Hitting the wall of weight loss

Ok. So I admit it. I have not been perfect in my weight loss journey. Luckily however, no one is perfect.
I think sometimes when you are emotional, you are allowed to be bad, provided you are not an emotional wreak every single day. 
This week has been rough- my mother-in-law was admitted to the hospital last Wednesday night, suffering a stroke. She is only 49. Her recovery since then has been slow, and not going as quickly has the doctor's hoped. She is responding, but not as quickly, nor in the ways they want. So I think having a bowl of spaghetti with giant meatballs from the hospital cafeteria is fine, or the giant coffee coollata to keep me awake after spending all day either in the hospital or babysitting my rambunctious nephews. We all are allowed sometimes- so the fact that I didn't gain anything this week is kind of a minor miracle.

I did however start to do some dance work out. I'm finding that I really need to get some muscle on my body, so I'm not just all jiggly. haha. Luckily the Dance Central games have work out modes that tell you how many calories you burned and how long you worked out for. So far I seem to be able to handle 50 minutes of dancing before I feel really tired. I hope to keep up with it. A friend of mine also recently got certified as a Zumba instructor, so once she gets classes going, I'm going to start that.

 (Co-worker brought in cookies leftover from her daughter's Alice in Wonderland party.)

Also, since last I blogged on food and weight loss, we had out 80s Prom Birthday party. I think I rocked my dress, though I'm sure by the end of the night I looked twice my size, after all the sweets I had that night. haha

 (The food spread)

 I did eat some healthy meals though:

But also had the not-so healthy meals out-and-about:

 (In my defense of this one, I only ate half- and had the other half for lunch the next day)

I also had these super tasty, but super bad for you, Irish potatoes my hubs made for St. Patrick's Day, which you can find the recipe here:

 Well, hopefully I can get out of this funk of weight loss and get back into being in shape.
Also, prayers for my mother-in-law would be much appreciated all!
-M

Gaining during a fabulous wedding weekend

Ok. So I was bad. Like REALLY bad this week. I gained 2.4 lbs this week- that tells you how bad I really was. So my best friend got married to my husband's best friend this weekend, so from Friday straight through yesterday evening, I ate a lot and drank more than I should. I threw my diet out the window, and it sure showed when I got on the scale this morning. eek!

The numbers this week:

So here is what did me in (besides the amazing tasting fresh food at the wedding location- rehearsal dinner, breakfast, dinner, late night snacks and booze, breakfast- all amazing tasting. Especially anything with potatoes- their cook must really know how to cook potatoes!)

 (Went to Olive Garden with the hubs- that was mistake #1)

(even though I got wheat pasta, the sauce, cheese and sausage couldn't save this horribly high point value meal)

 (Only 1 point plus energy drink- they brought in a bunch to our work to promote it. The Peach Mango isn't bad, the blackberry is icky though).

 (One of the nights I had Chinese food- the egg drop soup isn't too bad. However the Hunan chicken I had also didn't help my points for the day)

 (Then wine happened. Yes, this is a giant glass of Moscato wine in the cup holder of my craft room. It helped me get through the major project I had to finish by the weekend- for the wedding)

 (Thursday I went to the Amish Market in Newtown)

 (they had cool amount of potatoes, though I didn't pick any up because we wouldn't be home all weekend)

 (I did pick these puppies up- only 1 points plus for 2 pop cakes!)

 (Also picked up no sugar Apple Butter to put on the rice cakes. I believe it is 1 points plus for 3 tbsp or 3 servings)

 (I also picked up the sugar apple butter to see if you can taste the difference between the sugar and no sugar. The one with sugar is 1 points plus per 2 tbsp or 2 servings- so one serving less you can have for a 1pp.)

 (And this was my lunch- badddddd for you pulled pork sandwich, but healthy cauliflower- weird mix, I know)

(Also got a 6 points plus Gelati from Ritas- sugar free tangerine with slenderita custard)

 (Apple butter on rice cake!)

 (Sometime last week I tried this Smart Ones bag of sesame chicken. Was actually quite good and spicy)

And then things really start to take a turn for the bad eatting...
We started things off on Friday by having a quick bite to eat at Arby's, since we knew we'd be eatting heavy at the rehearsal dinner. That was a mistake, just like every meal this past week... Then I had this:

 (First helping at rehearsal dinner. Second helping was more pulled pork and potato salad, I know- shouldn't have gotten another serving, but I gave my chicken to the hubs- didn't notice the pork till after I put the chicken on the plate, and I really am not a huge "meat on the bone still" fan)

 (Orange dreamcicle martini)

 (Was the groom's birthday the day before the wedding, so there was more cake)

 (Heading to rehearsal dinner)

 (Favorite shoes- at rehearsal dinner)

 (Morning of wedding we had a big breakfast (not shown) and had Orange Juice- I haven't had OJ in forever, since I can't justify the points of OJ from concentrate- I hate pulp!)

 (My bridesmaid hair and makeup)

 (The wedding cake! They also had wonderful appetizers, a walnut/apple/cheese salad, and the main course of steak/green beans fresh from the farm and potato cake- it all tasted SO good!)

