My plan.

I've had some people ask what my "plan" is.   I guess they are asking what I'm eating and how I'm losing the weight.   Well,   to be honest with you.   It's not much of a plan.   Up until last week, I wasn't tracking my calories and I really wasn't working out that much.   Okay, I wasn't working out at all!   But, I did try to eat less.   I didn't focus on it, I just made an attempt to snack less and more careful with my choices.

Starting last week I started tracking my calories.   I just use myfitnesspal and keep track of them.   I do drink a lot of water.   And, after my up and down week last week, I am going to start drinking a little more water, because I feel like I'm a little dehydrated.  I'm going to try to get in a workout pretty often, but as I'm sure you can guess, I'm just like everyone else.   I struggle to find the time to fit it in.   I work from home, and I have a four year old that hasn't started school yet.   So, it's hard to get the workouts in with her.   I do take her to the park with me to ride her bike while I walk.  I usually can't get in the entire two miles that I would like to, but my opinion is something is better than nothing.   Even if she only lets me get a half mile in, it's better than nothing.

I'm debating either joining a gym, or just buying myself and elliptical.  I'm actually leaning more towards just buying the elliptical because then,  when she's sick or on the weekends I can still get my workout in without having to worry about someone to watch her.   She can play in her play room while I work out.

I did cut out sodas, and now I'm moving towards cutting out more processed foods.   I am have to do it slowly because if I just cut it all out at once, I still to feel deprived and then I end up craving whatever it is, and it sets me up to fail.   But, cutting it out slowly, I really don't miss it all that much.  That's what I did with soda and it worked perfectly for me.   It's what I am currently doing with sweets.   I still allow myself one sweet thing a day.  But, trust me that is a lot better than it was before.   Usually, it's a few Andes mints or a pudding.

So, that's my plan..  I'm workinghardatlosing on my fitnesspal if you want to find me and friend me over there.

I feel like I'm on a roller coaster this week!

This week the scale and I have not seen eye to eye.  I started off the week at 304.   Then a few days in I was at 302.   Then the next day back up to 304,  the next day back to 306.  Yesterday I was at 302.   Today which is my official weigh in day I"m at 303.

I have no clue why the scale bounced around so much.   I got my workouts in,  I tracked my calories and wasn't over so shouldn't have been a gain.   I can't decide if it's not enough water so my body is holding onto the water.   But, I drink 6 bottles of water a day.   That's 12 glasses of water.   I don't think it's the water.    It could be I'm not getting enough calories.   I'm eating around 1700.   Which should be enough for about a two pound a week loss.  

Whatever it is,  I really hope it works itself out soon.   Because, it's really disappointing to do everything right and not see the results that I was seeking.   I'm so frustrated with my body this week!

Here's a recipe I made today!

I'm trying to cook more, and eat out less. So, I've been trying to find new recipes.  Sometimes, I find one that I think my preschooler and my husband will eat and I try to make it a little bit healthier.   That's what I did today!   Everyone actually liked this one, I have to admit it was pretty yummy!  We will for sure be making it again!

Bacon Cheddar Chicken

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup Light BBQ sauce
4 strips of turkey bacon (cooked)
1/2 cup of reduced fat cheddar cheese- I don't buy pre-shredded cheese, because I don't like the anticaking stuff they use and I think it tastes so much better to shred your own!

Here's what I did-  I cut the chicken breasts in half.   You don't have to do this, but I like to make them thinner so that they cook fast and because I don't need to eat an entire chicken breast.   Brush half of the bbq sauce on the chicken and bake at 350 until chicken is done.   (20-30 mins)   In the meantime, cook the turkey bacon.   I just put it in a skillet and pan fried it.    Shred the cheese while you wait.   Once the chicken is done, pour the rest of the sauce on, put a slice of bacon on each breast and then top with a sprinkle of the cheese.   Stick it back in the oven until the cheese melts.    The enjoy!   It's really yummy!

Can I be under 300 already?

