TKDchick Staying Skinny, a Battle to Keep the Weight Off!

Drive By Posting

2011-11-18T23:04:00.001-05:00

I was tired this evening and listening to my body I went down for a nap. Sleep is important for weigh loss right? Anyhow I was woken up by a call from my Mum. After a nice long chat I'm going back to bed, maybe I'll have something interesting to say tomorrow!

For Me

2011-11-17T19:24:00.001-05:00

Almost ten years ago now, I got my first tattoo and I knew not too long after that I'd want another one. It just took me a very long time to decide what that second tattoo would be, where it would go, etc. Earlier this summer I finally came up with an idea and where I wanted it to go.

In the beginning of August I went to New Moon a local tattoo parlour with an amazing and international reputation. My first tattoo was actually done by one of their former artists who has a parlor in Cornwall. I was very happy with the quality of the art work. I was hoping to get this new tattoo done during my summer holidays. It turned out I couldn't get an appointment until early September! Which in the end, I had to postpone because my Mom was ill.

Finally, today I got my new ink!

My first tattoo was stock art, a dragon, my Chinese Astrological Symbol. This one is a custom piece, nothing too fancy but it has meaning to me, and that's what's important. Seeing as I've been involved in Taekwon-Do for almost 15 years now it wouldn't be too stupid to put something related on my body. My new tattoo is above my ankle, its a black belt (as I'm a 3rd degree) with the characters for Taekwon-Do below it.

I'm very happy with my new ink.

Crap, Crap, Crap, Crap!

2011-11-16T20:09:00.001-05:00

Being active and watching what I ate prior to my girls stitching weekend and doing the same didn't make a difference. I gained 1.5 lbs this week. I'm a little surprised that it was that much. So now my total loss sits at 1 lb.

Almost makes a girl want to give up.

Stuff

2011-11-15T22:45:00.001-05:00

Oh gosh I keep running out of things to say? Or perhaps its the motivation to find something new to talk about, or maybe even having enough time to think up a good blog entry. There seems to be a lack of that lately I tell you. All of this being active and making proper meals really takes a chunk out of a girl's free time.

I didn't want to go to the gym today... but I went.

I was invited at the last minute to join some friends at a new (and supposedly very good) burger joint... but I didn't. I stuck with my original plan and the meal I had planned. I'm also weighing in tomorrow and a good burger could affect that.

I'm still trying, the scale will tell the truth tomorrow.

That's Better-er

2011-11-14T22:09:00.001-05:00

Monday night, teaching night at Taekwon-Do.

Planning seems to make a huge differnece, wow! I took a little time this afternoon and planned out my classes for tonight. My three classes ran much more smoothly this week than last.

I know, this is a short post with really not much too it but I don't have any great ideas for today... and teaching night is always late and I'm pretty tired by the time I get a chance to put my feet up for the night.

Is there anything, you the reader would like for me to talk about or give you my take on?

Stitching, Eat, Sleep... Repeat!

2011-11-13T22:01:00.001-05:00

That's what this weekend was! Oh boy! What a fantastic time I had with my stitching friends tucked away in a lovely Country Inn.

Showing off the ornament I received in our annual exchange

As usual I worry that these weekends will have an impact on my weight loss efforts. I do my best to eat well and exercise leading up to one of my girl's stitching weekend. Then leading up to dinner on Friday night I try to have a really healthy and low point breakfast and lunch. Its once we start eating on Friday night that I feel like I struggle the whole weekend!

I must admit that this year, the desserts didn't tempt me, and there was no chocolate to be had! Which was sad as I had been looking forward to having some. If there wasn't lots of temptation for me this year, I still feel like I ate too much, and indulged a little too.

A few of us broke down on Saturday afternoon and while we were out picked up some chocolate to put out for the group. I know I ate more than what was good for me, but at least is was good chocolate! Enjoyable chocolate!

Saturday afternoon menu

I did get out on two occasions for 30 minute runs, so I wasn't 100% sedate all weekend.

All in all, I had a great time, I enjoyed spending it with good friends, getting in some quality stitching time and eating some great food! If this affects my weigh in this week, I only have myself to blame... if I stay the same or have a small loss I'll be very happy!

Challenge & Temptation!

2011-11-12T12:00:00.000-05:00

A couple of times a year I get together with my stitching friends and we spend the weekend at a wonderful, big B&B in the country. That weekend is here! Our motto says it all : stitch, eat, sleep... we pretty much do these in this exact order! For anyone who is watching their waistline this is a tough weekend! Our breakfasts are made by the B&B but the rest of our food is all potluck. I must admit over the years we as a group have been moving to the healthier side of things. But there are still treats about and temptations to deal with!

How do I prepare for this weekend? I always try to have a good week beforehand, I try to stay within my daily points allowance I also try to exercise daily. Besides teaching at Taekwon-Do Monday night, I've done exactly that! So I try to stay ahead of the game.

The weekend itself, I bring some of my favourite healthy nibblie foods such as a veggie and fruit tray. I've found a big hit seems to be a huge bowl full of red grapes on the table in the area we sit and stitch. They are just so sweet and tasty! When its meal time I survey what is put out first, then I decide what healthy foods I'll have a good sized helping of and what high calorie/fat must-haves that I'll have a taste of. I also always take with me my running/walking gear, if its not raining Ill go out for a run or walk each morning of the retreat... in the hopes of burning off a few of those treats I consumed the day before!

Some years I succeed with this plan, and some years I fail miserably! Some years I let temptation get the better of me and eat more of what's not good for me than what is! Some years I don't seem to be able to stop myself from grazing.

We'll find out how I did this year when I step on the scale next week!

I Remember

2011-11-11T17:00:00.000-05:00

Its Remembrance Day, are you wearing your Poppy? I've been wearing mine since November 1st rolled around.

If you have a chance today, thank a Vet, or someone currently serving!

Meeting Topic - Taming TV Time

2011-11-10T17:00:00.000-05:00

Did you know that the average Canadian spends 28.5 hours per week watching TV? Often we're not only watching TV but we're shovelling the food back while we're sitting on our behinds watching TV! Why do we watch TV, really there's two basic reasons, for entertainment and/or down time. For me, TV is definitely downtime.

This is actually not a topic I'm super excited about this week or rah-rah cheerleaderish about. Essentially Weight Watchers is trying to encourage us to use that time to be active. I use this time to relax and to stitch!

For many of us pre-weight loss journey we'd come home from work, put on our PJs and plonk ourselves down infront of the TV with a big-ole snack! I was guilty of this myself once upon a time.

Pre Weight Watchers many of us would snack on :

chips
cookies
candy/chocolate
ice cream
cheese & crackers
nuts

These are all high fat, high carb food! Definitely once past the lips ... straight to the hips!

Now that we're on our weight loss journey we tend to snack on :

Frozen yogurt
limited nuts
popcorn (microwave/air popped)
vegetables
fruit
salsa
melba toast
Weight Watchers products
veggie chips/ baked chips
turkey pepperets

So Weight Watchers is encouraging you to use your TV time and make it your active time. To either exercise in front of the TV or use the commercials to be active. Some suggestions are :

Put a piece of stationary equipment in front of the TV and walk/cycle while you watch your favourite show
During the commercials up your resistance/speed/or incline use this time to do intervals and increase your heart rate
Do crunches/plank/push ups and more during the commercials
Sit on a exercise ball instead of on the couch to work your abdominal muscles
So much more!

Why am I not so crazy about this week's topic? Because I like to get the day's work done before I settle in front of the TV. The TV is my reward for a job well done! There's nothing I look forward to more than at the end of a work day, after my workout, dinner and whatever else needs to be done putting my feet up later in the evening putting on the TV and picking up my stitching!

Booh-Yeah!

2011-11-09T21:45:00.000-05:00

Today was weigh in day, I had doubts about how I did this week. I had a "points sticker shock" moment on Saturday when I had lunch at Pizza Hutt with my friends from Taekwon-Do. Did you know a personal pizza runs you an average of 19 points? Eeek! Thank goodness I did 2 hours of sparring prior to that! I felt a little shaky on my food and a wee bit of mindless grazing this week I was sure wasn't going to help the matter!

It turns out I did fairly well this week! I lost 1 lbs! So I'm now down 2.5 lbs since my new start. When I put these 10 lbs back on, I was pretty sure I could take the weight off all on my own. Over six months of "trying" proves that I can't do this alone, that I need the support that my Weight Watchers meeting, peeps, and leader offers! I should of know better than struggling on my own (except I was going in to weigh in once a month), because I couldn't initially loose my weight on my own either.

I finally am starting to feel good about myself, and I'm feeling in the right head space to loose this weight!

Thanks Amy!

2011-11-08T19:36:00.001-05:00

From the moment I packed and put my gym bag in my car this morning I didn't really want to go. That feeling followed me all day long. When it was time to leave work, I still didn't want to go.

So Amy made a deal with me, that I had to text her when I got to the gym, she had to text me when she went to the pool tonight. So I went, and I did.

For some reason tonight I just dragged my feet through my workout. I did a quick 13 minute run on the treadmill to warm up before hitting the weight machines. That was the longest 13 minutes of my life, I felt like that run would never end. I just don't get it because not quite two months ago I ran for over 2 hours and did a 1/2 marathon! Today it was a struggle to get through it.

Oh well, I went, I did it, I conquered.

I weigh in tomorrow, and for some reason I feel like I didn't do too great this week. Only the scale will tell.

Putting My Teaching Training Wheels Back On

2011-11-07T22:22:00.003-05:00

When my Mum went into the hospital in September, I asked to be taken off of the teaching schedule at Taekwon-Do. It was more important for me to be there with her than be in the dojang. Once she was home at the end of the month I decided to take October off as well to get my life back into some sort of order again.

So tonight, it was back to the teaching schedule for this girl. Boy, I felt like a little girl again, with wobbly training wheels on my bike. Over the next few weeks I'll get myself back in the swing of things and give a much better class than I did tonight!

Its a crazy week and its too bad I won't be getting in a little training myself!

When Its Gorgeous Out... Go Run!

2011-11-06T21:47:00.002-05:00

The days are getting shorter and the weather is getting cooler. I'm waking up to either having to start my car before heading to work or scraping the windows when I forget. This means that my running days outdoors are starting to wane.

I have found I do prefer to run outside! You have an obvious start and stop point and scenery to look at. The treadmill, well its just boring! Personally starting at Todd's tool collection in the basement isn't my idea of fun. I know some people run while they watch TV, I've tried that and I find the commercials starting and ending just earmark how much time has or hasn't passed. I like to be oblivious to how long I'm running for. My best runs are when I don't realize how much time has gone by, my worst runs are when I'm counting the minutes until I can get off of that stupid thing. I know some people run year round, that there's all kinds of gear to do that. I consider myself a fair weather runner. I also live in a Village, that's right a village. There's one sidewalk and its probably only a couple of hundred meters long. So depending on my mood I'm either running on pavement (short runs) or dirt roads (long runs). Not only do I dislike the cold, there's a lack of sidewalks for me to run on, and well roads in the country just aren't well plowed and I'm paranoid about foot/ankle/knee injuries. In the past I've sprained my ankle multiple times and I've torn ligaments in my right foot. As you can see I have many reasons not to run outside in the winter.

So once the snow flies or it gets too cold for my liking I'll return to the treadmill. For the winter I'll be doing shorter runs 3-5K (I can't psychologically do more than that on a treadmill) and focus more on my speed/pace. I've already noticed that from spring to fall, I have improved! In the spring I was running on average 5.4-5.5 on my treadmill and the last few times I've been on it, I'm ruining consistently at a 5.7-5.8! That's heartening to see. When I first started running 4.8 was fast! In an ideal world I'd love to be running a consistent 6.0 by spring (that's a 10 minute mile!).

Look at this! I started running with a Nike sensor and now just use the Nike GPS app the beginning of October last year. I have now racked up 600 Kms! Once upon a time the only case you'd find me running was if the house was on fire, and that would be out the door and stopping shortly thereafter.

I'm not in love with running, I recognize that its a challenge for me to do (I like to be challenged), its awesome cardio and calorie burn. And of course its free!

Becoming Re-Inspired

2011-11-05T22:54:00.000-04:00

I had to give up a fair part of my weekend to Takewon-Do stuff. I always feel a little resentful when I have to do this. Often once I get there I'm very happy to be there. Friday night and today Grand Master Lu held is first Seminar as a Grand Master and this was being done to compliment the testing that was happening this afternoon for 5 candidates who were ready to become Masters (7th Dan).

The seminar for me was great, and I really needed it! Friday night we concentrated on the Elements of the Theory of Power and the Training Secrets of Taekwon-Do. To practice each element we did one pattern per element, which pretty much covered all of the colour belt patterns. Each time I go to a seminar I always walk away with a new tip or tidbit of information I didn't know before. This was true of Friday night, I learnt some new facts about the sine wave we use while in motion. I learnt that though Takewon-Do was introduced as a martial art in 1955 that sine wave wasn't introduced until 1984, I just can't imagine Taekwon-Do without it!

Today's portion of the Seminar focused on sparring and self-defense, I openly admit these are my two least favourite aspects of the training cycle of Taekwon-Do (fundamental movements, patterns, sparring, and self-defense). The focus was more on the sparring and instead of it being taught by Grand Master Lu we were being instructed by a Master from Montreal who had been the World Champion for sparing back in 1992. I think for the first time in the almost 15 years I have been involved in Taekwon-Do I actually enjoyed sparring! Well we didn't actually spar but he spent the time explaining strategies, how to move, how to think, how to react in the ring. He had a lot of great drills that I'm looking forward to the next time I teach during sparring week! I made a point of going over and thanking him, let him know that as someone who doesn't like to spar I thoroughly enjoyed what he had to teach us (its that compliment thing again!).

I found this seminar inspiring for me as a student and as an instructor. Its given me the urge to go back to training more frequently, something I have really been dragging my heels over for far too long! Like I said its given me some ideas to take back as an instructor as well. I can only continue to become a better instructor if I continue to learn myself.

My instructor, Mr. Marin is on the left

After a lunch break the testing of the prospective Masters began it took over 2 hours to test the 5 candidates. One of them my instructor Sabum Marin! All five candidates had been involved in Taekwon-Do for on average 30 years. What was particularly inspiring for me today was to see the two women testing to become Masters! These two ladies will be the first two Masters in Canada! For sure a historical moment in Canadian Taekwon-Do!

I have always envisioned myself getting my 4th Degree in Taekwon-Do (I am currently a 3rd Degree), becoming an international instructor. Seeing these two women today, has shown me that the door is open for me, to become a Master someday.

Sadly I had to leave before the promotions were done, so I don't know for sure if everyone passed. I would say they all did a fantastic job and everyone walked away a Master!

Pay Someone a Compliment Today!

2011-11-04T23:00:00.000-04:00

How many times have you thought to yourself "she looks pretty today", "that colour look s nice on her", "hmm I think she's lost some weight". Next time you think that... vocalize it! Tell the person in question! It could be the one day that she needs a compliment, that she's feeling low. One compliment can change someones day, make them hold their head a little higher, put a spring in their step.

Once your weight loss becomes noticeable boy do the comments start pouring in! Those compliments are the proof that your hard work is paying off! They help your confidence level, steels your resolve to stay on plan, and stops you from grabbing a cookie, chips, an extra drink, whatever your vice is!

Compliments when you're loosing weight are great but then once the people around you get used to the "new" you they stop. You really, really, really do start to miss those compliments! Today I got a compliment from a co-worker she asked me if I started loosing weight again. Which I was very proud to answer yes! She not only said I looked like I had lost weight but that I was looking a little more muscular! Wooo hoo my hard work at the gym is paying off, my resolve to say no to temptation is worth it!

Talking about temptation, today I turned down pizza from my favourite pizza joint, and chocolate from the candy dish! Also tonight I had a seminar to go to in the evening, the seminar and home were in complete opposite directions so going home wasn't an option. In the past I would of grabbed a bite out, but this morning a little pre-planing and I packed a nice little dinner for myself. I not only saved myself some unwanted calories/sugar/salt but a little money too.

Yay! The weekend is here!

What Makes You Happy?

2011-11-03T20:48:00.000-04:00

Many of us eat to stuff our emotions down we eat when we're sad, mad, angry, bored, depressed and more. Sometimes its hard to be happy. I find when I'm happy the urge to eat just isn't there, unless I'm hungry.

What makes me happy?

My Partner Todd -- He might really frustrate me some days, but he's been with me from fat to thin, through good time and bad for almost 20 years now.

My friends -- I've been so lucky to meet some very special and wonderful people in my life.

My cats -- I've grown up with cats all my life. Back in March I had to put down my first cat that I had gotten when I left home. Oh boy that hurt, it hit me very hard. The two furry babies in my life right now are Hunter (9) and Zeus (10 months) oh they sure make me happy and laugh often. They are also are a great comfort when you're feeling low. They know when you're sad, when you need a cuddle.

My Stitching -- I LOVE cross stitch! I mean I really love to cross stitch! Yes, stitching can be a very solitary past time, you do have to keep your hands clean when stitching so there's no eating while stitching (or at least very careful with your food choices). I have also take this past time and turned it into something very social. I have made some amazing friends through stitching, we get together to stitch, I go to retreats, I take classes and more. I do think hobbies are very important to our mental well being.

Photography -- I've always liked taking pictures, I won my first camera when I was 12 or 13 and I've had one ever since. A few years ago I got serious with the purchase of a D-SLR and an introductory course at my local college. I use my photography as an excuse to get outside and go for a walk! Not only do I have a D-SLR but I keep a point and shoot in my purse at all times, you never know when there's a cool photo opportunity around the corner!

Takewon-Do -- When visiting a friend back in 1997 she was taking Taekwon-Do, I went with her to watch her TKD class and the instructor pulled in for a bit of the warm up. You know what, I liked it. So once I got back home and had the cash to spare I joined a local TKD school. Oh boy, I was hooked! Today, I am a 3rd Degree Black Belt and Instructor. My weight loss really benefited my abilities in TKD!

So what makes you happy?

Meeting Topic : Experienced A Scale Surprise?

2011-11-02T20:30:00.000-04:00

I went and weighed in tonight at my local Weight Watchers meeting (they run meetings Wed/Sat) because I'll be at Taekwon-Do workshop Saturday morning and I just couldn't do both on the same day. So I arranged my week to make it to tonight's meeting.

I wasn't sure exactly how my evening was going to play out after work. I wanted to stop into a quilt shop that I knew sold DMC floss (ran out of one colour for a cross stitch project... see other blog), I wanted to squeeze in a quick 3K run, shower and get to my WW meeting in time to weigh in before the meeting started at 6:15. Amazingly I fit it all in (now keep in mind I start work early and finish early)! It was too nice outside not to go for a run today!

So, I weighed in today and its not been a full week since I weighed in, and it was an evening weigh in not the morning one I was used to. I really didn't have high expectations, I went in hoping for a 1/2 lbs loss. Surprisingly in under a week I've lost 1.5 lbs! I am now down to 154.5 yay less than 10 lbs to go! That was a lovely surprise. Hopefully I use this to spur me onto my next weigh in.

This week's topic was pretty much a reminder that the scale is just a tool, one simple tool to help gauge our progress... that we shouldn't get hung up on a number. One of three things happen when you step on the scale: loose weight, gain weight or stay the same. That number doesn't give you the full picture though. That number doesn't show: the inches you've lost, how your body has changed, how your mentality has changed, the things you couldn't physically do before this journey, the compliments you receive once your weight loss becomes obvious. Remember when you do step on that scale its one small measure of your success, to keep in mind the big picture and how you're changing your life for the better!

There are weeks where the scale just doesn't make sense. Some weeks you know you've been bad, and you know you've bended the plan like a pretzel and magically you've lost weight! Then there's the frustrating weeks where you have been a saint, you've eaten right, you've exercised and for some strange reason you've gained! Sometimes it takes two weeks for either a sinful week or an angelic week to show up at the scale, so keep that in mind, keep focused.

When you have an unexpected gain there can be any number of factors to cause our bodies to gain weight

Not eating enough
Liquids, did you know one 500ml bottle of water weighs one pound?
Not drinking enough
Hormones
Exercise
What we eat
Sodium
Medication
Insufficient sleep

I liked one of the analogies my leader made tonight, that weight loss is like a roller coaster we have gains and we have losses. Its up to you to decide if you're on the kiddie coaster or the biggest coaster in the park!

In the end, its all about being healthy!

Another Reason To Stay Motivated

2011-11-01T17:47:00.003-04:00

Today's November 1st do you know what that means? Its the start of NaBloPoMo! That's right, its National Blog Posting Month, so for the month of November we are encouraged to post one blog entry every day for the whole month. I participated 100% last year, so let's see if I can do it again this year!

So hopefully I can use this to spur myself towards getting back on program and loosing weight, by having to face you my readers on a daily basis.

Today's evil culprit I couldn't resist!

