Weigh-In: 3/16/17

Not much to report here....things are still going slow...  :(

This week's loss:  -.8
Total weight loss:  -112.6

I know it shouldn't disappoint me considering where I am in my journey.....and the fact that the recommended weight loss per week is 1/2 to 2 lbs and I am in that range....but it is just hard to have it going SOOO slow lately!  But I'm not giving up....it's still in the right direction, right?

Weigh-In: Update & Next Goal

I haven't posted a weigh-in in a few weeks so I thought I'd update!  I have just been busy and haven't taken the time to post but I am still working the program and making progress.  Things have slowed way down since I passed the 100 pound point, which is to be expected, but I still have around 30 pounds or so I would like to lose.

I am now about 14 months into my journey and my total weight loss is 111.8 pounds!!

I am thinking about what my next goal should be.  This is the first time since I started that I didn't have a set goal.  Trying to decide what is realistic.  Hmmm.....

The next big thing going on with us is vacation next month.  So....I think my goal will be....

I want to lose 5 pounds before I leave on vacation on April 7th.

That is only a little over 3 weeks.  With the rate I have been losing this might be tough but I'll give it a shot...

Lots of Weigh-Ins!! Weeks 50-54

Slow and steady wins the race!

Gonna do a bunch of weeks all at once because I am WAY behind!  I am hoping that over the next few days I can get things caught up!!

Week 50
     Change this week:  -3.0
     Total loss to date:  -103.2

Week 51
     Change this week:  -3.4
     Total loss to date:  -106.6

Week 52
     Change this week:  +1.0
     Total loss to date:  -105.6

Week 53
     Change this week:  -2.0
     Total loss to date:  -107.6

Week 54
     Change this week:  +0.4
     Total loss to date:  -107.2

So, as you can see.....the roller coaster continues!!  I am assuming that I am at another plateau as I haven't been doing anything different.  I know that as my weight decreases my weekly loss is also going to go down.  I'm not disappointed....the scale is still headed in the right direction overall.  I am hoping that I can figure out something to jump start things a bit but slow and steady wins the race...

Weigh-In: Weeks 47, 48 & 49

The last three weeks have been a bit of a roller coaster...

Week 47:
    This week:  +1.8
    Total to date:  -99.6  (I am NOT happy that I have slipped below the 100 pound mark!)

Week 48:
    This week:  -3.0
    Total to date:  -102.6

Week 49:
    This week:  +2.4
    Total to date:  -100.2

Week 49 was Christmas week so I wasn't surprised by the gain.  I wasn't upset by it either.  I enjoyed the holiday and didn't stress about counting points too much.  I feel comfortable that I have got this and that I can go off plan very briefly and come back to it.  And I did.  I have no doubt that if I hadn't gotten back on plan it would have been more like a 5 pound gain that week!!

What did I eat to gain 2.4 pounds?

• pizza
• chicken wings
• deep fried mushrooms
• cream cheese stuffed peppers
• onion rings
• Christmas cookies
• chocolate
• breakfast casserole (our Christmas morning tradition)
• chicken fingers
• beef on weck
• cheese--LOTS of cheese!
• WINE--even more wine than cheese!
• Moscow Mules (my new favorite alcoholic drink!)

And it was all delicious!  Was it worth it?  Some of it was and some of it wasn't.  I definitely wish I had skipped the chicken wings, deep fried mushrooms and onion rings.  They were good but I felt gross after eating them.  And on Christmas day I munched on snacks so much that when it was time for dinner I wasn't even hungry.  Of course I ate anyway and after dinner I was STUFFED!  I haven't had that feeling in a long time and I can't say that I enjoyed it.

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve and it'll be another rough one!  I am saving all of my points till evening and I definitely will be WAY over!  But I don't care.  This is a journey, not a sprint, and I believe that to be able to do this forever I need to be able to have these special "days off"....but only one day off...New Year's Day it's back to business!!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and enjoy your NYE tomorrow!!!

Weigh-In: Week 46 & 100 POUNDS!!

This week:  -2.0
Total to date:  -101.4

Yep, that just happened!!!  I have lost ONE HUNDRED FREAKIN' POUNDS!!!  I said I was going to do it but holy crap....I actually did!!

The whole thing feels kinda weird.  Not like I expected to feel when I reached 100 pounds.  I thought I would be celebrating and so happy.  Don't get me wrong....I'm happy about it....but it's just another day in the journey.

