Drive By Posting

I am able to squeeze one more posting on this here weight loss blog and I am super duper excited about it. :D

I won 3 FREE months of Weight Watchers' Momentum program from a giveaway that Lorrie from The Token Fat Girl was hosting. Maybe this is the program that will work for me or at least help me on my road to fitness and healthy living. WOO HOO!!

Day 6 Food Journal

Breakfast:
1.25 c Kashi H2H cereal
1 c skim milk

Snack:
1 Quaker Oat choc. chunk Granola bar

Lunch:
1 slice quiche Lorraine
1 small spinach salad with hard boiled eggs, bacon and blue cheese dressing

Snack:
1 Quaker oat choc. chunk granola bar
1 medium apple

Dinner:
1 can Campbell's Light Select Italian wedding soup
1 whole wheat English muffin with butter and apricot preserves
1 c roasted potatoes and butternut squash
1 medium orange
1 glass of red wine

Dessert:
1 packet of hot chocolate with water

Total Calories:
2,084

Not too shabby today. I didn't make it to the gym because a friend from Massachusetts surprised me by coming in to town. So I spent some time with him today and his brand new BMW Z4 black convertible!!!!!!!! It was lovely. :) Maybe tomorrow....

Also, I will be taking a brief hiatus from blogging since my roommate is moving out this weekend and taking the computer desk with her and it will be about two weeks before I have the new one. If I happen to lay my hands on a computer that wont be lying on the floor then I will certainly update. If not then the next time I blog I will be posting my weight which will hopefully reflect a loss from the first of the year. See ya soon!

Day 5 Food Journal

Breakfast:
1 burrito sized whole wheat low carb tortilla
2 tbsp chunky peanut butter
1 medium banana
1 tsp honey

Lunch:
2 c American salad
1 can light tuna in water
2.5 tbsp Ken's Buttermilk Ranch
1 vanilla 0% fat chobani greek yogurt
1/4 c Kashi H2H

Snack:
1 large orange
1 blackberry hot tea no sugar

Dinner:
Is where it all went wrong.
3/4 Red Robin bacon cheddar burger
fries
1 onion ring
3/4 chocolate malt with whipped cream and sprinkles

Total Calories:
Over 3,000

I start off the day so well and then as in most cases I throw it all away at dinner time. I am not sure if I should eat the most of my daily calories for breakfast and lunch to help curb the cravings at night or what. I just know that the past two days have been fine until dinner time. I even ate sushi yesterday but also enjoyed dumplings and hot chocolate so again I turned something healthy into something tragic. OY! What makes it worse is that I haven't been to the gym since Sunday.

Tomorrow I just have to remind myself to be really strong. To make the right choices for my body. I now realize that for the time being eating out will not be an option for me. I don't have the discipline just yet plus I do far better when I cook at home. This will definitely help on saving money but I do so enjoy eating in a social setting. I will just have to make it something that is a special treat not a several times a week thing.

I have plans for work, planning my meals and hitting the gym tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Day 4 Food Journal

Crap! Crap, crap, crap, crap....crap!!

Day 3 Food Journal

Breakfast:
1.25 c Kashi H2H cereal
1 c 1% milk
1 medium banana

Lunch:
2 slices Pepperidge Farm Light Whole Wheat bread
2 slices light Bologna
2 slices cheddar cheese
1 tbsp of mayo
1 tsp of mustard
1 chobani 0% fat peach greek yogurt
1 medium banana

Snack:
1 small apple
2 tbsp chunky peanut butter

Dinner:
2 pieces of Papa Johns Tuscan cheese pizza
1 small American salad with baby spinach
2 tbsp Ken's Buttermilk Ranch

Dessert:
2 homemade snickerdoodles
1 c skim milk

Total Calories:
2,775

So my plan to eat lighter today started out with good intentions and then kinda went south this evening. I definitely consumed more calories than I should have today. Especially since I didn't take any exercise.

