Bragging Rights

This post should probably go on It's About Time, but I am choosing to post it here. In fact, I am feeling so good that I just might post it in both places.

Today is Bragging Rights day for me. As many of you know, I am a Weight Watcher Lifetime member, and I have been struggling with a couple of unwanted pounds for a little while. This is all due to some bad habits that I have re-acquired and some challenges over the past little while.

Well, I weighed in yesterday, and I am DOWN 1.6 pounds! Yay me!

I felt that I was down anyway. I could tell by the fit of my clothing, and also by my fitness level, which has increased slightly, but noticeably.

You might wonder exactly what I do to accomplish this. Well, it is a bit of work, but nothing unmanageable. There are a few, ahem, rules. I track (write down) what I eat each day, and assign points values to the foods. I also know where I need to be to lose, and I try to stay in that range. I drink water. I don't drink many soda drinks, diet or not. I eat fruits and veggies, and watch the carbs. I drink milk, specifically soy milk. I exercise five nights a week. I limit my caffeine intake.

Even with all of this, I never feel restricted. I never feel like I am cheating myself of anything. If I am having a chocolate day where I crave chocolate, I have 'some', enough for a taste, and then it's done. I don't buy chocolate bars as a rule, but I always make sure that I have 'some' chocolate in the house....just in case.

So, yay me!

I think I need an icon for that, don't you?

I Survived the Holidays

It was an 'up' as we refer to it, but a small up. Point 2 up. It would have been nice if it was a point 2 down, but I'll take what I got. It could have been worse, much much worse.

I enjoyed the wonderful food and the fun, and ate what the season turned out, but I didn't turn into the demon eater. That's a good thing.

I went back to the gym tonight, and did 2 classes (I am already aching and paying for THAT little episode), but again....all worth it.

Cheers (and onward and upward as they say).

Where are we going? Does anybody know?

This was my first meeting for 2007. It was kind of like resuming course after the boats have all gone astray.

Here's the recap:

Where are we going?

1. Balance


2. Healthier


3. Lose the weight and keep it off


4. Mental peace/faith

Think first and eat wisely.

It's okay to make resolutions, but more importantly to make lifestyle changes.

Have a map. Have a plan.

Til next time.....
The DIETPATROL - DIETPATROL - DIETPATROL

Everything I Need to Know About Weight Loss I Learned from Noah's Ark

The following is what I copied from the board at today's WW meeting:

• Don't miss the boat.



• Remember that we're all in the same boat.



• Plan ahead! It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark!



• Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something big.



• Don't listen to critics, just get on with the job that needs to be done.



• Build your future on high ground.



• For the sake of safety, travel in pairs.



• Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on the boat with the cheetahs.



• When you're stressed, float for awhile.

Til next time.....
The DIETPATROL - DIETPATROL - DIETPATROL

Christmas Traditions and Holiday Help

Today, we talked about holiday (Christmas) traditions. Everybody has some tradition that is carried on through generations. It might be special decorations, or a special shortbread recipe, or tourtiere. Whatever that tradition is, especially if it is food related, there are ways to handle all of them.

Here is a mini list that resulted from today's group brainstorming.

• When you have your turkey dinner, try to put gravy on only one thing, rather than on everything. Pick the turkey OR the potato.



• For your turkey dinner, choose the potato OR the stuffing. You can have potato anytime of the year, so maybe the stuffing is the choice for celebration.



• Try smaller portions of everything - except the veggies!



• Leave the bread and the rolls. These guys you can have anytime. Now, if it is a homemade bun, then you might want to conceded, but otherwise, skip it.



• Do you really need the cranberry? Think of the points first, then decide.



• Be sure to walk and exercise ahead. After dinner, try to incorporate a family walk after dinner.



• Don't take home leftovers, or, if you really must, be picky about what you take home. Maybe you don't take home too many sweets and bread and potatoes.



• Give yourself a carrot, a reward, for making good choices. Maybe it's a vacation. Maybe it's a new item.



• Try using a smaller plate for dinner. You'll fit less on it. You can always go back for seconds, but you can be sure that the second time around will be smaller than if you had that bigger plate.
  
  
• Stay hydrated (and we don't mean alcohol!). Keep drinking the required water.



• On the day of your dinner, wear figure hugging clothing. Don't wear the spandex pants or the expandable waist pants.

Til next time.....
The DIETPATROL - DIETPATROL - DIETPATROL

Two Magic Numbers - 18 and 44

This is information that I gleaned from the December 12th meeting. It was written down in my book, and I just got busy with stuff.

Once you have been on the program for awhile, you start to know how many points you can eat to lose weight, how many points to maintain weight, and how many points to GAIN weight.

Here is the recommended range.

Never eat less than 18 points per day.

Never eat more than 44 points per day.

Now, in my journal, I monitor this, especially the greater than 44 points indicator, because without a doubt, the more that we do this, then there is a higher likelihood that we will indeed gain weight.

Til tomorrow.....
The DIETPATROL - DIETPATROL - DIETPATROL

Helpful Hints for Surviving Christmas

I picked up the lunchtime WW meeting today (actually I went last week and the week before also, but I forgot to blog them).

Last week, the topic was about our Happy Place, a place of escape, where you may find calm and peace.....especially during this possibly frantic and stressful time of year. My Happy Place is always the same....on our sailboat in a quiet bay with no other boats with us. Just us and the quiet and nature. That is My Happy Place.

This week, we talked about a number of helpful hints that maybe will get us through the holidays...and beyond. So, here we go.

@Home Tips

1. Try to eat healthy.


2. Cut down on the amount of baking that you do.


3. Don't take part in the cookie bakeoffs.


4. Put tempting food out of sight.


5. Make sure that you have alternatives.


6. Pick quality food.


7. Vegetable cocktail is a good way to get veggie servings.

@Party Tips

1. Don't go to the party h-u-n-g-r-y.


2. Sample everything only once.


3. Use a napkin instead of a plate (you're more likely to to eat the messier foods, which are usually pointier).


4. Wear tight pants.


5. Look at the selection of food then make choices rather than nosediving and regretting later.

@OutShopping Tips

1. Eat before you go out.


2. Try soups or chili at fast food rather than fries.


3. Bring your treats and snacks with you....brown bag.


4. Be informed...take your Dining Out Companion with you.

@Work Tips

1. Send leftover treats home with others.


2. Move the food if it is near your desk.


3. Avoid the lunchroom if that is where the leftovers are located.

The Bottom Line => M-O-D-E-R-A-T-I-O-N

Til tomorrow.....
The DIETPATROL - DIETPATROL - DIETPATROL