This week has been very strange for me. I have been eating very healthy, but I still don't feel safe to exercise since I haven't been feeling 100%-I think it's bronchitis- doctor thinks it's allergies-how do you know that you know more than a doctor?? I am looking forward to getting active again-hopefully it will be soon. This weekend is swamped with baseball tournament, Islandfest, and more baseball- plus it is the last 2 weeks of school, so all is crazy at this point. Final projects, tests, exit exams...the list goes on-  I am certainly looking forward to the 10 weeks of pure freedom-I call it a "retirement tease"-because it is all that and more! LOL   Our flowers around the house are looking great, the deck in the back will be our summer project-needs to be taken down and re-done. Lots of work, but it will be worth it!

Well, tomorrow is Friday, and I need my sleep to make it through the day of a 7th grade teacher.

I will be blogging again on Sunday after my weigh - in.

With summer in mind- it's time for some relaxing tea-

E-

I'm Still Here!

I have not been blogging for several reasons...one, my son's baseball and spring hockey schedule keeps me going 24/7, two, my school work for my 7th graders piles up on me like crazy, and thirdly, it is the end of the school year and I am just loaded with paper work to do, cleaning up to do, housework inside and out to do, and wanting to fit in readin a good book and crocheting.

I am still on the journey to losing the 10 pounds I've been blogging about. I did very well, but then gained it back. I am not giving up this journey though, so stick with me- the best is yet to come!

We are grilling on cedar planks tonight-yes, fresh walleye from Lake Erie- fresh pineapple on the grill as well, and some corn on the cob and fresh steamed green beans with almonds. Yes, I even made a low fat trifle with fat free pound cake, fat free pudding, fat free cool whip and strawberries! YUM! Only one serving!

I have had the opportunity to crochet my oldest son's afghan. It turned out beautifully and now I am half done with my younger son's. I have a sea green afghan started with sampler squares, but I am not sure who the recipient of that one will be. It looks very feminine, so maybe a family member or a friend...

I have taken some nice walks with my husband. We walk at least three miles when we go-so it'a always a good workout. We biked over to Swan Island the other day-it was such a nice ride! Lots to look at and lots to discover. I think this is the only reason why I love this island so much- the scenrey and the natural areas are just one to soak in...

More to come later-

Stick with me!

E-

New Year- New Me-

The Monday after Easter was my weigh-in day at WW. I wasn't nervous about it- I just reminded myself that I was pretty determined, and stuck to my points , so I should do ok- or stay the same. I was surprised and happy to see that I lost 2.2 pounds! I was happy because I tried very hard not to eat a lot at 2 family Easter get togethers, plus I had to control myself when we had my Dad's birthday cake from my favorite bakery! I split a piece with my husband-so I felt safe on that decision.  When we got home, we went for a 4 mile walk to help with the weekend eating-but later in the evening, we had popcorn made on the stovetop by the bucketful!  (We counted it as dinner and snack since we had an Easter Brunch that day!) LOL

I am now down 5.8 pounds. I have 8 more pounds to go to get to my goal. This week I have tracked my points, drank my water, walked, and self-talked a lot so that I wouldn't binge or over do anything. It's so easy to add on to portion size and add on helpings. I am using a lot of the "anchoring" techniques that I've learned at the WW meetings-they help!

Well, it's only Wednesday, so I have 4 days and a half to continue to do well. Weigh in is Monday- hope it is in the negative again!

Have a great week!

E-

New year-new me-still!!

Today has been a good day. I have been keeping to points this week, and have been very aware of my moods and my urges to eat. I have been eating the 5 fruits and veggies required of WW, so it has been a great help. I also have been drinking the 6 glasses of water. My husband and I went out to eat last night, and I had hot water with a lemon-what a nice "filler". I ate only half of my veggie omelet and I felt full.

Keeping my food diary is great for me because I can plan ahead, and account for food I want to eat ahead of time. I rarely use my weekly allowance points, but when I need a small piece of candy like a taffy or a mini-tootsie pop drop- I'm good to go!

I had some students ask me today if I wanted a birthday cupcake- it looked so good! I said "no", I'm trying to watch it- and they were very understanding! LOL Middle school kids can be so cool!

