Biggest Loser has STARTED!

Okay so I have officially joined a Biggest Loser group.  It would be awesome to win the money, but I am in it more for the support and accountability.  I sent in a picture of my weigh on the scale for my first weigh in yesterday and today I hit it strong with running in the morning, a weights and cardio class at the gym and resisting a morning binge on junk food.  The competition for Biggest Loser goes for 8 weeks.  I am hoping I can lose 2 lbs a week for a total of 16 pounds lost.

Diet:
Tuna Sandwich - 300
protein shake - 320
granola bar -180
total so far: 800

Here is a LINK to the Biggest Loser Blog

Friday Report

DIET:
apple - 60
protein shake - 350
brown rice chips - 100
protein bar - 190
popcorn - 200
orange juice - 100
total so far: 1000
oh man - that total was as of 7:00pm.  Then we had dinner (late, as usual) and I probably consumed another 1000 calories!  Why is it so hard to restrain myself.  I was better today and did not snack beforehand.  But the 3 egg omelet full of roasted zucchini, fried ham and cheese (with butter) was more calories than I dare count.  Then on top of that, I had two pieces of french toast (and maybe a little cream on them :)  Okay, so maybe dinner was OVER 1000 calories.  I have got to plan our family dinners better or start showing a little restraint! 

EXERCISE:
biked 6 miles around neighborhood
ran 1 mile at gym
did exercise machine for 20 minutes
Butts and Gutts class - 20 minutes

WATER:
3 bottles so far

Thursday Report

Diet:
Protein Bar - 190
Multi Grain cereal - 180
Homemade Mac and Cheese - 300
Protein Bar - 210
Total so far: 880
 - I learned today that evenings are my hardest right now.  Just before dinner I am hungry and want to snack.  Today I did with brown rice chips (and maybe I snitched some dark chocolate chips).  We had homemade chicken noodle soup and I had two peices of sourdough bread.  I should have only had one.  I am sure between snacking and dinner I went over 1400 today.  I'll do better tomorrow!

Water:
4 bottles

Exercise:
Ran 3 miles
Recombanant Bike - 30 minutes
1 hour weights class

10 lbs in 2 months

Okay, anyone reading this (I doubt that there is ONE person) ignore the fact that my last post was over a year ago and believe me when I say that I am really truly hitting the weight loss things serious once again!  My goal - 10 lbs in 2 months.  My deadline - June 15. 

I have been going to the gym now for 3 weeks and started up weights classes.  Since I babysit, I can't go every day like I used to, but I am running in the mornings (when it's not pouring rain outside, which happens more often than I'd like) and am committed to doing one or two P90X workouts at home a week. 

As I have read back over this blog during the time when I was having consistent success in losing the weight, I found myself completely motivated with feelings of "I can DO this again!"  I also remembered the benefits of daily record keeping.  So, even though I doubt anyone will be reading this, I am again going to record the highs and lows (hopefully more "highs" than lows); and maintain an exercise and eating journal. 

Successes so far:
I look my measurements a few weeks ago and have lost an inch off my thighs and 1/2 inch off my arms (this is obviously where I gain weight first).  I was discouraged that nothing came off my midsection which is feeling extremely pathetic as of late.  But I have lost ONE pound and even though I thought it would be more because I felt like I starved myself for 5 days, I kind of deserved it because I binged REALLY bad on Easter candy toward the end of that week.  I also dropped 1% body fat

So, here are my goals:
- eat 1400 calories or less every day
- weights class twice a week
- running 3-4 times a week
- drink 60 ounces of water every day (at least)
- no sugar (I can't even handle a little taste or I end up binging, so I have to cut ALL of it out!) 
- Get down to 18% body fat (or lower :)

Okay, HERE WE GO...

Here we go again!

Alright, I am officially back with my fitness buddies and back in the fitness world again! Baby #3 just turned 7 months and it definitely time I kick it in gear! Pulling out my spring/summer clothes last week solidified that all the more to me! Last week I took time to set some goals, take some measurements, contemplate life, and I will admit, splurge on one last binge. I have some good friends behind me who I will do a weekly check-in with (thank you Carrie, Natalie, Debbie and Sara!) My new goals are posted in the side column. I started out with a bang by getting up early to run and enjoyed a banana-less protein shake (I need to get some bananas today!) Calorie counting also starts today. I don't know how frequent I'll do a post here, but I'll try to as much as I can. My goal for this week is to just start losing... anything. Since the weekend was a bust with Easter, it's more of a half week, since weigh-ins are on Fridays. So, here's to HEALTHY living!

