Created by MyFitnessPal - Free Weight Loss Tools

Thursday, March 28, 2013

A 5k... who me??

Ok, so I may have mentioned that my husband and I signed up for a 5k.  I may have mentioned (or not) that I AM NOT A RUNNER.  I do not enjoy any part of it (tiny lie... I actually think I'm starting to like it EEEK).  I am scared (true story) for the 5k.  At the point where I signed up I was determined to run the whole thing...

Well, I - I - I - I'm not so sure that's going to happen.  I have since reasoned with my brain.  I will be happy (and feel successful) if I can run 1 solid mile of the 3.2 miles.  So there!  New goal set.  We can reset our goals right?  At least it's still pushing me further than I would have been had I not started.... I've never run 1 straight mile. NEVER!  Not even in school when we had to - I usually walked more than half of it.

So lets just say I'm super proud of myself right now and nobody can bring me down, but myself.  I've had a hard time adjusting my food intake with the increase of my work outs.  Over the last three weeks I've gained weight (2 of the 3 weeks... didn't lose enough this week to make up for the two weeks).  I've fought hard not to gain, but I've made some bad choices AND have eaten more than I should even when it's not such "bad" of a choice.  I think I may have broke through that on Tuesday (hopefully)... but I'll keep you posted.

As I mentioned I'm on Week 3 and have done 2 of the 3 work outs so far.
Wednesday 3/27/13

Last week's work out was:
Warm up - 5 minutes
Run 90 Seconds, Walk 90 seconds (21 minutes)
Cool down - 5 minutes
*** I thought I was going to die ***

This week's work out is:

Warm up - 5 minutes
Run 90 Seconds, Walk 90 seconds
Run 3 minutes, Walk 3 minutes
- repeat the run/walking 1 x -
Cool down - 5 minutes

I was super proud of myself on Tuesday because I wanted to get my run in but I also wanted to go to water aerobics.  I got home late though... so I was trying to figure out how to do both (and wanted to do a third work out - but hells to the no!).  My husband was working late, but called just before I was going to head out.  I was basically going to skip water aerobics until I got a brilliant idea.  I called him back and asked him to do me a huge favor.  I asked him to bring my stuff to the gym and I was going to meet him there, if he happened to get to me before I got to the gym he should pick me up so I'm not late for water aerobics.  then he would also have to pick me up after it was done... he said yes!!!
Not that I doubted he would, but so nice that he's so freakin supportive!!!

Anyway the run SUCKED.  It was day 1 (of week 3) and I did it outside for the first time.  It was BEAUTIFUL outside, it felt great to be outdoors... but mother nature is a friggin' bitch!  The wind was in my face THE WHOLE TIME!  In the second 3 minute interval, I had to stop twice (walked) for about 5 seconds each time... I almost cried, but I told myself (out loud - thankful for no one being around) I could do it... and I continued and finished it.  Whew!!!


I have these great friends at work that are my support system and yesterday we talked about all 3 of us doing this 5k (hey Ambs and D).  Ambs says that she has to do more than the 3x per week... that's she's gonna try 4-5 / week.  UGHHHH...   I'm thinking I may have to do the same (BLECH).

So... I ran yesterday (2 days in a row) and guess what...  It was fantastic compared to the day before.  I slowed my pace WAY down... actually didn't think that was even possible because I run so slow.  But I was able to keep my breath in check and do the WHOLE thing... all the running with no stopping!  So proud!

My goal is to continue on my 5k training and work at getting this eating in check.  This week I lost 0.8 lbs... I'll take it (even though that didn't make up for the 2 weeks prior)!!!  Wish me luck, I'm gonna need it with this weekend coming up!

Have a great week... and remember - I can't wait until I'm Healthfully Ever After.


Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Quinoa Mac & Cheese

Quinoa Mac & Cheese... ummmmm seriously mouth watering!!!


