Success

"I have failed many times, that's why I'm a success"
~Michael Jordan

So very true! Don't we really only learn through failure? When we pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and try try again, isn't that when we learn how to be a success? I know I am that way! None of us learned to ride a bike without training wheels without falling over, or hitting the tree at the end of the driveway! But we tried it again, and eventually, we learned to do it. Same thing goes with changing the way we live. I've learned alot of things. Such as the old "oh I can keep a trigger food in the house and eat controlled portions of it" NO, NO I can't. I've learned that, after I don't how many times of failing with trying to eat a controlled portion. Or the "oh I can keep the weight off without keeping track of what I eat!", I learned I can't. And in the end, these failures are what will set me up to keep the weight off in the long run. I've tried things, and sure enough I've failed at them, but it just makes success, winning the battle, so much more satisfying.

Moral of the story, we will all hit road blocks in our journey, but pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and enjoy the success you deserve!

I'm feeling a bit better today. I still don't feel wonderful, but I feel better at least. I think I am going to attempt to make it to the gym tonight. I don't want to get out of the habit of going, because that is always when I get out of the habit of going, when I miss once or twice. So I'm going to push through the workout tonight and get it done.

Nothing exciting planned for dinner tonight. The roommate is out of town from this afternoon through Sunday or Monday, so I'm gonna hit the gym, and then have some leftovers or a sandwich and enjoy a quiet house! Although the house really is never quiet these days with a black fur ball running around, and a 70lbs Golden Retriever chasing it. But it keeps my life exciting, and I'm enjoying it :)

Things with the new kitty are going pretty well. We were having some bathroom issues the first couple nights, but last night we did ok (I think, if he didn't I haven't found it yet!). I'm really hoping he will get the hang of the litter box soon.

I might have a date this weekend, that I am very excited about....The Prospect looks promising!

Other than that, nothing terribly exciting for today, but I will post with my menu later (I know, I know, the highlight of everyone's day!). But until then, everyone stay healthy!

Morning
120 oz water	0
1 medium pear(s)	1
Oatmeal w/Protien Powder	2
Subtotal	3
Midday
Black Bean Chicken Casserole - Quick-added food	4
1 small apple(s)	1
3/4c Crunch w/ Yogurt	3
Subtotal	8
Evening
10 1/2 oz frozen cauliflower	0.5
1 serving Sara Lee Bread - Food I created	1
Lunchmeat - Quick-added food	1
5 oz potato(es), baked	2
1 Tbsp Fat-Free Sour Cream	0.5
Fib One Go Lean w/Milk	3
Subtotal	8
Snacks
Dum Dums - Quick-added food	1
WW Ice Cream - Quick-added food	2
Subtotal	3
Food POINTS values total used	22
Food POINTS values remaining	0

The Menu, and the animals

Well here is one picture I was able to come up with of Duke and Chase. Duke looks thrilled chase is cuddling, ha ha. Also, menu posted below.

Morning
128 oz water	0
1 medium pear(s)	1
Oatmeal w/Protien Powder	2
Subtotal	3
Midday
Tuna Salad - Quick-added food	2
1 serving Sara Lee Bread - Food I created	1
1 small apple(s)	1
3/4c Crunch w/ Yogurt	3
Subtotal	7
Evening
2 Tbsp Sugar Free Strawberry Preserves	0.5
1 item Light Multi-Grain English Muffin	1
10 oz cauliflower	0.5
Black Bean Chicken Casserole - Quick-added food	6
1 Tbsp peanut butter	2
Subtotal	10
Snacks
WW Ice Cream - Quick-added food	2
Subtotal	2
Food POINTS values total used	22
Food POINTS values remaining	0

Change

"Only I can change my life, no one can do it for me"
~Carol Burnett

Some quotes I think need an explanation, other quotes I think speak for themselves, and this one just happens to be one that speaks for itself. Enjoy it.

My day has been good. I've been freezing my butt off all day though. Here in Michigan it has been freezing rain/raining for the past couple days, and everything is a mess. Yesterday morning I pulled out of the garage and went to brake and wait for the garage door to go down, and my truck actually slid down the driveway, it was kinda funny. So needless to say, it's been a skating rink. I just wish we'd get some snow for Christmas. I love white Christmases.

I'm anxious to get home from work today to see how Chase handled himself for his first day all by himself. I'm lucky I have a laundry room that is rather large and I can shut off from the rest of the house, so I locked him in there with his litterbox and food for today, and I'm hoping all went well...fingers are crossed, ha ha.

Eating has been good. I'm kinda lucky because there hasn't been too much temptation at work lately, usually that's one of the places that is hardest for me. I was worried about the holiday season, and with the exception of a few vendors who have dropped off the devil (also known as mixed nuts), I haven't had too many options to be bad, and I haven't strayed from plan at all...go me.

