The Good....and the Bad

The Bad.

This week has been going really well and I am really looking forward to WI this Saturday...that's right ladies, I said I was looking FORWARD to weigh in! Except I did have a little itsy bitsy slip last night. It could have been A LOT worse and I managed to control it but I really didn't know how bad it was until this morning......here goes

Last night a bunch of friends and Scott and I went out to a local Sports bar to watch the Sens-Ducks Game (Boo Ducks). We got there around 8:30 or so and I decided to have a drink. Just one drink...to fit in with the sport's bar atmosphere. I mean who actually goes to a Sport's bar and orders an ice water?? Not me, that's who. So I couldn't really think of anything to order and asked the waitress what types of coolers they had. Right there I should have asked if they had any Light varieties of these coolers but as soon as she said Orange Bacardi Breezer, I was sold. I've had a long and intense love affair with these coolers that ended abruptly last summer when I may have had one too many....ok it was more like 5 too many of these yummy coolers. Last night I was FINALLY ready to give them another chance. So I ordered one and the first sip made me fall back in love. For those of you who have tried these coolers, you may be able to sympathize with how I was feeling. One wasn't enough.....two wasn't enough......three.....well I MADE myself stop at 3 (but only because I had to get up at 6:00am for work).

The Good.

After three Bacardi Breezers, I started with the cravings. Of course everyone at our table was ordering wings and appetizers and I was constantly surrounded by the smell of yummy greasy pub food. I even asked for a menu at one point and even considered throwing in the towel for the night in favour of a large basket of Mozza Sticks and Ranch Dressing, my absolute favorite of the yummy greasy pub food family. But in the end, I made the right decision....I didn't even have one bite! Nothing, nada, zip! Just my coolers (which I found out today equaled to about 435 CALORIES!!!) I drank away almost 450 calories! Yikes! But at least I didn't touch the food..I have to congradulate myself for small victories! Take em where you can get em I guess. Tonight I am going out to dinner with Sarah but luckily she chose Vito's and it has a menu specifically designed for my meal plan so I am pretty safe there, and I will be sticking to the good 'ol ice water tonight for sure. After I am home, Scott and I are planning for an after dinner walk so I am looking forward to that. Don't I have the best husband? His comments are so great...he is the most supportive husband in the world....I would NEVER have lost 70 lbs without him!!

Thank you SO much for all your advice about the camping trip...I think everyone had the same idea and I'm going to go out and buy the 1 point hot dogs...does anyone know of any 1 point hot dog buns??? Weight Watcher maybe?? I am also going to marinade some chicken and bring a big salad! (Thanks Kate!...any marinade suggestions anyone?? I did buy honey mustard today which I will try for tomorrow)

Carolyn

Why are the weekends just so hard???

I have had a great week so far on plan! I have been playing by the rule book and haven't stepped out of the zone once. It feels so good to be back in the zone, I swear someone could offer me a huge chunk of chocolate cake and ice cream and I don't even think I'd flinch (ok maybe this is a little extreme, I might need to at least smell it to get a small chocolate fix) But I just feel like for the past few says, I am back in business. After my long weekend splurge, I could feel the lbs come back on, my clothes weren't as loose and I just FELT awful, and bloaty and big. I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about. We've all been there. Last weekend I did pretty good on my weekend challenges. I did have my chocolate bar and maybe one too many glasses of wine but all in all I think I did ok. This weekend is yet another test. Why are the weekends SOO hard?? It feels like a little mini vacation where calories don't count and all foods are fat free. But unfortunately that is not the case....weekends are just regular old days where a pound of chocolate will still make you gain weight and feel terribly guilty.

This weekend we are heading camping with a ton of friends, Scott's best friend is home from Afghanistan for a few weeks so we are all heading out to brave the wilderness...well not really, we are going to a nice camp right on the water which is actually quite nice and luxurious! But still, I like to think we'll be roughing it. Camping, is always an activity which involves lots of eating and drinking. Sounds like fun, but it isn't too easy on the waistline. Especially when the roasted marshmallows are broken out and someone just happens to have brought all the requirements for SMORES! I am going to try to pre-plan...bring my chicken for the BBQ, make a big salad to munch on all day but for some reason, the smell of BBQ hot dogs drives me to madness!! I LOVE BBQ'd hotdogs.....they are my favorite!! So now I am trying to make a judgment call...should I just stay strong and stick with my chicken and veggies while everyone else is eating chips, BBQ hotdogs and hamburgers, corn on the cob, seafood etc or should I go out and buy the Schneider's 1 point hotdogs...just in case?!?!?! I am worried that I will get there and throw caution to the wind and start chowing down on those bog 5 points hotdogs and go nuts. I really DO want to stick with my chicken and veggies...I know I will feel better if I do. The next day my stomach will thank me, I'm sure of it. What does everyone think would be my best plan of action!?!?


