Finishing Well

MY STORY… BEYOND THE SCALE & REAL LIFE TOO

True Confessions of an Imperfect Weight Watcher Leader

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Happy Leap Year!  My daughter asked this morning why we have Leap Year.  At 6:45am I couldn't think of the answer but didn't want her to know that so I quickly replied "That will be a really great question to ask at school this morning don't you think?  Tonight at dinner I look forward to hearing YOU tell ME all about Leap Year!"  The really bad part is that it is now well past morning brain and I still have no idea why we have this day every four years!  LOL!  Something about the sun and the rotation...  Never fear I will google it before the kids get home!

We were talking about goals this past week in the meeting and I realized that my Fitness Goal is the same one that I usually set this time of year.  To RUN a 5k.  My daughter starts Girls on the Run today which means that I will need to run with her at her 5K later this spring.  For extra motivation we also registered for a local 5K that supports children in foster care.  At least is supposed too motivate me! 

So here I am on the last day of February thinking about this annual goal of mine and it dawned on me that I have had this goal now for the past 3 years.  Yet I have never accomplished it.  Each year I download the Couch to 5k app an 8 week program designed to get you from the couch to a 5k in about 8 weeks time.  I can make it about 6.5 weeks then I give up.  Not intentionally.  But somewhere around that time frame my life gets busy & its around here that I run a full mile without resting so now I am a know it all and no longer need the App to teach me how to get the other 2.2 miles done.  (This time I need to make this Fitness goal a Smart Goal like we talked about in the meeting)  Then the day of the race comes and I walk/run it.  I am unable to complete it the way I want.  First of all I can't because I didn't do the work.  My dream of running the entire 3.2 miles stays a dream.  Many of the runners are there to win!  Get the prize, beat their best time.  Me I show up - get a tshirt - maybe a medal, and it is really a great day.  I spend it with my daughter.  In a large family like ours, time with just one kid doesn't happen often enough.  Yet once we get home and the day is done I reflect on the fact that I didn't reach my goal.  I make excuses about how it doesn't matter since the day was so great & try to convince myself that the time together was the goal.  But I know that was just part of it.  I really wanted to run alongside her - not hold her back.  I want her to be proud of me.  I want to run the good race... train my body to endure, learn to breathe, eat right, condition.  I don't need to win.  I don't have a time to beat.  I just want to finish without resting.  I want to finish well. 

Instead the past few years I sign up and think that magically I will know how to breathe and run and keep up with my daughter and not be last. 

Is this familiar?  Do you do this with your WW journey?  Do you pay each month and really really want to "lose weight and get healthy" but have no plans of doing what it takes to actually have that happen?  You know what to do.  Most of us know don't we?  Yet we hope that knowing is enough.  We know how to track, measure, weigh, move etc. and still we choose to ignore what we know &  lay on the couch eating "junk".  That's not the end though is it.  We do nothing and expect to loose weight.  So what is it that needs to happen to turn our dreams into reality?  We need to Leap.  Take that first scary step and DO what we know needs to be done.  Look at what can get in the way and push past or plan a detour.  Tell someone (or us!) to have accountability and begin taking the first steps toward reaching our goals!  Together we can do this!

btw if you are still wondering:  It takes 365.something days for the earth to rotate around the sun.  Since it isn't a perfect 365 days we need to have Leap Year to play catch up.  Grade school science is coming back to you now isn't it ;)

WHAT'S HAPPENING:
Wednesday March 2, in Geneva -
             Struggling Member Workshop  9-10am
Thursday March 10th in South Elgin -
              App Academy  6-7pm
Saturday March 12th in North Aurora -
              App Academy  11am - 12pm

LET'S CLAP THE BIG HANDS:

Let's celebrate!  This morning we had 3 people reach their 5% goal!  I didn't have my camera ready but this week Mary H., Kendra & Sara from DeKalb all reached this health milestone!  BRAVO ladies!

TASTY TUESDAY:

Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti  5sp

Since using the squash instead of pasta I made mine like an Italian meal.

