Mud-Mania 2013 & Weekly Weigh-In

Here we are before the race ready to get MUDDY!! 

Last Saturday me and my brother ran in Auburn's Mud-Mania! Earlier in March I set goals and one of my goals for this month was to complete this 5K with 20+ obstacles in under 50 minutes! We set out for Auburn early Saturday morning and it was freeeezing!

Waiting for the race to start I was so nervous. Almost as nervous as I was on the day of the half marathon. I'm not sure if the nerves were because I was scared of the unknown or if it was because I set a time goal. Probably a little of both.

The race starts off by running through a huge mud pit! For someone who has spent the majority of their life avoiding mud this was an experience to remember!

A huge fun slip and slide! 

I didn't wear a watch so I really had no concept of time or how long we had been gone but when we crossed the finish line I knew it couldn't have been 50 minutes already. We checked our time and we finished in a whopping 38:54! Wow!!! We not only met my goal but we smashed it!

We finished quite MUDDY! 

I'm so glad that I was able to run this race with my brother, Kevin! He has recently started running and he did amazing!!

Now on to Monday's weigh-in. . . Dum dum duuummmmm! I had a big week last week as far as exercise went. I earned 53 activity points (a new high for me), ran over 23 miles, and crushed the mud run! I tracked 6 days and really watched my points (again)! Stepping on the scale I was confident in whatever the number was I determined to not let it get me down.

Another week with a low number, but it is a loss so I can't be too let down. And incredibly I'm back in the 170's! Now to meet my goal of losing 8 pounds in March I have to be able to lose 3.2 this coming up Monday! Seems impossible with the way I've been working this month and the small numbers that seem to show up every Monday. But I will still strive forward and no matter what comes up this Monday I will know I tried my absolute best this month! 

How are your March goals coming along? There is less than a week of March left! 

Tilapia Salad -- Weekly Weigh-in

Last night was my regular meeting night. I went (even in terrible weather) and stood on the scale, wishing, praying, and hoping I had lost 2.4! I made sure I had on no jewelry and made sure to breathe all the way out (hey I'll do whatever I think might help). My fearless leader, Ginny, wrote down the number and was so happy for me, but it wasn't what I wanted. 1.8. Don't get me wrong I'm happy for the loss. I'm happy to be nearing the 170's again. I'm happy to have lost 3.4 pounds over the past 2 weeks. I'm happy to have not gained.

But I can't help but be disappointed that I missed my weekly goal again this week. I have set this very realistic goal of losing 8 pounds in the month of March. I am trying my best to reach this goal. In the event that I don't reach my goal of 8 pounds I want to look back at this month and think that there was nothing I could have done differently. 

Things I did good last week: 

I tracked 5 days.

I earned 32 activity points. 

I made good choices while out to eat and even found a new favorite dish! (more on that in a second)

I performed the best I've done so far this season for co-ed softball on Sunday! (it was only practice but I'll take it:)

Overall it was a great week and I'll just have to settle be happy with the 1.8. 

NEW RECIPE 

Last Friday night I ate at Charles Anthony's Pub (off the Mitylene exit in Montgomery). I ordered a Tilapia Salad. It was amazing and I couldn't wait to try and whip up my own version of it at home. 

It's quick and easy and only 7 PP without dressing!!

Ingredients: 

3 oz of cooked Tilapia (I prefer cajun or blackened) 

2 cups of spring mix

1 stalk chopped celery

1/2 diced tomatoes

1 tbsp blue cheese 

2 tbsp dried cranberries

1 tbsp chopped pecans 

Directions: 

Bake tilapia filet on 325 degrees for 20-25 minutes (or until done). 

Put all other ingredients in bowl and place cooked tilapia on top. 

I found an amazing lemon vinaigrette recipe that you can make in less than 5 minutes with simple ingredients. I put this recipe in the recipe builder and the dressing is 4 points for 2 tbsp (it yields about 12 tbsp). 

I hope that your weekly weigh in goes well! If you try this fresh salad please let me know what you think! Have a great and healthy week! 

I ordered that? (Restaurant Nightmares)

A friend of mine recently told me about an app called NutriScore2Go (it can also be used like a website if you don't have a smartphone). NutriScore2Go is an app with many different restaurants neatly organized with the Weight Watchers points plus values for their menus.  If you are counting points plus values and you eat out often this app is a must have! I was just browsing through the app and looked up the values for some of my "used to be" favorite meals. Ummmm did I really used to go to a restaurant for dinner and eat 50 or 60 points? Yes, I most certainly did! And sometimes more than once a week!!! I am not a depressed person or not a very emotional eater (aside from the occasional boredom snacking). I became 300 pounds because I love food and made poor food choices daily! Here are some of my old favorites....

