Success without a Scale

In working to achieve a healthier and fitter self, it's important to have more than one way to measure success. Since I'm trying to lose weight, one of the ways I measure success is with a scale - pounds lost of course. I'm grateful that I am wise enough to want more than to weigh 150 pounds (or whatever magic number). I want more! I want to naturally gravitate towards healthy food choices. I don't want it to be a chore either. A "poor me" attitude would be self-defeating while out to eat with family and friends.

At a baby shower this past weekend, I got a small plate with party wings (I had points for), stuffed eggs, and veggies: carrots, tomatoes, celery. I tasted a cheese dip (two tablespoons) using about three chips instead of covering my entire plate with the dip and the biggest handful of chips I could grab.  And, I didn't get cake just because it was a party. It just wasn't worth it. Sometimes they are good, more often they are awful, and rarely are they great (talking about those decorated party cakes). I'd much rather have plain ol' homemade pound cake. I packed my own snacks for the six hour drives there and back: fresh fruit, homemade snack mix, LARABAR. YUM! Now I don't always make the best choices, but I did this day!

At this stage in my life I am so much more inclined to appreciate the benefits of physical exercise. I really feel so much better. This past week I've been able to increase my weights in Chalean Extreme. Just yesterday we finally covered 3.1 miles in one outing. When we started with C25K we were always pressed for time because we both work and have four kids. We wanted to get done as soon as possible. So, when the C25K app was done, we were done. Now we are reassessing our priorities and making it work. As slow as we are, we can't cover five miles in thirty minutes, so we've got to extend our workouts. Another non-scale victory I'm proud of is running just shy of 2.5 miles without taking a walking break! Some worry about speed, but endurance is most important to me right now.

For the past two weigh-ins my scale has moved the wrong way. However, I'm not discouraged because I achieve new victories EVERY day.

Weight Watchers Weekly Weigh-In No. 9

 

I was up four tenths at weigh-in. (And I didn't even eat cake at the baby shower!) Really, I am not bothered by it at all. There were times during this past week that I did a lot of estimating. I do prefer to make my food myself. Perhaps the gain has to do with the increases in weight lifting.

I really didn't !

This upcoming week, I'll be meticulous in my tracking (so I know that's never the reason for a gain) and get my exercise in (I missed a bit of this). I'm doing well with my July goals.

Fred relapsed: mental tracking. He saw a gain of two and two tenths pounds. Having done Weight Watchers before, I know without a doubt that tracking is essential to success. I started him off this morning by pre-tracking five of six meals and snacks, but it's something he has to learn to do. I think he's a believer now.

And we're off!

This post will be quick since we're about to head out to weigh-in.

Last week was a fairly relaxed week as it relates to exercise. Believe it or not, one of us overdid it with some late night Wii Sports! Not Chalean Extreme or running, but boxing. This coupled with late nights and an out-of-town baby shower left us with little energy for anything. But today we accomplished great things (at least for beginners anyway). We ran for 2.38 miles without any walking (then walked a bit). This is our longest distance to date. At times I slowed way down, but I didn't stop. YAY!! 

This week will be business as usual since we've set our eyes on being able to do 3.1 miles without stopping.We are getting there one day at a time. I can finally see the finish line!

Snacks: Family Favorites

I like to have snacks around for the kids (and me!). I am less likely to eat something I later regret when there are healthy snacks all around. Our favorite snack this time of year is fresh fruit - watermelon, pineapples, and grapes especially.

I like chips, but I hate them. They are very addictive and not at all healthy for our little ones: "Betcha can't eat just one!" If I buy chips for the family I prefer to get ones with three or four ingredients: potatoes, salt, oil. Our alternative is stove popped popcorn. We all love this.

Another snack we like to eat to tide us over between meals is a snack mix containing mini pretzels, plain M&M's or Reese's Pieces, and peanuts or plain almonds. Of course, I like the M&M's with the peanuts as does Fred. (Peanut M&M's are were my favorite!) My leader told me that chocolate chips might be a better choice. I'll look into this on my next shopping trip.

Snack Mix:

15g mini pretzels (1pts +)
14 g either candy (2pts +)
14 g either nut (2pts +)

We keep the snack mix in jars that the kids need help opening!

