New Year- New Me

I had my weigh in yesterday- I was up .8. Now I know that it doesn't sound like much, but when you try very hard to eat only 26 points a day, and watch your husband eat a Blondie at Applebee's right in front of you- with no tastes...it's kind of hard to take!
I did so well-or so I thought...I guess I just have to try harder this week-I have to start exercising! That's what it is!!
I have been on an emotional roller coaster all weekend and these first few days of the week- so hopefully it will all settle down and I will get more focused.
I don't have much to say- just that we have to stick with it! Never, ever, ever give  up! I think that's a famous British quote from an old war! :)

Onward MacDuff! (Shakespeare)
With that on my mind-
Time for Tea-
E-

New Year-New Me

I am very excited to announce that today on my day off, I was able to attend a WW meeting and weigh in for my first week. I lost 5 pounds total! I was in shock! I was very strict with my 26 points, I used some flex points throughout the week, and I even went to a bowling fundraiser for my son and had a few beers! I was really on guard though- I didn't eat any pizza, and I brought a bag of mixed nuts and Pepridge farms baked crackers cheddar flavor to nosh on while having a brewski! It really worked for me this past week! I just hope I can be successful again this week-knowing I won't lose that much - I am hoping for 2 pounds.
I went for a walk around the island-almost 3 miles. (Not the whole island! ) LOL -
I also ate a good breakfast/lunch since my meeting took me out of the house a little longer than I planned.
Dinner is WW recipe for Chicken Hash-  NYC restaurant favorite, and a Healthy Eating magazine recipe for mashed potato/brussels sprout frittata! Together the meal is only 9 points!
Keep eating those fruits and veggies! They are the key!
Time for TEA!
E-

New Year- New Me!

Today was another great day points-wise. I had a good lunch which included an apple with the new Jiff peanut butter take-along, a baby bell cheese round, and a cutie. I also had a nice poached egg and dry whole grain toast for breakfast. Dinner was a great WW recipe-Stir fry beef and broccoli-had a little zing to it-good!
I finished my poncho today after work while I waited for the meat to marinate for dinner-it turned out very nice! Now I will begin mom's request for a yellow baby sweater. Since son #2 has hockey- it's the perfect time.
I got all of the tests scored last night and today, so I feel good about using my extra time crocheting. I have a beautiful pattern for an open-work cardigan for spring and summer. I will work on that as well. I picked a seafoam green color- I think it will turn out nicely.
Next week I have a 2 day break for "winter break" here in Michigan. Not that it's a very lengthy break, but a break all the same. I plan on doing a lot of relaxing those 2 days...
I will probably end up cleaning and cooking and baking a lot while the house is empty! LOL
Well, here's to another good day. I need to keep my spirits up and my confidence in tact!~
Hope you do the same!

With all of that-
Time for tea!
E-

New Year-New Me...

Day 3 of feeling empowered with my WW healthy living quest...
I had a great day of sticking to points. I made a wonderful pasta recipe with asparagas, tomatoes, and a couple of strips of low fat bacon in penne! Wow was it ever good. It is a 8 point per serving WW dish.
I did a 30 minute lower body cardio workout on my Direct TV-wasn't sure how I would do-but I did fine-hung right in there!
I am suffering from cold symptoms (headache, stuffiness...) but I made myself try it.
I am so glad that my husband is such a great supporter of this healthy living kick I'm on- but I assure him that it is the best for both of us! I made each of us a Michigan salad for our lunches-what a perfect treat! The Traverse City cherries and walnuts taste so good with the low fat vinegrette we have. I suggest everyone make it!!
Well, with my head stuffed and my tests to score call me- I better sign off for now.
Maybe some tea would be the key for me! (LOL)
E-

New Year-New Me (?) I lost count!

