Day 20-30, New Year

Ok..third times the charm. Blogger just ate my post twice.

I am still hanging in, still tracking and following the new Weight Watchers Points Plus program. Unfortunately, I am also still fighting a cold/cough and have been sleeping a lot.  The weekends are too short as it is, without sleeping them away.

Last night I went to the home of a former co-worker for dinner and he and his partner made amazing, traditional Brazilian food. The food and the company and just getting out of my routine were wonderful and I think did me a world of good.

Normally I have no plans for the weekends, but the next few weekends I have plans every Saturday, which is kind of nice. Next weekend I am going to the theatre. I am really looking forward to it.

Kerry, Tiffany, Erin and I have met our one month challenge of tracking! Go us! Nothing is stopping us now.

Last week I only lost 1/2 a pound. At first I was disappointed, but then I looked at my total over 4 weeks and I am not doing half bad. Of course, I'd love to lose 2 lbs consistently every week, but past experience tells me I won't so why do I keep thinking it? 

Be back soon, I promise :) I hope you are all keeping well - I'm off to catch up with your blogs.

Day 17 -19, New Year

It’s Wednesday and Wednesday means Weigh-In Day.

I’ve been fighting a cold the last two weeks, I seem to get better for a day or two then it comes back. This time though the cough was worse and I ended up taking cold/flu meds around the clock – still am – to alleviate the symptoms. I fully expected to see a gain or a very slight loss. I have been tracking diligently and staying within my points and eating 2-3 pieces of fruit a day as well as 2-3 vegetables but in the past, when I am sick, I always gain. Normally though when I have a cold my blood sugar is higher than normal, this time around it was normal (for me) and steady.

Anyway, long story short – scale showed a loss of 1.2 lbs. That’s a total of 7.2 lbs  in 3 weeks. Isn’t it tempting to extrapolate that forward and say, “That means in 10 months I’ll be at goal.” Yeah...life doesn’t work that way.

I’m good with this. Soon I’ll hit my 5% (11 lbs) loss with WW and then the next goal is 10% (23 lbs) and I am not looking beyond that right now.

The meeting topic was not depriving yourself of foods you really love, but to fit them into your lifestyle by managing portions.  I’m really liking this meeting and the leader. Tonight the meeting was packed, there were over 70 people in that room! The group has a good dynamic and everyone seems very positive.  The leader has a good sense of humour and can laugh at herself and she is very good at making sure everyone is included  - it’s not the least bit cliquey, even though it is obvious who the lifers are.

I promised I’d tell you all about my new-to-me foods but because I’ve not been feeling well I’ve been eating pretty bland and easy, soup, crackers, sandwiches, fruit, protein shakes;  so I’ve not been adventurous...but I haven’t forgotten about them.  My boys are with Dennis this weekend so I will have some time to myself to cook and experiment and perhaps make up some dinners and lunches in advance for next week.

The days are getting longer, it’s actually still light when I get to my car in the evening – another week or so and it will be light when I get home. I am so looking forward to that. I go out in the dark and come home in the dark and I sit in an area with no windows so it sometimes feels like I never see daylight even though when I go for my short walks at lunch around the concourse, I can see the sky through the roof and windows, it still feels like the sun is hiding from me all day.

We’re almost at day 21 of our Tracking Challenge – big shout out to Kerry, Erin and Tiffany  - and 21 days make a habit so there is no reason to stop now, is there?

Day 16, New Year

I am trying to convince myself I don't have a cold. I am ignoring the symptoms in the hopes that they will go away sooner. I'll let you know how that works for me.

I forgot to mention yesterday that I went to Whole Foods. I love Whole Foods. The one near me, in Oakville, has a very small seating area otherwise I would actually go there and hang out and have lunch. Their coffee is excellent as well.

It is pricey but I like that I can get items there that I can't find anywhere else and I get lots of ideas from their salad bar and deli/prepared meals counter.  Yesterday we saw an orzo, cranberry and pecan salad. It looked delicious. They always have samples and yesterday I tried Amy's Refried Beans. They were delicious! I've never liked refried beans but these were creamy and didn't have that heavy, beany taste - you know?  I like most of Amy's products but am afraid to try them in case I don't like them and wasting money.  I should be more adventurous.

Over the next week, I'll write about some of the new-to-me food items I picked up and will be trying.

