Week One: Weekends Blow it!

Today's weigh-in was 196.2 pounds.. that's a 3oz loss. Oh boy.. I know I should be glad for anything.. but what ticks me off is that at some point this past week I had gotten down to 194.5.. but then the weekend happened.

Saturday we ran errands and I managed to get some 18k steps in and over an hour of walking.. but I still ate a big breakfast. Sunday we took public transit to the Presidio for Off the Grid's Picnic in the Park where I ate half a cheeseburger with brie.. and a scoop of some seriously yummy Humphrey Slocombe.

Dinner was at Jupiter where we split some serously good beet salad and a veggie pizza in the thoughts we'd have leftovers for Meatless Monday.. no such luck! We devoured that thing!

So yeah, weekends I seem to blow it. Even with sharing and getting plenty of walking in, I seem to use up all my weeklies. Yes, I know they're there to be used. It doesn't mean I HAVE to use them, because I don't.

On good days, (when we have a good abundance of fruit for snacking) I do well to stay within my daily point target.. A couple days last week, I even let a couple dailies go unused. I was full. I was fine. No snacking required. Other days, not so much. I can't help but wonder if maybe I should change my weigh-in day to Friday. Weekends just blow it for me.

week zero.. again

I've been off program the last few weeks during June. I spent over 2 weeks in Florida, first as part of Sean's first 'workation' of this year (they've been cutting back on travel with the project he's working on..) and then less than a week after we returned, I was flying back to Florida as my mom's partner of some 22 years passed on. He'd been terminally ill w/ brain cancer since January. We were glad to visit the short time we did before he passed.. but yes, it's been rough on his family and on my mom.

Suffice to say I haven't been able to stay on program.. haven't really concerned myself with it that much. When I was walking around the World during the workation*, I just tried to stay focused on getting my 10k+ steps in (and managed very well thank you!) and getting in my 2 milks and 6 servings of fruits and veg.. which I did alright.


my best day's walking while in Orlando the first week of June 2013.

The following week or so (from the 14th through the 25th) at my mom's was another story; getting my milk and fruit/veg in actually was more difficult. Kind friends and neighbors were bringing by a stream of naughty desserts and huge casseroles. I managed to get my 10k steps in most days believe it or not by just running around the house helping my mom organize, sort and put away things..

When we got home late Tuesday night I didn't bother to count points the remainder of the week. I weighed in on Monday at 195.5 which was actually a 2+ pound drop for me from whenever I last weighed in.. about a month or so ago.

So going back on program I'm starting over, yet again... Maybe I shouldn't focus on the weight so much but on the behaviors. Focus on getting my proper food in and getting my steps in.

I want to feel good about myself but I think focusing on my health more than what I'm eating might be a better change for me right now. For now.

*workation.. usually means Sean is working while I am on "vacation"

Week 15

15 Apr 2013: 194.8
08 Apr 2013: 196.6
last week: 199.3
25 Mar 2013: 196.3


This time I remembered Meatless Monday and had cereal. We had one last cup of the Special K Chocolatey Strawberry.. which I don't recommend unless you prefer Special K Strawberries..

Despite not being a fan of Special K Strawberry I cut up some FRESH strawberries we picked up from Berkeley Bowl West and added to my cereal. By the time I got the berries cut up & put in the cereal the freeze dried ones Kellogg's uses finally rehydrated for the most part (which is the main reason I don't like their berries.. they're dry and hard and funky usually if I don't mix the cereal up and wait). Adding the fresh berries helped the taste and texture a lot!

Meatless Monday Confession: I screwed up.

Sean has class elsewhere this morning.. He got up early and headed out around 530/ 6am. He had his coffee and all his work stuff with him.. I briefly wondered if he'd remembered to eat something before heading out as I poured a half cup of milk into my coffee mug, shooed the cat away, and then went to heat my milk up in the microwave. (I like to add it hot to some coffee so it doesn't affect the coffee's temp)

Inside the microwave is a paper towel wrapped "Smart Ones" turkey sausage, egg & cheese English Muffin breakfast sandwich. My brain processes only about half of the fact that Sean started to nuke a breakfast sandwich but got distracted and forgot. (He's been doing Meatless Monday with me too.. even tho he doesn't have to)

I take out the sandwich, nuke my milk and then decide not to waste the sandwich and re-heat & eat the thing. AFTER I eat it I remember "oh RATS! it's MONDAY. I just weighed myself so of course it's Monday.. ugh!!!)

