Mamavation Monday

What a week!

Last week started out wonderfully. I was doing a good job managing my food intake and minimizing Weekly Points usage each day, knowing that I was saving them for Saturday. I was able to fit in a workout each morning - some shorter, some longer, but active none the less. I even fit in a walk at lunch one beautiful afternoon. I did a reasonable job avoiding the temptations of the treats and candy and such too readily available at the office. The scale was responding wonderfully. Finally, I had overcome the plateau I was stuck upon.

Saturday came, and as expected, I used many of the Weekly Points that I had saved. No surprise, when you eat what is about twice the Daily Points on one day, the scale reacted on Sunday. I knew that it was only temporary and that when I returned to regular eating, that I would be fine.

But, somehow, my brain was disconnected and despite a good start and good intentions, I just didn't maintain focus and went overboard on Sunday. Breakfast was a simple bowl of cereal and a banana. Lunch started out good, a taco salad with a bit of cheese and a bit of sour cream, but otherwise essentially a bowl of Zero Points vegetables. Then, it happened, I started to pick at the chips and one led to two led to three and so on. I wound up eating just over a serving (I was planning to avoid - 6 Points!). Then, well, it was a birthday, so there was ice cream and cake. I had a piece of cake and a small scoop of ice cream (11 Points!) - the worst part was that the flavor of the cake was not that good to me and I ate it anyway. If I had stopped there, it wouldn't have been too bad, but we had another social gathering that evening. Again, I had tortilla chips, stuck with one serving at least, some nacho cheese dip, some fruit, some meatballs and a brownie. At this point, I had seriously eaten into my Weekly Points and it was day one of my week!

I just need to let Sunday go and focus on the days ahead and I know that I can be successful. I can't let one bad day be my demise. Despite my Sunday, I saw a small recovery towards my prior week weight on Monday. Thankfully, I am back on track. Monday, I consumed a little beyond my Daily Points, but didn't get in much of a workout. The scale continues to recover towards where I was on Saturday morning.

This post shared at Mamavation Monday, where the question this week is: What food did you think was good, but discovered that it’s not? I'd have to go with the obvious - salads when you are out to eat. I was simply floored the first time that I looked at the calories on some salads. Of course, now I read through the description and leave things off and have the dressing on the side, to make sure that it is a healthy meal.

No compensation was received for this post. I was provided with a trial subscription to Weight Watchers. All opinions expressed are my own. This post is sponsored by Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway.

Mamavation Monday

I had planned to write this post on Monday, but by the time the day settled down, I had no motivation to write. So, here I am, once again sharing my Mamavation Monday thoughts on Tuesday.

Last week was a great week for me. The scale didn't reflect it, but that is okay, because I know that it was a great week anyways.

Last Monday, I couldn't pull myself out of bed early enough to get much done, but starting on Tuesday, I finally got back into the routine of working out again in the mornings. It felt so good! It really made me wonder how a few days of not being able to work out could completely derail me, when I know that I feel so much better when I am working out. I stuck with walking last week, doing an assortment of Leslie Sansone Walk At Home DVDs. I actually think that I did a 5-mile, 4-miles, 3-mile and 2-mile workout over the course of the week. Two of the walks also included the use of the bands and one hand weights.

I would like to start to add back in some of my other workouts as well, but for now the walking feels great and really, I'm just anxious for the sunrise to creep forward so that I can have predawn light at an hour that works for me to walk outside. Once that happens, I am going to start to work back up to running. I love being able to run in the morning, it really makes me feel energized.

Eating was better for the most part, up until Saturday night. I resumed tracking mid-week, so I had 'extra' Weekly Points and seemed to forget that as I enjoyed a night out with friends on Saturday night. I shared an appetizer of boneless hot wings with my husband and then, I should have skipped it, had a bowl of soup. For my meal, I had a Greek Chicken Salad. Incredibly tasty, but even with the dressing on the side, it seemed to pack a wallop with all of that Feta Cheese.

This week is off to a good start. Lunch out on Sunday was a bit of a challenge - I asked for the nutritional data before I ordered and the best meal option on the menu was 11 Points. I was only able to eat about 1/2, which was good. I did however, enjoy some bread - but the whole loaf was only 150 calories, so I don't feel too bad about that (4 Points), except the butter I put on the bread was another 3 Points. So, lunch worked out to be about 15 Points. Dinner was just a yogurt, as we had lunch in early afternoon, so I think it balanced out in the end.

I'm hopeful that with a continued week of morning work outs and continued better eating, that the scale will respond favorably this week.

This post shared at Mamavation Monday, where the question of the week is "What steps have you made so far this year to improve your quality of life?". My answer would be that I have put a renewed focus on trying to eat right and stay active.

No compensation was received for this post. I was provided with a trial subscription to Weight Watchers. All opinions expressed are my own. This post is sponsored by Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway.

