Subway: Is It Really Healthy

I have ate Subway 6 days in a row (Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed).  On Wednesday, I actually ate it for breakfast AND dinner.  This is because I am trying to watch my calories, AND it tasted so good AND it was so filling that I wanted it over and over again.

However, after a few days I noticed that my face started breaking out.  Now, I had some pimples on the side of my chin which I am almost sure are from hormones (it's the cycle y'all).  However, I broke out pretty bad on my forehead.

Now, let me just tell you that I am not prone to acne.  When I do get a pimple I usually only get one or two.  This time I had a lot.

Ironically, I did NOT eat Subway today, and I came across this article on Prevention Magazine's website.  It is titled, "10 400-Calorie Subway Meals- Exposed!."

My favorite sub is the Turkey Breast Sub.  I love having a 6" sub with 9 grain whole wheat bread with a little turkey and a whole lot of veggies (can't forget the oil/vinegar blend).

Well, guess which sub was the first one on their list?  You got it! My favorite one!!!!

Come to find out, my TURKEY has 12 ingredients!!!!  My bread has 41!!!!!  Oh, and I quote (about my bread), "you’ll find diacetyl tartaric acid esters of monoglycerides—a dough conditioner that is forbidden in any product sold at Whole Foods Market—and azodicarbonamide, another dough conditioner that is banned in Europe and Australia."

Really?!?!?!  Not to mention that my TURKEY has a ton of preservatives.

So I ask myself, is this scientifically engineered sub what caused my acne?  Was it an allergic reaction to something found in the 53 ingredients (not counting my veggies or oil blend)?  Since some food allergies don't pop up unless ate in excess (which Subway six days in a row is a little excessive) one would have to conclude that it is highly likely.

I didn't finish reading the results about the other 9 subs.  I was too afraid too.  However, if you are a Subway lover like me, you might want to read up on your "healthy" choices.

2-Week Total Body Turnaround

I am reading the book: 2 Week Total Body Turnaround.  It is from the editors of Prevention Magazine.  I have found the book to be well worth reading (I am still working on getting started on their two week plan).  If you would like to join me you can get started here.

There are some pretty cool tools if you want to do a FREE registration which includes a food journal among other things.

Let me know what YOU think.

Protein: My New Best Friend

Who has has had a best friend that they knew would stab them in the back if they weren't careful?  Well if you have I am so sorry.  However, the best friend I am going to refer to today is "Protein".

I have known Protein for years.  During my various battles with weight loss I have heard that if you eat a lot of it you can increase your weight loss.

Well, here is the "skinny" on my good 'ol friend:

Amino Acids are the building blocks of Protein.  Since our bodies cannot make essential amino acids, we must rely on the food we eat to supply this.  Then, our body goes through the process of breaking down the protein into non-essential amino acids.

Now, why do you need to know this?  Because when our body has to break down the protein it takes longer for our body to digest it thus making us feel fuller longer.  Also, the slower digestion process means that the protein is not going to spike our blood sugar.

Protein has the same number of calories per gram as carbohydrates.  1 gram = 4 calories
If you think of fat...which we all hate... there are 9 calories in 1 gram (more than 2x's that of protein!)  Also, think of saturated fats as artery cloggers.

You should try to get 8 grams of protein for every 20 pounds of fat (i.e. a 200 lb person should get 80 grams of protein) per day.  Otherwise, our body will start to break down its own tissue.

Some good sources of protein are: Tofu, Soybean products, Beans, Nuts, Eggs, Fish, Peanut Butter, Lean Meats, Fish, Poultry, and Dairy

Now, remember I told you that my new best friend is Protein?  And, I also mentioned that some best friends become back stabbers if you don't keep an eye on them (yeah, I am sure you know one or two)?  Well, here is why I have to keep an eye on my ol' friend, Protein.

If you consume too much protein then it could put a strain on certain organs in the body like the kidneys and liver.  Too much protein also promotes the loss of calcium in the bones via your urine which can cause osteoporosis.  In addition, any extra protein that is left over (because our body can't store it) is stored as fat if we can't use it as energy.

Sources: The book I am reading 2-Week Total Body Turnaround & Help With Cooking .Com

Acne Blues

Hello everyone.  So my face is starting to breakout. I think it is all those Subway sandwiches I have eaten lately.  I noticed that I am breaking out mainly on my forehead and side of my chin.

