2 weeks into "The Challenge"

OK, so, I invented my own 30 day challenge, without a weight loss goal in mind, but only rules to follow, as outlined here,  I was in a desperate state of "I'm a big fatty."

This week's fails: 

I had a cookie.  I know what you're thinking, "a cookie, big deal, Donna."  But see, that's why I created these rules.  I need black and white.  I later found that the cookie was a whopping 57 calories!!!  I could've created a much more substantial snack had I chosen a piece of fruit or veggie. 

I also had a slice of pizza.  I was hungry, it was there, smelling all gooey and doughy.  My mouth watered, and I caved.

And then there's last weekend.  I went crazy.  I weighed myself, lost weight during the week, then lost my mind, eating cake, pizza, bread sticks, etc.  blah.  I vowed to not do it again.

This week's successes:

I'M DOWN ANOTHER 3 POUNDS (6 TOTAL)!!!!!!!!   Wooooo-hooooooooooo!  This makes me realize that I CAN have a treat with my family, and not go overboard.  And I can still lose.

I'm inspired to get back to running.  Yes!  I'm ready to go, I do need some new shoes and a watch, but I'm going to start this weekend using what I have.

Our week was crazy busy and I didn't hit the drive thru, not even once.  We did stop for Chick Fil A once (dining inside), and I had a salad with water.  No lemonade, no chicken sandwich, no waffle fries.  I should be shot for this one.

I made several good food choices this week when I didn't have to, particularly noteworthy I sat in a seminar one day for work.  We never look forward to the seminar, but the spread they serve for lunch is always the highlight of the day.  Cheesy, marinara pasta, pizza, tiramisu, turtle cheesecake, basically lots of calories!!  I chose wisely, with salad, grilled veggies, and chicken breast.  Go me!

I also found time to walk while my boys were participating in sports and group activities.

The bottom line...........down 3 pounds & more successes than failures.  I'm a happy girl!

I'm not on a diet!

Here's my first update about my very own 30 day challenge.  If you haven't already, you may want to read what I've previously posted here.



The American Heritage Dictionary, Third Edition, defines the term diet as

1. One's usual food or drink.  2.  A regulated selection of foods, esp. as prescribed for medical reasons.

Hmmm, How is it that we've turned a nonobligatory word into something so negative?  We're always "on a diet." Its just not usually the healthier diet that people think of when they hear the word. 


I've written this in journal form over the last week.  Happy reading!

Day 1, Saturday:  I'm thrilled to jump in feet first!  I spent $65 on produce and smoothie fixin's last night.  I've dusted the food scale.  I'm chopping and cutting and cooking.  I've ordered the Food Saver accessories required to do this but I have to wait for them to ship from Amazon.  I walked as fast as I could, as in I could've been in the walking Olympics,  (which is hilarious by the way, but I digress), in the heat of the day, 2.5 miles.  I did pilates for 30 minutes at night.  I tracked EVERY morsel of food that touched my tongue.  Negative:  My family asked me to make cupcakes.  Positive:  I said "not today."  I also didn't have any belly aches today for the first time in as long as I can remember.

Day 2, Sunday:  I planned for my breakfast smoothie and froze most of the fruit overnight.  I doubled the Greek yogurt to 1/2 cup, and made a delicious cup of thick creaminess.  Go me!  But I'm afraid that I'm eating too early, and I just hate when my belly growls during the church sermon.

At church:  Ut-oh!  I saw a lady who recently posted on Facebook about her trip to Olive Garden.  This causes me to crave garlic Parmesan bread sticks.  Curse your food posts, people!

Also, Hubs said we need to go to Firehouse Subs for lunch immediately after church.  If you aren't familiar, Firehouse has the best hot subs in the history of creation.  They steam my favorite sandwich into melty provolone with smoky peppered-turkey and sweet-honey-ham goodness.  "What?  I can't eat anything there!"  I'm starving!!  I begin to panic.  We go in, I SEE SALAD!!  YAY!  How sad that I didn't even know they carried salad.

Day 3, Monday:  I told myself that I'm finished feeling sorry for myself.  My body feels really good which is somewhat motivating.  I CAN eat the biscuits my family requested, but I'm choosing not to.  I'm going to enjoy these thoughts as long as I can.  I'm sure to revisit the "poor me" thoughts later.

Day 4:  Tuesday:  I'm really getting the hang of this.  I'm beginning to feel that this is the more normal way of life.  The kids and I all had healthy, protein-packed, fruit/veggie smoothies for breakfast.  I love that they're asking for them too.  I'm fielding many questions from Spunk such as, "Is this healthy, Momma?"  I packed a picnic lunch and snacks for our afternoon out, and really, I did well.  For dinner, I actually ate grilled chicken salad WITHOUT DRESSING, AT ALL!!  NO LIME JUICE, NO VINEGAR/OIL COMBO., NO SALAD SPRITZERS!!!  AND I LIKED IT!  WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?  Thoughtful was my power-walking date tonight, which gave us some much needed one-on-one time that I am so grateful for.  He really opened up to me during our walk, and later asked to do it again!  Yay!  He's not too cool to go walkin' with his Momma!!  Happy girl tonight!

Day 5:  Wednesday:  It's our super busy day, running all over for co-op, shopping, and piano.  My thermal lunch bag is L-O-A-D-E-D in preparation for hunger!  I'm like a walking produce department!  Actually, I'm making my third trip to the produce department this week.  That's gotta mean something good, right?

