I now have Fridays off at work. This will only be for the summer, but as a result I have opted to switch WW meetings to a Friday morning. Previously I have been to afternoon meetings; thats 2 meals and snacks into my day. It was no surprise to me that I took off, but I was happy to see that it was 3 lbs. Like a good Weight Watcher, I stayed for the meeting. I have to admit that the people at the meetings seem to blend into each other. Only two women caught my attention because they were the meeting talkers. Every meeting has one, a person who always has a comment, has to agree loudly, gets off topic easily, etc. When I get comfortable I can come close to being one of these people, but so far I have been silent unless the leader asks me to speak. So woman one is 81 and wanted to let us know that she was so glad to see younger people here trying to change their lives. Why was she called on? I have no clue anymore. Woman two, the real talker, even interupted herself with questions. First it was a question about an insurance company that gives coupons for WW; she wanted to know if they were accepted here. Second, it was how she had destroyed her book from the first meeting. She just never stopped talking and when she wasn't, you could see her desire to add something to the current conversation.
The leader of this meeting was a sub, the normal leader being on vacation. I liked her more than I have liked others at this location. She included people, allowed people to make comments, but did not allow others to dominate it. She began the meeting by discussing what we wanted to discuss. I liked that she was honest about eating, she said that we can reward ourselves with food every so often. What I didn't care for was that she was on the program to loose 25 lbs (granted it was 30 years ago that she did this). I felt I wanted to question her ability to support me. She made up for that with her comfort and for that fact that she has been leading meetings for year.
The main topic of conversation was summer BBQ eating. She made a few suggestions: bring something you like and can eat, plan ahead, etc. She let us know about Frenches Gormayo (I picked up the dijon flavor for some chicken salad I think I am going to make. While I was at the grocery store I FINALLY found No Pudge brownies! I picked up both mint and raspberry flavored to make in the VERY near future.
Goal for the week: To do better with the journaling, specifically - not forget it at work.
Also, I have a trip to NYC next week so I must plan!
Friday, May 27, 2005
Monday, May 23, 2005
Number of Points: Never Again
Weekend jobs, especially those that are second jobs, are really no fun. I do 8 hour shifts at my "career" and then more 8 hour shifts on the weekends. I get very little done and I eat like crap. The eating like crap problem arises more from where I work rather than the simple fact that I do work on weekends. See, on weekends I work at a gas station with a Dunkin Doughnuts in it. I have to pay for all the "gas station food": chips, soda, candy, sandwiches, etc. All the food from D.D. is free (with exception of a few things). When I started the job I "forgot" about my need to eat right and this is when I put back the majority of the weight I took off. I ate doughnuts, bagels, danishes, apple pies. I drank tea (decaf with splenda- my only "healthy" choice") and coolatas. I discovered that my body no longer enjoys digesting fried food as well. This cut out 99% of the doughnuts (I can still work with those chocolate cake ones). Still, would you pay money for food when you can get it for free? Would you prepare food at home when you can get it for free at work?
These two questions are my biggest problem. To answer the later question: no, I should not have to pay for food when i can get it for free. The answer to number two is: yes, I should still prepare food from home when I can get it for free at work.
Over the past few weeks I came up with a few solutions to my problems. First, I brought snacks from home to curb my general snacking at work. This did help cut down my desire to have doughnuts and such. I found that if I wanted something from D.D. I could just grab a munchkin and be content as well. Second, I made sure I brought lunch from home at least 1 day out of the two.
Ok, so cut to this weekend. My schedule was a bit different. Rather than working an 8 hour day shift, Saturday was an 8 hour evening shift (1-9). This throws everything off. I ended up eating my prepared dinner (at 3pm), all my snacks and then some. I was starving by 8pm and hunger makes me stupid. I ordered a sausage, egg and cheese on a something bad for me. This morning when I looked up the points (yep, a full day and then some later) I realized that there is no way to easily calculate them - they are that high. So, I added a billion to my journal with a note that says "NEVER AGAIN". I sort of realized this when I ate it, but I ate my urge. So, to combat this moment of immaturity I took it upon myself to find a better solution on Sunday. My solution was this: bagel and cream cheese are better for you. This is true; a D.D. bagel and cream cheese is better than a "heart attack" sandwhich. This is also a lie as one of their bagels is 6 points and their cream cheese is 4. Its not filling enough for 10pts. This also got a note in my jounral that says "NEVER AGAIN". So, now I have to find something to do with all the bagels sitting in my freezer. I may keep them, but only eat 1/2 of each at a time. My cream cheese is 2pts and that makes me feel better.
