Time to Re-dedicate

It's been a rough month in the diet and exercise department. Between Halloween and Thanksgiving, and my foot injury it hasn't been smooth. I can't control the injury portion, but I can control my eating. I just need to be disciplined and do it! My birthday is only 14 days away. While it's impossible to reach my goal weight by then, I can hit the next range of ten milestone. Here's to hoping I can keep that in mind in the afternoon when the kids get home and I'm getting the stressed-out munchies.


breakfast (325):
wheaties (200)
honey (60)
milk (65)

The dedication didn't last long. I ate leftover Shepherd's pie for lunch. If I had to guess, I'd say somewhere between 400 and 500 calories. Then after school I stopped by my in-laws to borrow a tablecloth. While there I had several handfuls of trail mix. For dinner I had leftover Thanksgiving dinner. I don't have a clue on the calories. I did, however, have a good run. I did 4.5 miles. Somewhere around 600 calories. I can't remember. I must have hit a groove, because I felt like I could keep going. I think 5 miles should be the new goal.

I think I picked the hardest program on the treadmill this morning. I couldn't quite finish it. I had to walk the last 7 minutes of the 40 minute program. It put me past my top sustainable speed, at inclines I don't use. Was I punishing myself for yesterday? Possible. I couldn't resist and stepped on the scale again this morning. The pound I'd lost yesterday is back. Since it's not an official weigh-in day I'm not going to change my ticker, but it's there.


breakfast (355):
a bowl of cheerios (275)
pears (80)

Weigh-in #30

Slept through the alarm today. Last week's gain is gone, making me neutral for the month so far. Need to redouble my efforts. Especially the diet part.


breakfast (275):
bowl of cheerios

Today was a day of old habits. I munched on homemade granola bars throughout the day and into the evening. Probably thousands of calories worth. I had multiple helpings at dinner. My stomach was as full as it's been in months. I felt awful. What was I thinking? My inner demons came out to play.

Exercise for the day; 40ish minutes on the treadmill, 3+ miles. Ankle kind of hurts now that its done.


breakfast (310):
1 c. Oatmeal Squares (210)
1/4 c. peaches (35)
1/2 c. 2% milk (65)


snack:
pretzels (50)


lunch:
1/2 apple (50)
squash soup (156)

treat (220):
mini reese's cups

dinner:
beans and rice
sausage
too tired to figure it out.

We're making granola bars for FHE too. I'm sure those will be a caloric nightmare.

40 min. on the treadmill. 3+ miles, 500 calories.


breakfast (215):
Life cereal
1/2 c. 2% milk

Got up 15 minutes earlier than yesterday. It's progress. It was a Cross-training day, 45 min. Ran out of time, so I didn't get my mile in. That's probably okay. I think my foot needs a rest after yesterday's run. It's a process.


Had my blood drawn this morning. Had to be fasting. They got me on the first stick! A-mazing! And I didn't get sick like last time.


breakfast (440):
egg mcmuffin (300)
OJ (140)


"snack":
samples at Macey's; 2 bite brownie, 2 bite pumpkin cookie. Mmmmm... probably about 250 calories.


lunch (302):
grapes (62)
same salad as yesterday (199) with the addition of;
1 T. peas (6)
2 T. croutons (35)


snack:
medium apple (95)


dinner (362):
Squash Soup (D-licious! 312)
1/2 a piece of bread (50)


1270 for the day. That leaves room for hot chocolate or something yummy after the kids go to bed. Hmmmm.... I'll have to think on that one.

snack (270):
1/4 c. granola (120)
hot chocolate (150)

1540? Mental Math...

Time Change

I've been stuck in night workouts for some time now. I've decided that I need to get back to mornings. It would be better for lots of reasons. Not for my beauty sleep, but better for the family. The alarm went off at 6:00 am. It took me a while to get out of bed and say my prayers. I didn't actually hop on the treadmill until 7:00 am. It's a process. It was a hard workout. I don't know if it's because I haven't run much in a week, because my last workout was less than 12 hours ago, because I'm tired, or some combination of the three. I only had time to get in a 30 minute walk/run. 350 calories. Enough to burn off the extra cookie I ate last night. Even squishing that in is making the morning more trying than usual. Who am I kidding. It's always trying with one of my children.


