Posted by lisa on February 2, 2009
Are you like me and wonder how the heck different diet plans work? What is “South Beach”? Counting Calories- what is that? How do I “Eat Right For MY Type”? And what about my favorite- what exactly is Weight Watchers and how does it work?
Look for posts this week discussing various diet plans- the in’s and out’s, the nitty gritty.
So, let’s just get right to it. WEIGHT WATCHERS is up first.
What is this new Momentum plan that Weight Watchers introduced recently? Basically, Weight Watchers combined the best of the old Core Plan and the FlexPoints plan.
As for understanding the Momentum Plan, I’m going to lay it all out in an easy-to-follow format (I hope). I don’t want ya’ll to be confused and think I came up with all of this on my own. Oh no, all the credit goes to the Weight Watchers website. Original, I am not. But I will summarize the information I read, just for you guys.
The ONLY way to lose weight is to burn more calories than you take in (sounds so pathetically easy but as well know, IT IS NOT).
The Momentum Plan is comprised of four key concepts:
1. The POINTS System is how you know what to eat. Weight Watchers assigns a numerical value to every food based on the fat, fiber and calories. You’ll be given a set number of POINTS values to eat on a daily and weekly basis.
2. Using FILLING FOODS to keep you full longer. These are foods that contain more water and fiber and thus, keep you full longer. Weight Watchers helps you identify these foods so that you can make them a part of your daily diet.
3. Good Health Guidelines. Do you remember learning about the Food Pyramid as a kid in elementary school? Basically, this is what the Good Health Guidelines are- a reminder that each and every one of us should be eating certain amounts of dairy, fruits and veggies, protein, liquids, healthy oils, etc PER DAY. Weight Watchers outlines all of it for you.
4. The weekly POINTS allowance. In addition to your daily points allowance, you also have a WEEKLY points allowance, to use as you wish.
Remember:
- every food and drink has a “point” value to assigned to it.
- You are given a Daily Points Allowance and a Weekly Points Allowance.
- Your Daily Points Allowance is based on your current weight.
- Your WEEKLY Points Allowance is the same, regardless of your weight.
- You MUST eat your daily points every single day, or as close to it as possible.
- The Weekly Points are optional, but believe me, you will either want to use them on one big splurge day, or spready them out over the week.
- If you exercise on any given day, then you earn additional points, which you can then turn around and “eat”. Is this making any sense?
That was clear as mud, huh? I say we just have one big ole conference call and then I can explain it to all of you or maybe you can explain it to me!
So ladies, those of you who are currently following the WW guidelines, did I get the details right? Did I leave anything important out? What do you like about Weight Watchers? What do you dislike? Have you been successful on it, either now or a previous time?
We would love to hear from you.
Posted by lisa on January 26, 2009
Hi, my name is Lisa and I am addicted to food.
This is the post where I talk about my love affair with food and how I am having to give it up for the sake of my health and to lose some weight.
I love food. I love most everything, but I especially love chips and salsa, coffee, popcorn, chocolate, salty snacks….have I mentioned that I love chips? BBQ, sour cream and onion, doritoes, cheddar and sour cream, pretzels, ranch, Pringles…..it doesn’t matter the flavor or brand as long as there is a CRUNCH to them. Yes, I love to eat and I especially love the salty snacks.
Moderation? During the week, YES. The weekends, not so much.
Why can I hold it together pretty well during the week, but on the weekends, my healthy eating goes to hell in a handbag? Have you guys ever heard that expression? Did I get it right? Sometimes I get the slang phrase/cliches a little mixed up.
Anyhoo, this past week was no exception. Wed/Th/Fri- I kept up with my food log, writing every down that I ate. Drinking my water, eating in moderation for a nursing mother. Friday evening hit and I went out on a date with my husband to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. I had decided beforehand that I would NOT drink any alcoholic beverages so as not to waste calories. That thought flew right out the window once we sat down for dinner. I had not just one, but TWO drinks (boy, were they yummy!). The gluttony started with dinner that night and just continued on through the weekend.
I cannot undo what I have done. I can only make better choices for today. And I will.
Why does the BAD food have to taste so good?
I don’t have any answers for ya’ll. I am POSITIVE that I am not the only one who has this love/hate relationship with food. I love to eat it, I hate it when the fat hits my hips.
Oh yeah, it looks like I am now an official Shrinking Jeans blogger, contributor, weight loss guru (HA!), expert on all things. Man, now I really feel the pressure to do right. If you click on my picture to the right, it will take you to my own SJ blog, where I will post, oh I don’t know, maybe “stuff” and “whatnot”. Be kind to me along the way and make sure to give me a shout-out when you can. I’ll shout right back : ).
