Patterns

Today was weigh in and one thing I have found most intriguing is that I am developing a pattern. I've never noticed it before but since I have been tracking my eating it has become very noticeable.

So, true to my pattern....I maintained this week. Actually I had a very small gain...+.4 or in other words...I gained 1/4th of a pound. But it's such a small gain, so small it doesn't even show up on my scale, so I consider it a maintain. The good thing about noticing a pattern is that I was not surprised today at my weigh in. I was expecting it. Not to say that in the future it might change but since I started Weight Watchers the last week of July it's been predictable. And that's o.k.

So funny how our body works. Last week I was hungry, hungry and ate every single daily and weekly point available and lost weight. This week I wasn't as hungry and didn't eat all my weekly points and I maintained.

Oh well, if all goes as it's been going I should expect a loss this next weigh in.

Not my normal kind of week

I had all sorts of plans and ideas of things to write about this week and now the week is over and I've yet to write. Well, I am writing now but still...

This week was unusual in that I had my first grandbaby's baby shower on Sunday, a daughter's birthday on Monday and a son's birthday today. I started off the week a little "stressed" about how I was going to handle this week. And now the week is over and I look back and see that it was easier than I thought.

The baby shower was nice and there were some good things to eat. Thankfully there was also a veggie tray. I snacked on carrots and actually enjoyed it. I did have a bite of the cake and a couple of treats but at the end of the day I had only used about 4 of my weekly points. Not too bad..but I still had a daughter's birthday to celebrate on Monday.

Monday comes and we ended up eating at Genghis Grill for lunch. I got about 4 oz. of chicken [wish I had brought my scale to of made sure] and then I loaded up with veggies. I love that I could go to their website and find the nutritional value for the sauces and stuff and when I added up the points it came to 11. A little higher in point than I usually eat for lunch but not too outrageous either.

Dinner consisted of chicken fried stead, mashed potatoes and green beans. For dessert the b-day girl picked out cheesecake bites which ended up being 2 points a piece. I allotted 6 points for dessert. I did by pass a Hawaiian roll with dinner, figured I'd rather spend those points on a cheesecake bite...yum!!

One good thing on Monday is I got up super early to participate in a water aerobic class. The class was from 6am to 7am which is hard for me since I am not an early bird but I did it because I knew I wouldn't have any other time to exercise all day.

Wednesday I ended up sick with a virus and had no appetite or energy for the whole day. I was nauseous and ended up eating saltines because it was the only thing that sounded good and helped with the nausea. Between the crackers and some yogurt and pudding I was able to accumulate some points. Not enough to meet my dailies but enough to show I did get some nourishment.

And here I am tonight. We had ham, twice baked potatoes, apple pie and ice cream. That's what my 12 year old son picked out for his birthday dinner. I measured out my ham, ate my potato like a regular baked potato and then indulged in the apple pie....the homemade apple pie....and it was well worth the points spent on it.

Tomorrow I weigh in. I have no idea how I've done other than I think I probably have maintained, which is o.k. with me. It's been strange not getting in the exercise I usually do during the week but I also am o.k. with that because my body is still recuperating from being ill.

My mind is getting use to the concept that this weight loss journey is just that....a journey...NOT a race. I enjoyed this week [ other than being sick] and I ate moderately considering all the things I could have indulged in. I started the week apprehensive about all the eating challenges and ended it very happy that I only used 10 of my weekly points.

I reached a goal!!

Today was my weigh in day and all I have to say is that it's a good thing I don't get weighed in for my "feelings". This past week I have eaten every daily AND weekly points available and I wasn't feeling any loss. I drove to the meeting today thinking and girding myself up for either a maintain or a slight gain. Mainly because I don't usually eat all my points as I did this week.

Imagine my shock when I was told that I reached my 10%.....

I REACHED MY 10%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am thrilled!!! Excited!!!! Amazed!!! and Shocked!!!!

30 pounds gone..............

Now I have to set another goal. I'll ponder on that and share in my next post.

October Progress Picture

It's been a month since I last posted any progress pictures. So, I am posting some today. Now before I post just know that trying to figure out what to wear that will show my body and yet keep me modest has been an issue. I seriously considered my swimsuit but I hate being seen in that enough in public as it is...so, I ended up with some "biker" type short [hugs the figure] and the same shirt I wore in the picture last month.

I'm posting the pictures from last month and this month side to side ... I've lost almost 10 lbs. even if you can't see it. [I am starting to feel it though...:-) ]

Ok...I am having issues getting these pictures on the page so I am going to leave them as are...even though they are not exactly as I'd like them....but at least you can kind of see a change.

As you can see from my last post...it's been a while. I had a huge project hanging over my head so any free time was devoted to that and now that I'm done I have some free time to blog.