Ingredients:

Spaghetti Squash

1 pound Ground Italian Sausage

1/4 c. diced onion

1/4 c. diced green pepper

Large can of Diced Tomatoes

1/4 c. Mama Mia Marinara Seasoning (from Tastefully Simple)

Olive Oil

Season Salt, Pepper, Sea Salt, Garlic - to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400.
2. Slice off one end of squash so that it stands on end.  Slice it long ways and scrape out the seeds.
3. Coat with Olive oil, season salt and sea salt.  Then place face down on a cookie sheet and cook for 40-60 minutes. Or until soft.  (My husband & I like it a little on the crunchy side so we cooked for 40 minutes.
4. In a skillet put onion and diced green peppers for about 10 minutes or until they start to soften.  Then add Italian Sausage to until browned.
5. Once meat is browned add Mama Mia seasoning, can of diced tomatoes, garlic, salt & pepper to taste.
6. Once spaghetti squash is done scrape out the insides with a fork.  This is your "noodles"
7. Top with Meat Marinara Mixture.

Since I avoided the pasta with this dish I also had a slice of garlic bread!  My husband and I shared the squash eating a half each.  The meat w/ sauce fed our family of 8.  Points were calculated for 8 servings.

                            

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: 

MY STORY… BEYOND THE SCALE & REAL LIFE TOO

True Confessions of an imperfect Weight Watcher Leader

September 15, 2015

Weight:  -3.0
Number of diet cokes so far today:  NONE!
Number of times I wanted to stop tracking:  137

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Yay Me!  I think I am flipping the mental switch back into caring mode.  Facing the scale last week for myself and all of you was HUGE!  Instead of the excuses that kept popping in my head I realized that until this was real for me.  I had 2 choices; one either continue maintaining this new higher weight that I really didn’t like or I could start doing my job!  I even caught myself making a pile of “someday I’ll wear these again pants.”  OOPS!  I think that was my slam on the brakes moment.  That ah ha reality check that was confirmation that I was no longer being honest with myself.  That I needed to change.  

Hence the September of Transparency. 

This week I was so determined to lose those 2.2 pounds that everything that went into my mouth (after Labor Day weekend parties of course) was tracked.  I didn’t weigh and measure but if it was countable it was counted.  I tracked water, 0 point fruits & veggies and even was sure to take my vitamins and get in my healthy oils.  I wanted to give up many times.  Especially after figuring out I had had 30 points at Chipotle!  Really didn’t want to track that.  But I pressed on.  Partly because I knew I didn’t want to type a + again for you; and partly because I could feel the good habits coming back to me!  I know that sounds weird but it was like I could almost see a glimpse of where I was going and it felt so good that I wanted to get there no matter what!

However, I admitted to some of you on Friday that I was beginning to get nervous.  Was I going to step on the scale Saturday morning after this fantastic on plan week and….what if… It didn’t show?  EEK!  For goodness sake I know as well as you do that the scale doesn’t define our success.  But I didn’t care.  In that moment before actually putting my feet onto the scale (after peeing and exhaling of course) I wanted so badly for there to be a minus sign!  Whew!  There was!  And it was a big one too!  I was so proud of myself that I almost didn’t wait till today for the blog.  I almost sent it to Facebook at 6 am on Saturday! J

So after my private celebration the reality of my Story came into focus.  It would have been or maybe it should have been o.k. no matter what that dumb box of springs had told me.  Why was I nervous?  I was kicking Weight Watcher butt last week and I was proud of myself.  Truthfully there would have been a pang of sadness, frustration, anger and a little shouting in that moment if I had gained or stayed the same but I also can honestly say that my body felt good last week.  I felt stronger and more in control of my food choices.  I even said no to the concession stand during the kid’s football games!  These are the actual successes that were a part of my story last week.  I think I am going to write them down so I remember how great this felt – then read them on those weeks when the scale just isn’t in my favor.  Can you try to believe in yourself too this week?

Can you take the power away from the scale & acknowledge the choices & behaviors that you achieved?  Savor those accomplishments!  Revel in the power of your body! 

If you are reading this and thinking; My life is so HARD right now I can’t focus on weight, if this week life is body slamming you all over the ring. Then take a breath and remember this is just one chapter of the story.  Soon a new chapter will begin.  Each chapter is filled with our hopes, dreams, obstacles, epiphanies, and our life aside from W.W. and that’s what makes us special.  

