Wet Cat W39

So, I have been away for quite a while now. I took off the weekend that my friend Andrea came in town from tracking and dieting. That trend ended up continuing for a little lot longer than I had planned. I have been working like CRAZY on my thesis and work work has been just as chaotic!

So Monday was my weigh in day and weight watchers meeting. I REALLY didn't want to go. REALLY REALLY. This is kind of how I felt about getting on the scale..

Please, please, please don't make me touch the scale! PLEAAAASE!

But I put on my big girl panties and went to my meeting and weighed in. Not surprisingly, this is how I felt after diving in.

Eff. Seriously?

Yeah, that bad. Since I knew I was going to be up this week, I decided it was a good time to transition my wardrobe to the fall weather. So from running shorts and t-shirts to ls shirts and jeans I decided to get all of the gain over in one fell  fail swoop...FAIL being the keyword here. 

+ 5 lbs

That hurt. A lot. Plus FIVE? Are you kidding me? How did that happen? When did that happen? I mean, yes there was lots of wine, but REALLY? FIVE? Ok, I'm ok...heart, slow down a second. So that sucks, but when I'm honest with myself I wasn't doing anything to make sure I maintained or lost and I wasn't being health focused. I wouldn't say I was going nuts or anything which is why it was a surprise, but eating more and moving less will do that. 

So now that that's over with, I'm getting back on track. I have been moderating my foods this week. Part of the reason I haven't posted is because I lost my camera card while Andrea was in town. At least I hope I lost it because if not, Bear must have eaten it. I'm going to buy a new one later today. I've been taking pictures with my camera phone, but its harder to upload them ect. and I've been lazy/busy. So in short- I'm sorry. A little to all of you for being MIA and not recording the unhealthfulness, but more to myself for not making what I want my highest priority and then not getting back on the horse immediately after Monday.

I follow a lot of blogs that have taken some time off and gained some weight back- sometimes 10 lbs or less and sometimes a lot more. I always related it to my 1-2 lb gains and such, but didn't have a concept of how it felt to gain a significant (or what feels significant) amount back. Most people came back with renewed fervor. I've been stewing about it for a few days and had to process it on my own before I could write about it without using a string of profanities. 

I've thought about it and I guess there are some things I need to work on that contributed to my lack of fervor and subsequent gain. 

1. I teach at 8am now instead of 9. I know that its just an hr difference, but I am tired all of the time. 
2. No camera card = no accountability. I "estimated" what I ate just so I'd know if I ate a crazy amount.
3. I have gotten comfortable with how I look. When I started- I hated how I looked. I didn't have a clear goal in mind of what to look like, but "not this" was at the top of the description list. I'd compare myself to everyone to a fault and now when I do that, it doesn't make me feel bad so I think I've lost a little bit of the motivation I had. 
4. When I spend time with friends, I like to drink wine. Bottles and bottles of wine. Not a problem on a daily basis, but when we have company in town, my points are out of control. Seriously? 2pts for my baby glass? Please don't count my Cougar Town size portions. I still don't think there's a good strategy for drinking OP. Fortunately, after losing some weight I really can't drink much or I'll feel terrible the next day. Still 2 beers is a fourth of my points for the day! (Two baby beers- and honestly, where can you order 12 oz. of Oktoberfest?)
5. Matt and I are sharing a car. Meaning- where he goes, I follow and visa versa. Some one totaled mine and we can't replace it at the time. Its getting harder working so many hours to coordinate our driving. It means getting up earlier, driving later, losing time.
6. Daylight is about over when I get off work. Plus, I'm pretty sure I'm allergic to cold weather. Running outside has dropped of my radar. I have been hibernating.
7. Fast food is easier than cooking. Fact. It tastes better sometimes too. As long as you can put up with the tummy ache later (or sleep through it) you're golden.

So those are some of the reasons I can count that have contributed to my failure to stay OP. I'm still getting in the groove of the new schedule and working on my thesis non-stop in the off hours. Its just a lot to focus on while being concerned about my food. BUT I am determined to lose 50 lbs this year. So gotta stay fly focussed. 

So here are pictures of my eats this week. You may notice they get healthier (esp after Monday night!!)

chips from guad 7pts

I had 1/2 of these Sunday. 3 enchelladas- spinach, chicken, and potato

Free food at school. Hard to pass up when you're on a budget! I didn't have the beans. I had 1/2 the mac n cheese 2pts, a little cole slaw 1pt, and 3/4 of the brownie 5pts.

