So, I came up with a new plan for myself today. I devised it over my breakfast of a whole wheat cinnamon raisin english muffin with a tsp. butter for 3 POINTS...
Okay, this may sound weird to those of you that count WW POINTS, but I think this may be my answer. I am going to start my tracking day with lunch. I will start off with my 21 POINTS at lunch and subtract the day going to breakfast the next morning. Why? Well, it seems that I really have trouble in the afternoons with snacking. So, I thought if I start at lunch, make lunch bigger and end with breakfast, if I had an "incident" or maybe overate a little in the afternoon, it wouldn't be that big of a deal to only have a couple of POINTS left for breakfast. But, if I kept it the same and overate leaving me only a few POINTS for dinner, that would leave me feeling deprived and sad. I know this may seem like a strange way to look at it. It's mind games. It may or may not work or make any difference at all, but it dawned on me today and I felt excited to try out this "experiment". We know all that matters is "calories in, calories out" in a 24 hr. period, so who cares what meal starts your 24 hr. day, right?
So, I decided to embark on my new plan at lunch, making it as "big" as necessary to feel full. Guess what? I wasn't so hungry today! Murphy's Law. But, I know that the afternoon has been rough lately, so I just ate what I was in the mood for and therefore, had lots of POINTS for later, just in case. Lunch was an almond butter and sugar free jelly sammie with carrots and sour cream and onion rice chips for 6 POINTS...
and a Grande Mocha Lite Frap for 2 POINTS while picking up a few things at the supermarket...
Well, that took me all the way to dinner! I decided on a quick dinner of Trader Joe's Chicken Chow Mein (split with big daughter) for 6 POINTS...
and for dessert, a Weight Watchers CandyBar Ice Cream Bar for 3 POINTS...
That leaves me with 4 POINTS for breakfast tomorrow! I know it's just switching things around, but for some reason, I felt much better using my tracker this way. If anything, it's at least a fun twist on my "old" program. I'll still be blogging the same way, beginning with my breakfast, but I'll just be counting that breakfast with my previous day's POINTS.
If you made it through this everlasting post, I commend you! Thank you for listening to my rambling and for all the wonderful comments and suggestions. I really appreciate you coming along for my crazy ride :)
Have a great night !
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30 comments:
I'm never bored with reading about your journey. I want you to get there and I want to see it!!! Of course I always love your foods too :).
I'm interested to see how this switch up works for you. I might try it myself.
That is such a good idea. I really like to leave the bulk of my calories for post 5PM I am a little crazy with PM eating- if I do really well I have a bigger deficit, but if I don't do so well I still have some wiggle room. I THINK YOU HAVE THE BEST PLAN EVER! Seriously this was such an inspiring post after a long day. That coffee looked wonderful-
I have to remind myself all this time that it is my blog, and if someone is bored... they can read another- I even have some suggestions on my sidebar (aka blogroll). That is why I swear and curse, and carry on as I want to. IT IS MY OWN TOOL FOR HEALING. It is your blog, and your tool- if you need to write a thousand posts of frustration, go right ahead!
I started my ww "day" with dinner for a while after reached plateau and it really helped me! I think that especially when you get down to the lower point ranges it can be really hard... I felt like I never had enough points for anything resembling a decent meal- especially if I wanted to have a snack after. I hope this works for you! I know how much of a struggle ww can be sometimes, but it really is a great and HEALTHY diet and i think you're doing great!
That is very creative! I like it. When I have those bad afternoons, sometimes I split my lunch out -- sandwich at noon, yogurt at 2, fruit at 4. I can't wait to see how this works for you!
It's your blog; it's there to help you! Plus, I never get bored of your trials and tribulations and often can very much relate. I think it helps people to realize that they are not alone...
I have never done WW, but your new way of counting points sounds very creative. Hopefully, it's just what you needed! :)
Marisa I LOVE reading your posts - and when you rant and rave about not getting to goal yet - well it makes us (ok me) realize nobody is perfect, everyone struggles with this weight loss "thing" no matter what plan they use.
and it makes it ok for me to not beat myself up that I'm not at goal either. One day I will be and so will you - that is one thing I KNOW for sure.
Hey, you do what you have to do to make it work. Sounds like a great plan, actually.
Hang in there. You'll get to where you want to be. :) Those afternoon munchies are tough. My tough time has been post dinner pre-bed. I just want sweets! What's up with that?!
((HUGS)) I think you look beautiful. And I didn't know we were going out for frapps today! LOL
A journey always has it's up and downs. I can relate to your frustration. I've been playing with my last 5 pounds for months on end now. Your new and improved way of WW counting is great!! Great thinking!! Switching things up always does wonders for plateaus. Your blog is never boring and I enjoy reading your posts. Hang in there, I am rooting for you!!
Marisa...I love you! Thanks for the comment and support you left on my site. I have been reading your blog without fail, and wishing I had the control that you do! (I know you probably feel like you don't have control, but you have a whole lot more than me right now!)
Anyway, I love the way you stick to it, and give me the gumption to stick to it too. I am getting back at it tomorrow. I am tired of feeling this way, and I want to be healthy.
Oh, and I like your backwards points counting idea. I think it will work for you! :) Thanks, friend, for all your kind words. ~Sue
I think it's better that you are struggling and sticking to it than quitting and munching through it. It inspires me to keep going when I feel like the road is SOOOOO long, because mine is, but I feel better when I know you are here with me.
I love your new idea, I think it'll be great for you, and maybe even for me. I still get a lot of points but breakfast is where I think I can cut some out without feeling deprived. Don't leave yourself without enough points for something though...
