Odds and Ends

Weekly Weight Watchers Update #5

I was supposed to go to my meeting and weigh-in today as I have been doing for the past few weeks.    I made plans to go over right after watching the royal wedding. BUT (big but), I woke up this morning barely able to move.  The past couple of days we've had some very windy days.   Wednesday when I heard that it was coming I went out to tuck the barbecue into a corner and make sure the cover was on tight.   I forgot the new one has 4 wheels and remembered only what the old one was like meaning I would have to lift one end of it to move it - Yikes was that ever heavy.  Thankfully I quickly remembered that it had 4 wheels and pushed it instead.   Yesterday the really high winds managed to almost push it off the deck so I had run out and quickly get it before it went over the edge and push it back to it's little corner, fighting the wind all the way.  This time I remembered the wheels had locks and made sure I set them.   Well I guess all that did in my back.   There's no way I can stand or sit for any length of time right now.   I'm hoping I'll be able to go tomorrow and I can update then.   If not I'll be updating next Friday.

What I do know is I'm a tiny bit up from last week, according to our scale.  Guess the Easter celebrating did not do a world of good even though we did have a roast turkey breast but those scalloped potatoes might not have been a good idea even though they are a tradition at Easter for us.  Talking about food, the vegetables were better this week but still not as much as I should have.  I am managing 6 glasses/cups of either water or tea.   I want to increase that to at least of water and preferably 8 as well as a cup of tea.   The exercise is not going at all well.   Today all that will be getting done on that front is physio ones and they are definitely not ones meant to do for help in losing weight.  Speaking of which I'm off to lay on the floor and do some more of them.

 

Weekly Weight Watchers Update #4

Today would normally have been my weekly weigh-in but with it being Good Friday of course it’s closed.  My choices then were either Wednesday, Thursday or Saturday.  Saturday was out – it’s always too packed with members who work during the week but want to weigh-in at the beginning of the day.   I thought Thursday would work but after looking at all I had to do that day because of the holiday and grocery stores being closed both Friday and Sunday I decided that it would have to be Wednesday.   Off I went to get there as soon as they opened for the day.  I’d decided to forego the 10:00 meeting (I’m used to an 8:30 one).   Even with it only being 5 days since the last weigh-in I was pleased to see a .8 of a pound drop for a grand total of 2.5 pounds over 3 weeks.   Hmmm, wonder what it would have been like if it had been a whole week? 

Now as for the week, I did manage to have a bit more vegetables but this week the water suffered.   I’ll have to concentrate more on that this week.  The meals for the weekend are all planned and for the most part they are good.  I decided this year to forget my family’s tradition of having ham for Easter dinner and instead we’ll be having a boneless, skinless turkey breast.    As there is only the 2 of us and with neither of us particularly liking dark meat the breast is good.  I had to do a little bit of finagling around with some of the days so that I wouldn’t have to go to the grocery store on Saturday (but I did forget 3 things so I’ll be there bright & early tomorrow before they get super busy).

Ok, exercise.   Hmm, that was set back yesterday when I somehow injured my knee (I’ve had MCL problems before and think from the feel of it that’s what it is this time too) just walking down the stairs.  So for the time being the recumbant bike is out as the pain from the knee while doing that is not good.  Hopefully I’ll be able to use the treadmill just at a slower pace but maybe make up for that by walking longer.   Outdoor walks are out for what looks like the whole weekend – RAIN.

If you’re in the midst of a weight-loss journey I’d love to hear from you.  Maybe we could exchange some tips and ideas.  Ok now I’m off to drink some water. 

Note:  If you're looking for update #3, it accidentally got deleted when I was writing up this one - actually this one overwrote it.  ARGH!  (:  Watch out when you're using Livewriter with an already published  entry.

Weekly Weight Watchers Update #2

Before I get in to this week’s update I just wanted to thank everyone so much for all the support this week.   It’s really been wonderful knowing you’re pulling for me.

Well it’s Friday again and time for my weekly weigh-in and meeting.  First things first – I was down 1.1 pounds.  Personally I think it’s a miracle.   I tried so hard to track everyday and that would last till noonish and 1 day not at all.   I must improve that this week.   I keep thinking “gee I wonder what it would have been if I had consistently tracked every day”.     

Now for my ramblings about the week and the coming week.