Baked Fries, 4pts

chicken wrap. Sunday Night- had 2 8pts.

pb&j 4pts

Bodos- Monday. Light egg, cheese, bacon 10pts.

100 calorie pack 2pts. I had bbq pop chips too 1pt- they suck.

Healthy Lifestyle Pasta 4pts- too salty

PB&J 4pts, cottage cheese 2pts, tortilla chips 2pts.

Chocolate bon bon at work. 2nd one below

Smart ones + cheese 5pts. Thursday

chocolates at work 2pts. I had 2

1 serving tortilla chips

mango peach protein smoothie

Of course that's not everything, but its some. I'm buying a camera card tomorrow and starting to track my points again. Time to get this show on the road.

Thursday W39

Its about time I got back to tracking. I have been on a mini vaca the past few days. For breakfast, I had an organic kids cliff bar 2pts at my desk.

For lunch, I had a smart ones ravioli 5pts at my desk and kept working.

By the time 5pm rolled around, I was ready to head out. Bear and Matt picked my up from work and I had another cliff bar 2pts.

We had Stouffer's lasagna for dinner, which didn't fill me up 5pts.

So I had another cliff bar 2pts...and then another as a snack later 2pts, and a bite of cottage cheese 1pt.

THURSDAY STATS:
Points: 19/23
Weekly Allowance Points: 0 used / 35 remaining
Exercise: none
Weekly Activity Points: 0/0
Weekly Weight Loss: no weigh in yet/ -34.8 total

Thursday W37.

Hey every one! Sad I missed you Wed (kind of). I went over my points values due to Mellow Mushroom trivia night and those darn chocolate chip cookies. I don't even know how how many points I had but it was a lot. Thursday, I had to work, but I got a great treat....

One of my best friends from college flew in to visit! So, I'm going to try and make healthy choices when possible, but not sweat the small stuff this weekend. I had a cliff bar for breakfast 2pts.

Andrea got in around lunch time and Matt and she ate lunch with me. We went to cobbs and split a spinach/artichoke/grilled chicken thin crust pizza. I had 2 slices 12 pts. (no picha)

After work, I dashed home and changed before heading to YOGA! So I can't lie. I have been to yoga classes before and felt like an outsider- everyone in their little yoga pants with cute mats (me with my vibrant green mat from the wii fit in shorts and a tshirt). I have felt a little judged. Yoga (at least in college towns where I've lived) has been a place where the hipsters and preps of the fitness world meet- to feel healthy and superior. This yoga was not like that at all. I LOVED it! Although I am SO glad I waited until now to retry yoga. I think if I would have done this 8 lbs ago, I still wouldn't have been strong enough. I am deff going back. +3 activity points.

After yoga, Cait, Andrea and I made berry smoothies! Fro yo and lots of frozen berries. Delish 4pts.

After that, Andy and I came home and had dinner- fiesta chicken and rice bake (I had a small piece) 6pts  and green bean casserole 2pts.

Awesome Weekend!

Hey everyone! I hope your weekends were as fun filled as mine! It was UVa homecoming and a great fall weekend since one of my besties from college came to visit for her fall break. We hiked, tailgated, went to the game, happy houred, stayed awake until 4am girl talking, listened to the avett bros. at an outdoor concert, and enjoyed our breaks. It was awesome.

UVa Homecoming

Bear looks like a demon puppy!! This is Andrea (BFF) sitting outside sippin wine listening to the avett bros. Perfect night.

On the hike up old rag

First view

Andrea taking it in

Up we go! 3,291 ft up and 11 miles later, we were tired.

Have my cookies and eat them (all) too? Tuesday W38

Tuesdays are work as usual for me. I am out of breakfast foods so I slurped down some tea instead of having a proper meal. I just ate lunch super early! I had Smart Ones wraps 4pts and some chips and fresh salsa 2pts.

Delicious and filling!

My birthday flowers from Allee are still looking beautiful at my desk a week later!

After work, I was starving- go figure, early lunch- but I had snooped around some blogs and had some work to do in the kitchen and needed to stop by the grocery store first. Get excited for some new recipes coming your way! At the grocery, I got an organic cliff bar and snacked on it to tide me over 2pts.

These are going to be a rebuy.

