By now you probably know that I live in the cold, white (and getting whiter by the day) north - Minnesota!  While, I'm not sure I'll ever totally accept the reality of harsh winters here, I do know that there is nothing better to combat the cold - and maybe a little SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) too, then a steaming bowl of soup.  This is one of our hearty, and oh so easy favorites... enjoy!





And the verdict:

I think he likes it!

I've been sick.  Praying to the porcelain goddess sick!  YUCK!
That's the bad news.  The good news... I'm down 3.6 pounds this week - yes, the week after Thanksgiving! I'm now less than 8 pounds from my ultimate goal, and I've lost over 113 pounds total!  About 2 of those pounds I attribute to being sick.  The other 1.6 I earned by really watching myself this Thanksgiving, and trying to have my focus be someplace else, rather than food.  I'm sure the other 2 pounds, I'll regain as soon as I start eating "normally" again.  I'm OK with that.  Remind me I said that next week, will ya?

I did drag my finally feeling halfway human self to a Weight Watchers meeting this morning, because I wanted to get all of the new plan materials.  I spent 3 days this past week on the new PointsPlus program (M-W), and while still dismayed that wine is double the original points value, I am doing OK with it.  It is absolutely new to wrap my mind around, and once I can quit comparing to the old plan I will be OK.  It is really hard that I don't just automatically know the points value of foods, or that I can no longer look at a label and know the value, but I'm sure that will soon pass, once I learn to trust the plan, and prove that I can lose weight on it.

A few have asked why I don't just stick with the original program if it was working so well for me.  The answer is simple - a huge part of my success has been eTools, the online food tracking option that Weight Watchers has.  Since I'm at a computer the majority of my day, eTools makes it super easy to put in what I'm eating and doing.  eTools switches... so do I.  Also, I want to be able to relate to new/existing members of Weight Watchers.  I want to be able to encourage and help people -give them new food ideas, and be able to calculate the points plus values.  I owe you guys that. 

You know another thing I'm excited about?  That so many people ARE excited about the new Weight Watchers program.  I know a lot of people who've been struggling and are now coming back to it because of the new program, with a renewed sense of "getting it done."  And there are new people now trying Weight Watchers for the first time.  While in theory, it really is the same old "eat less and move more" concept, giving it a new face/name has given people renewed strength, and I love that! 

If you are in this category my hope for you today is that you give it your all and stick to it!  Make the lifestyle change forever!  If you get off track, so what?  Let every meal, every day be a new opportunity for you.  Don't wait until Monday.  Do this like you mean it.  Want it more than anything else.  Do it because you are worth it and you deserve it!  Keep the reason you are doing this always with you, and use that as motivation.  For me it is this picture.  I could not be the best mom to that sweet little boy given the weight I was in this picture.  It would not have been fair to him:


You will NEVER regret it.  I have not regretting one minute of having to "watch my eating", not one minute of running, not one cent of the money I paid to Weight Watchers before hitting goal, not one minute of attending meetings, or standing in line to weigh in, not one cent I've spent at the grocery store on healthier foods, not one gym membership bill, or 5 am morning working out.  Neither will you, I promise!

I have to be honest with you guys...


Wow... shouting that out loud actually really helped.  Now deep breaths.

So, I warned you I wasn't a fan of change, and I will admit my head wasn't in the best place coming in to this, but I promised to give it a chance.... I mean I don't have alot of other choices other than gaining all my weight back, and that isn't going to happen... EVER!  I am still giving it it's chance.  If I would have written this yesterday - just couldn't bring myself to - it would have sounded even more whiny, but luckily 24 hours have passed and I've finally finished overhyperventilating (that cannot possibly be a word) about the following things:

• Wine is 4 points for a serving.  It used to be 2.  Excuse me?  As I posted on my facebook status yesterday:  "The person that decided that is on my list... and not the list where I send you a Christmas gift."  I like wine.  I really do.  So does my sister, remember?  Maybe it runs in the family?  Although, I'm pretty sure my dad drank Coors Light, and my mom is a Bloody Mary person for sure!  Sorry mom, I guess that's on the Internet now too.  So, I'm not sure why wine is now double the points, but I still don't like it any more than I did yesterday.  I am dealing much better now with it though after a couple of glasses.
• My Thomas Bagel Thin - formerly 1 point, and 1 Tbsp of peanut butter (formerly 2 points) breakfast is now 6 points!  Cry, whine, sad, sucks, boo hiss.  'Nuff said.
• There does not appear to be 1/2 points.  Do you super-type "A" Weight Watchers trackers know what I mean?  Oh... no one raised their hand... guess I'm secretly the only one.  Well... in case you don't, eTools used to let you sometimes do 1/2 points.  For instance 1/4 cup of shredded cheese was 3 points on the old plan, if you did 1/8 cup it was 1.5 points, its now 2 on the new plan.  Everything seems to round up (maybe not true, but that is how it seems to me right now).

