Good day

I had a good day. Slimfast for breakfast, veggie sausage and special k waffle with sugar free syrup for lunch and two biscuits with lean ham steak. Total calories so far: 830! I did not exercise this morning and chose to do it this evening. Much easier to do it in the am! It was harder to focus and my feet hurt from the shoes I had worn. But I pushed through for my 30 minutes. Tomorrow I will exercise twice because Monday I have an early appointment and a late appointment and there will not be time. But, I will not let myself skip.
I am learning to make this a lifestyle, not a diet. Everyone else tonight ate pancakes and sausage and I ate the biscuits and ham and used SF syrup. I make adjustments. I am not deprived. I use sugarfree items and 100 calorie packs, diet dr. pepper, and healthier choices. I am feeling better and stay in a better mood. I am doing very well.

Getting Easier

It is getting easier to eat right and exercise like I should. I did my 30 mins on the elliptical pretty easily and I saved up all my calories for supper tonight. I had half a peanut butter sandwich for breakfast at 135 calories and lunch was half a roast beef sandwich at 80 cal. and a fudgsicle at 60 cal. Supper will be Red Baron pizza!
Tomorrow I will sleep in and exercise later in the day, but if I report that I didn't, somebody better get on my case!

Good day

Doing good. Did my 30 minutes on the elliptical. It was much easier with the iPod. Keeping the calories under control. Last night, I decided to have a piece of the chocolate cake. I didn't cave in, I made a calculated choice. I need to "cheat" once a week so some books say, so I tried it. It was not as satifying as I was hoping. That was good. I don't regret it though. I won't trade it out for more exercise. I want this lifestyle to be normal. Something I can keep. Not some strict diet I am chained to for life, but a healthier way of eating. I feel good about it.

Still doing good

I am still doing good on my diet and exercise. This morning instead of the elliptical, me and the kids went for a walk to the post office and grocery store and the neighbors. I am still keeping up with calories, but I will not put everything I eat on the blog. It is time consuming for me and mind numbing (I am sure) for you. I will keep up with the highlights, though. Unless I say otherwise, I kept between 1330 and 1500.
The past two days I have kept below my calories on Monday and at 1330 on Tuesday to make up for the low-blood sugar extra calories.
I baked a double chocolate cake for my neighbor's birthday and did not lick the bowl. All I had was one teaspoon of icing to taste it to make sure it was chocolatey/sweet enough. It is difficult as a cake designer to not taste the cake!
I am feeling good about my food choices. Last night, I made a very low calorie, low fat, noodle soup. I used chicken bouillion (you could use canned broth) and water, fat free egg noodles, canned carrots, drained, garlic, onion powder, salt, pepper, and parsley and let it cook until the liquid was almost gone, and then added a little more water to make it moist. The noodles came out tasting very good and chicken-y. Tonight is roasted chicken with root vegetables. I'll give you the recipe tomorrow.

Doing good

I did not eat a bite at the party! I had a sandwich for lunch at 130 cal and a weight loss shake for 180 cal for dinner. Then, I had a couple hundred cals for snack.

Today is my exercise off day. My son goes to therapy first thing in the morning so Tuesdays are my day off from exercise. I had a weightloss shake for breakfast, a 180 cal sandwich for lunch, a 100 cal ice cream bar for snack, and we are going to have a soup and salad combo for supper. Low calories today.

Mid-night blood sugar

My blood sugar went low in the night and did not want to come up. First, I had two packs of smarties at a total of 50 calories. Then fat free ice cream at 180 calories. To keep it up, I had baked cheetos (which are as good as the real thing) 100 calorie pack, a piece of fat free ham at 30 cals and a piece of low fat cheese at 90 cals. That was too much food, but it was what I had to do. My sugar was good when I woke up so it was not too much.
So, to compensate, I will eat less today. For breakfast, instead of a 180 calorie weight loss shake, I ate an apple at 50 calories. I also worked out harder on the elliptical for 20 minutes, did abs work for 5, and finished out with 5 intense minutes on the elliptical. I have to do a Premier Jewelry party tonight, so I will have to eat at least a little there so I will be extra careful today!

Lunch and Dinner

Lunch went well with me staying at I guess about 400 calories but my bloodsugar went low twice and I had to eat some extra calories (not sure how many). So, to make up, I had half a can of soup for supper with half a sandwich. The soup 90 calories and the sandwich 90 calories. 180 total! So, I should be good for the day!

