Weigh In Wednesday

Alright it's that time again.  Thankfully I've got a pretty darn good report.  At least I think so!

Today's weigh in: 180.0 for a loss of 2.8 pounds and a total of 5 since starting weight watchers and a total of 11 pounds from my 2011 starting weight.

I've also started tracking some of my measurements because I've found before that they can be more motivating than my weight loss statistics some weeks.  However, I've always found them tricky because I never can seem to measure the exact same spot week to week, but the overall averages are nice to see.  I didn't take any starting measurements until last week, but apparently in one week here are the results:

Waist: -2 inches (I knew I could buckle my belt in a different hole but 2 whole inches?  Whoa - cool)
hips: -0.5
Thigh: -0.5

Here I always thought I lost weight from my thighs first...  Although I did notice the last time I did c25k that even though I technically didn't lose any pounds my waist got significantly smaller.  I know they say that you can't spot reduce but I do believe that doing different activities will shape your body differently. Yay for running - my belly is definitely my self conscious worry zone.  I'm all for making it smaller.

Back in the Game - Again

Okay, today I completed week 1 of c25k - again.  I will say, it was much easier this time around compared to last April.  I didn't have to resort to any granny shuffling and it was nice to be familiar with the neighborhood so I could vary my route.  Especially since the track is so incredibly muddy and squishy right now.

I checked my time compared to when I first did c25k.  When I started the first time I was averaging about a 17 min mile.  This week I've steadily reduced my time to an average of 15 min/mile.  Two minutes faster the second time around sounds good to me.  I noticed that the hardest part about week one was all the starting and stopping.  About the time I would get into a grove with jogging it would be time to walk again.

I knew the weather was going to be nasty later on in the week and was tempted to run yesterday, but even though I've felt like I could do more I want to be careful to not burn myself out early on.  I went to Target instead to buy more running clothes.  :)

I noticed they were having a sale this week on active wear, and I don't have any dedicated wear for cooler/cold weather.  I wound up buying two wicking tees ($5 each - holy moly) two long sleeve wicking tees ($10 each), a pair of "running tights" which are fitted capri pants (that after running in today totally love and not a bad deal at $19), a sports bra (that I'll be returning) and some wicking socks.  Now I know a lot of people put a lot of stock in investing in good socks, that they make a world of difference regarding blisters and such but I just haven't bought into it.  Luckily I haven't had any problem with blisters (yet), but seeing as how I desperately needed new socks, and they were on sale I gave in

Good gracious, holy moly, I'm in love with these socks.  I don't think I've ever put anything on my feet before that felt so lovely.  That was before I even got shoes on.  I'm sold.  I don't know if I can ever wear my plain, thin cotton socks ever again.  They're dreamy.  For reals.  *Edit* - They are C9 by Champion Duo Dry no show socks from Target.  They came in a pack of four, two black, one pink and one blue.

The sports bra I'll have to take back, after trying one on in the dressing room I just couldn't make myself take all my clothes off and do it again.  Lazy.  Yup.  So I grabbed a different one and the first being too small, this one was too large.  Hopefully I'll remember to take it with me when I go to town tomorrow.

The food situation this week has gone pretty well.  Dearest and I had a "movie night" Saturday where he corrupted me, and I let him - to a degree.  There was popcorn (but I made sure to get the 98% FF Healthy Pop stuff), there was Pepsi - throw back full frontal assault sugar loaded Pepsi at that, but we shared it and I only had a third of the bottle.  Thankfully I cut out to bed before he brought out the ice cream.  When I got up the next morning he had polished off the whole carton!  I made sure to log everything - I have all week, and I even still have plenty of my weekly allowance points left.  I'm feeling pretty good over all about my choices.  We'll see how Weigh in Wednesday goes tomorrow...

Hitting With the Double Whammy

Okay today's accomplishment:  I went running.