I remember reading something about acne and face mapping.  I decided to give it a look to understand why the sudden breakout.  Here is what I found:

Forehead: Bladder & Digestive System — Improve your diet and drink more water.

Between Eyebrows: Liver — Try cutting back on alcohol, heavy food or dairy. This area can also indicate a food allergy.

Side of face near ears:  Kidneys — Make sure you’re keeping yourself hydrated with water and cut back on liquids that dehydrate you. This means nix the soda, coffee and/or alcohol.

Cheek Bones: Respiratory system — Those who smoke or have allergies tend to have acne here.

Sides of Eyes: Kidneys — Dark circles are usually a result of dehydration. Drink up!

Nose: Heart — Check your blood pressure and make sure you’re not using makeup that irritates your skin.

Chin: Stomach — Consider a detox or adding more fiber to your diet to help with digestion.

Sides of Chin: Hormones — Stress and hormonal changes can sometimes be alleviated with more water and a few extra servings of dark, leafy greens but if breakouts in this area persistent, make an appointment with your doctor to look into a possible hormonal imbalance. Additionally, breakouts in this area also indicate when you are ovulating (and which side).

Neck:  Illness — Can be a sign of your body fighting bacteria to avoid illness. Take a breather and drink plenty of fluids.

Now, just because you are breaking out does not mean you have one of the reasons above. Always check with a doctor.

I just find it interesting that this has come on since eating the same thing six days in a row.  I do think my ovulation is playing a big part in some of this, but I have been on "that time of the month" for four weeks straight.  No surprise since I haven't had it for months.

Well, as always I am not only giving you health information but way too much info on me, lol.

Information Source: U Look Haute

Waist to Hip Ratio: Why it matters...

So today I learned what waist to hip ratio is.  Let me share... Our health risks are not based solely on how much fat we have.  It is also based on where most of that fat is located.  People that have more weight around their waist is at at greater risk of heart disease and diabetes than those packing on the pounds around the hips.

Several studies have also shown that as we (women) age and get closer to menopause our fat suddenly starts to migrate upward to our midsections. So ladies, if you don't start working out those thunder thighs you may soon find all that fat popping a cork in that belly button of yours.

How to Calculate Waist Hip Ratio

Waist Hip Ratio is calculated by dividing the measurement of your waist by the measurement of your hips.

How to Get Your Waist and Hip Measurements

Use a measuring tape to take your waist and hip measurement. If you do not have a measuring tape available, use a long piece of string instead and then measure the length of the string against a flat ruler.

Stand in a relaxed position breathing normally when you take the measurement. Do not pull tightly on the measuring tape or string.

Waist: Your waist measurement should be taken at the smaller section of your natural waist, usually located just above the belly button.
Hips: Your hip measurement should be taken at the your hips on the widest part of your buttocks.

So let me tell you where I am.  My waist circumference is 37 inches.  My hip circumference is 43.5 inches.  This puts me at a waist to hip ratio of 0.85.  I am considered to be at Moderate Risk.

The calculation is as follows:  waist (37) / hips (43.5) = 85

Waist to hip ratio chart:
Male: 0.95 or below= low risk.   0.96 to 1.0= moderate risk.     1.0+= high risk
Female: 0.80 or below= low risk     0.81 to 0.85= moderate risk.    0.85+= high risk

Food: A Powerful Obsession

There is an emotional connection to food. If there wasn't then we would all be skinny. There is something about the way it tastes on our pallette, smells in our nostrils and appeals to our eyes. There is definitely a comfort in the way food connects to all of our senses.

Today, I saw an obese women whom I have seen in the past. However, today as I headed off to lunch I thought to myself, "Why do people let themselves get so big. Why don't they just stop cramming their plates full of food? If they would just STOP doing all the things that got them fat in the first place they may actually start losing weight."

This is where I stopped myself and said, "I AM 'they'." By definition, I too am obese. Just because I fill my plate up with small portion sizes and have to go back 5 or 6 times for more does not make me any different than the person who crams it on their plate the first time.

The one thing I have learned (which someone who's never been fat may never learn) is that there is an obsession with food that has to be dealt with if you truly want to loose weight and keep it off for good. 

