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Thursday, January 31, 2013

Dun. Dun. Duuunnnnnnn!!!

This week was HORRIBLE.  Although I felt good about last weeks results, I quickly fell off the wagon this week.  Again, I couldn't get full.  Scares me a bit, but at the same time I didn't really work out and was used to eating more due to working out.  So hoping that was it because it certainly wasn't because of my lady time.  For a recap from last week - I've copied my goals from last week's post.

My goals for this coming week are:
  • I'm going to figure out my exercise plan for the next phase.  I know what I'm going to do.  I'm going to do the firm videos.  It's a 27 day plan.  I can't wait to start, which will begin Sunday night this week (I'm on vacation until Sunday - away from home).
  • Carry over the leaving those extra points within my range and not going over (and definitely not using my activity points).  A BIG FAIL THIS WEEK.  No only did I use all my extra points, I went over and well over at that.
  • I'm going to implement the WW Healthy Habits this week too... with each meal I will have some sort of power food, fruit or vegetable.  This should be easy.  With every snack, if it's not a fruit, I will be sure to have a fruit with the snack that I'm eating.  This will be harder to do :)  I actually did well with this.  Probably not every snack, but a large majority.
  • Get my mind / mental state ready for my scrapbooking weekend next week (I leave Wednesday and come home Sunday) - if you remember my first post in November '12, the last weekend like this was a disaster!  only been here one night, didn't do great but also didn't do horrible
  • Figure out my game plan for getting exercise in during scrapbooking (I think I'll probably go to water aerobics Wed morning, Thur night, Friday morning... but I need to figure out what I will do on Saturday since it'll likely be below zero so I won't want to be outside).  Went to the gym on Wednesday morning, going tonight and Friday morning.  Will take Saturday off and then start my new work out routine beginning Sunday.
So it was truly an issue of too much food going in the pie hole and not enough exercise to burn it off.  I'm not sitting at my scrapping retreat eating my THIRD cookie and have a fourth waiting for me.  They are not huge cookies, actually probably a real proportion that one should have... but one shouldn't have 4 in a row.  I can say my head will be back in the game on Sunday.  I want to enjoy this weekend, but within reason of course.  I've done OK so far, not great but OK.  My goal is not to get the heartburn like I got last time... so with that said I do have to control some of my food intake of course but I'm not going to be a stickler either.  I WILL work hard Sunday - Wednesday of next week to try and burn off my weight gain of 2.8 lbs (from this week)... yep, I gained 2.8.  The best thing about it is, I knew it was going to be bad.  I'm not discouraged and thinking I won't get it off because I will!!!

I hope you had a better week than I did... I hope you met your goals... as you can see I sure didn't.  But we can't be perfect.  All we can do it forge ahead and make sure we keep in our minds how far we've come and get ourselves back on track.

My goal should obviously be to lose what I've gained... but in reality that will be hard this week.  So my goal is to stay the same this week, take control (beginning Sunday) and get myself exercising again this week.

I can't wait until I'm Healthfully Ever After.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Be Strong, Stay Strong!

I did have a very good week, as I vowed I would. I lost 2.4 lbs, my total is now 72.2. I didn't do any additional activity other than my Jillian Michaels 30 day Shred video except ran in place during the biggest loser on Monday where I gained the most insane amount of activity points.  Most I've ever gotten in a single day... 11 activity points and 217% of my goal was met.  I'm not gonna lie, I was ROCKING that running in place.

Anyway the only days I went a good amount over on points were Thursday and Saturday (pizza again).  So I'm very happy with my week.  I didn't even use all of my extra weekly point allowance which then means I didn't touch any of my activity points for the week then either.  That's a great feeling, not only because I didn't go way over but because it was a goal I set and I met it.

I talk about goals a lot and I'm a firm believer in setting small attainable goals.  If you don't and you just have that end goal in mind, you're more likely to find yourself discouraged more often and then therefore more likely to give up (like we do with those new years resolutions).  So do me a favor and set at least 3 goals this week that you know you can meet, but are at least a little bit of a challenge as well.

There was talk in my Weight Watcher meeting weeks ago on how overwhelming tracking everything you eat can be.  One of the women suggested that instead of tracking the whole day start tracking one meal a day for one week -but make it the same meal each day.  This worked very well for her, but wouldn't be something that would probably work for me.  I am an all or nothing kind of person... so my goals usually are a bit bigger than that, but I also don't find tracking hard.  So who's to say that it wouldn't work for someone else right?!  That's exactly my point I'm trying to make here... everyone is different.  Goals should be different.

