The Great Balancing Act of a 20 Something

Progress Is Impossible Without Change

2012-01-29T15:33:00.000-06:00

Okay. I've always scheduled my weigh-in day for Thursday or Friday, but in an effort to boost my weight-loss I've decided I need to change that. My new weigh-in day is ... drum roll please ... Sunday!

Apparently I have a nasty little habit of eating whatever I want {which means not counting any points}during the weekend and then "making up for it" during the week.

No. More.

It just doesn't make sense to keep sabotaging my progress and working harder than I have to. It's a simple change, but I think it is going to make a huge difference. We'll see ......

Positive Thoughts on Weight Watchers

2012-01-28T21:16:00.000-06:00

"Overweight and obese adults who followed the Weight Watchers program lost more than twice as much weight as those who received weight-loss advice from a doctor or nurse, according to a new yearlong study funded by the company."

Here is an interesting little article I came across today. I know that WW works, and I love to see positive things in the news about this program! Dieters in Weight Watchers study drop up to 15 pounds in a year. According to the research provided in this article, "dieters are more likely to stick with weight-loss programs that stress accountability."

Hmmm...accountability eh? But how can we hold ourselves accountable? If you are a WW chick (or guy), you have the ~~dreaded~~ opportunity to face Mr. Scale every week. You do good, you get a sticker. Have a not so good weigh-in, and you get support and ideas to have a better week. What about the rest of us? Those of us who don't attend weekly meetings, or simply aren't doing WW...what keeps us accountable?

I came across a blog entitled The Happiness Project (this particular post is from 2009) that has some ideas for holding yourself accountable. Personally, I find that I do much better when I have an "accountability partner." My husband and I are ~~ridiculously~~ a tad bit competitive, so each week we have a weigh-in on the Wii (great way to track your progress). Whoever lost the most (or gained the least some weeks) gets to pick where we eat that weekend. I. Do. Not. Like. To. Lose. I want to say naner naner boo boo. I want the bragging rights. I want to pick the restaurant. (Yes, as a matter of fact I was an only child.) I know that if I screw up and lose that weigh-in...I'm eating dang Taco Hell. See, accountability.

My mom is also an accountability partner. After every WW meeting, I would text her my numbers....the good, the bad, and the ugly. Although I no longer attend meetings, I still share my weigh-ins with mama bear every week.

The blog author from THP, mentions another great idea...a chart! It is creative, and cheesy, and just right up my alley! Besides, we all know the real reason you go to WW meetings....the stickers. Duh.

I am finishing up my business degree (BSBA), and if there is one thing that I will always remember, it is this: Make SMART goals. SMART goals are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely. It's one thing to say, "I want to lose weight!" However, if you say, "I want to lose __ pounds by June 1st!" you have created a more specific, and measurable goal. You actually have something to work towards, and can create realistic strategies to achieve it. Also, when you are 40, 50, 100 pounds overweight, and you set a "goal" to be a size 00, what are you really setting yourself up for? If that were my "goal," I would be setting myself up for failure and heartbreak followed by the great binge of 2012. Being a size zero is completely unrealistic - for me personally. My goal is to be between 135 and 140, which is within the healthy weight range for my age and height. I plan to achieve this by the close of 2012.

*** Sorry guys...wrote this up before I went on a business trip and came home to discover I never posted it!!

Some Monday Motivation

2012-01-16T22:18:00.000-06:00

For starters, they say:

In that case...

I managed to wipe the sweat from my red, splotchy face before dragging myself to the changing room. You can't see it, but there was a huge rat's nest where my once perfectly manicured low pony used to be. I put in some time on the elliptical but mostly did floor exercises and weight training. After nearly an hour, I called it a night. I had more in me, but the mister had dinner ready...and I was starving! I plan to hit it again today!!

My tracking has been hit and miss these past few days, but I've been very mindful of what I've eaten. I probably shouldn't have eaten those warm, fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies Saturday night but c'est la vie. I must not have eaten as many as I thought I did, or my workouts are paying off because I had a pleasant surprise when I weighed in this morning! According to my Wii, I'm at the lowest weight I've been in a year. Finally! I've managed to lose my holiday pounds plus a little more. If that's not motivation, I don't know what is.

Speaking of motivation...

Based on that, you should...

Because...

What you need to do...

Now...

;)

"Commit to be Fit!"

2012-01-14T00:14:00.000-06:00

And then.......

you go into BEAST MODE.

I've worked out twice since my melt down, and I'm pretty proud of that. I'm doing a little better with my eating too (it helps that no one brought in another mile high, melt-in-your-mouth, make you slap your grandma cheesecake...although I did have a tiny little sliver of king cake Monday...). Here is a rundown of what I ate today:

Breakfast

Slimfast for 5 points *These are quick and easy on mornings when I don't have time to make a healthy breakfast...they satisfy me enough so that I don't indulge in a regretful vending machine breakfast.

Snack

Nabisco Fruit Crisp for 3 points *Not filling at all, but today was really stressful and I had the munchies (and am out of fruit/veggie snacks).

Lunch

Ham on 2 slices of Sara Lee 45 calories and delightful, regular mayo, goldfish 100 calorie pack, and a fat free pudding cup for a total of 12 points *Way too many points for lunch!! I would have replaced the goldfish with carrots or something, but like I said I'm out. I love my full-fat Blue Plate mayo, but I could have easily saved the points by substituting with mustard.

Snack

Planters NUT-rition energy mix packet for 5 points *High in points for a snack, but this is a really filling snack and is quite yummy! It has that great salty-sweet combo going on.

Dinner

Breakfast for dinner...1/2 cup Egg Beaters, 1/2 c (est) Simply Potatoes, 2 slices low sodium bacon, and 2 biscuits with honey for a total of 11 points *Very "carb-y" dinner. I should have only eaten ONE biscuit, but they were so fluffy and warm!

I had a total of 36 points today, which is 7 over my limit of 29. I may have gone over, but at least I tracked! AND exercised!! NSV for this girl. :) WW set my daily target at 32, but thanks to the changes WW rolled out for 2012, I was able to reset my daily target to 29. Personally, I think 32 points a day is too high for me. Before my pregnancy, I had great success with a daily intake of 29 points. On a side note, I will say that I do eat the majority of my 49 weekly points.

At the gym (my husband had to make me go, I won't lie) I did 15 minutes on the elliptical; alternating between level 1 and 3 with an average speed of about 6. Next, I did a really good lower body workout that lasted about 20 minutes. I intended to do at least another 15 minutes of cardio, but it was getting really late (I'm such a maw-maw now) and I've been up since 5:30.

The gym is usually empty when I go on the weekend, and I have great workouts planned for the next couple of days! It's a three day weekend for me, so hopefully I can really stay on plan and get in some good exercise.

Self Sabotage...Again

2012-01-11T18:14:00.000-06:00

It's more than goals. It's more than envying my skinny friends. It's more than saying "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels." It's more. It's deeper. I know that I want to lose weight - I need to lose weight - yet time and time again I make the wrong choices. I can spit out a dozen reasons why... I want to set a good example for my daughter, I want to wear shorts, I want to go to the water park with my husband, I want to have a better sex life, I want to live longer, I want to have another baby, I want to enjoy shopping again, I want to not feel guilty for eating, I want to stop being so self-conscious, I want to wear an actual bathing suit - a cute one, I want to wear lingerie and cute, designer panties {with confidence}, I don't want diabetes or cancer ...

Do I not want it bad enough?
I do, I reallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreally DO.

Am I not capable?
I have two arms, two legs, plenty of "brain smarts" and common sense. Try again.

Do I not know what to do?
I know exactly what works. WW has equipped me with the nutritional knowledge I need and I surely know my way around a gym.

So what can it be? Do I just get into the way of my own self? Am I scared? Ashamed? Lazy? {I'm betting on lazy.} I have not weighed in since 2012 came to town. I have tracked one {O-N-E} day this week...which is better than last week, considering I didn't even bother to do that. Gym? Ha.

What is the real motivator, for true-blue, healthy weight ~~loss~~ removal? I know it will be worth it. I know hard work pays off. I get it, I do. But still, I'm sitting here watching The Biggest Loser on the TV instead of going out there and becoming The Biggest Loser.

Pretty sure I don't need to do any soul searching...I just need to get off my a$$.

Week in Review, Goals for Next Week

2012-01-07T22:29:00.000-06:00

This week was a total wash...and this weekend just topped things off. Thursday I had a wisdom tooth pulled. Don't pity me though, I feel much, MUCH better now that it is out, this just meant I took advantage of eating soft, squishy food...like creamy macaroni, ice cream, and the like. Yesterday, we left the princess with her grandma for our first night out since she was born (which was a lot harder than I thought it would be...don't ask how many times I checked in on her). Our night started with tacos, which weren't too bad since they were homemade, then we went to a hockey game (Go Surge!!!). I'm assuming this stems from my many years as a band nerd, but I absolutely cannot pass up stadium food. I didn't track at all yesterday, and I'm terrified to know how many points were in the "Super Dog" I scarfed down. I drank light beer so that has to count for something right? Our seating section won free bowling vouchers in the "how loud can you be" contest, so we decided to take advantage of that after the game. I will spare you the details of the nachos - which were topped with everything but the kitchen sink. Like everyone else, we are on a budget after Christmas so what was next? Mario Kart party of course!!

Total. Wash.

I'm not going to dwell on it though. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I think we all need a few guilt free days like that every now and again. Personally, I think most diets fail because we beat ourselves up so much. We wallow in self-pity, that overwhelming feeling of failure creeps up on us, and we give up. Failure isn't an option for me at this point. I just know that I need to keep going.

Here are my goals for the week:

Exercise every single day. For the next 7 days. In the gym. - I know this seems harsh and unrealistic, but it's really not. I need to push myself this week; I know it will pay off and I know how great I will feel when my 7 days are up.
Stock my house and office with nutritious, filling foods that I will enjoy eating and feel good about.
Refrain from eating out. Every meal that I eat will come from my kitchen.
Drink a gallon of water every day. - I'm going to attempt this...at minimum, I will drink my 64 oz.

I think I can handle that. I just need to tape this to every mirror and door in my house and office:

Not Very Inspiring

2012-01-04T14:33:00.000-06:00

Bleh. <-- That definitely describes my food intake yesterday. Definitely not a WW worthy meal day. Did I stay within my points? Yes. Did I feel good about what I ate and enjoy it? Nope.

See? Boring. I guess I didn't do so bad, but it definitely could have been a better food day. I did get some exercise in though. With all of the holiday madness, I haven't been to the gym in a week (or so), so I was a little pathetic yesterday. After dragging myself out of the house, and driving as slow as possible...and sitting in the parking lot updating my iPhone for 10 minutes, I FINALLY hopped on the elliptical. Fifteen minutes later, I had enough of that so I found my way to the treadmill. I only planned to do 15 minutes before moving on to something else, but I was sucked into an episode of Law and Order SVU. I kept upping my time by 10 minutes, and before I knew it an hour had passed! I was quite proud of myself...until I realized I was about to miss the new premiere of The Biggest Loser! You can bet that I didn't drive so slow on my return trip home.

Oh, before I go.... I've really been struggling with eating breakfast lately. Life with a newborn is tough when you and your spouse have to be at work for 7am! I found a recipe for Hash Brown Egg White Nests on SkinnyTaste.com and they are a life saver. This recipe is great, because you can alter it to accommodate your taste and what you have on hand. (I used regular egg beaters instead of egg whites, and I used a little spicy deer sausage in place of bacon.) Plus it's portable, double cool points!

If you haven't checked out Gina's recipes, you should!!! She even includes the WW points for each recipe.

"Should I stay or should I go now?"

2012-01-02T14:33:00.000-06:00

Just what we all needed...a new year to resurrect weight loss blogs of the past. Le sigh.

Since my last blog post I have become Mommy to the most amazing little girl EVER! Words cannot describe how much I love this little bundle of awesome! See...

Yeah, that's a little slice of heaven right there. :) The princess came into our lives on September 1st, and was 6 lb. 12 oz. of perfection.

Anyway, what's not cool is what she did to my figure! Okay, I guess it's not as much her fault as it is the fruit loops, ice cream, and four million cheeseburgers (with cheese, ketchup, and PICKLES PICKLES PICKLES) that I shoved into my pregnant face. I did awesome my first trimester...even lost a few pounds, but I believe the grand total of weight gain was - drum roll please - fiftyninepounds. Oops. It's amazing that I had such a healthy pregnancy and such a perfect little angel. Lesson learned though, because it has been a !@#$% getting back to my pre-pregnancy weight. In the first couple of weeks, I dropped some water weight, but at 2 weeks post-partum I was standing in line at my old WW meeting. As of December 22nd, I have lost a total of 42 pounds. 19.4 of which were done through the help of WW. This tells you two things: (1) I am still not at my pre-pregnancy weight, and (2) I have not weighed in since Christmas. *Bites nails*

I initially signed up for the monthly pass, but I am taking 18 hours next semester, as is my husband I believe, so going to meetings will be a bit of an inconvenience now (especially considering they are 30 minutes away). As of January 19th I will be doing WW strictly online...which is terrifying since I don't do so well at holding myself accountable, but the Mr. says he will ~~command~~ lovingly remind me to weigh in on the Wii every Thursday.

I have also been going to the gym for a couple of months now, and even picked up a personal trainer. He is awesome, and was just the push I needed, but thanks to the usual holiday overspending, I have placed our sessions on hold until February. His fee is very reasonable, but it is not included with my gym membership and quite frankly, I simply cannot afford the extra right now. I'm pretty sure it's because I've spent too much money on bows.....

Plan for my 2012 blog?

Track my food/points
Track my exercise
Encourage & Inspire SOMEONE
Share my WW knowledge ... because my ridiculous opinion is that there are just too few WW blogs out there!
Focus on WW and not let too many baby posts slide in

"Some people dream of success....

2011-08-17T18:18:00.000-05:00

...while others wake up and work hard at it."

On Tuesday I was officially considered full term....FULL TERM! My due date is still three weeks away {I have already started to dilate so I may not make it that long!}, but at 37 weeks I can expect to deliver a healthy, fully developed, full term baby girl. How exciting! Of course with having so few weeks of pregnancy ~~misery~~ bliss left, I've really been thinking about my post pregnancy plan of attack.

I know my first line of defense will be Weight Watchers. For a little inspiration I looked to Jennifer Hudson. Her success was nothing short of uh-mazing! {You can check it out here.} She lost 80 pounds people! This woman is beautiful, talented, and knows how to work hard for results. There is a long line of celebrity weight loss success stories, several of which recently lost baby weight, but I just don't feel motivated by them. Sure, Jessica Alba, Kourtney Kardashian, and Heidi Klum look phenomenal, but who am I kidding? I most certainly didn't look like a super~~thin~~star celebrity before baby, and I don't expect to look like that after. It's just unrealistic, and I'm not going to torture myself with unrealistic goals.

So with the dietary portion of my plan in place, I just have to find an exercise routine that will work for me. I'm not taking the semester off {no I'm not crazy}, and after my 6 weeks of maternity leave I will be returning to work full time, so I need something flexible and effective. Unlike the previously mentioned weight loss wonders, I don't have the luxury of hiring full-time personal trainers, chefs, and nannies...or whatever else it is that celebrities with unlimited funds do to regain their sexy figures back so quickly. I'm thinking some type of training program, like the couch to 5K plan, mixed with some Jillian Michaels DVD's....maybe catch a Zumba class on my lunch break a couple of times a week? {We have a small gym where I work that offers a few classes.} Hmmm...guess I still need to hammer out the details. Any suggestions on post baby workouts that are: structured but not boring, baby friendly {baby can go in stroller or play pen}, and effective? Did I mention we have a family vacation next spring...in FLORIDA?!

Blog land forgive me . . .

2011-08-02T21:02:00.000-05:00

. . . . . for I have abandoned.

It seems as though my last post was roughly six months ago. Wow. I'm sure I have lost some followers, which is unfortunate, but it is what it is. I don't blame you for straying, as I haven't given you anything to read!

In my defense....well, I have two things in my defense. To begin, I would just like to say that I have been following many of you consistently! Some of you have overcome great things, you've reached goals, had babies, and made amazing breakthroughs! My second line of defense.....well.....I'm pulling the "p" card. I know plenty of pregnant ladies blog, but if you have never been prego, let me just tell you: It's exhausting!!! I'm still in college full-time, I started a new full-time position in January, I try my very best to fulfill my wifely duties (goodness how laundry can pile up), and to top it all off I'm growing a human (what's your super power?). There just aren't enough hours in the day!