I hope my weigh -in next Monday goes well, I'm trying very hard.

With that in mind-time for dinner!

WW oven "fried" chicken, broccoli and sweet potatoes! Yum!

E-

New Attitude-

I went to weigh in on Monday- I lost 3.2 pounds. I am really excited about that! I had such a struggle with losing 5 and gaining it back- now I feel I am on the weight loss journey I had begaun a while ago. I have to do a lot of self talk, and a lot of planning for the food I will prepare for the week. I made myself walk w/o my husband the other day, and was quite glad I did!
I know that this is a time consuming endeavor-it's not going to happen over night-it cannot be rushed. I think that because I want instant results, I get super upset when I don't lose one week-I need to keep in mind that this took months to put on-it's going to be that way to take it off. Patience is the key, and a good attitude.
I hope everyone reading can learn what I did-relax and enjoy the new foods, fruits and veggies made a different way-adding more seafood to your diet, and a lot of water!
Keeping up with new low fat and heart healthy cookbooks are great too. I have a new magazine called Eating Healthy, and I look at the WW website for recipes, and purchase their cookbooks as well.
There are plenty of websites too-just look!
Have a great day!
E-

new me /new year-take 2

Well, here I am. I had to regroup and re-commit to my losing 10 pounds. I went to WW to weigh in-I am right back where I started...
I am tracking my points, giving up a few bad habits, and trying to add some good ones.
I am trying to eat the lesser meal at night, so that I won't sleep on a heavy stomach. I feel better too-especially if I go walking.
Today I was reminded of all things that I've forgotten while I am able to walk on this beautiful island of ours. I saw some water fowl; swans, geese, heron, and a little bird I'm not sure of-but it is an eye grabber! I saw boats out for early fishing, and I also saw people out and about doing their own walking and bike riding, and also yard work or home improvement work.
I am strengthened by the fact that I am not alone in this struggle to remain healthy for my "elder years" in the near future. I was greeted by many people who are around my age- late 40's, early 50's, 60's....who probably feel the exact same way I do. I need to shed that extra poundage from this winter of ours.
Fortunately we have been blessed with an early Spring-88 degrees in March in Michigan! Record breaker!
My hydrangea is beginning to sprout and so is the clematis out back near the fountain. I feel like an expectant mother when they begin to reappear in the warmth of the sun. They are truly my babies. :)
So, maybe there is a lesson to be learned by Mother Nature. Try. This is why I chose the graphic for this post. I need to try to be what I am most comfortable at-I want to be comfortable in my body-so I am going to TRY! I made the commitment (and saw myself in shorts!) and I am sticking to it!
My family may hate it, but it's for the better for them all to be involved in this.
My husband was so funny when he talked to me from out of town. He was telling me how the work area that he is at is set up so that he has to walk from one end of a convention center to the other to get his work done, so he is using the "travel" from one end to the other as exercise time. How convenient! I love it!
Well, I have some reading to do-
Sounds like a good time for tea-
Have a great week-
E-

Here we go again!

Well, I was off to such a good start-
I totally went off goal. No one can ever say that family stress doesn't have anything to do with weight gain! I have gained the 5# I lost back again, and I have not been tracking my points and I have felt terrible-only because of what I let myself do...
I know I don't look terrible-but I look not so good- to me! I am uncomfortable in my clothes, dressing for work is getting to be a hastle, and food just discusts me at the time being.
This weekend I am setting new goals for myself-
When I write them all down and decide a new program for myself-I will share it. I will continue to go to WW, but I think I need to sit down with myself and work out a new goal and strategies that are going to help me get on my way to losing the 10 # I need to lose.
I read the Mayo Clinic diet and it is very similar to WW- so I think I am going to find a way to combine the two, and call it my own.
I know for sure that I am definitley working in daily activity- since it is now nice outside, and I won't freeze to death walking in the cold.
Ok- this is it for today- thanks for sticking it out with me through the "thick" and "thin" of all this. LOL-
I will do this- I just need to get my poop in a group!
Have a great weekend!
E-

Have some tea!!!!!!!!!