Week 5...and a half?

I didn't quit or give up.  I promise!  I forgot!  This is the main reason I chose to only post here once a week.  I knew I couldn't keep up with it otherwise.  That being said, let me tell you about last week.

It was crazy.  Kristin had bronchitis and was on her second round of anti-biotics.  I had one day where all I did was drive places.  All. day. long.  I was exhausted.  Then when my husband asked me what was for dinner, I nearly bit his head off.  "Buy it!" I growled.  I was not making dinner.  I was not removing my butt from the couch unless the house was on fire or I had to pee.  That's when the trouble started.  We went to Carl's Jr.  I ordered a Famous Star--my standard order.  Well in the Weight Watcher community that is about 14 points and that is half my points for the day!  I didn't care.  And I didn't have to.

The next day I was back to "behaving" and I was doing great...that was until I nibbled on some semisweet chocolate chips.  I know I didn't eat tons and tons, but I also didn't make any effort to track eating them.  By Thursday I was not keeping track at all.  And I was getting cranky.  Is there a connection between bad eating and bad moods?   Then Friday came and Ryan came down with the flu.  102 fever. Lethargic.  Coughing.  You know that horrible barky one.  Great!  Here we go again.  My kitchen was gross by dinner time.  I didn't care.  I was in a deep funk.  I did not care about the state of the kitchen.  I went to bed leaving my kitchen gross. 

The next day, I crawled out of bed at 930 and didn't even get dressed til 1130.  This is highly irregular for me.  I am real big on being dressed before I come downstairs.  And to stay in jammies for that long is only okay for me if I am sick.  I just couldn't lay there though.  So I dragged myself back upstairs and took a nice shower and got dressed.  Then, as "The Eye of The Tiger" song plays out in my mind, I toss all 5 loads of laundry over the balcony of the stairs and sort through them.  Then I tackled the kitchen.  It took me all day.  It is still not done.  But it is worlds away from where it was. 

Well after all that work, I was in no mood to cook so....we went to McDonald's.  Oh I know.  Soooo bad.  But such is life.  I ordered the grilled chicken club with all its fat and bacon goodness!  That sandwich is probably more like 20 points!!  Again I wasn't caring.  But, I wasn't sulking so that was at least a step up.

So what did I take away from all this?  Well one thing I already knew:  stuff happens.  I need action plans for better eating on those days when my life gets turned upside down.  And with three kids it doesn't just get turned upside down, it gets shaken not stirred!   I am a stress eater, but that was a no brainer for me.  So I need to figure that one out...it's a tough one.  An alcoholic will drink to calm their nerves.  An eater will...eat.  Chocolate is particularly soothing.  It is a scientific fact.  So I need to find an outlet.

Going to WW yesterday was scary.  I just knew I must have gained my little success right back and then some.  I was going to pay for it.  And much like this blog, going to WW is like going to confession.  You can be any religion on the planet, but when you step on that scale suddenly you are Catholic.  They don't hound you or anything.  You just can't help but own up to the things you did during the week.

Despite my bad choices, I managed to lose .6.  Not to shabby.  I am back on track this week.  I really want to make this happen.  So I continue my uphill battle.  Does that count as exercise?

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Pounds lost 2.6

or (by mine) 5.6

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Strawberry Poke Cake

 

1 box strawberry cake mix

2 egg whites

12oz diet 7-up

1 cup boiling water

Sugar free strawberry Jello-small package

 

Mix first 3 ingredients with a mixer

 

Spray 9x13 pan with cooking spray.  Cook in oven at 350* for 30 minutes.  Allow cake to cool for about 20 minutes.  Using a straw or something with a tip, poke holes in the cake.  Gradually stir the jello into the cup of boiling water. After it is mixed, slowly spoon it over the cake.  Let it chill in the refrigerator.  Frost it with fat free cool whip.  (you can garnish it with fresh strawberries.) Enjoy.  Keep refrigerated.

 

Serves 12 and each piece is 3 points.  My mom made it with lemon cake and lemon jello.  It was delicious.  You could make all kinds of flavors.  You can also make the cake and not poke it with any diet soda.  If you have a low fat or fat free frosting recipe I would love to know about it!  

 

Week 4

I am beginning week four of my personal challenge.  The first week my goal was to stick with it.  This was not an easy thing to do.  Not because I had no-no foods around the house, but because I was very hungry the first couple of days of that first week.  I had no idea how much I was fooling myself really eating.  It was quite the eye opener.

