Last day of the month (almost)!

Praise God! I have made it through 4 weeks now without eating sugar, except from fruits! I still feel really good and am starting to get into a daily and weekly routine. On Saturdays, I make a fresh salad for the week, and whatever I need to start the work week. I have hardly any time to get my lunch together when I work 12 hour nights. I try to get my 8 hours of sleep, and I usually do. I have not had cravings today, even though we got 8 inches of snow last night which usually makes one yearn for comfort foods. Eating a big summer salad with chicken wasn't exactly wintery. I will have chili for supper again. It's a good thing I don't mind eating the same thing several days in a row.
This morning, my husband suggested I look into a diet EODD. Every other day diet. You diet one day, eat normal foods the next day. I DON'T think that would work for me with my sugar addiction. I am so relieved to not be a slave to food anymore, one day at a time! It feels good to be in control of what I choose to eat and don't eat. I told my husband that this really is the perfect diet, because it is the healthiest I have ever eaten in my life! I'm not really tempted to overeat either. I try to only eat when I get hungry and stop when I'm full, which is a diet strategy in itself. He asked me if I was never going to eat pizza, cake or pie again. Unless, I can find a recipe that I can work into my diet, I don't plan to until I reach my weight goal. Then, maybe I can plan on treats for special occasions, knowing that I would be treading on risky ground to start up addictive behaviors again.
So, I don't have to worry about that now. I am just thinking about how good I will look , feel, and how many more of my clothes I will be able to wear again one day soon! I am so sick of wearing the same old worn out things, and the few new things I got for Christmas which consists of T-shirts and hoodie jackets, since I am in a "workout" lifestyle! It will be nice to wear shirts that don't look like I shopped at Baby Gap this summer!

Another amazing week!

It is a cold, snowy KY day outside, and have been cooped up in the house all day. Have been a little restless, the old temptation to eat out of boredom. I know these days will come, but I have to remember my goal, and like an addict, where I don't wanna go again. So, after eating eggs and bacon for breakfast, & chili for lunch, I made a big salad with a can of tuna fish on it and now I'm full and content for awhile. On my days off, I find that if I save my snacks til the PM, I have something to look forward to. And I cannot go to bed starving or I will never go to sleep.
Now for the good news! I lost 2 lbs. this week! That is really good for me. Every 10 lbs. I lose, I drop a dress size, so I have lost 7 lbs now and am getting near losing a size! My clothes are already looking and feeling better on me. I worked out at Curves yesterday and did Wii fit today, which is really a light workout, but better than nothing. I got irritated at Curves yesterday, which wasn't good. I need to find more recipes that can be staples for me. I am still loving the broccoli-cauliflower salad, and I added imitation crab this week which I love! I need to try more homemade soups other than chili too. I always try to eat a big salad a day to get my raw veggies in.

Good day!

Another good eating day in the books. And a really good exercise day. I started out with my usual eggs, poached this time, 2 turkey sausage links and coffee. For lunch, I had a taco salad without the taco! Everything except the chips, that is! It was really good and satisfied my mexican taste. For dinner I had a McDonald's grilled chicken club sandwich without the bacon.
The girls and I went roller skating for 2 hours which was a very good workout, and I hope to see some results from it. When I got home the girls were having ice cream. So, I made a yummy smoothie out of yogurt, skim milk, frozen berries and a little Splenda. If I get hungry before bed, I may have a cheese stick. I haven't been very hungry today, which is good. I have been very busy cleaning house today. I feel like I've hardly sat down. That is good too. I hope to find activities that I have fun doing that can become a regular part of my life instead of being lazy all the time. I won't weigh again til next Thursday. That way I don't get discouraged. Thanks for checking in.

Still going strong!