Mamavation Monday

What a week it was last week. With so many meals that were catered or eaten out, it was a really tough week for me. I was in meetings for long stretches of time and had to be work earlier than normal. As such, this we a less than model week for me. I ate at the top of my Points for the week (consuming them all - meaning no buffer if I did underestimate a serving) and didn't make time for activity.

I was so glad to return to 'normal' at the end of the week. I was able to finally eat within my daily Points without using more than one or two of the weekly Points.

The net result of the week was that I was Flat. Flat was better than I expected with the way the week started, so for that I am glad.

I am really loving the Weight Watchers Apps for my phone. I was at the store on Sunday and as I was perusing the selection of frozen meals, I was able to scan the bar code and see the Points for each meal. Now, not all items are in the database, but there are a lot of items in there. It made it easier for me to make selections that fit what I am looking for for lunch. One thing that I learned (and was surprised to learn) is that the Points reflected on the package for the Weight Watchers frozen meals is not the current Points value. Some you knew, because it was the old logo, but some even said Points Plus and did not match the calculation. I found this to be frustrating, wondering how many people are taking them at face value and not realizing that they are eating more Points than they think. I knew that I had some meals in my freezer, many of which were more Points than I expected. Some of which, I would not have selected if I had known the actual Points. I also like that you can track directly from the scanner app - immediately those items are reflected on my tracker.

In addition to the scanner, the convenience of having the tracking on my phone is awesome! It allows me to stay current and to make better choices when I find myself looking to nibble. Knowing exactly where I am is better than 'guessing' where I am. It is a very easy to use app and saving favorites has helped a lot in quickly completing my tracker.

This post shared at Mamavation Monday.

You can see my near daily tracking here.

No compensation was received for this post. I was provided with a trial subscription to Weight Watchers. All opinions expressed are my own.

Mamavation Monday

I wanted to start with "I need some new motivation" but as I started to write it, I realized it wasn't about more or new motivation, it really is about time.

In retrospect, I question why I chose the week I did to try to get back into P90X. There is so much going on right now, that I feel like I don't have (am not making?) the time to fit in my workouts consistently. Some mornings I try, others I don't. Some mornings I fit in about half a workout, others none. I also am realizing that another thing I liked about running is that I could fit in a decent run in just over half an hour. With P90X (and most other DVD workouts), I need a full hour. It makes me feel so much more pressed for time when I have to fit in a full hour.

I am going to complete the 90-day workout that is P90X - I just think that I will focus on something that fits for the next couple of weeks. It is more important to me to remain active than to do a specific workout. I have Walk At Home DVDs that will help me stay active and I can do anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on my schedule. With the bands, I can even include a little bit of strength training with my walk. Once the time is right (yes, it will be right), I will return to the P90X program and do the 90 day schedule, but for now being active is my goal. (I'd like to check out the workouts from the new P90X 2, anyone tried them yet?)

This post shared at Mamavation Monday.

Mamavation Monday

The irony of writing this post is that I should be exercising now, but I was feeling lazy this morning and opted to not change into exercise clothes. I had a wonderful, full weekend and I think that is a contributor. I found time to fit in a workout on Thursday morning, but since, have been relying on the activity of planning, throwing and cleaning up a birthday party. There were numerous trips up and down stairs, there were quick walks through the grocery store to stay on schedule, but there was no official exercise. So, I got out of the groove and found myself completely worn out by the weekend. This has completely zapped my motivation. I am dedicated to getting up tomorrow and returning to normal routine.

I'm also a bit bummed to report that even with the time change, sunrise still isn't officially until 7 am, which means that I am still facing the dark at work out time. I need to follow-up on the status of the indoor track - which was supposed to be open a few weeks ago, but was closed when I stopped up. I figured that it was not likely to be open today with elections, but am hopeful that it will be. I just wish they would return my call.

I guess my other option is to return to P90X for the next 90 days. By then, it will be light out in the morning (although, probably rather cold!). It has been a few months since I did it routinely. I have picked up a workout here or there, but to go back through the rigors of the program would probably be very beneficial to me. And, now that the basement is back in order post-construction, I finally have a place for some of the workouts again.

Eating has been ho-hum. I haven't been eating awful, just not doing a stellar job of tracking it or recognizing what I have eaten. Even this weekend, with the party and lots of company, I didn't necessarily eat much unhealthy food, but I did tend to eat a lot of everything. The problem is that I am a picker and I continue to pick at things long after I am full, when they are just sitting there. I made turkey for my daughter's party and it was so yummy. Last night, as I was putting together plates for dinner, I couldn't help but pick at the cold turkey. By the time I built my plate, I don't know that I was very hungry. I need to refocus my eating.

The good news is that even with the party this weekend, I only slipped a little bit and hope to be back on track in no time.

