Lulu201's Healthy Living Log (comments welcome!)

[lulu201]

Yes, Doreen, I'm wearing a smiling face today! Tomorrow DD and I sing in a trio at church and I'm going to wear my -sized stockings. Sometimes the little things in life are very big and special!

I came out of the hidden weight closet yesterday when I thought I was a few pounds heavier, so today I made a big announcement to DH AGAIN to announce that I'd lost some pounds! He is so loving and supportive and shares my joy. I feel so blessed to have a man in my life who has supported this huge lifestyle change of mine. The fact that he's encouraging the half-marathon and my solo trip to WDW is so sweet and wonderful.

I also feel blessed to have such wonderful WISH friends! Deb, Amanda, Lisa Castillo Mom, Lisa ZerasPride, Beth, and of course, my dear WISH-sis, Doreen. . .you all mean the world to me. You've helped me so much in the day-to-dayness of things. I feel strong knowing that we're in this together.

I'm excited now that I got weighed because I entered the Valentine's Day challenge and said that I wanted to lose 12 pounds. Well, at 170, if I lose 12 pounds, I'll be at my goal weight!! The thought of it--being at the weight I wanted to set as my WW goal in six weeks--is too amazing for words!!! Can it actually happen???? I tell you, I'M READY TO GO FOR IT!

One thing I don't want to do, though, is constantly obsess about that number, so I'm just going to concentrate on walking the walk: doing the exercise, counting the points, and just accepting whatever the scale says. My body will release the weight at the right time if I just go along doing what I'm supposed to do.

As it turned out, we didn't get to Christmas Candy Lane--my friend's friend told her it was closed this weekend. That was OK; I didn't need the extra temptations, and it was great just to hang out with my friend and her family. Also, her DH cooked an amazing dinner and I emptied out all the points left in the ole point bank! Thank goodness it's Saturday; only one day to go on strict target and activity points before the bank "opens" again on Monday.

Normally I would've returned from a nice dinner like that--one that challenged my point reserves--and said to myself, "oh, heck, I might as well have what's left of those Godiva chocolates and some popcorn, and a few chips while I'm at it. I've used up all the points anyway. Tomorrow I'll just start again." To do that, though, would be a CHEATing kind of thing to do--and I just couldn't do that. Lose my clippie? Cheat on my other strong friends? NEVER! So, I'm remaining BINGE FREE, turning over my clippie, and calling it a day.

Erin--aka Lulu

PS Doreen, we were in Jonestown, off of 72N. I can drive that easily! How much longer before I get to you?

 

[DoeWDW]

Good morning, Lulu!! (I just LOVE using that icon again!)

I'm glad you had a great time out my way! Did you take the turnpike? I'm about 20 minutes off the Harrisburg East exit. I'll send you more detailed directions via PM. Good for you for enjoying that fabulous dinner! You've been so good with your points all week that you had banked points to use - now THAT'S healthy living!!

Congrats on no binging either! Our attitudes toward food have really changed, haven't they? I still find it amazing at times.

On to another cheat free day, Erin! I'm sure you'll be just radiant at church. Best wishes for you and your daughter on your selection at church. How exciting to sing with her!!


Doreen

 

[lulu201]

Oh, I visited other peoples' journals and forgot to go to my own!
We have to be at church at 7:55, so I'm just going to be quick about this.

1. Vitamins--done and out of the way.
2. Water--one glass down, seven more to go.
3. Coffee--one at home, one at church.
4. Exercise--schedule says it's the three mile day.
5. Food--24 points plus activity. Uhh, nothing left in the bank to draw from.

Off and briskly walking--
L.

Edit:

I need to drink some more water--I've only had that one glass so far today at it's going on three o'clock! Still haven't walked, but I'll do that soon.

B--coffee w/creamer, toast w/tbsp. pbutter=5
L--salad w/lovely wheat roll at Saladworks=15?
D--DH and I plan to have roasted veggies for dinner 'cause that's what sounds good to us today!

Yes, Amanda, I'm hoping for another two points to use after I walk. That's how I know I won't skip it: I need those points!

More later. . .

Edit again:

D--DH and I did have a bunch of roasted veggies--I probably had a couple of cups or MORE!!They were lightly seasoned with olive oil and so nice, but I've started to think. . .with all the fiber that I've had today, I bet I'm going to weigh in like a big farmer tomorrow! I'm drinking the water like crazy!

I walked the three miles on the treadie in 42 minutes. Almost killed myself but I did it. I know that treadie walking is not like REALLY walking--do you know what I mean?--so as soon as the weather's nice again I'm going to have to get out there and walk on the pavement.

