Sorry About The. Scilence

Sorry it's been well over a week since my last post!  I did have every intention of writing something up last Wednesday but things just got in the way!

Wednesday started out great!  I stepped on the scale and I was down 1 pound, see I even did a happy little selfie!  I'm now down 1.2 lbs. 

After work I went to the gym and met up with a friend for a pre-vacation pedicure!   A little tradition I started last summer that before every trip I get a pedi. Not a big fancy-girlie nail person. But it's fun to have pretty nails!  I picked out this cool shade of blue and she even gave me a cute little flowr on my big toes. 

That's when the week started to go downhill. While at the nail salon I felt like a headache was coming on. I popped two Excedrin for migraine. Hoping it was just the fumes that were bothering me. That and the fact I was starving. I then hooked up with another friend for dinner, figured I needed to eat sooner rather than later... That sometimes is the probelm. A decent dinner with nice company, and I felt a little better. While waiting for our food I was checking out a Just Cross Stitch issue Chrostin had picked up for me... Left that at the restaurant. Went back it was nowhere to be found. 

Another sign that things weren't going well after dinner we stopped in at the mall across the street. I wanted to hit the Body Shop for my favourite facial cleanser. While walking around I noticed I was starting to itch. Yup, I was breaking out in hives. So I followed that earlier Excedrin with a chaser of Claratin. 

Thursday morning I couldn't get out of bed.  Well I tried, I got up and showered, called in sick and went back to bed until 11am. Then I went back to bed again in the afternoon for 3 more hours. This migraine had hit me hard. I felt better on Friday and made it into work despite feeling like I got ran over. I didn't feel great most of the weekend and stuck close to home. 

When I feel like this I tend to not eat well when I do eat and my cravings tend to rule me. So I didn't makes part choices, I didn't track. I am proud that I did track after the fact. 

I peeked at the scale this morning because tomorrow I'm up at stupid dark o'clock getting to the airport for 5am, on a plane for 7am for the first half of my journey to Charleston SC. Originally my flight was supposed to be two and a half hours later. Now because of this change I get to entertain myself at the Detroit Airport for over 5 hours!  Oh joy! 

Anyhow back to that peek, I'm up 0.2lbs. Though being fairly active a couple of days of feeling like shit (or death warmed over) and tracking after the fact I guess that's okay. I'm still not happy with it. I may pop on the scale tomorrow morning, but I have a massage after work today and I really don't plan on cooking tonight so we may eat out, both I find affect the scale. 

My plan for this trip is to get out and walk each morning (workout clothes are packed), enjoy the things (food) I can't get up here. I see at least one Sonic a Peanut Butter Fudge milkshake in my future. If we get into a Cracker Barrel one or two biscuits with gravy. I'm sure there may be other sinful delights, and if I'm going to be bad I want it to be a) something I can't get at home b) worth every bite!  I am going to track what I eat, or at least journal it and not worry about the points. 

If I can I'd like to break even after this trip. 

Little Things...

Its the second week for the Little Things Linkup and I'm sitting here trying to rack my brains for that little thing that's made me smile or feel good about myself.

1. The lovely gentleman at the Tim Hortons drive thru that let me go ahead of him this morning.  There's two entries to the gas station where I hit the "On The Run" Timmies for my morning tea.  He had come in where the lineup tends to be when there is one, I had come in from the other side.  So I was ready to wait my turn.  He waved me in!  Thank you so much for that kind gesture this morning!

2. My weigh-in this morning was not what I was picturing it to be.  I had visions of getting out of the 190's, I had a start weight of 190.4 lbs.  I stepped on the scale this morning to see 190.2 staring back at me.  What a let down!  I know why my number didn't give me that happy-weigh-in-buzz.  I got empty leg syndrome on Monday night and started eating like food was going out of style and that kinda continued yesterday as well!  At times I was physically hungry, at times I ate just because it was there.  So instead of giving up, I'm turning that negative into a positive and I'm going to try harder and eat ONLY when I'm hungry.  Also on the positive side I tracked everything last week!  I'll continue this week.