So why, you ask, am I randomly submitting a new post after a 6 month hiatus? I miss writing for fun. I miss Weight Watchers. I miss the outside support that you are all so great at providing. I just miss blogging. Apparently when you announce that you are expecting a sweet bundle of joy, WW gives you the ol' heave-ho. Does that mean you should abandon all of the knowledge and common sense you have acquired as a Weight Watcher? Nope. Have I, as a completely overjoyed mother to be, continued with healthy options and portion control? ~~Absolutely, 100%~~ Not entirely...

*sigh*

I have heard time and time again from various women, "Oh honey, don't worry I gained 70 pounds when I was pregnant." For some reason 70 pounds was the magic number and each time I heard this, I mentally gasped and told myself there was no way I would let myself gain that much weight. So far I have gained...let's see...about 40-ish pounds now.

O.M.G.

FORTY(ish) POUNDS (on top of the excess weight I had yet to lose pre pregnancy)! Lord knows I'm not going to give birth to a forty pound baby! I guess it could be worse, like 30 pounds worse, but still....that's far too much. I try not to let it consume me. I try to focus on the fact that my body is working on nothing short of a miracle, but it's hard. Prior to pregnancy I had been so focused, and put so much effort into losing weight, now I have to start over at square one. I cannot put into words how incredibly thankful and overjoyed I am to be carrying this little darling, but I have to tell ya, I don't like what it has done to my girlish figure.

So here we are. Five weeks away from my highly anticipated due date. What's my plan? Well, for starters I'm going to focus all of my energy on getting my sweet baby girl here. I know that I can't take care of her, unless I take care of myself, so next I'm going to focus on losing this weight. It's going to be hard, and I'm going to whine a lot (you've been warned), but she is so worth it, and deserves a mommy that can keep up with her. After that....well, let's not get too far ahead of ourselves.

This is my starting[over] point. I'm not sure where this blog will take me, or who will be along for the ride...but from this point forward I'm going to lay it all out on the table. Rejoining Weight Watchers, baby poop, cellulite, you name it.

In a few pictures, here is a short summary of what you guys have missed in the past few months.

I didn't start taking pics until 20 weeks

Miss Audrey Elise looking straight at mommy and daddy

Not shy at all lol...it's a girl!

Growing....

...still growing...

Beach bonfire for my 25th

Baby stuff is fun!

Aha! The culprit!

Someone invited a whale to my baby shower....lol
(This was around the 32 week mark)

As you can tell, the past few months have pretty much centered around all things baby. I hope that you will bear with me as I make the ~~terrifying~~ exciting transformation into mommy-hood. This blog will most certainly undergo changes that will reflect this new stage of my life, but will still be centered around weight loss through diet (Weight Watchers) and exercise.

Oh...My....Gosh!

2011-01-06T11:59:00.000-06:00

Thank you guys so much for all of your suggestions! But...it seems as though the only exercise DVD I will be doing is Yoga for Pregnant Women!

That's right....for once the pregnancy train did not leave me behind.....I'm Preggers!!!

I never thought I would say those words...never ever!!! We were pretty much to the point of "what happens, happens" and we weren't really concentrating on the idea of getting pregnant. The chance of me being able to conceive was so low, and we had become so discouraged, but this goes to show what eating right and taking care of yourself can do! Weight Watchers helped me get to this most joyful and exciting point in my life, and I couldn't be more thankful.

I'm not sure what exactly this blog will transform into, but I hope you will still be here! Gestational diabetes is a serious threat to anyone going into a pregnancy overweight, so I will continue to focus on being healthy.

For those of you who pray....my little peanut and I are definitely in need of some prayers. The next few weeks will be critical!

Thanks again, for all of your support up until this point....I hope you will stick around!

Decisions, Decisions

2010-12-29T12:18:00.000-06:00

Okay. In an effort to get ~~more~~ exercise in, I think I need some variety. Probably three to four days a week I will train for running {walk/run intervals}, but for the other days I want to MiX iT uP with some DVDs. I can't stand being cooped up in a gym, and the one I belong to doesn't have classes at opportune times for me. I still want to do a Zumba class, but that will only be one day a week....and I still need to look into the cost {If I have to have a membership at the facility it will be a no-go, but if I can pay just for the class...yay!}

So I ask you, my fellow bloggy friends......what are some good workout DVDs??? I mean sure, I can read reviews and size up the cover images, but you never really know what it's like until you try it...right?

One More Post!

2010-12-28T13:15:00.000-06:00

I have a question for you Dirty Birds.....

WHO DAT?!?!

{I have no clue why there is a trashcan, one shoe, and a ball behind me....

nephews must have been up to something...}

C'mon January!

2010-12-28T12:57:00.001-06:00

Wow....where to begin......maybe a couple of pictures? Good news? Bad news?

Hmmm.....I guess we could ease into things with a couple of pictures...

Plenty of sweets...

Of course you know we just had to scout out the local Irish pubs...

Ahh, Christmas dinner....probably the healthiest meal of the trip...

For the record, let me just say that I tried ~~really~~ hard to be good and stay on plan. I definitely could have done worse...and I most definitely could have done better. My grandparents were AWESOME! They cooked up a storm, and not only was it "finger lickin' good," but it was all pretty healthy!

I think I did fairly well with portion control, but I should have made better food choices. I mean come on...our very first stop once we crossed the river was Schimpff's Confectionery. {I'm sorry but I can't pass up a good Modjeska!}

At the first pub we split a Hot Brown {sandwich}and at the second I had a little {and I do mean little} pizza with alfredo sauce {I know..."bad llama!"}, grilled chicken, and spinach {effort points for the spinach? lol}. I did have water to drink, thank you very much. That's another thing....I have done a terrible job with my water intake! No soda or anything, just didn't get enough water.

I think the "car food" was the worst. If the McDonald's and Wendy's wasn't bad enough...we decided to stop midway for some Chinese. I won't discuss what was eaten at Mickey D's but at least at Wendy's I had the small chili and oranges and I didn't go way overboard on the Chinese. Only two trips and the first consisted of soup!

It was a wee bit cold...so I was all about the warm food!

I had full intentions to squeeze in some exercise...but...well...it was cold dangit! {I know, I know...not an excuse...but it was!} Now I'm really wishing I had put forth the effort because weigh in is Thursday and now I'm sick. Ergh!

We weren't couch potatoes though...well, not the whole trip lol. We went to a few places...

I love getting to be a tourist in places I've been a million times!

Got in a little upper body workout lol

B just had to go ice skating. I now remember why I don't like ice skating very much lol

{it kills your feet and ankles!}

Did a little shopping too...note the new leopard print accessory lol

{who says you can't avoid ear aches from the freezing wind and be stylish!}

Everything considered, it was a great trip! I know that I need to buckle down and get back on track, and it will be much easier since I will be back on my routine. I've decided that online tracking is definitely not for me, so I will be going back to my handy dandy three month journal. Sunday night, after we got in and took long hot showers {We traveled through five states and I swear it snowed in all five!}, we went to the store and stocked up on our "healthy food."

Yesterday I decided to change my 10% goal reward to a GymBoss {instead of the Bento Box}. I thought about waiting to order it until after I weighed in Thursday, but the way I look at it...I still deserve it. I may or may not have gained back enough to not be at my 10% but I do know I worked my tail off to reach it to begin with.

I chose the GymBoss instead of the Bento because I think I will get more use out of it. After the new year I am going to start training to run, and I don't really need the Bento right now. (I will probably reassign it to another goal...) I miss running and I know it's going to kick my butt at first, but that's okay. I won't be ready to run the Crescent City Classic in the spring, but hopefully later in the year I will be ready for at least a 5K.

I hope you guys did well! And if not....tomorrow is another day, don't beat yourself up!

Here's a couple more...

I love my Louisville....here are a couple of pics that I was playing around with...

Aw Crap

2010-12-20T12:10:00.001-06:00

Hmm...it seems as though I need to MOVE MY TOOSH! I have managed to use up all of my weekly points...and it's only MONDAY! I think my checkbook and WW tracker are working together in some sort of conspiracy against me...

I have so many things left to buy {eat}, but it seems as though I have run out of money {points}. *sigh*

I'm up for the challenge though. I have some major house cleaning to do, so we shall see how many points that is. Time for some cleanersize...or cleanerobics lol, whatever floats your boat. Lucky for me, Christmas eve is the beginning of a new [WW] week for me, and I'm not too worried about points on Christmas day since my family eats fairly healthy. My grandma is so sweet, she already e-mailed me to see what I can eat! Don't get me wrong, I love my in-laws dearly, but good grief, I can only imagine the look of horror on their faces if I were to suggest an entirely WW friendly, healthy holiday meal!

We have a trip coming up and I am determined to be a "good girl." When I get there I will make a little trip over to the grocery and stock up on the "good stuff," and I'm trying to plan "non-couch potato" activities. There are a couple of museums I want to take the hubster to, and as much as I would love to see snow...I'm hoping it won't be too bad so that we can maybe go for a mini-hike or nature walk....just something to offset the vacation weight gain syndrome.

I hope that you guys have safe travels, and can avoid {most} of the temptations that Holiday celebrations bring! Here are some ideas I have gathered....hope they help!

Pass on the booze. Sure, go ahead and have ONE glass of wine {I will probably do this myself}, but maybe you can try some alternatives like a Shirley Temple or a Mock Mojito. A trick I learned way before my WW days is to take ginger ale and mix it with a Crystal Light packet. I've done this with both grape and cherry and it's pretty good! Add some garnish and voila! You have a pretty little fizzy drink without all of the calories.
Gum. I use this trick year round! You can go one of two ways with this: For some people, a really "sweet" {sugar free} flavored gum will help curb their sweet tooth. That absolutely does not work with this girl, BUT if I have an extremely strong mint flavored gum, it keeps me from munching. It's kind of like when you brush your teeth {which I hope you all do lol} and afterwards nothing really tastes right until that strong minty taste is gone.
Bring your own dish. Or, if you have time...host the gathering yourself {Friends-mas is at my house this year}. Either way, you won't have the excuse of: "Oh, it's not my fault...I didn't have a choice...there was nothing healthy."
Get on the Internet. If you are going out of town, even if it is somewhere you have been a thousand times {or even if people are coming to visit you}, take the opportunity to be a tourist. You can look online and discover places you never knew existed! For our upcoming trip I found two museums, an ice skating rink, and a state park that I can't wait to go to! Another idea...if it's not too cold where you are....instead of driving around looking at light displays, walk. Also, might I add.....walking around shopping for 6 hours SO counts as activity :)
Please drink your water. {Self explanatory}
Indulge....a little. Christmas comes once a year, I am not about to deny myself something that I may only get once a year. Will I eat the whole ___? ~~Maybe.~~ No. But, I will have a small piece. From what I've heard...the 8th bite tastes exactly the same as the 2nd lol.

To you and yours...Merry Happy Christmas Hanukkah Kwanzaa...and remember...

Thou shouldst eat to live; not live to eat.

~ Socrates

I've Found My Muchness!

2010-12-17T14:59:00.000-06:00

Well...sort of. I may not exactly know what I want to be when I grow up, but I'm back on track with my weight loss and I officially accepted a new position at work (this decision was difficult to make...which means extra amounts of diet-sabotaging stress!). As it turns out, I didn't really fall off the WW wagon...I was just...at a rest area?

I have accepted my little gain of 2 pounds (I was expecting it, so there was no self loathing pity party or tantrum.), and I've witnessed the effect of going off plan for just a few days. Let me just tell you: "I'm not going back down that road!" I have been miserable for about three days. There has just been too much mindless eating. All of those nibbles (Okay, okay...it wasn't all "nibbles." There may have been the tiniest bit of gorging.) added up, and the end result was extreme fatigue, a bloated tummy, and that annoying "I feel like crap for eating that" feeling.

These next few weeks are going to be treacherous. I'm not too worried about Christmas day, because my grandparents eat fairly healthy. It's the remaining holiday parties and New Year's festivities that will be bothersome.

Not to mention, those pesty co-workers who bring in pounds of chocolates and buttery croissants every freaking day!

Normally, when this time of year comes it's like walking out onto a battlefield with a big target on my back...thank goodness I have my WW "armor." I will still be on the battlefield

Anywho, I'm really enjoying my WW e-Tools! There are so many awesome recipes, and it's....dare I say...."fun" tracking. It's like a little mini scavenger hunt trying to find everything and learn how to navigate the site. Of course, this probably has something to do with the fact I don't have much to do right now. I'm out of school until mid-January, and as I said earlier, I'm about to transition into a new position, so there isn't much going on with my current job.

On to WW news...
If you are a WW member, you know the importance of Power Foods. There are two ways to access the master Power Foods list. If you attend meetings, you can pick up one of the paper trackers (they are free) and it is actually located in the back of that (it folds out). I have a 3 month journal, so I never use those and I had no clue it was in there! If you are an online member, starting from your home page click Your Plan then look down on the left under Plan Manager and click Find & Explore. Once that opens up, you will see your Foods and Activities tabs, directly under that you will see Search or Browse. If you look straight across (to the right) from that you will see a link for your Power Foods List. You are probably way more "awesomer" than I am, so I'm sure you have seen this, but I never knew it was there (in either place)! These Power Foods are what you should be filling up on. They should be on your shopping list, in your fridge, and stocked at work. These foods are going to fill you up and aid in keeping you from eating 54,567,484 cookies. I'm just sayin'.

For those of you who don't have acces to these lists, but are trying to follow weight watchers (or if you simply want the cadillac of all food lists for your own healthy endeavor) feel free to send me your e-mail address. I will be more than happy to type it up for you!

For those of you who are a little curious about Power Foods, here are some examples (no, it does not consist of broccoli flying around in a little red cape):

Fruit - All fresh, frozen, or canned without added sugar (canned should be in it's own juice [not syrup] and you should drain it). Such as: Apples, Blueberries, Cantaloupe, Dates, Grapefruit, Grapes, Oranges, Peaches, Plums, Rasberries, Watermelon, etc...

Veggies - Most fresh, frozen, or canned without added sugar or oil. (Most veggies have a Points Plus value of zero - all fruit has a Points Plus value of zero.) Such as: Artichokes, Beans, Broccoli, Carrots, Celery, Greens, Leeks, Lettuce, Okra, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Squash, Tomatoes, Yams, etc...

Whole Grains - Barley, Cornmeal, Couscous, Pasta, Brown/Wild Rice, etc...

Dairy - (Both non-fat and dairy substitute items count towards your daily servings) Such as: Cheese, Sour Cream, Milk, Soy, Yogurt, etc...

Lean Protein - (Canned fish and processed meats do not count) Such as: Beef, Chicken Breast/Drumstick, Eggs, Fish, Pork, Shellfish, Tofu, Grilled Tuna, Vegetarian Burgers, etc...

Later Taters!

"I may not be there yet, but I'm closer than I was yesterday."

~Author Unknown

Missing Since 09 DEC

2010-12-15T10:02:00.000-06:00

Has anyone seen my motivation? My mojo? My oomph? As I have stated a million times before, I am a poor college kid, so we are all correct to assume that I don't have a million dollars, BUT I can offer a lifetime of sincere gratitude for anyone who contributes to the successful return of "Motivated Kati."

It's like I hit my 10% and this big crap storm {full of fat, and carbs, and sugar oh my!} blew into town lol. I would love to pull one of my many, life-long excuses out of the holster and justify this week, but I just can't do it. Brace yourself folks...the day has come...for me to accept that I made poor choices simply because I was too lazy to make better ones. I had finals ~~this~~ last week, so that's not an excuse anymore. This weekend? I stayed home ALL weekend, no excuse there. Work? Hmm...apparently I needed to read through my no thank you blog. Yes, there has been a ton of [work related] stress, but I thought I was beyond the "shove food in your face to eliminate stress" concept.

It may have been better had I fit in some exercise, but it was so cold....wait....can't use that one either. There are plenty of you who are up to your knees in snow and you still exercise. Well, I was a little crampy...nope...can't use that one. If someone with MS or someone who weighs a hundred pounds more than I do can get off their tail to eat right and exercise, surely I can too.

*Sigh*

I think part of it has to do with being on a structured diet. {Bear with me a moment, I swear I have a point.} What I mean by that is, sometimes I am a type A, glass half empty kind of gal. It's all or nothing. Complete perfection or complete garbage. This may be just me, but I find that when I have a bad day {or two or three} I consider the whole week to be a wash. If I don't track for a day, it's as though I don't see the value of filling in all the other days. In reality, maybe I didn't do as poorly as I think...but since I didn't take the time to look up point values and track, I will never know!

