Weight Watchers Update

I didn’t post last week (November 22nd) because I was embarrassed and ashamed.  (My irritational thought was….maybe if I don’t post it on my blog, then it didn’t happen–oh, if only life worked that way)!!  But, I’m OK this week, so I thought I would “catch up.”

On Tuesday (November 22nd) was my 26th Weight Watchers Meeting….

I GAINED 3.8 pounds-THREE.EIGHT!!
(In reality it was still “OK” b/c I was still well within my lifetime goal, but it was NOT OK with me)

So, I hit the gym hard and did Jazzercise 5 days in a row!  With Thanksgiving just around the corner (on the 24th) I knew I had to do something.  In my head I had a goal to not gain more than 2 pounds this past week, with Thanksgiving rearing its ugly head at me!!

This morning (November 29th) was my 27th Weight Watchers Meeting….

I lost 1.8 pounds!

I was very pleased with myself!  I have lost just over 25 pounds since May 31st.

The 1st night (May 31st) I joined and weighed….

The 2nd night (June 7th) I lost 5.4 lbs.

The 3rd night (June 14th) I lost 3.0 lbs.

The 4th night (June 21st) I lost 1.8 lbs.

The 5th night (June 28th) I lost 1.4 lbs.

The 6th night (July 5th) I lost 1.8 lbs.

The 7th night (July 12th) I lost 1.4 lbs.

The 8th night (July 19th) I lost 1.2 lbs.

The 9th night (July 26th) I GAINED .8 lbs.

The 10th night (August 2nd) I lost 1.8 lbs.

The 11th night (August 9th) I lost 2 lbs.

The 12th night (August 16th) I GAINED .6 lbs.

The 13th night (August 23rd) I lost 1.6 lbs.

The 14th night (August 30th) I lost .6 lbs.

The 15th night (September 6th) I stayed the same…did not gain, did not lose.

The 16th night (September 13th) I lost 2.6 lbs.

The 17 night (September 20th) I lost 1.4 lbs.

The 18th night (September 27th) I GAINED 2 lbs.

The 19th night (October 4th) I lost 4 lbs.

The 20th night (October 11th) I GAINED .6 lbs.

The 21st night (October 18th) I lost 1.4 lbs.

The 22nd night (October 25th) I only GAINED .8 lbs…so I put my jacket on and I GAINED 1.4 lbs.

The 23rd night (November 1st) I had not GAINED anything….so I put my boots on and I gained 2.2 lbs.

The 24th night (November 8th) I lost 4.2 lbs.

The 25th night (November 15th) I GAINED .8 lbs.

It’s Official…

The local Christian radio station has started playing Christmas music 24/7 and Black Friday has come and gone….I guess it’s officially the “Christmas season.”  As much as Paul tries to deny it or pretends it doesn’t happen year after year, I chose today to decorate.

Now granted we don’t have a big house and we don’t have a lot of things, but nonetheless, I decorated with what I have and the space I am given.

I did have a couple of setbacks this year.

1.)  Mice.  Mice chewed through three out of the five boxes I use for our Christmas decorations.  So….one Christmas dishtowel had to be thrown out b/c it did not survive…(let’s just say it wouldn’t be of any use as a dishtowel b/c of the holes).  The blanket and the other things are being washed.  Lesson learned:  Today I’m going to the Dollar Store to buy Tupperware boxes.

2.)  One of my snow globes broke.  It left glitter EVERYWHERE, along with stained marks from water that had dripped down into the box, dried up, but left marks on the decorations.  So, the snow globe went in the trash, along with the towel it stained.

So, not so lucky day with decorations….but I put up what I had, with a joyful spirit while watching Little Women.

Before:

All the presents are wrapped (as of last Tuesday) and ready for the tree

 

the "before" boxes

Please ignore the ironing board.  I’ve been “meaning” to iron for the last week….just haven’t gotten around to it (so now it’s a permanent decoration in our living room)

our little tree with all of our presents

our bookshelf with the decorations on it

Yep, that’s about it.  Our Harvest wreath is still on the front door, but it’ll come down soon….

Merry Christmas!!

I Said “Yes!”

Exactly 6 years ago today, TO THE DAY, I said yes….

On Thursday, November 24, 2005 (Thanksgiving), Paul asked me to marry him (down on one knee, might I add) and I said, YES!!”

Thank you, baby, for a wonderful 6 years….

Crossing State Lines

We just got back from a little “night away.”  🙂

To Davenport, IA!

We LOVE Davenport….

Here are my top 3 reasons I love Davenport:

1.) CHICK-FIL-A

 

 

 

That’s about it….does there really need to be the other 2?!

Just Kidding….

2.) Baymont Suites (free breakfast, free internet, CABLE, and an indoor hot tub)

3.) Cheap gas ($3.22)

What can I say?!!  I love Iowa!!

dinner at Texas Roadhouse

Paul at Chick-Fil-A

 

 

me-savoring EVERY BITE!!

