Not for any man!

I learned that lesson this week!  Up to this point, I’ve been following the plan pretty well.  I’ve had good days and bad days, of course.  But this week…. ooooh, this week!  Let me back up.

Last week, I mapped out a plan of weight loss.  If I lose 1.25 pounds each week, I will have lost 10 pounds and reached my 5% goal (12 pounds) by the end of the month!  1.25 pounds each week was my baseline–I decided to lose no less than 1.25 pounds each week.  But my true goal is 2 pounds per week for the rest of the month. 

And today I made (and surpassed!) that goal!  I lost 2.2 pounds this week, bringing my total weight loss to 9.6 pounds total!  Hooray!  In Weight Watchers meetings, it has been said a few times, “If you kind of do it, it kind of works.  If you really do it, it really works!”  That proved to be true for me this week!  I worked hard to stay within my points, and to make healthy choices during the week. 

For instance, yesterday I was at a hospital doing visits, and was taken to lunch by my friend and her boss.  I ordered a cheeseburger (not the healthiest choice, I realize), and grilled asparagus.  I’m very proud of myself for ordering the asparagus, rather than french fries! Especially since ff are one of my (many) weaknesses!  I tried the asparagus, which tasted ok, but I could tell that it had been grilled in butter or something, and it was rather bland.  So, I enjoyed the whole hamburger only.  So, I didn’t eat the vegtable.  I also didn’t indulge in fries!  And I can take that to the bank!

On Sunday, we went out after church to Red Robin.  Let me tell you, I will not be going there again!  I ordered a turkey burger, and enjoyed some fries.  I knew it would be a high points meal–I figured 6 points for the fries and 13 for the burger.  Wrong!  The fries were 11 points, and the burger was 26!  I only get 37 points a day!  Ugh.  I’m sure that they have healthier menu items, but I would do a lot of research before I ever went through that door again!

I’m especially excited about this big weight loss because it is in the midst of some tough times in my life.  I never heard back from hospice about the position I applied for, school work is bogging me down, I got my period on Sunday, and today I found out that a dear co-worker died on Monday night.  All I have wanted to do since Monday is lay down and sleep.  I went to bed at 7:45 last night, and 8 o’clock the night before.  Which is great, since I get up at 4:30am, but I need more sleep to recharge my batteries and process through everything that is happening.

Speaking of sleep… it is past my bedtime!  I hope you all have a wonderful, on-plan week!  “If you really do it, it really works!!!”

Good morning, World!

Last week, if you recall, was quite difficult for me.  It was my birthday, and I competely overindulged all week.  Luckily, I had a class trip that kept me on my feet walking around Washington DC all day Saturday.  Because of that, I managed to lose 1.2 pounds by the Weight Watchers scale!  Hooray!!!!

I’m down a total of 7.2 pounds!  My very encouraging friend, Ashley, pointed out to me that I am only 2.8 pounds away from losing 10 pounds!  That has always previously tripped me up.  I would get to 9 pounds lost, but never quite reach 10.  In addition to that, my 5% body weight loss goal is 12 pounds, which is just 4.8 pounds away!  So, I’ve decided that I want to lose a minimum of 1.25 pounds each week this month, which would bring both of those goals to fruition by the end of the month!  1.25 is the minimum.  My working goal is 2 pounds per week!

I have a habit of blowing it, starting on Thurday night (the one evening I’m home each week), and not really trying to stay on-plan again until Monday morning.  And still, I have lost over a pound each week.  So losing 2 pounds over a week, while I stay focused, should be no problem.  I’m ready to hit that 10 pound mark!  And my 12 pound, 5% goal!!!

I’m really proud of myself so far this weekend.  I’ve been extremely careful.  I haven’t been eating all of the foods that I ought to, such as fruits, veggies, dairy, and healthy oils, but I have kept my Points in check.  And that, to me, is a great step to take!  I stayed with friends on Thursday, who cooked me a (very healthy!) birthday dinner, and Friday I met with friends for wine and dessert.  Yesterday I went to a co-worker’s baby shower, then had to grab dinner from Fuddruckers because we were late to meet some other friends for bowling.

