Simply Filling and Pregnancy #2

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I want to make it very clear that what I am going to write is my opinion. It is NOT the opinion of Weight Watchers or anyone else. I am writing from my own personal perspective and opinion. I am not a professional nutritionist, just a woman trying to lead the healthiest lifestyle possible while I am pregnant.

With that being said, I think I should share with you that OFFICIALLY you cannot follow the Weight Watchers program while you are pregnant. A portion of the Weight Watchers health notice states, "Weight Watchers prohibits participation in its weight loss plan for children under the age of 10, those individuals with an active medical diagnosis of bulimia nervosa, those whose weight is less than 5 pounds above the minimum weight of the Weight Watchers Weight Ranges, and during pregnancy." To read the entire Weight Watchers health notice, please click here.

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Last time I was pregnant, I continued to count my pointsplus values throughout the first half of my pregnancy and tried to modify the program to meet my needs. Unfortunately, during the later half of my pregnancy, I really let myself eat whatever I wanted causing my 45 pound weight gain. To read more about what I did throughout my first pregnancy with Olivia, please click here.

Since I learned that I was pregnant again, back in April, I have not been tracking my pointsplus values. I have been trying to listen to my hunger signals and make healthy choices.

Now that I have finally reached my 12th week of pregnancy and am almost done with my first trimester, I feel like it is time to come up with a gameplan for this pregnancy. Please don't judge me, I'm a planner and this is just what I do. It is important for me to decide how to continue to make healthy choices throughout my pregnancy, because if I don't come up with a game plan now, I won't do it at all!

As I have considered my options, I have become more and more convinced that I should follow the Simply Filling plan throughout my pregnancy. In all honesty, the entire time I have been on the Weight Watchers program (since 2008) I have never followed the Simply Filling plan. However, I think it might be very helpful as I continue to try and make healthy choices throughout pregnancy #2.

For those of you who might be wondering, here is a breakdown of how to use the Simply Filling Technique.

1.  Focus on Power Foods/Simply Filling Foods ~ lean proteins, fat free dairy, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, your 2 tsp of healthy oil, reduced calorie breads and broth based soups. 

2.  Use your Weekly PointsPlus Allowance (49 pointsplus+) for any foods that do not fit in the above categories or do not fit into a category on this Simply Filling Food Lists.  You do not have to track the pointsplus+ for any of the Simply Filling Foods you eat.  You only track the non-Simply Filling Foods. 

3.  Eat just until satisfied making sure you eat slowly, listen to your body and stop/rest/assess as you are eating.  The goal is to not feel too full or too hungry, but, to feel “just right”.

I think this is a great fit for me for many reasons!! First, Simply Filling will allow me to eat as much food as I need until I am full/satisfied. Second, Simply Filling will help me to make healthy choices all day long, because I can eat them for free. Finally, following Simply Filling will also allow me some wiggle room as I crave foods that are not on the Simply Filling lists.

I am so excited about this change that I've been on Pinterest looking for Simply Filling recipe ideas and I cannot wait to make them!

Newsham Baby Number Two

I have been DYING to let you in on a secret for weeks!! I am pregnant!! Baby Newsham number two is on the way!!

Jon and I wanted our babies to be close in age, but not quite this close. We were both surprised by how quickly we became pregnant with our second child. This is different from what we had planned, but we are thankful for how the Lord is blessing our family!! Honestly, God's plans are always better than mine!!

One week ago, Jon, Olivia, and me headed to the first doctor's appointment for baby #2. We saw our precious child on the ultrasound screen and were overwhelmed with thankfulness at the new life growing inside me. We also heard our baby's heartbeat, which was very strong.

Overall, I have been doing well. I have not thrown up, but been queasy when I do not eat or when I let my stomach get too empty. I have also been very tired. With work, Olivia, moving, unpacking, and all of my other daily tasks, I have not had energy to do much of anything these days. (This also explains my lack of blog posts.) We put Olivia to bed and I head to bed shortly after she has gone down. My doctor said that once I get past my 1st trimester it should get better, so I am hopeful that I will feel like myself again soon.

In case you are wondering, I was just 9 pounds away from my goal weight when I found out that I was pregnant. This is so frustrating! However, I am confident that I will be able to continue to maintain a healthy lifestyle while pregnant with this baby and will be able to lose all of my weight after our new baby arrives in late December.

Jen + Olivia + Jon + December 2013 = Family of FOUR

Weight Loss Success Story: Susan Davis

Today, I would like to share Susan's success story with you all. Susan joined Weight Watchers in June 2012 and she has been a member in my Saturday morning meeting ever since.