Right now what is working for me is that I have found a new obsession. I can proudly say YOU, my readers, are my new obsession. As I have mentioned a million times before, I want to inspire YOU. I believe my goal on earth is to motivate and encourage others. If I am doing something just for my benefit I don't feel the same kind of satisfaction that I feel when i know I am helping someone else.

I am curious to know what will be your new obsession once you realize that food no longer has control over you. There is something very rewarding and powerful when you realize that food is meant to keep you alive  and not kill you.  Learning how to take control over food takes patience, knowledge, and WILL. Without those three things you may find that the cycle to lose weight will have no beginning and sadly, no end.

Digestive System

So I've noticed a change in the ummm...errrr...ummm... (potty time).  Ever since increasing my water in-take I noticed that I go tinkle quite a bit.  Now, some of you are going "Duh" right now.  But for someone like me who has the "gotta go..gotta go...gotta go right now" syndrome this can definitely get in the way of progress.

I have to make sure that I don't drink a lot before going on walks and if I drink a lot at dinner I am up at midnight running to the bathroom.

So today, as I went on my fifth-day-in-a-row walk, I realized that I need to make sure I keep the water on me.  I did my 1/2 hour walk and decided to be a "hero" and run all the way up the steps (now I counted 12 steps in one SMALL portion of this looooonnnnggg upward part of the hiking trail).  So there were a ton more .  Then, as if that wasn't enough I walked all the way down and RAN up them again.

Now I can't sit here and say that I was able to run up all of them, but I sure did try.  My calves were burning and my lungs were about to explode.

When I got to the top of the staircase landing the second time I had to sit down.  At this point I was dizzy and on the verge of throwing up.  I sat there trying to get my heart rate down but I could feel my heart just pounding against my chest.  I am not sure if I just over did it or if I was dehydrated.  I had only drank about 32 oz of water before setting out on this walk.  Either way, I decided even if I have to carry a role of toilet paper with me and make a venture into the woods, I had better load up on my fluids when doing this kind of thing.  Otherwise, someone may be rushing me to the hospital.

The other "bathroom" lesson that I learned this week was that eating healthy will really help keep the bowls moving.  I was staying so constipated before (I know...more than you need to know) but these walks have really helped keep me regular.

I guess the reason I am writing this is because we are all friends on here.  I read a really sad story about a girl who lost a ton of weight (without really doing anything). Come to find out she had a disease that caused her stomach muscles to stop working.  She was in her 20's and slowly dying.

Since I care about my own well-being and that of my readers, I thought I would share two good articles for keeping your digestive system "happy and healthy".  I hope this helps someone out there.

Food Sensitivities: 10 Best & Worst Foods for Your Tummy
http://www.lifescript.com/health/centers/digestive/tips/gut_check_10_best_and_worst_foods_for_your_tummy.aspx

UltraWellness Lesson 4: Gut & Digestive Health

by Dr Mark Hyman
http://drhyman.com/blog/2010/04/28/ultrawellness-lesson-4-gut-digestive-health/

Friends: What a wonderful world of support!

Losing weight is hard enough, but doing it alone is almost unbearable.  

I am glad that I have my friends on the Calorie Count website.  It is nice to login and see that someone has left you a very encouraging message, or someone tells you that you have inspired them.

We all need someone who will encourage our growth.  What I have learned from the CC website is that your support does not have to come from your spouse, best friend of 20+ years, your Mom, your Dad....  The best support is either someone who is on the journey with you OR someone who has been in your shoes but found a way to win the battle.

Although I want to be an inspiration to someone else, I must first inspire myself.  No one will believe you if you don't even believe in yourself.


Today's journey was fun.  I dragged my son and his best friend along with me today.  They were on roller blades while I made the journey on foot.  It was nice watching them laugh and have fun.  It took my mind to a different place.  I was actually surprised at how fast my walk went today by having them around.

After dinner, I sat down and read some CC posts.  I am so proud of all of my friends and the progress they are making. I posted a few encouraging comments and then reflected on how good each of them made ME feel.

I thought about my walk and seeing my son with his best friend.  I reflected on the various journeys that everyone on CC is on.  Then, I had the realization of how big this world really is and all the many ways that God can bless our lives.

Thank you and good luck to everyone who is on this journey with me.  May you keep inspiring others.

