Weight Watcher Wednesday 21

184.6

If every anyone lost weight as slow as a turtle crawls...it was me! Oh well, better slow and steady than not at all...right? To be honest, I haven't been focusing on it these last few months with moving and vacation and homeschooling, but life is starting to settle into a routine and I'm thinking more about what I'm putting in my mouth. I haven't been counting points [shocker I know], but I am making good decisions. I'm thankful to be down about two pounds since last time I checked in.

Hoping to start walking daily soon too. I really wanna get pregnant again, and am more motivated than ever to lose the weight. Around 40 down, and 30 more to go. Don't want to think about it, but I'm going to attempt for another 3 months and reevaluate it. 

How y'all doing?

Weight Watcher Wednesday 20

186.8

It's been a few weeks [to say the least], but with vacation and re-adjusting to life after vacation I'm back on track. Looks like I'm up .4 ounces over the last month, so I've stayed about the same. I even tried to throw a health fast in there, but gained and lost the same six pounds in 3 days, ha. I am back to tracking my points! I have found that taking a photo of the label with my phone and referring to those later that night while working on the calculator on the computer verses my phone has helped me keep track a little better. [That was a run-on sentence, huh?]

My biggest hang up is always not having time at that exact moment to write it down, so now I can refer back to my photo library. I'm down 20 since having Moses, and another [almost] 20 since starting Weight Watchers so I'm very hopeful about my last 30. I'm sure---the hardest, but I'm done nursing now so, in theory, I can diet a little more hardcore. 

Not that chasing around 3 kids under 5 [all boys!] has allowed me to cut my calories by much though!

Weight Watcher Wednesday 19

186.4

After two weeks of not logging in, I'm here to report...I'm down 1 pound and 1 ounce. I started beginning of February and just finishing up June completes 5 months of being on this program. Really, by now I should have lost a lot more weight than nearly 20 pounds, but it's better than if I'd never started anything.

My points start over on Tuesdays and I'm happy to report I tracked yesterday and I'm going to start sending my daily points to a friend. I think this will really help my accountability.

I'm headed for two weeks at the beach this Sunday. I know there will be lots of goodness to eat at the resort with all the restaurants and 24-hour ice cream/candy parlor, but I'm hopeful to mix it up with a lot of exercise [walking the beach!] to counteract that! 

I'm packing the scale.

Thanks for journeying with me, the year is almost half over, I hope I end 2011 being my ideal weight.

Weight Watcher Wednesday 18

187.5

Down 1.5 from last week...I attribute that to some activity points earned deep cleaning this [larger than my last] house and finishing up Moses' weaning process. He's been nursing less and less and I'm finally---after 5 years, 8 months, and a few days closing in on a season where I am not either pregnant or nursing.

Yes, I have baby fever, and yes I only plan to stay in this season for a few more months, but it has been nearly 6 years since I've felt a normal appetite and not that of one for two.

I will miss nursing Mr. Moses, but he's nearly 15 months and I'm hopeful to be nursing another bambino next year. Nation weaned at 17 months, Solomon I weaned at 16 because I was so ill with Moses' pregnancy, and although I'd love to continue nursing Moses to 18 months [my goal]...I'm ready to get the weight off and get started on baby #4.

That's my plan anyways, we'll see what God has in store ; )

Weight Watcher Wednesday 17

189.0

That's right folks, we're in the "180's". Which might seem like the weight of two people to some of you, but for me, who was just in her 220's this is mountains moving.

I didn't post last week, but I was down .2 ounces, and the week before that I was at 190.6 so I'm down a little over 1.5 pounds in 2 weeks, not bad.

I charted my points for two days and then fell off the wagon, hoping for three days this week.

I've been walking almost every other night for 40 minutes either with my bff or alone listening to an audio book. Deeply enjoy both, and am so thankful for a supportive husband who keeps putting the kids to bed so I can walk before it gets dark.

Weight Watcher Wednesday 16

190.6

How I manage to stay the exact same weight---to the ounce---amazes me. I just expect to be up or down at least an ounce, not to the exact ounce! Funny.

