Mid April update

I've been having a good week....the events of last week aside.

We were sick with a stomach bug and all were in a bad way. Now that our appetites are back though, I've been good.

I've cracked the 200 threashold and am now down into the 190s. For some reason that just does wonders for my mentality. It just does! So far I am down 4 pounds for the month. I'm on track to meet my monthy goal of 5 pound loss.

So today we'll go out and walk and I'll do a 15 min toning video.

I've also been really good about not eating sweets and treats. Just really good.

So things are buzzing along! :)

March assesment

I know there were no updates in March.

Reason: sick mom, sick dad, sick baby. We traded sick for about 4 weeks and it was not fun or pretty.

I did however lose ONE pound. My measurements stayed the same.

Time to get serious.

I'm just not eating sugar, or treats at all. Not even my weekly treat from the store (which really was turning into an almost daily treat).

We also found out that our son has a peanut allergy. That has been a blessing and put us on an interesting new path. First, he is only peanut allergic, but because so many things are processed with peanuts, many things have been cut out of our diet. However most of these things fall into the chips, crackers, candy group, so really no big loss. Anything with chocolate is out too. Most mass produced candy that you'd find on a holiday isle is cross contaminated. So that is totally out too. I have found websites that do seel peanut/tree nut free candy etc, and I'm sure we'll be patronizing those eventually.

The peanut allergy really put Easter into perspective. We did not have a basket full of candy. We made some homemade sugar cookies -- that's all. It was fun and they were ymmy too. We also decided that everyone will be peanut free so it really is going to cut alot of junk out of all of our lives.

The other thing about a peanut allergy is if we want treats I will have to make them and since I really am not into baking and dessert making, that's not going to happen all that often.

So it's all good.

So on to April. I've exercised everyday for a week and have managed not to injure myself either. I'm going to keep on this. My goal for April is to lose 5 pounds. If I can lose 5 pounds a month I will be at my prepreganancy weight in 3 months and I can and do want to keep going. Perhaps getting even farther down the scale if and when we try to have another baby.

So there you go....on ward and down ward, without a peanut either.

January's assesment

Let's talk about January.

Was it as successful as I wanted it to be? No. But there are good things to report.

First, I lost an inch around my thighs. For the pear shaped woman this is a beautiful thing. I credit the Leslie Sanson walking DVD I've been doing. I use the walk belt as well, and it's good at keeping it real for me. I just hope that I won't re injure my knee and I can keep at things this week.

Second. I only lost 4 pounds over the course of the month, but I will say being able to wear my wedding ring again more than makes up for that!! :) Today I tipped the scales at 200#s even. That means if I am a good egg, I will crack back into the 190s this week, the mental push that will give me will be super!!

Third, my blood pressure is not as low as I would like it, but it's in the 120/80s range more than the 130s & 140s these days. My goal is to get it to be consistently in the 120s.

Fourth, my good eating habits have transferred to my son. What kid likes tomatoes, zucchini and fruit only? My kid that's who. I'm proud to say a french fry had yet to cross his lips.

Finally, with February there is hope. Hope that the snow will melt and that we will again be outside walking and enjoying the landscape.

On with the month then!

Arizona Girls Don't Winter Well: Week 3

Oh, last week was hard. Very hard.

There was a "cream cheese frosting" incident on Sunday which left me with a huge stomach ache and absolutely not wanting anything sweet for a long while. Perhaps that is a good thing.

Needless to say, I gained some weight last week. However, I was really good yesterday and came in under points. WW always says to eat all of your points every day. I disagree. If you are at the end of the day with left over points, and are full and satisfied, why keep eating? Wouldn't that be the better option?

That in combination with doing a longer exercise session helped me lose the pounds I gained. If I can keep this up for the week, I will crack back into the 190s and be even closer to my end goal. I am hoping for that.

The best thing would be for the world to melt, January to be over and the spring to be on it's way. The Arizona girl does not winter well.

Traking, addictions and recovery.

We've been back from our vacation for over a week, and I'm only now starting to feel human again.

Anyway, I gained two pounds while we were away. My MIL has a knack of making us all eat...we're all too skinny you know.

