57 in 2011

57 in 2011...that's my goal. I don't do New Year's resolutions but I guess this sort of is one. I think of it more as a goal that I have and plus it's kind catchy and sing song-y and let's face it, you can take the teacher out of preschool but you can't take the preschool out of the teacher.

So to reach this goal, I started back at Weight Watchers two weeks ago. I'll have to say I have a love/hate relationship with the new PointsPlus program!

Yes, you get more daily and weekly points which is great but the points totals of many of the foods I eat went up as well. For the first couple of days, I was quite frustrated by this fact. Things I ate for lunch and breakfast on the program long ago when I lost weight are now much higher in points and not as easy to fit into the day. However, after doing a lot of reading and studying the PointsPlus values, I started to realize that this is a much healthier program.

A big difference now is that most fruit have a 0 PointsPlus value. So for the past two weeks, anytime I feel a little hungry, I'm reaching for an apple or banana whereas in past attempts at Weight Watchers, I'd look at a 2 point banana versus a 2 point snack and of course choose the snack. I was making less healthy choices and still using 2 points! Now I'm able to fill up on fruit or carrots or whatever, not add to my daily points total and I'm making much healthier choices. And I'll have to say, I'm not sure if it's the fruit I'm eating or just a mental change that I've made, but I am making healthier choices overall this time. In past attempts I spent much of my time trying to see how much I could get away with while staying in my range.

So how is it working for me??

GREAT!!

I lost 2.4lbs the first week and 2.2lbs this week, my second week on the program. I did struggle the first week like I said. I think a lot of it had to do with starting the program before I went to the grocery store for the week. I was trying to do the program with the only the foods that had gotten into the program around the house. Once I made my list (admittedly that first one took a LOOOOOONG time) and loaded up on good foods it was a lot easier.

The thing I love the most is all the extra weekly points you get. You can use a little every day, all in one day to have a big blow out meal, or not at all! I was worried last week because one day out at the mall I got something to eat that I thought was A LOT less in points than it ended up being. I also had some wine...okay, a lot of wine!! But, I didn't even use up all of my weekly points and ended up having a great weigh in!

The other thing I love about Weight Watchers is the meetings. So many people sign up to do Weight Watchers online or go and weigh in but don't stay for the meetings. This just does not work for me. I need to go and listen to the leader talk, listen to others share their experiences whether success or failure, and get tips and encouragement from others going through the same struggles I am in this journey.

My biggest struggle right now is figuring out dinners for next week. I've noticed that Weight Watcher's recipes always have LOTS of ingredients. I prefer fewer ingredients! My brain doesn't go as crazy that way! So I'd love folks to share good recipes if you've got them!!

Stevie's Super Stuff

For the past few weeks I've been doing Weight Watchers in an attempt to lose weight. I have done it tons of times before and haven't been able to stick with it. This attempt is different somehow. I can't explain what it is that is different than the other times that I've tried. It's just different and it's more like it was one time I was successful in sticking with it and lost 40lbs long ago before I ever had kids. It's an internal motivation that I've been trying to get back for a long time and don't know how I finally got it!

But, I do know one thing that has helped a TON! It's one of my favorite new meals to have when we have one of those fend for yourself nights. It's the new Lean Cuisine Market Creations. They are dinners that come in steam bags. You just put the bag in the microwave for about 6 minutes and when it's done, you're dinner is ready!

They are delicious! But more importantly, they are hearty. I'm used to frozen dinners being kind of whimpy. The pasta is small. You can usually hardly find the meat in them! These are completely different from anything I've ever had! For example, in the Asiago Cheese Tortellini you will find huge tortellini pasta. It's cheesy, creamy and the vegetable are fresh and delicious. Not frozen tasting at all. My other favorite is the Chicken Alfredo. Again, tons of pasta, tons of chicken, creamy and delicious!!

Now, you're probably thinking that with all this pasta and creamy yumminess, these meals must be TONS of WW POINTS...right? NO!!! For the two I mentioned, the ENTIRE bag is 5 points!!!! 5!!!! Awesome! Just my kind of meal - fast, easy, cheesy, creamy and low in points!! Try it today!!

(I was not paid for this product endorsement. I bought the product for myself and just loved it and wanted to share!)