If exercise is your goal and is your buddy's as well, then think about it... exercise doesn't have to be different, but you have to make sure it works for you not just your work out buddy.  I'm not a fan of having an exercise buddy... I've tried it several times through out my life and I've just been disappointed over and over, so that is not something I like to do.  I like to exercise but I'm normal too, I don't like to do it ALL the time.  So if I have a buddy and they don't feel like working out, I could be persuaded sometimes to skip it too... and really I don't need that kind of help.  What is working for me right now just baffles me... like I've mentioned I'm doing the JM 30 day shred.  Every day, immediately after my work out, I post a picture of my sweaty face with the #day I'm on... for some reason that makes me feel accountable to myself, but also to my entire population of FB friends.  I'm not sure why - but I feel like if I miss a day, I will disappoint a lot of people.  Weird I know... but for some reason it works for me.  Today is my last day of JM 30 day shred (I did level 2 this time) and needed to figure out "what's next?".  I've got some great work friends and FB friends that have offered to lend me some new videos to try next.  I've got quite the line up - so I now need to make my plan of what I'm doing and when I'm going to do it.

If you are not an exerciser this post probably really annoyed you.  But I do have to say - when all those people all your life have told you that exercise is key to losing weight - that, for most people, it is a correct statement.. if you want to be consistent in losing weight that is.  I have a lot of weight to lose so exercise is my thing now - and really has to remain a big part of my life for the rest of my life.

I have said this before, this is the last time I'm losing this weight - so right now I'm working on my plan by getting healthy and losing weight.  I building my healthy habits - eating right, exercising and tracking what goes in this gynormous pie hole of mine!!!  My hope, by doing this, is that I'm setting myself up for a lifetime of good healthy habits.

My goals for this coming week are:
  • I'm going to figure out my exercise plan for the next phase.
  • Carry over the leaving those extra points within my range and not going over (and definitely not using my activity points).
  • I'm going to implement the WW Healthy Habits this week too... with each meal I will have some sort of power food, fruit or vegetable.  This should be easy.  With every snack, if it's not a fruit, I will be sure to have a fruit with the snack that I'm eating.  This will be harder to do :)
  • Get my mind / mental state ready for my scrapbooking weekend next week (I leave Wednesday and come home Sunday) - if you remember my first post in November '12, the last weekend like this was a disaster!
  • Figure out my game plan for getting exercise in during scrapbooking (I think I'll probably go to water aerobics Wed morning, Thur night, Friday morning... but I need to figure out what I will do on Saturday since it'll likely be below zero so I won't want to be outside).

That's probably enough for the week!   I'd like to get to my 75lb weight loss mark by next Thursday, which means I need to lose 2.8 lbs (YIKES)!!!  Oh and be sure to take a look at the picture page - I've posted a picture of me this week.

Take care and remember.... I can't wait until I'm Healthfully Ever After!



Thursday, January 17, 2013

Can't. Get. Full.

Have you ever experienced where you are shoving food in your mouth and you can't get full?  Even if you chew slowly, wait in between bites, put your fork down in between, etc?  Well that was me this week.  It started on Friday.  Of the 7 days this week I only stayed within my points for 3 of them... almost 4.  But those other 3 days... all I can say is WOW.

Part of the reason is that my lady friend is here for a visit... but the other was I was bored and sick.  I'm not one that stops eating when they are sick.  I want to eat the cardboard in the cupboard... and I did.  And it shows.  I gained 1.2 lbs this week.  Very sad about that, but at the same time, I know that this week will be better and I won't let it get me down.

A very low point for me was on Tuesday night when I couldn't work out.  I was sick with the flu and didn't want to chance the work out.  If you've kept up on my blog, you know I'm doing Jillian Michaels 30 day Shred... where you work out for 30 days in a row.  I missed ONE day... day 21.  UGH!  I felt super guilty and even posted on Facebook as to whether or not I should attempt the work out.  Granted some of them didn't know it was the flu that I had, but some were supportive and some were NOT.  Kind of made me sad, but more than that I felt guilty.  Luckily yesterday (Wednesday) I did feel better and I did the work out twice to make up for it... so I'm not counting missing a day (even tho it is in the back of my head).

By this time next week I'll be done with the work out and have some stats to share with everyone.  I'm hoping for similar stats from last time since I'm doing a level higher (should be more, but it's not turning out that way).  So I'll be very excited to be done - regardless of the outcome.

My husband is going away again this weekend (he was gone last weekend too, and that's when I do my worst).  I am taking an oath to do well this weekend with him being gone.  I need to make some great progress for my weigh in next week and I want my Jillian results to show all the hard work I've put into it.  So mark my words... this week will be a better week.

How am I going to make sure that it is?   I'm going to do some major meal planning starting with dinner tomorrow night.  I already have a healthy dinner for tonight... so all will be good there.  Wish me luck and maybe I'll post some of the yummy recipe's I make this weekend.

Take care and I hope you're not struggling like I am.  Keep up those resolutions and goals... they are very important to set and meet.  You know how good you feel when you accomplish something... think about how good you feel when you accomplish this... oh and how great you'll look too :)

I can't wait until I'm Healthfully Ever After.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Hard at it!!!

