Muscles, Mimosas, and Misery

I've decided to try my own little experiment.  I signed up for weight watchers about 3 weeks ago.  I lost 2 pounds the first week and have slowly gained a little back each week.  I dug into the program a little more and this is what I found: If I eat only my daily points plus I am coming in under 1200 calories.  This is medically unhealthy.  When I mentioned this to one of the weight watchers coaches, their response was, "We track points not calories"  Well yes, this is correct, but it doesn't change the fact that you are recommending for people to eat below their medically healthy calories.  For the next week I am planning on tracking both weight watchers and Lose It!  As of now, my 500 calorie breakfast consumed nearly half of my points plus values.  It was not an unhealthy breakfast.  I had turkey bacon, 3 eggs, spinach, an English muffin, and cranberry relish.  I feel satisfied and full.  Weight watchers would recommend I...

I've made it about two weeks into my diet.  Things were going really well until The Hungry struck.   The Hungry can strike at any time and when it happens I can throw my diet out the window.  How can you tell The Hungry from regular food cravings?  Scenario number 1: I'm sitting on the couch and I want some chocolate.  I eat a piece of chocolate, and the craving goes away.  Scenario number 2:  I'm sitting on the couch and I want some chocolate.  I eat a piece of chocolate and the craving doesn't go away.  I eat something really good for me and I still feel like there is a pit in my stomach.  I try fruit, lean protein, veggies, fiber, all the things that should kill a craving, but nothing helps.  I finally give in and eat 25 hot wings, chocolate cake, almonds, a jar of nutella (you get the idea).  I feel satisfied.  Then an hour or two later The Hungry hits again. The Hungry is not appeased by one binge eating se...

This week's motivation I'm making a motivation wall.  I know there are several different versions of this out there, but I'm making one that works for me.  I thought about making it completely electronic and maybe even just post the motivation on here, but I really need something that is in my face because I get lazy and want to give up.  I've only been doing this for a short time and I already can't stop thinking about ice cream and chicken wings.  I also get discouraged when I don't see massive results very quickly.  This last part is especially difficult for me right now since I can't do super intense exercise.  I'm hoping a more in your face motivation board will help keep me on track. First I decided where I wanted to place it.  I chose it the wall between my living room and dining room.  It is also directly across from my kitchen.  I walk by it about a million times a day. Next I chose a medium.  I kept it simple and ju...

It turns out I'm pretty awful at naming things.  I have been pondering for an hour over what I should name this blog.  Health and Life is a good name, but a common one.  I even looked up this wonderful website on how to name your blog.  I managed to take up a whole piece of paper with a lot of phrases that don't make any sense or have no relatedness to my blog.  I think my favorite name is "The Afflicted Scientist", but outside of the afflicted part I can't make it relate.  For now, Health and Life will remain my blog name. As far as weekly progress goes I suspect I will meet two of my goals.  I have done my leg strengthening exercises three days, and I have tracked using Lose It!every day.  I almost didn't track Lose It! today because I thought I would go over on calories.  Going over on calories is not a good reason to not track.  I entered in everything and was only about 20 calories over, so it really wasn't bad.

I was talking with my husband last night, and we both made the decision to jump back into fitness.  The challenge will be especially difficult for me right now because of my knees, but I think its doable.  I'm going to use Lose It! to track my food and calories.  I have actually been doing this for a few weeks but I have been pretty inconsistent.  I have also found some seated arm and core exercises I can alternate with.  I also will be doing my physical therapy strengthening for my legs.  Depending on how my knee feels, I may try swimming some this week, but that fully depends on how much my knee hurts. My "Before" picture.   Now, to make my progress measurable I will set some goals.  I'm starting with goals being fairly easy to reach. 1) Do physical therapy exercises 4 times this week. (Sunday 6/28-Saturday 7/3) 2) Do core or arm exercises 3 times this week 3) Track with Lose It! for all 7 days. Links for those that are intereste...