Day 3... I'm on a roll

Ok, so maybe its 'only' day 3, but I feel like I am working this plan.

I found out my oatmeal is only 3 PP so combined with a banana and a greek yogurt my whole breakfast was 6PP.

One thing I am having to adjust to is that for the most part, no matter how many fruits and veggies I consume, they don't usually fill me up.  Therefore, I am left with a semi-hungy feeling faster than usual.  Right now I am attributing it to the change in intake since I am quite certain I was eating more (often much more) before starting Weight Watchers.

From the Weight Watchers site, I got the idea that my weekly points could be used for treats, so tonight I indulged by using some for a nice after dinner ice cream treat, instead of my usual 4PP skinny cow.  Hopefully having a few moderate indulgences per week (as opposed to many large ones or none at all) will keep me from feeling deprived and end up keeping me on track long term!

Day two COMPLETE!

That's right! I've rocked out my second day in a row!  I'm doing pretty good so far.

My second day impression is that on Weight Watchers, in order to keep full and be successful, it's important to pair every meal with fruit and veggies.  It's something I knew going in, but it's really making more sense now.  It's also something that I think is a positive habit to get into.

To help keep me on track I have revived the short-term goal.  I printed and laminated a 6-week goal sheet that I can re-use.  My first goal is to complete 6 weeks of Weight Watchers and stay on point each week :)

Today while I was shopping I came across this cook book!  I think a good goal for me would be to try at least one new recipe from this book per week.  With 500 recipes to choose from it should keep me busy for a while.  Right?

So, here we go, on to day 3!  

WATCH IT!

Yesterday I made the decision (which I have been thinking about for months now) to join Weight Watchers Online.  

Since I have been freaking out over numbers on MFP for quite some time, I liked the idea of the free fruits and vegetables and the weekly flex points for days when I feel the need to indulge without going off plan! 

A few of my favorite inspirations Skinny Jeans Dreams and Weight Off My Shoulders have been very successful on their journey's using Weight Watchers, and I watched both of them hit maintenance earlier this year!

So, today was my first day tracking.  

Right off the bat, I noticed it was a little more difficult (but not too much) to track foods because their database doesn't have nearly the amount of foods that MFP has in theirs.  That being said it IS pretty easy to look up the numbers on MFP and put them into the calculator.  Once most of my foods are in there it should run a lot smoother for me.  

I also really like the idea that once I hit my points for the day there are a ton of 0 point foods that I can choose from if I'm still feeling hungry. Also, I can dip into my weekly points or earn some activity points.  In that way, I think it will help with the feeling of being restricted. 

I ended the day perfectly 'on point', and meeting all of my 'Healthy Checkpoints'.  

My plan for this week (and possibly next) is to focus on getting the hang of the Weight Watchers Program, and just incorporate some light activity.  Then once I'm feeling pretty confident I'm going to step up my workouts.  Hopefully in the mean time my hip will heal up some more.  

On the other hand, I have these weird feelings of guilt by switching from MFP to WW.  MFP got me this far.  It gave me my start, and it definitely works. I think I might just need a change in the way I've been thinking about food.  Ever since I started to really look into what Weight Watchers had to offer, I've been surprised with how well-rounded their approach seems to be.  

But I'm really attached to my MFP Pals as well.  It's a good thing MFP is free and I can check in on them all the time, but I still don't think it will be the same...  

Holy WOW.

Today was my Mother's Birthday.  This year we decided to celebrate by going out for breakfast and then hitting up the Comox Valley Exhibition and Fair.

We had a really great time with all the festivities....

That was until I made the choice to accompany my father on The Zipper.  

For some reason, I thought I could handle this ride.   I was very... VERY wrong.  I ended up screaming for half the ride "I'M DONE... LET ME OFF... I'M DONE... STOP... PLEASE STOP".  Meanwhile the ride kept going and going and going while I was on the verge of an anxiety attack.  I broke out into a full-body sweat and by the time I got off my forearms and hands were shaky and all pins and needles.   As a got off the operator said to me "Bah, you'll be fine".  

My family has strict instructions to NEVER allow me to even entertain the idea of going on that death trap again!!

Counting calories and the fair don't mix, so I'll be back on top of that tomorrow.  The mini donuts were good while they lasted.  Thank goodness I believe in moderation!

Right now I'm just hoping I don't have nightmares of that stupid ride.  

Ready for September!

Taking some down time today.  Time to just relax and go where the day takes us.  Even if that means just playing, cleaning and watching movies all day.

Spring/Summer always has me feeling exhausted and over-reached by the end because I focus so much on getting my kids out and experiencing exciting things.  This year we've gone to parks, Butterfly World, Beacon Hill Petting Zoo, numerous community events, hiked, camped, seen logger sports, gone boating, gone to the top of mountains, seen giant sand castles, bumper boats, monster trucks, car races and much much more.

Between running my daycare (with my two kiddos in it) 40-50 hours a week, then taking my kids out to do things every weekend and only have one "family" day per week (as my husband works 6 days a week currently) its no wonder I have been off-track this summer.  I'm lucky I have handled my weight as good as I have, not to mention my hip injury.

With another stressful week ahead of me, I am welcoming September with open arms.

