Nutrition

Besides the obvious goal of achieving weight loss on this journey, another very important goal that I want to meet is improving my overall nutrition. Each phase I need to fine tune my eating and tap into healthier options that I enjoy.

Some basic nutritional changes are:

1. Switch to 'good fats', like olive oil, nuts, fish oils, and various seed oils.
NOW: I'm on track for this one with the olive oil and nuts
FUTURE: I should be using more olive oil instead of other salad dressings to enough more healthy fats in my diet.

2. Eat plenty of the right carbohydrates: Aim for whole grain flours, hearty vegetables, oats and brown rice.
NOW: Brown rice, no problem. Whole wheat pasta, check. Whole bread or multi grain breads for sandwiches, bring it on! 
FUTURE: Definitely can explore more hearty vegetables. Vegetables high in fiber would be a good improvement.

3. Eat breakfast.
NOW: Always!
FUTURE: I always eat breakfast, but need to explore some other staple breakfasts that I can turn to. Variety of healthy cereals (which is challenging to find for me).

4. Eat slower.
NOW: I am trying to enjoy my meals, but difficult with two young children that seem to need something every 3 seconds.
FUTURE: Reinforce to my kids that once I sit to eat I do not want to be interrupted. It's crucial for me to sit and eat and enjoy my meal. Take my time and not get up from the table 5+ times. I feel like I hadn't eaten and leaves potential for eating 'extra'.

5. Read labels
NOW: Haven't been reading labels other than calculating points.
FUTURE: Need to start reading labels again. I really do not want "partially hydrogenated" or "high fructose corn syrup" in my house. Take a look at the ingredients list; if it says, "partially hydrogenated" anything, that means it contains trans fat.

6. Drink plenty of water
NOW: Drinking way too much diet soda and not enough water.
FUTURE: Drink more water!

These tips came from just one website. I have a lot more nutritional research to do. But these are simple beginner tips that'll help me refine the weight watchers system for me. I left a few out, like don't drink any alcohol. Because I rarely drink. Maybe one glass of wine every 3 months, if that.

The journey continues. By the end of Phase 4, my ultimate goal is not just to be 'skinny' but really to reinvent myself to a healthier and more fit me. It's exciting and relieving. It's not a crash diet plan, it's a long term plan that will allow me to make these changes at a pace that I can manage and adapt for the rest of my life.

Sister1: let me know how you are doing with these nutritional changes?

Thank you, Sister1

It seems my idea of initiating phases to our weight loss journey (4 phases total=1 year), has encouraged Sister1 to feel like the journey has been compartmentalized into sections that will keep her motivated and accountable. I seemed to have entered Phase 2 with challenges. Started with a stressful work week and having trouble fending off simple urges and old habits. Example: Eating extra bites of things. Two doritos, a spoonful of ice cream, a crust of pizza. I did not partake in any of those 'samplings' the first 12 weeks and now they are in the shadows of my mind always. Where's the strong voice that was shooing those demons away? They are loud thoughts and they fire off at every chance they can get. Not sure if it's that time of the month again, which always seems the hardest for a few days, but yesterday Sister1 and I finally got on the phone and talked it out.

Sister1 brought me to tears when she thanked me for all the encouragement and words I gave her though Phase 1. She told me it was my words that put her back on track several types when she was ready to quit again and again. Now it seems I need her words and encouragement to continue. I feel great and see so many changes in my daily life with less weight on my 5' 4 1/2" frame. Exercises I am able to do more easily and clothes I can fit into with ease. It all feels wonderful and I so desperately want to see Phase 2 end with being one more size down in clothes. However, it seems a cloud has settled and am not sure of my triggers that are causing this need to eat those 'sampling' bites. People without a weight/food issue, think what are you talking about!!!??? What's the big deal? A bite of food? Those bites of food are the beginning of an end. Those bites turn into seconds and then they turn into cookies and then they turn into a bowl of chips instead of baby carrots... It's the beginning of a downward spiral. You see how many extra bites can you eat before you gain any weight. How much before the needle on the scale is tipped? Then you sacrifice a 1 or 2 pounds for those bites. Then it's 5 and 10. And then you give up and buy new clothes and suddenly you've gained so much weight you just beat yourself up for repeating that weight loss cycle again. Words that you know you shouted, "I will never be that weight again!" Ha.

