Uphill we go

Now that I am finally settling into my new position I wanted to get back on track and poof it's that TOM. What the heck? I really have to focus or I am going to just end up where I was before. I haven't really gained though I am stuck right where I was. (poor fishy)
I have to go get ready for work but just wanted to touch base with my blog and let you all know I am trying. Fighting my hormones like there is no tomorrow. I know once I get back on track it will be easy to stay there but I just can't seem to get the momentum I need. (The person who usually helps me with this hasn't blogged since last month so.... Not to name names but her maiden name was the same as mine, and she has a blog I follow....)
Talk atcha later gotta go shower.

September flies

Not really sure when it started happening but for some reason September always seems to go by so very quickly. It seems like it just began and poof it is 9/15. I haven't been blogging very well and I haven't been being the best I can at my new way of eating. I have to get back on track but seem to be having the hardest time doing it with my new job. I shouldn't but for some reason it seems I am. I will get back on track though. So far today I have had a peach and some coffee. (I plan on having a lot more coffee too.)
For lunch I have American Chop Suey which isn't the most calorie conscious but shouldn't be too bad. Then dinner will be ground turkey tacos, with fat free cheddar cheese. (all in all not a horrible day.)
I have to go get ready now. Gotta leave early today and get gas on the way in.

Okay so I guess being sick has it's benefits

I lost a pound and so I guess I shouldn't complain too much about feeling like this. My mother-in-law was trying to convince Greg that I had the H1N1, (because the sky is always falling) and yet I am feeling soooo much better after just 4 days that I find it highly unlikely. Also my temperature was never more than 2 degrees above normal so... there you go.
I did lose a pound though because I didn't have the energy or desire to fix myself food while Greg was at work so fasted during the day, not the best way to go about it but hey I will take the loss either way.
I am still not quite 100% and the computer chair hurts my back so I have to keep this short but just wanted everyone to know I am still kicking.

Okay so apparently .2 isn't enough to move the fish

That is what I lost this week but hey a loss is better than what has been going on with my weight loss. I gained 4 of the pounds I had lost back and now I am back to only 1.8 of them to go until I have re-reached my first goal of 50lbs. Then I am on to the next goal.
It's weird because people still think I am losing and keep commenting on how "little" I am getting. I guess it takes having been 325lbs for 272lbs to look "little" to people. I don't know but I am working at it and this week is all about being on track. There will be no "cheat" days for a while. That is my goal. I hope I can do it. I know I have in the past; it is just hard when you are so tired when you get up to make sure you only use this much creamer in your coffee...etc.
I will do it though because this is important and I am worth it. Besides I have to inspire DH to keep up the work on his health and if I let mine slip what does that say?!
Blog atcha later~

LOVE IT!!!!

My new job rocks!
I get to work with diferent people everyday my boss is wonderful, and appreciates me (what the hell is that about?) and I work my butt off. There is always something to do. I am constantly on the move and I love it. It feels good to have tasks to get done, see them through to completion and move on to the next task. I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers on this, and most of all Thank you lord.
~mary

moving right along

I think I am being good, I haven't had the time or energy to keep track and I am sure as heck not exercising (beyond lifting & carrying boxes all day.)
Once I get caught up at my three stores I am sure it will ease some and I will get into a groove so then I can start exercising regularly. I look forward to it actually.
I have to get up fairly early for this new job as I have to drive a minimum of 40 mins each day. Being there at 8am means I have to leave the house by....good job 7:20 at the latest. Today however I don't have to be there until 9am so I am good. I do have to go shower and get ready though as I have driven to this store only once and am not too familiar with it yet.

New beginnings

I start my new job today. I also start back on the path to healthier living. I haven't been doing so great with that lately. What with vacation, then stress then PMS and leaving my job...many excuses but they stop now.
I will get strong again and I will continue to lose. I might not make my goal of being the weight I was when we met by Greg's Birthday but I am sure as hell not going to be the weight I was when I started this journey by then either.
I am sorry I haven't been keeping up my blog I just felt so guilty and as you can see poor little fishy had to swim backwards. No more fishy! I will save you.
Blog at ya later.

ARRRRGGGGHHHH

So I was bad on my vacation and now I am having the hardest time (STILL) getting back on track.
I am at the exact same weight I was last week, that poor fishy is a goner. I did work out this week and tried to make healthy choices but even on the days that I did okay, I still ended up slipping somewhere. I also didn't work out everyday like I keep meaning too. I also have been rushing or skipping meals which I know I shouldn't do. Actually I need to make myself some breakfast now so that I don't skip it altogether.
I am trying and will get back on track. I will not throw out all that I have accomplished.
~Mary

New excercises make me question my sanity

My friend Deborah has a personal trainer that she goes to and every Friday she goes to his "Abs Class" in the morning. She brought me in a sheet of the workout and last night I tried some of the exercises (I had her show me some of the ones I didn't recognize, and I still found that there were about 4 of them that were completely foreign to me. What the heck is a "double leg side jack knife"?
I am going to definitely add some "flutter kicks" to my everyday routine however, man do those work your entire stomach. I also liked the way the oblique crunches worked, my oblique muscles, they work both frontal and lateral which is unreal.
Just the fact that I looked at this list and thought I might be able to do one of the exercises is pretty crazy I thought. Until I actually tried them, and yeah there were quite a few that I couldn't do 100% correctly because let's face it fat rolls get in the way but still I felt good that I got through part of the list even. And it didn't take me 2 hours either which also made me feel good. The other thing is I don't hurt today, which is probably wrong because with how much I worked them my abs should be aching but nothing so far so I will probably work them again today. Yeah me.
Thanks Deb for the Abs Sheet of Doom, let me know if you need it back and I will copy it.
Everyone have a fantastic day.

Good way to lose a pound

So I went and donated plasma today. Hey good way to lose a pound. I wanted to see if I could donate plasma. I always used to donate blood but they always had a hard time finding a vein; so I wasn't sure if I would be able to. I was though and let me tell you I feel so good about it. I love when I know I am doing something that is going to help someone I will probably never meet.
The med tech said that plasma is most often used for burn patients because their skin no longer holds in moisture.
The cool thing about plasma donation or double red cell donation is that they get twice as much as they would from a normal "whole blood" donation. They always spin out the blood once you have donated and get half plasma half red blood cells. When you donate one of these two things you give twice the amount that you would be able to when you donate "whole blood". Since Dr.s almost always call for these seperately it makes a big impact. Well worth the extra time it might take. I feel good.
And hey 516 units of plasma weighs about 1lb so there I lost 1lb after I weighed in so next week should be that much easier, right?

Best Job interview ever...

I haven't had a job interview last 2 hours or end with a hug since my days working at a summer camp in high school.
I am pretty sure I am going to get the job. Yeah!!!!
I hope so because it is a fairly physical job (not that the one I have now isn't) but it also entails travel which means no time to sit and snack. Woo Hoo! I am going to get back on track if it kills me. Tomorrow I am going to try to SlimFast(tm) it as much as possible and then Saturday I will be back on the wagon fully.
I can do this, these pounds I have gained back are not going to defeat me! I will destroy them....(said in a very menacing way...tee hee hee.)

