A Slow Paced Saturday (Plus Weekly Weigh in #6)

This week has been a little bit rough. I have some personal (yup too personal for the blog right now) stuff going on and I really wanted to use today to recover from my fast paced week. I packed up the wonderbug bright and early and headed out for the morning. I made sure all of the essentials (purse, yoga bag, yoga mat, water, vitamin water, breakfast, etc) were all good to go since I would not have time to stop back by my house. I am amazed at my ability to be so prepared so early on a Saturday morning!

My first stop was Weight Watchers for my week 6 weigh in. I really busted my booty this week in terms of my workouts. I pushed myself hard, didn’t eat any of the resulting activity points, and made sure to get in tons of fresh veggies and fruits. I had myself all geared up for a stellar result but got this instead…

Week      +/-        Total lost

6               -0.2          21.2

Which makes my overall stats:

Week            +/-          Total Lost

1                   -10.8         10.8

2                   -3.2            14

3                   -3.0             17

4                  -1.0              18

5                  -3.0              21

6                 -0.2              21.2

I normally try (try try try) to take my number in stride. I really do. However, today to say I was disappointed is an understatement. I was pissed. My Weight Watchers leader was really supportive and answered my questions about how this complete injustice occurred. Her explanations made perfect sense but I am still upset. I feel like when you consider calories in versus calories out I should have had a three pound lost at least! I worked so hard this week and truly pushed myself. A 0.2 pound loss feels like a slap in the face. I know I should not be bitching about this. I posted a three pound loss last week and am seeing great changes in my strength and body shape. However, people feel the way they feel and this made me feel like crap. I feel like this early in the process a 0.2 pound loss should not be happening. I wanted to grab a latte and a scone after this less than stellar weigh in but instead I read over my Weight Watchers materials for the week, ate a quick breakfast of organic peanut butter on whole grain, and headed downtown to my Bikram yoga class.

Class was amazing as it usually is. My mind was all over the place when I first went in and I was really dwelling on the weigh-in. However, a few poses into the practice and I felt myself calm down. I worked really hard and even managed to get a little further into some of the poses than I have in the past. This is such a great practice and a wonderful studio. I truly feel at home/ at ease there now which is so unlike me. I have been at my current gym for over two years and still do not feel totally comfortable there. Plus, I can feel and see myself change from week to week with yoga. I am so glad I worked it into my routine. After class I was pretty much famished so I stopped at Subway to grab lunch for the hubs and I. I chose chicken on flatbread with loads of veggies and some Sunchips. I have not had Sunchips in forever and they were really yummy. And of course my gigantic water bottle made an appearance.

After our quick lunch the hubs left for his afternoon bike ride and I decided a bubble bath was in order. After the week (and super hard class) I had it was much needed. I also took in my trusty copy of Rachael Ray to get in some reading. Ya’ll know how much I heart that lady!

The hubs and I had a little date night planned so I got dressed in a super cute sweater I picked up in Dallas last fall and we headed out.

We headed out to an E A R L Y dinner. I am talking Golden Girls early. We were trying to avoid the Valentines weekend crowd. Mission accomplished as we pulled into one of my favorite local places, Neighbor’s Place, around 5:00.

I was totally craving a Spinach salad so I ordered one topped with yummy piping hot grilled chicken. It was pretty fantastic. I love it when restaurants have open kitchens. Its cool to watch how quickly they can get everything cooked up. They are the ultimate multi-taskers!

Since it was Saturday (yay Saturday!!) the hubs and I decided to share this amazing piece of chocolate cake. Even between the two of us we could not finish it.

Let me tell you a little something about said amazing cake- It tasted wonderful but was too much for my tummy to handle. We were barely to the car and I was sick with a capital S. It’s not that I never indulge, because I do. I have a piece of chocolate on Wednesday nights and pretty much an item or two I have been craving on Saturdays. However, I am apparently going to have to be a little more choosey because my body has started to change in terms of what it will tolerate. The hubs and I sort of marveled at what a difference six weeks makes.

The hubs and I ditched our original plan to see a movie and instead watched “The Killers” on DVD with my fave Katherine Hiegel at home. We capped off the night with a trip to Old Navy. The hubs promised me some new yoga pants and I was ready to collect. I somehow ended up with an entire new outfit. Not sure how that happened. 😉 (photos coming soon).

We headed home and are currently bonding with our TIVO. My relaxing Saturday is just what I needed. Check back tomorrow for my re-cap of my Anti-Valentines date with fabulous fave Kristen.

Have a Happy and Healthy Weekend!

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Weekly Weigh-In #5

I can’t believe I have been on the Weight Watchers program for five weeks. 2011 seems to be flying by. On Saturday morning my pal Siobhan and I decided to work an extra Bikram yoga class into our week. So, I headed out VERY early to get my week 5 results. Here is what went down….

