Gobble Gobble

Happy Belated Thanksgiving to everyone! As we kick off the annual season of greed and gluttony, I think it's important to find perspective.

WHY NOW? This is a question I have heard several times recently in reference to why I started Weight Watchers and an exercise plan in November instead of waiting until January like the rest of the world population. Well, let me tell you, I refuse to ignore my problem any longer. And, I refuse to compound the problem by eating my way through another holiday season.

Because of this attitude, and because I plan my meals, stay conscious of what goes from plate to mouth:
-I lost 4.4lbs last week
-I have lost a total of 7.2lbs in 3weeks.
-I received my first 5lb sticker at Weight Watchers today!

Just because we are in the holiday season, it does not mean we need to eat like it's our job. The holiday season does not give us a free ride on the large caboose train! Instead, research the food before you eat it. Make smart choices. And, if there is something you just MUST have, take a smaller portion.

OTHER NEWS

This week has also introduced me to a new food group: VEGAN! Brian and I have decided to go meatless several meals/days per week. This is to help increase our vegetable and fruit consumption as well as increase the fiber in our diet. I am also adding different types of fats and oils (coconut oil, walnut oil)to help vary flavor and add additional Omega 3 to our diet.

We kicked this off by attending a dinner at the home of great friends B&A. We had a lovely tomato bisque with cashew cream, chickpea patty with lemon aioli and roasted Brussels sprouts. It was AMAZING.

I have experimented with several recipes the last couple of days, including converting my own tomato sauce vegan and serving it over the chickpea patties and Spaghetti Squash. This was a win!

As we go into January, I will begin posting pictures of some of the foods I prepare, the recipes, and how they are helping me stay on track.

I will check in again soon! Stay focused, keep moving, and please do not eat your way through December!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:WEIGHing In On The Holiday's

SCORE 1 FOR ME!!!!

As of this morning, I am down another 1.8lb, which puts me at my two week total of 4lbs! And, I did this while being sick, taking steroids, traveling...many of the excuses I have used in the past to defend my weight gain. So, this week, I am a winner!

I have talked a great deal up to this point about what to eat, how I am eating when I travel, and how I navigate some of the pitfalls of eating out. What I haven't talked about is the exercise component. It is important, not just to eat right, but also to get yourself up and moving!

Moving can be defined differently to each of us, and can vary based on our physical limitations. However, we cannot use those limitations as an excuse. I know I have used mine in the past as an excuse!

This week, I added activity to my routine! I am using the p90X strength training workouts, I used my run through the airport as activity (I think if I am sweating, it counts!), I parked far from the front door at the grocery, I cleaned out the closet which required that I sit, stand, squat, go up on my tip toes. All of this is activity, and more than I did the week before!

Activity can be a simple walk around the block to get you started. It can be going to a Zumba class. The important thing is to find something that you enjoy and that you can commit to.

Now, for those of you doing Weight Watchers with me, you know we get activity points. Anyone else using a tracker of any kind, you when you enter your activity, it will show that you can add food to your day as a result of the activity. Two of my suggestions: underestimate and don't use the credit unless you really need it!

This week poses a whole new challenge: Thanksgiving! I'll save my thoughts for you on that subject for another day!

ON THE ROAD AGAIN....

Willie's been singing all day long...in my head of course! I hit the road for Dallas this morning. And, I now face the challenge of staying on plan while on the road. Well, I am going to do it!

I started by packing my Shakeology and blender in my suitcase and by booking myself into a Towneplace Suites by Marriott. You may be asking yourself why these two things are so significant. The Shakeologybis breakfast. Breakfast sets the tone or the day and if I have my Shakeology, I avoid making a drive thru decision out of morning hunger! The second, where I am staying, is important because it has a full kitchen with a fridge, microwave and a stove. This allows me to prepare snacks and some meals and to avoid eating out EVERY meal.

Much of the travel trap isn't just the temptation of the menu items when eating out. I am very adept at navigating nutritional menus. But, many of the better choices are still very high in sodium which causes water retention and swelling. And, can also contribute to other issues.

In addition, I also packed some snacks, my herbal tea and went to the grocery before checking into the hotel. I feel well equipped!

To take it one step farther, I found a meeting to attend while I am here in Dallas! I have decided my meeting log will read like a passport and I will attend meetings in the different cities I visit. It's great to get different ideas and perspectives. Plus, meetings help me stay focused!

So, to wrap it up, planning is essential to being successful on the road! I can be on the road again and keep losing!

PS: At weigh in tonight I was down 2.4 lbs!

Girls Gotta Eat

I'm HUNGRY!!!! That has been the theme for today. I do not know why it always surprises me when I add activity to my life that it makes me so hungry! So, what to do about it? EAT!!! Yes, I said it, you need to eat!