Week two came and I made a goal of drinking more water.  I am really lacking in this department, despite the fact that it is very dry here.  You would think water would come easily.  Truthfully I only think of it when I am parched.  I did good though.  I drank double what I normally drink. 

I have discovered a few tricks along the way.  Chocolate muffins which the recipe will be at the end of this post.   Skinny cow.  These are sooo good.  Careful though.  These yummy treats may be low in fat and calories but they are packed with fiber.  I also seem to be less hungry.  Am I keeping busier?  To look at my house one would scoff at that one.  I am trying to listen to my body's signs.  Is it truly hunger.  Do I really need food right now. 

Now as I enter into my 4th week, I am giving myself a huge challenge.  I am going to move more.  See, I didn't say exercise.  I said, "move more."  So a little extra each day.  Why would I want to throw myself into a full blown workout when I haven't left my couch in three years!?  No, I am just talking about little bits here and there.

Bonus:  The kids got McDonald's gift cards for Valentine's Day.   I took them today and got the grilled bacon chicken salad.  6 points in WW land.  And I am satisfied.  Nothing wrong with getting that yummy burger.  Order just the sandwich and ask for the side salad.  Take it one step further and request no dressing on the sandwich.  There is no reason to deny ourselves the things we like. 

What is your goal this week?

Pounds lost:  5 (my scale)

Pounds lost: 2(theirs)

Chocolate Muffins

Ingredients:   3 cups All Bran Cereal 2 1/2 cups water 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 box low fat brownie mix   Instructions:   Soak cereal in water until all absorbed (5-8 min.).  Add baking powder and brownie mix.  Spoon into paper cups in muffin pan.  Bake at 350* fir 20-22 minutes.   They come out really good!  My kids ate them...repeatedly!  This is huge since they are all horribly picky eaters.   If you are WW literate it is 1 point per muffin if you use low fat brownie mix.  2 if you use regular.

Week 3

I finally caved.  No I didn't cave to temptation, and gorge myself with piles of chocolate.  I caved to returning to Weight Watchers.  I had not been inside a WW meeting house in at least 6 years.  I am what is called a Lifetime Member.  When a WW member achieves their weight loss goal, they attain the status of Lifetime Member.  This is something you keep forever, even if you go far beyond your goal like I did.  The benies of Lifetime membership is that as long as you keep with in 2 pounds of your goal you can go to the meetings for free.  I was free for 11 years.  Now I have to pay again, but I don't have to pay for missed meetings.  Another benie. 

My first week was hard at first.  I was ravenous for the first couple of days.  It was not easy at all.  On Friday, I did my usual shopping and I bought some healthier foods and treats that fit into the program.  Now here is a question, why does it cost so much more to eat healthy!?  I digress.  Armed with these new food items, I was able to stay satisfied.

Here are a few of my weapons of choice:

Thomas English Muffins Better Start:  whole wheat.  100 calories zero fat and 8 grams of fiber.  I get to eat the whole thing for one tiny point!

Orowheat Whole grain 90 calories per slice, 1 gram of fat and 3 grams of fiber.  Two slices is 2 points instead of one slice being 2 points.  Nice.

And finally skinny cow!  These are awesome ice cream bars and ice cream sandwiches that are high in fiber and low in calories.  Making them satisfying and very low in points!  A skinny cow fudge bar has 4 grams of fiber and no fat.  It is 1 point. Trust me they are yummy!

Now my official WW weigh in is tomorrow, but I will give you my bathroom weigh in of today.  Come back tomorrow afternoon and see the comparison.

Pounds lost: THREE

Week 2

Well week two didn't go quite as well as I would have liked.  Too much stress as we were in the final days of closing on our house.  I am a stress eater, and interestingly enough, I also eat when I am nervous.  So I did my best at those times to choose foods that would be least detrimental. 

I made rice krispie treats with Kristin.  They didn't last long.  Which is good because it means people will eat them.  I need to make them again.  They kept me out of danger.

When I went grocery shopping last I bought these:

 

They are one point.  This is a weight watchers term, and since it has been many moons since my last time with them, I have no idea what this means.  But hey...a good treat for one point.  Sounds good to me!  A bloggy friend, Christina at Write Brained plugged a dvd that I am going to try.  A walk at home dvd!  I will be heading over to our friends at Amazon to get it!

I have maintained once again.  So  hey, I know what my maintenance plan should look like once I get to that point!  Now it is time to "raise the bar."  Ugh!  Does anyone hate that saying as much as me?  Let's think of another one.  I like the message it gives, I just think it is used up. I digress.  I am onto another week. I am not giving up.  I am determined.  

Pounds lost: 0