Weight Loss Journey, Walking for Fun?

Today was another crazy day. Now everyone else seems to have gone off the deep end. Luckily it's dumb crazy, not mean crazy. I used to be told I didn't have any common sense. Well, sometimes I think I'm the ONLY one with any lately. SNAP!

I listen to Belleruth every night and decided to listen to the affirmations this morning while I put on my makeup. A strange song was going through my head, and I was tired of it. Belleruth definitely made the song end and gave me something good and constructive to listen to. And it's very relaxing.

Our mailroom refuses to deliver my Avon books for me, so I HAVE to do it MYSELF! Of all the nerve ;O)! I walked to Bldg. 189 today during lunch. It is a gradual downhill to the bldg. My bag was full of Avon books and an order to deliver. But coming back it was up the gradual hill, which didn't seem so gradual toward the end. Luckily, all I had left to carry was a check! I listened to my MP4 player with Earl Nightengale talking about "As a Man Thinketh" and Our Boss (the customer). I didn't clock the distance, but I did the walk, including up stairs into the buildings to the receptionist of 4 bldgs in 28 minutes. I walk a 20-minute mile, so that would be a little more than 1 mile. I'm glad my deodorant works because I was really "glowing" by the time I got back to my office.

I used to suffer walking from my car to the building and back. Most summers, I didn't even go outside. This is the first summer I'm actually getting tanner. So, that makes me beige instead of porcelain. Now, I walk 2 miles at 5:30-6:15, which is the hottest time of the day. I'm getting cramps trying to pat myself on the back ;O)

Food:
2 egg white omelet with mozzarella cheese (2 pts)
1 Krispy Kreme cream filled doughnut (at least 9 pts)
1 serving angelhair pasta with pesto (5 pt)
3 stalks celery (2 pts)
1 serv applesauce (1 pt)
3 slices Little Caesar's pepperoni pizza (customer appreciation size)(18 pts)
6 large marshmallows (3 pt)
2 peppermints (1 pt)
Now that I've added this all up (and remembered the Krispy Kreme, I'm disappointed. I'm not acting like someone trying to lose weight. Plentyoffish.com was right. I definitely lack discipline.

Exercise:
Walked 3 miles (1 + 2)

Weight Loss Journey, Challenges

We walked again today. That makes 4 days this week for me. We walked 4 laps on the 1/3-mile track at the fitness center. It was 98 degrees out, and neither of us was complaining about the heat. Maybe it wasn't as humid. As a matter of fact, when I commented about it, my walking partner said she was complaining on the inside. She didn't want to say anything negative. I really like this snapping thing.

I was teasing that before we knew it, we'd be playing soccer or kick ball. Watch out world!

Now I just have to stop eating so much when I get home from walking. I'm hoping I'll get used to the routine and not feel like I deserve more food because I walked.

I tried another new recipe today from the old Weight Watchers cookbook. It was Ricotta-Parmesan Pasta. I ate both helpings (16 pts) even though it wasn't all that good. I probably won't make it again.

My son is in El Paso. He's closing a chapter in his life by getting all the stuff he left there when he came back in January. So I'm "batching it" this weekend. So, what did I do? I walked after work, ate too much for dinner, and fell asleep in my recliner about 8:30. Wow! Watch out world ;O)

Tomorrow I have 2 challenges -- a baby shower and dinner with some classmates at a Mexican restaurant. I should probably look up their menu online and pick out what I want to order ahead of time. When I've done that, I don't even look at the menu. I just order what I already decided on. It saves money and calories. I just searched Felix's and they don't have a menu online. I'll just have to look for a salad even though I'd prefer something like puffy tacos or enchiladas. But that would be self defeating.

I'm still listening to Belleruth Naparstek at least once a day.

Food:
Sandwich with whole wheat bread, 3 egg whites, 1 tsp salad dressing (4 pts)
Sandwich with whole wheat bread, chicken salad, lettuce, tomato slice (10 pts)
1 dill pickle spear
capellini with ricotta-parmesan sauce (16 pts)
12 large marshmallows (5 pts)

Exercise:
Walked to and from Toastmasters
Walked 1-1/3 mile
Jumped down someone's throat (does that count as exercise?)

