Those 4 little words.....

make it all worth it.

Basically I've been struggling. I haven't fallen off my plan even for one little second but I'm still struggling. I am getting a little tired of eating SO much veggies and protein. I know it's super good for me and I can absolutely tell that I am losing weight but it still gets a little monotonous.

Until today....2 huge successes that make the past 4 days seem like a vacation.

First of all, even though I told myself I wouldn't get on the scale until Friday. I jumped on this morning. Down 7 lbs! 7 lbs ladies!! Now three of those are "artificial pounds". When I weighed myself on Monday morning, it was after a day of "hangover breakfast" and almost a whole Delicsio pizza and a bag of Cadbury Mini eggs (those things are unbelievable) so I was up 3 lbs from what I was last Friday. I knew they would fly off pretty quickly but they took 4 of there little buddies with them. Sweet! I'm back to my pre-Christmas weight! I feel super fit and I have been working out everyday. My pants feel looser for sure and I can completely tell that I'm losing wieght, especially in the tum-tum area. My tummy is flat again! Halle-freakin-leua! The muffin top is slowly becoming a low fat one. :)

Secondly...and here's the big one.

I decided that since Mon-Wed were all out sweatfests at the gym that I would hop into a Yoga class tonight to strech out my poor sore muscles. I walked into class, grabbed a mat and found a spot. One of the ladies that goes to a few of the classes I do was totally checking me out. I sat down and she said "Wow, You've lost weight!!!" I totally played the "oh, you think so?" card but I loved every single second of it. Then she went on to "Yeah, you definitely look slim and toned!" I could have jumped off my mat, ran over to her, threw my arms around her and planted a nice big juicy one on her. Thank you Yoga lady! You made my whole week! (especially since I don't have hubby around to gush over how fantastic I look)

So I'm back in the game. This weekend I had already planned to let myself have a little treat but I'm going to keep it to 5 WW points. I'm thinking a 100 calorie Aero bar. Those little babies rock! So that will give me something to look forward to and will keep my head in the game. I'm going to spend 2 pts tomorrow night and save the other three for Saturday. Spread the love a little.

What I'm eating today:
Breakfast:
1 cup of Kashi Go Lean
1 cup of milk
1/2 banana

Snack:
1 oz of almonds

Lunch:
1 Cup of WW pasta
1 tsp of basil pesto
2 1/2 cups of veggies
4 oz of chicken breast

Snack:
1 yummy juicy pear

Supper:
Chicken strips. These things are amazing! I took 4 oz of chicken and cut it into strips. I rolled it around in fat free italian dressing and then rolled it in italian breadcrumbs and baked for about 30 mins. I used about a tbsp of fat free ranch dressing to dip them in. YUM.
2 1/2 cups of veggies

No snack because I didn't eat supper until 7:30 since Yoga ran until 6:00.

Thank you SO much for the support ladies! It's really keeping me focused and the pounds are finally hitting the road!

Day 2

Day 1 was a success. I stuck to the plan all day and got a good 55 min sweatfest at the gym last night. 25 mins on the bike (ramping up for the Spin class that starts on March 3rd YAY!) 18 mins on the elliptical and 12 mins on the Stairmaster. Felt soo good afterwards.

Around supper time I started the "how am I going to get through this first week on this strict plan- I want my 100 calorie packs back" mentality but I went downstairs and turned on the computer and read all your comments and I was totally back in the game. You ladies are so supportive! It's exactly what I needed to get me through Day 1. I was surprised at how many people said it would be easier to stick to plan while Scott was away and in most cases this would be correct but I am one of those lucky little ladies who has a hubby who eats super healthy (with the excpetion of the occasonal weekend blow out) and he is constantly encouraging me to make the right choices and get to the gym. Before he found out he was going to Kansas he was even trying to think of ways to change his eating so that it would better fit with my SFL plan. Sweet, right?