Walking: The Voices in My Head

So there was a voice in my head today that was fighting me and trying to get in the way of my progress.

I came home and the minute I walked in the door Voice A (the bad voice- the one who wants to create doubt, distraction, devastation) said to me, "You don't need to workout today.  You have worked hard the past two days and you need rest."  However, Voice B (the loving, caring, drill Sargent) says to me, "But you love working out.  It makes you feel good and you can see the results are starting to show."
Then, Voice A being the instigator it is, says to me, "But you are hungry.  How about sitting down and enjoying some of those yummy groceries you just bought..."

This is the point where I almost caved in.  Voice A in my head was right.  I was hungry.  However, the other voice- the more dedicated, committed, and devoted voice- was reminding me that if I gave in at this very moment it would mean that I would speak the rest of the night snacking.  I knew good and well that these last few days were amazing.  The long walks I had been going on actually helped to curb my appetite.  I would eat my dinner and be satisfied.  I would not have the raids every 5 minutes to the kitchen to see what else I could shove in my mouth.

So it was then that I realized Voice B would win this debate.  I put on my sketchers, changed into my "comfy" clothes and out the door I went.

Voice A kept reminding me that we only committed to a 30 minute walk.  I am blessed to have a public walking trail in my back yard and had originally set out to walk to where it ended and back.  That would be roughly 30 minutes.

Once I got to the end Voice B started in again.  You can go farther.. take the longer/tougher route back...  So I listened and proceeded with great hesitation.  I knew the "other route" home was a little longer and I would have a large hike up a hill (about 1/4 to 1/2 mile).  I knew my calves would be screaming.  However, I had made it this far and was up for the challenge.

Me..wore out..at the top of the hill!

The "long" way home. Reached top of hill.

I began to push myself.  I pictured an invisible rope and that I was pulling myself up this hill.  My calves were hurting, the sweat was pouring down my face, and my breath was short.  Every time Voice A began to say "take a break...cool down...rest" I began to push harder.  I actually started counting to 100 over and over again (about 5x's total) just to drown out that nagging voice.  I was going to conquer this hill WITHOUT stopping....and I made it.

The rest of the walk was down hill for the most part.  In total, I walked for 48 minutes.  While this may not seem like a lot to some, when you are just starting out and carrying a 200lb load this is a great accomplishment.  I am extremely proud of myself for not giving in.

I share this because we all have doubts that plague our minds.  A voice that tries to distract us and steer us off course.  I can't say that I will never give in to that voice.  However, today is proof that you can chose to ignore it.  I want to be skinny and healthy again.  To me, that is more important than sitting on my fat rump and stuffing my face full of junk.

All Things Water

So I have come to the realization that my body was in desperate need of H2O.  I struggled all last week with fits of hunger, but since increasing my water intake this week I find that it is extremely easy to tame that wild beast (aka stomach).

Looking back at my food journal I noticed that I was drinking maybe 32 oz of water a day. That is about 1/2 of what the recommendation is ( eight 8 oz glasses per day).  So, how was I able to hit my daily target plus some?  I started carrying a cup around with me that has a straw in it.  I have found that water is super easy to drink with a straw.  For some reason drinking out of a bottle is starting to give me gag reflexes.

Since I am on the water train this evening, I thought I would share some cool facts I that I found about the benefits of drinking water:

1. It balances out your body's fluids. If you are not taking in enough fluids then your body begins to run low. This causes Your brain to signal your kidneys to reserve more water.  While this means less trips to the restroom, it also means that your body is retaining fluids.

2. (This is one that I realized this week) It can help control your calories.  

3. It can Energize your muscles.  

4. It helps skin look good.

5. It helps your kidneys.

6. It helps maintain normal bowl function.

Source: 

WebMD

Also, one important thing you should know:

If you drink water from a plastic bottle, never leave it sitting in the sun and don't use them to heat water in.  Plastic bottles Contain chemicals that can leech into our bodies. This may create greater cancer risks. Bottles that get heated by the sun or get warmed up otherwise may leak more of these chemicals. If at all possible, try to drink you water from a glass container or pitcher.

Work out music to get me going this morning.

#NowPlaying on @8tracks: "Shut up and sweat" at http://8tracks.com/mllef/shut-up-and-sweat - Sent from the 8tracks Android app

Why Am I Not Losing Weight?