Weight Loss Journey, Staying Even at the Scale

It's amazing how easily I can undo all the good I did by eating 1 slice of pizza! Of course, that's what kept rolling around in my head today after I weighed in at WeightWatchers and didn't gain or lose. But truly, it wasn't the slice of pizza -- it was all the other things I did that weren't good choices. Now that I think of it, maybe it was the mojitos Saturday night.

I went over my points every day. I had a piece of German chocolate cake (the end piece with all the icing), 3 cookies PLUS the slice of pizza! I'll have to add all the points for the week to see how much I went over. I believe I get 26 a day + 35 extra for the week. That adds up to 5 extra points a day.

Don't you think it's pretty sad that I can't remember how many points I get a day? That should be first and foremost in my mind. Starting TODAY (not tomorrow), I'll keep it at 26. I do have to find out how many extra points I get for walking 2 miles when I do. We're walking a 20-minute mile consistently, so that's good. AND I don't complain anymore. My walking partner HAS to enjoy that.

I've walked 3 times this week! I know I said I'd walk 5 times, but it looked like rain yesterday, and if I walked, I couldn't indulge at the retirement reception, so we talked each other out of walking. Life is tough when you're spineless. I should know.

I'm going to a baby shower at my sister's Saturday, then to a Mexican restaurant with a bunch of my high school classmates. So I HAVE to store up points for those 2 events.

Food:
Grilled cheese sandwich with 2 slices of 1/3-fat cheese, and 2 slices whole wheat bread (4 pts)
1 cup cappucino (at Jaguar) (3 pts?)
1 can pinto beans (right out of the can) (6 pts)
6 almonds (1 pt)
1/4 bagel with taste of cream cheese (2 pts)
1 pkg crisps (2 pts)
1 hamburger patty (4 pts)
1-1/2 serving potato salad (1 tbsp mayo) (3 pts)

Exercise:
Walk to and from WeightWatchers meeting
Walked 2 miles after work

Weight:
221.4 (exactly the same as last week)

Weight Loss Journey, Walked Alone!

I have to brag -- I just walked 2 miles by myself! The horizon showed signs of rain, but I went anyway. It was pleasant, cloudy, and breezy most of the time. When I got in the car, I saw a drop on the windshield. I thought it might be from the tree I was parked under. By the time I got out of the parking lot, it was coming down -- huge drops. I was afraid it might be hail, but the sky wasn't the right color. It rained the whole way home. As a matter of fact by the time I got home, it was a gale with lightning and thunder.

I thanked God for waiting until I finished the walk. I don't have to tell you that I'm pretty proud of myself.

The food I made yesterday -- the macaroni salad and black-eyed pea salad are delicious. But the raw green peppers and onions don't agree with me. Darn :(

A friend told me I was inspiring her to get back into a walking routine. If I'm inspiring you to do anything, please add a comment to my blog. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Also, if you have a comment about the food or anything else, please comment.

Food:
2 servings oatmeal (didn't finish it all) with 1 serving unsweetened applesauce and cinnamon (6 + 1)
1 small gala apple (1)
8 baby carrots (or so) (1)
1 serving macaroni salad (3)
1-1/2 serving black-eyed pea salad (3)
1-1/2 serving beef stroganoff (15)
1 pkg wholewheat crisps (2)
1 peppermint (0)

32 points (6 over). If I lose another pound, I'll lose a point. Hmmm
Look at this -- I'm counting points! I figured it was just a matter of time ;O)

Exercise:
Walked 2 miles ;O) I have to if I'm going to continue to eat like this.

Weight Loss Journey, Playing Hookey

Today is Sunday, and I'm playing hookey from life. I've been reading a Janet Evanovich novel about Stephanie Plum (Fingerlicking Fifteen), and I'm cooking for next week. So far I've baked 4 small potatoes and a batch of Potato and Kale Soup. Later today I'll make Salisbury Steak. I can't find the written list for what I bought groceries for, so I'll probably have to go back to Sunday's blog post to see what I listed. Maybe another goal should be to be more organized.

Sunday's post had the list I needed. I made the Black-Eyed Pea salad, Macaroni Salad, and Salisbury Steak. I still didn't have Worchestershire Sauce, so I tried Soy Sauce instead, and I didn't have red wine, so I tried red wine vinegar instead. I don't know that the vinegar was a good sub for red wine, but the soy sauce was OK.