On a good note, it occurred to me that the pound I gained at yesterday's weigh-in may have been due to the high-sodium canned chicken noodle soup from the night before. I weighed-in again this morning just to see, and it's gone. Yea! I'm not going to change the ticker just in case, but it makes me happy to know it's not there.


breakfast (316):
1/2 tortilla (75)
1 egg/2 egg whites (102)
cheese (69)
salsa (5)
1/2 c. 2% milk (65)

lunch (250):
2 apricot halves (20)
1/2 c. grapes (31)
2 c. lettuce (16)
1/4 c. diced tomato (8)
1/4. sliced carrot (12)
6 cucumber slices (8)
1 T. ranch (60)
1/4 c. cottage cheese (55)
2 slices ham, chopped (40)

That just might leave enough room for a cookie. I'll have to think about it...

The cookie temptation got the best of me. Before I knew it I'd downed probably 1000 calories worth. Ugh. When will I get control over this?

I'm too tired to figure out dinner's calories. Leftover chicken noodle soup (here comes the water weight) and grilled cheese. I'm going to guess 500. So, in my estimation that's 2066 calories for the day. So much for reaching my goals.

Weigh-in #29

Gained a pound this week. Poor nutrition and last week's weak exercise has finally caught up to me. It's not surprising, but I was disappointed anyway. I've been cheating fate too long. So to celebrate I had a high calorie breakfast.

breakfast (465):
granola cereal
2% milk
diced peaches

lunch:
soft taco (248)

snack:
1 slice of blueberry bread (free samples at the store)

dinner (605):
hamburger (209)
bun (110)
ketchup (15)
mustard (0)
cheese (110)
lettuce (3ish)
tomato slices (8)
1/2 c. corn (80)
1/4 c. beans (70)

1318. I'm going to guess 150 for the bread, taking the total up to 1468.

My evil husband came home from Elder's Quorum meetings and made cookies (162 calories each). I ran enough to burn off 1 plus a little. Today was a cross training day. Strength training+1 mile. 1630 calories for the day.

breakfast:
Life cereal (215)


lunch (411):
3 oz. roast turkey (150)
green bean casserole (161?)
apricots (100)


snack:
ice-cream (250)

dinner:
chicken noodle soup with bread and butter (600ish)

1476. That's good, because the ice-cream was probably closer, if not over 300. I walked/ran 4 miles on the treadmill this evening. 600 calories in 1 hour. It felt good to run again. I could tell I haven't run in over a week. In fact I only managed 3 workouts of any kind last week. Not expecting much on the scale tomorrow. I'm just hoping I haven't gained.

breakfast (372):
tortilla (150)
2 egg whites/1 whole egg scrambled (102)
2 T. salsa (5)
sprinkling of cheese (maybe 50?)
1/2 c. 2% milk (65)


lunch:
the soft taco Camden requested for lunch, took one bite of and then refused to eat. I couldn't bear to throw it away, so it became my lunch. (312)

The rest of the day became a bust. I made cookies to take to game night. Probably ate 1000 calories worth. Leftover something or other for dinner....

And I Ra-a-an...

breakfast (415):
2 pancakes (300)
raspberry jam (50)
1/2 c. 2% milk (65)

Not the smartest of breakfasts, but I made it for the kids and didn't want to make something else too. High calorie, low nutrient, very little protein. Not what's been prescribed. Not very filling either.

lunch (385):
open faced turkey salad on wheat (225)
1 c. vegetable soup (160)

Pttth... I don't know what happened to the rest of my day. I think the constant headaches from the glucophage are encouraging my eating. Eating helps the headaches. I had a slice of banana bread (112), hot chocolate (150), gumdrops at scouts (140), dinner was pork and noodles. I don't know the calories for sure, but I'm betting 500. Another slice of banana bread (112), more hot chocolate (150). What is that... 902? That makes 1702 for the day. I still have a headache and the munchies. I'm disappointed to learn that my bike ride last night was only good for about 350 calories. Better than walking on the treadmill, I think. It wasn't boring like walking on the treadmill. Ugh... time for cross training.

