Saturday 30 March 2013

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter weekend!

It has been a busy, busy, busy few days in the McMuffintop household.  We are knee deep in a bathroom renovation (it's looking so pretty!) which we are trying to get done by Monday, so I haven't had time for much else.

But I did have time to squeeze in my daily work outs, so I'll give myself a pat on the back for that!

Unfortunately, that is about the only good weight-loss-slash-making-myself-healthier related tidbit I have to report.  Meals this week have been a disaster, and I only have 5 Weight Watchers weekly points left until my new week starts on Wednesday.

On Thursday I tried out a lemon cupcake with raspberry icing recipe in preparation for my sister's anniversary party this summer.  And guess what happened?  I licked the bowls while making the cupcakes and just had to have one that evening after supper.  I logged 50 Weight Watchers points on Thursday.

I brought the remaining 11 cupcakes to my Mom's house on Good Friday so others could give their opinions on the flavour (with a couple of small tweaks it looks like it's a winner, by the way!).  We had a Good Friday fish fry, so not only did I eat another cupcake yesterday, I also ate pan-fried fish.  I calculated the day at 42 points.

Today has been better because the cupcakes are now out of the house and out of my reach.  I am ending the day at 29 points, and the only reason it's that high is because I battled a low blood sugar after my run today and had to drink 8 oz. of orange juice (3 points).

Tomorrow we have a family Easter dinner at Mr. McMuffintop's parents' house to get through.  I think I'll probably be dipping into my Activity Points, which I never do (I usually manage to keep myself at 26-28 points total per day).  I seriously can't wait for this week to be over!  And I seriously envy those who managed to not be tempted by treats this weekend.  It's not easy, give yourselves a huge pat on the back!

Oh, and if you haven't already noticed I am way late on my weigh-in report.  The scale was up 1 pound, and I am already dreading this week's weigh-in.  BUT, it will be a new week and I already have a master plan running through my brain to get back on track (i.e., following Jillian Michael's 7-Day Kickstart meal plan again)!

p.s. I only have 2 MORE BODY REVOLUTION WORK OUTS TO GO!  I am OVER THE MOON EXCITED if you can't already tell.

Wednesday 20 March 2013

WI Wednesday

Weigh-In Wednesday: 169.6 lbs

Why hello 160s, nice to see you again!  Do pull up a chair and stay for a bit, but not too long.  I'm hoping to have a date with the 150s soon...

After the dinner I had last night, I thought for sure the scale would be up.  I solved my vegetable problem and made an assortment of roasted brussel sprouts, carrots, zucchini, and mushrooms to go with my 3 oz. of chicken breast.  I was so stuffed I could have sworn I'd just eaten a Big Mac and large fry.  Even when I woke up this morning my belly still felt a little heavy.  But hey, whaddya know.  A full belly of nutritious calories rather than gross, fat laden calories = a loss on the scale.  Now why didn't I think of that sooner?

Tuesday 19 March 2013

Takin' it to the streets

Since starting the Couch to 5K running program a month ago I have been not-so-patiently waiting for warmer weather and the snow to melt so that I can take my running skills from the treadmill to the great outdoors.  I swear, on every one of my designated running days Mother Nature has simply not co-operated with my plans.

Therefore, it was no surprise this morning when I woke up to see snow falling from the sky AGAIN.  But I checked the temperature and it was a mild 0°C, so I said "screw the snow" and laced up my outdoor runners.

I mapped out my run to match the 5 km I've been logging on the treadmill each session (I don't exactly follow the Couch to 5K plan... I do the "prescribed" part, and then continue to walk/run til I complete 5 km - gotta earn my Weight Watchers Activity Points somehow!).  Surprisingly, my time came in close to my usual time on the treadmill, although it took me a couple of minutes longer than it should have because I had to tiptoe through the first and last 0.5 km of my route.  The road my house is on is VERY icy.  I think what saved me is all the core strengthening I've been doing - everytime I'd hit a patch of ice and feel myself start to slide, my abs would immediately contract and keep me upright!

But it felt so good to be outside breathing in fresh air.  Final verdict?  Outdoor running kicks treadmill running's butt any day, even while being forced to step carefully on ice and through slush.  Hopefully the first day of spring tomorrow will finally bring some sunshine to melt all this nasty stuff!

Monday 18 March 2013

Veggie Tales

I just turned on the t.v. as I sat down to type here.  I'm not sure which channel it's on, but the program is a documentary on the making of goat cheese.  So now all I can think is, "Mmmmmm... goat cheese...."

Okay, focus McMuffintop, focus.

I went away for a few days and managed to squeeze in morning work outs due to bringing my work out gear and laptop (with Jillian Michaels videos on it).  I also did not gorge myself on delicious treats (although I could have).  My only indulgence was a beer on Thursday evening, and it hardly counts because it was one of those Molson Canadian Sublime thingies.  67 calories, thank you very much.

