What if it's really not that hard?

So here's the thing, I have been doing this thing now for about 9 weeks now and I haven't had too many struggles really.  To be perfectly  honest, so far it hasn't been that hard.  My sister Nancy who is at her goal weight at WW told me that for her it wasn't hard.  This has got me thinking, what if it's not?  What if you just need to put one foot in front of the other and do the program (I'm doing Weight Watchers) and get results?  I think that the bottom line is that if you're ready and you want it bad enough (and I do) it can be easy to lose weight.  So many people that have succeeded in this say the same thing, it's a simple formula.  Eat less and move more.  I present to you my jar with the pretty glass stones.  13 of them now :-)

Weigh in and some challenges

On Friday I weighed in at WW and I lost 2 more lbs!  So that's a total of 11.4 lbs down.  I'm very happy with that it feels good.  My jeans are starting to feel loose too.  I'm not quite down a size but getting close.  I dug through my closet and found a pair of 16's (I'm in an 18 now) and they fit me but not real comfortable yet.  I have had some challenges food wise this weekend and I'm happy to say I faced them all head on and I won!!  Last night it was supper at my parents and there was Hash brown casserole on the menu which I didn't eat and then ice cream cake for dessert!  My Mom wanted me to cut the cake (because for some reason I usually do it) and I told her "no, since I'm not having any I don't want to be tempted".  It actually didn't bother me too much.  In some ways it felt good to feel the power over the food.  Today 2 of my nieces and I went to the Justin Bieber movie (very good, I recommend it!).  I took my own snacks in my big purse!  I popped a bag of 100 calorie popcorn and a chocolate Fiber One bar and brought along a bottle of water.  I munched along with the girls and didn't feel deprived at all.  Saved some $$ too!  Go me!!

Weigh in and I'm still here!

I am really finding it hard to find the time to update my blog now that I'm back to work!  Busy, busy these days.  I weighed in last Friday and once again it was a small loss but still a loss just the same.  I'm happy about the fact that so far I have had a loss every week since I started!  Down 0.8 lbs for a total of 9.4.  I am taking this thing day by day, minute by minute, and yes bite by bite.  Still very focused and finding it really not very hard at all.  I have had some temptations but I have really tried to substitute healthy or low calorie/point options for the foods I'm craving.  And it's working!  My first mini goal is 5% of my weight.  That would be 11 lbs.  Can't wait for that.  Also with any luck  hard work I am hoping for another 5 lb star this week.  I'm all about mini goals.  And there's nothing like stickers for Kindergarten kids and Weight Watchers.

Gym....FINALLY

Yes that's right folks I finally went to the gym tonight after work!  I have been really putting it off because I just don't know if this ankle is healed enough.  I rode the bike for 30 minutes, then I did some upper body on the weight machines.  Here's the best part, my ankle feels great!  I'm not ready for the treadmill, and I even think the elliptical wouldn't be good but at least it's a start and it's CARDIO!  I am excited!  Other news, my darling husband has lost 20 lbs!!  I have hardly seen him in the past 2 weeks (he's been away and I was away and he's away now!) but I'm very happy for him.  We are both on our way to getting healthy and it feels good. 

Weigh in and the Holy Grail

Weekly weigh in was good.  I am down 1.6 lbs.  I am happy with that!  I weighed in at my Sister's WW meeting.  It is a very big group (we didn't stay for the meeting) but it looked very welcoming and I wouldn't hesitate to go there if my "at work" meeting closes in the future.  I will go there for sure the week she is awarded her lifetime membership.  Such an awesome accomplishment.  My sister, and two of my cousins and I traveled 4 hours on Friday to a cute Bed and Breakfast to get together and do some Scrapbooking.  We had so much fun!  The B&B was so nice, and the woman that runs it was so friendly!  I'll link you to her blog That Country Place  The only problem was that she was an awesome cook and the meals were to die for!  Problem being that there wasn't choices when it came to meal time so I had to do my best.  I just hope I don't gain this week.  I am sticking like glue to the program now, so it was really only 1 day that I didn't do great.  I should be fine (she says hopefully).  On to the Holy Grail.  I talked with my sister a lot about reaching her goal.  I wanted to hear how it feels to be there.  It's like she is at the place in her life that I have always dreamed about.  According to her, it's as awesome as I think it will be.  I am reading a book that was on a fellow blogger's recommended reading list.  It is called "Half Assed:  A Weight Loss Memoir by Jeannette Fulda.  It is a great book about a woman that lost almost 200 lbs.  This book is the first one I bought on my new Kindle e-reader!!  I'm  loving it so far.  I actually think I'll go read right now! 

