This journal is something I've been thinking about for a long time. My weight loss struggle is a big part of my journey through life and I've been chronicling it in my other journal. I need maximum accountability though and to do that I need a place I can post my food and exercise journal. That other journal doesn't seem to me to be the place.
I would be tempted to call this journal a weight loss journal but really it's much more.It would be better off labled a healthy living journal. Weight loss is just a part of that. Once I lose the weight I hope to keep it off...this time.
You see I've done it before. In February of 2002 I began Weight Watchers. I needed it badly. I was on two different medications for high blood pressure. I could barely walk a few hundred yards without a rest. My pants had elastic and draw-string waists. At that first Weight Watchers weigh in I tipped the scales at 301 pounds.
It took me from then to August 19 of 2004 to reach my goal weight, as set by my Doctor, of 201 lbs. I did it though and it felt great. Even just beginning to lose weight felt great. I quickly got to where I could walk long distances without stopping if I chose. I liked the way I looked again. I just plain felt good.
In the year since then however, mostly through emotional eating, i've regained 37 pounds of that. Comes a time when you have to stand up and say enough is enough and this is that time.I will get back to my goal weight and possibly beyond. While I'm nothing like what I was at 301 I don't like the way I look at 237. I don't feel bad and can walk as far as ever but I suspect that I will feel better at, or below, my goal weight.
This journal then is dedicated to healthy living, to me returning to my goal weight and maintaining it. I'm not a food Nazi. I love food. I love foods that are bad for me. One thing I've found is that if I deprive myself, or more accurately if I feel deprived, then I will end up lashing out and messing up. What you'll see here is basically me following the Weight Watchers Flex Plan. I'm a guy though, and I have a lot of experience at this. I also know what works for me both physically and mentally. I also tend to screw up at times. None of that is news to anybody. My point is this, what you see here will not be duplicatable. Over time it will work for me but the way I do it may not work for you. You have to find what does work for you and do that. A lot of what I do, most of it really, will work for anybody though.
While this journal is mostly for me I also hope it will serve as an inspiration to others when I have successes and a warning when I don't. If you ever have any questions, or want to offer suggestions feel free to comment either here or in an email to me.
Now to the meat of today's entry. Thursday's are my weigh in day. I went to the evening meeting last night with Connie since it was her monthly weigh in. She made lifetime before me and has maintained it thus far.
This week's official Weight Watchers Weight: 238.0 +37 over goal.
Thursday's food:
Breakfast:
5 Points Ham and Veggie Eggbeater Omelet
Lunch:
2 points Stir fry w/115g chicken, Zucchini, yellow squash,
mushrooms, red, green and jalepeno peppers, onion
Dinner:
11.5 points 2 hamburgers using 4% fat ground beef (8oz) and
2 Merita light wheat hamburger buns, onion, pickles, ect.
8 'oven fried' potato wedges (1 potato, 157g),
cajun seasoning
Snacks:
7.5 points 4 WW chocolate/carmel mini bars
1 WW cookies and cream bar
1 WW giant fudge bar
Activity points earned: 4 50 min brisk walking
Total points allowed: 28
Total points used: 26
Over/Under: -2
Activity points used: 0
flex points used: 0 (35 available)
net points today: 26
I was within points today :)
