A Long Time Coming September 23, 2012
Posted by cirellih in Uncategorized.Tags: aspen, Hiking, Rainbow Lakes, Success, weight los, Weight Watchers
add a comment
Drum roll, please. No, really. This news is big! It deserves a drum roll.
I LOST 50 Pounds!!!
Wahoo! It’s taken me a day to write this post because I’ve been bouncing around ever since. Definitely has been a long time coming, but so worth it. I still have a lot more to go, but this was just the inspiration that I needed to keep going.
In celebration of the big five-oh, Chris and I decided to go on a hike to see the aspens in all of their golden fall glory. A hike at Rainbow Lakes was just what the doctor ordered.
What an absolutely stunning day!
Be a weekend warrior… not a weekend wimp!
I Blame the Cookies! February 15, 2011
Posted by cirellih in Food, Goals, Motivation, Weight loss, Weight Watchers.Tags: Oreos, Snack, Weight Watchers
add a comment
So, last Saturday was not the best. Yes, it was my weekly weigh in. Up until now it was nothing to dread. Consistant weight loss for the last few weeks!
That joy had to come to an end.
I stepped onto the scale.
The nice weigh in receptionist didn’t say a word. My chest began to fill with dread as I gathered my coat and meeting materials.
I found a seat, carefully settled in, and finally gulped as I looked at my weekly card.
0.0 lbs lost.
How was it possible? I thought back to what I had done throughout the past week. I had exercised. I thought I had eated good meals. Then a nasty thought spread through my brain…
We had had mint chocolate dipped oreos at work.
I repeat mint chocolate dipped oreos. Those little buggers are 90 calories a pop, addictive as all get out and delicious to boot.
Next week, I’m investing in lots of gum. No temptation there!!!
An Overview January 29, 2011
Posted by cirellih in Food, Goals, Health, Weight loss, Weight Watchers.Tags: Fruits, Points Plus Program, Power Foods, Reasons, Vegetables, Weight Loss, Weight Watchers
add a comment
I thought that I might give a brief overview of the Weight Watchers program. There are many reasons as to why I chose WWs over other weight loss programs.
1. My mother had used the program years ago and had great success. I felt if they had been working for the past 20 years, they must be onto something!
2. The new points plus program is easy to follow. All that’s required of me is that I track the food that I eat each day… I’m pretty sure that their success is from a guilt complex. I continually find myself thinking throughout the day, “I shouldn’t eat that, or I’ll have to write it down.”
3. They have revamped the points plus program so that fruits and vegetables are zero points. It makes healthy choices easy when it’s a non-guilty way to snack during the day.
4. Weekly meetings help keep me on track throughout the week. Having a group of people that are all striving for the same goal is nice. During the meetings the members relay what has worked for them, what hasn’t gone so well. There is a camaraderie of the group is inspirational.
5. The weigh-ins at each meeting are also helpful. There is accountability for what you ate, and how much you exercise during the week.
Each day, you are given a certain number of points based on your height and weight. This points value is calculated during the weekly meetings after the weigh-in. As you lose weight, the daily points value goes down until you reach the lowest value, 29. So far, I have managed to stick to the plan and not go over my points many days. My weight has gone down each week… so fingers crossed for tomorrow!
Pumping the Irons January 28, 2011
Posted by cirellih in Exercise, Food, Goals, Motivation, Planning, strength training.Tags: Exercise, Goals, Motivation, Planning, Strength Training, Weight Watchers
add a comment
As part of my new and improved exercise plan I have decided to add in some more strength training components. The hubby bought a Gold’s Gym Slant Bench which has an adjustable back and resistance levels which can be set to the desired level.
Not particularly the most complicated piece of equipment, but it allows me to work out my upper body and to attempt crunches. I’ve decided that strength training is an important aspect of my routine as well as yoga, walking, snowy outdoor activities, and eventually gym time.
My goal for the weekend is to plan out meals for the week. I think that this will counteract my typical behavior of standing in front of the fridge desperately hungry and trying to rack my brain for something to create from the meager foods left at the end of the week.
Weight Watchers has a cool system where you can type in a few foods that are in your fridge and they give you recipe suggestions. We’ll have to see what they come up with for pasta, cilantro, peppers, lettuce, ground beef, and chicken!
Besides, I have to be super healthy tomorrow… the day before the dreaded weigh in!
A New Beginning January 24, 2011
Posted by cirellih in Goals, Motivation, Moving, New Year, Weight Watchers.Tags: Bio, Resolutions, Weight Watchers
add a comment
2011 has just started… resolutions have been in the works for the last few weeks, gym memberships are up, vegetable and fruit sales are increased, and people are desperately clinging to what they promised to themselves.
My resolution this year was to join Weight Watchers. Done and done. It’s a first step at least! Much more tangible and attainable than the other resolutions of “I’m going to lose weight this year” that I have attempted in the past. I have now been a member since January 3rd, 2011. I’m 7 and a bit pounds lighter and much more motivated to lose weight that I have been in a while.
I have decided to start this blog as a method of cataloging my experiences, and as a way to make sure I stay on track. Making sure that pitfalls that come up don’t derail my efforts, and being able to relish in my successes will hopefully keep me inspired to continue on my journey.
So enough of why I have started a blog, here’s a bit about me:
1. I graduated from Dickinson College in 2008 with a degree in Classical Art and Archaeology. Those four years have been some of the most memorable in my life (all 25 years of it).
That’s me on the right with my amazing friend, Satomi, at our rainy graduation.
2. Upon graduating, I married the most wonderful man in the world, Chris. We have been happily married since August 1, 2008.
3. I moved to Syracuse, NY where Chris was finishing his MBA at Syracuse University. It was there that my weight problems began. I worked for Target, didn’t know many people, and didn’t get into a routine of exercise right away.
I swear he’s in there!
4. In 2009 I was accepted as an AmeriCorps member in Baltimore, MD. I taught 1st grade in a Catholic School in East Baltimore. It was an incredibly stressful and rewarding year. I wouldn’t change it for the world.
I’m on the far left with the whole Baltimore AmeriCorps group.
5. At the end of 2010, the school I was working at, St. Katharine’s, was closed down. I made the decision to transfer to Boulder, CO for a second year of AmeriCorps service with the “I Have a Dream” Foundation of Boulder County. Chris’ family is from Colorado, so it’s nice to be close to them!
In Colorado with Chris and my brother, Tim.
That brings us to today… hopefully with the help of Weight Watchers and this blog, I’ll get below my college weight! Onwards to a Healthy Heath!
Healthy Heath 