Saturday Fun & Body Positivity

My day off yesterday was really nice…but too short.  I’m looking forward to my “second weekend” here soon.

After my WW meeting, we ran some errands and then met Phoenix and her two kids at Messenger Pizza in Nampa.  They have big 24 inch pizzas and we went with half pepperoni and half cheese so the kids would be content.  Afterward, we went to Mother Earth Brew Co, which is also located in Nampa.  I’ve never been before and it was a bit hard to find since it is an industrial warehouse.

 

 

 

They were busy due to their new beer release.  I tried two of them and liked them both.

 

Phoenix bought a new hat.

 

When I had Phe take my photo, I debated standing up.  You know that sitting photos always make you look twice as big.  But, I decided I was being silly and to just have her take the photo.  I didn’t hate it.  That is progress for positive thinking.  I’ve come a long way.

Weekly WI: March Success

Oh my gosh! I have so much to celebrate in this Saturday morning!

First, it’s my day off work and I’m having pizza and beer this afternoon. That is worth celebrating.

Second, I had a fantastic WI and great monthly results as March comes to an end.

I had a lost 3.8 pounds, which is over two weeks since I missed my WI last Friday being home sick. I hate being sick, but I love when it helps the scale.

I’m down 6.4 for the month of March. I’m super stoked about that since February’s monthly goals were in the red. 

And I’m officially 209!!! That alone is cause for celebration. I feel like it takes forever to get to the next “decade” and to see the solid 209.0 was an awesome feeling. Earning those blue dots is the key to success for sure.

My goals for this week with our SLC Trip is to be mindful and enjoy my food/eating out. Also, to not slip into vacation mode early and get back out of vacation mode ASAP. I’ll have Friday - Tuesday to be back on track before my Wednesday WI next week. 

I also want to be realistic in that even though I am 5 pounds from reclaiming my 100 pounds loss charm, I don’t think it will happen in April. If I can maintain this month, I’ll be ecstatic. And that will take a lot of work, pre-planning, and commitment. I’m ready!

Have a great Saturday.

New Finds: Chicken Wontons

It’s Thursday…which means it is almost FRIDAY!  It is a “short” weekend for me though since I only have Saturday off.  But, I’m still looking forward to it.

I have a new find to share with you.  Have you seen these chicken and cilantro mini wontons at Costco?  I’ve been wanting to try them but worried they were too cilantro-y, since I don’t care for it.  They happened to be doing a demo and I enjoyed the taste.  They are low point, although tiny, and you get four wontons for 1 SPV. 

 

I was super hungry all day yesterday so when dinner rolled around, I had plenty of points that I ate 16 of them for 5 SPV.  They ended up being very filling so that worked well.  I also served up some cauliflower fried rice to go along with them.  It was an easy low point meal.

 

If you catch the bag of wontons on a sale, you can get it for around $5.  I used the air fryer to cook them and really enjoyed the crispy edges.  I’m looking forward to having this meal again soon.

Wednesday Thoughts

Good Morning.  It was an early one now that I work at 6am.  I already miss my late mornings where I felt much more organized before going to work.  Hopefully with time, I’ll get myself adjust back around.

It is going to be a busy April and I suspect this coming month will fly by.  I just got my work schedule and our upcoming vacation to New Mexico/Las Vegas has been officially approved off.  Yippie.  Before that, we will go to Salt Lake City for the Pink Concert.  I’m really looking forward to all the fun that is on the agenda.

I will also be attending some training courses as part of the Pryor Seminar series I signed up for in February.  Those will resume in April.  What this means is that I’ll be missing my Tuesday morning WW meeting for the month of April.  I will pop into some Wednesday morning meetings to make sure I keep myself on track.  I’ll resume with my Tuesday group in May.

I didn’t do my WI yesterday at Mom’s Lifetime Meeting, although I debated it.  I am going to weigh at the Saturday morning meeting this week.  It has been a few weeks since I have been there and my last opportunity to say hello to those members and leaders.  I am suspecting I’ll have a good sized loss due to a low appetite while I was sick last week.  But, you just never know.  I am still working hard this week at my program and earning my blue dots.  I let myself get a little looser the last couple days because I was craving…something.  I’m not sure I really found that craving but, I have tracked all I ate.

Let’s see, what else?  I am planning to resume activity this week.  I am not 100% with my cough but I am feeling better.  I know I’ll be tired after work but I am hoping I can muster up some activity for the treadmill.  I need to slowly get back to it.  I won’t go as far as saying I miss exercise, but I do enjoy how it makes me feel.

Have a great day.

All The Happy Feels

Mom received her WW Lifetime Status today. I’m so excited for her!

And I’m so glad I was able to be there for her meeting. I was a bit late and spotted her on the scale when I got there. So, I hid in the hall until she sat down so I could bring on her flowers. She was really happy.