I am going to an Inauguration brunch tomorrow (hence the making of cookies) at the spa and then I have a second interview with the doctor's office at 3pm, then off to pick my mom up from work, take her home and then drive back to Fredvegas for sushi at Kenzo's. So I had a few things to get in order tonight after I got home from work which didn't leave time for the gym. Not sure if I am going to make it tomorrow either. This whole week will be topsy turvey. My roommate is moving out this week and I have some packing, cleaning and rearranging to do. Let's hope the gym doesn't get shoved to the wayside.

Pushing for a better eating day tomorrow.... with sushi involved how can it not be? ;)

Day 2 Food Journal

Breakfast:
2 pancakes with butter and maple syrup
hot lemon water

Lunch:
2 pieces of light Bologna
2 slices of cheddar
1 tbsp of mayo
2 slices Pepperidge Farm Light Whole Wheat bread
1 small apple

Snack:
melted brie with apricot jam and green peppers
on two slices of toasted french baguette
1 dirty vodka martini with 3 olives

Dinner:
1 c chili with beans
1 c medium white rice
1/4 shredded cheddar cheese
1 slice jalapeno bread with butter
5 glasses of red wine

Dessert:
2 pieces of miniature Hershey's milk chocolate

Total Calories:
2,756 Eek!!

Yesterday I most definitely went over my quota. My parents had a dinner party and I was really feeling red wine last night and one thing led to another....... well you get the picture. My one saving grace is that I went to Bodyjam class yesterday which burns a whopping 1,000 calories or more depending on how hard you work. So I am not beating myself up too much about it today. I will just adjust today's food to reflect the indulgence of yesterday's. I am feeling like soups and salads are in order plus lots and lots of fresh fruit and water.

Day 1 Food Journal....Again

Breakfast:
1.25 c of Kashi H2H cereal
1 c 1% milk

Lunch:
2 slices light Bologna
1 slice cheddar cheese
2 slices Pepperidge Farm Light Whole Wheat bread
1 tbsp mayo
1 tsp yellow mustard
1 medium banana
1 chobani 0% fat strawberry greek yogurt
1 Quaker Oats choc. chunk granola bar

Snack:
1 Frigo light cheese stick
1 Quaker Oats choc. chunk granola bar

Dinner:
1 c beef, barely, vegetable soup
2 small sourdough rolls
2 pats of unsalted butter
1 Welch's can of grape soda

Dessert:
2 small slices Sara Lee pound cake
with light whipped cream, strawberries and blueberries

Total Calories:
2,165

It's so funny how certain things will connect to certain other things. Well, I had decided not to post my daily food journal everyday because it takes up too much space. I had "plans" to keep up with it just on Sparkpeople but that "plan" went right out the window. I now know that I have to do both. For some reason I can't seem to do one without the other. Maybe it's an accountability thing. I don't know. *shrugs shoulders*

I went to the grocery store yesterday after having had several days without fruit or veg. That's a big trigger for me. If I don't have healthy foods in the house, ie: fruits, veggies, meats.... I start to eat what I have left and only that. Usually carbs and fats. NO GOOD! Then that leads to wanting more carbs and fats and the next thing you know I am in the Mickey D's drive thru asking for a #1 with a coke! I don't even LIKE McDonald's! So note to self, always have fresh fruit, veg and fat free yogurt in the house.

Work has been super busy these past few days. I had an interview on Thursday for a full time position with benefits. I am praying to get a call back to a second interview. I am trying not to stress about it and let the cards fall where they may but it would be really awesome to have health insurance again, a Monday through Friday schedule, holidays off and a steady paycheck. I still have my business which I would continue to do part time on nights and weekends. This would really help me catch up on the money front and get my butt into a much needed schedule. Just think.... I could plan my gym days and times, plan my clients, plan my meals and enjoy the fruits of it all.

