Category: Week 27

Week 27: Weigh-in / Recap

Weigh-in

I lost my last pound!

I reached my goal!!

I am DONE!!!

Well, sort of. If I want to keep the weight off, my meals and snacks won’t look all that different. And that’s okay, because I never ate anything I didn’t enjoy; I ate things I like anyway. But, the little differences will make all the difference: a glass of wine with (or after) dinner more often, recipes that aren’t from Cooking Light or Weight Watchers^® (although I’ll still make those too), making desserts when I want to, eating out once in a while without thinking about which menu items are best for weight loss, and generally just chilling out about food for awhile.

I definitely don’t want to ever have to lose that much weight again though (26 pounds!), so I’ll have to check in once in a while and try to stay within 10 pounds of my goal.

In other words, I did cross the finish line, but I’m going to try to keep in shape between races.

Recap

Water: all day, every day
Fruits / Veggies: at least five kinds every day (usually more)
Exercise: none, but I’ll keep trying
Portions: I think I did pretty well here – I stuck to serving sizes, and scaled back when needed. When I thought I had already had my Points for the day, I skipped my nighttime snack.
Planning: dinner plans fell through one night when the pork took longer than expected, but I think I chose well from the restaurant we ordered from, and I ended up splitting the meal into two. I had dinner recipes lined up for the week. I used up leftovers.

Recap of the whole experience? Here are some of my takeaways:

Find Your Food: I never ate anything just because it would help me lose weight – it also had to be something that actually tasted good to me. I found new light recipes that sounded good, but I also had simple, easy fallbacks, especially for breakfast, lunch, and snack (cereal, oatmeal, peanut butter toast, turkey wraps and sandwiches, soup, Triscuits/salsa/cheese stick/apple). Find the foods and recipes you like that will also help you lose weight. Find your favorite fruits and vegetables (and try new ones, and new ways to make them). Find your food, the food you can and will eat long after you’ve lost the weight.
Water / Fruits / Veggies: This really is the weight loss trifecta. Drink water morning, noon, night, and in between. Fill up on fruits and veggies – include them with every (or almost every) meal and snack. Make your plates colorful. Technically, I might have been able to lose weight just eating fat-free, low-calorie processed food, but I don’t think I would feel as good, I think I would have been hungrier more often, and I don’t think the food would have been as satisfying to me or my body. Fruits and veggies add texture, flavor, and volume. I wouldn’t want to lose weight (or simply eat) without them.
Think Ahead: When I was doing well, I generally had 2-3 meals / recipes on deck; I wasn’t deciding what to make on the day I needed to make it. Crockpot meals helped me out more than once when I knew we were going to be busy. And using (and repurposing) leftovers gave me a break from cooking. Keeping the right foods stocked in the house means you’ll always have options.
Exercise – My Challenge: I struggled with exercise, especially toward the end. I lost weight without it, but it does help and it is good for keeping your body healthy and functional. I always feel good when I do it, but for some reason I don’t always make time to do it. It’s something I’ll have to keep working on.
No Regrets: I put this at the end of every post, because losing weight isn’t easy. There were definitely ups and downs. There were times when I wanted to stop, to quit. I took little breaks here and there, went on vacations. I had meals and days and weeks when I wasn’t as motivated, when I gained weight. But, I didn’t beat myself up about it. I just started again (and again), and kept going, and I’m glad I did. Enjoy your food, even the “bad” food that you might have from time to time – food should not be the enemy.

Week 27: Day 6

This may be my last day. I’m thinking of weighing in early, because we have a house guest coming later tomorrow, and the scale I use is in the guest bathroom. Plus, then I’m done a day early! Hopefully.

Breakfast: Cereal, Banana, Milk, Water

Nature’s Path Blueberry Cinnamon Flax with sliced banana and 2% milk.

Lunch: Granola Bar, Apple, Water

Another snack lunch, this time with a Nature Valley™ Fruit & Nut granola bar and an apple. I quickly ate the granola bar before picking up the kids from school, and then ate the apple while they played on the playground and the cars cleared out of the parking lot.

Dinner: Chicken Sausage, Cabbage, Potato Salad, Grapes, Water, Tootsie Roll

Most of the pork from Day 3 was gone, so I sautéed some sliced chicken apple sausages in a nonstick pan with some cooking spray and served it with cabbage and potato salad, also from Day 3 (I had a little less of the potato salad this time, just to lower the Points value of the meal a bit).

The kids had their sausages with leftover mashed sweet potato from last week and grapes (I also had some of the grapes).

