Coming in for a Landing

I am done circling. I have seen the orange beacons guiding me to land. Hallelujah! I made several decisions in the last few days.

First, I've decided to use Weight Watchers points as my tracking guide instead of counting calories, which I had been giving thought to. I didn't really found any good calorie counter (I wanted a widget like my fitlink widget.). The food tracking guides I've found--Sparkpeople, Calorie Balance Diet, FitDay.com, and Nutrition Day--seem to have some good elements and I may give pieces of them more of an in-depth look and trial run, but ultimately, thinking about using them felt like work. Plus, I took a quiz on one of them about calories and realized I don't have a lot of stored calorie info in my head. But I do have lots of Points info in my head, so why not make it simple and go with what I know.

I did download Nutrition Data's widget--see it on the right toward the top. You get some interesting data about how well a food will sate you--keep you feeling full.

Next, I've decided to try using lists on this site in a sidebar to post my planned menu for the week. (I have a nice post it note Weekly calendar that I use for this on my fridge.) The menus are typically the big pic--not the detail.

So for the detail, I've decided to use this spiral bound index card notebook I got. This is where I will track my daily points and the details of what I eat. I chose the index card notebook because it will work well with a recipe box I used to use. In it, I have sections based on points for meals--like 5 point breakfasts and lunches. This way I can pull existing menus into my notebook or tear out a good menu to file in my box.

Back to counting points. I want to give myself a daily points range, which was the way the plan was set up when I had my success, not have a single point value and 35 extra points. I think I did better and was less likely to overdo on a day when I had a range and set a goal of a daily average of points.

I also plan to focus on whole foods, not processed or packaged ones. Though I do have several frozen entrees in my fridge. . .and I bought a couple of 100 calorie packs. . .but I want those to be the exception not the rule.

These are decisions I've been waffling on for a while, so I feel good about being more directed.

I also made a promise to PhD to push myself more physically. My commitment was to climb the 2 flights of stairs in my house sequentially 3 times a day. I need to build my endurance because all my Christmas decorations are in the attic so I need to be able to make the trip multiple times without keeling over! Last year we had Thanksgiving dinner at our house, so I had my nephew & his wife, and my niece and brother-in-law haul stuff down for me in multiple trips. This year we're going to my sister's . . .

I have to tell you I abhore stair climbing. Hubby's been good--dreaming up things he'd like for me to get for him--or bring to him--from his 3rd story office. Somehow this makes me feel less self conscious about huffing and puffing in front of him--it's like we're both in on a secret. I know it will get easier.