Finally! A day (mostly) on plan!

Yesterday was a big one for me. I've been tracking every day since last Monday, but have still been going over my points. Yesterday was the first time since I started tracking again that I didn't go very much over points. Yay!

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Morning

1  packet(s) Instant Oatmeal Raisin spice oatmeal: 4

Subtotal 4

Midday

1  link(s) Chicken apple with Monterey sausage: 5

2  slice(s) wheat bread: 3

1/2 cup(s) cooked black-eyed peas: 2

1/4 cup(s) canned tomatoes: 0

1  tsp margarine: 1

1/4 cup(s) Cut Italian Beans: 0

Subtotal 11

Anytime

2  cup(s) lettuce: 0

1/2 cup(s) tomato(es): 0

1  oz Blue Cheese Crumbles: 3

1  large banana(s): 0

1/2 large whole hard-boiled egg(s): 1

2  oz Chicken breast, roasted without skin: 2

4  Tbsp fat-free ranch salad dressing: 2

1 1/2 slice(s) crisp cooked bacon: 2

1/8 medium avocado: 1

Subtotal 11

Evening

black eyed pea stew - Quick-added food: 3

campbells stew - Quick-added food: 3

2  cup(s) grapes: 0

Subtotal 6

Food PointsPlus values total used 32

Food PointsPlus values remaining 0

Activity

No entries for activity.  

Activity PointsPlus values earned 0

I've noticed that I've started munching on bread and butter while my food is cooking or heating up. It's like I'm soo hungry right then that I have to have something! Maybe if I start eating at regular times it wouldn't be so bad?

When I watch TV at night I so want something to munch on. Last night I had grapes instead of my usual cheese crackers. It was perfect! They were bite-size and had that crispness I was looking for.

My goals this week are to:

1. Keep tracking every day

2. Keep doing Couch to 5K three days a week

3. Start doing strength &/or yoga workouts between Couch to 5K days.

What are your goals for the week?

Wow. . . it's been awhile

It's been a very busy last month or so. I moved, had a week long visit from a friend, helped another friend move, and went on vacation with my parents. And now it's time to stop putting off going forward with losing weight. I was procrastinating and procrastinating. . . but this morning I went back to doing my Couch to 5K Run and I feel like a new woman!

Yesterday I snacked all day . . . not so great. Right now I'm at a lake cottage, which is great! But, there's not many people around and I tend to get bored and lonely and just sit around the cottage, watching TV. Not good. Today I'm doing something different. I had a lazy start, did my run, checked emails and such, and made some salad dressing and chopped vegetables and chicken to have salads ready to eat. After lunch today I'm going to go to the coffee shop in town and do some work- apply for jobs and work on the poster that I'm presenting at a conference in a couple of months.

Any words of encouragement would be appreciated! Thanks!

3 weeks gone and 4 lbs gained :-(

So, I've had kindof a long break. About three weeks of not counting points. I'd make an effort a couple days a week, but I completely gave up exercising and I know I've been going over my points, because I've gained back about 4 lbs. Yipee. I thought I had a good shot of making my goal of losing 10lbs by july 29, but seeing as I'm now 2lbs over frm where I was when I set that goal, I'll be lucky if I make it halfway. 

Sigh.

I don't know why I do this to myself- why do I give up just when it seems like I'm doing well? I get going on a roll, I do well, and then I think, I'm doing pretty well, I don't need to count today. I don't need to go running. And then it just spirals downward.

I'm just so disgusted with myself! Of course I'm starting back today, but . . . I'm just so tired of starting back, starting over again, and again, and again. Because every time I do it means that I've failed, again.

I want so badly, just for once in my life, to be skinny. To be fit. I'll be 30 in a little over two years, and I want to be skinny for at least some of my 20s. Sometimes I feel like it's hopeless.

I wish I had the will power to just do it. Just lose the weight. But time after time, I prove to myself that I can't. 

My WW buddy has been out of town lately, so I haven't really had team workouts or anything like that. I need somebody to keep me accountable, somebody to exchange food journals with or something.

