weight watchers

Well, I did Weight Watchers for a year. Only missed a few meetings. Lost 20 pounds and have kept it off. Although at one point I was down 30 and I gained it back over holidays. So that's depressing. And I never got close to my goal weight - determined by Weight Watchers charts — to become a FREE admission life time member. So I'm going to go it alone now. My support team — coworker Sheri, quit and now Mom too. She's joining the Y. I'm still going to follow the core plan. Still going to park 200 steps away from my office, bike my kids to school in the mornings, keep on the high-fiber diet and still going to order my iced decaf sugar-free French vanilla coffee with 4 Splenda and skim milk.

I'm falling off the wagon. I've regained 8 lbs. The honeymoon is over. I'm burning out. I have definitely changed my eating habits. I'm sauteeing veggies all the time, eating brown rice, high-fiber cereal, fruit, my 1-point Alternative Bagels. But my portions are getting out of control again, I think. And I know I'm eating when I'm not hungry but because I'm stressed or bored or tired. Why do I do that?? Ugh. I'm going to stick with it though. Mom is in a slump too. We're not a good pair here lately. Wallowing in self pity. She retired last week so she has more time to exercise and I expect her to make a comeback here soon.

I'm bummed that my summer intern and sidekick is gone. Sniff. Christa Hieber went back to the University of Toledo (Holy Toledo, she hated me saying that all the time) to gear up for college football season. She's the sports editor of a college newspaper there. Meanwhile, I'm off to the Warped Tour today. I'm hoping a jolt of loud punk music and some high-energy young people will roll me out of my empty nest slump today. If it doesn't, nothing will.Meanwhile, I'm wearing my size 14 jean capris today. Nice and roomy, which is a good feeling.

I'm pulling for you and praying for you, Marti. I sat with Marti in her living where she shared with me her Uganda trip plans. Her passion and drive was palpable and I believed her when she said she truly feels God calling her to do this. If the big man is calling the shots, He will see her through. I'm proud of you and glad you will be sharing your experiences with us via blog. Thanks!Still doing my Weight Watchers thing, although I admit I haven't been tracking points or journaling every thing I eat. But I'm still losing! 28 pounds. I need to lose 8 more to reach my goal — becoming a free member who doesn't have to pay $12 per week. That money is a good motivator for me, but I feel really good right now, back in a size 12. Getting that olive oil in every day seems to be a key thing. If I don't have a salad to pour it on, then I pour some on a plate, sprinkle on some Mrs. Dash Italian seasoning and mop it up with a 1-point Alternative Bagel or wheat toast. I was surprised I lost a couple pounds, especially after going to three graduation parties. But the good thing about parties is there is usually a veggie and/or fruit tray. I'm lazy about cutting up fresh stuff so when its ready made, that's cake. I just made sure I filled up at those trays first. I'm also still parking about 200 steps from the office. Onward, soldiers.

Wow. 
I'm down 24.4 lbs. This program really works. Whodathunk it.
I have to admit I didn't count points at all last week and was just hoping that I wouldn't have gained. When that sweet lady behind the desk told me I lost 3.4 I was shocked. I really LOVE the receptionist when she gives me a good report. I get mad at her when it's bad news. Like it's her fault I had five bowls of cereal, instead of one.
The bad part is now I'm feeling cocky and over confident and I ate a piece of chocolate peanut butter pie (of Sisters fame) and about a dozen strawberries dipped in chocolate during Gourmet Night this week. So I may just be spinning my wheels. Like my friend and co-worker, Beth Cravey said. "You gotta live some times, right?"

