Weekly Weigh-in

Starting Weight Watchers again is a whole new interesting experience. A lot of the meals I've made are delicious, and low in points, and it hasn't felt like much of a sacrifice over the last week.  The last time I did the program, I ate the same foods I normally did, but ate less of them.  Typically this would get me really, really, really hungry, then I would try to be happy with a bratwurst and half cup of potato salad.  Not surprisingly, this didn't work.  But this time, I took Weight Watchers' advice and got a lot of fruit and veggies (somewhere around 10 pounds for the week, if you can believe it) to eat with meals and as snacks.

Obviously, snacking on fruits and veggies helps me meet my daily serving recommendation, but it also allows me to eat whenever I feel a tinge of hunger.  Eating all the time, but good things, is helping me take smaller servings of high point-value foods at lunch and dinner.  One of my favorite mid-meal snacks is 2 oz. of cheddar cheese, an apple, and a stalk of celery.  (I can't believe I just said that...the pre-WW me would say something very different.)  When it really comes down to it, I think I've done pretty well this week.

I also found out a dessert that I love (and ate pre-WW) is only 3 points: all natural coconut fruit bars made with coconut milk.  They are delicious, sweet, and creamy, and totally satisfy the sweet tooth and ice cream craving.  Next week I also plan to get a cup of yogurt to try making my own yogurt in the crock pot.  This way I can make low-point smoothies for breakfast/snacks and get in my dairy, fruits, veggies, and tastiness (for cheap).

I did a few workouts over the week, but not as many as I would have liked.  I'm enjoying finding YouTube workouts and am surprised at the variety available.  In addition to the workout I posted last week, I found the Be Fit in 90 workouts, which is a workout program that covers a 90 day span with a series of videos for each day (with rest days too). Most of them are about 35 minutes long, and typically include strength, cardio, yoga, flexibility, and high intensity drills.

Over the week I  carefully budgeted covered my points saving my extra points judiciously, hoping to save a number of for the weekend.  I had about 47 points, which were all used over the weekend for meals at Mom and Dad's house for a treat of fast food, a high point dinner on Saturday, and a high point dinner on Sunday. I gained about a pound on the weekend, and lost a lot of the momentum I had build up over the weekend.

My activity goal for the week was: 18 activity points
My actual activity for the week was: 12
My activity goal for next week is: 18 points

My water goal for the week was: 8 cups of water a day
My actual water for the week was: 4 cups of water a day
My water goal for next week is: 8 cups of water a day

This week's weight: 224.8

I can't breathe!

So on YouTube, I was looking for some workout videos to try and found Core Rhythms Full Workout.  It's super fast, super fun, and will wear you out.  I was sweating like a race horse after about 10 minutes.  I think I could do this one regularly!

Here we go again!

I went to the doctor this week, and asked her about my weight and if she had any suggestions for effective weight loss.  I explained that I had gained rather a lot of weight after getting married seven years ago because of my combined worse diet and lack of exercise.  After talking to her for a few minutes, she said that she would be happy to do a chemical panel on my blood to see if thyroid might be a problem, but it was most likely that I was eating too many calories and not getting enough exercise.  She suggested that I start Weight Watchers again.  I explained that I was frustrated with the program, since I wasn't seeing a lot of progress and didn't enjoy tracking foods and avoiding the foods I love the most.  She was very nice in responding to my concerns, but the basic message was, "Grow up."

I tend to think like a toddler about food--I want it and I want it now!--and this has been a problem for me since I was given free reign to eat anything I wanted when I got married. I know what it takes to eat healthily, but I was never happy to make that sacrifice in the short term to make a difference in the long term.  It doesn't make sense, really.  I do it elsewhere in my life...I'm happy to give up my time to invest in friendships, I have less money to live on now to prepare for Matthew's and my future, but food was off limits. I don't understand myself sometimes...okay, often.

So, per doctor advice, I am again on weight watchers.  I have done two days, and scarfed down a candy bar yesterday.  I know I have extra points to use for just these things, but I felt so guilty eating it.  This isn't healthy, I told myself. But it tasted good, and I was obsessing over not being able to have it.  I need to find some alternatives to chocolate and try to keep it out of the house.  Maybe some cocoa roasted almonds?

Since starting again a couple of days ago, I've realized the Weight Watchers recipes are so much better than I remember.  Everything I have made is tasty, and it's been fairly easy to track the good health checks and the meals I've eaten.  If I can get over the self-flagellation when I mess up and realize that it's okay to make mistakes, I can just pick back up when I fall to make this work for me for a lifetime.

Soooo, weekly weigh-ins are on Mondays, and since I really can't afford to pay membership fees and pay a weekly meeting fee, you guys are my meetings.  Coming up Monday June 17th: a weigh in, a few tasty recipes, and most likely more moaning and groaning.  Hope you're up for it!