An Update Post

I'm still in the "blah" stage; but my weight is down a little; not to mention that Shapa now has me in the "Green" which is good.

CC told me last week that she was almost at her goal weight.  I'm happy for her, but rather depressed for me.  My one sister is also doing WW (no meetings) and has managed to lose 15 lbs., however, she says she also walks 4 miles a day and she knows if it weren't for the exercise; the loss wouldn't be as great. Easy for some, work for others, difficult for others.  There really is no plan that fits everyone.

BUT.....  I'll continue on.  I do have Living Dead Weekend to look forward to in June and the family beach trip in July.  I just booked my flight for the beach!  It's a dynamic to pull off the beach trip.....my sister S lives there, so we stay with her.  My sister J, her hubby and her 2 youngest grandchildren will drive down on Friday, I'm flying down on Saturday, my nieces and the older grandchild fly down on Monday.  Then on Thursday - nieces and all grandchildren fly home; and I'll drive back with J & Hubby on Friday.  My nieces have a food truck so it's hard for them to get the weekends off in the summer.  It's always a busy vacation, you never know where you'll end up sleeping each night; but it's worth the time.

Other than that things are as they always are!

No, I Haven't Disappeared

I'm still here, still struggling.  I really wish WW had a doable meeting in my area.

I haven't been doing well eating wise and I'm trying to get that under control.  Way too many snacks on the counter at work; and not enough willpower.

Though I've always celebrated the Shapa scale.....I'm beginning to see it as a downer (unless you're doing good, of course).  It doesn't seem to matter whether you're seeing a number on the scale or a color.  If the color/number isn't what you want it to be....it's a downer.  And that's where I'm at right now.

I've only read one chapter of the Girl Wash Your Face book and then didn't pick it back up until last night, where Chapter 2 was about committing to yourself.  It was a needed read.  She stated that, for example, if you commit to doing a diet...your brain remembers how you've committed in the past to the same thing and pretty much talks you into doing the same.  She kind of explained as having a friend who always breaks promises, so at some point, you stopped depending on them to do what they said they were going to do.  Your brain will do the same to you; so if you make a commitment - you need to keep pushing through towards that commitment and not let anything stand in the way.  Easier said then done but it really made a lot of sense.  It reminded me of this:

Back In The Groove

I've decided on the book: Girl Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis.  I came across the book along with her book: Girl Stop Apologizing at a yard sale.  I was familiar with the first one and at one time, I'm sure it was on my kindle.  I started it yesterday, reading that one chapter and therefore checking off that commitment!

I hit all but 2 commitments yesterday.  I didn't do a healthy snack and I forgot my banana for breakfast and missed the "have a fruit and/or veggie with every meal".  However, Kickstart isn't about perfection; it's about setting habits and moving forward.  I have that straightened out today!!  Had my banana and have an orange and almonds/walnuts for my snack.  That certainly beats a candy bar!

My impossibly easy hamburger casserole came out pretty good.  I'm having leftovers for lunch.  If you decide to make this, use 2 lbs of light burger (won't change the point value) instead of just one.  I'm pretty sure that was a mistake because 1 lb is used in the smaller version of the recipe and it is the only thing not doubled in the larger version.  I wanted to do the larger for the leftovers (plus my hubby is a big eater that gains no weight).  FYI: I just realized that the smaller version recipe does not include the veggies; so apparently for the larger version they've added veggies in place of increasing the burger.  I still say increase the burger and include the veggies, lol!

Today I'm having Slow Cooker Three Bean & Chicken Chili (0 pts).  I've been making this since I started WW back in 2010.  It's a WW recipe, but the original calls for pork loin rather than chicken.  I've made it both ways, and both are great!  It's being made with chicken this time as that's what was in the freezer.  I don't make it exactly how the WW recipe is, but here's mine:

1 lb uncooked boneless chicken breast cut into chunks (or 1 lb uncooked pork lion cut into chunks)

2- 15 oz cans of tomato sauce

2- 15 oz cans diced tomatoes (I use the kind with garlic & oregano added)

1- 15 oz can of dark red kidney beans (drained & rinsed)

1- 15 oz can of pinto beans (drained & rinsed)

1- 15 oz can black beans (drained & rinsed)

1 tbsp of tomato paste

1 tbsp chili powder

1 tbsp garlic powder

1 tbsp onion powder

salt & pepper to taste

Just put it all in the crockpot, give it a good stir and set it on low for 8 hours.

You could also add: peppers, corn, mushrooms, onion and such to this as well.  Use your imagination!

I like this chili.  I like it as chili, along with tortilla chips/scoops or even use it as the filling in tacos.

FYI:  If you are using the Healthi app to use older WW plans, this chili will not be 0 pts.  It wasn't back in the day but now all the ingredients are 0 pt.  Put it in your recipe builder to find the points.

So I'm kind of back in the groove...

So Let's Work On A Game Plan

So I need to keep moving forward with the weight loss.  Kickstart started over yesterday (but you can still join - it's FREE) and I redid my commitments:

1.  Track commitments on Kickstart (everyone gets that one)

2.   Drink at least four 8 oz. servings of plain water daily 

3.  Walk or Exercise daily

4.  Journal Daily

5.  Read one chapter of a book daily (any book)

6.  Watch/listen to a helpful Podcast and/or YT video daily

7.  Healthy snack daily

8.  Fruits and/or Veggies with each meal

9.  Daily Vitamin

10. One new recipe for dinner weekly

I won't hit them all everyday; but I tried to make them as doable as possible.

Still tracking with Weight Watchers (I have it until December, so.....)

My YT watches will be Fed Up Over 50 for right now; trying to go back and watch some of the older videos in addition to her new ones.

My new recipe for the week will be:  Impossibly Easy Cheeseburger Pie

As is, that is a point heavy recipe.....but a leaner ground beef; reduced fat cheese and skim milk brings it down to a much more point friendly meal.

A New Vlog and Other Things

A big shout-out to Fed Up Over 50 a vlogger I happened upon on YouTube quite by accident.  She kind of popped up while I was on YouTube!!  So nice to have someone who is dealing with the same things I am dealing with weight wise.  Check her out!

Easter went pretty well; spent it with family and ate more than I should have.....but for some reason, I was down a pound this morning.  I just don't understand weight loss!

Not too much going on though, same old, same old.

This & That

Well.....Spring has finally sprung...oh we still have some chilly (and rainy) days; but it is getting nicer!

On the weight front things haven't been going well and despite still struggling along, those 5 lbs I lost have refound me and that really sends me off course.  It doesn't matter what I do, nothing is working.

I'm trying to debate where to go from here.

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I saw the movie They Will Kill You last night and it's really good and entertaining.  It's one of those movies that once it starts, it keeps going!  I recommend it. 

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I've made myself a list of horror movies, recommended by influencers, that are available on streaming services.  This evening I'm watching Dream Eater, which is a found footage type film about a guy that sleepwalks.  It's slow moving, it's creepy and there's some jump scares; and why his girlfriend continues to stay is beyond me!  Get out of there!

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What horror movies would I recommend to you?

My top is Sinister.  If you've never seen it, make sure you don't watch the 2nd one by accident or else it gives the first one away.  Watch the original and skip the 2nd all together.

My favorite from last year is Bring Her Back.  How Sally Hawkins did not receive an Oscar nomination or any award nomination for her role in this is such a tragedy.  This one has some very disturbing scenes that are hard to watch; but this movie is so worth the watch!