I can't do this alone!

I just got an email from my dear "furna mom" friend and she committed me to starting NO TREATS again! I seriously can't do a weight loss program alone and I need someone to report to, so THANK YOU CARRIE!

As you can see from below, I DESPERATELY need a no treat restriction! I obviously read Carrie's email AFTER I ate my so-called breakfast of cookies and stolen Halloween candy (yes, I snitched in the kids bags!) But, I promised her that I would start being accountable again and report my calories, so I am being HONEST here (don't laugh!)

We are doing no treats until Thanksgiving. Two other goals I'm going to focus on are:
- no eating past 8:00
- count calories every day

Here is the report for TODAY:
cookies (2) - 350 ??
smarties - 30 ??
tootsie roll - 30 ??
a starburst - 30 ??

(okay, now the healthy stuff):
chicken noodle soup - 400 ?
tillamook extra sharp cheddar cheese (oh so good on the homemade soup!) - 200

TOTAL SO FAR: 1040

Tuesday Calories

Oatmeal - 150
Kashi Bar - 120
Milk - 30
sugar free snack pudding - 120
applesauce - 100
pretzels - 50
dried bananas - 50
total so far = 620

I am BACK and ready to go

Well, it has been ONE MONTH since the birth of my baby girl and I feel really good, but also really flabby! I am extremely anxious to get going on some WEIGHT LOSS! No worries, I am not starting anything strenuous. I just want to get out and MOVING again! I can't start back at the gym until Elizabeth is 6 weeks old (for child care), so I am going to my best at home. I also really need to crack down on my eating, for Elizabeth's sake as much as my own. A well balanced diet will do both of us A LOT OF GOOD and will most likely CURE Elizabeth's night time fussiness, I am sure.

My overall goal (as you can see on the side goal column) is to lose 18 pounds by Christmas. I am going to shoot for 2 lbs a week. So, I am starting TODAY with the same old, same old REPORTS! So, here we go...

DIET:
multi-grain cheerios - 110
yogurt - 120
brownie - 150?
tuna sandwich - 350
chips - 120
raisins - 200
orange juice - 120
milk - 200
brownie - 210?
zone protein bar - 210
total so far: 1840 (I am in trouble! I haven't eaten dinner yet!)

EXERCISE:

12 Weeks Left!

Well, I figured I should do a post marking the beginning of my third trimester and give a little report on my progress. For one thing, I have GAINED MORE WEIGHT! Surprise! Just kidding. I have been putting off my "4-week" appointments and finally went yesterday (I feel fine, I don't see the point in going so often). I have officially gained 25 pounds! Hmmm... a little more than I'd like, but I figure if I keep my weight gain to 3 pounds a month for these last 12 weeks, I will stay under 35 pounds. As long as I gain less than the 40 pounds I did with Emma, I will be happy. 35 seems okay. Believe it or not, I am getting excited about getting into "calorie counting" again. My big weight loss last year started mid-September and I got to the lowest weight/body fat by mid-December. I think it will be good that the timing is similar. Maybe I can get back to normal by Christmas. I am really glad that I had the experience of losing the weight RIGHT before getting pregnant, because it is fresh on my mind and I KNOW what I need to do. I am sure I have already forgotten how hard it really was and I KNOW I am not accounting for the adjustments of life with another baby. For now, I will just focus on getting to the end!

So, for my progress... I have not kept on my supposed "no sugar" rule, but I have been more conscious of it. I took a couple week break from working out at the gym but kept very busy with house cleaning, yard work and packing. The time has not affected my ability to keep up in spinning class, so hopefully I was getting enough exercise throughout my days of working around the house. I am trying to get to spinning 2 days a week. I have a schedule set up for once the kids are out of school which gets me to the gym most days. It is a good distraction to other things I should be doing! Ha! I know that is the worst mindset! I swear that is what my whole summer is about... just keep busy and let it all fly by FAST! Okay, not TOO fast, because I LOVE summer and I want to soak it all in. I think more than my anxiousness for the baby to be here, I am more anxiosu to get this period of studying for the Bar over with! Kolby will be studying at the house every day which makes me want to be AWAY from the house as much as possible. Sorry, I am going off on non-health related tangents! I think that being out and about most days will help with my eating - not as much snacking throughout the day. We'll see.

