Two Weeks of Maintenance Update

Maintain...what does that mean? So, I looked it up. One of the meanings is "to carry on; continue." At the end of my first week, I lost 0.2 pounds. I said to her, "that is maintaining, right?" She said, "No, that is a loss." Now, it depends on how you look at it really. If you are trying to lose weight, then I would say celebrate that loss. However, when trying to maintain, I would say that is pretty darn close.

Another meaning of maintain is "to defend or hold against criticism or attack." Now that is powerful. The saboteurs are coming out. I've heard a few times in the past few weeks that now it is finally over and you can eat again. Well, you'll just gain it all back. It is as if they are watching me and waiting to say, "I told you so." So now more than ever, I need to defend. But I am also in need of defending against myself...my own stinkin' thinkin' that comes out from time to time. I have these four extra points that I'm supposed to be eating everyday in addition to my other daily points allowance. This can really play with your mind. It is so easy to fall back into bad habits. Which leads me to the next meaning...

...of the word is "to support a style of living." I've done a lot of thinking about that meaning. This wasn't a diet, but a live it! A way of life. A style of living and good healthy habits. I encourage all of you to look at weight loss as a life long journey and a way of living. It isn't temporary...it is forever. It is a challenge to maintain. I have a love affair with cookies and they are a "red light" food for me. I can't have them in my house. Now, I'm not talking about Oreos...I'm talking about fresh, baked cookies right out of the oven. I just can't do it in moderation no matter how many extra points.

Well, I lost 1.2 pounds this week at the scale. Not sure what is happening. I'm still trying to get into that maintenance mode and out of the weight loss mentality. It is hard, I'm not going to fool you. And I am scared. So, stay tuned as I journey through the maintenance avenue. I'm looking forward to becoming lifetime.

PS...Weight Watchers asked me today, if I'd be interested in working for them! What do you think I should do?

Weight Watchers Walk-!t Challenge 2010

On April 4th, Weight Watchers (WW) challenged us to walk a 5K by the end of six weeks. It was designed to motivate people towards physical activity and gradually build from “Couch to 5K”. Well, like most things that I do, I decided that I would try to walk a 5K everyday. So, I mapped out my 3.1 mile route. My goal was to walk it under one hour. Amazing through those six weeks how I developed endurance and stamina. I feel energized when I finish my walks.

Today, June 6, 2010, was WW National Walk-!t Day and I walked not one, but two 5Ks! I signed up for the official WW event in Canfield, Ohio then the group from my 7:30 AM Saturday WW meeting decided to map out one for us to walk at Firestone Metroparks. Why not do both? I couldn't come up with a reason either.

Walking is one of the best exercises you can do. It’s low impact, takes no special equipment and is available to you at just about any time, in any location. Walking has really jump started my weight loss and I walked myself right out of that plateau that I was in.

What a wonderful day this has been spent with my sister, my husband, my kids and my WW friends. I accomplished what I set out to do. Life is good.

New Reflection in the Mirror

Just had a moment to sit down to read the latest issue of People magazine. Jennifer Hudson, the celebrity spokesperson for Weight Watchers, is on the cover. Something she said caught my eye about doubting that she can really fit into her new size 6 wardrobe. "In my head, I am still the same weight I was before," Jennifer says. "It takes a while to get used to it."

I recalled a few months ago, when I had gone on a shopping trip to the mall with my husband. We had split up to look at different stores and I wandered into CJ Banks, a 14+ store for women. I was browsing when the sales clerk approached me. She asked if she could help me with something and I responded that I was just looking around. "For a gift?" she asked. "Oh no, for me." I responded. Then she said it! "I believe that you might be in the wrong store. You will find your sizes in our other store, Christopher Banks. They will have what you are looking for." I smiled and floated down the mall looking for my husband. A true Pretty Woman moment.

I'm getting better at realizing my new size, but there are times when the old image of myself comes creeping back. This past Saturday, Hollie and I ran into Target so that I could grab a hoodie before going to Cedar Point. I hadn't realized how cold it was and didn't want to freeze. There were only two sizes (looking only at the hanger)...Large and XL. I grabbed a large and tried it on. Perfect! When I hung it back on the hanger, the inside tag grabbed my attention. It was a medium and it had fit. I'm always amazed that I have the larger image of myself. Like Jennifer Hudson, I will adapt to my new reflection in the mirror.

The Millenium Force

Millennium Force remains one of the tallest, fastest, and longest steel roller coasters in the world. It's tagline is "The future is riding on it."

Two years ago, we went to Cedar Point with our friends. We waited in line for the Millenium Force rollercoaster ride for at least an hour. We get to the top and it's our turn...then it happened. The seat belt wouldn't latch! I turned to my husband and said "What am I going to do? It won't latch." I frantically began to try to get the seatbelt to hook. The guy came by and said to me, "If the seatbelt doesn't secure, you can't ride." I was horrified. All of sudden, it latched and we were able to ride. All day, we walked through the park and waited in lines. I worried the whole time...would it happen again? I started looking at other people and thinking is this happening to them too? Nobody knew what had happened except my husband. As the day went on, we rode rides and had a great time. Later that night, we went back to the Millenium Force to ride in the darkness of the night. Cool, right? No! This time when we entered the line, the ride attendant stopped me and said, "You might not fit. Try the seat first before entering." So my friends wouldn't hear her, I quickly responded that I had already rode the ride earlier that day. I was embarrassed and worried as we waited in line.

That was the moment that I decided that I needed to do something about my weight and I joined Weight Watchers a few months later (deciding and doing are two different things).

Yesterday was my birthday. I went to Cedar Point with my friend, Hollie, so I could conquer the Millenium Force! I wanted to prove to myself that I could fasten that seatbelt and ride! I'm proud to report that the seat belt fastened and I rode the ride!

Life Happened This Week!

It is Friday night and I am starting to worry about the scale tomorrow. As I look over the last week, it is apparent to me that I ate out for 43% of my meals and ran out of time to exercise everyday.

We went out to dinner for my husband's birthday on Saturday, El Campesino on Monday to support our church, two days of training sessions at work with Panera for lunch both days, Wednesday night dinner with my HR team at Wasabi Japanese Steakhouse, Thursday night at Chick-fil-A to support the youth group and birthday cake at work on Friday.

How did I handle it? Well, for the birthday, El Camp and Wasabi dinners, I cut the portion in half and took the rest home for my husband's lunch the next day. I looked up the nutritional information ahead of time prior to ordering my Panera lunches. I chose the You Pick Two options...half of sandwich and a half salad with dressing on the side. The cookies look good, but beware of the high point value. You can easily eat at Chick-fil-A by choosing the Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich and a Diet Lemonade for a total of 5 points. As for the birthday cake at work...I always refuse, but it was for my birthday tomorrow. I took a sliver of the ice cream cake...took 2 bites and threw the rest away in my office. The first bite tastes just as good as the last bite.

Not sure how I will fair on the scale tomorrow, but one thing I do know is that life happens...it rains and pours...celebrations will always pop up on the calendar. My doctor asked me this week how I handle the celebrations? I told her that it isn't about the food for me anymore...it is about the people. I enjoyed my time this week with all of the people who I was able to share a meal with...thanks for the laughs.