Week 21 Day 1 or New Beginnings

I realized last week I was just playing at this Weight Watchers venture.  I knew I wasn't investing 100% of my efforts.  The past 2 weigh in's I lost weight and I was surprised because I hadn't journaled my food or really seriously done much to deserve the loss.  I knew a gain was coming.  This past week I ate pretty much what I wanted and wrote down nothing.  I had a couple of candy bars, some donuts and big cookies and Thanksgiving was small portions of everything.  So today I had a 1.6 pound gain at the scale.  I wasn't surprised and amazingly enough relieved.

The meeting had a mere handful of people there.  I guess many were not able to face the consequences of their Thanksgiving week for whatever the reason.  I am certainly NOT  judging them, far be it for me to do that. 

It was a good meeting and I think everyone shared at some point.  We wrote down reasons we want to lose weight.  Some of my reasons, of which there are lots more, are written down for the inspiration, the need to kick myself into gear and fully engage in this venture to a new life.

I am going to sit down and plan some meals for this week and write a grocery list.  It is supposed to be warmer today and I intend on taking my Active Link and going for a walk.  Water, drink some water and just revel in the delightful life I have been blessed with.

So until we eat again I will remain Blessed!  Season's Eating's!

Week19 Day 1 or The Winds of Change are Howlin'

Let's just say I am astonished and amazed by the wonders of God.  I did not blog last Saturday.  My beautiful Prince and I were and are going thru a stressful time.  We will overcome as we have the grace of God as our armor.  He has our tomorrows already prepared for us and fearfulness is not something in our vocabulary.

That being said I really did not expect much when I stepped on the scale.  I had not journaled my food last week.  I didn't really over eat or eat bad things but just had no desire to weigh and measure and jot.  Last Saturday's weigh in I gained 0.4 pounds, today I lost 1.8 pounds.  I am down to 272.2 pounds.  I don't feel like I deserve it but I will take it. 



The topic of our meeting was about Friends and Family without Food.  Having fun with our loved ones doesn't mean it has to be about the food.  We talked about creating new traditions for holidays and celebrations where the centerpiece of the gathering is to be around the people, the activities and not so much the food.  Last Thanksgiving was a wonderful one because it was the second Thanksgiving with my Prince.  I enjoyed being with him and my family and listening to the conversation and the jokes and the joy and love and being a part of it.  I plan on finding a great new recipe to make to take to our family get together Thanksgiving, which will be over at Brother 2's home.

Case in point, last Sunday was my Mother's 77th birthday.  We all went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast.  I so enjoyed the banter and the atmosphere more then the food.  I ate half of what I was served and I was happy and satisfied.

I love my family and that is the joy and celebration, not the hash brown casserole and the pancakes.

I had been contemplating a new gadget/investment in my journey to a better life style, so in true girlish style, I bought it.  It is a Active link personal activity device.  The device is 39.95 with a 5.00 per month fee.  It tracks my activity, creates a activity plan for me and it will motivate me to reach a personal goal.  I downloaded the software to my computer and then activated the device.  I attached it to my person and it tracks all the movements.  At the end of the day I plug it into the USB port on my computer and it tells me how many activity points I earned thru out the day.  I can add those points to my daily food allowance or not. 

For these first 7 days it will be gathering information on me.  Next Saturday, I will sit down at my computer and I will then begin to plan my activity goals.  I am excited about it.  It is just a gadget but I need to do something to help motivate me as far as activity.  I think I have invested a lot of money so far and a little more to help me achieve my goal is worth it.

 

The above to items are new food products I have "discovered".  The first is coconut oil and it can be used as a fat substitute in recipes.  The second is PB2 which is powder peanut butter.  Far less fat and calories and I can add a bit of water and make a paste for a sandwich.  I want to go and find some recipes for both.  I will let you know.

 

I went to the cross stitch shop to find me some new designs to help keep my hands and mind busy while I watch TV.  I love Sue Hillis's new design "Reindeer Games".

I saw the old fashion sled and the sweet little designs and thought what a darling gift for my Mom.  She would love it for her Christmas tree.

I bought some GAST threads for a Not Forgotten free design.  I want to stitch this over one for a ornament for my Mom.  She loves snowmen.  I am going to use reddish colors for the leaves and the blue for the body of the snow man.  He is SO cute.

 

So my fine loved ones I look forward to a new week filled with tons of love and tons of joy.  God Bless and until we eat again!





Kitchen Cheat Sheet

How to Properly Store Fruits and Vegetables

Zero Point Plus Foods

Week 17 Day 1or 25.4 pounds lost and an anchor gained

A gorgeous Autumn morning, crisp and chilled and sunny.  I had a good week and even if I hadn't lost at the scale it would have been a successful week.  I did journal every bite.  I drank one bottle of water each day.  I did walk, once.  We had rain several days so walking to the corner was not possible.  I feel really good about keeping my goals for last week.  So when I stepped on the scale today I did not expect what happened.  I lost 2.8 pounds for a total of 25.4 pounds lost!  I was blown away! 

I received a second charm for my charm bracelet.  It is a 25 pound anchor!

So I am 3.6 pounds away from my 10% award and 3.7 pounds away from saying good bye to the 270's and hello to the 260's!

The cookie dough I made last Sunday is still in the freezer unbaked.  I haven't had the inclination to roll it out.  Perhaps today I will.

Thursday after work we went to Aldi's.  I generally don't shop there because it is further away and quite frankly, they don't have the variety of fat free or sugar free items that I would like.  Here are some things I found and bought.

These Breakfast sandwiches are 7 points and very good, I just had one.  Weight Watchers are 6 points.  I have to say I like the Fit and Active better and the one extra point is worth it in my view.   I can't find the receipt right now to tell you which is the better price value.

These are very comparable to the Quaker or HyVee brand.  They are 2 points for 7 cakes which is the same as the other 2.  Again no receipt to compare.

I do like the Fit and Active salad dressings, they are good.  This is 1 point per 2 Tablespoonsful.  It is a great alternative for dipping my fresh veggies in.  I really don't like the yogurt with the ranch dip mix in it.

We also went to HyVee to get a few things last night.  I was looking at the ice cream and I saw these and they were a better value to the Weight Watchers.  Weight Watchers has only 6 bars in a package and they are 3 points each and 50¢ more.  There are 8 of the Blue Bunny and they are 2 points each.  These are good but the ice cream isn't as creamy as the Weight Watchers.  I prefer the Weight Watchers.

I have my food diary all prepared for the week and ready to go.  Last week's has been put to bed.  I have lost 1 point daily which is okay with me.  Losing points is a badge of honor, it shows I am losing weight.

My personal goals for this week are to up my water from 16 to 32 ounces a day, write every bite and to walk twice in this coming week.

Bending over the grocery cart to pull things out to put on the conveyor belt the Prince says "your jeans are getting baggy in the rear".  My question is why is he checking out my butt?  I told him I liked hearing that.

I don't know what I am going to make for dinner but what ever it is I will enjoy it.  So I hope you have a wonderful week and be good!  Until we eat again!