She has worked so hard for this and is so deserving. I’m looking forward to hearing all about her new maintenance journey.

Monday On A Monday

Good Morning.

I wanted to check in real quick and say hello.  I’m back in the training seat with our last (yippieeeeee) trainee Tia.  I’m looking forward to a great training phase.

I am feeling semi-okay today but pushing through and ready for these cold germs to leave my body once and for all.  I met up with Phoneix at the park last night for a walk and talk.  It was nice to get fresh air and movement but I could tell I’m not 100% ready for activity again.  I’m hoping to resume activity later this week.

I have a busy few weeks ahead of me and feel like I need to sit down and organize it all.  My thoughts are all over the place and it is making it twice as hard to sleep.  I am desperate for a solid night’s sleep and I hope I can get one soon.

I feel like I am all over the place today and rambling more than necessary.  I’ll check in soon.

Things That Are Helping My Weight Loss Success

At the start of March, my WW Leader tasked the group with setting a goal for the month. My goal was to make March more successful with weight loss than February.  That didn’t mean setting a lofty number goal that made me crazy obsessive but rather to simply end the month better than February’s end, which honestly should have been easy to beat! 

Honest tracking was the first key to a more successful month. The second was evaluating my food and cutting back slightly here and there to hopefully get some new results. 

The tracking has really helped me evaluate my food. And although the month hasn’t ended yet, it’s looking a lot better than February did. I’ve been more consistent with earning my blue dots and seeing them add up is a good part of why I’m seeing positive results at the scale.

As far as cutting back on food, the easiest cut was my daily fruit and yogurt snack. It is 0 SPV and really good. But, did I really need it? I’m not sure. So, I stopped taking it to work and rolled into my planned evening meal earlier. This meant that when I got home from work some nights, I knew I was wanting “something”.  Also, most days I had 8 DPA left at the end of my day. Somedays I would have my yogurt and fruit when I got home and some days I would have popcorn or a WW snack bar. It just depended more on if I was hungry and what for vs. always having the planned yogurt snack. I know changing it up helped my weight loss efforts.

Last Saturday, I made the decision to eat mindfully and not track. Since I had the St. Patty’s Eve festivities, green beer included, I didn’t want to start my week with a negative tone seeing all the weekly points I’d blown through. I cheated a bit and did a quick add 0 point for each meal so I could still earn my WW Wins for the day.  This allowed me to go about my week but not thinking I actually had that many WSPA. Instead, I ended most days this week with rollover points. I’m really happy with how my week ended.

Staying positive and being flexible has also helpful to my weight loss results. Don’t be fooled though, losing weight has been on my mind a lot and causing me some anxiety. I didn’t get to a meeting today since we’ve not been sleeping well with our cold/cough. I’m looking forward to getting on the mend so I can get back to activity and normal/regular meals again and keep the buffer in place I might have earned while being sick. Despite feeling like crap, loss of appetite is good for weight loss. I just don’t want to do it all the time!

Have a great Saturday.

11 Years Of Wedded Bliss

Our 11th Year Wedding Anniversary was one for the memory books.

We were both home sick. Ugh! I was struggling last week with feeling tired and not sleeping well so maybe that is how my body got taken over by “the crud”. We went to Quick Care to rule out the flu, which thankfully it wasn’t. The weird part is that it sure felt like more than a cold. 

We did Walmart grocery pick up afterwards so we could get some soup and cold medicine. Kenyon snuck in some surprise flowers for our anniversary. That was so sweet of him.

I’m home today again since we have the extra staffing and I’m still not 100%.  I also had to skip my WW Meeting today which was a bummer. It’s my last chance for hitting up a Friday morning meeting since I change shifts next week at work. I got on the scale at home today and it was down 6 pounds from when I last got on it which I didn’t look how long ago. I am never sure how cold medicine plus crazy appetite eating will affect the scale. I may try to get to a meeting tomorrow or just work hard at keeping my “suspected loss” for next week.

Have a great Friday!

New Finds

I have some new stuff to share with you.

I spotted the new WW Silicone Popcorn Popper at a meeting a few weeks ago.  This was just after my Academy Awards Party and I was in desperate need of more popcorn kernels.  So, I finally had a chance to break out my new purchase and see how it worked out.

 

Oh. My. Gosh.  This popcorn popper is amazing!  I liked it immediately when I took it out of the box.  I love how it folds down for easy storage and that you have two measuring lines already built inside the bottom of the popper.  My current popcorn popper is glass and I don’t feel as though it pops all the kernels.  That is not the case with the WW popper. 

 

I was actually thinking it might overflow before I heard the popping slow.  Whoops.  Hey, I’m not complaining…I love popcorn!  A WW leader years ago give me the idea to add my healthy oil in with the kernels before popping.  So, I pour a little olive oil and let it pop.  I don’t feel you need anything extra added but I do shake on some of the butter popcorn seasoning.

