Mind over Fatter - Nolagina's Journal

[nolagina]

I've been hesitating about journaling through my weight loss but decided since I want this to be the last time I go through this pain; a journal might help.

Who am I: I'm 42 years old - 5'2"
Live in North Texas
Married, no children
Operations VP in a major financial company

Goal: To lose 101 lbs by December 31, 2007.
Goal weight: 135

What I'm doing: Protein Power
Current minimum protein requirement is 60 grams per day; max number of effective carbs per day is 40. (Phase I)

Trying to keep my caloric intake to 1600 calories or less. This is the number of calories required to maintain a weight of about 135 lbs. with some activity.

I started the Nordic Track 2 weeks ago. I'm up to 20 minutes a day/5 days a week.

My end goal for exercise is to exercise (cardio) 45-60 minutes/5 days a week and lift weights 50-60 minutes/2 days a week.

I'm keeping a "food journal" in Fitday.

I've given myself 3 mini goals to start.... First mini goal is to lose 10% of my initial weight (24 lbs) by February 28. I'm 4-5 lbs away as of today (2/1).

Second mini goal is to gain entry into ONEWONDERLAND (199) by April 30. a

Final mini goal is to get to 50 lbs down - halfway point (186) by June 30.

Lowcarbfriends has been helpful... Although the site can be intimidating at times...

[nolagina]

Exercising this morning was tough! I skipped yesterday because I just couldn't get myself out of bed... Every minute seemed a challenge. I thought I was on a roll and it was getting a lot easier.

I don't know why I'm having pain in my lower back while I'm Nordic Tracking. It was kind of intense. I've also started stretching afterwards. I'm hoping that will help with the pain.

But my goal was to do 90 minutes this week and I managed to do 18 minutes today. Tomorrow's the last day for this week. I hope I'm just hitting a mark where my body is getting ready for the next challenge...

Hmm.. Since I'm traveling out of town next week - I probably should do my 5 days Sunday-Thursday. I want to go for 100 minutes... That way I won't feel badly.. However, I should be doing lots of walking so that will be good.

Fitday Stats for yesterday:

1288 calories
90 g fat 63%
28 g carbs 7%
5 g fiber
93 g protein 29%

Hmm.. Had 3 double stacks yesterday.. Not the way I want to eat.

Weight this a.m. 217.0 down .4 from Thursday... I'm trying to be patient.. I want so much to hit that 10% goal. I've got time but I want to be there before my bday in 24 days....

BP @ 12:58 p.m. 100/69 (maybe I can get off meds now!)

Pulse - 96

[nolagina]

Boy, I really blew it today...

I made one of Linda Sue's recipes (Tyler's Beef Stroganoff) and when I looked at the finished product, it didn't seem like much... So instead of the 6 servings she recommended; I divided into 2 for DH and me...

Carbs weren't too bad (7.12) for half; but the calories were over 1500 for 1/2 servings... So I ended up with over 2200 calories for the day and I feel like a bloated pig...

So I'm going to have take the calories low for the next few days to compensate... And I just hit a new low.

I also wonder if the "Egg Dish" caused me to slow my progress. I've been pretty consistent with 2 lbs and last week was 1.4. I can't complain. Today is 2 months of LCing and I'm 20 lbs down. I feel better.

We got a George Foreman Next Generation Grillerator.. So I'm hoping that will help by keeping meals simple. I realize I need to keep my protein portions around 4 oz...

Planning meatloaf for Tuesday so that should be something I can portion... Been thinking about those Food Savers thingamiggies.. However, the kitchen isn't that big and I'm not sure I have space for another appliance.

DH found some items at the store today that will help him create some LC version of fave cocktails. I really don't want to get back in the cocktail habit we had pre-LC. Perhaps one on Friday nights will be ok; but NOT UNTIL I START HITTING MY GOALS..


I know slow and steady is the way to go but I want this weight gone... I want hit my halfway point and I want to see a difference in mirror.... Clothes do fit better and I feel better. I knew this first 24 lbs was going to be a haul...