I have enjoyed some “bad” foods, but I had them in moderation.  I’ve enjoyed cookie cake, red velvet cake, and even Mountain Dew last night!!!  I have only used 4 of my extra weekely points, and for that I am very, very proud!  Also, there is no small group tonight, so I know I won’t be going carb-crazy! 

I KNOW I’m going to lose a lot of weight this week!  I sincerey hope you all do the same!

I can’t believe that I’ve been in Weight Watchers for a full month already.  I’ve experienced some highs and lows, and I’m confident that even greater highs and deeper lows will be experienced before my weight loss is through.

Last week, I was pretty bad during the weekend, but buckled down on Monday and Tuesday.  My home scale said I was up .2 pounds on Wednesday morning, but by Wednesday night, the WW scale said I was down 1.4 pounds!  Go figure!

This week I have been very bad all week.  I am waiting to hear back about an interview as a bereavement coordinator, and it was my birthday on Saturday.  Top that off with class all weekend, and this is my recipe for disaster.

My Mum sent me my favorite cookies, which I promptly devoured (3 dozen in 5 days).  She rarely makes spritz cookies, you can’t by them in stores, and I don’t have a spritz cookie maker, so I ignored the obvious consequences, and enjoyed every bite!  (Guilt and regret followed).

On Sunday, two of my friends each baked a cake for me.  They both baked my favorite, Jello cake!  Greg made strawberry, and Susan made chocolate raspberry.  Mm-mm good!  I took them both to work so that I wouldn’t eat both cakes by myself.  That is woking really well, except that I keep going back for a piece!

Yesterday, I finally bought myself what I really wanted: a bakery cake with icing.  I think that has been a big part of my problem this week.  I keep eating too much of too many foods, when what I really wanted was a standard birthday cake.  I feared that I would go home and devour the cake, but that hasn’t been the case.  Just knowing that it is in the fridge is enough for now.  I will have a slice eventually.  I think trying to devoid myself of what I really wanted was a bad idea.  I just need to remember to watch my portions.

Today is Wednesday again.  I weighed, and my scale says I am down .8 pounds!  I don’t know how accurate that is, but I’ll take it!  I have a feeling that the WW scales will say I have gained.  That’s ok!  I earned every 1/10th and pound that I take on this week!  And it was delicious!  :P  But, starting right now, I will be more careful and concientious this week.  I will absorb those gained pounds this week, but not next week!  Today I start losing weight again!

Since starting WW, I have not indulged in pop or Hershey bars.  That is something I really miss.  If I can find a way to eat either of those in proportion, I would like to do so this month.  If I don’t, I fear that I will have another “birthday cake” situation on my hands! 

Well, my loves, I hope your week was more on plan than my own!  Here’s to an even better week with greater results, starting right NOW!!! 

Good morning, all!

So, I’m here for another try!  In the past, I have bounced around, trying to lose weight, successful for a short period of time, but always climbing back up the scale’s number.  I was trying to do it on my own, under my own “expertise” and influence.  Needless to say, it didn’t work.  So, I’m trying again!

This time, however, I have help.  I joined Weight Watchers two and a half weeks ago, and so far, so good!  I weigh in on Wednesday evenings, and as of this past Wednesday, I was down 4.8 pounds total!  Hooray!  It was a little disappointing to not drop dramatic weight like so many people have in thier first two weeks, but as long as this downward trend continues, you won’t hear me complain!

Last night I went to the monthly young professionals Bible study for the congregation I attended while living in Washington DC.  The fellowship was wonderful, as was the food.  I was really excited, because everyone brought a vegtable!  My best friend brough edamama, I brought broccoli and hummus, and there were also carrots & dip from another couple (small group last night).  There were also donuts and cookies, but I was able to avoid them (along wih the dip), thank goodness!  We did, however, order Papa John’s pizza.  I was convinced that between my two slices and a glass of wine that I waaaay overdid it with my points.  I woke up this morning feeling kind of gross, convinced that my hard work was blown, all for some pizza.  I hopped on the scale to see how much weight I gained, in order to shame myself back on track.  You can guess how surprised I was to see the scale go down .8 pounds!!!  Hooray!!!  I figured up the points, and I actually had two left over at the end of the day!!! 

