I'm just feeling so good, I had to write some more!
I just finished my JC fish and chips - I was a little leery - I'd had it a couple years ago, when I managed to flub through maybe one week before giving up - and it was a disaster. This time, I cooked it in the oven... was able to brown it, the steak fries came out wonderful! Not much salt, but didn't need to add any with the malt vinegar. It was so good! I'll never cook that in the micro again. It reminded me of my childhood - when I was little, my mom, my sis and her 2 little ones at the time, and I, would go out to a little place called H&R ( I think?) Salt Esquire Fish and Chips. It was like an Ivars.. only it was Old English fish and chips, wrapped in the newsprint (copied from a London newspaper!). I remember, that I hated the malt vinegar at first, but learned to love it. This reminded me so much of that... I really took my time and enjoyed it. I can't remember the last time I really enjoyed my food "in the moment" like that, and yet at the same time had such a strong memory of childhood. It was really interesting, and very cool. I had a good sized spinach salad with mushrooms and grape tomatoes, and the JC Balsamic Vinegarette dressing.
I have to say, the Jenny food is really good. I'm never too full - and never hungry afterwards. The portions look shockingly small when you first see them, and you almost have to laugh (or you might cry!) at first - but they never fail to satisfy. I'm going on the 3rd menu, and there's a huge variety so I never get tired of the food. When I think about it, as a family, we were maybe rotating 5 or 6 dinners, over and over an over. Talk about bored. That was one of the reasons I decided to join Jenny - nothing sounded good. Nothing that I felt like taking the time to prepare anyway! I get to eat some form of chocolate every day - whether it's the peanut butter chocolate "anytime" (energy/vitamin) bar - or cookies and cream bars; to smores bars, double chocolate cheescake; chocolate or lemon cake - there are choc chip cookies; toffee bites miniature cookies- there's almost too much chocolate for me. Tomorow I get to try their new chocolate mint bar - looks like the girl scout thin mints.... looks pretty good. Of course, it's not all chocolate! There are many types of snacks, all great so far, plus you eat fruit twice a day, and several servings of vegetables. Always a spinach or garden salad with lunch (or dinner if you prefer). Breakfast was a "stuffed breakfast sandwich" which was also very good. Ok.. way too much talk about food - one of my pet peeves. However, if anyone is considering joining JC, you won't be hungry, and you will have variety. At your half-way mark, you start doing 2 days on your own - no JC foods those days. What's great is you learn portion sizes and really get it into your head up to that point, and you learn that you can have variety. They now also have all the nutritional info on the packages. They didn't use to- I think because they were concerned people would try to swap in their own food with the same calories. Though that was a nice thought at times, problem was, a calorie is not just a calorie - it's the type that counts, and every day is balanced. I've known so many people, who've "played" with the menu's, and wonder why they aren't losing. But they haven't learned yet how to do exchanges. The great thing is you just follow the menu and enjoy it, until half way, then you start learning the exchange system and how to cook and prepare your own foods. By the time you reach goal, you slowly increase your exchanges until you're eating all on your own, and they still monitor you for a year to make sure you've got it.
I don't mean to spend all night singing the praises of Jenny! But I have to say, this is the one program that has ever worked for me, with any type of lasting results at all. My downfall, was when I gained 2 pounds.. then up to 5... I was overconfident, and thought, I'll worry about it later... I don't need to go back for 5 little pounds.... and then you know the rest of the story! I'll never make that mistake again. Just because you go back, doesn't mean you have to buy their foods to get the 5 pounds off - but you have the support of the counselor and the encouragement. I was foolish not to use that. It's so easy to get caught up and think you're invinceable, when you've lost 90 pounds. You think, I could never gain this weight back. And when it starts to creep back - Ego shows up and says, you don't need help, don't be silly -
You know what? BE silly,. No matter what program you choose - don't make the mistake I did. Do the maintenance - and more importantly, if you start to gain, even 2 pounds - go back and check in. That's the way this weight is going to really stay off - by never letting it get over 5 pounds up.
So far on the menu's, I haven't used any "volumizers" for the foods. Volumizers, are "free" and limited free (3 per day) foods/condiments, etc, that you can add to bulk up your meal, or just switch it up and make it different. But I did go ahead and get the "Creative Recipes" book from JC to add some zing to the foods. I don't really feel I need them now, but months from now I'll probably want a different twist. The recipes are fantastic, and lots of ideas for veggies and fruits.
