mynenni

Last Time

2010-06-13T11:34:00.001-07:00

This is the last post here. Please don’t forget to change your readers to go over here. I would hate to lose any of you!

new address:

http://losingforhealth.wordpress.com

Saturday Adventures -

2010-06-12T17:34:00.001-07:00

Time for changes. Want to know what this picture is about? Go over here!

Dreams are coming true

2010-06-10T19:47:00.001-07:00

Don’t forget that soon you will have to read all my posts over here…stop in and say hi!

In September 2009, I went to Legoland with my nephew and I got on a ride that, had I not lost any weight, I would NOT have been able to get on with him.

How do I know?

Because I had to suck it in to get the bar down, but it still went down and I was relieved.

In April, I was able to run around crawling tunnels with him. Through those tight tubes that there was no way I would have been able to do a year prior.

Also in April, I was able to ride on the go-karts at a local family amusement park. I don’t know that I would have been able to do that before and, if I had, it would NOT have been comfortable.

In July, my brother is coming out with my nephew and is going to take him to Disneyland. I am considering going with them with a new excitement building knowing that I will most likely be able to ride several rides with my nephew.

I won’t have to suffer the embarrassment of not fitting in a ride.

I still have a long way to go to make goal; however, can I tell you what a great feeling it is to know that I can go to places and ride different rides and NOT worry about if I am going to be able to buckle my seat belt?

It’s the greatest feeling in the world.

Other times, I get mad at myself for letting my weight get out of hand…but I don’t stay mad long because I am doing something about it…I am changing my life and taking that weight off to never have it there again.

What do you do that is a dream come true?

Wednesday Weigh In – Down Swing

2010-06-09T19:41:00.001-07:00

Don’t forget, in a few days I’ll be fazing this site out and will only be posting over here…change your readers and your bookmarks! Leave me a comment over there to let me know you made the change!

Date of Weigh in: June 7, 2010

Weight: 246.4

Weekly Loss: 1.2

Total WW Loss: 63.6

Total Loss: 73.6

I feels like I’ve been playing with the 70-75 total loss F O R E V E R!

I’ve been playing with it since mid MARCH! It has been forever!

However, the last two weeks, I really feel like I have been on a good down swing. My food cravings and food choices have changed for the better. I have been making much better choices in food and food portions.

I think what kind of happened is that I got so excited about my huge kitchen that, even though I make healthy foods, I have been making food…lots of it.

The last few weeks I have been making lots of food, but more appropriate for the WEEK rather than the DAY…does that make sense?

I am now making good preparations for the entire week. Refried beans, bread, chips, crackers, and other things that will take us through the week of meals.

I also have had less food cravings. I’m not snacking as much. I don’t know if that’s because it has been warmer lately or if I have just made some unconscious changes that have stopped the snacking cravings.

I have noticed that some of my daily patterns have changed, but then again my work schedule has changed a bit. I wake up earlier because I have to go to work earlier and, because of that, I am going to bed earlier…who has time for a late night snack then?

Either way, I am definitely feeling a good HEALTHY change and I feel like I’m an a great down swing and hope that it will continue.

I am loving that I am coming closer to my 75 pound mark. That’s HUGE!

Do you ever notice that your body rhythms change? What causes those changes and how does it affect your healthy life choices?

Snacking and such

2010-06-08T21:56:00.001-07:00

Just a reminder that I will be fading this site away and will be moving over here. Don’t forget to update your readers!

This week I didn’t stay for the meeting…I did weigh in, but I didn’t stay. My leader wasn’t there and, well, if you go to weight watchers, you know what that’s like when your leader isn’t there. It’s just not the same.

The substitute leader was the one that is typically called in when Marie isn’t there. She’s nice enough, but just doesn’t do it for me. I finally realized yesterday who she reminds me of…not so much in looks as in her demeanor and voice…she reminds me of Joan Cusack.

I skimmed through the weekly little handout they give and noticed that the topic had something to do with snacking. In there, I specifically remember reading someone say to not eat according to the clock, but to when you are truly hungry (yes, I actually forget the specific topic of the handout, but I remember one small little point someone made in there…I don’t get my brain either).

It made me think. Reading that right now, I’m with that thought. I do take a second thought before grabbing a snack or something to eat and try and figure if it’s hunger talking or boredom (which is really the only other reason I eat for the most part).

However, December 1, 2008 if I were to wait until I was hungry I would actually NEVER eat. I had actually been known to go a full 30 hours without eating and feeling zero effect.

I was also known to go so long that I would end up with a migraine. I haven’t had a migraine since November of 2008.

I actually had to learn to EAT BY THE CLOCK. I really did. When I started WW in January 2009, I tried very hard to track my hunger like they tell you to do. I found that my hunger never changed. I was always marking the middle line whether it was just before, during, or just after I ate, or even long between meals.

I had to literally set my alarm to eat.

Now? I actually feel hunger. Not all the time, but I know what my body feels like when it needs food. Occasionally, I get real hunger pains because I let myself get tied up in work or other activities; but I remedy that by eating.

Most of the time, I get the beginning signs of hunger. For the most part, it isn’t pain in my stomach. It usually starts with me not being able to focus, I get antsy and can’t sit still and, when I take a moment to think about it, I realize it’s me getting hungry.

Is it real hunger like others feel? I’m not so sure because I can’t get into everyone else’s body to tell you if they are feeling what I feel; but I’m guessing it’s different.

I actually, as a thirty-something adult, had to teach myself to know what hunger is. I’m still working the kinks out of my system, but I’m getting better.

All this to say that, on this point, I must disagree with the WW handout. I DO think that sometimes you need to set the clock to your meal. If you are like me, then go ahead and eat when the clock says it’s time. Eventually, you’ll learn what your body feels like when you’re hungry…it takes some time when you ignore your body signals for years and years.

How about you? Do you actually feel hunger? What are the signs your body gives you when you are hungry?

Back on track

2010-06-07T20:20:00.001-07:00

Before I begin, I want to let you all know that I will be phasing this blog out a bit…oh, it will still be here, but I am going to move my weight loss blog over here. For a few weeks I’ll be double posting here and there, but after that I will be completely over there. So, update your readers now so you don’t miss out! Also, check me out over there and let me know what you think!

I feel like I’m finally back in the swing of things. I went to weigh in today and had another loss. That was a relief…mostly because I knew I had done things right this week, and last week as well. I’m back to the point where I KNOW what I am supposed to do and really doing it.

I also think that shopping at the Fresh and Easy is really helping. I mean, it’s easy to stay on target and fill up with filling foods when you can get things like a bag of apples, oranges, and a whole cantaloupe for only 98 cents each!

I’m also making sure to keep the nighttime snacking down to a minimum which has been my downfall over the last couple months. It’s been a struggle, but I really feel like I’m back in the swing of things.

I haven’t taken a break, but I am looking at this move to the new site as a “fresh start”; I’m planning on getting back to blogging here daily and staying on track.

My first thing is to set weekly goals for myself which will be on Monday’s. Monday after weigh-in is usually when I reevaluate my past week and note the things that I need to change, improve, or keep doing.

I’m still planning on doing my full weight-loss summary in Wednesday, but I think the goals will be set Monday nights.

This week, my 3 goals will be:

1. Get in an aerobic workout at minimum of 3 times this week

2. Track my food for the entire day at minimum of 4 days this week

3. Make lunch for myself to take to work at minimum of 3 days this week

These are all things that have gone to the side this past couple weeks.

So, what are you goals?

Come with me!

2010-06-07T19:58:00.001-07:00

I have a guest post over here, go check it out!

All Give Some…Some Gave All

2010-05-31T00:01:00.000-07:00

It’s easy to stay on plan today, a day full of picnics, when we remember what this day is truly about. Yes, enjoy those family and friends, but take a moment to bow in prayer and thanks for those who gave their lives to our freedom.

God Bless America! And most important, God Bless those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our protection and freedom!

I hate tracking

2010-05-20T19:01:00.001-07:00

But it works. I really hate tracking. But it really works. Want me to say it again?

I am proud of myself for doing a complete week of tracking last week.

How do I know it works? Because I lost 2.8 pounds in that one week.

I’m totally excited and happy that I had that huge loss…but that means that I need to continue tracking, right?

I hate tracking.

I am playing with all sorts of different modes of tracking. I have done the etools online. It works when I’m at work or home, but even though I have a Smartphone, it’s no blackberry or iPhone so it’s not as easy to use on my phone.

I’ve tried tracking just in the memo section of my phone…not working out so well. Mostly because I don’t have the number of points in front of me when I do it this way.

I’ve tried the points calculator. But sometimes I forget to put things in and I like to have the list of the actual items.

I’ve done the writing it in the journal books they make available every week…but those get lost, folded, torn, or whatever.

Last week I used the 3 month journal that I picked up when I very first started (and only used for about 3 days). It works better, but it’s too big to fit into my small bag and I HATE carrying things around. That’s what pockets are for and I do not have pockets while at work.

So, I’m wondering, how do you all track your food?

Saturday Adventures - Roller Derby Fun!

2010-05-16T13:49:00.001-07:00

(Yes if you follow me over here you already have read this, but I enjoyed myself and wanted to make sure you ALL get to hear about it)

This weekend we went to a Roller Derby…I had never been and had no clue what to expect! Seriously, I think once I had heard the term roller derby associated with crazy girls who slam into each other, but other than that, I had no clue what to expect.

I can say that it was truly a worthwhile experience and I enjoyed every minute of it!

We went because one of my husband’s coworkers is on the team and so we went to support her. We also went because it really sounds like something we would enjoy.

Here’s the team: Renegade Roller girls San Diego

Have you ever been to a roller derby? Let me tell you, this is a fast paced, very busy game. When it first started I had no clue what was going on…

I just saw groups of girls rolling around, some girls with pink or white covers on their helmets (some stars, some stripes) and a lot of girls slide, pushing, and pulling to get others to fall down.

After the first part, they handed out the programs that had the rules on it. Once I got the rule, it all became very clear what was going on. I kind of had an idea, but it wasn’t exactly the same as I had heard before so having the program really made it clear.

So, here’s the thing: there are two teams (last night was Renegade Roller girls San Diego and SoCal), each “round” is 1 minute and you have as many rounds in a 15 minute period as you can get, between each round helmet covers get changed and so the faster they get set up the more rounds they can make, there are 3 15 minute periods with 15 or 20 minutes between each one.

So, the helmet covers. There are 2 types in each color. There’s one with a stripe down the middle, these go on the pacers. They are at the front of the pack and pretty much keep the pace going. Then there are the covers with a star on them…those are the jammers. They start about 15 feet behind the group and their job is to jam through the group.

Then there are three more from each team skating behind the pacers. Their job is to stop the jammers from getting through…ANY WAY THEY CAN!

There is body slamming, sliding, pulling, shoving, and, yes, some brawling. It’s a tough game!

The first time the jammer gets through the group there is no points given…they now have the opportunity to make more points.

Once they get through once, every time following that in the one minute that they get through the group they earn 3 point.

They MUST make it through the group before the whistle is blown to get points AND their feet must be ON THE GROUND…that’s why the sliding and body slamming.

It’s rough! Very rough!

The roller girls are all given or choose a name for themselves. There are some crazy names. The girl we were there rooting for is named Retrophilia. Some of the other girls on her team are named Kat A. Strophic, Lil’ D, Porn Scar, and a bunch more I can’t remember (I should’ve taken notes).

My husband joked that I should join a roller derby team. The funny part is that if I wasn’t so busy every other night of the week and didn’t NEED time at home, I might just do it.

I LOVE roller-skating and, in reality, though it was rough and tumble and active, it wasn’t so bad that I couldn’t handle it.

I spend my entire childhood on roller skates and I’m guessing that I would pick it up again pretty quickly. Plus, HUGE workout! I’m just saying!

Then I joked that if I had my BFF out here with me that I would TOTALLY join with her. We would be a kick *ss team!

Alas, I just have too much to do and I would probably be a bit afraid of the injuries. Oh, I wouldn’t mind them, I just go back to the thought of, “Oh the cost and the insurance and blah it’s not worth it.”

Although it did look like a whole bunch of fun!

We had a blast and even got a picture with the “star”. Yes, we made signs…we’re crazy like that!

So, have you ever been to a roller derby? Would you do it?

Lost

2010-05-15T09:50:00.001-07:00

It has been brought to my attention, by a very kind and caring person, that I have been somewhat MIA around these parts. Yes, I know I have.

Why? No reason in particular other than busy. Too busy. I have pretty much let all but two of my blogs go to the wayside (check out the cooking blog and the personal blog). So, I AM around, just haven’t been around on this part.

I am going to make things better. I will get back to posting.

I have had a couple difficult weeks on the weight loss front. I actually ended up gaining more than 4 pounds in two weeks! I made a new resolve to get back on track and, for the past week, have written everything down that I’ve eaten and have worked out pretty much every other morning. That seems to be the best routine for me…every other day.

Needless to say, I have watched and written down everything that I put into my mouth this week and am seeing the results. Let’s just hope that it continues for the weekend.

The difficult part is that, even if I have a huge loss this week, I will still feel like it’s an uphill battle since I know there is no way I will take off that 4 pounds in a week…I am really frustrated with myself more than anything.

I KNOW I began to get to routine in my daily living. I knew when I started on this journey that this had to be a lifestyle change that I wanted to take on. It IS a change that I want to take on; I just need to be mindful of it at all times.

I got back on track. I have brought lunch with me every day this week. I packed snacks for the car ride home (I get really hungry on the trip home and it’s AN HOUR LONG so often times I find myself ordering something off the dollar menu…hey, fruit and yogurt parfait? Healthy choice…Chicken sandwich? Not so healthy and, lately, the very bad choice I made.)

So, here I am laying it all back on track. Here I am making conscious decisions every time I reach for something to put in my mouth. Here I am going back to thinking of “food as fuel” and it’s working for me.

Where are you?

Thursday Thoughts-Dining Out

2010-05-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

This week’s topic was Dining Out. How do you prepare for it and how do you handle it when you do go out.

Me? I check the nutrition guidelines online BEFORE we go and then I narrow it down to THREE choices.

Why three? Because if I have three choices then I can go to the restaurant, look at the menu, then feel like I’m making a decision while I’m there.

I already know how many points each of those three selections is, so I know what I’m getting into when I order. Then I can also decide while I’m there in the moment what I feel like eating.

Then I cut everything in half when it’s brought to the table and I eat to halfway of everything. If I decide to eat more, I do; if not, then I stop and get a box.

That’s how I’m successful.

One of the girls there mentioned that she asks the waiter to put half in the box before bringing it. I have a concern with this for one reason: restaurants sometimes can be a bit generous.

What I mean is…the other day we went out to dinner with some friends. The other wife and I decided that we would split the side salad with a side of oil and vinegar for dressing. Thankfully it was a healthy fresh salad.

Why? Because they brought the salad “already split” and we each got probably a full portion…restaurants are nice like that.

So my fear is that if I ask them to split it in the back that they will give me more of everything just to be nice…I’d rather be in control of that.

So, how are you successful at restaurants? What do you do?

Wednesday Weigh in-Didn't plan ahead

2010-05-05T00:01:00.000-07:00

Not planning ahead can really hurt the weigh in...I'm just saying. What I mean is that I didn't plan for a lunch meeting and I didn't plan for the weigh in.

I forgot my weigh in clothes at home and, although I know it's just an excuse, I used that excuse to NOT weigh in...I had eaten way too much that day and it was not "light and airy" things...it was heavy and dense. That was SO going to affect the scale and I just didn't want to deal with it.

I did, however, actually attend the meeting. I did! I sat in my car for about an hour waiting for the doors to open. I even saw my leader as she was unloading the car about 30 minutes before the meeting. She asked if I just wanted to weigh in now and go home, but I told her I wasn't weighing in this week.