I would reaaaaally appreciate any words of encouragement! TIA!

Good Day!

Yesterday I actually got a few things done and was a good little WWer. Got in my veggies (as usual) and made sure to get in a dairy. One of my new goals beyond staying OP is to get in at least one dairy serving per day. I've really been neglecting it, and I know it's important. Plus I remember seeing all those commercials about how it helps you lose weight from your waist :-)

Monday, June 06, 2011
Morning
1 large banana(s): 0
brunch leftovers - Quick-added food: 5
Subtotal 5

Midday
2 1/4 oz Organic roasted red peppers hummus: 2
1/3 cup(s) chicken curry: 3
2/3 cup(s) cooked white rice: 3
3 medium carrot(s): 0
1 cup(s) fat-free skim milk: 2
Subtotal 10

Evening
1 stalk(s) celery: 0
3/4 oz Organic roasted red peppers hummus: 1
1/3 cup(s) cooked white rice: 2
3 Tbsp fat-free cottage cheese: 0
2 Tbsp soft-type goat cheese: 1
1 Tbsp sunflower seeds: 1
2 cup(s) lettuce: 0
2 Tbsp dried cranberries: 1
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar: 0
1 tsp olive oil: 1
1 Three Sisters Salad, 1c.: 4
1 Quick Stir-Fry: 3
Subtotal 14

Anytime
No entries for this meal time. 
Subtotal 0
Food PointsPlus values total used 29
Food PointsPlus values remaining 0
Activity
week 5- couch to 5k - Activity I created: 3
Activity PointsPlus values earned 3

Tonight is gonna be a challenge as I'm going out for a celebration. I've found it really helps me to have WW on my phone and to track things as I go. I think I'm gonna look for the article about how to survive Mexican restaurants.

Have a great day people!

Midnight Snacking again, sigh. But Symphony!

Well I was doing pretty good yesterday until it was late, I was up, and I was hungry. At least I ate healthy things, but still that was 9 points I would rather have had to spend Tuesday night when I'm going out to a party. Ah well, onwards and upwards.

Yesterday I went to the Pittsburgh Symphony concert at the Three Rivers Arts Festival. It was really great! It wasn't terribly hot and I really enjoyed the casual setting, being able to talk quietly during the music.

PointsPlus™ Tracker entries

Sunday, June 05, 2011
Morning
1 large banana(s): 0
leftovers from brunch yesterday - Quick-added food: 5
3 Morning Coffee: 1
Subtotal 6

Midday
3/4 oz almonds: 3
1 cup(s) cooked white rice: 5
1 Quick Stir-Fry: 3
1 Naturally Sweet Iced Tea: 0
Subtotal 11

Evening
2 1/2 cup(s) lemonade: 7
1/4 medium avocado: 2
4 medium carrot(s): 0
2 3/4 oz Organic roasted red peppers hummus: 3
1/2 Three Sisters Salad, 1c.: 2
Subtotal 14

Anytime
1 cup(s) fat-free skim milk: 2
1/8 cup(s) dried cranberries: 1
1 serving(s) Post Shredded Wheat Spoon Size Wheat 'n Bran 1 c.: 4
2 Tbsp unpacked brown sugar: 2
Subtotal 9

Food PointsPlus values total used 40
Food PointsPlus values remaining 0
Activity
couch to 5K week 4 - Activity I created: 3
Activity PointsPlus values earned 3

Today I started Week 5 of the Couch to 5K running plan! It's harsh, but today was doable. Tomorrow I run for 8 minutes at a time and I'm a little nervous. I'm usually OK but whenever I get to a hill it kills me. So we'll see how it goes tomorrow.

Lots to do today- two jobs to apply for and reading for a project. See ya!

Yummy!

So last night I went out with my friends and had an amazing, wonderful dinner at a place here in Pittsburgh called theSonoma Grille. It was the night of a Jazz Crawl and all the different galleries and cafes and such had live jazz happening in them. It was a beautiful night, and we spend the time we waited for our table walking around and checking everything out. 