Today, I am thanking Sister1 for wonderful words of encouragement. "Do you have enough healthy options in the house to get you through those periods?" Hmm... I wasn't even sure what was in my cabinets. So, today I'm restocking on produce and groceries that will get me 'though' the those urges. I'm maintaining a steady exercise routine and was congratulated by Sister1. Thank you again! Plan on getting in the pool again today and already have dinner planned out. It's a good start to getting back on track and am thanking Sister1 for all the reminders. Next I need to envision a goal for October 12 (end of Phase 2). Will get back to you on that one.

Until then, once again, Sister1, THANK YOU!!! Don't ever go on vacation again. I love you.

Faux Glow

Checking out the WW site this evening and came across some body shaping advice that doesn't involve surgery. MY FAVORITE has to be the advice to get a spray-on tan. BUT WAIT! Not just an ordinary spray-on tan. They suggest having the technician airbrush on your faux glow complete with shaded muscle contours! That's awesome. You seriously have to be at goal for that one. Not sure anyone would believe some dirt marks going across my still chubby stomach as a six pack. Can't even imagine what that would look like on me. I'll stick with the suggestion to get a haircut. LOL!

Like a glove

Two polarizing thoughts with a common theme, what better way to express it then with a poem?

Like a glove
Oh, precious blue jeans,
a glorious fit in size sixteens.
Hidden in a drawer for 7 years,
I zipped and buttoned with tears.
Flying above are white doves,
because those jeans fit like a glove.

Oh, old bad habit,
food will always be the culprit.
Out of control eating for years,
Losing control is my biggest fear.
What will happen when push comes to shove?
because those old habits fit like a glove.

Posts, Posts, and More Posts

So many things on my mind, going to post like mad right now.

No Weigh In For Week 13

Sorry no weigh in. I'm in Disney! I will do one when I get back right away, I won't wait till next Wednesday. Though I'm not really eating that bad, I'm sure I could of made better choices. Wore my step counter from WW and says we are walking anywhere from 10 to 15 miles a day, and earning on the average 20 activity points a day. So I'm not to worried.

Week 13 weigh in for Sister2

Well, it was bound to happen, this was my first week that I gained. Surprisingly only .5 pounds. One half pound is hardly got me down. This past week was full of unusual circumstances. Working 92.5 hours at the computer and stress level very high is enough to break down the wall and eventually seek out some comfort food. The cookies had no chance of survival. Things have calmed down with work and I feel myself gaining back control. Counted points today, measured food, swim for 45 minutes with the kids in the pool and made it to a 45 minute step class. Sweat, sweat and more sweat. Earned some activity points and still have 6 points left for the day. Unbelievable.

So, I'm putting this week behind me and going to envision my goal for the end of Phase 2, which is October 12. By then I want to lose another 20-25 pounds. I could beat myself up for so easily caving into urges to snack so poorly and binge. But, I just can't stay in that negative zone or it'll swallow me whole. I clearly know my triggers over the last 13 weeks and it's work. The excitement of concepting makes me turn to food, the boredom of a slow day makes me turn to food and the stress of late night deadlines makes me turn to food. I clearly can't just use will power to stay away, so more research on low point power foods that can get me through those times are the way to go. It's a process that I will be struggling with the rest of my life. I can only be aware and try better tomorrow.

Total 13 week loss: 25.5 pounds

On a positive note, today I got remeasured at the gym by the same trainer back in March.

Here's the stats:

Weight: -26 pounds (her scale says -26! awesome, my scale sucks)
Chest: -2"
Waist: -2 3/4"
Hips: -4"
Thigh: -4"
Calf: -2"
Bicep: -3/4"
Bodyfat %: -3.4%

Correction

Finished my timesheets and realized I miscalculated yesterday. I actually worked 92.50 hours in one week and it was literally more than half of the hours of a 7 day week (which is 168 hours).  What did I do with the other 75.5? Well, I can tell you sleep was not one of them...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Let's hope this push for work will pass soon, because I want to be back on track for my diet and this is not helping. At least I bill by the hour! Because I'll need to pay for more Weight Watchers and possibly therapy. Or a massage and a pedicure and a haircut and a nap!

