The ME I WANT to BE - WLS Week of my birthday! (Feb 21)

[greysangel]

Hi everyone-

I'm not in a very leader-y mood, but I'm going to try my best :) If you can't bear to see your fearless leader having a pity party, skip the next paragraph!

Last night I weighed in and went up another half pound. That's two weeks of gain. It also means that this past month I have lost a little under two pounds. I won't sit here and lie to you...I am incredibly upset. It's not like I'm struggling with the last ten pounds...I still have a good 60-70 to lose. I work the program, I work out regularly..I just don't really understand to be completely honest. I know in my head that this week is probably TOM, but last week's gain was totally undeserved and I just can't believe that with all the work I'm doing, I am up two pounds. This Sunday is my birthday and I'm going to be 30. I thought for sure I would be under 200 by my birthday and then I hoped for under 200 for my wedding anniversary (March 25)...at this rate, I doubt I'm going to see that. The worst feeling however is not the two weeks of undeserved gain..it's the feeling that I'm not going to see the end of the rainbow...that somehow I was just meant to be overweight. I really apologize for feeling sorry for myself, but I think I really just need to hear to hang in there. I'm not going to abandon the program. As I said to someone else, what's the alternative? Slowly gain back everything I have lost? Eat with abandon and go back to feeling uncomfortably numb? In my misery last night I asked my husband how I could possibly be a role model for you all when I can't even show you program success. DH -god I love him!- said that my success is in staying the course...working the program no matter what. So here I am, imperfections and all... I hope I haven't disappointed anyone.

As to goals this week, I only made it to the gym 3x due to pulling muscles in my neck over the weekend. I upped my weights and I lifted wrong darnit! That put me out of commission for two days. I stayed within point range even with a night out on the town with my darlin DH.

This week's topic is feeding emotions. I'm sure if you were all in a room, 80% of you would raise your hands if I asked who eats emotionally. Feeding emotions is not necessarily a bad thing...it's really a matter of slowing down enough to make decent choices and pick which emotional times that are worth eating over. The first step is identifying your feelings and seeing if you are going to manage with or without food. Ways of managing without food: living the feeling ...experiencing the emotion full blast. Another comping method is distraction...finding something to take your mind off of the urge for food whether it be activity, work, journaling, calling a friend etc. Ways of coping with food...the best way is to figure out what you are hungry for. Don't just stuff something in your mouth. What is going to make you feel good? A piece of quality chocolate? A cheeseburger? Bulk eating? If it's bulk eating/hand to mouth feeling..go for the low point stuff...popcorn, veggies etc.

I have learned over time to not always react with food...however I'm here to tell you that feeling of WANTING to go to food NEVER GOES AWAY!!!! It's what we do with the information that is important. Picking your food battles, so to speak. I no longer eat out of boredom which used to be a big one for me. Now it's stress or TOM which I'm convinced is part chemical ;)

This week's goal:
Stay the course.
Enjoy my birthday.

All the best everyone,
JeAnne

[slknight]

Originally posted by greysangel
In my misery last night I asked my husband how I could possibly be a role model for you all when I can't even show you program success. DH -god I love him!- said that my success is in staying the course...working the program no matter what. So here I am, imperfections and all... I hope I haven't disappointed anyone.


Oh, Jeanne! This brought tears to my eyes. You are an incredible role model. Please don't ever doubt that! You are an inspiration to so many of us.

As for the gain, I know you must be frustrated. But I'm going to tell you to hang in there.:D I know that TOM wrecks havoc on my weight, and you know that last week's gain was alien invasion, right? Persistence is going to get you where you want to be. Just wait; I'm sure it is just a stubborn plateau. You're going to have some well-deserved losses soon.

I'm sending you a big ((((hug)))).

-Susan

[SandyM]

((((((((((((((((((((JeAnne))))))))))))))))))))))

There's a hug for you, our fearless leader.

I look to you for your patience, your guidance, your leadership, and your willingness to not only lead us into battle, but to fight the battle right alongside us. Not once, however, have I, or will I, put you on a pedistal, expecting to think any less of you or be disappointed in you for what you might deem as a step back.

You have showed us success. Anyone who looks at our website can see that. Anyone who reads your posts can see that. You are one strong woman, girlfriend.

DH and I are both emotional eaters. Every celebration, every angry moment, every depressing thing, all of it surrounds food. Within the last 7 weeks, we're learning how to recognize when we're hungry, and to feed the body what it needs, when it needs. I had a horrible day at work yesterday, and if there had been anything in the house remotely resembling chocolate, I would have demolished it and the countertop it rested on right along with it. But I was happy that I went to bed fighting the battle in my mind, not by feeding my stomach.

Hang in there, JeAnne.

[jphilg]

JeAnne...

Hugs and good vibes coming your way. As you have said so many times, you can control what you eat, and how much you exercise, but you cannot ultimately control the way that your body will react to these inputs. You, my darling, were not *meant* to be fat....no one meant to be fat could have stuck with it for as long as you have, reinventing your self and your health in the process.

This plateau, too, will pass. Stick with it, revel in being 30, and remember (once again throwing your advice right back at you) that tying your goals to dates on the calendar is setting yourself up to feel bad about what actually is PROGRESS. You are two pounds less that last month! Rock on!

That said, I am sure that you feel crapity, and I just want you to know that the whole gang at Me I Want to Be wants to be JUST LIKE YOU!

Take care, keep the faith, and love the strong healthy gorgeous sassy woman you have become!

Jen

[Robyncz]

Okay, first things first. How much have you lost??? Forget two weeks of gain, your progress has been amazing! And YOU did it. Nobody did it for you. You have worked hard and you have succeeded. You will keep on succeeding. In fact, by posting this morning you are committing yourself to continued success.

You have come such a long way and your life is SOOOOO different now from what it was. You are NOT going back there!

I don't know the science behind it, but I've never known anyone with a lot of weight to lose (myself included) who has gotten from their starting point to their goal without hitting some sort of plateau. I imagine it must be really frustrating for everything to slow down so much when you were losing relatively quickly, but I think it HAS to slow down. The body needs some time to adapt to a new size and shape, otherwise you'd have parts hanging off you in all directions. I've seen your pictures and you look great! But where did the rest of you go?? I mean that seriously! Your body may be changing right now in a way that doesn't look good ON THE SCALE, but is necessary to prepare for a smaller you. Does that make any sense? Like I said, I don't know the science, but it seems plausible to me that your body needs some time to adjust.

Your husband sounds GREAT, by the way. He really gets it, which is amazing considering he has never dealt with any of these issues directly. I wish he could lead a group of WWhusbands. . .

[Gracie]

Oh JeAnne - as to your so-called "imperfections", that's just being human!! We all have them and if you didn't, we'd have to wonder if you were a weight-loss droid or something! :D

Think about your long journey from when you began the program to now. Think about how 2 weeks of "gain" is a drop in the bucket to how many weeks you've been losing and, more importantly, becoming more healthy.

You got me to quit weighing myself every day, the message being that individual ups and downs will only make you crazy. Well, I haven't been on the bathroom scale in a week and a half! Look at your 2 weeks of gain in the perspective of the time since you began WW in the same way as me stepping on the scale daily. Don't let it freak you out. You know you're being true to the program, you know you're working out and you know that you are a great deal healthier for all of it.

Celebrate being 30 at a time in your life when you are looking and feeling great! If you don't think so, dig out the old pictures - your success is right there in Kodak color.

Loren

[jphilg]

Ooo...I actually had a question.....

I go to Monday meetings, but I can't make it next week. I knwo I can go to another meeting, but can I go as early as Saturday? There are no meetings at my location on Sunday, and the next time I can make it would be Wednesday night.

Is there a rule about when you have to go in order to meet the "once a week" requirement? I propably could find it in my literature, but it is at home.

Jen

[greysangel]

Jen;

Every place seems a bit different, but if you go on Saturday just explain to them that you are missing the meeting on Monday and are hoping to use the Sat meeting in it's place.

Regardless, you can go to as many meetings as you want in one week. The "rule" is you can only weigh in once a week. I think with sat being so close to a new week for you, they wont mind.

JeAnne

[Robyncz]

Jen,

In my region, a week runs from Sunday through Saturday. So, if you went to your regular meeting on Monday and then you went again on Saturday they wouldn't let you weigh ('cause you already weighed on Wednesday of the same week), and it wouldn't count as next week's meeting. The Wednesday meeting would "count" though.

Your region may be different, though. I'd suggest you call the main office and find out.

[BeckyM]

JeAnne,

I too got tears in my eyes reading your post! I've heard pregnancy does weird things to a woman's emotions, but I know that's not the only reason! I admire you greatly for sharing so much of yourself with us, even when you don't feel as successful as you'd like to be. To me, that's even more inspiring than if you gave the impression of perfection all the time. So PLEASE, don't doubt your ability to lead us -- your type of leadership is exactly what we need!

As for me, I have decided to not stress myself out over counting points while pregnant. It really didn't cause me stress to do it while I was trying to lose weight, because I felt like all the time calculating and tracking was worth it in the weight that was coming off. But now that I'm trying to focus more on what foods will be healthy for the baby, I felt like the way I was looking at points wasn't the best way to go about it. I was causing myself more stress than I thought I needed about it, so I decided to give myself a break, because I'M PREGNANT, and I deserve it. So rather than counting points, I'm trying to eat in moderation and focus on everything I put in my mouth having nutritional value. I'm not always successful at that, but I'm really trying to avoid super processed stuff and am focusing on fresh fruits & vegetables, high fiber stuff, and things with lots of iron and other nutrients. It's still fairly consistent with the WW idea, I'm just approaching it a bit differently for now. I'm still getting used to the whole idea of being pregnant (and DH is really struggling with it), so the less stress I inflict upon myself, the better. I have also decided NOT to weigh myself at home at all during pregnancy, because it will just depress me. I'll just rely on the weighings at the doctor's office to tell me whether I'm gaining at a healthy rate, and I'll try not to think too much about my weight again until after I've given birth!

My first OB visit is today at 11am, so I am excited to have the doctor actually pronounce me pregnant. Somehow that will make it seem more real to me. DH is not coming to the appointment with me -- it would have been hard for him to arrange his work schedule to make it, and it didn't sound like there would be too much of interest for him at this point. He is able to meet me for lunch afterwards though, so I'll get to share all the best info with him and spare him any of the stuff he wouldn't enjoy.