Let's see what the scale says tomorrow and I just need to learn this lesson and move forward....

[nolagina]

Ok, I'm up .2 lb this morning.. That's not too bad... I got through this morning's workout ok...

Was having a good morning until a few minutes ago. I have to learn how to shake stuff off and move on... In my mind, I really made a plausible oversight. The key is to learn from it and move on.. The key for work and for weight. Hmm.. maybe it's just the freakin' key for life.

I did complete 98 minutes of exercise last week... I should challenge myself for February. 430 minutes of exercise for February.... That's an average of 21.5 minutes per exercise day... Adding it to the siggy...

I think my waist is smaller... I could tuck in my sweater and not create an uncomfortable situation.... I'm also actually ready to take a pair of pants I bought 2 years ago (almost) to have altered so I can wear them...

Ugh... It's Monday..... I will survive.

[nolagina]

This has been the week from h**l... I realize how much having a stable work situation is critical to me hanging in there. This week of late, long days and stress has helped me to understand I'm such a emotional eater.

I've done well and I overcome the desires to pig out, chug wine and feed my feelings.

If the worse I've done is have 2 bunless double stacks from Wendy's @ 11:00 p.m. (after leaving work at 10:30 p.m.) then I can live with that.

I've been working hard to really make sure I get the water in...

Gotta go.

[nolagina]

Gosh, it seems I haven't had a moment to myself lately. A lot has been on my mind...

I reached the first of my three mini-goals for phase I of the weight loss phase of this WOE.. I kind of realized I've organized this like a project (can't I ever leave work behind!) Phase I of the project is the first 50 pounds and there are three milestones for this phase... Personally, I do think that's a good thing. My focus since starting has been losing that 10%... I do feel so much better, I'm starting to look better and my blood pressure has really been good. I know I have 100 lbs to lose and I'm only 25% of the way there but these mini goals keep me from getting lost in the trees.

Next goal is 199.... So now that's the focus. I weighed in at 211.8 this morning. That's not bad considering my wayward path yesterday. I knew I needed to order sashimi went I went to lunch with J and C yesterday. However I didn't realize it was so DARN expensive.... $14.00 for 6 pieces of yellowtail.... I could have not eaten the rice on the tuna pieces I got... I only ate 3 pieces but I felt horrible... Mentally and physically... I made a BAD choice...

However, when I entered all the data in Fitday, I ate about 40g NET carbs for the whole day... That's within PP Phase I limits but I ended up having 1/2 of those in ONE meal...

I drank 13 8 oz glasses of water yesterday to help counter the effect.

I've been thinking about choices.... I think I summed up my thoughts to this in Nero's post yesterday referencing all of the V Day "cheats." I realized I don't like that word.. It's a victim word... I don't like playing the victim.

I feel if I go and eat sushi rice when it's not the best thing for me... It's because I MADE A CHOICE to do that. I think it was a semi-conscious choice on my part because I didn't want people asking "why I wasn't eating the rice"; and part of me WANTED to have the rice. So I need to recognize there will be consequences to that choice. Every day at every meal time I will make choices. The important thing is that I make conscious choices and that I commit myself to the understanding that if I continue to watch my carb intake, I WILL FEEL BETTER AND I WILL LOSE WEIGHT.

I am working to gain acceptance within me that I will always need to watch my carb intake... Maybe once I get to maintenance I will be able to tolerate 150 g of carbs a day(who knows ) but that's still WAY LESS than the "typical" American diet and WAY LESS than the amount I was scarfing down 3 months ago....

Gotta start the day but I'm glad I'm making a mental journey along with a physical journey... It's gotta be "mind over fatter..."

[nolagina]

I've been eating "clean" since the rice incident but boy did I have some cravings yesterday....

