WATCH IT!

Yesterday I made the decision (which I have been thinking about for months now) to join Weight Watchers Online.  

Since I have been freaking out over numbers on MFP for quite some time, I liked the idea of the free fruits and vegetables and the weekly flex points for days when I feel the need to indulge without going off plan! 

A few of my favorite inspirations Skinny Jeans Dreams and Weight Off My Shoulders have been very successful on their journey's using Weight Watchers, and I watched both of them hit maintenance earlier this year!

So, today was my first day tracking.  

Right off the bat, I noticed it was a little more difficult (but not too much) to track foods because their database doesn't have nearly the amount of foods that MFP has in theirs.  That being said it IS pretty easy to look up the numbers on MFP and put them into the calculator.  Once most of my foods are in there it should run a lot smoother for me.  

I also really like the idea that once I hit my points for the day there are a ton of 0 point foods that I can choose from if I'm still feeling hungry. Also, I can dip into my weekly points or earn some activity points.  In that way, I think it will help with the feeling of being restricted. 

I ended the day perfectly 'on point', and meeting all of my 'Healthy Checkpoints'.  

My plan for this week (and possibly next) is to focus on getting the hang of the Weight Watchers Program, and just incorporate some light activity.  Then once I'm feeling pretty confident I'm going to step up my workouts.  Hopefully in the mean time my hip will heal up some more.  

On the other hand, I have these weird feelings of guilt by switching from MFP to WW.  MFP got me this far.  It gave me my start, and it definitely works. I think I might just need a change in the way I've been thinking about food.  Ever since I started to really look into what Weight Watchers had to offer, I've been surprised with how well-rounded their approach seems to be.  

But I'm really attached to my MFP Pals as well.  It's a good thing MFP is free and I can check in on them all the time, but I still don't think it will be the same...  

Top 10 things that have helped me get this far!

1. Support

Support is what got me started, and support keeps my head in the game.  My main supporter left on her trip to Thailand in December.  I knew I would need more support, and previous to December I was pretty "hush hush" about my weight-loss journey because I didn't want people to know in case I failed... again!  So I started my Facebook Page, and then decided to give blogging another go.  So now here I am, and I have found such a wonderful group of women on similar journeys!!  They have all helped inspire me to do my best.  Also, I found a whole bunch of people, already in my life, that were so excited to cheer me on during my journey!  I was really nervous at first, but having it all out in the open is very freeing.

2. MyFitnessPal

Wow, MyFitnessPal! I cannot say enough great things about this app/site.  It has helped my be aware of everything I put into my body and learned to balance my food.  When I know I'm going to be indulging, I can plan ahead and save calories, or work out and earn extra calories!  I've had many challenging days but only one week where I didn't lose (and actually gained).  MyFitnessPal also helps make me accountable because I keep my food diary open for all to see.  It shows the days where I have gone over, and all my other successful days. My MFP friends get to cheer me on for all my under days, every pound I lose, and any updates I post there!

3. iPhone

Or as I like to call it my "Life Enhancing Device".  I absolutely love this thing. I have my MFP app on my phone which makes logging my food VERY convenient, and making food decisions while I'm out of the house, even easier.  I also have my pedometer app, my couch to 5k app, my iMapMyRun app, and many more apps that make this journey easier!  Apps rock my world!

4. Polar Heart Rate Monitor

My heart rate monitor accurately measures the calories I burn during a workout.  This is very useful for me with my tracking because it makes sure that when I track my exercise calories burned and decide to eat them back, I can accurately gauge exactly how many that is so I don't over-eat.  It also helps motivate me during my workouts because I can see where my heart rate is, and  know whether I need to step it up a notch, or back it off.


5. Easing up on myself

So, sometimes I mess up.  Sometimes I mess up BAD!  This happens to all of us who are not perfect.  I have worked, and I am still working, on letting those days go and actually using them for motivation to work harder and keep going.  I used to let these days derail me and make me feel like I couldn't do it because I couldn't do it perfectly.  I have learned that the real success isn't doing it perfectly, but learning from my mistakes and getting back on track no matter how hard it may seem at the time.  Often I am only one good workout, or day away from being right back where I was and continuing on my journey!

6. Small goals

Well, I started with 167lbs to lose... Over half my body weight.  How did I get there?  I thought 20 was too hard to lose, then 60, then 90, then 120... you get the idea.  NOW I work in 5lb intervals.  Much smaller,  much more attainable and I get so excited when I meet each new goal!  I'm 3lbs away from my next one (239lbs).  Its only a few days, or maybe a week and I bit until I meet or surpass that goal, and it keeps me working hard!  I also think weekly weigh-ins have helped, but it didn't make this list.

