Illness deters my program

With every intention of having a few good workouts this weekend and trying out some new recipes I managed to get sick all weekend. I believe it was food poisoning, but I'm not sure. I'm going to try to get back on track this week!

I'm also going to be a contributor to a new blog so watch out for details on that as well!

On track and happy

The first few weeks of this diet/workout plan were hard on me. Cutting out caffeine caused headaches and the worst moodiness next to PMS, but I think all of that is behind me!

I'm finding it easier to fall asleep now that I'm working out around 5 or 6 at night, sometimes 8 if I got off work a little later in the afternoon. I have more time to get stuff done at work because I'm not going out to lunch. And even my mood has improved, since I've been sleeping wonderfully, I'm happy when I get up in the morning and it seems to carry on the whole day. I feel stronger and my willpower is really starting to kick in. I did cheat a little this week being that its the lovely lady time and I needed some darn chocolate! Oh and there was a good deal on Candy Corns at Meijer - yes sweets are still my weakness!

Best of all people are starting to notice that I am loosing weight. My clothes are starting to fit a little better, my jeans aren't super tight on my hips or thighs right now and that makes me have even more motivation to keep this going!

Just 31 more lbs to go!

More motivation!

Last night my boyfriend agreed to buy me a laptop if I loose the 35lbs by Valentines Day! Now I have an even more amazing goal to work toward, looking good and having a new computer!

Ups for last week:
Running at the high school with Andrew 1/2 mile and then walking the rest
No fast food!
Had pop one time over the weekend
Danced at a party and probably got a good workout from that!

Downs:
Trying on clothes - enough said
Seeing photos of myself from over the weekend where my face looks horribly fat

Eating and not cheating

Though I've only lost a few pounds since I started this diet, I've had a really easy transition into the healthy eating! I've not had any fast food in a good 2 weeks (although I had some fair fries over labor day weekend). I've not had any pop in a 2 weeks as well and I've been drinking coffee to get myself through the caffeine withdraw.

I've been cooking healthy meals for myself and my boyfriend - last night we had a big salad with some left over pork loin we cooked over the weekend. We now only have red meat once a week and its lean ground meat so its probably not nearly as bad as steak. I don't keep too many sweets in the house, I made low fat banana bread last night because there was no sense to me in wasting mostly brown bananas. I finally dug out my Betty Crocker cookbook a few weeks ago and it has low fat alternative recipes in some of the sections! I doubt my Lady and Sons cookbook by Paula Deen has that...hahaha.

I worked out yesterday for 35 minutes and did ab isolation's afterward. I've moved to DVD two in the Carmen Electra set because its more about toning and cardio. I will be better at the dances if I keep up on this tape. Maybe tonight I'll go for a run or bike ride!

Hurdles still to climb

Low points of this first week of dieting:

• Having to drink a Mt. Dew because I am going through caffeine withdraw
  
• Seeing pictures of myself at 125lbs and getting really depressed when boyfriend said I looked hotter than when he met me in that photo (those jeans had a 28" waist, I still have them even though I know they will probably never fit me again) and yes that is Frank from Trading Spaces!
  

(This is said photo)

• Pigging out at the house before Andrew got off work last night because I was feeling stressed out from work. I stopped myself from going to the bag of chips after eating a few spoonfuls of peanut butter and a quesadilla covered in sour cream that was not low fat.
• I've only worked out twice this week because I've been so busy.

I am hoping that week two goes better and I reach my goal of loosing 35lbs by February 14, 2010!

So far this week....

Exercise: Took Bessie on a 30 min walk on Monday; 30 mins of Carmen Electra Fit to Strip on Sunday, DVD 2

Diet: No pop since 8/29! No fast food since 8/27! One coffee with cream and sugar each day seems to help get me through the morning, water while at work and 100% cran-grape juice at home if I need something sweet.

I've cooked: Chicken on the grill with lemon pepper marinade and roasted shallot and garlic potatoes, also had applesauce. Tonight we are going to Andrew's parents for dinner and they are on a vegan diet so lots of salad and fruit!

Sleep: I've had around 7 to 7 1/2 hours of sleep the last three nights!

Goals for the remainder of the week: Vegetable or fruit with every meal, bike ride for at least 30 minutes, 30 minutes of Carmen Electra DVD 2 workout only pausing the DVD twice.

The results are in....

So after a few weeks or more of putting this off, I finally got around to weighing myself this morning, and boy was it depressing.

Starting Weight: 176
Jean Size: 12
Shirt Size: L and XL
Bust: 36 D

My size 10 and some 8 jeans have not fit me in a long time, I feel horrible for letting things go this long and for letting myself get this heavy again, just 4 more pounds and I would have been back to my highest weight ever. Now I think my goal to drop 25lbs by Christmas is still totally reachable if I really set my mind to it, so for this week here are my goals:

Work out at least 3 times and take a few walks with Bessie
Have a vegetable with every meal.
No fast food unless its a salad.
No pop, just coffee if I really need caffeine.

I have been doing the Carmen Electra workout videos and decided to move onto DVD 2 yesterday morning and I'm glad I did. The workout is more structured than a dance routine and should help me move onto the next 4 DVD's more easily once I get back into shape. I'm considering getting at treadmill or elyptical for the house so that I can have more to do during the winter. I just really need to keep myself motivated and I am praying that I can drop this weight like I did before!

The Introduction

Hello to those who are reading my latest blog about my weight loss. This is just the intro, I will do the weights and measures (maybe photos if I am brave) either tonight or in a post I will have up tomorrow. I am making this blog to track my weight loss progress and to possibly help others with their goals. I've been up and down with my weight for the last 5 to 6 years and its time to finally kick it into gear and get healthy again. I have a bet going with my boyfriend that if I loose a certain amount of weight he has to do something for me, we haven't quite decided on what that is but there are a few options floating around at the moment.

I am not at my heaviest weight of my life, but I am uncomfortable with the way that I look and I know that for my height and body I am slightly overweight. I've had a hard time keeping it under control, but I am determined to stop now.

So here are some of the things I am going to do differently with my diet:

• Start eating breakfast - I have purchased Weight Control Oatmeal and low-fat milk
• Cut out pop - I can't drink diet because the aspartame makes me sick, so pop is out for good. I am going to do juice (100% fruit) and water instead.
• Choosing healthy snacks
• Eating more vegetables and less carbs
• Cutting back on sweets - I love chocolate so this one is going to be really hard for me
• Possibly going to 6 small meals a day instead of three or maybe two large meals and healthy snack choices.

My workout routine will consist of the following:

• Carmen Electra Striptease workout 5 DVD set, I am currently on level 1
• Walking the dog/taking walks
  
• Riding my bike
• Getting myself on a consistent sleep schedule
• Crunches and push-ups on my balance ball, as well as toning with 3-5lb weights

Like I said, this is just the intro to what I am trying to accomplish so stay tuned for more!