Day 3

Thoughts on Day 3.  Not weighing myself for a month is going to be difficult.  I had a headache this afternoon.  Not sure if that is side effect from this plan or just being at work (I had 4 days off and today was my first day back).  Water consumption was spot on.  I have been trying to get in 2 liters at least and I've been way over that all 3 days.

Meals were pretty simple.  For breakfast I had 2 egg cups, steamed baby squash and an orange.  Instead of taking my yummy coffee with the coffee "crack" (sweetened creamer) to work with me I had it before work, black.  It wasn't horrible and I think I will get used to it.  I had water on both my coffee breaks.  Normally I would have a snack on both breaks.  A piece of fruit, or a Fiber one bar.

Lunch was the very same salad as yesterday.  It was so good and kept me full all afternoon too.

Once again I was very hungry when I got home from work.  I had a few almonds and got to work cooking supper.  Both boys were home tonight which doesn't happen very often (my husband is away).  I made them spaghetti and spaghetti squash for me.  I bought a jar of organic, no sugar added marinara sauce and used that.  Steamed broccoli and mini turkey meat loaves that I made last night.  Quick meal and very good!

I had an apple after supper and I really couldn't believe how sweet it tasted!  Amazing.

The recipe for the turkey meat loaves was from http://paleointensified.wordpress.com/category/dinner/

Mini Turkey Meat Loaves

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 pound 93%-lean ground turkey
• 1 medium zucchini, shredded or chopped finely
• 1 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
• 1/3 cup chia seeds (or the Hemp Hearts from Costco!)
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Feel free to add mushrooms or other veggies are good additions too!

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Generously spray a nonstick muffin pan with olive oil cooking spray.
2. Gently mix turkey, zucchini, onion, bell pepper, egg, vinegar, mustard, other veggies, pepper
and salt in a large bowl, preferably with your hands, without overworking. Equally divide the mixture
among the muffin cups.
3. Bake until the meatloaves are cooked through or an instant-read thermometer inserted into the
center registers 165 degrees F, about 25 minutes. Let the loaves stand in the pan for 5 minutes
before serving.

Makes 6 servings, 2 loaves each.

Day 2

Day 2 went great!  I am on the last day of my 4 days off work so that definately helps.  I had time to prepare my meals and take my time eating them too.  I go back tomorrow so we will see how that goes.  I have made some things ahead of time though.  I made some egg cups that I froze.  I got the recipe on Pinterest but basically you just make scrambled eggs with various sauted veggies (I put zucchini, mushrooms, peppers, onions and fresh spinach in mine) and put it in greased muffin tins.  Bake for about 20 - 25 minutes at 350 F and that's it!  Great to have some quick breakfasts for those days I'm in a hurry.  Today's breakfast was eggs with mushrooms, zucchini and spinach and a Cara Cara orange (my favorite!).  I ended up having my coffee black.  Didn't love it, but it was ok.

breakfast

After breakfast I ran on the treadmill.  I have not done much running in the New Year.  I was sick with a rotten virus on New Years Eve that lasted a few weeks.  Since I'm planning on running a 10 K in June I better get moving!  

Lunch was a salad with Kale, brussel spouts, cabbage, broccoli, almonds, chicken and strawberries with a olive oil / balsamic vinegar dressing.  It was delicious!

lunch

I did some housework in the afternoon and then picked up a few things at the grocery store as I planned to make Paleo Spicy Pineapple Chili for supper.  The only time today that I did feel hungry was when I was preparing the chili.  I had some raw veggies with a few almonds to take the edge off.  The recipe for the chili is on thehealthydynamicduo.com site.  You have to scroll down a bit to find it.  Lots of great recipes there!  It turned out great.  My son Brett loved it too.  And you know what?  I really didn't miss the beans.  

Paleo Spicy Pineapple Chili

I have lots left over so I'm going to freeze some in small portions so I will have meals for when I'm in a hurry or if the family wants something not on my plan.  Good thinking Kim!  Planning ahead is going to really help me in the next 28 days.  Just a disclaimer here, this diet plan sounds crazy I know but I'm not trying to push it on anybody I'm just trying it for me.  I have an extremely bad addiction to sugar and carbs that I need to work on and this plan seemed to be a good one to try.  Do what works for you.  

