Back in the saddle again...

As you could probably tell from the frequency of my posts and what I have had to say in my posts so far, I have not been doing so hot at this 50-in-50 plan. I FINALLY am done with my job. I feel like a new woman. I have more energy, more time to plan my life, and time to think. It's amazing.

It's led to all sorts of wonderful things, one of which is healthier eating and more time for exercising!! As I said a few weeks ago (or a month? I don't know...), I needed a re-boot. And I got it. :)

I feel like I'm my old self... I will be back with more regular posts and goals. Right now I am just detoxing and eating all my veggies and drinking all my water and MOVING. I am walking a 5K this weekend for the CROP Hunger Walk, and am going to work out a plan for my weights and sit-ups, etc. every evening. Anyone have recommendations on this? I used to just use my hand weights to do various arm exercises during commercials at night, and switch that up with crunches/sit-ups.

Thankfully, when I got on the scale the other day, I learned that I did not gain weight through all the craziness of the past month. So I don't have any ground to make up - just continuing on my journey. :)

The key for me is PLANNING. Here is this week's meal plan:

M-camp stew - with light/fat-free soups
T-a frozen fish/rice meal from Trader Joe's (Tuesdays are always a "free" night b/c hubby normally works late)
W-Greek style pork
Th-tortellini/ravioli (spinach filled) & mainly (for me) SALAD
Fri-taco salad
Sat-leftover buffet/mini appetizer-type things
Sun-I think I'll roast a chicken? or make chicken soup.

Look at that - NO TAKE OUT!! :) I'll work on coming up with healthier stuff for next week. Goal #1 was eating at home, rather than single-handedly supporting our local restaurants. :) Done.

I am a little discouraged that I'm 2 months in and have pretty much nothing to show for this whole thing, but I know that I can do anything I put my mind to, so I just have to PUT MY MIND TO THIS. :)

Week 5 - down a pound!

I met my goals last week! Back on Weight Watchers, and I lost all the fluff and back down a pound. So 49 to go. Whew. I will get there!

Worked out 2x -- that plus the eating better = SO MUCH MORE ENERGY!! I'm getting so much done around the house, I'm feeling more upbeat... all good things.

So Week 6 Goals:

Workout 2x again
Start figuring out a way to incorporate Yoga. I need this, very much. So I need to either do a DVD at home or get out to a class.
Continue on WW -- do even better this week!

Re-Boot Camp

I need a re-boot. These past couple weeks have been truly heinous. Let me back it up a bit. The holidays were really hard this year. I was sad about loved ones who are gone, we were sick a LOT, and I just felt dragged down. Oddly, though, I lost 5 lbs and kept it off during that time. So I think I am having a delayed reaction to all that and eating really poorly in January.

I also made the decision to leave my job. I work from home, and it's getting way too crazy. I can't keep up with everything going on. Which leads to take-out at night. And stress eating. Too much sugar and caffeine. All bad things. I will not be officially done working until probably mid-March, though, so I have this hectic schedule for a bit longer. I can't keep on eating like this!

So that is what is going on behind the scenes.

I tried doing Slim Fast last week, but was just hungry and crabby and then I ate more junk.

The only thing that has always worked (when I do it correctly) is Weight Watchers. So here I go. Starting today I am counting points. I had 1 or 2 weeks where just eating healthy with no pt-counting worked, but it's all gone downhill since then.

I put this out for you all to see for a reason. I need accountability!! I can't fail, you all are watching. :)

So, let's re-boot. Starting Week 5 - still have 50 lbs (plus some fluff accumulated from too much salty takeout) to go, but that's OK. 50 lbs in 45 weeks = still doable!

Week 5 Goals -
Get on track with Weight Watchers
Walk/jog 2x this week

See, now I have GOALS to complete this week or else I look like a fool! :)

Week 2 - Eh.

So week 2 was full of stress and big decisions yada yada - fast forward to the end of the week and I was up 3 lbs. Eating takeout and too much sugar does that. Plus - still no exercise.

However, a couple of days into Week 3, I am back down 2.5 lbs, so I am only .5 lb up from the end of Week 1.