This post shared at Mamavation Monday.

Mamavation Monday

I had an okay week. Unfortunately, I didn't make any progress on the scale. I know why though. I haven't tracked what I have eaten in well over a week. I have still tried to make good decisions, but like yesterday, I filled over 1/2 my plate with salad at a lunch meeting, but then, when I wanted two slices of pizza, I stacked them to make them fit. Good intentions, but not necessarily a good outcome.

It has been cold out. That hasn't stopped me from working out. Unfortunately, it has been dark out. This has had a bigger impact. I am starting my run much later now than I used to. This means that I have less available time in which to run. It also means that I have gotten lazy on the mornings where I can't run and I am lucky to fit in one or two 10 minute DVDs. I am hopeful that Daylight Savings ending will be a good thing for me.

I also haven't been to the track in a while. All that darkness and no one around makes me too nervous. Again, perhaps when we "fall back" this weekend, I will be able to get there. I tried to go to the indoor track last week and the doors were locked. I called the Y, but I haven't heard back. So, I still don't know when I would be able to run there.

I need to come up with a new game plan for Sunday too. Used to be I could get up leisurely and go for a run before church. Now, my husband plays basketball, so I can't head out for a run - unless I get up real early. Once I'm ready for the day, I just don't see myself changing back for a run. Maybe I can do an evening thing or, once my basement is back together, I could do a DVD on Sunday mornings. Losing a day a week of exercise certainly has some impact.

Here's looking forward to a better week!

This post shared at Mamavation Monday.

Mamavation Monday

I feel like I am stuck. Sure I am down from where I was last week, but I just don't feel like I am getting anywhere fast. I know that in part, I am making choices that are slowing my progress. I am okay with that (sort of). One of my goals, is to be active enough and eat well enough that on occasion, when I want to splurge, I can and not worry about it. I think I have proven that out...except, I really want to get to my goal and stalling occasionally is very frustrating, even when I know the cause.

I have really come to enjoy my daily run. It is such a mind clearing activity. Last week, I had to move a few workouts indoors because of the weather and it really makes me wonder what I will do when it is winter. I always worked out inside until this summer, but now I am enjoying the outside. It is getting rather cold though. It tends to be only about 50 when I am out running - BRRRR!

I am actually very proud of myself, last week, for the first time since I started running at the end of summer, I ran a full mile straight. My three mile (or so) daily run is interspersed with regular short intervals of walking. So, I have frequently run more than a mile, it is just running it straight through without walking that was an accomplishment for me.

My goal for this week is to remain active. I was off to a bad start on Monday morning, I hit snooze for over an hour and didn't even realize it. I think my body needed sleep. Here's hoping the rest of the week works out better!

I'd also like to eat well. Stress seems to be creeping in and I am a stress eater. I have been trying to stick with foods like carrots - a good crunchy carrot seems to help, but chocolate finds its way into my day a little more frequently than it should. I'm good with the small piece of chocolate each day is okay, but yesterday I had three or four - those fun size bars can add up!

#s to go: 22.8#

This post shared at Mamavation Monday.

Mamavation Monday

I am not quite where I had hoped to be today. I had managed to get down to being within 22 pounds of my goal, but I rather enjoyed my weekend and found myself back up a little bit at 24.2 pounds to go this morning.

I allowed myself a little bit of splurge in eating and I slept in on Friday morning. I was feeling miserable and decided that sleep was the best solution. Otherwise, I was able to fit in a walk or run every day. On Sunday, it was a walk because the kids joined me. I find it rather impressive that my daughter rode her Big Wheel for over a mile. They split when we passed the house and I was left to finish the three mile course on my own.

Today though was a great run! I headed up to the track and I ran an entire mile straight (actually just beyond a mile). Neither neighbor showed up at the track, so I finished out the 5th lap and headed back towards home. I passed a neighbor heading up to the track, but by then I was already on a course towards home. I have definitely concluded that my ability to run increasingly longer stretches in my 3-mile or more run is really a matter of mind over matter. I think I convince myself I need a break and take one. It is not usually that I am breathing too heavy or that my legs are sore, I just feel that I have run "far enough" and allow myself to take a break. I'd like to get a full five laps straight by this time next week - not sure the weather will cooperate.

Eating was good last week, loose on the weekend and back on track today.

I would love to be at least half way to my goal by Christmas.

#s to Go: 24.2

This post shared at Mamavation Monday.

Mamavation Monday

I am back on track and it feels good!

After two weeks of paying little attention and 10 days of vacation, I am back on track. Granted, I gained some weight over that time frame. In fact, it was just over 3# that I gained, but considering that I was down 3/4# since yesterday suggests to me that most of it was not "real" weight. My goal is to be back down to where I was by next Monday. Seems pretty achievable to me.