So clearly last week I didn't do well, I suppose staying the same is worse than gaining.

Well I've been doing Weight Watchers for 4 months now, I've lost almost 15 pounds and still have another 35 to go. I haven't tracked my points on my phone consistently in FOREVER. I need something to kick me back in gear. I still weigh in, I still make good choices and I've started walking on a track a few nights a week. 

I NEED TO TRACK!

Any tips for getting back on the "writing it down" train?

Weight Watcher Wednesday 15

190.6

I'm down another pound from last week, but still up .6 overall. It's taken me about a month [sigh] to get back to my previous best at 190. But I think it's all up [or down I mean] from here because we've moved, my kitchen is unpacked, life isn't all in boxes anymore...well just sorta kinda.

My bestie and I have started walking together in the evenings since we're only 4 minutes from each other!! I think this will really help both of us. We've also both decided to stop going to meetings because after almost 4 months of meetings, we've learned the ropes, lost some weight, and feel confident moving forward just keeping each other accountable.

Plus we'll save $20 a month ; )

I bought a Weight Watcher scale from Publix this morning and weighed with it right after weighing on their scale. So my plan is to just weigh at home Wednesday morningsl, but not go to the meetings anymore.

Now...to keep track of my points [sigh].

How's y'alls weight loss going? 

Weight Watcher Wednesday 14

191.6

My last weigh in was two weeks ago, I wasn't about to go weigh in when we flew in from Vegas last Wednesday. Oh no, it's not the City of Sin [well maybe], it's the City of Food. Delicious food. Too much.

I'm thankful I was down a pound, I attribute it to moving. And my new two stair cases vs. my previous none.

Now that we're moved in, and I'm 4 minutes away from my bestie, I'm hoping we can get some walking in a few times a week together!

Weight Watcher Wednesday 12

192.6

Up .8. That makes my 2nd week out of twelve that where I'm up. Sad day. I guess all in all I'm only up 2.6 lbs. Making me only down a little over 12. I attribute this to inconsistent tracking and stress. Charles has been working long hours and this whole house limbo dealo has been having me reach for extra food when I'm not hungry. 

I got a sitter this morning---went to a weight watcher meeting---and went for a 40 minute walk. It felt really good. I'm going to track better again, and work out a few days this week. I'm going to make myself photo post my 7 daily trackings next Wednesday...hoping to motivate myself to-actually-track!

At this meeting this morning we talked about how getting bored with meals leads to overeating. When we get in a rut of eating the same thing for breakfast, the same thing for lunch, the same snacks and the same dinner---you start reaching out for too many extras to "spice it up". They suggested we try one new of every meal and snack this week. Something different and something healthy.

Anyone have some meal or snack suggestions for me? 

Easy and yummy only.

Weight Watcher Wednesday 11

191.8

Yep, I definitely went up almost 2 pounds [1.8] instead of down from last weeks 190. I know everyone has set backs, and I'm not surprised by this weeks gain. 

A. it was my birthday week so I definitely cheated [a lot]

B. thought I was moving so was busy with last minute packing/moving details

C. found out I wasn't closing after 2.5 months of process and ate everything I saw

From here, I just want to go down...obviously. I'm feeling much better about our house situation and am going to try not to console myself with food this week. Prayerfully.

Drink more water.

I really need to start working out again. I love to work out. I love classes, I love walking, I love yoga and pilates [not so much running, but I can]. My biggest hurdle is making the time.

I'm a night owl and so getting to bed super early to wake up super early isn't really my [desire!] thing. Then once the kids wake up at 7:30 it's not stop I'm on my feet busy keeping everyone happy [and alive!] for 12+ hours. Yes, they take a resting time, but if I'm not taking care of something around the house, or spending time with Nation, I'm taking a few minute couch breather myself before the second half of my day rushes to me.

I feel like this would be a good time to pop in a workout dvd, but I can't imagine I'd have the energy for it. Maybe.

