Laugh Out Loud Friday

ONLY 1 MORE DAY TO ENTER MY GIVEAWAY!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

I don't think I've ever been happier to see Friday. Work and school have been so stressful this week and even though I'm getting enough sleep, I just don't feel like I am! I'm ready to go home, make dinner, chill with my DBF, dog and cat and maybe take a walk later...

To welcome the weekend and Friday I thought I'd post a funny:



Have a great weekend everyone! I'll see you back here when I announce the winner February 2, 2009. Remember to check back to see if you've won!

Week 4: Weigh In

I'm sorry to be late posting details about my weigh in on Monday (1/26). Remember last week that I reached my 5%?!? You can go here to read all about it.

And if you're here because you're looking for my GIVEAWAY (that ends Saturday at midnight) then click here. Please enter, it's so easy and you could win SOOOO much cool stuff!

Thank you to everyone who has entered so far. I love reading about your favorite things to eat, I'm getting lots of good ideas! There is so much traffic to my site (presumably because of the giveaway) but very few entries. What do you have to lose when you enter? Absolutely nothing! But you have so much you could gain just by leaving a small little comment! You have until Jan. 31 at midnight to enter!

Like I said in my Week 3 post, I did add the cardio/weights to my routine. I worked out 30+ minutes at a high level 3 times last week and I did moderate weights as well. This leads me to believe that I will speed up my weight loss, but in fact, I am slowing it down because I am building muscle which weighs more than fat! So at my WI I knew I would either have a slight gain or stay the same. I lost 0.2 ounces. I was very pleased to have not gained any weight, but I was also disappointed to not have a big loss like I've become used to.

However, I know that my hard work will pay off, even if the number on the scale doesn't show it. I measured my waist after almost a month on WW, and it has decreased by 1.5 inches. My arms are stronger and my legs look leaner. I visibly see the difference so I know it's working. I am continuing with my work out/weights plan and hopefully more dramatic changes are in store for next week!

I haven't updated my "butter pounds" chart yet, but this visual aid I took from my WW site really does help me see the big picture and how far I've come in such a short time. I can't figure out how to change my goal line, I set it at 5% online, but can't find where to update... Any help would be greatly appreciated!

My First Ever Really Cool Totally Awesome GIVEAWAY

I am very excited to be hosting my first giveaway. This is exclusively for WW members that have landed on my site via the WW online message boards. I love WW and really think it has done so much for me in the short month I've been following the plan. The support I receive from the boards gives me so much motivation!

To enter my fabulous giveaway, all you have to do is leave a comment with your user name on the WW message boards and answer this question:

What is your favorite thing to eat since joining WW?

For me I would say I love making recipes from the WW site that resemble things I used to eat, but are made way healthier now and still taste great! The chicken parmesan, juicy burgers, teriyaki chicken and broccoli just to name a few! I also love skinny cow ice cream sandwiches, brown rice, whole wheat tortillas and red peppers. It's amazing to realize that healthy doesn't always mean bad tasting. I love experimenting with new foods that are tasty but low in points! I want your ideas!

I will select a winner using a random generator. Deadline for entry is January 31 and the winner will be announced sometime February 2, 2009.

Other Rules:

Only residents with US mailing addresses may enter.

Only one entry per person - I have to approve your comment before it gets posted so you may not see it right away.

Entries must be received by midnight (PCT) on January 31.


One grand prize winner will receive the following:

This contains 1 package Fiber One Bars, 1 package WW 1 point chocolate candies, 1 WW Mix It Match It cookbook with over 1000 B, L & D combinations, and a fun card deck of 52 Great Cheap Date ideas!

In addition, the winner will have the choice of either:

a. One Year Subscription to Weight Watchers Magazineor

b. 2 DVD set of Yoga Booty Ballet (click on the link for details about the product)



Now all you have to do is leave your comment! Good luck!

Giveaway is Delayed...

I'm sorry!

Please forgive me, but I have been so busy at work that I didn't have time to post my giveaway!  But I promise that it will be here by tomorrow so please check back! :)

Also, I'll post a thread on the WW board to let you know when it is officially up!