So, I sat in my car for about an hour ~~reading my book~~ playing my DS games. I went into the meeting when the doors opened and stood in line. I sat in those cold hard pink chairs (seriously, someone has GOT to talk to WW about those things. Don't they realize that we're all losing our butt padding and need some comfort there? Plus the room is always cold as well!). And then I sat through the meeting only to then drive the HOUR it takes for me to get home.

I think I deserve some huge bravos for that, don't you? Better yet, I think that at least 5 pounds should just voluntarily drop off, sound good?

How was your week? If you go to WW, do they have those cold hard pink chairs, too?

Tuesday Tip-In Your Face

2010-05-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I am now working on getting a workout regime in the mornings; walking after work just isn’t happening. The morning thing? Well, that’s working.

I’ve learned, however, that no matter what I am trying to do, I have to make it so that I HAVE to remember to workout and have no excuse, especially, “Oh, I completely forgot!”

How do I do it? I make sure that I can’t forget. I place my workout shorts ON TOP of my alarm clock so that when I go to push snooze…I have to go THROUGH the shorts to push that button.

I put my workout shirt where my feet land…can’t get out of bed without stepping on it.

I put my shoes and socks in the bathroom (sorry, no workout until I visit that room) so I have absolutely no excuse!

Does it work? Well yeah. I can’t be lazy. I can’t say, “Oh, I don’t even want to walk to my drawer to pull out the shirt” it’s right there!

I can’t say, “Oh, but I don’t want to go out and get my shoes” they’re right there!

I make sure to put my water bottle for work right in front of the door so I can’t forget to bring it.

I make sure to put healthy foods in front of the cookie jar. No kidding! I actually have my banana’s strategically placed so that I actually have to MOVE THE BANANAS to get to the cookies.

Does it work? Heck yeah!

So, how do you put things in your face so that you don’t have an excuse?

Odd Things, but not sure of the lesson

2010-05-03T00:01:00.000-07:00

The other day, I think I told you, I had a day in which my stomach was like an endless pit.

I’m not one to weigh myself every day because I find it’s counterproductive at times. I mean, weight changes everyday a million times a day; to be obsessed at the scale just isn’t good.

However, since I completely gorged myself the other day, I thought it might be good to see what kind of damage I did. That night? Bad damage! The next morning? I was LESS than I had been on weigh-in day.

I was completely flummoxed! I mean, how is that possible? I figured on totally beating myself up through a long workout to make a balance and it turned out I only needed a normal workout. That’s good to know, right?

I learned from that to really say, “well, my body knows what it needs and I should listen to it.”

However, that’s not the odd thing. The odd thing is the next morning, after a great day food and activity wise, I was up WAY ABOVE my weigh in from Monday. huh?

I know I shouldn’t obsess over it; I know I need to let it go because all I can do is eat right and exercise. But I’m just not getting it! Seriously? After a great healthy day I am up and after a horrible day I am down?

Does that make any sense? Anyone else ever have this experience?

Insatiable

2010-04-30T18:55:00.001-07:00

It happened again. I have had a day of INSATIABLE appetite! Seriously! I just can’t seem to fill the hole! I am, at least, trying to fill up on the fruits and vegetables. I’m keeping it healthy, but oh I wish I could figure out the WHY to these episodes I have.

Last time it was suggested that maybe it was “that time of the month”. Well, maybe, but I just FINISHED that time and last time it was right BEFORE…maybe it still has something to do with it.

Any other ideas?

Weigh In-Getting Closer

2010-04-29T00:01:00.000-07:00

Date: April 26, 2010
Weight: 246.0
This Week's Loss: 1.0
WW Official Loss: 64.0
Total Official Loss: 74.0
Clothes Size: ?

Oh so close! Seriously, just one more stinking pound away from that 75! I am going to get there this week.

I made sure to wake up early and do my work out. I will continue to do that the rest of this week.

I have made sure to pack lunches and not buy lunch. So far the one time I bought lunch was at Subway…it was a Salad.

My only barrier in front of me right now is that I am starting that week. You girls know the one. Getting ready to start, starting, food cravings, etc…yeah THAT week.

I can do it, though, right? Who’s with me?

Tuesday Tips-Plan for Failure

2010-04-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

Okay, I don't really mean FAILURE, but it got your attention, right?

What I mean is, plan for the indulgences! You knw you have family out visiting, plan for it! Figure out what you are going to do!

I just had, literally, eleven days of family and friends visiting. I had no "normal" day with a schedule. I woke up, had breakfast, and went out to hang with family and friends. I never knew what or when we would eat, or even where!

The only thing I knew for sure was that on Sunday (the night before my weigh in) I would be eating at THE WORST (but really the best) place of the entire 11 days...full of yummy, high calorie, high fat goodness.

I still managed to lose weight this week.

How?

I planned for failure! I planned to not track my food. I planned to not get my workouts in. I planned for eating bad foods.

I am lucky, however, in that I have a great support system AND, for the most part, everyone I was hanging out with are really good eaters.

When I knew I wasn't working out, I took my nephew out on walks, ran around playgrounds, and got in activity in some way.

Instead of sitting around or driving around in the car, we went to play minature golf and walked on the beach.

When we sat around and asked, "What's for lunch/dinner/etc...", I made my suggestions or, I just ate what was there. I still looked at the nutrition labels and calculated how many points a serving and limited myself to 8-10 points per meal no matter what.

Then there was the day that I invited everyone to my place for lunch...yep, I was in full control of that meal!

I had to go to the grocery store so my poor husband, who got ignored all week, had something to eat for himself. So, that first morning I woke up early and walked to the store.

I planned for my failure...and I succeeded!

What do you do to plan for your failures?

Saturday Adventures-A week’s worth

2010-04-25T00:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I told you about how I spent the week chasing after my nephew and the joys that were involved with that.

I would write about my adventures with my best friend, but I forgot to take pictures…I’ll have pictures tomorrow. We’re spending all day today together!

However, the rest of my week I spent with my nephew:

My dad:

Why, yes that IS my 6’4” dad on a wheel toy going into a toy car wash! Your did doesn’t do that? Well, let’s just say the nieces and nephews (and any other child that comes in contact with him is VERY lucky).

And my mom:

(Oh yes, she rode one too. It’s a bit easier for her being so short…but she does it too).

Yes, we went from place to place with my nephew. I loved every minute of it!

So, what was your adventure on Saturday?

MIA

2010-04-24T10:55:00.001-07:00

Yes, I have been away this week. I’m telling you, my life has gotten very busy…and I love it.

I have had more visitors this last week than anyone should have at one time. My best friend is/was/is in town. She flew in a week ago and she is one of a few people I will drop the world; especially since she was only going to be here for a weekend before leaving me to go on a cruise for a week!

She’s back this weekend and will be leaving me again Monday…it sucks, but it’s also life.

Happiness is seeing her face (and her mom’s face, who is like a second mom to me) when she first laid eyes on me. The last time she saw me I was 70 pounds heavier.

Complete and utter joy is being able to wrap my arms around her completely and NOT having a bunch a fat in between us…only a little fat now.

Exuberance is having her be able to wrap her arms around me completely.

So, she’s in town and then my mom, brother, and nephew are in town as well. Let me tell you, even more than all that above with my best friend, success, exuberance, joy, and every other great emotion went through me when my nephew signals to me, says, “come on auntie” and then runs into the play structure full of tubes, mazes, and small spaces…a bit of fear went through me thinking there might be some disappointment on his part when I couldn’t follow him. Much to my amazement…

I FIT IN EVERY SINGLE SMALL TEENY TINY SPACE!

Yep! There is NOTHING like chasing your nephew through mazes of tubes, slides, holes, and zip lines and NOT having to tell him, “Sorry baby, auntie just won’t fit.”

Last year I would NEVER have been able to follow him.

Heck, at one of the places, last MONTH I wouldn’t have been able to follow him.

I ate up every moment of it! So did he!

So, what is happiness/success for you?

Wednesday Weigh In-Yippee!

2010-04-21T00:01:00.000-07:00

Date: April 17, 2010
Weight: 247.0
This Week's Loss: 2.4
WW Official Loss: 63.0
Total Official Loss: 73.0
Clothes Size: ?

I woke up every morning (except Friday because, well, snot everywhere, head ache, soar throat, …you get the picture?) and did a 30 minute work out! I was so absolutely proud of myself!

If you notice, I put a question mark next to Clothes size. There are two reasons. First, the simple one: I haven’t found my tape measurer since we’ve moved so I can’t get an accurate measurement to determine what I should be wearing.

Now, the other reason is that I am still wearing my “second round” of clothes. These are the ones that I bought/borrowed/got handed down after I first began not fitting into my old clothes. My “VERY FAT girl” clothes!

I can say that that “second round” are definitely very loose. Well, my work clothes that my parents kindly bought me 25 pounds ago still fit fairly well. However, the shorts and t-shirts that I wear on the weekends? Way loose!

How loose? I have GOT to take a picture for you all to see, but let me paint a picture for you, shall I?

When tucking in my t-shirt, that is WAY TOO LONG now, into my button-up shorts, which I pulled up without unbuttoning, I discovered that I can, while wearing the shorts, put BOTH ARMS in UP TO MY ELBOWS!

SERIOUSLY! My “second round” clothes are definitely too loose. However, I don’t wear them enough to make it worth getting new ones just yet. I mean, I’m just going to have to buy some more.

Maybe I’ll make my way to a thrift store sometime soon. I mean, if I keep up the great workouts and weight loss, pretty soon I’ll be down ANOTHER size as well.

If I had to guess, I’d put me at a size 18-20.

So, thought?

Tuesday Tips-Mix it up

2010-04-20T00:01:00.000-07:00

Except for getting sick on Friday, I managed to get up early every morning and complete a 30 minute workout.

Was it a pain? At first it really was.

Was it worth it? Well, just tune in tomorrow to find out how much I lost!

Will I do it again this week? Well, I won’t have to wake up AS early, but I do plan on following through with this and continuing to go a workout every morning.

After day two I began thinking, “You know, I am so doing a great job, but I have a feeling that this might get a little old after a while. Doing the same old thing. Sure, it’s the Wii fit and I can mix it up with different games/trainings every day, but eventually the Wii will get old…won’t it?”

Then it hit me! DUH! When we were unpacking things I found THREE different workout tapes and DVDs that I can use as well. So, on day three I mixed it up and pulled out my Walk Away the Pounds 2 mile walk tape.

Let me tell you, I used to do this video about every other day and I do NOT remember it being such a good work out…it was great!

Plus, it's exactly 30 minutes and was perfect for what I need to do.

So, I am now able to mix things up. It helps things not get tedious and mundane and keeps me active and interested in my workouts.

How do you mix things up so they don’t get boring?

Another reality check

2010-04-19T21:00:00.001-07:00

When I get into little plateaus, often times I get frustrated and feel like I’m not getting anywhere. That’s usually when I need to have a reality check.

One way I do that is to check my weight tracker on WW eTools. I have to be careful not to fool myself. See, if I look at the close up, I see this:

However, if I look at the chart for the entire time, my reality check hits me hard across the face:

I mean, sure, there are some peaks and valleys in there, but even with some of those ups and downs, take a look! There is HUGE progress! I can’t complain about that, right?

So, how do you give yourself a reality check when you get frustrated with plateaus?

New bras!

2010-04-16T18:00:00.000-07:00

I am very well endowed in the booby area. Sorry, there's no other way to say it. I thought I always was but I've been going through some old pictures and I really haven't (to my astonishment); I always pictured myself as a big breasted person, then again I always thought of myself as fat and, looking at pictures from high school, I realize that I really had a warped sense of my body image...sad, isn't it?

Well, my mom came into town this week and, as a 'reward' for my 75 pounds (which I haven't reached yet, but I'm almost there and she won't be here for that so it's an early prize) I didn't have a need for work clothes so I suggested that she take me shopping for bras.

Not just any bras, bras from a place that has the "Bra Whisperer"! I have NEVER worn the right kind of bras. I NEVER get underwires because they always cut into me and are totally uncomfortable. I HATE shopping for bras because I can never find the right kind. Basically, I just go into WalMart, pull out what I think should be my size, and then try them on real quick. If they fit somewhat and look okay under a shirt then I run out the door quickly (stopping at the cash register of course) and call it a day.

Well, last night's experience was the COMPLETE OPPOSITE! Seriously! Me! I stood in front of a mirror with my mom and a COMPLETE STRANGER trying on bras that this "Bra Whisperer" who has a "holistic approach" to sizing (meaning no measuring tapes or anything). I didn't get embarrased once!

Now, the bras were a bit pricey, but my mom was fabulous and bought me a few that I really needed and, in that, was also a sports bra!

Heck, she's so fabulous that she even through in a bottle of special cleaner that is supposed to last an entire year of washing (that was the cheapest of the costs).

It is well worth it, however. Especially since these bras are supposed to last FIVE YEARS!!! AND, when I continue to lose weight they will actually ALTER the bras FOR FREE!!!

I'm telling you, this was an awesome experience and I am so glad that I did it! I highly encourage you all to go to your own Bra Whisperer!

Have you ever done this?

Thursday Thoughts-Tracking

2010-04-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

This week’s topic was tracking. I knew before I walked into the meeting that one of my goals for this week would be to track. Oddly enough, that was also the topic of this week’s meeting.

There are many ways to track what you eat. At WW, tracking what you eat also includes tracking the number of POINTS everything is worth as well.

I have fallen away from tracking for several reasons. Mostly because I am not around the computer as much and my smart phone is a Palm Centro and isn’t very compatible with the online version of tracking points (Or even looking at the website); so it’s a little difficult to keep track.

However, I have decided that I will now be using the MEMO section of the phone to keep track of the food I’m eating. This will keep me tracking.

What? Why don’t I just use an old fashioned pen and paper? Eh, I would end up losing that paper by the end of the day.

So, I’m wondering, how do you keep track of your food?

Wednesday Weigh In-Starting Fresh

2010-04-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

Okay, I was back up again this week and I have determined that I have got to make a new start again.

Does that make sense? I mean, in reality I haven’t stopped; but I feel like I have taken a break. Therefore, I am starting fresh again.

I am getting up every morning and doing a Wii workout because, honestly, the afternoon walks are just not happening and just aren’t working for me right now.

I am back to tracking because, let’s face it, I haven’t truly tracked in a few months. Oh, I make sure to keep my meals down and to less than 8 points a meal, but I haven’t been writing my whole day down…I need to do that again.

I need to be uber-conscious of the foods I am putting into my mouth.

Why this sudden realization? I was up again this week by almost 2 pounds. That’s insane! That means a reality check!

So, who’s with me? Who’s going to make a new start again?

Reality Check…

2010-04-12T00:01:00.000-07:00

…and it’s good! I have been thinking about this for a couple weeks. A few weeks ago I mentioned that I had weighed in and didn’t even realize that I had hit my 70 pound mark until I was sitting down and texting my husband and mom with the results.

I have been mulling this over for a few weeks now and realize that have hit more milestones than just that one.

See, before when people ask me how much more I have to go, I tell them, “I still have over 100 more to lose.” They always (even when I first started) look at me in shock and say, “No, you aren’t that much over weight!”

I can say that I carry it well. Most people can’t believe it when I say it. Well, really I think that I carry it all in my boobs and so they don’t realize how much those things actually weigh…sometimes I don’t think I realize how much they actually weigh.

(Okay, side note that may be too much information, but I am really tempted to just whip one out on my kitchen scale and see how much it actually does weigh…we’ll see…maybe someday)

However, recently I’ve been doing the math. My goal weight is 165…I am in the low 250…do you see what that means? I can no longer tell people that I have over 100 pounds to lose!

I seriously have to pinch myself every time I think about it. I NEVER thought I would be so low as to be able to say that I have LESS THAN 100 pounds to lose!

This weekend I put on a pair of button shorts. These are shorts that I began wearing well into my weight loss. I can now pull these up and down without undoing the buttons.

