Watch this journal for pictures that make me happy from my everyday life, proof of my commitment to a healthier and happier life, plus pictures and links to recipes that are food-allergy safe.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

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The scarf I made my brother.
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Crazy idea I had for handwarmer. I threw it out, but it might be neat if I worked on the pattern.
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This is the shawl I made my grandmother for Christmas. I thought it came out great. I made another in purple for Mike's granny.
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Our Christmas Cheerwine ham, falling apart with deliciousness.
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So we never forget.
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Mike on Christmas.
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Monday, December 28, 2009

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Dinner

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Two extra-lean turkey burgers with swiss and ketchup
Salad with shredded carrots, blue cheese, and allergy-safe ranch

For breakfast (picture coming) I had a cup of southwestern eggbeaters with a quarter cup shredded cheese and four slices of turkey bacon. I packed a yogurt to have with lunch, but I didn't eat it. I did eat the pudding as a snack. For lunch I bought an apple, which I had with a little caramel dip I had, and a half a cup of pistachios, which I did NOT have an allergic reaction to.

For the day I am under 1600 calories, and boy oh boy do I feel GREAT.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

First Workout In a Hundred Years

Well, I won't claim the entire hour was aerobics, but I devote a wii-hour to playing/excersizing, which is more than I have done in over three months. I am giving myself a pat on the back. Now, to work on our new puzzle. Another small goal is to spend less time on the couch. I feel like I live there.
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I am starting over.

Monday, December 7, 2009

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She wants those chips!
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I got personal crustless pie on Thanksgiving :)
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Friday, October 9, 2009

I am so stressed out that it is causing physical pain. Stupid wedding planning.
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Thursday, October 8, 2009

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Don't mind me. I was feeling VERY silly this morning. Another picture to illustrated my improving skin.
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I just wanted to share that my skin is looking a TON better.
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Thursday, October 1, 2009

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Yay Library

OK I went to the library earlier, as I mentioned. I have now officially gone through my entire book wish-list and looked up every single book. The ones that came up in the card catalog I have requested. I am #1 in the "hold queue" for most of them. Sadly, most of them look like they are lost and won't be coming in anytime soon. Still, though, my hope is that they will come in as fast as I can read them. Also, I like just having another something that has me out and about a little bit more. I enjoyed going out today and socializing with people (including a special man who very loudly asked how I was and wished me a wonderful day). I am pretty happy about all that.

The Library

I think that I may have been too harsh on our library than was deserved. Yes, it is very small and pales in comparison to the libraries that I never actually took advantage of in CT... but I have just learned that they work really hard to get books for people and have a crude-but-progressing website that you can make requests on. The ladies at the library acting like I was a returning friend when I paid my $2 in late fees on my one-year-overdue cookbooks and slipped off to fiction to look for something fun and new.
I am still on track. My water-weight is gone. I am ahead of goal. I have lost back 5 of the 10lbs I gained when I was on vacation and in the following months.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Nightly Update



What I ate:

6 slices of lunchmeat pepperoni = 140 calories
2 servings of Glutino crackers = 280 calories
2+ servings* garlic hummus = 133 calories
1/2 cup Fruity Dyno-Bites = 74 calories
2oz Cool Whip Light = 40 calories
1 cup shredded lettuce = 8 calories
2/3 cup shredded carrots = 30 calories
2/3 cup broccoli florets = 20 calories
1/4 medium red onion = 11 calories
1+ cup* shredded chicken = 290 calories
4 tablespoons blue cheese dressing = 260 calories
1/2 cup bargain brand chocolate ice cream = 130 calories


*when a serving seemed to be a little more generous than intended, and I added a little extra to the calorie count

Total Calories: 1,415
Bravo: My skin seems to be improving. For some background, about two months ago I saw a new doctor (in my own town, so I wouldn't have to drive an hour) and had her write me a bunch of prescriptions. One of the prescriptions that she re-wrote was my birth control rx. Now, my epilepsy medications interact with birth control, causing a few issues. For this reason, I need a HIGH ESTROGEN birth control pill. I have always been on ortho-cyclen and it has always worked out. My new doctor wrote the rx for ortho-cyclen, but there is no generic version of it. The pharmacy has been giving be tri-nessa, with is the generic of ortho TRI cyclen, which is a LOW ESTROGEN pill. I looked it up online and found: Not only can an imbalance cause adult acne, but also can cause depression (too little estrogen affects seratonin --- too much progesterone can also cause depression symptoms). Sooo I called my doctor. My request was simple -- write "fill as is for medical reasons" on the RX so that they couldn't give me a generic. Of course, it took a full day of phone calls to get that fixed, because the stupid, stupid doctor's office kept insisting that I was already on it (not acknowledging the generic issue no matter how many times I said it), but they finally got it. Then I had to wait for my cycle to finish. But it's been a week now that I've been on the right pill, plus I have been VERY VERY strict about taking care of my skin and using all my washes and lotions and peels, and I can see a DEFINITE improvement. Here, pictures, just for you.