Still, this is a good step forward because these shifts at the gas station have been screwing me up... oh that and my normal lunch. It has more points than I realized.
These two questions are my biggest problem. To answer the later question: no, I should not have to pay for food when i can get it for free. The answer to number two is: yes, I should still prepare food from home when I can get it for free at work.
Over the past few weeks I came up with a few solutions to my problems. First, I brought snacks from home to curb my general snacking at work. This did help cut down my desire to have doughnuts and such. I found that if I wanted something from D.D. I could just grab a munchkin and be content as well. Second, I made sure I brought lunch from home at least 1 day out of the two.
Ok, so cut to this weekend. My schedule was a bit different. Rather than working an 8 hour day shift, Saturday was an 8 hour evening shift (1-9). This throws everything off. I ended up eating my prepared dinner (at 3pm), all my snacks and then some. I was starving by 8pm and hunger makes me stupid. I ordered a sausage, egg and cheese on a something bad for me. This morning when I looked up the points (yep, a full day and then some later) I realized that there is no way to easily calculate them - they are that high. So, I added a billion to my journal with a note that says "NEVER AGAIN". I sort of realized this when I ate it, but I ate my urge. So, to combat this moment of immaturity I took it upon myself to find a better solution on Sunday. My solution was this: bagel and cream cheese are better for you. This is true; a D.D. bagel and cream cheese is better than a "heart attack" sandwhich. This is also a lie as one of their bagels is 6 points and their cream cheese is 4. Its not filling enough for 10pts. This also got a note in my jounral that says "NEVER AGAIN". So, now I have to find something to do with all the bagels sitting in my freezer. I may keep them, but only eat 1/2 of each at a time. My cream cheese is 2pts and that makes me feel better.
Still, this is a good step forward because these shifts at the gas station have been screwing me up... oh that and my normal lunch. It has more points than I realized.
Thursday, May 19, 2005
There is always a first post
I am Sara and I am trying to loose weight. Not just 10 or 15 pounds, but 100 or more. Its going to be a long road and this is trying #2. I need more than just myself for support, so I am trying an weight loss blog.
Step 1: Re-join weight watchers
DONE! This was actually an easy step because I have done this before. It wasn't the program that was the problem last time, it was my motivation. Try #1 happened during a period when I was unemployed. It had time to devote to weight loss and eating properly and I had a roommate who supported me. All of a sudden I was working again, moving to a new town, not making as much money as I thought, and alone. Also, I went from a meeting I loved and a leader who cared to a meeting and leader that was overwhleming and anonymous. At my first meeting the leader ignored me and rushed through the program changes with me (I switched meetings as they switched programs). So it was just too much for me and I decided to try it on my own. Cut to 6 months later or now. I was on the program for about 6 months and lost 20 lbs, but off of the program I gained back 15. I threw my clothes away last time to prevent this from happening. Now my clothes are tight and uncomfortable. I, for the first time in my life, reacted and went back to WW. I can not do it on my own. I have nobody to be accountable too, no support system to encourage me (well, aside from long distance) - I need those meetings! So, I am back on WW.
Step 2: Down with work snacks
This is a two part goal because I currently have two goals. Part one is my main job, the library. While we have snacks on a regular basis, I have found it easier to control my snacking. Part is that I have to find snacks if I want them. I have also made, what I am calling, the never ending fruit salad. I bring some of it to work every day and eating it in the mornings. I have also started bringing my own afternoon snacks. It has helped, but I do indulge when something special is around.
Part 2 is my weekend job at a gas station/dunkin doughnuts. This is what I am having the biggest problem with. First, everything at DD is free for us except a few things. This means I get free doughnuts, muffins, danishes, bagles, coffee, coolatas. I have managed to reduce some of what I eat; instead of a doughnut I eat 1 munchkin, instead of a coffee I get a decaf tea, instead of a small coolata I get a kiddie size. Still, I should not really be eating the munchkin, danishes, muffins at all. Add to this that they trash leftovers at certain points in the day. I hate to see food go to waste (I should work on that too) and they will give me all the left overs if I want them. I tend to take home bagles and freeze them for breakfasts and danishes and bring them to the library on Monday, but its hard to limit myself to just these. I would love to just sit and eat all of it. On the plus side of this, I can not longer digest fried foods. I have at least another month at this job so I need to figure out a way to change this pattern. Maybe if it wasn't free I wouldn't be so inclined to just grab it.
