Update

There's a good reason I haven't posted here. The amount of crap I have been consuming would take me all day to type! :-)

I am happy to report that our Weight Watchers at work program started yesterday. I am back on the wagon and here to stay. I became a WW lifetime member through an at-work program and enjoyed going through the whole experience with my co-workers. So, I am hoping to have the same experience again. I am determined to lose that evil last 10 lbs this time...for good too!

GRAND TOTALS
- Total Breakfast - 3 pts (FF muffin and grapes)
- Total Lunch Points - 8 pts (Subway turkey & baked lay's)
- Total Dinner Points - pts
- Total Snacking Points - pts
- Misc Points - pts

Total points consumed
- Total activity points
- Total points for day
- Total "flex" points used -

Flex points remaining for the week

Woman cannot live on Valentine's Day candy alone!

I weighed in at WW last night. +.6! It just goes to show that you can stay in your points range all week, but if 1/4 of your points (or more) each day are used eating Valentine's candy, the program just doesn't work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ho hum!

I should have seen that coming. I have given away all the valentine's candy in my office. It was placed in the breakroom at 8 am and is almost all gone....guess I'm not the only one with a sweet tooth! Better on their butts than mine! (insert cynical, evil laugh)

In celebration of Houston breaking the record low last night/this morning, I stopped at Starbuck's for a tall, non-fat, no-whip (no-fun) mocha. Apparently, this celebration was city-wide, because there was a line wrapping around the inside of the store. Oh well, it was worth the wait. And, I even managed to steer clear of the baked goods. Small victories...small victories!

Breakfast
SB Tall, non-fat, no-whip mocha - 3 pts (and 1 serving of milk!)
1 banana - 2 pts

Snack

Lunch

Snack

Dinner

Snack

GRAND TOTALS
- Total Breakfast - 5 pts
- Total Lunch Points - pts
- Total Dinner Points - pts
- Total Snacking Points - pts
- Misc Points - pts

Total points consumed -
Total activity points -
Total points for day -
Total "flex" points used -

Flex points remaining for the week -

Continuous Improvement

That's one of those corporate buzz words we use all the time. I usually consider those things cheesy, but I think it fits in this situation. I am at the end of my 1st week of getting back on track with WW and I know I have a lot to improve. I've always been consistent with my exercise and water consumption, so that's not a problem. But, I need to find a way to eat more fruits & veggies, eat less of the sugary snacks, find a way to fit in the 2 servings of milk, etc.

Breakfast
1 banana nut muffin - 3 pts
1 banana - 2 pts

Snack
1 snack-pack of M&Ms - 2pts

Lunch
1/2 hamburger - 5 pts
1 slice bacon & blue cheese - 3 pts
1 large serving of steamed broccoli - 0 pts
2 slices of small bread loaf - 2 pts

Snack
1 cup grapes - 1 pt
1 chocolate chip cookie - 5 pts

Dinner
1 Cup steamed broccoli & Carrots - 1 pt
1 cup pineapple - 1 pt

Snack
1 box of valentine's day nerds - 2 pts?

GRAND TOTALS
- Total Breakfast - 5 pts
- Total Lunch Points - 10 pts
- Total Dinner Points - 2 pts
- Total Snacking Points - 10 pts
- Misc Points - 0 pts

Total points consumed - 27
Total activity points - 3
Total points for day - 24
Total "flex" points used - 4

Flex points remaining for the week - 6

Re-grouping

I did pretty poorly yesterday, but today's a whole new day!

Breakfast
1 banana nut muffin - 3 pts

Snack
1 med banana - 2 pts
1/2 snack pack of M&Ms - 1 pt

Lunch
Subway
6" turkey breast on wheat w/spicy mustard & no cheese - 6 pts
Baked Lay's chips (1 bag) - 2 pts
Diet Coke - 0 pts

Snack
1/2 snack pack of M&Ms - 1 pt
WW snack bar - 2 pts
grapes - 1 pt

Dinner
1/2 cup Hamburger Helper - 3.5 pts
1 cup Carrots/Broccoli w/seasoning - 1 pt