Hello again! It's been almost a week since my last post. I will probably only be posting Thurs. through Saturdays due to my work week, I work at night. My big news is that after 3 weeks, I have finally lost 5 lbs! That is half a dress size for me since I'm so short! However, I don't trust the unreliable scale because it has disappointed me too many times. Over time I will be able to tell, I can't weigh daily or even rely on it weekly to be consistent.
I'm finally integrating grains in and getting better recipes that are satisfying. I made a cool new dish yesterday using whole-wheat rotini noodles, olive oil, parmesan cheese (the good kind), diced tomatoes with green pepper and onions (Del Monte, I think), turkey polish sausage, italian seasoning, steamed mushrooms and sprinkled with red pepper flakes. It was delicious! Lately, recipes have just been coming to me (I give the credit to God!), and I have made some cool things from what I have in the pantry. I do alot of fresh, frozen and canned foods, alot of microwaving. Some on the foreman grill. I need to find a good sauce for a mixed vegetable saute without sugar. Like a stir fry sauce. I bought a big bag of presliced frozen vegetables today, and I have been enjoying the steamer bags that my brother recommended. I know that I am eating totally healthy now, so I have no excuse to go back to my old ways. As long as I can get enough variety I should be ok. I ate some Dannon Lite and Fit yogurt with strawberries today for the 1st time. It wasn't filling for a long time, but held me over ok for a snack. I bought some All Bran cereal today, I had been eating Total. I like to be able to have cereal, I don't have a problem wanting to overeat it like Steve said he does. As long as I can eat no more than 3 fruits and 3 starches in addition to Phase 1 foods per day, I will be pleased. I try to eat only when I'm truly hungry and stop when I'm full. That way, even if I push the limit, I know it's because I'm truly hungry.
I worked out with my Just Dance for Wii for 30" today and it was fun!

Phase 2 all the way!

Well, today has been a doozy! My irritable mood carried over into today and I was in a bad mood for about half a day. That really is unusual for me anymore, but I think my hormones are really messed up! However, my oldest daughter had her 1st dance team competition which cheered me up, although they didn't place. At the competition, I ate walnuts, a cheese stick and a diet coke. It held me over pretty well til we left for home. I had old-fashioned oatmeal and a poached egg for breakfast. I could only eat half the oatmeal!
On the way home (it was 1.5 hour drive), we stopped at McDonald's because I knew I could get a grilled ranch chicken sandwich on wheat bread (at least). Dang it if they didn't give me the crispy chicken and I didn't know it til we were on the road! I took the bacon off it, and said the heck with it, and ate 3/4 of it ! It was good, but I had just as soon had the grilled one. Oh well, these things happen and it didn't sabotage my mindset. I am not going to be so legalistic that I beat myself up, or go on a binge, because of one imperfect meal or day. Yeah! It still wasn't a bad food choice. I used to would have eaten it with fries! Didn't get to work out today, but did some busy house cleaning for awhile. Oh, well...life goes on!

A hard day for me

I have to say, I started this day very discouraged. I have made it two weeks on the SBD and hoped to moved on to Phase 2 full scale. However, its the SCALE that's the problem. I am really not a fan of weighing myself. The first few days I lost 4 lbs. which is unusual for me. The next week I was UP 1 pound. Now a week later I am the same as a week ago, even after doing well on my diet and fair on exercise. I started going to Curves yesterday, and went today. I really don't get it.
Now tonight, I have for the 1st time this year, had the worst cravings for something sweet. I even had a mood meltdown earlier when I had to get my stupid dog untangled from a bush in the dark and the cold. I'm afraid to go on to full phase 2 now. I may do it anyway since I think the cravings are due to being so restricted.
I had a really good motivational message semi-prepared for tonight, talking about how the enemy will not steal my victory over this. I guess I've still got that message in me somewhere, but I have moved from discouraged to angry. I'm not giving up, because like the disciples said about Jesus, "where else would we go? for you have the words of life". I have exhausted all other means of controlling my weight and they don't work. I'm a carbs/sweets addict. I am too big to be comfortable and quit. And I certainly can't get any bigger. It's too unhealthy and its ugly! I just need some faith and patience. Unfortunately in a way, I have 2 deadlines that are looming ahead of me. My band reunion in April, and my 25th class reunion in June. So I feel some pressure for this to be working! So, this post didn't turn out as I had hoped, but at least I got my frustrations out.

Great Day!

I have had a wonderful time the past 3 days. It has been like an extended Christmas break with my kids out for snow days, i.e., staying up late, playing Facebook together, playing the Wii and sleeping late (the best!) I'm also grateful that my eating has been going well. I haven't had structured exercise time, but I've been waiting too late in the day. I do better and feel more accomplishment if I do it before late afternoon. I've been playing our new Wii game Just Dance the past 2 days and think it's gonna be a great fat-burning tool because it is really fun and I love to dance. I have 4 days off next week, so maybe I can get my workout routine going on.
Had some good meals today. Breakfast was 2 poached eggs, 3 pieces microwave bacon, and 1/2 grapefruit. Lunch was a large salad with grilled chicken. Supper: I tried a recipe from my Fat Belly Diet book called Steamed Salmon and Snow peas. I actually sauteed the salmon in the marinade in a skillet then steamed the snow peas and stirred them in the mix when the salmon was about done. So it was all salmon steak and snow peas. For snack I had a small apple and will probably have a string cheese before bed.
I took my brother's advice and made spicy roasted chickpeas. I burned the heck out of some yesterday, so I tried it again today. They may be a little on the underdone side, but they are good, and not burnt! I don't want to get in the habit of snacking or grazing though. I'm doing good between meals, even with this snow weather.