Okay now while I've already touched on the subject of Timmies... I'm really good almost all the time when I hit Tims (if you don't know about Tim Hortons its a Canadian institution, a coffee/doughnut shop).  Its always for a cup of tea in the morning, its also a great place to stop when road tripping for either a sandwich, soup or bagel and you can find them in almost everywhere in Canada.  They are also at every stop along the 401.  That's if you can stay away from the sweet treats.

Look at what was staring me in the face when I got up to the drive-thru!!!  OMG my mouth started just watering looking at the latest additions to their menu!  I LOVE Oreos, I don't buy them for a reason and if they are Golden Oreos I'm likely to knock you over to get at the bag and eat a whole row!  Now the doughnut didn't tempt me as much as that Oreo Iced Cappuccino!  Oh my!  In the summer I find there is noting more tempting than an iced coffee-drink-thing or soft serve.  To throw Oreo cookies into the mix.

I haven't given in to temptation ... yet but I might find myself allotting the points to have one in the near future, just to try it.

Weigh In Fail

Well, I didn't expect this....

That is all. 

Ummm Yeah....

A bit of silence there for a bit. I think part of it was I wanted to hide the truth that I suck at this weight loss thing. Also over the long weekend (Victoria Day here in Canada) I just didn't feel like being online.





Last week's weigh in was a fucking disaster, I went in Saturday morning and gained 2.4 lbs. I've gotten myself totally addicted to sugar and well...




These! Vanilla Bean Frappuccinos!!!! I think I had 2-3 of them last week. I am proud to say I've not had another one since Friday. So I've been 5-day Frappuccino-free. Yay me!

I'm trying to make a conscience effort to whittle down my sugar, I know I can't go cold turkey, but I'm going to try to get it down to help deal with these cravings that I keep giving into.




I weighed in again tonight, it's technically a new Weight Watchers week on Sunday. It's another gain, a small one but because I've decided to move from Saturday morning weigh ins back to Wednesday night. With summer here it gets hard to go on the weekend. So another gain. This time 0.4lbs. Really I think that's the difference between a first thing weigh in with not having eaten/drank overnight versus eating and drinking until lunch time.

So with these two gains I'm now at my heaviest weight since I first lost my weight. The last time I was 186 lbs was May of 2008! I need to get myself and my life under control and with each gain I feel things spin a little more out of control.

Which of course follows with lots of negative feelings about myself. Negative feelings leads me to stuffing a lot of shit into my face. Time to get my act together!


- thanks for reading!

Weigh In & Rude People

I'm quite proud of myself this morning, not only did I get my sorry behind out of bed to go to my Weight Watchers meeting (and to face that dreaded white box), but I decided I had time to hit the Beckwith Trail before the meeting.

I admire those who can get up in the morning and get moving!!! This girl cannot! My body is like nu-huh, no way, not gonna happen! I find I spend the whole workout dragging my ass, I can't move fast enough, and I find even breathing hard. If I do morning workouts it's because I HAVE to, otherwise I won't get it done that day. Or, it's because of my wired-ass allergy! I have been diagnosed with exercise induced anaphylaxis ... In plain English, I'm allergic to exercise! I can't exercise after I eat at a restaurant, there is something in some food that restaurants use that I react to if I exercise 3-4 hours after eating. I break out in hives, I have trouble breathing and I will pass out and come to repeatedly. Soooo if I know I'm going to be eating out I HAVE to either plan to exercise before or decide not to exercise at all. Otherwise it's Mr. Epi-pen (blue to the sky, orange to the thigh), and an ambulance ride to the ER.






I'm flying solo this weekend so I decided I was going to take myself out for breakfast. This meant if I was going to earn a few Activity Points, it would have to happen this morning! I'm very proud that I followed through with that plan as I don't love mornings and morning exercise even less.







