Thursdays success

It was an exercise free day for me and that felt nice.

My caloric intake was supposed to be 1700 today. I stayed within my limits. For breakfast I had cinnamin spice oatmeal(200). I treated myself to a coffee coolatta today(170). For lunch I had a greek salad with chicken(500). I had some peanut butter for a quick snack(124). For dinner I had a burrito(260) with sour cream(40) and some olives(50). For dessert I had some popcorn(120) and an ice cream sandwich(140). My total for today was 1584. I am going to keep it at that because some of the food was not all that healthy.

Today was measurement day for me. I am so pleased with my results. I wish I had taken my measurements when I started this program back in September so I could see the total results.
Here are the measurements and the losses--all areas were losses!!
bust: 1.75 inches
waist: 6 inches --couldn't believe it so I measured 3 times!!!
thigh: 1 inch
hips: 1.5 inches
arm: .75 inches
neck: .5 inches

I also measured the area where my bra strap sits but I don't know what to call that(I named it the band area)
band(basically under bust): .5 inches lost

Overall, I lost 12 inches. I am so excited by that!!! I took a good look at myself in the mirror this morning--which is not usually what I like to do while naked---and could really see the difference. I have kind of avoided looking lately so that I would be surprised. I have, of course, checked myself out in clothes, but they do cover up problem areas. I put on a pair of pants that I bought about 2 weeks ago. I had not yet worn them and they are already big enough to pull up and down without undoing the button on the fly. I was so shocked by that. I have lost a lot of inches in the waist area in the last couple of weeks. I know some of it is being toner, but I can see a big difference in that area the most.

I had talked to Sassy about the post pregnancy/c-section belly fat. It is getting better, although it is going to take a long time to try to shrink, even with all of the weight and inch loss. Part of that is the fact that I have been overweight for a long time and part of that is from having a twin pregnancy that completely distended my skin. I will keep on trucking with those 7 minute abs. which I try to do at least 3 times a week.

I also got my bloodwork results from the doctor. My triglycerides are at 260 and shouldn't be over 150. My cholesterol is pretty good--217, should be at 200 or below. I unfortunately have horrible genetics for these two numbers. Both of my parents have high cholesterol and triglycerides. My mom's can be controlled with diet but my dad's can not. He takes medicine. I eat oatmeal at least 4 times a week, fish a few times a week and turkey, chicken or pork the rest of the week. When I told the nurse what I was eating, she said I can't do much more to control it by diet. So she suggested that I start taking a fish oil supplement. So today I started that. I will get a re check on the bloodowork in 6 months. My cholesterol has always been on the higher end of average and with age things have a tendency to get higher. The nurse wasn't that worried about my numbers other than the triglycerides. I am going to do some research myself when I get a chance to see if there is anything else natural that can help. Any suggestions are welcome.

So overall, I had a successful month in the measurement department. I will weigh in this weekend to see how I did in the weight department. I feel really bloated in my fingers the last couple of days so I am a bit concerned.

Wonderful Wednesday

It was all I could do today to get out of bed to exercise. I hit snooze twice, which is not me at all. I usually just get right out of bed and start my day. I made it though....I rode the bike for 25 minutes and did some strength training for about 10 minutes after that. Tonight I walked on the treadmill for 35 minutes at a decent speed, but not as fast as I usually do. My foot has been hurting the last couple of days so I think tomorrow may have to be a day off. I had planned it as a possible rest day and I think since I haven't skipped in over 2 weeks, I am going to sleep in a little tomorrow morning.

As for my calorie intake today, I changed it to be only 1500 calories. I stayed within my allotment with a total of 1492. For breakfast, I had oatmeal(150). For lunch, I ate a small salad150) and a small amount of chicken salad(150). I also had a chocolate covered pretzel(200). For snack, I had 5m ini egg rolls(225). For dinner, I made fish cakes with cod this time, a bean salad and spinach(total=582). Dessert was a cup of popcorn(35). Overall, I did well today.

Tuesday's success

I must admit, I ate some chocolate last night after I wrote my blog. So I went over a bit--about 100 on the calories. To help combat this, I reduced today's calories by 100. So I was allotted 1500 today. For breakfast I had honey nut cheerios with milk(265). I had a cookie bar for snack(100). For lunch, I had a salad with half an avocado(300). I had a fruit cup and pretzels for snack(250). For dinner, I took the kids to Applebees since the hubby was on a business trip. I had a Weight Watcher meal that was Cajun Tilapia with rice, bean and corn salsa and steamed veggies. It totaled 310 calories. I also had a piece of bread(100) and a few of the kids fries(100). That leaves me with 75 calories left for the day, which is enough for a cup of hot chocolate--just what I need on such a yucky day.

I exercised this morning with a walk on the treadmill. I thought about exercising this evening again, but I am tired since I went to bed late. I am scheduled to exercise twice tomorrow so that is fine.

I have modified my calorie allotment for the week. I am trying to stay under 12000 total for the week. I will see if I can do it. Tomorrow is another 1500 calorie day and that is tough to have two in a row, but I am trying to have at least 3 1500 calorie days a week on advice from the doctor. I hope it works! I will let you know as the week progresses if I can keep going at the low amount for more than 3 days.