And today I'm tracking points again. I will be writing my food down and staying with in my points goal. I've got to get serious again about this, I just have to.

I also made a scary discovery about myself. I think I am seriously addicted to sugar. There was a day last week that was particularly crazy. I felt like the only way I'd get thru it was with sugar. Sadly, I answered that clarion call, and did feel better, and I was putting a mini-donut into my yap. Oh, my.

I need to think about how to deal with that. It never occurred to me that I might have addiction issues with sugar. I guess I surprise myself now and again.

But, despite that, I'm going to try and make it a good week.

A Month of Good Intentions

I had every intention of making August the month of losing my fat! Well, we all know what the road to hell is paved with right?

Actually, it's not all my fault, well maybe it is. Last week on Thursday, I injured my foot. I was walking and I knew I was pushing myself and that dang stroller to hard. I felt the pain at the half way mark, but I kept going. It didn't help either that I know I've needed new shoes for a while now too.

Anyway, my arches pronated a bit too much, and my foot was pulled out of whack. It's nothing that a few days of rest, ice and advil won't take care of, but still, I see these last days of summer as an opportunity to be out and about. I will need the memories of these days during the long winter. And for some reason I feel that this winter will be a snowy one, which will see us home bound more often than not.

Also there is the small issue of me just going barefoot more often than not too. A person with protaning arches and really bad plantar facitis should always wear shoes, always. I've got to give up my dream of seeing cutely painted toes popping out of a sprightly sandal. I just can't do that to myself anymore.

All that said, I did buy some new walking shoes on Friday. Sadly, my favorite shoe, the Reebox Fast Step, is no longer made. :( I've been wearing that shoe for walking for almost 3 years. Sad to say good bye to a trusted friend. I did manage to find a reasonably priced pair of New Balance. I've only heard great things about New Balance shoes, so we'll give them a try.

In a strange twist of fate too, I'm down to 210#s. I don't know how that happened with out exercising, but I'm not going to complain. Perhaps it was my sheer will and determination to by pass the treat isle at the store. Although I did hear the Butterfinger Crisps calling me last night, and oh their siren song was sweet to the ears.

New shoes today, hopefully we can take an easy walk tomorrow. I know it would help me and the baby to get out and about once again.

Pressing on with all possible dispatch, Chicken Fat out.

Family weekend, and a revelation

We were gone over the 4th weekend. Why does a weekend with my family always turn into diet disaster? I'll tell you why: BACON!

As you know bacon is the fairy dust of food. It makes everything it touches better. Oh, and there was the birthday cake and ice cream, and Dad's spaghetti, and a cook out, and, and, and, and the French truffles my brother gave me for my birthday -- oh for all that is good and holy, keep those awaaay from me in the future.

I had a revelation last night. We've been doing this Nielson TV ratings survey over the last week. We're supposed to write down everything we watch on TV (and here is where I have to say it will be an easy calculation for us: Food Network or Fox News, and Office re-runs. Seriously, that's our TV viewing...really exciting!). I was really good about it, bordering on obsessive. Then it hit me, just like I shoulda had a V-8. Why am I not doing that with my food diary??!! Charting what I eat is WAY more important than what I'm watching on TV!!

I really need to get back into this. Great thing my bathroom is being torn up next week, so I'll have nothing else to concentrate on, or anything!

Anyway, I find that I am constantly recommitting to this, without much success. I need to find something that will make my re commitments stick so that the pounds won't.

No More Treats

I just realized that I didn't ever get around to posting in February...MY BAD!

Anyway.....so goes the weight loss. I'm finding that I can't be as vigilant as I was before. By that I mean, I really think, and know my body is still recovering from having a baby, and that requires a few more calories than my daily points allow. I try to make these times count by eating lean proteins or fruits and veg. I've also not been counting milk consumption at all. I know I need the calcium in a bad way, as I'm sure my spawn leeched that all out of my body last year.

