151

It's a step in the right direction. And, I continue to avoid sugar like it's a career goal, as well as tracking every bite that goes into my cake hole.

While I don't feel super awesome about myself right now, I can at least say that I am trying.

Goals for the upcoming week:

1.  Continue to track.

2.  Continue to avoid sugar.

3.  Move more.

Rinse, repeat.

152. Jebus H. Cripes

No wonder I ache like a sonofabitch and none of my clothes fit. Jebus.

How did I let this happen? I was doing so well, you know, two years ago. I can only blame myself, I know. I can make excuses about grief and middle age and metabolism all day, and that won't change the fact that I had the power to keep this from happening.

On the other hand, I also have the power to reverse the damage.

And, I'm on the right track. I'm on day 12 of no sugar and no soda. I am tracking every bite that goes into my mouth and I am paying attention to my body. While I haven't been able to incorporate exercise into the program yet, I plan to do just that-starting today-now that my schedule has freed up in the evenings. As the weather continues to get cooler, it will also be possible to spend more time outdoors, so walking will be my go-to exercise for a while.

This isn't a set-back; it's a challenge, and, I'm up to it.

Week Two Goal

Last week's goal to cut Diet Pepsi and refined sugar out of my diet went well. I diligently tracked everything that went into my pie hole, and, I am happy to report that none of it included actual pie.

I didn't weigh myself on Friday because I was surfing the crimson tide and knew that the result would be inflated. So, weigh-in to commence this coming Friday.

Goal for this week will be to move more. As I have a fairly busy week scheduled work-wise, I won't commit to daily exercise, but, I will wear my Fitbit and will do my level best to reach the suggested 10,000 steps a day as often as I can.

I will also continue to avoid sugar and soda.

Breaking It Down, One Goal a Week

Long term goals: Weight stable at just under 130 pounds, increased flexibility and strength, frequent cardio workouts.

How best to accomplish this? Smaller, achievable goals, spread out over the next three months. This week, the goal is to track what I am eating and to stay away from refined sugar and Diet Pepsi. That's it.

I'll weigh in on Friday to see what I am actually dealing with, and will determine the weight loss goal from there. In the meantime, I've had a good day, diet-wise.

Onwards and upwards downwards.

Recent photos:

There is a reason I stay behind the lens.

How I'm Eating Lately

I've been busy with family activities and social situations lately, so my diet has not been stellar. It hasn't been awful, just not as on point as I had been. I'll tighten the reigns next week, once we get back fro the trip that we are planning to Las Vegas later this week.

In the meantime, I will continue to track and document, no matter how grisly it may be.

Turkey and cheddar sandwich on wheat sandwich thins.

6 inch turkey on wheat from Subway.

Greek yogurt with blueberries.

 

Weight Watchers frozen entrée, mushroom ravioli.

 

Starbucks skinny cinnamon dolce latte and cherries.

Mock Caprese salad and half a rotisserie chicken breast.

Is It Possible to Have a Social LIfe and Diet?

The answer is yes, if you are able to stay away from the buffet table.

Last night, I attended a bridal shower for the daughter of some friends of ours. There was a lot of delicious food at the shower, but I managed to stick mainly to the fresh vegetable station. I did indulge in some hot spinach and artichoke dip with five large corn chips and three mini (and, I mean mini; these things were twee and precious and tasted like a lemon dream) cupcakes.

All in all, I didn't do too bad. I also didn't photograph the food, because I didn't want to look like a weirdo. Also, I was taking pictures of the bride, as I am the official event photographer for this particular wedding.

Oatmeal with blueberries for breakfast.

 

Weight Watchers frozen entrée: beef and broccoli for lunch.

 

Starbucks skinny cinnamon dolce latte and strawberries for afternoon snack.

Calories: 1492
Fat: 63g
Fiber: 18g
Protein: 69g
Exercise: Rest day

Tuesday

Good day, hanging in there.

Greek yogurt and blueberries.

 

Weight Watchers frozen entrée, angel hair marinara for lunch.

 

Watermelon and almonds for afternoon snack.

Chefs salad with fat free Catalina dressing, BBQ grilled chicken leg, and half a cup of baked beans for dinner.