Saturdays are analysis days... I enter all of my weights for the week into FitDay PC's weight log... That allows me to see the trend line graph towards my weight goal and note the weight projections for 4 and 12 weeks out... It's a motivator...
4 week projection(3/17/2007) is 203 lb..
12 week projection (5/12/2007) is 186 lb...

I worked out today since I skipped yesterday. I did 25 minutes and while I worked up a sweat I didn't feel pooped. It's definitely time to start upping the minutes.

I really want an MP3 player so I can have music that really jazzes me during my workouts.. Listening to XM Radio is not bad but I'm not in total control of the music experience. I'm hoping DH is planning to get me one for my birthday. The last couple of times we went into Best Buy, I wandered over to them and was ready to buy but he talked me out of it. Of course, if I don't get one for my bday, I'm going out immediately and buying one for myself.

FitDay's numbers for the week:
1380 calories
88 g fat 60%
33 g carbs 7%
9 g fiber
110 g protein 33%

121 minutes exercise
2 lbs. lost

BP@10:40 a.m. CST 107/75; pulse 97

[nolagina]

Time to start another week...
I really want to hit 210 on the scale this week... I want to get a couple of extra exercise sessions in as well.
The big day is next week and I want to be in good shape.

I've been hitting the water pretty well.

We went to Texas Land & Cattle Co last night for dinner. We had to wait and ended up at the bar where we could sit down.. I made the so-so choice of having a dirty vodka martini... No carbs but 150 calories I could have skipped. But life is full of these little experiences.

Today we went to Original Pancake House. I asked if they put pancake batter in their omelets.. They said no... I ate about 1/2 of the 4 egg veggie omelet. I didn't feel strange afterwards so I guess that worked out ok.

Tonight I inaugurated the new crockpot and made Vegetable Beef soup based on Linda Sue's recipe. It was very good! I've been wanting soup and that was perfect.

This week will be challenging with so many folks in town later this week.. But I'm up to the challenge. I know sushi will probably be on tap for lunch. I've learned my lesson about that and will stick with the sashimi and just plan on spending $35 for lunch that day.

Let's make it a good week!

[nolagina]

Ok, I have hit a new level....The training at the end of this week was cancelled, so no folks in town, YEAH! That is NOT me... Pre-LC, I would have been looking forward to going out to lunch three days straight and one really nice dinner with lots of wine and cosmos... I really miss my NOLA co-workers and was looking forward to the people but not the food-related part.

Because I'm going out for my birthday next week and want to be able to feel comfortable about eating more liberally, I was stressing about this week. Now I don't have to worry.

I can take the leftover Vegetable Beef Soup for lunch and pair it with a salad from the cafeteria....

I'm wrestling with whether or not I want to broach DH about having LC Hurricanes tomorrow... I can't forget about my goal for 210 this weeek ... It just seems wierd not be celebrating Mardi Gras. I feel I need to do something..
I am taking my team out to lunch at a Cajun restaurant tomorrow... If I bring it up, he'll leap at the idea... He's been itching to try the Baja Bob mixes.

I want to get in 3 extra workout sessions this week and 3 next week. What CHOICE do I want to make. Am I willing to sacrifice progress for a hurricane?

[nolagina]

Happy Mardi Gras!

I had a feeling I'd be in a wierd place... Of course work is quiet since all of the New Orleans folks are off today. I've been checking out the bead cam on nola.com...

I've been hanging out at 211.6 for the past three days... I am trying not to get panicked... It's not a week or anything... But I don't like it when I'm 'leveling'....

I need to measure myself and see what that looks like... I should have taken my measurements when I first started along with a picture but I couldn't get cranky DH to do it.

Well, we had to cancel our Mardi Gras lunch today.. The BP run is way large today.... 45K, we weren't expecting that.

Went down to the cafeteria since I didn't bring anything today. Luckily, diced chicken was in the salad bar so I didn't have to request it separately.
I'm trying a mixture of a splash of balsamic vinegar, then 1/2 red wine vinegar and 1/2 olive oil on my salad... Then drizzled it on top.. Not bad... I'm hoping it will be less caloric than ranch... I like the lighter flavor.