82.50

82.50 hours. That's how many hours I worked in one week. Mind you that's almost half of the hours in an entire week. Needless to say, counting points and measuring food and exercise have fallen to the waste side. This week is not looking better. UGH!!!!

Rough night

Well, last night was the first slip up in 12 weeks. Not even sure how I'm going to calculate the damage. I'm 'on-call' so to speak for work this week and last night I didn't knock off until 4 AM. I had started working yesterday at 8 AM. So needless to say at about 11 pm I grabbed a bag of pretzels and didn't bother to count out or point out. I just opened it and eat as many pretzels as I could while I was working.

I'm pretty disgusted by the whole thing. It was really not necessary and I know this is the biggest obstacle that I will have to learn how to overcome as time goes by. My job requires me to work last hours often, but that doesn't mean I can continue that habit during those times.

I do understand that the pretzels are hardly doing the damage as bad as a package of cookies, but still, it's not who I want to be anymore. I don't want food to be an out of control issue for me. I'm putting the carnage behind me (literally because it's in my ass that shows the fat first) and moving on. Acknowledge, accept and learn from it. It's an issue and I will have to come up with some strategies to combat it.

New day, new points!

Week 12 weigh in for Sister2

Very busy with work, so this is a quickie:

Week 12: down 1 pound
Total 12 week weight loss: 26 pounds

Spoke in depth with Sister1. We agreed that we are closing the books so to speak on the first 12 weeks. Decided to call it Phase 1 and we are now entering Phase 2. Making this feel fresh, no guilt or hand ringing over what we did (or ate) the past twelve weeks. We are moving onto Phase 2 that will be completed in 12 weeks on October 12.

Combined weight loss for Sister1 and Sister 2 for Phase 1: 39 pounds
Add in two others that joined our quest and that total is: 49 pounds

AWESOME!!!!! Keep up the good work. Phase 2 here we come!

Tuesday nights

I've become very fond of Tuesday nights. Going to bed knowing exactly where I ended the week with food and exercise. Satisfied to know that I feel another week has passed and I stayed focused. So many thoughts and affirmations to remain committed to the weight loss cause. I'm truly starting to feel the difference in my strength from working out and energy from just eating healthy.

It seems no matter how late I go to bed this evening, Wednesday mornings I wake up excited and motivated to strip down naked and jump on the scale for my weekly weigh in. I guess you could call it 'Scale Streaking'. Part 2 of Wednesday morning, after weighing in, is to input my new weight into the WW site and watch the line graph of my weight continue to go down.

I really want to take one more moment to motivate Sister1. She has been dieting on and off for years, where I have just pushed it off. My motivation is fresh and new still and we've talked about her finding the energy to stay committed. I beg you Sister1, to pull down deep inside and remember why we are doing this. Please don't make me drive and hour and half to your house for an intervention in your kitchen. I will be calling you tomorrow for your weekly weigh in and we will discuss. I want your line graph to look like mine. I want you to wake up on Wednesday's running naked down your hall to the scale and feel good because you know you went to the gym and watched your points. We are going end Phase 1 (first 12 weeks) and begin Phase 2 with new energy and fresh motivation. You're sticking with me, because I can not do it alone.

Real Quick Weigh In from last week 11

Sorry so late but last Wednesday was a loss of 3.6 lbs. Very happy. I tried something new, I didn't use all my weekly points, I think I had at least half left. This week a different story. We will see tomorrow!!!

I ain't no Master Chef

It's no big secret that my cooking skills are average. I can make a good breakfast and have the patience to bake and decorate the heck out of a cake. But actual cooking... well let's just say I can hear my pots and pans start quivering in the kitchen draw when I announce it's time to start making dinner. It's not that I burn things and I do a pretty job of having food get to the table hot, it's primarily that my food is bland and somewhat boring. Definitely in a rut of the making routine meals.