I am still going to try to keep up with these threads, because the philosophy of WW and the meeting topics are things that I still can learn a lot from. The emotional eating one is especially applicable, particularly now. Though I know I have chemical things going on in my body too, I am definitely getting more emotional messages to eat than I was before I knew I was pregnant. A nutritional counselor once told me when I get the urge to eat and am not hungry, I should analyze what "need" I am feeling that makes me want to eat, and try to find non-food ways to meet that "need." For example, if I'm lonely, I could call a friend and talk for a while. If I'm bored, I could read an interesting book or work on a hobby, if I'm stressed, maybe going for a long walk in a park or something. Anyway, I've decided I need to brush off that "tool" for coping with emotional eating, because the uncertainty of the future and DH's anxiety about parenthood are adding stress which occasionally prods me into some unhealthy emotional eating.

I feel a little hypocritical telling everyone to hang in there, since I am no longer officially on the WW program, but I know you'll all get past these rough spots and come out happier and feeling better about yourselves in the end. Thanks to everyone for the continuing inspiration!

Becky :)

[KValley]

JeAnne,

You gorgeous creature- your whole life is an inspiration to me. I've got tears in my eyes reading your post and I wish I could hug you! This too shall pass and you will continue to lose. Thank you for sharing your fears and allowing us to be a comfort to you. That tiny weight gain could be strong, metabolism-building muscle from your strenght training, it could be water retention, a little body adjustment- it doesn't matter because in the end you are still on-program, changing your life, becoming the person you strive to be. <<<<HUG>>>>> Happy birthday!! The 30s are fantastic!

I've got my annual exam today- I'm going to close my eyes when I step on the scale because my weight in is tomorrow morning- i don't want to be discouraged by a post-lunch, middle of the day with lots of clothes on weigh-in. Isn't that silly?

I just posted a review of "Spicy Chicken and Pumpkin Stew" from J/F 01 on the Great Food board. THis is fabulous, ladies- a completely filling meal for 5 points (okay, I ate 7 points worth).

This Sunday starts another week-long road trip. My goals are to make smart choices when eating out, to track my points although I will be out of my comfortable home routine, to get up early in the mornings to do my strength exercises and to go for a run or spend time in the hotel gym in the evenings.

[Laura B]

JeAnne,

We all admire you, and we all understand that sometimes we are going to gain weight even if we did everything right. The REASON we understand that is because YOU told us. You are such an inspiration to me, and you are a GREAT leader. The fact that you can come on here and share with us your sadness over two gains in a row makes you even more inspirational to me. It is good for us to see that gains can even happen to you, our shining star. You have lost an incredible amount of weight already. And, as Jen pointed out, two pounds is nothing to turn your nose at - it is still two pounds less than you were last month!! So, HANG IN THERE! ;)

Your exercise regime has been pretty hardcore lately, and you have been trying new things. This gain could easily be muscle mass gain. Just ride it out. You will reap the rewards in no time.

((((((((HUG))))))))))

Laura

[gertdog]

JeAnne,

This is going to sound silly, but it helps me, and maybe it will help you too.

I'm a developmental psychologist (by training... now I work in a science museum). For a long time, people conceived of child development as a process of continuous improvement. Imagine a graph on which there's just a straight line moving up and off to the right.

But more recent research, in the past few decades, has shown that development is NOT a process of constant improvement. If you look at development on the week-to-week level, there's actually lots of ups and downs in the graph... little gains, little losses. But the OVERALL trend is still improvement.

In other words, if you zero in on the graph and just look at few weeks (e.g. your two weeks of gain), it looks like you're not improving anymore. But if you pull back and look at the big picture, just LOOK at that overall weight loss trend. You've been on this program for how long? How many weeks? And this is just two of those weeks! It's a blip, that's all. Not an indicator that this is a turning point and you're headed back up. It's all a matter of your frame of reference.

Stay the course, and focus on the big picture, and you'll see that downward trend again soon enough.

((((((((hugs!)))))))) and hang in there! :) :) :)

P.S. Happy birthday from a recent member of the 30 club!

[Jessica]

JeAnne,

I agree with everything that already has been said. You are a terrific leader, and you have achieved an incredible amount of success with the WW program. You've inspired an entire board's worth of women to stick to the program and make changes in their own eating habits.

One other point: no one wants a leader who is perfectly perfect all the time. I am not saying I want you to gain weight so the rest of us feel better about our gains. But the reality is--all of us will experience small gains and plateaus at some point. You are honestly demonstrating what it is like to lose weight with WW and the occasional gain is part of that. You would not be doing your job as our online leader if you made it sound as if every OP week equals an amazing loss.

I turned 30 last May and it was the beginning of many wonderful life changes, including a new career, the recovery from a long illness and, in November, my quest to lose weight. Focus on the program and on the terrific decade you are about to begin--the weight will keep coming off.

Jessica

[KLynn]

I am a bit of an erratic poster here, but a faithful reader! Jumping in...

I have been OP for almost 6 weeks, and I completely relate to everything you are saying, JeAnne. I appreciate your honesty - I find it incredibly encouraging to know that other people share the same struggles. Knowing you aren't alone is such a motivator.

I am turning 30 as well! My birthday is May 26, and my goal is a 25 lb weight loss by then. I am down 7. 18 more to go in 3 months. We'll see!

Emotional eating is such a struggle for me. I find that I feel so entitled! Because it is a holiday...because I had to work late...really I can find just about any reason. I am trying to shift my mentality to that of feeling entitled to be healthy and slim! I deserve that just as much as anybody else, and why would I sabotage it by overeating?? Of course, that kind of thinking is much easier said than done. But, I am making progress.

Thanks for the encouragement everyone!

Goals for the week:
3 cardio sessions
3 weight sessions
Water on the weekend
OP on the weekend
Try a new vegetable

[Laura]

Jeanne, I can't really add anything else other than to say, you are an amazing inspiration. You have made dramatic changes in your life and through it, have encouraged others to make them in theirs. The weight loss will come, not at the rate it used to, but it will come. Focus on the healthy lifestyle you have achieved and enjoy your birthday! You deserve it!

On a side note, I have had some serious struggles occur in my life in the past 3 days. The kind of struggles that make you stay up all night and wonder how things got so out of control. My usual pattern is to say to $#@! with it all, and eat everything in front of me. This time I am focusing on my faith, and not the food, to get through this difficult time.

[Chefzhat]

JeAnne if you have done nothing else this week you've encouraged this waffler to get off the couch and join the program. It was your life commitment and encouragement that did it. It is probably very frustrating to go backwards on the weight loss and I know that I will, and others will also, be dealing with this issue at some time in the future. So for right now, we are watching you handle this issue with class and dignity and renewed commitment.

So hugs of love for you, and a gold star for your hubby who sounds like a total babe - lucky you!

Newbie Debie

[pammy]

JeAnne,

For the very reason that you are questioning your ability to lead us, is the one that makes you a wonderful leader. Your absolute honesty. The bonds that are being formed via your leadership are held together with the honest environment that you are nurturing on this board, and it is the very reason that I will continue to read this thread, and use it to help me stay with the program. Thank you for sharing your struggles and triumphs with us in such an inspiring and honest way - you are such an incredible role model and leader. I hope that we can be as much of a support to you in your journey as you are to us. Thanks for letting us know that you need encouragement this week.

I'm struggling with the big lazy, tired, yucky, excuse-spewing, winter monster. Translation: I have not exercised for the last 5 days and haven't really made an effort to change that trend. I did not strength train once this week, let alone the 3 days that I set as a goal. I need to find something fun to spice up my routine. Any suggestions? Currently, I do yoga, step, walk and lift weights. Maybe I need a buddy. Don't know, but I need to get out of this rut.

Otherwise, I've had a decent week, except kind of high in sodium content. I get puffy really easily. I'm drinking extra water today. Should help. Have a good week everyone!

Goals:

- To actually excercise like I said I would last week :mad: .
- Stay away from high sodium content foods & drink more water.
- Go back to my 10 p.m. bedtime (well, after the Olympics are over, gotta watch women's sport night tonight - yippee for the ladies hockey team and our figure skaters).

[slknight]

Originally posted by pammy
- Go back to my 10 p.m. bedtime (well, after the Olympics are over, gotta watch women's sport night tonight - yippee for the ladies hockey team and our figure skaters).

I'm with you on this one! We've been staying up way too late every night watching. We just get sucked in and can't turn it off. DH said the other night that he can't wait til the Olympics are over, because then we can get some sleep!

[HRJ]

JeAnne, I don't know what I can add to what others have already said here so eloquently. You are not an inspiration to us because you're a flawless, "model Weight Watcher" -- you're an inspiration because you're human, like us, and we know that you've been through the struggles, both little and big, that accompany any of life's transforming journeys. Your recent results are frustrating and disappointing, but you know we'll all be with you as the journey progresses. This could be a maddening plateau, as your metabolism re-arranges itself, or some aftereffect from TOM, or muscle-building from exercise, or alien invasion -- but as you've told us, what's important is staying the course. Just remember that you're not doing it alone -- you have your "TMIWTB" friends, and your great DH.

Happy birthday -- as someone who's seen 30 come and go, and is now about to say goodbye to 40, take my word when I say the best is yet to come.
:)

Helene

[greysangel]

YAY! WE ROCK :D

I knew I could count on y'all to make me shed a tear and GET OVER MY **** SELF!

Onward and better be downward dammit!

JeAnne

[JHolcomb]

I normally lurk here and post on HLSG, but I have to respond to this thread.

One, JeAnne, you rock. I totally admire your style.


Two, this weeks topic is all about me today! I had a really crappy morning at work, then I found out at lunch that my checking account is overdrawn by a dollar. I knew it was going to be a tight month for me, but I thought I'd balanced my checkbook right and that I had enough money to last one more week. I'm so embarrassed. Anyway, all I wanted to do was drive to McDonalds and by a couple of cheeseburgers with the last 2 dollars in my pocket. It was really an all-consuming thought. Instead, though, I somehow managed to drive myself to the public library, check out a couple of books on Zen meditation and yoga and then I went to the drugstore and grabbed a slim fast meal bar. At least I'm only a failure in two aspects of my life, as opposed to three...ugh I dread going home and telling DH that I need to borrow some money. He won't care, but I still feel awful. Anyway, at least I resisted the emotional eating urge. It feels kinda good.

[SusanT]

JeAnne - a very very happy birthday to you! You're a great leader and I know I couldn't do this without everyone's support and your expert guidance.

I must say OMG I LOVE Weight Watchers! I so wish I had signed up with WW instead of that dreadful dietwatch.com. Oh, well, water under the bridge as a they say.

