Counting Points--One Point at a Time

Well, last night my mom and I went to a Weight Watchers meeting. We joined and we went home motivated (sorta) to start this process. I think we both had this gloom of the monthly price and then the cost of eating healthy and then, that large dark cloud of “Will it work this time”. I had looked at my budget going into this and I knew that it was going to be a hiccup in our already tight bank account. But as I went back and looked at the money we (James and I) were spending monthly at fast food and the daily purchases at the hospital cafeteria (mostly me!!), we were spending way more than the $40 a month fee for WW. I think sometimes we have to spend to get results. I spend $20 a month to go to the gym. I will spend $40 a month to go to WW. I, personally, like the group therapy type meetings. I love hearing others trials and struggles but more importantly, I love hearing their successes. It gives me hope and encourages me to not give up. And if you speak to those that succeed, that keep the weight off, they go to meetings!! So, as long as I can afford to go, I will attend the meetings.

I weighed in last night at 265lbs. I convinced myself that I had not gained weight since my last blog (as I promised myself), I had on clothes and boots and it was late in the day (6pm). The lady said that most weigh in with their shoes on the first visit so that the second visit you may “lose” weight (hint, no shoes=less weight) LOL. My 5% goal is 13lbs. I would love to have that off by Christmas. That is my goal. We shall see. One day at a time!!

 Today has been a struggle with points. I have not had a chance to go to the store and get the fruits and veggies that I need to fill the “voids” of my day. I logged my food and it was scary the point values that the foods I was eating daily actually have. A simple granola bar is 5points. Really?? Its organic and healthy, so I thought. I put it in my desk drawer for an emergency one day, but not today!! WW has changed the way they do their points. It’s not just fat and calories anymore. Its fat, carbs, protein and fiber. It’s more balanced. I like it. It’s making me really plan out these meals. I get 39 points a day. Sounds like a lot, but trust me, it isn’t.  You do get 49 extra points during the week and you get points for activity. I am not going to count my activity points. It will help me to lose more in the long run that way. Weight Watchers allows you to live life, eat every day foods, but makes you think more about what goes in your mouth and when!!

So, tonight, I have date night. We are heading to the theater to see Thor and I will get a small popcorn and my one diet drink a day allotment (I am drinking water through the day so I can have my soda tonight). I have added the points in already. Without butter, the popcorn is actually not bad. We are then heading to the grocery and stocking up on lots of fruits, veggies and frozen WW meals (for lunch). Dinners will be lean meats, veggies and some whole grain pastas and or rice. I am searching daily for ideas and meal plans that we all will love and can be simple. What are your favorite meals and how do you make them healthy and tasty at the same time?

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If it has a drive thru, Drive by it!!

A while back my family doctor, who I adore, told me that in order to lose some of this weight I needed to follow this one simple tip: If it has a drive thru, drive by it!! He is so smart (aleck)!! I do agree with him but that is not so easy some days with the constant hustle and bustle of a busy life. The good thing is there is a way to lose weight, eat (somewhat) healthy and still go through the drive thru. Now, I don’t think this should be an everyday occurrence. But there are days that it is just a must, at least in my life, and so many others that I know, to run through McDonalds or Wendy’s or Rally’s (for a cheaper non healthy meal). For instance, my small country church that we attend on a regular basis goes to eat almost every Sunday after church service. We usually hit up Wendy’s or McDonalds. And I want to go with them. I want Quinn to go. So, I have to make smarter, healthier choices when I am there. Yes, I want the Double-Bacon cheese burger with fries and a Coke, but what I will start getting is the baked potato, salad (with low fat-fat free dressing) or chili. These are just as good, just as filling and much better that the before mentioned burger!! Here are a couple other things that I love and the small changes we can make to save big in the end. I get Quinn the nuggets, but he gets oranges and/or apples and a milk. It’s not better than eating at home, but it’s better than the alternatives.

Starbucks: I love all #Starbucks. White Chocolate Mocha is my go to comfort coffee, but I love the Pumpkin Spice and currently my favorite has been the Salted Caramel Mocha. Yummy!! I go through phases with getting these coffees, some weeks I will get 3-4 some weeks none. What I really wasn't aware of was the calories in these coffees. OMG!! Here is a breakdown:

Starbucks VENTI White Chocolate with 2% milk and whipped cream is a whopping 580 calories and 22grams of fat!! Yowza!! So replace that high calorie, high fat coffee with the great taste of a Venti Vanilla Latte with nonfat milk and you go to a delicious 250 calories and 0 fat. That’s right, 0 fat!! If you drink one of these a week, that is a yearly savings of 17160 calories and 1144 grams of fat!! WOW!! Still get to keep that great taste, but look at the difference in calories and fat.


