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I made something up today. I was tasty. Really, really tasty.
I took a container of Dannon Light & Fit Vanilla Greek Yogurt. (You could probably use regular light & fit vanilla too.). Then I took a spoonful of hot chocolate mix and stirred it all together. Then I added marshmallow bits (like the kind you get in your pack of hot chocolate mix.) And then I ate it. And I wanted more. I call it Hot Chocolate Yogurt. And it was 3 PointsPlus.
I think next time I'll add some graham cracker crumbs and call it S'mores yogurt.

I'm totally sitting here looking at my empty yogurt and fighting the urge to not lick the rest out. This stuff is good.

Week Eighteen: The Big 3-0

Well, I finally did it. I hit 30 pounds lost! I remember starting this whole thing thinking that 30 pounds was huge. And honestly, it is. But I don't think I realistically saw myself reach that. At least not at first. And then it was the last mile of the marathon where I just crawled! But I made it to 30 pounds lost. And not only that but I hit over 31! I lost two pounds last week. I have upped my running and that has made a big impact on the scale. I am gaining endurance and am now running more than I walk. Also a feat that I thought I would never accomplish 5 months ago. It is a great feeling.
So now I am at a healthy weight and am on my way to becoming a Lifetime member. And once that happens, I am going to work for Weight Watchers! I have come to love this program so much and am so excited to be a part of it. It has been a long time since I have been passionate about something more than my family and religion. I'll only work one meeting a week which allows me to continue to be passionate about my family and religion and give appropriate time to each. But I am really excited to be a part of such a great program and with such great people. I can continue to grow with the program and plan to do even more once my kids are fully in school. I hope to still lose a little more weight just I feel a little more comfortable and can wear a swimsuit without getting caught on "People of Walmart". But I really feel great. I am still changing and growing and figuring things out, but that's kind of a life-long thing right? For the first time I really feel in control of my weight. The scale doesn't dictate my numbers. I do. Take that sucker!!!

My Progress:
Week one:   4.6 lost
Week two:   2.2 lost
Week three: 0.8 lost
Week four:   2.2 lost
Week five:    3.2 lost
Week six:     1.6 lost
Week seven: 2.2 lost
Week eight:  1.2 lost
Week nine:   2.0 lost
Week ten:    3.4  lost
Week eleven: 0.4 gained
Week twelve: 2.6 lost
Week thirteen: Christmas. Didn't weigh-in.
Week fourteen: 0.8 lost
Week fifteen: 1.6 lost
Week sixteen: 1.8 lost
Week seventeen: 0.4 gained
Week eighteen: 2.0 lost

Total: 31.4 pounds lost!!!

Two Things

I went to the store the other day in hopes of finding a mustard-colored cardigan. Apparently I am in the wrong season, but I thought I'd try. I went into a store where I have been before looking for jeans (when I was squeezing in the 16's and needed bigger pants). When I walked in, the sales lady looked at me funny and asked if she could help me. I said I was looking for a mustard-colored cardigan. She said they didn't have any and then kindly told me that they specialized in plus-size clothes. Pretty much saying, "Look lady, you're too skinny to shop here." It was AWESOME!!!
This morning I went running with my friends. I'm doing really well in my training and am slowly adding more running and less walking. I am up to my eyeballs in laundry so I grabbed an old t-shirt and what I thought were pretty tight-fitting yoga pants and figured I'd be fine running in those. Let's just say the biggest challenge of my run today was not that I was tired or I was running out of breath, but it was the struggle to keep my pants from falling off of me. I was literally holding my pants up while running. Not ideal, but AWESOME!
I'm still trying to maintain my weight, but let's just see if I can hit 30 pounds tomorrow!

Week Seventeen: Trying to stay the same

So my mom came last week. We had a great time! We went shopping and out to eat just about every day. My goal was to just stay the same weight this week. I weighed in at +.4 pounds. Not too shabby. When my mom was here, I noticed my scale going up and up and up. Seriously, we had Cinnabon, Olive Garden, 5 Guys, Texas Roadhouse. The scale was going up. I tried to order well but that's just a lot of eating out. By the time my mom left I was almost 2 pounds heavier. So instead of panicking or giving up (which is what I would have done 5 months ago), I realized that I had the tools, the know-how and the ability to lose that weight again. I just tightened the reins a little bit and moved more and was back down by my weigh-in. I do not regret anything I did during my mom's stay. We had such a great time and I really didn't go out of control, but I was able to get things back where they should be with ease. I think I can stick with this for life!