I made the most amazing Salmon last night. This was my first time ever even buying fish let alone trying to make a little gourmet meal out of it. I wrapped it up in tin foil, topped it with EVOO added a little salt and pepper. In a bowl I mashed up a cracker and some Epicure lemon dill spice and threw that on top of the salmon. Cooked it for 20 mins and then opened the tin foil and broiled for a few mins. It was sooo good. It was honestly like something out of a restaurant. I also bought some Haddock...any ideas on how to make this super yummy? I'm a total fish virgin.

Day 2:
Breakfast:
1/2 cup vailla yogurt
1/4 cup cottage cheese
mixed with a cup of fruit

Snack:
1 1/4 oz of low fat cheese

Lunch:
1 cup of pasta
2.5 cups of veggies
3 oz of chicken

Snack:
1 cup of baby carrots

Supper:
4 oz chicken breast cut into strips. Dipped in fat free Italian dressing and rolled in Italian breadcrumbs. Grilled on the George foreman grill. These are soo good. I tried them out last week.
1 tbsp light Ranch dressing for dipping.
2 1/2 cups of veggies (maybe a salad?)

Snack:
1 1/4 cup of fat free jello OR popcorn.

Exercise today will consist of 50 min Yoga class at lunch and we are expecting a storm this afternoon so I think I'll head home after work and check in with Billy Blanks after supper.

Is it odd that I already FEEL like I'm losing weight? It's only been 1 day! I can't wait to get on the scale on Friday! (been a loooong time since I could say that eh?)

Day 1 of many.

I'm completely psyched and more than ready to get down to business and finally say goodbye to these last 15 lbs. They have been hanging around for so long and looking back, for the past year I have been playing around with least last 10-15 lbs. Up a pound, down a pound, up a pound, down a pound. Not a good cycle.


Our party went really well. I surprised myself by staying away from the food most of the night. I was too busy mingling and having fun so there wasn't much hover time and I stayed away from the Potluck table as much as possible. Although I did have more than a few bites and I tried a little bit of everything. Which is not a bad thing at all....what IS a bad thing is the breakfast I had this morning which included bacon, hashbrowns, & all the perfect trimmings for your typical "hangover breakfast". And I'm also pretty sure that the pizza I had for supper last night was not a good choice at all. I did make one good choice yesterday though, I spent about 2 hours after supper getting ready for my week. I made a huge chicken vegetable soup and cooked up some lunch portions. No excuses now. It's all right there in front of me.

I also took Scott to the airport yesterday morning first thing. Not fun. This is the first time we've been away from each other for more than one night since we've been married. I miss him like crazy already and he's only been gone a day! The house was sooo quiet last night. He did call me from the Toronto airport and then again from Kansas last night so I know he made it fine and he's all settled in. Two whole weeks. Ugh. At least it gives me motivation to stick to my plan and look better than ever when he comes home!

Meal plan for today:

Breakfast:
1 Cup of Kashi Go Lean
1 Cup of skim milk
1/2 Banana

Snack:
1 cup of baby carrots

Lunch:
(this is the hard part! It's sooo much food!)
4 oz of chicken breast
1 cup of brown rice with reduced sodium soy sauce
2 1/2 cup of veggies

Snack:
1 apple

Supper:
Either
4 oz of salmon and 2 1/2 cups of veggies
-or-
2 1/2 cups of chicken veggie soup

Snack:
Either
1 bag of 100 cal popcorn or 1 1/4 cup of fat free Jello.

Honestly, it's kind of nice to take the guesswork out of what I am eating. There isn't a lot of wiggle room, which is exactly what I need right now. Structure.
I jumped on the scale this morning and I was up almost 3 lbs...most likely due to the awful choices I made yesterday but I'm not worried, I know they will fly off in no time and they'll be taking some of their buddies with them.

How did everyone make out this weekend?

Into the Battlefield.....

that is this weekend.

