Winter Wonderland Weigh-In: Week 9

It’s Winter! Which means that the weather turns chilly and a new year is just beginning. This year the period from January through March is going to be a Winter Wonderland for me – a time to focus on my weight loss and to finally, once-and-for-all achieve my pre-surgery weight loss requirement. Sunday weigh-ins will keep me accountable through the weekend, and will give me a positive goal to begin each new week. This is the time of year resolutions are made and then quickly forgotten, but not with me. I’m going to use this season to refresh my outlook, because I’m embarking on more than just a diet plan, I’m going to establish a lifestyle. My Sunday progress updates will be called Winter Wonderland Weigh-Ins.

Week 9 brought a change in eating plan, lots of fun with friends, lighter workouts, and a positive outlook.

Sounds good. So, what did the scale show?!

This morning I weighed in at 291.4, which is down 1.6 pounds from last week. Which means I have 5 pounds to go before I can call in to Kaiser and meet the next big weight loss requirement! This loss is especially significant in a week when I changed the way I’ve been eating, battled PMS, and went lighter on my workouts than I’d planned.

Still, the workouts I did get in were really fun. I did a couple of my usual elliptical/recumbent bike workouts, but then I also went biking in Half Moon Bay, which was amazing. And then yesterday I discovered that Just Dance 4 has this whole selection that offers longer dance workouts: 80s, Latin, and a few others. Fun!

Here’s this week’s workout plan:

Sunday: Just Dance 4 + long walk with Sofi
Monday: rest day
Tuesday: elliptical + recumbent bike + walk with Sofi
Wednesday: TBD
Thursday: elliptical + recumbent bike + walk with Sofi
Friday: TBD
Saturday: Zumba

I absolutely loved the food I’ve been eating all week.

• Breakfasts: protein shake
• Lunches: Flat Out wraps spread with Laughing Cow, clover sprouts, and 4 oz of low sodium deli meat (ham and turkey) + popcorn or ChipIns.
• Snacks: bell pepper with Babybel light cheese
• Dinners: this is where I’ve gotten creative – cauliflower crust pizza, grilled tofu sriracha, and lowfat curry chicken with roasted cauliflower.

The thing is, I’m eating real, whole food, staying low carb, and I’m keeping my calories under 1200. The irony isn’t lost on me that this is basically the plan that Kaiser Bariatric laid out for me from the beginning. I realize, too, that in the 2 1/2 years since I’ve been on this WLS quest, I’ve tried LOTS of food plans: Kaiser, Medifast, Bariatric Choice, Kaiser, Jenny Craig, super low calorie pre-op, and back to Kaiser (I’m sure I missed a few in between there somewhere). But I’m fine with all of the changing – I always did what felt right at the time, gave it my all, and was open to making changes when it seemed right. Plus, I think going through all of the different plans helped to teach me so much about my eating habits, patterns, and problems. I’m finally mentally ready for this healthy Kaiser plan, and so it’s full steam ahead towards those next 5 lbs, and beyond.

Until next Sunday, my friends. I hope the scale treats you well, and that you have a wonderful week!

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Winter Wonderland Weigh-In: Week 8

It’s Winter! Which means that the weather turns chilly and a new year is just beginning. This year the period from January through March is going to be a Winter Wonderland for me – a time to focus on my weight loss and to finally, once-and-for-all achieve my pre-surgery weight loss requirement. Sunday weigh-ins will keep me accountable through the weekend, and will give me a positive goal to begin each new week.  This is the time of year resolutions are made and then quickly forgotten, but not with me.  I’m going to use this season to refresh my outlook, because I’m embarking on more than just a diet plan, I’m going to establish a lifestyle. My Sunday progress updates will be called Winter Wonderland Weigh-Ins.

Week 8 was great in practice, but not so thrilling on the scale.

Confusing. So, what did the scale show?!