I got back on track yesterday with my eating. I started writing down what I was eating again too. It is amazing how much of an impact tracking alone can have on your overall success. I find myself occasionally reaching for that extra helping, snack, etc. and then stopping, thinking do I really want to mark down that I ate that and attempt to quantify it? I am still following the make healthy choices, monitor total calorie approach to eating. It seems to be working for me and the way that my family eats. I am still using my scale to help me gauge portions when I am home and then trying to fill my plate with vegetables and lean protein when I am out. The biggest difference from last week to this week is the lack of soda...I drank more soda last week than I have in the last year (perhaps longer). I can't stand diet soda, so it was all regular, full-calorie drinks. This change alone should make a serious dent in that gain.

Last week, I definitely did a lot of walking, but despite my hopes otherwise, I didn't actually work out. I wore a pedometer one day to see what I did - on that day, I walked over 20000 steps. So, I was active - just not exercise active.

Yesterday morning I just went for a walk. I was a little worried about going from being active in walking around to being active in exercise too abruptly, so I decided not to run. I could definitely feel the workout in my legs at the end of the day. But, this morning, I decided it was time to run again. My friend that I meet at the track had asked about going up today, which gave me the perfect setting for easing back into running...only I didn't ease. I ran 2 1/8 miles of the 3 3/8 miles at the track (I still had the 1.25 of walking up to and back from the track - so walking was still king of the total workout). That, I believe is the furthest that I ran and I did it two laps (just over 5 minutes) at a time. I alternated with a single lap of walking between. It felt GREAT!!!

I am trying to get back in the groove of keeping a daily journal again too of what I did, how I felt, etc. Something that I can go back to for inspiration when needed. I have one day down, not quite a habit yet, but I have hope that I can do it.

#s to Go: 25.4#

This post shared at Mamavation Monday.

Mamavation Monday

Let me start by saying that I am totally impressed with myself. I never would have thought that I would enjoy running like I do. I still use the term running rather loosely, as I still don't run for more than a few minutes at a time, but on days at the track, I am up to running 1.75 miles. I still think that for a total run distance, that is good, even if I don't do it all at once. When I am in the neighborhood, I am running a portion of time, rather than laps, which makes it a little harder to gauge my total run distance, but I'm likely somewhere between 15 and 20 minutes of running. I would guess this to be closer to 1.25 - 1.5 miles.

My challenge now is strength training. As the sun rise creeps later and later, I am finding myself with less time to come home and do a DVD that focuses on strength training (specifically upper body, as I feel I am getting a decent leg workout). I had been doing the P90X strength training DVDs after my walk/run, but now it feels like I have to skip more than I do. I liked the rotation of focus on different muscle areas each of the three days that I did them, but the time just isn't working for me. I need a quick 15 - 20 minute option that focuses on different areas each day. Any thoughts? I see that Tony Horton (I know him from P90X) has a series that sounds like it should be 10 minute workouts, but it seems to have total body, lower body and yoga as the options. Not sure that those would help me focus on my arms, chest, shoulders and back.

Eating is good for the most part. I seem to do better on my own with normal portion sizes and not eating a super-sized portion, even though I'm not doing as good of a job of physically measuring my food. I have been able to allow myself a night out for dinner, or a night in with friends, from time to time and still overall move in the right direction, even if there is a slight set back. I'm trying to refocus on measuring those meals that I can, so that I can keep my eyes "calibrated" on serving sizes to better estimate when I am away from home. I haven't made a regular trip to the store in a couple of weeks, so I don't think I am consuming as much fresh fruits and vegetables (I took a fruit cup today!) because they simply aren't on hand.

I missed last week, but I have lost 2.4# since that post. I figure that is pretty decent, considering that I hosted a birthday party and have eaten out 4 times at a restaurant in that window. I still am trying to maintain a near daily log here.

#s to Go: 23.8

This post shared at Mamavation Monday, where the question this week is sponsored by Go Sport ID and they ask: "What safety precautions do you take with your workouts? Any special equipment when working out outdoors?" I probably don't take enough safety precautions. When doing Cardio DVD workouts, I wear a heart-rate monitor to make sure I am "in the zone". When walking/running outside, I try to find a companion to go to the track with so I'm not alone.


No compensation was received for this post. This post is sponsored by Go Sport ID and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway hosted by Mamavation.

Mamavation Monday

It was a great week! I was able to live life, and still exercise and eat right. It resulted in 2# loss this week. Minus dinner out last night, it might have been more, but I am pleased with a 2# loss.

By the end of last week, I reached my goal of running the full lap on every other lap. Unfortunately, it was raining this morning (and I seem to be getting a cold back), so I didn't get to run today. Instead, I did the 4-mile Super Walk from the Leslie Sansone Walk at Home series. In general, I was able to work out every morning. The only exception was Sunday, which I took off by choice. I hope that by Wednesday that the weather clears up and I can continue on my running and see what my next level is.

