Writing it down...

Are you like me? For days you try and remember to do something or to tell someone something, and you keep forgetting, but as soon as you actually write it down, you remember that when you can do it, and without looking at the note? For some reason, writing it sometimes seals it in my memory.

When I last wrote two weeks ago I wrote about my greediness on vacation. I can't remember if I wrote that after weigh day or not, but I gained about 3 pounds from it. Yikes--but better than the last time I did that on vacation. I worked really hard to stay within my daily points and not use all my weekly points the following week, and did really well. I lost about 2 pounds that week.

Then, my husband and I took an overnighter, courtesy of Sheraton Hotel's one night giveaway, and while I didn't do terrible there, I did use all of my weekly points up by the end of Saturday (and maybe more than my weekly). So, I still had Sunday-Thursday to go without using anything but my daily points. It's been a struggle. I think it's because of the abundance of candy all around my office and house, having a bad cold which just makes me want to eat that candy to feel better, lack of willpower, and unsatiable hunger. I've been hungry hungry, but probably not really. It probably just seemed like it. So, I'm not too excited for tomorrow's weigh in, but I am really excited to flip the switch into a new week and do better. It's like once I've blown it for the week, I keep blowing it for the week. If I start out good, I stay good.

On a side note, I made cheeseburger chowder for dinner tonight, and will share the recipe here, though I can't guarantee the point content for two reasons--to be explained afterward...

Cheeseburger Chowder

1 lb. 96% lean ground beef (12 pt.)
1 small onion, chopped (0 pt.)
2 cloves garlic, minced (0 pt.)
1 package potato soup starter/mix (I used Bear Creek) (24 pt.)
8 oz. 2% velveeta cheese, cubed (8 pt.)
diced pickles, onions, and tomato (optional) (0 pt.)

Brown the ground beef with onion and garlic, and drain if needed (I needed). While the meat is browning, prepare potato soup according to package directions. Add ground beef and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring every couple minutes. Add cubed cheese and let melt, while stirring frequently. Serve topped with cheeseburger toppings, like pickles, onions, and tomato. Good with toast dipped in it, for that "bun" flavor.

So, I can't guarantee the pointage per serving, because the stinking soup should have made 11-1 cup servings. The soup mix was supposed to make 8 cups, which made sense, because I added 8 c. of water. And then I added 3 cups of cooked ground beef. And then I added about a cup of velveeta (which I didn't count in the cup calculations). So, 11 cups right--so 4 pt. per serving. Well, I dished myself out a 4 pt. serving and my husband too, and then we went back for seconds. Then I noticed there was in no way still 7 cups of soup left, like there should have been. I measured it out and there was about 4 cups left. HOW IRRITATING! So, I probably consumed more points than I really thought I was. GRR! Yesterday I made mac and cheese that was supposed to make 2 cups, and it really only made 1 1/2 cups. What is with the shrinkage, especially when the package says it will make 8 cups, prepared, or 2 cups, prepared! I guess I'm going to have to start measuring AFTER cooking and then figure the points per serving.

Well, remember how I had some things I wanted to write down for myself to remember? Now I can't remember what they were. Dang it. Well, I think those motivating thoughts later and share them then. :)

And the winner is...the Greedy side!

One of my favorite bloggers, Josie over at Yum Yucky, introduced me to the concept of my Greedy side. And, boy oh boy, did my greedy side win on our recent mini vacation to St. Louis. I knew I wasn't counting points or caring, and we'll see what the scale has to say about that. You may remember I did this when I vacationed in April, and gained 4 pounds, only to lose 5 the next week. I've been home for about 20 hours, and my legs still hurt from all the walking I did, so I'm hoping to have similar success this time round.

I weighed in early on Thursday, since I'd be gone Friday, and lost .2, which was weak, but expected, due to Mother Nature's quarterly gift of an immense chocolate craving (Seasonale=Quarterly, yippee!). That made me at a square 44 pounds lost.

But, dun dun dun. Then the greedy side decided to emerge. Warning, not for the weak...

Thursday
Breakfast: Hardee's Sausage Frisco Breakfast Sandwich, minus eggs, Potatoes, and Coke Zero.
Lunch: Work potluck, including a piece of glorious KFC and a Lofthouse sugar cookie, Water to drink
Dinner: Sonic's Chili Cheese Wrap and Popcorn Chicken, with a Diet Cherry Limeade
Exercise: Zilch-o, unless you count the driving. :)

Friday
Breakfast/Brunch: Crepe from "Crepes in the City" in downtown St. Lou--it had chorizo, cheese, red peppers, and maybe more, and was SOOOOO good! Diet Coke to drink
Dinner: California Pizza Kitchen--shared spin/choke dip with hubby, their new asparagus soup
(yum!) and 4 of 6 pieces (mini sized) of the wild mushroom pizza; Peach Lemonade to drink
Shameful Dessert: Large butterfinger shake from Steak and Shake...my belly hated me by the time I was done with it!!
Exercise: TONS of walking...first at City Museum, then TONS and TONS at the Galleria mall.

