Well, I fought a cookie today, and the cookie won– actually, he had half a friend, too, so 1.5 cookies won.  Work gets me every time.  I need to stop going in the break room, period.  There’s no reason for me to be in there, so I don’t know why I even go in.  I suppose it’s becaue I want to tempt myself in hopes that I’ll get to eat something yummy.

The workout was good today, and I’ve estimated that I burn about 150 calories during weight lifting and 450 during cardio (actually it’s probably at least 100 more, but 600 is a good low estimate, so I’d rather stay on the low end).  I *usually* take in under 1000 calories a day, so I should be losing pretty fast.  Unfortunately, I don’t seem to be, so I’m not really sure what’s going on.  I’ve been working out for a month now, and, granted, I’m improving in fitness, so I haven’t always been burning quite that much during cardio but close to it at least.  I’m wondering about the whole “starvation mode” thing.  Now, I think that excuse is overused in general, but in this case, since my calories are so low, and my calories burned are so high, I think there might be something to it.  I’m not a calculation diva when it comes to this stuff, though, so I don’t really know.  Your opinion, Laura?

I’m going to continue to post calories here so I have a better record of things.  Incidentally, I dug out my WW stuff, and I should be getting about 1200 calories a day on their plan, eating back about 250 calories for activity points (half of the points I earned), and still getting 35 flex points or 1750 extra calories somewhere in the week.  On WW I lost slowly (1-2 lbs. a week, and 3 at least when I added exercise), but the point is, I should be losing faster considering what I’m doing now.

That said, the mirror was kind to me today, so while it might not be showing up quickly on the scale, I look pretty good if I say so myself.  Even my stomach looks good.  I’m carrying a bit of pudge in the front, but side view is good, and even the front if I have underwear on, lol.  Also, you can see my ab muscles starting to come through (they, of course, would show up better without the fat, lol).  My size in clothes is starting to go down.  I can fit into 8s, but my 10s still look a bit better, so at least a couple more weeks on that.  Maybe by the middle of February I’ll be a comfortable 8.

I’m getting lots of compliments, too.  People at work kept confusing me with this other (quite skinny, probably a size 4) girl– three people separately mentioned that we were hard to tell apart anymore.  Totally astounded me.  So, I guess I need to focus on the positives, and I’m anxious for WI.  Even with the cookies, my calories weren’t terrible for the day.

Breakfast:  cheese toast (125), egg white (20– had no idea these were so low), HNS (70)— 215

Lunch:  bar (160), HNS (70)— 230

Dinner:  lunchable (330), HNS (70)—  400

snacks:  cookies (excellent, from heavenly ham, by the way– 420) other snacks (estimating at 80, probably less)—  500

Total:  1345– yikes.  Definitely more than I normally have.  Hopefully it won’t hurt me too badly.  I have another eating challenge coming up on Friday, though.  Thai food, I think– I’ve never had that, so I don’t even know what to order!

Calories burned through workout:  600— net calories:  745

weight at home:  162 (1/2 lb. lower than yesterday, but still not at 159.5, which was where I was almost two weeks ago.  It is showing a loss on the MRC scale, though, so maybe the 159.5 was just a fluke.)