I will spare you from the yummy details, but rest well assured...I ate some pretty tasty stuff this week. Tasty as it may have been though, I am paying the price for it all. I don't weigh in until tomorrow {yay *sarcasm sign*}, but the past couple of days have been miserable! The fat/carb/sugar overload has left me in a state of lethargy. My skin looks terrible {I assume that is from not drinking water like I was}. And I just feel.....fat.

Do you know what I think started this downward spiral of disaster? Last week I made my 10% right. I lost 2.2 {great number, right}, and for some reason I was still upset. "Everyone else" was getting big numbers from their first week of Points Plus, and after busting my hump I only got 2.2. Don't do that to yourselves. When you have worked hard, do not throw yourself a pity party because of some silly number. I swear, I wonder what it would be like to have a guy's mind for a day {okay, gross...I probably don't want to know what they think about all day}. As women we over analyze everything...to the point of self sabotage! It has to stop.

I hope you are all having a great week. It's almost Christmas!!! I will spend this next week looking high and low for "Motivated Kati." I will start looking for her in the produce section after work, then I might try the gym..."Motivated Kati" likes to hang out there. I swear, I thought I heard her calling from that big cookie box in our office, but I think it's a trick. I looked three times and she is so not in there.

Simply The Best...

2010-12-13T07:56:00.000-06:00

Short and sweet today...

I didn't think there was anything that would make me feel better on this terrible Monday...but I logged on here to find sweet comments and fabulous new followers. You guys rock...you are simply the best :)

-K

Award Time!!!

2010-12-11T15:06:00.000-06:00

Hmm...it seems as though my last post created a little debate. I have already addressed the issue, and although I am sorry to lose a follower, I stand by my beliefs. I will never push my beliefs onto anyone, and this blog is intended to document my weight loss journey. It just bothers me that Christmas has become such a materialistic holiday, and I thought the story was cute. Even I am guilty of getting the "wants" at Christmas (just ask my mom or husband lol), but that really isn't what Christmas is about! The spirit of giving is a part of Christmas, and although getting that new i-Pad or COACH purse is awesome, that's not what it's all about. Regardless of our Christian or secular beliefs, we all can use a little reminder to be more selfless. That's all :)

Anyway, on to my awards! I was given two awards by two amazing people, and it is time to pass those puppies along! I already mentioned that Sarah @My FAB Challenge gave me the Cherry on Top award so now I just need to pass it along to five other bloggers...

Marcy @Marcy's Weight Loss Journey She is one tough cookie! Her perseverance is truly an inspiration.
Stephanie @She's In There Somewhere I swear, I could give this woman awards all day long. She is so encouraging, and this award just seems perfect for her. She always gives that little something extra. She's like the momma hen of the blog world LOL.
Sarah @Phat Girl in a Little Coat She has this neat Lego Advent Calendar thing going on right now!
Ann @Ann Is Livin' Large No More-A Weight Loss Story I am new to following her journey, but I love her focused approach to weight loss and how she has prioritized her health.
Katie @Finding The Thin Within Full of honesty and great give-aways, her blog is one you can surely relate to!

So here's to you, my lovely bloggy friends...both new and old. Keep on keeping on, and thanks for including us all in your journey!

Blog award number two, came from the mother hen herself, Stephanie @She's In There Somewhere (I surely hope you don't mind me calling you that lol!) I was feeling a little insulted over a comment and not only did she stick up for me, but she gave me the Honest Scrap award! This time I have to list 10 honest things about myself before I pass it along.

I am terrified of dying alone.
I complain about not seeing my friends, but truth be known...I love being by myself!
I have a tendency to throw away really nasty things, as opposed to washing them (Like muddy socks and Tupperware containers with week old food...I know...it's terrible to waste money!)
On more than one occasion, I have taken credit for store bough food. ("Thanks baby, and yes I did make that from scratch. Just for you!")
I throw things in closets/drawers/spare rooms when unexpected company is coming by.
I am a closet pack rat. I keep the most random CRAP! I still have two containers full of Ty Beanie Babies!
When I am in an argument with my husband....even after I know I'm wrong...I still keep arguing my point.
I hate to pump gas, seriously. I will take the chance of having to walk rather than pump gas. I know, it's lame lol.
I wish I had the glamorous life of a classic Hollywood actress/socialite. Sometimes I dream of having nothing better to do, than throw on a gown glide down the red carpet....then the dryer buzzer goes off lol. (Think along the lines of Elizabeth Taylor and Grace Kelly.)
I saved this one for last, because I think it is hilarious that I share this honest fact with the person who gave me the award! I will not get into any body of water where I can not see my feet. Swimming pool? Sure. River, deep ocean water, or lake? Nope. I can swim just fine, but water still terrifies me for some reason. Must have something to do with not knowing what is swimming around my unprotected lower extremities...I happen to like all ten of my toes right where they are! I would much rather enjoy it from the boat or land.

The five people I would like to pass this along to are...

Sarah @My FAB Challenge She gave me the first award, and I just couldn't help but give her this one. When I was given the Honest Scrap award I swear, she was the first one I thought of! :)
Rachel @Watch Me Lose It-For Real This Time I believe I have given her an award before, but she definitely deserves this one too! She is going through so much right now, yet she continues to blog and work out.
Sara @Bombshell Beauty She is confident in who she is, and has some of the best ideas!
Lisa @In Weigh Over My Head Lisa's honesty and strength in overcoming life's obstacles make her an inspiration to all!
Trisha @Crazy Little Thing Called LIFE After reading her post from Thursday, I knew I wanted to give this award to her!

It's all yours, you fabulous honest ladies! Keep on keeping on, and again, thanks for including us all in your journey!

Keep Christ in Christmas

2010-12-10T20:28:00.000-06:00

Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. This is how it happened. I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door to the front room and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out next to the fireplace.
"What are you doing?" I started to ask. The words choked up in my throat and I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all know. He then answered me with a simple statement . . .

"TEACH THE CHILDREN!" I was puzzled. What did he mean? He anticipated my question and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said, "Teach the children!

Teach them the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that now-a-days Christmas has forgotten. "Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle. "Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward heaven."

He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. "Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise."

He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. "Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness."

Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree. "Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection."

He then pulled from his bag an ORNAMENT of himself. "Teach the children that I, Santa Claus, symbolize the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December."

He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. "Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent the blood shed by Him.

Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, "Teach the children that God so loved the world that he gave his begotten son." Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.

Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. "Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherds' crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed sheep to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper."

He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. "Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will toward men."

Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL,. "Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring mankind to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.

Santa looked back and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said, ""Remember, teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and do not put me in the centre, for I am but an humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship HIM, our LORD, our GOD."

~ Author Unknown

A Little of This and That

2010-12-10T15:30:00.001-06:00

Consider this your warning....today's blog is brought to you today by the letter "R" - as in Random. On this day, I am "Raaaandom Girl!!!"
<--- See..."Random Girl"

I am going to start with the lessons I have learned since losing 22 pounds...that's right....I said 22! It was very exciting to finally reach my 10% goal...and very hard earned might I add. At first, I was a little disappointed by only losing 2.2 the first week of Points Plus. Being the neurotic child I am, I have been weighing myself everyday on that darn Wii and it was leading me to believe I had lost over four. Who knows, I may have lost over four...those numbers fluctuate every day, but regardless of whatever that scale says, I know I worked hard and stuck to plan. I don't even have any confessions from the week! (Only used 1 weekly point!) As I sat there sulking, I realized I was being ridiculous. In the past three months I have only had two gains, and they were both less than a pound (point two one week and point four another). Not only that, mother nature is creeping around the corner, I have been completely stressed out with finals, and I did not get in any exercise. After I reminded myself of these things (and mom told me to knock it off lol) I thought about what I told you guys: "Be proud of your numbers!" Pretty good advice I think...perhaps I should practice what I preach lol.

I kind of went off on a tangent there, but here is what I have learned:

Do not get emotionally attached to your clothes if you are unhappy with your weight/size. Because after you lose 22 pounds, your favorite, black, cowl neck sweater [that you absolutely adore] that you really want to wear with your new jeans, black boots, and gold scarf will not fit you anymore. *deep breath* I'm just sayin'.
DO NOT WALK THROUGH YOUR LOCAL GROCERY STORE'S BAKERY DEPARTMENT DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER. {self explanatory}
Just because you and your mother have what appears to be the same loaf of bread, there is no gurantee the nutritional info. is the same. Case in point: Nature's Own Double Fiber Wheat Bread. This is the lowest point bread we could find (one slice for a zero points value and two slices for one) but with the new Points Plus we knew it would be going up. My mom claimed it to be 3 points now for two slices, but for some reason, I got the urge to just check it and it said SIX POINTS! I for one, am not wasting six points on bread. Turns out, Nature's Own puts out two of the exact same bread...only it's not exact. It is packaged the same, and has the same name...but one is much higher in calories. Moral of the story....double check your labels.
You will lose fat in places that you don't necessarily want to lose it from. Such as your ta-ta's and booty. My rear was M.I.A. to begin with, but now it's even smaller! How am I ever going to keep pants up? As far as the ta-ta's...they are still ginormous, but they have shrunk some and the Mr. is getting concerned lol.

In relation to exercise, I really need to find some motivation! I belong to the gym on site (it's only $15 a month) but I never go! It's small...and there are tons of military guys and gals there, so I get a little intimidated. They do offer classes, but the times of them are rotten. They are all either too early or too late. I really want to take a Zumba class, and there happens to be one a block from my house...but I would either have to caugh up the monthly membership fee or $10 per class. I swear, I spend so much wasted money on gym memberships!

Lately I have been doing some shopping {since nothing fits} and I just don't understand! Say you are a size 18/20, and you say to yourself, "If I could only get down to a 14/16 I would be able to find so many more things!" Why is it that when you get down to that new size you still have such a hard time? Now you see all the larger pants on sale! *sigh* It's a conspiracy, I swear.

And on a little side note, let me give you an example of how little guys pay attention. I had the opportunity to go eat lunch with a long-time friend of mine and I'll be darned if he didn't let me sit all the way through lunch with one earring in. I spent an hour socializing with people....with one earring. How embarrasing.

In summary, I have had an incredibly stressful week with school and work, but I successfully completed my first week of Points Plus with a 2.2 pound loss. Oh, and apparently I need to go buy some new earrings.

By the way.....there are only 15 days left until Christmas!!!!

Happy shopping, and please be nice to your servers and sales girls....they are exhausted! I worked in retail for quite a while (thank goodness those days are over) and I've done the waitress thing, so I know first hand how rough it is!

And a Cherry on Top

2010-12-08T16:13:00.000-06:00

To top off my week (more on that later) my girl Sarah (who is an amazing, funny,and determined ball of energy) @My FAB Challenge gave me this adorable little award --->

This is a quick little post because I am trying to finish things up for the day and get home to study and cook dinner. As soon as I get a chance (probably tomorrow AFTER MY LAST FINAL until January) I will be passing the torch on to five of you gals.

I hope everyone is having an amazing week! If you are doing the WW Points Plus I want to know how you are doing! Any new tips/tricks? So far I love it. No, no, no...that's not accurate...I LOVE it!!! Well, I love it for now...we shall see how weigh in goes tomorrow.

¡Adiós amigos!

Friend Makin' Monday

2010-12-06T09:42:00.000-06:00

Today's FMM is hosted by the always lovely Kenz @ All The Weigh, and today's million dollar question isssss...

What will you do to make this a December to remember?

Hmm....what won't I do is more like it! First and foremost, I get to go "home for the holidays," so to say. Definitely been too long since I have spent Christmas with my Grandma!!! Also on the agenda is the fact that I will not be shoving four hundred pounds of ~~garbage~~ food down my throat like it is my last meal. This December I am going to continue losing weight right on into 2011. My biggest accomplishment sort of comes from The Biggest Loser. This season the "theme" was pay it forward, and that's exactly what I did. In the past my mom and I have worked with the church to help provide gifts to foster children....this year I did it on my own. (Well, not really on my own...mom helped out too!!!) It is a feeling like no other to know you have truly made someone's Christmas. My little guy is two years old, and my only regrets are that I couldn't be there to see his face when he opens his presents, and I couldn't give him more. By all means, this isn't one of those "look at me" things, I just hope that maybe I can inspire someone else to pay it forward, because no matter how "bad" things are...there are always people a little worse off. I may not have everything I want, I may not own my house, and I surely do not own a Mercedes, but I have a family, my health, and a roof over my head.

So, what will you do to make this December one to remember? How are you paying it forward?

Make sure you head over and check out Shrinking Kenz and link up :)

Points Plus and Football

2010-12-05T13:48:00.001-06:00

Juliet @ Yummy, Low Calorie Diet Food has put out a nice little WW Points Plus FAQ post. (As well as a little Points Plus overview) You should go check her out...I always find good stuff there :)

And I love the way she put this...

Why are the point allotment higher in the new WW points program?

Simply put, you’re getting more points because food values (some of them) have also gone up. Think of it as inflation, WW style!

Now that I've caught up on blog-land....it's back to the Saints game (and homework...ugh).

WHO DAT BABY!!!

Day One of Points Plus

2010-12-04T01:31:00.000-06:00

Okay...first of all, I just got done watching Eclipse (Yes, for the third time. What's your point?) The DVD came out at midnight, but since I know a certain someone is getting it for me as a Christmas present, I didn't run to Wal-Mart and knock over any thirteen year old kids to get it lol. Lucky for me it came out on Direct TV tonight :)

Anywho, I thought I would take a second to post my food from day one of Points Plus to give you an idea of what it's like. Here goes.....

QUAKER HIGH FIBER INSTANT OATMEAL.....4
BANANA.....0
ORANGE.....0
SANDWICH -
   OSCAR MAYER LOW FAT MESQUITE TURKEY BREAST (51g).....1
   WW BRAND AMERICAN SLICED CHEESE.....1
   BLUE PLATE LOW FAT MAYO (1tbsp).....1
   FRENCH'S MUSTARD (1tsp).....0
   NATURE'S OWN DOUBLE FIBER WHOLE WHEAT BREAD (2 slice).....6
   SWEET BABY LETTUCE (handful).....0
DANNON LIGHT & FIT YOGURT.....2
ORVILLE REDENBACHER SMART POP MINI BAG....3
GRAPES (1/2c).....0
BANANA.....0
BLUE RUNNER RED BEANS (1/2c).....3
BUTTERBALL SMOKED TURKEY SAUSAGE (4oz - double serving).....5
FAT FREE MILK (8oz).....2
QUAKER MINI RICE SNACKS (8).....1

TOTAL: 29 POINTS
NO WEEKLY POINTS USED
SATISFIED FRUIT/VEGGIES
48 OZ WATER
2 DAIRY SERVINGS
WHOLE GRAINS
LEAN PROTEIN

The only things I missed out on were my oils (2 servings) and my multivitamin (I'm out). Other than that, it was a pretty successful day one. Oh, and apparently I need to find some new bread, I thought I had calculated my bread to be lower points, but I must have miscalculated. There is no way I am spending 6 points on bread!

Good luck, God bless, and go watch Eclipse :)

The Awesomeness That Is Weight Watchers

2010-12-03T12:26:00.000-06:00

Okay, so my fear-turned-curiosity-turned-hate has turned into...."Holy Crow! I love this new program!" For those of you who have been living under a large rock in the health/fitness/diet world, Weight Watchers has turned over a new leaf. What is so awesome you might ask? BANANAS ARE FREEEEEEE! Seriously, at first I was unable to concentrate on any other aspect of the program lol. (FYI...I eat a minimum of two bananas a day to help with leg cramps.)

The frustrating thing is having to re-train my brain and learn all new points values. The flip side to that is, you break away from the comfort zone of "Oh, I know how many points that will be." or "I don't need to weigh/measure that, I know what a serving size is." Sound familiar...? It's all exciting and new again...like a new relationship I guess. Although fruit and veggies have a points value of zero now, other things that I would normally eat are higher in points. No biggie though....it's nothing I can't adapt to. For instance, my Yoplait Light was two points with the old program...now it is three. My solution? Now I eat the Dannon Light & Fit for two points. I think it's great that we are in a way "forced" to step outside the box and look at other alternatives. Although I will dearly miss my sugar free angel food cake, I'm excited to see what else I can come up with to satisfy my ginormous sweet tooth (seriously, my sweet tooth is so ginormous it has a mind of its own). It's not that I can't have the angel food cake, but now it is four points as opposed to one, and I would rather spend the points on something else. I believe they refer to this occurrence as "growth" or a "light bulb moment" lol.

