This week went by so fast. I did really well with controlling my food. I was especially happy to get back to working out on Monday. I really think that working out is becoming a habit. I know I really missed working out on the Thursday and Friday I was at youth conference but little did I realize how much until I started working out on Monday.
Controlling my calories is getting easier. I think I am really starting to make this a habit. Oh don't get me wrong, I still have my moments. I had an evening this week that I just had the munchies. I wasn't hungry and I had eaten plenty but I just wanted to munch on things. It was a conscious decision to not just pig out.
Another thing I am noticing is that I am choosing what I eat based on the calorie content. I am really choosing whether the food is really worth the calories in it. I figure out my calorie budget and stick to it. If only I could do as well with my financial budget.
Yesterday was Killian's 17th birthday. I did enjoy his birthday dinner but again I limited myself. I had one hamburger, one ear of corn, and one helping of cucumber, tomato salad. Then I had cake and ice cream. One serving of cake, a center piece with only frosting on the top and no excess decorations, and one scoop of ice cream. Best of all I was still under my calorie budget. Not by much but still within the allowance.
Now I have made a decision before I started to not deprive myself on special occasions. Birthdays and holidays always involve special foods that make it what it is. If I am truly to develop good habits and a healthy lifestyle, I have to find a way to make my traditions work with the healthy lifestyle. that means not depriving myself, but controlling myself. I guess this might sound silly but I am feeling very happy about how I am handling things. I just feel that I am making progress.
I do love how I am feeling these days. Every pound I lose seems to translate into energy. I actually look forward to weighing in weekly. That is a new experience. Here's to happy healthy experiences.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Another Mile Stone.
I now weigh less than 290 pounds!!!! It is another mile stone to me. Especially considering this past week.
I chaperoned a trip for the youth from church. We went to a Youth Conference on the Troy University Campus. We stayed in the dorms and ate in one of the dining halls. The whole experience was awesome. We were blessed to be in that spirit rich environment and all of our testimonies grew.
The difficulty for me was the choices for food. There was a Pizza bar, a Dessert bar, a Salad and Sandwich bar and a Grill. The foods were basically calorie dense. Some times the calorie counts were posted which was a help. I was able to eat enough and still keep my calories down to where I needed them to be. I was very happy with myself over this. I am starting to develop good habits.
At first my daughter was saying to just let the diet go for the trip. But I knew that if I did I would back slide too much. I also knew that if I gained too much over the week, I would get discouraged. I knew that both of these were a recipe for failure. I was determined to make the best choice I could and hopefully maintain what I had lost.
I wasn't able to plan my meals in advance so it was a case of trying to figure out about how many calories were in what was being served and keep it to between 500 and 600 a meal. I always started with a salad. added a small serving of protein and a small serving of starch. I did very well. and kept my calories where they needed to be. I stayed away from the dessert bar altogether.
The other issue I had was not being able to work out. Our days were scheduled from 7:00 am to midnight. I am used to getting more sleep. Fortunately, we did a lot of walking. But it was not the same as my work outs and I really did miss them. When I went back to Curves on Monday, I felt so much better just walking in the door. I had a really good work out. I may be getting addicted to working out. Not that I think that would be a bad thing.
To sum up my week, I stayed active, kept my calories down, and managed to lose 3 more pounds.
I chaperoned a trip for the youth from church. We went to a Youth Conference on the Troy University Campus. We stayed in the dorms and ate in one of the dining halls. The whole experience was awesome. We were blessed to be in that spirit rich environment and all of our testimonies grew.
The difficulty for me was the choices for food. There was a Pizza bar, a Dessert bar, a Salad and Sandwich bar and a Grill. The foods were basically calorie dense. Some times the calorie counts were posted which was a help. I was able to eat enough and still keep my calories down to where I needed them to be. I was very happy with myself over this. I am starting to develop good habits.
At first my daughter was saying to just let the diet go for the trip. But I knew that if I did I would back slide too much. I also knew that if I gained too much over the week, I would get discouraged. I knew that both of these were a recipe for failure. I was determined to make the best choice I could and hopefully maintain what I had lost.
I wasn't able to plan my meals in advance so it was a case of trying to figure out about how many calories were in what was being served and keep it to between 500 and 600 a meal. I always started with a salad. added a small serving of protein and a small serving of starch. I did very well. and kept my calories where they needed to be. I stayed away from the dessert bar altogether.
The other issue I had was not being able to work out. Our days were scheduled from 7:00 am to midnight. I am used to getting more sleep. Fortunately, we did a lot of walking. But it was not the same as my work outs and I really did miss them. When I went back to Curves on Monday, I felt so much better just walking in the door. I had a really good work out. I may be getting addicted to working out. Not that I think that would be a bad thing.
To sum up my week, I stayed active, kept my calories down, and managed to lose 3 more pounds.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
The Fourth of July
Well I made it through the Holiday without too much damage. I love getting together with friends and "family" (even if they are quasi-adopted family). The day was spent cooking and eating and sharing stories and ideas. Yes, cooking and eating! When we planned this party my friend and supporter said "we should let the diets go for the day and just enjoy it." I am not the only one in the group trying to get healthier. I did insist on some healthy options though. Lots of veggies to munch and healthier dips like Hummus. I started out with No Chips but gave in to my husband.
