Week 3 - Stepback (but only minor)

Just finished week 3 on Weight Watchers - weigh in last Saturday (1/29/2011) was disappointing (gained 1.6 lbs).  Thought I had a handle on the program - although I probably ate more carbs (particularly breads) than I've had since starting the program.  I was on travel for work (in San Antonio), so I made a conscious decision to stay away from the rich cheesy Mexican/TexMex foods, BBQ, etc. that this southwestern city is known for and stuck with simple sandwiches, or soup and house salad, for lunch and dinner.  I tracked my points as actually as I could (given some of the meals weren't in the food guides so I had to make some guesses) and even get in some extra workouts. 

Next week will be better!

Birmingham area runner killed in tragic early monring accident

 To all my dear running/sports enthuasists, please be careful outside - especially in the early morning and late evening hours. Tragically, a runner was killed this morning while running in the Mountain Brook area of Birmingham. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.

http://m.myfoxal.com/wap/news/text.jsp?targetUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.myfoxal.com%2FGlobal%2Fstory.asp%3FS%3D13938781

Just registered for Heart & Sole 5K,| Sat, 2/5/2011 @ 9:00 AM

This race is benefiting parents who have children with Congenial Heart Defects. Hope to see you there!

http://www.active.com/page/event_details.htm?event_id=1921432

New Race Event Coming to Birmingham this Fall

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2011/01/ruben_studdard_and_mayor_willi.html

A Worthy Cause to Run For!

Found this on a running friend's blog:  check it out - Now I Run for a Cause!

Weight Watchers - week 2

This week I had a smaller weight loss, 1 lb, which is still in the right direction - SOUTH!  One theory I have about why such a modest weight loss is that I splurged that Saturday following my weigh-in, packing  on 3 lbs in the process.  Mom and I went to Ryan's for a late birthday celebration for her.  When I say 'splurge', I mean I consumed (or accounted for) a significant number of my Weekly Allowance and Activity points - but I eat any desserts or fried foods, but made other 'not-so-smart' choices, such as pork roast (not the lean cut), but few vegetables (salad, etc.).  I wonder that, if I had not decided to take such a deep plunge, my weight loss would have been more? HMM?  I can't dwell on what have been - I must focus on what can be!  You will be seeing less of me next week!

Is This Reason Enough?

If you have been putting off losing weight, then maybe new A&E TV Series Heavy will make you wait no more!

WEIGHT WATCHERS - WEEK 1

This was a good week - 4 lbs. 

And I had quite a few challenges - snow (yes, here in good ole Dixie) and stuck in the house 2 days, Mom's birthday, a big football game on TV, and a going-away lunch for a co-worker. 

Perhaps my most helpful tool was my pencil.  One of WW's program principles is tracking - writing down everything you eat and drink, including when you eat and what your hunger level is at the time.  So why do it? It helps you understand your eating patterns and habits and help you make better choices.  So what if you don't write it down?  You may ask -Will a meteor fall out of the sky and hit me? Not likely.  But you certainly may have a surprise at the scales and usually not a good one. If you can't stand to write in down, maybe you shouldn't be eating it, huh?

Weight Loss - A Journey, Not A Destination

After months of indecision and procrastination, I went back to Weight Watchers yesterday (1/8/2011).  I hadn't been satisfied with my weight loss for the year (I guess, any loss is better than no loss or worst as gain), so I decided to get back to basics and re-discover a program that has worked well for me so many times before.

My 1st success with Weight Watchers was in the early1990s (in my early 30s and still early in my career that my time was my priority).  I lost more than 60 pounds and was s close to my college weight than I had ever been.  I was very diligent and consistent, incorporating a significant amount of physical activity in my daily routine - working out at least 2 times a day about 3-4 times week. I also had a very good support system behind me - there were several co-workers whom I attended Weight Watchers with and worked out with during lunch.  I was certainly in a good place/space/time for managing my weight.  Unfortunately I got a new job (a promotion in another state) - and back on the weight loss roller-coaster ride!

Perhaps a significant marker in my weight loss journey was in 2005.  I returned to Weight Watchers and for three years, I managed to lose and keep off about 40 pounds.  Mind you, I was now more than a decade older - with forces acting upon me, both internal (due to the passage of time - a much slower, and less efficient, metabolism) and external (a failed marriage, a demanding work schedule and a serious knee injury) which certainly didn't make weight loss easy.  I must digress here - the failed marriage ended an unhealthy relationship, the demise of which  probably had a very positive impact on my weight loss; but that is a story for another time.

Then I took up running/jogging in late 2008 and since doing my 1st race in January 2009, my Weight Watchers attendance began to slip.  The races were mostly on Saturday mornings (the same day I was attending Weight Watchers meetings); while I could attend different meeting times, my Saturday morning leader was absolutely the BEST, so attending any other meeting won't be the same (right).  In 2010, I attended only one meeting.  While I did manage to lose about another 20 pounds over the course of 2009 and 2010, it was definitely due to my increased activity level (running 37 races of varying distances - from 5Ks to half-marathons).  But still that much running should have resulted in far greater weight loss, correct?  Well, not if your eating and nutrition aren't aligned accordingly. 

This may sound like a shameless plug for Weight Watchers, so be it.  You don't have to join Weight Watchers - but their principles are tried and true.  What's more - why do people return?  Because we fall off the wagon and Weight Watchers can certainly put you back on track.

Hope you will follow my journey!

Tracking Your Workouts

If you want a simple way to track your workouts, check out this website: justfinish.trainingdiaries.com.