Marisa that's a completely fabulous idea! OOh I'm so interested to read what happens!
I looked up your starbucks on the UK ww website and it says that a tall mocha frap lite is 2.5! I thought it was more though so now I know I can have one once (if!) we get any nice weather over here this summer!
I love reading your blog lady, and I know this to be true for countless others so keep it up! We're with you!!!!!
Lxxxx
You know what, I think you are definitely on to something. You could just be in a rut and needed to switch things up a bit. And this may have just been the thing you needed. I've been swithing things around to and sometimes that just what we need to do, even if it doesn't make sense to other people. We have to do what's best for ourselves. And you also have to think about just because Weight Watchers has a weight that they say you should be, doesn't mean that's what your body should be. Does that make sense? For instance, "guidelines" tell me that I should weigh a minimum of 120 lbs. I can tell you that I would look like a skeleton at 120 lbs. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to try to get there! But my body may stop at the weight it should be or wants to be at.
As far as your blog, keep it going. You started it as a tool and that's what you should use it as. We are all doing the same thing and we all whine just the same. If people don't want to read it, then they can go elsewhere. You'll have your "regulars" that will be there for you when you need that boost. We love ya!
Yep...WANT power is indeed the thing. You can will anything to happen, and it may or may not, but the minute you flip it to WANT power, it is yours. And it sounds like the points arrangement is going to be the best for you in your new order. he points are what you have for a 24 hr period, and it does not matter what time you start counting.Sometimes getting the typical results means doing atypical things.
And you are never whining ! Blogs are created for so many different reasons, and venting on them is one definite purpose.
Marisa....perfect idea! Love it! And the big thing is that it's new and exciting again. You've changed the whole thing around for yourself, and I know this will work for you!
We're both so close to goal. We can do this. I'm frustrated too but we can't give up. If it's not where we want to be, DON'T SETTLE!
I'm going to go back and read that article about Want Power, not Will Power. Love that.
I don't know why my scale is not moving but I'm not giving in either.
You are SUCH an inspiration to everyone. I know for me, I look forward to reading what you're up to every day and what ideas you have for our menus.
I'm going to try to give you a little boost....
I was reading your stats and I see that in July 2007, you weighed 234.
In April 2007, I weighed 213 (my highest weight at the time). I started Weight Watchers April 2007 and lost roughly 30-some pounds. I quit doing Weight Watchers in August 2007 and quit writing down what I was eating and quit exercising, I pretty much quit it all. From August 2007 til January 2009, I gained all of the weight that I'd lost back PLUS an extra 15 pounds. Think about how well you've done because if you hadn't stuck with it, you could be in the same boat I'm in. You can get that last 10 lbs off, look how far you've come! :-)
My leader talks about doing this all of the time! I've been thinking about starting my trackign with dinner b/c that is when I eat the majority of my points but I've been scared! Thanks for taking the leap and I look forward to reading how it goes!!!
GOOD LUCK!!
Those rice chips you eat always look sooo delicious! What brand are they and where do you get them!?
Sounds like an awesome way to keep on truckin! Way to go! :)
You will get there...love the "want power" line. Great attitude! :)
Kaneil, balanceisbest
you are doing a great job, keep up the good work. you will get to goal!!!!! i know it!
I couldn't agree more - I TOO am a believer that will power is over rated. You can't be tempted by what ISN'T there and you, only you, have to WANT to reach your goals.
Good for you for reflecting and thinking what works best for you. It might be a great idea - I can't wait to see how you work it.
I am having your favorite bar giveaway GNU!!!
Click here to check it out :)
http://danicasdaily.blogspot.com/2009/05/its-gnu-giveaway.html
I agree with you that sometimes changing things up a little is all we need to feel motivated again!
I too, usually have a problem with being hungry all day and then not having anything left for dinner time at night. I hope your new "method" works well for you!!!
Okay seriously, the WW ice cream bar looks so devilishly decadent ...
I love reading your blog, woes and all! The same frustrations you have, we all have! So never worry! =) And you WILL make your goal, I have no doubt. (and me too *hopefully*)
I thought it was just me who had the reluctance to post about the down side :-) We all start these blogs for our own benefit and then we are afraid of how it affects other people! I've realized that without raw honesty, the bus stops and goes nowhere because it's stuck. Being honest is the only way to move beyond it.
Thanks for that article! I'm totally going to think that to myself every single time I waiver from now on, "What do I want?" Is it to reach my goal, or is it that excess amount of food? Pausing and truly thinking about it before accepting whatever justification your head has given you to allow you to waiver could make all the difference ;-)
This was a FANTASTIC post. Thanks for linking to the article about "What do I want?" I've written that on a post it note to keep near me. And I love the idea of tracking lunch through to breakfast. I may need to try that. Looking forward to hearing how that works for you.
I think that your points idea is a great idea... especially if you feel better about it. I think sometimes your mindset is half the battle!
That WW ice cream thingie looks delicious!
I like when other bloggers vent, it makes me feel normal! I have to vent on here, it really is, in the end, a journal of YOUR journey here. That includes the good the bad and the ugly.
Your blog is inspirational and I get tons of great food ideas from it!
I think I may give that a try! I have the same afternoon snack attack struggles. Thanks for the idea! :)
Thanks for your comments guys!!! Muwah!
MeghanN - the rice chips are from Trader Joe's, but I think there is a brand called Mr. Krispers that are the exact same. You may be able to order them online :)
Motivation and will power flies out the window at some point in this game, and it never comes back. My run aways have been replaced by pure determination. I'm a woman who gets what I want. And I want to stay at goal or darn close to it at least! lol
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