I had dinner out, I had catered lunches, I had a picnic, I went out for Happy Hour. I have to say that I am in control of my portions, as I was able to participate in all those events and not exceed my average calorie needs and was able to lose weight.

My daily (or near daily) tracking has really helped me stay on target.

This post shared at Mamavation Monday. This week's sponsor is Quaker Oats and they ask: What qualities do you look for in a healthy breakfast? Any go-to breakfast recommendations for a busy mom? I look for a breakfast that is filling and will provide a good start to the day. I like a good cereal or oatmeal with fruit to get my family started. If I am looking for protein, I find myself turning to a protein shake.

#s to Go: 26.2

No compensation was received for this post. By sharing my post at Mamavation Monday and answering the question posed, I am entering to win a Very Important Blogger basket.

Mamavation Monday

Not sure what has been going on lately. I was on a serious plateau and it was starting to feel like no matter what I was doing, I was going no where. There is nothing more frustrating than giving it your all and getting nothing in return. I sat down last weekend and decided that I needed to take a more scientific approach to this all (I am a scientist by education, so it makes sense).

I found a website that information on calories burnt at rest and different activities. I concluded that with 8 hours of sleep and 16 hours of sitting on a couch, I would burn about 1700 calories. I knew that I was burning about 400 calories on my daily walks (based on the app I am using). I knew that in order to lose a pound that you need a 3500 calorie deficit between what you burn and what you consume. Figuring on a goal of about 1# a week, to keep things healthy I set a daily intake target for myself of 1200 - 1500 calories. I figured that my deficit would be between 200 and 900 calories per day (1700 calories - 1500 calories and 2100 calories - 1200 calories), but likely would be nearer the middle.

I started measuring and looking up calories for everything. I quickly recognized (no surprise really) that eating the right type of foods makes it easier. I don't just focus on the calories, I try to make sure I am reaching daily targets for fiber and protein and not having too much total fat. Of course, filling the plate with vegetables goes a long way towards feeling full and keeping calories in check.

Know what? It worked. I actually was able to lose 4# in just over a week. I think part of that was just the initial change (water weight is what everyone calls it), but I was able to stick to my eating target and I feel good about that. I have eaten in and eaten out and it is working for me.

I also started keeping a daily log (or at least near daily) of my progress, my workout and my struggles and successes.

This post shared at Mamavation Monday.

What are your current technology tactics in your healthy living journey?

I use a scale to help me measure my food. I use an app on my phone to track distance, time and calories of my workouts.


This post is sponsored by Omron Fitness and I’m writing this to be entered into an Omron Fitness pedometer giveaway hosted by Mamavation .

Mamavation Monday

I didn't get anywhere last week, despite my best efforts. I think the culprit was a busy weekend with less than stellar food choices. Couple that with the fact that I am trying to avoid letting a cold get the better of me by drinking tea (with honey), fruit juice, gatorade and more.

I am glad to say that I walked everyday last week. Saturday, rain in the morning and rain again in the evening had me resort to an indoor walk - used Leslie Sansone Walk At Home DVD. I walked at least 3 miles everyday. With the humidity, my normal walking partner did not join me other than Monday, so that was the only day that I did the 3 mile walk/1 mile run interval that I have started, with a plan of doing that three times a week. I was successful on the weekdays, in coming home from my walk and doing some strength training - chest/back, abs, arms/shoulders, abs, legs. When I did the walk dvd, there was strength training built into the second mile.

The weekend aside, last week was a pretty good eating week. The biggest thing was not having the candy at work. The supply dwindled early in the week and by the end of the week, I wasn't in the habit of walking by it, so that is a good thing.

This week started out good on the exercise front. I just hope that I am successful in fighting this cold. I figure that staying active is a good thing. I am trying to get to bed earlier in the evening to allow my body ample time to rest, but still time to exercise. Since tomorrow is the ab day, I should be able to start about 15 minutes later than I do normally, and still wrap up at a good time (earlier than normal actually) - allowing a little morning shut eye. I keep taking my vitamin C, zinc and gatorade - we will see if I conquer or not.

This post shared at Mamavation Monday. This week's carnival is sponsored by Organ Wise Guys and Fiber Choice. The question is: What nutrition lessons have you learned from your kids? I have learned that enjoying your food one bite at a time allows you to really savor food. Have you ever watched a child eat M&Ms, they take them one piece at a time - I find that if I do that, rather than putting a handful in my mouth, that I enjoy them and consume less. I've also learned that they want to eat what you eat, so if you eat well, so will they. That certainly provides motivation on eating better.

No compensation was received for this post. By participating in the carnival, I am entering to win a prize pack from the sponsors.

Mamavation Monday

Well, I've been up and I've been down. I've been enjoying my food and I've been working out. At the end of several weeks, I am right where I started. I think that I have come to a new focus today (except I ate out lunch because I failed to pack).

