Real Life Weight Loss Journey- From Fat to Fit to Fat but Getting Better

Have you ever felt like you have been doing something for nothing?  You work really hard and then feel like giving up?  Well I have felt that way.  My weight loss was hitting a slower speed and I wasn't feeling the same amazing feeling that I had originally.  Things were happening in my life.  I was busy and stressed and I was stress eating again.  I tracked my points but would go over everyday. This was an issue. I couldn't believe that I was letting this stress get the best of me.  Sometimes it is really hard to overcome.  I did not even feel like going to Weight Watchers because I knew I didn't have a loss.  I did not want to embarrass myself in front of my new friends.  I told my Mom I wasn't going and she said, "Sarah, we never have perfect weeks.  You need to get yourself to a meeting.  It will change everything."  So I said, "Fine, I'll go."  Turned out that weeks meeting was about stress and how to cope.  The lesson she taught us was that

My hard work was starting to pay off.  After going to two successful meetings and losing 7.6 pounds total, I was very excited I was going to hit the 10 pound mark at my third meeting. I went to the gym 3 times a week and I switched between yoga and zumba, tracked everything that went into my body and did not eat anything past 8 PM. I could finally start to see results in my body.  My arms were shrinking, my face was slimming and my belly was losing fat.  I was so excited.  I worked a full day and got in my car and drove to my third Weight Watchers meeting.  I was so hopeful I was gonna hit the 10 pound mark and receive a sticker.  How silly it is to be excited over stickers, but trust me it is. I got in line to weigh in and talked to some of my new friends, I stepped up to the scale and awaited my results. The woman said, "Great job this week!" so I was hopeful that I did it. I took my packet back and walked to my seat and took a look. I lost 9.8 total. Ugh! So close. Totally

Best Gluten Free Chain Restaurants: P.F. Changs- Ummmm, this is by far number one on the list.  It took me so long to find good gluten free chinese, and it was right in my backyard the whole time. Get the Chang's Spicy Chicken,  Pepper Steak or Fried Rice, you will not be disappointed. Applebee's- Yea, I know it's awkward putting this on the list, but they are so accommodating. Every time I go they make me specific things that I order (Grilled Chicken and Potatoes, 9 PP). They cook everything seperately and are really safe about everything. Chipotle- I usually stick to a burrito bowl, but sometimes I venture and get the corn tacos.  You have to tell them how to do it gluten free but they are usually really nice about it and want to make sure they do it safely. Chili's- They have a pretty decent gluten free menu.  The manager will come out and talk to you, which is soothing that they care. Or else it would be a disaster scene.  Not trying to get glutened here.

Favorite Gluten Free Brands! Udi's-  Best gluten free bread out there! Usually you have to toast GF bread but Udi's you can eat without toasting.  Closest thing to real bread you'll get outside a restaurant! Glutino- They make an assortment of bars, crackers, cookies and other goodies.  So good, tastes like the real thing! Scharr-  Scharr is great.  They make awesome pizza crust and pastas. Freschetta- This brand makes the best gluten free pizza you're gonna get outside a restaurant.  They use gluten free pepperoni and other toppings that you can't find in other brands.  Definitely worth getting. Applegate- If you like breakfast foods a lot, definitely buy Applegate's products.  You will get great bacon and sausage and you will not be missing anything at all.  Also their turkey hotdogs are 1 PP and amazing. KIND-  Who doesn't like a Kind bar?  They taste awesome even for people who aren't celiac.  They are usually around 6 pp and good for a

After the first successful meeting, I really felt motivated to work hard and achieve my goals.  I really wanted to be able to set a goal weight for myself but I had to hit 5% weight loss.  I had 28 PP to work with.  Working together with my mom, we thought of meals we could eat each day and started meal planning.  The day started with a chocolate PB2 protein smoothie which was 4 Power Points. To make it you combine: 1 cup silk chocolate soy milk, 1 cup ice, 2 Tbs of PB2 (whichever flavor), and 2 oz of pears and a banana. This was a great way to start the day, because it kept me full for long.  A snack during the afternoon before lunch would be either an apple, or Glutino bar which was 4 PP. Lunch varied depending on if I was at school or work.  If I was at work, I would have chicken and rice, for 8 PP. Brown or White Rice for 5 PP ,  Sautee 2 oz of chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder until cooked, for 2 PP,  when finished place 2 cups of water in pan and 3 tbs of soy sauce for

Me at my heaviest weight of 197. 

This was my start of my weight loss journey.  I was so sick of waking up every morning and not being able to look in the mirror because I was scared to see the girl facing back at me.  That is the worst feeling in the world.  While I was getting used to the gluten free diet, I was thinking of other ways that I could lose weight.  I thought about getting pills to cut weight quickly, but too many people told me that was dangerous.  I was so frustrated, I just wanted the fat to melt away and I could look like the girl I did in High School.  I wanted nothing more than to feel confident in my body.  My mom did WeightWatchers a few times and she lost weight so I figured I would try it.  I asked her if she would go to a meeting with me to see how I liked it.  She thought that was a great idea because she was a lifetime member and had not gone for awhile.  So we went Monday night and I got weighed in for the first time.  I weighed in at 197, and immediately felt this sudden urge of determinati