Portion Control

It really is the key to success. I think anyone who limits the kinds of food they eat is setting up for failure. Liquid diets, grapefruit diets or even the slimfast,slimfast, sensible dinnner thingy are doomed from the start. Even if you initially lose weight - what have you changed to keep it off???? Eventually you have to go back to "regular food". Eventually you will gain back weight. I don't want that to happen to me. I really do try to eat a variety of foods - the majority of food I eat is healthy and unprocessed. My problem is PORTIONs. A bag is a serving size, my plate needs to be filled. I don't measure anything and my eye is not even close to being close....

If I buy WW meals I am nearly always disappointed by the portions... Is this really the amount I should be eating??? WOW! This is where I desparately need to change. I am active, I am healthy. I just eat too damn much. This is not a revelation - I've known it all along. I pretend that I am following the points plan, but I know that if someone actually followed behind me to check my interpretation of what constitutes a point they would have to laugh - and smack me!!

If I want to change my body, I actually have to change what I am doing. Obviously what I have been doing is not working, and to continue on this course is just wasting time.... I am 40! UGH!!
I watched FrontLine last night - a show that pointed out that the fastest growing segment of the population is over 85. It was sad to see most of these people just wasting away; unable to care for themselves; some not even knowing what's going on in the world. My grandmother is in a nursing home. It's only been a year and she is fully institutionalized. I hate going there to visit a woman who is no longer present. It breaks my heart. Where am I going with this??? I guess I just want to know that if I am going to live to be old, I want to be healthy enough to be a part of society and not a burden. If my knees are having troubles now, where will I be when I am 85?? Losing weight can do nothing but help. I have to get this through my head and DO SOMETHING!!!

Week 3 of the NEW YEAR Challenge...

Weight Watchers this week yielded me a .4 gain… I am NOT at all disappointed. Sure, I would have loved a loss, BUT I am severely PMS-ing and I know my body. It hates losing weight. It loves retaining water. That said, I am only continuing to do what I have been doing… writing things down and following the plan as best I can. I made it to the gym 2x, iceskated with the kids for 2 hours last Sunday and walked the dog. I know what I saw this week was NOT a reflection of my efforts.

SO -I am WEIGHING in next FRIDAY---- YES, that’s the day after Thanksgiving. (It’s a meal, not the “Last Supper” as my leader put it to us yesterday.) If I keep to my plan, and only eat and drink what's scheduled, I can end this next week with a loss AND perhaps a NEW number?? I desparately want to live in the 180s this December, and the 170s come 2007. It's worth a little hard work and sacrifice.

Week 2 of the 10 Pounds off by New Years Challenge !

Hurray! Another good week at WW. Minus 1.2 lbs for a total of 3.6 --- This means I only have 6.4 lbs to go to complete my New Years Challenge. Not a lot, but considering that I have been going to WW steadily since summer and have only lost 7.2 lbs means that I will have to change what I have been doing if I want to reach my goal. Having two good weeks in my pocket is an awesome motivator.

I am re-dedicating myself every day. I am planning my workouts. I need to be more thoughtful of getting my food into FitDay.... this is in my "needs improvement" section. I will try harder this week. Losing just 1.5 lbs next week will give me a NEW NUMBER on the scale.... I know I can do this!!!

Countdown to New Year...

There are 57 days until the NEW YEAR - 2007. That is 8 weeks..... I am not going to predict where I will be weight wise, but I will tell you this:

• I will log my food at least 40 days of the57
• I will exercise at least 3x week
• I will re-commit to the WW program every day.

As long as I keep myself focused, I know that at a minimum I can maintain. However, I want more than that - I want to LOSE WEIGHT and I intend to make that happen!

So.... I have a plan.

I had a good week at WW -----FINALLY--- I lost 2.2 lbs and I actually feel that it was due to good habits - preparation, writing things down. I'll know if this is going somewhere when I weigh in next week. I really could use a good motivational 2 weeks in a row!! I've been in a slump for quite a while. This week the meeting focus was on the upcoming holidays... I am sure it will follow the anticipation and preparation of the great meal, followed by how to recover from the holiday binge... I am sure that not everyone throws in the towel... I don't intend to this year. In fact, I've decided to make a big change and forgo the booze altogether (to keep me from dropping my guard - and save pts for food) AND really try to stick to my points through the holidays. I don't want to maintain --- I want to lose!! In fact my goal is 10 lbs by the New Year!

Halloween was relatively painless. I've allowed myself one mini bar per day (if I want) and I've secretly been tossing out the excess candy when the kids are at school. It may sound cruel, but no kid needs the amount of candy they got this year. My daughter couldn't even carry her over flowing pumpkin by the end of the trick or treat! I think it probably tipped the scales at 10+ lbs. I let them have a piece after school and 2 for dessert. I don't think they feel deprived in any way. Thankfully my eldest opted for a clementine for a snack today-- a sign perhaps that the allure of so much chocolate has passed ....

On the fitness front, my sore skating butt injury is getting better each day. I was able to make it through Spin class yesterday and I felt pretty good this morning when I walked the dog. My sisters and I have signed up for the Jolly Jaunt 5K Dec 2, so I'll be running again. I plan to increase my cardio to 4xweek. It's hard to fit it all in with the kids ever busying schedules, but I know it has to be a priority. --- I have to be a priority.