My weigh in was a nice little surprise, I managed to loose 0.7 of the 2.7lbs I put on last week! I really wasn't even expecting that as it's been a slow process getting back to eating right and not giving in to my cravings. I also had decided to focus on the food this past week and work on the exercise this upcoming week.

Now onto rude people... This morning at my meeting we were celebrating one of our members who had reached her 10% goal (lost 10% of her starting body weight). She talked about how this was her second time around and between these two times at WW she has now lost 35lb. One member spoke up and said "some of us have lost three times that."

I was just flabbergasted that she said that! It's all fine and great that you have lost over 100lbs and kept it off. But we were celebrating this young lady, who had reached her 10% goal! Way to steal her thunder. We weren't talking about you or your achievements. I couldn't help but speak up, reminding her and everyone else that we all come and go and we each have our own story and we may not know your story or saw you before you lost your weight, but every pound that we each have lost was hard won no matter how much we have to loose.

So please never criticize someone's weight loss (efforts) even if they have less to loose or more to loose. We're all on the same journey we all just take different routes and some of us reach that destination sooner than others.

- thanks for reading!

Bad Blogger/Bad Weigh In

Sorry for the lengthy silence. I do have every intention to blog regularly, but my migraine lasted 11 days in the end. There's a bit of recovery from that, I've also been down lately which doesn't help. And well it rained for almost a week and has been cold and miserable which I find really effects my mental state.



Last week I decided to weigh in on Friday at a WW centre close to work. It was not pretty. I gained 2.7lbs. Excuses, sure I can give you a few... Not my usual weigh in day/time of day. Not the scale I usually weigh in on. I also normally have a bit of a gain once a month. I felt like I didn't do anything wrong last week but I own that gain, it's mine and I have to accept it.



I had a lovely weekend away visiting with my friend Kathy. I only get to see her during the warmer months, so it was so nice to catch up since we last saw each other in November! We talked, we stitched and we checked out a local quilt show. I'm not a quilter but I admire the talent these ladies have.



Since Sunday I've let things go downhill... Again. I couldn't easily exercise while away because of the rain. Yeah you can go out walking in the rain but I'm not that hardcore! So I've not earned a single activity point since Thursday. On my way home I stopped to grab some road snacks that were healthy... I did okay until I decided to peruse the candy aisle! Besides the apples and carrots I grabbed I now was in the possession of King Sized Peanut Butter Cups, Swedish Berries, and a bag of Golden Oreos. I was quite well behaved during the drive eating carrots and apples and only 3 cookies. I think things went downhill at dinner time, we were invited out to a Chinese Buffet with Todd's parents. You can't hide in your home because you're afraid of eating out and family is important, we went without question. It wasn't the best buffet and the choices were not great. I was counting on being able to have beef and broccoli, a "safer" Chinese choice but they didn't have it and barely any vegetables. I did manage not to stuff myself, but that's where the mentality well I've already blown it so why not kicked in! Once Todd was in bed I proceeded to eat my chocolate and candy. I did have a guilty conscience over the cookies the next morning so instead of hiding them and eating them in secret I put them out and Todd was good enough to make them disappear.


Monday night I knew I would not be making a good food choice either. My friend Tracey and I drove to Ogdensburg, NY across the border. I had to pick up a parcel for my Dad that the company wouldn't ship to Canada. There really are very few places to grab a bite to eat there so after some shopping we stopped in at McDonald's. Now I go there about once a year, and if I'm going there I'm having a Big Mac, fries and a pop. That's what I had. I'm sire my body was screaming at me by this point with all of the garbage I had fuelled it with in the last 24 hours. I topped it off with a Dairy Queen dipped cone once I was in the car by myself, eating in secret again.

I try really hard not to let failures at the scale affect me, but they really do and I become my own worst enemy! I keep buying junk telling myself that I can be in control, I can say no. But I can't, I can't stop myself when I get my hands on something I shouldn't.

As this week has progressed I'm working my way back to eating right and I'm almost there.