I have some more holiday baking this weekend (I know, I said I was done!), but I forgot I have the annual cookie bake with mom (and now my brother fiance), and then next weekend my mom and I are making Hungarian Coffee Cakes, which are a Christmas morning tradition in my house for as long as I can remember. So still not done, the good thing is, after all this baking, I think I will be baked out for awhile.

I'm trying to get my mom to join weight watchers after the first of the year. She's always been overweight, except for one time, which I truly believe she became anorexic awhile back, and of course she became sickly skinny. She tells me she would love too, but she thinks she can do it "without counting the points". So I know thats an excuse, but I'm not going to let her blow me off, I would love to see her lose a bit of weight come the new year, but she has to want to do it.

Tonight I'm going to get the gym for #6 or 18 workouts for the month, and believe it or not, I am kinda looking forward to it. My workouts are short and to the point, and I think that is why I like them so much, I can be in and out of the gym in like 25 minutes. That's great for me, as time is always crunched anyways.

Nothing else new and exciting. menu will be updated below later.

Morning
144 oz water	0
1 medium pear(s)	1
Oatmeal w/Protien Powder	2
Subtotal	3
Midday
8 oz carrot(s)	1
Taco Soup	4
Kashi Crunch w/Yogurt	2
Subtotal	7
Evening
10 oz cauliflower	0.5
Tuna Salad - Quick-added food	3
Bread - Quick-added food	1
LaTortilla Wrap - Quick-added food	0
2 3/4 oz potato(es), baked	1
1 Tbsp Fat-Free Sour Cream	0.5
1/2 cup Large Curd Cottage Cheese, Low-Fat 2% Milkfat	2
1 medium apple(s)	1
Subtotal	9
Snacks
Candy Cane - Quick-added food	1
WW Ice Cream - Quick-added food	2
Subtotal	3
Food POINTS values total used	22

What you can do...

"Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it. Plan more than you can do, and do it"

~Anonymous

It all starts here. That's what you want to do, plan what you want to do, and do it. Heck if it looks like more than you can handle, you have to push yourself outside of your comfort zone to really grow as a person anyways, right? I know my "for instance" in this situation isn't even weight loss based, although I can give an example in a bit. But when I graduated High School in 1999 at the ripe young age of 17, I was determined that I would graduate college in three years, while working full time. Everyone...and I do mean everyone told me there was no way that I could do it...hell, there were days when I was pretty darn convinced I couldn't, but I wanted to prove them wrong, and sure enough I did. I worked 35-40 hours a week and graduated college in 2 years and 9 months....with a bachelors degree and honors. And then by the time most said I would just be graduating college, I had my masters.

But on the weight loss front, I didn't really think I would be able to stick with any plan for that long, I never had been able to before. But I proved I could. I set my sights high, a goal weight that is thinner than I was in High School, and you know what? I'm still working towards it, but I'll get there, I've planned to do, so I know I can with hard work, what are you guys planning to do?

My weekend was a success. I had another On Plan weekend...my second in a row. They were my downfalls for a couple weeks, but now I'm feeling in control. I baked Sugar Cookies and Chocolate Chip Cookies.

I got a new kitty this weekend. I know, I know, I said I wasn't going to get one, but I caved. It came down to have one kitty left, and he was the runt, and I have this thing for the longshots. Duke (my 4.5 year old golden retriever) was the runt of the litter, and the last one left, and turned out to be such a great dog, so I got this guy the same way...and I'm sure he will be a great cat. He is all black, and I named him Chase (because Duke loves to Chase him, ha ha). I will post some pictures soon. Anyone have any advice for someone who has never had a cat in the house before?

Got the Christmas Tree set up yesterday (and so far the dog nor the cat have knocked it down Kathy! I'm doing good!) and all my holiday baking done....but none of the shopping done. I really should get on that.

Anyways, I hope everyone is having a healthy and happy day! Menu Below:

Morning
144 oz water	0
1 medium pear(s)	1
Oatmeal w/Protien Powder	2
Subtotal	3
Midday
8 oz carrot(s)	1
Taco Soup	4
Kashi Crunch w/Yogurt	2
Subtotal	7
Evening
10 oz cauliflower	0.5
Tuna Salad - Quick-added food	3
Bread - Quick-added food	1
LaTortilla Wrap - Quick-added food	0
2 3/4 oz potato(es), baked	1
1 Tbsp Fat-Free Sour Cream	0.5
1/2 cup Large Curd Cottage Cheese, Low-Fat 2% Milkfat	2
1 medium apple(s)	1
Subtotal	9
Snacks
Candy Cane - Quick-added food	1
WW Ice Cream - Quick-added food	2
Subtotal	3
Food POINTS values total used	22