Planning for Success (and a Fun Announcement!)

It is Weight Loss Wednesday again! (If you haven’t joined our little cyber group of girlfriends, don’t fret! Newcomers are always welcome. You can get caught up by clicking on Weight Loss Wednesdays in the side bar. Just leave a comment on the last post listed there. You can read the others, if you’d like, but it isn’t imperative. Just hop over each Wednesday to join us and check in with how you are doing. You don’t have to tell us what you weigh. You can tell us how much or little the scale moved, if you want. The point is accountability and encouragement for each other. We’d love to have you!)

I want to chat a bit today about planning for success in our weight loss endeavor. Then, I have a way fun announcement that involves you! And as always, let’s all ‘weigh in’ so to speak, sharing how our weeks went.

My week was okay. I kept up my exercise. I was careful how I ate. However, a couple of days I got kind of lazy and frankly, a bit tired of logging in just what foods I consumed each day and how much. Besides, I had taken an entire two weeks off from logging my food intake over the holidays and had lost over 5 pounds in the process!

So, I defiantly decided on a few evenings last week to stop writing down my calories and just ‘be sensible’.

Bad idea!

Over the holidays I was so strict with myself on the days I wanted a treat or goodie that it didn’t really harm me. I still lost. This past week however, I munched on baked sour cream-cheddar chips (my favs!) without really portioning them out; you know, just sort of guessing what a serving on my plate looked like.

And I did the same with a few other foods on a couple different days. As a result, I know I went over my allotted calories, even if only by a little, on at least 4 days last week. And the scale reflected that.

I didn’t gain, but I only lost one pound. At first, I wanted to kick my stupid scale.

Then I wanted to kick my stupid self!

But I quickly did a little mental gymnastics and some adding in my head and realized that, even though I only lost a pound this week, I hit the ’30 pounds lost’ mark. Yeah!

So, this morning I resolved to not let the runaway calories happen again (even if the foods munched on are healthy. They still have calories!)

That brings us to today’s topic.

How can you plan for success and NOT let the munchies (especially the late night kind) get the best of you? Please share! I’ll give a few first.

Pre-portioning items from a large bag into serving-sized baggies. Had I counted out those yummy, sour cream-cheddar baked chips and placed the servings in individual zip bags, I might not have just kept munching. I would have just taken one small bag out of the cupboard. I’ve read many studies that prove that to be true.

Having raw veggies cleaned, cut and handy in the fridge along with some light dip (homemade or store bought). When I want something crunchy, I don’t like to wait to wash and clean veggies and sometimes, the chip cupboard seems like a quicker choice. However, I have a hard time controlling myself with those pesky chips!

Keep herb tea bags and packets of Stevia (natural, calorie-free sweetener) in my purse at all times. This sure helped me over the holidays. I can sip on something hot and sweet whenever the sweet or salty snacks at a function are calling my name.

Okay, how about you? How was your week? Any ideas for planning for success? Or give me your thoughts on this fun announcement:

Each week when I read your comments, I so wish we could all get together just once. However, since we live all over the country, that is pretty much impossible. But the other night when my Proverbs 31 sisters and I were on a conference teaching call, it hit me.

Let’s do a WLW conference call some evening!

Yes, you and I and all our WLW cyber-sisters chatting it up and encouraging each other from the warmth of our own little homes!

I’d run it much like we do for our P31 calls. I’ll start us off with a devotion/teaching. And then we’ll open the floor for Q & A and discussion.

I know the first time I led a call for a ministry that wanted me to teach on organization, I never thought it would work. How can 60 people all talk at the same time? However, these calls work out fine. Some jump in and add their two-cents worth; others just listen. You know who is talking because we’ll refer to ourselves by our screen name. “Hey–This is mom of 6. I was wondering……”

Oh, doesn’t this sound like fun?

Are you in? I am thinking we may have it at 9 pm EST on a Thursday evening. Your only cost would be for the call and many cell phones are on free nights and weekends by then so it might be totally cost-free!

Well…that’s all for now. Let me know your thoughts and how your week went and any planning for success ideas you have!

Have a great week. I appreciate you ALL!!!

