Dance/Yoga disappointment and re-scheduling

First, I was going to do ST on Friday and Sunday mornings, but I think I'm gonna re-schedule. This really all has to do with my Thursday night class.

Now, I've heard that adults tend to stay up late, but that only happens in my house if the kids can't (or won't) sleep. But, the class I take is 7:45-9:15, so I don't get home until after 9:30 on Thursdays. For some reason, hubby has a difficult time getting the 4yo to bed and, last night, she was bright-eyed and dirty-kneed waiting for Mommy to brush her teeth and make her bed (why this couldn't have been done earlier in the evening I don't know - all I know is that I'd stripped it in the morning after an 'accident'). Anyway, by the time I put my head down, it was well past my bedtime, so getting up extra early this morning was difficult. I did manage to drag my butt down-stairs with JUST enough time to get everything in except that, looking outside I realized that I left the car lights on all night and hubby's car had the dome light on. CRAP! That's all. Anyway, so much for exercising.

Besides, I don't feel great about last night. A medium-intensity cardio workout is what I look for, and I can live with low-intensity for 90 minutes. But, I ended up working late and ran out of here just in time to be 15 minutes late. Got some cardio going with our dance routine before heading up to yoga. Yoga flow tonight, she says. No, the group says. We worked too hard tonight, they say. Now, I may have missed the warm-up, and it must have kicked butt. Anyway, we ended up doing mellow stretching and I left feeling as though I'd almost be cheating to take 1AP from that. Well, that's all I gave myself.

So, tonight and Sunday night I think I might to weights (this way I can get both sessions in without worrying about the work-week). Also, tomorrow is a big day - the Christmas parade. It's supposed to be nice out.

Wednesday and Weigh-In

Well, I've the WW scales showed a loss. I am down 0.8lb this week to 158.2. When was the last time this number reared it's head - 2 weeks ago I was 158.8, but this 158 just seem more real. My last trip through the 150's I avoided the scale at all costs. In the fall of 2002 when I became preggers with J, I was approximately 170 and had been for a while. I was conscious of being in the 140's when we bought the house in 2000 when Ci was 2. Anyway, let's just say the first 2 years of home ownership were not kind to my behind.

Anyhoo, I feel good about this week. I began a new exercise schedule involving a minimum of 30 minutes of cardio 3x/week and 2 sessions of strength training. My first ST session I just used body resistance and a couple cans of soup. Then I went to Play It Again Sports and picked up a couple sets of dumbells. Funny - I bought 2 each of 5 and 8 lb weights. Know what that totals? 26 lbs. I thought it was funny since I'd lost 27 lbs and was kind of 'replacing' that lost weight.

So the gains and losses are getting smaller, so I'm hopeful that this new routine will shake things up, but I don't expect steller weight loss results for a couple of weeks as I get used to weight training. I'll be posting my measurements as soon as I remember to take them.

So, to review this weeks to-do list:
Join PhitnPhat - Done.
Exercise 5 of 7 days for min 30 mins each, 3 cardio, 2 Strength Training days: Thurs (dance/yoga 90 mins), Fri (ST with No weight and 10 oz wts), Sat (off), Sun (ST with 5lb weights, walk dog), Mon (longish quick walk with dog), Tues (off), Wed (Twister Dance DVD) - 5/5 complete
Food: focus on core (whole) foods. Limit WPs to 25 and eat APs on the day you earn them (fell short on Thurs pts, but stuck pretty close to daily pts for remainder of week)
Journal: write before you bite - calculate pts before eating. For late nights at office, be sure to bring second dinner. - I journalled until supper Monday - I had only used 9 weekly at that point and had stuck pretty close to daily pts from then on. Tuesday I worked late and didn't have supper - bad, bad - ended up eating an large apple with almond butter, a bit of micro popcorn and a granola bar. Likely went over pts on Tuesday with less than stellar nutritional value.

Weekend Update

On the food-front I was pretty good this weekend. I ate the grocery store sushi on Friday night and still had a hankering for it on Saturday, so I took the 9yo to Sunnyside Mall in Bedford where I knew I could score some good stuff outside Pete's Fruitique. Ummmm.

Exercise-wise, I did ST with 5lb weights on Sunday morning and then took the dog out for a walk. I had scheduled some cardio on Saturday, but it didn't happen. That means I have to do 2 1/2hr cardio sessions between now and Wednesday. I'm going to stick with walking for now.

We tried to start the big cleaning session, but things just went so-so. Most of the play-room got picked up and I drug out the outside lights from storage to be put up soon. I'm thinking that we should just get a little dumpster for the week, lol, and do some major clear-out. Most of what we have could stand to be donated and dh is dropping some stuff off today.