Air popped popcorn is a really great low point snack and if you are following Simply Filling, it is one of the included foods.

 

My other new items is Italian Sweet Cream Sugar-Free Coffee Mate creamer. 

 

I am just not a fan of almond milk.  I tried it and I convinced myself it was okay since it was lower points than half and half.  But, I never really loved it.  My Mom was telling me she went back to Coffee Mate and got the Sugar Free Vanilla, which still allows you to have 3 Tbs for 1 SPV.  Guys…that means three coffee cups for 1 point!  Yeah!  I went in search for either Vanilla or Hazelnut and spotted the Italian Sweet Cream, which was a nice surprise.  I really wish they would make Coconut in sugar free too.

 

After not having coffee creamer for a long time, this was super sweet.  I had to dial back to 1 Tbs and event sometimes I can get away with less.  I’ve been drinking bold coffee flavors so that helps reduce the sweetness too.  I’m really enjoying this change.

I hope your day is filled with coffee.

WW WellnessWins Program

When the new WW program rolled out late last year, with it also came the opportunity to earn WellnessWins. 

For each meal you track (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner) you earn 5 Wins and for each week you enter your weight, you earn 25 Wins.  After the week is complete, you have the ability to earn 165 Wins.

Wins can be redeemed for WW goodies such as memberships to gyms, Kohl’s shopping cards, pencil pouches, etc.  I’d been eyeing the wine tumblers but decided to see else might be available based on the amount of Wins I have collected thus far.

I decided to redeem 1,500 Wins for a neoprene shoe bag that I can use for travel.

 

And…it arrived in the mail last night.

 

There was no shipping cost.  I’ve heard others say their packages arrive in pretty wrap.  Mine was in a nice bubble envelope with tissue paper and a note card.  What a fun reason to get mail.

Shipping was fast too.  I am going to enjoy having a shoe bag when we travel and the inside has WW print so it will be a great reminder to not go too out of control when we travel.

I mean…you do have to have a little fun.

Another Great St. Patty’s Day

We had a great time celebrating St. Patty’s Eve last night.

Our Saturday was pretty low key where we slept in. It has been a rough few nights sleep this last week. We had a late second breakfast at Original Pancake House and then ran some errands. A new Albertson’s Marketplace has opened in town and it was a madhouse. But, they had grapes $0.98 so we braved the crowds.

By early evening, We went to Melba for the annual corned beef and cabbage (and green beer) feed. It is always so fun to spend time with my family and see longtime friends of my parents as well as some extended family members.

Afterwards, Kenyon and I headed to Boise to meet up with my friends for some St. Patty’s Eve festivities. We started at 9th Street Nook, which ended up being a very small establishment for our large group of 12 people. We walked to 10 Barrel for drinks and dinner for those who had not eaten.

After we were fed and had a little more liquid courage, we went to Hannah’s for some dancing. It wasn’t as crowded as I had anticipated and Rocci Johnson looked pretty cute all decked out in her leprechaun outfit. I was feeling a bit tired so we called it quits around 11:30pm. I’ll tell ya, when I’m not working the graveyard shift, it is hard to stay up late.

Sunday was really low key. We slept in, I got my grocery shopping errands done, made stuffed peppers for dinner, and then watched Hallmark movies the rest of the day. I like low key Sundays.

Weekly WI: Looking Good So Far This Month

Could this be the start of a downward trend again?

 

I sure hope so! 

I was mentally prepping myself if the scale number wasn’t what I had hoped for.  Thankfully, it showed my hard work which makes it easier to work hard at it again this week.  I’m going to allow myself to enjoy the St. Patty’s Eve festivities on Saturday and then get my meals/plan/tracking set for the week.  I love seeing those blue dots add up.

My weight loss trend over this last year is a lot of ups and down. 

 

Knowing that even though I will no doubt spike up again in the future, it will come back down.  And, over a years’ time, it continues to come down.  Maintenance is just as hard as losing can feel so keeping the weight off is 100% the goal.

I always have such a great time with my Friday Morning meeting members.  I’m going to miss them when I change shifts.  Who knows, maybe there will be a rouge 10-20 Friday shift at work where I can pop in a say hi. 

 

I’m going to cut this short today because my mind is all over the place.  Have a good weekend.

On Track Week With Tracking

Good Morning/Afternoon

I can’t say that I feel more rested per se, but I did get up at 6am and I am feeling okay.  Last night before I left work (I work until 8pm), I got myself on the console treadmill for a 30 minute walk.  That made me feel really good.  So, I walked on the treadmill at home this morning as well.  Exercise doesn’t have to be crazy, sweaty, 120% all the time.  It can feel good just to move.