Many times we decide we are going to "eat better and lose weight" and we stop eating. We don't eat enough to lose weight. Instead, we cut back to much or we add activity without adding foods. We may lose weight, but we will also lose important muscle mass. The key is adding the right foods.

Weight Watchers has worked well for me this week in not just helping me eat, but helping me eat enough and the right combinations of foods. They focus on power foods: lean, nutrient rich foods. Hungry? Have fiber rich fruit, vegetables, lean proteins. I've combined these foods with my healthy Shakeology protein shake daily for my full days vitamins. And, I eat 4-6 times a day. Each meal averages 300-400 calories. (I plugged my meals into my lose it app just to see how many calories I was eating.)

Shakeology is still a staple in my daily routine. It's not just the nutrients that I get, but it also kills the cravings. And, I have gotten very creative. I do not always want the calories of combining with peanutbutter. Instead, I have started using extracts. One of my favorite new combinations is the chocolate Shakeology with a dash of coconut and a dash of almond extract. TASTES LIKE AN ALMOND JOY!!!!

So, once again: I SAY EAT!!! Eat your veges, eat an apple, have some turkey or skinless chicken. Have a Shakeology shake! But, a girls gotta eat!

End of the Week Rambling...

Yay! I am on day 7, the end of the week and I have stayed committed to my plan! And, it is paying off.nmy real weigh in is tomorrow, but I did sneak a peak this morning and I am om track for 2 lbs. this is exactly where I want to be.

Challenges? Absolutely! I went to lunch with my wonderful boss and we went to Smashburger. I think "I will get the Chicken Sandwich on a wheat bun with Avacado." Turns out that little baby cost me 17 points of my 36 point daily allowance! Lesson: research before you order!!!! My other challenge this week was a wedding. I made sure I stuck with proteins and veges, skipped the sauces. And, even with my challenges, I still have flex points left over!!

I tried a vegetarian recipe this week for a butternut squash pasta bake. It needs work. I vote less pasta, more squash, so more to come on that later! My quick save dinner for the week was to steam frozen broccoli and green beans, cook frozen chicken, and toss it all in a low sodium soy with a little rice vinegar with chopped giner and garlic for a stir fry. YUMMY, QUICK, EASY!

Tomorrow is a new week. I am going to start P90X again tomorrow, but as I did before it will be a modified version to accommodate my abilities. And, I will face the new challenge this week of travel! I purposely selected a suite type hotel so that I might cook in or have healthier choices vs eating out every meal. And who knows what culinary inventiveness will come from the travel challenge!

More to come as we progress!

Love to you all!

The Rule of Seven

Yes, here I am again, back on my quest to be fit, fab, and flirty for forty. It is not so much that I have been off the quest, as I have been in a holding pattern.

The last several months, four to be exact, have seen much change in my life. Brian and I moved to our new home at the beginning of July, but that was just the beginning. In August, I was faced with a huge decision. I was facing extreme career challenges after ten years with AT&T. I had to decide to stay in an environment of stress and unhappiness that was not healthy or to look for something else. Amazingly, I discovered a position that utilizes my leadership, management, training, analytical, and other skills. So, I decided to end my ten year career with AT&T. No easy decision there.

I am happy to report that this was an amazing decision. I am in love with my new position, my new company, my new boss. I have discovered that work life balance is not a myth, but something that actually exists. And, for the first time in more than six years, my blood pressure is normal, my stress related health issues are receeding. And, I find myself in a position to focus on me.

So, once again friends, here I am, firing up my blog. I find myself recommitting myself to my quest to be fit, fabulous and flirty for firty. Yes, I have had a few stops and starts since I started this quest, and I am okay with this. Thus, the rule of seven.

I discovered the rule when I started educating others about domestic violence. It takes a woman an average of seven times to leave an abusive relationship. I find this principle applies to many things. I don't think the abusive relationship has to be with another person. Sometimes, I think we develop relationships with food, drugs, cigerettes, alcohol. So, the rule of seven can apply to anything that has control in our life and of which we are having a hard time walking away from. I took me at least seven times to walk away from my bad relationship with cigarettes, but I eventually did it. I have struggled with my weight most of my adult life, but I am going to win this fight as well. And, this is my time.

So, what am I doing? I started Weight Watchers on Sunday and attended my first meeting tonight. I believe sometimes we need support. I enjoyed going to the meeting, and I feel this will help keep me accountable. I am also going to start back on P90x on Monday with Brian's support.

The good news is that I am not starting to far behind. I weighed in on Sunday at 254.2. So, I didn't gain too much back. And, I will be happy with a 2lb a week loss. So, my adjusted Birthday goal is to lose 60lbs. That would put me half way to my goal of losing 120lbs.

So, join me on this journey. Let's stick it out together. I will definately be posting a few of my favorite recipes, my aha moments, and my progress.

Love to you all.