This morning I weighed in at 293.0, which is exactly what I weighed last week. After last week’s big weight loss, I probably shouldn’t have expected a huge loss on the scale. And at one point in the week I was actually up 3 lbs because of making a poor food choice (note to self: no matter how hungry you are after a workout, do not give in to buying turkey jerky because you see it on an endcap at Target).  I’m still feeling really strong and confident about what I’m doing, and I know that as long as I keep it up, I will get those 7 measly pounds off.

The thing is, there’s more to my journey than just the scale.  I’m noticing lots of NSVs:

• my work pants are fitting so much looser
• two of my workout pants are way too loose in the waist
• most of my bras are too big for me (luckily I had a couple of smaller sized bras to move down to)
• tshirts that I couldn’t wear for so long are fitting well
• people at work are noticing my weight loss
• friends whom I haven’t seen in several weeks-months are complimenting me on how “skinny” I’m looking

I also really gave it my all with my workouts this week.  Six days of solid, sweaty workouts. I don’t make excuses to miss workouts, no matter how I’m feeling, I just get to the gym or turn on the OnDemand and get it done.  It’s a huge turning point for me that fitness is a daily part of my life, without question.

This week I’m off for Presidents’ Week Break, and I know that the extra down time is going to make my food plan more challenging.  Eating only shakes/soup until my late afternoon snack isn’t as easy, especially if I don’t have anything to take my mind off of it.  So, I’m planning on drinking tons of water to fill in the gaps and keep as busy as possible. I’ve made tons of plans with friends for movies, pedicures, and coffee dates.  I’m also planning on working out like it’s my job!

Here’s this week’s workout plan:

Sunday: rest day/long walk with Sofi
Monday:  aqua aerobics + recumbent bike
Tuesday: elliptical + recumbent bike
Wednesday: aqua aerobics + recumbent bike
Thursday: bike riding in Half Moon Bay
Friday: aqua aerobics + recumbent bike
Saturday: Zumba

Looking at my post from last week, it was unrealistic of me to think that I could lose 7 lbs two weeks in a row.  But that doesn’t mean I’m giving myself a pass.  I still want to do my best to take these 7 lbs off as soon as I can.  I’m looking forward to seeing what I can accomplish this week.

Until next Sunday, my friends. I hope the scale treats you well, and that you have a wonderful week!

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Winter Wonderland Weigh-In: Week 7

It’s Winter! Which means that the weather turns chilly and a new year is just beginning. This year the period from January through March is going to be a Winter Wonderland for me – a time to focus on my weight loss and to finally, once-and-for-all achieve my pre-surgery weight loss requirement. Sunday weigh-ins will keep me accountable through the weekend, and will give me a positive goal to begin each new week.  This is the time of year resolutions are made and then quickly forgotten, but not with me.  I’m going to use this season to refresh my outlook, because I’m embarking on more than just a diet plan, I’m going to establish a lifestyle. My Sunday progress updates will be called Winter Wonderland Weigh-Ins.

Week 7 was most definitely a lucky one for me, although, really, luck had nothing to do with it.  I stayed committed to my new pre-op food plan, worked out 6 times, and was really active on MFP.

Awesome!  So, what did the scale show?!

This morning I weighed in at 293.0, which is a loss of 6.8 pounds from last week!  Which means I have 7 pounds go to until I can call Kaiser!!! 7s seem like they’re all around me this week.  I’m absolutely thrilled with this result! I worked really hard at the gym, pushed myself to make it through that afternoon hunger between the pm snack and dinner, and stayed motivated by reading blogs, engaging my peeps on MyFitnessPal, and watching my favorite YouTubers. 

In fact, I made my sessions on the recumbent bike a bit more interesting by watching lots of YT videos.  It really makes the time go by faster, and it keeps me inspired by watching all the weight loss success. There’s nothing like my workout playlist when I’m on the elliptical, but I’m liking this new tradition. It’s sometimes hard finding the time to watch all the video updates, so this helps me multitask.