Today is my first day on the Points Plus program and already I feel healthier. I know that sounds lame, but I really do! For breakfast I had a bowl of high fiber instant oatmeal and a banana, then for a snack I had an orange. Right now I'm working on a low fat turkey on wheat sandwich with a handful of sweet baby lettuce (my new favorite) piled on top. It's also got mustard, WW [still] one point American cheese, and some low fat mayo (sorry, not giving up my mayo!). Oh, and for a side I have some Strawberry Cheesecake yogurt.

Gold star for me :)

The past couple of weeks have been...um...well, they were just rotten BUT I still managed to lose a pound and a half at weigh in last night! At this point I am .2 away from my 10% goal!!! This actually works out pretty well....next Thursday I should make my goal, and Friday is pay-day......hello Bento Box!

I am so pumped about the new Points Plus program, that I just had to tell everyone about it at work today. I have shared my new books and calculated every one's points lol. We were having a good ol' time...until boss lady came around the corner, curious as to why my cube was so popular (Seriously, I am so the cool kid at work today). But even she got involved in the fun of it all!

Forget New Years...the time for change is now! I've already made some changes...

Joined WW three months ago...now transitioning into the new Points Plus program
Changed my major...yes again. Can't wait to be a teacher :)
Umm.......

Okay, so I haven't made a ton of changes. But it's a start!

"Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are, for what you

could become."

Picture Post

2010-11-27T02:05:00.000-06:00

Not in the mood to type....rotten holiday...rotten food choices. I'm scared to think about what a post would look like at this point. Love and hugs to you all! Enjoy the pics!

The wedding pics I promised...

The Cake

Ceremony

My SILs and I

Southern Oaks Plantation

Hubby, Me, and the groom (Hub's cousin)

The newest member of our family...Trista

Me and the Hubs...doing something weird with his head

The Mr. and Mrs.

A little blurry...


In front of a fountain

Christmas time...

Some of my decorations

Our tree

A close up

The babies

KEEP GOING!

2010-11-23T23:17:00.001-06:00

“The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you’re willing to work.”

~ Oprah Winfrey

Whoever you are...wherever you are...whatever your goals may be.....KEEP GOING!

Today, I bought a beautiful dress for my husband's work Christmas party. It was a size...14! I know that is still a larger size, but I have not seen that size since, since....ummm, well, since a long time. (Before WW, I was pushing into the 20's.) It felt amazing to shop in the "regular" section for once!

My prayer for you, is that you keep going. Keep trying. Keep taking care of yourselves. If you have a bad day, so what! We all stumble. We all succumb to the yummyness that is out there in this big, bad carb/sugar/fat overloaded world, but the good thing is....when you lay your pretty little head down at night and go to sleep, you get to (God willing lol) wake up and start over with a brand new day!

I know this may come off as one of those obnoxious, cheesy type posts, but I cannot express to you enough how amazing it felt to first put back the size 18, then the 16, and then feel somewhat sexy in the size 14. I still have a long way to go, and it may even be a large 14 (you know how different labels can vary), but for the first time I really got to see my hard work and sacrifice pay off. I'm still not comfortable enough to share my weight (I promise chickadees, I will when I get closer to my goal), and although these sizes are embarrassing to me, I am so proud of my accomplishments that I can't help but share it with y'all.

So keep going my gorgeous bloggy friends. As momma says, "It's just food. You should eat to live, not live to eat". When I smell fried chicken, or see a cheesecake these are the most annoying words known to ~~mankind~~ womankind, but they are so true. You can do it. You have the strength, you just have to want it bad enough.

You owe this to yourself.

*stepping down from soapbox*

Friend Makin' Monday Time Y'all!

2010-11-22T12:36:00.000-06:00

Come one, come all...head on over to Kenz @ All The Weigh read, answer, linky link up, and make some new bloggy friends! This week's question:

What is your favorite Thanksgiving dish?

Ummm...all of them?

Every year, since the beginning of my existence, my favorite has been, and always will be, the same: pecan pie. I mean c'mon, unless you don't have taste buds, who doesn't like pie? BUT, I always have a runner up, for the past couple of years it has been the German dressing. Hands down. I have no idea where this recipe came from, I just know that my dad's family in IN has made it since I can remember, and it is mighty tasty! It takes several days to make and I don't even think it's possible to calculate the points value of it lol. Truth be known, I probably don't want to know! (There is a reason it comes around once a year...)

So I ask you, my fellow [amazing] bloggy bloggersons..."What is your favorite Thanksgiving dish?" Do you plan on adapting your recipes...or are you keeping with tradition? I have three (yes, three) Thanksgiving dinners/lunches this year, and I don't think we are changing much of anything, so portion control is key (plus extra exercise!).

Some WW tips to keep you on track:

Plan, Plan, Plan!
Try and eat right/light for the days leading to and following after the big day
Drink plenty of water
Eat a good breakfast, full of fiber and protein
Trim fat and remove skin from your meat
Put down, I repeat, put down the sweatpants. Wear form fitting clothes, maybe even a belt!
Exercise! Take a family walk instead of sitting on the couch picking at leftovers...new traditions are fun :)
Eat slowly and start with the healthiest food on your plate...perhaps you will find you are too full for three servings of baked macaroni lol
Research your points values ahead of time and bring them with you...on that same sheet you could also write down a little mantra or goal for some extra encouragement. Or, you could write the weight you have already lost alongside how far you need to go for a nice little deterrent.
If having the big meal at your house, be prepared with to-go containers...send it away my friends, send it away!

"Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude."

~E.P. Powell

Weight Watcher's Blogs

2010-11-21T00:46:00.000-06:00

I found this link through Sheryl (aka Bitch Cakes) and thought I would share it with you guys. It provides links to 60 other inspirational Weight Watcher's blogs. Due to this ridiculous ten page paper I'm in the middle of writing (Benjamin Franklin: Philosopher and Scientist), I have not been able to read many of them....but hopefully y'all have more time than I do.

Happy reading!

Recipe Alert!

2010-11-20T21:16:00.000-06:00

Hola! I hope you are all enjoying this lovely Saturday...I for one have been cleaning and working on a research paper all day. Last week at my meeting I befriended someone and got this lovely recipe for taco soup.
I made it tonight and it is so good!
Plus it is very inexpensive to make and there will be plenty for leftovers or guests.

Taco Soup

1 pound of extra lean ground beef (or turkey)

1 package of hidden valley ranch dressing

1 package of taco seasoning

1 can of corn

1 can of kidney beans

1 can of pinto beans

1 can of stewed tomatoes

1 can of tomato sauce

Brown the meat, drain well, and then add all of the ingredients together. Let simmer for 20 minutes. *Some people add sauteed onion...I have texture issues lol, so I am not one of those people.

Serving size: 1 cup

Points value per serving: 2

Supposedly this is one of those "tried and true" WW recipes that everyone knows and loves BUT in the event that you have been living under a rock like I apparently have, here it is!

FYI...I had a cup of this and 1 small baked sweet potato (with 1 teaspoon light brown sugar, spray butter, and cinnamon) for a four point dinner. Four points! And I am still full!

Adios amigos...and enjoy!

"Back to Life, Back to Reality..."

2010-11-19T11:55:00.000-06:00

Okay, now that I have you jamming out to En Vogue in your heads...it's time to get back to the basics. I get the message that "it's a marathon, not a sprint" and all of those other little quips, but I also know what my body is capable of...and having a .2 loss doesn't fly with me. Now, let it be known: I am proud of my number(s)! Losing .2 is better than gaining .2, but it was not a very well earned loss, and I know if I don't buckle down that I will continue to have low losses or start to *gasp* gain! I have consumed some of the worst best food ever this past week...and I'm lucky it wasn't a major gain.

Let's start with last Friday. I ate at....THE PANDA! Hubs and I had a fun little evening of shopping and we decided to meet up with a friend of ours for dinner. Personally, I wanted Mexican (because we all know how healthy that is lol) but the boys had the majority vote, so Chinese it was. I honest to goodness did not do as much damage as I have previously done, but it still felt like "the walk of shame" when I left out of there.

Saturday wasn't so bad. We had our Christmas portraits done early that morning and after we got home I cooked a healthy, low point breakfast. Lunch could have been better, but it wasn't an all together disaster either. Mom and I went shopping all day for clothes and we opted for the soup and salad from Applebee's. Could I have opted for low fat dressing? Sure, it would not have been as yummy as my creamy Caesar, but I could have made a better choice. Perhaps I could have made a better "soup" selection? Considering greasy (but oh-so-good) sodium laden chili doesn't really count as soup, you bet I could have done better. I only had two bites of the bread that comes with it, and I think I only ate one crouton, so I still gave myself an E for effort :)

On to Sunday. Oh, dear, sweet, wonderful Sunday. It was actually a great day for me! I went back to my previous sweet little country church with my mom and got to see an old, very dear friend of mine, but after church I had my first round of "the worst best food ever." Do you have any idea how hard it is for us southern belles to avoid fried food down here? Well, it is nearly impossible in a small town, on a Sunday. Can you say fried pork chop? How about some fried okra and baked macaroni (Baked chicken is good for you, therefore baked macaroni should be too right? I know, I know...)? Oh! Don't forget about the cornbread! I did decide to have un-sweet tea with splenda and decided not to butter my cornbread...you know, because of the calories lol.

I'm beginning to feel like the boy who cried wolf. "I'm back on plan! I'm focused!" ... "Sike! I ate battered pork, fried in lard!" ... "Wait, for real, I'm back on plan!" ... "Crap..."

I wish I could tell you that it ended with the pork chop, but wait there's more!

Sunday night we had a family wedding to go to. (Yes, on a Sunday) It was the type of wedding every little belle dreams of. The exquisite plantation home with immaculate grounds....fountains....millions of twinkling white lights...dancing...horse drawn carriage....attendants to cater to your every need (ladies in the south do not open their own doors)....it was uh-mazing! As soon as I can get my silly camera to link up to my computer I will post the pics! As you can imagine the food did not disappoint. From fried (seriously, it's everywhere) duck, to gumbo, and bananas foster...you name it, it was there. I tried all the classics, discovered there are ways to cook chicken and shrimp (or prawns to some of you) than I could have ever imagined, and even mustered up enough courage to taste some new things (some good...some not so much). We must have been served 50 different things, and then the cake...oh the cake. The bride chose red velvet cake. How awesome is that! Normally I don't eat wedding cake (if I do, it's not much of it), and I had assumed by looking at it that it would be the disappointing almond or white cake, but I got lucky.

It should be illegal for food that is so bad for you to taste so good! To be completely 100% honest with you, if I had it to do over again...I would have still done it. I know, I'm terrible.

As previously stated, I am terrified of hitting a plateau. Last night it seemed as though everyone was getting big numbers! I was only 1.8 away from my 10%. I should have made that.

A major benefit to food journaling, is that you can go back and see exactly what you ate during the weeks you had big losses (or big gains). I went back through the weeks where I had big numbers and realized I'm not eating as many veggies, and I'm not getting in as much dairy. I also had a ton of fiber and whole grains during those weeks. After our meeting, momsy and I went to the store. (Technically we had to go to three grocery stores but whatever. It must be nice to live somewhere where the stores are stocked and have variety.) I loaded up on the good stuff. With my meeting being on Thursdays I won't weigh in for two weeks (Thanksgiving), and last night I declared I will have lost 2 weeks worth of weight by our next weigh in. Apparently I'm quite the little over achiever lol.

Moral of the story is this: As long as you are aware of yourself and the implications of the decisions that you make, as long as you keep your eye on the goal, and as long as you keep trying...you are successful.

"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.'"

~Mary Anne Radmacher

I supposed I should get to my World Civ. assignment that is staring me down right now......later taters!

Oh by Gosh by Golly....

2010-11-15T13:57:00.000-06:00

Yes, I'm alive, and I have missed my bloggy world so! It has been one of "those" weekends...you know...the kind of weekend where you are on the go and have places to be and things to attend. The type of weekend where you know you will spend Monday making excuses and feeling miserable about the choices you justified during the weekend. Yep, one of "those" weekends.

*Sigh*

It was definitely a

kind of weekend.

Anywho...on to fun stuff! Apparently two of my lovely bloggy buddies are nosy (lol KIDDING!) and would like to know more about me. I'm so excited! I was hoping someone would tag me...as you can tell I have no problem blabbing away...er...typing away : )

Sarah @My FAB Challenge had a few questions...

1. If you could have a $10,000 shopping spree, where would you spend it at and on what?
My, my, my...$10,000 could buy a girl many pairs of shoes BUT now that I'm an "adult" (by the way...it's very overrated, I much prefer being a kid lol) I would do something responsible with it. If I were given 10G I would honestly put it into an adoption fund. I would probably take a 2-3 thousand and pay off a couple of little things but the bulk of it would go to that.

2. What is one of the top 10 on your "bucket list"?
Travel across Europe!!! France, Italy, Greece, Ireland, Spain, Germany.....

3. What is one thing you are looking FORWARD to over the holidays?

SEEING MY GRANDMA!!!

4. Finish this sentence.. "All I want for Christmas is..."
...my family to be happy." Life is such a roller coaster, and this past year has been a doosey so I hope my family has happiness in their hearts and contentment this Christmas. Nothing else would make this kid (or adult...whatever) happier!
(But P.S. if Santa really wants to know....I would love a GPS and the new Chanel perfume ~ the pink one called "Chance"!)

I was lucky enough (I love you guys) to be tagged TWICE, and AJ @The Weight Lost Diaries asked...

1. How does blogging help or hinder your weight loss efforts?
If it hindered me in any way I wouldn't do it. This is the rest of my life. Blogging is great because it helps me track my progress and let's me vent my frustrations. Losing a large amount of weight is not an easy thing to do, but it is comforting to know you aren't continuing on the path alone. I find so much encouragement, inspiration, and humor on here! I think, "If so and so can overcome that..." or "If so and so can lose weight while dealing with that...." then surely I can keep going.

2. What is the biggest change you’ve made since starting on the weight loss path?
Disciplining myself. (Until this weekend, but I'm back on track today!) I am such a pushover, I push myself over...seriously. "Oh Kati, you know you want this...it's okay! Tomorrow you will start that diet." "Yeah, you're right! I do deserve that {insert really bad, yet oh so good thing here}!"

3. Do you feel confident you will meet your goal weight?
Ummm...no, not really. I have failed so many times, and it has been so long since I have been happy with my body that I have forgotten what it's like. I've been the "fat friend" for so long it sometimes feels like that's who I'm supposed to be. I know it's feasible, but it's hard to really feel confident that I can do it.

4. Are you planning to stay on your diet through the holiday season or go on hiatus until January?
It's not a "diet", it's a lifestyle change : )

Well folks, that's all she wrote.

Oh! (I lied...there's more) I forgot to mention that I [somehow] lost another 2 pounds last week. That brings my total weight ~~lost~~ removed toooo - - - - 18.2 pounds in exactly 2 months. Of course, this week will be a different story, but more on that in my next post.

*Happy Dance*

Now it's my turn *evil laugh* to torture some of y'all with some questions! Tag, you're it...

Okay ladies, your questions are:

What is the happiest moment of your life?
Who is your favorite television character of all time?
What is your favorite bumber sticker (or funny/interesting quote/saying)?
What are three things you are really good at?

5K Wednesday

2010-11-10T12:35:00.002-06:00

Yeppers, you read the title right...I did a 5K this morning at work (Sorry no pictures, cameras are restricted where I work). Let me just go ahead and say, it probably wasn't the best idea. I've hit the pavement pretty hard this week...apparently too hard...and I seem to have injured my foot. I've done some research and I think it may be something referred to as a "stress fracture." All of the signs and symptoms fit, and let me just tell you...IT HURTS! I look like a big ol' dork walking with a limp now, but it just hurts too much to put all of my weight on that foot.

I should start by telling you guys that I am the most random and sporadic exercise person ever! One week it's the Shred, another some P90X and yoga, then later on in the month it's a collaboration of randomness (jumping jacks, lunges, etc).

Back to why it was a bad idea...I'm terrified of hitting a weight loss plateau so I've been increasing my exercise, unfortunately I think I may have done too much, too fast. This week I opted for a serious walking routine with [random] jumping jacks (the non-naked kind lol) and different abdominal exercises. Usually I take a couple of walks a week, I might try to jog a little, but for the most part I just walk and it's only for about 45 minutes. This week (since Thursday) I have walked a minimum of 5 miles every day.