However, lately I've been taking baby steps towards making a difference in the quality of food I'm making. I'm making excellent use of WW website recipes and having fun. FUN? Wow, never thought I would admit that cooking could be fun. I'm finding very simple quick meals to cook that have flavor. Yesterday I made Chipotle Bean Nachos. Fried up some garlic and shallots (with some olive oil from my new olive oil mist sprayer), added some red kidney beans, mashed them and then dropped them over baked nachos on a baking sheet. Sprinkled reduced fat shredded cheese and baked them for 3-5 minutes. Added scoops of salsa and fresh chopped cilantro over it. Best served immediately.

What a wonderful snack! Had a few guests over and it gave us just that little bit of energy to then go off and jump in the pool (which is now 82°!).

So, here and there I'm trying a few quick new recipes. Learning how to flavor food and make healthy food exciting and tasty.


Some new foods I have been making:
Crispy chicken dipped in honey mustard
Tomato and basil salad
Juicy burgers
White bean bruschetta
Prosciutto mini muffins

It's a start. I haven't tried this many new recipes in such a small period of time ever! I'm now getting excited about food for completely different reasons. I'm excited to make food that is tasty and healthy. Making delicious food that is guilt free is a wonderful feeling.

Bon appetit!

Wally

Watched the latest episode of Extreme Makeover: Weight loss edition and I have to say it wasn't what I was expecting. So far everyone Chris Powell has taken on for a whole year has gone through an unbelievable makeover. This time his newest client, Wally, did not. Before month 9 hit Wally was clearly continuing to eat junk food and fast food behind everyone's back and was clearly gaining the first 3-month weight loss back. Then Wally sent Chris an email. He was feeling like a failure and thinking of hurting himself. Chris Powell got on a plane and flew immediately to Chris and surprised him at home. This particular episode brought made it all real again. Wally is a food addict that could not overcome his addiction and was checked into a rehab facility for a 12 step program. I so badly wanted Wally to succeed. But there on TV was his addiction. Hiding food, lying and making excuses. I was upset for Wally, food came before his family. Before his wife and daughter (who was partially deaf).

You'd think this particular episode would be despairing for anyone trying to loose weight. Oddly I found it motivating. After almost 12 weeks of sticking to a diet plan it was an excellent reminder of my own relationship with food and to always keep it in perspective. I'm not like Wally at all. Not that extreme. I've been able to stay focused on doing this for my health and my family. Food will not come before them ever again.

Inspiration

Here's another great story of a young man who one day made a change to loose weight.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/07/15/macias.weight.loss.irpt/index.html?hpt=us_t2

I love stories like this. Especially his motivation to exercise and eat right was because he wanted to engage more in life! What a great way to live with a goal like that. Way to go.

Sleep

Part of being healthy means getting sleep. During the weight loss process having a good night's sleep is so important. Appa

Part of being healthy means getting sleep. During the weifht loss profess having a good night's sleep is so important. A[[arently I'm not doing freat this week in getting wnough sleep. Not haveing nany trouble sleepig, just up late working and it's veryu busy this week. Here's the result of a sleep deprived brain. One my typing and then things like I start putting the milk awai into the cabinet instead o f the fridge. I wander into rooms not remembering what I went in there for. Constantly pulling a 'Spacey Stacy' or a Starey Gary', just looking off into the distance reaching for thoughts as they pass you by.

Good news is, I'm finished working fo r the night and am sifning off and foing to bed. Sleep I await you and hope a 6-7 power nap will be enough to get me through tomorrow!

Week 11 weigh in for Sister2

Faith. Apparently my faith is tested every week. Faith in my dieting that is. Still struggling with the idea of eating all those weekly points and doubting that I could still loose the weight. Despite chemical cravings and big Italian buffets, I lost again this week. I owe it to sticking to program and exercising. Despite doing things correctly, I'm amazed every week when I step on the scale and that the needle went down. Here are the stats for this week's weigh in:

Week 11: DOWN -1.8 pounds
Total 11 week loss: 25 pounds

That's right baby! I made yet another one of my mini goals. To get down 25 pounds. Next mini goal is 12 pounds. That will put me at a weight that I remember specifically in time and has significance. After that goal, I have to set the BIG one. What do a I really want my adult weight to be? A weight that I can maintain, realistically, ya know? It's got to be between 117 and 146. I feel like I'm selecting a pick 3 number for the lotto. But, this I know. I WILL hit that number and be a winner for it!

