argyle

Monday, October 29, 2012

What I Eat...

A lot of people have asked me what I am doing, besides exercise, in order to lose weight. Most of you probably know that I follow Weight Watchers (I do it from home, by myself, and follow the OLD Points system, because I like it, and hate change). And, obviously, it works well for me. What you may not know is that my eating habits are FAR from perfect. I consider myself very much to be an “everything in moderation” person. You won’t catch me on a fad diet or doing a cleanse because I just don’t like to limit myself too much. I believe in losing weight in the same way as I intend to live for the rest of my life. I like to have variety in my foods -and that variety includes salt, fat, and sugar. Obviously I’m losing weight, so I’m eating a lot less of that “evil” stuff, but still…in a weird way, I kind of take pride in the fact that I have been able to lose without depriving myself of my favourite things. I know that it doesn’t work for everyone, but I’m thankful that it works for me.

Anyway, enough rambling, self. Since you’ve asked, I thought I’d share with you what a typical daily menu might look like for me. Again, I can’t stress this enough – I am NOT perfect. But that’s why you read, right? I won’t put you to shame!

Breakfast: Special K Red Berry cereal and a Babybell cheese or a banana….OR 2 boiled eggs with ½ a grapefruit…OR a homemade smoothie. I make mine with strawberry yogurt (Activia, if you must know), ½ a banana, about a cup of frozen raspberries, a big handful of spinach (I promise you can’t taste it!) and about ½ a cup of milk. SO good.

Okay, so one day I ate a bunch of chocolate-covered almonds for breakfast. You caught me.

Snack: I snack 3 times a day. Or more. Sometimes too much. This first snack of the day is when I’m most likely to eat a treat, which is probably a bad idea, but nonetheless, it’s what I do. It might be a Rice Crispy square (homemade or store bought, doesn’t matter), a chocolate chip granola bar, or a big ol’ blob of sugary peanut butter. That stuff is like crack to me. Not that I have any experience with actual crack.

Lunch: This is often my healthiest meal of the day. I may have a turkey wrap on whole wheat, or some tuna mixed into a salad. I do sometimes have microwaveable meals, I just try not to eat them every day. I usually have a serving of fruit as well, and sometimes just a few crackers with a small amount of cheese to keep it interesting! Or celery with peanut butter! Or chocolate covered almonds....



Snack: I may have more junk. Or I may have Greek yogurt. Or popcorn – love it sweet and salty! Or I may realize that I’ve eaten 3 points worth of leftovers from my daughter’s lunch, and just count that as a snack. I need to stop doing that.

Dinner: Dinners are all over the place. I might have a slice of pizza, or even better, my own mini homemade pizzas. (two halves of a whole wheat English muffin with pizza sauce, a small amount of cheddar cheese, green and red peppers, a tad of onion, and turkey pepperettes. YUM!) I might have pasta, or my dad’s delicious barbecue chicken dish that I finally learned to make. But I’ve been eating more fish, and have rediscovered my love of shrimp, so I’ve been eating a lot of that. In any case, I usually have one or two vegetables on the side, and maybe a little something sweet for dessert.

Snack: I have just discovered almond butter and I am in LOVE. I smother it on an apple or banana, and it’s become my favourite late-night snack!

I often eat out once a week. I stick to the kid’s meals at fast-food places to save calories, and just try to make the best choice possible at other restaurants. Often I get something breakfast-related if it’s an option.

I also drink a LOT of water. Less if I’m going out so that I don’t have to run to the bathroom every two seconds.

I haven’t eaten red meat/any meat from a mammal in almost ten years. It just creeps me out. I’m weird, but we all already knew that, didn’t we?

So, there you go. That’s how I eat! The good and the bad!

Friday, October 26, 2012

Fat-Free Friday: Going for Goal

Guess what the scale told me today? Just guess...