Given all that, I managed my first day on the new plan (Monday), and I'm almost done living through my second.  A few other things I'll point (ha ha bad unintentional pun) out:

• My new daily points target according to eTools is 29.  So I do get 6 more points a day than I used to, but I don't get double (as everything seems to be)!
• Fruit is all 0 points, even bananas.  People in the Weight Watchers world seem to be going crazy happy about this.  I find that funny.  I mean I love bananas as much as the next person, but seriously, did you see the points value of wine?  That is what we should focus on people.  New strategy... if I want more than 1 glass of wine a day I must eat only bananas for breakfast and lunch.
• Fruit is 0 points, but 1 cup of peas is 3 points?  That was a bad dinner mistake.  Too bad peas are the only vegetable my husband and child will actually eat.
• On the bright side of things, the weekly points allowance is 49 - up from 35, and it seems that activity points are sometimes higher.  For instance 25 minutes of running used to earn me 3 activity points, now its 5.  I see more wine in my future.
• Points are no longer figured using calories as a guide.  They are figured with some super secret formula that top secret scientists, obviously much smarter than myself, and most definitely non-drinkers came up with using:  total carbs, fiber, fat, and protein NOT calories.

Thanks for listening to my whine. 
I KNOW I will be OK on this plan.  Let me say that again, so I can start to talk myself into believing it.  I KNOW I will be OK on this plan.  I know that it is a good plan.  I do trust Weight Watchers.  All that said, it is going to definitely take some getting used to, that's for sure.  I am not crazy about the timing.  So many things coming up during the holidays that I don't even feel I can estimate the points for.  I feel like I'm in my first week again, knowing nothing. 

The worst part is that I am scared to eat.  Yes I am.  I don't automatically know the points value of a food, and I'm fearful of eating it and finding out some crazy number- like the wine and the peas.  Guess I'll be eating lots of fruit for awhile (good luck finding anything good in Minnesota this time of year).

Anyone else out there try the new PointsPlus plan already?  What do you think?

So in case you've been living under a rock and haven't heard, Weight Watchers is debuting a new plan this week (if you don't do Weight Watchers bear with me here, because there WILL be something for you in this post as well).  Apparently it is the biggest change in 13 years!  I don't know about you, but when I see the words - BIGGEST CHANGE - I freak out!  My heart rate goes up, my palms get all sweaty, I think about hyperventilating. 

I have never been one for change.  I kind of like things to stay the same.  I like routines, and the familiar feeling of the same things.  So I won't lie to you people, this is going to be one tough thing for me to swallow.  Immediately, I already decided in my head that I will hate it, no, no loathe it.  I mean, why should I change away from something that helped me lose 111 pounds in the last 2 years?  There is NO reason I can think of.  But then I remember some things I have read about the original Weight Watchers program:

• Fish was to be eaten at least five times per week, liver at least once a week, and beef, frankfurters, lamb, and dark meat turkey no more than three times per week.
• Initially no fat was to be eaten - No butter, margarine, mayonnaise, oil, salad dressings, etc.
• Certain fruits were excluded including:  cherries, bananas, watermelon, and grapes.
• There were no rolls, bagels, biscuits, muffins, crackers, cereals, or special breads allowed.

My, how things have evolved since.  It is with that mindset that I will grudgingly accept this change - realizing that moving forward and onward to new things is usually a good thing, and knowing that Weight Watchers has been in business for a LONG time - the business of helping people lose weight, and that is not about to change.

So... a lot about Weight Watchers specifically today, but this concept goes for everything in life.  I would venture a guess that most people can relate to liking the familiar, and avoiding change.  But change is sometimes exactly what we need.  It is change in the first place that got this journey rolling for most of us (including me).  I know 2 years ago I decided to make a change in my life, and I took the steps needed to get there.  Now I can sit here feeling tired, but empowered from a 4 mile run yesterday, wearing my size 8 pants - 111 pounds lighter.  It was change that got me to this place, and change that will keep me here!

The holiday shopping season is suddenly upon us.  It's a month until Christmas - panicking, yet?  Would you be jealous if I told you that I'm probably about 75% done with my shopping already?  I am trying to take a simplistic approach this holiday season and not stress out about these things - for my mental as well as physical health.  Less stress means less stress eating, and that means success during this season that seems to be all about eating!  I love to shop online, and the majority of my Christmas purchases have been from online retailers. You can find everything from electronics and toys to sling backpacks and fitness equipment.  You can even buy a live Christmas tree online now! 

If you haven't already, make sure to check out CSN stores this holiday shopping season.  I have personally ordered items in the recent past from them, and have been happy with their customer service and fast shipping!  You can even get a gift sent directly to the recipient, or if you are stumped just get them a gift certificate so they can choose their own gift.  This is a lifesaver for me with so many loved ones living far away.  They have 200+ different stores so you are sure to find something for everyone on your list.

Another thing I'd recommend for your holiday shopping is Ebates.  I've been using Ebates since earlier this fall, and have already earned about $15 in cash back for shopping at some of my favorite online retailers.  Just make sure to go to their website first, and click on your favorite store from there.  For Black Friday I've seen cash back offers as high as 14%!  Getting paid to shop... now that's my style for sure.

Happy Shopping!  And remember today is just a regular day... don't let the holiDAY turn into a holiLONGWEEKEND!