Slimmer This Summer - Week Two Completed

Well, we have come to the end of our second week in the Slimmer This Summer Challenge. Yesterday I weighed in at 188, which is a loss of 1lb. for the week.

However, I succumbed to a piece of The Man's birthday cake last night as well as a 1/2 bowl of his noodles and when I stepped on the scale this morning, it said I gained 3 lbs since yesterday. Obviously the white stuff has got me again in the form of water weight gain. I hate that my body is so susceptible to flour, salt, etc. I have noticed, though, that fruit and whole grains do not affect me in that way at all. For example.. I ate a small bowl of spaghetti earlier in the week. Within an hour I had fallen into a practical coma. This happens whenever I eat refined sugar or white flour. But, I can eat fruit, even bananas, which are loaded with natural sugar and do not feel any adverse effects. I eat a bowl of quick cooking oats every evening and it does not affect me at all except that it keeps me from having Restless. (Don't know why, but it works!)

So, this week, I am going to stay away from all white foods. No potatoes or pasta or anything with refined sugar. I will continue to eat fruits and vegetables regardless of their carb count. And, we will see what happens.

I also haven't worked out in a few days. And I can feel that I need to get back on track with that. I don't feel all that bad about taking a few days off as I did so because my body was just not feeling capable of performing anything strenuous for those days. Old injuries acting up, etc. I did reach my goal of 210 minutes of exercise per week, though.

I am off to visit everyone's blog and check on our group's progress now! Let's kick some serious butt this week!


View my complete Food Diary HERE.

Slimmer This Summer - Day 4

I'm feeling really good about today. I made lots of good food choices, which was much easier since I went grocery shopping yesterday. I spread out my meals throughout the day and didn't let myself get ravenous. So, food-wise, I think I did pretty well.

I also did 60 minutes on Bertha, my new (old) exercise bike. 45 minutes at 5mph and the last 15 minutes at 10 mph. Then I did Day 9, Level 1 of The 30 Day Shred. I did not raise my arm above my head and I think that by not being in so much pain from doing that, I was able to handle the rest of it much better. I'm a little sore in the shoulder, but I'm headed off to take a hot shower and rub it down with Icy Hot.

I'm praying that I can actually sleep tonight.

Your Food Diary For:

Thursday June 9, 2011

Breakfast	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Coffee-Mate ( French Vanilla) Sugar Free - Coffee Creamer Liquid, 2 tbsp	30	4	2	0	10	0
Coffee - Brewed from grounds, 2 cup (8 fl oz)	5	0	0	1	9	0
Kellogg's - Special K - Red Berries Cereal, 1 cup	110	27	0	2	190	9
Skim - Milk, 8 oz	80	11	0	8	120	11
Add Food Quick Tools Quick add calories Remember meal Copy yesterday Copy from date Copy to date Copy from which date? Wednesday, June 8 Tuesday, June 7 Monday, June 6 Sunday, June 5 Saturday, June 4 Friday, June 3 Thursday, June 2 Copy to which date? Sunday, June 12 Saturday, June 11 Tomorrow Today Yesterday Tuesday, June 7 Monday, June 6	225	42	2	11	329	20
Lunch
Hellman's Light Mayonnaise - Mayonaise, 2 Tbsp	80	0	9	0	230	0
Buddig - Deli Cuts Honey Roasted Turkey Breast, 6 slices	70	3	2	9	460	3
Healthy Life - 100% Whole Grain Wheat Bread. Sugar Free 40 Calories, 2 slice	80	16	1	4	150	0
Generic - Cracker Chips Special K Sea Salt, 7.5 chips	28	0	0	0	0	0
Add Food Quick Tools Quick add calories Remember meal Copy yesterday Copy from date Copy to date Copy from which date? Wednesday, June 8 Tuesday, June 7 Monday, June 6 Sunday, June 5 Saturday, June 4 Friday, June 3 Thursday, June 2 Copy to which date? Sunday, June 12 Saturday, June 11 Tomorrow Today Yesterday Tuesday, June 7 Monday, June 6	258	19	12	13	840	3
Dinner
Hellman's Light Mayonnaise - Mayonaise, 2 Tbsp	80	0	9	0	230	0
Generic - Onion Raw Chopped 1/2 Cup, 0.25 cup	16	4	0	0	1	2
80/20 Ground Chuck - Hamburger, 3 oz.(112g)	203	0	16	15	56	0
General - Iceburg Lettuce, 1.5 cup (72g)	15	3	0	2	11	2
Add Food Quick Tools Quick add calories Remember meal Copy yesterday Copy from date Copy to date Copy from which date? Wednesday, June 8 Tuesday, June 7 Monday, June 6 Sunday, June 5 Saturday, June 4 Friday, June 3 Thursday, June 2 Copy to which date? Sunday, June 12 Saturday, June 11 Tomorrow Today Yesterday Tuesday, June 7 Monday, June 6	314	7	25	17	298	4
Snacks
Dannon Light & Fit 4oz (113g) - Nonfat Yogurt - Raspberry, 1 container - 4 oz.	60	10	0	3	50	7
Krogers - Low Sodium Rice Cakes, 1 cake	30	7	0	1	20	0
Kellog's Special K - Raspberry Cheesecake Cereal Bar, 1 bar	90	17	2	1	75	7
Kroger - 100% Whole Grain Oats (Quick Cooking), 1/2 cup uncooked	150	27	3	6	0	1
Smart Balance - Light Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 1 tbsp (14g)	50	0	5	0	70	0
Maple Grove Farms - Sugar Free Low Calorie Butter Flavored Syrup, 1/4 cup	30	11	0	0	100	0
Add Food Quick Tools Quick add calories Remember meal Copy yesterday Copy from date Copy to date Copy from which date? Wednesday, June 8 Tuesday, June 7 Monday, June 6 Sunday, June 5 Saturday, June 4 Friday, June 3 Thursday, June 2 Copy to which date? Sunday, June 12 Saturday, June 11 Tomorrow Today Yesterday Tuesday, June 7 Monday, June 6	410	72	10	11	315	15
Totals	1,207	140	49	52	1,782	42
Your Daily Goal	2,160	297	72	81	2,500	43
Remaining	953	157	23	29	718	1
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 960 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today... You'd weigh 175.8 lbs in 5 weeks

