Frustrated

Frustration has set in and the scale is not cooperating.... I need to focus and take control.
UGH...

Weight update and more

First, a weigh-in update... I gained 2.2 pounds when I returned to Weight Watchers after the holidays on January 9th.  I was disappointed but not expecting anything different.  The next week I lost 2.2 and was ecstatic!  Then, the following week I had a one pound gain.  Ugh. I was so mad.  I felt terrible and I was very angry with myself.  I sat through the meeting sulking a bit and realizing that the few weeks during the holiday season had brought back old habits and they are hard to change.  So I went last Wednesday to weigh-in.  And.... I lost 1.8 pounds. Yeah!!!!!  Then another loss of .6 pounds today.   I have reached a new total weight loss of 12.8 pounds (at Weight Watchers).  It is slow going but I'm happy.

One of the things that has been sticking with me the last few weeks is something my WW leader has said several times.  "I love food more than I hate being fat".  WOW.... The light bulb went on!  I have been mulling that statement over in my head realizing that I do love to eat more that I hate being overweight and out of shape.  The problem is:  How do I change that?  I am so proud and happy when I have success on the scale but that feeling doesn't stay with me very long.  Once I'm home, I start to think about snacks, what I'm going to make for dinner, and what I need from the grocery store.  Our life revolves around food!

One of the ways I'm trying to change that is not to have any junk food in my house.  Just ask my husband and kids.  They often stand in front of the refrigerator or pantry looking for something and complaining that there is nothing to eat.  Actually, there is tons of food in the house, just nothing they want.  I tell them to eat a carrot or banana or have a turkey sandwich.  They want ice cream or pizza or chocolate chip cookies.  I can't have those things in the house.  I'm the one home during the day and I don't want to be tempted.  Last week I made some pumpkin spice muffins for a treat.  They are an old weight watchers recipe.  All you do is take a box of cake mix, I used spice cake mix, and a 15 ounce can of pumpkin puree.  Mix it well and spoon into cupcake tins.  Bake as directed and you have a 3-4 point treat that is delicious.  I tried making it once in a 9 inch square pan but the center turned out soggy so if you try to make this recipe, use the cupcake pans.  I snacked on these when I wanted to have a treat and they were very satisfying.  I'll have to make some more soon because my kids liked them, too.


Also I'm trying to make sure I walk more.  My walking buddy, Ricki, is pushing me to walk hills and do lunges and walk faster.  When the weather is bad, we go to the mall and walk for an hour which makes for a nice change of scenery.  It's nice to have an exercise buddy to motivate and make the time fly by.  Lately, when the weather is good, we have started hiking in the local hills.  I have lived in this area my whole life and never knew there were such beautiful hiking trails near by.  I am really enjoying walking the trails and seeing other people walking and mountain biking in the area.  I noticed that everyone is so friendly.  Everyone we pass says "good morning" and smiles.  It's a great way to start my day.

My goals this week is to continue to add more fruits and vegetables to my diet.  I plan on making veggie soup.  It's so easy... I start by sauteing a large onion, several stocks of celery, two or more garlic cloves in a pan sprayed with olive oil (not Pam, I use a spray bottle you can add your own oil to).  Then add any 0 point veggie such as mushrooms, cabbage, carrots, zucchini, yellow squash, can of diced tomatoes, and anything else you want.  Cover with 100% fat free chicken broth, add seasoning (bay leaf, basil, salt and pepper, etc.) and simmer until all the veggies are tender.  I think it is very satisfying and delicious.  If I feel I have not eaten well during the day or snacked too much in the afternoon I will have a huge bowl of veggie soup for dinner.

I plan to keep doing what I'm doing and keep the number on that scale going in the right direction.  I must persist and not give up.

Thanks for reading.  Peace,
Karen

New Year - New Beginnings

Happy New Year! It was my intent to post a review of last years efforts and successes at the end of December but it never happened.  So in an effort to recap, last year I was down a total of 15 pounds.  Not the results I was hoping for when I started this blog in January, 2012, but I'll take it!  And those 15 pounds will never return... (except the 2.6 I gained during the holidays.... read on).

My Christmas and New Year Holidays were great fun.  My in-laws came to visit us for two weeks and that meant more cooking, drinking and celebrating.  We ate out several times, cooked big meals with fancy desserts and drank a bit of wine (when I say a bit, I mean a many bottles).  My mother-in-law likes to have treats for the kids, and any one else in the house.  She brought homemade truffles with her and boxes of chocolates.  Bought doughnuts and snacks just in case we wanted them and, of course, we all wanted them.  The family left right before New Years but the celebrating wasn't over.  We were invited to our dear friends to ring in the new year.  Food, food and more food!  It was all wonderful and delicious.  My friends are Armenian and prepare a feast for every occasion.  My family and I all love the food they serve and over stuff ourselves because we don't normally eat those dishes.  My husband and son love the beef and chicken and my daughter and I like the boreks - bread with cheese in the middle.  SO GOOD! They served several side dishes and pastries for dessert.  It was all delicious.  

With all the celebrating I found it very difficult to stay focused and keep to my plan of eating healthy over the holidays.  I would have discussions with myself about not eating a piece of chocolate or having a second helping of dinner but I would loose the battle and give in.  The bad habits come back easy.  I still am battling the urge to snack on pretzels and crackers (I love those carbs).  

Last year I had a word-of-the-year.  It was "FOCUS".  And, although, I don't think I focused as well as I could have, I feel having it in the back of my mind was helpful.  This year my word is persistence.  I need to continue with my weight loss efforts and stay on track to continue to decrease that number on the scale.  I need to persist in telling myself that I am worth the effort and worth the time it takes to exercise and go to meetings and cook healthy meals.  I also need to persist at writing this blog.  It has helped me and I know that if I write more often it will help keep me on track.  I have no idea how many people read this.  No one may care.  But the fact that it's out there in cyberspace for anyone to read keeps me motivated to continue.  I don't want anyone to say Karen failed or gave up.  That is my biggest fear. 

I went back to Weight Watchers this week (I didn't go the three weeks before) and gained 2.6 pounds.  I was actually content with that because my scale at home showed an even higher gain just a few days before.  So back to work getting it off and continue the journey to a thinner, healthier me.  It's  going to be a long, long journey.

I love Weight Watchers and attending the meetings.  They started a new program called 360.  It's goal is to not only give you the tools to loose the weight, but to focus on the whole reason for the weight problem.  Addressing your mental and emotional needs as well as the physical.  It's nice to know that other people have similar issues with eating.  Our meeting leader talked about blaming others for our food intake.  I laughed because I do that.  Not directly blame them for putting the food in my mouth but blame the fact that they are part of the problem.  Like when my kids were home for the Christmas Vacation, I didn't walk.  Why?  No reason, really, it was just an excuse.  My husband is doing great on his low-carb diet.  But when I'm not doing well on my diet, I blame the cheese and peanuts that he likes to snack on.  It's not his fault, but it is the cheese and peanut's fault, right?  When they are out on the coffee table, I will indulge in some nuts or pieces of cheese.  What I need to do is move away from the coffee table and go eat some fruit or other low points food.  I have to take control of the situation and not let the situation control me.  (I'm laughing to myself a bit as I typed that last sentence because I know that will take a miracle... sigh...  Persistence).  My goal this week is to work more fruits and veggies into ever meal.  We discussed making soups so I am going to make some this weekend.  I'll let you know how they turned out!

Here's to a happy, healthy, and successful 2013.  

Peace and Love,  and persistence...

Karen