Tarable

I woke up this morning and decided that I wasn't cool with the weight plateau that I've been sitting on for the past few weeks and that I was going to stop fucking around with the diet and get serious again.

Although I have been faithfully jogging every morning, five days a week - I have also been following Weight Watchers fairly closely... five days a week. Which leaves two days a week that I've kind of been having "freebie" days. And while that's ok once in a while, it's become too much of a habit for me lately. I mean, come Saturday / Sunday (occasionally Friday night and/or Monday) I don't really even try.

Wednesday marks the first day of a new WW week for me - which means it's also weigh in day. I either lost 0.8lbs this week or I gained 0.2lbs (depending on where I stand on my scales - I need new ones.). 0.8 would be an ok loss, but I could do better.

So I once again laced up my running shoes at 6:55am this morning and went for my morning jog. I then had scrambled egg whites for breakfast, and a chicken & cucumber sandwich (on WW bread) for lunch. After lunch I got kind of bored so I decided to burn extra calories and walk to the veterinarians office and pick up a bag of dog food. On the way back, we swung into the Shoppers Drug Mart to get some soap. Upon getting to the checkout, I encountered a sign that said:
All Chocolate Bars .50 cents. NO LIMITS!!

And so, I am now the proud new owner of this:

Why I needed to buy EIGHT of them, I'm not too sure.

I suppose I'll add them to my *stash of potato chips (which were on sale last week).

*Steve is unaware that I have any sort of stash -which is why I still have a stash at all. Therefore: This message will self destruct!

Posted at 1:35 PM | 2 comments
Labels: The Weighting Game

Because you should never leave your blog for this long with a post containing hideous picture of yourself - right at the top. Glaring at you, getting more and more irritating everytime you check in on your blog (which is often).

Even if you feel kind of annoyed with certain stuff and you just don't feel like writing - you should still write SOMETHING, any little thing - so that you don't have to keep staring at that god awful picture of yourself with the ugliest haircut you've ever had.

And this should do just that.

Nope. Wait. I can still see the top of Steve's head and his squinting eyes - also irritating to look at every single day.

Now THIS should be good enough.

Yup.

Posted at 1:46 PM | 4 comments

Wednesday morning I got my hair cut short for the first time since...

"The Great Hair Disaster of '03"

This time I have a kickass hairdresser who is around my age, is heavily tattooed and lives in the city. I've been seeing her for 5 years and she and I communicate well (like when I say I want a cute, shortish haircut - she knows not to make me look like a giant Q-tip).

She makes me look like this:

Wednesday was also Canada Day.

Ruby was excited to celebrate her 1st Canada Day:

And then Thursday was our 5 year wedding anniversary. I had fully intended on doing an "anniversary" post yesterday, but I was too busy trying to pretend I wasn't hungover after I celebrated Canada Day just a little too "enthusiastically" on Wednesday evening. (Note to self: Fireball shooters are not for women who have to get up at 6am with a 6 month old baby.)

(Also note to self: Stop at ONE shooter, not three).

Posted at 7:42 AM | 4 comments
Labels: Baby Ruby, Cocktails anyone?, Life has changed, My Ball and Chain

I know you're probably all sick and tired of my WW posts (as this is the 3rd in a row). But I just came across a couple of pictures that demonstrate how far I've come. And while you may not need to see it, I do. This is more for me than it is for you. I need to see the progress I've made. I'm hoping that it will either encourage me to keep going or at the very least, allow me to give myself a break because I have kicked some weight loss ass and there is nothing wrong with how I look right now - even if it is still considered to be very overweight by most standards.
(Fuck the standards...)

January 21st, 2009. (5 weeks after having a baby):
June 5, 2009 (5 months, 3 weeks after having a baby):

The difference is about 22lbs. I'm only 5"2' so the loss on my small frame shows up more. Particularly on my face. And clearly I've been out in the sun a little too - which always helps. If I'm ever lucky enough to be pregnant again, I think I might pop in to the tanning booth once in a while.

Posted at 7:58 AM | 7 comments
Labels: The Weighting Game

I feel the need to come clean about something...