Water Consumption 11

Today's Food Notes

If every day were like today... You'd weigh 175.8 lbs in 5 weeks

View my complete Food Diary HERE.

30 Day Shred Day 9 Level 1

I am one day behind in the 30 Day Shred. But, only because I was so busy yesterday with the family and I did get a lot of movement in with the hiking and fishing, etc. I burned just as many calories as I would have with the Shred, so I'm not sweating it at all. I will just continue on today with Day 9 on Level 1.

I have to admit, this workout is HARD for me. Even now, after more than a week into it. Not all of it, just the jumping and raising my right arm above my head. I've done a lot of modifying it to accommodate for my injuries. In the beginning, I really tried not do do that, but you know what? I need to do what is best for my own body and the pain that I was in and am in if I push those injuries too hard is just wrong for me.

The modifications that I have made are that I do wall pushups instead of floor pushups now because my shoulder just cannot handle that much stress at this point. I only do the arm raises above my head until I feel 'that you are pushing too hard' feeling that I know will lead to severe pain that is not a good 'burn', then I do other arm exercises with the weights during the strength training circuits. And no matter what Jillian says about jumping jacks, I have a leg with a steel rod from knee to ankle and after the first 30 or so it lets me know that it is not what it used to be pre-accident, so I run in place during the rest of the jumping jacks. I don't slow down, nor do I take breaks. I just have to modify for my body's abilities. No excuses.

I had a couple days of not 'over eating', but eating over my initial calorie goal of 1200. This is due to bad planning on my part and I am sitting down today and planning out the rest of this week's meals in advance. I find that on days when I am very busy running around instead of being at home, I go too long between meals and snacks and then eat more in one meal than I should because I am ravenous! No more. Planning, planning, planning. Something to work on.

I am extremely over-tired this week as I've been dealing with a lack of sleep due to Restless Leg Syndrome. Or in my case, Restless Body Syndrome. I've been trying to find ways to help it, such as taking Melatonin, Potassium and Magnesium, even doing half an hour of stretching exercises before going to bed. However, so far.... no luck. It's been every night for over a week now and it's really catching up to me. Lack of sleep tends to cause me to be overly emotional, cranky, sad and just plain miserable. I hope that I figure out a way to get some needed rest soon. The Melatonin worked for the first week and I got so much rest, I felt awesome. The second week, it quit working. So now I've upped my dose to 6mg and it's still not working. *sigh* More experiments on that to come.

I also just want to say a group "Great Job, Ladies" to everyone who is in this challenge with me! You are all doing wonderfully and I'll be stopping by your blogs soon to leave my mark!



View my complete Food Diary HERE.

Starting Weigh In: Plus Size Bloggers Tracking Challenge: Bye Bye Booties!

My starting weight for this challenge is 191. I was right about the water weight yesterday as this morning I was back down from 193. That was after drinking like 16 8-oz. glasses of water yesterday and getting up four times during the night to pee!

So, anyway... I found yet another challenge. Nothing like keeping my motivation and accountability up, right? Besides, it gives me even more people to encourage, which is what I so totally enjoy !

