Just Do It

Jess had this posted on her blog, and I just had to post it on mine.

How true is this!?

The Difference A Year Can Make

That’s right, folks. Tomorrow marks my 1-year anniversary with Weight Watchers. Where did I think I’d be in a year? I’m not honestly sure. On one hand, I thought I’d be to goal by now. I thought that a year was enough time to lose nearly 100 pounds and to shed the emotional and physical problems that lead to being that terribly overweight. But on the other hand? I never thought I’d make it. I don’t think I ever truly believed that I could lose more than 7 or 8 pounds without falling completely off-track, gaining those pounds (and another 7 or 8 to boot) back. That was my track record, getting on and falling off. I never believed that I could honestly do it.

Today, however, I stand and look back at the progress I have made, and I am proud. In the past year I have:

• Lost 48 pounds. 48 is a huge number. That’s 3 1/2 times what my dog weighs. 198 sticks of butter. Almost 10 5-lb sacks of flour. That’s a lot of weight.
• Gone from a size 20 to a size 14. I can now go into most major retailers and buy clothes straight off the racks.
• Gone from shopping in the womens department to the juniors department.
• Met one of my best friends, Lindsay, on the Weight Watchers message boards. Lindsay and I have been through a lot in the past year, and I honestly am not sure if I could have gotten this far without her support and encouragement.
• Liked a photo of myself. I can’t tell you how huge of an accomplishment this is for me. Most of the photos on my Facebook were taken years ago.
• Been told I looked good by a total stranger.
• Learned to cook. I can now make more than cookies out of a package.
• Tried new things. My biggest new like is yogurt– which I wouldn’t have touched prior to this weight loss journey. I hated the texture, which I have now come to love… especially Greek Yogurt! Other foods I’ve learned about in the past year: VitaTops, sandwich thins, Morningstar Farms products, etc.
• Learned to be a runner. Though I haven’t been entirely successful with this, I did manage to run for 8-minutes straight at one point over the past year… a feat which would have been nearly impossible at my heaviest.
• Made so many new friends, and became a part of a great weight loss community on the Weight Watchers website/message boards.
• Felt beautiful for the first time in years.

It’s interesting for me to see the list I just wrote, and to really let myself feel those accomplishments. How far have you come?

New Fabulous Favorites

So every now and then I try to post helpful hints regarding delicious foods that I find helpful. I still stick with a lot of my old staples, like bagel thins, raw organic honey and the like. But here are some new favorites!

1. Popsicle Mighty Minis

These popsicles are great. Each popsicle is only 10 calories, and tastes amazing! They’re great when you crave a little something sweet right after a meal. I’m not normally a popsicle fan, but these are fabulous! I do have to say, though, that the green ones don’t taste very good to me. But the purple raspberry ones? To die for.

2. Wonder Smart White Bread

I love bagel thins and sandwhich thins, but a lot of people tell me that they miss just having a slice of bread. Well, for 1 point for 2 slices of white bread, this stuff is amazing! I’ve made some pretty tasty sandwiches with this bread!

3. Morningstar Farms Grillers Chik’n

 Now,  I always try to be as honest as possible on my blog. These are NOT the greatest chicken replacement in the world. I really LOVE the regular (fried) chik’n patties they offer, but I had to try these out since they’re only 1 pt per pattie. They are super filling! Although they do smell a little funny while you’re cooking them, they’re not bad. I like to eat them for breakfast, since I have the hardest time staying full until lunch. But on a sandwich thin with a little mustard, lettuce and tomato, they make for a really great and filling 2 point sandwich.

4. Naturally Fresh Lite Ranch

If there is one thing that makes my life so much easier, it’s this product right here. To be honest, I was sick of all the 1 point vinegarette and oil-based dressings. I wanted my ranch back! This stuff is only 2 pts for 2 tbsps, and it’s well worth it. I love to dip raw veggies in it, or to have it with potato chips, even! It’s super yummy.

5. Trader Joe’s Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

I unfortunately couldn’t find a photo of the container, but you get the idea. (Thanks random google person, for the photo!) I love hummus, and this hummus is divine. 2 tbsps for 1 pt. I really like to make a quick hummus sandwich for breakfast, or even lunch. On a sandwich thin, it’s an easy 2 pt snack!

6. Pretzel M&Ms

If you’ve tried these, then you already know how AMAZING they are. Normally a bag of M&Ms is about 6 points, but a bag of these puppies is only 3 points! Perfect for taking to the movies or just to satisfy a chocolate craving at work, these are great!

7. Peaches

These are my favorite fruit of the summer. I’ve been getting some absolutely delicious ones from the farmer’s market on Sundays. Mmmm ❤

Tell me, what are some of your recent faves? 🙂