Back on the wagon

Ok so it's been awhile. I like many try to make a "life style change", and then for whatever the reason,it dosen't last. So I'm back. Maybe people will read this, maybe not. But I still plan to start up again and keep myself held accountable for my own life.

I can blame my weight gain on, stress, illness, lack of funds and I could go on. The fact remains, it doesn't really matter. Do I want to be healthy? Do I want to have the weight problems my family seems to have? Or do I want to break the cycle and really try to be healthy?

I'm choosing to break that cycle. So today I weighed in, and I started counting points. I was not surprised to see that I only have a few points remaining at this time. I still have to make dinner and get through the night. But today was good to see how much I'm really eating again.

Weight Watchers gives you points. I'm sure you all have heard that. The goal is to eat within those points anything you might want. Now of course it's best to eat healthy, but you don't have to deny yourself some treats.

My vice is still the same, its the dreaded pop and how hard it has been to break thaat addiction. I also love me my dill chips and other snack foods. I did weigh out my chip intake, and over extended my pop intake. I now have a glass of water nearby, which is flavorless, but I'm trying to add fruit to it, as fruit is free within moderation of course. I have also read that water is better at room temprature, to convincing the brain you are full.

I'm also trying to get back to my green drink, and use any means possible to not feel so down about my past choices. So I'm also going to go as far as saying.....I am worth taking care of myself. I am a good person and with strength of the good Lord behind me, I will get healthy. All I ask is that you support me with words of encouragement and hope.

Until I blog again....

Wow where have I been?

Where have I been? Not tracking my weight that's for sure. Amazingly, I have not really gained any weight either. Of course I haven't lost anything. But at least I'm maintaining.

I do still have weight to lose, it's not that. I've been feeling lost and misguided in my life right now. I'm not even sure where to go with it. Ever felt that way?

I thought I was leading a pretty good life, although a little over weight. But I was overall pretty happy. Now I need to figure out how to get happy again. Happiness is a choice. Or at least I think so.

Just like weight gain or loss is a choice. So back to the beginning, and back to making my life a happy one. No one knows what the future will hold for me. I think I'm going to take it one day at a time.

Been a while

Well I just noticed that I haven't blogged in awhile.  I'm just crazy busy now that I'm working, going to school and running a home life. 

But I'm more afraid to admit, I have fallen of the WW wagon a few times.  I don't count like I use to. I don't track my points on line and what do you think has happened?

Your right nothing has happened. I haven't lost, but I haven't gained either.  I 'm down 23 pounds since I started and still have another 17 to go.  I've now joined the $1 million dollar challenge by Dr. OZ.  Do you think I will win it?  Most likely not, but maybe I will get back on the wagon.  I still watch what I eat, but I certainly don't watch as closely.

So in short, time to blog, time to count, time to get really serious again.  Who's with me?

Still working on it.

Well I had another weigh in. If you recall the last blog, I gain.8 this last time. So I made sure that I went back to really counting my points.

I kept track of every single point, even if it was "just a little taste." It's amazing when you do that, to see how much you consume in a day. It's also amazing to see how important this weight loss has become for me.

My family has a history of obese family members and diabetes. I'm the perfect candidate for that. Or should I say I was the perfect candidate. Since starting WW, and losing a few pounds, I went to see my doctor for a complete physical.

Two years ago, I was border line diabetic, high cholesterol as well as overweight. Today I am no longer border line, my cholesterol is normal and I'm still overweight, but have lost so much. Progress is being made, one week at a time.

I know enough already right? Well I did lose weight this last weigh in. Not only did I lose the .8 I gained, but I lost and additional weight as well. Total for the week 2.4 pounds. Total for 16 weeks, 17.2 pounds. Wow, what a feeling!

I still eat all the foods I love, I'm just more mindful of it. So my suggestion to anyone who is overweight is to work on taking it off and using Weight Watchers to help. Without the help I would not have lost the weight. So it's well worth the cost. Few bucks, or my life? Not a tough decision at all.

Wow, What a Shocker

So my bubble burst! I had been doing so well on WW. I had been losing, than staying status quo, but then losing again. Until my last weigh in.

To my surprise I gained weight. OK, so it was only .8 pounds, but how frustrating that was. I actually came home and had a melt down. Went back to my old habits of eating everything in site. Then it hit me, what am I doing!

