Another pound....

I have good news! I lost another pound. It's super slow going this weight loss journey, but I am happy every time I see that number move. So, today I weighed in at 174 lbs. That's 8 pounds since I started. I'm going to call this a success!

I think I am starting to grasp the idea of what is good and bad and how many calories things have. I truly think by Christmas I can at least lose 20 of the 25 pounds I have set out to lose.

In other news, I got a part time job. Working with food. Delicious food. I don't think this will be as much of a challenge as people think. It just so happens as soon as I got hired, I went on the website and researched the nutritional information of everything. So, I pretty much know what I can and cannot have. It's going to be good.

The other good thing about me having a job is that is 10-15 hours a week where I will be busy and not sitting at home getting hungry because I can be. I am busy at home, but there are always times throughout the day where we stop and relax and then I eat. So, this is possibly going to be an aide in my weight loss. Some look at it as a challenge, but I consider it help.

One thing I'm not happy about...I had to get khaki pants for work. Why is it that I can now fit a 12 in denim, but I am still a 14 in khaki???

Stay tuned. Next week I don't intend to a big weight loss, but the following week...look out.

top 10 fitness facts

I just wanted to share an article I read this morning. 10 reasons to exercise...other than getting thin...

TOP 10 FITNESS FACTS

Enjoy!

And, of course, the funniest food of all, kumquats. ~George Carlin

What exactly is fun about fun sized candy?

Sure, it's small and cute. But, you know what happens...I can't say no to it. Losing willpower is absolutely no fun.

Seriously. I can absolutely say no to a big candy bar. Bring me a king sized Snickers bar, and unless I haven't eaten all day or I am in a well of depression, I can find a better choice. I can eat a 100 calorie bag of anything. Or I can eat fruit.

So, what is it about the fun sized candy bars? I can't say no. I stop by the candy dish, think 'it's only one little piece', and start unwrapping the Hershey goodness. Problem. I don't stop at one. I'm certain that throughout the day I eat a king sized candy bar worth of fun sized candy. And then I become 'not so fun sized Amy'.

If you want to live with the grand idea that fun sized candy has no calories...do not follow this link: FUN SIZED CALORIES

This will be my struggle all through the month of October. Especially this upcoming week for female reasons.

Now, don't get me wrong...just because I have been indulging on fun sized candy bars doesn't mean I have fallen completely off the wagon. I'm not going to town on Big Macs and french fries. I just know that this month's weight loss is going to be super iffy.

Good news: I am successfully into my size 12's. I don't have to plie any more to get into them and I can breathe normal to zip them up. So, I know if they start being snug...I've had too much fun sized chocolate to last me a lifetime. Today is football...so no working out, no dance parties...maybe some crunches at the end of the night. I like to do them after the kids go to bed so I don't have to try and crunch with a toddler and a preschooler sitting on me. Tomorrow...cardioke. Today...football and fun sized candy.

Just checking in.

Just checking in. I got on the scale this morning. It said the same thing as last week...175. I'm okay with that this week. I know I wasn't a good girl. I deserved to gain a pound. Due to my lack of eating the week before, I was a ravenous beast. I couldn't get full this week and I was a monster chocoholic. I barely worked out. But, I managed to maintain.

I am going to take it as a lesson learned. The lesson: I know how to maintain. But, I'm pretty much back on track. Drinking my water, eating right, not going completely overboard on chocolate, and exercising.

Tomorrow, I think I will cardioke again.

Sunday, I intend to drink a few beers with my football...I'd better double upon the cardioke tomorrow.

Not meant to be thin!?!??!

The other day I was talking to my grandmother, I don't exactly remember what we were talking about, but I do remember her saying to me, "I guess we just weren't meant to be thin in this family."

