Well, I fell off the wagon… I didn’t track the food I consumed, I ate carbs and sugar, I had a few drinks, I didn’t feel like exercising.  Basically I pushed all that I had hoped to do to stay on track to the wayside and just enjoyed the holiday season.  I think I over estimated how well I was doing and forgot the stress that extended family can cause.  I let it get to me and it sent me into a downward spiral that I couldn’t seem to stop.  So, bottom line I have gained five  pounds!

The lessons my father taught me to love myself and be my own best friend remain among the best gifts I have ever received in this life.  Even though he died when I was just thirteen, he has the power to pull me back from the brink every time.  He instilled it in me.  I don’t beat myself up, in fact I don’t even regret gaining the weight. Everyone else was on vacation in my house and so was I…

When you don’t waste time beating yourself up it leaves room for more productive choices.  I am really good at seeing a problem and just saying ok, dig in and fix it.  So, I know exactly how to turn this around.  Track what I eat, stay within my Weight Watcher Points, stay away from sugar, and EXERCISE.

In looking at my recent food choices I noticed that breakfast was the hardest.  I have loved having fruit and yogurt smoothies in the morning ,but am not at all interested during the cold weather…. Instead I have been eating cereal.  A BIG MISTAKE, as I eat two servings and with milk it adds up to 10 points of my allotted 26 for the day.. That compares to just 4 with my smoothies or even 7 if I have veggie fritattas and milk.  The problem is that the cereal (Wheat Chex) doesn’t keep me from being hungry for more than 2-3 hours.

So  I decided to give Oatmeal a try.  I have not liked it my entire life. but I needed a change, and something that was warm for these cold mornings.  I have to face the truth, that while I love the fritattas, I don’t always feel like making them up…  In order to make the oatmeal more appealing I decided to dice up an apple, add cinnamon and cook it in the microwave for three minutes.  I then added oatmeal and milk and taa daa!  What do you know?  I actually ate the entire bowl without  cringing... It’s never going to be a favorite of mine, but it solves a problem for the cold winter months. I am going to dice up a few apples and bake them with cinnamon in the oven instead of having to do that each morning….Oatmeal with apples keeps me feeling good for 4-5 hours!

I am determined to get back on track and lose these last pounds and learn how to maintain it….

Gratitude:  I am grateful for the walks with my father and the life lessons he taught me .  I am grateful that I was able to just let loose and have fun this holiday season.  I am grateful that I have Weight Watchers to turn to and get back on track!  I am grateful that if I had to get sick that it didn’t start until after the New Year’s festivities….

These photos were taken right before heading on our drive to the Beach house in NC for our New Year’s eve festivities.  So glad to have them since I was not feeling too well today!

Dear Readers, What life lessons are you the most grateful for from your parents or for that matter anyone in your life?  I would really love to hear your answers and any other comments are appreciated as well!  

I would greatly appreciate your votes….Circle of Mom’s Top 25