Well, we I started at 208 on Monday and eating clean isn't as easy as it sounds. Working long hours and gone at least 9 to 10 hours a day, when I get home I don't want to spend 2 hours cooking. I already don't eat after 7 pm most nights but that can be a stretch when I only get home at 6 and have to start cooking, which is what happened tonight.
So, tonight we had chicken thighs, sweet potatoes and mixed stir fry veggies with asparagus. The sweet potatoes and veggies were frozen but still "eating clean". What I will need to start doing is cooking on the weekend and freezing meals for the week. I will let you know how it goes.
The one thing that is going well is going to the gym. I love spending my mornings working out. I am also going to be walking in the evenings, 2 days a week with one of the girls from work. I will also be spending time with my son walking on the weekends to get both os us out of the house on the weekends.
My goal is to loose 50-75 pounds before my sisters get married. I don't think they will be getting married until 2013 but I don't want to wait that long - I will need to get a dress before that. Either way, I want to loose weight mostly so I can be healthier more than anything else. I want to be around to see all my nieces and nephew get married (my nephew is only 1 right now) and I want to be a good example for my son by leading an active lifestyle. I want to show him that no matter what the hurdle, you can overcome it if you set your mind to it. I have quit smoking after 20 years, I know I can do this too.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
To start the challenge...
So I have been thinking about this for a few days on which diet to follow first and I have finally made a decision...I will start with "clean eating".
You may be asking what is clean eating....very simply, it is eating whole foods and making healthy food choices. You are giving up the over-processed foods and refined carbs like white rice, sugar and white flour as well as foods with little nutritional value. Here are the basics
Read more at Suite101: Clean Eating Basics: The Principles and Benefits of a Healthy Diet | Suite101.com http://www.suite101.com/content/clean-eating-basics-a56797#ixzz1T1uKewal
Here is where the difficulties can lie with me...my husband loves eating certain foods and can be a picky eater so this is going to mean that I will need to plan ahead and cook some parts of the meals in advance. He loves white rice and I really don't. I am going back to buying brown jasmine or basmati rice to cook in the rice cooker, or quinoa which I also love. The other challenge will be when we go away on vacations. Within 2 weeks of starting this plan, we are going south with my in-laws for their anniversary which is going to mean eating in restaurants but at least it is only for the weekend and I know that I will be able to find foods I can eat there.
Today, I am also going to look for a picture of me from our recent trip so I can add it to the post as a starting point. I uploaded a picture from this spring during our trip to Cuba but I will find a more recent one. I will also be weighing myself tomorrow morning and posting that as well. I have linked this blog to my www.fatsecret.com website to share my thoughts with even more people like me. Please give me some feedback and if there is something you want me to try, let me know.
You may be asking what is clean eating....very simply, it is eating whole foods and making healthy food choices. You are giving up the over-processed foods and refined carbs like white rice, sugar and white flour as well as foods with little nutritional value. Here are the basics
Clean Eating Principles
- Eating a mini-meal every two to three hours (5 to 6 small meals per day total) to keep blood sugar level and prevent hunger
- Combining lean proteins and complex carbs at every meal
- Avoiding all over-processed and refined foods (especially sugar, white rice, and white flour)
- Avoiding saturated and trans fat, instead consuming healthy fats
- Avoiding soda and other sugary juices and drinks
- Avoiding high-calorie, zero nutrient foods (i.e., junk food)
- Eating proper portion sizes
- Drinking at least 8 cups of water every day
Read more at Suite101: Clean Eating Basics: The Principles and Benefits of a Healthy Diet | Suite101.com http://www.suite101.com/content/clean-eating-basics-a56797#ixzz1T1uKewal
Here is where the difficulties can lie with me...my husband loves eating certain foods and can be a picky eater so this is going to mean that I will need to plan ahead and cook some parts of the meals in advance. He loves white rice and I really don't. I am going back to buying brown jasmine or basmati rice to cook in the rice cooker, or quinoa which I also love. The other challenge will be when we go away on vacations. Within 2 weeks of starting this plan, we are going south with my in-laws for their anniversary which is going to mean eating in restaurants but at least it is only for the weekend and I know that I will be able to find foods I can eat there.
 |
| Me from behind, this spring |
Thursday, July 21, 2011
How to be accountable
So I have been thinking how I can have accountability and I think I have the answer - I will blog my way through my way through my journey with pictures and weigh ins on a weekly basis. I will try different diets to see which ones give the best results, give me ideas.