Monday, Monday

So the week begins with a low cal day. Even though I only had 1400 calories allotted today, I was so busy that it didn't matter that much. I didn't get a chance to eat more than one piece of bacon(40) for breakfast today. For lunch I ate an individual pizza and a few grapes(375 total). I had my afternoon burrito for snack(280). For dinner I had a salad with pretzels and a half an avocado(650). That leaves me at 1345 total for the day. I have been trying to figure out what I can snack on because I am almost sure that I will need a snack to get me through without failure. I may have to go over in calories, but not by much. I am thinking of having a cup of chai tea again because it is only 70 calories. That will give me a total of 1410, which is totally acceptable.

This morning I was running around doing various household chores and playing with my kids. When I got the chance, I turned on an walking video and the kids all did it with me. That was fun!!

Now on to a nice but weird event. Last night at the dinner table, out of the blue, my 6 year old daughter said to me, "Mommy, you look skinnier." I asked her what she meant and she said the same thing. When I asked him later, my husband said he did not tell her to say that. It is the second time that she has mentioned that to me since I have been losing weight. I don't use that word with the kids-"skinny"-- because it seems to have a negative connotation for me. So we use the words, getting healthier, thinner and stronger. It is so interesting to me that she sees changes in me. It makes me feel good to know that she is in tune with me. She also likes to exercise when I do. Last night she wanted to walk the treadmill while my husband rode the bike, so she did for 15 minutes. What great exercise for her!!

Successful Sunday

Today I was allowed 1500 calories and I stayed completely within my limits at 1390 total for the day. For breakfast I had regular oatmeal(100). At about 11:30 I was hungry but didn't want to eat lunch so I had some cheese crackers(200). For lunch I had a tuna sandwich on wheat with a slice of American cheese(310) and a pickle(20). For my afternoon snack with the kids I had some popcorn(70). For dinner, I made a new Asian stir fry package that we bought the last time we were at Costco. It includes noodles, Chinese veggies and a sauce. It is meant as a side dish, but if you add a protein(in my case chicken) you can make it the main dish. So we had the stir fry(600) and I made some of the mini egg rolls(90). I am definitely going to have a snack later--I think I will treat myself to a cup of chai tea because it relaxes me.

Exercising was not what I wanted to do today, but I managed to ride the bike for 30 minutes after I fed the kids lunch. It felt good, but I just had so many little things to do today that I didn't want to stop that to exercise.

Here is the plan for the upcoming week:
Monday: 1400 cardio and strength
Tuesday: 1600 cardio
Wednesday: 1750 cardio 2x
Thursday: 1500 rest
Friday: 1650 cardio and strength AM/cardio PM
Saturday: 1600 cardio
Sunday: 2500 cardio

I know last week I set an exercise schedule and was not able to stick to it, although I did exercise. So I am going to try to set a plan of exercise for the week and see what happens. I think as long as I exercise and try to get some strength training in, it is a successful week.

This week is a big one for me because I am going to check my measurements. I am almost positive that I will see some changes in the numbers because I see it when I look at myself in the mirror. I also hope to see a change in the number on the scale on Thursday.

As always, here's to a good week!

Sinful Saturday

Well, today was my splurge day and it was great. For the first time in a long time, I just ate whatever I felt like. I have to admit that on many splurge days I try to estimate what I eat and that has defeated the purpose of a splurge day. I had a roasted pepper, onion and goat cheese sandwich on ciabatta bread. How yummy!! I am so grateful that Sassy brought me to the new restaurant. The cheese fries we shared were great too! Then we spent a nice long time relaxing and being creative while we painted pottery. What a nice day!

The hubby made a plate for me and I had a bit of chicken, leeks and peas for dinner. I am not used to just eating a couple of meals, but I seemed to manage. I am full now though.

I was not intending to exercise today, but I decided to tonight because I felt so full and wanted to walk some of it off. I am going to plan a skip day in my schedule this week for sure but I am not certain which one. I will figure that out tomorrow.

What a great day!! So glad I got to spend it with Sassy!

Frustrating Friday

Work stunk today because it was so busy, but at least the day flew by and I didn't keep looking at the clock. I got my blood work done this morning and since it was a fasting script, I treated myself to a sausage, egg and cheese bagel afterwards(640). Since that was a lot of calories to use on a 1600 calorie day, I ate a lot of small snacks during the rest of the day. For lunch I had a frozen meal of stir fry in Hunan sauce(270). I also had a package of cookies with it(100). When I got home from work, I had cheese crackers(130) and 2 mini egg rolls(90). I just seem to need a snack to get through at that time of day. For dinner I had a small salad(250) to combat all the snacking. Today I also had 3 hard candies(70).

I did exercise this morning at a good pace for 30 minutes before work. Tonight I also walked for 15 minutes and rode the bike for another 15 minutes after that. I know I keep complaining about the exercise limitations that I have, but I so wish that I had more time in the morning to do a longer workout. Even if I could get 45 minutes in it would be great, but like I have said before, waking up any earlier than 5:15 just won't work for me. The doctor told me that she recommends 30 minutes of exercise a day and it doesn't have to be consecutive. I don't see how that can be as beneficial as doing cardio for 30 minutes at a time. So what I am trying to convince myself is that I am doing the cardio for 30 minutes twice a day so that must be good also, even though I would rather be able to do one long workout.

