4 Months in and I feel Great!!!

On Weight Watchers for around 4 months now...I've lost 12 lbs, 2 inches off my hips and 1 inch off my waist.  Now that Spring is here I'm out walking.  The other day I walked for just under an hour and walked 2 miles.  I hit a roadblock earlier in April when my grandfather passed away.  I didn't track or anything for about 2 weeks...gained 2 pounds back but hey it'll happen.  Now with this new week its gone again. 

No Photoshop, No Camera Raw...as Pure and Real as it Gets

Anyone that knows me well enough knows about the misc illnesses my father has gone through. Hell even I've forgotten most of them by now.

Truthfully how the man is still alive is mystery to me. I would have given up years ago. He's gone through heart surgeries, multiple heart attacks and strokes, more heart caths than any one person should go through. He's also had gastric bypass surgery. The poor man is only 65 but it feels like he's 85.

I took these images the other day after I walked into the diningroom to work on wedding photos for my best friend. There he sat by the fireplace just sitting there. I sat with him for hours and just listened as he reminisced about his mom, bluegrass music and whatever came to his mind.

I hate taking pictures when he's in so much pain. But images like this are how he wants my brothers and I to remember everything he's gone through so we don't repeat it.

Why Weight Watchers?

I've seen a lot of posts lately about why everyone joined WW, besides the want to be thin and the support system. Me? I just got tired of being lazy and having no energy or motivation to do the simplest thing. That's not me. I easily gave up on things just because something didn't originally go to my plan. Life happened. After graduating from college my family was hit hard by the economy. I returned home though I had planned on being on my own for quite awhile. My dad got sick and weak and needed me around the house. My mom needed me for emotional support. I just stopped caring about me. I was so busy dealing with what everyone else needed me to do.

Its not like this just started after I graduated. I didn't give myself a chance a long time ago. Pretty much right when I started to gain weight in middle school/high school. I assumed because I was the way I was (not fat but just getting fat) that there was no use trying to do anything if it involved me being "accepted". I loved playing soccer in gym class but didn't try out for the team. I played guitar but didn't join any bands, I barely talked to the other "music kids".

Fast forward to 2010-2011. Tried of not trying for myself. Made the decision that in August 2011 I'm moving to Florida with one of my two best friends and her family. I'm eatting better even if it kills the fun budget. And finally, the weight was coming off. No Matter What. And if anyone wanted to say anything negative about it they could be told, does it concern you? Probably not, its for me and only me. I am tried of being the photographer who hates having her photo taken because she hates what she looks like. I want to go to any store and buy off the rack and not worry if its going to fit. I want to be able to wear the heavy metal gear and what not to shows. I want to amaze people because I did something, and finished it.

My second weigh in day and I've lost 6 lbs. I'm proud of those 6 lbs. I worked for them. Ok so I haven't exactly exercised for them. I just counted my points and did my usual routine of housework and running around at work. But I have the Pilates and Tae Bo videos to work with when I finally clear a space to work out.

Like my profile says, I'm working to be the person I know I can be. And if I can I wanted to help other as I slowly help myself.

Weight Watchers Week 2 - Homemade Egg Rolls and WI 2

Sadly I got a bit lazy with posting and posted in the WW blog but not this one. So the below entries are from there.

Tuesday, February 01, 2011
So last night was the shopping trip. Bought some cabbage and lettuce for sandwiches, bananas to flavor the cereal. Wheat bread to replace the white bread and turkey instead of beef bologna. Carrots and apple slices to snack on. Even bought some tofu to experiment with, I've had it before but it was a roommate cooking it not me. Also got some eggroll wrappers to experiment making some veggie or low point rolls.

Dad was talking about making spaghetti sometime this week, so i got a box of whole wheat noodles :)

Must admit I have the greatest support from my family. Ok well the parents at least. Dad has been eating more fruit already, and he wanted to change breads altogether until my mom accidentally bought some white along with my wheat. He even asks if I can have something. Both parents had me put the WW app on their phones since my blackberry only has the counter. That way I can search foods and see how many points something would be.



Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Yesterday I made 4 egg rolls worth 2 points each. Stuffed them with a bit of pork tenderloin, red cabbage, shredded carrots, and shredded cheese. Today I plan on making them again but without the pork.

Already in the week I've noticed the minor aches and pains I was feeling in my back and sides are gone or at least not as frequent.

I should note with the pork tenderloin I used half an ounce of each veggie and about 2 oz of pork I think. This is actually not a points crazy treat. Even without pork because of the wraps I used its still 2 pts. Next I'm trying this with tofu. I love experimenting with this, plus I didn't look at the use by date and bought my cabbage right before it so I need to use it up.

First Weigh In Day....

Ok so when I woke up this morning I contemplated if I was going to weigh in today, since I started Weight Watchers on Wednesday/Thursday. Figured ok its only been three days nothing is going to have changed. Sure I've been counting my points and its been busy work days so my activity level was up...but yea figured nothing would show. I got on the scale and yea...lost 3 lbs!!! I dragged the scale into the kitchen to verify with my parents that I was reading it right. But yep...159 instead of 162. I'm excited but in reality I already know I usually flucuate between 155 and 160 regularly.

I think I've been doing well on WW, not my only problem is using up all my daily points. With measuring and what not I've found I'm actually not that hungry. Yesterday ended with 9 left over and today might be a very similiar day, unless I get hungry enough to eat the Kashi bar someone gave me. Oh yea and here's another proud moment...I turned down food. I started to eat the Kashi bar when it was given to me but then I realized hold on I'm not hungry, why I am eatting?

So hooray for small victories.

So I did it...I joined Weight Watchers

Ok so I'll admit I was nervous at first about joining. I saw that my food choices would have to change. I was afraid that when I first put what foods I ate into the tracker that I'd be far out of my limits. Surprise to me that I'm actually 7 under! Now lets see what happens when I'm at work all day. One thing I hate about being a security guard, we do not get a break time. And food is normally whatever you can grab and bring with you. Here's hoping I can keep up.

So life makes sense yet again....

Well for the most part at least. Besides being swamped with post-holiday bills because I forgot to reserve money for January student loan payments.

Otherwise everything is just peachy. Woke up this morning got my coffee and opened up the laptop to see what all was going on in the world. Sometime today I should probably continue writing the novella I'm working on with a friend of mine. Though I think that will postponed until later tonight when I'm at work. For now, after I fix another pot of coffee, I'll continue my venture in the basement. Finally got it through my head to move back into my bedroom. Though we'll see how that actually works out, I'm pretty sure theres some kind of mold or mildew set in that was making me cough and hack while talking to my aunt. Either way I'm finally packing up stuff in the dungeon and sorting it. Boxes being marked to go to Florida or stay here in wintery Pennsylvania. So far I have about 7 boxes marked for FL, Office/art supplies, candles, craft stuff, rubber duckies (yes they have their own box), frames, camera accessories mostly made up of old cameras.

After stuff that are taking up flat surfaces get packed up I should work on sorting my books and CDs. I also have to figure out how to store them once I get to FL. I'm planning ahead for a small ass room. So I can almost guarantee there will be no wall space left, between art and shelves.

Well off to do whatever I can before work tonight...woo....