I'm a little tonight because I have to go back to work tomorrow. Don't get me wrong--I'm glad that I had all this time off and I'm going back rested and refreshed AND I love my work, but I've got that queasy kind of nervous feeling (I call it Sunday Night Stomach). Plus when I back to work and working long hours, I miss my little home. And my little puppy.
Sniff, sniff.

OK, over that. Tomorrow I've got to get myself onto a new workout schedule so that I'm walking M-W-F-S. No rest day for me. Might go a little slower, though. . .

Onward and downward,
E.

 

[septbride2002]

Hey Chica! I remember those days where you had to stay on the target point - tough days so I am sending you lots and lots of (((YOU CAN DO IT VIBES))) to get you through the day. Although with a 3 mile walk you should have at least 2 activity points right?

~Amanda

 

[Castillo Mom]

I really admire you for exercising on a Sunday, and three miles of walking to boot! Sundays around my house are pretty lazy. Yes, I'll be weighing tomorrow. Best wishes to you on the scale tomorrow!

 

[lulu201]

Geez, all I can say is "doggone it!" I got on the scale this morning and I was up a pound and a fraction, so I rounded it up to two stinking pounds. What's up with that?????
This is the biggest thing I hate about weighing in less frequently--now I have to wait until next Monday to see if it came off and, in the meantime, I have to muster up energy not to be bothered by it. Which I am!

I know it's all salt, water retention, extra fiber and bulk from my eating the last two days--maybe a little muscle thrown in from walking 5 on Fri. morning and 3 yesterday, but still I'm a little .

Still, I did manage to keep the clippie and I know that I've followed the plan to the best of my ability. I can't do more than that. The number is just a number. (I'll keep repeating that silently here for a few minutes. . .)

So, it's a new day. Feeling a little blue now about DD going back to school, heading back to work myself, and now this darn scale thing. It's raining. Man, I better snap out of this pretty quickly and got on with things.

1. Vitamins--will do.
2. Water--one glass down.
3. Exercise--3 mile something. Walk on treadie or WATP. Probably WATP for something different.
4. Food--23 plus AP. Better make jello. Had major chocolate craving last night. I'm getting closer to the d-zone.
5. Coffee--I'm going down to make and enjoy my cup of hazelnut.
6. Count my blessings. That'll cast some into the day.

Here I go. Onward. . .
Erin

Edit 11:10 or close to it:

1. Vitamins are over with for today.
2. Water, well I'd estimate that I've had about 48 oz. so far today.
3. Just not getting to the exercise yet, but will soon I hope.
4. Made the jello and have my plans for lunch.
B--oatmeal w/ 1/3 cup milk=4, plus coffee w/cream=5 total
L--buffalo chicken salad=10

other plans:
snack late in the day will be apple and cheesestick= 3 or 4
D around 8:30 or so--soup and crackers=6, jello for dessert=0

5. Done with the coffee. Will have green mint tea, my favorite ,in a beautiful new cup/teapot one of my student's gave me.
6. Counting those blessings. My WISH-sis and other WISH friends are high on the list. Also, about the scale thing--if I hadn't given in and weighed myself on Friday, I would've just been content with the one pound overall loss!!! You live and learn. More later. . .

 

[DoeWDW]

Here's some extra , some extra , and an extra for you! I know what you mean about those weekly weigh-ins. We set up our expectations for a whole week and then when the scale says something different, it can really affect our mood. Maybe your instincts were right - maybe a monthly weigh-in is better for you?

I know you've been doing great with your points and food. I also know that you've been exercising faithfully. The scale issue notwithstanding, how are you feeling? Are you feeling stronger, leaner, healthier?? Are your clothes fitting better?

Hang in there, Erin. It will get better, I promise! We have lots to celebrate and that scale does NOT tell the whole story.

Good luck with getting back into your regular routine. My routine tends to be both a blessing and a curse. I do better with my food and my water drinking when I'm on my regular routine. Hopefully you can savor the blessings of your routine as well.

So Lulu, we're off to another cheat free day. I refuse to stop using that cute icon, because I know that extra 2 pounds is water weight and will be leaving any moment now.


Doe-Doe, your WISH-sis

 

[lulu201]

Thank you, Doreen, my special WISH-sis. I needed that.

 

[littleducksmom]

erin..........ya know maybe even every 2 weeks would be better since you really dont have that much wt to lose........are you measuring inches? are you clothes fitting just as well or a little looser? you are eating wonderfully and you are exercising so well......here's the question to ask yourself.......

do want to be the person you used to be, or do you want to be the person you are becoming?

i always think of this on days i dont wanna exercise......which is rare, but it does happen......essentially i have been on a plateau since mid sept.......but when i think about where i was, even mentally.......there is no way i am gonna go back there!!!!!!......you are better, even with that measely insignificant 1 pound, than you were when you began, right?......i know you are!!!!!!!!!