Week      +/-        Total lost

5               -3.0          21

Which makes my overall stats:

Week            +/-          Total Lost

1                   -10.8         10.8

2                   -3.2            14

3                   -3.0             17

4                  -1.0              18

5                  -3.0              21

I am thrilled to be over the 20 pound mark. While I still have a LONG way to go it feels like I have hit a significant milestone. To celebrate this “mini goal” the hubs and I are heading out this week to buy some brand new yoga pants! I will hit my next personal milestone in 10 lbs. I feel incredibly empowered and motivated to stay on this journey. I am only 4 lbs away from my “lightest” 2010 weight when things derailed. It’s exciting to get to the point where I feel like I am no longer taking care of “re-losing” weight but rather moving forward. I can’t wait to see where I go next. For those keeping track, the hubs picked up Florence and The Machine for me this week. 😉 Happy Weekend!

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Weekly Weigh In #3

I had really put 100% into my workouts this week and was eager to see if that had reflected on the scale. I got up pretty much on time to be at the Weight Watchers center right when it opened. The hubs, who is not really a late sleeper, was still tucked away all cozy in the covers.  This has been a tough week for me in terms of diet. I did my very best to control my cravings and push through them even though I was feeling over tired and stressed. I had my moments of wondering why I was even bothering. I have to admit I was thankful for this week’s weigh in. It was what I needed to re-motivate me and keep me on the right track.

Week      +/-        Total lost

3               -3.0          17

Which makes my overall stats:

Week            +/-          Total Lost

1                   -10.8         10.8

2                   -3.2            14

3                   -3.0             17

 

I am looking forward to measuring and photo taking at the end of the month to see if I can really “see” any of these changes happening. And onto more frivolous things, This week’s CD pick per my agreement with the hubs is…..That’s What I Call Music 36 (36, really? WOW!)

I am off to fix a healthy breakfast, get a workout done with the hubs (running or P90x yoga..I am undecided), and start getting the house ready for guests. Tonight we are hosting our monthly themed movie night. *Yes it is just as fabulously nerdy as it sounds!* Have a great Saturday!!

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Weekly Weigh In #1

I headed out super early to my Weight Watchers center this morning to get my official week 1 weigh in. Here are my results:

Week        +/-        Total Losses

1              -10.8                 10.8

I am beyond pleased with this. I know you lose a lot of water weight during the first week of a program but I am really excited to be on the right track! I also don’t want to dismiss the work I did this week. So, I am going to stick with simply being all smiles at a good result!

The hubs and I have a little deal that any week I post a one pound loss (or more) he will get me the CD of my choice. Sooo, this week I chose Katy Perry- Teenage Dream. It’s a fun little reward to help me stay on track for my larger “reward” goals later in the process.

One final note, it’s official: it’s LOVE with the new scale and I from Eat Smart. The scale is giving consistent readings AND it was exactly (to the ounce) giving the same reading as the super accurate way expensive scales at the Weight Watchers center. I am so stoked to be able to accurately track my weight from home!

After my weigh in I went to the gym for 3 miles on the elliptical and am ready to start week 2 off right!

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Start With a Weigh-In and End With a Corgi

My very last day of 2010 started with a trip to the Weight Watchers center in town. After last night’s revelation I knew I was ready to face whatever number the scale had in store for me. The truth is it feels very empowering to have my task so neatly placed in front of me. Now comes the mission of figuring out the right combination of food and exercise for my body. This was the last precursor to a very difficult journey but knowing that it only gets better from this day forward is a motivator all on it’s own. 2011 will be my year to emerge something better.

My weigh-in was not exactly what I had anticipated. It turns out I had not gained back all of the weight I lost last year and am starting out 12lbs lighter than I thought. Even though I am not brave enough to share the number (today) I have accepted it and feel 100% ready to take on the challenge. While yesterday was a day filled with emotion today was a day filled with resolve. I talked with my leader (and cousin-in-law) Stephanie about Weight Watchers new “Points Plus” program and I left the center with tons of new material to help me on my quest to a healthier me.

My last day of 2010 could not be all about weight so I traveled to Roanoke to meet up with my pal Kristen and her little girl for lunch. Kristen is very much a part of my support system and we did a lot of talking about my goals and plan to achieve them. We left time for some fun “girl talk” too and we finally exchanged Christmas gifts. There is something so heartwarming about a friend who truly knows you well enough to pick out a perfect gift. Among some super cute gifts was this amazing apron in one of my favorite prints (monogrammed in pink of course) and matching wine goblet. Now I can start “Cooking in Pink” too!

Being back on an eating plan is somewhat daunting at first so I “played it safe” at lunch today and ordered a salad with grilled chicken. At least the roasted pears and almond slivers kept this salad from being 100% boring. However, when in doubt basic is usually better I think. 😉

After a late lunch I made it home in time to plan my meals and workouts for next week. I am all set up at the gym, ready to get back to running, and even signed up to start a Bikram Yoga class on Tuesday night. I contacted the studio about my weight concerns and they were incredibly supportive and positive. I can’t wait to give it a try! Tonight I am ringing in the new year with my hubs by my side, DVDs on the television, and this sweet Corgi in my lap. I cannot think of a better end to 2010 and start to 2011! Happy New Year!

