anyone on WW??

[Aggie_Ama]

For you Excel junkies, I do WW through Excel. I cannot take credit for it, a friend designed it but it is really cool. I am hoping to send it over to my Palm Pilot and get moving along since I cancelled my WW online account.

I did get a compliment from someone at work today who asked if I was training for a marathon since I am getting leaner. I still feel like I have a way to go but someone saying something made me feel better. Today I am also forcing more water in my routine. Our work provides a fridge of sodas which makes me neglect water but I started running again and I need to be hydrated!

[Susan Otcenas]

I want to take a moment to thank you ladies for your encouragement last week. I was having a low moment, and your words were just what I needed to keep me motivated.

My WW week ended last night. True to my plan, I skipped my Weds & Fri workout last week, giving my body a rest until Saturday. I also ate 100% of my weekly points AND 100% of my APs. I even ate 2.5 more points beyond that, just 'cuz I felt like it.

The results? I'm over my head cold. Yay! My weigh-in this morning was successful (-2.5 lbs from last Weds.) and I had an awesome run workout this morning. Basically, I'm feeling re-energized.

So, thanks again to all of you for helping me work through it!

Susan

[greycoral]

Anyone have some good ideas for snacks? I have fallen into a rut where I'm eating three big meals again, I need to switch it back up to smaller meals. Problem is, I have never been a "snacker". the only thing I can think of is fruit or granola bars or something, and I've already grown very tired of those.

Anyone have any good snacks? Something that I can pack in the morning and eat through the day, and I also do not have access to a refrigerator or a microwave/oven (though I can put an ice pack in my lunch bag)

[Susan Otcenas]

http://www.genisoy.com/products/snacks/soy-crisps/

I'm partial to the Ranch flavor. 17 crisps in a servings (they're kind of like little mini rice cakes, but soy instead). 2 points.

They satisfy my put-hand-to-mouth-repeatedly snacking urge. :-)

Also 1/4 cup (unpopped) air-popped popcorn plain makes a really big bowl of popcorn. Again, 2 points. Packed in baggies, it would make multiple snacks throughout the workday.

Susan

[uforgot]

Hey, how is everyone doing? I rejoined last night after a 4 month layoff. I need some success stories!

[maillotpois]

I've been a bit quiet but I rejoined at the end of last year. (Lifetime member for 20 years now, but had about 35 lbs to lose after a couple of really off years). Anyway I am down almost 10 pounds. Following the program loosely, mostly there for the once a week weigh in and accountability.

I am also doing a pretty intense cycling training program and really focusing on fuelling solidly for the days I ride and following the program strictly on the days I do not. Trying to stuck to whole foods, whole grains. Lower carb on the days I don't ride. Remembering that when you do a tough ride, the refuelling occurs within the half hour afterward, and is not an excuse for an entire pizza later that night.

I get re-assessed next week at my training center (body fat, lactate thresholds). That data, I hope, will be very encouraging.

[ASammy1]

I just started again this week after stopping in Sept. My Dr changed my meds around and I've gained 15 lbs since then.

I am doing in on my own and not going through a WW center. My company used to offer the WW at work program where they would cover 1/2 of the cost, but that was cut after the economy tanked. What's helping me get through it and stay accountable is blogging about my highs and lows. Like yesterday, it was a bad day for me. Then I blogged about it and ended on a positive note. Today I feel good about myself and the choices I'm making.

[Susan Otcenas]

I'm down 21 pounds since I signed up for WW online on Nov 5th. I follow it religiously, tracking every single thing that passes my lips. I'm also using the activity tracker to record all my activity points. It's working really really well for me. I love the accountability.

14 more pounds to my goal weight!

Susan

[tulip]

Susan, that is awesome! Just goes to show that with consistency and discipline, you can achieve your goals. Great job!

[ASammy1]

I know! Susan is so inspirational. By following her progress, I decided last week to get back on track w/ WW. I have changed my diet around completely and upped my protein intake. After reading the Jan/Feb weight loss thread I realized I might have glucose sensitivity (diabetes and hypoglycemia runs in my family). I am going to see what happens and go from there!

