My Commitments

 I should have 9 commitments by the start date.  So far I've thought of these:

1.    Drink at least six 8 oz servings of water.

2.    Stick to one WW program; don't switch around.

3.    Take a walk each day.

4.    Read one chapter of a book each day.

5.    Eat breakfast every day.

6.    Pack lunch at least 4 days each week.

That's what I have so far.  Most are weight related, but the book one is more for a healthy mind.  The commitments do not need to be weight related.

I'm working on the other 3.

Number 2 is a big one.  Everytime I try to go back to the plans that did work for me; I hate that things like eggs/chicken have points!  Weird, I  know.  It's all those plans in my head.  Anyway, I've chosen to use the Carb Conscious Plan on the Healthi app; that's the same as the Points Plus Weight Watcher plan.

Even though the Kickstart hasn't started; I thought I'd try a few days "on plan".  When I started Points Plus the lowest the points went were 29; they would change that a year later to 26.  My points always started at the lowest, so I'm going to start with the 29.  29 points a day/49 weekly points.

Below is my plan for tomorrow:

What I'd like you to notice, is that I still have 2 points left AND I've only used 1224 calories.  Not too bad....and all the food is normal.  Running all this through the WW app?  I ended up 7 points over for the day and I wouldn't even know what my calories were unless I added everything up.

The New Direction

 My last post indicated that I needed a new direction.  I don't like the current Weight Watchers program; if it works for you - GREAT.... but it just doesn't for me.

As a matter of fact, since the introduction of smart points and moving forward; none of those plans have worked for me.

The original point program and points plus is what worked for me.  So I'll probably go back to the Healthi App to follow one of those.  In the meantime, I've joined a group for six weeks of commitments.

I've been following Jean-Luc & Nick since they were known as the Weight Watchers Gays.  They were great influencers for WW, they even appeared in some commercials; but as with all "big name" WWer's, WW eventually turned their back on them and they had to move on.

They did a plan a few years back which I joined, but dropped out of early.  This was during the covid period and I had a hard time finding food items for the food plan portion.  The food plan pushed towards vegetarian (it wasn't required, but it is what it is), and that's not how I want to eat and again, a lot of the food items just weren't in the stores due to covid, not to mention the costs of the foods that were, were extremely high.  They ran that program for a few cycles, ending it this year.

Now they are doing 6 weeks of commitment called Kickstart.  This is totally free to join!  The only purchase you may want to make is to purchase the Kickstart Workbook.  It's $25 (USA) for the booklet or you can get a download to print yourself for $15; but you can use any workbook/app/whatever you want to to follow along (but I highly recommend the workbook).  For more information go here:

Kickstart with Jean-Luc & Nick

It cost nothing, so what do you have to lose?!

There isn't a food plan; so choose what you want.  The first commitment is, of course, to make the commitment to stick to the program for 6 weeks.  The other 9 commitments? You choose those, so they are different for everyone.  I often work on tries and that pretty much is what the commitments are; the little steps to reach a bigger goal.

Kickstart starts September 16, 2024.  This date is kind of ironic as September 16th was the date of my first meeting at WW back in 2010.  Weird, huh?

In the meantime?  I'll keep pushing forward; no sense looking back.

I've Been In The Land Of The Missing

Yes, I've been in hiding....

Yes, I am totally off plan....

Yes, Yes, Yes - I'M FAILING

.....but I haven't given up.

Vacation threw me off course and it's not that I'm having a hard time getting back on... it's just that I don't want to.

That's right - I don't want to do whatever it is I've been doing.  It just doesn't work for me.

I was very excited to get my 5 lb charm at my Weight Watchers meeting; I really wanted to work towards the next one; but, I'm sorry to say I just don't like the Weight Watchers plan.  I do not like having a zero point list of items that make no sense what-so-ever.  Vegetable and fruits?  Yes, I understand that; the rest of it? No sorry, I'm an overeater and I can overeat those things.

So I'm backing up and regrouping.

The above is something that really hits home to me and now makes me realize that I am choosing Weight Watchers and maybe it is just not the correct choice for me at this point.  Maybe, just maybe I need something new to jumpstart me - and I'm not speaking of a new "diet" plan to get me there.

Stay tuned......

At the Beach!!

Made it to the beach and hubby says everything is fine at home.