So, as mentioned, the 9yo and I headed to the city-limits on Saturday. I actually wanted to take her to Frenchy's in Sackville for some much-needed size 10s (her, not me). We were late getting there, but she picked out a winter jacket since I refuse to buy her one this close to Christmas when hers from last year still fits, tattered though it may be. She also scored a pair of jeans, sweat pants, 2 tops and a chenille sweater. That kid can rummage! I, on the other hand, picked out a pair of sweats for dance class and a pair of slacks that are a bit tight just yet (they're 13/14 - see, sizing is crap since most of my clothes are now 10s). I like them though, and told hubby they'd fit by Christmas or New Year's at the latest. He thinks I'm pushing this too much, but I told him that I've been averaging 4-5lbs/month and now I'm strength training, so not to worry about it. They're like new and he could iron and wrap them for me if he wants - or not. Maybe he'll pick out a nice top to go with them. And nylons - he's very much a leg-man and buys me nylons every year - good ones like I never buy for myself. Hmmm, maybe he'll buy me a new purse this year, too. I'd like a new purse.

Oh yeah, so Ci ended up taking a chill at dinner and we didn't get much further since she came down with 'it'. The same 'it' the 4yo dealt with last week. So, she went off to spend the day at the sitter's disappointed since she had on her new clothes and jacket and it was gym day. I feel badly for her, but down-time was definately needed.

Quantifiable Goals

1. Join PhitnPhat - Done. Check our Corrine's blog if you're reading this
2. Exercise 5 of 7 days for min 30 mins each, 3 cardio, 2 Strength Training days: Thurs (dance/yoga 90 mins), Fri (ST with No weight and 10 oz wts) - 2/5 complete
3. Food: focus on core (whole) foods. Limit WPs to 25 and eat APs on the day you earn them (fell short on Thurs)
4. Journal: write before you bite - calculate pts before eating. For late nights at office, be sure to bring second dinner.

WI - Sucks Arse Sometimes

Crap, I've been reading the Mouse's blog too much lately, LOL. However, it is true - weigh-ins sometimes suck arse.

I didn't make WI last night and, instead went today at lunch. The digital devil said I gained 0.2lbs this week. Now, I know you're saying, "That's nothing, blah, blah." But I was really hoping to see some downward movement this week. Let's review: On Oct 3rd my WI was 160.4 - Today - 7 WEEKS later, it is 159. Farrrk! 1.4lbs in 7 freakin' weeks!!!

Discouraged? YES! Frustrated? YES! Pissed? NO!, well, maybe - but mostly at myself for letting the ball drop in October. What the heck happened? Did I get to this size and become complacent for a while? Well - that sucks arse, too.

So, I chatted with the leader and we took a look at things and she says my tracker looks good, even with occassional indulgences. What's different? I'm exercising again, but....ahhh...Light bulb moment...

I used to walk every lunch break for 20-30 mins. I go to my class for 90 mins on Thursday evenings now, but gave up my daily walks. I suspect that just 'moving' daily has benefits other than the time spent moving. So, I need to find something that I enjoy and continue my focus on DAILY exercise. I've talked about joining the gym, so we'll see what happens next week.

Also, there could be a component of 'what I've been doing has taken me this far - now I need to step it up'.

Meanwhile, I am going to strive for a minimum of 10 APs this week - to be obtained over 6 days. That means, walking the dog for 30 mins (1AP), etc. I will NOT count my cleaning. Let's see if this helps. I am also thinking to add some strength training in a couple of times a week. I know this will affect weight via retained water, so I will be posting my measurements as well once I take them at home. I am also going to review the Goal component of all of this and come up with some quantifiable numbers, like 10 APs this week, and limit FPs to 25, and some not so quantifiable, like write before you bite (do you really think I would have eaten 2 bags of popcorn had I known they were 5pts each - that's CRAZY).

Food Suggestions = Food Cravings

I never fancied myself prone to this phenomena, but I guess I am. Let's leave out the bad stuff this can lead to - and I'll tell a story about 2 such incidents involving healthy cravings.

First, a couple of weeks ago a story was told to me about (here's the Reader's Digest version) a woman who was a horse therapist. She was called to a farm because the horse was upset about something. The horse didn't want her there so she left, but was able to tell the owner this, "He's upset because your neighbour understands him but won't listen.". The neighbour was encouraged to come out to the field and stare at the horse for a while. Finally, she threw up her hands and said, "Pineapples, all I'm getting is that he wants pineapples.". So, the horse was fed pineapples and felt much better. Now, the kicker is that the horse had arthritis and, apparently, pineapples have a natural lubricant for the joints that help with this - pretty smart horse, huh.

So, the point Candace? I ended up craving pineapples. I ate pineapples frozen and pineapples fresh for days.