Poor fishy is going to have a hard time this week

I am on vacation and have been soooooooo not staying on track. Yesterday I ate until I was Thanksgiving full at the Chinese buffet with Greg, then later in the evening had chips and dip (another of my big downfalls, chips and dip are one of those things that I just can't control myself on.)
So yeah, I have been way off base but so far today all I have had is a cup of coffee so I could do a SlimFast(tm) fast today to try to get myself back on track... I have my phone interview in about 10 mins. and am very nervous so at least I am not stress eating like I normally would. That is a good thing right? I really hope that I get this job I don't know how much longer I can take being treated like a 10 year old idiot child. (That would be how my boss treats everyone; unless they immediately agree with everything that he says and don't question or challenge him in anyway.) Anyone who knows me understands why this situation is an excellent one for someone like me who can't keep her mouth shut when she sees something wrong...(grrrrrrr why can't I just keep my stupid mouth shut and my head down?)
Anyway I haven't been exercising this week except for a little gardening, I got the most delicious bell pepper out of the garden, and walking but not anything too much. I need to get back on track and will after my interview which is in about 5 minutes now....deep breaths, in through the nose out through the mouth......

Thank goodness I didn't gain

Okay, so you will notice the fishy didn't move, and I am soooo okay with that considering I was PMSing all week and ate everything in sight. This week I am on vacation and know that a few days I am bound to be "bad" so I have a few days set to be super "good". I am going to do a Slimfast day with only one solid meal and plan on working out a heck of a lot more than I usually do.
I am psyched that I didn't gain but I would feel so much better if I had lost something. It's okay I will get back into the swing of it; and will eventually see the weight I was when Greg & I met again. (and less than that.)
I am so excited about my vacation, and am looking forward to my interview on Monday for a new job. (Paperchase Merchandiser for Borders NW Indianapolis stores) it would mean a lot of travel but I would be working fairly independently and most importantly wouldn't have to work with my boss anymore.
Well, I have to go get ready today is all about cleaning and running errands so...

Have to work out everyday this week

I just realized that I am scheduled to post my updated picture on here on Saturday and I just can't look like I haven't lost anything when I know in my heart that I have. This is one of those times where you throw your all into it and make it happen. Reverse crunches here I come, get that abroller ready, and you there fatty, move so I can use my balance ball.(I am talking to the cat, just in case anyone was concerned that I was verbally abusive to my husband)

Okay so good and bad

I can't sleep because of stress, thinking about work and so I got up about 1.5 hours ago and normally stress would lead to eating right? (okay not for everyone but normally for me it would.)
Well instead I exercised for half an hour and now am touching base on all of my weightloss/health websites. See there is room for change.
I am fairly proud of myself actually. I did a whole bunch of core work and then arms. I don't know if any woman is ever really happy with how her arms look, especially if faced with a sleevless shirt. (except maybe Michelle Obama, have you seen her arms?! that woman is ripped.)
Anyway one of my goals is to get to the point where I can fit into and feel comfortable in a sundress again. Who knows if I ever will but I am working on it.
I need to have some breakfast soon or I am afraid that I will be famished later and pig out after all, undoing the good I have done so far.
I have already had 1/3 of my water for the day. So far so good.
I find that it gets easier and easier to keep healthy if you can just stick with it. Sounds strange coming from someone who has been off the wagon until yesterday but still, trust me. Your tummy starts to feel Thanksgiving full on amounts that used to leave you wanting more.
I made this super low calorie soup the other day so that I can fill up whenever I want without blowing all of my calories for the day.
Cabbage ("free food"FF)
Celery ("FF")
Crushed tomatoes (adds the most calories)
Carrot (went light on this as it is not a FF)
Then tons of spices, water and some seasoned rice vinegar.
Spicy and yummy I love this so far, I might get fairly sick of it but the thing is with homemade soup it never comes out the same way twice so I won't get as sick of it as I did canned soup a few years ago when it was the major staple of my diet.

The haircut must have worked

I am down 1.8lbs and I even had a 16oz strawberry marguerita yesterday, not to mention a piece of carrot cake. Yes, I am so far off the wagon I can't even see it from here. I will catch up to it though. I have to in order to get to the place I want to be. I still lost though and a loss is a loss regardless of how close it came to not being. (does that even make sense?) I will try to be better today and it should be easier since I am home. Celery fills you up just as well as carrot cake but without the extra 600 or so calories.
I can and will do this, only 33.2lbs to go til I reach my next milestone. I can and will do this. Just keep swimming, swimming swimming, just keep swimming.... Not in the pool today though, now we are finally warming up and so of course we have thunder storms, they might open it later if it clears though...we shall see.

Oh Crap

Again I am ovulating and thus must eat everything in sight. I am having a very hard time sticking to my calories for the day. Although one of the websites I checked said that I have to add calories to my diet when I get the exercise I am supposed to; not really sure how that works to lose weight but hopefully this time it does. Either way I cut my hair short again so that should help me lose at least a few ounces this week if not more.
I am still trying to focus on the goals ahead...I can do this.
I need to keep up the exercise though, especially the crunches and other ab work, the more muscle I can build there the more fat it will burn there.
My biggest problem area is still what I call my "ass shelf", still haven't really found anything to make that, just melt away. So I will have to keep at it. Hopefully just losing the weight brings it down some. I just wish I could fast forward to the "after" picture, but I must tortoise up and just keep swimming... Speaking of which it has been much too cold these past two weeks to swim. We only made it to 80 one day and there were a couple of days when we didn't hit 70. In July....in Indiana...that is not common. I hope it warms up in time for my vacation as I plannned to go swimming everyday.
Oh well, I have to go make lunch now and get ready for work.

Must stay focused.

Okay, no resting on laurels now that I have reached 50. 50lbs is awesome but I have yet to earn laurels. 50 more pounds and we can talk about it but not right now. I am so looking forward to getting to the weight I was when I met Greg.
I have broken down my weightloss into manageable increments.
1) 50lbs (I can check that one off)
2) the weight I was when Greg & I met (35lbs to go)
3) under 200lbs (that will be 35lbs from goal 2)
4) my goal weight (40lbs from there)
so see the biggest goal is out of my way. Granted they will become harder to acheive as I get to them. The smaller you are the harder it is to lose weight. I think goal 4 is probably going to be the hardest but by that time it will be so much of a way of life I don't think it will be a struggle, it will just take a long time.
I will also be at a size by then that I will feel better being more physically active. Speaking of which I have really been blowing it on my exercises for the last few days and I need to get back on track. No time like the present. I am off to do them now.
Hope you have a great day.

I hear the theme from "Rocky" playing in my head

Why, ask the fishy.
That's right 50lbs! I am so happy I could shout but it being 7am on a Saturday that probably isn't the most considerate way to celebrate.
I am very happy and know that this is only the beginning.
Only about 30 more until I am at the weight I was when I met Greg. Woo Hoo! I think I am going to cut my hair today, I like being able to pull it back but I hate having to pull it back. I don't have the kind of hair you can leave down so it makes it difficult when it gets long. I don't have many options and the headband look I was doing for so long was really not the most professional thing going. We shall see. Greg hates when I cut my hair but too bad for him, I told him if he will get up with me everyday and french braid it then I will keep it as long as he likes. He said "yes" but I don't even think he knows what a french braid is so it wasn't the most trustworthy answer.
I couldn't sleep so I have been up for a while now looking at different hairstyles online and I think I am going to go with the short and shaggy look I had before. I hope it turns out okay...maybe I will post a picture, maybe you will have to wait until I update my picture in two weeks.

