Weekly WI: Effort = Reward

Good Morning and Happy Thursday!

My commitment to my WW program paid off last week and I saw the scale results I desperately needed.  It gave me an extra boost and a reminder that I am resilient and I CAN do this!  

I zoomed out to my three month weight chart and it makes me feel even better.  The day-to-day and week-to-week can feel hard but when you are past it and widen your focus, it is easier to see all those small behavioral changes add up.

This week is busier than last and I’m not as prepared as last week when it comes to meals at home.  I have had little time to swing by the grocery store and desperately need to get to Trader Joe’s soon.  I also have not been able to squeeze in as much activity this week as last week.  It was beautiful day so I skipped the indoor EGYM and went for a 1.6 mile walk around my neighborhood.  I will make a trip to the gym today to keep up with my weight routine.  

There is a wee bit more of a struggle this week with social settings and alcohol temptations.  I am working through how I want to see the week play out so I am better prepared in the moment.

Work stress has been OFF THE CHARTS!!  I am struggling bad.  I’ve made an appointment with a therapist and have a new patient appointment with a general practitioner to start building a relationship.  Until now, I’ve only had my annual physical lady doctor and my thyroid doctor, both whom I love.  It is time to seek out a general doctor to help with this new stage of life…perimenopause.  Oh the joys of this stage of life.  It has not been easy and I’ve only just begun.

Weekly WI: Holy Cow...I'm Really Behind

How does life get so busy it can feel out of control so quickly.  It has been quite the week, which went quickly, and it has been a successful week as far as Weight Watchers and consistency, my word of the year.

 

I failed to check in last week with the world wide web and my only report was a small loss.  What had me feeling good about that small loss is that it stopped the gains over the last few weeks which meant I didn’t meet my goal of losing 2 pound per month.

 

I was chatting with my bestie Dawny setting my intentions for the week and working hard to show up for myself. 

• I prioritized meal planning and made several crockpot recipes.
• I exercised several days this week, including some strength training.
• I pre-planned alcohol consumption and prepared myself with mocktail options when the urge for alcohol creeped up.

 I saved my weekly points for planned meals out Friday and Saturday.

 

I feel very successful this week and would be elated if my dedication showed up at the scale.  I need to get my employee weigh-in for the month completed this week or next.

Weekly WI: All Outta Sorts Lately

Good Morning!  Happy Friday to those starting their weekend.  I am starting my work week.  I’ve been struggling a bit since December to get my mind prepared for work each day.  I am not sure what is going on with me but I’m thinking I may be a little depressed.  I’m thinking about talking to a counselor.  It just feels harder to “snap myself out of it” and find the more positive mindset I prefer to bring to work each day.  Sigh…

My Weekly WI and monthly check-in is not what I wanted to see and this is the first month I did not meet my goal.  These 25 extra pounds are stubborn and I’m stubborn too in putting in the effort to kick them to the curb.

We had our last Elks new member initiation for the 2024-2025 year and next Saturday, we are instilled as the new officers of 2025-2026.  I will be moving from Tiler to Inner Guard.  Once a month we are required to wear our state uniform, which consists of a white collar shirt. gray slacks, a navy blazer jacket, and a scarf tie.  I am so uncomfortable in my size 16 blazer I bought a year ago for instillation.  

My 15 extra pounds has made buttoning the jacket more difficult and feeling really out of sorts when sitting in the chair during the ceremony.  I decided to buy a new navy blazer in a bitter size along with a plus size one to try on at home (not able to get in the store).  I hate that it has come to this but so far I am not seeing leaps and bound success on dropping weight fast.  Sigh…

I am all outta sorts lately.  It has been a struggle.

The 2025 Colonel Challenge Comes To An End

I wanted to share the stats the amazing stats from our 2025 Colonel’s PT Challenge.  Each year I debate if I should join the challenge and WOW…look at these results.

 

Over the course of the 10-week challenge the group:

·       Completed 6189.43 aerobic and high intensity training hours

·       Ran 11,256.43 miles

·       Biked 8958.3 miles

·       Swam 82.02 miles

·       Lifted 62,439,808 pounds

·       Completed 606,712 repetitions of sit-ups and pushups

 

To put some of this in perspective, we could have run from LA to New York 4.5 times with the amount of run miles you logged. We could have taken a nice bike ride from Boise to Anchorage, AK 3.3 times. With all the swim miles you could have made it to the bottom of the Mariana trench (the deepest in the ocean) 11.7 times. We moved the weight of 2,401 school buses. We completed enough aerobic and high intensity training hours to cover 257 days. Plus 606,712 repetitions of anything is just a lot!