 

[septbride2002]

Lulu I know you are going to have a fabulous day today! I just know it! Don't worry about the pounds because they are probably water or muscle gain from working out.

~Amanda

 

[DoeWDW]

Look at the two cool guys walkin' the healthy walk!! They look so happy, don't they?? We're gonna do the same thing today, Lulu!! We're gonna strut our way through the day with smiles!

I hope your evening went as planned. Here we go, into another busy day. It's a long one for you, so don't forget to take some healthy snacks to get you through - gotta keep that energy up!

I have to find out how you made those roasted veggies on Sunday evening. They sound good!

Here's some extra sun to warm you up, even though temperatures around here are headed down. We'll just have to keep moving to stay warm! That means more activity points for you!!

Have a wonderful day, WISH-sis Erin!!

 

[lulu201]

Hi, everyone! I thought I'd head straight to bed, but it just didn't feel right not to stop in at my journal again. First of all, Doe-Doe, Amanda, and Deb--thank you for your words of encouragement yesterday. They meant so much to me; I almost had to wipe a way a tear. . .seriously, they touched my heart, and helped me to turn my day around.

I'm back to work now and when I'm working my hours are long and late. I sometimes have some a.m. time, but now I'm supposed to be writing curricula and that has to be done in my "me" time. Hopefully I'll be done with that this month. In the meantime, I have to squeeze journaling in whenever I can.

The last two days have been good. I've stayed on program and counted my points, have taken the vitamins, have limited my coffee, and have tried to drink a lot of water. My pedometer on Monday--even with a mile on the treadie--was a measly 6500+. Today, a day that I taught several early childhood music classes was 13514 and I didn't even get near the treadie!!!!! Hey, no wonder I'm ready for bed!

I was telling Doreen how somebody asked my how my diet was going and I told her that I don't feel like it's a diet anymore. . .it's how I choose to try to live. I like the "person I am becoming" (to paraphrase Deb) and even though it's hard sometimes, I don't want to go back to where I was. And like Doreen said in her journal about the cheat free challenge helping her to be strong--I feel the same way! We're all in this together and knowing that helps me a lot.

So, I may not be able to be on the boards as much as I'd like, but I do want to get to everyone's journals once or twice a week. Please know that it doesn't mean that I'm not thinking of you all if
I don't stop in--I'm just trying to do what I have to do as a mom, wife, and teacher.


Erin

 

[DoeWDW]

Good morning, Erin!

We're going to have another wonderful, cheat free, healthy living day! I think this is getting easier for me - I hope it's getting easier for you too!

Take legal snacks with you and keep that Trident handy! I hope your day goes well!


Doe-Doe

 

[lulu201]

I'm here ready to start a new day. It's cold as heck outside, but hey, it's winter, isn't it?

Plan for the day:

1. Vitamins--been there, done it.
2. Coffee--had it, finished it.
3. Exercise--uh, oh, this is going to be hard to get into the schedule. DH and I talked all through the time I had set aside to workout. I'm going to rack my brain for an alternate plan.
4. Food--will try to stay with 24-27 points.
5. Water--it's tough to drink all that I need to during my busy days. Today I work from 9:30-8:00. I'll try to drink a glass after every class. So far today I've had about 8 oz., I think.

I wasn't even tempted today by the scale. Maybe I'm breaking my habit?

I've got my trident in my purse and good wishes from my WISH-sis; I'm off to face the world!

Lulu

I think I'll wear my skinny jeans to work today.

 

[ZerasPride]

Hi Erin,

Hope you don't mind if I borrow your wonderful words of wisdom! The next time someone asks me how my diet is going I'm going to paraphrase what you said (that Deb said): I don't consider this a diet anymore, it's how I choose to live. I love it!!

Your schedule sounds pretty hectic. Do you mind if I ask what grade you teach? I plan to start school next semester and want to become an elementary school teacher (K-3). It seems so rewarding but I take it you teach secondary school or even at a college level. I know you are busy so no hurry. I would just like to know what being a teacher is like first hand. Thanks!

Please take care of yourself, take your vitamins, keep your gum handy (I'm chewing away on my Trident now) and remember we are all here trying to be cheat free with you!

 

[DoeWDW]

I hope you enjoyed wearing those skinny jeans today! I know I've been feeling great in mine lately!! All this walking is working for me!! Imagine what we'll look like in a month, by summer, next January on our trip!!!

