Weekly Weigh-In: Breakthrough! Down 3.5 Pounds

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Thanks to a bit of detective work, I'm down 3.5 lbs. this week.

Thanks to a bit of detective work, I’m down 3.5 lbs. this week.

I’m finally going in the right direction. At Saturday’s weigh-in I lost nearly 4 lbs. this week. Sweet! What changed? I played detective. I didn’t make any changes in what I was doing other than tracking and measuring everything. After 3 days I analyzed my food log and quickly found the problem.

My Morning Cuppa’ Joe
I’m brand spanking new to drinking coffee, but it quickly became a morning ritual for me. No, I don’t drink those sugar/carb-laced monstrosities from Starbucks. I only drink what I make at home. That way it’s healthy. Ha!

How can coffee stall my weight loss? It doesn’t have any carbs and is zero points. Plus coffee has a ton of health benefits. Read More

Weekly Weigh-In: UGH! Up 3; My Big, Bad Habit Is Back With Abandon

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Bad habits started creeping back in since mid-January. I'm looking to the Spartan Up podcast to give me the much needed motivation to make better food choices.

Bad habits started creeping back into my life. Time for some tried and true motivational tools.

I overdid it during the Super Bowl (surprisingly, not with alcohol) and didn’t track my food for 4 of the last 5 days. End result? I’m up about 3 pounds. Thankfully I’m still in Onederland, but hanging on by a thread.

I’m not happy – I do know better – but I didn’t beat myself up. Instead, I took stock of where I was at mentally. I’m working out like crazy, but on the food front I’ve been very lax.

I’ve signed up for a few 5Ks and other cool fitness events (more on that tomorrow). I’m so excited about those, I can’t wait to get to the gym or put on my running shoes. Yet when it comes to eating right, I don’t feel the same motivation.

Constant vigilance went out the window sometime in mid-January.

Remember the reward system I put in place last month? I ended up earning 75 Dots and 25 Blots (yikes) for a grand total of 50 Dots for January. Not only did I miss out on that Pandora charm I had my eye on, a lot of bad food behaviors crept back into my life. UGH!

Clearly, my head’s not in the game. I can string together a few great days food-wise, but then it all goes to hell.

When Bad Habits Bite You On The Butt
A few weeks ago my hubby suggested I find some motivational podcasts to push me out of my slump. After all, that’s what he uses for fighting bouts of writer’s block.

(Shameless Plug  Alert: The hubby’s second book, Fool’s Ride is now available. Shameless plug over. Now back to regular scheduled blogging.)

I wasn’t really sure if that would help me. Of course, I listen to podcasts and audio books during my walks and workouts. Some podcasts and books I’m hooked on, and can’t wait to get back to the gym just so I can listen to what happens next.

Some people shout "Eureka" in the bathtub. I yell "D'oh" when i discover big things about myself.

Some people shout “Eureka” in the bathtub. I yell “D’oh” when i discover big things about myself.

Yet for some reason, I procrastinated at my husband’s suggestion. Despite my success in using these wonderful audio tools for workouts, I had a lot of self-doubts on the eating front.  Then I experienced a D’oh moment worthy of Homer J. Simpson.

You see, during my weight loss journey, I turned to wellness blogs and podcasts to help me stay focused. Heck I was even interviewed for the Lifestyle Accountability Show because the hosts thought my story would motivate others.

But for the last 5 months, I completely stopped turning to them for help. Why? I  told myself I was “too busy” and “something had to give.”

Now for that D’oh moment: That logic is how I ballooned to 325 lbs. at my former job. I was just too busy to eat healthy. Work was too important. My health paid a big price for that reasoning.  Yet here I am doing the same thing over again. The price this time: stalled weight loss.

Saturday’s weigh-in was the jump-start I needed. Time to check out iTunes and revisit those inspiration blogs and podcasts.

 

 

 

Weekly Weigh-In: Despite Wine Drinking, I’m Down 0.4 Pounds

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Luckily I'm down 0.4 lbs. from last week. This week, I'm skipping the wine but doubling down on smart eating and exercise.

Luckily I’m down 0.4 lbs. from last week. This week, I’m skipping the wine but doubling down on smart eating and exercise.

Well at my last official weigh in on January 10 the scale read 198.2 lbs. My unofficial weigh in last week I dropped to 196.8 lbs. Despite a very busy Saturday, I got up early to go to Weight Waters to step on that scale. As of yesterday I weighed 196.4 lbs.