I haven't been outside yet but it looks like a sunny, albeit cold, day in the neighbourhood. I wouldn't go out today if I didn't have to, but I need to drive my son's girlfriend home and pick up some fruit for the coming week and get tissues and some cold meds. I know they don't hasten the cold but they alleviate the symptoms and if I feel better, that's all that really matters.

Have a great Sunday!

Days 13-15, New Year

Hello all!

Hope you are having a fantabulous weekend.

I had lunch with some great friends and then met another good friend for coffee. Then found out yet another good friend was in the hospital, with suspected pneumonia. Luckily she is in the hospital right next to where I live so I was able to go and see her in Emerg tonight.

I am still doing well with the new WW Points+ Program and tracking.  My blood sugar is amazing and I am feeling pretty good.

I had the flu/cold earlier this week and seemed to be over it, but tonight my throat and ears are hurting again, so I hope it is not coming back. I just started a new job and don't have any sick time yet.

My life seems to be coming into balance the last month or so after months and months of what seemed like constant upheaval and change. 

Onward and downward (on the scale!).

Day 7-12, New Year

Hello everyone,

Bet y'all thought I disappeared again, huh?

No...just having trouble finding inspiration about what to write.

I'm still tracking, still eating healthy, still following the new Weight Watchers Point Plus Program. Today was my second weigh in and I was down another 2.4 lbs, which is a total of 6 in two weeks. I'm happy with that.  It's the most I've lost in two weeks in oh....about a year and a half.

What else is new in my life? Not a thing my friends. Working, taking care of kids, cooking, cleaning - all the fun stuff, you know? Reading a lot lately, I love curling up with a pot of tea and a good book on a cold, wintry night.

I'm off to catch up with all your blogs.

Day 6 – New Year

I am so, so, so glad that tomorrow is Friday.

Today is Day 6 of our Tracking Challenge and we are still going strong. 21 days to make a habit and we will make that and beyond.

Shout out to Erin, Kerry, Kate and Tiffany.

When I went to weigh in last night I stayed for the meeting and I really liked the leader. She was engaging and funny and very easy to relate to. The room was packed with all the resolution-joiners and lots of regular members. She went out of her way to welcome the newbies and explained the in-jokes when people seemed to laugh for no reason. My original plan was to go and weigh in and attend a meeting on Saturday mornings but I really like this leader so I might try and keep Wednesdays – if I can’t do Wednesdays (I know some nights I am just going to be too tired to stop after work), then Saturday will be my back up.

I really like tracking with my iPhone. I can look up points values and track without anyone seeing Weight Watchers stuff, you know? I’m not embarrassed and if anyone asks me I am more than happy to talk about the program and my experience, but I don’t need to advertise it either.

So, week 2 started today and my goal for today is to try and eat more protein at every meal.

That’s all I got tonight, I am tired from a long drive home on slippery, snowy roads and just want to curl up with a cup of hot chocolate and my book and then hit my bed early. 

Take care, y’all :)

Day 5 – New Year

And the scale said…….3.6 lbs down.

That’s from last Wednesday and week 1 on the new Weight Watchers Plan.

What did I actually do different this week than I had been doing?

The plan is good, let’s be honest, most weight loss plans work if you follow them, its the sticking to them and living with them for the rest of my life that’s the problem. This plan isn’t teaching me anything I don’t know. I know how to eat, I know all about the right portions, I know what foods to limit or avoid and I know how to cook.  The plan is helping put what I know into action by giving me some structure.

Structure is what I was missing for the last several months. Tracking and being conscious of what and how much I eat works for me every time.

Week 2 starts tomorrow and I know I have my GTA bloggers to encourage and support me, along with all of you as well.

Day 4, New Year

My first weigh-in is tomorrow. I took the batteries out of my scale so I wouldn’t be tempted to sneak peeks (i.e. drive myself crazy) so I truly have no idea what the scale will say. I’ve done well with the new program and I feel like i have more energy. I don’t notice any change in my waistband, but considering most of my clothes are from 15 lbs ago, I’m going to have to lose about 10 before they are “comfortable” again. To be sure, I’ll let you all know.

