Miscellany Monday

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

What a better way to recap and share thoughts than posting some miscellany!

1. A Draft Should Not Be Posted! Yesterday a  "You Inspire Me" draft decided to post itself. So aggravating! Blogger needs to work out the "I pressed save as draft...not post or schedule to post" kink.

2. Food vs. My Waist Line: Week 7  It rained a lot last week. We went on one walk. And when it finally did stop raining apparently all we did was eat. Believe me, gaining one pound isn't bad...I ate out Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I think new weight goes right to my boobs. I hate that! I'm doing so awful with this..I'm basically back to my starting weight. But in 7 weeks I haven't lost or gained a significant amount of weight. So that's good...right?

Starting Weight: 131.6

Week 1: 129

Week 2: 130

Week 3: 130

Week 4: 130.6

Week 5: 130.4

Week 6: 130.4

Week 7: 131.4

3. Rainy Day Fund Everyone should have one. Yesterday our Xbox (which is also our DVD player) shit the bed. Danny was playing around with it from 8am - 4pm trying to fix it. Thank goodness for a rainy day fund and Game Stop. $119 later...we are the proud owners of another used Xbox. 

4. To the Vet We Go! Miley has a vet appointment this afternoon. I have a list of questions I need to ask them. Also, today we should be getting a spray collar in the mail. Not a shock collar. Her barking is really getting to me. Did I mention my blood pressure was a bit high last week?

5. Swap! I'll be mailing out my Fall Favorites Swap package tonight! Words can not even describe how awesome this package turned out! Please make sure all packages are in the mail by Saturday. I'll have a linky up Saturday morning so you can start posting your goods!

6. Speaking of Swaps. Does anyone use swap.com to trade books? And are you also not happy about the new "setting up swap" fees? Would anyone be interested in doing a Blog Book Swap? It would be just like the website. Everyone has a list of books they have, trade among yourselves..and only pay shipping. That's like getting a new book for less than $5! Let me know what you think!

Food vs. My Waistline: Weeks 4, 5 and 6

Okay, okay..I haven't updated in two weeks. Reasons why? #1 I forgot to post week 4....oops. #2 I thought weighing in for week five was going to be awful. So I conveniently had another post planned.

So as of today there are a little over 6 weeks left until the ball. I have ordered my dress and I have my shoes. I also have my dress for Katie's wedding. So, now there is no room for error!

I'm starting to think 130 is where I'm supposed to be. I'm okay with that...as long as I can tone up and not have to buy new clothes! As of right now, my clothes fit..my jeans are snug, but I bought a new pair that feel awesome..and are even a little big. Maybe the others shrunk? I'm not sure.

Either way. I think I'm starting to actually like my body where it is. I'm not super skinny, I'm not fat...I'm healthy. I want to keep up with working out, and definitely tone up! There are 6 weeks left until the ball, so I'm still going to track my weight.

Here we go!

Starting Weight: 131.6
Week 1: 129
Week 2: 130
Week 3: 130
Week 4: 130.6
Week 5: 130.4
Week 6: 130.4

Me and Natosha have been walking. Not only is it a good workout, but it's a huge stress reliever. Having someone to actually talk to around here is great. I've also dusted off my tae-bo abs video...that Billy Blanks knows what a good workout is.

This is the most recent picture of me. Wearing my favorite jeans. I loved that they fit the way I wanted them to! I actually love the way I look in this picture!

Here's to more happy weigh ins!

Food vs. My Waistline: Week Three

Remember last week when I talked about scare tactics? Well, I actually scared myself out of eating this weekend.

I've been craving Chinese food, at home it's something we would get fairly often. I've lived down here for over a  year and have had it maybe three times. And each time I eat it...I remember why. It's nasty. And apparently no one down south knows what a scorpion bowl is.

Before I go any further, I'll tell you what a scorpion bowl is.

Scorpion Bowl Recipe

If anyone around Jacksonville knows where to get one. PLEASE let me know!

Okay, back to being scared. We ended up at a Chinese buffet. It was packed. I filled up my plate with some chicken lo mein, chicken wings, crab rangoon (why do they have fried chicken, chicken alfredo and french fries at Chinese places down here?) and headed back to my table. 

