Weigh-In | 9.30.10

Yep.  I'm down.  Woo hoo!  I'm not going to lie.  I got on the scale this morning and saw 1.8 and thought, "Seriously?????!!!???"  I worked super-hard this week.  HOW-EV-ER, I AM down.  I didn't maintain.....I didn't gain.  We're cool.   I have visible results, and that's what really should matter.

Total poundage lost:  14.8! 

So close to 15!  Fifteen! :)

So here we go into week 8.  There are areas to improve this week.  I did NOT eat perfectly.  I don't want to pretend here.  I need to work on my fruits and veggies.  I get them in MOST of the time, but some days I struggle.  Typically it's because I'm unprepared more than not wanting to eat them.  I struggle with veggies more than fruit.  I love fruit.  Veggies - eh - I stick to the salad variety.  I don't venture out too much more than that. 

Exercise - If I'm not mistaken, I worked out EVERY DAY.  Some days my activity was higher than others, but it was up there most days!  I typically don't struggle in this area.  If I do, there's a pretty legit reason.  I just struggle with what I eat!  It was definitely better this week.  I was more strict.  I could have been better, though.  I do really well keeping my points in check through lunch and snacks.  I'm really bad about recording my points for dinner.  I always know how many points I have for dinner.  I just may lose track of what I've actually eaten sometimes.  This week I'm recording everything!  EVERYTHING! 

Hopefully next week I'll have the "Freshman 15" gone!  And then some! :)

Progress.....

So ok, I'm getting a little bored with this blog.  I've been mainly posting my weigh-ins, and that's about it.  Sometimes there's a little more......but I don't know... I think I need to step it up a little.  I'm not sure how, though.  I've been trying to find some new blogs to inspire me...

This week has been going pretty well.  Since I last wrote, I met a woman in my neighborhood - and we've been walking.  Her name is Wendy.  She stopped me when I was on my way in from a run and we got to talking...she's been wanting a walking buddy.  So we've been walking quite a bit.  In fact, after our last walk - we were up to almost 15 miles!  We're still trying to work out our schedules and commitments and such - but we're both on the same page.  Both of us want to kick this fat to the curb!

I finished up week 7 of Couch To 5K today.  All 3 workouts were runs of 25 minutes.  They have all gone pretty well.  Most of the time I wish my neighborhood wasn't mostly uphill.  Though I think that it's making me stronger - since I'm pushing through it.  It's kinda fun sometimes.  I'll push myself up one hill, you know...dying by the top of it - and I get to kinda "fly" down the other side.  I feel like a "real" runner then.  Ha! 

I have also been doing some Turbo Kick.  I need to step that up a little.  I haven't done it since Saturday.  I did two 45(ish) minutes videos then.  I'm a glutton for punishment, really.  I've been pushing myself really hard on Saturdays.  After the videos Saturday, I went out for a 3+ mile walk with Wendy.  Again....lots of hills....they kick our butts.  I'm enjoying getting to know Wendy - it's nice to have some support. :)

So...I'm *hoping* I'm down this week.  After last week's maintain - I need it.  I've been working hard and eating well, so I feel like I totally deserve it this week!  Fingers crossed. :)

Weigh-In | 9.23.10

Apparently these ladies are trying to burn fat somehow...

Ok...so I didn't lose this week.  I'm trying to humorous about it. 

"Excuse:"

Was "under the weather" and not feeling like exercising most of the week.  Ok...just gonna throw it out there.  I had a UTI this week.  These things ALWAYS affect me in my lower back...and I don't feel like doing much activity.  This one was worse than usual.  Blah.  Enough whining.

Positives:

I maintained.

I worked out hard on Saturday!  I burned off 1675 calories working out that day.  1375 was before noon!  Woo hoo! 

I worked really hard yesterday to make up for some lost time.

I wore a cute shirt for the first time - that previously did not fit me well. :)

Bottom line:

I didn't follow program as well as I could have this week.  I wasn't at all bad, I just wasn't great, either.  Somehow when we're not feeling well, we seem to "validate" not eating right....