I AM IN THE 150s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I weighed in at 158.4, if you want me to be specific. I am so close to goal that I can almost taste it. Just 1.4 pounds to go. I need to do it this week. NEED to! It's definitely possible, but with Hallowe'en thrown in there mid-week, it may be a challenge. And as for my pesky habit of peeking at my weight too often? I really am going to try to not do that. Because the next time I take a look at what the scale has to say, I want it to tell me that I'm at goal. I can't wait! Wish me luck!

It was so nice to get some good news this morning, because I've been having a bad week. Or, more specifically, a self-critical week. Visually, of course. Yes, it's shallow, but with my recent weight-loss I've been looking in the mirror a lot more often. Unfortunately, what I normally see isn't anything to be proud of. For some reason, when I look in the mirror, I still see myself the same way as I did when I was 200 pounds. I look huge. I feel my hair is always a mess, my eyes are too close together, my nose is too big, my lips are too small (as is my chest), my thighs are still SO BIG...and let's not ever TALK about my stretch marks! However, I KNOW that we are all our own worst criticis, so my goal this week is not to dwell on that stuff. And looking at photos helps - I am happier when I see myself in photos. Mostly, though, I'm just telling you this so that you know that weight-loss doesn't always help to fix your other insecurities. Wish it did.

That's all for today.

P.S. A lot of you have been asking me about my big craft project. Here is a hint for you. In involves felt. A lot of felt...

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Crafting it Up

Let's take a break from weight-loss for a moment, shall we?

It has come to my attention (through a poll I posted myself) that some of you would like to hear more about my creative pursuits. Awesome! I love to share my final products!

It's just that I don't have any right now. Oh, don't worry. I have a big one that I am working on that I can't WAIT to show you, as well as a few Christmas-related ones that I am hoping to start soon. So, you just have to be patient. But not too patient...

...because my WONDERFUL, talented friend Jenn has given me the "OK" to post some of HER beautiful creations. I think you are going to love them. (BTW, if you live locally, I should let you know...she makes certain ones for sale...they make great Christmas gifts...)

Here they are!



Aren't they great?! I especially love the Countdown to Christmas calendar...*drools*

That's all for today!

Monday, October 22, 2012

Okay, This is Ridiculous...

First of all, I missed Fat-Free Friday again. Sorry about that. I lost one pound, by the way. Only 3.2 until goal!

Second, my eating has been TERRIBLE! Well, obviously not TOO terrible (hence the 1 pound weight loss). Mealtime is fine, but I am getting VERY guilty of eating a bite here, a nibble there...and pretending that I haven't! It's such a bad habit to get into, and I really need to make it stop. Also, I've been eating too much sugar, and not enough healthy stuff. I'm so close to my goal, I can't blow it now!

Third, we're eating at the Mandarin tonight for my dad's birthday. Wish me luck.

Fourth - I have a bit of an "in your face" story for you. Well, actually, it's an in MY face story. And I think you might get a chuckle out of it, especially if you read my previous post about why the scale is a jerkbank.

So, you already know that I failed at last week's goal of NOT peeking at the scale in between weigh-ins. (And, for the record, I've already failed again this week - but it's looking good, folks!) I REALLY need to stop that habit...so I'll try that, starting NOW. Anyway...last Thursday, I was dying to take a look, despite the fact that I normally weigh myself on Fridays. Why I couldn't wait just one more day, I have no idea. Anyway, I got myself ready - took off my clothes, went to the bathroom, stepped on the scale, and...

...nothing. The battery had died. So much for my "peeking".

Well played, scale. Well played.

Maybe next week, I'll just have my husband hide the darned thing so that I'm not tempted to jump the gun and look...what do you think?

In other news, I am working on a fairly big craft project that I can't wait to show you guys...but you'll just have to wait until I'm a bit farther along!!! Be patient!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

FAIL!