Last Night and This Morning

Did good last night and stayed inside my calorie range. This morning, 30 minutes on the elliptical. Much harder today than the others. I woke up with sore legs and very sore arms and shoulders. Time seemed to drag. Seemed like I was so short of breath. But, I kept on until I made it to the end. I had a banana for breakfast (90 calories) because I am having lunch at my in-laws and the food is always so good, I'd like to save my calories!
Good News: I am down to 187 for a total loss of 5 lbs!

Low Blood Sugar

My sugar is going low so I have some Bryer's Extra Creamy light and dreamy fat free french chocolate ice cream. Only 90 calories for a serving-1/2 cup. I did not realize how big my portions are and how small they should be! And yes... it was creamy and dreamy!

The Elliptical

I just used the elliptical another 15 minutes just because I can! It feels great!

Supper

A last minute Lowe's trip cancelled roasted chicken. Instead had grilled chicken sandwich from sonic, plain. Unsure of calorie count but it was the best choice. Still feel good about the choice. Wore a pair of my 14 jeans for the first time in weeks and they feel ok. The stomach spills over some, but not as much!LOL!

Lunch

Today for lunch was two slices of Red Baron 4 Cheese pizza. It was a chosen lunch, not a cave-in. Michael wanted it and I obliged. I want to be able to eat like normal people in normal life. It only had 360 calories. No too bad. With unsweet tea and a sugarfree popsicle, that was 375 calories. Morning total: 565 calories. Supper tonight has about 400 calories so I am good to go!

Last Night and This Morning

I won't go into details of everything I ate and all the calories, but I ended the day at 1440. I was happy with it. As long as it falls between 1330-1500 I am good! This morning, another 30 on the elliptical. Once I broke the mental barrier, it is a lot easier, not easy, but easier. I have a full day of laundry and tiling and roasted chicken with root vegetables for dinner! Yay! Maybe soon I can wear something other than skirts. When I am bigger, I resort to skirts to be comfortable. I hate the feeling of stuffing your stomach in your jeans, or worse, have it come over the top!

Supper

Tonight we ate out because we all went to buy groceries. We went to Subway ( at my request). Tried their new Buffalo Sandwich. They didn't have nutritional values, but I deducted it had 413 calories. With a diet coke. Then, on the way home, the husband and kids had Kit Kats and I had a sugar free fudgsicle at 60 calories and did not feel like I was missing out on a thing! I have felt great all day thanks to my 30 minutes on the elliptical, though I am getting a little sore! Unless my math is off, that is 888 calories for the day! That leaves me with at least 442 more calories I can have today, and that is to be at the low end 1330! Yayyyyyy!

Lunch & Snack

Lunch was an oven roasted chicken sandwich with reduced fat american cheese on whole wheat that I halved with my daughter. Chicken 80 calories, cheese 50, bread 140 total 270 halved equals 135. Tomato soup at 90 calories.
Then, for snack, 100 calorie ice cream bar.

Today

Wow! Okay, I woke up, as usual, dragging around. I got the kids settled in for an educational video. I set up the CD player with Natalie Grant and started in for my 10 minutes on the elliptical. After 10 minutes my daughter said she wished she could exercise. So I let her pull out the mat and small dumbbells and exercise. I was pumped to be a positive influence on my daughter. So I decided to do another 10 minutes. At the end of twenty, I said I was tired. Then I said, "No wait. I am a little tired. My mind says I can't do more, but my body knows it can." So I settled in for another 10. My daughter noticed me smiling big and asked why. I told her because I am happy. I realized I am strong! I carried an almost 14 lb baby and lived in another state for 3 and a half months when said baby was sick and on the verge of death. I am stronger than I think.
Also, I was thinking about what we tell people about their weight and being beautiful. We tell people that they are beautiful the way God made them. And this is true. And we tell them that beauty is on the inside. And this is true. But, how many of us are the way God made us still, physically? Is the way we look just a natural progression of age and time, and if so, good. Or is it a result of lack of self-control and gluttony? I am ashamed to say mine is the latter. How about you? Is your physical health the best it can be or have you marred it with poor choices. Poor choices limit future options. I am taking control of my poor choices. I challenge you to do the same. Maybe it isn't weight. Maybe it is something else. But is there somewhere in your life you are straying from what God intended you to be?
By the way, breakfast was a weighloss shake at 190 calories.

Last Night

Had the same spaghetti. Did not go low in the night so I stayed in my calorie zone for the day despite the fact I also had a 100 calorie ice cream bar. No lows in the night. I had a few slices of low fat meat and cheese at less than 100 calories. I forgot if I do not consume some fat before bedtime I go low.

