week 1 of new commitment

well, overall i did ok this week. friday night was tough with beer and pizza and the hot tub. there is just something about drinking beer in a hot tub. i tend to have all my epiphanies..... well many beers later i realized what i did and i was not happy this morning. so i went to the gym and ran 4.5miles. i have never done that so i guess the beer was the kick in the butt i needed.
the wii fit is fun i must say. i work up a good sweat and it logs the minutes of actual physical activity. so at this point i feel it is a good supplement for the days i cannot make it to the gym since i go to work at 7am.
i tried out a new recipe today top secret olive garden pasta fagioli ( spelling?) and it was amazing. only 5pts a serving and it tasted so rich and filling. definately a nice addition to my menu.
i hope the scale begins to go down and i have decided i need to go to weigh in every week to keep me accountable. that will be the only way i am successful (i hope)

a video game being good for you????

well today(on my first columbus day off ever from a job) i was successful in finding my wii fit. thanks toys r us. i walked out with the wii fit, we ski, and tiger woods (for hubby). it was christmas like a little kid running home and plugging it in. so fun. and after 20 minutes i was sweating. i am definately going to enjoy it for those early morning workouts when i cannot get to the gym. :) it requests you set goals and i did. i hope to lose 5lbs in the next 30 days. yes i wrote it here... 5lbs in a month. maybe this will help me get back on track and move forward.
i hope so......

How time definately flies......

it has been a long time since i last posted that i am sure i lost many readers (if I had any, i could be my own best friend). i made lifetime the 2nd week of August and boy have i been struggling ever since. i am back into the groove of work, school at night, and my weekends of wanting to eat and drink the world. ugghhhh..... i go up and down and up and down. and i have realized that i am definately an emotional eater. so my goal is to stop having emotions (noooo......). i need to regroup and get back on track.
i realize that once you hit lifetime there are no more rewards. those silly stickers, red ribbons, or hardware. its funny as a teacher i do not believe in the whole sticker thing but it works. to get that little yellow star and hang it on my fridge at night. pretty powerful stuff. so i need to set up my own reward system. now i just need ideas........

challenging week....

well WI #1 of trying to maintain for 6 weeks was very successful. i lost another 3lbs. i don't know how i did it but i did. but then the weekend hit and i have been struggling. i need to get back on track so that i ensure that i stay at that weight for next week. i think my mind shifted a little saying "i could have this because i am down". well lets just see if this bites me in the (_l_).

Wow! how time flies....

Well I did it!!!!! I hit goal on July 1, 2008. I weighed in at 134.5lbs. which is .5 below so we shall see how hard it will be to maintain. I struggled so much for the last few months and the day my leader said we might just change your number because you could just be where your body needs to be the obsession just disappeared. And i have lost since then. I stopped thinking so hard about it.
But what a feeling. I never thought I would get here.... I must thank all my friends and family that have supported me.

Wow its been a long time......

i finally had a chance to log on and its been a long time. i have been in the final crunch of school while working, going to an education conference and trying to balance home and health life... it has been a challenge and since i am coming to my first big goal of weight loss it is becoming even more challenging.... i have 3lbs to go as of Thursday 5-8.
i just joined a gym on Tuesday and went 5 times this week. i hope this will help in losing the last 3lbs. the next few weeks ahead are going to be so challenging since i am graduating, i have a wedding, and DH and i are having a summer kickoff barbecue. so i will definately be tested while trying to reach goal.
this weekend has been good so far. not too much beer (which is usually my weekend problem for weight loss). I only had 2 light beers friday night and 1 saturday.
my life is changing as of thursday may22nd as i walk down the aisle to receive my diploma. i have 2 more undergrad classes to take starting may 27th and then i begin the masters program at Marywood in the fall. on top of that I have just been hired in my first real job as a teacher. it starts June 28th. so as i transition into this new stage of life i have to adjust my food and coping skills to deal with it. i am both scared and excited and just hope that i can still do what i am doing now to keep losing weight and maintain. i know my life will be crazy and i hope that i dont fall into my old habits.......