Dessert
1 peach - 1 pt

Workout
40 minutes treadmill - 4 pts

GRAND TOTALS
- Total Breakfast - 3 pts
- Total Lunch Points - 8 pts
- Total Dinner Points - 4.5 pts
- Total Snacking Points - 8 pts
- Misc Points - 2 pts

Total points consumed - 25.5
Total activity points - 4
Total points for day - 21.5
Total "flex" points used - 1.5

Flex points remaining for the week - 10

Bad start

Okay, I stopped at Starbucks this morning with the intent of only getting my tall, non-fat, no-whip mocha. Simple enough, right? I forgot to bring my instant oatmeal to work, but I did have some delicious-looking blueberries with me. Well, I came out of Starbucks with my mocha.....and, a slice of low-fat blueberry coffee cake. Doh!

7 points!

Yes, the LOWFAT coffee cake has 10 grams of fat...you don't want to know how many grams are in the regular coffee cake. And don't get me started on the "No Sugar Added Banana Nut Cake".....470 calories & 27 grams of fat. Honestly, you're better off having a Croissant! Really! Here's the nutritional guide for Starbucks here. This is why I just need to steer clear of that place all together. On a happier note, I did steer clear of the breakfast tacos at work this morning. Normally, I would have Starbucks and help myself to a taco too. Gee, no wonder I couldn't get the weight off.

Breakfast
1 tall, non-fat, no-whip mocha - 3 pts
1 Low-Fat Blueberry Coffee Cake - 7 pts

Snack
NONE!

Lunch
Sandwich from home - 3 pts
(2 slices 2x fiber bread, spicy mustard, turkey & fat-free cheese)
Blueberries - 1 pt

Snack
M&Ms - 8 pts

Dinner
Grilled Chicken Sandwich - 6 pts

Workout
25 minutes "Slim in 6" - 1 pt

GRAND TOTALS
- Total Breakfast - 10 pts
- Total Lunch Points - 4 pts
- Total Dinner Points - 6 pts
- Total Snacking Points - 8 pts
- Misc Points - ~5 pts

Total points consumed - 33
Total activity points - 1
Total points for day - 32
Total "flex" points used - 12

Flex points remaining for the week - 11.5

No update comments from me. I caved. Not good, not good at all. I will just leave it at this....I must resolve to stay away from the Valentines day candy!!!

Monday, Monday...

Sometimes Mondays tend to be hard for me dietwise and I'm not sure why. Let's see if I can work through the Monday cravings for junk and have a good day...

Breakfast
1 piece cinnamon toast - 1 pt
1 banana - 2 pts

Snack
1 cup grapes - 1 pt
3 York Peppermint Patties (small) - 3 pts

Lunch
Lean Cuisine - Ravioli (my favorite!) - 5 pts
Pineapple - 1 pt

Snack
1 medium sized peach - 1 pt
More Valentine's Candy - 3 pts (PLEASE STOP GIVING ME THIS AT WORK!!!)

Dinner
1 beef taco fajita (from Tyson kit) - 3 pts
1 serving of frozen veggies (broccoli and carrots) - 1 pt
1 cup skim milk - 2 pts

Workout
45-minute "Slim in 6" workout - 2 points earned

GRAND TOTALS
- Total Breakfast - 3 pts
- Total Lunch Points - 6 pts
- Total Dinner Points - 6 pts
- Total Snacking Points - 8 pts
- Misc Points - 0

Total points consumed - 23
Total activity points - 2
Total points for day - 21
Total "flex" points used - 1

Flex points remaining for the week - 23.5

End of day update...It's obvious I am using too many points on sugary crap. My goal is 3 snacking points in the am and 3 in the pm...and focus on healthier snacks rather than candy! I did get in all 5 fruits/veggies, but only 1 cup of milk rather than two. Overall, not horrible.

Sunday - Day #3

I started the day with a 6 mile run, so earning 6 points 1st thing is always a great feeling. Of course, I immediately used every one of those points on breakfast. Big Sunday breakfasts are quickly becoming a tradition in my little family, so the Sunday long run works out well for that reason.