My Progress:
Week one:   4.6 lost
Week two:   2.2 lost
Week three: 0.8 lost
Week four:   2.2 lost
Week five:    3.2 lost
Week six:     1.6 lost
Week seven: 2.2 lost
Week eight:  1.2 lost
Week nine:   2.0 lost
Week ten:    3.4  lost
Week eleven: 0.4 gained
Week twelve: 2.6 lost
Week thirteen: Christmas. Didn't weigh-in.
Week fourteen: 0.8 lost
Week fifteen: 1.6 lost
Week sixteen: 1.8 lost
Week seventeen: 0.4 gained

Total: 29.4 pounds lost!
Oh my gosh I am so ready to hit 30! 

Week Fifteen: Nope, It's week 16

How do I know it's week 16? I got an award! I was awarded the 16 week Stay and Succeed charm to go on my awesome 10% key chain. I always wondered why 16 weeks in the program was such a big deal that it deserved a charm. Now that I've hit that milestone, I realize that a lot of people don't stick with it that long. I guess it is pretty cool to stay with something for 4 months. I look at where I am and am SO GLAD I've stuck with it!!! I was kind of hoping to hit 30 pounds lost this week. But I was .2 pounds away. That is nothing to be sorry about! 29.8 pounds is pretty impressive, 30 it's just nice and round. But here's what is the greatest about it, I am now at a healthy weight!!! I haven't been at a healthy weight since about elementary school. It turns out that my height is actually 5' 9" (maybe I should have measured when I first started) which means a healthy weight is between 135 and 169 pounds. So this technically happened 2 weeks ago. That's fine though.
Last Saturday was an open house for Weight Watchers where for 5 hours people could come and see a meeting, learn and try new recipes, ask questions about the program, sign up, win prizes and listen to an awesome presentations about healthy oils. I was asked to be a success story and do a presentation on healthy oils. I still feel like a success story in progress but it was still such a fun experience for me! I spent the week studying up on the 5 healthy oils that Weight Watchers recommends and have really become kind of a healthy oil nerd too. I shared what they are, why we need them and how we can use them. I learned a lot and had fun. I was also asked to share my story. I brought some pictures from Ellie's birthday party last year. These ones:

 

And then I showed a picture from Christmas. Ellie's birthday is next week.

 

I shared my simple little story, my breaking point, and what Weight Watchers has done for me. I had a great time doing my presentation (twice!) but what was amazing was the people who came up to me afterwards saying how they are just like how I was and that they're ready to change. One girl came with tears in her eyes saying that I motivated her to get going. I can't tell you how incredible that made me feel. I was so excited for her and hope she can become who she wants to be. 

My mom is here this week and we have done a lot of shopping. I've been grabbing mediums thinking they're going to be too tight because really the last time I went shopping with my mom I was grabbing XXL hoping they'd fit. I felt so awesome putting on the mediums and seeing that they fit! I can move my arms and everything! I tried on some 11/12 pants today thinking there would be no way that I could zip them. I pulled them up and zipped with ease. I feel awesome. And this is just the beginning.

My Progress:
Week one:   4.6 lost
Week two:   2.2 lost
Week three: 0.8 lost
Week four:   2.2 lost
Week five:    3.2 lost
Week six:     1.6 lost
Week seven: 2.2 lost
Week eight:  1.2 lost
Week nine:   2.0 lost
Week ten:    3.4  lost
Week eleven: 0.4 gained
Week twelve: 2.6 lost
Week thirteen: Christmas. Didn't weigh-in.
Week fourteen: 0.8 lost
Week fifteen: 1.6 lost
Week sixteen: 1.8 lost

Total: 29.8 pounds lost! 

Week Fourteen: I'm getting in their heads!