The State Fair was great. I saved up all my points and ended up only using 4....yep, only 4. I went with the thought that I would eat some fair food but instead I barely had an appetite. I couldn't even eat all my dinner which consisted of 3 fried chicken strips and french fries. I ended up giving one of the strips to my son, the same son who also helped me eat my fries.

Now we did end up trying some fried butter. For $4 we got four dough balls about the size of a donut hole. We ended up buying two servings since there were eight of us. We all got one. I took a bite into mine expecting to taste something delectable...instead I bit into a uncooked piece of dough. Blah!!! It tasted like a biscuit with butter....what a waste of money.

Now the highlight of the evening was meeting up with friends to watch Jason Castro perform. It was a great concert even though we had to stand through the whole thing. There were no chairs. But I figure I had to burn some calories since I was constantly moving to the music.

Actually the State Fair is a great place to get in some exercise. We arrived around 1:30 and left after 10 and for the majority of that time we were in motion...walking here, there, and all over.

I ended up losing -3 pounds at my weigh in the next day.

This last week I had one of the hungriest days ever....I just wanted to eat and eat and eat. I managed to make it through the week without eating over my points. But I did eat every weekly point I had.

I went to my weigh in this last Saturday expecting to either maintain or gain. So when I step on the scale all I hear is the lady say..."2 pounds" And I immediately say..."I gained 2 pounds?" She said..."No, you LOST 2 pounds". Whooo-hooo!!!! I did the happy dance....literally. I was so thrilled because I was not expecting it.

I like when I go....not expecting to lose weight....and I actually lose....compared to going feeling like I lost weight....and find out that I actually didn't.

So I have lost a total of 25 pounds so far.....

Going to the Texas State Fair

This past week has been pretty busy since I am working on a power point for a friend's daughter's 16th birthday which is a little over a week away. I've been thinking of blogging but the night ends and I am too tired.

Tonight I am blogging first because I just feel like sharing my thoughts about tomorrow.

Tomorrow I and my family are going to the Texas State Fair. It's opening day. I've never gone on opening day before but when we found out that one of our favorite singers, Jason Castro, was the opening act...well...we didn't have to think twice about which day to attend.

However, this whole week I've been thinking about the food. Not so much because I want to eat it but rather, what can I eat. Or rather, how many points are in the food. Trying to find that kind of information has been a challenge. Now I realize that one of the reasons people go to the fair is to eat the food but I can honestly say that has never been my reason. With as large of family as mine, eating at the fair is a huge splurge and one we usually don't get to indulge in very often, mainly because we go early to the fair and bring a lunch and leave before dinner.

This year it is going to be a bit different. We are leaving our house after lunch and staying at the fair till closing, or pretty close to closing. We are also planning on eating dinner at the fair.

So, this week I have been saving ALL my weekly points for tomorrow. I want to be able to indulge if I feel like it. It will be interesting to see how it goes because there is nothing at the fair I really want to eat. And in a way I am feeling a bit competitive in that I want to see how little of the weekly points I dip into.

Yes, I know that's what the weekly points are there for....but like I said...I am feeling a bit competitive.

And I must say this is also the first year of going to the fair that I've even cared about what food or how much food I eat.

I will be taking my own snacks along with snacks for the rest of the crew. I am planning on having a funnel cake...well at least sharing one.

Guess I'll report back and let you know how it went. I am taking my camera so I may even get some pictures of the food that tempted me the most....or maybe disgusted me the most.

That feeling.....

Today was my weigh in day....and I knew before I ever stepped on that scale that I would probably not be losing any weight this week. I've really been in tune with my body since I started this journey and I could just feel it...that bloated feeling...

I ended up GAINING +o.4....not bad but definitely not as good a loss.

I was a little discouraged because I know I've done well this week. I've gotten in some good exercise every day and I've eaten within my points. Actually I had points to spare.

Of course I needed to "vent" so I called a friend....but she didn't answer her phone. So I then called my hubby. Usually I would call him first but my friend has lost a considerable amount of weight and knows how hard I've been working and is such an encourager and she's a girl....I was needing that.

But my hubby pulled through....he too greatly encourages me but he is a "guy" and doesn't always understand my "way of thinking". However, today he helped me to focus on the fact that this is long term and I am making lifetime changes. He too sees how hard I am working and even though he brings home "treats"....I know he wants to see me succeed.

As I was posting my weight on etools I happened to look over my weight loss history and noticed that the same week last month I had my only other"small" gain....hmmmmm....a pattern...and I KNOW it has to do with my "cycle"...

My husband encouraged me and I know my friend will encourage me later.....but noticing this pattern is like the "icing on the cake"... I am at peace. I won't be over indulging or giving up or not caring [like I might have done in the past]........I accept that I am a woman and I still have my cycles and that does affect my journey....but only slightly....

I am resolved that I will continue doing what I have been doing for the last 8 weeks and I know that I WILL see more losses on this path I am traveling.