Day 1

Day 1 of Whole 30 challenge.  That's right, I'm going in!  Last night I finished reading the book "It Starts With Food" by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig.  It really got me thinking about the food I eat and my relationship with food.  Carbohydrates in particular.  This is going to be hard, I'm not going to lie.  But I have been struggling in a big way with sugar especially and according to this book this 30 day plan will help with cravings.  The science behind this plan is amazing and if it can help me kick start my weight loss again well that's not a bad thing either!  One refreshing thing is there is no tracking or weighing or measuring.  You just eat healthy foods.  Let me tell you what I am NOT going to eat for 30 days.

1. Dairy - Yes this will be hard for me.  I quit drinking milk quite awhile ago but I eat greek yogurt almost every day for lunch.  I love cheese and of course there's ice cream and frozen yogurt.  Don't get me started!
2. Grains - This won't be too bad because I'm not a big bread eater as such but don't get me wrong, I do like my grains.  Almost every morning I have been having a bowl of oatmeal with fruit and almond milk.  Not to mention rice, and quinoa.  This will be interesting.  I will be building my meals around a protein source and a few vegetables instead of adding a starch.
3. Alcohol - No problem.  I usually have one (sometimes 2) glasses of red wine a week.  I can drop that.
4. Sugar and sugar substitutes - WHAT??  This will be a challenge.  I use flavored coffee creamer in my coffee and I love it.  But I can do it.  Today I used unsweetened almond milk and it was ok.  Not great but ok.  I may actually drop that and just drink it black.
5. Legumes - Not too hard for me but I will have to find a good Paleo Chili recipe with no beans.  Chili without beans?  I'm sceptical for sure.  I can do this. 

So by now you're probably thinking "she's crazy, what the heck is she gonna eat for 30 days?"  Well, let me tell you what I'm going to EAT for the next 30 days.

1. Vegetables - I love vegetables!  Supposed to be organic when possible.  No potatoes, only sweet potatoes.  
2. Meat, seafood and eggs - Grass fed meat, wild caught seafood, and free range eggs.  This won't always be possible but I'll try.  
3. Fruit - I love fruit but there's a catch.  If weight loss is one of your goals you aren't supposed to eat a lot of fruit.  Which makes sense, lots of natural sugar.  And if possible should be eaten with a meal. 
4. Healthy fats - Coconut, Avocado, and Olive Oil.  Nuts and nut butters.  Not peanuts, apparently they are a legume.  Who knew.  

Then at the end of 30 days they suggest adding things slowly, like dairy and see how your body reacts.  This isn't a lifetime plan but a way to get your body used to eating good healthy food without additives and sugar and to help with carb cravings, etc.  So we'll see how it goes.  I'm planning to blog every day to chart my progress.  I weighed myself today and took measurements.  You aren't supposed to weigh yourself until the end of the 30 days.  This will be a challenge!  I will try.

How did day 1 go?  Actually not bad.  I was off today.  I got my workout in this morning.  It was -43 C with the windchill factor so I was very thankful to have my Body Pump kit at home from beachbody.com  I have the weights and the videos.  If I can't get to the gym, or if it's really cold and I don't want to go I can do it at home!  I wasn't really hungry but after supper I did have the sweet craving thing going on.  I had an orange.  It helped for sure.  One of the rules is that you really aren't suppposed to eat between meals.

So here I go.  I'm going to try my hardest to make this work.  What could you give up for 30 days?

New Year's goals

Started to get yet another cold on Dec 31st.  I felt ok enough to go out, but I didn't make it to midnight.  I was in bed by 11:30.  We went out with another couple for drinks and appetizers to a new resteraunt in town called "State & Main".  It was really good.  I only had one glass of wine since I was the designated driver (I was sick so I volunteered).  New Year's Day I spent in bed sick.  Not good.  I am the type of person that wants the Christmas decorations down on December 26th but since I was late this year I decided to wait until New Years.  They are still up and it's driving me nuts!  I went to work today but I wasn't feeling great.  So it looks like the decorations will be up till the weekend.  I didn't go to Body Pump today after work, just not feeling up to it.  Hopefully this cold will leave soon!!  I'm not much of a New Year's resolution person but it is a nice time of year to re-evaluate goals.  Fresh start.  So here's a few things I would like to accomplish this year:

1. Get back to goal weight.   As of today I'm 6.7 lbs over goal.  It's not a lot but it has to go!  I will do this.  I also want to make sure I weigh in once a month at WW.  I have slipped a bit on this one, missed a month a few times last year.  
2. Run a 10 K race.  Even though I haven't done a ton of running lately I think I can do this.  There are a few races in June that I want to do:  Bridge City Boogie and Mogathon.  I have started a modified (by modified I mean that I'm not at the "couch" stage so I run more than it suggests) "couch to 10K" plan so hopefully by June I will be ready!  
3. Get stronger.  What this means is to continue going to Body Pump classes and to increase my weights.  I have been stuck a bit and I need to really push it more.  I would love to get more toned this year.  Wouldn't we all right?
4. Blog more.  I got away from blogging once I reached goal.  I wasn't doing weekly weigh ins anymore so it just kind of went to the bottom of the "to do" list.  I am being realistic though and I'm going to strive for 2 times a week at least.  