All in all, I think I had a good day on the plan.

Thursday's test

Well, another 1500 day and I was successful. For breakfast, I ate a banana and a couple pieces of chocolate(170), I know, not a great breakfast, but my period is playing tricks on me today. For lunch I had a vegetable burrito with sour cream(280). For snack I needed salt to compensate for the chocolate this morning so I had reduced fat cheese crackers(260). For a late afternoon snack I had 4 mini egg rolls(180). For dinner I had whole wheat spaghetti with homemade sauce that had meat, crushed tomatoes and sausage topped with Parmesan cheese(581). So that is a grand total of 1471 calories for the day. I am very happy about that considering all the junky food I ate today.

In the exercise department, I did Leslie Sansone's Walk Way the Pounds for Abs. I worked hard this morning even though I had done that video last week. I went deeper on the squats and side stepping today. It is only a 30 minute video but it is also for strength training so I get the best of cardio and strength all in one. Tonight I rode the bike hard for 30 minutes.

All in all, a good day.

Mid-week success

Today I allotted myself 1700 calories. That was a higher amount that the last two days so I found it easier. For breakfast I had 3 egg whites on a slice of wheat bread(121) and two pieces of sausage(80). For lunch I had a very small salad(120), pretzels(110) and a home made granola bar(153). For snack I had my usual veggie burrito with a dollop of sour cream(280). I also got carried away and had a few pieces of chocolate(200). For dinner, I had pork with sauce from the other day, creamed spinach, and fries(460). I will have hot chocolate(120) for dessert in a few minutes. That will put my total for the day at 1644.

Today I walked on the treadmill for 50 minutes and did the elliptical trainer for 5 minutes--my foot couldn't take it anymore. I did 5 more minutes of weight lifting. My exercise this week has been a bit messed up, but at least I am getting to it even though it wasn't how I planned. I am just still a bit tired and having period cramps, bloating and pain from lifting my daughter sometimes when she isn't wearing her supportive boot for the fracture.

I think I would classify today as a good day on the program. Tomorrow is a 1500 calorie day. I am planning to be busy tomorrow so that will help me not eat. Instead of working tomorrow I am off and have a job interview in the afternoon. In the morning I intend to bathe the kids and do some chores so I can be active.

Tuesday came and went

Today really went by quickly, which is great because I am tired. For breakfast I had apple cinnamon oatmeal(150). For snack I had a fruit cup(150). For lunch I had the meal I missed Sunday night, which was pork, fries and green beans(387). For snack I had my favorite veggie burrito(260). For dinner I made a new dish--salmon fish cakes. They were very yummy and I would make them again in a heartbeat. I also had some more green beans for dinner(total=650). Here is the fish cake recipe http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/780
So today my total was 1597, which puts me at 53 calories below my allowed 1650.

As for exercise, I had some foot limitations due to the weather and carrying my daughter around the last couple of days. I was able to walk for 15 minutes. Then I rode the bike for another 15 minutes and I pushed myself to a higher level than I had ever done on the bike before. It felt good. I also did some weight lifting while I rode the bike. I think my exercise plan for the week is just to at least get exercise in and not worry about the strength training vs. cardio since I have the added stress of dealing with my daughter being a little more needy. She is very capable of moving around, but she just seems to want mommy more than usual, which makes me a bit more tired than usual.

Anyway, I think I had a good day on the plan today.

Manic Monday

So after a long night yesterday that involved a trip to the ER for my daughter--who decided that she should jump off a couch---I managed to stay within my allotment today, which was 1500. For breakfast I had a homemade granola bar(110). For lunch, we treated ourselves and the kids to McDonald's--not the healthiest, but I counted the calories none-the-less. I had a Big Mac and fries(922). Since we had a large lunch, we had salad and a baked potato for dinner(383). So I had a total of 1415 today.

I barely had any energy to exercise, but I managed to get 15 minutes on the treadmill and 15 minutes on the bike just before dinner. I didn't feel like pushing too hard, but I did try the next level up on the bike. I am so tired that I might not be able to wake up tomorrow morning to exercise. I will try, but if not, I will try to exercise twice on Wednesday and Thursday to make up for it. So overall, a decent day considering the exhaustion level.

Since this is a public blog, I was wondering if anyone was reading it. If you are and have any suggestions about how I could make the blog more interesting, informative or inspiring, please feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear from people who have been through the same process or who are struggling with the same issues that I do. Also, feel free to ask me any questions.

Exhausting but successful day

So now I am at a total of 36 pounds lost. I ran around all day and didn't sit at all so I am beat. I kept to my calories today--1700. I am actually too tired to write all the numbers down. I will just say I stayed within the limits(actually about 150 calories lower). I also exercised this morning--20 minutes on the bike and 10 on the Elliptical trainer.

My plan for the week is as follows:
M: 1500 --cardio
T: 1650 --cardio 2x with strength in the AM
W: 1700 --cardio 2x
Th:1500 --cardio 2x with strength in the AM
F : 1600 --cardio
S : 3000--cardio
Su:1500--cardio

I have only dropped my calories to 1500 for 3 days this week. I have reduced the overall amount of calories I am intaking for the week. I will see if I can stick to that.

