It's Wednesday, and once again I stood on the scale. I try to tell myself before the weigh-in that it's not a big deal if I don't lose anything. That just means I need to try harder the next week, and not make all the mistakes I made last week. But it's always a little nerve-racking anyway. Today I stepped on the scale and learned that I had lost another 1.5 lbs! I can't help but to be excited. I got my 5lb sticker today and since I’ve been walking with my great friend Aryn, I've lost over 10lbs.
Again, it's not the number that is important, but until I reach a range that is healthy for my body type, it is a valid reminder of my hard work, and a result of my new lifestyle. It shows me every week that if I do the work it will pay off. I am now in a range that I haven't seen since before Hudson, and my mind still doesn't quite get it. I can't believe I'm actually doing it this time. It only makes me want to push further.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
My Ego Self...My True Self
Today I was excited to watch Oprah's Life Class. I know the whole Oprah thing is a little over-rated but you have to agree that there isn't much on television these days that empowers us to discover and identify with our true selves.
Today's show was about ego. When you think about ego, you might think of someone who is haughty, arrogant, or snotty. But ego isn't all about "acting out". Ego is every thought you have about yourself. I'm fat. I'm ugly. I'm rich. I'm poor. I'm amazing. I'm stupid. You get the idea. Ego is also how you identify with the things around you. It's how you identify with your salary, your status in the company you work for, your educational background, your friends, your spouse, etc. Ego is when you think that you, as a person, are better or worse because of these THINGS. For example, I often have the thought that I'm not good enough because I'm over weight. Or, on the other end, I sometimes have the thought that I'm better than others around me because I have a four year degree, and they don't.
That is ego.
I remember they mentioned that people often get defensive when their opinions are challenged. This is another example of ego. "You're challenging MY beliefs? MY values?" We feel as if we are being attacked. The lesson was about being aware of these thoughts, recognizing that they are coming from your "ego" self, and being able to separate your true self from it. I think we have to step back at times and remember, "Whoa, that's my ego talking." We can't control all of our thoughts but we have the ability to recognize and learn from them. I think we are never done trying to figure out who we are, and if you learn to recognize that ego voice, you are getting closer and closer to your true self.
No "thing" defines who we are. When you are working towards a goal, ask yourself, why am I doing this? Does the answer come from your ego self, or true self?
Today's show was about ego. When you think about ego, you might think of someone who is haughty, arrogant, or snotty. But ego isn't all about "acting out". Ego is every thought you have about yourself. I'm fat. I'm ugly. I'm rich. I'm poor. I'm amazing. I'm stupid. You get the idea. Ego is also how you identify with the things around you. It's how you identify with your salary, your status in the company you work for, your educational background, your friends, your spouse, etc. Ego is when you think that you, as a person, are better or worse because of these THINGS. For example, I often have the thought that I'm not good enough because I'm over weight. Or, on the other end, I sometimes have the thought that I'm better than others around me because I have a four year degree, and they don't.
That is ego.
I remember they mentioned that people often get defensive when their opinions are challenged. This is another example of ego. "You're challenging MY beliefs? MY values?" We feel as if we are being attacked. The lesson was about being aware of these thoughts, recognizing that they are coming from your "ego" self, and being able to separate your true self from it. I think we have to step back at times and remember, "Whoa, that's my ego talking." We can't control all of our thoughts but we have the ability to recognize and learn from them. I think we are never done trying to figure out who we are, and if you learn to recognize that ego voice, you are getting closer and closer to your true self.
No "thing" defines who we are. When you are working towards a goal, ask yourself, why am I doing this? Does the answer come from your ego self, or true self?
Saturday, October 8, 2011
The Easiest Recipe in the World!
If you're like me, you like to cook but you don't have a lot of time. You need to make something fast, and it needs to be easy. In my WW journal, I discovered the easiest dessert recipe ever! And Hudson helped me make it. All you need is 1 can of your favorite pie filling, and 1 regular box of angel food cake. I bought light cherry filling but use whatever you like best. That's right, only two ingredients! Here's what you do...
Get your ingredients ready.
Mix the cake mix and pie filling together.
Let a little man try the batter.
Bake in the oven for 25-30mins at 350 while the little man plays with your pans.
Cool, and cut into squares.
VOILÀ!
I promise. It tastes so yummy. Another plus...it's not all that bad for you either. Go ahead...bake it!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Weight Watchers Wednesdays
It’s been a long hard week, and I always look forward to Wednesdays to bring me back to earth. I weighed in today, and did okay but not as well as I had hoped. I lost 1.8 lbs, which gives me a total loss of 4 lbs since I’ve joined WW. It’s great that I lost and it’s great that I stayed inside of my point limit, but I know that my activity level and food choices affected the total. I didn’t walk as much this week, I didn’t eat as many fruits and vegetables, I didn’t drink as much water, or plan my meals. It was a very willy-nilly kind of week. I guess I just thought if I stayed inside my points, a magical fairy would wave her wand and POOF!-I’d be three pounds lighter.