Arranging [or paying for!] sitters and or having to ask Charles to give up his time, our time, or our family time for me to go work out is just a hassle I wish was avoidable. I know it's not unless I'm willing to work out super early or super late or when I'm tired. By the time 8 pm comes around I'm so tired, and usually I'm not even about to sit down. I have some more chores, some cleaning up from dinner, bath, bed, etc.

Ideally, I'd love to go back to having a sitter on a schedule so I could leave and work out, but it was expensive and I didn't like being away from my kids that many hours. I don't like the gym daycare's because my kids seemed to always get sick. I might be willing to try them again, but not while we are still in the process of hopefully moving soon again.

I'd love to talk a walk with my best friend in the middle of every morning, but that's a fairytale right now with 8 kids under 8 between us. Do they make quad strollers? We could buy two. Just a thought.

Suggestions for squeezing in daily workouts

while watching 3 kids under 4?

[or equally difficult, ha]

What do you do?

What are you excuses?

Thankful Thursday Top Ten 37

Thankful This Week For:

1. Naked boys running free through the mud in our backyard

2. A day without WW points counted [Sonic, Cold Stone, Lobster Bar]

3. Boys playing ball with their dad on the lawn while it's 67 outside

4. A manicure & pedicure [pink for the pink lady]

5. A baby who discovers bubbles

6. Dirty floors and dirty kids

Photo Credit: Caty Collier

7. Boys who just need a rope and bucket to make a swing

8. A Chuck E Cheese 3rd birthday I'm sure Solomon will remember

Photo Credit: [Far right] Caty Collier

9. Our house, even if it's not our new one [yet]


10. 170+ facebook "Happy Birthdays", a balloon, flowers, cards and gifts

Weight Watcher Wednesday 10

190.0

I think it's safe to say I'm now under 190! I weighed in yesterday because today is my birthday and I was unwilling to get bad news today. Ha! Thankfully it was good news...down 1.4! Bringing myself to a little over 15 pounds down!

We've packed up our kitchen [we were suppose to move yesterday] so we've been eating out a lot, but I guess I've been choosing pretty decent and halfing what I knew was high in points. 

I'm not sure what my birthday week holds or another week with our kitchen packed up, but hopefully I can stay the same or go down.

Photo Credit: Bluebasket.org

At my meeting last week someone shared their favorite fat free balsamic vinaigrette dressing from Trader Joes. Apparently it's only 1 point for two tablespoons, but you can double that and still keep it at only 1 point! I'm planning to try since she said it was so amazing. You can see a few dressings compared here.

In other news, I've been trying to eat a little more sushi, who knew it was low in points? You can read more here.

How did y'all do this week with eating healthy and exercising?

Weight Watchers Wednesday 9

191.4

I'm down exactly two pounds from last week. When I got off the scale this morning at the meeting I told the lady she must have the wrong person's information on the scale---maybe the person before me---there is now way I lost two pounds this week.

I did make more of an effort to count all my points everyday---but then the weekend came and we had chocolate biscuit goodness [LivingFree we need the recipe!] at the homebirth meeting and my moms birthday dinner at Papposito's. Did you know you can get shrimp stuffed with a pepper, wrapped in cheese and bacon and then a side of butter to dip it in? Yes you can. Blow points. Oh, and Tres Leches [best dessert in Atlanta!].

I'm excited to be moved in a week into a neighborhood with sidewalks! I'm really hopeful to do some more walking for the upcoming Weight Watchers 5K Walk It program. Anyone wanna walk with me? [Martin Mommy?]

Things I did right this week:

1. Moving

I suppose the last two days of packing up our house earned me lots of activity points. So if you've hit a weight plateau maybe you should pack up your whole house in boxes and then unpack them. Just a thought.

Weight Watchers Wednesday 8

193.4

I'm down another *almost* half pound, at .4 ---which I know isn't worth jumping up and down about, but considering over the last three weeks I've gone down almost a pound instead of up---is good for me.

