Bad holidays--bad, bad, bad!  Too much candy, sweets, and treats!!!  Too much stress eating, too much meats! 

This is the beginning of my Dr. Seuss-esque book about why I hate weight loss during the holidays.  So yeah--  not going so well right now...

Posting Finally!

Well, I felt like there were no changes in my weight forever--but then suddenly my body kicked in gear and down I go again.  I weigh 165--bordering on 164!  That would be 15 pounds!  I guess I was on a plateau--my weight fluctuated around 167 for a long time and now I've been at 165 for almost two weeks!  Hopefully it will keep going down! 

Now--my weight loss has been excrutiatingly slow.  But with that said, it has been easier for me to adapt to.  I say adapt to because it really is a lifestyle change.  The first week or two were definitely the roughest--I just had to eat less.  I was overeating and its as simple as that.  I think it is hard to stop overeating because your body expects it and tells you you are starving when you cut back--even though you are not. 

After a week of being super cranky and drinking ungodly amounts of water, my body finally caved in and gave up on the overeating.  And now--the amount I used to eat is literally not a possibility anymore as I would be sick if I tried to consume that much in one sitting.  When I do eat more than what is "normal" for me now, the feeling is awful.  I feel stuffed, sluggish, and just downright disgusting!

Now--I think when I hit that plateau I had to adjust again.  But only just a little--barely noticeable from adding in extra water consumption again. 

So I think that is a summary of my weight loss so far.  I don't think that I will reach the 35 pounds by my birthday toward the end of December.  I think I am starting to be okay with that too.  I think it is better to do this slow and steady rather than fast and furious.  I will get to that 35 eventually!

13 pounds!  Just trying to eat a little of this and a little of that--not overdo it.  I guess there really is something to portion control.  And exercise.  Probably a combination going on there.  My pants are getting baggy--which is a good thing and a bad thing.  Bad thing because I go around yanking them up (have I mentioned I hate wearing belts), good thing because well--it is becoming more obvious--at least with my clothes--that I am losing some weight!  I'm not going to buy new one right now because I have a ways to go before I reach my goal.  No sense in spending a bunch of money for something temporary.  Right?  Besides I do have a couple of pairs of pants that were too tight.  Maybe they will fit now.  Not sure if pink denim is the style anymore though...or if it ever was really...hmmm, oh well!  Ha ha.  What is fashion if not a good laugh a few years down the road after all.

Day Who Knows

Oh Halloween, why do you torture me so?  Maybe I should just round that statement into fall and winter in general...

well I started writing this and had to stop for some reason.  And I weighed myself between then and now.  I was going to vent about the Halloween candy, etc I have been consuming and how I've probably gained all the weight I'd lost back.  But lo and behold--I lost one more pound.  That is twelve for the record.  And I have to say the candy consumption has made me feel dull and sluggish--which makes me not want to eat anymore after feeling so much healthier.  And it makes me want to get back on the exercise wagon I fell off last week.  So here we go--guess I am back on track. 

Day Fifty Seven

One more pound lost!  Uh, yea!  Nothing else really.  I've been going through ice cream phases now.  I'll go days without eating any--then I'll eat a small bowl like three nights in a row.  Haven't had any today, but had a mini blizzard while I was out with the kids yesterday.  I've eaten several cookies this evening as well as a sickeningly large amount of veggie pizza.  I felt sick after.  It was bad.  Yep.  ...  Okay that's all.

Day Fifty Two

Nothing gained, nothing lost...just a whole lot of nothing going on...*sigh*...

Day Forty Four

10 pounds lighter!  Yes, you read that right--I have lost ten pounds!  Ah cha cha--a-doo-doo a-doo-dit-doo a-doo-doo a-doo-dit-doo uh huh!  (That was my happy dance sound effect in case you were wondering)

I hope I can keep it up--had a major choc-a-tack this evening.  I nuked some semi-sweet morsels and dunked pretzels.  Salty and sweet--SWEET!  Mmmm...sure was tasty.  Better kick it on the elliptical tomorrow for sure!  Can you tell I'm still riding the sugar high?  Me neither...

Day Forty

171 with clothes on this morning!  Woot woot wooty-woot-woot!  So I realize its not a particularly huge loss to be celebrating and that my average weight loss is less than stellar, but I'm still happy with it!  Call me easily pleased, ha ha. 

Even though it is still summer-warm here I am ready for soup season.  I am hoping that will help me even further along.  I made a big pot of homemade tomato soup last night.  There is just something about soup. 

Of course I will try to stay away from filling them with cream this year.  My cholesterol will probably thank me for it.  I'm going to have to figure out how to make some of my creamy classics without cream.  Maybe I'll google it later. 

