The Journey Resumes
I joined Weight Watchers in April, 2006. A year later I was down over 75 pounds. Since then I've wandered, between 50 and 75 pounds down, lately a little below that. But throughout, I never missed a meeting. That's what kept those pounds off.
About a year ago, the meeting topic of "Anchoring" really struck home and I vowed to complete the journey. I had new life, but apparently at the wrong time, going into the holidays, then a two week vacation, then perhaps the most intense two months at work I can remember. But I regrouped and restarted again. And again. And again and again. And now, I am regrouping and restarting again.
That's how it is in weight loss. It isn't the occasional bad week that causes failure; they happen. It's whether or not you get back in the saddle afterward, hopefully having learned something from that bad week.
I decided to wait a few days before restarting this blog, which was a key part of my first year success. This week is going very well, so yes, this next weigh-in at my Weekly Meeting will officially start this hopefully final push. I'll make one post for each week, updating with each day, and the final result of the weigh-in, as I'll do in the remainder of this post. I will also post on various weight loss topics at least once a week, drawn from the extensive archive of my first blog.
Qualifying Week Results
Wednesday
I began as always with a McDonald's Egg McMuffin for 7 points. Refocused, I had a vending machine sandwich for lunch and a modest dinner. The only snack was a sample Weight Watchers 1 point treat I received at the Weekly Meeting. The total was a mere 31 points.
Thursday
Encore! Another Egg McMuffin for breakfast and a vending machine sandwich for lunch. And my first indication I'm really serious this time.
We occasionally have Vietnamese food on Thursday nights, this being one of them. I usually get three required items and one elective. The staples are egg rolls, egg foo yung, and fried rice. I like them all and usually overdo it on these alone. This time, though, instead of some sort of beef or chicken selection, I ordered crab asparagus soup as my elective.
I had just half an egg roll, which are huge, for win number one. I had just a little each of the foo yung and fried rice, for wins two and three. But my soup idea was what saved the day for a total of just 35 points. There was enough soup for two filling bowls of the soup over the white rice that came with the other entrees. In fact, had I ordered that beef or chicken elective, I would have had 2 cups of white rice in the bag. This way, there was no leftover white rice that eventually get tossed for lack of interest in the refrigerator.
This was a win-win all the way. I liked the soup, had plenty of it, had some of everything else, was fully satisfied, and stayed under goal.
Friday
Another day, another challenge, this time the Friday morning office treats, often as today, full productions including eggs and sausage. In fact, it was of the more challenging ever, a breakfast burrito bar that later became a luncheon burrito bar with the arrival of two more crockpots.
It was good food, not to be passed up, except for one item, scrambled eggs, which never travel well. So, I made a relatively low point burrito with a little crumbled sausage, a little cheese, lots of vegetables, and a good dollop of sour cream. For lunch, I had one each of the barbecued chicken and taco beef fillings. Again, I was light on the fillings, heavy on the vegetables, and this time, no sour cream, which doesn't fit here.
I anticipated having to use some Weekly points, but as it turned out, neither my wife or I was very hungry that evening. We only cooked some corn on the cob, grazed the rest, for me a turkey sandwich. So another challenge was met, the total being just 32 points, not to mention 7 points walking, mostly home from the barber shop.
Saturday
It's a travel day, to South Dakota to watch my son's college football game tonight. I began with a challenge, breakfast at our favorite morning spot. As we both agreed and wanted, we split an omelette, each getting a side of potatoes. Next time, we'll even split the potatoes, as it was still too much food. But that big breakfast carried us through the day, with just a light snack (cheese sticks) around 3 pm.
Popcorn at the football game and a few appetizers over a couple of beers after brought the total to 46 points, 9 over Goal. Yes, I spent some Weekly points, as eToos uses them first. But that's what they're for, special occasions like this. And my son's team was victorious, too, in dramatic fashion.
Sunday
It's another travel day, returning home. We again did a larger breakfast at the hotel, snacked around lunch. We picked up some quality bratwurst along the way, so that and some leftover potato salad brought me to 52 points, 15 over goal, covered by Weekly points. But again, that's what they're for. I have 11 left, plus 13 Activity points, 7 of which earned today for a walk before dinner.
So all indicators are green with two days to go, weekdays, work days that are usually easier.
Monday
It's been a week of challenges, with a minor one today, attending a School Board work session at 5:30 pm that had me home at 9:40 pm. They do serve a light supper there, where I had a Sloppy Joe and fresh fruit. I passed on the potato chips and frosted cupcakes.
But looking back, I should have had that cupcake. I was too hungry when I got home, got into some leftovers to finish the day at 52 points, 15 over goal. This used my remaining 11 Weekly points and 4 Activity points. This leaves me with 13 unused Activity points going into day seven, so not to worry.
Tuesday
I had dinner out, having a passable Greek Salad, some fruit at home, for just 34 points, 3 under goal.
This ends the best week I've had in months. I hope the scale sees it the same way tomorrow night at the Weekly Meeting. The only slight negative is below average Activity points earned, there be fewer walking opportunities.
The Weekly Meeting
Wow, two members made their Lifetime goal tonight, and I'm pleased too, scoring over a five pound loss. The pre-season is done, the battle now begun. The loss was enough to cost me a Daily Goal point, so I start that battle at 36 points a day.
Tonight's topic was on Trigger Foods, which come in various temptation and danger levels. There are all kinds of subterfuges, but I think the only real winning play is to look the enemy in the eye and have a reasonable portion.