Well I won't feel badly about leaving at 5:15 today, since we didn't go out for lunch, so I can do a 20 minute treadmill workout when I get home....

[nolagina]

I did have a LC Hurricane last night.... It was pretty good... It's 6 oz V8 Diet Splash-Berry Blast with 1.5 ounces of dark rum.. Actually the recipe says 3 oz but DH (the bartendah) cut the rum in half...All told it was about 100 calories and no more than 3 grams of carbs. I'm ok with that CHOICE.. Mardi Gras comes once a year and this is the first one we've been away in a LONG time. I recognize it was an emotional trigger and I'm dealing with it.

What I'm not dealing with is the fact that I'm 211.6 for FOUR DAYS.. I know that's not a long time but I want that scale to move... Gotta go.... Meeting to attend..

[nolagina]

Whew! 211.2 on the scale today.... So I've made some progress this week.

I want to note three things from yesterday; not sure what/if made an impact of the .4 lb. loss

1) Did do 15 minutes on the treadmill last night after work (eek, I do NOT like working out in the evening... I was pooped) Plus I definitely need better walking/runner shoes... I had no arch support

2) Had bathroom activity

3) Had sirloin (1/2 lb) and broccoli w/cheese for dinner

I made a point of increasing my caloric intake
Monday's #s 1262 cal (59% fat; 34% protein; 7% carbs)
Tuesday's #s 1462 cal (54% fat; 31% protein; 7% carbs; 7% alcohol)-LC Hurricane
Wednesday's #1757 cal (54%fat; 39% protein; 7% carbs)

I have been drinking 10-12 glasses of water a day.

My time on the NordicTrack has definitely been progressing up... I am consistently and solidly doing 25-30 minutes every morning. When I set up my March exercise challenge I'm going to keep that in mind.

I think when I'm solid with 30-35 minutes on the NordicTrack, I'm going to increase the tension; that will drop my time a bit but create a bigger challenge.

I have 10 weeks until the deadline for my next mini goal (199). I need to lose 1.2 lbs a week to make it...

I will make good choices and I will have success in the battle of mind over fatter...

[nolagina]

Definitely have some things to consider.... Weight this morning is 211.8... I am and am not surprised by that. My body seems to like the number 211 right now. I've been 211.x since 2/15/2007.

I wanted to do 3 extra workouts. I did accomplish that. I did the treadmill in the fitness center on Wednesday and I also did about 23 minutes on the treadmill on Friday. Yesterday morning I also did 28 minutes on the Nordic Track.

I had quite an experience yesterday... After reading about it on the boards, I decided to try the Salt Water Flush.... I thought maybe I need to rid my body of some toxins and that might move the scale... So I drank the warm salted water and I waited. After about 20 minutes or so my stomach started feeling queasy. I thought more warm water would help alleviate that feeling. So I'm at the kitchen sink drinking water and then I feel like, "oh no, I better go to the bathroom." I'm on my way and before I make 5 steps, it's the scene from the Exorcist and I'm spewing salt water from my mouth. I'm on the wood floors at this point, so I take a step forward and I slip on the gook, and fall on my butt. The thud wakes up DH, he comes to help me and just as I get up a second voluminous regurgitation occurs... At this point, I'm covered, my bathrobe is covered and the wood floor in this area is covered with "stuff." Luckily, my stomach was empty. My wonderful DH sends me to the showers and washes the robe and mops the floor. Of course, then he lectures me on the insanity of my actions. I did get some impact to the other "end of things," but not much.
Who knows if I'll try that again!

So with all of that fun stuff.. I didn't have much to eat until lunchtime. We were out and about yesterday. We had lunch at Benihana Grill.... Nice change. I ordered the steak teppanyaki, miso soup and two pieces of yellowtail sashimi. NO RICE!!!!