Woot!  I haven't gone since June-ish I think, when it got so unbearably hot and I wussed out.  Then of course... it got cold.  I'm an even bigger wuss in the cold than I am in the heat, but you know what?  I actually really enjoyed myself.  I even learned that given the choice, I'd rather run in the cold than in the heat.  Now when I say cold, remember I do live in the south, so 35-45 degrees is indeed cold.  ;)

Thankfully my very enjoyable run made me realize that it's time to double team this weight loss.  In the past several years I've tried either dieting or exercise, but not both.  I blamed it on a lack of time and/or resources when in reality it was just a lack of motivation and determination.

Things are going well with Weight Watchers, I've yet to feel deprived and in fact on several occasions have had a hard time getting in all my points for the day (we even ate out twice today!).  I'm sorry but I just feel completely wrong about eating a deep dish pizza just because I have the "points".  Granted it is nice to have the option should I go into a carb breakdown.  I started out wanting to just lose weight, but I'm in this to get healthier, to feel better, and well the weight loss - it'll be a great side effect.

I re-started the C25k program today.  Back on week 1.  I was curious to see how I did in comparison with the last time I started the program.  I am proud to say I started off much stronger this time and I don't think I granny shuffled once!  I did however really run out of steam towards the end.  Then I realized that somehow I had managed to finish the week 1 podcast and get mid-way into week 2.  Oops.

The other nice thing about running in cooler weather - there are fewer people out, by far.  Score again! Especially since my pants kept wanting to fall down - but I'm counting that as yet another good thing.

Weigh In Wednesday

Wednesday??  It's Thursday!!  Yes, I know - but I'm just now getting a chance to catch up on this week.

So here goes - I'll start with a little background info on Weigh In Wednesday.  I thought I could do this again alone.  The way I used to do it when I was going to the gym 3-5 days a week for hours at a time.  The way I used to do it when I was 20.

That didn't work this time.  Mainly because I haven't found the time or money to dedicate to a gym, and  probably in part because I'm not 20 anymore.  So I made a decision.  I re-joined Weight Watchers.  I feel that at this particular point in my life, it is the best fit for me.  Hence, the creation of Weigh in Wednesday.

I chose Wednesday because that gives me a little wiggle room on Sundays for family dinner with dessert, but will still keep me somewhat reigned in.  I also have a tendency to be stricter on my eating towards the beginning of the week (hopefully resulting in a better weigh in).

So for weigh in number 1 here are the stats:

182.8 for a loss of 2.2 pounds.

Since I joined on Sunday my first "week" was actually only three days, so I'm pretty happy with that.

Now I haven't been on Weight Watchers for several years.  By several I mean at least seven.  I think the plan has changed a good three times since then, which is good.  I need the motivation to "relearn" the plan. The part that I love about their new plan - I can eat all the fruit I want.

So here's to re-learning how to grocery shop, how to cook, and how to eat!

Just Five Pounds...

Ok, so far my strategy is working - thank heavens.  What strategy you ask?  The just five pounds strategy.  I have a tendency to get overwhelmed when I look at how far I have yet to go.  I get die-hard weight loss in mind and wind up being super restrictive of my diet.  Which lasts for about a week before I say screw it and OD on Krispy Kreme and pasta.  So this time I'm taking it five pounds at a time, at least to start out.

So far I've gone through two sets of five - for a total of ten pounds since January 2nd.  I know most of this is water weight so I can't expect to keep on such a pace, but it sure is nice for now.  Not to mention that I'm half way to 10%.  So you loverlies have a wonderful day - I'm headed over to victoria's secret.com to replace some of my battle-worn undies.  ;)

What a Shotty Blogger...

Ok guys, so true to form - like my weight loss took a hiatus, so did my blogging.  Let's face it.  I'm a shotty blogger.  Guess what though?  It's a new year, so I suppose I get another chance at blogging.  .... Right?

Well here it goes..

This year's resolution.. drum roll please...

Save more money on my groceries.  Yes, you read correctly.  Nothing in there about eating less, moving more, losing weight, getting healthier.  Because those are goals I'm keeping to myself right now.  I want to save money on my groceries by buying more fruits and vegetables and less pre-packaged, pre-made foods. I want to save money on my groceries so I'll have more money to spend on *gasp* a gym membership.