Hope all of you are doing well! Have a blessed Easter - and remember - as far as food goes, it's really just another day! Stay with it, but if you don't, don't let it ruin the day - get back on right away. Here's to a 1-3 pound loss for all of us this week! You know you can do it! Enjoy the company; your family; fellowship. That's what really matters - not whether or not you eat a big portion of ham and sweet potatoes for dinner! :)
God Bless You - With God, All things are possible! Happy Easter :)
Today has been so wonderful! I am feeling so happy, content and good! I started excersize today. I walked for 20 minutes, I'm not sure how far but we'll get to that later. I walked at a good clip too, and it felt good! After that, I sat in the hot tub, and did water excersizes - sit ups, push ups, leg lifts, squats, arm circles, things I couldn't easily do on land, and not quite so easy in the water either. But I worked our hard, using the water as weights - and kept it up for 45 minutes. It was awesome. My body is sore, but not out of hand, and it's a good sore. After that, the boys wanted to go to the mall - normally I'd want to take a nap - but we went, and I walked the length of the mall twice - slower this time, but I was really feeling it.
I got my prize - I bought the Eckhart Tolle book, "A New Earth". Oprah and Eckhart are doing a 10 week "webinar" book study every Monday night. I've been "attending" but hadn't gotten the book yet - though I still have gotten a lot out of it. You can still register and get in on it, it's free, and it's pretty amazing stuff. And as Eckhart says, you'll either experience an awakening - some big "aha" moments, or you won't, and it won't interest you. I'll find out when I start reading... but I've already started looking at things differently - everything on this earth, is alive, has a pulse... to walk outside and look at a tree, but not give it a name... to really look at it, pretty soon you can feel that "pulse"... sounds crazy... you just have to experience it. But it makes you realize how incredible we really are... what miracles we are! What miracles everything, every tiny flower, to every giant tree - are living- pulsing with energy - and suddenly you're living in the moment - and everything is amazing. It just sounded interesting to me, and I'm really working on the mental attitude this time. It's exciting, and wonderful! I can't wait to read tonight. I also got myself a walking CD with an indoor workout and an "outdoor" cd to walk to, and it had a pedometer! I've been wanting one of those, and it will be interesting to see how much things really add up.
If "A New Earth" sounds interesting to you, go to Oprah's website, and check it all out. It's pretty cool stuff! Maybe I'll see you on the webcast!
It's a great morning. Official WI today - though it wasn't what I was hoping for, I'll take it. After another roller coaster ride on my home scales, I know this week I just need to stay away from the scale. I've quickly learned that by Wed./Thurs... my body is holding everything from the week - it's just not going through me. So hopefully will remedy that this week.
Regardless - my loss was 1.6 pounds today, for a total of 8.1 pounds! I'm in the 230's, and already almost out of them - next week should be great! I am also starting excersize this week - finally got the ok since I'm steady on my menu. No big challenges loom this week, other then getting that excersize in. I've decided when I hit the 30 pound mark, I will set my quit date for smoking. Make sure we've got the excersize in place, and still strong on the menu. All is going great, and I am starting to see what look like cheekbones!! Ha! Who knew???
Ah yes... and "The Secret"...... what a great book - what a great positive outlook on everything. It's so easy -
Ask for what you want......... give thanks for it....... imagine it as if you already have it........ and then BELIEVE. Really feel what it feels like to have it... own it.... and know, no matter what the circumstance, that it's on it's way to you right now. So with that in mind, I am seeing and believing 230.........but why limit myself. How about 229............ yes that sounds good. Shoot for that, and take whatever I get inbetween! lol. And my newest mantra? Replacing "Should" for "I Deserve"........... it really helps!!!!! And we DO deserve... we deserve so much. We are doing such a great thing for our bodies. For our minds.... and for our spirit. And since "I deserve", I'm going to go out and get myself a little "prize" for all the tiny and huge victories I've had these past 2 weeks!
Thanks so much for all your support - you are all angels, and it helps so much. :) Have a Happy and Blessed Easter, and Happy Spring! To New Beginnings!!!!!! (Again and again and again!!!!)
Ok. So yesterday could have been disasterous. I know I have slow digestion issues ever since the accident, but this was ridiculous. This morning I weighed, and the scale back down - and get this - a total of 12 pounds lost in ONE DAY. That's how crazy my system is. I know it's water, and I know that by the end of the week, nothing has moved through - I guess I'm just going to have to break down and add metamucil or something by mid week or suffer another hysteria attack at the scales.
The good thing, great thing really, is that even furious, I didn't emotionally overeat. I didn't go off the program. I stayed true, and it paid off. The true will be tomorrow, when I go for WI. I hope it stays down, I wish I could have weight today. But I know I'm doing everything right, so it has to go down eventually, it just might not be on "my" schedule. :) So as long as I keep going, my body has no choice but to let it all go. In the end does it matter that it takes another day, or week? Or month? No. I'm eating healthy - I am healthier. I am stronger. I am thinner, and every day getting smaller, stronger, and happier. It's all good. :)
Ok. I'm furious. LIVID. Before I rant and scream like a baby, I have to remind myself. My home scale is not possibly reliable. Still.
