Monday: Baked Chicken and Roasted asparagus
Tuesday: Pork Chops & Salad
Wednesday: Lasagna Cupcakes (We didn't get to them last week!)
Thursday: Roasted veggies and Penne
Friday: Baked Fish + Roasted Veggies
Saturday: FREE DAY
Sunday: Taco's
Showing posts with label Weight Loss. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Weight Loss. Show all posts
Monday, July 18, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
The Knowing: Exercise + Moving More
The Knowing, is a mini-series in my weight-loss journey - it's a way for me to say out loud, what I know and find a way to change because of it.
Exercise and Moving More - this one is a toughy. Being overweight, and finding extra energy in the day is hard. Yes, I know this is considered an excuse, too. I'm tired by the end of the day because I have a job that not only is emotionally + mentally straining, I'm on the go all of the time. I didn't say I was physically strained, I'm just on the go.
I belong to 2 gyms! Crazy, I know! I belong to Planet Fitness right next to my house because it's $10/month and 4 of us belong to that gym, so we can go together. I also belong to the YMCA in Reading, MA. I love their pool and aqua instructor. I pay a hefty monthly membership fee, but in my opinion, it's worth it. WHEN I GO, THAT IS!
Planet Fitness offers weights, bikes, treadmills, ellipticals and strength training. The YMCA offers the same, plus the pool. I've gone to the YMCA for about 3 years now. I did really well when I used to go swimming before work (my optimal time of day), I went to aqua aerobics Tues + Thurs from 9am-10am, then headed to work. It was nice and I loved it. It didn't last because I usually ended up getting called in to work before 9am most mornings. Again, an excuse.
I now go to the YMCA on Sunday's from 12-12:45 for an aqua fitness class, but I can find every excuse to stay home, too. (Like I did today!) I also signed up to go to an evening swim class on Tues + Thurs nights, but I'm usually dead tired when I get home those nights to drive 17 miles back to the gym. It's a 730-815pm class. I rarely make it.
COMING NEXT: "Knowing: I'm not full, so I keep eating"
Exercise and Moving More - this one is a toughy. Being overweight, and finding extra energy in the day is hard. Yes, I know this is considered an excuse, too. I'm tired by the end of the day because I have a job that not only is emotionally + mentally straining, I'm on the go all of the time. I didn't say I was physically strained, I'm just on the go.
I belong to 2 gyms! Crazy, I know! I belong to Planet Fitness right next to my house because it's $10/month and 4 of us belong to that gym, so we can go together. I also belong to the YMCA in Reading, MA. I love their pool and aqua instructor. I pay a hefty monthly membership fee, but in my opinion, it's worth it. WHEN I GO, THAT IS!
Planet Fitness offers weights, bikes, treadmills, ellipticals and strength training. The YMCA offers the same, plus the pool. I've gone to the YMCA for about 3 years now. I did really well when I used to go swimming before work (my optimal time of day), I went to aqua aerobics Tues + Thurs from 9am-10am, then headed to work. It was nice and I loved it. It didn't last because I usually ended up getting called in to work before 9am most mornings. Again, an excuse.
I now go to the YMCA on Sunday's from 12-12:45 for an aqua fitness class, but I can find every excuse to stay home, too. (Like I did today!) I also signed up to go to an evening swim class on Tues + Thurs nights, but I'm usually dead tired when I get home those nights to drive 17 miles back to the gym. It's a 730-815pm class. I rarely make it.
COMING NEXT: "Knowing: I'm not full, so I keep eating"
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
This Week's Menu
Monday: Sushi
Tuesday: Corn Tortilla Pizza's (baked flat corn tortilla, refried beans with green chilies (add chili powder to beans before heating, lettuce, tomatoes, low-fat cheddar cheese, sour cream)
Wednesday: BLT's + Salad (Center-cut bacon is best - less calories!)
Thursday: Ground Chicken Burgers with Blue Cheese and Grilled Romaine Hearts
Friday: Baked Fish + Roasted Veggies
Saturday: FREE DAY
Sunday: Lasagna Cupcakes
Tuesday: Corn Tortilla Pizza's (baked flat corn tortilla, refried beans with green chilies (add chili powder to beans before heating, lettuce, tomatoes, low-fat cheddar cheese, sour cream)
Wednesday: BLT's + Salad (Center-cut bacon is best - less calories!)
Thursday: Ground Chicken Burgers with Blue Cheese and Grilled Romaine Hearts
Friday: Baked Fish + Roasted Veggies
Saturday: FREE DAY
Sunday: Lasagna Cupcakes
Sunday, July 3, 2011
The Knowing: Food + Planning
Knowing where failure comes from, I think is the easy part. Making the change because of it is the challenge.
