First Week

The first week of my new and improved lifestyle made me feel like I had been in a shipwreck!! I have planned dinner menus for my family, for years, because it simply makes my days run smoother, my hubby and girls like knowing what is for dinner too, but I have never planned out breakfast, lunch and snacks. It is recommended that when you are on a weight loss journey of any kind that you plan every meal. As I scoured the internet looking for recipes and ideas is where I felt the some of the chaos come into play.  I came across PLENTY, which is helpful, but honestly sometimes overload, I even found a few sites that had menus already planned for you to use. I soon discovered that I had a screen full of tabs open and had no idea when I would have the time to even look at them! It was time to take a deep breath and realize I am not a complete idiot, I have been given wonderful tools to use from Weight Watchers and that this was my first week and it would all work itself out.

I made a rough menu, filled a plastic bin in the fridge and cupboard with my snacks, all neatly pre-made for easy grab and go.  I found it easier to open the big packages and prepare one serving with the points written on the baggie.  For lunches I used the frozen Smart Ones and a salad, this made things a little easier and I didn't feel so overwhelmed.  I will get this and figured out and find what works best for us. I just feel the more complicated things are the less likely I am to succeed and I am done not succeeding!! 

Birthday Anxiety

My birthday is approaching, 2 days to be exact, but who is counting?  I love celebrating birthdays, not just mine, but every ones!  So why the anxiety?  Well, my close girlfriends and I always go out to dinner to celebrate, but for the first time since we started this tradition I am hesitant to go. First, I don't know what restaurant to go to because nothing sounds good, and second, I do not know where we could eat that would not make me feel that I am cheating!  But here is the kicker, I am not cheating!! I may use more points for dinner than I usually do but as long as I track what I eat and don't go over my points I have done nothing wrong! I will find a place to eat and we will have a wonderful time, as usual, and all will be well. I don't know why I am wasting good energy on stressing!! 

Why The Shrinking Tata

I have battled with my pretty much my entire life.  I was always the big girl in my group of friends, they never made me feel that way, but there were many in school who did.  I can remember trying to diet many times in high school and even more than that since.  I would lose and gain it back, lose again, gain it back again and of course each time gain a little more,  I met and married may husband, Erik, and gained some more weight.  My husband and I adopted 3 girls and since then I have gained even more.  I have finally had enough.  I need to be healthy for me, my husband and my girls!

In early November I had a serious talk with Erik, it was time for me to get this weight off and I needed his help.  He expressed his concern about the approaching holidays so we both agreed to take a slow approach until January and then it would be on!  January came and even though I had been careful the last two months I felt I needed something more.  I was talking to my sister and she said you need to join Weight Watchers.  At first it seemed to hard to follow but after doing some research it seemed pretty easy and I could fix healthy meals for my entire family.

January 19, 2015 I joined Weight Watchers and this is my journey!

Oh, and about the Tata part...Our family is of German descent and Tante is Aunt in German.  When my first niece was born she called me Tata instead of Tante and it stuck!

Jumping In With Both Feet!

I am not an extremely public person. I tend to be very shy until I get to know people but I love social media.  I don't love it for the bragging, look at me junk.  I love that it has brought me back in touch with long lost friends and keeping up with family that lives thousands of miles away.  So with that being said going public, so to speak, about this weight loss journey, to a healthier me, is very scary to me!  I told those closest to me and then went about my way.  One evening I received a message from my cousin.  She follows me on Pinterest and noticed I had pinned many things pertaining to Weight Watchers.  During our conversation that night, she mentioned that she understood my reasoning for being so private, but by me being more public about this journey I would be more accountable and I would find that I had an incredible cheering section behind me.  So, I SLOWLY started posting on Facebook and one picture I posted opened up the flood gates!  I can't put into words what it feels like to have so many people cheering you on.  I knew I had friends, and I knew I had friends who would be literally pushing me up the hill if I needed them too, but to have this kind of support is beyond anything I could have ever imagined!  I had been thinking of keeping this blog of my journey for myself but have decided to open it up for all to see.  Maybe someone else will find it useful, if not it will still serve its purpose for me!!