Weight Watchers - My Savior

So, I finally gave in. I registered for 3 months worth of Weight Watchers to jump start my weight loss journey. WW is really the only program that I've had any really success with in the past because it forces you to be accountable (by writing down what you eat + weighing you on a weekly basis). It's a really great tool to have in your weight loss arsenal, chock full of success stories, other people going through the same struggles as you, helpful advice, and the platform to easily manage your food journaling and weight tracking. They even have an iPhone app! Now that I've been on my soapbox about WW, I'll move off and say that I started yesterday. I weighed in at 158lbs, I stayed within my point range on my first day, and so far I've planned some great meals for today as well. Here's hoping that all goes well.

Also, there is another girl in my office who is on WW in preparation for her wedding next May, so I'm hoping that we can help eachother through this transformative process. It's always inspiring to see the person next to you changing for the better - it makes the impossible seem achievable.

I also joined a gym yesterday, and S. (the girl from my office) and I are going to start going next week. I'm hoping to have it be a group activity twice a week, preferably on Tuesdays and Thursdays when Jesse has class anyways. I've never really worked out with anyone before, so it should be interesting.

I can do this. One day at a time.

Ranch Dressing, You Are My Enemy

Dear Kraft Foods,

Why do you have to make ranch dressing so delicious? It's creamy and salty and tangy all in one. And yet, once I ingest your tasty pleasures I immediately regret it. Your sensuous goodness goes straight to my hips and thighs and it's all I can do to not have to immediately get on the treadmill and literally run my ranch-y ass off. Please stop being so irresistible so that I can get back down to a normal size and get my cholesterol under control.

Thanks a million,
Meaghan

Day 2 - Nose to the Grind Stone

Today I finally went back to working out after almost 2 weeks off. I did the elliptical for 30 minutes and then ran a mile in just a little over 10 minutes, plus I lifted weights for my upper body. I had to totally coerce myself to get out of bed - calling myself a loser, and trying to envision a healthier, fitter me. Once I got down there everything went fine, but it's the alarm clock going off and me having to roll out of my comfy bed that prevents me from getting my ass in gear most mornings.

I know that it's a matter of getting myself back into the habit of getting up early, but Jesse (my boyfriend) and I have been having such a good time staying up late that I don't want to take away from the time that I spend with him so that I can get to sleep early and wake up early. A conundrum. I think that for a while I'm going to have to experiment with my schedule in order to figure out what works best for me.

I ate pretty well also, corn flakes for breakfast, a salad with turkey for lunch, an orange, a handful of tortilla chips, gluten-free pasta with mushrooms and tomatoes and garlic, and a couple of chicken meatballs. Now I'm getting ready to indulge in a piece of gluten free rainbow cake (see below).

I think that tomorrow morning it will be time for me to use my new yoga app on my iPhone. It creates a 60 minute yoga routine for you to follow and uses music from your own iTunes for you to do the moves with. I've never really been able to get into yoga since it usually requires going to a studio, but if I can do it in my own living room, that's motivation to at least try for me.

Hopefully day 3 will be just as productive as day 2.

The "Before" Post

In order to really start this off on the right foot, I need to be honest about my before stats. So here goes:

Weight: 155lbs
Height: 5'9"
Measurements:
Arms: 12 inches
Chest: 36.5 inches
Waist: 29.5 inches
Hips: 39 inches
Thighs: 21.5 inches

I'm not really sure what my goals should be in terms of the inches, but I know that I want to drop 15lbs. And just to illustrate the difference between how I looked at my ideal weight, and how I look now:

Goal

Currently

Bigger hips, bigger thighs, less toned overall. Not terrible, but definitely not good. I just have to keep looking at these photos for motivation to get myself back to the state of health that I was in before. Part of my weight gain can actually be attributed to the wheat allergy - my body has not functioned properly for quite some time now, and it is only now really starting to sort itself out.

Of course, on my first day of my new journey, I'm sick. Murphy's law, but the flu has been going around my office. I don't know if I'll get a serious workout in today, but I'll try to do what I can.

Day 1 commences.

Skinny-Fat

The “Candyman” : You know what you are?

Nancy Botwin: What?

The “Candyman” : Skinny-fat. And what are we gonna do about that?

Nancy Botwin: We’re gonna start exercising right away.

The “Candyman” : Don’t humor me. I’m very serious. I used to weigh 314 pounds.

Nancy Botwin: Wow. Congratulations.

The “Candyman” : The key, exercise.

Nancy Botwin: You know, I’m not buying for personal use.

The “Candyman” : Are your customers just a bunch of Fatty McFat-Fats?

Nancy Botwin: Well they’re smokers. But it stands to reason that if they eat rather than smoke, they can breathe easier should they decide to exercise.

The “Candyman” : That’s a reasonable assumption.

(Scene from Weeds Season One Episode: Fashion of the Christ)

I recently found out two important dietary revelations from my doctor:
1. I am, at the age of 25, now gluten-intolerant.
2. I also have high cholesterol.

It's a brave new food world out there for me, and I'm not quite sure how to navigate it. I am not, and have never been considered what is traditionally referred to as "overweight". My weight has fluctuated between 138lbs and 160lbs for the past 5 years. Not exactly a healthy fluctuation, but considering I'm 5'9" I'm still within the normal BMI range at both ends of my weight spectrum. This blog is meant to help me track my progress through the treacherous waters of completely re-teaching myself how to eat in order to accommodate my new dietary needs and help get my cholesterol and weight fluctuation under control.

(Me at 138lbs. - my goal weight)

Currently I weigh 155lbs, so I'm definitely at the heavier end of my weight spectrum, and I would like to get that under control. I already mentioned the cholesterol problem (the skiiny-fat problem if you will), but also, recently I started training for a half-marathon, and about 4-weeks into training I got a stress fracture in my foot which I believe is related to the fact that I am significantly over my desired weight and therefore puts more stress on my bones and joints. Probably most of these postings will involve simple inventories of what I've eaten for the day and what I did for exercise. I will try to photograph these events to make them more interesting, but I can't promise anything. In addition, I'm going to try to get to the bottom of what is making swing back and forth on this pendulum of weight gain and loss and see if I can curb that to a certain extent. I have a feeling a lot of it is due to emotional issues that I choose not to deal with in any real way. Perhaps blogging and regular examination of my habits will help me to resolve some of these issues, become more of a whole person, and eventually take over the world!!!! Just kidding, but seriously, I'd like to give this a shot, a whole hearted shot because I'm still young, and change is not impossible.

The only time I've truly experienced any weight loss success is when I had a physical challenge that I was training to accomplish, or when I was on Weight Watchers. Both of these offer group support and goal management. I need to get back on track to have a goal for myself, and really pace my expectations and accomplishments.

Goal #1: Be ready to run the Austin half marathon on February 15, 2010.
Goal #2: Blog at least 2 times per week on this blog about my experiences and recording my weight loss/gain and my feelings about this.

Here I go again on my own.