We also went and saw a movie…or should I say movie (s).  We went and saw two different movies.

I saw:

Paul saw:

We had a fantastic little “mini vacation!”

 

 

Sic’em Bears!

Baylor beat Oklahoma tonight, 45-38.  I was able to watch the last :60-:30 seconds on the game on TV….it was fantastic!  They have never beaten Oklahoma before.  Before this game, they were already bowl-bound, so tonight was just “icing on the cake!”

They Won!

the crowd on the field after the game....

 

Weight Watchers Update

This past Tuesday (November 15th) was my 25th Weight Watchers Meeting….

I GAINED .8 pounds
(which is OK b/c I’m still well under my Lifetime goal)

The 1st night (May 31st) I joined and weighed….

The 2nd night (June 7th) I lost 5.4 lbs.

The 3rd night (June 14th) I lost 3.0 lbs.

The 4th night (June 21st) I lost 1.8 lbs.

The 5th night (June 28th) I lost 1.4 lbs.

The 6th night (July 5th) I lost 1.8 lbs.

The 7th night (July 12th) I lost 1.4 lbs.

The 8th night (July 19th) I lost 1.2 lbs.

The 9th night (July 26th) I GAINED .8 lbs.

The 10th night (August 2nd) I lost 1.8 lbs.

The 11th night (August 9th) I lost 2 lbs.

The 12th night (August 16th) I GAINED .6 lbs.

The 13th night (August 23rd) I lost 1.6 lbs.

The 14th night (August 30th) I lost .6 lbs.

The 15th night (September 6th) I stayed the same…did not gain, did not lose.

The 16th night (September 13th) I lost 2.6 lbs.

The 17 night (September 20th) I lost 1.4 lbs.

The 18th night (September 27th) I GAINED 2 lbs.

The 19th night (October 4th) I lost 4 lbs.

The 20th night (October 11th) I GAINED .6 lbs.

The 21st night (October 18th) I lost 1.4 lbs.

The 22nd night (October 25th) I only GAINED .8 lbs…so I put my jacket on and I GAINED 1.4 lbs.

The 23rd night (November 1st) I had not GAINED anything….so I put my boots on and I gained 2.2 lbs.

The 24th night (November 8th) I lost 4.2 lbs.

Three New Recipes

I have three new recipes I tried today (I only worked for 3 hours today, so I had lots of time at home this afternoon)….

#1 is my favorite!!

1.)  Homemade Salsa

Here’s where I found the original recipe.  But, I did tweak it a little bit for our own tasting….

Ingredients:

• 1 can diced tomatoes (fire-roasted), drained
• 1 can stewed tomatoes, drained
• 2 cans Original Ro-Tel, drained
• 1 can green chiles, drained
• 1 clove of garlic, crushed
• 3 green onions, chopped
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 3-4 pinches of salt
• 1 tsp. of lemon juice

Combine all ingredients (except 2 cans of Ro-Tel) in a food processor or blender

Pulse until well-blended

Transfer to bowl, add Ro-Tel and YOU’RE DONE!!

It’s yummy!!

2.)  Holiday Candy Cookies

Here’s where I found the original recipe.  This is actually a “Cookie in a Jar” recipe, but I just made them….

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cups flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup M&Ms
• 1 cup regular oats
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp.Kosher salt (or 1/4 tsp table salt)
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• I also added 1 cup of mini butterscotch chips

Instructions

Put all dry ingredients together in a bowl.  Add 1 egg, 1/2 cup melted butter, and 1 teaspoon vanilla.  Mix well.

Drop by 2 tablespoons on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

3.)  Baked Apples

I don’t know where I got this recipe.  I forgot to bookmark it, and now I can’t find it again.

 

Ingredients:

• 4 or 5 apples (or however many you need)
• 3/4 cup of brown sugar
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 cup of walnuts {optional}
• 3 tsp. of oatmeal {optional}

I didn’t use walnuts, but I did use oatmeal (it was Apple Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal-just the dry mix)

Instructions:

Core 4 or 5 apples (however many you need)

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.

Inside the core of the apple, put some butter (I didn’t measure) and then “spoon” the dry ingredients inside the apple (filling the hole where the core was)

Put about 1/2 cup of water (or apple juice, if you have some) in the bottom of a baking dish and place apples in baking dish

Cook covered with foil on 350 for 30 minutes

Uncover and cook for 15 more minutes

You can serve this as a dessert with ice cream or just as a side dish with dinner

I used Golden Delicious Apples, but it doesn’t really matter what kind of apple you use

I had about a snack size bag worth of dry ingredients leftover b/c I only made 2 apples, so I’ll just save it for next time.  Or throw it in hot oatmeal one morning, I guess.

 

And, just in case you’re wondering….

We did have dinner tonight….not just salsa, cookies, and apples.  I made tacos for dinner, so the salsa was a great “extra” to have!!

Losing Inches Update

On June 4, 2011, my friend, Amanda, measured me….

Roughly 5 months (and a few days) later, she measured me again (today).