7. Fitness goals

So once the eating became routine, and the pounds started going down, it was exciting. Eventually it starts to get kind of repetitive and this is a point where people are at risk of losing sight of their journey, especially when they have a lot to lose. Setting goals outside of weight keeps me motivated to continue on regardless of bad weeks and routine.  I wanted to complete Couch to 5k, and I did it.  I'm working on completing the 30 day shred right now.  Next I want to to Chalene Extreme, then Turbo Fire, the P90X.  ALSO I want to run.  I am signing up for a half marathon later this year that will require some real athletic training!  All of these things will help me with my weight-loss goals, but also make me feel good to be working towards them in themselves!

8. Fitness DVDs & Games

So simple.  Don't know what to do with weights, or want to mix up your regular workout routines.  My DVDs keep it exciting.  I started with Turbo Jam (which I LOVE and will be doing for the foreseeable future),  The Shred is a DVD, my Chalene Extreme is a DVD set, I have a Jillian Michaels Extreme Shed and Shred I am excited to do in the future, I have hip-hop abs, Yoga, Pilates... and I will be getting more.  My workouts never get boring because I have so many to mix it up!  I also just started using our X-Box Kinect.  I have The Biggest Loser game, Just Dance 3, and Zumba!!

9. Alarm Clock

Sounds silly, but waking up in the morning can be really challenging.  I like to get workouts in in the morning so I don't have them hovering over my head all day, and also I don't know about the rest of you, but in the evenings I am BEAT!  Sometimes I can make it to the gym or go for a walk, but sometimes I just want to relax, and then I find it even harder to get myself motivated.  I have an alarm clock app on my phone that uses graduake so the music starts very softly so I don't get that jolted away feeling.  **When I wake up to loud noises I can be one CRANKY B****.

10. Yummy Low Cal Snacks

Yes.  I have a huge sweet tooth.  Having healthy low-cal treats like Skinny Cow, Vitatops, and Fiber One bars keep me feeling satisfied without having mega calories.   One of my new favorites is a toasted Vitatop with a 1/4 cup of vanilla ice cream on top!  160 cals of delicious and a good hit of fiber :)




** I'm just saying that these things work for ME.  They may not work for everyone, but the trick is finding what works for YOU!

Celebrating 2011! Ready for 2012!

Sometimes I get so wrapped up in looking forward to my goals and how far away some of them seem.  It gets me down and full of self doubt, wondering if I'll get there.  I forget to REALLY look at what I have accomplished so far.

Tonight I will celebrate every pound lost this year (60 in total), every workout completed, every healthy snack, every time I threw out something I knew would tempt me, every early morning, every sore muscle, every day logging on MyFitnessPal (110 since September), every "Like" on my Facebook page, every hit on my blog, every time I picked myself back up from a rough patch, ALL of it!

I will celebrate a truly great year in my life, the birth of my daughter, the success of my business, new friendships, another year with my Husband (We met New Years Eve 2006).

When I came into 2011, all I could think about was having my baby girl in my arms, I had no idea what else could possibly happen.   I *wished* I could get healthier.  I *wished* for motivation.  Since I was pregnant, I didn't really have any sort or plan in place. You never know how your life will be with a newborn, and really its all about priorities.  She came first.

I'm excited that this year I can really put myself first.  I HAVE a plan, and although I'm still a devoted Mother, and business woman, I am able to balance all that with bettering myself and getting into the best shape of my life :)

Now, BRING ON 2012!

2011: Year in Review

This past year has been FULL.  I started this year in a different place.

In January I about 30 weeks pregnant.  I was due March 4th 2011.  My Husband decided to take a job in Vancouver (2 hours drive, 2 hours ferry and 1 more hour driving away).  We though it might be a good long-term opportunity for our family so off he went. I was pretty heart-broken, and my son who was not quite 2 yet didn't really understand.

Here he is the morning we left to move Daddy over. He put on his shoes and tried to pull his bag and open the door for him.  This picture made me cry because he was excited for the car ride but didn't understand he wouldn't be seeing his Daddy very often.

In February at 35 weeks pregnant, and my husband away I fell and sprained my ankle.  I could hardly get up to go get my son from his bed.  I was alone and scared.  It made me more angry that my husband was working away from me.

