Goals, My Weight Loss, The Weight-ing Game, They Way {Weigh) I See It, Weight Watchers ... The Way I See It, Wellness Wednesday

My Weight Watchers. My Way … a new plan… Beyond The Scale!

Just when I thought that I had the whole Points Plus Value {aka PPV} down to a science, Weight Watchers has gone and changed things! Now,  I must admit, the new program changes would not have come as so much as a surprise, had I been working the program like I should.

But I wasn’t.

And.

Voile’!!

… A Program Change!!!

change1

 

Over the last couple of weeks, I have noticed- couched between the glitzy, happy holiday commercials– were a few well placed ‘teaser’ commercials previewing the New Program…

… Beyond The Scale

weight-watchers-beyond-the-scale-smart-points

The new concept takes the Points Plus Value to new heights by focusing on the mind, body and spirit.  Not just calories.

The past Points Plus taught me HOW to eat.  Beyond the Scale promises to teach me WHAT to eat!!!

I’ve re-committed to working the Weight Watchers program, because I know that it works!  Points Plus.  Beyond The Scale.  It works!!!

Over the upcoming months, I’ll keep you posted on my thoughts, successes, challenges and ‘Ah Hah’ moments as I navigate this new and exciting road!

Stay tuned!!!!

What’s new in your world?

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Challenges, Food, Goals, Inspiration, Keep Callm, Mindful Eating, My Weight Loss, Nutrition, Strategy, The Weight-ing Game, Weight Watchers ... The Way I See It

‘ You Gotta Eat. Right?’

 

I absolutely LOVE! LOVE! LOVEWeight Watchers’  new Big Game Commercial.
It’s fast. It’s visual. It’s provocative. It’s confrontational.
It’s All of the reasons that,  ‘those who love us’,  use to convince us to abandon what we know works.

If you’ve missed it or saw it but it blew by too quickly, here it is- The Uncut version:

I’m glad that they posted it on their Youtube Page.

That way I can watch it again and again and again, so that I can become immune to all of the reasons to sabotage this good thing….

… You Are in Control. Right?

Do Tell…

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Challenges, Goals, Inspiration, My Weight Loss, The Weight-ing Game, Weight Watchers ... The Way I See It

Not a Bad Start…

Hey Luv-lies!

First Meeting g of the #NewYear!!!
Down .6 pounds …’Yeah Me! !!!’   *throwing confetti in the air *


I {heart}  ‘The Thoughts for the Week’

How’s Your Week Going?

Do Tell….

 

 

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Challenges, Girl on Fire!, Goals, Inspiration, Keep Callm, My Weight Loss, The Weight-ing Game, Weight Watchers ... The Way I See It

An Unexpected Surprise & a Good Read

Good Afternoon Luv-lies,

Had a fun-filled weekend (read – ate a little off program :/ ).   Stayed mostly on, but I must admit that I strayed a little…. *just a little*  🙂  Didn’t make to my usual Weight Watchers meeting place to weigh in (that’s usually done on Sunday) because the festivities started waaaaay before the meeting time!  Needed Monday to recoup * come on!  You know how that is…. right?*

Went in today for this  weeks weigh in…. couldn’t find a reallllly good excuse reason to hold out any longer … to this VERY welcomed surprise!

 

 DOWN!!!   1.6 WHOLE POUNDS!!

Didn’t really expect that!  Although I ate a ‘little’ off program, most of my hedonistic indulges were either fat laden and/or salt ridden.  With that in mind, I approached the weigh-in with the mindset that “… I know that I gained something! …. I just hope that that ‘something’ is just a little bit…”

This kinda surprise … I like !!   This kinda surprise … I can do !!

And to think that I was seriously trying not to be accountable this week by skipping the weigh-in  *there’s something to be said about your conscious getting the better of you!*

Just think I would have missed on the ‘Scale’ Celebration, getting my first #BRAVO sticker for #WeightWatchers’  ‘ACE Your Summer Challenge’, getting the ‘#WeightWatchers’ Weekly’

Non Scale Victories!!!

Non Scale Victories!!!

….. and picking up this gem of a magazine that is always chock-filled with loads of great articles and even greater *delish* recipes!!

#WeightWatchers Summer Read

 

 

I rushed home because I knew that I had to share it with you on MY TWITTER FEED

 

and my FACEBOOK Post

My #Facebook Post

Such a nice way to begin a beautiful, sunny afternoon.
I’ll say.
What unexpected happened in your day?
… Do Tell…

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Inspiration, The Weight-ing Game

Whew! What a January….

