Joyful's Journey to Drop 26 lbs!
 

A little history:

I started my weight loss journey September 6, 2010. I enrolled in the BistroMD meal delivery program. The food quality and variety was spectacular. It made the weight loss process pretty painless. It was a great way for me to transition from McDonalds and other various fast food joints to a healthy, low sodium way of eating. It also helped to re-train my tastebuds and taught me the importance of knowing "portion sizes". I also started exercising end of September. I started out running for 30 sec, walk 2 mins. and repeat for 20 min. total. I eventually graduated to running 3.5-4.3 miles 4 - 5 days/week. In total, I lost 33 lbs so far while eating the Bistro meals and exercising.

As great as BistroMD was, I knew it was just a portal...a stepping stone. So as of December 19th, I'm no longer on the BistroMD meal plan...I'm officially a CALORIE COUNTER.

This thread is where I will report my journey (both exercise and diet) to lose the last 26 lbs to my GOAL! :D

Here is what I hope to accomplish in the upcoming weeks:

1. Run at least 4 days week for 4-5 miles
2. incorporate weight training 2-3 days/week for 45 min sessions
3. eat at least 1 CHEAT MEAL bi-weekly
4. keep average calories at 1500-1600/day

Some of you may feel 150 lbs is too low weight for a woman 5'9. Since I weighed between 148-150 a little over a year ago, I can tell you that for me 150 lbs is a size 6 and 14% bodyfat. I love my body best when it's very lean. That's just my preference.

Ok...well...here I GO!!!!:carrot:

WOOHOO! You can do it! :D Keep us updated!

I most certainly will...thanks Adejean!:hug:

Ok...sooo Monday is weigh in day.

12/27 - 175.4

breakfast - pumpkin muffin, turkey sausage - 245 cals
snack - atkins protein choc-peanut butter bar - 240 cals
lunch - green salad w/spinach, 3 cherry tomatoes, 1 tbsp cranberry, tbsp feta, 2 tbsp light ranch, 3 oz grilled chix...YUM! - 250 cals
snack - 1 cup of fresh pinnapple - 90 cals
snack - 31g unsalted cashews - 180 cals
snack - activia light yogart - 70 cals
dinner - sesame chicken, rice sticks and string beans - 400 cals

Total Calories: 1475 cals.

Exercise:

60 mins running (3.3 miles)
30 mins weight training
10 mins Wii Just Dance 2

So excited for you! Keep us posted!

Yay! So excited to see your post-BMD plans! You can totally do this!

Can't wait to see how this goes for you! Good Luck!

Thank you all so much for your support!:hug:

I'm excited and scared at the same time! LOL:p

Looking good!! I will be cheering you on!

Thanks Dedicayted!:hug:

Ok, so I'm not pumped with energy today, but I'm eating well and still lamenting on whether or not to get in at least 45 min cardio on the eliptical today. I really want to reach my exercise goal of 1440 mins this month, so I'm gonna have to crack a whip!:p We'll see...

Breakfast - 1/2 c oatmeal with 1/4 cup raisin, 1 tsp brown sugar, 2 tsp splenda - 285 cals.
Snack - Atkins Protein Choc-peanut butter bar - 240 cals
Lunch - sesame chicken over rice sticks and green beans - 400 cals
Snack - 1/2 c grapes - 40 cals
Snack - 31g unsalted cashews - 180 cals.
Snack - 1 medium banana - 110 cals
Snack - Activia yogart - 70
Dinner - green salad w/fresh spinach, 1 tbsp cranberry, 3 oz grilled chix, 1 tbsp feta, 2 tbsp light ranch and 1/2 small sweet potato (plain) - 320 cals.
Late night snack - 1/4 cup raisins - 120 cals.

Total Cals so far: 1,765 cals.

Exercise:

Rest Day!

WOW...I was really really HUNGRY (for some strange reason) today! Felt like I could EAT a COW!:o I just got over TOM yesterday, so I know it's not that. When this happens, it usually means it's time for a CHEAT MEAL soon. I skipped my cheat meal last week, so it's definitely TIME! Friday...it's ON!!!