I still feel a little icky, because I know that I should have stopped at one slice of pizza.  Whether it is psychological or physical, I’m not entirely sure.  But I am glad to have that feeling, because it means that my body is happier when I make healthier choices.  And THAT feels pretty darn good!!!

Exercise: Last night I exercised, just as I promised myself!!  It felt good to keep that promise.  I couldn’t do all of the exercises for two reasons: 1. I don’t own an exercise ball, and  2. I am extremely unfit.  It was really disappointing to realize exactly how bad of shape I am in.  I was unable to do the reverse-step lunges, and I know I had really terrible form on the rest.  But I DID IT!

Yesterday was a baaad day for eating.  My meals were made of the wrong kinds of foods.  However, my snacks were great!  Here is one delicious snack I forgot to mention yesterday: cottage cheese with frozen blueberries, chopped walnuts, and flaxseed.  So tasty!

I think I ate just about all the unhealthy food I owned yesterday, so today should be more on track, food-wise.  I reread the materials from BeTheMatch.org, and I won’t get an ID for 8-10 weeks, which gives me some extra time to lose for 22 pounds!

I really need to celebrate every pound lost this time around.  When I was trying to lose weight in the late spring, I was SO excited by every pound lost, but I dwelt on not being able to cross that 10 pound mark.  This time I will celebrate each pound!  Really, as heavy as I am, I should be able to lose weight fairly quickly the first week or two, right?  I wish I drank a lot of pop, so I could cut it out and see quick results!  ;0

The nightmares: Last night, I had these awful nightmares.  I was back in kindergarten/1st grade, and while I was smart enough to accomplish all of the tasks, I was too uncoordinated, and unable to even stand up without the teacher literally picking me up.  And whenever the teacher tried to pick me up, I would turn into my 247 lb adult self.  So, my skinney little 1st grade teacher was picking me up, and there wasn’t anything I could do about it, because I was in such bad repair.  YIKES!!!  I know that this awful dream is directly related to my inability to do all of the exercises last night.  It was very embarassing and scary!  Someday, when I’m old and feeble, I may have to rely on others to help me stand, but I certainly don’t want that for my reality now!  I’m going to use this mocking nightmare to spurn me on to lose weight and get in better shape!!  My independence is SO important to me–I don’t want to lose it over too much cake and too few vegtables.

Good luck to you all this week–keep up with those inpiring stories of staying On Plan and reaching your goals!!

Recently, my diet style has been “one step forward, two steps back.”  I’ll have one really great day, but the next two days I’ll go the complete opposite direction (and then some!).  It has been really disappointing to see myself spiral so far out of control.

But, beyond self-image and health, I have a REALLY good reason to lose weight now!  I joined the Be the Match registry, which means that I am now in the database for patients with lukemia and other diseases to find a bone marrow donor.  I’m really excited about this!  70% of patients do NOT have a donor match within their own family, so they rely on donors listed in the Be the Match database.  Check it out! BeTheMatch.org

According to registry guidelines, for my height (5′ 3.5″) I need to be *at most* weighing in between 225-233.  I’m hunkered down at 247 as of this morning.  It takes 5-6 weeks for the cheek swabs to be tested and entered into the database, so I have 5-6 weeks to get as close to that weight as possible.  It’ll be a stretch, but it’s worth it. 

I was reading Women’s Health last night, and I saw that ideal body fat for an adult woman is 15%-25% (depending on body type).  It was such a relief to see this!!  Everything else I have read has only said, “it’s different for every woman.”  It’s nice to have some firm numbers!  Right now, I’m sitting at 52.7% body fat.  I’ve got quite a bit to lose!

In general, I think Women’s Health is garbage (honestly, I feel that way about most men’s/women’s magazines), but WH does have a few good tidbits every month.  I really love the workout plan that they have this month–all about the butt and thighs!  I do love my huuuuuuge butt, but it’ll look silly on the body I am trying to obtain.  :)  I’m going to start doing the WH workout TONIGHT!

October is my BUSIEST month at grad school.  I have 13 more deadlines to meet, outside of normal homework.  These 13 deadlines are projects, presentations, tests, and papers.  Busy, busy, busy.  I don’t get any work done at home, so I need to maximize library time, which is why I’ll be working out in the evenings. 