I went and wrote that last post about how la-tee-dah wonderful Weight Watchers has been and how I've lost X amount of weight so far and I blathered on about all my "tips" for following Weight Watchers while being a busy mom and I'm sure you all felt so inspired by me (sure you did) and you probably went out and bought a Weight Watchers subscription if you didn't already have one.

But then after I wrote that post, I kind of... waned. And I will do that from time to time (I think it helps me to continue) but this time I thought about throwing in the towel completely. I don't know if it was the 10 points that I had to cut off my day when I stopped nursing two weeks ago, or the fact that I started jogging every morning before Steve goes to work (or perhaps a combo of the two plus a few other factors) but dudes, I hit the wall. And I hit it HARD.

My energy last week was next to zero. And I was miserable. I was HUNGRY. And the measly 23 points that I get to eat in each day was NOT cutting it. Not at all. And I was so tired - all day long. I just wanted to not worry about stupid Weight Watchers. I just wanted to eat potato chips and drink beer on my deck with reckless abandon.

And so I kind of just let it go for a little while. The determination, that is. I just couldn't pull it off. So while I didn't go hog wild and make a pig of myself, I did eat a big steak and a giant fluffy, cheesy stuffed potato. I ate those potato chips I was wanting, and yes I drank my beer without counting (2 points, 2 points, 2 points). I may have consumed a few other odds and delicious ends as well. And I didn't feel bad about it. I felt like I needed it!

Then I started thinking that maybe I should "save money" and cancel my online subscription and just do the plan "on my own". I mean, if anyone knows the plan inside and out it's me. Why do I need to pay for the online program? So I signed into my account yesterday to cancel the whole thing, and what did I find? That I was a couple days too late, my subscription was auto-renewed for another month, just three days ago.

If there is anything I hate (besides being fat), it's wasting money. Especially when money is tight (like when on maternity leave). So.... *deep breath* this means that I need to give myself a pep talk, go out and get some good groceries, and get recharged and re-inspired and commit to fighting this fight wholeheartedly for at least one more month.

Not sure if this was a sign from Fate that I need to keep on keeping on - but that's kind of how I look at things. So I'm glad I had my potato chips and beer and steak and fluffy, cheesy stuffed potato (and the McDonalds cheeseburger and fries - THERE I SAID IT!!), because now I can start fresh - hopefully with minimal damage on the scales and maybe lose a few more pound before I fall off the wagon reassess the situation again next month.

Posted at 7:06 AM | 4 comments
Labels: The Weighting Game

I've lost almost all of the 68lbs that I gained during my pregnancy (including the baby) and would like to keep on going. Funny, with all my issues around weight - I don't feel terrible at all about the amount of weight I gained during pregnancy. I feel like I looked good. I didn't look overly "fat". And I enjoyed every little bit of food that I ate. I made sure of it. My motto was this, "If there's ever a time when I should enjoy what I'm eating - it's now." And so I did. Besides that, I knew I would work my ass off (literally) to lose it once baby was born. And I did. Six months later, I'm in my pre-pregnancy jeans (actually almost missed wearing them as they're getting a little loose already). That's a huge accomplishment considering how much time I do not have to spend on fussing over what I eat these days.

15.6 of those 68 pounds have been lost since starting Weight Watchers online back in March. That was when I decided I needed the little extra help/push/motivation/structure that Weight Watchers provides. Well, and you people also "encouraged" me in that direction.

I've never been a fast weight loser, but I am a steady and determined one. And as long as I don't get frustrated with losing slowly, and stay focused (yet still allow myself to "stray" every once in a while), I can and will do this. Proof is in the pudding (although I'm not crazy about pudding)

I know I've picked up a few readers along the way that are also doing the whole WW thing - and some I know who are wanting to start and are looking for some encouragement. I thought I'd do a post about food that I like and stuff that works for me.

I've got a slightly different spin on what I eat these days since I'm now a busy mom who doesn't have a lot of extra time to fuss over stuff (except for when I'm occasionally blessed with an extra long baby nap).

