LADDventure

WAIST Management - Week 5

Current Weight:  181.4

Weight Lost This Week:  1.4 lbs

Total Weight Lost: 4.9 lbs 

Really scale, couldn't have made it an even 5 this week?  No honestly, I'm totally thrilled with 2 weeks in a row of decent weight loss, especially since I probably ate that entire 1.4 pounds back in taco dip and mini weenies last night.  Curse you Superbowl!  Oh well, I have a week to work that back off, and I just need to account for it in my points. 1-2 pounds a week is a healthy, maintainable rate of weight loss.  In addition to the numbers on the scale going down consistently, I have noticed some other major changes these past two weeks:

The cravings have dramatically decreased.  When I first started trying to lose weight, I constantly craved the junk I had been feeding myself.  I wanted chocolate after every meal, craved carbs at night, and salivated at the smell of french fries.  Now that those things are no longer the norm in my daily diet, the craving beasts have settled back down.

Water is really the answer.  I know I've said this a lot.  But, getting my 90 oz. (about half my body weight in ounces) of water a day is one of things that makes the biggest difference in my eating for the day.  The days I'm feeling a little deprived or ravenous, I look at my water intake throughout the day (which I can track on Weight Watchers) and realize I'm behind.  I've been slamming water before indulging in any "treat" I think I need or to curb late night snack attacks.  It totally works.  Mr. Ladd ordered me a cute pink 32 oz. Nalgene bottle, so if I just drink 3 of those a day, it's an easy way to drink my 90+ oz.

I'm actually OK with less.  I'm been getting full much faster and paying attention to that full feeling.  This takes a few weeks, to actually feel satisfied with the smaller portions and not just frantically think about your next meal, but it will happen. The inverse of that is I don't feel very good if I overindulge with rich foods or eat too much at one meal.  Hmmm.  My body's not used to that kind of abuse anymore and lets me know.  Go figure.

It's getting much easier to choose the orange!

WAIST Management - Week 4

Current Weight:  182.8

Weight Lost This Week:  2.2 lbs!

Total Weight Lost: 3.5 lbs

I am thrilled with my weight loss this week.  2.2 pounds is a great number, and I totally stuck to the plan (Weight Watchers) this past week, tracked everything, and didn't go over on weekly points.

Speaking of the plan, can we talk for a moment about Starbucks?  I made a shocking discovery yesterday, while out with a friend for coffee.  I already knew that lots of hidden fat and calories are in those mochas and lattes, so I patted my back as I opted for a black coffee and just added a little cream and sugar of my own. Needing a little something to eat,  I decided on pumpkin bread.  It sounded like a sensible choice at the time.  

However, when I got home and entered it into my points tracker, that one slice of pumpkin bread was worth 11 points!  To give you some perspective, I could have had a McDonald's cheeseburger, a large french fry, or a DQ peanut butter sundae for that same amount of points, and I only have 27 in each day with 49 flex points to use throughout the week.  Points are calculated based on an item's fat and carbohydrates in relation to its protein and fiber, so for example all fruits and vegetables are worth 0.  Items with higher fat and/or carbohydrate content but lower fiber and protein are worth more points.

The real kicker is, that piece of pumpkin bread wasn't the worst thing I could have chosen there.  I did a little research.  "How about a scone?" I thought.  Surely a refined British scone would be a better choice - nope - 13 points!
"Hey!  A zucchini walnut muffin - that has an actual vegetable in it, so that must be good for you."  I thought. Bam -13 points.  Lemon pound cake - 14 points.  The reduced fat coffee cake isn't much better at 9 points. 
Basically any bakery item you might get to accompany your coffee could be half of your daily intake.

And what if I had chosen a different drink?  That could have been even worse:  
Grande (16 oz.) cafe mocha - 10 points
Grande (16 oz.) pumpkin spice latte - 11 points 

Here are some things from Starbucks that would have been a much better choice than the pumpkin bread and far more satisfying...
Chipotle Chicken Bistro Box - 7 points (yummy and a whole small meal really)
A banana - 0 points and a multigrain bagel - 8 points
Yogurt and fruit parfait - 7 points 

The bottom line is, I could very easily spend all my daily points on Starbucks, and I think a lot of us often indulge in a mocha and a little something from the bakery case.  This is not to say that there is not a place for indulgence, which is in fact what I love about the Weight Watchers plan.  But, I think I have not been honest with what exactly was an indulgence, calling it instead breakfast. 

WAIST Management - Week 3

But, how cool is this vintage bar sign from this weekend?

