This is the first Weight Watchers Wednesday of 2019 and it's already the end of March! I decided that I wasn't going to make this a monthly series anymore because truthfully, there isn't that much to update on. I have been yoyoing with my weight and I'm not proud of it.

I decided that I was going to just share a Weight Watchers Wednesday post when I had something to share, and here we are!

In the past, I've shared low point recipes and my favorite Trader Joe finds but I don't think I ever touched on my go-to's in a normal grocery store.

My mom does a full grocery shop for the house every week but then I usually go at least once on the weekend to pick up a few things or see what is new and low in points. It's easier if I go because I can scan the food I'm curious about...

These are items that have become staples for me and are constantly on the weekly food shopping list.

Steamfresh Veggie Pasta

Mini Synders Pretzels

Light Whole Grain Bread

Babybel Lite Cheese

Honorable mentions include veggie sticks, Thomas Lite Multigrain English Muffins, Sargento Low Fat Shredded Cheese, Skinnypop Popcorn, Oscar Mayer Ready to Eat Bacon, Sugar-Free Chocolate Pudding.

Let me know what your favorite WW products are at the grocery store!
xoxo
B

This was not an easy month for Weight Watchers. I didn't meal prep/go to Trader Joe's as much, I traveled two weeks in a row and kind of went to hell with myself.

A few weeks ago I gained 4 pounds -- the most I've ever gained back since starting Weight Watchers over a year ago. In retrospect that isn't THAT bad because I've managed to keep basically all the weight I've lost in the year off, but seeing that 4-pound weight gain on the scale made me crazy.

I lost 1 of the 4 pounds and I'm hoping to clock in even less this week.

When I see the weight gain on the scale, I get physically ill. It's one of the reasons before going on Weight Watchers I never got on the scale. I didn't want to be defined by a number but going into this lifestyle I knew I had to be, sort of. I want to get down to a goal weight, I want to be able to say I lost x amount of weight. It makes me so incredibly happy and proud of myself because I know I accomplished something I never thought possible.



As we head into the Fall season, my favorite season of life, I know there is going to be a ton of temptation. Pumpkin everything, Thanksgiving, my birthday and Christmas sweets; this is when I went off track last year and I never really gained my momentum back. I am going to make a promise to myself to be strict with myself during the week and then allow myself some pumpkin treats on the weekend.

Another issue I'm experiencing is that I started dating and I'm going out to dinner every weekend. I want to enjoy my dinners and experience the delicious food without going overboard. I'm lucky that I've trained my body to not allow overindulgence of greasy, hearty foods and I usually end up taking most of my dinner home.

What I also figured out this month is that doing my pilates machine every day is the key. When I do pilates and eat pretty decently during the week that is when I lose my most weight. It's incredible that working out daily really makes a huge difference, even if I cheat a bit.

August was very rough but I'm hoping that my September is better!

xoxo
B

Well, I made it to a milestone I never thought I would.

I completeled 1 year on Weight Watchers and I'm down 25 pounds.

*I was down 28 but gained 3 pounds back within the past 2 weeks. It's very discouraging but I'm doing my best.

When I started Weight Watchers last year I don't really know what I was expecting. I just knew that I had looked at myself in a bathing suit and had a breakdown. I was ready to lose the weight, to commit to something and better myself.

Me in May 2017

I wasn't sure if I could stick to it but I was determined to at least try; once I started losing weight, I was shocked at how proud of myself I was. I was shocked at how happy I was from seeing the number on the scale decreased.

October 2017

December 2017

I was very strict with myself for the first 3-4 months and then my birthday and Christmas rolled around and that strictness went out the window. Then the Freestyle program threw a wrench in my system and I was discourgaged.

For a solid 3 months I didn't lose any weight, or gain any but I was very hard on myself and kind of stopped trying. I was still counting points but I was cheating and eating things without counting them; skimming on the measurements and eating candy and chocolate that went uncounted in my app.

I saw that I was able to maintain my weight by cheating so I figured it was ok. Then, all of a sudden I dropped a few pounds and was ready to get motivated again.

I started following all different Weight Watchers accounts on Instagram, meal prepping, and really taking hold of the program again. This was only a few weeks ago and I dropped four pounds. I got cocky again and gained 3 back so we're at square one.

This week was a fresh start and I've been meal prepping and haven't cheated. I'm determined to get to the 30 pound mark, and then the 40 pound mark and the 50. I want to keep going until I'm happy with myself.

I can say that I am much happier with myself today than I was a year ago. I've never committed to a diet/lifestyle change in my life and the fact that I completed my first year with a 25 pound lost and haven't gained any of it back is incredible.

Every day is a struggle because I crave everything from crossisants to chocolate. I can definitely eat those things but then I'm left with no points and I'll be starving. I'm trying to make good choices without restricting myself so much to the point that I want to binge.

I still give myself a cheat day (usually Fridays after I weigh in) and treat myself to a crossistant (that's honestly all I care about ... crossistants LOL) but it's all about balance.

If I could just get back on track, meal prep and work out the way I was when I first started this I think I could make great progress in the next few months.

Here's to one year on Weight Watchers and a strong journey ahead!

*If you want to learn more about weight watchers, I have an article coming out soon about it. I also wrote this article a few months ago for Popsugar. You can also see all my Weight Watchers posts from the blog here. 

xoxo
B

For the past month or so I've been going to Trader Joe's at least once a week to pick up some Weight Watchers approved foods. After feeling very discouraged because I wasn't losing weight I did some research and discovered the world of Weight Watchers Instagrams. I don't know why I didn't think of that before because well, there's Instagram accounts for everything and everyone under the sun. 

Another month on Weight Watchers has come to a close ... and next month it's my 1 year anniversary. That is super crazy to think about because it feels like I just started this journey a little while ago.

My progress this month was better than previous; I lost a few pounds and gained one back. I don't stress out anymore when I gain a pound because I know I have a plan in place to lose it. As long as I'm maintaining the majority of the weight I did lose, I'm good.

However, I did figure out what works for me: meal prepping.

Before my new found discovery I was eating the same things for breakfast and lunch every day, and wasn't satisfied so I was snacking (and non-weight watchers snacks too). I changed it up and started to meal prep instead of grabbing oatmeal & a Lean Cusine frozen lunch.

I usually make breakfast muffins on a Sunday for the entire week, and then make some cauliflower rice and spring rolls for lunch. I'm really full and don't feel the need to snack so much.



Just last night I made myself Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi with a touch of Lite Alfredo Sauce for lunch today and it's low points, super filling, and satisfying.

Meal prepping has really worked for me and I advise everyone trying to lose weight to at least try it. Knowing what you are going to eat and actually eating what you want (in moderation, in line with your diet) is key.

If I can keep up the meal prepping and some pilates during the week I'm hopeful I can get down to more of a goal weight.

I really want to lose another 30 pounds, making the total close to 60 but I have a feeling it's going to take me a lot longer than I think. It's taken me almost a year to lose 26-30 pounds and while that is frustrating I know it's because I haven't been as regimented as I was in the beginning.

I need to get back into the proper mindset, keep meal prepping and keep exercising during the week as well as the gym on the weekends.

Next month is the big 1-year update so stay tuned for that!

xoxo
B