Some of my favorite soups:  tomato, beef stew, taco soup, Italian meat ball, curried pumpkin, creamy squash, potato, classic noodle, matzo ball, carrot ginger...so many, maybe I'll stop here. 

I wonder if I can make "potato" soup from cauliflower?  Hmmm...

Day Thirty-eight

Well, well dear fat journal...seems I've been neglecting you, haven't I?  Well I was down eight pounds prior to going on a camping trip.  I gained one back.  So I am at 173.  I am beginning to think 35 pounds by my 35th birthday might not be quite realistic.  I'm going to try to get as close as I can though. 

I've decided breaking my ice cream addiction is just not going to happen.  I guess of all the vices to have maybe ice cream isn't so bad.  I AM trying to space out my indulgences and keep them a little smaller when I do have them.  I did not eat ice cream last night.  I think it has been every other night maybe.  Of course I did not eat any while camping, but then there were smores and a little piece of a dulce du leche cake. 

Maybe that is why I am so sweet!  ha ha...

Day Twenty-nine

Not losing weight...blah!

Day Twenty-six

Yea!  I finished my exam!  I have no clue how I did--hard to tell.  I had a stress eating encounter with a load of fried pickles last night though.  Ever had fried pickles?  Dipped in ranch?  Probably every nutritionists nightmare would be my guess.  It is cucumber though and that is healthy, right?  Oh well.  They sure were good...

Tonight is date night at the ballpark.  I'm not a fan of the ballpark food to begin with--stop booing and hissing at me.  I know it is sort of baseball sacrilege to not be into the nachos, hot dogs, etc.  But I'm really not.  That is not one of my eating weaknesses.  I don't even really like hot dogs much--though we eat them often on Friday nights.

Not sure what I'm going to eat tonight--or how I can round out my pickle mess from last night.  Think they sell salads at the ballpark?  Ha ha, yeah right.  That is kinda funny to picture.  So maybe I go with the nachos and load 'em up with jalapenos since that counts as a veggie?  Or maybe I can convince hubby to stop and eat prior to the game?


I guess I'll just have to wait and see...

Day Twenty-five

I've only lost one more pound and I only have a week left of September--ugh!  I could barely propel myself in my workout and it was probably the worst one I've had since I started to exercise again.  I'm trying really hard to finish an exam to get a contract for some work and I'm running out of time to finish so I am stressed about that--I almost skipped the workout to spend more time on the exam--but I figure I'll just stay up late tonight to work on it and hopefully finish.  I was stressed working on it last night and had a late-night mug of ice cream (breyers, chocolate cookies-n-cream*drool*).  I need some motivation.  I think I can, I think I can...

Day Twenty

Welcome to day twenty of my lifestyle change journey.  It doesn't even feel like its been that long really.  I think my stomach must be getting smaller *shrinking*?  It does not take nearly as much to fill me up or get me to the point of feeling sick from being too full.  It is weird how your body adapts so quickly to change. 

I feel good--I mean I still have a long way to go.  But I think I already feel healthier.  Can six pounds make a difference like that or is it more mental?  Either way I'll take it. 

To sum it up--twenty is good, thirty will be even better!

Day Nineteen

Sticking right at 174--two weeks to lose 4 pounds to stay on schedule!  We are having hot dogs and popcorn (and I can pack away the popcorn), so I am going to have to watch my portions!  I think I'll be fine though as I am feeling super motivated right now. 

So far I've stuck to my workouts--I said I wanted to get in at least 4 or 5 in a week and I've been doing about 5 or 6.  Yea for me!  I still need to figure out some strength building...on my to-do.

Weekends seem to be a week point for me so I am going to try to batten down the hatches this time.  Wish me luck!

Day Sixteen

Well I was going to get on here and rant and rave about how much I hate this lifestyle change and how I ate too much pizza + breadsticks and then had two big ol' scoops of chips ahoy ice cream last night and I don't give two flips about it because every bite was like a little taste of heaven.  

I was going to--but then when I weighed myself this morning I was down to --wait for it-- 174!!!  ~A total loss of six pounds~  I don't know how the heck that happened, but I'm gonna take it as my "get out of jail" card and run with it.

So I am back to small portions, working out, and focus on getting back to a reasonable weight.  I guess a little over indulgence once in a long while is okay. 

Enough said.

Day Fourteen

Weight loss journeys seem to have their fair share of disappointment, don't they?  Yesterday I was down FOUR pounds--very exciting!  Then this morning I was back up a pound.  It makes me feel a little frustrated but also makes me want to go at it a little harder when I work out today and scrutinize my portions better. 

