Last week's weight: 186.8
This week's weight: 189.8
Difference: +3
Total weight lost since January 2010: 82
Obviously, weeks of poor food choices are catching up with me. As has been the case for almost a year now, I lose a little, then I gain a little. After doing so well during the first half of 2010, it can be really depressing to look at how little progress I've made since then. I've lost just 16 pounds in the past year.
That's the bad news. I don't like being stuck in the 180s and now I'm in danger of going back into the 190s. I know that if I don't make changes, my weight will start creeping up. It's frustrating.
But there is good news. With the weather getting cooler, I've pulled out last year's long pants. And they are too big. Not by much, though. Still, they are loose enough that I need more new clothes. So I may not have seen a big change on the scale in the past year, but I have lost one clothes size. I guess I should be happy about that.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Recipes: Pumped about pumpkin
With fall just around the corner and a slight chill in the air, I've become obsessed with pumpkin -- creating pumpkin smoothies and oatmeal. The recipes are very precise, but here they are.
Pumpkin Oatmeal
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
3/4 cup water
2 heaping spoonfuls of canned pumpkin (pure pumpkin, not the pie filling)
Sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice
Sprinkle of cinnamon
One apple diced (I used green. I peeled mine, but you don't have to.)
Mix the oats and water in a bowl. Microwave for 90 seconds. Add pumpkin and microwave for 30 seconds. Add pumpkin spice, cinnamon and apple. Microwave for 30 seconds.
Pumpkin Smoothie
In a blender, mix:
2 heaping spoonfuls of nonfat greek yogurt
Splash of vanilla
Sprinkle of cinnamon
Sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice
1 heaping spoonful of canned pumpkin (not the pie filling, just plain pumpkin. I freeze it so I can scoop it out whenever I want it.)
About a teaspoon of brown sugar
1 banana (you can leave this out, but it does make it creamier)
Ice and skim milk (the amount really just depends on how thick you like and how much you want to end up with)
Pumpkin Oatmeal
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
3/4 cup water
2 heaping spoonfuls of canned pumpkin (pure pumpkin, not the pie filling)
Sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice
Sprinkle of cinnamon
One apple diced (I used green. I peeled mine, but you don't have to.)
Mix the oats and water in a bowl. Microwave for 90 seconds. Add pumpkin and microwave for 30 seconds. Add pumpkin spice, cinnamon and apple. Microwave for 30 seconds.
Pumpkin Smoothie
In a blender, mix:
2 heaping spoonfuls of nonfat greek yogurt
Splash of vanilla
Sprinkle of cinnamon
Sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice
1 heaping spoonful of canned pumpkin (not the pie filling, just plain pumpkin. I freeze it so I can scoop it out whenever I want it.)
About a teaspoon of brown sugar
1 banana (you can leave this out, but it does make it creamier)
Ice and skim milk (the amount really just depends on how thick you like and how much you want to end up with)
Friday, September 16, 2011
Weekly weigh-in: Maintaining
Last week's weight: 189
This week's weight: 186.8
Difference: -2.2
Total weight lost since January 2010: 85
As has been the case for pretty much this entire year, I'm hovering around the 85-pounds-lost mark. I feel like I'm starting to sound like a broken record. I gain a little. I lose a little.
In the grand scheme of things, that's OK. As I've said before, I'm much healthier and happier. I still have my ultimate goal in mind, but I'm just not in a place mentally to be as diligent as I need to be to reach that goal.
I had a real test this week of my new-found fitness. I'm participating in a leadership group that had about 35 of us trekking all over downtown Wilmington Tuesday. We walked block after block and up and down more stairs than I probably have in my entire life. Once or twice, I struggled to keep up with the group, but I pushed myself. (My legs are still sore.)
What I realized is that two years ago, I wouldn't have been able to do it. And I would have felt so ashamed for not being able to walk along with the class. In fact, I probably would have decided to simply not participate at all for fear that it would include things I wasn't capable of.
So the scale isn't saying what I want yet, but I do still see signs of progress. And that's enough for now.
This week's weight: 186.8
Difference: -2.2
Total weight lost since January 2010: 85
As has been the case for pretty much this entire year, I'm hovering around the 85-pounds-lost mark. I feel like I'm starting to sound like a broken record. I gain a little. I lose a little.
In the grand scheme of things, that's OK. As I've said before, I'm much healthier and happier. I still have my ultimate goal in mind, but I'm just not in a place mentally to be as diligent as I need to be to reach that goal.