Dinner was- like I said- amazing. I decided to split a tapas platter with my friend and then got a big salad. I had one piece of bread and a couple glasses of wine. I don't feel guilty at all bc: 1) I earned 6 activity points yesterday! and 2) I tracked every bite and didn't use up too terribly much of my weekly free points. I had such a good time! It was a night to remember.

Bonus: after dinner everyone complained about how they were so stuffed. And I just thought, I'm not stuffed. I feel great. w00t!

Friday, June 03, 2011
Morning
1 large banana(s): 0
Subtotal 0

Midday
1 medium nectarine(s): 0
3/4 cup(s) cooked white rice: 4
1 oz almonds: 5
1 Quick Stir-Fry: 3
Subtotal 12

Evening
10 1/2 oz white wine: 9
1 slice(s) Bread Rosemary Multigrain Sandwich Bread: 2
2 moussaka crostini - Quick-added food: 4
1 1/4 Tbsp olive oil: 4
scallop - Quick-added food: 2
something else - Quick-added food: 2
3 cup(s) lettuce: 0
Indonesian Chicken Satay, Thai Peanut Sauce: 2
Jamaican Jerked Wild Shrimp: 1
1 1/2 oz roquefort Cheese: 4
1 serving(s) Beverages Premium Decaf Coffee: 0
1 slice(s) crisp cooked bacon: 1
2 Tbsp half-and-half cream: 1
salad dressing? - Quick-added food: 4
Subtotal 36

Anytime
1 cup(s) edamame (in pods): 3
Subtotal 3

Food PointsPlus values total used 51
Food PointsPlus values remaining 0
Activity
walking - Activity I created: 2
gardening - Activity I created: 1
couch to 5K week 4 - Activity I created: 3
Activity PointsPlus values earned 6

Midnight Snacking

Yesterday I succumbed to midnight snacking. I could NOT get to sleep last night. I think it was a combination of the fact that it was so hot, and I felt so gross, and just general stress of the job search / what am I going to do / etc. The "anytime" stuff I ate between midnight and 2am. I know I could have just had some tea or something but that was not what I wanted at all. Maybe I was hungry from all of my activity.

Morning
1 serving(s) Tumaro's Multi Grain Low in Carbs Tortillas: 2
1 item(s) egg: 2
1 cup(s) black coffee: 0
1 sm slice avocado - Quick-added food: 0
1/4 cup(s) fat-free skim milk: 1
1/3 Burrito Filling: 1
Subtotal 6

Midday
1 cup(s) lettuce: 0
1/8 medium avocado: 1
1 medium nectarine(s): 0
1 Burrito Filling: 4
Subtotal 5

Evening
1/4 cup(s) barbecue sauce: 1
1 3/4 item(s) regular hot dog, beef or pork: 8
1 serving(s) Fruited Grain Salad: 7
Subtotal 16

Anytime
2 serving(s) Lemonade iced tea classic mix: 5
1/4 serving(s) 100% whole wheat hamburger buns: 1
1/3 serving(s) Trader Joe's Creamy Salted Peanut Butter (2 tbsp): 2
1 bar(s) Chewy granola bar honey almond flax: 4
Subtotal 12

Food PointsPlus values total used 39
Food PointsPlus values remaining 0
Activity
walking - Activity I created: 2
couch to 5K week 4 - Activity I created: 3
gardening - Activity I created: 4
Activity PointsPlus values earned 9

I'm starting to think that I need to save about 25 WPA for Monday-Friday for things like this.

What do you do when you can't sleep? How do you defeat the midnight munchies?

Free food strikes again

First, good news--I finally got my 5lb milestone! It took my 2 1/2 months, but by golly I finally got it. My goal is to have my next 5 lb milestone before July 1 :-)

On the whole, yesterday wasn't bad. But I did give in to free food. When I got to work there were leftover bagels and coffee from some kind of training session. So I said, I'll just have a half of one with cream cheese. Then I got hungry later and said, I'll go have another half of one. Freaking 7 points a half for a total of 14 points! That was a shock. 