Serving Size: 8 ~ 7 PPV

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups quinoa, rinsed and drained
1 pkg frozen broccoli (cook as directed)
Dash (or 4) Cayenne
1 can rotelle (hot)
a few grinds of seasoning salt
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 large eggs
1 cup non-fat milk
1 1/2 cups grated Cheddar cheese
8 oz chopped ham


Topping:  1/4 C progresso italian bread crumbs

Cook quinoa to packaged instructions until fully cooked. (About 15 minutes).

Preheat oven to 350 F. Coat 13x9 dish with cooking spray. 


Whisk together eggs and milk in large bowl. Fold in the rest of the ingredients. Stir very well and let some of the cheese melt. Transfer to prepared baking dish. If interested add topping and bake 30-35 mins, until bread crumbs are browned.

Other Topping Ideas (post cooking) - salsa, hot sauce, sour cream, scallions

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Are you Inspired or Motivated?

Wow... I just want to thank all of you who read my post last week.  It was my highest hitting post since starting the blog.  I had 5 1/2 times the readership last week.  Which makes me feel really good because that was a really HARD post to write.  I feel like I put myself all out on the line for you all and the feedback I got was so overwhelming!  So, thank you again!!!

Before I get into the topic today, I must tell you I did not have a great eating week.  I did go out to dinner a lot (I mean A-LOT), but I counted everything... with that said, I was over my points (and extra's).  I did increase my activity (a lot), but it seems like when I actually do that - I just can't get full and end up not losing as much weight or gaining.  Most comment with "it's muscle" but I know it's not because I'm eating more.  So it's eating more, not muscle that's doing it!  Anyway - I gained 1.2 this week.  BUMMER.  I feel kind of bad about it, but honestly I know what went wrong and I've done so well; so this isn't going to stop me!  I'll just get right back on that healthy train.

So onto topic!

People are telling me that I'm such an inspiration to them or that I'm motivating them to do this... to get healthy. It's about 50/50 that I hear each word.

I keep thinking about that... I wondered what the difference is.  So I've done some reading and found that I hope I'm inspiring people and not motivating them.  Wanna know why?  Well first off, here are the definitions from dictionary.com:



in·spi·ra·tion

  [in-spuh-rey-shuhn]
noun
1.
an inspiring or animating action or influence: I cannot write poetry without inspiration.
2.
something inspired, as an idea.
3.
a result of inspired activity.
4.
a thing or person that inspires.
5.
Theology .
a.
a divine influence directly and immediately exerted upon the mind or soul.
b.
the divine quality of the writings or words of a person so influenced.




mo·ti·va·tion

  [moh-tuh-vey-shuhn]
noun
1.
the act or an instance of motivatingor providing with a reason to act in a certain way: I don'tunderstand what her motivation was for quitting her job. motive, inspiration, inducement,cause, impetus.
2.
the state or condition of being motivatedWe know that these students have strong motivation to learn.
3.
something that motivatesinducement; incentive: Clearly, the company's long-term motivation is profit.


Both are very positive things, right?  Not in my mind (anymore!!!)

Think about it... when you say "I need the motivation to blah blah blah" it's usually because it's something you don't want to do.  When you say "I've been inspired to blah blah blah" it usually means you're excited about it and can't wait to do it.

So there!  I want to inspire (and be inspired) to continue on my healthy journey.  I want to be inspired to continue exercise (I like exercising anyway - well, most of it)"  I want to be inspired to eat better (dude, I feel so much better when I eat well anyway).  I too have people who have inspired me... but my motivation was that I could no longer feel and look the way I did (that's the negative) and my inspiration is that I can't wait to be excited to do all the things I used to do when I was thin, can't wait to shop and be happy about it!

I can't wait until I'm Healthfully Ever After!

I was about to sign off here... but I promised on my Healthfully Ever After facebook page that I would tell you about my emotional day on Sunday.