I had a very good week.  I worked extremely hard!  Harder than I've worked in a while.  Although, I still used my extra points... I barely used any activity points and No Extra Extra (LOL) points this week.  I shed 5.2 lbs this week and my total is now 71 lbs gone.  WOW!!!  I have been on Weight Watchers now for 9 months... I'd say that's pretty darn good so far.

So what am I doing to make myself successful you may ask... I'd say the following:

  • Tracking the food that I'm eating... ALL OF IT.  I track everything regardless of whether or not it makes me go over my points, my extra points or additional activity points.  If I don't, I'm only cheating myself.  I will say that next to weight watchers, there is another option out there that I feel is quite similar with regards to "tracking."  www.myfitnesspal.com is what I'm referring to.  It has a great web program, phone ap (for both iPhone and Droid users) and there is a product out there called fitbit (www.fitbit.com) that is like what I wear for WW (ActivityLink) that feeds your activity (wirelessly - you don't even have to plug it in) into the program for you.  Please note - I am not endorsed by any of these places... so it's to your benefit to check them out not mine.
  • If I do go over or eat unhealthy, I make myself very aware of it.  Sometimes that helps me and sometimes it doesn't... but I always know.  Therefore I know that I make better choices elsewhere (whether it's food or exercise related) to try and combat the bad with the good.
  • I exercise... A LOT (at least compared to what I used to do).  When I'm not doing the 30 day shred (usually plus water aerobics and/or walking of some sort) I either walk more or do other home video work outs such as balance ball.  I try to work out no less than 3 times a week, but like to try for 4-5.  It helps, I promise.
  • Just this past week I started feeling guilty about watching TV.  So in order to allow myself to watch TV (live TV) I make myself run in place or move about when commercials are on.  I've heard people talk about doing this before, but never implemented it myself.  This past Monday I did it during the Biggest Loser (that show makes you feel super guilty if you don't do some sort of exercise) - it was a 2 hour show... and according to my ActivityLink, there was approximately 38 minutes of commercials.  That day I hit 200% on my ActivityLink.  Two days later I couldn't walk without pain because I used muscles that I haven't used in a while... but it was a good hurt of course!
  • I also incorporated more vegetables... I had a lot of salads this week.  BIG salads... and that really made a difference in my weight loss, I'm sure of it.  I had started slacking a little in the veggie area, and now I proved to myself what it can do... so I would try that too if you're struggling.  If you fill up more on veggies, then you are bound to eat less other foods (regardless of whether they are good or bad for you).
All of this is common sense I know... but sometimes you just need to prove to yourself that by doing these things it will really help you.  There probably isn't one person out there that doesn't know if you eat healthier and exercise that you will lose weight.  You just need to gain the will power and the "want" to do it.  So keep at it, I promise you will get results.

Today will be day 16 of doing the 30 day Shred from Jillian Michaels.  I've been able to keep at level 2, but am having some issues with my knees, feet and shoulder.  So I'm getting kind of scared about the knees for sure.  I know my shoulder is just gone.  I'll go see a specialist for my shoulder after I finish up my 30 day shred, I don't want them to tell me to stop doing it.  So, I'm going to keep on, but I've been taking it easy a bit in certain parts, plus it's really really hard (for me).


In addition to doing well this week, I've had a lot of other positive things happen.  People are really supporting me.  I have a lot of "Facebook" friends and I know that I don't see many of them on a regular basis, or at all... but I am receiving such support from them.  I post a daily pic of myself after my workouts... some folks are even going back to previous day's pictures and commenting on how they can see the difference.  I've received a few personal messages through Facebook and many people are actually doing the Jillian Michaels work out now because of me.  They say I'm an inspiration.  I really don't feel like an inspiration, but it keeps being said to me... so I must be.  Feels kind of cool, but weird too.  Because there are so many more people that have inspired me that don't even know it.

I have a super great support system at work, at home and through my immediate family.  And with Facebook.  So I am very lucky.  But at the same time I feel "watched" all the time too and I don't want to disappoint.  So far, I've used that as motivation... hopefully that will continue long term.  My goal isn't just to lose the weight.  I want to keep the weight off (who doesn't right)... but most of all I want to be able to continue to exercise and eat healthy 90% of the time (lets be real... we all want that junk food now and then).

Sorry for the long post, but I truly hope this helps someone out there!

Take care and as you know... I can't wait until I'm Healthfully Ever After!


Friday, January 4, 2013

Doctor Results Are In

Well, they weighed me.  UGH, don't you hate that?!  Why do they need to know what I weigh, can't they just guess?

LOL, I know - I know... they need to weigh me.  But it's my most dreaded part of the visit - next to taking my blood pressure (am I the only one that this hurts to have done?  I seriously HATE it... it hurts.  I'd rather do a Jillian Michael work out than have my blood pressure taken) and getting my blood drawn.