Not only that, but when I went to tuck in my shirt, I discovered that I can actually put BOTH ARMS up to my elbows in the waste band (while still buttoned) and still have room!

A dose of reality used to be such a scary thing. A dose of reality was going to Legoland and being afraid that I wouldn’t fit into a ride with my nephew.

Now the does of reality is that I have been so successful I am very near my halfway mark! Okay, I still have another 10-15 pounds before I’m there…but that’s awesome!

What dose of reality do you need?

Saturday Adventure…or should I say non-adventure

2010-04-11T14:17:00.001-07:00

I’m just saying that this is the FIRST Saturday that I did absolutely nothing…part of me is ashamed; the other part of me is proud that I didn’t just sit around and I did accomplish something.

First, I did do a 45 minute workout on the Wii. That’s good, right? And I didn’t just play the fun games, I actually did the Yoga and Stretches so that counts for a lot, in my opinion.

I also scanned in another 200 pictures onto my external drive. Since the move, I have realized that I have boxes and boxes and boxes and boxes and boxes…(well, you get the picture…ha-ha, get it?) of pictures.

These pictures are literally just sitting in boxes not being looked at and really nothing is being done with them. So what do I do with them? Well, now I am scanning them into my computer so that I can toss the clutter and have access to them.

The thing is that there are different types. The ones that I want to use for work, I really need on the computer so I can include them into Power Point presentations…now I have that!

So, while I didn’t go OUT, I was productive. Not an excuse and I will most definitely find something for next Saturday (should be easy with my best friend coming into town).

Oh, and I also made lemon cookies! 1 point only! I will be posting the recipe later this week! That counts for something, right?

Was your Saturday more adventurous than mine? No? Let me know either way!

A party without the food

2010-04-10T09:51:00.001-07:00

Have you heard about this blog part? I just found out about it and am so participating this year! Come join us!

Let me tell you about this blog here for those who are first timers around here.

I start December 1, 2008 on a weigh loss journey. I knew that it was going to be a long and slow process if I was going to do it right. It took me YEARS to put the weight on and will take me a long while (maybe not as long) to take it off.

I have lost over 70 pounds and am creeping up on my 75 pound mark soon; I’m hoping this week, but I’m thinking it might be the following week.

I still have about 100 more to go; although reality has to hit me every once in a while and remind me that 100 more is actually MORE than I have to go. I really have about 90 more to go…that’s amazing to me.

This blog documents my journey, but also gives great health tips and great foods that I have discovered.

How am I doing this? It really is simple. I’m changing the food I eat. No more processed foods; I make everything from scratch anymore. Yes, that means I make my own chips, refried beans, and even my own tomato puree, sauce, etc… I rarely have cans in my cupboard, occasionally have boxes, but I am working on getting rid of all that.

There are some things that I will always buy because I don’t want to go down that road; but I am looking into making my own cheese, pasta, and breads.

I finally have a kitchen large enough to go down these avenues and am so excited to be getting it done. I try to make these changes slowly. I’m working only on one thing at a time. I know that some of these are VERY simple, but one new thing a week is what I’m doing.

A slow change makes it easier for my husband to jump on board with me and, honestly, I want him WITH me on this journey.

So, stop in, leave a comment, and let me know what your favorite healthy meal is.

Wow, already?

2010-04-10T00:01:00.000-07:00

It’s already Saturday, did you know that? I can’t believe it!

Go ahead, ask me what my plans are for my Saturday adventures.

Go ahead…

What? What am I going to do today?

I DON’T KNOW!!!

I had grand plans to pick up my glasses (along with my husband) at the eye doctor. We have to make appointments to get our eyes dilated. I don’t know why he didn’t do it while we were there last, but maybe it’s because we were together and he didn’t want either one of us to drive afterwards.

My MIL was going to join us on this adventure so she can drive both of us….

Why aren’t we doing this? Well, they called to let us know the glasses are in, but the doctor is not available…so, no eye doctor adventures today.

Since those were our grand plans, and they got cancelled, I now have to find a new grand plan…any ideas?

I may just go out on a photography walk around our home area. I might just go for a walk to the Fresh and Easy; but I hate using grocery shopping as my Saturday adventures. It’s just so much NOT an adventure!

So, anyone have any great ideas for me?

Anyone have a great adventure planned?

Share!

Friday Foods-Grocery Stores

2010-04-09T00:01:00.000-07:00

If you visit me in my world over here, you learned this week about a place that I have fallen in love with.

I want to say that I have not been asked in any way shape or form to do an article about them; but I absolutely am in LOVE with this new store:

Fresh and Easy

They have been popping up EVERY WHERE around here and I have been very hesitant to enter one. Why? Well, they actually have done a very bad job of advertising and educating the community as to who they are.

I was very unsure. I didn’t know if it was going to be an expensive store or if it was going to be like a health food store or what!

Sure, I get there advertisements every week in the mail; but what ELSE do they have? Is it ONLY fresh foods? Can I do ALL my grocery shopping there?

Sure, their sales prices are fabulous; but what are the prices of everything NOT on sale? What is the price when that item is no longer on sale? Will they jack up the prices on everything else?

Well, I finally braved it the other day. Mostly because the main things I needed were fresh produce and I knew that a store with a name like fresh and easy would have to have good produce.

I was sucked into the store immediately and I mean in a VERY GOOD way!

Six tomatoes for 98 cents! Five pounds of potatoes for 98 cents!

They have milk and you don’t have to buy TWO in order to get it at the reduced price! The price is already reduced!

The meat? Fresh and beautiful!

The produce? Awesome!

But they have EVERYTHING a person could need.

Potato chips? Check

Spices? Yep

Bread? All sorts!

Juice? yogurt? cheese? cereal? ice cream? It has all it and MORE!

How do they keep the prices so low? Well there are two things that I noticed:

1. There is nearly NO ONE to help. You check yourself out (which I am TOTALLY okay with because often I’d rather do it myself…especially when I get a slow checker). Plus the produce is sold by the unit and not hte pound so it’s easy to check yourself out,

You also have to bag your own things; although while I was checking out there was one employee who was wandering between register stands and helping bag.

2. There are few CHOICES. Again, I’m okay with this because, really, do you need to have 14 different choices of brands of chips? And they carry name brands.

I am now officially a Fresh and Easy shopper; I will rarely (if ever) shop at any other grocery store.

There is one downfall, but they make up for it. See, they don’t accept manufacturer coupons. I learned this AFTER I was checking out…I would have saved $5…but then in their mailers every week there is always a coupon for $X off if you spend $X amount or more. Typically it’s $5 for $50 or more or $3 for $20 or more. When I calculated the coupons I thought I could use, I ended up saving more with my $5 off coupon than all those coupons put together.

So, do you have a Fresh and Easy store near you? Have you tried it? If not, have you ever been pleasantly surprised when you were unsure about something?

Still Here

2010-04-08T00:01:00.000-07:00

I know it’s been a while and hit or miss with me here for a while…I’m sorry. Things have been crazy at home and with my grandma in the hospital and everything.

Things will get back on track soon and I will be back to regular posts.

I AM still losing weight. I AM still getting activity. I AM still eating healthy and cooking well.

Don’t forget to stop over here for recipes and goodness.

Want to know more about my Grandma? Stop by here today.

Tuesday Tips-How I make my Walk

2010-04-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

Last week I talked about my struggle to get motivated to get out on walks and get back into a workout routine.

I came up with a solution for me and thought that maybe it might help some of you.

I come home to an empty house and, when my husband is home it is just my husband, so this is easy for me to do…no embarrassment factor, that is.

See, what I do is, in the morning as I am getting ready for work, I put my workout clothes at the front door with my shoes and socks and everything I need iPod, rubber band for my hair, filled water bottle, etc…

Then, as soon as I get home, I close the front door, change into my workout clothes, and head right back out. This way it is right in front of me. It only takes the effort of changing my clothes and I haven’t even given myself a chance to sit down and relax so I am not even thinking, “oh, I just don’t want to get up again.”

It’s worked like a charm!

I just thought I might pass it on to you in the hopes that it helps.

Note, sometimes the workout is pulling out the Wii fit and other times it’s going out for a walk. It just depends on my day; but it has worked to motivate me.

Thoughts? Did I inspire any of you? What tricks do you use?

Monday Method-Moved

2010-04-05T00:01:00.000-07:00

Okay, I am not going to do Monday Method anymore over here.

Wait! Don’t go away! Come back! It’s a GOOD thing, I promise!

Here’s the deal, I decided to do a completely new blog dedicated to just recipes and cooking. Therefore, you all will benefit by going over there to check it out.

I plan on making really healthy items and, except for today, putting the number of points if possible. Okay, I didn’t today because I didn’t calculate it and there are so many different values for this dish.

What dish? Well, go over and check it out! I hope you like it! Let me know, would you? I’ll be back tomorrow.

Kristos Anesti!

2010-04-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

Or, in English, Christ is Risen!

The correct response is Alitos Anesti! Or, Truly He has risen!

I wish you and you family a fabulous, blessed, Pascha day!

I’ll be back with regular posts starting tomorrow…oh, and one more surprise tomorrow as well…no, it’s not at ALL what you think.

Friday Foods-Green Tea

2010-03-26T00:01:00.000-07:00

I love green tea. If I actually took the time every morning, I would heat up water and have some every single day. However, I don’t take the time…sleep is SO MUCH better!

This week, however, I have managed to have a cup every single morning. How?

Well, my husband drinks coffee every morning. I set the clock on the coffee machine so he has it every single morning. I’m nice like that…until we run out of coffee.

However, we DO have a container of instant coffee as back up. I got the brilliant idea to have the coffee pot set to run water through it every morning this week.

I have benefited because while he is able to prepare his instant coffee, I am able to use the hot water for my tea!

I’m telling you! Total awesomeness! I’m thinking of making him drink instant coffee forever if it means I have hot water waiting for me every morning.

So, what do you drink every morning?

Thursday Thoughts-Getting in the Swing

2010-03-25T00:01:00.000-07:00

I might need help getting into the groove. The groove of exercise.

I thought once the time changed that I would be jumping out the door every week night to go for a walk.

I though once we moved to a bigger place I would jump up in the morning and get in a Wii Fit time.

I thought…well, thinking isn’t getting it done.

Here’s the thing (and I KNOW it’s all excuses): I get up at 5:00, check my emails, and get ready for work. I get out the door by about 6:45 (lunch made, breakfast eaten, showered, dressed, etc…)

Monday and Tuesday I get home VERY LATE…like 8 or 9 at night late. By Wednesday, I think I am so grateful to be home for the evening that I just want to come home, make dinner, and just kick back.

Thursday I have NO EXCUSES, Friday again no excuses, but really, after a long week of work, who wants to go out again?

Saturday is my adventure day so, even if I don’t get a workout in, I am still active and Sunday…well, call me lazy.

Actually, by the time Sunday comes around I am pretty scared to work out because, as I think I’ve mentioned before, I notice a SIGNIFICANT weight GAIN the day after a workout, especially if the week before was pretty sedentary. I weigh in on MONDAY (and no that’s can’t change) and so I don’t want to mess that up.

The think is, if I could get my act together the other days, Sunday wouldn’t be a concern because my body wouldn’t hold onto that extra weight after a workout.

So, I have a question, how do you all do it? How do you motivate yourself to get that workout in?

Better question, how do you motivate yourself to NOT come home, change, and kick your feet up first?

Wednesday Weigh in-what can I say

2010-03-24T00:01:00.000-07:00

I was exhausted on Monday and was not about to go weigh in…I really need to have a talk with the Food Network and get them to move Iron Chef to an earlier time. Seriously, who puts a show like that on at TEN AT NIGHT?!?! That means it doesn’t get over until ELEVEN and I have to be up at FIVE in the morning with my FIRST alarm going off at FOUR THIRTY!!!

On top of being tired I knew it wasn’t a great weigh in week so I kind of took the cowardly way out…but next week for sure.

Enough about me, how are you? Do you watch the Iron Chef?

Tuesday Tips-Portioned Out

2010-03-23T12:01:00.000-07:00

I know I’ve probably mentioned this before, but it’s one of my favorite tips and it’s worth repeating.

When I get home from grocery shopping, I immediately calculate the points on all items and put the number of points on the containers. This way, at a glance, I can see how many points something is.

The SECOND part is that I get out my box of zip locks and immediately portion out the snacks into serving sizes and put the snack bags back into the box. This way, I can see at a glance what something is, how many points (because it’s on the box) and when I grab a bag I don’t have to control my craving more than a serving size.

It also makes it easy when packing lunches to just grab a baggie and put it in the lunch box!

How do you make sure to not eat too much?

Method Monday-Italian Style Baked Eggs

2010-03-22T00:01:00.000-07:00

I was completely shocked by this recipe when I first saw it for two reasons: (1) who puts eggs in marinara sauce and (2) could it really be THAT easy?

Well, the answers to both those questions are: me, now; and YES!

Let’s say you’re running late from work or something, you only have odd staples of ingredients in your pantry and refrigerator, you don’t want to stop at the store but you want something quick, easy, and healthy…here’s what you make:

Italian Style Baked Eggs

Items needed:

8 eggs

1/2 cup chopped fresh Basil

4 cups marinara sauce

1 cup Parmesan Cheese

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

Method:

Preheat oven to 350

Pour the marinara sauce in a 9x13 baking dish and sprinkle with the basil (note, I had a spaghetti sauce that had basil in it as well as garlic so I skipped the basil; oh, I also halved the recipe so I only used a 8x8 square dish)

Using the bottom of a custard cup or a glass of similar size, make and indentation in the sauce and crack an egg into it (to be honest, this step didn’t work the way it was supposed to, so I took a spoon and made an indentation and dropped an egg into it; the actual recipe calls to make the 8 indentations at once and this was NOT working for me, but making one at a time worked a bit better).

Sprinkle the parmesan and pepper flakes over the eggs (I didn’t use the red pepper flakes because of the flavor in the sauce, it tasted fine without it).

Place in the oven for 18 minutes until the whites are firm and the yolk is runny and the cheese is melted.

Okay, I have to admit I cooked it a bit longer but only because my husband is VERY particular about food and it was an adventure alone to try eggs and marinara sauce; although I think I would have liked it runny, but it was still yummy cooked through.

Since I didn’t know how he was going to respond to this, I cooked up some noodles as well and served it over noodles. If it was just for me, I would have been fine with just the egg and sauce. It might even make a delicious open-faced sandwich on toast.

Each serving is ONE EGG and about 1/3 cup sauce (although depending on the sauce, more than that won’t change points much since a good marinara is just pure tomato and seasoning.

Each serving is 5 points

Have you ever tried this? Would you?

Saturday Adventures-Swimming

2010-03-21T00:01:00.000-07:00

Although my weekend adventures were nothing like last weekend with my brother in town, I was still determined and intentional about getting out of the house this week.

I was thinking about what I wanted to do on Saturday when my husband said he was going to “check out the pool.” Our new place has a community pool and we hadn’t gone over there just yet.

Side note: I only feel a little bad about the snow storm some of you had on Saturday while we were enjoying 80+ degree weather.

So, there we are thinking about going to the pool…I decided to get ready:

Does it count as an adventure out of the home if it’s part of our housing community? Well, at least for this week it does; plus it is exercise:

Maybe it’s exercise. Does that look like a great place to swim laps? It might be in a few more weeks when the weather stays hotter longer because it was ICE COLD!

My crazy husband jumped right in, came up, and expressed how cold it was!

I thought I might get my body used to it slowly…after an hour this is how far in I got:

Just up to my chest!

Another crazy neighbor came and he swam some laps…crazy teenagers:

I am glad we went down there. It was worth it! It got us out of the house and it was still fun.

So, what did you do this weekend? Did you go swimming? Or were you caught in the snow?