So here are my goals for this week:
1.) More Fruits veggies -I think these make great in-between meal snacks.
2.) More Water-I don’t know why I have such a problem drinking liquids all day
3.) More Walks – Jake loves to walk and I should start taking him about 3 times a week. He can be my walking buddy!
4.) Take a multivitamin – I would really love if these weren’t the size of horse pills.
5.) Planning my meals – I have a little time to myself at night when the kids go to bed. I think this is the perfect time to plan. It doesn’t take long and it makes the next day less stressful.
My goal is always to lose two pounds a week, and technically, since it’s been two weeks and I’ve lost four pounds, I’m still on track. I really want to get my five pound sticker next week! But what I really want is for all these healthy choices to become a normal part of my life.
So here are my goals for this week:
1.) More Fruits veggies -I think these make great in-between meal snacks.
2.) More Water-I don’t know why I have such a problem drinking liquids all day
3.) More Walks – Jake loves to walk and I should start taking him about 3 times a week. He can be my walking buddy!
4.) Take a multivitamin – I would really love if these weren’t the size of horse pills.
5.) Planning my meals – I have a little time to myself at night when the kids go to bed. I think this is the perfect time to plan. It doesn’t take long and it makes the next day less stressful.
My goal is always to lose two pounds a week, and technically, since it’s been two weeks and I’ve lost four pounds, I’m still on track. I really want to get my five pound sticker next week! But what I really want is for all these healthy choices to become a normal part of my life.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Weight Watchers Wednesdays
Today I weighed in. It’s the first week I’ve been on the program and I was very excited to see if it worked for me. Are you ready? Since last week I am officially a little over TWO POUNDS lighter! If I have the same success next week, I will see a number on the scale I haven’t seen since I was pregnant with Hudson. I really am so proud of myself, and feel so motivated from the meeting to keep going another week.
Despite what the name may imply, Weight Watchers is not all about the number we see on the scale. It’s about how our health influences the number on the scale. The number is important to me because it’s one measure of how close I am to being my healthiest, but there are other measures. Like I’ve said before, skinny does not equal healthy. The WW class leader asked us today to list details of our success. In other words, besides what I see on the scale, how do I know my new eating and exercising habits are working for me? Well, I know because I plan my meals based on their nutritional values. I know, because I take time at night to walk. I know, because I have more energy and I feel happier. I know, because I’m making my health a priority. These are all things I’ve never done before, and now they seem important to me.
A week may sound like a short amount of time now that it’s over. But let me tell you, following this system for an entire week is huge for me. I don’t feel like I’m feeling my way around in the dark anymore. I have guidelines, I have a teacher, I have people to relate with, and I have a goal. Since I started walking, I’ve lost 9lbs. I’m so motivated.
It’s a whole new week, with brand new points. Wish me luck.
Despite what the name may imply, Weight Watchers is not all about the number we see on the scale. It’s about how our health influences the number on the scale. The number is important to me because it’s one measure of how close I am to being my healthiest, but there are other measures. Like I’ve said before, skinny does not equal healthy. The WW class leader asked us today to list details of our success. In other words, besides what I see on the scale, how do I know my new eating and exercising habits are working for me? Well, I know because I plan my meals based on their nutritional values. I know, because I take time at night to walk. I know, because I have more energy and I feel happier. I know, because I’m making my health a priority. These are all things I’ve never done before, and now they seem important to me.
A week may sound like a short amount of time now that it’s over. But let me tell you, following this system for an entire week is huge for me. I don’t feel like I’m feeling my way around in the dark anymore. I have guidelines, I have a teacher, I have people to relate with, and I have a goal. Since I started walking, I’ve lost 9lbs. I’m so motivated.
It’s a whole new week, with brand new points. Wish me luck.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Weight Watchers Wednesday
Yes, I'm on the weight loss kick, again. Today is not Wednesday, but I’m writing this as an introduction. Every Wednesday from now until the end of the year, I have a Weight Watchers (WW) meeting at work. Yes it’s a little expensive, but at my company you get your money back when you reach your goal (10% for everyone).