The weekend was horrible.  I wonder if I went to Monday meetings if it would force me into being “good” on weekends.   I used to go to a Monday one many, many years ago.  But come to think of it, I think that’s why I switched to later in the week once I had an option.   I did come up with a plan though – absolutely no wine or whatever during the week – that is now only allowed on Friday and Saturday.   I did break with that one day this week and that was to celebrate the birth of my nephew’s first child (3 weeks early).

I think what did it for me this week was making sure I had at least 6 glasses of water every day.

Yesterday morning I got some unexpected news at my annual check-up which has really made me even more intent on doing this.   I’d had my blood work done and the results were in.   To quote the Dr.  “you are right on the brink of being pre-diabetic”.  This really shook me as my Mum was diagnosed with diabetes at the age I am right now and I am determined that if I can help it at all I will not follow along with my maternal family history of diabetes.  As it happens, I’d planned on going to Whole Foods on my way home from the Dr.’s office and while I was there I really loaded up on vegetables, mainly organic as J now seems to be having issues with anything non-organic.    One of the things she’d said to me aside from she wants me to lose at least 22 pounds was that I need or as she said have to eat more vegetables.   Cauliflower & broccoli anyone?   I don’t particularly care for them but……   I think one of the things I’m going to do this week is find some good vegetarian dishes that J will eat and at least one day a week we’ll have a vegetarian meal.  I think J will go for one but anymore would definitely be pushing it.      Even my Vegetarian Lasagne recipe has to have 1/2 pound of extra-lean ground beef in it.  He’d prefer more but we agreed on 1/2 pound.  Does anyone have any good vegetarian recipes.  I’ve got 2 – Eggplant Parmesan & Penne with Roasted Vegetables plus maybe that “Vegetarian” Lasagne although that would definitely be pushing it with J.

Weight Watchers around here have teemed up with “The Running Room” for a 5K walk on Sunday June 12th and I think as an early birthday present to myself I’m going to take part in it.  Now to dig out my pedometer to see exactly how far I do walk.  They have a training plan set up over 6 weeks and it looks do-able.  The first week it starts with 2 days of walking 10 minutes, 1 day off and then 2 days of walking 12 minutes, 1 day off and finally 1 day of walking 15 minutes & so on for 6 weeks till you’re walking for 45 minutes a day for the following 4 weeks.

Weekly Weight Watchers Update #1

A little over an hour ago I went to my first Weight Watchers weigh-in this year.   I was expecting it to be really bad but I was surprised to learn even though I was up that it was only 3.5 pounds.   Most people might think that was not good but let me put it this way – the last time I was there was December 24th.   So since then there’s been Christmas, our anniversary, New Years, 2 1/2 weeks away for a cruise and 1 week away (last week) for a conference.  Granted it would have been better to have maintained but I am happy with it and that’s the important thing.

I decided that today I would actually stay for the meeting (I haven’t done that in ages) and it went quite well.   When the leader asked if anyone had anything to talk about or in some cases brag I got up my nerve and said that it was my first time back since Christmas and how much I had gained since then and did mention the cruise and being away last week.  I was thinking it wouldn’t get a good reaction but everyone clapped for me and the leader said that she thought that was great and that I seemed to have mastered maintaining.  Well I am through with maintaining for now hopefully until I reach goal again and instead it’s on to losing again.  

I was really inspired by the girl sitting in front of me who said with this week’s loss she is down 133 pounds with more to go and for her she feels that she can not miss attending a meeting so that she can be inspired by others at it and that she learns something new at every meeting either from others attending or from the leader.  

My goals for this week are to journal absolutely everything that I eat or drink, to be sure and measure and get in at least 6 glasses of water a day.  So far so good.

Decision Made About Weight Watchers

I’ve made the same decision many, many times but this time I am going to stick with it.    The decision – to go back to Weight Watchers as of this Friday.    In the past 2 years I’ve gone back numerous times and then I only seem to last 2 to 3 weeks each time.  This time will be different.   After going through all our pictures from the last month, I know I have to do something and weight watchers has worked for me before – I made lifetime many years ago.  So my first step in losing weight is to go back there and most importantly actually follow the plan and not play around at it.    Every Friday I’ll post an update on how that week has gone for me.   I think by doing that it will help me with my motivation just knowing that I’ll be posting that update.  

I’d love to hear from anyone who has struggled with this and maybe learn some of their secrets in sticking to it.

Home!

