Healthy You Check In

After a less than stellar eating weekend and a minimal loss yesterday, I am seriously kicking up the activity so that I can have a hope of reaching my goal of losing 5lbs by this Thursday. After my WI yesterday, I still had 1lb to go but I did a kick arse 7km run yesterday morning plus a 30 min. brisk walk last night, and pretty much 2 hours of cardio this morning (I ran to the Y, worked out on the elliptical and w/weights and than walked home - all uphill of course). At the moment I'm feeling a little beat but once I eat I should hopefully feel better.

So.. I'm really excited. I get to see M tomorrow night!!!!! I'm driving up to Edmonton after I get the girls to bed (yep, solo) and not coming home until Thursday night. And no, it's not an overnight date LOL! My cousin happens to live quite conveniently close to M's parent's house and that's where I'll be staying. I guess technically it's only our second date but really, it's much beyond that seeing as we spend hours on the phone daily (only a slight exaggeration). If you missed it before, here's how M and I met. So this afternoon I need to go shopping to find something to wear. I did find a pair of capris on the weekend but I'd really like to find a cute skirt if I can.

Actually that talk about shopping leads me to a NSV I had this weekend. First of all, I bought 2 pairs of workout capris in get this, a size large!!!! I seriously don't ever remember buying a size large before. Granted, they run a little big but STILL, a large! Not a XXL or 2X or whatever. WOOHOO! And even cooler, my mom wore a pair and they fit her. I am finally back to the same size (well, pretty much) as my mom. Holy crap! I'm finding that I am on the borderline of being able to shop in many regular stores instead of just the plus stores, for bottoms anyways. I thought I would be thrilled about that but honestly, it's a little overwhelming. Way too many stores to look in and way too many choices. I need some serious shopping time WITHOUT 2 screaming kids in tow.

Anyhow, on to my weekly update on my monthly goals..

1- At the beginning of April I set the goal of losing 10 lbs by Mother's Day. I did it, actually 10.8/10
2- Run 5K on Mother's Day without stopping. Did it!
3- Lose 5 lbs by May 21 (that's the day I'm going to see M) I'm at 4.0/5
4- Lose 8 lbs by June 2. That's one month from today and that's on an offical WI day. 4.0/8
5- Get 1200 minutes of cardio this month. 702 so far..
6- Run 3 times a week. Only twice last week, plus one day of other cardio... umm cuz I got lazy

I can't wait to check in with all of you later today!!

Healthy You Check In

As I sit here typing this, I'm still sweaty and recovering this morning's run but all I could think about while I was running was getting back and posting here that

I ran 6K this morning!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I'm a little proud of myself. I may not be very fast (it took me about 46 minutes) but I did it. It was just such a beautiful morning outside that I decided not to make my typical trip to the Y, where I've been struggling to stay motivated to run on the gerbil wheel most of us call the treadmill. The 6K really flew by this morning so I've decided that it may be a good idea to mix up my routine and perhaps run outside 2X per week and workout at the Y with other cardio and weights 2X per week. We'll see how that goes.

Anyways, for my run today and for my 5K run on Sunday, I'm awarding myself this shiny new bling:


(Thank you Diana for the awesome new buttons you made!!)

And, due to my loss of 2.2 lbs this week, I get more new bling:



My mantra this month has been "Motivated in May" and it seems to be working!!

1- At the beginning of April I set the goal of losing 10 lbs by Mother's Day. I did it!! Actually I lost 10.8 lbs!
2- Run 5K on Mother's Day without stopping. Done!!
3- Lose 5 lbs by May 21 (that's the day I'm going to see M) I'm at 3.8/5
4- Lose 8 lbs by June 2. That's one month from today and that's on an offical WI day. 3.8/8
5- Get 1200 minutes of cardio this month. 427 so far..
6- Run 3 times a week. Done!!

I look forward to checking in with everyone today!!

