This Time

Last weekend, I saw a friend I hadn't seen in years. I was sitting at the bar at a restaurant, and she walked in the front door. I saw her come in, and we made eye contact. I didn't recognize her at first, so I looked away. Then it dawned on me who she was and I did a double take. I didn't recognize her because she had lost 80 pounds since the last time I saw her! She looked like a completely different person. I was blown away. Apparently, she lost all the weight by doing Weight Watchers, something we've both tried many times before. We've actually done Weight Watchers together before. Like me, she's always struggled with her weight and tried many times to shed the pounds, but gained them back after any success. This time, she has kept the weight off for two years! Seeing her really hit home with me. It's hard to be motivated from a testimonial on the internet or a commercial. Those aren't real people. They come and go from my mind as quickly as I'm finished reading whatever article I'm reading or watching whatever commercial I'm watching. But seeing someone who I know, someone I've shopped with in the plus size stores, someone I've dieted with, cheated on diets with...she really lost the weight and is keeping it off! It's amazing. She is the reason why I've decided to give this another go. The night we saw each other she said to me, "I don't know what was different this time...something just clicked." I'm hoping that this time will be different for me too. I've let the frustrations of failed attempts keep me from even trying. Sadly, I had pretty much given up on it. Seeing her was exactly what I needed. So, Rachel, thank you for being at the right place at the right time and being my motivation! I can't wait to be able to shop with you again...in the "regular" stores.

I've decided that I'm going to do Weight Watchers, too. I signed up for the online program yesterday. Through my years of dieting and exercising, I know a lot of theories about weight loss. I know HOW to do it. It's putting those theories into practice...that's the hard part. With a program like Weight Watchers, I will be forced to be more structured in my eating and really have to watch what is going into my mouth. I also like that the more I exercise, the more I get to eat, so exercise is my new best friend! Another nice little perk is that on the online Point Tracker, they have a section where I keep up with my servings of fruit/vegetables, water, whole grains, etc. When I reach my recommended daily amount, a little smiley face pops up next to that section. I strive all day to see that smiley face! I chug water like nobody's business just for that smiley face. It's the small stuff, I guess.


I found an awesome, and very simple smoothie recipe. I've had this smoothie for breakfast the last couple days.

1 medium banana
8 or 9 frozen strawberries
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup orange juice
whey protein powder

Just blend the ingredients together for about a minute, and that's all there is to it. It's delicious, and it hides the taste of the protein powder (which I am not very fond of.) If I'm exceptionally hungry (like I was this morning), I'll also eat a whole grain english muffin with Smucker's Simply Fruit Strawberry Jam.

I have a lot more recipes to try...if they're any good I'll post them here. (My new digital camera is in the mail. Once I get it, I'll post pictures of the new recipes.) Also, if you guys have any good, healthy recipes for me to try, please give them to me (Shaini)! If you have nutrition facts, that would be cool too (so I can calculate points.)

That's all for tonight!