Finding Your Squad. . . Weight Watcher update (Plan week 9)

I started my Weight Watchers journey 9 weeks ago with a weigh in. Our first weigh in was on January 11, and I had a wake up call. I hadn't realized that I had allowed myself to balloon up to almost 260 pounds. (258.2 pounds to be exact) I knew I was out of shape and needed to do something. An early post talks about my "Why" for joining Weight Watchers, you can read about it here.

Over these last few weeks, I have learned so much. I have learned how to make better choices, that my favorite oranges are Navel oranges (I don't think there is an orange I won't eat), and that broccoli slaw is my favorite vegetable mix. . . EVER. I have gained more energy and I've begun to see physical changes in my body. I also joined a gym (and more importantly, actually went inside to work out.) Most excitingly, I have been able to shed and keep 14 pounds off for a month. (12 pounds have been kept off for 6 weeks and I'm so happy about that.)

Today, I walked into weigh-in not to optimistic. I know there was one day when all I wanted to do was stuff my face with junk food (I didn't), but I wanted to. I really thought I had gone so far off plan that there would be a gain for the second week in a row, but there wasn't! When I stepped off the scale at the weigh-in, I was surprised to learn I had LOST 2.6 pounds and earned my third 5 pound star!

Our topic of the magazine thing this week was finding your squad. Finding the people who would support and help me along this journey and I am so happy to know that I have a great squad of people on this journey. Not only is there a squad with the people in my WW at work meetings, but I feel that those of you who take the time to read these post each week are a part of my squad. Your support has been wonderful these past few weeks. From a friend asking me to walk on our lunch breaks, to cousins going to the gym with me and all the encouragement you've given me, I am so lucky to have my "squad". You guys are amazing and thanks for coming with me on this journey.

SW: 258.2 lbs
Today 241.6 lbs
TWL: 16.6 lbs
PTG: 86.6 lbs

I see changes! Weight Watchers Update #4

This week, the scale and I were not friends and you know what, THAT'S OKAY. The scale and I are not going to be friends every week. This week, I gained .4 pound. That's only 6.4 ounces. Yes, I gained more than I lost last week (.2 pound or 3.2 ounces), but I'm still 14 pounds lighter than I was in January and that is not bad at all.

This week though, I've noticed a difference in my energy level. I have a bit more of a pep in my step most of the time. I am also noticing a difference in my body. My favorite shorts started to fall off me, so I gave them to my cousin. My dresses are fitting a little looser. My legs are starting to thin out a bit and my most problematic area is getting a little smaller. I can see changes occurring, so I'm not too disappointed that the scale isn't reflecting what I'm seeing. It will.

Oh, and I actually joined a gym. Yesterday was the first workout and I had my "Fitness Assessment". I have a long way to go, but I had fun yesterday. My arm kind of hate me a bit, but I had fun. I'm making my cousin, M, go with me. She is my biggest supporter. She doesn't hesitate when I need my butt kicked into gear or I need extra motivation. She is my biggest cheerleader and this journey would be so much more difficult without her.

SW: 258.2
Today 244.2
TWL: 14

Weight Watchers . . . One month in.

Hello! Today was another weigh-in. I walked into the meeting not really sure if I was going to like the scale. I ate too many carbs over the weekend and I was nervous. I admit I was a little apprehensive after gaining .2 pounds last week, I didn't want to disappoint Bev our meeting lady. I stepped on the scale and it was GOOD NEWS.  I lost 1.2 pounds, but more importantly, I earned my 5% charm!!!! I have officially lost 5% of my starting weight. I'm super excited about hitting that milestone and am amazed that I was able to do it in one month!

Last weeks meeting gave us a new booklet to read about moving more and to help me work on this new goal, I decided that on my lunch breaks and my 15 minute breaks I would go outside and walk. I didn't start until Friday, but I think that should be pretty simple to do and it may get my Fitbit to stop yelling at me.

I'm making better choices foodwise as well. My cousin M and I went over to her brother's house to hangout with his family and M brought pizza, chips, carrots and guacamole. When we sat down to eat, I only grabbed 1 slice of pizza and NO crazy bread (that was a first for me, I LOVE crazy bread) and waited a couple of hours before I decided to grab a second slice. I looked at the serving size for guacamole and chips and stuck to it and also knew I had carrots I could munch on. I did go over my daily points, but that is what weekly points are for anyway; and I only went over by less than 5 points. I guess it balances out a little because there are many days I have some of my daily points left over. (Bev doesn't like to hear that though, I need to work on using my dailys a little bit more.)

Overall, I am really encouraged by this week' progress and am hopeful I can make this work even if we no longer have the at work meetings in 8 weeks.

SW: 258.2
Last Week (LW): 246.0
CW: 244.8
TWL: 13.4
PTG: 89.8
(GOAL is 155)

Weight Watchers. . . again.

When I looked at a picture of me from a recent vacation, I didn't like what I saw. I realized I needed to do something to change. So when my job offered Weight Watchers at Work with a subsidized price,  I jumped at it. I nervously went into the info session (with my checkbook) and listened to what we were being told. I made the decision I was going to make this happen because I need to do something. I need to be healthy. I filled out my paperwork, wrote my check and waited for the official weigh in the following week.

When that weigh-in came, I was borderline devastated. I hadn't realized that I had reached 258.2 pounds. My 5 foot 5 inch frame was carring 258.2 pounds! I sat down in the chair and looked through the booklets Bev handed me and downloaded the Weight Watchers app to start tracking everything. I went out and bought a FitBit in lavender and started the program.

My first week, I had a preplanned 5k, cardio kickboxing and the Kiddie Kardio program I do at work and took the dogs for a mile long walk. I tracked everything that went into my mouth-- from food to the Belgium Rock Sugar in my Teavana tea. I tracked everything and it paid off-- I lost 6.4 pounds in one week.

Week 2 on the program was much of the same. I went on walks with the dogs, did Kiddie Kardio and missed out on the Cardio Kickboxing class (Grandma's birthday). I tracked everything I ate and it paid off again! I lost an additional 6 pounds that week.

Week 3, didn't go as well as the others.  I did Kiddie Kardio, missed Cardio Kickboxing (Ladies Prayer Night) and did not get to go for the walk with the dogs because of 2 TV interviews.(There was also a major sporting event this weekend) Also, my cousin made some amazing bread and bread is evidently, my biggest weakness. I knew going into the weigh-in wasn't going to be pretty. I was pleasantly surprised I didn't undo my progress and only gained .2 pounds (3.2 ounces).

I know that what I'm doing is not a sprint. I can't be an Olympic sprinter aiming for the finish line. This is a marathon. I am not on some fad diet. I am trying to make changes that will last for a lifetime. I am changing my thinking, my habits and my life. Gaining 3.2 ounces in 1 week isn't going to derail my progress. I am going to make this work. I am going to change my life and I am going to get healthy. I WILL FIND ONEDERLAND and once I do, I'm never leaving. I just have to stick to this and make it work.


Starting Weight (SW): 258.2 pounds.
Current Weight (CW): 246.0 pounds
Total Weigh Lost (TWL): 12.2 pounds
Pounds to Go (PTG): 89 pounds.