I did okay today, though temptation abounded again! I don't think I did as well as yesterday but I did well. This morning at work our breakfast in support of United Way. The tables were laden with big bagels, croissants, tasty loaves, cheese and other goodies. So this morning I made sure I had some yogurt and instant oatmeal on hand before I left the house just in case breakfast wasn't what I considered "point friendly". After perusing the choices I grabbed some fruit and one tiny piece of banana bread (I love that stuff) and took it up to library-land to get away from the rest of it. I was okay until lunchtime when one of my co-workers had cut into one of her daughter's from scratch cakes that was amazingly decorated. I had to try a little piece. Oh my goodness! I had to have a second small piece! It was the most amazing cake I've had so far! I felt pretty guilty about the second piece after I ate it but you can't undo that. Since I had already indulged today I stashed away the two mini chocolate bars that materialized on my desk when I cleared away some paperwork. Those can be my dessert tomorrow night!

Tomorrow evening, I weigh in! Ack!

I'm So Durned Proud of Myself!

2011-10-31T19:22:00.003-04:00

Happy Halloween!!!

I was worried about today, I kept thinking about how hard today was going to be. Not only is it Halloween and the treats are EVERYWHERE but also at work it was our annual Cake Auction fundraiser. So not only were candies easily available but there was cake! Cake! Cake! Oh do I like cake! Its one of my "gonna have it" foods, which means I will allow myself to have some if its up for offer.

I'm very proud because today I had one little two-bite cupcake and only two mini chocolate bars. My focus was THERE today and I was able to walk away from quite a few treats today. Something I haven't been able to do recently. By the afternoon I was pretty tired and didn't feel up to going to the gym. Since the weather is getting colder and there's nothing worse than putting on a cold sports bra (try it at -20c... I dare you!) I've started bringing my gym bag into work. So I changed into my gym clothes BEFORE I left the building, this way I was committed to going to the gym. I had a great workout and came home feeling great.

Instead of weighing in on Saturday this upcoming week, I'll be weighing in on Wednesday because I can't make it to my Saturday meeting. I'm already feeling positive about this upcoming weigh in... I'm being good I haven't peeked at my scale.

My friend Tracey and I in matching pumpkin t-shirts!

Starting Over

2011-10-30T08:00:00.000-04:00

I won't share with you pictures of me in my skinny jeans this week because really there is no difference in my weight from last week's to this.

On Saturday when I went to my weekly Weight Watchers meeting (see yesterday's post for this past week's meeting topic), for the second week in a row! Yay me! Last week I just went, I sat through the meeting and had a bit of a chat with my meeting leader. We agreed that this Saturday I would come to the meeting and buy 8 weeks worth of coupons. So instead of weighing in once a month and not necessarily being committed to going weekly, for the next two months I'll be going in once a week, weighing in and staying for the meeting. Like I used to do for years!

When I went to the scale my leader pulled out a new weight tracker for me (mine was full anyhow) and she wrote "New Start" right next to my weight. So we treated today as my first day so my (new) starting weight is 156 lbs, which as you can see my home scale agreed. I have 11 pounds to loose to get to goal.

I've decided I want to treat this like the new start my leader calls it, and she's right. For months now I've been really not trying that hard. So I'm doing this right, going to meetings, I'm taking progress pictures, and I've taken my measurements. All things I wish I had done when I first started Weight Watchers.

So here I am in my weigh-in clothes at 156 lbs. Many of you may think boy she still looks great, I wish I was 156 lbs and so on. On my short 5ft 2in frame 156 lbs is overweight, and I can see where those 11 lbs are sitting on my body. I can feel that extra weight, see where its sitting, its affecting how I feel about myself. There are days I feel like a failure because I can't get my head around taking off this extra weight and the fact that I've been up since April and not "done" anything about it.

Here are my starting measurements :

Hips - 43 in
Bust - 37 1/2 in
Arms - 12 in
Waist - 34 in
Thighs - 26 in

The one thing I did learn from this is that my waist is up 4 inches from March when I had to send in my waist measurement for my kilt for the Perth Kilt Run back in July.

This upcoming week I will continue to focus on getting back into routine in terms of going to the gym and Taekwon-Do. I will also focus on eating a proper dinner before 7:30 PM.

Week 43 - Tricks Not Treats

2011-10-29T12:19:00.000-04:00

For the second week in a row I went back to my Weight Watchers meeting. I'm going to give you more about my week and what I'm doing in my next post, tomorrow.

This week's topic was "Tricks Not Treats" aka Halloween! Its almost here!

Like many holidays Halloween has been commercialized, it has now become a vehicle to make money, to sell costumes and candy. Once upon a time there were pagan and religious meaning to the day, not anymore. Its a tough day for those of us watching our weight, for those of us are easily tempted by tasty treats that laden store shelves, perhaps your children's treat bags after the day itself, or the little candy bars on a co-worker's desk. Candy pops up everywhere!

Fact of the matter is, candy is full of SUGAR and FAT. I know I didn't get overweight eating fruits and vegetables it was eating crap! When you eat sugar your brain releases serotonin, this makes us happy and in turn your body starts to physically crave sugar! I know that this affects me very strongly and I need to cut out the sugar I keep craving and eating!

It is okay to have 1 or 2 treat sized candies on Halloween but you have to know when to stop and if you're like me its hard to stop at 1 or 2. Also, we're taught at Weight Watchers that no food is off limits and this can work against us when you're an old pro like me and you know how to "work the plan" (aka cheat the plan) so my leader gave us ideas on how to cope with the day and the abundance of candy.

Get Rid Of It! - Pick a time when you're going to give out candy to the last trick-or-treater, when that last kid shows up empty the bowl into their bag! Or take the leftovers into work, worry about your weight not your co-worker's weight!

Freeze It! - Put the leftover chocolates in the freezer it'll take you awhile to eat just one treat and you might have second thoughts about having a second when you took awhile to eat the first.

Go Help Someone Else - If you enjoy seeking the kids and handing out candy, go to a friends and help them give out candies... then you're not tempted by leftovers at home because you just don't have any.

Go Out on a Full Stomach - When you go out with your wee ones to collect treats make sure you're full so you're not tempted to snack on the yummy goodies the kids collect. While you're out there chew some gum or take a nice big coffee or tea in a travel mug and sip on that as you wait for the kids. If you've already go something in your mouth it'll be a challenge to eat.

Ditch the Sense of Occasion - Did you know you can buy chocolate and cadies any time of the year? Yes you really can and snack sized ones are readily available year round now.

Slimming Treats For You - Pick out a few low point tricks for you to enjoy!

I Don't Like It! - Buy candies you don't like to eat

Have a Game Plan - Give out the candies that would tempt you the most first. Don't open the candy packages until the first kid rings the doorbell. Buy your candy at the last minute. Decide how you're going to cope ahead of time so you're not thrown off plan.

Happy Halloween!

Call To Battle!

2011-10-25T00:08:00.001-04:00

Its been awhile since I've felt like blogging about my weight loss... well my lack thereof. Actually its more of a weight gain, to the point that I am now TEN pounds over my goal weight. Sigh, yes I let it get this far, I let it happen, its all me, myself and I.

I took my first steps to getting back to goal this past Friday when I stepped on the scale and I saw that gawd awful 155 on the scale. Some time ago I swore to myself I would never allow myself to get over 150 lbs. That was one big, fat lie because I've been sitting over 150 for far too many months now. I've also been paying Weight Watchers since April, when I gained 7lbs over two weeks and I've just not managed to get it back off again. More like I haven't tried hard enough to get it back off.

Somewhere along the way I lost my motivation, lost my self restraint, my ability to say no to myself. Its often been 4 cookies instead of the 1 I know I should have. I've been inconsistent with exercise, with diet, with tracking, with routine, with keeping my house clean, with putting away my laundry. All of these things are just symptoms of a scattered and unfocused mind, a sign of my mental state which has been just as scattered as my life has felt.

So step one was stepping on the scale and facing the truth that I am 10 lbs overweight which is unacceptable. Step two was getting my butt back into the gym, at Taekwon-Do or tie on my runners (all three I have done since Friday), Step three was getting back to Weight Watchers. I went back to my meetings this Saturday and stayed behind to have a chat with my leader. We've agreed it was a good idea for me to go back to weekly weigh-ins to pay weekly until I'm back to goal, instead of weighing in once a month and only paying there. Hopefully the support and motivation I need to get these unwanted pounds off. Step four has been to track properly, eat properly, and eat proper meals at a consistent time (like not at 8 PM!). So all of these things I have been doing since Friday. I'm hoping for positive results when I weigh in on Saturday morning.

As a motivator to help me get there I put on my one pair of jeans that I know I only fit beautifully when I'm at 145 or less. These are the jeans that are 100% denim there's not one iota of spandex to help hide things. So here is the start of Operation Fit My Jeans! Right now its not a pretty sight, there's definitely an unsightly muffin here!

Not a pretty sight is it?

You're Always On My Mind...

2011-10-07T23:33:00.001-04:00

I know it can't just be me, I'm sure this is a problem every person who has or is loosing weight... I think a bout food a lot, I mean I think about food all the time. I'm either thinking about when can I eat next, what am I going to eat next, how many points do I have left, how many points would that treat be, can I afford a treat, what do I want for a treat, no you shouldn't eat that, or I'm thinking about eating right. I just find I think about food ALL THE TIME!

Last week all I could think about was baking cookies! When I was overweight I baked quite a bit, and cookies was one of my specialties. I would also make brownies, banana bread, and cakes. Nothing makes the day better than a nice piece of cake.

Back to cookies now. Like I said I was dying to bake cookies! I hadn't made a single cookie in over three years, since I started my journey. I love a nice soft, chewy cookie the only hard cookie that's a good cookie is a ginger snap or an Oreo in my opinion. I was thinking about going to a stitching get together with friends last Saturday so that's what I did Friday night, I gave into my urge. Boy I made cookies!

I made a batch of my favourite Big, Chewy Ginger Cookies... they turned out perfect! I hadn't lost my touch. I also made a batch of the classic Chocolate Chip Cookies, not so much of a success but probably because I was baking these after midnight! They tasted great but a wee bit flat, even after adding a little more flour they were still flat.

So I packed up half of each batch of cookies and took them stitching, cookies are best shared with friends! The other half I left here with Todd, he's great for finishing things up so I'm not tempted by yummy, I will splurge until my belly busts foods.

This weekend is a huge one for food as well! It's Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend despite the fact that this should be a holiday to give thanks for the things in our lives, for our family and friends. I can assure you after the last month I am definitely thankful for my family! My Mum doesn't have the energy yet to put on the full spread so I offered to do it this year. Oh boy I started to regret it as soon as I thought about it! I've never been a big one for entertaining or cooking on a "Sunday Dinner" scale. I have actually never even done a roast or a whole chicken before.

Our family dinner is going to be on Saturday and its a pretty healthy one of roast chicken, we're not huge turkey or ham people in this family so I'm going to cook three roast chickens. I cooked the first of three tonight, so that tomorrow I can cook the last two together. Doesn't it just look perfect? Besides the chicken there's going to be green beans, carrots, mashed potatoes, gravy. For dessert there's either the healthy option of fruit salad and/or vanilla frozen yogurt and/or an apple blossom (like a mini apple pastry). So there's a lot of healthy and a wee bit of sinful.

I spent the day today cleaning my house and prepping some of the food in advance for tomorrow. I earned a million activity points today with four hours of housework! Yes I cleaned the house from top to bottom. Luckily I'll get up early enough tomorrow for a descent run before it gets too warm or late in the day, dinner is early around 4 PM!

If you're Canadian have fantastic Thanksgiving and if you have seconds, make sure its worth it!

Run For The Cure 2011

2011-10-03T21:28:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was my 4th year participating in the CIBC Run For the Cure and as you all know because I've been begging and pleading I annually fund raise for this event. Not only did I participate and fund raise this year but I started a team as well at my Taekwon-Do School!

The Almonte Taekwon-Do Run For The Cure Team 2011

For our first Almonte Taekwon-Do team we were 16 strong made up of family, friends, and students! As a team we fund raised $2,845.00! I am so proud of my team and how my friends and classmates supported me this year!

Me & Tracey waiting to start the race

Personally this year I raised $1,600.00 for Breast Cancer Research! I have many of you to thank for surpassing my goal this year!

Some of the 9,000 participants crossing the finish line

On Sunday we ran with 9,000 other people and helped raise 1.64 million in Ottawa alone! Last year nation wide 33 million was raised for Breast Cancer Research through this event. This year I crossed the finish line of the 5K course in 31 minutes, and it was just wonderful running with my teammates!

Not only is this event run across Canada simultaneously, this year a run also took place on the Canadian Forces base in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Is that not just the coolest thing ever?

Greeted by the Ottawa 67 Cheerleaders after crossing the finish line

Keeping warm, waiting to start the race!

Father & son running together

Mother & Son running as well! A great event for

families.

Lots of fun outfits!

We ended off the morning with hot beverages and breakfast!

One Last Run For the Cure Plug

2011-10-01T00:04:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone! I sat down and added up my online donations (which you can see on the right there) and my "old fashioned on paper donations" and you know what? I am only $139 shy of raising $1,500!!!!

That's only 14 donations of $10 each!

Last year I raised just over $1,400 so please if you have the means, help me blow last year's total out of the water by hitting that $1,500 mark!

To donate online at anytime, from anywhere in the world, simply click on "donate now" on the right or click HERE

Coming Out The Other Side

2011-09-29T21:25:00.000-04:00

Now that my Mum is well enough to be home and she's doing a little better every day, I have been walking around with a spring in my step! I am starting to see clearly again, starting to get myself back on track back to my goal weight. I am so tired of hovering 7-8lbs over goal!

Today I popped into the nearest Weight Watchers Center to work and weighed in today because once again I am not going to make a meeting again this week. That and I'm running out of September to weigh in. Normally, I weigh in during the morning, with no food/water in my stomach and in my lightest clothes. That was not the case. I was happy to discover I'm down 1.5 lbs from August! This is good! Movement in the right direction, now to use that as a focus.

I just want to share a few pics with you, I do need to constantly remind myself where I came from and where I've gotten to! That I shouldn't beat myself up when I go through a rough period!!

This picture really is my moment of shame so I'll keep sharing it over and over. Notice the running shoes? That's because I tore a bunch of ligaments in my foot teaching Taekwon-Do overweight!

September 10, 2011, look at that hot chick on the right! Look at those sexy heels I would of NEVER dressed like this before my Weight Watchers Journey. This was my childhood friend's wedding he knew me as a skinny kid, and a fat adult. I like the new me much better!

Modelling my new concert t-shirt last night with a post-concert glow. I am a concert shirt whore, love 'em! I used to get the big XL/XXL frumpy unisex shirts. Now I can buy the form fitting, sexy girlie shirts! I have quite the collection of concert t-shirts now! This reminds me that at 7lbs over goal I still look good in a tight little T

GOOD News and Getting Ready to Run for the Cure

2011-09-27T16:06:00.005-04:00

I got the best phone call ever this afternoon, it was my Mum... from HOME! After four weeks of being in hospital she finally got discharged! It has been a long road to get to this point and its still a long road ahead of us. But its good to know that she's feeling well enough and strong enough to be at home!

I feel like 200 lbs have been lifted off of my shoulders! What a ride this has been! For about the first three weeks I struggled to keep my weight under control on top of dealing with this family crisis. I struggled with it quite nicely for awhile. I managed to drop a few pounds but the last week I have become more and more tired and more and more careless so my weight moved back up to where it was before this all started. Sigh, a little disappointing seeing the number on the scale the last few days. No place like the present to start fresh right?

This Sunday I'll be running again! Sunday October 2nd across Canada is the CIBC Run For the Cure, its a very moving 5K run/walk to raise money for Breast Cancer Research. I had a very close call back in 2007 and this is my 3rd year participating and fundraising in this event. My first year I raised over $600, last year I raised almost $1,500, so far this year I've raised just over $1,000. I was hoping to beat last year's total but life's circumstances got in the way, and I think I've done very well under the circumstances! There is still time to make a donation! If you'd like to make a donation towards my run please go here to donate online, its not too late!!!

If you have already donated, thank you very much!

I think 5K is going to be a piece of cake ;-)

One of Life's Proud Moments

2011-09-24T00:41:00.000-04:00

Despite all that's going on I am still finding moments for life andcommitments I have made and following through with them. This past Sundaywas an event I had committed to back in the spring by registering for the ArmyRun 1/2 Marathon! I had every excuse in the book to drop out, to sell myrace bib this year.

I used the heat as an excuse not to get out and run often and far enough(wasn't it stinkin' hot this year?). Then almost 3 weeks prior to RaceDay life was turned upside down with Mum's hospitalization. I didn't letany of those excuses hold me back or stop me ... I spent the week leading up torace day freaking out, worried about how prepared I wasn't and so on. AsNike says: "Just Do It" and that's what I intended to do. Mygoal was just to cross the finish line, I didn't care how I did it, or how longit would take!

This is what Freakin' Dark O'Clock looks like

I woke up Sunday morning at Freakin' Dark O'Clock! Not my favouritetime of the day. With my bag packed the night before, and running clothesset out, I made a fantastic protein smoothie for breakfast and set out for whatI was considering to be the craziest day of my life!

Can't you tell I LOVE mornings?

Witness our nervous smiles?

I met up with my friends Amy and Marline. Amy was supposed to walk the1/2 marathon (21.1 K) but she sadly declared when I saw her at the end ofAugust that she was "broken again" but that she would be my"Race Day Bitch" aka: chauffeur, photographer, Sherpa, water boy andmore! I couldn't turn that down. Amy was going to take care of bothMarline and I that day, Marline was doing her first race ever, the 5K event andI was doing the 1/2 marathon (did I mention that's 21.1K?).

Marline and I in our Army Run swat. Black = 1/2 marathon, White = 5K

The morning started off cold, pretty darned cold! I started themorning in a sweater but I gave it to Amy once I went to find my startingcorral. I didn't want to be burdened and I knew as soon as I got startedI would be warm enough. By the end of my race, it was a perfect day,sunny and 20c the conditions couldn't of been better!

Injured Soldiers getting ready to start the 5K race

The 5K race started at 8am. There was lots of ceremony to the event,the Governor General's Band was there to lead us through O'Canada, there wereMC's, lots of press and more. The start the race with the injuredsoldiers who get a head start. That was one of the most emotional thingsI have ever witnessed! You saw all kinds of injured soldiers some inchairs, some with one prosthetic leg, some with two. There werewheelchairs, crutches, canes and more. It was truly moving to see allthese men and women whose life have been changed forever serving our country. Marline used to serve in the military and she was doing the race with a friendof hers who was injured while in the service, she's in a back brace. Amyand I both had tears rolling down our faces. Then the 5K runners wereoff!

5K Runners waiting to start

Not long after they took off, I had time for a quick visit to theporta-potty and I had to go find my corral. I had initially pegged myselfas finishing in 2hr 30min. I knew after the summer I had that this wasn'ta reality, I figured I would be more in the 3hr range. The next thing Iknew the Howlizter Cannon went off and it was time to get moving! Iturned my music on as I crossed the start line and off I went to conquer 21.1 Kas best as I could!

Getting a high-five from Marline at the 18K mark

The course took us past Parliament Hill, The Supreme Court, National Library& Archives Canada, National War Museum, across the river and into theprovince of Quebec for a jog through downtown Hull, back across the AlexandriaBridge, past the National Art Gallery, National Mint, 24 Sussex Drive (the PM'shouse) and up to Rideau Hall then back towards the Rideau Center, down onceside of the Rideau Canal across it and back up the other side to the finishline.

My initial goal was to run as long as I could, I figured somewhere between5-8K the do the rest of the distance at a run/walk (10 min/1 min). I evensurprised myself and RAN THE FIRST 14 KM! Well over half of the distance!

Mark who had already run the 1/2 Marathon talking me through the last 2K to the finish line

I knew a couple of other people who were running the 1/2 Marathon thatday. My buddy Mark from Taekwon-do passed me when I was at the 3K mark andhe was at the 6K mark. Carrie from work passed when I was at the 14K markand she at the 16K mark. It really was a bolster to see friends runningtoo! I had the best surprise when I hit the 19K mark and I was startingto run out of steam and my body was starting to protest. Mark who hadalready ran the 1/2 marathon was waiting for me and asked me if I'd like him torun the last few KMs with me. I certainly didn't turn down theoffer. Mark was amazing, he kept up this continuous pep-talk to keep mymoving and my spirits up when I was nearing the end of my endurance. Because of Mark I finished, and I finished strong!

V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!!!!

I couldn't believe it as the finish line came into sight and I saw 2:55:10on the clock! I was going to cross the line in UNDER 3 hours! 2:49:42.6 was my official time when you take into account the time differencebetween the gun going off and when I actually crossed the start line.

Receiving my medal from a Canadian Soldier

Nice touch! Dog tags for medals!

Looking amazingly fresh and happy after finishing my FIRST Half Marathon

This was one of the most amazing, empowering, and positive moments in mylife! Right now I feel like I could do anything! I'd like to thinkthat one of my strengths is how when I put my mind to accomplishing something IWILL accomplish it no matter how hard the challenge is.

Cooling down afterwards and using my cool silver blankie as a super-hero cape! I felt like a super-hero!

I went from this fat, unhealthy 200+ pound girl in 2007 who the only time youwould of seen her running was out of a burning building, to running a 1/2Marathon 21.1 K!!!

You can do truly amazing things when you're stubborn!

Meeting Topic Aug 28-Sept 3 : Shop Smart!

