Ok… no time to talk.  My granddaddy went to the hospital last night, looking like one of his last nights, so my husband and I drove to see him and back (2 hrs) on top of my already 3 hours in the car driving to and from work… WHEW!  I didn’t eat those last 3 points last night; no time, and not hungry for them.  Today’s the BIG day of 37 points!!!! so no anticipated menu; I think I can handle this one

 Today’s Scale: 170.8 (looks like it’s working!!!)

Food:
B: Oatmeal-To-Go Square, 4
B: Gas Station FF Cappucino drink, 2?
S: Kashi Bar, 2.5
L: Mexican again (GROSS)… half of lunch fajitas (chicken), 8
L: Chips and salsa, 6
D: Bojangles Biscuit, 5.5
D: 1.5 Cajun Supremes, 3
D: Some Bojangles Fries, 5
D: Some key lime pie, 3
TOTAL: 39 (2 over, but I didn’t eat 3 of mine yesterday)

Alright, so maybe yesterday didn’t go quite as I expected… but that forced chicken salad sandwich at lunch (which wasn’t even good) really set me back.  Thankfully, Wendi was there :)  So my points worked out okay.  By the time I got some dinner last night, I wasn’t even too hungry so it was light and healthy with a treat from my husband from his Starbucks meeting with a friend.  Yay! 

 And it was Biggest Loser night.  Now, some of you may know that I’m addicted, but I’m okay with that.  It’s been so good and motivational for me! 

Today’s Weight: 171.8
Next Weigh-In: Monday, March 24th
Today’s points, Wendi Day 3 23 (this should feel like normal)

Anticipated Food:
B: Oatmeal-To-Go Square, 4
B: Coffee with Splenda and FF H/H, 0
L: Orange, 1
L: PB on LP Bread, 5
L: Salad with 1 Tbsp regular Ranch, 2
L: Small chocolate chip cookie, 4
S: Unsweetened applesauce, 1
D: Grilled cheese made with LP bread and RF cheese, 2 
D: Apple, 1
S: Something else? Maybe a hot drink or dark chocolate square? 3
TOTAL POINTS: 23

I had LOTS of requests for this soup from my husband.  Each week when we went to Trader Joe’s, he would pick up the 17 Bean mixed bag and say, “Hey Jen… can you make this for us?” and each time I’d say “Sure but I’ve already meal planned for the week!  Let’s do it later, okay?”  Truthfully, I’m not a big fan of “hodge podge mish-mash” kinds of meals where everything is in one package (like chicken pot pie or simple things like this bean soup where there are too many beans to keep my type A personally in check!)  However, this week, I knew I would be working late, and Ben would be going away next week for a medical mission training in Trinidad, so I made it!  And boy, was my head hung in shame… it was great!  And super healthy!  Based on nutrtional information for the beans and the fact that the only other ingredients are tomatos, celery, onion, and carrots with some broth… I’m estimating 2 points for 1 cup of soup.  Does that sound too low to y’all?  Here’s the recipe:

17 Bean & Barley Soup from Trader Joe’s

2 cups 17 bean and barley soup mix (just 16oz dried beans, if you don’t have a Trader Joe’s)
2 - 32oz containers of vegetable broth (I used Reduced Sodium Chicken Stock)
1 cup onion chopped
1 cup celery chopped
1 cup carrot chopped
1 cup bell pepper chopped  (I forgot to buy one, and mine was still great!)
1 tsp dried basil
1 clove garlic minced
2 tbsp olive oil
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp italian seasoning (I added a mix of oregano, basil, garlic pepper since I didn’t have a premixed seasoning)
1 - 28oz can diced canned tomatoes
salt and pepper to taste

Soak beans overnight in a large pot of water, then rinse and drain. Pour 4 cups of broth into a pot with the beans. In a separate pan, cook onion, celery, carrot, pepper, basil and garilc in olive oil until soft. Combine this mixture and remaining ingredients into the bean pot and cover with more broth. Simmer covered for about 1 hour to desired tenderness. Be sure to occasionally check the liquid level and add more broth if necessary. Salt and pepper to desired taste. Makes about 8 hearty servings. 

