Today’s weigh-in may have topped them all. For weeks now I’ve been in the low 150’s, just dying to get into the 140’s, a “new decade” as they say. Last week I was just 0.6 away. I really tried hard this week, hoping to get there. I ran less for the last week of half marathon training and I was concerned that would affect it. But it didn’t and I was ecstatic on the scale this morning!!!

This really is huge. HUGE. I haven’t been in the 140’s in several years now and it feels glorious. This new weight also puts me 9.4 lbs. away from my goal. These last 9.4 lbs. won’t be easy, but I am not giving up. I’ve come this far, I can do it!!!

Things I did right this week are:

• Tracked 5 of 7 days, even tracking ahead on some days since I knew what I would be eating.
• After last weekend’s trip to the produce market, I had the most delicious fruits and veggies on hand. I ate avocados for snacks, had tomato / mushroom / and cucumber salads, and had delicious sautéed squash, zucchini, and mushrooms with chicken one night.
• Three words…. Cake in a cup. If you haven’t tried this yet, you must. Here is the recipe…
• Finished up 14 weeks of half marathon training. Running has played a huge role in my weight loss and I am so excited for my race tomorrow!

What I will focus on this week:

• I am admitting right now that this week will be a challenge. It’s a holiday week and I am actually off for the whole week. While this will allow me time to run when I want, it will also mean being out of my normal routine. So, I will make sure I have plenty of healthy lunch options at home. Just like when I’m at work, eating out every day is not an option.
• Being lazy this week sounds like a fabulous idea, but we have a lot to do so I will be pretty active.
• I plan on enjoying Thanksgiving dinner. It’s my favorite meal of the year and I will earn extra points to eat.
• Have fun at my race tomorrow and enjoy it. I trained for it and I am excited to see how that does for me.

This last week of training had fewer miles, so my activity points were down. I still earned 38 points though! This week I know I’ll exceed that with probably 30 something alone tomorrow.

It’s been awhile since I shared the graph from my WW eTools and today’s stellar weigh-in calls for an updated graph. It’s amazing to look at, isn’t it? I’ve had more gains in the last several months than in the beginning, but overall it’s a nice loss, and not too fast.

Today I am going to the Women’s Running Expo to pick up my race goodies. That;s always fun and super exciting. Hubby and my mom are tagging along with me too. I plan on going to bed early tonight since I’ll be getting up around 4:30am. I hate to be rushed the morning of a race and I like to arrive early. I’m so darn excited!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and Thanksgiving!

Another week, another weigh-in! Last week, I weighed in at 151.0 lbs. and had really hoped to see the 140’s this week. I really really hoped for that, and I felt good about it going into my weigh-in… But it wasn’t in the cards.

But, you know what? I’m not upset or mad about it. This journey that I’m on this year is all about losing weight and living life and becoming a stronger person. A loss is a loss, not matter how small it may be. I’m also not disappointed because this week I had a HUGE non-scale victory that really outdoes any number on that scale. After being in size 14 jeans last year – a very snug 14 I might add – I wore a pair of size 10 jeans that I had in my closest from at least three or four years ago. I can’t tell you how great it felt to wear then, and wear them comfortably.

That top is one that I haven’t been able to wear in a couple years either. It’s not always about the scale, I know I’ve talked about this before. With all the activity I’ve been doing, especially training for my half marathon and running 20+ miles per week the last few weeks, my body is transforming. It’s rearranging itself. My legs are much leaner now but very muscular. When I run, I can see the muscles in my legs. My hips, curvy girl that I am, are much smaller. My tummy is getting flatter. Even my arms are looking more and more toned each week. I can see it in my face. My entire body is changing thanks to WW and running.

Things I did right this week are:

• Tracking – 5 of 7 days.
• Lots of protein this week…. Chicken, eggs, and tilapia are a main source of that.
• I made that delicious chicken and broccoli casserole last weekend and it was so good. It was lunch for a couple of days as well!
• Ran the most miles last week with a 12 mile run on Sunday. Hardest run of my training so far, but I did it.

What I will focus on this week:

• Staying injury free! Just one week until my half marathon, I have 8 miles to run tomorrow, and a few shorter runs during the week before the big day next Sunday.
• Fruits and veggies – I plan to go to the produce market today and stock up!
• At the meeting, a member (who’s lost 80+ lbs.!!!) shared his current favorite dessert and now I am dying to try it. It’s cake in a cup and sounds so simple. I’m definitely going to try it this week and I’ll let you know how it is!
• I still want to try and make the WW recipe I have for Mini Zucchini Quiche. However, I need a mini muffin pan to make this happen.

