The Turkey Trot was fantastic!! I ran with my same mommy friend and I/we cut 2 minutes off our time!!! 5k in 33 minutes! Pre-baby I did normally run an entire 5k but since having the baby I was easing myself back into things by running in intervals. My mommy friend wanted to try and run the whole thing this time and I was almost completely successful. There was this never ending hill that I had to walk up the last third of but I caught up to my mommy friend afterwards. So happy with the improvement at each 5k, new mini goal is to get my pace under 10 min per mile and then finish under 30 minutes.
Thanksgiving started out with a happy scale reading in my bathroom. I think that my dinner from the night before my WW meeting through off my numbers. Hopefully that means a big week this week if Thanksgiving doesn't cause too much trouble. I did overeat by my normal standards but not really by Thanksgiving standards. There's still a lot of dessert around the house to tempt me. Cleaning up this morning has not gone so well in terms of not eating sweets. Gotta get back on track. I really want to hit 5% this week. By the way, 5% is the suggested first goal in Weight Watchers, then you aim for 10%, then you decide on what goal weight you want to shoot for.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Don't Use Your Broccoli as a Shovel
This week I was down -0.2lbs, which is better than gaining but I was hoping for a 1lb loss. I'm still very happy with my overall net results (-7.6lbs). I know that I still need to record what I'm eating to really stay on track and there were a couple of very busy days where I wrote down nothing yet ate plenty. I do feel like I know what I need to do (write things down in journal and wake up early to exercise) its just that sometimes its a little tedious. Anyway, back on track this week!
This week's meeting was so motivating. There were so many women hitting milestones this week, it was so inspiring. Two friends at the meeting are doing WW together and over the last 6 months together they lost over 90lbs!! Another woman hit her goal weight. Our leader was excited that she's about to enter her fourth year of maintenance after losing 75lbs. She shared with us that the last thing she used to do before leaving the house each morning is look in the mirror, put on her earrings, blow out her cheeks and say, "Fat piggy ready to start the day." Several women's eyes teared up, how are we so cruel to ourselves sometimes before we realize we need to make a change?
Anyway everyone seemed to be in a good mood and offering up tips and advice this week. Some comments made me laugh out loud, here's a few I thought were the most helpful:
(1) Don't use your broccoli as a shovel for the dip
(2) Wear pants that button, not stretch
(3) "No time" is just an excuse
(4) Its OK to dump food in the garbage, just donate to a food bank later
(5) I love feeling empowered
(6) Nothing tastes as good as feeling thin!
Tomorrow is the Turkey Trot and I have not run since the last 5k race 10 days ago. I'm only hoping to tie my previous time of 35 minutes. I decided not to start my official training for a half marathon until I can put the baby in babysitting at the gym. Its just too hard otherwise, although as I say this I'm wondering if I should just ask the girl next door to regularly babysit an afternoon each week.
This week's meeting was so motivating. There were so many women hitting milestones this week, it was so inspiring. Two friends at the meeting are doing WW together and over the last 6 months together they lost over 90lbs!! Another woman hit her goal weight. Our leader was excited that she's about to enter her fourth year of maintenance after losing 75lbs. She shared with us that the last thing she used to do before leaving the house each morning is look in the mirror, put on her earrings, blow out her cheeks and say, "Fat piggy ready to start the day." Several women's eyes teared up, how are we so cruel to ourselves sometimes before we realize we need to make a change?
Anyway everyone seemed to be in a good mood and offering up tips and advice this week. Some comments made me laugh out loud, here's a few I thought were the most helpful:
(1) Don't use your broccoli as a shovel for the dip
(2) Wear pants that button, not stretch
(3) "No time" is just an excuse
(4) Its OK to dump food in the garbage, just donate to a food bank later
(5) I love feeling empowered
(6) Nothing tastes as good as feeling thin!
