Weight Watchers Wednesday

If you are visiting me from Jenna's blog, welcome! Thanks for stopping by! 

Every Wednesday, I try to document my weight loss journey.  I say "try" because sometimes it doesn't get done until later in the week. Besides, I am filling in at my old job this week. I forgot how tough it is to be a working mom. I have the deepest respect for those of you who work outside the home! 

I have two more weeks of maintenance. I see a light at the end of the tunnel! This week, I lost........

3 pounds!!! 

Last week, I was towing the line of being two pounds above my goal and having to restart maintenance; this week I am towing the line for being two pounds under my goal. Had I gained another half pound last week (or lost another half pound this week), we would have to restart. WHEW! 

Every Tuesday, I feel like I let out a big sigh. I feel motivated and relaxed and ready to tackle the next week after our meeting. It is refreshing to listen to our leader and to simply be in the presence of people going through the same experience as I am.  

This week, we talked about finding an activity that we love and make a plan to stick to it. The second piece is what is hard for me, especially with me working this week. I love to run or workout at the gym but fitting time in this week has been hard. Since my schedule is crazy this week, I have tried to make sure I am getting my steps in by tracking with my FitBit. I am looking forward to Spring and warm weather. Besides, I can earn activity points while playing in the yard with the kiddos! 

If you have a FitBit, I would love for you to "friend me"! I am tinatnvol@gmail.com. What do you love to do as far as exercise? If you don't exercise, I would encourage you to try something new, even if it is simply going for a walk! 

Happy Wednesday! 

Monday Blahs

I could lie and tell you I am in a post Super Bowl stooper or hung over, but I am not.  Today has been a blah of a day.

The weather here is cold and dreary with a few snowflakes falling from the sky.  I mean, come on, it either needs to come a good snow or get warm.  I am tired of being cold all of the time!

Our weekend was a whole lot of nothing.  I keep telling myself I will wish these weekends back once baseball starts but our lack of weekend fun gives me nothing to blog about on Mondays.

Friday night, Chad and I met with a financial planner in the next town over.  He didn't bother to tell me about this until the last minute.  I hate going into something like that without warning.  What made it worse was that the planner said that this meeting was a time for us to ask questions, etc.  Well, had I known I was having to do this, I would have been prepared for questions!  Chad has been in the doghouse anyway over another issue so this didn't help.  We haven't been communicating very well.  I feel like there are days when we barely speak to one another.

Saturday consisted of our regular trip to Barberitos.  We also watched our Vols beat Auburn and Bruce Pearl on TV.  That Bruce- he is a nice guy!

Sunday was church, a nap, and part of the Super Bowl.   My favorite part of the night was definitely Katy Perry and the Budweiser commercial.

Hope your Monday isn't a BLAH day like mine!  The rest of the week is a busy one for me.  I will be a working woman!  I am excited to see my Palmer peeps (people at my former job)!

Six on Saturday (AKA: Five on Friday a Day Late)

Happy Saturday!

I am a day late and a dollar short for Five on Friday.  I had quite a busy day yesterday and didn't sit down until 4PM.  I snuck over to Chad's office to mooch WiFi (we have painters at our house and I feel like I get in the way) but I decided to watch Parenthood on Netflix instead of blogging.  Here is my Five on Friday plus one!  It is all over the place- much like my brain!

Linking up with The Farmer's Wife, Erika, and April!

(1) I finally broke down and bought these shoes.

Via

Let me just tell you...  OMG.  They are THE BOMB DOT COM!  I don't know why I waited so long- actually- yes I do- the price .  Last Saturday we were in Bristol (our home away from home now.  Carson's baseball team is there.  Besides no store in our pansy town sells TOMS.) and I asked Chad if I could run into a store that I knew carried TOMS.  I told him I just wanted to try a pair on for size and comfort level before I started scouring eBay for a deal.  Caylee and I went into the store while the boys stayed in the car.  They had this pair in my size.  I put them on and was shocked at how great they felt.  Normally, I can't wear wedges due to my runner's knee issues but these do not feel like wedges at all.  I sent Chad a text and asked if he would send divorce papers if I bought them and to my surprise, he told me to go ahead and get them.  These babies have been on my feet everyday that I have worn real clothes.  They look great with bootcut jeans and skinny jeans (that size 6 pair that I bought!).  The girl at the store also said they look great with skirts and dresses.  WINNER WINNER!  CHICKEN DINNER!

