REFLECTIONS

I don't know about you but I love MM's and over a year ago, I would have had them for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  : )  

 

This new year is not for resolutions but reflections of how far I've come.....the before and after "me".

 

Hiding behind my grandkids in pictures to showing off my little cuties!

 

Couch Potato to running 5K's, climbing mountains and daily exercise!

 

                     June 23rd, 2014                    October 23rd, 2014                    January 21st, 2015

 

 

I'm pleased with my reflections of year 2014.  I took it one day at a time and never gave up no matter how difficult it was.  I'm looking forward to 2015, difficulties and triumphs.  I have the "know how" to make it a fantastic year, the tools to get through the speed bumps and determination to stay positive!  

 

OVER THE SPEED BUMP AND THROUGH TO SUCCESS!

Well, I've made it through Thanksgiving.  I weighed in the day after and had gained 1.4 pounds.  That was a truly a "downer" moment.  I had tried really hard that day and felt good about my food choices.  I had worked an entire month to take that darn 1.4 pounds off.  My plateau had been dragging on for months, and I was losing confidence at the scale. 

I skimmed over all my weekly success "food" journals and exercise regimes.  What was I missing?  The only thing I hadn't tried was skipping the fruit unless I counted it in my daily WW points. (Years ago, fruit was not "0" points as it is today).  I noticed I was also eating a lot more carbs than proteins and not strength training as I had been in the beginning of my weight loss journey. 

It was time for a more intense change.  I cut out my fruit that first week, did not eat wheat and strength trained 4 of the 7 days.  I stepped on the scale at the end of that week and .......POW.....I dropped 3 pounds.  I hadn't seen that kind of success since April.  I could hear the chorus of angels singing!  I DID IT!!

Then last week, I added my fruits back in but counted the carbs and points.  I ate wheat but in very small portions, ate mostly potatoes and rice, and kept my grams of carbs below 100 each day.  I did some form of weight training each day along with my 5 miles of cardio.  SHA....BANG!  I dropped another 2.2 pounds.

I am now down 54.4 pounds and feeling empowered and confident once again.  Weight Watchers gave me a well-defined goal, clear objectives, a solid foundation and what action I needed to take to reach my weight loss goal.  It is my choice whether to succeed or quit.  I choose "succeed" no matter the difficulty! 

Here's to a life of fitness, health and happiness with the ones I love! 

 

 

 

THE ANNUAL MEXICAN FIESTA

At the end of each year, my family gets together for our family Mexican Fiesta.  Mom, Dad, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, children, grandchildren each bringing their favorite Mexican dish.  It makes for an incredibly LARGE "eating" FEST!! 

 

 

This was a party I needed to prepare heavily for!  Cheese and more cheese!  Deep fried chips, tortillas and BEEF!  This meal could pack a real punch to my weight loss goals. I started by preparing MY own Mexican Fiesta to take.  I reduced the calories and fat by purchasing and preparing the following:

 

 

• Ole Mexican Xtreme Wellness High Fiber Low Carb Tortilla Wraps (1 pt each)
• Chicken strips w/ sautéed green peppers, red pepper, onion, crushed red pepper
• Baked Tostitos Scoops
• Fat Free Salsa
• Jicama w/ lime and chili pepper
• Fat Free grated Cheddar
• Naturally Yours Fat Free Sour Cream
• Chocolate Chip Cookies (3)

I piled the chicken and sautéed vegetables into my tortillas, added the FF cheese and sour cream.  Munched on my Jicama and only 2 serving sizes (noted on package) of Baked Tostitos Scoops with my FF Salsa.  While everyone was diving into the desserts, I quietly indulged in my 3 Chocolate Chip Cookies.  I knew exactly how many points those cookies were going to set me back.  It was far safer than a sliver of this and a sliver of that.

 

Surprisingly, I didn't feel deprived AT ALL.  I found my chicken tacos so yummy and filling.  In my opinion, they were more delicious than a regular taco.  I feared the FF Cheddar but to my SHOCK, it tasted just like any other mild cheddar.  The sour cream has always been a favorite of mine so I didn't mind.  The Jicama turned out to be new found favorite vegetable snack.

 

Making incredible memories with the ones I love is all that matters, and my grandkids deserve a fun and active grandma!  : )  This Mexican Fiesta was not going to slow me down. 

 

I conquered the LEAVITT MEXICAN FIESTA!!  SHA...BANG!!!

 

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN.....COOKIES, CANDY AND CHIPS...OH MY!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

The holiday has started out with a table full of yummy (MY ALL TIME FAVORITES) sugar cookies and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups in the business office across the hall. 

This is my first real holiday during my weight loss challenge.  I made a commitment last night to see it through successfully.  I CAN DO THIS but I must be prepared!!

I purchased 13 chocolate chip cookies worth 36 points of my 49 Weekly Allowance.  No guess work, I know exactly how many points are going into my mouth today.  I have my treats, and they have already been accounted for. 