Here’s this week’s workout plan:

Sunday: step cardio interval (OnDemand)
Monday:  gym: elliptical/bike
Tuesday: rest day
Wednesday: gym: elliptical/bike
Thursday: kickboxing (OnDemand)
Friday: gym: elliptical/bike
Saturday: Zumba

I can’t believe I’ve made it this far!  Seven pounds to go before I call Kaiser, at which point things set into motion with a psych evaluation, an EKG, and then the surgery date is set.  So exciting!!  My goal is to be able to make the call the week of the 17th.  I’m off for February Break/Presidents’ Week, so the timing would work well for me to be able to schedule all of the appointments.  I’m going to do everything I can to make that happen.

Until next Sunday, my friends. I hope the scale treats you well, and that you have a wonderful week!

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Winter Wonderland Weigh-In: Week 6

It’s Winter! Which means that the weather turns chilly and a new year is just beginning. This year the period from January through March is going to be a Winter Wonderland for me – a time to focus on my weight loss and to finally, once-and-for-all achieve my pre-surgery weight loss requirement. Sunday weigh-ins will keep me accountable through the weekend, and will give me a positive goal to begin each new week.  This is the time of year resolutions are made and then quickly forgotten, but not with me.  I’m going to use this season to refresh my outlook, because I’m embarking on more than just a diet plan, I’m going to establish a lifestyle. My Sunday progress updates will be called Winter Wonderland Weigh-Ins.

Week 6 was a good one. I got workouts in, got back on track, and made an exciting decision.

Sounds good.  So, what did the scale show?!

This morning I weighed in at 299.8, which is up 1 pound from last week. I know that this isn’t a true gain, though, because I’ve been doing well all week – I got solid workouts in and stuck to my food plan, for the most part.  My sister and I did go out for sushi last night, and whenever I eat anything with soy sauce, I always have a bit of a gain.  I went to sushi as a “last meal” of sorts. This weight is coming off next week, I’m sure of it, and here’s why:

I can’t wait to see what I can do in a week’s time!  I’m going to continue working out, as well.

Sunday: vinyasa yoga (done)
Monday:  rest day
Tuesday: gym: elliptical/bike
Wednesday: aqua aerobics
Thursday: gym: elliptical/bike
Friday: gym: elliptical/bike
Saturday: Zumba

The first three days are going to be challenging, because I’m going to feel hungry, but after that, it should be smooth sailing.  Plus, once I see the great results on the scale, I know it will spur me on to continue.  I’m also really lucky that I have so many supportive people in my life; people that I know I can text throughout the day to get me out of my own head and staying strong.

I’m proud of myself for being willing to make the changes I need to in order to accomplish my goals.

Until next Sunday, my friends. I hope the scale treats you well, and that you have a wonderful week!

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Winter Wonderland Weigh-In: Week 5

It’s Winter! Which means that the weather turns chilly and a new year is just beginning. This year the period from January through March is going to be a Winter Wonderland for me – a time to focus on my weight loss and to finally, once-and-for-all achieve my pre-surgery weight loss requirement. Sunday weigh-ins will keep me accountable through the weekend, and will give me a positive goal to begin each new week.  This is the time of year resolutions are made and then quickly forgotten, but not with me.  I’m going to use this season to refresh my outlook, because I’m embarking on more than just a diet plan, I’m going to establish a lifestyle. My Sunday progress updates will be called Winter Wonderland Weigh-Ins.

Week 5 brought with it the onslaught of PMS, and all the I’m-so-ravenous-I’ve-got-to-eat-it-all-NOW mentality that comes with it. Not to mention the hormonal breakouts near my chin (lovely).  Ugh.

Sounds challenging.  So, what did the scale show?!

This morning I weighed in at 298.0, which is up 1.6 lbs from last week. Which means I have 17 pounds to go to reach the pre-surgery requirement.  I know it’s a gain, and I’m never happy with any sort of movement that’s not in the right direction, but I’m not upset with this number at all.  It’s still below 300, it’s mostly water weight, and I know it will all shed off as soon as I get my period.

