November 24, 2012

A run with Steph

I finally figured out something to sew yesterday--a cute cover for my Weight Watchers 3-Month Journal. I used my "before" jeans for the outside of it, and I made it using the same techniques that I used for the tea wallets I made. It was kind of difficult working with so many layers of fabric, including denim, but I managed, and I think it turned out cute!



Outside
I put a pocket on each inner side (that's my weigh-in booklet in the left pocket). The WW 3-Month Journal is a book to keep track of your PointsPlus for three months, as opposed to using the one-week paper journals. I have so many of these things, all filled out! My first big goal when I started losing weight was to get through an entire book without bingeing. This current one is almost done, too--and binge-free :)


Tonight, I am trying to come up with an idea to do with these:


Those are the back pockets of a bunch of jeans that I used for my quilt when I was losing weight. I saved them, knowing I could find some way to re-purpose them, but I haven't come across any ideas that really stand out to me so far. We'll see :)

The best part about getting crafty in the evenings is that it completely takes my mind off of food. I spent the entire evening working on that journal cover, and didn't want to stop until it was done--so I didn't even pause to think of food between dinner and my bedtime wine and chocolate!




This morning, I had plans to meet Stephanie at 7:00 at the Metropark for a run. This was a step-back week for me (mileage was cut down a little), so I had six miles on the schedule for my long run. Stephanie said she ran five last week, so six would be a good distance for her, too.

I got dressed as quietly as possible, so I wouldn't wake up the kids, and then I left. It was a cold morning, but not as bad as I was expecting it to be. I got to the Metropark right at 7:00, and it was still pretty dark outside. Steph was already there, so we started running the three-mile path as an out-and-back route.

It was so nice to have the company! The miles flew by, and before I knew it, we were back at the car.


I really ought to burn that jacket. It's SO unflattering, yet I continue to wear it.


I chatted a little with Stephanie about maintenance--because she's a rock star at it! She has been doing awesome at maintaining her goal weight, and she said that she still counts PointsPlus every single day. I have a feeling I'm going to have to continue to count for a long time, if not indefinitely to maintain my goal. I'm really good at yo-yo-ing between 135 and 155; unfortunately, that isn't the ideal maintenance plan ;)

I headed back home for a busy morning. My kids were invited to a birthday party today, and we didn't get the invitation until Wednesday evening. Thursday was Thanksgiving, and I certainly wasn't going out on Black Friday to buy a gift, so as of this morning, I still didn't have a gift for the birthday boy.

When I got home, I showered quickly, ate breakfast (thankfully I still had a bowl of the steel cut oats in the fridge), got the kids ready for the party, and then we left early so that we could go to the store to buy a gift. I had asked the birthday boy's mom what he was into, and she said Legos, so that was easy enough. The kids picked out a Lego set, and I wrapped it in the car.

While the boys were at the party, I went to Meijer to browse around and kill some time, as well as pick up a few groceries. By the time I picked up the kids from the party, I was starving. As soon as I got home, I heated up a can of soup to scarf down for lunch.

Now, to work on a new craft...


31 comments:

  1. Katie, I used jean pockets for place settings at the table for a western look. I bought bandanas to stuff in the pocket first as a napkin and then the silverware lays inside the pocket on the napkin. It's been a hit ;)

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  2. Katie. my WW leader realized that the only way for her to maintain her weight was to continue tracking everyday. She has maintained for 5 years. She said she came to the realization that tracking everyday was a small price to pay to keep off 75 pounds for the rest of her life.

    You are doing great!

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    Replies
    1. I never thought of it like that--that tracking is a small price to pay for maintaining weight loss. That's true! I hate tracking, but my struggles with maintenance over the last couple of years have proven how hard it is to maintain WITHOUT tracking.

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  3. That's a great cover!! Any chance you'll be selling them? I also do WW and have a 3 month journal but the cover's a DISASTER!! I bought one of the covers they sell but it doesn't fit it...SO annoying!

    Either way, you did a great job!
    Bridgette

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    Replies
    1. I love to make things, but I get bored making the same things over and over--which is why I rarely sell things that I make. I saw the covers they sell on the WW Online site, and was going to buy one, when I decided to just make one. Theirs are much cheaper than I would sell them for, however ;) It was a lot of work to make that little thing!

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  4. You have 25 pockets in the photo. Could you get a large piece of fabric and sew them on.....puffy paint numbers 1 to 24 onto pockets and create your own unique countdown to Christmas calendar? Put a little inspirational quote in each pocket. Each day pull it out to read. If you make the display more "jean" theme in colors you could use to countdown to anything....Ragnar Relay, Easter, Back to School.....and what you place in the pockets could change. For race it could be GU packets, for school quarters or pencils.....just some ideas!! Hang the fabric you use on a dowel and ribbon and you can hang it up and use it for so many events! Let us know whatever you do decide to make!!!!