I don't know what is wring with me, the first time I lost my weight I had so much self control and focus. The last 3-4 years I let the smallest thing derail me and I keep getting fatter.

This is so fucking hard.


- thanks for reading!

Saturday Scale Supremacy!

Holy shit, I seriously didn't expect a good week at the scales when I went to my Weight Watchers meeting this morning. Yes, I normally go on Wednesdays but as mentioned in my previous post, I was laid low with a week long migraine. Today, I'm finally feeling "normal". Of course the normal is in quotes cause that's a loose term, life is far more fun when you're a little quirky!!!







Anyhow back to this morning's weigh in! As you can see it was fantastic!!! Yay me! I'm not sure how I pulled off this great 1.2lb loss. I managed to walk a lot over the weekend, both in the Sugar Bush and on the Beckwith trail. But as of Monday when I've not been at work, I've been in bed trying to banish my migraine! Which also threw my eating off. I either didn't eat the right foods, under ate my daily points or over ate them. My tracking also seriously suffered.







I took this selfie on Wednesday while getting ready for work, despite feeling like shit I thought I looked a little trimmer! It's really hard to take a selfie or be in a picture when all you feel is like a fat, ugly failure! I didn't this morning!

I'm letting my now 2.8 lb loss since getting back to blogging help me focus for the week ahead! On my way home from the meeting I stopped in Wally World and I couldn't help but take a walk down the discount Easter aisle... I found a big Toblerone at 50% off. In the cart it went! By the time I reached the cash and had to wait in line I had reached my senses, and I dumped it in a nearby display. I'm very happy with this NSV. The old me would if bought it and started eating it before I even put the ignition of my wee red Kia!






See, icky out there!!









My next NSV for today was to hop on the treadmill (since it is miserable, rainy, damp, cold and all around shitty out there!) once my Wally World purchases were put away. I put in 5k on the treadmill, doing intervals of 5 minutes of walking, 2 minutes of jogging. I wish my feet would let me run! I miss it... I'm hoping once the majority of my extra weight comes off they'll stop causing me pain.







Now, I mentioned Wally World aka Wal Mart aka The Fifty Dollar store. I don't know what it is about this place, I go on for one thing (a new mouse for. Y computer) and I always seem to come out $50 poorer! Look at today's evidence!!! Can anyone get out of Wal Mart with just the one thing you went into get?








- thanks for reading!

Weigh In Wednesday

It's Wednesday, which means Weight Watchers and weigh in!

This week was tough for my on the psychological/emotional side of things. This made food choices difficult, and I didn't always make the best decision or really think about it I more went on my wants than my needs when it came to food. I know I promised myself to ask if "is it worth it" but really I didn't do that very often. 

Out enjoying my favourite trail, and it was warm enough to be out in a t-shirt!!!!

Also on the psychological side not only was food a tough thing for me but so was exercise, which normally isn't a problem. I had to force myself to either get out walking or get into the gym!  Saturday was a little easier because it was so nice out and I wanted to check out my beloved Beckwith Trail which is 5k round trip. Monday was just brutal, I almost always pack my gym bag and have it in the car unless I know I WON'T be going to the gym. I had my bag packed with intentions of going to the gym, when quitting time came around I really didn't want to go!  I made myself go. Normally once I'm there and I get going the endorphins kick in and I'm glad I went. Not this night, I found my 30 minutes on the bike just a drag, then as I hit the weight machine circuit, I just wanted to quit and go home. I honestly just wanted to cry I was so miserable during my workout. Somehow I touched it out, finished my 30 minute weight circuit and went home. Tuesday I wasn't much on the mood either but I went back into the gym for 30 minutes of cardio (all I have time for before going to my Dad's for dinner and I know something is better than nothing).  Today was a challenge as well, since it was too miserable and cold out to get on the trail I hit the treadmill, walking for 40 minutes. 