I have actually dropped to the next size down and that felt amazing. So how could I destroy all that hard work and two new pair of pants all on .8 pounds? Really. I had to tell myself, all I have to do is get back on the wagon and try again.

After I decided to get out of my self pity, I began to reflect on what may have happened. First I realized that although I was "counting" points, I only guesstimated. I didn't measure or weigh anything. Than I went out of town for the weekend and instead of splitting things, or maybe eating a little less of my order, I "pigged" out. I even went to the movies and ate a big bowl of popcorn and had a big soda. I deserved to gain those extra pounds. Not only that, I only gained .8.

Lesson learned. I may fluctuate between pounds, but It's OK. I just have to work on staying on target. Here's to another week of working on losing the .8 pound, and maybe even a little more.

Star Date June 2011

Yes, the title is strange, but that's when I started my weight loss journey. While on this path I have learned things about myself, and how to maintain good eating habits even while camping.

I weighed in today, and learned that I have lost another 2 pounds. Yes, 2 pounds. How cool is that? I'm so proud of this, as silly as it sounds. But I have taken off a total of 16 pounds since I started this life style change. That's a 10 pound bag of potato's and a 5 pound sack of sugar. You have the visual now right?

Wow, what a feeling. But here are somethings I have learned about myself along the way. Food is my comforter, my vice. If I'm depressed, sad, happy, or bored, I eat. In fact, I would eat just about anything in site. My favorite, Chips. Then came popcorn full of butter, cookies,chocolate and Coke. I still eat food for comfort, but now I try to "watch", what it is I'm shoveling into my mouth.

Food choices were never really vegetables, unless of course they were doused in dressing. Everyone made fun of me and my obsession with the "Dr. Oz" drink, but that has actually spurred me on to have more vegetables now than I ever did. I've learned that vegetables are your friend, not your foe. Sure there is still a lot I don't like, but it's getting better.

I also learned portion control. Prior to WW (Weight Watchers), I would eat until I was full and over flowing. I'm sure I could have been the next Thanksgiving Turkey. Now I've learned to actually taste my food, slow down and have made new and exciting dishes.

I credit all this to WW. They make it so easy to count points, and still eat all the same foods like my chips, popcorn with butter, cookies, chocolate and Coke. I also have to add, I was a two to three Coke person a day. I love my Coke. I'm now down to maybe one a week, sometimes two if it's been a good week.

I have replaced Coke, with Water, Lemon Ginger Tea (cold), Milk, and did I mention Water? I still have soda, but I make it from "Soda Stream". They have a cola flavor, not as good as Coke, but I like it. Plus, it's only 1 point per 8 oz. glass. I totally recommend purchasing one if you don't already own one.

I also wanted to mention, two years ago I had a physical. Unfortunately it wasn't the best I have ever had. In fact, the doctor discussed putting me on cholesterol medicine, if I couldn't bring my cholesterol down. Good news, my cholesterol is back to normal, and my physical a week ago was much better than the last. The doctor was impressed!

So as time goes on, I hope to remain faithful to my life style change, and remember this feeling of reaching my first 10% goal. With that said, here's to another 24.4 pounds remaining to lose and the heart to know that I can do it.

Weekly Write Up.

Well I made it to another weigh in. Surprisingly, I lost yet another pound. Pretty good I think since I had a bad eating week.

I wonder if starting my workout had anything to do with it? I started working out three days a week for 30-40 mins. I did the elliptical one day, walked the dog the next, and then wrapped it up with riding the stationary bike. It felt good, but I cannot image it helped me lose anything.

A friend told me, that in order to loose weight, you need 50 mins. of cardio training five days a week. A little much for me right now, so I just started taking baby steps. My three day a week workout is all that I can handle right now.

I'm also learning first hand, that working out is helping me with my stress. Which I have had a lot of lately. It doesn't take it away, but it helps me from feeling depressed. So even if I'm not losing weight, I'm keeping depression at bay.

I'm sure in the long run, all will be OK, both mentally and physically. But it will take some time to get there. I'm not a patient person, but I'm doing my best to learn.

With that being said, since Wednesday I have had a bad eating week, so lets hope Sunday will give me a clean slat and Wednesday will be a good weigh in.