Tomorrow is the Turkey Trot and I have not run since the last 5k race 10 days ago. I'm only hoping to tie my previous time of 35 minutes. I decided not to start my official training for a half marathon until I can put the baby in babysitting at the gym. Its just too hard otherwise, although as I say this I'm wondering if I should just ask the girl next door to regularly babysit an afternoon each week.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Another Good Wednesday
First the positive, another great week, another -2.5lbs gone! In total I am down 7.4lbs! That's at the end of only 5 weeks so I am very happy to be ahead of my 1lb per week schedule. I really enjoyed my week in the new jeans and jacket. Its so nice to have clothes that fit and are somewhat stylish. I must appreciate the small stuff otherwise the big picture is too daunting.
This was my first Wednesday "Me" morning and I had way too much other stuff to do to really make it about me. I didn't even remember until that afternoon that I was supposed to do something fun and or relaxing for myself that day. I'm not complaining since I had my little shopping spree last Friday anyway. I did manage to get a short run in too, only 15 minutes. However, I do not like to miss a WW meeting. I really find them so motivating. I enjoy the team spirit too, I find myself wondering how the other Wednesday regulars did too. I only had time to weigh in this week.
Wednesday morning was a parent coffee for my son's class. The afternoon was kindergarten open house. The parents were buzzing about the school, kindergarten, public vs. private, on and on. I was spinning with all the information. We live in an area that has excellent public and private schools, we really can not make a bad decision education wise around here yet we agonize over making every school decision. We just can't stop ourselves from doing it. I find it so amazing how we can live in a town with such great schools and yet there is still so much demand for private education. I only mention all this because I'm thinking I should become a teacher.
This has been on my radar for a while now. I want a job that has similar or sort of flexible hours so I am still available to my own kids. I don't want education debt for a job or career that doesn't pay that much. I want no part of commuting (been there done that). When I was in high school I worked for a daycare center and I LOVED it, I enjoy children. Why do I fight something that could be such a great fit for me?I never pursued education as a career b/c everyone always said how difficult it is to get a job as a teacher. I'm really thinking if I do something special, like get Montessori certified (1yr, less debt, little money) or do speech therapy (3yrs, more education debt, much more money)), I'd easily find a job. Its so hard b/c I always love what I am right in the middle of, after I had my first child I wanted to be a midwife, this one seems a little more in line with me and what I want though. Well, food for thought.
This was my first Wednesday "Me" morning and I had way too much other stuff to do to really make it about me. I didn't even remember until that afternoon that I was supposed to do something fun and or relaxing for myself that day. I'm not complaining since I had my little shopping spree last Friday anyway. I did manage to get a short run in too, only 15 minutes. However, I do not like to miss a WW meeting. I really find them so motivating. I enjoy the team spirit too, I find myself wondering how the other Wednesday regulars did too. I only had time to weigh in this week.
Wednesday morning was a parent coffee for my son's class. The afternoon was kindergarten open house. The parents were buzzing about the school, kindergarten, public vs. private, on and on. I was spinning with all the information. We live in an area that has excellent public and private schools, we really can not make a bad decision education wise around here yet we agonize over making every school decision. We just can't stop ourselves from doing it. I find it so amazing how we can live in a town with such great schools and yet there is still so much demand for private education. I only mention all this because I'm thinking I should become a teacher.
This has been on my radar for a while now. I want a job that has similar or sort of flexible hours so I am still available to my own kids. I don't want education debt for a job or career that doesn't pay that much. I want no part of commuting (been there done that). When I was in high school I worked for a daycare center and I LOVED it, I enjoy children. Why do I fight something that could be such a great fit for me?I never pursued education as a career b/c everyone always said how difficult it is to get a job as a teacher. I'm really thinking if I do something special, like get Montessori certified (1yr, less debt, little money) or do speech therapy (3yrs, more education debt, much more money)), I'd easily find a job. Its so hard b/c I always love what I am right in the middle of, after I had my first child I wanted to be a midwife, this one seems a little more in line with me and what I want though. Well, food for thought.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Timing is Everything
Today was the 5k... I came in just under 35 minutes. This is not even close to fast but all I hoped to do was beat my previous time of 37 minutes from three weeks ago and MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! I ran with another mom who was a good match. I was glad not to feel like I was not slowing anyone down but also that I wasn't holding myself back too. I have another 5k in about 2 weeks and I'm not sure what to make the new time goal, hopefully just improvement. I'd really like to eventually get back under 30 minutes but that'll take a little more time than 2 weeks. I got 2 runs in this week and a walk so I think I am going to declare this "week one" of my half marathon training (even though I should've done one more run) or maybe I'll wait and see how this week goes before deciding. Week one keeps getting pushed up since I have not been getting in all the runs, quickly turning into month one! Hopefully the running success will stay with me longer than the success of fitting into my fat jeans.
