Back on the wagon...

Boy, oh boy, how it's been a roller coaster with this Weight Watchers thing. It is so easy when you cook for yourself and only have to worry about yourself. But, when you're with other people or you're not the one cooking it is so hard. I know that is why there is extra weekly points, but there has to be an easier way for me to do this.

I fell off the bandwagon for the month of July. I came home from St Louis and it's been hard. I've been on vacation twice and we all know, it's easy to eat like crud on vacation. I've also been trying to see all my friends and the easiest way to do this seems to be going out to eat.

I know I can do this. I want to do this. I will do this. I just need to keep blogging regularly about it, so I can have people to help hold me accountable.

Wish me luck!
~E

Photographs...

This past weekend, I went to San Diego with my good friend Karen. I was feeling good about myself. I had consistantly been losing weight every week and thought I was doing great. That was until I saw pictures of myself. I knew I wasn't thin and all, but geez...I look like this pudgy girl. In my head, for once in my life, I was feeling comfortable in my own skin. Now this. Blah.

Any suggestions of how to over come this?

XO
~E

I did it...

Just a short little update...but I signed up for a 5k. It's a run/walk...and I'm pretty sure I'll be walking, because it's not that far away. But still, I did it! Haha, now here's an excuse to buy a cute outfit to wear to it.

I've also given up going out to eat (except for 1x a week) and all soda for Lent. I'm hoping I'll carry this on throughout the year.

PS...ya'll should check out the amazing Ashley's blog. And Ashley...I would love to do a 5k with you.

Meet Karen...

Elyse’s Super Fabulous Guest Blogger!

Hello Incredible Shrinking Elyse Friends and Fans! My name is Karen and I am a very good friend of Elyse. I am also her Weight Watcher buddy. Elyse is swamped with homework and I looked at this as a perfect excuse to put off mine! I had my own blog once but I am terrible at keeping up with it. Maybe this will give me some motivation.

Since this is Elyse’s weight loss blog, I wanted to share my story of weight loss with you! Here is the long story shortened:

I started Weight Watchers in fall 2005 (almost 6 years ago. YIKES!). I started college a year earlier and had put on what I call the freshman 20. I had terrible eating habits and did not do a darn thing for exercise. I thought after 12 years of soccer that my metabolism would stay the same after I stopped playing. Boy was I wrong! Anyways, I am not sure I can pin point when exactly I decided to do something about my weight. I knew if I did not do something it would continue to climb. I had people talking about my weight and how much I had gained. I had even one person ask me if I was still fat! Unreal! I think the important thing about weight loss is that you do it for yourself and no one else. I did not lose weight to make anyone else happy. I lost weight because I looked in the mirror and did not feel good about myself. Weight Watchers online and I have been close friends ever since.

And now here we are 6 years later and 30 pounds down. Let’s just say I fell off the wagon a lot. Anytime my weight started to climb back up, I would run right back to weight watchers and try again. I lost weight 5 pounds at time. I would have a long period of maintaining and then I would find some motivation to go on. I have to say exercise really helped more than I ever thought. Last year, I had my brother to kick my butt into the gym. Now that I am on my own, it is tough!! I still struggle even after being on the program so long but I think I am doing better. In fact, I know I am doing better than I was 6 years ago.

I am trying to challenge myself more this time. I have 10 pounds to lose to be at my goal weight. Getting use to the new weight watchers plan was a challenge in its self. Now that I have that under control, I have come up with a short list of my things I am currently challenging myself to do:

Challenges:

1. Take the Stairs at Least Once a Day
I am interning in a hospital as a counselor and I work mainly on the tippy top floor with cancer patients. Another counselor and I decided to take the stairs one random day. Needless to say, we were both very out of breath. Sure, it’s only from floor 3 to floor 9 but holy crap that was hard! For about a week in a half now I have made it a point to take the stairs every day that I am at work. I really want to make it to the 9th floor without being out of breath.

2. Less Diet Coke, More Water
I have a strange love for Diet Coke. I usually drink two a day. One in the morning and one in the afternoon. I bought a blue water bottle and I am determined to fill it up at least 3 times a day. Diet coke is yummy but water is better for me and my body.

3. FRUIT!!!!
Did you know fruit is zero points on weight watchers? For a while, I fought this idea. I thought I needed more structure. I also thought that fruit was too expensive for me. Turns out I was wrong on both accounts. I started having a half a grapefruit with my bagel or cereal in the morning and it has made a huge difference. I am not as hungry before lunch and I feel like I have more energy. Now I just need to more consistent with fruit throughout the day. I am on an apple and clementine kick right now.

4. Warrior Dash
This is the scariest one of all. Warrier Dash. It’s a 3.02 mile run and obstacle course. I should be training because I am running it with 2 hardcore runners! I have walked some the past few weeks but that will not be enough. I am also a little afraid of the obstacles. Check out the website to get an idea of what I am dealing with:
http://www.warriordash.com/ . I really need to start running on a weekly basis in order to prepare myself.
What are some challenges you can think for yourself? I also love suggestions!