Thanks again for your inspiration Susan!

[uforgot]

I tried doing it alone, but something about weighing in makes me stick to it better. I absolutely can't count ANY activity points. When I did that I gained, but I also need something after a ride. Many here have suggested chocolate milk, any one else have any WW friendly suggestions?

By the way, congrats Susan! That's terrific and inspirational as I have about 35 pounds to lose!

[Susan Otcenas]

Thanks ladies! I'm glad that sharing my story has helped. But believe me, it's definitely been a struggle sometimes. It's a daily test of willpower to keep it going and not succumb to a craving or temptation. *Most* days I'm very successful at that, but every now and then..... Yesterday we celebrated two birthdays @ Jeff's folks' place - Jeff's and his sister's. Jeff baked a chocolate orange cake for Tricia, and Tricia baked a banana cream pie for Jeff. Plus his mom put out a Mexican burrito buffet for lunch.

Well, I'd like to tell you I resisted it all, but......Of course I had to try both the chocolate cake and the pie, both of which were amazing. And the mexican food was awesome. I dutifully counted up all my points at the end of the day (I never skip that step, even when I've had a "bad" day) and just about fell off my chair.

One thing I've taken away from all of this over the last 3 months is that it's OK to have a day like this now and then. I've learned not to sabotage myself *after* the fact by saying - "well, now I've screwed up my whole week, so I may as well also have x too." Instead, today I'm right back on the plan and eating my daily 19 points. I went for my run this morning, as scheduled. Basically, I've found that if I don't let myself have a day like yesterday every now and then (say, once every 4-6 weeks) then I end up feeling too deprived. What really matters is how I work the plan every day, not the very occasional day when I let loose and eat a piece of cake.

I'd like to thank all of YOU for keeping me on track, too. Part of what works for ME is being accountable to other people, so being able to check in here and on the Jan/Feb weight loss thread really helps me alot.

Susan

[uforgot]

19 points is all you get? Wow, doesn't seem like much. Maybe I need to recalculate, I'm at 24.

Congrats on making it a way of life and not a diet. That's probably what will make it a success in the end. The fact that we can't go back to our old ways, but have to learn to incorporate those "days" when there is just great food around.

[Susan Otcenas]

19 points is all you get? Wow, doesn't seem like much. Maybe I need to recalculate, I'm at 24.

Yup, 19. I started out at 21 points when I was 165. Somewhere in the high 140s I dropped to 19. NOw I'm at 144. If I'm not mistaken, the lowest is 18 points. I'd imagine I'll hit that when I'm in the 130s.

In all truthfulness, though, I rarely eat that few points. I exercise 4-6 days per week, and I always eat my activity points (on the day I earn them). It's very important to eat to fuel activity, so I never skip those. Besides, the APs earned only work out to about 1/2 the calories burned in any given activity. So you can eat all your APs and still lose weight.

In fact, you SHOULD eat your APs. If you don't eat enough, your body goes into starvation mode. Basically, your metabolism slows down because your body thinks it's in a famine (because it is). Give it enough calories and it will freely burn them. Starve it and it will try to conserve them by slowing the metabolism.

Besides eating my APs, I usually eat some (but rarely all) of my weekly 35. 10-15 is pretty typical for me.

I believe that "diets" don't work. Eating healthily and in moderation, along with a regular exercise regimen, is the only way to sustain a healthy body weight. It's one of the reasons I never eat "prepared" diet foods like Lean Cuisine or the packaged WW products. One needs to learn how to cook healthy, low fat, low calorie meals to be successful long term. JMHO, of course.

Susan

[Zen]

I joined WW about eight years ago and lost a buttload of weight, figuratively and literally.
If I keep reading this thread i may have to go back, but I'd only be eating about 19 or 20 points
I still have all the little books and calculator.

As soon as i finish these butter cookies i made.
Hey- what else was I going to do with butter?
Why do I have butter anyway? I can't remember why I bought it