Challenges...

well DH came home thursday night and we have had a nice couple of days together. i had WI on thursday night as well and i lost 3lbs! i am very excited but it is already short lived since i have over indulged the last three days. i also have to weigh in tuesday instead of thursday next week because i have an appointment thursday night so i know i most likely will not be happy with my number. but that will just motivate me again for the following WI. i have 4.5lbs to go until goal. that is very exciting....
it is so hard to go to functions and be challenged with the great food there. i was very controlled at the baby shower yesterday; qty 1 1" mini empanada, qty 1 3/4" cheese quiche round, 1/2 deviled egg, and 3 1" long mini cheese chorizo sticks. thats it. they had so many home made delicious foods and i just kept saying no thank you.... no thank you .... no thank you.......
then today was a birthday party; 1 small piece of bday cake (it was a 10 and worth it), and qty 1 small sandwich piece about 2"long by 3/4" wide with meat and lettuce and tomato. thats it.... then it was no thank you to wings, no thank you to pizza, no thank you to ice cream cake, no thank you to beer. so even though i failed, as i write this that i could have gone hog wild and eaten so much and i didn't. so i guess i did succeed.......

Woo hoo!!!

last week i gained 1lb this week i lost 3lbs... what a feeling. every time i see that scale go up i whip right back into shape and i set goals and that helps me succeed every week. my goal is to lose the last 4.5lbs in the next 3 weeks and reach my WW goal on my May 1st weigh in. that would be great!!!!
i have switched from flex to what i call pseudo core. most of my daily eating is with core foods but i write down the points and watch the portions but then i will have my fiber one bars and the occasional reduced fat pringle. so i am at 21 points a day but most of my food choices are core. i also am really consciously thinking as i eat. the TLC show i can make you thin points out setting your fork down between each bite. i am doing it and it is working. i am eating less and my brain knows when i am full before i shovel too much in.....

Bitten by the beer.....

i was bitten by the beer bug this week as warm weather is popping up. i don't know, when it is warm i am compelled to drink and that was not good for WI. i gained 1lb. not that bad but still. so on top of all my other goals i have know made the goal of cutting beer to 1 night a week. that is going to be very hard.
on a lighter side.... i have done alot of cooking and you must check out Roni's link on my page. great recipes. i made the fried zucchinni sticks and they were AWESOME!!!!
i am trying to slowly switch to core to get the last 7.5lb off and there are some good recipes on there to help me out.

It has been a long time.....

well, it has been a long time since i have been on due to computer malfunctions. i am not totally fixed yet but i am working on it.
i have been doing really well and i am very happy with my progress. i am currently at 144lbs which is the 30lb mark and i think i have lost another pound. we shall find out tonight at WI. i am actively working out religiously since i know that will help me lose the last 9 or so to reach my goal. clothes are fitting excellent with not one item in my closet or drawer being too tight. i even wore friday night a pair of jeans that i have not worn since 1999. what a feeling!!! i think that feeling is what motivates me to keep going.
my goal is to reach goal within the next 6 weeks before graduation. i think i can do it!!

All on track....

well last week's 2.5lb weight gain woke me up and i was completely OP this week. not even a beer. and it paid off....... 5.5lbs lost!! woo hoo! so the total for the month was 4.5lb loss. not as much as i hoped for a monthly total but i will take it. and i am motivated to keep going and hope for more losses than gains. if i keep OP i can reach my goal by mid april. 11.5lbs to go!!!!

my DH went away on business for the next few weeks and i know this sounds selfish but i am looking forward to ME time. i can completely focus on these last 11.5lbs that could be the hardest for me to lose. so even though i miss him i am channeling all my energies into working on my weight loss.

Ugghhhh........

well tonight was weigh in and i am crushed... i gained 2.5lbs this week. i over indluged in manhattan last friday night and came home sick. needless to say until about wednesday i was lucky i was getting up to walk to the bathroom. so usually when i cheat i then ramp up my workout. well that didn't happen this week. when i went to weigh in and said i overindulged and then got sick. she asked me well what did you learn from it. and i replied not to get sick after i cheat. :)

what happened to me time???

this by far has been the most stressful week for me in a long time. i did not have 1 ounce of me time this whole week. there was no sleep, no working out, no computer chatting time on dwlz, no fun. just classes, homework, working, and working....... i must say i did stay on track with eating and lost another .5lb. though. i look at it as a 1lb loss because i cheated last week with the pants issue. so i was happy with that but i was having severe meltdown to the point that i am now getting sick. oh joy.........
so my goal is to get back on track, schedule in work outs and me time.......... and get back to my good cooking. i tried red lentils and eggplant with WW 1 pt. sauce and it was good....... will make that again.

i did it.....

yes, i did it but i am not proud of myself. i needed to hit that 25lb mark and i realized i wasn't going to do it unless i changed my standard weigh in outfit. i know that sounds crazy but the normal weigh in pants weigh 1lb. well i switched to the pants that are 1/2lb and that is how i lost the 1/2lb last night. (i am assuming). I got a little lax this week and need to really ramp it up again since my goal was to lose 7lbs by valentine's day. i have 1 1/2lb to go.........
so i start a new OP week and i am motivated, now i just need to find the time.....