There is only one stipulation is that it has be adaptable for a gluten-free diet, since my hubby has celiac disease and he will be doing the diets with me (but he doesn't know yet).
I am going to start on Monday with my first weigh in and which diet I'm going to start with. Also, I will be posting my work-out schedule during the week and checking out different weight loss sites to discuss the hits and misses. If you have anything you want me to try in the way of diet, supplements (safe and legal like B12 or protein powders), exercise or website, drop me a line.
There is only one stipulation is that it has be adaptable for a gluten-free diet, since my hubby has celiac disease and he will be doing the diets with me (but he doesn't know yet).
I am going to start on Monday with my first weigh in and which diet I'm going to start with. Also, I will be posting my work-out schedule during the week and checking out different weight loss sites to discuss the hits and misses. If you have anything you want me to try in the way of diet, supplements (safe and legal like B12 or protein powders), exercise or website, drop me a line.
Why
Why do I do this - I get all worried that a big event is coming up and stress about how I look. How many people do that? Well I know I do for sure. Is it better just to accept who you are or work at making yourself better?
I want to loose at least 75 pounds and have tried a few different ways including going to the gym daily and swimming along with eating right but nothing seemed to work. Is it the serving sizes? Is it the calorie count? Is there something else that could be holding me back? I am not sure what the answer is...but I am not a quitter and I do not want to fail again. I don't want to get any larger, I want to take the pounds off and keep them off. I eat well (for the most part) and exercise daily but nothing is helping and it is bloody frustrating!
I think I have finally, finally I have figured out what I need - I need accountability. I need to find someone that will keep me on track.
I used to go to Herbal Magic and lost weight, keeping it off for a while but it did come back over time. I had to stop the program supplements because I was going for surgery and not sure if that was part of the reason the weight came back. Either way, over time my hubby and I ended up going back to our old ways.
A few years ago, I went to Weight Watchers and started their program which worked well for me, so well I thought I could do it on my own without the weigh-ins. I was wrong. I need the accountability to keep me on track. I need the accountability to keep me motivated. I need accountability.
I know that once I get the weight off, it will stay off.
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone on the MTS High Speed Mobility Network
I want to loose at least 75 pounds and have tried a few different ways including going to the gym daily and swimming along with eating right but nothing seemed to work. Is it the serving sizes? Is it the calorie count? Is there something else that could be holding me back? I am not sure what the answer is...but I am not a quitter and I do not want to fail again. I don't want to get any larger, I want to take the pounds off and keep them off. I eat well (for the most part) and exercise daily but nothing is helping and it is bloody frustrating!
I think I have finally, finally I have figured out what I need - I need accountability. I need to find someone that will keep me on track.
I used to go to Herbal Magic and lost weight, keeping it off for a while but it did come back over time. I had to stop the program supplements because I was going for surgery and not sure if that was part of the reason the weight came back. Either way, over time my hubby and I ended up going back to our old ways.
A few years ago, I went to Weight Watchers and started their program which worked well for me, so well I thought I could do it on my own without the weigh-ins. I was wrong. I need the accountability to keep me on track. I need the accountability to keep me motivated. I need accountability.
I know that once I get the weight off, it will stay off.
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone on the MTS High Speed Mobility Network
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Will it happen today
I am a hockey fan and have been for years. I remember the day that the announcement came that we were losing our Winnipeg Jets. I remember the last game played and the sense of loss that was felt for years after. Maybe today I will feel the sense of joy of a NHL team coming back to the 'Peg. Maybe today will be a day of new era for a new team.
I have to admit though, I am getting tired of....here's the carrot....oh no you don't....here's the carrot....thing going back and forth. Just make an announcement either way, quit toying with my emotions. Well, True North is making an announcement today at 11 am central time.
Do I think they should be the "Winnipeg Jets", no. That ship has sailed and if this is the start of a new era, it should be with a new name to go with a new team.
