Yea!

Weight Today: 197 lbs!
I know I shouldn't weigh myself too often, but really either way the scale goes it motivates me!


I am back! Through diet alone I was able to get back to where I was Thursday before my gluttonous Friday! I tracked every single piece of food that went in my mouth and it helped me stay on the lower end of my goal 1200-1500 daily calories. I also kept up the 8+ glasses of water a day. It really helps me not feel so bad about having a bad day when it only takes me a few days to repair the damage. And more importantly, I didn't let one bad day derail all my hard work. Monday will be a month and I have NO intentions of quitting! I have too much to gain by keeping it up.

Thanks to my family who didn't let me be too hard on myself because of Friday. I give myself heck when I feel like I'm failed at something, but my family helped me by gently reminding me that everyone has bad days and that I didn't let it make me quit.

I said that I would think of some plans for next time there is severe weather like that so that I don't use food to comfort myself.  Well I have been thinking...
1. Chew sugar-free gum
2. Do something to occupy my mind like reading, doing crochet, etc..
3. Get up and clean. (There is always something to clean!)
4. Do stretches and meditation.

So those are a start. I'm sure I'll think of some more. Now I'm off to go eat my lunch salad!

Three Weeks

3/5: 199 lbs 
That is +2 pounds from last week.

Friday I had a stressful day due to the weather. I've always been nervous about storms, but like a lot of people I know, April 27, 2011 made my fears even more intense. Friday I learned that one way I cope with that fear and nervousness is by eating. So I plan to sit down this week and come up with a plan to cope with those feelings through other means next time.

I was planning on exercising off the excess calories from Friday on Saturday or Sunday, but I noticed Saturday that my lower back was feeling tender. I didn't want to exercise and make it hurt worse. Well, Sunday I woke up with excruciating pain in my lower back. I'm pretty sure it's just a pulled muscle or something because I took it easy all day Sunday and by this afternoon my back was feeling a lot better. I'm going to give it a couple more days of rest then I am planning on easing back into my exercise routine.

This week was a learning week for me, for sure. There are always going to be speed bumps in every journey. I just have to learn from every experience, pick myself back up and keep going. I feel like my body is feeling SO much better even though it has only been three weeks. Next week will be a month and I will do my official measurements and see, inches-wise, where I stand.

I'm still eating better than I have my entire life. I LOVE 100% wheat bread! I LOVE salads! And I am practicing measuring every portion so that I know more accurately the calories I am eating. So far my guesstimates are not far from actual portion sizes.

Well, next week I will be posting a weight loss. (Yeah, I'm optimistic!)

Energy 2 & 1/2 Weeks In

I am 2 and 1/2 weeks into changing my life. My body has not felt this healthy in a very long time, if ever.
My energy is getting better every day and I am finding that sitting around is not working anymore as I have the urge to get up and do something, anything! So I'm exercising daily, cleaning daily (which my parent's must be happy about) and organizing. Cleaned my room out the other day and am thinking about tackling the spare bedroom this weekend. Plus when the weather quits being so stormy for a few days I'm hoping to get outside and work in the yard.

I weigh myself once a day or so, even though some people tell me I shouldn't. It helps to keep me motivated because I want to see the numbers drop. I'm really hoping to drop at least two more pounds in the next week and a half so I can say I have lost 10 pounds in a month. But if I don't that's okay too.

I tried the whole wheat bread. I like it. I knew I would. It has a different taste than white (duh) but I like it. I'm looking forward to putting the chicken or turkey slices I bought on it. I made the mistake of not buying enough protein bars the other day to make it through the week, so I'm bummed to not have one for breakfast in the morning. Cheerios and skim milk will be breakfast I suppose. I had a delicious dinner tonight thanks to my Mom. Skinless grilled lemon-pepper chicken breast, steamed broccoli and carrots, and mashed potatoes & gravy. I only ate around 3 tablespoons of the mashed potatoes though. I LOVE the chicken. Mom is the best at cooking that!

