Happy New Year's Eve! My Ugly Weight Watcher Weigh-In

Happy almost 2018! 

Went to Weight Watchers this morning for my weekly weigh-in and as suspected it was a shit show. I mentioned the other day that I love the new Weight Watcher's Freestyle program and I'd lost 5 pounds the first week. The new program is great... when you actually do it.  I ate like an asshole indulgently the last two weeks and drank dirty martinis like I had stock in olives and vodka, and well, I gained four back.

For accountability, I will be sharing my weight with the world after each weigh-in. Or at least the 5 of you who read this blog). This is terrifying but I think that sharing the good, bad, and ugly of the journey is important. So my starting weight as of right now is 180.2 - I haven't weighed this in at least seven years. Kind of a bummer but no surprise. You can't eat and drink like I have and fizzle out on the working out part and expect the scale not to "reward" you with a nice hefty gain. Worse than the scale though is how tight my clothes feel and how I don't love what I see looking back at me in the mirror lately. I came to identify myself as a runner and lately I just feel like a slug. An imposter. My goal weight is 150. I hung around the 160's like 165'ish for a long time and now I find myself here. Oh well. I can get hung up on this number or I can do something about it. So here we go.

So that's the bad news. But here's the good. I really do like the new program and I'm ready to get going. For the first time, in a long time, I feel energized to get back on track and back to me. I feel my best when I'm working out, eating right and taking care of myself. I want that feeling back. I can't change the past but can change what I do right now. That's what I'm focusing on. 

After the meeting today I went to the gym and ran/walked for four miles. It felt really awesome to be moving and was literally a step in the right direction. Then I came home and made some foods to help support my eating right this week. I made a slow cooker Freestyle Split Pea Soup (0 points on Weight Watchers!) Here's the recipe. And then I made this delicious chicken cutlet thing w/diced tomatoes and white beans - Recipe here. 

Split Pea Soup ingredients

So onward and upward!

Thanks for joining me on this journey and I wish you all the best in 2018.

XO
Jen

Weight Watchers Freestyle Chicken Cutlet and White Bean Recipe

Weight Watcher's Freestyle Chicken Cutlet and White Bean Recipe

This was super tasty and very fast to make. I had it over a 1/2 cup of rice. I bet it would be amazing over pasta or quinoa. It would probably also be great over zoodles or cauliflower rice - keeping it 100% freestyle.

The recipe itself is hearty and 0 Freestyle points.

Ingredients:

A few chicken cutlets (I think I might've had a little less than a pound of them? About six)

1 thinly sliced medium onion

1 thinly sliced green bell pepper

2 chopped garlic cloves

1 15.5 oz can of diced tomatoes (mine has basil flavoring)

1  15.5 oz can of white beans

1 tbs of capers

1/3 cup of mild banana pepper rings (the kind that come sliced in a jar) 

seasonings: salt, pepper, garlic powder, pepper flakes (whatever you want). 

Spray a large non-stick pan with a little olive oil cooking spray. Sautee onions, peppers and garlic until slightly softened. (I also sprinkled those with a little salt and pepper) 

Push the veggies to the side.

Season the chicken with the spices and cook on each side for about a minute each. 

Put the veggies over the chicken and add the beans, tomatoes banana peppers and capers.

Cover and cook for about ten minutes.  I put it over a half a cup of white rice (3 pts.)

I think this would be great with some mushrooms tossed in and maybe even some string beans. 

Enjoy! Let me know what you think. 

XO

Jen 

Weight Watcher Freestyle Split Pea Soup Recipe

Weight Watcher Freestyle Split Pea Soup 

I made this recipe last week and it was delicious. Hearty and satisfying this Freestyle soup comes to 0 points per serving. I made this in a crockpot but you could probably simmer it on the stove for a few hours as well. 

Ingredients:

1 bag (1 pound) of split peas rinsed. 

1 medium onion diced

2-3 medium carrots peeled and chopped

2-3 medium celery stalks chopped

2-3 cloves of garlic minced

1 bay leaf

1/4 cup chopped parsley

4 cups of chicken or veg stock

3 cups of water

(optional) 2 tsp of liquid smoke 

Put the split peas in the bottom of the crockpot - put the rest of the veggies on top, season with salt and pepper. Pour the liquids in and add the liquid smoke. 

Set crockpot on low for 8-10 hours or high for about five hours.  

Optional: Add one cup of diced ham for the last half an hour (this adds a point per cup). 

Makes about 7-8 one cup servings. 

If it's too thick add a little extra water. 

Enjoy! 

My Take on the New Freestyle Weight Watchers Program

So I've been floundering around with Weight Watchers since the beginning of time. (Ok for the last year or so). I've been going to my meetings (which I really, really enjoy) but the actual following through and following the program has been dicey.

I don't know what happens. I go to the meeting, get excited for the week ahead, track a meal or two and then it all falls to shit. Rinse and repeat. Sigh.

Love when I manage to get those blue dots!

Anyway, I'm really excited about this new program and feeling rejuvenated. The first week of trying it I absolutely loved it and recorded a great loss for me. Basically, you get a few less points but there are a lot of point-free foods to keep you satisfied.