I have been continuing to meet a friend at the track a few mornings a week. I have decided that my body is not responding to walking. I was walking 3 - 4 miles / day and having no impact, even when I was eating right. So, I started mixing in running. I am not a runner, never have been. I am currently running about 2/3 of a lap every other lap around the track. So, on my 4 mile walk today (1 mile back and forth to the track and 3 miles around the track), I netted about 1 mile of running. Not too bad. Doing it interval style is working for me. I'd like to get to the point where I run every other lap. On the other two days a week, I am simply walking and then doing Ab Ripper. I figure that if I mix it up, walking can be effective. I am also trying to fit in some strength training.

As far as eating, I have returned to starting my day with a protein shake. I started to wonder if I was fueling my body correctly after a work out. I certainly have more energy as a result. We will see if long term it fuels me and allows me to better lose weight.

I am back and I want to have a success story this time.

This post shared at Mamavation Monday.

Mamavation Monday

It was a good week. I essentially ate my way through Boston last week, but by staying active and making time for a nearly 4 mile walk each day, I was able to minimize the impact of this culinary adventure. That being said, I was up slightly for the week, but increased consumption of food and wine on my part, will cause that.

First, let me start by saying that Boston is a great city to be active in. I took a walk each morning along the Charles River. Not only did they have nice walking/biking/blading paths, complete with center lines, but there were a number of pedestrian bridges to cross over roadways. In addition, there were kayaks and crew teams on the water every morning. I was actually amazed the first morning when I went out at 5 am, to see so many people. Normally, when I walk in my neighborhood, I see no one. There was a great route that I could take that was just about four miles round trip. I had decent weather, although the last day it did start to rain around mile marker 3.

Second, let me say that there is some good food in Boston. On Monday night, we ate in the Italian district at a place called Dolce Vita Ristorante - I had the scallops, which were so tender and flavorful. Of course, I accompanied it with some pasta, bread and wine! Then, we made stop at Mike's for cannoli. I think it might have been my first cannoli, but it was yummy! I didn't actually eat it all that first night - finishing it the following night. The next day we enjoyed the Cheesecake Factory - we wound up sharing a lot of different appetizers and of course, cheesecake. I didn't eat a "regular" dinner, having consumed more than my fair share of appetizers. The next day, we snacked our way through the day. I tried a Lobster Roll (not as good as it sounded), some Tuna Tartar, some New England Clam Chowder (I was in New England after all!) at Finz in Salem. Then, we tried the pizza and wings at Prince Pizza. Dinner that night was sushi at Douzo. I really felt full after my adventures. I also tried Pinot Noir on this trip, I think I could add it to my list of wines I enjoy.

Now that I am back, I need to buckle down. Continue with my daily walk. Resume portion control and tracking - I did it informally in Boston, but the reality is that after a few glasses of wine, I had more than consumed my weekly PointsPlus values.

This post shared at Mamavation Monday. The sponsor this week is EatSmart Products. They ask: How have you recently stepped up to support someone in your life? I would have to say that as some of my friends have dealt with life issues and challenges, I have been there for them when they needed me, but also respected them and gave them space.

No compensation was received for this post. By participating in the blogging carnival, I am entering to win a Kitchen Scale from EatSmart Products.

Mamavation Monday

Well, it was a good week, or at least not a bad week. With last weekend having the baby shower and then a night out, I had spent most of the prior week's Weekly PointsPlus Values and this week's Weekly PointsPlus Values in a matter of two days. It took me much of the week to "recover" from the splurge. The good news is that I did fully recover, although it was tough some days with so few weekly PointsPlus values to go around.

I did an excellent job getting up every morning last week to walk. I would walk three miles and then come home and did strength training on two days and abs on another day. Thursday and Friday, I walked alone and well, I got a late start, so I just didn't have the time to do the abs and the strength training ai had planned.

All in all it was a good week. This coming week is frought with challenges and it will take everything I've got to just maintain. I hope I can find the energy to workout and the will-power to not completely overdue it on eating.

This post shared at Mamavation Monday.

No compensation was received for this post. I am a Weight Watchers Insider and have received access to tools to help me on my weight loss journey. 'People following the Weight Watchers plan can expect to lose 1 - 2 pounds per week.'

Mamavation Monday

Yeah! I lost weight this week! I was so worried about the work dinners and catered lunches, but I did a great job exercising control. I focused on balancing what was on my plate and even skipped dessert the one evening. I did my best to estimate my portions and track my eating and my activity on eTools. By staying on top of it, using my mobile phone, I was better able to manage what I chose to eat at dinner and know if there was "room" for dessert in my daily and weekly Points Plus values.