This week I really fought hard against the snack attack that hits me late in the afternoons.  Some days I lost, but some days, like Friday, I won.  I was in the middle of a “I’ve got to eat everything NOW” moment, when I just stopped myself from going into the cabinet.  I said to myself, “look, yes, you have PMS, but so what?  It doesn’t need to get the better of you.  Get out of the house and get moving right this minute.  No excuses!”  And that’s exactly what I did.  I threw on my sneakers, strapped on Sofi’s harness and leash, and we headed out the door for a really long walk.  When we got back, my mindset had completely shifted, I wasn’t craving anything other than water, and I knew I could hold out for another 45 minutes until I would start dinner.  Yesterday, I decided to find a healthier solution to my snacking craving and added two red bell peppers, which I dipped in a couple of tablespoons of Bolthouse Farms yogurt dressing, to my lunch.  It was an ideal snack because it offered all the crunch I wanted, and it totally filled me up for the rest of the day.

I’m also proud to say that I got in 5 days of workouts, equaling 295 minutes and 3620 calories burned.  This week, I’m shooting for just one rest day, on Friday, when I’m having a much-needed salon appointment (my grey hair is out of control!).  Here’s my workout plan:

Sunday: OnDemand Kickboxing + Biggest Loser 30-Day Jumpstart DVD
Monday:  elliptical/bike
Tuesday: OnDemand Kickboxing + Biggest Loser 30-Day Jumpstart DVD
Wednesday: aqua aerobics
Thursday: Zumba DVD
Friday: rest day
Saturday: bike ride w/ my sister in Half Moon Bay

I think going to those WLS support groups two weeks in a row was a really good thing for me to do.  Even though I saw a slight gain this week, I’m taking it in stride and feeling very confident that this is just one of the ebbs and flows that I’ve come to know about my body.  Just like any other support group, the Kaiser WLS groups offer me so much motivation, inspiration, and of course, support.  I leave feeling stronger and knowing that I’m not the only one facing certain challenges. I’m definitely going to make it a regular practice.  It works out perfectly – the 3rd and 4th  Wednesdays of the month can be my rest days where I “workout my head” rather than my body.

Until next Sunday, my friends. I hope the scale treats you well, and that you have a wonderful week!

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Winter Wonderland Weigh-In: Week 4

It’s Winter! Which means that the weather turns chilly and a new year is just beginning. This year the period from January through March is going to be a Winter Wonderland for me – a time to focus on my weight loss and to finally, once-and-for-all achieve my pre-surgery weight loss requirement. Sunday weigh-ins will keep me accountable through the weekend, and will give me a positive goal to begin each new week.  This is the time of year resolutions are made and then quickly forgotten, but not with me.  I’m going to use this season to refresh my outlook, because I’m embarking on more than just a diet plan, I’m going to establish a lifestyle. My Sunday progress updates will be called Winter Wonderland Weigh-Ins.

Week 4 was another laser-focused, on-target week.  I’m feeling so good that I know nothing will deter me.

Fantastic! So, what did the scale show?!

This morning I weighed in at 296.4, which is down 2.2 lbs from last week. Which means I have 15 pounds to go to reach the pre-surgery requirement. It also means that I’m 10 lbs to go before I can make my “I’m 5 lbs away” phone call that starts the ball rolling.  This is so exciting!!!

If I’m honest, I’ll say that I was a bit disappointed that I didn’t have a bigger week on the scale for all the effort I’m putting in.  These past two days I’ve actually hit a bit of a stall.  But then I remind myself that 2 lbs is a good amount of weight to lose in a week, and if I keep up a 2 lb/week weight loss, I’ll be making that “5 lbs to go” call in 5 weeks.

This past week I was totally on plan with my food.  I got in 215 minutes of exercise, which burned 2284 calories. I did take 3 off days, which was probably too many, but it was also a crazy week, so I’m proud that I got in 4 solid days of workouts, even on the days when working out was the last thing I wanted to do (until I started the workout).  It’s becoming part of my lifestyle again, and I love that feeling.