Snack: Popcorn, Orange, Grapes, Water

I wanted something filling, but low in Points, so I went with low-fat popcorn and fruit (mandarin orange and grapes).

Exercise: 0 Minutes

Zero for six.

How Did I Do?

I think it was a good day: water, fruits/veggies, portions, and food choices all on track. No exercise, but nothing new there.

I’m weighing myself tomorrow morning, so this may be it!

No regrets.

*Note: I am using tools from the Weight Watchers^® program circa 2007, because that’s what I have. So, the Points values that I am using may differ from the current program.

Week 27: Day 5

Breakfast: Eggs, Toast, Water

I wanted to use up some more arugula, some of the egg substitute left over from making meatballs, and some of the Canadian bacon leftover from making the cabbage, so I decided to make eggs for breakfast:

Spray small nonstick skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium
Add diced Canadian bacon (I used two slices) and sauté until lightly browned (watch out, those bits of ham may try to pop out of the pan at you!)
Add 3/4 cup egg substitute and freshly ground black pepper; turn down heat a bit. Draw the wooden spoon along the bottom of the pan from the outer edge to the middle, all around the pan. Let uncooked egg cover the bottom, and repeat process until all the eggs are cooked.
Add 1 – 2 Tbsp. reduced fat cheese (I used sharp cheddar) and arugula and stir until arugula is wilted.

*For me, you can’t have eggs without toast*

I served it with a piece of whole wheat toast with 1/2 tsp. of butter.

Lunch: Granola Bar, Yogurt, Water

A crunchy KIND oats and honey granola bar and an Activia^® black cherry yogurt – just a quick snack lunch in between picking up kids from school and gymnastics.

Dinner: Tostadas, Broccoli Slaw, Pineapple, Water, Tootsie Roll

I also had tostada shells to use up from the chicken soup, so I decided to make…tostadas!

Heat up fat-free refried beans with some salsa over medium-low heat in a saucepan, stirring occasionally until warmed and smooth
Put 2 Tbsp. of bean mixture on each tostada shell
Top each tostada with 1 Tbsp. reduced-fat shredded cheese, chopped tomato, and shredded lettuce (add hot sauce too if you want)

I served it with fresh pineapple and a broccoli slaw with cumin-lime vinaigrette.

Mix 1/4 cup olive oil, the juice from two limes, cumin (I didn’t have much left, but I would probably go up to a teaspoon), 1/2 tsp. salt, and freshly ground pepper together with a fork or a whisk. Taste – if you want sweet, maybe add a tsp. of honey. If you need more spice, add some cayenne. I just left it as-is.
Toss dressing with broccoli slaw, minced jalapeno (one whole pepper – I got rid of the seeds and ribs, but you can leave some in if you want the spice), thinly sliced green onion (maybe 1/4 – 1/3 cup), and chopped cilantro (maybe 1/2 cup).
I didn’t have the extra Points to spare, but if you do, some toasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas) would be good, and maybe some reduced-fat feta or cotija cheese. Another addition that might be intriguing is some orange segments.

Snack: Water

No snack again – I am so paranoid this week about going over my Points for the day!

Exercise: 0 Minutes

Zero for five.

How Did I Do?

I think I did okay. I’m still doubting myself, but I also don’t think I’m eating any differently than I have been the past few weeks, and I’ve been losing weight, so I think I should be fine. Water, fruits / veggies, portions, food choices – all good.

Plus I’m using up stuff in my fridge, which I get excited about for some reason (ooh – look how many different things I used up!).

No regrets.

*Note: I am using tools from the Weight Watchers^® program circa 2007, because that’s what I have. So, the Points values that I am using may differ from the current program.

Week 27: Day 4

Half-way point for my LAST week! (yes, I’m being optimistic and declaring this my last week)

Breakfast: Cereal, Strawberries, Milk, Water

Kashi GO^® Original with sliced strawberries and 2% milk (I finally finished the skim that was left over from a recipe).

Lunch: Turkey Sandwich, Orange, Water

I bought two avocados for the chicken, tortilla, and lime soup just in case one was bad, so I had one left over. I decided to use part of it in my turkey sandwich: whole wheat bread, country Dijon, turkey, 1/4 of the avocado (sliced), and arugula. I had a mandarin orange on the side.

Dinner: Pork, Cabbage, Potato Salad, Water, Tootsie Roll

Same dinner as last night – still good.

Snack: Apple

Again, since dinner was more Points than usual (not much, only about one or two), I decided to go light on my snack tonight, so just half of an apple sliced up.

Exercise: 0 Minutes

Zero for four.