So breathe in, now exhale.  And decide: What will Your Story look like this week?  I can’t wait to hear all about it! 

SEPTEMBER Theme:  MY SUCCESS STORY!

What do you think of the new “My Success Story” tool that replaced your Weight Record?  Losing weight is important, but it isn’t the be-all, end-all to a happy healthy life.  This tool is designed to help you define your goals on and off the scale.  How is your story coming along?

Last Week:     SET YOUR COURSE

How do you define success?  Defining and setting goals that are personal and meaningful to us means we are much more likely to stay focused and engaged.  Set your course on a path that takes you where you want to go and you will not want to stray!

This Week:   WHAT’S YOUR WHY?

Each and every one of us has different reasons why we are working toward weight loss.  For some it is an upcoming wedding, for others it is being able to sit on the floor and play with the (grand) kids.  Perhaps it’s to learn healthier food choices and know what a serving size looks like.  Understanding what you want can help you stay motivated in the long run.  So, why do you feel strongly about making changes in your life?  Both on & off the scale.   Give it some thought before you head to your meeting this week!

What’s Happening This Week!

ON SALE THIS WEEK: 

COMPANION BOOKS: $5.00

SMOOTHIES:  $4.95

OATMEAL:   $4.95

FRUITIES:  $1.50

COOK BOOKS:  50% OFF

STRUGGLING MEMBER WORKSHOPS:

Back by popular demand:  Is it possible to be addicted to SUGAR?   Don’t have a sweet tooth? You will be surprised where this little treat is hiding!

• In South Elgin = September 24,  6:00pm - 7:00pm

 TASTY TUESDAY:

5 INGREDIENT PINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE

Servings:  10

PPV:  4

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time:  40 minutes

Other:  20 minutes

Ingredients:

·        ¼ cup unsalted butter

·        ¼ cup packed light brown sugar

·        7 slices of canned pineapple rings in juice, reserve ¼ cup juice*

·        1 cup of unprepared vanilla cake mix  

·        1 large egg     

Instructions: 

1.     Preheat oven to 375˚F. 

2.     Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a 9-inch round, flameproof, aluminum pan over medium-low heat (make sure to cover entire pan bottom); sprinkle sugar over top.

3.     Carefully place pineapple rings in a single layer in bottom of pan. Increase heat to medium-high and cook until pineapple caramelizes, flipping once, about 2 minutes per side; remove pan from heat. 

4.     Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter on stove top or in microwave. In a medium-size mixing bowl, beat egg with melted butter. Add cake mix and reserved pineapple juice; combine well. 

5.     Pour batter over pineapple; bake until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, about 30 to 35 minutes. Allow cake to cool for about 15 to 20 minutes; when still warm, loosen sides with a knife and invert cake onto a serving plate. Slice into 10 pieces and serve. Yields 1 slice per serving. 

Quote of the Week:

by Dr. Joyce Brothers

This newsletter is and the views shared are not affiliated with weight watchers international, inc.  It is meant to be a motivational tool. 

MY STORY… BEYOND THE SCALE & REAL LIFE TOO

Love my body?  Do people actually do that?

I stand in front of you each week so y’all know that I have gained some weight this year.  I hate it.  I get embarrassed and feel like a hypocrite sometimes.  I am still a Weight Watcher but with some of the “Life” stuff going on it can be hard to stay focused.  It’s hard for me to even type and admit this to you now - but I can - because YOU all are MY support system too!

I went to the doctor this month & was told “I’m just getting older” is that something that is true or is this just another excuse that society gives us to accept our bodies?  I don’t know if I want to weigh what I did when I first reached my WW goal (maybe a little of me does but that was also 3 kids ago) See another reason/excuse.  She also told me that once you hit a certain age, woman need to watch their sugars and move more.  It’s not just about diet anymore at this age.  How old does she think I am?!  But she is right.  When I first hit my goal in 2006 I didn’t have to exercise to keep my weight off.  I moved for fun, had cheat weekends and could still show up at my Thursday meeting safely in my lifetime range.  Almost 10 years later I can’t do that anymore.  When I do – it shows.  Its showing. 