Day one of Wendi went quite well!  I had a big snaffoo over lunch… my preceptor (boss) took me out to lunch from our noon hospital rounds, and he wanted Mexican food.  So, Mexican it was!  Now, I’m not a huge fan of a “big lunch” but yesterday it worked out well since I was able to eat a smaller dinner (points wise).  I think I also made some good choices, and I strayed away from the chips at the table.  I also drank a lot of water.  I wasn’t able to exercise since I drove the hour and 20 minutes home from my work site yesterday.  But I did get quite a bit of work done… so mabe today I’ll have less to do and more time to move!

Today is Day 2 of Wendi… which means 27 points!  I honestly don’t even know what I’m going to do since that’s just so much front passing glance.  Here’s what I think:

Today’s Weight: 171.8 (I know… I wasn’t supposed to weigh, but I couldn’t help myself!)
Next Weigh-In: Monday, March 24th
Daily Points, Wendi Day 2: 27

Food:
B: Oatmeal with Splenda and cinnamon, 3
B: Coffee with FF Half-n-Half and Splenda, 0
B: Apple, 1
L: Drug Rep Lunch–Chicken Salad on Hoagie Roll (no other choices!!!), 8+3
L: About 4 chips, 1
L: Orange, 1
L: Two small PB cookies, 5
D: Steamed veggies in citrus sauce, 2
D: WW Yogurt, 1
D: Starbucks Skinny Latte, 2
TOTAL: 27 points

Today marks a brand new day.  It’s the first day of the Wendi Plan for me!  I’ve been stuck in a rut for several weeks now, and entering my 8th hard-core week, I only have 4 pounds gone to show for it!  (Even though I technically lost 1 pound this week, it was a pound that I “already lost”… I think it was more weight loss WITH water weight gone).  So I’m picking myself up, dusting myself off, and starting a new mode.  I’m using my 22 daily points plus varying amounts of flex points in a pre-determined way to see if varying my metabolic needs with fool my body and cause weight loss.  I’ll be eating 22 today, 27 Tues, 23 Wed, 37!!! Thurs, 22 Fri, 26 Sat, and 24 on Sunday.  We’ll see how this goes and weigh-in again next Monday, March 24th with NO peaking in between :)  Here we go!

Today’s Weight: 172.0
Next Weigh-In: Monday, March 24th
Daily Points Target, Day 1 of Wendi: 22

Food:
B: Steal-cut oatmeal with blueberries and Splenda, 3
B: Coffee with FF Half-n-Half and Splenda, 0
Water x2
L: 2 Tacos, 8
L: 1/2 cup refried beans, 3
L: 1/2 cup Mexican rice, 2
Water x4
S: Diet Coke, 0
D: 1 cup 17 Bean and Tomato Soup (homemade… yum!), 2
D: Small apple, 1
D: LP bread toasted with spray butter, 1
S: Light Yogurt, 2
S: Hot tea, 0
TOTAL: 22!

Alright, today would be day 1 of week 8… but I think I’m making tomorrow day 1 of week 8, and this time with a whole new approach.  After reading some about the “Wendi Plan” for WW, I think that fits me and my current problem with not a budge from the scale.  Also, I’m going to use the ideas that you guys have posted on my blog of eating more fruits and veggies (I eat a lot of fruit, so probably more veggies), water, and trying to walk for exercise.  I haven’t really been able to do much exercising since I work 16 hour days 6-7 days a week (med school), but I’m going to try… there are just too many other things that get put above that like my husband, Bible study, catching up and supporting friends, etc.   BUT I see the value and will try.  Last time I lost 16ish pounds on WW in about 3 months without any exercise at all… so that makes me feel like I don’t have to be but so into it :) 

 I tracked yesterday and today… a little over each time, but mostly that’s because I’m excited about the Wendi plan tomorrow and feel a little in limbo.  Scale was back down to the comfortable resting spot of 172.2…  where it ALWAYS lands.  I really do think it’s broken a bit :)  Did I mention that the “1″ doesn’t even show up? haha

Also a question for y’all… since the 22 point range is for 150-174, and I weigh 172.2…. should I eat 22 a day?  or 23?  That one point can be life or death!

