A loss is a loss

I went to my Weight Watchers meeting today and was surprised to be down .2 lb. (29.8 lb. total.) I certainly expected a gain with the out of control eating earlier in the week, and am ready to be back on track to reach the goal of 31 lb. by next Sunday. That last 1.2 lb. to goal is certainly doable this week.

My measurements show a loss of 43.25 inches since June, with over 10 inches gone in the past month and 8.5 inches off my waist since I started! Wow!

I have been 16 weeks on program, a milestone for me. I've never gotten this far, either with length of time or with amount lost! At the meeting, I received a little charm to go on the 10% keychain, which I hope to receive next week (31 lb. is my first 10%.) I'm really proud of myself for sticking to it this long. Even with an off week every now and then, I'm on a consistent downward trend.

The topic this week was exercise, and that has to be a priority for me to lose like I want. Plus, I'd hate to get to my goal and have lots of extra saggy skin, and while age and genetics play a big role in that, exercise and water are supposed to be helpful in avoiding the extra skin. This week, I plan on walking 2 miles a day for 5 days this week, and I'll do The Firm twice.

Daily menu for September 4

I left early this morning to make it to the gym before school and forgot to pack breakfast, a foolish mistake on both the weight loss and local eating front. The school cafeteria offers no local options and very little that could be considered healthy, let alone CORE. I had 2 c. milk before leaving home and an apple in my lunch, and bought a small package of almonds to tide me over until my packed lunch. This actually kept me quite satisfied all morning and the almonds were from California, so while they're not especially local, and I do have to count them, it was a better option than Fruit Loops or pancakes.

I also had an oatmeal raisin cookie in the afternoon.

I spent 45 minutes at the gym, with 15 minutes on the exercise bike and 30 minutes of weight training. I feel really good about the weights.

Breakfast
2 c. milk from Clover
apple from a neighbor's tree
1 oz. almonds (4 Points)

Lunch
Leftover bulgur salad with tomatoes and 1/2 oz. feta and chicken(1.5 Points)

Dinner
Mushroom - wheatberry pilaf with wheatberries from Full Belly Farm
Mustard carrots
watermelon

Snack
Oatmeal raisin cookie (4 Points)

WPA (Weekly Points Allowance) points used today: 9.5
WPA points available: 23.5
Activity points today: 5 (exercise bike and weight training)
Activity points this week: 14

Daily 8 - the 8 Healthy Guidelines
1. Fruits and veggies - 5+
2. Whole grains - bulgur, wheatberries
3. Milk - yes
4. Healthy oil - 1
5. Protein - yes
6. Limit sugar and alcohol - yes
7. Water - 8+
8. Multivitamin - yes

Daily Menu for August 10

I finished the 55 minute FIRM DVD "Aerobic Body Shaping" last night. Wow, it was tough, but I feel so good about completing it! Today is a walking day, which is good because I am too sore to FIRM. That means it's working, right?

I didn't end up making pot roast last night; instead, we had whole wheat pasta with zucchini, onions, and tomatoes. Yummy! So the pot roast is going in the crockpot today for dinner tonight and roast beef sandwiches tomorrow.

***

We're taking a 3 day trip to Napa/Sonoma next week for a mini-vacation before school starts. I'm taking classes full time in the fall, and Mr.M has been working nonstop all summer. We are looking forward to a few days without work, phone calls, or a toddler! If you have any suggestions for what we should check out while in the area, please let me know! Right now, on our itinerary, are Copia, a spa trip in the hot springs, a view of the geyser, dinner at The Girl and The Fig, and a tasting at an olive oil company. What else would you recommend?

I'll be packing lunches for us on the trip to save a little money. Recommendations for tasty lunches that will hold up in a cooler would be welcome as well.

***

Daily menu

Breakfast
Kamut puffs, milk

Lunch
Bok choy with black beans
bulgur
orange
milk

Dinner
Pot roast with fingerling potatoes and carrots
Mushroom gravy (2 PTS)
green beans

WPA (Weekly Points Allowance) points used today: 0
WPA points available: 0
Activity points today: 4 (Walk Away the Pounds video)
Activity points this week: 31

Daily 8 - the 8 Healthy Guidelines
1. Fruits and veggies - 5+
2. Whole grains - Kamut, bulgur
3. Milk - yes
4. Healthy oil - yes
5. Protein - yes (beans, beef)
6. Limit sugar and alcohol - yes
7. Water - 8+
8. Multivitamin - yes

Daily menu for August 7

I didn't exercise yesterday, and still ate more WPAs than I would have liked. I did, however, finish three loads of dishes, four loads of laundry, made chicken stock and shredded chicken for casseroles and salads, and kept my toddler from coloring on the walls. (I didn't quite keep him from coloring on himself!) So it was a busy day and by the evening I just didn't have the energy to walk. Today, I'm exercising early so I can't use being too tired as an excuse.

I bought The Firm's Transfirmer kit - a 2-piece step and three DVDS - to have a more intense exercise at home. Walk Away the Pounds has been good for me to get moving, but I'm not feeling particularly challenged by it and am ready to shake things up. I still plan on doing the WATP DVD on rest days from The Firm, so I'm exercising most every day and getting some variety in the workouts.

I tried the first Transfirmer video on Sunday and it kicked my butt! I did 25 minutes of the 45 minute video, always 2 1/2 steps behind, and then collapsed in a sweaty heap on the sofa, stunned by their speed! I'm sure there is a learning curve and I'll get there, too, but for the beginner, it's tough! About 10 minutes in (already huffing and puffing) the video says, "now we're all warmed up!" I practically yelled, "THAT WAS WARM UP?!" and Mr.M laughed heartily at me from the other room.

Breakfast
Kamut puffs (puffed kamut is the only ingredient)
milk
cantaloupe

Lunch
Gigante beans with lemon-caper vinaigrette
Orange
Wheatberries from Full Belly Farm

Dinner
Beef picadillo
brown rice
zucchini
milk

WPA (Weekly Points Allowance) points used today: 0
WPA points available: 12.5
Activity points today: 8 (The Firm video - this time I'm finishing it!)
Activity points this week: 15

Daily 8 - the 8 Healthy Guidelines
1. Fruits and veggies - 5+
2. Whole grains - Kamut, bulgur,
3. Milk - yes
4. Healthy oil - yes
5. Protein - yes (beans, beef)
6. Limit sugar and alcohol - yes
7. Water - 8+
8. Multivitamin - yes