Hey Luv-lies,

Whew! I’m sooooo glad that February is here!  Now I’m not one who usually wishes for my days to go by rapidly, but January was a real bear!  Not just for the crazy weather. But for some reason, last month, the scale has for some reason stopped being my BFF.  I successfully got through the holiday unscathed!  Not a pound to be gained!  As a matter of fact, I reached goal someway between the latter part of December  and the New Year.  (Yes!  Smack dab between the Christmas and New Year holiday.  I lost AND reached goal)!  Talking about being on a high.  Ahh. Yeah.  So of course, going into January my thoughts were, ‘Humph! I successfully got through the  endless barrage of  holiday delights & treats, six weeks of maintenance shouldn’t be thaaaat hard’!  Now don’t get me wrong, in no way did I then, or do I now, think that at any time, this lifestyle change is ever a piece of cake {pun intended}.  But I was fairly confident that I’d get through the six weeks of maintenance at best, uneventfully.  And what with the unveiling of The Simple Start Program rolling out at the start of The New Year, I thought – ‘No Brainer.  Two weeks of  Power Foods.  No tracking.  I can do that. Right?’   NOT! 

So what the hell happened!?

burt

I followed the two weeks of The Simple Start Program.  Continued to run five days a week – averaging twenty-five miles a week.  Even made a ‘2014 New Years Inspiration to complete one half-marathons this year. *aside – I’m pretty much on track {woo. another pun.  Not intended this time :/} with this*.  And then there were the Zumba Classes that I live for – to the tune {uh-oh. another pun.} of at least five to six times a week!  With all of this compliance, I wasn’t too concerned when the first two weigh-ins of the month – of the year!, for that fact – were the same.  No loss.  No gain.  Perfect.  That was a welcomed ‘plateau’ because,  I was into maintenance, after all.  Fast forward (or should that be ‘fast forward backwards?’) to the last two weeks of January.  Not. So. Good.  Why?  Yep! You guessed it.  Although there was no change in how I was ‘working the program’ – I stayed on The Simple Start  for the last two weeks of the month (why not?… I didn’t gain….  Until week three…) only, I added a (light. very light) weight training regime to the mix.   Those last two week weigh ins ….

wham bam pow

Gain!!!!  Yesssssss!!! Gain!!!! {forgive me for yelling so loudly.  I am fuming!}  To the tune of a total 3.6 lbs!!  First things first.  with this much gain, I’ve totally blown the criteria for continuing on my maintenance journey *heavy sigh*.  That’s a bummer.  Needless to say, I HAD to share my not-so-good-news with my fellow members in this week’s meeting.   And true to form, the support that I received from my fellow members was uplifting and reassuring.  They reminded me of the non-scale successes that I have achieved and reminded me that, with the addition of a weight training regime (even a very light one) I’ll be sleek, toned & trimmed just in time for bathing suite season.  And that continued adherence to this lifestyle journey is, in and of itself, commendable.  I thank my fellow group members for their understanding and honesty….we’ve come to be to do that for each other.

My take away on the whole matter …  its’ about perspective.  Focusing on the successes.  Celebrating the achievements.  And remaining steadfast in one’s goal despite difficulties and/or delays in achieving success.  If I had to put it in a word….. Persistence

What’s your take on this?

Do Tell?

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Food, Friendships, Girl on Fire!, Goals, I am Woman....Roar!, Inspiration, My Weight Loss, Randomness, The Weight-ing Game, Weight Watchers ... The Way I See It

Sunday Weigh-in & Some Fun

Happy Sunday Luv-lies,

Just a short post today.  Couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share some fun news with you.

comfort zone

A little over a year ago I started this trek down the path of a healthier lifestyle.  On December 31st 2012 {on a whim.  You know.  Now that I think about it, some of my best successes have resulted from a whim…} I decided that I had had enough of making excuses for not living a healthier lifestyle.  I was tired of referring to the excess weight that I had been hauling around as, ‘Baby fat’.  Who the hell was I lying to {I know. I had been lying to myself and for a loooooong time!}?  After all, ‘my baby’ was twenty-nine years old!  I was tired of not being able to fit into the beautiful clothing that I had purchased {all year!} with the promise that ‘One day I’m going to be able to fit these’.  You’ve made that promise to yourself – haven’t you?  Tired of huffing and puffing after walking short distances.  Tired of eating too much, too late.  Waking up the next  morning feeling like a stuffed pig.  I could go on but I won’t.  This is suppose to be a ‘short’ post.