My next WI is on Saturday before we leave for the camping trip so maybe that will direct me and give me more motivation to stay on track...unless I see a gain...then I fear for my poor stomach!! Help! :)

Monday Monday

Well my first weekend on the "revised" plan went pretty well and I must say I did pretty well at the wedding shower as well. I didn't even TOUCH the desserts...and there was a ton of them! My mother in law had ordered two dessert trays from Sobey's for the shower and they were filled with cheesecakes, eclairs, mousse...alll VERY decadent desserts. they look amazing but I stayed away. I didn't even touch the Chocolate Peanut butter Marshmallow squares and they are one of my favorites!! I stuck with the veggie tray and other than that, I had about a 1/2 cup of potato salad and 2 small pieces of cheese. So overall I did really well. I STUFFED myself with the veggies first so that I wouldn't be tempted by the desserts. for dessert, I stuck with the fruit tray. I was pretty happy with myself afterwards. I think the secret to my success was that before the shower I had went out and bought a Mars bar and left it at home. The whole time I was at the shower, I was thinking about my Mars bar and how great it was going to taste!!! When I finally got home and was able to indulge, it was heaven!! Everything I expected and more! All in all, I would say I did pretty good on my weekend challanges. I know I am still carrying around a few extra lbs though from last weekend's splurge (I think I honestly gained about 5 or 6 lbs!!) but I know it will come off it I keep it up. My next WI is on Saturday so I need to work my butt off to get back down there.



I also had a great NSV on Saturday. It was 35 C on Saturday and it was sooo hot here in New Brunswick, I think we were experiencing a heat wave. When I got back form my walk on Saturday morning, I couldn't stand the thought of putting on jeans and I didn't have any shorts or capris that fit me anymore so I went down to Suzy Shier in search of a cute jean skirt to wear to the shower. With my best friend in tow, we searched and searched and took about 7 or 8 different shorts/skirts into the changing room. Well I found the CUTEST little jean skirt in a size 9!!!! And I happened to notice that it was just a little loose around the waist so I asked my best friend Ryan to grab me a 7 just to be humorous....well I tried it on and IT FIT!!! I couldn't believe I had gotten myself into a 7!!!! 7!!!! I saved the tag and I am thinking about framing it :) Granted it was a skirt and they tend to fit a little bigger anyway and it has lots of stretch in it... but I don't care...it's a 7!!!!

That was my weekend in a nutshell....to be quite honest I must say I did have a few glasses of wine Saturday night when I got home but it was just what I needed after such a long day planning the shower, decorating and all that jazz. How was everyone's weekend??

TGIF!! & Day 4 back on the Wagon!

It's Friday and not a moment too soon. What a week! Today is Day 4 back on the wagon after my weekend long SPLURGE. I still can't believe I ate THAT MUCH junk and tried to justify it! I haven't gotten on the scale yet but I honestly think that I may have gained about 5 or 6 lbs from eating horrible all weekend. I could feel my clothes were not as loose and I just know how my body felt and it felt like it had put on 5 lbs. I have decided not to jump on the scale until I have at least put in a full week back on the wagon, if not more.

So last night I was thinking about it and I came up with a plan to make my new meal plan more livable and I think I may have figured out a way to avoid weekend binges, at least for now. The meal plan that I am on is SUPER strict. You HAVE to eat what's on the menu and there is no wavering. For the first 2 weeks I did awesome....ate exactly what I was supposed to and lost a ton of weight. But then those odl craving started coming back and as much as I tried to fight them....that just got stronger. I realized that the diet is so strict that it pretty much led me to a weekend binge fest. I couldn't handle it. I just love chocolate WAY too much to say good bye to it for 6 whole weeks. Last weekend I went crazy with eating...it was insane. If I listed all the junk I ate, you would be horrified!! To name a few there was Nibs, chocolates bars, brownies, pizza, more Nibs, more pizza, pasta smothered in cheese, garlic bread. YIKES!!! I'm talking MASSIVE amounts of sugar and fat. INSANE! I also decided that I may be on this meal plan for more than 6 weeks if I want to get down to my goal. I'm ok with that, I really am used to tit now and I actually look forward to my chicken and veggies for supper!! I crave it.
The only hard time I ahve is on the weekends....the weekend always kill me. Especially with summer around the corner and Scott and I have SO much planned. Every weekend there is something planned.

So What I came up with is to stick to my meal plan STRICTLY throughout the whole week and then on the weekend, allow my ONE small treat. That way I will have something to look forward to all week AND I will be able to say no to other temptations because in the back of my mind I will be thinking about that ONE treat that I am allowed to have and how great it will be. I really think this one treat thing will keep me from binging again. I may not lose weight as fast as I would like to lose it if I do indulge in this one treat then it will keep me from going mentally insane. I have also decided that this treat cannot be over 6 WW points. Just so I don't get carried away and choose a big hunk of cheesecake or a big 25 point meal as my ONE treat. So what do you all HONESTLY think?? (Sarah?? Honest opinion??) Do you think this will work? Even if I lose 1-2 lbs per week I am happy with that. Do you think this one treat will throw the whole week of strictness away?

So here are my weekend challenges:

• Bridal Shower on Saturday night with LOADS of food and desserts (even a chocolate fondue!) On a brighter note though, there will be a veggie tray and my plan of action is to have just chicken for supper and stick to the veggie tray ONLY. I won't be partaking in alcoholic beverages at the shower so I should have a clear focused head!

• Baking on Saturday morning: I need to make frogs and Chocolate Peanut Butter Marshmallow squares. I have decided to make them first thing in the morning so I am not as tempted but still. C'mon, it's chocolate peanut butter marshmallow squares!!! Thankfully my Mom has offered to help and she can slap my wrist away!

• Sunday dinner out with the family: Luckily I chose the restaurant and chose Vito's, an Italian restaurant that has a menu specifically designed for my meal plan so I can choose off of that menu and I shouldn't be TOO tempted....until the desserts are rolled out. I can do it!

• I also would like to get in a 50-60 min power walk first thing Saturday morning as well as an afternoon walk on Sunday (maybe to the Nature Park?)