So this week has just been full of challenges, a constant inner struggle with myself on all fronts!  Somehow, despite all of this and those "female hormones" (oh joy) I had a great experience at the scale this week!  I've lost 1.4lbs which brings my total to 1.6 since I started blogging again!

I know this is going to be a long journey and hopefully each week will be another step in the right direction. 

For today's #100happydays one of the teachers at work treated me to a Peppermint hot Chocolate (I do not love coffee!!!!) from Starbucks. What made me even happier is as it was a grande and I didn't need one that big I was able to share it with a friend at work!  Nothing says happiness like sharing a treat with a friend, it makes them happy and it's the right choice when you're watching what you're eating!

Wednesday Weigh In

It's Wednesday, which is my meeting night at Weight Watchers. I am proud to say I've now gone for three weeks on a row!  Yay me!  That is my promise to myself to go every week, even if I can't make my usual meeting I should be able to get into one at some point during the week even if it's a different location. 

So first let's get to the business at hand, this week's weigh in. For the last while it's felt more like a walk of shame than a weigh in. This week I've come off of the scale with a 0.2 lbs loss, not much but I'll take it!  I'd call this a small victory since I'm usually up at this point in my month... You know water retention due to those wonderful female hormones. 

I did not have the perfect week, but I did keep to my goal of tracking everyday, honestly!  I'm proud of that.  I will continue with that this week and my new goal is to ask myself every time I eat something "is it worth it?"  

This ties into this month's routine at Weight Watchers: is it worth it?  This is encouraging us to think before we eat or at least to evaluate why am I eating this?  Is it worth it?  Can I afford the points?  How am I going to pay for this in points (daily/weekly/activity)?   Is this good/healthy for me?  Am I eating emotionally?

It's day 2 of my #100happydays challenge. Today I'm happy to finally be able to walk outside!!!  It's sunny, the snow is finally disappearing though there is still a nip to the air!  I'm not able to run right now, but at least I'm out and moving!

Weekly Weigh In

It's Wednesday, my Weight Watchers meeting day.

I wasn't too sure how I was going to do this week. I had some tough situations, with dinner out Friday-Sunday! I also lost out on two days where I could get my workout in due to a migraine that started Friday night and has kept rebounding, until today...knock on wood.



I'm really impressed with myself this week, through exercise, best food choices and listening to my hunger signals during my meals out I've managed to loose 1lb this week! This means I'm almost at the same weight before my disastrous mid-November weigh in. Very proud that in the last two weeks I've managed to loose 3.2 pounds!









At today's meeting I picked up these nifty bowls from WW with lids. The inside of each bowl are marked with measurement lines. They were on sale, and figured they are another tool I can use towards my success.

This week's meeting was about snacks to go. Not a new topic, as it turns out this was the topic during one of January's meetings. This is a habit I'm already into so no great epiphanies for me tonight. Even some of my friends know I always carry snacks, if they're desperate. If I know I'm going to be out for awhile or the day I will pack snacks like veggie sticks, easy to eat fruit like apples or bananas and Mini Babybel Light.






For those moments that catch me by surprise I always have a little something in my purse that doesn't spoil or need refrigeration. I always have a snack sized bag with 2 points worth of raw almonds. I also carry these Simply protein bars, I keep them in a snack sized ziplock. I eat half of the bar, 2 points and if I'm still hungry 15 minutes later I'll eat the other half for a total of 4 points.

So be prepared for those unplanned moments so you don't spoil your hard won success with a trip to the nearest fast food joint or coffee shop.


- thanks for reading!

Wednesday Weigh In

It's Wednesday, my meeting/weigh in day at my local Weight Watchers meeting. It was a really good deep meeting/topic and I want to save that for my next post, it's left me with some thinking to do which I want to share with you.



The scale was much, much kinder to me this week... Which means all of my hard work paid off this past week! I exercised 6 out of 7 days and tracked honestly. I'm very happy with my 2.2lb loss, which means I just need to loose another 1.4lbs to undo all the damage I did earlier this month. It's going to be a challenge, I'm going out to eat three days in a row! I'll just have to make the best choices I can.



