1 lb down and over the pond I go

this week has been a crazy one for me. lots of friends lots of food, oh and did I mention despite all the booze and the sushi I still lost a pound? it feels great! but I have to get back on the exercise bandwagon. I leave for UK/ Ireland tomorrow with Hubby and I am beyond excited. to kick it off we went out with friends on saturday night to Mcsorley's (NYC) supposedly the oldest bar in the city. Great beer, exactly what I imagine old irish pubs to be. although I am on vacation I still plan to go to a weight watchers meeting in Ireland, which should be very interesting to say the least. I want this more than anything and if that means being careful on vacation, its totally worth it. Dont worry though, I'll still drink lots (As irish do) and eat lots (As foodies do). also while we are on the topic of NYC (aka my hometown) you should also check out Bravo Pizza, they have the best pizza (and weirdest pizza) in the city in my opinion. This is a short post because this past week has been rushing trying to get everything needed. deciding what to pack (rainboots?- duh its Europe) and trying breathe it all in. the next time we speak, ill be back hopefully happier, cooler, and thiner than before! 

you CAN have your cake and eat it too!

when on a diet, or a "life-style change" as im supposed to refer to WW as, one knows the main cardinal rule: DON'T EAT DESSERT.

              this weekend I was around lots of family and friends and of course food. But  I did something I would never have done before and that is track before I got to the meal. thats right, I planned out exactly what I was going to eat and that was that. However, when I got to the meal I became full much quicker than expected and didnt eat everything I had written down. I had extra points! and in my mind that meant dessert. So I ate my delicious chocolate Babka (if you dont know what that is, GET SOME NOW! so like chocolate heaven). and I felt totally guilty for eating it on my diet. to make matters worse, after my bagel for dinner (with Brie yum!) hubby and I met my family for dessert in a restaruant. I told myself you cant get anything, like that could ever work HA! I got sushi while everyone else got gooey, chewy, chocolately, melt in your mouth never want to leave this moment kind of desserts, but I didnt have a single bite. and i was really proud of myself! (however that could explain why I had a dream about a chocolate chip cookie).

            this morning I had a weight watchers meeting and the leader and I were discussing our love of carbs, carbs, sweets, carbs, sugar... you get the picture. and she said well I dont go a day without eating some kind of dessert. WHAT?! WE CANT EAT DESSERT? she said of course! you just have to count and and make sure you pace your meals, weight watchers is not about depreiving yourself its learning how to control yourself. weight watchers, I want to spread some love to you all today! thank you for making this life style change manageable!

WW

nothing like the wednesday after new years to get those resolutions pumping! today I signed up for weight watchers. I'm scared and excited at the same time. I've sign up before and have lost weight but once I start gaining or I go on a trip I say screw it! this time I think im finally ready to really say bye bye to thoses extra pounds! i want to meet the new me and although i crave sweets and pizza like nobodys business weight watcher will let me eat the foods I love and that makes me excited!

in celebration of my new step foward and one step closer to my goal (30lbs by June) I'm going to post of healthy snack ideas for you guys!

Frozen grapes

Frozen bananas (dipped in daark chocolate yum!)

Low fat yogurt

Apples with peanut butter( my life saver)

Air popped popcorn

Almonds (put some cinnamon and toast in oven yum!)

Fruit (fresh and dried)

Smoothies

Trail mix (you can make your own DIY)

 Parfait (build your own with Greek yogurt or plain yogurt, fruit, and granola)

Granola bars (that are high in fiber and protein)

Seeds (sunflower or pumpkin)

Roasted eggplant (great chips replacer if you are craving something salty)

Roasted kale chips

edamame 

*sigh* I wish Brie was on that list.. to east brie and a coffee in Paris... enough daydreaming. I also bought a skinny girl cookbook, I'll post some good recipes and quick healthy meal ideas and for those of you on Weight Watchers, their point vaules!

Day 2

I hope everyone had a great New Years. well last night did not go as i hoped it would, but im not too down about it since it was New Years Eve. and the Brie was totally worth it. Im starting to try to exercise 20 minutes daily. yesterday I worked out my legs and today was the core. Im much weaker than I thought I was but I know the more I do it the stronger my body will get. I started with 20 minutes because honestly I HATE EXERCISE. even the word makes me cringe. Im trying to break the taboo and I figured 20 minutes a day wont make me want to kill myself. 20 minutes is short but honestly its enough to get me sweating and my muscles aching and for now that good enough for me. when I start to get stronger I will u the time. as for counting calories for 3 days in a row, I did it today  and my total intake was 1200 calories which is decent. I had a greek yogurt for breakfast, some peanut butter and an apple for snack, tuna melt  for lunch a couple of mint Hershey kisses ( total pick me ups) and soup for dinner with a late snack of air popped popcorn. the only thing I forgot to do is weigh myself to start which is a complete Lucy thing to do and is totally me I guess I will have my starting weight calculated tomorrow. I hardest part for me is remembering to drink water. its not that I don't like it, I just never drink until i feel dehydrated. well tomorrow is another day and I think I'm going to try to especially focus on my water intake. I really want to bring in 2013 with a bang. Hubby and I are also going to Ireland in two weeks and it would be great to loose some bloat and establish some NEW health routines to continue while i'm there. you know while packing in all those guinness.