2011-09-04T22:17:00.001-04:00

I am finally on the road back to getting myself back to "normal", back to goal. I started on Monday with getting back in line with what foods I eat, the portion sizes and not saying yes to every treat that comes my way. I also was successfully exercising daily until my Mum went into the hospital on Wednesday evening (but I did finally get a run/walk in today). So the third step to my "recovery" was to get myself to a meeting, and make it become a weekly habit (like I used to). These three pillars will be the key to my success.

This week's meeting was about how to handle the many temptations that the supermarkets present. How many times have you been to the supermarket and come home with a treat or four that wasn't on your list because you bought it on impulse or the sample tasted good or the bakery smells overwhelmed your willpower?

A blurry cellphone picture of my grocery cart after the meeting on Saturday

So the key is to somehow avoid all these evil temptations to make wise choices! Here are a few strategies to help you out:

Plan ahead, decide what meals you're going to prepare that week and add missing ingredients to your shopping list. - I rarely plan my meals more than 24 hours in advance but I have a list of standard ingredients I keep in the house that usually make my usual repertoire of dishes.
Divide your list into categories (produce, dairy, meat, etc) so that you know exactly what you're wanting to buy in that are of the store. - Again something I dont' do
Don't go hungry, if you need to have a healthy snack before you go shopping. - Since I often go right after work I don't have that luxury unless I planned an extra snack when packing my lunch that morning. I'm not beyond entering the store, getting my cart and heading right to the packaged baby carrots in the produce section (which is the first area you enter), opening them and snacking on them while I shop. I of course always pay for them before I leave! That helps keep me out of trouble... most of the time. If you have a hard time with samples try chewing gum while you shop. Myself, I allow myself to have the samples, I just don't buy the product.
Shop once a week so that your food is always fresh!
Shop smart by buying items in bulk. - But then its not smart to buy something in bulk if it goes bad before you can finish it! I buy my fruits and veggies in bulk because we eat so much of them!
Be aware of supermarket psychology - Its all planned, from the music to the smells, to the layout and the end caps (those are the ends of the aisles where promotion/sale items are displayed).

I am still coping well enough with my Mum's illness and the fact that she's in the hospital. I am doing my best to eat proper meals, they may not be at the hour I'd like them to be at but I'm eating the right foods. I had a very strong urge to stop for an ice cream on my way to the hospital this afternoon but I didn't. I wouldn't be doing myself a favour and I don't think my Mum would be happy to watch me put weight on due to stress/distress.

I'm Here, I'm Trying to Come Back

2011-09-03T00:10:00.000-04:00

Its been a long time hasn't it? If you're here, reading this and checking in on me thank you so much for sticking with me! It just proves that there are people behind me in my struggle to "stay skinny".

What a struggle it has been! Back in late March/April "staying skinny" suddenly hit a stumbling block. I ate myself up seven pounds in two weeks. Despite affirmations from friends and the people around me with the usual line that I truly hate "don't worry, you'll get it back off" echoing in my ears I have not gotten it off. So I'm still not where I should be, my goal weight. As of this morning's weigh in I am currently 8.2 lbs over my "magic number" In terms of weight loss over the summer I seemed to fluctuate up and down three pounds but I've not even cracked that 5lbs within my goal weight.

I've had stints this summer where I have a very good 2-3 weeks I eat right, track honestly, and move more. During that time I'll fight tooth and nail and drop 2-3lbs 0.3-0.5lbs at a time no big drops in weight just little dribs and drabs. Then the next thing I know I gain over a pound one two weeks in a row and I'm back where I started. Its almost been like a broken record for months now.

I saw an all time high at the scale on Monday, after a weekend of camping... which I wasn't as bad as I could of been. Also I did some very serous trail running and hill training with some friends leaving me very sore. I found myself weighing 157 lbs. Oh boy, not good at all, when you consider my goal weight is 145. I did have a sneaking suspicion (since I was up 3 lbs from Friday) that some of the weight was due to fluid retention and lactic acid in my poor muscles! I started that morning weighing and measuring all my food, tracking every lick, taste, and bite and managing temptations. I also decided at the moment that I need to weigh myself daily so there are no Friday morning surprises anymore! Its been encouraging this week to watch the scale drop a little each day. This morning, I was down 4lbs from Monday! From last Friday's official weigh in to this Friday I'm down 1 lb which is again, encouraging especially considering most weeks where I have had losses they've been under a pound.

Here's the last couple of months at a glance:

The sad thing to all of this is I should be able to do this, I should be a success, I have been a success. For some reason it just doesn't want to click, and when it does click its for a few short weeks.

So this week the motivation is there and I feel like I can do this.

Where have I gone wrong for months now? I can assure you these are all excuses:

exercise has been erratic, good weeks where I earn more than the minimum suggested activity points according to Weight Watchers (over 28)
exercise excuses : too hot to run (actually it was a stupid hot summer), too tired, raining outside (bullshit because I have a treadmill), too busy, etc. My distance running has seriously suffered since the Kilt Run at the end of July, partially because that was such a hard race for me. I think I made it into the gym less than 5 times, the only times I did go into Taekwon-Do was when I was on the schedule to teach
Not tracking
Half assed tracking
Dishonest tracking
Poor eating and a little too much ice cream
Too much fruit, yes there is such a thing
Getting into the habit of eating when I got home from work despite not really being hungry
Eating dinner very late (between 8-9 PM)
Having a quick snack right before going to bed despite not being hungry
Eyeballing portions
Stupidly going to the Lindtt Chcolate outlet and buying a ridiculous amount of chocolate, now on the upside I did gift a lot of it and share a lot of it.
Did not go to any Weight Watchers meetings all summer long, but I did make a point of weighing in once a month ... and paying which is required of a lifetime member who is over their goal weight. Sadly having to pay $17.00 to weigh in has not motivated me enough to get my act together.

So you can see there many stumbling blocks that I have shared with you, areas for me to improve upon. Like I said I started fresh again this Monday, like I have too many times to count this summer and here's what I've focused on:

Weighing/measuring food
Tracking 100% honestly, every lick, taste and bite
Almost daily exercise, I've run almost 17 km this week, gone to Taekwon-Do once, the gym once. I managed to get in some form of activity Saturday-Wednesday this past week
No tempting foods, no treats except the ginger cookies I allow myself to have in the house.
I turned down pizza for lunch on Wednesday
Despite the temptation to get ice cream on two occasions this week I didn't
I'm dealing with a VERY SERIOUS STRESSOR and I've not reported to stress or emotional eating AT ALL (so far)
Despite being 10lbs over goal weight on Wednesday (155 lbs) I went and weighed in for the month anyhow, I was very tempted not to bother but I made myself go.

Besides deciding it was time to take the bull by the horns, get this soaring weight under control I've had a very tough week. I work in a school, and the kids come back next week so its been crazy trying to get my library ready for the first day of school (next Tuesday), and I can assure you ... its not ready. This summer I had to deal with packing my entire collection into boxes so the room could be completely emptied for the carpets to be replaced. When I came back from holidays I lost a week of unpacking boxes to working in the main office since all of the administrative assistants were still on their holidays. I then lost two days this week to software training... not only was I dealing with a collection in boxes, I have a new library software to learn.

Then on Wednesday night my Mum was taken by ambulance to the hospital. She had not been well for some time now, but we couldn't get her to seek medical attention. This week things were bad, and my Dad had to resort to calling 911 to get some help to get my Mum to the hospital. She was admitted that night, and she's been there since. We don't have a clear picture on what's wrong yet, we just know its to do with her liver. So between trying to get the library set up at work the last two days (which I must admit was not very productive) I've been spending my evenings at the hospital keeping my Mum company until visiting hours are over. Its been emotional, its been hard its been stressful.

My Mum is not well, she's very weak but I'm already seeing some improvements. Her colour is returning (last time I had seen her, she had a grey pallor), today the IV fluids were no longer needed and she's gone from IV antibiotics to being given a pill. She's eating her meals (she wasn't eating), and drinking plenty of fluids. She's had a few tests already, an MRI is next on the list.

At this point I need to stay positive, to not just take care of my Mum but take care of myself. To remember to stop and eat good food when I'm hungry, and drink my water. I've realized over the last two days that I kept forgetting to drink my water. At the moment I've not been tempted to bury my emotions by shoving food in my face but if that urge does arise I hope I can recognize it and do my best not to give in. I also will be challenged to find the time to exercise (and to run... I'm doing a 1/2 marathon in 16 days!) as my Dad does need a break from being at the hospital, so I've been spending the evenings there so far.

My shift at the hospital tomorrow isn't until the evening since my brother is able to take care of a few hours. So I'm hoping to go to a meeting in the morning and get in a run. Ideally I'd like to get in 5-10K, if my run ends up being on the shorter side tomorrow, then Sunday will definitely be the day for my long run.

So there it is... I've laid it all out here for you and the world to read. My shortcomings (failures) this summer, my repeated attempts to jump start getting back to goal. I'm not sure how long it'll be before I post again since I am dealing/coping with an ill parent.

Here are some pictures from this summer of some of the things I did, I did enjoy my summer.

Fishing with Todd... no I don't want to kiss the pike!

Playing tourist in Quebec City

Teaching at the TKD annual outdoor training/camping weekend

Taking in a show

Running To Save Boobies

2011-09-01T00:25:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone, I'm sorry I haven't blogged all summer... months actually. I am going to go into that in my next post because I do intend to resume this blog and let you know how I've been (not) doing since I last blogged.

I wanted to let you know about a worthy cause that is very close to my heart. For the last three years I've participated in the CIBC Run For the Cure. This is a charity run/walk that takes place across Canada on the first Sunday in October, which happens to be October 2nd this year. The point of this 5K run/walk is to raise money to support Breast Cancer research and education programs.

Every participant gets a race bib that says "Who Are You Running For?" its very emotional to read the messages that people wear proudly that day. Who Am I Running For? you may ask. I'm running to help create a future without Cancer, because back in the spring of 2007 I had a Breast Cancer scare.

In late March of 2007 I went into my (awesome) Doctor for my annual physical exam, during that exam she found a good sized lump in my right breast. I can't explain to you the emotions that went through me at that time. I was scheduled for a Mammogram and Ultrasound which happened in mid April (Mammogram = not fun, imagine putting your boob in the fridge door and trying to close it shut). The very next day my Doctor, not the receptionist, not a nurse, not the lab called me AT WORK. When that happened that's when I became scared, Doctors don't call you personally at work. She wanted to see me that day... the next at the latest. I am very proactive about my health care and I went to the doctor's that afternoon. The news wasn't good, I had to be scheduled for a biopsy.

I cried while I drove home. Cancer is VERY scary!

It was a few rough weeks between the ultrasound, biopsy and results... weeks that drove me crazy, trying to be patient.

I am one of the lucky ones my lump was not Cancer

I'd like to ask you to help me meet my fundraising goal! This year I'd like to raise $1,000 towards Breast Cancer Research by making an online donation no amount is too small. Anyone from anywhere in the world can donate online.

Click HERE to go to my personal donation page.

Help me work towards a future with no Cancer!

Perth Kilt Run

2011-07-02T23:06:00.000-04:00

Lookin' Sassy In Me Kilt - waiting for the bagpipe procession to the Starting line

This evening I participated in my second race which happened to be the 2nd annual Perth Kilt Run. Its an 8K/5mile race through the historic town of Perth and one of the oldest golf courses in the area. To participate in this run, the kilt is mandatory! You can either use your own or purchase one with registration. Despite having Scottish ancestry I sadly do not own a kilt! Well I do now! It may not be my family tartan, but it is the tartan of the Province of Ontario. I also got a nice new top from the Running Room for the race, they went on sale just before Canada Day (which was yesterday). I really like it, its comfortable, and well I look great in red!

Posing in front of the Tay River before going to the start area

Waiting for the signal to start

Today was going to prove to be beautiful and HOT! Sadly at gun time (6PM) it was still about 30c far to hot to set a new personal best! I was determined to just have fun with this run and not to take it or myself too seriously. I would of liked to have run the entire distance but I only made it to the 3.5K mark when it was time to turn on my interval timer to do a 5:1 run/walk interval. My pace was really suffering for the heat! Also despite claims that it wasn't a very hilly course... boy it was! Especially when we were going through the golf course. At the 6K mark I got hit with bad cramp in my side. So all plans to keep up with my intervals went out the window. I walked when it hurt and I ran when it didn't.

A piper on the green

The finish line

It was a hard grueling run and my pace was down quite a bit! I finished the 8K race in 63 minutes. I imagine if I could of run at a better pace I could of done it in the 50's! Oh well, there will be more races!

L to R Vincent (Jason's brother in law), Jason and baby Logan, Richard, me

I didn't enter the race alone, my friends Jason (new Daddy!) and Richard from Taekwon-Do ran the race as well. We all agreed it was a tough course and a hot day! None of us set a personal best today!

At the moment my next race will be at the end of September the Army Run 1/2 Marathon! I am still shaking my head over entering this one! I think if I do any more races between now and then they will just be smaller ones, 5K's.

Not Doing So Well

2011-06-17T23:51:00.000-04:00

I am frustrated with myself and my inability to shake this weight. Its actually not the inability but the constant self-sabotaging over and over again. I'm at an all time high since achieving my goal weight of 145 lbs, this morning I weighed in at 153.8 I've not weighed this much since December of 2008 when I was loosing my weight. Its been 11 weeks of good tries at it and half-assed attempts, I really wish I could say its been 11 weeks of trying hard of eating 100% properly but its been not. Its been one week of working hard, being active, eating right, and feeling proud of myself to being stupid and feeling like a piece of shit about the food I've shovelled into my face until my stomach hurt.

I go to bed each night and wake up every morning with the best of intentions, I have a good breakfast I pack a healthy lunch and snacks for the day... some days I even have to pack dinner too because of either teaching at Taekwon-Do or my Ultimate Frisbee games I don't have time to go home after work. My house is stocked with the best of intentions too. But good intentions don't get good results and kinda sorta doing it kinda sorta doesn't work either.

I don't know what to do with myself I don't know how to make it "click" again. When I was actively loosing my weight I had no problem resisting, saying "no thanks". Now its using the backhoe to shovel whatever's sweet into my mouth.

Something needs to change, the sweets is one of them. I'm thinking something else needs to change but I'm scratching my head at what it is. I am eating empty calories, yes but I'm not just eating empty calories and I'm not running a deficit when it comes to my daily/weekly/activity points. I'm also earning a minimum of 20 activity points a week so its not my old habits of eating anything I want and sitting on my behind. My activities are a combination of Taekwon-Do, walking, running, the gym and ultimate Frisbee. So its not a my workout being static either.

I'm also tired of hearing people say "don't worry you'll get it off". Sitting at over 150 lbs for 11 weeks now, yeah I'm worrying and I'm tired of my pants feeling tight.

Weekly Meeting Topic Week 22: Best Supporting Actors

2011-06-05T11:16:00.000-04:00

Who supports you?

A key element to being successful in your weight loss journey is to have a personal support system in place. This can be your own personal cheering section, someone to help you second guess your food choice when you're about to make a poor one, someone to go get in a work out with, and so much more!

So who is your best supporting actor, who would give you an Oscar to?

Family (parents, kids, etc)
Your partner
Friends
Co-Workers
Fellow WW members
Online (Weight Watchers message boards & other weight-loss communities, facebook, blogs, and so much more)
Weight Watchers magazines and Success stories

Some people don't have a support system, you may feel you don't need one. Are you keeping your weight loss journey a secret? Why? You can't do this alone and having a support system to encourage you along, and help keep you accountable will make you more successful in your weight loss journey.

More importantly, don't forget to: THANK YOUR SUPPORT SYSTEM!

I have to thank EACH and every one of you, you're a huge part of my support system and deserve a huge "bravo" sticker from me!!!!

Before I end this post I wanted to share with you a poem my leader gave us before leaving as she was talking about that if you believe in yourself you will achieve your goals.

Believe In Yourself

Believe in yourself, in the power you have
to control your own life, day by day!

Believe in the strength that you have deep inside
and your faith will help show you the way!

Believe in tomorrow and what it will bring,
let a hopeful heart carry you through

For things will work out! If you trust and believe
there's NO LIMIT to what you can do!

-- Author Unknown

The words "Believe... Achieve" are words I see every time I walk into the Dojang at Taekwon-Do and for some reason I never let them really sink in... they sunk in on Saturday, not at the Dojang but at my WW meeting! I'll never take them for granted again.

The Week In Review May 27-Jun2

2011-06-03T21:45:00.000-04:00

Once again my week started off well with good intentions. Points-wise I did well every day except Wednesday, but I had a slight issue with ice cream this week. That' and Wednesday's atrocious eating contributed to a 1.8 lb weight gain. I'm still not nipping this weight gain in the bud but I keep trying.

Here's my week in review (click to biggify)

The Good

I ran my first 10K race ever on Saturday!
I ate well Friday-Tuesday
I have kept out of the candy dishes at work
I scored my first point ever at Ultimate Frisbee!
I keep going to my weekly WW meetings
I tracked honestly (despite Wednesday)

The Bad

I did not exercise enough this past week, I only ran my 10K and played Ultimate
Ice cream!

The Ugly

Wednesday: I started out with a good breakfast but then I wen to a 1/2 day meeting. I started off with a muffin bar. From there it went to two slices of awful pizza (I don't mean evil pizza, but pretty crappy pizza that wasn't worth the points). I should of stopped at one or really not eaten it at all. Then there was a piece of cake, then a decadent ice cream bar. After I got home from Ultimate I ate two bowls of cereal and 5 chocolate caramel rice cakes. Yup it was a disastrous over 40pt day!!!

Upcoming Challenges

Ice cream, I can only have it once this week (which I did tonight).
Get in one long run this weekend
Be active 6/7 days
Cook dinner!
I'll need to keep running, I just registered for a 1/2 Marathon in September with Amy!

Weekly Meeting Topic Week 21: Exercise

2011-06-02T20:41:00.000-04:00

Sorry I didn't post last week's meeting topic any sooner. I figured I deserved a break on Sunday, I taught at TKD all night on Monday, Tuesday I had a massage and chilled, Wednesday I wasn't home long until I had to head out to my Ultimate game. So I've been busy-ish, and definitely getting to bed earlier than I used to.

Last Saturday's meeting topic couldn't of been a more timely one, as the topic was exercise and what was I doing that evening? Why running my first 10K race that evening!

What can I say about exercise that I haven't said in the past? Not much, really. You've heard it before, and you'll hear it again, find an activity that YOU LIKE and go from there... go out and enjoy it! If you're not used to being active start slow, don't expect to go out and run 5K if you've never run a day in your life and you have bad knees. Maybe your start is just a walk around the block, then the following week, two laps of the block. Its a start... and you're moving! According to the gurus at Weight Watchers they suggest we earn 4-6 exercise points per day. How long it takes you to earn those points depends on several factors, how much you weigh (obviously someone who weighs more will burn more calories when they walk that block, than the person who has their last few pounds to loose) and what your level of exertion is (low, moderate, high). Also you don't have to do that activity all at once it can be spread out through the day. I have to admit I've got to work pretty darned hard to earn 4 points in under 30 minutes!

So what are your EXERSCUSES?

Too hot/too cold
Don't have the time
Bad knees
Don't like to sweat
Too tired
Don't like it
Don't like doing it alone
Don't like doing it in public
Gyms are expensive
Its raining outside
There's too many bugs

The Martial Artist

The Runner

I've managed to go from being an overweight Taekwon-Do instructor, to a girl within 10lbs of her goal weight (the body just doesn't want to go there no matter how hard I try), now a 3rd Degree Black belt and instructor whose skills have improved because I'm much slimmer. Not only that, I go to the gym to lift weights, as my previous post proves I'm a runner, and just in the last two weeks I started Ultimate Frisbee (never played before, and scored my first point last night!). When you read about all the things I do now, remember if you're just started your journey I was where you are now, sitting on my couch shovelling food in my face, not even wanting to try. I did start out walking for my activity because I couldn't do Taekwon-Do due to a bad food injury that had keep me inactive for a year and a half. Its taken me over 3 years to get to this point.

I DID it!!!!

2011-05-29T21:30:00.000-04:00

Amy & I after the race

What an emotional roller coaster yesterday was for me! Amy was telling me by Thursday she had butterflies in her stomach! I didn't have any, but boy I sure had them by Saturday afternoon. I think there's nothing I hate more than waiting to go somewhere, which I was waiting to leave, and hoping Todd would get home in time to come with me. I think that's the least I can ask for my partner to be at the finish line for my first race!

It took us a little longer than expected to get downtown (we had picked up my best friend Christin on the way, being at the finish line is also a best friend duty). There was a bad accident that really backed traffic up, and of course we were reaching 30 minutes before race time so there I was FREAKING out. So at an opportune moment I jumped out of the car to walk to the starting corrals. I was in the purple corral which is for those of us who think we can finish the 10K in 71-80 minutes, the corral right before the walkers. Yes, I'm that slow!

I was somewhere around this group of people its the purple corral coming through but neither of my photographers managed to spot me at the start line

For awhile I milled around in my corral with all the other cattle. Suddenly a cheer went up, it was 6:30 and the race was starting. Of course it was a little while before we started to even move (being that far back), we walked most of the way up to the start line then off we went in a slow jog. It was pretty warm and humid out so I made up my mind within the first few minutes to just take it at an easy pace (for me) and not kill myself. Also considering this was my first 10K and there were sooo many people that at times you slow down navigating around walkers and slower runners.