I'm still continuing with C25K, I'm now onto week 2, day 2 and here are the stats on my latest run.



- thanks for reading!

Summer Adventures

After today I am offically on my SUMMER HOLIDAYS!  This year it seemed like it took a long time to get here and I'm so ready to be off of work for three and a half weeks!!!

My first adventure starts after work today.  I'm driving down to Syracuse, NY where I'll be flying out early tomorrow morning to spend a week with my best friend Claire in the Charleston, SC area!  I'm looking forward to checking out the LNS Keepm 'em in Stitches.  When I return a week Wednesday, I'm landing early enough in the day that I'm going to have time to go check out Stitcher's Garden near Syracuse before I drive back home.

I may follow this up with a drive out to the East Coast to visit Tracey at her cottage in Cape Breton.  It'll all depend on what the budget looks like after this first trip!   Hopefully I'll find a little time to blog here and there from my ipad on my Summer 2013 Adventures!

I did weigh in this am for a pre-vacation weight, I am up again for the third week in a row.  Last week I weighed in on Friday I was up one pound, 178 lbs and this morning I'm up 0.4 to 178.4.  Its only been a few days so I'm not really concerned about the number, I just wanted to get in and weighed WEEKLY and hopefully it'll help me keep Weight Watchers in mind while I'm travelling.

I really need to stop "pretending" at doing Weight Watchers and really commit to the program.  I've been steadily gaining almost a pound a week for the last month and that's just not good.  To think that at one point I had lost 64 lbs from my start weight and now, I"m to a point where I've only managed to keep 29 of those lbs off.  Its just plain STUPID.  I have steadily gained weight since February of of 2011.  Why I can't do this, I don't understand what's wrong in my head.

Positive notes... I've weighed in weekly for the last 3 weeks (but still haven't had time to stay for a meeting).  I've done well going to the gym each week, and this week when I can't make it to the gym (and I'm not suffering from a migraine... they've been VERY bad) I'm getting out for a good 35 minute power walk.

I can do this.

I'm In Control

I think I'm ready to come back now, I've done a few blog entries over at my stitching blog.  I've been thinking about blogging here for almost a week now.

Mum and I in Quebec City

Its been a month now since my Mum has been gone.  I took a week off of work right after it happened, I wasn't sure how I was going to be, or if my Dad would need my help.  I did help him when dealing with the funeral home, but he seemed content to take care of everything else on his own.  My friends and everyone I know have really come out in full force to support me during these difficult weeks.  It was good for me to get back to work, I'm glad I didn't take longer off... a welcome distraction.  We had private family scattering of her ashes, it wasn't as sad or upsetting as I thought it was, I felt at peace over that.  I've had the emotional day here and there, and I've started going through her crafting supplies (mainly quilting and beading) as I'm the only child who inherited the love of crafting.  I do miss my Mum.

How has this impacted my efforts to loose weight... well its been a rollercoaster ride for sure!  At first I was good, I went to Weight Watchers the first two weeks after Mum had passed.

The first week after her passing, I had a good week a 3 pound loss.

The second week, a one pound gain.

Then there was a two week gap, my excuses?  The end of the school year was insanely busy!  I also felt like I had been eating non-stop for over a week!  There were meals out, and treats galore which were hard for me to resist/say no to.  Instead of going to my meeting I was lured by the temptation of a day out with my friends Tracey and Christin.  I also didn't want to face negativity at the scale like I did at the beginning of June.  This past Saturday I didn't go to my meeting (on Saturday) for a good reason, I needed to get in to see my Sports Medicine Doctor as my Sinus Tarsi Syndrome has flared up again in my left foot.  That appointment and the meeting conflicted, I couldn't do both.

Before hair

Hair - after, being goofy at work us librarians can be quite sexy with a laser/scanner gun!