It made me angry and sad. It made me upset that she thinks we're all so overweight and that there is nothing we can do about it. Also, my grandmother used to be a hotty. No joke. I've seen pictures. She was thin...she was thin at 30. She was thin at 40. She's sort of heavy now...but she's also...70. Don't you dare tell her I told you that!!! In any case, perhaps she was in the same boat as me all her life...self conscious about her looks even though she was maybe only 10-20 pounds overweight at any given time. Or maybe she really thinks I'm fat.

I'm positive she's not the only person who thinks this way...that they are doomed to never be thin. I'm sure I have plenty of friends and acquaintances that think they were fated to a life of being "fat". Hey, not everyone is going to be a size 4, sure, but everyone can be healthy.

What really gets me about her comment is that I'm not even fat. Overweight, sure. I've got some junk in my trunk and bounce to my ounce and I'm working on it...but, it got me thinking..is this how people see me? Do people look at me and say, "Wow, lay off the cheeseburgers lady?"

Well, I'm not going to stand for it. I'm getting thinner everyday. On top of that, I'm getting smarter everyday. I'm learning to read labels and find things that taste good and aren't going to send me to an early grave or a scale that won't even read my weight.I'm learning that a little bit of exercise goes a long way to make my heart healthy and not just make my jeans fit better.

I'm not fated to be fat or unhealthy and I pray I never see the day where my daughter looks in the mirror and feels bad about what she sees. I'm giving her smart life choices. I'm giving my children the option of vegetables at every meal...vegetables that aren't covered in cheese whiz and butter. I'm offering fruit. My kids are allowed to have junk food...chocolate, fruit snacks, and ice cream...but, in moderation. And, yes, we do eat the occasional cheeseburger. But, I'm hoping that my children grow up with the knowledge to make the right choices and never hear the words, "I guess we just weren't meant to be thin in this family." They can be fat, thin, tall, or short...I don't really care...as long as they are healthy.

There's never been a you before, so how can someone tell you how you should be?

Well, I'm back! I'm back to counting calories and working out after a long week of being sick and couch ridden. I am having a hard time, as I expected, with my hunger control. My week of barely eating has caught up with me and now I'm an eating machine. I have gone over my calories once or twice by like 50 calories and it's eating me alive. I am pretty certain this is a mixture of my body punishing me for sick starvation week and because I am the most stressed I have ever been in my life.

But, I'm back to working out. I took Eileen's workout advice once again and tried Cardioke. It is FINALLY on OnDemand and I couldn't be happier. It is about 24 minutes of the video workout and it is awesome. It's a mixture of aerobics and karaoke. It's kind of like being at a wedding and dancing and singing along...but minus the beer and wine. It is so much fun...and if you can believe it my arms and shoulders hurt like crazy today. I really worked it. Warning: there is an original song that you cool down to that made me cry. The words hit me right in my heart. But, the rest of the workout...awesome. I want the full workout.

Hopefully the scale shows me my efforts in working out and not my weakness to hunger and stress this week. One good thing...my collarbones are getting sexier every week. I swear it. I couldn't stop staring at them today. I'm becoming a collarbone vanity freak.

Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency. ~Natalie Goldberg, Wild Mind

I feel like I'm back at the beginning. I had a week of barely eating and my fear is coming true. My body is now begging for more food every time I turn around. I'm hungry all day long. All I want to do is go to the cupboard, make myself a giant platter of food, sit on the couch, eat, watch movies, and possibly cry.

Last night I even went over my calories a little bit. Not by much...but I feel like junk about it. I haven't worked out yet either. I had a bowl of Special K with skim milk. Yea, I know...WHOA SPLURGE!!!!! But, I don't eat cereal...sooo...it was a splurge for me. Also, I will not lie...I had a half of a glass of wine last night. I haven't had alcohol in probably a month. But, Jason and I felt like having a small glass of Merlot to unwind last night. All I could think was, "God, this tastes good. Crap...it has calories."

Today when Jason gets home I am going to walk over to our little gym and bust a move on the treadmill.

Also, I'm more stressed out than I have been in a very long time...and I'm pretty certain that adds to my hunger and to the number on the scale.

