Shannon Stacey


Weight Watchers, salad and a wary dog

I started Weight Watchers first thing Monday morning. I’ve tried it before and lasted about a day and a half, but I’m pretty determined this time. I can only assume, based on what I’ve seen from previous RWA National conferences that, if I go this July, somebody will end up with me in the background of a photo or something. Blech.

Monday I was a little rushed at lunch time, so I popped one of those microwave meals in. They’re handy because they tell you right on the box how many points it’ll cost you, but that’s a lot of points for not a lot of food. The convenience factor sucked me in.

But yesterday, I made a salad for lunch. Not just a regular salad, but an awesome salad overflowing with yummy, zero-point foods. Mushrooms, tomatoes, cucumbers, raw green beans. Baby carrots. The salad was magnificent and all it cost me was a point for the dressing I used. I took my time eating it and was not only satisfied when it was gone, but I was pretty damn proud of myself.

Then I settled in to work. I was curled up on the couch with my Macbook and the dogs, so I probably wasn’t burning much in the way of calories. I’d guess none. But about an hour after I had the last bite of that awesome salad, I was starving.

Scratch that. I was freaking ravenous.

I was make-macaroni-&-cheese-and-eat-the-whole-box-out-of-the-pan hungry. An entire bag of Doritos hungry. I wanted a prime rib as big as a dinner plate. A double cheeseburger. I couldn’t even concentrate because I needed FOOD, dammit. I must have been casting speculative glances in Mini’s direction because she did a double-take when she saw my face and moved down to the other end of the couch.

Anyway. I was really, really good. Despite the bags of chips in the cabinet and the provolone cheese in the fridge and the chocolate chip cookies in the jar, I very carefully measured out a serving of Smartfood popcorn and ate that. One single piece at a time.

Now I just need to convince my body I won’t DIE of starvation with no meat, cheese, buttery-garlic croutons or sesame seeds smothering my salads.

12 comments to “Weight Watchers, salad and a wary dog”

  1. Margaret Ethridge
    Comment
    1
      · January 11th, 2012 at 11:07 am · Link

    I am a Weight Watcher too. I did the online version last year and lost the 15lbs I gained when I quit smoking. The holidays got the better of me, but I’m trying to get back on track. I really think the WW program is the most sensible. Once I got past the first week, I got over that hungry all the time feeling. Hang in there, you can do this!

    Oh! And when you’re needing a treat go for an Eggo Low-fat Mutri-grain waffle with a schmear of Nutella. :)



  2. Tari
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    2
      · January 11th, 2012 at 11:15 am · Link

    I will be at RWA National in July as well. I also started WW this week…again….. Additionally, I have 3 flights of stairs in my townhouse, and every 2 hours I make myself get up and walk up and down them for 5 minutes (I plan on working up to 30 minutes okay)…problem is, then I’m hungry, and have to eat…so I’m keeping veggies and 0 pt soup in the fridge…tell me this will get easier, please……



  3. Shannon
    Comment
    3
      · January 11th, 2012 at 11:23 am · Link

    I think if Friday, when I get on the scale, I don’t weigh as much as I did on Monday, it’ll help. If I could just get some momentum going, I’ll feel more positive.

    And since work mostly requires me to sit on my butt all day, I’m going to unbury the treadmill. We’ve been draping coats and snowmobile gear over it since probably a week after we bought it several years ago, but I’m going to use it.

    I’ve been wanting to watch the Gilmore Girls, which I never saw. I used a gift card to buy the first season’s episodes from Amazon and I’ve decided I can watch episodes via the Kindle Fire if I’m on the treadmill. Maybe I’ll actually WANT to use it, then!



  4. Lori
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    4
      · January 11th, 2012 at 11:38 am · Link

    I restarted WW on Monday, too! You have a whole bunch of support hanging out on twitter, for sure :)

    Make sure you’re drinking all the water. Not only will it help keep you feeling full, it helps with the weight loss.

    Oh, and I made Alison Kent’s amazingly yummy spinach tortellini soul (super simple, too) and it’s only 4 points a serving. You should try it!



  5. Lorelie
    Comment
    5
      · January 11th, 2012 at 12:05 pm · Link

    I lost 40lbs on WW. You can do it.

    *But* I will say–you need some protein on your salads. HEALTHY, low fat protein. Chicken breast or lean lunch ham. It’ll hold off that so-starving-gonna-eat-my-hand feeling. It’s worth a couple points or whatever it is now. (I did mine a plan or two ago.)



  6. Lee Laughlin
    Comment
    6
      · January 11th, 2012 at 1:01 pm · Link

    Throw a hard boiled egg in your salad.



  7. Bev Stephans
    Comment
    7
      · January 11th, 2012 at 1:08 pm · Link

    Just hang in there Shan. It’l get better!



  8. Shannon
    Comment
    8
      · January 11th, 2012 at 3:52 pm · Link

    It’s very nice to not feel alone!

    I can’t eat eggs, which makes things a little more difficult. All those egg white omelets and breakfast sandwiches? None for me. Hard boiled eggs (which I love SO madly) are out. But I’ll pick up some lean ham or something to add. Maybe some nuts. Just the veggies won’t get me through the day.

    And I learned a valuable lesson today: If you put a delicious smelling dinner in the crockpot at noon, one will suffer greatly for six hours.



  9. Tracy S
    Comment
    9
      · January 12th, 2012 at 12:28 am · Link

    I’m with you! I lost 22 lbs 3 years ago and gained 15 of it back :( Last week I started eating better again (I lost the weight on WW and I know what to eat) and had my sister, the runner, make up an exercise plan for me. It kicked my butt, but when I get on the scale on Friday, I know it will show improvement.



  10. Chrissy
    Comment
    10
      · January 12th, 2012 at 10:34 am · Link

    I laughed so hard when I read this. But, on a serious note, I KNOW you can do it! So, you’re going to be the fabulous one in the background of that picture. ;)



  11. azteclady
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    11
      · January 12th, 2012 at 2:57 pm · Link

    As someone who needs to drop a few pounds–and needs to find a way to start moving more regularly–I completely empathize.

    Here’s sending “no, you are not hungry–drink some water” vibes your way.



  12. Jewell
    Comment
    12
      · January 16th, 2012 at 4:24 pm · Link

    Salads are NOT my friends. Over time I’ve finally learned to just cave in and have a hard boiled egg, some meat and a little cheese in mine. True it ups all the numbers, but without those things the meal doesn’t last.

    On another note: A trip to the grocery store last night garnered a new find…Brown Bread in a can! I was soooooo excited I chattered on about it to my husband and the cashier. Hahahaha

    All they had was the kind with raisins in it so I figure they are gearing us up for the plain variety to be eaten with beans. Hubby said it sounded “kind of good.” I was like, “Dude, it’s still bread in a can. Don’t you find something fundamentally wrong about that?” I got a shrug in return. City girl mentality versus country boy.







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