Its a huge event imagine everyone with faster finish times than 71 minutes had already gone by!

Before WW

I had a couple of emotional moments shortly after the start when I was running along Queen Street in Downtown Ottawa. The tears started to well up and my breathing got ragged, I just wanted to cry. Just amazed at how far I've gone/come since I started my Weight Watchers journey in February 2008. Once upon a time I was over 200 lbs, with a badly injured foot (torn & partially torn ligaments, because I was over 200 lbs doing Taekwon-Do), and even before that injury the only time you would catch me running was out of a burning house with a cat under each arm.

Here I am about three and a half years later having lost all my weight (well pretty much, the last 10lbs just won't budge), something I would never imagined I could have done at some point. I thought that I was just meant to be fat, that it was genetics. Not only did I loose over 60lbs, but here I am, I find myself a RUNNER! Something I started doing because it was my Achilles heel, my most hated and dreaded activity. Not only was I running, but I was running a 10K in Downtown Ottawa at the year's biggest running event! I can tell you its not easy running and crying at the same time. I had to get my emotions under control and choke my tears back and just RUN!

What was my other emotional point you might ask, why the obvious moment of course! CROSSING THE FINISH LINE!!!

The race wasn't as easy as I had imagined it would be, part of that I would put down to the humidity and the heat (not that it was that hot, but I'm still getting used to running in warmer temperatures). I was very glad for the new hydration pack I bought at the Sports Expo on Friday when I picked up my race kit. I did need sips of water as I went along (I don't normally run with water on me) and we didn't get our first water station until 5K and well when you're running you know you end up wearing more of that water than drinking it!

The first kilometer felt very long, but tings didn't feel rough until I hit the 8 KM mark I was really struggling in terms of my pace and psychologically! Up to that point I had managed to catch up to and get ahead of the 70 minute pace bunny, but slowly that slipped away and I just didn't have the omph to go any faster and I could feel my pace really struggling until I got to that last kilometer. The crowds thickened, with cheering, cow bells and noise makers. Little kids were reaching out for high fives (and I made a point of getting a few along the way). As I got closer to the finish, I could hear people in the crowd cheering go Danielle! There were complete strangers taking the time to pick up my name off of my race bib and cheering me on! What a pick me up that was!

Sadly the closest Todd & Christin could get was just after the finish line so no victory shot but I will probably buy the over priced official photograph when they're posted!

When I reached that finished line I threw my hands up in the air, tears in my eyes. There it was, I had done it, it was over!

After the race with my first run medal ever!

I posted a finish time of 1:11:29 (or 71 minutes and 29 seconds), exactly where I had pictured myself to finish. So now I have a baseline, and can stat to look towards setting a personal best!

The stats from my Nike+ sensor (see how I slowed at the last 2K)

My next race? Why I've registered for the 2nd Annual Perth Kilt run! This is an 8K race, where the kilt is mandatory! I really can't wait this run is going to be so much fun, and hopefully I'll have some fun photos for you, I might just try to run with my camera, who knows. I won't be doing this race alone, my two buddies from Taekwon-Do will be doing the run as well!

Amy & OMG we're athletes!!!

Eeek! Race Day Is Here!!!

2011-05-28T00:01:00.000-04:00

It all started back in the fall over a casual conversation with my friend Amy at work. We started talking about maybe doing a REAL race. The big event in this area is Ottawa Race Weekend with a 5 & 10K on Saturday and a full and half Marathon on Sunday. About fifteen minutes after our conversation Amy came back waving a piece of paper in my face, it was her registration for the Race Weekend 10K. So I rose up to the occasion and registered right away. Good thing we did because the 10K sold out by January/February this year!

I have NEVER done anything like this, anything this BIG. Yes the last three years I've done the Run For the Cure 5K (and I will do it as long as I physically can as its an important cause to me), but it is a unofficially, untimed charity run. Race Weekend is so big it brings 25 million dollars in revenue to the city of Ottawa! Three years ago I would of never of imagined/pictured/thought about taking part in Ottawa's biggest 10K race of the year! Here I am, 3 years later, 63 lbs lighter, and I AM a RUNNER!

I won't be setting any records this weekend, nor do I think I ever will set a record. I'm aiming for a 75-70 minute finish time but really I'm just aiming to enjoy the experience and finish with a smile on my face, and maybe a tear in my eye.

Amy, thank you for pushing me! Can't wait for our 1/2 marathon challenge this fall... guess we should get registered right?

Week In Review May 20-26

2011-05-27T23:40:00.001-04:00

Sadly, my good efforts this week didn't pay off this week, I gained 0.6lbs but that's pretty small in the scheme of things I suppose. I was a little disappointed with it because I thought I had a descent week, lots of activity (running, walking, ultimate frisbee, and Taekwon-do).

Tomorrow morning I'll be weighing in (and paying up). The sad thing is when you weigh in monthly your weight tracker doesn't really reflect what's gone on in the last four weeks. It doesn't show that my weight went even higher, then I've dropped it back down roughly to where I was when I last weighed in... but not to be within 2lbs of my goal weight which is why I'll be paying up. Since I've lost the bulk of my weight, its just so hard to make my body lose anything, even after I've put on a few too many undesirable extra pounds. I'm at a loss for what to do/what to change to make the weight shift.

So here's my week at a glance (click to biggify)

The Good:

I exercised 6/7 days this week
I started a new activity, Ultimate Frisbee... I had never played before! I quite enjoy it and my teammates were very patient with me.
I got out for a 9.75K run on Saturday evening, I'm definately ready for my race this Saturday!
I did very well with the candy dishes this week
I am still doing well with temptation!
I am still tracking honestly

The Bad:

A little frustrated that my efforts didn't pay off at the scale
I think my food is getting static and I don't know how to change
I had a migraine Thursday night

The Ugly:

I can't think of anything ugly, so I guess that falls under the good category????

Upcoming Challenges:

To keep my chin up and keep on the right track towards weight loss
Keep to my 6/7 days of activity per week
Come up with some changes to shake up this body!
Running 10K on SATURDAY!!!

Weekly Meeting Topic Week 20: Breakfast is for Champions!

2011-05-23T22:06:00.000-04:00

I think the topic of this blog entry says it all! Once upon a time during my teens I wouldn't eat breakfast. I used to sleep as late as I could, showering the night before, rolling out of bed 10 minutes before the bus would show up, get dressed and knock back a cup of tea (I have never been a coffee drinker) and hop on the bus and go to school. If I did grab something to eat, it was always a chocolate chip muffin from the caf. Healthy eh? No wonder why I went from a size 13 to a 16 in high school! I don't think working in the grocery store helped either.

One day during another one of my many migraines in high school my art teacher asked me if I ate breakfast. Well, we all know that answer... no. I recall that the idea of eating in the morning used to turn my stomach. At that point I started trying to eat in the morning. Now I often find I'm certainly hungry and ready to eat in the morning!

Why is breakfast important? Well like gas in your car, its fuel for your body to get you up and going!

What are the benefits of a balanced breakfast?

Helps avoid snacking and overeating
Provides energy for activity
Boosts concentration and focus
Delivers nutrients for good health

Let me share with you some of my breakfast favourites:

Reduced sugar apple cinnamon oatmeal (instant) with raisins
Fiber 1 Crunch Original cereal with banana, raisins & milk or bananas, strawberries & milk
Peanut butter roll up - small whole wheat tortilla with peanut butter on it, roll it around a banana
Smoothie - 3 frozen strawberries, 1/3c frozen mango, 1/3c mixed field berries, 1 banana, 1/2c milk, 1 small container of low fat yogurt, 1/2c water, 1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder, sometimes a dash of honey to make it nice and sweet, it tastes like candy!
Yogurt parfait
Mini bagel & light cream cheese
Hard boiled egg on whole wheat toast
Apple with peanut butter and raisins

Can you tell I like bananas and raisins?

My leader shared a recipe with us and actually had a little sample, it wasn't bad and a good idea to have in the fridge

Marianne's Dog's Breakfast (aka: Breakfast of Champions)

2c quick oats
1/2c bran flakes
3/4c orange juice
1/2c milk
1/4c honey
1 apple, grated

Mix all the ingredients together, keeps in the fridge for 1 week
1/2 c = 6 points, supposedly this is super filling!

So what are your breakfast go-to meals?

Wow! Saturday is getting closer and closer! My 10K at the Ottawa Race Weekend is that evening! Eeeek!

Week in Review May 13-19

2011-05-21T15:16:00.000-04:00

Another week, another pound. Well actually, that's 1.4 lbs the scale moved in the right direction again this week this time with a better number from the week before! Slowly I hope I'm well on my way to getting rid of my recently gained weight. Only 6 lbs to get back to goal, 4 lbs so I don't have to pay at Weight Watchers! I don't think that will happen for this month, since next week is my last opportunity to get weighed in for the month of May. Miracles have happened...

The week I would say started out well, and went fairly well. I do see a trend though, I do really well with the temptations until about Wednesday then things go downhill. I would say I ate pretty well all week long until then, for some strange reason I have this urge to pig out Wednesdays/Thursdays. Am I afraid of my own success and trying to subconsciously sabotaging myself?

So this is what the week looked like (not bad I'd say):

The Good:

I've earned a lot of activity points this past week and I'm back to running, but the weather wouldn't co-operate for outdoor runs. We pretty much had rain every day this past week.
Each week I feel I'm doing better dealing with temptation
I went to my WW meeting today, 3 in a row now!
I'm up to 21 days of tracking honestly

The Bad:

Candy dishes continue to haunt me
Everywhere I turn at work lately there seems to be food up for grabs somewhere!
I hit the mid-week slump and started making some bad food choices

The Ugly

I ate way too many cookies on Wednesday (but they were tracked)
I've been having some issues with migraines this past week

Upcoming Challenges

I don't think this food thing at work is going to slow down, we're heading into our last month of school soon and food seems be ever present at this time of year. I have to just focus on not giving into temptation one more day that the previous week and eventually it'll be all seven days!
Next Saturday is Ottawa Race weekend! Eeeek! My 10K is upon me!

Setbacks Lead To Comebacks...

2011-05-17T19:18:00.000-04:00

Setbacks lead to comebacks, if that's true.... why are comebacks so hard?

I've been playing lip service to getting these 8 lbs I've put on back off again. As of yesterday I've started yet again to get "serious", to get back on program. Boy is this hard oh so hard. At home my environment is temptation free, but work is a different story. On Monday alone, two candy dishes with chocolate on it, more chocolate on the back counter at work, cinnamon buns, and assorted fruit breads on a table in the staff hallway, and cupcakes in student services. Each of these traps I had to navigate yesterday, I almost crumbled a few times but I didn't. I'm proud of that. Today, not so many stumbling blocks, the same candy dishes are well stocked, I did spot cupcakes again, and one different temptation doughnuts. Arrrgh! Again I walked away from all of this. Day two, successful.

The other thing I'm coming back from is that darned cold I had over a week ago now. It took until mid last week to get my energy levels back. This past weekend the congestion in my lungs finally cleared up and I ran for the first time on Saturday morning in 10 days. It wasn't a big run, only 2 miles running 5 minutes, walking 1 minute. No where near the 10K I'll be running in 10 days. Today I had to fight myself to get back on the treadmill after work (the weather has been so cold, wet and miserable, almost like October). Tonight I managed to run for 15 minutes (at a slower pace than before my illness) without a walk break, I was determined to put in 5K tonight. The rest of the time I ran at a 5:1 ratio. I completed it, proud of that.

This comeback is going to be a really long road. I just have to keep trying, eventually it'll stick.

Weekly Meeting Topic Week 19 : Managing Relationships

2011-05-17T08:22:00.040-04:00

This past week was a busy one and I knew I wouldn't be able to make it to my regular Saturday morning WW meeting so I felt well enough and had the time to go to my old group on Tuesday nights. There were still a few familiar faces there, it was nice to see them!

Last week's topic was about managing your relationships. No one does or can loose weight alone, no matter how you try to keep your weight loss plan a secret from others when you don't go looking for help you're setting yourself up for a tough journey.

When I thought about joining Weight Watchers, initially I was going to keep joining WW top secret from EVERYONE! Then I gave myself one of those V8 slaps on the forehead... why should I be ASHAMED to admit that I needed to loose weight and that I needed help to do it. No one should be made to feel ashamed when they're moving onto the right path? So I came home, told Todd and told the world and right away I had a HUGE support network of family and friends 100% behind me all the way. So please don't keep your journey top secret, let people know and let them help you!

In the meeting we talked about three different personality types :

Jealous Jerri

this person is jealous of the success of others, or their strength to change themselves and their life

Polly The Food Pusher

this could be a family member or a friend or your Mom who feels food is love and they love to cook/bake your favourite dishes that are not weight management friendly. This is also the person that often will tell you "live a little, have just one". Sometimes one is all that takes that could lead to a binge.

Negative Nelly

this is the person that sees the bad in every situation and will not hesitate to let you know. My best advice if you have one of these people in your life is just not to SHARE ANYTHING with this person, because when you want to share something that you're proud of or makes you feel good, this person will point out the negative and leave you feeling like shit

The long and the short of this is you need to be aware of these profiles above and recognize who these people are in your life. You need to find the best strategy to deal with them. Or use their traits to fuel your fire, and PROVE THEM WRONG! Ask for help from those who are important to you, and be specific with how you'd like them to help you.

Never forget, to thank the people around you for their help and support. A kind thank you always goes a long way!

Weekly Meeting Topic Week 18 (getting caught up): Can You Dine Out and Still Lose Weight?

2011-05-15T20:21:00.000-04:00

This is the meeting topic from two weeks ago, when I started going back to my meetings. I didn't post this sooner due to being sick, then spending all week getting caught up from being sick!

The quick answer to the above question is ... YES. I lost all of my 63ish lbs going out for dinner once a week on average. I go out for dinner almost every Friday evening with my bestie Christin. Over the years we have evolved from going out for groceries together (Christin doesn't have a car so we shop together and I drive her around) and a fast food hamburger, to going to the gym followed by grocery shopping and dinner out. So every Friday we have managed to turn a mundane chore into a social event and a chance to get caught up.

In this day and age many of us don't eat all 21 meals in a week at home, I don't do you? When you're first starting a weight loss plan I think one of the most terrifying things besides starting to exercise is that first trip to a restaurant. You could turn the invite down, you can stay home, safe, eating your safe foods. But honestly, is that real life? No! If you don't learn how to cope with social situations and food right away you never will be able to. I am the first to admit that some events I'm successful in my plan of attack, and at other times I'm a complete failure. In a social situation its easy to fall prey to unhealthy choices or fall into the habit of eating the same/similar foods as the people you're with.

So how can you be successful at weight loss while having meals out?

Come up with a plan to stay on track
Go armed with your dining out booklet from Weight Watchers
If you don't have one or WW isn't your weight loss method, become a restaurant detective! Once you know where you're going for your meal out hop on the Internet try to find the restaurant's website, check out their online menu (if they have one) and in this day and age, more restaurants have their nutritional information available online.
With the above information go to the restaurant armed with the knowledge of what choices off of the menu are best choices for your weight loss goals... and something you'll enjoy and order that. To not be tempted by any other choices, turn down a menu and be sure to order first, then you are not tempted to change your mind.
Look for key words when decoding the menu like grilled, steamed, roasted, baked... etc these are all healthy words.
Become a food snob, ask to have your dish prepared a particular way, ask for sauces on the side, replace high fat/calorie sides with extra vegetables, salad, baked potato, etc.
Be a restaurant snob too, be the one to suggest the restaurant or if someone makes a suggestion that you know would tempt you too much, or you know you can't eat there healthily, ask if you can go to a different restaurant
Ask for a take-out box when your meal comes and package 1/2 of it away for leftovers the next day
Have an appetizer as a meal
Avoid alcohol, it will weaken your resolve or at least make sure you've ordered your meal BEFORE you have that drink.
Water is your friend, ask for a glass of water to go with your drink at dinner
Have a light low calorie/zero point snack before leaving the house, never go to the restaurant hungry!
Ask the server not to bring the bread basket/chips/etc.
Put your fork down while you're chewing and take some time to talk to your friends/family during the meal
Order a kids/seniors meal
Share dessert
Have a coffee/tea to sip on after dinner then you don't feel left out over decadent desserts

Yes, eating out can be scary but there are so many tactics above that if you stick to your plan you can enjoy your dinner out!

Week in Review May 6-12

2011-05-15T19:53:00.000-04:00

After last weekend being a rough one, from being sick I finally started to feel better on Tuesday. The week just improved from there. The end result of being sick though was all the getting caught up which I felt like I was doing all week. Not only was playing catch-up all weekend but I was spending my other free moments getting ready to have my friends over for a stitching get together! It was our usual routine of stitch-eat-sleep!

Now as for my journey to get my extra 8lbs off, sigh. I'm only down 0.4lbs this week, but its a move in the right direction.... right? Every little bit helps. I was awesome for the first part of the week, but once Wednesday rolled around, my resolve and will-power started flagging. I admit to some bad choices in the latter half of my week.

So here's my week at a glance (click to biggify)

The Good

Moving towards making more better choices each day
Tracked honestly for 17 days in a row
Gone to WW meetings two weeks in a row
Exercised each day that I could
Starting to feel better and better about myself
The scale moved down a little

The Bad

Wasn't healthy enough to run this past week
Started being tempted by sweets
Busy = No proper dinners

The Ugly

Thursday saw more sweets going into this girl's mouth.

Week in Review April 29-May 5

2011-05-06T23:19:00.000-04:00

Oh what a week! I woke up on Tuesday with a sore throat and it just all went downhill from there. Tuesday night I went and saw Bon Jovi in concert despite the sore throat and exhaustion. I think that's the one night all week long I had my best sleep due to being so tired, I've not slept through the night since.

So the sore throat on Tuesday progressed to a cough on Wednesday, to stuffed up Thursday night. Today its full on congestion, cough, and low grade fever. Oh yeah, and I can't TASTE anything, nothing, nada. Sigh. Did not make it to the gym or anything today!

This morning was the dreaded weigh in day and that's just what it turned out to be, I had hopes for a stay the same or maybe loose 1/2 a pound maybe even a pound. Nope I gained 0.8 lbs so now I'm pretty much 8lbs over my goal weight.

I had a not bad week food-wise, a number of days I ate over my daily allowance but not wayyy over. I still had weekly points left. Now I did have some empty calories this week, on two occasions I was brought a cupcake (which never happens) and well cake/cupcakes are one of my never turn down foods and they were both worth the points. On the other hand I earned over 40 activity points, I did some sort of activity 6/7 days this past week. The result of my efforts and honest tracking... a kick in the face. Fingers crossed, its just my body's reaction to this cold and that next week will be better. So I'll continue on this course of tracking honestly, trying to do some sort of activity 6/7 days a week (today had to be a rest day so I'm hoping I'm feeling well enough for a walk tomorrow). Hopefully I'm feeling well enough to go to WW tomorrow morning.

The Good

I made it to my WW meeting on Saturday
I exercised 6/7 days this week
I tracked honestly every day
Have managed to vary my food menu all week long

The Bad

Still having sugar cravings and sometimes giving into them

The Ugly

I have a awful cold!
Probably ate too many empty calories (2 cupcakes, 1/2 slice banana bread, a few too many oatmeal chocolate chip cookies), but I tracked all of them!
Had a bad craving for chewy, soft oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, and started eating around my carving. So I knew it was best just to buy the smallest pack I could get from the grocery store bakery and get it out of my system. At least Todd helped or the damage could of been worse.

Upcoming Challenges

Shake this cold, and be healthy for race weekend
Try to remain active without making this cold worse
Continue to track honestly
Try to eat less empty calories
Go to my WW meeting

Weekly Meeting Topic: Learn to Play With Your Food

2011-05-01T23:35:00.000-04:00

I think many of us who are trying to loose weight often fall into the same trap, the same one I'm guilty of finding myself in a lot of the time. Eating the same foods day after day. We like to think we're helping our weight loss efforts by sticking to a known menu. We know the calories, we (mostly) like the foods, and well its just plain easy.

Sadly, the body is a pretty clever thing. The body gets used to consuming and processing these foods, in the end it becomes very efficient and processing those calories. When this starts to happen, the body starts to hang onto its fat. Not only does your body start to revolt by slowing your weight loss, but you can be setting yourself up for sabotage. You can start to feel deprived, which can start with a splurge, leading to a binge, which often leads to a sense of guilt and you cold end up abandoning your weight loss efforts.

How do you stop this by happening, but by playing with your food! I don't mean really play with your food but mix up your menu!

Here are some ideas to help you mix things up :

Review your A-Z food list, pick out something, a fruit or a vegetable you've never tried before
Try one of the recipes in your Weight Watchers Weekly
There's a wealth of recipes out there, in WW cookbooks, magazines, and so many more online
Match your menu to the season, the warmer weather is here its time for spring and summer salads, slowly local veggies and fruit will come into season, enjoy them while they're here.
Swap recipes with a friend, have dinner at someones house and enjoy a healthy meal? Don't be shy to ask for that recipe

It was suggested one should have a wide range of meals to pick from:

10 different breakfasts
15 different lunches
20 different dinners

I guess I've got some homework to do!

Is Today My Turn Around Day?