Laugh Out Loud Friday

In one hour I get off work!  Yay, I am very excited!  Even though my weekend will just consist of school work, group meetings and overtime for real work, it's a great feeling to know that you don't have to come into work for 2 WHOLE DAYS!  I'm bored so I've decided to start a weekly post on Friday's, just for laughs.  I found this while searching the internet and it fits me perfectly.  How about you?



Have a great weekend everyone!

Sneak Peek ☺

Hi!  I love reading other people's blogs!  I write this thing for myself, but I'd be lying if I said I don't care if anyone ever visits.  I really, really, really want to have a blog that is "popular" in the blogosphere!  If you read mine, please let me know via a comment!  I'm not very familiar with blog lingo yet, but I see something about "subscribing" and "blogrolls"...I want that AND followers!  Am I sounding desperate?

Ok I'll chill, but I do want to make a comment especially for my fellow Weight Watcher board members.  You really want to keep reading, I promise!

Guess Who?

So I have lived in LA for over a year and have yet to run into anyone famous. This bothers me. Let me tell you who I've seen: James Brolin, Barbra Streisand, Vanessa Hudgens (maybe?) and that's about it. LAME! I often complain about this because I am addicted to celebrity gossip. I read the trashy magazines, visit Just Jared on an hourly basis and always have my eyes peeled for a star sighting. Well, last night I went to the local grocery store. I was unshowered and embarassed about what I was wearing (it was not a good morning for wardrobe inspiration). Me and DBF were walking down the pasta aisle (whole wheat pasta is awesome!) and guess who I see dancing and singing "oops I did it again" along with the store's radio?

This guy:

I mentioned this earlier...

...but I wanted to say again,

I HAVE REACHED MY FIRST GOAL OF LOSING 5% OF MY BODY WEIGHT!

I initially set in my mind to reach this goal by January 26, 2009.  But low and behold, I was able to reach it an entire week ahead of schedule!! :)

At Weigh In:  Week 3 I found out the exciting news.  I mentioned it in this post but just briefly.  Now that I've had a couple days to think on it, I realized what an accomplishment this is.  Not necessarily that I've lost the weight, but more so that I am growing accustomed to a healthier and ultimately happier lifestyle.

I've lost 5% since December 31, 2008 (22 days) and here is what I have noticed so far:

1.  My clothes are fitting much better.  Jeans I haven't worn in 2, 3, 6 months are sliding on effortlessly (or at least getting past my knees, haha).

2.  My arms are leaner and more toned.  I have been embarassed about my arms for some time and even during the hot LA summer I wore cardigans over all my tank tops.

3.  I feel healthy.  I have been drinking so much water.  My skin is clearing up and my hair is shinier.  I no longer feel overly full after a meal or so uncomfortable anymore.  I enjoy what I'm eating instead of worrying about it being enough to fill me up.  My stomach is growing smaller and I am satisfied off of less.

4.  At least 3 of my co-workers have noticed a difference in my weight.  They say my face is getting thinner.

5.  I no longer want to put a pillow over my lap every time I sit down to cover up any rolls.  TMI?  My tummy is getting flatter.  Hurray!

6.  I am so optimistic about continuing to lose weight and each day that goes by makes me realize that Weight Watchers truly is a lifestyle change, one that I gladly accept!



I guess it's time to come up with a new goal!

Wish List Wednesday

I have far too much time on my hands. I'm BORED! My boss is not coming in today (as far as I know) and he left no assignments for me or my team members. I could be utilizing this time to work on Business Economics or Managerial Accounting, but honestly I just don't want to...how about a WISH LIST instead? Yeah, I think that sounds like a good idea too! In fact, let's make it a WISH LIST WEDNESDAY. I'll try to make it a "regular" thing!

1. Geralynn Sandal by Coach. These are classic and fun, the perfect sandal for spring.

2. Madison Op Art Shoulder Bag, again by Coach. See a pattern here? I have loved Coach for a very very very long time and each year for my birthday I get a new Coach purse. My eyes are on a colorful one this year because I generally stick to brown and black.

3. I love to visit Anthropologie. I hate their prices and often refuse to pay that much for any one item, but I was recently in the store in Santa Barbara and just love everything about it. Plus they have the cutest kitchenwares and accessories. I saw this top on the model and it looked so dainty and feminine. If you ever watch Giada on Food Network then you know her husband Todd is a designer for Anthropologie. So that's why she always looks so amazing on her show...these clothes are made for her body.