My plane departure was delayed about an hour, but I made it.  The sky was absolutely gorgeous for the flight:

Haven't been to the beach yet, my nieces just flew in today; but we did some shopping this morning.

I hate to admit it though...I have been over snacking!  Need to get that under control!

Surgery Update

 I probably won't get back to Weight Watchers until after vacation, so my next official weigh in will be August 1st.  It just makes the most sense right now.

That doesn't mean I'm going to be inhaling food - it just means I won't be weighing at a meeting until then.

Hubby's surgery went well and other than the inconvenience of the pain (expected) and learning to adjust with his arm splinted and wrapped into one position (again expected); I think he will do well and I can plan on leaving for vacation.

It was a long day for surgery though.  We had to be there at 8:15 a.m., they didn't take him back to surgery until 12:15 p.m., and we didn't leave the center until 4:00 p.m.  It's a one hour and 45 minute drive to and from the place.  So we were up at 4:30 to take care of the animals and on the road by 6:00 (you never know about traffic).  We got home about 6.  So it was an extremely long day!

Quick Update!

Tentatively, I have a plane reservation to get me to Myrtle Beach on July 21st.  Tentatively?  Well hubby's surgery on his elbow is Wednesday, and a lot will depend on how well he does and whether or not he can handle the household while I'm gone.

I was suppose to be leaving on Friday and driving down; but that's too soon.  So I'm hoping to fly down on Sunday and drive back with my other sister later in the week.  Hubby, of course, is insisting he'll be alright and doesn't want to ruin my vacation, BUT we all know how things may go.  So no promises right now.

I didn't make the meeting this week, so I have no weight update...I think I'm probably just managing to stay about the same.

2024 Continues.....

 As I mentioned once before, 2024 hasn't been the best year for my family.  The year continues....

My Dad will remain in the nursing home and he is now under Hospice care.  I visited him yesterday and he was well for what is determined "well" for him.

I was due to go to the beach with two of my sisters and my nieces and their children BUT hubby fell from his electric scooter injuring his right elbow and well it doesn't look like I'll be able to go.  We're currently waiting to hear back from Hershey Medical Center to see when they have surgery scheduled.  So the beach is on hold.....sigh....

On a happier note....I managed to get third row seats for Duran Duran in October!!  YAY me!

The Little Changes Can Make A Difference

There are several things that can throw off my weight loss journey.

One of those is lunch at work.

A lot of those I work with grab and go lunch somewhere - it always looks better than what I've brought.

I've learned sometimes, I need to compromise.

Case in point - there's a little neighborhood bar that has lunch specials.  Once a month they have hot roast beef sandwiches with fries or mashed potatoes smothered in gravy.  It's wonderful.....
When I know we're going there, I bring in 2 slices of my own bread (647), get the mashed potatoes (only eat half) and the gravy on the side.  I'm eating what everyone else is!

About once every 3 months someone sells these awesome ham & cheese subs.  I order mine with no mayo (and then bring my own reduced fat mayo) and only eat half.  I could also switch the cheese out, but I've never done that.  I normally input this into my tracker ahead of time and just work the rest of the day around it.

Chipotle?  I get the bowl with white rice, pinto beans, steak*, tomato salsa, corn salsa and then I'll bring and add my own cheese (reduced fat) and sour cream (fat free).
*Why steak and not chicken?  Chipotle uses thigh meat which has points (only chicken breast is zero) and the steak is the same amount of points (and less calories).  So why not steak?

Sometimes it's the little changes that make the meal!

Then there are the days that I just want the lunch I bring to be normal.  Sometimes I'll have this:

A Hebrew National 97% Fat Free Beef Frank with a smear of ketchup/mustard, on a light hot dog roll, reduced fat chips (half a serving), cucumber and an orange.  It works!

Sometimes it's making a few changes, sometimes it's finding the right products.  Don't ever expect a weight loss program to work for you; you work the program!

And Forward We Go

So I did manage another 1.6 loss this past week, but I'm afraid I haven't done well this past weekend. Anyways, I'm getting back on track, with no weigh in this week (holiday), I'm being given an extra week!

I did make baked blueberry oatmeal this morning and just made more for tomorrow. I have leftover pork, sauerkraut and mashed potatoes for lunch and I'm  thinking maybe a homemade pizza for dinner tomorrow.  Tonight's dinner is chicken and corn.

