Week 6

Perhaps it was that the electricity was out at my JC center and I had to weigh in on a different scale last week…or maybe it was that whole jar of peanut butter that I scarfed down like a starved woman…but I gained 2 lbs on my last weigh in (now 258.4) . I guess it probably should have bothered me more, but I’m really just okay with it. I know I have to work a little harder..especially since I’ve got less than one month before we head off to Pakistan for my sister in law’s wedding. I’d sure like to be a bit smaller than I currently am for that, but even if I am what I am right now, I’m less than I was last time I was there. And any improvement is an improvement! I’m still having a tough time WANTING to exercise. I wish I could feel that desire to move my body…but I don’t…I fight myself every day. I know that I need to burn those calories I’m consuming in order to make a significant change each week…however, it’s just soooo hard to make myself get up and going! Once I get moving, I usually can push myself through a pretty significant workout…I really like to do the 400 calorie burn on my treadmill (burns 400 calories in 40 minutes). I also love the weight routines my trainer gave me. (By the by, I did 3 sessions with her, then decided to take some time and use the 3 routines she gave me…and when I need more, or different, I’ll just call and schedule a session…saves on the $ side). So a new week begins…lets see if we can get some numbers to drop again…

Week 5

I’m not perfect…I hope that is very obvious to anyone who’s reading this. In fact I had the total imperfect day this past week…basically I blew it by lunch…eating handful after handful of Honey Nut Cheerios and then decided to ask my husband to take me out for Mexican food since I’d already pretty much wrecked the diet. I ate the worst possible dinner I could have ordered…ate the deep fried chimichanga. So I was ready to reap my “reward” after a week like this! However, I was surprised to see that I lost another 3 lbs. I’m happy with it, but as I said, surprised. My consultant and I had a nice long chat about my mindset that day and why it was that I felt it was “bad”. She wondered why I didn’t just declare that day a “meal on my own” day. I said that if I’d declared it a “meal on my own”, I’d have gone into the restaurant and ordered the least horrible choice and tried to keep the calories down. Instead, I called it a “blown” day and ate what I wanted and as much as I wanted. Then with resolve to “reset” myself, I came home and didn’t eat anything else. It was interesting to look at my thoughts in retrospect and try to analyze why I chose one thought instead of the other. I really think that because I was craving the Mexican food, and I knew exactly what I wanted to eat, then I couldn’t justify eating it and trying to stick to the diet…although I certainly could have eaten LESS of that…I didn’t want to eat just two bites and leave the rest. So it’s a thought to consider for the future. I know that I cannot do this all the time, but once in awhile it is nice. I was sure happy to hear that I dropped a total of 11 lbs now. My consultant Skinny is just awesome…it hit me this week that although she is and always has been thin, she is actually on the same path that I am. She can only eat 1500 calories and has to be very conscientious about her food choices in order to maintain that wonderful body. She and I have different bodies, but the same struggles. She said that if we were to trade eating habits for 2 months, that I would lose and she would gain weight. That was a deep thought for me…to realize that skinny people are also having to make food choices…it’s not automatic for any of us…but I do think some people have an easier time with it than I do!
So since my last consultation, I haven’t been so great either…ended up eating a whole jar of peanut butter this week (why?? I don’t even LIKE it that much!!! But maybe I was needing something in it, because it sure tasted good) and my exercise is next to none this week. I don’t know why but I just don’t have the energy this week to do much of anything…so we’ll have to see what the scale says.

Week 4

FINALLY!  I just now saw a drop of 3 lbs…which I’ve been waiting for!  I actually decided not to even look at the scale this week since it was just depressing to know that the numbers weren’t budging.  It was nice to see the reward for just hanging with the diet and exercise despite the numbers.  And sort of surprising as I didn’t really feel like I had that great of a week this week.  There was one day that I was totally unable to eat lunch because I was running around so much…so I snagged my bag of baby carrots on my way out the door, thinking that I could munch them and be okay until I could get home to eat…but they gave me hiccups and it was 4:00 and I needed to buy my daughter and the girl I pick up for carpool something to eat…so I ended up buying 2 happy meals for the girls and I ate the 8 chicken nuggets!  I got home and felt bad about it, so I got online and figured out how many calories I had consumed…then I looked at the remainder of my calories for the day and dropped some of the foods I was supposed to eat that evening so that it would balance out to 1700.  My consultant said, “so how is that bad?”  I guess in retrospect, it wasn’t bad…just that I went off menu, but I did adapt and make it work for me.  I just cannot justify eating without accountability anymore.  I also spent most of the week disabled since my trainer worked my triceps so hard that I couldn’t even lift the baby to burp him!!  So I adapted by doing more walking…even took the family on a hiking picnic on Sunday.  I guess all in all it really wasn’t that bad of a week.  I’m just thrilled to see that great number!  Oh yeah, and I also saw a quote on a calendar that I loved:

Always bear in mind that your own resolution to success is more important than any other one thing.