4. Troy and I went to Hollywood on Monday afternoon and spent the day walking, laughing, talking, exploring...We went to Urban Outfitters and I found this amazing dress. I want it for my birthday and I think once I reach my goal weight it will look fabulous! I am in love with the side pockets and the delicate lace embroidery.

5. I am a girly girl. I love dresses and headbands, purses and heels...I love wearing dresses because 1) they're comfy, 2) I'm proud of my legs, and 3) I don't get as hot as I would if I were wearing jeans. I have been eyeing this dress since I saw it at Neiman Marcus a few weeks back. But now I can't find it online. Shopbop has one style of it, but the one I want is way more colorful. The good news is that this one is marked down to $147.50 from $295.

Weigh In: Week 3

Let me start by saying that I wasn't a very good girl this week. After Weigh In: Week 2, DBF and I went to La Fogata, our favorite Mexican joint, and I had 1 serving of chips (12), salsa, and one shredded beef hard taco. It was amazing! I love Mexican food and I attribute this love for being the reason I gained so much weight. One basket of chips has up to 2,000 calories! What!?!

Anyway, I was OP the rest of the week and on Saturday, DBF and I decided to drive to Santa Barbara for the day. So I packed healthy snacks like grapes, fiber one bars, ww chocolates, etc. But no lunch. We decided to eat at California Pizza Kitchen and we split the white pizza on honey wheat dough. I had 2 slices of cheesy, gooey amazing-ness. I definitely ate in moderation and felt satisfied. Plus we did A LOT of walking that day, all over SB. Then when we got back home my neighbor was having a birthday party and invited us over. She had so much food out and I resisted because I was going to go home and make grilled chicken, but we ended up staying for over 3 hours. Somehow, those pink and white frosted animal crackers found their way to my hand and into my mouth. Like 15 of them! And I had two slices of bread with salami and cheese. Needless to say, my tummy was not feeling great and I was pretty upset with myself.

So on Sunday I ate very light and healthy to purge myself of the bad choices I had made. But I still felt like I had definitely gained. DBF and I went bowling (I beat him twice) as well so it was good to have some kind of physical activity. By the way, I bowled 3 strikes in a row...crazy! Anyway, WI day came and I decided to go to the 9:30 meeting so I could just get it over with already. I approached the scale with utter dread, but then Seta told me I had lost 2 pounds! I really couldn't believe it.

However, I've noticed that while I keep losing each week, the amount is decreasing slowly. So I have decided to add exercise to this week and see what happens. I hear you actually gain weight the first few weeks you exercise, but we'll see. I'm going to do 3 or 4 days of cardio in addition to the 30+ minute walks I'm taking every day.

PS - I reached my 5% goal a week ahead of schedule! Yay :)

my current obsessions:

i have ocd.  i really do i think.  and it's not even about things like cleaning or counting tiles.  if you walked into my apartment you would probably be appalled that anyone could live like i do.  it's a mess.  but i don't mind the clutter as long as the floors are vacuumed.  ocd #1 - vacuumed floors.  and that is how you spell vacuum.  i googled it.  who cares that the coffee table is hidden under months and months of papers and loose unpaid bills?  i don't.  but if there is even one speck on the carpet, you can bet i'm on my way to the closet to whip out the vacuum.

another thing i'm obsessive about?  to do lists.  who cares if i actually accomplish anything on the list because the point is to have a list and that's all.  i make lists for everything just to make one and then i forget about it.  seriously i will spend hours working on a grocery list and then i'll leave it behind on accident and have to try to remember the list from memory.  that method never works because i always end up forgetting key ingredients.

anyway, being obsessive about things can be good and bad.  case in point - weight watchers.  i'm obsessed with following my plan to a tee.  i am obsessed with figuring out points, planning meals and frequenting the WW message boards.  this part is good.  the bad part - worrying about every little crumb i place in my mouth.  worrying about how much my weight has changed from hour to hour.  worrying that i won't lose weight at my next weigh in.  i am working on finding a happy medium between the good and bad.

so this list had a point.  see there i go making lists again...my current obsessions:

1.  weight watcher, please see above.