My ‘whim’ took me first to my local fitness center, where I eagerly signed on the dotted line.  ‘There!’ I thought.  Proudly, I was on my way to escaping this delusion that I had been living – for years!  I returned home, knowing that I was only halfway vested in this journey.  I knew then, like I know now, that I needed a weight loss program that offered me several things.   I needed a program that {amongst other things}:

~  held me accountable for walking the talkBecause, the mouth will say anything.  Enough said.

~ addressed the ‘Why?’ of my eating behavior.  You see, getting to the gym has never been the problem.  controlling the eating behavior has.

~  didn’t promise a short-term, quick fix-it solutionDidn’t get this size fast.  Not going to lose it, and, more importantly, get to goal quickly. Got to put in the work!

~ offered a forum where I could have some face-time with others – in real timeFace-time has a way of not allowing you to hide from the truth.

~ had a long-standing history & tried and true scientific basis for it’s successLongevity has its place.

~ allowed me to eat ‘real’ foodMy food mantra is that, ‘… there’s too much good *read- natural* food out there, not to be able to eat it!

~ that worked, seamlessly, with my present lifestyleYou want to guarantee failure? Implement too many unrealistic changes too fast in a schedule with little to no room for change.

~ taught me that the path to a healthy lifestyle can be measured in many different waysThe scale can not & should not be the only measure of ‘winning’

I’ll stop here.  {I could really go on 🙂

So without much thought *it was a no brainer for me* – I returned home and, because the physical center was closed –  I joined my local Weight Watchers group – via the website. 

green chairs

A year, and some change later {pardon the pun}, the program has and continues to live up to everything that I wanted and needed.  The group that I attend is slowly growing. Over the last year, we have transitioned from individuals gathered in a common space for individual reasons, to a cohesive, supportive, fun, trusting, understanding ‘family’ who at the core of it all, has each others best interest at heart.  I ask you.  What more can you ask?

so here’s the fun part  {it’s all fun. but. you know what I mean}

This morning I arrived to the meeting a lot later than I usually do.  My late is about three to five minutes.  Not today. I was about fifteen minutes late *yikes*.  Not good when the meeting is only thirty minutes long to begin with *crinch*.  It was nice to see all of the new attendees.  My hope for them is that they come back enough to realize that the program really does work – when you work the program.

Since the beginning of the year – yes.  just nineteen days ago – The group has been increasingly interested in increasing the our presence on #Facebook.

*aside* I think that it’s a great idea!  Especially since I spend a lot of time promoting a healthier lifestyle on my Facebook page

See, we have an official Weight Watchers Facebook page; however, it has its limits {at least for right now}.  We can’t wait to share recipes, successes & fitness info.  So our  fearless Leader, Nancy,  suggested that we start another page where we can post pictures and other incentives.  Looooove it!!!

But first, we have to come up with a name for our page!

This is the fun part!  We have until our next meeting to come up with some suggestions.  My mind is going a million miles a minute trying to think of something 🙂

Now, I am really looking forward to this upcoming meeting-  more than ever –  because I can’t wait to hear all of the suggestions! 

Did I say that we are a pretty witty bunch?

#WW Name Our Group Challenge

 So Luv-lies, I’ll be sure to let you know how this turned out.  One thing that I’m almost certain of.  I wouldn’t be late for next Sunday’s meeting 🙂

Do you have any suggestions?

Do tell …..

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Fitness, Goals, I am Woman....Roar!, Inspiration, Mindful Eating, Nutrition, Workout

Party In Pink Zumbathon… For Breast Cancer… Starts in 2 Hours!!!

It’s October and that means loads of Pink and lots of opportunities to raise funds and awareness for Breast Cancer!
I’m excited this morning!

I’ve been awake for the last two hours reading myself for
#PartyInPink Zumbathon.

It’s going to be a wonderful workout for a wonderful cause. It’s October and that means loads of Pink and lots of opportunities to raise funds and awareness for Breast Cancer!

I’ve started out  with this wonderful breakfast!  First time sautéing the apples in raspberry and chocolate vinegar…. they smell wonderful.  We’ll see how they taste 🙂

 

I Tweeted this deliciousness before devouring it!!!!

…..  they smell wonderful….. We’ll see how they taste 🙂

Of course you have to have Gear!

I’m on my way!!!

You know that there’s a post to come….

Are you doing something for Breast Cancer Awareness?

Do Tell…..

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Food, Goals, Infographic, Mindful Eating, My Weight Loss, Strategy, The Weight-ing Game, Weight Watchers ... The Way I See It

8 Tips for Healthy Eating

Infographic: 8 tips for healthy eating

Hello Luv-lies,

Ran across this infographic  while trolling the ‘net.  Trying to make some sense of my eating plan (… even though I make certain that I keep up with my ‘healthy checks’ on WW Tracker, I periodically need other sources to make certain that I’m getting all of the nutrition that I need (… this growing girl needs all the info she can get to help with to get that girlish figure  *wink wink*).