I ended up with lots of BLTs (bites, licks, and tastes), so I probably went over my points for the day. But I have lots of stuff for lunch next week!

Food:
1 egg with 1 tbsp mozzarella cheese sandwich on whole wheat bread (not grilled) (6 pts)
1 small baked potato with 1 tbsp lite margarine and salt and pepper
2 servings Potato and Kale soup (YUM!)(4pt/serv and 10/2 serv)
2 serving black-eyed pea salad (2 pts each)
1 serving macaroni salad--had to make sure they tasted OK ;O) (3 pts)
1 serving Salisbury Steak (6 pts) with 2 serving instant mashed potatoes
1-1/2 glass chocolate milk
2 peppermints (1)
34 points (8 over)

Weight Loss Journey, SNAP!

My son and I started snapping our fingers when one of us says something negative. At Toastmasters meetings, when someone says "ah," the "ah" counter rings a bell; so before you know it, that annoying habit is gone. We're snapping for negative comments, and I think I'm even censoring my thoughts. You know, what comes out of your mouth should have started out in your head. Although, sometimes I wonder where things I say come from. ;O) I'm actually much happier now.

I have a couple of challenges ahead of me today. My daughter is having a lia sophia jewelry party, and, afterward, I'm going to a classmate's house to work on the table decorations for our class reunion. There will be food at both. Until just this moment, I was planning to throw caution to the wind and enjoy whatever food is being served at both places. But then I'd have to write it down for you to see. And where would that put me on my journey? Back to last week most probably. I want to continue to 135, so I have to make sure I don't take as many detours as I have been. I don't want to run out of gas before I get there!

SO, I'll avoid baked goods (except my cookies), dips, and chips. Wish me luck!

Starting today, I'll add any off-scale victory that I celebrate. Like last Sunday, I actually put my clothes in the dryer for the first time in years! I stopped drying them in the dryer because the clothes get too tight. Consequently, all door frames have something hanging in them when I do laundry. Starting last week, that's a thing of the past.

I listened to Belleruth while taking my nap -- The CD has 2 tracks, 1 is the guided meditation, and 1 is affirmations. The affirmations are great! If you don't have something like this, consider it. The affirmations will give me different things to say to myself when old tapes start to play.

I've been challenged to walk or workout 6 days a week. I don't really have time today, so I'll start tomorrow. Tuesday and Thursday are already part of my walk routine, so I'm 1/3 of the way there.

Food:
Grilled mozzarella cheese sandwich on dry whole wheat bread (4 pts)
2 cookies (that I baked using chocolate cake mix, 2 large eggs, and 1 small carton unsweetened applesauce (2 cookies = 3 WW points -- if I figured it right)
1 serving Scallops with Pasta and Pesto (yes, I still have some left -- 1 more serving to go) (6 pts)
veggies at my daughter's
My friend's:
lots of salad w/4 tbsp Ken's Smokehouse Olive Oil vinaigrette dressing
100 huge olives with garlic (a slight exaggeration)
5 or 6 black olives
lots of fruit
fruit/pudding trifle (light and delicious)
cheese and crackers
4 more cookies
5 mojitos (or was it 7?)

Weight Loss Journey, Working on my Why

Well, I deserve how I felt when I woke up. BLOATED! I had a hard time putting on my rings this morning, and they were so tight, I couldn't get them off! Now, is that how someone on a weight reduction plan is supposed to feel? NO! So, why do I do what I do?

Years of conditioning? Years of self sabotage by an inner voice that's stronger than my will power? Darren Hardy says to work on my Why Power so it'll be there when my will power fails.

So, what is my why power? Why do I want to lose weight? I obviously need to remind myself more often:
To look good.
To feel good.
To get off the blood pressure and cholesterol meds.
So I don't start developing other problems that start because of weight.
So I can touch my toes without moaning and groaning.
To feel sexy again.
So I can put on a swimsuit again (currently, I won't even put one on, much less wear one in public).
So I can be more agile and physically fit (as opposed to physically phffft).

If you can think of other reasons to be at my perfect weight, please remind me.