Then there is my chocolate addiction. One of my old habits that resurfaced during my pregnancy was buying treats every time I went to the the store. There was no reason, just treats. Anyway, last week I decided no treats at all. Well, it's been hard, very hard to deal with that. I like a little something sweet everyday. I don't think that's bad, but I've found that I have to have all or nothing. Meaning, I have nothing in my house, or I will eat it all. The results however have been good. I managed to drop 2 lbs this week.

The other thing I did was sit down with myself and have a 'come to Jesus' meeting with myself about my habits, goals and keeping track of my food intake. I just have to be better about writing things down, because surprise, surprise when you write before you bite, you don't bite as much. The other thing I did was made a spread sheet on the computer for me to just plug my weekly numbers into. Somehow that seems to be much easier for me to remember. In fact this morning I'd forgotten to weigh in and just seeing the icon on the desktop made me remember.

In other news, it's been really nice outside this last week, and looks to continue this week. It's meant that I've been able to get outside and walk with my baby in the stroller. He doesn't really like it in the stroller, but there is not much I can do about that. He's just going to have to get used to it, because I have to get out and walk. I just cannot stand doing exercise videos...I don't know why, I just can't.

So here we are in March already. I'm almost 10 lbs down from my start weight, which is good, considering I only really started exercising last week in earnest. We keep plugging along....Chicken Fat and her little Cutlet.

Week 4 update

Today is the start of Week 4. I've lost 3 lbs. I knew it would be hard going back on WW with a newborn, but I didn't realize HOW hard. Most weekdays I don't get to excerceise, which makes me sad. However, I do try to take advantage of my DH being home on the weekend to get out and move.

The eating has been ok. I am still fighting some bad habits that re-emerged during pregnancy and am having to relearn how to self control. However, since I am still post partum and recovering from being pregnant and having a baby, I am not as militant with my food intake as I once was. I know I need nutrients to rebuild what was lost, so I don't feel bad if I have extra milk, or more fruit and veg in a day than my points allow. I figure if I need to eat more, make it count.

But, my sweet jogging stroller came. I can't wait till it warms up a bit more, then we are out of here on a daily basis, and I know excercise will be easier then.

Welcome 2009

Happy New Year and happy back on the wagon for me.

Baby was born on Nov 25th, 2008 a week an a half before his due date. I ended up gaining 45lbs over the course of the pregnancy. It was more than I wanted but, what can you do? You can't stop gaining weight, I just knew I'd have to work harder when the time preseneted itself.

And the time has presented itself and here I am. I am the same weight 220lbs I was when I stared WW, two years ago. However, I am proportioned a bit differently...go figure??!! My lower half is bigger than my upper half and so up until this week I'd still been wearing my maternitly pants. And yes it was totally bugging me too. I finally got out and into town and to the fat lady store for some new fat pants. I found that my old fat pants all look like just that, old and was not ok with that.

So, new fat pants in hand, here I go.

I started my WW diet on Monday. So far, w/o excercising I've lost 2lbs. Granted I have been hungry and it's been hard to not eat whenever and whatever, but I know I can get thru it. I have to get myself out of prenancy mode. I will say this about being pregnant. I did not like it, except for the fac that I didn't have to worry about food. That was nice.

Yesterday (Friday) my DH was home and I was able to get out and walk for the first time in 9 months too! How great it was! How out of shape I am! Anyway, it will take time to work back up to where I was, and I won't be able to go out with Baby till it warms up a bit, but I am hopefull. Right now, I have some walk at home DVDs and a thigh master thingy to do at home on the week days, and I will add that next week.

Bit by bit...here I go again. Hopefully, I will fit into my regular clothes by summer!

Amazing belly fat diet, and a factiod

I'm not dead nor have I fallen off the WW wagon. I've just been taking a break from the daily grind of point counting, food portioning and keeping track of things. For the record however, I am maintaining my weight...yay me!

I did hear an interesting factoid the other day which I'd thought I'd share. I heard that for every one pound of weight you loose, it decreases the stress on your knees by four pounds. So for me, I've lost 35 pounds, multiply that by 4 and you get 140 pounds of pressure taken off my knees. I can honestly say that has been one of the most noticeable things about me this last year. My knees do not hurt anymore!

