FYI

I just wanted to jump on here and let you all know that I got called into work from 3p-11p and then back again at 7a to 3p. So I will not be on here tonight posting what I ate.

I will be back tomorrow so have a great night :)

Day ??

"Don't dig your grave with your own knife and fork."

I have lost count on what day I am on. I will have to figure it out and let you know next time.

So this weekend was fun. I went to Monmouth to see my cousin graduate! It was cold on Sunday so I am sure I had shed some calories as I shivered :) But other then that it was a wonderful ceremony and a great weekend with the family.

I did not do a whole lot today except some research and some relaxing so I am just going to tell you what I ate. Now keep in mind that I woke up at about 11:00ish (tired from the weekend) So that is why I start with Breakfast/lunch :)

BREAKFAST/LUNCH:
Veggies; carrots, broccoli, and celery with a little veggie dip-3 points
Tomato soup-2 points
crackers-3 points (?)
1 cup milk-2 points

DINNER: Applebee's
Santa Fe Chicken Salad-13 points (?)

Snack:
Sunflower seeds-2 points

Total points: 25 out of 30 points for the day

I lost count on how much water I had today...maybe about 5 glasses.

I have to get some treadmill time in. Even if its for 10 minutes....everyone has 10 minutes it just getting your lazy but on there to do it!!!

Well that's all for now, see you tomorrow!! ;)

Coming back....AGAIN!

"To find a fault is easy; to do better may be difficult." -Arthur Clive

I know I have not been doing my blog as I said I would. Nor have I been doing the program the way I should. I have just been eating. Sometimes healthy and sometimes not so healthy. and I think that is why I have not been on here, because I don't want to admit to myself or to everyone else that I thought I was not doing well on the program.

But today I got myself up and went to a Weight Watchers meeting and decided that this is my NEW beginning. I have not attended a meeting for 2 weeks and I figured that if I wanted to get back on track that this had to be my first step back into the game.

I thought that getting on that scale today would be HORRIBLE!! But I LOST 2.8 pounds for a total of 13.8!!! I HIT MY 5%!!!! I am now 5% lighter then when I started the program!!! WOO HOO!!

I will not be on this weekend because I am going to see my cousin/koumbara graduate from College. CONGRATS TO HER!!

So I will see you all again on Monday!! Have a good weekend.

Day 89

TIP OF THE DAY: Most scientists agree that the principal healthful ingredient in the Mediterranean diet is olive oil. This amazing oil boasts the highest concentration of monounsaturated fats. Omega-3 fatty acids and monounsaturated fats are the most heart-healthy fats known. Monounsaturated oils lower bad cholesterol, raise good cholesterol, and can actually clean out your arteries over time.

The Mediterranean Diet gets around 40% of its calories from fat. This is slightly higher than an average diet, but the more we learn about the important role of fat in the diet, the more this seems like a good idea. Dietary fat is the only way for the body to absorb fat-soluble vitamins, like Vitamins A, D, E and K. It also helps feel full by triggering the release of an enzyme in the small intestine. Fat is a crucial nutrient, fueling both brain and body.

What are the key points of the Mediterranean Diet?

* First and foremost, use olive oil as your main source of fat.
* Eat fresh fruit for dessert
* Eat lots of whole grains and vegetables
* Drink a glass of wine with dinner (don't know how or why this is?)
* Limit red meat and eggs to once per week

Sorry for the long tip but I found it VERY interesting. Since my grandmother lived until she was 100 years old :)

I DID VERY BAD TODAY!! I don't know why it was just one of those days. It started off well and then just went down hill....


What I ate;

BREAKFAST:
Quaker Oats Oatmeal-3 points

LUNCH:
1 mini burger-4 points
green beans and corn mix-3 points
4 chicken nuggets with Honey-5 points

DINNER:
some fries-3 points
shrimp-4 points
2 hush puppies-4 points

DESSERT:
Ice cream-5 points (I REALLY need to go shopping to get some fruit!!)

Total points: 31 out of 30 points for the day.

I drank about 3 glasses of water. I think I need to go and get water bottles with the suck top because for some reason I tend to drink WAY more water with those. I tried to drink it out of a glass but I just don't seem to drink as much that way...I know I'm odd :)

Well, that's all for now, have a great day!

Day 88

TIP OF THE DAY: A recent study proved the power of keeping an accurate food diary. Volunteers were asked to keep a record of everything they consumed. Turns out most women stretched the truth ...

In fact, they were actually consuming close to 1,000 calories more than their diaries let on. Lesson learned? Keep that food diary above board and you will succeed!

Today would have been my parents 42nd wedding anniversary. So my brother and I went to the cemetery with my dad and then we went out to lunch. It was a very nice afternoon. But then I had to go to work. It was originally from 1 to 5 but I ended up staying until 7. Which is fine with me because that means more $$. :)

Well on to what I ate;

LUNCH/BREAKFAST:
1 pancake with butter and syrup-6 points
1 slice bacon-1 point
hash browns-3 points
1 roll with butter-5 points
2 glasses ice tea-0 points

DINNER:
steak-4 points
Whole wheat bun-1 point
salad with dressing-4 points
1 roll with butter-5 points
2 glasses ice tea-0 points

Total points: 29 out of 30 points for the day.

I also drank about 3 glasses of water....I need to drink more!!

We just realized that we have a 5k this Saturday that I was hoping to beat my old record. I have not been "training" for it but I have been walking A LOT at work so I am hoping that would help some. I know that this is going to be a RUDE awakening.

Tomorrow Scott and I are going to get a couples massage since we have had gift cards for them since our wedding...Well have a GREAT Thursday!

DAY 87

I AM BACK! I know that I have not been stable with the blog lately but I will now try to be better.

Yesterday I worked 7p to 7a so when I got home this morning I went right to bed. When I work these hours my days get kind of confusing. So I will post what I ate today.

I keep a log in the bathroom of my weight in the morning. I looked at it today and realized that I have not gotten on the scale since my last weight in, which kinda scared me. BUT I got on the scale today when I woke up and it was 1 pound less then what it said at my last weight in! So that made me feel kinda good. :)

So on to what I ate for today;

DINNER: (remember now that I slept until 4) we went to Red Robin
Salad with taco chip things and 2 char broiled chicken breasts-10 points

DESSERT: (NOW THIS WAS BAD BUT OOOOHHHHH SO GOOD!)
1 Sunday from Baskin Robins-lets say 10 points

I am planing on having some kind of small snack but don't know what yet...

So far my total points is 20 out of 30 points for the day.

I was not keeping track of how much water I had but I do know that I can improve on that intake.

I will try my hardest to blog everyday from here on out

Update...

I have been working odd hrs this week. I have done two 3p-11:30p two 11p-7:30a one 7p-7a and just got called in for an 11p-7:30a tonight and then back at 2p to 7:30p....WE ARE SWAMPED AT WORK!! My body is so messed up on what day it is and when it should be hungry.

