Ballet

I am still on my plan.
Frankly, I'm not planning on great results as my goal this year is to get STRONG.  I'm doing workouts that really challenge me.  I have been VERY sore the past couple of weeks, because of this, and I am well aware that I don't lose when I'm sore.

I'm just going to keep calorie counting and sticking to the plan.  The plan makes good sense and it will work.

I also need to be very mindful of my weekend eating.  I really do.  Something else to work on.

My workout plan has been a firm video on Mondays and Fridays (the same video) and another video on Wednesdays as I need something to break-up the monotony of the firm (I love it when they say "Isn't this FUN!?"  You know things aren't fun when you have to say stuff like that).  Also, with how sore I've been I've stayed that way about 4 days after the workout so something else in the middle has been good.  I think doing the same video on Monday and then on Friday has been great because I'm noticing I'm better at it on Friday.  The firm videos are a lot like the aerobics class you hated in college as they have a lot of different moves and go quickly from one workout to the next.  Hence, a repeat makes you feel a little more sure of what you're doing.

Today, it being Wednesday, I did the NYC Ballet workout.  Oh, wow.  New muscles being used.  I do really like feeling like I'm a ballerina.  I love to watch ballet (so does Paige) and I love to feel graceful.  Hopefully some of the moves in this video will assist in that.  But I'm pretty sure I'll be sore tomorrow.

How are your new years resolutions coming?  What do you want to be?

My plan this year

I'm counting calories 4 days/week.  I'm not counting on the weekends, or on the day I work.  It's too hard to count when I work.  I will just try hard. :)

I will work out to a DVD 3 days/week and one extra "social" workout -- aka walking or Just Dance.

I feel like these things are doable and things I have done before.

And life goes on, just as dandy as before.

Are you making any changes in the new year?

Where I am At

Man oh man it's been a while since I have written.

1.  Carb fast was a complete waste of time.  You know why?  Because we werne't meant to live carb-free.  I think it was good in that I figured out I could control myself that well, but it didn't help me lose weight.

2.  I've started doing Fitness Blender workouts and I really like them.  Anyone else done them lately?

3.  We had a little bought of winter illness at our house and I just dropped the weight loss ball.  My plan is to do 3 Fitness Blender workouts a week and then also count calories a few days a week to just stay on top of things, and mostly just hope that I don't gain weight over the holidays.

In other news Blue Bell Christmas ice cream was devine.

So, back to Fitness Blender.  Anyone else done them?

Down a bit

So, coming into the end of month #2 I have lost a total of 10 pounds.  I guess that's no so bad, although I think this is official week #9.  I did come down last week, but I was at a low a couple of weeks earlier and I'm not as low as that.

I'm not sure the whole sugar thing is working for me.

I'm feeling deprived and I'm not eating in situations that I'm hungry because there's nothing to eat that fits my "standards"...

I am going to stick with it this week and the calorie counting though.

Fo sho.

STUPID SCALE

I am up this week, like 2 pounds!  I'm so stinkin' mad about it!  I followed the diet plan last week and every day I would see it tick up.  I'd do a harder workout and the scale would be up half a pound.

DROVE.

ME.

INSANE.

I am doing Jillian's 30 day shred right now and it's a but kicker (in more then one way).   BUT, since I feel like my eating is kinda under control right now I wanted to do more in the work-out way.

In other news, I've started using my hand blender to make smoothies and I am LOVING it.  Right now I'm doing:

• 1/2 cup of water (I hadn't used water before because I thought it would mute the taste but it's just fine, I don't miss the juice at all).
• 1/2 cup of frozen fruit
• 1/2 cup of fresh fruit
• 1/4 cup oatmeal (I saw this on someone's blog and I thought it would help add bulk and fiber, and it does both)
• 1/3 cup greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup spinach
• 1/2 of a bananna
• 1 t chia seeds
• 1 T ground flax seeds

Sometimes I add some ice cubes if I'm hot.  I have added avocado a couple of times, but I don't really notice it and it's so fatty and delicious on its own I'd rather just mash it up.  I was really feeling left out of the smoothie club because I don't have a blend-tec blender, but that is REALLY not in the budget right now and this actually makes clean-up a HUGE breeze!

