virtualmom

My new friend Jenny. Jenny Craig that is!

 
 Here is the truth even though I am not proud of it.  I let some pounds gather on me this past winter--partly or mostly because of our separation.  The cold weather did not help either.  I too easily munched on food for comfort instead of watching what I ate.  

In any case, I took the first steps in getting the weight off--this time by joining Jenny Craig.  I say this time because my lord--there has been SO MANY TIMES!!!!  My weight has been yo-yoing since I had the kids.  Fo rthe most part, I stop myself before anything gets too out of hand.  

I have been a Weight Watcher many times and their program has worked for me.  This time I felt like I might have a problem with portion(weighing and measuring everything is hard) and journaling.  I also know that another friend Lisa just lost 40 pounds with Jenny Craig and she said it was fairly easy.  I needed a break from Weight Watchers because I have become too good at CHEATING on Weight Watchers!  By cheating I mean that the last time I did their program I did not journal and did not measure.

Jenny Craig does that for you.  You buy the prepared(OK frozen) meals from Jenny Craig they give you a menu for the week on a calendar that you tape up on the wall in your kitchen.  When you eat something, you just put a mark by it--thus eliminating the journaling and measuring.  Right now I consider this to be a HUGE help.  I am halfway through my second week and I would have to say that staying on program has been fairly easy.  Some people rave about the food being SO good.  I would not take it that far.  What I can say, is the best part for me is that there is no shopping, measuring, or planning.   Eventually I know that I need to take an active role, but in these crucial beginning weeks this is my speed.  

I have made a commitment to myself to stay on the program for one month.  At the end of one month, i will decide what to do next; continue or do something else.

Weight Watchers-cont'd.

At a certain point along my Weight Watchers journey, I stopped going to my regular Wednesday morning meeting. Simone, a friend who also attends the same meeting, emailed me asking if I got my postcards from our leader, Cami.
If you stopped attending your regular meeting, your leader will send you a reminder postcard asking you to come back. Simone got her postcards and well, I didn't! I was sad. I thought my leader knew me --but maybe she didn't. Maybe I needed to 'share' a little bit more and get noticed. I could have used the postcard, I was avoiding meetings because I wasn't sticking to the program and a little reminder or nudge would have helped me!

This past Wednesday when I went back to Cami's meeting, and I laid into her. I said so jokingly, but I guess it bothered me that I wasn't noticed!!!! She got my message and sent me my long awaited card!
I 'll see her tomorrow

Second 3 Mile Attempt

My second attempt at 3 miles on the treadmill was much harder than the first. I made it, but it was a struggle -even with loud music. What kept me going was the fact that 1) I really want to be able to run 3 miles-running is probably the most challenging exercise for me 2) I had already blogged about my progress and 3) there was a middle age man on the treadmill next to me that I figured was in worse shape than me, who was running with no problem. I used him as a 'competitor' so to speak. He was bald and had wrinkles on his face, he wasn't old but I estimated that he was older than me. He finished before me(started before me as well) and as he got off the machine, I took my headphones off and congratulated him; "Good Job" I said "How far did you run?" I asked. 2.25 miles he said and shrugged at my compliment. He complained that he runs slow and that in the Olympics the runners do 4 minute miles!

3 Miles on the Treadmill

Today I ran 3 miles on the treadmill which is up from the 2 miles I have been doing.  To get to 3 miles I need a lot of distraction--mostly music from my Ipod!  When I have music, I can run.  The music masks the normal headgames I play with myself about how hard it is to breathe and how slow time is going.  Upbeat fast classic rock really helps me.  It felt good to get back to three miles--I am just hopeful that shin splints won't come anytime soon!

Long Time Coming!

Don't know how I got off the blogging trail(again!) but I did!  It has happened before and I guess it will happen again!  Often times I get off the exercise trail or the dieting trail.  I think what happens is that I have too much on my plate and something has to go, so i let it go and then the time spent on that activity is quickly replaced by something else--then i can't fit the first activity back into my already limited time!  Maybe in a perfect world!  

Lately I have been staying on the dieting trail and have been losing weight.  I am simultaneously happy and frustrated about this.  You see I have been down this path too many times before and know that I eventually stopped watching what I eat and gain the weight back!  For the last 10 years, I have been up and down this same road!  Oh, I wish I knew the answer!  

This particular trip I feel a little more confident than usual about success because I am starting to understand three key concepts:  1) As we get older, we simply can't eat as much.  In theory this plain out sucks!  But it is just the truth, like it or not.  2) We need to eat more veggies--most of our diet should consist of veggies.  I am getting used to this and i am really enjoying greens as of late.  Loving them! (now I need to get the rest of the family on board!) 3) Exercise must be constant.  These 3 concepts apply to general well being-not just to losing weight.  I am realizing these facts and abiding by them.

But of course the big question (for me anyway) is when am i going to go off track?  My past history indicates that it is inevitable!  That is what scares me.  How can I recognize and stop myself?

As with blogging, I was doing fine, enjoying the process, posting regularly-then boom!  I got overloaded with end of the school year stuff, took a break -and found it difficult to start up again!

Life patterns!  they are frustrating-but can they be changed???

M&M Tattoo!

On Wednesday, June 11th,  I weighed in and lost another 1.2 lbs making my total weight loss 6 pounds. I got a 5 lbs. star and a round of applause at my Weight Watchers meeting!  I write about that because I used to always think it was too corny to get applause for losing weight--and now i am doing it.  

 I am happy.  I am on my way.  It may take a while but I think I can do it.  I would like to make my goal!!!!  Mad at myself that I let myself go this far(in gaining weight) but at this point I have to get over that and address the problem!

In the meantime, of all places to meet another M&M fanatic, I met one in the Weight Watchers meeting.  Somehow the group conversation got to M&M's and then we both jumped in and started sharing.  The leader of the group quickly switched the topic(she probably thought everyone was going to run to the corner deli to buy a pack straight from the meeting, if we continued).  No problem, we found each other after the group and started comparing notes.  I must confess-she topped me with her M&M tattoo!  She really is nuts over the little guys!!!  I took this picture--I had too!