For Me For Life

One big question, many possible answers (excuses?) and remedies for those answers.

Why is it that after a great weigh-in I have 2 days of terrible eating?

1) I’m leaving to go out of town to my parents and a reunion party this weekend and why the hell not? I’ll fall apart anyway while I’m there!

Remedy:  Um, no, it doesn’t have to be that way.  Why not be of the mind that I could set an example to my parents, stand proud when I’m at the party not munching on the snacks and keep my momentum going.  Trips and vacations do not equal gorging!  What’s up with that mentality?

2) I’ve been pretty stressed at work.

Remedy: Listen, Courtney, remember how great you feel emotionally and physically when you work out?  Chocolate does not make stress and your wacky students go away.  In fact, none of that is going away! You must focus your efforts on feeling better about work towards working out, spending time with your family, and remembering that it’s just a job!

3) Either Time of Month is coming, or you’re pregnant.

Remedy: Listen lady, time of month does not mean a bad eating week and if you are pregnant, do you seriously want to start it off like you did the last one and gain 70 pounds again??? You’re 10 pounds away from your pre-pregnancy weight!  Don’t ruin it! Snack on fruit and popcorn.  You really do like that just as much!

So, I bounced back this morning.  I had a 100 cal. pack of 94% FF popcorn during my break (ok, fine, I also had 2 mini muffins that some kid made for her birthday….I don’t even LIKE eating food kids bring….you really never know who or what has touched it!), I’m planning on my on the road meal while we travel to Indy, and I’m going to do everything I possibly can to do a good job while we’re there.  But at this point, I’m not counting on a loss this week. We’ll see though!  I guess I shouldn’t count my chickens before they hatch!

Cheers to a wonderful weekend everyone!

I seriously can’t believe it!  -4.8 this week!  I maintained last week, had a relatively good week this week, busted up the exercise and was down 4.8.  I can’t believe it!  I keep thinking tomorrow morning will be different, but really, I should just rejoice in the fact that I am thisclose to being OUT of the 200s!  I can’t believe that when I went into the hospital to have Abel (my babalicious) I weighed 260.  Wow!  Anyway, when I hit 199, I also hit my 10% from when I started tracking on etools at 221 and that’s a huge (I started WW at 240 but had to resubsribe…so complicated!) turning point for me!  YAY!!!

I’ve been so inspired by some of the boards.  Many of you go to the Y, so I started thinking about the Y as a family place.  I still feel like I’m new with being a family, and didn’t really think about the benefits of joining the Y.  So, we went and checked it out last week and have been using guest passes this week.  Hubby had to think about it from a different level too.  We were used to just going the two of us when we lived in Indy years ago.  It’s a whole new ballgame now!  We can drop off the baby at the daycare while we work out…therefore not giving us any excuses of not having time!  He’s home with Abel 2 days a week and tried it out yesterday. Abel loved the nursery and all the kids and toys in it, and Ryan (the hubby) was able to workout!  Then, last night, I tried a strength class and loved it.  It was scheduled awesomely…I was able to eat with the family and play with them, and then Ryan bathed and got Abel to bed while I worked out.  I love this!  The Y also has a pool which will give us a great winter activity.  We’re trying really hard to make sure we USE the membership and don’t waste the money….between the swimming, daycare, and schedules, I hope it happens!  So anyway, thanks to all of you for the great inspiration!

I’m off for a day full of motivation.  This weekend we head back to Indy for our 10 year college reunion.  Wow!  We will also see my parents which we haven’t since mid-August, so while they drive will be kind of annoying and it’s a quick turnaround, the trip will be fun.  I just hope I keep the eating (and drinking for that matter!) under control so I don’t WASTE this great week!

Cheers everyone!

Oh man…after a 13 day hiatus from any exercise and just downright down… I managed to get on the treadmill and pick up at Week 2 Day 1 of Couch to 5K. I felt good on the treadmill and am feeling good about picking up things again….although I have to say, I would have been just as happy in bed watching Dancing With the Stars! SO, I guess that’s a pretty big NSV for me!

So, other than the rice krispie treat debacle I posted about earlier today, it was a great day. I’m pooped though…so I’m off! Cheers!

Every freakin’ year I go through this.  I have to avoid the wicked horrible teachers lounge treats.  They are there every day.  I’ve already had 3 rice krispie treats today.  I normally don’t like those, but they are the peanut butter ones with chocolate icing.  So, new goal (AND HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS PLEASE!) I won’t give into the treats!  Even if they do involve chips of any kind OR peanut butter and chocolate!