So this week I am not really giving up but not writing things down as to what I eat and when. So I just wanted to jump on here and let you know that the next time I blog will be blogging is Friday night.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK ALL...

Day 79 (4-25)

You may be thinking why I am not putting up tip of the day, I will start putting them up when I get caught up with my blogs, so maybe on tomorrow's blog.

This was the morning that we lost electricity...

so, this is going to be a short blog, I am just going to tell you what I had. Yes I know this is boring, but remember, this is just to catch up :) I will try to make it more interesting for you next time ;)

BREAKFAST:
Hash brown and sausage casserole that the neighbor with electricity made for us-7 points

LUNCH:
Lettuce-0 points
Croutons-2 points
onion chips-3 points
French Dressing-4 points
cheese-3 points

DINNER:
1/2 cup chili-3 points
Cheese-3 points

SNACK:
Cheese stick-2 points

Total points: 27 out of 30 points for the day.

I also drank about 6 glasses of water.

I walked 6,023 steps at work yesterday :) Not as much as normal but it was the night shift and there was not a lot going on that night. Lets keep out fingers crossed that its the same tonight :)

Well have a good one and I'll post tonight's blog tomorrow, since I am working over night.

Day 78 (4-24)

My work schedule has been all over so I have some catch up to do and we did not have electricity yesterday because lightning struck near our house. For the next 2 days I will be working 11p to 7:30a so I will try to blog when I can.

So this is what I had on Saturday, 4-24;

Breakfast:
1/2 cup yogurt-1 point
Blueberries-0 points
Chocolate milk-3 points

LUNCH:
lean cuisine-6 points (I already had it here at work so I figured I'd eat it)

SNACK:
100 calorie snack-2 points

DINNER:
1/2 Cup Chili-3 points
1 baked potato with sour cream and chives-5 points

Total points:20 out of 30 points (My schedule was all messed up that day so I was sleeping a lot.)

unfortunately I do not remember how much water I drank.

Well that's all for this day...

Weigh in #11

I GAINED 0.4oz.

To be honest I was thinking that I would have gained more then that. So I guess that's a good thing...right??

Day 77 (4/23)

TIP OF THE DAY: Don't give up!

I know that it has been a few days since I had blogged. Sorry. I was feeling as if no one was really looking at it but then my aunt and mother-in-law asked about it. So I figured I would start it up again. My aunt told me that if the blog was helping me, to not give up on it because I thought people were not looking at it. And she is SO right! This was helping me. This has been the longest that I have stayed on the program. It is also the most that I have ever lost on the program so far.

There was a day that I had that I just did not want to count points and write everything down and blog it all, and well, that was the day I stopped blogging. So if I gain this week, I will know why....and fyi, I know I will...

Today I went shopping for a dress for prom/sis-in-laws wedding and I was disgusted!! I looked like Shamu in the dresses that I tried on. And I tried on about 10 dresses! I HATE this!! everything is made for skinny girls that want to show off EVERYTHING that they have and NOT leave it to the imagination! Have you seen they style for prom dresses this year?? WOW!!! I looked at David's Bridal for a bridesmaid dress so that way I would be covered up. But I HATED the way I looked......Does anyone have any ideas on where to look for a dress??

Anyway, let see how I did for today;

BREAKFAST:
1 special K bar-2 points

SNACK:
1 cheese stick-2 points
Chocolate milk-3 points

LUNCH:
Left over Chinese- 10 points

DINNER:
shrimp and 1/4 cup white rice-6 points

OUT WITH FRIENDS:
1 side salad with French Dressing-3 points
2 select 55 beer-2 points

Total points: 28 out of 30 points for the day. I knew that we were going to go out with friends for dinner that is why I had some shrimp and rice at home before going out and then just having a small side salad worked perfectly! and it saved us some money!! :)

I had 5 glasses of water today as well.

Tomorrow is weigh in don't be surprised if you see a GAIN.....HAVE A GOOD SATURDAY ;)

Day 73

TIP OF THE DAY: It's hard to get a nice glass of ice water when you're on the go, so I often put a pint sized bottle of water in the freezer. If you put a single serving water bottle in the front of the freezer for a while, you'll have super cold water to drink for a long time. Don't leave it in long enough for it to freeze solid, but just long enough for a "core" of ice to form. Then, as the ice melts, your water gets colder!

I went into work today and I had my pedometer. But I wanted to know how many steps I took JUST for when I'm at work. I got 7,982 steps. Not bad for an 8hr day at work.

For dinner, Scott and I came up with an AWESOME meal!! So on to what I ate;

BREAKFAST:
1/2 cup yogurt-1 point
strawberries and granola-1 point

LUNCH:
Chicken breast-4 points
3 new potatoes-2 points
1/4 cup wild rice-2 points

SNACK:
Whole grain crackers-1 point

DINNER:
1 Chicken breast-3 points
1 whole wheat bun-1 point
Provolone cheese-3 points
guacamole-2 points
Big boy mack and cheese (left overs)-7 points

DESSERT:
1 fruit Popsicle-1 point
1 slice of cantaloupe-0 points
2 pieces of watermelon-0 points

Total points-28 out of 30 points for the day.

I also drank 7 cups of water today!

Well I am off to get ready for my first midnight shift tomorrow. now here is a question for you. At midnight tomorrow do I start a new day (aka a new 30 point day?) Since I start work at 11p until 7:30a there is no way that I can go for 8 hours with out eating anything...any tips?

HAVE A GREAT TUESDAY!

Day 72

TIP OF THE DAY: Make each meal a square meal. When you don't eat well-balanced meals during the day or forgo them entirely you will end up so famished by the time you do eat that you're far more likely to binge. A reliable way to keep your appetite from getting out of control is to incorporate good sources of protein into your meals.

Today Scott and I went to the batting cages. I was impressed with myself for out of about 50 pitches I only missed about 4 of them! WOO HOO!! We did not go to practice today because we got the call at 4:30 telling us that practice is going to be at 5:30. I was already starting dinner at this time.

I was supposed to have tomorrow off but they called me to see if I could come in. And since I am always looking for extra hours at work so I took it!

Since we did not do to much, on to what I ate;

BREAKFAST:
1/2 cup yogurt-1 point
Strawberries-0 points
Blueberries-0 points

LUNCH:
1 grilled bar-b-q chicken-3 points
1 taco shell-2 points
lettuce-0 points
cheese-2 points

SNACK:
wheat thins-2 points
chocolate milk-3 points (I have to finish what I have here before it goes bad, otherwise I feel like I am wasting money. then I will try different ways to make it healthier)

DINNER:
whole wheat pasta-3 points
Cheese-4 points
Onion chips-2 points

DESSERT:
1 crystal light Popsicle-0 points
Sunflower seeds-1 point

Total points: 23 out of 30 points for the day.

I did not do that good with my water today, I drank about 4 cups.

I also did not have my pedometer on today, but I will when I'm at work.

HAVE A GOOD MONDAY!