About ten days ago:





Today, there are some marks, but they aren't raised anymore. I hope it doesn't take too long for the red spots to go away. If anyone has any advice on this, I would love it. I should mention that I am really happy that I finally got my eyebrows done a week ago. I plan to take much better care of them from now on. It's amazing how much better I feel about myself when I don't look like a grizzly bear.


Boo: I didn't work out today. I didn't pig out either, though. I wish I had more energy. I have no idea why I am always SO tired and never feel like doing ANYTHING.

Weight On Goal?: Technically, no. I weighed myself this morning after two days restricting calories and I GAINED six pounds. I don't buy it. It takes an ACCESS of 3,500 calories to gain ONE pound. For this reason, I can only assume it is water and will go away itself.

Daily Goals

My daily goal is to keep my daily calorie intake under 1800 calories. Ideally, I would like to be under 1500, but that seems a little unrealistic... especially after the last two months of pigging out have got my body CRAVING sugar and carbohydrates.

I want to be a good wife when the time comes. As of today, I am $4,367.48 in debt. This does NOT include my car, which is TECHNICALLY Mike's debt... since Mike bought the car FOR me and makes all the payments on it. Now, I do pay all of our rent, which is the monetary equivilant, but he still pays more bills than I do. He also pays every time we go out, etc. Now, he has an awesome (810) credit score (which is why my car loan is under his name), and I have debt that I am getting nowhere with. I am going to BRING HIM DOWN. So, my goal for money is as follows...

I have a list on my blackberry of every credit card bill that I have, as well as our rent, cable bill, and my car insurance. On this list I also have a running tally of my debt.

I have always checked this list before every payday and paid the bills that were due, usually trying to pay a little extra. This has not been easy, since I don't make very much, but has been easier over the last nine months since Mike and I moved in together.

Basically, nothing is more important than paying off my debt. No, not saving. I don't need to save when my debt is piling up at a 26% (yes, my worst card is 26.99%). I need to pay it off.

So every single day I am logging in and checking my balances and due dates. Every single day I will do SOMETHING towards fixing it. This is hard to explain without sounding especially neurotic, but those of you who achieve by obsessing, like I do, might understand.

Keeping a daily log of my debt TOTAL has been scary. I don't USE my credit cards. If I run out of money completely and need something, Mike would rather buy it for me than see me charge it... so I haven't used my cards in a long long time. So how is my debt rising by as much as a hundred bucks every pay period? Scary, scary stuff.

I am hoping to keep my changes updated, to keep myself motivated.

OK, now, I also plan to work work work on my skin as part of my "self-beautifying" movement. I will post pictures of that. I am already seeing an improvement, because I have been obsessing... even washing my face and applying cream at work.

I will try to post daily. The truth is though that these updates can't be done from blackberry, and my laptop really really does stink... so we will see how easy it is.

I need a new laptop. So bad.

Back On Track - For Real.

Okay... in the two months since I went on vacation I have tried to control myself without counting calories. The result? A slow and steady gain.

Today is day 3 of counting calories again. I was under goal by 200 the first day, over by 90 the next, and on track today.

I am getting married. A wonderful man has deemed me fit to spend the rest of his life with. The least I can do is be the best me that I can be.

My mother is coming in LESS THAN A MONTH to visit, and I think that we are going to go look at dresses, just for shits and giggles. I at least want to be back to my lowest weight by then. Or, even better, actually hit my "vacation goal"... which I came within a pound of meeting before all hell broke loose.

This means I have to focus. I think I can do it. Having a wedding date (9/18/2010, for those of you not paying attention) has made it all the more real to me.

I also am making a one-year plan to be outwardly beautiful in other ways. Skin, hair, teeth... I am starting now. I have made a calendar of what I expect to get done. I am doing twice-daily acne treatments and my skin is looking better after a few days.

Weigh-ins to come when I am not feeling quite so ashamed.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Smoothie

1 cup frozen strawberries
2/3 cup nonfat vanilla yogurt
1/3 cup orange juice
Splenda

255 calories
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The huge salad that will make me thin.

711 calories with 3 tablespoons of awesome blue cheese dressing (not pictured).

This will be my main midday meal today. It includes:

One small chicken breast, shredded
A quarter of a red onion
A quarter cup shredded carrot
Half a cup of chopped up broccoli florets
2 hard-boiled eggs

It is the same salad I had last night, and I almost died of happiness.


