The new best fad diet...

...prep for a colonoscopy!

I was down 8 pounds at one point yesterday. This really is no way to lose weight. It totally drained me and was not a joy. Just sayin'.

Hmmm...So You'e Saying This is a Journey?

I have known all along that this whole weight loss thing was a journey. I always had it in the back of my mind that I was going to go slow and I didn't have to lose quickly. I was on a path and I was determined to enjoy the journey. I experienced amazing success during the eleven months journey.

The funny thing about this whole experience is that once I hit that goal weight, I almost felt as if my journey was over. That goal weight was always my end point and what I was focused on and heading toward. So, really, mentally I was thinking that the journey was to a certain number of pounds. In reality, this didn't hold true. The whole goal should have been: "I am going to get to a healthy weight and then maintain it FOREVER."

Maintenance is a whole new journey. For some reason, it is a whole lot harder than I had ever imagined. I am totally still in my weight range and have been maintaining for about two months, but it still is a whole lot of work. I HAVE to keep doing exactly what I was doing before to lose weight but now the focus is to maintain. I attend my weekly Weight Watchers meeting, I track everything I eat, I track what activity I am doing, and I work hard to curb my never ending urge to eat the world's supply of chocolate and french fries. I have not reached the end of my journey, just a little milestone or mile marker on the road trip. (Don't you love the travel analogy here?)

I can totally see why people stop and start gaining all the weight back they lost back. I think it is natural to think that you reached the end of the journey. The problem lies in the fact that if you are a foodaholic, then you will always be one. It is very similar to being an alcoholic. You can overcome the addiction and rehab, but the temptation will always be there. You must constantly work to deal with that temptation in order to remain sober or in a foodaholic's case: skinny. I think a food addition is even harder because you really do have to eat in order to survive(sometimes I actually go to bed with the thought that I need to sleep so I can wake up and eat again. Silly!). With drinking you can avoid the bars and never buy the stuff for at home. I tell people all the time that I go to WW instead of AA.

Those candy bars are still my problem. I was thinking about them today. I just need to manage them better. It is okay to eat them on occasion but I definitely shouldn't be having them everyday. I had some today and yesterday. I like chocolate, but I do not like it enough to constantly be overeating. I like my new jeans and clothes. They keep me focused now!

Good Quote

One of my friends had this on her facebook wall. I thought it was appropriate:

“Strength is the ability to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands - and then eat just one of those pieces”

Of course my new goal is to have the strength for the next week at least, to have NONE!!!

Get that CANDY out of my face!!

I have to admit a huge weakness that I am facing. There are two huge bags of little candy bars in my desk drawer in my office. I thought I had good willpower, but I totally have been eating at least five a day. I need to stop this habit. I actually gained two pounds since last week. It could have something to do with eating out three times last week too. I need to get back on it and eat less chocolate and exercise more. Next week is another first of the month weigh in and if I gain two pounds I will have to pay and that is not what I want to happen. I am getting back on the wagon!

Meetings a bit South of Here.

Well, have I told you that I am now traveling to get to my weekly Weight Watcher meetings? Well, I am. When my leader told me she would no longer be teaching in Provo at night, I knew I had to catch her meeting down south. It takes about 22 minutes when traffic is good. At five when I go, it takes 45. Totally worth every single minute to get there. She is a major player in my success and so I make a small sacrifice to get to one of her meetings.

Tonight was fun because I totally mocked her (I don't even feel bad because she can dish it out just as well.) Anyway, one of the coolest things about her is that she is totally real and faces challenges with following the plan like the rest of us. Monday she ate like three times more than what her daily allotment is. The cool thing is that she was totally open and honest about it and even included it on her blog. Read about it HERE! And instead of giving up, she just gets right back on the wagon! Anyway, I made her a certificate that basically was an award for eating so much in one day. In her own words, it read: "The most PPV ever recorded and published publicly." Hilarious. The pic is of Marion after meeting tonight.

I am maintaining well. My body seems like like a certain weight lately, even when I am not trying all that hard to keep it there, and even after Vegas where I ate some very tasty but not so good for me food. We will see if it maybe shows up next week. I think being active is truly a key to success when it comes to maintenance. If I can keep that metabolism up, I gain some flexibility in what I can intake. It is a good deal. Today I did not run because I ran two days in a row and my left hamstring is a bit sore. Silly.

Well, the journey is still fun. I am glad that I have decided to continue to go to meetings even though I technically only have to weigh in and attend once a month. I think that is another key to success. Well, I better sleep. Cheers!

One Year Ago...

One year ago today, I attended my very first Weight Watchers meeting. It really is crazy to think how much has changed in one tiny year. I have learned so much about me and have become so much more healthy both physically and emotionally. Sure I am not perfect but I have come a long way. In honor of today, I included some before and after pics of me! Enjoy and happy One Year Anniversary to me!

Lifetime Member.

Tuesday I became a Lifetime Member of Weight Watchers. This means I can attend meetings for free now. It also means that I can eat whatever I want. Just kidding. Okay so I really am not kidding...I have been eating whatever I want since on the plan. I can eat whatever I want as long as I practice portion control!

It feels good to make it to this goal. I also weighed in at noon before my work's big Christmas party so that the food I ate didn't ruin it for me. I still went to my regular meeting because my leader, Marion, pretty much rocks and I wanted her to hand me my award. I wasn't so thrilled with the tiara she made me wear but it was all good.

My friend, Sharri, she is the one in the middle of the pic, bought me balloons and some "Life"savers and "Life" cereal. She is so clever and sweet. I am lucky to have great friends to be my supports. Both her and Jane(also in the pic) make it so I can do this and are great positive influences and inspirations. They are doing well on their weight loss journeys as well. Go us.

This isn't the end of my journey, but the beginning of a new part of the journey. I am still loving it and doing well. I am now back in Wisconsin for the holidays and I am doing my best to do well with eating. I will splurge here and there but I have the tools I need! (I also have my favorite gum, which will help!)

It's late; I'm tired. Night!