Week 2 and 3

Okay, well the weight is not falling off in droves, even though I’m being good and exercising even more than I was last time around…Talked to my consultant about this and we both think it may be something to do with my body “resetting” after having the baby. So I lost 1.6 on my weigh in for week 2 and only .5 for week 3. I did, however start working out at a gym with a personal trainer…which I honestly wasn’t sure would do me that much good since I pretty much know what I need to do…but my trainer is incredible…she pushes me to new levels, accepts no excuses and introduces me to new ways to try things. I have had 2 workouts with her now…and although I could hate her at times during the session, I really am thrilled with her. Worth the money!! So…am I bummed about the weight numbers?? Well, yes and no. I sure wish the numbers were really dropping, but I know I’m doing the right things and eventually the numbers will catch up. So I’m into another week. It’s a lot easier to get back into the “groove” this time around…so making my choices is getting easier. One thing I’ve learned is that I can’t let myself get too hungry, because it’s during those starving moments that my mind says, “Awww, forget it…I’m starving…I’ll grab what is convenient.” Amazingly, carrot sticks are just as convenient as potato chips…so why can’t I get psyched about carrot sticks?? What’s that about?? Maybe one day I’ll love carrot sticks as much as potato chips!! Wouldn’t that be great?

Week 1 Again

Well, here it is my second time to have a week 1.  That’s just weird…but it shows my dedication to the idea of losing this weight!  So the week was VERY difficult for me…mostly because I was alone with a 3 year old and a newborn…so I was very tired and would get to the afternoon and basically just say, “aw screw it” and pop junk into my mouth.  This happened for the first 3 days of the week…I would eat off diet and then regret it almost immediately after.  By day 4 I guess I “woke up” and decided that I didn’t like my own attitude…so I started behaving.  Needless to say, you reap what you sow, so my weightloss reflected those first 3 days and I only lost 2.6 lbs. (264.4 )  Thing is, I weighed myself midweek and was actually down 5.2 lbs, but by the time I did my weigh in, it was back up.  My body does that…can’t explain it, but I’ll drop down dramatically then come back up to level off…will stay there awhile and then drop again.  (Kinda like the stock market these days!)  Anyway, when I went to meet with my consultant, another lady was there who started the same day I did (and actually she was also a returning JC customer…good to know that I’m not the only returning one!  Also nice that JC is always there for you if you need to come back!)  She was sorta bummed that she only lost 3.6 lbs, and wanted to know my loss for the week.  When I told her I only lost 2.6, I think she felt better.  I told her that any loss is a loss and that we didn’t gain and we didn’t even stay the same!!  The way I see it, this isn’t a race… and at least I’m trying…which is better than not trying!  Am I perfect?  Nope.  But I’m making an effort.  And it IS an effort!  My big “AHA” moment this week was that everyone should try to lose weight right after having a baby…because not only are you burning calories all day long like usual, but those 15 extra times you have to get up in the night with your newborn are burning even more calories!!  Guess my sleepless tot is good for something after all!!!

So here we go for week 2…  Let’s see how we do!  Go me!

Weightloss update Jan 2009

Okay, well for those who are interested, I lost down to 224.0 lbs, but was happily surprised to learn that I was pregnant with child #2, and since Jenny Craig doesn’t service pregnant clients, I was temporarilly disenrolled.  The nine months (actually 8 ) were a growth time for me.  I totally reverted back to all my old bad habits and packed the weight back on.  That’s really not any surprise, as a lifetime of bad habits are difficult to change.  The pregnancy was horribly difficult.  First I was told I was having a miscarriage, but later learned it was a cervical polyp and that I was having twins.  Then I lost one of the twins.  Then I had horrible depression issues, which led to medication.  Then I lost all mobility in my hip due to the relaxin and progestin so I was on crutches and bedrest for 2 months.  When I went into labor 1 month early, I was pre-eclamptic and had a 23 hour labor.  But my son was born healthy and whole (although he did have to have phototherapy for 2 days for his jaundice).  So here I am once again hitting the JC circuit and my son is now 1 month old.  Thankfully I never reached the weight I did when I was pregnant with my daughter, and I’m heading back to JC 5 lbs lighter than I was when I started last time.  I weighed in this week at 267.0.  Okay, well not great, but still not as bad as it could have been!  My JC consultant (yes, she was still there and glad to have me back!) asked if I was as motivated as I was last time.  I said that I am motivated, because being immobile during pregnancy scared the devil out of me and I worry that if I don’t lose the weight, this is what will happen to me down the road.  However, I also am very much aware that the first 2 months are just challenging as you have to be so conscientious of what you are doing, and it is hard.  That part, I’m not looking forward to.  I was very glad to see my consultant again…she’s just so awesome.  So after I loaded up with all my JC Cuisine for the week, I went immediately to the grocery and stocked up on fruits and veggies and yogurt….only to learn that there are new varieties of apples now available.  I asked the grocer stocking the fruits about the new varieties and he was cool enough to give me a sample of each.  My favorite new apple is the Rose Gold (or Rose Pacific)…super sweet and crunchy!  And I don’t like apples!  So try one…  anyway, the great thing is, although I was dreading the start of the diet, I found that there is some new stuff which makes it a little more exciting!  So here we go again….good luck to me!!

