Thought for the day:
"You have a very powerful mind that can make anything happen as long as you keep yourself centered. " -Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
I've had another ridiculously busy week, but I was able to stay centered and on point. Again, planning turns out to be the winning strategy.
This week my weigh in was much better than last week's, I lost 2.6 pounds, ridding myself of the one I had gained last week and putting me 1.6 pound ahead of the game.
I had a little personal goal to get to 50 pounds off by Labor Day, but with 8 pounds standing in the way I think I'll resolve that goal to having my first 50 off by the Autumn equinox. I can't say that I'm not disappointed but since I started this challenge on the first day of spring I guess getting to that halfway point by the first day of Autumn is more realistic. I may have been rushing things.
This challenge is not the "Biggest Loser".
What really is most important is not how fast that first 50 comes off, but that it gets off. I've made a lot of progress toward my ultimate weight loss goal, 42 pounds is nothing to sneeze at.
When I think about how far I've come, and number of lifestyle changes I've made, it kind of even astounds me. I really never thought I could get over my exercise allergy, let alone actually enjoy a work out. My first experience with physical activity was when I forced myself to take a walk, then I forced myself to start trying different exercise DVDs. Now, thanks to my friend Barb, suggesting I join her at a Zumba class; I have a physical activity that I actually look forward to.
I'm still trying different exercise DVDs to have some kind of activity on the days I don't go to Zumba, and I think that may keep things fresh for me. And I like the stretching involved with Yoga and the toning I get from Pilates. This week's DVD is Belly dancing, I'll let you know how it goes. I'll also walk more when the weather cools off.
Overall, I think the week went pretty well.
What I did right:
a. Ate Breakfast daily.
b. Kept a diary of every bite that crossed my lips.
c. Drank extra water due to the heat and my increase in activity.
d. Exercised 5 days last week.
e. Tried a recipe for brownies made with black beans and with only 53 calories. It was a total bust. Yuck! Maybe I can tweak it to taste good, the texture was moist and fuggy.
What I can do better-
a. Get enough sleep. I still struggle with this.
b. Manage to exercise 6 days this week.
c. Work out some new recipes to help prevent boredom.
d. Make some time for meditation. I'm still struggling with this one too.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Planning for Success
Thought for the day:
"It would be far easier to lose weight permanently if replacement parts weren't so handy in the refrigerator." ~Hugh Allen
Well, I weighed in yesterday and I was up a pound. That binge on Friday came back to haunt me; at least it was only one pound, it could have been a lot worse.
I've stopped kicking myself in the butt over it, now I'm back on the waggon and hanging on for dear life!
After my weigh in and meeting, I went to a Zumba class and then got my game plan together to have successful week.
First stop, Farmer's Market; picked up watermelon, cantaloupe, peaches, plumbs, nectarines, cucumbers, corn, zucchini and some ripe tomatoes. Next to the grocery store for items not available at the Farmers Market. I picked up a turkey breast tenderloin for Sunday dinner and sandwiches next week, other protein choices I made were black beans, red kidney beans, lean pork for kabobs, Ahi tuna, salmon, shrimp and chicken breasts.
I try to plan left-overs each evening for my lunch the next day, it's so much easier to stay on track and on budget by bringing my lunch to work.
I went to Target and bought a pair of pink and very girly looking 5 Lb. hand weights to use for some arm toning exercises, a set of resistance bands in pretty rainbow colors and a new yoga mat in Cinderella blue. Now I know that buying this stuff in pretty colors is not going to make it any more effective, but I've decided to look at these items as fitness accessories so that I'll be more inclined to use them.
I'm such a Princess, even my gym bag is pink.
OK!, I have my meal plans for the week, my 3 Zumba classes and 2 days of weight training lined out, as well my pool exercises, and I intend to have a successfull week!
This week, failure is NOT an option!
Last week in review:
What I did right-
a. Ate Breakfast daily.
b. Kept a diary of every bite that crossed my lips.
c. Drank extra water due to the heat and my increase in activity.
d. Exercised 4 days last week.
e. Got a pedi.
What I can do better-
a. Get enough sleep.
b. Manage to get my walks in at least 3 days this week.
c. Work out some new recipes to help prevent boredom.
d. Make some time for meditation.
"It would be far easier to lose weight permanently if replacement parts weren't so handy in the refrigerator." ~Hugh Allen
Well, I weighed in yesterday and I was up a pound. That binge on Friday came back to haunt me; at least it was only one pound, it could have been a lot worse.
I've stopped kicking myself in the butt over it, now I'm back on the waggon and hanging on for dear life!
After my weigh in and meeting, I went to a Zumba class and then got my game plan together to have successful week.