Catch up....

well i have been really swamped this week with school, work and volunteering that i realize i am struggling to have time for me. the result has been squeezing in exercise when i can (20 min. here 30 min. there) hoping that it adds up. and my food choices haven't been the best. i hope that wont hurt WI this week since i am 1/2lb away from my 25lb goal. i come home at night and want to eat again. i know its all psychological because i am not really hungry. i have the points left but i am eating just to eat and it is like 9pm. uggghhh..... i dont know what to do about that. and i pull in the garage saying that i am not going to eat and then i look down and i have just finished a meal or "snack". i have to definately work on that........

some days are so long...

just a side note; i am meeting some great people through the blogs and i want to thank everyone for their support. i don't think i could be as successful without all the encouragement that i receive.

well i woke up this morning at 6 bright eyed and bushy tailed and jumped on the computer to start my day of homework. i seemed to get alot done and there was still alot of hours left. that was when the kitchen was looming in my mind... food..... so i hopped back on the computer trying to fight the urge. eventually i ran out to the room over the garage to work out and read for a class. an hour later i was shocked that i had been on the elliptical that long. woo hoo!!! so i feel i accomplished alot and even cooked a healthy dinner to top it off.

breakfast
1 wasa w/ margarine 1pt
coffee / creamer 3pts.

lunch
turkey chili 3pt
salad 0
sourcream 1pt
salsa 0
wrap 1 pt.

popcorn 1pt.

WW yogurt 1pt

dinner
chicken sausage 4pts
pasta 3pts
squash 0
1 glass wine 4pts

skinny cow saucer 2pts

used 24/23 plus the excercise 1 hour elliptical

Great week!!!!

i had a great week OP wise and with weight loss. on thursday night the scale said i lost another 2lbs! I am only 15.5 lbs away from my goal weight and i am so motivated.
i am back in the swing of things with school and i am fried with no time for me. hence the reason this is my first post of the week. i have made sure to fit in 20 mintues here 20 minutes there working out while i am reading for a class and i guess that paid off. so i will continue that strategy as well as my food choices. today i got a well needed day off from school due to the ice storm so i am catching up on homework and trying to figure out what i want to do with my life school wise after i receive my assoc. in may. ugghhhh.......
but i cannot complain i am on a losing streak!

Food journal today so far....
breakfast
coffee creamer 3pts
ww english muffin 1pt.
egg whites 1pt.
ketchup 1pt.

LF pringles 3pt.
popcorn 1pt.

planned rest of day.
turkey chili 3pt.
salad 0
sourcream 1pt.

WW bubble up pizza casserole 5.5pts

i am sure skinny cow flying saucer 2pts.

21.5/23
(this is probably my last week at 23 pts and then down to 22)

Update on lack of motivation.....

well the day started out with a slow start.. but i gained momentum and by tonight i was on the elliptical. YEAH!!! i worked out for 50 mintues while i read for a class. i defeated it though when i iced my DH b'day cake for tomorrow. i couldnt resist to have 2tblsp of icing. but the point is i got on the machine and i worked out. now if i can do that in the morning and then choose proper food choices then i will be on track completely. i also cooked today for the week ; turkey & veggie chilli (4pts a serving), spinach triangles (1 pt each on the high side), butternut squash (1pt), turkey kielbasa with saurkraut (4pts).

Sunday food journal
coffee creamer 3pts.
WW egg rolls Qty. 2 2pts.
1/2 serving chilli 2pts.
4 triangles 4pts.
seafood salad 4pts.
100 cal. pack wheat thins 2pts.
turkey kielbasa 4pts.
saurkraut / carrots 0pts.
icing 3pts.

24/23 used 1 flex point gained 3 activity points.