In my efforts to be truthful to myself about weight loss, I'm putting it all out there for people to see. I know my audience listens and offers support (if there is anyone left, that is, considering I've fallen off the blog wagon quite some time ago! I'm making a comeback!)
My biggest reasons I fail is I don't embrace my time wisely enough to plan ahead, throw in that I work an average 55+ hours a week, and if left to my husband, we'd eat cold cuts, white bread, popsicles, pizza and chinese every night for the most part! I'm not saying he can't cook. He's in the same boat as me, but fails to have a take charge attitude. I find that I feel like I am the one that holds the weight of the problem on my shoulders, sometimes. Planning, shopping and cooking. My husband is a fantastic man, but he does in fact lack in the planning ahead department. (PS: I'm in quite a funk today, I'm quite aware that it is indeed shining through in my writing - it's OK)
Simply put, planning ahead means we utilize a menu to follow, then go shopping for needed items. Not that hard to do, right!?! It's the one thing that causes me the most grief. I like grocery shopping, but carrying groceries up 3 flights of stairs is my biggest complaint. I just hate doing it. So, I shop for a few days at a time, which in the end costs more money and then when I don't want to go shopping, it doesn't get done and I will most likely fall off the wagon by eating something in the house or we order out.
Listen, I've written the book on excuses. I have more excuses than I care to admit. What I have here are excuses, really. I need to find a way to ditch the excuse and find a way to just do it. Make the time to plan, shop and prepare for the week and find the motivation to keep moving forward.
My plan of attack this week is to make a menu, make a grocery list, go shopping, and plan ahead. ALSO, blog about it!
COMING NEXT: "Knowing: Exercise + Moving More"
In my efforts to be truthful to myself about weight loss, I'm putting it all out there for people to see. I know my audience listens and offers support (if there is anyone left, that is, considering I've fallen off the blog wagon quite some time ago! I'm making a comeback!)
My biggest reasons I fail is I don't embrace my time wisely enough to plan ahead, throw in that I work an average 55+ hours a week, and if left to my husband, we'd eat cold cuts, white bread, popsicles, pizza and chinese every night for the most part! I'm not saying he can't cook. He's in the same boat as me, but fails to have a take charge attitude. I find that I feel like I am the one that holds the weight of the problem on my shoulders, sometimes. Planning, shopping and cooking. My husband is a fantastic man, but he does in fact lack in the planning ahead department. (PS: I'm in quite a funk today, I'm quite aware that it is indeed shining through in my writing - it's OK)
Simply put, planning ahead means we utilize a menu to follow, then go shopping for needed items. Not that hard to do, right!?! It's the one thing that causes me the most grief. I like grocery shopping, but carrying groceries up 3 flights of stairs is my biggest complaint. I just hate doing it. So, I shop for a few days at a time, which in the end costs more money and then when I don't want to go shopping, it doesn't get done and I will most likely fall off the wagon by eating something in the house or we order out.
Listen, I've written the book on excuses. I have more excuses than I care to admit. What I have here are excuses, really. I need to find a way to ditch the excuse and find a way to just do it. Make the time to plan, shop and prepare for the week and find the motivation to keep moving forward.
My plan of attack this week is to make a menu, make a grocery list, go shopping, and plan ahead. ALSO, blog about it!
COMING NEXT: "Knowing: Exercise + Moving More"
Saturday, July 2, 2011
39 to 40
I made a promise to myself that I would embrace the last year of my 30's and work on myself more. I've been a work in progress all of my life, just like everyone else. I've done the best I can to be a happy, well balanced person. I've achieved many things, I've lived through a multitude of changes and challenges, but I've failed miserably in the eat less and move more department.
This year, I promised myself to lose 39 lbs. before I turn 40. So on my 39th birthday, I joined Weight Watchers again (for like the 4th time, now!) and promised to get back up on the horse and get myself back in check.
Week 1 - 5/30-6/2 was the introductory period of just getting back in the groove and writing down everything I ate even if it meant I went over in points. I failed after a couple days because I let myself get too busy to stop and take time to document what I ate.
Week 2 - 6/3-6/9 I continued the quest of getting back in the groove of writing down what I ate. I failed again.
Week 3 - 6/10-6/16 another failed week
Week 4 - 6/17-6/23 FAIL
Week 5 - 6/24-6/30 FAIL
Week 6 - 7/1-7/7 so far = fail
I am so absolutely disappointed in myself. By now I could have literally lost 10 lbs. if I'd have just given a partial effort. I know my triggers and weaknesses, I know where I fail, and I know that if I can't get those things in check, I'm destined to be in the same old routine.