I just zip it all together with my hand blender and throw a straw in the cup that came with it and whamo -- it's delicious.  I've made two today (P is sick so I'm really hoping the antioxidants are going to save me from her).

Then, to clean up I just put some hot water in the cup and I blend that with the thing, cleaning both the cup and the blender and I air dry.

Just don't stick your finger in the blade.  Only REALLY STUPID people would do that.

Anyway, I'm just going to stick with the plan and keep trying to eat right and workout hard.  That can only pay off, right?

TELL ME I AM RIGHT.

Down...

I hate this.  I hate that I get super frustrated because I'm NOT losing, and then I somehow ladder down a few pounds.

I'm down 2-3 pounds this week, and I feel pretty fantastic.  This makes it almost 13 pounds since the beginning of my no carb plan.  That's pretty great, in about 8 weeks (HORRAY!).  I, of course, wish it was faster.

BUT, I kind of feel like my eating is now under control.  I'm not taking a lot of effort to not eat carbs, and I'm trying to not go crazy with carbs on my cheat day (I did have this yesterday, it was nice to just make one portion, plop some ice cream and chocolate sauce on it and know it's gone and not tempting me in the fridge all week).  I think a lot of my weight loss hinges on that cheat day, so I still need to be conscious (but not so conscious that I feel cheated).

So, since eating seems to be under control I'm going to try and work on my physical activity more.  I'm doing harder videos and trying to be more intense while I do them.  It feel pretty good after it, so far... this isn't the video I've done, but it looks like a goodie! :)

Anyway, does anyone else "ladder" on their weight loss?

It's annoying, but I've been annoyed by other things. :)  Many, many annoying things.

2020

No, that's not my eyesight. That's the year I will reach my goal weight if I keep on this path.

Seriously.

I am pretty well the same this week. I know last week wasn't going to be great because my cheat day was last Monday (because I worked Saturday). I've still been getting headaches and I just don't feel all that great. I'm about 75% sure it's allergies but I haven't really a clue.

I'm uber frustrated because I'm also not losing weight even though I am following the 1200 calories/day thing.

So, I'm just going to soldier on. This week I'm cutting out flour and grains. So, it's just me, protein, fruits and veggies. I'm hoping this will kick this plateau's butt. I'm also going to try and do some sinus rinsing to help with the allergies.

If I'm not down on Saturday I will pull my hair out, although I don't think it will be much it might be some loss. :)

Keep on keepin' on. Thoughts on what I'm doing wrong?

Plan:
1200 calories/day plus about 1/2 of my workout calories.
No sugar except on one cheat day/week
Fruits, vegetables and protein (except on cheat day)
Work out 3 times/week plus gardening (which just kicked into high gear).

Up....

Last week was a bad week.  I totally kept to my diet, at least I didn't go OVER the diet, but I wasn't shocked when the weight didn't come off.  Last week's problems:

I had a bunch of headaches.  I have no idea what it was from, but it was annoying.  I'm really feeling like SO many of my headaches are tied to food... I need to watch what I am eating when they happen.

• On  Wednesday I saved some points for dinner, but we ended up at a potluck with pizza and I ended-up eating very few calories.
• On Thursdays I worked.  My life is a joke at work and I didn't NEAR my calorie limit that day.  I get home around 8 pm and I'm just BUSHED and I hate eating that late.  Not sure how I can fix this, but I know when I go well under 1200 calories/day the weight doesn't come off.
• Friday I was STARVING, probably thanks to Thursday.  I still kept within my limits.
• Saturday I worked again.  Just a re-run of Thursday.  Again, not even close to my calorie loads.
• Sunday was fast Sunday -- I'm sure I ate all my 1200 calories right at dinner
• and then I had my cheat day on Monday.

And thus we see I didn't lose a lot of weight.  But, I also lost over 2 pounds last week so I should expect it, I guess.  I'm not overly bummed.  Happy to stay on track this week.