The start of a new week

Oh, what a good day for eating this has been! Just after midnight, I was starving, and couldn't stand the thought of another egg or piece of celery, and I wouldn't be able to go to sleep with an empty stomach. So, I went ahead and ate a small apple and a cheese stick. Like my brother said about his 1st apple after phase 1 was over, it was awesome!! The grapefruit half I had this morning was equally as delicious!
I had a wonderful salad for lunch, and I'm not a huge salad eater. If I can get some special items on a salad, it is alot better. I put a can of tuna, almonds, a few jalepenos, olives and my new red wine vinegar dressing. Oh, and my favorite fresh parmesan cheese, that really makes it like restaurant salad. I am finding out that I am just gonna have to search and find many recipes that are good for me to make a whole new eating style for me. Like I grew up eating meals my mom cooked, so that's basically what I cooked when I grew up. It's mostly fattening, comfort foods. Now, I have to break out of the mold and make my own way. But I have to build up my own repertoire of meals. And they can't be too boring or monotonous. Yet, not too frivolous. I like meals in 30 mins or less, unless I use a crock pot.
I finally tried the steamer bag that Steve gave me for broccoli tonight. Much quicker than a traditional steamer, and made it firm and not soggy like stir frying can. I really had a delicious dinner. Lean hamburger steak with some Lipton beefy onion soup mix mixed in, a SWEET POTATO (finally!) with butter and pumpkin pie spice, sauteed mushrooms, and the broccoli with a little butter. I was quite full but not overdone. About half an hour later, I finally managed to get my exercise in. I tried my Just Dance game for the wii for the 1st time, and it was a GREAT workout! Especially since there was enough game left to go on alot longer. Today was a success, Praise God!

I made it through the 1st week!

Hi everyone! I finally made it through the 1st week of phase 1 SBD. About every other day, I have been having periods of HUNGRY! and today is one of them! I have decided to start incorporating fruits and sweet potatoes into my diet tomorrow to start week 2 of phase 1. I just can't take another week of limited snack options. I'm sure that if I studied it out long enough, I would find more sufficient snacks. I bought some pretty red/green (one the same apple!) apples, green pears, grapefruit and sweet potatoes today. I will add them in gradually, still sticking with phase 1 as much as possible. Next week, I will start adding in the whole grain products and sugar-free treats. I wanted to get sweets out of my system for awhile.
My downfall so far is exercise. I have some obstacles that I need to work through. 1) Troy was with me all day and he dominates the TV where I do Wii fit. 2)I worked 4 night shifts this week which really only leaves me 2 days to exercise. 3) I am too tired to exercise during the work week, usually. So, I may have to double up the next 2 days by going to Curves and doing Wii fit. I got a cool Just Dance Wii game the other day, I will enjoy doing that for exercise too.
I must say that I am pleased that I am more motivated to change my eating habits for good. I realized that growing up in the South, and in this generation, I really don't know how to cook or eat properly to be thin. Many people around here are heavy, and that's one reason that I haven't minded being too heavy. It's really the norm to be chubby at my age here. When I lived in Colorado for 9 years, it was much easier to stay thin because most women I saw were thin and fit. At work I was one of the thinner nurses, so no one ever thought I needed to lose weight. After this past year-end, I realize that to eat the healthiest diet and exercise, especially at my age, is not only for vanity-sake, but for LIFE! To be sowing life into my body instead of death through non-nutritious, junk foods and sugar! I thank God for waking me up! The key to any successful endeavor, is having the revelation of TRUTH behind it, and the motivation and persistence to get it! My motto for this year is:

I am pressing onward for the {my} high calling that God has called me to do in year 2010 for His Kingdom.

That includes being healthy, strong, and have the energy to keep pressing onward! God Bless!

