50 Pounds of Bird Seed!

I went to the Grainery today to pick up some black oiled sunflower seeds for our bird feeders.  I had help getting the bag into my car, but once I got home, I was on my own.  I lugged that bag out of my car and up the steps.  It was not easy. That bag is a symbol of the weight that I have lost and the toll that extra weight had on my joints and body.  I carried it all around, day in and day out for years.  What a heavy and unnecessary load. It took me a long time to put my health first and develop healthy habits. Too long. That bag of seed is an inspirational reminder as to how far I have come.

May!

Hello All,

It is my favorite month of the year! I love May. Spring blooms, bird migrations and welcoming back our state insect the monarch butterfly.

I have lost a total of 11 pounds on Weight Watchers. Actually, I need to report that I lost those 11 pounds within my first two and a half months (by the end of March). Starting in March, I attended two out of state conferences and then caught a bout of influenza, thus I sort of lost my momentum in April. I still kept up tracking all of my food and most days exercised so I have maintained my loss, which is a win.

We finally have warm weather in Minnesota. I have been out almost every morning in the past two weeks before work on a bike ride. I did a 21 miler on Wednesday and another 12 today. I hope to get in a 30-40-mile ride next week as I begin to prepare for the our de Cure.

Some beautiful pictures from our own Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. I had a celebratory long stroll there after learning I was promoted to full professor at my institution. 

Continued Progress

I continue to make really good progress using Weight Watchers online. I am a very disciplined person and that skill is paying off now. I released 7.2 pounds as of today’s weigh in. I have never been a fast weight loss person. When I shed my initial 50 pounds it took me over a year and a half.  I maintained that 50-pound loss for the past almost 6 years.  But despite my best effort’s I could not knock down that last 20 to 30 pounds.  Weight Watchers has helped me fine tune my food choices.  Yes, I am overall eating less but I feel really good. I have been able to keep my exercise and my training up for cross country skiing. I am allotted 28 extra points a week.  I have been really good about saving those points up so that when I am doing a long cross country ski.  I can eat extra carbs or whatever I need to fuel the distance. I am now firmly out of the obese category and well into the overweight category for my BMI.

What’s really helped me is that I take my lunch every day to work and I plan all my meals.  I very seldom eat out.  Having your own food really, really makes a difference because you know exactly what’s in it and in my case how many points are packed into the food. I’ve also refined my portions and now weigh food items when I am not sure.

I’ve only shared a little over 7 pounds but I already feel the difference in my clothing.  It’s amazing!!!