After a pretty good weekend (haven’t said that in weeks!) I lost it with the teachers lounge treats.  I will move on….but will have to avoid them AGAIN this afternoon at a meeting.

Why oh why are people compelled to celebrate birthdays (or anything for that matter) or “survive” meetings with food and only food? 

Talk about something to struggle with for life! Cheers to a great week everyone!

I did it!  I managed to maintain this week.  Unbelieveable….but seriously, it just goes to show how a few days of good eating a week can really help you! Plus, my general mood is up.  Here are my menus from Monday and Tuesday that is proving to me how healthy eating can change everything:

Monday:

Breakfast: Grits and an egg made in Pam

Lunch: Rotisserie chicken breast (no skin) with a huge salad full of veggies and 1 T. of Ranch dressing.

Dinner: (My hubby published a book [isn’t he cool?] and I munched on pita chips and fruits and veggies at the party)

Tuesday:

Breakfast: Power Bar

Lunch: Chinese Chop salad with tofu and FF Asian dressing from Noodles

Snack: 94% FF popcorn

Dinner: Pork chop with sauteed apples and onions and roasted sweet potatoes.

So, I know I haven’t been getting in all my fruits and veggies, but I’m close!  I’ve been doing well with the water, but haven’t worked out since last Tuesday.  I’m planning on a Firm video tonight…but sometimes, that’s just big plans.  When I’m consistent, it WORKS!  I’ll figure this out eventually…but as Roni posted last night, it takes time.  And that’s just the bottom line.

Thanks to all of you and your wonderful comments yesterday.  You seriously have no idea how great it felt.  I’ve been low and it’s nice to have support!

Over the weekend, I started to think I had hit an all time low for me.  I’m struggling emotionally a lot, and it’s really impeding the dieting.  I’m back on track this week and trying not to let the emotions get the better of me, but man sometimes it’s so hard! We ended up eating out pretty much every meal for 4 days.  I made some great choices, some not so great choices, but as the days wore on, I realized I was sluggish, I wasn’t working out, and by Sunday, I hit rock-bottom.  I got the baby in the stroller to go out and was so lethargic and just BLAH, I ended up just taking him around the block, to the park to swing, and home.  NOT the 4-5 miles a day we were doing this summer!  What’s up with that? Can food really dictate my actual emotions? 

There are other things going on in my life.  My hubby is finishing his doctoral program and trying to get his dissertation researched and written this year.  If he needs another year, he’ll take it, but he’s itching to get done.  This means we could be moving in the next year.  Our move to get him to the PhD program was really tough on me personally and professionally.  Sometimes, when thinking about starting that all over, it’s a very hard ride for me to take in my mind.  I know, that deep down, I’m feeling very anxious about the impending move…whether it be next summer or two summers from now. 

I really wish I could do a better job at just going with the flow.

I did a lot of reflecting on this yesterday and came up with some pretty major conclusions that are kind of like duh….

1) I need to eat healthily.  Not because I need to lose weight, but because it generally makes me feel better.  There is something about all the good vitamins and minerals in your system to help mood and after 4 days of eating out and not exercising, the effects were the complete opposite of what I want to feel.

2) I need to exercise.  I need to just fit it in.  When I’m done with the workout, no matter if it’s a hard core workout or a walk with the baby, I feel better. 

3) When I am doing the aforementioned, the emotions really do just fall into place and it is easier for me to go with the flow.

So, yesterday I sent an email to my hubby about eating out.  I was thinking about it at the time and needed to just get the thoughts out there.  He is in total agreement with me….we both just love to eat out…seriously, the concept of having a great meal without any preparation or cleanup is amazing.  The irony is, I love to cook!  I do it all the time!  But at the end of a long day, I just want to hang with my family.  I need to work on getting over that!

Finally, I have to say that I really love Core.  I love the fact that I’m not obsessing over counting points (although, yes, I pretty much still do it in my head and am thisclose to starting to track again!).  It’s hard to eat out and stay on plan…and this morning, I grabbed a Power Bar because I was running late.  However, generally, I love the recipes and I think this is the program for life.

Once I get the whole emotions thing back in order, I’ll start tracking again. Tomorrow is weigh-in (I’m hoping to maybe just maintain!) and then I’m ready to roll.  Over time, the weight will come off…I just wish it were quicker and my weeks were more consistent!  In all though, when I look at my progress charts, it hasn’t been that bad!

 Thanks for listening to my ramble…I figured I would just get my thoughts down while they were SO taking up space in my head!