Later at dinner, I ate the bread with peanut butter because I just didn't feel full. I wasn't hungry anymore, but I just felt like I needed something else that had substance to it. I don't really know why I felt like that.

Last night was a friend's last night in town before she moved back home, so I met my friends for drinks. I was pretty proud of myself for having only one drink and for getting out of there only spending $7.50. I didn't go to dinner with them and only met them for drinks bc I just couldn't afford dinner plus drinks :-\. Ah, well, it's all for the best.

PointsPlus™ Tracker entries

Thursday, May 26, 2011
Morning
1 bar(s) TLC Crunchy bar, pumpkin spice flax: 2
2 tbsp garden veggie cream cheese - Quick-added food: 3
2 cup(s) black coffee: 0
4 Tbsp half-and-half cream: 2
1/2 item(s) Bagels (without spread) Plain Bagel: 4
Subtotal 11

Midday
1/2 bagel w/ cream cheese - Quick-added food: 7
1 Fennel Salad with Fig Vinaigrette: 4
Subtotal 11

Evening
1 large banana(s): 0
1 serving(s) Tumaro's Multi Grain Low in Carbs Tortillas: 2
1/3 cup(s) cooked white rice: 2
bread with peanut butter - Quick-added food: 5
1 cup(s) strawberries: 0
1 Burrito Filling: 4
Subtotal 13

Anytime
8 fl oz sangria: 5
Subtotal 5

Food PointsPlus values total used 40
Food PointsPlus values remaining 0
Activity
walking - Activity I created: 2
couch to 5k week 3 - Activity I created: 2
Activity PointsPlus values earned: 4

As for the bagels: I know I should have either just stuck to eating one half or not eaten any at all, but honestly, I really don't know how to deal with free food. I feel wasteful if I don't at least have a little, but then I usually end up taking too much and then I've wasted my points. 

What do you do when faced with free food?

Friends and Femmes Fatale

Last night I had some friends over for burritos and to watch some episodes of "Batman: The Animated Series" featuring femmes fatale like Catwoman and Poison Ivy. I love having friends over sooo much! And since I worked out by running and walking I felt like I totally earned my adult beverage :-)

PointsPlus™ Tracker entries

Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Morning
3 Morning Coffee: 1
1 Egg on Toast: 4
Subtotal 5

Midday
1 serving(s) Panera Bread Turkey Sandwich: 11
1 medium apple(s): 0
Subtotal 11

Evening
1/2 cup(s) cooked white rice: 3
1/4 cup(s) guacamole: 2
1 large banana(s): 0
1 serving(s) Tumaro's Multi Grain Low in Carbs Tortillas: 2
1 1/2 Burrito Filling: 6
Subtotal 13

Anytime
8 oz Unsweetened iced tea: 0
2 oz vodka: 5
Subtotal 5

Food PointsPlus values total used 34
Food PointsPlus values remaining 0

Activity
couch to 5K week 3 - Activity I created: 2
60 min walking, (slow pace, 3.0 mph or less): 2
Activity PointsPlus values earned 4

Frontier House

Last night I watched the last three episodes of "Frontier House". It was a reality show PBS did a few years ago that put three modern families out in Montana to live the homesteader experience. I LOVE these kinds of shows (if you ever hear of them filming one again please let me know!). I've always been inspired by the pioneer spirit. They worked incredibly hard.  I've always wanted to be like that.

So I've come up with a way to do it . . . kindof. This morning I set my alarm clock on my phone to ring at sunrise (6:11am) with a rooster crow. LOL! I decided that my morning run would be like "feeding the animals and milking the cows"- something you do first thing in the morning before you have time to really wake up. You don't want to do it, but it just has to be done. I'm going to pretend other things I do in the day are the same type of thing--checking my emails and writing cover letters will be like "reading the newspaper and writing my correspondence", writing in this blog is like writing a diary, and of course cleaning, cooking, and working in my garden are all the same. Oh, and clearing out my clutter is my "sewing" because it's detailed but you don't really have to think about it. Haha. I've also decided to give up TV as much as I can. I've been zoning out in front of it way too much and I think it's affecting my sleep . . . not to mention my productivity!