Planning for Success Blessings,

39 Comments

  1. Struggling again with weight. Joined with friends for support. they are not christians but maybe this will be an opprotunity for witness. I just want to be healthy again. Goal today is to get my walk and water in. Also a salad for lunch for the veggies. Lord give me the strength to succeed today only.

  2. I am soooo excited to say I have lost a total of 8 pounds and feel great! I decided to do a plateau buster from Leanne Ely. I paid 4.00 for it and while it was really strict it gave me a lot of structure to begin. I feel really motivated and pray that God will continue to help me make decisions that are good for my body and bring glory to him! I am really close to my goal of 10 pounds for Jan! I have realized I don’t need nearly the amount of food I thought I did! I am putting veggies in everything and I thought at least one of my children would not just die, but it is funny how well they adapt:)! I am filling up with the good stuff but did leave some of the kids favs on the shelf at the store because I didn’t think I could resist!

    The call sounds great, hope I can participate!

    Shawna

  3. Sorry to comment here a few days late…I have been sick this week and am finally feeling better today.

    Being sick did help me with eating less…and I really made a point in eating healthy when I was hungry. Just that alone was an encouragement to me.

    The conference call sounds like a great idea! I’m with you!

  4. Ha!! Kimberlee, I’m with you on the fast eating thing. I’m just terrible and usually have overeaten before I had time to feel full, or even know what happend!! I’ve tried Susan’s technics before, but have trouble remembering. My boyfriend will help me remember some times, but I think all in all he eats faster because of me, not vise versa! It does help though to lay your fork down. But it feels kind of foolish in the beginning.

  5. Well, I’m down 2lbs.
    I’ve worked out 4 days this week.
    I can feel muscles that I haven’t felt in some time.
    I’m sore.
    I’m tired.
    I’m having a blast at the gym!
    Just wish I could lose as fast as I gained.LOL

  6. Crystal,
    Thanks for the tip on brushing your teeth early in the evening to avoid snacking. I struggle with wanting to snack while watching TV after the kids are in bed. I’ll definately brush when they do tonight and see if that helps.

    Janet, love the tip on chewing suger-free gum while baking. I can see how that would work to discourage dipping into the bowl.

  7. Oops I’m a day late but I had a sick kid yesterday but I wanted to check in. I lost .4 lbs last week. Gotta kick it up a notch :)

  8. Sue-
    Good question!

    Basically, all who are interested in the conference call would send me an email so I could make an email group. I would email you all the phone number to call along with the date and time. You dial the number at scheduled time of the call and then enter in an access code (a series of numbers I will give you in the email)

    A chime will sound once you are on the call and you “announce yourself” like “Hi! Its Sue” After 2-3 mintues, I start the call with a teaching or Bible truth. You all listen.

    When I am done, we’ll take questions and comments. To talk, you just say. “This is Sue. I was wondering….blah, blah, blah….” It is easy and fun!

    I hope to announce the day and time of the call next week.

  9. Thank you Susan for the tip on putting down the eating utensils, I too am a “fast eater” and making that conscious effort should help. I am down 1.2 pounds and know it could be better if I was diligent at writing it down. I also try to brush my teeth when I am tempted to eat, same idea as the gum, things don’t taste the same on freshly brushed teeth! (plus the added benefit of healthier gums!) I was able to exercise 6 days on the bike and some pilates with the ball but really need to be on my knees about the temptations of the enemy. Thanks for this site and I am not sure how the conference call thing works. if you could clear that up it would be great.
    Blessings,
    Sue

  10. When baking, I chew peppermint gum. That keeps me from tasting as I bake. Oatmeal cookie dough just does not go well with peppermint or spearmint gum!!! It takes a while for that strong flavor of the gum to disappear and by the time it does, usually the craving for what I think I need, is gone.

  11. Kimberlee-As a fellow member of the ‘fast-eaters club’, I hav e a few ideas for you. 1-and honestly, as silly as this one sounds, it’s been very effective for me. Put down your fork after every bite and don’t pick it up again until you swallow. Trust me, it will slow you down-sometimes I think I’m putting the next bite in before I’ve swallowed the previous bite. 2-after every bite, put down your fork AND take a drink. It does take a while to remember to do this, but it really does help. I think the key for me has been to find something to do between each bite, but it always involves putting down the fork. Now, I must remember to practice what I preach (the old do as I say, not as I do!).

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