Have a great week!

Fufilling Friday

Today was a pretty good day. I stayed within my calorie allotment(1625) even though I didn't eat particularly healthy. For breakfast I had a couple bites of my daughter's dry cereal and something else that I didn't write down but the calories totalled 150 so I know it was more than cereal. For lunch I had a burrito(280). For snack I had pretzels and dip(720). I just couldn't stop eating them and I might pay for that in water retention tomorrow. For dinner I had 2 pieces of pepperoni bread(352). That still leaves me with 123 calories left for the day, but I think I am not interested in eating anything else tonight. I will just drink my lemon water instead. I enjoy that every night as a treat instead of the same old plain water.

For exercise, I walked on the treadmill for 40 minutes. I was supposed to do strength training, but I will do that tomorrow with one of my walking videos.

I saw the doctor today and she said I am doing a good job but I might want to lower my calories to 1500. I am not certain that I can do that everyday so I will try to do it a couple times a week. Right now I am going to lessen my intake to 1500 3 times a week. And to 1600 another 2 times a week with one day of 1800 in the middle of the week. I know I was being successful my way, but I will try this for about 2 weeks and see if I can manage it. She also suggest that I eat 6 small meals a day. I kind of do that already. I think I am okay in that department. She was proud of me for what I have done so far and that I am so dedicated. She told me about a book to read and I might look for it in the library the next time I am there. I am going to get some blood work also so that she can check my levels.

An interesting thing she told me was that I should set goals based on percentages instead of pounds. So the goal is to lose 10% of your body weight in 3 months. So for example, if a person weights 170 pounds, he/she needs to set a goal of 17 pounds the first 3 months. This is so that as you lose weight, you are able to lose reasonable amounts instead of thinking you can lose 20 pounds every three months. I am going to have to look at my goal for March and see if what I set out to lose is reasonable.

If I ever have any questions about how I am doing, I feel very comfortable calling her and talking to her now that she knows what I am attempting to do.

A good day

I had 1750 calories to use today and I was successful with staying in the limits. For breakfast I had a bagel with cream cheese(430). I had a snack this morning--one of my 100 calorie cookie packs. For lunch, I had veggie lasagna and 2 cookies that a co worker had brought in for us today(500). I also had a piece of chocolate candy bar(120) It was nice to have a day off from packing lunch. I had a burrito(260) for snack today. I love those things and they really keep me full until dinner since we eat later these days. For dinner I had a salad(225). I also made soup, but I wasn't hungry after my salad so I didn't eat any soup. I will probably have a bit of popcorn later(75). My total for the day will be 1710.

As for my exercise today, I thought about skipping altogether. I didn't exercise this morning because I needed the sleep. Tonight my foot hurt from the weather so I rode the bike for 20 minutes. I used a higher level than usual. Then I did some strength training and ab work. So overall I worked out for 30 minutes. Not my most stressful workout, but at least I got my heart rate up for a while.

All in all, I had a successful day on the plan!

A better day

After switching my calories to 1600 today, 1750 tomorrow and 1625 for Friday(so I didn't have 2 1600 days in a row), I was successful. For breakfast I had oatmeal(160) and a coffee coolatta(190). I don't know why I needed to have one of those on one of the coldest mornings so far this winter, but I did. For lunch I had a salad(200). I was hungry when I got home so I had my favorite veggie burrito(260) with sour cream(30). I also had some chocolate chips(110)--I needed the sweet. For dinner, I made burgers, sauteed onions, and left over cauliflower(450). That puts me at a total of 1565 for the day. I ate dinner late tonight so I am hoping that I won't need a snack. I might treat myself to a glass of diet soda later.

In the exercise department, I managed to drag myself out of bed and walk the treadmill at a good pace for about 30 minutes this morning. This evening, I walked for about 35 minutes on the treadmill again.

I must tell you a good thing....I wore a pair of blue dress pants yesterday that I thought I had worn the week before. It turns out that aorund 2PM I noticed they were a bit tight on the button. I went to the bathroom to adjust them and noticed that they were the smaller ones. About 3 weeks ago I couldn't wear those pants without having them feel tight all day. Now they were just a bit of an annoyance later in the day. That felt great!!

Overall, I had a good day on the program. I am still having some upset stomach issues, but I am hopeful that I will be better tomorrow.

Terrible Tuesday

So I did great in the morning. I managed to get a 30 minute strength workout in with my exercise ball--that is a sight to see because I am not highly coordinated. I had oatmeal(160) for breakfast with a cup of fruit(50). I had a hot chocolate(80) mid-morning. For lunch I had a frozen meal that was Asian pot stickers and rice(260) and a cookie bar(100). I had chips for snack(580) at work. When I got home, I was starving and ate a veggie burrito(260). For dinner, I had steak, oven fried potatoes and green beans. So basically, I went over my calorie allotment by 221 calories. So I switched my 1850 day that I had planned for tomorrow until today. I knew when I got home from work that is what I was going to do since I was so hungry. Tomorrow will be a 1675 day to make up for today's hunger pains. It wasn't that bad of a day, but still, I went over by more than I ever have before. I also managed to exercise for 30 minutes tonight on the treadmill. I hope I do better tomorrow. I am having a need to go off the wagon, but I am trying to wait until Saturday when I get to splurge.

