A road that I know all too well...

Well, I see that it has been exactly 4 months since I have made a post!  That is horrible of me and I do apologize.  I have not been dedicated to this blog, to my self or my weight loss.  That is part of the reason on why I have been so slack on the blog.  Around the month of May, we had BB-Q after BB-Q, gathering after gathering and I completely fell off the weight loss train.  Is that an excuse...NOPE but it's a reason and I own it.

I am 13lbs heavier today than I was 4 months ago and I am not happy with myself.  My one year anniversary with Weight Watchers is coming up during the first week of December and I am no further now, than I was then.  My journey (this time) started at 224lbs and here I am at 215lbs.  Is it a difference, yep, but not the one that I anticipated last December.

During this past year, however, I have had my sister Jazmin join towards the beginning of the summer and she is doing FANTASTIC!!!  I believe she has lost 20+ lbs during the summer and still dropping.  She has about 50lbs to go but I am her biggest cheerleader - so proud of her and her own personal journey!!

So, here I am AGAIN (my WELL traveled road) and looking forward to new opportunities and different approaches in conquering this battle that I seem to love to fight!  First off, I am going to stick to my daily point plus values and NOT dip into my 49 point plus allowance.  I have to get this weight loss revved up and that seems to be the most logical way.  That is how I lost my initial 30lbs so why not stick to basics?

Second, I have vowed to keep cooking....new recipes, old recipes, made up recipes, ANY recipe - atleast 5 nights a week.  I am a HUGE Pinterest fan and love pinning all types of recipes so why not put those to good use?  Most are definitely NOT Weight Watchers friendly but I am finding different ways to tweak them to fit into MY PERSONAL plan.  With Weight Watchers, aren't I allowed to eat whatever I want...YEP!

I am also trying to get as much water as I can into my system.  Weight Watchers suggests 48oz but would like 64oz a lot better.  I am not going to lie, I love my 32oz Diet Mt. Dew, once a day (and that does count towards the fluid intake) but I can't rely ONLY on that for fluids.

Something else that I am going to try is posting recipes that I make on here.  I know that I, PERSONALLY, get stuck in ruts with no ideas on new food and snack ideas to fit within plan so I am sure that there are others out there too that have the same problems.  All of the recipes and photos posted are ones that I have made and eaten with my family.  I will post the source of the recipe, as well, as needed.

I can't be 100% sure that this will be my final attempt at losing weight, but I know that even when I fall, I get up, dust myself off, and start back at square one!  I am at a champ at starting over!  I thank EVERYONE and ANYONE who takes the time to take a moment and take a look into my life, even if for just a second.

Well, I am going to post my first couple of recipes.  A lot of my recipes, using veggies, are not exact measurements when it does come to the veggies!  I love 'em so I use A LOT of them!  But I will definitely try my best to be close!!

Shrimp Veggie Stir Fry
Servings - 4 to 5 (depending on portions)
WW PP - 11pp per serving

Ingredients

• ramen noodles - 4 packets (discard seasoning packets)
• broccoli - 2 cups
• onion - 1 medium sliced
• carrots - 2 medium shredded
• bell pepper - 1 medium sliced
• mushrooms - 1 cup sliced
• bamboo shoots - 1/2 cup
• garlic - 6 cloves chopped
• ginger - 2 tsp grated
• soy sauce - 1/4 cup (*I used low sodium)
• ketchup - 1 tbsp
• sriracha - 1 tbsp
• rice vinegar - 2 tbsp
• sesame oil - 2 tbsp
• shrimp - 2 cups fresh/thawed and shells removed
• salt and pepper - to season

*Any other types of veggies can be used, possibilities are endless!

Directions

1. Bring a pot of water to boil and add ramen noodles. 
2. Cook until done - 3-5 minutes.
3. Drain noodles and run under cold water.
4. Set aside to cool and air dry.
5. Heat oil over medium heat.  
6. Add ginger and garlic.  
7. Saute for 3 minutes.  
8. Add all veggies, shrimp and salt and pepper, for seasoning.
9. Cook for 5-8 minutes.
10. To make sauce, mix soy sauce, sriracha, vinegar and ketchup in a medium bowl.
11. Once veggies are done, add sauce and noodles.
12. Mix thoroughly and make sure noodles and veggies are coated in sauce, evenly.
13. Let cook 5 more minutes and serve warm!

