nina1980

Today was my second full day really using sparkpeople.com and I love it! I love being able to track my fat, carbs, protein, and calories. I think it’s really helping me. It totally takes the guesswork out my meal planning. I started planning the next days food the night before. That way I don’t have to make any last minute, hunger driven decisions. I did tomorrow’s menu and I even found a way to work in a trip to Starbucks and Taco Bell. I still end up within all of my ranges. I’m kind of excited to see how this works out.

I did 15 minutes on the Wii Fit today. Yeah, I know it’s not a lot, but compared to nothing… I’ll take it. I drank 32 oz of water. I blogged. I met my goals for the day! I’m really excited to see how this turns out.

Well, another weigh day has come and gone and I stayed EXACTLY the same! I spent the first half of the day angry at the world, at myself… It’s starting to pass though. I just feel like I’ll either be unhappy because I’m fat, or I could be thin but really unhappy because I have to constantly work out and not eat anything that I enjoy. I know it’s not exactly like that, but that’s the kind of day I’m having.

Do any of you go to sparkpeople.com? I just heard of it a few weeks ago and signed on today. It’s a lot like this site and it’s also free. The nutrition tracker on there is really great, and just the way they help you track your goals and things. So now that I found a really great place for counting calories I’m going to give it a try (yet again). I set my first goal as 190 lbs by December 31st. That means I need to lose 12.2 lbs. That sounded decently doable in 11 1/2 weeks. Spark says I should aim for 1410 to 1760 calories a day. When you fill out the food you eat it also keeps track of fat, carbs, and protein. I’m excited to see how this turns out. I stayed within my all my ranges today. The amazing thing was that when it compared my intakes for the day with what it should be, I was almost spot on! So that was a nice little boost for the day.

I exercised for 15 minutes today while I was watching tv. I know it’s not a lot, but I started week 2 of the 100 push up challenge. I also got in some crunches. I drank 52 oz of water. I logged everything I ate. And now I’m blogging. So I think I got it covered for today. Just one foot in front of the other I guess.

Oh, I also already planned everything I’m going to eat tomorrow! I even managed to stay within all my ranges! So earlier in the day I was super pissed at this whole “no progress” situation I’m in, but now that I have tomorrow planned out I feel much better.

As I typed the title to this blog I realize that I’m seven weeks in and 1 lb down. *sigh* That is so not where I wanted to be right now. Looking on the bright side though, it’s still a loss, and at that rate I would lose 7.5 lbs a year. I am making no predictions for tomorrow morning’s weigh in. Last Monday I weighed 202.2. My eating has been good this week, only really overdoing it on Friday nights dinner with my family. Exercise, however, has been virtually nonexistent. I finished week one of the 100 push up challenge, but that was it.

My goals for this coming week are simple (in theory): Drink 32 ounces of water everyday. No snacks after dinner. Blog everyday. Complete week two of the 100 PUC. Exercise 30 minutes, at least four days a week. Eat breakfast everyday. Sounds easy enough, right? We’ll see how it goes.

I’m excited to see how this week goes. Bert and I have totally different schedules, so I’ll be on my own for dinner everyday. That is usually a good thing. My work week is packed full so I see myself eating out quite a bit. I wish I was better at packing lunch so I could save some money, but I don’t worry about eating crappy fast food meals anymore. There is a Panera Bread near where I work and they have a lot of good options.

I’m really nervous about tomorrow’s weigh in. Ugh, I should just go to bed so I don’t have to think about it. I’ll check in with all of you tomorrow. Have a great week!