I am wondering if I need to use the fat loss calorie amount instead of the extreme fat loss number. That would give me more calories a week to play with. If I don't use them it would be alright, but at least they would be available. I am going to think about that for next week's plan.

A tough day

Since I was only allowed 1500 calories today, I thought it might be tough. It turned out to be not that bad after all. For breakfast I had cheerios with milk. For lunch I had a burrito and some chips. For snack I had 4 mini egg rolls. For dinner I had chicken breast in a wine and garlic sauce with mushrooms and broccoli. My total calories equaled 1498. (I am not near my list, so I can't exactly remember my numbers...I just know my total).

I exercised this morning on the treadmill for 20 minutes and then on the elliptical for almost 10, but my foot gave up so I had to stop. This evening I walked for another 30 minutes on the treadmill.

Unfortunately, I had a terrible stomach ache all day and some bathroom issues to go along with it. I am not certain if it is from the milk I had this morning, but whatever it is, it is uncomfortable and has wiped me out. I hope to be able to wake up and exercise before work tomorrow, but if not, I will in the evening.

Satisfying Weekend

Yesterday was a splurge day and I figure I ate about 2500 calories. I didn't eat much in the morning except a few cookies. I ate a snack bar for lunch and for dinner I had a hamburger and fries. I had some chips later on and also a bit of candy. What a great day!! I even got to exercise with a walking and strength video before the craziness of the day began.

Today I was allotted 1750 calories. I didn't even get close for some reason. I think I was so full from yesterday that I didn't need to eat that much today. For breakfast I had a little bit of dried cereal and some orange juice(250). For lunch, I bought a pre-made turkey and cheese sandwich at the supermarket. I estimate it to be about 500 calories. I think that may be high, but better to overestimate. I also ate cheese crisps(100) with it. For snack I tasted the pepperoni bread that my hubby was preparing for a food day at his office. I didn't calculate the calories exactly, but I estimate it to be about 150. For dinner, my hubby made a new recipe. It was pork shoulder with various kinds of peppers and a yummy spice mix. We put it on top of rice with a bot of sour cream. All in all, I calculate my serving to be 491 calories. For dessert, I had no sugar jello with cool whip(75). So overall I had 1566 calories today. I may treat myself to a hot chocolate later(80), but I am pretty full right now.

As for exercise, I managed to get 2 sessions in today. This morning I walked for 40 minutes on the treadmill. Not at my usual speed, which is about 3.3 miles per hour, but at about 2.9 mph. My foot has been mildly irritated this past week and it is slow to recover. It seems to be getting better so I didn't want to stress it too much. This evening, I rode the bike for 10 minutes and then did some strength training. I worked on my abs for a while with my exercise ball. Then I just used some free weights and worked out my arms. In total I exercised for 30 minutes again tonight.

Here is the plan for the upcoming week:
Monday: 1500 cardio in AM & PM
Tuesday: 1650cardio/strength in AM
Wednesday: 1800 cardio AM & PM
Thursday:1650 cardio AM and PM(possible skip day)
Friday: 1700 cardio/strength AM
Saturday: SPLURGE & cardio
Sunday: 1750 & cardio

As I look at last week's goals, I begin to wonder if I am zig-zagging enough. This week, I am going a bit extreme for me and only allowing 1500 calories on Monday, but I want to try to kick start the program this week. I know that I have been successful with higher amounts allowed, but I think I need a lower week this week because next week there will be a couple of luncheons that I am required to go to and will need to have a bit of a higher week than normal. So this week I am aiming for the extreme fat burning amount of calories.

Here's to a good week for everyone!!

Weigh in day

So I am not as disciplined as Sassy who can weight to weigh in until the last day of the month. I was only able to wait for about 2 weeks. The last time I weighed myself was on Dec. 31st. At that point at had gained back 3 pounds and was at a total of 30 pounds lost--which was my goal. I took measurements that day as well, but I won't retake those until Jan 31st. Although, I know I am shrinking because I can simply see it in the clothes that I am wearing---my shirts are a lot looser all of a sudden.

Today I weighed myself and I have lost the 3 pounds I regained plus I have lost 1.5 more. So I am at a total weight loss of 34.5 pounds. I know some of that weight lost is water retention, but I will take it any way I can :-) That is exciting for me! My goal is still that I would like to be at a total lost of 50 pounds by March 20th. As time marches on, I am not certain that I will be able to lose that much,but I would like to at least try. As I mentioned before, if I get close to that amount I will be happy.

I am going to try not to weigh in until Jan 31st now. I am accustomed to the weekly weigh in so this requires new level of patience for me. It is nice to see the over all results instead of the smaller results though. Now I can enjoy my splurge day!!!

Today was another run around and do weird things kind of day. I had a million things to do in the house and I got so busy I almost didn't exercise. I decided I better though if I want to weigh in tomorrow. So I finally did walk on the treadmill at a fast rate for a longer period of time. My foot is telling me about that tonight!