Please send any positive thoughts you can spare this way. :)

Day 7 Food Journal

Breakfast:
Burrito size whole wheat low carb tortilla
2 Tbsps of Jif Chunky Peanut Butter
1 banana
1 tsp of honey
hot lemon water

Lunch:
healthy ones honey ham and 1 slice cheddar cheese
1 Tbsp of regular mayo
1 tsp of yellow mustard
2 slices of Pepperidge farm light whole wheat bread
1 can of Campbell Healthy select Chicken with egg noodle soup
1 c sweet cherries

Snack:
1 Chobani plain 0% fat greek yogurt
1 tbsp of raspberry jam
1/4 cup Kashi H2H cereal

Dinner:
Burrito size whole wheat low carb tortilla
1 wild salmon fillet
1 tbsp of olive oil
1/2 tbsp of balsamic vinegar
1.5 c of fresh baby spinach
100 calorie pack of popcorn

Dessert:
1 small apple cut up
1 small orange
1 Quaker Oats choc. chunk oatmeal bar

Total Calories:
2,277

Today was a good food day. I ate whole foods and I feel really wonderful. I got plenty of water and I went to a 1 hour yoga class. I needed today's healthy water rich foods to help push the yuk out that I ate yesterday. I think that I will start to just post my daily caloric intake from now on since this way seems to be taking up A LOT of space on this here blog. I am still going to keep my weekly food journal on Sparkpeople and I may post it here from time to time just for fun but the way I am doing it right now takes up tons of space. Here's to a healthy start to a new week!

Day 6 Food Journal

Breakfast:
2 poached eggs
2 slices of Pepperidge Farm Light Whole Wheat bread
1.5 c sliced strawberries
1 medium banana
hot lemon water

Lunch:
1 Quaker Oats choc. chunk granola bar
PB & J on Pepperidge Farm Light Whole Wheat bread
1 c 1% milk

Dinner:
This next big is rated R for Ridiculous!
Famous Dave's 1/2 rack of baby back ribs with brisket, potato wedges, mac n cheese, corn muffin and two glasses of sweat tea.

Total Calories:
Waaaaayyyy over what it should be but I am not sure exactly since there is no caloric info available for what I had.

Today's problem: waiting too long to eat dinner. So long in fact that your blood sugar drops and you become a desperate animal searching for the nearest food to quiet the grumble in your belly. Bad choices do get made if you wait too long in between meals, especially if you didn't eat enough earlier in the day to fuel a day of furniture shopping. Ahh well, we live and we learn. Sometimes the same lesson over and over and over again. To a healthier tomorrow!

Day 5 Food Journal

Breakfast:
1.25 c Kashi H2H cereal
1 c 2% milk
hot lemon water

Lunch:
2 c Dole American salad mix
1 c fresh spinach
1/3 c yellow corn
1 Frigo light string cheese
1 serving Healthy Choice Honey Ham
3 Tbsp Ken's Light Buttermilk Ranch
1 Quaker Oats Choc. Chunk Granola Bar
1 Chobani blueberry

Snack:
1 Quaker Oats Choc. Chunk Granola Bar
1 medium banana

Dinner:
Pancho Villa:
1 large chicken flauta
1 c Spanish rice
1/2 c refried beans
1 fruit punch Jarrito

Dessert:
2 small slices of cheese danish
1/2 c coffee with half n half and sugar

Total Calories:
2,476

I kinda figured that I would go over today since I was super busy with work and under calories yesterday. So fine, that's cool I will just eat even better tomorrow. Starting with a delicious breakfast. Toodles!

Day 4 Food Journal

Breakfast:
Hot lemon water

Lunch:
Salad:
2 c Dole American salad mix
1 c baby spinach
1/3 c yellow corn kernels
1 serving Healthy Ones honey ham
1 light cheese stick
3 Tbsp Ken's Buttermilk ranch dressing

1 Chobani strawberry greek yogurt 0% fat
1/4 c Kashi H2H cereal in the yogurt

Snack:
2 Quaker Oats choc. chunk granola bars
1 medium sized granny smith apple

Dinner:
Sushi:
12 piece volcano roll
6 piece Philadelphia roll
1 piece white tuna
small mixed salad with sesame dressing