Okay ladies, here’s a little funny little story for ya! Today was was my annual visit to the lady doctor (don’t worry, that’s as descriptive as I get). I made the appointment with the Nurse Practitioner and not the doctor. Her schedule matched mine better, and really makes me no difference. Oh, forgot to mention, the scheduler just referred to her as Jenni. So for a few days I was joking that I had to go see “Jenni the fake doctor” and be violated. Well, I get there today and while the nurse is taking my blood pressure and everything she mentions that Jenni is training a new nurse practitioner, Allison. Great… So the “fake doctor” is training someone who isn’t qualified to be a “fake doctor”. So Allison and Jenni come in the exam room and Jenni has to explain to Allison how the foot pedals on the bed work. Allison tries to assure me that she’s done the actual exam, she’s just never had to work the exam table. Hands down, this was the longest gyno appointment ever! Jenni had to walk Allison through the exam, out loud of course, so I was privy to the commentary as well. Yikes. They were both very nice, and I realize that everyone has to learn, I just didn’t realize they would be using me as their guinea pig. I’m glad these things only come once a year!

Anyhoo… As far as my goals for the day, I didn’t make them all. I did really well with my eating, but I didn’t exercise or get all my water in. Oh well. Tomorrow is another day. Tomorrow should be another decent eating day, especially for a Friday night. We usually go out to eat, but now that Dad is finally out of the hospital I’m making pasta with a short rib ragu and taking it over to my parents house for dinner. I think even when you over eat a little of home cooked food, that is still far healthier than restaurant food. I just hope my mom doesn’t make any dessert!

Well, another day done and nothing important to say. I’m blogging because it was one of my goals for the week. I did pretty well with my eating today, I think. It looked something like this: 6am- 2 eggs, 3 strips center cut bacon, chocolate soy milk. 11am- sun chips. 4pm- seasame bagel with a little reduced fat cream cheese. 8:30pm-fresh pasta with garlic and leftover chicken. I drank my four glasses of water (32 oz). The only thing left on my list of daily goals is to do my push ups. I have time to do that before bed, so I made it through another day.

See? I told you I didn’t have anything exciting to say. haha. I think I’m just tired tonight. I’m going to do my push ups and hit the sack!

I think I got all the cranky out of my system, and today went much smoother. I’ve met my goals (push ups, water, blog) which makes me feel like I accomplished something. I’m trying to only weigh myself on “weigh day” (Monday) and it’s sooo hard. I like to be surprised though. Especially when I’m having a good week.

Nancy asked me yesterday what my food goals were, and I really had to stop and think about it. I don’t have a formal plan or goals when it comes to food. I’ve tried that before and I just can’t stick to anything. I’ve counted calories, Weight Watcher points, I’ve done the Hollywood Miracle Diet, sea salt detox. I’ve done food combining, low carb, Slim Fast, and too many others to count.

I’ve been doing my research and reading some really interesting books lately, and I’ve finally decided to take the most obvious route. I’m concerning myself with healthy foods. I’m buying meats that are grass fed, hormone, and antibiotic free. I don’t use fat free or reduced fat foods. I cook with real ingredients because I’m tired of tricking my body with processed foods. I was surprised to find that it really does make a difference. It’s amazing how you get full when eating fruits, vegetables, and “clean” meat. I stay full for longer periods of time. I often eat out for lunch because of my job and I’ve started leaning towards salads and other foods that are less processed. The area I really need to watch now is eating out on the weekends. This is the only couple time I get to spend with my husband (he works third shift) so we usually like to try different restaurants. This is a time when it’s easy for me to over do it, but I’m learning.

I hope you all are doing good so far this week. I love reading all of your blogs. They’re really inspiring. Keep it up!

Ugh, I’m so frustrated! I get on the scales today feeling pretty decent. I was hoping to go from 202.6 to 199.8. I just wanted to get under 200. But nooooo, I weighed in at 202.2. I lost 0.4 pounds. Ugh… It’s so irritating. I’m trying to stay positive about losing .4 lbs but still…

So my goals for this week (same as I listed yesterday): Blog everyday, drink at least 4 glasses of water everday, start over with the 100 push up challenge. Excerise for 30 minutes on the off push up days. I’ve already met my goals for today, so I’ve at least got one day down!