I hope I can get back on track...maybe a cup of coffee will help me.

We think fast food is equivalent to pornography, nutritionally speaking. ~Steve Elbert

After being sick for a week. I am starting to feel better. I keep having cough spells at night, but I feel okay. I actually have an appetite and food almost tastes like food again. So, it's time to get back on the wagon.

I did weight myself this morning, as I do every Thursday, and I lost 1.5 pounds. So, I'm at 175 pounds and that is fantastic.

I officially can fit into a Kohl's Apt 9 size 12 pant without having to suck everything in and jiggle into them. So, that is very exciting. But, I have a long way to go. 17 pounds to go to be exact. I'm down 7 and I've been doing this for 5 weeks. So, that's pretty good. I'm on my way.

I'm learning a lot about food. What to eat, what not eat, and what I am going to eat whether it's good for me or not (in moderation, of course). I now understand why Jillian Michaels gets so mad at people for their poor choices. There are so many affordable ways to eat well and not kill yourself.

I am not going to go into what prompted this, but something triggered me the other day to go back to school. I have a crazy love for theater and will never ever ever give it up. But, I now have a crazy appreciation for how the body works and so I decided to go back to get a degree in nutrition. First, I am going to get a certificate in medical assisting so I can get a good day job for when my kids go back to school. Once they are in school and we're both working I am going to slowly but surely get my second Bachelors Degree. I want to be educated enough to tell people "I know for a fact that your Ramen noodle is not just a noodle and it's going to eventually kill you". This of course...all still allowing me to sing. I can do it all. Trust me. There is no harm in being educated and reaching all your dreams.

In order to change we must be sick and tired of being sick and tired. ~Author Unknown

Day 4 of being sick. Day 4 of not following a workout or diet regimen. Though, I am pretty certain, I haven't gotten even near my calorie allotment for the past few days. I haven't been counting...but I've only had soup, juice, water, and the occasional hot chocolate (I really don't care for hot tea). As I read labels and add in my head I'm not even close to what I should be eating...but I'm not all that hungry and my throat hurts.

I'm not certain what will happen with the scale this week. Frankly, I can't do anything about it.

My inner me is going crazy. Yelling at me to get off the couch. I'm certain that when Jillian Michaels is sick she still does 2 or 3 or 25 hours at the gym.

But, not me. Not today.

I just attempted eating a piece of whole grain toast with a little peanut butter. This is a food I have enjoyed my whole life. Who doesn't love peanut butter toast...unless your horribly allergic to nuts, then not you. I took one bite and all I tasted was cardboard with something that looked like delicious creamy JIF peanut butter.  I ate it so I that I had anything in me at all...but this cold has ruined the flavor of anything.

My fear is that when I'm better and my taste buds are back to normal that I am going to be a binge-a-holic. I think I will probably want to eat an entire fun sized bag of Snickers and a plate of nachos smothered in cheese. I'm going to try to jump back on the wagon with healthy eating and exercise, but after practically starving for 3 or 4 days...I have a feeling I am going to have a horrible first day back to life. Whenever that may be.

Wish me luck.

Super Sick Sunday

The worst thing about losing weight is having a set back. This is a huge set back week. First, I was hit with a complete lack of energy from my period. And now, I have a terrible cold that is just overwhelming my whole body. I'm not even hungry...and that's not like me. So, obviously I'm not in much of a workout mood...if I'm not even that hungry, I'm certainly not feeling like working out.

I just hope the scale doesn't punish me on Thursday.

That's all I have to say for today. I'm going to sit on my couch in my Steelers jersey and watch football all day. I'm not craving hot wings and beer. I'm in the mood for soup and hot chocolate. What a meal for football Sunday.

A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book. ~Irish Proverb

I'm not so certain today is going to be a workout day. I have to jump back on the wagon, but I'm out of the ordinary tired today.