How's YOUR weight loss going? Thoughts on what I can do at work?  I can barely pee little loan eat...

Down 2.4!

I am down 2.4 pounds this week.  That makes it a total of 10 pounds in the 5 weeks since I started.

I'm not really sure what happened those couple of weeks ago when the results were practically nothing, even though I was working the same as I do now...

I think weight watchers has something to their system, but I really didn't want to pay and I don't find the meetings or their online tool that helpful.

I think with calorie counting you just need to tweak it so it works for you.  That isn't to say that the amount of calories that I am at right now (I tend to eat 13-1400 on the days I work out and just over 1200 on the days I don't) will work forever.  I do know that on the couple of weeks where this wasn't working, I was going below 1200 and apparently that wasn't doing my body any favors...

I am still not sure if the low carb thing is helpful.  I plan to stick to one cheat day until I at least reach an average weight.  I may then add another sweets opportunity during the week.  I do find myself "hungrier" after my cheat days.  Not sure if it's the sugar or what... but that is the truth.

This weekend I went to a potluck.  I'd been to one like 3 weeks ago, in which I pulled the skin off some KFC and ate the chicken.  I was so sad seeing all the other food.  This time I could eat whatever I wanted and it turns out that I didn't just swoon over much of anything.  I did have one tasty dessert and I had some enchiladas that were pretty yummy.  I think I could make the enchiladas on my own and just eat the filling over some quinoa or brown rice for dinner.  Frankly, I mostly like the filling anyway.

I did have a burger last Saturday and it as yumm-o... Oh and fries.  I hadn't had fries in about a month!  The were alright, but the onion rings were much more worth the calories.  I think calorie counting gives you a similar restraint to budgeting is that you figure out what you want to prioritize your calories for.  For me, it would be the onion rings, all the way!  Oh and some "fry sauce" or ranch to dip them in.

My favorite things seem to be creamy things -- mayo and sour cream.  I find it's worth the calories for me to have a tsp of mayo on my sandwich, I just love that stuff.

And life goes on, doesn't it?  Are you ready to jump on the weight loss bandwagon now that your kids are in school?

Week #4, stalled no more!

So, I think I'm down 1-2 pounds.  It's hard to say, I worked night shift on Friday night so I'm not really sure my weight from Saturday should be counted, BUT in the 4 weeks I've been doing this, I'm down 4 pounds, which seems really great to me.  I also really think that my love handles are shrinking, and somehow I think my neck is larger, but I digress...

Last week I ate my full calorie count, always going just above 1200 calories, some days to as much as 1400 if I worked out a ton.  It seemed to work, and in reality my body may have been fighting back the past few weeks from the first week's big loss.

Just a reminder that the key is often sticking to the plan.

Funny, I just watched an episode of the Biggest Loser where the guy wasn't eating enough calories (it was back when the blonde trainer was on, not a big fan of hers) but she flipped through his calorie count and he too was eating around 1100 calories/day and she said it just wasn't enough.

I think it's easy to get caught in the trap that less is better...

but it's not.

Unless we're talking love handles.  And then yes, less is better. :)

Anyone else making progress?

If I Could Move My Arms, I'd Throw In The Towel

I gained .4 pounds last week, which was just crazy frustrating.  AT one point it was more like 1.2, but if I go Saturday to Saturday it's .4 -- {sigh}

I was REALLY frustrated on Saturday.  I may have taken my cheat day a little far, which didn't help my numbers on the scale at all... but...

I'm back at it.

A big part of me wonders if I have PCOS.  I haven't ever had the "string of pearls" look on my ultrasound, and when it took so long to get pregnant with P I had hormone levels checked, and she didn't seem to think I had it (and I didn't push it).  I did lose weight, and I did get pregnant.