I found this wealth of information all bundled in one nice little infographic.  *Not real sure why the ‘Yeast Infection Organization is sponsoring this…. but….*

Although I like the information shared, there are few things that would change/amend if I designed this.

Like the following:

I prefer brown rice and bread over the white

don’t particularly like referring to Carbohydrates as starches (the word ‘starch’ just has a bad wrap)

Those two are it…. What do you think?

Do Tell …..

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WeekEnd Luv

HaPPy SAtURdaY

Put Your Feet Up.... It's Saturday !!!!

Put Your Feet Up…. It’s Saturday !!!!

Good Morning Luv-lies,

Happy Saturday…. hope that your week has been a productive and rewarding one.

I tell you, for me, this week has flewn by – like a flock of birds heading south for the winter!   It’s been a week of mostly goods and ……. not so goods  okay, so when it wasn’t good, it was reeeealllly bad!

Well, let’s get to it…..

The Week’s ‘Good’ Stuff…  {starting with the most important first :-)} :

My Little Ones.... Luv Them Babies

My Little Ones…. Luv Them Babies

Spent almost two hours video chatting with my three Grands…. affectionately referred to as ‘My Little Ones’.  I LUV them babies!!!

My six year old granddaughter (that’s her with the awesome make-up on the left) read me a story from one of her favorite books.  That was amazing!  While she was reading, I had a ‘light bulb moment’.  She was really reading! Not from rote, but, really reading with passion and emphasis.  WOW!!  She is growing up so fast….

Her oldest brother, my four year old grandson (he’s the one with the amazingly infectious smile on the far right side of the picture), also growing far too fast, sang me his rendition of  the ‘ABC’s’.  It took some coaxing – I had to sing it first… incorrectly.  He was in and out of a few small tantrums during the chat.  My silly rendition of the ‘ABC’s’ helped him out of it…  Besides, I he’s so proud of himself when he done.  And, of course, I am major scale proud of him!  I have a feeling that reading is on the very near horizon…. Yey!!!!!!

Then there is my youngest of the bunch (he’s the cutey in the middle).  He’s two years old but I swear that he’s been here before.  If he were just a little taller, one would think that he is the oldest.  He takes over! And, I have a sneaky suspicion that because he’s the youngest, his brother & sister let him take over –  but not for too much longer!  He likes to be the ‘holder of the phone’.  Because he talks in ‘two year old speak’ most of the sounds that I hear while he’s holding the phone is heavy breathing.  He’s soooo damned cute!

During most of this, my daughter was preparing dinner.  So I got to be the ‘virtual’ babysitter (hey! how did that happen? :-0).  But most importantly, I had a chance to visit with my family, who I miss soooo much!

More Goods!!!

My Weight Watchers Dashboard

 Seven months of Weight Watchers and commitment to moving my arse has rewarded me in several ways.

I’m down 0.4lbs {that’s 15lbs closer to goal}

Several garments that have been hanging in my closet – still with price tags and size tags (of a smaller size than I was seven months ago) – now fit –  with plenty of extra room – Whoa Hoo!!!

And most, inspirational and humbling….  at work, a few of the Ladies have been very complimentary (and forthcoming) with compliments on the amount of weight that I have lost and how ‘good you look, girl’.  Their compliments have been, among other things, encouraging and flattering.  They have been so inspired, that, we have decided to form a support group where we focus on healthy weight loss and healthy lifestyle.  They have appointed me as the mediator of the group.  Again, I am truly humbled and flattered.  There will be loads of posts about this group…. can’t wait to get started!

More Good Stuff !!!

I ran 36 miles this week!!!

I ran 36 miles this week!!!

This week, I’ve run a total of 36 miles!!! YEY ME !!!!!!!!!

                                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ohhhhh   Soooooo   Baddddd   Stufffffff !!!!

Im' Out of Control!!!

Im’ Out of Control!!!

I over ate !!!!!!  Yes! that was reallllly bad…. but not until Thursday.  And only on  Thursday !  I usually don’t touch my 49 Weekly Points that the WW program allows, but, not only did I eat my allotted points, I ate ALL of the 49 Weekly Points – In One Night!!! …..  whhhhhaaaaat!?  …… riiiiiiiight!

I did recover on Friday.

And the plan today is to STAY ON PROGRAM!!!

……… That’s my week, Luv-lies,

How was your week?