I'm seriously fighting to stop the "it's my last weekend before my big mega-strict meal plan starts, better get in all the pizza, wine, peanut butter cups, Mars bars, cookies, and other similar crap that I can" mentaility. It's slowly creeping in. Like Stephen King's "The Mist" only instead of the Mist containing a supernatural flesh eating monster, it's filled with fat and empty calories. Don't even know where that one came from.....

So tomorrow is the big party at our house. Probably about 20-25 people coming over and what are they bringing with them? Food and booze. Sigh. See why I'm fighting off the last weekend binge mentality?? I can see why I wanted to throw a party (love being the hostess!) but why did I have to throw a Potluck in there too? Why did I encourage each guest to make their favorite, super yummy homemade dish and bring it with them to MY house? My house that will be overthrown with leftovers and the unbelievable remnants of a massive party Sunday morning. The same Sunday morning that I have to get up at 8:30 and drive my hubby to the airport where he will inevitably board a plane that will take him thousands and thousands of miles away from me for two whole weeks. Still following me? This also falls on the same Sunday morning that my friends and I decided it would be a great idea to go out for hangover bacon and eggs and french toast and pancakes and all those awful/wonderful things that make being hungover SO much better. Why can't all you ladies come to the party and bring your own favorite low point, low fat, low calories, super yummy homemade dish and we can all make good decisions and count our points together and talk about how great it feels to stay OP even during this rocking party? Can you come? All of you? I can give you a lift back to the airport on Sunday morning when I have to say goodbye to my husband for two whole weeks. I'm going to the aiport anyway so you won't be imposing. :)

That pretty much wraps up my weekend. Sunday afternoon will be filled with pining after my husband (did I mention he's leaving for Kansas for two whole weeks?) and also hours upon hours of preperation for my upcoming week on the new meal plan. I figure if I cook up all my lunch/dinner portions before hand...how can I say no? It's right there..in front of me. It's called setting myself up for success and I'm doing it. All afternoon Sunday. Without my husband...who is going away for two whole weeks.

Bring on the reassuring comments ladies...apparently I need them.

I must say I'm kicking some serious butt at the gym this week.
Monday was a 10 min elliptical warm up and then a 45 min Body Scuplt Class
Tuesday was a 50 min Yoga class at lunch and after work was 10 min on the bike, 20 on the elliptical and another 20 mins on the StairMaster (aka Satan as Katie refers it to)
Wednesday was a 45 min Body Ball class (wish it could have been a little harder last night)
Today is probably 10 mins on the bike, 20 on the elliptical and another 20 on the Stairmaster. It almost took me out on Tuesday but I like a challenge. Since no one else really signs up for that machine at the gym (I think it's kind of intimidating and plus it's pretty intense) I may as well get on there and show them all how it's done!
Friday is going to be a 30 min introductory class to the new SPIN BIKES we got in! I'm so psyched that our YMCA is getting a new spin class. I've heard so much about them from everyone but have never taken one. Any tips or suggestions? Love it, hate it?

Anyone watching Big Brother this season? I missed Tuesdays episode and there is a change in the partners but they didn't say a word about it last night! What happened on Tuesday. Last night I couldn't even believe Jenn. She is way too into the game and what she said about Ryan...I would be livid. Didn't you just want to rewind the tape and show it to him?!

I'm T-4 days and counting until I start SFL. I'm actually excited and thanks everyone for the positive feedback. The plan is pretty simple and involves a lot of protein and veggies for the first 2 weeks. The "cleansing" weeks. It's not available online, I think it's more of a local nutritionist that does it and apparently they charge mega bucks for the consult. Luckily I got it form a friend (who did pay the mega bucks....but also lost mega lbs too). We'll see how I make out! I'm thinking of taking before and after pics so if I do, I'll post them!

How is everyone doing this week?

My last week of point "freedom"!