  1. I went shopping... for a bra.  I cried, because I wasn't a C.  I wanted to be a C, I was a D!  So here's the deal (those that are gifted in the breasticle area will understand this)... bra companies mess with our minds!  At one store/brand, we are one size and at another we are another size.  The only thing they really can't/shouldn't mess with us on is the band size.  I found that to be fairly true... but the cup size THREW ME OFF.  Before starting last year, I had to go to a 44DD bra at Lane Bryant.  Lane Bryant is what I call the Fat Store (which is sooo mean and once I lose weight, I will no longer refer to it as that... but while I still fit into their clothes I feel I can).  So... I've gone down a few sizes in their bra's and the last i had was a 40 D... so I was expecting to be a 38 C going into this.  I was not, am not and will not be a C in "normal" bra sizes for a LONG TIME.  I spilled out... spilled out of most of the D's too.... but I found one that fit and one that was comfortable... but I cried because I want them to be smaller!
  2. After I got home from bra shopping, my husband and I cleaned house to get ready to go to the Good Will... ummmm... we cleaned my stuff out really.  I have hardly anything left.  4 leaf garbage bags of clothes filled (I couldn't even lift it)... took the whole back of my SUV (CR-V so it's small) and then filled up the back seat with othe random stuff.  I almost cried.  I have ONE pair of shorts that fit right now... I did find two dress pants that will fit for a while, but everything else (including all my cropped pants, 40+ Tshirts, 30 sweaters, etc.) is gone.  While it's a great feeling that they don't fit... It makes me realize the commitment I've made to never go back!  


EMOTIONAL DAY!!!

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Epiphany AND 1 year anniversary!!!

So I think about this a lot... why did I work so hard in 2001 to lose 93 lbs only to gain it all back (plus almost 60 more) over the last 10 years?  Well, I think I've got it figured out but I guess I should start with what I was like when I was a kid.  So you get my whole life picture.

I was a  heavy kid all my life [SUPRISE].  I had joined Weight Watchers for the first time in 3rd grade (no freakin' lie).  I probably lost 20 lbs then.  [I remember getting into a size 11 pants and thinking that was a great accomplishment --- yup seriously at age 9.]  Then gained it back plus some... my parents then signed me up for Weight Loss Clinic (probably 7th or 8th grade) - I think I lost 35 lbs then... [got into a size 14 - I remember this because my goal was to fit into a pair of guess jeans] gained it all back plus some.  Then I joined Weight Watchers again when I was 16/17 (summer before 11th grade) I remember I got down to a size 14 (probably from an 18 pushing 20) [getting into Girbaud jeans then... before that I had to wear mens Girbaud because that's all that would fit me].  I remember I weighed 201 lbs when I joined that time and I think i got down to 165-160 ish.  Gained that all back between my Junior and Senior year... and then I went to college - and gained 40 more pounds.

After college I started a job where I had a huge crush on a co-worker, of course he didn't return the feelings... or maybe he did, but I know he had an issue with my weight.  So I decided to lose some weight, I lost 20-ish pounds on my own (I was 23).  Instead of eating a full meal when eating out (which I ate out A LOT) I started eating half my meals... and walked 1 mile every night.  I lost this weight over the summer... like in 3 months (oh I wish weight came off that easy in my 30's) [got down to a size 18/20 then... from a 24].  He paid more attention to me after that, but it never went anywhere. That job ended, I moved onto another job that I absolutely hated and gained back all that weight plus another 20 lbs (I was 24).

I held onto that weight for a while... quit that job after a year (I was 25) and then started a new job.  On New Years Eve 2010 my parents had a small party.  A ton of pictures were taken... and we had them developed the very next day (my mom is obsessed with pictures - and at the time film camera's were the thing).  We went to Proex (I don't think they exist anymore) for 1 hour photo development... I looked through the pictures and decided (after I started to cry) that I needed to do something.  I was unhappy in every aspect of my life, with the exception of my job.  I was lonely, fat and miserable.

January 3, 2001 I rejoined weight watchers.  The weight was falling off... the good news was I was single and only had me and my dog to worry about.  Also another good thing, I'm obsessive / compulsive - so when I'm into something... I'm really into it!  I lived with another girl (from college) and the very next week she joined...  so the perfect Utopia... I didn't have to worry about bad foods in the house any more - and she and I started to loose the weight.  She had a lot less than I had to lose, but was just as determined.  It was great having a partner... although we didn't go to meetings together or work out together, we still supported each other.  We were always very close (since my Junior year in college) and this just made our bond that much stronger!

