Day 8 - rocky road...

Soooo, I waited until evening to write today's blog because I was so certain I'd show a super weight loss after having a great week of exercise and eating right. Not so much. I showed 0 loss!!

I was so shocked that I just stood speechless. I did 6 days of 40 minute intense aerobics and ate perfectly for 7 so how could I show no loss?!

My meeting instructor and attendees did have ideas. One of those is that I actually ate under the points most days plus worked out 6 activity points so they wondered if I might need to eat more to avoid my body feeling starved. Ugh!

I feel a little upset (ok a lot) but am not going to let it take me down! I am armed with ideas for this week and determined to show a loss next week so I'll see you back here tomorrow raring to go!


-- Alyssa

Day 7 - Staying straight on the bumpy road

Ok, today I feel a little tired but basically good. First off, I did my 40 minute cardio workout even though it was tempting to take a rest day since it was Sunday (go me!). It was really hard for the 1st few minutes to get a rhythm but I eventually got going. Once my heart started pumping, I got into the zone!

So, yesterday was rough but I got through it with eating healthy still intact. I went to visit my mother-in-law for dinner and a visit. It was so challeging to eat at someone else's house so soon after starting the plan.

I had originally intended to bring my own food but realized that this could offend her. She told me not to worry, the food will be healthy. We had meatloaf (made with "lean" meat), chicken & pork chops (breaded with bread crumbs) and various veggies. Honestly, it is possible to eat those types of food on weight watchers if I was totally on track and just decided to use extra points. However, in the place I am now, I feel strongly that staying within the target points and feeling full is most important.

So, I left hungry (even having eaten an estimated 10 points) grateful that I like plain food. If I needed to bread or butter everything, I couldn't succeed. I need a full plate and full belly to feel like I can succeed.

Well, lesson learned; everybody has a different view on healthy and I need to find out what works for me. For now, I think I'll limit the family dinners and when necessary, try to get my own food choices. In the end, the only one who can lose this weight is me and taking control is most of the battle!








So, today has been better! I made a ham and spinach sandwich for breakfast with fresh green beans (2 points!). For lunch I made a plated mish mash of potatoes (cubed), green beans, chicken (grilled, plain), peppers and red onions (see picture) all topped with balsamic dressing. Finished the meal with jello mixed with fruit. All this was 4 points and I was totally satisfied. Again, thank god for my liking relatively plain food!

Anyway, enough babbling for today. Have a great day and I plan to do the same!
-- Alyssa

Day 6 - yeah!

Wow! Day 6 and I'm still feeling really great! Just finished my 40 minute work out and it's shocking how much fun it is! I tried to video tape my workout so you guys could see how well the Wii works as an exercise tool but the video was fuzzy. I'll try again tomorrow with my other camera. All I know is I feel great and need to hold onto this fantastic feeling and keep exercising even when I don't feel quite so good.

Yesterday, I rocked the points with some cool additions. For lunch I made a ham pita sandwich with chopped green peppers. Plus, I discovered this Boca Chili that was good and you get a Ton for 2 points (I was only able to eat half).

Dinner was fabulous! I made a Boca hamburger on these Arnold Sandwich thins (so good). I went without cheese and added spinach, both new for me. Rounded the meal out with a serving of raw green beans. Surprisingly, the meal was great at only 5 points!

Today is Saturday and usually I find weekends tough so I started off right away with an awesome breakfast. I couldn't believe, when I was done making the meal, how much food I had for just 3 points! I am no cook but even I was impressed with my scrambled egg (southwest style with green and red peppers and red onions), white potatoes cut into blocks (added red onions and my free balsamic dressing I make) and 2 sausage links by morningstar (soy I think)!

Well, off to make lunch and a visit to my mother-in-law's so have a productive day and I'll see you back here tomorrow!


-- Alyssa

Day 5 - Getting there!