Spoke too soon I guess

So all day yesterday my back was bothering me. Not sure if it was just the power of suggestion or what but...
Anyway I have been soooo good this week it is crazy and it hasn't even been difficult. Not really sure why unless it is that I am noticing my weight loss this time and realize how hard it is to take back off that box of Raisinets(tm). That is one thing I do though I don't usually indulge in empty calorie foods. If I am going to have some type of candy I generally choose Raisinets(tm) where even though the fiber is miniscule it is there; or Peanut M&Ms (tm) for the zinc and protein in the peanuts.
I am feeling good though and focused on my health and that has got to be a step in the right direction right? (of course right.)

I am so psyched...

Something that I meant to mention that a question from my friend Faith brought up is how much better my back has been since I have lost the weight I have so far. It only makes sense that carrying all of that weight in front of you is going to put a strain on an already bad back. I haven't had to go back to the Chiropractor since about April, and I haven't used my Tens unit in at least a month, and even then I think it was when I strained my back working in the garden.
Anyway I feel great about that, however problems with my feet are still pretty bad. I am very excited for weigh in day this week though as I am hoping to have made that 50lbs goal I mentioned oh so many times before.
I was looking over my diet journal, which has been getting more frequent use than ever and looked back at the early pages (when I first started in September I lost 25 pounds fairly easily and then came Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc... and I fell off the wagon for quite sometime. When I got back on it was after having the flu and I had lost the 8lbs which I had gained back over the holidays. I had made a chart in the back of my diet journal back in September though and it felt so good to see how truly far I have come. I have lost 48lbs, hopefully 50 this week. That is awesome. Last time I lost a lot of weight I wasn't really focused on it and trying, it was just stress and illness that made it happen, this time it has been all me(with God's help of course).
I just pray that God helps keep me on track and focused on my goal, so that next year at this time I will definitely need a new bathing suit.
Speaking of there is thunder and lightning so no pool today but I did laps last night so at least I got some in. Also I did get to do my exercises so I should be doing fairly well for my exercise this week. I am up to 20 reverse crunches, 30 regular crunches, and about 90 alternating standing crunches. I have a bunch of other core stuff that I do too but that isn't really something I keep track of numbers on, so...
But I am feeling better every day and I have more energy than I have in years. Maybe it is the guarana extract in my vitamins though...who knows all I know is that I can do this. Hopefully in the 4.5 months I think I can. It would be cool to be back to the weight I was when I met Greg by his birthday.

Changed my ticker

Because I can and because it seemed daunting with the distance to my goal but I have decided to work at my initial goal first which is to get to the weight I was when Greg & I met. So my new goal is 235, yup that is my new goal....Seems crazy to most people out there I am sure but when you are coming down from 320 trust me it is amazing. I can't wait. Then from there I will get further but like I said since that is the smallest I have been in my adult life anything after that will be CoolWhip Free(tm) see even my metaphors are healthier.
It is so much easier to be good on weigh in day when you lose. I am only 2 pounds away from having lost 50lbs. (quick I have given you all of the info you need to figure out what I weigh...it's like a little word problem for those of you dieing to know what I weigh)
Anyway, I went to a billion different weightloss/health sites today and really have a positive outlook on this right now. (Most of the "experts" I consulted believe that I can get to my initial goal in just about 4.5 months. That seems reasonable but I am just shooting on being there before Christmas. December ends up usually being a "Cheat" month for me with the holidays and all. Hopefully this year I will be able to keep in better check on it.

swimming swimming, just keep swimming....

Did you see the fishy move?! The fishy did move but hey when you are working at such a big goal 2lbs doesn't move him much, it does me though I am psyched. 2 more pounds down only 112 to go. (daunting yes but 2 less than last week.) Also it is now only 37lbs until I hit the weight I was at when I met Greg. I think I will start focusing more on that one for now. I can't wait for that! Also once I get to that one every step will seem amazing to me because I haven't been smaller in my adult life so watching the scale go (for me) where no scale has gone before....(since I was a teenager or kid) will be AWESOME!!!!! I am pretty sure my family will hear my whoop of happiness from Massachusetts, Maine, Florida, Texas, Colorado and California. (Tracy, did I miss anyone?)
Well, I have to go do my exercises now, just have to update a few more online thingies with my weigh in info. Woo Hoo!

Okay one more day until weigh in

Have to get back on the exercise track today. This is getting ridiculous. I haven't been doing any of my exercises and while I can make excuses or whatever I know that the real reason is that I am being LAZY. I can do this though. It is one day til weigh in and a little under a month until I post an updated photo on my blog. I have it set so that every 4 months I post one. Then after it has been a year, (which is technically September but blogwise January.) I might actually start using the new picture and only have the other as a secondary picture. We'll see. I am hoping to lose another 40lbs by then but at this rate who knows. I just need to stay focused and stay on track. I can do this. I put this weight on I can take it off. By the way expect to see a big old happy dance when I actually get back to the weight I was at when I met Greg. It is still 35lbs away, but I will get there and beyond. If I get lower than that, it will be the least I have weighed in my entire adult life. I am looking forward to seeing what that feels like.

The only thing about the ticker....

I chose a fish and don't fish die if they stop moving....poor, poor fishy...sorry. I will try to keep you moving but you only get updated once a week and that might not be enough for you.
Sorry, feeling goofy after a bad day at work, which I believe is because I didn't do my exercises this morning. I always feel so much better when I have a couple of cups of tea in the morning and get in all of my exercises. So, I think that was the cause. The upside is usually a stressful day would lead me to make bad nutrition choices and today that wasn't the case. I am going to have my popcorn now and then I will brush and be done for the night.

My new tactic

To stop after dinner snacking beyond my daily calories. I usually go for calorie free foods like celery, but my new tactic is brushing my teeth right after I am done with my calories for the day. Who wants to eat with a mouth that tastes like Listerine(tm). Not me that's for sure. So that is my newest strategy.

Working my butt off....hopefully literally

I got up, worked my in-laws garden for 2.5 hours, came home swam for 10 minutes, then started cleaning the house and going up and down the stairs with laundry. Hopefully this will help burn off the bbq ribs I had last night...
Tonight we are having chicken breast, corn on the cob, and coleslaw. I have to make tuna salad for us for work this week.
Talk atcha later. I have to keep moving or I will lose my momentum.

Today was the only day

That I didn't exercise this week and it is only because my abs hurt so bad from the past couple of days work outs. I worked today though so I went at least 7000 steps so I figure it is still okay. I am going to work out tomorrow, and might even swim so there ya go.

Weigh in day.....

Lost the 5lbs I gained last week, and an extra one to boot. (confusing since, I am never able to lose that much in a week.) Maybe I confused my body with loading it with bad for me stuff then going back to yummy food.
I am still hooked on the celery & Laughing Cow(tm) cheese, and blueberries were on sale this week so who is loving the Fiber One (tm), almond milk and blueberry combo? (me)
I made coleslaw again, this time I used a KFC(tm) recipe I found online, so it isn't the best for you but I substituted light mayonaise, and fat free milk, and low fat buttermilk and switched 1/2 of the sugar to Splenda(tm) so.... It isn't as bad as it could have been. I really do have to work out the calories though so that I can count it because the way I made it this time it is definitely not a "free food", much better for you yes but not free. (probably about 50 calories per 1/2 cup serving, I would guess but I will have to work it out for sure.
I have been much better about doing my exercises this week. I have done some everyday and my muscles are pretty sore today as yesterday I had the day off and did an extensive workout first thing.
Well, I should go get ready for work now.
You need to try this celery with Laughing Cow(tm) lite garlic and herb cheese though, seriously it is awesome. The cheese is only about $2.98 at Wallmart and sooooo worth it if you love and miss good cheese like I do.
Also I love my new weightloss ticker at the bottom of my blog...it let me know that I am 4lbs away from having lost 50lbs since Sept. I can't believe it!

