Kickstart Fall 2025 Edition - Week 1

Almost one week has passed since the start of Kickstart.  I've been doing pretty well and in case you are wondering; I am using the WW app.  What I am learning though is that points is so far away from calories (I did kind of know that but not to the extent it is), I don't understand why WW is bothering with them anymore.  I find myself just staying within the calories, protein and fiber levels and some days I'm way over in points and others I have a lot left over.

Yes I know there are other nutritional values I can follow, but those are the ones I've chosen for right now.

After being in Dark Gray/Light Gray for so long with my Shapa Scale.  In a span of one week, I got this:

I'm hoping to see Blue this week!  Though because of this, I don't think I'll get on a scale other than my Shapa this week.  As much as I want to see the number...I know if it isn't what I hope to see, it will derail me - and I don't want that to happen.  So I'm going to hold off on the actual scale for now - maybe next week.

For inspiration, I dug out one of my WW wins this week.  You remember WW wins: you earned points for tracking, going to meetings, weighing in and you could use those points to get stupid little things from WW.  One of mine was this keychain:

And then I went to Etsy and bought these:

My own weight loss charms.  I'll add them to the keychain as I progress or take them off if I'm moving backwards!  I only bought to 25 as I would be happy with that; right now though, I'm moving 5 lbs at a time.

Other than that; I've pretty much stuck to all my commitments.  I'm getting in more water; I'm walking daily (besides my normal everyday steps), I'm having breakfast daily, my lunch and dinner choices have been in check, and I've been listening to some WW audio clips on the app.  I'm keeping up with my day planner as far as marking everything down and I've been reading.  I started this book:

I got this at the Living Dead Weekend back in June.  The author was there and I bought 3 of her books.  They are available on Amazon and I think they are mostly for Kindle; the books were special for the event.  Alice is just a young adult and very sweet - so give her some support!

Kickstart Commitments

I've come up with my list of commitments for Kickstart.  It was hard to come up with 9 without changing much.  I did have to use the Shapa scale as one as I could not come up with another one.  At first, I set goals with them, for example, walk 1 mile daily...but then I remembered that Kickstart is about commitment and not perfection; so I made it walk daily.  As long as I'm getting a walk of any length in, I'm doing good! 

So my commitments are:

Track on Kickstart (everyone has that one)

Breakfast daily (doesn't have to be a full meal, just something to get going)

Wise lunch choice daily

Wise dinner choice daily

Water daily (again, I didn't set an amount - just more than usual)

Walk daily

Shapa scale daily

Journal daily (that could be this blog or my planner book or both)

Read one chapter of a book daily (any book)

Listen to a podcast daily (any and it could be an actual podcast or a youtube video)

Obviously the podcast will be weight loss related; not just fun stuff, lol!

Kickstart Fall 2025 Starts September 22!!

Kickstart is due to start Monday; go HERE to sign up.  It's totally FREE!!!

I've been eating like crazy all this week, so I'm looking forward to Kickstart.  As I've mentioned before there are Official Kickstart Journals available at a cost but you don't need them to participate.  Any type of journal will do or you don't need one at all!  I've recommended This Journal as a good cheaper option; it's available at Wal-Mart for about $11.00.

This time around though, I changed to this one:

It's actually pretty much a plain old Day Planner.  I wanted something that showed me the whole month and then the week with plenty of writing room.  Planners like this are pretty much available everywhere.  The one I bought has some months that have passed in it; but I'm going to tear them out and start with September full calendar with the week of the 22nd following behind.  The planner will take me through 2026.  I got it at Marshall's for $9.99.

I'm still debating on whether or not to use the WW app, Healthi or Lose-It.  I really like that WW now gives you item goals (for instance, I also track calories with points so it now gives me the calorie area to aim for), but I also am not sure I want to continue with WW once it runs out in December.  With Lose-It, I find that I pretty much eat anything (healthy or not) with my calories.  So I'm leaning towards Healthi for a WW plan that I actually like plus the Healthi checks (the old WW good health guidelines).  I'll have it figured out by Monday!