Weigh In Wednesday

Technically I haven't weighed in yet today but I haven't posted on my progress in a while. So far I've lost 8.8lbs. That's in 5 weeks. Yay! I wish it was a little more of course, but overall I'm pretty pleased. I still don't feel like I've lost much and no one is noticing yet of course. It will be nice when that starts to happen. That is when you really start feeling motivated. I'm at the point right now where my excitement is waning and the weight loss is slowing. I would have blown it by now if I wasn't going to meetings. Tonight's weigh in will be interesting. Iwent out to dinner on Saturday, celebrated Father's Day on Sunday and then had cake and cupcakes for my birthday on Monday. In the meantime I've had 3 sick kids, one who has been SUPER grumpy and hard to deal with during the illness, so I've been very stressed out. Again, knowing that I had to face the official weigh in at the meeting is such a big help in not completely blowing it during the challenging times.

Weight Loss Links

Now that I've gotten my big behind firmly planted on the weight loss bandwagon...here are some great websites that are saving my life!!

Hungry Girl - Cute site! Lots of recipes, tips and fun facts. Even information on saving money!

Gina's Weight Watcher's Recipes - Love this website. She's got tons of recipes for things that she's made lower in fat, calories and/or WW points. There are some good ones but watch out! Some are for experienced cooks and, to me, some of the ingredients are hard to find. I have one recipe that I've searched and searched for one ingredient...I have all the others! Frustrating! So be sure you know what you're getting into! On the other hand, I have discovered a couple of new things that I've never tried before and like now!

Life Is Sweet - This lady also has some great recipes. I can't wait to try the Mexican Tortizza!

I remember how much fun I used to have trying to find new recipes and foods when I was on plan a long, long time ago. It became like a game to try to figure out just how well I could eat yet stay within my health and point guidelines...and still LOSE!! I've tried to get that back for so long...I'm so excited that I'm back in the game!

Weigh In Wednesday

What a shame to come up with such a cute post title right before we're going to start going to the Saturday morning meeting. Blah. Oh well!

I lost 2.6 tonight! For a total of 6lbs in two weeks! Yay!! Whoo hoo!! Go me, go me, go, go, go me! Could've been a lot more if I'd worked out a few more times but Campo has been sick and getting up at ungodly hours of the morning on top of it being a crazy busy week. But, as of this morning, everything is done and we have about a week and a half until VBS starts to just relax and have "lazy days" as the girls call them. You know, those days where you stay in your pajamas all day unless YOU decide you want to go somewhere? Those are the kind of days when I don't put on make up all day! Love em! The girls love em too! I usually get a work out in on those days. Anyway, all in all, I'm very proud of myself, pleased with the results, and looking forward to getting back to being a WW leader myself again!!

Does God Care About My Weight Loss?

I took a big step last week and rejoined Weight Watchers. About 9 years ago I joined the first time, lost 40lbs, reached lifetime membership and went to work for them first as a receptionist (weigher), then as a leader and then in the main office of the Dallas/East Texas franchise which has since been sold back to Weight Watchers International (wrote a little about it in one of my other attempts to lose here). I left after a bad situation there kept getting worse and worse. Since I was given severance, I respected the owner's request not to speak to anyone after I left and just sort of disappeared. So going back after all these years with many, many pounds put back on since the last time anyone there saw me wasn't exactly an exciting idea to me. I've put it off for way too long and finally decided that I didn't really care what anyone there thought of me...I just want this weight off! Part of that clarity came after a real honest prayer time. I was journaling and I asked God in my journal plain and simply to help me lose weight. I told Him that I was giving Him all of it...my constant feeling of self consciousness, my lack of self control, my bad feeling about myself...all of it. After I wrote it, I immediately thought to myself, "That's silly, God has too much other stuff than to care if I lose weight or not". Now don't get me wrong, I know God loves me and cares about me. I just wasn't sure if He was interested in getting down to that kind of a level. The journal I write in has a verse on every page. I looked down at the verse on the page where I was writing and it was

Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. Psalm 55:22

I knew that He was telling me that He would take it from me, that He did care about even something as small (to Him anyway) as my weight struggle, and that He would give me the strength to do it.

This message was confirmed when I walked into the meeting last Wednesday. I had been so nervous all day. I looked up the name of the leader there and knew that it was someone who I was not familiar with but wasn't sure who the receptionist weighers would be that night. But even more than just who I would see, I was nervous because I had that last chance feeling...like this better work or I'd be going off the deep end as far as my weight is concerned. I immediately felt comfortable when I walked in. The old smell, the old look...it was just nice. I didn't know the receptionists but then the leader walked in and I knew her but I was confused because it wasn't who the website showed as the leader. Nevertheless, she is a really nice lady and any nerves or anxiety left at that point. I didn't get to talk to her before the meeting but afterward I went up for the new member meeting and introduced myself. She was so excited to see me and told me the most amazing thing. My name had some up in two conversations she had recently had...one being that very day! Can you imagine? Someone I haven't seen in 6 years and my name comes up the very day that I waltz into her meeting...and she was subbing at that meeting that night! That isn't even her normal meeting. I felt so blessed that the Lord had paved a smooth road for me to return and feel so welcome. I knew right then that He truly does care about every part of our lives and want the very best for us.