So...exercise makes you feel better?

Yeah, it really does. I have been on this little journey (off & on unfortunately) for the past year. Really off & on for my entire life, but mostly off. So this past 10 months now has been the longest I have really stuck to it. I am getting to the weight I was when I met my husband, which is my first goal. Then the final weight loss goal will be 75lbs beyond that. (I will still be considered overweight but I am okay with that because for one of the first times in my life I won't be considered obese and that right there is a huge accomplishment in my book.)
I worked out this morning and feel really energized and rarin' to face the day.
Also, on a brag note, my sleeves of my tshirt aren't stretched over my arms, there is some fabric left over, and my jean capris which barely fit at the beginning of the summer (memorial day not June 21st obviously) now have a little bit of play as well.
Yeah, I am proud of me. I can and will do it this time. And so will you. You can do this, you want to do this, just don't knock yourself out in the process.

Oh yeah without getting sued or anything

Previously I had posted about some calorie free items...note out of the 5 items I have tried only 2 have been any good so far, the others I see as a complete waste of money. I would rather eat coleslaw mix plain than with that dressing on it.

Have to admit I am pretty proud of myself

I have been really good for the past 3 days in a row(knock on wood). Today I had a yogurt for breakfast with toast (gotta get that fiber to feel full longer), then for lunch I had my peanut butter and sugar free jelly sandwich, fat free Pringles(tm), and 100 calorie cookie treat thingy. Then for snack I had my celery with Laughing Cow(tm) garlic & herb lite cheese.
Dinner was TBLT s. (TurkeyBacon, Lettuce & Tomato) Yummmmmm! with more Pringles(tm).
And I still have calories left over so I can have some of my frozen yogurt now. Yummmmmmm.
Greg & I have to go shopping tomorrow when we get paid though so that we can stock up on some stuff.
I guess that is all for now, I have to go ab-roll before I have my frozen yogurt.

You can't beat yourself up

I have done it we all have, you slip up on your diet and you get so full of guilt and disappointment with yourself that you force yourself too far in the opposite direction setting yourself up to fail again. That is why I think my diet has been working so well this time, I have changed my eating habits not just restricted myself for a time. I now only eat fat free shredded cheese. I have yogurt everyday and one of my favorite snacks involves Fiber One (tm) cereal, or celery... If I slip up so what, I will get back on track, I am now and will try to stay there but hey I am human and sometimes humans need cheesecake. So as long as I only have a little slice I will be okay.
Portion control in this society isn't easy either. When you ask someone to slice you a "little" piece of cake and they give you 1/8 instead of 1/16 there is a reason. We have all been brainwashed by our SuperSized(tm) society into thinking that it is normal to eat as much as we do. If that is the case then why is everyone so much healthier in countries where they eat less and less processed foods than we do? I need to keep on track though, if someone gives me 1/8 when I wanted 1/16 then I should only eat half of it, not clean my plate.
This morning I had a yogurt and a slice of rye with peanut butter, and my new spiced chai tea...yeah. Now I have to wait for the pool to open so I can get in my swim.

I am sooooo bad

See, when I fall off the wagon for a couple of days, I don't post. Well, I fell off the wagon for two whole days and gained back 5lbs. AAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!! Do you know how long it took me to lose those five pounds...oh yeah if you follow my blog you do. Well, that does it I am so not doing that again.
My new favorite low calorie snack is celery (wait for it) with Lite (that is their spelling not mine) Laughing Cow (TM) garlic and herb cheese on it. It is like stuffed celery but only like 70 calories for a huge plate of it. Yippeee!!!!!! I love it and it is filling, there must be something I am missing here. Then again I love pink grapefruit and that isn't bad for me either....then there is my obsession with Fiber One (tm) cereal and strawberries. It may even be better with blueberries but those are rarely as cheap as strawberries so, there is no such thing as settling where berries are concerned I love them all.
I made a killer tuna salad for lunches this week and am so on track it is scary. It is rainy right now so no pool tonight but I am going tomorrow morning before work and I will go do my Ab Roller(tm) thingy now.
We can do this!!!! It isn't as hard as we are making it. Especially with how good lowfat guilt free stuff is now.


By the way, I did 20 on my Ab Roller(tm) thingy. The most I have done yet but it killed my chest muscles.

I said "no thank you" to cake

Yesterday we had a Father's Day/Birthdays get together at my sister-in-law's and I stayed on track. I didn't even have a roll with my Chicken patty. I had a chicken patty, coleslaw, and fruit salad and some celery. I feel really good about my choices. I need to get in some exercise today and my friend Dee Dee is supposed to be coming over to teach me some water aerobics to use in my pool but it is kind of overcast so I am not sure if they will open the pool. We shall see.
Stay on track, if I can anyone can.

cabbage is a free food????

I am not sure if I trust this but, 1 cup of dry shredded cabbage only has 20 calories so...it would kind of make sense that it would take more energy to digest such a fiberous food than that. Also Walden Farms(tm) has a Coleslaw dressing that is calorie free. (don't ask how they do it I don't know and I am not sure that I want to know) so I could have 1 cup of coleslaw and not count it towards my calories. Much more appealing than 6 dill pickle spears. Although those are great too. Also 1/2 cucumber has only 15 calories and celery 8 calories per stalk, that combined with the no calorie Walden Farms(tm) ranch dip I ordered makes for one very full yet sticking to my calories for the day woman.
Today is fairly nice and I should head over to the pool but I don't feel like it....arrrgh will she or won't she.......


Drumroll please........
She did. I made myself go over to the pool and swam for about 10 mins straight. Only stopping for a few seconds at a time to catch my breath, so that is my exercise for today except I might ab roll later because it is a "cheat" day of sorts. (we are going for barbecue tonight).

Feeling better but...

I am trying to find more foods that have "negative" calories or "free" foods. That way I can supplement my diet with more stuff to fill me up and yet not adding extra calories. I guess I could just eat sawdust but really who thinks that is a good idea?
So far I checked Google(tm) and am not sure I trust the list I got, apricots are a free food? I find that hard to believe, also plums, peaches, and blackberries. This seems too good to be true. I will have to do some further research.

Still light headed and kinda oogey

Yes, oogey is an adjective to describe nausea. I don't know what my problem is, a woman at work thinks it is my thyroid; another one thinks I am pregnant and Greg is still certain that I am just not getting enough calories. I don't think that is it but I may not be eating enough. You can get a ton of calories and still not be eating enough. If I had 30 Oreos(tm) tomorrow I would be having plenty of calories but I would probably feel kinda faint at some point. The weird part is I am not hungry. I mean I am at meal time but it isn't like I am ravenous all day or anything.
This morning I had a grapefruit and two light string cheese for breakfast, then a 1/3cup homemade trail mix for a snack, then a chicken broccoli and cheese Lean Pocket(tm), and a baked potato for lunch and a 6" Veggie delight (tm) sub for dinner. That seems like plenty to me. What is the deal here?

Weigh in day....

