Why am I doing this?

Posted by Melissa Baumgart

I said no to this twice this month.  Why?

 I had to get on the scale today.  I had a doctor's appointment because I need to get vaccinations to be in a clinic with pregnant women. (I start clinic tomorrow!!!!)  I stepped onto my scale this morning, because I didn't want to be caught off guard in public when I stepped onto the doctor's scale. 


My last weigh in for Weight Watchers was on 3/22, so nearly a month ago, and after paleo for three weeks.  I was kinda excited, for once, to step on the scale.  It felt strange to pull it off of the shelf where it had been sitting, dead silent for weeks.  Then the familiar steps of setting it down, making sure it wasn't sitting too close to the moulding between the floor and the wall so as not to mess up the reading, making sure the the towel wasn't hanging in my way form the rack above, sucking in my stomach (as if that helps) and slowly stepping on.

Waiting.

I lost 2 pounds since that last weigh in.  TWO POUNDS!

I don't even know what to say.  I wasn't necessarily in the paleo for weight loss.  Or was I?  Either way, I was hopeful that I had lost weight.  And I was clearly devastated by the low number I have lost. 

I wonder if it ever truly goes away?  This desire for the magic number on the scale?  Or if the time it takes to process the emotions around it just gets shorter?

I'll still do paleo, because I feel better eating this way.  And that's all that matters.  Right?

It's about progress, not perfection

Posted by Melissa Baumgart
This weekend was a gorge-fest.  Filled with my own not so healthy version of "Let your food be your medicine" to help with some unexpected anxiety that came up and the inevitable "Oh-my-god-I-better-get-in-all-the-carbs-I-can" situation I found myself in since Paleo starts today. I had mashed potatoes, bread and butter, macaroni and cheese, a cookie, bites of pastries, cheese and crackers.  And HANDFULS of Sweet-Tart jelly beans.  Really, anything I could get my hands on. 

This weekend, Seattle. 

So, Amy and I were going to do our last weigh-in today.  But I just don't feel like it is telling of most of my month in March.  I worked really hard almost all month, and in all (aside from this psat weekend) I had lost a total of six pounds.  Eight pounds since starting Weight Watcher's the couple weeks before March.  So, in my bloated state this morning, as I type through a fog of post-carb induced coma, I don't think the two pounds I added on this weekend are real.  They are going to drop away as soon as I get moving and eat healthy.  I can gain a couple of pounds so easily.

Reading over what I have written thus far, I wonder how much of the inner chatter of self degradation I have dropped.   Why do I need to justify the number on the scale?  Why did I turn to food as a means of comfort?  Why do I look toward a new healthful way of eating and stuff my face with what I think I will miss?  This is a process and I am learning.

Maybe I am not always perfectly on my game.  Maybe I make mistakes.  The point, this time, is to not throw in the towel after one week or one weekend.  To wake up on a foggy Monday morning and start over again.  Put on my running shoes, plan out my Paleo month, and be proud of the progress I made during March as a whole.

Stay tuned for the "Rules of Paleo" for GLWT coming later today.

I used to be a perfectionist, then I had kids

Posted by Melissa Baumgart
I am stepping into new Weight Watchers territory.  I am weighing my goat cheese.  The perfectionist that used to live in me before my children killed her just rose from the dead and found an old kitchen scale in my china closet.  I guess if I am going to complain about WW not working, I should actually try to do it correctly. 

Seriously, though, I used to have a clean house, files in order, kitchen cupboards neatly stocked.  (But I've always had a messy junk drawer)  Then I had kids.  Notice the s at the end.  I kept it up with one kid, but after two, forget about it.  And nowadays, I often don't even see the point in cleaning or tidying, because 15 minutes later, it's all a mess again.  Right now there is actually a HUGE pile of clean clothes all over my bedroom floor because there's no time or motivation to fold them (why fold people?  they never stay that way in the kid's drawers!) and put them away.  Sometimes I cannot believe I live like this.

So, I guess it makes sense that I fudge the WW points a little.  Sure that soup was probably 6 points, and that's not a pile of clothes on my floor, it's a new version of those awesome pouf cushions.

