Weight Watcher Wednesday on Thursday

I forgot to post this yesterday so...here it is today

Well here we are again on Weight Watcher Wednesday Thursday.

If you read yesterday's  Tuesday's blog, I said I lost weight at WI (weigh-in) for those unfamiliar with WW.  I lost 0.8 lbs.  Yeah I know its not a whole pound, but its a loss of the gain from last week and then some.  Plus it also gets me to the lowest weight I have been at since probably 2005...a wonderful 157.2, just 3.4 away from my next goal weight.  Five pound increments are key because if the goal is too much it looks like it is forever unattainable.

WW meetings are sometimes a supremo joke to me.  I used to have a great group on Wednesdays that I looked forward to going to.  It was a mixture of young and old, lifetime and newbies, but now my Tuesday meetings sometimes just make me sad.  I would say the average age is 40+ and most people are not newbies, but lifetime members in a different way -- they may never lose the weight.  I unfortunately can only go to the Wed. meetings on rare occasions when I don't have class.  Soon I may have to switch to another meeting as well because I will be playing badminton on Tuesday nights (I think).

Bad meetings make it difficult to share my successes like I would have in the Wednesday meeting.  Like my personal PR for the 5K...I would have definitely share that with the Wed. group, but Tuesday I felt like they think just because I am young that it is easy for me to get weight off and that running should be no big deal. This young/old paradigm exists and I think I may discuss it in other blog another time. I know it is different for everyone, but I feel like being young is one of the harder times to lose weight.

Going to these meetings have been instrumental in my weight loss though.  It is comforting to know that others are going through the ups and downs just as I am.  It also gives me a slight boost because I know that I am doing this "right".   Many members return after regaining the weight they lost.  I don't ever want to be one of those people.  If  When I get to Lifetime, I will continue to make an effort every day to make sure I never go back to being the person I was before.  It will be a battle.  I will have good days and bad days, but heck I already have those now.

Meetings are safe place to me.  Even though there may be judgement, I feel like it is a good place to share and talk.  I just wish more people wanted to talk besides myself and a few others.

If you ever want to learn about Weight Watchers and my experience I am happy to share.  I am not embarrassed that I needed a program to lose weight, but at least I am doing it healthy and I know what works and what doesn't.  I have not given up any of my favorite foods, just lessened their appearance in my diet.  I can still go out and have too many drinks and know I will be okay.  WW is a program I think I would recommend for any one trying to lose weight.  If you get out of your head and start dealing with the issues

Thankful Thursday: My Parents

When I knew I was going to do Thankful Thursday posts, there was nothing else I could think of to be thankful for first except my parents.

I know I was not the easiest child, teenager, or young adult, to be around for a very long time (hell, sometimes I'm still not pleasant).  From 10-14, I was confused and uncomfortable and all together strange, though I do not remember a lot about that time.  Middle school was God awful and I was thankful to get into high school.  Before that though I was spoiled and never went without (and I still don't) because of them.  Family trips, skating, soccer, cheerleading, softball, shopping - I got to do and have it all.  For those things I obviously am very thankful for, but it is the other type of support that I am eternally thankful for.

High school, specifically sophomore and senior years, were tough.  I dealt with my first bout of depression in 10th grade.  Luckily I had my parents, despite our relationship being strained sometimes, and their support in getting better.  When tragedy rocked my world in July 2003, they were there once again.

My reaction to that incident though rocked THEIR world later that year.  Never once were they mad at me, but genuinely worried and wanted me to get better. Through the next few years as I graduated and went to college they continued to support me in ways I will never forget.

We have been fortunate that my parents have good jobs and are what I would consider successful.  It has never been a cake walk in my opinion, but as the saying goes: Work Hard, Play Hard.  I believe my parents have nailed this philosophy.  Looking at them makes me hopeful that my future will at one time be filled with nights at ball games, trips to Vegas and weekend getaways, most of the time spent together.

Currently at an age where I am considered a "real" adult, the things they continue to do are priceless.  I unfortunately still have to depend on them for a lot because they have let me fulfill my dream of being a sports information director (and that has taken a while), but they have let me grow and change and become the person I have always wanted to be.

The biggest thing they do is believe in me.  They believed I could succeed at anything I put my mind to.  I won a national championship with my skating team, graduated Summa Cum Laude out of high school, moved to South Carolina, joined a sorority, got good grades, moved to Chicago for an internship (which they took a loan out for), graduated with honors and secured a "job" out of college. Plus they have helped me move like six times now, so that has to count for a lot.

Now I am still doing what I love and getting a master's degree, all because they were willing to help me out and believe I can do it.

As of late though, the biggest gift they have given me is Weight Watchers.  I say it like that because my parents offered to pay for this program. They could see I was still not happy with my body and it took a toll on me.  In the past they paid for Jenny Craig, but I wasn't in the stage of my life to follow that like I should have.  Weight Watchers though was a program that was going to work.  Obviously it has.  I am 36 pounds lighter.  I am happier than I have been in several years and looking forward to seeing my progression through the next year when I graduate with a master's and FINALLY get my first full time position.

Without their financial and emotional support, there is no way I could have gotten this far.  WW actually came relatively easy for me once I stopped giving into every temptation that came my way, plus getting my butt in gear more often than not.  There is nothing better than calling after a meeting and knowing how proud they are of me.

After finishing the Warrior Dash

I am thankful, grateful and elated to have two of the best people in the world looking out for me.  I know my parents always have my best interest and hoping the best for me. I really think that my parents are the reason I am still here today and I am very happy for that.

Today (and everyday) there is nothing I am more thankful for than Shawn and Kathie.

-A

P.S. My 50-year old father did the Warrior Dash with me because I wanted to prove I could do it and there was no one else to go with me.  One more reason I love him that much more!

Tomorrow: Fun, Flirty Friday

Back at it.

Not like any one noticed, but I have neglected this blog for exactly a month.  Let me tell you in that month what happened.  My parents visited Feb. 11-13 then we had the opening weekend of hell fall upon us.  15 softball games over the first weekend and then an extra basketball game on the following Monday to cap it off.  Then the weekend started again with a basketball game on Thursday followed by 17 softball games through Sunday to close out February.  Oh yeah and in that stretch my grandparents come to visit on Tuesday-Wednesday so that was nice.

Now opening March with a doubleheader on Wednesday and then 14 games of softball through Sunday.  Now though, it is all over and it is quiet over here.  No home games for me until next Wednesday on the 16th. THANK GOD.

The purpose is of all of that is spelling out that I had no time or energy to even try to work out and I feel like a complete schlub (is this really a word?). Oh, and in the midst of all of this I have had some serious stomach issues included nausea and not so other nice things.  I went to the doctor, but we are kind of stuck as to what is going on.

So to get back into it, I am starting by trying to eat very plain food.  BRAT - Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast (toast is not really my thing so I go with saltines) to begin and trying to limit my pop and sweet tea in take.  We will see how this goes.  Next I am giving myself one full week of nothing besides work.  I work 9-5 at FGCU and then had/have three days at my other job.  This weekend is all about me! minus the fact I have to write softball recaps at night.

Beginning on Monday its back into working out four times a week minimum.  I set goals for myself at the beginning of the year but it has fallen by the wayside and I need to get back to meeting them.

So that's an update, that is where I am right now and we shall see how it goes.  Hopefully we can figure out the stomach thing because I really did like the way things were going before.

Until then peace out!
-Murph