I was Meatless last night for dinner.. so I do eat many meatless meals.. but TODAY is supposed to be totally meatless.. So do I start over tomorrow?? or do I continue today Meatless and then spend tomorrow meatless too?? ugh. I've been so good at this so far this year.. but not perfect.

UPDATE: just found out the English Muffin Sandwich was from yesterday!! (maybe it wasn't the fish oil supplement that made me want to throw up mid-morning after all) Sean just came home and after I asked him, he's all "what English Muffin??" ewww. 10:06pm

Week 14

This losing weight thing is slow-going.. Gained 3lbs last week in bloating/girl-curse but luckily most of it went away.. unfortunately I didn't lose any weight.. If anything I gained. ugh..


08 Apr 2013: 196.6
last week: 199.3
25 Mar 2013: 196.3
18 Mar 2013: 197.9

Week 12

AKA: No good deed goes unpunished.."
25 Mar 2013: 196.3
18 Mar 2013: 197.9
11 Mar 2013: 198.1
So with this week's bit of weight loss my daily points target has been lowered to 27pp. Thanks.. Like I was doing so great on 28 (not). ugh!

Week 11

18 Mar 2013: 197.9
11 Mar 2013: 198.1
04 Mar 2013: 200.0

Week 10

water weight begone!
11 Mar 2013: 198.1
04 Mar 2013: 200.0
00 Feb 2013: 199.2

Week 8 & 9

Girl Troubles.. send more chocolate..
04 Mar 2013: 200.0
00 Feb 2013: 199.2
18 Feb 2013: 199.8
11 Feb 2013: 202.0

Week 7

Didn't eat all my weeklies despite our going to the Movie theatre on Saturday for Day 1 of Best Pictures Showcase (Day 2 is Saturday the 23rd). Also got some active walking in a few of the days.

difference of 2.2 lbs. We'll see if it sticks!
18 Feb 2013: 199.8
11 Feb 2013: 202.0 lbs
04 Feb 2013: 203.9 lbs

Week 6

and yes I ate my 'weeklies' but we also got some walking in Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday.. so almost 2 lbs. We'll see if it sticks! =)


11 Feb 2013: 202.0 lbs
04 Feb 2013: 203.9 lbs
28 Jan 2013: 204.7 lbs


Today being Meatless Monday I don't have anything interesting to share today on the meatless front... Sean celebrates Ash Wednesday so we'll be Meatless Wednesday too.. I don't know if we'll give up meat for Lent.. Judging by the giant packet of Aidells sausage we picked up at Costco, I seriously doubt it.

I'm thinking rather than giving up something for Lent, taking up a new habit.. or at least getting myself to do a habit.. It could be 20min (or more?) on the stationary bike EVERY day or depending on how things work out.. joining a gym or a class of some kind. With the weather being as nice as it has been I think a ride outside wouldn't be out of the question. Traffic always makes me nervous though, so we'll see. =)

Garlic Fries

Saturday was the 2013 SF Giants Fan Fest.. For food we treated ourselves to our first garlic fries of the season!

Half a serving Gordon Biersch Garlic Fries is about 7 points plus.. so hurray!

Chocolate!

One of my cures for keeping the dementors away.. Trader Joe's Milk Chocolate:

3 squares is about: 200calories w/ 12g of fat/ 25 carbs/ less than 1g fiber/ 2g fiber

I unwrap it when I get home and break them into 3square portions and stick them in the fridge to keep chilled. When I need the chocolate I help myself to a serving.. I like to think they melt slower if they're cold. Eating them one square at at time makes them last a few seconds longer, too. =)

Week 5

meh... at least I didn't gain?
04 Feb 2013: 203.9 lbs
28 Jan 2013: 204.7 lbs
21 Jan 2013: 203.4 lbs

Week 4

or.. no naughtiness goes unpunished!
28 Jan 2013: 204.7 lbs
21 Jan 2013: 203.4 lbs
14 Jan 2013: 204.2 lbs
07 Jan 2013: 208.9 lbs

Lunch @ the Park

Steak Salad! For me! Lobster Sandwich for Sean!