2011-04-30T19:40:00.000-04:00

Weigh in on Friday morning, was not good. I wasn't expecting to be up two pounds. I am currently 7lbs over my goal weight. Something, honestly I'm quite ashamed of. I'm just letting my success slip away it seems lately. Its like a car wreck, I've been watching it, doing nothing to help. Of course I let the scale dictate the tone of my day, I was not a happy camper. Whose fault is this? My own, yes I have to take ownership of that.

Not only was the scale a huge warning sign to me yesterday, but my friend Amy came and talked to me. She read that I needed to set a goal, and like good friends do she threw down the gauntlet for sure. We have agreed to register for the Army Run in September for the 1/2 Marathon. Are we going to run it, we don't know but they do allow walkers in this 1/2 marathon. So now I do have this huge challenge looming after the summer is over. Amy also told me about the 100 day challenge she's given to herself. To track and to track HONESTLY for the next 100 days. Well Amy, I hope you don't mind me stealing this idea!

Let me show you last week's tracking, and I've written on it exactly what it is...

Lies you ask? Except for the total lack of activity points I was well within my daily points right? WRONG. I was tracking creatively, tracking what I felt like tracking, even randomly assigning low points values for food that I knew were higher. All in attempt, I suppose to make myself look good "on paper" to see those average numbers and think "hey I'm doing not bad". Do you know how many times I delved into the various candy dishes at work and did track a single chocolate or treat? Several times a day!

So yesterday was day one for me, I tracked EVERYTHING honestly! I also stayed away from the candy dishes (yay me!). For some reason yesterday I wasn't very hungry and had a HUGE point surplus (like 12) at the end of the day. So in the end I did go and enjoy a SMALL DQ dipped cone after dinner with my friend Christin. Really who could eat 12pts of healthy food and not be ready to explode. Really I didn't eat enough points through the day (breakfast/lunch).

Today, day two is going well so far, and there's really only dinner left to the day and maybe a snack between dinner and bedtime. What has made today my turn around day? I woke up and decided it was time to face the music. I went to my Weight Watchers meeting, weighed in and paid up (since I was more than 2lbs over my goal weight). I stayed for the meeting and took notes for a blog entry (will be separate from this one). After getting home I went out for an 8K run. It was too nice of a day to not, and I need to start getting in a longer run once a week. I then decided it was time to clean my house. I don't think I've done anything besides scrub the toilet bowl since leaving for Arizona back in March.

I truly believe that your home is a representation of your mental state. Mine was getting kinda disgusting. So I've got a clean home to reflect a more streamlined mental state. I've exercised the last two days, and I'm back on the road to going to Weight Watchers meetings weekly.

So from now on, there's only one way to go, up... I mean down.

I THINK I've Figured It Out

2011-04-28T15:26:00.000-04:00

For some time now I've been down. I wouldn't say unhappy but no-so-happy. Hard to be excited about anything, hard to be my smiley bouncy self. I've been wanting to stick close to home, I've been tired.

Last night I was asked by someone I've known in the Taekwon-Do community since almost day one who I don't see very often how I was doing. He could tell in my voice that things were just okay. Not "great" as I would often say, because yes I'm usually great. When we had an opportunity to talk he asked me what my goals were.

At this moment it clicked. What are my goals? I like to think I'm a goal driven person. I like to have things to strive for and things to look forward to. At times in my life its been Taekwon-Do promotions, tournaments, weight loss, and well there's my stitching too. I find something and I become determined like hell to do it!

I think right now I'm lost in the woods with no compass, a runner with no finish line.

I do have Ottawa Race Weekend coming up in about a month now. For this, the biggest challenge for me was actually registering. I've run 10K in the past (on my own), I know I can still run to 10K. From the moment I registered I have stated this is just a goal to complete, even if I have to do some walk/runs I will go and finish this race. At this point I'm still not excited or nervous about race day.

I was asked about my 4th Degree Black Belt as a goal. At the moment that's more of a long term goal, and I have to get out of this funk and just go and TRAIN for this to happen. Well that and I need to go to an International Instructor's Seminar before I can qualify to test. The rule of thumb is one year per current belt level before you can test. This November will be my 2nd year as a 3rd Dan so I technically can't test until at least November of 2012. Of late I've not felt as driven or pushed to go and do better, be a better martial artist. Again this could be all a part of this whatever feeling I've got. Getting my 4th Dan would be a lovely feather in my cap, the first female 4th Dan at our school. Yup I should get on that.

I've not been to a Weight Watchers meeting since early April, when I last weighed in. At first it was because I was away, but really that was only one weekend this past month. The other meetings have been missed because, I didn't want to go/get out of bed on a Saturday morning. This Saturday its time to go and face the music, get weighed in (the weight hasn't really budged but its not gotten worse), pay for being more than 2lbs over my goal weight, and get back into the habit of weekly meetings. I haven't wanted the support that my Weight Watchers meetings have offered in the past, I probably need this the most right now and I've kinda turned my back on it. No one can be successful on their own.

So all of this has led to some very poor eating on my part. Giving into my cravings, poor food choices, eating when not hungry, eating just because, and not exercising (my week ends at midnight and as of right now I have 7 activity points for the week... normally I get 25-35/week).

Its almost sad that I've gone from this focused, driven person to what I used to be, a lump sitting in my chair at home stitching or taking a nap. I don't want to be that person anymore or ever again. I want to find my drive and vigour for life... I need something to strive for, and I don't want it to be just maintaining my weight (yes I want to do that), because that has been my life focus for over 3 years now and there's more to life that that.

I CAN do it

2011-04-20T22:40:00.000-04:00

Greetings, I'm not 100% back to normal yet. I'm still having up days and down days, the down days still seem to out number the up days. This means I'm having good and bad food days. I'm still struggling to get my inner food monster under control. I constantly catch myself eating when I'm not hungry, eating just because, eating to fill something that's empty or bothering me. I just wish I could pinpoint what's causing me to be down and at times eating out of control. Its not full on binging but its moments of unnecessary eating and giving into cravings. I am also been trying to make myself exercise when I really don't want to.

So I am trying to do the right things even if I'm not being as successful as I'd like.

Last week's efforts found myself only loosing 0.5 of the 5.5 lbs I put on. I don't have high expectations for this week's weigh in as I'm still not being smart with my food.

As for the I can do it part... I was determined this year to do at least one official timed race. Back in the fall I registered for the Ottawa Race Weekend 10K (it will be near the end of May). I have been running on the treadmill all winter long in preparation for this, and in the last few weeks I've been getting outdoors for some glorious road running. I must admit I have a huge mental block when it comes to running at the treadmill. I for some reason have it in my head that after 3KM I just can't do it any longer. Really, its not interesting running, staring at your partner's assorted tools stored in the basement. With the recent warmer (sometimes) weather I'm getting out doors and putting in a little more distance 4-5KM but still not the 10K I'll be doing in about 5 weeks.

Tonight I got on the treadmill, when again I didn't really feel like doing it (it is very cold and wet out today!). At first I told myself I would be allowed to get off after 15 minutes. Then I decided I could get off at 2 Miles. After I passed that point, I decided to make it 5KM, then I finally thought to heck with it, I was going to put in a 10KM I had to do one sooner or later. Now I didn't run the entire distance. I did run non-stop for the first 30 minutes, after that I ran at a 5:1 ratio (run 5min, walk 1min). I was impressed with myself, that yes I could make the distance and that I was able to run at a consistent 5.7 on the treadmill. When I first started running a few years ago I ran at a 4.8 and was doing a 1:5 ratio. I have come a long way.

Now that I know I can do it I won't be stressing out about Race Day, too much. I also registered for a second run, this one is on July 2nd. This is not just any run, but a 5 mile KILT run... yes a KILT! The kilt is mandatory to participate in the run. I am really looking forward to this run, its going to be so fun. I promise you there WILL be pictures!

By the way, according to the Nike+ site since October 2010 I have run over 300 KM. How's that for a fat chick who was appalled at the idea of running?

Today's Lesson

2011-04-13T20:04:00.000-04:00

If you look closely, every day has a little lesson for us.

After being a Weight Watchers member for over 3 years now I learnt that I cannot buy sweet temptations in more than single servings. Today was official Eat a Cinnamon Bun in front of Dani Day. Twice someone was sitting/standing right next to me eating a cinnamon bun! Oh my gosh the second time this happened I was ready to die, just wishing the ground would open up and swallow me whole, I wanted one THAT badly! It was such a bad craving that on my way home from work I stopped at a local grocery store known for descent baked goods (I wasn't having just any cinnamon bun, it had to be a good one if I'm going to have one) and picked up a pack of 4 from the bakery (sadly I couldn't buy just one as I would of liked). I couldn't even wait to get home I ate one BIG gooey, sticky icing covered tasty bun as I drove home (not an easy job in a 5-speed manual). By the time I got home I had another 1/4 of a bun.

This is just the perfect reminder that I can only have sweet treats in controlled servings or where I can give the rest to someone else. Even after 3 years I can't buy a 4 pack and have one the next day. I have to eat them all and I have to eat them now!

Soooo, 2.75 cinnamon buns ended up smushed up in the garbage can when I got home, removed from the package and all so that I couldn't "rescue" any of them. Sabotage was necessary.

Penance, 4.6 miles on the treadmill, 3.25 of it running the rest at a brisk walk... 60 minutes of praying to the treadmill gods.

Stepping Back for a Bit

2011-04-09T10:53:00.000-04:00

I've not blogged here in a few weeks now. I am not dropping this blog, its just one of the many things I don't want to face lately. I'm not coping well with life in general right now, I'm exhausted, I'm not happy/myself, I'm not really caring much about staying on track with my weight loss/maintenance plan. Actually I've been downright sloppy over the last two weeks. The end result, is that this week I gained 6.5 lbs... yes I'm suddenly 6.5 lbs over my goal weight.

Have I been pigging out?

Not really.

Have I been binging?

Not really.

I've made too many poor choices, I've not tracked honestly, and I've not really cared. I have exercised the last 7 days and its not really made a difference at the scale, so that's not helping the caring side of things.

I feel every bit of this 6.5 lbs on my body, I feel rolls and fat where there wasn't any (or much) before. I don't think this is helping the current mood at all.

So for now I just want to stay at home, and stitch, not really talk to anyone nor follow through with things I've committed to. I actually didn't show up to something I should of today... sure I'll hear about it in the end.

Oh well.

So I will be back, just be patient with me, its just hard to write when you have nothing positive to say or at times I just don't want to say anything, I just want to go back to bed.

Week in Review March 18-24

2011-03-26T14:34:00.000-04:00

Its been a long time since I've done one of these! Travel and life got busy real fast. March Break was great and I enjoyed getting away (though I didn't enjoy the long hours spent travelling to SW Arizona) and seeing some great friends, that was followed by one of my Stitching Retreats where we eat far too much food!!!

At Dateland, Az. enjoying my first Date Shake since 2007 oh yummy!!!

When I returned from Arizona as I mentioned before I came back 2.5 lbs heavier, and this week I weighed in down 2 lbs! So that extra trip weight is almost gone! The nice thing is I didn't have to work overly hard to do it. Yes I did work and I watched my points but not as strictly as I can sometime. So it was a pleasant surprise, that and I stayed off of the scales during the week, there was no peeking.

So here's my week at a glance:

The Good:

Got back to running the morning after I got home
Got in two runs outdoors, its warming up!
Getting my eating back to normal seemed easy this week!
Was NOT tempted by chocolate, candy or other treats
Didn't buy a single treat this week (victory!)
Exercised almost every day except Wednesday

The Bad:

Gained weight while in Arizona
Did better at my food choices at Retreat this time, ate some junk but not as much and lost weight despite it, I usually gain weight after retreat
Didn't exercise Wednesday or Thursday
Didn't get to the gym despite my best intentions

The Ugly:

I don't really think anything ugly stands out at all from this last week

Upcoming Challenges:

Its my 35th birthday tomorrow, so there will be cake with my family tonight (there was cake at work yesterday). Cake is one of those foods I don't turn down, now I will leave a piece after a bite if it doesn't taste good. On the other hand I know it will be a healthy meal with roast chicken and the assorted fixings. I'm very fortunate that my Mum is an excellent and conscientious cook, also my Dad watches what he eats too (we gain weight very easily in my family) so I know I'm eating a tasty "safe" meal.
I won't be getting to the gym on Tuesday or Wednesday. I'm hoping to get a run in on Wednesday night once I'm back at home.
I'm hoping to continue on the good stretch where it comes to eating well and not being tempted by the foods I love.

I did get myself an early Birthday present on Thursday (thus the reason for missing the gym). Todd and I decided that when I was ready we'd get another cat. When I met this little guy, I just fell in love... his markings are just gorgeous! Todd has fallen in love as well, now Hunter he's growled, hissed, and given the kitten a few clawless swats.

Flashback

2011-03-23T22:52:00.000-04:00

Last week I was away visiting my good friend Kathy in SW Arizona, I had gone for the first time back in 2007 before I started my weight loss journey. I went back this year, 3 years later. I wanted to share these two pictures with you.

March 2007, almost exactly 3 years ago before starting my weight loss journey, and I thought I looked good then???? Oh my gawd!

March 2011 at the same entry point to Mexico 3 years later -- I LOOK AWESOME!

I am getting my feet back under me after so much travelling (4 countries, 4 weeks ... Canada, Dominican Republic, U.S. and Mexico)! I did come back from Arizona 2.5 lbs heavier, due to too many extra treats, and at least one meal out every day... I find American restaurant food is not so waist friendly. On the up side I did get to run outside twice during the week.

Jetsetting Again!

2011-03-11T21:03:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the blog silence, I've had a very rough week. It all started last Tuesday (the 1st), with my car needing $700 in work! Ouch, but if it keeps the car on the road another 6+ months it'll be worth it. Then this past Monday my car door was frozen, Todd broke the driver's side door handle. Sigh. The worst of all, was this Tuesday. I took my 15 year old cat Cuddles into the vet to have a sore on his front leg checked out. It was heartbreaking, but I had to have him put down. There was an infection and several other issues. I cried and cried and cried! That was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I've caught myself doing some emotional eating at times. Then at times I'm not eating until my stomach growls. Food has been weird and exercise scarce. The result of this is being up 1 lb this week. I guess I can consider that a victory of sorts seeing as I could of just gone overboard.

I'm doing it again, hopping on a plane tomorrow morning to go and visit my friend inin Arizona!!! After the week I had,I need a vacation and some SUN! I'm looking forward to seeing Kathy, heading up to Phoenix(ish) to see my good friend Judie who is down there on vacation right now. There's a little trip to The Attic (needlework store) planned as well! Can't wait for some retail therapy!

Don't worry, there will be lots of pictures when I get back!

Oh yeah did I mention that next weekend is the annual Knowledge and Needles March retreat! So I'll be coming home on Thursday and hopping in the car Friday to go stitch with my friends! What a whirlwind.

Stitch. Eat. Sleep.

Weekly Meeting Topic Week 9: Shake It Up

2011-03-06T15:09:00.000-05:00

It was nice to get to my meeting for the second week in a row, but I'm afraid I probably won't make another meeting for at least two weeks. This upcoming Saturday I'll be getting back on a plane again, this time heading to Yuma, Arizona to visit with my good friend Kathy for March Break. I'm not sure if I'll have a chance to get to a meeting while I'm there, I'd like to. Its always nice to go do a different meeting and get a different perspective on things. Looking at my schedule this week I don't think I can squeeze a meeting in at a different location.

I did weigh in at my meeting on Saturday, and I'm down 1.5 lbs from February, so that's awesome! It'll be a challenge to keep it that way while I travel again.

This week's meeting was about shaking things up. Many of us get into a rut, a food rut and an exercise rut. I'm the first to admit this. I tend to eat the same/similar foods a lot of the time. Not for the same meal or the same order but my grocery shopping list is pretty static.

Also my exercise routine, well its same old, same old at the gym. I blame things being the same at the gym because I just don't know better, I'm afraid to experiment with weights on my own for fear of doing it wrong and hurting myself. Sadly I just can't afford a personal trainer at the gym I go to, they want you to commit to 3x a week for a minimum of 3-6 months. I just don't have thousands of dollars on hand to do that. I wish the gym I went to (Goodlife) would allow you to hire a trainer to help design a program to fit your goals, show you how to execute that program and the techniques, then just check in with that trainer every 2-4 weeks. That I probably could afford. I must admit I always look upon the people at the gym with trainers a little wistfully, and with a slight tinge of jealousy.

So we need to shake things up, especially if our weight loss starts to slow or even plateaus. This can help you reach your weight loss goals. Also if you eat the same foods and do the same exercises constantly one of two things can happen. You can become bored very quick, give up or give in to binging on unhealthy foods. Or if you keep it up (like I tend to) your body becomes used to that calorie intake/calorie burn and will hold onto your extra weight. You need to change things up to keep your body guessing.

4 Ways to Mix Up Your Meals

Experiment with new recipes
Swap recipes with another WW member, ones you know that are good!
Add a new fruit/vegetable now and again
Revamp old stand-bys

4 Ways to Mix Up Activity

Add accountability - I actually keep a calendar I write all my work outs down on and how many days in a row I earned activity points.
Put on some music - music is used by athletes to focus, get in the zone and pump themselves up.
Try variations, walk a different rout, try altering speeds, etc.
Buddy up

Another shot of me in the D.R.

Well, that's it... short and sweet this week.

Week In Review February 25-March 4

2011-03-05T00:07:00.000-05:00

Me at an ocean-front restaurant in Santo Domingo, D.R.

This week has been spent trying to get my body back to normal after my Dominican Experience the week before. While I was away I was VERY mindful of how much I ate as the diet was pretty much based on carbs and protein (rice, white bread, plantains). I really paid attention to my body's hunger signals!

My weight is doing very well! I weighed myself the morning I left for the DR and I was back down the 3lbs I put on the week before. Upon my return last Friday I was down another 0.5 lbs SUCCESS!!! This week, my weight stayed the same. Last year's trip I put on 5 lbs then another 3 lbs the following week.

Since I returned I've been dealing with severe sugar cravings and lack of self control that I had last week. I used to have a strong will over my cravings and food urges when I was actively loosing my weight, now I find that its just not there.

I was very disciplined when I got home last week that Saturday morning, despite flying from 4PM to 12AM and going to bed after 3AM I got up for my 9:45am Weight Watchers meeting. I've got every intention to go to my meeting again tomorrow morning and weigh in for the month.

Before I went away I stopped in at my Doctor's office. For months I've not been feeling well, not feeling like myself, tired, no energy, no desire to go out, do anything, etc. I had also been experiencing really bad night sweats for a few weeks prior. Also my migraine medication just wasn't cutting it anymore (I have been able to manage with Excedrin for Migraine for a few years now), so I wanted to be put on something else to help manage them. Yesterday I went in for my follow-up. My blood work came back fine, my liver function, hemoglobin, thyroid, and B-12 levels are fine. Now my Iron is on the low end of normal but nothing that couldn't be helped through diet. So I came away with a few information sheets on how to get more Iron in my diet. Also something I've done on my own is to double my vitamin D dose, instead of taking 1000 units/day I'm now taking 2000 units. There is no harm in taking higher amounts of vitamin D and there are studies starting to show that 1000 units/day may actually not be enough. So if you're feeling down, low on energy and live in a Northern climate think about increasing your vitamin D dose if you don't already take it.

Here's my week at a glance, I ate very well, except I had a bit of a junk food splurge on Wednesday (the dangers of your gym being above a grocery store).

The good :

I lost weight while in the Dominican Republic
I have maintained that weight loss
I have gotten my eating back on track with a tonne of fruits and veggies (how I missed you!)
I have been able to get back to my exercise schedule of Taekwon-Do classes and visits to the gym
I tracked honestly this week
Today I managed my cravings
In one week I'll be on vacation, heading to sunny Yuma Arizona with an overnight trip to Phoenix (more sunshine!)
I am feeling 100% myself again!

The bad :

Cravings for candy and chocolate
Giving into those cravings
Hitting the candy dishes at work pretty hard Monday-Thursday.

The ugly :

Between Wednesday and Thursday I consumed a whole bag of the new mini Reese's PB cups (oh how I love you)
I also ate 1/2 a bag of pretzel sticks those two days
I had to spend $700 on my car this week. I needed a new front right bearing, windshield washer fluid pump, two lights, a rear wiper blade, oil change and when putting the wheel all back together a bolt and its bracket were stripped so that required replacing the calliper because it is attached to said bracket. That probably didn't help the eating either.

Dominican Experience 2011 - Day Two, Feb 19th

2011-03-03T23:31:00.002-05:00

Nom-Nom-Nom-Nom, come read all about this delightful treat on my other blog!

I'm Home! Weekly Meeting Topic Week 8 - Portion Control

2011-03-02T21:44:00.000-05:00

Me and the Dominican Experience gang at the La Romana Airport

I hope you've all not dumped me because things have been quiet for awhile now. I've been back home since early Saturday morning from my "field trip" to the Dominican Republic. I went to the DR with 10 students on a 3rd world experience (I know, I know this girl has a hard life right?) the trip did me a world of good! Not only was it a great experience but the 7 days of sun and 30c did me well. I'm finally feeling good! Now if I can just keep this feeling... and hopefully with my trip to SW Arizona in 9 days I'll keep it rolling.

I am reporting about my Dominican Experience on my other blog and you can read about Day 1 HERE. I will continue to share the links to the reports as I blog about each day, just give me some time to get through it all. In an ideal world I'd like to get it done before I head to Arizona.

