Saw this article on Yahoo! Thought I would share...

7 ways to avoid gaining weight from stress

Why Stress Makes You Hungry

For most of us, stress is a fact of life. Unfortunately, recent research reveals that it's also a fact of fat. "Even if you usually eat healthfully and exercise, chronic high stress can prevent you from losing weight—or even add pounds," says Pamela Peeke, MD, MPH, a Prevention advisor and the author of Body for Life for Women.

Here's what happens: Your body responds to all stress—physical or psychological—in exactly the same way. So every time you have a stressful day, your brain acts as though you're in physical danger and instructs your cells to release potent hormones. You get a burst of adrenaline, which taps stored energy so you can fight or flee. At the same time, you get a surge of cortisol, which tells your body to replenish that energy even though you haven't used very many calories in your stressed-out state. This can make you hungry... very hungry. And your body keeps on pumping out that cortisol as long as the stress continues.

Sadly, few of us reach for carrot sticks in these situations. "Instead, we crave sweet, salty, and high-fat foods because they stimulate the brain to release pleasure chemicals that actually do reduce tension," explains Elissa Epel, PhD, a researcher on stress eating at the University of California, San Francisco. This soothing effect becomes addicting, so every time
you're anxious, you reach for fattening foods.

Why Stress Increases Body Fat

With your adrenal glands pumping out cortisol, production of the muscle-building hormone testosterone slows down.

"Over time, this drop causes a decrease in your muscle mass, so you burn fewer calories," explains Shawn Talbott, PhD, author of The Cortisol Connection. "This occurs naturally as you age, but high cortisol levels accelerate the process." Cortisol also encourages your body to store fat—especially visceral fat, which is particularly dangerous because it surrounds vital organs and releases fatty acids into your blood, raising cholesterol and insulin levels and paving the way for heart disease and diabetes. Obviously, getting rid of all anxiety isn't an option. But by taking these seven steps to beat stress, you can get your cortisol levels and your weight under control, and improve your overall health at the same time.

1. Drop and Do 10
That's right, power out some push-ups.
"Moving your muscles is an effective, instant stress reliever. It actually fools your body into thinking you're escaping the source of your stress," says Talbott. "Exercise makes your blood circulate more quickly, transporting the cortisol to your kidneys and flushing it out of your system." But if push-ups aren't practical, just flexing your hands or calf muscles will help move cortisol along, he says. Even taking a stroll on your lunch break is beneficial. In one study, Talbott found that 18 minutes of walking 3 times per week can quickly lower the hormone's levels by 15%.

2. Go Slowly at Meals
Under stress, we tend to scarf down even healthy food
In fact, research has linked this behavior to bigger portions and more belly fat. But Epel hypothesizes that slowing down, savoring each bite, and paying attention to feelings of fullness may lower cortisol levels along with decreasing the amount of food you eat, thereby shifting the distribution of fat away from the belly

3. Stop Strict Dieting
It's ironic, but research shows that constant dieting can make cortisol levels rise as much as 18%. In addition, when your cortisol levels spike, your blood sugar goes haywire, first rising, then plummeting. This makes you cranky and (you guessed it) ravenous. When your brain is deprived of sugar—its main fuel—self-control takes a nosedive, and your willpower doesn't stand a chance. "The only way around this is to stop rigid dieting," advises Peeke. She suggests eating three healthful meals and two snacks spaced evenly throughout the day so that your blood sugar stays level: "You won't be hungry, you won't be stressed about being hungry, and you'll still drop the extra pounds."

4. Give In to Cravings—a Little
When stress drives you toward something sweet or salty, it's okay to yield a little.
"It's much better to indulge in a small way and cut off your cortisol response before it gets out of control," says Epel. "Have a piece of chocolate. You will feel better. Just stop at one." If you have trouble restraining yourself, take precautions so you won't binge. Buy a single cookie when you're out instead of keeping a box at home; or keep them in the freezer so you have to wait for one to defrost.

5. Curtail Caffeine
Next time you're under duress, choose decaf.
When you combine stress with caffeine, it raises cortisol levels more than stress alone. In one study by the University of Oklahoma, consuming the equivalent of 2 1/2 to 3 cups of coffee while under mild stress boosted cortisol by about 25%—and kept it up for 3 hours. When subjects took 600 mg of caffeine (the equivalent of 6 cups of java) throughout the day, the hormone went up by 30% and stayed high all day long. You'll experience these effects even if your body is accustomed to a lot of lattes. And because high cortisol levels can contribute to stress eating, you might want to consider quitting caffeine altogether.

6. Power Up Breakfast
Deficiencies in B vitamins, vitamin C, calcium, and magnesium are stressful to your body.
And these deficiencies lead to increased cortisol levels and food cravings, says Talbott. But you can fight back by eating a breakfast that's high in these nutrients. He suggests some OJ, a grapefruit, or a large handful of strawberries to supply vitamin C; 6 to 8 ounces of low-fat yogurt, which contains calcium and magnesium; and a whole grain bagel or toast with a bit of peanut butter. Whole grains are bursting with B vitamins, while peanut butter contains fatty acids that can decrease the production of stress hormones.

7. Sleep It Off
The most effective stress-reduction strategy of all: Get enough shut-eye.
"Your body perceives sleep deprivation as a major stressor," says Talbott. A University of Chicago study found that getting an average of 6 1/2 hours each night can increase cortisol, appetite, and weight gain. The National Sleep Foundation recommends 7 to 9 hours. As if that weren't enough, other research shows that lack of sleep also raises levels of ghrelin, a hunger-boosting hormone. In one study, appetite—particularly for sweet and salty foods—increased by 23% in people who lacked sleep. The good news: A few nights of solid sleep can bring all this back into balance, and getting enough regularly helps keep it there. Says Talbott, "You'll eat less, and you'll feel better, too."

Goal updates:

Starting weight: 381.6

Current weight this week: 373.6

Loss or gain: +.8 Total so far: 7.6 lbs. lost

Short term goal: Lose 5% of weight - 19lbs Lbs. to go: 8.4
Long term goal: Weigh 299 lbs. by Christmas 2010 - 82.6lbs. Lbs. to go: 74.8

Well, this past week was BAD. But, its ok because I am back on track. Starting up the Wii Active again today. I have been slacking tooooo much. I need to remember that I am doing this for myself and my family. (and hopefully future family) Despite my gain I still feel good about myself and my decision on changing my life. I just need to stay focused on my goals. Sometimes I feel like I have to many goals but...What is life without goals??

See you later a little lighter...I hope.

