Starting Simply

We're almost a full month into 2014, and I'm still stuck in that frenetic loop of reflecting on 2013 and goal setting for the year ahead. I'm proud of last year; I challenged myself and learned a lot along the way, it was humbling. I came out of 2013 knowing a bit more about what I value in, and expect from, my relationships with the people in my life. I also know now that it is liberating to give yourself permission to stop sweating the small stuff and to break free of the busy trap. I didn't achieve all of my 2013 goals, though, and I started this year even further from my goal weight than I was last January.

At this time last year I was diving back into the world of Weight Watchers, and was excited to try their new 360 Program; it was even the reason I started this blog! On my return to the meeting room this year, I learned that they have debuted the two week Simple Start program for new, returning and rehabilitating members. I just completed the starter course, and was thrilled with the results. It was a relatively easy way to wade back into the weight loss waters since there's no need to count Points Plus Values or measure portion sizes.

Thanks, Simple Start- down 6 pounds in two weeks!

I learned to trust, and have faith in, myself last year; I'd like for some of that to carry over into my weight loss journey. Believing in the lifestyle changes that I need to make will go a long way towards helping me finally reach my goal weight. I've made some resolutions outside the health and fitness realm, but I won't bore you with the full list. I'll be trying to keep things simple this year, it worked well during my first two weeks at Weight Watchers, and I think it'll serve me well in general as I tackle 2014!

A simple plan (found on Instagram)

What resolutions have you made for the year ahead? If you're a Weight Watcher, have you given Simple Start a try? What did you think?

{Lack of} Progress Report

I published my last weight loss progress report back in March. Some time in early April I fell off track and stopped attending Weight Watchers meetings. Last Saturday I returned to the scales for a weigh in. Here's how it all went down.

"Go ahead and step on the scale," said the chipper Weight Watchers employee.

She didn't use words to tell me that I had gained a bunch of weight- her face said it all.

"When's the last time you were here?" she asked, trying unsuccessfully to regain her composure.

"I guess it's been a few months," I answered sheepishly.

A few months of glorious eating...

But maybe I shouldn't have entirely eschewed counting points!

 

I hurried into the meeting, already underway, needing to be inspired.

Our leader was discussing low points plus methods of incorporating power foods into our breakfast routines.

Still reeling from my experience at the scale, I wasn't in the mood to pretend to care about power foods when I took my seat.

I did my best to silence that negativity quickly.

By the end of the meeting I had stopped feeling sorry for myself, and was clapping enthusiastically as members received "Bravo" stickers for sharing their accomplishments with the group.

I'm slowly getting back on track, and have made a conscious effort to count points over the last week. I'm hoping to receive a much more positive reaction at the scale one month from now.

Progress Report: Month 2

Considering it's the shortest month of the year, and that I spent the first weekend snowed in, February was jam packed with birthdays, luncheons and special occasions. During the weekend of the 15th I attended three birthday parties and ate in three different restaurants over the course of two days. It was a fun month, but it was plain exhausting!

The minute my social calendar filled up, I knew that one intoxicating little word would contribute to the defeat of my willpower: c-o-c-k-t-a-i-l-s. After all, you can't go to United Skates of America to celebrate a friend's 32nd birthday without meeting for a couple of glasses of wine first, can you? And is a girl really supposed to turn down mimosas at a BBQ birthday brunch? In my meager defense, I showed up at each of last month's events with the best intentions- whether that meant arriving at a restaurant with a well researched menu plan, or showing up at a friend's house armed with diet soda and my favorite Skinnygirl vodka. Whatever the situation, I was prepared... Until I ordered that second beverage, and then all bets were off! After a couple of drinks, I'd find myself powerless in the face of draught beer and party snacks.

Vodka-laced hard milkshake, the most decadent cocktail on the menu at Harry's Bar & Burger!

Social obligations are only going to kick into overdrive from now through Labor Day, and it's clear that I'm going to need a better game plan. It's Monday evening, and I only have nine of my weekly 49 points remaining. Alcohol is most definitely to blame. What started out as a points plus-friendly evening of sushi and a single martini with friends turned into a night of bar hopping and beer-swilling. By the time I got home, I was drunkenly ravenous and opted to eat again before bed. I wish I had prioritized drinking lots of water instead, because my Sunday morning hangover was no fun! Resolutions don't stand a chance in the face of a hangover, so I ordered a recovery pizza and parked myself on the couch for a day of Netflix and napping.