This week has been going well. I've been eating well and staying within my points but the scale has been holding steady and even climbing a little....much to my dismay. I'm not getting too discouraged though since I know my new meal plan is on the horizon. Day one starts in 5 days. So my days of freedom are limited. And honestly...I think that's good thing for me right now. My choices have not been the greatest lately and at the end of the day when I have 2 or 3 points left, rarely do I push aside the processed snacky foods and pick up a piece of fruit. I have been slacking on the guidelines and especially on the weekends. The weekends have been my major downfall. I work hard all week, eat healthy and workout 4 or 5 times every week and then on the weekend, I end up counterbalancing all my hard work and say yes to pizza, wine, chips, chocolate. Whatever is really available really. I'm looking forward to taking the guesswork out of my meal plan. It's all laid out for me and there is very little room to wiggle. No All Bran Bites, no muffins, no granola bars.....no chocolate, no pizza, no wine. I can sooo do this. I need to do this. Summer is JUST around the corner and before you know it I will be forced into shorts and skirts and tank tops and bathing suits. I want to wear them all with confidence so here I go.

I did decide to allow myself one treat on my meal plan but I will save it for Saturday night and it has to be between 5-10 WW points. I might even lower that depending on what I have planned for the weekend.

Has anyone tried Fiber Source Honey and Almond Granol Bars? I can't find them online but they are pretty new & soo delicious! I tried the Apple Cobbler kind a few weeks ago and it was pretty good but decided to give the Honey & Almond one a go last week and they are SO yummy! 5 g of fiber and they are only 2 pts each! I found them at Walmart, Superstore only had the apple kind. Definitely give them a try!

Big get together at our place this Saturday night. We've been planning it for a while and it's a Potluck so this will be my last hoorah before SFL starts on Monday morning. I'm going to try to hold back a little bit and not go crazy and stuff my face. I think the trick is to focus on the company and not hang around the dining room table all night! Plus I'll try to stick with hubby since he's leaving me first thing Sunday morning for Kansas City for 2 whole weeks! I'll make sure to post some pictures!

How is everyone else making out this week?

I'm Back!!!

It's been sooo long. This is possibly the longest I've gone without blogging. A number of reasons why I suppose but just so you all know, everything is fine and I have been staying pretty OP...for the most part. Those darn weekends are sneaking up on me again! There have been numerous misdemeanors over the past week what with Valentine's day in the mix. Thai food, cheesecake, pizza, chips and dip and CHOCOLATES! They've all been able to weasel their way into my meal plan. I haven't written in my point journal for 4 days. Can you believe it? I'm scared to get on the scale. Just plain ol scared. So I haven't. I don't really plan on it either. My clothes are still fitting well and besides the previously mentioned bumps off the wagon, I have been trying to make healthy decisions. I was away from home for 3 meals over the weekend and I opted for Subway for 2 of them and the other was a Jr burger and potato at Wendy's. Who am I kidding? I haven't been on plan at all over the weekends. Not counting points = NOT on plan. Plain and simple. Although I did try to make healthy choices, there were a lot of choices that weren't healthy in the least bit (Subway cookie with my sub???) Even when I made choices that were relatively healthy, they weren't the healthiest options available.

I have been keeping up with your blogs and you ladies have been doing SO great! Definitely a good motivation for me. I'm taking off this last 15 lbs before the summer hits if it's the last thing I do.