Can't walk

Well, I finally figured out why the gym has an elevator. Because the day after the body pump class you can't walk. Haven't taken this class in 2 weeks because of vacation and holiday and it seems to have kicked my ass. When I woke up this morning my arms appeared to be useless hunks of flesh just dangling from my body. Moving helped restore some of their abilities, but then after an hour of work at the computer... uh... my thighs froze up. It's a good feeling that I haven't felt in awhile. Means I'm working out the correct muscles and working out a bit harder. Blah, blah, blah. My legs are still killing me! I can't even stand straight. Hobbling around the house like a webble wobble. Let's hope a good night's sleep will help. Because seriously, what good is a toned body if I walk around like Frankenstein?

Sisters Rock!

Sister1 told me about an article in Good Housekeeping that must be shared!!! Success rates of losing weight when you team up with a buddy. So for those of you who joined in on our journey, considered yourself buddied. We are going to do this! AND then post our combined weight loss. That number is going to be huge ladies. HUGE!

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/success/weight-loss-buddy

Struggling

Week 11 has a few more days to go, but this week is just kicking my ass. My cravings for food are incredible. I still have weekly points left but feel this week might bring a gain. Thursday and Friday I ate so many 0 point foods that eventually they have to add up to something. Stuffed my gut and was still looking for more. My stomach was full, but my brain was not satisfied. Something bigger than shear will power and common sense could control. I have to review the blog posts and try to see where my pattern is of blogs titled, "Starving, Struggling, Eating My Digits..." Probably a post every 30 days and mostly likely my period is coming. Probably WAY TMI for you, but there just seems a few days here and there that become impossible to control. Then Saturday I went to a wonderful memorial service (yeah I know that sounds bizarre), but this family celebrated this man's life with love and food and reunion. The part that is pertinent to this blog of course, is the food. Rich delicious italian food that you can not get in the Poconos. And that's because we were in Staten Island celebrating someone's life and rarely am I around such a plethora of fantastic food. I feel like I did pretty good, especially at a BUFFET! These situations do trigger an immediate thought. How far to do I go with this? Do I skip it (the diet) all together, not count the points of today and just eat? No, no, no!!!! I did my best and sampled a few things and passed on others. At the end of a buffet line though, a few things is a plate full. Every bite was superb and worth the points. Something I am trying to remember is that this journey is not about one day and one meal.

Today, I wrangled things in much better and went swimming twice each at about 45 minutes of swimming and playing in the pool with the kids. I'll be at the gym tomorrow and on Tuesday and hopefully can stay on a typical routine with food and keep on point. Which has been difficult for the added problem of now I'm down another point because of week 10's weight loss.

This might seem all too confusing. I think this post is mostly therapy for me. Here's what I did, I'm acknowledging it, setting a new goal for it and moving forward. This is a technique I seem to be asking myself and of Sister1 every time we have overeated or made not the best food choice.  A mantra of awareness and resetting goals immediately. These are the kind of tools we much start practicing now so when we both reach goal will have these words engrained on our brains for when we are ready to maintain. This journey is really just still at the start! Sister1, you and I must, must stick to it. We must stay on path. Have to, have to because our very lives will depend on it.

Damn trigger

Holy cow. It's ridiculous and so clear that a huge eating trigger for me is when I have to work late. It's one of the last habits that I have to figure out how to overcome. Late night working trigger an urge to eat and eat big. Last night it was cracker chips, spinach dip, grapes and a fiber one bar. All measured and pointed out and caused a nice chunk taken out of weekly points that have to last me to next Wednesday. Not so bad, HOWEVER, I'm probably going to be working late every night until a get a re-set on weekly points next Wednesday.