One of my other favs is the sweet tea from McDonalds. It is sweet, its tea and its sweet (did I say that already). Many don’t like it, but I love it!! And its only $1, so that makes the deal even "sweater" haha, no pun intended, ok maybe it was intended. I got one Friday night. I told myself it was the last one-here's why. In a $1 large sweet tea there are 220 calories but the whopper is 54grams of sugar. So, I say you can still get your tea from McDonalds, but carry packets of sweetener with you (or ask for them). I recommend Truvia or Stevia. They are not as processed as the blue, yellow or pink packets. From my research, none of them are good for you, but if you must have something, use them. Add some lemon and enjoy your tea. The best alternative would be to drive on past McDonald’s, go home, and drink water. I struggle with water, but I am working on it.


These are just a few changes. There are so many options and as I travel this journey of getting healthier and making smarter choices I will share them with you. What small changes have you made that have made a huge difference in your journey of getting healthier?

Take control!!

I am way to tired to blog tonight but I wanted to give a little inspiration to start the week. I start weight watchers tomorrow night. I am so motivated to start making healthier and smarter choices. Gym at 530am as well. Remember- it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle change!!!  Have a great week everyone!!  

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Stumbled right out of the starting gate

Today was a beautiful day in the bluegrass state. Sunny, a bit cool and a light breeze. My kinda day. I feel that I am most productive on days like this. I don't like heat and the older I get I'm not too crazy about the extreme cold (which I think is coming this year). I am happier and more energetic on these 60 degree days. But today I woke up with that lingering thought of "I made a commitment to not gain any more weight". Today I  must make smart decisions.  healthier choices.  The blogging world depends on this (all 4 of my followers that is!  haha).  And today I stumbled right out of the starting gate.

Before I even let my feet hit the ground I had decided what I was having for breakfast. I was going to eat some Kashi cereal and have a cup of joe. I already knew that I was out of sweetener, so I had psyched myself into putting half the amount of sugar I would normally. I was ready. I was ready to have a great morning and eat healthy. I got up, went downstairs, and put on the coffee. Then the phone call (well the text) came in, "donuts this morning?" Ugh!! Really?  He is asking if I want donuts?  Does HE not read my blog?  Does HE not know that I already decided to eat a healthy breakfast?? I looked at it, I looked again. I was prepared to say, no, not today but what my head was thinking was not what was sent in reply. "Sure,". Ugh!! Really?? I just said sure, bring the donuts?!? So, said donuts arrive, and I eat one. But just one!! So proud that I only had one. Then I left the house for a while to run some errands. For the record, I will blog later about having a support system and how much they can truly help you to stick to your goals.

At noon, my cousins from my grandmothers side all gathered for our yearly Womens luncheon.  This year it was at Ramada hotel and the food was delish. I didn't overdo it. I had one plate, single serving scoops, and I had dessert. I did have salad (that makes up for the donut right?). It was a little (ok, maybe a lot) more calories that I should have had, but it's once a year. Right? Anyway, I got home and there, right in front of me, was the dreaded Krispy Kreme box. I ate one. I was so mad, but it was so good. But I was so mad!!   

Anyway, today was not a win for food. My mom had made a brown sugar pie and yes, I had a pice of that tonight. You see, this is why I struggle with weight. I LOVE TO EAT!!!! I love to eat everything. But today I was very aware of what I put in my mouth. I can't say that a week ago I would have eaten more, or that I would have eaten less, but today I was aware. It's one step at a I time. I didn't just blow my entire day because I had a donut this morning. I am proud that I didn't have three donuts for breakfast. I am proud that I am still moving forward.

Tomorrow we are having a Thanksgiving dinner at church and then later in the day a birthday party. These are the everyday challenges that I (we), the overweight population, faces on a regular basis. Big dinners and birthday cake. But, we can still enjoy these things; we must make smarter choices, and get healthier all at the same time. What I hope to do is write about my journey, the peaks and the valleys and in the end, I hope to not only become healthier but to help and motivate others along the way. It's not going to be easy, (I will stumble out of the starting gate). And many days it won't be fun (I will probably throw the jockey and never finish the race). But in the end it will all be worth it, because there is always another race. And I can't wait.

 

So,  tomorrow is another day.  A new race.  And like the announcer says at the start of every horse race "and they're off!!!"

Dont Ignore the Signs

Last night I attended a memorial service for a 40 year old man who was a father, a husband, a son, a brother,a friend. He died in his sleep Sunday morning in his bed. He had watched tv the night before with his wife, started having some pains shoot down his arm and went to bed. That was the last time she ever saw him alive. Adam ignored the signs Saturday night and as I understand, he had done so in the past as well. Adam had lost his job a while back, was working as a contractor and had no insurance. He probably did not want to have an added expense of medical bills added to what I am sure was a an already stressful finanaical situation. He ignored the signs hoping they would go away. Adam died.