Did anyone see the American womens' bobsled team get the gold medal last night? I was so happy for them - beating the Germans is an amazing feat.

[Molli526]

JeAnne-

If everyone was perfect, we wouldn't have any goals to strive for.

You Rock!

[Molli526]

Originally posted by KLynn
My birthday is May 26

Mine too! :cool:

[mandarin2j]

JeAnne-

Wow! Did your DH know what to say or what? How wonderful to have such a supportive, perceptive person in your life. I'm with Julie (kvalley)-I would almost Guarandurntee you that by adding new elements to your consistent workout, you are adding muscle to your body. Even if it isn't, the long term trend of weight loss, coupled with the other healthy things you're doing for your body, is way more important than what a stinking scale says two-or even more-weeks in a row. Do you have a spreadsheet of your weekly weigh-ins? One of the women in my healthy weight loss class was doing that, and everytime she felt like punching herself for undeserved gains, she would look at the graph of her long term progress. She did a line graph on paper, but I've copied her idea by doing an Excel spreadsheet that has a line graph tied to it. Not much to look at (yet); I'm only on week 8, but it'll help for the bumps that I'm certain will come in the road later.

I think I'll also keep a copy of all the comments that your post has inspired - nearly all of us hit plateaus, or have undeserved gain, at one time or another. By trusting us with your story and your disappointment, you are being a fantastic leader. Most of us will experience something similar if we are diligent enough to stick with our weight loss plans, so being able to reflect on what has been said here will help us later on.

Thank you for your openness. Oh, and happy birthday! Enjoy your day!

-Amanda

[SusanL]

a big ((((((((((((((HUG))))))))))))))), you are an inspiration because of your honesty!! This thank you comes from me and many others who truly respect someone who has made a tremendous change in her life and continues to perserve. I can't add more to what others have said except that we truly appreciate all of the support and help you have given us!! You are a hottie!
Oh, 30 is a treat, I am slowly sneaking up to 50 but don't tell anyone. I realized I am going to be 47 this year so 30 will be a picnic!! ( Just a funny note, when we were at the court house to get our marriage certificate, the clerk asked our ages, DH said, "She never told me how old she is, I think she will lie." I said, "Do you want me to tell the truth?" The clerk laughed and said,"I don't care." So I shaved 3 years off my age!! Only 2 years ago did DH actually find out my real age from my passport. I told DH that he said I would lie, so I couldn't disappoint him~ We still laugh about it to this day!!)
Have a wonderful birthday !!
Susan

[ajkerkhoff]

JeAnne,
Just wanted to thank you for your authenticity. I couldn't agree more with what everyone else has said, you're a great leader and an inspiration as a woman. It is your honesty and forthrightness in the first place that made me feel like this BB was a safe place to share about my own struggles - so thanks!

((((((((hug)))))))))
Amy

[RebeccaT]

A Message To Jeanne....



What she said. Oh, and what she said too. And her.

Heck, all of you are so eloquent. I wish I had something to add that hasn't already been said. How's this.....

YAY JEANNE!

- Rebecca

[RebeccaT]

oops, forgot to list my goals:

This has been a crappy, and extraordinarily busy, few days at work. Thus I have missed all my workouts this week except for one. So goal #1 is to try to make up for it this weekend, if I can, and be as active as possible. And work out Monday-Wednesday of next week, which I know I can do.

My dad and his girlfriend are coming into town. I love seeing them, but they love to eat and eat well, so they will want to eat out a lot. I am going to try to stock my house with some healthy stuff for breakfast, and I plan to cook a points-friendly meal at least one night, but I will still have to watch it. So goal #2 is to not let a special occasion like an out-of-town guest make me think that I don't need to stay on track, that it somehow won't count. I need to continue to be vigilant about my choices and portions.

I am so stressed out righ now - it's 6pm and I am stuffing my face with light popcorn b/c I have to stay at work another hour and it will probably be another 2 before I can make dinner. Yuck. I can't figure out if this is emotional eating b/c I am stressed or if I actually need the nourishment (the last time I ate was 5 hours ago). I get this frenetic pace going in my work, then I can't slow down... if I am not careful I will realize that I have eaten this entire bag of popcorn! At least I can't eat if I am typing!

Have a good night, everyone!

[JanetJ]

I'm coming in to this thread late and there is not much I could say that hasn't been said (and said better than I would be able to) by others. I will add this: JeAnne, without even having met you and being on the opposite side of the country from you, you have touched my life. You are truly an inspiration to me and, obviously, to all of us. Thank you for all you do, every day. :)

Janet

[Grace]

Oh JeAnne, I hadn't read this thread before I posted the extraordinarily long post I posted on the other thread. I wish I'd have read this one first.

Everyone did put it beautifully. I would only like to say that I don't know what imperfections you are referring to. Gaining 1/2 pound or a pound is not an "imperfection" in my book. I think you are absolutely wonderful. Look at all the people you've motivated and helped and inspired! Would you ever have imagined it a year ago? And it looks like your group of "inspirees" keeps growing. It is a gift you have to help and inspire so many.

I wish you the most wonderful and happy birthday ever. My life after 30 has been HANDS DOWN the best years of my life ever. And it's only getting better and better and better. So it's all UPHILL from here!! :D :D

Change up your exercise routine, challenge yourself to do something different, something harder, something longer, and eat your exercise points, and I bet that will knock you right off your plateau. Whatever you do, don't worry, you'll make it. You're one determined woman, you'll do it. And you've got a HUGE cheering section cheering you on!!

[krhm]

Hello to everyone!

I always feel so good after I read these threads. Everyone always has great thoughts and opinions, and you are all so supportive, which I think is fantastic.

I'm an emotional eater too, although it has gotten better. Basically my emotional eating really got worse when I quit smoking. I think people often just trade one vice for another!
Five years after quitting, I still find myself wanting a cigarette from time to time. I'm expecting the emotional eating will always be there too. I just need to find more ways to cope with it, and I'm working on that. Somehow, though, recognizing that I will never actually spike the ball and do my touchdown dance helps a lot (for me, anyway!!).

Also, I just wanted to thank everyone for their input last week about my questions regarding reducing my thighs. I have had computer woes for a few days and never got to respond, but I do appreciate everyone's advice.

Kari

[Laura B]

Well, I just got home from dinner number one of my intensive seminar weekend. I had zero choice over what I was served, and it was all SO delicious. I pretty much forgot that WW existed. :o I was prepared to ask for all dressings and sauces on the side, but they just brought us the food. Everyone had the same thing. The salad dressing was phenomenal, I must say, and the salad was already dressed. The main course was both salmon and pork on the same plate. I would guess that it was about 4 ounces of each. BUT the sauces were poured right on top. The meats were perched on some roasted veggies, so the veggies were swimming in the sauce, too! I just let myself enjoy it. What could I do? Well, I could have only eaten half of it, but it was sooooo good. :o :rolleyes: Then, dessert was chocolate cheesecake. I will not even go there. Needless to say, I have no idea how many points I consumed. I will not worry about it. Tomorrow I should have more choice. I think that at dinner we will actually be given a menu (at Aurora) but I learned that it will not be the menu I showed y'all on the web. It will be one with only about four choices. I guess that is what they do for banquets, etc.

[Cassiope]

JeAnne - Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! The cat's out of the bag on THIS board, that's for sure! After 30 it gets better and better. I'm 38 and I have NEVER felt so confident, inspired and just "All Together" in my life. You're a STRONG woman and you're going to LOVE it--- Ditto what everyone else said regarding your gain, except that I'll weigh in on the muscle building slows weight loss (But makes you far more trim and firm!!! so keep it up!)

Laura -- I'm getting out my magic wand and wishing you a good night's sleep and calm, peaceful thoughts of optimism. My favorite truth is that in 3 years, everything will have changed... and you can survive it 'til then. (Heck in 6 months a lot of it will have begun to change...;)

JHolcomb - Great Choices! I hate it the worst when a mistake is my own! If someone else makes the same mistake, it's nothing, a little glitch.... But if I DO IT! Watch out me! Way to shake it off -- let me know if you like the book on Zen Meditation.

Kari - Emotional eating after quiting smoking... I know! I know! It's like ... I used to light up to celebrate, to calm myself, to wake up, when I was angry, sad, happy, just finished eating, needed a quick break.... and now? I just replaced one bad habit with another. JeAnne's list of coping skills was a good one though, I think I'll review it!

AnyOne --Did you Gals try the potatoes at the back of Jan/Feb Cooking Light? 4 points for a cup and they are great! I put them in the oven and do an exercise video while they bake.

[greysangel]

... if I am not careful I will realize that I have eaten this entire bag of popcorn!

is there any other way?

:D :D :D

JeAnne

p/s ACT II light - 3pts per BAG :D

[buffygirl]

First, JeAnne, You are such an inspiration. Hold on tight, your 30's are going to be awesome. I'm 35 and it's like I'm finally comfortable in my own skin, comfortable in my beliefs and downright opinionated. I've found the 30's to be (so far) a wonderful decade of growth!

Second, my name is Kim and I feel I no longer need to journal. OK, I don't really feel that way, but I've sure been behaving like I do. I've been on the program since November 1, have lost 10.1 pounds and all of a sudden I'm "forgetting" to journal. Sometimes I truly forget, sometimes I'm way too lazy. I had been doing WW on my own til last week when I started going to meetings. I thought this surely would get me back on track. I also bought a new 12 week journal which I've found an invaluable tool in the past, so far it's not motivating me. When I do journal, I've had the urge to not write everything down. What is wrong with me??? Any tips on getting back on track???

Kim

[greysangel]

I would say to start with writing it anywhere. Just write it. On a post it note, on the back of a food carton. Write it right after you eat it if not before. Set a goal of just getting through one day of journals. Buy a pretty journal or notebook.

JUST DO IT! :D

JeAnne

[KValley]

.5 pound down! I am so pleased and surprised. Surprised because it was a wacky week- by MOnday I was in the hole for 8 points. But I finished off the week last night with 2 in the bank. Pleased because .5 is my weekly goal.

I have decided that my goal while I am travelling is to not gain, rather than trying to lose. I think I set myself up for big disappointment if I hope to lose when my routine is thrown into disarray- or rather, because I have to create a new one. SO, I will look forward to getting out in the warm Arizona sunshine for runs, swims, walks, to prepare for the long work days by packing pre-measured snack bags of Kashi Go Lean, and buying apples and sliced carrots to carry in my bag, to search out Whole Foods for dinner, to journal consistently (thank goodness for laptops!)