So, I'm grabbing hold of this freight train before it wrecks. Trying to stop the late night binge is really hard, can't quit it cold turkey. Deciding to PLAN for it throughout the day and leave myself some more evening points for this snacking habit. Also, need to try a few changes like baby carrots with spinach dip makes this snack 2 points instead of 5. Lower point fiber one bars would help. The one I ate was 4 points, a 2 point bar would have been better. Looks like a pit stop at the store today.

Grocery list:
1. baby carrots
2. low point bars
3. some flavored diet soda (feels like a bigger snack and 0 points)

This is the first time I am trying to plan for this situation and went from feeling anxious about work to feeling prepared and eager knowing I'm going to save the rest of the week from turning into a weight gain.

Mushy Gushy

I guess you can't embark on any journey and be successful without the support of a loved one. I've got my sister and sister-in-law and mom and mother-in-law and friends... but another is my husband. Over the years not only has he been quiet about my weight, but he's been patient knowing one day I would be ready to get moving and losing. He encourages me to go the gym, asks how the gym went, even helped weight my food (more than once) and took me clothes shopping on vacation. HUGE step. My husband hates shopping with every fiber of his being. Even tolerated without grumbling while I tried clothes on in the fitting room. Best part is, when I came out of the fitting room with 3 outfits in my arms I said, "Please make pretend you are a girlfriend right now, okay? Two of the pants are a tiny bit snug, I know the next size up is too big. Should I buy them?" You know what he said, "Yes, because you're going to loose more weight and they will fit just fine." OMG. At that moment my husband could do no wrong. Love, love, love him!

No Surprises Here for Week 10 Weigh-In

First let me say great job Sister2. You are really helping me to say focused now. No more vacations for you. I can't go a week without talking to you, see what happens. I fell off the wagon. After a month of not doing so great it finally caught up to me. I gained 3lbs this week. It probably was more but I really did great yesterday. Now that all the bbq's are over and I am going to the gym I am really going to try to use none or just half of my weekly points only to see if it makes a difference. Instead of having 49 I'm going to say I only have 29. Let me tell you 3lbs feels like 10. I not giving up, not going to get mad. I have to just go forward.

Week 10 weigh in for Sister2

After week 8 only losing .5 and week 9 losing nothing, I'm not sure what I would do if week 10 did not show some results. I felt I had to have had a loss this week for the simple fact that my wardrobe is literally falling off of me. The clothes I packed a week before the trip were not fitting my on the trip. Not just a little big, but extremely baggy and pathetic looking. I had to shop (side bar: my husband took me shopping, that's a big deal and to be another blog post). One pair of pants that I bought was two whole sizes down from what I was wearing. So, what did week 10 show me on the scale?

Here are the stats:
Week 10 weigh in: DOWN 3.7 pounds!!!
Total 10 week weight loss: 23.2 pounds!!!

I have reached another mini goal. Because as of today I have lost 10% of my weight. Complete euphoria. This feeling is better than eating chocolate. What does it physically feel like and look like? Well for starters the rolls of fat on my back are gone. There is evidence that I have a waistline. Of course my stomach is not as gross. Discussing my stomach is a bit sensitive. Mainly because the stretch marks from having two babies go from above my belly button to the very top of my thighs. They will always be there and are not looking very attractive during this process. A bit nervous on what the condition of the skin will be once I'm at my super official goal. I feel fantastic. I feel lighter, more energetic and just plain healthier.

What the heck is a super official goal??? During this whole journey I have set mini goals. Because the super official goal, which I have not set yet, is way too daunting. The weight range for my height is 117 pounds to 146 pounds. If I want to land somewhere in the middle of that I have yet another 75+ pounds to go. That is mind blowing and overwhelming. Puts me in a bad frame of mind. Because I was once in the middle of that range 14 years ago when I first got married. Then I start the pity party in my head. "How did you let yourself get SO big?" "Seriously, don't look way, I'm talking to you! How did you let this happen?"

No pity party. Today is a day of celebration. Getting back to the gym tonight after a week and a half off and having some me time. Wearing some new smaller sized clothes and feel rewarded already by the number on the scale.