My husband came home from his trip to Texas very very very sick and I have managed to not get sick for exactly 8 days now, since he's been home. Except, I woke up today a little clogged up and sore and I think that now that his is leaving my body is going to shut down and get sick.

The only thing keeping my from taking the bridge, other than the fact that we don't have rivers here to jump off of a bridge into...is that my nutritionist told me that's it's okay to take some time off. She said if you're body is telling you you're tired from a period or being sick to not push it too hard cause you'll overdo it and that is when injuries occur or people say "It hurt way too much I'm doing exercising again". So, I am giving myself permission to take some time off. I'm still eating well...and I will probably do some crunches and pushups tonight. But, no cardio. I just don't feel well.

I am still being taken over by crazy amounts of guilt, but I think I'm gonna sleep it off when they kids go to bed.

At least I don't weight in for another 6 days right?

Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing. ~Harriet Braiker

This was a nice surprise this morning. On a week when I was a complete chocoholic, barely worked out, and stayed on the higher end of my calorie allotment...I actually lost a pound. That's a total of 5.5 pounds. Slow, but steady. I did watch my calories and though I came super close a few times to my max for the day, I did not go over.

I actually think I am right around what I weighed when I got married and when I found out I was pregnant with Meghan. So, it's not a terrible weight...but, it's not my goal. Below are computer images of what I look like now and me at my goal weight. I look goooooooooood.

I have 15 more weeks. So far I have lost 5.5. pounds in 4 weeks. That works out to 1.375 pounds a week. If I keep up at that pace. In 15 weeks I will lose 20.625 lbs. I only have 19.5 to go until I hit my goal...so, mathematically I can do this. I just have to make it successfully through the temptations of fun sized Halloween candy, Thanksgiving deliciousness and the whole month of December...aka Cookie Wonderland.

By the way, if you're wondering where I got computer renderings of myself...there is this awesome website called mvm.com (my virtual model). You plug in some info and you can try on clothes. It's super fun. Sorry, guys, they only have girl models.

I believe that water is the only drink for a wise man. ~Henry David Thoreau

This week is becoming a bit tricky for me. I'm certain that the scale is not going to be forgiving this week. I haven't quite been as tough on myself about exercising. I have a visitor and she makes me exhausted beyond belief.

No, it's not my mom. It's Aunt Flo.

I have heard that you can gain weight the week of your period. I don't know if there is truth to this, but they make enough products for water retention when this time of month rolls around that I believe it to not be a mythical statement.

The other night I couldn't get enough chocolate. I had three different kinds of 100 calories packs and during the day I had one of each of them.

I am proud of myself, I haven't managed to go over in calories and no matter how starving I have been this week, I haven't been doing any late night crazy eating like I normally would around this time of month.

I have been drinking my water. Just not doing as much working out.

I haven't fallen off of the wagon...I kind of imagine myself hanging onto the side with my feet dragging on the sand... like I'm in an action movie. I've got a good tight hold on the wagon though...give me another day or two and I'll be riding inside it again.

Now, off to drink more water...

~ I am a nutritional overachiever. ~

I was talking to someone today about my challenge of drinking the appropriate amount of water everyday. I do my very best to drink 8 glasses. Sometimes I make it to 12...other days when I am tucking into bed I realize I slacked and only drank 6 and have to hurry up and gulp down some water.

I was also telling her how I was watching my calories and cutting back on eating so many carbs. I eat them. I eat my daily allotted intake. But, cutting back has made me realize that I was going way over...even eating whole grain pastas and breads.

The girl told me the following, "Oh, I'm on a diet too. I'm on the orange juice diet." WHAT?!?!

She went on to tell me that she is doing a diet where you eat some moderately small meals and then for the rest of your day you drink obscene amounts of orange juice.

You're probably thinking what I'm thinking. And if you're not...let me tell you what I'm thinking. What a freaking moron. Since I'm pretty certain that this girl was not squeezing oranges for each glass of orange juice she was putting in her body, she was taking in a ridiculous amount of sugar. Also, she told me she wasn't bothering to drink water because she was drinking so much juice. OH, THAT MAKES SENSE.