I am psyched! I had a good day yesterday and wasn't nearly as sore! Of course, the massage I had for my back, in the afternoon, was divine and helped tremendously!

I made good healthy choices in eating and am really trying to incorporate veggies and other foods that keep you full. I had an omelet with peppers and fruit for breakfast (yumm), brown rice, tuna & onions for lunch and a ham sandwich with small salad for dinner. I am not a good cook and learned 2 things yesterday. One, eggs aren't really enhanced by adding my balsamic salad dressing (odd color!). Two, mustard with splenda isn't really as good as honey mustard.

After work, we went to the market to get more fresh food. I felt the tug of the snack aisle but kept going. I pretty much had to ride with eyes straight ahead to stay on target. Of course, my daughter had to have Teddy Grams. I try not to bring any snacks in the house (luckily even she loves fruit) but I couldn't say no. So far, I have been resisting.

I have started today off well so I am happy. I ate a good breakfast of Greek Non-fat Yogurt and fruit. Then, I exercised for 40 minutes! I worked out similarly to yesterday but edited the work to include inline skating and running (instead of tennis). It was fun and really hard because I increased the difficulty. I felt so happy while I was working out. I guess its true what they say about endorphins releasing while you exercise because I was feeling GOOOD!

I am feeling really wonderful that I have gotten this far. I am nervous about the weekend because we will inevitably go out. I am the most challenged when I am out of my home comfort and routine. I will work hard to eat right and intend to exercise. I'll let you know how it goes!

Day 4 - Keeping on

Ok, yesterday was tough! I felt fantastic until around 5pm. After that my arm was literally on fire with pain! The culprit I suspect was all the tennis and other sports that rely heavily on using 1 arm. I was so afraid that I would jump on that excuse today but I didn't! This morning I woke feeling sore but a lot better.

I immediately made edits that would exclude most of the sports and decided to work on boxing, dancing and a small number of tennis drills. It was MUCH better. I worked out for 25 minutes and felt fantastic after! I'm expecting some soreness later but hope to have avoid much of yesterday's pain!

On an eating front, I had a great day! I feel full and satisfied most of the day! So far, I am finding this diet is working for me. Now, I just need to plow ahead. Once I get a few weeks under my belt, I hope to feel less nervous about failing. Then, this will genuinely be a lifestyle change and not just a diet. See you tomorrow!

Day 3 - Starting to Move

Today, I am feeling so great! I ate really well yesterday and have started today right. I am nervous because it has been relatively easy to get started. I am afraid that I will go great guns at the beginning and then loosen up my tight grip on my eating. This blog is helping keep my ultimate goal in mind so, thanks!

Today, out of the blue, I decided to exercise! Now, I should explain that I have the WII with WII Fit and Active and can exercise. The fact that I have a disability really only plays a role in the fact that I have to work harder to lose weight. After that, it is all about excuses. The Wii levels the exercise playing field. I can sweat to many exercises just like anyone else. Maybe more because every movement is a little harder for me.

I worked out for around 20 minutes. I created my own workout in Active for boxing, tennis, baseball, basketball, volleyball and dancing. It was fun and I did feel really good afterward. Now though, I feel really, really, really sore. I hope I feel better by tomorrow so I can build on the success I had today.

I am going to change my workout though. Many of the exercises I did were for upper body (not strengthening) and I need to burn calories right now more that kill my muscles.

Well, I am going to keep plugging away. Hopefully tomorrow I can say I successfully bagged today!

Day 2 - Getting Real

Wow, I feel great! I went to the meeting last night and can't believe how much that helped me! When I arrived, I was really nervous. I filled out paper work and waited online. When I got to the counter, I was shocked to be asked if I wanted to use the wheelchair scale. How cool is it that they have something like that?! I surprised myself by saying no. Much of my problem stems from lack of motivation. I had come to the meetings, in large part, to force myself to commit and move around more. I climbed down and weighed in at (eeek) 194 pounds!! Feeling really empowered, but shy, I entered my first ever weight watchers meeting. It was great and I was worrying for nothing! Everyone was so welcoming and I felt immediately like I was going to succeed this time!

