Steppin' Up a Notch

It arrived today! 

The DVD that I've anxiously been waiting on was in the mailbox when I got home.  The step arrived last week, but the DVD of basic step aerobics had shipped separately and I was excited to give it a try. 

During my wait time, I tried to step to a video on You Tube without much success.  I propped the iPad up in front of me and sure gave it my all, but there is something about having your knee up in mid-air only to have the video pause.  So, off to the library to see if I could find a DVD until mine arrived.  I went to two libraries and found a couple to try out.

Step aerobics first became popular in 1989 and for some reason, 22 years later, I've decided to give it a try.  According to Wikipedia, the benefits of this type of exercise consists of burning calories, building endurance, improving balance, impacting positively on mental health and reducing stress.  All the benefits that I wouldn't mind having these days.

Last Saturday's weigh in was a positive one.  I celebrated the loss of 4.4 pounds.  Looks like the steps that I've been taking the last week and a half has been in the right direction.

My Fitness Pal

It's Friday night. Phew! What a week. It is also the night before weigh in.

Tomorrow morning, I face the scale again. I feel pretty good about what I've accomplished this week. It helps when you tell others what you are doing. I am blessed to be surrounded by friends and family that will wink and nod at me, as if to say, "I've got your back."

One of those family members suggested that I try out MyFitnessPal, which is a diet and fitness community built with one purpose in mind: providing you with the tools and support you need to achieve your weight loss goals. Sounds just like Weight Watchers, right? Right. Don't get me wrong, I am still a die hard Weight Watcher, but what I like about MyFitnessPal is that it is focused on calories in/calories out. MyFitnessPal saves me the trouble of carrying around a notepad and pen to track my calories and has a great database of foods. There's no math to do - it adds everything up for me and keeps track of how many calories I have left right on my phone! I am encouraged to eat less and motivated again to lose weight by simply tracking.

Getting back to the basics.   How you keep track isn't what matters rather that you are keeping track. No more mindless eating while standing at the pantry.

Overall, it has been a good week. Ended it tonight with a little dinner out with my youngest son, Patrick. We shared some pizza and then went to Dairy Queen for dessert. I quickly entered Dairy Queen Fudge Bar into the MyFitnessPal app and it popped up that it is only 45 calories! Okay, so I entered other items on that menu in first only to realize that I didn't have enough calories in my entire day's total to indulge.

All too often, people tackle weight loss by giving up everything at once, hoping to lose a huge amount quickly. That doesn't work for long term weight loss. What I've learned is the greatest success comes from the little steps taken in this journey. Giving up a little at a time will keep me from giving up altogether.

I'm back. I'm ready. It's on! (wink)

An Intervention

So, I need help.

An intervention, by definition, is the act of interfering with the outcome or course especially of a condition or process (as to prevent harm or improve functioning).

I need an intervention.

I have been on a downward spiral for about a year now. Slowly, I've gone back to my old ways. Finding comfort in food.

Last week, a friend and fellow Weight Watcher said to me, "What are you doing? I'm not going to let you go back. You've worked so hard to get to where you are." She just said it point blank. And it hit me. She didn't say it to be cruel. She said it because she cares. Most loved ones intervene when they see the one they love spiraling out of control. I'm thankful to her for saying something to me.

I've given my husband permission to "say" something to me, if he sees me lingering at the pantry. So, if you see me, please participate in my intervention. I need all the help that I can get.

I might not like it, but please intervene.

The Program Works

Well, I lost 3 pounds this week! Amazing how when you follow the program, it really works.

What did I do differently?

Tracked everything - Food and exercise
I know that monitoring what I eat and writing it down is crucial to losing weight and keeping it off. The pages of my journal have been blank for the past few months, but I've sharpened my pencil and jotted down every bite, lick and taste. In addition to food, exercise is equally important. I walked everyday except for Friday and sometimes, I walked twice a day. Lunchtime has proven to be a fun time to get out of the office and walk with co-workers. I will admit that it does take me all afternoon to cool down in this heat, but I am grateful for these ladies that encourage me to walk with them.

Planned meals
With the kids back in school and our busy schedules, planning helps it feel controlled. We know what we are eating and that helps us stay healthier in our food choices.

Stopped eating out of the BIG bag
During my hiatus, I ate from the bag in front of the pantry. Old habits come right back, if you let them. I bought prepackaged bags of pop chips. These are fun little chips that are popped not baked or fried. I love them so much that I have no problem eating them right out of the bag and before I know it three servings have been consumed mindlessly. I am thankful for the little sealed bags of goodies that help me feel that I am not deprived.

Ate more fruit
We didn't gain weight from eating too much fruit. I added fruit to each meal and snacked on it when I got the grumblies. It is amazing how filling an apple can be when you are hungry.

Went back to a meeting and faced the scale
It was scary. I wasn't feeling perfect, but the meetings hold me accountable and provide support and motivation. I am provided feedback at the meetings and at the scale to keep me in line.

I heard the words, "You are going to be pleased with the result of your efforts." My Weight Watcher Leader admitted to me that after our talk last week, she had thought about her own situation and she was motivated this week by me. It just proves that we need each other for support and the program really does work when you follow it.

On This Day in 2010 - August 28th

On this day in 2010, I posted this FB status update announcing that I had finally lost 100 pounds. Today, my status update should read, "Who shrunk my underwear?"

I have been hiding from the scale this summer. As a Lifetime Member of Weight Watchers, we must weigh in once a month and maintain our weight within two pounds of our goal weight or we have to pay. And so the avoidance of the scale began.

