What No One Tells You About Losing Weight

I would be remiss if I told you that losing weight was easy. It is the hardest, most frustrating, and difficult uphill battles that I have ever done. I am no where near where I thought I would be right now. When I started this journey a little over two years ago I thought for sure that I would be close to goal right now.

I am not anywhere near close to goal. This journey hasn't been the piece of cake that I thought it would be. The first year it seems like the weight just melted off. I was also very motivated and made sure I was tracking everything I was eating, I was even tracking all of the 'bad' things. I didn't care if I went over my points for the week or day because I was tracking it and that was the most important thing. I miss those naive days. Tracking is important but I have learned that I cannot lose weight if I kept eating whatever I wanted and tracking was not always the savior that I thought it was back then.

Then something inside me changed.  I became complacent and loosened up on tracking. I would stop tracking once I hit my daily or weekly allotment. I would not track things I ate because I was feeling ashamed. I let my tracker control my feelings and if I went negative on my points then I felt shame, defeat, and hopeless. I was floundering and I chose not to share how I was really feeling. I became self-conscious and hid my feelings. It was about this time that I stopped posting my weigh ins. I was not wanting to talk about it because I was ashamed and did not want to seem weak. I didn't want those closest to me to know my struggles. I was shame eating and I was choosing to not make choices that were healthy. I was choosing to eat crap and honestly it made me feel like crap.

Christmas of 2016 was my first large slip up. I skipped my meetings, stopped tracking, and ate whatever I wanted. I told myself that it was the holidays and I deserved to be happy. This happiness I equated with food. I let it control me by not being in control of what I was eating. Then with the New Year I rededicated myself to getting back on plan. However, it was harder then I thought it would be. I gained 10 pounds in that two week 'break' and it seemed harder to lose those ten pounds the second time around. I was still determined to follow through and continue on this journey that I had started in March of 2015. I was not ready to throw in the towel. I still wanted this. It was still important; or so I thought.

Then I pulled an April Fool's joke on myself. I went to my meeting on April 1st and that was the last meeting I went to. Until today. That was a whole month of over indulging. I made up excuses for missing my meeting and then allowed myself to overeat and eat whatever I felt like I wanted. This is where I threw in the towel. I stopped everything. I even contemplated cancelling weight watchers. My saving grace was the fact that I went to cancel my membership two days after they had already taken my payment for the upcoming month. I told myself that I should cancel it because I was not feeling like following anything anymore. I had hit my wall and gave up. I even threw out some of my materials because I was done. Done losing weight. Done tracking, Done stressing about what I was eating. Just done! I had given up.

Then I made a choice to start over. I was scarred to death to go face the scale this morning. I was ashamed that people in my meeting would notice that I wasn't there. I was scared to start over. Only I am not starting over. I am merely continuing to fight for the hardest journey of my entire life. I was still not happy with where I was and how I was feeling. If I wanted to change how I was feeling then I had to go back. I had to face the scale in order to know where I was. In order to know the number I was fearing. I almost did not even go because I was afraid of the number. I knew that I was up about 15 pounds and I did not want to know.

I did it. I faced the music and stepped on the scale. I was up and not just a little. I was up a whopping 11.6 pounds. 11.6 POUNDS!!!!! That is alot of weight to put on in one month. If I had given up I would be on track to gain 11 pounds a month. I cannot do that. I want to get to goal. I want to continue this journey and see where it takes me. I want to see what I can accomplish. I wish I knew then what I know now. I can do this and no matter how much I want to give up it is never to late, However, it is easier to just jump back on the wagon and keep on trucking then it is to start over. Here is to continuing my journey and I will check back in next week. I can do this hard thing.

Lets not forget:

Starting Weight: 306.4

Current Weight: 242.0

Current Week: 

Total Loss: 64.4

Weigh-In Saturday: Week 52

Wow! I can't believe I have been doing Weight Watchers for an entire year. So much has changed over the last year and I am down a total of 65.2 pounds. I feel fantastic and I am so excited to where this next year takes me. I never thought that a decision I made would have ever impacted my life in the way that it has or that I would have stuck with something for an entire year. If I can make it an entire year of Weight Watchers then I surely can make it a lifetime change. The meetings have been what has kept me on track. If I was only an online member I don't think I would have been as successful as I have been. This is due to the fact that over the course of me

Lets not forget:

Starting Weight: 306.4

Current Weight: 241.2

Current Week: - 0.2

Total Loss: 65.2

Weigh-In Thursday: Week 51

All the buckling down really paid off this week! I was down 4.6 pounds!!! That is just crazy because that was what I was losing when I started weight watchers almost 1 year ago. I hit my mini goal of 65 pounds lost and am 1.4 pounds away from my weight watchers anniversary goal of 240 pounds. My next mini-goal is to hit the big 70 lost! I will get there slowly but surely.