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Friday, September 25, 2009

Officially back on diet. Finished under 1700 calories today. Hooray!!
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Monday, September 21, 2009

Date set

9/18/2010 is my wedding date. That means I have just under a year to become the me I want to be. Can it be done??
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Thursday, September 17, 2009

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I found the best gluten-free rolls in the universe.
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Saturday, September 5, 2009

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This is why I am still fat.
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Now this is a puppy face that I miss :(
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Friday, September 4, 2009

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Oh, how I wish I was still there!
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A man's man! That's who I will be marrying :)
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Ah, nothing makes me happier...
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Monday, August 31, 2009

Uh oh

This afghan isn't going to match ANYTHING!!
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Confession time

It has been brought to my attention that this blog needs updating. I am sorry. I didn't forget about the blog by any means... But I did fall off the wagon. I didn't make my pre-vacation goal of 255, though I came extremely close. Then I went on vacation and honestly thought I could eat whatever I wanted and swim a lot and be OK. I was wrong! Lesson learned! I gained 4-5 pounds on vacation. Then I came home and was so happy and excited about getting married that I never left celebration mode and put another 4-5 on in the three weeks that followed. About a week ago I snapped out of it and have taken off the post-vacation gain, but I still have the vacation weight to lose. I guess I was ashamed and wanted to lose it all before telling the internet about it... Oh well.

How is everyone on this rainy Monday?
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Yum!

New obsession: smoothies!!
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Sunday, August 2, 2009

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Sunday, July 12, 2009

Sunday Diet Update.

Weigh-in = 256.6
DOWN 1.6 pounds since last week!!
DOWN 75.4 POUNDS!***

***I finally hit the 75lb mark. This is very exciting!

I am on track for making my goal, exactly. I am not ahead. I am a little nervous because goal date is next week! I need to do everything I can to make goal early (1.6 more pounds!) and maintain it for the rest of the week.

I have also realized that I never made goals for this week. Whoops. It's lucky for me, though, because I was ragging this past week and didn't do much of anything.

For the next week I want to really work on my calories and get a couple workouts in.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Clothes.

I am halfway through going through my "too small" clothes. A lot of this stuff, besides other times going through the "too small" bags, I haven't seen in 7-8 years. I should say I haven't successfully worn...

I'm getting a lot of clothes that fit again! Woo. I'm also getting a lot of clothes that went right from being too small to being too big.

From now on, everytime I drop into a new 10lb range, I will try the clothes on again.

So, when I drop under 250 I will try them on again. Under 240, try them on again... etc, etc etc. I can't imagine I will have ANYTHING left once I am under 230.

I am sure I will post again to brag once I am out of "too small" clothes.

Planned Cheat Days

Every once in awhile I have "planned cheat days". Yesterday was one of them.

I do not want to take these days away from myself. As long as they are few and far between, I think it is OK with a few "ground rules". Would you guys agree? My thing is that with my allergies, I miss out on SO MUCH already. Why should I miss special occasions?

I had a "planned cheat day" yesterday, and I did not gain today. I am pretty happy about that.

So... holidays, vacations, and the rare trip away from home. Does that sound fair? Also maybe birthdays or other restaurant celebrations. These would happen only once every few weeks IF EVEN. In July's case it would be 4th of July and vacation, which would be a weeklong event. But but but, for vacation I would also be swimming for hours everyday, so I am not worried about weight gain.

Rules would be...

#1 Don't eat more than you are hungry for. This means, seriously consider going back for seconds.
#2 Still make healthy decisions, even if the calories aren't being counted. This means 2% cheese, eggbeaters vs. eggs, low-fat vs. full fat, etc etc etc. This will especially matter on vacation. I still plan to enjoy a couple of my mother's fried eggs, but I will be packing the eggbeaters so I will still have healthy options to choose from.
#3 Don't pig out. This is a repeat of rule number one, but my biggest downfall is always eating my way into a stomachache that lasts for days. I don't have any regret today for yesterday, even though honestly I probably ate 3000 calories. I didn't pig out.

That's all, folks.

Sunday Diet Update!



Weigh-in = 258.2
DOWN 2 pounds since last week!!
DOWN 73.8 pounds since I started last summer.

GOALS FROM LAST WEEK:
#1 Try again to bring Wii Fit clock up to 10:00hrs. -- Totally failed. Totally.
#2 Bring daily calories down to 1725 for regular days. -- Absolutely achieved.
#3 Keep rounding up on the calories. I think I can do better, though I am on the right track. -- Pretty much achieved.

I am back on track for making my goal.

Also, YAY for being back on track to make my 7/19 goal of 255lbs. I want to be at the lowest weight possible when I go on vacation on 7/24. I will be seeing a lot of people I haven't seen in a very, very long time... and yes, I want to feed my ego. I won't even lie about it.