SO How did I do? Not too badly. First of all I cooked breakfast for everyone, fried eggs, bacon toast and hash browns. I had - 1 egg, toast without butter, small hash brown and 2 slices of bacon. I know a lot of calories but we ate about 10:00am and wouldn't be eating again until about 3:00pm so it needed to have some staying power. Oh I didn't count the calories, I guess I probably should have but it was a Holiday and I want to be healthier but not feel deprived. So that was breakfast. We got to the party site about 12:30 and set about finishing off things. I had made baked beans that morning, and we did up veggies as well. Grandma made boiled peanuts. 3 pots of boiled peanuts.
Now let me explain to those who have never had boiled peanuts, They are worse than Lays potato chips. It is impossible to eat just one. Everyone was sitting around talking and eating them. I love them but was pretty good and only ate a handful. It was hard to stop but I did even though they were calling my name.
Dinner was quite a feast. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and brats. Potato salad, Coleslaw, baked beans, veggies, Parmesan zucchini/squash kabobs, chips and dips, corn on the cob, Homemade ice cream, and dutch oven blueberry cobbler. Lots of good food and even better company.
As to what I ate, well, like I said I wasn't counting calories. I ate a small spoonful of potato salad, a small spoonful of coleslaw, a small spoonful of baked beans, 1 corn on the cob, 1 brat on a roll and 1 brat plain, about half a handful of pita chips and 2 T of hummus. a small spoonful of ice cream and a small spoonful of cobbler. ( a small spoonful to mt is a heaped soup spoon) I think I did very well at not going over board. I ate about half of what I would have before but I still had all of my fourth of July favorite to eat. I had a great time and didn't feel deprived nor did I feel like I let myself down.
I think the time diets start to fail is when you don't get to do the things you treasure like having certain food for holidays etc. I also think that if you totally let go it will be harder to get back on track. I think if I had just let the whole diet thing go I would have felt guilty and like I let myself down. This way I got to be part of the party and still maintain some self control. The Fourth was more about maintaining good habits while still celebrating than about dieting. I feel I was successful in so many ways. Small victories are still victories.
After all this walk to wellness is about changing habits not just dieting. Here is to staying on track!!!! Three cheers for Me!!!.
SO How did I do? Not too badly. First of all I cooked breakfast for everyone, fried eggs, bacon toast and hash browns. I had - 1 egg, toast without butter, small hash brown and 2 slices of bacon. I know a lot of calories but we ate about 10:00am and wouldn't be eating again until about 3:00pm so it needed to have some staying power. Oh I didn't count the calories, I guess I probably should have but it was a Holiday and I want to be healthier but not feel deprived. So that was breakfast. We got to the party site about 12:30 and set about finishing off things. I had made baked beans that morning, and we did up veggies as well. Grandma made boiled peanuts. 3 pots of boiled peanuts.
Now let me explain to those who have never had boiled peanuts, They are worse than Lays potato chips. It is impossible to eat just one. Everyone was sitting around talking and eating them. I love them but was pretty good and only ate a handful. It was hard to stop but I did even though they were calling my name.
Dinner was quite a feast. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and brats. Potato salad, Coleslaw, baked beans, veggies, Parmesan zucchini/squash kabobs, chips and dips, corn on the cob, Homemade ice cream, and dutch oven blueberry cobbler. Lots of good food and even better company.
As to what I ate, well, like I said I wasn't counting calories. I ate a small spoonful of potato salad, a small spoonful of coleslaw, a small spoonful of baked beans, 1 corn on the cob, 1 brat on a roll and 1 brat plain, about half a handful of pita chips and 2 T of hummus. a small spoonful of ice cream and a small spoonful of cobbler. ( a small spoonful to mt is a heaped soup spoon) I think I did very well at not going over board. I ate about half of what I would have before but I still had all of my fourth of July favorite to eat. I had a great time and didn't feel deprived nor did I feel like I let myself down.
I think the time diets start to fail is when you don't get to do the things you treasure like having certain food for holidays etc. I also think that if you totally let go it will be harder to get back on track. I think if I had just let the whole diet thing go I would have felt guilty and like I let myself down. This way I got to be part of the party and still maintain some self control. The Fourth was more about maintaining good habits while still celebrating than about dieting. I feel I was successful in so many ways. Small victories are still victories.
After all this walk to wellness is about changing habits not just dieting. Here is to staying on track!!!! Three cheers for Me!!!.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Happy Dances
Last Monday it was official, I got below 300 pounds!!!! The only thing was I was too tired to do a happy dance(long hectic day at work). But I've been doing it in my heart. I weighed in at Curves at 297.6 #. That is a 20 pound loss for me in the past 5 weeks. But only a 18 pound loss since I started Curves. and only an 8 pound loss for the weight loss challenege at work. In inches, I lost 2" off my bust, 1 1/2" off my waist, 1" off my abdomen, and 2" off my hips, and 1/4 " off my upper arm. Also my blood pressure which was slightly high at my first measurement came down well into the normal range.
