Weigh-In ... A Sweets Week

Today's Weight:  191.4

Loss/Gain:  +0.2 lbs

Well, for what I would consider my "worst" week on Weight Watchers so far I'm pretty pleased with only gaining 1/5 of a pound.  

It's been a week of trying new recipes...

Oreo Truffles (or cake balls)

Whoopies Pies - A Lancaster Co. original style recipe... I've been looking for one for years and this one was perfect! (Note:  If you make this recipe, use shortening -- like stated in Step 1 and not oil as listed in ingredients.)

And tasting them to make sure they are fit to serve.  I don't believe in serving things I haven't tried myself.  :)  

Then there was visiting with friends two different times and only once did I have a choice in the food.  I simply ordered what sounded good and ate til I was satisfied. 

I over did it on the Oreo Cake Balls and that put me in the negative weekly points on Tuesday.  My feeling that it's best, for me, to save the majority of my extra weekly points for the weekend still stands true. 

It was an awful feeling to see -__ weekly points staring back at me all week, and knowing I had no real wiggle room.  

Even though I was in the negative with my extra points I wasn't going to starve myself in order to see a loss on the scale.  I got in four good days of exercise and didn't throw caution to the wind despite my treats.  I think it was Saturday when I decided if I could just hold on til the new week starts on Monday without gaining too much I would be content with that. 

Oh, one more thing... I was a bit stressed out this weekend and I am pleased to say that while I was content to see a maintain or even a slight gain on the scale, I didn't throw caution to the wind due to my stress.  

So, all in all... points-wise I had the "worst" week on Weight Watchers, but I think I did just fine over all.  

I'm in no rush and I know this is all a [re]learning process.  And today I rejoiced that I didn't see a multiple-pound gain that I was afraid might happen.  Woo hoo!

Inspiring My Children

Earlier this week my daughter posted this to her Instagram account after our BodyPump class on Monday night: 

You know, when I started my weight loss journey it wasn't for my kids or my family, as many claim are the reasons for their desire to change, neither was it to set an example for any of them.  I simply knew I needed to take care of myself for my own better health. 

However, when my daughter posted this I was very proud.  

With my oldest children graduating high school and moving on into adult life I find myself thinking a lot lately about whether or not we've taught them everything they need to know to succeed. 

Unfortunately, for many years teaching them to eat healthy and stay active never crossed my mind.  They were active on their own, so I think I figured they'd be fine.  (My husband never had weight issues and I was always grateful they took after his side of the family.)

However, in recent years, my healthiness journey has given me the desire to make sure they know "how to take care of your health should you ever not be able to eat whatever you want and stay thin as you do now".  

In my journey I've failed, I've done well and no matter what I keep plugging along.  As my children grow up they humor me when I share a tidbit I've learned about better health and they [seem to] listen when I share how a healthy balance of good eating and exercise is important.  

If nothing else, I've shown them in my actions change is possible.  And while I still continue on this journey primarily for myself,  I'm happy to see my changes are making an impact on my children's lives as well.

Note:  As I finished this up I realized this would've been a great Mother's Day post... lol  Well, there you go.. I snuck it in just before the week after Mother's Day is finished.  :D

Weigh-In ... 5% Down

This week's weight: 191.2 lbs.

Loss/Gain: -1.4 lbs.

I almost sat down and wrote my blog post before going to my meeting on Monday so that you would know how my week went no matter what the scale said.  The leader has suggested doing something to that affect so that you don't decide how well you did simply by a number on the scale. 

Now I think I should've done it, because then all I would've had to do was come home, add in the weight and the post would've went live right on time.  

Have I mentioned having an Etsy shop, exercising and planning a graduation for twins (on top of regular life) keeps a person busy?  lol 

I love every minute of it, so I can't complain.  

Last week went really well.  My husband and I went out of town for an overnight marriage retreat where I had no idea what food would be served.  So, I planned for it all week, leaving my extra weekly points saved up for the weekend.  

Friday night a dinner of baked chicken, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans and a peach pie were served.  I had small helping of everything and wasn't even full.  

I took along my trusty protein bar for breakfast, forgoing the pastries served, and then enjoyed the lasagna and salad served at lunch.  They made these yummy garlic knot rolls.  I took one bite and my husband put out his hand for the rest, insisting he was "helping" me.  :D  I was glad for the help. 

Honestly, I felt I'd be fine for that part of the week, but then he took me for a burger on Saturday night and I thought that would be my undoing.  

But let me tell you... it was the best burger I've had in a while.  A medium-sized burger with brisket and A1 sauce mixed in, topped with smoked bacon and a slice of smoked cheddar and lettuce and onion.  Oh my.  Worth. every. bite. 

