Accountability

Yesterday at work, I was driving from one location to the next and decided I needed to stop and get lunch on the way.  I had been running late in the morning and so I didn’t make my lunch but planned on picking something up somewhere.  I wasn’t sure where.

While I was driving from one place to the next, I was thinking about what was between the two places and trying to figure out what I wanted to eat.

I was thinking it would be so easy to just go through Jack-in-the-Box and pick up a burger and fries…or even chicken sandwich or chicken strips and fries.

Then, I thought about the people at the next location I was going to be seeing and EATING IN FRONT OF.  There were people there who I have talked about recently and have really been inspired by my weight loss.  I found that fact influencing my decision.

How could I be such an example to others and walk in with a greasy bag of food?

I chose green beans, coleslaw, and grilled chicken from KFC.  Okay, that’s still not the most healthiest, but at least the green beans are ZERO points!

I don’t generally let anything other than my own thought dictate what I will eat.  However, I have found that being this role model makes me feel a bit accountable to those who have been inspired.  Being an inspiration is difficult; I really don’t want to let those people down. 

I know I don’t control others, but I have inspired people.  If I fail, will that influence some as well?  I’d like to think not and that it doesn’t matter; but I know that it just might.

Have you ever made a decision on what to eat based on where you were going and who you were going to eat with? 

Friday Foods-Dudley’s Bakery

If you live in the San Diego area or have ever been around here, you probably know about Dudley’s Bakery.

When I was in preschool, I remember going up there on a field trip.

It’s a bakery in Santa Ysabel and it is a perfect place to stop on the way up to Julian.  They make THE BEST bread EVER!  My favorite is their Jalapeno Cheddar bread…toasted with a little butter on it…yes I know that it’s not exactly the healthiest thing; but it is a great thing to indulge in and I permit myself occasionally.

Hey, if you lived this close to Dudley’s you would, too.

Amazingly enough, I have never tried their Date Nate bread.  My grandmother had bought some the other day and gave me a loaf.  Why have I never tried this before?  It’s DELICIOUS and worth the 3 points a slice. that I enjoyed greatly with my breakfast this morning and will continue to enjoy every morning until it is gone.

Have you ever been to Dudley’s?  If not you are missing out!

 

Leader Vacation

So, as I had the last two weeks, there were two weeks in which our leader was away on vacation.  She got back last week.  This was a planned vacation on her part.  She didn’t tell us about it.  I’m not surprised.

However, she did explain WHY she didn’t tell us…because WW doesn’t WANT her to tell us because they are afraid that if she tells us she is going on vacation ahead of time that we will all skip out on the meetings for that week…

They are correct.  It’s a good policy for them.  It sucks for us.  But I TOTALLY understand why they do it.

I even more love having her back.

How was your week?

Wednesday Weigh In-Patterns

Date: November 9, 2009
Weight: 261.2
This Week's Loss: +.4
WW Official Loss: 48.8
Total Official Loss: 58.8
Clothes Size: 1x or 20W

Yes, you read that correctly.  It was a gain this week.  Yuck.  I know that I wasn’t 100% on this week, but I wasn’t expecting any kind of gain.  Now, we (and by we I mean I) must move forward and fix what I did, make it better, and go for another loss.

I have, as I hinted at in the title, found a pattern to my weight loss…actually, TWO patterns.

First, I know that the weeks that I start on my period I have a very small loss or a zero loss.  There is little if any change.

Second, I know that when I get close to that multiple of 10, my body slows down the loss and goes through a struggle.  It’s like, “Okay, here’s the ten pound mark but wait, I don’t want to go to the 60s, I like the 50s, let’s stay with the 50s m’kay?”

So, when the two line up together…well, obviously it’s not good.

What I need to figure out is if there is another pattern maybe that is also happening at this same time.  Am I eating differently every 4 weeks?  Are there stressors at work or home ever 10 pounds?  Am I getting too comfortable every 4 weeks and slack off a bit?

So I am going to carefully watch and see what happens in my ENVIRONMENT for the next 4 plus weeks and see what happens.

Do you have a pattern in your weight loss?

Traditions

This week at our meeting we talked about traditions and how we will get around the holidays this year.  I think I have it pretty easy because I don’t have a family who insists on a huge meal and everyone getting stuffed until they roll out the door.

However, we did talk about ways to change some traditions.  Take a walk, bring a different dessert, play games together, etc…

Here’s the thought that I had, and expressed:

As I’ve gone through this journey I have found a strength in myself and the understanding of my freedoms.  I can choose to eat what I want and do what I want and it doesn’t matter what others think or do.  So, if I say I’m going to go on a walk after we eat, I’ll go on that walk.  If someone wants to join me, great.  If not, well then I will STILL go on my walk.

Really, it’s about finding strength in yourself and saying, “No matter what anyone says or does, this is what I am going to do.”

So, what tradition are you going to start or change this year?

Method Monday-Crust less Pumpkin Pie

How many of you tried out that Pumpkin Mousse last week?  Did you love it?  Come on, you can tell me, you loved it didn’t you?

What?  You didn’t try it yet?  What are you waiting for?  Thanksgiving?  Oh, that won’t be good because you are going to try it on Thanksgiving day with all that family there and you aren’t going to want to share; or someone else will try and take it all.  So, go make some now.

Then, while you’re at it, you are going to want to get another can of pumpkin (or just do what I did and get the large can and use half for the mousse and the other half for this recipe, which, by the way, is only ONE POINT PER SERVING!  Seriously, 1 point!

It’s super simple as well:

15 oz can pumpkin

3/4 cup sugar substitute

1/2 cup egg substitute (I actually just used 2 egg whites)

1 1/2 cup skim milk

1/2 tsp salt (I think I forgot to put this in)

2 TBS Pumpkin pie spice (I just used nutmeg and cinnamon)

Preheat oven to 400

Beat all the ingredients together. (I was able to hand mix everything pretty well).

Spray a pie plate with non-stick spray (I just used an unsprayed glass dish, but use what you got).

Pour the batter into the pie plate and bake for 15 minutes at 400, then, without removing the pie, reduce the heat to 350 and bake for an additional 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Serving size?  ONE QUARTER OF THE PIE!  This Pie serves FOUR believe it or not!  Since I LOVE pumpkin pie, that just made it all that much better.

One word of warning: do NOT drop the pie plate like I did.  I mean, sure, it was as I was taking the plate out to serve myself my second helping (on the second day) and THANK GOODNESS it landed upright, but it sure did make a mess of things…it still tasted really good; but it wasn’t as pretty.

Something New?

Okay, I’m thinking of starting a new idea, but I will need you all to possibly participate.  I’m still working out the thoughts in my head, but basically it will go something like this:

I will find a truly awesome recipe that is healthy and well balanced.  Sometime during the week, we all (that’s me AND you) will make this recipe in our homes.  It doesn’t have to be the same day, but it does have to be within the week, then you can write a review of the recipe either here in the comments or on your own blog and just link back here.

I’ll, of course, do my own review here.  I would love to see the different viewpoints on one recipe from many people.  Plus, some recipes will come out differently for everyone.

What do you think?  Could this be fun?  Or just plain too much pressure for everyone?