Before you chow down on a chow mein - check the ProPoints

September 30^th 2011

It is better to be hated for what you are than loved for what you are not. Andre Gide

A great day yesterday, I got my 100^th gold member and I was thrilled because it was Ruth, she’s been struggling with those last few pounds for a few weeks now so it was lovely to see an ardent Weight Watcher member get her goal at last.  Ann last night also got her 50lb certificate, she’s been at goal for a year now but just wanted to get a few more pounds off.  I’ve really enjoyed my meeting this week, we’ve had a good giggle and one of my new members really made me feel good yesterday when she said it was the first time she’d ever felt comfortable and at ease in a meeting, I hope all my members do, but it sure is nice to hear it.  Speaking of which subtle hint if you’ve had the new Weight Watcher magazine check out the bottom of page 130 ;-)

So I had another good day yesterday, alcohol free too, I did make a classic Weight Watcher error though, one I tell you all not to do – I got on the scales and I’d gained a pound since Monday – gutted would be an understatement, all my helpers and some of my members were telling me all the things I tell them and even though I knew they were all true – it really doesn’t make you feel better does it, so please, please, please for the sake of your sanity – STAY OFF THE SCALES other than at your meeting.  I know I’m sticking to the plan so the weight will come off.

I fancied a Chinese takeaway, and after discussing the eating out guide portion sizes, I decided to do some research for you all ;D so on my way home I stopped to get one, when I got home I weighed it and the portion was 550g, now that’s a lot.  So I worked out roughly what that would be bearing in mind the ingredients used and I reckon 18pp for the tub because really there’s enough in that tub to serve 2 people – we just have very, very healthy appetites.  If you are just having that, then 18pp isn’t that bad, but if you’re having spring roll and anything else, then half should be plenty. 

This is what the tub looked like, it's like a jack in the box, jumps out when you take the lid off!

This is what it looked like on the plate, it's a lot of food.  There has to be 300g cooked noodles on that plate which is definitely 2 portions.

Here’s how my day ended

ProPoints™ Tracker entries Thursday, September 29, 2011

Breakfast
ham, tomato, soft cheese toastie	5
Subtotal	5
Lunch
Crab & phili linguine	9
mixed veggies included sweetcorn	1
Subtotal	10
Dinner
chow mein – Chinese takeaway (ate ¾ )	13
spring roll – Chinese takeaway	9
Subtotal	22
Any Time
1 serving(s) Milk, Skimmed	1
1 medium Banana	0
1 square(s) Chocolate, Milk	1
Subtotal	2
Food ProPoints values total used	39
Food ProPoints values remaining	0
Activity
Pedometer - Activity I created	5
Activity ProPoints values earned	5
Check off these important items daily:
Liquids - 8 Milk & Dairy - 1 Fruit & Vegetables - 7 Healthy Oil

I’ve still got 20 weeklies left and 42 activity ProPoints for if I need them, I’m doing that sponsored cycle on Sunday so won’t be drinking much this weekend either as I’ve got to drive to Manchester.

So I’m off running again this morning with my mate because we have our lunch and we’re being good this morning and eating at mine so I can ProPoint it although we were planning on sausage and gravy in large Yorkshire but I don’t think it’s gonna be the weather!  We’ll see, we can decided as we run, heck I’ve got 42 activity that will be 50 after the run, we can have anything ;D

So it Friday and the weekend is here, hope you’re going to be able to really enjoy the sunshine, enjoy your day, I’m gonna get my paperwork done so I can walk Alfie and fit everything else into my day, I’ve got dentist and vets today, obviously the latter is for Alfie ;D

Bye. xx

Ready for lunch & haven't had breakfast yet...