Dinner we went to Texas Land and Cattle Co and ,of course, we had to wait so I chose to have a dirty vodka martini. There's no carbs but it is "empty" calories. However, right now, it's birthday weekend and my body loves the number 211.... Hmm... after seeing the movie "The Number 23" last night (not a bad movie, by the way), I'm wondering if the numbers have some sort of significance

Since I was out of the house most of yesterday, I'm doing my "analysis" for the week, this a.m.

I'm still below the line for the weight goal graph... If I remain this weight by 3/20, then I'll be at risk for not making goal by 12/31.

4 week projected weight 205 - 3/24/07
12 week projected weight 192 -5/19/07

Average stats for the week:
1528 calories
94 g fat (57%)
38 g carbs (7%)
13 g fiber
121g protein (33%)
9g alcohol (4%)

164 minutes exercise (Nordic Track only)
0.2 lbs. loss this week

Well, tomorrow is birthday day... So I've been planning for months to have a glass of wine on my birthday but otherwise keeping it LC. After that, the alcohol will need to say bye-bye.

So if I don't get out of the 211 rut by March 6, I'll consider that a STALL and I'll seek some help from the pros on the boards. I feel I need to have a week without alcohol as I know folks will focus on that. I think I need to shake things up a bit... Need to think about how to do that. I also I am finding that I'm hungry more.. So I'm going to start packing snacks to have mid morning and mid-afternoon.

I know this was a long one... Had a lot to share today.

[nolagina]

Well, birthday celebration is over... Weight was 213.2, up 1.8 lbs.. However, considering my feast last night I'm not surprised. I am quite proud of myself... We managed to have a lovely dinner and stay reasonably under-carbed.

The first course, was ordered by DH while I was in the bathroom; I told him I thought Oysters Rockefeller has bread crumbs... That was the worse choice of the night, IMHO.. I put everything in Fitday.
Here's what I ate...

Vodka Martini 183 cal/0g fat/0g carb/0g prot
2 Oysters Rockefeller 64 cal/4g fat/5g carb/3g prot
Tomato, Fresh Mozz, Arugula salad with Pesto on the side
399 cal/25g fat/8g carb/34g prot
12 oz Chateaubriand 680 cal/30g fat/0g carb/96g prot
2/3 cup creamed spinach
97cal/6g fat/8g carb/4g prot
1/2 bottle red burgundy
222cal/0g fat/5g carb/1g prot
coffee w/half & half and splenda
46cal/3g fat/3g carb/1g prot
1/2 glass port 90cal/0g fat/7g/carb/0g prot

The whole day was:
2374 calories
101 g fat (39%)
68 g carbs (9%)
14 g fiber
188 g protein (33%)
62 g alcohol (19%)

I got up a bit late this morning but I still did 25 minutes on the Nordic Track. I'm drinking plenty of water today. I feel fine and after dinner last night, I didn't feel stuffed or full... I might have been feeling some other things...

Today's menu:

Breakfast: 2 egg beaters, 1/4 c cheddar and 2 slices beef bacon
Lunch: 3 cups lettuce, 1/4 c parmesan, 10 slices chicken breast, caesar dressing
Dinner: 7 oz sirloin grilled (marinated in soy sauce and lite italian dressing) with steamed green beans.

Hopefully, the week will hold some positive things.....

[nolagina]

I'm feeling hopeful..... The scale today read 210.8.... It's NOT 211... But so darn close, I'm a little worried.

But I hope I have broken through and will begin moving downward again. It's a good reminder to keep the faith and keep up the routine. I think it's important that even though I had an elaborate dinner, I didn't go far off the path and I got right back on the path.

I did 27 minutes on the Nordic Track today. I have 520 minutes of exercise in February.... Way beat the Challenge number for exercise.. March will have to be more of a stretch goal.

Today's menu
B - 1/2 c. Egg Beaters; 1/4 c. cheddar, 2 slices beef bacon
L - Linda Sue's Coney Island Chili Dog Pie; small salad
D - Wendy's Side Salad and 1 Bunless Double Stack...

