Here's to a Life of Liberty

[LibertyJen]

Okay, I mean it this time! I am going to journal my way to victory here if it is all I can do!

I start the "treadmill" again tomorrow: Going to plan out what I eat and how I burn it off. I know I will feel better and look better and it is the best thing I can do to show my family that there is a better way. I know I have not been the best example to them ... so it starts now.

I have found success in the past ... I can have success now.

10/01/2006 ... 5'4" ... 202 pounds. Goal: 135 pounds.

[BellaCarol]

Well welcome! I know you can do it
You can visit LC Queens, we all started around October 1st!

[LibertyJen]

A New Day Begins ...

Bella has shown me through her journal entries that I need to be using this tool to track my progress ... Thanks for the idea ... I am still new to this bulletin board thing!

I have been very frustrated at myself for a long time ... more so recently. I know what I should be doing (heck, if they gave advanced degrees for understanding Low Carb I would be teaching the classes ...), but I am not doing it. Why am I holding myself back? I find myself very overwhelmed with life at this point: and most things are going well. I feel like I am past a tipping point as far as stress goes ... and I hear myself affirming this when I speak. I am resolving this weekend to enjoy every moment of the busy-ness and to accept the fact that right now in my life I have alot on my plate. Obsessing about the things I hate is only holding me back:
My fat jeans no longer fit. It is okay, I will fix that with this WOE.
My house is a mess. It is okay, my family is healthy.
My work is demanding a lot of time. It is okay, I am building a new business.
I am finding it so difficult to find time to work out. It is okay, I can take baby steps.
I find myself gravitating back to bad choices and habits ... giving up so easily the ground I found so hard to gain. It is okay, I know what to do to win it back.
I am so discouraged to see "200s" again on the scale. It is okay, I will honor myself with better choices now in order to see the difference later.

I am going to my parents' home today in Indianapolis. My Aunt is struggling with Breast Cancer, just finished her Chemo and Radiation routine. She has gained back the weight she had lost. My mom, who has always been the svelte cheerleader type, and my dad, who has always been only slightly heavy, are both now struggling with their weight. Today we are celebrating my youngest's THREE YEAR OLD birthday ... and I am so proud of her. She is a loving, strong little girl (she is all into being a Princess right now!). And I resolve to enjoy this day rather than be stressing about all of the above. Work can be done tomorrow, and it will be done tomorrow ... as I have a full day's worth of commitments to be accomplished.

I bought a set of the new FIRM DVDs ... I used to use the FIRM exclusively ten years ago. I am looking forward to getting back with it. I also have a few of Leslie Sansone's Walk Away the Pounds DVDs, which I will fall back on after I overexert myself with the FIRM ... HA! I have met a wonderful, generous personal trainer who hosts a live workout class on Monday evenings ... and she invited me to visit on Monday. I am looking forward to having a contact who will look me in the eye and give me honest feedback.

RX for today: Honor yourself today by celebrating all the good around you. Make wise choices, but accept that poor choices are not the end of the struggle. Go for a walk today and enjoy the fresh air. Complete a meal plan for the week which allows for planning ahead of snacks and lunches, setting up the opportunity for wise choices and great success for the next week.

[cleochatra]

Hi girlfriend! It's so awesome to see you journalling! It really helps with accountability, and getting feedback sometimes is a good swift kick to the right butt cheek as well! I love your positive can-do attitude! You remind me of a lady I adored who was my neighbor in Dallas.

Here's to your success!

[LibertyJen]

What a Monday ... My job became even more stressful this AM due to a Sales Manager in another part of our state being diagnosed with Cancer: He will be out for a good bit while deciding on treatment options. He is a friend, and I am heartbroken over his situation. His absence creates more strain on my team.

But I determined my way through it. Even went to my appointment tonight with a new Physical Trainer: She teaches a kick butt class (along with circuit training) on Monday nights. I loved it. Just to have someone in my face encouraging me and supporting me along the way is going to be key. And she is a keeper! I even met a woman I have been admiring from afar, yet have never had a chance to meet ... she is a member of this class! What a hoot!

Breakfast: Egg poached with 2 strips of bacon, no coffee (ran out of time to make some!), Lots of water.
Snack: Half an apple, cheese stick and an XS Energy Drink *the best drink ever made, next to water*, Lots of water
Lunch: Protein shake, handful of nuts, 2 oz of Beef Roast (I ran home to finish making Beef Veggie Soup for the family in the crock pot ... WOW! Is it ever good!!! Made it super chunky ... gotta add more broth and tomatoes to it, but the crock pot is full!), Lots of water.
Snack: Half a protein bar, Lots of water.
Got my butt kicked in LaRae's Class ...
Dinner: Huge bowl of homemade veggie beef soup (so yummy!), CarbQuick biscuit with butter, Lots of water.
Snack: I am baking an Impossible Coconut Pie (recipe on this site) ... and I am going to have to eat a slice!