SO, here's the diet as it stands now:

1.  Low carb.  I'd still try to keep it low on carbs.  I can still eat fruit (although, I am careful with this as I tend to feel "funny" if I only eat fruit).
2.  I am now going to allow whole grains.  I just made some 100% whole wheat "deals to meals" bread, and I'll probably make a sandwich out of that a couple of times a week.  I still want to stay away from potatoes, and only small amounts of corn or wheat.
3.  No sugar, or at least really low.  As, bread has sugar.  Except on cheat day, of course... but cheat day needs to be kept in moderation (a little concerned as I'm working night shift this weekend and being sleepless is a big queue for carbs for me... yay!).
4.  Eat all my calories that My FitnessPal tells me to.  At the VERY minmum 1200-1300/day.  There were several days last week that I went under.  No bueno.  I will also eat the calories it tells me to eat when I work out.  AT LEAST increase it to 1400 on days I workout.
5.  Keep my regular workout routine going.  Today I did Aikido drills (this isn't the video, but this one looks good!).

It seems like, if I do have PCOS I will have a harder time losing weight (duh) but that if I keep the low carb-ness up I should be able to be successful.  Anyone have thoughts on PCOS they'd like to share?  Again, I don't know if I have it, but at one point in pregnancy they said I was glucose intolerant, so I think that glucose could be a trigger or issue for me.  I'm determined to stick to the low carb/no sugar thing til' Halloween, and hopefully til' the end of the year.

Week 2: Lost

Last week was a wash.  My weight was up, I think, this AM.  But between the EXTREME soreness from that Firm workout (BTW, it was the 2nd one on this DVD and it kicked my BOOTIE, not sure why -- but it did).  Then, I am 98% sure I caused a bleeding ulcer from my ibuprofen taken from being so sore, I felt pretty yuck through Friday and made do on Saturday.  I felt it a little tomorrow, but I don't think I'm bleeding anymore -- so that's a high note.  Needless to say, I doubt my body was wanting to shed lots of weight during this time.  So, I'm just back on track today, hoping that I can keep losing weight.

So, here are my questions for you:
1.  Eat the calories I use in exercise, or don't eat the calories.  That is the question.  Last week I didn't eat them, but I was also a mess... so I think I'll try and eat 1/2'ish of them this week and see how it goes now....
2.  Ever get constipated on a low carb diet?  I added in some popcorn this weekend and wow.  Better then a fiber pill.  Feeling much better, thanks so much for asking.  I think I'll allow popcorn within my calorie counts 3 times this week.  I know it's a carb... my apologies.
3.  What to do with the soreness?  Am I just working out too hard?  I KNEW the last workout was crazy hard, but I powered through and I paid the price all week.  Worth it?  Anything I can take (obviously besides nsaids or ibuprofen... that's pretty well out for a while).

Now, it's time to answer.
You.
Answer.

The One Where I Whine

Well, my body hates me.

I was really sore from my Firm workout.  It was rediculous.  I almost threw-up during it, but I kept going.  Sad, but true.

So, back to being sore -- I took some ibuprofen.  I thought it was pretty close to dinner, but apparently it wasn't.

Because my stomache hates me now.

And last night it REALLY hated me, after I ate a cup of grapes and cherries.

All those years in nursing school... just to be a small lump of sadness on the couch.

My legs, my stomache, and I just want to shove bread in my mouth.  Because nothing says fix your stomache like chicken.

And fruit's pretty well out....

I hope I feel better tomorrow.  I'm pretty sure I will... right?

Oh, and did I mention I got like 12 mosquito bites from when I turned the compost yesterday?  Turn on the flood gates, my life is hard!

One Potato Two Potato

Hello! Long time no see, eh? This summer has been fast as far as activities go, but slow as far as exercise and diet go. I didn't just fall off the wagon. I jumped off, did a few somersaults, and wound up somewhere in between Kansas and Kentucky.

Now on to the good news! I have been following Hilary's posts on Facebook regarding her carb fast, getting back on track, etc. Well once again she inspired me to re-evaluate my own food and exercise habits and you know what I found? Crap. Lots of crap.

So here I am! I'm back on track following a plan that my trainer wrote for me but this time I'm throwing calorie counting in there as well. Jillian Michaels always says losing weight is simple: it's calories in and calories out. Simple science. I always fought it but now I get it.