(2) We made our second trip to the ER this week.

The Macs are just trying to hit their deductible early in the year!  I got a call from school around 8:30 saying Carson fell and hit his head on a brick wall.  Long story short, he suffered a mild concussion and got a free day off from school.  He seems to be back to his normal self now.  Concussions are scary things but I stayed calm.  I kept telling myself this is all part of raising a boy.  We decided to self medicate ourselves on Starbucks Cake Pops while waiting in the car rider line to pick up sister.

Please ignore the fact that my hair was "air dried" and I had zero makeup on.  I had just gotten out of the shower when they called me from school.  I rushed down there looking like this and stayed this way the rest of the day.  UGH.

(3)  While I have no plans to see the Fifty Shades of Grey movie, I do have plans to test out these lovelies!

I haven't bought new nail polish in a long time.  When I saw this new line from OPI, I had a hard time decided which colors to try.  I didn't want to pay the $21.95 at Ulta for this sample, so I headed to Amazon to see if I could get it cheaper.  I got this set for $16.75- probably not the best deal but I will take it.  I still can't decide what to try first! I am excited about this!!!  {how sad is it that I get excitement from nail polish?}

(4) My TimeHop has made me sad.


I keep seeing pictures of snow and we have had nothing here.  I want one or two good snows then I want Spring.  I have a feeling we'll be shoveling snow off the baselines just like the guy did in Boston when he shoveled snow off the Boston Marathon finish line.

(5) Have you guys ever seen one of these?  

LIFE CHANGING.   I debated on saving this for my favorite things but I can't keep it a secret.  It is a USB charger and a regular charger.  When we tiled our backsplash in the kitchen last summer, we needed to get new outlets and we saw this at "Home Dee Depot" {That's how Carson said Home Depot when he was a baby.  We spent a lot of time there} and decided we would try it out.  It charges anything that has a USB cord.  I like it so much I went back and got a second one for my bathroom.  You may ask why the bathroom?  I listen to my iPhone or iPad in there while i am getting ready, I charge my Garmin in there, and I charge my FitBit in there.  All of the devices require a USB so it only made sense that I add a second outlet like that.  I LOVE IT.  I have plenty of regular plugs in my bathroom (my number one piece of advice when building a house- put in more plugs than you think you will need).

(6)  Are you a "get ready everyday" person or a "I wear yoga pants unless I am actually doing something" person?  
I struggle with this.  Since I am not working, I have fallen into the yoga pants and no makeup trap (see #2).  I don't have a lot of clothes but I am in the process of slowly updating my wardrobe as money allows.  I decided this week that I don't want to have another episode like Monday.  I went to the school, the ER, the pediatrician's office, to Which Which, and to Starbucks dressed like I should be going to Wal Mart.  On the flip side of that,  some of the products I use to get ready for the day are more expensive products and I hate to "waste" them on days that I don't have a reason to get ready.  A friend of mine at WW this week says she "gets ready" everyday because she feels better and gets more accomplished.  This is definitely something to ponder.


Happy Weekend!

Favorite Things

I am linking up with Erika to share some of my favorite things.  If you want to join in the party, come on!

I am always happy to find good products at an even better price.  On the flip side of that, I will pay more money for products that I know are better (i.e: makeup, face wash, and hair products).  Here are some things I am currently loving with a  price tag of ten bucks or cheaper!

First up, my favorite lip gloss.  I have loved this stuff for a while.  I stocked up on it when I went to Costco during the holidays.  I keep an egg (or whatever it is called) in my Jeep, my purse, my gym bag, in the drawer in the kitchen, in the drawer in the bathroom.  I think I am obsessed.  One egg is around $3.00

Second,  I recently discovered these chips.  I LOVE them but can't get them very often because they are $2.99 for one bag (at GNC).  