Another blog

Please follow my other blog as well if you would like. www.starting-over-wjm.blogspot.com

Just some Pics :-)

Above is a picture of the insides from a Green Pepper. LOL My mom had me take a picture of it. It's kind of cute. A little smiley face. :-)

***************************************************************************

Below are three pictures that a friend took before the Halloween Parade here in Palmerton this past October 2009. We walked in the Parade with our dog Bailey. For those of you who don't know....that is my husband Ken sitting with me and Bailey. I am not particularly fond of the way I look in these photos but....that is changing :-D

Something new

I think I am going to try something new these last few days of this week. For breakfast and lunch I am going to eat Special K cereal and then have my dinner. Lets just see how that goes. I am trying to get under 370 this week so I can lose another point.

I am just about 10 lbs. away from my first goal of losing 5% of my weight. It may just be 19 pounds but hey, its something to celebrate if you as me :-) I've decided that is when I will post another picture. When I hit my first short term goal. :-)

Guess I should start thinking on another short term goal. Hmmmm, should I do another 5% or go for 10% this time????

Goal update

Goal updates:
Starting weight: 381.6
Current weight this week: 372.8
Loss or gain: -1.8 Total so far: 8.8 lbs. lost
Short term goal: Lose 5% of weight - 19lbs Lbs. to go: 9.4

Long term goal: Weigh 299 lbs. by Christmas 2010 - 82.6lbs. Lbs. to go: 74.0

Ok so it turns out I'm not to good at this blogging thing. LOL. For those of you following me on Facebook and reading my story that I am writing, first thank you for all your nice comments. Second, my mind has been preoccupied on that story. It seems to be all I have thought about lately. What the next installment will be. I just posted Part 2 yesterday and already I am thinking about Part 3. LOL

However, I do want you all to know that I am not slacking in my "new life" I am in fact still going strong even though I have neglected to show it here on the blog. I know I promised a recent photo as well. I'm working on that. I have been watching the Olympics too. Is it bad that I am and American citizen of 100% German decent but routing for Team Canada in the hockey tournament???? LOL I hope not. :-) If you know me you know I am a HUGE Flyers fan. There are 2 Flyers on Team Canada and 0 on Team USA, I mean, really, for me its a no brainer who to route for.

Well, must go for now. I have a "phone interview" to do in an hour that I must prepare for. And I promise the pictures are coming soon. :-) TTYL my friends.

Points for Thursday

Breakfast - Cereal w/1% milk 6 points
2- bananas 2pts

Lunch - Turkey bbq 8pts
small filling 3pts
harvard beets 2pts
(leftovers)

Dinner - Chicken Cordon Blue 15pts
Zataran's Rice 5pts
Broccoli with cheese sauce 0 pts
Cauliflower with cheese sauce 0 pts

Total points: 41

Points for Wednesday

Breakfast - Cereal w/ 1% milk 6pts
banana 1 pt

Snack - Raw carrots w/lite ranch dip 3 pts
2 slices of dt. cheese 2 pts
wheat crackers 4pts

Dinner - Basically we had Thanksgiving LOL thanks to Mom
Turkey 8 pts
filling 5 pts
harvard beets 2 pts
bread 4 pts

Total points: 35 pts

YAY!!!! No snacking last night yeee haaaw. Yay for me!!!

I am back!!

Goal updates:

Starting weight: 381.6

Current weight this week: 374.6

Loss or gain: +.4 Total so far: 7.0 lbs. lost

Short term goal: Lose 5% of weight - 19lbs Lbs. to go: 11.2

Long term goal: Weigh 299 lbs. by Christmas 2010 - 82.6lbs. Lbs. to go: 75.8

Ok so I didn't gain as much as I originally thought. It was only 1/2 lb. but it was a gain non the less. I feel like I am neglecting you guys on here that send me comments. I am so sorry. ): I really don't mean to. Even though I haven't posted I have been keeping my points. I feel my weight gain has come from snacking to late at night. I am going to try to eat dinner later in the day instead of how early I have been eating dinner. Hopefully that will keep my late night snacking to a minimum.

It looks like Thursday was the last time I posted my points. So here are my points for Monday and Tuesday

Monday--
Breakfast - Bagel w/strawberry cream cheese 5pts
Lunch - Portabella mushroom sandwich 4pts2-100 calorie packs 4 pts
Dinner - Chicken cheese steak 15pts
snack - 2-WW fudge pops 2pts

Total points: 26pts (doesn't sound right I think I am missing something)

Tuesday--
Breakfast - Egg beater omelet with mushrooms and onions 3pts
2 slices of multi grain toast 4pts
Lunch - 2- 100 calorie snacks 4pts
raw carrots w/lite ranch dip 1pt
Dinner - Beef tips and egg noodles 15 pts

Total points - 27 points. Hmmmmmmm. I got to start eating more points ): Didn't realize I had so little points yesterday.

My commitment is to blog everyday. I HAVE to get back to that. I am feeling myself slacking a bit and I don't want that to happen. I want to stay committed to this weight loss.

End of week 5

Sorry this is going to be a short blog. Last few days I was barely home. However I am sad to report I gained this week. But back on the band waggon today :)

I will post all tomorrow.

Goodnight for now.

Points for Thursday

Sorry this is late

Breakfast - Nothing

Snack - 2-100 calorie PB and cheese Crackers 4pts
3-Hershey kisses 3pts

Lunch - Turkey w/Provolone on Kaiser roll with mayo 7 pts
sm apple 1pt
Chocolate chip cookie 5pts (it was a big one LOL)
raw carrots 0pts

Dinner- 4 slices of pizza 24pts ( I was freekin hungry LOL )

Total points: 44

I was in Lancaster all day yesterday. Sorry this post is late. By the time I got home I was so hungry and so tired. UGH. So yes I ate 4 slices of pizza at 6pts a piece and you know what.........they were freekin good too. LOL

My points for Tuesday

Breakfast - Egg white omelet with light cheese 3pts

Lunch - Chicken salad w/ red onion slices on Dt. wheat bread 4pts
100 calorie pringles 2 pts
100 calorie yogurt covered pretzels 2pts

Snack - PB wafers 6pts

Dinner - Chicken parm w/ pasta and grated parm 20 pts

Snack - 2 oranges 2 pts

Total Points: 39

Start of week 5

Goal updates:
Starting weight: 381.6

Current weight this week: 374.2

Loss or gain: -1.2 Total so far: 7.4 lbs. lost

Short term goal: Lose 5% of weight - 19lbs Lbs. to go: 11.6

Long term goal: Weigh 299 lbs. by Christmas 2010 - 82.6lbs. Lbs. to go: 75.2

My points for Today

Breakfast: Puffed wheat cereal w/1%milk 4pts

Lunch: Chicken Salad on white bread 7pts

100 calorie PB and cheese crackers 2pts

100 calorie yogurt covered pretzels 2pts

Dinner: Meatloaf 8pts

filling 5pts

Harvard beats 3pts

green beans with light butter 1pt

Snack: Fit and Active Orange ice cream pop. 2pts (yummy)

It was suggested by a follower that I post before and after pictures. I plan or posting every 25-50lbs that I lose. I will take a more recent full length picture of myself and post it this week. Then when I get to 25lbs. I will do it again and so on. It will be good for myself to see as well. When you are losing weight it is hard to see it on yourself while others may notice it right away. I think the pictures will give me a good sense of how my body is changing. I think it will also give me and incentive on doing more workouts and such as well.