This week has really been testing my patience!   I weigh in on Sundays.   This Sunday I weighed in at 304.    Only five pounds away from being under 300!   I'm so close that I can taste it!   I really really want to never see the 300's again!   I started out this week resolved to see the 300's end this week.    On Tuesday,  the scale dropped down to 302!   I was so excited because that put me a lot closer to being under 300!   Then, today I got on the scale again and I was back up to 304.   Well, that just burst my bubble!   I really need to stay off the scale when it's not a weigh in day!   So, today I've been stress or depression eating.   I've still tracked my calories but I'm way over for the day.   I didn't get any exercise in but it's the first time I haven't this week so I guess I can let it slide.   I really hope by the end of next week that I will no longer see a 3 at the beginning of my weight! 

Also, this week I had an evening to myself.   I felt this burning need to dig into to some brownies.  So, I let myself have them.   Now, the problem is that I'm constantly craving them.   I wasn't having craving issues until I gave in and allowed myself to have some.   But, now that I had a little bit,  I can't get them out of my mind.   I bought a pack of brownies from the grocery bakery.   I ate one precut brownie, and then I actually tossed the rest in the trash.   Sure, it's a waste of money to throw them out.   But, I knew that keeping them in the house would drive me to eat the entire container of them and that's the last thing I wanted.   Since I threw them out I haven't had anything to give in to my cravings with and that's the only thing that has kept me from giving in.   I think maybe I am not yet at a point where I can be in control with the sweets, so I should stay away. 

Weight Loss Progress Pics!

The upper left is from August of 2012 at 365.
The lower left is from April 2013 at 335
And the right is from August 2013 at305.


I didn't start weight loss journey until Feb of 2013. 

Vacation, vacation, vacation.

I was on vacation this week.   I was really worried about being on vacation and losing weight.   Normally, while on vacation I just eat whatever I want without any regard to it, and we usually end up eating out a lot.   I think on this vacation we eat out 10 times in 8 days.   Usually, on vacation I allow myself to not exercise or workout.   This year, I completely refused to do that!   I walked on the beach everyday but one.  I made sure to pay attention to what I was eating.   I ended up losing four lbs while I was away.    I'm floored that I was able to lose weight while away.   I'm really proud of myself beyond words. 

While I was on vacation.  I was seeing all these people kayaking and paddling boarding.   Both of those seem like so much fun to me.   I want to do and try both of them.   Really, I'd even love to take surfing lessons.   There are so many things that I would love to do!   Ziplining, white water rafting, tubing, anything fun like that.  But, I feel like I'm too fat to do those things.  So, I won't try them.     But, I want too.   I feel like when I get down a little smaller that I will!   My goal is by next year to be able take paddleboarding lessons or surfing lessons!  Or even both!  That would be a great vacation!   To be able to do those fun things.  

As, I was sitting on the beach thinking about all the things that I felt like I was too big to do but wanted to do.   I thought that if I stayed on track and worked hard all year that next year by the time we went to the beach I could be around 200lbs or under.  I could be down another 100lbs.   I don't even know what I will look like then.   Not myself for sure!   The lowest I can remember is around 270ish.   I can't imagine myself anything less than that.   But, I'm going to work hard to do that. 

Since, coming back from vacation with a loss,  it's almost like a recharge in my effort to continue.   It was a great self esteem boost, and has given me a will to want to continue and try even harder.   I am going to take a current pic of myself and then I have a picture from vacation the same week last year, and I am going to put them side by side to see about a difference.   Last year I weighed around 365 most likely.   This year I weighed 309 when I left. So, that's a big difference.   I'm hoping that I will be able to see a difference in them.  I will post them once I get them done.  It might be tomorrow, but I will make sure I get to them this week!

My weight loss buddy is really struggling.   She's gaining quite a bit.  I completely understand where she is coming from because I've been there not too long ago.   I think we are bound to have struggles with it, because it's not easy.   But, it's the way we come back from our struggles and the way we deal with them that counts.   I want to do something to help her, so I am going to try to check in with her more often, instead of just once or twice a week.   I'm going to try to be more of an encouragement for her.    

Since I am six pounds away from being under 300, my goal was to be under that by the end of August.   I think I should be able to do that!   Then I will need a new goal.   Since my vacation is over I need a new long term goal.   I'm thinking about making a Christmas or Thanksgiving goal.   I like to have short term and long term goals because they help me stay on track.

Thank you for taking the time to read my ramblings.