I felt so good about myself on Sunday morning when I checked and I was down, but then...I went to a baby shower and so when I did my "official" Monday morning weigh in, I was flat...I was so bummed. I know that part of it was salt, I could feel it in my fingers, especially when I was walking. A dinner out last night with my friend probably didn't move me back to where I was on Sunday, but I have faith that I can get back to where I was and resume movement in the right direction.

As an aside, dinner was wonderful. We started with house nachos (why, I don't know except for they sounded awesome - nachos, asiago cream sauce, kalamata olives, diced tomatoes, scallions, artichoke hearts and chicken), and then split a carved turkey, brie, caramelized onions, and bacon croissant and a shrimp fettuccine with an asiago cream sauce. We skipped dessert. Food is such a sensuous experience and I firmly believe that you should be able to enjoy it - as long as you keep it in balance. Certainly eating that way every night simply would not work.

But, I digress.

The really positive story for me is the working out. I have been getting up each morning to work out. I have been meeting my friend a few mornings to walk and have been doing it on my own the other mornings. Yesterday, I did a shortened walk (about 3 miles) and then came home and did P90X Chest and Back. I had to shorten it, only going through about 1 1/4 rounds of the workout...but it was a good balance. I might need to shorten a little more to allow me to do the full P90X routine on the days that I walk alone. I think that if I can stick with the walking and still doing some P90X strength training that I will start to see a real difference. I know that I feel so much better on those days that I walk outside - the fresh air makes it even better than the feeling I get with just working out.

This post shared at Mamavation Monday. The event is sponsored by Together Counts this week and the question is: How often do you and your family eat meals together and get active together? My answer: We eat together almost daily. There are a few exceptions, but I sit down and plan out our menu plan around our activities. On days when we have evening events, we choose meals that will be easy to get on the table, either before or after. I prep many of my meals the night before (like last night, after I got home from dinner out with my friend, I made Eggplant Parmesan that my husband will stick in the oven so that it is ready to eat when I walk in the door with the kids tonight). We stay active by walking and playing outside. The kids love to walk with me and I think it is a great way to up my activity level while spending time with them.

No compensation was received for this post. I am a Weight Watchers Insider and have received tools to help me towards my weight loss goals. 'People following the Weight Watchers plan can expect to lose 1 - 2 pounds per week.' This Mamavation Monday post is sponsored by Together Counts and I’m writing this to be entered into a Qlip Any-where Pedometer giveaway hosted by Mamavation.

Mamavation Monday

Today (yesterday now, actually), I resume (I was going to say restart, but I'm not starting over, I'm simply picking up where I left off) with vigor my dedication to becoming healthier and more fit by watching what I eat and exercising.

Recently, life had gotten in the way of me remembering to spend time and focus on myself. I had become lazy about measuring and tracking food, I had become more liberal in dining out, I had become more willing to skip my morning workout than just do the portion I could fit into the time I had available - but no more!

I am important (at the very least, to me I am). I am allowed to have time for myself, to focus on my needs.

I now have a walking partner - we walk together, but not really with each other. She listens to an iPod, I get lost in my own thoughts. We are meeting three days a week at 5 am to do a twice through circuit of our neighborhood - yesterday, we skipped a few cul-de-sacs, but we still walked 3.6 miles in just under an hour. Not bad for day one. I'd like to add back in the cul-de-sacs and get about 4 miles in - preferably in under an hour as well. Sure, I could just as easily walk on my own, but when I am meeting someone, there is no "just one more snooze" option. I don't want to mess up someone else' schedule because I'm feeling a little lazy. On the alternating days, I will do my DVDs to focus on my major muscle groups.

I'm still walking at lunch, when possible. Of course, with as warm as it is, I can't always maintain a good pace - after all, I have to work with others all afternoon and don't want to be offensive. The important thing is that I am moving.

I resumed tracking my food intake yesterday as well. I know what I am supposed to eat, I just had lost focus and wasn't always making the right food choices. Now, I am refocusing on the right choice. I will face two of my biggest challenges this week - catered work lunches and dining out for work. I will have to remain strong in my resolve to eat healthy. I will choose the best option for me.

I'm ready for the new week and the challenges that lie ahead. How about you?

This post shared at Mamavation Monday. This week, it is sponsored by Omron Healthcare. The question this week is: What gaps in your nutrition knowledge do you want to fill? That is a tough question. I guess I would like to better understand what nutrients support what health improvements. Everyone knows that Oatmeal is good for your heart, but what are other super foods that are an important part of your regular diet.

This post is sponsored by Omron Healthcare and I’m writing this to be entered into a Omron Go Smart Pedometer giveaway hosted by Mamavation.