Friday Foods-Chipotle Popcorn

2010-03-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

Last weekend my brother was in town and we went to Old Town here in San Diego. There was a small little general store that had bags of Ass Kickin Chipotle Popcorn…I had to pick up a bag.

I then, knowing that my husband is a wimp, picked up a bag of Ass Kickin Kettle Corn…it’s sweet and salty, not hot.

He hasn’t tried his yet but it took me but a second to pop mine into the microwave to try it out. I knew I was going to like it because I LOVE spicy foods.

I didn’t bargain on liking it so much! It had just enough sweet mixed in with the spice. The spice wasn’t overpowering but was a perfect heat…and a heat that took a bit to kick in!

If you aren’t familiar with the brand, Ass Kickin is an awesome hot sauce brand. Growing up with a family that appreciates the spicy foods I have long been aware of this brand. I am so glad I picked up the bag of popcorn however, I am also bummed that I picked up a bag…now I wish I had a whole truck load of the stuff.

The great news is that it is only 2 points a serving…6 points for the entire bag…you know if a person were going to eat the entire bag that is!

Do you like spicy foods? Would you try this popcorn? Do you think they should send me a free case just for this unsolicited post? I could start an entire Facebook campaign if it would get them to give me free chipotle popcorn for life! What do you think?

Thursday Thoughts-Portion Control

2010-03-18T03:00:00.000-07:00

This week at the meeting we talked about portion control. Mainly, we discussed how we measure to make sure that we are actually getting the amount that we think we’re getting (not more or less).

I have to be honest with you, I have NO depth perception and it skews the way I see things. I may THINK that something is the same size as a deck of cards, but unless it IS a deck of cards, I have absolutely no idea!

So that really cool trick that WW teaches us about comparing size of food to a deck of cards/computer mouse/light bulb/etc… really doesn’t work. Heck, even using the parts of my hand don’t work! The only way it would work was if you cut off the tip of my finger and replaced it with the item that was to be measured.

That being said, how do I do it? When I go out, I don’t. I just stick to items that are low in points (veggies and stuff) and I ALWAYS cut everything in half. Then I use the “flat rate” points. It’s worked for me so far.

When I’m at home, I measure or I get used to what line it goes to in the cup or bowl.

However, the one trick that I do all the time and has been a HUGE success for both me and my husband is this: we eat off dessert plates!

Seriously. I jam dessert plates over full with the meal rather than spread it out on a regular dinner plate. It works wonderfully!

Since I’ve been doing that he has NEVER gotten seconds; when I use the regular plates he actually comments on a small portion (a portion that is the exact same size on the small plates).

Plus, it just looks like I’m eating more. Besides, it probably is a bit less at times and really keeps those portion sizes down.

So, how do you make sure you stick to portion sizes? What are your tricks? Do you eat off regular plates or small ones?

Regular Activity

2010-03-16T03:00:00.000-07:00

With the time change I am finding myself excited because I know that I will be getting very regular and very good activity. In addition I have a bigger place so even when the weather heats up I will still be able to get good workouts done inside.

Here’s what I have learned in the past month or so: when I only have ONE day of activity, my body revolts and the next day I have a huge gain.

For example, I haven’t been able to be as active as I would like. I’ve eaten less, but I would really like to eat less AND work out. When we started the move I was moving a BUNCH of things every day. I was making 6 trips in my car a day between the two places. Each trip included 8-10 trips up and down stairs at the apartment and 8-10 trips from the garage to the living room in the new place.

That very first day after all that work I got on the scale and was more than 2 pounds up! As long as my muscles were still sore from the work (which was a couple days) that number remained high.

The same thing happened on the other weeks that I would be pretty sedentary and then super active for a week.

This weekend, with my brother visiting, I was super busy. I did all sorts of walking around and moving. We climbed some pretty good hills as well that really got my muscles working. I am NOT complaining. It felt awesome!

What felt even better was that I could do it. A little more than a year ago I don’t think I could have done it. I’m very pleased with myself.

The problem, however, is that I really am sore from the extra activity that I hadn’t been having. My muscles hurt a bit today and it showed on the scale.

Starting Wednesday, when I get home I will be completing a full walk.

Starting tomorrow morning, I will be taking out the Wii and completing a workout. I may even start tonight after I post this…oh, but you won’t be reading this until well after that decision…I wonder what I will choose…

What do you think I decided?

The Good, The Bad, and Changing Time

2010-03-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

I HATE when Spring comes and we have to change our clocks. Why can't the phrase be, "Fall back and spring further back?" I mean, seriously, I might have to hold my eyes open with toothpicks today!

Yes, I'm being a big baby about it today. Oh, I'll get over it, but I am so very tired it's not even funny. I'm even considering skipping my meeting today just so I can go home and crawl into bed...I'm sure I'll end up at the meeting, but I still just want to crawl into bed.

That's the bad. The time change thing. Just in case you were wondering.

The good? Oh, that's the time change thing. Yes, the time change this is good.

I know, I confused you all because I just said it was bad, right? But how can it be bad AND good?

Well, chocolate can be good and bad, right? Oh so yummy but oh so bad for you? It's the same for time change because oh it's so horrible for my internal clock but I will now have enough daylight at the end of the day when I get home to go for a walk...well, not on Mondays...or Tuesdays...but Wednesday, Thursday, Friday? You'll probably see me out and about walking around! YEAH!

So, although I am going to whine and complain today about how tired I am, I will be jumping for excitement Wednesday as I dust off my walking shoes, put on my mini iPod, and head out the door. I'm loving it! Today, I hate it!

What exciting things will you do with more daylight hours?

Saturday Adventures-House Guest

2010-03-14T10:08:00.001-07:00

My brother is in town this weekend. He is our very first house guest in our new home. Actually, come to think of it, he is our very first house guest as a married couple. Our other place was way too small to accommodate any more than the two of us; although when I lived there by myself I did have a few guest at the beginning.

So, my brother is in town and he showed up on my doorstep an hour earlier than expected. That is totally okay by me and I’m glad it wasn’t any earlier than that because I had literally just arrived back from dropping of things at Goodwill.

We decided to go walk around Balboa Park.

If you are not familiar with the San Diego area, Balboa park is THE park to go. This is a HUGE park that encases our World Famous San Diego Zoo, multiple museums, street performers, several theaters, and just gorgeous landscape all around.

We went to the Natural History Museum and then walked around a bit more. This is my favorite part of the park for photography.

It’s just a really nice, bright, vibrant place. It’s really the place for the arts…and apparently for really bad musicians:

This couple were really cute to look at, but they were really not in sync with their music. They were playing the same song, just not together!

It’s a beautiful place to photograph, isn’t it?

On the way back to the car, we decided to take the hiking route. It was a short hike, but so nice!

Later, after we got home and found the husband had arrived, we went out for dinner. Pat and Oscar’s is so popular around here, it’s always shocking to my system when someone doesn’t know about it.

It’s not like we go there all that often, but I forget sometimes that not everyone lives in my teeny tiny part of the world. We introduced him to the greatness that is Pat and Oscar’s.

On the way home he was asking if there were any casinos close by and was shocked when I said, “yeah, Barona’s just right around the corner like 10 minutes away.”

He was shocked and so we had to go…and drop a few dollars in a few machines while he played blackjack. He doubled his money…we lost it all…I think next time I just might try the blackjack.

How was your Saturday? How close to a casino do you live?

Friday Foods-Crockpot

2010-03-12T03:00:00.000-08:00

I love slow cookers! I really do! I didn’t get to use it often before we moved because of the fact the counter space was literally smaller than the crock pot I have…I’m not even kidding a little tiny bit!

I know what the firemen say; you shouldn’t leave the house in the morning with your crock pot on all day if you aren’t going to be there. I’m sure they also know there are millions of people like me who do it anyway.

The one I have does turn to a lower temp once it runs a specific amount of time set by me. I also plug it into a plug that will shut off if there’s a problem. Is it fail safe? No. But I am as careful as I possibly can be…making sure it’s the only thing on the counter so nothing catches and all that.

Now that we have moved I plan on using my slow cooker often…at least twice a month often, but more frequently than that if I can get away with it.

So, do you like slow cookers? What’s your favorite thing to make in them?

Thursday Thoughts-It’s simple

2010-03-11T03:00:00.000-08:00

I attend Weight Watcher meetings every week because I enjoy the people there. My leader is fabulous and the other people in the meeting are fun! We really are a friendly group. It’s awesome!

Sometimes in the meetings we talk about things like “emotional eating” and how we deal with stress and how we deal with other emotions like sadness, anger, hurt, etc… Many times people in the meeting talk about how they turn to food in these situations.

I do NOT attend meetings for those conversations…they don’t resonate with me. I don’t get stressed. I really don’t! It’s a gift and a curse. It’s a gift because, heck, I don’t stress! I just deal! It’s a curse because sometimes it gives the impression to people that I don’t care.

I watch The Biggest Loser most weeks. I watch because I like to get motivated with the exercises and challenges. While I watch I get ideas of what I can do in my day that would make me more active. Simply walking up a million flights of stairs or something, right?

Sometimes they get to dealing with the “deeper emotions” of the contestants. Julian will beat a person up until she gets them to cry, get angry, and face that deep seeded problem that was the root of them getting fat.

I do NOT watch this show for those moments…they don’t resonate with me. I don’t have a deep seeded problem that was the root of me getting fat.

No, for me it really is very simple: I was lazy and a glutton.

I had a great childhood and a great life. I had parents who cared for me and are still married. I had two older siblings that I adored. I wasn’t a spoiled child. I didn’t get whatever I wanted; and I wasn’t deprived either. My parents taught us well and raised us well.

I was never abused or treated badly (although if you go back to my teenage self she might tell you otherwise…I didn’t know how good I had it; but that’s the case with every teenager, isn’t it?).

I was in dance from the time I was 4 years old. I started in tap. In 3rd grade I started jazz classes. When I was in 5th grade I started taking ballet. I LOVE dance. You can still see me tapping around the kitchen as I cook or wait in line.

We were active! We didn’t lead a sedentary life.

So, how did I get fat? I made a choice to be lazy and a glutton.

I enjoy food. When I first started this journey I had to change my outlook on food. I had to stop looking at food as something to enjoy and look at it as fuel. I have begun to enjoy food again, but I just don’t OVER enjoy food. I love to cook! I just make sure to cook healthy things now.

I made a choice to be lazy really because “it’s just easier”. I work an hour away from home…it’s just easier to stop by the fast food place to pick up dinner. It’s just easier, on the weekend, to go through the drive through than stop of the grocery store to shop. It’s just easier to eat out then I don’t have to do dishes.

It was truly a choice of being LAZY!

For me being fat was simple: It was just easier.

So, what was my breaking point? I didn’t really have one. I just got BORED! I was bored with sitting around the house doing nothing. I was bored with laying around in bed all day. I was bored!

For me losing weight is simple: I’m not bored! I have things to do and am always looking for something to entertain myself. I’ve just chosen not to be bored anymore.

So, I’m sorry if I make it sound so simple for those of you who really have deep seeded issues…for me, it’s just simple!

How many of you is it really simple for you, too? I know I can’t be the only one out there! Let me know you’re out there!

Wednesday Weigh-In: Another Milestone!

2010-03-10T03:00:00.000-08:00

Date: March 8, 2010
Weight: 239.2
This Week's Loss: 1.4
WW Official Loss: 60.8
Total Official Loss: 70.8
Clothes Size: 1x or 20W

I very seriously was a bit shocked this week when I weighed in. Not shocked because I loss, I expected to lose. I thought it might be a bit more, but I am not complaining in the least about this number. I am very happy with it!

My leader wrote it down and I just kind of looked on as she did the math (the computers were down) and I saw her write six zero point eight.

My first thought was, “Yeah! I get another 5 pound star!”

Then I sat down in my chair and began the text messages that I send every week. Then I did my own math…60.8 total at WW means…SEVENTY POINT EIGHT TOTAL!!!”

It seriously took me THAT long to realize that I hit the big 7-0!

I am loving it!

My parents are coming out in the middle of April and have said that if I reach my 75 pounds by then they will take me shopping again…more on that later because I’m having a different plan for sure.

Either way, I am walking on air that I reached 70. It seems like forever since I hit a milestone, but it really hasn’t been that long.

So, how was your week?

Tuesday Tips-Smaller means Bigger

2010-03-09T03:00:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know, it’s not quite possible. Smaller can’t possibly mean bigger, but I swear it works!

What do I mean?

Well, for the last 3 weeks, I have been serving all our meals on the SMALL plates in our dish set. You know, there are the big plates, the bowls, and then the small plates. Some people may know these as the “dessert” plates.

I serve the EXACT same amount of food on these plates that I serve on the bigger plates; but it looks like more because it looks like it is more because it’s all in proportion to the plate.

For me, I’m not any more full, I just feel like I’m getting more.

For my husband, well he has yet to ask for seconds since I started this. It may correlate a bit with his efforts to eat less as well, but I don’t think so. I had fish and chips that I made a few nights ago and he never complained about the amount.

A week prior, when I had served him the same amount on the big plates, he commented that there weren’t very many potatoes. The only difference was the size of the plate.

I’m telling you, it works! You should try it!

Do you ever eat off the smaller plates? What do you do to “trick” yourself?

Method Monday-Roasted Chicken

2010-03-08T03:00:00.000-08:00

I am a pretty competent cook in the kitchen; however, I do have one cookbook in my kitchen that used to be my saving grace. Many people who I have cooked for in the past laugh when they see this in my collection, but I’m telling you it is a must have for anyone who doesn’t have a good memory.

You know how some people can just spout off things like, “You cook a whole chicken at such and such degrees and for such and such amount of time” or “Pork chops should cook for so long at so hot” or “when cooking steak put it in for blank amount of time at blank temp but if you have it thicker than this or thinner than that adjust the time or temp accordingly.”

I can NOT tell you those things. I have no interest in commiting those things to memory. Why should I when I have The Dummies Guide to Cooking. Yes, I actually have this book in my collection of cookbooks and it comes in very handy.

This weekend I found whole chickens on sale at my local store and picked myself up a chicken for less than $3. I wanted to just roast it and thought, “hm, you should put this up as a Method Monday post because I’m sure there is someone out there like me.”

One thing that I read once is that you should always brine a chicken if it hasn’t been treated with salt before sale. You can read the label to find out.

If it hasn’t, simply put 2 quarts of cold water in a big pot (one that will hold your chicken) and add in 1/2 cup salt and 1/2 sugar. Mix until the salt and sugar is dissolved. Once done, take out the bag of extras from inside the body cavity and immers the chicken in the brine. Cover and put in the refrigerator for an hour.

Do NOT leave in for longer than an hour. It will get too salty.

Once that is done, drain the chicken and pat it dry. Preheat your oven to 375. Get a roasting pan with a rack and place the chicken on the rack in the roasting pan (brush the rack with some olive oil or spray with cooking spray, I prefer the oil just because I’m trying to stay away from the cooking sprays).

Seperate the skin and the breast and slide a little butter in there. Season with salt and pepper. Then place in an oven that has been pre-heated to 375.

After 40 minutes, turn the temp up to 400 and turn the pan a quarter turn if possible. Then cook until done. This will usually take about 30 more minutes, just keep watch.

It really is that simple. I like to roast a chicken once in a while just so that I can have the meat to do more things with throughout the week: sandwiches, chicken salad, casseroles, etc…

What do you like to do with Whole Chickens?

Saturday Adventures-Stood up

2010-03-07T13:20:00.001-08:00

I had these great plans for Saturday. I had been planning it for weeks. I was so excited about it. My Grandmother was probably even more excited about it. I was going to take her to an Ice Skating competition.

It wasn’t anything big, but it was going to be exciting. She loves ice skating. She can tell you everything about every ice skater. She was looking forward to this for a while as well.

Then, Friday night, she called me and told me she hadn’t been feeling well all day and that she would call me in the morning and let me know how she was feeling.