So this is the question that I furiously plugged into my web browser.... I have to admit, I was really pissed off this morning.  After two weeks of eating less and working out more, I was only down  1/2 lb.  Are you kidding me???  It had me feeling like I was going to be 200+ lbs forever, and I was like "to hell you say..."

So I came across this article on About.com (click here to read it) and it gave me ten valid reasons that I may not be losing the weight like I'd want to.

#1: You're not exercising enough- According to this I need to be doing at least 30 minutes of medium-high intensity.  Hmmm.... true....  yesterday even my Biggest Loser game suggested increasing my intensity and increasing how long I work out.  After a quick review I realized I had it on light intensity, and I was only working out for 20 to 24 minutes a night.

The Changes I Am Making:  I am going to walk at least 3.0 mph for a minimum of 30 minutes per night for 7 days.  In addition, I am going to strength train every-other-day using 3 lb weights.  No Biggest Loser workout for this week. I want to see what my results look like on Sunday.

#2: You're not getting enough sleep-  The recommended amount of "sleep" hours is 8.  Several studies have shown this.  However, I rarely get this.  I tend to "suffocate" at night and wake up because I have either stopped breathing or feel like I'm sucking in my pillow.  I can't tell you how often I wake up because of this.  I also toss and turn all night due.  I even sleep with a face mask to block out the light in the room, but that doesn't even help.

The Changes I Am Making:  I am going back to sleeping in the guest room.  I can stretch out and there is less light interference.  My husband enjoys having the bed to himself anyway (he says my snoring keeps him up, lol).

#3: You're too stressed out- Stress can add weight due to the body producing more cortisol.  I don't feel all that stressed (other than Mr. Monthly causing me to be more on edge than normal).  I have already left my previous employer to reduce a HUGE bulk of stress.  However, I may be stressed and not even realize it.

The Changes I Am Making:  Instead of sitting on my bum when I get home and watching t.v. until the cows come home, I am going to change clothes right away and hit the walking trail for at least 1/2 hour.  Then, I will come home and make dinner.  I will get my t.v. time in while eating dinner (we almost never eat dinner together as a family) and then I will sit down with my trusty computer and hash out everything on my blog. :D  Lucky you!  LOL

#4: You're eating too much- This suggests keeping a food journal and monitoring your calorie intake.  I am already doing this via Calorie Count.  My calories are set at 1500.  However, I do find myself going over a majority of the time.  :(

The Changes I Am Making:  I reviewed my recommended calories by using the Weight Loss Calculator on Fitwatch.com (click here if you want to try it out yourself).

The site gave me 5 options:

Option #	Calories Per Day	Target Date for 68.5lbs
#1	1531 calories	December 12, 2013
#2	1726 calories	October 15, 2014
#3	1625 calories	April 2, 2014
#4	1523 calories	December 5, 2013
#5	1422 calories	September 17, 2013

So it looks like 1500 is okay if I want to hit by goal by end of next year (hey, I didn't put it on overnight and shouldn't expect to lose it that way either).  I just need to make sure I don't go OVER.

#5: You're not consistent with your exercise and healthy eating- Duh!  I have realized this.  The site recommends changing up my exercise routines aren't hit or miss.  I couldn't agree more.

The Changes I Am Making:  See my response to #1 & I have to stick to this!!!  Please hold me accountable. PLEASE!

#6: You Blow it on the weekends-  Well... yesterday (Sunday) was a perfect example of that.  I went on a complete "snack/junk food" binge.  YUCK!  The food didn't even taste that good.

 I quote the site when I say, "To lose one pound of fat in one week, you would need to cut 500 calories with diet and exercise for 7 days. If you only follow that for 5 days, then eat way over your limit for two more days, you're taking two steps forward and one step back." 

It gives 3 tips which I am going to incorporate (see below):

The Changes I Am Making:  (From the site's suggestions) #1- I am not going to eat whatever I want when I want it on the weekends. #2-I will not use food to reward myself.  Instead, I will reward myself with a bubble bath or a good book (or my favorite... a good chic flick!) #3-I will not be lazy on the weekends.  I love to hike so I will plan a trip to a state park.  If it's raining I will find an exhibit to go see. North Carolina has a lot of free stuff to do.