The goal for this challenge is to lose 15 pounds in 12 weeks. Totally doable, right? Sheesh, the way my weight fluctuates, who knows at this point, right? But, I'm in. That would make my goal weight for this challenge, which ends on August 29th, 176 lbs.

Off we go!

Slimmer This Summer - June 6th - August 28th

If you have been reading my blog or know me from MyFitnessPal.com , you already know that when it comes to motivation, encouragement and support, I'm all about it. While blog hopping today I came across another Blogger Support Group doing a 12 week challenge called Slimmer This Summer.

I am so in!

Here are my goals for these next 84 Days:

• In the next 12 weeks I would like to lose a total of 18 lbs. That would bring my weight down to 173 and averages out to 1.5 lb.s per week.
• In the next 12 weeks I will continue to drink at least 80 oz. of water per day.
  
• In the next 12 weeks I will continue on with working out for a minimum of 30 minutes per day, Monday through Saturday. Sunday will continue to be my Rest Day.
• My beginning measurements are: Waist: 35", Hips: 42.25", Chest: 35", Thigh: 27", Upper Arm: 13.5". My beginning weight is 191 lbs.
  
• During the next 12 weeks I will continue to track my caloric intake, exercise and water consumption at www.MyFitnessPal.com and post it here regularly for those who are not members of My Fitness Pal.
  
• During the next 12 weeks and beyond I will continue to support and encourage others in the Slimmer This Summer Challenge!

30 Day Shred Day 3 Level 1

I have now completed three days on level 1 of Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred. My body is sore in places I didn't know could get sore!

I do my workout in my sons' room and it has to be the hottest room in the house, even with the air conditioner on. I have no idea why. But, by the time my 30 minutes is up and I come out, I am sweating like a pig. Whoever said that women only glow is out of their mind. I SWEAT!

Some of the exercises have been getting a little easier. By easier, I guess I mean that I can do more of them in the 30-second or so circuits now. But, my calves have been screaming and so have my shoulders. The ab-work isn't all that hard for me. Even though you probably couldn't find my abs if you tried right now. I am still able to do crunches correctly.
Now, lunges... that is another story. Wow, do they hurt!

BUT, I am pushing past all that and continuing on. I know that eventually it will start getting easier. Hopefully before I start level 2!

I have been contemplating taking more before pics. The ones I have are pretty 'clothed' compared to some of the before pics I've been looking at. However, I tried on a bikini the other day and was NOT happy with the image in the mirror - and I could only see myself from the waist up! Sigh. I suppose that is the whole purpose, though, right? To be able to see the progression from your scary before pics?

I've been sticking to my diet and water intake goals. Staying under my allotted calories and drinking at least 12 8 oz. glasses of water per day. It seems that my tastes have been changing a bit. I can now detect salt in the smallest amounts and my body just refuses to let it past my lips. Even in things with no added salt. I tried to eat a premade hamburger patty the other day and it tasted so salty that I had to spit it out and throw it away. And it was something I would never have noticed before. I am getting that with the fattier foods and sugarier foods as well. Which is all good. If I don't like the foods that are the worst for me it makes it much easier to not eat them!

I have felt a little weird lately, since I have been so active. When I get up in the morning and throughout the day, I feel ... well... hot. Kind of like I am running a fever, but I'm not. I'm not sure what it is, but I tell myself that it could possibly be my body burning up calories and I'm just not used to it since my body has had such a long restful period for the last few years and didn't need to warm up to do anything! If any of you know what I'm talking about, fill me in, please?

Week Two Completed

OK, so my goals for this week were:

1. Take my measurements (CHECK)
   
2. Research for more healthy food choices (CHECK)
   
3. Get adequate rest (Did My Best!)
   
4. Cardio at least 5 out of 7 days (Nope, my shoulder was in too much pain, plus more below)
   
5. Add circuit / strength training to my workouts (Half-Check)
   
6. Meet my calorie requirements (CHECK)
   
7. Get new measuring cups and spoons to more adequately measure portions (CHECK)

I am only taking my measurements every other week, so next week I will update as to whether I have lost any inches (or millimeters). You can find my starting measurements HERE.

I did research some more healthy foods, but have yet to go to the grocery store. I try to only grocery shop once a week and tomorrow is 'That Day'. I will let you know what I come up with after the big shopping trip.

As for getting adequate rest - I did my best. I think I got to bed before midnight maybe twice this week. But I did get to sleep for a whole six to 7 hours on two different occasions.