Weigh in Day

I lost 0.2 lb today.  I am not proud of that but I am proud of 7 lbs total.  I can put another turquoise stone in my jar.  I have been weighing in my yoga pants so far and today I wore jeans.  I'm sure they are at least a pound heavier.  So I'm not going to let it bother me.  My sister (who by the way is at GOAL) has been giving me great advice and pep talks.  She said it took her about 10 months to lose 40 lbs so that is an average of 4 lbs per month.  She said that often it was in small amounts like 0.4 or 0.6 and they all add up to make pounds lost.  It's not going to come off overnight, this I know for sure. 

Back to work and lists

Back to work yesterday and I have to tell you it sucks!  (For those of you who don't know, I am a laboratory technologist and I work at the Veterinary Lab at the College of Vet Med.  It's a fun and interesting job most of the time but it can be crazy busy!)  Just kidding really, I love my job but it was nice to not be there for 6 weeks.  I was getting bored though so it was time.  I wish my ankle was in agreement.  It was very sore and swollen last night.  My sweet husband had supper all ready for me and cleaned up after too.  I was able to ice and elevate my foot for the evening.  Tonight is more of the same I'm afraid.  I am just so tired of this saga.  Can't wait for it to feel better. 

Once again I am becoming obsessed with the scale.  I hate it.  My husband is weighing every morning and I am always right behind him.  So here's the thing, between yesterday's weigh in and today it was a 1.5 lb gain.  I have been sticking like glue to the program so I don't know how this can happen.  I also had a hysterectomy a few years ago so it's not PMS!  I really just think a person's body weight just fluctuates that much on a daily basis.  I have to hide the scale again!!  It makes me crazy.

I have been trying to make a new list of why I want to lose weight.  I did some searching and found an awesome list of 70 reasons!  I'm going to post it here.  I'll put my small little list after.

 70 Reasons to Lose Weight

· If you lose weight, you will be more appealing to others.

· If you lose weight, you can have skinny people as friends again.

· If you lose weight, you will feel the power of accomplishment.

· If you lose weight, you can get regular shoes instead of Velcro.

· If you lose weight, you won't have to worry about wearing revealing clothes such as shorts or a bathing suit.

· If you lose weight, you will stop wearing out the thighs of your pants.

· If you lose weight, you can bury that self-consciousness about people watching you eat, wondering how much you weigh, and all those other mental games that the conscious is capable of.

· If you lose weight, you will be able to go out in a boat on a lake.

· If you lose weight, you will feel like playing with your pets again, and you will be able to.

· If you lose weight, you won't embarrass people when you tell them you are not pregnant.

· If you lose weight, the clothes you wear will look better on you and will appear tailored instead of baggy and sloppy.

· If you lose weight, you can toss those industrial-sized granny panties and get some that are cute and sexy.

· If you lose weight, not only will you ease your mind about your health, you will ease the minds of friends and family who also worry about you.

· If you lose weight, you can quit worrying about coming up with new excuses for being overweight.

· If you lose weight, getting dressed in the morning will be enjoyable instead of the trigger for depression.

· If you lose weight, you can shave all of your legs instead of just what you can reach.

· If you lose weight, you will feel sexier and when you feel sexier, you will become sexier.

· If you lose weight, you will feel more comfortable when driving or riding in a car.

· If you lose weight, you will be able to use a regular towel instead of the beach towels.

· If you lose weight, you will feel good about yourself.

· If you lose weight, you will be able to wear one of the patient gowns at the doctor's office instead of two or three.

· If you lose weight, you will feel better physically.

· If you lose weight, your breasts will undoubtedly stick out farther than your stomach.