Bummer!

I was hoping that she would be able to sleep it off and be okay in the morning. Really not for me, but for her. She was so excited!

She called me Saturday morning while we were eating breakfast…she was still feeling sick and perhaps even worse than the day before.

So, I ended up staying home. It was raining and cold and I still have things to do for unpacking. My brother is coming in next weekend and I want the place to look somewhat put together.

It’s getting there!

So, how was your Saturday?

Room for Activity!

2010-03-05T03:00:00.000-08:00

I spent all of yesterday cleaning out, unpacking, and making organized the downstairs level of our new place. I went through all our many boxes of DVDs, I unpacked, threw out, and moved things to their proper location.

In the end, I have a HUGE space to get some activity. The Wii is set up ready to go. I can do ALL the Wii fit activities now that I have the space! I am so excited about that!

I also have a 30 minute walk workout tape that I had gotten YEARS ago. I used to use it regularly, but in the recent years we have had no space to accomplish this. Now I do!

Rainy day? That’s okay! I’ll have someplace to get a workout in.

Too hot? Bring on the hot summer days! They won’t get me down! I have plenty of space to get a work out completed!

I am loving it!

Bonus is that while I am making the space I am getting a LOT of activity in as well. Heck, I can’t tell you how many trips up and down the stairs I have made moving more boxes to the appropriate places.

So, what are some activities you do inside when you can’t get a workout done outside? I am ready for lots of ideas! Bring ‘em on!

Let's catch up, shall we?

2010-03-04T06:42:00.000-08:00

I'm back! To blogging that is. After this little pause over the last two weeks, I am back! Oh, I did NOT fall off the weightloss/healthy lifestyle bandwagon, I'm still very secure and happy riding. I just needed to get done with this move.

We aren't quite DONE, but we are out of the old place and into the new. I am taking the next two days off work to complete the unpacking. My goal is to be done by Sunday...cross your fingers. It's amazing that we were able to fit it all into the apartment we were living in, but here we are.

I haven't lost a huge amount of weight like I expected. I thought with all the moving that I would have major loss with the activity points and everything. Actually, quite the opposite. On the mornings after I had MAJOR moving (read 6 trips of full car loads in one day packing and unpacking) I had a MAJOR GAIN.

I'm figuring that was because my muscles were holding onto something to help repair a bit. I'm still happy about where I am on this journey though.

I am also excited that through this all my kitchen was the VERY FIRST thing that got moved and established. I have had it organized and set up from day one of the move and it has managed to remain completely uncluttered this entire time. I'm proud of us for that. It has made it very easy to cook healthy through all of this rather than quick-let's-just-get-a-pizza-because-it's-easier-than-digging-through-to-the-refrigerator. It is still clean and uncluttered. I love it!

I will update more tomorrow, I just wanted to let you all know I was back!

So, how is everyone? How have you been doing since I was away?

Checking in

2010-02-18T03:00:00.000-08:00

Just a quick checking in to let you all know that I AM still here...just really, really, super, duper busy as I said I would be.

Between moving little by little every night when I get home, preparing for a 4 hour training coming up this weekend at work, two other MAJOR projects at work, and trying my best not to wear myself out (because when I do I end up getting sick), I am litereally sitting cross eyed at my computer every night. It's all I can do to read up on every one else's blogs; then it's quick to bed to do it all over again.

I do want to say that EVERY POUND that I GAINED last week? Every single one came off this week...EXACTLY! So, that's the good news, right? If you don't remember, I gained 2.4 last week; this week when I stepped on the scale I lost 2.4. I'm happy with that.

I wasn't able to stay for the meeting because it was a day off for me, but I think I get MAJOR kudos for driving 30 minutes just to check in and weigh in and then drive home. I'm happy with that!

So, I AM still checking comments and email...how are you all doing? Any great celebrations you want to share?

Saturday Adventures-Hockey

2010-02-14T21:32:00.001-08:00

This was a new thing this weekend for me. I signed up to volunteer at a Ice Hockey tournament. I decided one way to find something to do on Saturdays was to possibly do some volunteer work. I signed up at Volunteer San Diego and found something that was a one-time thing. I didn’t want to feel obligated to come back repeatedly, so this was perfect!

I have never in my entire life been to a hockey game…adult, child, professional, or any other type.

I have seen it on television, but I can never follow the dang puck and I never got a hang of the game.

I have to say…VERY exciting and pretty easy to pick up. Maybe because the kids at this even were only 10 years old, but it was easier for me to follow and I learned a lot.

What I really learned is there are some GREAT teams and some not-so-great teams. When they come up against each other, goalies get board…see this guy?

He was literally just skating back and forth around his goal the ENTIRE game…puck never made it to his side of the blue lines…sucks when his team is so good:

He even took a bit of a rest:

Okay, a REAL rest:

This was the OTHER end of the arena…for the ENTIRE GAME. Well, except for when they switched sides between periods:

The second game I watched started out a little better and had a little bit of back and forth…but it ended up being a 9+ to 1 game (they stopped keeping track of score after the team reaches 8 points up…oh, they still scored plenty of goals, just stopped keeping track!

What amazed me, at first, was that there didn’t seem to be a bunch of “crazy parents”. You know the kind that yell like crazy on the sidelines and make the game miserable for the refs?

Until the LAST game I was there for. Then again, both these teams were VERY good. It was the first game I saw that there was definite strategy (other then all kids go after the puck). These two teams had form, team work, and you could actually hear them talk to each other.

There was definite back and forth and the game came VERY close to a tie. It was only in the last 2 minutes that the winning team scored two in a row. Other than that, the game was literally back and forth. One would score, the other would score and tie it up. It was TENSE!

I actually stayed well past my volunteer time just to see how the game ended. Oh, those were some CRAZY parents and I was standing between two parents from opposite teams. At one moment I thought I was going to have to get out of the way.

Luckily they weren’t too bad, just one would should something to the team and the other would respond by shouting out to HER team. Insane!

So, how is it that I was volunteering and got to watch THREE hockey games? Well, they really didn’t need me.

I think they might have needed me a little bit, but the guy who was running this particular ice arena really had no clue what he was doing…so I watched hockey!

I really had a great time! Chalk it up to new experiences!

Oh, and in case you want to see a bit of humor, I am in SAN DIEGO! Sunny SAN DIEGO! It is absolutely hilarious that the kids come into the rink in shorts, t-shirts, and flip flops only to go into the locker room and put on layers of clothes. Only in San Diego, right?

So, how was your Saturday?

Did I tell you?

2010-02-13T12:25:00.001-08:00

We’re moving! Yeah, I know I told you, but I have to shout it out again. I am so excited!

That being said, this is also your fair warning that posting will be a bit spotty this week…and maybe next…starting tomorrow.

We get to start moving the kitchen things tomorrow and I can’t wait to get it all in there. That will also be the BULK of our moving. I can’t believe how much I’ve been able to shove into our tiny little kitchen, but I have a lot of things to move over.

I’ll also be getting in a whole bunch of activity points! Maybe this will be what I need to kick start from this plataue. I am getting ready to go do some volunteer work right now. I will do my best to check in the rest of this week; but if I don’t, you now know why!

How’s everyone doing?

Friday Foods-Eggs

2010-02-12T03:00:00.000-08:00

I never would have thought it, but I have gone pretty much fully egg whites. I figured that I would always need to have at least a little bit of that yummy egg yolk.

To be honest, I could probably fit that yolk into my daily points, but I find that I don’t need to do that.

I have one egg white for breakfast every single morning. The only time I include and amount of yolk is when I’m making breakfast for my husband and myself (he can’t do the no egg yolk thing…yet).

When I make breakfast for the both of us, I will use 3 egg whites and one whole egg.

The other day we went to IHOP late at night. I ordered a mushroom omelet…egg whites only! Yep, I sure did!

I didn’t even miss the egg yolk…maybe it had to do with all those yummy mushrooms, but I really didn’t miss it at all.

So, do you do just egg whites only?

Thursday Thoughts-Making it a priority

2010-02-11T03:00:00.000-08:00

We are talking this week about making your weight loss a priority. It is a priority for me, but not in the sense of weight LOSS.

No, my priority is healthy living. The weight loss is a result of my healthy living. I do make it a priority.

When I wake up in the morning, I think to myself, “What am I going to make for breakfast? Is that enough vegetable in that? How can I add more?”

As I am making breakfast, I am packing a lunch as well. After I pack my lunch, I look and see when I will eat what and, if I don’t have a snack for my ride home, I make sure to add it in there.

On my way home, I am wondering what I will make for dinner. The first thing I think about is the vegetable that will be added to it, then I go from there.

On the weekends, I wake up and think, “Okay, what activity will I get in this weekend? Will I be going to MIL’s this weekend? That’s one walk. Can I possibly get another walk in as well?”

This healthy living is a priority for two reasons.

First and foremost, I want to set an example to my husband. I can’t make him jump on my bandwagon, but I know that I can be an example to him and so he can see how it’s done. I want him to be around for a long time with me. Plus, I am the wife; if any of you are wives out there, you KNOW that we run the roost. The only food that gets in the house is what we bring into it. If I bring in junk, all he’ll eat is junk.

My second reason is for the future. I want to be around for a while. I want our children to live a healthy life. I don’t want my children to live like I have had to live. I want to be their example so that they live a healthy life. I also want to be around for a long time for them.

My health has to be my priority so that I can do everything that I want to do in life!

Why is your health your priority?

Wednesday Weigh In-Ick

2010-02-10T06:59:00.001-08:00

Yeah, ick. Up OVER TWO POUNDS!!!

I went in the morning and my leader wasn’t there, not that it would have made a difference. I’m not exactly sure where I went wrong, I just know THAT I went wrong.

This week, I am going to be a journaling fiend. So far so good.

So, here’s to another better week! How was your week?

Tuesday Tips-Embrace Change

2010-02-09T03:00:00.000-08:00

I ran across this the other day and had to pass it along:

No glass ever became sand again.

No bread ever became wheat.

No ripened fruit ever became a blossom.

Welcome change,

and choose what kind of glass you create,

what kind of bread you bake,

what kind of fruit you harvest.

I think this is a beautiful way to remind us to embrace change. So many times we, as is our human nature, fight change. Yet, look how many great things changes bring us!

I am going to make the best glass sculpture (check out my hot-bod when I get to goal weight), the fluffiest, yummiest bread, and some sweet and tangy fruit!

What are you going to make?

(oh, and go ahead and steal this and pass it along, just leave a comment here with your link and, if you would, link back to where you found it)

Monday Method-Chicken Wings

2010-02-08T03:00:00.000-08:00

I found this recipe on cooking for dads. When I put it into the recipe builder, it comes out to be about 6 points a serving. With a little tweaking, I think it could actually be a little less. Oh, they are delicious, by the way.
I’m going to let him tell you about it:

(ETA: I made these this weekend and the are delicious and perfectly crispy. I didn't add the taryaki saice, just ate them with no sauce, and they are yummy. Also, I didn't use all of the flour mixture...a significant amount was left, so I am figuring that there is way less than the calculated points, but I still left it at that).

Saturday Adventures- …on Thursday

2010-02-07T03:00:00.000-08:00

I didn’t have a Saturday adventure. I didn’t for two reasons:

First, if you haven’t heard? I am EXHAUSTED! I have been getting up at 4:30 and carpooling with my husband. He works until 3:30…I work until 4:30 or 5. This makes for a VERY long day!

Saturday I spent a lot of time catching up on sleep and chores.

The other reason that I felt okay about doing this was because I had a great adventure on Thursday (which resulted in us not getting home until close to 8 at night after getting up at 4:30).

I went to Long Beach and spend about 3 hours just walking around taking pictures. I had to present in the late afternoon, but the morning and early afternoon was mine to be had. I am counting THAT as my Saturday adventure.

If you want a full run down of my adventure, check it out over here.

How was your weekend? Did you have any adventures? Have you ever been to Long Beach? What’s your favorite thing about it if you have?

Kick start me!

2010-02-06T12:10:00.001-08:00

I have been running myself thin and I KNOW that my diet has been affected. Getting up at 4:30 in the morning and getting home at 7 at night regularly is a TOUGH thing to do AND stay in a healthy lifestyle.

I have been making sure to make myself lunches to take with me to work. I have been making sure to get a healthy breakfast every morning.

It’s the dinners that are killing me. Carpooling with my husband it’s just so easy, and not healthy, to say, let’s just pick up a couple dollar items at MickeyDee’s. I have to say no thank you more often.

Once? Okay. Twice? Too much!

Then when I get home and make dinner, I have to think a little more healthy. I am just throwing the easiest thing together and it’s not always the healthiest.

So, how do you make DINNER a quick and HEALTHY choice?

Thursday Thoughts-NOT giving up

2010-02-04T20:19:00.001-08:00

This week’s topic was a bit broad…at least that’s what it seemed from our leader. I actually have a feeling that it was more that she didn’t know how to approach it or which direction to take it. She’s not perfect! But in reality, it was perfect for OUR group.

One person in particular was having some real problem with staying on the program. She has been doing this for FOUR YEARS and has not met goal yet. She said she comes off and on…more off than on.

Honestly? I think that’s her problem. She wants the quick fix and just isn’t going to get it. I think logically she knows that she can’t have a quick fix and will need to make changes to her lifestyle; otherwise, she wouldn’t keep coming back, right?

In the end we got talking about the phases of weight loss (honeymoon, honeymoon’s over, do I stay or go, etc…). Marie (our leader) asked, “Why don’t you give up?”

I’ll tell you why I don’t give up. I have lost over 65 pounds. I am not going to let a gain of 1 pound OR FOUR get me down. I am making these changes for LIFE, not just to get to goal weight. If I was just doing this to get to goal weight, I’d be right back to 320 (plus more I’m sure) as soon as I was done!

Christmas week I lost 4 pounds in that week alone…the next week was so bad I didn’t even get back on the scale! I have only in the last week gotten back down to that weight I was before Christmas. Why didn’t I give up after a tough 4-6 weeks?

Because I’m not going to let 4 pounds ruin the 65 I have already lost, that’s why.

Besides that, there is no giving up. Giving up would actually mean another lifestyle change. I like the lifestyle I’m living now.

So, why don’t you give up? It doesn’t have to be weight loss if that’s not your struggle. Why don’t you give up on anything that you stick with?

Wednesday Weigh in-I got hips!

2010-02-03T03:00:00.000-08:00

Date: February 1, 2010
Weight: 252.2
This Week's Loss: 1.8
WW Official Loss: 57.8
Total Official Loss: 67.8
Clothes Size: 1x or 20W

Well, that’s what my Grandma told me, “You’re starting to be able to see your hips.” Gotta love her!

I don’t know HOW I pulled it off, but I did. I managed to lose 1.8 EVEN THOUGH I was like a bottomless pit this weekend.

I mean, who eats ICE CREAM at 10 in the morning and STILL manages to lose 1.8 in a week? Apparently…me!

I know that it was partly because I was getting ready to start; I’ve just never been that bad before. Guess I’ll be better prepared the next time.

I am so surprised and happy that I actually lost! It tells me that this small plateau I was on really is over. My body has adjusted (and apparently rearranged weight AWAY from my hips) and is ready to lose some more.

I’ll take it!

How was your weigh in this week?

Excuses

2010-02-02T03:00:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I’m not sure how I started reading a particular blog. I have my reader full of different blogs and, on occasion, I go through and clean it up a bit, going through and deleting those subscriptions that really don’t get updated that often or that I have found that I just don’t enjoy.

I have several folders that my feed go into: my favorites; second favorites, weight loss, books, preschools, on the way out, cooking, and a few more.

They’re pretty self explanitory, right? Favorites are those that I read every time without fail. If I start to get backed up (like I have hundreds that haven’t been read) I will usually read these and then just mark the rest as read.

You can be assured that there are some blogs that fall into several categories (like a books blog that is my favorite as well).