Then this week’s topic of Body Gratitude; when I have a love/hate relationship with mine.  I literally fell through one of my pool chairs this week!  Embarrassing!  Until, I spent some time thinking about all the things I appreciate about my body…I realized that I actually respect it!  Still hard to say I love it, but I am amazed by it! This body has climbed mountains, hiked ruins, para sailed, learned to run!, given birth, seen sights I didn’t know existed, heard roaring from oceans, listened to symphonies, smelled, tasted and touched so many things!  It has been a temple that I have taken for granted.  I don’t always respect it – I put crap in it and expect it to do miracles.  I look in the mirror and criticize it for its wrinkles, roles, veins and bumps.   But when I am grateful for this body I have I start to treat it in a whole new way.  I make better choices for it.  I stop talking bad to it.

She's a T

A few months ago my friend Jen (she’s mentioned again below in the recipe section) wrote a post about being that overweight chubby kid in grade school horrified on track day of having to compete with her fellow students.  Wishing she could go back to that little girl and show her what kind of woman she is now!  Jen just competed in a Tri-Athlon gosh darn it! She is a serious butt kicker that’s lost 216# on W.W.!  Wowza! 

Thinking of that post this week reminded me that when I am frustrated and say/think negative thoughts about this body of mine; what if I had to say them out loud to the grade school version of myself?  Better yet, what if I said those thoughts to my daughters and sons? “You’re so ugly.  Your legs are like tree trunks!  Look at all that cellulite!  You have cankles!  Look at that double chin, flabby arms, tummy roll…do I need to keep going?  Probably not.  I don’t think any of us would say those hurtful words to others so we need to stop saying them to ourselves!

So this week when I am frustrated with some part of my body I will not turn to food!  This is the time to do something great for my body!  I will thank it by accepting compliments, I will go for a walk, eat less processed foods, try that yoga class I have wanted to try and begin to accept that this woman, of that particular age, can learn to love the body I’m in.  Flaws and all. 

I will always have gratitude for my body
I will have a healthy body image
I will always love my body no matter what
I am beginning to accept myself more and more
I am beginning to feel content with the way I look
I am becoming happier with my body
Each day I look and feel better
My self-acceptance is beginning to change the way other people see me
I am overcoming negativity and building a positive attitude towards myself
I am finding it easier to feel confident in the way I look

~Shared by Tom, a fellow W.W. Leader

Check out Jen’s Blog: www.suchafunnyfat.blogspot.com

Or this inspiring article on woman looking in the mirror at a local mall.  http://www.upworthy.com/these-ladies-arent-happy-with-their-reflection-but-then-the-mirror-tells-the-truth

JULY Theme:  FIND YOUR FOCUS!

July was centered on the idea that finding our focus will empower us.  All month long we’ve worked on making actionable, positive choices that lead us to getting happy.  How have you directed your focus to a specific change and how has it impacted you?  What choices have you made this month that has helped you Get Happy? #FindYourFocus 

 

Last Week:     ”OUTSMART YOUR TIME BANDITS”

How often do you wish for more hours in a day?  Ever said if only I had 25 hours…..”  While more time can’t be created, we can be mindful about how we spend our time and ensure that we’re getting what we really want out of our days.  What is stealing your time?  Is there a strategy to help you find your focus and get that time back?  Be sure to share in our meeting this week what worked and what didn’t – you never know whom you’re going to inspire!

This Week:  “BODY GRATITUDE”

Image shared from MollysFund.org

When it comes to physical appearance, most people are quick to find the negative aspects but when asked to find positive with regard to their body…uhm…!  Negative self-talk could very well be holding us back in achieving what we really want.  The good news is that if the negative self-talk can have that big of an effect, so can positive talk!  How we think and talk about our bodies has a profound impact on how we feel about ourselves - so this week we will unlock positive, supportive, beliefs in order to pave the way towards success and LOVING your body! 

What’s Happening This Week!

GET HAPPY CHALLENGE:

You’re almost there!  The charms are in and waiting to be placed on your charm holders for attending meetings this summer during your busy schedules!  You put yourself first in order to earn that bling – don’t stop now!   