Looking over the past week there is one HUGE thing that I need to do differently. TRACK ALL MY POINTS. As we know I missed quite a few days last week. BIG HUGE NO NO on my part. My bad. The first step to recovery is admitting your defeat and moving forward. That is my intent for this week. I just need to keep moving forward and stay on the right track. So far so good.

On a side note.......

Terri, thank you soooo much for your kind words and your post from what I posted yesterday (i think) It means a lot to know that other people care about me and how I do. This isn't meant to single you out so to say because I know others are there for me as well. But you, by far, have been my biggest cheerleader thus far on my blog and it means a lot to know that someone is out there listening. :-) Love you lots and thanks again.

Interesting read:
Obesity's Hazards And Mysteries
What research tells us about why we gain weight and how we can best lose it.
By Rebecca Ruiz, Forbes

Americans are fatter than ever and it's seriously harming our health. More than 72 million adults are obese, and that figure is expected to soar to 103 million by 2018. The problem is so bad that it could even cause life expectancy to start to decline, according to some demographers.
The good news is that basic research is helping scientists understand why we eat too much and how we can best lose weight. One major finding from earlier this year is that human adults have stores of calorie-burning brown fat, long thought to exist only in newborns and certain animals. But it turns out to also be present in small quantities in adults.

Stats: Obesity By The Numbers

Harnessing brown fat could make our bodies far more efficient at burning calories--someday. But it will be years, if ever, before researchers figure out a way to increase levels of brown fat in obese adults through drugs, surgery, or some other yet-to-be discovered process.
In the meantime, researchers are investigating the basic mechanisms behind metabolism and dieting (obesity is linked to several related problems, such as diabetes, which can lead to other problems such as kidney disease or stroke). One recent study in mice hinted that eating meals on a regular schedule may be as important as what you eat or when during the day you eat. The second linked compulsive eating to a stress molecule that is commonly triggered during the withdrawal-relapse cycles of drug abusers.

Watching the Clock
Dietitians have long recommended regular mealtimes for their patients. Satchidananda Panda, an assistant professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, now has laboratory data backing up this idea. His study, published in a November issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showed that mice on a regular feeding schedule have much more efficient metabolisms than critters who are allowed to eat whenever they want.
Panda let one group of mice eat freely throughout the 24-hour day while another group was fed on a rigid schedule. The second group fasted for 16 hours a day, but both groups of mice ate the same amount of calories for two weeks. Then he did gene scans on the mice to see what was going on in their livers.

In the mice on the uncontrolled feeding schedules, food metabolism genes in the liver were chaotic because the mice were frequently eating and nibbling. Overall, nearly 3,000 liver genes involving in burning fat and sugar were expressed in the freely-eating mice throughout the day.
While it might seem advantageous to have thousands of calorie-burning genes running throughout the day, this makes metabolism less efficient and can create a byproduct that attacks and breaks down DNA, Panda says.

By contrast, the mice on a controlled feeding schedule had a much more consistent pattern of liver gene expression. When feeding, the mice burned sugar, but fat-burning didn't occur until several hours after they had begun fasting.

Panda says the research supports the idea that people should abstain from eating eight to 12 hours each day. Panda's research also suggests that it's possible to reset the body's metabolism simply by changing mealtimes (and fasting periods) and sticking to them. The study results convinced Panda to eat only between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. He eats whatever he wants--with a focus on nutritious foods--and says he's lost weight since he started the regimen a year ago.

Addicted to Food
Pietro Cottone, pharmacologist at the Boston University School of Medicine, has laboratory data that may explain why some people---like himself--are prone to yo-yo dieting. If his rat experiments are correct, it may be that abstaining from sugary foods can actually trigger chemical withdrawal symptoms.

In Cottone's study, which appeared in PNAS in late November, one group of rats was fed "palatable", or high-sugar, chow for two days and then deprived of it for five days. Eventually, the withdrawal of the high-sugar chow triggered the release of a molecule known as corticotropin-releasing factor, or CRF, which causes anxious and depressive feelings and has been linked to relapses in drug addicts.

When exposed again to the palatable chow, the stressed mice overate compulsively in what Cottone characterized as "self-medication." After seven weeks, Cottone and his fellow researchers blocked the rats' CRF receptors. Only then were the rats able to restrain their anxious behavior and binging.

The scenario is no surprise to those who struggle with dieting. Cottone's goal is to prove that palatable foods are indeed biologically "addictive" and that dieters who flame-out are struggling with more than just a failure of willpower. (The threats of increased heart disease, cancer and arthritis risk sometimes aren’t enough on their own.) The only solution to the withdrawal and relapse cycle, he says, might be to avoid "palatable" foods in the first place.

Studies like Cottone's and Panda's give us much-needed insight into the biological mechanisms of metabolism and dieting, but they also require a forward-looking solution. Dr. Michael L. Power, author of The Evolution of Obesity, says humans evolved with limited access to food and have a biological drive to gorge when easy calories are available. How we cope with this is the challenge of our times, Power says. "We need to understand our biological adaptations and change our social reactions."

I am alive!!!

Hey there peeps. Sorry about not posting for quite some time here. Unfortunately I don't have any points to report for those missed and I only have a few points for today. However, rest assured that I did keep my points just didn't write them down. I was with in my points each day. Hopefully I will prove that when I step on the scale tomorrow.

This week has just been, for some reason, back and forth for me. I have been stressing over a few things but I am proud to report that there was NO STRESS EATING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I kept it cool and if I was still hungry after dinner I chose an orange as in stead of some WW cookies or crackers and such. I unfortunately didn't work out at all this week :( not on the WII anyway. I did do a lot of walking though so that may help me.