Life! Big decisions were made and life should be getting easier in the next month or two. Until then, I need to eat healthier! So I have more energy to deal with all the curveballs, if nothing else. :)

Week 1

Alright, week 1 is over, and I lost another pound after that initial .5 lb... so I'm down 1.5 lbs, 48.5 to go!! :)

What I did this week:
Made smarter food choices. I really want to avoid counting points if I can, so for now, I'm eating more fruits/veggies, not stress-eating (or trying not to... :) ), and if I do get the munchies, I'm opting for a bag of raw green beans instead of Chex mix.
Got back to menu planning. Makes a big difference and cuts down on take-out!!

What I still need to do:
EXERCISE! I have been crazy busy with year-end stuff at work, and finishing the annual toy/clothes organizing projects I start every new year. Once things settle down, I plan to walk/jog with Olivia while Natalie is in school, 2-3 times a week. We may join the Y, but for now, if we can plan family hikes on the weekends, too, I think this is a good plan. And saves money! :)

That's about it. Really busy getting things done, so quick and to-the-point blog post for Week 1. :)

Help me! Need ideas...

What are your favorite healthy foods? Snacks, meals, whatever - please share! :) I'm trying to jazz things up around here.

.5 lb down, 49.5 to go! :)

I got on the scale this morning to see how much damage I did over the New Years weekend... and I lost a 1/2 pound!! So that's a great start.

That's all. :)

Before...

So here is my "before" picture, aka: "Now." In the interest of full disclosure, I will say that I have Spanx on in this picture. :) I can definitely see in the face area how much I have to lose, though. It's amazing how much a camera can show us what we don't want to see!

I will caption this one "0/50 lbs lost - December 9, 2011". I will do my official weigh-in tomorrow morning and get cracking on this... my first non-weight-loss goal is to organize the fridge/kitchen area. I truly believe that an organized set-up, with healthy foods readily available, is a must for any healthy eating plan. Plus, less chaos on the outside = less chaos on the inside, and easier to stick to one's goals. So, today and tomorrow, I will get to the store and get things pulled together around here. Also, the Y is having their registration sale, so I will head over there this week and get signed up. I've also made up my weekly schedule, with time allotted for my work, kids' stuff, eBay store stuff, and trips to the Y. 2012 is the year of weight loss, and being more organized than I ever have before. I have to, with 2 kids! :)

A new blog... for real! :)

I know, another blog. But everybody helped me sort through the homeschooling issue in my other blog, and it was fun to post about what we did and where we were at, and get encouragement and input from my friends. So... why not do that with this next challenge? I have gained 50 lbs since getting married in 2002. Our 10-year anniversary is in April, and during those 10 years, I have had 2 children, I am home with the kids, I no longer exercise, and my eating is atrocious. I am now 36 and I know it will not be as easy to lose weight as it was in my 20s.

But I am going to do it. I am carrying around 50 extra pounds, and that is too much! I want to be healthier for me and my daughters, I want to live a long and healthy life, and quite frankly - I want to feel cuter and enjoy clothes shopping as much as I used to. :) Yes, there is vanity involved in this quest!! Also, I really miss working out. I used to go 4-5x/week, before I had children, and it gave me energy and focus. I used to run and do aerobics and get high off endorphins. I would really enjoy having that energy back. It's either that, or someone out there needs to put more hours in the day... since that's not happening, I guess it's on me to up the energy level and get it all done!

I have told myself that I shouldn't diet or make a big deal out of this, b/c I don't want my daughters to have body issues. Well I think that's crap and an excuse I have made to get out of working at this. Sure if I started starving myself or if I had an unhealthy approach to losing the weight, that would mess with their sweet little heads and create issues that I never ever want them to have. But getting myself to a healthy weight and modeling a healthier lifestyle? That is the best gift I can give them.

So. 2012 will be the year. I will get back to my pre-baby weight, plus that extra 20 I had gained even before having these little ones. I will get my butt back to the gym. I will count my Weight Watchers points. By Christmas 2012, I will be 50 lbs lighter!!

Happy Holidays!