I definitely splurged a little this weekend--and it caught up quick.  Outside the mercury is rising and it makes me feel more sluggish.  I have the house all to myself right now--so I am going to get busy with some speed cleaning.  Hopefully that will burn a few calories!

Day Twelve

Just did the elliptical workout and it really kicked me.  I barely got 2.5 miles in 30 minutes--and it was a real struggle to keep up a pace toward the end. 

On a positive note--I weighed in 3 pounds lighter overall.  That is seven more to go for September.  That is if I figure in 10 pounds per month to reach my goal.  It definitely gives me a motivational boost.  Like maybe I can do this.

Ice cream is going to be a continuous struggle.  I ate two servings night before last and last night I was down to one serving in a mug. 

Portion sizes are getting easier for me to judge also.  It takes a while to adjust I can see to eat only what I should be eating.  Tonight we are going to have nachos with leftover turkey taco meat (w/ pureed veggies, onions, green chiles, pinto beans).  We had taco salads last night--that was a treat for me because I am letting myself "super-size" lettuce portions.  I hope I can keep the nacho portions reigned in.  If I add a bunch of hot sauce or jalapenos, I'll do better.  For some reason making my food spicy helps me feel fuller with these smaller portions.

Day Ten, Part Two

I was so good at dinner!  I ate one--only one--egg roll.  I had a small portion of the lo mein noodles (made with wheat), and a little bit of orange chicken on top.

However, when I heard hubby scooping out ice cream--all willpower melted away.  BUT--it could be worse.  I had him measure out one cup for me--two servings for a total of 240 calories.  Yeah, I probably could've done better.  Still, one cup is actually quite a bit and it totally made me feel fine with not going nuts eating egg rolls, noodles, etc.  And I totally had my ice cream fix completely fulfilled. 

That said--I will be trying for a speed-walker's high tomorrow when I meet up with a friend to blaze trails!

Day Ten

Uh yeah--skipping garlic bread just won't happen for me.  Couldn't do it.  The smell wafting up from the oven kicked my hind end.  As in, I ate a whole piece.  I did keep my pasta intake in check.

For lunch today I polished off the leftover salad from last night.  I'm using Newman's Light Balsamic dressing.  It is really tasty.  I also ate a strawberry.  I'm going to have to figure out a snack shortly--not wanting more PB today.

I am slowly getting back to where I was on the elliptical.  I did 2.7 miles in 30 minutes.  I'd love to get ramped back up to 3 miles in 30 minutes.  Then when I can do that I'll start throwing some hills into the mix. 

I need to work in some strength building--but I really do not like weights.  It is soooooooooo boring!  I need to figure out some other options.

A friend loaned me Jorge Cruise's book about the 3 hour diet.  I started reading it today--but have not gotten very far.  I vaguely remember trying to eat every three hours in the past and gaining a ton of weight--ha ha.  Of course each was probably like a whole meal as opposed to little meals--there's my portion control issue again I guess. 

Exercise makes me feel so good.  I feel happier, less moody, more easy-going with my kids, and I know it makes me healthier.  So why is it so hard to get motivated to do then?  I'm going to brainwash myself into loving it!

Started watching Inception today during my workout--I switched from Crazy Heart.  Crazy Heart just wasn't going to cut it for an exercise movie.  Hopefully the pace will pick up in Inception a little. 

On the menu tonight:  Orange chicken, lo mein, and baked egg rolls.  There are 190 calories in a single egg roll--boohoo.  I guess I'll be eating one egg roll--sans sauce and a tiny bit of orange chicken and noodles.  It'll probably still be like 500 million calories.  =(

Guess after this week I am going to have to start planning meals better.  To end on a positive note--I have definitely lost about a pound and a half.  Ten days in, but I am learning slowly about all the changes that have to be made.

Day Nine

After dropping the kiddos off for preschool, I went and walked with a friend for 2.5 miles.  That was my exercise for the day. 

I also figured out that milk is making me fat.  =(  Who knew there were so many calories in a glass.  I drink my coffee with half 2% milk--after four cups that is like 260 calories--just for coffee!  Coffee with half milk is now nixed!  Starting tomorrow my coffee will be black with just a splash of milk. 

There are a lot more calories in everything than I thought.  I am going to really have to pay attention to serving sizes and portions!  YIKES!

With that said--I had a bowl of cereal this morning with my several cups of calorie laced coffee.  Then for lunch I ate leftover veggie migas, had peanut butter on apple slices and carrot sticks for our afternoon snack and tonight I am making a fauxagna with salad and, um, garlic bread.  See, a while back I made the discovery that the marked down baguettes make rockin' good garlic bread. 