So that is it for me today, hope everyone has a GREAT weekend. Wish me luck with all my road blocks and tell me what you think of my new plan!!

Back on the Wagon...for good

First of all...THANK YOU sooooo much for all your wonderful comments. I love looking at before and after pictures of people who on are this crazy thing called a weight loss journey. It's such a great motivation! I think everyone should take before and after pictures to remind themselves how far you have actually come. It's easy to forget what it felt like to be over 200 lbs. (WOW That is the first time I have admitted that I was over 200 on this blog, even though if you did the math, you could easily figure it out but admitting that I let myself get over 200 lbs, and well over to be honest; It still makes me feel insecure and nervous, like I am being judged or something)

It so easy to forget how miserable I was at that stage in my life but at the same time, I still haven't shed many of the tendencies I used to have when I was very overweight. I still walk into a store and get nervous that I won't fit into my size. I still look for black clothes, everything black because I think black will make me look smaller. It's funny how those things never really go away. I spent so many years worrying about my weight and being overweight that I can't get rid of all those old tendencies.

On a positive note, after a horrible weekend (on the eating front) I am back in the zone. Yesterday I had a perfect day (meal plan wise) I got in all my meals, ate healthy and just generally felt like I was back in control again! I felt horrible on Monday (which was a holiday) I felt like I had gained 5 lbs (I still haven't braved the scale) and I just generally felt gross....of course I consoled myself with FOOD! (Yet another old tendency) I ate and ate...not because I was hungry...but because Tuesday, I was getting back on the wagon, so I had to get in all the grease and sugar I could before I got back on that wagon. Why do we do that? I really didn't need all the junk I ate but I ate it because it felt like I wouldn't have it again for a very long time, so I was able to justify the HORRIBLE eating. Of course by the end of the day I felt like I was back up over 200lbs and getting up off of the couch was even a difficult chore! But I did it, I accepted it and now I am MOVING ON!!!! I am 100% back in the zone and nothing is throwing me off this time. I can do this...right? I can stay on the plan and not be tempted by sugar and chocolate and pizza! I have about 11 lbs to go and I'm not giving up untuil I get there. I've come this far, I can't give up now!

How is everyone's week going??

My week in a nutshell...

So I haven't been posting much lately because things have been so hectic. My mom is down visiting from Ontario so most of my time is spent catching up with her plus I had my graduation ceremony on Friday so I was tied up with that for a while. I weighed in on Friday (not sure why I weighed in 2 days early but I did) and I was down another 1.5 lbs! So I was really quite pleased with that. So for the 3 weeks I have been on my new meal plan (well almost 3 weeks, officially three week on Monday) I have lost 11.5 lbs. I feel fantastic!! I think it is just the jump start I needed. I even bought a new dress for graduation and I felt so great in it! I didn't want to take it off!!! I can't wait until July when we have a wedding to go to and I can wear it again! I still can't even believe my eyes when I look at the tag and see a size small!! I am going to post a picture of before and after...I really don't have many before pictures because I would never let someone take a picture of my in full length....I always positioned myself for the chest and up picture! In this before picture, I was kind of hiding behind someone else so you can't get the full view but this was probably about 60 lbs ago, about 10 lbs before I hit my all time high. The after Picture is of me this past weekend on my way to my university graduation.

I weighed in the morning before the picture on the right was taken and I had officially lost 71.5 lbs. My ultimate goal is to lose 83 lbs but I am in no big rush and know that I will get there eventually. The important ting is that I am leading a healthy lifestyle....that being said....I fell off the wagon last night. BIGTIME I knew I was falling off, I was totally aware of it the whole time, I was even looking forward to it!! I splurged and went WAYYY overboard. I talked myself into it and told myself I deserved it for graduating from University. Why do I always feel that I have to reward myself with food??? I went to East Side Mario's with my hubby and ordered a pasta dish and he ordered pizza and we decided to split. Then we headed to the movies and of course got LOADS of treats to go along with it. By the end of the movie I was feeling awful and so was Scott. This morning though I'm back on track, I've jumped back on the wagon and I'm hanging on for dear life. There is no way I'm getting off now. I had my one night and maybe it was a good thing. I just needed to break away, even just for one night. But it's over, I've accepted it and now I'm moving on!

I have also been lacking in the workout department because it's been raining her for an entire week so I haven't been able to get out for my walks plus my Mom has been visiting so I have been trying to spend as much time as possible with her...but let's face it. Those are all just excuses and I could have totally worked around them if I had put my mind to it. But I didn't. Tomorrow I am back to the 4 workouts a week AT LEAST. I need to get my weights in, I have been seriously slacking.

How is everyone else doing??

BULK BARN = DEVIL

It's a dreadful rainy day here today and we are expecting rain until Monday! Yuck! Where is the sunshine and hot weather? I need to break away from sweaters and shoes but it's hard to do when a city only 1 hour away from your home is getting 15-20 cm of SNOW today!!! YUCK! yuck yuck yuck!! The great thing about it though is that my Mom came into town last night! I haven't seen her for 6 months so it was great to reconnect again, it's awful living so far away from your parents, especially your mother.

