WW Weigh-in #12

Well, shit:

Last week: 187.8 lb
This week: 189.0 lb
Total gained this week: 1.4 lb

Weight loss target: 181.8 lb
To reach target: 8.2 lb

I've gained almost 2.5 lb these last two weeks. I'd really like to blame it on my menstrual cycle but really, I've eaten like crap. And by like crap, I mean lots of delicious food that caused me to gain 2.4 lb.

But not all hope is lost! I know I can lose the gained weight - and more - because I've proven to myself I can do it. I just need to do what I've been saying I should do for the past two weeks and get back on track. All will be well and I'm even going to go so far and make a prediction: next week, I'll weigh in at 187 even. Two pounds gone. Yeah I said it.

Also, no more Popeye's chicken. In all honesty, that will be the easy part!

How was your weekend?

I hope it was a good one!

Mine was ... indulgent. Sushi for dinner last night followed by beers for St Patrick's Day. Popeye's chicken today to satiate a craving, along with pancakes for breakfast and shepherd's pie for dinner.

Not only did I completely decimate all my daily points, I'm also out of weekly points. Thankfully I've got about 16 activity points for a buffer as well as plans to have good workouts tomorrow and Tuesday. I might even try to sneak in a workout tonight - thought it's 8:30 now and I don't want to keep myself awake.

Regardless, I'm determined to record a loss this week - bring on the vegetables!

Book Review: The Guardians

I started this book on Wednesday night and finished it today (Saturday). And I did not stay home from work to read, even though I wanted to. I did, however, stay up late last night reading it, which proved to be a mistake, but I'll get to that.

I read the crap out of this book. I enjoyed the crap out of this book.

It's the story of four hockey-playing guys - Trevor, Randy, Carl and Ben - who were best friends in high school but went their separate ways after graduation. 24 years later, they're back in their hometown to attend Ben's funeral, after he kills himself.

Trevor is our narrator and has just been diagnosed with Parkinson's. As a result of the diagnosis, his doctor has recommended he keep a journal. Trevor decides to start a memory journal, in which he tells us about when the guys were 16 and what happened that winter that changed their lives forever. The memory chapters alternate with Trevor's narration on the present, being back in his hometown, facing his friend's death, the girl he left behind, the events that he can't forget...but may not remember correctly.

And that is part of the beauty of the book, a narrator who has no reason not to be honest, except that he drops those oh-so-subtle hints that he's sure that's how it went because that's how he remembers it or that this is what he remembers, whether it actually happened that way or not. It's a great story, a psychological thriller-cum-ghost story that, when read late on a Friday night, may make the reader hear things that aren't really there or see shadows that may not be from the streetlights. You still trust Trevor, though, and you want to believe him, even when it gets spooky.

It's also almost impossible to put down, which is why I finished it so quickly. But even with a fast-moving plot, the characters are still developed enough to make you care about them and all the characters in the book are there for a reason. It's a well-told story that is ghost story, thriller, buddy reunion and man-in-mid-life-crisis tale all rolled into one.

Best read when you have a few days to enjoy uninterrupted.

My reward!

From this:

To this:

Being debt-free never felt so good!

Back-tracking

Sometimes I go on my own mini eating binges. It's not like I clean out the fridge, but sometimes I just need to eat a lot of hummus and tortilla chips or ice cream or fudge. And I'm usually a little ashamed afterward and I often don't log my points that day.

But I always go back.

My points log is between me and the internet so it's not like people are going to comment on my horrible habits. And I have the extra weekly points to use and I often bank quite a few activity points, so it's okay if I eat a bit more. But most importantly, I'm only cheating myself if I don't accurately track my food.

It's really tempting to think, "Oh, it was just a piece of fudge, it doesn't matter." Thing is, it does. Other thing is, it's okay. And that is what I need to remember.

As long as I honestly track my points I'll be successful. It's really that simple. So my little binge from last night that I haven't logged yet? I'm going to do that now.

(And I'm only blushing a little.)

WW Weigh-In #11

It was one of those weeks:

Last week: 186.8 lb
This week: 187.8 lb
Total gained this week: 1.0 lb

Weight loss target: 181.8 lb
To reach target: 6.0 lb

Though I checked the calendar and if I had a regular menstrual cycle, I would have been on it last week, so that makes me feel a bit better. It also helps explain my intense cravings for Cheetos too.

But I'm not worried. With this beautiful spring weather, I'm extra motivated to get outside and enjoy it which will only help me, mind, body and soul!

Refreshed!

I had a wonderful sleep last night! Even though I didn't get home from work until midnight (it was a long-ass day) I was fortunate enough to be able to sleep in this morning until 10:30 (my start time at work today was noon). 10 1/2 hours of sleep a night is definitely NOT my norm but it was desperately needed and I feel so good today! I think the beautiful spring weather also helps.

I talked yesterday about the effect lack of sleep can have on weight management and today I really feel like the poster child for that. Yesterday I was sluggish, bloated, hungry all the time and craving junk food, and I always felt in need of more coffee. Today no more bloat, I'm alert and energetic, I want to eat good food and I feel satisfied after eating it, I've had one coffee and feel like that should be enough (though if today is a long day I might need a pick-me-up!) and I'm just all-around in a better head space.

I know sleep is important; I'm one of those people who gets super grumpy when she's tired. But sometimes I like to think that I don't really need that much, that I can function just fine on a few hours a night here and there, if need be. Maybe that's my way of mentally preparing myself for motherhood. After yesterday and my sleep last night, though, I'm much more aware of how important it is for me to get the sleep my body needs. And those around me will be thankful too!