After the meeting, I went shopping for healthy foods and made dinner. The unfortunate truth about me is that I KNOW how to eat right and even like healthy foods. Therefore, there wasn't really any junk to get rid of in the house. I just needed to get more fresh veggies (which I struggle with) and fruits.

I am an emotional eater and a lazy person physically. Therefore, my challenge will be getting moving and willingness to measure foods. I tend to fall back on junk and fast food. I'm not feeling ready to exercise yet so I will focus on eating correctly. I am tracking my points online at WW because I know that I will cheat if I don't keep a running tally. Hopefully, today will be a success and I can keep up this feeling of accomplishment that I feel today!

Day 1 - It is so past time to lose this weight!

Hi, my name is Alyssa and I have decided to write this journal as a way to keep myself honest as I work to rid myself of around 100 pounds. Before I explain why this online blog is necessary, let me give you some background on myself.

I am 34 years old, am the wife of a loving husband of 9 years and mother to a 2 1/2 year old (gorgeous) daughter. I was, also, born with a disability called congenital limb deformity, meaning born with arms that end at the knees and legs that end at the elbows. I have great range of motion but spend my days sitting in an electric wheelchair getting little unplanned exercise. Additionally, I am a sedentary personality who would rather curl up with a good book than do aerobics which makes it hard for me to get moving.

I have struggled with my weight for a long time. 2 times before, I have lost excess of 50 pounds and twice gained them all back plus some. At 21, I got motivated into losing all the weight because I wanted to get out and date (not a new story, huh) and meet the man of my dreams. I kept the weight off for a few years and after meeting and marrying my husband (yeah man of my dreams!), I fell into a rut and gained back all the weight and more.

Then in 2005, I turned 30 and decided that I desperately wanted to have a baby. However, when considering could I handle pregnancy (and believe me when I say that could be a whole other blog!), my husband felt strongly that part of that decision needed to include weight loss. I was 211 pounds which is obese for someone that, due to missing limbs, is effectively 3'6". My range of motion was already severely compromised due to weight and I had had, for many years, chronic back and leg pains. I had tried (and failed) to lose weight so many times that I almost despaired. I couldn't find will power for myself but apparently, I could for my future child. I joined weight watchers online and through eating right and swimming, I lost 60 pounds! Though not at my optimum weight, I was within a healthy range and (being impatient) I immediately began trying for a baby.

Julia was born 12/3/2006 and I was thrilled! Motherhood was wonderful and I feel blessed everyday I spend with her and my husband. Unfortunately, over the next year, I failed to remove baby weight and gained right back up to 200 pounds. This weight gain has made me feel depressed and frustrated and I spend too much time unhappy. I have tried so many diets over the 2 years since my daughter was born but lacked the motivation necessary to commit. I am wasting these years that my daughter is young because I feel bad physically and emotionally. Not to mention that I am terrified that I will teach her my poor habits.

Ok, so why am I pouring out all these boring personal details online? No, I'm not one of those people who blogs everyday. Actually, I am super private and have never put anything this personal online. I am writing this blog because I am normally really embarrassed about my weight and I realized today that this is a lot of the problem. I am so disgusted with myself and not happy with the way I feel and look. As a result, I defeat myself before I begin. For instance, I have never wanted to join weight watchers meeting because I was afraid to share my need to lose weight with others and didn't want to weigh in publicly. You see, I need to climb down from my wheelchair to do step on the scale. These are self defeatist excuses and they stop now!

I am leaving in a few minutes to go to my first weight watchers meeting and I am going to start eating right tonight. I will be keeping this blog up to remind myself of the goals I am setting tonight. If you care to follow my progress, feel free. The journal is for me to make sure I stay on track but if you want to share your stories, I would love to hear them!