I have noticed that my skin is starting to feel looser (if that makes sense to anyone) And if I drop something on the floor I can bend down easier. Funny, I never thought I had a tough time bending over before......I mean if I dropped something I just bent down and picked it up....how hard could that be right?? But its weird, I guess the more appropriate thing to say is, when I bend down to pick something up it feels different. Kind of like there is a "smaller" obstacle for me to manipulate around in order to pick it up............Does any of this make sense to anybody??? Please let me know.

Well, time for some HGTV and Travel Channel before bed. Goodnight all. Sweet dreams and if anyone out there is following this blog and trying "a new life" for yourselves along with me, I have this to say to you.....I only hope you are all as big of a "loser" as I am when this is all done.

**HUGZZ*** ***KISSES***

PS
almost forgot...

Points for today were

Breakfast Egg stirfry 5 pts
coffee w/cream and sugar 4pts

Dinner-chili and cornbread....I have no clue. It was home made by my mom
I want to say I have about 2 cups worth of chili and a 2inch thick slice of corn bread.

Points for Thursday

Breakfast - Cereal w/milk 4 pts
Banana 1 pt

Lunch - Ate at Old Country Buffet
1/2 c of white rice 2 pts
2 small pieces of chicken 4 pts
S&S sauce 2 pts
bread 3 pts
2x2 inch cube of meatloaf 3 pts
chocolate dessert (small) 4 pts (not sure on this I am just guessing)

Snack - Fit and Active Orange cream pop 2 pts

Dinner - 4 boiled pierogies 4 pts
Sauteed onions w/dt. butter 2 pts

Snack - Chips and salsa 6pts
orange 1pt

Total points: 38

Points for Wednesday

Breakfast - Cereal w/1% milk 4pts

Lunch - Toasted cheese
with dt. wheat bread and fat free cheese 4pts

Dinner - Baked ziti and garlic bread 26 pts

Total points: 34

Not to much going on today. For some reason i was tired and lazy today. Not usually me. I just didn't have any energy. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. NEED to work out tomorrow for sure. That is definitely top priority for me.

Points for Tuesday

Breakfast-a piece of cake ( I know I know) 5 pts
Milk 1% 4 pts

Lunch - Turkey sandwich 7 pts
Peaches 1 pt

Dinner - Sweet Onion Chicken Sub from Subway w/cheese 15pts

Snack - 3 WW cookies 6 pts

Total points: 38 pts

Ok, that's enough with the bad stuff I think I got it out of my system now. LOL

Points for Monday

Sorry this is late...

Breakfast: Waffles w/butter and syrup (lite) 10 pts
Milk 1% 4 pts

Lunch: Cherry Cheese Danish 8 pts (this was bad I know )

Snack: Orange cream bar (fit and active) 2 pts

Dinner: Turkey breast 6 pts
white cooked potatoes w/spray butter 3 pts
mixed veggies steamed 1 pts (there were carrots in there)

Snack: (2) mini microwave chocolate cakes 6 pts (this was bad too)

I had a bit of a fall back today by not eating as healthy as I should have :^( But at least it is the first day of my "week" and not the last where I have no chance to make good on the deal.

Week in review

After looking back on the past week(s) I noticed that I have stopped writing down what I drank. Rest assured that it was all crystal light drinks which is basically water with some flavor LOL. All zero points. However I was inputting the drinks that accounted for points so that is good. Not that I was forgetting to count points. So if you don't see any drinks listed for a snack or for a meal rest assured I am drinking some kind of Crystal Light drink or a Diet Snapple or water for that matter.

For the most part I did ok last week. Ate more veggies which is good I just have to keep that going. I also worked out 1 more day then the week before as well. Hopefully I can increase that by a day this week.

Start of week 4

Goal updates:

Starting weight: 381.6
Current weight this week: 375.4

Loss or gain: -2.6 Total so far: 6.2 lbs. lost
Short term goal: Lose 5% of weight - 19lbs Lbs. to go: 12.8
Long term goal: Weigh 299 lbs. by Christmas 2010 - 82.6lbs. Lbs. to go: 76.4

Daily Point Allowance: 44

I will post tonight on my points and my "week in review" section. I just wanted to share my loss with those who are following my blog. I also wanted to share this yummy recipe that I found. I am going to make it this week one night for dinner. I shall tell you all how it is.

Great Recipe

Points per serving: 7

Bacon and Sun-Dried Tomato Alfredo Pasta

8 oz. Multi grain Penne

1- 10 oz. Package light Alfredo sauce

1/2 c. sun-dried tomatoes, packed without oil and cut into julienne strips

4 slices precooked bacon

1/4 c. fresh chopped basil

1/4 tsp. fresh ground pepper (optional)

1. Cook pasta according to package direction, omitting salt and fat,

drain and keep warm

2. While pasta cooks, combine Alfredo sauce and sun-dried tomatoes in a saucepan, Cook over low heat 6-8 min or until thoroughly heated and tomatoes are juicy and plump stirring occasionally. While sauce cooks, microwave bacon according to package directions. Crumble bacon, and set aside

3. Combine cooked pasta and Alfredo sauce mixture in a large serving bowl. Top with crumbled bacon, basil, and black pepper.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size is 1 cup)

Per serving: Calories 337; Fat 8.7g; Protein 17.5g; Carbohydrates 48.2g; Fiber 5g; Cholesterol 28mg; Iron 2.5mg; Sodium 670mg; Calcium 148mg.

This recipe is from my WW 15 minute recipe cookbook

My points for Sunday and the end of week 3

Breakfast - Cereal w/1% milk 8 pts

Lunch - Chips and salsa 6 pts

Dinner - Home made chicken noodle soup 6 pts
Bread w/grape jelly and butter 4 pts

Snack - ww candy 4 pts
Diet Cookies 4 pts
2% milk (about 20 0z) 5 pts

Total points: 37 pts.

Activity today: went grocery shopping at Aldi and did the Wii Active for 20 min and burned 144 calories. wooo hoooo. Tomorrow after I weigh in and after I eat breakfast I will look at the past 3 weeks and assess what I have done. I know there is more I can change and more I can do. Just need to concentrate on what it is and actually do it.