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My Weight Loss, The Weight-ing Game

I’m Stuck ! … 4 Down & Dirty Strategies to help get you through that Dreaded Plateau

Diet_Plateau_cartoon

It’s happened to the best of us.

For weeks you’ve been true to your program – eating clean, getting in your workout, staying hydrated & getting your sleep on.  Every week that you step on the scale, you see the pay-off for all of your hard work.  Then one day, without so much as a warning, the number on the scale stops moving in its customary downward direction!

‘No Problem’ –  you think to yourself, that first time – ‘… at least it’s not a gain…’

But in the weeks to follow, the pounds of fat that once seem to effortlessly fall off are clinging on like a stubborn mule.  You do a personal inventory of reasons that could be contributing to the sabotaging of your success…. again, you come up short with viable reasons for this stall…. arrrghhh!!

You knew that this day would come.  You’ve read about, you’ve even overheard locker room conversations about it.  But when it happens, there is still the questions of ‘why me?’, ‘why now?’, ‘why the hell does this happen?’, and ‘how the hell do I get past this!?’.

According to the folks at the Mayo Clinic – 

A plateau occurs because your metabolism — the process of burning calories for energy — slows as you lose muscle. You burn fewer calories than you did at your heavier weight even doing the same activities. Your weight-loss efforts result in a new equilibrium with your now slower metabolism.

At this new equilibrium, calories eaten equals calories expended. This means that to lose more weight, you need to increase activity or decrease the calories you eat. Using the same approach that worked initially may maintain your weight loss, but it won’t lead to more weight loss”

If you’re at a plateau, you may have lost all of the weight you will, given the number of calories you’re eating each day and the time you spend exercising.   At this point, you need to ask yourself if you’re satisfied with your current weight – in which case you move on to the maintenance phase of your journey  or if you want to lose more – in which case you’ll need to adjust your weight-loss program.

weight-loss-plateau (1)

If you’re committed to losing more weight, before you throw your hands up and throw in the proverbial towel, here are 5 Down & Dirty Strategies to try for getting past the plateau:

#1     Reassess your habits.

Review  your past  food and activity records.  Make sure that you haven’t loosened the rules, letting yourself get by with larger portions or less exercise.  Calorie Creep (a.k.a. – eating more calories than you think)  combined with decreased metabolism (from the weight loss) almost always results in a plateau.

#2     Re-evaluate Your Calorie Intake 

As you lose weight, not only does it become harder to lose, but your metabolism decreases.  – the good news is that your metabolism is supposed to decrease as you lose weight.  Because at your new leaner weight you have less body mass.  Less body mass =  Lower energy requirement to support your smaller frame.  A general rule of thumb, when looking at caloric intake is, for every 10-15 lb you lose (especially if you have a lot of weight to lose), you can reevaluate the amount of calories needed to continue on your weight lost journey.

#3    Rev up your workouts

If you want to maintain the results you have, changing things up in your work out is awesome!  But not if you want to maximize your results in a muscle building, or fat loss program.  Continuity in your exercise program is more important than switching things up.  Continuity allows you to track your improvements in your strength and fitness levels – making adjustments to your workouts.  Think outside the gym. Increase your general physical activity throughout the day by walking more and using your car less, or try doing more yard work or vigorous spring cleaning.

#4     Get a Good Night Sleep

The people at Fitday sums it up this way:

“Sleep is a crucial factor in losing weight. Sleep suppresses your appetite and raises your metabolism, while allowing your body to rest and recover. Sleep affects the levels of several hormones in your body. Two hormones that play an important role in stimulating and suppressing your appetite are leptin and ghrelin. Leptin is produced by your body’s fat cells and is responsible for suppressing hunger. Ghrelin is released by your stomach, and stimulates your appetite. Lack of sleep lowers the levels of leptin in your blood and heightens the levels of ghrelin, which results in an increase of appetite. The reverse is also true: getting enough sleep decreases hunger and will therefore help you lose weight.So aside from leading an active lifestyle and maintaining a balanced diet, you should also make sure that you get enough sleep to carry you through your day”. 

1-weight-loss-secret-how-to-overcome-the-dreaded-weight-loss-plateau

As you continue on your journey to reach your ideal weight, keep in mind that changing your body into a lean, mean fit machine is the destination. Find as much enjoyment in the journey, despite its setbacks.  Revel in the small successes that seem to be overlooked – the stronger and fitter you, your vanishing waistline, making healthier food choices, to name a few.  Learn to appreciate and focus on these changes, while continuing to work your healthy lifestyle changes, and your plateau will become well-earned fodder for your blog.

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