As for food, I ate a piece of bacon(35) and grapes(20) for breakfast while I was making the kids theirs'. For lunch, I had 8 mini egg rools(360) and a cookie bar(100). For snack I had some cheese its(200). For dinner I had a chicken thigh(290) that was marinated in Italian dressing and a great side dish--cauliflower, green beans and onions mixed with mayo and topped with cheese. After you steam the cauliflower and cook the bacon, you just melt the cheese in the oven on top of everything. Not a lot of cheese, maybe a quarter cup of cheese for the whole dish. A serving is probaby about 170 calories. I did my best to calculate it exactly, but I didn't measure everything before hand because I was in a rush. Next time I will have to do that. For dessert I had sugar free jello(10) and I got sucked in to having two beautifully baked chocolate chip cookies(170). I just couldn't help myself but they were really good.

I have a ton of calories left over--over 300--because I was alloted 1750 today. I am not hungry for anything else today so I am going to try not to eat since it is already 8:15.

I am looking forward to tomorrow since it is my splurge day. I am hoping to go out to dinner so I can take full advantage of the day.

Trying Thursday

I had a great morning. I had a small piece of cheese(35) for breakfast just so I could keep the metabolism going. For lunch I had a panini(280) of cheese, spinach and chicken(a Lean Cuisine meal) that was quite yummy. I also had one of my 100 calorie bags of Oreo wafers. I had to pick up something at the supermarket and I passed the apples....I was hungry so I bought a Fuji apple(100). I had a rough afternoon because I was straightening up and found some candy. I indulged and used 200 calories. I will be so glad when the Christmas candy is finally finished. When the kids came home I gave them Cheese Its and I wanted the salt since I had just had chocolate. I counted them out and only ate the correct portion(130). They were the reduced fat kind and they tasted just like the regular kind. The kids didn't know either. For dinner, I will be having stuffed peppers(470). I measured and calculated all of the calories when I was preparing them this morning using my new electronic scale from my hubby. I made 2 for myself and I am also going to have some Spanish rice(260). That puts me at a total of 1575 today and my allotted amount was 1600. A good calorie day even though it wasn't the best with the chocolate and Cheese Its, but that is the beauty of this plan.

For exercise, I did Leslie Sansone's Walking for Abs. It uses strength training to work the abs.
I will be walking the treadmill this evening as well. I was supposed to exercise 2 times today and one other day this week. I actually got to exercise 2 times on 3 different days this week. I worry about walking so late and then not eating until about 8, but it completely cuts out the need or desire for an evening snack. So far, it hasn't hurt me, but I try not to eat so late on a higher calorie day so that the calories don't sit while I am sleeping. I also don't go to sleep until at least 2 hours after I eat. I feel like I may see better results if I am not eating so late, but to be able to exercise 2 times a day is more important since I am still seeing results.

Yesterday I made an appointment with my doctor to have blood work taken and basically just get a physical. I want to talk with her about my plan since I have so much weight to lose. I just want to make sure my levels are all monitored. I know I am doing the right thing with the calorie counting, but I think it is a good idea to just get an overall physical. I think when I have achieved my goal weight/size, I will get another physical to check my levels then.

A regular day

Wednesdays are usually the same for me...a busier day at work and a larger calorie allotment. I do that on purpose because I am by myself in the office and have a tendency to want to snack. So I figure if I allow for the snacking I won't feel as guilty.

For breakfast I ate raisin spice oatmeal--yuck!!(150) and a fruit cup(50). For snack this morning I had a cookie bar(100). For lunch I had a veggie burrito(260), carrots(35) and a couple of hard candies(65). I needed an afternoon snack today and it was baked tortilla chips with mustard(300). I also ate some mini chocolate candy bars(350) this afternoon and I am not sure why. I think I needed the sweet after the salty chips. Well, I just subtracted my amount from dinner--I basically just cut out the tunafish I was going to have with the salad. I haven't had dinner yet because the hubby and I are going to exercise first. I will have a salad(350) for dinner and probably a hot chocolate(80) later for dessert. That will put my total calories at 1770 for the day.

As for exercise, my foot is still in pain, so walking is all I can do right now. I did walk for 30 minutes this morning at a great pace. I am going to walk on the treadmill for another 30 minutes tonight. I am going to try to do a strength/walking video tomorrow in the morning and walk again at night. I will see how the foot is holding up though.

I intend to weigh in on Saturday before I splurge. I have seen a great difference in my body and the way clothes are fitting this week. I can't wait to take my measurements at the end of the month. A co-worker told me that since she met me last spring she has seen quite a difference in my upper body---meaning that my chest size has decreased and my arms are more tone. I will take any compliment I can get--I need a lot of reinforcement!!