Ok kids… I’m getting fed up with this.  I’m at 172.4 this morning…. and I haven’t used all my flex points for this week.  I am so fed up with eating what I think is well and not losing much!  This is the end of almost 2 MONTHS on Weight Watchers with only 4 pounds gone to show for it…. that is NOT okay!  What is wrong with me?!  My eating habits have drastically changed and I have nothing to show for it!  I mean, yeah… I’m eating healthier foods and smaller portions, I’m drinking water, I’m moving as much as my 16-hour work days allow me to, and I’m still stressed which means cortisol which means a barrier to weight loss… but STILL! COME ON, SCALE!  BUDGE A LITTLE!  I read about the Wendie Plan this week of varying your points each day to use up the Flex Points in a way that is “even” throughout the week, allowing for one “Splurge Day” and I think this is a good idea.  Biggest Loser does this, allowing their contestants to eat a splurge meal (and they lose way too much each week!) after weigh-in… so maybe I’ll try that this coming week.  I’d like to start on Tuesday I think in order to make my Splurge Day be on Saturday, which is always the biggest eating day for me.  Anyone tried this?  Anyone in the same boat as me: eating well, using points wisely, and STILL not losing after a full 7+ weeks!?  Is something wrong with me?  I feel fine, my thyroid is just fine, etc.  UGHGHLKJGKLJGH

 Scale: 172.4

Food:

• B: Coffee + 2% milk, 1
• B: Bagel with cream cheese (Bruegger’s), 10

Not much time to write this morning; I got up a little later than I hoped so I’m running off this morning… I’ve got an hour and a half drive to work today (YUCK) since I decided to drive home last night :)  Definitely the right choice… so much better to be home!

 Scale: Again… we’ll see tomorrow

Food:

• B: Coffee, 0
• B: Oatmeal, 3
• L: Ham/Turkey Sandwich, 5
• L: Pasta salad, 5
• L: Fruit, 1
• S: Dark Chocolate, 1
• S: Cinnamon sugar pita chips, 2
• D: Chicken with BBQ sauce (small amount) + 10 sweet potato fries + 3 hushpuppies, 10
• D: Birthday cake, 6
• RUNNING TOTAL: 33

Eeeks… that didn’t feel like that much food at the time!

Scale: Still haven’t weighed…

Food:

• B: Oatmeal-To-Go Square, 4
• B: Coffee, 0
• S: Kashi Bar, 2.5
• L: PB Sandwich, 5
• L: Progresso WW Soup, 0
• L: Unsweetend Applesauce, 1
• S: 100cal Hostess Muffins, 1.5
• D: Moe’s… yikes, 4+10 for chips and quso
• D: Vanilla Ice Cream Cone, 3.5
• TOTAL: 31.5  (oops… it’s ok, that’s what Flex is for!)

This week is just plugging right along! PTL! Friday is on it’s way which means I’m soon to see my hubby I miss him so much! And it will be an added bonus to be in my own bed, eating delicious food, and watching college basketball all weekend! YAY!

I’m off to clinic again today, maybe an 8am-8pm shift today so I can get off early on Thursday… but maybe not. We’ll play it by ear. I’ve pre-planned all my food for the day. The office always, always, always has lunch provided (for FREE… thanks to drug reps!), but I seldom eat it since it’s usually full of fat and usually leads to a downward spiral as wel saw last week! EEK! So here’s what’s planned:

Scale: waiting til Saturday (I tell you one thing… not having a scale around has seriously curbed my anxiety! Maybe I should stick to the once-a-week weighing We’ll see on Saturday whether or not I can be trusted alone!)

Food:

• B: Steel-cut oats with cinnamon: 3
• B: FiberOne Yogurt, 1
• L: Salad with FF Honey Mustard, little bit of cheese, and 6 Chick-Fil-A Chicken nuggets, 7
• L: Unsweetened tea with a splash of regular :), 0.5
• L: Kashi Bar, 2.5
• D: Smart Ones Meat Lasagna, 6
• S: 94% RF Popcorn, 1
• S: Approximately 6 strawberries… they were rotten :(, 0.5
• S: Heck, let’s thrown in a Fudgesicle for good measure!, 1
• TOTAL: 22.5