Weigh-In | 9.16.10

Down one.  1 little pound.  So I've been a little annoyed and frustrated today.  I guess I was expecting a bigger loss.  Anything two & above and I would've been fine!  I've eaten pretty well this week.  I've exercised almost every day!  Some days more than once!  

I've had some negative thoughts today...about quitting...and I KNOW that's stupid.  STUPID.  Especially when I lost weight!   It's not like I stayed the same or gained!  Ha!  I just want to keep my momentum going.  As I've mentioned before, it's NOT easy!  I guess I'm to a little point where I'm going to kick this thing into a higher gear.....or get lazy.  I DO NOT WANT TO GET LAZY!!  I AM in this for the LONG HAUL! 

So,  with all that out of my system, today I read a little bit about muscle and fat.  Sooo many people say that muscle weighs more than fat.  NOT TRUE.  I love to bust people on that one!  Muscle or fat....a pound is a pound!  Muscle takes up less space than fat. 

Maybe I didn't lose much this week because I've lost weight BUT gained muscle?  I mean, I can really see it.  I can definitely see it in my legs from the running.  I'm wishing I'd paid closer attention to the body fat percentage this morning.  I just focused on the weight.  I have seen differences just about everywhere.....and THAT'S what I SHOULD be focusing on, right?  I've noticed some changes in my clothes this week.  That was encouraging... :)

So, this week's goal: 

Stay focused on the changes instead of the numbers.  I know the numbers are going to change..........I'm NOT giving up! :)

My Latest Breakfast Kick...

Ok, ok...I'm not really eating these for breakfast!

However, I have been making a delicious oatmeal recipe lately that tastes almost exactly like these!  It's sooooo good! :)  My sister-in-law gave me this recipe last year, and she calls it "Power Oatmeal."  She said she thinks she got it from "The Zone" diet or something similar.  You may have run across it before....but, I love it!  It has seriously filled me up in the mornings, and it tastes quite a bit like a no-bake cookie!  Extra protein can help you build muscle.......which in turn can help you burn more fat! :)

POWER OATMEAL

1 package plain instant oatmeal

1 tbsp peanut butter

1 scoop chocolate protein powder

1-2 packets of splenda (optional)

Cook oatmeal according to package directions.  Add protein powder, peanut butter & splenda and mix well.  Enjoy!

Nutrition Info:  285 calories/10g fat/3g dietary fiber

Reduce these stats by using a reduced fat PB!

Hope you're all having a great Monday!

Weigh-In | 9.9.10

Ok…first things first. This week – I’m down 2 pounds. Woo hoo! 

Grand total...

So, to some, that may not seem like a lot. It’s kind of crazy how much of a difference just 10 pounds makes. I say that just about every time I start losing weight. I have really started to see differences.  It’s so motivating! Controlling what I eat is hard...I’m still struggling with that.  I don’t think that will ever really go away. I hope it does!

One thing I’ve noticed in the last few days is how much energy I have! It’s nuts! I find myself when I’m sitting at work or wherever, tapping my feet or bouncing my legs. It’s all this crazy pent-up energy. I’ve worked out pretty hard this past week. I only missed one day! It’s amazing to me how I can work out pretty hard, and STILL have crazy energy! I find myself wanting to exercise more than once a day. Part of it is energy, and part of it is just the fact that I want this weight off!!!!!

Couch 2 5K is getting harder…and easier at the same time. I started Week 5 today. My running will start to vary by day now. On my last run this week (there’s 3), I will run for a full 20 min. I’m going to have to push myself a lot harder.  Even though the walking is decreasing and running increasing - I'm doing it...I'm not walking.  I just keep going.  I hubby bought me an armband for my iPhone, and it's been wonderful!!  It's nice to run hands-free.  I’ve also been doing Turbo Kick on my off days, which is really helping.  It's a great workout.  It makes me feel strong...

I tried some new things this week. I made potato salad with cauliflower instead of potatoes. It wasn’t my thing, but I took it to some cookouts and people ate it…some even liked it! I split my hot dog weiner in half at one cook-out and put them on two buns. I found that satisfying.  I took half of my food home from a restaurant. It’s little things that I have been changing – and it’s been helping a lot!  Be flexible, creative and adventurous!  Don't be afraid to do things differently!  I know it’s the only way I’m going to keep this going!  I WILL keep this going. 