Anyway, for the most part, I feel good. I would like to start walking every day. I cramp up when I do, but I think perhaps the more I do it, the less I will cramp. If it starts to bother me too much, I will probably just stick with the bike. I worry that if I do spinning too much, that I will bulk up my legs (because I feel like that is what happened to me when I was younger and I biked about 10-15 miles a day). I will report back after I figure out what is working best!

Until next time...

A New Week!

I always feel a breath of fresh air when I know that a NEW week is beginning. The MOST important part of the day for me is MORNING. If I can make a smart choice with my breakfast and get LOTS of water in at the beginning of the day, I tend to do so much better throughout the whole day. So, that is my goal for tomorrow.

To report on my "no sugar" goal... I am still working on eliminating it. I have not done "great," but I've been better. My friend Sara suggested that rather than take it out all together, designate HOW often I eat it and make it "special." Although I do so much better with it out of my system, I am thinking that maybe her idea is best for me right now. Especially since it takes a good two weeks of NO sugar whatsoever to get the cravings out of my system. It is so hard to go that long and then once you get there, to keep it going! So, yesterday, we were out with the kids ALL day and bribed them with cold stone ice cream (which I haven't had in probably 5 years); I ate some. Then of course today with Mother's Day, I had LOTS of goodies. I don't want to feel guilty and miserable eating it and I know that I won't it I do make it "special" (meaning no junk binge every day)!

Anyway, I am really happy to have found that spinning is working very well for me. It is the only thing I can do where I don't cramp up (even walking caused cramping lately). It worry that I am going to bulk up my legs, but hopefully not if I do that 2 days a week and perhaps speed walk 2 days or so.

So, until tomorrow...

Struggling but Progressing

Well, I can't say that my "cold turkey no sugar" is a complete success, but I am at least doing better than I normally would as I try to be consciousness of it. The key for me is to get the sugar out of the house (which I am helping with by EATING). Seriously, as soon as the temptation is gone, it will be easier. Yesterday was not the best, but today was better (I did eat some sugar cereal... we have never allowed the kids to eat sugar cereal and I bought some justifying it as a weird pregnancy craving). Anyway, I didn't track perfectly today, but here is what I remember:

EXERCISE:
hour long spin class
20 minutes lower body weights

DIET:
eggs - 150
cereal - 250
milk - 150
some of Emma's spinach revioli - 50
grapes - 100
flax seed vege chips - 200
fruity candy things - 120
chocolate covered blueberries - 150
snacking..? - 250
mushroom asparagus risotto - 400
bread - 100
jam - 75?
TOTAL: 1995

WATER:
55+ ounces (so far)

Until tomorrow...

Okay, this is serious business now!

Alright, I am serious when I say that I am getting back on track with my health and nutrition! What is it about being pregnant that has made me feel like I've been handed a free pass or something? I have been reluctant to weigh in at the gym for fear what the numbers would be and well, I did - today - and it wasn't pretty! Seriously, the numbers are so bad... I AM NOT SHARING. I came home and took measurements and recorded it in my journal. Looking at how fast I have declined from where I was is very depressing! I know, I know, I'm pregnant and I shouldn't be too hard on myself. Everyone says that and I will tell you right now, that is not what I want to hear, because I know the BAD decisions I've made and the sugar binge I've been on and regardless of expected weight gain during pregnancy, it is not good for the baby. So, I'm cracking down! Anyone who wants to join with me in a NO SUGAR challenge again, I am starting mine TODAY! I don't know how long I plan to go and I'm probably not going to be as strict as last time when I wouldn't eat anything with over 5 grams of sugar (yogurt and go lean cereal is okay for me). I am also going to start recording things again. So, to start off right, here is my report for the day:

EXERCISE:
45 minute spin class
30 minutes of upper body weights

DIET:
grapefruit juice - 140
almonds - 180
ZONE protein bar - 190
protein shake with berries, banana and spinach - 350
fruit bar - 130
milk - 100
dried green beans - 130
TOTAL SO FAR: 1220

WATER:
66 ounces (so far)

Hmmm... amazing what a little effort can do! (and a little accountability). By now I would have reached for sugar 3 times by now, but I have refrained! So despite my discouragement this morning, I feel ENCOURAGED overall that I can do this! I am going to keep my goals simple for now... maintain my weight for a few weeks and make healthy eating choices (with no sugar).

