New Snack Alert

 I have a new snack alert I stumbled upon at Winco last week.

 

When I walked by the refrigerator section the hummus caught my eye.  I wasn’t sure what I’d think of Everything Bagel hummus but for the price, I figured I’d give it a go. 

 

I knew I could dip veggies in it for a low point snack, but I am really in love with Wasa Crispbread.  I usually buy the whole grain variety.  I spotted the light rye variety and thought I’d give it a go.  I really like the rye as they are smaller than the whole grain, so you get three for 1 point.  They are also the perfect substation for a cracker.

 

This has been a really easy 3-point snack for my workdays.  The hummus has a nice salty touch to it.

Weekly WI: Monthly End And A Rough Start To 2024

Good Morning and Happy Tuesday!!

I decided I would not be stepping on the scale today.  After a back-to-back gains and a week that I thought would turn out more promising than it did for successful weightless, I don’t think mentally I can handle another gain right now.  I am going to track last week’s weigh-in results as my monthly end for March.

As you can see, I’ve been climbing the scale each month of 2024.  A member last night shared they had reached their “don’t go above” weight and are determined to bring the scale back down.  I feel the same way.  Two months of climbing the scale?  Nope!  Not going to do it again.  Typically as the weather gets warmer, my weight rises.  Or at least that has been my recent past experiences.  I can’t let the scale continue to climb any higher.  It is time to take action NOW!

Here is a glimpse of the last week…

We celebrated St. Patty’s Day in downtown Meridian.  We had tons of fun and I just love spending time with my friends.

The Hubs and I had our 16th Wedding Anniversary.

I was instilled as an officer with the Nampa Elks Lodge #1389.  I have taken on the role of Tiler.  I was also surprised and humbled to receive the 2023-2024 Distinguished Citizenship Award presented by our out-going Exalted Ruler Julie.  Wow!  What an amazing honor so soon in my involvement with this amazing organization.  I can’t say it enough, the members that make up the Nampa Elks Lodge are wonderful. 

With all that celebrating, you can see why this week was not favorable in being optimistic last week’s gain was just temporary and would drop off.  I continued with my activity return and this week, I plan to get back to the gym.  I also plan to keep up that consistent routine.

My alcohol consumption needs to change.  This week I plan to focus on engaging in less activity when in social situations.  I don’t need to drink and if there is one thing I can do differently, that is the goal this week.  Focusing on that will help the rest fall into place.  I also (should) have less social on the calendar this week.  I promise you, I am my own worst enemy.

I’ll spend this week shifting my focus to a more helpful mindset. 

I Joined The Sourdough Club

 A few weeks ago, I ventured into the world of sourdough.  Okay, in all honesty, I’ve only just dipped started playing around with easy recipes.

 

For years, I’ve enjoyed sourdough pancakes as a tradition when visiting the Silver City cabin. 

 

When a WW member offered me some sourdough, the first thing I tried was pancakes…but not my Dad’s high point recipe!  So, needless to say, it didn’t turn out very well when it comes to delicious sourdough pancakes, but they were still yummy pancakes.

 

My next attempt was sourdough pizza crust.  Success!

 

I have made easy sourdough pizza crust twice and I was I love about it is that is also just as quick and easy to bake your pizza.  I even made a breakfast pizza.

 

It took two attempts to succeed at making blueberry sourdough scones.

 

Once I went to Biz’ Instagram and watched the video again, I realized what steps I was missing from reading the recipe.  These are best fresh out of the oven when they are slightly crispy.

 

I have not yet attempted bread as it feels really intimidating and too many steps.  I also have not tried these amazing bagels my coworker’s wife makes.  Again, it is a bit too many steps, but I might have to give it a go.  I really do love bagels.

It's Green Beer Season

 

It’s GREEN beer season!

 

I love St. Patty’s Day and I am so excited to drink some green beer and eat some corned beef and cabbage.  I’ll be celebrating the Friday before at the Elks and I took Sunday off so my friends and I can enjoy some of the festive events around town. 

 

In the meantime, I picked up some Guinness Extra Stout which I don’t know if I’ve tried before but I am 100% loving! 