How Did I Do?

I think I did okay. Ever since I figured out how many Points I’m supposed to be having now, I’m doubting myself a little bit – am I having too much? Even if I am a little over, will I still lose? Will the extra fit within my Flex Points for the week?

I did what I could; I did my best. I drank water all day. I had plenty of fruits and vegetables. My portions were right. My food choices were good. I scaled back my nighttime snack.

I hope it’s enough to lose this last pound.

No regrets.

*Note: I am using tools from the Weight Watchers^® program circa 2007, because that’s what I have. So, the Points values that I am using may differ from the current program.

Week 27: Day 3

Breakfast: Cereal, Banana, Milk, Water

Same breakfast as Day 1: Chocolate Cheerios™ with a sliced up half of a banana and skim milk. Sometimes, chocolate just makes things better.

Lunch: Salad, Turkey Roll-Up, Banana, Water

Leftover garden side salad from dinner last night (lettuce, tomato, carrot) with just a little of the included dressing (less than half of the little to-go cup of dressing). I also had a reduced-fat cheese stick with two slices of turkey wrapped around it, and half of a banana.

This was kind of an “add as you go” lunch – I had the salad, then decided I was still hungry and had the turkey roll-up, and then was still hungry and there was half of a banana from yesterday still in its peel on the counter, so I went with that.

Dinner: Pork, Cabbage, Potato Salad, Water, Tootsie Roll

I reheated the dinner from last night that I made but didn’t get to eat: Pork Loin Braised with Cabbage. It was from an Oktoberfest menu in the October 2006 issue of Cooking Light magazine. You coat pork loin in a mixture of paprika, thyme, salt, pepper, and sage, sear it, and cook it some more with a mixture of cabbage, onions, carrots, Canadian bacon, tomato paste, caraway seeds, dark beer, and more paprika, thyme, and pepper. The pork was so tender that when I tried to slice it, it just fell apart. The veggies were very flavorful, and a little sweet.

I served the pork and veggies with another dish from the same menu: Warm Potato Salad with Beer and Mustard Dressing. You boil and slice red potatoes and mix them with beer, cider vinegar, and chopped red and green onion, celery, parsley, and sweet pickles. The dressing is onion cooked in olive oil, then boiled in beer, cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper, then blended in the food processer with Dijon mustard and more olive oil.

*Oktoberfest meal – the photo got a little steamy*

This dinner was so good, although the kids weren’t big fans. If I wasn’t trying to lose weight (or hadn’t already used some of my extra Points for the week), some bread and butter would be perfect with this…and a beer. Here are my recipe notes for the pork and cabbage; I pretty much followed the recipe exactly for the potato salad.

I wasn’t sure if “Hungarian sweet paprika” was the same thing as regular paprika, but it seemed like it, so that’s what I used (I know there’s also smoked and hot, and that it wasn’t either of those).
I could only find a 4-pound pork loin, so I got that and cut it in half cross-wise (across the width). I think “trimmed” means cutting off the fat, so that’s what I did (although I can just imagine how good it would have been with the fat).
I turned the heat down a bit when I added the Canadian bacon, and turned it back up a little before adding the veggies (even though I just had to turn it back down again – I wanted to make sure it had enough heat but also didn’t want to scorch my pan).
I probably used slightly more of all the veggies than the recipe called for, because I didn’t want leftover bits of cabbage and onion and carrots to figure out how to use up later.
I forgot to sprinkle on the extra salt at the end, but it was still good without it.
The pork was falling apart when I tried to slice it, so I just cut it into 8 pieces / chunks.
I followed the instructions for reheating (in Dutch oven over medium-low), and that worked well.

Snack: None

The serving sizes for dinner were actually pretty big, and it was slightly more Points than I normally spend on dinner, so I decided not to have a snack.

Exercise: 0 Minutes

Zero for three.

How Did I Do?

Another good day, I think / hope. Water all day, several kinds of fruits and vegetables throughout the day, good portions and food choices. I treated myself here and there, but within reason – chocolate cereal that fit within my breakfast Points (with fruit added), regular dressing from the restaurant, but just a little, and a bigger dinner (still within serving sizes), but no snack.