2lbs, that's right 2 whole pounds, not 1.6, not 1.4 but 2. I don't know what I did this week that was different or if it is just arbitrary but I know I am psyched and am now only 5lbs away from my next 10lb increment. I find that if I look at it in 10lb increments it doesn't seem as daunting, then my next rate is where I was when Greg and I met which I believe I still have 40lbs to go but the problem is back then I was using my brother, and sister-in-law's old analog scale and so I might be wrong but, I don't think there is any harm in being off a few pounds here or there right?
I am still loosing and am so grateful.
Yesterday my stomach was upset and I felt light headed so I didn't make it to work. I slept most of the day and had to have some high calorie stuff to meet my calories for the day. Today my stomach feels okay so far and we shall see... Greg thinks I might not be getting enough calories and that is why I started feeling that way, I think it was lack of solid sleep which is why after sleeping much of the day yesterday I feel so much better today.
I get in at least 1200 calories a day and usually closer to 1500 so I am not sure what he wants me to do.
I have to go pull weeds in the garden today so that should up the exercise meter for the week... hopefully because it looks like we are getting a bunch of rain again this week so I probably won't be able to get to the pool as much as I would like to. Oh well...

Burgers....I want burgers

I smelled someone cooking burgers on the grill and thought. I want burgers! Normally this would mean that when Greg & I got out of work I would go to 5 Guys (tm) or Burger King(tm) but tonight it meant I picked up some 97% lean ground turkey and some whole wheat rolls. Satisfying a craving, is satisfying a craving right?
I am not sure how I am doing this week but my clothes seem to be getting looser and looser so that has to be a good sign right?
I don't know, I just know it feels pretty darned good.

Okay so far

I swam some laps and did some resistence stuff in the pool, then I did my ab roller when I came in and my abs still don't hurt as much as my arms so I think I am doing it wrong. I did do some reverse crunches and worked on some regular crunches but they hurt my back too bad so I can only do about 4.
I do get sleepy when I swim though so I am not sure if I should go do it before work but.... I don't know.
I am still glad to get some exercise though. So...
I am going over to my in-laws on Saturday to work in the garden so that should work some muscles right?
That is all I really have right now other than the fact that I have started snacking on a mixture of yogurt covered raisins, dried berries (cranberries & blueberries) and almonds, which is very healthy but also has a bunch of calories so I can only do half a serving of each item which still comes out to 230 calories. It is worth it though.

Making my own yogurt again

Hey, my wonderful sister hooked me up with the website to make yogurt in a crockpot and so guess what I am making today. I have made it before and it is awesome, but very time consuming so... I haven't made it for a while, which is silly because I go through yogurt like water and this is way cheaper and better tasting. Not sure on the calorie difference but mine is also way more natural as it has no preservatives or any of the other funky stuff they add at the factory. I got a knock off AbRoller (tm) yesterday and despite many warnings that it was going to hurt my back, I used it, it didn't hurt my back anymore than my other core exercises do so I am going to stick with it. I also hear that once you build stronger core muscles it doesn't hurt anymore. I look forward to that. I haven't weighed in yet and am a little nervous as I had my period this week and it always makes me want to eat everything in sight, also Greg and I had a couple of "cheat" meals this week and that too concerns me, but I also walked three miles yesterday at work so that should have burned some right? We shall see. I will update once I weigh in, have to go stir the yogurt now....

Update:
Weighed in and lost 1.4lbs, not bad considering what felt like a week long binge. Gotta go Ab Roll now..


update to the update:
The exercise roller thingy seems to be working my arms more than anything, not really sure how it is impacting my abs but, I am not feeling the pain in my stomach muscles the way I am in my arms.....I think I might be doing it wrong.

Feeling good

I had to steal a belt from Greg because the pants I wore today keep slipping when I am working, and they aren't the kind I can take in. I was very happy about it. I did most of my exercises today but didn't make it to the pool again. I am not doing so hot with the whole cardio thing and I need to start. I am hoping by this time next year to be fit enough to ride a bike regularly. We shall see.
That's all I really have for today except yesterday I cheated so bad it wasn't even funny. I wanted to eat everything in the house and luckily there wasn't anything that could do too much damage. (all low fat, low calorie or just fruit choices so even though there were vast quantities injested they were not empty calories so...)

Days off make me sleepy

I noticed that I am more tired on days I don't have to work, which seems impossible since I am exhausted on days I do have to work but....
I didn't make it over to the pool today, I slept late and then stupidly had breakfast so I couldn't go in for an hour by which time the pool was full of kids jumping and splashing and basically making it impossible to do laps or exercises so I just didn't go and am at my sister-in-laws doing laundry and snuggling her cats instead.
I got some more turkey bacon from Aldi(tm) Greg and I love it. I also got some light Lays(tm) and low calorie dip so snacking looks good. I have been eating a lot of pickles as they have 0 calories, don't understand it but somehow dill pickle spears count as nothing so I can fill up and not feel too guilty though they are very salty.
Gotta go switch the laundry.

Moving right along (yeah I stole my sister's title but I left out part so it isn't really plagarism)

I was really good today, yesterday Greg and I had a "cheat" dinner and went out for a burger & fries. I really didn't feel great after eating it, too heavy and my mouth felt coated in grease. I also had been really good all day so I didn't go too terribly over in calories so that was good. I would hate to have undone the 1.6lbs I did lose.
I do know that I shouldn't be losing a ton of weight each week but I feel like I have so far to go that I am never going to get there at this rate.
I am still 35lbs away from the weight I was when I met my husband 7years ago and I have about 80lbs to go after that. But, on the other hand I am 40lbs closer than I was in September. I can't believe I have lost 40lbs so far. I am glad about that but still have so far to go it can be daunting. 40lbs in 8 months means.... in 2 years I will be at my goal weight, okay yes the time frame looks daunting but since it has been about 20 years since I was at that weight it really isn't that bad. Now if you were to tell me it would be 20 more years until I got there then I would just give up. But, I have managed to stay fairly healthy in the midst of some really difficult times and considering I took the entire month of December off and went "hog" wild, it really isn't that bad. It also took me a long time to get really back on track so who knows.
I went swimming when I got home from work and I am going again tomorrow morning so I can keep up my exercise routine. Only have until Labor day to use the pool so I have to get in as much time as I can each week. I figure I don't have to be into work until 12 on two days per week so I can swim before work on those days and on my 2 days off so thats at least 4 days per week when I can get over there weather permitting.

Weigh in day

1.6lbs, which is good but I was awesome this week and was hoping my loss would be too...
Oh well, just have to keep at it. I want to start getting over to the pool whenever I can and also doing more of my "on the ball" exercises. We shall see if it makes any difference.
I am kind of frustrated because although I know I am getting smaller and my clothes are getting more loose, when I measured myself the other day I had actually gone up from when I measured myself in February. My friend Deborah says that unless you know exactly where you measured yourself last time you can never know if you got the right spot again or not, and that an inch up or down can make a huge difference. I don't know but as long as my clothes keep getting bigger I am happy.
My sister in law gave me some old clothes this week and I haven't tried them on yet. (I keep forgetting them in the trunk of the car.) I am hoping they can be motivation to keep on track. We shall see. I also have my favorite capris that fit before I put back on all of this weight, and I am hoping to fit into them comfortably by July...we shall see.
I also am glad that I have a sewing machine now so that I can actually do some alterations on my clothes when the time comes. I don't know that I will actually do any real alterations or just add darts into my pants, pleats are still in right? Who cares I will be sooooo happy to have to take them in I will be unstylish and relish my pleats and what they stand for.
Gotta get back to work now....