I went to my second meeting last night and was down 3.4lbs! Happy day! I'm on my way to my goal and I know I'll reach it this time!

If you have something you are struggling with please know that it is not too small for God to care about. Give it to him. Ask him directly to help you with it. If it is within His will for you, he will grant you his graces and mercy to help you with it.

Motivational Minute - Got Milk?

Motivational Minute Quote of the Week

Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them - every day begin the task anew.
Saint Francis de Sales (1567 - 1622)

This quote, one of the first 3 I read (it usually takes a LONG time!), is so perfect for this week! My weight loss efforts were temporarily put on hold as I played with a cow's milk free diet for a while and ultimately said...um, not gonna happen! My baby was diagnosed with a cow's milk allergy (read about it here) and I made the heart wrenching decision to cease nursing and switch to formula. The irony is that I am finding out through this process that I am actually somewhat of a cow. No...I'm not putting myself down for being overweight. I think I'm literally part cow...as in, I make SO much milk! The last time I pumped was this past Saturday and I've still Got Milk! Get it...the milk ads. Ha ha!

Anyway, TMI, I know! But, one of my regrets about going to formula is that I was really starting to roll with the losing weight while nursing thing...meaning, I was losing and still eating A LOT! Now I really have to watch it very closely - bummer.

Now, normally my instinct would be to give up at this point. I've already been derailed by all of the craziness of the past two weeks. I haven't lost anything recently. I'm no closer than I was before. But I don't want to give up. I want to have patience with myself and my situation. I do not want to lose courage in trying to look at what I'm doing wrong and I want to work to improve.

Lent is great time to do that spiritually as well. I actually went to confession last weekend for the first time in forever...longer than I care to admit! Since I went, I've tried to take a little time each evening to think over my day and what I've done to separate myself from God. I've noticed that when I don't go to confession often, I have a harder time with my examination of conscience. It sounds crazy! It seems like there should be more sins the longer I've gone without confessing! But I think when I don't go regularly, I tend to gloss over what I've done wrong. After taking that step to go, to say the sins out loud and then to hear those wonderful, soothing, healing words, "I absolve you of your sins", it tends to really stand out to me afterwards when I fail. I think that is one of the graces we receive when we confess our sins and why it is important to go often.

So...whatever it is you are struggling with, I hope that you will be patient with the situation and yourself. And don't lose courage!

Motivational Minute - Update!

When I said I only lost a few ounces, I was referring to my weigh in last Thursday (wrote that post this past weekend). I am a freak about weighing myself. I do it everyday - usually a few times a day. Now, when I was a WW leader, I told people NOT to do that! But I still did it! Anyway, I weighed this morning and....2 lbs - GONE (not lost because I don't want to find them again!)!! Buh, bye! Don't let the door hit ya. Adios!

Just had to share!

Motivational Minute

Motivational Quote of the Week:

"That which doesn't kill us makes us stronger".
Friedrich Nietzsche

A few times last week it felt like my life would do me in. Going back to work has been a huge challenge. Actually, going back to work is not so hard...getting ready and out the door with 3 kids is the challenge. The baby was really fussy for a couple of days and wanted to be held constantly. Then two of the three kids got a stomach bug. When two are throwing up and one is a newborn...life can be a little hectic. Tending to the baby, rushing kids to the bathroom, cleaning kids up, changing kids and sheets, laundry every hour! Yikes!

I somehow managed to lose a few ounces - not as much as I would have hoped. I have been following the Weight Watchers points system. The good thing about working is that I don't have the time to snack all day long. What I eat and the portions that I eat are predetermined making it much easier to stay on points. The problem is, I have been feeling really hungry. I thought back to when I was a leader and what I would have told someone in my position to do. Surprisingly, the answer would have been...eat a little more - of the right things, of course! Especially with the nursing and increased activity - working at a preschool is much more daily activity than I get at home! So, I'm trying that route and will see how it goes.

Most importantly, despite Valentines Day candy, brownies in the office, coworkers bringing leftover birthday cake...I haven't broken my Lenten promise of no sweets...except on Sunday which traditionally isn't counted as a day of penance during Lent - it's always a celebration of Easter. So, I do the Sunday "cheat" thing, which isn't really cheating but it feels like it is which makes it more fun! Everything in moderation - I just don't use Sunday as a day to go crazy with sweets.