 

Not pictured, cherries and whole wheat goldfish for evening snack.

Calories: 1211
Fat: 34g
Fiber: 21g
Protein: 60g
Exercise: Slim in 6, Ramp it Up 47 minutes

Not My Finest Moment, But No Big Thang

I indulged a bit yesterday. I'm not making excuses; it was Memorial Day, I was at a baseball game, and I made the choice to have a couple of treats. It won't derail me.

 

Scrambled Egg Beaters and salsa for breakfast.

 

Green salad with a hard boiled egg and fat free Catalina dressing for lunch.

 

The most pathetic iceberg salad I have ever seen....

 

...and a teensie slice of deep dish pepperoni pizza for dinner.

Not pictured, a box of Cracker Jacks, a handful of cherries, and a large scoop of vanilla ice cream that I had as snacks at the baseball game.

Calories: 1468
Fat: 48g
Fiber: 17g
Protein: 46g
Exercise: Bike riding, 30 minutes

Resisting Temptation

I did well yesterday, despite a trip to the movies and dinner out. I give a lot of credit to that damn shake; it really does help with the cravings and it makes me feel fuller for hours after I drink it.

 

Breakfast was an egg and Canadian bacon sandwich on everything flavored Sandwich Thins, along with my usual coffee with stevia and creamer, which, I have actually never bothered to photograph. Please note the donuts in the background-donuts that I continue to buy for my family but from which I totally abstain. Go, me!

IdealShape shake for lunch.

This is where the pictures end, because I left my phone in the car when we went to the movie and out to dinner, so, not pictured are half of a small unbuttered popcorn and a plate of Chinese food that included one Teriyaki chicken skewer, a large helping of steamed vegetables and a small serving of chicken and broccoli along with a cup of hot and sour soup. I also didn't bother with a picture of my usual evening snack of cherries.

Calories: 1318
Fat: 44g
Fiber: 21g
Protein: 92g
Exercise: Hour long power walk and Kathy Smith upper body workout, 30 minutes.

I'm Going to Have to be Careful With This Stuff

So, the appetite suppression wasn't a fluke; I had another IdealShape shake yesterday and it pretty much killed any desire to eat for the majority of the day. This is great; it will come in useful during that time of the month when I am ravenous. I will, however, need to pace myself on using it otherwise; I want to lose the weight in a smart way, not by crash dieting.

IdealShape shake for breakfast.

Red Robin Whiskey BBQ chicken sandwich and fries for dinner. I also had a bowl of cherries during the day, but that's it.

Calories: 1036
Fat: 31g
Fiber: 17g
Protein: 43g
Exercise: Gardening, one hour

Trying Something New

I recently purchased a tub of IdealShape meal replacement shake powder and I decided to try it yesterday. The makers of IdealShape claim that it will curb appetite for up to four hours, while providing protein and other important nutrients. I was skeptical, but, intrigued.

The shake was super sweet and a little bit gritty, but I added extra ice and drank it through a straw, which helped me get it down, and, I can honestly say, it wasn't too bad. It also appears to work; I wasn't very hungry for the remainder of the day.

I'm not completely sold yet, but, I should know in a couple of days if it truly suppresses my appetite or if I just wasn't very hungry yesterday.

Oatmeal with blueberries for breakfast. Not pictured: a Starbucks skinny latte.

 

Vanilla IdealShape shake for lunch.

 

Chef's Salad with fat free Catalina dressing for dinner.

 

Cherries for dessert. Not pictured, a handful of whole grain Goldfish crackers.

Calories: 1118
Fat: 35g
Fiber: 25g
Protein: 54g
Exercise: Kathy Smith lower body workout, 30 minutes.

Friday Weigh In

148

Down two pounds, which is right on track with my weekly goals. Only twenty more to go.

Thursday:

 

Greek yogurt, blueberries, and a sprinkling of granola for breakfast.

 

Back on the lunchtime salad wagon! Greens with kidney beans, diced ham, and dill pickles.

 

Mixed berries in the afternoon.

 

Chicken Marsala with sautéed zucchini "noodles" for dinner. Not pictured: cherries and a couple of cups of Boom Chicka Pop kettle popcorn, which were before and after dinner snacks.