I ran! I'm so excited! It's been a whole week! After strength training (280 calories), I went down to the treadmill to get my mile in. I started out walking. Slowly I increased the speed. After half a mile I thought, "let's give it a try," and bam! I was running! Not fast, I took it easy. I didn't want to push it. I ran about half of the mile (177 calories). At the end I wanted to keep going, but I figured I'd better ease back into it. Maybe wait and see how the foot feels tomorrow. I am so happy about it. It was just enough to whet my appetite. Now I'm craving the run.

breakfast (287):
wheat toast (90)
.5 T. raspberry jam (25)
2 egg whites/1 whole egg scrambled (102)
2 T. salsa (5)
.5 c. 2% milk (65)

lunch (381):
Leftover homemade lasagna, my first ever. Made it for the family while I was out last night. I had to try it (350ish)
.5 c grapes (31)

I still feel hungry.

snack (325):
1 oz. cheese (100)
apricots (100)
granola (125)

High calorie snack. I was hungry and had a headache. Still hungry and have a headache.

dinner (489):
1/2 c. Spanish Rice (145)
tortilla (150)
taco meat (73)
1 T. shredded cheese (69)
1/4 c. lettuce (2)
1 T. tomato (5)
1 T. salsa (3)
1/2 T. sour cream (15)
1/2 c. cantaloupe (27)

1482. Went for a bike ride thanks to my sister-in-law lending me her bike while I wait for this stupid injury to heal. Blah, blah, blah... about the injury, not about the bike. The bike ride was fun. A little scary in the dark since I'm unsure of myself on the bike, but 45 minutes of fun. The weather was great. Would have been great for running too. Really want a piece of banana bread. Mmmmm...

The call of the banana bread was too strong. Add another 224 calories to the tally, 1706.

Weigh-in #28

I was worried about this morning's weigh-in considering my poor eating habits of late, and the reduced amount of exercise due to injury. I am very grateful to have lost another pound! When I first stepped on the scale it told me I'd lost 3, but then it had an error message. Then it said I'd lost 2, but erred again. It finally settled on 1. A pounds a pound! I've also lost 1" off my waist, and .5" off my thighs. Wahoo!


Last night was a cross training day. I logged in my mile on the treadmill in addition to floor exercises. It takes a long time when you're walking, and it only burns 150 calories. Bummer. I did try running a bit. I can do it, but it still hurts. The pain is mostly in my arch now, and its there pretty much all day. Weird. I'm going to have to call around and see if I can borrow some one's bike today.


Yesterday was a total bust as far as calories go. I didn't even bother once I figured out how much breakfast was. I just tried to be smart in portions. I pulled the skin off the chicken. Only ate half a serving, and lots of veggies. I'm going to have to be extra careful with my calorie count while my exercise is on the fritz.


breakfast (265ish):
Life cereal with 2% milk (225)
apricots (40sih)


lunch (355):
turkey salad on wheat (315)
apricots (40ish, mmmm)

snack (577):
small apple (77)
this is where it gets slippery. I made banana bread. One slice turned into many. Probably 500 calories worth!

dinner:
I went to UVMOM's night out. We had a Thanksgiving dinner. I took very small samplings of everything, but it still filled up my plate. I don't know the calories, but it was yummy.

1197 before dinner. I'm certain dinner cost me more than 300 calories. Dessert alone probably cost me at least that. Probably double.

Staying within 1500 calories is proving to be difficult lately. Mostly because I don't have a lot of control over what is in the house to eat for the time being (like 2% milk is the only option). Some of it has been poor choices. For instance, the cereal I ate cost me 500 calories before the milk was poured on. Granola is probably better as a small snack than a full bowl of cereal. It's gonna be a tough day considering I just learned that what I have planned for dinner is extremely high calorie (800+ calories per serving for the main dish alone!), but I gotta use what we have. I'm hoping that if I pull the skin off, and have just one piece it will lessen the calories considerably.