Back on track. Lost 3 lbs. making up for 2 I gained last week plus one for a total of 21 pounds lost in three months. 15 more to go to become a lifetime Weight Watchers member, which means no weekly $12 fee. That's my goal, because I am very cheap, but I know I'll need the weekly motivational meetings FOR LIFE probably. 15 pounds seems a really long way to go. That means keeping off this 21 and losing almost that many more. Seems a long, hard road. But I'm going to stay on it. Thanks for the support, encouragement and accountability. Meanwhile, I'm off to check out food at the fair when it opens later this week. The smell of funnel cakes, grilled sausages, cotton candy and those giant Fred Flintstone-style turkey legs.Before I head out, I better slam down a couple Quaker caramel corn rice cakes - delicious filling 1 point snacks - or a Fiber One bar — oats and chocolate. 2 points each. Yum, tastes like a Rice Krispie treat.One thing I have learned in Weight Watchers, heading in to a tempting situation with an empty stomach is a recipe for disaster.

Thanks so much for the words of encouragement. I needed them. It's amazing how a few nice words can boost your mood and attitude. I'm climbing back on the wagon, buckling down on my points. I'm trying to make life changes and break habits at age 40, that's not going to come easy. One step at a time, right?

Meanwhile, did you read my story about honey in Friday's My Clay Sun? I have to say I'm totally amazed at honey bees and how they function and all the good they do for our environment. I never realized. I also got to enter a hive compound with more 80,000 bees buzzing all around me. It was pretty tame, actually. They gave me an safari hat net thing for my head - very attractive - and then squirted me with smoke so the bees wouldn't smell me and get upset. Our Clay County bee keepers swear by honey as a way to treat allergies and hayfever. I have had horrible life-long allergy problems. Once I had a sinus infection spread to my brain and I got meningitis. I've had 3 sinus surgeries and take a bunch of Rx meds but still get infections often.  So I've been eating honey at least once a day for three weeks now and I'll be darned if I haven't had a sniffle or sinus headache since. I put honey on my shredded wheat cereal, on grapefruit or in my tea. One teaspoon is one point in Weight Watchers.

I think I'm falling off the wagon. I gained 2 pounds, according to last night's weigh-in at Weight Watchers. Here's my $12, thank you very much, my head sagging, lip pouting.Today, I just ate a half bag of sugar-free Hershey miniatures which I'm already sorry for. I'm under stress so I eat. Why am I such an emotional eater? Why do I think that eating something sweet will take the stress away. It never has before, only makes it worse. Yet I continue to bash my head against this wall.Why? Why? Why?

 Week 10. I've lost 18.4 pounds, woohoo! Losing is fun. It feels much better to pay my $12 every week to the Weight Watchers people when I have lost some weight. Paying my $12 and then getting on the scale to learn I gained, is not fun. One lady in my class hit 61 pounds lost last night. My mom got a her second gold star for losing 10 pounds. You get a gold star for every five pounds you lose and everyone claps for you. That's fun.I think mom is jealous that I'm beating her. We are a competitive family. But I'm proud of my mom. She works her butt off every day delivering mail in Fleming Island.

Who made up the word blog? Blah, blah, blah, blah blog. Sounds like the teacher's voice from Charlie Brown.
So guess what, people are actually reading my blog, which shocked me. I was walking through Orange Park Town Hall the other day and a lady yelled, "Hey Mary, how much have you lost? I've been reading your blogs." My Weight Watchers blogs, that isThat was so cool. (I need accountability, glad people are watching. Or at least this one nice lady at town hall. I have lost 15 pounds so far and holding. I seem to be stuck here. But hey, I'm not complaining. 15 pounds has made a big difference. I can see my toes now, fit in all my pants and walk stairs without panting too much. I have energy to burn which is kind of weird. Usually, I take at least one nap on the weekends. This Saturday, I kept telling myself I was going to take my traditional afternoon nap but found I didn't need it, or want it. Wild new world. I definitely need the motivation and support of weekly meetings. I love my Weight Watchers instructor Pat at the 6:30 p.m. Monday meetings behind Dairy Queen, so ironic, the placement of this office. Anyway, she looks like Carol Burnett and I can picture her in my mind, pulling on her earring and cheering me on.