Great loss for me! First week on Freestyle

The "free" foods include:

• Eggs
• Skinless chicken breast
• Beans 
• Tofu
• Edamame
• Most fish 
• Corn
• Peas
• Fruits & Veggies 
• Fat free plain Greek yogurt

The first week that I did it I was super prepared - I made hard boiled eggs for quick and free snacks, I made a big batch of chicken chili and I roasted chick peas for crunchier snacks. I was never hungry because truthfully, there's no reason to not eat something if you're hungry. There can be many choices... if you're prepared. 

The second week was weaker for me because I didn't meal prep, I wasn't as prepared and it made a big differnce. This is the big key for me. I must, must plan and prep.

Steamed Shrimp and Broccoli - FREE
1/3 cup brown rice - 2pts
2 steamed dumplings 4pts
2 tablespoons of brown sauce on side 1pt
Chinese takeout done right! YUM

Truthfully with the holidays hitting I've been half-assing it and eating stuff that I rarely do (and only at this time of year.) However, I'm super excited to really grab this program and run with it. I did massive shopping today and I'm ready to commit 100% to getting back to goal. 

I'll share some recipes in upcoming posts. 

I really think that Weight Watchers has nailed it with their current program. 

Hope you are all doing well! 

XO

Jen 

I'm Back! My Personal From Fat to Finish Line Goals for 2018

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Is this thing on?

Are any of you still out there?

It's been a looooong time since my last post. More than a year as a matter of fact.

Even though it's been forever and a day I'm back.

From Fat to Finish Line on Netflix! 

I need to be back. You see, in spite of the success From Fat to Finish Line has enjoyed as a documentary film and From Fat to Finish Line as an online movement and tribe - I've been personally struggling hard. I've dealt with weight gain, lack of motivation and some depression. Looking back at what worked for me in reaching my goals all those years ago, I have come to realize that this blog was pivotal in my journey.

Writing this blog provided me:
1. Accountability and
2. A journal of sorts.
I need both so here I am.

First things first, A few highlights/ not so highlights from the last year or so:

Some of us FFTFL'ers in Dublin at 5K

1. From Fat to Finish Line the documentary is doing well and you can watch it on Netflix, iTunes, Amazon and other streaming services.
2. Thanks in part to the film, From Fat to Finish Line has grown into a big, supportive FB community and company. We have resources for new and overweight runners.  You can join the FB community HERE, Learn how to run your first mile HERE, and check out our website HERE.
3. I ran two Ragnars last year (Del Sol and Poconos) which really made me fall in love with Ragnar. 
4. I celebrated my 45th birthday in Dublin, Ireland with the FFTFL tribe.
5. From Fat to Finish Line had an amazing meet-up in Las Vegas again.
6. I am up 25 pounds from my goal weight.
7. I have dealt with depression.
8. I have been struggling to run and get my workouts in.
9. I moved to a new apartment.

Van 1 Ragnar Del Sol: Team Running Down a Dream 

So here's my goals for 2018 in no particular order: 

HEALTH: I need to get back to basics and cut the shit. I've not been doing the right thing. I intend to make my health a priority by:  Losing the 25 pounds I gained and get back to goal. I will accomplish this by running at least 3x's a week, weight training at least twice a week, choosing healthy foods and tracking by sticking to Weight Watchers. 

I will commit to and make drinking my water a priority. I will cut down or cut out alcohol. I will take my vitamins, and avoid gluten.  I will continue to see my therapist and find ways to cope with stuff that doesn't involve food or alcohol such as meditation. 

HOME: I will disconnect from electronics when connecting with friends and family. I will make human interaction a priority and spend less time, nose down in my computer and wasting time on social media like FB. I will also honor my home itself by keeping the clutter down and keeping my home clean and organized. When it's a mess it drives me crazy and doesn't help anything! 

CAREER: I will continue to build the From Fat to Finish Line brand. This is my life and passion. I am committed to chugging forth in giving my best when it comes to the company. I want to reach my finish line goals and I want others to as well. I will finish my life coaching course which has me studying how to support others in mental/emotional/physical and spiritual health. This not only helps me to be able to support the FFTFL tribe but it is teaching me how to cope with my own stuff too! 

RUN: Although mentioned in my "Health" section above - Running deserves its own place. First of all, I have a lot of running coming up in 2018.

• I got accepted into the Chicago Marathon for 2018.
• I am running FOUR FFTFL Relays in 2018: The Buck Fifty in OH, Ragnar TN, Ragnar Chicago and Ragnar Northwest Passage. 
• I'd like to run NJ half marathon at the shore and Rock 'n' Roll Vegas half.

Second of all. Running makes everything better for me. Mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. I MUST make it a priority. I was able to keep my depression more or less in check for years just by consistenly running. This last year my running game was off and the depression came back in full force, the weight crept further up, I lost my overall mojo. I'm trying to manage, went on a mild anti-depressant and am working things out in therapy but I need my runs. 

Turning 45 in Dublin

So while the last year or so has been a little challenging - it's all a part of life. All a part of the journey. I'm taking the positives and learning from the negatives. I'm ready to take on 2018 and make it my bitch the best year ever! 

What are some of your goals for 2018?