Also difficult-- exercise. I'm nursing an injured foot. No idea what's wrong with it. Stuart splurged and bought me new running shoes. They're not as high grade as my old ones, but my old ones are four years old. That's ancient for running shoes. Hopefully they'll help. In the mean time I've been doing resistance training, and I borrowed my mother-in-law's bike on Saturday. I logged in 7.9 miles in about an hour on a big beach cruiser. It was fun. My bum hurts. My legs were well worked out. I wasn't as tired afterwards as I am after running. I hope it was a good enough workout.

On a good note I wore a new-to-me dress on Sunday (thanks mom! I'll gladly take your fat clothes). It was knee length and made of stretchy/flow-y fabric and I didn't even feel uncomfortable in it! And... are you ready for this??? I discovered that I have SPACE between my calves and my boots! Space that wasn't there just a couple weeks ago. How awesome is that? Really, REALLY awesome.

breakfast (600):

granola with 2% milk (600 ish)

lunch:

leftover meatloaf

pears

dinner:

roasted garlic and lemon chicken (breast meat, no skin)

squash

broccoli

I think I munched more granola in there somewhere. Awful stuff!

Stupid Ankle

While running last night, my left ankle started hurting. I'd only been on the treadmill for 15 minutes. I wasn't even running fast. Before I knew it I couldn't put weight on it. I can move it. There's no swelling. It's not tender. I just can't put weight on it. I don't know where this is coming from. I didn't trip, or go sideways, or get wobbly, nothing out of the norm. Stupid.

Six Month Run-iversary!

Calorie counting is going to be a bit difficult for a little while, as I don't have a lot of control over what's available to eat in the house. I'll do my best. Of course the cookies we made for Twin Time to celebrate our oven working for the first time in six months aren't helping. I learned that they're over 100 calories each. Well over. Naturally that was after I'd eaten 3.

I'm excited to say that I have been running for six months. Six months ago I started a beginner's training program. I ran so slow it could barely be called jogging when I started. I ran for 1 minute at a time, and at the end of 30 minutes I could barely walk. Now I can run for an hour at a time. 4 miles without stopping is a normal thing. I can run up outside, and up and down hills. I finished a 5k a couple months ago, and am planning on doing one or two more this month. I can run a 10 minute mile (although my average over distances is closer to 11). I've lost 35 lbs. and dropped almost 2 pant sizes. It's time for me to go shopping! When I started I didn't think any of it was possible. I thought I'd be over 200 lbs. for the rest of my life, and now it's happening! I didn't have a gym, diet pills, weight loss books, trainers, or any of the "stuff" people think they need. I didn't need The Biggest Looser. I used my treadmill, a 4-year old pair of gym shoes, and a little bit of discipline. I still struggle with the eating porting of diet and exercise. I'm addicted to those sweets! I am improving, and I am more aware of what I put into my body. I'm almost half way to my goal. I hope to make it all the way this time.

I had an interesting episode last night. While saying my prayers I started feeling, dizzy, nauseous and faint. Next thing I know I'm slumped over by the bedside and Stuart is shaking me calling my name in a rather frantic voice. I don't know what happened. I didn't feel so well. Kind of weak. Not enough calories for the day? Blood sugars off? Working out at night may not be the greatest when I can't eat after. What am I to do if the alarm doesn't go off one morning? Hmmmm... I ended up sharing a protein bar with Stuart before we went to bed, so I need to add 90 calories to yesterday's intake.


I also dropped a 37 lb. bucket on the top of my right foot last night. It hurt! It still hurts. It better not impede my running tonight.


breakfast (240):
Life Cereal (200)
2 slices ham (40ish, got to have protein of some kind)


Having the dizzy, shaky episodes again.

lunch (398+):

mandarin oranges (50)

1 slice of bread (100)

laughing cow cheese (35)

beef stew (213)

a whole bunch of Starbursts (just looked it up, they're 20 calories a piece! I don't know how many I ate. Probably 10)

snack:
more starbursts and a frozen fruit bar that had only 14 calories!
1 slice of turkey (20?)

dinner:
out of desperation we used a $4 coupon for pizza. There was literally nothing to eat in the house. The cupboards were bare, and the fridge was empty. That has since been remedied, but pizza it was. I don't know how many calories it was.

