Happy 2017!

It's a new year!  A clean slate.  A great time to reevaluate goals and how to best achieve them.  I really don't think setting resolutions work.  It's unnecessary pressure.  So, let's use the word commitment.  Unless you're have commitment phobia.  

I really enjoyed the holidays.  I know too much because I can feel it.  It's not just my pants are a little snug, but in general I just didn't feel "good".  Sure I still exercised as much as I could.  But, I ate foods I said goodbye to a long time ago.  I fell face first into a bag of my favorite potato chips.  I sucked down a peppermint milkshake from Chick-Fil-A without batting an eye.  I didn't say "no" to much.  I drank more adult beverages than I have in a long time.  In other words, I gave into the holiday spirit.  And now it's time to change my ways and recommit.

True confession time - I didn't track.  At all.  Mostly because I was lazy but also because I felt guilty about what I was eating/drinking. And honestly most of the time I didn't care.  Even though I KNEW I was losing control and was possibly getting farther away from my goal. I was kind of glad to miss WW last weekend because I know it's going to be u-g-l-y.  

I am SO fortunate to have so many good friends and my family to support me.  I couldn't do it without them.  

I am now tracking everything (good and bad).  I am exercising.  I am going to really TRY to get at least closer to my goal weight by my birthday. 84 more days!

Let's do this!

Mindset

Ever have someone tell you that you have to take of yourself before you can help others?  Or how about you can't help someone who can't help themselves?  I have heard these words and have said them. 

At this time of the year, it's easy to lose track of yourself.  For me, I am busy trying to make Christmas magical for my family, while working full time and still performing my day-to-day "duties" at home.  This is life.  And sometimes life just gets in the way of what should happen.  

I should be on the elliptical every single day and taking a walk after dinner.  I should be making better food choices when I am on the fly.  I should be making sure I am getting plenty of rest.  But are these things always happening?  Not always.  Because life is getting in the way.

So, how do I change that?  Well, first I have to change my mindset.  I need to "stay the course" and cut myself some slack (but not a lot). Easier said then done, right?  

Mindset.  I hear that a lot at work. By definition, it is "a set of assumptions, methods or notations held by one or more people or groups of people that is so established that it creates a powerful incentive within these people or groups to continue to adopt or accept prior behaviors, choices or tools"  Isn't that speaking to Weight Watchers?  It's a method held by a group of us who are trying to change our relationship(s) with food - adopting better behaviors using tools provided to us by Weight Watchers.  At least that's my interpretation.

Making the change has to be within ourselves.  No one can MAKE you take care of yourself.  No one can help you if you don't want to help your self.  Only you can make up your own mind.  

Grateful

The holidays are upon us.  Thanksgiving is tomorrow; a time to reflect on what we are thankful and grateful for.  

Instead of freaking out the possibility of overeating, like so many of us weight watchers will do, I have decided to be thankful that we have the means to possibly overeat because it means that we have the means to put food on our table.

I grumbled a lot about not wanting to cook for 3 and being mad that my daughter threw a fit that she wasn't getting "Thanksgiving food" when I told her I wanted to go out.  Instead I should've been grateful that a) she wants to spend the holiday at home with us and b) we can afford the beautiful meal we will serve.  So, now WE are cooking.  All 3 of us have a duty.

The weight watcher in me is a bit nervous about overeating.  I am going to try everything in my power not to overdue it.  And I am hoping that my annual black Friday shopping trip (all that moving around and walking) will help.

We have had a lot of stress in our lives with family being ill and financial burdens.  And holidays in general tend to be stressful with hustling around - decorating, shopping, baking, eating.  We have to keep in mind that it's the season to be JOLLY.

I'm Back

Yes, I know.  It's been a long time. I've hit a bit of a rough patch.  But I have not given up.  I am still fighting the good fight.  I have tried not to let a slip turn into a slide.  It's hard to believe that I was just 2 pounds away from goal weight just 3 months ago.  I am now 10 pounds away.  I am disappointed with myself.

Losing weight is hard.  In the beginning it was SO easy.  The pounds just dropped off.  I weigh now what I did in January!!  For 10 months I have been struggling.  Stress has played a HUGE part lately.  When I am stressed and overwhelmed, I tend to eat not so healthy and I certainly don't feel like exercising (even though I know in my brain exercising would make me feel better).  

