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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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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Hummingbird Garden

I really hope I get flowers soon, since right now it just looks like I need to weed!
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Do Vitamins Help You Lose Weight?

Everyone knows vitamins are good for you, but do vitamins help you lose weight? The answer is yes, some of them can help you lose weight. Vitamins also help take away that haggard wore out look people get when they're on a diet or not eating properly. The bad news is that in our fast paced, fast food society it's pretty easy to get that look. How many times have you looked in the mirror and saw a tired, wore out face starring back at you?

The good news is there's something you can do about it. Vitamins can make a huge difference in your overall health and appearance, if you know which ones to take. Of course, you get vitamins naturally in your food, but these days the over processed food we eat usually isn't up to par. Therefore, most people opt to take a multivitamin at least.

However, if you're overweight on top of being tired and stressed out, you need extra help. Keep in mind that vitamins can't do their job properly if you aren't making an effort to eat a somewhat balanced diet and do some form of exercise, whether it's a sport, a workout at home or fitness routine in a Health Club.

As you know, if you do nothing you'll get nothing you can't expect vitamins to do it all. When you have the right type and amount of vitamins your body's weight related functions such as appetite, metabolism and calorie burning can operate more efficiently this is how they help you lose weight. It's not one specific vitamin, but a combination of them working together.

The core vitamins that help you lose weight are: vitamin C, several of the B complex vitamins such as B2, B3, B5 and B6. There are a couple of minerals worthy of mention that are part of the B complex vitamins, and they are: Choline (also good for the brain) and Inositol (helps lower cholesterol), both assist with fat metabolism.

Vitamin E is another great vitamin to add to the list for it helps prevent aging and keeps skin healthy. It's also good for the heart and circulation. Moreover, it's one of the most widely taken supplements on the market. However, before you buy any vitamin or supplement you should do research to find the recommended dosage for your gender and age.

Now, when someone asks you, "Do vitamins help you lose weight?" You'll know what to tell them.

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OK after reading this, I am proud of myself for picking up a wide variety of vitamins to add to my anti-epileptic/fiber/allergy meds routine. I am taking daily: vitamin C, vitamin D-3, vitamin B-12, vitamin B-6, vitamin E, vitamin D, plus calcium.

I have written a shopping list of what to buy next: B-2, B-3, B-5, Choline, and Inositol.

Does anyone know any other vitamins that can help with metabolism, weight loss, and energy?

This is because....

I never posted about how cute my new haircut is.
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Weight Loss...

It has been a little frustrating that I am not making my goals for weight loss. I know, though, that I could be working harder... I had a lot of personal "stuff" going on that I'd rather not blog about, but it's mostly over now and I think I will be in a better place this week to center myself and get a workout routine going.

I feel like I am in a little bit of a slump. What do we do when we're in a slump? We reflect on our accomplishments. I would like to show you a chart of my weight loss over the last year. After seeing this, I feel a little less like a failure and a little more like saying "OH HELL YEAH".

Sunday Weigh-In

Weigh-in = 264.4
DOWN 1.6 pound since last week.
Down 67.6 since I started my weight-loss journey.

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!

For the second week in a row, I am not on track to make my goal of 249lbs by 7/25. I want my goals to be realistic, so I am going to alter my goal just a tiny bit. 255lbs by 7/19. A little less weight to lose, but a slightly closer goal date. That's actually a better date for me, anyway. The date I had chosen is a date I will be traveling on and unable to weigh-in on!


GOALS FROM LAST WEEK:
#1 Continue with the water goal. -- Unachieved
#2 Continue with the new calorie goal. -- Achieved except one day where I went over. I didn't go over by much.
#3 Get at least one good workout in. -- Shamefully unachieved
#4 Eat a fruit and a vegetable every day. -- Unachieved

GOALS FOR THIS WEEK:
#1 Water and vitamins.
#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.
#3 Use the Wii Fit at least twice.

Vitamins

I have more vitamins and medications than will fit in one container.
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I need a life

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My best friend and her son, along with my very good friend, are all hitting the road on the fourth of July weekend. I just spent a pretty long period of time labeling and decorating a map for the kid so that he can look at the map and feel like he is part of the trip. He probably will just glance at it and crumple it up. I don't know why I get so wrapped up in things!

265

I am 265.0 right now. 15lbs away from goal. This is NOT my official weigh-in, that won't happen until Sunday, but as of right now I am not on track to make my goal of 249 on 7/25. If I am not on track by Sunday, instead of lowering my calorie intake I may change my goal weight/date. I want to be realistic, and feel like I am beating myself up even though I am working very hard. But hopefully I will be on track to make my goal by Sunday. I think I may have learned a thing or two.

Banana Muffins

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Banana Muffins
3 cups oat flour
2 cups gluten-free baking mix like Pamela's or Namaste
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup Splenda

6 mashed bananas
10 tablespoons of butter
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
12 tablespoons of fat free half and half
1 egg

Mix wet ingredients, mix dry ingredients, then mix together. Line two
muffin pans with muffin liners. Makes 24 muffins. 125 calories a
muffin.