I took advantage of the day and got my haircut.  That was quite emotional for me, it was something my Mum and I have frequently done together over the years we would go see my hairdresser together and go out for lunch afterwards.  I broke down when Azra asked me where my Mum was.  Boy that was hard, I almost tear up sharing this with you.  My visit to Azra was followed with lunch out with Christin and her parents.  When they heard my Mum had passed they had let me know that when I was ready, they wanted to drive up (they live 2 hours away) and take me out for lunch.  Such a nice thing to do, it made for a really nice day.  Christin's Mom also gave me these miniature roses.

While Azra cut my hair (I have followed her around since 1997 and she always speaks frankly to me I love her to pieces), she talked a little sense into me.  Reminding me that I had to take care of myself and that I needed to be in control of my life.  That we don't have much if we don't have our health.  This has resonated with me this week.  I'm getting better and making the right choices, stopping when I'm full and I'm starting to track again, and doing my best to track my foods honestly.  I'm also trying to move more.  I never made it into the gym this week (I have made more of an effort to go this month) but I've gotten out for a couple of walks which I know is better than nothing.

I also have no excuse to not make it to a meeting or at least weigh in.  I'm spoiled in this area there are so many meetings I could go to if not my own.  Also less than a 5 minute drive from my work there's a Weight Watchers Center!  Today I was resolved to go in this morning during my break (I'm visiting friends this weekend so I can't go to my meeting).  I couldn't stay for the meeting but at least I made it to the scale.  Despite two weeks of destructive behavior, no tracking and bad food choices the result wasn't as bad as I thought it was.

After a two-week hiatus only a 1.2 lb gain.  The up side? I have put back on ALL of the 3 lbs I lost.

Good Choices Feel Good & WW Weekly Meeting

I've had a couple of thoughts, ideas bouncing around in that head of mine lately and today I FINALLY took action on those thoughts.

Thought #1 - I should stop paying weekly for my Weight Watchers meetings but switch to a monthly pass.  This way I HAVE TO GO EVERY WEEK, like I used to.  *Done*  I sat down at the computer today and changed from an eTools subscription to the WW Monthly pass, which also covers eTools.  This is done by an automatic credit card payment so I have to go every week, or I'm throwing away my money and well its cheaper than paying per meeting.  When I was paying per meeting I kept coming up with more excuses not to go.

Thought#2 - Start going to WW meetings on Wednesday nights, instead of Saturday mornings.  *Done*  Tonight I went WW instead of Saturday morning.  Though a morning weigh in is nice because you've not eaten or drank anything in at least 6-8 hours makes the scale a little more friendly... It became another excuse not to go to meetings.  I was too tired to get out of bed (the meeting was 9:45 am which meant getting there earlier than that to weigh in), was one excuse.  Sometimes it was because I'd eat out the night before, or I had plans on Saturday and couldn't make it at all.  I've now removed all of those excuses and I have no reason not to go on Wednesday nights.  So I'm treating this as a fresh start... my weight is up slightly from my last weigh in but that's to be expected when going from AM to PM weigh ins.  So as of today my weight stands at 176.6 lbs.  My initial goal is to get down to 160 lbs, my dream goal would be back to 145 lbs but I'll take what I can get at this point.

Thought#3 - Re-join the gym.  *Done* When I initially lost my weight, it was when I got down to the 170's that I joined the gym then slowly got my weight down to 145!  Not only was I slim but I was fit, strong, healthy!  I have a corporate rate I can take advantage of at Goodlife Fitness which has locations all across Canada, so I can take advantage of any location, not just the one I like to go to (Women's Only is my fav.).  I'll be starting back at the gym on June 1st, I'm looking forward to getting strong again!  I will continue to run, I plan to alternate running and trips to the gym to either use the weight machines or take classes.

I feel really good, and hopeful about each and every one of these decisions!  These should help me be successful!