I also picked up a 1/2 cup of skinny cow ice cream while there- I have been craving ice cream and sweets all day! Not me at all! I had 1/2 of the cup for .5pts (rounding up to 1pt) with 1/2 serving of pretzels not pictured 1pt.

Ice cream did not measure up to expectations- however, hello Casper's arm, the sun misses you.

I made a chili potato for dinner with a little less chili than normal 7pts. Hit the spot.

I forgot how much I'd missed these.

I dropped Matt off at his softball game and set to work on my greatest accomplishment of the day. ONE POINT chocolate chip minis! One point per two cookies! I must say- healthy cookies and I do not jive. I had a run in with a healthy chocolate chip cookie recipe a few weeks ago and I don't think my taste buds (or any of my friends) have forgiven me. They were a spongy disaster, which is why I was so excited when I found this recipe on the weight watchers website today!

Yes, they are babies, but you get two for one point! Recipe from weight watchers website.

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp butter, softened
• 2 tsp canola oil
• 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/8 tsp table salt
• 1 large egg white (I used 1/8 cup egg beaters)
• 3/4 cups all purpose flour (I used wheat)
• 1/4 tsp baking soda (I used 3/4 tsp baking powder and no salt)
• 3 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips, about 1/2 cup (I used 1/3 cup because I don't like overpowering chocolate)

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 375F.

• In a medium bowl, cream butter oil and sugar. Add vanilla, salt, and egg white. Mix thoroughly to combine. 

• In a small bowl mix together flour and baking soda; stir into batter. Add chocolate chips.

• Drop rounded 1/2 teaspoonfuls of dough onto one or two large nonstick baking sheets (I sprayed it 1st- I always do even when it says not to). 

• Bake until golden around edges, about 4-6 minutes (mine took 6). 

• I made a mistake its 17 two cookie servings if you use wheat flour and 24 if you use white.

I had a taste of the batter and one cookie 1pt.

I was pretty tired after baking (and watching GLEE), but I headed out to meet Matt and his team at the corner to celebrate their win. They are going to the playoffs! (softball rec team playoffs). I had 1 beer 3pts and was talked into joining the team for a "grab bag" shot while out 2pts- the grab bag is like the best worst idea ever. Its where there are random shot recipes in a bag at mellow mushroom and you draw one and whatever it is, its $3, but you have to take it. Some are good and light shooters- malibu and pineapple, some are just straight liquor, and some are terrible (cement mixer- baily's and lime juice- it actually curdles). I sipped water for a while waiting for the hubby to decide it was time to go home. When we got home, he literally destroyed the cookies. I had 2 more 1pt.

• If you missed my weigh in, check it out here.
• If you missed my new progress photo, check it out here.

Everyone who stopped by and left a comment either here or on fb, thanks for the kudos! 

TUESDAY STATS:
Points: 24/23
Weekly Allowance Points: 1 used / 34 remaining
Exercise: none
Weekly Activity Points: 0/0
Weekly Weight Loss: -1.4 lbs/ -34.8 total

Hope to see less of each other next time!

Casey

Monday W38

I dislike Mondays. They are my day "off work"-- off the job I love that pays my bills-- and are consequently the day I should get the most done on my master's thesis. Booo Monday. I slept through breakfast, did some thesis work, and had "mac"-n-cheese 2pts, recipe here, with pb&j 4pts for lunch.

Pretty stinking delicious. I would use cheddar cheese next time in the mac though.

I had my WW meeting tonight. I am down another 1.4 lbs for a total of 34.8 lbs. So close to 35!! However, I am at 163.8 so you get another progress photo! See RHS of blog or "Progress Photos." Our topic tonight was "What makes weight maintenance so difficult?" The first thing in my mind was "beer" so I decided to keep my mouth shut. The answers that made it to the board included hunger, hedonistic hunger (cravings), planning, the length of time it takes, emotions, feeling like its not fair, social outings, friends and family. The point was that at times, each of us struggles with different challenges and they come and go in cycles, so find a strategy to defeat each before you have to combat it. Tracking/planning isn't awful for me unless I am out of town or have guests in town, so my day-to-day battle is generally with hedonistic hunger- wanting food for a reason other than being hungry. So a way to combat that would be to pack a healthy snack and eat it before I have the chance to want something else- or to focus on positive activity instead of picking up fries asap.

What are some of the challenges you have faced in your healthy lifestyle journey, and how have you combatted them?