Just slice them up smear both sides with the garlic butter and freeze on a cookie sheet.  Then slide them into a bag and return to the freezer and you have ready-made garlic bread any time.  Of course I discovered all this pre-lifestyle change. 

I can only imagine how many extra calories one little slice is going to ambush me with.  Maybe I can skip it tonight and just serve them to my calorie burning family!  Maybe.  My mantra tonight: salad is the bomb!

Day Eight

Oops, what happened to Day Seven?  Oh yeah, Life!  Ha ha ha!  Yesterday I worked out--my best so far!  I had to after biscuits with sausage gravy.  It was turkey sausage, but let's face it--a meal composed mostly of flour is probably not the best fodder for weight loss. 

For lunch, I ate half of the half of leftover stromboli plus three small sausage balls for a snack later.  Then for dinner half a plate of veggie migas with a few rosemary potatoes during a visit with my folks.

Today is a Labor Day cookout and I am not going to worry about it.  I might consume a few liquid calories to help wash down the ribs.  I'll get a workout in beforehand.  Maybe that will help offset a little. 

Happy Labor Day!

Day Six, Part Two

Didn't fix dinner--we went out to eat.  I ate two garlicky parm mini rolls dipped in tomato sauce and half of the veggie & sausage stromboli I ordered with water to drink. 

I'm also proud to announce I turned down hubby's offer to scoop me a bowl when he scooped his.  I'm now, however, having scoop-decline remorse and am going to make a glass of chocolate milk as my substitute. 

Take that ice cream cravings that just won't die!  So there!  Ha!

Day Six

I'm not going to workout today.  I am tired.  I had a fun night out last night--and drank too many calories.  But I am not going to worry about it. 

I've already decided I need to amp up my water intake today. 

When I got up this morning--I decided nothing would do except some big fat biscuits with sausage, egg, and cheese.  So that's what I made.  I threw together some drop biscuits with a combination of white and wheat flour, milk, canola oil, salt, and baking powder.  Then whipped eggs with a little milk and water and poured into a dab of melted smart balance (the kind with flax)--cooked that into a big sheet in my flat skillet.  Then fried up some turkey sausage patties.  Slapped it all together with a sprinkle of reduced fat sharp cheddar (the sharp part is important), black pepper, and a dab of mustard.  Mmm.  I could eat about a dozen of them!  I ate two.  I know, I know--not gonna lose weight eating seconds. 

That was brunch.  Well, that and my coffee with milk. 

Open-face Turkey Joes and Oven Fries are on the menu tonight.  My mantra this evening: portion control, portion control, no seconds, drink water, portion control. 

Day Five

I ate a bowl of ice cream last night.  It was a little bowl--of Reese's pb cup ice cream.  It was sooooooo good.  I wanted to lick the bowl clean.  I didn't. 

I also had a second helping of salad--it was mostly lettuce, and some halved red grapes, a little bit of blue cheese, a few crushed pecans, a sprinkle of Newman's own light balsamic vinagrette.  I did not get a second helping of the ham, broccoli, and cheddar quiche--even though I really wanted one. 

I guess I've had my desserts now for the week.  The total is three this time.  Next week I'll aim for two like I planned.  Maybe I can go at the elliptical extra hard today. 

I started watching Gattaca during the workout yesterday.  I think I should've picked something a little more action packed.  I think I am going to have to do a search on best action flicks and start recording them as I can.

Maybe I can corral the kids into another yoga workout.  I'm off to try!

Day Four

I'm hungry.  I'm hungry a lot.  I'm trying to drink lots of water.  It sucks feeling hungry.  I wonder how long it will take to not feel so hungry all the time?  On a positive note--I did not eat ice cream once again last night.  I was very, very tempted. 

I also withheld the urge to help "clean" my kids plates when they were done.  I've noticed I have a terrible time with "wasted" food.  I have to remember that overeating is not a solution to food waste.  Smaller servings might be what is needed here.  I think maybe I serve my kids too much food.  I wish I could eat like they do though--just enough to feel full.  Unfortunately, I don't recognize "full" in time. 

I'm going to be really careful about pushing them to eat when they are not hungry.  It is hard finding a balance though.  Last night my daughter did not want to eat her dinner and only ate a couple of bites.  We told her she would not get anything later (as in the past when she would use food as a ploy to stay up later--and not have to eat what I served).  She was fine at the time--but of course later wanted to eat a banana or graham crackers--ha!  I feel like such a mean mama, but I stuck to it and told her next time she needed to eat her dinner with us.  I feel like if I cave in--it will kick up the I'm-hungry-when-its-bed-time cycle again. 