Weightloss Week 18

FYI .8 is actually a point eight.

So much for the idea of no challenges!  This week I hosted a dinner party for our friends (with another homemade cake I decorated) AND went to LA again (just had to visit Mickey once again!! My daughter wanted to do the princess dress up stuff, so we went again). Actually, as I said before, by planning ahead, challenges aren’t really challenges at all, but just a chance to practice the skills you’re trying to learn while dieting.  I honestly believe that in addition to watching the numbers go down, you’ve got to learn what it is that makes them go down and how to keep them there…otherwise you’re destined to a life of yo-yoing like I’ve done all these years.  So I’m taking to heart the whole VEGGIES, VEGGIES and more VEGGIES theme…the get up and MOVE! theme….and the planning ahead for success theme.  Must have done something right there…weight 230.2 (down 2.4)

Weightloss Week 17

It’s strange how making improvements in one area of your life leads you to making improvements in other areas as well.  I’m a stay at home Mom, and unfortunately I’m no June Cleaver!  One of the things I’ve realized by being a stay at home Mom is how fortunate I was that my mother was an amazing stay at home Mom.  One of the millions of things that Mom did for us as kids was that she made beautiful homemade cakes.  She often was asked to make wedding cakes for people we knew.  I fondly recall her sitting at the kitchen table decorating and making icing stars up and down our arms so that she could practice and we could sample the goods!  I wanted to provide this same experience for my daughter, so this week, I made and decorated my first cake.  (YEAH…WHILE I’M DIETING!!)  The cake was a simple cake with a happy face design on it so that I could practice making stars (my 2 year old girl isn’t into allowing me to decorate her arms).  I finished the cake and called up some friends of ours.  We went for a visit, took them the cake and I sampled one small slice (just to get an idea of how it turned out…quite TASTY!)  We left the cake there and I felt so proud of myself!  I can even learn to decorate cakes and still not sabotage my diet!! Weight 232.6 (down 2 Total 38.8)

Weightloss Week 16

Well, I’d hoped to hit my marriage weight by my birthday, but I didn’t quite make it (226.0).  It’s okay though because I’m sure getting close…and these are numbers that I never thought I’d see again.  To me, it’s kinda like running a marathon…you can’t look at the whole race and say I’m gonna do THAT!  You run from here to that furthest mailbox and you run as hard as you can.  When you get to the mailbox, you run to the end of the street.  Eventually, by just running as far as you CAN see (I cannot see myself at my goal weight because I don’t remember ever being there) you start to make gains on the whole race.  I was trying to hit 226 by my birthday because it was a number I remember well and it seemed attainable…so I went for it full force.  I didn’t quite make it yet, but I think I’m okay with it because I ran for it as hard as I could and I’m a whole lot closer to it than I was!!  GO ME!!  Weight 234.6 (down 2.2 total 36.8)

Weightloss Week 15

Woo hoo, another uneventful week except for a small splurge on our family picnic day (just had a few fries with my salad..so in my mind SPLURGE!)  Poor Skinny, I’m a pretty boring client and I told her so today.  I just don’t allow myself to have “challenges”.  I explained to her that whenever a challenge pops up, ie. having to eat out for one night, I preplan by preeating a big load of veggies at home before going, consulting my dining out guide for best food choices, and then sticking to portions as closely as I can, basing it on the usual amount given to us in the JC meals.  So then a challenge isn’t really a challenge at all.  In fact, I’ve only done one menu where I planned it myself because JC keeps updating the planned menus so that I’ve always got some new items and I’m honestly not bored with the planned menus at all.  This is almost too easy.  Weight 236.8 (down 2.0 total lost 34.6)  Happy Birthday to ME!!