I am excited about 2013!  Lots of awesome things will be happening.  We are planning another trip to Las Vegas in March.  My husband and I are turning 50 in June!  At 50 years old I will be running in a 10 K race.  We have a family reunion in July.   My niece is getting married in September.  I'm sure there will be lots of other great things in 2013 too.  Bring it on!  but first I need to get over this %$#@ing cold!!

One more thing!!  I would like to ask you to go over to http://www.reducedfatgirl.com/ and vote for me!  That would be awesome.  Thanks in advance :-)

Christmas eating overload!

I'm seriously sick of eating too much crap.  I didn't worry much about what I ate on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day thinking that I would be able to get back into healthy eating right after that.  Nope didn't happen.  I couldn't get enough sweets and ate them whenever they were around me.  Not good.  I am giving myself a few days before I get on the scale again but I'm back to tracking and I went to Body Pump yesterday and I ran today.  I will do this.  Damn you food.  Just when I think I am in control I realize nope I am not.  It's always there and it's never over this battle.

That being said, Christmas was great!  Had a great time with family.  We spent the morning on Christmas day with Dean's family then over to my parents place for Christmas dinner. Lots of visiting and laughs. Lots of great food as mentioned earlier, ahem.  Boxing day shopping at 6:00 am with 2 of my nieces (my Brother and his daughter met us later) was a blast!  Got some good deals and had lots of fun.  We all went for breakfast at 10:30 after too. Boxing day leftover meal at my parents house on the 26th.

I got lots of amazing presents!  Dean bought me some diamond and white gold earrings that I love!  He also bought me a plum colored North Face jacket and all kinds of  little things too (we stuff each other's stockings).  I got a pedicure gift certificate from my parents and money from Dean's parents.  Brett got me a Starbucks card and Mitch gave Dean and I a gift certificate to a restaurant.  I decided to use the money I got towards a at home Body Pump kit from beachbody.com .  I'm so excited about it!  The gym gets so crazy at this time of the year.  The dreaded "New Year's resolution" people.  Argg!  There are definately times where I wish I could do it at home, now I can (or will be able to when I get my kit).  For days I have to work late, or when I have to work Saturdays and can't get to class this will be perfect.  In the package that I got I will get the weights, the step (used as a bench for chest press, etc but can be used for step class) and tons of videos.  Don't get me wrong, I still love the gym and I don't plan on quitting but I just think this is a great option for times when I can't get there.

I'm looking forward to 2013, lots of great things are going to happen I just know it!  I leave you with a few pics of Christmas day.  I don't have all my pics off the camera yet so these are from my phone.

our tree Christmas morning

Brett & Mitch opening gifts

Kayla and Joey in their Christmas hats!  I love Kayla's elf ears!  Yes treats were involved in this photo!

getting real

I had a good day today, but it started off bad.  I finally stepped on the scale after a week or so of avoiding it.  I have learned a lot in this past couple of years (I started at WW January 12, 2011) and some of those things I seem to be forgetting. So I think it's time for a reminder.  