Day 71

TIP OF THE DAY: Recent studies have shown that milk and yogurt (dairy) act in a way that prevents the absorption of fat in the body. Those who drank milk everyday or had yogurt everyday, even if they ate the same number of calories as others, lost more weight or did not gain as much weight.

Today I had a busy morning. I went to an early Weight Watchers meeting (8:00a) So I got up at 7:15a. Then I came home and got the hubby so we can go down town to St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church to dig up the side of the church so we can make that area a memorial garden for my Mother, Grandmother, and Uncle who have all passed within the passed 2 years. It was a wonderful and memorable morning! By the time we got home we were tired! So we took a nap. We were supposed to go over to one of out friends house today to help her paint her new house but she canceled on us...but that's OK because after this morning I was not really in the mood to go paint.

Since we were in a bit of a rush this morning we did stop at McDonald's for breakfast but I was good and got a Yogurt Parfait.

So, On to what I had today;

BREAKFAST:
1 Yogurt Parfait-3 points

WORKOUT:
Digging- GAINED 1 point

LUNCH:
Whole Wheat bread-3 points
1 tsp Mayo-2 points
2 slices of turkey breast and 1 slice roast beef-2 points
1 Slice Swiss cheese-2 points
tomatoes-0 points
lettuce-0points

DINNER:
stake-2 points
1 1/2 cups rice-6 points
cheese-3 points
Guacamole-3 points
Sour Cream-3 points
corn salsa mix-1 points

Total Points: 31 out of 30 points for the day, but with the digging the TRUE value is 30 out of 30 points for the day.

I also drank 6 cups of water!

I did not put on my pedometer today because I was afraid that I would loose it in the dirt so sorry I don't have a step count for you.

Oh I have a question for you all, when is it that people start to notice that you are loosing weight???

Well that's all for today, have a good Sunday.

Weigh In #10

I GAINED 0.2 OZ. So now I am 0.6 oz away from losing 5% of my start weight. But that's OK considering what time it is ;)

I WILL GET IT THIS WEEK I TELL YA!!!!

Have a good one!

Day 70 (4-17)

I am so sorry that I did not blog yesterday. I got called into work from 11a to 7:30p. By the time I got home I was starving and so we went out to dinner to Outback. I am just going to post what I ate for this day.

BREAKFAST/LUNCH: (I got the phone call to get into work fast so I got up out of bed, showered and went right to work...so I kinda missed breakfast. but I did eat within an hour and a half of being up...)

Lettuce-0 points
cheese-2 points
vinegar and oil dressing-2 points
onion chips-2 points
chicken-2 points

DINNER: (Outback)
Ahi Tuna seared-1 point (let me just say...YUM!! Why was I such a wuss to try these things in the past?!)
2 shrimp-1 point
3 small slices of whole wheat bread and butter-4 points (this is the bread that they bring to the table)
3oz stake-4 points (guessing here)

DESSERT: (Scott ate most of this...I had about 4 bites)
Chocolate thunder from down under ;) What this was, was a brownie with Ice Cream and Chocolate syrup-I am going to say 5 points here for the 4 bites.

Total points: 23 points out of 30 points for the day. This may be slightly off but if it was more then I said it was then I have 7 points left to play with.

I don't remember exactly how much water I drank but I think it was 5.

I did remember to put on my pedometer and I waled 7,984 steps.

Sorry for the delay in posting this. My Weigh in and next blog is coming up...

Day 69

TIP OF THE DAY: Don't skimp during the day to "save" calories for later on in the evening. No matter how "in control" you feel during the day, you're likely to become overly hungry by evening, which is a sure-fire way to give in to overeating. And above all, don't skip any meals to reserve calories for another; it almost always backfires.

I was still tired from yesterday so I did not work out. But Scott and I threw the ball around with our neighbor for a while. And I also walked a total of 10,941 steps! Not as much as I did yesterday but for it not being that bad at work and me taking the LONG rout to where ever I was going, helped. I walked to the farthest set of stairs or the farthest set of elevators (when I needed to take the elevator.)

I am off tomorrow so I plan on doing some more cleaning and maybe going dress shopping for the prom! Yes, the prom!! Scott and I are going to be chaperoning his works prom on May 1st. That day is also our 6 year anniversary!! WOW! 6 years already! So it will be extra special for us :)

Today I am feeling VERY bloated! I hope that feeling goes away by tomorrow.

Well, on to how I did today;

BREAKFAST:
yogurt-2 points
granola-1 point

LUNCH: (I found these YUMMY Whole Wheat thin buns that are REALLY good! I will post the brand name tomorrow so you can all try it.)
1 Whole Wheat thin bun-1 point
lettuce-0 points
1 slice cheese-3 points
turkey-2 points
tomato-0 points

1 Kahlua and Cream-5 points (?) we sat outside with the neighbors after work and barbecued.

DINNER:
1 Whole Wheat thin bun-1 point
1 burger-5 points
1 slice cheese-3 points
relish-0 points
21 veggie chips-3 points

SNACK:
Sunflower seeds-1 point

DESSERT:
1 weight watcher sundae-3 points

Total point; 30 out of 30 points for the day. WOO HOO, I ate all my points!

I also drank 7.5 glasses of water today!! Let's hope that with all the water I drank, I will start feeling less bloated!

TGIF! Have a great day everyone!!

Day 68

TIP OF THE DAY: If you start a new diet plan that omits certain food groups, you may be falling short of your nutritional needs. To supplement any shortcomings, be sure to take a good multi-vitamin every single day. While vitamins don't actually replace eating healthful foods, they are a good way to boost nutrition.

Today at work I was SO busy. I ran (yes literally ran/jogged) around the hospital so much that by the time I got home I was already at 9,000 steps!! That is the most that I have ever walked at work yet. But let me tell you I was sweating a lot and by the end of the day, I was exhausted!!

There was a point where I had to jog across campus, yes, not in the hospital, but in our tunnel system to get to a whole other building! Not just once but TWICE!! As I was jogging to get to the other building I was thinking to myself that I REALLY need to get this extra weight off of me because by the time I get the person in trouble, there just may be another CODE, and that would be me! I was SO out of breath and I felt that my heart was going to fall out of my chest, that I even got a little light headed. I know that I should have stopped and walk some distance but my adrenaline was pumping until we got there and they really did not need respiratory after I gave him oxygen. That's when I started feeling the light handedness. AND to top off my day at work, I got my period!!! AAAHHHH!!! So I counted my day at work as my workout and I GAVE myself 2 points.

OK, on to what I ate;

BREAKFAST:
1 English muffin-2 points
1 Tbs peanut butter-2 points

LUNCH:
lettuce-0 points
croutons-1 point
onion chips-1 point
vinegar and oil-2 points
cheese-2 points

WORKOUT:
Work-GAINED 2 points

SNACK:
Chocolate milk-3 points

DINNER:
mini burger-4 points
veggie chips-3 points
3 boneless chicken wings-4 points
1 tbs ranch-2 points
lettuce-0 points
cheese-2 points
Raspberry vinaigrette- 1 point

DESSERT:
skinny cow ice cream-2 points

Total points: 31 out of 30 points for the day, But with the workout the TRUE total is 29 out of 30 points for the day.