I then found a "Before" picture to remind me how far I've come and where I NEVER want to return. 

 

 

 

 

 



I have my anchor, water, Cherub tomatoes, carrots, pineapple, grapes and apple (all mentioned in previous posts).  I AM PREPARED TO CONQUER THE VERY AND HIGHLY LIKELY HOLIDAY SABOTAGE!!

 

 

 

 

I'm going to scare the FAT right off of me this Halloween!! 

 

BOO!!

 

 



SUCCESS IN INCHES

Almost a month later and I'm still at a plateau.  I've been very discouraged when stepping on that darn scale each Friday.  No matter how hard I try, the scale reads less than a  pound loss each week totaling only 8 pounds lost since June. 

While feeling discouraged, I read through my entire blog to remind myself of how far I've come and to take in some of my OWN positive thoughts.  I found one post particularly helpful, "Halfway There". 

In June, I was in a size 12 and very proud.  Just a few weeks ago, I purchased my first size 7/8.  I couldn't believe it.  The scale showed only 8 pounds but the inches indicated a loss of 2 pants sizes.   

Pounds v. Inches (Losing Body Fat)

By LaRue E. Cook

http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Pounds_v_Inches_Losing_Body_Fat.html

Since a pound of muscle weighs the same as a pound of fat – but takes up less space, your increased muscle, reduced body fat and healthier body composition could mean little change in the number of the scale, but a great difference in how your clothes fit!

Remember, losing inches by reducing body fat and building muscle does not necessarily translate into lost pounds. It does however achieve the goal of fitting better into your current clothes, and improving your overall body composition. So in the battle of the bulge: Pay more attention to your inches instead of focusing on those pounds!

In my attempt to break through the plateau, I increased my exercising to at least 45 minutes EVERY DAY!  I purchased more challenging Leslie Sansone DVD's such as 4 Mile Power Walk, 3 Mile Mega Walk, 5 Mile Mega Walk, Mix + Match Walk Blasters and Belly Blasting Walk.  Each of these DVD's include cardio and toning.

Boosting the exercise and building muscle must have done the trick.  The loss was not in pounds this summer but inches.  I feel more successful now.  There is still a change.  The benefits are quite awesome, too.  Feeling thinner, more tone and strong.  All I have done was not in vain.  It's made a difference!  : )

LET THERE BE NO EXCUSES!

My hubby, Wendell, is a truck driver.  He mainly drives local but every once in awhile he gets to travel the countryside.  This last weekend, he invited me to go with him to Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

I jumped at the opportunity but immediately worried about getting my 10,000 steps in and making good food choices.  I had to make a plan and stay motivated.



Thunder cloud overhead....Wendell was glad to be back in the truck.  : )

My plan consisted of:

• Stocking his refrigerator with apples, carrots, grape tomatoes, grapes and light yogurts for snacks.
• Walking each and EVERY time we stopped whether that included walking around the truck and trailer or simply walking into the truck stops.

The first day, I was short on my steps by thousands so Wendell stopped at a WalMart that evening when he was on a break.  It was a HUGE WalMart!  Lucky for me!  I went walking up and down, through and around the isles.  Within 45 minutes, I was able to gain 5500 steps. 

When we reached our destination the next day, General Mills had this AWESOME trail for their employees.  We had to wait 4 hours to unload so I went a walk'in!  The temperature was cool due to a few clouds and it being morning so it was absolutely perfect. 

 

 

I walked 6 miles/over 11,000 steps with cute mile markers, lizards, Roadrunners, HUGE red ants and the cutest Jack Rabbit.  Albuquerque is a beautiful city, and General Mills sure knows how to construct a trail. YOU GO GENERAL MILLS!!!!

 

In summary.....

ALWAYS BE PREPARED.....YOU'RE WORTH IT!!!

THE DREADED PLATEAU!!!

“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life. It goes on.” ~Robert Frost

 

Me....bottom row left...funky glasses, hair in pig tails with flowered flip flops

I've been the same weight for 3 weeks now and life still goes on.  The dreaded plateau has I come to pass.  I have JUST 3 choices.  No long list of decisions to make. Should be simple.

1. Give up and gain it all back
2. Quit, be content with my weight and maintain
3. Work harder and survive the slight hiccup in my life.

“Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” ~Michael Jordan

 

UMMM.....I'll choose number "3" please for 36 more pounds!!

 

 

I decide to go through it!!  I can't go around it or climb over this obstacle.  This is something I have to go through.  I CAN and WILL succeed! Looking forward and visualizing my future will help me make my way through this stubborn plateau.  I can see a slimmer, healthier me on the other side of the wall. 

 

 

My strategy will consist of these goals.

• When preparing meals, begin with vegetables then add small portions of carbs and proteins.
• Walk 10,000 or more steps a day
• Drink ALL of my "74.4 oz H2O on the Go" bottle.
• Increase my exercise
• THINK POSITIVE and KEEP MOVING