When I look in the mirror I still see the old me.  I don't feel like I look like I lost 100 pounds.  I guess I thought it would be more significant....but maybe it's just because it's happened gradually?  When I see people that I haven't seen in a while they definitely notice a difference.  When I look at pictures from a year ago I can see a difference.  But when I look in the mirror it just looks like me.  Hmmm....

I'm loving my new bling...If you had told me I would have that 100 pound charm someday I probably wouldn't have really believed you...

I AM doing this!!

The journey continues...

My 100 pound charm!!

Weigh-In: Week 45

This week:  -5.2
Total to date:  -99.4

Who loses 5+ pounds over Thanksgiving week??  Yep... ME!!  I was totally excited about that number!!

No, not my actual dinner.  Mine might not have been presented
 as well but I bet it was every bit as delicious!

Thanksgiving was delicious! LOL  I didn't go crazy but I definitely didn't stay within my points.  I stayed away from the butter and the rolls and stuff....but definitely enjoyed turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and my favorite--stuffing!!  Man, I love that stuff!  We tried to prepare the foods more healthy--like not adding butter to the squash and the mashed potatoes.   We substituted green beans for the usual corn as beans have 0 points and corn has points!   And did you know there are less points in white meat vs. dark meat?   And the next day I did it again and indulged in the leftovers!  Good thing I went Black Friday shopping and did a lot of walking to offset all of the calories!

Weigh-In: Week 44

This week:  -1.4
Total to date: -94.2

Lost 1.4 this week which I was okay with because it wasn't a full week.  Because of Thanksgiving there was no weigh-in at my regular location so I had to go to a different meeting about 40 minutes away on Tuesday instead of my normal Thursday.  I was proud of myself for actually going and not just skipping since it fell on Thanksgiving.  :)

Thanksgiving....sigh!  A mine field for those of us trying to eat healthy.  But I am going to enjoy myself and just get back on track the next day.  That's the plan anyway....

Weigh-In: Week 43

This week: +2.0 lbs.
Total weight loss:  -92.8 lbs.

Ugh!  I am getting so frustrated with the way things are going lately.  I am still doing what I need to do but the pounds are just NOT coming off.  :(  I hate weeks with a gain.  Fortunately there haven't been too many in the last 43 weeks but when they happen it really sucks!

I knew I was up before I weighed in.  I ate breakfast at Denny's that morning with a friend and even though my breakfast was fine on points--I had the Fit Fare Veggie Skillet for 10 points--it was actually heavy in actual weight.  I usually eat something that is very light on Thursdays.  And I ate a little for lunch which I don't usually do.  Oh well!  But I think the biggest problem was that I couldn't poop again!  GRRR!!  Why does that only happen on weigh in days???  Can someone solve this mystery for me?

This next week I have to weigh in on Tuesday because of Thanksgiving.  I don't want to skip it though so I am going to go to a different location on Tuesday night.  I am really hoping to have lost that 2 pounds I gained and a little bit more to make it to 95 before Thanksgiving.   Send me some weight loss vibes....  It will only be 5 days since the last weigh-in so it'll be tough...

Weigh-in: Week 40, 41 & 42

Yep, been a few weeks again!  Bringing it up to date...

Week 40:  -.6 lbs.
Week 41: -.2 lbs.
Week 42: -2.4 lbs.

Total loss to date:  -94.8 lbs.

I was happy with this week's loss but the two before that kinda sucked!  I feel like the next 5.2 pounds to get to 100 is going to take FOREVER!!

Weigh-in: Week 39

This week's loss:  -1.2 pounds 

Total loss to date:  -89.8 pounds

Seriously?  89.8??  I couldn't get that last .2 to hit 90 pounds?!?!  Grrr!!  It better happen next week!!

I'm finding it hard not to get frustrated when I have a small loss week.  I'm just so close to 100 pounds that I am anxious to get there.  I remember when I started this journey and 100 pounds seemed next to impossible and now I am only about 10 pounds away and completely confident that I will get there.

Someone I hadn't seen in a while told me tonight that I looked like I lost a whole person.  While I don't think it's that dramatic it sure it good to hear!  I love being able to buy regular jeans that don't look like "mom jeans."  I feel more confident about my appearance.  Sometimes I miss nachos...and chocolate...and butter...I can't even tell you how much I love butter...but the changes I already feel are totally worth it.  I look forward to feeling even better about myself and more healthy as I continue on.