I walked a total of 11,955 steps!! WOO HOO!!!!

I also drank 6 glasses of water today!

I also got asked to cover someone for tomorrow as well so that means another day of work for me :) Let's just hope that it's a better day! HAVE A GOOD ONE!

Day 67

TIP OF THE DAY: Researchers conducting a study about how eating fewer meals relates to weight loss found that those who do not eat breakfast may have a four to five percent lower metabolic rate than those who do!

That's why it's so important to eat breakfast. Try different types of foods until you find a few you can stick with. Otherwise, bailing out on breakfast may sabotage your weight loss efforts.

Today was a GREAT day!! I had off but I made the most of it. I did some more cleaning but I also worked out. I got on the treadmill for 15 minutes BUT I started training for the 5k today. This may be somewhat complicated to explain but I will try my best. I had a plan before getting on the treadmill to jogging for 30 seconds and then walking for 90 seconds and repeating this 10 times. But since I am SO out of shape, that did not workout as planed. So, instead I did a 3 minute slow walk for a warm-up and then I jogged for 1 minute (just to see how long I could jog before needing to stop), then walked for 90 seconds and then jogged for 30 seconds. I did that 4x. and then a 90 sec cool down. for a total of 15 minutes. By the end I was sweating and out of breath.

I took about a 10 minute break and then Scott and I went in the back yard and tossed the softball around for 25 minutes. After that I came in and thought I was wonder women and did some Wii Fit yoga, but that only lasted 6 minutes before I decided I needed I was way to pooped to continue! :)

Well, on to what I ate;

BREAKFAST:
1/2 cup yogurt-1 point
2 strawberries-0 points

LUNCH:
1 mini burger-4 points
21 veggie chips-3 points

SNACK:
1 cheese stick-2 points
1 chocolate milk-3 points

WORKOUT:
treadmill, catch, yoga- ADD 3 points

DINNER: (Subway)
1 foot long veggie sub-10 points

DESERT:
1 weight watcher sundae-3 points

Total points: 26 out of 30 points for the day. But with the workouts, the TRUE point value was 23 out of 30 points.

I also drank 6 glasses of water! WOO HOO, I got to the 6!!

I got called into work for tomorrow so I will have my pedometer on and ready!

Your halfway done with the work week! HAVE A GOOD ONE!!

DAY 66

TIP OF THE DAY: Try serving high-fiber appetizers before your meal. This helps prevent overeating and paves the way to portion control.

Well, today I got called off of work. So I did some cleaning and more laundry. I am SO SO sore from yesterday's softball practice, thus, I did not get on the treadmill or do the Wii Fit. I figured that my body was telling me to give it a break from yesterday.

I don't have much to say since I did not do much today, so on to what I ate;

BREAKFAST:
1/2 cup yogurt-1 point
2 strawberries-0 points

LUNCH:
Tuna packed in water-1 point
Mayo-2 points
Relish-0 points
17 wheat thin crackers-3 points
1 chocolate milk-3 points
1 string cheese-2 points

DINNER: (big boy mac and cheese)
1 1/2 cups of whole wheat pasta-6 points
cheese-3 points
Onion chips-3 points

DESSERT:
1 weight watchers ice cream sundae-3 points
Sunflower seeds-1 point

Total points: 28 out of 30 points for the day.

I also drank 5 glasses of water.

Oh, I did find my pedometer! it was on the couch under a jacket! Who would have known :)

Well, that's all for today, HAVE A GOOD ONE!!

Day 65

TIP OF THE DAY: Bad eating habits are created over a lifetime, but they can be changed. As we all know, bad habits of any kind are hard to break and it takes a great deal of perseverance and dedication to overcome them. Successful "losers" consistently make a choice to replace bad habits with healthy ones.

So, today I did not get on the treadmill or do the Wii Fit as I had wanted to. But Scott and I had signed up to be on a softball league and today was our first practice of the season and by the time I got home I was not about ready to workout some more! I know that I will feel it in the morning :) but hey, that's a good thing right?!

After practice we went out to dinner with everyone to a Mexican restaurant. I was SO glade that I saved my points and that I had 15 points left for dinner :)

OH!!! I forgot to mention that I had also measured myself yesterday and I lost 1.5 inches in my waist (total -3.5), 0.5 in my in my hips (total -3), 1.5 in my thigh (total -2 inches), and as for my arms and bust, those stayed the same :( But I did lose a total of -9.7 inches all over!! WOO HOO!!!! ;)

I am tired and starting to feel sore, so on to what I ate;

BREAKFAST: (I made breakfast this morning)
1 scrambled egg-3 points
1 small potato for hash browns-2 points
tomato-0 points
onion-0 points
Parmesan cheese-1 point

LUNCH: (at McDonald's)
1 bacon ranch salad with chicken-8 points

SNACK:
Sunflower seeds-1 point

WORKOUT:
Softball-GAINED 2 points!

DINNER: (Mexican Restaurant)
Chips and Salsa-3 points
1/2 cup of rice-2 points
1/2 (?) cup beans-1 points
1 steak burrito-9 points (It was a flower tortilla, with steak and onions ONLY!)I am also guessing on the points

DESSERT:
Ice cream-2 points (4 people split 1 large scoop, since we are all on a diet but still wanted something sweet :)

Total points: 32 out of 30 points for the day. But with the softball practice the TRUE point value is 30 out of 30 points for the day.

I also drank 7 cups of water today!!

I am still trying to remember where I put that darn pedometer. Once I find it I will let you all know.

HAVE A GREAT MONDAY!!

Day 64

TIP OF THE DAY: Buying single serving packages of foods -- especially snacks -- is a great way to control portions. Not only will they help you eat in moderation, the nutrition information is also handy.

If single serving bags prove too pricey, measure out individual servings into plastic bags when you buy the larger size packages. Just don't reach for a second bag or this trick won't prevent overeating.

