I’m aware this is going to sound super judgy but I just can’t get over how my aunt, uncle, and cousin eat.

My parents and I went to their house today for a BBQ. The feast started with tortilla chips with Velveeta and Rotelle dip. I dug in and tried to stop after 5 chips…but I ended up at 10. Then I popped a stick of gum so I wouldn’t keep snacking. My cousin (who is 10) filled half a paper plate with chips and the other half with the cheese dip. Her parents just scoff and say, “that’s enough” but don’t stop her from eating it. 

During the meal, the 10 year old had a sausage in a hot dog roll AND a double decker (2 patty) cheeseburger. I can’t believe she is physically able to eat that much without getting sick. She is gaining weight quickly and I’m afraid that she is going to grow up fat like I did.

My aunt is on a no carb diet for medical reasons. But she balances her lack of a hamburger bun by eating two burgers, a sausage, and a hot dog. I can’t believe that one hamburger bun could be more detrimental than all of that.

I know that not everything I eat is super healthy, but I am finally making an effort to change 29 years of bad habits. If I ever have kids, I would like to imagine raising them in an environment where any relationship to food is “normal.”

I’ve posted before about wanting to buy all the bad things at the grocery store. I just went to the store to pick up dinner and something for a BBQ for tomorrow.

The entire way there I was thinking about getting a giant whoopie pie, the kind with at least 1/2 cup of frosting in the middle. I was also thinking about making homemade pizza and frozen P.F. Changs. Also, I wanted M&M’s. I did so well this weekend, I’m down to my lowest weight EVER in the past 7 years. I barely ate today because I got sucked into Dawson’s Creek on Netflix. I considered all of these things as excuses to eat whatever I wanted tonight.

So I went to the further away grocery store that sells the giant whoopie pies and that has a self check out so I could buy what was essentially binge food without anyone passing judgement.

But as I stood there staring at the giant whoopie pies deciding whether to get vanilla or chocolate frosting, I thought about how disgusting I would feel after eating the whole thing. And let’s not pretend I wouldn’t eat the whole thing. I thought about how my stomach would hurt, how my mind would race because of the sugar and how I wouldn’t be able to get the sweetness out of my mouth. And all of the sudden, the giant whoopie pies with the giant mound of icing didn’t seem worth it. So the giant whoopie pie is still on the store shelf.

I really wanted M&M’s though. So I looked at the box of M&M’s and it was 2.5 servings. So I went looking for a single serving bag. I bypassed the sharing size because the only person I would be sharing with was myself and I picked up a single serving size bag. For 6 WW points I get my chocolate fix. (P.S. those tiny single serving Ben and Jerry’s cups are also 6 points.)

Good decisions all around.

Now…before you’re all, “Amy, you broke your promise” I went to Maine for part of the long weekend. I missed Weight Watchers but I wanted some accountability. And I was curious.

Last weekend at WW I was 245.4. 

Friday morning before I left I was 244.2.  Not too bad but I expected a bit better than 1 pound.

This morning, after breakfast and a coffee (and a pee break) I was 241.8!!!!!! I stepped on the scale twice to make sure it wasn’t a fluke. Apparently, Maine is the secret to my weight loss. I ate well but definitely had some treats and I did some walking, and swimming!

I’m soooooo close to hitting my 10% which is 239. I wanted to accomplish this by the end of May and it’s really within reach. I am so excited that I’m back in the weight loss game. 230’s here I come. I’ve been stuck in the 240’s for wayyyyyy too long.

Food was good today. Had 17 points left to eat by 6 pm so I’m having some pasta, chicken and asparagus. At 9 pm mind you.

Was asked to sub at extended day today so instead of jetting out of school and up to Maine, I hung out with the kiddos until 6. Then I hit up Target to pick up 

I’m playing hooky tomorrow and heading up to Maine for the long weekend and John Mayer is going to get me there. 

Had a 1 point day today. Did not get around to a work out today which is fine because I think my body needed a rest day. Will do lots of walking and kayaking in Maine so anticipate several more 2 point days to come. I’ve cooked extra chicken and asparagus to bring to Maine as well as cut up lots of fruit and hard boiled some eggs. All prepared!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

My calves have been super tight this week. I’m not sure if it’s because I haven’t taken a rest day in a while or what. I’m thinking of investing in a foam roller or The Stick. I don’t have a stretching routine so I may need one.

Thoughts?

Food was fine despite having slim pickings because I haven’t gone grocery shopping in a week. +1 point.

Went on a field trip with the kiddos today. Lots of standing…lots of loud bus time. I was exhausted when I got home from school. Took an hour nap but just couldn’t pull myself together enough to get to the gym.

Also…after 9 miles in 3 days my legs needed a break. My calves are a bit tight. 

Had brinner (breakfast for dinner) then finally committed to 30 minutes of exercise. Did a crazy arm circuit in my apartment with some lunges, squats, and jumping jacks thrown in. +1 point.

Total: 4/4 points so far!

Welcome to my life!

Honestly Amy is a place to be completely honest with myself. It’s a place to document this huge change in my life and connect with people who understand and support my decision to live a healthier lifestyle.

Why don’t you say hello and tell me about yourself!

I went running in the rain for the first time today! I’m basically a badass now.

I dilly-dallied after work and the skies got grayer and grayer but I knew I was going to earn my 2 points for Lindsay’s Challenge today. 

So I headed out sans the iPod just in case. Decided on 2 miles of walk, run, walk, walk, walk, run…etc. Right at the turn around, about 18 minutes in, it started to mist. It felt wonderful as I was a bit hot at that point. At 28 minutes it started to RAIN. It was glorious. I was warm and the rain felt amazing.

Arrived home at minute 36 and was wet. My shoes were starting to get squishy but I was so glad I went. Not sure I would have set out if it was already raining, but being caught in the rain after I was already warm was fantastic.

Hope you all had a wonderful Monday! Field trip tomorrow with the kiddos!

• All this being active and eating well has me feeling like a rockstar.
• I was up and out of the house by 10:30 today…which on a Sunday is pretty remarkable.
• I went to Walden Pond today and it wasn’t too busy when I got there so I decided to do some running/walking. I had just started running and this older, fit guy…the kind of guy that runs every day, ran by the other way. He gave me a wave and an awesome encouraging thumbs up. It made me feel great. 
• Immediately after I passed him, a guide stopped me and said, “We are trying to discourage people from running on the pond path. There are other trails you can run on.”
• All I heard was, “I’m discouraging YOU from running.” I know it wasn’t personal, but I was immediately deflated. The other trails are all hilly and full of roots. I passed 19 other runners but I continued walking because I felt like I had been reprimanded. 
• I get that the trails are narrow and can be busy. But if I can slow down and pass people in a polite way I don’t see what the problem is. If people can bring STROLLERS on the narrow trails why can’t I jog?
• I rounded the pond twice for a total of 3.6 miles. I stopped to dip my feet in the pond and dunk my head which really cooled me off.
• I definitely earned my exercise point today.
• Had dinner at my parents house and I baked these: 

• I only planned on eating one but instead I had three. (This is why I didn’t give myself a food point today.)
• I left the extra cookies in my car so I wouldn’t be tempted to eat 15 more tonight.
• I’m excited to start a new, fresh LDLChallenge week.
• I bet you’re sick of bullets by now!

Yesterday it was Drumlin Farm.

Today I’m hitting up Walden Pond. 1.8 miles around. Will probably also venture to the North Bridge and take a walk.

It’s soooo sunny!

Earning my 2 points today to finish Week 1 of LDLChallenge STRONG!