Step 3: Exercise
Ok, this is getting easier and easier. First, I wear my step tracker. I just figured out that it isn't counting right so now it is adjusted and I am counting my steps properly. I am going to count by day from now on. I also got "Walk Away the Pounds" (both the 1 and 2 mile) on DVD. I have been doing the 1 mile all this week except on Fridays and weekends. I am aiming to do the DVD every day regardless of the exercise I get. Part of me wants to start swimming again, but I can't afford the gym membership at the moment and my suit is a skit one that is not idea for actual swimming. I am looking for a swimming suit to wear in the pool, but for now I am sticking with the DVD. At my first WW meeting, the leader spoke about doing something fun. I am going to put together a mix of dance songs I like and maybe start dancing around my apartment.
Step 4: Journaling
I need to start journaling my food and that is probably the first thing I forget to do each week. I even bought one that only requires dry erase markers. I am going to try and do it this week. No, I am going to do it this week!
Short term goal: 5 lbs
Step 1: Re-join weight watchers
DONE! This was actually an easy step because I have done this before. It wasn't the program that was the problem last time, it was my motivation. Try #1 happened during a period when I was unemployed. It had time to devote to weight loss and eating properly and I had a roommate who supported me. All of a sudden I was working again, moving to a new town, not making as much money as I thought, and alone. Also, I went from a meeting I loved and a leader who cared to a meeting and leader that was overwhleming and anonymous. At my first meeting the leader ignored me and rushed through the program changes with me (I switched meetings as they switched programs). So it was just too much for me and I decided to try it on my own. Cut to 6 months later or now. I was on the program for about 6 months and lost 20 lbs, but off of the program I gained back 15. I threw my clothes away last time to prevent this from happening. Now my clothes are tight and uncomfortable. I, for the first time in my life, reacted and went back to WW. I can not do it on my own. I have nobody to be accountable too, no support system to encourage me (well, aside from long distance) - I need those meetings! So, I am back on WW.
Step 2: Down with work snacks
This is a two part goal because I currently have two goals. Part one is my main job, the library. While we have snacks on a regular basis, I have found it easier to control my snacking. Part is that I have to find snacks if I want them. I have also made, what I am calling, the never ending fruit salad. I bring some of it to work every day and eating it in the mornings. I have also started bringing my own afternoon snacks. It has helped, but I do indulge when something special is around.
Part 2 is my weekend job at a gas station/dunkin doughnuts. This is what I am having the biggest problem with. First, everything at DD is free for us except a few things. This means I get free doughnuts, muffins, danishes, bagles, coffee, coolatas. I have managed to reduce some of what I eat; instead of a doughnut I eat 1 munchkin, instead of a coffee I get a decaf tea, instead of a small coolata I get a kiddie size. Still, I should not really be eating the munchkin, danishes, muffins at all. Add to this that they trash leftovers at certain points in the day. I hate to see food go to waste (I should work on that too) and they will give me all the left overs if I want them. I tend to take home bagles and freeze them for breakfasts and danishes and bring them to the library on Monday, but its hard to limit myself to just these. I would love to just sit and eat all of it. On the plus side of this, I can not longer digest fried foods. I have at least another month at this job so I need to figure out a way to change this pattern. Maybe if it wasn't free I wouldn't be so inclined to just grab it.
Step 3: Exercise
Ok, this is getting easier and easier. First, I wear my step tracker. I just figured out that it isn't counting right so now it is adjusted and I am counting my steps properly. I am going to count by day from now on. I also got "Walk Away the Pounds" (both the 1 and 2 mile) on DVD. I have been doing the 1 mile all this week except on Fridays and weekends. I am aiming to do the DVD every day regardless of the exercise I get. Part of me wants to start swimming again, but I can't afford the gym membership at the moment and my suit is a skit one that is not idea for actual swimming. I am looking for a swimming suit to wear in the pool, but for now I am sticking with the DVD. At my first WW meeting, the leader spoke about doing something fun. I am going to put together a mix of dance songs I like and maybe start dancing around my apartment.
Step 4: Journaling
I need to start journaling my food and that is probably the first thing I forget to do each week. I even bought one that only requires dry erase markers. I am going to try and do it this week. No, I am going to do it this week!
Short term goal: 5 lbs
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