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Weigh In # FAIL

I have gotten into such a good groove with weighing in on Saturdays and I had the best of intentions to keep that weekly traditon alive, even while away. However, we all know what they say about good intentions and my laziness distraction kept me from looking up the local WW center and driving there to weigh-in this morning. Truthfully, I know have remained on track and am not going to stress about this little mistake. Weekly weigh-ins will resume next Saturday and my fingers are crossed this losing thing remains the trend!

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Weigh In #16

Even though I have a  run coming up this morning that really
requires me to focus, my mind was somewhere else. This is pretty much
the case every Saturday morning when I go to weigh-in. It never seems
to get any easier. My ultimate goal, while keeping my calories/points
in check with WW is living healthfully and getting fit yet these
weigh-ins are still very very important to me. I strongly feel, for
me, losing weight is a huge part of those ultimate fitness goals.

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago there is nothing to do but
continue to face the scale and carry on. That is what I have been
trying to do this week, just keep moving and making the best choices I
can. My 16th weigh-in turned out to be a loss of 3.4 pounds, which
brings my total loss to 37.2 pounds.

This may not seem like much to some, but breaking that 35-pound
barrier is a huge moment for me. I feel like I have been stuck in
limbo for so long. Now I have my eye on the next prize, 50 pounds.

I am considering how to reward myself when I reach 50 lbs lost. Any Suggestions?

Off to Run!

Have a Happy and Healthy Saturday!

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Weigh In # 15

I headed out bright and early for my weigh in. I love that I have switched to Saturdays as it seems to work so much better with my schedule. I was not sure what to expect this week. I have done everything I am supposed to but we all know the troubles I have had with these weigh-ins lately. I hopped on the scale and learned I am down 1.8 pounds this week for a total loss of 33.8 pounds. My fingers are crossed that I can stay on a losing trend. I am beyond due for some losses!

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Weigh-In Worries

How is it I am more anxious about this week’s weigh-in than lasts?  I
guess it has a little to do with that pesky fear of failure thing that
keeps creeping in and disturbing this process. Last week I was
prepared for a gain. I knew I had not been following the plan as
closely as I should for quite some time. This week, however, I have
done everything “right”, or rather on plan I should say. If I am
stuck, for what feels like the millionth time, without a loss I know I
will feel disappointed and most likely discouraged.

While I am not an expert on the subject I am pretty sure plateaus are
not infinite. I think I passed being able to call it that with a
straight face several weeks ago. I am now equating no loss with me
doing something “wrong” or incorrectly and I don’t really know how to
start figuring out what that is. At what point on the journey does one
move from the calories in versus calories burned method and start
concentrating on carbohydrates/protein combos, counting sodium grams,
etc. Have I already reached a point where I need to start doing those
things? It just seems to soon.

I am sure my attitude today seems defeatist. I have not even
weighed-in yet I have myself beaten and frustrated. It is so hard to
hold off those feelings of guilt and anger when the losses don’t seem
to measure up to the work you are putting in.

My husband, on the other hand, is dong great. He has not really
changed his diet that much, but has started mountain biking regularly. The
change in his body in just one month is staggering. I could not be
more proud of him. With that said, it does make me wonder why
something that seems so effortless for him is so difficult and
emotionally taxing for me? I feel like I literally have to fight off
every ounce. Does it ever get easier?

If I have learned anything in these last few weeks it is that this
will never ever work for me if I don’t continue to go in, monitor my
weight weekly, track my food, track my workouts and keep my emotions
in check. This blog is pretty great for all of those things. Just this
little venting session has me feeling much more calm and collected for
tomorrow’s weigh-in.  I will be here, good or bad, with the news.

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Weigh In #14

So I “made good” on my promise and headed into Weight Watchers to face the music this morning. Apparently its been nearly two months since I weighed in. (What’s that noise I hear?? Oh yes it’s 80 bucks going down the toilet. Ahem.) Needless to say this shook me up enough that I was fearing a horrible gain. I had summer, the beach, Chicago and about a million other things going on since I last set foot on a “real” scale. But there I was anyway-standing in my yoga pants and tank ready to face what I had done.

This week’s weigh in was a gain of 2.8lbs bringing my total loss down to 32 pounds. There are a million excuses reasons that I gained nearly three pounds-late dinner last night, sharing salty popcorn with the hubs, drinking too much caffeine. The truth is I went off plan. I worked out, watched my food intake, stopped weighing in and tried to live “normally”.  The good news is I was able to maintain my loss (more or less). The bad news is I have a long way to go until the maintenance phase and the sooner I accept that the faster this is going to go.

It felt good to weigh in and walk out. Having time to process before the meeting on Monday will help me tremendously. Now, I am off to run. My mileage is increasing which I hope will be great for my weight loss/fitness. Even though today was somewhat disappointing I will still be the first in line for Weigh-In 15 next week. Facing the music is so much better than trying to block it out. True Story!

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