Points for Saturday

Breakfast-egg beaters and ham 6pts
coffee w/cream and sugar 4 pts

Lunch-Popcorn 1 pts

Dinner- Turkey burgers (2) 10 pts
large salad w/honey mustard dressing 5 pts

Snack - WW candy 7 pts

Total points: 33 pts

My points for Friday

Breakfast- egg beaters 2 pts

Lunch - Protein Shake 3 pts
2-string cheese 2 pts

Dinner - Large salad w/cheese 2 pts
Honey lime Vinaigrette dressing 4 pts
Chicken cheese steak hoagie 14 pts

Snack - 100 calorie Popcorn (2) 2 pts
Peanut butter crackers 4 pts

Total Points: 33 pts

Activity: Today Ken and I straighten/cleaned the one bed room upstairs which became a catch all. There is still much to organize but you can at least see the floor now and it is swept up.

My points for Thursday

Breakfast- Toast with apricot preserves 10 pts
hot tea w/cream and sugar 2 pts

Lunch- Special K protien shake (chocolate) 3 pts
Peanutbutter crackers 2 pts

Snack- Sugar free Lime Jello 0 pts
Sugar free Cool whip 2 pts

Dinner- chicken breast 7 pts
White potatoes 4 pts
Carrots 1 pt
Blue cheese dressing on potatoes 3 pts

Snack- WW Fundge Pop 1 pt

Total points: 35 pts

No exercises today. Took a rest day.

My points for Wednesday

Breakfast- egg beater ham and cheese omlette 3 pts
2 slices of dt. wheat bread 1 pt
med. banana 2 pts

Lunch- 2 mini soft pretzels 6 pts

Dinner: 3 Tacos 15 pts

Snack: 2 cups of puffed wheat cereal w/milk 6 pts

Total points: 33 pts.

Activity: Mom and I walked around Walmart today and Aldi's and I also did the Wii active today for 15 min and burned 126 calories. :^)

My points for Tuesday

Sorry I forgot about posting this last night. I was watching the Flyers game and they won! YEA! So it just slipped my mind.

Breakfast- puffed wheat cereal w/2% milk 6pts

Lunch - Tuna melts 12 pts

Dinner- 3 sm slices of Wheat crust pizza 18 pts

Snack- sugar free orange jello 0 pts
Mandarin oranges 2 pts
sugar free cool whip 1 pt

Total points: 39 pts

Activity today: I did 15 min on Wii active. Same exercises I did last week only I added dancing to that. Burned 119 calories. :^)

Week 2 is over

Weighed in this morning and I basically stayed the same. It says I lost .2 but I think I will stick with that I stayed the same. So my goals will not change as far as an up date.

Here are my points for today.

Breakfast- Sugar free oatmeal 4pts
WW english muffin w/ICBINB spray 2 pts

Lunch- Toasted Ham and cheese sandwich 10 pts
White bread with spray butter, dt cheese, dt ham (yes there is such a thing and it tastes really good.) red onion slices, honey lime vinaigrette dressing
cheese and p.b crackers 2 pts

Dinner- Bratwurst w/bun 12 pts
spray butter noodles 8 pts
cauliflower 0 pts

Snack- WW chocolate mousse frozen bar 3 pts

Total points: 41

Week in review

Looking over the 2nd week, I guess I can consider myself lucky to have stayed the same. I had those two semi bad days that I thought I made decent choices but it is no excuse for it. I should have kept my points even though I was busy. However, I could have made better choices. For example I could have gotten a Grilled chicken salad instead of all that other stuff at the restaurant. Lesson learned. I also didn't reach my goal of exercising regularly like I wanted. So we will keep the same goal as far as that goes. Another change I want to make for this coming week is to try to make better choices when faced with a difficult day.

Have a great day!!

Great Recipe

Gooey Peanut Butter S'mores

(3 pts per serving)

makes 6 servings

6- sheets low fat graham crackers, split in half

6- large marshmallows

6- tsp fat-free hot fudge topping, divided

1/4 c reduced fat peanut butter

1. preheat broiler.

2. Place 6 graham cracker halves on a baking sheet; top each with 1 marshmallow. Broil 1 minute or until toasted. Drizzle 1 tsp hot fudge topping over each marshmallow.

3. Spread 2 tsp peanut butter on each remaining graham cracker half. Place on top of toasted marshmallow, peanut butter sides down, and press gently. Serve immediately.

Serves 6 (serving size 1 s'more)

Per serving: Calories 158; Fat 4.8g; Protein 3.7g; Carbohydrates 26g; Fiber 1.2g; Cholesterol 0mg; Iron .8mg; Sodium 187mg; Calcium 75mg

Pictures from Saturday night.

On Saturday we had some friends from Downingtown visit. As you can see their two kids are absolutely adorable and fun. It was a great time. We hadn't seen them in such a long time. Hopefully it won't be as long the next time we see them. :^)



Kate hamming it up for the camera


AWWWWW.....sibling love. :^)



Joshua kicking but in Wii mini golf

Watching Joshua play Wii

Interesting read.....good information

I read this on Yahoo.com this morning. Just thought i would share it with you all.

Dropping ten pounds has the potential to impact your life beyond your looks. We’re talking a serious self-confidence facelift, improved health, and maybe even a few extra years to your life. It may not seem like much, but a measly 10 pounds can change your life- short and long term. So regardless of if your goal is to get rid of the saddlebags or harness your diabetes, it’s time to make your diet and workout regimen a priority.
Burning off 10 pounds can:
1. Minimize your chances of developing type-2 diabetes by half.
2. Help prevent osteoarthritis by reducing the load on your knees (every pound of weight lost translates to a 4-pound reduction on the load bearing down on your knees).
3. Decrease your risk of heart disease (you reduce your chance of heart disease by 1-2 percent for every percent of weight you drop).
4. Cut your chances of developing certain cancers.
5. Improve your sex life.
6. Increase your immune function, therefore keeping you well, not sick.
7. Up your energy all day (yes, even if you have to get up early to get your workout in).
8. Give you a confidence boost.
9. Help you sleep better.
10. Add years to your life.Suddenly, those skinny jeans don’t seem so important in comparison.

Heck after reading this and after I lose the 216 lbs that I want to lose......I should live forever LOL

Today's points

Breakfast - egg whites 1 pt
2 slices of wheat bread with butter 4 pts
1 small potato 3 pts
3 oz diced ham 3 pts

Lunch: Carmel rice cakes 3 pts

Dinner: Chicken Caesar Salad Pizza 20 pts

Snack: WW Ice cream 3 pts

Total points: 37

Didn't eat all my points today but after the last two days I think I deserve not to LOL. Went grocery shopping today and stopped by Kmart and got a new mouse for my computer. Why do they have to be so darn expensive. GEESH. Weigh in for week 2 tomorrow morning. Any guesses? Mine is 1 lbs. loss.

