Great job!

Day 23
 

Thanks, Ready! Hope you are doing well! :)

WI: 174.4

Breakfast: 1/2 c cinnamon cheerios plus 1/2 c kashi go lean (fiber twig) cereal, skim milk, whole grain english muffin, all-natural pb, all-natural fruit spread (361)
Lunch: Lean Pockets Meatball and Mozzarella (480)
Snacks: Gum (5), FiberOne bar (140), air-popped popcorn (173), Skinny Cow ice cream (55)
Dinner: Baked chicken w/2 lite laughing cow wedges & broccoli (347)

Exercise: Sick today, but I did take my dog on a 20 minute walk this morning, so that is something, I guess!
Calories: 1560

Ok, I'm not really buying that I actually weigh 174.4. I don't think I really could have lost 1.2 pounds overnight. I think it's just because I am sick. I'm not stomach sick or throw-up sick, but I just have a cold...I usually lose a little weight when I am sick (not sure why), so I'm not taking this 174.4 at face value.

I am laying low today and just watching movies and maybe having my husband drive me around to run a few errands...I gotta take advantage of being sick - LOL! :)

Day 24
 

WI: 174.0

Breakfast: 1/2 c cinnamon cheerios plus 1/2 c kashi go lean (fiber twig) cereal, skim milk, whole grain english muffin, all-natural pb, all-natural fruit spread (361)
Lunch: Chicken, mushroom and spinach lean pockets (480)
Snacks: Yogurt (80), 2 Ghiardelli chocolate pieces (106), Skinny Cow ice cream (100)
Dinner: Grilled chicken sandwich, cheese fries (?)

Exercise:Yardwork
Calories: ??

Day 25
 

WI: 174.6

Breakfast: 1/2 c cinnamon cheerios plus 1/2 c kashi go lean (fiber twig) cereal, skim milk, whole grain english muffin, all-natural pb, all-natural fruit spread (361)
Snack: Yogurt w/kashi (97)
Lunch: Lean Cuisine Butternut Squash Ravioli & baked cheetos (400)
Snacks: Gum (10), FiberOne bar (140), Cheese stick (60)
Dinner: Baked salsa chicken & broccoli (318), Jello sugar-free pudding (60), 1 pc Ghiardelli dark chocolate (53)

Exercise: Mowed front and back lawn
Calories: 1499

Still sick, but feeling better than I was on Friday/Saturday. I am going to try to mow the lawn tonight, but we'll see.

Day 26
 

WI: 174.6

Breakfast: 1/2 c cinnamon cheerios plus 1/2 c kashi go lean (fiber twig) cereal, skim milk, whole grain english muffin, all-natural pb, all-natural fruit spread (361)
Snack: Yogurt w/kashi (97)
Lunch: Lean Cuisine Meatloaf/mashed potatoes & baked cheetos (380)
Snacks: Gum (5), FiberOne bar (140), Cheese stick (80), Applesauce (50), Brussel sprouts in butter sauce (150)
Dinner: Chicken quesadilla with guac and salsa (428), 1 piece caramel candy (50)

Exercise: 30 minute walk around campus
Calories: 1741

Holy moly I am so ravenous today! Usually I am this way the day before TOM, but this month and last month it happened the day after it started, so...I'm starving...but not literally! I have to keep telling myself that. I just have to get through this day of endless hunger and keep pushing myself for my Friday WI.

We are doing major landscaping on Friday and I am so excited! We bought 6 trees and 8 bushes over the weekend and they are being delivered in 10 days, but this Friday we have to prep the backyard. It will be a lot of work, but I am excited!

....ok, so it's now toward the end of my work day and I am still absolutely starving!!! Today might be a higher calorie day...sometimes it's so worth eating more and feeling content instead of having the uncomfortable feeling of starvation that TOM brings.

....finished dinner and feeling very satisfied and no longer famished. Mission complete! Guess those extra calories were needed to stave the hunger beast!

1,000,000% AGREE with this!:D

You are doing GREAT! 9 lbs and counting!:carrot: Don't ya just love doing yard work? It's one of the greatest workouts ever...and I JUST LOVE IT! Have fun with your landscaping! I only have one more day of brutal backyard work....good thing cuz I'm completely exhausted!:dizzy:

I do love yard work ~ It's a great way to get in exercise! I read on your blog earlier about you working hard in the yard and getting your pool and jacuzzi prepped...I'm so envious!! I'm sure it's hard work getting everything prepped, but I'm sure it's soooo worth it.

Day 27
 

WI: 174.6 Third day in a row...hope it starts moving down!