On top of that, I’m trying to find a job.  I’m so bored sitting at home, doing homework.  I’ve got just enough to get by for food and gas money by donating plasma twice a week, but it doesn’t cover bills or fun money to visit friends with. 

Spending time away from home, especially at the library, definitely helps to cut down how much food I eat during the day.  I pack healthy snacks, and eat a healthy breakfast.  I have only 2 unhealthy foods right now: totino’s pizza and ice cream.  I am resolved to a) not eat them, or b) eat them only in the reccommended serving size. 

I’ve discovered some really tasty treats! 

2 tbsp of hummus is great with raw broccoli!  Hummus is only 50 cals, and an entire cup of broccoli is only 20.5 cals!  Yummy! 

A crunchy, sweet treat I eat is 1 cup of rice chex (off brand, bc I’m cheap!), 1/4 cup raisins, and 1/4 cups dry roasted peanuts.  The calories count for this is higher, somewhere in the low 300s, so its a great snack if you need to hold off on eating a meal for a long time.

Emerald sells almonds in single-serving 100 calorie packs.  Not only is it convenient, it was also the cheapest way to buy almonds at Safeway!

Finally, my favorite!  Frozen fruit!  This can be a tricky one.  I like the fruit to be just a little on the thawing side.  Safeway had some good deals on frozen, unsweetened fruit when I was shopping, so I picked up blueberries, peaches, pineapple, and strawberries.  Yum!!  Depending on the fruit, its usually about 50-80 calories for 3/4-1 cup each.  Blueberries are the least caloric– 3/4 cup for 50 calories.

Frozen grapes are my favorite sweet treat (right after ice cream and peanut butter cups, lol).  I like nice green grapes.  As soon as I get them from the produce section, they go to my home freezer.  A grape is about 3 calories, so you can gage how many calories you want to splurge for this yummy treat!

Last week was pretty chili here–def felt like Fall!!!  I used to hate soup, but I bought some after reading how filling they are.  I bought two kinds: Vegtable beef, and Vegtable, Barley, and Beef.  I didn’t find the vegtable beef filling at all, but the vegtable, barley, and beef worked wonders!!  It was a nice, hearty soup for lunch.  And, after reheating it on the stove for dinner, it had a nice, mild, salty taste.  MMM!!! 

I’ve taken to eating a lot of yams and potatos as well.  Both are quite filling!  Instead of butter, I use EVOO on the potato, or sometimes nothing but cheese and salt!  On the yams I use salt only.  To me, they already have a very sweet taste; I don’t understand adding cinnamon.

I have fallen in love with flaxseed and almond milk.  I use both on my raisin bran in the morning.  SO tasty!!  Between the raisin bran (29%) and flaxseed (1%), I get 30% of my daily fiber right off the bat!  I really want to get in the habit of putting flaxseed on everything I eat.  Flaxseed has a lot of benefits: Researchers are linking it to decreased risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.  It can help aid weight-loss, has plenty of Omega-3 fatty acids….. the list goes on and on!!  If you do a Google search for “benefits of flaxseed,” the 2nd site listed lays out the myriad of benefits that flaxseed has.  I would def reccommend adding this to your daily diet. 

I hope all of your journeys are going well!  Please be sure to check out BeTheMatch.org, and register to save a life!!! 

Nearly every diet/weight-loss book, magazine, and tip page tell you the same thing: eat less, exercise more.  In theory, it sounds rather simple.  Some will go into more detail: know how many calories your body needs to maintain, and eat fewer.  But how do I know what my body needs?  Do I need the 2000 calorie diet that % Daily Values are based upon?  Do I require more or less than that?  Finally, I have an answer!

Today I downloaded a free e-book about trimming down my thunder thighs.  :)  The book didn’t include anything new, for the most part.  Just your run-of-the-mill eat less/exercise more dribble.  BUT, near the end, I came across this formula:

For women: 665+ (4.57xheight) + (4.36xweight) – (4.7xage)

This formula tells you how many calories you need to maintain your current weight.  For me, the formula looks like this:

665+ (4.57 x 63.5) + (4.36 x 245.4) – (4.7 x 24) = 1912.339 calories to maintain current weight.