Baby Carrots - The New Junk Food?

A co-worker brought this article to my attention.  I had to post it.  If you've been following along, you should recall my love for baby carrots.  Haha.

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2010/09/03/baby-carrots-new-junk-food/

"Scarrots" made me chuckle...  :)  Give those out at Halloween, and your house is bound to get egged.  Or TP'd.  Haha.

I still just can't really dig the carrots.  I'm thinking I'm just going to try to be sneaky with them.  I've heard of shredding them up into spaghetti sauce.........I think I'm going to have to try it.

Weigh-In | 9.2.10

So.........things weren't quite as bad as I imagined!  :)  I'm down 2 pounds today, for a grand total of 10!  I was so happy!  Things were not TOTALLY sabotaged! :)

Going into Week 4 of this - I've noticed some differences.  The Couch To 5K program is really working.  I was kind of dreading the change in running this morning.  Last week running and walking were about even.  This week.....it changes to running more than walking.  I noticed this morning that I was able to run easier and longer.  You know, a few years back when I first started running - I was able to start out running - no problem.  If I remember correctly, the first time I went out - it was about a 1 1/2-2 miles and over a period of time increased to close to 5 miles!  No walking!  It's so strange, because I know I have the endurance to run like that, but with this program - I am always looking for that "walk."  I find myself checking my phone to see how many minutes I have left to run before the walk.  It kinda grates on my nerves.  Oh well. 

Anywho - here we go!  Week 4!  As I said yesterday, this week WILL be better! :)

I RESISTED The Birthday Cake!

On the first workday of the month, we always have a birthday cake for everyone who has a birthday that particular month.  I usually partake.  Today...I did NOT go upstairs for it!  I hadn't prepared for it - I had honestly forgotten.  However, I had a little Fiber One bar (Oats & Chocolate) tucked away in my drawer.  I don't need cake!  Ha!

One little thing at a time............

Confession Is Good For The Soul.....

So...I've been MIA for a little while.  I took a long weekend this past weekend.  My husband and I celebrated our 1st anniversary on Sunday.  So, we had off all weekend, Monday & Tuesday.  It was sooooo nice!  We ended up staying at home and relaxing.  It was great!  Except for the fact that I ate too much!  We did go out to a little anniversary lunch on Sunday after church.  We went to Hibachi.  I didn't find much "accurate" nutrition info for their food, but we went anyway.  I just told myself it would be a "cheat" day.  After all, I did well on Saturday - and I went out for a run.  That was the last time I worked out!  Time kinda got away from me.  I had good intentions........

~Here we are on our anniversary @ Hibachi~

Anyway - the eating thing...it's SO much harder for me when I'm at home.  With my options wide open, I snacked....and snacked...ugh.  I did try to get things back on track yesterday.  We did kind of a brunch thing at Bob Evans...and I got a lighter option - so that was two meals in one.  However, my friend Steph's birthday dinner was at Outback last night.  I ended up hungry in the meantime.  I tried to prepare in advance....I looked at Outback's menu & nutrition info.  OH MY!  I had heard that they were bad...........but MAN, I was seriously wondering what I was going to eat!  SEVERAL things I looked at were over 1000 calories.  For ONE MEAL!  *sigh*  I remember looking up one entree - and it was 42 points!  That's WAY over the points I have for the day!!!!  I didn't do TOO bad overall.  I did have a little bit of cheese fries and bloomin' onion.  My meal was supposedly under 500 calories since they listed an option to have it made without butter.  I was glad to see that option! 

So with all that said, I got on the scale this morning............and I'm up a little.  I'm not surprised.  I'm hoping I can break even this week!  We'll see.  I was ready to go this morning.  I packed a healthy lunch, parked at the mall and walked to work (I usually just park in the building), took the stairs (7 flights), and have a positive attitude....  No matter what the scale says tomorrow, next week will be better!  This was a week of celebrations - and I'm not going spend time feeling guilty about celebrating love and awesome people in my life!