Next, one of my fav breakies is a waffle or 2 with whip cream and berries. I don't have it very often because of the points and the fact that I am still hungry after a couple of hours. Then the 'mouse' started posting pictures of her meals on her blog. Her breaky was a waffle, cottage cheese and fruit. Hmmm, I'm not a big fan of cottage cheese, yet found myself thinking about this breakfast daily. So, for the past few days I have toasted my waffle, measured 1/2C of regular cottage cheese and mic'd a coffee cup full of field berries to dump on top. I was going to do something different this morning, but didn't. Mainly because I know I won't want anything else to eat until lunch. That's a great benefit for only 5 points, plus the 1 I'm drinking now via whole milk in my coffee.

So, if you want those not-so-subliminal food suggestions to help in your food choices, focus on those posts or stories that talk about crazy pineapple craving horses or go to Marie's blog at http://mousearoo.blogspot.com/ - I've also been thinking about her beef cacciatore. And - good luck negotiating the grocery these days. I went in the other night and everywhere I looked were less than optimal food choice advertisements.

Challenge Updates

I've been tired the past few days and have blogged not much other than updating my menu post for this week. I figured this was 'cleaner' than a new post each day.

I've finally visited all of the blogs from the Christmas Challenge that I could access. Some pretty cool girls out there. Most seem to be doing really good and Corinne and Randy are doing top-notch trying to keep it pulled together here in blogland. I unoficially changed my challenge goal to 153, but this is just for me. I realized that reaching my WW goal of 148 was not going to happen in the specified time period

I had also signed up for a New Year's Best Challenge housed at Sparks. After the first few weeks the leaders made the forum private so ya'll can't see it. Actually, they just wanted to keep the group intimate and didn't want people joining part ways through. We have little weekly challenges which, I must admit, I haven't been into much. I try to visit there a couple times a week, but aren't on Sparks as much as I used to be. There's still a lot of support in the little group and I like the forum environment and the ability to post specific threads.

I also changed my WW goal. I chatted with my leader and decided to go for 150. You may recall that the original one that I had was for 145. Anyway, I guess that's why you have time to think about it. I told her that I may just walk in one day and decide that I'm at goal and she said that was fine, too since I'm now in the healthy range, according to them. Oooh, I'll leave you guessing.

In unrealated news, we have decided to spend Christmas with my mil. Apparently we are going to have my niece, too, but sil is working that day (VON nurse). Hubby was talking about fixing beds, etc at mil's - not sure what was up with that, but forget it. I told him we'd bring up the air mattresses and all of the girls could sleep in the front room, including the niece (she's 18, quite overweight, and won't likely appreciate it, but oh well). Mil's house is a bit messed up. She has the old LR 'upstairs'. She had an addition built on that includes her bedroom and a huge sunroom, which is really the new LR (there's only 3 steps). You can't see one from the other, so Santa can do his thing in private, ya know. Mil is really excited we're going there and so are my girls. I'd say by this time next year, mil won't be 'with' us - as in mentally. She appears to have alzheimer's and it's progressing rather quickly, so we're trying to make this a memorable event for our daughters and, to some extent, Nanny. If it's a bad winter, we'll also find it more difficult to visit regularly, so we're trying to get in as many visits as possible now.

Cheers,

Menu only post - Updated daily Nov 15-21

Catch-up on my menu posts. I think last week was a 'get back into the swing of things' week. I'm guessing I over-estimated some of my meals, like those office sandwich wedges. Funny, but seeing the weekly pts so high actually made me feel heavier. I do think I'm more focused this week on healthy choices.

Thurs: DAY 1
B-fast: Cereal, soy drink, pineapples, coffees with milk (7)
Lunch: chicken, potatoe, veggies and Paul Newman Italian dressing (7)
Snacks: Apple, some sesame seeds (4)
Supper: Chicken, soy drink (8)
Activity: approx 80-85 mins dance/yoga moderate (4) - booked 2
Daily pts: 22
Weekly pts: 35-2=33 left

Fri: - This looks weird because it was an inventory count day and I was at work until 10pm
B-fast: cereal, soy drink and fresh pineapple, coffee with milk (7)
Snack: apple and carrots (I'm booking some pts because of the volume eaten - don't ask) (4)
Lunch: Corned beef sandwich on wheat with cheese (7)
Supper: 1.5 slices take-out pizza and can of reg. Pepsi (13)
Activity: does standing up and walking around count - I think I get and extra pt or 2 for not sitting on my butt all day, but we'll ignore this.
Daily pts: 22
Weekly pts: 33-9=24

Sat:
B-fast: oat bran hot cereal with soy drink, coffee with milk: (6)
Lunch: apple and cranberry salad, pasta with sauce (9)
Snacks: popcorn (10)?
Supper: sushi, pita bread with hummus
Activity: Walked dog (1 banked)
Daily pts: 22
Weekly pts: 24-14=10