Her reasoning behind why the orange juice diet is good. People never eat their 10 required servings of fruit and vegetables a day and also it works as a laxative. She figures if it's good for Heidi Klum, it'll be good for her.

She went on to tell me about her three children and I tuned out. I just couldn't believe that instead of learning the proper way to lose weight and live a healthy lifestyle, she is choosing to go on a fad orange juice diet...such a great role model for her kids don't you think? Hey kids, let's drink ridiculous amounts of sugar and then get on the scale. Sounds awesome.

Whatever, I'm going back to visit her around Thanksgiving (her goal weight date) and see how well the orange juice pooper diet worked for her.

Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop. ~Ovid

I didn't think I could do it...but, tonight I attended a potluck dinner. I only ate what I knew I could document. I walked right up to my friend Maria and told her that I needed to know exactly what I was putting into my body before she ate it and she told me. And I did really good. I stayed away from the potato chips and didn't even eat any cake.It was remarkably easier than I thought.

I didn't exercise today. It was my scheduled day off anyway, but sometimes I like to try and do at least a half of a workout. Although, occasionally it is okay to take a day of "rest:". In any case, I wasn't home that much today.

Yesterday I decided to be slightly unconventional with my workout and instead of doing an official workout, my kids and I turned up the Broadway Musicals and Glee soundtracks and had a living room dance party. My kids can certainly get down.And I was definitely winded, sweating, and ready for lunch once it was over. Not to mention I had just spent about 20 minutes chasing my son like a monster. That was a really good run, I'm sure the neighbors downstairs hate me. (Yes, Nicole and Kelly, I am certain that I am now Clompapotomus!)

Tomorrow, I am attempting a trip to the complex gym again to get on the treadmill. I think this time I'll do the treadmill first and then the Elliptical. I'll last longer if I do it in that order.

I don't have any picnics to tackle for Labor Day....just the gym. But, to you and yours, eat a hot dog and about 12 deviled eggs for me and Happy Labor Day.

Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness. ~Edward Stanley

The other day I got a text of mine who told me she is really appreciating this blog. She said there are days when she will read it and think, "Man, okay, if she can do it I can too." She said it's like I'm in her head. So, today I put her in mine.

I went to my gym today. One of the only perks to living in an apartment is that usually there is a gym...ours happens to be very nice and I can go when my husband is home with the kids. So, I took the walk down to the gym today and got on the elliptical. After exactly 57 seconds I was like, "I hate this. I quit." Then I started with the excuses...I'm tired, I can workout in the house later, I'm starting to get a cold I should be napping, etc.

My friend popped into my head and said, "It's ok. You tried." You see, this particular friend does not enjoy confrontation and thinks I look just fine anyway.

"Nope. That's not okay. I gotta do this." So I pushed on. If I CAN'T do it, she CAN'T either! So, I had to prove to both of us that I had something to give.

I did 20 minutes in the gym...not to mention the walk back to my apartment in 107 degree weather. Considering the fact that it just started pouring rain, you know it was humid too. I did elliptical, a little treadmill (I attempted a jog!), and some weights. And I left with the feeling of accomplishment...that's what it's called when you're drenched in sweat, feel like you might puke a little, and have swamp crotch right??

In any case, I did something. Used muscles. Perspired. Earned a really long shower...and hopefully gave someone that, "If she can do it, I can too" feeling. I might even do a 1 mile Leslie Sansone workout tonight after dinner.

In order to succeed you must fail, so that you know what not to do the next time. ~Anthony J. D'Angelo, The College Blue Book

Would you look at that?!?! I lost 3.5 lbs this week!!! This is a great start to my day. I must be doing something right....AND I got to have a piece of cheesecake this week too. Only 20.5 lbs to go.

Last week my side goal was to start defining my collarbones...and they are starting to show for sure.

This week: demolish the rubber legs.