Susan before she joined Weight Watchers.

In less than one year after Susan started Weight Watchers, she has lost a total of 57.2 pounds on the Weight Watchers program!!

Me and Susan the day she reached her goal weight!

Not only has she lost 57 pounds, but she has also been taken off one of her blood pressure medicines and her cholesterol medicine that she had been taking for the past 5 years.

Check out Susan's story and be inspired!!

Tell us a little about yourself, your family, your job, etc. 
I am married to Jerry for nearly 5 years. I have two wonderful sons, Preston and Patrick. Jerry has 2
wonderful sons and 1 beautiful daughter and we have 1 grandson. I work for Gregg Industrial Insulators as assistant warehouse manager. I have been with the company 19 years. I love to read, work in the yard and am beginning to love walking.

How long did it take you to get to your idea weight? Are you there now? 
I started the program June 30, 2012. It took me 9-1/2 months to reach goal. 

What made you decide to start you weight loss journey?
I started the program because I wanted to do it for myself, for health issues and I had a wedding coming up and did not like the way I looked in all the previous wedding pictures of our children. I looked through the past wedding pictures of our children and saw that in each one I was getting bigger and bigger. I wanted to have at least one set of wedding pictures that I looked decent in. When they set the date for April of 2013, I decided I had to do something. I had been looking into Weight Watchers and thinking about it. I had talked to a neighbor about it since she was doing it at the time. I just decided one Friday night that I was getting up the next morning and going to a meeting. I joined and it has been a blessing ever since.

What kept you on track losing weight?
I stayed on track by tracking my food everyday on my phone and the main thing that kept me on track was after losing 25 lbs., I could really feel a difference. I had more energy and just liked myself better. When I went for a yearly physical in January, the results were proven. The doctor took me off one of my blood pressure medicines and my cholesterol medicine that I had been taking for the past 5 years. That was even more motivation.

Tell us about a typical day in terms of eating and exercise. 
When I first started the program, I just focused on the food part of the program. I tracked everything
I ate and was constantly looking for more alternatives. I have tried to add a new food or recipe every
week that I have never tried before. I signed up for Hungry Girl emails so I could find better ways to eat what I wanted. I revamped my own favorite recipes so they are healthier on the recipe builder on etools. I did not exercise at first just focused on following the food. When that became second nature, I started working out on my WII Fit Plus 3 or 4 times a week and in January I bought an elliptical machine that I use when the weather is bad and I cannot get outside. I now try to walk at least 3 or 4 days a week. I use the active link monitor to fit in activity. Towards the end of the day if it is not close to 100% of the goal I have set, I think of ways to do activity.

What is the biggest difference you have noticed because of your weight loss? 
The biggest difference I have noticed because of my weight loss is that I have been taken off 2 of my
prescriptions and I have a lot more energy. I now feel like being active and moving more.

What advice can you give to others struggling to lose weight?
My advice to others struggling to lose weight is join weight watchers, follow the program, work all the etools that are available and if you have a slip on one day just pick it back up on the next day. Never get discouraged even if you have a weight gain one week because if you follow the program the next week it will probably come off plus some more. I have learned that a .2 weight loss is a weight loss and is better than a gain. Never give up and get discouraged. If you do give up, you are hurting yourself and no one else. Always think of yourself and make it easier by using every tool available.

How do you keep the weight off in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle? 
I am at the part of the weight loss journey now that is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I plan to continue using the tools available and become even more active. I plan to walk in the Starlight 5k Night coming up in June. I have never done anything like this before so it will be a new adventure. I have learned that for motivation I need to accept new challenges that I make for myself. I am still learning on the maintaining.

Give us a quote or a motto that you have used to keep you focused.
My quote that I am known for in our meeting is one that I found on Pinterest shortly after I started
the program. I printed in on several sizes of paper and have it on the refrigerator in the house, the
refrigerator in the garage, and taped to several mirrors so that I see it quite often. It is

YOU ARE NOT HUNGRY, YOU ARE BORED, DRINK SOME WATER AND LEARN THE
DIFFERENCE.

Long Time No See

I have some great news to share with all of you! This past weekend my family moved out of our apartment into a small home! Our new home has two bedrooms, an office, a big backyard, hardwood floors and more! God provided this home to us at just the right price for our budget. We are so thankful for the way the Lord is taking care of us during this season of our lives!

Our new home

It's been so hard to eat on plan while we've been moving!

We have not had much food, because I have not gone to the grocery store. What can I say, I did not want to move a bunch of food! On top of that, I went ahead and packed up all of our dishes, so we ate out more than normal last week.