I also topped mine with a little mix of cinnamon, Splenda, and Splenda brown sugar mix. These will have very pale tops, so a little topping will make them much more aesthetically pleasing.

Sunday Night Diet Update #3

Weigh-in = 266.0
UP .4 since last week.
Down 66 since I started my weight-loss journey.

I am no longer on track to make my goal of 249lbs by July 25th. I am not too far off, though. I re-calculated my maximum daily calorie intake and have a new goal of 1,814 calories per day. It had been 1890.

My measurements haven't changed yet except going up or down such small amounts that it is most likely due to shifts in where I am taking the measurements.

Those two days I took off from counting calories were a mistake. I have proven to myself that without rules, I cannot trust myself. Lesson learned. Next time I take a day or two off, I am still setting ground rules. It shouldn't happen again for awhile, though.

GOALS FROM LAST WEEK:
#1 Three meals a day. -- Not achieved every single day due to my trip away from home, but I did very, very good at this.
#2 Three bottled waters, or the equivalent - 60 oz - per day. -- Achieved quite a few days, which was a massive improvement. I have been peeing every five minutes.
#3 Eating at work must be limited to my lunch hour and my two breaks. No more mindless eating because call volume is stressing me. -- COMPLETELY ACHIEVED
#4 Stay on track with my calorie goal of 1890 per day. -- PARTIALLY ACHIEVED -- Every day that I counted my calories I made goal.

NEW GOALS FOR NEXT WEEK:
#1 Continue with the water goal.
#2 Continue with the new calorie goal.
#3 Get at least one good workout in.
#4 Eat a fruit and a vegetable every day.

Just in case you haven't heard

My town got all 'effed up with all the rain that we're getting. Flash floods, the Red Cross coming in and rescuing people, at least nineteen families have temporarily or permanently lost their homes, and... oh yeah did I mention the highway caved in?

Hiatus

I am going to be taking a 1-2 day hiatus from counting calories, because I will be away from home, away from tools, and not in a controlled environment. If it was going to be longer than a day or two than I wouldn't make that allowance... but this is going to be a fun weekend staying in someone else's home and I want to be horrible guest and most of all, I will have fun!

I am just saying this now so I don't seem like a horrible failure when I make my Sunday Night Diet Update.

Egg Update

Eggs definitely give me painful gas if I have more than one. The test continues though to see how much I can handle.
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Cookies!

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Chewy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

makes 24 cookies
136 calories per cookie

Ingredients:
3/4 cup butter
1 cup Splenda brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup 2% milk
3 cups oats
1 cup oat flour (should also work fine with a gluten-free baking mix, all-purpose flour, etc.)
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla **
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 serving (1/8 bag ) Enjoy Life chocolate chips

** I replaced this with sugar free caramel coffee syrup. No calories!

Combine liquids and egg, beat until blended. Combine dry ingredients in another bowl and slowly mix in. Cook in an oven pre-heated to 375 for 10-12 minutes. I use parchment paper so I don't have to waste calories on greasing the pan.

You could also add in raisins or nuts, but remember that they weren't figured into the calorie count.

Pink Silver Dollar Pancakes

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1 1/4 Cup Gluten-Free Trader Joe's Pancake Mix
1 Egg, beaten (could replace with applesauce or 1/2 banana)
1/4 Cup 2 % Milk (could replace with water or alternate milk)
*I used raspberry sugar-free (calorie-free) baking syrup in the mix instead of oil, which shaved about 30 calories off each serving. I eyeballed the amount, until the mixture was the consistency I wanted.

Silver dollar pancakes are about a tablespoon of batter each. The amounts listed above will make 5 equal sized servings.

Figuring that you will use four tablespoons of canola oil to cook the entire batch, like I did, plus 1/2 tablespoon of butter and 1/4 cup of lite syrup to top your serving, these are 277 calories per serving.

Sunday Night Diet Update #2

Weigh-in = 265.6
Down .4 this week.
Down 66.4 since I started my adventure last July.
Down 7.4 since I started counting calories recently.
I am ON GOAL (barely) to meet my goal of 249lbs by July 25th.

I took my measurements today. Not much has changed except my neck somehow grew by an inch. I do not believe this, and think I probably typed my inches in wrong last time.

I had a rough week. My weight went up, and went up again. I was very, very scared that I would have to report to my three readers that my weight went up this week, but my hard work caught up to me at the last moment. I would have liked tot have lost more than that, but I'll take it.

Yes, I made my calorie goal EVERY SINGLE DAY this week.

I have decided that on Sunday nights when I do my "diet update" I am also going to include a list of goals for the week. Note that this is a list for the week only, and not permanent goals. Yet.

GOALS:
#1 Three meals a day.
#2 Three bottled waters, or the equivalent - 60 oz - per day.
#3 Eating at work must be limited to my lunch hour and my two breaks. No more mindless eating because call volume is stressing me.
#4 Stay on track with my calorie goal of 1890 per day.