2.  fresh and easy neighborhood market.  98 cent produce packs.  $3.99 fresh atlantic salmon.  $5.99 for a 24 pack of soda (i don't drink it, but wow what a great deal).  totino's PARTY PIZZA!  i no longer enjoy these bad boys but at one point in time, i had 2 or 3 a week.  seriously, but ralph's no longer carries the brand so i thought our love affair was over.  then i saw them here!  but i can't have one because of obsession #1.

3.  hulu.  i can watch all my favorite shows here.  for free.  have you seen psych or monk?  these are new discoveries for me and i love them both.

4.  water.  100+ ounces a day.  this is more of a necessity rather than an obsession.  but i have become rather ocd about getting my h20.

so that is what i'm obsessing over this week.  now i'm off to make a list of things i need to get done this weekend...

Weigh In: Week 2

I just wanted to write a quick note after last night's weigh in. I was uber nervous to go and face the scale last night because it is a certain time of month for me and I have heard 1000's of horror stories about women gaining so much weight during their TOM. So I assumed that I would be the same. I didn't want to know because this is my second week of WW and if I had gained (even though I was 100% on plan) then I knew it would discourage and disappoint me. But I knew I had to go and find out. So I did and I was pleasantly surprised to find out I had lost 2.6 pounds. :) This brings my total weight loss for 12 days to 5.6 pounds. I am very close to my 5% goal that I want to reach by January 26.

This is great news for me and I am even more motivated than ever (which I didn't think was possible) to stick with WW and lose the weight I want. Today I am wearing a pair of jeans that I haven't worn {(comfortably)} in QUITE a while! That makes me happy!

Potato and Bacon Soup

Taken from WW Mix It Match It cookbook -

Potato and Bacon Soup

Prep: 10 minutes Cook: 20 minutes Serves: 6 Points Value: 4

Ingredients:

4 large (8 oz) baked russet potatoes
4 strips bacon
1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 (14 oz) cans reduced sodium chicken broth
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
1 cup fat free half-and-half
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Directions:

1. Coarsely chop the potatoes (leaving the skin on) and set aside.
2. Cook the bacon until crisp in a large nonstick saucepan set over medium heat; drain on paper towel and set aside. Pour off and discard all but 1 teaspoon of the drippings.
3. Add half the scallions and the garlic to the drippings in the saucepan and return to medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes.
4. Add the broth, salt, cayenne, and chopped potatoes, mashing the potatoes slightly with a wooden spoon to break them up a bit. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until heated through, 2-3 minutes.
5. Stir in the half-and-half and parsley; return to a simmer. Serve the soup sprinkled with the crumbled bacon and the remaining scallions.

Per serving (1.5 cups): 215 Cal, 3 g Fat, 1 g Sat Fat, 0 g Trans Fat, 4 mg Chol, 863 mg Sod, 39 g Carb, 4 g Fib, 9 g Prot, 98 mg Calc. Points value: 4.

I made this recipe last night. In my personal opinion it was ok but not great. My boyfriend loved it though. I wish it had been more creamy instead of broth-y. The prep is super easy and it really comes together quickly, so I will probably make it again. I love potatoes and bacon so this is a way get both for a relatively low amount of points.

Setting Weight-Loss Goals

Goals are both motivating and inspiring.  They really help us to focus on what's ahead.  They also serve as a reminder of the reasons behind all of our hard work and efforts.  However, I always run into the same problem when I'm setting a goal.  I  make my goal way too big and seemingly unachievable in a reasonable amount of time.  Instead of praising myself for the little goals I'm reaching, I find that I get discouraged for not reaching my big goal fast enough.  So this year I have changed my mindset in order to keep me more motivated and on track.

WW Goal-Setting Strategy when setting your first goal is to pick a goal that will get you started, and prove to yourself that you CAN do this.  Don't even think about the next step yet.  Focus on this one small yet significant goal that you want to see yourself accomplish.

I have chosen my first goal to be to lose 5% of my weight by January 26th.  I have already lost 3 pounds and have 3 weeks to lose the additional weight.  I think this is an incredibly realistic goal that will make me feel so proud of myself.  It helps me to visualize my WI on Jan. 26th, and see it as a success.