658 plus probably 300 calories wasted in Starbursts (I thought all the good candy was gone), 958, so lets hope the pizza was less than 600 calories. I'm not crossing my fingers though.

I called the doctor's office about my dizzy spells. They haven't called me back. Annoying.

Weigh-in #28

I don't know how, but I've lost another pound. I'm amazed! Not sure I earned it, but thankful. Very thankful. I also lost another inch off my waist! Incredible. Now I just need to be good this week to ensure that any time delay on the poundage doesn't take effect.


Neither of us heard the alarms this morning, so no exercise yet. It's a cross training day, so I should be able to get it in with the kids around. The twins like to do some of the exercises with me.


breakfast (390):
2 eggs scrambled (140)
1 piece of toast (100 we're out of low cal bread)
apple jelly (25)
chili sauce (15)
1% milk (110)


lunch (267):
same sandwich as yesterday (217)
1/2 c. diced peaches (50)


dinner (213):
beef stew (again, bleh)

Known calories for the day; 870. I delved into the candy bowl again today. So there are a lot of unknowns. Let's hope there are less than 700 calories of unknowns. All the chocolate is gone, so it shouldn't be as big a temptation. Shouldn't be...

Exercise for the day: cross training. I have no idea how many calories it burns, but it takes me about 45 minutes. Today I added a 1 mile run at my top sustainable speed (6 mph), including warm up and cool down I was on the treadmill for 20 minutes. I can't remember the calories, 250 maybe? Plus, I'm sure I burned something scrubbing the kitchen down today. I even cleaned the oven!

Post Halloween: Definitely A Day of Demons

Due to Halloween this weekend I didn't have time to count and post calories. I had costumes to finish, hair and make-up to do, decorations for the carnival to create, and an elementary school to transform. We had pizza on Saturday. I ate 3 pieces. It was delicious and terrible. I drank root-beer. I had no desire for a few days to eat well. I was stuck in a rut. Life caught up to me for a day or so and I fed my depression with food. Junk food. It started with a bag of Oreos left on my porch a week ago by a well meaning trickster. Followed by gobs of delicious, creamy cheesecake at my brother's wedding. I chased that down with handfuls of caramel corn we made to carry on the festive spooking, followed by half a dozen cookies I picked up for scouts last week. While handing out candy to cute trick-or-treaters, I noticed a candy bar I'd never tried. I thought I could have one. One turned into many. I decided to give myself leeway over the weekend. That leeway turned into and all out binge as I popped Snicker's after Snicker's until I wasn't even tasting them anymore. I downed mini bags of M&M's until there weren't anymore. And thus we see that we are led by silken threads until we are so tightly wound in a web that we cannot break free. I could almost hear Satan laughing as I fed my addiction. In the beginning I didn't have any regrets. Thousands of calories and a bloated tummy later I felt the regret sinking in. Now that the weekend is over I'm facing the withdrawals, and the work of undoing the damage of the calorie-laden holiday known as Halloween. Definitely a day of demons. Time to break free of the cords.


exercise:45 minutes on the treadmill running sprints. 555 calories burned. That's what? two or three of those mini candies?


breakfast (200):
cheerios


snack (190):
protein bar, first one ever. Eh...


lunch (280):
1 slice white bread (not so good, but available 100)
laughing cow spreadable cheese (35)
3 slices turkey (60)
spinach (12)
2 slices tomato (10)
.5 apple (63)

snack:
tortilla chips and salsa (155)
I had to eat something. I remembered as I was leaving to get the kids that I hadn't taken my pills. I have to eat with them.

after school treat:
laughing cow ice-cream bar (100)

dinner:
beef stew (213)

1138. I think that leaves room for a few Halloween treats! I'm a slow learner. Hopefully I'll control myself better this time.