Rebecca I wish you strength and peace of mind as the pressure to eat out with family comes before you this week.

Laura Good for you for enjoying yourself. You can't imprison your body and mind by second-guessing every occasion. Letting go sometimes makes it easier to make good choices the other 95 percent of the time.

Kim I always feel a renewed sense of energy for life in general once that calendar switches to March. I hope the promise of spring will be the push you need to commit again to journaling!

Have a great week, everyone!

[emilyn]

JeAnne,
Everyone else has already said the things I would want to say and put it so eloquently. I just want to echo the sentiments that it is inspirational to have a leader who is struggling like all of us have at times. So chin up, though I'm sure you've already moved past it and are surging on. And have a happy birthday, I was all stressed out about my 30th last year but it's not as bad as I thought.

I had a terrible eating weekend last friday night through sunday night. I went out twice which I don't usually do, I didn't journal at all. But I've been on track since then and at least managed to exercise every day except for friday. This week I tried some more jogging on the treadmill, I used my heart rate monitor this time and slowed down the pace a bit as my heart rate went up out of my zone, I ran for 13 straight minutes this time (10 last week) so I'm pretty pleased. And it was kind of fun, just for a change of pace, I get so bored with my cardio options at the gym. I lost 1 pound this week which is great.
I haven't really thought out my goals for the week yet, hopefully I can get through the weekend without digging a big hole for myself. Still need to fit in some ab workouts, I don't know why that's so hard for me to incorporate.

[Robyncz]

Observation #1:
This is hard!!!!! I had a week of challenges and bad choices. I went WAY over points both Saturday and Sunday. Then I tried to make up for it on Monday by staying at the very bottom of my points range. I should have known better. By evening I was ravenous and I ate completely out of control. So (and here's where I get REALLY stupid!) I tried to make up for all of it on Tuesday--and I tried to stay (did I mention this was stupid?) BELOW my minimum. Again, by evening I was starving and I actually ended up getting a Quarter Pounder value meal on my way home from rehearsal at 9:45. Hello??? This was in addition to my supper--and I don't even really LIKE McDonalds! Oyvay!

The good news is, I figured out that I was setting myself up to fail by eating less than I needed, so I stopped trying to "fix" my past mistakes and moved on. Wednesday and Thursday were fine. Phew!

Observation #2
We're doing it anyway!!!! I've noticed on the board that a great many of us (including myself!!!) seem to have lost that initial drive that we had when we started. Then today I noticed that my meeting, which has been *packed* since the beginning of the year, was very sparsely attended today. Hmmm? Could there be a connection? I think the New Years Resolution honeymoon is over and people are settling back into their normal routines. But NOT US!!!!!!! We are still plugging away. We're going to our meetings or checking in online. We're planning and journaling and checking in here to keep our motivation. We are not the ones who have given up. And THAT'S why it's different this time. Hooray for us!!

By the way, I stayed the same this week. I was afraid I would gain but still holding out blind hope that I might lose despite all the bad choices I made. Oh well. Today begins a new week.

[RebeccaT]

Originally posted by Robyncz
I think the New Years Resolution honeymoon is over and people are settling back into their normal routines. But NOT US!!!!!!! We are still plugging away. We're going to our meetings or checking in online. We're planning and journaling and checking in here to keep our motivation. We are not the ones who have given up. And THAT'S why it's different this time. Hooray for us!!


You got that right! What an astute oberservation! We are doing this, we are failing and getting right back up instead of failing and giving up. We are teaching each other and learning from each other. We are changing our lives, and helping to change the lives of the others on this board. We rock! :cool:

And by the way, Robyn, congrats on maintaining! That is something to be proud of! :D

[Jessica]

I just had my weigh-in and I was up 1.4 pounds, which almost erases my losses of the past two weeks. I could blame it on a late dinner last night or a different meeting time this week, but the truth is I barely paid attention to points this week and it showed.

I am taking this as some serious feedback. I don't like to journal, but I NEED to journal at this place in my WW quest. In the car on the way back from the meeting, I rededicated my efforts to journaling and I am starting right away with lunch.

By next meeting I will, at the very least, dump that 1.4 gain.

Goals:

Journal, journal, journal
Keep up my steady workout routine
Think before I put food in my mouth

Have a great weekend, everyone.

Jessica

[gertdog]

I don't weigh in until tomorrow, but am checking in now to list my goals for the week (helps me stick to them over the weekend if I list them now! :) ). I think tomorrow's weigh-in news will be good... spent a good bit of time at the gym, and stayed within points all week. If the news isn't good... on to next week.

BTW, this is going to sound really silly, but I was excited this morning because I put on a belt! Because I don't love the way my body looks, I tend to wear clothes that hide my waist and hips. But today my pants felt a little loose, so I chose a shirt to tuck in (instead of my usual tunic or sweater) and slapped on that belt. Woo hoo!

Goals for this week:
*Pay attention to saturated fat intake (cholesterol crept up this year...need to nip that in the bud)
*Do new upper body strengthening routine 3x.
*Maintain high level of fiber intake
*Get more sleep (those darn Olympics! :D)

[greysangel]

feedback Jessica..not failure!

Remember all those reasons probably contribute to that 1.4...not just one of those reasons. So stay the course and write it down!

:mantra: Journal is our friend

journal is our friend

journal is our friend :D

JeAnne

[ebobbitt]

JeAnne I have found you to be such an inspiration to me. And I truly appreciate you maintaining this thread. I am a lifetime WWer who now has 80+ pounds to lose. I have been really struggling with this. I've gone back to WW and am trying really hard to get back to goal. Just this morning I was thinking, "I really need to get on that person's (sorry, couldn't remember your name at the time) web site so I can be inspired to stay on program today". My weigh-in is on Tuesdays and this past Tuesday I stayed the same. Oh, what a pity party followed but now I'm back on the wagon.

Thanks again for the inspiration and hang in there!

[JanetJ]

Gertdog, I understand what you mean about being excited to wear a belt. Today is business casual day for my company (every other Friday, how ridiculous is that?) and my khakis were fitting better than they have in quite a while this morning. So instead of the baggy sweater I was going to wear, I picked a much more fitted vneck one instead that hits me just below the waist. These are the type of things that really motivate me and show me I'm making progress even when the scale isn't reading the # I want.

Goals for the week:

Exercise - I've been slacking here - also add some ab work
Make a plan for next weekend when I'll be in San Francisco with my bestest friends!!

Those are pretty huge goals for me right now, so I'll leave it at that!

Have a fantastic weekend!! :)

[greysangel]

I totally understand the belt thing! For the longest time I didn't have a belt. Then I bought one and had to make extra holes cuz it was tight. Now I'm on the last hole! WOO!

But the huge celebration came with knee length boots which I never could wear (when they fit, I was too young to be allowed them!) and the standard bath towel cinching around my body!! WOO! It still pops open when I sit down but who cares?!? No more beach towels :)

JeAnne

[traci june]

After many, many months of frequent lurking and infrequent posting, I'm coming out of hiding to join this merry band on this weight loss journey!

I've been doing Weight Watchers for the past 2 years. I made goal about 1 - 1 1/2 years ago and have slowly resumed the uphill climb with my weight. I'm now 5 lbs above goal, which may not seem like much, but I can't seem to stay on track long enough to bring myself back below goal. My weight loss has been very slow - I've lost 40 lbs in over four years, but I HAVE KEPT IT OFF! I've recently resumed journaling and meetings in the hopes that I will get back on track, but I feel like something is missing - maybe the lack of group support from my local (and seemingly all new) WW group, maybe the honeymoon period, maybe my willpower??!!

Anyway, I thought I would join this thread in the hopes that some of the dedication and effort will somehow, magically, rub off on me through the modem lines of my work computer.

By the way, Jeanne - YOU REALLY DO ROCK!! I'm in total awe of your dedication and spirit. Believe me, I made it to goal with MANY ups and down, but the main thing is that I've learned how to LIVE by making good choices. So what if we don't do it every day and so what if we don't always show a loss - it's the doing it that counts!

You guys inspire me and I look forward to participating in many discussions with you!

Traci :)

[greysangel]

YAY TRACI!!!!!

Welcome to the group!

I have heard that the last 5-10 lbs are killer! My leader has told us so many times that she puts off setting goal weights with people for as long as possible because she sees so many people quit just shy of reaching goal! What is that about? Physical? Psychological? Fear of failure? Success? Boredom? Know it allness? OVER IT ALREADY?

WHO KNOWS!

The point is YOU ARE HERE! AND you have lost and successfully kept weight off!

WOO!

JeAnne

[Molli526]

Welcome Traci!

We are a happy family here. Everyone is so supportive. We'll be there for your quest to get back at goal and stay there!



I haven't posted my goals in a while. I am happy with the way my pants are fitting. I am a happy camper!

This week:

4x cardio
2x weights
keep managing my points!

[jphilg]

Welcome Traci! I imagine you will a great source of maintenance info...which I have a feeling will be harder than losing, for me at least.

I've had a tough day. I have been fighting with DH in a big way, lately (nothing deal-breaker; we are just still negotiating our roles in this marriage. 6 month anniversary last weekend!) *and* I am experiencing a roaring case of PMS, so all I have wanted to do was dive face first into the batch of biscotti I made last night for a meeting this Sunday night, or into a bag of sour cream and onion Ruffles, easily procurable at the 7-11 around the corner. However, I have been planning ALL WEEK to have pizza tonight (first time since I started WW) and I have been trying to be a little more introspective about *why* I eat (in keeping with this week's theme) so I have not indulged. But instead of feeling brave and good and proud, I feel really deprived.

Oh well.

I have had a great week on points and exercise, but a pretty crappity week in all other facets of my life. Kind of puts it in perspective: being thin will not make me happy. It will jsut make me healthier and more energetic, and perhaps a size 10, but I have to work on being happy now, not at that elusive moment in the future when I become "thin"

Happy weekend everyone......

Jen

[Cassiope]

Hi Folks,

Traci and Elizabeth, I'm a lifer too. I just went back and am in my 3rd week - I have about 40 lbs to loose. It is really tough to stay motivated for a long weight loss when you've been there and done that, but this board is great.

Elizabeth, how long have you been back on program?

[krhm]

Jen - It sounds as though you've been struggling with a lot of the same issues I am right now, and you've definitely got the right idea...being thin won't make you happy. What you said about not letting yourself eat something, but feeling really sad about it and not proud of yourself...I can relate to that too. I really feel like I went through a period of mourning when I was first working on changing my emotional eating. It was like I had lost a really good friend, and I was sad about it!