First stop, Farmer's Market; picked up watermelon, cantaloupe, peaches, plumbs, nectarines, cucumbers, corn, zucchini and some ripe tomatoes. Next to the grocery store for items not available at the Farmers Market. I picked up a turkey breast tenderloin for Sunday dinner and sandwiches next week, other protein choices I made were black beans, red kidney beans, lean pork for kabobs, Ahi tuna, salmon, shrimp and chicken breasts.
I try to plan left-overs each evening for my lunch the next day, it's so much easier to stay on track and on budget by bringing my lunch to work.
I went to Target and bought a pair of pink and very girly looking 5 Lb. hand weights to use for some arm toning exercises, a set of resistance bands in pretty rainbow colors and a new yoga mat in Cinderella blue. Now I know that buying this stuff in pretty colors is not going to make it any more effective, but I've decided to look at these items as fitness accessories so that I'll be more inclined to use them.
I'm such a Princess, even my gym bag is pink.
OK!, I have my meal plans for the week, my 3 Zumba classes and 2 days of weight training lined out, as well my pool exercises, and I intend to have a successfull week!
This week, failure is NOT an option!
Last week in review:
What I did right-
a. Ate Breakfast daily.
b. Kept a diary of every bite that crossed my lips.
c. Drank extra water due to the heat and my increase in activity.
d. Exercised 4 days last week.
e. Got a pedi.
What I can do better-
a. Get enough sleep.
b. Manage to get my walks in at least 3 days this week.
c. Work out some new recipes to help prevent boredom.
d. Make some time for meditation.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Dangerous Curves
Thought for the day:
"If I had been around when Rubens was painting, I would have been revered as a fabulous model. Kate Moss? Well, she would have been the paintbrush." ~Dawn French
OMG! I pigged out, and I feel awful.
I was really wanting a cheeseburger and fries; I thought there are 28 flex points that I haven't eaten this week, just have it. I had it all right, I ordered out for lunch from a place my co-workers frequently go but it just wasn't very good. It didn't satisfy me at all. What a let down! What a waste of flex points?
So after work I went home to find my granddaughter waiting for me, she wanted Pizza, something else I've had a yen for, so we ordered, and I ate 3 peices and chased them with a fruit and yogurt smoothy. Now I feel overly satisfied, stuffed and FAT!
Well, what is done is done. It's over now and all those calories are probably headed straight for my butt. Guess I see the damage when I step up on the scale tomarrow morning. I just hope the extra physical activity I've engaged in this week will counter my poor food choices.
Arggg!
Why didn't I stop with 1 slice of Pizza?
I'm such a DORK!
"If I had been around when Rubens was painting, I would have been revered as a fabulous model. Kate Moss? Well, she would have been the paintbrush." ~Dawn French
OMG! I pigged out, and I feel awful.
I was really wanting a cheeseburger and fries; I thought there are 28 flex points that I haven't eaten this week, just have it. I had it all right, I ordered out for lunch from a place my co-workers frequently go but it just wasn't very good. It didn't satisfy me at all. What a let down! What a waste of flex points?
So after work I went home to find my granddaughter waiting for me, she wanted Pizza, something else I've had a yen for, so we ordered, and I ate 3 peices and chased them with a fruit and yogurt smoothy. Now I feel overly satisfied, stuffed and FAT!
Well, what is done is done. It's over now and all those calories are probably headed straight for my butt. Guess I see the damage when I step up on the scale tomarrow morning. I just hope the extra physical activity I've engaged in this week will counter my poor food choices.
Arggg!
Why didn't I stop with 1 slice of Pizza?
I'm such a DORK!
Monday, August 16, 2010
40 Pounds Down and Counting
Thought for the day:
"People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily." -Zig Ziglar
Another week down, this one marked another milestone for me.
Saturday was weigh in day and I can now say quite proudly that I have lost a total of 40 pounds, yup! 40 big ones! Boy! was I doing a happy dance at Zumba afterward or what.
At any rate it was a good week in despite the heat.
After Zumba, I went with my Daughter, 4 Granddaughters and my Son's girlfriend to Raging Rivers Water park to give the girls a Back to School Whoop-T-Do! My legs and butt are still sore from walking up the hills and in the Wave Pool water. While there a bought a half price bathing suit in a smaller size to give myself something to work toward.
I have noticed that my body composition has been changing, I have a neck now as well as a waist. However, what really surprised me is that when changing clothes, I got a glimpse of what I think is that six-pack that I just know is hiding under all of my abdominal fat.
This week I did try a new food, House of Foods Tofu Shiritaki Noodles. The texture is a little different than both regular pasta and the whole grain pasta I've been using, but not unpleasant, just different. With a serving of the pasta sauce recipe below and some grilled shrimp the difference was less noticeable, and at only 20 calories per 1 cup serving those noodles are a way to stay on point.
