Weekly Update

Well, Jordan has beat me out. He lost 7lbs this week and I've lost a total of 4.2 lbs. Both are really good. Jordan's been working hard after work on the basement, so it makes sense he's lost more weight. Not to mention, he hasn't had two babies either :o). Good for him. I'm proud of him and of myself.

The diet gets easier and easier with time. I really don't crave many things anymore. I still have a sweet tooth, but gum and Crystal Light tame it. I workout every day too. Sometimes it is really hard to find the time or to even motivate myself to workout, but I know it is for the best so in goes the DVD and on goes the exercise clothes and off I go sweating and working out. Sarah will even join in with me, it is sure cute to watch her doing jumping jacks and situps with me. What a little motivator she is.

Here's to hoping next week will be just as successful! I've lost a total of 18.4 lbs in three weeks. Not bad. Not bad at all.

Weekly Update

Well, I've lost another 4 lbs! That makes 14 lbs total to date. Great, right?

I've got to admit I've worked out much harder this week. I've continued the walking, but added in some aerobics as well. I thought I'd lose more than 4 lbs, and admittedly was a little disappointed, but when I began to think about, decided 4 lbs isn't that bad. It's good. I could be stuck right where I was 2 weeks ago and 14 lbs heavier. So, all in all, I'm proud of myself. Although, I've stepped up the workouts for this week.

I've also discovered something else this past week: Workout videos at home are very effective.

Fact: Jillian Michaels kicks you butt!! Her workout videos are wonderful and they literally kick your butt into gear. If you think you're in shape, than try out one of her videos and you're sure to find you're anything but in shape. So, needless to say, I'm planning on losing pounds each week as long as I stick to walking and a Jillian Michaels workout.

So, onto week 3. I'm excited to see the pounds coming off and I'm looking forward to this summer where I won't be afraid to wear a swimsuit in front of everyone :o)

Mid Week Update

Well, this week has been pretty good. Even though I dieted through Valentine's Day, I think Jordan and I have done very well. We stuck to the diet and didn't bend the rules just because of Valentines. We had salmon fillets, shrimp, asparagus, broccoli, and water to drink. The kids loved the salmon and the shrimp, too. I shared mine with them since the salmon fillets were huge. Jordan sure knows how to cook up a great salmon fillet.

I've been working out a little harder this week. Last week I added walking and stairs back into my exercise regiment (considering I didn't have one before). Now I've added in aerobics and boy-o-boy I am sore. I'm so out of shape!! Well, give me a week or so and I'll be so much better :o)!

I am looking forward to weigh in day on Monday!! I hope to lose another 5 lbs this week, but come what may. I work hard and eat right and do the best I can. The pounds will come off as they see fit.

I am in a show, The Music Man, and would like to lose at least 30 lbs total before the show in May. So, here's to more hard work, eating right, and staying active!!

Weigh In Day!

My weigh in days are Mondays, but they are so hard to blog on. Tuesdays, however, are a great day for me to record my endeavors. So, drum roll......I lost a total of 10.2 lbs in 1 week! Just by eating right and walking 20-30 minutes per day.

Now I am onto Phase 2: Cruise. On this stage I add in veggies. But, I only eat veggies every other day, not every day. And I can't eat every veggie out there, either. Avocados, for example, aren't allowed. Not that I mind, I don't like avocados. There is a list of 100 allowed foods. My diet will remain in the Cruise Phase until I reach my goal of 185 lbs. I'd like to loose a little less, but 185 is a great place for me as well. When I weigh 185, I'm wearing a size 10/12 pant size. Perhaps if all goes well, I'll continue on to go to 165lbs. That's really skinny for me.

So, now I am only 20 lbs away from getting those new walking shoes!!! And I'm 15 lbs away before I take another picture. So excited!!!

Total Weight Loss: 10.2 lbs
Current Weight: 282
% Body Fat Lost: 3.49%

New Favorite Recipe:

Balsamic Vinaigrette
5 Tbs Balsamic Vinegar
1 Tbs Dijon mustard
1 tsp cold pressed olive oil
1 tsp fresh chopped basil
1 garlic clove

Mix all together, save the garlic clove. Add clove and let rest and chill 2-3 hours before serving. Yum!!

Remember: We eat to live, not live to eat!

Goals and Rewards

Every good diet has rewards...right? At least in my world they do. So, I've set myself some goals and rewards once I reach those goals. The rewards have a few rules, however. None of the rewards can be based around food (I am trying to loose the weight here, not put it back on!). The rewards also have to be something I can look forward to.

Goal 1: -30 lbs
Reward: New walking shoes. Self explanatory. I need a good pair to keep me a goin'.