I found that I absolutely had to find something to do to replace that feeling that I got from food (or cigarettes). It simply wasn't enough to just say "I'm not going to eat this." I had to do something nice for myself, which for me was usually venting in my diary, and then reading something or just lying on my bed for 15 minutes (alone and in silence). If I didn't do something to make myself feel better, then it was a set-up for eating out of control the next time. If those bad feelings aren't dealt with, they just increase.

Hope this makes sense. I don't usually post this early!

[SusanT]

Welcome Traci!

I had my weigh in this morning and I'm down 2 (count em) whole pounds to 134 which puts me below 135 for the first time in at least five maybe 10 years!

This makes 2.7 I've lost since joining WW two weeks ago and 4 total since the beginning of January. A slow but steady loss and I'm very happy with it.

Thanks so much to you guys and our fearless leader for your help support, etc.

Here's hoping everyone has a great OP week!

[traci june]

Wow! Thanks for the welcome!!

And now (drum roll, please) the good news is -

I LOST ANOTHER .4 lbs!!!

This is a major breakthrough as it is the first time in a long time that I have had a loss, small though it may be, for THREE CONSECUTIVE WEEKS!! WHOO-HOO! (All this dispite the foray into my favorite Indian Buffet yesterday! - Hmm, maybe those spices revved up my metabolism!)

Anyway, I'd be glad to share any maintenance information with anyone who asks. As much as I get bummed out about not getting down to my personal goal of 125lbs, I'm pleased that I have not re-gained all of my weight, despite not journalling and going "hog-wild" over the holidays. I must've learned something in all these WW meetings - I guess it has really be worth the money!

Well - have a great weekend, everyone. I'll be back on Monday to post my goals!

[Jessica]

Just a little "hooray" for myself because I did journal all day yesterday and I was right at points for the day.

My weeks start on Friday so this feels like a terrific new beginning.

[Molli526]

Happy Birthday JeAnne!

Hope you are having a great day!

[Jessica]

Hope you are having a wonderful birthday weekend. Welcome to the 30s; life here rocks :)

[greysangel]

hey there :)

Just checking in! I feel great and it's been a fantastic weekend. Worked out and had some extra points to go out with DH and friends last night. I treated myself to a fruity cocktail, blood orange sorbet and about three bites of death by chocolate cake. Today was spent hanging with my sweetie and reveling in all that is good with the world! Tomorrow we are playing hookie and plan to go ice skating at Rockefeller Center.

Does it get any better?

:D

Thanks everyone for all the kind words, well wishes and support. It means the world to me that I can get silly and vent as well as inspire and encourage.

Be well!

JeAnne

[PJB]

Hi all,

I have lost 65 pounds on WW and kept it off for six months now but found out today that I am expecting again. Anybody still doing the program while pregnant or have any tips for me to stay at a healthy weight this time around?

Thanks,

PJB

[navandoren]

ok, this is me raising my hand as a confession to being an emotional eater! i have been searching for sometime as what is at the very crux of it - still looking!

anyway, none of us should be too hard on ourselves for small gains. overall, you are still in the loss column. and you are much better off then you were a few weeks ago, months ago, etc! just think of all those times before when you wouldnt even go near a scale because you didnt want to admit to yourself how heavy you are. i think you all deserve a pat on the back for taking control and making an important change in your lives.

i am down this week another 5#. this makes my total loss 18 closing in on my first goal of 27#. maybe thats why its easier for me to be positive this week. but thats why we are all using this board. some weeks are better for some of us than others. i know there will be weeks to come when i am upset about gains - and you all will be there for me.

just remember, overall you are in the loss column. hope you had a great bday jeanne!

[Jessica]

Just wanted to share a story from my WW leader. Who knows, maybe all the leaders tell this one.

Anyway, apparently at one meeting there was a woman who had lost only one pound at the end of a year. The leaders at this WW location were concerned; what should they say to this person to encourage her? Then, someone went ahead and asked the woman how she felt about her WW experience.

She said she was thrilled about that one pound. "This is the first year I haven't gained weight," she said.

[pammy]

Jessica, my leader told that story, too. It must be one of those WW Urban Legends!

I'm really happy with myeslf. I got out of the lazy rut I was in. Went for an hour and a half walk with DH on Saturday. Walked on the treadmill for 1/2 hour yesterday, and did yoga. Just finished my step/weight workout this a.m. Yay! l feel much better now.

[gertdog]

Checking in...

I weighed in on Saturday morning and was down 3 lbs., which was huge. I attribute it to being OP all week and adding two workouts.

Sunday was our supper club... "mexican fiesta" theme. While all the food choices were healthy, I do estimate that I went over my points range by about 8 pts. Everything was so good! But I had banked a few points on Saturday and will make up the rest this week.

Am feeling sore (in a good way) from the strengthening exercises I started last week... looking forward to seeing results in those upper arms!!

Tomorrow I get to go have the manicure that was my reward for the 10 lb. milestone. Not sure they can do much for ragged cuticles and split nails, but it will sure feel good! :)

[jphilg]

Today is usually my weigh-in, but I can't make it tonight. I decided to go Wednesday, instead...

I really balked at making this switch, though. I know it is just one week, but I was having a total loss of perspective. Has anyone else felt some huge commitment to their meeting over all other things? Part of me wonders if that is healthy....

I had a moderately good weekend. I hosted two parties: dinner Sat night, and then book club Sunday, so there was a lot of cooking going on this weekend. I made healthy but not obnoxiously healthy things, and tried to minimize the wine, but I did go over points. I also didn't journal as well as I wanted to.

I am going to try to buckle down this week and try to be a little more thoughtful about staying OP. I'd really like to make one last "push" to lose before my B-day next Monday. It would be a nice gift to myself to hit the 20-lb mark for my Bday, but if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen.

I had the first non-husband person notice my loss this weekend, which was nice. But she did know about my quest...the true test is when someone notices totally independently.

Happy Monday, all....

Jen

[RebeccaT]

Ok, so here's what happened over the weekend. I don't know whether I should be proud of myself, or if I should have done better.

So my dad and his sort-of girlfriend were in town visiting. We had a great time, but as you may remember I was pretty stressed about how to stay OP while they were here. So I had a plan; I was going to cook when possible so that I could a) show off a bit :o and b) know what I was eating and how to budget it.

Little did I know, my plan was foiled before I even began... remember LauraB's experience of finding out AFTER the fact how many points a seemingly good choice was??? Well, I went to Chili's w/ friends from work for lunch Fri. before picking dad up at the airport. I had what I thought was a good choice - the "guiltless grill chicken pita, with only 9 g of fat." Well, according to Dotti's, that "guiltless" grill was 12 points!!!! I did NOT have that in my budget for the day, and the result was that I was over points by 14 for the day even with my wonderfully points-friendly dinner (Bourbon Glazed Salmon, Asparagus w/ Balsamic Browned Butter, Herbed Couscous with Hazelnuts. They were duly impressed. :D) I had planned to be about 5 over, not 14.

Saturday was the main even of the weekend - the Houston Rodeo. There are a ridiculous number of food options there, but fortunately I wasn't really tempted by them (6 weeks of healthy eating is starting to make fattening stuff like funnel cakes and sausage-on-a-stick seem even less appealing than it was before). I had made a pretty big, but points friendly, brunch (Ultimate Breakfast Casserole from this thread: http://www.cookinglight.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7717&highlight=ultimate+breakfast+casserole - I entered it into Recipe Builder and it's only 8 pts a serving if you make it w/ 2% cheese.) So I wasn't really hungry at the rodeo, and only ate a soft pretzel. We went for mexican after spending the day at the rodeo (great concert w/ Emmylou Harris and Allison Krauss), but I had grilled chicken w/ onions and 2 Tbs of queso). So I was only 3 points over for the day.

Yesterday I had a great day OP, and was able to bank 4 points (including the walk I took w/ DH last night). Problem is, I am still 10 points in the hole for the week since I didn't have a bunch of points banked after my MIL's birthday. Arrrgh! I was trying so hard!

After typing this all out and reading it over, I am actually pretty proud of myself. I didn't drink much (1 drink at dinners instead of the 2-3 my dad and DH had), and I worked hard to make the right choices both at home and while we were out. I should have eaten more veggies, and drank more water, but all things considered I think I did the best I could, and I made "lifestyle," not "diet" choices.

Thanks for listening. I hope the scale is kind tomorrow, but it's TOM, so I am not sure what to expect.

Rebecca

[HRJ]

Hi all --

Hope everybody had a good weekend, happy b'day again, JeAnne.

I really expected to see better results this week -- this is the first time I'm up -- gained back just about a pound, which was the same amount I lost last week. (Don't have digital scale -- looks like it was .8 or so ...) I was wondering how I'd react the first time a gain came along, since so far I've either lost, or stayed the same -- I was very disappointed, mainly because last week I got in three really good workouts, and was very proud of that. Guess I need to remember that the workouts were good for me, regardless of what the scale says.

But, this doesn't help with my exercise motivation -- if I'd stuck to my goal of three workouts a week, and lost, or even stayed the same, it would have been great positive reinforcement. Now, I'm sitting here thinking -- what's the point? Two weeks ago, I only worked out one time, and I lost. Go figure. Guess I've got to remember these week-to-week readings are just "snapshots" -- it's the long-term trend that counts.

I also suspect, like some of you, I've gotten sloppy about the journaling -- I'm getting into the habit trying to keep track of points in my head, which is not good. Need to work on that this week.

Enough whining -- I was going to start my post off talking about MY NEW BIKE! (Yes, the exercise-hater got a bike!). Actually, I think I'll post on a separate thread, since I'm also looking for bike-related advice. Once the weather gets a little warmer (although, for Feb., it is plenty warm!), my goal is to go riding, which is more fun than sitting on the stationary bike at the gym.

A REQUEST -- any ideas for vegetable snacks? I know I've been grabbing too many 2-point "treats" throughout the day -- some TJ's lowfat cats cookies, some nuts, etc. I'd be better off with 0-point veggie snacks, but I'm pretty much in a carrot-sticks-or-pepper-strips-with-salsa rut.

What else can I do with vegetables for a snack -- preferably something I can bring with me to work? TIA.

Goals for the week:

* 3 workouts, no matter how discouraged I feel.
* More attention to journaling
* More vegetables for snacks/fewer unplanned, 2-point "nibbles" throughout the day.
* Try to bank some points for our supper club's first meeting this coming Saturday.