On Feb 28th 2011, I went into labour.  My student midwife didn't believe me but finally agreed to meet me at the hospital.  I was in a LOT of pain and when they checked my I was 8cm.  They broke my water and it was time to push.  This didn't leave enough time for Jeff to get home from Vancouver, so he missed the birth.   He arrived about 5 hours after she was born.

Jeff stayed home that week, and then went back to Vancouver.  During this time I discovered just how strong I could be. I had a newborn baby, an almost 2 year old, and a daycare that I was running from my home.  I was also taking care of paying all the bills (Vancouver and Home and Daycare) I had help during the day with daycare, but everything else was on me.  Guess what?  I did it!! I survived.

When Annalisa was 6 weeks old we started taking turns with Jeff visiting. We would visit Jeff and then two weeks later, he would visit us, and so on.  We had a lot of fun during our adventures. We went to the Zoo, the Aquarium, rode on mini trains, ate at Krispy Kreme, rode on ferries and more!  I was also able to catch up with two of my most favourite friends in the whole world! It reminded me what true friendship is, and that I didn't need to see people every day to know I still cared for them.

In May I got some EDS testing done, and found out that I was sensitive to certain foods.  I started a strict diet eliminating a lot of foods.  I did great and felt great for that month.  I lost about 14lbs.

 In June Jeff lost his job in Vancouver.  We decided that he should move home instead of looking for something else there.  At that time I stopped my diet.  We also began the summer of The Food Channel... I started baking a lot and making dishes worthy of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.  My excuse was that I had been stressed out. I deserved a break. Every occasion was another excuse to bake and consume delicious but totally unhealthy foods. I even started making things into occasions.  Happy Sunday! (Shaking head)

 By September I had gained back all my 14lbs + 5.  In September that's when Crystal said to me "Are you going first, or am I?" That's when it all seemed to 'click'. I started and finished the Couch to 5k app, I started doing Turbo Jam again.  I started logging all my food into MyFitnessPal, every little bite, EVERY damn day!

This is me a few weeks into my change.  I was feeling good and joked that I was channelling the show Big Sexy.

 Here I am about a week ago and down 40lbs:

 Since September I have come this far!

Wow. A lot happens in a year!

In December I decided to 'go public' with my weight-loss journey and self transformation. I started my Facebook page, and shortly after re-started my blog.   Until that point I wasn't ready to show anyone my imperfections.  I didn't want anyone to judge me or see me fail. Most likely I didn't want anyone to know I had admitted there was something wrong with me.

Now I am gearing up to ring in the New Year with my New Years Challenge.  I'm amped up and ready to go!! Can only imagine how far I'll get in 2012!

Staying on track... I'm really doing it!

Well, I have managed to stay on track and have now lost 36lbs since September!


When I first started this blog, I thought I was ready. I fell off the wagon pretty hard and while it was a failure. Rather than just start a totally brand new blogI decided to keep my old posts as a reminder of where I have come from and that I can always get back up again!


I have recently started a Facebook page as well, but decided this would be the place to go into a little more depth with my journey.


SO!  Currently I weigh 251lbs.  I have been using MyFitnessPal obsessively.  I am currently of day 97 of logging my food in a row!  I log everything, the good, the bad, and the ugly.  A huge part of my journey is no excuses and no lying to myself.


My fitness journey started with walking, moved on to couch to 5k and has included a lot of Turbo Jam.  I can now run 5k in 38.5 minute.  I have developed somewhat of an obsession with running. During the day if its sunny I just feel like I have to get out there.


I haven't really lost in a few weeks because I had a "spike" week and then I really struggled this past week!  I am battling Plantar Fasciitis, so I have had to slow down on my running and high impact workouts.  I have been depending on those workouts for my big calorie burns and use them so I can afford to eat a little more some days.

I also had a really hard time this week because my friend and co-worker left for a trip which means that I will be working by myself for a while.   She has meant a lot to me this year.  She is 95% of the social interaction I get as an in-home daycare provider.  Before she came along it was not nearly so fun.  This last year has been awesome and I couldn't have done it without her! She has been there for me even when my husband was not, she kept me and my business going.  When my husband was living in another city and I was pregnant and had my baby girl, she made it so I didn't have to shut down my daycare. She allowed me to spend time recovering and she made sure she helped out as much as possible while Anna was a newborn.  She has shared many of Anna's first moments and is also my son't favourite person (other than Mommy and Daddy of course). 

For the next few weeks I plan on taking it easy and enjoying the holidays (in moderation).  I want to rest my foot so I am ready and able to go hard for January. 

Me in September

Me in December