I am including my weight-loss goal chart and my body measurements chart. I don't think I have been taking measurements long enough to really know if I am shrinking. I think it will be months before the daily fluctuations and changes in measuring spots evens out and a downward trend can really be visible.

Friday, July 3, 2009

:D

Today my calories are pretty low. I'm at 732 and it is 7pm and I am not hungry. I think that I will probably get home around 10pm tonight and have a small snack and go right to bed.

Tomorrow is "spike day", which is good since I have planned a big day of eating. My friend Ashley and her boyfriend are coming over for the 4th. We are doing burgers and baked beans and all sorts of stuff.

I made a gluten-free ice cream cake!

I packed the bottom and sides of a spring-form pan with a crust made of cocoa crispies, butter, and marshmallows. Then I loaded it with Mayflower Rocky Road ice cream, which is soy-free, peanut-free, and gluten-free. I made a layer in the middle of Hershey's Syrup and Enjoy Life chocolate chips.

It will all be topped with Light Cool Whip, marshmallows, chocolate chips, and chocolate syrup drizzle.

Yummo!

Back on Track!

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Reasons

Another weight-loss blog that I read says that it is important to write a list of reasons for losing weight, and review it often.

Here is my list, which I plan on adding to:

#1 So that I don't have to exclude myself from activities that I can't keep up with.
#2 So that I never have to worry about being too heavy for a chair or an amusement park ride.
#3 So that I can be more attractive to the man who loves me.
#4 So that I can buy more clothes more often and look good in them.
#5 So that I can have more confidence.
#6 So that I can succeed at work.

Woo!!!

Cause for celebration!

Today I am down to 259! I haven't been in the 250s in... oh, God, I don't remember EVER being there, though clearly I must have been at some point on my way up.

4lbs to my vacation goal!

Monday, June 29, 2009

Awh

I am going to miss having her as my boss!
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So nice!

I am so happy about my plants growing so big!
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Sunday, June 28, 2009

Sunday Diet Update


Weigh-in = 260.2
DOWN 1.4 pounds since last week!!
DOWN 71.8 pounds since I started last July.

Now, I want to mention again that I had three VERY bad days this week. My weight spiked over twelve pounds and I was in such total pain that I could NOT work out or do anything much other than complain.

GOALS FROM LAST WEEK:
#1 Bring my Wii Fit clock up to 10:00hrs. Right now it is at about 5:00hrs. -- totally unachieved. I have an excuse for three or four days, but other than that I just didn't get it done.
#2 Begin rounding up on everything I eat. This means leveling off every scoop or cup, or adding extra food to my food log to make up for it. -- mostly achieved, but I can work harder on that.
#3 Lower regular calorie days to 1750. -- One day I got depressed and ate an extra two hundred calories. Besides that, and my spike days, I kept it under 1750.

GOALS FOR THIS WEEK:
#1 Try again to bring Wii Fit clock up to 10:00hrs.
#2 Bring daily calories down to 1725 for regular days.
#3 Keep rounding up on the calories. I think I can do better, though I am on the right track.

Also, I wanted to say that I am technically NOT on track to make my goal, but I am VERY close. For this reason, even though my "rule" is to adjust my goal if I am not acieving for two straight weeks, I am going to stick with it.

Here is a chart to show you just how close:

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Dirty Bird



She's a nasty bird, but she is MY nasty bird.

Please disregard my gross voice. I wish I could say I sound better in real life...

Friday, June 26, 2009

Doctor's Appointment

I went to the doctor today. It's been a really long time since I have gotten to sit down and talk to a doctor about the things that plague me. Maybe it sounds stupid, but I have felt the last few years as though I haven't earned the right to fix what ails me. Like I don't deserve health like people who never fell in the pit do.

I won't let myself feel that way anymore. From now on, I am keeping up with my yearly appointments... be it pap smears, neurologist check-ups, etc. I am even going to schedule a dentist appointment once I am back on my feet money-wise.

Anyway, I had a few things to talk to my doctor about:

#1 -- I hadn't had a "female" exam in three years. I haven't been on any birth control, and that needed to be remedied. Result: Pap smear done, and with my next period I will begin on birth control again. This isn't just for mindless sex (ha, ha) but it is just good for an adult female to be on the pill. It has a lot of other benefits. My period is HORRIBLE so I am looking forward to the next one (after the one coming up) being much, much better.

#2 -- My allergies have been very bad. I have been waking up in the morning with blood-red eyes and wheeziness, on top of other symptoms. She got me Singulair for that and said to switch from OTC Claritin to Zyrtec.