I'm on day 4 and I have lost 4.3 pounds. Yeah there's probably water weight in there and my body is just revving up because I went from eating burgers and fries and pizza to lean chicken and broccoli. It's like being on the ranch week one. I'll put up a big number this week and then probably go to more "normal" weight losses each week.

So my food plan includes lots of lean protein, no carbs after 4pm, and a lot of water just to name a few things. My exercise plan is to do 30 minutes per day of focused exercise (dvd's, gym machine, etc.), be as active as possible the rest of the day (play wii with the kids, ride bikes, walk to the park, etc.), and jog 3 times a week to train for a 5k and 10k I have coming up in September.

It's good to be back!

Carb Fast Week #1

People.  I just ate Quinoa, and I was thrilled.
Ok, maybe not thrilled but it was nice to have a new texture.
Here's my week, in bullet points:

• I lost 5 pounds from last Monday to this Monday, yay!
• I ate 1200 plus my calories from exercise, this week I plan to eat 1200 plus 1/2 my calories from exercise, if I feel hungry -- if not I still need to eat the full 1200.
• Constipation is an issue, and it's not really resolving.  It's hard to think that SO many salads aren't fixing that, but they aren't.  Maybe the quinoa and beans that I'm adding this week will help.
• I get headaches if I don't drink enough water (and I do mean a TON of water)
• My first cheat day is Saturday, and currently I don't have a ton of plans of what to do with that day... but, give me time. :)

And that is all.

I have yelled more since this started, but I really need my family to pick up some slack around here.  I'm not amused by the "mom will do everything" motif they have going right now.

Is that the lack of carbs talking?  You be the judge. :)

Carb Fast Day eternity. :)

Sorry for missing so many days.

Day 3 was supposed to be the "worst day" - word on the street from "everyone"... it wasn't all that bad.  I mean, I was ornery just like usual, but nothing -- no dreams of brownies or anything like that.

Day 4 I took El Presidante school shopping and he wanted to go for Italian for dinner.  I talked him into Fuddruckers, where I got the cesar salad.  It came with garlic toast and croutons.  I almost cried pushing all that onto Conner's plate.  I love me some delicious oily home-made croutons. {sigh]

Anyway, I made it through.

I'm staying under my calorie limit (which is 1200 plus whatever I workout, a dietician friend, as well as myfitnesspal both recommended I eat what they tell me to, so I am).  I've lost 4 pounds as of today... so, that's good.

Part of me wonders if I was sticking to the calorie counts, if I would still lose, regardless of my lack of carbs.

Thoughts on that?  Why does a low carb diet increase weight loss?

So far, so good.

Carb Fast Day #2

I forgot to write last night.  I had taken Mr Middle school shopping and I also took him out to eat, which just happened to be the food court at the mall....

pure. torture.

But, I stayed strong, I got a salad at paradise bakery, their cobb chicken with avocado salad.  BUT, I still had like 300 calories to eat once I got home.  I ate some cherries and then some fruit salad and string cheese.  I am missing peanut butter.  I think I'm going to add that next week.  What do you think?  I was going to add legumes and quinoa next week and also a cheat day on Saturday.  I think a cheat day is the only way I'm going to make it on this diet, but that's a WEEK from THIS Saturday.  No cheats this week. :)

I didn't have any video workouts.  But I did do "fitness testing" with my kids, I gardened for about 20 minutes and I did "Just Dance" for 20 minutes.  BTW, Just Dance 1 seems to be a LOT less responsive then the later versions.  Princess P literally sat on the couch and beat Mr Middle who was actually trying... Mr middle wasn't too pleased about that. :)

Eating was alright.  Sometimes I stare in the cupboard for inspiration and I think "I could have some wheat thins." then I hear that giant gameshow-like buzzer saying "ERRRRR"....

I hear day 3 is the worst.  We've got some plans so that should help.  I need to figure out something tasty for dinner.  Maybe steak and mushrooms...

Yummmm....

