Happy Halloween...Oct. 31, 2009....Saturday

Good Morning, Sister W.W.F.F.,

We had some missing this morning. Angie, Jennie, Edi, (but I did see Edi's car when I was leaving, hum?), Louis, (and I found out Louis is returning from Africa), Denise, Michelle, our Becky, Jana...where were you????? Rhonda, but we know where Rhonda is. Just know you all were missed, and if I missed some names, like Kathy F. & Amy. So if you were not there and I missed your name, just know you were missed.

Big news today....Jennifer is a full-fledged not paying Weight Watcher member...Congrats Jennifer, you done good!!!!!

Lisa B. was back, with that beautiful smile she has, and she got her "Mommy fix" in last week, by going and seeing her daughter in California. It was great to have you back Lisa.

I call Sally every Saturday morning after Weight Watchers, as she does the same with me on Tuesday's. Well, Sally had a great N.S.V. that happened. Ted (Sally's husband) made some chocolate chip cookies, and Sally ate just one, and has not been tempted by the rest of them at all, and the plate was sitting on the counter. WAY TO GO WISCONSIN SALLY!!!!!!!!!!

The first wealth is Health.

Last week we talked of Good health guideline, so this week its part 2.

Liquids? Any liquid counts, some have to be done in moderation, water is also the best for us, but drink those liquids.

Healthy Oil? Sunflower, Olive, Canola, Saffron. All these oils are healthy oils. We need out oils to have healthy skin, hair and nails. Sauté with oil is great, and you can add a teaspoon to your soups, and never know its in there.

Vitamin Supplements? If your eating the healthy guidelines/food pyramid, then you may not need to supplement with vitamins. That is a personal choice.

Activity? Come on, we have to have activity. Even parking further away from the doors of the store. Read something interesting on e-tools and that was walk around the entire store before you begin your grocery shopping. But, if you don't have time for that, then just go up and down each isle, and the no no isles, walk really fast.

Sugar & Alcohol? Lordy, Lordy, me and Sugar.....not a pretty site. Hello, my name is Joan and I'm a sugarholic. Moderation, and I am so envious of people that can moderate themselves when it comes to sugar. That is my goal for this week, getting off the sugar.

So what are you going to do this week to begin making better choices?

Next weeks topic. MOTIVATION!!!!!!!!!!!! We are really going to need that with the time of year that is upon us.

Everyone it was great to see you all, and wishing everyone a wonderful week.

10-29-09..Thursday,

"I didn't get here by dreaming about it or thinking about it-I got here by doing it."

Estee Lauder

Good Morning Sister W.W.F.F.,

How many times have we had some event coming up, or we have to go somewhere that there will be people that have not seen us in awhile, and some of our thoughts are, ''wish I could be 20 pounds lighter." For some of you it may have never happened, but for me that thought crossed my mind more than I care to remember. Funny thing is, just thinking about losing weight just does not seem to work, unless of course you put your shoulder to the wheel and do a bit of pushing.

I just about bet if not today, by tomorrow and for sure by Saturday there will be some of us saying, ''if only I had stopped at my 35 bonus points on Sunday." I've said it before and I will repeat myself, ''indulgences are fine, if you can get back in control." I can never seem to get back in control after letting myself go for the weekend. Even while I was away I let myself go, and it has been a struggle to get myself back in control, but I have gotten myself back on track. However, this is not to say that I have not hit a few bumps in the road this week, but I do feel good about the choices I am making.

Yesterday I was at Target and the lady in front of me, was buying all these bags of candy. She was a large woman, and she was talking to the person in front of her, and I still think it was only cause that person was looking at the candy woman with eyes of, ''you don't need that." The candy buyer for whatever reason felt the need to explain why she was buying all this candy. It was for ''the office". I stood there waiting for my turn at the check out and my thought went right back to myself not long ago, when I was buying things that I did not need and felt the need to explain it to someone that gave me a discerning look. As I got to the van, the candy lady was in the row ahead of me, and I saw her opening a bag of the candy, and she was eating from it right then and there, and my thought was, ''if not for the Grace of God, and the support I get from my Weight Watcher Sister's and Friends that would be me." I felt sad for this woman cause I knew exactly how she had to be feeling. We struggle, and we do need to take it one day at a time, sometimes it's one minute at a time. The good news is we have each other to lean on. When we feel we can no longer continue this journey, we have our Sister Weight Watcher Friends to circle the wagons and help us fend off those negative thoughts and feelings. I'm not sure why I felt the need to share this story this morning, but I have wondered about that woman that bought the candy several times, and I know it was cause I could see myself in her.

10-28-09...Wednesday

Good Morning Sister W.W.F.F.,

Yesterday I was reading an article about looking back on how far you have come on your weight loss journey. Ever once in a while I look back to where I was this time last year to where I am today, and even though I at times still don't think I've done ''good enough'' (and that thinking depends on my frame of mind at the moment) I do know if I had just maintained for the year, I've done something amazing. In this article there were something like 13 ways to get your motivation back if you have lost it. Some of those ways were actually pretty good, some I felt as if the writer was just filling in space. So I wanted to share a few of those ideas with you this morning.