#3 -- I talked to her about my asthma. It has been getting bad when I work out. I have been scared to talk about it, because it feels like an excuse or like something I "can't prove". Since I said is happening frequently she gave me a daily inhaler AND a rescue inhaler. Sweet.

#4 -- I talked about my constant urination. She checked my bladder and said it was fine, so she is taking me in for more testing. Also, they are going to take care of my blood tests for my neurologists. I thought that was so nice of them! Yay! I am going back next Friday after a fast, and then coming back for a follow-up appointment after the tests. I think she didn't want to worry me, but she listed some serious things it could be and said she wants to rule them out.

So, that's that's that.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Good News

I peed off 12 pounds last night.

Yesterday at work, I was freaking myself out with my need to urinate every 30 minutes. I mean having to go BAD. Bad as in, it hurts to wait. I drink a LOT of water, usually about six bottled waters a day, and my cube-mates always tease me for excusing myself to go to the ladies room every hour, but it was excessive even for me. For those of you, like my mother, who hear that and think something is wrong -- nothing is wrong. I have ALWAYS been like that. Anyway, though, yesterday was excessive even for me. During the day I deliriously wondered if I was peeing weight off, but I still FELT huge. I came home and immediately stripped down to my underpants and weighed myself and was still right at 272. I was depressed, and I ate some cocoa crispies and passed out on the couch.

When I dragged myself off the couch and went to bed at 9pm, I was still at 272.

I got up and peed at least once an hour until I woke up at 6am. I slept a little sounder each time I went back to bed, since everytime I weighed myself before going back to bed I weighed a little bit less.

Now, I am still not on track to make my goal of 255 by 6/19... but I'd take that over a ten pound gain ANY day of the week.

Sorry to freak my readers out, and Mer, I am especially sorry to you for crying on your shoulder.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Ten-Plus Pounds

I have gained more than ten pounds in the last three days.

I am also constipated, but I don't think I could have gained ten pounds from erratic BMs. I am so confused and upset. I feel out of control, but I have NOT been bad. I haven't been. Tonight I said "eff it" and went to eat my sorrows away... but I caught myself and stopped at 1875 calories... only about 125 over goal, so it could have been worse.

Has this ever happened to anyone else?

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Sunday Diet Update

Weigh-in = 261.6
DOWN 0.8 pound since last week!!
DOWN 70.4 since I started my weight-loss journey. Finally can say 70lbs!

The bad news is that I didn't even lose a whole pound this week. My weight had gone up and then back down this week, so the number looked low until I actually compared it with last week's weigh in and realized that it was less than a pound. Also, as of this morning I am not on track to make my goal. I am not horribly far off, but I am not on track. That's not acceptable. Something has to change.

I have not done my measurements. I will make a separate post about my measurements once I have taken them, but I forgot and got dressed this morning and don't have time to get undressed again before leaving for work.

GOALS FROM LAST WEEK:
#1 Lower regular calorie days to 1799 (rather than 1814). This does NOT include spike days. -- Achieved. I also only spiked once, because yesterday I just woke up too late and was out too much to meet my calorie limit, let alone spike past it. I may spike today, instead.
#2 Make my spike days higher-calorie and/or fat or just a higher volume of food but DO NOT BE A PIG. -- Achieved! The fact that I SKIPPED A SPIKE DAY speaks for itself.
#3 Work Out. Honor your 30 Day Shred obligation when the DVD arrives (tomorrow?). -- 30 Day Shred didn't arrive as planned, but I still worked out. I did NOT work out as long as I should have, though. Friday I worked out for 2 hours, but a few days I didn't even work out at all. I will say, though, that I am STILL SORE from working out!

GOALS FOR THIS WEEK:
#1 Bring my Wii Fit clock up to 10:00hrs. Right now it is at about 5:00hrs.
#2 Begin rounding up on everything I eat. This means leveling off every scoop or cup, or adding extra food to my food log to make up for it.
#3 Lower regular calorie days to 1750.




Questions for my readers:
#1 Do you have a blog I have never commented on? Please reply and let me know. If I have commented it most likely means I have you bookmarked, and I check my bookmarked blogs every day or two.
#2 What goals do you set for yourself every week?
#3 What is your weight, goal weight, and calorie intake goal?

Friday, June 19, 2009



Look what Mike bought me! I think I earned it. I wanted an mp3 player for the 32 hr drive to and from New Hampshire next month. It should be here on Monday!

Promotion!