Mother's Day Run Update and WI #18

I meant to get on here last night to give my little update about the run but I couldn't find my USB cable to get the pics from my camera. Anyways, first things first. The run was incredible!!!!! Even though I had had an awful sleep the night before (I was waking up every 10-15 minutes, afraid I would sleep in), I woke up and was totally pumped! Baby K and I headed downtown by 8am and my mom and T were going to find their way to a spot along the race route to cheer us on. Baby K and I were a team... she rode along in the jogging stroller and loved every second of it.

I would say that the waiting before the race began was the worst/best part. There were over 13,000 of us down there and becaue I had a stroller, I had to be at the back of the pack (although I did manage to get my way in front of all the people walking). As we waited.... and waited... I felt like such an idiot. The whole realization of what I was doing was overwhelming. I was going to run a REAL 5K! Me?!?! I wasn't worried about the run itself as I've run 5K several times now the last few weeks but the emotions and the excitement of actually being there and doing it was almost too much for me to handle. While the crowd around me was laughing and happy, I was making my feable attempts at holding back the tears. Yes, I was going to do it. I made a goal and I was now prepared to kick it's ass. Part of me also felt a little sad that I was doing it alone (well, except for baby K). I had been trying to get some of my family members to do it with me, but to no avail. Everyone just thought I was crazy. *sigh* Maybe next year.

Anyways.. here we are, inching our way to the start line.. the gun had already gone off at this point and we are almost there!


Here's what I saw when I looked straight up! We were lucky to have perfect running weather!


And looking straight down... hehe notice the bottle - it kept her occupied the entire run!


The run itself was great. The first 10 minutes or so kinda sucked, as the first 10 minutes of any run sucks (for me anyways) and I was trying to get out of the crowds and get by people so I was running faster than my regular pace. But I got into my groove eventually and the run literally flew by! When I was approaching the finish line, I could not believe we were already done!

Here we are right after.


And me and my girls once we finally met up again.


And the best news is that I'm not sore today!! No actually, I have more good news. I'm down 2.2lbs!! Which means that I reached my goal of losing 10 lbs by Mother's Day. So for now, I'm definitely sticking with the Wendie plan. It seems to be working!

I'm going to run a 5K!

My experience on Thursday made me realize that it's not just a pipedream... it is something I could actually do! With a little help from google, I found the Mother's Day Run and really, could there possibly be a better day to do this on? To celebrate being a mom and setting a good and healthy example to my girls, to celebrate being a strong woman, to inspire and be inspired... I've decided that I really want to make this an annual tradition in my family. I've even talked my parents into joining in! I'm so excited about this!!! Any other Calgarians going to enter this race???

So, I'm officially in training. I dragged myself to the Y this afternoon... I was so tired that my eyes were just burning and wanting to nap but I knew I'd feel better once I got going. I'm on the third session of week 4 and on my first two intervals, I honestly thought I wouldn't make it. I was thinking wow, this sucks... it all really was a fluke! I can't actually run! But then, I got over the hump and felt better, running a total of 20 min on the treadmill and then did 20 laps of the track without stopping. Yep, that's 2K right there (in about 15 min though.. I'm not very fast). But there was no stopping and that's the important part.

Anyways, food-wise this weekend has not been ideal. I'm so bad about not tracking on weekends! But choices have not been too bad all in all so I'm not stressing about it.

Oh and NSV!! I bought some new workout capris from Walmart.. just some cheapies to get me through for a while because my others ones are sort of falling down as I run and they were size XL from the regular section! And get this, they are kind of loose! But they'll be great for sleeping in once they get too loose for running in. Hurray!

Me? In Good Shape???

I just got home from the Y and I can't quite decide if I want to have a silly grin plastered on my face or sob uncontrollably. So, I've been alternating between the two. I had the best workout that I've ever had in my life. I did week 4 session 2 of C25K and really played with the incline and the speed that I was running at. I really pushed myself and ran an extra 9 minutes (for a total of 25!), the last 3 minutes being at a speed of 6 mph instead of my normal range of 4.5-4.8.

