Slacker no more

When I rejoined Weight Watchers back in December, I promised myself I would not slack off.  I can now add that promise to the pile of broken self-promises.  I totally slacked off.  I'm currently 1.6 pounds below my highest weight ever, having gained 1.2 pounds last week.  But, I am not going to let it get to me.  Last night's meeting topic was really interesting and it made me realize that my problem isn't necessarily all the food I eat (it's part of it) but it's my not tracking.  I've said it before and will say it again and again... It really is simple.  When I track, I lose.  When I don't, I gain.

Before the meeting, I bought myself a new 12-week tracking journal, so in addition to tracking online with the Etools program, I will track on paper.  This morning, after I finished all my morning work stuff, I sat back, took a break and filled out the 12-week tracker.  This got me thinking about an additional tracking accountability method (thanks for filling in the blank word Meagan!).  You guys.  This blog.  I know I haven't been consistent before... okay, EVER, and I'm not going to promise I will be now.  I'm hoping to be MORE consistent than I have been, though.

Each week, I will try to transcribe the week's plan from 12-week tracker to blog.  Also, any interesting news/food/exercise will also be added.  By now, you know I'm not a "take-a-picture-of-my-half-eaten-food" kind of person, but when there is something tasty, I will share it.

Better than I expected

Weighing in for the first time in eight weeks is hard. Especially when you know you gained. But, with the awesome support of my leader and my friend, I faced the music and stepped on that scale. I was expecting five pounds or more and came in a 4.2. So, yes, a gain. But definitely better than I expected.

This week's topic is tracking. It always seems like whenever I am struggling with a part of the program, the week's topic is that part I am struggling with. We discussed the various ways of tracking -- what works, what doesn't, how to make it work for you. As I was listening to everyone, I started thinking about my journey and how I am able to make it work for me.

When I track, I lose. When I don't track, I gain. It's as simple as that. I've tried many different ways of tracking over the years. Using the three-month tracker, writing everything down; using etools and typing everything into the online tracker; finding any bit of paper to write on if I'm out and don't have my tracker; some combination of the above. What works for me, if tracking online. I used to be really good with the paper trackers, but I just don't have the patience to look things up in a book anymore. I gave my books to my mom. With the release of the WW etools Android app for my phone, it will make tracking on etools much easier.

Last night, my leader also introduce the traveling journal. The traveling journal is a three-month tracker. One member of the group takes it home each week and tracks everything for the week in it. Then someone else takes it the next week. This is good and bad. Good because knowing someone else will have it the next week and every week after you will keep you accountable. People are nosy. They are, of course, going to read your week and know everything you put in your mouth. This same reason is also bad. Do you really want the whole group knowing you stuffed your face with cookies or cake? I know I don't.

So, I think I am going to give it a couple weeks to really get myself back on track before I volunteer to take the tracker home. In the meantime, I am tracking everything I eat on etools and just might post it for you all to see... maybe

And on the eighth week...

... I started again.

For the first time since my surgery on February 23, I am headed back to a WW meeting. I am finally out of the cast and comfortable enough in the boot to go back and walk bootless to the scale. My hopes aren't high for a loss. In fact, I am predicting at least a five-pound gain. Though, anything over 6.8 pounds will make me cry since that would put me above my start weight.

While I was a stay at home gimp, I didn't track but I didn't eat a ton those first couple of weeks. Mostly because I couldn't move around enough on my own to eat. However, once I realized I could push myself around the house in the rolling desk chair, that all changed. I was able to make myself food and certainly made up for the two weeks of not eating. Still not tracking, I came back to work and attempted to track, only to be in the negative the first day. I tried again last week, and did the same thing. I think part of it was the mentality that "oh, I still have another week to make it up." Which always screws me in the end.

So, knowing I am still not able to fully exercise, tracking is going to be key these next few weeks. I just need to get back into that habit.

When things spiral out of control

I've been pretty much MIA from a lot of my friends for the past two months. It's been rough. But I'm slowly making my way back and while I do talk to some of them on a daily basis, many of them I seem to only be keeping in touch with on Facebook. And I apologize for that.

Last May, I injured myself playing softball. I stepped on second base wrong and tore a ligament in my ankle. After six months and a myriad of x-rays, a bone scan and my doctor telling me there was nothing wrong, I took a random spill a work at the end of October and my co-ed softball season was finished. Luckily, it was at the end of the season, but still. As one of my co-workers said, "the floor can be deceptively flat." I just happened to be walking back to my desk when my ankle gave out. I hit the ground, hearing a snap, crackle and pop on my way down. I lost all color in my face, almost passed out from the pain and immediately called my doctor, who once again sent me for x-rays. After another set of clear x-rays, I called my health provider and asked for a new doctor. Two weeks later, I had an appointment with the new guy.