I got up this morning, and the scale said 240. TWO FORTY! I have followed the program to the letter - no caffeine - no salt - no alchohol - not ONE cheat - I then checked the scale in the kitchen, which is a "good" scale supposedly, that one said 236....which would be 235 on the Jenny scale... but 4 days, and if that scale is right, that means I'm back up 4 pounds. I just don't see how that's possible, unless, and the only think I can think of, is that water goes out; but nothing else seems to be if you know what I mean. I know it has to be wrong - if it's not wrong, that it has to be water, but it's still miserable to look at that after trying so hard, ...... and see I told you. After all my great positive comments, I knew I'd eventually throw a tantrum.
This doesn't make me want to go binge or anything. Throw things? Maybe. lol. Seriously, I just don't understand!! But, that's it - the gloves are on, and if the "scale" thinks it's going to cause me a backslide in my eating now, it's wrong.
Dear God, I'm talking to an inatimate object.
I know..... I know I know, that I can fluctuate 5 pounds of water - I saw it last week. And what's crazy, if I weigh in a couple hours, I'll probably be down 3 pounds. I really think this scale is psycho. It has to be. Please tell me it has to be. ARRRRGHHHH!!!!
Ok. Not going to let this get me. I'm going to stay on track, doing what I've been doing. I did do sit ups and leg lifts, but not enough that it could create havoc - I do know once I start excersizing at all, the scale immediately goes up at first. But stil, it wasn't enough to do anything. I'm whining aren't I?
Usually to see something like this, I have done something to inflict it. But I swear, I've gotten all foods in, not added anything, got over and above my water in. No soda. No coffee! I want to scream right now, but I know that won't solve anything. And I do know, that as long as I continue what I'm doing, that the scale will LOSE in the end - but I need to just stay off it. It's obviously not behaving, and in all honesty same thing is happening to my husband which makes me think something isn't right with the scale itself.
Calm. Zen. Today is going to be a great day. I am smiling... I am smiling....I am happy..... I am thin....... lol
Well, despite having the creeping crud, I am finally feeling much better tonight. And I'm proud of myself. Even though I've been home the past 3 days, I've stayed right on plan. That's a huge victory for me - in the past, I would have eaten my way through the house, trying to comfort my "not feeling good". To stay on plan, and not do that, to see that by staying with it, I actually felt better - was a huge reward. I am convinced that my head really is in a different place this time, and I can see, even though it's early, that this is being treated like a lifestyle, NOT a diet. That gives me even more motivation, because this time it's for real - this time it's for me. This time - we're breaking the barriers that have kept me chained to this weight. It's one thing to think you know "all about how to do it". It's another, to actually be using those tools, and living them. I know it won't all change overnight, but we're almost 2 weeks into something that's always felt so hard in the past - suprised to find that it's easy! I think I may have finally gotten to the bottom of this for the first time in my life. And I'm not afraid this time. I'm excited! It will be so great, to wear a belt - to wear boots! To walk down the street, and feel happy and confident with how I look and feel. I already am feeling it. And I know, that no matter what challenges come, I am confident I will get through them - because I'm looking at the bigger picture this time.
Congrats on everyone's wins today! May they be many in the days to come!
I've been on JC for a little over a week now, but since Thursday of last week, I've come down with what I first thought were allergies - but is instead full blown bronchitis. I've done well with the menu, still eating what I'm supposed to. But today, I didn't wake up until almost 11 - so missed out getting breakfast in early. Sort of messes up my whole schedule. No worries, I ate my muffin, and will just have to stay up a bit later to space my meals out right. I'm hoping to go back to work tomorrow. My main challenge is wanting to eat at all when I feel like this - can't taste anything, and would rather sleep! There is a victory in this. In the past, when I was sick, I'd want to eat the house out. Comfort food. But I'm finding if I just stay true to the menu, that I am just fine. If it gets really bad, I have a cup of extravagent tea (something exotic, comforting, so I can feel special lol). Trying to stay off the scale, I've seen how it can fluctuate 5 pounds in one day, without ONE cheat. So I'd rather not torture myself and set off a "binge" when I'm feeling so crummy. I'm hoping to get enough spunk to go sit in the hot tub, maybe the steam will clear my sinuses, and soothe my aches for a while. Of course, my mother would tell me, "you can't go outside in a bathing suit when your sick!!!". Bleh. Whatever. (Aw! The Rebel has returned!)