29^th September 2011

The way to get started is to stop talking and begin doing. Walt Disney

Well I’m probably starting to sound boring but I went running again over Cannock chaser yesterday afternoon and I managed 4 miles none stop, took me 47 minutes and I was chuffed to bits, I was also very sweaty because it was absolutely scorching hot, I intend to make the most of these last few days of sunshine, I’m actually loving it, it’s really hard but very satisfying (earned 8pp too), and running on the chase is just beautiful, if you’re not doing anything this weekend, go and have a walk along Sherbrook Valley, it’s glorious and you’ll earn some Activity ProPoints. And if you need more than earning ProPoints to get you out in the fresh air, research has shown that exercising in a natural green environment such as woodland or parks can dramatically improve your quality of life!  Research at the University of Essex shows that three out of four people feel less depressed, tense and angry after green exercise, two out of three feel in a better mood; and two thirds report a higher level of self-esteem.  Sounds good enough reason to me, it’s even been proven that as little as five minutes of exercise in a green space can have a positive impact on your mood.

Had an excellent day yesterday tracking wise, I managed to resist temptation, even though I felt ravenous after my run, I managed to choose wisely, I opted for a really good energy breakfast to help me run and then a filling and healthy lunch, I also defrosted the soup so that it would fill me up after my meetings, I easily ate more than my five a day yesterday and no sign of heartburn either, so cutting out the tea helped.

I’m thinking something with Philidelphia light today as I have a fridge full which I bought when it was on offer!  Yeah a linguine dish I think with peas and ham or maybe crabmeat, mmm nice, roll on lunch time. That’s lunch sorted maybe just beans on toast for tea for quickness.

ProPoints™ Tracker entries Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Breakfast
4 individual Brazil Nuts	2
6 whole Almonds	2
1 tablespoons California Raisins	1
3 individual Apricots, Dried	1
1 medium Banana	0
Subtotal	6
Lunch
Home made chicken, potato, cauliflower & spinach  curry	7
Subtotal	7
Dinner
Home made courgette & potato soup	2
Beef & salad Warbuton thins	8
Subtotal	10
Any Time
half slice banana bread	2
1 bottle(s) Yazoo Chocolate Flavour Milkshake	4
2 slices  cooked beef slices Asda Chosen by you,	1
8 Cherry Tomatoes,	0
Subtotal	7
Food ProPoints values total used	30
Food ProPoints values remaining	0
Activity
pedometer - Activity I created	9
47 min Running	8
Activity ProPoints values earned	17
Check off these important items daily:
Liquids = 8 Milk & Dairy = 1 Fruit & Vegetables = 8 Healthy Oil

I keep forgetting to tell you all that you helped raise £78 for Parkinsons Disease charity in my meetings, Marg my helper, her granddaughter did the Great North Run and raised over £500, she was thrilled with our donation, so thank you to everyone who puts their odd bits of change in our collection tubs.

This weeks meeting is all about support and we’ve been finding out you can find support in many places; you can also find saboteurs too!  I’m lucky at the moment because all my friends are supporting me and I’m hoping to lose my half stone for my holiday, here’s to a weight loss for all of us every week for the next 7 weeks ;D

Just remember that everyone loses weight at different speeds, we’re all very different and never judge yourself by someone else’s results, we all have different lifestyles etc, so if you’re doing the best you can, that’s all that matters.

I wonder if I’ll get my 100^th Gold Member today, fingers crossed. xx

Keep on tracking...

28^th September 2011

Every oak tree started out as a couple of nuts who stood their ground.

Day two complete and on track, using more than my daily allowance, but that’s what the weeklies and activity ProPoints are for so it’s ok, plus it’s helping me get back into it.  I still need more fruit and vegetables, I’m not hitting them because of the types of meals I’m eating, I need to have one of my frozen vegetable curry’s today I think to give me some of them.  I’ve also started getting heartburn so will be cutting out the cups of tea and the lager at weekends as I don’t think either help.