Today was especially challenging,because I had lunch plans with some friends from high school. There is not much a Pappasito's that is low in points. One option would have been to just eat fajita meat without the tortilla...I opted to eat the tortilla though. Then, I met up with a Working Moms group for coffee at the Daily Grind. Again, not enough fruits/veggies, but I tend to do better with that during the week. I was still full from lunch in the evening, so I skipped dinner. I realize that I didn't make the best decisions today, but I could have done much worse too!

Breakfast
2 eggs - 4 pts
2 slices center cut bacon - 1 pt

Lunch
Pappasito's
10 tortilla chips - 3 pts
Salsa - 0 pts
1 Beef Fajita Taco - 6 pts
1 bite of charro beans - 1 pt?
1 margarita - 8 pts!!!!!!
1 chocolate dipped strawberry - 2 pts

Snack
Cafe Mocha @ The Daily Grind - 4 pts
(it was pint-sized, but used skim milk & no whip)
Popcorn - 1 pt
(1/2 bag of SmartPop)

GRAND TOTALS
Total points consumed - 30
Total activity points - 6
Total points for day - 24
Total "flex" points used - 4

Flex points remaining for the week - 20.5

Day #2

Saturday! This day actually went pretty well!

Breakfast
2 Slices Cinnamon Toast - 2 pts
(using double fiber bread)
1 Sugar-Free Red Bull - 0 pts

Snack
1 cup grapes - 1 pt

Lunch
Grilled chicken sandwich at Barnaby's - 5 pts
(ate about 3/4s of sandwich)
House Salad w/Vinegarette - 2 pts
(substituted for fries - 2 points for cheese and bacon)

Snack
WW Sweet & Salty snack bar - 2 pts
WW Candy - 2 pts

Dinner
1/2 Boboli (sp?) pizza crust - 4
8 turkey pepperoni - 2
1/4 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese - 2
1 cup pineapple - 1

Dessert
1/4 cup Dreyer's 1/2 Fat Chocolate Cherry - 1 pt

Workout
25 minutes - Slim in 6 Workout

GRAND TOTALS
- Total Breakfast - 2 pts
- Total Lunch Points - 7 pts
- Total Dinner Points - 9 pts
- Total Snacking Points - 6
- Misc Points - 0

Total points consumed - 24
Total activity points - 1
Total points for day - 23
Total "flex" points used - 3

Flex points remaining for the week - 24.5

I still spent too many points snacking and didn't get in all my fruits/veggies, but I did pretty well considering I was stuck in a classroom all day!

Today...

So far, so good! I forgot my nice, healthy lunch today. I left it sitting on the kitchen counter. So, I had to decide what I wanted to run out and get. I opted for a Mandarin Bowl at Panda Express...okay, not the best option and not the best in Chinese food. But, it satisfied my craving for it and overall, not too many points...that is, if I would have ordered the right thing! Grrrr....
I'll update later today with afternoon and dinner.

Breakfast
3/4 cup Captain Crunch PB cereal mixed with 1/2 cup fiber one - 2 pts
1/2 cup skim milk - 1 pt
morning water - 33.8 oz - 0 pts

AM Snack
1 Fun Size Nestle Crunch - 1.5 pts
(See what happens when I forget to bring my fruit to work???)

Lunch
Mandarin Chicken - 6 pts
(Shit, I meant to order Mongolian Chicken, which was 4 points..doh!)
Rice - 2 pts
(I threw most of it away...who needs THAT much rice???)
Mandarin Sauce - 1 pt
Veggies - 1 pt

PM Snack
1 Fortune Cookie - 1 pt
1 Tootsie Roll - 1pt

Dinner
Fried Trout (DH caught & made!) - 7
1/4 cup Velveta Au Gratin Potatoes - 2
1 cup sliced Cucumber - 0 pts
Diet DP - 0 pts
PM water - 33.8 oz - 0 pts

Dessert
1/2 cup Pineapple - 1 pt

Workouts
45 minutes - "Slim in 6" workout - 2 pts
25 minutes - Treadmill Run - 2 pts

GRAND TOTALS
- Total Breakfast - 3 pts
- Total Lunch Points - 10!!! Way too many!!!
- Total Dinner Points - 9
- Total Snacking Points - 4.5
- Misc Points - 5*

Total points consumed - 31.5
Total activity points - 4
Total points for day - 27.5
Total "flex" points used - 7.5

Flex points remaining for week - 27.5

Overall, this was NOT a good WW day. Not having my healthy snacks at work, left me wanting to snack on the candy sitting around the office. And I did! I also ate too many points at lunch and the fried fish was not a good choice at dinner. The bright side is that I can do better in the coming days and make up for today!