Think about this as we await the word...if you lost a child and then had another would you use the same name or would you want to start fresh? Would you want to play on the memory of what was or start with what is now?
I have to admit though, I am getting tired of....here's the carrot....oh no you don't....here's the carrot....thing going back and forth. Just make an announcement either way, quit toying with my emotions. Well, True North is making an announcement today at 11 am central time.
Do I think they should be the "Winnipeg Jets", no. That ship has sailed and if this is the start of a new era, it should be with a new name to go with a new team.
Think about this as we await the word...if you lost a child and then had another would you use the same name or would you want to start fresh? Would you want to play on the memory of what was or start with what is now?
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
now that Christmas is done...
Now is time to start thinking about my next goal...
Like most women, I want to loose weight, not just to look better but to also improve my health. There is a lot of diabetes in my family and there was a health scare recently that shook me to my core. My father had a stroke at the end of October and is still not back to work. I have already been going to the gym but I haven't been watching my diet as closely as I should.
Now I don't want to be one of those stick thin women that you see on TV and in magazines...and I know I would never be like one of them because I have too many curves already. My chest is not small, I have played sports most of my life so my thighs are larger, and my calves are no where near normal in size but I can confidently say that it is the one part of my body that does not have a drop of fat on them. I only know this because while doing another weight loss program, they would measure my calves each week, and they never changed in size...ever.
I want to loose at least 50 to 75 pounds...I know that some people may say that it is too much or too hard of a goal to strive for but if I only loose 50, I would be happy and would be closer to my ideal weight. If I loose 75, I will be closer to my ideal weight of 123 based on my height and frame size.
I have a goal...I have a plan...and I have a way to track my progress. I don't want to loose weight quickly because I want it to stay off. I am going to start South Beach again for two reasons...first is because my husband is a Celiac and it is a very Celiac friendly diet and secondly, because I already have books and recipes. I will be going to the gym daily and working out for at least 45 minutes per day, first thing in the morning. In the evening, my goal is to do Jillian Michael's 30 day shred daily and will also be going skating or walking every day. I think by doing these activities, I will be able to get down to a sensible weight in no time.
I want to be around to see my son get married, I want to be around to teach my grandchildren how to skate, I want to be around for a while...
Like most women, I want to loose weight, not just to look better but to also improve my health. There is a lot of diabetes in my family and there was a health scare recently that shook me to my core. My father had a stroke at the end of October and is still not back to work. I have already been going to the gym but I haven't been watching my diet as closely as I should.
Now I don't want to be one of those stick thin women that you see on TV and in magazines...and I know I would never be like one of them because I have too many curves already. My chest is not small, I have played sports most of my life so my thighs are larger, and my calves are no where near normal in size but I can confidently say that it is the one part of my body that does not have a drop of fat on them. I only know this because while doing another weight loss program, they would measure my calves each week, and they never changed in size...ever.
I want to loose at least 50 to 75 pounds...I know that some people may say that it is too much or too hard of a goal to strive for but if I only loose 50, I would be happy and would be closer to my ideal weight. If I loose 75, I will be closer to my ideal weight of 123 based on my height and frame size.
I have a goal...I have a plan...and I have a way to track my progress. I don't want to loose weight quickly because I want it to stay off. I am going to start South Beach again for two reasons...first is because my husband is a Celiac and it is a very Celiac friendly diet and secondly, because I already have books and recipes. I will be going to the gym daily and working out for at least 45 minutes per day, first thing in the morning. In the evening, my goal is to do Jillian Michael's 30 day shred daily and will also be going skating or walking every day. I think by doing these activities, I will be able to get down to a sensible weight in no time.
I want to be around to see my son get married, I want to be around to teach my grandchildren how to skate, I want to be around for a while...
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Christmas time...
Why does it seem that Christmas time is becoming more and more about what you get? I have to admit that I enjoy giving gifts to my family because I love to see the look on their face when they open the gift and see that they are truly surprised and enjoy what I have thoughtfully picked out for them.
I for one hate the "Christmas list" concept. I get asked every year "what is on your list" and I can never think of anything more than a pair of gloves, a scarf or a hat. Is it because I am not a needy person? Could it be it is because I am not a diva or a person who is spoiled beyond belief? I don't know.