This past Saturday was my weigh in day, I was so nervous that I had gained that I didn't even weigh in! However, yesterday while I worked my Tuesday night Weight Watchers meeting, I weighed in so that I could know where I stood. To my surprise, I only gained one pound throughout this move!

I am proud of most of the food choices I have made. I know that I could have done a better job, but I can learn from this experience and apply it to my life the next time we move.

Please pray for us as we settle into our new home. 

Olivia loves our new home!

What's been going on in your lives? Have you been following the plan? How's it going?

Heels and Hills, My First Half Marathon

Preface: This is a much longer post than I thought it would be, but I hope you will take time to read it.

Yesterday, I ran and finished my very first half marathon a total of 13.1 miles!! It truly is one of the greatest accomplishments on my life!!

Our journey to my half marathon started on Saturday, where nothing went according to plan. I worked my Weight Watchers meeting, graduation, and finally got home after 3:00pm. I ate some lunch and Jon packed the car, so that we could get on the road. We had to drive to Irving, Texas, where we had a room for the night, before my half marathon.

We made it into the city of Irving without any problems. We were all tired, hungry, and had to pee, but we didn't want to stop until we got to our hotel room. We accidentally took the wrong exit, which is when everything went wrong! We heard an awful noise and Jon told me that the tire was flat. He took to very next exit and pulled over on the off ramp. As it turned out, we hit/ran over something that blew out our rear left tire and damaged the front left tire.

Jon, Olivia, and I waited on the side of the road for over an hour. The gentlemen from AAA finally showed up to tow our car to a tire shop. Two AAA guys came to help us so that we would not have to call and pay for a cab. Praise the Lord for their kindness!

We were taken to a sketchy looking tire shop, where we got two new tires put on our car. The manager was a man from Pakistan and he kept saying what a nice family we were. I hope and pray that the Lord helps his wife to get pregnant so that they can have a baby of their own someday.

We finally got to our hotel, had dinner, and got Olivia to bed.

As I said before, none of this was apart of my plan, but God took care of us! He was with us on the side of the road with a flat and He will provide the money that we need for tires. I had been so nervous about my half marathon, but it all faded in the light of our flat tire situation.

I was so tired from our flat tire ordeal that I slept better than I thought I would that night.

Sunday morning, I woke up about 6:00am, so that I could eat a little something before heading down to the race to get my packet. I ate my 1/2 bagel with peanut butter breakfast and spent time reading my Bible and in prayer. I prayed for each part of my body by name, my feet, ankles, legs, etc. I knew that I could not finish this half marathon without the Lord's help, so in that hotel room I called on Him to be my strength where I was weak!

We headed down to the race site, got a parking spot, and walked to the race start line. I picked up my packet and shirt, then attached my bib to my shirt. I had about a 20 minute wait before my race began at 7:30am.

Me before my race began at 7:15am

While I was running my race, Jon and Olivia hung out at the race site and car waiting for me to get back. They truly are my biggest fans and I could not have finished this race without their love and support!!

Jon and Olivia waiting at the start line cheering me on!

My only goal for this half marathon was to try to finish without stopping to walk. Before the race began, Jon told me to join a pace group, because the guys would help me to stay on track throughout the race. I choose the 3 hour group, because I knew that I could not run much faster than that for 13.1 miles. This was the best decision I made that morning!

The race started and the excitement of it all was overwhelming! I was able to keep up with the 3 hour group and actually run a little bit ahead of them. For most of the race, I was in between the 2 hour 50 minute group and my own 3 hour group.

The first 11 miles or so went really well! Of course my feet would hurt a little bit here and there, but because I have been training for the last 8 weeks, I was able to run the first 11 miles with little to no problem. The longest run that I had completed in training was 10 miles, so I was confident that the beginning part of my race would go really well.

All throughout my run, as a part of my body would begin to hurt, I would pray to the Lord that He would touch my body and take away the pain. I called on Him for strength more times than I can count! However, during my 11th mile I got a side cramp! I had to stop and walk for about a 1/4 mile. The entire time I was praying that God would touch my cramp and help the pain to subside until I finished my race.

Thankfully, my pain went away and I started to run again. I jogged very slowly, because I was nervous about my side pain would come back.

By this time, I was in my 12th and final mile! I cannot tell you how many times I wanted to stop and just walk the rest of the way.

Mentally, I was trying to stay focused and not get discouraged. I kept thinking about Jon and Olivia waiting for me at the finish line. I thought about my Weight Watchers members and blog friends. I thought about how far I have come, since before I joined Weight Watchers! Who would have ever thought that I would be running 13.1 miles! I also thought about wearing my finishers medal around my neck and how good that would feel!