Cardio - My workouts this week have been sorry to say the least. I had two good days of a little bit of cardio and a bunch of stretching. My shoulder is feeling better the last few days, but it has really slowed me down. I have to mention here that I am not being a wimp. I have been in constant pain for over 10 years now, since a very bad 3-wheeling accident which left me with a lot of damage to my leg, back and hip. And a few years ago, I seriously injured my rotator cuff. Add to that the fact that I was diagnosed with arthritis at age 17 and you've got one hurting unit, lol. So, I've taken it easy in order to not injure my shoulder any worse than it already is. And the rest has helped.

I've noticed that my body has a hard time with high impact aerobics - the jumping (landing), etc. I have a steel rod from knee to ankle in my left leg and other bone damage to that ankle and foot. So, I have to be careful not to hurt myself. So.....

I think I may spend more time doing calisthenics and throw in the cardio as a bonus instead of the other way around. I went and picked up a stability ball and will begin using that this week.

I have met my calorie requirements all week. That is actually the part that I have the least problem with. Most days I have a hard time even getting close to 1200 calories. I did have some trouble going over my sodium recommendations a few days this week and thanks to that and TOM and the rain coming soon I am having a bit of a water retention issue. I do drink TONS of water, though, so hopefully soon that will all even out soon.

I'm using my new measuring cups and spoons every meal. Once I got over the shock of how small a serving size was I did fine. The key for me is to totally S L O W down when I eat and concentrate on what I'm doing. Usually, by the time my food is gone I am full. Remember, it takes at least 15 minutes for you to feel full once you already are full. So, slowing down will help you to feel that feeling before you over-stuff yourself.

OK, so now... the news that you've all been waiting for! (I know, I know, I am over-enthusiastic about how into my story you are, right?)

How much weight did I lose this week? I'm trying not to be disappointed, since earlier in the week I showed a Five Pound Weight Loss. And, again, I am blaming this all on TOM and Rain. But, I'm still happy. At least the scale moved!

I lost TWO pounds this week.

So, I am down to 193 with 48 lbs more to go. Not too bad for my activity level being seriously sidelined.

To be continued...

Week One Completed

It has officially been one week since I started to make the changes in my life to become a healthier and happier person. I have logged all my food, as well as my water intake and daily movement with SparkPeople and MyFitnessPal. Though at times I had very stressful situations happen, I neither turned to or away from food as a comfort or a punishment.

I have tried to keep my calorie intake to around 1200 daily, but had some trouble on a few days. Not going over, but going under. I've also been paying closer attention to my sodium intake and am shocked at how easy it is to reach or exceed my daily goal.

I've been very surprised to see how much salt is in the foods you wouldn't normally consider salty. Unfortunately, this has limited the foods I would normally think were ok to eat. This week I will spend some time researching more healthy food choices in order to have a bigger selection.

Today is my official weigh-in day and though I have burned over 2.000 calories through exercise and eliminated 3.500 calories through calorie restriction, I am afraid that I have not lost even one pound. While I am tempted to be discouraged, I am taking into consideration that my size 12 jeans that were very tight, especially first coming out of the dryer, were actually very comfortable when I wore them yesterday.

Also, I never did take my measurements before I started this journey, so this morning I picked up a measuring tape in order to compare this week to next week just in case the scale doesn't move.

All in all, I feel pretty good about the past week. I did 30-45 minutes of exercise, 6 out of 7 days. Thursday I had to take a day off because I hurt so badly all over, especially my shoulder due to an old rotator cuff injury.

My energy level has been good, except for the fact that my sleep is in one 4-5 hour stretch at night and maybe a nap during the day, if I'm lucky. I would much rather a complete 8 hours at once. In order to do that and get up at 5 a.m., I need to go to bed at 9 p.m. instead of staying up until 1-2 a.m. every night. Not so easy.

Drinking over 8 glasses of water a day has been no problem. I started doing that back in January. I really have no desire to drink anything else, except for my coffee in the mornings.

In conclusion, my goals for this week are:

1. Take my measurements
2. Research for more healthy food choices
3. Get adequate rest
4. Cardio at least 5 out of 7 days
5. Add circuit / strength training to my workouts
6. Meet my calorie requirements
7. Get new measuring cups and spoons to more adequately measure portions (I did this this morning!)

Some small victories this week:

• I did not eat any of the freshly baked chocolate chip cookies that DD14 baked
• Even though I REALLY wanted a bacon cheeseburger, I opted for a portabella mushroom veggie burger instead.
• When The Man insisted on going to Ryan's for the Mega Breakfast Buffet, I thought hard about how hard I worked this week and then settled for only a glass of ice water, a 3 eggs scrambled and 3 links of pork sausage. ( I admit, though.. it was pretty torturous)

My reward for getting through the week without 'messing up':

Dying my hair today! Really needs it... been putting it off.