So, this week I'll focus on getting stronger because I really don't think my life is going to kill me at this point...maybe make me really tired though!

Motivational Minute

Motivational Quote of the Week:

If you want to look young and thin, hang around old fat people.
Jim Eason

How's that for motivation? This is about how motivated I'm feeling this week! I'm pretty cranky from my sugar withdrawal as a result of giving up sweets for Lent - at least the shaking and moaning has ceased! Seriously, it hasn't been that bad but it has been tough. I have had lots of opportunities to offer up my cravings since Lent began on Wednesday. But, I'm doing it so I'm giving myself credit for that. I'm also keeping up with my water drinking pretty well. And...get ready to be shocked...I actually exercised the other day! Okay, it was one day and I haven't done it since...but I've thought about it! I got this Dancing with the Stars workout video. Dorky huh? I like that kind of dancing workout though. Jazzercise is my favorite type of exercise and the only kind I'll stick with but even if I had the discretionary income at this time to do such a thing, I couldn't find a time that I could get away to do a class. None of them fit into my schedule! So...I have to find alternatives. The Dancing with the Stars is actually fun to do - plus you get to stare at Maks! Now there's motivation! I would just rather be on the computer when I have free time...like now, I should be shaking my groove thang! But...I think I'll just go and find some old, fat people to hang out with for now! See you next week!

Oh yeah, feel free to share your favorite workout video with me! I'm always looking for something I'll really enjoy and stick with more than a few times!

Motivational Minute

Motivational Quote of the Week:

It's never crowded along the extra mile.
Wayne Dyer

I LOVE the motivational quote I found for this week. It's perfect for what has been on my mind lately...remember how I teased you last week with what I'm giving up for Lent which should also help with my weight loss efforts? Well...I'll tell you about that after I fill you in on how I've done this past week!

My challenge was to drink more water - at least 24 oz a day or 8 oz every time I nursed the baby. I did pretty well! I didn't meet my goal every day but I on the days that I didn't do well, I at least drank more water than usual. I've gotten to that point where I crave water. I reach for it before I reach for my diet coke...but...not before my coffee in the morning - huh, yeah, water before coffee - HA! At one point I had lost a pound but with people bringing us delicious meals that usually include even more delicious desserts...well, that's what we're going to talk about next.

SUGAR!!! I've decided that I am a sugar-aholic. Hello, my name is Stevie, and I'm a sugar-aholic. You know what I really love right now? Valentine candy - yep - those little drops of greatness with wonderful surprises inside that come in a lovely heart box. Who can resist the heart box all wrapped with red cellophane? What? You can? Oh, well, that's because you are better than me. And probably skinny too. Oh well. So, this brings me to my topic for this week.

The extra mile. To me, that is what Lent is kind of like. Going that extra mile so that we can suffer along with our Lord. So that we can become closer to Him through that suffering. So that we can appreciate His rising from the dead in an even stronger way because we appreciate His suffering for us that much more. I'm sure you've guessed it by now...I'm giving up sugar. Now you're saying to yourself, big deal, that is what everyone gives up. Sweets or alcohol seem to be the two I always hear most often! But let me tell you, this was not a decision made lightly or out of habit. I've given up all kinds of things for Lent. One year it was television - that was HARD! One year it was smoking - yep, I used to smoke. Yikes! Last year I gave up wine and then right at the end of Lent when I was about to go on a 40 day wine binge to make up for the 40 days I didn't get to have it, I got pregnant and went on a 9 month fast from wine!!! Crazy! I've also gone the doing something good vs giving up something route. And I will do that this year - like a commitment to prayer time or something like that. But to me, suffering during Lent is the best way for me to feel that I've really drawn closer to the Lord and at this time in my life, giving up sweets is going to be about the hardest thing I can think of to do. Now, at the same time, it will benefit me greatly! I debated between giving up sweets and vowing to track my points each day which is somewhat of a sacrifice because it means you have to really watch what you eat. I decided that giving up sugar is a much harder and more real sacrifice but I also feel it will help a great deal in my weight loss efforts.

So...bring on the sweets! I'm going to raid the Valentine candy aisle and stuff myself full before Lent. It's my Mardi Gras...my Fat Tuesday. Bring in the sugar for next week it will be banned from this house all together. Okay, not all together, the kids are not required to give anything up for Lent yet! Wow - I guess I don't get to eat all of their Valentine's Day candy this year in an attempt to keep them from having too much sugar and rotting their teeth because I'm just htat good of a mom. Yeah right, that's why I do it!