"What the heck is rubber legs?", you ask. Simple. Rubber legs is when someone who is overweight can't comfortable wear shorts or a skirt because their inner thighs rub together and chafe. Gross...but true. I want to start wearing skirts and by the end of the day not want to sit with ice on my thighs. I used to be able to do this...so I know it can be achieved.

Suggestions?

Success stories: Part 2 of many

In my on going attempt to motivate myself and others, I am putting together a sort of montage of success stories. We've already met Naomi, Kari, and Michael...today we'll hear about Eileen and Mandy. 

EILEEN

Eileen at her heaviest, on the left.

Eileen grew up always a little bit bigger than the rest of the girls in her dance classes. She never really let it get to her and accepted the fact that the women in her family always ran a little bit bigger.

It wasn't until she was 21 years old that she realized this was going to be a problem. At 21, Eileen was diagnosed with a condition called PCOS, otherwise known as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. The doctors couldn't tell her much other than it could cause weight gain and obesity. She had to do a lot of research on her and found out that things like sugar and carbs were not going to be her friends.

For a while she put her health on the back burner. Instead of living like someone who really needed to care for herself, she was living like most of us did...like an irresponsible kid. She was 21. She was eating pizza as her well balanced meal. She was finally legal to have alcohol and hang out at bars. So, she decided to live it up. She says at the time one of her biggest accomplishments was being able to drink the men under the table.

After college the side effects of PCOS started to really hit her. She was gaining weight, losing hair, and finding herself incredibly depressed. She moved back home and decided it was time to start taking care of herself! At the time she was at her absolute heaviest, 227 pounds.

Eileen sought out an endocronologist. This doctor basically told her that she needed to make a change. She had become insulin resistant, borderline diabetic, and had only a 25% chance of becoming pregnant. He suggested that instead of starting her on medications to bring down her weight that he wanted to her to give it a go on her own first. He taught her how many carbs were healthy for her in a day and she was on her way.

Eileen, on the right, 60 pounds lighter and happier!

With a healthy diet, exercise, and membership to Weight Watchers she was well on her way. She is crazy about the Leslie Sansone Walk at Home videos.

Eileen is currently down 60 pounds since 2002 and is keeping them off! She says she has 10 more pounds to go, but is so proud of what she has accomplished. She has brought her chances at having a baby up to 50% and is no longer insulin resistant. Not to mention, she looks HOT!

Mandy

During college, Mandy was a tiny thing. Much like myself, she was dancing 5-7 days a week and walking all over town to get to the store or the Playhouse or wherever. Metabolism was her friend.

After college, she moved to CA, didn't have to roll out of bed and go to a high energy jazz class and gained some weight. She got up to 200 pounds. This is not a great thing for someone who is 5 foot 1.5 inches tall.

She says she did a little Weight Watchers and Curves and lost about 30 pounds, but then just stopped. Nothing happened, no major crisis hit her, she just stopped. Some of the weight came back and she was comfortable.

In January 2010, Mandy got engaged to her long time sweetheart and vowed that for their May 2011 wedding she was going to slim down for good.

Much like myself, Mandy is not big on the whole idea of dieting and absolutely hates calorie counting. So, instead of being prisoner to a spreadsheet of calories and fat grams, she just made major changes to her eating habits. She has cut way back on eating sweets and fast food and practices portion control. Mandy has also discovered the magic of the walk at home program. She has a serious sweet tooth which she calms down with 100 calorie packs and dried fruits. She does enjoy the occasional bean and cheese burrito, but she will only have half and will pair it with a salad.

In January of this year Mandy was 181 lbs. She is down to 159.8 and plans to lose 20 more pounds for her wedding!!!

Mandy's secret: "This is a lifestyle, You can't deprive yourself of foods that you love, if you do your lifestyle won't work" Well, it's working. Go Mandy!!!



Thank you Mandy and Eileen for sharing your stories. There are more to come!! Do you have a great success story? Please share with me.