Normally, at this point in the month, I would be sharing the goals I have for this particular month. Until we get back to the States, I will refrain from doing that. Instead, I am setting a blanket goal for our entire time in Germany, which will cover the next five and half months.
My goal for our time in Germany is simple, but in a way not so simple. I want to maintain. My last weigh-in was at exactly 150lbs. I would like to stay in that ballpark and if a loss should happen, I would gladly welcome it. On the other hand, I know that the food over here isn't what I'm used to and I will have to adapt. The bottom line is that in order to maintain my lifetime member status, I have to stay under 157lbs. I would hate to think that I could get back up there in that short of a time, but that's something I'm going to have to work on to make sure it doesn't happen.
I will be going to a German weight watchers (it's an international company, so the plan is the same) tomorrow for the first time. We haven't been to an actual meeting in over a year due to Brady not being able to behave in a way that we feel appropriate. We usually go and weigh-in, then leave. That's what we intend to do, but I'm nervous that they won't speak very much English. I also expect that my weight will be measured in kilograms instead of pounds and I will have to convert that later. My lifetime card gets me access anywhere in the world, but I don't know how their system of free etools works. At your first weigh-in of the month as a lifetime member, you receive a voucher for 8 weeks of free etools as long as you are under your goal weight. Since you get one every month, you always have a little extra time, so I'm good through the beginning of April. My concern is that the vouchers here may only work on the German component of the website and since I'm a registered member in the US, it may not work for me. Only time will tell and when it comes time to enter a new code this week, I will try theirs first to see if it works. If not, I'll have to pay from April until we get home, and then get a new voucher valid there.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
A Final American Food Tour
Before leaving the States, I decided to try and make a list of places and things I wanted to eat before leaving the country for 6 months. Since we're a very food-chain oriented nation, I knew I wouldn't be able to find any of the same restaurants over here, save a few fast food places, and mainly McDonalds (which I haven't eaten at in over 10 years).
I made sure to get some decent pizza since I'd heard that the pizza in any European country other than Italy is sub-par. When I made it up to Pittsburgh a week before we headed to Germany, I knew I had to hit up some restaurants that I'd crave if I didn't eat there before we left. Since I had only a week left, I had to choose the most important ones. We definitely went to Cheesecake Factory, Ichiban, Buffalo Wild Wings, Red Lobster, and a few others. I also made sure to get one last diet cherry limeade at Sonic (my all-time favorite drink). One of the things I wish I'd gotten to eat before leaving was a grilled Rachel at Food For Thought in Oakland. Food For Thought was a small deli directly across the street from our apartment and we used to get a grilled Rachel there all the time. It's like a Rueben sandwich, except it's turkey instead of corned beef and cole slaw instead of sauerkraut. It's something we took for granted when we lived there and I haven't had one since we moved out of that apartment in June 2010. I will be certain to get one almost as soon as we get back.
We used to eat out once a week after getting weighed-in and we've been here two weekends already and haven't eaten out once. They're not too keen on small children and the noise they make, plus prices are more expensive (before taking into account that 1 Euro is $1.30). We hope to make it out for major occasions and get a babysitter (we have some friends coming over in the next month that are very familiar with Brady). On the other hand, not eating out once a week will likely help keep my weight in check. On those days, I would often go well over my daily points plus allowance, if not double it with all the courses offered at most restaurants.
I made sure to get some decent pizza since I'd heard that the pizza in any European country other than Italy is sub-par. When I made it up to Pittsburgh a week before we headed to Germany, I knew I had to hit up some restaurants that I'd crave if I didn't eat there before we left. Since I had only a week left, I had to choose the most important ones. We definitely went to Cheesecake Factory, Ichiban, Buffalo Wild Wings, Red Lobster, and a few others. I also made sure to get one last diet cherry limeade at Sonic (my all-time favorite drink). One of the things I wish I'd gotten to eat before leaving was a grilled Rachel at Food For Thought in Oakland. Food For Thought was a small deli directly across the street from our apartment and we used to get a grilled Rachel there all the time. It's like a Rueben sandwich, except it's turkey instead of corned beef and cole slaw instead of sauerkraut. It's something we took for granted when we lived there and I haven't had one since we moved out of that apartment in June 2010. I will be certain to get one almost as soon as we get back.
