Weekly WI: Hard Work Pays Off

My hard work showed up on the scale.

I chatted with my WW manager and have made the decision moving forward that I will get on the “official” scale each week vs. just the once-a-month employee weigh-in.  I always weigh myself at home but by weighing in each week at my workshop location, I hope this will take some pressure off.  I also helps that I have big plans for working hard to see that scale go down each week.

I met up with the Caldwell Coach Katy for a walk after my Tuesday workshop.  We walked in Caldwell at a location I’ve never been and really enjoyed the scenery.

It is nice to get a good boost of activity in at the start of my day.  We are waiting for Kenyon’s brother and family to arrive in town for the night.  I’m looking forward to spending with my cute little niece.

The week ahead is wide open with ample opportunities to be on track and dedicated to my WW program.  I am really thinking of meal plan ideas for the week to keep me focused.  I also plan to continue to ramp up the activity.  I feel so strong after this week under my belt.

Let’s do this!

Confessions Part X: I Have A Cruise Buying Problem - But It's A Good Problem To Have

Did I share with you all that I am currently booked on four different cruises?  Let me rewind and tell you how this all transpired.

When cruising started back up in 2021, I started following several cruise vloggers on You Tube.  Mostly it was to gain insight on what to expect but over time, I really enjoyed watching their travels and following along.  I also use this as research for what certain ships are like, ports, pre and post cruise cities, and everything else travel related.  The main travel couple I enjoy following in Jason and Alisa with EECC Travels.  Through their website, I learned of Group Cruises and specifically a BIG Vlogger Cruise Extravaganza where many of the You Tube vloggers I have been following will be in attendance.  I asked Kenyon if we could book it and after says yes, I invited along some friends and their significant others to join us.  This is a 7-day Western Caribbean cruise through Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) in January 2023 that leaves out of New Orleans.  We have never visited New Orleans and plan to fly over a few days earlier.

Here is our itinerary:

At Sea

Costa Maya, Mexico

Harvest Caye, Belize

Roatan Bay Islands, Honduras

Cozumel, Mexico

At Sea

 

My best gal pal Dawny really wanted to go on a cruise.  After looking around at some West Cost options, we found a great deal through Carnival Cruise Line where she could cruise solo and I could still bring The Hubs along.  Since Carnival is so inexpensive, Kenyon and I were able to book an aft balcony at prices I’ve never seen so low.  In May 2023, we will be on a 4 Day Baja Mexico cruise that leaves out of Los Angeles/Long Beach.  We have not visited Long Beach before but plan to fly in the morning of the cruise after possibly spending a night or two in Las Vegas.

Here is our itinerary:

Catalina Island

Ensenada, Mexico

At Sea

 

That is how I found myself booked on two cruises.  I’ve never cruised Carnival, so I am excited to see the differences.  I am also excited for the dining options aboard their fleet.  Sadly, unlike NCL, Carnival does not include the drink package.

 

Carnival sent me an insider email that had my poking around to see what I could book in October 2022, time off I was saving for a possible NCL West Coast cruise which was similar ports as we could be visiting with Dawny in 2023.  OMG the prices were ah-mazing.  Again, Carnival is waaaaaaay cheaper than NCL so I’m not sure what the catch is.  But, I took the bait hook-line-and sinker and I am not booked on four separate cruise ships.  In October 2022, we will do a side-by-side cruise on two different Carnival cruise ships out of Miami.  We will fly down a few days early and have secured a hotel on Miami Beach.  We will first sail a 4 Days Western Caribbean cruise. 

Here is our itinerary:

Key West

Cozumel, Mexico

Day at Sea

 

Upon arrival in Miami, we board a different Carnival cruise ship docked in Miami for a second 4 Day Bahamas cruise.

Here is our itinerary:

Princess Cays – Carnival’s Private Island

At Sea

Nassau, Bahamas

 

To say I am excited is an understatement.  It is all a big waiting came for cruise day to arrive.  I mean, it isn’t like I’m counting down or anything!

 

We may have to shift our travel plans in October if Kenyon can secure some work.  But, until then, I can dream about my next vacation which is really what gets me through the workdays. 

Weekly WI: A Loss & Girls Day Out

When I checked in on my home scale Tuesday, I was elated to see a loss.  Thank you WW Gods!  It was a tiny loss but so happy the scale did not go up.

 

Being back in the 200s is still rough but I am feeling less bloat than I was earlier in the week so I’m hoping a step in the right direction.  I will also be working Wednesday through Monday this week and it keeps me accountable with my food.  That will definitely help.  I am determined to make this a great week and at the end of it, I will be getting on the “official scale” for my employee weigh-in.

I’m starting to think that I might need to start stepping on the scale at the WW studio each week so that my WW manager can see my whole month’s progress and not just a snapshot of the one week I complete my employee weigh-in.  This will hopefully relieve some of the stress.  I plan to work hard on my weight loss and health goal including accountability to tracking and weighting/measuring while also getting in intentional exercise and ramping up the intensity. 

I had a pre-planned high point day and a Girls Day Out with Phoenix on Tuesday.  After my WW workshop, we met up at her work and her boyfriend dropped us and our bikes off at Harris Ranch.  We shared a sandwich and chips at Lemon Tree Co. along with a beer from The Stil.  Our plan was to bike along the greenbelt stopping at places along the route.

 

Or first stop was Flatbread Neapolitan Pizza for a beer in Bown Crossing.  From there we biked to The James, a whiskey bar on Broadway.  I had a delicious gin cocktail and we shared the meatballs offered on the happy hour menu.  We continued on the greenbelt to Cottonwood Grill for happy hour where we invited Danielle as she was just getting off work.  I tried a huckleberry cider from Edge Brewing Company and we shared a hummus and pita plate.  Kenyon and Stacey joined us there as they were our ride home.  We said goodbye to Danielle and the four of us drove to Cali 75 Street Tacos in downtown Boise for their happy hour nachos, burritos, and really cheap beer.