Weight Watchers Weekly Weigh-In No. 8

I prepared myself for a gain. I did gain. My leader asked me if I knew the scale would go up after she saw the number. I told her I figured it might be up a pound or so given I attended a family reunion this past weekend. I gained one and nine tenths pounds. Oh. Those darn ribs!

While I didn't overeat or stuff myself, I did indulge in foods I haven't been eating. I also didn't count points for foods I ate outside my home. Without Etools, it seems too difficult since I don't regularly eat the foods I had. One good thing is that I didn't drink any calories; all I had was water.

I need a plan! I have a go-to meal for when I have to eat out - several depending on where I have to eat. (Which reminds me that I need to get a sushi fix SOON!) What do I do when invited to eat elsewhere? Not eat? No one I know goes out of their way to make healthy foods. We serve salad at our house when we invite others over. Most of our family members don't serve salad, but I know they eat it. Maybe I could make and take a salad and then have a piece of meat and some vegetables that hopefully aren't loaded with butter. (Surprisingly, I do weigh and eat 7 grams of butter regularly for 1pts +.)

So, I had a gain. It's not the end of the world (for me). Fred had a gain too. It was only four tenths of a pound. What the? MEN!

Victory over Defeat

After enduring an extended holiday weekend that was overshadowed by an overwhelming number of tasty treats, I am completely satisfied with the remarkable restraint I showed by not overdoing it. I did not indulge myself by over-eating as I have always done in the past. Although I did not lose any weight this week I am proud to say I only gained about 0.4 lbs. I would have been happy to have only gained 2 to 3 lbs if it were the case, because I usually pig out. "From the kitchen to the cooler" -  that would have been my mantra in the past; however,  my health was my number one priority this time around.
    
I am also proud that I only had ONE alcoholic beverage, one cup of Kool-aid, and two cups of sweet tea over the past weekend,  which is another big feat for me. I would usually turn up a cup without regard to how many calories or points it might contain. It was not as hard as I thought it would be though, and I know that the reason it wasn't  hard is because I had my mind made up already. This was never the case before because instead of a plan, I had good intentions. Of course I would usually forget about my good intentions whenever I got in the presence of my adversary - tantalizing foods and drinks. This is definitely a non-scale victory for me.

Yesterday we fell slightly off schedule by not doing Chalean at our regular time, but we did find the time to get it done later in the evening. I admit that I had some concerns about doing it so late because usually I wake up sore and stiff after an evening workout with weights. Surprisingly I felt great this morning and did not have any new soreness other than that in my foot (plantar fasciitis).
    
I can smell the sweet aroma of VICTORY in our future!

Hard Work + Dedication = Great Results

     Today was another successful day of Chalean Extreme. Its only our 2nd official day and I know that we will continue with our success because we are totally committed to this new way of life. I know I won't see any changes in our bodies for a while as it relates to seeing some muscle definition, but the dedicaiton will definitely pay off big time.



Chalean Extreme Burn Circuit 2 - Deadlift with Double Row

     I know how it feels now to hear the stories of people saying that it took a lot of hard work and dedication to achieve their goals. The one example I remember most vividly is the time when LL Cool J stated that people criticized him by saying that he was on steroids. He stated that he had not used steroids, but he had worked extremely hard to get the body he has acquired. LL also stated that he stayed away from sweets and other foods that he knew were unhealthy and would be a detriment to his progress and would undo all the sacrifices that he had made. That has always been one big motivational story for me although it was years and years ago. I now understand that it takes hard work for sure. Hard work AND dedication.
    
    One day I hope to share a similar testimony with others and use this blog as the proof to show how far we have come and that our lifestyle (of healthy habits) has truly changed for the better. Hopefully we will inspire others to change their lifestyles for the better also.


Chalean Extreme Burn Circuit 2 - Triple-Threat Push-ups

     Oh, I almost forgot about our run yesterday. We worked on our speed again, which turned out to be successful as we both improved our average time and pace. Although we have improved some we agreed to run longer times even after the app is done because we still have lots of energy once we get finished.

Finishing with a definite non-scale victory -  I did some swimming at our annual family reunion and did not have one alcoholic beverage. And while I may have eaten more than I planned, I ate nowhere near what I would have eaten in the past.