So, like all my ideas, we'll see how long this lasts. But I really want to be a pioneer woman, so hopefully this idea will keep me motivated!

Victory at the Greek Food Festival!

I did it! I thought I was going to totally go off plan but I did it!

There is a greek food festival by my school every year to raise money for a greek orthodox church. The food is amazing, and they also have dancing by kids from the church. My friends and I went last night. I had prepared myself by eating a good breakfast and lunch. I said no to the desserts and only got what I thought I would actually have room for. When I put it all into the tracker this morning I was pleasantly surprised! Also, I got almost all my healthies for the day :-)

PointsPlus™ Tracker entries

Wednesday, May 04, 2011

Morning

1  Egg on Toast: 4

1  Morning Coffee: 0

Subtotal 4

Midday

1 1/2 cup(s) carrot(s): 0

1 1/2 cup(s) grapes: 0

1  slice(s) whole-wheat bread: 2

1  cup(s) fat-free skim milk: 2

1  Egg Salad: 4

Subtotal 8

Evening

2/3 piece(s) moussaka: 8

1  cup(s) greek salad with dressing: 3

8  fl oz Diet Coke: 0

1  serving(s) Tiropeta (117g): 7

Subtotal 18

Anytime

No entries for this meal time.  

Subtotal 0

Food PointsPlus values total used 30

Food PointsPlus values remaining 0

Activity

Buns of Steel- 2nd half - Activity I created: 1

Activity PointsPlus values earned 1

Tonight, the challenge will be staying OP while me and my friends go out to celebrate after our last final. But I feel good about it now!

UGH Fail AGAIN

Yesterday was not a great day.

It started off fine, I packed a lunch, everything was great.

Then I got home. I was hungry and impatient for my dinner so I grabbed a handful of my roomie's pretzel pieces. Wow, I didn't realize that that would be 4 points when I did that. I had some edamame, which would have been OP if I hadn't eaten the pretzels. I had fixed my dinner (chili with cheese and greek yogurt as a sub for the sour cream, with another bowl with some chips in it) and was walking to the living room to eat on the coffee table when I dropped the bowl with the chili and it went everywhere, plus the bowl broke. UGH I was so mad! I cleaned that up and then tried to think of what I was going to eat now. I decided on some black beans mashed up with some spices, greek yogurt, and salsa with chips. I walked through the same path and slipped AGAIN and spilled everything AGAIN! At this point I was so upset I didn't know what to do. Amelia came in and mopped after I cleaned up the second mess for me. I grabbed a beer and plopped in front of the couch. I eventually made myself some bean dip and ate that. Then I was still- I don't know- mad? upset? In any case, I had a piece of bread with peanut butter and jelly on it. Third off-plan thing for the day. Ugh.

PointsPlus™ Tracker entries

Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Morning

1/2 item(s) potato latkes: 2

1/2 Egg Salad: 2

3  Morning Coffee: 1

Subtotal 5

Midday

3  oz whole-wheat bread: 5

1 1/2 cup(s) carrot(s): 0

1/3 serving(s) Fage 2% Greek Yogurt- 1 c.: 1

1  medium apple(s): 0

1  Egg Salad: 4

Subtotal 10

Evening

1  cup(s) edamame (in pods): 2

1  oz Cheddar Cheese Pretzel Pieces: 4

1 1/3 serving(s) Veggie & Flaxseed Tortilla Chips- 7 chips: 4

1/2 cup(s) canned black beans: 2

1/2 serving(s) Trader Joe's Creamy Salted Peanut Butter (2 tbsp): 3

1  slice(s) whole-wheat bread: 2

1  Tbsp jam: 1

12  fl oz beer: 5

1  Jello Parfait: 2

Subtotal 25

Anytime

No entries for this meal time.  