Yesterday my cravings were awful. I wanted something chocolate SO bad. I didn't cave though. I ate a handful of Nilla wafers and that helped. Plus I'm stubborn and want to lose weight very bad so that helped keep me from raiding the stash of snack cakes we keep for my Dad's lunch.

And my awesome sister did cardio with me yesterday. I have a Wii and Just Dance 2 so she and I had some fun and embarrassed ourselves trying to dance. We may not have been very graceful but I know it got my heart rate up! Plus it was a blast!

Soon I'm planning on adding some more pages to this blog including recipes I find that are healthier. Any suggestions on other pages I could add?

Good-bye Diet Coke...

Well today is nearly a week since I have had even a sip of Diet Coke!

I started out in college addicted to Mountain Dew. I realized that Mountain Dew was making me keep gaining weight and it was hurting my kidneys. I gave up the Dew only to switch to Diet Coke. Oh I love Diet Coke, but it doesn't love me...When I decided to get healthier I knew that my consumption of Diet Coke was one of the things that I was going to have to change. On a daily basis I would drink at least 6 cans of Diet Coke! I know that sounds awful, and I knew it then. So on February 13th I began limiting myself to one can a day and drinking at least 8 glasses of water. I am constantly thirsty so drinking 8 glasses was not a problem; Usually I drink 9-10 glasses. 

I was enjoying having my one can of Diet Coke a day...until one day last week when I realized I hadn't even had one sip! And I was fine with that. 

Never in my life did I think I would be drinking only water. I hated the taste of water (Or lack of taste I should say...)! But here I am, sitting here typing this with my trusty bottle of water right next to me! 

Good-bye Diet Coke!

Official Two Week Weigh-In

Well I just got off the scale: 2/27 197 lbs

That's down one pound from last week! I'm thrilled. Any weight loss is good to me! I'm pretty pumped now and I'm ready to tackle this week.

I just dug in my closet and found a pair of shoes that are better than the ones I was using (My dog had chewed the soles out of them...). I've got my gym clothes on and I'm ready to go.  I'm planning on doing strength and cardio today. Gonna head outside and walk and maybe try to jog for a minute or two.

Food: I got some new stuff to try yesterday. Bought whole grain bread, chicken and turkey slices and more veggies. I've added a protein bar for breakfast because I can't eat a big breakfast as it makes me sick. I'm excited about the bread. I love bread! I couldn't live without it. I really don't think that there is a type of bread I wouldn't love. I refuse to entirely give up food I adore...so that is where moderation is going to come in to play.

Well I am going to get off the computer and go exercise!

Two Weeks

Today is the two week mark. Two weeks ago today I signed up on Sparkpeople.com and decided to start making some life changes.

Two Weeks In:
*I am effectively drinking only water. I take a sip of a Diet Coke only once per day, if that. My kidneys haven't felt this good in a long time! I have yet to get sick of the water, but when I do I have some Crystal Light I can add to it. It's funny, I used to hate drinking water; Now I crave it!
*Cutting my portion sizes in half seems to have already had an effect on how much I can eat. Even if I wanted to eat more I won't. It makes me sick.
*I am getting stronger everyday. Starting out 5 crunches hurt SO bad. I'm up to 20 with ease! 2 or 3 push-ups at first, now I can do 10!

I still have so far to go though. I have to say that I don't yet regret making these changes. I feel better already. Not so sluggish. I feel like I have more energy and I feel like I am sleeping better. This week I plan to increase my cardio if the weather cooperates so I can go outside and walk. If the weather doesn't cooperate, I may have the cleanest house in the country!

I started out making Sunday night my weekly weigh-in night, but I've decided to move it to Monday night. No particular reason, just decided it yesterday.

And so tomorrow begins week 3...

Picture Motivation For Me

Thought I would share a picture that shows why I am working to lose weight:

This is a picture of me in November 2011. I hope this will eventually be one of my "Before" pictures!