This year, I promised myself to lose 39 lbs. before I turn 40. So on my 39th birthday, I joined Weight Watchers again (for like the 4th time, now!) and promised to get back up on the horse and get myself back in check.
Week 1 - 5/30-6/2 was the introductory period of just getting back in the groove and writing down everything I ate even if it meant I went over in points. I failed after a couple days because I let myself get too busy to stop and take time to document what I ate.
Week 2 - 6/3-6/9 I continued the quest of getting back in the groove of writing down what I ate. I failed again.
Week 3 - 6/10-6/16 another failed week
Week 4 - 6/17-6/23 FAIL
Week 5 - 6/24-6/30 FAIL
Week 6 - 7/1-7/7 so far = fail
I am so absolutely disappointed in myself. By now I could have literally lost 10 lbs. if I'd have just given a partial effort. I know my triggers and weaknesses, I know where I fail, and I know that if I can't get those things in check, I'm destined to be in the same old routine.
Monday, February 9, 2009
-13
Yup, that's the total amount of weight lost since January 6th, when I decided to go back on Weight Watchers! Believe me, I've had my fair share of slip-ups, but I'm on the course and I'm doing good.
There are a few things I have found that has contributed to my little bit of success:
1. No more than 4-6 cups of coffee in the AM (in cups I mean real 8 oz. cups) with 4 Tbsp. of cream. See I won't drink coffee without cream, so I limited my intake of coffee to reduce the points I got from the cream. Coffee really doesn't give you but a 0.5 point, but the 4T. of cream is 2 points. In reality, that 2 points from the cream could mean a yogurt or a banana or something way more enjoyable than cream in some coffee. I used to drink upwards of 2 pots of coffee a day. Coffee also made me HUNGRY! I found that reducing my coffee, I was less hungry and was able to get through the morning without completely blowing my points by noon! Also, I drink hot tea (decaf) throughout the day, to give me that "hot beverage" fix. I don't put cream or sugar in my tea.
2. Once I start eating for the day, that's when I think about food the most. I try to push off my first meal of the day until after 11am, even if that's breakfast, I don't care. My ability to push off hunger until at least 11am or later contributes to being able to pace myself for the day.
3. I need exercise "structure". I went back to my aqua aerobics class, and I'd done very well at keeping up with it. I've missed the last 2 weeks ONLY due to work and being sick last week. I've since cleared my schedule to ensure I am available to go. Obviously things come up, I understand that. So the next session, I joined 2 classes so that I am can go to a class everyday if I want, or get in at least 2-3 different days so I am not missing only the Tues or Thurs classes. By signing up for 2 classes, there is a M/W/F class and a T/Th class. Never fails that something ALWAYS comes up on a Tuesday or a Thursday
4. I ONLY weigh myself on Monday AM because if I do weigh-ins during the week, I get sidetracked by the fluctuations!
Pics to boot later in the week!
There are a few things I have found that has contributed to my little bit of success:
1. No more than 4-6 cups of coffee in the AM (in cups I mean real 8 oz. cups) with 4 Tbsp. of cream. See I won't drink coffee without cream, so I limited my intake of coffee to reduce the points I got from the cream. Coffee really doesn't give you but a 0.5 point, but the 4T. of cream is 2 points. In reality, that 2 points from the cream could mean a yogurt or a banana or something way more enjoyable than cream in some coffee. I used to drink upwards of 2 pots of coffee a day. Coffee also made me HUNGRY! I found that reducing my coffee, I was less hungry and was able to get through the morning without completely blowing my points by noon! Also, I drink hot tea (decaf) throughout the day, to give me that "hot beverage" fix. I don't put cream or sugar in my tea.
2. Once I start eating for the day, that's when I think about food the most. I try to push off my first meal of the day until after 11am, even if that's breakfast, I don't care. My ability to push off hunger until at least 11am or later contributes to being able to pace myself for the day.
3. I need exercise "structure". I went back to my aqua aerobics class, and I'd done very well at keeping up with it. I've missed the last 2 weeks ONLY due to work and being sick last week. I've since cleared my schedule to ensure I am available to go. Obviously things come up, I understand that. So the next session, I joined 2 classes so that I am can go to a class everyday if I want, or get in at least 2-3 different days so I am not missing only the Tues or Thurs classes. By signing up for 2 classes, there is a M/W/F class and a T/Th class. Never fails that something ALWAYS comes up on a Tuesday or a Thursday
4. I ONLY weigh myself on Monday AM because if I do weigh-ins during the week, I get sidetracked by the fluctuations!
Pics to boot later in the week!