By July 2001, I had lost 75 lbs... but was having issues.  I started getting what I thought was heart burn... but in fact it was not heart burn.  I had gall stones - HUNDREDS of tiny gall stones.  I went into the hospital on a Friday night, surgery on Saturday and home by late Saturday night... very scary.  But what I was most scared of was gaining back weight because I was working out like a mad woman at that time... and the doctor told me I needed to take a break from that.  I needed my 3 incisions to heal (in my belly).  I didn't let it get me down and I kept working at it!

By September 2001, I had lost 93 lbs.  Enough to hit my lifetime goal... but I never stayed at that weight.  I had seen 155 for the first time in my life (that I can remember).  I was a size 12 (sometimes 10).  [I don't remember being this size EVER.]
I couldn't maintain that weight... but continued to go to Weight Watchers... I kept the weight off for a year and a half.  I started getting a lot of attention from guys in 2002.  I had my first real boyfriend EVER.  It was great... it ended in August of 2002.  Still... kept the weight off, kept exercising, very focused.  January 2003 I had gained a little weight back, and was determined to get it off... got a personal trainer.   At this time I was also working on buying my first home - so I was working two jobs.  When I wasn't working I was at the gym.  ...by May I was getting burnt out.

By July 2003... If i wasn't at one of the two jobs, I was working on getting my new house move-in ready (it needed a ton of work).  So by July I gained about 15 lbs back... and then met this guy.  My whole world turned upside down.  He had two kids, moved in with me after 2 months of knowing each other... and went up north every weekend.

At first I couldn't go because I had the second job and to be honest... I just moved into a house - that I owned and needed that second job so that I could pay for everything.  So he said... if you quit that job I can help pay for things.  So I did.  We started going up north every weekend... which meant fast food Friday night, he loved dairy queen... so there was that too... and fast food every Sunday on the way home too!  (ps... I loved fast food but had not eaten it much - until him).

Within a year I probably had gained back 30 lbs... I remember being miserable, but so in love.  So I ignored it and kept going on like we were.  In January of 2005 I gained all that weight back.  YUP that fast!  I rejoined weight watchers in January of 2005 and in February my husband asked me to marry him... OK time to get serious.  So trying to plan a wedding and focus on weight loss was challenging... so by October of that year I only lost 25 lbs.

Two months after our wedding, I lost my job and got a new job.  My new job was super stressful... I ate at my desk all the time, I worked EVERY night... and then we decided to move - more more more stress.

2007 I rejoined weight watchers, lost 35 and fell off the wagon AGAIN...  By 2008 I Gained all of that back, plus another 20.  My husband and I decided to have a biggest loser contest... whoever won got to pick the vacation location.  I lost 40 lbs... he beat me.  BOOOOO!

Surprise... I gained all that weight back too.  Oh and plus 40 more pounds.

Fast forward to March 2012... we went on a ice fishing trip.  My sister in law took pictures of me... I cried.  I joined weight watchers for the last time!
Here I am 1 year later... 78.4 lbs lighter, with 68 to go.  [booo... I gained 0.2 lbs this week - stupid period]



So what did I learn... I thought that in 2001 that THAT was the last time I was going to lose weight.  That I'd never gain that weight back because it was way to hard to get off.  That I did it for me!

Guess what... WRONG.  The epiphany that I have just recently had was for what I call my 1st last time... was this:  I actually did it to make myself happy, to become healthy and to find a man.  Because lets face it... it's hard to find a guy that likes a fat person, and even if I did - I wasn't comfortable enough to be in a relationship.  I was too self conscious.

So... this time IS MY LAST RODEO.  I will NOT gain this weight back again, I will meet my goal (fit by 40 baby) and I will figure out how to juggle real life and my food addiction.  I will get and stay healthy!  I WILL NOT DO THIS AGAIN!

What things have you learned by losing weight and gaining weight?  Life lessons... please share!!!

I can't wait until I'm Healthfully Ever After.


Thursday, March 7, 2013

What percentage of your calories are eaten by 3 p.m.?