Not only am I now going to weigh everything to see exactly how many ounces it is, I also learned that you can add a recipe into the Point Tracker.  So, like last night, Jamie made this yummy Thai Coconut Chicken Soup (He really did learn something during "Teach Your Husband to Cook Month"!!) and I had no idea how many points it was.  I typed in "thai coconut chicken soup" and the range of options were from 4 points to over 10 points per serving.  When I entered my recipe into the Recipe Builder, mine came out to 9 points per serving.  If I hadn't have done that, I totally would have picked the 6 point version.

Any other WW tips I should know about?  Tomorrow's the next weigh in!  I don't know about Amy, but I think from my side of the scale, we can get under 300.

Someone tell my body that this month is NOT called "Gaining Weight"

Photo from www.lilwoodys.com

Posted by Melissa Baumgart
Honestly. This week, I have been following Weight Watchers points to a tee.  Even overestimating what I might be eating, as well as running 5 days this week.

So, let me break it down.  I am allotted 26 points per day and I am given 47 points per week to add in as a choose.  They also give you "earned" points for working out, of which this week I have earned 30 points.  The earned points can also be used for the week, as you please. They say that even if I do add in those extra points, I'll still lose a small amount of weight. 

Wrong.

Every day this week, I have been meticulous about my point counting.  I even cut out all wine, to exclude extra unnecessary points.  I only went over my daily points once, using 3 weekly points.  And guess what?  So far this week...I HAVE GAINED 2 pounds!!!!!

It's real hard to not get discouraged.

It's real hard to not go and get that damn cheeseburger from Lil' Woody's that I so desperately want, with a side of queso fries.  Mmmmmmm.

According to Weight Watchers, I actually could.  I certainly have enough extra points for it!
I could even get the Big Woody!  (That's what she said.)

Weight Watcher's: Week 1

0 Points!

Posted by Melissa Baumgart
Losing Weight - Weight Watcher's Style

It's not going as bad as I had expected.  I actually started WW a couple weeks before March, just to see what it was like.  I was either starving or fudging my points so I could eat more. 

"Eh, sure, that was only a tablespoon of mayonnaise.  And maybe half a cup of fries.   Looks like 4 oz. of wine to me!"  

When in reality, I had no idea how much it was because I stuffed it all into my face too fast to even eyeball the amount.  And when I felt like I was keeping up with the points for real, I felt so hungry all the time. (Also, I am doing the online version, maybe the in person check-in works better for accountability.)

I think that happens though, when you're used to eating everything all the time, and not thinking about what you're putting into your mouth.  When you start taking toll of your diet, and you lessen what you eat, there can be a bit of time where you're body is craving more.  More.  More.  Now that I have settled into this, I feel lighter, and definitely less hungry.

My plan:
I am allowed 26 points a day.  And I have 47 "extra" points a week.  The extra points can be spread throughout, used for one big splurge, or not used at all.  You can also earn point from being physical, so I earn a good bit from running during the week.  And make sure to track your wine intake, I really was cheating in that area for the first while. 

To get an idea of how many points are in foods, here is a list of foods I have been typically eating, and their points:

• Coffee and 2 Tbsp half & half - 2 points
• 2 Hard boiled eggs - 4 points
• Mixed Greens, carrots, cucumber, peppers, tomatoes and dressing - 3 points
• 1 oz. cheddar cheese - 3 points
• 1oz. crumbled feta cheese - 2 points
• 3oz. chicken breast, without skin - 3 points
• Kale - 0 points
• Grapefruit - 0 points
• 4 oz. wine - 4 points
• 2 cups air popped popcorn and 1 Tbsp butter - 5 points

Things I like so far:
All fruits and veggies are 0 points!
It has brought a new awareness to what I eat.

Things I don't like so far:
It really focuses on "low-fat", so avocados and nuts are a lot of points.  Boo.
Anything sugar-free (Coke Zero) is 0 points...so I am tempted, but I know that crap cannot be good for me.

We weigh in again, together, tomorrow.  I'm kinda excited to see what the number is!