Food Diary -- keyword: Losing

Carb Fast Day #1

Well, here I am as the day is dying down.  Somehow, through the graces of God -- my kids decided to play outside.  Thank you.  Thank you for the tender mercies.

Because, not only am I starting the carb fast, but it's the first day of marching band season and I took the kids to the library and we have two more weeks of summer.

I'm beat.

And kinda ornery.  Not too bad, except when everyone was talking about what dessert I was going to serve them after family home evening.  That wasn't particularly pretty. :)

Anyway, here's my food diary -- you can get in with the password "Losing" (capital L).

I started the day out with the NYC ballet workout.  Just a half an hour, but man that first half out KILLED my abs.  I need to make time to do the full workout, it's one of my favorites, but today wasn't that day.  I also went out and gardened for a half an hour.  Not my regular walk around and pull a few weeds.  I turned some compost (nothing more tasty then steaming compost when it's like 90 degrees outside -- today was a cool day), ripped out a tomato plant, all sorts of fun.  Anyway, between those two I was close to 400 calories from working out.

Myfitnesspal says that I should be eating 1200 calories PLUS what I burn working out.  We'll see how that works out.

I started out with a hard boiled egg and some avocado.  About 10 o'clock I had some grapes.  I felt kinda sick after the grapes.  I don't think I can do JUST fruit.  It's weird.  Does anyone feel like that?  I have weird blood sugar fluctuations so I'm thinking fruit may be out before lunch.  I just made a bowl of fruit salad and I feel fine now (but I did mix in some Greek yogurt).

I am currently just over 1400 calories eaten, it says I'm supposed to eat 117 more calories.  I'm not really hungry, but I made a lot of fruit salad, so it's an option.  BUT, I am going to try to stop eating 2 hours before bed.  So, that gives me about an hour to feel out my hungry-ness.

Thoughts on my carb fast?  Does it make you want to do one?  It sure doesn't do that to me! :)

Hobbies

I kind of think that hobbies are a good weight loss tool.  I tend to get really caught up in what I am doing, so much that I leave behind other cares.  Like swimming in syrup.

I see so many yummy ideas on pintrist.... I just need to get to the store and buy the stuff to get going on a few.

But then I think of the scrapbook supplies, just sitting there waiting to be transformed into pages.  And then I feel tired.  It would feel good to get some of those pictures done and I do love pretty paper.

Gardening is a great weight loss tactic for me.  I get so enveloped by my beloved drip system and planning it all out, I don't think about food.

So, what distracts you from food?

Working out can be a great tactic, but you can't do that all day.  You might kick your 3 year old with one of your fancy tae bo moves.... :)

Plans for Protein

I'm not just done to jump into things.  I have to give things a great deal of thought and preparation.

I've been thinking about the protein aspect, and what I have in my freezer an how that can be turned into dishes I like.

Steak -- I love steak, and I think in moderation it can be a good meal.  It has a lot of iron and frankly it's tasty.  I love it with mushrooms on top!

Pork chops -- These are pretty stocked in my freezer because they've been so cheap lately!  I like to cook them with a little balsamic vinegar.  Yum.

Shrimp -- I don't know if I have any, but they are such a great snack.  Just need to find some cocktail sauce that is without sugar.... which I have done before.

Sausage -- I love the chicken sausage from sprouts.  I am hoping we'll have some tomatoes from the garden and I make a sauce out of those and combine with the sausage for a yummy meal.  Maybe add some roasted cauliflower... yum.  I can also make some pasta for the kids.  I'm not a huge pasta fan, more of a sauce fan -- so if I put that over the cauliflower and I'm 90% sure I'll be just as satisfied. :)

Eggs -- I love veggie fritatas.... love finding what's in the fridge and throwing it in.

The problem with a no-carb diet is the fact that cheese is totally in-limits and I'm going to have to be careful with that one.  I love my cheese.  I mean, L-O-V-E and I don't think that a low carb diet is healthy when you're using cheese and pork rinds as substitutes.

What about you, what do you like to eat when you're emphasizing proteins?