Helene

[jphilg]

Hey Helene....I'm with you on the renewed commitment to journaling. Sorry that you had a little gain, but hey, (insert SNAPSHOT lecture here).

Re: veggie snacks. I love veggies, but I eat them just straight up....red pepper strips, grape tomatoes. I actually think that salsa on veggies is gross. So I ahve no veggie snack ideas, but consider splitting the difference, and having a fruit snack. I buy huge amounts of fruit these days, and throw 2-3 pieces in my bag every morning. I find fruit a lot more filling than raw veggies, plus it has vitamins, fiber and unprocessed sugar. I know that some people see fruits as the devils tool, with too many carbs, but hey, WW is working for me, and WW says I can have many many pieces of friut a day.

Right now I am still excited about gala apples and the thick-skinned navel oranges, but as my excitement wanes, berries will be coming into season, followed by peaches and nectarines.

Fruit is very portable, totally unprocessed, and not a beacon of "DIETER! DIETER!" as I percieve raw veggies with salsa to be.

ANyhow, end diatribe. But go explore some of the apples on the market...in the last couple of years, the selection has really increased.

Jen
(typing with sticky fingers following an orange peeling session)

[RebeccaT]

I was surfing around on the WW BB (infinitely inferior to our BB, BTW! :D) and saw mention of this as a way to kickstart a plateau. Have any of you ever heard of it or tried it?

http://communities.msn.com/POINTingMyWaytoaNewLife/theoriginalwendieplan.msnw

The basic concept is to stick with the WW plan, but it helps you vary your points every day instead of eating all of your points at the high end or the low end of your range. Thoughts?

[pammy]

Rebecca, I know that JeAnne has mentioned the importance of varying your daily points totals throughout the week. This might be the basis of that suggestion. The theory re: fine tuning your metabolism to burn more calories by varying what you eat makes some sense, but you can probably also do that with exercise, too.

Helene, one of my favorite veggie snacks is to slice raw zucchini about 1/4 inch thick and dip it in salsa. Very satisfying and crunchy. Just watch the sodium intake on that - best to do it with your own homemade salsa if you get puffy like I do. I also really like carrot sticks and red bell pepper sticks dipped in hummus. 2 Tb. of Tribe of 2 Shieks hummus is 1 point.

[mandarin2j]

Originally posted by HRJ

I really expected to see better results this week -- this is the first time I'm up -- gained back just about a pound, which was the same amount I lost last week. (Don't have digital scale -- looks like it was .8 or so ...) I was wondering how I'd react the first time a gain came along, since so far I've either lost, or stayed the same -- I was very disappointed, mainly because last week I got in three really good workouts, and was very proud of that. Guess I need to remember that the workouts were good for me, regardless of what the scale says.

But, this doesn't help with my exercise motivation -- if I'd stuck to my goal of three workouts a week, and lost, or even stayed the same, it would have been great positive reinforcement. Now, I'm sitting here thinking -- what's the point? Two weeks ago, I only worked out one time, and I lost. Go figure. Guess I've got to remember these week-to-week readings are just "snapshots" -- it's the long-term trend that counts.


Helene-

I just looked over my tracking sheet of workouts and weight loss. The week before last, when I was at the gym 5 days out of 7, I only lost half a pound. Last week, when I only made it in 3xs, I lost 2 pounds. Does that mean it's better to go to the gym less? Nope. What it probably means is that the total of 8 workouts over the course of 14 days added up to a 2.5 pound loss over that period. I guess what I'm getting at is that this is a cumulative thing. As you said, the week-to-week readings are just a snapshot. And this is especially true of women because of the way our bodies work. I'm consistently weight lifting for the first time in my life, so the "only" 1/2 pound loss was easier to take. What's more--there's nothing wrong with losing "only" 1/2 pound, or with being up a pound or so. If you're a healthier person today than you were when you started, then that's the whole point, right? (And I'm telling this to myself, even as I'm saying it to you--I constantly struggle with self-image and motivation problems related to perceived setbacks.) It's counterintuitive, and I can't explain it, but I think you have to set aside what the scale says and trust how you're feeling about how hard you're working.

Okay, so on to goals, achievements etc. so far. This week, I'm fighting a nasty cold. I haven't been to the gym once. I've been OP, though, mostly due to lack of appetite. Not a healthy week, but catching a cold is a part of life--one that has sucked the energy from me this week. I'm feeling better today than I have since Thursday, but I'm still really knocked out. If I can be well enough to hit the gym by the start of my next WW week (Thursday), I'll be relieved. It's exciting to watch my strength grow, and I resent being ill and the possibility that it might diminish while I'm not working out.

-Amanda

212.5/201.25/130

[SusanT]

Jen - we're both eating an orange at the same time.... freaky.

I also find fruit a better snack for me than vegetables. I've brought carrott sticks but it does just scream DIETER!

I was out and about on Saturday and started to get hungry. I found an orange in my purse that I had brought for Friday lunch but was too busy to eat. It saved the day!

Have you tried Braeburn apples? They're quite delicious.

[slknight]

Weighed in yesterday, and was up 0.4. It's TOM so I'm not too worried about it. Now I just need to stay focused and OP all week so I've got good results for next week. The hardest part is being patient for another week.

[gertdog]

Helene, I try to eat a veggie with or after lunch, plus fruit as a snack. Here are a few of my favorite veggie snacks. Some require forks...

jicama strips with a squeeze of lime juice and a sprinkle of chili salt

a shredded carrot salad... grated carrots, sliced scallions, salt, pepper, and seasoned rice wine vinegar. 1/2 oz. of low fat grated cheddar makes this a yummy two-point snack.

cold cooked asparagus with a teaspoon of sesame oil mixed with 2 tablespoons of rice wine vinegar for dipping

I often make extra veggies at dinnertime, then put them aside to take to work the next day. Some of my favorites are zucchini sauteed with peppers and garlic (green beans work this way too), and broccoli with chopped calamata olives and roasted red peppers. They make great 0-2 pt. sides to go with lunch, or to snack on later in the day.

[SuzyQuzy]

I was out of town all last week visiting my family, old friends, etc. I missed you guys!! I was able to log on a few times and lurk, but I didn't have much time for posting. I really had a great time. This is the first time in about six years that I took that long off and spent it in my home town. I have a great group of friends that I can just pick right back up with whenever I'm in the area and I spent a lot of time with them. One of them is the girl who just had a baby about ten weeks early (I posted about this sometime last month). Anyway, I got to spend a lot of time helping her get her apartment ready for the baby (he's still in the hospital but coming home soon!).

On the other hand, the week wasn't so great. I didn't journal at all (even though I promised myself I would) and I only got in a few workouts. I think I made okay choices as far as food, but I know I was over points for the week. I didn't weigh in on Thursday and I'm afraid to get near a scale now. Today has been good and I hope I'm back on track. I had a great workout (I'm hoping to get those bicep bubbles back!!) and I haven't overdone it with anything. I have a healthy and low point dinner planned as well as a long walk after. I'm still kind of bummed about the week, though. I guess I will find out how bad things are when I weigh in this week.

OH! Thanks to all the wonderful things I have read on this thread, I finally tried sushi!! I don't like seafood and I never thought that they would have VEGGIE sushi!! It is great!! I can't wait to have a reason to have it again!

You guys are keeping me motivated!! Thank you thank you thank you!!!!

RobynQuzy

[d_ferrero]

Originally posted by greysangel
Hi everyone-

In my misery last night I asked my husband how I could possibly be a role model for you all when I can't even show you program success. DH -god I love him!- said that my success is in staying the course...working the program no matter what. So here I am, imperfections and all... I hope I haven't disappointed anyone.



I've got three pages of "thread" to catch up on here, but I felt compelled to respond to this immediately. Pl-eeeeeeeeeeeee-ze don't think you've disappointed any of us JeAnne. It is FAR more important to me that I have a leader (both real and "virtual") who's lived what I'm experiencing... BOTH the ups and the downs. If you'd lost the standard "two pounds a week" with nary a gain, I'd certainly respect your accomplishment, but I'd have a hard time "connecting" to someone who'd never know the frustration of an undeserved weight-gain. If I wanted a perfect role-model, I'd tack a Barbie-doll to my refrigerator. :)

I think one of the most significant lessons I've learned during my time with weight watchers is not to sweat the small stuff-- the weekly losses and gains-- and look instead at the overall picture. You weighed a little over 200 pounds on your thirtieth birthday... but look at where you've come from your 29th? Surely that's cause to celebrate?

Know that I understand what you're going through-- that gains of any kind - deserved or not -- really suck.

Hugs,
Dolores

[greysangel]

Wendy Plan;

Basically is WW. It forces you to vary your points. It's good in principle, but if you read the threads, you find most of the people who do it either 1) do it for a limited time or 2) have limited success. Your body gets used to a pattern..period. If you do the wendy plan over time..it's still one big pattern. I don't like it because I dont like the fact that ahead of time I have to plan my big point day. I want to have a more flexible schedule so to speak. I find Wendy plan too restrictive, but others like having an exact point per day vs a range.

To each their own!

JeAnne

[d_ferrero]

Originally posted by buffygirl
Second, my name is Kim and I feel I no longer need to journal. OK, I don't really feel that way, but I've sure been behaving like I do. I've been on the program since November 1, have lost 10.1 pounds and all of a sudden I'm "forgetting" to journal. Sometimes I truly forget, sometimes I'm way too lazy. I had been doing WW on my own til last week when I started going to meetings. I thought this surely would get me back on track. I also bought a new 12 week journal which I've found an invaluable tool in the past, so far it's not motivating me. When I do journal, I've had the urge to not write everything down. What is wrong with me??? Any tips on getting back on track???

Kim

Hi Kim,

Been there, done that. What tends to work for me is to shift the focus of my journalling... where I'm concentrating less on what I ate in terms of the logistics and more about how I'm feeling when I eat. It keeps me from skipping those items where I don't know the points, or it's "just a bite"... and gives me much more insight when I look back on it weeks/months later. I'll often discover that a "three-tablespoon taste" of my DBF's Cream of Mushroom soup gave me the "comfort food feel" I needed to walk by the dessert buffet.