So I've made a decision. I'm ready. I'm commited and I'm psyched. February 25th is the day. I'm committing myself for at least 1 month but will re-evaluate once the month is almost over. I'm jumping back on SFL (Simply For Life). It's a local meal plan with tons of protein and mountains of veggies. It's basically just very very clean eating. No bonus points (although I'm tweaking the plan to allow myself ONE small treat on Saturdays to keep me from going insane. Although I've decided this treat has to be under 10 WW points) I've spent a few hours planning out every meal for the next 2 weeks. I've made up my grocery list and I've set aside a few solid hours of cooking/preparing for this Sunday. The first 2 weeks is tough since it is the "cleansing phase" so the choices are a little more restricted. Lunch is the big meal and often it's hard to finish since it is so much food but the plan is designed that way so that after a few days your metabolism seriously gets a wicked jumpstart. I did the plan in May for about 4 weeks. 2 weeks of cleansing and 2 weeks of Fat Burn. And it worked. Seriously worked and not just taking off water weight kinda worked. It stayed off. (Well it came back gradually over the period of that last 8 months but I can only blame myself for that. A summer filled with wine, campfires, BBQs, pizza etc is a sure fire way to gain a few pounds) But in that 4 weeks on SFL I lost 15 or 16 lbs!. Funny...that's EXACTLY how much I'd like to see fly off before the summer hits. I know it won't be easy. I know I'll want to cave in on the weekend but I won't. I can't. I'm so tired of fighting this last 15 lbs that I'm just ready to get rid of it....for good. PLUS I know you ladies will be a mountain of support and I'll be checking in every single day so tell you all how fantastic I am doing on my new plan. So Feb 25th is the big day! What do you guys think?

Other than that I've been keeping it pretty low key. I've been out a lot lately with friends and have let the social schedule get away from me. Too much munching and wine and movie treats. Scott is leaving for Kansas this Sunday for 2 whole weeks. I don't think we've ever been away from each other for more than 1 night. It will be a change. But hopefully I can just channel all the loneliness into my new meal plan and in 2 weeks, when he comes home, he'll be wowed!

How is everyone else making out? Losing, gaining, maintaning?

Major Milestone

Yesterday I hit a huge milestone. Let me draw it all out for you ladies.

Work has been insanely busy lately so I really haven't had much time for blogging and commenting (although I have been reading all your blogs!) By the time I get home from work, I just don't feel like sitting in front of my computer at home (Hopefully we'll be getting a laptop soon so I can blog anywhere around the house rather than being stuck in the basement) anyway this is all besides the point....back to my milestone.



So yesterday morning I was working away and I called Scott to see if he wanted to meet for a coffee at lunch but he was stuck in a seminar all morning and afternoon. I knew I was going to the gym after work for my Body Ball Class so I debated on what to do for lunch. I did have a few errands to run but I just didn't feel like running around town. I pretty much sat and mulled it over for about 15 mins before I jumped up, threw on my jacket and headed to.......THE GYM! Even though I knew I wanted to keep my plans to attend the class at 5:00. I went and got in a great 40 mins cardio session and still made it to Body Ball at 5:00. How much do I rock right now? I actually went to the gym 4 times in 2 days! (Tuesday was Yoga at lunch and Cardio after work) This was huge for me and I felt so great afterwards.



Today is Cardo after work and I'm planning on:
20 mins Elliptical
20 mins StairMaster
15 mins on the Bike



I seriously don't know what has happened to me but I went from seriously dreading the gym and using every excuse possible to talk myself out of going....to making extra stops at the gym just to get in an extra workout. Not saying I love going yet but I don't even think about not going anymore. How sweet is that? I miust be in some weird fitness zone or something.



Scott continues to bring home mounds and mounds of Peanut M&Ms from work. Someone at his work is related to or knows some perchasing person for something and last night Scott came home with a box...yes a BOX of Mega Peanut M&Ms which contained 24 king size bags of M&Ms. The day before he came home with the jumbo bags of M&Ms. I told him to hide them on me and for the most part I havent even given them a second thought. Thankfully I'm not super big on Peanut M&Ms so they really haven't been a temptation. But still...Yay me for resisting! (It does hlpe that Scott hid them from me and I literally have no idea where they are in the house)



Another temptation? This weekend is my best friend's birthday so all the girls decided to get together for a girls night on Saturday. I was put in charge of the cake so instead of getting a crappy cake from Sobey's or Superstore (Good cakes but I think I can do better) I decided to make this.......

I know, I'm torturing myself right?

