Moving right along!

I had a good week!  I lost 3.2 lbs!  That put me over the 15 lb mark!  Actually, that's 17.6 total!  I am thrilled!  I worried all week, even to the point of breaking my own rule of stepping on the scale at home.  It's funny how my body works.  Last week, I was meticulous at journaling everything and eating on plan everyday....and I only lost 1.6 lbs.  However, this week, I lost twice that, even though I chowed down on some deep fried oreos at the local farmer's market!  Let me tell you, those suckers were worth EVERY BIT of the 12 points they cost me!  You have GOT to try them!  This particular vendor also deep fries Twinkies (ew) and Snickers Bars!  Don't freak out....I just stuck to the deep fried oreos covered in powdered sugar!  The way I figure it, you have to eat the things you like crave need like some of the time!

In other news, I have not kept up my commitment to walk 30 minutes, 3 times per week.  I'm finding it way too hot to be outside for very long.  In addition, school has started which means that my work schedule has changed.  I now work 4 days a week and so there is just less time.  However, I have just recently been introduced to Just Dance for the Wii!  Have you ever done this?  If you haven't (and you have a Wii), you really need to try this!  It is fun and it's exercise!  I really work up a sweat when we play!  This is my new favorite activity!  This I can do in my nice air-conditioned home!

That's it for this week!  Here's hoping I can break 20 lbs next week!



The New Plan

I'm trying to decide if Weight Watcher's decision to completely change the way you count points was a nutritional decision or a financial decision.  At this point, I'm guessing it was financial.  Thousands and thousands of people had all the materials they needed to count points and "do" Weight Watchers on their own and therefore, no longer having a need to become a member or go to the meetings.  Now that they've changed things up, everyone has to purchase all new materials and therefore increasing their revenue by a ton!

Previously, the point system was based on three things....calories, fat and fiber.  Typically, the higher the fiber content meant the points would be lower.  WW provided you with a cardboard "slide" that calculated the points based on the nutritional value of the food item.  Now, it's totally different.  The Points Plus program is  calculated using fat, carbs, fiber and protein.  This means that you can't use the slide anymore.  Instead, they encourage you to purchase a points calculator or use their e-tools that they provide on their website.   In addition, all of the points books, dining out companion and restaurant guides are now obsolete. 

I'm still trying to get used to this new system.  For instance, before the change, pretty much every food item had a point value.  Now, most fruits and vegetables are ZERO points!  I'm used to a large banana being 3 points...now it's no points.  This is playing with my mind!  I always thought that most fruit had a very high sugar content and while it's healthy to eat several servings a day, I assumed you shouldn't go hog wild because it can cause your pancreas to do flips! 

I'm not feeling deprived at all.  I get a total of 43 points per day and I can earn more points if I exercise.  I'm also allowed an additional 49 points for the entire week (basically 7 extra points each day)!  I could eat all of those extra points in one day or spread them out.  Either way, it seems like A LOT of points to me.

So far this week I have logged every single thing I've put in my mouth, including a McDonald's lunch on Tuesday and a slice of Sbarro's pizza tonight!  I've stayed within my point allowance each day!  I've poured tons of water down my throat and have begun to really limit the amount of diet coke I ingest.  Tonight, we took the kids to the mall (it's so hot here!) and played indoor miniature golf!  Then we walked to JC Penney's, Sears and Dillard's looking for school shoes for the kids.  We were unsuccessful with the shoes, but I managed to get some exercise in walking at a pretty brisk pace for at least 30 minutes.  If you want to know the truth, I feel pretty good.  I haven't had to use my inhaler for about 36 hours and I haven't coughed as much.  I think it's because I'm keeping myself better hydrated...and I'm moving more.

These are very small baby steps, but I'll take what I can get!  I'm actually looking forward to weigh-in on Monday night.  Who's with me?