#7: You haven't given yourself enough time to see results- That is why I got in a fight with the scale this morning and banished it to the dark corner in the back of my cabinet.  It will not see light except for my Sunday weigh-ins.

The Changes I Am Making:  I am going to enjoy my journey and focus less on the scale and/or measurements.  Instead, I will only use these to show progress over a longer period of time (not short term). I will explore new healthy recipes to try and read some motivational weight-loss books to keep me inspired.

#8: You have a medical condition- There are several conditions that can affect weight loss.  However, I don't think this is the case for me.  I can tell you that every visit to the doctor usually ends with them recommending that I try to lose weight.  When I had issues with my gull bladder and thought I had gull stones I followed their advice and lost almost 25 lbs.  But, when I started feeling better I just gained it all back.

The Changes I Am Making:  Review past medical records- Didn't the doc say I needed more Iron, Fish Oil, Vitamin D, eat better for my gull bladder????  The list goes on.  Now is the time to actually do what they told me to.  No more playing around.  Otherwise, I may not have another 32 years ahead of me.

#9: You've hit a plateau-  Since I am only two weeks in I don't think this is the case either.  Or, maybe I have a beginner's plateau. :)  But, what I do like are the suggestions the site makes to keep me from hitting one.  So their ideas will go in my "changes I'm making" section.

The Changes I Am Making:  #1- Change my workout every 4-6 weeks; I have several fitness videos and games that I can incorporate with my daily walks to keep things new and challenging. #2- Make sure I am giving my body fuel (I think I am going to refer to fuel instead of food- sounds better)  #3- Be sure that I don't exercise to the point I am stressing my body out and it stops burning as many calories.

#10: You don't need to lose weight: Again, this really isn't my issue... I have 68.5 lbs to go to get back to my 135 lb frame.  Although, if I am fit and slender and healthy I really don't care what weight I am at.  135 lbs is just a target since healthy doesn't really have a number.

The Changes I Am Making:  Remind myself of all the reasons I need to lose weight (medical, endurance, etc.)


So before I finish my day's post I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes:

My Puppy

Ah! Felt so good to walk my dog this evening.  I have 3 and had to leave the puppy home.  He cut a big gash in his foot so he is wearing a cone on his head and has 4 staples on his paw.

Hiking Trips

8/18/12: Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve
Cary, NC

My handsome son (larger) and his best friend (smaller)

My father-in-law walking the trail.

My father-in-law walking the large set of stairs.

Me feeling accomplished for getting to the top.

My Weight-Loss Journey

8/6/12
Okay.... here I go world...

I took this week off (vacation days used....check!) to get back on track both physically and mentally.   To be honest, I am tired of feeling like crap (and looking like it too).

This purpose of creating this blog is to hold myself accountable.  I hope this inspires someone and that a few of you will inspire me.  Otherwise, I hope this will be come my journal of success (because I refuse to let this be a failure).

So off I go!

The week leading up to this I created a meal plan, music playlist, and cut a whole bunch of tips and recipes out of some fitness magazines I had been holding on to since 2008 (I knew I would put them to good use one day).

My official weigh in was yesterday.  I was at 204 lbs (I am at 203.5 lbs as of this morning!).  I was still down from the 216 lbs I weighed in at 3 years ago.  However, this was up from the 189 lbs I had weighed in at back in November 2010.

My goal is to consume less than 1500 calories per day.  To help me keep track of this I have created an account on www.caloriecount.com (if you want to join me my username is joebrandyaustin).  This website also allows me to document my food log, journal, etc. from my computer, iPad, and Android Phone.  I needed to find a website that was versatile so that I could access my food log no matter what device I am using.


I have to admit I was really hungry yesterday, and I wanted to give in to my cravings.  However, I held myself accountable.  It got to a point where I put a piece of chewing gum in my mouth just to psych myself out (I had to chew on something!).

Although I did not exercise yesterday, I was able to stick to my meal plan.  Below is what it looked like (copied straight from my caloriecount page).

Everything I ate yesterday was good except for breakfast.  I need to make a mental note not to eat that combination again. LOL.

I will update my progress later today.  Hopefully I can stick to my meal plan today as well.  It is 1:54 pm and so far I have stayed on track with my breakfast and lunch.  :)  Thanks for reading.....until next post....chow!