Every time you drop down into the next 10-pound range in Weight Watchers^® (or at least in the older program that I am following), you lose one of your daily Points, which means I should be eating three Points less per day than I did when I started about 27 weeks ago. Since I stopped counting Points after I got used to how much I should be eating / what serving sizes for my usual foods looked like, I don’t know exactly how many Points I’ve been eating every day, but I figured it was okay because I kept losing weight (when I didn’t have too many vacations or parties or takeout meals or indulgent desserts). This week I actually thought about how many Points I’m supposed to be having per day now, and it’s not much. Since I really want to lose that last pound this week, I’m just being extra careful sometimes about staying within my Points (I’m still not keeping track formally, but I generally know about how many Points breakfast and lunch were, then figure out dinner and see how many I might have left for a snack). One thing’s for sure – my goal weight must be close to the ideal weight for me, because I wouldn’t want to eat any less than I’m eating now.

Almost half-way done with this week; and almost all the way done with losing weight!

No regrets.

*Note: I am using tools from the Weight Watchers^® program circa 2007, because that’s what I have. So, the Points values that I am using may differ from the current program.

Week 27: Day 2

Breakfast: Cereal, Strawberries, Milk, Water

A mix of Kashi^® Island Vanilla and Cinnamon Harvest biscuits, with sliced strawberries and skim milk.

*No chocolate today, but still like dessert*

Snack: Banana

No lunch, but I had half of a banana sometime between breakfast and dinner to keep me going.

Dinner: Veggie Wrap, Water, Chocolate

The dinner I had planned took longer to get in the oven than I thought, and then it had to cook for two hours, so we ended up getting takeout (the dinner in the oven smelled amazing though, and I can’t wait to eat it tomorrow). I got a veggie wrap (flat bread, pepita pesto, sliced tomato, cucumber, zucchini, spinach, carrot, cheese, and cucumber sauce) with a garden side salad, but I saved the salad for later (or tomorrow). I also had a square of dark chocolate.

I have no idea how many Points the wrap was, but:

I had Points for both lunch and dinner to use
It had lots of veggies
Even if I do go a little over for the day, this can be my treat / extra for the week that uses up some of my weekly extra Flex Points

Snack: Apple, Graham Cracker, Water

I decided to go lighter on my snack tonight since I wasn’t sure how many Points dinner was. Just one graham cracker and half of a sliced up apple.

Exercise: 0 Minutes

Zero for two so far this week.

How Did I Do?

Things didn’t go according to plan, but I think I still did okay. I still got plenty of water, fruits, and veggies. I think my portions were good, other than the fact that I didn’t really have lunch. My food choices were generally okay, and I did the best I could at dinner (it definitely had nutritional value, just not sure about the fat and calories).

The day ended up being a balancing act:

Cereal for breakfast: on target
Half of a banana instead of lunch: too light
Veggie wrap from restaurant for dinner: maybe more Points than usual, but then it just balanced out my light lunch
Graham cracker and apple for snack: kept it light just in case dinner was more Points than I thought

Can’t wait for dinner tomorrow.

No regrets.

*Note: I am using tools from the Weight Watchers^® program circa 2007, because that’s what I have. So, the Points values that I am using may differ from the current program.

Week 27: Day 1

Well, I was hoping there wouldn’t be a Week 27, but here it is. And I know absolutely that this will be the last week.

Breakfast: Cereal, Banana, Milk, Water

I decided to treat myself while staying within my usual breakfast Points: Chocolate Cheerios™ with a sliced up half of a banana and skim milk.

*Bananas and chocolate cereal = a breakfast that tastes like dessert*

Lunch: Turkey Sandwich, Orange, Water

I wanted something more substantial than a wrap, something I could grab with two hands and sink my teeth into. I decided on a turkey sandwich: whole wheat bread, light mayo, country Dijon, arugula, reduced-fat cheese stick (I was out of cheese slices so I just sliced up a string cheese), and turkey. I had a mandarin orange on the side.

*Sometimes you just need that squish of bread*

Dinner: Soup, Melon, Water, Cookie

Same dinner as yesterday, this time with a ginger cookie for dessert.

Snack: Triscuits, Salsa, Cheese Stick, Apple, Water

Same snack that I had all last week: 6 reduced-fat Triscuits with salsa, reduced-fat cheese stick, and sliced apple.

Exercise: 0 Minutes

Will it happen this week? We will see.

How Did I Do?

A great start to my LAST week. Throughout the day, I treated myself in small ways that didn’t put me off track: chocolate cereal, bread instead of tortilla, cookie with dinner. I also drank plenty of water, got lots of fruits and veggies, kept portions in check, and made good food choices, even with my treats.

The soup is gone, but I have ingredients for dinner tomorrow, and another two planned after that, which may just take me all the way to my next weigh-in.

Feeling good. No regrets.

*Note: I am using tools from the Weight Watchers^® program circa 2007, because that’s what I have. So, the Points values that I am using may differ from the current program.