After the treadmill, I typically go on the elliptical but today I still felt like running (something must have been in the air??). All of the treadmills were in use, so I decided to tackle the track. Let me just say that I hate the track. You run past every cardio machine in the place so everyone gets a good view of you as you go by. But, I decided I would just get over it and give it a shot because I have my final fitness test for the Y Challenge next Monday, which involves running/walking the track for 10 minutes. Let me also add that I have NEVER ran more than two and a half laps in a row. My original goal today was to run 5 laps. Well, I smashed that and kept going, 6, 7, 8, 9.... 10 laps! I slowed and walked for two and then ran five more. By the end of the 5th lap, I was already fighting back the tears, in complete disbelief at what I had accomplished. Then, as I was doing a cool down lap, a lady jogged by me and said "You are in really good shape!". HUH?!? What?!? Me? 240 pound me in good shape?? I must have had a look of disbelief on my face as I mumbled "Thanks" and she said "No, really. I've been watching you today and you've inspired me."

Wow. I'm still in awe that someone would say that to me. That someone would notice! I have spent so much of my life being the fat girl... thinking that everyone must think awful and untrue things about me and being intimidated away from the weight room... I am absolutely amazed what my body has acheived in a few short weeks of the C25K program.

So today, my 6 word sentence absolutely remains true:

I am stronger than I thought.

Major NSV!!!

I don't know if you all had to do this, but I remember back in grade 10 phys ed class, we had to run for ten minutes. I could NEVER do it and always ended up walking. This was even when I was super into martial arts and should have been fit. Well, today I did my Couch to 5K session. I'm in week two, day two so that means that I alternated running for 90 seconds and walking for two minutes six times. After I did my final run and five minute cool down walk, a strange feeling came over me. I wanted to run. More. I entered 5 more minutes into the timer on the treadmill thinking that I would just see how long I could actually run and then walk the rest. The C25K podcast had ended and the good music on my mp3 player had started up. The next thing I knew, the five minutes had ended.... and I, Ms. I DON'T run, was STILL running. I frantically pushed at the buttons on the treadmill to increase my time by a few more minutes so that my groove didn't get interupted. A few minutes later, I'm STILL good and STILL running! So again, I increase the minutes. Well, when it was all said and done, I ran for TEN freaking minutes!!!!!! And this was after my C25K session. Seriously now, I have no idea what came over me and I'm already doubting that I'll ever be able to do it again (now really, how silly is it of me to even think that??) but man, it felt good. I. Ran. I'm going to be a runner. One of those people that I've always looked at in awe as they run the entire 30 minutes on the treadmill. That will be me.

Shopping still sucks

My body shape is a block. Do clothing designers really think that all women have that oh-so-desired hourglass shape? Well, I don't. I have no waist. I have no hips. I'm just straight from the bust down. This makes finding pants that don't bag out in my hips really tough. Jeans either fit me in the waist but look all baggy around my thighs/hips or fit in the thighs and are tight on the waist. I know, I know, every woman has a complaint about how their body fits into clothing but I went shopping this afternoon to try and find some pants to wear to work that I wouldn't have to worry about falling off of me and couldn't find anything. I did end up buying a pair of jeans (which I can't wear to work) but I'm still not completely thrilled with them. The good news is however that they are size 18, not 20!! (Non Scale victory, right???) And honestly, they are a touch big but I couldn't do up the 16s. So, I guess I should just focus on that instead of my shopping frustrations. Maybe once I get skinny I'll be confident enough to wear dresses all the time and won't need to worry about stupid pants.