Monday, January 5, 2009
My struggle with weight loss...
...Cuz I certainly didn't struggle to gain it!
For as long as I remember, I've been overweight. From high school to present day...but more so now in the last 4 years than before but age is playing a role, so is the medication I'm on (Tamoxifen). Those 2 realities I cannot change, but everything else I can.
I signed back up for Weight Watchers Online (I gave it a go a few years back) and I decided to give it another 3 month whirl. I will reevaluate come April whether to stick with it online or move on to meetings. I am a person that needs clear direction and support at all times...I probably should have started with the meetings (though I've never been to one), but I already know that WW DOES WORK, I just want to give it a cheaper whirl for a few months. ($17/month vs. $40/month)
I was on it back when I tried to quit smoking and it was a recipe for failure right off the bat. I tried it again at some point and failed and here I am again, only determined that I WILL NOT FAIL, I WILL ONLY SUCCEED IN MY WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY!
Paul and I are both overweight. BOTH OF US have agreed to support one another through the "cravings" and the "wants of crappy food". Paul won't join WW for Men, that's ok because the meals I cook will work for my plan, they will also be healthy for him as well. One nice thing this go around for us/him, is that Paul has a new job at the high school, so sitting at home working (like he has over the last few years) and being that close to the tv and refrigerator has changed!
When I met Paul I weighed 204 lbs. (Feb. 2005) I had lost about 65 lbs. when I got divorced in 2004. Today I weigh in at 293 lbs. a difference of + 89 lbs. I'm a non-smoker and a breast cancer survivor by gawd, but I am FAT! I feel horrible, I can't lift my legs to put on my socks (I have to bend over and put them on) I can't fit in my clothes and I refuse to buy bigger size. I already wear a 24 pants and 3x shirts. My shoes feel tighter than they had in the past - they gained weight too! My back hurts all the time and I am OUT OF BREATH when I run up 3 flights of stairs when I get home and I avoid laundry because that's 3 flights of stairs down and back up to change a load! I have rolls of fat on my back and my face is so round and pudgy I only recognize a fat, depressed, angry person inside. I've been in a slight bit of denial that my fatness is OK, I mean, Old Navy still makes 4x and sizes up to 30!
So here we are to Day 1 of my new weight loss goal, taking it one day at a time.
I also decided that the ONLY resolution for the New Year is weight loss.
For as long as I remember, I've been overweight. From high school to present day...but more so now in the last 4 years than before but age is playing a role, so is the medication I'm on (Tamoxifen). Those 2 realities I cannot change, but everything else I can.
I signed back up for Weight Watchers Online (I gave it a go a few years back) and I decided to give it another 3 month whirl. I will reevaluate come April whether to stick with it online or move on to meetings. I am a person that needs clear direction and support at all times...I probably should have started with the meetings (though I've never been to one), but I already know that WW DOES WORK, I just want to give it a cheaper whirl for a few months. ($17/month vs. $40/month)
I was on it back when I tried to quit smoking and it was a recipe for failure right off the bat. I tried it again at some point and failed and here I am again, only determined that I WILL NOT FAIL, I WILL ONLY SUCCEED IN MY WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY!
Paul and I are both overweight. BOTH OF US have agreed to support one another through the "cravings" and the "wants of crappy food". Paul won't join WW for Men, that's ok because the meals I cook will work for my plan, they will also be healthy for him as well. One nice thing this go around for us/him, is that Paul has a new job at the high school, so sitting at home working (like he has over the last few years) and being that close to the tv and refrigerator has changed!
When I met Paul I weighed 204 lbs. (Feb. 2005) I had lost about 65 lbs. when I got divorced in 2004. Today I weigh in at 293 lbs. a difference of + 89 lbs. I'm a non-smoker and a breast cancer survivor by gawd, but I am FAT! I feel horrible, I can't lift my legs to put on my socks (I have to bend over and put them on) I can't fit in my clothes and I refuse to buy bigger size. I already wear a 24 pants and 3x shirts. My shoes feel tighter than they had in the past - they gained weight too! My back hurts all the time and I am OUT OF BREATH when I run up 3 flights of stairs when I get home and I avoid laundry because that's 3 flights of stairs down and back up to change a load! I have rolls of fat on my back and my face is so round and pudgy I only recognize a fat, depressed, angry person inside. I've been in a slight bit of denial that my fatness is OK, I mean, Old Navy still makes 4x and sizes up to 30!
So here we are to Day 1 of my new weight loss goal, taking it one day at a time.
I also decided that the ONLY resolution for the New Year is weight loss.
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