Lack of Motivation.....

i am having such issues with motivation and lack there of it. i am just not motivated to get off my butt and work out. and worse yet last night i was battling the urge for wine.... well wine won. i tapped into my flex points big time..... which means i need to ramp up the workout even more ugghhhh..... i hope today i can get energetic....

saturday's food journal
coffee creamer 3pts.
3 WW egg rolls 3pts.
pretzels 2pts.
2 cups of spinach
red sauce 2pts.
parmesan cheese 1pts.
green beans /broccoli
mashed pot. 4pts
gravy 1pts.
WW bar 1pts.
5 wines @4pts. 20pts.

23/23 flex points 14 :(

Woo Hoo!!!!

Well it just goes to show you that structure is something that I really need in my life. I am back in classes full time, going to the gym, packing lunch, parking way out in the parking lot and wouldn't you know it....... I lost 3.5lbs. Goodbye holiday weight. I am very excited and it was the motivation I needed to keep going. I hope to lose another 4.0lbs by Valentine's Day (which I think is doable).

Todays Journal Yoga 1/2 hour this morning 1 activity point
coffee and creamer 3pts
fiber one bar 2pts
celery and carrots
2 WW egg rolls 2pts
chicken cutlet 4pts
spinach and squash steamed
red sauce 2pts.
parmesan 1pts
2 broccoli bites 2pts
flavored rice 4pts
skinny cow ice cream 2pts

21 pts plus 1 flex point

First Day of School

well today was my first day back at college full time and i have a night class Yuk. it conflicts with my WW meeting, which i love the group leader, so i am sad. but it is only until may then i can go back to her. i have had a great weekend plus monday and tuesday OP. i am so excited to weigh in thursday. the only thing is i did not work out as much as i wanted but i am still satisfied.
i wont be able to post every day once school is in full swing. i have class all afternoon on
M W F with student teaching in the morning. tutoring and meetings on tuesday thursday plus class tuesday night. and fit in home work somewhere.
bye for now......

Nutrition Smart Scale!

Just to let everyone know!!!!

Check out Roni’s new contest! I can win a Nutrition Smart Scale from Eat Smart and so can you! Click here for details!

thanks laura for the FYI!

where did the weekend go????

i just realized that i have not posted all weekend and it is now sunday night. this weekend was very successful for me not just OP but in getting my life in order before i start school full time again. i was able to spend the weekend overhauling my studio over the garage that houses my teaching arsenal, sewing supplies, and exercise equipment. i now can actually walk in the room and workout. my DH bought me shelves and i unpacked rearranged and threw out what was not needed anymore. i am very excited because i have been talking about doing that for 6 months and i finally did it!! i can actually use the room.

food wise i had a rough start friday night with pizza and beer but i rebounded and did great the rest of the weekend. i stayed within my points and got lots of physical activity all day long both saturday and sunday. weekends are my hardest and i survived and i feel semi-successful. now the start of a new week.......

on track again......

finally, i feel like i am on track again with WW. i had to babysit a full day yesterday so i woke up and completed 1/2 hour of yoga to stretch and focus. i forgot how good yoga was for me.
food wise i felt successful as well.

Breakfast
coffee w/ creamer (3pt)
whole wheat wrap with 1/4 cup egg whites and steamed carrots (2pt)
lunch
apple with 1 tbls peanut butter (3pt)
3 small cookies (3pt)
dinner
4 oz chicken grilled on the foreman (4pt)
steamed broc. and carrots
scalloped potatoes (4pts)
WW chocolate bar (1pt)
20/23 pts.

i like to leave a point of two just in case i had a little more of this or that. but i am usually good since i measure.

I called it......

Well, I called it that I was not going to lose weight this week and could possibly gain at WI. I gained a 1/2 lb, which I can't say I regret gaining since I had an amazing weekend with my bf. But I know if I didn't visit her I would have lost definately.
I am determined and motivated so I woke up this morning at 5:30 and went to the gym. I must continue the momentum and I will lose the 2 1/2 lbs that I have gained over the holidays and go forward from there.
But on the other hand I was tested today with amazing catered food at an event and I tasted but did not over eat. I had 1 small meatball, a piece of sausage the size of a 1" cube, raw veggies, and a pecan bite that was the size of 1/2" cube. I was extremely proud of myself that I didn't go back for more and controlled my portions. Right there I feel like I succeeded today.

starting over......

wow i am already starting over. i am little discouraged that i have fallen off the WW wagon but it was difficult not to when i only see my bf twice a year. so it was kind of worth it but i may not feel that way tomorrow when i get on the scale. so i am crossing my fingers and toes and pray that i just didn't gain weight.
so back to the weight drawing board.....