Calories: 1272
Fat: 28g
Fiber: 29g
Protein: 86g
Exercise: Slim in 6 SIU 27 minutes.

Another Day Without a Donut

Today, I hosted my son's end-of-the-school-year party, which featured a giant slip n slide, water balloon fights, and lots of junk food. I didn't partake in a single bite. I also didn't exercise, other than walking back and forth from the kitchen to the front yard and around the yard to take pictures. I'll just call it my rest day.

Egg Beaters on an everything flavored Sandwich Thins for breakfast (breaking out of the yogurt/oatmeal rut).

 

Butternut squash soup. I made this last fall and froze it. It is one of my favorite soups, and, chock-full of vegetables and nutrients.

 

Watermelon wedges that I had along with the soup for lunch and later, as an afternoon snack.

 

Leftover chicken stir-fry for dinner.

 

Whole grain Goldfish crackers as an evening snack.

 

A glass of Pinot Grigio, sipped while visiting with the Booster Club President Extraordinaire, when she came to pick up her son from the party, which, finally wrapped up at almost seven o'clock.

Calories: 1283
Fat: 27g
Fiber: 30g
Protein: 44g
Exercise: Rest day.

Still Hanging In

I've done pretty well the past couple of days and, while I'm sure I haven't started to shed pounds, I am gaining strength and endurance, so, I have motivation to continue. The weight will (hopefully) naturally fall into line, eventually.

Tuesday:

Oatmeal with blueberries and a sprinkle of granola for breakfast.

Healthy Choice entrée for lunch: Glazed turkey with sweet potatoes, white potatoes, and green beans.

 

Black bean burrito with Greek yogurt, salsa, lettuce, and tomato toppings for dinner, because I was too lazy to cook and this meal comes together in mere minutes.

Cherries for my evening snack, which I enjoyed with a handful of whole grain Goldfish crackers.

Calories: 1123
Fat: 15g
Fiber: 44g
Protein: 48g
Exercise: Hour long powerwalk

Monday:

I failed to take a picture of my morning yogurt, but, it looked pretty much like every other bowl of yogurt that I have posted recently. I may need to break out of the yogurt/oatmeal rut.

 

Healthy Choice frozen entrée for lunch: Grilled chicken marinara.

Chicken stir-fry for dinner.

 

And, as always, cherries for an evening snack (Hey! Cherries keep you regular!)

 

Not pictured, the Starbucks skinny latte that I had as a morning snack and the small slice of pepperoni pizza that I was forced to eat at a work function.

Calories: 1121
Fat: 25g
Fiber: 16g
Protein: 78g
Exercise: Slim in 6 RIU 47 Minutes

Take THAT, Body!

I did a lot of manual labor this weekend, including about twelve hours of heavy-duty gardening over the course of two days. I was able to get my flowerbeds completely weeded and my rose bushes looking fine. I didn't eat a whole lot either day, due to a combination of not being hungry, being busy, and being on my period, which generally kills my appetite, but, I managed to eat good things.

Friday:

Oatmeal with blueberries.

Low-fat chicken salad for lunch.

Cherries for an afternoon snack.

Spaghetti squash with turkey pasta sauce for dinner. Not pictured, cherries that I had for an evening snack.

Calories: 873
Fat: 10g
Fiber: 22g
Protein: 69g
Exercise: Hour long walk.

Saturday:

Low-fat turkey salad on whole wheat Sandwich Thin. I ate this once for lunch and then again for dinner. Not pictured, the cherries, banana, Goldfish crackers and reduced fat Jiff-to-Go peanut butter cup that I had for a snacks throughout the day.

Calories: 1126
Fat: 25g
Fiber: 25g
Protein: 86g
Exercise: Gardening

Starbucks venti iced skinny cinnamon dolce latte and a roasted tomato and mozzarella Panini for brunch.

Grilled chicken leg quarter, grilled Brussels sprouts, and baked beans for dinner. Not pictured, the glass of Pinot Grigio that I sipped on in the tub later that night, to soak the soreness out of my body.

Calories: 1118
Fat: 20g
Fiber: 12g
Protein: 36g
Exercise: Gardening