I had a real test this week of my new-found fitness. I'm participating in a leadership group that had about 35 of us trekking all over downtown Wilmington Tuesday. We walked block after block and up and down more stairs than I probably have in my entire life. Once or twice, I struggled to keep up with the group, but I pushed myself. (My legs are still sore.)
What I realized is that two years ago, I wouldn't have been able to do it. And I would have felt so ashamed for not being able to walk along with the class. In fact, I probably would have decided to simply not participate at all for fear that it would include things I wasn't capable of.
So the scale isn't saying what I want yet, but I do still see signs of progress. And that's enough for now.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Weekly weigh-in: Why bother?
Last week's weight: 184.8
This week's weight: 189
Difference: +4.2
Total weight lost since January 2010: 82.8
As predicted earlier in the week, the weigh-in didn't go well. I seriously almost skipped it. When I think about it rationally, though, I should be happy that in the past three weeks I haven't gained more than 4 pounds. Based on everything I've eaten and drank, I wouldn't have been surprised to see an even higher number on the scale.
This week was really a struggle. After giving myself a break last weekend because I had family in town, I had vowed to put an end to my bad habits. It was much harder than I expected and I didn't do great this week. After Friday morning's weigh-in, I convinced myself to try again and to not give up.
Friday went well. I felt hungry some during the day, but I was right on track with my Weight Watchers points ... until I went out for dinner. If it wasn't for the couple of beers and appetizer, it wouldn't have been so bad because I had a salad with chicken for my dinner. The bright side is that I could have made much worse choices because the menu was full of yummy comfort foods and I wanted to eat them all.
So I'm not exactly back where I need to be, but I'm also not feeling out of control anymore either. That's enough progress for now.
This week's weight: 189
Difference: +4.2
Total weight lost since January 2010: 82.8
As predicted earlier in the week, the weigh-in didn't go well. I seriously almost skipped it. When I think about it rationally, though, I should be happy that in the past three weeks I haven't gained more than 4 pounds. Based on everything I've eaten and drank, I wouldn't have been surprised to see an even higher number on the scale.
This week was really a struggle. After giving myself a break last weekend because I had family in town, I had vowed to put an end to my bad habits. It was much harder than I expected and I didn't do great this week. After Friday morning's weigh-in, I convinced myself to try again and to not give up.
Friday went well. I felt hungry some during the day, but I was right on track with my Weight Watchers points ... until I went out for dinner. If it wasn't for the couple of beers and appetizer, it wouldn't have been so bad because I had a salad with chicken for my dinner. The bright side is that I could have made much worse choices because the menu was full of yummy comfort foods and I wanted to eat them all.
So I'm not exactly back where I need to be, but I'm also not feeling out of control anymore either. That's enough progress for now.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Stressful eating
I've been trying to tone down how much whining I do in my blog posts, but I need to vent. I thought that maybe the negative tone was contributing to my inability to regain the eating habits I established last year. But now I know that the tone is just a symptom of everything else going on in my life.
I started this year believing it was going to be the best ever. I had experienced so much success last year. Not just with weight loss but also with my outlook on life. But this year has been a struggle. I'm not going to rehash all of the stressful stuff I've been through. Just know it's been tough and still is.
My concern is that I've finally slipped back into my old habits. Every time I have a bad day or something goes wrong or I just feel stressed out, I turn to food. I reached what I feel like is a new low tonight.
Over the holiday weekend, I allowed myself to indulge. I'd been doing fairly well. So with family in town, I felt I deserved to splurge. I swore I'd get right back on track yesterday. Most of the day went well ... until two hours of stress involving my family. That's when I binge ate five caramel rice cakes and a single-serving size container of Weight Watchers fudge brownie ice cream.
In the grand scheme, I could have made much worse choices. I know that. It's not really what I ate, but how and why I ate it. So I vowed to do better today. I started off well ... even walking nearly 2 miles this morning. I had a healthy breakfast and lunch. By the afternoon, though, I knew I had a problem. All I wanted to do was eat. I'd consumed all of my daily Weight Watchers points by 5:30 p.m.
I should have eaten something healthy, but low in points, for dinner. Instead, I had two huge servings of pasta with butter and parmesan cheese. Yes, clearly I'm using food for comfort. This is a bad sign.
The only way I was successful last year is that I controlled those urges. I don't know how I did it. Every time I wanted to binge eat, I refused to do it. I splurged every now and then, but I never stuffed my face with unhealthy foods in an uncontrollable manner.