I have failed at my goal of not peaking at the scale this week. I've already done it twice. (I'm sitting at about the same weight as last Friday, if you're interested)

New goal: not peak for the REST OF THE WEEK. Hopefully I can achieve that!

There's always next week...right?

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Fat-Free Friday, a Day Late.

Weighed in at 161.2 yesterday. Down 1.6 pounds in a week, and you know what that means?

Less that five pounds until my goal of 157!!! Ahhh!!!! I'm hoping to hit that int he next three weeks...

But...I know how easy it is to get obsessed with what the scale says. It's a habit that I'm trying so hard to break. So, my goal this week is to not peak at the scale even ONCE before my weigh-in on Friday. Hold me to it ladies!

In addition, I have composed a list of reasons why we should not get too hung up on what the scale says. So, for your viewing pleasure...

Why the Scale is a Jerkbank…

1. It doesn’t care when you are retaining water
2. It can’t tell the difference between fat and muscle
3. It doesn’t accept “It’s my time of the month” as a valid excuse
4. It makes you pay if you ate a big meal the night before
5. It seems to forget that one pound is approximately 3,500 calories. Heaven forbid you eat an extra 200 calorie ice cream bar...
6. Sometimes, it punishes you even when you’ve had a week of eating healthy and exercising
7. Sometimes, it makes you appear larger, even when you are losing inches
8. Sometimes, when you just KNOW that you are going to rock your weigh-in, its battery dies
9. It pretends that your husband never gains weight, despite the fact that he eats like he’s preparing for hibernation
10. It is insensitive to the fact that you’ve had a really bad day, have been working really hard and need and DESERVE to see a good number

Have something to add? Leave me a comment!!!

Monday, October 8, 2012

I am Thankful For...

What I'm thankful for (among other things):

1. My beautiful children


2. My health

3. My new and improving body


4. Being blessed to live in a free country

5. Chocolate! (gotta throw in a fun one!)




Happy (Canadian) Thankgiving!

Friday, October 5, 2012

Fat-Free Friday - After Vacationing...

I am THRILLED to report that I did not gain any weight this week, despite going away for four days and eating much more than I should have. In fact, I even lost a whopping 0.4 of a pound. I'll TAKE IT!

Also...seeing as this weekend is Canadian Thanksgiving, I'm officially done my "Thinner by Thankgiving" challenge. My goal was to lose 6.4 pounds (this would bring me down to 163 - officially 35 pounds lost!). Well, I'm currently sitting pretty at 162.8, so needless to say, I did it!

So what's my next challenge? Fat-Free Florida! I am going away at the end of November for about two weeks. Where am I going, you ask? Walt Disney World! It's one of my favourite places in the world, and will be so much more fun with my two kids!

I am determined to be at goal by the time we go! (The last time I went to Florida, I weighed 188 and didn't particularly like people taking photos of me!) In fact, I'm hoping to reach my goal (or at least be pretty close) by the beginning of November. That's less than 6 pounds in four weeks. Let's see how I do!

Monday, October 1, 2012

I'm Back!

That's right, peeps, I'm back from my mini-vacation! It was great - lots of shopping, fun with the kiddos at the water park, and even more shopping! I seriously spent way too much money, but that's okay, because I budgeted for it! It's all about the budget, people!

Wanna know how my eating plan went? Well, let me tell you...

FAIL!!!

So, I don't really want to tell you about it, ha ha. Let's just say that I ate a LOT less than I usually do on vacation, but still came back 2.8 pounds heavier. Let's hope that some of that is water weight and comes off by this Friday's weigh-in!

Now, for my big news of the day: I ran my usual 5k route this morning, but this time I did it in LESS THAN 32 MINUTES!!!

That may not be fast for other people, but for me, this is HUGE! My goal was to do it in less than 35 minutes, and previously, my personal best had been 36+. So I am DAMN proud of myself after this morning's efforts! Kinda makes up for that 2.8 pound gain :)

Thanks for your advice, Brandi! It helped!