1. I need to weigh myself often.  Probably not every day but a few times a week for sure.  Even though it makes me crazy at times it keeps me in check.  I have to do this.....forever.
2. There are certain foods that I can't control and therefore should NOT have in my house.  No matter what I try to tell myself, it's just too hard for me to be around certain foods.  Examples are candy, chips and ice cream.  My boys are the reason that I tell myself that I need to have those things in the house but let's be honest, if they want them they can very easily get it for themselves!  Halloween was bad for me this year.  I started off with good intentions but I ended up buying half price candy a few times and it ended up calling my name in the evenings!  When I should have been snacking on fruit I was eating CANDY!  
3. Exercise isn't always going to be fun but it needs to be done.  It's like I went into mourning when Winter came this year.  I was enjoying running outside so much that I've been avoiding the treadmill.  I have done some running but not consistently.  I am a member of an awesome gym that has awesome classes.  I have to get to more of them than just Body Pump 2 times a week.  And there are some really fun classes at the gym that I need to revisit. 
4. I need to let myself get hungry now and then.  I know this goes against what some people say about weight loss but I have seriously not had that feeling lately at all.  That's what overeating feels like.  Always having a full stomach.  
5. I have to quit grazing in the evenings again.  I had this down pat.  I would have one snack in the evening and that was it.  Lately I'm just not satisfied.  I'm looking for something and I can't seem to find it.  So I keep looking and eating my way through the fridge and the cupboard in the meantime.  
6. Water.  I need to drink more of it.  I don't even know how I got out of this habit.  I drank a lot of water today and it felt great.  
7. I really like buying clothes in smaller sizes.  I have some things that are a bit too snug to wear right now and it sucks so bad.  I like wearing size 10 jeans.  I never, ever, ever want to shop in Plus Size stores / sections again.  
8. Tracking.  Why am I struggling with this?  When I had the best success I wrote every morsel of food I consumed in a WW journal.  Bring on technology.  Track on my iphone.  I use "my fitness pal" app, it's great but then I feel like I'm cheating on WW.  So I signed up for WW e-tools again.  Paid the money and started using the app.  Here's the thing, it's not as good in my opinion as the my fitness pal app.  Apparently the WW e-tools app is better in the US.  Ours doesn't have a scanner and the food list is really lacking.  I want easy, so I'm going back with my fitness pal. Bottom line, I need to track every morsel of food I ingest.  It's what works for me.
9. I need to stop comparing myself to others.  A lot of the people I follow on Twitter are runners, some are successful WW members, and some are complete BEASTS!  What I need to remind myself is that most of them are a lot younger than me.  I'm not using that as an excuse I'm just reminding myself of something my sister said to me "Just remember that no matter what we have or do, there is always someone who appears to do it faster, better, stronger.  The key is to find joy in our own accomplishments and successes."  
10. I know how to lose weight.  I have all the tools.  I have it in myself.  I will get to goal again.  It won't be this week, and it may not even be this year but it will happen because I'm NOT going back.  

Results not typical....

Results not typical.  What does that mean exactly? It's a disclaimer that most weight loss companies put in small print after their success stories.  To me it  means that losing weight and keeping it off is a hard thing to do and most people can't do it.  Apparently 95% of people gain back all the weight they have lost after finishing a weight loss program.  Most within the first year.  So how do you become one of the 5% that keep the weight off forever?  I wish I knew.  I was at my goal for 6 months.  I am now on my 3rd month of being over my goal.  It's still only somewhere between 5-10 lbs but it's really got me down.  It's really strange, in my mind it's like I've already gained all the weight back.  I don't know how to explain it.  I feel fat.  I feel bad.  I feel like a failure.  And because I am wrestling with these feelings I am turning to food for comfort.  Isn't that ironic?  But it seems that old habits die hard.  It's a good thing I am still exercising or I'm sure the weight gain would be much more.  I have started a 10K training plan, I am using the Runkeeper app on my phone. I still hate running on the treadmill but I'm trying to work through it.  I have rigged up a way to watch my ipad while I'm on there and that has really helped.  Before I found a way to secure it to the treadmill it fell off one time.  My heart skipped a beat when if dropped and flew to the end of the treadmill and hit the wall behind!!  I was so glad it made it through unscathed!  Bottom line, it has snowed a ton here now so I won't be running outside until Spring.  I have to face that fact!  I am very jealous of all my fellow bloggers and Twitter friends that are continuing to run outside.  Here is a picture of my virtual 5K race and my first race medal ever!  Dani over at weightoffmyshoulders.com held a 5K race on her 30th Birthday for her family and friends and opened it up to "virtual" runners as well.  I was in a bad place that weekend emotionally but after that race I felt so much better.

My first race medal :-)

     

I have had some emotional stuff going on which I won't go into detail here because I'm really not sure who reads my blog.  It's been a really hard time for me.  I am seeing a counselor and it's helping but I have definitely turned to food more than once because of this.  But I will say that exercise has really helped me with my stress.  I'm thankful for that.

I feel like I have turned into that person that I used to HATE when I was overweight!  One of those that needs to lose 10 lbs.  Seriously, how can someone be upset about being 10 lbs overweight??  Try 60, now that's a REAL problem.  Right?  Now that I'm here I can tell you that 10 lbs is a big deal.  Of course it's nothing like having to lose 100 lbs or 50 lbs but it's still hard.  And I'm struggling.  I am still amazed at how easy it is to GAIN weight and how hard it is to LOSE it.

Where do I go from here?  I keep putting one foot in front of the other.  I continue to exercise and try to do a lot better tracking my food and controlling my emotional eating.  Because I don't like this feeling.  And I try to blog more.