 

I love me a good Guinness draught and the extra stout provides so much more robust flavor.  It has been hard to talk myself if not drinking one each night.  I know Guinness season, similar to Oktoberfest season, is short so I’ll be soaking up all that I can in the meantime.

Weekly WI: My Resistance Muscle Has Boarded The Struggle Bus

I have been struggling.  It appears my resistance muscle has boarded the struggle bus and taken a comfy seat.  

My Weigh-In this week was not pretty and a gain was 100% expected.

The last month has been filled with ups and downs.  One minute I am on track and plugging along and the next, I’m eating with reckless abandon.  I also have been consuming a lot more alcohol with more social situations.  It all adds up.

My activity was off the charts last week!  I made time for intentional exercise everyday except yesterday.  I had planned to clean house today for my 32 minutes…but running errands took up too much time.  My plan this week is to keep the activity up and ramp it up even more where I can.

I am also going to work on better balance with my food and consistent tracking.  I will track for several days and then let it drop off.  When I saw two weeks of large losses, I was tracking 100% and being accountable to what I was eating.  I need to get back to that habit to continue to find success.  

It is never easy when you know what you need to do but don’t want to do.

The 10-Week Colonel’s PT Challenge Has Come To An End

 The 10-week Colonel’s PT Challenge has come to an end.  Here are the results of the last two weeks.

 

 

February 25 – Glorious outdoor walk before our weather turned on us.  I logged 22 minutes and 1.16 miles.

 

February 27 – 20-minute treadmill walk for 0.84 miles., 20 sit-ups, and 20 push-ups.

 

February 28 - 60-minute gym class and 25 push-ups.

 

February 29 - 28-minute treadmill walk and 20 sit-ups.

 

March 01, 02, and 03 were BUSY and I did not have time to squeeze in any activity.  Even when I thought I could, the winter weather wreaked havoc on us making work insanely busy.

 

 

I found my grove again and just celebrated a 7-day activity stretch.

 

March 04 – 30-minute bike/elliptical workout.

 

March 05 – 20-minutes treadmill for 0.92 miles, 10-minute bike elliptical workout, 20 sit-ups, 30 push-ups.

 

March 06 - 22-minute treadmill walk for 1.02 miles with an incline, 20 sit-ups, and 15 push-ups.

 

March 07 - 50-minute outdoor walk for 2.56 miles.

 

March 08 – Today, I had to get creative!  20-minute treadmill walk for 0.86 miles, 9 minutes on the big electric console bicycle at work, and 15 minutes bike/elliptical workout.

March 09 - 35 minutes bike/elliptical workout.

 

We still have until March 11, and I plan to do my weight-in on Monday to log my results.  When the challenge started out, I was hopeful I’d lose 5% of my weight but that won’t be the case.  Bummer.  I will keep working on bringing the scale down!

 

I surpassed my aerobic goal and let the sit-ups/push-ups lapse a bit.  Maybe next year…may not!

Weekly WI: The Mole Hill

Good Morning!  I have been so far behind in life lately.  With that, I decided to skip my Saturday update on the Colonel’s PT Challenge and update you on my delayed Weekly WI.  Then, I’ll catch up on the PT Challenge next week.  I also want to update you on our 2024 travel plans.

 

Can you believe it is March…

 

I love March and I love Spring.  I am anxious for warmer weather but in true fashion, March usually brings high winds for Idaho. 

 

I had my Weekly WI and my employee weigh-in.  I was down 2 pounds on my home scale.

 

My monthly progress is quite the mole hill.  I feel good being on the other side of the hill and have lots more progress to make.

 

I’ve been struggling a bit with tracking.  I know it helps me stay accountable, but I’ve been trailing off on consistent tracking near the beginning or the end of the week.  Sometimes I’ll go back and fill it in.  I mean…I are it so I might as well track it.

 

On Wednesday, I had a facial from my niece Hailey, who is attending beauty school.  I felt so refreshed and a little “face drink” after the amazing massage she gave me.  I can’t wait to go again.