Today was the first real work day in a few weeks of holiday slowness and I am tired. My day is long. The alarm goes off at 4:30 a.m. and I am out the door by 5:25 a.m. and not home again til just after 6:00 p.m. The commute is stress free, a 20 min drive, hour train ride and then 30 min subway ride.  Since I last blogged regularly, I have yet again changed jobs, but also company this time. The job I have now is blissfully stress free, i.e. read not challenging. But this is the best thing for me right now, I think. It’s interesting but I leave at 3:45 and don’t think about it again until 7:45 a.m. the next day.  The money is better than my old company and there is a better long term future.

I miss my lakeside trailer sometimes, well I miss my view and I miss my walks along the lake all year around. It’s not as nice where I am now and not as easy to walk continuously because of people, cars and many intersections.  There is an indoor concourse that I walk around for about half an hour on my lunch every day, it’s not power walking but it’s moving and I literally run up and down stairs at the train and subway station because my connection times are so tight.  The first week I thought for sure I was going to have a heart attack…but now its easier, still breathless as I reach the last step but I can still talk and my heart rate comes down faster. Good signs, I think. Once the warmer weather comes back, I’ll brave walking along the trails near my home again and I will conquer the Wentworth stairs before the end of this summer.

Me and my blogger girls are rocking the “Track for 31 days challenge”. Today is Day 4 and we are all still in this together and going strong.  I love that I have my own cheering section with them.

Day 3, New Year

 

Day 3 of our little challenge and I have tracked and stayed on track again. 

I was off work today as the Stat Holiday for Jan 1.

My day started off a bit rough, I swallowed a full mouthful of milk before I realised it was completely sour. Is there anything that tastes worse? I didn’t taste it until it hit the back of my throat because I had just brushed my teeth and all that minty freshness masked it. Ugh!  I had planned to go to a Weight Watchers meeting at 10 a.m. but I was too ill.  I will stay for a meeting on Wednesday when I go to weigh in, that wasn’t my plan, but it’s my back up plan :)

I spent the next 3 hours with stomach cramps and vomiting – I am sure some of it was psychosomatic, even thinking about it now is making me feel ill.  By the time I recovered from that, I had to rush out and get groceries and do laundry and then rush home, get dinner on and then start moving furniture and removing faceplates, our landlord is doing annual pest control spraying so it means moving everything back from the walls.

I made a Weight Watchers recipe from the site tonight to go with my fast fry steak. Roasted parsnips and carrots. Really, really delicious. The parsnips completely lose their bitterness when roasted. Parsnips are not a free vegetable though.  I really enjoyed it. I have enough left over to puree with some fat free chicken stock to have for lunch as soup tomorrow.  I love cooking and simple meals that taste great keep me motivated and remind me that real food can be fast food too.

The new “Points Plus” plan seems to be leaning towards a more low-refined carb plan than it was before. I know for myself, this is a better way for me to eat – I feel better, my blood sugar is more even, my thyroid is more stable and I have more energy and even sleep better.

Who else is following the new plan? And what do you think of it?

Day 2, New Year

I've had a few people write to me privately and suggest I start blogging again. People who I have alot of love and affection and respect for. They know me well and know I need some sort of outlet for my thoughts.  This worked well for me in the weight loss/healthy living part of my life.  

I don't want to talk about where I've been and what has happened over the last six months or so.  Another good friend told me that talking about and thinking about negative experiences forces us to relive the pain and there is no good that can come of that, so that is my only New Year's resolution this year - do not visit negative memories and pain. Let it go. Concentrate on the future, on the things I can control and the changes I can make.

I joined Weight Watchers last week. They have a new program and "new" always inspires me, I am easily bored :)  It will help me keep focused and the weekly weigh ins will give me incentive. I know I should be able to do this without outside motivators and influence, and I did for a long time, but I can't right now and before I hit 300lbs, I need to get my $hit together. This is one step. 

My blogger friends Tiffany, Kerry and Erin and I are doing a 31 day tracking challenge and officially we're at Day 2, but I've been tracking since Thursday so I'm pretty pleased with that. It helps that WW now has a mobile app, I'm a techy girl :)

So I'm back on track. One day at a time.  I don't know how often I'll blog, but I'm going to read all your blogs right now and catch up with you.

Thanks, as always, for your support and friendship :)

Happy New Year

Just a quick shout out to say Happy New Year to you all and a special shout - out to those of you who check in on me - Matt - Carb Tripper - Jo - Dawne - it's nice to feel cared about :)