It was a fun day, and I am so thankful Phoenix was able to take a half day off work.  We are used to her having summers off as she had been working in the cafeteria at the charter school where her children attend.  She got a “real job” after graduating with her degree at Boise State and now works a Monday – Friday 8-5 job.  She decided we needed at least a mid-day day drinking adventure and the 8-mile bike ride was an added bonus!

Semi On-Track

After my weekly weigh-in and my recent return to the 200s, I needed a break from tracking and took a day-off on Tuesday.  My plan was to just relax and not stress and eat some yummy foods without stressing the points and how to balance the splurges.  We met Mom and Dad to see Top Gun Maverik, an early Father’s Day as it was $5 day and half priced popcorn day.  We had dinner at Olive Garden afterwards and I enjoyed every bite guilt free.

My plan was not to make the rest of the week loosey goosey and get back on track.  Wednesday went according to plan, though there was temptation to bring home pizza after I left my overtime shift early.  I stuck to my plan and ate my prepared/tracked salad instead.

Thursday didn’t go according to plan.  Swapping up my Zero Point Foods left me feeling hungry all day long.  I just felt like I couldn’t get full.  Eventually I gave in, and The Hubs and I went out to one of our local Mexican restaurants.  That opened the door to some beer, ice cream, and eventually late-night pizza.  Oy!  I really enjoyed Lovejoys Ice Cream, a new-to-me ice cream parlor in town.  We got a sampler of five flavors for $7.

 

I started Friday off on the right foot logging some intentional exercise and attending a virtual WW workshop with my favorite WW Coach.  I pre-tracked my day including a lunch visit with my friend Melissa, whom I’d not seen in a while.  We met at Waffle Love where I ordered the waffle plate with two eggs, two slices of bacon, and a croissant waffle, which I ate half.  It was good, and I can’t wait to go back for a sweet waffle as they had so many good ones to choose from.

 

The goal this week is still to log intentional exercise and shake things up with my food.  I am hoping I can turn things around being on track for the next four days in a row.  I am attending a baby shower tomorrow and already planning to off-set those points with lower point meals at work.

Let’s do this!

 

 

Weekly WI: Caution - Danger Ahead

My weigh-in this week was not what I was expecting for hoping for.  I had a gain and I’m scratching my head to figure out why.  It was an on plan week and after the portion control WW technique last week, I really focused on weighing and measuring those foods I had gotten away from.  When I saw the spike, I was less than pleased.  I am once again in the 200s and much more regularly than I have been in a while.

I am also up 8.2 pounds from last year.

Grrrr…

I decided to retake the WW Personal Points Assessment and pick some new Zero Point Foods.

I am planning to shake things up with some different foods I’ve not had in a while and also really work on intentional activity.  My daily points dropped so I now have 16 instead of 18.  

I met up with a WW member and her husband in the park for a mobility friendly chair workout.  It might have been a small group but we had fun.

I loaded up a You Tube Silver Sneakers workout on my iPad and lead the group in 20 minute workout.  My Mom popped in for the last half.  We will for sure do this again.

I am headed off to work for my overtime shift.  I am so exited to have tomorrow off with nothing on the agenda!  WhoooHooo.  I really also want to focus on more downtime/rest on my days off.

Weekly WI: It's A Doozy

I did not mean to leave this space vacant for so long.  I sometimes feel as though there is not enough hours in the day and the days just fly by so quickly.  I keep thinking things will slow down and here we are…over a week later and this space is empty.

Let’s rewind…

I didn’t post a Weekly Weigh-In two weeks because it was a very sad, sad, sad one.  Earlier in the week I had checked in with my home scale and things looked good for my May employee weigh-in as well as wrapping up the month in general.  I have no clue why but the scale popped back up showing another month with another gain. 

 

The home weigh-in was down but the overall monthly weigh-in was up.  What is really hard to stomach is that at my employee weigh-in I was 200.0 pounds.  OOF!  I was feeling a bit down on myself but continued to remind myself that I worked off a good chuck of the vacation gain from our cruise.  We also went out of town for a quick visit with my in-laws in New Mexico following my weigh-in/scale check-in/200 pound mark.  I’d like to say that I was disciplined…but I was not.

 

I am on track following vacation and boy does it feel good.  I’ve realized more and more how much better I feel when the scale is closer to 190 than 200.  I constantly remind myself that if I get on track AND STAY ON TRACK that I will feel better.

Other good news is that I don’t have a vacation scheduled for 14 weeks.  This gives me time to really dig deep and focus on my weight loss and health.  I’m wrapping up four weeks of physical therapy on my back and it feels a lot better.  I am anxious for the rest of me to feel better too.

I had an epiphany during one of my weekly workshops.  The technique is on portion control which seemed so boring.  I realized how sloppy I have been with my measuring/weighing so I am also working on that goal this week.

I skipped the scale on Tuesday since I was not ready to weigh-in after our NM vacation.  As I said above, I was not very disciplined with my food and sugar indulgences.  I didn’t take many photos this trip as it wasn’t really a vacation just a visit with family.  We flew to Phoenix, AZ and drove to New Mexico as it was cheaper both flights and rental car.  We have made the drive once before and I remembered this gentleman’s club with a cow on top of the sign.  When I spotted it, I made Kenyon pull over so I could take a photo.

 

The things you find in the small down of Star Valley, AZ.