This week, I’m shooting for just one rest day, on Wednesday when I’m going to check out another WLS support group meeting.  Here’s my workout plan:

Sunday: Lululemon yoga – 60 min (done)
Monday: aqua aerobics – 60 min + bike ride with Ani & sis – 45 min
Tuesday: elliptical/bike – 45 min
Wednesday: rest day (WLS support group)
Thursday: swimming – 30 min
Friday: Zumba DVD – 45 min
Saturday: bike ride – 45 min

Until next Sunday, my friends. I hope the scale treats you well, and that you have a wonderful week!

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Winter Wonderland Weigh-In: Week 3

It’s Winter! Which means that the weather turns chilly and a new year is just beginning. This year the period from January through March is going to be a Winter Wonderland for me – a time to focus on my weight loss and to finally, once-and-for-all achieve my pre-surgery weight loss requirement. Sunday weigh-ins will keep me accountable through the weekend, and will give me a positive goal to begin each new week.  This is the time of year resolutions are made and then quickly forgotten, but not with me.  I’m going to use this season to refresh my outlook, because I’m embarking on more than just a diet plan, I’m going to establish a lifestyle. My Sunday progress updates will be called Winter Wonderland Weigh-Ins.

Week 3 was amazing!  I’m super motivated, on track, and feeling proud of what I accomplished.  If every week is like this one, I’ll be at my goal in no time.

Excellent! So, what did the scale show?!

This morning I weighed in at 298.6, which is down 3.4 lbs from last week. Which means I have 18 pounds to go to reach the pre-surgery requirement. More than 3-4 lbs is exactly what I hope to be losing each week.  Most weight loss plans say 1-2 lbs is the average, and considering my BMI, 3-4 lbs is a good average for me.  It’s all relative.

My own version of JC is going fabulously well, and my weekly grocery bill was $66, rather than $165.  Much better!  I’ve been including plenty of fruits and veggies, protein at every meal, and a nice assortment of snacks that are all keeping me really satisfied.  Working from home is a bit more challenging, with the easy access to all the food, but I’ve been curbing cravings by drinking coffee, tea, and water.

The real difference this past week was that I got workouts in almost every day!  Walking Sofi, elliptical, recumbent bike, aqua aerobics,  & Zumba – I love all the variety because it keeps my body guessing and I don’t get bored.  I worked out for 282 minutes and burned 3107 calories. I had two “buddy dates,” and made plans for more.  One of my co-workers/friends goes to my gym, and her friend finally got her to commit to going on a set schedule, so I will be meeting them on Mon/Wed whenever I can.  Plus, Tinkerbell and Ani both have bikes, so I’m going to set up some biking/walking plans with them. I have my workouts planned out in my iCal for the rest of the month, and I plan to stick to it as much as possible.

Until next Sunday, my friends. I hope the scale treats you well, and that you have a wonderful week!

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Winter Wonderland Weigh-In: Week 2

It’s Winter! Which means that the weather turns chilly and a new year is just beginning. This year the period from January through March is going to be a Winter Wonderland for me – a time to focus on my weight loss and to finally, once-and-for-all achieve my pre-surgery weight loss requirement. Sunday weigh-ins will keep me accountable through the weekend, and will give me a positive goal to begin each new week.  This is the time of year resolutions are made and then quickly forgotten, but not with me.  I’m going to use this season to refresh my outlook, because I’m embarking on more than just a diet plan, I’m going to establish a lifestyle. My Sunday progress updates will be called Winter Wonderland Weigh-Ins.

Week 2 was pretty good, even though it included NYE, which led to an increase on the scale for a few days this week. I took it as a bridge between “the holidays” and my back-to-normal, on-plan routine.

So, what did the scale show?!

This morning I weighed in at 302.0, which is down 1.2 lbs from last week. Which means I have 21 pounds to go to reach the pre-surgery requirement. 1.2 lbs is less than stellar in  a week when I wasn’t working, but considering that on NYE I had several glasses of prosecco, along with lots of appetizers, I’d say seeing any sort of loss is good.  I can do better, and it starts with getting into the gym.  I only did 2 real workouts last week, which isn’t enough with my metabolism to have any sort of real results.