About a year ago, the meeting topic of "Anchoring" really struck home and I vowed to complete the journey. I had new life, but apparently at the wrong time, going into the holidays, then a two week vacation, then perhaps the most intense two months at work I can remember. But I regrouped and restarted again. And again. And again and again. And now, I am regrouping and restarting again.
That's how it is in weight loss. It isn't the occasional bad week that causes failure; they happen. It's whether or not you get back in the saddle afterward, hopefully having learned something from that bad week.
I decided to wait a few days before restarting this blog, which was a key part of my first year success. This week is going very well, so yes, this next weigh-in at my Weekly Meeting will officially start this hopefully final push. I'll make one post for each week, updating with each day, and the final result of the weigh-in, as I'll do in the remainder of this post. I will also post on various weight loss topics at least once a week, drawn from the extensive archive of my first blog.
Qualifying Week Results
Starting Weight: 272.6 Daily points: 37
Ending Weight: 267.4 Loss this week: 5.2
Unused Daily: 16 Unused Weekly: 0
Activity Earned: 17 Activity Unused: 13
Wednesday
I began as always with a McDonald's Egg McMuffin for 7 points. Refocused, I had a vending machine sandwich for lunch and a modest dinner. The only snack was a sample Weight Watchers 1 point treat I received at the Weekly Meeting. The total was a mere 31 points.
Thursday
Encore! Another Egg McMuffin for breakfast and a vending machine sandwich for lunch. And my first indication I'm really serious this time.
We occasionally have Vietnamese food on Thursday nights, this being one of them. I usually get three required items and one elective. The staples are egg rolls, egg foo yung, and fried rice. I like them all and usually overdo it on these alone. This time, though, instead of some sort of beef or chicken selection, I ordered crab asparagus soup as my elective.
I had just half an egg roll, which are huge, for win number one. I had just a little each of the foo yung and fried rice, for wins two and three. But my soup idea was what saved the day for a total of just 35 points. There was enough soup for two filling bowls of the soup over the white rice that came with the other entrees. In fact, had I ordered that beef or chicken elective, I would have had 2 cups of white rice in the bag. This way, there was no leftover white rice that eventually get tossed for lack of interest in the refrigerator.
This was a win-win all the way. I liked the soup, had plenty of it, had some of everything else, was fully satisfied, and stayed under goal.
Friday
Another day, another challenge, this time the Friday morning office treats, often as today, full productions including eggs and sausage. In fact, it was of the more challenging ever, a breakfast burrito bar that later became a luncheon burrito bar with the arrival of two more crockpots.
It was good food, not to be passed up, except for one item, scrambled eggs, which never travel well. So, I made a relatively low point burrito with a little crumbled sausage, a little cheese, lots of vegetables, and a good dollop of sour cream. For lunch, I had one each of the barbecued chicken and taco beef fillings. Again, I was light on the fillings, heavy on the vegetables, and this time, no sour cream, which doesn't fit here.
I anticipated having to use some Weekly points, but as it turned out, neither my wife or I was very hungry that evening. We only cooked some corn on the cob, grazed the rest, for me a turkey sandwich. So another challenge was met, the total being just 32 points, not to mention 7 points walking, mostly home from the barber shop.
Saturday
It's a travel day, to South Dakota to watch my son's college football game tonight. I began with a challenge, breakfast at our favorite morning spot. As we both agreed and wanted, we split an omelette, each getting a side of potatoes. Next time, we'll even split the potatoes, as it was still too much food. But that big breakfast carried us through the day, with just a light snack (cheese sticks) around 3 pm.
Popcorn at the football game and a few appetizers over a couple of beers after brought the total to 46 points, 9 over Goal. Yes, I spent some Weekly points, as eToos uses them first. But that's what they're for, special occasions like this. And my son's team was victorious, too, in dramatic fashion.
Sunday
It's another travel day, returning home. We again did a larger breakfast at the hotel, snacked around lunch. We picked up some quality bratwurst along the way, so that and some leftover potato salad brought me to 52 points, 15 over goal, covered by Weekly points. But again, that's what they're for. I have 11 left, plus 13 Activity points, 7 of which earned today for a walk before dinner.
So all indicators are green with two days to go, weekdays, work days that are usually easier.
Monday
It's been a week of challenges, with a minor one today, attending a School Board work session at 5:30 pm that had me home at 9:40 pm. They do serve a light supper there, where I had a Sloppy Joe and fresh fruit. I passed on the potato chips and frosted cupcakes.
But looking back, I should have had that cupcake. I was too hungry when I got home, got into some leftovers to finish the day at 52 points, 15 over goal. This used my remaining 11 Weekly points and 4 Activity points. This leaves me with 13 unused Activity points going into day seven, so not to worry.
Tuesday
I had dinner out, having a passable Greek Salad, some fruit at home, for just 34 points, 3 under goal.
This ends the best week I've had in months. I hope the scale sees it the same way tomorrow night at the Weekly Meeting. The only slight negative is below average Activity points earned, there be fewer walking opportunities.
The Weekly Meeting
Wow, two members made their Lifetime goal tonight, and I'm pleased too, scoring over a five pound loss. The pre-season is done, the battle now begun. The loss was enough to cost me a Daily Goal point, so I start that battle at 36 points a day.
Tonight's topic was on Trigger Foods, which come in various temptation and danger levels. There are all kinds of subterfuges, but I think the only real winning play is to look the enemy in the eye and have a reasonable portion.
posted by R-Five | 11:09 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home