I want to stay completely accountable for my actions as I attempt to change my lifestyle. This is why I joined Weight Watchers and made a commitment to start going to the gym more often, focusing on my needs, and becoming a healthier person. I’m even smiling more!

This past week has been rough. During my time of the month, which I will refer to as TOM from this point on, I gain weight, sleep more, and tend to be a bit grouchy (read: Bitchy von Bitcherson). My appetite ramps ups a bit (read: from 0 to 60 MPH in 6 seconds). I retain water like a camel despite valiant efforts of upping my water intake.

I usually weigh-in on Tuesday but I couldn’t face the music. The scale at home was not singing a happy song of loss, more like a gain so I was going to forgo loss completely. However when one of my Twitter friends, Jhottness of Operation Hottness, asked me how weigh-in went I did a virtual stammer-stutter-silence move. If others are supporting me through my journey, I must be accountable and honest with MYSELF and OTHERS. I told her I didn’t weigh in on Tuesday and would weigh-in on Thursday. Trust me, I did not want to weigh in today…but a cyber nudge from someone in the “struggle” made me do it so thank you!

So I lost an astounding:

.8 of a pound

Hold your laughter (or applause). I’m not sure if I am proud that I indeed lost during my TOM when usually I gain up to 5 pounds of water weight or not but I will take the loss in stride and keep being determined.

I want to lose 2 pounds per week so if that means drinking more water, amping up the workouts, and cutting out all alcohol so be it. And yes I have lowered my alcohol intake. In the past nine days, I have imbibed in 3 servings of champagne and a whopping 7 servings of Moscato. Well, that is probably part of the problem. I am still indulging in wine with dinner so I am going to do a test experiment and cut down. My aim is for only 3 servings of wine per week. 

So I am down a total of 11.8 pounds since April 3rd. My next weigh-in is May 3rd. Even if I lost only 12 pounds in a month, I would be happy but losing 15 or more pounds in a month would be stellar!

I DO NOT want to weigh in tomorrow. I rather eat a bowl of lima beans (my least favorite vegetable) or do the stair climber at the gym for an entire hour. I haven’t been bad per say in the past week but according to my scale I haven’t lost anything which SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS. I am PMSing, drinking entirely too much wine (but still staying under points), and not drinking enough water.

Part of me wants to delay weigh-in at least two more days as I have personal training and Zumba toning tomorrow. I should sweat out at least a pound, right? I am not mentally to see none or little lose tomorrow.

I’m aggravated but understand that losing 11 pounds in two weeks is a feat in itself. I have stuck to my lifestyle change. I even had BLUEBERRIES in my cereal a few mornings and after years of yo-yoing on the South Beach diet which was a no-no. I have eaten much more vegetables and whole grains. I need to workout more but always make excuses. Work and family life HAS been kicking my bum so when my personal trainer texted me he had some openings, I jumped at it. 

I have  nine weeks to lose twenty pounds. 2+ pounds a week which is so do-able if I could step away from the wine, eat MORE vegetables, drink more water, and get my rear end to the gym. 

I can do this. 

I am STILL getting used to this lifestyle change. However the cravings for wine, chocolate, and anything fatty, caloric, and greasy aren’t as bad as before. I apologize that I have been bogged down with work and family and haven’t been able to blog frequently. I.miss.blogging.

While the boys were home for Spring Break  I indulged TWICE in fast food. The first time was inevitable because I was in a food court with limited choices and with two kids in tow I didn’t want to bounce from place to place to accommodate everyone (while checking my WW app like some sort of obsessed person) so I had a Wendy’s hamburger, small fries, and a side Ceasar salad. Not bad on the daily points and actually ok tasting. However, it wasn’t like  my regular–value chicken nuggets, large fries, large diet Coke, AND a junior cheeseburger followed by a Frosty. Damn, my prior eating habits were deplorable. 

Then later in the week  I was faced with the fast food demons. I was PSYCHED to go to Taco Bell after my son won his first minors baseball game. I could get THREE Fresco tacos Is it sad that little things like tacos can make me this happy?. I am salivating now just thinking about it. 