I also got some junk mail today advertising a new wonder diet! It's call the eat fat diet, or belly fat diet. According to the people selling this diet, the more mono-unsaturated fat you eat the more belly fat you will loose and fast. The made some outrageous claim of 7 inches off your waist and X number of pounds in 36 hours. Please.

When, oh when, will people stop falling for these types of things? Take Atkins for example. Sure you loose a ton of weight, but you don't keep it off once you go off Atkins, not to mention some of the harmful sideffects (diebetic askemia, constipation, kidney stones and lack of nutrients). The same will be true of this diet. It will give fast results, but once off the diet, the weight will come back.

This was my whole reasoning behind going to WW. I knew I needed to make lifestyle changes. I knew I needed to learn about food and portion sizes and nutrition. I have learned these things, they have become part of how I live and I am not even tempted by my old life.

Just moderating what you eat and how you eat will be more effective than any amazing diet that comes in the mail or that is advertised on TV.

My family, the butter smugglers

Thanksgiving was great, but I am tired of food already, and it's only December 3rd. Seriously, why do we always have to have food around. And it's not that it's just food, it's that it's SOOOOOO much food the table creaks under the pressure!

I admited to my husband that I needed his help to get me thru the holidays. His parents house for Thanksgiving, although a heart healthy desination, was still full of food. My MIL was constantly cooking, wanting to feed us, making us eat. I went to bed with indigestion more nights than not.

So, we've planned our defenses for Christmas, which will be spent with my family, who are notorius butter smugglers. We're going to tell each other when to stop (just like drunks are supposed to do in a bar). No really, he is going to help me naviagate the foods of the season, so that I don't end up a life-sized fruit cake.

I've also resigned myself to the fact that I will have to do the cooking, so that I can cook and eat the things that I know will not be harmful for my diet. I don't mind that really, the trick is keeping things safre from my Mom's butter dish. She likes to slather on that stuff.....

And as for my goal....I have 7# to go. Can I do this before the 21st? I hope so.

Confessions of a Chinese Food Junky

Remember a few posts ago I lamented the fact that my DH didn't want to go the Chinese Buffet, because he thought it would kill us? That day we ended up going to Cleopatra's in the Santa Fe Design Center -- which by the way if you are ever in Santa Fe, you must go it, because it is the BEST Arab food EVER!

Well, Tuesday, I found myself unexpectedly in Santa Fe and very unprepared. Normally when I go down into town, I eat before, bring a snack with me and a few bottles of water. I didn't have anything like that with me at all....like I said, it was a surprise trip! SURPRISE!

I was hungry, so I did wanted to do the trip before, and eat at the Chinese Buffet. It was a mistake right from the start. I walked up and it smelled greasy, gross and not so fresh. I persisted and went in anyway.

I paid, was seated and made my way to the buffet. The usual things were offered -- various Chinese dishes and then French fries, corn dog bites, chicken nuggets?? I took my usual rice noodles, Kung Pao Chicken (which was really lacking in POW!), pepper beef, rice and 2 veg spring rolls.

It was not as good as I remembered it to be. It did nothing for me, and then I felt sick the rest of the day.

Lesson learned, or so I thought.

Yesterday, I was in Abq, and stopped into IHOP for lunch. Now, I was planning this trip because I knew I was going to be out and about. I knew what I was going to order before hand and I had calculated the points and so on before I even ordered. The server brought out my favorite, Swedish Crepes. I'd forgotten that they ker-plob a HUGE dallop of butter in the middle of the plate. The crepes were fine, the lingnon berry jam was fine, but that butter was nasty. I scraped it off as best as I could, but never again. If I ever eat at IHOP, I'll still get my crepes, but sans the butter...sorry Paula Deen, no butter here!

So what does this all mean? It means my food preferences really have changed. I crave homemade, veg and whole grain as opposed to fast, processed, and made to order. I'm really happy about that however, I really am. It shows that all this hard work has worked and that my lifestyle changes are my habits. I like these habits.

That is my confession, a confession from a Chinese food junky, who is now offically going to be clean and sober!

Backslide is my middle name

If 'backside' were a name it would be mine.