I weighed in the day I left, two Fridays ago and I'm happy to report my weight was back down, 3lbs! So I was very happy to know I was heading off on this trip at my goal weight. My next concern was to be mindful of what I ate while I was gone, I knew this trip wasn't a free ticket to eat whatever I wanted to for a week. Last year I didn't cope with the trip very well, food wise gained about 5lbs while in the DR then put on another 3 during March Break (last year the trip and the break were back to back). I then weighed myself the first morning back (Saturday) and I was down another 0.5 lbs. Success! I was just so proud of myself to be in an alien environment for a week and to loose weight! I also didn't have access to a gym nor was there the time or environment to allow me to go out for a walk or run. This week I've been dealing with getting my food and exercise back on a normal schedule. I'm really struggling with candy cravings and I've been giving in, a bit disappointed in myself there. I hope to do better tomorrow, each day is a fresh start.

I did make it to my meeting last week (Saturday morning) and have every intention to make it again this upcoming week. It was great to be back, and I was welcomed with a big hug from my leader. The meeting topic was portion control, something we always need to be reminded of.

We all tend to get "portion distortion" after awhile, become comfortable with the plan. So if you don't already do so religiously its a good idea to weigh and measure your food on a regular basis to be reminded of what a cup or a 1/2 cup really is. We tend to eat with our eyes and don't listen to our body's physical hunger signals.

Did you know that :

In the 1950's the average dinner plate size was 9 inches?
That Today the average dinner plate size is 12 inches?
That the average male waist in 1950 was 35 inches and the average woman 30?
Today the average male waist is 39.7 inches and the average woman 37?

Its just amazing how life and society has changed since the time of my grandparents or my parent's childhoods. We still eat like our grandparents did, but they used to work hard, walk and cycle more, driving or riding in some sort of vehicle was a treat. Today we eat as much or more, we drive almost everywhere, and we're "too busy" to exercise.

So how do we practice portion control?

At home :

use a scale to accurately weigh foods, especially meats
keep your measuring cups and spoons in a handy location or on the counter in plain sight
level off when measuring
use ziplocks and pre-portion your food in advance
write the point value on food packages
plan and prepare meals in advance
be aware of what a serving size is

While dining out :

Doggie bag 1/2 of the portion before eating
order your sauce on the side
Replace other foods/starches with vegetables
Order salad dressing on the side, then dip your fork in the dressing before getting salad on the fork
Order a kids/seniors meal
Share

This past week's inspirational saying was "If you kinda do it, it kinda works. When you really do it, it really works"

Have a good week!

Taekwon-Do Makes Me Happy

2011-02-15T22:29:00.001-05:00

If you're a regular reader here (not that I have a long history with this blog... yet) or a long-time reader of my other blog Dani : Black Belt Stitching Wizard you know I've been involved in Taekwon-Do for many years. I first tried out a little bit of a class back in 1997 when I was visiting a friend in Texas who was taking TKD. I must admit I was intrigued. When the opportunity arose I tried out a school here at home, and well I have to admit I never looked back! So this May will be my 14th year in TKD. Now there have been a few breaks here and there over the years but I've always found myself going back.

On Monday evenings I teach the "Little Tigers" class, I have the most adorable group of 4-6 year old boys. Yes girls are allowed, but for some reason I have no little girls in my Monday class. I have to admit that yesterday by the time I was leaving work I was in the WORST mood ever, I was frustrated, angry and upset over a few things that were going on that really were beyond my control. Then I received a call asking if I could teach all classes last night. That would mean besides working a 7 hour day I now had to teach for 3 hours from 6-9PM. After the day I had at work the last thing I wanted to do was teach three classes in a row (4-6 yrs, 7-13 yrs, and adults). All I could think was if the kids acted up boy oh boy thins would not be good, there would be sit-ups and push-ups in their future. I also, I really had no plan.

I have to say I was never so happy when my little guys came into the dojang. The minute they came in and said hi to me and asked to go in the dojang my bad mood instantly lifted. It was like my bad day had never happened! Bless those little guys! By the end of the night I felt like a million bucks, all my classes went so well, I think my students enjoyed it and I know I enjoyed teaching.

If you're not familiar with Taekwon-Do, it is full of protocol (which I love). One of the first things we do, before entering the dojang itself (the training area) besides taking our shoes and socks off we bow to the room. This bowing represents leaving your job, your family, your life, your day behind because you are there to open yourself to learn TKD. Nothing proved this more to me than yesterday.

After the morning session, colour belts and black belts in attendance

This past Saturday Senior Master Lu hosted a full day patterns seminar. Its the first event like this I've attended since returning to Taekwon-Do after my injury a few years ago. It was a fantastic refresher and I enjoyed the day!

The Almonte Taekwon-Do contingent with Senior Master Lu (center)

Week in Review February 4-10

2011-02-14T11:06:00.010-05:00

Once again I started the week with good intentions, yet again but it didn't go well. The scale can certainly attest to that. Those three pounds that crept on at the beginning of the week stayed put with me by weigh-in day on Friday. I've been good enough though to stay off of the scale for now. So I'm now up to a point where I don't like to be, and I can feel those extra pounds on my body. I'd really like to try and get rid of the 4 lbs I've put on in the last two weeks before this upcoming Friday... before I go to the Dominican Republic. I won't be sunning myself on a resort beach with a buffet and umbrella drinks, but on a third world experience with students from my school. I did this trip last March and the week I was away and the following week I put on about 8lbs and it took me until August 2010 to have a weigh in where I didn't have to pay at Weight Watchers. So I'd like to take care of a few pounds this week... if I can!

I didn't make it into a Weight Watchers last week, getting ready for this "field trip" has taken over my life! I also had a Taekwon-Do seminar all day on Saturday which is my usual meeting day. I am pretty sure I won't make it in this week either. If there is any day where I'll have the time, it'll be Wednesday and I should try my best to go.

Here's a snapshot of my week :

The Good :

As promised, I did something for myself (see my previous post, Taking Care of Number One) a good haircut is always uplifting
I got myself to the doctor and talked to her about how I've been feeling. I'll be getting some blood work done, and I now have a new migraine medication.
I exercised 6 out of 7 days! I got to the gym, to Taekwon-Do, ran and a bit of a walk on the night I got my hair done (had to park quite a few blocks away)
By Wednesday I started feeling "back to normal" and have been this way since
I only had one migraine

The Bad :

I did not eat as well as I would of liked
I am still not dealing with treats and temptation very well
I didn't cook one "real" meal all week long
Still not tracking 100% honestly

The Ugly :

Obviously my weigh in, I am currently above my 2lb allowance from Weight Watchers
Chocolate, need I say more?

Upcoming Challenges This Week :

Continue to get myself back on track
I'd like to drop 3 lbs before I leave the country
Find the time to exercise, even if its just 10 minutes on the treadmill
Get ready for my trip
Spend some time with Todd before I leave, and hopefully make us one descent meal!
Control my impulses to grab food/treats when offered
Chocolate

I wish many of you the best of luck with your Valentine's Day temptation(s), Todd knows better and he doesn't buy me chocolates. Actually he already got me some lovely flowers and a card... perfect.

Taking Care of Number One

2011-02-13T21:16:00.000-05:00

Sometimes we just have to put ourselves first, its a really hard thing to do, especially if you have a family to take care of (which I don't but I still spread myself thin sometimes).

As many of you know I've been down in the dumps lately, its probably winter, and a little bit of myself feeling sorry for myself.

Before my haircut

One of the things I was going to work on this past week was something for myself, and I did! Back in November I got my hair cut by a new hairdresser and well I hated it... really, I did. I pretty much have had my hair pulled back since then. I finally bit the bullet, picked up the phone and called my hairdresser got an appointment for this week. Why did I not see her in the first place back in the fall? Well her salon is downtown and I live outside of the city so its a considerable drive to go see her. But I sucked it up, drove downtown and circled the block to find some parking!

Work in progress!

I really splurged and got my eyebrows waxed (something I normally do but kept putting off), my hair highlighted and cut. I was there for HOURS!

I'm very happy with the results! Why do I do this every few years go and try someone else when I know Azra is the only one who can cut my hair just right!

Getting My Act Together

2011-02-09T00:19:00.000-05:00

I've been bad in more ways than one, I've been feeding my emotions and I've been hopping on the scale daily lately. Since Friday I have watched my weight creep up from 145 to 148 as of this morning and I have I really been doing much about it??? I'm slowly starting to try to turn myself around, I'm having moments of success and failure I'm hoping the successes will slowly outweigh the moments of failure.

As you see from my above chart from my Nike+ sensor I got in a good run tonight at the gym I also got in a run on Sunday! It felt good, and I ran a little longer than usual. You can tell from this chart that I'm doing intervals, running 5 minutes, walking one minute. This seems to be my way of coping with the treadmill boredom lately, I am dying to run outside but there is still no sign of spring (my hair which was still damp after my shower at the gym was frozen after my short walk to the car!). I downloaded a great free app on my iPhone that I use to time my intervals instead of doing the math in my head looking at the treadmill timer its pretty much called Interval timer it allowes you to set different times for low/medium/high intensity. I'm using this in conjunction with my Nike+ app but this Interval Timer will also play you music as well. Did I mention its free?

I got a fun surprise in the mail tonight! There are incentives when fundraising for Run For the Cure, last year I raised enough money to get a brand spankin' new pair of New Balance runners. Of course they're pink with the pink ribbon on them. I'll have to slowly break in these new shoes! (Excuse my pasty white legs they should be nicely tanned when I head to the DR next Friday for a week!). I've been wearing a Brooks Dyad for years now so we'll see what my body thinks of New Balance.

Weekly Meeting Topic Week 5: Stick With It

2011-02-06T14:06:00.003-05:00

I made to my regular meeting for this week, and weighed in for the month of February. My weigh in was not as awesome as my January one, because of the crappy week I allowed myself to have. I know on several occasions I caught myself feeding my emotions. Also because I went out for Indian food Friday night and I find I'm always up after Indian (I'm guessing the salt... but it was VERY good!). I really wanted to get this month's Weigh In out of the way as soon as possible for several reasons, I'm going to be very busy! I have a Taekwon-Do all day seminar to go to next Saturday so I won't make my regular meeting, then the following Friday I'm getting on a plane with 11 students from the school I work at and we're going to the Dominican Republic for 1 week on a third world experience. I did this trip last year and I found my body didn't seem to handle the carb-rich diet very well (gained about 4lbs) so I'm trying to mentally plan for a gain when I return (though I'd like to try to avoid one). So that's pretty much February done and dusted!

Now onto this week's meeting topic... sticking with it! This is a timely topic for myself and for many, as we are a month after New Years and this is when resolutions start to wane. Like I've mentioned I'm having trouble coping with EVERYTHING lately so I need a pep talk myself (still need it). We pretty much reviewed the Helpful Habits/Tools for Living this week.

Helpful Habits

Positive Self Talk/Manage Your Thoughts: You have to be in the right frame of mind to loose weight, if you think you can't do it or talk yourself out of doing it... guess what? You are going to fail. Positive Self Talk is something I really need to take advantage of at the moment, I am struggling to get out of bed, to go to work, to go exercise, even to accept invites. I just want to stay home. I need to remind myself that yes I can do this, can continue to do this! Boy did I have to constantly self talk myself through my gym workout Friday night! I kept telling myself you're not feeling great, its okay to stop, but in the end I talked myself into seeing it through. Did I feel better in the end, no. I normally do after a workout but not this time. We need to use words such as can, will and should not can't, won't, and no!
Anchoring: An Anchor is a thing, image, thought, gesture... a reminder that you can use to bring you strength, inspiration, and or empowerment. An anchor can be anything, a ring to remind you not to grab that treat or an image that will make you say no, or something that will remind you of a day/time/event where you felt great, powerful, etc. An anchor can help you visualize that feeling and give you strength. Sadly I don't have an anchor, nothing cool or inspirational to share with you there.
Learn From Experience: My meeting leader put this in the best words "screw ups are opportunities to learn from" also that there is no such thing as failure, learn from the times you fall down and figure out how to make it better.
Ask for Help: You NEED a support system! This can be family, friends, fellow WW members or your WW leader. Also there is a support system out there others don't consider and that's the online community you can really connect with others who understand out there on the web! There are different ways to ask for help (and this is a hard thing for me to do because I like to think I'm independent and proud). Ask the people around you to help you avoid or not bring trigger foods, and if you need something use the worlds "I need". I need to eat earlier I can't get too hungry, I need help, I need your emotional support. Its hard but we all NEED something at some time. I know right now I need help, I need support I don't know how to put into words what is bothering me, what is making me unhappy, what is making me feel like crap all the time. Its very unlike me not to want to get up and face the world. I'm not sure yet who I need to talk to, what kind of help I need, or even how to truly put into words what is wrong. Maybe this is a start.

The long and the short of it is no matter what journey you're on, setbacks will happen its what you do with them that truly show your strength.

I saw this on one of my local Church's billboard about a year ago and its so appropriate!

"Setbacks lead to comebacks"

Week in Review January 28-Febrary 4

2011-02-05T14:05:00.000-05:00

Boy, did I start last week with really good intentions. Intentions to get my workout schedule, back on schedule and get life "back to normal". That didn't happen, it was another rough week in a row of many lately. So let's just get to it and hash it all out.

I was getting very close to finishing a large Cross Stitching project of mine this past week so what did I really want to do all week? Stitch of course! I am very happy to report that I finished Art Deco Sprits at 11:30 last night and it sure is beautiful! Also my mental state really lent itself more towards sitting at home and stitching than going out, getting to the gym and getting to Taekwon-Do classes.

Friday's weigh in was not conductive towards getting to my healthy BMI, I gained 1 lbs this last week. Am I upset or angry over this? No, not really, I earned this gain in more ways that one. My drive to get in some exercise just plain sucked, I made it to the gym on Friday and to Taekwon-Do on Monday, that's it that's all. I was feeling so rough that by Tuesday I bumped my once a month massage up by two weeks and went in on Wednesday. I beleive my massage therapist's words were "who poured cement on your shoulders?" Like I said ... rough. Then I had a huge issue with chocolate this week. I wanted it, and I wanted it BAD. The thing is it had nothing to do with hormonal cravings.

Here's this past week at a glance:

The Good:

I did exercise twice. I did intend to exercise on Tuesday and Thursday (but didn't)
I took after myself and got a massage because I desperately needed it
I indulged in my hobby and finished a big project
I discovered a new recipie (Thanks Amy!) and it'll become a part of my cooking repretoire

The Bad:

I did not get back to my usual exercise routine. On Tuesday I was invited to have dinner with Amy before Tuesday stitching, and I accepted the invite (and still don't regret it), also knowing that I would work out every other day that week. Wednesday due to my massage I wasn't going to throw away the efffects and my money by going to Taekwon-Do, which got cancelled due to the storm we had that day. Thursday, well I just decided to go shopping (and bought nothing) and then home to relax.
I did not track everything accurately last week

The Ugly:

One word: chocolate. I hit one of the candy dishes at work pretty hard this week.... I can always count on it having chocolate in it. I wanted chocolate badly, desperately, and worse than my "monthly" cravings! When shopping on Thrusday I stopped in at Laura Secord to get my favourite chocolate bar (mint), because if you're going to indulge have that thing you absolutely love. Well the chocolate bars were 2/$3 so the irrational side of me took 2 bars to the cash and once in the car I proceeded to eat BOTH of them! They were good, I did enjoy them and I counted my points.

Upcoming Challenges This Week:

Get Back On Track!!!!
Do my best to resume my workout schedule
Do something to help me feel better. I've been feeling blah, meh, whatever. This has resulted in me being bitchy to the ones I love, lethargic, not happy or even my usual self. I'm having headaches/migraines, and I'm exhuasted physically and mentally.

Weekly Meeting Topic Week 4 : Start Moving! Keep Moving!

2011-02-05T08:44:00.000-05:00

Sorry that this post is a week late! Week 4 actually ended last Saturday and I did go to my meeting but I never felt like getting online to share my notes from the meeting with you. But I suppose, better late than never!

Week 4 focused on activity, which I know I have talked about before in the past.

Activity is crucial to weight loss and maintenance, yes you can loose weight without exercising. However are you really going to get the body you want in the end? Exercise has so many physical benefits four our bodies and psychological ones too.

Benefits of Being Active:

Helps Weight Loss
Critical for weight management
Tones the body
Allows us to eat a little more and still loose
Improved health
More energy
Better sleep
Increased metal focus
Encourages us to make better food choices

On the Weight Watchers Points Plus program we earn "Activity Points" when exercising. The number of points is based on current weight, duration of exercise, and perceived intensity (low, moderate, high). Its very important when starting an exercise routine to start out slowly. If you do too much too fast, you can end up discouraging yourself and quitting, or even worse injuring yourself (my constant fear, I've had a bad injury and I never want to go back there). On the PP plan it is recommended to start out trying to earn 2 Activity Points per day and work up to 6. The beauty of AP's is that you can choose to eat them or not, also you don't have to eat them on the day you earned them either. However, AP's don't roll over to the next week, you either use them or loose them.

Another crucial point to moving more is that you do need to eat a little more too. When you do a lot of exercise and don't re-fuel your body, you may not loose any weight despite all the hard work you're putting in. In the past I've been absolutely crushed when I know I've worked my ass off at the gym, running, or Taekwon-Do earning over 30 AP's a week only to have a gain at the scale! It seems to be a tricky balance, exercise and food consumption. So if you're hungry and you need to eat something, go ahead eat a few of thos AP's!

As we are calculating our AP's on a perceived intensity level I personally suggest not eating all of your AP's each day. Sometimes what we might think is a high intensity activity may really be moderate, and if you eat the points you think you earned you could be affecting your rate of loss. My suggestion is if you're going to eat your AP's eat only 1/2 of them. The only way you can really know the true intensity level is to wear a heart rate monitor, I don't know about you but I don't really want to shell out the money for one.

So what do I do to earn my Activity Points? On an average week (and the last 2-3 weeks have not been average for me) I go into the gym 2-3 times a week. Two of my gym visits will consist of a 10-15 minute cardio warm-up, 30-40 minutes on the weight machines, then 21 minutes of running followed by 8 minutes of walking. If I go to the gym 3 times in a week, one of those visits is taking a spinning class (which earns mega AP's!). Usually at least 2 times a week I take a 60 minute Taekwon-Do class. On a good or average week I'm earning well over 30 AP's.

So if you haven't done it yet, go find an activity you love!

My meeting leader ended with a great quote I wanted to share with you :

"There are only 2 options, there is progress or excuses the choice is up to you."

Week In Review January 21-27

2011-01-29T00:38:00.000-05:00

So my week starts on Friday and my weekend as a good one but full of FOOD challenges! Several times a year I go off to a girls stitching retreat at a wonderful B&B, the motto is pretty much "Stitch, Eat, Sleep". We do these things exactly in this order too! Over the years the food we bring to these events has evolved like many of us have, food is definitely getting much, much healthier but as usual there are temptations, treats to be had!

Me with my stitching friends Bonnie and Clare, we were showing off

our matching stitching bags on Sunday

Needless to say I got so much progress on my main stitching progress, and had a great weekend with friends. If you want to see/read about it... go here. I often come away from these weekends a pound or two up... I mean what can you expect when you sit all weekend and enjoy wonderful food? I was pleasantly surprised this morning to find out that my weight had stayed the same! So no loss, but better yet no gain. I can't wait until March when we do it all over again! (of course I'm hoping it'll be warm/nice enough to get out for a run each morning).

I have to say I had a pretty good week, except for Monday! What a day from HELL that was!

First of all, I woke up to this... at one point it did say -30c. Now let me tell you, -30c is COLD! So cold, my car (which I had to admit was outside, has no block heater, and I had less than 1/2 a tank of gas) wouldn't start. Todd (deep down inside he's a real sweetie) went outside at 6:40am to start my poor little car. It wouldn't start. On top of this the furnace "wasn't running right" needless to say it was running for 30-45 seconds at a time and cutting out not bringing the house up to temperature, also there were fumes in the house (we have oil heat) ... not right.

Once Todd finally got my car started... at 9am I rushed into work, because I should of been there at 7:30am! Once I got "settled in" I called the company we have a service contract with for our furnace. Like most service calls I was expecting someone to tell me they'd be there at 1 or 2PM, I was almost speechless when he asked me if I could be at the house by 10:45am. So back into the car I went and home to sit in a chilly house while the kind service man tried to fix my furnace. It took the poor guy until 2PM to fix my furnace! When its that cold out you need heat!

I am relieved to tell you the rest of the week went very well, and after a day like that things can only go uphill from there!

So here's what my week looked like in the world of Weight Watchers (as usual click to biggify)

The Good :

Came out of a retreat weekend not gaining any weight!
Resumed my workout schedule which I had abandoned for almost a week! I went to the gym 3 times, taught 3 hours at Taekwon-Do and took 1 TKD class.
On Thursday I really felt like going straight home from work but I toughed it out and made myself to go a spinning class. Glad I did.
I felt good most of this week

The Bad :

Got into a bit of a habit of dipping in to one of the candy dishes at work, she's got Hershey Kisses in there right now! I have trouble resisting them since they changed the chocolate to be creamier! Have I mentioned I like chocolate?