Back into the swing of things

After a week of NOT working out due to a little road trip I took with my kiddos, I am excited to get back into the swing of things. I had a lot of catch up stuff to do today which kept me home from the gym, but tomorrow, I'm going hit the eating and exercise hard again! Okay, maybe not "hard" but at least DO IT! You know what I mean! I know one thing... I need it! I am getting winded just climbing all the stairs in my house. Maybe it is a good thing that I am putting the baby's nursery on the third floor! Climbing up and down 40 stairs will help me to loose the baby weight after he/she is born!

Until tomorrow...

Thursday

DIET:
Go Lean Cereal - 200
Yogurt - 120
milk - 30
Fruit Bar - 140
apple - 60
peanut butter 210
raisin bran - 300
total so far = 1060

EXERCISE:
none yet (hopefully I can do the treadmill tonight while I watch The Office)

WATER:
hmm... 30 ounces, maybe? We're out of water. I've got to buy some more today!

Wednesday

DIET:
Protein Shake (with spinach!)- 350
Triscuits - 150
tuna - 120
fruit bar - 140
ABC crackers - 130
string cheese - 80
a couple more things I don't remember (I was mentally keeping track and now I don't remember what it was!) - 300
snickers bar - 280
vitamin water - 120
turkey burger - 160
cheese - 80
bun - 120
baked potato - 150
cottage cheese - 80
cheese - 50
wheaties - 250
Total = 2560!!
okay, not very good today! Shouldn't have eaten that snickers bar!

EXERCISE:
2 10-minute trainer videos
30 minutes and 2.25 on treadmill

WATER:
50 ounces so far

Monday

DIET:
cereal and milk (small bowl) - 100
protein shake (banana, berries and spinach) - 400
chips - 150
chocolate covered blueberries - 200
Nature's Harvest oatmeal - 150
milk - 20
fruit leather - 50
total so far = 1020

EXERCISE:
1.5 miles on treadmill
hour long weights class

WATER:
25 ounces so far

Saturday

DIET:
I tried to keep a mental note on calories but didn't do so well in keeping track. I am sure I was OVER because we went out to dinner and I got lobster bisque soup (not so healthy!), then I ate ice cream and kettle corn tonight. So, we'll start back tracking tomorrow!

EXERCISE:
hour long weights class
1 mile on treadmill

WATER:
not enough! I have to remember to DRINK! I feel so much better when I DO!

Friday

DIET:
protein shake (with spinach) - 275
banana bread - 250?
butter - 50
milk - 140
total so far: 715

EXERCISE:
2 p90x 10-minute trainers

WATER:
16 ounces so far

Thursday

DIET:
go lean cereal - 200
yogurt - 120
milk - 30
string cheese - 60
grapes - 50
open face tuna sandwich with cheese - 300
popcorn - 240
edemame - 100
banana bread - 400?
open face chicken sandwich - 300
iceberg wedge salad - 120
cereal - 200
total so far: 2120

EXERCISE:
hour interval class (cardio & weights)
1.5 miles on treadmill

WATER:
35 ounces so far

Wednesday

**GREAT EXERCISE TIP**

Click HERE for a GREAT exercise tip on running.
I am going to try it out tomorrow!

DIET:
go lean cereal - 200
yogurt - 120
milk - 30
applesauce - 70
cereal - 350 (two big bowls)
1/4 tuna sandwich - 100
pretzels - 130
Hawaiian Haystacks - 600? (I really have NO idea!)
protein shake (with spinach!)- 275
total so far: 1875

EXERCISE:
5 miles on treadmill (ran 3 of it)

WATER:
30 ounces so far