Mamavation Monday

It's Monday. It feels like Monday. I had a great week last week and a good weekend, but for some reason today at work, every time I stopped for a minutes, I was eating. I'm sure I wasn't hungry, perhaps a little bored?, perhaps a little too close to food?, perhaps just Monday? (okay, really, I wasn't eating all of the time, it just was that I found myself snacking, which I don't normally do a lot of)

Normally, I do a decent job with eating healthy at work. I bring oatmeal and a banana for breakfast, allowing me to eat one at 8:30 and the other closer to 10. Keeps me from getting munchies and searching out food. I pack my lunch, so I am able to exercise portion control and plan a well-balanced meal. I also generally include a fruit or something for around 2pm.

Today, was different. First, I didn't pack - so I was at the whim of my stomach and taste buds. I think that the whole "eyes are bigger than the stomach" thing came into play. The thing that amazes me, is that frequently, when I am eating too much...I manage to do it with otherwise innocuous foods. Foods I normally wouldn't think of as tempting foods or foods that I would overeat - meaning not chocolate or chips or ice cream or one of my other weaknesses. Random things, like cheese, crackers, or today, peanut butter and jelly. The funny thing about that is that I had my first peanut butter and jelly sandwich less than a year ago. There were chips and cookies, but I didn't go for them...I reasoned that having a sandwich was healthier for me. Was it? Who knows?

I had a reasonable dinner and am feeling better, although I sit here, wondering why did I have that kind of day? I will say that I consumed more than my normal PointsPlus values today. Normally, I spend my daily plus a couple of my weekly each day. Today, I used 10 of my weekly PointsPlus values...and next weekend is picnic weekend, when I will wish I had those PointsPlus values to burn. (there is one challenge of starting the recording week on a Monday, by the time the weekend is here, I may or may not have PointsPlus values remaining. I have to work really hard to plan ahead for weekend outings and not use too many during the week.)
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Tomorrow, I am sure I will be fine. I will pack my lunch. I will be so busy all day, that food won't have a chance to enter my mind. I plan to start my day right with exercising too. I had been on a really good kick, but have been so tired lately and so busy with the kids, that going to bed early hasn't been fitting in, and as a result, my morning exercise routine was anything but routine. Tomorrow, I plan to get up and work out.

How was your week?

This post shared at Mamavation Monday.

No compensation was received for this post. I am a Weight Watchers Insider and have received access to eTools and other tools to help me on my journey.

Mamavation Monday

What a week. I was busy, only as I sit back, I can't seem to recall what all I did. We had a busy weekend to be sure. We had company for the weekend, as it was my son's First Communion this weekend. We ate out two meals and cooked at home the others. I did relatively okay with the food, making sure I didn't do large portions, but still enjoying and sampling all of the food that I had made.

On Mother's Day, I didn't cook (unless you count making eggs for breakfast - scrambled and over easy were the options I provided) and we had a very active day. We walked to the local school to check out my son's artwork on display at the school art festival and then back home. Later, we headed to the park and ball field and then my daughter and I walked home. Of course, we agreed that a treat would be nice and detoured our route to a local ice cream spot. It worked out to be almost a 2 mile walk home from the field. Being the ever teaching mom that I strive to be, I actually used our stop to share some healthy lifestyle information with her (although at four, I'm sure I will have to share it again). We talked about how since we had done so much walking that we could have a special treat, because we had done a lot of exercise and burned many calories. That treats were nice, but not something that we could or should have every day.

She is my walking partner - whether doing Leslie Sansone's Walk at Home or walking around the community. In fact, on Monday, we walked to my son's baseball game. At about 1 1/4 miles, it is just the right amount of a walk for her. Tonight though, she was tired and I carried her about half the distance (broken up of course, I couldn't do that all at once). I did learn that she slows down immensely when she is trying to tell me a story - like she can't focus on two things at the same time. I'm not sure how to count the PointsPlus values of walking with an extra 39# on my back, so I guess I will just have to look at a slow walk to calculate my activity PointsPlus values.

I love that it is nice out and that we are finding more ways to play outside. We go for walks around the block. We play ball in the yard. Now, if only it could stay dry for a few days in a row, we could make a habit of it.

I had intention of working out this morning, but as I tried to put things away from this weekend, I decided that the four trips to the basement, folding laundry, and putting away dishes was all that I had time for. I hope to start back into my exercise routine tomorrow.

I have been a little casual with counting and recording PointsPlus values, so I made sure that this morning I returned to actively tracking what I was eating.

Summer is coming fast and I would really like to continue my journey towards a healthier lifestyle (and a smaller size), so I am hoping that I can take this renewed sense of motivation and the warm days as inspiration to stick with it and really strive to make a difference in my life.

This post shared at Mamavation Monday.

No compensation was received for this post. I am a Weight Watchers Insider for the new Weight Watchers PointsPlus program and have received complimentary online access to Weight Watchers, and other tools to help me on my weight loss journey, using Weight Watchers. 'People following the Weight Watchers plan can expect to lose 1 - 2 pounds per week.'