Truth be told the only way I've ever truly been successful at losing weight has been when I was a member of the gym.  I do plan on running outside once the weather tames.  We've had more snow the past two winters than I can recall in a very very long time.  (Here in NC snow and ice bring everyone to a standstill, even the city government closed for a day).  I'm also hoping that my work schedule will soon become more like that of a "normal" person.  This is the second big hold up in me joining a gym (first being cost).  We do have a 24 hour gym right down the road, but it's ridiculously expensive ($50 a month plus a joining fee) for a teeny tiny little gym.  We'll see.  While it's been hinted by my boss that I should have no worries at all about getting this new position, I do in fact have worries.  Quite a few worries, mainly because it's taking so long to get an answer from the board (It's been almost a month).

In lighter news, I've lost 8.8 pounds in the last week and a half!  Yay for that!  Amazing what drinking water can do... and cutting out bacon... and bacon grease in cooking... and candy bars from the vending machine.  That 8.8 pounds even includes a lovely little "cheat day"  Which included a healthy breakfast of oatmeal and raisins followed by lunch with the girls at Olive Garden.  I had unsweetened tea, soup salad and breadsticks (I did have two bowls of soup - the chicken gnocchi) and dessert.  Dessert consisted of one of their mini dolce thingies.  Then I had dinner with a different set of "the girls" at a place called Pastabilities, where I had a vegetarian pasta dish.  They had beautiful serving sizes, normal serving sizes not these plates that are three times bigger than your head.  Even though it was delicious, and I had a "normal" serving in front of me, I still could only eat about a third of it.  Later that night we had some multigrain chips and fat-free sorbet.  So while I did indeed have a cheat day, I still felt pretty good about my choices.

I'm still nervous about going back to the doctor for a second check on my cholesterol levels.  I went for a physical maybe a month or so ago and got a call saying my cholesterol was too high.  How embarrassing.  I've let myself go so much that it's impacting my health as well as my happiness.  Then a few weeks ago I hurt my knee.  I worked two extra shifts and apparently the extra work and my extra weight didn't get along.  When I went back to the doctor they said I had patellar tendonitis.  Neither time I visited the doctor did anyone mention anything about my weight.  I attribute this mainly to the fact that everyone I saw was my weight or heavier.  I know, however that the added weight has a lot to do with my joint problems.  The nurse who called about my cholesterol levels told me to take two fish oils a day (yuck) and "try to move around a little more".  She didn't say you need to exercise more, or you need to get off your lazy bum and do something other than hang out on facebook.  What happened to doctors giving you the cold hard nasty truth?  What happened to the scare tactics?  What happened to the "if you continue on this path you'll send yourself to an early grave" speech?  Huh.

Maybe I'm just too melodramatic about it.

You Bought a What??

Okay guys, I think I've got Dearest in on making some raised beds and starting a garden this coming spring.  I want to try and start making compost now though.  I've got a line on some food grade plastic barrels and I want to buy one to use to make compost and another for a rain barrel.

I realized though that if I'm going to start growing vegetables I need to decide which ones I want to grow... and I need to learn how to cook them ;)

I've never been what I would consider a great cook.  I just recently started to gain some self-confidence in the kitchen.. thanks to bacon grease.  Horrible horrible I know!

Anywhos... I've always been intrigued with butternut squash, spaghetti squash and acorn squash.  I've never eaten them, that I'm aware of at least.  They always have them in the grocery store though, and I've heard people mentioning that they like them.  Well I bought an acorn squash.  It was the smallest, and I figured I should start on a small scale to hopefully reduce waste if it didn't work out for me.

Of course when I got home Dearest saw it and proclaimed "What is that"?  I'm honestly amazed that I got out of the grocery store with it.  I was asked by the checkout lady the other day what a pomegranate was.

So far what I've seen has suggested baking it with brown sugar, which made me think of a sweet potato.  I need to do some more research on this one.

Tonight for dinner - chicken vegetable soup.

How do you work in your vegetables, and what would *you* grow?