Posted by lisa on January 19, 2009
I had high hopes of writing a post about Real Age, a really neat site hosted by Dr. Oz, but that nice long post will have to wait.
The excuses are about to start so hold on!
The last few days, my motivation for exercising has been non-existent. Gone. Bye-Bye. Adios.
- I’m bored with my exercise DVD for starters.
- I’m starting to make a permanent indention in our carpet.
- Doing exercises while I have one or two or three kids distracting me or asking for something or fighting in the other room is getting old. I like to exercise by MYSELF- that is ME time and that is impossible to get at home.
I know some of you exercise before your kids get up in the morning- BRAVO. I am impressed as there is no way in HECK that I can get any LESS sleep than I already do. Not right now.
I am going to have to find a better solution and soon.
The last time I exercised consistently (in fact, the ONLY time), between babies #2 and #3, I went to the gym. I became a gym rat. I went 4-5 times a week and I loved it. It became a very social thing for me, with the additional benefit of becoming more toned and fit than I have even been in my life. I was addicted, especially given the fact that I could leave my children for two hours- exercise for 1 hr 15 minutes, then take a shower IN PEACE?! Oh heck ya, I was going to the gym every freakin’ day!
I want to get back to that. I want to exercise in peace. I want toned, pretty arms again. I want my flabby stomach to be less flabby (it was NEVER flat, ha ha). I want to be cardiovascularly fit. I want more energy. I want more time to myself. I want to feel GOOD. I want that now. The “I Wants” are never-ending.
I just need to figure out how to do it with three children in tow, in between nursing and napping sessions. The logistics of it all give me a headache.
I feel so stupid for even whining about this. I want to tell myself to “shut the heck up and just f’ing do it already for goodness sake. You’re a big girl. FIGURE IT OUT and GET TO THE GYM”. The dialogue inside my head includes a few more cuss words than that : ).
Why are we, as individuals, so much harder on ourselves than others?
I should get myself a little slack, say ADIOS to the days that I didn’t exercise (it’s not like I can get them back), absolve myself of the guilt (lord knows I already have enough mommy guilt, I don’t need any more guilt), say HELLO to the new day, and GET ON WITH IT.
Right?
Posted by lisa on January 12, 2009
Yes, that’s me. tooting my own horn.
I am so proud of myself. I’m patting myself on the back right now. Oh yes I am.
You know why? Because I have exercised 7 days out of the last 9 days.
Can I get a little celebration party going on in here?!
Because let’s face it- WE ARE ALL BUSY- and making the commitment to exercise is a big one. There have certainly been days when I haven’t felt like exercising, but once I start doing it, I am so glad that I did it.
As I write this post, I have my son who is begging for me to help him change his pull-up, the baby is on the floor fussing, Sophie is running around the house crazily, and we have friends who will be here in 30 minutes for a playdate.
Before they get here, I need to check out how to file for unemployment for my hubby (yippee…..NOT!), I have been on the phone with our insurance company this morning (oh fun!), have been scheduling all the dr appointments for the kids before our insurance runs out, canceling magazine subscriptions, made breakfast, got the kids dressed, nursed the baby twice, put him down for a nap once, talked to my husband three times, to my neighbor once, to Christy once (I did talk to you, Christy, didn’t I?) and on and on and on. I went to bed at 2:30am and was woken at 6am (not by the baby but by the 5yr old).
The point of all of this?
No matter how crazy today, and every day, shapes up to be, I AM MAKING IT A PRIORITY TO EXERCISE.
There are a million other things that need to be done, but I have made the commitment to myself to EXERCISE. And get fit. And healthy. And to feel GOOD and SEXY and HOT.
And so can you. You can do it. I can do it. Let’s do it together.
Gotta run, the baby can’t be ignored anymore. Adios!
This almost felt like a drive-by post, LMAO!!!!!!!
Posted by lisa on January 5, 2009
I am having real problems getting to the gym, not because I don’t want to go- I actually do want to go exercise. The problem lies is the WHEN to go. Between the baby’s naps and mealtimes for all 3 kids, let alone the taxiing of said children to various places, there just seems NOT to be enough time in the day. Wah wah, huh?
Anyhoo, I have always been a fan of the hit show “The Biggest Loser”. I love watching everyone work hard and turn their bodies into well-oiled machines. Of course, I usually watched the show while eating chips and salsa or ice cream, or both. And the trainers, man oh man, their bodies are awesome.