Follow me on Twitter @Karen_Schmidt

Hope you all have an amazing week! I would like to say thanks to Elyse for letting me be a part of her weight loss journey. I know she has the power to be who she wants to be inside and out.

Karen

Turning things around

So here's the story, I was getting back into the right mindset, but then my cousin came into town. I showed her the town, which included pretzels, cookies, and an all you can eat brunch at a cupcake bar. Don't get me wrong, it was delicious. But now I feel disgusted with myself. I'm back up to five pounds less than what I originally started off as. Everyone has setbacks right?

Now, instead of just whining and complaining about things, here's what I'm doing to change things.

1. I'm going to start posting more here. I know I can do it with ya'll holding me accountable.

2. I have a WW buddy, Karen. We just started this deal this week and I know she's going to be

my rock throughout this.

3. I'm going to give myself a goal and tell ya'll what it is...so I can feel the pressure to meet it. And by pressure, I don't mean I'm going to drive myself crazy trying to meet it, but I just feel like if I say it out loud, I'll be more likely to meet it. So here it goes. My goal is to lose 15 lbs by the end of the month. I'll be happy with 10, but 15 would be fantastic.

Anyways, thanks for sticking with me. Your support means a lot.

XO

~E

Just keep swimming...

So I'm still keeping at it. Which for me is an accomplishment in and of its self. Getting back on the train after the holidays was one of the most difficult things I've done.

I've got a long way to go before the summer, but there is no doubt in my mind that I can do it. I'm so proud of myself for measuring everything out...this annoys me to no end, but I know it's for the greater good.

I also found the Beautiful Belly Challenge. I want to be able to put my beautiful belly up there one day. Just another thing that's motivating me.

~E

Motivation

I know I'll never be that stick thin girl, nor do I want to be. I think there are a lot of waif-ish people out there, not that they don't look good, but I don't want to look like that. It's unrealistic for me. Anyways, what I'm trying to say is, I need some visual motivation and these ladies do it for me. They are the most similar to my body type and they are healthy...which is all I want to be.

Christina Hendricks

Picture via...

Liv Tyler

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Kate Winslet

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Nikki Reed

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Kelly Osbourne

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PS: I bought this little bathing suit top as motivation. It'll look super cute with my retro looking navy polka dotted swim bottoms. Not that anyone will see it, unless you sneak into my backyard (creeper), but here's to looking good in this by the summer.

Setbacks...

So maybe going on Weight Watchers before the holidays was not a good idea. Being home for three weeks = epic fail. I put on the weight that I had lost. However, setbacks happen and I'm not going to let this get me down. I'm not starting back this week...I'm sick and can you believe you have to count the millions of cough drops consumed? Ha ha, I probably exceed my daily points by eating cough drops alone.

Anyways, next week, it starts back again. I'm going to start back exercising, if my cough and stupid stuffy nose allows me. Here's to getting back on the wagon!
~E

I think I can, I think I can...

I can do this! It's going to be hard being back home in Georgia, but I'm going to stay on the band wagon. I'm so thankful to ya'll for being my cheerleaders. Anyways, there are some developments that kinda blow.

1. I am an OJ and milk fiend. Seriously, I could drink a couple of glasses a day of both of these things. Unfortunately 1 1/2 cups of these drinks equal 5 points. Boo. I could easily drink 10 points in one sitting. I'm slowly learning to moderate these things.

2. Breakfast foods count as a lot of points. This makes me super sad because I'm a big breakfast eater. If I had to choose what type of meal I'd eat for the rest of eternity, it'd be breakfast.

However, there are things I love!

1. Fruit and veggies equal zero points. So I can munch on those yummy clementines and bananas all day long and be okay.

2. The weekly points. I love that there are weekly points that are there waiting for you to use in case you mess up. This means I don't beat myself up too much whenever I slip up and end up with a couple extra points at the end of the day.

Next semester, I'm seriously going to try to get back into exercising like I used to. I miss going to Zumba and doing all my other workout stuff. Grad school just sucks all the life and time out of me. However, I'm going to have to learn how to fit this stuff in. Even if it is only three days a week.

Now let's see if I stay strong this next week with Christmas Eve being on Friday and Christmas on Saturday. I know there is going to be a lot of yummy food out there, but hey, it's okay in moderation. Haha, thank goodness for those weekly points, because I'm going to need them.

Until next time...
~E

Off to a good start...

So after my first weigh-in at home and I've lost some weight. I'm super ecstatic. It makes me more motivated and makes me want to stay with it :)

Also, on another note, I went into a store yesterday that I have not shopped at since high school. I tried on a pair of their jeans and they fit! It wasn't a perfect fit, but I could get them up and button them. That's such a plus. Now my next goal is to get them to fit, but look good. Then once they look awesome, I'll spit out the cash and buy them.

I'm excited to see how this week goes. I've got a Christmas party at work on Friday, so I've got to stay strong! I can do this!

Week 1

Well there's not much to say. I've just started. I'm hoping to keep motivated...more to come on week 2.

~E