By the way, those misc. points are from snacking at home tonight. This is my downfall. I snack while the hubby is cooking, taste a spoonful of the kiddo's macaroni as I'm putting it in tupperware, etc. This is where I need a lot of improvement! I have no idea of how many points all this snacking really adds up to, so I hope my "guesstimate" is somewhat accurate.

Hello!

Well, this is my 1st post in my weight loss blog. I'm a runner, hence the title...however, I feel it would have been more appropriate to title this blog "Getting my Ass in Gear" since that's what I seem to be unable to do.

I began this blog mostly out of disgust. I am by no means obese. In fact, I am not fat either. However, I have a problem with food and I desperately want to lose those annoying final 10 pounds.

You see, after getting married in 1997, I gained about 20 lbs. I was already heavier than I needed to be, so those additional pound made me fat. After trying everything from Dexatrim to the Cabbage Soup Diet to Metabolife to Atkins, I had made very little progress and was frustrated. In 1999, I finally decided to join my WW group at work. Something clicked, because I followed the program carefully, I started working out again and I lost the weight! 32 pounds in all. I weighed 130 and I felt awesome! It was my life's greatest accomplishment at that time and I felt like I could take on the world.

In 2001, at age 29, I began running. I was approaching my 30th birthday and decided that I was going to run the Houston 1/2 Marathon! At that time, I weighed about 132 which was perfect since my WW goal weight was actually 135. I ran the 1/2 and continued to run. I managed to keep off the weight until 2003. I ran the NYC Marathon that year and let my weight creep up a bit. Nothing terrible, I was probably around 139. After running the Houston Marathon in 2004, my weight creeped up to 145. I decided to rejoin WW and I managed to get back on track. Two months later, I found out I was pregnant with my 1st child. While my eating did not get out of control during my pregnancy, I did "splurge" toward the end. In total, I gained 30 lbs.

After having my daughter, I found that I lost 20 of those 30 pounds really quickly. The next 12 wasn't so hard to loose either. Now I was back to 145...my pre-pregnancy weight and only 10 more pounds to goal! So yes, since January of 2005, I have fluctuated between 142 and 150. I have been paying for Weight Watchers off and on during that time. I've been playing the "yes, I'm on WW game" for those 2 years...telling myself to get on program, but really cheating and eating a cookie here or having a Starbucks there.

So dear readers, it is time to re-focus.

Most people say, "OMG, all that running you do! You should be able to eat what you want!" Yeah, you'd think so. But, I seem to remember a little something from Economics 101 called the "Law of Diminishing Returns". Funny how you do end up using this stuff in real life after all, isn't it? I am truly scared to see how much weight I would gain if I didn't run and workout!

It's time for me to make a decision.

Either get back to eating right -or- just saying "screw it" and eat whatever the hell I want. Seriously. No grey area. No in-between. One or the other, because I am tired of this cycle of "Woohoo, I lost 3 lbs", followed by the horrible guilt of eating things I know will sabotage my diet. I seem to constantly go back and forth between the two. It's not that I can't eat the bad foods at all. I can. I just have to get back to eating them in moderation and balancing them with the healthy stuff in between.

I guess it just bugs me, because when I was on WW before, it seemed so easy. I ate what I was supposed to and the weight came off. Sure I had a chocolate bar or a Coke mixed in there every so often, but I wouldn't go too crazy with it. I would balance it out with more veggies at dinner or earn more activity points. So why does this seem so hard now? I know how I feel when I gain weight and I know how unhappy I am when I move up a size....so, I know what decision I need to make. EAT RIGHT. I just need someone to tell that to the part of the brain that allows me to reason with myself. The part that says "It's okay, a couple of chocolate chip cookies won't hurt" followed by, "While you're at it, wash it down with a REAL Coke".

I am hoping by using this blog to track my food and WW points and occasionally get out my frustrations, I can do it. For real this time.

Oh and next time, my post won't be this freaking long! :-)