Breakfast: 1/2 c cinnamon cheerios plus 1/2 c kashi go lean (fiber twig) cereal, skim milk, whole grain english muffin, all-natural pb, all-natural fruit spread (361)
Snack: Yogurt w/kashi (97), 1 chocolate animal cracker (8)
Lunch: Lean Cuisine Glazed Chicken w/Rice & baked cheetos (340)
Snacks: Gum (5), FiberOne bar (140), Cheese stick (80)
Dinner: Lean Pockets Meatballs & Mozzarella (480)

Exercise: 25 minute walk around campus
Calories: 1511

It is absolutely downpouring here and we have a tornado watch until 1:00 p.m. I work 20 minutes away from home and the tornado watch is for the town that I live in, and I hate being away from home when there are tornado watches because all I can think about is my dog home by himself. :(

If it is still raining tonight I am going to have to bust out a workout DVD or the treadmill or something...I have a feeling it's going to be too bad to go outside for a walk.

....well, the storms passed and it's gorgeous and sunny outside now! Looks like I'll be able to take my dog for his nightly stroll tonight.

Hey Emme - it looks like you have a lot of sugar in your diet. I know that slows my weight loss. You might try just having one sweet thing in the day and adding more protein and veggies to see if that helps get you out of the stall?

Hi Ready! I don't consider this a stall and I don't think I eat a lot of sugar every day. A stall (for me) is something that lasts weeks and weeks. I have been eating this way (with sweets) since January and I've managed to lose 22 pounds, so I'm sticking with my little treats every day...otherwise I'd go n-u-t-s! That's what calorie counting is all about for me -- being able to eat what I like as long as I can fit it in my daily calories! :) Plus, it's TOM (and I'm still freaking sick!!), so anything goes for this week - LOL!

You're doing great and are way ahead of me!

I just know I was shocked when my nutritionist showed me how much sugar I was eating.

You've probably got sugar hidden in the following:
cinnamon cheerios, kashi go lean, pb, fruit spread, yogurt, kashi, chocolate animal cracker and probably the lean Cuisine Glazed Chicken w/Rice (glaze often means sugar!).

If that is working for you no need to change! Just trying to offer input!

Oh, I hear ya, and thanks for the input! :) You're right: sugar is hidden everywhere...I thought you meant my one little treat a day was throwing me all of whack. I gotsta have me a treat -- LOL!!

I try my best to eat as healthy as I am comfortable with in order to succeed with my weight loss. I'll never be the person who eats all natural stuff all day long. I wanted to do calorie counting because calories in versus calories out equals weight loss. Sure it can be done by just eating all organically, but it can also be done by eating twinkies all day long (which is obviously not healthy!) as long as the calories are in check. Counting calories is something that allows me to eat what I want when I want it without removing things that I love to eat.

I remember when I first posted on this board back in January, someone mentioned that I needed to get rid of my baked cheetos and replace them with a vegetable. Good idea, but it's not sustainable for me. I love eating my baked cheetos daily with my lunch and they are only 130 calories, so it works out! Counting calories is so easy and it's nice not having to get rid of things I really enjoy eating, otherwise I think this path would really suck and I'd be p!$$ed a lot of the time. :)

But, I do try to eat somewhat healthily: my fruit spread is all-natural and contain organic sugar, I try to eat as much whole grain and multi-grain that I can when possible, I eat veggies (almost) every day, I eat a lot of chicken during the week which is good protein, and I drink a lot of water. It's not stellar, but it's a ton better than what I used to eat (I'm talking Mickey D's every other night!).

Gotta love this weight-loss journey, right?! ;)

Day 28
 

WI: 174.4 Official WI is tomorrow :dizzy:

Breakfast: 1/2 c cinnamon cheerios plus 1/2 c kashi go lean (fiber twig) cereal, skim milk, whole grain english muffin, all-natural pb, all-natural fruit spread (361)
Snack: Yogurt w/kashi (97)
Lunch: Healthy Choice Roasted Chicken Verde & baked cheetos (360)
Snacks: Gum (5), Fiber Plus Antioxidant bar (120), Cheese stick (80)
Dinner: 3 turkey tacos and broccoli (478), Jello sugar-free pudding (60)

Exercise: 45 minute yoga class
Calories: 1561

Yep sustainability is key! Keep up the good work!!

Day 29
 

WI: 173.0 :carrot: It's official! I have met my original goal of 100 pounds!! Now, on to 165!! :carrot:

Breakfast: 1/2 c cinnamon cheerios plus 1/2 c kashi go lean (fiber twig) cereal, skim milk, whole grain english muffin, all-natural pb, all-natural fruit spread (361)
Snack: FiberOne bar (140), gum (5)
Lunch: Lean pockets (480)
Dinner: Grilled chicken sandwich, fries, 2 miller lites

Exercise: Lots of yard work today. We both have the day off and my husband rented a bobcat and we're digging up the yard for our trees/bushes that are supposed to be delivered sometime next week.
Calories: ??