It also helps me to acknowledge the accomplishments I make every day as well because those are like mini goals in themselves - not cheating even ONCE!, staying within my allowed points every day (for 9 full days now), accumulating activity points but not using them, adding a daily 30 minute walk to my workday (this has made a huge change in the way I feel!), drinking lots of water, not eating after 7 pm, making time to do yoga and cardio exercise...

I will not fail this time, and I hope you feel the same way about staying motivated and on track.  We can do this together!  Good luck to everyone :)

Visual Inspiration!

I think I'm so clever! I came up with the cutest idea on how to track my weight loss in a visually appealing way. Let me give a little background before revealing my clever-ness. I am an amateur baker. I have a small cupcake catering business in the San Fernando Valley, CA where I create custom cupcakes for birthdays, baby showers, weddings, etc. Needless to say, this could be the reason my weight has increased so much. All that taste testing! Anyway, I was thinking about how much butter goes into making cupcakes and the buttercream frosting. For one batch of cupcakes and frosting I will generally use at least 4 quarters of butter. That's equal to one pound! Wowza! So then I realized if I can relate my loss of pounds to something I can easily visualize, then I would hopefully realize how much I am accomplishing (because I WILL NOT fail!).

This realization led to the following chart. I have used 24 "pounds of butter" to represent the 24 pounds I'm hoping to lose. As I continue to lose weight, I will update accordingly. I hope this tool will help me see the big picture and all that I am accomplishing as the weeks go on.

My Must Haves (Ok Ok WANTS)

So I've already vowed to spend less money, but I still am going to compile a "wishlist" so that when I reach certain weight goals I can celebrate and reward myself. I have something more to work towards and that is always motivation.

1. From Williams-Sonoma comes this beautiful Le Creuset Wide Dutch Oven. I need it, I want it, I will find a way to get it. Just beautiful and oh so functional.



2. I am not sure how this would look on me, but I know I love it. A couple of months ago I was here and saw the cutest headbands that someone had made. Then I saw this headband at Forever 21 for $7.80!




3. A perfect bikini for summer. Found this little number on this page of the Nordstrom website. I just want to mention that I don't think this model is the epitome of healthy and I will definitely fill out the swimsuit a bit more!! But I love the colors and shape!



4. The perfect dress for going out on my birthday!! I am so excited to have seen this Nicole Miller piece, again from Nordstrom and found here. Now I only have to figure out how to convince my parents that I just HAD to purchase this using their credit card...hmm. Maybe an early birthday present?

5. A perfect spring tote is what's next on my wishlist. This one by Juicy Couture looks pretty cute. I'm used to carrying Coach so this would be a nice change.

Weigh In: Week 1

Wow, I had my first weigh in last night (Monday at 7pm) and I was so nervous.  I knew I had stuck to the plan and hadn't cheated even just once.  But I was still worried because it had only been 5 days since I joined and I didn't have the full week to reap the benefits.  Also I was feeling overly bloated in my tummy region and thought for sure I had blown it.  Well I went and stepped on the scale, 1000 thoughts running through my mind, when the lady said, "Wow, you've lost 3 pounds.  That's great!"

And it was great.  I haven't stopped smiling since and I could probably shout from the rooftops this joyous news.  Yes I know it's only 3 pounds, but this is honestly the first time I have tried a weight loss program that has worked.  I've done the fad diets like cabbage soup, the lemonade diet, etc. and I shed a lot of weight quickly, but as soon as I put solid food in my mouth it was over.  Those are diets of the past.  This time is different because it truly is a lifestyle change.

Okay that's it for now!  I hope next week is as exciting as this week turned out to be.

A List of Things I want to Accomplish this Year

1. I live in Southern California and have access to beautiful beaches for a majority of the year. Unfortunately last year I wasn't really comfortable in a bikini so I never went to the beach. Sad I know. But this year will be different! I would love to look great and feel confident in a bikini this year, by the time my birthday rolls around. So I have a few months to get in shape and make it happen. Below is a picture of my inspiration for this # 1 goal...