I went shopping with my husband on Friday. I don't really like shopping that much but its so much more likable without children! It was so disappointing leaving the first store with several bags for my husband and NOTHING for me. It is so annoying how men don't even need to try things on to know they fit. I have to undress in the dressing room, get sad looking at myself while standing ridiculously close to a full length mirror. Then I try on my jeans and shirts hoping they hide all the problem areas I was just staring at, I still see them, dressing room starts to get too hot, I need to go. Luckily though we went to one more store and I found a couple of things, most importantly jeans that fit!! I think they look good, they stay up on my hips and are not uncomfortably tight. I don't think they look like "mom" jeans but the label actually is call "Not Your Daughter's Jeans" or NYDJ. I can't believe they're trying to make that happen as their brand name. Even in my desperate situation, when I read the label I considered putting them back but I couldn't bring myself to try on more. I also found a jacket to my husband's delight so I am retiring the bright yellow fleece (as well as the fat jeans) that I found myself wearing all the time. I guess this is my 5lb reward to myself.
I'm thinking this is going to be another good weight loss week. Even though we had company and went out to eat this week, I did not over eat. I feel like I lost. YAY! Off to make dinner, some kind of peanut chicken. My husband finally tried/liked one of the WW recipes, Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito. Could lightning strike twice?
I went shopping with my husband on Friday. I don't really like shopping that much but its so much more likable without children! It was so disappointing leaving the first store with several bags for my husband and NOTHING for me. It is so annoying how men don't even need to try things on to know they fit. I have to undress in the dressing room, get sad looking at myself while standing ridiculously close to a full length mirror. Then I try on my jeans and shirts hoping they hide all the problem areas I was just staring at, I still see them, dressing room starts to get too hot, I need to go. Luckily though we went to one more store and I found a couple of things, most importantly jeans that fit!! I think they look good, they stay up on my hips and are not uncomfortably tight. I don't think they look like "mom" jeans but the label actually is call "Not Your Daughter's Jeans" or NYDJ. I can't believe they're trying to make that happen as their brand name. Even in my desperate situation, when I read the label I considered putting them back but I couldn't bring myself to try on more. I also found a jacket to my husband's delight so I am retiring the bright yellow fleece (as well as the fat jeans) that I found myself wearing all the time. I guess this is my 5lb reward to myself.
I'm thinking this is going to be another good weight loss week. Even though we had company and went out to eat this week, I did not over eat. I feel like I lost. YAY! Off to make dinner, some kind of peanut chicken. My husband finally tried/liked one of the WW recipes, Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito. Could lightning strike twice?
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
First Milestone
I have to admit that I enjoyed that little star sticker going in my book for losing 5lbs so far. Very much on target since I am just beginning week 5. I didn't raise my hand at the meeting so everyone could clap for me, maybe next time. I'm feeling really good like the weight loss is happening because of small changes I'm making and I hope to make these changes part of my life rather than a passing diet. I have not decided on an exact number for my goal weight yet but I want to lose an additional 35-40lbs by August.