Saturday
Breakfast/Brunch: 1/2 brat and 1/2 bbq beef sandwich (shared other 1/2s with hubby) at Day Out with Thomas, as we didn't find breakfast along the way; Diet Coke to drink
Lunch: Max & Erma's: Shared Pretzel Breadsticks & Cheese w/hubby, had a "garbage burger" and fries (with mayo for dipping---total greediness); drank something fizzy and watermelony, but can't remember what it was called
Dinner: Old Spaghetti Factory: OMG total yummy greediness. It started with a salad, that I had full fat dressing on, a pesto-y ranch-y creation of goodness, then I had Chicken Marsala with the attachment of Spaghetti with Brown Butter & Cheese. I skipped the offered Spumoni for dessert, but my drink this evening was an Italian Cherry Cream Soda (real cream), and water
Exercise: TONS of walking...first at Day out With Thomas (which may have burned more calories than walking due to the slurching through mud that took place), had to park and walk for lunch, and then had TONS of walking at the zoo, though we did ride the train from place to place, there was lots of walking in between, and TONS of walking that evening while shopping, oh and we had to park and walk to the Spaghetti Factory

Sunday
Breakfast: Pirate Booty in the hotel room :)
Lunch: Turkey Club Sandwich, some good yummy vinagretty salad, fruit, and potatoes from First Watch, something we don't have around here, but I could eat at every day! Drink: Diet Coke
Late Afternoon Snack: 1/2 blondie with M & M's and a Raspberry Italian Cream Soda from Starbucks, and a Chicken Pita Snacker from Jack in the Box
Late Late Dinner (like 9 pm): Black & Bleu Salad from Quiznos
Exercise: Minimal walking throughout the day, though I did go grocery shopping after arriving home so that I could just stay home most of today (except I do have class tonight...boo).

Oh, and I should't forget to mention that I had lots of candy, unhealthy type chips and chex like snacks throughout the trip. And a coke icee somewhere in there too. Looking back, it's no wonder my stomach hurt most of the time. But, it was yummy, I'm done with it now, and am SO ready to be back on the bandwagon!!

About that shopping, did a pretty good job getting my size 20/2X fall wardrobe lined up. It was fun, but I hate spending money like that! Just need another pair or two of work pants and I'm gold!

Here's my pretty 44 picture, though I'm sure it no longer applies!

43.4 Pounds Gone!

I lost 1.4 pounds this week. I felt like I did really good eating, though I didn't do any exercising. I accounted for every piece of candy, etc. I had, and had very little dining out, so only used about 15 of my weekly points. And, then came today. I started out well, but then after lunch and a couple of candy binges during the day, I was left with just 6 points left. So, I had a 6 point dinner (normally have 10-13). Then an ice cream sandwich (skinny cow), so only used 2 of my weekly points, which is pretty good for a Friday. Here's hoping I have another good week! :) I got a lot of comments today on how "skinny" I was looking. What's funny about that is that I am far from it, but I know what they mean--I'm shrinking before their very eyes. And, the outfit I had on today must have looked slimming. Today I even took a look at some wedding sets. I'm married, and have been for 9 years, but my rings were bought very inexpensively (and it shows), and I'd love to upgrade. Since my fingers are shrinking too, I figure I'll wait till I can't wear these anymore for fear of them falling off, and then reward myself! Sound good? Here's my picture for the week:

Update & Glazed Green Beans

I lost 1.5 pounds this week! I was pretty surprised, as I used every last one of my flex points (again) and did a lot of "estimating" my points with certain foods. But, we also went for family bike rides a couple of times, in which I pull an extra 50 pounds (my son and the trailer he rides in). I guess that helped! I was in a munching mode this week and feel like I ate a ton of candy from passing by the bowl at work. A praise though--for the first time in many many weeks, I didn't dip into my flex points on a Friday--yesterday! I came in exact, and feel like I ate a ton of food. I made a new impromptu recipe at dinner last night, shared below, and ate them all! Good thing they weren't too bad for me! Now we're getting ready to make some of the cookies I shared a recipe for awhile back. Yum!