However, the 3 hour pace group caught up to me, because I had slowed down so much. They were the motivation I needed to keep going! I joined their group and ran my heart out! They said we only had about a 1/2 mile left. I thought about how many times I had run a 1/2 mile in the last 8 weeks and I knew that I could do it!

My side started to hurt again, so I prayed and pushed through it!

We had one final hill before we were back on the street and headed for the finish line! I was tired, worn out, and wanted to stop and lay down, but I kept going putting one foot in front of the other.

I turned the corner and only had 0.1 miles left! When I caught sight of Jon and Olivia waiting for me the full weight of all the I have accomplished hit me. I wanted to stop and cry, but I knew that I needed to get across the finish line first!

I crossed the finished line, just behind my 3 hour pace friends!

My official time 02:59:30 that is 13:42 minutes per mile!! Wow!!

Me after I crossed the finish line and received my first finishers medal.

This is my finishers medal! Isn't it beautiful!? I am so thankful to have this as a reminder of all that I have accomplished!! I have changed my life and am changing my legacy, so that as Olivia grows up and walks in my footsteps they will be healthy ones!!

My Heels and Hills Half Marathon Finishers Medal!

Before, I joined Weight Watchers I never once dreamed that I would become a runner! I loved to sit on the couch, watch movies, and eat. Who knew that there was an athlete hiding under all that fat, shame, and hopelessness. 

I want you all to know that you should never ever give up on yourselves, because you can do it! You can lose your weight, run your own marathon, or whatever else you dream about! Remember that When things get hard, pray and call on the Lord, like I did, and He will be your source of strength during those hard times! You are worth so much more than you realize!

Me sporting my new shirt and medal!

Renewing Our Minds

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In these last few days before my Heels and Hills half marathon, I've learned a very important lesson...what I think about myself matters!!

Honestly, I am nervous about my half marathon and Satan has used my nerves to flood my mind with doubts about myself and my abilities to finish this race. I have worried more this week than I have the entire time that I've been training!

Thankfully, the Lord reminded me of this truth in scripture!

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:1-2

Dwelling on negative thoughts, will not help me up to be successful. As this verse said I need to "renew" my mind! I need to stop focusing on the negative and focus on the truths of God that can be found in His word. As a result, I have started to fight back by filling my mind with scripture such as...

"I can do all things through him who strengths me." - Philippians 4:13

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28

"The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him." - Psalm 37:13

These verses and Christian music fill my mind with truth about the Lord and His promises. They remind me of God's great love for me and that He will be with me no matter what!! They also help to encourage me that I am not alone.

I think that this truth applies to your weight loss journey as well!! 

What do you say to yourself when no one else is listening? Are you filling your mind with truth or lies? Find some Bible verses that you can memorize that apply to your specific situation. Then when Satan comes to attack you, you will be armed with the Word of God!

I cannot run this half marathon in my own strength, but through Christ all things are possible! You cannot reach your weight loss goals on your own, but with Christ all things are possible!

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Don't let one more day go by before you ask the Lord to be your strength and help you reach your weight loss goals!!

Half Marathon Training Coming to an End

For the last two weeks, my best friend Michelle has been visiting us. She came down to meet Olivia and spend some time with my family! For that reason, I have not had a lot of time to write blog posts! I'm sorry for just disappearing like I did! Honestly, I did not think life was going to be that busy while she was here, but I was wrong.

Olivia, Michelle, Jon, and me

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In other news, I am so excited that my Heels and Hills Half Marathon is in just 5 days!!

 

  

It's hard to believe that I have almost made it through my 8 week half marathon training program! I have worked so hard over these last 8 weeks and I know that it will be worth it in the end!

For me, I'm not focused on how fast I can run this race. My goal is to run/jog my half marathon without stopping to walk. If that means I have to run slower to accomplish that goal then I will do whatever it takes to keep going. Trust me, it hurts more to stop and walk then it does to just keep going.

This coming Saturday is going to be very busy with my Weight Watchers meeting, graduation, and traveling 2 1/2 hours to get to our motel, the night before the race. Please keep me and my family in your prayers as we travel to the race. Pray that Olivia will be a good traveler and not get too cranky with the lack of naps she is going to get this coming weekend! Pray that I will have the endurance needed to complete this race. Pray that I won't compare myself to anyone else and just go at my own pace!

Next week, I look forward to having lots of pictures to share with with you from my very first half marathon!!