I learned a valuable lesson last night. The Bulk Barn is every dieter's worst enemy. Scott, Mom and I popped in last night to pick up some almonds and a few spices. Well as soon as you walk into the joint, your surrounded by candy and chocolate and everything else that is no good for you. As soon as I walked in, I smelled chocolate. It's been 17 days since I've tasted chocolate and I must say, it's the one thing I miss the most! I love chocolate, any kind of chocolate. So I tried to stay focused and just go to the nut isle and the spice isle but I found myself wandering over to the candy isle just staring (and drooling) over macaroons, slowpokes, dark chocolate, light chocolate, broken chocolate bars. It was hell. Simple as that. That was the hardest 10 mins I have had since I have been on this new meal plan. I am lucky that both my Mom and hubby were there to keep me from binging. If I had been alone........well I might have just had ONE handful, but we all know what one handful turns into....1 day of "oh what the hell, I have been doing so good, I deserve a day off"...then it turns into 2 days, then a week. I'm proud of myself for doing good but I miss chocolate!! I know EXACTLY what I will be using my flex points on for my first week back on WW...CHOCOLATE! That is one great thing about WW, you don't get these crazy cravings....so far they haven't been 2 bad, I have basically just had 2 bad days but the ever dropping number on the scale helps me to get over them. My next WI is on Saturday so I am anxious to see how it goes!

Hope everyone is having a happy hump day!!

Tuesday Tuesday.....

Not tooo much to report today except that I am experiencing major cravings. Don't know why I just have a major uncontrollable hankering for baked goods. Any kind of baked goods, rice krispy squares, date squares, brownies, cookies (especially gingerbread for some reason or peanut butter) I have been craving them all morning. Of course I'm not even thinking about giving in or putting myself in a position where I would consider giving in but it still hits me every now and again. Sometimes you just want junk, plain and simple! Today is just one of those days, it will pass. Going to Java Moose for lunch for a coffee was interesting. I drooled all over thier dessert section. Scott and I just talked about which one we would get if we were allowed and how great it would be. Thank god he was there to keep me from jumping over the counter, ripping open the dessert display and stuffing my face with as much chocolate as possible.

Yesterday I was able to mix up my menu with a pita pizza for lunch and chili for supper! The pita pizza was seriously the best thing I have ever tasted in my ENTIRE life! It was sooooo good. It was even better than our homemade pizza! (well maybe I just forget how good homemade pizza really is) But I have been deprived for 2 weeks now so the pita pizza was AMAZING!! Topped with green & red peppers, red onion and mushrooms. YUM. June 11 is my last day of the new meal plan. I wanted to commit to it for 6 weeks and give it all I got. Then it's back to WW for maintenance (hopefully I'll be at maintenance by then) So I am almost half way done!

I did get out for a great walk last night for about 50 mins and I also managed to get in a 40 min walk at lunch time. The rest of the week is going to be crazy busy with graduation (rehearsal, gown pick up, hair appt and pictures) so I am trying to get in as many workouts as I can. My mom is also coming into town today and I haven't seen her for 6 months so I'm sure we'll have lots of catching up to do tonight. I'm excited to see her!!

Well that's it for me today ladies. Hope everyone is doing well and staying on that damn wagon, we're all on it together!

Catch up

Well I did pretty well on my weekend challenges...not perfect but I did pretty well considering. We skipped the Friday night movie because we were just too tired and decided to spend the night relaxing at home after a few hours of Mother's day shopping (we bought Scott's Mom "The Secret" and she loved it) Saturday I did great all day, managed to get in all my meals but left out my evening snack as I knew there would be a veggie tray at the party we were going to and I would pick away at that since I usually get the munchies after a few drinks.

So we hit the party and knocked back a few Raspberry crystal light and orange vodka drinks (REALLY good!!) I stay close to the veggie tray all night and did really well just eating the veggies. Scott and I both had a great time and I had stuck to the veggie tray all night.....until about 1:30 or 2 am (of course this is the best time to binge) I had about4 or 5 crackers with bruschetta sauce, a few pretzels and a handful of baked lays and multigrain tostitos so all in all it wasn't THAT bad but it certainly could have gone better! Ahh well you can't be perfect ALL of the time. The big test was Sunday. I woke up and instantly thought of Delicisio Pizza. After I rolled out of bed (quite late and just in time for lunch) I served up some cottage cheese and grapes and I stuck to the plan for the whole day yesterday. I even surprised the hell out of myself! Last night around 7 Scott and I were debating going down to the store to rent a move and we both had the same idea...we knew if we went down there we'd both be way to tempted to get chocolate bars and chips and ice cream so we scratched the movie idea and had some popcorn instead.

I weighed in on Saturday morning and I was down another 3 lbs! So that is a total of 10 lbs in the last 2 weeks. I have only another 13 lbs to go to get to my ultimate goal of 139!! I don't think I ever remember seeing the 130s. I swear in grade school I went from a normal 125 to 150 overnight.

I also bought a great dress this weekend for my graduation on Friday. (I finished school in December but there was no convocation ceremony until May) I will have to post some pics of me in the dress. I look smokin hot if I do say so myself! It's the first time I have worn a dress (excluding bridesmaid dresses) since.........well I don't even remember. It's been at least 7 or 8 years anyway. And to top it all off, I got it at eclipse and it is a size small!!! Yikes!

How did everyone's weekend go?????

This weekend is a long weekend!!

Weekend Challenges

So I am actually getting used to the new meal plan...even liking it. I find myself looking forward to my chicken and veggies...and yes....even the cottage cheese! I used to HATE cottage cheese and then I figured it out, I was just buying the wrong brand! What a difference, it's like night and day (for all you cottage cheese eaters, and I'm SURE there aren't many, Scotsburn 1% is really good, rich and creamy!) I have a few recipes to make this weekend in order to prepare for the next 2 weeks phase of the plan. I'll be anxious for Monday as it is my weigh in day AND I get to try out some new meals for lunch and dinner!