Last week we discussed lessons we learned in 2012 and how to take those into the new year. I said that I learned that I never regret exercising, but I always regret not exercising. As I sat down yesterday my neighbor next to me was talking to me and telling me that he had gone swimming every day the last week. He said I was a great motivation because my voice was ringing in his head saying he'd never regret going. HA! I told him that I hear myself all the time too. I always feel like I talk way too much in our meetings so it's nice to know that all my talking actually does help others.
This last week was kind of crazy. I went out to eat 4 times. One of those times was my anniversary and I put my 49 weekly points to use. Corey took me to BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse which is one of my favorites. The problem with BJ's is that they don't post their nutrition information online. I've never asked for it in the restaurant, but online it says that they only have it for California and Oregon. So I just have to guess. I guessed my meal was about 30 points. I'm allotted 28 for the day. It was WORTH IT! We shared an appetizer of southwest spring rolls of which I ate 2. Then I switched my fries for a salad and felt pretty good about that. But when it came to my Black and Bleu burger, I left it unadulterated and enjoyed every stinking mouthful. I cut it in half first mainly to make it more manageable to eat, but also to limit myself to just half of the burger. I savored every bite and loved it! As I reached the end of my half burger (Probably still the size of my hand) I was full! I didn't need the whole thing. But we had to share a Pizookie for dessert. Also totally worth it. I stuffed myself for the first time in months. I loved the food I was eating, but I hated the feeling of being full. We went for lunch and I was full all day long. I did get the energy to go running that afternoon so I did feel a little better. It was just kind of eye-opening for me to realize that I used to eat like that all the time. I would eat not until I was satisfied, but until I was STUFFED. Once in a while is enough for me now. I realized I really don't like the feeling of being stuffed.
Here's what's awesome though. I still lost 1.6 pounds this week! That is why Weight Watchers is working for me. I have the freedom to eat out 4 times in a week and stuff myself 2 of those times and still lose weight. I like the commercial that's out right now with Jennifer Hudson where she says she loves bread and cheese and still eats it. And THAT'S why she still looks the way she does. It's a great commercial because it's true! It's a real way to live. And I do not regret my Black and Bleu burger and Pizookie for one single second. (Pizookie is a pizza cookie. Delightful.)

This week I also received a phone call from my leader. She asked if I had a minute to talk which I did and then here's how the next part of the conversation went:
Rachel: How do you feel about healthy oils?
Erika: About what?
Rachel: Healthy oils.
Erika: Um...

It was kind of funny. It turns out that this Saturday is a big open house celebrating Weight Watchers' 50th birthday. They are going to be having demos and classes and I have been asked to be a success story and talk a little about my experience and then teach a little class on how to incorporate healthy oils into our day. It's weird to think of myself as a success story. I feel like I am still a work in progress but I'll probably feel that way until the day I die. I'm always trying to be better. It is really weird for me to hear people tell me that I am an inspiration. I feel like I am just doing my thing. But to be honest, it really drives me. I don't want to let those people down. But it's still weird sometimes. I am SO GLAD that I am inspiring others to become the person they want to be. But it's still weird sometimes. Does that make any sense at all? I think I would be a terrible celebrity. All I know is that this Saturday I get to talk about my story and hopefully give people some new ideas. Like I said, I feel like I talk a lot in my meetings but it feels good when I hear that something I said helped someone else. Hence, the blog. I'll let you know how it goes.

My Progress:
Week one:   4.6 lost
Week two:   2.2 lost
Week three: 0.8 lost
Week four:   2.2 lost
Week five:    3.2 lost
Week six:     1.6 lost
Week seven: 2.2 lost
Week eight:  1.2 lost
Week nine:   2.0 lost
Week ten:    3.4  lost
Week eleven: 0.4 gained
Week twelve: 2.6 lost
Week thirteen?: 0.8 lost
Week fourteen?: 1.6 lost

Total: 28 pounds lost!

Let's see if I can hit 30 next week!