Tuesday's troubles

For the first time in a long time, I woke up with foot pain so I couldn't exercise at all today. I thought I might take a break, but the foot had the final say. A positive aspect of that problem is that I got to sleep for 45 extra minutes, which was nice. I am still a bit messed up on the days of the week because I worked Monday and I usually don't. At least that means that tomorrow is my last day of work for this week. Then I can catch up on housework--not sure if that is good or work is better ;-)

I stayed within the calories allowed for the day. I was allotted 1600 calories today. For breakfast I treated myself to a V-8(70). They have a little bit of sodium, but I figure that is outweighed by the 2 servings of veggies it contains. I also had a banana(70). For snack I had a nutter butter bar(100). For lunch I had a Lean Cuisine frozen meal that was butternut squash ravioli(350), carrots(35), grapes(68) and Chips Ahoy crisps(100). I am so thankful to my hubby for buying those 100 calorie treats. I enjoy having something sweet during the day and they really hit the spot. When I got home from work, I was hungry again so I had 4 mini egg rolls(180). I figured it was better to have them than any pretzels or chips because they would be more filling since they have veggies in them. For dinner I made salmon topped with pearl onions that came in a cream sauce(210). I also made creamed spinach(100) and green beans(25). For a little treat, I made some muffins and used spray butter on them(260). I am rather full and that is good because I am hoping to stay within the calories and not have a snack later since I am at 1568 calories now and not many things are only 32 calories. I may have a clementine if I get desperate since they are only 35 calories.

All in all, a good day.

Doesn't feel like a Monday

I don't usually work on Monday's. Today I did and I felt weird all day while I was there. I had a decent food day, even though I felt like I ate a ton. I was allowed 1550 calories and I ate a lot of little meals. For breakfast, I had apple spice oatmeal(130) and a clementine(35). For lunch, I had an odd combo. I had a low calorie Italian vegetable soup(140), a muffin(140), and a light fruit cup(50). When I got home from work I was starving so I had a veggie burrito(280). For dinner I had pork tenderloin with a sesame ginger sauce, a baked potato with light sour cream and carrots that cooked in the crock pot with the pork(334). I had some low fat cookies for dessert(300). So my total is 1409. I am not intentionally trying to have low calorie days below my allotment, but I have made a few changes to my diet that are affecting my caloric intake. Hubby and I have made a conscious effort to lower the fat intake in our diets. This means more veggies than before, which leads to fewer calories.

As for my exercise today, I did follow my plan. I did Kathy Smith's walking and strength DVD this morning. It is a tough one for my foot and I did it this past weekend too so I am in some significant pain today. I did manage to walk the treadmill for another 30 minutes this evening. I didn't walk the fastest that I could, but that is because my foot is not up to par. I am going to play it by ear to determine if I can exercise tomorrow. My guess is no, but I am not ruling it out completely yet.

A Wonderful Weekend

Saturday I was allotted 1900 calories. I had a granola bar for breakfast and a chicken salad sandwich for lunch. That left me 1300 calories for my dinner out with hubby. For dinner, we went to the Library II and I felt like I ate like a queen. I had the salad bar, a shrimp cocktail, a baked potato and a slice of bread with butter. For dessert we split a piece of cream cheese pound cake. That totaled 1321(I calculated as best I could and added a few calories if I wasn't sure) That put me at 1921 for the day. Not bad considering I ate out and enjoyed myself. I think the salad bar was what helped because I know how much a cup of lettuce is and a cup of broccoli and so forth. Yesterday I tried a new walking video that I got for Christmas by Kathy Smith. It has a 30 minute walking section that also gives a little strength workout(I used 2 lb weights). Then there was another 10 minute "power" section where we didn't use weights, but just pushed the walking a bit. My legs felt it today.

As for today, I was allowed 1700 calories. I had a couple bites of my daughter's French toast(100). For lunch, I had a vegetable burrito with lite sour cream(280). I had an Oreo bar(100)while I was out food shopping. For dinner I had chicken drumsticks that were grilled and brushed with a bit of barbecue sauce(250). I also had salad again(200). I had a couple of homemade chocolate chip cookies(200). That puts me at a total of 1180 calories for the day. I keep thinking I am missing something and that is why my total is so low, but I didn't. I am going to have a snack later, but I haven't figured out what yet. I doubt I will get to 1700 calories today, but that is alright I guess. As for exercise, I only walked about 33 minutes today. I wasn't motivated, but I got my butt in gear and walked hard anyway.

Here is this week's schedule:
Monday: 1550 and exercise twice: 1xwalking with strength and 1xtreadmill
Tuesday: 1600 and possibly skip exercise
Wednesday: 1800 and cardio
Thursday: 1600 strength and cardio(exercise 2x)
Friday: 1750 and cardio
Saturday: 3000 and cardio with strength
Sunday: 1750 and cardio

I didn't skip any days of exercise this week, but I am thinking that I may skip Tuesday since I have exercised for about 10 days in a row without a break. I think that seems to work for me--to exercise for 10 days and then take a break. It has been almost 2 weeks since I weighed in and I am curious so I may weigh tomorrow, but I am going to try not to so that I can see larger results---hopefully--at the end of the month!!

Here's to a good week!