My points for the last two days

Sorry for the delay in the last two days. I have been quite busy.

I really don't have points to report per say for the last two days. I do have food to report just not points. I know I know that is very bad for me but, I did try to make better decisions as I was eating.

Friday

Breakfast - 2 whole grain waffles w/light syrup 5 pts

(here's where I lose the point counting LOL )

Ken wanted to go out for dinner. He wanted to go to Conway's (BBQ) but when we got there it was closed :-( We wound up going to TX Rd. House. I had

Grilled Chicken breast with mushrooms and a slice of jack cheese melted on top with a little mushroom gravy on top as well.
Baked Sweet potato, med. size, with carmel sauce and toasted marshmallows. (very little not smothered, I actually put more on my potatoes at home)
Steamed broccoli and carrots
A margarita.

So, we ate dinner at 5pm so when it came to about 9pm I was hungry again so I had a bowl of Life cereal.

No activity for Friday.

Saturday
I nibbled on about 4 small pieces of beef jerky through out the day while I was doing the dishes, scrubbing the kitchen and bathroom floors, running the sweeper and cleaning the living room (lots of exercise that day :^) ---) Oh and making dinner, hamburger veggie soup.

We got visitors yesterday. Our friends Dan and Jess and their two children. :-) We had a GREAT time. Their kids are a riot. Good kids :-) As soon as they got here they dug right in to the crayons and coloring books. :-) It was awesome to see them feel so comfortable here. It was a great feeling :^) I will post some pictures from last night on a separate post.

So, all I had for dinner was a Biscuit and a bowl of Hamburger Veggie soup. and then later at night I ate a WW dessert. I can't begin to remember what kind of points I had but I know I am either at or even under for Saturday.

Activity for Saturday was basically all the housework I did. No Wii Active but definite sweating on the scrubbing and cleaning. Hey it counts :^)

My points for today

Brunch-ish: Sandwhich 9 pts
Cheese w/p.b crackers 2 pts

Snack: Nutter butter crunch bar 1 pt (only have 1 more left :^(

Dinner: Chicken Cheesesteak hoagie 13 pts

Snack: Cookies and cream ice cream 8 pts

Total points: 33 pts

No activity again today. Still a bit of vertigo. Just hanging out watching the Flyers and Leafs game. Need to do a bunch of housework tomorry so I will get some movement in tomorrow. Have some friends coming to visit on Saturday. :^) It will be nice to see them. I haven't seen them in a while. Will try to get some pictures to post on here.

Here are a few pictures from my supply that I have on my computer right now.


On Lake Michigan waiting for the fireworks to start
This is a picture of part of Chicago's skyline. One of
my favorites that I took.

Me in Chicago at the PC Conference

This is me and Ken at a camping trip

Points for today

Breakfast: scrambled stir fry 8pts
Coffee w/cream and sugar 4 pts

Lunch: tuna wrap w/cheese 7pts
cheese crackers w/p.b. 2 pts

Snack: nutter butter crisp bar 1 pt (i love these things LOL)

Dinner: Sausage 5pts
boiled potatoes 5pts
Green beans 0 pts
cool aid 2 pts

Snack: milk 4 pts
WW Dessert 6 pts

Total points: 42

Activity: No Wii today. Not feeling very well today. :^( I think I need to go get my ears flushed out....I have been having some vertigo today.

Points for today

Breakfast: Egg beater omlette w/ cheese and ham 4pts
Bread thin 1 pt
1% milk 4pts

Lunch: Tuna wrap 6 pts
(multi-grain wrap, Romaine Lettuce )
(tuna, cucumber, 1 tbsp honey-lime vinigrette dressing)
100 calorie snack cheese crackers with p.b 2 pts

Snack: 100 calorie nutter butter crunch bar 1 pt

Dinner: Beef and Broccoli (chinese) 2 cups 8pts
1 cup white rice w/ICBINButter spray 3pts
1/2 of an egg roll 3 pts
1 Crab rangoon 5 pts

Snack: WW yogurt w/granola 2pts
2- WW Choc. Chip cookies 2 pts

Total Points: 41

Activity: Wii Active 15 minutes 116.3 calories burned
exercises done: Boxing, cross knee punches, standing knee crunches,
catching, basketball shooting, and pitching

Week 1 is over

So, I weighed myself this morning and I am happy to report that it showed 378.0 so I lost 3.6lbs. Yay for me. Because I am under 380 my points per day will go down by 1 now. The next time they go down is when I get under 370.

Goal updates:

Current weight this week: 378

Loss or gain: -3.6 Total so far: 3.6 lbs. lost

Short term goal: Lose 5% of weight - 19lbs Lbs. to go: 15.4

Long term goal: Weigh 299 lbs. by Christmas 2010 - 82.6lbs. Lbs. to go: 79

Daily Point Allowance: 44

Breakfast 0 pts

Lunch: Soft pretzel stick 7pts
Sprite Zero 0 pts

Snack: WW Carrot cake 2 pts
100 calorie nutter butter crunch bar 1 pt
32 oz Water 0 pts

Dinner: Pork chop 5pts
baby red potatoes 5pts
steamed broccoli 0 pts
orange cool aid 1 pt

Snack: Smart Food Carmel Popcorn 2 pts

Total points: 23 (uh oh :^( not good )

As you can see I did something very bad today. I didn't eat!!! For one I skipped breakfast, although this was not on purpose. It just....happened. We had to go grocery shopping this morning before ken went to bed (he works nights) and then I went up to my sister to help her type up a proposal for their business. I came home made dinner, ate dinner, did the Wii Active, and not I am chomping on some of my Carmel popcorn and typing my blog :^) But even though my day was busy, and I didn't eat as much as I should have, I am still proud of the choices I made. Instead of a drive thru we went to the Philly Soft pretzel place in Lehighton. Got a soft pretzel which is baked not fried like the french fries would have been that I probably would have gotten instead of a salad. I still had a healthy dinner with baked pork chops, boiled red potatoes, and steamed broccoli. And I also made time to exercise as well. Not extensively but at least it was some movement.

Week in review

Looking over this past week there is a few things I think I can improve on. I think I need to try and eat more veggies this week and drink more water.

Activities Goal for the week: my activity goal for the week is to do the Wii Active at least 4 days and for 20 min at a time. Each day I do the Wii Active I will "report" back here on the blog with the minutes that I exercised, the exercises I did and the calories I burned. I am not going to count today because I only did 4 min. It was more like a warm up kind of thing.