I was careful on Sunday, and decided no matter what the scale said on Monday I had done well and I would be content.  Of course, when I saw I lost over a pound I was super thrilled.  :)  Every little bit adds up and in the right direction now.  It's a good feeling. 

I'm now at 10.6 pounds lost and reached my 5% weight loss goal and my second 5lb star.  Whee!  

Thanks for checking in!  

Random Thoughts on My Food and The Biggest Loser

I'm avoiding cleaning floors.... so, I'll blog a minute...

For the first time in a LONG time, or like ever in my health history, I wouldn't mind posting my food because I'm actually making decent choices on a regular basis.  

I'm so proud of that fact.  Because I have nothing to hide.  I'm sticking to a healthy eating plan and it's working.  AND I'm not starving myself or feel like I'm so restricted in my food. 

I mentioned to someone, I'm not restricting, just restructuring what I eat.  A lot of how I am eating now is how I was eating at maintenance, except I'm making even healthier choices than I did then.  

But one concern I had when starting Weight Watchers is I'd fall into a "diet" lifestyle and end up like the contestants in this article about The Biggest Loser. 

In the past, I never worried about screwing up my metabolism because it took me almost 3 years to lose 70 pounds.  However, now that I'm on a healthy eating plan and losing weight steadily (-9.2 lbs in 4 weeks) I'm starting to feel a little concerned if I'll screw up my metabolism.

Two things make me think I'm fine: 

1. I'm not starving.
2. I'm only walking for exercise with some BodyPump classes once or twice a week.

There is nothing extreme going on in my life.  

Periodically I'll transfer my food diary into My Fitness Pal to see where I'm at calorically and it's been about 1500 and my macros are dead on.   I put in yesterdays diet and it was on the lower end of things, but I wasn't hungry beyond what I ate.  Plus, once a week we eat out and I definitely have my higher calorie days.  I am eating everything allowed on the plan calorie wise.  

So, I think I'm fine.  I sent a note to a health professional I follow to ask her opinion on the subject and I'll report back when I hear something.  She preaches exactly what the report of TBL contenstants found out -- extreme dieting and high exercise calorie burn will mess up your metabolism and that's going to cause worse problems than gaining back the weight. 

Anyway, those are my thoughts on health today.  I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing, because I think I'm fine.  I don't eat super "clean", but I am eating healthier portions and making good food choices again.

One more thought... (I was sweeping and decided this needs to be added)

On more than one occasion I used the excuse of "I don't want to ruin my metabolism, so I'm not going on a diet." to not start,well..a diet.  However, I also didn't start simply cutting back a little to see my weight get to a healthier place again.

So, for me I think I'm overthinking too much and I'm doing just fine following Weight Watchers and getting to a healthier place.  My local WW buddy and I have agreed that if we have to starve ourselves to reach the highest "healthy" weight WW has in place for each of us we are not doing that.  And another friend promised if she sees me fall into starvation (better known as "Such a good dieter!!") mentality that she will speak up.

It's never happened before, so I don't see it happening again, but just in case...

Okay, I think that's all for now.  Red beans and rice are simmering and I need to finish the floors.  Sigh.... lol 

Weigh-In ... One Month on Weight Watchers

Today's Weight:  192.6

Loss/Gain: -2.6 lbs.

Well, would you look at that... Woot! 

As I was preparing to leave for my meeting this morning my dad was texting me and I felt like telling him, "I'm heading out for my WW meeting. Wish me luck!" but then I reminded myself it's not about luck.  lol 

I did fine most of the week, though I didn't have as many "weekly" points saved for the weekend as I like to normally.  

It was enough for the delicious Korean BBQ lunch my husband and I enjoyed on Friday, but the Sweet Tea and Flat White that followed later that day pushed me over the limit.  

The good thing, and a new plus for me, is I didn't throw the rest of my week to the wind.  Instead I reigned it in over Saturday and Sunday since I knew I only had my daily points to use each day.  *patting myself on the back*  

Today the leader asked us to set a goal for May. 

• More exercise.
• More tracking.
• Staying on track.
• More water. 

You get the idea.  

My goal?  To continue taking it one day at a time, while keeping some extra points aside for the weekly eating out we do each weekend.  Basically, plan, but without thinking too much about how far there is to go.  

It worked for April -- I'm down -9.2 lbs for the month -- and I know it will keep working.  

One more thing... It's kind of funny, but I have a hard time believing I am down almost 10 pounds.  I do feel like some things are fitting better, but then I think it's just my imagination.  Oh, the mind..but the scale doesn't lie!  And my tracker will show that I am sticking to the plan, so I shouldn't be surprised.  

Anyway, that's all for today.  I need to get dinner going and then get changed.  Monday night is becoming BodyPump class night for my daughter and I.  Yay!  

Here's to another good week of taking it a day at a time.  Thanks for checking in!