Yesterday

I went to the gym with Deb and we swam and used the epsom salt spa, which by the way was amazing, and I got to see all of the equiptment they have there and I wish I could afford a gym membership. But we still have to get the Kia fixed and all the other expenses we always seem to have crop up so...nevermind. I do have a pool at my complex I will just have to force myself to use it every chance I get this year; speaking of, it just opened gotta suit up.

Swimming today

My friend from work and I are going swimming at her gym today which means I will put on a bathing suit in public. The weird thing is I am not dreading it as much as I thought I would, I am just looking forward to going swimming and maybe learning some new exercises that I can do in my apartment pool when it actually doesn't rain this summer.
I just wish it wasn't raining so that I could go swimming in my apartment pool, but that is okay.
This whole process has been made so much easier by my sister being so strong on her end of our support network. She has tons of stuff going on daily and she doesn't bury herself in Oreos (tm) so why should I?
Tracy, you are my new hero. I am so proud of you, let's just say that if I were in the position you are I would be swimming in baked mac&cheese you are a rockstar and I love you.

I will not use stress as an excuse

Every other time I have started to do really well with dieting and healthy lifestyle changes, I have had some major life event or uproar which has caused me to go back to the shelter of junk food and grease. I am not going to do that this time. My husband's health and my health are too important to me to let it be taken away by a temporary situation which I have no control over.
I will stay on track regardless.
I just need to focus harder on my goals and make sure I know how much more they mean to me than the temporary comfort I get from baked mac & cheese.
I will be strong, at least in this.

Feels weird to be this healthy...

Okay, so my latest favorite snack is 1/2 original fiber one cereal, with 1/2 cup of almond milk and one strawberry cut up in it.
We are talking All Bran (tm) type cereal here. It is twigs and berries, literally!
I am a little surprised that I like it so much considering at one point in my life my favorite snack was cookie dough. I am not saying I don't still like cookie dough I am just noticing what an annomally I have become.
I wanted to go to my apartment complex's pool today and get in some exercise but it is raining so it looks like that won't happen. Hopefully it will be clear tomorrow and I can get over there after work to do some laps.
I am going over on Thursday morning with my friend from work, unless of course it rains then too. We shall see, but I do need to do some laundry today so maybe I will work out in the fitness room.
My newest drink obsession is Tazo(tm) Berry Blossom White(tm) it is a white tea that has hints of blueberry and cranberry. There was a study done that said that without making any lifestyle or diet changes at all, one cup of white tea a day and you will lose 4lbs in a year. So I figure, I love the taste of this tea and I have made drastic diet changes so it can't hurt right? Plus it is an antioxident with two other powerful antioxidents added so free radicals BEWARE!!!
I feel better but am still having really bad days with my back. I really need to get on track with strengthening my core muscles as those are the ones my chiropractor seemed to think would make vast improvement. The problem being most core strengthening exercises are pretty tough on your back. Kind of a catch 22. Hey if anyone knows of any that aren't please share.

Weigh in day

2.8 pounds holy crap, that's almost 3!
I am really proud of myself this week, also Greg has had to take less insulin because of the healthy changes we have already made, just wait until we start walking together and stuff. I am so excited, I am almost into a new 10lb range. I am not brave enough to disclose what that range is (My friend Tara used to say "Like there is a veil of thiness that exists until people know the number?!) I know it seems silly since my picture in on here an everyone knows I am fat. The thing is my weight has always been pretty evenly distributed over my body so people are always shocked when they hear just what that number is. Silly I know but hey I will be bragging my ass off once I am under 200 okay?
My cupboards are full of great tasting better for us snacks and I am thrilled.
A couple of tips: Stay away from Target (tm) brand turkey bacon, it is crap. The Aldi(tm) Fit & Active (tm) turkey bacon is the best I have found so far and so I will be stocking up on it big time. Greg and I have had TBLT's twice now and are loving the turkey bacon it also works great to add some calories to our ultra lo-cal Eggbeaters(tm) sandwich breakfast though that may be the easiest breakfast known to man.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup fat free liquid egg substitute
no calorie cooking spray
1 Thomas' Better Start High Fiber(tm) english muffin
I can't believe it's not butter spray (tm)
1/8 cup shredded fat free cheese
2 slices turkey bacon (cook ahead and save in a baggie in the fridge)

Directions:
Toast the english muffin to the darkness you prefer and spray it with the I can't believe it's not butter spray(tm) when it is done. Set aside.
Spray a small bowl with no calorie cooking spray then pour in the liquid egg substitute. Cover with a paper towel and microwave for 1 minute 10 seconds. Careful remove from microwave and top with cheese. Slide whole thing onto english muffin.
wrap the bacon in the paper towel and microwave for 5 seconds(just to take the chill off) break it into pieces and top the egg with the bacon. Place on remaining muffin and enjoy.
The whole thing only has: 210calories, with the bacon, without it is only 150, way too few for breakfast, the most important meal of the day.

5 5dollar 5 dollar foot long

Okay so a month ago if I was too tired to cook after work and my husband and I wanted something cheap and easy to eat for dinner one of us would swing through a "royal" drive through and get us way bad for us stuff for dinner for about $13. Lately we have been following Jared's example and getting 2 foot long subs from Subway (tm) for $10. They are way healthier, just as fast, and super yummy. He likes the roasted chicken breast, and I am partial to the Veggie Delight. Sometimes I eat the whole sub and it is still under 500 calories otherwise it is $5 for two meals because I will have it again for lunch the next day. Tonight I was super hungry though and ate the whole thing, but now my tummy is full and I am not craving anything so I won't snack before bed. 6 of one half a dozen of the other...who knows but I still feel good about the choices I am making and that is what counts.
Also it may seem like it is taking longer for me to take off the weight but these are definitely lifestyle changes I can stick to for the rest of my life so healthy living is the key.
I found a calorie free chocolate sauce from Walden Farms which, is calorie free so don't go looking for Godiva here but hey mixed into some Edy's (tm) no sugar added vanilla it could make a mean low cal sundae or probably better as a milkshake flavoring. I didn't like their dressing and considering most salad has like 15 calories per cup I don't think adding some light dressing is really too bad.
Anyway... that is really all that I have for right now. I am going to go inflate my balance ball more so that tomorrow it will be ready for me when I wake up.

It's getting better all the time...

Okay, so I have made it pretty hard for myself to make bad choices when it comes to what I eat. The most decadent thing I have in my house right now, is Edy's (tm) slow churned no sugar added vanilla. (1/2 cup is only 90 calories) I got that so Greg and I can have rootbeer floats with the diet rootbeer I also picked up. Guilt free and sooooo goood.
I am making "Heart Smart Bisquick" (tm) pancakes for breakfast with turkey bacon. (Which if you haven't tried the "fit & active" Aldi (tm) turkey bacon, you should it is amazing. (Greg even likes it and he even liked it, not as much as thick sliced real bacon mind you but he will eat it.)
Greg does have some Little Debbie(tm) peanut butter bar thingies for when his blood sugar gets low but even that doesn't tempt me unless I am PMSing.
It is easier right now because fruit is so cheap because it is in season. I love fruit and would generally choose it as a snack over most things.
My big thing has never been sweets though. I crave Mozzarella sticks and nachos, real nachos not that Velveeta (tm) coated crap they try to pass off as nachos at the food court or movies or wherever. You spread salsa over tortilla chips then sprinkle with cheese and bake until melted and they are sooooooooo good. I know I could try to make them somewhat better for me but, not this week as we are out of grocery money and Greg needs gas so maybe come payday.
Gotta go, he's hungry and the pancakes are done.