Well today was a good weigh in day as you all saw! Scott and I even signed up for another 5k for June 6th. Tomorrow I plan to start my training program for the 5k next month. The only program that I found was to get me ready for a 5k in 6 weeks not 4. But if I don't have rest days then the 6 week plan turns into a 4 week plan. Do you think not having a rest day is a good idea? I am still playing with this idea. Also does anyone know where I can get a GOOD sports bra? Because when I work out the girls are always trying to hit me in the face and that hurts :)

Food wise today was not good. I mean, I just was not hungry at all today. I know it is bad not to eat or eat all of your points in one sitting, but I was just not feeling it today...I know me not feeling food, what's going on?! hahah. But here is what I did;

LUNCH: (#1 problem, no breakfast...you should ALWAYS eat breakfast. But I don't eat before my weigh in at 11)
1 cup Progresso reduced sodium chicken and wild rice soup-2 points

SNACK:
1 twizzler-0 points
a 100 calorie pack Carmel corn-2 points? (forgot to wright down the info but I think this is about right)

WORKOUT:
Wii Fit- did the balance games for 12 minutes (my legs are hurting from the other day so I did it light-GAINED 1 point

DINNER: (at work...) I forgot my dinner at home :(
1 bun-3 points
1 grilled chicken breast-4 points (the chicken was VERY bland)
1 slice Cheddar cheese-2 points
1 tsp mayo-2 points (?)
1 slice garlic bread-5 points
small side salad totaling- 6 points (guessing high here) by the way the dressing was balsamic vinegar and olive oil

SNACK:
sunflower seeds-1 point

Total points: 27 out of 30 points for the day. But after the workout/walking at work I GAINED 1 point so the TRUE value is 26 out of 31 points for the day.

I also drank just about 8 cups of water today. WOO HOO!!

Once again I forgot that darn pedometer...well actually I remembered it but don't remember where I put it while I was cleaning so I would not lose it...don't you hate when that happens?!

Well, tomorrow is the last day of the week end so make the most of it!! HAVE A GOOD ONE!

Weigh In #9

I LOST 2.2 pounds for a total of -11.6 pounds!!! I am 4oz away from losing 5% of my start weight!!

Thank you Wii Fit!!

Well, that's all for now, see you all tonight :)

Day 63

TIP OF THE DAY: Setting big goals does more harm then good. It is easy to get discouraged when you never seem to meet then. Instead, set mini goals and reward yourself to stay motivated.

Be realistic and treat yourself gently. The pounds did not appear like magic, so don't expect them to **poof** and go away ;)

So today I did a lot of laundry and there is still more to do. It just seems like it will never go away! I was not up to working out today but I pushed myself and did 12 minutes of Yoga. My body was SO sore from yesterdays workout but I did it anyway!

Today is going to be a short blog, so on to what I ate;

BREAKFAST:
1 hard boiled egg with hot sauce-2 points

LUNCH:
2 slices of bread-3 points
turkey-1 point
Avocado-2 points
spinach-0 points
tomato-0 points
21 veggie chips-3 points

DINNER:
1 chicken breast-3 points
spinach sauteed with garlic and olive oil and scallops-2 points (I kind of made this up as I went when I was cooking it)
corn-2 points
guacamole-3 points
some baked chips-3 points (guessing here)

WORKOUT:
Wii Fit yoga- GAINED 1 point

DESSERT:
Skinny Cow Ice Cream-2 points

SNACK: (we went to the movie theater...)
4 Twizzlers-3 points

Total points: 29 out of 30 points for the day. But with the workout the TRUE total is 28 out of 31 points for the day.

I drank 7 glasses of water today WOO HOO!!

Again I did not put on the pedometer. I KNOW I did not walk around a lot because I was at home all day doing laundry.

Tomorrow is weigh in so I will post it as soon as I can. I feel pretty good about this one! :)

EVERYONE HAVE A GREAT SATURDAY!!

Day 62

TIP OF THE DAY: Is food REALLY your friend? Ya, its been there for you, but if you binge until you develop a weight problem...with a friend like food, who needs enemies?

When you are feeling sad or stressed--or any emotional eating cue--pick up the phone or text a TRUE friend (someone who you know will offer support) Be your own best friend and give emotional eating the cold shoulder!

Today I did 2 things that I am so proud of my self for:

1. I worked out for a total of 50 minutes!!! Yes 5-0!! I did the Wii Fit. I spent 12 minutes doing yoga, 16 minutes doing aerobics, and 22 minutes doing balance. Yesterday Scott bought me this Biggest Loser mini book thing that had some workouts and recipes in there. I did not do all of the workouts but I did some;

I did 1 set of 10 overhead pullovers with a 4 pound weight


1 set of 10 chest flies,
I used the edge of the couch because I don't have the ball.

1 set of 10 vertical leg crunches,

I TRIED to do the plank but I am no where near able to do that move yet :( But I am working at it!

2. Scott and I signed up for a 5k!!! We are doing the 5K benefiting Crohn's disease on May 8th at 8:00 AM at the Riverwalk, 100 North Island Ave. in Batavia. If you are interested go to http://www.foxriver5k.org for more info!!

OK now on to what I ate;

BREAKFAST:
3/4 cup Special K Cereal with skim milk-3 points

LUNCH:
1 chicken breast-3 points
1 cup corn-2 points

SNACK:
1 cup yogurt-2 points
3 Strawberries-0 points

DINNER:
1 foot long veggie sub from Subway-10 points

WORKOUT:
Everything together I would say I gained 2 points?

DESSERT:
6 oz Skinny Cow Ice cream-3 points
1 string cheese-2 points

Total points: 25 out of 30 points for the day. But with the workout the TRUE total is 23 out of 30 points for the day. I know I need to eat more points....

I did not do that great with the water, I only drank about 4-5 cups, I lost count today.

I forgot to put on my pedometer today, but all I did was clean the house and workout since I was off, so I know I did not get many steps in.

Well that's all for now! Have a good Friday!

Day 61

TIP OF THE DAY: Steaming or microwaving veggies means you don't have to add any fat during preparation; choose lemon juice, herbs, or vinegar over margarine. Use herbs and spices or imitation butter sprinkles. If steamed vegetables don't suit your taste buds, reduce the amount of oil you use if you sauté them. Broth or flavored vinegar makes a great substitute for oil.

I did not workout today because I had a jewelry party to go to and I also had a headache. So I gave myself a break today and I will do it again tomorrow.

Today at work I walked so much! By the time I got off I had already walked 9,050 steps! For a total of 10,273 steps! WOO HOO!!

So on to what I ate:

BREAKFAST:
1 English muffin-2 points
1 Tbs. Peanut Butter-2 points
1 small carton Chocolate Milk-3 points

LUNCH:
Lettuce-0 points
Balsamic Vinaigrette-2 points
Cheese-2 points
Onion chips-1 point
Olives-1 point
about 1 Bacon-1 point

SNACK/APPETIZERS (at the jewelry party):
veggies with dip and cheese and crackers-5 points (guessing here)

DINNER:
1cup Garlic Chicken with Broccoli, Corn, and Carrots-5 points (thank you Scott for making dinner tonight:)

DESSERT:
4oz Frozen Yogurt-3 points

DRINK:
Pomegranate cherry drink-2 points

Total points- 29 out of 30 points for the day.

I also drank 6.5 cups of water.

Well that is all for now, have a great day!!

Day 60

TIP OF THE DAY: Yes, chicken is a healthy choice, but keep in mind that dark meat contains about twice as much fat as white meat. Also, chicken skin is fattening. You can remove the skin yourself before cooking, choose skinless varieties, or take off the skin before you eat it. Basically, however you choose to avoid it ... just make sure you do.