My stand by recipe for baked oatmeal is: 

1/3 cup uncooked oatmeal  (regular or instant works; but not steel cut)

1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

Sweetener of choice to taste

I mix that together and place it in a mini baking dish (recipe makes one serving), then I'll add whatever fruit I want in it and any other topping I choose. Push the fruit into the mixture. Then bake for 30 minutes at 375 degrees.

Basic recipe is 2 points, but add the points of any of your toppings you add. My one for tomorrow has cherries (0 pts) and Lily's Chocolate Chips (1 pt).  I may also put a swirl of honey across the top tomorrow.

You can buy mini loaf pans at the Dollar Tree and alongside of them they normally have these mini pie plates.  Either one can be use for this recipe nicely.

Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device

A Quick Update

At this past Thursday meeting, I finally got my 5 lb charm!  Yeah, it took a while but I was happy to get there.  I also got the special summer charm for attending 6 out of 8 meetings.  I've always liked the Weight Watcher charms, I find them encouraging.

Our meeting is growing!  There were 30+ people there which is unheard of especially during the summer; but yay to us.  We have the only evening meeting in a 50 mile radius - yes, FIFTY miles; all other meetings are in the mornings.  A few months back, they were thinking of canceling our meeting due to low attendance - thank goodness people started coming!  I can't make any of the morning meetings due to work and I don't like the virtual ones; they just aren't the same.

I'm still struggling though but I keep trying to move forward.  I have a new refrigerator coming tomorrow and I'm very excited about that.  Hubby and I bought new appliances 3 or 4 years ago when we did a quick kitchen remodel (painting, floor, appliances). We weren't able to get the refrigerator we wanted because it was too tall for the space due to cupboards above the area; so we had to settle for the one that fit.  Don't get me wrong, it's a nice refrigerator with the water/ice dispenser but I'll be honest; side by sides just don't hold a lot especially on the freezer side.  So I had to rearrange around the kitchen and get a small chest freezer.

This time around, hubby removed half of the cupboard above the refrigerator; I opted to leave the cupboard doors off and put my cookbooks up there making it more of a shelf above the refrigerator.  Now we have the space for a larger refrigerator which comes tomorrow.  I got a french door one this time and the ice is in the freezer and the water dispenser is actually on the inside of the refrigerator rather than the outside on the door.  I'm getting excited!!!

All Those Points

All these point names….what’s the difference or is there?

Actually yes there is a difference in the point names and the point value of a food.

The original point plan (now a days referred to as “classic points” “original points” or just plain “points”) was around until late 2010.  When you calculated, you used Calories, Fat, and Fiber from the nutritional label. Basically, it was 50 calories = 1 pt.  Original Points had a very long run with few changes.  Leftover daily points could be banked to use at other times during that week.  Eventually the banking went away and everyone was given the same amount of weekly points.

In late 2010 WW introduced Points Plus (often seen on recipe sites as “pp” “p+” or “pt+”).  Points plus took the bad carbs into account.  Now the calculation used Fat, Carbs, Fiber and Protein from the nutritional label.  Snacky things ended up going up a point or two from the original point calculations. Now 39 calories = 1 pt. but most went with 40 calories for 1 pt because it was easier to calculate if you didn’t have your calculator with you. Daily points actually went up as did the weeklies.

In 2015 WW introduced Smart Points (“sp”) and sugar took a big hit.  The calculation for Smart Points includes Calories, Saturated Fat, Sugar and Protein from the nutritional label.  I’ve yet to see a calorie to point equation because it’s hard to do – something may be the same amount of calories, but not the same in saturated fat, sugar or protein.

Freestyle (“fs”) arrived in 2017 with 200 zero point foods to eat.  For those foods not included on the zero point list, points are calculated using the Smart Points equation.

Late 2019 the three plans Green(g), Blue(b) and Purple(p) were introduced.  Green is actually the Smart Points introduced in 2015; Blue is the 2017 Freestyle and Purple is new-but has a larger zero point list with less daily points.  All plans use the smart points equation for pointed foods.

Then Personal Points came out (I'm not sure of the calculation but it is different from the other plans); first they let you choose your own zero list; now everyone does the same zero list.  It's similar to Freestyle (blue) but using the personal points calculation.  It's also known as just "points" thus confusing it with the original plan.

So as you see…all points aren’t created equal!  So it is important to know which plan the point value of any recipe is using.  Some of the sites recalculate and update but many do not.