Thank you all for your encouragement. :^) It is awesome to have the support that I have on this.

Sundays Points

Breakfast: Pumpkin Pancakes 8 pts
Dt. Syrup 2 pts
Coffee w/cream and sugar 4 pts

Lunch: Celery w/peanut better 4 pts
Fruit Cocktail No sugar added 2 pts

Snack: 100 calorie pk 2 pts

Dinner: Spaghetti 14 pts
2 slices of bread w/better 4 pts

Snack: Jello and cool whip 2 pts

Total points: 42 pts

Activities: Today I tried out the EA Sports Active. I did some boxing (love it), batting, catching, tennis, dancing, and pitching. It is a lot of fun so far. I just hope I can stick to it. I have high hopes.

Tomorrow morning is weigh-in. Please keep your fingers crossed for me. I will weigh in about 9:30am ish. That is what time it was last week when I started. I want to keep it the same time all the time. My guess is 2lbs. Anyone care to give a guess? Feel free. Just send a post comment.

My points for Saturday

Breakfast: Multi Grain Waffles w/butter and dt. syrup 10 pts.
coffee w/cream and sugar 4pts

Lunch: Yogurt 1pt
pretzel sticks 3pts

Dinner: Tossed Salad 0 pts
Bacon Bits 1 pt
Shredded Cheese 2 pts
Blue Cheese Dressing 9pts
Turkey Burgers (2) 8 pts

Snack: Sugar Free Orange jello snack pack (2) 0 pts
Sugar Free Cool Whip 4 Tbsp 1 pt
15oz can (drained) No sugar added Mandarin Oranges 3 pts.

Total Points: 42

Activity: Took down the Christmas decorations today. Lots of pulling and stretching and bending and lifting.

Thought for today: What I had for a snack got me thinking about something interesting. What I did was, took the jello out of the little plastic cups they were in and chopped it up in a bowl. added the oranges and mixed in the cool whip. Quite tasty snack actually. As I was eating it I mentioned to my husband. You know I love this kind of stuff. Jello and fruit are two of the things I love to eat. But, when I am not counting points I don't even think of something like that to eat at night for a snack. In fact I don't even buy the stuff. It just never crosses my mind. Why? In stead I usually chomp on ice cream or something not so healthy. But yet I would rather have fruit salad or jello. It is just strange how when your not making yourself aware of what you are eating you usually don't eat "healthy". I bet if you asked someone who has a daily routine of working out and eating healthy they would tell you they are ALWAYS aware of what they are putting into their body. That is one of the things that I am learning. Again it isn't something new that is just becoming aware to me but, it is something that I am learning to do. And......I like it. :^)

I hope if anyone is following this that needs some encouragement it is helping them too. :^) If anyone has any suggestions or any recipes please ether comment them to me or feel free to email it to me. I can blog them and share them will all. And if anyone has any question on anything that I am eating or would like a recipe for something that I have listed. If I have one I would be glad to give it to you. Just let me know. :^)

My Points for Friday

Sorry this is a late post.

Breakfast: Banana 1 pt
milk 4 pts.

Lunch: Grapes 1 pt
16oz Water bottle 0 pts

Snack: 3-100 calorie pks 6 pts

Dinner: Chicken 14 pts
Rice and veggie mix 3 pts
Crystal Light 0 pts

Snack: Cereal w/1% milk 8 pts

Total Points: 37 pts

Activities: Today my husband, father in law and I went to the RV and Trailer show we were there from about 10am to about 2pm looking and "crawling" in all the RV's :^) Did a lot and lots of walking. :^)

Today's points

Breakfast - Banana 1 pt
Milk 4 pts

Lunch - Grapes 1 pt
Celery with Peanut Butter 4 pts
Crystal Light Fruit punch 0 pts

Snack - Piece of birthday cake 6 pts
Milk 3 pts

Dinner - Beef Stew 15 pts
Bread w/butter 5 pts
Crystal Light Fruit punch 0 pts.

Total points: 39 pts

Obstacles: Today was definitely the cake. It was the last piece so thank goodness I don't have to look at it any longer. LOL I should have just thrown it away. I didn't eat all my points today but at the same time I shouldn't have had that cake either.

A note so far this week: I noticed after reading over my posts that I need to drink more water. I am drinking juice and dt. tea and such but I definitely need to drink more water.

Just some things on my mind...

Went to Produce Junction yesterday and got some fresh veggies. :^) oh and fruit too. I got carrots, broccoli, cucumbers, cauliflower, grape tomatoes, Romaine Lettuce, baby red potatoes, grapes (green ones) and bananas. all for $17.50. I love that place. I still have to run to the store and pick up some celery, granola cereal, and beef tips. I am making Beef Stew for supper. And no the granola cereal isn't for the beef stew. LOL.

On a side note....

Wow, 4 of my friends and 1 cousin are pregnant, AND 2 other girls that I know will be having or have already had, a baby this month in January. I just found out two days ago about the 4th friend. I am ecstatic about all of them, but at the same time I am feeling a little overwhelmed personally. I am trying to keep my mind out of that path. It's hard to sometimes. I am hoping that losing the weight that I am going to lose will help me to hopefully get pregnant (notice how I said "going to lose" and not maybe hehehe. positive thinking is key). I guess you could say that is a little "on the side" goal of mine. Some of you that are following me may be aware of my troubles and some not. If you are curious just send me an email and we can talk. I don't want to bore this blog with all of my woes.

On the other side note.....I need your help.

I am currently working towards ANOTHER goal (i know lots of goals, gotta have 'em right?). This one is a good one and not only benefits me, but, it benefits my husband and all of you as well. I am a Pampered Chef consultant and I am working towards this years incentive trip (trip to be taking in 2011). It is a trip for two, to MAUI HAWAII !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!! (insert cheers and clapping and woohoo's) How can you help? Well, I'm glad you asked. You can help me by taking just 120min out of your busy schedules to invite over a few friends, neighbors, family etc. and we can party for 2 hrs. I'll even clean up the mess afterwards. Heck I will even bring the food and refreshments. All you have to do is invite people to come have a great time. But, how will you benefit?? Another great question!!! You will benefit by receiving great high quality kitchen tools, that will only make your life in the kitchen better, for FREE!!!!! Do you know whats even BETTER then all that????? YOU, that's right, YOU can go to Maui too!!!!! (here is where you gasp, your eyes open wide, and say WHAT!!) Now is a great time to get started and earn your trip to Maui as well. If you sign up to be a consultant from now to Feb 28th you will have just as much time as the rest of us to earn your trip. PLUS!!! you have the potential to get back 50% of your kit cost. That's $77.50 back in your pocket. All this for partying with your friends and enjoying your job. That's right folks its possible you CAN love your job....I know I do. So, what will it be, a party with friends and lots of free stuff, and help Wanda and her hubby get to Maui, or earn yourself a trip to Maui, OR!!!!! Both.......yes that's right folks with the pampered chef you can have your cake and eat it too. :-) I have a few dates open for January so please call me or email me and we can discuss your options. 610-762-5929 or wandaken@ptd.net

Wednesay January 6th - My points for the day

Breakfast - Oatmeal with Brown Sugar. 10 pts
Coffee w/cream and sugar 4 pts

Lunch - WW Peach Yogurt 1 pts
1/2 cup of mini animal crackers 3 pts.