I didn't post about this originally, because I didn't want to share my stress with my readers and I didn't want to have to post about rejection if it happened, but... I applied for a "pro" position at work a month ago. I interviewed two and a half weeks ago and have been extremely stressed out ever since then. I had interviewed for the position in the past and been rejected, so I was very nervous. I knew that if I didn't get it, it would mean a rough couple months (at the very least) ahead, because I have been getting burned out on my job and just wouldn't handle the rejection well because I would only have myself to blame. I had a good feeling after the interview, but was worried because I WAS nervous and was scared that they could tell. But I also felt good after the interview when I was rejected, so I didn't put much stock in my own reflections! But to make a story that is already too long short, I was offered the promotion yesterday and jumped on it. It will be a 15% raise, which is awesome, and it is a position that will be a much, much better opportunity for advancement in the future. I also think that I will be happier with the change. I am not sure when I will get to start, because there are a few issues with covering the queues I answer. (The entire call center is trained to answer certain queues, but then there are other queues where additional training is required... I am trained on additional queues, so they will need to train other agents before they can afford to lose me during those time slots.) There is also my vacation coming up in July and I begged them to work around it so that I don't have to worry about it.

So, that's where I am today. It's my day off and I can actually completely relax. I have some errands to run. Last Friday I took Mike's guitar to a shop in Statesville to get it fixed for his birthday, and today I am going to go pick it up. I also have a great coupon for Kohl's and Mike got a gift card for Christmas that he never used, so I am going to go stop by there and find some clothes for him. I may also look at bathing suits. I also was hoping to go to Winston-Salem tonight and go to Target and Ed McKay's, the awesome used book store. I also have plans to lift weights at Brian's, but I am going to ask if he would like to go to Winston with me instead. If he says no, though, I am going to honor my obligation to work out! (If he said yes, just FYI, I am still planning on getting a private workout in today!)

How is everyone else doing on this Friday?

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

The List...

I had a very good day today. Nothing happened, nothing special, but I just felt "on" all day. You know what? Today was the first day following "the list". I woke up at 6am and when I left for work at 8:15 I had accomplished everything that I wanted to. I came home from work and made dinner and did some time on the Wii Fit while my friend Brian chatted with me. He is injured and couldn't join me, but wanted to get into a routine. It took until now to get my list completed, but I know I will sleep well knowing that everything is done. And no, I don't feel stressed out. I feel just right. For once!

Healthy chili, yum!

Wow this was good. This was a what-i-have-in-the-pantry version of Cook Yourself Thin's turkey chili.
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http://www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/shows/cook-yourself-thin/recipes/turkey-chili-crunch

I skipped the cilatro, scallions, and the chipotle pepper. I also skipped the tortilla chips, because it didn't need any garnish. Instead I threw in some hot pepper flakes and used green onions on top.

This was pretty easy to make. I am shocked how good the yogurt was instead of sour cream!

Try this! It was only 355 calories WITH the tortilla chips.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Baby steps to a healthier, happier, (and prettier) life.

There are things that should be a part of my routine... but aren't. I am embarrassed enough to say that even basic things get skipped over. So, I have decided to keep a check-list to check off before I go to work in the morning, and before I go to bed at night. I think that I will be happier if I do them, even if at the time I would rather stay in bed or watch television.

Here is my list. Amendments will be made, I am sure.

Morning:
coffee and a real breakfast
empty the dishwasher
use the wii fit even if just to check in
shower
blow-dry hair
make-up
firming lotion on top half of body
gradual tanner on legs
load car with things "to go" (recylcing, donations, etc.)
make lunch

Evening:
get one thing out of the car that doesn't belong or one bag of trash
check water intake for the day
charge ipod
"30 minute shred"
check laundry/no wet clothes
vitamins/meds/fiber
wash face
brush teeth
put on acne lotion
quick teeth whitening
lotion up feet/put on socks
update blog
kitchen - cleaner than when woke up
bathroom - cleaner than when woke up
bedroom - cleaner than when woke up
water plants
run the dishwasher

I will be making quick updates to say if I had any short-comings.

I started halfway through the day today, but what I could do was achieved EXCEPT the water intake. I only had 3 bottled waters today instead of 4. I didn't want to pee all night so I decided to skip it.

Goodnight, internets. It is way past my bedtime.

Yucky veins

Anybody know how to minimize the look of veins? I started a gradual self-tanner tonight. I swear I get new gross spots every day.
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Monday, June 15, 2009

Tonight's episode of Cook Yourself Thin is absolutely awesome and I just CANNOT WAIT to start cooking. I may make some of these recipes tomorrow night!

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Feet

I was just reading another diet blog, where they posted about feet that grew during a pregnancy. It reminded me that I meant to blog about this before.

I have lost at least a shoe size. Luckily, my sneakers, peep-toes, and flats all still fit just fine... but my sandals and flip-flops were all a loss when I brought them out of storage. Probably because those are shoes with straps that can be stretched out.