We used to eat out once a week after getting weighed-in and we've been here two weekends already and haven't eaten out once. They're not too keen on small children and the noise they make, plus prices are more expensive (before taking into account that 1 Euro is $1.30). We hope to make it out for major occasions and get a babysitter (we have some friends coming over in the next month that are very familiar with Brady). On the other hand, not eating out once a week will likely help keep my weight in check. On those days, I would often go well over my daily points plus allowance, if not double it with all the courses offered at most restaurants.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
January 2012 Stats
Starting weight : 148.2 lb
Ending weight : 150.0 lb
Change : 1.8 lb gained (average 0.42 lb gained per week)
This time last year : 173 lb
I can honestly say that I'm pleased with this month's result. I know my goal was to get back to 148.2lb, but having only gained 1.8lb from the holidays is a win, no matter which way you look at it. Now, we move on to next month!
Ending weight : 150.0 lb
Change : 1.8 lb gained (average 0.42 lb gained per week)
This time last year : 173 lb
I can honestly say that I'm pleased with this month's result. I know my goal was to get back to 148.2lb, but having only gained 1.8lb from the holidays is a win, no matter which way you look at it. Now, we move on to next month!
Saturday, January 28, 2012
The German Food Experience
We've been in Germany for 10 days now, and although I anticipated the food experience being tough, but not as tough as it turned out to be. The first two days weren't so bad because we were out and even ate at a Subway, so things looked positive.
We arrived last Thursday, and I didn't make it to the store myself until last Saturday. We have an Aldi's right around the corner from our apartment and that's when the culture shock really hit me. I knew about bringing your own bags, but what I saw inside the store really freaked me out. There was absolutely NO variety. Almost everything in there was carbs, too, and we all know that in Points Plus 2012, carbs are the enemy. We grabbed cereal, a jar of Nutella, some yogurt, sandwich bread (we never have bread in our house), a package of chicken breasts, whole wheat pasta, a can of chili, and two packages of microwave veggies.
I was already starting to freak out a little because I had no idea what I was going to eat for lunch. Andy hadn't gone back to work yet, but I knew that time was coming soon and I'd be on my own, with not only myself to feed, but Brady as well. I had brought from the States 12 packets of tuna (they don't sell it in Europe) that would last me 3 months, a few cereal bars for Brady, and oatmeal for Brady.
For those of you who have never been to Europe, the fridges are small, and the freezers even smaller if you have one at all (which we do). You don't go to the store once a week and stock up. Most people go every day. My goal is to go no more often than every other day.
We had coffee with a neighbor last Sunday and she offered to take me to another market, in addition to the butcher, where she assured me that I could at least acquire lunch meat. I got some sliced turkey at the butcher, and then we went to a market that had more variety and plenty of produce. I stocked up on apples, bananas, yogurt, tortilla wraps, and a few other things that would help get us through part of the week. Another part of the trouble with Europe is that parking is all paid on the street and most people use public transportation. That means, when I go to the market, I have to consider what I can carry, the distance to the certain store, the weather, and the fact that I have to push Brady in the stroller. It's certainly overwhelming.
In our first week here, what we ate for dinner consisted of frozen pizzas, chicken breast, that one jar of chili, and pasta. We went through an entire box of cereal, a whole loaf of bread, and an entire jar of Nutella. Eating things like this had me convinced that there was no way to lose weight or even maintain. Andy was convinced that I wasn't eating enough to even hit my points, but I assured him that most of the items I was eating were carbs and that was just bad enough to hit my daily points plus allowance.
Today, we again went to the larger market and the butcher, this time with Andy in tow. We found it difficult to find many of the main staples needed to make most of our favorite recipes. I was very frustrated and again wondered whether or not I'd starve to death or go the opposite route and start eating badly.
