Disappointed But Determined

Well, another disappointing weigh-in.  It was another weight gain.  Not a lot, but still a gain.  Two bumpy weeks in a row, but I am more determined.  When I plugged my numbers into my weight tracker, the message said to review my tracker and see what changes I had made.  And that's exactly what I did!  Here's what I found.  The first few weeks when I had a significant loss, I had made a protein shake for breakfast.  It was quick and I didn't feel hungry before lunchtime.  For some reason, I have been eating cereal these last two weeks.  I noticed a rise in my mid morning blood sugar readings, and perhaps that cereal also contributed to my weight gain.  For lunch, I had been eating tomatoes with sandwiches or soup.  Our tomato season has ended, and store bought tomatoes just don't taste like our home-grown.  I had been eating one slice of thick sliced bologna on my sandwich.  Perhaps, this next week I will try thick sliced turkey with mustard and pickles, and drink a tomato juice (Mmm).  There were no significant changes in dinner, but I had changed my evening snacks.  Also, I found that I had not been eating my yogurt.  That will change!  This morning, I am making a protein shake, but I don't have any fresh strawberries.  I have strawberry protein powder which I haven't tried yet, so I'm going to add a container of strawberry yogurt to my milk and use the strawberry powder.  And, I will start pushing the water.

I am now realizing that although I am staying in my points allowed, what I choose to use for those points can, and does,  make a difference. I am so glad that I am using the Weight Watchers online site because I wouldn't have thought to look at my food tracker had they not suggested it.  Just as with my blood sugar numbers, what I choose to put into my mouth affects my weight numbers.  Its a fresh week and time to make a fresh start,

Was Last Week a Fluke??

Today was weigh in day.  I was very apprehensive because last week showed such a large loss.  Could it have been a fluke?? I stuck to the program just the way I have been, but when I stepped on the scale and looked down, it showed that I had gained 2.8 pounds from last week.  I was so disappointed, could last week have been a fluke??  I don't really know.  But time marches on, and so do I.  I'm not giving up.

Last night we made Weight Watchers Macaroni and Cheese with Broccoli.  It was delicious, and the rest of the family must have thought so too, since Rod had 3 helpings!  One serving, however was 7 points.  Right now those points aren't a big deal, but as I lose weight I will lose points and that could be a problem.  But in my Scarlet O'Hara mode, I won't think about that today.

This morning was really chilly for this time of year - 39 degrees.  It was the perfect morning for oatmeal.  I had 1/2 cup left over from Sunday, and I still had pumpkin with spices added that I had stored in the refrigerator.  So I took 1/4 cup of the pumpkin, added it to the oatmeal and heated it.  I added some milk, and mmmm it was so good! Fall is my favorite time of year - partly because I love apples and pumpkin.  I was born in the fall, I was married in the fall, and I guess that if Mother Nature asked me to help with the seasons, I'd pick fall.  Soup, apple butter, pumpkin pies, football games, and hot cocoa - what more could a person asked for.

Strange Things are Happening to Me

I started Weight Watchers on September 3, and I'm surprised by the "Strange things" that are happening to me.  Anyone who knows me knows that I am an uncurable chocoholic.  I have been known, on occasion, to search through a cupboard looking for just one chocolate chip that may have fallen out of the bag.  On Friday, I had a terrible craving for chocolate.  But I didn't want to ruin my determination to take off the pounds with just one moment of weakness.  I went to the cupboard and took out a box of Krave cereal.  Hmmm, 3/4 cup of that cereal was just 3 points - and it has a chocolate flavored center.  So I measured out my 3/4 cup into a little plastic bag, grabbed my Kindle, and went out to the deck.  I sat there all alone, listening to the birds, watching the fish in the pond, and munching my Krave (what a suitable name).  It was a relaxing and satisfying afternoon.  And. . .  no breaking plan.  And I'm discovering that I like sliced radishes as a crunchy snack better than potato chips.