Plus, I'm officially down 12 pounds. I'd love my next goal to be 189 so I can kiss the 190's good bye!

My goal, still remains two pounds a week, but I need to continue to make some changes.

Places I went bad recently:

1. Didn't fully chart my points daily

2. Stopped going to meetings

3. Prioritize things like blogging over #1

This last week, I committed to drink less Starbucks and drink several more bottles of water a day. I stuck very closely to trying to achieve 4 bottles of water a day, and I only had Starbucks once.

I also attended a meeting Tuesday night.

We are moving in less than two weeks so I know I'll burn some extra calories packing and then some additional ones once we move in and with unpacking and hopefully in the near future...sunshine+sidewalks=more walking.

My bestie Sarah and I are both doing Weight Watchers together and are re-committing to challenging each other to prioritize the meetings, the charting and hopefully soon [being only 5 minutes apart verses 30] take more frequent walks together!

How y'all doing?

Easy Mexican Chicken Bake

You've heard me say it before, I don't enjoy cooking. What I enjoy even less is meal planning and grocery shopping. Thanks to E-mealz [see my previous post] I am now able to meal plan, grocery shop, save money, and eat healthy. Here is one of their recipes that was easy and family friendly this last week.

Should feed 4-6 adults & cost you less than $10 for ingredients.

Grocery list:

1.5 lb boneless/skinless chicken breasts

2- 15 oz cans black beans [rinsed & drained]

1 c FF sour cream [I used regular]

1 t Cumin

1 t Pepper

4 oz can chopped green chilies

6 small corn tortillas – cut into 2 inch strips

[I just laid down the whole tortilla]

1 c shredded sharp cheddar cheese

3 pears [peeled & halved]

[I didn't peel]

3 t light margarine

6 t brown sugar

6 t cinnamon

Mexican Chicken Bake

[6 servings @ 8 WW pts+ each]

Boil chicken for 10 min. or until done

Chop [I tore] & combine with:

Beans, sour cream, cumin, pepper,& chilies

Place tortillas in the bottom of dish

Cover with half chicken mixture

Repeat

Top with cheese

Bake 30 min @ 350.

Broiled Pears

[6 servings @ 2 WW pts+ each]

Half pears

Spray baking dish [or tray]

Place side up

Top each half with:

1 t margarine

1 t brown sugar

1 t of cinnamon 

[more or less I didn't measure]

Broil [I baked] about 5 minutes

Weight Watchers Wednesday 7

193.8

In case you think you're seeing double---you aren't. I'm exactly the same weight I was last week. Which is both discouraging and encouraging. Discouraging because this is really putting me further and further behind the schedule I have for myself. And encouraging that at least I didn't gain weight. There is no one to blame, but me.

Places I went wrong:

1. Did not drink enough water 

2. Starbucks coffee [even my 7 pt tall non-fat no-whip...just too many times]

3. Eating out too much

I'm hoping to improve those this week by writing down what I've drank. There is a place on the app to record numbers of bottles of water. I only drink water, and usually a lot of it, but for whatever reason this last week I wasn't very thirsty and just did poorly at it. I know this because one night I realized I hadn't even drank a full bottle of water. 

I was a little sleep deprived from over doing it and stress from pre-moving so to compensate I drank one coffee a day some days. I'm going to attempt to get in bed in time to get somewhere between 7-8 hours of sleep.

I'm back on my E-mealz plan for this week. We ate out a lot last week because we were doing a lot of shopping for the new house and I just wasn't in my groove of cooking.

I'm a bit afraid of the weekend coming up because I know my family is coming in town for Moses' first birthday [which is today!] and there will be lots of eating out, ice cream, and cake. Hopefully I can still make good choices.

Wouldn't it be awesome if instead of sleep walking I sleep ran? 

Funny Friday #7 [St. Patricks Recap]

That's Moses on St. Patricks day with a root beer float people! I didn't bake, or do any fun crafts, but I did buy them matching out fits--manage to get them to smile---thank you daddy for pretending to fart---and buy some green goodies for them.

