A Small Victory

Yesterday my mother and I had a day o' fun!  We braved the snow and headed to a spa.  After some relaxation we headed towards the mall where we had to do some shopping!  As a treat for our snow day we went to SmashBurger.  The last time I went I had the BIG sized burger, a side of fries, mayo, and had a big dessert.  I remember on that day feeling HUGELY full.  Uncomfortably full.

Yesterday I tried to listen to my body, as corny as that sounds.  I ate the burger, only half a bun, and 1/2 an order of french fries.  I was full.  Not too full.  Not uncomfortable, but full.

When I started doing Simple Start it kinda made me chuckle.  Eat the things on the list until I feel full.  Ha.  If I was able to stop eating when I feel full, I probably wouldn't be in this predicament in the first place.

At SmashBurger yesterday I felt a small victory.  Not on the scale.  Not in clothes.  But in my body and my mindsets.  I ate only until I felt full.  I stopped eating fries when I started to feel it and finished my burger.

Today I head to the gym to work out with Courtney.  :-)  I didn't get to work out yesterday but I made my 10,000 steps! :-)

I am keeping on this path.  June 2014... I will be ready to take on the summer.

One Mouse Accomplished

I am fighting a cold. My nose is red. I can't stop coughing. My body aches. My head hurts. And despite all that I am smiling. I dragged my sick self to weight watchers tonight. The results were very exciting. 

Down 3.6 pounds!!!

I have reached my first incentive!!!! A brand new, wireless mouse for work! Woo hoo!!!! 

7 pounds in 3 weeks!

Down almost 30 from my very beginning weight. 

4 pounds away from my next incentive!

Even more importantly I feel great. I'm working out more. Walking 10,000 steps at least 5 days a week. Eating better. And am following my deal to myself to only get a fancy caribou coffee after 5 days of working out. I'm making big, big changes. 

I feel so pumped. 184 pounds. The last time I weighed 184 pounds was 5-28-13. 

This week is going to be a bit challenging working out wise. Especially if I am still not feeling well tomorrow. However, here is my plan. 

Wed: 60 minutes with Courtney

Thurs: None

Fri: 60 minutes with Courtney, 30 minutes walking

Sat: 30 minutes walking, 40 minutes yoga

Sun: 30 minutes walking

Mon: 30 minutes with Courtney, 30 minutes walking 

My friend Chloe has asked me to blog more often. I think I would like to try that again. I'm looking for good topics to write about. Send me ideas. 

Since rehearsals for Urinetown are over, I am trying to find activities and ways of keeping me motivated in the evenings. I am thinking that blogging is one of them!

As I cough myself to sleep tonight, I am going to be smiling knowing that I am on an awesome path and will continue to get healthy. By June, when I leave for NYC I won't be nervous about gaining because my habits will have changed and working out will be a part of my routine!

Thank you for your support!!!!!! :) 

A Good Start

Week #1 on Weight Watchers Simple Start at I am down 2.4 pounds!  I am feeling good about my week and all of the accomplishments from the week.

I stuck to the plan mostly.  The great part of my eating this week was that I never went crazy or overate.  Sometimes when I am tracking and I go over points I get this "screw it" mentality and just eat whatever I want.  Afterwards I would feel gross, guilty, and just uncomfortably full.  This one week on Simple Start has helped me feel good about my eating.  It has shown me that I can feel full, eat delicious food, and still allow myself some treats.  I wasn't a saint with my eating last week.  I ate something "not healthy" every day.  I ate out three different times.  I had a rice krispie treat and ate gluten free noodles.  I never felt deprived.

I think another big part of my success this week was all of my working out!  This was what I did last week:
Wednesday-- 60 minutes with my personal trainer
Thursday-- 60 minutes of Body Pump
Friday-- 30 minutes with my personal trainer
Saturday-- 30 minutes of cardio, 60 minutes of yoga
Sunday-- Day Off
Monday-- 30 minutes with my personal trainer
Tuesday-- Day off

It's the start of my second week on Simple Start and I am feeling good!  Ready to take on the week and perhaps make a few mistakes.  I am going to try my best to lose another 2.4 pounds.  I am getting closer to my first reward... a new mouse for my desk!  Can't wait!

Thanks for everyone who has sent supportive messages and emails!  2014 is the year!  The year to get healthy!

Emily Tinawi 2014 Weight Loss Incentive Program

191. 

That was my weigh in today.  191. 

Still 22 from my original weight on 1-12-10 but not at all what I want. 

AND... 

I am not feeling very healthy.  I think that is the bigger problem.  

AND... 

My knee has been acting up. 

All this means... It's SERIOUSLY time.  I mean really.  

I know, I know.  "Emily, you keep saying that and nothing changes."  I am embarrassed to admit that I have been THE WORST this past year.  And I feel it.  I don't feel great.  Not just because I don't look the way I want or because my clothes don't fit, although that doesn't help.  I don't feel in shape and able to go up the stairs without getting winded.  That is where it is really not ok.  