This weekend we are having my mother in law over for dinner and hubby is planning this big elaborate dinner (of which I can't partake in) including pumpkin pie dessert! But I'll just have to get by with my chicken and veggies, I know I can do it though and it won't be so bad. It will be a challenge of course but I know I can do it. Saturday night Scott and I are also going out for a few drinks at a friend's place but my plan is to stick with Cranberry crystal light and tangerine vodka (VERY yummy) and I'm just going to stay away from the food, simple as that. Actually it's not that simple, as we all know. After a few drinks, those chips and dips start to look better and better. I am going to muster up all my will power though and give it my best. The trick is the next day, that feeling you get when you wake up...like I would give my right arm AND leg for pizza and chocolate bars. You all know the feeling.

My weekend food challenges:

1. Hubby and I are hitting a movie tonight.....first movie with NO movie treat, surrounded by the smell of popcorn and chocolate.
2. Saturday night drinks at friend's house.....no snacking after a few drinks (If I HAVE to snack, hit the veggie tray only)
3. Sunday morning staying on track, no pizza or chocolate. If I can make the right choice at breakfast, the rest of the day should fall in place
4. Sunday night Mother's Day dinner, watching everyone else indulge and holding back
5. Sunday night Mother's Day dinner DESSERT (I LOVE pumpkin pie)


I'm challenging myself, I know I can do it! It's my last day of the first 2 week phase and I want to go out with a bang. PLUS it is the day before my weigh in so I have to be good! Everyday though it feels like my willpower has doubled so if I think I can do it, I can do it! I can do it right? (I think this is that part where the support from your comments gets me through the weekend)

How is everyone else doing this week?

I didn't get out for my walk last night like I had hope. We viewed a house after work and by the time we got home I had a massive headache and was starving beyond belief. Tomorrow morning though I am planning on going for at least 1 hour power walk as long as it isn't raining!

TGIF..........

Carolyn

Busy Busy Busy

Does anyone ever feel like they don't even have time to breath? This week has been sooo busy it is unbelievable, every night this week we have been running around until around 10:00 or so. There is just so much to do and not enough time in the day! Maybe it's just that time of year. Mother's day is around the corner and I am stumped about a present for my mother in law. She has everything! Any suggestions? We are having her over for dinner on Sunday ( of course I won't be partaking in the dinner OR dessert, I'll just stick my my chicken and veggies!) Starting Monday though I am allowed to have a little variety with soups, chilies, pitas things like that so I am REALLY looking forward to it! So this Sunday will be devoted to cooking up my lunches and dinners for the next 2 weeks. I find it so easy to just reach into the freezer and grab my lunch instead of having to make it every morning. The only downfall is that it takes a good 2-3 hours just to cook it all on the weekend.


Last night I did get out for a walk and it was 20 C out at 6:30! It was so nice. There were so many people out walking! I kept pushing myself and saying, just go one more street or one more hill and by the time I was done I had gone for about 50 mins (which included tons of hills). I took my Mp3 player too which really helps even though I look like a fool when people drive be and see me singing along! I need to sit down though and compile a list of good walking tunes (Again....any suggestions?)


Just a short port today as there isn't much exciting going on today, tomorrow is weigh in for a lot of you so I am anxious to see how everyone does! Monday is my weigh in and then I am onto the next phase of the meal plan! YAY! Grey's AND ER are on tonight Woohooo! Does anyone know when the new Addison spin off is airing?


Carolyn

Day 10 of new plan...and ANOTHER NSV!

I can't even believe that I forgot to post about possibly the biggest NSV (Non-Scale Victory) so far in my weight loss journey....I have been waiting for this one to come for almost 5 years! Monday when I got on the scale.......

I weigh LESS than my husband for the first time since we've met!

I have always been bigger, even though I am about 4 or 5 inches shorter than him, I have always been heavier throughout the five years that we have been together! Now I am 5 lbs lighter! I was so excited about it! The first thing he said when I got on the scale and saw the big 7 lbs loss is, hey you weigh less than me. Scott has never really been overweight though, he has always had a lean and fit shape. Now he has gained some weight as he has been weight lifting and building muscle but it doesn't matter...all that matters is that I weigh less than him! And the more important thing is...I'm NEVER going back!

Just wanted to share that with all of you! Again, thank you for all of the support you have all given to me. It is basically what has kept me on track for the last 10 days. I feel absolutely fantastic and I can tell that my pants are starting to get pretty loose. I tried on a size 9 at Suzy Shier about 2 weeks ago and I was really surprised that they fit, they were a little snug around the butt, so you never know, in another 3-4 weeks I could be looking at a 7. A 7!!! WOW! Coming from a size 18, a 7 sounds like it is impossible. Last year in January I would have never thought that I could even get one leg into a 7. It's amazing that I have become a different person in the past year and a half. Same person, just more confident and sure of myself. I honestly feel like this week I am on top of the world! Success is a great feeling. Especially when that success is achieved through hard work and persistence and sweat and tears. The other night Scott looked at me with this grin on his face and just said, Carolyn you have no idea how proud I am of you. Look what you've accomplished over the past year and a half, it just amazes me. He is such a great support. I said it once and I'll say it again. Support is EVERYTHING. I wouldn't have gotten through those rough days without my friends and family pushing me along and of course all my weight loss buddies on blogs!