Balance. 

Okay--writing this post is making me feel even hungrier.  So I am going to go do something constructive and distracting--like laundry, bleh.

Day Three, Part Two

I totally kicked it on the elliptical today!  I usually watch movies while I work out on it.  These last three work outs I watched Date Night with Tina Fey and Steve Carell.  I finished it this time--very funny.  The action sequences seem to get me moving more too.  I've noticed that about workouts.  I need to stick to action movies.  I tried to watch a drama once and it felt like I was moving in slo-mo.   The better the action sequence the faster I go, funny huh?

Day Three

I weighed in this morning on the scales and no change.  It is always a few pounds different depending on when I weigh myself so today for all intents and purposes it was 180 lbs. with pjs still on and a few cups of milk/coffee already downed.  My target weight by the end of December = 145 lbs.  That will be a difference of 35 lbs. 

On the ice cream front: I skipped my nightly ice cream ritual last night for the first time since I can't remember when!  Woohoo!  Let's see if I can keep it up!  I'm going to try for a two night/week treat and see if I can hang with that on the dessert front.  Maybe I should say two desserts per week period!  Not sure if I can stick to that but I'm going to try.

On a sad note, I went back for an extra helping of Jambalaya last night--it was half of my first helping, but I also ate a half of another piece of garlic bread with it.  Why didn't I have a second helping of salad instead?  After all, that was part of the meal too.  Oh well, too late now to dwell.

I am going to kick it up on the elliptical today = no checking emails while I am on.  I noticed yesterday that I while I read emails I went a lot slower.  I am only doing thirty minutes anyway.  I'm also going to see if my kids will do the yoga for kids dvd (they have been rebelling lately) so I can do that with them.  I need to work in strength building somehow.  I have a couple of hand weights, but holy guacamole, is that ever boring!

I'm proud to announce I have a "health" buddy too.  She is going to help keep me in check.  I think everybody needs a health buddy, don't you?  I wish she lived closer so we could work out together--although with my two little ones that would only happen on on their preschool/mother's day out day anyway =/

Lastly--I'm going to state that I will not be spending money on health clubs, fitness classes, etc.  First, we just do not have the extra money and there are far more important financial priorities for our family--and by that I mean groceries, utility bills, mortgage, gymnastics for my daughter, preschool (for me mostly), saving for a down payment on the truck my husband is going to eminently need, etc.  Second, I can't stand the idea of shelling out our hard-earned money because I have a few self-control issues that I need to deal with.  That hardly seems fair to my family.  Third, if I'm going to spend money over food issues I'd rather be donating it to a food bank so that the people who can't afford to eat, can. 

Its the last item, the third reason that makes me feel most idiotic for my food issues.  We really can't afford my food issues either.  Ice cream is $$$.  And I feel so selfish when I think about how much extra we are spending and the fact that there are people struggling to buy any food at all.  On that note, I'm off to corral the kids into a yoga workout.

Day Two

I'm sad to report I did, in fact, eat ice cream last night.  Maybe I should have named this blog Musings of an Ice Cream Addict.  I have a feeling that topic will creep up a lot.  I also did not exercise.  =/  I only ate one helping of dinner last night though--so that counts for something, right?

I am happy to report however--I ate the actual serving amount of cereal this morning (as opposed to 2x the amount), I worked out on my elliptical for 30 minutes.  And so far have not gone nuts with pigging out on anything.  I did eat a handful of Funions though for an afternoon snack.  It was totally not satisfying and I am hungry right now writing this.  Ho hum.

Can I just drink about three or four cups of half milk (2%)/half coffee and skip breakfast?  I was thinking about it and its an awful lot of milk to consume.  Especially if followed by cereal with milk.  Or is that like skipping breakfast?  Why is healthy nutrition so gosh darned hard to figure out.  I've been trying to drink a lot of water today.  I can see this being an issue.  I love water, but do not like drinking it ALL the time.

Day One

I will be turning 35 at the end of this year.  Losing weight has been on my to-do list for a long time but it hasn't been a priority.  This blog is going to be my motivation to bump this item to the top of the list.  I know I am overweight--maybe even obese.  When I look in the mirror I don't see myself that way most of the time.  When I see myself in a photograph, I can tell.  What is the difference?  I have no clue!  Starting today I am going to try to be real with myself about this.  I am going to admit that I eat a bowl of ice cream literally every night before bed!  Yikes--did I just write that out?  Anyway, here I go (deep breath)--I am going to make a lifestyle change starting today and my goal is to lose 35 pounds before I turn 35.  I probably need to lose more than that--but I figure you got to start somewhere.  Wish me luck!

Lizzy