The meeting today was all about Thanksgiving. I loved how our leader was describing how to come up with a strategy for the day. In terms of the actual food, her talk was about portion control and being aware of the points for each food (mashed potatoes are less points than stuffing). However, she kept emphasizing taking control of the day. I really loved that! Decide before you go what you want to eat, when you are going to leave the table, etc. and eliminate the guilt. I don't really have guilt on Thanksgiving, I'm not a big Thanksgiving food person and my family is not the type to pressure me to eat or try something. However I was relating to her sentiments in terms of time not food. With my small kids and a hard working husband, its hard to meet everyone's demands day and night, it often makes me feel like I have no control over any of my time. I've decided that Wednesdays will be my day or at least my morning. I will spend the rest of the week fitting in errands between naps and figuring out meals, except on Wednesday. I am going to plan for Wednesday and do a slow cooker recipe so I don't have to cook. With the big kids in school, I'm going to get a cup of coffee and sit in on my WW meeting, I should still have time to do something else like think about my new career. Wednesday, love it!
In other news, I did not get to the gym this morning or yesterday morning. Too tired after waking up so much with the baby. We did walk to today's playdate, definitely got my 30 min of exercise in. I pushed the two kids in the stroller and wore the baby! It was cold but I broke a sweat on the big hill. Unfortunately, Tuesday I wore my fabulous fat jeans to my daughter's dance class. In front of the wall to wall mirrors, I realized I look so fat in the fat jeans. So sad. While they do fit, they are hopelessly out of style. I think I know what I'm doing next Wednesday, jeans shopping.
The meeting today was all about Thanksgiving. I loved how our leader was describing how to come up with a strategy for the day. In terms of the actual food, her talk was about portion control and being aware of the points for each food (mashed potatoes are less points than stuffing). However, she kept emphasizing taking control of the day. I really loved that! Decide before you go what you want to eat, when you are going to leave the table, etc. and eliminate the guilt. I don't really have guilt on Thanksgiving, I'm not a big Thanksgiving food person and my family is not the type to pressure me to eat or try something. However I was relating to her sentiments in terms of time not food. With my small kids and a hard working husband, its hard to meet everyone's demands day and night, it often makes me feel like I have no control over any of my time. I've decided that Wednesdays will be my day or at least my morning. I will spend the rest of the week fitting in errands between naps and figuring out meals, except on Wednesday. I am going to plan for Wednesday and do a slow cooker recipe so I don't have to cook. With the big kids in school, I'm going to get a cup of coffee and sit in on my WW meeting, I should still have time to do something else like think about my new career. Wednesday, love it!
In other news, I did not get to the gym this morning or yesterday morning. Too tired after waking up so much with the baby. We did walk to today's playdate, definitely got my 30 min of exercise in. I pushed the two kids in the stroller and wore the baby! It was cold but I broke a sweat on the big hill. Unfortunately, Tuesday I wore my fabulous fat jeans to my daughter's dance class. In front of the wall to wall mirrors, I realized I look so fat in the fat jeans. So sad. While they do fit, they are hopelessly out of style. I think I know what I'm doing next Wednesday, jeans shopping.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Fabulous Fat Jeans
I'm declaring today marvelous Monday because I'm wearing my fat jeans!!! Its one very small step but its exciting to be able to wear non-maternity clothing since I'm no longer pregnant and all. Pretty sure I didn't over do it this weekend and gain weight, yet another reason to celebrate today. Very excited that any weight I lose this week will be a real weight loss not just getting back to where I was before the weekend.
I actually managed to get a run in this weekend. I walked/ran a 5K outside, probably took about 40 minutes. I think the other moms in this weekend's 5K will fare better than me but I did just have a baby 8 weeks ago so I can't be too hard on myself. My husband agreed to take over one morning a week so I can go to the gym early. Think I'll do that tomorrow, need to start getting my 3 training runs in each week or there's no hope of being ready for any kind of long distance run. NYC Marathon was this weekend. I always find it so inspiring.
Now, what to make for dinner?
I actually managed to get a run in this weekend. I walked/ran a 5K outside, probably took about 40 minutes. I think the other moms in this weekend's 5K will fare better than me but I did just have a baby 8 weeks ago so I can't be too hard on myself. My husband agreed to take over one morning a week so I can go to the gym early. Think I'll do that tomorrow, need to start getting my 3 training runs in each week or there's no hope of being ready for any kind of long distance run. NYC Marathon was this weekend. I always find it so inspiring.