Today, I just felt compelled to share with you the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. I have 4 followers on this blog that probably already know this information and I am sure that the others that read it probably know too. However, sometimes we have to be reminded of what we already know just to keep it fresh in our memory. I work with heart patients daily and I just think that it is a good idea to know the different symptoms to look for and to know that they can be very different for men and women.

The following information comes from the American Heart Association, go their website here: AHA

Heart Attack Signs in Women
1.Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.
2.Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
3.Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
4.Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
5.As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.
If you have any of these signs, don’t wait more than five minutes before calling for help. Call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital right away.

Heart Attack signs in Men
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense — the "movie heart attack," where no one doubts what's happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:

•Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
•Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
•Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
•Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

Theere are just a few things you can start doing today to help decrease your chances of having a heart attack. Quit smoking!! Eat a well balanced, healthy diet. Start some sort of exercise routine, even if it is just 15-20 minutes, get up and move!! Learn ways to manage your stress (meditate,hypnosis, accupuncture).

If you think that you are or have experienced any of the symptoms above, please, I beg you, go see your doctor. If you are worried about the hopsital bills, you can set up payments. Do not put off a life-threatening condition because of money. Better safe than sorry and just remember, dont ignore the signs!!

No. More. Excuses!!!

  This morning my alarm went off at 5am, as it does most mornings, and I sent a text to my work out partner asking if she wanted to go to the gym. We went back and forth with maybe, do you, I dont know...finally, she said "let’s go". So we went!! Why do I hate going yet love it when I do. Why do I try to come up with any excuse possible to not go do what I must do to start this lifestyle change. I know that I am not alone. So many of us struggle with our weight and making the decision to lose it easy, doing something about it, not so easy. I hate being fat. I hate the clothes I am forced to wear. I hate the mirrors in my house. I hate the reflection of myself in the elevators and windows where I work. OK, maybe not hate. That’s a really strong word, but I really, really really don’t like it, yet I continue to eat high fat, high calorie foods, sit on my butt and gain weight. Not anymore!! I am tired of being tired. I am tired of making excuses. I am tired of being the person that I am not supposed to be!!

Here is a brief bio on me. I never struggled with weight. I was a 145lbs all through high school. I thought I was fat, haha, but I wasn’t. I was the ideal weight for my height. In 1989 I met a guy, married him a month later, and moved away from home. (That’s a whole other blog in itself!!LOL) I moved far away, like all the way to Florida away. I knew no one, I had no family or friends nearby and I was suddenly forced to prepare my own meals. Well, we ate meals at all times of the night (he was in the military and got home late most nights), we had high fat foods and lots of soda. I had no routine and that year I put on 50lbs. In the years to come I would gain another 50lbs and increase 5 pants sizes. In 2009 I made the decision to have weight loss surgery (WLS). I went with the Lapband and I just knew that this was going to be the answer to my weight loss. Well, 4 years later, I had lost 20lbs and was miserable due to a few complications. I had the band removed in 2013 and within 2 months put on 25lbs. Today, 11/7/13, at 264lbs, I weigh more than I ever have. I own 3 pairs of pants that I rotate out weekly and I am becoming someone I don’t even recognize anymore!

Today, 11/7/13, I am making the decision to not gain another pound. I am making the decision to do what I know has to be done to do to get this weight off. I know that it will not happen overnight (oh how I wish it would)and it will not happen in a month, but over the next few weeks, next few months the next few years, I plan on making healthier decisions. Being more active. Living life to its fullest. It will not be easy. I know this. I am a realist (most days) and I will make bad choices on occasion. What will be different is it will not be a daily thing. I will not ruin an entire day because of one bad meal. I use to use that old excuse, I already ruined my diet for the day so let’s go all out!! No more. That excuse is out the window!! I am making the commitment to exercise every day. Whether that is going to the gym, walking in the neighborhood, playing outside with my son. I will be active every day of the week. if its just 30 minutes, I will do something!! I am making the commitment to eat better and make smarter choices. I am starting Weight Watchers next week and look forward to sharing this journey with others that are on the same path as me. I am making the commitment to living life. The commitment to living MY life, to its fullest, to being what and WHO God intended me to be and enjoying every minute that I have.

I ask that you pray for me and for all those that are struggling with weight. We don’t want to be fat. We don’t want to be thin. We want to be healthy. I need to be healthy, for myself, for my husband and for my child. For my friends and family that count on me and need me. I want to live life and enjoy the years I have left on this earth. I start this journey today and I hope that you will start with me. No more excuses!! I can and will do this!!