Officially that’s nearly a pound a week. That kind of progress should excite most people. Yet I feel like I’m lucky I lost anything.

My hubby thinks I’m being too hard on myself. But if I’m being honest, I made some boneheaded moves during the week.

Well, actually just one — drinking a bit more wine than I intended. I did everything right this week — staying within my carb and point range, as well as sticking closely to my workout schedule (weather permitting). But for some reason, as I wrapped myself in a blanket and read a book or watched the telly, I broke open a couple of bottles of red. Ugh! I feel like I wrecked 3 great days.

I know how silly it is to beat yourself up after making a mistake. It’s all about making better choices the next time. And I did just that. But I also made the same bad mistake 3 nights in a row. Yet I still lost weight!?! Where the heck is the consequence for what I did? Well my accountability starts and ends with me.

Well here’s my consequence:

Except for two beers during the Super Bowl, I’m abstaining from alchohol this week. And starting February 1, I’m taking the 30-Day No Alcohol Challenge. Any day I mess up, I have to do the Double Ladder Burpee Madness challenge.

My fondness for wine is the only thing tripping me up now. Time to break out my awesome tea collection for these cold nights.

 

Battling Emotional Eating This Weekend

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After a tough weekend with a very sick husband, lack of sleep and some emotional eating, I hope I maintain my weight next week.

After a tough weekend with a very sick husband, lack of sleep and some emotional eating, I hope I maintain my weight next week.

Well this weekend was a kick in the pants. I was unable to go to my Weight Watchers meeting on Saturday for my weigh in. So the number here is from my home WW scale. Why didn’t I go to WW?

I was at the hospital all day Saturday and a big chunk of Sunday. My husband woke me at 3:00 a.m. because he had severe abdominal pain. On Friday all of his symptoms screamed “FLU!” But early Saturday something was seriously wrong.

After an hour in the ER, my husband went in for a CAT scan and soon after sent to Observation. What were they observing? Whether or not he needed surgery. Yikes!

Long story short, it turns out he had a bad viral infection in his intestinal track so nothing could pass.

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Weekly Weigh-In: Very Sore Legs Means Water Retention; Up 1 Lbs.

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Thanks to muscle soreness and some bloating, I'm up 1 pound this week.

Thanks to muscle soreness and some bloating, I’m up 1 pound this week.

I weighed-in on Saturday and got a happy surprise. I’m only up 1 lbs. Thanks to my trainer’s workouts, my legs are so sore. I also felt pretty bloated this week too thanks to this week’s bout of constipation. So imagine my surprise when the scale only showed a 1 lbs. gain.

To help with the constipation, I want to get more walking in. I’m tired of waiting for slightly warmer, less windy and rainy weather to appear. Winter is here and I need to suck it up and get my butt outside. Besides, walking should help with my sore legs.  I’m shooting for 6-miles today.

As for my mini-goal of weighing between 190 – 195 lbs. by December 31, I’ve got 10 days left. Of course I’d love to lose 6 lbs. by year’s end, but that’s just not realistic. But I’ve got my fingers and toes crossed to drop at least a couple of pounds by then.

Weekly Weigh-In: What’s My Ideal Weight?

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Lost 2 pounds this week as my efforts to put distance between Onederland and 200 lbs. continues.

Lost 2 pounds this week. But where does this adventure stop? Is 130 lbs. still my ideal goal weight?

I dropped 2 lbs. last week and that means I’ve lost 40% of my total body weight. Yep, I’ve lost 130 lbs. in a little less than 3 years. I’m so much closer to my goal weight, but with just one small problem.

What is my ideal goal weight?

For some reason, I set my sights on weighing 130. I have no idea why. Given my height, Weight Watchers’ ideal weight range (subscription required for link) for me is 124-155 pounds.  At least my target goal was in the ballpark.

So how does my loose skin factor into setting my goal weight? I’m estimating I’ll have up to 10 pounds of loose skin to get rid of via plastic surgery.  But when losing a lot of weight, you’re not suppose to have plastic surgery until you’ve reached (and maintained) your goal weight.

For the time being, I’m still comfortable with a goal of 130 lbs. I just don’t know if I should stop losing weight when I hit 140 and then see where I end up after a tummy tuck. Of course, my body may decided that 150 lbs. is a healthy stopping point.  Ugh!

Most likely I’ll chat with my doctor during my next physical to see if we can come up with a plan that makes sense for me. For now, the march to lose weight continues.