We're going to see Eric Clapton and Robert Cray tonight so I won't have time to put together anything for dinner. It's definitely going to be eating on the run.

I went to the spa on Monday... Lovely. However, they have Core Fusion class there that sound interesting. It seems to be a combo of yoga, Pilates and strength training...

I'm praying for staying under 211....

[nolagina]

Ok, the scale was 210.4 this morning! WHOO HOO!

The concert was fun last night... DH and I stuck with Diet Pepsi for him and bottled water for me...

I slept in late and didn't exercise this morning... DH also didn't make breakfast so I had to punt...

B - Atkins Morning Start Bar, 2 slices of beef bacon, coffee and LF Coffeemate
L- Linda's Sue Coney Island Chili Dog Pie, small salad with red wine vinegar/olive oil mix.
D- Creme Fraiche Chicken and veggies

I'm going to sign up for Spanish class. I think it's important to develop non-food interests. I'm also going to be brave and pay for a couple of the Core Fusion classes at Spa Exhale. I believe the Nordic Track is good exercise but I want to shake it up a bit and get my body doing some other stuff.

I GOT THE MP3 player for my birthday from DH... So this weekend I have to figure out how to get music into the device...

Also, going to come up with a March Personal Challenge... I'm going to KISS and leave it at 7 lbs but 800 minutes of exercise.. That means I need to keep up my Nordic Track at 5 days a week and I then I need to make sure I TRY 2 Core Fusion Classes during the month. I know I'm a sickie, but I love challenging myself...

I did well with my February personal challenge... 6.8 lbs (not 7) but 520 min of exercise.. That doesn't even count the 45 minutes I did on the treadmill last week... Not bad....

[nolagina]

Have you felt like a weekend just got away from you? That's how this weekend feels... My goodness it's nearly 5:00 p.m. the twilight of freedom...

Well, I seem to be back on track again... Scale read 208.6. My birthday dinner seemed to kick my body back in gear, at least I think it did.

It's a new month and I set a new challenge for me... 7 lb loss on the scale and 800 exercise minutes. There are 22 exercise days this month and I'm already going 30 minutes on the Nordic Track and I expect to be closer to 35 minutes by the end of the month. I also want to try a couple of Core Fusion classes; I'll count that towards my exercise numbers.

Last week's review:

Average intake - 1587 calories
98 g fat 58%
33 g carbs 6%
9 g fiber
121 g protein 31%
10 g alcohol 5%

4 and 12 week weight projections:
201 lbs on 3/31
187 lbs on 5/26

Yesterday I went to Target.. I feel like I will be replacing my kitchen stuff forevah... Anyway, got a mini-chopper and a hand mixer... I happened to stroll by the clothes and I spotted this cute Issac Mizrahi skirt. Before the hope and power of LC, I would have said "oh, that's cute" wistfully and moved on.... BUT NOW, I thought about Lean Lioness's red dress and thought... "maybe I need a visual anchor." I checked for the largest size they have, it was an 18 Misses. I bought it.

I think it's a perfect, versatile skirt for warm weather... (see attachment)
I tried it on when I got home and my loving DH told me "you have a long way to go before you can wear that anywhere." I figure it will be June-July before I can actually wear it. But it is a visual motivator.

I also found a pair of shoes that will be so cute with the skirt and I will wear quite bit.

This week will be crazy, I will be in meetings all day most days which means I'll need to stay late to do all of the other stuff that I need to do. I went to Whole Foods on the way home on Friday and picked up enough meat for the week. So I do need to take a moment before bed tonight to figure out what we'll have when....

LC seems tough sometimes, especially when work gets crazy.. But I gotta have a plan.... It's not worth going back to the restaurant/fast food/pizza world we were in. DH and I were just saying that we think our "pizza joint" that we frequented weekly is probably wondering if we dropped off the face of the earth.

Give me strength, give me energy and give me the willpower to make it through this week....