So just move along if you're not interested...

~~~

Since I am now busy with taking care of a 6+ month old baby, and have to make sure she's happy and fed and clean before I can worry about myself being happy and fed and clean - I've had to learn some shortcuts when it comes to doing WW and preparing meals.

The first thing that I do? Stock up my freezer with points friendly frozen meals and frozen veggies. I know that eating frozen meals is not ideal, but if you're in a hurry, sometimes having a quick meal to throw in the microwave can be a life saver. Frozen veggies are also very handy when you're in a hurry to prepare a meal and are short on time and can't get to the store to get fresh. Costco sells a giant bag of green beans that are really very delicious and inexpensive.

I also make sure I keep a container of grated light cheddar in my fridge at all times. (1oz = 2 points)I use it to top my steamed veggies, to add to a sandwich, or breakfast. So handy. I bought one of those cheese grater/container all-in-one things at Ikea. Best invention ever! And cheese that is grated seems to go farther than if you are slicing it. Seems like you get more. Or maybe that's just me.

I also keep a small dish of chopped up green onions in my fridge. Chopped green onions are delish, and add such nice flavour to so many things. Like eggs. Or as a topping for baked potatoes. It just makes things taste a little nicer and a little more fancy looking.

I also like to keep a couple boiled eggs on hand in the fridge as well. Only 2 points on their own. Or they are also great sliced on a piece of toast (3 points total) for a low point breakfast or a good snack.

Another great idea is to buy those already cooked whole chickens from the grocery store. When I get them home I "disassemble" them while they're still warm (they come apart easier when they're warm) I toss out the skin, and remove all the meat from the bones. I keep the chicken meat in a container in the fridge for snacking or sandwiches or whatever. This is also an easy-way-out dinner.

Here's some of the stuff that I like to eat:

BREAKFAST:

I always eat breakfast - usually something with eggs. Eggs are satisfying and give me energy. One of my fave breakfasts is a breakfast sandwich. I use 2 slices of the Weight Watchers bread, toasted. I scramble one egg with some chopped green onions and throw in one oz of chopped up Schneider's Fat Free Ham (super low in points - 2oz = 1pt). Top it with 1/4 oz of light cheddar (that's all you really need) and voila! You have a breakfast sandwich for only 4 points:
I would normally make that while the baby is having her first nap of the day. But if by chance, we're not into napping that day - or I'm too busy to "cook" something. I have a standby - in the freezer. President's Choice Steel Cut Oats with Blueberries. I get it at Superstore (freezer section). This oatmeal is ready and prepared -frozen in a bowl and it just pops in the microwave for 3 minutes or so and then you have a delicious, nutritious bowl of steaming hot goodness. (If I'm needing a little extra sweetness, I sprinkle some Brown Sugar Twin on top - 0 points.) If you throw in a glass of Tropicana Orange juice, the whole breakfast is only 5 points (3 for cereal, 2 for juice). AND you get in a serving of fruits/veggies.

LUNCH:

Lunch can sometimes be a tough one for me. I find that making a good sandwich usually costs too many points, and a lot of the time I'm not really all that into sandwiches anyways. I kinda like warm lunches. One of my long time favorite things to make (if I have time) is a piece of Highliners Wild Salmon with Dill Sauce (also comes in roasted garlic sauce and teriyaki sauce) and a side of steamed broccoli and cauliflower with 1oz of grated light cheddar melted on top. 5 points for the whole meal. The dilled salmon is only 3 points per fillet. They come frozen and you bake them. If I had a few extra points to spare, I might throw in a half cup of rice for an extra 2 points. Here's a picture of my actual lunch today:

And the box they come in:

If I'm short on time (and even if I'm not) - I have found the Weight Watchers Santa Fe Style Rice and Beans (Smart Ones frozen entree) to be so delicious and comforting and just ohhhh soooo good. It's cheesy and tasty and... gah! My mouth is watering thinking about it. Sometimes I'll steam up some broccoli and cauliflower or green beans and throw it on the side to get in some veggies. The Santa Fe Style Rice and Beans entree is 6 points. So worth it. The picture on the box does not do it justice.