Golden Cristo Bites

Part of Disney's "Limited Time Magic," these delicious bites of Monte Cristo will 'glow' away the 1st of February atThe Stagedoor.

Week 3 Weigh In

Happy Inauguration Day! Happy Dr Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday Observed!

Meh.. not so great this morning. Sean likes to say a pound a week is a good average.. This isn't even a pound, but at least it's not a gain, right?

21 Jan 2013: 203.4 lbs
14 Jan 2013: 204.2 lbs
07 Jan 2013: 208.9 lbs

I used some of my weekly points. I know they're there to be used, but what my smaller goal is to get used to eating only 28 points a week (or whatever I'm allowed), feel full and not touch the weeklies except for times when I really REALLY need them. Getting around the afternoon/ evening munchies seems to be really difficult for me right now. I'll keep at it!

NFL lunch

What to have for lunch when there's a big football game on? Pizza?? Buffalo Wyngs?? nope.. It's Tamales!

We got these Pork Tamales from Costco that we really like. They are 10 points plus each.. so in order to eat them I heated it up and cut it in half (having a big salad with it helped to fill me up):

The salad ends up being like 4 points plus because I cut up a couple slices of Jarlsburg Lite Swiss Cheese onto it and added a little fat-free dressing from Fresh & Easy. The salsa on the tamale was 0 points.

French Toast-y

or.. "corn is not a vegetable"

A little backstory: I don't like eating at McDonald's. I really don't. My weakness in the past has been the Sausage McGriddle. If you haven't had it, it's like this syrup infused english muffin-like thing with a sausage patty of some kind in between. It's also about 11 points plus. That's OK if you want to blow half a days allotment (I get 28 now) of points on that and the salty but addictive hash brown patty that comes with it. I know, that's what the weeklies are for.. Honestly? I am long past wanting to waste points on stuff like that. So. No McDonald's for me, thanks!

So, a few nights ago we're at our local Safeway Grocery, we came across this French Toast Griddles:

We've had the English Muffin ones and those are pretty good, as far as processed breakfast foods go. While those are 6 points plus, the French Toast Griddlers are 7 points plus. Sean just realized you have to use the calculator, as the Weight Watcher barcode app calculates them incorrectly as 6. Since they were on sale we picked up a box of each.

I know this stuff isn't ideal. Food should probably be as basic and process-free as possible. I'm not a nutritionist so I don't claim to know anything, OK? A good rule I like is if you can't pronounce it, it probably isn't basic.. not to mention: "enriched" or "Partially hydrogenated" or my favorite.. "High Fructose Corn Syrup." ugh.

Freaking Corn Syrup or High Fructose Corn Syrup is in practically everything.. everything processed, so you can't really get around it much (other than not eat processed food). BUT, if you're going to eat processed food (everything in moderation!) these French Toast Griddlers aren't too bad. It heats up quick from the freezer and then just give it a minute or so to not burn your fingers on the thing eating it.

The 'french toast' is almost just like French Toast made at home (with bread, egg and cinnamon) in texture. Soft and spongy. Whatever processed whatnot they use to make it and the glaze make for a sweet and syrupy(?) sandwich. The patty is your typical processed turkey patty made from turkey 'bits' or whatever. We'd probably do better to make our own French Toast so we don't eat all the processed stuff they use to make the 'french toast' part, but there's just the two of us, and we don't keep eggs in the house.

Like any sugar cereal, these Griddlers are not really healthy unless you have some milk or fruit with it. So I got my Skim Milk. I guess the turkey patty provides some protein, so that's something. Also, they are almost half the points of what you get at McDonald's. So I would highly recommend these to my friends hankering for their fast food fix.

I like them enough I'll help Sean finish the box but I won't go out of my way to buy them unless they're on sale. Like McDonald's, they aren't something you want to eat every morning, but yummy enough to want to treat yourself to something 'naughty' now and again.

edited for points correction at 840am

Late Breakfast Snackage

One of the things we came across while grocery shopping last year were these BelVita Breakfast Biscuits. These are yummy cookie things**. We've had the regular "oat" flavor, as well the blueberry but our favorite are the apple-cinnamon and the cinnamon-brown sugar:

Each packet is about 6 points plus and while not especially filling are good with a cup of milk.