The only weigh-in I had this month was a week after New Years, and I was up to exactly 150lbs. Four days after that weigh-in, I left to spend a week with my parents and I was up a little over a pound when I left. No doubt, I gained some more in the week before we traveled here, since we ate out lunch almost every day. I stepped on the scale this morning because we got our freight shipment on Thursday, and almost didn't want to know what it would tell me. It showed me up less than half a pound from my last weigh in, exactly three weeks ago. I hope this is a good sign but only time will tell what the food here will do to my weight. There are several weight watchers within the city, but only have weekday meetings, and mainly in the afternoons during naptime. I did a broader search and specified only weekend meetings and found one just outside the city, within 20 minutes driving distance. This way, Andy could take me, as he has the car at work during the week. I technically only have to weigh-in once a month, but to keep up my accountability, I think I will try to make it every other week.
We arrived last Thursday, and I didn't make it to the store myself until last Saturday. We have an Aldi's right around the corner from our apartment and that's when the culture shock really hit me. I knew about bringing your own bags, but what I saw inside the store really freaked me out. There was absolutely NO variety. Almost everything in there was carbs, too, and we all know that in Points Plus 2012, carbs are the enemy. We grabbed cereal, a jar of Nutella, some yogurt, sandwich bread (we never have bread in our house), a package of chicken breasts, whole wheat pasta, a can of chili, and two packages of microwave veggies.
I was already starting to freak out a little because I had no idea what I was going to eat for lunch. Andy hadn't gone back to work yet, but I knew that time was coming soon and I'd be on my own, with not only myself to feed, but Brady as well. I had brought from the States 12 packets of tuna (they don't sell it in Europe) that would last me 3 months, a few cereal bars for Brady, and oatmeal for Brady.
For those of you who have never been to Europe, the fridges are small, and the freezers even smaller if you have one at all (which we do). You don't go to the store once a week and stock up. Most people go every day. My goal is to go no more often than every other day.
We had coffee with a neighbor last Sunday and she offered to take me to another market, in addition to the butcher, where she assured me that I could at least acquire lunch meat. I got some sliced turkey at the butcher, and then we went to a market that had more variety and plenty of produce. I stocked up on apples, bananas, yogurt, tortilla wraps, and a few other things that would help get us through part of the week. Another part of the trouble with Europe is that parking is all paid on the street and most people use public transportation. That means, when I go to the market, I have to consider what I can carry, the distance to the certain store, the weather, and the fact that I have to push Brady in the stroller. It's certainly overwhelming.
In our first week here, what we ate for dinner consisted of frozen pizzas, chicken breast, that one jar of chili, and pasta. We went through an entire box of cereal, a whole loaf of bread, and an entire jar of Nutella. Eating things like this had me convinced that there was no way to lose weight or even maintain. Andy was convinced that I wasn't eating enough to even hit my points, but I assured him that most of the items I was eating were carbs and that was just bad enough to hit my daily points plus allowance.
Today, we again went to the larger market and the butcher, this time with Andy in tow. We found it difficult to find many of the main staples needed to make most of our favorite recipes. I was very frustrated and again wondered whether or not I'd starve to death or go the opposite route and start eating badly.
The only weigh-in I had this month was a week after New Years, and I was up to exactly 150lbs. Four days after that weigh-in, I left to spend a week with my parents and I was up a little over a pound when I left. No doubt, I gained some more in the week before we traveled here, since we ate out lunch almost every day. I stepped on the scale this morning because we got our freight shipment on Thursday, and almost didn't want to know what it would tell me. It showed me up less than half a pound from my last weigh in, exactly three weeks ago. I hope this is a good sign but only time will tell what the food here will do to my weight. There are several weight watchers within the city, but only have weekday meetings, and mainly in the afternoons during naptime. I did a broader search and specified only weekend meetings and found one just outside the city, within 20 minutes driving distance. This way, Andy could take me, as he has the car at work during the week. I technically only have to weigh-in once a month, but to keep up my accountability, I think I will try to make it every other week.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Weigh-in for 1/7/2012
Last weigh-in (12/17/2011) : 148.2 lb
This weigh-in (1/7/2012) : 150.0 lb
Change : 1.8 lb gained
Although I'm not too happy to be at that 150lb mark again, I'm grateful that it's not more of a gain. I had no illusions that I would lose or even maintain, so it's nice to finally have the number so I can work on getting back to where I was a week before Christmas. Next week will be the last weigh-in before Germany!