That is a great accomplishment, BUT I have three things that work against me:

I have a foot issue. I can't remember if it is over or under pronation, but it has to do with the way my foot strikes the ground. When I take a step, the outer edge of my foot strikes the ground first and then rolls inward. No one notices it but me (I swear I'm not some strange ogre shuffling around, this is actually somewhat common), but you can see where I wear down the outer edge of my shoes...which brings me to number 2...
I don't have the right shoes because I tend to go more for "cute" than practical, and I am an avid sale shopper (I come by it honestly. My mother is referred to as "Bargain Annie." No joke.). I recommend you all have your feet checked to ensure you have the right type of shoe for your arch (or lack there of). I have yet to find an actual place that does this in my area, but you can go online to certain sites (Nike is one of them), answer a few questions, look at the diagram/video and get an idea of what you need.
This one is self explanatory: My weight puts too much strain on my poor little feet!

So why am I being stupid this morning? Three reasons:

I just can not pass up the opportunity to squeeze in a 5K. Weigh in is tomorrow and as I already said, I'm really trying to avoid any type of plateau.
My dear friend/co-worker/weight loss buddy was doing it also, and it was her first 5K ever! I wanted to do it with her, and make sure she went through with it (lol just kidding doll, you did awesome and I knew you could do it!)
Okay this one is a little silly...I've been catching up on TBL (The Biggest Loser) and those people are constantly pushing through some form of pain. It doesn't kill them (although some of them made me nervous), but it makes them stronger and they are so proud of working through it. I wanted the same; I wanted to push through the pain in my foot. And you know what, even with the butt chewing I got from my mom and husband I do feel proud of myself for pushing through it.

Of course, now that I've been hard headed I'm kind of screwed for the weekend and next week. My foot is swollen, and according to the mister, I have to keep off my foot for the next several days. This means no laundry, floor cleaning, or cooking right? I'm thinking that's exactly what it means : )

Hopefully it will heal, because I don't have the extra time or money for a trip to the doctor!!!

Let me also mention, that it amazes me how little people think things through down here. In an effort to get people active, and promote health and well being we had a 5K. Do you want to know what else they did today? Brought in probably a hundred Papa John's pizzas, that's what. I mean really people?! Let's think about this...

Luckily for me, I'm in a good mindset right now so I had my rotisserie chicken (sans skin) and some leftover sauteed yellow squash and zucchini. That's better than nasty ol' pizza any day. Well....maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration, but I felt better about eating my food :)

Friend Makin' Monday!

2010-11-08T13:07:00.001-06:00

Well guys and dolls, it's that time again! The Texas Darlings are hosting FMM today...the topic? Your Top 10 of 2010. This is a great way to look back and reflect on all the positive that was brought to you in 2010. Make sure you head over to my new bloggy friend's page and link up!

"A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent

of all other virtues."

-Cicero

1. My freedom. Our great country is constantly changing, sometimes for the better....sometimes not so much, but I thank my lucky stars that in 2010 I had the freedom to share this blog, go to church, wear whatever I wanted, and the millions of other things I did without even thinking twice. Many brave soldiers have fought and died to preserve these freedoms....for that I am truly thankful.

2. My health. This year I gave it all up. I gave up the idea of torturing my system with pill after pill. If you treat your body right, it has a way of doing the "jobs" it was created to do. I have spent my entire adulthood thus far taking pills for ovulation (several a day), hormones, sugar levels, indigestion, blah, blah, blah....enough. This year I took control of my health, and it feels wonderful.

3. School. I know, I know...who actually likes school??? But I'm very thankful that I have the opportunity to do so. This year I started "big girl school" (I made the transition from community college to a university), and it has been monstrous....but I'm glad I have the opportunity to better myself.

4. My husband. I don't think I tell him enough how important he is to me. Yes, the man drives me insane. He can be insensitive, rude, and lazy (you know you are dear) at times...but I never doubt that he loves me. At this time last year, I honestly did not think we were going to make it, but we did, and for that I am truly, truly thankful (most days.....kidding!).

5. My job. I started working for the Navy in April. Is this my dream job? No. But, I am lucky to have a job (in this economy especially) that pays well and is flexible with my school schedule. I'm in a safe environment, I have great co-workers and supervisors, and I am treated with respect.

6. My landlord. I know that sounds odd, but I am grateful for her. (Wow, this is turning into a personal blog...) My husband was laid off this year, and although he was lucky enough to get into a new job (also with the government) rather quickly, we still fell behind. We decided he should take the opportunity and go back to school, so needless to say we are two broke college kids at this point. It has turned out to be a rough year financially, and we definitely aren't the type to ask for handouts. A lot of money is spent on tuition, supplies, gas, and food (on top of bills and life's other many expenses)....and we [each] don't always pull 40 hours a week. Therefore, I am very blessed to have an understanding landlord, who is willing to work with us when we need it.

7. My Weight Watchers meeting. I can not say enough positive things about WW. I have a wonderful meeting leader who I have learned so much from. WW has given me the tools I need to be a healthy and confident woman. Thursday is my weigh in day, but it is still the favorite day of the week for me. I love my meetings......which brings me to number 8

8. My mom. The older I get, and the more life experiences I have, the more thankful I am for this woman. She is the best friend one could ever have. I'm telling you guys...I won the mom lottery. This year, my mom has grocery shopped for me, done my laundry, cleaned my litter box, dried my tears, held my hand, chewed my butt, gone to every single WW meeting with me, proof read God only knows how many things, brought me lunch, prayed a million prayers I'm sure, given immeasurable amounts of support, put gas in my car, and five hundred zillion other things that I couldn't be more grateful for. I've met a lot of people in my 24 years, and have heard/read some terrible stories about how they were treated by their mothers. She may drive me insane one day (love you mom), but I know that I'm one lucky girl.

9. My new friends. Some friendships have survived 2010, and some....well, not quite. For the new friends, both online and in the real world, I am truly grateful for your love, support, humor, and words of encouragement.

10. My BlackBerry. Okay, I know this one may seem out of place, but you don't understand! I have been dealing with this ridiculous excuse of a "phone" (some LG model) and I am so glad to be a BB girl again. Seriously! It's not like I spent hundreds of dollars on it either. I extended my contract and got the new BB for free. It's my baby. Don't....judge....me.

Sorry y'all....this was a long one. Hope you brought along a snack and some patience ; )

Kati -1, "Snacky Feeling" - 0

2010-11-05T22:42:00.000-05:00

So I was sitting on my couch after dinner....and that annoying "snacky" feeling was creeping up on me. Remember the WW hunger commercials with the little orange "hunger" monster? Yeah, it was kind of like that lol. I decided I was not going down that road tonight, so I threw on my sneakers and hit the pavement. The pups got to wear their new winter duds - they were less than thrilled, but I thought they looked cute :)

I didn't do any running, but I did walk at a brisk pace for an hour and a half. Now I'm so exhausted from my day and my walk that I don't even feel like looking at food (yay!).

Tomorrow I'm trying a new breakfast recipe....I'll let you know how it goes. Later taters!

I Am Such A Loser!

2010-11-05T11:06:00.000-05:00

Oh Friday, I have missed you so! I am in the BEST mood today! I feel strong and accomplished for a change! I [somehow] managed to remove 2.6 more pounds last night, which earned me another 5 pound sticker (yippee!). After my meeting, my amazingly awesome and wonderful mom took me shopping....and I didn't cry or curse (major accomplishment here people). I found two pair of great dress pants and a couple of work tops, plus a cute sweater and some new heels. I call that a success! I also just [finally] found out that I'm able to bypass a prerequisite next semester and take two classes that are offered where I work (I work for the navy, and my university offers some classes on site). This is a great weight off my shoulders. First of all, they are combining two classes (Managerial Statistics and Regressional Analysis....sounds fun huh? lol) into one, and secondly, because it is super convenient for me. On top of all of that goodness, did I mention it's Friday? It's also cold outside, which makes me very happy. It just doesn't feel like holiday time when it's hot an muggy outside. Oh, and the water issue is fixed now at work...I dont' have to fight anybody at the vending machine for the last bottle.

Since today is a pretty slow day in cubicle paradise, I will try and catch up on some of your fantabulous (leave my words alone) blogs and find some yummy recipes for the weekend. By the way, whoever posted the parmesan, zucchini, and chicken thigh recipe....THANK YOU! It was so good, unfortunately I can not remember who posted it, and I can't find it, otherwise I would link you guys to it.

Compliments of my WW food journal.....

"Avoid feeling sorry for yourself along the weight loss journey. Try gratitude instead. Feel grateful for the opportunity to change and grow, feeling and looking better each day!"

Toodles poodles...have a great weekend : )

Aha!

2010-11-03T21:05:00.000-05:00

Brace yourself...I have figured out the motivational key to exercise.

Are you ready for it?

Ditch your sweatpants and opt for your "birthday suit." Seriously, have you ever done jumping jacks......naked.......in front of a mirror?

Usually when I'm doing the Shred, my 30 seconds of jumping jacks, running in place, jump twists, etc. proves to be the longest 30 seconds of my life. Well, when I'm cramming for a big test it helps me to take mini exercise breaks (gets the blood flowing). Up until my last mini exercise break I had not changed out of my work clothes, so I decided to do so and as I was passing my full length mirror I was thinking, "Ugh, I really need to up my exercise." So I started doing jumping jacks......in front of the mirror.........in my birthday suit. Sixty jumping jacks later I still had motivation to keep going, and I did. Then I did crunches, jogged in place, and did a few other random exercises.

Call me crazy, but I'm telling you it works!!!

Just Keep Swimming...

2010-11-03T16:05:00.003-05:00

Oy vey...I can't win for losing this week, but it's okay because I have entered the "I don't care" phase. There is hope for me though, I have not entered the "self destruct" phase...yet. Let's have a looksie at how my week has played out thus far:

My hair dryer broke and I had to go to work with wet hair Monday
My only pair of black dress pants (Nothing fits! Everything is too big!) somehow got a massive stain or scorch mark of some sort on them. I was forced to pull out a pair from the back of my closet, made of some unidentifiable fabric. Did I mention that they were "discount" pants and one leg was slightly longer than the other? Nonetheless, they fit (somewhat) and seeing as I'm required to wear pants to work, I wore them.
I have so much homework this week it is ridiculous! Why do we have to write so many papers??!!
I have been so stressed out and crunched for time this week that I have neglected exercise (which is probably why I have been in a funky mood - lack of endorphins) and counting points (I've been doing a lot of "guesstimating"), which has left me feeling less than proud of myself.
Thanks to being a responsible adult and paying my bills, I do not have much of that green stuff to remedy number 2.
Due to some kind of ruptured pipe I am having to buy all of my water at work (usually I fill up at one of the many water fountains....I am definitely not a water snob). A major problem with this - everyone else is having to do the same, so you are lucky if the machine has water in it!

Sorry guys, I'm not trying to be a Debbie Downer. Maybe it's the yucky weather we have been having? Whatever it is, I need to put my big girl panties on and just deal. Any of you heard of that tiny, little-known film Finding Nemo (lol)? My parents always tell me to "just keep swimming...." It's good advice, although sometimes with weight loss (or life in general) it seems as though you are just treading water with the current working against you!

Since it is November, maybe I should reflect on the positive things. I do have many things to be thankful for...

My family is super amazing. Seriously, they rock.
I have all of my limbs, organs, and mental abilities (for the most part, ha!).
I have the freedom and opportunity to go to school, and a husband who supports my decision to do so.
I have a job; one that pays well and is very flexible with my schedule.
I have a home to go to at the end of the day. Sure, I rent it, but it is filled with my things, is comforting and sturdy, and is on a safe street in a quiet town.

I feel a little better now. I won't go into the list of confessions today. (I will tell you Cheese Fries are on that list though. Yes, I dipped them in Ranch. No, it was not fat free. And yes, they were darn good.) I suppose I will wait until "confession time with Mom" tomorrow. My game plan for next week? MORE CHEESE FRIES! Kidding! (Seriously mom, I'm kidding!) What I will do is, get as much homework out of the way on Friday and Saturday as possible so that I will be less stressed during the week. By doing that, I should have more time for exercise (my sanity and temperament is apparently contingent upon this) and time to plan out my meals better. I also think I may look into getting a water pitcher to keep in the office fridge.

I've been reading every one's blogs, and it seems as though y'all (yes, I say "y'all") have done really well with round one of the "Holiday Pudge Battle." I did partake in some Halloween fun and had candy corn. I guess I am a little proud of myself for portioning it out and not gobbling it up in one sitting :)

Tomorrow is weigh in day......hopefully I can pull off a miracle on the scale lol

You Look Mahvelous Dahling!

2010-10-29T22:39:00.000-05:00

"A girl should be two things:

classy and fabulous."

~Coco Chanel

I found a new, fun blog.....Sara over at her Bombshell Beauty blog, gives us the 411 on clothes for those of us who are not stick thin (I hate the "plus size" and "women's size" titles, ugh). I am finally (yay!) making my way out of that department, but it is still hard to dress myself. I sometimes feel like because I'm overweight, dressing cute is a waste...I just don't think it will look as good on me as someone else who is thin. I know this is ridiculous, and I do make an attempt to dress cute, but it's hard!

There are so many "rules" out there for girls like with a little more to love (and not much of a selection), and it just sucks the fun right out of shopping. Not to mention the cut of larger clothes. Just because I need pants in a larger size, it does NOT imply that I need the waist of those pants to come up to my armpits. I may need a larger size in a shirt, but I in no way need a shirt that is five feet wide but too short to cover the top of my pants. To you "plus-size" (ugh) clothing designers out there, we do not have the desire to prance around in moo-moos (well, maybe sometimes....they are quite comfy - lol j/k), or any of your other gosh awful designs that display obnoxious prints (seriously, lay off the floral stuff....being overweight does not constitute a need for large floral patterns), unflattering seams/fabrics, and the other cheesiness you expect us to buy.
*deep breath*

Now, I do give major kudos to some of you designers/companies who are with the program. Such as Maurices.....

I love me some Maurices! Stores like Lane Bryant are also great, and have beautiful clothes, but I am finding that I don't really fit into their clothes anymore. I find little pieces here and there at JCPenny or Target (As a poor college kid, I'm all about the sales, so I hit up Marshall's and TJMax too!), but I really have to dig in and get creative. It's either too short, too long, too wide, too clingy, smothers the girls, too low cut, too high cut, etc. I swear, I have the weirdest body....

I think when we are in the active process of losing weight, it is twice as hard. You still may not be comfortable with you body, even though the weight is coming off, or you simply don't know how to dress your new body. Maybe you don't want to invest in new clothes because you are anxious to lose more weight. For me, it's all of the above! At 5'4, every 5 pounds makes a difference in the way my clothes fit.

*Sigh* Perhaps I should just put on my big girl panties and deal with the present form of myself. I love fashionable clothes and fun accessories, but those yoga pants and LSU sweatpants are just so comfortable....and they always fit! (I can only imagine what Stacy and Clinton from What Not to Wear would have to say in reference to that lol). There are a few tips/tricks that I do apply when I go shopping:

Belts are your friend! If you have a shirt that is too boxy/flowy, find a cute belt and put it around the smallest part of your waist (kind of just under your rib cage) and voila...insta waist line! It doesn't have to be a boxy/flowy type shirt either, this looks cute with more form fitting shirts and dresses as well.
Go get fitted for a new bra. You would be so surprised how often women walk around in the wrong size bra. Most department stores (I usually go to Dillard's) will do this free of charge, or if you are feeling up to facing Victoria's [not so secret] Secret, they do it as well. Your girls will thank you, your blouse will fit better, and you will relieve some of the stress off your back.
Black is not always the most flattering choice.
Horizontal stripes are not completely out of the question.
Tapered pants are the devil. I give major kudos to anyone that can pull off a skinny jean! Jeans with a little bit of a flare at the bottom help to balance things out, and look much more flattering (on myself that is).

Hopefully one day the shopping process won't cause me so much mental anguish! Maybe going through my closet and cleaning out my "fat pants" will help me feel better....that way I can make room for new stuff, and they won't be there as a crutch. I don't know about you all, but I don't live in one of those clothing optional societies, and if I'm out of fat pants.....well, I had better watch what I eat!

Later taters.....go check out Sara's blog, and be good this weekend! Remember, green m&m's and candy corn do not, I repeat - do not, count as vegetable servings!

Yay For Recognition!

2010-10-28T23:07:00.000-05:00

Well, there she is! My shiny new award compliments of Girly Girl: Losing the Gut! I really appreciate the support and encouragement from you all, and I truly enjoy blogging, so thank you for this Girly Girl :)

Apparently it is my duty to now announce to the world 7 random things about me and then pass this along to 10 other fabulous bloggers.....