1. Lift the weight you have lost. My first thought was, ''I may be able to do that on the leg press machine, but lifting that much weight from the floor, do not think I am ready for that."

2. Make a promise to yourself. If we make a promise to someone else there is no way we will break that promise, but ever notice how we get up of the morning promising ourselves, ''today I am going to be the poster child for Weight Watchers, only by lunch time or even as early as mid morning we fall by the way side." We need to realize it is vital that we keep our promises to ourselves as well as to others we make promises to.

3. Dance. Who cares if you feel stupid dancing around the house by yourself. Think of the activity points you would be racking up as well as the calories your burning from not only moving, and the laughing you will be doing.

4. Get out your sexiest outfit. Have to tell you all, I do not own a ''sexie'' outfit, ha ha. But, that still does not mean you cannot find something you want to wear in your goal size, hang it up where you will see it daily, and visualize yourself wearing that outfit.

5. Look in the mirror. Looking in the mirror's had been something I avoided like the plague until I began to lose weight. Now there is not a mirror anywhere, that I do not stop and take a double take, still asking myself, ''who is that person?"

6. Chart your progress. Does not have to be scale related progress, even thought that is what we tend to measure our success with. Look for those N.S.V.'s that we talk about.

7. Attend your meeting. This one was not mentioned in the article I was reading, but to me, getting to our Weight Watchers meeting is very important where our success is concerned. I'm sure there are people out there who can walk this journey alone, but I am not one of those people. I need to know there are others out there with the same struggle. I took in the evening meeting at TJ on Monday, and a lady I chatted with before the meeting, said to me, ''I did not know you could go to other meetings." So if you are struggling, then maybe try taking in an extra meeting this week.

As you can see the things I have listed, are things we have heard over and over again. So pick one or more and give it a try. Work at getting motivated again.

10-27-09............Tuesday

"Have the dogged determination to follow through to achieve your goal; regardless of circumstances or whatever other people say, think, or do." Paul Meyer

Good Morning Sister W.W.F.F.,

I really hope each and everyone of you had a chance to get out and enjoy some of yesterday's beautiful day. I even took ''The Bob" for a drive yesterday. We drove through Cave Hill. Stayed longer than planned but we always do since we get lost in there and it takes me forever to find my way out, ha ha.

Determination. Do you have it? Do you know how to get it? Well, do you want it?

Many times we tell ourselves we are determined only to get side tracked by the least little thing. There are some people that I honestly believe came from the womb with determination and as they grew so did that determination. You know the old saying, ''some have it some don't." That can apply to many things, but we can all get the determination, but like everything else, ''it takes hard work." Some people have no problem with the hard work part, and you see them being successful. Then there are those of us, that had rather wait for that "magic cure." You know about the magic cure for weight loss, well it is a myth, but it goes something like this, "Magic cure for weight loss. You don't have to drink water, you can drink real coke all day if you want, you don't have to exercise and your heart, lungs and bones will get stronger. All that is required is you eat candy, ice cream, cookies and cakes, watch TV, while lounging on the couch, and the pounds mystically fall right off." Yes, that is bogus, but isn't that how so many of the weight loss ads make it sound. Here again you would have to have determination, just to sit on that couch.

Do you want that determination? Look deep inside yourself and you will find that answer. You will have to be honest with yourself, not all of us will find that determination, but it is in you.

10-26-09...........Monday

"If you don't want to do something, one excuse is as good as another." Unknown

Good Monday Morning Sister W.W.F.F.,

Welcome Home Lisa B. sounds as if your time in California was just what you needed.

Y'All have no idea how badly I just wanted NOT to get up and get ready for the gym this morning. I am such a creature of habit, and when I stop doing something it sure does not take me long to continue not to want to begin again. However, vacation is over, the gym is waiting for me, and I have no excuse at all for not going and getting in my exercise, and even though I know I am going to be huffing and puffing, and at times cursing that elliptical, when it's all over and done with I will be happy that I got up early and got my workout in.

Excuses, we can find a million and one of them for not doing something. Can't make it to Weight Watchers on Saturday morning it is just too early. Guess what, Saturday morning is not the only time there is a Weight Watchers meeting. Oh I know its not our meeting, but if you are really serious about your weight loss journey, then you will find a way. Never fear before too long our clocks will be turned back an hour so then Saturday morning won't seem so early, ha.

Here is the one of my all time favorite excuses. I have to cook two different meals, one that I can eat and one the family can eat. Yeah, I used to use that same logic, but then I got real and said, ''if you eat here, then you'll eat what I eat." So far no one has turned down a dinner invitation. The Weight Watcher friendly recipes that I use are great, and in this family we have one that I know the only time he eats anywhere near healthy is when he eats over here.

