Reporting on Week 10 & 11.

"When you're under stress, you may find it harder to eat healthy. Also, during times of particularly high stress, you may eat in an attempt to fulfill emotional needs — sometimes called stress eating or emotional eating. And you may be especially likely to eat high-calorie foods during times of stress, even when you're not hungry."  Mayo Clinic Article Stress and Weight management.

This has been my life the past 2 weeks!  The stress has been so high and I have struggled!  Struggled with the lack of desire to exercise, to eat healthy, to do anything I am suppose to do to create balance in my life and home.   Issues with Camden at school and with his ADHD and anxiety I have spent alot of time venting, crying and just feeling lost.   Then I went to work researching what is best for him.   The decision has finally been made and arrangements are in the works to make Camden's 2014-15 school year successful.   And we finally know for sure Brenley will have surgery and her awesome teachers and advisers at school made it possible for Brenley to have rest until her surgery.  She is done with school for the year.    Having these two issues resolved (or at least the answer is known) I am hoping I can start to feel myself again.  I thought I would feel and instant relief but I still feel keyed up and have had headaches for 3 days now.   

I am sharing all of this not to bore you but hoping you won't think I am totally loser when I share with you that the past two weeks my weight has been fluctuating all over the place.  Up and down and I have no idea how much I really weigh right now.   I am still making progress in my journey as I am learning how to overcome challenges.  I just have to remember this is a life long journey and not something I can accomplish in 3 or 4 months.   Thank you for sticking with me.  I am trying to stay positive but it has been hard.   But I am here and I am working.. every day I am working whether it shows or not.

Reporting Week #9: Counting Points gets a Thumbs up!

So I started counting Weight Watcher points (using their old system).  It is small but I am seeing results this week.   I lost 1.6 pounds bringing me to 225.0.   And I did it without feeling like I had to say NO to everything.   It as a nice change.   I think this is how the weight loss will be from this point on...slow but hopefully steady.

I am still seeing changes in my body.   I went shopping for some shirts and I was able to buy  in the large size rather than XL or XXL. It seems to depend upon the style so I am unsure what shirt size I really am but I know I am smaller than before.    I try to remember this when I see pictures of myself.   I can see changes in my face but I struggle looking at a full body shot.  I feel ugly.   I am  battling negative self talk....I feel good and see improvements but then I look at myself in a recent picture and I wonder how long it is going to take until the real Brenda is found among the fat.   I don't like to think this way and I like who I am inside...I just have to continue to carry on by having faith and moving my feet.  Having Faith and Moving Forward seems to be a common theme throughout my life.   

I am thankful to feel the progress in my body even if the pictures aren't showing it.   I can run faster.   I trimmed 4 minutes off of my mile which is HUGE for me!   I am still a slow runner but Rome wasn't build in a day and I didn't put all of this weight on in a day.   I have to remind myself to be patient with my body.    I look forward to being able to hike this summer and bike and be active with my children.  This is something I used to be, active, but then one day I wasn't.  At least that is how it felt.   I have goals and a secret desire of my heart that I hope will come sometime in the next couple of years and I want to be physically ready for the call if it comes.   Even it that call doesn't come the Lord will have other plans and I want to be able to meet he challenges with energy and vigor!   Good health is an incredible blessing and everyday is a gift!   

Another milestone this past week is wearing a belt.   My pants are getting too baggy so I tried an old belt on. I could only do it up on the first hole but at least I could do it up!!!!!   That was kind of fun!!!   

My favorite grocery item is Greek Yogurt (non-fat).   

Baked Nacho Casserole by Ro*Tel.

I made this recipe and replaced the mayo with the Greek yogurt.  Saves LOTS of calories and fat.  I think the mayo probably adds some flavor so I added some taco seasoning and garlic powder to give it a little more spice.  I also replaced the burger with turkey burger.  It turned out yummy.    Next time I will use rice on the bottom and less tortilla chips on top.   This would bring it to a lower point value.  

So this was my week in a nutshell.
Onward and Upward!