Supper

Tonight is the same burritos I had on Tuesday, so 424 calories, plus the 570 at lunch means I still get at least 336 before the end of the day! Yay for me!!! I am tiling the bathroom tonight so this will be my last post for today!

Lunch

For lunch, the same spaghetti I had last night for 290 calories and a 100 calorie ice cream bar for a grand total for the day of 570!

This Morning

Happy to report I had a Weight Loss shake for breakfast at 180 calories. Then the kids and I went outside and played ball vigorously for 45 minutes! I was able to spend time with them and get my exercise done at one time! I also weighed. 189.5! I had actually started "trying" to lose weight for a few days before I started the blog. Definition of "trying" is putting forth minimal effort in hopes of getting maximum rewards. But, I guess it payed off! I am very scale oriented. I have to keep myself off of it or I would weigh daily. But I was encouraged. My goal right now is 150. I haven't ever stayed at a good weight. I went from skinny to very not skinny. I never have felt descriminated against or anything like that, but I feel it is the first thing people notice about me. I also, as a Christian, do not want to be un-self-controlled. I control my eating, not the other way around.

Last Night

I had consumed a small amount of calories all day so I had a 2 oz serving of whole wheat pasta with a half cup of canned spaghetti sauce. The pasta had 210 calories and the sauce 60 calories with one Tbl of parmesean (I don't know if I spelled it right) cheese that had 20 calories. That was a total of 290 calories. Then, my blood sugar went low in the night and instead of my usual high calorie nosh, I had a 100 calorie ice cream bar. This added up for a total of 1470. I aim for between 1330 and 1500 calories a day. How did I come up with this number? I read two different books and these are the numbers they gave me, so I shoot for between them.

Supper

Ok supper was good, but had too much sodium and left me feeling bloated. I had been feeling lean. We had bay scallops and half a chicken breast cooked in a chipotle citrus sauce, with Uncle Ben's wild rice and steamed veggies with cheese. The scallops had 60 calories, the chicken had about 120, the sauce about 30, and the rice 200. I did not like the vegetables. I ate like four bites and had to quit. Supper total: 410. Then I had a 100 calorie ice cream bar for a total of 510. Supper was okay but too much sodium. Next time I would skip the sauce and use herbs and broth instead. I still have to do 10 more minutes of exercise today, but first a rest on the couch with my husband.

Afternoon snack was a bust

Afternoon snack was a bust! The strawberries were not ripe enough, I still do not like grapes and the 100 calorie pack fruit dip was not good to me, but my husband loves it. So snack was one grape, one bite of strawberries and two tiny dips of fruit dip. Now I will just wait till dinner.

Lunch

Since I did so well at breakfast on calories, I had the whole sandwich! Roasted chicken deli slices and two pieces of wheat bread with New York Deli Style Mustard and half a can of soup. The soup was Progresso High Fiber Creamy Tomato Basil and it is delicious. Unsweet tea with artificial sweetener to drink. I also finished my first bottle of water for the day. I hate drinking water.
To Recap:
Bread 140 cal
Meat 80 cal
Mustard 0 cal
Soup 130 cal
Total lunch Calories: 350 calories
Woo HOO!
570 calories total for the whole day so far. I tend to eat more in the evenings, so I am saving them up!

Mat work

Okay...I did my mat work. About 10 minutes of crunches, leg lifts and pushups using my 30 lb 2 year old as resistance. Time for lunch. Soup and half a sandwich. I wish I liked salads!

High Blood Sugar

This is what is so crazy about blood sugar. If mine is under 250 and I exercise, it comes down. If it is over 250 and I exercise, it gets worse. Now it is 297. I have given a shot and will wait an hour to have lunch. I go through this every time I start exercising! Before lunch I plan to do 10 minutes of mat work: pushups, crunches, etc.
A friend I have had since I was six is going to send me her old iPod so at least I will have something to listen to.

This Morning

To start off, I hate mornings. Always have. I try to like them, but most days it is futile. My husband had to work early so I got morning duty. Then my blood sugar was over 300 when I woke up and I felt like I had mud in my veins. But, I exercised, a little. I did 10 minutes on the elliptical. I know, not much. But, the iPod is broken and all I had to listen to was the children playing, the baby fussing, the squeak of the machine, and my own labored breathing. It was torture! I ended up watching the clock. I looked at the clock about 10 times and it said 8:53 EVERY TIME! But, I did it. The journey of a 1000 miles begins with one step. I am sure I made more than one step. Then, I felt better after I exercised. I always do, I just forget that I do. It is one of those things I hate to do but am grateful when I have. I will exercise more later. The whole time I am thinking I have "better" things to do with three small children, but working to have a better quality and longer life are the priorities now. I rewarded myself with breakfast. Half a peanut butter sandwich, chunky on wheat bread. About 220 calories. I ate late so maybe I won't need a snack.