[nolagina]

Ok, I'm a goofball sometimes... This past weekend was a blur of nothingness....

I ate a bunch of junk yesterday... I can't repeat that experience.

L- Wendy's side salad with Ranch
2 Bunless Double Stacks with Cheese

D-2 Beef Hot Dogs
3/4 c. Wolf's No Bean Chili
1/4 c. Cheddar Cheese

I didn't eat my first meal until 3:00 p.m..... I love my DH.. I know he's going to sleep in until forever so I just need to take care of myself and make him a little something while I'm at it. He can heat it when he wakes up. I really dislike it when I hang around getting hungry waiting for him to wake up... It DOES NOT BENEFIT ME AT ALL...

Because I let the day get away from me, I didn't have a solid plan for dinner so we ended up eating chili dogs... The Wolf's was about 11 grams of carbs alone and HAD TRANS FAT! So it was a yucky choice.

Lesson Learned: This WOE means you need to plan and think ahead. You CANNOT cop out and order pizza anymore!

The result of yesterday is that the scale read 209.6 this a.m. I'm sure I'll go back down.

Today I was SOOOOOOOOO hungry... I don't know why.

Today's menu:

Breakfast
2/3 c. Egg Beaters
1/4 c. cheddar cheese
2T salsa
2 slices beef bacon
coffee w/ 1.5 T LF Coffeemate and SF Vanilla Syrup

Lunch
Chicken Caesar Salad
Dill pickle
Diet Coke

Dinner
Chicken Parmesan (breading made from 2 oz parmesan cheese, 1/4 c almond flour, spices)
Steamed Zucchini (4 oz)

Snack
1 oz Planter's Heart Healthy Peanuts
1 serving Hickory Farms Beef Party Bites

I keep the Planter's Nuts at my desk; it's nice to have them there but I've been relying on them too often. So I need to find a better snack. Lately, I've gotten famished around 4:00-4:30. Today, I tried hot tea but wasn't enough and went for the nuts.

Doing 30-31 minutes on the Nordic Track these days.

I do want to start weight lifting... Been having a hard time finding a training place. I don't want to join a gym.
I want to keep my mornings for the Nordic Track and do weights in the evenings. I'll keep looking...

Signing up for Spanish @ SMU... That will be Monday evenings.... I will need to develop a plan for dinner that night.

I better figure out what's for dinner tomorrow night....

[nolagina]

The Vanity of a Dieter

You decide on day to make a change
A new way of eating you will try
You make a goal and a new weight range
You say to yourself "No more pie.."

You begin and you start on your way
The scale is sought out each day

After some time you have reduced the pounds
Your head is clearer and your energy abounds

But what you want more than you know
Someone to say "you look thinner"
A validation to keep you on the go.
A motivation to become a winner.

Three months have gone, not a word is said
90 Days and 28 pounds have vanished
No one sees the price you've paid
You try not feel as if you've been banished

Don't let the fact get you down
That's no one's said a word make you frown.

Keep on going that's your creed.
The weight will come off at God's speed.

This effort is for no one else but you.
Only for yourself you should be true.

Move onward and upward, enjoy each day
You feel better and stronger
You found the way
To good health and a life that's longer.


Ok, I'm no poet but I guess it really has gotten to me that only one person has even commented that I've lost weight. I've lost 28 lbs and my clothes are starting to get really loose.

I guess I'm hoping for the validation from someone to say "wow you've lost some weight. you look nice." Maybe I was soooo far gone that I'll need to lose more weight for anyone to see an improvement.

About three co-workers that i haven't seen in a month came to town today for a meeting... I would have expected a couple of them (whom I've known for 4 years and feel somewhat close to) to say SOMETHING!!!!!
Not a peep!

But I'm taking pride in that we went to a Mexican restaurant for lunch and I ordered the lunch fajitas and didn't have a single chip or tortilla. I ate my fajitas with a fork and no one said a word. I did what was best for me and didn't worry about anyone else.