WISH-sis, I really appreciate having you walk with me on this journey. I was thinking of you while I was walking on the treadie today! I was also thinking of you when I decided not to cheat today - really was craving something but passed it by.

Sleep tight, Lulu! I wish you happy dreams and restful sleep.


Doe-Doe

 

[lulu201]

Just a quick post to start the day: 10 Cheat Free Days. Wow!

Thanks, Doreen and Lisa, for stopping by. I'll try to explain what I do, Lisa, later today when I go to visit you.

The plan remains pretty much the same.

1. Vitamins
2. Limit coffee
3. Exercise. I didn't get on the treadie yesterday. If I miss my time, I'm done for--I just can't reschedule it on a Wednesday. Next time DH and I will have to talk WHILE I walk!
4. Eat right. I've been drawing 5 or 6 points from the bank the last couple of days--even though I haven't logged AP I know that my body needs these points. I walked 13,226 steps yesterday just from my work activity; 24 points just isn't enough. I don't know how to change steps into AP, so I just draw from the bank. It's working for now. Today I'll do the treadie so I can earn AP; I don't anticipate withdrawing anything from the bank today.
5. Drink. Striving to drink after every class worked yesterday. I'm going to keep that up today.

I'm off to pack lunch and make breakfast for DD and then get her to school.

Just a quick note. I've really been able to feel the benefits of the walking and healthy eating this week. I'm teaching very full days but have enough energy to make it through the day. A year ago I was visiting drs. and having x-rays to determine the source of a lot of hip, knee, and back pain. Why didn't someone tell me I was just plain too fat to be doing the work I was doing????


Till later, gang,
Erin

Edit:
Had some water and a banana and my coffee. 3 points for breakfast. I'm going to pick up a bag of salad today. I'm in a salad mood.

Doreen, you asked about those roasted veggies. DH took a whole assortment of things--portabello mushrooms, yellow summer squash, brussel sprouts, red peppers, onion chunks, carrots (anything and everything) and sliced them up and tossed
them in a bowl with about 1/4 olive oil and a little salt. Then he set them out on two foil-covered cookie sheets and put them in the oven at 450 for about 45 minutes. They were delish--especially the brussel sprouts, squash, and mushrooms. If we'd had a steak along with them. . .YOWZA!

 

[DoeWDW]

Erin, I found this information about calculating activity points:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Activity Points
In addition to eating your Target points each day, you may choose to earn and optionally eat Activity points. Activity points earned must be used on the same day they are earned, if they are used at all. Activity points are fully described on, and can be calculated with, your POINTSbooster. If you don’t have it handy, you can use a calculator and the following formulas.
Activity points for light intensity = [your weight] x [minutes] x 0.00023
Activity points for moderate intensity = [your weight] x [minutes] x 0.00033
Activity points for high intensity = [your weight] x [minutes] x 0.00081
Light intensity is described as being able to talk and sing, with regular breathing and no sweating. Examples of light intensity activities are leisurely walking or biking. Moderate intensity is described as being able to talk but not sing, with deep breathing and sweating after 10 minutes. Examples of moderate intensity activities are brisk walking or brisk biking. High intensity is described as being able to only talk briefly, with rapid deep breathing and sweating after 3-5 minutes. Examples of high intensity activities are running or competitive cycling.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm thinking you could use this to calculate some extra activity points for those classes you're teaching that involve movement for you. If you're getting 13,000+ steps in a day, you are DEFINITELY earning activity points. Hope this helps....

On the days when you are getting so many steps in, I'm not sure you need to be on the treadie.... If you're earning the same number of activity points as your usual treadie walk, then I'd call that your exercise for the day. Maybe you should save the treadie for those days when you aren't so active??

I'm so glad that you've seen such a big change in a year! Chronic pain can really put a damper on your zest for life! Hopefully all this healthy living will help you to feel better and better!

Onward, WISH-sis, to another cheat free, healthy living day!

 

[lulu201]

Doreen, thanks so much for that info. I'm going to really think this all through--hmmm, Food for Thought. Now that's a healthy living concept for you!

 

[DoeWDW]

Hey, WISH-sis, I'm thinking of you and sending a your way. Thanks for your PMs today - they really helped. Don't know what I'd do without you!

I hope your D-Zone Day went well.

Tomorrow we'll do it again - more healthy living, more being good to ourselves, more yummy food that's actually GOOD for us, more moving - we are truly taking good care of this temple God has so graciously given us.

Sweet dreams, Lulu
Doe-Doe