Well I think I've patted myself on the back enough for today and I think you would all agree! Sometimes you just need to sit back though and reflect on all you've accomplished. when I first started weight watchers, I just wanted to get to 160. That was my ultimate goal, now I have blown that out of the water and I think that 138-142 will be my final goal. It all depends on how you feel though. Maybe I will only loose another few lbs and decide that I am comfortable at that weight but I have come this far, I may as well shoot big right? According to all the weight charts and doctor charts, I should be between 125-144 so somewhere in the middle would be nice.

The sun is shining today and it is supposed to go up to 20 C today so I am anxious for a nice long power walk after work. My plan is to go out for at least 45 mins but hopefully an hour and hit as many hills as possible!

How is everyone's day going??

Great NSV

First of all, Thank you so much for the support and encouragement! It is so amazing to come on here and feel the support through your comments. It's exactly what a girl needs to hear! You guys are all such an inspiration and somedays, reading your blogs are the only thing that will keep me on track.

I'm still reeling form my big loss yesterday but last night was another story. Last night I found out that stress really does trigger binge eating, in my case anyway. Sunday we had to move EVERYTHING out of our apartment because they were replacing the carpets. So all day Sunday and Monday we were living in total chaos. We couldn't find anything, we could even get into the kitchen, it was just a mess. So last night we have to go for a workout right after work, visit with hubby's parents as they just got back from a 2 week trip to Dominican (lucky lucky!) then come home, eat and move all of our stuff back into the apartment, clean, and try to get everything back to normal. By 9:00 I was exhausted. I kept walking to the fridge and mindlessly looking in. I opened the freezer and saw a frozen tub of light Cool Whip and I just sat there and stared at it thinking "Frozen Cool Whip would be heaven right now, it would honestly be the best thing I have ever tasted....but I held back. I ate my 2 cups of frozen veggies. Then I walked over to the cupboard and stared at those Caramel Chocolate Chip rice cakes for a good long while. I knew I wasn't going to break or fall off the wagon but I just kept thinking how good they would taste. Then I thought to myself..Would cool whip and rice cakes taste as good as losing 7 lbs felt?????? Then I got my answer NO WAY!!!!! So it just goes to show you that stress and fatigue may trigger a good binge.

Yesterday I forgot to tell you about an NSV I had on the weekend. I went bridesmaid dress shopping.....the dreaded "please don't make me wear a peach taffeta dress" bridesmaid shopping. I was a little nervous because those dresses always run so darn small and I was worried that I would put on a 14 and it would fit perfectly. I am the maid of honor in a friend's wedding so three of us headed out to the bridal shop in search for a dress. The wedding is a black and white wedding so I already had that going for me since I look hot in black. Plus black tends to hide the little bumps and lumps. Well I tried on a size 14 and it was floating. I had to hold it up to keep it on which made me feel fantastic but the real thrill came when the bride handed me a size 10. I looked at her and said, I'm not going to be able to zip that up! But she made me try it on and wouldn't ya know.....IT FIT!!! And it is the dress we are going to order. I won't be ordering it until about August so I am hoping to be ordering a size 8 by then! I was so excited. I left that shop with a swing in my hips let me tell you! To make it even better, the dress is adorable and I could totally wear it again. Who doesn't need a little black dress??

Hope every one else is having a GREAT week! Can't wait to read up on all your blogs!!

Carolyn

I did it!

So this weekend was...surprisingly easy. I didn't crave pizza, or Cadbury Cream eggs, or Cadbury thins or any junk food AT ALL! I was amazed. Everyday the new plan just got easier and easier. We even went out to dinner twice this weekend and not once did I even consider faltering. Mexicali Rosa's Friday night was fun. I ordered the fajita chicken salad (was a little disappointed with the taste or lack of it) but it was exactly what I was allowed to have on the plan so I stuck to it. Even ordered water and didn't even touch the homemade yummy tortilla chips that are put in front of you as soon as you sit down. I did taste the salsa, which I am allowed to have but no chips for this girl.

Saturday we babysat my little 15 months old niece and we had the best time! We took her out and EVERYONE wanted to stop and tell her how cute she is! She loves people so much....and of course she loves attention, (must take after her aunt on that one). I stuck with my plan all weekend and I feel great! I didn't even once think about chocolate or cheating. Everyday gets easier and easier! My friend Sarah (who introduced me to the new plan) is away in Mexico but I can't wait for her to get home so I can tell her how I did on my WI!

Speaking of Weigh in..........

I was so excited this morning to get up and jump on the scale. I have simply stopped using my WW scale as it is SO NOT ACCURATE! Everytime you get on, it gives you a different number ranging anywhere between 2 whole pounds...so for my mental health I am using my old scale. The one I had originally used when I started on WW. It is accurate and everytime you step on it, you get the same number. SO I got on this morning....and....

I was down 7 lbs! 7 lbs!!!!!!!!

I couldn't even believe my eyes! I was ecstatic! Granted this is the first week of the new plan and everyone says you lose the most on your first week, and only expect half or less of what you lost on the first week, on your second week but STILL! I remember my first week on WW I lost 5 lbs in one week and I was soo happy. This week I ate extremely healthy, fruit, veggies, chicken, high protein...just no flex points! It feels good to be in the 150s. Not just in the 150s...WELL into the 150s. I haven't been here since Junior High.

Well I just wanted to share my success with you all. Hope everyone's weekend was fantastic!!! Can't wait to read up on all your blogs!

TGIF!