It really just makes me sad and disappointed in myself. Oh, and by the way, the scale says I've gained almost 7 pounds (and that was before the pasta). Now, I'm sitting here trying to think of a solution. I don't want to continue down this path, but I don't know how to stop myself.
I started this year believing it was going to be the best ever. I had experienced so much success last year. Not just with weight loss but also with my outlook on life. But this year has been a struggle. I'm not going to rehash all of the stressful stuff I've been through. Just know it's been tough and still is.
My concern is that I've finally slipped back into my old habits. Every time I have a bad day or something goes wrong or I just feel stressed out, I turn to food. I reached what I feel like is a new low tonight.
Over the holiday weekend, I allowed myself to indulge. I'd been doing fairly well. So with family in town, I felt I deserved to splurge. I swore I'd get right back on track yesterday. Most of the day went well ... until two hours of stress involving my family. That's when I binge ate five caramel rice cakes and a single-serving size container of Weight Watchers fudge brownie ice cream.
In the grand scheme, I could have made much worse choices. I know that. It's not really what I ate, but how and why I ate it. So I vowed to do better today. I started off well ... even walking nearly 2 miles this morning. I had a healthy breakfast and lunch. By the afternoon, though, I knew I had a problem. All I wanted to do was eat. I'd consumed all of my daily Weight Watchers points by 5:30 p.m.
I should have eaten something healthy, but low in points, for dinner. Instead, I had two huge servings of pasta with butter and parmesan cheese. Yes, clearly I'm using food for comfort. This is a bad sign.
The only way I was successful last year is that I controlled those urges. I don't know how I did it. Every time I wanted to binge eat, I refused to do it. I splurged every now and then, but I never stuffed my face with unhealthy foods in an uncontrollable manner.
It really just makes me sad and disappointed in myself. Oh, and by the way, the scale says I've gained almost 7 pounds (and that was before the pasta). Now, I'm sitting here trying to think of a solution. I don't want to continue down this path, but I don't know how to stop myself.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Recipe: Baked spaghetti
Ingredients
3/4 pound lean ground turkey
8 oz. sliced baby portabello mushrooms
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 jar spaghetti sauce (I used Bertolli tomato and basil.)
8 oz. uncooked whole-wheat pasta
3 tablespoons reduced-fat grated parmesan cheese
Heat olive oil in nonstick skillet. Add turkey. Chop mushrooms and add to pan. Saute until turkey is cooked through. Add garlic powder and Italian seasoning. Reduce heat and let pan cool slightly. Add spaghetti sauce. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions. Combine sauce mixture and pasta in a large casserole dish. Top with cheese. Bake for 20 minutes at 300 degrees. Makes 4 to 6 servings.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Weekly weigh-in: No harm done
Last week's weight: 184.8
This week's weight: 184.8
Difference: 0
Total weight lost since January 2010: 87 pounds
I weighed in a day early this week because I have family coming to visit for the long weekend and figured I'd probably not eat as well as I should. The really good news is that all of the junk food consumed during last weekend's hurricane didn't have as big of an impact as I expected.
I'm honestly shocked that I didn't gain weight this week. Of course, there will be splurging this weekend, so I'll be singing a different tune next Friday. But that's OK. As I've said quite a few times recently, I seem to be hovering around the 85-pounds-lost zone. As long as I'm not gaining, I'm not going to worry about it too much.
I still have my goal in mind (35 more pounds to go), but I'm not going to stress about staying right where I am a little longer. Maintaining isn't easy. And I truly believe that eventually I'll start losing again. With everything else going on in my life right now, though, I can live with the weekly ups and downs.
This week's weight: 184.8
Difference: 0
Total weight lost since January 2010: 87 pounds
I weighed in a day early this week because I have family coming to visit for the long weekend and figured I'd probably not eat as well as I should. The really good news is that all of the junk food consumed during last weekend's hurricane didn't have as big of an impact as I expected.
I'm honestly shocked that I didn't gain weight this week. Of course, there will be splurging this weekend, so I'll be singing a different tune next Friday. But that's OK. As I've said quite a few times recently, I seem to be hovering around the 85-pounds-lost zone. As long as I'm not gaining, I'm not going to worry about it too much.
I still have my goal in mind (35 more pounds to go), but I'm not going to stress about staying right where I am a little longer. Maintaining isn't easy. And I truly believe that eventually I'll start losing again. With everything else going on in my life right now, though, I can live with the weekly ups and downs.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