But the strange things are continuing to happen.  Normally on the weekends, Rod cooks me eggs and bacon with toast for breakfast.  It's all "legal".  But for some strange reason, I woke up this morning craving oatmeal.  Rod makes the best oatmeal, and happily made me some oatmeal with dried cranberries.  Not the quick oatmeal, but the real stuff - full of fiber.  It was so good, and so filling.  I think my normal weekend breakfast has just been overhauled.

We have planned a trip to Walt Disney World in December, and I don't want to destroy my success for a one week vacation.  So I have been looking at our dining reservations, checking the menus, and planning what I should eat to stay, well pretty much, on plan.  I want to learn to "guesstimate" my portions.  I do have some really cute collapsible measuring cups and a mini scale to take with me, but still want to be able to "eyeball" my portions.  Last night for dinner, I cut a piece of steak and then weighed it.  I was only .5 ounce off the three ounces on my plan.  Pretty good, huh?

I'm delighted with these strange things, and hope I continue to witness changes.

Weigh In Day

Today is my weigh in day - the day I weigh myself and track my weight on the WW app.  I was very apprehensive about stepping on that scale this morning.  I did so well with my weight loss last week, and was afraid that this week's loss would disappoint.  I followed my Points Plus tracking very seriously, tried new recipes, and enjoyed my new way of eating.  But it wasn't just the eating.  I forced myself to move more -not too difficult for most people, but for me it was major.  And was it worth it???  Oh, Yea!!!

That makes a total of 12.5 pounds since I started Weight Watchers.  I realize that losing this many pounds in a week is not usual, and am not expecting this type of loss each week.  But for now, I'll rejoice in it and use it for incentive.  

WAHOO!

Today is Tuesday, my weigh in day.  And . . . .   drum roll please . . . .  this week I lost 4.5 pounds.  I have followed Weight Watchers religiously this past week, and no cheating.  And my numbers show it.  I feel so proud of myself, I can't remember the last time I stuck to an eating plan without a cheat.  I have tracked everything that has gone into my mouth, and have said "no" to sugary sweets when the grandkids have offered them.  And now, as I write this, I feel almost giddy.  It's the incentive I needed.

A Fresh Start. . . . Again.

photo borrowed from diabetesmine.com

It's been over a year since I posted on this blog, but today I need to start over - again.  I guess anytime one undertakes a weight loss journey, one needs to have incentive, a really strong incentive.  I have a wonderful family, all who love me just the way I am.  And perhaps that's part of my problem.  I've had some gall bladder issues, and stopped taking the Victoza again because of some unpleasant side effects.  I decided to try the Glycemic Index Diet again, both to try for some weight loss and also to keep my blood sugar levels in a good place.  I had already re-read the book, made a shopping list, and studied recipes.  But after eating some chicken wings, I suffered serious gall bladder pain, and made an appointment with a surgeon.  Several times I started to cancel the appointment, but didn't.  Today I wish I had.  I went to the appointment yesterday and left his office feeling ashamed, embarrassed, and beaten down.  He told me that he wouldn't do my surgery because of "my size".  He used that phrase over and over, and I fought back the tears.  He told me I needed to take off 100 lbs. before he would feel comfortable doing any surgery on me.  He suggested the ever popular "gastric" surgery, and I told him no way.  If I am to lose weight, I want to do it on my own, with diet and exercise - not someone with a knife and an elastic band.  I'm not sure if Rod knew how down I was.  But as is my normal way, I picked myself up, dusted myself off, and got mad - really mad.  And, I began to make plans for my future.  I enlisted the help of my family.  Already I have gone three days without chocolate - a major step for me.

We have a large picnic planned for Sunday, but first thing Monday morning, the GI diet becomes my new Fresh Start. I hope that you will travel with me as I begin this journey.  I know that I can do it, but if I want to take a wrong exit, I will need your support and encouragement.