I enjoy trying to figure out what people would like, what they are into and really think about the gift I am giving instead of just picking up what they have asked. I don't often ask my son what he wants for Christmas but each and every year he truly appreciates anything he receives (with the exception for the red mitts but that is for another time). I know that my youngest niece is a real girly girl who loves baby dolls, dresses and monkeys, my next youngest niece plays hockey and is an artistic type of person. My son enjoys reading, graphic novels, photography, Star Wars books & movies as well as Alien/Preditor. He used to enjoy K'nex and Harry Potter, well, he actually still likes Harry Potter. The point is that I have gotten to know my family and can choose a gift without asking them. I was looking for something to pamper my mother in law with, like a gift certificate to Oasis spa or something but instead I get told exactly what she would like and even where to get it...where is the fun in that.
I also enjoy spending time with my family over the holidays but that has also become more of a chore than it should be. Every Christmas Eve we spend with my dad's side of the family, and have done so for as long as I can remember. Christmas Morning I go over to my in-law's house to open gifts. Christmas Dinner is also at my inlaw's so we are back there again in the afternoon. Boxing day is where it gets to be a bit of a mess. My mother-in-law's family often gets together on Boxing day for dinner and a few ends of curling and every year my husband doesn't want to go. He really doesn't like curling at all. Also, I used to spend Boxing day with my mom and the rest of my family, but they seem to get pushed back each year...why.
There were a few years where my mother and sisters were invited to my in-law's for Christmas Dinner - what a great idea, killed two birds with one stone...but it was short lived and I don't remember why. It could have been that someone spilled something on the carpet or my father-in-law could handle the chaos a 3 year old brings - who knows anymore. The point is that now my mother has been bumped from the "Christmas Dinner" and they are looking to bump her from Boxing Day as well. At least this year we got it figured out and will be going to my mom's for Boxing Day Brunch...could this be the solution?
Maybe next year I will spend Christmas in the Caribbean!
I for one hate the "Christmas list" concept. I get asked every year "what is on your list" and I can never think of anything more than a pair of gloves, a scarf or a hat. Is it because I am not a needy person? Could it be it is because I am not a diva or a person who is spoiled beyond belief? I don't know.
I enjoy trying to figure out what people would like, what they are into and really think about the gift I am giving instead of just picking up what they have asked. I don't often ask my son what he wants for Christmas but each and every year he truly appreciates anything he receives (with the exception for the red mitts but that is for another time). I know that my youngest niece is a real girly girl who loves baby dolls, dresses and monkeys, my next youngest niece plays hockey and is an artistic type of person. My son enjoys reading, graphic novels, photography, Star Wars books & movies as well as Alien/Preditor. He used to enjoy K'nex and Harry Potter, well, he actually still likes Harry Potter. The point is that I have gotten to know my family and can choose a gift without asking them. I was looking for something to pamper my mother in law with, like a gift certificate to Oasis spa or something but instead I get told exactly what she would like and even where to get it...where is the fun in that.
I also enjoy spending time with my family over the holidays but that has also become more of a chore than it should be. Every Christmas Eve we spend with my dad's side of the family, and have done so for as long as I can remember. Christmas Morning I go over to my in-law's house to open gifts. Christmas Dinner is also at my inlaw's so we are back there again in the afternoon. Boxing day is where it gets to be a bit of a mess. My mother-in-law's family often gets together on Boxing day for dinner and a few ends of curling and every year my husband doesn't want to go. He really doesn't like curling at all. Also, I used to spend Boxing day with my mom and the rest of my family, but they seem to get pushed back each year...why.
There were a few years where my mother and sisters were invited to my in-law's for Christmas Dinner - what a great idea, killed two birds with one stone...but it was short lived and I don't remember why. It could have been that someone spilled something on the carpet or my father-in-law could handle the chaos a 3 year old brings - who knows anymore. The point is that now my mother has been bumped from the "Christmas Dinner" and they are looking to bump her from Boxing Day as well. At least this year we got it figured out and will be going to my mom's for Boxing Day Brunch...could this be the solution?
Maybe next year I will spend Christmas in the Caribbean!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)