I am beginning to start thinking about a family and starting my own family.  Stop getting all crazy in your head!  No NOW!  Or even in the next two-three years.  But the thought has been growing in my mind.  And I want to be ready for that.  I want to be able to keep up with my kids and carry them around and play soccer in the yard.  Living like that isn't an overnight thing.  It's a mindset.  It's a lifestyle.  And I HAVE to get back in the habit of taking care of myself.

SO... Here are the steps that I am taking this month to get me back on track. 

1. For the next TWO weeks I am going to do the Weight Watchers Simple Start!  
2. In order to get a fancy drink at Caribou, I need to do 4 days of cardio!  In addition to my 5 days a week with Courtney (3 weight based sessions, 1 cardio session, 1 yoga session).
3. My E. Tinawi Weight Loss Incentive Program

I am pretty pumped about the last part.  I am going to give myself rewards along the way.  I used to do food incentives but this time I am trying some NEW!  I know a lot of people that have done incentives and they have worked for them.  Plus I like getting treats, so that's a BONUS!  So, I decided that for every 5 pounds I lose, I will earn something nice for myself.  Without further adieu...

The Emily Tinawi 2014 Weight Loss Incentive Program

• 185 pounds-- Buy a new wireless mouse for my desk at work  
• 180 pounds-- Gel mani/pedi 
• 175 pounds-- Show at the Ordway/Orpheum
• 170 pounds-- Spa Treatment of some kind
• 165 pounds-- Night trip away somewhere/$100 spending money 
• 160 pounds-- JD Date Day (planned by Joshua himself) 
• 155 pounds-- $200 Shopping Spree
• 150 pounds or below-- DISNEY TRIP SUMMER 2015!!!!!! (weight must be maintained until summer of 2015).

JD and I went to Disney for our first anniversary.  It was super fun.  It will be our 5 year anniversary in 2015 so the trip will be a combined YAY almost goal and anniversary trip!

And so I begin!  I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to go on a trip to Disney again.  It would be amazingly FUN and awesome!!!  And all my other incentives are things that I want that I can't justify just spending money on. They will feel awesome, however, to earn. 

I've done it before.  I can do it again.  Wireless Mouse!!!  Here I come... 

Simple Start

Happy 2014!  Welcome back for yet another exciting first of the year blog entry!

As I started to write this entry, I looked back at the past beginning of January posts from 2011, 2012, and 2013.

Three years ago, this was my very first blog entry.

January 30, 2011
"My name is Emily and I am a food lover.  So much so, that I gained over 50 pounds in 3 years.  I went from 160 to almost 220 without so much as blinking an eye.  It's been a year since I started Weight Watchers, which was pretty much the best decision I have ever made, and I have so far lost 41 pounds.  I feel amazing and life is good, however, I still have 30 pounds to go until I am at goal.

 

This blog is my new incentive to begin to really reflect on this whole rollercoaster ride that is my weight-loss journey and this huge lifestyle change.  So although I am not very funny or witty, this is my attempt to share my thoughts. :)"

I looked at this post and it made me smile.  This is the beginning of my 4th year on Weight Watchers.  Four years of being aware of being healthier.  Although I have taken many steps back and am not where I want to be, I am proud of many accomplishments along the way.  I've run 5Ks, tracked for months on end, made it through gaming conventions, learned how to make healthier food, worked out 5 days a week.  Thinking back, I am proud of what I have done.  But now it's time for a change.  I think I am ready to try something different.

My mother told me that most people don't follow through on their New Year's Resolution because big change isn't just about changing a habit, it's about changing a mindset.  I think that is a huge part of my problem.  I can't just be on plan until after I weigh in on Tuesday, go crazy and eat whatever I want, and then get back on plan on Wednesday.  I need to change my mindset to understand that it is about more than "making it through".  It's about actually understanding and taking care of my body.

Weight Watchers just introduced SIMPLE START.  You don't track points but you use a list of foods to help make solid choices.  I have decided to try this for the month of January.  As scary as it is to not track points, I think this is going to help me with changing my mindset.  I think I also REALLY need something NEW to help keep me going.  Something new!

I started yesterday and it was successful.  This morning for breakfast I had cream of wheat with bananas and an egg with tomatoes!  I am feeling full and satisfied.  I don't know what is for lunch yet but yesterday I went to the grocery story and have a fridge full of food!

I am ready to take on 2014!  I am ready to try something new!  I have other hopes and dreams for 2014... most not weight related... but I am excited for the year!

I read an article that was posted on Facebook and loved these two "things to change in 2014"! I think both of these general ideas are also going to help me this year! 
Start taking full accountability for your own life. – Own your choices and mistakes, and be willing to take the necessary steps to improve upon them. Either you take accountability for your life or someone else will. And when they do, you’ll become a slave to their ideas and dreams instead of a pioneer of your own. You are the only one who can directly control the outcome of your life. And no, it won’t always be easy. Every person has a stack of obstacles in front of them. But you must take accountability for your situation and overcome these obstacles. Choosing not to is choosing a lifetime of mere existence.

Start concentrating on the things you can control. – You can’t change everything, but you can always change something. Wasting your time, talent and emotional energy on things that are beyond your control is a recipe for frustration, misery and stagnation. Invest your energy in the things you can control, and act on them now.