Since I’m not getting into the gym like I want to and since I would like to at least attempt exercising again, I checked out Amazon for reviews on various exercise DVD’s. I ran across this one, read the reviews, saw that it was on sale, and I bought it.
I have “done” the DVD the last three mornings (I am a morning exerciser- if it doesn’t get done before noon, then it most likely won’t be done at all). I very much like the DVD and right now, my legs are feeling sore, sore, sore. The DVD has 4 workouts- you are supposed to do Workouts #1 and #3 for six days in a row, alternating between the two, for three weeks. Then you switch to workouts #2 and #4 for weeks 4-6, again exercising 6 days a week, alternating between the two.
Bob Harper is the trainer on this one and he definitely is easy on the eyes. Contestants from Seasons 1 & 2 make up the class. The music isn’t that great, though. And a lot of times, what Bob is telling you to do and the counting he does just doesn’t match the music. Or, maybe I should say that the music doesn’t match what Bob is saying. It can be a little confusing. I just ignore the music and do the exercises at my own pace, which right now, is as slow as a turtle! I hope to speed it up in the next few weeks.
I expect the exercises to become easier as I exercise longer and longer.
One baby step at a time.
Do you have a favorite exercise video? Do share.
Posted by lisa on December 15, 2008
I made this recipe right before Thanksgiving and OMGoodness, it was damn awesome. It was so good and moist that I have since made it again AND I am making it for all of the kids’ teachers as holiday gifts. It even freezes well. You don’t need to slather butter on it at all, just bake and serve. The best part, it’s considered a “light” recipe. Although, if you eat the whole loaf in one sitting, then I guess it wouldn’t be so “light”. You’ll have to pace yourself on this one.
Makeover Pumpkin Spice Bread (from Healthy Cooking magazine)
Ingredients: 2 1/4 cups sugar 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/3 cups cake flour 2 teaspoons baking soda 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking powder 3/4 teaspoon ground cloves 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 4 eggs 1 can (15 oz) solid-pack pumpkin 1 cup buttermilk 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/3 cup canola oil
1. In a large bowl, combine the first nine ingredients. In another bowl, whisk the eggs, pumpkin, buttermilk, aplesauce and oil. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.
2. Transfer to two 9in x 5in x 3in loaf pans coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 for 45-55 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with moist crumbles. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.
Nutrition Facts: (16 slices per loaf) 1 slice equals 143 calories, 3 g fat, 27 g carbohydrates, 1 g fiber, 3 g protein.
Posted by lisa on December 8, 2008
Hi. It’s me again. Looks like I’m not going anywhere. For those of you wondering just who might I me, I am the ghost of Christmas Past….oh, I kid. I’m the chick who had a baby almost 10 weeks ago, yet I still look 4-5 months pregnant.
After posting last Monday, I was so excited and motivated by all of the kind and encouraging comments that I actually dragged myself to the gym to exercise for the first time since February. It was wonderful and I was reminded of the “why” I like to exercise. I vowed to make it back before the week was over.
Ask me, yeah, go ahead and ask me- Hey Lisa, did you make it back to the gym last week, for a second round?
The answer, folks- NO.
I thought about it each and every day and I wanted to do it, but there always seemed to be something in my way. Between nursing sessions, naps, mealtimes, taxiing the kids around to school and playdates and activities, washing and folding laundry and other house stuff (OMG- the laundry for our family of five, lordie lordie and the clutter-ugh), Christmas shopping, etc etc. Taking care of the kids. There is so much that requires my attention on a daily basis. I will not sacrifice anymore sleep than I already do.
Yes, the reality of it all is beginning to sink in. If I want to exercise on a consistent basis and truly begin my weight loss journey, then I have to make it a priority. But WHEN do I make the time?
Am I ready to do that just now?
I want to be able to say YES I AM, I WILL EXERCISE FOUR TIMES A WEEK, EXERCISING COMES FIRST ABOVE ALL ELSE, I WILL BE A GREEK GODDESS BY THE TIME I AM DONE.
But c’mon, let’s be real here. I am still struggling to create our new “normal” and it’s gonna take me a little more time than I thought. I’m not going to stress over it, not right now anyway. I will do what I can until I get the “mother of three” title under control and then I will kick exercising into high gear.
On the plus side, I managed to get to the gym this morning, and once again, it felt so good to exercise. I forgot how social the gym can be, as well. I spent the entire 45 minutes of cardio time chatting away with two friends. It flew by and before I knew it, I was done. And I felt GOOD. AND, I got the added bonus of having fun, adult conversation without my children hanging ON me. Yeah Me!
I will revel in the baby steps for now.