On a side note, given this week's topic I've kind of returned to this method of journalling -- with a twist -- in my day planner this week. I'll write down what I ate, what time it was, how it made me feel, give it a "physical satisfaction" and "emotional satisfaction" score, and then just write how crucial those needs were for that particular meal. I'm finding that if it's not important that a given meal be "emotionally satisfying" (because perhaps I'm getting that satisfaction elsewhere at that moment), the meal tends to SCORE HIGHER in emotional satisfaction regardless of what it is (my bran cereal at breakfast this morning got an emotional satisfaction score of 7 -- I usually have to choke this stuff down -- because I was revelling in what a beautiful day it is, for February). On the flip side, if I NEED emotional satisfaction out of a meal, my most comforting of comfort foods betray me. Quite a psychological experiment, I am. :)

Done rambling on this subject for now... continuing to read...

D-

[Laura B]

Well, I did not have a very point-friendly weekend with all my dinners out and catered lunches (and dinner at a friend's house last night). It sent me into a kind of off-point spiral which has extended into today. But, at least, I am on point RIGHT NOW. And I am totally expecting to have a gain this week. I just need to move past it and try to have an on-point week next week (starting tomorrow, tue-tue).

No energy to write much right now. I just wanted to check in. I'm going to go and peruse the new CL that was in my mailbox today!

[RebeccaT]

I lost 2.5 lbs this week! I am thrilled, but how did this happen?? Ladies, please help me do the math here!

I ended the week -2 over.

I had three days where I was over points, 2 where I was right at the top, and 2 where I was low (21 and 18.5).

I ate ALL my activity points.

I only exercised three times.

Today starts TOM, which last month meant that I stayed the same.

I thought I knew the program and how my body would respond to this week. I was certain I would show about a .5 gain, and was really hoping that I would stay the same. I was totally shocked when I got on the scale this AM, and I kept moving the scale around the bathroom floor to see if it changed, but it didn't!

Of course, WW Online slapped me on the wrist for "rapid weight loss," I feel like calling them up and saying, "I didn't mean to, honest!" I am so conflicted right now... and desparately trying to figure out what I did right so that I can do it again!

[jphilg]

I think what happened is that you stuck with it, kept plugging, and kept track of your points. This is change over time, sugarplum, so simply the fact that you are keeping on top of your points, making it to the gym a few times a week, and being aware of your food choices is allowing you to lose.


WOOOOOHOOOOO!

Jen

[greysangel]

who cares why?!?!

Just be happy it did!

And oh yah...send some of that my way :D

JeAnne

[Laura B]

Well, as expected, I had a gain this week: two pounds. :( That erased last week's two pound loss. I did eat A LOT of food this past week, though, and I did not exercise even once. It was my worst week of behavior ever on the plan, so it makes sense that it would be my worst weigh-in so far, too. ACK! Well, I'm on plan today and that's the best I can say at the moment. All I can do is focus on today and this week and not dwell on last week.

Rebecca, WOOOHOOO! 2.5 lb loss os fantastic!! I hope to join you in that celebration NEXT Tuesday! :D

[gertdog]

Checking in to say that self-rewards are a good thing. :) I had my "I passed a weight loss milestone" manicure today, and I savored every minute. Salt scrub, lotion massage, nails trimmed and buffed, paraffin dip (dip hands in warm wax, remove, place in plastic bags until set, then peel off like a glove) and pretty polish. My hands look and feel great, and the whole time I was thinking "I earned this!!! Best $25 I've spent in a long time. :D

Give yourself a treat!

I'm struggling a bit with food this week because I have all the leftovers from our supper club (I doled out as much as I could, but still ended up with the guacamole and the angel food cake, plus small amounts of other things). I hate wasting things, but I don't have the points to eat it all! And I'm already in the hole from the supper club dinner in the first place. What do you all do in situations like this? Toss the extras?

[JanetJ]

Just back from my weekly meeting and......I stayed exactly the same. I'm disappointed, yet ok. I felt kind of "light" today and my smallest pants were fitting well so I was thinking the scale would be down. I've also stayed within points all week, but I know things happen. I've been thinking about what I need to do this coming week and I'm setting my goals now since my new week begins today:

1. Up the exercise intensity. I have to get up and exercise at 5am and sometimes I kind of half-a** it.

2. Quit "eyeballing" portion sizes. I've been doing this with my cereal, milk and various dinners. I know I've been being overly generous.

3. Come to grips with the fact that I probably will go over points this weekend while in San Francisco. We'll be eating every meal out and some things are inevitable. I just need to do the best I can.

4. Get more fruits and veggies in. I've been reaching for the pudding, popcorn and fruit juice bars too much. New rule: only give myself these treats if - and only if - I've eaten my 5 servings of fruits and veggies.

5. Focus on what I've accomplished so far, not the fact that the scale didn't budge this one week out of the many I've been on WW. I have lost 65.4 pounds, darn it!

Thanks for listening (reading) my rambling....

Janet
227/161.6/125

[SusanT]

Janet - eating in San Francisco is wonderful but I've found it's easier to find great tasting food for the health conscious. Walk up a few of those hills, too!

Wish I were going somewhere fun.... Life has been such a grind lately. :(

[greysangel]

San Francisco is a great eating and exercising town!!! Susan is right! The weather will be gorgeous and if you do any walking at all, you will work off that food...those hills are killer!

Enjoy your trip!

JeAnne

[JanetJ]

Susan and JeAnne - I am so glad to hear that! This is my second time to SF (one of my best friends moved there recently) and last time I was there I wasn't very concerned with being healthy. :) I'm definitely going to get in some good walks.

Janet

[RebeccaT]

Janet you have such a great attitude! I know it doesn't feel like it right now, but the number on the scale probably just hasn't caught up with the rest of your body yet. All that stuff about feeling good - your pants fitting well... that wasn't a fluke! You're doing great!

I'm so jealous - San Fran is one of my favorite places in the world!

[brykate]

Just checking in after a long time that I have not. Still working the program.
Stayed the same last couple of weeks, though. Not very motivating. I think I need more accountability.

But I'd forgotten how motivating all of you are!!:D Gosh, I've missed you all!:) :) I'm just not on-line very often or don't have time to get caught up and type.

Good job on your losses those of you. I needed the encouragement.

Janet, I'm with you on goals number 4 and 2 especially!! I suspect cereal flows easily into 1 1/2 cups sometimes. I need a smaller bowl! :(
Have fun in SF!

:) Katie

[buffygirl]

Hi ladies,

Just checking in to report that I'm perfect thus far this week on my journaling thanks to all of you. I know it's only Tuesday, but I'm still proud. If I forget my actual journal, then I'm just jotting what I eat down on a piece of paper and transferring it later instead of letting it ruin my day.

Can't wait til I get home, I have Molli's Turkey in a Crockpot stewing. Yum!

[RebeccaT]

Way to go buffygirl (sorry forgot your real name! :o )

Good to see you Katie! Stick with it, it is so frustrating not to see a change and then all of a sudden your body catches up!

I wanted to mention (meant to before) a great low-point dinner I threw together on Sunday night. I didn't have many points to spare, since at that point I was 10 in the hole for the week, and I knew I needed some fiber. This was sooo good, DH loved it too, and it was only 4.5 points! VERY filling, too. Served with a big green salad - I was so full!

Spicy Black Beans and Brown Rice

1 14 oz can black beans, undrained
1 10-12 oz can Rotel tomatoes, undrained
1 Tbs Creole Seasoning, such as Tony Chachere's
1 Tsp garlic salt
1 tsp cumin

Combine all ingredients in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. If it starts to get too thick, add 1/2 cup of water. Serve over brown rice.

1 serving = 4.5 WW points (1 cup beans, 2/3 cup rice)

[traci june]

Just checking in!! I've been very busy this week - seems like more and more of my life is consumed by meetings! Not doing well on journalling this week, but I just got my new PDA, so I'm hoping that I will resume record-keeping. I find that the PDA is so much easier for me than the paper journal - I always have it on hand and it tallies the points for me. Pretty nifty!

Way to go for those of you who have had losses this week! I'm just hoping that I'll see a loss after next week, when I return from my vacation in Big Bend (Tx). I've tried to get the hotel to send me a menu so I can do some planning, to no avail. I'm planning to take some healthy snacks and just wing the rest. If anyone has been to Big Bend and stayed at Chisos Mountain Lodge, please give me some insight. It's slim pickings around there (no place to dine for miles and miles), so I'll just have to take what I can get! I'm sure the hiking and canoeing will work off some of the damage!

Hope everyone has a fabulous rest of the week!

Traci

[Laura]

Traci, if you don't mind me asking, is there a specific program you downloaded onto your PDA or are you just being diligent on your own?:D

[amcleod]

It has been so long since I have checked in. I probably have gained a pound for every day. For Lent, I gave up the web during work (which is when I was always checking in - I really don't want to spend my evening on the computer!) so have been very out-of-touch...and it has been quite detrimental :(

I have been so off program for the past two weeks. I keep telling myself to get it together and then just don't. I have had lots of work and social activities which makes it v difficult.

Weighed in last Thursday and was up a pound - which I was actually happy with "ONLY a pound?!" Of course that hasn't gotten me back on track! I think I journaled once (not including today) in the past week. ACK. I am going to my meeting on Thursday and am going to weigh-in and face the music (for those of you who don't know me, I am lifetime so only "have" to weigh-in once a month)...at least it is the last day of the month and since I already weighed in, I don't have to pay no matter how much over goal I am.

I think I have to amend my non-surfing-during-work to allow myself to visit this thread. It really helps me out - more than I realized.

Anyways, enough of the pity party. I hope everyone is doing great (it would take me a vvv long time to read this whole thread, so I am not going to b/c I want to go to sleep soon!)! See you all tomorrow.

goals:
*re-committ to ultra-honest journaling
*work out 4x a week, even if it means getting up at the crack of dawn (yikers - i am not a morning person)
*get back on the water kick

[lisas3575]

JeAnne, I just have to say, if you never ever lose another $@&(#* ounce, you're still the most inspiring, wonderful, beautiful, amazing woman I have ever "met." Kudos to you.

[brykate]

Thanks for the bean recipe RebeccaT! I was wondering what to make for dinner tomorrow night - now I know. Similar to something I've made that I put in tortillas. Brown rice sounds better, more filling, healthier, and lower points ! :)

Amcleod - just want to throw out that I'm always looking for someone to journal with on a regular basis to stay more accountable and honest. I tend to do better and be more honest. I don't know about anyone else.

:) Katie

[Robyncz]

DH has some WW program on his PDA that he LOVES. I'll find out where he got it if anyone is interested.

[Gracie]

Help me - I'm feeling entitled to eat more food!!! :eek:

I always walk 3 1/2 miles with a friend and we normally do this 3 - 4 times/week. It's my only exercise but I make the time and love it.