8/8/12
Well....Day 3 went a lot better.  My cravings have calmed down.  I spent the day cleaning my house (7+ hours).  It was a deep cleaning.  I scrubbed floors, cleaned out closets, etc.  Still more cleaning to do tomorrow.

I am proud of myself for sticking to my calories 3 days in a row ( I went over 100 calories yesterday but still a lot less than what I would normally eat).  I had an amazing dinner.  Check out my recipe section to see what I ate today and get the recipe yourself.  It was yummy!

I need to incorporate more workouts.  I didn't workout today since I spent so much time cleaning house.

Status

Lost 0.5 lbs, 68.5 lbs to go!

Your target weight is expected to be reached on 12/01/13

8/9/12
As I sit here with my breakfast ( blueberry waffle, yellow cling peaches and yogurt)  I realize how much better I feel this morning.  It is day four and I am down a pound.  My stomach I not queasy and I don't feel bloated.  This is the exact opposite of the way I feel after eating all the crap food.


Later.....

Today was great! I had a good breakfast and lunch.  For dinner, I went out to a "good-bye" dinner for one of my employees.  We went to Red Robin (her favorite place).  With my head held high I sat at the table with my phone and googled what to eat healthy at Red Robin.  There was no surprise when I saw a very slim selection.  I opted for the ENSENADA CHICKEN PLATTER.  It has 440 calories (I opted to not eat any dressing with my salad).  I didn't care for it  The chicken was luke warm and had a bland taste.  Even though the platter came with two thin sliced chicken breast I only ate one (yuck!).  Honestly, it tasted like something that came out of a really cheap frozen entree at your local grocery store.

I did more house work which helped me shed some calories.  Oh, and did I mention that today is day 4 and I have already lost a pound!  :D

8/10/12

So as more time passes I am hoping that my posts grow longer.  After all, I created this as a journal, right?  Actually that is partially true.  I also created this to help inspire others or have tools available for those who also want to become healthy.

So this morning I took my puppy (12 weeks old) for his first set of shots and check up.  As it turns out he has an ear infection.  He also round worms and a possible allergy.  The sound of "round worms" terrified me.  I have two other dogs so my first thought was, "Is this contagious?"  Apparently it is contagious to both dogs and humans!  However, he has been de-wormed and is now happily on Heartguard.  The good news is if the other dogs are on worm medicine they should be fine.

Back to food....So this morning I had an "ah-ha" moment as I call them.  I realized that I needed to be eat food that will make me feel full (even if it doesn't taste so well).  Also, I needed to load up on more low-calorie foods (I know some of you are saying duh!).  I knew this as well, but I didn't want to think about it.  So this week I tried listening to what my body was telling me about the food I was eating.    What was making me hungrier and what left me feeling full.

I realized that eating fruits without real substance with them did this.  For example, my breakfast on Day 1 left me hungry all day.  I had cantaloupe, cottage cheese, and a little bit of a bran muffin.  This morning I had a dual egg burrito.  That really satisfied me up until lunch.  I have also found that Boca Burgers with a salad really hit the spot for lunch.

After lunch, I began surfing the web for a good weight loss app.  I really like the Calorie Count website, but I am not crazy about the mobile app integration.  I was trying to find one that gave me the best of both worlds.  I think in the end, I am sticking with Calorie Count for now.  However, I did run across some other great apps for Android designed to help you lose weight or stay healthy.  Here's the link to the article I found; http://www.shape.com/weight-loss/weight-loss-strategies/best-free-apps-help-you-lose-weight

Well, I am done for the day.  It is 10:30 at night and no more snacking! LOL.  I was over by 133 calories, but I am good with that.  I know that I made good choices for the most part (Skinny Cow candy bars got to me today). :)  I think what I am getting the most out of using Calorie Count is the Nutritional piece.  I wante to download the Fooducate app from the Android market because it goes hand in hand with this site (gives you food grades and alternative choices).

The last set of blood work that I got (about a year ago) stated I had a lot of vitamin deficiencies.  Since I have been logging everything (good or bad) I have noticed why.  Apparently I don't eat enough nutritious food.  Since this is not only about losing weight but also getting healthy, it appears that I need to re-evaluate what I am putting in my body.  I am even taking a multivitamin but I am still showing low in iron and calcium.  I think this explains why I am so tired all the time.  However, I will say that since I've been eating better my energy levels have definitely improved.