· If you lose weight, you will be able to buy stylish clothes that you like, not just because they fit.

· If you lose weight, you won't mind telling people how much you weigh.

· If you lose weight, your heart won't have to work as hard.

· If you lose weight, you can cross your legs again.

· If you lose weight, you will be happier.

· If you lose weight, you won't dread having your picture taken.

· If you lose weight, you will be healthier and less likely to acquire illnesses associated with weight gain such as diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, and poor circulation.

· If you lose weight, you will be able to wipe yourself completely again.

· If you lose weight, you won't mind eating around others.

· If you lose weight, you will be better able to detect tumors or abnormal growths.

· If you lose weight, you will eat healthier food; therefore your family will eat healthier.

· If you lose weight, you won't perspire as much, and will feel and smell cleaner.

· If you lose weight, you will be less winded when walking stairs or long distances.

· If you lose weight, your laundry time will be reduced because of the smaller clothing.

· If you lose weight, you will become an inspiration and motivator to others who are trying to lose weight.

· If you lose weight, people in the grocery store won't be analyzing your cart to see what you're eating that's making you so fat.

· If you lose weight, you will live longer.

· If you lose weight, you can ride a horse instead of torturing it.

· If you lose weight, you won't have a fear of scales any more.

· If you lose weight, friends and family will be able to remember you as a small person instead of a fat person.

· If you lose weight, you will look better, and when you look better, you automatically feel better.

· If you lose weight, you won't dislike skinny people again.

· If you lose weight, you won't mind looking in the mirror.

· If you lose weight, you will want to go to that next class reunion.

· If you lose weight, your back and feet will thank you.

· If you lose weight, you can ride a motorcycle again because you will be able to successfully lean with the bike.

· If you lose weight, you will become less critical and negative about yourself.

· If you lose weight, your grocery bill will be reduced.

· If you lose weight, you will want to take the stairs instead of the elevator (and you'll be able to!).

· If you lose weight, your doctor's visits and medical expenses will likely be reduced.

· If you lose weight, you will be able to order clothes from your favorite catalog again.

· If you lose weight, you will feel like doing more activities.

· If you lose weight, you will have more mobilityto do things like, play with kids/grandkids, walk, run, do housework, yard work, etc.

· If you lose weight, you can enjoy dancing again without feeling ashamed.

· If you lose weight, close friends and family will stop naggingyou about dieting and losing weight.

· If you lose weight, you will be more likely to exercise which will make you more physically fit.

· If you lose weight, you will be able to wear a sexy bra (that actually fits).

· If you lose weight, you will have more confidence and boost your self-esteem.

· If you lose weight, summer can be your favorite season of the year again.

· If you lose weight, you will get to wear smaller sized clothing.

· If you lose weight, your doctor will stop badgering you about weight loss plans, healthy eating, blah, blah, blah. (Like you really want to look the way you do.)

· If you lose weight, shopping will be more enjoyable because you will be looking for smaller sized clothes in the latest styles.

· If you lose weight, you won't feel hatred toward mirrors
 anymore.

· If you lose weight, you will unleash energy that's been stored up inside you.

· If you lose weight, you can offer support and encouragement to others who are trying to lose weight.

· If you lose weight, your socks will stay up over your calves.

· If you lose weight, you can go to the movies again and not have to worry about fitting in the seats.


Here's my new 2011 list of reasons I want to lose weight:

1.  to be at a healthy BMI
2.  to be a lifetime member at Weight Watchers
3.  to finally get out of the "plus size" section of clothes (and to be able to buy clothes at Costco!)
4.  to not be afraid to go to the Doctor (mine usually mentions my weight and the fact that I need to lose, so I would love to go and not have that be an issue anymore!)

Really that's about it.  The 70 reasons are great though!  I can relate to so many of them.

· If you lose weight, you will feel more comfortable when driving or riding in a car.· If you lose weight, you will be able to use a regular towel instead

the simple mention of the word "diet" makes us hungry. It's never been figured out why, but basically it goes back to the saying that we all want something that we just can't have. Hopefully the 70 reasons to lose weight will help keep you motivated and on the straight and narrow, and make you smile along the way.