Today I walked 7,600 by the time I left work today! When I came home I was not really in the mood to work out but I got on the Wii and did the Aerobics and balance for 20 minutes. So my total steps for the day are 11,427 steps!! WOO HOO!!

I found that packing my lunch and breakfast REALLY helped control what I ate. But for lunch tomorrow I want to have a salad that work has that is SO good, and instead of having the thousand island dressing, I'm going to have balsamic vinaigrette.

OK so on to what I ate;

BREAKFAST:
1 English muffin-2 points
1 Tbs. peanut butter-2 points

LUNCH:
(Turkey sandwich)
2 slices bread-3 points
2 slices of turkey-1 points
1 slice of cheese-2
4 small slices of tomato-0 points
(NO MAYO!!!!)
1 string cheese-2 points

SNACK:
17 wheat thins-3 points


WORKOUT:
20 minute Wii Fit-gained 1 point
DINNER:
1 cup beef and broccoli stir fry-4 points
20 mini shrimp-5 points

DESSERT:
1 cup yogurt-2 points
3 strawberries-0 points

Total points: 26 out of 30 points for the day. But after the workout I GAINED 1 point so the TRUE total is 25 out of 30 points for the day.

I also drank 10.5 glasses of water!!! WOO HOO!! But I am sure I will be getting up a few times tonight going to the bathroom :)

Well the week is 1/2 over, make the best of it!!

Day 59

TIP OF THE DAY: The old adage of "No pain, no gain." shouldn't apply to your exercise regime. Always listen to your body, particularly when you're new at exercising and your body is not yet conditioned for working out.

If you experience pain during a workout, take a break or sit out the rest of the class. Don't scold yourself into continuing because you haven't exercised long enough that day. If you end up with an injury, you won't be able to exercise at all for a long time!

Today went well. Scott and I both had the day off so we slept in and had a late breakfast/lunch. After we had breakfast we then did the Wii Fit. I did the aerobic and balance for 20 minutes. There is this one game that you have to keep the hula hoops going for 2 minutes and by the end of that 2 minuets I was able to feel the burn in my legs! There was also another game on there that you have to run in place and try to keep up with your trainer. Well I had that game on beginner and by the end I was sweating. Granted that was towards the end of the workout, but still it had me moving. We even did the one where you can run in place with a friend so Scott and I were having fun trying to see who would get to the finish line first.

Yesterday on the Wii Fit, it calculated our BMI, it was at 38.66%. and today after my workout it was at 37.73% a difference of -0.93%. Not bad for one day...if it's correct and all.

After the Wii we decided to take Dexter to the dog park. There were other dogs there and we are working on his social skills so we found a path and walked with him. So I was very active today and loved it! :)

OK now on to what I ate;

BRUNCH:
2 hard boiled eggs with hot sauce-4 points

WORKOUT:
20 minute Wii aerobics/balance workout and walk on trail-Gained 2 points

SNACK:
1 cup yogurt-2 points
3 strawberries chopped up-0 points

DINNER:
Ribs on the grill-9 points
1 cup of rice-5 points
1 cup of corn-2 points (I did not add butter or salt like I used to, and it was still yummy)

DESSERT:
1 small container of skinny cow ice cream-2 points
1 cup chocolate skim milk-3 points (I was needing sweet and the ice cream did not do it so I thought the chocolate milk would and it did :)

Total points: 27 out of 30 points for the day but with the work out I gained 2 points so the TRUE values is 25 out of 30 points for the day.

I also drank 5 glasses of water. Last night I don't now what was going on in my body but I got up every 2 hours like clock work to go to the bathroom. It was getting aggravating!! but that also meant that I was losing that water weight ;)

For tomorrow I have packed my breakfast and lunch and have my full day planed points wise. I even have what snacks I'm going to eat, if needed, on the ride home. I have and extra 8 points leftover before a workout, not knowing if I will have time to but I should, just in case. I I think this will help me not eat those "put together" foods.

Well, have a good one!

Day 58

TIP OF THE DAY: Roasting, baking, grilling, braising and broiling are healthy meat-cooking methods. Use cooking sprays instead of oil or butter during preparation. Another way to reduce fat is to strain cooked ground beef and rinse it with hot water. (Drain it well before you continue the recipe.) Be sure to keep portions under control.

Today was Easter and we went to my aunts house and to Scott's parents house. Over all I did REALLY well :) I loaded most of my plate with salad and then added a little bit of the good stuff. But I did not get a workout in today because of the holiday and running around. Tomorrow I will do my new Wii Fit ;)

On to what I had this holiday;

BREAKFAST:
1 bowl special K cereal with skim milk-3 points

APPETIZER:
4 shrimp with lemon juice-1 point
2 very small triangles of pita-0 points
1 Tbs. garlic dip-1 point
3 meat balls-1 point

DINNER/LUNCH:
salad with feta and olives-2 points
1 small square of pistachio-5 points (about)
3 wedges of potatoes-1 point

DESSERT:
1 small slice of a semi low fat strawberry cream cheese truffle-5 points (about)

OTHER/SNACKS:
1 granola bar-2 points
1 cup yogurt-2 points
3 strawberries-0 points
popcorn-2.5 points
1 hard boiled egg with hot sauce-2 points
1 very small bite of cheese cake baklava-0 points (I had to have a bit of my favorite dessert!)

Total points:27.5 points out of 30 points for the day.

I also drank 7 glasses of water.

Well that all for tonight, have a great day tomorrow everyone!!

Day 57 (saturday 4/3)

TIP OF THE DAY: Set your table for portion control! Using smaller dishes to serve food may actually help you to eat less. Try using a salad plate for pasta or a dessert saucer for snacks.

Today we went to my cousins house and they gave us the Wii Fit. We were SO SO SO excited!!! Thanks again guys!! We did not have the Nintendo Wii but since we had some money, and we were wanting the council and the game for a VERY long time, we went and bought the Wii. :) We are currently setting up the game and getting our info into the Wii fit. Yes I know its late (1:15a) but I had a lot to do today getting ready for Easter and all. So this is going to be a shorter blog so I can get to my Wii. :)

BREAKFAST:
1 Weight Watchers Cheesy scramble with hash browns-4 points
1 cup milk-2 points

LUNCH: (panini)
2 slices of bread-4 points
turkey-3 points
Mozzarella cheese-4 points
Corn-1 point
Mayo-3 points

SNACK:
100 calorie pack of Carmel popcorn-2 points

DINNER:
2 slices of bread- 4 points
Turkey-3 points
Cheese-4 points
Mayo-3 points

DESSERT:
WW Ice cream Sundae-3 points

Total points: 40 out of 30 points. OK I need to start keeping better track of my points and not just write down what I ate at night right before I blog... This was a BAD BAD BAD day. I thought I was doing good with eating sandwiches but I have just realized that sandwiches are killer on points! WOW!!

I also drank about 10 glasses. So I am hoping that this will help get rid of some of this sandwich faster!

Well have a good night/day everyone! HAPPY EASTER, XRISTOS ANESTI!!