Sun:
B-fast: granola bar, Package oatmeal with soy drink: (7)
Lunch: frozen dinner (6)
Snacks: Tim's coffee (1)
Supper: Triscuit cracker with peanut butter, carrots, tomatoe with Paul Newman Italian dressing (9)
Activity: Walked dog (1 banked)
Daily pts: 22
Weekly pts: 10-1=9

Mon:
B-fast: oatmeal packet withsoy drink (4)
Snacks: Tim's Coffee, almonds, coffee with milk (4)
Lunch: Pork, veggies with Paul Newman balsamic vin dressing, potatoe (9)?
Supper: 1/2C rice, 10 shrimp, red bell pepper, oil, thai dressing (5)
Evening snack: 1/5 carmelized dumpling and some fat free fudge brownies (6)
Activity: Nil
Daily pts: 22
Weekly pts: 9-6=3

Tues: DAY 6
B-fast: waffle, 1/2C cottage cheese, 1C berries (5)
Snacks: Tim's coffee, coffee with whole milk (2)
Lunch: LF meatballs, 1/2C brown rice, veggies, honey-garlic sauce (6)
Supper: 3oz chicken salad with 2Tbsp ranch dressing, 1C LF soy drink, LF Fudge brownie (9)
Activity: Nil
Daily pts: 22
Weekly pts: 3-0=3

Wed: DAY 7
B-fast: waffle, 1/2C cottage cheese, 1C berries (5)
Snacks: Coffee with whole milk, carrots (1)
Lunch: 10 shrimp, 1/2C brown rice, veggies, Thai dressing (6)
Supper: 3oz chicken salad with 2Tbsp ranch dressing, 1C LF soy drink, Banana, 3 crackers (10)
Activity: Nil
Daily pts: 22
Weekly pts: 3-0=3

8 Healthy Guidelines

Zazu did an self-evaluation the other day of how she is dealing with Weight Watchers 8 Healthy Guidelines. I think this is a great idea and, at the risk of displaying all of my faults, decided to give it a whirl.

• 5 Servings of Veggies and Fruits per day - I usually have 1 serving in the morning and add veggies to meals all of the time. This has never been a big issue. I don't count many veggies except peas and stuff I know has pts. If I don't know, it's free.
• Choose whole-grain foods - We've always eaten whole wheat bread and I've switched to brown rice and whole-grain cereals. I've also boughten and eaten some whole-wheat pasta, but am just starting in on pasta-season, so will get more into this in the coming weeks. Generally I've jumped on this wagon.
• 2 servings of milk products per day - I don't care much for milk so I substitute LF soy drink and yogurt. I try to have 1C in the morning, I put whole milk in my coffee, and I try to remember to have 1C for supper unless I've had cheese during the day. Usually I get it in, but it's always an effort.
• Healthy Oil - I have actually taken to using oil-based salad dressings as my sauce in lunches. Paul Newman has some great suggestions. This is the one area I don't worry about points - I count them, but will choose high-fat options if I like the taste. It's something that's worth spending 2 pts/day on to me.
• Adequate protein. I usually get enough. This was a new thing to me because I was always so cheap at the grocery. Knowing I need protein and evaluating the cost in pts vs money has really modified some priorities.
• Limit added sugar and alcohol. Sometimes I still struggle with the sugar. I have switched to sweetner and try to satisfy a sweet craving with something like frozen pineapples or strawberries mic'd for a bit with a packet of splenda. I love baked goods, whip cream and chocolate. I try - let's leave it at that. With alcohol, I really don't drink a lot. 4 glasses of wine or beers per week tends to be my limit - not because of the points. Quite often one bottle of beer on Friday night is all I really want. I will very rarely have 3 drinks in 1 day. I just like knowing that I can, if I want to spend 3 pts on it and slow down my progress a bit.
• Drink 6 glasses of water per day. Sometimes I don't have a problem with this and sometimes I do. If I have my bottle, no problem. Lately I've been slacking and would like to get this back up to 8Cs per day
• Multi-vitamin daily. Very rarely, even though I keep a little bottle of Centrum in my desk. But now that I'm typing this I think I'll go downstairs, get a cup of water and take a multi-vitamin.

Holiday Planning

DC&Z is trying to develop a plan for holiday eating. Wow, what an under-taking. I have gone over and over how I am going to keep from gaining that 11 lbs (I actually had 10 in mind, but Becky said Americans average 11 - I'm thinking the other 1 is from Thanksgiving and I've already battled that beast in October).

I love focusing on the main meals (for Americans Thanksgiving, but I only have Christmas and New Years), but that's not what puts 11 lbs on, and I for one am dreading all the other days in between. It's the sweets, chocolates, gathering of all sorts, that get to you. Last year we had at least 1 box of chocolates or truffles in the lunch room at all times for weeks - and I ate more than my fair share of them. When did fruit baskets go out of vogue? When I was young I used to diet before December - I mean, my own version of eating next to nothing - so I could lose at least 5 lbs and enjoy the actual 2 weeks of festivities. I wasn't overweight, but I knew that holidays meant Mom's sweets, big meals, and generally non-stop eating. Any extra weight I gained would be lost in Jan/Feb as I spent a lot of time on the ski hills back then. Well, I haven't skiid in years and have discovered that starvation for a few weeks is not really the healthy way of life that I want to live.