The day was great, until dinner.  I almost cried when I served Cole's garlic bread to my family, and I didn't even lick my fingers.

Day 6:  Thursday:  I'm baking a super chocolate cake for a friend's daughter's birthday.  It is torture.  I'm desperately trying to feel sorry myself today, but I just can't.  Seeing a friend's Facebook post about how she's eliminated the need of her diabetes medications by solely changing her diet IN 10 DAYS, has me pumped again.  I'm gonna go eat some veggies.

Day 7:  Friday:  Also known as Weigh-In-Eve, I just want today to be over with so I can cheat after I weigh in the morning.  What 30 day challenge?

OK, OK, I weighed myself, then went a little crazy.  I ate a bagel, there may have been some kind of wheat product in it. 

I missed bread and Grama's homemade mac-n-cheese the most, and ice cream, and chocolate.

The results:  I FEEL FABULOUS!  For the first time in a few years, I didn't have a belly ache in the afternoon.  This is a good change.

I've lost 3 pounds this week.  I don't miss THAT at all!!  I'm hoping to change more of my attitude towards food over this next week. 

Thanks to many of you who've commented and messaged me with good wishes!  I really appreciate your encouragement!  I'll update again next Saturday.

The Next 30 Days.....

 

Here comes a "messy" part of my life:

 

Yesterday, as I wheezed my way from the elliptical to the treadmill at the gym,

I realized that I was the most unhealthy looking person there.

I could almost hear every one's thoughts...

 

"What's the fat, old girl doing trying to run?"

 

"She should stop, the jiggling is out of control!"

 

Yes, strong, young, and limber-bodied over achievers who've had exceptional self-discipline. 

I know.  I'm not in your circle.  But do I want to be?

 

Nope.  I mean don't get me wrong, if came easily, and I didn't have to work for it, then Oh, heck yeah, I want in.  But there's more to life than being a show-stopping hard body.  Let's be realistic.

 

I want cake.

 

I want chocolate.

 

I will eat bread.

 

But I am certainly the heaviest that I've been in FOREVER.  I am currently 10 pounds under my full-term pregnancy weight with Thoughtful.   I had gained a considerable amount with him.  It was grossly impressive. 

 

I'm not really that vain, I promise. It's not that I care what people think of me. It only started with appearance and the fact that my clothes don't fit.

That got me thinking. I am in my 30's and I have acne. Why? I've been going to bed every night stuffed like a goose. This makes me feel less than desirable with Hubs (honesty here), and let's face it, that is a crucial part of a good marriage. I'm sluggish and tired every afternoon. My allergies are worse than ever.   I'm in tears on my scale, down to fitting into 1 pair of shorts and 1 pair of jeans. This is just the stuff that I can see.

What's happening inside? I recently lost my beloved PaPa to heart disease. What's going on with my arteries? And blood sugar? And everything else in my body chemistry? I know its all out of whack. This is why I can eat a full dinner and wake up hungry at 1:00 AM. I've messed myself up!

 

I've looked at Weight Watchers, I know it works, but I've successfully done it before.  I'm bored with that.  I've looked at Visalus shakes.  I sampled one this week, (finally, after having in the kitchen drawer for roughly 3 months).  I don't like it.  And I thought about HCG, but I refuse to take pills or drops to accomplish this job.

 

What am I going to do? 

I'm going to change....

my thoughts about food (the addiction),

the sedentary life,

and what I buy at the grocery store.

 

I'm making my own 30 DAY CHALLENGE!!

 

Today is Sept 1.  I've weighed, and measured myself.  No before picture though, I can't bring myself to do it.  I don't have actual goals of losing weight by certain dates.  I've failed that way in the past. 

 

My goal is to do the following through at least Sept. 30:

1.  Exercise daily, even if its just walking and jumping jacks.  Burn baby burn!

2.  Faithfully track my caloric intake, using www.myfitnesspal.com .

3.  Weigh and measure myself on a weekly basis.  (Saturdays)

4.  No candy, cereal, cake, cookies, muffins, crackers, chips, drive thru's, added sugar,

Diet Coke, sweet tea, mayonnaise, or fried anything.  (seems stringent but its only 30 days)

5.  Limited red meat (I have to be careful with this one as I tend to run slightly anemic),

potatoes, pasta, whole wheat bread, and coffee.

6.  Only eat when I'm hungry.

 

Sounds easy enough right?  Good grief, I wonder why in the world I am writing this post...I need the accountability.  Plus, I want to prove that it can be done.  I can lose fat in a healthy, natural way, getting my vitamins and energy from whole foods. 

 

My plan:

1.  Stick to the rules mentioned above.

2.  Bring healthy food choices with me when heading out, preparing for hunger whenever it strikes!

3.  Homemade smoothies for breakfast.

4.  Salads for lunch, with chicken, and lime juice and cilantro, rather than dressing.

5.  Lots of fruits and veggies to snack on.

6.  Fat free/sugar free pudding pops for treats.  Also yogurt, homemade hummus,

pudding, and sugar free jello.

7.  Healthier suppers for the family / heavy on the veggies.

 

That's it.  I hope that I can do it for the next 30 days.  Cheer me on, or leave me comment with a great recipe.  My cookbooks are in dire need of a healthy makeover!  Thanks for following along!  I'll post again next Saturday!