Next set of mini goals:
1. Getting back to gym routine.
2. Continue to plan meals (this includes keeping fruit in the house and trying new recipes).
3. Stay focused on next weight goal. By the end of the summer I would like to loose another 13.8 pounds. I want to be the weight I was when I went back to work after having my daughter in the fall of 2004.

Side note to Sister1: week 8 and 9 I ate a big chunk of weekly points, maybe just about all of them. Week 10 I dipped halfway into the 49 point surplus. Knew I wasn't quite as active this week as most and the results seem to have 'weighed in' (har-dy har har). Where I'm going with this is that I know we want daily and weekly results, sometimes it'll just come after a few weeks of your body adjusting. I'm so proud of you from RUNNING on the treadmill. Don't let all that hard work be for nothing and make the best food choices you can.

Food Journal

I'm a firm believer that the success to losing weight is in keeping a food journal. You eat it, you write it, you own it. If you don't write it down a few things happen. Biggest is that you are lying to yourself. Do you really think by NOT writing it down and ignoring that ***insert binge food here*** that it magically disappeared? Then you are wasting your time and might as well buy the next size up in clothes because you're fooling yourself. Proof will be a continued weight gain or lack of weight loss—which ever way you want to look at.

Another thing that happens is that you closet eating. This is a road we've all been down. Hiding food, eating said food and then hoping no one notices the food you stuffed into your mouth is a pattern of self-destruction. And you know what? They notice. Because you are getting fatter by the day. Simple. Break the pattern and start writing down what you eat. Write it down even before it goes into your mouth. It keeps you honest, controlled and focused.

This is not maintaining mode. This is fight for your life to get to a healthy weight range. Staying there is not what we are talking about YET.

For one day keep a food journal. Take a look at what you are eating (and drinking) over the course of one day. Are you eating enough? Doesn't matter what healthy diet you are following, WW, counting calories, reducing portions, or following the new food plate from the government you eat, write it and own it. Only you are responsible for what goes into your mouth and I'm telling you every time I have lost weight it was because I keep a journal. Once I stopped the journal back came the weight (ten fold, twenty fold, etc).

Tomorrow I weigh in for week 10. Every week I have epiphany about my relationship with food. This is not easy. Many times a voice in my head tells me to just forget it, just EAT IT, no one will know. So easy to just listen to the smooth talking voice in my own head that's pushing the food at me. I have to almost slap myself to come to my senses and gain control. I chant. That's right. I chant in my head: "I don't want to be fat, I want to be healthy, I want to feel good." Okay, so I'm no song writer, but to circle back to the topic of the blog, the food journal is arming me against that seductive food pushing voice. Knowing what I ate at the end of the day and what else I could eat is stress reducing and relieving. And every weight loss journey needs tools, support and a goal set forth around you to keep it going.

Collapse

Last week we put up a pool. A cheap one with the blow up ring, 16' round, 3.5 ' deep. We've been in it 3 times and each time I have had a blast. It's a riot. I can go on my knees and still have my head above the water. Kids are practicing swimming, which I urge to keep moving since top temp of the pool has only been 78°, moving constantly is imperative to your survival from hypothermia. Well, Sunday we had rain. Buckets and buckets of rain. I mean so much rain that the pool filled too high. Which is not such a good thing because one side of the pool was already sinking. The sand shifted and we knew we were going to have to drain the pool at some point to fix. Well, that point will be today because last night while we were out front playing I heard SKLOOSH! And knew immediately that our little pool was now a waterfall spilling out into the yard. So, today we will fix, refill and hope to get the temp up into the 80°. I am loving this little pool and can't wait. So much fun and great exercise. I'm swimming and moving and trying really hard to tread water in 3.5' and not touch the bottom. We swim around and when I finally stand up I start laughing because then I remember how shallow it is. Can't wait for it to be operational again, because I'm getting in some great exercise and there's nothing like exercise that's disguised as FUN!!!