Dinner tonight was rough.. I got some sirloin kebabs but they didn't do so well on the George Foreman... I really need to stick more blended meals (meatloaf, meatballs, cassaroles, etc.) vs the pure meats; at least until we get a gas grill. I don't think steaks do well on the GF and they have never been my cooking strong suit.

To make up for that fiasco, I made Carolyn F's 3 minute Flourless Chocolate Cake.... Not bad... I think I need more Splenda next time and a little less cocoa. DH appreciated the chocolate treat.

I'll be in Shreveport on Sunday night and I will need to be on my best diet behavior... The lunch at the meeting on Monday will be po-boy's.. I requested turkey and asked to have it dressed with lettuce and tomato and with mayo on the side... I'll have to find a way to eat it without the french bread... I have the will and there will be a way.

[nolagina]

This week was crazy and I feel as if I have gotten out of control. I need to set aside an hour or so each day where all I do is recalibrate..Clean out the e-mail, review the priorities and check deliverables in and out and set up the plan for the next 4 weeks. Maybe next Friday I can work from home and spend more time on that... I'll check the calendar...

Food-wise wasn't too bad but I do need to set some definite goals around PLANNING!!!!!!! That is the key to being able to be successful that staying on plan. Even though, this year isn't ANYTHING like last year (Thank goodness!!!!!!!!!) I will still have those crazy periods and I need to make sure we have our meals in place so we don't punt... LC Punting doesn't work so well.

So I need to have a solid plan each weekend to have 4-5 dinners planned for the following week. We can always take the leftovers for lunches and one night a week can be leftover night for dinner. The leaves one or two nights for going out to dinner.

Last Week's Review:

Average Intake - 1501 calories
97g fat 60%
30g carbs 6%
8g fiber
120g protein 33%
2g alcohol 1%

4 week weight projection - 200 lbs. on 4/7/2007
12 week weight projection- 184 lbs. on 6/2/2007

Challenge Stats:
-2.6 lbs. MTD
185 minutes of exercise MTD

Gotta go... More later....

[nolagina]

I hate Daylight Savings Time! I'm a wreck for a week!

I had to get up at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday to help test our systems to make sure they were reflecting the correct date/time stamp.

Then had to fly out to Shreveport Sunday afternoon... Had dinner with a co-worker friend and her adorable toddler... Had fajitas and a Coors Light.

Stayed up in the hotel room until 1:00 a.m. finishing the presentation I had to do Monday morning..

Monday, I DID NOT want to wake up... Hotel had a hot breakfast.. I was hoping for eggs.. They had them.. scrambled w/cheese on a english muffin in such a way that pulling off the eggs would have been problematic. Soooo... I end up at Whataburger with two bacon,egg and cheese on buns... Had to eat one bun because everything was stuck to it.. Ugh. Bad choice... If I had planned and thought ahead, I could have had breakfast at Shoney and at least had scrambled eggs and NO BUNS.

Lunch, I managed to surreptiously eat the turkey, lettuce and tomato from the po-boy without eating the bread. GOOD FOR ME!!!

Flew back to TX yesterday afternoon and drove to meet my boss @ The Keg for my review... Had a dirty vodka martini and a glass of wine.
But the rest of my meal was good. Had filet with asparagus, green beans and a caesar salad.. I specifically requested no baked potato.

Was tough getting in plenty of water Sun/Monday...

Weighed myself this a.m. - up two pounds 209.0 I hope I can recover from the setback and move forward again...

Exercised for the first time this week - 32 mins on the Nordic Track... A bit rough this a.m. It will be better tomorrow..

Today - 2/3 cup egg beaters w/ 1/4 c. cheddar cheese
2 slices beef bacon

3 cups romaine lettuce
2 T parmesan cheese
2 T caesar dresssing
6 thick slices baked chicken breast

Gonna have to think about dinner.. I have some ground beef thawing so I'll have to look at what I can do with it...