Tonight I decided to have the flame-broiled beef patty for dinner.  I've been getting a little tired of the pasta dishes, so I figured, "Why not?" 

I was expecting the beef patty to be "soft canned" like the rest of the meat in the NS meals.  I did not expect what looked like a styrofoam replica of a burger patty.  It kind of reminded me of a Necco wafer, but big and burger-like.  Add boiling water, let sit for two minutes, and...burger??

I'm not one to shy away from new things (perhaps one of the reasons I've gained so much weight), so I was not about to let the Necco burger get the best of me.  I cooked it, added it to a whole wheat bun with some mustard and lettuce, and amazingly enough, it tasted like a real burger!  I really enjoyed it!

Next time, I'm going to pile it high with onion, lettuce, tomato, reduced fat cheese, mushroom, ketchup, mustard, and good times.

What a pleasant surprise :)

I didn't know what to expect this morning when I stepped on the scale.  I had a big time on Saturday night; I was a tad indulgent with beer and the likes on Halloween and I'm still feeling the after-effects.  It just goes to show that, while I'm only 28, I am not as young as I once was.

On the bright side, I ate my NS dinner before I went out and avoided the Mexican take-out that all of my friends ate and I really didn't feel like I missed out on anything.  That was a plus.  On the gloom and doom side, I ate fried chicken and biscuits for brunch yesterday in an effort to stave off my impending hangover, which did not work.

So when I stepped on the scale this morning, I didn't know what to expect.  I was pleased to see that I lost 1.2 pounds, bringing the three week total to 6.4.  My goal this week is to try and avoid indulgences to the best of my ability and to add the gym to my daily routine.  We're in a slow couple of weeks on my yearbook staff's deadline cycle, so that should help with time management. 

I'm also expecting a new shipment of NS foods any day now, which is good because I'm one entree away from having to eat split pea soup, and I have a gag-inducing aversion to all things "pea". 

I had my second weigh-in today, and I was up .2. 

I'm not surprised; I didn't exactly follow the plan last week.  Mexican food one night, overloading on pizza another. 

However, there is a bright spot.  I feel better about my habits than I have in a long time.  I'm not constantly eating junk or ordering take-out three to four nights a week.  I'm happy with the food on Nutrisystem.  I just need to have more willpower.

I also need to start working out.  I put my gym bag in the front seat of my car this morning so that it would taunt me on my way home from work, but I forgot to put socks in it, so I didn't go.  Any excuse is a good excuse.  Not the best of mindsets, but I'm going to throw a pair of socks in there tonight and go after school tomorrow.

It takes three weeks to make a habit; this week isn't over yet.

I'm a little frustrated with myself and my lack of willpower.

I advise a publication at the high school where I work, and in order to keep the kids happy and productive, I buy them lots of snacks for our late work nights.  I made a special effort this month to buy healthy snacks just in case I caved, and I brought all of my NS meals/add-ins for the day in a shopping bag.  I was good to go.

Until I encountered the cheese curls.  And the delivery pizza.  I may have had four slices.  Or five.  Hopefully not six.  I lost count.

On the bright side, it definitely could have been worse.  I avoided cookies, chocolate, goldfish, and a plethora of other snacks.  Before NS, I think it would have been worse.

I couldn't avoid the cheese curls again today.  Or the leftover slice of pizza.  Or the pretzels.  Or the granola bar - though that was only 90 calories. 

When I got home, I had a NS snack (the zesty snack mix is great!), which I probably should not have had considering my snacking during the day, but it got my back on track for dinner.  Three cheese chicken and pasta, salad with apple and balsamic vinaigrette, and steamed green beans.  Not quite full yet, so I'm gonna throw in another vegetable and call it a day.

I have to find more convincing ways to persuade myself not to go to the snack drawer in my pub room. 

Got on the scale this morning for my first weigh-in after starting NS.

Success!  I lost five pounds, even though I didn't strictly stick to the program last week.  I was hoping for more, but isn't that always the case?  I feel like every diet I've ever wholeheartedly tried has produced results, but somehow there's always a twinge of disappointment that it's not more.

I could have lost more if I had gone to the gym. 

I could have lost more if I had avoided cocktails at happy hour. 

I'm trying to escape that mentality with NS, and I think it's going well.  I felt like I was on The Biggest Loser when I was on that scale; I found myself clapping and saying, "All right, okay.  I'll take it."  And I will. 

Because I know that this week will be better than the last.  There aren't as many distractions, and even if I do succumb to unforeseen temptations, it's not the end of the world, especially if I'm having a good time.  I refuse to sacrifice fun for a diet; I can have both.  It's just a matter of moderation.

So there it is: five down, 45 to go.  Wouldn't it be great if it only took nine weeks?  I can't think like that, though.  Anytime I put unrealistic expectations on myself, I am doomed for failure. 

I'll take it one day at a time.

Tomorrow marks my first weigh-in after my first week on Nurtisystem.

I'm not quite sure how it's going to turn out because, to be honest, I have not strictly followed the plan over this last week.  I had three events at school and a happy hour, but other than that I've been fairly good about eating the NS foods, adding vegetables, proteins, and drinking water.  I've even enjoyed the food (with the exception of the Macaroni and Cheese and Beef) which was a pleasant surprise, and despite the fact that the portions are smaller than I expected, I haven't really been hungry.

I love the convenience of this plan and the variety.  A lot of times when I'm cooking for myself, I get bored because I am not a very good cook.  In fact, I'm a terrible cook.  I gave myself food poisoning at the end of August; as a result, I found myself cooking only foods that I knew would not give me food poisoning, which meant I was eating a lot of take-out.  Hence the weight gain.  Nutrisystem gives me the variety I need without neither the threat of food poisoning, nor the cost of delivery.

I haven't been working out like I should, which will most likely factor into whatever happens tomorrow morning.  Regardless of the number on the scale, I think the simple fact that I am taking the initiative to change my life means something.  Even if I gain this week, I think I've found something that will work for me.

Plus the Fudge Graham Bar is delicious.