Fingers crossed that my next post will be me telling you I have hit 90 pounds!!!  XOXO

4 Week Update!!

I've been a real slacker with updating lately!  A couple of you have pointed that out to me so I am here to bring you up to date!!  It's been a roller coaster ride lately....some ups and some downs....but I'm still making progress!  As long as there's more downs than ups it's all good, right?  Well, at least when we're talking about weight loss...  :)

Week 35:   -1.4 pounds this week

                  -85.0 to date

Week 36:  +2.0 pounds this week (Yeah, this was a BAD one!)

                 -83.0 to date

Week 37:  -4.2 pounds this week (Got rid of the 2 gained last week plus two more!)

                 -87.2 to date

Week 38:  -1.4 pounds this week

                 -88.6 to date

Life has just been busy with the boys being back to school, soccer practices, piano lessons and all the other crap!  I'm still at it and still attending meetings each week, I just haven't taken the time to update the blog.  I am feeling pretty good and still determined to do this!!  Thanks to all for your support!  You are the best!! <3

Weigh-In: Week 34

Loss this week:  -5.2 pounds
Total loss to date:  -83.6 pounds

I was very happy with this week's weight loss!  More than 10 pounds in the last 2 weeks...that's the biggest loss I've had since I first started!!  A few weeks ago I was excited because I had gotten to the 70s, something I had never done in previous weight loss attempts, and now I'm in the 80s!!!  90s here I come!!!

Happy dance!!

I've had a lot of stress this past week which is probably helping my weight loss efforts.  I am not a stress eater like so many are...I find I lose my appetite and don't feel like eating.  Not a method I recommend but hey, a loss is a loss!

I still haven't added in exercise.  I know I really need to but I am struggling to find the motivation.  And now with the colder weather coming I am afraid I will be moving even less.  Can someone please kick me in the ass?

Weigh-In: Week 33

I am BACK ON TRACK!!  WooHoo!!

Loss this week:  -5.4 pounds
Total loss to date:  -78.4 pounds

Phew!  I got rid of the extra I had accumulated over the last couple of weeks and am headed in the right direction again!  I was struggling for a couple of weeks and eating everything in sight.  Last week I found myself trying to come up with an excuse to skip the meeting.  That is the first time since I started in January that that thought has even crossed my mind.  Usually I look forward to the meeting so I can see my progress.  When I realized how dangerous that thought was I realized I was in trouble.  I knew the scale was going to go up....but I also knew I HAD to go!  I truly believe I was at that point where I could have easily gone the other way and that quickly I would have seen my progress slipping away.  I didn't want to face the scale...seeing a gain is tough...but I am glad I went.  It was a reality check--I can't allow myself to live the way I was before--and that the food I was eating was NOT worth it.  I didn't feel good about it--I felt guilty--and for the first time in a long time I actually felt sick because of the crap I was putting into my body.  I can't say I didn't enjoy the food (and the drinks....OMG, lots of drinks!) but afterward I realized that the temporary enjoyment I got from eating it wasn't worth the guilt I felt after.  Duh!

So I refocused and have rededicated myself to this new life.  Maybe I needed that little journey off track to give me the jump start that I needed.  I know this won't be the last detour on this path but I am hoping that I am learning how to recover from the detours and not let them be the end.  This is a lifelong thing....not a diet...and it's not realistic to think that I won't have "bad" days.  But before a bad day would become a bad week, and a bad month....I will NOT let that happen anymore!  And I was pretty psyched about a 5.4 pound loss this week...that is the biggest one I've had in a LONG time!  Would love to hit 80 pounds next week!!!  Fingers crossed!

Triple Weigh-In: Week 30, 31 & 32

This post will be just the facts.  The good, the bad, and the UGLY!  In the next post I will get into where I feel I am at in my journey.  August was rough to say the least.  I had 2 weeks of vacation where I was on the road--a week in Lake George and a week in Baltimore/Washington.  There were picnics and parties.  And alcohol....lots of alcohol...

Week 30:  -3.6 pounds (yay me!)

Week 31:  +3.2 pounds (well that pretty much wipes out last week's loss!)

Week 32:  +2


Total change for the 3 weeks:  +1.6

Loss to date:  73 pounds

I guess that a gain of 1.6 pounds overall isn't that bad but I am still discouraged that the scale has gone in the wrong direction the last couple of weeks.  In the past those weeks probably would have been an easy 10 pound gain so I will give myself credit for keeping it in check.  But it's time to get serious again!

