because I'm bored or its something to do. And today, I caught myself reaching for the carrots and simultaneously taking a deep breath (that deep breath when you're full).... I promptly closed the lid and put them aside. Was I hungry? No. Was I bored? Heck yeah.

The trick is to not eat when you're bored.

I'm learning....slowly!

So we'll see....Wednesday AM is my next weigh-in. We'll see how it goes! :)

Day 10

First goal: lose 5% of my current body weight
Overall goal: lose 40 pounds
Current status: 4.4 pounds lost

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Holy Moley!!! I'm so excited. No, today isn't an official weigh-in date, but I got on the scale for fun (like I do every day - just to torture myself) and I lost another 2.4 pounds since Wednesday!!! OMG SO HAPPY!!!

That means I'm just .6 pounds from the weight I never want to be again, and I'm .7 pounds away from the weight I never want to go OVER again!!!

I have 4 days to stay where I am PLUS loose that extra .7 pounds! Here's my mini-goal for this week....can I make it?

HECK YEAH!!!

Week 2 - How Weight Watchers Almost Killed Me

First goal: lose 5% of my current body weight
Overall goal: lose 40 pounds
Current status: 2 pounds lost

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In my efforts to eat better yet in a fun way, I decided to eat a bowl of couscous last night for dinner. Since the serving size is 1 cup and the box made 3, that left 2 cups over one of which I had for lunch today.

I decided to eat lunch @ my desk and work through lunch. I reheated my couscous and ate at my desk. While I was eating, one of my co-workers made me laugh, thus making a cous (singular) travel up the back of my nose and sit there very uncomfortably.

Which only made me laugh harder.

Naturally.

When I finally was able to remove it (sans details to all of you), I found that, in fact, it was couscous - TWO COUS'S STUCK IN MY NOSE!

It was highly reminiscent of the Tic-Tac Incident of 1999....which still traumatizes me to this day.

Needless to say, I survived both. Barely.

Day 1

First goal: lose 5% of my current body weight
Overall goal: lose 40 pounds
Current status: @ starting weight

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I decided to start Weight Watchers late last night. Actually, I've been toying with doing it and not doing it for a while... But there were always excuses and reasons why not to. Finally, last night, enough was enough....so I signed up online and am going to try it for the next month.....

I figure since I hardly ever write on here anymore, but I'm always keeping a journal of this-that-and-the other thing...that I might as well use this space to start keeping a journal of how I'm doing on WW.

I think my biggest fears are the anxiety of eating. I don't like how I feel/look, so I've tried to eat better or less, but what tastes good to me is always fried, cheesy, and salty. So I turn to those when I don't feel good about myself, but those exact things are what contributed to how I am now!!

So today, Anthony and I were meeting up @ The Fireplace - our usual bad-for-you lunch place. As Nicole put it, that place is a landmine of WW badness!!! So I had the pre-lunch anxieties of OMG what do I eat!

I decided to eat baby carrots before going (0 points) and then planned to order the kid's chicken nuggets figuring that portion would be smaller and I could have my bad food but not have a lot of it....

Simple enough, right??

Well, when I got my food, I found out why kids are so overweight today. The "kids" meal was actually 2 nugget style fillets slightly bigger than the palm of my hand. And, thanks to my handy-dandy WW app, I know the palm of my hand is approx. 3 oz, so each was 4oz (for a whopping 8.5 points). I also had some of the fries it came with but Anthony ate probably about 1/4 of those, so I did my tracker app thingie and guessed that was 4.5 pts. Add to that the MM pink lemonade (2pts) I had (and haven't finished) that's a crazy 15 points for lunch!

BUT

Before I even ate, I went to the counter and got a to-go box. I didn't want to eat BOTH chicken fillets, so I took one and put one in that to-go box for another time - or to chop up and put in a salad tomorrow maybe. Point is, I removed half of the problem - otherwise, I'd have been over in points today!

Bad part is I only have 6.5 points for tonight where we're going to an Oktoberfest party. BUT, I still have my 35 "anytime" points which I guess I can borrow against since neither Anthony or I know what's on the menu tonight.... But I'll just stay under control as best I can tonight and that's all I can do.