Hmmm, neither is 11 lbs of bonbons and gravy. So, how do we resist these pesky temptations.

• Gatherings - Get a small plate and choose healthy options (i.e. 1 sandwich wedge, some veggies and fruit, limit of 1 small sweet). Why the sweet - because I'm not on a diet. You heard me - I'm a weight watcher but not on a diet. This is my life and we all need a sweet now and then or one of these parties we're gonna stuff sweets down our throat until we're sick of them - at least I would. Deprivation is not pretty. The "I didn't eat a sweet so I'm better than you" attitude is bunk. I drink alcohol too. YUM
• Dinners - I load up on veggies before they're mashed, made cranberry sauce with splenda and used it on my 3-4 oz of turkey breast. Who eats desert right after the meal, so when it's time, again limit to 1 small piece of whatever looks the best - if you can come up with a low point option, go for it. Just add 'healthy' in your google search.
• Fast food during busy days decorating and shopping - This I've got. Subway SW Chicken Terriayake with extra sauce (8pts), McDonalds grilled chicken salad (7pts), Tim Horton's broth soup, Chinese with steamed rice vs. fried, do your research. You may be able to make these for a few less points at home, but it's better than a 30 pt option elsewhere.
• Quick meals at home - Stock up on some easy supplies, like pre-cooked chicken breasts, or low fat meatballs for quick meals. Take an hour and make some frozen dinners that can be easily grabbed - I use the dinners in the frozen food section as guidelines (rice, shrimp, veggies and sauce) or (pasta, cooked chicken breast, veggies and pasta sauce). The choices are endless, but I do tend to use frozen, pre-cooked meat - but you can also throw in a few casserole dishes with various cuts while the rice is cooking. Pork, Steak, Chicken. For pasta don't cook until done as it will continue to finish cooking when being mic'd. Measure, put in container, and freeze. I love the 2C ziploc containers and usually make 6pt meals.
• Sweets at home - don't buy them. You don't need them and neither does your family. If you do any baking, I have found segregating it for the kids tends to keep me from eating it. I guess this is conditioning since we've always boughten separate foods for Ci's allergies and didn't want to eat them all up on her. However, the better option is to do the baking and let the kids take it to school/daycare/outside activities for a treat. My husband can also consume a fair bit without gaining weight, so I warn him to eat it by such and such a date or it's going in the compost.
• Sweets at work - specifically chocolates or truffles, as that's my downfall. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. I'm thinking that, when they start arriving I'll allow myself a coffee treat 2-3 times/week. At 3pts each I may think twice about taking them. Maybe I'll pin the cover of a magazine on the wall by the table, the ones with bodies like I've never seen in real life - SWITCH, do you want that body or SWITCH, that chocolate. Frig, that may work at home, too.
• Exercise - Hubby asked what I wanted for Christmas and I said a gym membership. Not what he had in mind, but I'm serious. I'm also thinking - why wait until New Years? I'm going to join the first of December and make a point to go 2-3 times per week for at least an hour. I'd like to get started on my legs and do a few sessions of cardio a week. But make a point of exercising throughout the holidays.

Good luck with whatever your plans are. Let me know if you post a plan so I can check it out.

Wednesday weigh-in and Daily doings

First, I'm down 1.2 to 158.8. I'm guessing I have over-estimated on some of my points and am quite pleased. I think I'll stick around the 150's for a while 'cause I'm not liking the 160's as much anymore.

Breakfast: 1/2C LF soy drink, banana, coffee with whole milk (4)
Snacks: Tim's coffee with dbl cream and sweetner, apple (3)
Lunch: 6oz chicken breast, brocolli and potatoe with salad dressing (9)
Supper: some pasta with alfredo and veggies, waffle with whip cream and pineapples (8)
Activity: Morning walk 30 mins (1ap), POWER Yoga (now it makes sense) 25 mins (1ap)

Daily pts: 22
Weekly pts: Doesn't matter 'cause "Tomorrow is a new day" - Chicken Little

K, What have I learned? Write stuff down and you will learn things - like Pringles aren't terrible and whole wheat bread with sliced meat and mustard may not be so bad. Also, I am becomming more aware that I really need to not only keep food under control, but also to get back on the exercise wagon. I feel great knowing that I did 7 APs this week.

Menu post - Tues the 13th

I'm taking 1 pt off today for the yoga workout I did last night and still feel in my tummy. Not sure if this is legal or not, but who is really gonna care after tomorrow night?