I weighed myself this morning ... and despaired! I now weigh in at 207, what has happened to me!!! I feel much better after maintaining control today. And it is really helping that my DH is starting to eat this way along with me. Although he is doing the whole ketosis goal, and I am not ... He slides into ketosis so easily ... Men! UGH!

Here's to a life of Liberty!!

[LibertyJen]

Happy Tuesday ... Although that is optimistic ... I just took my measurements for the first time in a year ... WOW! Makes you want to crawl back under the covers!

On the bright side, I have a new starting point! I will choose to look at the bright side!

That Impossible Coconut Pie is very yummy! I may even have some for breakfast today!!!

[LibertyJen]

So I have been very good this week ... really helps that DH is supporting me by joining me on this journey (although he is breaking my grocery budget by buying up every legal snack he can think of at the store! HA! I now have five different varieties of low carb wraps in the fridge!).

Today is my youngest daughter's birthday. She is a big three year old! Hard to believe, she is growing up so fast. She announced this morning that she is gettting to be SO BIG! Gotta love it! Thank God that Walmart sells those little birthday cakes: at least the kids will eat cake with her (gladly) tonight!

B: Impossible Coconut Pie; orange jello (found it in the fridge, it was sugar free and really good!); cup of decaf coffee with Hood's milk and Splenda.
S: XS energy drink; string cheese
L: Leftover VEGGIE BEEF SOUP (from last week ... gotta be the best ever! ); CarbQuick biscuit; half a portion of leftover CREAMY CHICKEN MUSHROOM SKILLET (my favorite chicken recipe!)
S: Pistachios as we watch a movie as a family
D: Roast Ham (marinaded in Orange Cranberry Mustard); steamed broccoli; sweet potato bake. Whitman's sugar free chocolates for dessert (as the kids eat Birthday Cake).

My TOM started today ... two days early ... grrrr! I have struggled with my rhythm for five years now. Started using Arbonne's Prolief which has alleviated all my PMS symptoms (so I was surprised to be early today!), but my schedule is still off. Was as bad as every 21 days, so I will take 26 days for now! HA!

[LibertyJen]

Happy November ... I survived a Scary Halloween! I am exhausted, finsihed the end of the month well at work ... rushed home: painted three adorable faces, ran to church ... played at the the Family Fun fair (all while wearing my daughter's witch hat ... my friends thought that was appropriate! HA!). Rushed home, threw everyone through "military showers" ... put them to bed. Whew.

Then I remembered that there was still Chocolate cake leftover from Jack's birthday (which was Sunday). I actually went downstairs and picked up the bakery box ... contemplated ... then put it down, ate some protein and went to bed.

So today I willl celebrate the small victories ... all while eating my eggs and sausage for breakfast.

The key for me is PROTEIN throughout the day. I am eating two servings of fruits a day, and at least two servings of a high fiber grain. Then to remember to eat Protein rich snacks mid morning and mid afternoon ...

I will be free ...

[LibertyJen]

Okay, so maybe I need FitDay ... My clothes are fitting so much better now (it truly is remarkable how my body reacts to eating this way), but that darn scale is just not moving ... I whooshed and then it stopped. I hate FitDay ... I hate having one more thing to track and obsess over ... but maybe I am missing something and tracking it would be helpful. This time I am doing FitDay PC! Except I have two computers ... well, this all just is not encouraging.

And maybe it is STRESS ... I am just constantly running and fretting and running and fretting ... ugh ...

And maybe it is this cheap KMart scale I have had for twelve years... you know the kind you stand on five times in a row and the pendulum swings to five different results?

I will not be dismayed ... or discouraged ... but I would love to track some results! UGH!

[LibertyJen]

I gave in to saner advice: and downloaded FitDayPC. Now I have my progress staring me in the face!! As I thought, I am doing really well with my ratio of calories (60% fats / 30% proteins / 10% carbs), although yesterday I ate too many carbs! But I made up for it in protein counts, so it all equals out!

DH brought home CarbSmart chocolate ice cream ... so luscious with raspberries on top. Hard to only eat one serving! TeeHee! But we made it through a celebration at church last night without eating any cake ... even though our pastor was insisting we try some!

Today we were planning on painting our child #3's bedroom, and got through all the prep work ... just no paint! Child #1 has a bad rash ... which started to spread, so I took her over to the Urgent Care Center (there went three hours of my day...). She has IMPETIGO, which is a skin infection caused by Strep. Yup, I get to stay home AGAIN tomorrow. My Sales Manager is going to love this one: I started out this month with too many days off, and here will be another one! At some point I need to get some business done before my travels to Florida at the end of the month!