2. Commit at least one kind gesture every day. Wow, this one is going to be tough. Although I'm a naturally nice, kind and caring person I sometimes find it difficult to show that while in LA. No offense if this is where you are from, but I haven't exactly encountered the nicest people since moving here. Especially in traffic. And at the grocery store. And in the movie line. And at...oh nevermind. I am committed to being nice to strangers that I encounter whether or not they are nice to me! So ha! Take that scrooges.



3. I am a girl with happiness in my heart and $5 in my pocket. Literally, I'm bri-zzzzzoke! So my third goal is to spend less money on things I don't need and more on things I do need (like car insurance, oil changes and groceries). I'm tired of bouncing checks, having no savings what-so-ever and "BEING IN DEBT UP TO MY EYEBALLS". It's time to change the predicament I've created for myself. It's only January 5th, but I feel like I'm well on my way to accomplishing this goal!




Well I think that's good for now. Baby steps, right?!?

New Year's Resolution #1

On December 31, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. I joined Weight Watchers.  I was going to wait until the New Year, but to be honest I woke up and couldn't wait one more second.  So I trooped down to the local WW and was horrified when I was told my "official" weight. I just want to make it clear that my weight is normal, but in the higher spectrum for my height.  I look fine, I wear size 8 jeans and when most people found out I had joined WW they simply asked what for.  However, I have lost the confidence I had in myself when I was in college and wearing a size 4.  I don't feel sexy or attractive even and joining WW will help me lose the stubborn 10-15 pounds I need to without using a fad diet or unsafe diet pill. I totally believe that Weight Watchers is a lifestyle change, not a diet.  I've been on the plan for 5 days and my first weigh-in is tonight.  I am excited to find out how I've done.

It's been hard, but not because I'm depriving myself of foods I love (I'm not and don't have to) but because I am changing my relationship with food.  For me, I eat when I'm bored, when I'm tired, when I'm sad and when I'm celebrating.  Food is my way of life and changing that frame of mind is what is difficult.  But, I have to say that I have been extremely good these past 5 days.  I have cut out cheese, fried foods, pizza, french fries (my favorite food on earth), pasta, bread and fast food.  I've eaten more fruits, vegetables, eggs, lean chicken and fish and I have been drinking an absurd amount of water!

If you are feeling like you could lose a few pounds, I highly recommend Weight Watchers!  This "diet" doesn't require that you give up you favorite foods, it only requires that you think about what you are putting in your mouth before you do it.  And believe me, when you realize that an order of SMALL french fries from McDonald's has 5 points and that a lean piece of chicken, a large helping of corn and a green crisp salad with fat free italian dressing has only 4 points, which are you going to choose?  A small fry can't fill me up and make me feel satisfied that's for sure.

Anyway,  I will be posting on this blog in order to encourage myself to keep going.  I just keep thinking to myself that I only have a small percentage of weight to lose, and if Ruby can do it, I CAN DO IT!  And you can too :)

Hello World!

Hello,

You have stumbled on my site somehow and I hope you find something interesting here.  I started this blog for a few reasons:  1)  Work is VERY boring and I need to pass my time somehow, 2)  I am O-B-S-E-S-S-E-D with blogs and I thought it was about time I started my own instead of living vicariously through others!, and 3)  It's a brand new year and I have set several new year's resolutions for myself that I thought I could better keep track of here rather than in my jumbled and disorganized brain.

Okay, if you are still here, THANK YOU!  Now, for a little bit about myself:  I am quickly approaching my mid-20's, and while some may be depressed about turning 25, for me, my life is just beginning.  I have a college degree in Political Science (I don't know why either) and I am working on my Masters in Business Administration.  I never thought I would go to grad school, but the opportunity presented itself and I gladly accepted, if only to break up my otherwise boring and ordinary life make myself more marketable.

As I mentioned earlier, I have several new year's resolutions and I thought it would help me stick to them if I had this blog so I could write about my progress/regress.  This WILL NOT be a blog about one thing or another, but a blog about my life, my struggles and triumphs, my rants and raves, etc.  Since I'm a blog stalker I know that many blogs are dedicated to one particular subject - fashion, food, cupcakes, politics, funnies...these are some of my favorites.  But like I said this will be a collection of thoughts from me, by me, for me really.  But if you enjoy what you read, then it's for you too!

Welcome to my world and my fresh start in 2009!