Breakfast: Cereal, 1C soy drink, banana (7)
Snacks: Carrots, Apple, coffees with whole milk (4)
Lunch: 1/2C rice, 10 shrimp, veggies and salad dressing (5)
Evening: 1/8C sesame seeds, 4oz chicken breast, potatoe with becel spray, 1/2C LF soy drink (9)
Activity: 30 mins Yoga

Daily pts: 22
Weekly pts: 3-1AP=2 more in the whole
Weekly pts left: -9

Yoga Hell

So I decided to give this yoga video a try. It said Beginner on it. My azz.

So I got started with push-up pose, upward dog, downward dog. It was definately quicker than I was used to, and I could really feel it in my weak arms during downward dog. So then he starts with the funky moves - bend knees, hands placed on ground behind your legs, rest arms on kness, lift one foot then the other off the ground (what the heck!!!).

This is a similar pose, only he crossed his feet in front of him doing this at one point. They say it requires more core strength than arm. Yeah.

Also, what is this?

I'll tell you what it is. This nasty backwards plank is insane. I skipped most of the insane poses and downgraded my workout to low impact vs. medium. I also researched the video box more closely and realized that this is the second in a series. I was very relieved when we did this:

which generally signals you're near the end of the session. It also signals the end of my post. Have a great day.

Cheers,

Menu Post

I'm very embarrassed to report the following:

Saturday points total 22 + 13

Sunday:
Breakfast: Bran Flakes, soy drink, berries, coffee with milk (6)
Lunch out: Minestrone soup, 3/4 chicken salad sand on wheat, coffee with milk, approx 7 of J's fries and 1 bite Mark's mashed potatoes with gravy (approx 16 - I hope I have over-estimated)
Supper: 1/2 C Brown rice, salmon, veggies and sauce (5)
Evening: 2 regular beer, pringles (12)

Daily pts 22, Weekly pts 17
I am now in the hole 7 pts for the week if I have estimated all of these unhomemade foods right. I'm trying to guesstimate on the high side, but the pants are feeling kind of snug. No room for error the rest of the week.

Monday:
Breakfast: Bran Flakes, soy drink, berries, coffee with whole milk (6)
Lunch: 1/2C Rice, Salmon, veggies and lf salad dressing (6)
Snack: Apple, 1/8C sesame seeds (4)
Supper: scrambled egg with veggie slice and veggies on tortilla with salsa, 1C LF soy drink (6)
Activity: 10 minutes abs and legs stretching
Daily pts 22, Weekly pts 0

Gonna do some activity now - not sure what. Gotta get some of these pts back.

Saturday - chuggin' along

First, IT'S SNOWING!!! We're supposed to get rain overnight, but the kids were both out enjoying our first snow of the season.

OK, I'm writing things down so I'll do better and, boy, so far it's not helping a lot. I keep revising and it's not always good.

Anyway, I'm done for today and it's Saturday, so...

B-fast: half banana, 3/4 dino-eggs porridge pack (Thanks, J)
Lunch: Chinese - Rice with soya sauce, stir fry with shrimp, veggies and oyster sauce, some kung pao chicken stuff, 4 eggrolls (my bad)
Snack: 1 mini-chocolate, 1 mini bag of dorittos, 2 regular beer
Supper: 1/8 Naan bread pepperoni pizza, 1C LF Soy drink

I still have to calculate points on this stuff.

Friday ramble

I’m very happy it’s Friday. I’m wearing my Friday jeans. Funny, I’m almost at the day-of-the-week outfits as my wardrobe shrinks. I have my cords that I wear every Wednesday for weigh-in, and my jeans that I wear every Friday (I usually wear them on Saturday, too, but shhh – don’t tell). Now I have a jean skirt I’m going to wear on Thursdays. I’ve always wanted a jean skirt and never owned one until I ran into this one at Frenchy’s on Tues night (2nd hand). That just leaves Mondays and Tuesdays. I’ll stick to black slacks on Tuesdays now that those 10s fit me (see, even though the scale has moved marginally, a lot of other stuff is happening). For Mondays I’m going to stick with my 14 brown slacks until I find a suitable replacement.

I bought a new digital camera (yeah). A Sokkia L-series slim and I love it, but really need to read the book. It takes mini-movies, too. I forgot to pick up a memory card for it, so have used up all of the memory on 2 pics and a movie of the kids that I don’t want to erase, but can’t figure out how to get onto my ‘puter. So, I have a 2GB card waiting for me at the store and will try to figure out how to get some pics up this week.

