- Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches and Carrot and Apple Salad (didn't get around to making this last week, I was too sick to cook)
- Winter Beef Stew with Egg Noodles
- Mexican Quinoa Casserole
- Baked Potato Soup, Salad
- Yankee Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, English Muffins
- Baked Chicken with Artichokes and Potatoes
As far as sticking to my goals, I did awesome on WW. I ate all my daily points, but only ended up using half my bonus weekly points. I weighed in at 141.5, which I actually think is a fluke....I was especially sick over the weekend and wasn't really in the mood to eat thanks to the meds, so I definitely wasn't my normal eating self. I won't be too surprised if that number doesn't go down this week. Unfortunately I was not able to begin working out, which really sucks. I cannot wait to be healthy again, this crap is killing me.
And while I am on the subject of weight and working out, I wanted to share this thought as well...if you are on a mission to become a healthier you, make sure you also track your measurements. I do use my weight as an indicator of where I am at, but my measurements are my ultimate check. I don't want to even pretend to be some sort of diet or fitness guru, because I am definitely not. I am lazy, I like donuts and things made of refined sugar, and I struggle with consistnecy and body image too. But I want to share this because I don't want others to become discouraged like I have been.
At some point last year I did the 30 Day Shred (ok, it took me like 35 days to get the 30 days in, but I did it). And while doing it I obsessively checked the scale....and the first two weeks or so I consistently gained weight. It was discouraging, and it made me not push myself (hence the 35 days). At the end I did end up losing like 2 lbs, and I was not happy about it. But, thank goodness, I also checked my measurements; I had lost 4 inches off my waist line (this is where I carry most of my weight). I was shocked that I had that kind of result when I hadn't really lost any weight.
I guess my point is...don't let the number on the scale get you down. It is just a number. I learned not to step on the scale every day (big mistake! I weigh myself once a week now). And if I don't see big changes, I don't let it get me down. There are so many other things to pay attention to...your endurance level, strength level, flexibility, your measurements, the way your clothes fit, and most importantly the way you feel overall.
Will you be either blogging these recipes, or linking to them? They all sound good! What's winter beef stew? And where's the quinoa casserole recipe, so I can pin it to the quinoa board (which, by the way, do you want on?)
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad you mentioned measurements - that's a really important thing to keep track of! I watch those more than the scale anymore. Muscle weighs more than fat, so if you're working out and building muscle while losing fat, it's hard to see that on a scale. I had that this summer - I didn't lose weight for a couple months, but I was still getting noticeably smaller.
And totally agree with your last paragraph - the way you feel is the most important thing! Everything else is just numbers.
Yes, I will definitely post them at some point. Although I have a few older ones I need to catch up on first. I will add the winter beef stew soon though because it is one of my favorites. And to be honest, I am not really sure what Mexican quinoa is yet. I think I need to be on this board so I can figure it out. :). Quinoa is so hot right now.
DeleteI hope I didn't come off all preachy or like a know it all, because I am def not. I just wanted to get the point out there that while you might not be dropping lbs, your body still might be changing. I just remember how down I was when I was only watching the scale.
You didn't at all! I got a lot of comments to that effect when I was experiencing the same thing, and my trainer kept telling me that too so you're right on. I do think way too much of the focus is on *just* weight, when there's so many other factors to consider. Are you healthy? Do you feel good? And do you feel good about yourself? My weight is still higher than it probably should be, but my numbers were all great in my physical last month, I've seriously never felt better and I have a sustainable plan to keep being healthy - so what's more important? All of that, or what my scale tells me?
DeleteAnd you've been added!