I need to work on my 10 commitments too.  I'll use some of the ones from last time but not all.  I'm so in the habit to use my Shapa Scale daily that I don't need to make that a commitment anymore!  That's the only one I've formed into a habit though!  Need to work on the others.

Weight Watchers Has A New Plan

Weight Watchers has a new plan out for menopausal women.

This plan is separate from the other plans.  In other words, where right now you can switch between the regular points and the diabetic plan (whether diabetic or not) and even the GLP-1 plan (whether on the drugs or not); you don't have the option to flip to this plan.  You would have to give up your current plan and switch to the menopausal one.  This is causing a lot of problems for those on free lifetime status and even lifetimers not at goal paying $14.95/month - you'll lose that if you switch.

I don't know all the ends and outs but check on YouTube with Dish With Dee, she's so much better at getting the information out, 😁.  

A Lazy Day

 Shapa threw me back into the gray zone; which depresses me a little.

I'm off work today due to having to be on a clear liquid diet for a medical procedure I'm having tomorrow.  Just a preventive procedure, nothing serious.

But it got me thinking that Saturday will make a good new start!  I really don't want to wait until the start of Kickstart to start over when I can start now and join in with them later.  Don't put off what you can do today.

Again, KICKSTART is free to join and there are no costs at any point.  You can, if you choose, purchase their workbook; use your own; or not use any at all!!  All information is at the link!

14 Years Ago Today.....

 14 Years Ago Today - I Made Lifetime Status With Weight Watchers.

I remember being so proud of all my charms that led up to that.

That was quite a while ago.  I only remember this date because it popped up on my FB memories.  That weight loss is long gone - it came back.

Weight loss is hard, maintaining is harder.  I've had many other keychains and charms through WW, but none were even close to the success I had back then.

Kickstart Fall 2025

 Jean Luc & Nick will be having another Kickstart for fall beginning September 22nd and running to January 4th.  All the support you need to get through the holidays!  Registration is now open and the program is totally FREE!

Kickstart Registration  All the information is at this link as well.

If you choose, they do have several differnet journals available for purchase (check Amazon) to help along the journey; but they are not necessary to buy....any journal or plain 'ole notebook will do; or maybe you don't need anything to write on at all - and that's okay; you do you!

You can be following any diet plan that you want; it need not be Weight Watchers as Kickstart is not about a diet plan - it's about setting good habits and meeting new friends.

So what do you have to lose????  

Recipe Monday

 Grab your WW app and look up "Super Easy Slow-Cooker Three Bean Chili"; it's the closest you'll find to the original recipe they use to have.  The original had pork in the recipe and no corn.  With lean meats being 0 pts....you certainly can add pork, chicken, beef, ground meats, whatever without adding points and naturally you can add the corn.

I'm not big on peppers and such so I make mine a little different:

1 pound uncooked lean pork tenderloin cut into cubes

1 can pinto beans, drained

1 can kidney beans, drained

1 can black beans, drained

2 cans tomato sauce (15 oz size)

2 cans diced tomatoes (I like the Italian)

Chili powder, Garlic powder, Onion powder, Cumin powder to taste.

 I throw it all in the crockpot, give it a good stir and cook on low for 8 hours.

Today when I made it, I did chicken instead of pork as that's what I had in the freezer; I didn't have any corn but feel free to throw a can in if you'd like!  Like spicey?  Spice it up - make it yours!

This recipe is very versatile.  I eat it as chili along with Tostitos scoops.  It makes a great filling for taco shells/wraps, topping for nachos and a great topping on baked potatoes.

I've been making this recipe since my first time through WW in 2010-2011.  It's quick and very easy.

Saturday Shout-Outs

Diana's Delish Dishes 

I found Diana originally on instagram:  WW Diana's

What this lady does to a bowl of oatmeal or yogurt is absolutely phenomenal!  Don't eat any boring oatmeal and/or yogurt bowl - check her out and make those boring meals into a delicacy!

Today I went to the market downtown and though I didn't buy anything; I did buy a bowl from one of the food trucks.  It was awesome!  So a shout-out to The Lotus Bowls and Juicery in Chambersburg, PA.  I can't wait to get another!