I did some unofficial measurements today as well... I've been tracking them in sparkpeople because I can't find a spot on WW online to do it. Is there one there? Anyways, I'm down 0.5" around my neck (never would have thought of measuring my neck but what the hey..), 1" around my bust, 1" at my waist and 0.5" at my hips for a total of -3" since 4 weeks ago. I'm only down 8lbs since then but hey, it's progress. I don't have my official starting measurements (didn't take any) but back in October, I weighed 262 (I was 263.6 when I started Jan. 7) and I am down 4" on my waist, 2" on my hips, 1.5" on my neck and 1.5" on my bust for a total of 9" since then. Ok, now I feel better.
I also just did volume one from the new pilates dvd box set that I bought the other day. It started off with a 20 min walking pilates session and then 20 minutes of pilates exercises on the floor. Since it was my first time doing pilates, I really didn't know what to expect. I will say that I much preferred the walking pilates to the Walk Away the Pounds dvds that I have. I definetly felt the burn in my thighs and I think it's because she instructs you to keep your knees bent a little in certain movements to simulate walking uphill. The pilates part of the dvd was good too. They move quite quickly so I think it will take a few more times of doing the exercises for me to totally keep up. Lots of good ab stuff and I have a feeling I'll be sore tomorrow.

On the food front this weekend, I think I've done OK. I haven't tracked because quite honestly, I haven't had the chance. I worked a really long day yesterday, at the office until 7:30 pm and then at home getting some church stuff ready. Today, I've been trying to catch up on some errands but we did take the kids out for a walk this afternoon. It was so fun to be able to run and chase T and then run ahead and have her chase me. I felt so light and free and just wanted to run more! If it weren't for my too-big jeans that kept practically falling off, I would have. It got me thinking that once work slows down in the next week or so, I'll throw K in the jogging stroller and after we drop off T at preschool, I'll re-start me Couch to 5k sessions outside. Our neighbourhood is very hilly so that should add some extra challenge. I can't wait to get working out again... plus that should jump up my weight loss again. Not that 8lbs in a month is all that bad. I just really want to get out of the 240s and reach my 10%. Speaking of that, weigh in is tomorrow. My main goal is to hit the 20 lbs loss mark. I'm pretty sure I have (I cheated and weighed myself Friday and I was there) but one never knows for sure.

Anyhow, tomorrow will be a super long day for me seeing it is election day! If you are in Alberta, make sure you get out and vote!!! I have to be in the office all day and then pick up the kids from the babysitters, feed them, put K to bed and then head back to work so I can be there to enter in the results when the counts from the polls start coming in. We'll have media representation in our office and everything so it should really be quite exciting.

Man I've babbled alot tonight! Take care everyone!

Healthy You Check In and when should I weigh in next?

Sorry - I'm a day late with this!

I sat down last night to write out my post ... I started out sort of complaining... something about not getting to work out yet again. Then I looked at the clock - 8:17 pm. I jumped up and put in my Walk Away the Pounds dvd and did a 3 mile workout. I felt so much better afterwards! No, it was not a hard workout like when I go to the gym, but I felt better and it did get my blood pumping. I think what made me feel so good was not just the exercise, but the fact that I got over myself and just pushed through the feeling tired and DID IT. I've had this thing about exercising when other people (I live with my mom, dad and two brothers + me and the girls - yep, a crowded house!) are home. For some reason I've felt ashamed of it?!? Typing that out makes me see that it makes no sense. But last night, I got over it and exercised anyway. You know, I think that is a NSV! I plan on doing it again tonight after I'm done on the computer.

Anyways, overall last week I did OK. The eating could have been better over the weekend but I'm not beating myself up over it. I still had a loss. I didn't get in as much exercise as I would have liked either with my new schedule and all, but I'm working on improving that this week.

As far as my weight loss goals go, I think I'm doing pretty well. My goal was to reach my 10% loss by March 15. I only have 12ish lbs to go so hopefully I'll make it. I also have a new birthday goal. By the time I turn 29 on July 15th, I want to weigh no more than 214 lbs. That's a total loss of 50 lbs, or about 35 lbs from now. Do-able? Only time will tell!

I'm pretty excited about this weekend because on Sunday night, we're going to stay at the Delta Kananaskis Hotel!! Our church always goes out there on the Sunday afternoon of the Family Day weekend and we've decided to make an overnight trip of it this year. I'm a little worried about the eating I'll do out there but it's only one day and there has to be some healthy choices available.