Hope everyone is doing well this week! WI Sunday........ I know I've been right on ... I just hope my body will play nice! If it doesn't, what have I lost? Really nothing. I've gained another week of eating right. It has to catch up eventually anyway if I keep at it. So no looking back... just forward. :)
You know, I've watched this show the past couple weeks now. I've decided that it really bothers me. Not the fact that they're losing weight. It's the weight in that bothers me. I realize it's a contest, but it's so sad! There's such an attitude of defeat, and almost shame, when people only lose 1 - 3 pounds. 1-3 pounds is HUGE! It's GREAT! And they can't even celebrate - instead they're punished by being thrown "under the yellow line". When you're gaining muscle - working that hard with the weights, you're not always going to see a drop - infact, you may see a gain! Muscle weighs more than fat, and that's where measurements should come in. Regardless, how great that these people are getting in shape. But it broke my heart when Brittany stepped on the scale - 170 - a huge victory for her, a moment she should have really been able to celebrate. Instead? It's almost an air of punishment and dissapointment. I just think that's sad. I hope they know what an amazing thing they're doing aside from just a game show. :) They should all be so proud of themselves. I just hope it doesn't influence those of us trying to lose, that 1-3 pounds is a disgrace. It's not. It's a victory!
Well, I did it. I went back to Jenny on March 9th - and I am so glad that I finally did.
I'm not new to this program. In 1989, after the birth of my first son, I joined JC and lost almost 90 pounds. I kept it off until the birth of my second son 4 years later. That's when it started to really creep back. I should have immediatley gone back, but I was ashamed, and embarrassed, and I'd failed. I have slowly gained all of it back, and then some.
Weight has always been a mind game for me. At my thinnest, I was running in pageants, and I was losing weight for all the wrong reasons, and in all the wrong ways. Scarsdale, aerobics up to 4 times a day (I taught 2 classes, and then would go to the other teachers classes) , Herbalife, you name it I tried it. I lost 20 pounds in 2 weeks, and was a skeleton from the waist up - but still had too much muscle from the waist down. At my lowest, I was 140 - a size 5 then - and I was told, that if I wanted to win at the State level, it wasn't good enough.
I look at those pictures now, and can't believe what I looked like. My body was out of proportion - I was so tiny, it's hard to even fathom it. And the number on the scale made no sense, but again, it's because I had muscle. The mental part is what really messed it up for me. Getting down to a size 5, and being told it's just not good enough - resulted in gaining back 30 pounds within a month after pageant was over. By the time I had my first son, I weighed in at 214. I was a size 22. When I lost on Jenny, I got down to about 143 at my lowest point - and I was again between a size 5 and a size 3. Again, go figure. After my second son, I just gradually kept going up and up - after the accident I couldn't excersize, and so it got even worse, until I reached 248.. infact, I know I went over 250, but I never saw it on the scale. I'm still a size 22, I'm not sure how that works, other than again, I still have lots of muscle - I must to be able to wear that size - the same as when I was 214. Regardless.......
Last Sunday, I started out at 243 on Jenny's scale (244 on mine). I have always believed in this program, but in the past I've always lost weight for the wrong reasons. A wedding. A pageant. A performance. My husband. This time, I'm doing it for me, and me alone. And this time, so far, it's been a breeze!
First WI was yesterday - I'm a Sunday girl - and I was down 7 pounds!!! Some things I've noticed- what appeared to be hot flashes, are completely gone! I have more energy - I'm more motivated to move. They have asked me to wait on the physical activity until I'm back to eating again. I had completely messed up my metabolism - skipped breakfast, skipped lunch, and was eating dinner, maybe every other night. So some days, I would have nothing but a pot of coffee (and probably a gallon of creamer..) a six pack of diet pepsi, and a pack of ciggarettes. I knew I had to get my eating in place. One of my goals for doing this, is that I am going to quit smoking. I'm a singer - and besides the health risks, it's ruining my voice. I also want to eliminate my back/nerve pain, and so losing this weight will hopefully help with that.
I am proud to say that I got all my foods in, that I didn't go off the menu once - completely stopped the coffee - and down to one diet pepsi a day, if that. I'm not sure how I did that without having a terrible headache, but the caffeine didn't seem to cause me horrible withdrawls. I'm even getting the vitamins in, which is another miracle.
My mind set this time has really been influenced by a book - called "The Secret". It's all about the Law of Attraction - asking for what you want - seeing it - believing it - giving thanks for it, and then knowing, that it's on it's way. It's amazing how different this program and the weight loss looks from that perspective. I am being kinder to myself - I am feeling more balanced. And with this being my usual big PMS week, I haven't seen any of those horrible little symptoms at all yet.
So today, I started on the week 2 planned menu, and so far, still, so good. I love to bellydance - which I discovered when I was healing from the back injury. I couldn't really dance, but I could do the movements, and they really helped. So I'm back into that again, and am ready to do some serious shimmying! I'm also doing some strength excersizes in the hot tub - I found I could do sit ups in there without the pain by hooking my feet under the grab bar.
I'm really sick right now - the crud is going around. That's usually a very dangerous thing for me, because I want to eat when I'm sick - to comfort. Again, so far, none of that has happened, and I don't even have an urge to. I suppose it helps that I saw such a good loss for this first week. But whatever it is, I'll take it.