It’s all about points. Everything you eat has a point value (PointsPlus) that is calculated based on fat, carbohydrates, protein and fiber. Basically, these are all key components to a person’s diet but typically you want less fat and carbs while taking in more fiber and protein. It’s a careful balance. I, for example, am allowed to eat 31 points per day (no one eats less than 29 per day). I’m also allowed to have an extra 49 points per week for special occasions, weekends, nights out, etc. The WW program says if I follow the points system then I will lose weight. So if I want a Big Mac, I can have a Big Mac, so long as I count the points. But there’s a catch. Obviously, a Big Mac is not the healthiest sandwich. It’s high in protein, but also high in fat. When you figure it, a Big Mac is worth about 15 points. 15 points! That’s nearly half of my daily allowance in one sandwich. So I have to think to myself, is it worth it? Do I want spend half of my daily points all at once? Probably not. I’ve learned that a Big Mac is a treat, and if I’m going to eat it I have to be more balanced the rest of the day, and it’s best to include the Mac in my extra weekly points.
The best thing about the PointsPlus plan is that all fruits and most vegetables are worth 0 points (potatoes and corn have starch so they are worth a few points). If I use all of my points during the day but feel like I need a snack around 9pm, I can have an apple, strawberries, celery, etc. The key, as always, is to eat slow and stop when you’re full. You’re also encouraged to eat power foods like lien protein, and low fat dairy. On top of that, your daily point number increases depending on the amount of activity you do. When you burn more calories, you get to eat more points.
All in all I think this program is just a way to numerically measure your diet and nutrition. It’s nothing new. It’s nothing I haven’t been told before. But it’s helping me to use numbers in order to track what I’m eating on a day to day basis. I can write the points down or keep track of them online, or even on my phone. And I don’t have to continue the program for life if I don’t want to because I have the calculator and I know how to do it. The only motivation for staying in the program is because I am held accountable and encouraged to reach my goals by going to meetings (Oh, and I get my money back!).
I’ve been walking now a few times a week for a couple of months so I had already lost about 4 lbs before I started the program last week, but even only doing it a week, I can tell it’s working. Mostly, it’s just nice to have a formula to keep me on track, and to have meetings to look forward to. It really helps. It really, really helps. Stay tuned for tomorrow and I’ll tell you if I’m right. (Man, I hope I’m right!)
It’s all about points. Everything you eat has a point value (PointsPlus) that is calculated based on fat, carbohydrates, protein and fiber. Basically, these are all key components to a person’s diet but typically you want less fat and carbs while taking in more fiber and protein. It’s a careful balance. I, for example, am allowed to eat 31 points per day (no one eats less than 29 per day). I’m also allowed to have an extra 49 points per week for special occasions, weekends, nights out, etc. The WW program says if I follow the points system then I will lose weight. So if I want a Big Mac, I can have a Big Mac, so long as I count the points. But there’s a catch. Obviously, a Big Mac is not the healthiest sandwich. It’s high in protein, but also high in fat. When you figure it, a Big Mac is worth about 15 points. 15 points! That’s nearly half of my daily allowance in one sandwich. So I have to think to myself, is it worth it? Do I want spend half of my daily points all at once? Probably not. I’ve learned that a Big Mac is a treat, and if I’m going to eat it I have to be more balanced the rest of the day, and it’s best to include the Mac in my extra weekly points.
The best thing about the PointsPlus plan is that all fruits and most vegetables are worth 0 points (potatoes and corn have starch so they are worth a few points). If I use all of my points during the day but feel like I need a snack around 9pm, I can have an apple, strawberries, celery, etc. The key, as always, is to eat slow and stop when you’re full. You’re also encouraged to eat power foods like lien protein, and low fat dairy. On top of that, your daily point number increases depending on the amount of activity you do. When you burn more calories, you get to eat more points.
All in all I think this program is just a way to numerically measure your diet and nutrition. It’s nothing new. It’s nothing I haven’t been told before. But it’s helping me to use numbers in order to track what I’m eating on a day to day basis. I can write the points down or keep track of them online, or even on my phone. And I don’t have to continue the program for life if I don’t want to because I have the calculator and I know how to do it. The only motivation for staying in the program is because I am held accountable and encouraged to reach my goals by going to meetings (Oh, and I get my money back!).
I’ve been walking now a few times a week for a couple of months so I had already lost about 4 lbs before I started the program last week, but even only doing it a week, I can tell it’s working. Mostly, it’s just nice to have a formula to keep me on track, and to have meetings to look forward to. It really helps. It really, really helps. Stay tuned for tomorrow and I’ll tell you if I’m right. (Man, I hope I’m right!)
Monday, September 26, 2011
Painting Pinecones
After seeing a friends blog post, I got the idea to paint my own pinecones (with Briana's help, of course) and either put them in a vase or make my own fall wreath. I don't have a wreath, the stuff to make a wreath, or a clear vase (yet) but I did get some pinecones. So here they are...our painted pinecones. They are patiently waiting for a home.
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