I’m just feeling so much better today!  Eating mostly Core foods puts a serious bounce in my step and a glow on my face. It’s unbelieveable.  I’ve been reading a lot of people responding to Roni’s post about motivation, and clearly, that’s mine.  What’s better for all the people around me, my husband, son, family, friends, co-workers, and students, than to have me literally feeling like I am bouncy and glowing?  That’s an incredible motivator and I KNOW will help me continue to persevere! (But it continues to be so hard!!!)

I updated my progress pictures today.  I was feeling great and took advantage of it with the camera….the camera still doesn’t capture how I’m actually feeling about myself…but one day, it will!

Cheers to a wonderful night everyone!

Ok, so I’m not going to write that it’s confusing this time….I guess one day of being off plan wasn’t really that big of a deal because I managed to lose 2.2 pounds this week!   YEAH!!!!  I worked out 4 times and followed the Core plan pretty close…I’m just not counting the extra 35 points for none Core foods.  I also have a lot to lose…I suppose that helps right now, but as I get closer, I probably won’t be able to get away with poor choices on the weekends.  This weekend will be different!  I SWEAR!!!  Anyway, I’m feeling pretty good.  I did a Firm workout last night…Jiggle Free Arms.  I liked it, but actually missed the lower body parts.  I’ll do a full body workout on Thursday.

More later…I really want to post some of my Core meals.  Last night I made pork chops in Pam on the skillet and sauteed onions and apples together in the drippings.  Then, I roasted some sweet potatoes.  It was so so so yummy.  I LOVE the apple/onion/pork chop combo and I really love roasted sweet potatoes!  It’s apple season, so I HIGHLY recommend that meal!

My weeks are insanley busy, but I’m trying to get to people’s blogs here and there…thanks to everyone who is reading and posting!  I want to get another progress picture up…but part of me really wants to wait until I lose that next 20!  I’m 5 pounds away!  Cheers to a wonderful day everyone!

So many social plans and so hard to stay on plan.  I worked out on Sat., was feeling great and motivated by so many of the success stories I was reading, had my meals all planned out, and then let others influence me to make poor choices….no, I take that back…others didn’t influence me…I just didn’t say no while they were saying yes.  Does anyone else have that problem?  I kind of wish I were the type of person that could have all this attitude and be like, “Snap- I am NOT eating that junk you are putting in your mouth!” But I’m not going to do that.  So, the worst was probably yesterday…which started off fantastic, but I didn’t get a workout in and then ended up eating chips and salsa and pizza for dinner when I was supposed to be having flank steak and roasted vegetables.  This morning, my fingers are swollen and I’m feeling blue….which is a direct response to the poor eating and no working out. 

<<<Sigh>>> This is how we learn….and I’m going to do a really good job to stay on plan early this week and hopefully see a loss on Wed.  Hubby and I really want to have another kid….but I really am feeling like I want to wait until I’m at least back down to where I started before.

The good news is, I can really feel a change in my body in that my legs and arms are definitely feeling firmer (hence the name, The Firm)….so, if I get my ACT TOGETHER regarding keeping my eating consistent on the weekends, this losing weight thing is going to be a BREEZE!  (Hah! Don’t I wish!!!)

Cheers to a wonderful day everyone and a wonderful week.  There are so many great successes out there…you are all really inspiring me!!!

The first week of school always seems like it takes about 8 years to get through.  My school is not air-conditioned and made all of brick….I likened it to a brick oven made for baking pizza, not educating children…needless to say, between that and waking up pretty much every morning at 5 to either be with the baby or work out, I’m exhausted.

I am proud to say that I’m continuing to have a pretty great Core week.  I’m not following it to a T, but I am pretty darn close…and between Flex Points and APs, I’m sure I’m right on track.  I’ll do a much better job tracking next week.  I’m also proud to say that I avoided food at work (seriously, the first week do we have to bring it?) TWO days.  I went out and grabbed a salad one day and a Subway Veggie sub another.  Today was a huge moment for me.  I went to a salad bar at a local grocery story and made a huge salad.  I wanted some protein, so I went over to the hot food.  The first thing I saw was chicken fingers.  So, I asked for one (PS, I really, really, really love chicken fingers).  While the woman was wrapping it up, I noticed they had rotisserie chicken breasts.  I asked her if it was too late to switch and she said no problem!  When I went back to school, I was seriously proud of my choice…and really didn’t feel deprived at all!

I can feel my waist starting to really come back. I fit into an old shirt today, and I’m just feeling really good.  After a rough August, things are looking way way up!  Now, of course, it’s time to embark on the challenge of the weekend.  I’m going to do everything I can….IN MY POWER…to avoid the horrid temptations that come along with the weekend and workout both days!  I can do this!

Cheers to a wonderful weekend everyone!!!