This week I have had no control, no desire, no ambition. I've been baking, and when I bake, it's bad. I've had to bake to clear things out of my freezer for the things that are going into my freezer -- pumpkins.

Anyway....I've been a bad girl.

Help me Obi-Wan you're my only hope!

Hopefully, today, I will get a grip and snap out of it.

I just wish I could find that inner drive I had at the beginning. I was so motivated. Now, tracking points and such, just makes me want to scream!

If only Thursday would come

Some days I think WW is going to kill me!

Last night, in fact all of yesterday, I was craving something sweet and chocolaty. I sorta fixed that by eating 2T of shredded coconut, which is only 1 point. Anyway. Then at dinner we had soup. I wanted to much to reach over and toast some bread--but again, too many points to waste. Then there is my thing with carbs, even complex-carbs sink me if I'm not careful.

I just kept telling myself if I could get to Thursday all of my troubles would be gone. Thursday is farmer's market day here and I allow myself 2 scones. I usually get ginger-peach, because ginger is the best flavor ever! The scones are nice and flakey too, so I really relish my once a week treat! Sure, it totally blows my points, but it's only once a week, and I excercise a bit more to make up for it.

Thank goodness Thursday is here, I don't think I could do another Wednesday like that again and not go get some candy!

Plateau Bustin'

This is the third week I've weighed the same at my weigh in. I manage to go up and down all week, but when it's time to record my progress I am the same. I don't get it.

Well I do get it. I've not been into WW as much as I should be, or as much as I was. It is much easier to just eat and not think about things, but that's what got me Chicken Fat to begin with. And the funny thing is this, I have overeaten alot lately, and my body is screaming at me--"HEY DUMB *** WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME?" And then my body says, "I will get her back, release the gall bladder!" And then zing, I have the raging last days of Pompeii in my stomach. I deserve it though, I really do. However, I will say that I am starting to like baking-soda cocktails, my antacid of choice.

I have managed to rid my house of most of the things that tempt me, but I will say this, I love my rice and potatoes. Some days that is what I crave--just rice with some butter and salt or a potatoe with butter and salt. I know these are higher point foods and there are things I could eat with more nutritional value, but I wonder if my cravings are because that's what my body needs or if it's just what my mind and tastebuds want. I love my complex-beige carbohydrates.

I will say this though, I will never stop excercising. I love walking everyday, and it's really good to clear my mind out. I won't stop with that even if I fail at WW. So, I'm going to think about plaeu busting this week. I really need to. I'm at my last big hill--so to speak, and so close to my goal weight! I will say this however, I have netted some good results. My blood pressure is down 12 points and I could not be happier (it's as close to normal as I will ever get--haha). I will not get the lecture this year when I take my physical, and if the NP tells me I am too fat, I will tell her, at least I am in the best shape of my life--so there--sticks tounge out and blows a raspberry!

Keeping deamons in check.

I don't think you ever really break a bad habit. I think you just learn how to cope with them and keep them under control. With that said, I've felt like I've been batteling my bad habits for my life the last few days. I don't know why. I don't think that today has been all that bad, but it hasn't been great either. Scarlett O'Hara once said, "Tomorrow is another day!", but I think I use that excuse too much. I need to tell myself that while tomorrow is another day, you are living in today and will have to deal with today's choices tomorrow, so it's best to just leave today where it's at, the here and now.

I've also been thinking about a conversation I had with a very good friend the other night. We had, had a girls dinner party at her house and I was the last one to leave. She and I began to talk about my weigh loss and about some of the others in our group who were all on WW. As she was asking me how I was doing on my program she saked me how I had, had to change my life.

The changes have come in many ways. For one thing, I had to confront my food demonds and figure out why I was eating all the time. I think I was and am like that is because I feel like there is not much to do with my life. I know today I have felt pretty useless and have therefore been so tempted to eat all day. I've fallen a bit, but withheld as well. I gave in to the PBJ craving and skipped the ramen noodles.

It's a constant battle, here's to keeping the demon in check for another 24 hours.

Melting faster than a popscicle

I am back from vay-cay. I swear I feel like this is the summer of vacations that never end. I never thought I would say this, but I am tired of traveling. I'd like to stay home for more than 2 weeks.