Weigh in day

Okay, so I know, losing anything is better than not losing anything and I know either of those is better than gaining back weight but I just feel frustrated when I look at the scale and I didn't even lose a full 2lbs.
2lbs a week is kind of what I was counting on, so to miss it by over 1/2 lb is frustrating. I will keep focused though and I will pull it off. (eventually, I guess that is it again.)
I have no patience and so I want to go right to the reveal of the After shot. I know, there was work involved in getting from the Before to the After but, it doesn't seem it when you watch people bust through their old picture.
Oh well, I guess I am just whining, and if I can get some cardio into my weekly routine it should start to drop faster from here on out.
We shall see.
On another cooking snacky-tip note, I have found a very good approximation of rice pudding which isn't too too bad for me.
boil 1/4 cup rice with 1/4 cup vanilla almond milk, and 1/2 cup water a splash of lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla.
when rice is done cooking mix it with 1/2 of a sugar free vanilla pudding snack and 1/4 cup Cool Whip Free (tm)
Sprinkle it with cinnamon and it is fab. I might try it with adding some OJ to make it like my grandpa used to but, haven't yet.

More energy

I feel healthier, how weird is that? I am still morbidly obese but I have more energy and drive. I feel lighter too. I have always felt better when I am eating healthier (duh, ever think of listening to your body?)
Anyway today I had tons of energy, I went 12998 steps at work and had only good for me stuff. I love when it gets to the point I am at now where it is almost effortless to be good. (granted if I were to start PMSing that would go out the window) But for right now it is easy to be good. Especially when I get to have Tiramisu Pudding (tm) everyday.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup fat-free ricotta cheese
one half Jell-O(tm)ar free vanilla pudding snack
1/4 cup Cool Whip Free(tm)thawed
2 tablespoons Splenda (tm)
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
Directions:
In your favorite desert bowl mix all ingredients except cocoa powder until smooth, sprinkle with unsweetened cocoa powder.

Try it once and you will think that you have snuck into someone's cannoli filling, and are about to get yelled at. It is rich and delicious and guilt free....what more can you ask for?
Oh yeah and the pumpkin cupcakes were awesome. I love this Hungry Girl (tm) cookbook.
Check it out:
"Hungry Girl 200 under 200" by Lisa Lillien

Late update on weigh in day

It has been a crazy weekend!
I weighed in on Saturday and yeah, 1.4 lbs isn't as good as last week but hey a loss is a loss right?
Right.
Today I am going to make the Iced and Spiced Pumpkin Cupcakes. I am looking forward to them, they sound so yummy. I did my exercises yesterday and I will do some today not all of them though because my muscles are sore from yesterday but I do need to get up and moving so that I don't get even more stiff.
I am a stress eater and have been under quite a bit of it lately, luckily I haven't kept anything too bad for me in the house so even when I endulge my need for a snack I have light string cheese or apples with peanut butter, or watermelon, or reduced fat nilla wafers.
Although yesterday Greg and I went to the China Buffet for dinner and that just blew the day. It's okay though because today is another day. I had a banana so far and I need to get some protein so I might have a scramble made with EggBeaters (tm).

Light dawns on marblehead....

Okay so the reason there were way too many ground cereal breadcrumbs is I measured them after I crumbed them....duh. So I wasted like half of my $4.00 box of cereal in one night. I hate when I don't think.
Anyway today has been going great so far. A sliced apple with 1 1/2 tablespoon of peanut butter has been my breakfast favorite lately. Not sure if I am missing something that they provide from my diet but it seems to be all that I want when I get up? Who knows.
I do have to hit the grocery today, I am out of fruit and that just will not do.
It is that time of the month where I want to eat everything in the house. (seriously I have eyeballed the cat a couple of times) So, being "good" isn't always easy which is why this new cookbook is so amazing for me. I can have two of this or one of these or a slice of this...it makes it much easier to stay on track when there are pumpkin spice cupcakes involved, and yes they get frosting. I can hardly wait to make them... I think I will do those tonight.
My biggest slip up as of late has been in exercise. And I could tell you that my back has been bothering me and I am so exhausted from work that I can't get motivated. (which is all true but I do also always feel better when I am on a regular excercise routine so I need to just do it.)
So, I guess I will go do my exercises now. Ciao!

Okay so....

The "Bloomin' Blossom" recipe out of my new cookbook needs some tweaking. I thought that was WAY too much cereal for coating and it needs more flavoring.
Also the Keylime pie type recipe the crust is way too thick and should be cut with some reduced fat Nilla Wafers (tm) to make it more pallatable.
The buffalo chicken recipe was awesome though and will definitely be made again.
Right now I have to go make some ground turkey and rice wheat wraps for dinner.
I really like being able to share healthy eating with Greg. He has been really supportive so far. He loved the "Ooey gooey Cinnamon Rolls" that I made for breakfast (made with Splenda (tm) I Can't Believe It's Not Butter (tm) spray, and Pillsbury (tm) reduced fat crescent rolls. you even get to make a halfway decent frosting for them.)

Weigh in day

I lost 2.5 lbs this week, just have to keep on it. So since I first started this whole thing I have lost 35lbs. That sounds like so much and yet I still have 125lbs left to lose. I have a whole person left to lose. (Or three supermodels) I can do this and I will. When I stepped on the scale in my doctor's office and saw that I had gained back all of the weight I had lost when I was in my early 20s I was devestated, I just have to hold onto that feeling and focus on how much better I felt before I put all the weight back on. I had so much more energy. I hope by this time next year to be riding a bicycle on a regular basis. I think I can get there.

Where the heck have you been????!!!!

Here I am blogging away and you readers just don't show up for months?! What the heck?
Anyway, I have been very busy with work etc... and haven't been blogging I know. I am back on track now however and am so excited about my new cookbook I bought.
"Hungry Girl's 200 recipes under 200 calories" perfect for making snacks or getting to my 1500 calories a day on days where I just don't feel like having anything too heavy.
I just made 3 of the recipes today and they were all tasty. My favorite as far as ease and taste was the "Strawberry Shortcake Bites." I don't know why they are called bites when they are bigger than the "Strawberry Shortycakes" which I also made.
(Can you tell strawberries were on sale at Meijer?)
I am going to try to make the froze "Shortcake Bites" as a banana creme pie type thing. This could be really good, although it will have more calories as the sugar free strawberry preserves I used for the original recipe are only 10 calories per tablespoon and a whole banana is about 110. But it should still be very yummy, I might also try making them smaller so that it isn't as bad. We shall see.
I look forward to making the "guilt free" bloomin' onion recipe that she has in there.
Sunday night for dinner I am going to make that, and the "buffalo" chicken tenders (made with original Fiber One (tm) cereal crushed up as the breadcrumbs.... I love this cookbook.
Anyone who shows me how to make guilt free cupcakes, and better for you appetizers is wonderful in my book.
Well that's it for now. I have gained back a lot of the weight I had lost but we will see how Saturday goes. I still have two days to stay on the straight and narrow. I can do this, I just need to start doing my exercises regularly now.

I love veggie "burgers"

That is what I had for my dinner and they were yummy, just warmed up in the microwave with nothing on them.
It is so hard to be good when I am working because I get cravings for candy and stuff. I am however and that makes me feel much better.