This weeks meeting topic was about scheduling your meals. When you schedule you meals, or at least eat at approximately the same time everyday you are less likely to be taken off course by something that comes up. It also makes sure that you are eating in normal intervals ensure that you will eat before you get overly hungry. This is something that I struggle with. I mean, I eat dinner at around 5-530 when I am at home. When I am not at home I struggle with keeping a consistent eating schedule. This is something I am going to start to focus on and see how it goes.

Lets not forget:

Starting Weight: 306.4

Current Weight: 241.4

Current Week: - 4.6

Total Loss: 65

Weigh-In Thursday: Week 50

I am two weeks away from my weight watchers anniversary. This journey has been exciting, frustrating, and worth it all at the same time. I gained a little this week, but that is okay. I mean, it was not a large gain and I have been eating more than I would normally. Spring break is coming up and I am worried that I will go off the rails. I have been stress eating this week thinking about how the semester is coming to an end. If I can tough it out I will have a nice shiny Bachelors degree at the end. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

This weeks meeting topic was about finding your fit. It was about getting out and getting moving. By rediscovering something that you used to enjoy to by trying something new. My goal is to continue with Zombie Run 5k Training. It totally gets me to run and allows me to geek out at the same time!

Lets not forget:

Starting Weight: 306.4

Current Weight: 246

Current Week: + 0.6

Total Loss: 60.4

Weigh-In Thursday: Week 49

Wow, I was not expecting that loss! I mean I have been working harder lately to hit my next mini-goal of 60 pounds lost. I thought for sure I would have one more week of gaining before that happened. Don't get me wrong I am extremely excited that I hit it. I wanted to jump for joy, but chose not too even though everyone who attends the Weight Watchers meeting with me would have been perfectly fine with that response. Hey there might have been a few people that would join me!

I forgot to grab a screenshot of the weigh in, but that it okay. I lost as much as a Newborn Holstein calf weighs. That is completely ridiculous and at the same time very very exciting. I am almost to my one year mark and I would like to be under 240 pounds by that time. However, if it takes me a week or two more then that is okay too. I am feeling good and I know the program only works if you work it. My next mini goal is to hit 65 pounds lost.

Have you been thinking of joining Weight Watchers and losing with me? Now is the perfect time to Join Weight Watchers with Me. This link will give you a free gift of the Weight Watchers Magazine for a year if you join weight watchers by May 1, 2016.

Lets not forget:
Starting Weight: 306.4
Current Weight: 245.4
Current Week: - 2.4
Total Loss: 61

Weigh-In Thursday: Week 48

Well at least I lost this week. Even though it wasn't the big loss that I was hoping for to reach my mini-goal of losing 60 pounds. At least I am going in the right direction. Although it is kind of frustrating to know that I weigh the same as I did two weeks ago. Dang, if only I didn't gain last week. Oh well, it is not like there is anything I can do about it now. I am just happy to get back to seeing that scale go down. I am not 1.4 pounds away from my next min-goal. However, knowing how my journey has gone so far I see another gain in my near future. It tends to happen when I get close. I gain and gain, not much just a little, and then BAM! I drop a bigger amount to hit my goal and then some. It is kind of frustrating because I would much rather see consistent losses.

This weeks meeting topic was about loving yourself. It focused on giving yourself the attention and care that you deserve. We typically put others before ourselves and this causes us to forget about taking any "me time." This is important because when we take care of ourselves and make time for us we in turn are able to better take care of the others in our lives.

Have you been thinking of joining Weight Watchers and losing with me? Now is the perfect time to Join Weight Watchers with Me. This link will give you a free gift of the Weight Watchers Magazine for a year if you join weight watchers by May 1, 2016.