I read in Judith Beck's Weight Loss Workbook this morning that refusing to eat food that won't help me lose weight should be automatic like brushing my teeth, washing my face, taking a bath. I should say "NO CHOICE" when something like Church's chicken with honey biscuits call my name. I also read about deceiving myself. I need to read this one again, because I can't remember what I read.

I fixed Beef Stroganoff for the first time this evening. It was so filling that I wasn't tempted to eat anything else except 2 peppermints. It was filling, but tasteless. And it was a lot of work! The kitchen was hot and full of dirty dishes! If I do it again, I'll have to make sure I have Worchestershire Sauce. The bottle I had probably had a sell by date of 1993! I chose to skip it. Maybe I could have substituted low-sodium soy sauce.

Food:
Grilled mozzarella cheese sandwich with dry whole wheat bread
small Gala apple
1 can black-eyed peas (straight out of the can)
1 pkg WW Multigrain crisps
1 vending machine pkg of salted peanuts
serving of Beef Stroganoff with No Yolk egg noodles
15 green grapes
1 med. peanut butter cup
2 peppermints

Exercise:
Walked two miles after work

Extras:
Listened to Belleruth Naparstek.

Weight Loss Journey, Weight Loss ;O)

I woke up at 3:50 this morning (as usual), and instead of just going back to sleep, I listened to the guided meditation by Belleruth Naparstek again. In no time, I was relaxed and back to sleep (I hope that's a good thing). It's interesting that when the guided meditation ended, I woke up.

A couple of years ago, a friend who was learning hypnosis asked me to help her practice. I was not only hypnotized for free, but I also got a CD of the session -- WOW! I listened to it faithfully every night. She recorded the whole session, including the end where she counts to wake me up. So everytime I listened to the session, I woke up at the end, and sometimes I couldn't go back to sleep. I mentioned it to her, not as a complaint, but as a suggestion that she stop recording before that part or reword it so the person doesn't wake up if it's at night.

Anyway, I ate the same sandwich I had yesterday for breakfast, but today I added something else. I counted to 30 between bites. That really slowed me down, and I actually tasted the food. Now I'm not sure if I like the cheese I had in my sandwich. ;O) I have to decide -- good taste -- low calories and fat. Hmmm . . .

I just got back from the Weight Watchers @ Work meeting and I lost 1.4!!!

So my Official weight is 221.4. I've lost 21 lbs in 29 weeks :( I seem to be a slow learner. Maybe I'm a slow burner. Now that I'm fired up, I hope I keep the momentum.

To keep the Journey theme -- I've finally stopped going in circles. I was doing well until May 13, when, for some reason, I seemed to get off course. Now, I have my map, I'm hitting the "Restart Button," and I'm back on track.

My Personal Development coach said that I have to work through the days that I don't feel like eating the right foods, getting the exercise, or drinking the water. I have to do it even though I don't feel like it. For a couple of reasons: I'll feel better after I've done it, I'll build the good habits, and there will be consequences whichever I choose.

I really prefer the consequences of doing it even though I don't feel like it. That's why I like having a walking partner (my navigator). We walk even though there are days one of us doesn't want to. We do it because we should, and heck, we have our clothes with us, we might as well put them to work.

Weight: 221.4

Food:
2 slices whole wheet, double fiber bread
1 slice low fat American cheese
2 egg whites
1 serving of Scallops, Pasta & Pesto
8 pieces of WeightWatchers Original Multigrain Crisps (BLT)
2 Church's chicken thighs, 2 biscuits, and a small Diet Coke
1 pkg of chocolate covered peanuts (2.5 servings) :(
about 15 pretzels

Exercise:
Walked to the Weight Watchers @ Work meeting.

Weight Loss Journey, Guided Meditation

I started today at 5:00. I've been sleeping in lately. But today I was ready to get up when my alarm sounded. I tried something new today: Guided Meditation for weight loss by Belleruth Naparstek. I listened to 22 minutes of the 60-minute CD in the morning. Then, at night, I listened to the whole CD.

Food:
Sandwich of whole wheat bread, 2 egg whites and 1 slice of HEB lite cheese
Chicken and Rice (leftovers)
1 snack pkg of salted peanuts
1 small ice cream cone from Sonic (yum!)
1 Sourdough Jack and small order of fries
chocolate bar from the Credit Union

Exercise:
I did 12 situps on my bed. That's not much exercise, but it's something.