Here are the results….

Chest: lost 1.5 inches
Abs: lost 3.5 inches
Upper Arm: lost 2.25 inches
Hips: lost 5.5 inches
Thigh: lost 2 inches

So, not to bad….

Weight Watchers Update

Yesterday (November 8th) was my 24th Weight Watchers Meeting….

I LOST 4.2 lbs!!!
(I was so sure I had gained….I have not “tracked” in about 3 weeks b/c I’ve been trying to gain weight)….

But, because I am now a Lifetime Member the only “weigh-in” that counts is the 1st of every month. So, even though I’m way under my Lifetime goal, it’s OK, as long as I bring it back up by December 6th. BRING ON THE THANKSGIVING FOOD!!

I have lost a total of 28 pounds since June 1st.

The funny thing is….
I have not changed “sizes” in anything….
Yes, my pants are “looser” and my jeans are baggy, but not enough to go down a size.
My shirt size is still the same, my skirts are a little big, but I can pin those and be fine….
So, it’s so weird—but I can guess that it’s coming off of my waist b/c I’ve moved over 5 belt notches on my black belt!

Anyway, I’m back to tracking again….our leader, Brenda, wanted to see the evidence of what I’m eating….(apparently I’m not eating enough)….

The 1st night (May 31st) I joined and weighed….

The 2nd night (June 7th) I lost 5.4 lbs.

The 3rd night (June 14th) I lost 3.0 lbs.

The 4th night (June 21st) I lost 1.8 lbs.

The 5th night (June 28th) I lost 1.4 lbs.

The 6th night (July 5th) I lost 1.8 lbs.

The 7th night (July 12th) I lost 1.4 lbs.

The 8th night (July 19th) I lost 1.2 lbs.

The 9th night (July 26th) I GAINED .8 lbs.

The 10th night (August 2nd) I lost 1.8 lbs.

The 11th night (August 9th) I lost 2 lbs.

The 12th night (August 16th) I GAINED .6 lbs.

The 13th night (August 23rd) I lost 1.6 lbs.

The 14th night (August 30th) I lost .6 lbs.

The 15th night (September 6th) I stayed the same…did not gain, did not lose.

The 16th night (September 13th) I lost 2.6 lbs.

The 17 night (September 20th) I lost 1.4 lbs.

The 18th night (September 27th) I GAINED 2 lbs.

The 19th night (October 4th) I lost 4 lbs.

The 20th night (October 11th) I GAINED .6 lbs.

The 21st night (October 18th) I lost 1.4 lbs.

The 22nd night (October 25th) I only GAINED .8 lbs…so I put my jacket on and I GAINED 1.4 lbs.

The 23rd night (November 1st) I had not GAINED anything….so I put my boots on and I gained 2.2 lbs.

 

 

Weight Watchers Update

Today was my 23rd Weight Watcher’s meeting….

The 1st night (May 31st) I joined and weighed….

The 2nd night (June 7th) I lost 5.4 lbs.

The 3rd night (June 14th) I lost 3.0 lbs.

The 4th night (June 21st) I lost 1.8 lbs.

The 5th night (June 28th) I lost 1.4 lbs.

The 6th night (July 5th) I lost 1.8 lbs.

The 7th night (July 12th) I lost 1.4 lbs.

The 8th night (July 19th) I lost 1.2 lbs.

The 9th night (July 26th) I GAINED .8 lbs.

The 10th night (August 2nd) I lost 1.8 lbs.

The 11th night (August 9th) I lost 2 lbs.

The 12th night (August 16th) I GAINED .6 lbs.

The 13th night (August 23rd) I lost 1.6 lbs.

The 14th night (August 30th) I lost .6 lbs.

The 15th night (September 6th) I stayed the same…did not gain, did not lose.

The 16th night (September 13th) I lost 2.6 lbs.

The 17 night (September 20th) I lost 1.4 lbs.

The 18th night (September 27th) I GAINED 2 lbs.

The 19th night (October 4th) I lost 4 lbs.

The 20th night (October 11th) I GAINED .6 lbs.

The 21st night (October 18th) I lost 1.4 lbs.

The 22nd night (October 25th) I only GAINED .8 lbs…so I put my jacket on and I GAINED 1.4 lbs.

I was still under my Lifetime Goal Weight, so this week I had to GAIN….again….

I got on the scale and I had NOT GAINED OR LOST…I stayed the same.

Shoot!!!  (And today was my 6th week of maintenance–so I had to be at my Lifetime Goal today or I would have to pay.

So…I put my boots back on and I GAINED 2.2 lbs. (My boots weight A LOT)!!

So, I managed to get within 2 lbs. of my Lifetime Goal (which is fine)

I am now a Lifetime Member of Weight Watchers.  I don’t have to pay anymore, as long as I stay within the 2 lb. range (above/below).

I have lost a total of 23.8 (I should’ve lost more but I think I set my Lifetime Goal Weight too high–Oh well)….