It looks like we’re going to re-count inventory at one of our sites. Tell me, why do you think someone bothers to take the time to do up inventory count procedures? So people can ignore the procedures and do the count willy-nilly? Guess what? I get to do a re-count of a problem area next week with the sales guys who bailed on them the last time around. We did our counts over 2 days (half the stores on day 1, other half on day 2), so I’ve already been to 2 counts that I was in charge of. This problem area turned into a 2-day debacle, and the person in charge still hasn’t figured it all out. Frig it – now, the CEO and VP are behind this and will be sure the sales guys show up next Saturday to do this with me – yeah! Did I ever mention that this is year-end – It’s Heeerrrre!

Swizz said she jinxes herself if she tries to plan her day. Guess I do, too. But at least a plan is somewhere to start. We ended up ordering our lunch today, so I got a spinach salad and had a 3 more of those sandwich quarters and some fresh fruit. I also was given (and ate) a muffin this morning. I did skip my second coffee and will end up having something light tonight to compensate, and because I'm kinda still fullish at 4pm.

Cheers all - have a great weekend.

Friday Food and activity

Today is Friday and the plan is:

Breakfast: 1C LF yogurt, some strawberries and pineapple, 1C Bran Flakes, coffee with whole milk (6)

Snack: Apple and maybe some baby carrots, coffee with whole milk (3)
Lunch: 3oz salmon, 1/2C Rice, veggies and Paul Newman Thai salad dressing (6)
Afternoon snack: baby carrots and 1/4C sunflower seeds (3 for seeds)
Supper: Shrimp, rice and veggies with oyster sauce, 1C LF soy drink (9)
Evening snack: 3?

Replaced with:

Snack: Someone bought me a coffee and Tim's fruit explosion muffin (yikes_8)

Lunch: The boss bought lunch, and I got a spinach salad (6?), then had a few sandwich quarters (7?), some fresh fruit (1) and an OJ (2).

Supper: I was still full and only had a parfait (2) - bad, I know.

Activity: 20 minute walk at lunch (Revised - no walk)
Total = 24-1 = 23 (Revised 32)
Daily pts = 22
Weekly pts left = 32 -10 = 21 (Yikes)

Meetings and Menus

Weigh-In last night was as expected. I am up 0.8lbs to 160 again. Since 160 was my official mini-goal, I didn't back-track on that - Phew! I stayed for meeting and feel rejuvenated and know that I need to start taking this seriously again. I also was told to take 160 as my goal (again) so I wouldn't have to pay. Apparently we have to pay through maintenance, so I am thinking that I'll make goal before Christmas, if you know what I mean, but will continue to lose. I've also gotta start taking this Christmas Challenge a little more seriously. I don't expect to reach 148 by the end of it, but I'd like to come damn close. Maybe a little personal challenge to get to 153. That's 7lbs in 7 weeks and totally do-able. That would make me happy.

So, my goals for this week are simple:

• exercise for at least 150 minutes and post on blog
• track all food in journal and post on blog

Boy, aren't you lucky to get to read my daily work-outs and food consumption for a whole week!

Today is Thursday and the plan is:
Breakfast: 1C LF yogurt, some berries, 3Tbsp granola, coffee with whole milk (5 revised to 6)
Snack: Apple and maybe some baby carrots, coffee with whole milk (3)
Lunch: 4oz salmon, 1/2C Rice, veggies and Paul Newman Thai salad dressing (6 revised to 7)
Afternoon snack: baby carrots and

1/4C sunflower seeds (3 for seeds)
Supper: 4oz Chicken, sweet potatoe and veggies with sauce, 1C LF soy drink (8)

This was replaced with:
Veggies and fruit and little bit of dips from a luncheon platter (fruit mainly melons, strawberries and pineapple) I'm thinking 1 for the fruit and 1 for the dips.
5 sandwich quarters from a sandwich platter (I'm thinking around 7)
1 smallish boughten square (maybe 3)

Activity: 90 minutes dance/yoga class (3-4 as some at moderate and some at low)
Total = 25-3 = 22 revised 28-3 = 25
Daily pts = 22
Weekly pts left = 35 revised = 32

Vanity and Chocolate

Vanity sizing to be more specific. How does it feel to be wearing a size 10? Hmmm, good, but…Clothes sizing means very little anymore. Last night I tried on a size 12 slacks and they fit. I’m still wearing some 14s. And get this – I’m also wearing size 10. It’s the 10s I take issue with – sort of. They are actually my favourite pants. Maybe because they are ‘new’ styles and look cool. But a 10? I have a pair of 11 jeans at home that I used to wear when Ci was a baby. These were snug, and yes, I can button them. But, can you say major re-distribution of wealth. I swear my muffin sticks out a full 3-4inches and I feel like something is going to rupture (this is NOT an exaggeration). What I do know is that these 11’s are from 8-9 years ago – back when an 11 was an 11, not something else. So, I know I cannot possibly be a size 10 now.