Then I did it. I looked around the restaurant. Everyone was huge. Not just fat....but huge. I love buffets, at Cicis or Golden Coral I've never noticed this. But this place...I got scared that someday I could look like this. 

So needless to say, I only had one plate and a glass of water.

Starting Weight: 131.6
Week 1: 129
Week 2: 130
Week 3: 130

0lbs lost this week. Total lost 1.6lbs. I'm starting to think this is the weight my body wants to be.

Healthy Dinners:
Monday: Turkey Dinner..complete with mashed potatoes, green beans and cranberry sauce.

Tuesday: Santa Fe Chicken (SMARTONE) and a cheese hash brown. Wow, the pictures looks nasty!

Wednesday: Artichoke Stuffed Chicken Breast and Side Salad with oil and vinegar

Thursday: Veggie burger on a 100 calorie bun. Topped with onion, tomato, cucumbers and red peppers.
Friday: Steak tips and mixed veggies on the grill
Saturday: Chinese food. Chinese food in the south is so nasty!
Sunday: Pizza and a beer. Only beer of the week!


Workout:
Monday: Walked around the block twice with Miley and Danny
Tuesday: AM walk around the block with Miley, 20 minutes of "10 Days to a Better Body" with Natosha!
Wednesday: Three mile walk and ran around the block with Miley!
Thursday: none, my legs were killing me from the walk!
Friday: 20 minutes dance video..better than nothing
Saturday: 1.5 mile walk with Danny and Miley
Sunday: Went to the beach, did some floating while trying to kick my legs. In my mind I was working out  my abs!


The Ups: We found a trail that we love to walk on! I want to start going more!
The Downs: CONSTIPATION. Seriously, what the hell? It's impossible to reach goals when you feel awful. Danny made me take nasty grape medicine...ick!

No One Likes a Complainer

Remember on Monday when I gave my weekly weigh in? I was at 130. Since then I have watched every morsel, walked the dog, worked out with Natosha, and went on a two mile walk today.

And you know what?

I gained two pounds.

Here are some things I think could be happening:

1) Last week I was on my placebo birth control pills. I felt awesome. This week I feel bloated and fat. Not to mention cranky and irritable. 

2) This one is TMI. I'm constipated. Like, for real. And it's aggravating beyond belief. Knowing that I'm working my butt off...and well, my butt isn't working with me. I bought some Activia today and I'm hoping it helps with the problem. I'm kinda refusing to take any kind of medicine to help...

And yes, I know atleast one person is thinking "she's pregnant." I assure..I am not. So, please no comments about that!

Wednesday is usually my "I feel my best today" day...but not even a two mile walk can convince me that this feeling is going to go away.

Isn't it awful that when you feel like this, all you want is a large order of McDonalds french fries to make you feel better. But that's why you feel like this in the first place. So instead, I will suck it up, eat a yogurt and bring the dog for another walk.

Food vs. My Waistline: Week Two

Inspiration and Motivation. Those are the two things I think you need to reach any goal. I think scare tactics are also a good way to start a lifestyle change. Even changing just a few "habits" will help you out. Take these things out of your diet and you will be taking a step in the right direction!

The Traditional Red Lobster Margarita has 890 calories. That's the equivalent of 7 Almond Joys! 

Eat This Not That: Venti Starbucks Espresso Frappuccino (290 calories) VS. Large Dunkin' Donuts Frozen Cappuccino with Skim Milk (550 calories)

A salad worse than the Big Mac! TFIFridays Santa Fe Chopped Salad (1800 calories!)

Stay away from the Grilled Chicken & Avocado Club at Cheesecake Factory 1,752 calories! (And I thought I was eating healthy!)

Last week I weighed in at 129 pounds. This morning the scale read 130 pounds. So, I gained a pound. But still putting the total weight loss at 1.6 pounds.

Monday through Friday is easy. I planned for a cheat night on Saturday, for date night. But what I did not plan was more than one beer and McDonalds french fries. Or Cici's Pizza on Sunday night. That was my major fail of the week. Sunday night I wanted Lays potato chips, Facebook friends talked me out of it. I'm starting to think I might be a closet eater, I purposely did not say I was going to Cici's, because I knew people would talk me out of it. I think that's a problem.