ON SALE THIS WEEK: 

ALL ACTIVITY TOOLS!  DVD’s, weights, pedometers, yoga mats, active links and Fit Bits oh my!  If it helps us move it’s probably on sale! 

 

STRUGGLING MEMBER WORKSHOPS:

Are you sabotaging yourself with Negative Thoughts?  Do you feel unmotivated?  Struggling with staying on plan? You're not alone!  This month we focus on how our thoughts get in our way!

·         Aug 5,  9-10am ~ Geneva Store

TASTY TUESDAY:

GRILLED FENNEL & TOMATO

My great friend and fellow leader Jen (w/ one N – so lazy, right? Just write that extra N! J) allowed my family to share her vegetable farm box this week, while she was on vacation!  Wow!  What a neat idea, you share the harvest of a local organic farm a specific amount of weeks with other families, (thus splitting the cost)  We arrived at the host home where a garage full of boxes were waiting.  I grabbed the box and went home to see what was inside! 

Most of you know that this is a little out of my comfort zone.  Veggies are often drunk in smoothies or chopped finely into sauces – it’s awful I know.  Someday I will be struck by lightning from the WW gods saying that!  However, it was fun washing, chopping and searching recipes for the items we brought home.  And, I confess; I did have to text a picture of one or two things to Jen because I simply had no idea what it was!  Hence your recipe this week.  Fennel!  Have you ever seen Fennel!  Of course you have because you’re all perfect Weight Watchers that try new veggies every week!  Right?! Wink Wink!

Fennel is a unique vegetable that looks like a cross between a celery and an onion.  But it doesn’t taste like either.  It smelled like black licorice which was hard for me to get past – so I grilled it instead of eating it raw like Jen suggested.  By grilling it it took on a sweeter, more herbal flavor.  Btw I used my grill pan on the stove because the mosquitoes were so bad Sunday night!

           

Points Plus Values:  2

Servings: 1

Ingredients:

·        1 Fennel (I had one but if your cooking for more than yourself you will want more)

·        2 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Here’s where the points come from)

·        Chopped Garlic

·        1 Lemon

·        Tomato (again cooking for myself I used 1)

·        Sea Salt & Pepper per your taste

Instructions:

1.      Cut off the bottom of your fennel bulb and trim off the stems. (There are things you can do with the stems but I just fed them to my bunny)

2.    Cut the bulb in half lengthwise.  Then into wedges.  My fennel did this naturally for me, like an onion.

3.     Slice your tomato into wedges also.

4.    In a bowl I made a marinade of olive oil, squeezed the juice from the lemon, and chopped garlic.

5.     Heat up your grill pan & spray with nonstick cooking spray.  

6.     I dropped my veggies into the marinade bowl until they were coated.  Then placed them on the grill pan.  You could put the lemon on there too if you like!

7.     Turn the heat to medium and let cook until tender, almost translucent.  This was about 10 minutes for me.  I flipped them occasionally.

8.     Salt and pepper while grilling or use any other season you may like!

9.     Once done I just ate them!  It was so good.  I had used a Roma Tomato so I started to imagine it served over pasta and tossing it in the marinade like a cold salad… Maybe next time!  Bon Appetit!

Let’s Clap the Big Hands!

Celebrate the Scale & those Non Scale Victories too!

BIG SHOUT OUT TO the N. AURORA WALKING GROUP! 

These ladies are walking on Wednesday nights at 7pm.  They have started going short distances and times but are hoping to be walking a 5k by September!  If you are interested in starting one after your meetings just say the word.  It would be great to wear your walking shoes to your meeting and then take off after we are done.  These ladies are having a great time getting to know each other and are looking for more group members.  If this sounds like a group you want to be a part of just show up on Wednesdays at the N. Aurora Center.  They’d love to have you!

You Ladies Rock!

(if you’d like to share your success, post under comments or let me know you’d like to be added in the blog)

Quote of the Week:

by Dr. Maxwell Maltz

This newsletter is and the views shared are not affiliated with weight watchers international, inc.  It is meant to be a motivational tool.