I went to the Nabisco/BelVita website and they advise pairing with other things like non-fat Greek yogurt, some fruit, or maybe a low-fat latte. As you can see, I had mine with Skim Milk and then after, a nice Fuji apple (I decided on that after I did the photo so it's not included).

I wouldn't eat this for breakfast every day, but if you're in a rush and you "forget" to eat breakfast these are always good to keep in your laptop bag or whatever and eating when you remember to. We've also taken them on trips: good for eating on the plane or keep in your daypack while on vacation.

I know for six points (eight when you count the milk), I could have had a candy bar but that's not breakfast.

**Sean seems to think we've tried the chocolate flavor but I honestly don't recall, so it must not have been especially memorable or tasty. =P

Week 2 Weigh-In

aka: it's probably water weight!

14 Jan 2013: 204.2 lbs
07 Jan 2013: 208.9 lbs

I've been drinking a lot of crystal light and cutting down on our soda stream soda (although I do drink a liter or so each week of either "Cola Zero" or the diet raspberry soda which are both good) I drink Coke Zero or iced tea when we're out and about.. and I even still have a coffee treat now & again when we go to Peet's for beans or last night when I was desperate for a bathroom and had to stop in at Starbucks.. A grande "skinny" vanilla latte is 3 points plus. =)

I know I need to step up the exercising though. Sean said he'd hook up the wii fit so we'll see what happens with that! =)

One thing I've found out is taking the trash out is a great way to get the steps in! I made two trips yesterday: first to take out the trash and then the cat litter. That, along with our running errands last night put me just over 10,000 steps (10,103 steps actually). So if you wear an activity meter of some kind, keep it on! Every little thing counts!

Pizza!

Tonight's 49'ers/ Packers game meant one thing.. PIZZA!

We split a Fresh & Easy Pesto and Arugula Pizza.. Half a pizza is 9 points plus. Not bad... Of course I only had 7 points left by dinner time tonight, so I went "into the hole" using some of my weekly bonus points.. You get 45 for the week to use on 'special occasions' and whatnot, but since I had crazy chocolate and meat cravings.. I was down to 22 weeklies by dinner time tonight..

Good thing I only have one more day 'til the week starts all over again.. Oh, yeah I don't expect a lot of weight loss this first week. Not with all the chocolate I've been letting melt in my mouth this week. They really should come up with a 'chocolate patch' one day.. Just saying. =P

English Muffin!

Eastbay comfort food: fresh baked Arizmendi English Muffin w/ @BerkeleyBowl peanut butter (& organic strawberry spread from the San Leandro Costco) =)

was a lot of points.. so that was my brunch.. =P I followed up with a big Fuji apple though.. and it was pretty filling! =)

Veggie Meatballs!

Today we finished off our "Don Lee Farms" Veggie Meatballs. We bought them at Costco in a 2 lb package.

One serving is 4 balls for 3 points plus. We had put them in the freezer because it's a lot of perishable food for two people to eat. They aren't too bad. I keep thinking they would be good in a spaghetti dish but we never got around to trying that. Instead I nuked the last of them to share and for my part, I sliced up another Roma tomato and added some 'no salt' seasoning.

The veggie balls themselves have sweet corn, carrots, onions, low moisture part skim mozzarella cheese, and some other stuff that makes them bind like breadcrumbs. I think we like them enough, we'd get them again. Next time we'll do the spaghetti. =)

Veggie!

Today's lunch was an old favorite from Costco.. The Garden Lites Grilled Zuccini Soufflé. Garden Lites come on different soufflé varieties, but this is the one Costco carries at times.

Each soufflé is 4 points plus, so it's great for breakfast or lunch, whatever.. Today I diced up a medium Roma tomato while I heated it in the microwave. I placed the heated soufflé on top of that (after removing it from its little container) & then topped it off w/ a spoonful of salsa.