So I'll start off on what I think you care about...  A recap from last week:

  • I did not start my new exercise program (booo - hiss) this weekend like I said I would... BUT I did try Water Zumba (awesome!!!  will be going again Saturday) and went to water aerobics two other nights (Monday-Tuesday).
  • I did not stay within my points, I used all my extra's AND about another 15 more.
  • I did lose weight, 2 lbs.  I'm guessing it's the exercise and possibly the WAY I ate my extra points.  My total weight loss is 78.6.
So most people say that weigh in day is cheat day... and actually more often than not mine falls into that as well... along with a Friday and maybe a Saturday.  But the rest of my weeks are usually filled with catching up from being bad and making it better.  More often than not that works for me.

This past week I was over my daily allowance of points everyday except for 1 day (which happened to be last night... but I was only under by 1 point so really doesn't count for much).  However, most of the time if I was eating bad stuff it was earlier in the day rather than later.  Like Sunday for instance, we went out for brunch.  I ate a crap load (probably would have been a lot more if it were a year ago) and then didn't eat until dinner - which I had a very healthy salad with lunch meat.  

I talk about timing of eating because I heard in my weight watcher meeting today that if you eat 60% of your calories for the day (or food allowance in points - essentially the same thing right?) by 3 pm and only eat the rest of the 40% after that (of course the earlier you quit eating for the night the better off for you it is) then you are almost guaranteed to lose weight. [ If I find the article they were talking about, I'll update the post with a link.] Now that doesn't mean that you should take in 2000 calories by 3 pm and then another 1200 in the evening... that theory wouldn't hold true (probably) in that scenario.  But what it means is that you should be realistic and set your standards.  You'll quickly figure out how to balance that I'm sure and using a program like Weight Watchers or My Fitness Pal (or both like I'm doing: you can see slight differences between the two - SLIGHT) then you can get a better gauge on it.

I think I'm going to try this out this week... see how it goes.  

Next week is a big deal to me... it's my 1 year anniversary of re-joining Weight Watchers.  I cannot wait for my next post.  It's already pre-written - and pretty much ready to go with the exception of a few tweaks.  My goal for next week is to lose 1.4 lbs.  I don't care how I do it (meaning what type of exercise I incorporate) but I am going to try my hardest!  If I do... my total will be 80 lbs in 1 year.  Whooo Hooo!!!  If I don't - I still did very well in one year :)

I also have a picture to post - it's a compare picture from 1 year ago to this past Monday (unless I get an even better picture of myself).  I would post that picture already, but I don't want to spoil it.

Anyway - I hope you have a great week and think about what your food intake is during the day versus evening.  See if you can do the 60/40 rule and let me know your results.

I can't wait until I'm Healthfully Ever After!


Sunday, March 3, 2013

How often do you weigh yourself?

The word is that you should only weigh yourself once a week.  What do you think?

Honestly, I weigh myself WAY TOO MUCH.  I actually step on the scale almost every morning and most often, if it changes, I record it on a notepad I keep in my bathroom.  I do this because I let the scale rule my life!  Should I?  Probably not, but I feel like it keeps me in check.

What do I gain from weighing myself too much?  Well, let me tell you...  I actually think that I have learned some things from it.
  1. I've learned that my sodium intake is very up and down and of course, that affects my weight on the scale.
  2. I've learned that my period affects my weight for about 10 days... and unfortunately sometimes that spans two weigh in days (that really sucks when that happens).
  3. I've learned that it can be used as a weekend goal, like get on the scale Friday morning... and when you get on Monday morning the goal is to weigh less.  Weekends are hard!
  4. I've learned that it can affect my mood for the day... good or bad.  Sometimes I may make worse choices because I'm discouraged and sometimes it does that exact opposite.
  5. I've learned that recording my weight actually gives me something to look back and be proud of.

What have you learned by weighing yourself?  

Do you let the scale rule your life?

Do you have any suggestions of foods that can affect the scale the very next day?  Ones to stay away from or ones to eat if you need to weigh in the next day?

How often do you weigh yourself?

... discuss!!!

I can't wait until I'm Healthfully Ever After.