So here's my question:
My normal WI is Monday mornings. I'm leaving Sunday and won't be back until Monday evening. Should I WI Sunday morning instead? Wait until Tuesday morning? Or do it Monday afternoon?

A whole bunch of self-realization...

The last two days have been sort of weird for me food-wise. I haven't felt hungry. I haven't felt the need to snack. I haven't felt the urge to rip apart the kitchen looking for something sweet. I've had to struggle to eat all of my points, or at least not have a huge amount leftover. This is so completely opposite to how I was feeling last week that I am wondering what the heck is wrong with me!

But it's making me think of how they say that it takes 3 weeks to make a habit... well, in more than three weeks I haven't had a chocolate bar. I Haven't had any desserts other than the weekend of my daughter's birthday last month. I haven't had anything deep fried. I haven't had any fast food (except my little Burger King slip up 2 weeks ago and all I ordered was a grilled chicken sandwich OOOOOH BAAAAD). And you know what, I don't want any of that stuff. And it makes me feel incredibly strong, powerful and determined to feel that way.

Now I'm not a complete dreamer. I realize that it's not like I'm never going to want or NEED some chocolate. But it would appear as though the bad habits that I had of eating those types of things on a regular basis seem to be broken. And yeah... well, that feels powerful. It feels like I have control over the food instead of me being controlled by the food. At some points in my life, I thought that would be impossible.

Here's another thing I've noticed. When I'm eating badly and not exercising, I feel really badly about myself. I'm embarassed of my body. I avoid mirrors. I don't even try dressing up because I feel like I'll look like crap in everything anyways. My self talk is very negative. But since I've had a little success in this journey and know that I'm making better choices and taking positive steps in my life, I feel amazing! I'm always trying to look my best, I'm making eye contact when I talk with people, I'm smiling more, I'm walking with confidence... I feel beautiful. And outwardly, I'm sure I don't look that much different because at my weight, 13ish lbs isn't really that noticeable. But that part doesn't even matter. My self esteem is getting better! And I realize now that all it took was making some good choices and feeling a sense of accomplishment, feeling proud of me! And it's been oooooh so verrrrry long since I've been able to feel proud of myself.

The last 10 or so years of my life, I've been through a lot. A lot of people would say that I had so much promise, then threw it all away for a guy. I compromised my whole self, all of my values and everything that I had held as important. Like all bad decisions, you have to deal with the consequences. Trust me, there are a lot of difficult consequences to throwing away your education to get married at the age of 20 to a much older, yet extremely immature, alcoholic, drug-addicted man who cannot hold a job. And having two of his children. Don't get me wrong - I don't regret any of it for a milisecond. My girls are my world and I've learned so much and I am blessed with a very supportive family. But what I'm trying to get at is that making bad choices and compromising yourself and living in an abusive place can leave you feeling like a pile of crap. You blame yourself for your situation but don't know what to do about it. You feel ashamed and embarassed. You feel like you have no value and everything is your fault. And my point is that I don't feel like that anymore!!!! This has not happened overnight. I have made many positive steps in the last year and half since my separation. But up until the last few weeks, I still felt embarassed about myself because of my weight. And now that's starting to go too. I just can't imagine how great I'm going to feel when (NOT if) I reach my weight goal if I feel this good already. I think I will want to shout from the roof tops! It will be such a freedom.

You now know that I can really ramble. Sorry about that. I'll get to something more food related now. One point muffins!!! I've had a container of nonfat plain yogurt in my fridge for a while now so I've been looking for a way to use it up. I came across a recipe from the Beantown Baker and adapted it a little bit to suit the ingredients that I had. Here's what I came up with:

One Point Berry Muffins

1/2 cup nonfat plain yogurt
3 tbsp applesauce
2 egg whites
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup splenda
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup mixed frozen berries

Combine dry ingredients and wet ingredients in separate bowls, then mix together. Add the frozen berries last and stir gently. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-17 minutes or until the top springs back when lightly touched. Makes 12 muffins.