This weigh-in (1/7/2012) : 150.0 lb
Change : 1.8 lb gained
Although I'm not too happy to be at that 150lb mark again, I'm grateful that it's not more of a gain. I had no illusions that I would lose or even maintain, so it's nice to finally have the number so I can work on getting back to where I was a week before Christmas. Next week will be the last weigh-in before Germany!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
January Goals
January is historically a bad month for me (as I'm sure it is for a lot of people), due to the holidays. I think there has only been one January in the last five years that I've had a net loss, and that would be the first one that I was on program, since I was really strict about what I ate. Every other January has been a net gain and although you never want to see a gain for the month, in some ways, it's worth it to enjoy a little.
My goal for the month is simple. To lose whatever I've gained due to the holidays. I was 148.2lb at my last official weigh-in in December, so I want to end the month like that, regardless of how much I've gained.
This is a brand new year and I'm excited for all of the experiences I will get this year. We are moving to Germany in two weeks! Although we've known unofficially for almost two years and officially for 9 months, it still feels a little unreal. I'm sure it'll take some time to sink in once we get over there, but I know that the food situation will be a lot different and I'm sure light options may not be available.
My goal for the month is simple. To lose whatever I've gained due to the holidays. I was 148.2lb at my last official weigh-in in December, so I want to end the month like that, regardless of how much I've gained.
This is a brand new year and I'm excited for all of the experiences I will get this year. We are moving to Germany in two weeks! Although we've known unofficially for almost two years and officially for 9 months, it still feels a little unreal. I'm sure it'll take some time to sink in once we get over there, but I know that the food situation will be a lot different and I'm sure light options may not be available.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Cookie Overload
We are finally home after a week and a half away, spending the holidays with family. Even though I'm on weight watchers and this is my fifth holiday season as a member, I still like to enjoy the holiday eating. It comes but once a year and I have the chance to eat things that I rarely get the rest of the year. Since it's a lifestyle, you have to be able to enjoy yourself and not be miserable while everyone else enjoys. That being said, I always regret how much I eat over this short period of time.
I've often mentioned that when I eat things that I know aren't good for me, I immediately picture my body ballooning and expect that my clothes won't fit. Fortunately, I was able to get into some small pants and several size 8 pants, so I know that that mental picture is false, although it doesn't necessarily mean that I didn't gain a little weight.
Cookies are probably my biggest weakness next to peanut butter and this holiday season, we made six different varieties. Having the cookies in the house makes it almost impossible not to eat them. We try to give them away at every turn, but I think I averaged at least four cookies every day since we went home for the holidays. We made a decision that none of them would come back into our house, so at least that's a good thing about being home.
I'm probably going to weigh myself at home tomorrow, before the weigh-in on Saturday so that I know what I have to work with. My last weigh-in was almost three weeks ago and I haven't been the the gym. I'm hoping that the sudden change in diet will at least shock my body enough so the number I see on Saturday isn't too shocking. Last year, over the same three weeks, I bounced up 2.2lb. I'm hoping to keep it under a 2lb gain so that I don't bounce back up into the 150s.
I've often mentioned that when I eat things that I know aren't good for me, I immediately picture my body ballooning and expect that my clothes won't fit. Fortunately, I was able to get into some small pants and several size 8 pants, so I know that that mental picture is false, although it doesn't necessarily mean that I didn't gain a little weight.
Cookies are probably my biggest weakness next to peanut butter and this holiday season, we made six different varieties. Having the cookies in the house makes it almost impossible not to eat them. We try to give them away at every turn, but I think I averaged at least four cookies every day since we went home for the holidays. We made a decision that none of them would come back into our house, so at least that's a good thing about being home.
I'm probably going to weigh myself at home tomorrow, before the weigh-in on Saturday so that I know what I have to work with. My last weigh-in was almost three weeks ago and I haven't been the the gym. I'm hoping that the sudden change in diet will at least shock my body enough so the number I see on Saturday isn't too shocking. Last year, over the same three weeks, I bounced up 2.2lb. I'm hoping to keep it under a 2lb gain so that I don't bounce back up into the 150s.
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