Now, what to make for dinner?
Friday, November 5, 2010
Salad Shmalad
I went to my weigh in a day early and my net weight loss so far is -2.5lbs since I started. I suppose I should be happy about this. Part of weeks 1 & 2, I was on vacation and ended gaining 2lbs by the time I got back to WW. In light of the fact that food was a big part of my resort stay (all the food was delicious and made from scratch), +2lbs didn't sound so bad to me. Week 3 contained Halloween and a surplus of treats due to my miscalculation of the number of trick-or-treaters to number of treats. I'm suddenly feeling better about the 2.5lbs, but I know I was down more than that a few days ago and I'm still behind where I should be in the 3-4lb range according to my goal. This losing weight stuff is hard. I was under the impression that I'd have a big drop right at the beginning but not yet.
This week the kids had a few days off and unfortunately the weather has been terrible - cold and rainy. I'm feeling kind of trapped inside the house. To go anywhere I have to mobilize three little ones and then once we get anywhere I have to constantly do a headcount or lug my stroller (which maneuvers like those grocery carts that looks like a car). Its so tiring. Nonetheless, I insist that we have an activity everyday that my kids don't have school. So yesterday we head over to a children's concert in a downpour. I was so wet and cold. Once inside we happened to meet up with one of my son's classmates and sit with her family. The other mother graciously invited us to lunch with them afterwards at Friendly's. It was awful logistically with the rain but I was happy to be out of the house and my kids were enjoying themselves. I look at the menu and I even said "This is the perfect day for chilli," but I did not do the smart thing and order it (side note WW is very big on beans in chili and soups which I like but I think its giving my newborn gas). Instead I decide to go for the salad. I do recall the WW advice that anything with crispy in the name you should avoid but surely a caesar salad would be worse and by looking at the picture of the crispy chicken salad there didn't appear to be that much chicken, WRONG. I enjoyed my "salad" with the dressing on the side BUT then I came home and looked up the nutrition info to dutifully fill out my food log. OMG!!! My "salad" was TWENTY FIVE POINTS!!! Look at this unless you want continue enjoying your Friendly's meal...
http://www.friendlys.com/media/pdf/nutrition/FriendlysLunchDinnerMenu.pdf
That's like more than most women should have in a day. Thank goodness for the those extra nursing points I have. I'm convinced the salad did me in this week.
As for the running, it has not been going very well. I really do enjoy exercising but its so hard to do when I can't put my newborn in the gym's babysitting yet (I think I could in another 5 weeks or so). Friday is usually my day to exercise since my MIL comes to watch the kids but she was sick today. I was hopeful that I could just go over to the gym tonight but my love just called and he's stuck at work again. So another week of not hitting my targets on the running front and I'm going to do a 5k in less than 2 weeks. The other moms I ran the last 5k with have been training, I need to improve just to keep up! Tonight I am definitely doing my walking DVD and this weekend I am going to get at least one outside run in and finally use that 5k route that I made on Google maps. WW meeting this week was all about getting 30 minutes of exercise in everyday. I really wish it didn't seem so difficult.
This week the kids had a few days off and unfortunately the weather has been terrible - cold and rainy. I'm feeling kind of trapped inside the house. To go anywhere I have to mobilize three little ones and then once we get anywhere I have to constantly do a headcount or lug my stroller (which maneuvers like those grocery carts that looks like a car). Its so tiring. Nonetheless, I insist that we have an activity everyday that my kids don't have school. So yesterday we head over to a children's concert in a downpour. I was so wet and cold. Once inside we happened to meet up with one of my son's classmates and sit with her family. The other mother graciously invited us to lunch with them afterwards at Friendly's. It was awful logistically with the rain but I was happy to be out of the house and my kids were enjoying themselves. I look at the menu and I even said "This is the perfect day for chilli," but I did not do the smart thing and order it (side note WW is very big on beans in chili and soups which I like but I think its giving my newborn gas). Instead I decide to go for the salad. I do recall the WW advice that anything with crispy in the name you should avoid but surely a caesar salad would be worse and by looking at the picture of the crispy chicken salad there didn't appear to be that much chicken, WRONG. I enjoyed my "salad" with the dressing on the side BUT then I came home and looked up the nutrition info to dutifully fill out my food log. OMG!!! My "salad" was TWENTY FIVE POINTS!!! Look at this unless you want continue enjoying your Friendly's meal...