Total Calories:
1,775


Because of my indulgence last evening I wasn't feeling too hot this morning. My stomach was queasy and I had a roaring headache so I decided that what my body really wanted was hot lemon water for breakfast and then tons and tons of cool refreshing water after that. I had a slow morning so not much fuel was needed. Since I opted out of breakfast my calories are under what they should be today. That's okay because I didn't feel deprived in anyway. In fact I felt sooo much better. I ate lighter foods today but did over order at the sushi restaurant so now I am a little stuffed. Nothing hot tea and a cuddle with a good book wont fix. :)

Tomorrow is going to be a very busy and prosperous day for me. I have 5 massages at two different places and then I head down to my mom's to spend quality time with my little niece, do laundry and have delicious Mexican food. I will do my best to stick to the healthier options but oh how I love cheese! So if I don't update tomorrow night it's because I am exhausted. Never fear.... I will do it.... on Sunday! Ta da!

Day 3 Food Journal

Breakfast:
1 and 1/4 c Kashi Heart to Heart cereal
1 c 2% milk

Lunch:
1 wild salmon fillet baked in
1 tbls olive oil
1 tbls lemon juice
1 tsp Herbs de Provence
1/2 c brown rice
1 c steamed green beans
1/2 steamed yellow corn
1 c fresh strawberries

Snack:
1 Chobani 0% fat peach greek yogurt
1 Quaker Oats choc chunk granola bar

Dinner:
1/2 Panera grille chicken caesar salad w/ croutons
1 c Panera baked potato soup
1 Panera chocolate chipper cookie

Total Calories:
2,265

Okay so today I went over. With the amount of calories I had for lunch I could have done without the afternoon snack which came to 360 calories. I just didn't want to be starving by the time I got to my Strive class. It's a good thing that I did eat the snack cause after class I was definitely physically hungry. So what I probably should have done was to make better choices for my dinner. Let's face it a choc. chip cookie and baked potato soup are breeding grounds for calories. Dinner itself was nearly 1,000 of the little buggers. Plus eating around 7pm (during book club) didn't help with the heaviness I am now feeling.

So instead of beating myself up over it I have plans for some hot lemon water in the morning, the gym, work and in the evening..... SUSHI!! Oh how I heart sushi.

Day 2 Food Journal

Breakfast:
1 c cooked old fashioned Quaker Oatmeal made with 1/2 c 2% milk
2 tsp light brown sugar
1 oz of walnuts
1 tsp butterscotch morsels

Snack:
1 Quaker oatmeal natural choc. chunk granola bar
1 small orange

Lunch:
regular size Quiznos classic club w/bacon on wheat bread
1 bag cheddar sunchips
1 bottle Lipton Pureleaf whitetea

Dinner:
1 can Campbell's style Italian wedding soup
2 slices of Pepperidge Farms light style soft wheat bread
2 tsps of smart balance

Dessert:
1 cup sweet cherries with pits

Total calories:
1,927

Not too shabby. :) However I did not get a workout in today. I wound up booking quite a few clients which kept me from eating lunch until 4:30pm. That sucked. So I decided to have a quiet night at home with the rain for company and the Notebook on tv. Sigh. I love that movie.

Day 1 Food Journal

Breakfast:
2 cups multi grain Cheerios cereal
1 cup 2% milk
1 large orange

Snack 1:
Quaker Oats natural chocolate chunk granola bar

Lunch:
1 can Starkist light tuna
1 Tbs Hellman's regular mayo
Orville Redenbacher 100 calorie popcorn pack
1 small orange
1 low carb whole wheat burrito size tortilla
4 olives with pimentos

Post workout snack:
Quaker Oats natural chocolate chunk granola bar

Dinner:
1 small skinless chicken breast
2 Tbs of Newman's O & V (for marinade)
1 cup brown basmati rice
1 cup steamed green beans
1 cup steamed yellow corn

Dessert:
2 Hershey's milk chocolate miniatures

Daily workout:
1 hour strive class (mixed weights and cardio)

Total calories:
2,008

This is actually pretty darn good. I am shooting for around 2,000 calories to begin with and as I plateau I will slowly decrease the number. According to my BMR I would need to consume 3,093 calories to maintain my current weight, so I am thinking that cutting over 1,000 calories from that will work well. I know that seems high to most people trying to lose weight but I have to remind myself that I am not sedentary. I work out, I walk around my town a lot and being a massage therapist is a very physical job. We will have to see. Headed to the grocery store tomorrow for better food options.