Fat Momma's Skinny Alfredo Sauce
Ingredients
2 Tbsp Fat-Free Sour Cream
2 wedge(s) Light Creamy Garlic & Herb
2 oz Philadelphia Free Fat-Free Cream Cheese
2 Tbsp fat-free skim milk
1/4 cup(s) grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Warm in the microwave oven at 100% power for 1 minute.
Serves 4
POINTS® value per serving = 2
This makes 1 cup of pasta sauce, enough to toss with 4 cups of cooked pasta. For variety use a different flavor of Laughing Cow Wedges, to kick it up add steamed broccoli or to really kick it up add grilled chicken or shrimp. Yum!
Last week in review:
What I did right-
a. Ate Breakfast daily.
b. Kept a diary of every bite that crossed my lips.
c. Drank extra water due to the heat and my increase in activity.
d. Exercised 4 days last week.
e. Ate 5 fruits and veggies a day.
f. Tried a new food, the Tofu Shiritaki Noodles.
What I can do better-
a. Get enough sleep.
b. Manage to get my walks in at least 3 days this week.
c. Work out some new recipes to help prevent boredom.
d. Get a pedicure or a massage for relaxation.
e. Make some time for meditation.
"People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily." -Zig Ziglar
Another week down, this one marked another milestone for me.
Saturday was weigh in day and I can now say quite proudly that I have lost a total of 40 pounds, yup! 40 big ones! Boy! was I doing a happy dance at Zumba afterward or what.
At any rate it was a good week in despite the heat.
After Zumba, I went with my Daughter, 4 Granddaughters and my Son's girlfriend to Raging Rivers Water park to give the girls a Back to School Whoop-T-Do! My legs and butt are still sore from walking up the hills and in the Wave Pool water. While there a bought a half price bathing suit in a smaller size to give myself something to work toward.
I have noticed that my body composition has been changing, I have a neck now as well as a waist. However, what really surprised me is that when changing clothes, I got a glimpse of what I think is that six-pack that I just know is hiding under all of my abdominal fat.
This week I did try a new food, House of Foods Tofu Shiritaki Noodles. The texture is a little different than both regular pasta and the whole grain pasta I've been using, but not unpleasant, just different. With a serving of the pasta sauce recipe below and some grilled shrimp the difference was less noticeable, and at only 20 calories per 1 cup serving those noodles are a way to stay on point.
Fat Momma's Skinny Alfredo Sauce
Ingredients
2 Tbsp Fat-Free Sour Cream
2 wedge(s) Light Creamy Garlic & Herb
2 oz Philadelphia Free Fat-Free Cream Cheese
2 Tbsp fat-free skim milk
1/4 cup(s) grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Warm in the microwave oven at 100% power for 1 minute.
Serves 4
POINTS® value per serving = 2
This makes 1 cup of pasta sauce, enough to toss with 4 cups of cooked pasta. For variety use a different flavor of Laughing Cow Wedges, to kick it up add steamed broccoli or to really kick it up add grilled chicken or shrimp. Yum!
Last week in review:
What I did right-
a. Ate Breakfast daily.
b. Kept a diary of every bite that crossed my lips.
c. Drank extra water due to the heat and my increase in activity.
d. Exercised 4 days last week.
e. Ate 5 fruits and veggies a day.
f. Tried a new food, the Tofu Shiritaki Noodles.
What I can do better-
a. Get enough sleep.
b. Manage to get my walks in at least 3 days this week.
c. Work out some new recipes to help prevent boredom.
d. Get a pedicure or a massage for relaxation.
e. Make some time for meditation.
Monday, August 9, 2010
The Nitty Gritty
Thought for the day:
"First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do."
-Epictetus
Another week down and only .4 pounds lost at weigh in. Guess I need to get down to the real Nitty Gritty and examine my game plan.
I used very few Flex points last week as a matter of fact I still had 30 of them left when the week ended. I just was not that hungry. With the hot weather I was just wanting to drink water.
Zumba is still going good. I probably look like a fool doing it but I have no trouble sleeping after a class. The instructor is adding a class on Saturdays so I'll soon Zumba 3 days a week. Who would have thought I'd like any exercise enough to go 3 times a week! Guess I'm not as allergic as I thought.
I have been absolutely craving KFC coleslaw, but at 4 points per 1/2 cup I am also reluctant to indulge and 1/2 cup is never enough when it comes to the Colonel's coleslaw. After several tries at knocking the fat out of that creamy slaw I finally have come up with a greatly reduced fat version, the servings are a generous 3/4 cup each and I am no longer Jonesin for the Colonel.