I worked out three times with Natosha. It's great having a workout buddy that has the same goals as me. But she went to Cici's with me, so we need to work on that part of our plan!

Week one was easy, week two proved to be hard. Since I didn't lose any weight, I'm a little disappointed in myself..but today is a new day and I won't let it get to me.

Healthy Dinners
Monday: Shrimp Taco Salad - shrimp, lettuce, black beans, tomato, corn, light homemade dressing and avocado cream

Tuesday: Taco-Barbecue Chicken with Citrus Slaw and Garlic Bread

Wednesday: Me and Danny shared a T-bone (the picture makes it look HUGE, but I had the bone, and apparently most of the fat..ick) corn & broccoli, and potato.

Thursday: Two Surf Dogs - Hot dogs with terryaki sauce and pineapple salsa (I was only going to have one, but seriously, it was SO good!)

Friday: Thanksgiving Burgers - ground turkey mixed with sauteed apples and onions. Topped with cheese a cranberry and light sour cream sauce. On a 100 calorie bun.

Saturday: Date night, we had steamed clams, a side salad and crab cakes with green beans and a sweet potato! So yummy. And a Blue Moon. Then we went out for a few drinks....and McDonalds french fries. OOPS!

Sunday: CiCi's Pizza. I didn't even bother to take a picture of all the pizza...FAIL.


Workouts
Monday: It took me a half hour to mop our kitchen, I broke out in a sweat...THAT is a workout! And me and Natosha dusted off the "10 Days to a Better Body" DVD...we did 15 minutes of  it.

Tuesday: None. And rain got in the way of walking the dog.

Wednesday: 15 minutes of Crunch dance video and 15 minutes of 10 Days to a Better Body (back to back..30 minutes total!)

Thursday: 20 minutes of Pilates (abs, butt and thighs) and RAN around the block with Miley and got wicked sweaty!

Friday: None
Saturday: None
Sunday: None

The Ups: Natosha is a great workout buddy!
The Downs: Beers on date night...and french fries, they tasted SO good. But made me feel gross Sunday morning. And last minute pizza cravings...

Food vs. My Waistline: Week One

Do you need a little inspiration? I have some for you!

My eight year old cousin recently lost 40 pounds. I'm sure you are thinking to yourself, how does an eight year old get so heavy. Well, when she was much younger she had asthma. She was put on steroids, which made her much bigger. On top of that, she lived in a very unstable environment. She was allowed to eat whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted it. I have always had a hard time believing she was so young..her squeaky little voice did not match her much larger body. After her parents were divorced and she moved in with my uncle and new-step mother...she was put on a "diet." June (her step-mom) makes sure they eat meals together as a family, they eat healthy meals, fruits, veggies, and are only allowed sweets every once in a while. At eight, a diet might seem extreme...but she needed it. And the worst part is, she knew it. She knew she wasn't supposed to be that big, and she wasn't comfortable with herself. The best part of this story is, she is PROUD of herself and she can not wait to go back to school. I am so so so proud of her and she is my inspiration. Look at the difference!

Last week I weighed in at 131.6 pounds. This morning the scale read 129. Thats 2.6 pounds lost!

My healthy snacking tip of the week: No Sugar Added Applesauce. One serving is 50 calories. And its really yummy!

Healthy Dinners
Monday: Chicken with Succotash - boneless skinless chicken, stuffed with spinach, and grilled. Served with lima beans, corn, summer squash and grape tomatoes.

Tuesday: I went out to the lunch with the girls. It's so hard to eat well out. I had a side salad with oil and vinegar and  half of a turkey and cheese sandwich. It was on white bread...I hate white bread.

For dinner I made lemon-pepper catfish..I didn't like the flavor, so I didn't eat any of it. UGH. So I had leftover succotash from the night before.

Wednesday: Steak and Potatoes Salad. Spinach with tomatoes and grilled onions, three small steak tips, and 3 red bliss potatoes with reduced fat sour cream...and a drizzle of steak sauce. It was a-maz-ing!

