Progress Picture for December

This has got to be one of the things I like least....posting a picture.

Yet it was a picture/video that motivated me to lose weight...and to be honest the more weight I lose the less I dislike getting a picture taken.

I decided to use the first pictures I took with my "progress picture" outfit on...and put it side by side with a Christmasized decorated Dec. picture.



Even with the shadows in the Dec. picture I am seeing a difference. I will mentally tuck this comparison away for those times in the next few weeks that I am tempted to indulge in too much Christmas goodness.

There is nothing that tastes as good as being skinny feels....there is nothing that tastes as good as being skinny feels...there is nothing that tastes as good as being skinny feels...there is.....

I'll let you know how well it works.

And So It Begins

Yesterday started the Christmas treats for me...not that I'm eating them but that we are receiving them and starting to make them.

Peppermint fudge, seven layer bars, cookies, peanut butter fudge, milk chocolate fudge ...and a Christmas party for the youth that I am attending tonight...oh my!!!

Maybe my stuffed up nose is a good thing....:-)




So far I've only nibbled on the peppermint fudge...yummy. I've not had much of an appetite right now due to illness and while I really dislike being ill....at least it keeps me from wanting to indulge in the sweets. So there is some good to come out of being sick.

Decimals are confusing

Saturday was my weigh in day....and was I surprised!!!!

I knew I had lost some weight because even though my scale isn't accurate it was showing a loss...my problem is that I don't know how much of a loss. So, it's always a surprise when I officially weigh in at the meeting.

Anyways....I lost a whopping -4.8 pounds.... not bad considering I haven't been able to get in any real exercise....ok, real isn't the right word....intense would be better. I did get in some walking and that is real exercise...I just did'nt do it as intensely as I would had I been doing my water aerobics.


This whole decimal .8 stuff is a bit confusing for me. For the longest time I thought .8 = 1/2 a pound...since there is 16 oz. to a pound. So I would read this weight loss as 4 and 1/2 pounds....but that is not true.
My husband let me know that it's very, very close to 5 pounds because it's by 10ths. He's very logical and I am more abstract so decimals and fractions can be very confusing if I don't "see it".

But now I understand...at least I think I do....

An Amazing Experience

This has been and incredible week. And it has nothing to do with food.

My first grand-baby was born yesterday. Sweet little Skylee made here dramatic entrance around 2:40pm and I got to watch...and take pictures...and pray...and be amazed at the miracle.



This was the first birth I got to witness live that wasn't my own. It was amazing!!! Unfortunately there were some complications with her lungs and she was taken to the "special care" unit. Her lungs were not responding correctly... so she had lots of tubes put in her and she had to remain still. But thankfully she is responding and today my daughter was able to hold her for an hour. And hopefully she will be coming home by Sunday.



Since this is a blog about weight loss I will mention that I am learning how to make better choices in all kinds of situations. Take being in a hospital waiting the birth of your grand child.

We were up very early and I was able to eat my standard breakfast at home. I also brought along some "point friendly" snacks which came in handy as the morning made it's way into the afternoon.

Around 10am a friend and I decided to take a walk around, my hubby joined us. We ended up at the cafeteria because my friend had not eaten breakfast yet and my husband was tempted by the smells. I resisted getting anything because I really wasn't hungry although in the past I would have gotten something just because.

Later in the room as I got hungry I would eat one of my snacks...an apple, a fiber one bar, and a single serving bag of pretzels...5 points total for all three.

Around lunch time my hubby was wanting to go down to the cafeteria for lunch but I was concerned that we'd miss the birth since our daughter was getting very close to pushing. Finally around 1:45 we sent our other daughters down with orders. Gee, I wonder why we didn't think of that sooner...lol!!! I chose a turkey burger and a bag of baked chips. I didn't know that fries came with my sandwich...I did eat two fries but then gave the rest away. And wouldn't you know it...baby Skylee wanted to make her appearance while we were eating...

We left the hospital close to 5pm and had entertained the idea of going to Chili's for dinner. But none of us were really hungry and we'd been away from the house since 7am so the boys had been by themselves all day. So, we decided to stop at the store and get some frozen pizzas. I thought I'd get some low point soup. But I ended up walking down the frozen food aisle and getting a lean cuisine chinese chicken and rice meal. It wasn't bad.

The hubby and daughters picked out ice cream for dessert and I decided I'd try the Weight Watcher's mint ice cream. I must say it was very good and only 2 points.