There were five Saturdays in July. There were five opportunities for me to get back to my goal weight so that I could face the scale. There were five Saturday meetings that came and went. I never weighed in and the guilt set in. I felt that I had to be perfect before I could go back.

August was the same way. I had full conversations with myself about eating and exercise and yet, I chose to ignore it. My focus had shifted and I needed to get back on track. I'd lost control.

And so, yesterday, I did it. I walked back in the door and straight up to the scale. I placed my Weight Record on the counter and my credit card on top. I whispered that I am Lifetime, but that I am over my goal weight. She looked at my card, and said, "You haven't weighed in since June!"

I've gained ten pounds since that weigh in and I am 18.6 pounds over my original goal. I want to be accountable for my actions. I've had a great time this summer hanging out with friends. Now it is time to get back to eating right and exercising.

And so on this day in 2011, I ask, "Who shrunk my underwear?" Although, I do not do the laundry in my family, it was me who shrunk my underwear. The accountability starts with me.

The Cookie Crumbles

Anyone, who knows me, knows that I love cookies. I know that there will be times that an occasional cookie or two is okay. The issue here is that I started eating cookies at Christmas, moved straight to Girl Scout Cookies and these were the cookies on the table this morning at the Memorial Day Parade (pictured above). Frankly, I was eating cookies more than I should have been. The scale was really starting to reveal that there was a problem.

The other thing that I need to point out to myself is that I was supposed to be in a maintenance mode, which means that I need to stay within two pounds of my goal weight. I was in denial and thought that I could now eat a few cookies. I even raised my goal weight by nine pounds. I'm not a nutritionist, but I do think that once you start eating sugar, it is harder to stop.

Last weekend, we were fortunate enough to take a trip to Naples, Florida to visit my husband's sister and her husband. We had a wonderful time on the boat and beach. We experienced dolphins and a manatee. During this trip, she shared with me a new form of eating that she was trying. It is called the 17 Day Diet by Dr. Mike Moreno. I don't like to diet. I don't like to restrict myself...obviously.

I felt it necessary to do something that would shock me back to reality and clean my system. So, last week when I returned home from our trip at almost 18 pounds above my original goal weight, I started this 17 day journey. My plan is to then transition to the new WW program that I have found so hard to embrace...more on that at a later date.

Today, is the end of seven days. I have eaten lots of vegetables, controlled portions of fruits, yogurt with probiotics, and protein in the form of cottage cheese, eggs and lots of chicken. Oh, and I am drinking eight ounces of hot water with half of a lemon every morning when I wake up. It is supposed to help with digestion. All of this has resulted in an amazing loss of ten pounds. Healthy? I think so. I am not eating any potato chips, ice cream or cookies. Let's face it. I didn't gain this weight on fruits and vegetables. I am motivated again!

And, so that is the story of how the cookie started to crumble.

Versatile Blogger Award

On the night that I am finally confirmed on Networked Blogs as the author of my very own blog, I received an unrelated Facebook message from my friend, Lisa. She bestowed upon me the "Versatile Blogger Award" as part of a blogasphere tradition.

Very cool.

The award comes with the following requirements:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award
2. Share seven (7) things about yourself
3. Pass the award on to other versatile bloggers (limit ten)
4. Let those bloggers know that you gave them the award
5. List those blogs in your blog

Sounds simple enough.

The Thank You Speech

Thank you! Oh, thank you! I can hardly believe this! There are so many people to thank, but I have to mention the ONE person, who made this all possible...Lisa Ramsey. What can you say about her except that she is just Lisa(www.itsjustlisa.com). She has been running alongside me on this weight loss journey. Well, I'm really walking, but this girl can RUN! She sits to my right eating a dry English muffin with jelly and drinking her coffee from McDonald's every Saturday morning at our WW meeting. She challenges me to reach my goals and she holds me accountable. She encouraged me to blog. Thanks, Lisa!

Seven Things About Me

1. I love the show, Who Do You Think You Are? I am fascinated with my ancestry and would love to follow my mother's lineage back to England (the Hollingsworth name) or my father's side of the family back to Scotland (the Glennys). Or to find out what really happened to my dad's father, who was injured in the war and received a Purple Heart.

2. I love the beach. Putting my toes in the sand and sitting by the ocean all day long.

3. Fresh, baked cookies are my downfall. I still remember these frozen mini chocolate chip cookies that my mom used to bake for us after school. They had the best flavor and I've never been able to find them since. I wish that I could remember the brand name.

4. I cry at Folger's commercials.

5. I am going to be the Wedding Coordinator for our church. I love the movie, The Wedding Planner with Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey. I also scheduled April 29th as a vacation day so that I can watch Prince William and Kate Middleton get married. I remember in 1981 gathering around the big console television set with my mom and sisters with our sleeping bags and pillows watching Lady Di walk down the aisle. I am looking forward to watching another royal wedding. But will I wear a big hat? Maybe.

6. I like to play Bunco and eat fondue with friends.

7. Until last year, I never knew another Shannon. Now I am happily surrounded by them.

And the award goes to...

These are the three blogs besides Lisa's that I read on a daily basis. These bloggers make me think, laugh, cry and reflect. I would like to pass the Versatile Blogger Award to the following recipients:

In A Mirror Dimly - http://inamirrordimly.net

Juggling Buckets - http://jugglingbuckets.wordpress.com

Everyday People - http://sbrownehr.com