Thursday: Pork tenderloin, with green beans and cheese hashbrowns

Friday: I treated myself to a Tall Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce Latte. We went out to celebrate a 21st birthday. I had all intentions of eating healthy, but ended up with (yikes!) four Coronas and a cheeseburger. Didn't eat the fries.

Saturday: We were on the road for lunch, I got a veggie wrap on wheat. It was so yummy!

I know I did awful for dinner. I had a few nachos, side ceasar salad, and a blue cheese crusted filet with sweet potato. It was worth it, totally delicious. I drank too much at Senor Frogs though. FAIL.

Sunday: Chicago Dogs. Boiled hot dog with pickle, tomato, onion, relish, pickled peppers, mustard and celery salt.

Workouts
Monday: How lame am I? I didn't. However, I was working around the house all day, cleaned the entire bedroom and closet...and did tons of laundry. That has to count for something, right?
Tuesday: Short (half mile) walk with Miley and Danny
Wednesday: I am so out of shape. 15 minutes of Richard Simmons and I was sweating my ass off...kinda sad!
Thursday: none I'm awful at this.
Friday: 15 minutes of Richard Simmons. This heat does NOT allow for long workouts. But 15 minutes is better than nothing, right?
Saturday: Danced from 10 to 2 at Senor Frogs, but drinking beer probably cancels this workout...UGH.
Sunday: none.

The Ups: During the week I eat really good!
The Downs: I suck at working out, celebrating 21st birthdays must include alcohol, Myrtle Beach means drinking.

This Weeks Goal: This week my goal is to do Pilates 3 times, walk the dog everyday, not drink, and only eat out once. Losing weight is not the goal!

My Love of Food vs. My Waistline

It's no secret. I love food. I love shopping for food, I love creating with that food, I love eating the food. It goes one step further, I love looking at food, reading recipes, and I love talking about food. I love when people ask what foods I don't like. I can never come up with an answer. I seriously love food.

I always have the best intentions to eat well, but lately...it goes right out the window.

Let's start at the beginning. I used to be FAT. I'm 5'1, I weighed 180 pounds. I did not like how I looked or how I felt.

Summer 2006 I decided I had to lose weight. I did Slim Fast religiously. I followed the system to the letter on their website. Me and Mom did it together, having someone who wants to eat the same healthy meals was such a HUGE help. I believe within the year, I lost 50lbs. I felt amazing and I thought I looked great. By summer 2007 I was so happy with my body. I believe I was around 130lbs in this picture.

I was around 130lbs throughout college, but still wanted to lose that last five pounds. Last year before I moved I was at my thinnest, around 127lbs. I was still having atleast one Slim Fast shake or bar a day, working nonstop and working out in the morning. I believe this is when I looked and felt my best. Even though my Dad will argue that I was too skinny.

Since I have moved, got married, and apparently got too lazy to workout...my weight has been fluctuating by 6lbs. Yes, I know 6lbs is not a lot. But, I believe, once a fat girl...you are always a fat girl. You worry that you look fat all the time, you fear that you will get back to that weight, and that every calorie will make or break you.

This summer has killed my waistline and self confidence. To the point where someone invited us to the beach yesterday and I had visions of a beached whale on the shore. I know I'm not fat, I just don't like how I feel about the way I look. And yes, I know I've blogged about this before!

This is the most recent picture, I could pick it apart, but I'm sure you don't want to hear how hard I am on myself. I weigh 132lbs right now.

I want to get back to the day where I would order a water instead of a beer, the salad instead of the cheese covered nachos, and would workout almost everyday.  I did it once, I can do it again. But what's harder this time? I make excuses. "Oh, we're going away this weekend...calories don't count on vacations." "Mmmm sure, I could go for a beer." IT.NEEDS.TO.STOP!

My goal? To look and feel hot at the USMC Ball on November 6th. That's a little over 11 weeks away. Lucky readers, you can look forward to reading about my weight loss and working out adventures every Monday for the next 11 weeks!

Any tips? Helpful advice? Please share!