It's Friday! The Sun is shining, I'm going to a HUGE book sale on my lunch (in search of weight loss motivational or fitness books) I always find those books so motivational to read. AND I'm going to Mexicali Rosa's for supper (my favorite Mexican restaurant) How better could my life be right now? Even though I'm only allowed to have chicken and vegetables at Mexicali's (and basically that's what I've been eating EVERYDAY for lunch AND supper) I'm pretty confident that it will taste 10 times better there! There are only 2 downfalls: ++

1. I can only order water. No Diet Coke, no Strawberry Daiquiri (they have the BEST in town), just water. But I should be ok with that. Its the next downfall that is the challenge.

2. At Mexi's as soon as you sit down, you are presented with a huge basket of fresh baked tortilla chips and the BEST homemade salsa anyone has ever tasted. This is the hard part. BUT I have decided to preplan. Even though I can't have the fresh tortilla chips, and I'll have to sit there and smile while everyone, including my hubby stuffs their face with the crunchy greasy goodness, I have come up with a plan. I'm going to ask for my own side of homemade salsa with my meal. That way I can still have a taste of it without going crazy. I'll just dip my veggies and/or chicken in it! It really is too good to pass up. Plus I am allowed to have unlimited salsa on my plan! So I really think I am setting myself up for success here!

On the upswing...I FEEL great today. I feel thin and hot and sexy and girly and confident and great! I know that my body is reacting well to this new meal plan. I can't just feel it, even when I am walking and I must say it feels WONDERFUL!

Hope everyone is having a great Friday!

Day 4 of new plan

Today has been a good day...on this new plan that I am on...it's either a really good day or a really bad day. The first few days were HARD. I felt so restricted and the task seemed unattainable. But today is a good day and I know if I put my mind to it, I can accomplish anything. It really is mind over matter in this case. If any of you have read "The Secret", the general idea can basically be applied to anything...especially this new weight loss plan I am on.

If I think it's going to be hard and dreadful, than it will be hard and dreadful. If I think I can do it and it will be easy and I'll see fantastic results, than I can do it and it will be easy and I will see great results. It's really that simple!

It's just those darn timbits that hang around the office EVERY morning. I can practically smell them from my office...with the door closed. Grr. They are like little tiny devils calling my name. There's no way I'm going to indulge though. The mentality that I have now is that I have already put in almost 4 days on the strict "2 week cleansing phase" I'm not going to throw out all that hard work for a timbit! I don't want to have to start back at day one. I am really looking forward to week 3 as I will be able to have pita pizzas, soups and chili, I've already got my grocery list all done up so that I can get everything I need. This pre-planning thing really is the key to success in my opinion. It's so much easier to stay on track when everything is all laid out for you!



So tonight is a new ER and then 2 HOURS of Grey's! What more could a girl ask for?? Who's weighing in tomorrow? I can't wait to see the results! Tomorrow night we are heading out to dinner but I've already found out what I am allowed to have and they do offer it at Mexicali Rosa's (the place we are going). It's basically a salad with chicken but I'm sure they can make chicken and veggies taste better than I ever could so I am looking forward to it! It has been the driving force behind me week this week.

Hope everyone's week is going great!!

Carolyn

Support is EVERYTHING!

First of....you literally have NO IDEA how much your support means to me. Just when I think I can't stand t any longer, Just when I think I can't spend one more second at work without grabbing the box of timbits, running into my office, slamming the door and spending 20 minutes eating each and every timbit until there isn't even a crumb left...I come on here and read your comments and your blogs and I'm totally 100% back on track! Thank you so much. (I really did have to walk by a huge box of timbits about 20 times today!)

It's amazing what that post last night did for my focus! I'm still astounded by how much support blogging actually gives you! Monday was hard...and I mean hard. I felt like I had lost my best friend because I wasn't able to eat the food I wanted to eat. This new plan I am on takes all the guess work out of what to eat. Which is a good thing for people who just don't know how to eat healthy. I know how to eat healthy, there are just times that I chose not to. Or at least I will use 2 points on rice cakes (which have NO nutritional value) instead of eating something healthy.

Monday night I kept seeing food that I normally wouldn't even be tempted to eat but because I KNEW I couldn't eat it, I wanted it so bad it hurt! Isn't that funny? It is strange, I was at Walmart and saw a box of Nutrigrain bars (which I would normally never eat. I don't even think I've had one in about 3 years!) but all of a sudden, because I knew I couldn't have them, I just started craving them mega bad! I could almost taste them and I'm pretty sure I drooled on the Walmart counter.

So far my meal plan has consisted of lots of protein in the AM (high protein foods usually mean low taste.) For the first 2 weeks my diet is pretty limited, but week 3 allows a little (and I mean little) flexibility. So I am looking forward to that BIG TIME. I'm also anxious to see my WI results on Monday. I know that if I see a good number, that will motivate me even more to stick it out for 6 weeks. I've already put in 2.5 days...what's another 39.5??? I make it sound WAY worse than it really is!

How is everyone's week going? I have been sick for most of it but seem to be coming out of the cloud today so I am hitting the weights tonight. My work out plan is staying the same:

2-40 min Weight Training sessions (upper and lower)
2-45 min cardio sessions
3-35 min power walks at lunch

Anyone have any suggestions for me on the workout front?

Keep the inspiration and motivation coming girls!

The bright side to this meal plan is that food just tastes better. Tonight I was allowed to have a 100 calorie pack Smart Pop popcorn and I swear nothing has ever tasted better to me. It was absolutely to die for! My Weight in isn't until Monday but I am actually anxious to jump on the scale! I can't wait!