My total weight loss to date:

Glazed Green Beans
1 tsp. EVOO
1 pkg. fresh steamable green beans
4 pieces bacon, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 T. balsalmic vinegar
2 T. brown sugar blend

First, cook the green beans according to package directions. In the meantime, sautee the garlic and bacon. Add the green beans and drizzle with the vinegar (I used dressing) and brown sugar. Continue sauteeing until the vinegar starts to get a little syrupy. I estimated 4 points for this and it was so yummy that I ate it ALL! It was a combo of a few recipes I found online. YUM YUM!

You know you're on WW when...

I am a member of a WW group on Facebook, and saw this post..."You know you are a WW member when..." and was cracking up at some of the responses. I had to share some of them. I've either done these, or they made me laugh out loud. :)

You know you are a weight watchers member when:

you shave your body the night before you weigh in.

you stand in the aisles of the grocery store calculating the point value of foods you want to buy.

Your child says there are too many POINTS in something s/he doesn't want to eat!

When you see someone eating a wendys baconator and you yell "DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY POINTS THAT IS?!!!"

When you have a cold and need cough drops, you buy the sugar free cough drops.

When you try to deconstruct and re-invent every fattening recipe you know of by replacing fat and increasing fiber!

When people start asking you "How many points is this?" and they aren't on WW.

When you calculate points to the fraction of an ounce - like cutting up the 6oz block of reduced fat cheese into EIGHT pieces so that each piece is one Point instead of two.

When you actually HEAR your stomach growl.

When your roommate opens the fridge and/or freezer and says "Ahhh!! It's Weight Watcher Land!!!"

When you go for a glucose test at the doc's and ask how many calories are in the overly sugary drink, so you can count the points for it.

When you go to a restaurant and they ask you what kind of salad dressing and you say "none" and then pull some out of your purse.

You see a pair of jeans on sale for $7 in your new size and really think over whether you should get them, because you might not be in that size for long!

***

I hope you got a kick out of those. Share yours in the comments! :) My stats--I lost 2 pounds this week, which put me into the fabulous forties!! It felt great to be over that hump! And, just this morning I got more size 2X and size 20 clothes, which felt great. And, the $7 jeans comment above...that was me today!

I must admit I felt skinny minny at work yesterday wearing my new smaller clothes, just felt like I was taking up less space. And, not having such baggy clothes on really brought on the comments! I know I have a long way to go before I am skinny, but this is feeling GOOD!

I even went to a buffet last night and didn't overdo it too much. Used about 10-15 of my flex points, but that's what they are there for, and I ate a lot less than I would have pre-WW, and was still stuffed!

I LOVE VEGGIES!

I took these pictures with my phone so the res isn't great, but I just wanted to say I LOVE VEGGIES! And, I'm so glad I love veggies, since they're usually 0 points!

I was going high on points today due to a lunch out and poor snacking choices in the afternoon. I was making pigs in a blanket for dinner with ff hot dogs and 1 pt. biscuits, along with some garlic noodles. I had gotten some zucchini today so decided to saute one of those and threw in some red onion and cherry tomatoes. This made up the bulk of my meal, so I only had a 6 point dinner!

I'm going to a family event tomorrow and needed to bring something. I wanted to ensure I'd have something I could graze on without blowing my points, so I made this fab corn and black bean relish (recipe below).

Corn/Black Bean Goodness:
3 cans canned corn, drained
1 can black beans, drained
1 tiny can diced green chilis (don't drain)
Chopped cucumber (I used 1/2 of a large one)
Chopped green pepper (I used 1/2 of one)
Diced tomato (I used 2 smaller ones)
Red onion (I used 1/2 of a small one)
Cilantro (I probably used 1 T. dried)
Cumin (Again, probably used 1 T. dried)
Salt & Pepper (1/2 tsp. each maybe?)
Seasoned Salt (1 tsp. probably)
Dried Minced Garlic (1 1/2 tsp likely)

Combine and stir, let sit for a few hours and enjoy!!!


Oh, by the way, I maintained this week. Weighed in at the exact weight as last week. That's a first, but I was pleased with it since I had used all my weekly flex points + some. Here's hoping I can make that up this week! OH, and I hit our local thrift stores today and got three different things in size 20. I didn't think they'd fit yet, but maybe soon, so got them for later. I tried them on when I got home to see how far I had to go...and they all fit PERFECTLY! Not even tight. I was so excited!!! I started as a 24, so I'm down two sizes. I'm sure people at work won't know what to think this week when we have jeans day and I'm actually wearing some that fit!

Yes!!!!

I did it! I stayed in my points today for the first time since last Wednesday!!! Thursday I used up my flex points for that week. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday I used my flex points for this week, and today I stayed on target--even with having pizza for dinner!

Yay Me!

Felt the need to celebrate! :)