I sometimes also buy the Eating Right (Safeway), Italian Chicken Tomato Lasagna. Now usually I despise pre-packaged, frozen lasagna (or any tomatoey meal for that matter). I think it tastes... well... pre-packaged. But this stuff I do not mind. Not at all. It does take about an hour and a half to cook - but I usually bake it one evening or afternoon while I'm doing other stuff and then cool it and put it in the fridge for quick and easy lunches for a couple of days. It's only 4 points per cup.

Note: It does not look like the picture on the box when it's cooked. But it still tastes good.

DINNER:

I'm a big fan of the BBQ. We eat a lot of grilled chicken and grilled lean pork in this house. A standard dinner here usually consists of grilled chicken/pork, baked potatoes topped with fat free sour cream and chopped green onions (No Name brand makes the BEST fat-free sour cream. I would know, I've tried them all). I always serve some sort of veggie on the side, usually green beans (because they're my fave), or broccoli/cauliflower. Sometimes carrots grilled on the BBQ in a foil pack with just a little bit of cooking spray, a sprinkle of salt, and a sprinkle of Brown Sugar Twin.

Sometimes I also cook baby potatoes in a foil pack on the BBQ, with sliced onions and whole garlic cloves in the pack with a little cooking spray and a sprinkle of seasoning salt. They come out so delicious!

Quite often I also fry up some sliced mushrooms in a frying pan with a little cooking spray and some seasoning salt. 0 points and they make your dinner go farther - not to mention that they are delicious.

Sorry, no dinner pictures (I guess I'm too hungry and busy at dinner to take photos)

SNACKS:

Snacks get me through the day. If I didn't snack, I wouldn't make it. I have a few low point snacks during every day. Mostly pre-packaged stuff cuz it's easy to grab. Here's a few that I love...

First up - Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwiches. So so so good. IF you buy the vanilla ones. (The chocolate ones don't taste like chocolate, they taste like chemicals). These are a decent sized ice cream sandwiches and they are only 2 points each. Perfect for a hot sunny afternoon or evening:

I also love Kellogg's All Bran Bars. They really do taste good, people. Well, to me they do. And they are also only 2 points. Sometimes if I'm not too hungry in the morning, I will even have one of these for my breakfast. They're great with a nice hot cup of black tea:

Also good with a hot cup of tea - or coffee - are Fibre 1 "Oats & Chocolate" bars. Oh my god, good. They are chocolately and just the right amount of chewy. 5 grams of fibre per bar - yet they do not taste "fibre-ey". So good in fact, that I buy them by the case at Costco yet they mysteriously disappear from the pantry at an alarming rate... You know, the same way bacon does?? Again, only 2 points each:

I recently discovered Weight Watchers Chocolate Chip cookies. I was totally leery to buy them because sometimes Weight Watchers products are kind of... meh. (Like their snack cakes - don't waste your time/money/points) But I went out on a limb and bought a box of these cookies (Safeway, bakery section). SO. GLAD. I. DID! They are a perfect little treat/dessert! And get this, they are only 1 point! They contain 4 grams of fibre per cookie and they're a decent size. (On a related note I see that Steve has discovered my stash of them. I must find a new hiding place)

My other 1 point pleasure? Microwave popcorn. Since everyone is getting on the 100 calorie snack package bandwagon - popcorn now comes in 1 point snack bags. My favorite is good old Orville Redenbacher's Smart Pop. (Remember, only the 100 calorie bags are 1 point each). Sometimes I will also sprinkle vinegar on my popcorn for some extra taste - but beware, that isn't for everyone.

Posted at 11:07 AM | 6 comments
Labels: The Weighting Game

Today's tip is for those who are out there enduring the 9-5 grind: Never, ever, nevernevernever ask the mother of a 6 month old baby, who is currently on maternity leave, "What do you do all day?"

Bonus tip: If the mother of that 6 month old baby who is currently on maternity leave happens to be your WIFE - that question should be avoided at all costs. EVEN IF you "didn't mean it that way", you should still sleep with one eye open.

Posted at 10:35 AM | 2 comments
Labels: My Ball and Chain