Down 6 Pounds In One Week!

I was thrilled to step up to the scale at the TOPS meeting last night to get the wonderful weigh in results showing a big 6 pound loss in one week. Actually a week plus one day, as I couldn't go to my regular meeting due to my work schedule and visited another meeting on Tuesday evening.

What made the difference in this unusually large weekly loss? Well it all comes down to the math of better food choices and more movement.

As I looked over my calorie consumption and exercise journal for the week, I see that I kept my calories at a very balanced 1200 every day. I allow myself up to 1500 balanced food group calories, but just wasn't hungry for more than the 1200 during this past week.

On top of the disciplined intake of food, my energy expenditures were higher than normal. I kept up with my hour a day moving in the swimming pool at LA Fitness plus did a bit more walking than usual as I try to increase my levels of mobility, flexibility, balance, and endurance.

So it all comes down to simple math, 3500 calories less than what you burn over the week equals 1 pound of fat loss. This means to lose 6 pounds I burned 21,000 extra calories, that my body had to turn to my fat cells instead of the food I was taking in to find the energy.

I've never been fond of math, but this kind is fantastic!

I'm not allowing myself any mindless munching. Every morsel that goes in my mouth is mindful and recorded. Every exercise I do is recorded. Then I do the math. Gains and losses should no longer be sneaking up on me with surprise attacks.

There is one variable that I am also watching vigilantly. My salt intake. I'm no longer having pre-prepared foods that are loaded with hidden sodium that can make me retain water like crazy, puff up like a helium balloon, and not reflect a weight loss, or worse yet, raise my blood pressure dangerously high.

My clothes are getting baggy, my blood pressure is down to normal, and I've lost 43 whopping pounds since starting on the journey May 31, 2011. I'm not quite jumping for joy, since I've still got too much excess weight to get off the ground easily, but I am celebrating the great start on my jiggles to joy journey.

She's Really An Angel

Lin Scanland

Her husband teased that she's too clumsy to have wings in heaven so he bought her a pretty pink pair to wear. She looked divine in them for Halloween, but Lin Scanland really is an angel.

Because of her outstanding service to TOPS WA 1147 Graham, the group voted her the Chapter Angel of the year. She was awarded the honor at the recent TOPS Fall Rally in Puyallup. 

According to her fellow TOPS members, Lin goes above and beyond what is required of her. Here are some of the items she is credited with helping her earn her Angel wings.

• She drives 42 miles from her home in Ashford to Graham each Monday and 42 back home, to lead and inspire TOPS.
  
• She is always there and always very early.
• She keeps many files for TOPS and KOPS on her home computer.
• She sends out a weekly email agenda to Co-Leader and officers.
• She is on the phone committee for TOPS and takes her duty seriously.
• She plans the KOPS Anniversary ceremony for TOPS WA 1147, Graham.
• She makes up the yearly Award Certificates as well as Chapter Helper certificates.
• She fills in for the treasurer and secretary when needed.
• She places publicity in newspapers and on Craig's List. 
• She's a genuine friend to all, ready to give a helping hand or lend an ear to one's problems.

Lin has also been a 7 year member of the Pierce County KOPS Lighter Way Honor Society. 

Halloween Aftermath -3.4 lbs!

We made it through Halloween without eating one single candy bar! I even lost 3.4 pounds more toward my ultimate goal this last week!

Our neighborhood was mobbed by little trick-or-treaters. We got away from the guilt of not passing out goodies, and the consequences of slipping up and eating what we bought to pass out, which is what we usually do.

Instead we decided not to even have the tempting treats in the house and headed to LA Fitness, Jim to the treadmill and me to the pool.  

TOPS in costume at our weekly meeting on Halloween. I'm in the middle as 'FAT CAT 2011 wanna be TOP CAT 2012' working toward the biggest weight loss in our chapter to be a Thinner Winner and achieve my goal by the end of 2012. Pictured left to right: Rosana Hefley, Lin Scanland, Pam Reising, Rhonda Madison, Leona Drtina, Beverly Satter, Janet Peterson, Rhonda Divina kneeling, Donna Watters, Lorraine Crandall, Julie Day, 

If you painted your pumpkins or set them out uncarved, now's the time to harvest all the great nutritional value in them. Quarter the pumpkin, set aside seeds and pulp in a colander,  and lay the chunks of pumpkin on a cookie sheet, bake at 350 until soft, remove skin, puree flesh in blender and store in freezer containers until you make your pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving. Here is a crust-less, low calorie recipe for your pie. http://www.food.com/recipe/crustless-pumpkin-pie-low-calorie-46700

Don't toss those pumpkin seeds. Roast them for a delicious, nutritional snack. Just be careful how many you eat. Here's how to make them  http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/roasted-pumpkin-seeds/detail.aspx