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? 

Is motivation overrated?

Motivation: the desire to do.

Most of us are motivated at the new year to make changes to ourselves and our lives. Some of us are motivated by money, competition, or just the thought of making a difference. But there comes a point where motivation will be gone and hopefully in it's place you have a habit.

No, I'm not motivated to go to the gym everyday. I don't have a choice anymore... it's a habit! In the beginning of this journey I was motivated by the pounds I was losing and as the pounds have slowed and I am coming to the end of the losing part I have had to find something other than motivation to keep me going. I have developed habits. The habit of going to the gym most days, the habit of looking up the nutrition facts for almost everything, the habit of packing a lunch every day along with a big bottle of water. All of these things come very natural to me.... now. Getting to this point was not always easy but it's the good habits that are the hardest to form.

I just think that motivation has become (and quite by accident) an excuse. You aren't always going to be motivated to do what you need to on your journey and you will have to dig way deeper than you ever thought possible to keep going. Good luck to each of you needing a change this year!

It's Called a HoliDAY!

This week really kicks off the holiday season. For most people it's an exciting time to see family, celebrate with friends, and enjoy lots of merry treats! UGH! For me it causes some stressful thoughts! Can I stay on point? Will I track? Can I stay away from all of the yummy treats?? This week is Thanksgiving! A time I travel to visit with my grandmother and other family members and give thanks for the many blessings in my life. But amongst all the visiting there is tons of points heavy foods to avoid! I tell myself and others (that will listen) that Thanksgiving is a holiday. One day. I can allow myself the foods that I will only enjoy on this day, once a year. During the rest of the week while I'm away from home I am going to plan to keep my meals as normal as possible. I am packing regular snacks, desserts, and my trusty water bottles! I will not let this one week sabotage my journey and send me into the holiday season with tighter pants than usual! Trust me no one wants to see that! I am making a public pledge to stay on track this week and shoot for 2 pounds. I looked at last year's weigh in the Monday after Thanksgiving and I was down 1.4 lbs.

If I did pretty good last year during the week of Thanksgiving then why not shoot for really good this year! So here I am pledging for 2 pounds down this next weigh in! Do not let the whole week take over with bad meals and too much dessert. Stay in control and celebrate one day, Thursday! 

Dig Deep for Self Motivation!

When we are sick we tend to self medicate to feel better. So why don't we try harder to self motivate when we need that extra push? Self motivation was one of the most important things I've had to teach myself on this journey. It's the little things that keep you tracking, keep you moving, and keep you losing! I wanted to share a few things that keep me motivated on even the most mundane weeks. 

I love water! But I love Coke Zero more! I have tried all types of tricks and tips to keep me hydrated with the good ole H2O! Just this week I decided to give my old water bottle a face lift! I had some extra letters and polka dots from a cricut machine and I added some personality to a boring water bottle. Yea it doesn't sound like much but the new pizazz on the bottle makes me want to drink more. How long will it last? I don't know but when I see a slip in my water intake I will find something else to bring me back up! 

I enjoy the gym... most days! But I hit a few weeks where I felt as if I had to drag myself up there. I love earning activity points just to see how many I can get. I never eat them ... seems pointless. I discovered when I wear my polar link heart rate monitor and watch being able to see the calories burned really motivates me to push myself harder and longer. I play on a coed softball team on Thursdays. I have burned over 2000 calories in one evening of softball! Amazing! And Motivating! 

After spin class this week. 

Teaching kindergarten has it's perks! Just yesterday we celebrated a birthday with strawberry cupcakes with strawberry icing! yummmm.. not for me! Sometimes I find it motivating to pass up something I know that I really want. Sounds crazy, but I used to say no to so many treats and junk that people quit asking! Here lately I have become comfortable in my weight (even though I'm 21 lbs from my goal) and I say no less and less. Yesterday I took a picture of the cupcake and sent it out to a few of my very supportive friends. Doing this help me to stay strong and say no!!

 

The beautiful cupcake I was able to turn down.

To stay motivated to eat what I bring for lunch instead of buying something I try to keep my meals fresh and exciting! Changing up my lunches and snacks and bringing in new things to try really seem to help me! If I'm bored with my lunchbox I'm more likely to go off plan! 

So try and motivate yourself today! This journey is about you! 

My Journey

Since this is my first post I think it makes sense to give a little background information of my journey. I joined weight watchers in mid 2007 for the very first time. I weighed in at around 276 pounds and I was shocked! I hadn't stepped on a scale in years and just assumed I was in the neighborhood of around 250. I lost 18 pounds and eventually just quit going. I was in my first year of teaching and also living on my own for the first time in my life. I joined weight watchers several more times that year but I never really took it seriously. I was just simply enjoying life..(a super unhealthy life). By December of 2008 I realized I had gained weight, but again didn't feel like it was out of hand. Boy was I wrong!

I joined weight watchers for about the fifth or sixth time on January 4, 2009 weighing in at 300.5 pounds. Talk about a shocker! I was embarrassed, mortified, scared, and many other emotions that should not be associated with one's weight. Seeing that number on paper really sparked something inside me and a serious change was in order!

I went to meetings for a year and I lost about 45 pounds. I felt great but I was no where near healthy or my goal weight. I slacked off and quit tracking and was soon back up to around 264 pounds. I worked out with friends and lost about 15 pounds over that year. My weight loss pace was somewhere between a creep and a crawl. 

Finally on May 1, 2011 I decided this was the day that I was going to stop wishing for a change and finally make one. I started weight watchers AGAIN, and really started working out! I had great support from friends and family and the weight came off the way it should have 2 years before. I was approaching 199 pounds, a place I had not been since before I graduated high school. I was in the best shape of my life! I completed a half marathon on October 1, 2011! Me, the girl who never ran anywhere except to the fridge!

Now I am currently 185 pounds pending tomorrow's weigh in! My goal is 160 pounds. I have 25 to go, hence the name of this blog. I am extremely proud of this journey no matter how long it has taken. Three years would have passed me by anyways so why not be down 115 pounds! I have been a little too relaxed this summer but I've managed to maintain my weight! Now i'm tired of maintaining and am motivated to finish this journey! I hope that I can inspire and motivate other people along the way. Whether you need to lose 5, 50, or 150 pounds, it is not impossible! 

My journey... TO BE CONTINUED....