I think it has to do with we as women feel the need to ''serve" everyone else and their whims. Not so, we have to think of ourselves as well, and what will be best for us. Even now that I have downed my first cup of coffee, and by the way I make it extra strong, I am still searching for an excuse to go back to bed. I just bet that guy I have mentioned to you all before, the one with the one leg shows up at the gym this morning. I see him and I am ashamed that I have tried to wimp out on doing what I know is best for me. God's way of saying, ''Joan, off your butt and get moving."

We celebrated a birthday here last night. Bob's youngest son Marc, his birthday was on Friday. So we had dinner here last night. I made lasagna, spinach salad, and I did not bake a cake. Marc got a store bought cake, and I had planned on having a piece of it last night, but by the time the cake was being served, I had talked myself out of eating it. So for me that was my N.S.V. So far, I am back on track with my eating, and today will begin getting back on track with my exercising.

No excuses will be accepted here today, so get out there and make it a good day.:) You/Me/We can do this and just think how much better we will feel.

10-25-09..........Sunday a new day.

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift."

Steve Prefontaine (1951-1975) American Olympic runner

Good Morning Sister W.W.F.F.,

I just want it to be known that being at yesterday's meeting and getting back on track was/is wonderful. Taking a break is fine, but getting back to ones normal routine....well, there is a lot to be said for that as well.

Something to think about today. This time last year where were you in your weight loss journey? Where are you in that same journey today. Are we giving it our best? Yesterday I began thinking back to this time last year. I was recovering from a knee replacement, in September of last year we got hit with the Hurricane. So many things have happened, and for some of us, some have been good, and some have been sad things. But, today we are going to focus on ''the gift'' we are giving ourselves. The gift of good health. It is wonderful to be a smaller size, not having my thighs rubbing together, I can actually wear cords now without sounding like my own ''one man band.'' Come on some of you know what I'm talking about. So I'm a smaller size, the scale has a smaller number, but the, and pardon the pun, icing on the cake is, my heart is getting much less of a workout, as well as my other internal organs, from not being surrounded by all that blubber. We all want to look better, but for me I have been amazed at how much better I actually feel. Less joint pain, I can go up and downs stairs without thinking, ''I may pass out". The steering wheel on the van does not rub my belly anymore, and at times I have to ask ''when did that happen? How did that happen?" The when it happened is not as important to me as the ''how''. This month will mark 4 or 5 years for me on Weight Watchers, and no I did not always give it my best. At times I tried to convince myself I was giving it my best, but deep down, I knew what was really the truth. Have I missed out on anything by not getting to my goal earlier? I don't think I have. As I have said before, I don't think I would have been ready for goal any earlier. We all have our own time table, we all have our own problems that seem to be standing in our way of doing the best we can. Maybe today is the day each of us need to take a stand and promise ourselves ''to give it our best."

We are into the time for comfort foods, so find ways of making that food you love more points friendly. This month's cooking light magazine has some great recipes, as well as the new Weight Watchers magazine. I would also like to encourage each of you if you do have a recipe that you like please share it with the rest of us.

We are works in progress. I'm never going to look like a movie star, why should I, there is no movie star that looks like me, ha. This week I am working hard to do the best I can to lose the weight I gained while I was gone. I can and will do it, no the five plus pounds won't be gone by next week, but they will be in the process of leaving. All that is required is that, ''I do my best."

10-24-09.........Saturday after the meeting.

Hey Sister W.W.F.F.,

Edi, Jenny, Lisa B., Louis, Michelle, Betty, Jana, Mary, Kathy F., Angie, Amy......you all were missed today. I know Lisa B. is in California, but where were the rest of you. Betty, are you still traveling??

What was the reason you joined Weight Watchers?

Feeling better

An upcoming event

Not wanting to buy that next larger size.

Whatever the reason maybe or may have been, we all joined for the same reason....to lose weight.

Weight Watchers teaches us the Good Health Guidelines, but it is up to us to put the action to those. So are you getting in those fruits and vegetables, your milk products, how about the lean protein, remember that will help to keep us from doing so much grazing, and last but not least our whole grains. All these together make up our healthy guidelines. So how can we make the Good Health Guidelines a habit? Well first off we have to be willing to change, and as we all know that can be really hard, but it can be done. Reading labels, making better choices, those would be my top two choices.

quote for the week: To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an act."

Today I weighted in as planned, and yes I was up, but no surprise, the amount was 5.6 pounds, and ever notice how fast we can put weight on, but how slow it comes off. Well, I had my indulgences, and I know for a fact that I am not nor will I ever be cured of the vicious cycle of poor eating. Yesterday was the first really good, on track, food tracking day I had in the past two weeks. As I told Toni, when I weighed in the Saturday before I left the following Friday that was when my head was telling me....go for it...and that was what I did. I went for everything that I could get my hands on. I have learned another lesson here, but to say I will NEVER fall victim to those bad habits, well, I would be just kidding myself. I can just hope it will be a really long time down the road before I fall as hard as I did the past two weeks.

So no need for me to beat myself up as of yesterday I am moving on, I will get back down to 168 and it will take time. I'm worth the work it will take.