And it was so nice to sleep in my own bed.  :)

We landed about 3 minutes apart yesterday (about 5:00) but John was at another terminal & had to clear customs so after pinning each other on our blackberrys it was decided I would stay where I was (I'd found a seat) and he would come to meet me right by where the limo pickup is).   I had no idea where the inter-terminal train was and he does know so it definitely made it easier.  :)

Today's been a day of unpacking, laundry, groceries & weight watchers so far.  Speaking of weight watchers it was really good after 4 1/2 days at my sister's and lots of dining out.   I was down 2 pounds.   I thought I'd be up as I wasn't paying any attention to the plan - it's new & I still have to finish reading up on it.  So I was very pleased!!

I'll have to write about my visit with Jone & Ted.  For right now I'll just say it was really great & way too short. 

WW This Week (short update)

I just got back from my weekly weigh in and was glad to see a 1 pound drop, especially after 2 lunches out this week - one on Tuesday & one yesterday.   They've got a whole new program starting this week so I've got lots of reading to do about it - maybe I'll get some of it done on the plane on Monday.  :)

There was no real exercise this week other than walking, but it wasn't walking for exercise instead it was walking to get places - like from outer reaches of parking lots to malls, bank, grocery stores, etc.  Somehow I don't think that will improve next week while I'm down at my sister's in Halifax, but I can definitely keep track of my eating (and drinking).

The new plan gives you an idea initially that you're getting more points - YEAH! but and it's a big but - most things are more points aside from fruits, veg & skim milk.  So in other words, so much for the extra points.  :)   Next week won't really be a good week for me to see how it goes but....

Those Little Losses Keep Me Going

but I sure wish I'd have a big one - a couple of pounds would do, because at this rate it's going to take a real long time to get to my goal weight.   Mind you I'm definitely not complaining about any loss.  :)   This week it was a whopping big .4 of a pound or as the weigh-in gal called it 1/2 a pound - I like the sound of that better.

Janie & I are going to try & switch over to the Wednesday session as I like that gal better & it's at 9:30 instead of 10:00 so we have more time for talking afterwards.  Trouble is we won't have a full week between weigh-ins but only for this week.

I've got some dandy pictures of me from Julie & Jeff's wedding that I can use as a "Before" picture once I document this on a scrapbook page or 2.

Where Do I Want To Be A Year From Now?

Those who know me know that I'm not one for making New Years resolutions but I need to have some goals as to where I want to be by the end of next year both health wise & craft wise.

1) It's no problem saying it but doing it is definitely another matter.   I want to be at goal weight by the end of next year (that gives me 59 weeks so I think that is doable so long as I keep at it. To do that I'll be back following the Weight Watcher program.  It worked for me in 2001 so I know I can follow it - the problem is sticking with it.  I might even go back & dig out the 2001 journals to see if that will help.

And in connection with that - get back to the Y for 2 to 3 times a week.

2) Finish the 2003 Las Vegas/Southern California trip scrapbook.

3) Start & finish the following vacation albums - 2006 Alaska Cruise, 2007 Panama Canal Cruise, 2005 Southern California trip and the 2004 WDW trip.  It would be nice to get more done but..... we'll see.

4) Make albums for Lisa for P-man and the new baby.  I'd like to get the new baby album done by her due date in January but I know that won't happen so instead I'm aiming  for Easter (having 3 weeks away in there will screw things up so that's why Easter).

5) Have my scrapping area and knitting stuff totally organized once & for all.  Definitely an ongoing project lately.  Right now it's in 2 rooms (the computer/office room and what I call the ironing room - I find the ironing board the perfect height for putting together the layouts).

6) Finish at least 2 projects already on needles (or pins as some say).  More would be even better.  That new yarn is calling to me though.

7) Finally have all the window coverings redone.  After 23 years in here that is definitely needed.  I'd love to get it done by this year end but I don't think that's going to happen as there is just less than 7 weeks left.

Once a month I'll post a goal update but I'll mark it that way so you'll be able to skip it if you feel ike it that day, I'll also post something absolutely not goal related for those not interested in reading how my goals are coming along but I'd sure love you cheering for me.

Back to Day One on Weight Watchers

I went this morning - it wasn't good.  Let's just put it that way.  I have set a goal for myself for the end of the year (good grief New Years is 10 weeks today and I'm not going to say what else that means.  lol).  I'm not going to say on here right now what the goal is but will keep it updated as I move along this journey.  For now though, I'm armed with new tools (including a new pedometer) and plan to use them immediately.  I'll post how it goes with that.   Maybe the number of steps I take in a day.  Sure could have used that last week when Jean & I went to the CreativFestival.  :)