Post vacation

After one week of vacation I still seem to be trying to get back into routine. Routine of eating back to 'normal' and now getting back to the gym. Just called and made babysitting appointments at the gym for the next two weeks for the kids. What great effort to make the call. And I really do enjoy going to the gym, so I am amazed at how easy it is to get lax about it after just one week.

This morning I was also thinking about how much effort goes into eating healthy. I'm assuming one day it won't feel like another job added to the list of chores that I have, but since the benefit is making an impact directly on my hips than so be it. Let it be 'work', if it means I'm getting closer to a goal of being healthy. Trying to stay on target today, stay focused and make the best food choices I can.

Happy Fourth of July and BBQ healthy!

Achievement

While on vacation in Florida, we went to Busch Gardens in Tampa. Besides walking my tail off and intermittent periods of carrying a 3 year old during our stay at the park, something happened that I was so proud about. There was a zip line swing ride over a section of an area of the park called Jungala. I just had to go on it! So I grabbed my daughter and up we went to the top of the tower to go on the ride. We got on line and then I saw the park people next to a scale and were weighing adults before going on the ride. Well, my blood turned ice cold because I then realized the ride had a weight limit. I searched frantically for a sign and didn't see one, so I asked one of the women running the ride. She said the limit was 220 pounds. I jumped up and down and almost cried. Because if I did not start Weight Watchers 10 weeks ago, I would not have been able to go on the ride. But the new slimmed down version of me was able to ride and I wore a smile the entire time. Also bragged to both ladies running the ride that I was on Weight Watchers and now able to go on. She still made me go on the scale, but the scale's numbers were hidden behind a green and red indicator. Basically if the needle went to red, you couldn't go on. I was all green baby! Attaching are a few pictures of the ride, but they are of random people, not me, just to show you the ride. It was fun and lasted about 2 seconds. You just sit in a little swing and zoom across a very short distance and then zoom back. This was just a perfect example of how my life is changing and getting better by losing the weight. Never realized how many things have been eluding me. One more BONUS: My energy level was fantastic throughout the whole day. Going to the gym and down almost 20 pounds really feels great!

Week 9 weigh in for Sister2

What a week! I was away on vacation with very little to no internet, so posting to the blog was not possible on a daily basis. Sorry! So much to tell and share. Not sure it will make it all into this post. BIG issue was staying at a house with no scale. OUCH! Very hard to know that I was staying on tracking without a daily weigh in. I was counting points all week until the last two days. It was getting frustrating and the food choices were limiting. My diligence for the week was quite good and it paid off when I weighed myself on Thursday morning because I stayed the same. That is quite an accomplishment. I went on vacation and didn't gain any weight. Fantastic.

Wednesday while coming home we ate a late lunch at Sam Snead's Grill and Tavern at the Tampa Airport and I had a Grilled Chicken and Nut Salad that was to good! I was close to licking the bowl. I didn't give  a hoot about points because it was just about the best thing I ate in a few days (just after the filet mignon my brother in law cooked on the grill). Then we ordered dessert. One slice of chocolate cake for the whole table to share. WOW! WOW! WOW! WOW! Yup. That's one wow for eat fork full that I had. It may have been the best chocolate cake I have ever had in my life. I can't begin to tell you how delicious... still dreaming about it.

Which is OKAY! Because the rest of the trip getting home sucked. Travel issues all over, including a rude man upset that my son kicked his chair. Don't even get me started. I just dreamed about that chocolate cake.

Vacation was wonderful and full of walking and swimming. I felt great knowing everyday I had earned some activity points. Healthy food options were around I truly felt on target and was happy about my choices until those last two days. It was hard to stay on track. It was getting stressful, so I ate, but tried not to overeat. Does that make sense? Well, that's not true. I ate a small second helping of pulled pork sandwich. What I had already eaten should have been enough. I believe I was just worn down at that point. But, I remembered I'm on a journey. One day here and there is going to happen. It's about the next meal or day that will make the difference. Getting back on track as soon as you can and the will be no damage.

I survived a week of vacation without a scale, slightly cut off from WW online, had filet mignon and chocolate cake and stayed the same weight. YEEEHAAAWWWWW!

Week 9 Total weight loss: (still) 19.5 pounds