Why am I telling you this? Well, there’s been a particular blog that has been in my weight loss folder as well as on the way out. This is pretty obvious, right? This is a blog that I don’t want to give up on just yet, but it may get cut from my reading list. (just to note, there have been blogs that have redeemed themselves and been taken off my on the way out list folder).

This particular blog is on that list for several reasons, some I can’t quite put my finger on it. The other day, I put my finger on a HUGE reason: she’s full of excuses.

I mean, those of us who are trying to lose weight, we all have our issues. You may not THINK you have an issue but you do. (one person commented that she didn’t have any problems but was over 300 pounds). I’ve got news for you. I’m a pretty self assured person; I have a lot of self confidence. However, I got to be over 300 pounds. My issue? Pure laziness and gluttony. I know it, but it’s still an issue.

Anyway, back to this blog with excuses. For over a week now almost every time she writes she is giving a reason why she hasn’t gotten to the gym. Not getting to the gym leads to not getting a workout.

Now, I’m not one to judge on getting workouts in because I haven’t had a serious workout in a long while. No excuses, I just haven’t. I’ve not been sitting around doing nothing, but I haven’t gone for a walk , other than Sundays, in quite a while.

One night she actually wrote something like: here I am at home because my car broke down, my husband is fixing the car and I can’t get to the gym…so I’m sitting at home frustrated that I can’t get to the gym.

WHAT?!?! You can’t get off your chair and walk around the block? You can’t pick up some cans and do some curls? You can’t run in place?

The excuse is that the car broke down…your LEGS didn’t break!!!

Seriously, if it was a one time thing, it probably wouldn’t affect me in anyway. However, these is becoming the pattern. I can’t go to the gym because… oh woah is me, I can’t excersize because I can’t get to the gym…

Let me tell you, if you want it bad enough? You will FIND a WAY to either GET to the gym OR get a workout in anyway!

THAT is why I really hate gym memberships; they allow people like her to come up with excuses to not work out.

Then I take a step back and think, “eh, who am I to talk and really, what does it matter to me?”

Nothing. It means nothing to me. I can only be accountable to myself. However, as a blog writer, I hope that I don’t let my readers down with excuses. You all need to hold me accountable at time, sure, but it really comes down to me. 100% me!

What’s your excuse?

Monday Method-Simple Dessert

2010-02-01T03:00:00.000-08:00

This? Is SIMPLE! So simple I can’t believe I have never tried it before.

Take an apples.

Cut it up.

Sprinkle some cinnamon on it.

Enjoy!

Seriously! It is THAT simple, THAT healthy, and THAT good!

Have you ever tried this before?

Saturday Adventures- Good Times with Good People

2010-01-31T13:37:00.001-08:00

I wasn’t quite sure what I was going to have as my adventure yesterday. I knew my husband was going to be out on his own adventure.

His adventure, if anyone wants to know, was going out with his friend to get new vanity/sinks for our new place. YEAH!

Well, from that was born my adventure. His wife called and we decided that we would have dinner and hang out at there place for the night.

She goes to this place locally where you go and create your own frozen dinners. I’m not sure exactly how it works, but you end up with a freezer FULL of your own frozen dinners ready to just throw in the oven. I’m going to find out more about it in a few weeks.

The good thing about this adventure was that she is also on WW so she was already with the number of points and, while the boys were finishing up their job, we went out to the grocery store to pick up salad fixings.

I’m telling you, that salad was huge, filling, and DELICIOUS! Who needed the other chicken/pasta dish we had (yes it was one of those frozen meal deals). Which was also DELICIOUS!

We then watched Iron Man (eh, it was okay) and had apples and cinnamon. It was a fun night with friends who will soon be our landlords.

Is it funny to say that the first guest for dinner we will have in our new place will be our landlords? No? Good, because they will for sure be the first…and probably more often after that as well.

How was your weekend?

Bottomless Pit

2010-01-30T03:00:00.000-08:00

That’s what I have felt like the last few days. Every time I have eaten something, it never fails that I feel the need to eat almost 30 minutes later.

I’m not happy about that; but I am making sure that what I choose to eat is healthy. I choose things like apples, oranges, tangerines, asparagus, green beans, nuts, etc…

I just can’t seem to satisfy this bottomless pit.

What do you do when this happens? I can tell you that it is true hunger. Drinking a half gallon of water, going for a walk, getting distracted is NOT working.

Anyone else ever have this problem?

Friday Foods-Pork

2010-01-29T03:00:00.000-08:00

I have recently become a lover of pork. Most of it comes from necessity.

See, pork is usually pretty cost effective; I can pretty much pick up much more pork than I can beef on our budget.

Chicken? Well, chicken is out in our home because my husband HATES chicken. I’m not kidding! Blame can 100% be put on his ex-wife. She cooks chicken EVERY SINGLE NIGHT for dinner. Apparently? NOT an exaggeration. My stepson tells me that she STILL only cooks chicken.

I mean, not just plain chicken, but come on! Fried chicken, chicken casseroles, baked chicken, chicken soups, you get the idea.

So, in our house, pork it is.

I have learned how to make several different gravies from the pork drippings (which is pretty minimal) and found creative uses for it as well.

Of course, I don’t make pork ALL THE TIME because, well, then it would become like chicken for the husband, right? So I mix it up.

However, I am enjoying learning about pork and the various ways to cook it.

How do you cook pork?

Thursday Thoughts-Emotional Eating

2010-01-28T03:00:00.000-08:00

This week’s topic at Weight Watchers is emotional eating. We had this topic not too long ago and I remember thinking then, as I did again, “I’m not an emotional eater.”
I’m really not.
I don’t eat when I’m lonely, I just never have the desire.
I don’t eat when I’m angry, never had the need.
I don’t eat when I’m say…have you ever tried to eat when you’re crying, it’s impossible!
I don’t eat when I’m bored or just because there’s nothing else to do.
I just eat because I like food.
Then something came up that I hadn’t considered. Eating when you’re happy. That I do.
Birthday? Let’s go to dinner.
Got a raise? Let’s go to dinner.
Anniversary? I’ll make a cake!
I guess I am an emotional eater…guess I shouldn’t be so happy.

Wednesday Weigh In- Back to losing

2010-01-27T03:00:00.000-08:00

Date: January 25, 2010
Weight: 254.0
This Week's Loss: 3.4
WW Official Loss: 56.0
Total Official Loss: 66.0
Clothes Size: 1x or 20W

I’m not about to say that I am done with this up and down thing, but I can say that I am lower in my weight than I have been ever since starting this journey…it’s been a LONG 4 weeks.

WOW, has it only been 4 weeks? It seems like SO much longer!

Well, let’s hope that this 3.4 is the beginning of the ball rolling down again, yes?

I have definitely been eating much better this week so we are on a roll, right?

How have you been doing?

Tuesday Tips-Boredom

2010-01-26T03:00:00.000-08:00

We talked about emotional eating this week. I’m not going to go into it too much because it will be my Thursday Thoughts post this week, but I will say this:

We talked about what you do when you are bored. You know, you don’t have anything to do, you’re just sitting around and you have this strong pull to go stare in the refrigerator?

You KNOW you’re not hungry, but you just can’t get past it?

Get a BIG glass of water and a STRAW…drink!

I don’t know what it is, but drinking water out of a straw really makes it much more involved, more fun, and gets me away from that refrigerator.

What do you do when you are bored?

Method Monday-Butternut Squash Soup

2010-01-25T03:00:00.000-08:00

Okay, this is EASY! As long as you know how to cook butternut squash, you can do this.

Roast your squash until nice and soft. I like to cut it into cubes before roasting; just peel the skin and chop it up; it will cook faster.

Once it’s roasted, throw it into a pot on the stove. Get a hand blender and puree it up; make sure to add a bit of water to help keep it loose.

Continue to blend and mix over low heat until it is absolutely smooth. If you want, add some chicken broth instead of water, it’ll add more flavor.

Once you get it nice and thin, add about 1/2 cup milk to make it creamy.

Let me tell you…YA…ME (yummy!)

Have you ever had butternut squash soup?

Saturday Adventure on Sunday-A day late

2010-01-24T20:35:00.001-08:00

Well, I’m not posting yesterday’s adventure because I had none…but I did today, Sunday.

We went to my MIL’s place and then her and I went to Costco. THAT was an adventure in itself because I swear, even though there are a whole bunch of Costco’s in San Diego, everyone came to THIS one ALL AT ONCE!

I’m surprised I didn’t see YOU there, where you there? Did I miss you?

After we left there, which is always a fun adventure because I love shopping for home stuff, we stopped at Subway. Why?

Because I brought my lunch bag to her house and she loved it so much we had to get HER a kids meal so she could get one for herself. She loves her little bag as much as I love mine.

My husband, as always, was disappointed in his subway sandwich. I promised him I would never make him eat there again…after all, both his mom and I have our lunch bags now, we don’t need to!

Then, when we got home, I convinced her to watch the Saints game…WOW was that a nail-biter? I mean, we have no investment in either team except that we want to see Drew Breese in the Super Bowl (which he now will be doing just that). She got so invested in the game she has sworn off EVER watching another football game…I’ll have to work on her until Super Bowl Sunday because he’s going to need us then, too!

How was your weekend?

Creamy Soups

2010-01-23T03:00:00.000-08:00

I am NOT a big soup person. Actually, I kind of avoid it. I just don’t like the ones that are good for you. I LOVE the creamy soups. You know: cream of broccoli, cream of mushroom, baked potato soup, etc…

Well, Friday as I was getting ready for work and trying to decide what I was going to make for lunch I had an ah-ha moment. The night before I had roasted some butternut squash…it didn’t turn out well.

That was an odd incident because I make it often and I’m not sure what I did wrong. It just was an odd texture. I think I actually had it in there TOO long.

I had a whole bunch left over and I knew I would end up eating it all; my husband would not…he didn’t even finish what I served him for dinner the night before.

Anyway, I put that squash in a pot, got out my hand blender, heated it, added some water, and mixed it to a smooth consistency. Then I added about 1/2 cup of milk.

Let me tell you…YUM!

Have you ever made an impromptu dish that worked? That didn’t work?

Friday Foods-Green Tea

2010-01-22T03:00:00.000-08:00

I LOVE green tea. I make a tall thermos of it every morning as I am making breakfast.

By the time I get to work, I have finished that one and heat up more water and have another tall thermos of it.

I keep extra tea bags in my car just incase I forget to put some in my lunch bag.

Before I leave work for the day, I fill up that thermos one more time for the trip home.

Oh, I have to pee…A LOT…but it is worth it! Plus, there are so many benefits to it.

Just on the dieting front, green tea has been shown to:

increase your metabolism (by 4%)

decreasing appetite

increasing good cholesterol

It is great stuff! Do you drink green tea?

Realistic Motivation

2010-01-21T03:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I got this comment from Cyndy:

Wow, down 65 lbs? That is amazing! That is just about where I got to the last time when I for some reason fell off track and it has taken me 3 years to get back on track. How long has it taken you to get there? The last time it took me 7 months so I am shooting for that this time around and then to continue on. I have been back on track and am now in week 2. I lost 6.2 last week and I am so motivated that I love it. It's taken me this long to find that motivation for some reason but I am happy that I finally have! Are you still doing Weight Watchers? My big struggle this week is finding the motivation to exercise. Keep up the good work!

I left a lengthy response but, as I was writing it, I thought it would make a great post for today…which will be even lengthier than that comment, so if you want the cliff notes version, go check out the comments from yesterday.

As many of you who hang around here know, I lost 62 pounds in exactly one year’s time. It is amazing. I am thrilled at my progress.

I don’t want to rain on anyone’s parade; but I am a person who is realistic. I know the first time I did this I was in college. My job was more active, I was more active, and I didn’t have much to stress about (no, I never really stressed about school).

At that time I started WW on St. Patrick’s Day. I was a size 22.

By my sister’s wedding that very July, I wore a size 14 and it was very loose on me.

I moved back to my parents’ home in January. I had was on the verge of getting my 100 pound star. That’s about 9 months.

I was literally dropping weight about 4-6 pounds a week. It was rare for me to NOT get a sticker or award at the WW meetings.

When I started this journey in December of 08, I thought for sure I would have been 100 pounds lighter by then. I quickly realized that it would be much slower than last time.

I don’t want to be discouraging. Actually, I think it is more supportive and ENcouraging to gently, but succinctly, remind people who are starting on their journey that it may not be as quick as they would like.

Those people who I inspire, and I know I inspire others through this blog and through my daily living, I want them to be successful. I really do!

I want them to be successful for the rest of their life. I think it’s important to not get tied up to the quick loss. Heck, I think it essential to not get tied up in that number on the scale.

I think the most important thing is to make the right choices and to be realistic.

Sure, I think everyone would like to say that they are going to work out everyday. However, I know that’s not realistic for everyone; and definitely not for myself.

I set the reality and then, if I exceed it that’s even better. I aim for two days a week to be active; if I get more, that’s bonus!

I fill my plate with half veggies every night! If I end up with a plate FULL of veggies, then all the better!

That number on the scale MUST not be the motivation; it is only a checking in point to see how you’ve done with the decisions you’ve made.

Your motivation MUST come from inside yourself and MUST be realistic and SUSTAINABLE!

If you can’t see yourself continuing the behavior past 6 months, then you need to reevaluate. I can see myself working out two days a week in 6 months, a year, and 5 years from now. I can NOT see myself working out daily.

I can see myself cooking from scratch and NOT from boxed meals in 6 months, a year, and 5 years from now. Actually, I see myself being even more successful with this in 5 years from now. This is realistic for me AND sustainable!

I think the biggest mistake some people make when starting their weight loss journey is to make too many changes at one time and then they get frustrated because the result isn’t instantaneous.

You didn’t gain the weight over night, you’re not going to lose it over night.

So, I hope this was more of a pep-talk than a downer. I hope this was a good motivator rather than a demotivator.

Did it help you?

Fortunes

2010-01-20T03:00:00.000-08:00

My MIL and I often go to a Chinese Buffet. It’s good, though, because I literally fill my plate with mushrooms and green beans. No, LITERALLY! My first plate is all mushrooms and green beans; my second plate is mushrooms, green beans, and a bite (literally a BITE) of shrimp.

Then there is the fortune cookies. We have recently gotten a few that have really spoken to me for one reason or another (and no, not always just for the humor, but you can get that over here).

Here are the four I have been carrying around with me waiting to share with everyone:

Tomorrow your creative side will shine with exceptional ideas

I like this one just because I am a creative person. My job requires me to be creative ideas that are exceptional. I have to look in a classroom of children, find creative ideas to reach each one, and show the teachers the best way to get it done. My ideas effect the lives of children…it’s a lot to be responsible for; luckily my job is so much fun I rarely feel the stress. How can there be stress when I get tiny little hugs and smiles and giggles all day long?

Long life with blessings of family and friends is yours

Is it any wonder that this one is great. Family and friends are a blessing. A HUGE blessing! If you don’t appreciate your family and friends, well, you’re missing out on things. Count them as blessings. Thank GOD for them! I know I do!

Change your thoughts and you change your destiny

I like this one because it is SO true. I am a firm believer that you can make yourself change just by thinking it…and acting it. If you THINK you are happy and ACT like you are happy, pretty soon you will trick yourself into actually being happy.

I know I can be miserable. I can be so upset over something and just want to cry. Then I have to walk into work and put on a happy face. I have to pretend that I am happy. Pretty soon I can’t help but to BE happy. Okay, maybe work is a bad example because I can’t help but be happy there…think angelic faces looking up at you and you can’t help but smile.

However, I do know that the DAY I decided to start a healthy life, my destiny changed. I decided that I was no longer going to sit and do nothing; I decided that I was going to eat healthier and be more active!

I lost 10 pound on my own with that thought! I’ve lost 65 pounds total since that thought! I’ve changed my life! I’ve changed my destiny!

Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired.

I saved this one for last because this is the one that spoke most to me. It is so true. Laziness is basically waiting around for yourself to get tired so you can go to bed. I think back on my life before this healthy lifestyle change and am pretty much disgusted with myself.

I would get up in the morning, sit around the house all day, and WAIT for the time to go to bed only to repeat the same the next day. Sure, I went to work, but I was just going through the motions. Heck, I would only do house work as a last resort at times. I am so glad that I have changed that!

Part of me is looking forward to a bigger place specifically so that I can do MORE housework! Yes, I am THAT insane, I may have to be admitted to a crazy house or something! But I dream of vacuuming STAIRS for the workout, doing laundry every night just so I can walk up and down the stairs! Dusting? Sweeping? Scouring bathrooms?

Yes, I’m looking forward to doing more of all that just so that I can move more!

No more being lazy. No more just waiting around for bed time.

Which of these fortunes speak to you? Do you have any other fortunes that have spoken to you before?

Floating Away

2010-01-19T03:00:00.000-08:00

I have gotten away from my water drinking. I used to be so good, but lately…not so much.

I’m wondering if that has anything to do with my plateau. That week, after Christmas, I was a water drinking FIEND! Well, not so much water as liquids: water, tea, hot tea, milk, etc…

I am so getting back on that bandwagon again this week. I am making sure to drink plenty of fluids.

I am starting out each morning with a very tall glass of hot green tea. As I am making breakfast, I put a pot of water on to boil, put a tea bag in my travel cup, and once it boils, pour it into the cup ready to go.

By the time I get to work, I have been ready for a second cup. I bring a couple tea bags with me to get me through the morning.

I think my struggle right now is that it is COLD in the mornings and so I really don’t want to drink water. Even room temperature water is no good.

It was really helped me. I usually have my daily required liquid intake by lunch, but I don’t stop there.

I make sure to have water or something with lunch and, before leaving for home, I get another tea ready.

I’m hoping that this will make my weight loss kick up a notch.

Now if I could just get my activity level up again…I can’t WAIT until we move! We will have so much more space for workouts and even a POOL! It’s been confirmed! We have a pool!

Method Monday-Cauliflower Poppers

2010-01-18T03:00:00.000-08:00

I LOVE this recipe. I love cauliflower, so how could this go wrong?

It is a very simple recipe, and very yummy, and ZERO points!

1 spray(s) cooking spray

1 small head(s) cauliflower

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp chili powder, or more to taste

1/2 tsp table salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.

Cut cauliflower florets into bite-sized pieces (there should be about 4 cups). Place cauliflower in a medium bowl and add cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper; toss well to coat.

Spread cauliflower on prepared baking sheet and bake until cauliflower is tender, but not mushy, stirring halfway through, about 10 minutes. Yields about 1/2 cup per serving.

I will not put as much chili powder on half of it because my husband doesn’t like it; then I’ll put more on mine because I love it! I also don’t toss it in a bowl, I just sprinkle it all on right on the pan. Why clean one more dish if you don’t have to, right?

These make a great appetizer for watching football games…even if your team likes to make you sweat through the games.

How do you like to eat cauliflower?

Saturday’s Adventure-Choices

2010-01-17T03:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I talked about choices.

Yesterday I made some choices…they weren’t the best. Honestly, it’s was a driving force in writing that post. I think part of me was hoping it would motivate me to get out and do something…it didn’t work.

What did I do all day? To be honest, nothing great. I played Rock Band, wrote posts, watched the football game, and got dinner.

I used dinner as my pathetic excuse for getting out…I walked to the deli. Hey, at least I brought my camera and took this:

And this:

I’m glad I got to see the sky. This picture doesn’t do it justice with the beautiful colors that were there.

I also made sure to WALK to go get dinner; does that count for anything? Even if I mentioned it TWICE in this post? Come on, tell me it counts for something!

I mean, it was chilly when I went…and I got dinner for BOTH of us and had to carry all our food AND two drinks on that walk!

No? Okay, I’ll do better next week.

Now, in an effort to take the focus off my non-active Saturday, what did you do this weekend?

Choices

2010-01-16T09:05:00.001-08:00

Life is full of choices.

Do I go out for a huge activity today or do I do something that is out, but not so huge?

Do I eat one or two breakfast sandwiches? Or more? Or less?

Do I make lunch and take it with me or buy it someplace?

If I buy it, do I go to the deli or the fast food place?

If I make it, do I make a sandwich or a salad?

Do I sleep until 6 or 8?

Do I go out or stay in?

Do I go shopping or go for a walk?

Do I weigh in this week or not?

Some choices are easier than others…no, some choices as SMARTER than others. I really believe that. Some of the smart choices are the easier choices, often times they are not.

The things is, however, that everything is a choice and we have the power to make those choices.

Isn’t that wonderful? That we have those choices? I know some places in the world some people aren’t even given choices. I am so thankful that I can…but sometimes don’t you wish someone would just make the choice for us?

My struggle of choices today are: what will I choose to do today AND will I weigh in this week?

First, what will I choose to do. I didn’t plan for anything big, but just walking to the grocery store seems like a cop-out, doesn’t it? Maybe I’ll walk to the further grocery store…the one that I will soon be shopping at anyway when we move. It would get more walking in and make it more of an outing. Hm, choices.

My second choice is one that I will debate for the next two days. I have Monday off work so I KNOW I will not be weighing in with my usual group. It’s too far away and not worth the gas for a 30 minute meeting.

However, my leader let me know that she will be at the closer meeting location Monday morning for the 9 am meeting. I can probably do that. It’s still about 30 minutes away, but that’s not bad. It will still hold me accountable to what I do this weekend (so far I’ve been okay this week).

What will I choose? I don’t know yet. I probably won’t decide until I wake up Monday morning. Part of me is leaning towards weighing in, the other part of me thinks “but it’s a vacation day off, one that my husband even has to go to work” those are the days that I lazy around the house.

Then again, I have chosen to live a healthier lifestyle. Lazing around the house really doesn’t fall into that, does it?

What choices are you making?

Friday Foods-Lemons!

2010-01-15T03:00:00.000-08:00

I LOVE lemons! I know, I’m crazy, but I love them.

I order tea in restaurants just so that I can eat the lemon slice…I’m not even kidding; that’s sad, right?

One of the girls who works for me actually will bring me bags and bags of lemons when her tree is in season. I LOVE her!

I eat lemons like most people eat oranges.

They are REALLY good if you add a bit of salt on them…YUM!

I am writing this post while munching on a lemon…again, not kidding!

I found a great use for them the other day…add a bit of lemon juice to the rice or couscous. Seriously delicious. Not a whole bunch so all you taste is lemon, just a little bit so that you kind of go, “huh, what’s that I taste…it’s different…really good, but different.”

How do you use lemon?

WHAT? 10!!!

2010-01-14T03:00:00.000-08:00

This week was week two of the 10 week challenge. Since I had ditched the first week, I didn’t even know until then that there was a challenge going on.

I was quickly brought up to date and found that I had actually met the challenge before I even knew it. I made a huge effort to track my food last week.

I am halfway through my week now and I really need to track!

However, this whole ten theme of things is getting a bit much. They want me to add filling foods to TEN meals this week?

Well, that was my first thought; then I realized, “duh, you do more than that ever week.”

On my successful weeks that it. I add vegetables to my breakfast to make it more filling; I typically fill my lunch with salads or stuff my sandwiches with so much vegetable I pretty much open it and eat it in layers. Dinner, I fill half my plate with veggies before I even put anything else on my plate.

So, while the shock of hearing the number was a bit overwhelming; the actual practice isn’t really that difficult…when I put in the effort.

How about you? Do you fill your days with filling foods? (oh, for those of you who aren’t on Weight Watchers, filling foods are things like: fruits, vegetables, lean meats, non-fat dairies, legumes, whole grains)

Wednesday Weigh In-Ick

2010-01-13T03:00:00.000-08:00

That’s all I can say for this week. I was at a 2.4 GAIN!

ICK!

I don’t know where I went wrong, but I have got to get back into tracking. I did track pretty well until the weekend; but obviously that wasn’t enough.

I really don’t want to talk more about it. I’m back on track this week. I’m packing lunch this week. I’m drinking TONS of water. I will pass this!

ICK!

Good news is, did you hear, WE’RE MOVING! I’m sure you all heard; but how that falls into weight loss is that we start moving in February…I have GOT to get a TON of activity in while moving things, right? I’m planning on staying in my points but moving a whole lot more in February!

Sensitive?

2010-01-12T03:00:00.000-08:00

I went to my meeting on Monday (oh, you’ll hear about it tomorrow…the results that is). My leader was there this week (yeah!) and there was a different person weighing other’s in.

I was the first to weigh in and, of course, went to my leader. I commented to her about “What’s this about you taking vacations? Aren’t there rules about that?”

Okay, you should note that I was extremely sarcastic when I said this and it was intended for only my leader to hear. PLUS, I know that I can joke with her like that. She knows that I’m kidding.

However, the lady who was weighing in people two stations over, pipes up, “She needs her vacations. She’s supposed to take them.”

Now, I could be the bigger person and try and think in this other person’s shoes: it is the last meeting of the night and every one of us love our leader and look forward to seeing her every week; maybe all day long at every weigh in people have been commenting about how much she was missed and the other lady was tired of it; or maybe she didn’t get my sarcastic tone; or maybe she was trying to be funny and missed the mark

But I don’t want to think in her shoes, we were two stations down and she really had no right to eavesdrop anyway; I mean, I know that it isn’t the most private of places, but come on!

Plus, I don’t think she was kidding because my leader’s body language changed a bit and, although she joked back with me, it wasn’t the same at that point…

Then, a bit later when I was talking to someone else, she came over and seemed to be a bit more relaxed. I have a feeling that lady is a bit up tight. Oh well, she’s not the regular and, if she becomes the regular, we’re all just going to have to break her in, right?

Did I mention that I love my leader? She’s fun! She gets my jokes! She let’s me be my disruptive self. Then again, all of us in that meeting are pretty much the disruptive type.

I told her she needs a code word that would warn us all that she wouldn’t be there the next week without telling us that she wouldn’t be there the following week. You know, like when we are all leaving she always says, “See you all lighter later”; if it’s a week that she will be gone the next week, she could say, “See you all lighter later with chocolate” or something. Yeah? No? Okay, it’s a stretch, but it got a laugh out of her!

Method Monday-Breakfast Pizza

2010-01-11T03:00:00.000-08:00

I really wish that I had taken a picture of this for you. It was delicious.

Last weekend I bought pizza dough and I figured on making a pizza later in the week for dinner. Then it came to me, I would make a breakfast pizza on Saturday.

I was very excited about this and looked forward to the weekend just so I could make this. It ended up being about 7 points per serving and it serves 6. These are decent serving sizes as well.

Ingredients:

1 Pillsbury Pizza Crust

1 1/2 cup shredded fat-free mozzarella cheese

1 TBS Country Crock Margarine

4 egg whites

2 whole eggs

3 pattie(s) Sausage Patty, Restaurant Type you can use any type, this was just the closest in point to the ones I used. 4 points a link; but these were bratwurst size links

First, preheat the oven according to the temp on the Pizza Dough. I set it for 400 because I was using a darker baking sheet.

Open the dough and lay it on the pan. I like to press this out and really push it as far as I can get it. (It’s all about impression for me. Having one slice of pizza that is about 4 inches square is so much better than 3 inches square, so the more I spread it the more, in my head, I get).

Prick the dough with a fork all over then put it in the oven. Bake for about 9 minutes. I always cook my crust before I put anything on it. It cooks the crust more evenly and is so much better.

While the pizza dough is baking, cook the sausages. I cut mine into small pieces so that they would cook faster and then I could spread them more evenly around the pizza.

Whisk the eggs and egg whites together and then cook them into scrambled eggs.

By this time, the dough should be about ready to come out of the oven. Check to make sure that it’s done. It doesn’t have to be completely done because you will be putting it back in the oven, but it should at least be very close.

Now, butter the entire crust. Think, instead of spreading pizza sauce, you are spreading butter…a very thin layer. It will melt and be oh so perfect.

Take half of the cheese and sprinkle it all over the crust. I like to make sure to get it all the way to the edges because this is a square pizza and you really don’t need the edges, do you, since the middle pieces never have a crust anyway.

Then spread the scrambled eggs evenly over the cheese followed by the sausage.

Lastly, spread the remaining cheese over everything.

Put the pizza back in the oven for an additional 5-10 minutes. You want everything to be melted and perfect. I like my crust to start to brown a bit, but that’s just me.

Take out the pizza when it’s done and then cut it into 12 slices. This way you get two pieces!

This was a very good breakfast! What’s your favorite breakfast?

Saturday’s Adventures on Sunday 1.9.09

2010-01-10T08:18:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was more fun than I had actually planned. I actually only had one plan for the day…my husband had more!

About a week and a half ago I received an envelope in the mail, addressed to my maiden name for some reason, that had 4 tickets for a television preview night. Don’t know exactly how I got them, but I’m not complaining; especially when the event was on a Saturday and so it would be a perfect Saturday outing!

I mentioned it to my husband and suggested two couples that we might go with…he seemed less than excited about it so I figured I would be going by myself. He surprised me, though, a couple days later by saying that he asked our best man and his wife (my first couple choice, not because I like them better than the second couple, but because it’s our go-to couple).

Well, they couldn’t make it. So then he asked our second choice: my stepson and his girlfriend. I kind of was excited about this because we have NEVER gone out with just them. Actually, I don’t think we’ve ever been anywhere out with his girlfriend along, except for one dinner at pizza hut…forgot about that.

Anyway, we weren’t sure that they were both going to make it; he would be joining us, but she was supposed to work. My stepson ended up asking a friend of his and we asked my MIL and it was crazy and we figured just the three of us would enjoy the time together (I’m not going to tell you yet what our end group was just yet…I’ll let you just hang for a bit).

About 12:00 my husband came into the room where I was napping (I had woken up at 6 in the morning that day, I don’t know why, but I was trying to get a bit more sleep knowing that we were going to be out late). He wakes me up and asks if I want to go with him to get lunch. He coerced me out of bed by saying he would take me to the Buffet that his mom and I like…he KNEW I wouldn’t pass that up!

Turns out, he probably would have told me anything to get me out of bed and going with him. I get out of bed, get dressed, and we get going.

Then he gave me the bestest surprise EVER! He drove to a place that I am familiar with and told me that we would be RENTING one of the CONDOS there!!!

If you didn’t hear, WE ARE MOVING WE ARE MOVING WE ARE MOVING! I guess I know what my Saturday adventures will be for the entire month of February! I’ll tell you more about how it happened in Monday’s memory post over here.

We went to lunch, we went to my MIL’s, then we met (ready for it) my stepson AND his girlfriend. I’m not sure how she got out of work, but she did. We met them here:

Here’s the husband waiting…I took pictures while we waited because that’s how I kill time.

We were waiting for my stepson to get there, and so I took some more pictures:

Then we got a call from him wondering where we were, I don’t know why I looked stoned there, but at least he looks good, right?

Just as we were hanging up the phone, my husband said, “I think they locked the keys in the car.” He had heard something as they were hanging up. He was right!

In the end, it worked out perfectly because we had about 40 minutes to kill before we had to go in, and the truck got there about 5 minutes before we had to go in. It was a good time waster!

SOME PEOPLE, not me, were not very happy about keys being locked in the car. MOST of us enjoyed the time joking and laughing around.

We then went and watched two previews of television shows. The first one sucked royally! The second one was very good. Some of the commercials…well, think Super Bowl commercials and lots of laughter! One of them I laughed so hard I cried. (I tried to find it on you tube, but couldn’t. I’ll keep looking for you!)

So, how was your Saturday?

Picture perfect?

2010-01-09T03:00:00.000-08:00

I am starting a new thing this year and I didn’t even plan it.