Eating the smoothies for breakfast and then packaged meals (Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice, Smart Ones) for lunch and dinner has been going really well.  I’ve found myself satisfied now that I use the JC trick of also including a vegetable with the lunch and dinner meals.  I can’t believe how much cheaper these meals are!  I’ve been finding them on sale for about $2 each.  The smoothies are really inexpensive to make, too, so my grocery bill is staying low, which is great at this time of year. In order to counteract the higher levels of sodium, I’ve been drinking extra water, trying to average at least 10 glasses a day.  So my food is great.

This coming week is going to be a bit odd in terms of work.  I will be going to school to see my classes on Monday and Tuesday, but then Wednesday – next Tuesday I’ll be working from home on our school’s website.  (It’s a long story, but I basically have to redo the entire website from scratch, using a new website design tool that the district just paid for).  The nice thing about working from home is that I’ll have much more flexibility in my schedule to fit workouts in.  I’m planning on going to the gym in the morning to start my day with a workout, and then hit at least 2 evening classes, as well.  Here’s what I’m thinking:

Monday, 1/7: off day (lots to do to prepare to be gone 5 days); walk Sofi
Tuesday, 1/8: meeting a new friend to workout at the gym @ 4:30pm (elliptical/bike)
Wednesday, 1/9: Aqua class @ 9am; afternoon walk with Sofi
Thursday, 1/10: bike/elliptical/swim @ 8am (at least 45 minutes of some combo); afternoon walk with Sofi; UJam Fitness @ 6:30pm
Friday, 1/11: Aqua class @ 9am; afternoon walk with Sofi
Saturday, 1/12: Zumba @ 10am; afternoon walk with Sofi
Sunday, 1/13: Lululemon yoga @ 9:30am; afternoon walk with Sofi
Monday, 1/14: Aqua class @ 9am; afternoon walk with Sofi; Zumba @ 8:30pm
Tuesday, 1/15: bike/elliptical/swim @ 8am (at least 45 minutes of some combo); afternoon walk with Sofi

I’ve marked this all down in my iCal, so it’s set in stone.  I’m actually looking forward to getting back to the gym.  The plantar fasciitis pain is much better, and only flares up after I take Sofi for walks.  I’m down to just one Motrin with dinner, if that.  I’ll see how it goes with doing Zumba and the UJam Fitness classes; if I’m in a ton of pain afterward, I’ll just switch those workouts out for more pool/bike/elliptical.

Until next Sunday, my friends. I hope the scale treats you well, and that you have a wonderful week!

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Winter Wonderland Weigh-In: Week 1

It’s Winter! Which means that the weather turns chilly and a new year is just beginning. This year the period from January through March is going to be a Winter Wonderland for me – a time to focus on my weight loss and to finally, once-and-for-all achieve my pre-surgery weight loss requirement. Sunday weigh-ins will keep me accountable through the weekend, and will give me a positive goal to begin each new week.  This is the time of year resolutions are made and then quickly forgotten, but not with me.  I’m going to use this season to refresh my outlook, because I’m embarking on more than just a diet plan, I’m going to establish a lifestyle. My Sunday progress updates will be called Winter Wonderland Weigh-Ins.

Since the new year is almost upon us, I’m beginning my weeks over again.  This is Week 1, a fresh start, a new page.

So, what did the scale show?!

This morning I weighed in at 303.2, which is up from my last weigh in, but down 2.2 lbs from yesterday’s “face the music” scale shot. Which means I have 22 pounds to go to reach the pre-surgery requirement.

This week I made a long, but hopefully worthwhile, video about where I am, what I’ve been doing, and what I’m looking forward to.  If you want to get an update, keep watching:

Until next Sunday, my friends. I hope the scale treats you well, and that you have a wonderful week!

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