Tough Week In WW Land

I started at the gym last week, and I was really excited by how much I was able to do. I also ate really well all week. Stayed right on program, tracked everything I put in my mouth and even went under points on a couple of days….all while working out 4 days in a row.

And then I weighed in on Thursday. Nothing. Not one ounce. I stayed the same. Sigh. And Thanksgiving is coming up. Double sigh.

In my head, I know it will come off, this week, next week (well maybe not next week) but it will come off. Getting on that scale though and not seeing it budge? No matter what my head knows, that’s so frustrating and somewhat defeating.

I don’t mind when the scale stays the same or goes up if there’s a reason, but this was tough. And I know, it could have been worse. Could have been a gain…

And believe me, I’m not working out hard enough for muscle to have replaced the fat already. I’m still banging away at the cardio stuff.

Ok, so here’s the real issue. I’m really, really close to a goal I was hoping to hit before Thanksgiving. That’s much less likely now. I’ll still be close though and I’ll hit in the week after or the week after that.

In WW lifetimes past (I’ve been down this road before), I would have let this discourage me enough to quit. But this time, I’m even more determined to get to my ultimate goal.

Off to the gym!!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I plan to enjoy myself that day!!!

I Joined the Gym

So I did it. On Monday last week I joined a gym. It was something I was trying to avoid because I’ve never been a gym person, but it’s dark out now and I haven’t been able to get my walking in. And besides, I have a big fitness goal for April that would be almost impossible to meet without a pool. So I joined a gym with a pool.

I finally went to the gym for the first time on Saturday (and then again yesterday!). Surprisingly I enjoyed it. I found that it’s easier to run on a treadmill right now than the street (I’m still mostly walking and then running a half lap every half mile or so).

And I went swimming. I’ve always been a strong swimmer, having spent my youth at beaches, my teen years as a competitive swimmer and then as a lifeguard through college. And even though I’ve always loved it, as life got in the way, finding a pool became an obstacle. So I haven’t been swimming in a very long time. Add to that that I tore two rotator cuff tendons last year and a whole host of other shoulder problems, and I thought my swimming days were over for good. However, my doctor told me swimming is the best therapy for the shoulder injuries I had. So I went swimming and surprised myself that I was able to complete 8 laps. My shoulder hurt or I think I could have gone farther and I hope that I can continue to strengthen that arm and build up my swimming endurance again because it really was fun to get back in the pool.

This gym is on my way  home from work. I have to literally pass it to go home. So I’ll be hitting the gym before getting home from now on. I know if I go home first, I won’t go back out. And now that I’ve broken the ice, I’m looking forward to going again.

My goal for my fitness journey this time is to get strong and healthy. And I feel like I’m really on my way!

So far, 27.2 pounds gone, but more importantly, I’m getting really active and feeling stronger every day.

Hit the 25 pound mark!

I weighed in on Thursday night (Halloween week and everything) and was pleasantly surprised to see that I’d lost .8 pounds, which was enough to push me over the 25 pounds lost mark. I’m down 25.4 pounds! Yippee Skippee! Halfway to the second of several goals.

My first goal was to hit the 10%. I did that two weeks ago. My second goal is 50 pounds by my 50th birthday, which is in May. And I’m halfway there!

I got this neat little keychain when I got to 10% and then they give you a little silver disk to put on there at 25 pounds. And I’m carrying it around proudly!

I’ve changed my attitude toward losing weight this time. On other diets, I always had unrealistic goals, like 10-12 pounds a month (geez, there were times where I thought I could lose 20 pounds a month). It doesn’t work like that. At least not anymore for me. I’ve consistently lost  about 7 pounds a month on Weight Watchers, I’m not ever hungry and I don’t feel deprived, and after 17 weeks, I’m down 25 pounds. And I’m making changes I can live with for a lifetime.

If you’re thinking of starting, set realistic goals and just go for it. In four months, you can be down 25 pounds too, or even 15 pounds, or you can be where you are now. Whatever we do, time marches on!

Managing Weight Watchers On A Budget

So, these days money is tight. And I’m trying to limit trips to the supermarket to once a week. However, since I’ve been on Weight Watchers, it’s been really important to me to have the foods in the house that get me through the day. I NEED tomatoes, lettuce, bananas, apples, lean cuisines, eggs, yogurt, strawberries, WW chocolate chip cookies, WW fudgesicles and Hostess 100-calorie chocolate cupcakes…those last three being the most important!! There are other important foods too but these are things I can grab and make something quick and easy and prevent me from making bad choices.

Right now, I’m out of WW cookies, and 100-calorie cupcakes (my son ate the last package and I could brain him!), strawberries and the apples are getting a little funky. I’d hoped to make it to Saturday before shopping again, but I don’t know…..

I’m going to give it my best to make it to tomorrow at least. I have Weight Watchers tonight so it shouldn’t be too tough. And for my mid-morning snack today, instead of a cookie or an apple, I had WW cherry cheesecake yogurt, and can I just tell you? Yum. And probably much better for me than the cookie (although they are both only 1 point).

I suppose it’s good to change the food routine up from time to time too.

I weigh in tonight, and despite a tough post-Halloween week, I think I’m doing ok. I should hit the 25-pound mark this week. I’ll keep you posted!!