Making it through the first week

I'm back for a brief post after working 12 hours shifts the past 2 nights. I don't do much when I work those. I have to go in for an 8 hour tonight.
Night before last was hard. It was my first night at work since starting the SB diet, and I wasn't coping too well with the lack of snacks I have found on this diet so far. I found out, however, that cottage cheese by itself isn't good nor with celery. :( Cottage cheese isn't good with lemon pepper. Peanut butter and celery is ok. I do ok when I'm home, but to be trapped at work without adequate food is scary! I made a big pot of chili which is good for Phase 1 and much welcomed. I made some awesome homemade red wine vinegar salad dressing yesterday. I am freaking out with eating full fat dressings and mayo, since I have always eaten lite, but they have sugar.
Sunday night, when I was feeling the lack of sugar for the 1st time, I thought that I might get through the 1st week, then add fruit in once or twice a day for snacks for the next week, then gradually add in the other high-fiber carbs, like brown rice and whole wheat foods. I don't like to cheat, so I will see how I am doing when Friday comes. If I ever feel like I can start cheating, it is all over for me. I am best when I have firm boundaries.
I must admit that my mental status and focus on my goal is very good. I am getting more dedicated to healthy lifestyle and eating, and breaking down the strongholds of junk foods, sweets, and laziness. Will post more tomorrow, God willing!

Another successful day

Day 2 is nearly gone, it has been another successful day. Praise God! I had a ham and cheese omelet for breakfast with tomato slices and coffee with skim milk, which is yuck, so I went and bought some fat-free halfnhalf today. I hope it does the trick! Then I did my Wiifit for 30 mins, and my calves are pretty sore again today. I drank some lemon grass green tea and didn't get hungry for 5 hours! That is a miracle for me! I ate some walnuts on the way home from town because I was getting hungry and knew I had to take time to make a salad.
I had a large salad for lunch with a small can of salmon and Newman's balsamic vinagraitte dressing. Then I took a nap because I got up too early. For dinner I had a pork chop done on the Forman grill, black-eyed peas and brocolli-cauliflower salad again. Still yummy!
My spirits have been good today, and staying close to the Lord. I read my Bible first before I got on the computer or anything this AM. I read John 1-3 and it was really good. It's amazing what I forget. And sometimes I just see things in a different way, thanks Holy Spirit, for that. I hope that I can stay on the right track with my health/fitness goals and with my Spiritual life. I noticed some definite temptations to go off onto pleasant lanes from the past today, but I resisted. I need to stay in the present looking forward, pressing onward to the prize! Keep my eyes on what's important in life, and God.

I made it!

This sounds funny, but I faced my fears of giving up unrestricted eating and laziness, and made an awesome start on my goals for a healthier lifestyle today. I must admit that looking forward to writing this blog motivates me to do well, even if no one ever reads this but me. I look forward to reporting my progress and feeling a sense of achievement.
For New Year's Day lunch we ate with my in-laws at their house. I had SBD polish-style sausage, cabbage, black-eyed peas, broccoli-cauliflower salad and green beans. It was the most delicious meal I remember in awhile! A meal is so much more enjoyable when you're really hungry, and not gorged out on sweets all the time!
I did Wii fit for 30 mins., part of that was running >1 mile in 10 mins., and other aerobic activity. I went to Curves late spring through part of Nov. this year, but for some reason, I had become SO lazy that I feared I wouldn't be able to make myself exercise again. That's why I always say, 90% of weight loss is mental. If you aren't motivated to lose weight, eat right and exercise, you might as well forget it. I just was not motivated to change my eating last year after the awful ice storm we had in western KY.
The other things I did today was measure myself and take BEFORE pictures (scary!!). Now I'm REALLY motivated! I will post them eventually. Let me assure you, they don't look anything like my profile pic! I'm going to start a food diary in a little notebook tonight to keep up with my progress. I also read the book of Philemon for my Bible challenge. I know that my reading goals don't seem to go along with my health goals, but God's word is life and health. We have to be spiritually nourished before we can do anything of lasting value. I know that I can't do this without God's power and grace. But I CAN do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me! Philippians 4:13.

Welcome to 2010!

It is so hard to believe that a decade has now gone by since New Year's 2000. What changes we have seen! But there is little use in looking back, our future is ours to make! I'm so ready to leave all the high-calorie, junk food. My body will probably be in shock for a little while without all the sugar.
I weighed more this morning than I expected, but I can only go from here. My weight is 138 this AM, which is up 1.5 lbs. from Wednesday. It could be fluid. I am only 4'11', with an extra-small frame, so 138 is the biggest I have ever been except for postpartum. My little body wasn't meant to carry this much weight. I'm pretty sure that I am prediabetic, too.
I ate 2 scrambled eggs, a piece of turkey sausage (thanks to Steve for the idea), and tomato slices, and coffee with flavored splenda and a splash of skim milk. Coffee won't be the same for me without my flavored creamers, but I have a much bigger prize awaiting...a fit, lean, healthy body. It will be worth it to feel so much better. I will post again tonight to report how the day goes.