On a side note: it would be totally super awesome if the Bodybugg people would kindly donate one of their amazing inventions to me for review and use. *wink, wink*

Writing It Down

After many days of sniffle and snotty my cold seems to finally be taking it's leave. I took for granted how much a clear head helps with all of the many to do's in life. For the weekend that I was sick I was so absentminded and unorganized and not to mention a little off balance. I'm serious, I have the stubbed toes and bruises to prove it. :) But now, halelujah, I seem to be back in black.

I am headed to the gym in about 45 minutes for a much needed Strive class. It will feel so good to work out my stiff muscles and stretch my limbs. It will also help me focus, cause folks this week is gonna be a busy one. In fact it already has. It is a week full of cleaning, advertising, massaging, job hunting, Jury dutying, errand running, grocery shopping and book club reading. Plus I have to start the preparation of one roommate leaving and another taking her place. So needless to say, this gal's gotta get organized cause January is, like, crazy!

In keeping with the flow of organization and with Lyn's week twelve challenge, I have decided to keep a virtual food journal right on this here blog. A few of you may remember last time when I received some not so positive comments on my food journaling but I feel confident and strong enough to try again. Sparkpeople have been a great help with understanding calorie counting and portion sizes. So here I go..... again. :) I will attempt to update it every night and eventually, if I ever get a digital camera, I would love to post pictures as well.

Okay, I'm off!

Starting The New Year With A Bang!

With much optimism and love in my heart I went to sleep last night with visions of strength, courage and excitement of what the upcoming year will bring. When I woke up this morning I had a rockin' cold. Super. That's okay, it actually made me laugh a little. Whenever you make an intention about your life and happiness the universe will find a way to test you to make sure you really want what you say you want. So I say, "Bring It Universe. I ain't scurrd!"

So I have taken this morning off from my spa job to try to nurture and take care of my body. I am eating whole foods, lots of fruits and veggies and drinking plenty of water, juice and health teas. Hopefully I can kick it quickly so that I can continue to work through the busy gift certificate redeeming season. This sister needs the cash-o-la!

Psssttt, I forgot to say that I am starting the new year at 320.5lbs. I am so excited to watch that number continue to plummet. :)

Strength and Courage

Happy New Year Everyone! Where to begin.......

Okay let's just jump into it. For the first time in 20 plus years losing weight is not my "resolution" for the new year. In fact, I don't like the word RESOLUTION. It always seemed to have a negative connotation to me. Instead on New Year's Eve I like to reflect on the current year and bring that to a close and then move on to what my intentions are for the new year and this is what I came up with: STRENGTH and COURAGE.

• Spiritual, emotional, physical, financial strength
• The Courage to allow myself to let go of the painful memories and fears that are holding me in this unhealthy and overly protected body
• Strengthen my relationships in every area of my life
• Courage to see myself as truly beautiful
• Strengthen my business
• Courage to fall in love and let myself be loved in return
• Strength to up my clientele and learn new modalities
• Courage to try new things, meet new people and travel new places
• Strength to update this blog more regularly
• and the Courage and Strength to love myself completely and enjoy the amazing ride I'm on

I think that's enough for now. ;) I feel very calm about this year. Numerologically( is that even a word?) speaking I am going into a 9 year which is the culmination of all things and all lessons. So if I don't get it now, work on it and learn from it then in 2010 I start the lessons all over again. No, thank you.

So yeah, lots of awesome things to work on. I will of course still blog about health and weight issues, still record my numbers, log my workouts and reflect on my food intake but the main purpose of the blog will be Strength and Courage.

Thank you to everyone; commenters, lurkers, friends and family who have shared in my journey. Your words of encouragement and silent well wishes mean the world to me.

HAPPY 2009!!