Subtotal 0

Food PointsPlus values total used 40

Food PointsPlus values remaining 0

Activity

Couch to 5K plan week 1 - Activity I created: 3

Activity PointsPlus values earned 3

Sometimes I don't know if I ever really will do this. Maybe I'll just be chubby forever.

I exercised! But then went over

Well, at least I tracked it.

So yesterday I was talking about having a weight loss buddy. I asked my roommate if she would be, and she said yes! But the thing is, after yesterday, I don't think it's going to work out. See, she never worries about what she eats. She eats pretty healthy stuff, but portion control is unheard of. She has a fast metabolism because she is athletic and it works for her.

But it doesn't for me, and I don't know if I can get her to understand that.

Last night, I finished eating dinner (which was just a bunch of leftovers, not put together with any thought at all . . . weird). I had tracked it all, and then it was about 9 pm and I was thinking of having a hot drink. Amelia offered to make hot chocolate, and I said sure, because I needed my milks for the day. She gave me a HUGE mug of hot chocolate (granted, I asked for a large, but I didn't know it would be that big!) with a bunch of whipped cream (which I had suggested, because we happened to have it . . . I just didn't think she'd put that much on!). I could have not finished it, I guess. But how could I not finish it?

I"m sitting here blaming my problems on her, when all she did was do something nice for me at my own suggestion. I could have not eaten so much at dinner I could have blah blah blah.  I just feel like this always happens- we love eating together and treating ourselves. It's something nice we do for each other. But I don't know how to tell her that being my weight loss buddy means asking me first if I can fit it in my points for the day. Even though I know she's just trying to be nice, I feel like it's sabotaging me.  But I don't know how to tell her without coming off like I"m getting on to her.

Sigh.

Here's the journal:
PointsPlus™ Tracker entries

Monday, May 02, 2011

Morning
3  Morning Coffee	1
Subtotal	1
Midday
Leftover Morning Quesadilla	12
Subtotal	12
Evening
1  slice(s) whole-wheat bread	2
1  medium apple(s)	0
3  stalk(s) celery	0
1  serving(s) Trader Joe's Creamy Salted Peanut Butter (2 tbsp)	5
6  fl oz beer	3
1  Egg Salad	4
1  Chicken Soup	5
Subtotal	19
Anytime
2  cup(s) fat-free skim milk	4
1/4 bar(s) Dark chocolate	1
8  serving(s) Land O Lakes Whipped Light Cream (2 tbsp/5g)	3
Subtotal	8
Food PointsPlus values total used	40
Food PointsPlus values remaining	0
Activity
Jogging - Activity I created	1
Brisk Walking - Activity I created	1
Buns of Steel Video - Activity I created	4
Activity PointsPlus values earned	6
Check off these important items daily:
Liquids          Milk & Milk Products     Fruit & vegetables          Multivitamin/Mineral   Healthy Oil     Activity

Notes

Two are better than one

So I was doing my devotional today and came across this passage:

Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
Also, if two lie down together, 
they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

It really made me think how so often I want to do things on my own. I want to prove that I can do it by myself! Just like a little child who wants to prove themselves. If I complete it with help, it doesn't have that same ring of victory to it.

But I need to get over that. The important thing is accomplishing what you want to accomplish, not if you did it by yourself or not. This applies to a lot of areas of my life right now. Obviously my weight loss journey, but also my spirituality and my job search. I need buddies to be in this with me. I need people who will keep me accountable, but also listen to me with understanding. 

Obviously I have friends (and all of you on the web!), but admitting that you need help isn't easy (at least for me). And it's also scary when you think, "What will happen when they call me out? Will I fail again?" Failing yourself is one thing, but failing others is even worse.

This is something I need to think about. Do I ask someone I already know? Do they need to be someone I see in real life? I'm not sure. Maybe I need to find an actual meeting? Hmm. What are your experiences with the buddy system?