Training Update

I need new shoes. I have been running in the same shoes I've been running in since high school. Yeah, it's probably time. I got new running shoes for my 21st birthday (can't remember if it was the first time I turned 21 or the second time) and I loved those shoes but I did a lot more running in them and they're pooped out. The high school ones are at least still semi-intact. That out of the way, we'll just conclude that I need new shoes. Preferably pink ones.
I started training for my 5K. At our park there is a great walking path that is 5 laps to a mile. There is a playground in the middle of it so my kids play while I get exercise. My first attempt to run was successful in that I ran as much as I planned. I walked two laps, ran one, walked two, ran one and maybe did that sequence one more time. I pretty much ran half a mile with a lot of walking in between. But it was a great start and I wasn't as tired as I thought I would be. I increased my running to running one lap, walking one lap and did that to equal a mile of running. Saturday I started running a little more than a lap at a time and walking to finish that lap. But I pooped out after 2 miles of running and walking. I realized that I should probably be going a total of 3 miles if I intend to do a 5K. So today I did my walk a lap run a lap for 3 miles. I actually walked about a mile before that because my friend was at the park and I like to chat. It was a pretty awesome work out. My first couple of laps running weren't too bad. I could really feel my legs getting tired at about the 6th running lap but I kept going and finished 7. I've tried different running programs before and they just didn't work for me. It was all about time and for me I like to see distance markers. It may not be the best way to train, but it's working for me. Next time I'll run 8 laps total. Once I'm up to 8 laps, I'll start decreasing my walking time and increasing my running in between laps. Hopefully, I'll be running 3 miles by April 6th. My goal is to run the entire race. I don't care how long it takes, but I want to run it all. I have participated in one other 5K before and ended up walking half of the first mile and most of the second. I want to run this whole thing. And end up pink in the end :)

Week Thirteen: Not sure what week this is...

I'm calling this week 13. Maybe it's 14. That whole missing a meeting on Christmas has really messed me up here. Regardless of what we call it, it's been another week and it feels good to get back into some sort of routine again. It was so fun to go back to my meeting and see my friends again. I hope we're a typical group and that every Weight Watchers meeting group loves each other like family. We had a little party-type meeting where we ate fruit and chatted about our holiday. I brought some of my favorite granola bars to share. They were a hit. Click here for the recipe if you're wondering. They're 3 points plus if you make them according to the recipe. I slimmed it a bit and made them 2 points. We had a great meeting and talked about the challenges and our victories over the holidays. Most people were pretty happy to have gained just a little or stay about the same weight. It made me feel a little better knowing that most people didn't lose 5 pounds over that little break we had. I honestly was hoping to see 3 or 4 pounds lost since it had been 2 weeks since I weighed in but wasn't very hopefully because my scale at home wasn't budging! I felt a victory over my 172 barrier but apparently my body wanted to test me and stick at 169 for a while. I did end up losing 0.8 pounds taking me from 169.8 to 169 pounds. Not very awesome sounding. This is why I love meetings. Instead of feeling bad for my wussy little number, I realized that every holiday season of my whole life I end up gaining a few pounds and then holding onto them and regretting it every summer. So losing weight (even a tiny bit) over the holidays was actually a victory. It kind of set me back on track and I am more focused than ever. I also realize that my body is getting smaller and therefore the pounds are going to be coming off a little slower. But inside I am frustrated. Imagine running a marathon. You run 25 miles and are making good time. Then at about 25 1/2 miles you decide to walk. You can kind of see the finish line, but it's still a bit far. But for some reason, you just have to walk. Slowly. All the way to the finish.
Then reason enters back into my brain. Just because you walk at the end of a marathon doesn't mean you won't finish it. It's still 26.2 miles no matter how fast you go. As long as you finish the race. Hmm...makes me excited for my 5K.

My Progress:
Week one:   4.6 lost
Week two:   2.2 lost
Week three: 0.8 lost
Week four:   2.2 lost
Week five:    3.2 lost
Week six:     1.6 lost
Week seven: 2.2 lost
Week eight:  1.2 lost
Week nine:   2.0 lost
Week ten:    3.4  lost
Week eleven: 0.4 gained
Week twelve: 2.6 lost
Week thirteen?: 0.8 lost

Total: 26.4 pounds lost!