Cucumber sake martini

Between Saturday nights on the town, and Sundays spent on the couch, it's no wonder the scale didn't move much this month. I already know that March is going to be even more challenging than February because I'll be putting in a lot of late nights at work. I'm going to be busy. I'm going to feel stressed. In all likelihood, I'm going to be fairly miserable by mid month and will want to turn to lazy, fatty, comfort food and wine for solace. If I add in some evenings of drinking with friends and post-bar taco binges, I'll be setting myself up to fail again.

Saturday's Weight Watchers meeting was all about setting measurable goals. I've never thought about giving up my cocktail habit but, for the first time, I'm considering it. Each week that I get closer to turning the big 3-0, my hangovers get just a little more miserable. With only one day off a week this month, I can't afford to waste that day on the couch paying for the night before. If I'm going to stay on track, I've got to be prepared to spend that day grocery shopping and cooking/planning for the week. So, I'm going to give operation "1 Sober Month" a shot, starting today. Wish me luck!

I guess I'll have to wait until April to try out the Bacon Maple Ale.

And now, the numbers...

I only lost 1.7 pounds this month, bringing me to a total of 9.4 pounds lost so far this year. I've misplaced my measuring tape, but doubt that I've lost much in terms of inches from my waist, hips, arms, bust or thighs.

Progress Report: Month 1

Yesterday marked my one month anniversary on the Weight Watchers' 360 plan. Did I celebrate this first milestone by waking up, making a nice, big cup of hot coffee, and arriving at my meeting early? Nope. I slept late, missed my weigh in and fell- nay, jumped- off the healthy eating wagon!

I spent Friday night at my friend's house.  On Saturday morning we slept in, skipped breakfast because we found ourselves engrossed in TiVo'd episodes of "The Following", and then found ourselves famished and in the mood for a delicious treat by the time noon rolled around. At her husband's suggestion, we sent out for lunch. I fought with myself as I scoured the menu, truly torn between a craving for something naughty and wanting to stay within my points. Unfortunately, my willpower was lacking and I ordered a giant grilled chicken carbonara sub. I had no idea that the large sandwich would be so, well, large! Grilled chicken isn't normally a bad choice,  the trouble lies in the fact that the loaf of Italian bread was topped with lots of crispy bacon, melty cheese, and ranch dressing. The greasy and delicious curly fries we ordered weren't a very points friendly decision either. As if I hadn't done enough damage to my points allowance over lunch, when we found ourselves hungry again that evening, we decided on decadent ice cream sundaes for dinner.

Would you blame me if I decided to pretend that this day didn't happen? As soon as I placed my order, I consciously pushed all thoughts of Weight Watchers out of my mind. I didn't want to taint my junk food high with the all too familiar aftertaste of guilt. I needed to forget all about how many of my weekly points I was blowing on empty calories. I decided not to think about eating my five servings of fruits and vegetables or trying to make sure I got in some low fat dairy. I would take a "Don't ask, don't tell" approach to the day.

I had a change of heart, however, as I was getting ready for bed. The day did happen, but it didn't mean I had to blow the whole week ahead of me. If I didn't at least estimate how many points I had consumed, I would have no idea how to budget my weekly points between now and my next weigh in. I would be setting myself up to fail again each and every day. I'm human, and even in the wake up a bad decision (or two) with the 360 plan I'm starting to learn that I can take back control at any time. One gigantic meal is not a sane reason to blow the whole week, it doesn't have to automatically mean that I'll see a gain at the scales next week. So, I did some menu research and estimated the points in each meal. It turns out I still have 26 of my weekly points left, and the fact that I was able to own up to everything I ate is a huge non-scale victory for me.

Saturday's damage report 

It was eye opening to take a look at just how many points my off-plan day used up. I hate that I used to eat like that regularly, daily even, without batting an eye. It's no wonder I gained so much weight. Sure, I knew that what I was doing wasn't great for my health, but it was easier not to care. It was easier to eat first, and deal with feeling a little guilty later. It's harder to wrestle with those feelings before eating, and to choose not to overindulge. I think that a part of me felt like I would be missing out if I didn't treat myself to a day of junk food. It turns out that I don't I actually miss it as much as I've conditioned myself to believe I do. That's because, in reality, I still eat what I want. Over the last month I have had a little bit of reduced fat ice cream almost every day, I've been out to eat and enjoyed delicious 3 course meals, I've even consumed my fair share of bacon. So, there's no need to feed into the belief that I need to succumb to a day of binge eating.

I weighed in today so that I could plug in a weight for Saturday's missed meeting. I'm up half a pound, and feel like I can attribute some of that to the damage I did yesterday. 

And now, the numbers...

This month I managed to lose 7.7 pounds, in addition to inches from my waist, hips, arms, bust and thighs. I can't complain!

My official E-Tools progress report