And I just need a break: I have a ton of work to complete before the obligatory trip to Florida; and no time to get it done. I am just not happy with the way my company is pressuring me to run my business ... and I am looking forward to having the freedom to tweak the processes in 2007. At least my SM understands that I am a Mom first, even when I don't ...

We had a great dinner tonight: I roast a pork roast in LC teriyaki sauce (should have marinated it first as the flavor was not very strong), served it with a green salad with Mucky Duck three cheese vinagrette and feta cheese, along with pineapple skewers and low carb tortilla chips with hummus. WOW! That was a full plate and I am stuffed. The tortilla chips I baked, and they worked out really well. I love hummus! I swear I am Greek at heart!

Okay gotta get the kiddos ready for bed ...

[cleochatra]

Hey sweetknees! I'm glad to be able to come in and give you big, huggy oomphies for being so awesome! I love reading your accountability and you have such a fun and caring personality! I hope you don't mind me nosing around in here. Plus, you have snacks.

I'm sorry to hear about having to go to the urgent care clinic, and I hope everyone will be quickly on the mend so that you can have a break!

{{{{you}}}}}

Have an awesome evening, beauty!

[LibertyJen]

Cleo, you are the best: And I have TONS Of snacks!! My WOE (Called Healthpointe 2.0) allows me to have as many legal snacks as I want throughout the day: and I have very yummy protein bars that taste like cookies that qualify as legal snacks! Hmmmmmmm... My snack of choice yesterday was almonds ... I love almonds! And I get to eat fruit ...

[LibertyJen]

What a day! I finally got back to work (my kiddos have been ill) and now I am buried further! TeeHee ... the stress level is so high that it just doesn't matter anymore ... I started taking St. John's Wort again, it helps to mellow me out...

Had a great day eating, though!
B: Hard Boiled egg with mayo (mmmmm...love deviled eggs!); decaf coffee with cream.
S: String cheese and XS energy drink (new flavor: Green tea with raspberry, and it was pretty darn good! Although it is strange drinking my energy drink without carbonation!)
L: LaRosa's! Cincinnati's favorite italian joint ... oh, so good! I have JoJo's BLT salad (with green olives, that was for you cleochatra, instead of tomatoes and no croutons). It is served with their famous creamy garlic dressing ... I could just drink that stuff! Good thing it comes tossed! And a big crock of their french onion soup, no bread crouton on top, just lots of cheese. Ahhhhhh, was the highlight of my day!
S: String cheese and slim fast Low Carb shake. My co-workers said "Slim Fast! No wonder you are losing weight" ... except I am not coping by only drinking Slim Fast! What a great way to eat!
D: Eggplant Parmigiana with LaRosa's pasta sauce ... cause I was craving italian after watching my lunch mate eat pasta! So good. Slice up those eggplants really thin ... yummy! And I don't even like veggies! I made mozzerrela crackers with garlic salt to dip in the sauce, my kiddos ate those right up!
S: Low Carb ice cream with raspberries and flax seed. Life just doesn't get any better.

See, the St John's Wort works wonders! I saved three clients today over $1000 in insurance premiums, and restructured their coverages so that they have stronger protection. That kinda day I would do everyday!!!

[LibertyJen]

Way too much on my plate yesterday ... and now I am just exhausted! I am working from home today as I am getting my kitchen and family room painted (wow, it is looking so nice! I cannot stand it!).

I still have been maintaining my good ratios: and have been eating plenty of good snacks. Last night I ate some sugar free candies that had gas-sy side effects ... obviously that SA got to me! WOW!

I am looking forward to some good stress relieving excercise today and to getting a lot of the TO DO list tackled.

[LibertyJen]

Here we go again ... Happy Valentine's Day ... I am making no progress.

I just have not cared enough to get back on track. I am lacking in energy, in effort, in attitude ... my clothes are not fitting me ... my hair is not styling the same.

I am depriving myself ... and I need to get back on track.

So what am I to do?

I am committing to a 13 week challenge through my employer's support network. 13 weeks ... 11 weeks of pushing and then two weeks of recovery. Where can I be in 13 weeks? On May 16th the challenge ends and I will re-evaluate where I stand.

1. Vital nutrients push: commit to every day vitamin supplement with fish oil as well. Also an energy drink every day. Using Nutrilite products.
2. Exercise: Rotating through exercise videos three days on, one day off, with thirty minutes each.
3. Stress relief: Rotating through yoga and pilates videos as well as daily walk sessions.
4. Eat in ratio: Push protein and water.

Start weight is 204. Ready, set, .... go...