Motivational Minute

Motivational Quote of the Week

God doesn't require us to succeed; He only requires that you try.
Mother Teresa (1910-1997)

I'm hoping to make Motivational Minute a weekly post, however, I have been working on this first one for several weeks so don't get your hopes up too high! I will include a motivational quote and then talk about my attempts, struggles and successes (hopefully!) with getting (and staying) motivated to do what I need to do to lose weight.

I'm sure that Mother Teresa was talking about something more profound than losing weight...but right now, for me, losing weight is a profound challenge. I know it is for a lot of people so I want to write this series for two reasons.

One is to help myself and others with the motivational side of weight loss. There are tons of ways to lose weight - many of them terrible, a few of them great. Most work at first, only a a few actually help you keep the weight off after the initial loss. However, the one thing that is needed for any weight loss program to work, is motivation. None of them are going to work unless the person doing them has the internal drive to do what is required long enough to lose the weight and then to incorporate the new behaviors into their daily lives so that they can keep the weight off. That is the hard part!

The second reason is for accountability for myself. If I'm posting and trying to help others lose weight, I'd better be walking the walk while I'm talking the talk!

A brief history of my battle with weight. Most of my adult life after college I have struggled with weight. I didn't lose weight before my wedding like most people do. I knew I wasn't the skinniest I had ever been but since my husband had proposed, he loved me the way I was and it didn't matter. So we went along fine until a few months into our new marriage my husband watched in horror (and somehow he stayed around...Thank GOD!)as I had a complete meltdown in front of my closet one morning trying to get ready for work. I literally had NOTHING in my closet that fit me. And it wasn't one of those "I'm whining that I have nothing to wear but I really mean that I don't have anything I want to wear" rants. Not one pair of pants in my closet would fit me. It was devastating, embarrassing and very depressing. Soon after this terrible experience, I heard about Weight Watchers and decided to give it a shot. I went to a meeting THAT night. I lost 40lbs and reached Lifetime Membership with Weight Watchers which was such a great accomplishment that filled me with pride!

After reaching my goal, I decided to help others do the same and went to work for Weight Watchers. I started as a receptionist (weigher) and moved on to be a leader. I even worked for the local franchise, which has since been sold back to WW Intl., as a receptionist coordinator. It was a great way to keep the weight off since I had to weigh in monthly in order to keep my job!

I left WW during my pregnancy with my first child. After losing so much weight the first time I was so confident that no matter how much baby weight I put on, I would lose it easily afterwards because I had the skills and knowledge of how to do it. Heck - I taught and mentored people on how to do it for several years! I just knew that I would have no trouble getting back to my goal weight. Unfortunately, that did not happen. It didn't happen after baby #1 and then it didn't happen after baby #2! When I got pregnant with baby #3 I weighed more than ever before. I was so thrilled about the pregnancy but the one thing that really weighed (pardon the pun) on my mind was that I was going to get even heavier.

That brings me to where I am now which is at the weight I was before I had baby #3. I did not put any weight on with this pregnancy - yeah! Mostly due to the fact that I threw up every day for the first 4 months. Not a great way to do it but it worked so what the heck! But, I'm also the heaviest I've ever been in my whole life and I don't like it...and I don't want to get heavier.

So...here I am. I have the tools, knowledge and ability to lose weight. Of course, it gets harder the older you get and that is one of my big excuses as to why I can't lose the weight. But I know better...it all comes down to motivation. I just can't get going...I can't get motivated...I can't get moving. Maybe by putting it out here on the internet, for all to see - pass or fail...all will see (well, all 4 of you who come here every once in a while anyway) and I'll be more motivated to actually do it this time!

My first step is to start trying. Like the quote says...I just have to try. Since I'm technically not cleared to diet or start exercising yet after having my baby, I'm going to start with a very small but important goal that is a must in any weight loss effort. WATER...drinking water and lots of it! You're supposed to have at least six 8oz glasses of water...eight of them for nursing moms like me. So...to reach this goal, I'm going to make an effort to drink a glass of water each time I nurse Campo. It's a great way to remember to do it since he nurses about 8 times a day. Hopefully I can try to fit a few more in as well. And, I'm hoping this will be a good way to start getting disciplined!!

Stay tuned for next week's post (they won't always be this long - I promise!)...by then I'll have had my 6 week post-partum visit and that won't be an excuse anymore...bummer! But...with Lent around the corner, I think one of the things I'll be giving up will also help me in my weight loss effort...is killing 2 birds with one stone for Lent allowed?? I sure hope so!