I am sorry that I am not a pro at writing recipes, but I hope you get the idea.  Below are some pictures of the different steps!

Step 4 - Set noodles aside and air dry

Step 8 - Add all veggies, shrimp and salt and pepper, for seasoning

Step 10 - To make sauce, mix soy sauce, sriracha, vinegar and ketchup in a medium bowl.

Step 13 - Let cook 5 more minutes and serve warm!

This was a recipe I put together from things I had in the pantry and a little imagination   The possibilities are endless with different meats, veggies and sauces.  It was a hit with my daughter and my toddler is just too picky to eat anything new.  But, give 'er a try and let me know how it turns out!

Happy eating, living and healthiness!

-J

Summer Time Challenge....

It is amazing how busy one can get and completely forget somethings....mine, remembering to keep my blog updated!!!  Let me start off by saying sorry for the lack of dedication.  I can come up with 1,000 excuses but that isn't right :(  So, here I am, after a little hiatus ---> which we all have :)

My Weight Watchers has kind of taken a back seat to life for the last 2 and a half weeks.  Actually, since Mother's Day!  I have kind of slid down that slippery slope of motivation.  I hosted Mother's Day dinner for my family and from there, I have not paid as close of attention that I should to my food.  I have eaten great on somedays and then snuck off to McDonald's on others.  Bad Josh!!!

The following week was my TOM visit (sorry for TMI) and I always gain ATLEAST 5lbs!!!!  Damn Mother Nature.  So, I fought that all last week and then this past Saturday was Roen's 3rd Birthday Party.  Food has been EVERY WHERE!!! 

I'm unfortunately in the mentality that if one day has been ruined, then the WHOLE week is a lost cause.  I know, logically, that isn't the case, but I can't convince my belly otherwise.

So, to spice things up for the first month of summer and hopefully, to boost my motivation from 10 to 100, I have come up with a challenge.  I am a Pinterest ADDICT and have pinned LOTS of recipes that happen to be Weight Watchers friendly.  I have NEVER cooked one.  For the month of June, I am going to make one new, untried recipe everyday. 

This morning, I went through tons of WW friendly recipes from Hungry Girl, Emily Bites and Skinny Taste to compile 30 new, intriguing meals!

Now, I am the mother of a 10 & 3 year old who like Mommy's cooking just the way it is.  To solve that, I let Cyan choose 2 nights a week to eat the staples of the house.  So, Monday and Tuesday, I cook the kids dinner - what they want.  To make sure that I get my new recipe in for that day, I will be doing lunch meals....

I can't make promises, but I definitely want to blog each of these with pictures and little notes. 

As well, I have added a couple of "small" challenges to the month of June. 

• Completely cut out soda, diet included, and ONLY drink my 64 ounces of water daily
• Stop eating ALL food atleast 3 hours before bed
• Move (physical activity) for atleast 30 minutes a day
• Weigh myself everyday - to see if there is a pattern to my weight fluxuations

I really hope these changes help get my butt back in the game of weight loss.  I can no longer make excuses for being overweight.  I am unhappy this size and want to live out the rest of my years, healthy!

I hope that you can follow my journey for the month of June and learn a thing or two or vice versa!

J  xoxo

Through the thick and thin of it....

Okay, first I apologize for the gap in posts.  It has been a few weeks since my last post.  My world is crazy, as usual, with work, kids, etc, etc, etc.....

I have been inching closer and closer to my 10% goal weight of 202lbs.  As of this past Saturday, I was 1.4lbs away!!!!  Well, Mother's Day happened.  I prepared dinner for my family, my parents and my brother and sister-in-law.   I went with a BBQ themed dinner.  The pulled pork was WW friendly, HOWEVER, the potato salad, macarroni salad, fudge and coconut macaroons weren't. 

I realized that I have a LONG way to go to get my food under control.  I have no control over certain foods, and those that I prepared, I proved no match :(

My problem wasn't Sunday, it was the days that followed.  In my mind, I figured that I messed up Sunday, so Monday didn't matter.  And since Monday didn't matter, neither did Tuesday.  And here I am today, on Wednesday, with the same mentality.  I cannot get my mind away from the spiraling effect that started on Mother's Day. 

So, I lead back to my personal sabotage.  I get so close to my goal and take 5 steps back. What the heck is wrong with me.  Do I want to stay over weight?  Have I been over weight so long, that it terrifies me to get healthy and down to a healthy size?  I have no clue!  It has taken me 5 months to lose 20lbs.....FIVE MONTHS!!!  Anyone else would have been working on their 40th or 50th pound mark....not I!