For the past week, she and I have walked with a third friend who really walks much faster than we do. We've been keeping up!! Not only do we walk faster, but we now do a different route around town that is longer (4 1/2 miles) and has a couple of serious hills. We are doing this extra mile and the hills in only 10 more minutes than the old flat route so we are doing well! My thigh muscles are sore such that I'm limping around the office during the day! :rolleyes:

Anyway, all this extra exercise (we haven't missed a day either, for the last week) makes me feel like I'm entitled to eat more! I'm not hungry so that's not driving it, I just feel like "I've exercised, I can have this". If this keeps up I'll have a gain on Saturday despite having the healthiest week of my life!

Loren

[emilyn]

Loren
I just wanted to say wow, a whole extra mile with hills in only 10 minutes seems mighty impressive! I know what you mean about feeling entitled to eat more, I usually feel that way if I've had a largeish wt loss the week before then I feel like I can relax. So, I can't really offer any advice but I imagine you'll do ok anyway with the extra exercise. Congrats!
Emily

[gertdog]

Loren, I know exactly what you mean! "I exercised, so I deserve this"... never mind if I actually want it or need it.

Last night I came home from the gym, after a great workout, and suddenly I was eating a Godiva truffle. An unplanned, unauthorized truffle! How did that happen? Well, I waltzed into the kitchen thinking, I had such a great workout, I deserve a treat, I'll just add it into my points for the day. Oops... the truffle put me over by 2 for the day, even including activity points! And I wasn't hungry, I just thought I should have it.

And this on the same day I had my reward manicure! Our brains engage in such convoluted logic sometimes... :rolleyes:

[amcleod]

Katie, I am so in. Shall we start today - well email today's journal to each other tomorrow morning? amcleod@gwsae.org is my address.

so far so good today. but tonight I am going to a cooking class at sur la table...uh oh. at least it is vegetarian cuisine so no high-point beef or something. just oil and cheese to look out for (it is an Italian theme). But I am excited as I've never gone to a cooking class before.

I am actually v proud of myself...we're having work done on our pipes so we have no water in the bathroom. So I went to the gym to shower and despite not waking up early enough, I worked out. Not as long as my norm, but ran 2.4 miles and did my abs. hurrah for me! depending on what time i get home tonight, i may try to do this again tomorrow even though the water will be back on. i have another event tomorrow night which will keep me from the gym.

[ajkerkhoff]

Well, I haven't been checking in as much this week . . . and now I'm sad to report that I gained .5 at my WI this morning. Since I've only been on WW for a short time, it's my first gain and boy, does that take the air out of my sails! I've read through the whole thread, and know that soon the "snapshot" perspective will make sense to me . . . I'm just a little bummed right now. This past week has been my most OP week ever!

I was sick yesterday, though, and didn't do anything active all day long. Plus I had some ice cream to help the fever. My goal now is to keep trekking and not let small discouragements get me down!

[pattiarl]

Warning: I have fallen off the wagon and by writing this I am hoping to get back on--so it's lengthy and boring but I thought
it might help me out. Don't make yourself read it:)

Hi guys. I decided it was time to write rather than just read as I have been a v. bad WW girl. It started last week with JeAnne's thread about how she had gained and was feeling down in the dumps. It seems that I have been following in her foot steps because I had journaled, exercised and still wasn't really seeing much progress. As a matter of fact during a mid-week peek (I know, I know bad call) I had gained and this was devastating. If I am going to exercise, journal, etc and gain weight what it the point. I try not to really think that way but for some reason (maybe a Dunkin Donut) I got off track on Friday and have been spiraling downward ever since. I went to NYC this weekend so no heavy duty excercise at the gym although we did a ton of walking, but I "decided" that I would have only one real meal a day (and they were fairly low point) but that I would eat chocolate chips at every turn. I have a bag in my freezer than I am never tempted by but for some reason put that bag in NY and I can't stop myself. Well, I came back from the city late Monday night and decided that I would leave those bad habits there. But then I had to work late last night (almost 10:00 p.m.) and they ordered in pizza to tie us over. I was good and ordered a salad and they didn't bring it so I had pizza (2 1/2 pieces).

I know I am also having a horrible TOM. I usually just breeze through them but occassionally, I get crazy emotional and this month was it.

That brings us to today. I am event planner and today we have a breakfast, lunch and dinner. I didn't do great at the lunch (I just had to try to carrot cake) and now I am facing the dinner. I didn't have any breakfast which was fine. Tomorrow night I have a chef's table so I know that will be a big dinner.

Okay, having said all that I think I am ready to try again. I know I can't bear looking at a scale because I have an uncanny ability to gain back what I lose in about three days' time. :) I'm going to start now....I won't sit at the dinner so I might just be okay.....

And JeAnne, like all who have said it before you rock. And this thread rocks. I tool around the WW thread but I know where I need to go when the going gets bad. :)

Thanks to all.

[greysangel]

patti;

not boring at all!!! The point is 1) you faced the music. You made yourself accountable by writing it here. 2) You can stop the madness. Take a deep breath and just start. Drink some water. Don't try to backtrack..ie ok I just blew it so I wont eat anything all night and start fresh tomorrow. Start now. And begin counting points tomorrow. Dont worry about yesterday and don't try to make up for lost time. It's information! You just got great information:

1)no peeking!
2)chocolate chip #1 tastes the same as chocolate chip #100
3)chocolate chips don't make you feel better
4)you *did* have a plan with the salad and it's ok to have something unplanned happen..it's called life!

BRAVA! You are very brave for spilling the beans chiquita :D

Tomorrow is a new thread!

JeAnne

[Robyncz]

patti,

One "strategy" that pretty much ALWAYS sets me up for failure is skipping meals to "save" points. It bites me in the butt every single time I try it. Sounds like it could be a problem for you, too. I find that eating a healthy, low-point meal is a much safer way too go because I am less likely to get so hungry that I *can't* make a good choice. Also, if I've eaten something, I'm less likely to think "well I skipped b-fast, so now I can have that cheesecake (or those french fries, or whatever it is that I'm trying to justify). In truth, it's almost never an even trade.

[SusanT]

I banked some points to spend at a dinner out last night with DH. The dinner was quite a dissapointment - the vegetables were drenched in oil, the trout had some bizarre heavy crusting on it, and the potato pancake with cilantro was heavy and rich without being particularly flavorful. The trout was underdone and I sent it back so they could cook it some more and everything else was too greasy to eat.

I wound up not eating very much of it but was still hungry so DH and I split a piece of chocolate cake (which was delish!). I didn't go over points but am so dissapointed with the experience. I felt queasy afterwards and until about 10:00 this morning.

In the past few years, I've gotten so picky about eating out. Unless it's ethnic food or something really special, I'd just rather eat at home. DH says I'm a better cook than most resturants, so I suppose I've spoiled myself. :rolleyes:

[greysangel]

I do have to say that being on WW has made me much pickier *most* of the time. It has to be totally stellar for me to spend the points on it. If I'm going out to eat, it better be **** good or I send it back :)

JeAnne

[pattiarl]

JeAnne, you're so right (as usual) on many fronts.

1. No peeking is a good thing because even the weeks when I lose it seems like it all comes off Sunday night while I sleep before my WI on Monday. A lessson learned (and hopefully remembered.)
2. I actaully did journal through my chocolate chip binge although I probably underestimated for fear of a triple digit day :)
3. Chocolate chip #100 does taste different than chocolate chip #1--it makes you queasy :)

And no worries that I am skipping dinner tonight- I won't have a chance to eat except at the end and I need to taste everything so that should be fine - I'm not hungry and I'm stressed so I will be fine.

I (like everyone else) do much better when I have a normal schedule and that's what's coming up. In addition, when I do fall it takes me longer to get back up so I need to deal with that. Up until this point I have been very diligent with the gym and eating I just need to refocus.

Thanks all, I'm off to dinner. ( P.S. Anne, it's at Union Station.)

[amcleod]

Patti, don't know if you're going to see this but thought i would check in. How'd you know i was going to ask where it was?! And where is the chef's table? Those are the best.

I know exactly how you feel...it is so hard going away and being on-site. A lot of times I order the vegetarian meal becuase they tend to be lower point (since protein is generally more points than other stuff).

I've had a bad run for the past two weeks but am back on track (i think). Arta and I are going to a cooking class tonight at Sur la Table....

hang in there!!!! and of course tell me how everything went.

[brykate]

SusanT - I'm with you on the restaurant thing. Sometimes it's nice not to cook but mostly eating out just isn't worth it in the end. I also get too tempted and overindulge stupidly.

Ann - Sounds good. Check my profile for e-mail address. I'm better at night than mornings. So usually my journal will come at the end of the night for me (which is after midnight your time!)
Yep! So far so good today. Got through my workout and everything. Yeah!

ajkerhoff - Hang in there:) You can do it. Whether its one day at a time or one bite at a time. I don't know about you; but if I get bummed then I tend to want to eat more so becareful you don't stayed bummed about your little gain too long. Next week will be better! You can do it.... And so can I!

-Katie

[HRJ]

Originally posted by greysangel
I do have to say that being on WW has made me much pickier *most* of the time. It has to be totally stellar for me to spend the points on it.
JeAnne

I'm with you on that. I keep thinking about the Seinfeld episode where Elaine had to decide whether the man she was dating was "sponge-worthy." Now I examine food and wonder if it's "points-worthy." :p

Helene

[amcleod]

Helene - OMG tooooo hilarious! I am now going to think of "sponge-worthy" all the time when considering eating. ha ha ha. this can be our new mantra!

[ajkerkhoff]

Katie -
I really appreciate your words about getting bummed and then eating in reaction. That's exactly what I felt like doing - and since I was meeting friends for lunch (Mexican food), that's what I did. I ended up using ALL of my points for the rest of the day on ONE meal. (Had planned on having one enchilada, instead had two) Ugh. I felt horrible after lunch.

However, I had an excellent strength training workout after work, a very low point dinner (veggie sandwich) and am back on track today. I'm just thinking "snapshot, snapshot..." and remembering that it's the long-term that counts.

This is so silly, but part of why I was disappointed is that my work does this "Weigh Down" program every year - you pay $5 to join, then weigh in weekly for 6 weeks. At the end of 6 weeks, everyone who has lost at least 6lbs. gets to split all the money. I really want to meet that goal! And it would just require a 3/4 lb. loss by next Wed. Anyway - whether I get there by next Wed. or not, I'm still making much better decisions for the REST OF MY LIFE!!!