The Ugly

I have a habit of mine I need to confess, and its one I need to STOP! I've gotten in this habit of going into the kitchen and grabbing something to eat before I go to bed. I mean right before I go to bed! Its either a handful or two of cereal, a handful of raisins (nature's jujubes), a few almonds, or a cookie. Since I do this as I'm going to bed... well I'm quite bad and I don't track the points. Breaking the cardinal rule of Weight Watchers... if you bite it write it!

Upcoming Challenges This Week

Getting in my workouts
Trying not to get stressed out or "anal" on my upcoming Dominican Experience trip for work (yeah I know hard life)
I have a fairly quiet week besides going to the gym or TKD and I'm going to try to keep it that way.

I'll be hitting my regular Weight Watchers meeting tomorrow, so I'll have another entry for you soon!

Weekly Meeting Topic, Week 3 : Its Your Choice

2011-01-25T23:55:00.001-05:00

I honestly didn't expect to make it into a Weight Watchers Meeting at all last week, but I managed to squeeze in a meeting as I was passing through Kingston. As I've said in the past (at least I think I have) that its always neat to go to a different meeting to get a different perspective and a different speaking style/take.

I am glad I got into a meeting, because I was able to weigh in for this month... and there wasn't a lot of month left!

At the meeting we were all given an elastic/rubber band. She wanted us to use this as an anchor/reminder that we all need to be flexible. That it was the flexibility of the Weight Watchers program allows us to be more successful because we don't feel restrained in what foods we eat.

If you are not flexible with yourself and enjoying your favourite foods in moderation makes one focus on negative feelings towards yourself, the plan, and what you are eating. If you restrict yourself too drastically resentment will build, and you will quit. The Weight Watcher plan is built to allow some flexibility, a prime example is the 49 weekly points we can choose to eat or not.

These 49 points are perfect to hold onto for a meal out. A night out should be special, this way it becomes an event you really enjoy and you will savour each bite. While the plan allows us the flexibility to eat out once week, there aren't enough weekly points to eat out frequently. You must track your meals out, some of us "forget" to track things to make our numbers look good (guilty). You are only cheating yourself and could affect your weight loss efforts. During my whole weight loss journey, I have gone out for dinner once a week the whole time. So you don't have to give up eating our to loose weight.

The meeting leader had one thing she said that really stuck with me, that "Treats are NOT Snacks". Snacks should be wholesome nutritious foods that are on plan.

The meeting leader also gave us a "cheat sheet" for using our Weekly Points Plus Points

Track your weekly points values so you know how many are available to you.
Use your tools (eTools, points guides, etc) to know the P+ values of the foods you love
Choose foods you REALLY want
Supplement your treat with power foods to boos satisfaction.

Week in Review January 14-20

2011-01-21T09:02:00.000-05:00

My rough week seems to be just rolling on into a second rough week. I finally hit the wall this week, and my Mum warns me about this constantly and Todd will sarcastically say "look at me I'm never home until midnight" (an exaggeration but I'm often not home before 9PM on a week night). I have spent this week just feeling physically and mentally exhausted, and I'm not sleeping well... actually I've only slept through the night one night so far this week and its getting to me. On top of all this, the migraines have hit again this week.

I have been stressed out and a lot on my mind, which has been affecting my sleep. Unfortunately not a lot of this is under my control right now. I'm heading to the Dominican Republic in about 4 weeks with a group of high school students on a 3rd world experience. We're hitting crunch time in terms of fundraisers and collecting clothing, medical supplies, etc. to take with us. So I'm doing what I do very well, get stressed out and have migraines.

I weighed in this morning and just as I couldn't believe I had put on 5lbs in 2 weeks, I've magically taken off 4 lbs in one week! The body is truly a mystery over the two weeks where I gained I was running, going to Taekwon-Do and the gym. This week I made it to the gym once, ran twice and Taekwon-Do once... my last day of activity being on Monday. I'm very happy but just as puzzled! I'm going to make a point of hitting a Weight Watchers Center to get weighed in for the month of January since I know I won't be at my regular Saturday morning meeting.

So here's this week at a glance (as usual click to biggify)

The Good :

I have tracked every day as is my habit
I'm doing very well with my sugar cravings! They're not so bad anymore and when they've hit I've tried to satisfy them with a cup of tea with milk and honey or a few tablespoons of raisins (nature's jujubes)
Friday I bought a big container of jujubes, again letting my cravings get the better of me. By Saturday I threw most of them out (I did eat some). I've not had to do that in a long time, but it somehow felt feeling to throw those evil, tasty drops of sugar, colouring, and chemicals away.
I went to stitching group and enjoyed it!
I had a massage and skipped my work out and didn't feel guilty.
I've actually not exercised since Monday and I'm not feeling guilty.

The Bad

Todd broke my treadmill earlier this week, he thinks he can fix it, and we can't afford to replace it right now.
I'm not listening to my body and I'm fighting to stay up so I can have "more time" to stitch, be online, laundry, etc.
I only cooked dinner one night this week (tonight), this usually doesn't have great effects for my weight loss efforts
I gave in and bought the earlier mentioned jujubes
I've not been to the gym in a week now

The Ugly

I ate way too many mini-cream puffs on Sunday at my Mom's birthday dinner. But I had the points
Migraines
Stress
Poor sleep
Its been freakin' cold
I have allowed the scale to dictate my mood which I usually refuse to do
I have not been happy this week

Upcoming Challenges This Week

Potluck situation this weekend
Definitely no opportunity to exercise on Saturday
I'd like to feel happier
I'd like to get back into my exercise routine
I'd like to manage my stress better

Oh and remember I mentioned its been freakin' cold.... look at what my weather station said Monday morning? Now that's in Celsius and without the windchill! Sunday is looking to be pretty cold as well!

Once again I have not made it into a Weight Watchers meeting for the second week in a row I'm feeling pretty bad that I have no gems of wisdom to share with you from my awesome meeting leader!

Minneolas Are Here

2011-01-20T20:34:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but there are certain times of the year I always look forward to when my favourite fruits are in season!

Right now its peak time of year for my favourite fruit in the Orange family, the Minneola also know as the Tangelo. According to the all knowing Wikipedia it is a cross between a "Duncan Grapefruit and a Dancy Tangerine"

These are just so sweet, tangy and juicy! Also because they are "in season" they're cheap, I was able to buy them at $1.00/lb right now! An even better bonus? They're 0 points on the Points Plus system!

So enjoy!

Week In Review January 7-13

2011-01-16T12:51:00.000-05:00

Ohhh this past week, what can I say about it? As you saw from my Friday morning post I was not happy, and you know what? I'm still not happy at all. I'm still just as puzzled at how the HELL I gained 5 lbs in 2 weeks? Two weeks where I have been active, and the last week I ate my daily points every day without going over. I honestly didn't feel like during the week I had put on 3lbs, my clothes fit fine, I felt fine. I often can tell when I'm up and I just couldn't tell this time around.

So here's this week at a glance (click to biggify):

Except for Friday I ate 29 pts a day which is may daily target. I also got in activity points every day that week, and I have every day since. I know this upcoming Tuesday I won't be earning any as I have a massage booked after work and then I'll be going to my new stitching group.

The good

I stayed within my point range all week (except Friday because I didn't find out about the challenge until Saturday morning).
I tracked every day
I exercised every day in some form
I did something for myself this past week, I joined a stitching group (read about that obsession here). This has nothing to do with weight loss or exercise, a good move for me I think.
As of Monday the last of the chocolate (which I should of disposed of sooner) in the house is gone.

The bad

Sugar cravings
Despite it being sparring week at Taekwon-Do, classes were a disappointment and I didn't get in the killer activity points I was hoping for.

The ugly

I've not been able to stay away from the treats that have come into work, but I did track every bit... of course as best as I could guess not knowing the nutritional information.
I'm up 3 lbs this week, 5 in two weeks. I'm quite upset about this.
Homemade chocolate chip cookies, someone brought some into work on Thursday, I ate about 6 of them... now they were small cookies but I still ate 6 of them throughout the day.

Upcoming challenges for this week

Start focusing on loosing those 5lbs
Enjoying my "me" time on Tuesday (massage and stitching group after work on Tuesday), and not feeling guilty about taking a break from working out.
Being more disciplined when my sugar cravings hit. I know if I slowly cut down this will get better.
Family dinner tonight, practice portion control and not got silly over dessert.

I did not make it into a Weight Watchers meeting this week, I had company overnight Friday and they had to head home early. So I didn't want to be rude and leave for my meeting and have them be gone when I got home. I need to come up with a solution for this upcoming week's meeting as well since I know I won't be in town this weekend. I'll have to look at my options.

WTF??!!!???

2011-01-14T07:02:00.000-05:00

Today is one of those days where I throw my hands up in the air I want to give up and I just want to walk away from all this.

This week I have eating my daily 29 points ONLY, didn't eat a single activity point, didn't eat a single weekly point. I got activity points every day, to a total of 33.

I even thought maybe if I give up my dayily cup (or three) of tea (with honey & milk) that might help the cause a little. I can tell you I really wanted my cup of tea at times, I did give in on Wednesday and have ONE cup of tea.

I last ate a meal out on Tuesday, and I had a healthy sub from Subway.

The last of the chocolate was gone out of the house on Monday.

What was I rewarded with at the scale? A THREE POUND GAIN! WTF?

So on top of last week's 2 lbs gain I'm now up 5 lbs and sitting at 148 lbs.

I don't understand how I can go from 143 lbs on December 31 to 148 lbs on Jan 14th. I have not been eating like a pig, I mean really you have to consume over 3,000 calories to gain a pound.

I'm upset, I'm angry, I give up.

Weekly Meeting Topic, Week 1 : New Year - New You

2011-01-09T00:12:00.001-05:00

The New Year is always a VERY busy time at Weight Watchers, I arrived not long before the meeting was going to start since I had no intentions of weighing in. I was shocked to find the parking lot... full! When I got inside, the room was full! Wow! There were a lot of new members also this was our first meeting in a couple of weeks since we had no meetings the last two weeks due to our meetings falling on Christmas and New Year's Days.

Anyhow I arrived close to the meeting's start time since I had no intention of weighing in. Todd and I had a fun evening out the night before, not getting home until midnight! Todd very rarely wants to "go out on a date", so I jumped on this chance! We went out to the Rideau Carleton Racetrack for their all-you-can-eat buffet, for a limited time you got a lobster with your meal. I very graciously gave my beady-eyed friend to Todd (the smell still makes me want to gag). I have to say I was VERY happy with how I handled the buffet! I started off with a big plate full of salad, with very little dressing (I actually never did like my salad drowning in dressing), a few croutons and bacon bits as a treat also I had 1/2c of minestrone soup. When I approached the main course selection I had a few slices of lean meat, pork tenderloin, turkey, and prime rib, and a small taste of the "pasta of the day". For me the true challenge was the dessert selection. Again I surprised myself, I did enjoy a couple of the portfilarolls (little cream puffs), the chocolate mousse was quite tasty. There was a tasty looking banana cake, one small bite declared it way to sweet for my tastes so I didn't finish the sliver I took. One small chocolate chocolate chip cookie, it wasn't good either so it was abandoned after one bite, and I got a scoop of ice cream, it was not good either, the kida cheaper kind with a grainy texture so that got abandoned too. Like I said, I was VERY happy with how I handled the whole meal. Not only are there horse races at the track, but slots too! So for the first time in over 8 years, we went gambling. I lost my money on the slots in under 5 minutes. We also tried out the virtual roulette, now that was fun, and my $20 entertained me for a very long time... but I should of cashed out when I won $100 oh well. It was a fun night and I didn't over-do it at dinner or at the games of chance.

Needless to say despite being good at last night's dinner I was up another pound at the scales (I imagine it'll disappear in a day or so its probably from high sodium foods from last night) this morning.

Today the meeting leader reminded us that the New Year is a chance for a "new you" a chance to focus on the program and your efforts, and make this year the year you make it to goal! Boy my eyes are certainly set on that finish line! I'd love it if this is my year to hit my ideal weight as set by Weight Watchers.

She did briefly review the new Points Plus program since there are so many new members. I really don't like to repeat myself so you can go back and see my posts here and here if you are interested on what my take is on the new program. The long and the short is it urges us towards healthier eating. The main focus though was on tracking and how important it is.

Tracking is important and members who track have a higher success rate than members who don't. Weight Watchers offers several tools to help its members track. There are those annoying and very small trackers that you can pick up for free at the scale every week, you can purchase a 3 month tracking diary, there's e-tools online tracking, and if you own an iPhone or iPod Touch there is now the Weight Watchers app. I have been tracking online for years now, and since the app came out I've been using it diligently!

So with our trackers we are able to track : food (obviously), activity, healthy checks, and your hunger level. Tracking gives one an awareness of exactly what they are eating, this is why we should even track those zero point fruits and vegetables. If you don't write down what you eat before or soon after consuming it you are likely to forget exactly what you ate my leader called this "food amnesia" or "food-timers". Tracking also makes us stop and think before we bite... how many points is that? Do I have enough points? Is it worth the points? Questions I ask myself all the time.

Tracking is also a tool we can use to look back when we have a bad week to see exactly what may have caused the gain at the scale. Or perhaps if you have a really good week at the scale you may want to repeat that same "menu" a few weeks later to try and get the same results.

So the long and the short of it is, if you don't track you don't know you're overeating.

If you snack it, track it;
If you bite it, write it;
If you nibble it, scribble it;
If you take it internal, you journal;
If you drink it, you ink it;
And if you must hog it, you must log it!!!

We have been set a challenge this week : not to eat over our daily target! I'm up for a challenge, how about you?

Week In Review & Weigh In

2011-01-07T09:00:00.004-05:00

Once again, its been awhile since I posted, I feel like I haven't had anything to "talk" about, but my Weight Watchers Week is over so I do have something to blog about.

I spent a lot of Sunday in a pretty crusty mood for two reasons, first of all I had to go back to work on Monday. Don't get me wrong I do love my job, but honestly if I didn't have to work... I wouldn't. There are so many things I could pursue on a personal level instead of working to live. Secondly I had to go out and replace my laptop, it was unexpected so it turned more into a chore I wanted to get done and over with instead of having some fun and getting a new toy (boy do I love toys!).

I had planned to take this week by the horns and get myself back on a normal schedule in terms of food and exercise. As usual the body likes to throw us for a loop when we have a plan in mind. On Monday morning, by 10am I had a headache coming on that by 11am turned into a migraine (I was diagnosed with them at the age of 9) despite medicating myself twice, there was no relief. It kept on through Tuesday as well, leaving me feeling pretty miserable and sorry for myself by the evening. So my plans of getting back to Taekwon-Do after an almost two week break were thrown out the window, I just couldn't function.

This morning is my weigh in day, and I'm not surprised at all I'm up 2lbs (why???) back up to 145 lbs so its the usual dip below 143 and right back up to 145 again. So am I subconsciously sabotaging myself or is it truly my body's rhythm? On the positive side the last month to two months my weight has stabilized in this area and that's a good thing.

Sooo here's my week at a glance (click to biggify):

As usual I have tracked every day, I'm good at that. However I'm making a strong effort to track honestly, every bite, every naughty moment.

The Good :

I tracked honestly every day
On Wednesday I felt great, finally back to normal!
Got back to my exercise regime on Wednesday with a trip to the gym.
Had an awesome first Taekwon-Do class of 2011 on Thursday night
I've "felt skinny" this week

The Bad :

As you can see from my WW week I didn't exercise for 3 days that of course starts getting me concerned about the week's weigh in. I find to just maintain my weight I have to work hard.
There is still too much chocolate in the house, some days I'm able to eat it in moderation, and some days I don't. At moments its tempting just to eat it and get it over and done with.
My weight went back up to 145

The Ugly :

One word : migraine
My bad mood on Sunday pushed me away from exercising that day.

Like I said earlier I had an awesome first class of 2011 at Taekwon-Do, its patterns week my favourite and it felt so good, and so right. Even the warm-up felt good! It was a small class tonight, I have a classmate Danielle (I'm a Danielle too!) she started out as my student years ago when she first came to Taekwon-Do. Once she became a teenager she and I became classmates instead. I was so proud of her in November 2009 when she tested for her first Degree Black Belt and I got to test with her for my 3rd Degree with her. She is the first student I have seen through from a White Belt to a Black Belt. What a great day that was for me! Anyhow Danielle was there tonight and we both wore our "Christmas Presents" from Mr. Marin. I insisted we take our picture together tonight.

Do you like our snazzy new black tops? In my 14 years involved in Taekwon-Do we've never had the opportunity to wear anything beyond the standard dobok.

Upcoming challenges for this week :

Continue to track honestly
Getting back on track with my exercise
Dinner out at a buffet

Goodbye 2010!

2011-01-02T22:43:00.000-05:00

I'd like to say a fond farewell to 2010, as I look back to it, it wasn't as "spectacular" year in terms of my weight loss or my physical self. It was more like a "holding pattern" year, waiting to land... somewhere. I hit some amazing milestones in 2009 and I just don't think 2010 was able to live up to it. However I've been thinking and plotting to set myself up some goals/milestones for 2011.

I still have high hopes for the new Weight Watchers Points Plus Plan and will continue to follow it in 2011. Under this plan I have managed to loose 2 lbs between the week before and after Christmas! Now, not to sabotage myself and throw that loss away this week. Today was a bit of a bust as I ate about 15 points in chocolate. I'm down today, and its most likely because its back to work and the grindstone tomorrow! How have I been feeding that feeling? But with chocolate which is in abundance right now (don't have the heart to get rid of it right now cause its the really good stuff) I've attempted to use it to feel better. Even some retail therapy today (had to replace my laptop computer) I didn't feel any better. Actually I've looked at setting up this laptop as more of a chore, and it wasn't a planned purchase the keyboard on my old one bit the dust. We have bought a wireless keyboard for it, and Todd will use it to replace the dinosaur he's been using, he also doesn't need the portability a laptop gives that I do.

Oh yeah, back to the Weight Watchers thing... I'm hoping to loose my last pounds to hit my WW goal weight of 137 lbs this year!

I will start to focus on my training and 3rd Degree patterns at Taekwon-Do. Since my friends Jason and Peter have achieved their 4th Degree its kinda lit a fire under my tiny behind to get a move on. In an ideal world I shouldn't test until 2012, but I've been putting a bug in my instructor's ear that I'd like to try for late 2011. In the end it'll be his decision to evaluate how ready I am. I will continue to teach my Little Tigers and really enjoy it (4-6 year olds). I'm also hoping to compete again a few times this year in local tournaments.

I plan to pursue my running a little more this year. I'm already very bored of my treadmill and anxiously awaiting spring thaws (which won't happen until March!) to get out running on the road again. I am not one of those crazy people you see out trying to run through the snowbanks! I am already registered for the 10K on Ottawa Race Weekend May 28th, my first official timed race! I hope family and friends will be at the finish line! I'm planning to use this race as a jumping off point to participate in the Ottawa Arm Run's Half Marathon in September, which then will lead me to a full Marathon for Race Weekend 2012. At least that's the little thought running through my pea brain. Of course I'm registered for Run For The Cure again on the First Sunday in October, this past year I raised $1,410 for breast cancer research.

Personal Highlights of 2010.... (copied from my Stitching blog)

Little girl in the slum Simon Bollivar in the capital Santo Domingo

My Dominican Experience Trip for sure! What an amazing experience (see my posts from March 2010), and to share it with teenagers just made it so much more rewarding. I'm very fortunate and my Principal has allowed me to run the trip again for 2011 and in a few short weeks I'll be back in The Dominican Republic again, this time with 12 different students! I'm looking forward to my trip February 18-25th, and of course I will have photos for you!

My summer vacation was just so wonderful this year! I got to spend a couple of days up in the gorgeous Georgian Bay area with my friend Sheila, it was a treat for sure!

Then I got to spend 3 days in Quebec City with my Mum. If you're ever in Canada or are a Canadian everyone should make a trip to Quebec City once in their lives! I definitely want to go back and explore it some more.

Of course there have been the wonderful stitching retreats and get togethers I've been lucky to attend this last year! I enjoy and cherish each an every one of them. There's nothing more pleasing than being in a room full of people intent on one purpose that's to stitch!!! I of course am looking forward to more of these great days with friends in 2011!!!

Billy Talent

Nickleback

Concerts! There's not been too many of them in 2010 here in Ottawa but I did get to go to two great shows with Christin early on in the year, Billy Talent and Nickleback! Two of my favourite bands!

I got to see a once in a lifetime show this fall with my Mum when Roger Waters went on tour with Pink Floyd's The Wall from start to finish. Wow! What a show!

There was a hurricane named after me this year! However I do think it was a fairly well behaved hurricane... as well as a hurricane can be.

I was very proud this year to remember to and fully participate in NaBloPoMo! I posted once a day on TWO blogs for the whole month of November. Imagine doing 60 blog entries in 30 days? Yup I'm that crazy!

Finally on the fun side of life, I got to drive a Corvette for the first time ever!

I hope everyone has a fantastic New Year!

Week In Review & Weigh In

2010-12-31T10:48:00.000-05:00

Holidays always make being on plan and on program a challenge. These two weeks have certainly been a challenge for me in terms of no schedule, eating, and exercising. I've eaten out more than I have in a very long time! I've also had holiday eating to deal with this week as well!

