Dear Weight Watchers...

Dear Weight Watchers,

Once again you have proven to me how the program DOES work. After going back to your meeting last week and committing myself to making it work, I jumped back in with both feet, making smart decisions whether I was eating at home or out, testing my willpower in some instances (i.e., no chips and salsa at Chili's!), and making new recipes that I have enjoyed all week long. I never once felt deprived or hungry or like I was missing out on something, even when choosing not to have the evil delicious chips and salsa at Chili's. To me, the points weren't worth it. I stuck to my points, walked a total of 24 miles since last Thursday, drank a lot of water, and took my vitamins.

Needless to say, I had high hopes when I went to the meeting this morning and got on the scale. Since last night I was thinking "oh no, what if despite all my hard work this week I didn't lose anything?" You never know with my body anymore. But, I was proven very wrong and I was very happy when I stepped on the scale and saw a 4 pound loss. GO ME!!!!

I walked out of there feeling very empowered, happy to have some sort of control over my body again after it has had a mind of it's own the last several months. I have a long road ahead of me and a lot of hard work to get it back to where I want to be, my "happy weight". But seeing that loss this morning tells me I CAN DO IT. My hard work will not go unnoticed.

It's only a matter of time that I will be more comfortable in my clothes and feel better in my skin. Thank you for once again showing me that I can eat healthy and enjoy it and that I don't need all that bad stuff that does nothing for me except stick to my hips.

Love,
Me

Let's do this.

I did it - I stuck to my promise and walked this morning. I had to go on the treadmill due to the rain and by the time I decided the rain wouldn't stop for me, I only had 30 minutes to get it done. I did 2 miles in 34:35. The miles seem to take so much longer on the treadmill and I am not sure why there seems to be such a time difference beetween walking outside and on the treadmill, but there is. Regardless, I did it. Day one of getting back to it.
I am setting some goals for myself and I want to share them with you. Some you've heard before, some maybe you have not.

• No Starbucks today, tomorrow, or Friday. They should be a rare treat on the weekends, not several days a week.
• Get back to drinking at least 64 oz. of water a day. Most days I meet this goal, but I need to do it EVERYDAY.
• Focus more on fruits and veggies and less on processed foods.
• Track every bite I take. This has fallen very low on my list of priorities and that needs to change. The busier I am, the harder this is so I just need to really focus on it.
• Walk 3 days a week, no less. More is good, but not less. I have to remember that even in this funk when I don't want to walk, I will feel much better after I've done it. Plain and simple.

Some of you may have heard about the #7daychip, maybe you have not. I've seen it fly by in Twitter posts and read about it on a couple different blogs I follow. Most recently I read about it over on Jen's blog, Jen In Real Life. She just got her #7daychip after setting a goal to track her food everyday. As she put it, she tracked everything for 8 days - the good, the bad, the ugly. If she can do it, so can I.

I visited the website for the #7daychip, which you can find here. You can read about Brad Gansberg and more on his website. The #7daychip is an acknowledgement of going 7 days without eating in an uncontrolled manner. You determine your own standards that you need to achieve this goal.

Since I want, NEED, to get back to tracking all of my foods, my goal is the same as Jen's. To track everything I eat for 8 days. The good, the bad, the ugly. When I'm done (notice I didn't say if), it will be a big accomplishment, one that will work side by side with my Weight Watchers goals. The goals that I know work when I do it.

With that said, I've already had 2 bottles of water this morning and I had oatmeal for breakfast, with soy milk and half an apple. Very filling.

Have any of you done the #7daychip? I'd love to hear about it if you have! Feel free to share some of your goals, too.

And the scale says...

I went to WW yesterday, unsure what the scale would say. After being sick and missing the meeting last week, and only walking twice in the past two weeks, I thought it might be up. I was pleasantly surprised to see a 1 lb. loss.

Weight:  154.4 lbs.
Total loss:  11.4 lbs.
I am 0.80 lbs. away from my lowest which was on 06/03/11. I had two gains since then so this loss made me happy. I am still trying to get to my next goal of 16 lbs. total, which will be 10% and almost halfway to my goal of 130 lbs..

I walked this morning at the park with hubby and the dogs. With the heat we've had, I have not been walking the dogs like I used to. But there was actually a cool breeze this morning and I thought it would be a great start to the long weekend. We walked 2.16 miles in 59 minutes - very slow but still a great walk. Blue and Ozzie enjoy getting out as much as I do.

My goals for this coming week are:
- keep up with my 64 oz. of water a day, which I have done very well with
- restock the fridge with fresh fruits for 0 point snacks
- make garden vegetable soup for lunches which is very filling
- walk at least 4 days this week

What are your goals?

May Your Way Check-In: May 11

Geez, it's Wednesday AGAIN. Where is May going?? And why is it so hard to accomplish things this month? I know, wah, wah, wah... Could I get some cheese with that wine?

So last week my check-in was alot of worry over my impending WW weigh-in which happens Friday mornings. I was right to be worried because I gained 1.2 pounds. I expressed my concern over how I am the only one who can make things happen in my favor. At the end of the day, it is ALL ABOUT ME.

Last week's *SisterSays* mission was attempted,  but not achieved. I did not get in 64 oz. of water a day. On the days I kept track, I came close. I really need to work on this more because I love water and there are times when I can't get enough of it. I need to get back to that place.

This week's *SisterSays* mission of 5 servings of fruits and veggies ever day should really be easy for me. Every day I have a big salad with lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, and artichokes. I also have mango or pineapple, sometimes both. Then there is a veggie of some sort with dinner. I'm pretty sure I'll rock this week's mission.

I set a new goal for myself this week to help get me back on track with working out after last week's big fat 0 in the workout department. To get my 15 miles a week in, I have decided to walk in the mornings so it's done and I don't stress when I get home about things I should be doing when I am walking. So far I walked yesterday morning and this morning. I already met my weekly goal of TaeBo 2 days a week. I did it Monday and today. Being that it's just Wednesday, I am hoping to get a bonus day in as well. Fingers crossed.

I have not been on the scale since last Friday at WW. I won't get on one until this Friday at WW. I do not have a scale at home, nor do I want one. The urge to get on it daily would be more than I can handle and it would hurt me more than it would help me.

I took part in SisterChat on Monday - it was fun. I love all the ramblings of cool women striving for the same thing as me. Before I had to log off, there were many topics being discussed. I like that and I am excited to join in again next Monday.

So, in closing.... I will continue with my personal goal of walking every morning and TaeBo twice a week, get back to drinking those 64 oz. of water a day, and keep up my good habit of eating 5 servings of fruits and veggies every day. I can do this!!

Anyone following my blog who is interested in joining in the fun that is May Your Way, visit Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans . Everyone over there ROCKS!