For dinner, hubby grilled steak and corn. I love grilled corn. I had a 3oz. serving of steak 5pts with an ear of corn 2pts and a little gatorade 1pt. I also had some baked tortilla chips 3pts and guacamole 5pts to snack on the rest of the night.

The steak was so tender! Its a rare treat!

I love fresh home made guacamole! I always eat too much.

MONDAY STATS: 
Points: 22/23
Weekly Allowance Points: 35/35 remaining
Exercise: none

Weekly Activity Points: 0/0

Weekly Weight Loss: -1.4 lbs / -34.8 total

Hope to see less of each other next time!
Casey

Sunday W37

I'm feeling better finally! I was barely nauseous this morning so I set to work to get everything I should have done Friday and Saturday finished- namely some work on my thesis and cleaning the house. I have a friend coming in town on Thursday and won't have much time during the week to clean so the hubby and I cleaned almost all day!

We dusted, we vacuumed, we swept, we mopped, we washed baseboards and fan blades, we cleaned the yard, we sorted, organized, stuffed, steamed, folded, and shampooed. My apartment is sparkling, and I am exhausted.

For lunch, I whipped up 2.7 oz. of fiber pasta 4pts with a little less than 1/4 cup alfredo sauce 3pts, a sprinkle of parmesan 1pt, and a ton of broccoli 0pts. Mmm mmm good. I made Matt the same thing, but put grilled chicken in his. He gets cranky when there is not meat involved in a meal.

After some cleaning, I stuffed down the rest of the broccoli 0pts. 

Matt and I found some time to take a break and toss the football around and play with out dog. I am digging the fall weather. Matt got a call late in the day saying that he had a make-up softball game so he wanted to pick up food for dinner. We went to Wendy's- bad call. I had a large fry 12pts. Fail.

Matt headed off to his soccer game and I went to the kitchen. I have come to realize that I am a creature of habit. When I find something I like, especially with food, I repeat over and over and over again. If you read this regularly, you may have noticed: with pumpkin- here, here, here, and here; with laughing cow cheese on english muffins- here, here, here, and here; and my new addiction- squash. I made a baked acorn squash last week and loved it. I decided I had to explore some more and decide if the enemy of my childhood and I really had made amends. Turns out- we have. 

Acorn and spaghetti squash

I made some more baked acorn squash (I think I liked the previous recipe better) and mac squash and cheese. I tried several tastes of the "mac" and cheese to get the taste right so 1pt for that.

To keep myself from continued snacking during my 2 hrs in the kitchen, I grabbed 14 baked tortilla chips and had them with some leftover salsa from Qdoba for 2pts.

Have a great Monday everyone!

SUNDAY STATS: 
Points: 23/23
Weekly Allowance Points: 35/35 remaining
Exercise: CLEANING!

Weekly Activity Points: 0/0

Weekly Weight Loss: -1.2 lbs / -33.2 total

Hope to see less of each other next time!
Casey

MIA

Thanks for the birthday wishes, everyone! Sorry I am MIA. I have been ill the past few days. I'm not sure what with- general nausea constantly feeling like I'm car sick. Thursday I thought it was a combination of the ear medication I'm on with the after effects from my birthday night, but then I felt the same on Friday and today. (I even took a pregnancy test to be safe!)

Whew, so I'm trying to keep it together at the moment and figure out what's going on. Hope you're all well! I'll get back to blogging my food Monday maybe? Right now anything I can keep down is what I'm eating.

Have a great weekend!

Pumpkin Cake and Birthday Bash. Wed W37.

Wednesday was my 23rd birthday. I worked on my thesis in the morning/during the day. I had pumpkin toast for breakfast.

For lunch I had tomato soup with sour dough bread- so yummy!

At night, some of my friends got together and threw me a party! I was clueless. It was at Cait's house and a ton of fun. I had a few drinks and some chips and dip and the best part.....PUMPKIN CAKE. CJ is a cake maker extraordinaire and she knows I've been doing weight watchers so she made a healthified pumpkin cake! I have to get the recipe and share it with you. It was AMAZING. Currently I am wondering where the leftovers ended up :). It was 5pts per piece including icing. Way fun!

I don't know where I'm going

Hubs and I

Baller pumpkin cake. 5pts per serving including icing.

my piece

Matt and Brad

The crew

Happy Birthday!