I'm beginning to tire of salads at almost every meal though, so I need to start thinking of new ways to eat vegetables.  Ironically, someone on the Weight Watchers message boards posted a similar comment about veggies a few days ago and I suggested making a vegetable soup.  I suppose I should follow my own advice, but I'm not in much of a soup mood right now either.

Anyway, with getting tired of salads and not having many other vegetable options in the house, I haven't eaten much in the way of veggies today at all, and my stomach is making it known.  It is 7:00 p.m., I just ate dinner an hour ago (a small plate of high fibre pasta with meat sauce) and my belly is yelling at me for more food.  And yes, I have had plenty of water. 

What to do, what to do?

Tuesday 12 March 2013

Reasons to pat myself on the back today

  1. I got up early this morning to run on the treadmill before packing up the car to head out of town for the rest of the week.
  2. Among items I've packed I have included my workout gear and hand weights.
  3. I have also packed up some of the veggies from my fridge so that I have healthy options over the next few days (and so they don't go to waste).
  4. I tried on a pair of pants from the box of clothes I haven't worn in almost 7 years and THEY FIT!
  5. Since I won't have access to my scale tomorrow on official weigh-in day, I weighed myself this morning. *Drumroll please* ....... 171.0 lbs!

As excited as I am that my pants fit again, there is one thing that I am not as excited about... MY CHEST HAS SHRUNK!  I mean, on one hand I'm glad that it has, but seriously I had to buy a couple of new sports bras last weekend because, er, I keep falling out of my old ones when I jump up and down.  Well, I bought a freakin' size MEDIUM!  I have never, ever worn a medium-sized sports bra in my life.  Even when my weight was down before, my chest still stayed at a large.  My mission this weekend is to hit up La Senza (bra/lingerie store in Canada) to get re-measured because my regular bras are getting also getting too big.

I guess it's the price I need to pay for becoming fit and fabulous!

Monday 11 March 2013

Why is it the one thing I'm good at is the worst thing for me?

One of my downfalls is my sweet tooth.  And that I am really good at baking.  Like really, REALLY good.

My sister called on the weekend to make plans for her 25th wedding anniversary this summer.  She asked me to bake the cake (actually, after long discussion we decided on cupcakes instead) because her son has a severe food allergy and she doesn't trust commercial bakery items.

I am more than happy to do this for her.  But I am a little scared.  No, VERY scared.

So far I have been able to avoid sweet temptations.  I do not have any in the house, however on the one occasion in these past two months that I went to a dinner where dessert was served, I had not just the pie but ice cream on top too.

Now do you see the problem?

Furthermore, when I bake something I like to taste test for quality control, especially when I use a recipe I've never used before.  It would be awful to bake cupcakes for 60 people and not have them taste good.  Right?  RIGHT?!  (I'm so good at using logic to justify why I'm overweight)

Anyway, obviously this is something I will need to work out.  I do have to say that when I had that dessert at dinner a couple of weeks ago, I was not tempted to have it again the next day which is usually what happens (when I fall off the wagon, I fall off HARD).  So that's a small victory, right?  I just need to keep my head in this weight loss game and remind myself that reaching my goal is much more important than giving in to old habits.

Thursday 7 March 2013

Before and After Sneak Preview

Eeek!  I can't believe I'm about to do this, but I figured it's time for some progress pictures... Since I'm not at my ultimate goal yet, consider this a "preview" before my REAL after pictures.

I knew that I could feel a difference in my clothes but it wasn't until I took pictures this morning and compared them to some "before" pics that I could REALLY see the inches I've lost.


         
  
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
I obviously still have a long way to go, and I WILL get there!  I'm excited to see where I'm at in another 15-20 lbs from now.

Wednesday 6 March 2013

Weight Watchers

I decided to join Weight Watchers on Saturday.

For the most part I'd been counting calories for the past 8 weeks, but I find it tedious.  I'd been considering Weight Watchers for a while now because I like the idea of their point system.

I do find it a bit easier, but I am confused as to why fruits are not given point values (even bananas!).  Maybe it's the diabetic in me, but I feel like I NEED to acknowledge that fruit has sugar and therefore calories.  Weight Watchers considers it a "free" food (although they do state that they expect it to be consumed in moderation). 

Anyway, today's weigh in is going back in the right direction:  174.8.  I think it is mostly due to losing the bloat from "that time of the month" because I certainly made some very bad choices this past week (*ahem* family dinner with gravy-covered meat and potatoes and not one but TWO decadent desserts *ahem*).

But I am staying on top of my exercise routine and I have to say that I am very impressed with myself in that department.  Tomorrow I begin the last phase of Jillian Michaels' Body Revolution and on cardio days I have been on the treadmill following the "Couch to 5K" running plan (I just finished week 3 of that).  I'm thinking of entering myself into some charity runs in order to motivate myself to continue running throughout the summer. 

Ahhh summer.... I can't wait for this snow to be gone!