Current Weight:  185

Weight Lost This Week:  Gained 1 lb

Total Weight Lost: 1.3 lbs

It's like the second weigh in on Biggest Loser right?  When everybody's body rebels and they end up losing very little weight or even gaining a pound?  Let's be real, it's just actually Monday after a weekend of wedding showers, birthday celebrations, and staying up way too late.  None of those things are too hot for weight loss.

Besides that, the first couple of weeks back on Weight Watchers are tough in that I am not used to budgeting my points.  This past week I ended up blowing all of my weekly points by Wednesday, not allowing me much flexibility come Friday and Saturday.  Given my weekend plans, I should have been thinking ahead and saved it for indulging a bit on the weekend.  That's something I love about Weight Watchers - the ability to plan around real life - but it only works if you actually plan.  

Goals for this week:
Track and budget points more carefully
Drink 90 oz. of water a day.  This is harder to do in the winter, but it makes such a difference.
Exercise every day.  Even if it's just getting the dogs out for a nice long walk, it's better than nothing.
   .
I'll check in next week with my progress and some healthy recipes I've tried lately. 
 

WAIST Management - Week 2

Current Weight:  184

Weight Lost This Week:  .6 lbs

Total Weight Lost: 2.3 lbs

I'm moving in the right direction!  It's encouraging and exciting to see pounds, even if they are just fractions of pounds, melting off as I work hard at saying no, getting up, and keeping track.  Here are some insights I've had this week:

Sometimes store-bought is better.  Let me explain.  Usually homemade is a healthier option, right?  There are less preservatives and added salt and sugar.  You know exactly what is going into your recipe, and you are more likely to eat healthy when you are taking the time to plan and prepare things on your own.  Well, this weekend we went out Jeeping (more on that tomorrow), and it has become kind of a tradition to pick up a bag of Chex Mix Muddy Buddies (also known as puppy chow) at the gas station before hitting the trail.  Well, I decided to just make the Muddy Buddies at home this time and bring some along.  Bad idea.  The recipe makes 9 cups of muddy buddies, so there was about 3 times the amount of that crack around the house then there would have been if we just bought one small bag of it.  Lessons learned #1 - I should just cut the recipe in half for making treats so there is not so much around to tempt us.  #2 -  Sometimes buying a small package at the gas station is built in portion control.

Take advantage of what's in season.  Winter in Arizona is actually a really great time for fresh local produce.  I have used every single vegetable or fruit that was in our Chow Share last week from Chow Locally.  The watermelon radishes were tasty and pretty in a salad.  I roasted the beets with  cauliflower, made this veggie version of buffalo wings with the cauliflower, and still have some left for snacking.  I made this winter greens gratin with the mustard greens and red kale.  Then there were Arizona Sweet oranges and Meyer lemons.  Delish.  I've got some Meyer lemon greek chicken marinating currently.   The citrus abounds this time of year, and I am loving it!  Let's just hope it doesn't all freeze in our latest cold snap.  I just heard on the news that this is the longest cold streak we've had in the valley, with temps down in the 20's at night, since 1998.   

Here's to a week of lots of produce and no muddy buddies.  Happy Monday! 

WAIST Management - Week 1 - Starting Over

Current Weight:  184.6

Weight Lost This Week:  1.7 pounds 

Total Weight Lost: 1.7 pounds

September 30th was the last time I posted a WAIST Management update, and probably the last time I payed much attention to eating healthy.  Then October began, as did my eating like I was preparing for hibernation.  The cooler weather and my need to create Autumn wherever I could, resulted in many a hearty casserole and pumpkin baked good.  Then of course came the Halloween candy, the Thanksgving carbs, and the Christmas cookies, and I was right back where I started on this weight loss thing - 186.3 pounds on New Years Day.  

I know it's cliche and even a bit irritating to be on the "dieting bandwagon" this time of year, fueled for most by breakable resolutions and unrealistic expectations.  But, I started this journey back in June, so I'm just rekindling the flame in the New Year and following through.  Sometimes you need a reset button, so I'm taking it.   


Here's how I lost 1.7 pounds this first week of 2013:

1.  Tracking food choices, exercise, and even habits and routines in Weight Watchers.  I just do the online version, no meetings, and it really does work when I'm sticking to it.  They have a great app that makes it easy to track on my phone or ipad, and it's just about being mindful of what you're eating.  No forbidden food.  I think they usually have specials running to join this time of year, and I highly recommend it. Let me know if you do sign up, and we can encourage each other!