Not really sure what the answer is.  Keeping the course?  Staying on track?  Don't let a slip turn into a slide?  Certainly all these things will help.  (But so would having my jaw wired shut but let's be realistic).

I know most of it is that I am a bit toooooo comfortable.  A little cake here, a candy there, an "adult beverage" from time to time - all things I never allowed myself in the beginning.  Maybe THAT'S the solution.  I need to go back to my basics.  And maybe go back to being simply crazy.

Hey - it worked before... 

White Out!

Last night, after I carefully measured out the very yummy Bob Evans Mashed Potatoes (1/4 cup, thank you very much) and after I the licked the spoon, I was wondering...has anyone else ever noticed that everything white is yummy yet "forbidden"?  I mean, think about it - white bread, white rice, white potatoes, pasta, White Castle.  Oops.  I know you know what I am talking about.  We associate these things with starches.  And starches are bad.  Are they not?  Some starchy veggies (i.e. potatoes) are low in fat but high in carbs.  BUT, they are the right kind of carbs.  Not the chips, crackers, cookies kind of "bad" (forbidden?) carbs.

Within reason, nothing is really forbidden.  OK, maybe White Castle should be.  But, if you want to have a piece of white bread, for goodness sake - have it.  But, have one.  Not half a loaf. It's common sense, folks.  Not rocket science.  You can't deprive yourself of all the things you love.  I can take or leave rice but I do love mashed potatoes! Carefully measured, I can have them any time I want to. 

When people ask me "oooo - can you eat that on WW?" I try not to get mad or offended.  Instead, I try to educate.  Yes, I can have anything I want on WW.  Just within reason.  

I promised myself I wasn't going to whine too much about the fact that the scale is going in the wrong direction.  Instead, I am going to focus on getting those pounds off.  Let's say by Christmas.  

Happy week!

Weekend Warrior

If it weren't for the weekends, I'd be there.  I would be at goal weight.

I know in my heart of hearts, this is true.  Saturday's have always been a relaxed day...the day I weigh in and know in my mind that I have a whole week to repair what I might do/eat/drink.  Of course I am still working on losing the big gain of 3.6 pounds from the camping weekend (well, I don't know for sure if that's the only cause but that's what I am going with).  You remember - the 3 days eating and drinking binge, the loss of my mind and the terrible price I paid to play hard.

Lately, Saturday cheat has become Saturday/Sunday cheats.  Well, that just won't do. Things have to change.  And so, I made it happen.  I was mostly good on Saturday and really good on Sunday.  AND, I have kicked my own butt back into gear with exercising. 

I am recommitting myself to exercising AT LEAST 4 days a week and getting 10,000 steps a day in.  I have recommitted to honestly tracking.  I am back to focusing on my journey.  

I'm looking forward to cooler days.  Days when we can ride our bikes, take longer walks, play more in the yard.  Fall is my favorite season.  I will miss all the yummy summer veggies but will find new and exciting fall/winter veggies.  

These last 5 pounds will not beat me, I will not be undone.

THIS is why

It's the moment you find that perfect shirt, the one you have been looking high and low for - there it is.  4 of them.  All. Size. Small.  You're crushed.  What's a girl to do?  Well, if you are me, you try it on anyway.  And guess what - IT FIT.  So, I bought it.  

It's that moment when I am like, um okay.  This is why I continue on my journey.  Never mind that I feel better and am much healthier.  I AM WEARING A SIZE SMALL SHIRT.

Yea, I have told everyone in the office that I'm wearing a small.  Because I am damn proud.  

I have been beating myself up because I have gotten off track.  I know I shouldn't but it's hard.  Life happens, I know.  But so far, this has come so easy for me.  And so many people are proud of me (including myself), I am scared to disappoint.  Sometimes it's just a lot of pressure to succeed.  And when I stumble, I feel let down.  

So what have I changed?  Well, for one thing, I am exercising again.  I didn't realize how much I missed it until I started again.  And, I'm trying super hard not to cheat.  I am re-committing myself to getting 10,000 steps a day. 

I will get there.  This I know.  I have picked myself up (again) and brushed myself off (again) and gotten back on track (AGAIN).  

One thing I have proven myself is that I am a winner.  I am winning.  When I cross that line, I will know that I earned it.  And that I deserve it.