Anyway, the new shoes that I have bought for this summer are all 9s or 9 1/2s. The ones I got rid of were all 9 1/2s, 10s, and 10 1/2s.

Also, when I was a teenager I remember having a vein on my foot that popped out and wiggled around and was a little "cringe-worthy" that I poked at a lot. It dissapeared one day. It never occurred to me that it was still there, covered in fat. I noticed yesterday that "creepy vein" is back, and have resumed giving it a shuddering poke every few hours. :P

My mother says that weight makes your feet spread out, rather than just feet getting "fat". I'd love to hear if anyone else has had any experiences, and if I should expect my feet to shrink anymore. I bought four pairs of sandals for the summer, and hope they last more than just a year. Then again, the smaller my feet get, the easier it will be to find cute shoes in the future.

The Sunday Night Diet Update!!

Weigh-in = 262.2
DOWN 2.2 pound since last week!!
Down 69.8 since I started my weight-loss journey. I really thought that today I would get to say 70! Boo!

Here is my big news: My BMI is now down to 39.87. You know what that means? I am now obese, rather than severely/morbidly obese. To those of you that have never been "morbidly obese", this probably doesn't sound like much - but those of you like me who have been SO overweight for SO long, please join me in a self-indulgent fist pump!

Last week I stated: "This week I seem to have lost an inch from my waist and an inch-plus from my hips. I refuse to celebrate that until I get the same measurements a second week!" -- I got those measurements a second week! I also seem to be going down in some other places, but up in my forearms (which may be from the handweights that I have been using while I watch TV this week).

I am ON TRACK for my new goal of reaching 255lbs by 7/19.


GOALS FROM LAST WEEK:
#1 Water and vitamins. -- Achieved!
#2 Keep up with my calorie goal, allowing for a "spike" day every three days. Try to follow spike days with a lower-calorie day. No spike days if there was a cheat within the day or two before. This is to keep my metabolism guessing. -- Achieved!
#3 Use the Wii Fit at least twice. -- Unachieved :(

GOALS FOR THIS WEEK:
#1 Lower regular calorie days to 1799 (rather than 1814). This does NOT include spike days.
#2 Make my spike days higher-calorie and/or fat or just a higher volume of food but DO NOT BE A PIG.
#3 Work Out. Honor your 30 Day Shred obligation when the DVD arrives (tomorrow?).

OKAY EVERYONE, Now tell me about your achievements for the week!

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Mayo

Someone (I don't remember who - maybe even one of you!) recently told me that I could buy mayonnaise made with olive oil instead of soybean oil. I found the "mayo with olive oil" at the grocery store and guess what - soybean oil is STILL the number one ingredient.

Does anyone know if there is a soy-free mayo that I can buy online? Now that I am doing small amounts of egg, I have been dying to chow on some mayo. (Not large amounts, don't you worry!)

I've been waiting for you!

I am so happy to see you, but I am not leaving the shade unless I see a treat!


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I love living in the country

My ride home looks like this. Does yours? :P
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Friday, June 12, 2009

Picked up weights!

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Thursday, June 11, 2009

The Belly Attacks

After watching some YouTube clips of the workout video, I noticed that there were a lot of jumping jacks. I haven't done a jumping jack in years. I decided to clear some space and do a few jumping jacks, just to remind myself what it was like.

My stomach, which is very large and loose and flabby since I have lost four sizes off of it, immediately started flopping up and down. I was literally slapping myself with it. It made this horrible farting noise as it moved. Like the sound adolescent boys make with their hands in their armpits. Fwoot fwoot fwoot.

I am so mortified. Also, I cannot keep doing that. It hurt, it was uncomfortable.

I hope I can find some high-waisted spandex shorts in my size or something. A sports bra for my stomach.

Any suggestions?

From SparkPeople.com

4 Signs It's Time to Step Off the Scale
Does Weight Weigh Heavily on Your Mind?
-- By Jason Anderson, Certified Personal Trainer
It cannot talk yet it speaks to you. Some days it makes you giddy with delight. Other days it puts you into a deep depression. It judges you on a superficial level. The thought of it is enough to worry even the most optimistic person. What am I talking about? The notorious bathroom scale.

What is with this obsession we have with the scale? For most people, the scale can be an adversary or an ally, depending on the day. We often hate what it says or argue with it, but we still feel the desire to use it. When used properly and taken for what it is, it can actually be a very useful tool for weight management. But for many, the scale does more than measure the total weight of all your various parts. It somehow defines who you are as a person. And sadly, it can determine your own self-worth. We read way too much into this single-purposed tool.