Hockey Game is on....GO OTTAWA!!! Oh and for those of you who haven't heard.....Grey's is a 2 HOUR episode tomorrow night...apparently laying the ground work for Addison's spinoff. (Thanks for the info Rye!)

Carolyn

I've been MIA!!!

So I completely shut myself off for the last 5 days but I just couldn't stay away. I spent the ENTIRE weekend wondering what was wrong with me and trying to think of a way to fix it! I guess I learned quite a bit this weekend actually!
So here is how my weekend went.

Friday I got up early (5:30 AM!) because I was so excited to get on the scale! After the 1.5 lbs gain the previous week, I was anxious to see the great low number waiting for me on the scale. I knew I had worked my butt of during the week, had gotten in TONS of exercise and eaten well within my points all week. I was actually anxious to get on the scale for once. I jumped out of bed, grabbed the scale and told Scott to hurry up in the shower so that I could weigh in (we like to WI together, I know, it's weird but sometimes you just need that extra support or encouragement ya know?) So I got on the scale with Scott beside me, closed my eyes tight, had a huge grin on my face and then I heard silence....just silence. Usually by this time Scott is gasping and saying Carolyn You're down! Great job!!! Although I didn't see a gain.....I only saw a 0.2 loss. I was AT LEAST expecting to lose the 1.5 lbs I had gained last. But no, 0.2.....just 0.2. I actually shed a tear I think. I was just so discouraged. I went to the bathroom and slammed the door (there might have been a few swear words involved). I don't think I have ever been this upset since I started WW. I mean, sure I have gained a few lbs here and there but last week I had tried so hard! and nothing. I saw my 60 lb weight loss mark was taken away from me. It was not just that I had only lost 0.2 lbs, it was that in the last 8 months, I have only lost about 10-5 lbs. I seem to have hit a MAJOR plateau. Everyone else seems to be losing at least 0.5 - 1.0 lbs per week, but I have been stuck in the 160s FOREVER!

So Friday night we headed to Fredericton to spend some time with my brother and his wife and my little niece. For supper we went to the Irving and it was like I was punishing myself or trying to seek revenge for my 0.2 loss. I ordered the Lasagna (LOADED with cheese) which also came with 2 large pieces of garlic bread...again loaded with cheese. Although I did share with Scott, I also had a piece of his deep fried fish (loaded with tartar sauce) and if that wasn't enough I had the cherry cheesecake for dessert! Of course I justified this by saying....well I have 35 bonus points.

Then Came Saturday......

Saturday I woke up with good intentions. I had some mini wheats for breakfast...more than I should have but hey at least I didn't opt for pancakes and bacon. Then I had 2 Samosas at the Fredericton Market (I was a samosa virgin before Saturday). God knows how many points those little devils are but I would guess at least 7 each. I also munched on grapes and strawberries throughout the day. When I got home I made a banana/chocolate shake which
probably added up to about 5 or 6 points. Then I decided to throw 2 grilled cheese sandwiches on the George Foreman......just when you think it couldn't get better.

Then came Saturday night.......

Scott and I decided it would be a great idea to go to Vito's (an Italian restaurant) at 10:00 AT NIGHT! So I went there and what did I order? A Ceasar Salad.......AND MOZZA STICKS! I was stuffed! But was that enough? Nope, Scott and I EACH ordered a piece of cheesecake TO GO!! How is that for self destructive behavior???

So all day Sunday I just kept thinking, how am I going to get out of this rut? What can I do?????? Then it dawned on me. A friend of mine has been doing a local weight loss meal program that I have heard so much about. Everyone keeps telling me that they have lost insane amounts of weight on the program and how challenging it is, but the rewards are unbelievable.

So I signed up. I committed myself for 6 weeks. 6 weeks of eating whatever they tell me to. 6 weeks of eating 7 cups of fruits and veggies a day. 6 weeks of no bonus points. 6 weeks of no chocolate, no candy, no movie treats, no Friday night homemade pizza. 6 weeks of no fat free cappachino's, no Cadbury Thins, no hot chocolates, no little splurges. 6 weeks of total commitment.

Here are my reasons for trying this out:

• I have been on Weight Watchers for 70 weeks, I have lost 60 lbs and I am proud of that but my body has gotten too comfortable with the system
• Not only has my body gotten too comfortable but I have gotten too comfortable with measuring, adding points, calculating points etc.
• My body seems to be too comfortable at the weight it is at. I have fluctuated with the same 10lbs since JULY OF 2006!
• I just need a break from counting points and making the right decision, I need someone to make the decisions for me.
• I would love to see 10 lbs come off before the summer (that bikini just might make an appearance!)

So I'm giving it 6 weeks. It's hard, and the plan is STRICT but I have full intentions on returning to WW after I am satisfied that I have done this plan to the best of my abilities. This is not a plan that I could LIVE on. WW is a plan I can do for life and I still have total faith in the WW system. I just think that my body needs a break from it. Like I said, I just got too comfortable with my points. I don't know why I have waited this long to post on this life changing experience but I guess I didn't want anyone to think I was giving up on WW....I'm NOT. I still love WW as much as the first day I started but I think I just need to shock my system back into weight loss mode. I also thought that maybe I could do this meal plan alone but I learned today that I can't!! It's 10X harder without the support of all you bloggers!! I didn't realise how much support I got from your comments, but without them, the weight loss journey is long and lonely!!

I'm dying to hear what you guys think of my decision........

I'll be checking up on all your blogs tomorrow!

Carolyn