Boneless Buffalo Wings: 32 pp (shared with usually 2 other people) 

Fiesta Lime Chicken: 32 pp

Chocolate Chip Cooke Sundae: 44 pp (shared with usually 2 other people)

Total pp value for this meal: 64 Points Plus

Cheddar Bay Biscuits: 4 pp each (always had at least 3)

Salad with blue cheese: 7 pp

Cajun Chicken Pasta: 39 pp (full order)

Bahama Mama: 11pp 

Total pp value for this meal: 69 Points Plus

Buttermilk Spice Muffin: 16 pp 

Steak Seared Salad: 29 pp 

Total pp value for this meal: 45 Points Plus

Bread and butter: 4 pp

Filet Foccacia with Sweet Potato Fries: 34

Total pp value for this meal: 38 Points Plus

Onion strings with fried jalapenos: 29 pp (shared with usually 1 other person) 

Buffalo Chicken Ranch Sandwich: 37 pp 

Total pp value for this meal: 66 Points Plus 

Ice Cream Cone: 4 pp

Beefeater: 20 pp 

Blue Corn Tortilla Chips and Homemade Salsa: 7pp

Total pp value for this meal: 31 Points Plus

Looking back at these meals and the amount of calories I was eating for dinner a couple of nights a week is embarrassing!  I am writing this blog to show people how these meals with appetizers and drinks can lead to one very fattening meal. I really had no idea these foods had so many points! A dessert that is 44 points! Ridiculous! 

Using the Weight Watchers program I have developed a lifestyle that has made me more aware of the food choices I make on a daily basis. I still eat a few things on this list but I almost always half the meal or share it. You don't have to give up everything you love but remember everything in moderation! 

What are some of your "worst" favorite meals? And do you never order them anymore or just for special occasions? Let me hear all about it! 

A for Effort

Last week I tracked my food five days, earned 30 activity points, and really felt in control the whole week. Monday night I went to my Weight Watchers meeting and I was down 1.6 pounds. Surprised? A little. Disappointed? No.

I did all I could last week. I gave it my all, and yes I'm happy to see a loss! What that -1.6 does mean is that I'm .4 lbs behind my weekly goal. I really have to step it up and continue to make healthy choices. Those of you who read my blog last week know that one of my March goals is to lose 8 pounds. Just got to keep on keeping on! 

My mom has recently started her weight loss journey. She is really determined and it's very inspiring. One of the things that surprises me the most about her new outlook on life is how excited she is about being active. She has already completed a heart walk (around 2.5 miles) through the hilliest parts of Tallassee and we are now registered for the April 20th, Joy to Life 5K. This 5k will be lots of fun and I can't wait to experience it with her! 

This past weekend we went to Swayback Bridge Trails in Wetumpka. If you have never been there I highly recommend it! The trails (ranging from 2.5 miles to 11 miles in length) offer beautiful scenery, a sense of adventure, and peace and quiet. 

Me and Mom 

I'm planning to make this week even more successful than last week! What are you doing to make your week a success?

Yes, I'm still here...

I have been MIA from this blog for a while... I have good intentions of blogging but then life just gets in the way! 

Nothing has changed... NOTHING! 

I'm still about 25 pounds away from goal! In January I got down to an all new low of 177 pounds! Amazing! But during that time I also had the flu then pneumonia... soooo I'm sure that had a little something to do with it! 

This roller coaster of ups and downs, gains and losses is getting really old and I want OFF this ride! 

I have recently discovered a blog called itsuxtobefat. Amazing writer with an even more amazing journey! Jennifer has given me many ideas for this blog as well as new ideas for my journey! Please if you get a chance to check her out do it! You won't regret it! 

I'm going to start setting monthly goals. I have jotted some down and I have put a post-it on my fridge, in my car, on my bathroom mirror, computer screen at work, and on my classroom door! A little excessive I know but hey I obviously need to be reminded often that I'm not finished! 

I began this blog to hold myself more accountable and to help others in similar situations! I am also going to blog more and check in with weekly updates! 

If you feel like you are stuck on the same ride I'm on then maybe setting a few goals is exactly what you need to get off this coaster! What are your March goals?