Lets not forget:
Starting Weight: 306.4
Current Weight: 247.8
Current Week: - 0.2
Total Loss: 58.6

Recipe of the Week: Healthy Veggie Scramble

This week's recipe is something that I have in my wheelhouse and will have for breakfast almost everyday when I have the time. I love vegetables and eggs. I could eat it everyday and be happy. This is due to the amount of options that there are out there to change things up because you can use any vegetables that you have access too. Except, eggplant. For me eggplant and eggs just do not work. However, just because they don't work for me doesn't mean that you couldn't try it. Maybe it will work for you.

This weeks recipe was inspired by leftover roasted vegetables which consisted of: yams, zucchini, and yellow squash. The vegetables used are calculated at 2 SmartPoints™. Maybe I will add my roasted veggie recipe to one of the upcoming recipe of the week posts. I took the leftover roasted veggies from the fridge and added them to a warm skillet that had been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. I had PAM so that is what I used. The first picture is of the roasted veggies in the pan after I added 2 ounces of Hormel diced ham which is 1 Smart Point™. Looks good enough to eat doesn't it? HA!

So far we are at 3 SmartPoints™. However, if I don't have leftover veggies I will use whatever vegetable I have on hand. Which usually consists of peppers, onions, mushrooms, and spinach. I have found that zucchini and broccoli are also great additions when I have them. I used to not like green peppers at all but they are growing on me. I still do not like peppers raw, no matter what color they are, but am starting to like green peppers and even jalapenos when they are cooked. 

When using zero Smart Point™ veggies sauteed in 1 tsp Olive oil your SmartPoints™ total would be 1. If you want to use cooking spray to skip the point in the oil go ahead, but I do not recommend it. The small amount of oil allows the veggies to cook properly and having some oil in your diet is good for you. Anyways I usually have Eggbeaters, and would add 1/2 Cup (1 SmartPoint™) to my sauteed veggies and meat. However feel free to use whole eggs (2 SmartPoints™ per egg) or egg whites (up to 3 egg whites is only 1 SmartPoint™) or any combination that you choose, just adjust the points accordingly. Once the eggs are scrambled with the veggies and meat of your choice, (adjust points if necessary depending on type and brand used) I sprinkle 1/4 Cup of Fat Free Cheese (0 SmartPoints™) and wait until it starts to soften and melt. Place the goodness on a plate add some hot sauce and your good to go!

This is how my breakfast ended up. Can you believe that is only 1/2 TBSP of Strawberry Jam? Here is the breakdown of the picture shown, I measure everything on my scale for accuracy and portion control. Total of 8 SmartPoints™ for everything. Subtract 1 SmartPoint™ of you are sauteing zero SmartPoint™ veggies in 1 TSP of oil.

• Serving of leftover roasted veggies warmed using cooking spray = 2 SmartPoints™
• Two ounces Hormel Cure 81 Diced Ham = 1 SmartPoint™
• 1/2 Cup Eggbeaters = 1 SmartPoint™
• 1/4 Cup Kraft Fat Free Shredded Cheddar = 0 Smart Points™
• Bubba Light English Muffin = 2 SmartPoints™
• 1/2 TBSP Smart Balance Light Buttery Spread with Flax Oil = 1 SmartPoint™
• 1/2 TBSP of Strawberry Jam = 1 SmartPoint™

Weigh-In Thursday: Week 47

Wow look at that I gained again this week. I know only 0.2 pounds really isn't much of a gain. That is what I would consider water weight. Especially with all of the crackers that I have been eating. I don't know what it is but I have been a carb-a-holic lately. I haven't been trying as hard to stay on plan and this is something that I am trying to overcome again. It seems like the closer I get to my one year weight watchers anniversary I am not as motivated to continue. Weight loss is hard and it is something that you have to work at everyday. Even when you don't want to. I have to remind myself this everyday especially now when I know that I am likely to falter.

The topic of this weeks meeting was about treating yourself. It focused on taking time for yourself and to treat yourself with non-food treats. It defeats the purpose of weight loss if you lose weight and then go out and eat those donuts to celebrate your recent weight loss.

Have you been thinking of joining Weight Watchers and losing with me? Now is the perfect time to Join Weight Watchers with Me. This link will give you a free gift of the Weight Watchers Magazine if you subscribe by March 14, 2016.

Lets not forget:
Starting Weight: 306.4
Current Weight: 248
Current Week: + 0.2
Total Loss: 58.4