I WILL LOSE 2.4 LBS THIS WEEK. I WILL WEIGH IN NEXT MONDAY UNDER 200 LBS. I WILL DO IT!

Thanks for all your support. I love knowing I can get on here and be inspired by so many great people. I hope you all had a great weekend and are geared up for another week.

Well, tomorrow is weigh in day. My goal for this week was to get below 200. I’m excited to see how I did; my last weigh in put me at 202.4.

I went over to my parents house last night, where my mom decided to give me an old picture she found of me. Ten years ago we went on a cruise and they took a portrait of me on one of the formal nights. I was 18 years old, 140 lbs, and wearing an amazing strapless dress. She thought the picture was cute and that I may like to have it, but when I looked at it I just cried. I’m now almost 29, 60 lbs heavier, and only wish I had the boobs for a strapless dress. Then I felt bad because Mom felt bad for giving it to me. I have a video from that same cruise in which I’m wearing a bikini… I don’t know if I could bring myself to watch it right now. Ugh…

I feel good about the upcoming week though. I have our dinner menu planned out, and plenty of things to pack for lunch. My goals for the week are simple (I hope).

Goals: I will blog every day. I will drink at least four glasses of water. I will start over with the 100 Push Up Challenge (as I kind of dropped the ball the first time I tried). I will exercise at least 30 minutes a day.

It seems so easy when I write it down. I’m really going to try this week. If I weigh in under 200 tomorrow that will give me a greatly needed push into next week. I may just watch that cruise video after all and get my butt in gear!

So today was our night out for the week,  and it was delicious! We went to Bravo tonight for dinner, and it was really good, as always. We had bread and oil, shared calamari, and I had shrimp fra diavolo. Mmm… I’m sure I over ate, but I wasn’t sick feeling or anything. (little victories!). I had done really well up to that point in the day, eating only a bowl of oatmeal with soy milk and honey, and a small burrito made from our leftover from a few nights before. My snack tonight while watching tv was some peanut M&Ms and a Diet Cherry Pepsi. So it obviously wasn’t a great dieting day, but it was pretty good for a day out.

I’m going back to the farmers market tomorrow to do as much grocery shopping as I can for the week. The hard part is that my husband and I have totally conflicting schedules, so almost all the meals will need to be in the slow cooker, or made by me the night before.

We went to go visit Dad in the hospital tonight. At first they said he would be out on Friday or Saturday, but he’s definitely not being released today. He has a slight fever and his blood pressure is low. He said he’s getting really dizzy when he stands up. They’re not sure what’s wrong, but if it’s not better tomorrow morning he will probably have to end up staying until Monday. I feel bad just because he’s so bored, but he has a good attitude about it. With his hip being the way it is, and not being able to walk very well, he figures he may as well stay in the hospital where people bring him food and stuff. He won’t get that good of service at home!

So as you can probably tell, I don’t have much to say today. But, one of my goals for the week is that I would blog everyday, so I’m sticking with it. It really does help to keep me more accoutable. Even if I don’t eat better that day it still reminds me of the community here and how great everyone is.

I think Thursdays are my favorite day of the week. The weekend is almost here, and it’s by far the best night of tv all week.  (sidenote: next week is Jim and Pam’s wedding on “The Office”. Yay!)

I did well with my eating. Not real nutritious, but not a lot of food either. I had a Tim Hortons breakfast sandwich, hashbrown, and coffee, my lunch was a skim milk pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks, and dinner was half a ribeye steak, couscous, and grapes. Luckily I fell asleep before snack time!

I hope everyone has a good weekend. Tonight I’m going to Bravo, and I don’t know what I’m getting, but I’m not modifying it for a diet. I don’t think. I don’t know. I’ll want what I want. I am however, watching what I eat the rest of the day. Hopefully it will work out.

Thanks again for thinking of me during Dad’s hip replacement surgery. He is doing really well, and is using a walker to cruise the halls of the hospital!