After I totaled up my points for the day I only dipped a few points into my weekly allowance. And about the only thing I ate that I wasn't planning on was about 5 Hershey Kisses which wasn't too bad considering all the food available in the room for me to eat.

I really believe that this new attitude will last...I see it long term...not just something I am doing now to lose weight.

The 50's

I am officially in the 50's....well, the 250's. I am talking about weight after all.

Saturday was another day that I went to my WW meeting and dreaded getting on the scale. I talked to my hubby on the way there telling him that I will be happy if I kept it to at least a 1 pound gain. But secretly I was hoping for a maintain.

As I stepped on the scale I prepared myself for the news.
I watched the face of the lady checking me in and after she fixed the sticker in the book she looks at me and says...."good job!"

I was like....WHAT!!!! I couldn't look fast enough at the sticker....I actually lost -1.6 pounds.

I think it was all the sneak activity....cause I ate all my daily and weekly points plus some of the activity points.

That 1 pound loss has catapulted me into the 250's and I am thrilled. Bye- bye 60's....I hope I NEVER see you again with a 2 in front.

A Little of this...a little of that....

First...tonight I had the pleasure of meeting Tracy Yukish from Biggest Loser Season 8. My girls and I were shopping in Target and around the corner this lady comes pushing a cart with a little girl in it. I just happened to make eye contact and we both smiled at each other. After she passed I got all excited and tapped my girls on their shoulders telling them that we just passes Tracy from The Biggest Loser....one of our favorite shows.

Both of them were a little disappointed that they didn't see her so we backtracked to find her. At least so we could introduce ourselves and let her know how much we enjoy the show and how entertaining we found her. I love that she was open about playing the game from the get go.

She looks fantastic and is very friendly.

One tip she shared with me and I'll pass on to you is....have a "free" meal once a week. Sit at the table to eat it...once you leave the table....you are done.


Second....I ate out for breakfast and lunch today. I knew I would be doing this all week and did pretty good staying on point. Of course had I not used up almost all my weekly points on Sunday I wouldn't have had to be so careful today, another day that I am very hungry.

I came home from eating breakfast [egg beater western omelet lite on the cheese and half of my side order of hash browns] and ate an apple because I was still hungry. We went to Mimi's for lunch and I ate a Cobb Salad with a low fat dressing, half a blueberry muffin, and their chocolate mousse dessert....but at least I left their feeling like I actually ate something. I also stayed within the points I allotted myself for today...YAY!!!

Lastly....I've been doing good "sneaking" in extra activity. The other afternoon I was sitting on the floor playing a game with my children. I started doing various floor exercises and even had one of my children bring me my elastic band so I could do some resistance exercises. The biggest problem was that I would accidently knock the game board and we'd have to guess which spaces were covered. Glad my children are good sports.

And I am still parking further away when I go to an establishment. Two benefits of parking further away is that I don't have to get stressed about getting the closest parking spot....and....I never have a problem finding a spot...:-) Of course with this cold wind cutting through us I don't blame anyone for wanting a close spot...but on the positive side....the cold wind just makes me walk faster.

Purposefully sneaking in activity

Yesterday my hubby and I went on a Christmas shopping date. Because of his work schedule we are very limited in the time we get to share together so anytime we can do something alone it's considered a date.

At the first store we stopped at my hubby was planning on getting a front row parking place but before he could pull in I asked him is he would park further away from the store so we would have to walk a little further. That way I could get in a little more activity.

Of course he obliged and was joking about how far away to park but he picked good spots that gave us more steps but not so far away that it was ridiculous.

We went to a total of 9 establishments and it's funny how we are geared to find the closest parking spot. I had to constantly remind my hubby to park further away and then I laughed and said that if we were looking for close parking there probably wouldn't be any but since we weren't we were constantly tempted. :-)

We were out a little over 5 hours and with the extra walking and the walking through the stores I could safely guesstimate that I spent around 2 hours walking. Possibly more but since there was a portion of that time sitting in the car and standing while looking at something, plus we sat to eat dinner I felt that 2 hrs. was realistic. Plus I'd rather under guess than over guess cause getting activity points for no activity only hurts me in the long run.

So, if you are looking for ways to increase your activity, especially during the holidays....park further away from the store you are going to.

Another tip I heard from a lady who has lost 96 pounds is that once you are in the store, walk the perimeter of it before you start to shop. I haven't done that yet but if I am only going to one store I may give it a try.