The mint Oreos tasted just like the girl scout cookies so save your money! [And they are two points each for you WW people]. The green cupcakes were good I'm assuming [I did resist], but I will tell you my kids woke up today and asked for more cookies and cupcakes because "it's Valentine's day", ha! They get their holidays mixed up, but never their refreshments.

Hope your St. Patricks day was green---I didn't wear any---oops, but then again, no one pinched me either. By the way, people often make fun of me for the way I say pinched. I might do a vlog in the future and say the word for you.

What did you do for St. Patricks day? 

Anything funny happen to you this week?

Cleaning the shredded parmesan cheese out of the brown sugar container was entertaining a little. Probably most humorous was watching me take all three kids into Old Navy---on the way to church in less than 10 minutes so I could dress them in something Summer & clean before heading to the conference tonight. They were hot messes from grandma's house & all the rest of our clean summer clothes are in storage. I managed to get us dressed, feed and across Atlanta in an hour. I'm sure Jesus was laughing at my Friday night insanity if no one else.

They matched.
They were clean.
They will be wearing those outfits at least 100 times until we move.

Weight Watchers Wednesday 6

193.8

Clearly .4 is hardly worth celebrating, but it's almost half a pound I suppose. I guess going down is always better than going up, but I really like the whole two pounds a week thing. I'm going to try to be extra diligent this week to write-my-points-down and hopefully make up for it! I know exactly what happen---girl's night in! The women in our small group had a party Saturday night and I keep going back for the sushi, chicken, sandwiches, chocolate covered fruit, mini pies, brownies, chips & dip...

Oh, but it was so good.

So, this week I have no tips for you, don't follow my example. I can only recommend that you have no female friends who throw fabulous parties, and that you give up chocolate and chips for the rest of your life.

I'm joking.

Stay tuned for next weeks excellent way in [in Jesus name!]

Weight Watchers Wednesday 5

194.2

I can't believe it! I even had Milk Duds at the movies on date night. Shortly after Charles said, "Are you allowed to have those?" To which I replied..."it will be a well spent 10 points!" It was. 

We also had Cold Stone & Yogli Mogli in celebration for getting a house under contract. April will be a tempting month though---lots of family birthdays---steer clear of birthday cake Candra!

I realize that my weight is still a number most would faint to have, but I'm so excited that I'm down a little over 11 pounds! I'm happily wearing a smaller size jean and excited to hopefully continue wearing my old clothes like they were new. It's been too long.

This Weeks Tips:

1. Check out Zolligirl for another Weight Watcher Wednesday [Thanks Monica!]

2. Read these great Eating Out Tips from Weight Watchers

3. Use Sandwhich Thins [3 pts]. I did! and take a look at their "recipe" ideas

4. Ask--even strangers--around you who have been successful how they do it!

5. Try to enjoy the activity and stop focusing on food. Movies were a fail for me.

Thankful Thursdays Top Ten [#31]

a mom & daughters matching shoes *someday*

 Thankful This Week For:

1. My husbands leftover Mellow Mushroom Pizza at midnight when I was hungry

2. [Yet another] Schedule in the works...hopeful for more restfully accomplished

3. Grace given to the humble

4. A son who always brings me flowers [and now hides them behind his back first]

5. Friends who leave things at your house & have to drop back by to get them

6. Ponytails [thankfully I don't have to wear my hair all down, but for date nights]

7. My son saying his favorite part of the day was the candlelight dinner I made

8. A reply [finally!] from the bank on our offer on the house [promised by 5pm]

9. Squeezing into a size smaller jeans & being 1 lb closer to indulging in baby fever

10. Moses rash finally almost all gone [thankful at times for modern medicine too]

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Every week I invite my friends in blogworld to...

 join me in being thankful. 

[1] write a blog post with 10 things you're thankful for this week

[2] mention this blog post [hyperlink my blog and/or grab my button]

[3] use McLinky below by clicking on "Click here to enter"

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