Ugghhhh...

well, yesterday was busy for me since i have traveled down to nj to spend the weekend with my best friend from college and her adorable two daughters. needless to say by 7pm the WW thing was out the window and this morning i am paying for it. so back to the drawing board as soon as i leave tomorrow. and the weigh in will not be too good this week. i can deal i guess... i am not even going to bother sharing my food journal because how do you figure out points on lots and lots of wine with wonderful lobster ravioli in a creamed seafood sauce topped with italian crust bread? need i say more......

Tonight was a challenge.....

my day went real well except for the fact that i did not eat enough until 6:30 tonight. then it went all down hill from there...... we had a board meeting and i ate these really good pretzel crisps and crackers with carrots. but i must say i was proud because i didn't eat the cheese. usually i cave around cheese and do not know when to stop. hopefully all the playing with a 3 yr old that i babysit helped balance things out a little...

breakfast
ww english muffin 1pt.
lf cheese spread 1pt.
1 tangerine .5pt
coffee ff creamer 2pt

lunch/early dinner
1/4 cup of pasta with brocoli and cheese 3pt
carrots 1/4 cup
1/4 potatoes 2pt
butternut squash 1pt
chicken cutlet 4pt

2 tangerines 1pt.

pretzel crisps 4pt.
crackers 4pt.

23.5 pts total (i think)
but then i ran around all day with a 3 yr old...... tomorrow is another day.

Finally.......

well, i finally woke up this morning starting to feel like my old self. then i went and babysat a 3 year old and the back pain started creeping back, but with stretching and relaxing this evening i think i am ok. i cannot wait to get back in the gym.
food has been a challenge for me today. in my WW meeting last night we talked about portions at different times of the day. i wish i could eat a large breakfast, medium lunch, and light dinner. i tried that today and in the end i picked tonight, ended up eating more than needed, and tapped into my flex points (only 5) but i am trying to save them for the weekend because i am going to nj to visit my best friend. i am so excited to see her because the last time she saw me was one week before i joined WW

my food journal
Breakfast
WW english muffin 1pt
laughing cow LF cheese 1pt
2 mini tangerines 1pt
coffee with FF creamer 2pt

Lunch
1/4 cup whole grain pasta 3pt
2oz chicken sausage 3pt.
steamed squash and spinach

fiber one bar 3pt.
Duncan hines mini delights 3pt.

Dinner
mashed potatoes 6pt.
butternut squash 1pt.
carrots steamed

WW bar 1pt
then i picked on turkey while making my husband's dinner so added (3pts)

I am allowed 23 points .
Oh and by the way if you want a decadent treat the Duncan Hines mini delights are awesome! i had my first one today.......
I am also struggling to consume my dairy and oils... any suggestions????

oh well.....

well, tonight was weigh in and i can't say i am disappointed or shocked since i enjoyed the holidays, but i gained 2lbs. so i need to get my back in shape and get rid of those 2 lbs. it was nice to get back to meetings since my meetings fall on tuesday nights so we have not met since the tuesday before christmas.
this just makes me realize that when i meet my goal and become lifetime i must continue to go to meetings to remind me that this will always be a challenge for me.......

January 7th.....

for the last five days i have been struggling with a bad back, that under doctor's strict orders has stopped me from bending, lifting, and working out. so the WW new year plan has been a little squashed for now. i have been strictly following the eating plan keeping within my 23 points but i have been totally laid up. which if you know me well, is driving me CRAZY!!!!!! today i am feeling a little better so i hope to finally take down the christmas tree before it torches my living room since it is crispy. my goal is to be back on track and to the gym again to join the other new years resolutioners(is that a word). anyway...... all i can do for now is watch what i eat and log it.... if i bite it write it...... tomorrow is weigh in......

First time....

Well there is a first time for everything and since i am starting 2008 on a new foot i figured lets try blogging. Along with journaling, WW meetings, and meeting all new friends to help motivate me through my weight loss journey, i hope blogging will just be another inspirational tool. In the last week i have met some great individuals that are all up for the same challenge i am and we will all succeed....... So as my title states that this is an adventure that will have many ups and downs i look forward to meeting all the people who will join with me....