Breakfast - pumkin raisin muffin, turkey sausage - 245 cals.
Snack - Atkins Protein Choc-peanut butter bar - 240 cals
Lunch - 4-cheese ravioli, green beans - 455 cals
Snack - activia yogart - 70 cals
Dinner - green salad with fresh spinach, 3 oz grilled chix, 1 tbsp feta, 1 tbsp cranberry, 2 tbsp light ranch - 250 cals.
snack - 31g unsalted cashews & 5 grapes - 190 cals.

Total Cals: 1,450 cals.

Exercise:

Running - 4.3 miles
Weights - 30 min.


Not feeling too hungry today...energy level back to normal. No other feelings to report.

*EDIT* - Really STRONG run today...feel much better after a good sweat!:D

Breakfast - 1/2 cup oatmeal, 1/4 cup raisin, 1 tsp brown sugar, 2 tsp splenda, cinnamon - 285 cals.
Lunch - Spicy Garlic Shrimp over brown rice, green beans - 303 cals.
snack - Atkins Protein Choco-peanut butter bar - 240 cals.
snack - activia yogart - 70 cals
dinner - Sesame chicken over rice sticks, green beans - 400 cals.

Total Calories: 1298 cals.

Exercise:


Stayed up all night so as to not miss daughters early morning flight to NY. Missed flight anyways!:mad: Fortunately, there was another one leaving an hour later. All nighter wasn't a total loss though...decided to do some cooking in prep for the rest of the week. Made this delicious shrimp garlic dish, homemade mango chutney chicken, and prepped for the sauted chicken in white wine sauce I'm making today!:) All in all...it was a very culinary night!:D

Arms are really sore from pull ups and upper body weight training I did yesterday...grrhhh! Slept until 1pm today (making up for last night), and still feel tired. Gonna get in at least 30 mins of the eliptical today...maybe that will pump up my energy.

Not really very hungry today...but really enjoying my culinary delights...cookbooks ROCK!!!

OMG... You just made me so hungry with your last post, lol. I LOVE anything smothered in garlic and shrimp is my favorite protein... I'd eat it every day if it wasn't so expensive. I've never tried mango chutney(though they talk about it all the time on the food network), but I really love mangos. Kudos on your weight loss! I'd find it really hard to keep with proper portion sizes with the tasty foods you eat!

Haha...it's funny you say that because I think I got the recipe from a food network cookbook I just bought!:p

The shrimp dish only took 15 mins to cook, prep time included. A bag of frozen shrimp (walmart 20 -30 count?) cost me $6-7 bucks...the brocolli costs $2, brown rice $2. I make 4 servings at a time. I weigh it to make sure....but am getting pretty good at eyeballing it. It also helps that I use the black plastic trays I used to get from my frozen meal delivery service.;)

Bottom line costs - $10-11 for 4 meals = less than $3 per meal...and 15 minutes of your time.

Anyhoot...let me know if you want the recipe.

Ok...well I have been a bit of a "cookin fool" since I've gotten all these cookbooks in from Amazon finally! (about 6 in all) Today, I made a simple white wine and herb sauted chicken breasts over spinach & tomato quinoa, with baked sweet potato, and asparagus! I still have one more package of chicken to cook...oh what to make...what to make? Hmmmm...I'll just make some more of my "Mock McDonalds Grilled Chicken Breast" and freeze it with the rest!

It's also time to make some more of those delishous breakfast pumpkin-raisin muffins. They are truly GREAT, and with only 145 cals, 2g of fat, 105mg sodium, made with whole wheat flour and flaxseed, these little muffins (coupled with a serving of turkey sausage) make the PERFECT little get up and GO breakfast...AND they hold you over until lunch!;)

I decided to throw out the Tom Venuto protein pumpkin pancakes I made last week...they were really discusting and horrible!:mad: Too much spice and gooey...ewww, gross! blaaaah! This week I may try this sweet potato pancake recipe I found on the net...we'll see.:^:

This is what 300-400 calories looks like - PICTURES!
 

Thought I'd take some pictures of all the delicious culinary delights I've been preparing...well some of them, at least! LOL;)

Peanut Chicken
Sesame Chicken
Spicy Garlic Shrimp
Mango Chutney Chicken
Sauted chicken in white wine herb sauce

This is a stick up!!

...Now give me that Spicy Shrimp Recipe woman!! :D

Your meals are looking scrumptuous!!!