They are really good! I was really impressed because there is basically no fat or oil of any kind in the recipe. I've never made any like this before. The dough is weird though... it's actually doughy, not kind of pourable like other recipes I've made. Don't worry - they are supposed to be like that.

I need new jeans!

Hard to believe that after only a 10 lb loss, my jeans won't stay up and I have a serious case of baggy butt. Even harder to believe because last fall, when I was the same weight that I am now, these particular jeans were tight! I guess that means that I'm toning up baby! Need more proof? I've started wearing my belt on the 4th hole, as compared to wearing it on the 1st for the last many months! I wish that I would have taken my measurements when I started but I didn't unfortunately. However, I think I will take my measurements on my next WI day and compare them to the measurements I took early last fall (when I was approx the same weight as now). I think it would be interesting to see the difference.

I had a very productive day today work-wise and it feels great. I also did my third day of week one on the Couch to 5K program. I didn't think I'd be doing this so soon but I even upped the speed on the treadmill when I ran. The past two times I'd walk at 3.5 and then run at 4.5. Today 4.5 just felt too slow and I upped it to 4.8. Then I worked it for another 30 min. on the elliptical. And I have so much energy tonight! If it wasn't so darn cold out, I'd go out for a walk. Someday I will have a treadmill of my very own... wouldn't that be nice?

I just wanted to say thanks to the people who commented about my recipe that I posted yesterday. I really had no idea that it was high in sodium. I mean, I do know that canned soups are high but I had NO idea about the salsa! I just checked and the salsa I have in my fridge has 480 mg of sodium per 1/4 cup. YUCK! That motivates me all the more to make up a batch of my own. I love the fresh stuff with lots of cilantro.

I've decided that I'd like to try and post my menu for each day. This might help me plan a little more in advance and I know I always like to read what everyone else is eating. So here's today:

Before gym snack: Source Dessert Selections Yogurt, 1 carrot cake cookie = 2
After gym breakfast: Quaker oatmeal, 1/4 oz slivered almonds, 2 oz blackberries, 1/4 cup skim milk = 3.5
Lunch: 1 cup Gardennay Potato and Leek soup, 1 whole wheat english muffin toasted, 1 can Clover Leaf lemon pepper tuna = 6
Snack: Rice krispie square, 1 mug Maxwell House French Vanilla Low Cal Cap with 2 tsp nonfat creamer= 3.5
Snack while preparing dinner: Quaker Mini rice cakes= 2.5
Dinner: leftover crockpot salsa chicken, 3.5 oz cooked cauliflower, 15g kraft 2% shredded cheese = 8
Snack: 3/4 grapefruit, Source yogurt, carrot cake cookie = 3

29.5/31

I may have some more fruit before bed to use up my points. Overall not too bad... I'm really liking my oatmeal loaded up with extra stuff. So yummy and low on points.

Three Things I'm Proud About

1- Yesterday when I was in line at the check out in Walmart, I resisted the temptation to grab a chocolate bar. It has long been my tradition to get one every time I'm there, even if it is one of those 100 cal bars. I almost did it, I had plenty of points so that wasn't the issue but I just made myself think about it and realized that it wouldn't even taste that good and I'd rather use my points on something else.

2- I rewarded myself last night. I had one of those WW Smart Ones fudge cake things in the freezer and decided to eat it. Then I realized that my dad had bought some chocolate ice cream. I looked up the points for a serving of that, realized that I was well within my points and added a serving on top of my cake. It was delicious! And no, it didn't leave me wanting more sweets. I ate it, I was satisfied (I even found it a little too rich!) and I was done.

3- I just walked T to preschool. It's a ten minute walk each way and I'm pushing K in the stroller. On the way home, it is up a steep hill. Today I realized that I was barely out of breath by the top of the hill. At the beginning of the school year, it would have me completely out of breath.

I also have to say that blogging and discovering the support available through the WW boards and from fellow bloggers is truly making the difference for me this time. I truly appreciate each and everyone one of you who read this and who leave a nice comment. It makes me more accountable and gives me something to look forward to!