I cannot sleep with socks on
I am majorly OCD about folded towels. Seriously lol I will pull them out and refold them if it's not done correctly!
I love to dress my doggies up
I spent a month in Hawaii during the 5th grade
I love back rubs....it's like a drug to me lol
I'm allergic to cantaloupe, Orajel, and latex (I know...the last one is probably hilarious to you dirty minded folks out there)
I cannot stand for my food to touch

Before I pass this on, I guess I should go ahead and catch you up on "all things Kati." Tonight was my weigh in and I was up .2, but I'm okay with it (I know, shocking). Last week I had a really big loss, and this week I did really well (only used 4 weeklies, yippee!) so I'm still proud of my NSVs.

My goals this week are to get in more exercise and get more veggies in....hopefully I can find some new recipes because I don't know about you, but I get sick of just eating salad, steamed broccoli, and canned carrots. I just stepped up to level two with the shred, and I'm not dead yet so that's a good thing lol. I did notice that Jillian is a little less "nice" in level two. I don't know, maybe it's just me...anyone else think so?

This weekend I don't have any Halloween plans, Bryan will be working so I will probably just do homework and pass out treats to the little goblins and princesses that come by. I think instead of buying candy I am going to get the bag of miniature play-dough cups from Wal-Mart (If there was another random fact to share, it's that I am addicted to Wally-World.). I think that is the neatest thing ever! Those little darlings need 30 pounds of tooth-rotting candy about as much as I do.

Okay lovies....here are the 10 bloggers I would like to pass this along to. You guys are so awesome, and such an inspiration so hats off to you!

Till next time ; )

My Must Have Foods

2010-10-26T21:40:00.000-05:00

As a Weight Watcher, there are certain foods one will always find at my house. Here are my top 20 items that I never go without!

Egg Beaters
For 1/4 cup it is only 1 point! Pair it with some fruit, canadian bacon, and a slice of double fiber toast and you have a great breakfast for under 5 points.

Flat Out

One Flat Out is only 1 point! I spread a serving of PB2 and a sliced banana on mine for a really good snack. It comes to 4 points but it really fills you up!

Lean Ground Turkey
Depending on the brand it comes to about 4 points per serving. It is a great substitute to regular hamburger meat. I make turkey burgers, turkey chili, turkey spaghetti, turkey meatloaf........

I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!

If you are a Weight Watcher guy or gal...learn to love this! It has a 0 point value but watch your serving size!

Boca Burgers
Only 1 point per patty! This was another one of those things I was skeptical about but I love them now thanks to mi mama! They don't shrink up like regular burgers either. I season mine up quite a bit (watch the sodium) and cook them in the skillet with a little water (they come out more juicy) for about 10 minutes. Put it with some low point bread of your choice, some fat free Kraft American Cheese, and a handful of lettuce....yum!

Bananas

Most supermarket bananas are about 2 points and with the increased exercise that you should be getting these guys will be your best friend. I used to have terrible leg cramps, but I eat at least one banana every day and I rarely have leg cramps anymore!

Grapes
1 point for a whole cup! Grapes are my go-to snack in the afternoon. For some reason they take me a while to eat and they curb that sweet tooth that sneaks up on me about 3:00.

Yoplait Light, Fat Free Yogurt

This yogurt is 2 points per container and is so good! It comes in several flavors so you don't get too burned out on it (I eat this almost every morning during). I found some low point granola that I mix in with mine so I get in dairy and whole grains all in one.

Nature's Own, Whole Wheat, Double Fiber Bread
Attention bread lovers....this stuff will only cost you 1 point - for two slices! (It has a 0 point value for one slice.) Sometimes I eat my Boca Burgers on this, I eat my rotisserie chicken on it, I toast it for breakfast.....
(This week I plan to try it out with a HG recipe for french toast!)

Weight Watchers Brand String Cheese

It is only 1 point per stick and we all love this stuff! For a 3 point snack you can pair one of these with some low fat, low sodium pretzles.

Kraft Shredded, Fat Free Cheddar Cheese

It is only 1 point for 1/4 cup, which is a perfect serving size to go on your salad.

Rotisserie Chicken

The one I get (from either Wal-Mart or Rouse's Market) is 4 points for 3 ounces (I peel the skin off). I'm always on the go, and I love chicken so these work out great for me. You can mix it with 1 tbsp low-cal, low-fat mayo and a boiled egg white for a quick 5 point lunch (throw in a slice of the double fiber bread and some 0 point mustard and it's still only 5 points).

Orville Redenbacher's 100 Calorie Smart Pop

I love individual serving size stuff, and this is only 2 points for the whole bag! If you want a little extra butter taste, try Kernel Season's Popcorn Seasoning for 0 points.

Quaker High Fiber Instant Oatmeal

I haven't been eating oatmeal long, but this stuff is 3 points per serving, is super easy, and tastes great! I don't even add anything to it other than bananas.

Steamfresh Frozen Broccoli
These are awesome for a quick veggie dish! Broccoli is of course a 0 point food, but throw some fat free cheddar on it and you have a one point side.

Frozen Tilapia

This isn't the "brand" I use but it is 2-3 points per piece. Personally I get my frozen tilapia from Wal-Mart or Rouses Market. I usually make this once or twice a week and have black beans and corn along side.

Organic Black Beans

Normally I get Full Circle brand for 2 points per serving. Black beans are high in fiber and really filling!

Splenda
Splenda is a no calorie sweetener with a 0 point value. Coming from the south, I love sweet tea but more sugar = higher point values so Splenda is awesome for Weight Watchers! They make several variants of the original: added fiber, granulated, and brown sugar blend.

Can Carrots
I know can vegetables don't have as much nutritional value as frozen or fresh, but I love can carrots. If I need an extra side with my lunch at work I will pop open a can of these babies for 1 point.

Fat Free Milk

Self explanatory here people. It's 2 points a cup and you have to have 2 dairy servings in a day on WW. Sometimes after I will mix in a scoop of low calorie protein powder for a post workout drink.

Reaching Goal(s)

2010-10-25T11:49:00.001-05:00

The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential... these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.

~Confucius

I have been thinking a lot about my goals; not just my weight loss goals, but my life goals. I feel like my weight has held me back from so much, and now that it is starting to come off I am beginning to see things in a new light. I don't consider myself to be selfish or materialistic, but I want nice things in life. I want a beautiful home to be proud of and raise my family in, I want an exciting and fulfilling career, and I want to travel the world (not too much to ask for right?). I don't expect anything to be given to me, and I know I have a lot of work ahead of me, but don't you love that feeling of satisfaction you get when your hard work has been rewarded?

In relation to my weight loss, I know that no one else is going to do those crunches for me, no one else is going to walk those 5 miles, and no one else is going to plan my meals for me (although it would be nice!). It's all up to me. Which brings me to goal numero uno...

1. I will remove my excess weight and become happy and confident with my body. I want to be healthy and feel strong enough to take on the world. I don't want my mom to worry about my health, and I don't want my husband see me cry over not having anything to wear.

2. I will obtain my bachelors by 2012. I am double majoring in International Business and Marketing with a minor in Spanish so right now I can't really see that light at the end of the tunnel....but I refuse to give up.

3. I will move far, far away from Mississippi. Don't get me wrong I love my home, and there are some very special people here, but I want to raise my family somewhere with more opportunity. By "far, far away" I mean somewhere near Nashville or Louisville. My parents love it up there, and I have family and loved ones near both cities.

4. For my 10 year wedding anniversary, I want to renew our vows in Hawaii. I want bare feet in the sand, a free flowing lace dress (which I will feel confident and sexy in after achieving number 1!), flowers, flowers, flowers (can you tell I love flowers), family.....the whole enchilada! We have been through a lot in the past 5 years of marriage, and taking the time to celebrate us will be a wonderful thing as we start new adventures - such as the next goal......

5. I want to adopt. Specifically, I want to adopt from China. Due to a reproductive disorder there is a pretty big chance I may never be able to have children on my own, but even if I were blessed enough to do so, I still want to adopt. (China's One Child Policy)

6. I love "suburbia," but my ultimate goal is to have a small horse farm. I want a large house with a modern-country kitchen, built-ins, and a wall of windows that overlooks the property with a view of the mountains. I want pretty fences, a tree lined drive, and the perfect little red barn. Although I enjoy the city (I plan to work in the city), I want live where I feel safe and my kiddos can run around barefoot, breathing fresh air.

7. My career....I still don't know exactly where I will be when I graduate (unlike nurses, lawyers, etc who know pretty much what they will be doing), but I know I want a challenging and rewarding career that offers me opportunity to travel some. Currently I work in cubicle paradise (haha...right), and although I am very thankful for my job and I love the people I work with, I know it is not the type of thing I want to do "when I grow up." I want a fast paced career that let's me be creative and meet new people.

It's funny how my weight loss goal can be incorporated into all of the other goals. The confidence I gain will be beneficial at school and then in my future profession when it comes time to owning that big interview. It is self explanatory in number four and I will need the extra energy for numbers five and six!

I came across these steps for achieving goals:

You need to deeply desire the goal or resolution.
Visualize yourself achieving the goal.
Make a plan for the path you need to follow to accomplish the goal.
Commit to achieving the goal by writing down the goal.
Review your overall progress regularly

I know my "goals" seem like pretty big dreams....and that annoying little pessimist in me thinks they are impossible to achieve BUT I'm pretty determined (okay...hardheaded) and I have the best support system in the entire world!

Oh Boy

2010-10-22T22:53:00.000-05:00

I went here.......

And yeah.....I did this.......

Don't. Judge. Me.

*Sigh*
I won't lie....it was stinkin' GOOD! I know what you are thinking, and you are right (I'm sorry you had to find out this way mom lol), but I tracked that puppy and I know I have to bust butt for the rest of the week. Surprisingly funnel cake only comes out to about 8 points. I looked it up on several websites, but that number just seems too low for an entire funnel cake...so I gave myself 10 points for it.

I probably should feel bad for eating it, but I don't. If I work hard and stay focused the other 364 days in the year...I deserve a stupid funnel cake once a year. Right? Right.

A Little Less of Me to Love

2010-10-21T22:26:00.000-05:00

"Never trade what you want most in life

for what you want at the moment."

Okay, so before I went to my meeting I had decided I was throwing Jillian out the window! After all the things I read about "not losing" while doing the shred, and after driving myself mad weighing myself all week, I just knew I was not going to have good results. Aside from my discord with Jillian, I was just having a rotten, stressful week; my dog was mad at me and decided to "forget" he was potty trained, I had four essays and a test, and my husband forgot where the washing machine, broom, and dishwasher is located. I even typed up my blog post for the day and admitted defeat....but you know what???? I LOST 5.6 THIS WEEK! Yaaay for hard work!

I got to my meeting and grudgingly stepped on that mean old scale and you know what...it was nice to me! The lady behind the table literally shrieked at me "What in the world did you do this week?!" The hidden pessimist in me immediately said "OMG how much did I gain?!" After she gave me a once over and checked to see if I had lost an arm or something, she told me my numbers and I wanted to run around the building 10 times! I really pushed myself this week and it feels so good to see such a rewarding number.

Now, I have never touched any type of illegal substance in my life but I can't imagine any better "high" than the one I am on right now : )

Weight Watchers really, truly works. It is worth all of the time consuming weighing, counting, and measuring. It is worth the weekly fee. It is worth the "embarrassment" of being "complicated" at a restaurant. Tonight's meeting was about celebrating the victories we have; the non-scale victories to be exact. My NSVs include my pants fitting loser (Heads up mom....we are going to need a shopping trip. Soon.), my increased energy, and the pure satisfaction and pride I have in myself. No one else is going to do this for me and I am ready to do this all the way.

Tonight our leader talked about blogging/journaling through our weight loss journey, and I really hope some of the people in our group take heed to the advice, because blogging has been one of the greatest assets to my weight loss journey. I have learned so much from all of you, and the support of this blog "community" really helps get me through the week.

Have a great weekend! Chao!

It's Just One Of Those Days...

2010-10-19T18:57:00.002-05:00

Okay, "confession time" (as my mom says)....I am still weighing myself almost daily and it is making me nutso! I can't help it! I am a little bit of a, how can I say this nicely...... umm okay, there is no nice way - I am a bit of an OCD control freak. I like to know exactly where I am at on a daily basis, and right now it's killing me because the stupid number will not go down! If anything it goes up a little each time I check, ugh. I have exercised more, eaten more whole grains, increased my fiber intake, drank gallons of water, all of it...honestly, I have played by all the rules! I have used some of my weekly points, but I didn't waste them on twinkies and pizza; with exercising more I was legitimately hungry and I still tried to eat sensibly.

Now I'm really worried because I started Jillian's 30 day shred Sunday (which is KICKING MY BUTT) and I read somewhere that you don't really lose weight on this program...just inches. That is awesome, but people I have 62 more pounds to lose! Has anyone else heard this, or experienced it for yourself???

My hubby tries to be supportive but at only 5 weeks in, I don't want to hear that "everyone hits a little plateau" or "you've been exercising so much and your body just needs to adjust." (Sorry B, thanks for trying and I love you still lol) He's sweet and encouraging and tells me all the nice stuff that people say "aww" about, but it just makes me mad!

I know that no matter what that scale says Thursday I should still celebrate my NSVs (non-scale victories), but it is just so frustrating not to see that number going down. "sigh"

Friend Makin' Monday!

2010-10-18T08:01:00.000-05:00

Gooood Morning All! If you want to be included in the awesomeness that is Friend Makin' Mondays (hosted by Shrinking Kenz @ All The Weigh), just copy the question below and share your answer with us on your blog. Link up at the bottom of this post then take a few minutes to visit and comment on other FMM blog posts.

What is your favorite holiday?
Hands down, no doubt about it my favorite holiday is absolutely Christmas!!! I would keep my decorations up year round if it was socially acceptable and you know...if my husband would let me. I love the family time, I love the food, I love the giving spirit, and I even love the craziness of it all! I love to give presents and bake yummy treats. I love the cool weather, all the smells, the Church services, and that peaceful feeling you have after all the hustle and bustle of shopping and cooking is done. I know Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks, and I do, but at Christmas I just feel so blessed to have my family, freedom, and life. This year we get to spend Christmas in Indiana with my dad's side of the family and I can't wait!!! It just feels so much more Christmas-ier when you get to travel up to grandma's house.

Next Year....I'm Running My 5Ks!

2010-10-16T22:29:00.000-05:00

Whew! I am exhausted! Today was the Alzheimer's Memory Walk (5K). It was about an hour away so we were up at 6 (okay, 6:30) and out the door for 7 (okay, okay...7:20). Let me just take a minute to say the Memory Walk is "the nation's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support and research." It is a cause that is very close to my heart since this disease is what took my grandmother away from me . I pray for a cure every day...this is an awful, awful thing for any family to go through. This was only the second year for the walk, so there wasn't as big of a turn out as I would like to see, but we still raised a good bit of money for research :)

Here's me and the Mr.

Me and my momsy

We did a balloon release in memory of those who have suffered with this disease at the start of the walk

Our three balloons :)

The walk took place at a huge agricultural/fair ground type place (I know...very "redneck-ish") and part of it zig-zagged through the RV grounds (shown here). At least we didn't have to worry about any traffic. Here are most of the walkers - all of the runners were ahead of us.

After the walk, my hubby decided to be nice and take me shopping all day! This is rare folks, I have ruined this man for shopping for the rest of his life. He hates it. Hates. It. So I was really happy we got to enjoy the day together without him leaving toenail marks in the sidewalk ("I don't wanna goooooo....." <-- usually what I hear).

For lunch we had Red Lobster. Now, as a girl from the south I am used to fresh. Fresh seafood, fresh produce, fresh meat. But I have to say...it was pretty darn good! I ate very sensibly and had the lunch portion of wood grilled chicken breast and shrimp over rice pilaf. I only ate a few bites of the rice and had only half of a cheddar biscuit. My other side was a salad...the problem was they didn't have any fat free dressings. None! I went with the caesar dressing on the side and only ate a teeny tiny bit (instead of pouring, I dipped). I was quite proud of myself :)

After my WW meeting Thursday, mom and I made our market run and I got.....

Yay!!! I can't wait to dive in to these recipes, they look so easy and yummy! I notice a lot of people bragging about their "HG" recipes....now I get to join the club.

Well, it's a lazy Saturday night for us....so I'm going to finish watching The Blind Side. Again. (If you have never seen this movie, you should. It just warms your heart!) Hopefully I can avoid the fridge and that mindless snacking thing that tends to coincide with lazy Saturday nights. Hope you are all enjoying your weekend....and remember, "Happiness is not pleasure, it is victory." (Zig Ziglar)

Oopsie Daisy!