I did not hit my goal of 65 activity points for the week because I skipped one day of running to give my foot a rest after my long run last Sunday. But, I still ended up with 56 activity points which is awesome!

Weekends are the best, aren’t they? I’m excited to have some down time today, not much of any kind of plan except I know I want to go to the produce market. And I need a mini muffin pan apparently. Tomorrow morning I run and then we have a birthday party in the afternoon. I refuse to even think about Monday at this point!

Have a fantastic weekend, whatever your plans may be!

Good morning! Happy Saturday! My favorite day of the week. I was up early again this morning to go to my WW meeting which I love. We had a full room this morning, several members have returned from up north as it gets to be that time of year again. I love the meetings all the time, but there’s something about a full meeting room and lots of talking and laughter.

I am celebrating another loss today! This makes me so happy!

This new total weight loss of 27 pounds is a bit of a big deal for me. It is the most I’ve lost this time around. It is also the same amount I lost my very first time on WW back in 2006 and made Lifetime. Back then, I started at a lower “highest” weight than this time around (it’s such a cruel world….). It took about 7 months to lose those 27 pounds then and put put me down to 130 pounds and I was convinced that was my happy weight. This time around, starting much higher on the scale, I knew that after all my body has been through, it would not ever get back down to 130 pounds. Why is today’s weight a big deal? Because it is once again, proof that WW works for me. It’s taken longer this time to get to the 27 pound mark, but I now know that my body is capable of losing weight when for the last few years, I had given up hope on that. Losing 27 pounds the first time around was pretty amazing, but I think I am happier about it this time around. It means more after thinking it just wasn’t possible.

Things I did right this week are:

• Snacks, fruits, and veggies.
• Water!!!! Today’s meeting topic is about eating slower and drinking water between bites. Talking about the importance of water is always a good reminder.
• Tracked 5 of 7 days. I am proud of this.
• I was crazy active this week… You’ll see how crazy I was in a minute.

What I will focus on this week:

• I have 2 weeks of half marathon training left so I have to keep up with the snacks, fruits, and veggies.
• Tomorrow night, I will make a delicious favorite recipe of mine from Skinnytaste for a casserole that will last a couple days. This was on my list to-do last week and I never did it. Tomorrow I will.
• Still looking for a few new low-point dessert ideas.
• I have been slacking a little on my lunches, they have been less filling and more snack-like. I need to plan better this week, which is something the casserole will help with.

I am so excited about my activity this past week. I ran 11 miles last Sunday and then had 3 runs during the week for another 11 miles. I finally, FINALLY, hit my goal of earning 60 activity points for the week. I hit 60 on Thursday and then had a total of 64 by the time I went to bed last night! This will be hard to top next week, but I’m going to see if I can hit 65!

So, what’s on schedule for my weekend? First and foremost, I’m going to ignore the stress of the week and focus on enjoying these two days. Today is my niece’s 6th birthday party! Tomorrow, I have a 12 mile run – my last long run for my half marathon training – and then I plan on being lazy afterwards. I go, go, go so much all the time, I look forward to the rare Sunday’s when we have nothing planned and can stay home all day long.

There is a lot happening in my life right now and a lot of it is stressful. I am always trying to pep talk myself and trying to not let myself get inside my head too much. This happens easily too me and then it’s downhill fast. Our meeting was closed this morning with a great quote and I wanted to share it with you…. This applies to not only this weight loss journey I’m on, but all things in life which seem like a struggle.

“You cannot change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction overnight.”

-Jim Rohn

When things seem overwhelming, you have to approach it in steps. If you only see the very end result, you will be discouraged and feel like you will never get there. You have to make small changes, set small goals, and know that each one along the way is getting you closer and closer to your goal, whatever it may be.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Happy Saturday, all! It is a rainy morning here in Tampa Bay but I am okay with that since it’s a little bit of a cool front. And it will be the perfect day to do not much of anything.