Snack - 1 piece Chocolate Turtle candie 2 pts.

Dinner - Turkey Melt Subway hoagie 14 pts
2 100 calorie pack snacks 4 pts

Snack - Popcorn 1 pt
Tomato and Motz salad 6 pts.

Total points: 45

Obsticals: Mom had candy setting out and I couldn't resist and I ate a piece. But I was still within my points for the day. :^)

Tuesday January 5th: My points for the day

Breakfast: Cereal w/1% Milk 4 pts.
Toast w/butter 4 pts

Lunch: Tomato Basil Soup 2 pts.
Toasted Cheese 5 pts.
Can of Peaches 1 pt.
100 Calorie pk Smores Rice cake bites 2 pts.
Crystal Light Ice Tea/Decaf 0 pts

Dinner: Chicken Cheese Steak w/roll 14 pts
22 Tator Tots-baked 8 pts
Crystal Light Ice Tea/Decaf 0 pts

Snack: 100 Calorie Pk Yogurt covered Pretzels 2 pts.
Crystal Light Ice Tea/Decaf 0 pts.

Total points: 42 pts

Obsticals: Today we had cheese steaks for dinner. To keep it more healthy for me I opted for the Chicken breast chicken cheese steak. which was 97% less fat and used reduced fat shredded motz with it. YUMMY.

Activity: I did a little Wii today. Not the new Active I bought but I did some batting practice and blowling and tennis on the Wii from the sports game that came with it.

Blogging:
Well, day two of my new life down. It has been great so far. I got a great phone call this afternoon from a friend. I was smiling the rest of the day because of the enthusiasm it gave me just to talk to her. I don't know who is more excited about this me or her LOL. Me I'm sure but it was nice to get that call and hear that support that is out there for me. Oh, thanks for the email too. I will DEFINATELY use them. Good night to all.

Monday January 4th blog #2: My points for the day...

Current weight: 381.6
Loss or gain: 0 - just starting
Short term goal: Lose 5% of weight - 19lbs
Long term goal: Weigh 299 lbs. by Christmas 2010 - 82.6lbs.

Daily Point Allowance: 45

Breakfast: 4 Multi-grain waffles 10 pts.
light butter & light syrup 2 pts.
20 oz. 1% Milk 5 pts.

Lunch: Healthy Choice Cup of Soup 4 pts.
Mandarin Oranges 2 pts.
100 calorie pk Yogurt Pretzels 2 pts.
16 oz Orange Cool-Aid 1 pt.

Dinner: 10 oz Chicken Breast 10 pts.
Large Baked Potato plain 3 pts.
Green Giant Broccoli w/cheese sauce 0 pts.
Crystal Light Ice Tea/Decaf 0 pts.

Snack: 1 cup Fit & Active plain Vanilla Yogurt 2 pts.
2/3 cup Fit & Active Granola Cereal 4 pts.

Total Points used for today: 45 pts.

Obstacles for the day: I had a Pampered Chef meeting tonight and there is ALWAYS yummy yummy food there. So my control of that situation was I sat the farthest away from the bar area where the food was and I had my back turned to the area as to not see it and be tempted.

Result: I was not tempted and in fact never even crossed my mind that there was food there!! YAY!!! Gold star for me :^)

Monday, January 4th 2010: Day 1.



Well, it has arrived. My first day of a new life. If you are going to follow me on this blog I thank you for your support. :^) Not sure if you have to sign up for an account to "officially" follow me and make comments. If you don't want to do that you can just bookmark my blog and check back.

So what is this blog, A new way of Life, about???? It's about me and the steps I will be taking on turning my previous eating habits around and being healthy. My entire life I have struggled with being over weight. I went through my pre-teen, teen and beyond now with all this xtra baggage hanging on me and I'm tired. I want to feel pretty. I want to feel sexy. (LOL stupid huh?) Contrary to what society may stereotype me as, I am NOT a lazy person. Just because a person is over weight, or obese doesn't make them lazy, sloppy, stinky.... I could go on but you get the point. I agree there are some that don't help the cause but the majority of us are not.

I'm not going to dwell on the past or stereotypes, after all that isn't what this blog is about. :^) It''s about A new way of Life!!

I went grocery shopping yesterday and spent about $130!!! YIKES. But, I am sure it will be worth it. If anyone is shopping on a real tight budget...go to Aldi. They have great stuff at a fraction of the cost. Now, the produce isn't that great all the time but for everything else its awesome. They also have a HUGE variety of healthy brand food too. They call it Fit and Active. Good stuff.

So this is how I plan on doing this (notice I said plan, LOL extenuating circumstances may apply hehehe) I am going to try to blog everyday or every other day about what I am doing to stay on my goal. I am following WW so I will write down, journal if you will, what I ate and how many points it was and what I have left, point wise to eat. The most important thing to do (as they say) is eat all your points. Well, when you have 45 points a day.........that's a lot of food.....even for me. For those of you who don't follow WW and don't know, trust me it is a LOT of food. So, I am not going to critisize myself if I don't eat all my points in a day. Once my body gets into the new routine, I am going to start up with the Wii Active that I bought. I don't want to start that the first day. To much at one time could be a bad thing. So I will wait until next Monday to start that. Give my body a good week to adjust. I will "weigh-in" so to speak every Monday morning before breakfast. I will also try to post before and after pictures.

Now for my first Short term and Long term goals....

My first Short term goal will be to lose 5% of my weight
My first Long term goal will be to weigh 299 lbs by Christmas 2010

Time to go step on that scale. I reeeeeeeeally don't want to but its pretty imparative that I do it is the whole point of this thing after all. LOL. See you tonight with the report and update on the goals listed above.

**Hugz***