2.  Getting rid of the not so healthy food choices that took over my fridge and pantry during the holidays (I'm looking at you potato chips, and you too Candy Cane Jo-Jos).  Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with an occasional treat, as long as you are balancing them with better food choices.  But the problem is, I am never going to choose an orange over a candy bar.  It's just not going to happen.  The candy bar will always sound better, so if I don't have it in the house while I'm trying to make those choices, I eliminate the dilemma for myself.

3.  Mr. Ladd is trying to get healthier too. He works out religiously, but has fallen into some of the same food habits that I have over the last few months and wants to refocus.  So it's been nice to try out some new lighter recipes with him this week and cheer each other on.  It's not impossible to lose weight when your spouse is not making healthy choices, but it does add a layer of difficulty since you often eat together.  So Mr. Ladd and I aiming toward the same goal has been a big help.  Hopefully some of his working out habits might start to rub off on me too.  

What resolutions regarding your health did you make this year?  How are they going so far?

WAIST Management 1.17

Current Weight: 179.6 (Broke the 180s again finally)

Weight Lost This Week:  1.4 pounds

Total Weight Lost: 6.4 pounds 

Last week I didn't even go near a scale.  I was sick of being disappointed with my own inaction indicated by the number on the scale.  This morning, curiosity got the best of me, so I hopped on.  I was very excited to see 1.4 pounds since the last time I weighed in.  I know it's pretty much accidental, and probably a normal weight fluctuation but I'm going to go with it and use it as motivation.  

My first mini goal I had set for myself way back when was to lose 10 pounds. I have gotten way off track on that goal and only been hovering around a 5 pound weight loss since then. But I've got some new motivation, a bachelorette weekend for a friend in California, October 19th.  I would love to have met that little goal by then as a boost to my biggest-girl-there confidence.   That's only 3.6 pounds in the next 3 weeks, totally doable and then I can set my next mini goal.  Speaking of baby steps here are some more things I will do this week to keep things moving in the right direction.

1.  Fruit and vegetables - more of them, more often.  October approaching on the calendar leaves me wanting baked goods, cheesy casseroles, and soups with crusty bread.  I need to balance that with 0 point fruit and veggies throughout the week.

2.  Track food choices.  For example, I have had a 48 hour craving for potato chips and french onion dip.  I bought some yesterday and I'm going to eat it all eventually, but I will track it and own it in my Weight Watchers points.  I have found that when a craving is this strong, I better just listen to it or I will spend countless other calories trying to fulfill it with other foods that just aren't cutting it.  

3.  I am going to try not to die a spin class with my neighbor.  She goes all the time, and has promised to ride with me in the ambulance should one be necessary.  It's worth a shot.

WAIST Management 1.15

 

Current Weight: 181

Weight Lost This Week:  Gained .6 lbs

Total Weight Lost: 5 lbs

This face says it all.  It is exactly how I am feeling this morning.  I am sad for some friends going through a tough time, I am disappointed in my weight loss and what feels like lots of wasted time lately, and I'm a little perplexed as to how to get it all back on track. I almost didn't write a WAIST Management post again today, thinking I had nothing to say about it, but I think it's important to share the WHOLE story of losing weight; the ups, the downs, and the stalls.  The fact that I keep losing and gaining the same 1-2 pounds every week means that my weight loss is officially stalled.  I would say that I need motivation, but I heard someone say once that motivation is what gets you started, habit is what keeps you going.  I had lots of motivation at first to lose weight, but didn't stick with it long enough for it to become habit.  Now old habits are creeping back in like fast food, mindless eating, and general laziness.  

I am always amazed at how connected everything is. Eating crap food leaves me feeling low on energy, which means I don't want to do other things like go for a walk or plan and cook dinner.  This leaves me dissatisfied with whatever random thing we had for dinner, so I eat more later...a bowl of cereal here, a popsicle or 3 there, and it all adds up.  

I have just been undisciplined in general, and I am discovering that self-discipline is a very difficult thing for me.  I need to give myself a schedule and goals every day or very little (from writing to cleaning to making healthy meals) gets done.  So, this week I am going to focus on my schedule and making sure I prioritize the things that are important for developing healthy and productive habits. 

WAIST Management 1.12

Current Weight: 180.4
Weight Lost This Week:  Who knows exactly, but that's where it's at. 
Total Weight Lost: 5.6 pounds

Ok, so the Waist Managment campaign has been ignored lately, and I need to get back to it.  My weight loss has obviously stalled, and I have lost sight of the some of the goals I started off to reach when I began.  I've been traveling a lot this month, and busy on weekends thus neglecting my Sunday blog post, which I've realized has been closely tied to success, so I'm back on the wagon and wanted to give you an update.  I have not paid much attention to my food choices or tracked my Weight Watchers points and it shows on the scale and on my face.