Weigh in #8

I LOST 0.4 pounds, bringing my total weight loss to 9.4 pounds. I was kind of surprised by this since I thought I was going to gain.

Oh and since my first 2 numbers of my weight changed today, I LOST a point!! for those of you who are not on weight watchers, or know their program, ones points are calculated by your first 2 numbers of your weight (ex: if you weight 147 pounds the fist two numbers would be 14), your gender, age, how tall you are, how you spend your work day, (ex: are you sitting down all day, walking all say, etc...) and if you are a nursing mom.

So since my first 2 numbers changed in my weight, I lost a point. So now my total points for the day are 30 instead of 31 :) Yes, this is a good thing. It means that I AM losing weight and slowly getting healthier :)

Sorry for the late post of this, I was running around and getting things ready for Easter.

Day 56

TIP OF THE DAY: It's all-too-easy to ignore portion control at dinner time when serving dishes are at the dining table. Prepare plates ahead of time and leave the dishes on the burner.

Choose vegetables as your seconds rather than meat or starches. Better still, become semi-vegetarian and treat vegetables as your main course and meat as a side dish.

I was SO upset this morning when I could not remember where I put my pedometer! So as you may already know, I did not have my pedometer on me today :(

Last week Friday I was able to "feel" a difference in my wight and I knew I would lose but today I don't feel like that. If anything I think I may just stay the same. Which I guess would be OK, but losing would be better then staying the same...

On to what I ate;

BREAKFAST:
1 cup yogurt-2 points
granola-1 point
strawberries-0 points
blueberries-0 points

LUNCH: (leftovers from yesterday)
1 stick suflakie-3 points
1 cup rice-4 points
1 small side salad with vinegar and oil-2 points

SNACK:
1 rice crispy treat-3 points (they had them at work and at the end of the day I gave in)

DINNER:
1 Greek Sausage-4 points
1 bun-2 points
about 1 cup of guacamole-3 points
hand full of chips-3 points (guessing here)

DESSERT:
1 cup yogurt-2 points
strawberries-0 points

Total points: 29 out of 31 points for the day!

I also drank about 5 glasses of water as well.

I do wish that I got on the treadmill more this week, or did some more exercise. I was thinking of joining a class at the YMCA down the street from the house but I don't know of anything good. Does anyone have any suggestions? I have not looked into prices yet ether so if its to expensive then this idea is out the window...for now.

Well have a great Saturday everyone. And I know that this weekend is going to busy for everyone, so have a HAPPY EASTER if you don't visit again until Monday :)

Day 55

TIP OF THE DAY: Always remember that over sized clothes don't help camouflage problem areas. Excess fabric only makes you look bulkier. Don't try to hide under your clothes!

OK so I am REALLY tired right now and I have to get up in less then 6 hrs for work so this is going to be short.

I forgot to put on my pedometer today. Sorry all. But on to what I ate;

BREAKFAST: (on the go)
1 granola bar-3 points

LUNCH:
1 suflakie-3 points (guessing here)
2 cups rice-8 points (guessing here)
1 bite of bread-0 points :) (just wanted the taste)

DINNER:
1 Turkey sandwich-12 points total

(The sandwich included 2 slices of turkey breast, 2 slices white bread, 1 Tbs mayo, 1/4 avocado, 2 slices of American cheese.) after just posting this, I just realizes that I could have saved 3 points if I did not put in the mayo and just had the avocado. Well now I know for next time.

21 veggie chips-2 points

DESSERT:
Frozen yogurt with fruit-3 points

Total points: 31 out of 31 points for the day.

I drank about 7 glasses of water today. WOO HOO!

Again sorry for the short blog, I will put more into it tomorrow (as long as the computer is still working ;) TGIF!!!!!!!

Day 54 (wednesday 3/31)

Sorry for not blogging this yesterday but our computer got a virus. So this blog will just be a list of what I ate.

Today we went to the forest preserve and walked all around there for about an hour with Dexter. He loved it and so did Scott and I. So I would say that I gained 1 point for that.

BRUNCH:
1 Pancake-2 points
1 Tbs. butter-2 points
cheese-2 points
potato's-2 points
1 Tbs sour cream-1 point
2 scrambled eggs-4 points
1 slice bacon-1 point
1/4 cup syrup-4 points

DINNER:
Bacon Ranch salad from McDonald's-8 points

DESSERT:
frozen yogurt-3 points

Total points: 29 out of 31 points for the day. But with the walk, the TRUE total is 28 out of 31 points for the day.

I had my pedometer on just for the walk because after that I switched back into my sandals to clean out the car and the house again. I got about 3,000 steps in just with the walk.

Sorry but I don't remember how many glasses of water I got in but I think it was about 5.

Today's blog (4/1) will be up soon :)

Day 53 (Tuesday 3-30)

TIP OF THE DAY: Do you suffer from buffet thinking? If the availability of more food items adds to your temptation level then, you'll have to answer "Yes.". A recent study suggested that the more food choices you have, the more you consume. Try to stick to a healthy variety of a fewer number of items and you may be less likely to overeat.

Today was a good walking day. I did not get to 10,000 steps but I did get to 8,777.

I don’t have much to say today. I am really tired, good thing I don’t work tomorrow. My plan for tomorrow is to go on the treadmill and maybe go for a walk depending on the weather since I won’t be getting that much walking in from working.

OK on to what I ate today;

BREAKFAST:
1 English muffin-2 points
1 Tbs Peanut Butter-2 points
1 cup yogurt-2 points
¼ cup granola-1 point

LUNCH:
1 healthy steamers lemon, garlic, chicken and shrimp-5 points
1 bag backed sour cream and onion chips-3 points

DINNER:
1 Greek pocket-13

DESSERT:
1 skinny cow ice cream-2 points


Total points: 30 out of 31 points for the day.

I also drank 7 glasses of water today, WOO HOO!!

Well sorry for the short blog. Have a good day ☺

Day 52

TIP OF THE DAY: Just started working out? Start out slow and build up. Don't fall into the "if-I-don't-do-it-for-at-least-30-minutes-it-doesn't-count" trap ... 10 minutes of exercise is far more beneficial than 10 minutes of being a couch potato, right?!

I go a LOT of steps in today with work and I also got on the treadmill for 10 minutes. I did the 1 minute walk and the 30 minute jog. I checked to see if the treadmill that we have has an incline, but it doesn't. Today I got 11,417 steps in!!! WOO HOO!!!!

I did not get to breakfast today at work but we had an early lunch. Tomorrow I am going to bring a banana to work so I could eat really quick if need be.