 (Hubs and I at the reception. We had more food and drinks at the after party after the reception- where I downed many carrots, grapes, crackers, cheese, and apricot tarts. If I would of stuck to the water, grapes and carrots, I would of been fine. lol)

 (And then, after having Arby's for lunch on Sunday, we ordered pizza and I had buffalo chicken pizza. My weight watchers teachers would be screaming in horror at my meals this past week).

 (Our new fridge, now filled with the basics and nothing really to make a full-on meal though)

So yeah, I gained weight and I ate horribly, but you know what. I don't care. That just means I need to get back on the bandwagon this week and make up for it. I had a great time this week and that's what really matters. As much as it sucks that I have to lose that, and it always is harder to lose than to gain (as I just demonstrated), sometimes you just gotta get over the number and have a flub week.

For dinner I had my favorite Italian Pesto on a 6 inch wheat sub from Wawa. Luckily I had the points. I also scored a free starburst- had a coupon for $1 off any starburst (was on the back of my gas reciept) and they were already on sale for $0.99! Woo! Free candy!
Well...turns out Starburst (one of my favs) is 1 points plus for every 1.76 starburst. So I could have 3.5 starburst for 2 points plus. *sigh*

Anyways, will try to get back on the wagon and do good this week. I let myself be bad for an entire week, and boy did I pay for it!
I hope everyone else is doing good in their losses. Happy weight loss!
-M

Blargh!

Blargh! So this week I officially switched my points to 29 from 30 daily points. I guess my body didn't like that and I only lost 0.2 lbs! That by far has been my worst lost yet. It kind of made me what to cry and beat up my scale all at the same time. I did hit the 33 lbs down total mark, I just wished it was closer to 34 instead. Part of it was hard figuring out the points for my dinner at this one restaurant that we went out with some friends with over the weekend.

 (my Key-lime martini- my one splurge of the weekend)

Over the weekend I cleaned out my closet- purged a lot of clothes that either don't fit, I don't like anymore, etc. I separated my clothes into a few piles: Clothes too big, too small, donating to Goodwill, trying to sell on eBay, and then in the closet goes those that fit. :D Here's the cleaned up closet.

Another thing I have been testing out this past 2 weeks is to try some new dinners. I tried the Healthy Choice Beef Merlot steamer- SUPER AWESOME! I totally would suggest it.

I also tried the Chicken Basil in Cream Sauce with Tortellini by Lean Cuisine, also another fab. dinner. What a big change between the classic Lean Cuisine and these new Chef specials. I tried their Ranchero Beef with Sweet Potato mashed potatoes- wasn't bad tasting, just wasn't big enough to justify 6 points. I think I'll stick with the Chicken Basil.

I am only 4 lean cuisine's away from getting a free lunch box! yay! I love their rewards program. I just have to have them in by March 31st, and then I get a new lunch box. Hooray!

Today I also got my first package from my secret sister weight loss swap- super cute! I got a whole red themed package of crafting goodies and an adorable strawberry card and the most awesomeness of snacks- Skinny Cow chocolate caramel clusters- only 2 points plus a pack! Super amazing and so worth it!

Well, hopefully this week goes better. Already, it has been better with me exercising a bit more (beautiful weather and all) and so far sticking closer to my points. I'm looking forward to my dessert tonight of a Weight Watchers Ice Cream bar. Can't wait.

*crossing fingers* for a good weight loss week.
-M

Curse you weather and temptations!

Can I just curse this weather? It has made it so difficult to get to the gym in a normal routine, or even get to my dance class! Argh!
Well, tonight I hope I can make it to the gym. Aka. I'm gonna try to go, no matter what. I can't keep putting it off.
I also need to stop giving into temptation foods: ie. donuts at work, huge portions of pasta at home, that kind of stuff. *sigh*
At least I have pretty much completely switched to whole wheat pasta, bread, and tortilla shells. Woo.
I also have been good (except 1 soda over the weekend) and not had any caffinated or calorie intense sodas. So at least that is one step in the right direction, right?
Ok. I gained back a pound from when I was last actively exercising and eatting right. I MUST get back up! I really need to get rid of those temptations and I pray the weather holds out more, so I can actually get my exercise in (besides shoveling snow and scrapping ice off my car!) lol.
*crossing fingers for the drive to keep going*
-M

Falling off the horse...

Ok, I'm going to own up now. The reason I've been neglecting the blog-o here...well...I haven't been the best in my exercise and diet. I have had an absolutely horrible week (diet and exercise wise). I ordered out, I had foods that aren't very good for me, I didn't make it to the gym, and I had a single soda this week (gasp!). I did however make it to dance class, and auditioned for a musical today (which there was about 20 minutes of dancing) so it hasn't been a total loss. I havn't lost any weight this week (I actually think I might of gained a pound). But let me show you my biggest thing to overcome:

Yes...buffalo chicken cheesesteaks. They are my kriptonite, so to speak. With all the snow we've been having, me not having time to make it to the grocery store, I kind of had to order out at work...which is never a good thing, since all the places people order from are HORRIBLELY tempting.
So, ok...I'm gonna try to do better starting later today, so sorry everyone. Not only am I cursing myself for having no confidence to say NO, but I also am cursing Mother Nature in giving us all this snow!
Anyways, back on the horse I go. We all fall sometimes, we just got to get back up and continue trying!
Laters.
M