 

When you get a different perspective, you can see how all activity adds up, even the small amounts.

Weekly WI: Back Up The Hill

I had several social engagements between Thursday and Saturday which contributed to my 1.2 pound gain this week.  I also weighed in early in anticipation of a social engagement on Monday. 

 

This week my focus is my word of the year: Consistency.

 

I will focus on consistent tracking, activity, and sleep.  These are three areas that need my attention and doing so will help me see the results I crave by the end of the month.  I have one more weigh-in to try and meet my goal of losing 2 pounds a month.

 

On Thursday, I met Kelsey and Kevin for The Office trivia at The Warehouse.  While I’ve never watched a single episode of The Office, I enjoy social settings and wanted to participate.  It was a backed out at The Warehouse in Boise and we had a lot of fun, even if our team didn’t win.

 

On Friday, we enjoyed a delicious pulled pork dinner at the Nampa Elks Lodge Elk of the Year Pork Feed.  Oh man it was yummy and included beer!  The entertainer, a local singer named Sam Henry also made the night extra enjoyable.

 

On Saturday, I started my morning with the Elks Regional Hoop Shoot as a score keeper.  It was a fierce competition and those little ones that didn’t make it to the next round shed some tears.  It is so heartbreaking.

 

By afternoon, I met my family for a bite to eat at Cooks Two Hole Bar in Melba.  My niece Hailey and her boyfriend wanted to get the family together and we rallied.  We were only missing my sister Jenny, and her husband Will.

 

By evening, we met up with Phoenix and Stacey for some St. Patrick’s Day fun in Ontario.  We started at Mackey’s Public House for a BIG Irish Death beer and split a shepherd’s pie.  OMG the pie was good.

 

From there we visited the Ontario Elks Lodge and the Weiser Elks Lodge.  Wow!  What hospitality.  We had so much fun…and drank a lot!  If I lived closer to the Weiser lodge I’d party with them more often.

 

As you can see…a busy and festive weekend with lots of indulges.  This is why I need to renew my focus on my word of the year and hunker down for a bit.  My social drinking as increased since my parents joined the Elks lodge last month. 

Weekly WI: Down The Hill

 Good Morning and Happy Thursday!  

I have a full agenda to get through so let’s get to it!

I had a nice loss this week which equated to one pound loss + last week’s gain.  Oh man that felt good!  I was actually sick the first half of the week after catching Kenyon’s cold virus.  The last half of the week we went out of town and I worried my indulges would equal a gain.  So, a loss makes me feel really good and energized to jump back in and tackle my goals before our next vacation.

We have only a few days to go for the Colonel’s PT Challenge and are about to wrap it up for another year.

I’m back to the gym after a week off to rest and mend from my sickness.  I don’t get sick often but this one took me down for a few days.  It is good to be back.

After losing my 100+ tracking streak, I’m back to it with 15 days!  I have several social events to look forward to over the next few days so consistent tracking and planning is important!

Weekly WI: A Scale Hike

Good Morning and Happy Hump Day!

Kenyon came down with a cold over the weekend has passed it on to me.  I spent a good portion of last week eating high point foods along with his cravings from not feeling well.  No surprise, it showed up on the scale.

Now that I don’t feel 100% I am going to stay mindful that eating junk because you don’t feel well only makes you feel worse.  I am in the last little push for the Colonel’s PT Challenge but also want to give myself some rest so I can kick this crud.  I have the weekend off so hopefully can rest and/or get caught up!

Welcome March! 

It is shaping out to be a very busy month.  I have two overtime days most weeks and will also possibly have some commitments at our Elks Lodge.  

We are under the 60 day mark for our next cruise vacation.  I booked our Bermuda cruise in 2023 so it has been a long time coming and will be here before we know it.  All the trip logistics are set and it is just time to wait.  With the extra workload and busy weeks, I’m sure it will fly by.

Weekly WI: Welcome To The 40s Club

I had my annual physical yesterday.  That means I left with a long list of other doctor’s appointments to make.  Welcome to your 40s.  It’s not for the faint at heart!

I am about to wrap up my weekend.  I am not really ready for the work week. Next weekend we have some fun on the agenda to I just need to get through four full shifts and two overtime shifts.  

I was up slightly on the scale at home this week but ended the month with a loss.  I am down 4 pounds in two months, which is where I set my goal for the year…to lose 2 pounds a month.  

Sometimes I wish it was faster but I know I am still enjoying the foods I love, and counting to build a consistent tracking and exercise routine.

The Colonel’s PT Challenge is about to wrap up with just a few days left.  I am doing well on my goals but need to make sure I keep focused.