http://www.friendlys.com/media/pdf/nutrition/FriendlysLunchDinnerMenu.pdf
That's like more than most women should have in a day. Thank goodness for the those extra nursing points I have. I'm convinced the salad did me in this week.
As for the running, it has not been going very well. I really do enjoy exercising but its so hard to do when I can't put my newborn in the gym's babysitting yet (I think I could in another 5 weeks or so). Friday is usually my day to exercise since my MIL comes to watch the kids but she was sick today. I was hopeful that I could just go over to the gym tonight but my love just called and he's stuck at work again. So another week of not hitting my targets on the running front and I'm going to do a 5k in less than 2 weeks. The other moms I ran the last 5k with have been training, I need to improve just to keep up! Tonight I am definitely doing my walking DVD and this weekend I am going to get at least one outside run in and finally use that 5k route that I made on Google maps. WW meeting this week was all about getting 30 minutes of exercise in everyday. I really wish it didn't seem so difficult.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
First Meeting
I joined Weight Watchers October 13th to start losing. The WW I go to is a store front. There's a big window in the front but the curtain over it seems out of place and makes you think something suspicious is going on in there because you can just barely see through it. Upon opening the door, I was shocked to see so many people there on a Wednesday morning at 10:30am. After explaining which membership I wanted, I stepped on the dreaded scale and waited for shock to appear on the person behind the counter's face but it never happened (it should be noted there was also no comment like, "You don't look like you weight ###" either). I looked for a seat and listened to this older woman congratulate people with pins and bookmarks while giving advice on our upcoming week.
Since I spend most of my day with my children, it was kind of nice to be in a room of adults and just listen without interruption. How is it that every group of people has certain components? There is always a "Should we put our name at the top?" type of person in every group. They always feel compelled to speak up for no other reason than to hear their own voice. How is it that said type is ALWAYS completely confident that what they're saying is VERY insightful and the whole room must hear it? There's a big heavy man who alerted the whole room on his weight loss "tip" that he read on the internet. "The Chinese drink something warm before eating their meal, been doing it centuries," and then prattled on about the science of digestion and temperature. Later, he received a bookmark for hitting a goal perhaps I need to be more open to suggestion and his really wasn't that wacky.
The meeting ended and I had my Welcome talk with the older leader lady. She gave a great suggestion about Mexican Layered Chicken and reheating it throughout the week for a meal without much preparation. She was right, I liked it. I bet I would've had a great first week if only I didn't go on vacation and gain 2lbs!!
Since I spend most of my day with my children, it was kind of nice to be in a room of adults and just listen without interruption. How is it that every group of people has certain components? There is always a "Should we put our name at the top?" type of person in every group. They always feel compelled to speak up for no other reason than to hear their own voice. How is it that said type is ALWAYS completely confident that what they're saying is VERY insightful and the whole room must hear it? There's a big heavy man who alerted the whole room on his weight loss "tip" that he read on the internet. "The Chinese drink something warm before eating their meal, been doing it centuries," and then prattled on about the science of digestion and temperature. Later, he received a bookmark for hitting a goal perhaps I need to be more open to suggestion and his really wasn't that wacky.
The meeting ended and I had my Welcome talk with the older leader lady. She gave a great suggestion about Mexican Layered Chicken and reheating it throughout the week for a meal without much preparation. She was right, I liked it. I bet I would've had a great first week if only I didn't go on vacation and gain 2lbs!!
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