ProPoints™ Tracker entries Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Breakfast
1 medium Banana	0
2 small slices of toast	3
1 teaspoons Syrup, Any Type	1
Subtotal	4
Lunch
2 Crumpets, Love to Toast	5
2 soft boiled eggs	4
salad leaves & tomato	0
Subtotal	9
Dinner
100 g Smoked Salmon	3
2  Warburton Sandwich Thins	6
1 tablespoons Philadelphia Light	1
salad leaves & tomato	0
Subtotal	10
Any Time
1 medium Apple	0
wine - Quick-added food	6
half slice banana bread –made by luvly WW member ;-)	2
Weight Watcher bakes	2
1 serving(s) Skimmed Milk, for cups of tea	1
Subtotal	11
Food ProPoints values total used	34
Food ProPoints values remaining	0
Activity
pedometer - Activity I created	5
Activity ProPoints values earned	5
Check off these important items daily:
Liquids Milk & Dairy Fruit & Vegetables Healthy Oil

Great day yesterday, another two members to goal, making my total for the year 99, I wonder who will be my 100^th goal member of 2011, it’s so lovely when my members get to their goals, so to be able to help so many is just fantastic.

At the opposite end of the scale, it’s horrid when a member gets on the scales expecting a loss and don’t get it, seriously IT SUCKS!  So what do you say to someone who knows they’ve followed the plan and stuck to it, or believes they have?  Sometimes it’s very difficult to say anything that’s going to make a difference, heck I’ve been there myself and I know how it feels to be expecting to be smiling and for your heart to sink into the pit of your stomach, it actually feels as heavy as the pound you’ve just gained!  Why does this happen?  Who knows, lots of things could be the cause or it could just be one of those unexplainable things.  If it’s coming up to that time of month or it is that time then that could be the cause, you could be ProPointing incorrectly (underestimating or overestimating are both bad) or not tracking everything, if you’ve started exercising that seems to slow down weight loss initially but not long term, when it kicks in, it kicks in good.  Everyone’s body is different, however if you stick to the plan and follow it correctly, the weight will come off.  If you’re being very active remember you’re body needs good sources of fuel to cope with it, that’s why I’m experimenting with my breakfast because I know I need energy to be able to run for 40 minutes, especially if I hope to get that up to 60 minute eventually.  Here are some guidelines if you didn’t lose this week and you’d like to be fit, healthy and enjoy the journey;

·         Are you eating your 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day?

·         Do you drink 2 litres of water a day?
·         Enjoy your daily allowance; you’ll only lose them if you don’t.
·         You have your weekly allowance for those little extras, so don’t deprive yourself.
·         Vary the meals that you eat, otherwise not only will you get bored but your body will get used to what you’re feeding it.
·         Try not to use too many points on junk or processed food, that’s not just cake and biscuits, but burgers, sausages etc. 
·         Consider using low calorie/low fat alternatives like low fat cooking spray, low fat cheese and diet drinks if you think they will help you.
·         Calcium – you can get your daily requirements from a pint of skimmed milk.
·         Cut down on saturated fat – cut off excess fat and skin from meat, eat more oily fish (mackerel, tuna, trout & salmon) 
·         Ready meals are convenient but you will get more from cooking your own meals from scratch.
·         Portion sizes – be realistic (a whole cooked chicken is not a portion!) 
·         Weigh your food it really makes a difference.  A HUGE DIFFERENCE – I couldn’t live without my scales because my eyes are bigger than my ProPoints allowance :D
·         Get a bit of exercise, walk round the block after your evening meal.
·         Alcohol – try not to go over the recommended guideless each week.  This is the one I’m working on ;D

We had some fabulous weight losses last night, Monday morning I had a new member who lost a stone in his first week, that’s exceptional of course and very few people would lose that, so remember you’re aiming for up to 2lb a week and anything more is a bonus.  I’m aiming for 1lb next Monday (o yes I’ve gone back to Monday morning weighing, it’s better for me, so this Monday I was exactly 11st).

Hopefully we’ll get another glorious day today and I’ll get to fit in a run on the chase again, I may as well make the most of it whilst its here, I’ll be running round the block enough over the winter months, if we get the snow we had last year I may have to consider a short term gym membership ;( I’d rather not though.  I’m still struggling with the fact I’m enjoying this running lark, one of my returning members last night reminded me I was the one who said, “only dogs and horses run”, she’s right I was and it just shows that we can change our minds about anything! 

Have a tremendous on track day. xx