2010-10-15T12:31:00.002-05:00

Hmmmm, let's have a little recap of my goals for the week.....
1. I will exercise for at least 30 minutes, a minimum of four days this week. I will!
Well, I went for two hour walks and two 1/2 hour walks which is better than sitting on the couch eating ho-hos and ding-dongs BUT even I have to admit...I could have pushed myself a little harder (okay, okay...a lot harder). Honestly, I don't think I even broke a sweat on 3 out of the 5 walks!

2. I will eat my full serving of vegetables and fruits every day.
Crap.

3. I will bring good, healthy snacks with me on my weekend adventures. I will not succumb to the garbage at McDonald's or whatever is on the shelf at a gas station.
You see, what ha-happened waaas...

4. I will not weigh my self everyday. I will wait until Thursday.
I plead the fifth.

What it all boils down to is.........I gained. It wasn't even a big gain, but it was enough to make me realize how lame all of my "justifications" were. I justified that since I went for a 30 minute walk and ate vegetables that day it was okay to eat 4 muffins. Um, no Kati, it's not. I also justified that since I was making better choices than before WW and since I was on a 3 week losing streak there was no way I could have a gain, so it was okay to eat out 4 times this week. Wow Kati, let's see...um how about...NO!

Thank the Good Lord above that I have such a motivating WW leader and an amazing mother who attends meetings with me, because you know what I wanted to do last night? Eat my weight in fried fish and cheesecake, that's what. But of course I didn't do that. It worked out perfectly that last night's meeting was about being motivated and getting back on track. Between the meeting and "pep talk" I got from my mom, I did not self destruct. (It's amazing how to everyone else in the room your mom can appear to be whispering something sweet or funny into your ear, but through the sweet smile and clenched teeth she is really saying, "Don't. You. Dare!" among some other choice things that convinced me I did not want fried fish. Ever.)

Now I understand that WW is not a run of the mill, restrictive, crash and burn diet, but I also know that fried fish, too many muffins, and cheesecake is what got me into double digit sized clothing. Last week is done. I can not undo my mistakes, all I can do is try twice as hard this week. I mourned over the fact that I don't get to reward myself with a manicure this week (I was only 1.4 lbs away from my 5% goal of 10 lbs so I was expecting to hit it) and that is okay because this week I am going to kick a$$. Period. No excuses this week!

It's time to up my exercise and get in the game. I am going to start off with Jillian Michaels in the morning and then hit the pavement in the afternoon. The muffins are gone (and not because I ate them all, but because I removed them from my house...well, technically mom took them away for me, but whatever) and I am not repeating last weeks mistakes. I have not tried any workout DVDs in a while, but I found Becky's blog through the Blog Hop and she was talking about how intense the 30 Day Shred is. Today is pay day (yay!) so after work I am off to Wally-World to pick up Jillian and begin our love/hate relationship. I am also making a mental note to pick up some Icy-Hot as well lol.

On a happy note, I owe kudos to my mom who lost over a pound and to my friend and weight loss buddy who lost another 4! I know they are reading this, so good job and I am very proud of you both!

Today's parting words of wisdom/encouragement come from Mike Ditka: "Success isn't permanent and failure isn't fatal."

Hippity Hop

2010-10-15T08:29:00.000-05:00

This is a great way to find some new, super-duper, amazing, encouraging, funny blogs :)

I Am Woman...

2010-10-13T13:55:00.000-05:00

      "Oh yes I am wise. But it's wisdom born of pain. Yes, I've paid the price.
                     But look how much I gained. If I have to I can face anything.
   I am strong (strong).
             I am invincible (invincible). I am woman.
                         Oh, I am woman. I am invincible. I am strong"

This is officially my personal "theme song." If you get a chance you should listen to it (I Am Woman by Helen Reddy). Or you can catch it on SATC 2 (major disappointment BTW) where the girls performed it for karaoke.

Be prepared...this is going to be such a random blog. I'm in a weird mood today...not really blah, but kind of a mix between "bored" and "whatever." It makes no sense because I have so much to do (I just don't want to do any of it).

Here is a little motivation....because we can ALL use some of that from time to time. I just love these Nike ads...not sure what year they are from but they are cute. I'm an International Marketing major so I love discovering new ads.

This one says: That's right. I'm out of here. Do not chase me down or text me or try to talk me into going out to lunch. I don't have time to figure out if I have time for a run. I'm just going. The world will not fall apart in my absence. I might miss some body's birthday cake or a discussion of last night's season finale. Even if I do, who cares. I'm coming back with a state of mind three coffees, two flirtatious e-mails, and a week of vacation can't buy.

This one says: I have thunder thighs. And that's a compliment because they are strong and toned and muscular. And though they are unwelcome in the petite section, they are cheered on in marathons. Fifty years from now I'll bounce a grandchild on my thunder thighs, and then I'll go out for a run. Just do it.

I swear, after I read these I wanted to kick off my heels and run out of the office into the distance. Okay, maybe that was an over exaggeration BUT I really am pumped to start training for a marathon. I used to be able to run for hours it seems...funny how 70 pounds can change that. I'm up to walking an hour a day (in the Mississippi heat) so hopefully I can get my stride back soon! I just need a good plan/routine and a multi-function pedometer to track my distance and time.

I think we all need to buy "gone running/biking/etc" signs and use them! The hubby can wait. The laundry can wait. The _____ can wait.

I have to get rid of my air freshener (I warned you...random). Being on WW, I like to make things myself so that I know exactly what is in them. Lately though, I have been noticing my food tastes like air freshener. My yummy 2 point Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins now taste like "Sweet Hawaiian Breeze" and "Clean Linen." Gross. Apparently the plug in oil things can cause that. The oil in the air will cling to your bread, crackers, fruit, etc. Very frustrating indeed.

For a closing random thought of the day....I hope I can finish out my week strong! Tomorrow is my weigh in and I will hopefully have loss # 4. I'm a little nervous because I have slacked on my water and veggie consumption this week (bad llama), but since I upped my exercise maybe it will balance out? Maybe. Another little thing that may hold me back is my new bad habit of "guesstimating" (another word of mine...I like it, leave me alone lol) with dressings, cheese, etc. I am usually pretty good at eyeballing stuff but I'm hoping a few extra ounces of things won't ruin my week. At least I haven't used many of my allowance points :)

Good Googley Moogley!!

2010-10-11T20:47:00.000-05:00

Okay, if you have not tried the chocolate pumpkin muffins...you must! They are so yummy and moist! This is such a great way to enjoy making good choices (I believe they are only 2 points each!).

I bought the big 30 oz can (instead of the 15 oz) of pumpkin and I plan to make another scrumptious fall recipe with what's remaining. I am going to mix the pumpkin with a spice cake mix, and instead of muffins I'm going to go for cookies. I will let you know how it goes :D

Hope everyone is having a great week! Goodnight all!

Happy Fall Y'all!

2010-10-11T14:36:00.000-05:00

Well, I made it through the weekend...and I almost stayed on point. Almost. Stupid McDonald's and their stupid...McDonaldness. We went on a fishing trip yesterday and I really did stick to my weekly goal of bringing food with me! But it was a really late night (we don't stop until the fish stop biting) and I ran out of "my food." I bought a foot long club (w/o bacon OR mayo, just lettuce - my daddy will be shocked to know this) on wheat and ate half for lunch, while the boys ate fried chicken, and I ate the other half for dinner. I brought a whole bag of grapes and a couple of low calorie snacks, plus ginormous bottles of water, but it just wasn't enough. On the last "I've gotta go again" trip, we stopped at McDonalds and got...chicken...nuggets :(

*Sigh* Well, at least I didn't do as much damage as I would have a month ago. I just got the 6 piece nuggets (with a little bit of sweet and sour sauce) and ate the poor french fry stragglers that were left in the bottom of the bag...because you know, we don't like to waste food.

Today is a catch up day. I got to sleep in (yaaay!!!) because the Mr. and I are both off from work and school. Bryan got up and cleaned all the fish we caught last night, which was about 30 white trout. The guys kept mentioning the words "fish fry," but I have news for them....those little guys are going on the grill or in the oven. Considering I caught most of them I have the say so on the matter right? Right. Today is also leftover day. We had a combination of pork tenderloin, turkey chili, and cream corn for lunch. Who doesn't like a little variety? Bryan apparently lol. I thought it was good though. For dessert we had some Kemp's frozen yogurt. If you want a really good 3 point dessert try this:

- 1/2 cup Kemp's no sugar added, fat free frozen yogurt
- 2 tbsp sugar free, fat free cool whip
- 1 WW english toffee candy, chopped up
- 1 tbsp sugar free chocolate cool whip

Even picky britches ate it!

It's such a gorgeous day, we are about to go for a long walk/jog with the babies (our pups). Maybe this afternoon I can make some of the yummy chocolate pumpkin muffins that I hear are so good. I tried spunkysuzi's apple chips last week and they were awesome! We took our nephew's to the bowling alley and I brought them along with me...I didn't even think about those disgusting cheese fries. (Well, maybe I thought about them....I mean c'mon, it's fried potatoes with cheese on top, but I didn't cave!)

Oh, one more thing before I head off...I stumbled across a pretty good, portable snack. Spread some PB2 and a sliced banana on a Flat Out; roll it up and you are good to go. It's easy, fast, and only 4 points.

Just Do It!

2010-10-07T21:45:00.002-05:00

Yay! Two more pounds lost! That brings my total toooo...

NINE POUNDS!

It sure beats gaining! Although, after three weeks of losses I'm getting a little nervous. I know it's inevitable - a gain will happen one day...but I'm scared of how it's going to make me feel. It's going to hurt!

This week I am determined to get in some more exercise! Mid-terms are OVER (do NOT ask how I did...ugh) so I have no excuses this week. None! During the week I keep my niece and nephews after school and not even that is keeping me from at least going for a walk. They are all healthy, thin, beautiful children but it won't kill them to get some exercise. Kids play too many video games now - I know, I sound like an old geezer right - but seriously, when I was a kid you had to pull me in kicking and screaming! I spent all day outside playing.

In other news, this is a three day weekend...yay! But it also means an extra day of opportunity for poor eating choices. I will prevail! Tomorrow is the Gulf Coast Band Competition (yes, I am a former band nerd), and I will be going with one of my skinny best friends as well as her thin, beautiful mother. It's okay though, because I'm pulling out a big purse and loading that sucker up. (Does anyone know where I can get a small insulated pouch of some kind? I don't want to lug around a full size lunch box, I just need something to fit in my purse.) There will be all the classic stadium food, but I will be armed with my fruit, maybe some cheese, and a massive bottle of water. I dare, (oh, do I dare) the ticket-taker-person to say something about it! Maybe I should print up a "doctor's note"...hmmm...

My goals for the week are as follows:
1. I will exercise for at least 30 minutes, a minimum of four days this week. I will!
2. I will eat my full serving of vegetables and fruits every day.
3. I will bring good, healthy snacks with me on my weekend adventures. I will not succumb to the garbage at McDonalds or whatever is on the shelf at a gas station.
4. I will not weigh my self everyday. I will wait until Thursday.

Lately I have been in the habit of weighing myself constantly. It has become an obsession. If it's close to meeting day, and I'm up a little (or too close to my last number) I won't eat as much as I should on Wednesday and Thursday. That is not healthy, and not what WW is about...so it has to stop!

My mantra for the week: Make the effort, not an excuse.

"Go Greek?" - College...Sure, Dairy...No

2010-10-06T07:52:00.000-05:00

OIKOS Organic Greek Yogurt is YUCKO in my book. I don't know if it's the brand I bought, a texture thing, or if it's all in my mind, but I miss my flavorful yoplait light so much!!! Maybe next week I will try the CHOBANI stuff. It literally takes me close to an hour to eat one little thing of OIKOS. I've tried doctoring it up and everything...I found some low point granola (it's the best part lol), got some frozen blueberries, and I even put a little truvia in there to knock the tartness out. Still sucks. Maybe it's like beer and is an "acquired taste." Hmmm...

Some of the other things I really do like include:
Canadian Bacon - Oscar Mayer makes this ready to serve stuff and it is only 1 point for 3 pieces. You can chop it up for your salad, you can eat it with some double fiber bread at breakfast, or you can put it on a pita pizza. I try extremely hard to stay away from processed foods (too much sodium)...but I just love anything with the word "bacon" in the title :)
Rotisserie Chicken - I get the pre-cooked ones from the grocery and they are so good! I use that on my sandwiches instead of processed sandwich meat. It's only 4 points for 3 ounces (that's just the right amount for a sandwich or to go on a salad) * Towards the end I use what is left for chicken salad
Sugar Free Hershey's Chocolate Syrup - It is 0 points, and the serving size is enough for nearly 2 milk servings. I don't care for drinking straight milk (especially f/f) so this helps me get my servings in.
Beans - I have been a nerd about some beans lately. They are so low in points and really fill you up. Plus there is a huge variety out there! I just made a 16 bean soup the other day and I am having no problem eating the leftovers. I also keep some canned black beans on hand (watch the sodium, certain brands are better) as an easy dinner side. For some reason I like them when I eat talapia...I know, I'm weird.
Turkey - I don't think I would last on WW w/o turkey. Turkey meatballs, turkey burgers, turkey chili (making some tonight!), turkey sandwiches.... It tastes yummy and has great benefits (you can find a ton of turkey recipes on weightwatchers.com and other sites).

Let's see...what else....Oh!

Sugar Free Angel Food Cake - At only 1 point for 1/6th of a cake (the round one from Wal-Mart) you gotta love it! I think it's a mind thing though. I see that big, huge slice and I'm like, "OMG I just won the WW jackpot."
Kemps No Sugar Added/Fat Free Frozen Yogurt (Vanilla) - It's 1 point for 1/2 cup and I have to say...it's pretty delightful!

Aside from doing a pretty decent job with my points this week, (random fact - I now consider my weeks to run from Friday to Thursday, since my meetings are on Thursdays), I actually got in a little exercise. Yay! I did the 5K on Saturday, and I went for walks twice this week (about 45 minutes each). The Mr. and I are both in college so instead of study dates (or anyother kind of date lol) we have study walks :) Tomorrow is my weigh in, so we shall see if it paid off or not.

Thanks to the people that read my silly little blog. I know I said I do it more for me, but it is still pretty cool to see that over 100 people have now read it...still no followers, but at least I know I'm helping somebody.

Reason #568126

2010-10-04T11:16:00.000-05:00

Yet another reason as to why I want to lose weight: I refuse to be a statistic.

Mississippi has kept its US heavyweight title for a fifth straight year * New Report Finds Obesity Epidemic Increases, Mississippi Weighs in as Heaviest State *
Obesity rates rising, Mississippi's still fattest *
Mississippi Is America's Obesity Champion

Okay, so the majority of blogs I follow are from more northern states (such as NY, Jersey, Colorado, etc) and I can only imagine what they think when/if they read my blog. "A girl from MS blogging about being chunky? Go figure." I've traveled to some pretty exceptional places, and truth be known...I usually dread the drive/flight back to stinky Mississippi. I would give anything to live in Louisville, Manhattan, or Boston but my family is here, college costs less, and it's pretty safe. As an educated, well-rounded (no pun intended lol) woman it really unnerves and offends me when people label all Mississippians as lazy, uneducated, hicks (check out the Believe It! campaign: "Yes, we can read. A few of us can even write." ), but these obesity headlines are dead on.

Perhaps it's the AWESOME food we have down here, or the lack of public transportation, bike lanes, and side walks? Poverty rates maybe? Whatever the reason may be, I don't want any part of it. Being on WW does not embarass me at all, nor does asking for help and encouragement. All around me people are dying of heart disease; they are being diagnosed with diabetes, and the poor children are too fat for their own good!

How can we reduce the obesity? By joining Weight Watchers of course! :)
Seriously though, people need to educate themselves. Walk to the library and get online, buy/rent some cookbooks, learn about nutrition labels and look at them before you throw something in the cart. Ask around; ask for help. Ignorance is not an excuse.

Weighing In What the Experts Say:
1. Obesity usually affects more than one person in the family so making healthier eating decisions and adding more exercise as a family will increase the chances of the childs weight control.
2. Do not use food as a reward.
3. MOVE MORE! Play with your dog/kid. Participate in a 5K. (It's GREAT weather right now for that.) Walk down the hall instead of sending that e-mail. Take the stairs, not the elevator. Park further away. Turn on the radio and clean something. (You know you have crap in your closets that has been there forever. Don't even lie.) Walk to the store. Take a dance class. Anything, just get off the dang couch! <-- Okay, so this one wasn't necessarily from the experts...I just got a little carried away.
4. Studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association and the Lancet suggest that sleep loss may increase hunger and affect the body's metabolism, which may make it more difficult to maintain or lose weight.
5. Joseph Donnelly, director of Kansas University’s Center for Physical Activity and Weight Management, recommends eating right and exercising. And you need to do both, not just one or the other.