I sit here and write out my frustrations.  I am so disappointed in myself.  I have let my family down, I have let my kids down and more importantly, I have let myself down.  Deep down, I know I am not going to do anything until Saturday.  I have two days until weigh in, ***which I am not weighing in on Saturday***, and get my mind right!  I need to find that motivation that I had on Day One.  That motivation that drove me to realize I am worth my own happiness!

Back to Basics....

Another Saturday has come, and close to being gone.  The big weigh in day.   I am beginning to enjoy Saturday as my favorite day.  Not only is it the first day of the weekend, not only do I get to hang out with my kiddies, but I get to START FRESH, just like day one, with my Weight Watchers program!  What can be any better!?

For the past three weeks, I have had a steady loss.  Now by that, I mean, I have LOST something.  And something is something I will take any day of the week!  But there still seems to be something lacking or missing, in general.  I was down ONE POUND this week and even though it was a loss, it wasn't the loss I was looking for. 

Now, I am not being ungrateful for this by any means, its just that it isn't what I expected.  I hit the gym four days last week and I worked my butt off.  However, I didn't drink my minimum 48oz of water each day and I ate ALL of the daily points, weekly points and activity points that I had and/or earned.  So, saying that, I should definitely be HAPPY that I am one pound lighter! 

After today's weigh in, I began thinking about what I am doing RIGHT and what I am doing WRONG.  I am getting my fluids, not water alone, but fluids.  I am exercising regular and I am tracking 100%.  What I am not doing is a little more lengthy.  I am not intaking WATER that is required (atleast 48oz).  I am not allowing my body the rest in between exercise.  I am not weight training to tighten or tone my body.   Let me tell you, it is definitely easier to say what I am NOT doing, as opposed to what I am doing...hmmmmm.

Starting today, I am back to square one - BACK TO BASICS!  I am making sure that I get my water for the day.  I am making sure that I get my 2 servings of dairy, my 5 servings of fruits & veggies, my daily vitamin and sneaking that healthy fat in.  Now I must admit, day one was difficult.  I added a few extras like roasted creamer potatoes and movie theater popcorn.  But I did TRACK EVERYTHING.

As for exercise, I am going to follow that plan as well.  I am doing cardio three (3) days - Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.  I am strength training on Monday and Wednesday.  This gives my body the break that it needs and it divides the time up for training and cardio. 

Every week, this program allows me to do this.  Weight Watchers allows me to experiment with what works, what doesn't and what may.  And if I do everything this week I set out to accomplish, then Saturday is the judgement day to determine if I stay on course or redesign a new plan that may be more successful!  Because the ultimate goal is to be the healthiest version of me that I can be!!!

Have a great weekend...xoxo

Facing one of my biggest fears....

I am going to be completely honest. I HATE EXERCISE.....always have, but can't complete the sentence with "always will."  Four days ago, I took the big plunge and JOINED A GYM!

I chose this gym because my brother and sister-in-law come here and they like it!  Now, I must admit, staying fit IS NOT cheap but when it comes to my health and how long I plan on sticking around for my kids, IT IS WORTH THE PRICE OF GOLD!!!!

This is a smaller gym, with a very intimate setting.  Lots of stair climbers, lots of treadmills, lots of stationary bikes and lots of weights!!!  There is even a boxing ring in the gym, to replace the pool.  Here, you don't do the regular kick boxing classes...you, FOR REAL, box.  I must say, I am still intimidated by it :)

There is a sound proof yoga room with a waterfall wall that I look forward to using this week, hopefully with my sister-in-law and BFF.  And on a side note, it smells FANTASTIC in there.

The locker room, to be completely honest, is what sold me...no stinky smelling, typical locker room like in high school or the local YMCA.  Painted in a beautiful turquiose color with non-traditional gym decor...

Fully equiped with a dry sauna room and a steam room, I look forward to my workout EVERYDAY!!!  Now I am sure that the novelty will wear off, but TODAY, I am loving every moment in there. 

I even reached out to a former co-worker who is a fitness freak (*and a college graduate in fitness*) and come meet with Debbie & I to give us a few pointers on weight/strength training.  P.S.  I am feeling that today, which is the 2nd day after!!  Good job Kyle!