Tracking and food this week has been 100% on track.  That doesn’t mean there hasn’t been temptations.  But, I’ve been balancing and navigating this week really well.  I think I’ll have seven days of blue dots (yippie).

 

Last night I had to run to Fred Meyer after work to pick up a prescription.  While I was craving some strawberries, which weren’t the best price, I was also craving ice cream.  I picked up some honey crisp apples on a good deal as well as a pint of Ben & Jerry’s new lower calorie ice cream. 

 

I’m pretty proud of myself for actually scanning the label and eating about the serving size (although not weighed or measured).  I called it quits after I figured I’d had enough of a portion size, tracked it, and moved on.

I’ve been trying to eat a little less and I also cut out my yogurt and fruit snack.  Not for any particular reason than to change things up and see if I really needed it.  I am slightly hungry when I get home, even though I plan my last “meal” around 6pm at work.  This week I’ve been having a snack when I get home of popcorn or a WW snack bar and some decaf coffee.  It just depends on how I’m feeling.  I like yogurt/fruit since it is 0 SPV and an easy snack.  So I do keep yogurt on hand.  I’m super stoked for fresh strawberry season.  I love strawberries, watermelon, and grapes.

I’ll know if my tracking efforts will pay off tomorrow when I check in at my WW meeting.  See you tomorrow.

Activity Lull

Sticking with the theme of activity…

This week has been less than stellar on the motivation front.  After pushing hard to complete the 2019 Colonel’s Challenge, it has been hard to ramp myself up for my daily morning activity.  Maybe it was that and time change because I’m just flat out tired.  I keep telling myself “you’ll get back to it tomorrow” and yet, here another tomorrow is upon us and I’ve not done anything this morning.

I was pleasantly surprised to see my push of activity on Sunday earned me several Apple Watch awards.  The best of which was completing my March Activity Challenge, which as unexpected.  I guess all that time on the treadmill allowed me reach my 200% movement goal.  Sweet.

 

Other awards included a New Exercise Record

 

And 7-Workout Week

 

Seeing these awards almost make me want to exercise.  Maybe tomorrow?

2019 Colonel's Challenge

I signed up for the Colonel’s Challenge, a physical fitness test that offer at work each year.  There are three criteria that you can work towards, resistance/strength, swim, and aerobic/HITT/run/walk.  Since January was the same month that my January Apple Watch Activity Challenge was to walk 103.3 miles, I decided I’d join the Colonel’s Challenge as well.

As of Sunday, the last day of the challenge, I was still short. 

 

It was kind of a bummer since I had decided to take both Saturday and Sunday off from activity, I wasn’t as close as I had hoped.  After chatting with my coworker at the start of my overtime shift, she convinced me that I should try and complete it on the treadmill at work.  I was so close, I might as well try.

I set the treadmill at 2.0 and walk 30 minutes of each hour (I had a 4-hour OT shift).  I walked 4 miles in 1 hour and 57 minute increments.  I am so happy to report that I officially completed the 2019 Colonel’s Challenge.

 

I did not complete the weight loss portion, which is to lose 5% of your starting weight.  I was able to lose 2%, so that is a win in my book.  January weight loss stats were looking good but February stats sort of tanked my hopes.  Oh well, it is always better than a gain.

10 Year WW Goal Anniversary

It was ten years ago that I met my WW goal weight.  After 110 weeks of really hard work, I had officially lost 130 pounds.

 

 

Starting weight: 304.8 pounds

Goal weight: 175 pounds

 

Last year, I started trying to adjust my mindset to living in the now vs. living in the past, which is what I feel like I do a lot of.  So, on this Ten Year WW Goal Anniversary, I’m happy to report that I am "officially" down 90 pounds ten years later.

 

This was my FB memory from when I reached goal

I did my best to find prior blog posts reflecting on reaching goal.  It was hit or miss and I didn’t celebrate it much during those years I was really off plan and gaining quickly.  But, it is always nice to look back to gain new perspective.

March 28, 2010 – Sharing Blog Posts From My Weight Loss Journey: I Miss The Other Lindsay

March 5, 2013 – Four Years At Goal

March 18, 2014 – Goal – Five Years Later

March 11, 2015 – The Scale

March 28, 2016 – Reflections After Checking In With The Scale

March 20, 2017 – Weekly WI: An Increase At The Scale& A Decrease In Measurements

March 20, 2018 – Nine Years Since Reaching My Weight Watchers Goal

And…that bring us to March 14, 2019 - 10 YEARS AT GOAL!  Wow, what an accomplishment.  I am bursting with happiness. 

When I look back over my weight this time last year, I am celebrating the fact that I am down 14 pounds.  Let’s keep that positive wave going.

Cheers to another year working my WW plan.