The box says it counts as 2 1/2 servings of veggies but I seriously doubt that! I did give myself credit for 1 serving though, which seems more realistic. =)

For dessert I had a Chobani Greek Yogurt w/ strawberry. Usually we like to keep a big container or 2 of Fage on hand (love it w/ a some preserves or honey added) but the Chobani was on sale this month..

Back on the Wagon Too

With the Christmas season over (Three Kings Day was yesterday) it's time to get back on the wagon...

In all the time I was off the Weight Watchers wagon, I climbed back to 246.2 pounds.  My first goal is to get below 200 pounds. If I can lose a pound a week, I'll reach that by Thanksgiving week.

So, how did day one go?

• Breakfast was a Garden Lites Grilled Zucchini Souffle (4 points), 1 cup of milk (2 points), and a banana (0 points). Total: 6 points.
• Lunch was Miso soup (3 points) with udon noodles (6 points) and 2 cups of carrots (0 points). Total: 9 points.
• Snack was two slices of Alvarado Street Bakery California Style Complete Protein Bread (4 points) and one tablespoon of Country Crock 39% Vegetable Oil Spread (1 point). Total: 5 points.
• Beverages included water (0 points), coffee (0 points), 2 cups of low sodium vegetable juice (2 points) and 22 oz of Drakes Drakonic Imperial Stout (11 points). Total: 13 points.
• Dinner was 12 Don Lee Farms Veggie Meatballs (9 points) and a mixed green salad (0 points). Total: 9 points.
• Dessert was a serving of Dannon Light & Fit Blueberry Greek Yogurt (2 points), Total: 2 points.

Total: 44 of 48 points.

Meatless Monday!

Since it's Meatless Monday I'm having an Amy's Vegetable Lasagne for lunch. It's 8 points plus and pretty filling!

I nuke it for 5 minutes & place it on a plate/ in a big soup bowl sauce side down so I'm not eating from a tiny paper thing. It's about #asthetics you know?

I also add a spoonful of diced garlic because there's no such thing as too much garlic! =)

Back on the Wagon Agaaaain!

WEIGH IN: 208.9 lbs
GOAL: 150 lbs


When I originally went on program I got down to 170.. then the move happened, I fell off the wagon and kept falling off.. so I'm about 209 now.. I remember how good I felt at that weight (even if it wasn't my goal weight so I want to get back there!

This year my goals are also to BLOG more.. so that includes posting here everyday, even if it's a photo of whatever food we're eating.. Sean may post too, but I'm the only one here saying I will make it a priority. =)

I need to use the tools we have to get to the target.. (my ultimate weight should probably be like 125 but we got a while to go before I worry about that, OK?)

-exercise bike (use while watching news/movie/etc)

-Wii Fit (& the XBox Kinect once it's connected)..Walk it Out and other games

-bicycle for riding around the neighborhood/ running errands

-walk just to walk, not just for errands

YOGA, ZUMBA or Butt-Kicking Boot Camp?
I'm also contemplating taking some classes of some kind at some point. I just don't know. I don't want to join a gym.. but I'd like to do some kind of yoga, meditation or maybe some kind of boot camp or zumba thing.. Jazzercise.. What's keeping me from going to something like this? Cost.. my spouse's lack of enthusiasm (I know I can go on my own but then I get back to the 'spending money' thing) and the fact that I always see waif-like fiona apple type people in the yoga classes. They should have yoga for real people.. Earth Goddess, Zaftig, Husky, Jabba the Hutt looking girls and guys.. Seriously.. 60% of the population is overweight or 'obese' so why don't they have classes for us fat cats? And please, I KNOW I am fat.. I am a fat cat!! "MEOW!" Don't tick me off I'll sit on you.. LOL!

OK now that we got over that sensitive segue, there's the other thing.. The girly chocolate cheeseburger of it all.. My weight will fluctuate.. I'm on that happy week where I"m carrying an extra pint or two.. or gallon of water weight. I feel like crap. It happens. I've waltzed around it in the past but I guess like all grown ups I need to own up to it and deal with it.. So I won't shy away from that in the future.. Who knows? Honesty. It's about being honest with myself more than anything so there you go.

Can't think of anything else to mention right now. So, here we go!

It's time to start today.