Finally, I LOVE Netflix.  I go through phases where I don't watch anything then I start binge watching shows.  I am currently watching Parenthood.  Many folks on social media kept saying how good the show was so I caved and started watching.  The series finale is tomorrow and I am not going to watch it because I don't want it to ruin anything!  Caylee loves Netflix as well.  Chad has watched several movies and TV series while on the elliptical machine at the gym.  We keep talking about canceling our subscription but I just simply can't do it!  At $8.75/month, I have decided that we can't go to a movie for that price.  Besides, I like watching my shows when it is convenient for me!

Leave a comment and let me know what you are watching on Netflix or anything you love under $10!!

Weight Watchers Wednesday

I'm back for another Weight Watchers Wednesday: Triple W!

I am happy to report that I am down....

-0.5 LBS

I was a little bummed because I tracked everything I put in my mouth for the week.  I am a pound and a half above my goal weight.  I am still within my range for my maintenance plan so I am ok with that.  Looking back at my tracker, I realized that I ate into my weekly bonus points (no pun intended) and I went to the gym and lifted weights, which is probably the reason I only lost a half a pound.

I did have a major victory this week though:

Caylee and I went to Old Navy this weekend.  My intent was to get a couple of things for Caylee and look at jeans for me.  I tried on a size 8 in the Diva skinny jeans and they were a little loose.  On a whim, I decided to try on a size 6.

THEY FIT.  I CRIED.  

Caylee asked me why I was upset.  God love her. I haven't seen a size 6 since before I was pregnant with Carson.  I know that I will not be a size 6 in all brands of clothes, but this is a start and I will take this over a half pound weight loss ANY DAY.

In our meeting this week, we talked about big goals and bigger goals and how we can reach them.  He asked us to share our big and our bigger goals.  Obviously, my biggest goal is to reach lifetime (and not have to pay!) but my bigger goal is to continue wearing those size 6 jeans.  My big goal- my how am I going to get there- is trying not to eat into those weekly bonus points.  I think that is what hurt me this week.  Even with maintenance, I can slowly add points back into my lifestyle but honestly, I don't want to (even though I did last week).  On the flip side, I am learning that my body is trying to revert back to before my weight loss.  For example, I find myself hungry even after eating the same things I ate when I was losing weight.  I know it is a process and I need to understand that maintenance is trial and error.  This week, I am going to focus on continuing to track everything I put in my mouth (even that munchkin from Dunkin Donuts yesterday- I just had one).

I am entering week three of maintenance.  If I can get through this week, I am halfway to lifetime membership!  WOOP WOOP!

Friday Five!

Where did this week go?  I have heard the saying that the days are long but the years are short when raising kids.  I believe that is true but man, my days have been super short lately!

Chad has been traveling some the last couple of weeks so I feel like I have to "up my game".  By the end of the day, I am exhausted but don't sleep well when Chad is gone.  I look forward to his homecoming just so I can get a good night's sleep!

I'm linking up with my favorite bloggers for Friday Fun!

via

O-N-E

Something always happens when Chad is away on business.  Flat tires, snowstorms that cause the electricity to go out overnight, washing machines quit working,  garage door various issues with the dogs.  This week, I can add a trip to the ER to that list.

Extremely long story but basically Caylee needed to "go" and couldn't.  This is something we have battled since she started solid foods. What made this time worse was that she was doubled over in pain and cried for two solid hours at school.  They called me in.  My mama gut feeling said she needed to be seen quickly.  I called our pediatrician and they said they would do an x ray and KUB (whatever that is).  The ER did the same thing so I am glad I took her.

I said I would never be "that Mom" that let her kids have an iPad but it saved us while we were waiting on test results.  They watched a movie on Netflix!

T-W-O
Next Friday, I am going to a class on Essential Oils.  It is a doTERRA class.  I am interested in using oils, particularly with Caylee's issue but am in sticker shock at the prices.  If you do Eos, I would love your feedback!