I know I've said in earlier blogs that I don't have high blood pressure and I don't really. But I have had higher readings at times of stress and illness. My first Curves workout / measurement was right before a major audit at work. Everyone at work was stressed over this one, but especially the Quality Department. Not because we had anything to hide, we just had a new auditing body and didn't know what to expect. We did well on the audit.
So on to what is working, I am still planning out my calories in the morning and writing them down. I still load my lunch bag with plenty to eat, but only what I've recorded. I usually plan to eat 1100 to 1300 calories during the day. I rarely do though. I am not eating if I am not hungry (snacks), and I stop eating when I am sated but not full. So I usually end up taking about 200 calories off when I get home. Leaving me between 700 and 900 calories for supper and still be under 1800 calories. Oh I still have that 2100 calorie limit for now but that is going to have to go down before too long in order for me to keep losing. But I also won't need as much to keep my energy up.
I also have figured out a few things, Fruit smoothies are too many calories for too little staying power. Not a good breakfast. The 100 calorie multigrain english muffins are NASTY. I will not be buying them again. I didn't even eat all the ones I bought. The thin sliced bagels are really good and half the calories of regular bagels. Special K granola bars really do cut cravings and help fill you up for 110 calories. Special K pastry crisps are a nice sweet for only 100 calories but the chocolate delite is not quite as good as the fruit ones. Special K cracker crisps are a great chip munchie. 27 chips for 110 calories and they really do fill you up. Good flavors too.
Breakfasts are hard for me because so often I have to eat on the go. So Breakfast sandwiches are a really good thing. A thin bagel with cream cheese, and a protein shake will stay with me all morning. Okay that is about 440 to 540 calories (depends on how much cream cheese)and leaves room for yogurt for a snack. mid morning if I need one. I also do english muffins with cream cheese or peanut butter. I have done english muffins with sausage and cheese as well. I even tried a bagel with canadian bacon and cheese. All of these work. The bread seems to be the key to it lasting. The protein shake seems to give me the energy I need as well.
I am eating some diet foods but fewer and fewer as time goes on. I am not needing the sweets or chips like I would have thought. Oh don't get me wrong, I do want them now and again hence the diet versions. I am just not eating them on a daily basis or even a weekly basis. I am finding much of my sweet desires are being better filled by fruit. Melons are really my favorite right now. Lower calories and very refreshing.
So far the walk on the path to wellness has been easier than I would have believed but this week will present a challenge. We will be having a 4th celebration with friends. Traditional BBQ foods. We will see how well I do.
I know I've said in earlier blogs that I don't have high blood pressure and I don't really. But I have had higher readings at times of stress and illness. My first Curves workout / measurement was right before a major audit at work. Everyone at work was stressed over this one, but especially the Quality Department. Not because we had anything to hide, we just had a new auditing body and didn't know what to expect. We did well on the audit.
So on to what is working, I am still planning out my calories in the morning and writing them down. I still load my lunch bag with plenty to eat, but only what I've recorded. I usually plan to eat 1100 to 1300 calories during the day. I rarely do though. I am not eating if I am not hungry (snacks), and I stop eating when I am sated but not full. So I usually end up taking about 200 calories off when I get home. Leaving me between 700 and 900 calories for supper and still be under 1800 calories. Oh I still have that 2100 calorie limit for now but that is going to have to go down before too long in order for me to keep losing. But I also won't need as much to keep my energy up.
I also have figured out a few things, Fruit smoothies are too many calories for too little staying power. Not a good breakfast. The 100 calorie multigrain english muffins are NASTY. I will not be buying them again. I didn't even eat all the ones I bought. The thin sliced bagels are really good and half the calories of regular bagels. Special K granola bars really do cut cravings and help fill you up for 110 calories. Special K pastry crisps are a nice sweet for only 100 calories but the chocolate delite is not quite as good as the fruit ones. Special K cracker crisps are a great chip munchie. 27 chips for 110 calories and they really do fill you up. Good flavors too.
Breakfasts are hard for me because so often I have to eat on the go. So Breakfast sandwiches are a really good thing. A thin bagel with cream cheese, and a protein shake will stay with me all morning. Okay that is about 440 to 540 calories (depends on how much cream cheese)and leaves room for yogurt for a snack. mid morning if I need one. I also do english muffins with cream cheese or peanut butter. I have done english muffins with sausage and cheese as well. I even tried a bagel with canadian bacon and cheese. All of these work. The bread seems to be the key to it lasting. The protein shake seems to give me the energy I need as well.
I am eating some diet foods but fewer and fewer as time goes on. I am not needing the sweets or chips like I would have thought. Oh don't get me wrong, I do want them now and again hence the diet versions. I am just not eating them on a daily basis or even a weekly basis. I am finding much of my sweet desires are being better filled by fruit. Melons are really my favorite right now. Lower calories and very refreshing.
So far the walk on the path to wellness has been easier than I would have believed but this week will present a challenge. We will be having a 4th celebration with friends. Traditional BBQ foods. We will see how well I do.
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