So, like I said, I tried on some size 12 slacks and 2 size 10 skirts. I didn’t buy the slacks – the purpose of trying them on was to confirm that I am a comfortable size 12 because slacks tend to still have proper sizing. One of the skirts I couldn’t get done up, but at least it came up to the point I could try (Yay). The other fit like a glove. I’m also wearing other size 10 hand-me-on pants thanks to Heidi.

I guess what all of this really means is that maybe I should get rid of all of those size 14s. And, sizing really doesn’t mean as much as it once did. But we keep on trecking, which brings me to Chocolate…

How did you do this week? I ate a small fraction of what I ate last year, but did give in to maybe a dozen or so chocolates (give or, well, not give a dozen), a few suckers and hard candies, and a couple of bags of chippies. The chips were when I was at mil’s on the weekend and they were the store brand plain kind. I haven’t had chips in a while and it was nice to indulge with small quantity. So, way more crap than should be consumed by a weight watcher in 1 week, but way, way less than I would have consumed otherwise. I really deserve a gain this week and I really need to get back on track with journaling. This weeks journal remains empty – sad, huh. So, if the 150’s were short-lived I have no one to blame but myself. On the plus side, even the 9yo admitted to feeling sluggish a couple of days ago and has scaled back her consumption all on her own – I’m proud of her. I’m thinking it’s time to confiscate all candy, review the contents and store chips in the basement (hubby said he’d start taking some to work), candy in a high cupboard to be dolled out an item or two per night until the Christmas advent calendar hits the house and we toss the left-overs. I’m seriously thinking about the Polly Pocket advent calendar this year for the LO (a piece of clothing per day), but not sure what to do for my big girl just yet.

Tagging without the exercise

I guess I got tagged twice officially, and unofficially a couple of other times. There are rules to this, but I'm thinking that most people have already been 'it', so I'm just gonna post my 'stuff'.

1. I gave birth on July 4th twice. I don't have twins, both my daughters are independent (ahh, Independence Day) and I consider both to be fairly unpatriotic. Would it have been too much to ask for them to have been borne 3 days earlier on Canada Day.
2. The OBGYN saranaded me after J was borne by with 'Born on the 4th of July'. I wasn't amused at the time as it was 6am and I was way tired.
3. I lived in Calgary for 4 years. I missed 4 Eastern Falls, and have appreciated every one since coming home.
4. I love the fall so much that hubby and I honeymooned in the North Eastern States in October for the Fall colour. The fall is my favourite time of year.
5. Skiing is my preferred holiday. When I lived out west, all of my 'fun-money' went to ski trips, like Big Mountain, Montana, Lake Louis, Sunshine, Fernie, Kimberley. I love them all.
6. The first time I left Canada was on a ski trip to West Virginia with my boyfriend and his uncles. I went to my first 'real' hockey game in Pittsburg that week, too (Go, Mario)
7. My husband and I went out on a date in 1990 after working together and flirting for a couple of months. We liked each other, but since I was going back to university the relationship ended. 7 years later, after we'd both had broken engagements, we ran into each other again. He's my best friend and biggest supporter.

So, if you haven't been tagged yet, tell us 7 facts about you.

Pound by Pound

Wow, What a week. How did I manage to lose another pound this week after the week I had.

I tried to order healthy while eating out, but didn't think I'd done so great. Maybe that Apple Burrito dessert I ate at Jungle Jim's was covered by my weekly flexxies. Here's a recap:

Friday night Pizza Hut: Spaghetti with plum tomatoes and some grilled chicken, some of the LOs kids pizza
Saturday afternoon: Jungle Jim's Grilled chicken taco salad and dessert, some of Mom's steak and shrimp
Sunday morning: Half of a Tim's ham and cheese scone
Sunday lunch: Cora's spinach omelette with swiss cheese and some of Ci's chocolate sauce
Monday: lunch out, supper out - decent choices
Tuesday: lunch out - decent choice
Wednesday: More candy than I would have like, but less than prior years

I guess when you really boil it down it's not as bad as it felt at the time. I hate eating out, but with the exception of the dessert my choices were all decent - even the fast food choices. I also brought a bit of food with and it was all good choices (maybe not the best, but not the worst). I also passed the bread products on - not saying I didn't have some, but just not everything.

I had actually stressed a bit about weigh-in this week and almost didn't go. I'm glad I did, but not just because I lost. I didn't attend a meeting, but just to be accountable to yourself feels good.

Cheers, Have a great week.

Tempted

I must admit, I did give in to a couple mini chocolates and a pack of nibs. I'm really not sure how I'm going to handle all of this candy in the house for the next week. Maybe I'll have to get the kids to hide it in their room.

To offset my sins I did go with them. In and out of driveways and then the 4yo had an accident and I carried her back up the hill to our friends house. Now that was a bit of a workout. Oh, I guess the beer I drank after we got home didn't help.

I also missed weigh-in. Maybe I'll go today - not expecting great results this week.

How did you do?