Tuesday night

I did really good for my bedtime snack. I am diabetic, so if I do not eat something before bed I will go low. So I had a can of tomato soup and a piece of bread to dip in it. The soup has 180 calories and the bread 70. Next time I will buy the 40 calorie bread again. I never realized how many calories I eat in a day. According to one book to lose to my goal weight of 150, I need to eat 1500 calories, another says 1330. Either way, I am sure I go over on a daily basis. I was so proud of my healthy snack, we were even watching a movie on the couch, and then, in the middle of the night my blood sugar went low! This always happens. If I do not consume some fat and/or protein with my betime snack and I forgot! I begrudgingly got up and at a spoon of icing at 80 calories and a weightloss shake at 180 calories. I know that it is a delicate balance and I have to work on it, but it is frustrating when it is beyond your control. I didn't lose self-control and eat, but my body made me do it.

Tonight's supper

Tonight's supper was home made burrittos. Here's the recipe:

12 Tortilla shells (I used the large, but next time I will use the smaller ones to save calories)
1 lb ground chuck browned with taco seasoning packet added
2 cups mild chunky salsa, pureed (I don't like the big chunks and if I wasn't feeding kids I would have used hot)
1 cup 2% sharp cheddar cheese, divided in half
1 small can of green chiles, pureed
1 can fat free refried beans

Mix all ingredients together except 1/2 cup of the cheese and spoon into tortillas. These will fit into two large 13x9 pans. Bake in oven at 375 for 20-25 minutes.

Top with free sour cream and taco sauce if desired.

I had one burrito with 2 Tbl of sour cream and 1 Tbl of taco sauce and a small serving of whole kernal corn that was cooked with 1 Tbl of butter and 1 Tbl sugar.
The burrito had 324 calories and the condiments on top had 30 calories. The burrito had 12.5 grams of fat. The corn had 70 calories and 2 grams of fat. Total calories 424 and total fat 14.5.

What I would have done differently: I would have used two cans of refried beans and omited the beef or used ground turkey. Most of the fat and calories came from the meat. I also would have used smaller tortillas. This was an old recipe I have fixed many times before and I just made it as it was. Next time I will modify it.

The Beginning

Today is the day I start to lose weight. Just as a back story, I have been overweight starting at about 16 years old. I am a diabetic who was super skinny and underdeveloped when I was 12. My endocrinologist (diabetes doctor) was concerned so he increased my calorie intake contiunually until I began to put on weight. Once I started putting on weight, I didn't stop at a good healthy weight. I was so used to eating a lot that I didn't really want to stop, nor did I know how. Looking back I probably was unhealthy was why I couldn't gain weight. I ate mostly carbs and proteins with little vegetables and fruits. I didn't like many fruits and vegetables, and I still don't. I was not athletic and did not like outdoor activities much, and I still don't. But those things are about to change. But I need your help, dear reader, to encourage me and kick my booty when I don't do well.

I am going to be honest with you. I will tell you what I eat, how I feel, when I exercise, what size I wear and even what I weigh. I will post pictures as I progress, but don't worry there won't be any bikini shots. Just me wearing clothes.

So here I go.

I weigh 192 lbs. I am 5'6" tall and 29 years old. I wear a size XXL and 16 in most things. To some of you, this may seem huge, others may wish they were this size, and others are in the same boat rowing along with me. No matter what size you personally are, I feel you can help me in some way.

As I stated, I am not a huge fruit and veggie fan. There are some I like, but not a lot. I am a grazer. A handful of cashews here, a slice of cheese there. I already drink diet drinks only and don't eat mayo, so that cuts out two easy things you can cut out! I hate drinking water. But I am committed to doing it this time. I know, why start on Tuesday? Everyone starts on Monday. Because, I have lived over 1500 Mondays and none of them have brought change. I have probably started diets on about 20 of those Mondays, and here I am, larger than ever. I am not following any certain plan, just eating better, eating less, and exercising. Right now, I eat probably an average diet of home-cooked and processed foods with an occational dining out. I don't eat large bags of chips and consume a whole package of Oreos, but I do not eat as well as I should. I currently don't exercise. I am a stay-home mom of three small children.

So here it goes, starting now, you can hold me accountable. Let me know when I have done well and when I haven't. Spur me on. I need to lose this weight for my diabetes. For my heart. For my family. Not to be society's ideal, but the ideal God has for me.

Thanks for your support.