But alas my plans for Taco Bell domination were thwarted by my sons and nephews who wanted Sonic. I don’t even like Sonic when I am eating “dirty”. I had a yucktastic kids meal with a hamburger and sweet potato tots. Such a waste of points! 

Despite indulging in fast food twice and having a few glasses of wine and champagne this week I stayed within my daily limits and only used half of my extra points. So today, I was not expecting a spectacular loss.

I lost ((drum roll please))…

5.0 pounds

Thus bringing, my total loss since April 3rd to 11.0 pounds. I am pretty excited. I hadn’t gotten these results before even while doing South Beach and even then I was depraving my body of carbs which turned me into the Incredible Hulk’s much more evil sister. Anything to lose weight right? Ugh.

I am drinking LOTs of water and no diet soda. I did have a few unsweetened ice teas but other than that I drink water like it’s going out of style. I even purchased some Weight Watchers frozen meals for those days I can’t break to prepare or get a proper lunch. Paired with a big salad with veggies, they are pretty yummy. I like the Thai Chicken and the Swedish meatballs. I just need to watch the sodium intake on the frozen meals. I made the mistake of buying the snacks. The carrot cakes are the size of my thumb and are packed with sugar. Instead I like the Fiber One chocolate peanut butter chewy bars with a small glass of skim milk. It’s a nice treat! 

I know every week going forward will not be like the first two weeks but I am excited and proud of myself for sticking to the change. I credit the Weight Watchers app and weekly weigh-ins for keeping me accountable.

How are your weight loss efforts? Are you losing or maintaining? What Weight Watchers tips can you share?

Spring Break has really put a wrench in my week but I have persevered and tried to stick with counting points and excercising. Easter dinner was quite a feat. My plate was doubly filled with veggies and I didn’t over-indulge. After a full week of being on Weight Watchers, I am not as ornery–I actually wrote a post entitled “Angst”, which I am not publishing because it paints a not so-pretty picture of me but I will share it at a later time, on Sunday evening because I was so angry. Sugar withdrawl is no joke.

Most of my Weight Watchers-friendly lunches look like this: low carb tortilla wrap with tuna and Select Harvest soup. This was so-so. I need to make my lunches more flavorful.

Most of my Weight Watchers-friendly dinners looks like this: half of a Kashi pizza and veggies . This was actually so DELICIOUS and FILLING!–I was a happy camper afterwards.

The boys are home for break so I had to take them with me to weigh-in. I didn’t get to go to the meeting which I was a little bummed about because I enjoyed my first meeting. They both guessed exactly how much I lost which was a bit freaky….

I earned my first sticker! I lost six pounds (exactly!). The best part I was able to eat, in moderation, all the foods I normally like to eat but not over-indulge and not eat junk food. I didn’t use any of my extra points because I didn’t need to even after the post-networking event and Easter. However after weigh-in I took the boys on a Choose Your Own Adventure Day and we had fast food. I used my points to eat “reasonably”–a hamburger, side salad, and small fries. But last night, we spent the night at a hotel and ordered room service. The hotel sent up a complimentary bottle of wine (I had two glasses) and assorted cheeses, meats, French breads, and crackers AND a mozzarella and tomatoes in olive oil.

Um….are you kidding me? I could live on those four things until the end of time! So I indulged a WHOPPING twenty-three points on wine and apps. This will be my cheat meal of the week. But it was so worth it…

So onward and downward from here…I hope to get at least three cardio sessions in at the gym and continue to stay within my daily points allocation. I hope to report another LOSS next week!

Welcome to the 212…

I LIVE for music. In the car. On the elliptical. In the shower. I recently downloaded some new music to add to my music arsenal. Please feel free to share some new tunes you are rocking out to at the gym!

Azealia Banks – 212 (featuring Lazy Jay)

The Sun Gets Down – Glad You Came

Kat Deluna – Drop It Low

Qwote – Throw Your Hands Up

My Feelings For You – Avicii

Elle Varner – Only Wanna Give It To You