I have been using my EGYM extra membership 2-3 times a week and after six sessions it switched up my exercise routine which was a nice surprise today.  I am hoping the muscle building will help me feel better in my clothes and help me burn more calories at rest.

Weekly WI: Halfway Through February

Good Morning!  Yikes, it’s been a while.

I had a small uptick in the scale last week and my hope was that it was just temporary, I tend to be up the second week of the month, and than it comes back down.  If that is the trend, it was true this week as I am down 1.4 pounds.

Last week’s technique was about self compassions vs. self criticism.  All week one of our WW members posted on our community FB page some really great positive self-talk reminders.

It was Valentine’s Day and while we don’t really celebrate, I ordered some treats from my local favorite cake pop vendor.  I braved a crazy winter storm to collect the goodies which I gave one set to Kenyon, one to my parents, and one to my brother.  They were delicious.

I needed to shake up my meals and was getting board of soup and chili.  I subscribed to Drizzle Me Skinny’s WW content and loved her Stovetop Chicken dish.  It was a hit and I’ll make it again for sure.

This week has some social mixed into the calendar so I’ll make sure I am balancing it all, and staying committed to tracking and activity.

Super Bowl Sunday

Super Bowl Sunday has always had a special significance, not because I’m an actual football fan.  I was a Chicago Bears fan…well I guess I am a new a Chicago Bears fan.  This wasn’t their year.  The reason I think fondly of the day is because 17 years ago, I bought my wedding dress on Super Bowl Sunday.  I know the day is a rotating date, but I always remember this moment.  We had a Super Bowl party at work today.

 

It has been a busy week with commitments at the Nampa Lodge and when I say busy, I mean it was busy!  We served 109 people on Friday night dinner for prime rib.  Holy Cow!  I was sweating and although I didn’t log any actual activity, I sure did get my steps in that night.

I am over the halfway mark of the Colonel’s PT Challenge.  I’ve logged 16.38 hours and walked 14.2 miles.

 

My activity consisted of indoor walks, visits to the gym for High Fitness and my new EGYM membership, and the floor elliptical during work hours.  I spent one morning shoveling snow before work when we got 4-5 inches. 

Weekly WI: EGYM

Good afternoon and Happy Wednesday.  I am working an overtime shift today, which has been a very busy morning.  I can see the sun is shining so maybe I can get out for a walk after and move my body.

 

I had a consolation at the gym yesterday for the new EGYM concept.  You meet with a trainer and set up each of the 11 weight machines to your comfort level and the amount of weight based on your strength test.  When you scan your id bracelet, the machine atomically adjusts to your specification.  There is a $10 extra monthly fee on top of my membership, but I am hopeful they will expand the machines. 

What I didn’t except during the consultation was all your metrics calculated.  My bio-age for strength is that of a 72-year-old.  I’m not sure if that is a positive attribute or a negative one.   I just turned 45.  I guess time will tell as I build strength, tone, and muscle.

 

My Weekly WI was a loss at the scale.  Whew.  I was hopeful last week was just temporary and worked hard at accomplishing my goals and staying on track.

 

I am feeling a little blah when it comes to exercise lately and just not wanting to workout.  I took a couple days of rest and had day where I didn’t quite meet my activity goals.  Those days happen.  I am doing my best to jump back in and plan to use my new EGYM membership three times a week.

Weekly WI: It Has Been A Minute

It has been a hot minute since I have sat down to write a blog post.  It was a very busy weekend which rolled right into the work week…a day early.

I had an unexpected gain last week, which is funny because our WW technique was all about the scale and what you will stay to yourself before, during, and after your weigh.  After my Monday night meeting, I woke up to do my weekly weigh-in and my official employee weigh-in.  What I didn’t expect, was a gain.

 

My monthly loss for January is 1.2 pounds.  While my goal is to lose 2 pounds a month, I am slightly behind.  Down is good!  I hope to make extra progress somewhere down the road and continue to work on consistency with my tracking, activity, and meal planning.

 

This was a very busy week.  My days off were filled with WW workshops, Elks lodge meetings, gym visits, volunteering as a representative for the Elks, and an unexpected call for work coverage.  Needless to say, my days off went by in a flash.  This week is much the same…busy, busy, busy.

 

I’ve been tracking this week and managing higher point foods.  I planned pizza on Thursday, but I had not planned a meet-up with a friend on Wednesday.  I planned a girls get together this evening, but I had not planned Meltz Xtreme Grilled Cheese having a pop-up night at their old restaurant location. 

Balancing high point foods with low point foods has been key this week and I even have some weekly points left.  Now, my day isn’t done so I probably won’t have any left later.  I’m staying focused on consistency with my tracking.