The meeting this morning was fantastic. Several lifetime members spoke about their journey and how they have been successful in keeping the weight off. So much good information! The common thread of a successful lifetime member is continuing to go to the meetings and being accountable, even after reaching their goal. I like to refer to myself as a repeat offender since I made lifetime once and then gained it all back. Walking into that meeting every Saturday morning before the sun comes up is what starts my week off on the right foot. It is a reminder of what I need to do and that I can do it. As I inch closer to my goal and making lifetime again, I constantly remind myself that nothing changes when I hit that goal. I can’t stop going to the meetings then. I can’t. So, I very much enjoyed this morning’s meeting and the topic.

And in happy news…. I am down 2 pounds this week! Happy dance!!

I worked really hard this week. This week was yet another stressful one with my schedule and normal routine all messed up. I am honestly surprised that I lost weight amidst the turmoil. When I couldn’t run in the morning, I ran in the afternoon. I did what I could, when I could. And it worked.

Things I did right this week are:

• Tracked 5 of 7 days.
• I ate a lot of fruits and veggies again this week.
• Running in the afternoon heat meant extra water for me this week. Hydration is so important!
• I ran a lot this week. I joked in the meeting that I left the 2 pounds out on the pavement somewhere this week.
• I’m thinking a lot about reaching my goal and what my “after” story will be like. it’s important to keep that goal clear in my mind.

What I will focus on this week:

• Keep up with the fruits, veggies, and mid-morning snacks this week.
• I am going to make a casserole for dinner this week that will create lunch and dinner for another day. I love recipes that create more than one meal.
• With 3 weeks left in my half marathon training, I am very focused on that. Training encompasses not only the running, but recovery, fueling, and hydration. Oh, and enjoying myself too. The word training makes it sound hard or even serious, but it is fun.
• Looking for new point-friendly dessert ideas!

After hitting 58 activity points last week, I really wanted to hit 60 this week. Sadly, I did not. But I still earned 55, which is great!

Today will likely be a lazy day for me. I am going to take advantage of this rainy weather and take sometime to just relax. We have a full day tomorrow, I have 11 miles to run in the morning, then lunch for my sister-in-law Jenna’s birthday at the Sponge Docks, and then we’re taking our Little Brother out to play basketball. I imagine my head will hit the pillow pretty early tomorrow…

Do you have any point-friendly dessert recipes to share?

Forty three weighs down, nine more to go for the year. It’s amazing how quickly the weeks go by when you count them towards a goal. I am so thankful that I went back to WW on January 1.

This week, I had a very nice loss! It was really nice to see the scale go down after 3 weeks of gains. I re-directed my focus this week and it helped. Yay for a loss!

This week was a busy one – 20 miles of running since last Sunday, spent last Saturday in Lakeland walking most of the day, and went to Howl O’ Scream at Busch Gardens on Thursday night. I also took yesterday off, I called it a mental health day, and we went out to lunch and a little shopping trip before heading home to do some cleaning. A busy week for sure. But I love that it resulted in this…

Things I did right this week are:

• Last Saturday, we stopped at my favorite farm market, Parkesdale, on our way home from Lakeland. I stocked up on fruits and veggies to start me off right for what I knew would be a busy week.
• I really focused on having a mid-morning snack, especially on the days I run. It helped quite a bit and I wasn’t starving for lunch.
• Crazy amount of activity. I logged a lot of miles this week between my half marathon training and all the walking we did in Lakeland and at Howl O’ Scream. This helped to make up for the splurges during the week of pizza, as well as popcorn and beer at Howl O’ Scream. Work hard, play hard!
• I tracked 5 of 7 days! Better than last week!

What I will focus on this week:

• I am definitely going to stick with the mid-morning snacks this week. My mileage is still going up on my training and I need the extra fuel.
• Still trying for more tracking!
• Looking ahead to Halloween week, trying my best to avoid candy. I’d rather have real food than candy anyhow.
• Always looking ahead towards my goal. I have 13.6 pounds to go!!!
• I’m hoping for another great week of training.

Last week, I said I wanted to hit 60 activity points this week. I got SOOOO close! I earned 58 activity points. Holy cow! I’m going to try again for 60 this week.

Today is cross training day for me and I’m going to do some core work which I haven’t done is way too long. I will also be walking today as we are heading out to Johns Pass in Madeira Beach for lunch and to cheer on the 3 Day walkers on the second day of their route. We are having amazing cool weather here right now so I am very much looking forward to a great day of being outside and enjoying the company. Tomorrow I will tackle my 10 mile long run. I can’t believe I’m up to double digits!

Have a fantastic weekend!