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    Replies
    1. Very interesting idea! Using it as a countdown would be fun. :)

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  5. Katie,

    I guess Steph is a rock star! I almost fell over when I just visited her site and saw her before photo.

    You are a double rock star for your weight loss and the lives you touch on a daily basis through your blog. :)

    Michelle

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    Replies
    1. Seeing her photos was what inspired me to give WW another chance--she looks amazing, doesn't she?!

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    2. Thank you both VERY much for the nice words!! :)

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  6. Don't you dare burn that coat, it looks awesome on you! I don't know why but I thought of doing an advent calendar quilt with the pockets. You could sew cute Christmasy borders on the tops of the pockets then stencil numbers on them or something.

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    Replies
    1. I like the advent calendar idea--adding it to my list of possibilities!

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  7. Since you have 25 you could make an advent calendar. Each year you could fill the pockets with healthy treats or non food items. I think it would really keep me on track during the holiday season to see that hanging on the wall.

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    Replies
    1. My kids would LOVE the idea of having a little treat in each pocket...

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  8. Have you tried tracking online or with the iPhone app?

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    Replies
    1. Yes, I joined WW Online, so I do that and use the phone app. But I still prefer good old paper and pen :) It makes it so much easier to look through my old journals, and see what caused me to have good weeks and bad weeks.

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  9. Ok I would TOTALLY buy one of your covers! I don't have a 3 month journal because we can't really afford WW, and I have found they are butts about letting non-members buy their products if you just walk in. However, I do plan on rejoining one day and I would definitely buy that cover. You might consider selling them!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I never used to have a problem buying their products when I wasn't a member, but recently, that hasn't been the case. Even online, they only let you buy two of the three-month journals at a time! Weight Watchers is very protective of their program, that's for sure.

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  10. Very cute cover! I sometimes wish I had a sewing machine so I could make something out of my old clothes!

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    Replies
    1. I see sewing machines at garage sales a lot... ;)

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  11. I love the cover!!! Very creative :)

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  12. Hi, Katie!

    I mentioned your website on my teenie-tiny blog this morning because I am so thrilled about that running start-up plan (I ran today, for one minute, and I've never been more proud!)...

    What happens when you get to a point where you can't keep up the run time? One minute seemed like... well, hard. Did you ever come to a point where you had to stick with a time for awhile before you increased it?

    Thank you, thank you, thank you.

    Nitty Gritty Momma

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    Replies
    1. That's SO exciting that you were able to do the first couple of runs :) I think it's normal for it to feel hard--any time you increase distance or pace, it's going to feel hard. But your body adapts, and pretty quickly! If it feels so hard that you don't think you can finish, then slow your pace down to a crawl. It will still feel hard, but just remind yourself that you body can't adapt unless you push it a little. I don't think I had to stay at a certain distance/time for a while, but if you feel like you need to, then go ahead! Just try and go a tiny bit farther than you did the previous run--even if it's only a few seconds longer, you're still improving.

      I remember one day in particular, I was going to try to run for five minutes straight. It was SO HARD--and when I got to the 5-minute point, there was a man walking toward me on the trail, and I felt too embarrassed for him to see me huffing and puffing, and then stopping to walk. So I forced myself to keep running until he passed me--and I ended up running for eight minutes! I couldn't believe it. I realized then that I was capable of doing more than I had thought--I just needed a motivator to push me! :)

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  13. You could totally sell those covers at your WW meeting! And I love the advent calendar idea :)

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    Replies
    1. I like the advent calendar idea too. And I really think my kids would love it!

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  14. Thank you so much for the nice words. :) I don't truly feel like a rock star at this point because I've only been on maintenance for 6 months, but on the other hand, that is also the first six months of my adult life where I haven't been, either consciously or subconsciously, in weight-loss mode!!

    I ADORE that jacket, because I think it looks great with your coloring!

    I also think the Advent calendar idea is fantastic! I love seeing all the different Advent calendars people have, and that would be one of the most creative for sure!

    And finally, I think I like your Garmin's numbers better than mine...yours would have set a new PR pace for me for 6+ miles!! ;)

    Thanks again for running with me--it was a blast!!

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  15. Love the cover you made, it's super cute! Good way to keep your mind busy & off food too.

    Like everyone else, loving the idea of an advent calendar. This year my best friend made one for me - we have no kids, just me & my partner, but I really wanted one! Not sure what she's filled it with, but I know it's non-chocolate related as she's doing WW like me :D I'm super excited for 1 Dec to come!

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  16. I have seen people make potholders out of jean pockets. Just a thought:-)

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