So anyways, my question to all of you is: What 3 things are you proud of yourself for doing this week?

Wow - 31 points! I feel good!

That's how many Activity Points I've earned so far this week and I still have one more workout to go before I weigh in. Maybe that's not huge for everyone but it is for me. The only day that I didn't get in any exercise was the day I sat in training all day. I'm not sure if I'll be able to keep up this pace once I am working out of the home 5 days a week but for now, it's good.

I know I've only been doing this now for 2 weeks (2nd weigh in is tomorrow) but I can definitely feel changes in my body. For example, when I slathering myself in lotion as I do daily in this dry winter weather, I felt a real difference in my thighs. They were just.. I don't know.. a little firmer and harder. It's amazing. And looking in the mirror, I *think* I can see a slight difference in my face also. I could be imagining things though. I'm starting to envision myself as a thin person too. Yesterday when I was at the Y, I saw this woman working out who was about my height, larger-framed but very fit and athletic looking. I wonder if that's what I'll look like. I've never been thin. Never in my life. I've always been the big girl... the chubby girl... the "solid" girl. Imagining myself thin is just plain exciting. Imagining myself fit and running around with my kids, crawling around on the floor with them instead of just sitting.... these are the images that motivate me. I want to be able to look in the mirror and feel proud of what I see, instead of avoiding mirrors altogether or looking and feeling disgusted.

Anyhow, enough rambling. Today was an OK eating day. Red River cereal for breakfast.. then someone dared bring cookies to church and put them on the coffee table. I would have been good if I could have avoided them altogether but K saw them and threw a temper tantrum until I gave her some. Normally I wouldn't have given in to a tantrum like that but it's a little more difficult when you're out in public and you're trying to keep your kid quiet. So, I had 1.5 chocolate chip cookies. I felt like crap about it even though I realize that's really not the end of the world. I even went and did an extra workout this afternoon after church when I was planning to just relax today. Anyhow, I had a ham sandwich on a whole wheat english muffin and an apple for lunch, a yogurt with wheat germ when I got home from the gym and healthy portions of the turkey dinner my dad made for supper. It was tough to have no gravy though! Tonight though, I'm feeling snacky. I think it's because I'm avoiding my work. So far I've had a serving of Smart Pop popcorn (2 points) and then an Oatmeal to Go bar. Those things are awful at 4 points each! So, I'm not really over on points but I did eat my AP for the day and I normally don't. Just hoping my WI is favorable tomorrow!!

I did it!

Over the last few years, even when I've been in one of my many "working out all the time phases", I've never gone to the Y to workout on a Saturday. Well guess what! I did it today! I had intended to go bright and early but forgot to call babysitting and book spots for the girls so by the time I called, the soonest I could get them in was 1pm. But that's OK! We went to the mall first for lunch (and I had a 6" ham sub - only 5 points and a skinny cinnamon dolce latte from Starbucks that I've heard everyone talking about - 90 cals and 2 points for that and OMG YUM! - but I digress..) I worked out really hard! 30 minutes on the elliptical and another 30 on the treadmill (at an incline of 9 by the way) - same time as usual but I had the energy to really pick up the intensity today. I felt great! And even better, I already booked babysitting for the girls for next Saturday morning at 9:30 am. Go me!! LOL

I'm not sure what the difference is this time, but so far I'm finding it almost easy to stay on program. I haven't been hungry even once and in a way that worries me. I haven't used any of my activity points and none of my flex points either. Is that a bad thing? Should I be eating more?

By the way, I just have to share my favorite meal right now. I've had it twice in the last few days. It all starts with one of those little frozen dinners - the WW Smart Ones Santa Fe Rice and Beans. Then I cook up a serving of chicken breast (flavoured with hot sauce - 0 points) and throw all of this over a plateful of mixed greens and cilantro. Then I add a little more hot sauce on top of everything. This is a very filling meal and I find that it's a great way for me to get down a bunch of greens. YUM!

Anyways, I'm out for now... I've still got a bunch of stuff to get ready for church tomorrow.