Obviously, I DON’T want to maintain my current weight!!  In order to lose 1 pound per week, a person must remove 3500 calories per week, either through eating less, or exercising more.  That comes out to 500 fewer calories per day.  So, in order to lose 1 pound per week, I need to average 1412.339 calories each day.  That seems really low, but over the course of a week, that means I get 9886.373 calories!  WOW!

Yesterday I did a quick DVD workout (Core Rhythms).  I don’t think it did much exercise-wise, but it is fun to get up and dance, and learn new moves.  Tomorrow should be even better, because I’ll have a better grasp for what I am doing.

Today I did a few squats, deadlifts, lunges, and worked my inner thighs.  It was the bare minimum of working out, and I plan to do a lot more in the following days.  After seeing the pictures of myself from last weeken, my thighs/legs and belly are my target spots.  Diet will help the most, but working out will make things nice and tight!

I am so excited to get started and see results!!  Tomorrow I am going to measure my belly and thighs, and hopefully I can start tracking some serious progess soon.  Right now, I am headed to the grocery store with a long list of healthy, satisfying foods.  If only I can keep my sweet tooth in check!!

I have been avoiding this place for too long.  I got wrapped up in the shame of ditching my diet and never working out.  So, It’s time to start over.  I weighed myself today, 244.0 pounds.  Yuck.  I knew that the scale was creeping back up again, but I didn’t realize how much.  I’m actually grateful that it’s not even higher.  But it’s time to get back on track.

I went home for a visit last weekend, and had a really great time!  My friend, Aaron, loves to take pictures when we are together, so I gave him my camera.  When I got it back, I was horrified looking at pictures of myself!  I am so disappointed in myself.  Now, most of the posed pictures were really cute.  However, all of the candid shots told the truth–I couldn’t hide in those! 

I was going to post a picture on here to remind myself, but I don’t know how to make the file size small enough.  (If anyone knows how, I would appreciate the help!)  These pictures have really shown me that I need to get my big butt in gear, and take care of this weight problem!!  Today I tried to workout (man, am I out of shape!), and I am being mindful of what I eat. 

Naturally, the next several days are full of rain, but that gives me the opportunity to become reaccquinted with my workout DVDs and weights!!  I am DIRT poor right now, but the next time I go to the grocery store, my basket will be full of fruits and veggies instead of ice cream and pasta. 

I am making a real committment to myself this time.  I have 11 weeks until I go home again (for Christmas).  I want there to be a significant change in my body weight or composition by then.  Last time I got caught up trying to lose 10 pounds, and never quite making it.  This time around, I want to celebrate each pound lost, rather than lamenting on last pound I Didn’t lose. 

Wish me luck, friends!

I have completely forsaken my plan this month.  My last entry was June 2nd, for good reason.  I have been avoiding this site because I have done so poorly.  I weighed in today, just like every morning.  But unlike every morning, I was up to 240.0 pounds again!! AHHH!!!!!!  I haven’t weighed that much since starting this blog (granted, I haven’t weighed much less than that, either).  I’m just so disappointed in myself.  D:

 I realize that I have been putting too much of my personal life and not enough of my weight-loss (or currently, weight-gain) journey on this site.  In order to cut unnecessary clutter out, I started a new blog, http://notforanyman.blogspot.com/ .  LOL, I never thought I’d be one of “those” people who kept a blog.  3FC doesn’t feel like a blog, it is a support network, like a free weight watchers.  :)  My blogspot will chonicle the mundane, and hopefully exciting twists and turns my life takes, so you all won’t have to wade through all of it. 

Here’s to another–or mayb a first?–day of staying on plan, and making those beautiful body changes we DESIRE and DESERVE!

Dear Body,

I am very sorry for what I hav been putting you through recently.  We had done such a lovely job of watching the food going in, and making sure that exercise has been happening.  I stopped paying attention, and have been watching the scale go up, up, up, without any attempts to stop it.

Today, body, I choose to stop.  Today I will pay attention to your needs.  I will watch what I eat, and I won’t shy away from much-needed exercise.  Today, I will realize that I am in charge of my body, and it is NOT in charge of me!  Get ready, body!  You are about to look awesome!

Love, Carmen