 My travels consisted of some sleep deprivation, a lot of fast food (my nemesis where I confirmed that I am still incapable at this point of NOT ordering fries), and not enough water.  My skin is rebelling in the form of major breakouts.  I looked in the mirror and thought, "What the hell?  What has changed?  Why is my skin freaking out?" and then I realized that was it.  I am noticing a major correlation (duh) between the amount of veggies, fruit, and water I consume and the appearance of my skin. 

Also working from home now has been great in that I have much more time to plan meals and actually have the energy to cook those meals and try new recipes.  However, the healthy recipes are not the ones that are calling my name lately. I am on a big baking kick   It must be the Midwesterner in me craving fall, and apple pie, and banana bread.  So I've been making them, and eating them, and it's been adding up.  When I saw this recipe for blueberry crisp on Shauna Niequist's blog, I knew it might help me turn the corner and strive for cozy homemade goodies that are also healthy.  It's pictured above and as you can see it's pretty, vegan, and gluten and guilt free!  Well, as long as you don't eat half the pan in one sitting, which I'm warning you may actually happen. It's that good. 

So I have started off this week with a weigh-in, some blueberry crisp, and a blog post and will be back with an update next week on the worthwhile struggle to get healthy.  One day at a time, right?

 Thanks for checking in, and I'd love to hear what you are doing to lose weight/get healthy in the comments section below.  Every week I will post a question and would love for you to answer it, and share your wealth of knowledge!  
This week we are wondering ...

What healthy baked goodies are you making as fall approaches?  Share some of your favorites in the comments section!

WAIST Management 1.7

Current Weight:  183
Weight Gained This Week:  3.2 pounds - wtf ?
Total Weight Lost: 3 pounds
 
So frustrated today.  This is delayed today, because when I went to blog about that fabulous weight GAIN, and get support from my online peeps, my newish laptop would not turn on.  A couple of hours and phone calls by my husband later and it turns out I have a bad motherboard.  Grrrr.  So I am blogging this from my husband's machine 'til mine gets fixed later this week. 
Don't know what the fondue happened on the scale this week, because even if I was to eat McDonald's every day (which I did not I assure you), 3.2 pounds would be a lot of weight to gain in one week.   So, I have decided that water is the answer, both because I think a lot of that is water weight, and because I have not been drinking nearly enough this week, so water will be my one of my main focuses this coming week.  Looking back, I think I did have a lot of salt and it's nearing that lovely time of month, both of which can lead to some major water retention, but come on, 3.2 pounds!?!  I have also just really been struggling in general with organization and follow-through the latter part of the week - in all kinds of areas. I mean, Sunday - Wednesday I do a great job of tracking what I am eating and intentionally getting some exercise.  I even am better about other things like writing, sticking to my house cleaning schedule, and making planned meals earlier in the week.  By Thursday I find myself slacking off and having a hard time focusing on the things I need to get done and maintaining healthy habits.  
I have a few goals this week for myself that will hopefully help turn this tubby train around:

Drink water  - Again, the goal is 90 oz. a day, and when I'm doing that I always feel less hungry and more energetic.  A lot of times, when you think you're hungry you're really just thirsty.

Track food and exercise every day this week - Even Thursday - Saturday, do it.

Make dinner every night this week - Plan it using healthy ingredients and stick to the plan.

Report those goals specifically in the WAIST Management post next Sunday -  A little extra accountability never hurt anyone.

WAIST Management 1.6

Current Weight:  179.8
Weight Lost This Week:  2.2 pounds
Total Weight Lost: 6.2 pounds

Goodbye to the 180's for good!  6 weeks - about 6 pounds. That's an average of a pound a week, which is a sustainable, healthy rate at which to lose weight.  I am thrilled with that, but excited to kick it up a notch by staying strictly to my points tracking on Weight Watchers and not getting lazy.  I tend to get a bit complacent when I start losing weight and think, "Oh, I got this!  I have healthier habits now, and I know about how much I can eat, and I don't need to keep track of every little thing."  The fact is I do need to keep track of every little thing and not get lazy with keeping myself accountable for my food and activity choices. I clearly don't "got this" because it took me way longer than 6 weeks to gain the weight, and it will take me way more than 6 weeks to change those bad habits.  That's not to say I can't have an Oreo (or even 4) if I have an insane craving for Oreos.  This may or may not have happened this week.  But, I do need to track it, be a grown-up, and own it as a food choice that affects my daily points usage.  The little things do matter because they add up to one big thing, and I don't want that one big thing to be my booty!