-2.2!

My sister and I declared 2017 the year of Weight Watchers.  Not that we haven’t done that before, but what we told each other is that good or bad, we’d go to the WW meeting every week and weigh in no matter what.  No matter that I was out of weeklies five days before WI.  No matter that my sister had a 60 point Valentine’s Day dinner with her husband.   We both have though we’ve gone “off the wagon” before, only to skip several weeks in a row, and that mind set just sets you up for failure.

But I really didn’t know what to expect.  I’d had two gains in a row in February – .6 and 1.8 and I didn’t like the direction that was going in.  I’ve talked about journaling and how I was consistent every day in writing in my journal.  I wrote all kinds of things in there from meal plan ideas, things I want to work on, inspirational quotes I find on social media.  But what I found is that I would go back and re-read stuff I wrote from a few days ago to a couple weeks ago, and this kept me inspired and my head in the game.

Once the journaling stopped in February (I have no reason why) things just got . . . out of focus for lack of a better word.  I was talking to another lifetime WW at the meeting yesterday and even though she’s been on WW for 16 years and was lifetime, the second she stopped coming to meetings over time the weight would always creep back.

So I was pleasantly surprised that I was down 2.2 – only 4.8 pounds until I’ve lost 20 pounds since December 26?!  How crazy is that?!  

Since my sister and I went to the WW meeting before work to weigh in, I had time to accessorize my breakfast.  I put my food together before going to work, and on the train ride I put it all in so I see how my day is lining up.  Too many points for lunch?  What’s on the dinner menu, etc.  When I entered my steel cut oats with banana and blueberries, it was only 5 points (1.25 cups that I made from Quaker Oats – so creamy good!).  I knew if I didn’t add some protein I’d be starving and I knew I was going to be busy at work, so I stopped at Starbuck’s to pick up some hard boiled eggs.

But they didn’t have any.  What did they have?  Sous Vide egg whites!  Two for 170 calories and 13 grams of protein.  Thank God I used my gift card because I am not sure I’d shell out $4.76 for two Sous Vide eggs, but then I tasted them.  And quickly decided $$ or not, these were worth every cent.  

I put the nutrition info into the WW app and these two egg whites of goodness are only 2 smart points each.  I was only going to eat one, but said F that – and ate the second one almost immediately while it was still hot.  I already know this is going to be my breakfast again today it was so good.  They almost taste like mini egg soufflés!

I was able to get away at lunch to go back to meet my sister for the WW meeting.  We talked about eating out, and how to plan for stuff like that.  This weeks topic  is “Make A Clean Sweep.”  Decluttering your space so that it can help you feel more in control and less stressed.

She challenged us to take a small fifteen minute project to see what we could declutter – not a giant “clean out my closet from head to toe!” where you get all enthusiastic, pull all your clothes out of your closet and throw them on the bed, only to lose interest over the sheer task of it all, and walk away.  And when it comes time for bed and those clothes are still on it?  Either A:  sleep on top of the clothes, or B. push them all off the foot of the bed.  Not that I have experience with either one of those options, I was just giving you an example 😀  I go in spurts – but what happens is that stuff I can’t find a home for just ends up in my basement and that’s a HOT mess.  Now that I have weekends off again, I plan on taking a couple hours over the weekend to declutter that space. 

Lunch was quick and easy – leftover Greek chicken from the night before, one pita, some carrots and an apple – not pictured was a small container of tzatziki for dipping – lunch came in at 8 smart points.

Work was super busy, I worked about 30 minutes overtime, but was able to catch a train that was express – nice!  I was still home by 7:00 which was nice.  I had chicken thighs that I needed to cook up.  I used to hate chicken thighs growing up – I was a breast and wing person only.  But I can’t beat the price!  I had six chicken thighs in this package.

While I heated my oven to 375 I just mixed together 1 teaspoon olive oil, salt, pepper, lemon zest, lemon juice and garlic and marinated the  chicken in that for all of 10 minutes while my oven got to temp.  I cooked the chicken, skin side down, in my cast iron skillet for 30 minutes, or until they reached 165.  They will rest and reach to 170 so they won’t be overcooked.  I just did a quick sauté of zucchini/yellow squash/.5 cup cooked orzo on the bottom.  I am calling dinner 9 points, even though I don’t think the chicken I ate was 5 points as I took off the skin (but I licked it first before giving it to the dogs!), but better save than sorry.  This picture was with my iPhone.

This one was from my DSLR:

I am counting the days until its light again when I get home

I am looking forward to having the whole weekend off!  I am working as the night secretary after work tonight for 2 hours, but other than that, wide open!  My Mom and I are going to lunch tomorrow and then see the movie Lion.  I know nothing about the movie, other than my friend Lindsay from Cooking Club said it was really good.   It will be nice to spend time with my Momma, you know, as her favorite child and all.

I hope you all have an awesome weekend.  It’s supposed to be close to 60!  

Here is some weekend motivation for you to stay on track – make it a great day!