Today was my weigh-in at home and surprisingly I'm down! I'm down 1.5lbs! I'm not sure what really played a roll in that, the daily exercise/running I've been putting in for two weeks now? (which yesterday I took a break from, no activity points at all yesterday). The unpredictable eating and foods? Who knows

Here's what my week looks like from Weight Watchers land :

This past week's highlights :

Exercising every day since December 17-29!
Having some valuable "me" time (stitching time)
Getting to see family & friends

A definite highlight was seeing my good friend Kathy for dinner on Tuesday night (sorry no pictures). I won't get to see her again until I fly down to Arizona for March Break.

I also got to spend the afternoon and evening with Claire, we've been best friends since Grade 10. She is up from Jacksonville, Florida visiting her family. I think I'm going to have to look at flights to FLA this summer during my holidays. Boy every time I see Claire I realize just how much I miss her!

This past week's challenges:

Meals out
Holiday food
Chocolate
Motivation to exercise

Challenges for the upcoming week:

New Year's Eve
Getting back on program and back on schedule.

I didn't make it to a Weight Watchers meeting this week so no wonderful words of wisdom to share with you.

Have a Happy New Year everyone!

Survived Christmas... for the most part

2010-12-28T10:55:00.000-05:00

How did everyone do over the biggest food weekend of the year?

I did not too bad, I weighed in (at home of course) on Christmas Eve morning, and I was down 0.5lbs not bad really, considering how much I ate out that week (can you say 3 days in a row). So my tactic of exercise every day and watching all my other meals worked. I followed up that nice little weigh in with breakfast out. Todd and I go out for breakfast to our favourite local restaurant for the last 3 years on Christmas Eve. Its also our chance to pick up a few last minute things.

Me, Todd and my niece Emma

That night was Christmas with my family I host it every year and its very informal. I made a massive amount of chili! We had chili cheese dogs (well I just had the chili I didn't think the hot dog and bun were worth 6 points), salad, and ice cream Christmas log for dessert. Now that Christmas log... worth every point its super yummy! I got some lovely gifts this year... including a nice box of Toblerones! So far I've only eaten 2 and I'm hoping to remain in control with those.

Christmas Day was spent with Todd's family we had a more traditional meal, turkey, roast beef, stuffing and all the fixings. I did pretty well at that meal as well in terms of portions and filling 1/2 of my plate with veggies. Normally I can ignore stuffing, except Todd's Mom's its divine! There was also homemade pie! Apple and a cherry pie, I had a small piece of both (heck I ran 3km before leaving the house).

Now it was Boxing Day that did me in, I was in no mood to go out shopping like Todd and I had discussed originally. I was good until the afternoon. I got up in the morning and made meat sauce to stock up my freezer, which also had a lot of leftover chili in it. I also put the turkey carcass from Christmas in the crock pot to make stock (will turn that into soup today). In the afternoon I had a slice of leftover Christmas log and it went downhill from there! I had 2 slices of ice cream log and small pieces of pie (apple & cherry) as well that was pretty much dinner. Now I didn't eat ALL of that at once but it wasn't healthy food. I seem to be really good for an amount of time then I'll have one day where I kida go nuts-ish. But I'm always pretty good at getting back on track.

Boxing Day Deals! Nice new winter coat (Mum paid for most of it)

(New winter boots, mine looked like crap)

Always need pants for work!

Yesterday Todd and I went out shopping, looking for the "Boxing Week" deals. I got myself a really nice new winter coat (ski jacket). Last year I bought myself a cheap one since I had so much to buy as my weight had stabilized and my old winter stuff was miles too big! I also got a deal on 2 pairs of pants, and a steal on new winter boots! That has been the one huge advantage to loosing my weight, I enjoy going shopping for clothes! Most things fit and look great!

Bad girl!

Now I was bad and since we were in the East end of town which we don't go to very often, I wanted to check out the Lindt Outlet store. I did buy a "little" chocolate, and I hit the Bulk Barn for the jujubes I've been craving! Felt a little silly spending 81 cents but as we all know its better to buy a little and enjoy it than buy a lot and pig out! I'm hoping with all these goodies in the house I can practice restraint. We'll see.

Christmas Tactics/Weekly Meeting Topic : The Powerhouse of Fruits and Vegetables

2010-12-23T23:33:00.000-05:00

Ready or not, Christmas is coming actually its almost here! Besides getting my tree up yesterday, and a marathon of shopping (oh and a trip to the gym too) today I am as ready for Christmas as I'm ever going to be. How about you?

I've been off of work the last week and I've spent a lot of it taking care of #1 (me), getting myself back on track... and in all honesty I just want to "break even" at the scale during this holiday season. It started out with a trip to the gym last Friday (for the first time in weeks) to today's trip to the gym. I have been running on my treadmill at home, and going to the last Taekwon-Do classes of the year. I've racked up over 50 Activity Points this week! Is it going to help me at tomorrow's weigh in? I have my doubts.

"Girl, you're a machine, you're nuts..." I'm sure these things are going through your head right now thinking that I don't expect a loss at the scale this week. The last 3 days I have eaten one meal out that's why! Tuesday was lunch out with the girls from the office sadly we went to Kelsey's which has nasty food stats no matter how "healthy" it sounds. Most dishes had 30-50+ grams of fat! The safest choice for me on the menu was fajitas, and I didn't even eat the whole serving. Todd, had a nice dinner when he got home from work Tuesday night. Now I did hit the gym before Tuesday's lunch date to try and keep the damage to a minimum. Last night was an Indian meal out with my best friend and my parents. I was not bad there either, normally I order Butter Chicken (can you say high in points? But super yummy!), naan bread and rice. We decided to share 3 different dishes last night, yes Butter Chicken was one of those but I added a healthy Chicken Tikka Masala into the mix, and pretty much at that with a little taste of the other two, cream based dishes. Oh and bread and rice! I usually don't allow myself to have two carbs with a meal, this is one of my exceptions to the rule. Then today while my best friend and I were out on our marathon gym/food/Christmas shopping trip we stopped at a pub very well known for their fish and chips. Their fish is actually not that bad in terms of points, but I figured to heck with it and instead of ordering a salad with my fish, I had the 1/2 salad 1/2 chips. Oh boy did I enjoy those chips! Then while at the Scottish and British store I had to buy one of the delectable British chocolate bars, I did share a little of it, again worth every point. Soooo.... like I said no high hopes for tomorrow morning.

Okay so I made it to my WW meeting on Tuesday evening and the meeting was a combination of tactics to survive the Christmas meal(s) and more on fruit and vegetables.

In terms of fruits & veggies, they're good for you and they are yummy! Enjoy them, don't abuse them. One interesting tidbit she did share with us was the idea of 0 point fruit is to replace your high fat/high carb snacks (aka granola bars, 100 calorie treats) with fruit not to have the fruit in addition to your high fat/high carb snacks.

Now lets move onto the more important and scary thing at hand.... CHRISTMAS IS COMING! CHRISTMAS IS COMING! Here are some ideas/tips/strategies that hopefully you put into play when you go to "strap on the feed bag" on Saturday!

The week before & after Christmas (any special holiday actually) adjust your mindset... focus on maintaining your weight instead of loosing. This way you don't feel awful when you don't get the loss you were expecting. Also this keeps you from getting into a "guilt cycle" over what you ate, and any weak moments you may (will) have when food is available.
Think about your food choices! If you are going to eat that treat, make sure its the one thing you really want, that you can't easily get any other time of the year. In other words you can't live without it!
During the day of the big meal/event/party have lots of fruits and veg available in the house.
Don't skip out on meals during the day but fill up on light and these zero point foods to save on points.
Before going to a meal I'll have a salad or a piece of fruit 60-30 minutes ahead of time so that I don't go to the table hungry.
Also use fruits and vegetables to "bulk up" the meal! If they're there, trust me you will eat them!
When loading up that massive dinner plate put fruit/veg on 1/2 of the plate and feel free to pile it high! Divide the other 1/2 of the plate into 1/4 carbohydrate (that means a roll or potatoes or pasta or rice or stuffing not all of the above and not piled high), 1/4 lean protein (turkey is points friendly, enjoy!)
To practice portion control without weighing and measuring your food, leave space between your food, like an ocean between the continents!
Have fruit on hand for dessert!
Don't forget to exercise, even a short walk will burn some calories, and will leave you feeling better and refreshed, not sleepy and lazy as a big meal is likely to do!

So there you have it my survival tips for Christmas Dinner! I hope you take something here and put it into practice!!

Have a Merry Christmas Everyone!

Weekly Meeting Topic : Understanding and Trusting PointsPlus

2010-12-19T01:16:00.000-05:00

I have a feeling over the next few weeks our meeting talk will be mainly focused on the new program PointsPlus (as its being called in Canada). There was supposed to be a structure to the meeting but it pretty much turned into a all around general discussion about the program, problems and feelings about it.

Did you know that 4 years of research went into the new PointsPlus system, testing it on various subjects before it was released this year?

There is more freedom and flexibility with this program, I really do think the free fruit is the main reason for this. Did you know that all people can talk about are bananas lately? See, on the old plan they were 2 points and a lot of people felt it was silly to spend 2pts on a measly, good for you banana when you could have a Cadbury Thin for the same number of points! We all gravitate to the foods that taste best, now I have always LOVED bananas and both on the new and old plan I eat one every day. I have to admit though with the change in fruit I sometimes find myself having two in a day. So what I mean to say is with fruit being free there seems to be a few more points to spend elsewhere. At least in my case there it. It is interesting in the meeting to hear about how many people where restricting their fruits on the old program because they had points. I had a banana and an apple every day before and I'll continue to have them now.

This program is designed for sustainable weight loss! From what I'm hearing people who have been on the new program awhile now find themselves loosing a little more weight (especially those who were on the high end of their goal weight) and its staying off too! Like I said on my last post, I still have high hopes for this new program I DESPERATELY want to loose my last 8 pounds! Please! I WANT to be a meeting leader (since WW won't even look at me despite my success, I will share my experiences here with you instead).

The key focus of this program is to eat high fiber and high protein. I must admit I have been definitely focusing more on the protein side of things, and yes I am feeling fuller longer. If I feel peckish I don't feel guilty grabbing that piece of fruit anymore.

Now here's the best information I got out of the meeting : eat all your points! Yes you should eat all your daily points (the weekly and activity points are up to you). Weight Watchers believes that if you eat your daily target your body will have all the nutrients it needs to loose weight and be healthy. If you under eat your target it will cause you to be deprived and loose motivation. Did you notice they don't talk about it stalling your metabolism anymore? That's right they and the science doesn't feel that under eating your points causes you to go into starvation but that your body isn't getting the things it needs to function properly... to loose weight. We were actually told DON'T OVEREAT TO MEET YOUR TARGET. (I found myself eating when not hungry to do this). It is OKAY to under eat slightly (by a few points, not a lot) now and again.

Hey Canada! If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch, the WW app is now available! I'm loving it!

This new program is a learning curve, we all have to take what we USED to know, throw it out and pretend we are all Weight Watchers newbies!

I wish you all the best of luck with you holiday food challenges! Tonight I went to one last party, where I actually indulged and had a light beer (oh it tasted so good), and a few baked goodies. My tip for parties? Don't grab a plate! No matter what you do or if you're offered one say no to the plate! If you have a plate you are tempted to fill it up with so many goodies. I other grab one item and step away from the table and eat that or put one or two items on a napkin. Its a round about way to practice portion control, but it does work. When I caught myself starting to mindlessly pick at food on the table I got a piece of gum out of my purse. Its at least a little gross to eat food and chew gum at the same time.

Boing, boing, boing...

2010-12-17T20:59:00.000-05:00

Do you hear that sounds... that bouncing noise? That's my weight, yup I bounced right back up again to my Doctor assigned goal weight. It happens every time I get below 145, I don't know why it happens. It could be that my body just doesn't like being at a lower weight. I could be subconsciously sabotaging myself. Also it was a tough week in many areas.

Excuse #1. Last day of exercise was Saturday when I had my latest hive breakout. So I had not done any exercise of any kind since then. 5 whole days without earning a single activity point. I had not step foot inside the gym since December 3rd until tonight.

Excuse#2. Too busy! Monday night I taught TKD for 3 hours so I didn't get to take a class. Tuesday night I treated myself to a massage... what idiot would workout after that? Wednesday a parent meeting for the kids I'm taking to the DR in February. Thursday dinner out and grocery/Christmas shopping. So no time for working out and I'm pretty exhausted tonight! Try coming home after 9 PM 3 nights in a week.

Excuse #3. Holiday food!!! This was the last week before Christmas break at work. So you can imagine the treats and chocolate have been abundant. I handled some situations really well, and other situations poorly. I must admit I enjoyed the home baked goodies, because I don't bake anymore... I'd eat it all in about 48 hours. Also there was dinner out Wednesday and Thursday.

See? Lots of good excuses to be up 1.5lbs this week. I take ownership of all my poor choices this week and the consequences definitely showed up at the scale. I still have high hopes of the new program working for me. I'm looking forward to the next two weeks, where besides Christmas celebrations with family I can focus on proper eating and active living.

What To Say about PointsPlus?

2010-12-14T19:24:00.000-05:00

I've known for quite some time that Weight Watchers was releasing a new plan, months before any of my fellow meeting members had any clue. That's what happens when you're zipping around on the net reading blogs and message boards. The plan was first released in the UK/Europe earlier in the fall then in the US shortly after Thanksgiving and as of December 5th, in Canada. As usual we're the last to get anything... really we are!

What do I have to say about PointsPlus? Well Weight Watchers has made a move in the right direction, they are trying move us away from focusing on the all mighty calorie its friend fat. I'm not sure exactly how points are now calculated... yet at least. I used to be able to eyeball a package and know exactly how many points it was without plugging in a single number into a calculator or using a slider. Points are now calculated based on Fat, Fiber, Carbohydrates and Protein.

Why did Weight Watchers change? The Momentum and previously the Points Plan worked wonderfully for so many people for 13 years. Research and science has as usual changed things, with current research its been discovered that not every food is created equally in terms of how your body processes it and what energy it uses. So now the points represent the energy left over after your body has used some of it to process the food. Am I making sense?

So what's the good things to focus on and the bad? Before we used to look for low calorie, low fat, high fiber foods. Now we are asked to focus on high fiber and high protein foods and try to reduce the high carbohydrate and fat foods. This is not a no/low carb diet its just our body benefits more from high fiber/protein foods they leave us feeling fuller longer and heck these foods are good for us and just make sense.

You're all wondering, Dani what do you think of the new plan? I'm really enjoying it! I now get more points per day I've gone up from 20 to 29 points. I'm still really having to plan my food to eat all the points each day I do find I'm eating more than I was before My weekly "bonus" points have also gone up to 49. So I have more points per day as one person said, call it a raise to cover the cost of living, as the cost of some foods have gone up as well. High fiber/protein foods are now lower in points than foods that hare processed which are often high in carbohydrates/fat. Oh yeah, not only are most veggies free, now fruit is free as well! I think the reason why I'm struggling to consume all my points is because I didn't realize just how many points a day I was spending on my beloved fruit. I've been shifting slowly over the last 6 months to move towards more "whole" foods, giving up granola bars and 100 calorie treats. So WW is moving in the right direction, one I started going on naturally.

Basically, its the same plan they are just trying to get us thinking more in terms of real food not fake low calorie foods that's full of artificial flavours, colours, sweeteners, in other words... chemicals. The plan hasn't changed, its still eat less and move more, just think of eat less, eat better and move more!

As I grow with this new plan, I'm sure I'll have more insights to share with you.

My Taekwon-Do Roots

2010-12-12T23:14:00.000-05:00

This morning, despite the awful weather we had our annual Taekwon-Do Christmas Breakfast, I was shocked to find there were 113 people in attendance! Students, instructors and their families attended. As usual, it was a great time, the food was good... but I was a good girl and ate only half of it... feeding the rest to Todd. Thank goodness that boy can EAT!

Also invited to our annual event were Senior Master Lu and his family. I originally started my training under Master Lu when I lived in the city. I actually received my 1st Degree Black Belt under his and his instructors, and continued to train for some time after that as a 1st Dan. When I changed jobs, and moved to the country that's when I switched over to my current school, which loosely falls under Master Lu's umbrella as my instructor is Master Lu's student.

So I wanted to share this picture of you that I had taken today with Senior Master Lu and his wife Mrs. Seeley (6th Dan Black Belt). These two people played a huge part in my early years in Taekwon-Do. Also having Mrs. Seeley as an instructor was inspiring as a woman. They both knew me as that "fat student".

Have you ever thought about who has influenced or affected who you are today?

Really, I Am Allergic to Exercise!

2010-12-11T23:27:00.000-05:00

Once in a blue moon, this happens and most often when running, I break out in hives! I've had 2 sever attacks that have sent me to hospital, where I have trouble breathing and I pass out 5-6 times in a short span of time. After the second time I ended up in hospital I went through a bunch of tests and appointments. The best diagnosis all of my doctors could agree on was "Exercise Induced Anaphylaxis" It starts with hives, and I mean HIVES upon hives, on welts. Even hives on the palms of my hands, eyelids... everywhere. Then comes the shortness of breath, the dizziness and passing out. Tonight's reaction, the first in over a year this past May was a little one, just some hives, not real bad (they did get a little worse after this picture was taken).

In the past when I've had the sever reactions that have landed me in the Emergency room. I've gone out for a meal, come home and felt EXTREMELY energetic, I mean so energetic that I want to go running! Since I've figured this out, I don't go exercising after a meal out, especially when I'm feeling very energetic. We've done food testing, and they can't figure out what causes my reaction. Commonly an allergy like this is triggered by a food eaten within 4 hours of exercise. So tonight's reaction was a total surprise!

No need to worry readers, I'm fine.

Since Monday I've been on the new Weight Watchers plan, Points Plus (here in Canada). The plan was rolled out online on Monday, and I finally got my materials this morning at my Saturday meeting. It was a long meeting, and I'm still going through the booklets. So I'll hold off on my meeting post for a day or two until I'm finished reading all the materials and tell you what Points Plus is all about and how I'm feeling about it.

So far the vibes I have about this program are GREAT! I had been on it 4 days when I weighed in Friday morning, and I'm down 1.5 lbs! This means I'm sitting pretty at 143.5 lbs. That's a number I've seen maybe 3 times since I've hit goal. I'm trying to be really focused with this new program, and perhaps my hard work will pay off and I'll hit my Weight Watcher's goal weight of 137 lbs!

Sometimes Your Body Says Enough!

2010-12-08T22:51:00.000-05:00

Last year (school year) I had a very healthy year! I think I used no more than 5 sick days the entire year. Right now its December, and I've used 4 days! I'm not having a good school year so far. At first it was migraines and now I've got a cold.

I am doing my best, trying to force myself to listen to my body instead of constantly being on the go! Often if I'm not at the dojang, I'm at the gym or I'm out. I'm usually a busy, busy girl and I do like to be that way... most of the time. Lately I've been wanting nothing more than to just be home, but its that time of year where Christmas shopping needs to get done, there are social and other commitments.

I've been coming down with this cold since Friday, started slowly loosing my voice. Today I finally stayed home and rested... well for the most part. It was nice to get up when my body said it was time to get up. I took a nap, when my body said it was time. I did get in a 3K run on the treadmill, I was able to breathe no problem and my coughing didn't act up so I went with it. Was it foolish or smart? I don't know my voice is 90% better and I do feel much better today. I'll be back at work tomorrow.

Some of you may think I'm crazy getting in a run while I have a cold. The other week an article came up on my Weight Watchers home page (as they usually do each week) called "Too Sick to Sweat". I of course read it, not know I had a cold in my near future. I read a lot of the articles that come up on the WW website, as I know a key to my success has been educating myself, reading and learning.

Here are the key tips from that article :

When not to exercise

Temperature of 99.5F or higher
When you have GI symptoms (diarrhea, vomiting, nausea)
Cold with chest congestion/tightness, hacking cough with mucus

Exercise with caution

Headache with lightheartedness
Sore throat
Exhaustion

Go for it!

Cold, but no fever with symptoms above the neck (stuffy nose)

So when do we know its time to resume our exercise routine?

If you've seen the Doctor, listen to them! If the Doctor tells you to rest for 4-5 days... do it! You can resume your weight loss efforts when you're feeling better.
Time, give your body time to recover, also this will help avoid a relapse or injury.
Eat well while sick (if you can or as well as you can), eat more fruits and veggies!
Sleep, your body repairs mentally and physically when at sleep.
Keep hydrated
Resume your exercise routine slowly

Because of this darned cold I've not made it into a Weight Watchers meeting this week, which I'm desperate to do! The new ProPoints program rolled out in Canada this week. I've read what I can on the website and I'm following the new points system on eTools but I'd love to get my hands on the official meeting information. I'll be hitting the Saturday morning meeting this week and hopefully I'll be able to tell you all about it and what exactly WW's focus is for us now with these changes.

I have to say with the new plan I've already noticed I am struggling to eat all my daily points! Yes we get more daily points, and yes food items have a higher point value so I think those two balance each other out. This is making me realize just how many points a day I spent on fruit (which I love). I've been moving my thinking towards eating more protein.

I'm sure I've already said this but I'm hoping this new ProPoints plan will help me shift my last pounds to get to my healthy BMI.