Fat Momma's Creamy Cole Slaw
4 tablespoons Hellman's lite mayonnaise
2 tablespoons Hendrickson's Original Sweet Vinegar and Olive Oil salad dressing
1 teaspoon Dijonnaise
1/8 teaspoon celery salt
1 teaspoon Splenda
1/2 teaspoon water
3 cups of packaged 3 color coleslaw
Whisk together the first 6 ingredients and toss with the coleslaw.
Makes 4 servings at 1 Weight Watchers point each.
Last week in review:
What I did right-
a. Ate Breakfast daily.
b. Kept a diary of every bite that crossed my lips.
c. Drank extra water due to the heat and my increase in activity.
d. Exercised 6 days last week.
e. Ate 5 fruits and veggies a day.
What I can do better-
a. Get a little more sleep, and make some time for meditation.
b. Manage to get my walks in at least 3 days this week.
c. Work out some new recipes to help prevent boredom.
d. Get a pedicure or a massage for relaxation.
"First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do."
-Epictetus
Another week down and only .4 pounds lost at weigh in. Guess I need to get down to the real Nitty Gritty and examine my game plan.
I used very few Flex points last week as a matter of fact I still had 30 of them left when the week ended. I just was not that hungry. With the hot weather I was just wanting to drink water.
Zumba is still going good. I probably look like a fool doing it but I have no trouble sleeping after a class. The instructor is adding a class on Saturdays so I'll soon Zumba 3 days a week. Who would have thought I'd like any exercise enough to go 3 times a week! Guess I'm not as allergic as I thought.
I have been absolutely craving KFC coleslaw, but at 4 points per 1/2 cup I am also reluctant to indulge and 1/2 cup is never enough when it comes to the Colonel's coleslaw. After several tries at knocking the fat out of that creamy slaw I finally have come up with a greatly reduced fat version, the servings are a generous 3/4 cup each and I am no longer Jonesin for the Colonel.
Fat Momma's Creamy Cole Slaw
4 tablespoons Hellman's lite mayonnaise
2 tablespoons Hendrickson's Original Sweet Vinegar and Olive Oil salad dressing
1 teaspoon Dijonnaise
1/8 teaspoon celery salt
1 teaspoon Splenda
1/2 teaspoon water
3 cups of packaged 3 color coleslaw
Whisk together the first 6 ingredients and toss with the coleslaw.
Makes 4 servings at 1 Weight Watchers point each.
Last week in review:
What I did right-
a. Ate Breakfast daily.
b. Kept a diary of every bite that crossed my lips.
c. Drank extra water due to the heat and my increase in activity.
d. Exercised 6 days last week.
e. Ate 5 fruits and veggies a day.
What I can do better-
a. Get a little more sleep, and make some time for meditation.
b. Manage to get my walks in at least 3 days this week.
c. Work out some new recipes to help prevent boredom.
d. Get a pedicure or a massage for relaxation.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Chippin' Away
Thought for the day:
"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time."
-Thomas A. Edison
Perseverance does pay off, I lost 3 pounds last week, so I was feeling pretty good while standing on the scale Saturday. It does seems like I have to keep working harder to keep losing. I'm exercising almost daily now and I keep looking for new swaps for the foods I crave.
Gotta keep chipping away at those pounds!
Last week had its ups and its downs but I didn't let it pull me off track.
I've been pretty mentally exhausted, so I went out to the swimming pool this evening and just vegetated for a while. It was good to clear my mind.
Last week in review:
What I did right-
a. Ate Breakfast daily.
b. Kept a diary of every bite that crossed my lips.
c. Drank extra water due to the heat and my increase in activity.
d. Exercised 6 days last week.
What I can do better-
a. Get a little more sleep, and make some time for meditation.
b. Manage to get my walks in at least 3 days this week.
c. Work out some new recipes to help prevent boredom.
d. Eat at least 5 fruits or veggies a day.
"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time."
-Thomas A. Edison
Perseverance does pay off, I lost 3 pounds last week, so I was feeling pretty good while standing on the scale Saturday. It does seems like I have to keep working harder to keep losing. I'm exercising almost daily now and I keep looking for new swaps for the foods I crave.
Gotta keep chipping away at those pounds!
Last week had its ups and its downs but I didn't let it pull me off track.
I've been pretty mentally exhausted, so I went out to the swimming pool this evening and just vegetated for a while. It was good to clear my mind.
Last week in review:
What I did right-
a. Ate Breakfast daily.
b. Kept a diary of every bite that crossed my lips.
c. Drank extra water due to the heat and my increase in activity.
d. Exercised 6 days last week.
What I can do better-
a. Get a little more sleep, and make some time for meditation.
b. Manage to get my walks in at least 3 days this week.
c. Work out some new recipes to help prevent boredom.
d. Eat at least 5 fruits or veggies a day.
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