What I DID plan was to take pictures every day. I don’t care what they are of, I just want to have at least one picture a day that I have taken; although I have been taking more than one.

What I DIDN’T plan was to take a self-portrait every day. I like doing this. I will probably keep it up. I know I don’t take a full body picture as often as I would like to do, so I think this will help cover that.

Do you take a self-portrait every day? What new things have you started?

Support System

2010-01-08T03:00:00.000-08:00

I have a great support system for this journey.

I have my readers who leave me supportive comments when I am down, cheer me on when I am up, and knock me into shape when I need to hear it.

I have coworkers who encourage me and tell me how much I have inspired them.

I have great friends who anxiously wait for my pictures to upload, don’t allow me to order fattening foods, and express their amazement at how well I am doing.

I have a mother-in-law who will make sure we go somewhere that I can find something healthy on our days out together. She is supportive and, on occasion, will even meet me halfway when I walk to her home just to walk the rest of the way back with me.

I have parents who are so supportive that they actually pay for my meetings. I know that we could probably pay for it ourselves; but now we really don’t have to budget for it. They are so supportive that also bought me a new wardrobe for my birthday. They wait anxiously for my call on my way home from meetings to hear how I did.

I have a husband who doesn’t complain when I make more vegetables. He is willing to put up with some of the things I cook even though he hasn’t quite jumped on this weight loss/healthy living train just yet. He supports me and will make sure that, when we do go out to eat, I am going to be able to find something for myself to eat.

Most of all, however, I have a grandmother who is probably my biggest cheerleader. When she heard that I lost 4 pounds Christmas week, she called me to congratulate me even though she was out of town visiting her daughter and my other cousins.

Every week when I go to her place for dinner, as soon as I walk in the door, she asks me how I did. Even if it’s a small loss, she gives an emphatic, “Oh good! I’m so happy for you!”

Last week when I went for dinner, she forgot to ask. I didn’t even think about it because I was enjoying my time with her; plus I was more worried about her because her back was really hurting her. About an hour after I left, she called me. Why? “I forgot to ask how you did this week!”

She worries that she doesn’t feed me healthy enough things; I tell her not to worry.

This week I brought my computer with me and was able to show her all my pictures I have taken showing my weight loss. She was almost speechless. She was very impressed.

My grandma is my biggest supporter.

Could I do it without everyone’s support? Yes and no. It’s nice to hear all the supporting comments; but I also know that, in the end, this is MY journey.

But I tell you, I get a huge smile and warmness when I get those cheers from grandma!

Who’s your biggest supporter?

Lunch Bag

2010-01-07T03:00:00.000-08:00

I have been looking for the perfect lunch bag. I have really been searching. ACTIVELY searching!

Every time I go into a store, I look at the lunch boxes. I even looked at them at Rite Aid a few weeks ago while I was there. I saw one that I was seriously considering going back to get. I just haven’t gotten a chance. It was insulated, but that is NOT a mandatory feature for me; although can you find one that’s not insulated? Can I just ask how any of us got to be thirty-something plus years old without insulated lunch boxes as children?

At our meeting a few weeks ago they were selling the lunch bags that used to hold all the “member kit” things. They were now empty and going for $5. I considered getting one, but it just didn’t appeal to me. For 5 bucks I really tried to make it appeal to me…I really did!

It just wasn’t working for me.

Then Wednesday at work I decided to get lunch from Subway. I figured I was going to get a salad. Then I saw the sign for kids meals. Their “prize” was…a lunch bag! It looks like this:

I LOVE it! It’s the perfect size. It’s the perfect shape! It was less than $5 for the meal that was inside it and only 8 points for the entire thing which included milk, apples, and a sandwich.

I actually think I’ll go back tomorrow and get another one. These are great!

When you go out to eat at places, do you ever order the kids meals?

Wednesday Weigh In- Conflicted

2010-01-06T03:00:00.000-08:00

I didn’t weigh in this week. I’m a bit conflicted about that, but I’m a little bit okay with it.

I was conflicted with whether or not I was going to weigh in as soon as I woke up. So much that I forgot (maybe subconsciously it wasn’t a forget) my weigh in clothes and my book.

I decided that I would go to the meeting, but I would NOT weigh in. Have you figured out yet that I must have had a bad week?

Then, while I was driving there, I thought to myself, “No, I should weigh in. Really, what’s it going to harm to actually see a number? I mean, if it’s THAT bad, then it’s that much more that I will work and then at least then I’ll know how much I actually lost in a week next week.”

Then, I immediately thought, “Yeah, but, I know I had a bad week so do I really need to know what that number is? Plus, I ate lunch today knowing I wasn’t going to weigh in.”

Then I thought, “Yeah but remember next week you may not be able to make it to the meeting because of your work thing, so maybe it would be good to weigh in just for the day.”

Then, “But really, I don’t have my weigh in clothes, I CAN’T weigh in! Plus, it’s my first day on my period and you KNOW how that doesn’t work for you on the scale.”

Then….well, you see where this is going, right? I was going in an endless cycle.

I was getting to the meeting fairly early so I thought to myself, “I know what I’ll do. I’ll go in, go to the bathroom, and make sure that I check in with my leader and I’ll tell her my dilemma and see what she has to say. I’ll go from there.”

Yes, it was settled. I would talk to the leader. I would make sure I was the first one through the door because, you know, the whole first weigh in after the New Year craziness because of everyone who made New Years Resolutions and all that. Trust me, when I pulled up I knew it was going to be a fight to the counter, but I was willing.

Then I looked around the parking lot and noticed that my leader’s car WAS NOT THERE!!! Oh, there is no way I am going in for a meeting if she isn’t there. I just am not going to do it. Really, I only was going so that I would hear her motivational speaking, right?

Well, maybe she was there and was just driving a different car for the day. I’ll wait and see who unlocks the door.

Someone about the same size and build came out. I couldn’t tell if it was her because it was dark outside. I started walking up to the door and could see inside…Three women and not ONE of them was her.

I turned around and left.

I know, it’s horrible. I really should have gone in even if I wasn’t going to weigh in; but I just wasn’t there for the day.

Have you ever gotten so close to attending a meeting so much as to get all the way to the door and then turn around? Was I completely insane? Does anyone, other than those voices in my head, understand my decision?

Get out!

2010-01-05T03:00:00.000-08:00

As many of you who have been reading for a while know, I have been making an effort to get out every Saturday and do something. It’s the best thing I have done! See this:

I took that on Saturday. You all know that I went to the airport to pick up my grandmother. I made sure to get there way early so that I could go take some pictures on the Harbor down there.

What? You don’t have a beautiful harbor to take picture at near your airport? Really? I thought everyone had this! No? Just us in San Diego? Well, that’s why we pay more to live here, right?

The first weekend that I had to go do something on my own, truly on my own, was when I went to Sea World. It was a struggle at first…until I got in the gates.

I felt so good, so empowered to be doing something. It wasn’t the fact that I was by myself because, to tell you the truth, I would totally prefer my husband to be joining me. It was just the fact that I was doing SOMETHING other than sitting around the house.

I am no longer just wasting time watching life pass me by. I am participating in life and it feels great!

I began thinking that this Saturday thing was going to have some limits to itself. Mostly because I don’t want it to be things that are going to cost a lot of money. There are some things that can be done for free around here, but going to the beach every-single-weekend would get old. I’m just saying.

Then, I had a brilliant idea: VOLUNTEER WORK!

So, I have looked up places that I can volunteer and will use that as part of the plan. I don’t want to limit myself to only volunteer work so my plan is that maybe one weekend a month I will plan a volunteer activity. What could be better than that?

Monday Method-An adventure in cooking

2010-01-04T03:00:00.000-08:00

This week I had some beef back ribs sitting in my freezer that needed to be eaten. I didn’t really know what I was going to do with them since I had never made them before and set out to find a good recipe.

I thought I had found one. It looked something like this:

1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup peeled and minced Vidalia onions
1 cloves fresh garlic, crushed, peeled, minced
3/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup Knorr beef or chicken broth (or water)
1/4 cup Dark brown sugar
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3/4 teaspoon Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tablespoon Honey or Cane or Maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon McCormick chili powder (optional)
1/2 teaspoon French's prepared mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt (to taste)
1/16 teaspoon black pepper (to taste)

Let me just tell you, 1/4 cup vinegar? TOO MUCH!

How do I know? Because when I went to taste it I literally choked on just the aroma of vinegar coming from the spoon with a tiny bit on it.

I thought, let’s add more brown sugar. I added a BUNCH of brown sugar. Now it was just a huge sweet vinegary mess.

Since the recipe was on my computer, I quickly went to a search engine and asked what to do if there was too much vinegar in a recipe. The responses? Something about taking a spoonful of vinegar a day and what it does for you. Seriously, the first page of results!

In a mad dash, I rushed to facebook and asked for help for anyone who might have a solution asking what will counteract the vinegar.

Most gave me the response of, “try brown sugar”. Well, I already did that and I was on a time crunch as the sauce had to simmer down to get thicker by the time the ribs were ready to be pulled out of the oven and coated only to be returned to the oven.

I did get one interesting response from facebook that said to try a strong black coffee. Interesting and, even though it came in way too late to help, I probably still wouldn’t have tried it. A bit too scary for me in this recipe. I’m not ruling it out in the future, though.

So, what did I do? Well, since I had added an abundance of brown sugar, I figured I might as well add more of everything EXCEPT the vinegar. I did.

It still wasn’t great, but it was definitely better. MUCH better than it was.

Actually, in the end, it did taste good. It wouldn’t have been as good if I had included all that vinegar. But it was good.

Have you ever tried a recipe only to find that it was completely off? Do you know any tips to counteract too much vinegar? Have you ever heard the black coffee thing?

Saturday Adventure Review 1.2.10

2010-01-03T03:00:00.000-08:00

Well here we are, the very first weekend in 2010. How did I start this New Year? What was my great adventure? Well, it involved my Grandmother again, only this time it was much better!

Rather than visiting her in the hospital, I was picking her up from the airport! I mean, what can be better than that?

First of all, I always love going down to the airport. I don’t know exactly why, I just do. Maybe because I live in San Diego and, even at the airport, there are some great views! When I have to pick someone up down there I always go a bit earlier just so I have a bit of time to take pictures.

Second of all, it’s my grandma! Who doesn’t love picking their grandma up at the airport? She’s great! She’s fabulous! Oh, and did I tell you that last Tuesday, on my way home, she called me from her vacation. Yep, she just called because she had read on Facebook that I had lost 4 pounds this week and wanted to tell me how proud she was of me!

No, my grandma doesn’t Facebook, she doesn’t want people getting in touch with her like that, but she is VERY computer savvy though.

So, what did you do this Saturday?

We made it!

2010-01-02T03:00:00.000-08:00

Phew! It’s the second day of the year and we all made it! We made it through all those holidays, all that food, all that chaos! I am sure some faired better then others; however, we all made it, right?

Whether you gained weight, loss weight, stayed the same…it’s not what life is about, is it? I mean, yes, most of you who read this blog are losing weight. Some of you who read this blog are here to support me in my journey, something that I couldn’t be more grateful for.

This particular blog IS about my journey in losing weight. However, I know that it’s about so much more. This is about changing my lifestyle.

I don’t look at how much lighter I made it through the holidays; rather I look at how much MORE I did these holidays than the holidays in the past.

I got out more. I did more things. I enjoyed the food and savored what I did have. I didn’t overindulge in the great things to eat, rather I picked and chose and savored what I did choose.

In reality, it made those things that much more special. I mean, we have ravioli every year. Homemade, delicious! This year, I enjoyed making them just like every other year, but I made a healthier spin on them.

I used only the freshest and best ingredients. I didn’t pile my plate so high that I felt sick after the meal. Rather, I enjoyed them until I was full. In reality, that made it so much more enjoyable because, let’s face it, that overstuffed-roll-me-away-from-the-table feeling is really a horrible feeling. I have come to realize that I really DON’T like that feeling and am doing my best to avoid it.

I enjoyed chocolate truffles, caramel popcorn, macadamia nuts (thank you to my brother from Hawaii), and lots of other goodies…even hot chocolate with whole milk!

All these things were enjoyed within reason. Rather than the entire box of chocolate truffles, I had THE SERVING SIZE! Imagine that!

This was a great holiday. This is going to be a great year!

What was your favorite treat this holiday season?

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T03:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome t0 2010! How was your New Year’s Celebration?

We had a nice quiet night at home…together…enjoying each other’s company. It’s my favorite kind of night.

I hope all your dreams for 2010 come true! Tomorrow, back to a regular post. Today, well, tell me, how WAS your New Years?

Thursday Thoughts-The Last Day

2009-12-31T03:00:00.000-08:00

No, not the last day of my journey, the last day of the YEAR! I’m on this trail for the long haul! I’m looking at another 18 months before I reach goal and I am all for that! I am really kind of glad I have so long in front of me.

At least this way I KNOW that it’s going to be a while and won’t get disappointed when I don’t make it too fast.

This week we talked about goals at our meeting. I had to put a damper on my leader’s goal, but she was okay with it. See, she got up and said, “All of you who didn’t make goal this year are going to make goal in 2010!”

When she got to opening up to everyone about their goals (not resolutions, but GOALS) she got to me. She was talking about being very specific in our goal. I have a lot of experience in creating plans of improvement through work; therefore, I have no problem with this specificity part.

I took a moment to say, “I hate to dissapoint you, but I am not planning on making goal in 2010. I plan on it more about summer of 2011.”

She laughed, then asked what my goal was. I told her my goal of Saturdays, “I will get out and do something every Saturday.”

One person asked what the something was. I commented that it didn’t matter WHAT I was doing, rather THAT I was doing. Something as simple as a picnic in the park to as complicated as a day at the zoo. Just as long as I get out of the house!

Specific? Yes! Measurable? My all means!

The best way to approach creating goals is to use the “SMART” method:

S-Specific: be very specific to exactly what you want to accomplish. Rather than say, “I’m going to get out of the house” I have said, “I am going to get out of the house every Saturday”.

M-Measurable: How will you know when it’s accomplished? If I say, “I’m going to get out of the house more” that’s not measurable. How will I know what “more” is? Well, with my goal, every Saturday is measurable!

A-Attainable: Is this a realistic goal? Can it actually be accomplished? For me, I think it is. Remember when setting goals, however, that you can always over-achieve. For example, I know that it would not be reasonable for me to say I am going to excersize every day; however, I do know that it is reasonable for me to say I am going to excersize two days a week. This is attainable for me; but if I make it three days one week I have still met goal and exceeded it as well! Of course, you want to be careful not to make it too easy.

R-Rewards: What do you get for meeting this goal? For my going out on Saturdays, I get a lot of fun adventures. The reward is within itself. I find, for me, that it is better for the reward to be inherent in the goal. However, the reward could be outside of the goal. For example, I knew someone who said that for every pound she lost she would put $5 in a savings account and would spend it only when she reached goal weight. The goal was to get to a specific weight; but the reward was completely seperate.

T-Time: What is the time frame for reaching this goal? For most goals there will be an end date. For me and my Saturday adventures, I am calling it an on-going goal because I don’t want an end date. I want to keep doing this. However, for something like reaching my goal weight, I have said that I will accomplish this by the Summer of 2011. I still find this a bit of a vague timeframe, but it’s realistic to right now.

On other thing to keep in mind about goals is to make them so they aren’t an all or nothing. I actually think that my goal to go out every Saturday goes against this. What happens when I DON’T go out on a Saturday, does this mean that my goal is failed? Well, not really for me in my mind because I will allow for a Sunday adventure to count as well.

However, if my goal is to track everyday this week and my week begins on Monday, what happens when I miss Wednesday? Am I done for the week then? I like to make sure that there is a back up with the reward part. There has to be a way to gain that reward back if you miss somehow.

Are your goals for 2010 specific? Share!