BUT most of my friends aren't really dieters so I figure just because I'm watching what I eat doesn't mean I can't make something super yummy for them. I decided to allow myself one small small piece but I will cut it out before hand and stick with that. Plus it makes me feel so much better to make something really yummy for my favorite friends rather than to buy a crappy dry cake form the grocery store. My plan for Saturday is to stick with wine and enjoy my friends rather than hover around the snack table. We are also going out dancing so I'm sure I'll work off some calories there!

Tomorrow is Friday ladies! Hang in there!

Any big plans on the weekend?

Oh I almost forgot. SFL is Simply for Life. I guess it's more of a local plan but basically you go to a nutritionist who gives you a specific meal plan, very specific. Then you go back and get weighed in every single week. It's like crazy expensive and costs somewhere around $300 or more to get the plan and to get weighed. I already have the menu plans so I'm good to go on that front, it's just decided to do it and getting in the right frame of mind. But like I said before, if you do it and stick to it, you do lose a ton of weight. I lost 13 lbs in 3 weeks last time I did it and I kept it off with WW. I'm thinking about attempting it again for a few weeks to get this last 10 lbs off.

It's been a while....

Where does the time go?

I weighed in on Friday and I was only 2 lbs away from being back to my pre-Christmas weight. I know, you're probably thinking..."You're STILL carrying around Christmas weight?!?!" But I am. It's true. Last year it was so much easier to take it off but for some reason it seems to be sticking around this year. I'm not too worried about it though. I know it's slowly coming off. Hopefully I've learned my lesson and next year I won't be so food crazed. I think my body likes this weight zone because it doesn't seem very anxious to move around any. I'm still toying with the idea of doing SFL for a few weeks to shed off a few pounds and get down to the lowest I've ever been, just to see if it's possible. I think my biggest hesitation is that I'm actually happy where I am now and I don't want to go through all that restriction. I really do wish I could lose another 10 lbs and I really really want to. But giving up those flex points is going to be a tough one. I'll have to pick a 2 week period that I have NO plans with friends, no dates, no outings basically. This plan (at least the first 2 clensing weeks) does not allow for much flexibility. I'm actually making it sound a lot worse that it really is. I know if I do it and stick with it, than the weight will fly off pretty quick. Choices, choices. I guess I'm just getting anxious about these last few pounds, I have been playing around with them since May of last year! That seems like forever! Actually in May of last year I was actually smaller than I am now (due to the SFL plan). Hmmm what do you ladies think?

My weekend was good. Dinner and a movie date with another couple on Friday. Went to Swiss Chalet. Ordered the Santa Fe Chicken Sandwich (9pts) and a baked potato (5 pts w/sour cream) with diet pepsi. I also had 1 perogie and half of a spring roll (5 pts) High point supper but that's why I saved up my flex points!
Saturday we had my 2 year old neiece for the afternoon. SO much fun! We took her shopping and to the pet store. Saturday night was homemade pizza night (which I royally screwed up!) and stayed in with a movie. I made the dough but doubled it up for a super thick crust and it turned out all doughy. Not good. Next time we'll stick with the single!

Went to a Superbowl party on Sunday night and had 5 points left. I had one very small piece of spinach and tomato thin crust pizza and a 1/2 of a cookie. There was food everwhere!!! It would have been so easy to just pig out! I did pretty good though, drank about 6 glasses of water and chewed about 3 pieces of gum to keep the food out of my mouth! haha.

Today is Yoga at lunch and Cardio after work. I didn't make it to the gym yesterday so I'm palying catch up. I did squeeze in 40 mins of Tae Bo on Sunday though so I figure I'm doing ok. Tomorrow I'm hitting the gym at lunch for 40 mins cardio since we are heading to the in laws for a turkey dinner tomorrow night. Mmm Turkey. My plan is to fill up on veggies. Tomorrow night Scott and I are going to play Volley ball. Nothing competitive, just a recreational team. Should be fun and it's more active than sitting at home on the couch!

How is everyone doing this week?