Weekly Weigh-in: Close To Losing 40%

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I'm down nearly a pound this week. Thanks to my Thanksgiving menu, I've extended my stay in Onederland...and I have no intention of ever leaving!

I’m down nearly a pound this week. Thanks to my Thanksgiving menu, I’ve extended my stay in Onederland…and I have no intention of ever leaving!

I’m late in posting my latest weigh in results. I’ve had a lot more errands that needed to get done, like that special 2-hour trip to the DMV. The news is good on the weight loss front: I’m down about a pound…actually 0.8 lbs.

Funny thing, I was nervous stepping on to the scale this Saturday. I’d miss my last two Weight Watcher meetings – one because of a horrible traffic jam and the other due to post-Thanksgiving duties. I had no clue if I did well on Turkey Day or not.

I know I always talk about not fearing the scale. But it is amazing how that fear kicks in when your confidence is napping. Turns out the fear was silly (as is usually the case when stepping on the scale). I’ve extended my lease in Onederland. Now it’s time to buckle down and go for those squatter rights.

At 197.2 lbs., just 2.2 pounds more and I’ll have lost 40% of my total weight when this little journey started. Woo hoo!

 

Weekly Weigh-In: Dot In Onederland

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Oh, what a beautiful sight! I was so excited this morning that I did something I don't normally do -- I jumped on my home scale prior to my Weight Watchers meeting. I just had to know if I landed in Onederland.

Oh, what a beautiful sight! I was so excited this morning that I did something I don’t normally do — I jumped on my home scale before my Weight Watchers meeting. I just had to know if I landed in Onederland.

Since July I’ve set my sites on Onederland – that wonderful mythical place that all of us fatties dream about. I haven’t seen Onederland for nearly 25 years.

Today felt like Christmas. I woke up excited and I couldn’t wait for my Weight Watchers meeting. I don’t use my home scale that often, but this morning I couldn’t help myself. And sure enough, I finally reached the promise land – “Under 200 lbs.”

I ran down stairs and told my husband, who gave me a big hug and wisely told me to get to my meeting and lock it in before I drink or eat anything. Smart man.

Celebrate Success, But Don’t Lose Site Of The Ultimate Goal
When I stepped on the home scale this morning and saw the 198.5, I ran for my iPhone, got back on the scale and took a picture before leaping for joy. Imagine my surprise when I got to Weight Watchers and saw I was really at 198.2 lbs. — that extra trip to the bathroom helped a lot! Read More

Weekly Weigh-In: The Push To Onderland!

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I'm down 1.2 lbs. this week, putting my total weight loss at 122.1 lbs. I'm so close to finally reaching Onderland (weighing under 200 lbs.). I'm pulling out all the stops to get their in November.

I’m down 1.2 lbs. this week, putting my total weight loss at 122.1 lbs. I’m so close to finally reaching Onderland (weighing under 200 lbs.). I’m pulling out all the stops to get their in November.

As of Saturday, I’m down 1.2 lbs. Another 3+ lbs. and I’ll finally reach that magical place called Onderland…something I haven’t seen in more than 25 years.

I’ve been within 10 pounds over the last 4 months. Slowly I’ve come within 2 pounds, only to start gaining weight. Ugh! It’s so frustrating. But I have some tricks up my sleeve to get me over this huge hurdle. Well, not really tricks. More like getting back to my good habits.

Dot’s Tricks Good Habits To Finally Reach Onderland Read More

Weekly-Weigh In: Why The Scale Doesn’t Matter

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I weighed in a day early and my swollen knee and sore upper body led to a slight gain. No biggie, as I lost 5 inches around my waist.

I weighed in a day early and my swollen knee and sore upper body led to a slight gain. No biggie, as I lost 5 inches around my waist.

Tomorrow we’re painting our bedroom, so I decided to weigh-in a day early. I also took my measurements this morning, the first time in 2-½ months. While the scale was not kind, my measuring tape showed me some big love.

I gained 2 pounds this week. Considering I awoke with a right knee swollen to the size of a large cantaloupe, I’m not surprised. Plus my abs and triceps are killing me from my upper body workouts this week. For the most part I ate right and drank all my water, although I had a wee bit too much wine. The vino maybe part of the weight gain, but I suspect all the scale showed was a mass of water retention and inflammation.

My measurements however, are a different story. I’ve said this before, but looking at how your clothes fit and taking your measurements paints a much more accurate picture of what is going on with your body. Read More