I walked (limped) in to the new doctor's office and told him what was going on. He took one look at my ankle said "this isn't right, your ankle should NOT look like that," called the specialist and got me an appointment for that afternoon. At the appointment with the specialist, I learned the ligament was completely torn away from the bone and I would need surgery to fix it. Fast forward to February...

...I now have a new ligament in my ankle. Actually, it's a cadaver tendon (gross) and am on the mend. Initially after surgery, I had a splint and crutches. Then I had an awesome cast and now a boot. I can't point my toes, but I am working on it. I feel like I haven't made progress on rehab and apparently I won't need physical therapy, which baffles me.

Anyway, I was off work from February 23 (surgery day) to April 1. During that time, I laid around watching TV, sleeping, cross stitching, playing on FaceBook. What I didn't do was play around on the Google Group's message board where I knew I could find the friendship and support I so desperately needed during this experience. I sort of fell into a slight depression. Being mostly immobile and in pain is not healthy for the soul. I also ate my face off. I walked into surgery having lost seven pounds from following Weight Watchers. I return on Monday to face the scale. I'm not gonna lie... I am terrified. I know that I've gained. My clothes don't fit right, and I just feel like I have. I'm hoping I haven't undone all the work I did before surgery. But, I think I did. I guess I'll find out on Monday.

Coming out of this post-surgery depression feels good, but it's getting back on track that's the hard part. Changing my eating habits from eating what I wanted, when I wanted is hard enough, but getting back into the groove of tracking is what's hardest. Oh, and staying within my daily points. It may take some time, but I'll get back there.

I also can't wait to get back to the gym. Being a couch potato is not good for me. I need to be active. I need to play softball. Sitting on the sidelines is not something that makes me happy. I do it because I want to be healthy and because I have to. I go to my Tuesday night softball games and play team mom by bringing treats and cheering the team on, but I really want to be out there and it makes me sad that I can't be. I know that I'll be back, soon. But it's really not soon enough.

I know this post wasn't really about food, and maybe that is my problem with being more active with blogging. Maybe I need to make it less about food and more about me with food worked in. I'm not a recipe-posting, perfect-food-photo-taking kind of gal. I like food. I like to eat it, I like to experience it and I like to cook it. Sure, I'll post recipes and photos and such, but I think what's best for me is to use this as an outlet for my struggles losing weight, eating food and finding a balance between it all.

Bake Sale for Japan

The Sacramento blogger/restaurant online bakes sale for Japan was a success! We raised almost $4,000 and have already donated the money to Shelter Box. In total, 62 items were donated and both my items went for $25.

To view the list of winners, visit Munchie Musings.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this event, who have supported local food bloggers and mostly, who have donated to ANY of the groups raising money to help the victims in Japan.

We interrupt your regularly-scheduled program for this important announcment

So, it's been almost three months since I've posted. I'm currently in a fight with blogger because I can't seem to upload my own photos for my website revamp. Plus, I had surgery on my ankle and haven't been cooking much.

However, this is not what this post is about. It is about charity.

Unless you live under a rock, you know about the Japan earthquake and tsunami. Well, a bunch of Sacramento bloggers and restaurants have gotten together and are contributing to an online bake sale/auction with all proceeds going to the Japanese relief fund. Bidding will take place April 1-2. For more information visit www.munchiemusings.com.

I will update once the items are posted and bidding opens. Please think about bidding.

Happy New Year!

Most people make resolutions on January 1 and by the time January 31 comes, those resolutions are already broken. I no longer make resolutions because I am one of those people who breaks the resolutions by the end of the first month. Take this blog, for example. Last year's resolution was to blog every day. Clearly, that did not happen. Also, last year, I swore I would weigh less on December 31, than I did on January 1. That didn't happen, either. In fact, I weigh about 15 pounds more. Another resolution was to do 210 workouts in 2010. Again, that didn't happen. I was on the right track, until my ankle injury sidelined me.

So, this year, I resolve to not make any resolutions, but to make changes. Changes that will benefit my health, wealth and happiness.

Health

1) Remain committed to Weight Watchers. I've done alright, so far, but these past two weeks have just killed me. I'm nervous to go to weigh in, tomorrow, but have committed to going 16 weeks in a row.

2) Exercise more. Regardless of my ankle injury and upcoming surgery, I can still pull out the Wii Fit and play some of those games. And brave to cold and go swimming.

3) Eat better. I'll admit, I've been really lazy lately, not cooking or bringing my lunches to work. When I get lazy, I eat crap.

Wealth

1) Save money. I honestly have no idea where all my money goes. One way to help figure that out is to create a mint.com account and track that way. Then, I will see where my money is going and will be able to save better.

Happiness

1) Not let the little things bother me. I tend to get over emotional about things and it escalates to a major freak out.

2) Not let myself get so annoyed with the stupid things people do. I have no patience for people who do stupid things or have no common sense.

Do you have any "New Year changes?"