T-H-R-E-E
We are in full swing with baseball.  This week at practice, the coach told his assistant coach that "this kid's got an arm".  He was talking about Carson.  We have been getting private lessons with the organization's director and they are paying off.  Carson will still mention something about getting cut or his former team.  I hate it for him but he needs to move on.  I feel so helpless because I don't know how to help him do that.

F-O-U-R
I ordered this tote for Carson. If you are interested in this product, I can hook you up!
He needed a new lunchbox and he is thrilled with it.  He designed it himself once we found out this week that he will wear #15 for his new baseball team.  Since he has played competitive baseball, he has always worn Sam's number.  There is no other number at our house!

Here is a closeup of Carson's design.  I will probably take the lunch tote to the forty or so games we will play this season!

F-I-V-E

I have a new love affair....

I love Quest Bars but since I'm doing WW, they are a little high on points so I haven't been eating them.  I was at the mall yesterday and peeked inside GNC to see if they had these and they did!  They have been on the market for a long time but it takes our poor little town to jump on the bandwagon for some things.  This whole bag is 3 WW Points Plus.  It was my car rider line snack yesterday.  The bags are expensive so it will be an indulgence every once in a while!

Cheers to the weekend!  Not sure what our plans are!  Talk to you soon!

Weight Watchers Wednesday (on Friday)

Ok, so the last time I blinked, it was Monday and now it is Friday.  Where in the world did this week go?  This week turned into be a busy week.  I kept asking myself how I could hold down a job with the craziness of this week.  More on the nutso week in my Five on Friday post....

So, let's talk about this week in Weight Watchers.

I. gained. two. pounds.

WOMP WOMP WWWWWWOOOOOOMMMMMMPPPPPPP....

One word to describe it: hypocrite.

Let me back up.....

Last week, I received an email from my leader asking me to come speak to another one of his groups at a Weight Watchers at Work.  This group meets for twelve weeks then they do an Open House in hopes of recruiting more members to keep the group going.  Part of the Open House is a current member coming to share their story.  Guess who was the current member???  ME!

Knowing I had to speak to a group, I tried to watch what I ate but I didn't track everyday either.  I got on the scales at my meeting earlier that morning and was up 2 pounds.  Luckily, my toes didn't cross the "I have to start maintenance again" line so I was "safe".  Not happy about it, but safe.

Our meeting this week was about how to enjoy parties without going overboard.  It was a Super Bowl theme.  Even though we probably will not be participating in any parties, I did get a few ideas of what to serve for my little family.

After our meeting, my leader and I went to the At Work meeting location.  I helped him get everything set up and he hit me with a question that flattered me- would I be interested in becoming a WW Leader?

Let me think about that a minute:   YES!

Basically once you reach lifetime, you can train to become a leader/receptionist.  I think you have to be a receptionist and learn the paperwork side first then you can lead meetings.  Once I reach lifetime, the only requirement is that I continue to weigh in once per month.  If I am a leader/receptionist, I will have to weigh in once per month. If nothing else, this is extra motivation to keep the weight off.

Back to the meeting- I felt like such a hypocrite telling my weight loss story after gaining two pounds.  He asked me about my successes, tips for new members, etc.  But the beauty of weight watchers is that it is a forgiving group.  I knew exactly why I'd put on the two and I know how to get it off.  I have tracked every bite that has gone into my mouth since Tuesday.  I am down one pound according to my FitBit scale.  My FitBit scale has been all over the place lately in comparison to the scales at WW.  Some weeks, there is a pound difference; others, there is a three pound difference.  So frustrating but as long  as I am losing, it is good.

One thing I am being more conscious of this week is making sure I am getting my fruit.  Since I have been away from home a lot this week, I have packed my Thirty One lunch tote with snacks, water, and fruit to grab as I am out and about.

I keep telling myself that I am spending this winter getting myself ready for summer.  I had some great workouts at the gym this week.  I don't know that I will purchase a two piece bathing suit for this body but you never know!