[LibertyJen]

Hey, I am loving the every other month plan ... I am still getting no where ...

Where do I turn when my life is just on TILT all the time? And am I going to look back on this experience and wish that I would have set up my support network to find success here?

I had to look up my password ... I need to get a grip. I have a co-worker in the office who joined a gym in January, and she looks so fantastic. Our office went bowling last night. I look like I am wearing a tent ... she looked sexy! How do I get my life under control?

I posted that great post in February, then nothing. I am on FULL TILT all the time. And I am either on the plan obsessively or I am way off. Where does everyone find their balance? Maybe I will post that on the Board.

I have written out a three week plan. Maybe I need to break this down into pieces.

[LibertyJen]

Okay, I have given up ... I left to myself am going no where ... so I have enlisted some help!

Dr. Stacy Lang is my new doctor. She uses Nutritional Response Testing to treat the body with whole food supplements to cure what's ailing. I have discovered that I am having a reaction to EGGS and SOY ... two of the staples of my low carb eating. I am cutting them out now. Soy is a cheap oil to use in salad dressing ... so I will be making my own this month. Eggs are my best friend ... I eat them all day long. I am hoping that my sensitivity will go away with time.

I have also found that my pancreas has really taking a beating with all my ups and downs. My regular doctor has never said so, but I am sure I am well on my way to being pre-diabetic. Dr. Lang is treating my pancreas as well.

Dr. Lang is not a fan of artificial sweeteners...I love my Splenda! So I am trying to cull that as well.

I need to be an active member here in order to stay on the wagon ... I keep falling off. Thank you to all of you, in advance, who will in the near future, cheer me on to Victory!

[LibertyJen]

Had a great day TUESDAY!
B: Flax and whole wheat waffle with cashew butter (and a little hit of Splenda sweetened syrup ... shhh, don't tell!); sausage patty; coffee with cream and Splenda.
L: (Flick's with Jeff) Chicken salad supreme on salad greens, four olives, three strawberries
S: Roasted cajun almonds with parm cheese
WORKOUT: Zumba class with Julie at the Y
D: (Penn Station Subs) Philly Cheesesteak Salad, East Coast Style, no tomatoes.
Lots and lots of water!!!!
Took all my supplements and added a stress multivitamin to the mix.

Decided to keep a food log with me at all times. I have folded a plain white piece of paper into four sections. Now there is a title page and then a section for each day.

Decided to weigh myself every week to start with, eventually I will weigh myself twice a month. My commission schedule at work is thru the 15th and then the end of the month, plan on using that for a weigh-in schedule as well.

Just want my clothes to fit again!!! HA! I know I can do this.

Here's to a Life of Liberty!

Jen

[LibertyJen]

Still doing well ... wish every week could be as fun as the first week ... anyone else agree? Went to ZUMBA tonight ... got my butt kicked! New instructor and she is just pumped! Note to self: Don't stand in the front next week! Whew ... I have never sweat so hard. Is that even grammatically correct ... my brain is already on the pillow ...

Went to QDOBA today for that Mango Grilled Chicken Salad ... wow, it is to die for. I am so thankful to be eating fruit again!!!

Here's to a Life of Liberty!

[LibertyJen]

Here is yesterday's log:
B: Flax and whole wheat waffle with cashew butter and SF syrup
Coffee at Chamber of Commerce Watercooler Talk ... did not eat anything, just a cup of joe!
L: QDOBA Mango Grilled Chicken Salad, naked; Iced Tea (unsweetened with a hit of Minute Maid SF Lemonade)
D: Yogurt Protein Shake: Strawberries, pineapple, flax seed, one scoop protein powder, new yogurt (with cream on top?) ... it was really good ..; also had two strips of bacon and a sleeve of string cheese ... 'cause I was starving at 10pm!

I hate how spaced out timewise I am eating. Had breakfast at 6:30am, lunch at 2:30pm and dinner at 9:30pm. I acknowledge that I need to plan better snacks ... I ran out yesterday and didn't bring anything else with me. I did not cheat at all, but I acknowledge that in the weeks to come this will be an issue...

Going to be a busy Friday ... have a big presentation at lunch time, it is before friends, but that still makes me nervous! Then off to a client's home, and then back home to pack up for the weekend. We are going camping and I still haven't finished my meal planning ... never a good sign!

[LibertyJen]

So, after a week of celebrating that my self-discipline has kept me from seasonal allergies and my bi-annual sinus infection ... yup, I got sick! And I have been down for the count since Friday. Now it is Monday and I gotta get back to my life! I haven't worked out since last Tuesday (no wonder I feel sluggish!) and I have eaten all sorts of yucky foods. I know I can push through this obstacle! This board is so helpful with suggestions ... I am reclaiming my immunity!!!