At least I know for next week when we meet @ The Fireplace to either get the not-a-nuggets OR to do something else. But now I know it was a BAD lunch.... And since I haven't had even 1/4 of my drink, the little bit of ketchup I had w/ everything (I made a point not to DOUSE as usual, I dipped lightly into ketchup on a separate plate), I figure that could be rolled up into the 2pts for the drink too. I probably won't finish the drink.....

I guess the whole point is that I survived! I tried to make decisions ahead of time to counteract my lunch badness as best as possible. Looking back, if I hadn't have had the carrots, I'd totally have still been hungry for the other chicken half. But what I ate filled me, so I didn't keep eating. AND if I get hungry later today, I have green peppers (another 0 points) so that should hold me over until dinner.

Poor Nicole has had to endure a plethora of WW questions up till now and I can't appreciate her help enough. She's inspired me because she's lost a lot of weight on WW (and is still going!!), so if she can do it, I can do it! Or I'm going to try at least!! :) I know the first week or two are going to be tough, but when I get the hang of it and get past the mental block of "omg what can I eat", I'll be fine.... It's just going to take time.

First goal to work towards and hit: lose 5% of my current body weight.

Here I come!

SWEET!

Ok, so it was back in April (end of April to be exact) but evidently I have 3.5 readers!!! Or at least I did back then!! WOW! Talk about progress! I'm getting a little teary here....bear with me.

My apologies to Anthony though - I think the got a little offended at being a half. But honestly, I didn't know he knew my blog address! WHO KNEW??

I'm reeling over this development.

FOUR whole comments in 1 post??!!?? Seriously, Heather Armstrong watch out!! :)

I knew her when....

I'd like to take this opportunity to brag just a bit about Nicole and her photography. For all 2.5 of you who read this, I'm proud to say that I am friends with someone who is soon to be famous! (for the record, Anthony is the .5 who reads my blog when I open the page and force him to....but I digress.)

Where was I?

Oh right - Nicole > Famous.

Nicole's photos of flowers are hanging in a gallery in NJ as I type. Today, my co-worker opened an art gallery in Lafayette, NJ - JLH Galleries - and Nicole's photos are hanging there! Very exciting.

Now, I'll add at this point that I'm also going to be selling some of my photos there, however, I think her's are BY FAR better than mine... And that has nothing to do with the fact that she has a fancy schmancy camera. I truly believe Nicole has talent....

Anyhoo - I just wanted to let all 2 of you know that I will soon have the opportunity to say "yep, I knew her back when she was one of the little people like me". Hey, Nice Slady - don't forget the little people when you're rich and famous, ok?? :-D

PS - I said 2 because I don't think this is one of those posts I'll sit Anthony down and force to read - he hears about it enough already! :)

Happy St. Patty's Day!

In a rare feat, I'm writing here....wishing everyone a Happy St. Patrick's Day.

I've decided that today, I will put 'O in front of everything. Its made for an interesting day. At least the way I've written it all.

So I told Anthony this and he went along with it until he asked if it was MY idea or someone else's (because if it was someone else's, he was stopping). I told him it was mine (who else's would it be?) and that my co-worker, on being informed of the o' thing said "oh brother". I thought she was going along with my o' thing but on closer inspection, I doubt it.

I also took an o'trip to o'Walmart nearby my work. This one makes all other Walmart locations look like they're not even part of the same chain. All I can say about this one is o'GHETTO! On the plus side, I did get a great pot (for plants that is) but on the downside, I wasn't o'graced with any "People of Walmart".

I did, however, on my way back to the office see one of those types. This woman must've gotten dressed in the dark. In her child's clothing. Her toddler child's. This woman was rather large and was wearing tight jeans. Muffin top o'tight. With a short shirt. And she had a gut. A beer o'gut. And it was doin' the o'jello as she walked down the street. I almost got in an accident trying to find my phone so I could take a picture. No animals were run over but sadly, the picture wasn't o'taken either!

After seeing that, I might actually have to o'stop at the local pub for a few....

Have an o'fabulous St. Patrick's Day everyone!! Top o' the whatever to you! :)

OH SNAP!

Its now February and I realized I haven't written since September - OF LAST YEAR. Not like anyone really reads this anyway...but for those 2.5 of you out there that do....what did I miss?

Happy Halloween!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Merry Christmas!

Happy Hanukah!

Happy New Year!!

Happy Martin Luther King Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy President's Day!


Boom...I'm caught up!

See you next Fall! ;)