Don't get me wrong, I love to travel, I love going places, but when you go places the control I like to have over my food choices go out the window. Thankfully we were at my in-laws and since my FIL had a heartattack, the food at their house is mostly good. By that I mean, not too many treats and my MIL makes these fantastically good applesauce-banana muffins. They also drink skim-milk---thank you!

But I had an epiphinay while I was away. I think, no, I know, that I am deathly afraid of being hungry. I think this is why I obsess over food and I am always on the prowl for the next snack. I don't know why I have this fear, I've never been in a sitation where I've actually been hungry or starving. I've always had food and enough of it. I think because I'm afraid to be hungry I over eat.

This is just so weird, but at the same time liberating. At least I know the next deamon I need to conquer.

Since I didn't track my food last week, this week is the adjusted week 24. At the end of the week I will have been on WW for 6 months. I can't believe that it's been 6 months. I have to say that WW has been a journey, and I can't believe the places that I've gone, and the corners of my life that I've had to examine when it comes to food. I will say that DH and I got many complements on our weight loss. One of my SILs, who is also a WW veteran, said we looked good. That really meant alot to me. It's not that I'm looking for complements, but it's nice to be noticed.

So as I start this week, I am 11 pounds from my goal weight. I'd like to loose that by the middle of August. If I can loose an additional 5 pounds after that, I will be most pleased. However, I would like to crack my next point threshold in the next two weeks. In the end of July, we are off once again. This time to see my family in the middle of Hell--that would be Phoenix, and the fact that my family drives me mostly crazy, most of the time. The only reason we're going to Phoenix in July is because my sister is visiting from an Eastern state. Who knows, I might just pass out from the heat and not have to worry about my weight because I will have sweated it all away. According to my 8 year old neice, it's so hot you will melt faster than a popsicle.

Finally, my feet are feeling better, not totally better. I still have to tape my right arch and wear shoes and socks most of the day, but I was able to walk today. I can't say how happy that made me feel. I needed to get out and walk and clear my head! Tomorrow morning will be the true test, if my feet hurt in the morning I will have to excercise on the bike. Hoefully not though, I love walking and if I can't do it I will be very sad.

This is all for today--Chicken Fat out!

Doing right by myself

The knee is feeling better. I've stayed off of it for the last few days. My diet on the other hand....not so much.

I love to travel, but I wish I had more control over my dining choices. It's hard when you are a guest at someone else's house. I've tried to make good choices, but it's hard when you're not in charge. We've eaten out the last two nights. Both nights have brought temptaion to our fair fat maiden. Needless to say the body is sending me a message, which I am listening to loud and clear--I will not over eat tonight!

I can't wait to get home though and to step on my own scale and to get back on my wagon. I think I've past the brick wall I was at a few weeks ago, and I feel like I'm ready to recommit myself to doing what is right by my diet and excercise.

On a final note, last night I attended a concert at Abravanel Hall in SLC--a very fancy place to be sure. When my friend told me what we would be doing I was very worried as I had grown too fat for most of my nice "goin' out to a fancy place" clothes a long time ago. Lsat week however I fit back into a pair of khakis and a dress blouse! I was so happy! So I didn't have to wear Sunday clothes or look like I hick. I was dressed for the occasion.

Duck! Here comes the Kashi.

I had a total mental melt down this morning. There I sat crying into my breakfast about my lack of resolve.

My husband tried to convince me that plateaus are normal. I'm not on a plateau, I'm at a mental brick wall. Some days I get so tired of pushing myself and pushing myself to be better. I just want to go into the Baskin Robbins and sit down with a bucket of ice cream and say damnitalltohell, I'm getting fat again. I seriously wanted to chuck all the Kashi at someone yesterday too!

I can't do that.

My husband is very supportive though. He told me he much prefers me now in self improvement mode rather than "fat cow-complaining how I want to be skinner mode", not that he ever thought of me as such, but we have friends who are such. He gave me a hug and said we'll continue to work together. That made me feel a whole lot better.

On we go I guess.