I look at this whole experience as a second chance of life.  To obtain the ideal weight that I have never been able to be and to set an EXAMPLE for my kids, which is the most important.  I would never want my daughter to ever experience the misery I had through my younger years because I was overweight.  People can be mean as kids, and sometimes even worse as adults.

So, everyday I go to that gym, I ignore the stares (*because I am usually the biggest one in there*) and snickers and do the do!  No one knows the battle that I have fought thus far and that I continue to fight every day.  I put in the work because in the big picture, I know that I am trying.  I am not looking for anyone's acceptance, except that of me!  I am learning, SLOWLY, that I AM WORTH IT!

I have mine, do you have yours....?

As the summer gets closer (AZ is almost there!!!), I start having panic attacks when I think about getting this body of mine into a bathing suit, let alone, a two piece.  Personally, I think that a two piece will never be in my future BUT one never knows!!!!  But I plan on sure trying!!! 

Yesterday, I began thinking of goals that I am getting closer to.  Some have to do with my weight, some not.  But EVERYONE should have something that they are working towards.  Whether it may be to lose 10lbs, or to save money to go on a fancy trip, each of us should always be trying to obtain something.

So, I took some time and jotted down a few things that I want for myself within a few years.  I grabbed this exercise out of this months Weight Watchers magazine.  I tweeked it a little, however, you get the idea.  I focused on goals that would bring me out of my comfort zone that I have been stuck in for so long....here we go!!!

• Lose 5% of my body weight
• Lose 10% of my body weight
• Weight less than 200lbs
• Reach my Weight Watchers goal of 148lbs
• Reach my personal weight goal of 135lbs
• Wear single digit clothing
• WEAR SHORTS
• Throw away ALL girdles :)
• Run, instead of walk
• Walk for a cause
• SEE MY COLAR BONE!!
• Take a family portrait
• Finish college
• Stick it out until the end....AND
• TAKE IT ONE DAY AT A TIME!

Some of these have been met, some are in the process and most will take time!  But I have learned, that time is what I have.  I'm not in a race with anyone, its JUST ME!!!  As I check off these goals, my self confidence grows and I notice that in the smallest ways.  For instance, today when I walk, I wear leggings and a sports tank top....thats it!!!  49lbs ago, you wouldn't be able to get me out of my sweatpants and sweater, even in the dead heat of summer, and thats IF I was exercising!  I feel better about me and I am less worried of what others think because I KNOW my GOALS!!!  They may not be the same as yours, but they are not supposed to be. 

I hope as you read this, there are goals (or one goal) that you are thinking about and if you have reached them.  Because in the end, success comes from the completion of them :)  If you don't have a goal, make one...kind of as a challange.  Focus on this and make your best effort to reach it!  No hurry, just start and reach it!

Goals are closer than I think...

It's been a couple of days since I have written but I have been enjoying LIFE!!!  Yesterday was my weekly weigh in and I was SUPER proud of my loss

I am down 3.6lbs!!!  I worked really hard last week because I had gained 2.8 (as you can see above) the week before.  Mind you, I was sick and taking medication BUT that is no excuse.  I own each and every GAIN or LOSS!  So, to say the least, I was quite impressed and HAPPY because I am 6.2lbs away from 200!  The last time I was 200 was the day I delivered Cyan. 

My next Weight Watchers goal, however, is 202lbs because that is 10% of my weight from when I started back on December 3, 2011.  I have managed to drag out that goal for a good while now.  I seem to sabotage myself everytime I get close.  I was at 206 a month ago, but then gained 3lbs, lost 1.8lbs and gained another 2.8lbs.  I AM DEFINITELY MY OWN WORSE ENEMY!!!

But yesterday, I LOST 3.6lbs!!!  Yay me :)  So to celebrate, we took the kids to the Phoenix Zoo for a little quality family time.  Plus, the weather was super nice (in the 60's) so we couldn't waste the day by sitting around. 

We were able to see 95% of the animals because the weather was cooperative.  This parrot was probably one of the most colorful animals I have EVER seen.  So beautiful and so peaceful.  During our 3 hour visit, I was able to collect 10 activity points for all of the walking that we did.  10 POINTS for doing nothing but doing what I cherish the MOST, creating memories with the kids. 

I would deem yesterday as a good day.  I managed to lose a little weight, managed to reward myself WITHOUT food and the most important thing, able to spend the entire day with my kids.  I say WINNING!!!!