I am thankful to Calorie Count and all of the supporting memebers.  Everyone is so inspirational!

8/13/12
So today was a pretty good.  I ended up being way below my calorie goal.  I also managed to exercise for 20 minutes.  Now, I know that 20 minutes is not a lot of time but at least it is something.  I am trying to build up my endurance.


I really love my Biggest Loser game on my XBox.  It kicks my butt and makes me feel like I have a personal trainer.  What is cool is that if you have the Kinect you can talk to the game to let it know how you are doing  (even if you need a water break).  I have 2 of the Biggest Loser games on my Wii and nothing compares to the XBox version.

I also play Wipe Out (which wipes me out, lol) and a few other fitness games.  However, this is by-far my favorite.

I have to admit that when I got on the scale and saw that I only lost 1.5 lbs in a week I was completely discouraged (my husband even threatened to hide the scale from me because I have to check it daily).  I guess I was hoping to see a larger weight-loss.  But, everyone has reminded me today that 1.5 lbs is a healthy weight-loss for a week.  I will be happy when the scale says I have dropped below the 200's again.  This time I WILL NOT get back in the 200 range.  I want my 135 so bad!!! LOL!

This evening I sat down to see if I could find a better blogger template.  However, I stuck with this one.  I guess it will do for now.  Like I mentioned earlier, I really want to add more stuff to this blog.  So check back regularly to see what's new.

8/14/12

Ugh! I am so frustrated! How do I go up 2.5 lbs in one day (which puts me at a 1/2 lb gain since I started last Monday??!!!?? I have been staying around my calorie zone. It is days like this where you just want to beat yourself up and scream. Mr. Scale you are officially banned to the closet until next week! My husband tried to warn me about you!!

On a brighter note, the exercising is getting easier.   I about died on day 1 and 2 of my workouts.  Today, however, I was able to last a lot longer and it didn't hurt nearly as much.  I am feeling muscles that I have never felt before.  I guess I let them get too weak with all of my bum-sitting.

I also have to admit that I had a few more snacks since last night's post (14 tortilla chips with 2 tbsp of re-fried beans- immediately followed by a pudding cup).  However, I was able to stay within my calorie range even with that.

8/15/12
I was happy to see that I was under my calories thus far (even w/ a 700 calorie breakfast).  I didn't snack as much today but did cave in and have TWO rice crispy treats.  Hey, a girl needs her sweets every now and then.

8/16/12

Wow-e!! The workouts are getting easier. At first, I thought I was going to die.  I would workout for maybe 10 minutes and then turn off the program (Biggest Loser on XBox).  Now, I finish my twenty minutes in no time and think, "Is that all?"

When I got on the scales this morning I was 201.5.  I cannot wait to get below 200.  I have plenty more pounds to go, but at least I am going in the right direction.

I review how many calories people are eating on Calorie Count (www.caloriecount.about.com) and I noticed quite a few over 1500.  I wanted to know how many calories I needed to eat to lose my 65 lbs in a year.  I found this cool calculator which actually breaks it down by week.  Check it out here.

8/17/12

So today was HUNGRY day.  I wanted to eat all day.  I think it's due to the high salt content, lack of water, and eating sweets (which only make you hungrier).








8/18/12

Ah.... today felt so good.  I went in to work on my day off to catch up on a few things.  Still didn't get everything accomplished.  When I got home I could hear the bed calling my name.  I was so tired!

I went in the bedroom and changed out of my work clothes and threw on something I could go hiking in.  I gathered up my son, dog, and father-in-law and out the door we went.  I was NOT going to let laziness get me!!!

We went for a 1/2 hour walk at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve in Cary, NC.  I was so happy to be outdoors.  Then, as soon as I got home I did a 20 minute workout on my Biggest Loser XBox game.  This time I was focusing on my core muscles.

I am so excited that I can workout harder and longer than I could a week ago.  I can feel my endurance increasing.  I just can't wait for the days when I will be doing 5k runs!

Just so everyone knows, this blog is baby steps for me.  I know most days are pretty boring and only have my food journal.  I just want to thank you for taking the time to read this stuff.  If I can use it to help me hit my goal and touch just one person along the way it will be sooooo worth it!