Weigh-In: Weeks 26 & 27

Wow, it's been a month since I updated.  Life has been crazy!  I've been busy with planning my 30th high school reunion....getting ready to go on vacation....and just enjoying summer!  So this one will be a double weigh in!!

Week 26:
     This week's loss:  -3.0
     Total loss to date:  -71.8

Week 27:
    This week's loss: -3.2
    Total loss to date:  -75.0

Yep, you read that right!!  I made it to my goal of 75 pounds off by the end of July!  It was even a week early!!  I was totally psyched by this....I've never made it this far in my journey before.

With 75 pounds comes new bling!!!!

My bling ring is getting pretty full!  I love it!  Can't wait till I can add the 100 pound bling!

Weigh-In: Week 25 & 4th of July

Wow, 25 weeks sounds like a long time!!


This week's loss:  -.4
Total Loss to Date:  -68.8

I was really hoping for a better week....even with the holiday in there.... sigh...  I always seem to struggle when I get close to a milestone that I have in my mind.  Like when I got almost to 50 pounds....suddenly everything slowed way down and one week I even gained.  Now I am so determined to hit the 70 pound mark and I feel like the same thing is happening.  I HAVE to get there next week!  Seventy pounds is an important milestone for me as I have NEVER, on any of my many weight loss attempts, hit that mark.  I have gotten into the 60s several times but 70 has always been elusive.  I seem to fall apart in the 60s and I think that psychologically it will be a boost for me if I can cross that hurdle!  

See what I just said there?  "IF I can cross that hurdle!"  I noticed that after I typed it.  I was going to just change it but thought maybe it meant something.  Am I still doubting myself?  My brain may not have caught up to my body....

I WILL get to 70 pounds...and to 80....and 90....and even 100.  I truly believe that.  Maybe for the first time ever....

How was everyone's 4th of July?  We had a fun time with friends....had about 40 or 50 people over for a cookout, swimming, a fire and fireworks.  I was bad...very bad....  See, I'm doing it again....I know you're not supposed to think of it as BAD, but I still do when I have a day that I am not following the plan.  But I did have fun!!  I had the best of intentions to make these healthy margaritas.....but they tasted like crap! LOL  So when my next door neighbor came over with 2 pitchers of yummy margaritas I just couldn't help myself!

Nothing like a margarita on a hot summer day!!

And then there was food....and lots of it!  I indulged way more than I should have....but still less than I would have a year ago.  I can consider that a victory, right?  Someone brought these maraschino cherries soaked in Fireball liquor and then dipped in white chocolate and sprinkles....Mmmmm!  Yep, I had a few of those....can't even think about the calories!

Oh well, it's a new week.....  On a positive note, in the past I would probably have continued on with my little binge for a while.... but this time I got right back on track and have been super good since then.  I wish the scale had rewarded my recovery but I keep thinking of Weight Watchers theme of "Beyond the Scale."  Even though I didn't lose what I would have liked this week I still had some non-scale victories!

Anyway, here are a few pics of my super cool friends at the party....

My hubby and our extra kid!  (He lives next door but spends a lot of time at our house!)

Bill & Stacey--my Weight Watchers inspiration!!
She has lost like 125 pounds and looks AMAZING!!!

Connor, Chris, Justin & Brandon chillin' by the pool

Mom & Kim

A little beer pong action in the pool...

Cindy, Brenda, Deirdre, Becca, Keith, Mike & Jorryn

Mike & Jackie

Is he adorable or what?

The girls hanging out

Jadan

Chris, Connor & Josh

Double Weigh-In: Weeks 23 & 24

Wow, summer really makes life crazy!  I can't believe it's been 2 weeks since I updated this and tomorrow night is already the next weigh-in....  Whoops!

Week 23:
     This week:  -2.4
     Total loss to date:  65.8

Week 24:
     This week:  -2.6
     Total loss to date:  68.4


So I haven't been posting but I'm keeping at it!  Summer is TOUGH!!  So many temptations present that aren't there the rest of the year....and more get togethers and picnics with friends and family.  But I'm sticking with it and still very determined.  :)

I was really happy with the 2.6 this past week as I had one really bad day!!  I went to lunch with a couple of friends and had drinks with lunch.....shared appetizers (deep fried pickle slices and Southwest egg rolls--AMAZING!)  Then I had a taco salad with one of those yummy deep fried shells...OMG....so good!  That night I went to the Keith Urban concert and hadn't had dinner so I ate a bag of popcorn.....and then we went to Denny's after!  Major calories and I can't even think about the points!  But it all turned out okay.  Proves you can have an occasional indulgence, get back on track and still lose weight.  Phew!  One of my friends has a theory that an occasional cheat day kicks up your metabolism.  Sure hope she is right!