Filling Friday

So I realized that it was 10am before I actually got dressed--into my workout clothes. It was one of those mornings that just flew by. I did get to sleep until about 7:30, which really energized me since I went to bed at 11:30. For breakfast I had a 100 calorie Nabisco cookie bar. My hubby got me a box of those from Costco for my stocking stuffer since he knew I could get more enjoyment out of them than a piece of candy here and there. The box consists of Oreo bars, chocolate chip cookie bars and Nutter Butter Bars. For only 100 calories, that is a nice treat instead of oatmeal or a granola bar sometimes. I had a strange lunch too since I was trying to use up some leftovers. I had a hot chocolate, 3 pirogi with light sour cream, a serving of fries with ketchup leftover from the other day and a fruit cup(total =410). I had some bologna for snack(270). For dinner, I had a turkey croquette with gravy and green beans(523). For dessert I had popcorn(75). It seems to me that I ate a lot today, but it was a lot of little things so I still only consumed a total of 1553 out of my allotted 1600 calories.

In the exercise department, I did well. I did a "circuit" of sorts in my basement this morning. I did the elliptical trainer for 10 minutes, then the bike for 10 minutes and then the treadmill for 12 minutes. I also walked on the treadmill this evening for 45 minutes. My foot is a little tired from the 5 workouts in 3 days, but the rest of me feels good!! I know I was supposed to use the exercise ball today, but I just wasn't in the mood. I think I will do it this weekend though because I do enjoy it.

Well, over all, I am full today and happy with my achievements today--in the exercise department. Here's to a great weekend!!

A long day

For some reason, I am so tired today. I think I am dragging from the lack of sleep the other night. I stayed within the plan of 1800 calories even though I ate weird items. For breakfast I had a bagel with lox cream cheese(415). For lunch I had a frozen lunch(220), a clementine(35) and some candy(165). I needed a snack this afternoon so I sauteed a couple of pirogi and I had some cheese crackers(total 380). For dinner I had a turkey burger and broccoli(200). I am going to have some dessert in a few minutes(when the kids go to bed), but I will be careful to stay within the 260 calories I have left.

The plan was to exercise twice today, but I did that yesterday so I decided to sleep for an extra 45 minutes this morning and walk the treadmill with the hubby tonight. When I exercise with him I usually walk longer. Today I walked for 46 minutes and I did some weight lifting while I walked to do a bit of strength training. Tomorrow I get to sleep until at least 7 so I will be more rested and I can do the exercise ball(30 minutes) along with some cardio for 30 minutes.

Overall, I think it was a good day on the program. I hope to have another good day tomorrow since it is only a 1600 calorie day and I am home with the kids, which sometimes makes it harder on me. I will try my best!!

A successful day

Today I was allotted 1500 calories---the lowest I have ever done so far on this plan. I am proud to say that got pretty close to sticking to it. For breakfast, I had regular oatmeal and 2 stalks of celery(120). For lunch I had a frozen meal of pasta primevera and a clementine(255). I had a piece of chocolate for dessert(55). I had a fruit cup and hot chocolate for an afternoon snack(130). For dinner I had some lean steak stir fried with squash, bell pepper, onions and various yummy spices(601). For dessert, I had popcorn (90) and some more chocolate to finish my allotment. So my total for the day was 1551. The chocolate from Christmas is just so tempting to me.

Exercising this morning was a huge chore. Actually, the exercising wasn't so much of the chore as waking up was since I had about 4.5 hours of sleep. Between the kids and the dog it was a busy night. Everyone is fine, but I am just so tired. So I managed to drag myself out of bed and do Leslie Sansone's Walking for Abs-2 miles this morning. It is a walking and strength video. This evening I walked again on the treadmill for another 30 minutes.

So even though I went over the limit, I was able to exercise twice to help combat that overage. All in all, I had a good day and stayed busy. I have changed the allowance for tomorrow to 1800 and Friday to 1600. I thought that was better zig zagging since I have a 1900 calorie day on Saturday.

A New Start

Happy New Year Everyone!!

I weighed in yesterday and I was up by 2 pounds, but I know that it is mostly because of salt so I am willing to accept that it will take a couple of days of non holiday food to purge my body of the bloated feeling. For me, it is actually easier to not be at home and have diet success. If I am at work I am more distracted and not as quick to grab a snack. My goal is to be rid of the excess weight by Sunday and basically start again with the 33 pounds lost.

I also took measurements of myself yesterday. I didn't do that when I started dieting in July so I thought I would at least start now. I have been seeing such differences in my size in clothes and bras that I wanted to keep track of it officially. I will measure myself as Sassy does, once a month. I am also going to try to stay away from the scale on a weekly basis and just weigh in every 2 weeks. I don't know if that will work for me because I am really motivated by the weekly weigh in. Another change that I am going to make--actually go back to--is to drink more water. I have been drinking about 10 glasses a day, but I am going to try to drink 12 every couple of days to see if that works.

New Year's Eve was a successful splurge day for me. I enjoyed eating whatever I wanted to the hilt!! I even had a real soda, which is rare for me. We rang in the New Year at a friend's house so there were yummy snacks and a bit of wine. Unfortunately I am feeling the results of the splurge today with my bloated fingers and a full tummy.

Here is the plan for the rest of the week:
Tuesday: 1700 cardio
Wednesday: 1500 cardio with strength
Thursday: 1600 cardio
Friday: 1700 cardio with strength
Saturday: 1900 cardio
Sunday: 1700 cardio

I will need a rest day this week, but I haven't picked one yet. I would like to exercise 2 times on Thursday, but I am not sure I can schedule wise so I will see what happens.

Here's to a great year of health, prosperity and happiness!!