On Friday I had to say good-bye to one of my daycare families who has been with me almost 2 years, and next Friday I will have to say good-bye to 3 more.  I've had to say goodbye to a lot of kids in my career, but these are the first set that I have been with every day, 5 days a week, for two years plus.  It's affecting me a lot more than I anticipated.  I find myself hoping I have done my job and helped prepare them to take on their new adventures.  I'm also sad for my kids and the few I have staying, to lose their friends who they have grown to love over the last few years.  I wonder/hope these children will still remember me in a few years. I know I don't remember ANY of my daycare teachers from that age.

I would like to handle these feeling by going out for a run, but this STUPID hip injury has me limited to biking, weights and low-impact cardio... Its just not the same!!

I really feel like September will be getting back to normal and allowing me to focus on myself more.  All my transitions will be complete, and I'll be ready to make some new goals.  I have the book "The New Rules Of Lifting For Women" on its way, and I'm hoping I like it and can start it at the gym.  I also should be recovering from my hip injury and be able to get out running again.  September just seems like such a good time to re-focus, even more than I already have.  I'm not off-track right now, but I'm not going full steam ahead either.

Roasted Broccoli

Tried a new recipe for lunch today.  Well, it was actually in addition to my lunch.  I was thinking that I needed a little something extra, and I have been struggling to get all my veggies in some days.  I have to say, this was a delicious and easy way to get in some greens.

1 Head of broccoli
1 Tsp of Olive Oil
1 Tsp of bread crumbs (optional)
Garlic powder
1 Tbsp of Parmasan

Pre-Heat Oven to 425 degrees.

Chop up the broccoli into bite sized pieces.  Put the broccoli in a bowl and toss with olive oil.  Sprinkle on
the garlic powder, bread crumbs and parmesan.

Spread the broccoli over a cookie sheet and bake for 9-11 minutes until tender.

Low Cal Tuna Melts

These have been a big lunch favorite lately!

1 plain rice cake
Sliced pickle (Enough to cover rice cake)
1/2 Can tuna
1 Portioned slice of cheese (I used Great Value slices)

I placed the pickle on the rice cake.  Then I patted the Tuna down on the pickle and topped with the cheese slice.  When melted the cheese held it together pretty good.

Broil until the cheese is melted how you like (I like mine slightly browned) and you're good to go!

Very quick and easy!

165 cal for one, and I usually have two for 330 cals.

I paired these with some carrots and a greek yogurt the other day for my lunch.

3 week WIN!

No, I didn't win the lottery.  I haven't lost a bazillion pounds.  I'm not an Olympian.  I've got things on my plate (figuratively speaking... ya know, in my non-blog life).

You may be wondering how I'm winning right now.

Well,  I haven't given up in the last 3 weeks - win. I am down 5.5lbs from the beginning of the month (from the 10 I had gained between April and July) - win.  I feel like I am officially back on my wagon so-to-speak, and even though my wagon may not be going as fast as it has in the past, I'm ok with that now.  Even though I am STILL dealing with an injury, and everything else I am finally in the right mind-set to deal with it in moderation and NOT feel like I'm failing.  WIN

I went to talk to my Doc the other day about my hip.  I thought maybe it could be an IT band issue. We discussed it and decided that running a half-marathon in 6 weeks probably wasn't in the cards for me, but going to physio, and concentrating on getting better was.

Last summer, right before I started my journey, I went on a baking binge.

I was determined to master cakes and cupcakes, and become really good at making all sorts of Food Channel inspired foods.  The problem with that was, I have a weakness when it comes to baked goods.  I would just keep eating it all day long.  In the end I gained about 15lbs last summer.

This summer I have managed to stay AWAY from the cupcakes.  I had a friend ask me the other day to make her some as a going away present.  So I decided that I would do it, but just once this summer.  I'm not going to lie and tell you I only had one... I had bits and pieces throughout the process and fully enjoyed the experience. I just won't be doing it again any time soon.  Moderation people!!  WIN

So here I am, one day at a time, not giving up!!

1 week SUCCESS!

Today I celebrate 7 days.  7 days of keeping my food consumption 'in check', and moderately exercising.

I upped my calorie goal to maintenance, and try to make sure I keep a deficit every day by either eating less or exercising.  I'm feeling less pressure, more food, and less STRESS.

I've been doing lots of biking, and a little bit of running.

I may move forward into a more aggressive approach when I'm ready, but maybe not.  This seems to be pretty low key and something I can live with on a regular basis.

I feel in control.

My goal for the next few days is to sit down and make a goal countdown.  In hindsight I realized that I started my spiral out of control when I no longer had small goals.  So my first goal is my HALF MARATHON which is 8.5 weeks away.  I haven't even registered for it yet.  So I should do that, and book a hotel.

Finally, I think I could be really back in the game and ready to win this.  Whether its at a slow pace or a faster one, I will get there.

Checking in, and finally moving forward again!

My computer is on the fritz, so writing is a little more complicated from my phone and I have been avoiding it.

The last two weeks haven't been bad, and the last 5 days have actually gone really well for me. I saw 230 a week or so ago and this morning I saw 226 again so I'm happy to be moving in the right direction!

I bought a bike last week and have been going on some pretty great rides, I'm hoping to make it a habit to substitute for some of my running because I keep getting injured. I went for a few runs last week and was starting to feel it in my hip and knee, so hopefully this will keep me active with less impact!