Goal 2: -50 lbs
Reward: 1 new article of clothing (I don't plan on buying anything new [bras don't count here ladies!!!] until I've reached my goal. So, for the duration of the diet I'll be shopping at the DI/Salvation Army. I know this sort of stinks, but at the same time, why buy clothes that won't fit for long? Makes sense...no?)

Goal: -75 lbs
Reward: New exercise outfit

Goal: -107lbs
Reward: New family pictures! Yeah!! I love getting family pictures and I'll be even more excited when I'm looking great.

Great goals/rewards, no? I'm already looking forward to them!!! My first weigh-in, T-Minus 4 days.

Philosophies and Facts...

So, through the days and years I've dieted before, I've come up with different philosophies and facts. It's about time I've shared some with you.

Key:
P=Philosophy
F=Fact

P: You're going to live each day of your life minute by minute, hour by hour. Sometimes from meal to meal. So, diet from meal to meal. Eventually it becomes easier and then turns into second nature.

F: It takes 22 days to create a new habit. It takes years to create a lifestyle.

P: The foods you crave at the beginning of a diet become less and less appetizing the longer you don't eat them. You can 'trick' your mind to believe these foods taste gross.

F: If you live an unhealthy lifestyle, you'll be unhealthy.

P: If you're overweight, chances are your children will be as well. Setting habits and patterns into motion is the best way to teach your children the right way to eat and live. So, my children's future, I am doing this.

There are more, but this is enough for now :o).

Pictures

Taken on 02/07/2012

Looking at your picture is just a terrible reminder of how far you've let yourself slide down that slippery slope. Yes foods taste good. Yes foods are meant to be eaten...just not in excess. Here are my starting pictures. I'll update my pictures when I've lost 25 lbs. Then 50 Lbs. Then 75 lbs and then when I hit my goal! Yeah!!! This is a great way for me to visually see my progress as well as you. I sure hope my next picture pops up here soon!!

Day One

Well, today is the first day of a new way of life, diet wise, that is. I've calculated my weight, which is honestly really embarrassing. I can't believe I've let myself get to this stage...yet again. Well, here's to NEVER going back!!! Yes, I can do this! Yes I can achieve anything I put my mind to.

Plan:

Day One: Attack Phase (292.2 lbs)

Lean, High Protein Diet. No soda, no bread, no veggies, no fruit, no cheese, no nuts...you get the point. Anyway, I can still eat plenty of good things for the next 6 days. Eggs, canadian bacon, greek non-fat yogurt, oat bran, non-fat cottage cheese, skim milk, chicken, fish, shrimp, and any lean meat there is. Not bad, eh? And, Phase 1 only lasts 6 days. I CAN do this!!! I'll report the weight loss next Monday and let you know in a day or so how the Attack Phase is treating me. I'm hoping well!! I hope a few pounds well!! I do plan on walking 20+ minutes a day around my neighborhood. It has a good 'track' to walk around (slopes, inclines, flat, and in a nice rectangle shape around the houses.) I can take the kids and the dog and not feel guilty I've left them behind to go to the gym. (Another perk of the diet: Dukan recommends you use what you have. I have a great neighborhood outside to walk around, hiking trails just right behind my house, and workout videos at home. Use what you have.)

Dukan Diet Pre-Stage

So, I am starting this new diet, called the Dukan Diet. It's based off the research of a French doctor. The science seems pretty sound to me and I am excited to be doing this. After all the diets I've done where I've lost a lot of weight, it hasn't taken too long to gain it all back. Hopefully with this diet, I'll keep it off forever and adjust my survival weight to a healthy, maintainable weight.

There are 4 phases to this diet. Phase 1: Attack. This is where I'll sort of shock my body into diet mode, but I won't add strenuous exercise into the diet. Just 20 minutes of walking a day. Can do. I'll eat healthy, lean meats and proteins. I can enjoy non-fat dairy products as well. No fruit, no carbs (except the 1 tbs of oat bran a day). Attack Phases lasts 5-10 days. Then, onto Phase 2: Cruise.

I'll explain this phase when the time comes. As for now, my concentration is on Phase 1: Attack. I weigh in on Tuesday, since this will be my official weigh in day every week. (Not to mention I need to go grocery shopping and supply myself with things I can eat.)

I'm in a competition to lose weight, sort of like "Biggest Loser". Jordan, Anna (my sis-in-law), Robert (my brother-in-law), and Karina (friend) have all agreed to put money into a pot. Whoever loses the most percentage of body fat by 12/21/2012 will win the pot of mullah and a new wardrobe for their new body. Great idea, no? I'm super excited.

Expect another post on Tuesday with my goals listed, my before picture, and more explanation about the Dukan Diet.