So this week's topic at Weight Watchers is turning eating into dining.  I am so guilty of eating and not dining! Eating is just shovelling your food in your mouth, barely tasting it, barely enjoying it.  I often catch myself standing at the counter eating, especially breakfast.  Dinner is always eating sitting in my recliner in the living room with the TV on, and playing on my iPad at the same time.

WW recommends turning every meal into a dining experience, something special!  Sit at the table, set it like you would for company... a nice table cloth, candles, some flowers.  We are worth the good dishes too, not just your company!  At work keep a nice place mat to have your lunch on.  If you eat at your desk listen to some music to remind yourself you're having your lunch not working through it!  Arrange your food nicely and with a little colour and flare on a plate.  There is nothing less appetizing that a pale, anemic meal just plopped on a plate!  The idea behind colour and presentation is to encourage us to take our time, enjoy the food we're eating. Its proven if you actually take the time to eat your meal, enjoy some good company you'll notice when you're feeling full and not eat more food/points than you intended.

Its something I should really do, I am trying in the morning to have my breakfast at my very messy table... will we ever start having dinner at the table I doubt it, we use it as time to catch up on TV shows we have on the PVR.  So the change I plan to make this week, is to make more of an effort to eat my breakfast at the table in the morning when I have the time.

Doing Well!

I think I'm finally in the right "mental space" to do this weight loss thing.  I shouldn't call it a "thing" should I because this is VERY serious and I am taking it seriously, finally!

I saw this little gem on Facebook back at the beginning of the year and saved it, I knew it was going to come in handy, I knew that this was it... the year to shed the pounds I've gained in the last two years!

Not only am I going to kick 2013's ASS I'm going to kick this weight to the curb finally!

Like I said things are going well!  I'm still maintaining my positive metal attitude that I had back when I initially lost my weight (something that was missing the last two years).  What has the result been of this positive attitude?  While I was in the DR I managed to come home 1.8 lbs lighter!  Then the following week I didn't bounce back, but lost another 0.6 (last week).  So that's a total of 2.4 lbs gone!  Yay me!

I'm hoping for positive results again this week!  I've done really well so far this week in terms food choices, even while out and about with friends!  I'm on March Break and socializing means food and lunches out.  I have also earned Activity Points 8 days in a row!!!!!  Fingers crossed that this hard work is going to pay off this week, and if it doesn't I'm okay with that because I know sometimes things take a little longer to show up on the scale.

Yesterday saw my first road run of 2013!!  The weather has warmed up (we had a huge snow storm almost two weeks ago now), and the roads are clear enough in my area I'm not going to kill myself.  I stopped running back in the summer because of foot pain which has finally been diagnosed with Sinus Tarsus Syndrome.  So in the last month or so I've decided its time to start running again... I am having to start from square one!  Running on the treadmill has been okay, I can't run non-stop or as fast as I used to but I was doing well on the treadmill.  I forgot how road running is a completely different affair, it was almost hard to do my 5:5 intervals (5 min. run:5 min walk).  But I toughed it out and felt great for doing it!!!!

Keep working hard!!!

Weigh In

Just a quick post...

Tonight I weighed in, its not quite been a week since I've stepped on the scale  (last weighed in on Saturday, 4 days ago).  I do prefer if I can, to weigh in on Saturday mornings, its first thing out of bed, no food in my belly, etc.  You know the excuses.  Wednesday night weigh ins means I've had breakfast, and lunch, and stopped drinking water after lunchtime.  Of course I'd have better results on Saturday.

Unfortunately my weigh in wasn't exactly what I wanted (see excuses above) but not a disaster either, I stayed the same this week.

I have to keep things positive!  Otherwise I'll end up just giving up again, and putting on another 10 lbs.

• I've been to my 4th WW meeting in a row
• I didn't gain any weight
• I've been working hard this week and I'm feeling good for it
• I'm eating much better than I have in over 6 months.
• I feel like my clothes are starting to fit a little better.

Positive right????

This weekend I have a lot of food challenges and temptations to face and overcome.  I hope I can handle them well, I'd hate to ruin all the hard work I've put in this week!