Tomorrow is already the next weigh in so I'll update again then and also fill you in on what's been happening in my world!  Hope you are all enjoying your summer!!

Weigh-In: Week 21

This week's loss:  -.8
Total Loss to Date:  -62.2

Meant to update earlier but it's been crazy with the last week of school and exams....soccer starting...all that mom stuff!

So, I wasn't happy with a loss of just under a pound.  I am kind of frustrated by the rate of loss these days.  Not giving up...never giving up....but I would totally be okay with speeding things up a bit!!

Tomorrow is my next weigh in already.  Really hoping for a bigger loss.  Fingers crossed!

Weigh-In: Week 20

Yes, you read that correctly....20 WEEKS!!  It seriously doesn't feel that long.  I am still feeling really good about things and I am not feeling at all like giving up!  I feel like I can really do this!  I AM doing this!!

This week's loss:  -3.8
Total Loss to Date:  -61.4

WooHoo!!  I've passed the 60 pound mark!!  That feels really good.  I feel like I am making progress and I'm really psyched about it.  I wish I could say that I look in the mirror and see it...but I don't.  Hopefully that will happen before too long.  I do feel it, however.  I have gone down 4 pants sizes....yes, 4!!  And I am buying my shirts smaller too.  It feels good to put on clothes that wouldn't have fit me a few months ago.  Soon I am going to go through my clothes and donate all of the ones that are too big.  I am not keeping them this time.  I need to move forward believing that I will never need those clothes again.  It's a hard idea to grasp, as yo-yoing is all I have ever known.  But if I believe that I will fail and gain the weight back, I will.   This time WILL be different!

I got a little extra incentive this past weekend to continue my journey to improve my health.  I ended up in the hospital overnight for a bout of atrial fibrillation.  For those who don't know what that is, a-fib is an irregular heart rhythm where it is beating really fast and irregularly.  This happened to me once before, 16 years ago and I had hoped it was behind me.  The doctors don't know why it happens to me, they can't connect it to any particular trigger.  I don't consume much caffeine because of my previous problem with this so that wasn't the cause.  So none of the normal triggers apply to me.  I wish I knew what was it was so I could avoid it.  :(  I saw my cardiologist the morning for a follow up and he said all is good.  Said I could resume all activities and to try not to worry about it.  (Clearly he doesn't know me!) He has given me a prescription for a drug that worked this time to get my heart to return to a normal rhythm.  If it happens again I can try to "fix" it at home without going to the emergency room.  If it doesn't correct in a few hours I will have to go in to the ER though.   I feel a little better knowing that I have that available.  The doc said that exercise and continuing to eat healthy, along with trying to reduce stress, is all I can really do.   So that is what I will do!!  :)

Weigh-In: Week 19

This week's loss:  -2.2
Total Loss to Date:  -57.6

Hoping to hit 60 pounds soon!!  :)

Summer is going to be tough!  Now that the weather has gotten nicer I am missing being able to have my alcoholic drinks all the time.  My next door neighbor and I like to sit out by the pool (or IN the pool!) in the evening and have a couple drinks and now if I want to do that I need to "save" the points.  I've decided that my drink for the summer is going to be Corona Light with a lime.  It's just 3 points so it's not too hard to save 6 points till the end of the day to have a couple.  Is it sad that I am thinking I can eat only fruit for breakfast since it is zero points and use those points on booze??

The other problem with summer is going to cook outs at other people's houses.  When it's at my house I can control what I eat much easier.  Tonight we went to eat at my in-laws.  Cheeseburgers and hot dogs on the grill and a variety of salads....all with mayonnaise.  Sigh!  I ended up not eating much all day so that I could have dinner--1 hotdog with no bun (8 points), 1/2 cup potato salad (6 points), 1/2 cup broccoli salad (5 points) and an ear of corn (3 points).   And LOTS of water!  All I had up to that point was 6 points so I still stayed under but I hate doing that.  Too many points to eat in one meal!  And now I only have 4 points left for a snack tonight!