Today is Tuesday and I feel much better. I had a little set back, but am on my way now! I went into WW and weighed in. I weigh more than I thought, but I'm ok with that! My home scale must be losing it's bounce- it's about 4 pounds off! AHHHHHHHHH! LOL- Needless to say, I got the new WW info., and began with the 2012 version of Points Plus- not bad-26 points now, but they are giving more flex points-I never did understand those flex points, it feels like I'm allowed to cheat! I hope I don't use too many of those per week!
I went grocery shopping after work today-now mind you- I hate to grocery shop, but on a Tuesday afternoon around 3:00, it wasn't so bad...it was actually quiet and realxing??? I bought some good food for dinners and lunches, and snacks that are healthy and some WW products. My sons are going to have to deal with me until May- because that is how long I have given myself to reach goal weight. But it won't stop there- I want to be heart healthy-I want to cook it, live it, and be it. I can't afford not to be...I've lost too many family members to heart disease at a young age, and I am closing in on that wonderful age of 50. So- now is definitely the time!
I have done extremely well these last 2 days- I actually haven't felt hungry-so I think I am eating those power foods that keep you full longer. It really makes a difference.
I have been crocheting a poncho for myself for the spring baseball games. My youngest is playing school ball and travel ball, so the spring will be chilly- It is almost done. It is a beautiful color-it's called drift wood-but it has a mixture of lt. brown and soft blue in it.
I just finished a prayer shawl, so now I have one equal to my mother and sister, which I made for Mother's Day for them last year.
I made a baby sweater for a friend at work having her 2nd baby-a girl this time...
I am now commisioned to crochet a yellow one for my mom's neighbor's daughter who just had a little one 3 months ago.
This is what keeps my hands busy so that I don't eat too much after dinner! :)
Hope you have a good day/week!

Here's to Tea!
E-

New Year New Me (10)

Today I came to a startling epiphany- I can't lose the weight until I get serious about it- I don't mean, I just want to lose 10 pounds- I really want it- like an army guy who yells at the new recruits-"get down and give me 50"!! LOL
I gave it a lot of thought today-(not quite sure how I got through 6 hours of The Call of the Wild with my 7th graders-but we did!)   :)  but I truly think that my state of mind was just not in the right mode- but I think I am headed in the right direction.
I went onto my health insurance provider's web site (HAP), and I connected with the health and fitness tab-it will walk you a questionaire about your health and fitness, habits, and even mental health questions. It then gave me a plan to get more motivated to exercise for the health of it, not just to lose weight.
I am very concerned about my heart health since my family is douced in heart issues and also diabetes, so it is my overall concern to whittle the waste so my future is a good one. Not smoking is a plus, and I do have an occasional drink, but nothing to ever worry about. I am going to see my doctor soon, and I also have my mamogram scheduled, so, again, on the right path.
I am going to read over the plan I received from HAP today- and then this weekend I plan on purging my cupboards in the kitchen and stock them with the good stuff.
Gotta go to hockey now-
In a hurry as usual!
Wish I could have tea!
E-

New Year-New Me! (9)

Well, as you can see, I am having difficulty keeping up with my blog here...I am also having difficulty keeping myslef motivated to drop these 10 pounds! I want to, but I am getting extremely lazy due to stress at home at at work. I feel like I am over loaded with it...I actually have a doctor's appointment soon to see what ailes me...not quite sure, and not very good at self medicating! :)
I have a WW account and joined a 40 mile challenge for the month of February-not doing so well- thought I would get right at it since our weather is mild enough (40 degrees or so) or do the walking tapes with Leslie Sansone-but it's just not happening.
Food-wise, I have done so well-but this week it's just gone down hill for me. I want coffee dunkers, quick breads, muffins-all the comfort food that I love-
Not quite sure how to stop myself from baking them and buying them! How does one do that??? LOL
I look at every day as a new starting point-so hopefully tomorrow will be the beginning I need-as fo today-I already blew it...I had pizza and salad with the girls at work, and then I had a few peanut M&M's!
I feel terrible-but I will get over it.
Hope you are having a better time of it-
It's time for me to ger serious!

With that in mind-
Time for Tea-
E-