Here are four signs that you might put too much weight on weighing in:

1. You constantly worry about weighing in.
When you're trying to lose weight, it's normal to experience some hesitation when it's time for your weekly weigh in. After all, you want to see the numbers go down as confirmation that all of your hard work has paid off. We all want to be rewarded for our efforts, and it can be discouraging when you have done everything right and things still don’t pan out. However, if you find yourself preoccupied with worrisome thoughts of what the scale is going to say tomorrow or the next day, then you might be a little too obsessed with the scale.

2. You weigh in more than once per day.
SparkPeople recommends weighing in once a week (or even less). Ever wonder why it's not a good idea to do it more often? Your body weight can and will fluctuate from day to day, and change throughout a single day, too. There is no sense in putting yourself on that roller coaster of ups and downs. In the war on weight, if you become so concerned that you weigh yourself daily or several times a day, you are fighting a losing battle and you will be discouraged. If you feel like you can't control yourself or stop yourself from weighing in each day, then you could be headed for trouble.

3. You can recite your weight to the nearest fraction at all times.
This is a sure sign that you are relying too heavily on the scale. Anyone who can tell you not only how much she weighs each day, but measures her weight loss to the nearest quarter of a pound is probably weighing in too often. There is nothing wrong with wanting to see a lower number on the scale, even if it's a quarter pound lower, but remember that weighing in is more about trends (an average decrease or consistency in weight over time).

4. The scale determines how you feel about yourself for the day.
When the number is down, you step off the scale singing and have a jump in your step all day. When the number goes up (or stays the same when you expected a loss), you feel like Charlie Brown walking around with a rain cloud above your head. To me, this is the saddest situation of all—to let the scale dictate how you should feel. How would you feel about yourself if you hadn't weighed in that day? What other ways would you determine your self-worth if weight didn't exist?

If one (or all) of these situations sound familiar to you, it's time to step away from the scale. Go cold turkey. Or at the very least, weigh in less often. But what's a "compulsive weigher" to do?

Instead letting the scale alone determine whether you're a success or failure, use more reliable measures to determine your progress. My philosophy is that weight loss is not a goal, but the result of healthy habits like a better diet and regular exercise. When you do step on the scale and don't see the reading you had hoped for, ask yourself these questions: Am I doing what I am supposed to be doing? Am I making healthy food choices most of the time? Am I exercising consistently? If you are, then rust that your body is making positive changes, and the results will come. If you are not, then resolve to be consistent in healthy behaviors to see the results you want.

Weighing yourself is definitely helpful and it has its place. Just make sure you don’t go overboard and give too much credence to this one measurement! After all, other measures (like how much energy you have, how much easier it is to climb a flight of stairs, or how well your clothes fit) might not be as precise or scientific, but they're sure to make you feel happier and more successful than a scale ever can.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

30 Day Shred. Alternate Title: Scared To Death


One thing that I don't think I have ever posted here is about my DIET BUDDIES. I have three that I rely on: Jenny, Mer, and Marie. I email Jenny every day to "fess up" to what I have eaten and what I am proud of, etc. I chat with Mer throughout the course of the day and we talk about little other than positive lifestyle changes. Marie and I try to coach each other through trials and tribulations.

Well Mer (her journal) has decided she wants to start doing Jillian Michael's "30 Day Shred" (she's from The Biggest Loser). Mer is like me, though, and knows she won't stay on a program like that without a buddy/coach. She asked me if she bought me the DVD and sent it to me, would I do it? Would I absolutely positively swear that I would do it every day and we would hold each other accountable for it?

This sounded like too big an obligation for me.

I went on Amazon.com and read the reviews. It is almost all 5-stars. But it was the content of those reviews that terrified me:

--This is a really good workout. It's geared a little more to advanced exercisers, but the choreography is fairly basic and you will definately feel this the next day.

--It's been 2 and 1/2 hours since I finished and I'm still shaking and finding it hard to go up and down stairs.

I am sure that those reviewers are in better shape than I am, too!

And then I started thinking about what a pain in the butt it is to move the coffee table back and forth to make room to work out. I thought about how it would be hard and I don't like things that are hard.

THEN I thought about how absolutely stupid I was being. I can't work out because I don't want to move a table?? Have you ever heard something so ridiculous? So before I could think better, I agreed. Even if it is too hard, I can commit to watching it every night while swaying in place trying to find a spot where I can "hop in".

So... we'll see what happens! I will have to start including this in my Sunday Diet updates.

Bragging rights.

My stomach has definitely shrunk! Looking at these pictures I realize my arms have, too!
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Monday, June 8, 2009

Yay, new used grill!

Mike's parents gave us this grill over the weekend that they just replaced. 20+ years old and still grilled a damn good burger!
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Tommy-toes

My tomato plant is looking good! I wonder how much longer until there are actual edible fruits on it?
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