I don't think the Lotus Bowl was actually WW friendly but it was certainly healthier than a donut or pastry!

Back to Weight Watchers I Go.....

I'm back using the Weight Watchers app.  I love the Lose-It app; but..... I'm finding that I can fit unhealthy things into those calories, which has stalled my weight and worse - caused a gain.

My fault entirely....  WW will at least steer me closer to healthier choices.  They've updated the app a little and besides being able to also watch my calories, carbs, fiber and such; it now, when you pull an item up in the database, tells you why the item has the point value it does! For example, I had a Premier Protein Caramel protein drink - it told me that it is a Higher source of protein, Higher in calories and Higher in sodium - that makes it 3 pts. Good Job Weight Watchers!

Still have to do online only as no evening meetings within a 100 mile radius of me!

Anyway "officially" I'll do my weigh in tomorrow and start over....but I have been tracking today:

Breakfast:    Premier Protein, banana, Fage non-fat greek yogurt with 1 tbsp sugar free pudding mix, 1/2 tbsp PB2, 2 tbsp skim milk and 1/2 Fiber one brownie (yep, I mixed that all in the yogurt).  It was a little over 300 calories; but I packed in 50 gms of Protein!  5 pts.

For lunch I went lighter as I'm going to a movie later:

Lunch:    1 slice whole wheat bread with 1 slice lebanon bologna and 1/2 serving Cape Cod Reduced Fat potato chips; watermelon.  4 pts.

Dinner will be at the movies:

Breaded chicken bites with Korean BBQ sauce (they use bibibop gochujang sauce & boom boom sauce for this); I figured it out at 16 pts.

Then my popcorn - no butter, at 7 pts.

And even though I'll be over my points for the day; I'm still only at 1393 calories.

Oh - and I'm on my 5th serving of plain ole' water too!

Let's Chat

 I got back from vacation Friday morning.  It was an uneventful trip; it's more a visit to my sister than an actual beach vacation.  Don't get me wrong, I love spending time with my family and we did do the beach one day, shopping one day, pool one day, etc...  I just really am ready for an actual beach vacation where I can sit on a balcony and see the beach, do a morning beach walk and an evening one, go out and eat for breakfast..... next year maybe.

Anyway, I've been in the light gray on Shapa for at least 2 weeks but finally today made it back to green!  YAY ME!  I kind of maintained during vacation, which is good.

I started my weight loss over today on the Lose It app.  It didn't really change anything but I always like fresh starts.

I'm a HUGE movie buff and really like going to the theater to see a movie whenever possible.  Our local theaters have been doing "Mystery Movies".  You basically pay $5 to go to the movies and have no clue what movie your going to see - they are new movies that aren't out yet.  I saw the new Jurassic World movie this way.  The only thing you know is the rating of the movie (obviously that helps families).  The theaters claim they don't know the movie until it starts; I've looked it up online and that seems to be true.

The first Mystery Movie we saw was "The Last Rodeo", the second was "Jurassic World:Rebirth", the next was "Oh Hi" and more recently "Sketch".   I actually guessed right the first two; but not the last two.  I enjoyed all of them.  I had never heard of "Oh Hi" - it was R rated and therefore not family friendly (it really wasn't) but I don't remember seeing any children there.

"Sketch" is rated PG-13 and is kind of like a scary form of movie for younger kids (think Goose Bumps) - the rating definitely says PG-13, so that pretty much should tell you that younger than 13 it may not be appropriate for.  

I found it funny that under the theater FB page; some parent stating she wished they gave more information so she'd know whether she could bring her child; another said she had taken an 8 year old to see what turned out to be "Sketch" and parts frighened the child.  

"Give more information"?  How much more can they give?  It's a Mystery Movie!  

"8 year old"?  It was rated PG-13, certainly that should of been your warning!

I mean, I get it; but don't ruin the fun for everyone else.  I enjoy these and I don't want to see so many complaints that they stop showing them.  You want to take your children to the movies, go to one that you know what it is.  Yeah, I know...the Mystery Movie is only $5.00.  Well this particular movie theater offers $7.00 for all their movies on Tuesdays - go then.