Anyway the results are in.  I was taken off of 1 of 2 blood pressure medicines.  I'm going down on dosage for my depression medication and then will be fully off in March if all goes well.  I go back in 7 weeks to be rechecked on being on just the 1 blood pressure medicine and am hoping she drops that dosage then too.

On a bad note, I am one of the worst people to get blood from. This was a new place I went to and a new person drawing my blood.  I warned her that I'm hard to get from.  She tried finding a vein for like 5 minutes before giving up and just sticking me.  THEN she moved the needle around in my arm, yes in my arm, to get the vein.  IT HURT, IT SUCKED and I can guarantee that's never going to happen again.  I will demand a different person or that they be totally sure they will hit a vein.  I can't imagine how bruised my arm will look in two days!!!

Regardless, today is a good day!!!

I can't wait until I'm Healthfully Ever After.


Thursday, January 3, 2013

Things that make you go HMMM...

Well I thought I did fairly well this week.  I tracked like I always do, but did a bit more guesstimating than the usual.  And "guess" what... it didn't work as well for me.  I gained 1 lb this week... which is NOT BAD, but I really did no real celebrating over the past week so I should have done better in my mind.

Over the last week, I kicked up my exercise again.  I had 24 activity points for the week... that's A LOT considering I gained zero, yes ZERO activity points last week (and I lost 2.4 last week, go figure).  Most people say that it's muscle that I've gained... and I say bullshit to that.  I do believe that my body just wanted to hang onto the weight this week for some reason.  As you know I weigh myself pretty much everyday to try to keep myself in check.  The day after weigh in last week (Friday) I was up 2 lbs.  I was up 2 lbs the whole week even up until yesterday.  I weighed myself last night - and I weighed the same as I did in the morning.  WHAT?!  See, I don't get it either.  But on my way home, I could feel my fingers losing the water I was retaining... so I guess I should feel lucky that some of that weight came off or today's weigh in would have been way worse.

I think I'm actually coming down with a cold or something because I'm feeling quite dizzy these last few days and I was sneezing up a storm this morning and somewhat the last few days.  So I've busted out the Zicam in hopes that it will clear up.

I have continued on with my Jillian Michaels - today will be day 9 of level 2.  It sucks, I'm not gonna lie.  I feel like crying EVERY SINGLE TIME.  I have actually cried once.  It hurts, it sucks, it's hard and I love it when I'm done.  However, I'm having some troubles with my right shoulder and my left elbow.  You see in level 2 - there's a lot of plank moves and I think my body doesn't like them just as much as I don't like them. I'm going to continue on of course, but gonna ask my doctor about it tomorrow.  I have a scheduled follow up appointment tomorrow.

I haven't seen her since I believe August or September.  I'm hoping that now that she's moved into a franchise office vs. her own office - that her equipment will be better able to measure my blood pressure and I'll be able to get off of at least one of my medications, maybe two.  I take 9, yes NINE, pills a day.  Two allergy, two blood pressure, a multivitamin, vitamin D, Magnesium (restless friggin legs)  and a depression medication.  I wanted to get through the holidays with the depression med (if you know me personally, you know WHY I started taking it... and only part of it was because of my weight) and now that I've done that, I think I'm going to ween myself off of that too.  I will be talking with my dr. about that tomorrow too!

I want to summarize some of my accomplishments over the last 9 months that I've had since I started back on weight watchers:

  • I've lost 66 lbs
  • I can walk up my stairs in the house without being winded
  • I no longer have to hoist myself out of our couches (sooo embarassing)
  • I can get up from the floor fairly easy (if I haven't worked out too much in a given day)
  • I can walk 3-4 miles with no trouble and at a pretty good clip
  • I've been able to get back to the gym with a semi-standard schedule of a work out
  • I finished the first 30 day shred challenge from Jillian Michaels
  • I started level 2 of the 30 day shred challenge, which I never thought I could even do (even after finishing level 1)
  • From Thanksgiving to after the new year I was able to lose almost 5 lbs, where the average person put on 5-8 lbs (and I don't feel deprived what so ever, nor guilty as some do)
  • I have inspired others to work out more, eat better and recommit themselves to weight watchers
I think that's a pretty good 9 months!  I hope you are one of them and I hope to do more of that in 2013. Please share with my readers some of the accomplishments you've made over the last year... I know you've got at least 1, so pick your best one and post a comment for the rest of us to share with you.

So this week, I'm recommitting myself to more accurately track my food intake, only use my extra points (and not go into extra-extra like I have), continue with my Jillian Michaels (oh Lord, please allow me to continue on) and try to get in a few extra days of activity like I did this past week.

Take care and I hope you have a great 2013!!!  I know I will!

I can't wait until I'm Healthfully Ever After!