Losing it one pound at a time

Thank you Weight Watchers for teaching me how to eat properly again, and for giving me a plan I can stick to. I was happy to find out at my meeting this morning that I lost another 2 pounds this week. In two weeks I’m down 5 pounds! I’m telling you - I have not been hungry at all. I haven’t felt deprived. It’s been amazing. Am I eating a little differently? For sure, but it’s all stuff I like. I even got to eat MEXICAN food this week, which is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE.  I am keeping track of everything I eat on e-tools which calculates my point intake for me. I’ve been really  dilligent about keeping track of everything - no cheating. And I’m also making sure I exercise every day for at least 40 minutes. This week I walked everyday for at least 40 minutes. Last week I did a few bike rides (pulling my three year old in the bike trailer makes it more difficult) and I also did the Jillian tapes on exercise tv. I lost 3 pounds last week, so I’m going to see if I do the extra bike rides and Jillian tape this week  I can lose 3 again. I’m just feeling really great because I’m doing something that is working and I have a PLAN. And I’m seeing results. Gotta run ~ football practice. I’ll check in again next Friday.

Happy Weekend! 

I joined Weight Watchers with a friend on 10/17, and last Friday when I weighed in - I LOST THREE POUNDS AND MY FRIEND LOST TWO!!! I was so happy because I felt like I had eaten a lot over the week - even homemade cookies. My friend and I decided if we were going to do this we needed a full four month commitment to going to meetings and changing our habits. We also check in daily to see how we’re doing on our point count. I did WW back in 2002 after I had my middle son, Riley, and I lost the remaining 12 pounds hanging on from my pregnancy. This time I need to lose about 23 pounds but I feel like I’m off to a really good start. My three year old took my “before” picture - which I will add to my page. It’s pretty funny because he’d looking up at me and I sort of look like Frankenstein. I decided to go back to WW because I needed some direction with my weight loss. I would lose a few pounds then gain it back and it was getting so frustrating. I joined Buddy Slim 10 months ago and I could not believe I was only down 8 pounds in that amount of time. It was clearly time to get focused and get some hands on support to get this weight off. I know I can do it!

Speaking of Frankenstein, my kids and I are having so much fun getting ready for Halloween. Since I’m not working I am enjoying all of these things I’ve missed out on before! Last night we carved pumpkins and my husband baked the seeds. My 3 year old made a smiley face, my 7 year old made a scull and cross bones and my 10 year old is carving his today after school. He is still deciding what he wants to have. So funny. They picked out their costumes - my oldest is a ghoul with light up eyes (his first year to be something “scary” - he is thrilled), my 7 year old is Slash from Guns and Roses (special thanks to Guitar Hero!) and my 3 year old is a race car driver. He got his costume last week and has worn it every day since. Hey, at least I’m getting my money out of it!

Wishing you all a wonderful week.

Lise

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE pumpkin. Pumpkin bread, pumpkin cake, pumpkin pie, if it has pumpkin I’m gonna eat it. So you can imagine my delight when at my Weight Watchers meeting on Friday the facilitator gave us a ZERO point pumpkin soup recipe. Did I make it the same day? Of course. Was it yummy? You betcha.

1 28 ounce can of pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)

3 cans fat free broth (chicken or veggie)

1/2 C onion- diced

3 garlic cloves - minced

1/2 C salsa (any kind)

1/2 C cilantro

salt & pepper to taste

Any kind of hot sauce ( I like Tapatio) to taste

In a large saucepan, spray non-fat cooking spray and saute the onion and garlic until soft. Add the pumpkin and 2 - 3 cans of the broth depending on how think you want to make it. Add the cilantro and salsa, salt and pepper and a few shakes of your hot sauce and let it cook for at least 30 minutes or longer if you have the time. It is so good and it’s  filling.

I was thinking if you wanted to make it a little more hearty you could add some potato, or low fat turkey/chicken sausage or even a little ravioli or tortellini.

Enjoy!

Talk about inspiring! For those of you who didn’t see it, the yellow team (daughter/father) were below the yellow line and had to make a decision about who was going to leave the ranch. The dad was over 350 pounds and has many serious health issues. His daughter has been keeping the team going and doing all she could to keep them there by losing as much weight as possible. His health issues prevented him from exercising as much as the other contestants. So they had to make this difficult choice: let the daughter stay and learn how to change her life forever, or let the dad stay so that he can change his life and stick around a little longer! They ended up making the decision that she would stay on the ranch and he would go home. So here’s the best part - that dad went home and became even more focused! He now runs 5 miles a day! He looked amazing! I was in tears watching it and just so inspired that he was able to change his life! It’s never too late! We all have the opportunity to think before we eat, and get up instead of sitting down. It’s our choice! I love it!