Loss

I've posted recently about reigniting my efforts to be more healthy.  The whole "wellness plan" needed some more support, though, so last week I enrolled in Weight Watchers.

I've done WW in the past, with great success.  It's only been when I've let myself get sidetracked that I've fallen off the path and succumbed to my stress eating habits.  I'm tired of that, though, and last week made a decision to try again.

I spent all last week counting points, and figuring out the best choices for filling meals, while carefully allowing points for small snacks or treats.  After just one week, I'm happy to report a loss of just over four pounds!

Now, before you get all worried about such a big loss (1-2 pounds/week is expected), I'm quite certain it can be attributed to the fact that I drank a ton of water (eliminating my afternoon soda and/or Starbucks, except for a couple days, as well as choosing way more fruits and veggies over cupcakes and junk).  It will level off eventually, but until then, I will most certainly enjoy this little ego boost.

Here's the best part: last week, I had pizza for dinner one night, and Chipotle another.  I counted all those points, though, to stay on track, but I was very satisfied after allowing myself those treats.  I've tried other programs where there is little to no wiggle room on meal options, and found myself face first in a box of donuts after days of deprivation.  The WW program obviously clicks with me, so I will stick to that.

I'm hopeful that I will continue making better food choices, manage stress through exercise rather than junk food, and set a better example for the kids.  Wish me luck!

This blog post contains my own thoughts on the Weight Watchers program, for which I was not compensated in any way.    

Sore

The other day I mentioned the beginning (again) of my Wellness Plan: eat less and go to the gym more. Well, today I hit the gym for the first time in a while.

And now I'm ready to crawl into bed and stay there for a couple of days.  Ouch.

Seriously, I'm sore.  I worked on my legs today (so I did the leg machines), but I also do an ab machine on leg day, too.  And wouldn't you know that my abs (or obliques, maybe?) are killing me.

I felt great when I was there, and I was careful not to overdo it.  I did my leg workout, then hopped on an elliptical machine for 20 minutes.  Boom.  Easy, peasy.  Except for that whole not being able to move right now.

I'm determined, though, to keep up with this.  I want to be able to enjoy the warmer weather this summer without the creeping unhappiness that comes along with wearing less clothes.  Let's face it: in the winter, it's easier to hide under layers and not feel so chunky.  Not the case in the summer.  Everything is more transparent (including my pale, pale skin, ha!), and I often find that I'm very uncomfortable in the summer.

Yes, it sounds very vain and egotistical, I suppose, to write that I want to keep up with this because I want to look better.  But, it's the truth.  Not the only reason, but this is a big one, and probably the one that will keep me the most motivated right now.  It has great side effects; more exercise, better eating habits, more water drinking.  Instead of overwhelming myself, I'll just go with the looking better aspect.

Keep your fingers crossed for me.