Plateau Broken - Finally

I finally broke through my two-week plateau.  This morning's weigh-in revealed a 1 1/2 pound loss.  I can't tell you how happy I am.  I was feeling so frustrated and dangerously close to a full-on binge.

My husband recently joined a weight loss challenge at work and it has helped me tremendously.  In fact, if he hadn't been so supportive over the weekend, when I was feeling my weakest, I probably would have given up.

I am a little annoyed with him though.  In his first week he lost as much weight as it has taken me a month to lose.  All annoyance and kidding aside; I'm so proud of him and myself for making the decision to get healthy.

Tonight we had spaghetti squash with meat sauce for dinner.  I use it in place of regular spaghetti noodles.  It's very good and we don't miss the pasta at all.  I love that you get the added vegetables without really noticing.  This is especially helpful where my son is concerned.

It gets easier to make better/healthier decision with each passing day.  I feel stronger in my resolve than I have in a really long time and
positive about my progress.  And even though I have a really long road ahead of me, I finally feel like I have a little momentum behind me.

Frustration

Monday, October 13, 2014 - 9:00 a.m.

I know I really shouldn't be complaining.  I have lost 7 1/2 pounds since starting over.  But this past week the scale hasn't moved and it is incredibly frustrating.

I have tracked all my food, I have stayed within my calorie range, I have exercised and nothing, not even 1/2 a pound.  It's days like this that I get so discouraged and wonder if it's even worth the fight.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not giving up.  I just need to vent and I promised I would be honest.  I wouldn't be being honest with you or myself if I didn't admit how hard this is sometimes.

Monday, October 13, 2014 - 10:48 p.m.

After the frustration of this morning's weigh-in I was determined not to let my disappointment affect my choices today.  In the past it has been my downfall.  Having a bad weigh-in would almost always lead to a binge.

Not today, today I made solid choices.  I had soup for lunch and a smart, healthy afternoon snack.  I saved the bulk of my calories for this evening.  I had Bunco at a friend's house and I was pretty certain there would be something tempting to eat; and I was right.  My dear friend made Apple Dumplings for dessert and I was able to indulge.

I'm so proud of myself for not losing control.  I can go to sleep tonight with no regrets on my mind.

Starting Over Again

"I can not change yesterday, but I can change today!"

I am so hesitant to come back to this blog.  It's extremely difficult for me to admit my failure.  When I started this journey, I really thought I would be so much further along. But, here I am, over a year later, starting over.


I have failed at every attempt I have made to lose weight since high school.  I have gone up and down the scale 10, 20, 30, even 50 pounds.  And, I have gained it all back every time.  The most frustrating part of this struggle is that I can't explain or understand why I can't seem to win this battle.  Why I can't hold on to the success.  

It's so hard to think about needing the lose weight 24/7.  I get so tired of counting calories and thinking about all the food I shouldn't eat, but desperately want.  

In the past three weeks I have started using Fitness Pal again; entering everything I eat and staying within my calorie goal.  I have also started exercising.  I have lost 7 1/2 pounds so far.  

I'm not going to lie to you, it's been hard.  I don't like recording everything I eat, I don't like counting calories and I hate exercising.  What I do like is the progress.  It feels good to see results.  I pray daily that I can keep it up and not lose my will power.  

I also have to tell you that I'm not doing this just to lose weight or to look good.  It stopped being about that a long time ago.  My main goal at this point in my life is to be healthier.  I need to be able to breath when I walk.  I want to feel comfortable in my own skin.  

If you want to follow me on this journey, you are welcome.  I will always be real.  I will share my struggle, my joy, my success, my failure, no matter how ugly it gets; I will be real.  
I welcome your feedback.  Share your journey, your tips, or just your encouragement in the comments section.  Haters are not welcome.  There is no need or usefulness in nasty or hurtful comments.

So, why am I back here today?  The answer is that no matter how many times I fall down, I always get back up.  

Tip of the Day:  I'm eating a lot of apples right now.  They seem to satisfy my sweet tooth and they're also filling between meals.  My favorite is Honey Crisp.

Smart Snacking - Quick Tip

Did You Know?

On average, nut eaters weigh about 4 pounds less than people who snack on other types of foods.  One possible explanation:  The body doesn't absorb up to 20% of the calories in nuts.  But don't go overboard.  Use these guidelines to stay within a 125-calorie serving:  9 walnut halves, 17 almonds, 30 pistachios, 13 cashews, 23 peanuts.

Quick Tip - Shopping

Did you know?

Need to go to the grocery store?  Go right after eating lunch.  People who shop after a meal are more likely to purchase more low-calorie items.  If you need to go at a later time, try eating a healthy snack before hand.

#quicktip

Weight Loss Update & Tips for Surviving the Holidays

It has been slow going, but I have lost a total of 26 pounds since returning from vacation in June.  I'm feeling so much better.  I have more energy and I am feeling more confident in myself.

I have to admit that I have fell off the wagon a few times, but I haven't given up.  I have been doing my best in the past month.  I wanted to get on track and get my head clear and straight before the holidays.  I feel more confident than ever that I can reach my goal this time.

Well, I just wanted to give a little update on my progress, but I also wanted to share some tips I have come across to stay on track during the holidays.

Choose these snacks/appetizers at parties or holiday functions:

Cheese:  A small serving (1 oz. or 5 small cubes) of full-fat cheese is loaded with protein.  Choose full-flavor cheeses like Parmesan or Gouda, their sharp taste can help satisfy cravings quickly.

Festive Nuts: Toss 1 cups each of almonds, walnuts and pecans, 3 tablespoons olive oil, 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, 4-5 sprigs of fresh thyme or rosemary, a pinch of red pepper flakes, sea salt and pepper.  Roast in the oven at 350 on a baking sheet for 20 to 25 minutes.

Nuts are high in calories.  To avoid overdoing it place a handful of nuts on your plate and snack on that throughout the evening instead of grabbing a handful every time you pass the bowl.

Dark Chocolate:  New research finds that the antioxidants found in dark chocolate can boost your mood and calm your body's response to stress.  Try a serving of one truffle or two squares of dark chocolate containing 70% or higher cocoa per day.

Shrimp:  An appetizer of 9 medium shrimp can fill you up and only contains 50 calories.  Shrimp contains omega-3 fats, which helps you stay fuller longer.

I'm Still Here

Hi everybody.  Sorry, I've been MIA for a while.  So much has been going on, but I'm still hanging in here.

I must admit that I fell off the wagon for just a bit, but I am back on track and doing better than ever.  I had to get my head on straight with the holidays approaching so quickly.

I'm going to try to post some holiday tips in the next few days.  I just wanted to check in and let you know I'm still at it.

Please check back soon for some holiday tips to stay on track!

God bless and have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!