Cleaning house may be the best workout yet

Bend to scrub the tub, bend to pick up socks, lift laundry basket, carry downstairs and across the street to the laundry room. Come back climb stairs bend to fill dishwasher, scrub sink.... You get the point, I wonder just how many calories I burned?
Lunch today was yummerific again, brown and wild rice with hawaiian style tofu. (trust me it was yummier than it sounds there.)
Tonight we are having chicken breast with salad. (Greg's idea, I may die of shock.)
Anyway, I have a new tea addiction which might even rival the last one and still no calories: Oolong, it is the tea they used to give you at Chinese restaraunts before all the Chinese restaraunts became Chinese buffets.
Either way it is wonderful and it is also really good iced with a little Splenda(tm).
Okay, that is it for today I still have cleaning to do...workout time.

I hope this makes Eileen happy

Okay, so I know I haven't been blogging. I had the flu for about a week and lost the 8lbs I had gained while cheating, unfortunately once I started feeling better I wanted mild foods so I was eating carbs to beat the band, potatoes, crackers, bread etc.
I am getting back on track though and had yogurt with apple and granola for breakfast today, and a small dish of pasta for lunch. My husband is supposed to be getting more supportive and working with me for us both to get healthy.
Step in the right direction he loves my Spaghetti squash with ground turkey sauce.(We both do) He thinks he might like some other kinds of squashes too. I haven't tried any since I was a teenager and still am not so sure. I do like summer squash and zuccini in things or raw on salad but, I am not sure as just a side dish. We shall see.

Okay, okay so I haven't been blogging

I have many excuses for why I haven't been blogging and just as many for why I haven't been sticking to my diet. I am currently in the grips of an upper respiratory virus so the idea of counting calories etc... isn't top of my list. I am still trying to make healthier choices and keep somewhat on track but I don't think I want to go to the trouble of figuring out just how many calories are in each coughdrop and dose of Nyquil(tm).
Thank you Eileen for forcing me to be honest, it isn't very useful if the only times I go on here are when I am doing great.
Man do I wish I was home in bed with a cup of tea and heating pad. I hate being sick; especially being sick at work.

Homemade Yogurt May $ave My Life

I made yogurt in my crockpot yesterday and while it has slightly more calories than the store bought variety it also has no aspartame, preservatives etc... Actually I used Skim Milk and it is still the richest yogurt I have ever had in my life. Slightly runnier than I like but it wasn't very cold when I ate it and I believe it may firm up as it chills.

So this morning I got to have homemade yogurt in my yummy granola/apple/yogurt breakfast. I am going to make more yogurt tomorrow. They recommend that you don't make more than you can eat in 10 days but considering that I went through 32 oz in two days I think I can handle it. (this could be a huge money saver, if you are someone who eats alot of yogurt you might want to try it.)
I got the recipe at another blogspot sight, anyone wanting to try it should check it just search "yogurt crockpot" at Google(TM).
I had a balogna sandwich for lunch. Has anyone ever noticed that the cheaper a food is the worse for you it is? The expensive balogna is only 80 calories per slice, the balogna I have right now (keep in mind it is thick sliced) 130 calories per slice. Still seems pretty outrageous to me that you kind of have to be able to afford to live healthier. I can control my caloric intake regardless of what foods I am eating but it sure is nicer to get 3 cups of broccoli than 1/2 a balogna sandwich. (Can't afford broccoli right now and definitely not fresh broccoli)

3% down

So, I mentioned that yesterday was weigh-in day and I lost 4lbs. which isn't much considering how much I have to loose but, I am going to start looking at it in a positive light. I have lost 3% of the weight I plan to at this point and only have 97% to loose now. Last week I still had 100% to loose so this is an achievement. I do feel good about the 4lbs, it can just be daunting to know that you have such a long journey ahead of you. Of course it is a lifestyle change I am making so I guess that means I have an entire lifetime in front of me.
Today I got up, did my excercises, had my yummy yogurt, apple, and granola happiness, and came to work, where I have been running my butt off as usual. I need to get a pedometer so that I know how many steps I have to take on my days off to stay at an even keel. Really curious to know. One of the men I work with has one and he does 10,000 steps on an average day (just at work).
This Wednesday I don't need to worry about how many steps I take. I am going to workout with a friend who is way more in shape than I am at her gym. I told her no matter how much I cuss at her she is not supposed to let me off easy. I am a little worried that I am not going to be able to move the next day though. (we shall see.)

Work it girl!

I feel very good today, because Saturday is weigh-in day and I have lost 4 lbs. That's right! To you skinnies out there I know this seems like a major accomplishment but trust me there is a looooooong way to go.
Today I am going to try to focus only on the positive (starting....now)
I have one of my absolute favorite breakfasts, in the history of breakfast; 1 cup fat free vanilla yogurt, 1/3 cup low fat granola (with raisins), and a large apple cubed mix it all together and you get yumminess!!!! (I know you are all jealous, but these items are all readily available for you to get for yourself.)
Now for lunch I am having a big splurge, a taco salad with 1/4 cup ground turkey taco meat, and half an avacado diced over it, and 1/8 cup shredded cheese over 2 cups of lettuce. Delicious, you should try it sometime.
I am always looking for new low calorie recipies too, if anybody has any.

Day 45 on the island...

Just kidding, it is actually only day 3 and ironically, I actually love most "diet" foods. I am currently enjoying a pink grapefruit half thoroughly. It's weird, if I could just focus on the healthy foods that I really enjoy and ignore the cheesecakes, nachos, chips & dip, and ribs that I enjoy I would be okay. I love salad, I have only met 2 fruits that I didn't like, (lichi, and pomegranite if you must know.) I love celery sticks and hummus, I really like those Smart Ones (TM) deserts that they sell in your grocer's freezer. Does anyone really have a particular "grocer" anymore?
It is the exercising that I seem to have a problem with...if you don't understand why try the following experiment:
Strap and extra 150lb weight onto your body, stand and walk for 4 hours(mix in some bending, kneeling, and squatting to shift/search for/and reshelve books) sit for 45mins, get up and walk, then lift 10 boxes of books bending to put them away this should be done for approximately 5 hours. Now, once you have done that, go home clean your apartment, make dinner and now it is workout time!!!! Kind of hard to get motivated I try doing some crunches, reverse crunches and leg lifts every morning before work but I don't really get extra aerobic exercise in unless I go over to the fitness room on my day off while I am doing laundry (which is what I will just have to do.)
Gotta go make salad now. (I really do love it, is that weird?)

Well here goes

I have got to get on track and thus, I am doing a SlimFast (TM) fast on Monday. That's right all shake day. Jealous? I know you are. I need to shrink my stomach back down though so that it doesn't feel quite so empty when I eat normal sized portions...and no what they serve you at restaraunts are anything but normal sized portions.


Breakfast: Chocolate Royale SlimFast (TM)1scoop, 1% milk 4 oz., Iced Coffee 8oz., 1 packet of raspberry flavored vitamin c/energy powder. It is my version of an iced raspberry mocha, actually not too bad once you get used to it and it helps crush the cravings for something yummy from a coffee shop.


My SF rasp. mocha: 260 calories/55 fat calories


Same thing from a coffee shop: 480 calories/ 240 fat calories


Looks like mine wins.



Now all I need is some really great ground turkey recipes and I will be all set.

The first day of the rest of your blah blah blah

Whatever you want to embroider on a pillow, or paint on a little plaque for grandmothers to give to high school graduates because it was free from FingerHut (tm) or on sale in the grocery store check out line...I don't care, all I know is I am starting over....AGAIN!

As long as I am going to do this it makes sense to make myself accountable and so... how can you be more accountable than putting it out there for God, and everyone to read about?