Mmmm Pita Chips

2010-10-03T21:14:00.000-05:00

Usually on Sundays I go through and clean out my fridge/cabinets, and while doing that today I came across a pack of whole wheat pitas that I never got around to eating. They were probably nearing the penicillin growth stage and I HATE wasting food so I decided to make Pita Chips. Here is how I did it:
Take one pita and slice it into eighths. Spread out the triangles on a baking sheet andlightly brush on some EVOO. I sprinkled mine with basil, oregano, garlic powder, sea salt, and a tiny bit of parmesan cheese. Pop them into the oven at 400 for about 10 minutes (or until crispy enough for you...my hubby and dad like them extra extra crispy). I read on some other sites that people even use Old Bay or Tony Chacheries.
For one pita (8 to 16 triangles, depending on if you separate the two layers or not) it's two points...just make sure you don't go overboard on the salt and oil. I made some to go with tomorrow's lunch of homemade chicken salad because they turned out really yummy! They are definitely way better than the gross store bought version.

It's amazing how my body is starting to break it's lifelong bond with carbs and sugars. It gets easier as each week passes. I know, I sound like a line out of one of those d e p r e s s i n g self help books, but it really really does. Today I only mean mugged one person for loading their shopping cart with yummy fattening treats (What? They had TWO Cheesecakes and WINE!), and I didn't give my dad too hard of a time when he ordered FRIED CHICKEN (my favorite!) at dinner. I'm finding that I really want to eat well now, and I purposely try to avoid those uncomfortable overeating pains. I'm also trying new things (like cauliflower mash' potatoes without a backup plan...jerk) Instead of my fruity yogurt, I bought the plain Greek yogurt, a bag of low point granola, and some frozen blue berries. We shall see how that goes tomorrow...

My First 5K!

2010-10-03T12:15:00.000-05:00

Wow, yesterday was such a great day!!! Completed my first real 5K (it was a walk, not a run), hung out with some great friends, and did some night fishing on the coast. On the down side...I did pretty rotten with my points. I did really well on my portions, but I didn't plan ahead enough with my food. I need to really keep focused with points and especially exercise for the rest of the week.

On the weekends I usually make a good breakfast since during the week it's usually pretty blah (oatmeal, yogurt, etc.). Today's breakfast only cost me four points and I didn't even eat it all!

Pancakes.....3 points for 3 pancakes
Blueberries.....1 point for a cup (I only ate 1/4 cup so I put wrote 0 for my points)
Blueberry Syrup...0 points per serving
Egg Beaters.....1 point per serving
Diet Green Tea.....0 points
I Can't Believe It's Not Butter.....0 as usual :)

Don't Forget the Beano!

2010-10-01T15:50:00.001-05:00

In the words of my WW leader, "Nobody ever got fat from eating too many vegetables!" After my 5K heart walk in the morning I will be off to find the farmer's market for some in season veggies.

"I'm a loser baby..."

2010-10-01T07:23:00.001-05:00

Holy guacamole, I removed another two pounds....even though I've had mojitos and beer this week with NO exercise! So you know what that means? That's right, I got a sticker :) It must be all the food...that I didn't eat this week lol. It has been a crazy, hectic, stressful school week, and once I get home and "get in the zone" with writing essays I block everything out: the husband, the dogs, eating, earthquakes, pretty much everything. I asked my meeting leader last night about my leftover points every day and she said although it is good to eat them, if I'm not hungry...don't push it. Instead of shoving 5-10 points worth of food into my face right before I go to bed, I will just have a glass of milk and be done with it. At least I am making much better choices than before, so my body is getting the nutrients it needs.

Last night's meeting was fantabulous (it's my word, I like it, leave me alone)! It was grocery shopping 101 (the who, what, when, where, and why of groceries) and we had 4/5 new people, which is always awesome. It's nights like that, that really make me glad I attend meetings. I learn things that I would have never discovered on my own! It was really informative, but by the time we left I was about to go godzilla on the poor city of Slidell from being so hungry!

It was a great night for everybody! My mom lost 2 lbs as well, and my friend that goes with me lost 9! NINE! I'm so proud :) I don't care if it is water weight, fluctuation, or whatever - BE PROUD OF YOUR NUMBERS! If the overall number is continuing to go down over a period of time, and your health is increasing...it is called progress! Don't let other people project their negativity onto you. Eventually they will see the end result of your hard work and realize it's not all "just water weight." Can you tell I'm a little punchy today? Some people, ugh!

What does motivation and bathing have in common?

2010-09-28T21:31:00.000-05:00

I came across this very cool, motivating blog about finding your "anchor" and it really made me stop and think about my reasons for removing 70 big ones. Of course there is the desire to restore self confidence, feel sexy, and improve my overall health but what else? Just saying, "I want to feel confident" or, "I want to look hot" is kind of general, true, but general. When the 3:00 munchies roll around how much weight will that hold? I realized when I start thinking about all of the things in my life that my weight has truly affected, (the instances that caused deep sadness/pain/embarrassment/etc.) I get more motivation. Here are a few of my motivators:

1. I want to go shopping with my friends without being embarrassed. Most of my friends shop at stores like American Eagle (Aeropostale, etc.), where there are "normal" sizes, or they shop in the juniors section at department stores. Chain stores like AE don't carry larger sizes so I am forced to buy my jeans online if I want them in that particular brand. That just sucks the fun right out of shopping.
2. I want to enjoy lingerie. I used to love those cute, sexy little numbers...so did my poor husband. It's not like we stopped...you know...but I just do NOT feel comfortable/confident in that stuff anymore, so I don't wear it.
3. I want to have a baby. I know that losing the weight won't gurantee that my fertility will be restored, but it will increase my chances.
4. I am sick of burning up during these Mississippi summers. I refuse to wear shorts/skirts because of my thunder thighs and don't even mention halter/tank tops! I can't wait to enjoy the freedom of wearing only a bikini: no t-shirt, shorts, or coverup of any kind!

My reasons are somewhat general but I've made them very specific to me. For each reason, there has been at least one occurrence where I have been truly embarrassed or affected in some way.

I've come across some other great weight loss motivators....

1. "I want to go to the store and not feel embarrassed when buying a chocolate bar. At the moment, I don't buy them because I feel like people are staring at the "fat girl buying the candy."
2. "Don't want to be the fat friend." (<--- ditto!)
3. "I want to show enough skin to tan without being mortified."
4. "I want NEVER to look fat in photos. I hate searching for the one picture from an event that I don't look terrible."
5. "For our 10 year anniversary, we're going on a cruise to Alaska. I want to be able to experience the zipline excursions."
6. "I want to buy a pair of knee-high boots that fits." (<--- I can never find a pair that fit my calves and look good!)
7. "My boyfriend's sister has a severe 10-yr-long ED and she is trying to recover. I want to prove to her that she can be thin (and not just thin, but well-proportioned too and not "skinny fat") with diet and exercise instead of bulimia."
This one is my favorite:
8. "I want to discover my own potential, mentally and physically."

I still haven't figured out what my anchor will be...any ideas?

No backup plan needed!

2010-09-27T22:59:00.001-05:00

Okay, last post of the day. If you have never tried the WW cauliflower mashed "potatoes" you must! As someone with a serious texture issue, I have been avoiding this recipe since the first time I did WW three years ago, and I'm so sorry that I did. It is so good and has only 2 points! (In place of real butter I used I Can't Believe It's not Butter, and I didn't use as much salt). Even my skeptical husband who asked, "What's the backup plan?" liked it. (For the record...that is not a smart move. If your significant other is nice enough to cook for you never ever ask what "the backup plan" is.)

"You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, sautee it...."

2010-09-27T12:12:00.000-05:00

For all of you fellow Weight Watchers guys and dolls...Shrimp is your friend! You can eat so much of it for very few points (this depends on your serving size, but usually one serving is 1 point). My dear, sweet, kind, football-loving husband really wanted wings and pizza yesterday for the game (Who Dat!), but instead he decided to be nice and go buy a few pounds of shrimp. He likes his with a ton of Zatarans, potatoes, onions, etc. so I asked him to boil mine separate with only a teeny tiny bit of Zatarans (too much sodium = water retention = weight gain). They were SO GOOD! I had forgotten how much I love shrimp.

Most cocktail sauces (again, depending on the brand/serving size) are one point, but I personally don't care for cocktail sauce so I make my own little shrimp sauce. You mix one tablespoon of 1 point mayo (low cal), 1 tablespoon of 0 point ketchup (I use Heinz's Organic), and a pinch of Splenda. It is only 1 point and is yummy with shrimp. I like to keep it simple, but I'm sure you can jazz it up on your own in a way that doesn't add points. Let me know if you find something that works :)

Just a note...
I've discovered going to meetings is the best way to go, but I also know that not everyone is in a position to do so. I am constantly searching the internet for tips and motivation, so hopefully my posts are helping somebody else out! Even if no one reads these, it still helps me to write it all down...so if you are bored (or think this is cheesy) I'm sorry.

"I will survive.."

2010-09-27T09:41:00.000-05:00

Whew! Made it through the weekend! Thanks to college I have become one of those incredibly boring people that stays home doing homework all weekend. Occasionally, though, I get a mini break from reality to do something fun. Saturday I decided I would join my friends for a birthday dinner at Chili's and I was terrified! This was the first big outing since starting weight watchers again. Our group leader mentioned that she never goes to a restaurant hungry which helps her not to over eat. Guess what? It works! I snacked on fruit/filling foods all day Saturday (staying within my points of course).

We were going to Chili's and I had already decided what I would be eating. I have never (and I do mean never) predetermined what I would eat at a restaurant and stuck to my decision, but I did. I got the 8oz Sirloin (If you order it Carne Asada they don't smother it in butter so less points, yay!) with black beans and rice pilaf. I ate my steak (what was left after I trimmed off all the fat), maybe half of my beans, and only a few bites of rice. It was really good AND I didn't beg my husband to stop for some sweatpants because I was in pain from overeating.

I would love for this to be the end of my story, but it's not. This is not a Weight Watchers fairytale. My yummy dinner out only cost me 9 points....the four strawberry mojitos I had cost me....well...I'm still not entirely sure (I added them up to be 16 points, but I'm still not too sure). Oh well, a good time was had by all and that's what matters. On the positive side we made a trip into the city (New Orleans) and did a LOT of walking...so it balances out. Right? Hmmm...

Anyway, if you are looking for a night out to dinner with your sweetie here are the links for Applebee's and Chili's nutritional values. They have pretty good WW choices!

Chili's
Applebee's

I'm going down!

2010-09-24T12:09:00.000-05:00

Well, the band wagon slowed down and I hopped on that puppy again. I just know this is the time that I will lose weight. I can feel it!
Although the Weight Watchers online program is awesome, I didn't have very awesome results (which is probably in part due to...well...just not doing it). There is just something about physically going to the meetings that works. Maybe it's the fact that I have to step on that big scary scale every week? Or maybe it's the inner 5 year old in me that gets crazy excited when people clap and give me a sticker? Whatever the reason may be, last week I went to my first meeting (in a very long time) and yesterday I hopped up on that scary scale at my second weigh in and...drum roll please.....I LOST 4.6 POUNDS! Yay for hard work!! This past week has been one of the most stressful weeks ever (hubby and I are BOTH in school full time and working), and if you have been on weight watchers you know how time consuming it can be to prepare your meals and snacks. But I did it! Every night before I went to bed I would sort, weigh, prep, and add all of my food for the next day. I no longer eat out on school days, using the excuse, "it's too hard to bring food, McDonalds is easy, fast and cheap." I have lugged food and weight watchers books everywhere! My lunchbox is okay but I can NOT wait to get a Bento Box...these lunch boxes are the Holy Grail of all lunchboxes. http://www.laptoplunches.com/

I have even managed to avoid all of the garbage my dear, sweet husband has been eating in front of me. All of that is about to stop though, because we have a little wager as to who can lose the most before our Christmas vacation. We are both competitive people (especially towards each other...I know it's terrible lol), and I physically can not stand by and let him beat me in anything! We constantly hassle each other (in a loving way) and the other day B informed me that I was "going down." I confidently said, "you bet I am!" Now it's our little joke :)
Oh, and this time momma is going with me...all 135 pounds of her lol. It is the best! We all know she doesn't need weight watchers, but I need her! If you don't have a strong support system...get one! Plus, even thought I am a 24 year old married college graduate...I am STILL scared of momma! When momma says put down the dessert, I put it down. When momma says drink more water, what do I do? You got it driver, I drink the water.
Here are some of my new favorite WW friendly items...
* Quaker High Fiber Instant Oatmeal...3pt
* Mussleman's Peach Applesauce...1pt
* Weight Watcher Brand Chocolates and Snack Cakes...1pt (for the "Must. Have. Chocolate." moments)
* Kraft Fat Free Sliced Cheese...1pt
*** Double Fiber Wheat Bread...0pt for the first slice and 1pt for two slices
* Grapes...1pt (helps with avoiding water retention too)
* PB2...1.5pt (My mom found this powdered peanut butter and said it is awesome. Peanut Butter is usually really high in points so this is a super find!)

Cookies, Bread, and Pasta...oh my!

2010-05-18T09:30:00.000-05:00

I have learned a new phrase...."No thank you".

"Would you like to buy some cookies (candy bars, ice cream, etc) for my daughter's fundraiser?" -No thank you.

"What about pizza for lunch?" - No thank you.

"Hey, Susan brought in her famous triple fudge cake, want some?" - NO THANK YOU!

I should learn this in multiple languages because it will be essential in my pursuit of removing 60 pounds.

I have also learned what a nuisance it is to drink so much water. I am fairly certain the people I come across in the hall, as well as those in my office, think I have some sort of bowel problem, seeing as I make hourly trips to the restroom area. You see, increasing my water intake means increasing my output and it never synchronizes! I start my day with a full bottle of water, then 30 minutes later...you know. Then I need a refill, but 30 minutes later....

Very frustrating indeed.

Orange Zingers and Swimsuit Blues

2010-05-17T09:05:00.000-05:00

At the ripe old age of 24 I have decided to join weight watchers for the second time. After 2 trips to the office candy jar (which stays stocked with yummy chocolatey treats thanks to the men in my office who think it is hilarious to watch us ladies agonize over it), my 1:00 trip to the vending machine (which resulted in very delicous orange zingers), AND consuming an entire fried shrimp poboy I was miserable and mad with myself. Perhaps losing some very stubborn weight will aid in getting my oomph back.

I have been married for 5 years, am currently working on my Bachelor's degree (where I am double majoring in International Business and Marketing), and I have PCOS. Currently I have two jobs which makes it very difficult to fit in exercise and proper nutrition. Not to mention I have a husband, mother, uncle, two cats, and two dogs that all vie for any attention I have left to offer at the end of the day. Since last July I have lost 20 lbs, but in the past two months, thanks to stress and the "i don't cares", I have gained about 10 back. I need to lose about 60 lbs in order to reach my suggested healthy weight range and once again be comfortable and happy with my body.

This past weekend I took a mini vacation over to Destin, Fl....with my 3 gorgeous (and skinny) gal-pals. After all the kicking, screaming, and hairpulling was over, I realized I had lost the battle...so I bought a swimsuit. Not one of the cute, tiny ones I saw either. I, of course, had to chose something that was more functional and sensible. Let me just tell you now, there aren't many functional and sensible swimsuits to chose from in the land of surf and sun. You have two choices: the plain-jane solid, or the obnoxious and unsightly floral print. Yet, I still searched through all five thousand of the more desirable swimsuits with the hope that maybe, just maybe there would be something. The girls were begging me to "just pick one" which led me to settle for a pink triangle top, a black terry cover up (that I didn't remove until back in the hotel room), and some black shorts. Woo-hoo.

I have been to Destin several times so I was quite aware of the many enticing restaraunts that were awaiting me with their scrumptious entrees and world famous alcoholic concoctions. As for myself, I traveled with my 100 calorie snacks, smart ones, and a case of water. As you can imagine it didn't work. Who can pass up 32oz rum concoctions, fried calamari, and gourmet pizza? Not I! After being subjected to the many beautiful women proudly displaying their tone bodies in skimpy bikinis, one would assume I would be more determined and focused to follow my weight watcher guidelines and make better dining choices. Everyone knows what happens when you assume...

So, hopefully I can lose this weight and overcome my swimsuit blues all while continuing to balance everyone and everything. I am focused and determined to become vivacious and confident again.

Let the journey begin.