OK I am tired today so on to what I ate;

LUNCH:
Lettuce-0 points
Cheese-2 points
Croutons-2 points
Onion chips-2 points
Balsamic vinegar and Extra Virgin Olive Oil-4 points

WORKOUT:
10 minute on the treadmill- ADD 1 point

DINNER:
1 foot long veggie sub-10 points

SNACK:
1 bag of 100 calorie Carmel corn-1 point

DESSERT:
1 Weight Watchers shake-3 points
1 skinny cow Carmel cone ice cream-3 points

Total points: 27 out of 31 points for the day. But with the workout the TRUE points value is 26 out of 31 points for the day. I figured that since I ate WAY passed my points the pass 2 days then not eating 5 points today will somehow even things out slowly.

I also drank 9 cups of water! WOO HOO!! But me and the washroom were best friends today with all that water, let me tell you. :)

Well that's all for today. Have a great day!!

Day 51

TIP OF THE DAY: Avoid eating anything directly out of the container, particularly foods that lend themselves to binges like ice cream or potato chips. It's virtually impossible to practice portion control when you eat straight out of a container.

When you eat from the sources, you're likely to fall into all-or-nothing thinking: "If I'm being this 'bad' then I should just go all the way." You'll feel more in charge of your actions by eating one serving mindfully from a dish.

I did not get on the treadmill like I had wanted to but we did some spring cleaning instead.

when I was doing my points I realized that 2 scrambled eggs were 6 points and not 2. I thought that since 1 hard boiled egg was 2 points then if they were scrambled then it would also be 2, but I was wrong and it was 3 points per egg. I am not sure why. Does anyone have any idea why this is?

Well on to what I ate;

BREAKFAST/LUNCH: (we slept in today:)
Shrimp with dip-10 points

Snack:
1 slim jim-3 points

DINNER:
2 scrambled eggs-6 points
2 slices turkey bacon-2 points
Hash browns-5 points
Pancakes-2 points
Butter-3 points
syrup-3 points

Total points: 34 out of 31 points for the day. If I did not assume that the eggs were 4 points and not 6, I would have only gone over by one point.

I drank 5 glasses of water today. Tomorrow my goal is to have 6 glasses.

The rest of the week I am going to count out my points and double check them and not "think" that I know the points of them.

After Scott found my pedometer, I did not put it on but tomorrow for work I will.

Have a good Monday.

Pedometer

As we were cleaning Scott found my pedometer!! WOO HOO!!!!

Day 50 (Saturday 3/27)

TIP OF THE DAY: Exercise raises your metabolism and causes an increased number of calories to be burned even when you're done. That means you can exercise and then sit and watch TV and you will be a calorie burning couch potato! (Work out first, veg out later!)

Have you ever seen the supplement commercial that claims: "Lose weight while you sleep!"? Well, a pill can't make that happen, but in a way, exercise can. So get moving!

I lost my pedometer today :( I had it when I went to weight watchers, and when I went to a friends house in the afternoon. But when I went to another friends house later that night I did not have it. I did see that the weight watchers pedometer had an extra that I could attach to my shoe so that it won't fall off. I am going to go to Walmart and see if there is a cheaper one.

So since we were house jumping yesterday I tried to eat healthy but it was really whatever they had. I don't even remember today what I ate. So here is what I remember:

10 chicken nuggets with honey- 12 points
veggies-0 points
veggie dip-3 points
pizza-20 points (just a guess)
3 glasses of red wine-12 points

Total points: 47 put of 31 points for the day. I used 16 extra points of my weekly allowed out of 35.

OK now that I wrote out everything I REALLY need to get on the treadmill and work out today!! But we had a REALLY good time hanging out with friends and we even made new ones. :)

Today will be a much better day, and so will the rest of the week!!

have a good Sunday!!

Weigh in #7

I LOST 2.8 pounds, for a total of 9.0 pounds!! I really needed this loss.

That's all for now. I will blog later on for the night! Have a good Saturday all.

Day 49

TIP OF THE DAY: Bad eating habits are created over a lifetime, but they can be changed. As we all know, bad habits of any kind are hard to break and it takes a great deal of perseverance and dedication to overcome them. Successful "losers" consistently make a choice to replace bad habits with healthy ones.

I was SO tired today that when I came home after working 2 hrs of overtime. I took a so called nap, I went to bed at 6 and got up at 8. But I really needed it today!! So granted I did not get on the treadmill because if I get on right after I eat I feel sick. So I like to wait about an hour after eating before getting a workout in. By the time we ate it was 9:30p so I did not get any treadmill time in today.

Today I put my pedometer on my shoe and surprisingly I did not lose it! and it worked SO much better there!! I walked 9,172 steps today!! WOO HOO!!! :) And today was not that big of a walking day, I spent most of my time standing in patients rooms and such.

Yesterday I forgot to mention that I tried some plain Greek yogurt. I put some strawberries in it and granola but it was just not for me. I was thinking about putting in some sugar but that would defeat the purpose of trying to keep it healthy. I just wanted to let you all know that if this would be something that you would like, it is MUCH healthier then those other flavored yogurts. But I did not care for it.

Well, on to what I ate;

BREAKFAST:
1 English muffin-2 points
1 Tbs peanut butter-2 points
1 cup vanilla yogurt-2 points
1/4 cup granola-1 point

LUNCH:
1/2 cup of a corn and pea mix-1 point
1 lean cuisine- 5 points

SNACK:
4 Cashews- 1 point

DINNER:
Salad with ranch dressing (on the side to dip my fork in), croutons and cheese-6 points
2 pancakes with 1 Tbs butter and 3 Tbs. syrup-8 points.

Total points: 28 out of 31 points for the day.

I, yet again, did not do so good on the water intake. I drank 5 glasses of water today. I will try to get my 6th one in tonight before I fall asleep.

Tomorrow is weight in and I BETTER lose some weight this week because I cannot go another week with a gain!! I do wish that I had made more time for the treadmill this week, but I think that walking that much at work is also a work out, but I just don't get any points back for it. Or maybe I should???

Have a great Saturday everyone, and I will let you all know how I did when I get home tomorrow.

Day 48

TIP OF THE DAY: An organized pantry and refrigerator lends itself to mindful eating. Being able to easily find what you are looking for will help keep you focused and make better choices.

Keep a running inventory of healthy staples. Always store them in the same area so you will know what to replenish on your next trip to the grocery store.

I saw what Myra said on yesterdays blog post and realized that the most easiest thing to do is have an excuse. If you don't want to do something you will ALWAYS find a reason NOT to do it and if you really WANT to do something, you will always find a way TO do it. So today I came home and before I even sat on the couch and got comfy for the night, I went strait to the treadmill and did it for 10 minutes. What I did was I would walk for 1 minute and then jog for 30 seconds. That had my sweating and out of breath. But I am SO glad that I got on there because it made me feel so good!! :)

Well on to how I did food wise for the day;

BREAKFAST:
1 English Muffin-2 points
1 Tbs. Peanut butter-2 points
1 granola bar-2 points

LUNCH:
1 healthy choice sweet sesame chicken-7 points

WORKOUT:
Treadmill for 10 minutes-ADD 1 point

SNACK:
1 Cheese Stick-2 points

DINNER:
1 Veggie foot long sub-10 points

DESSERT:
6oz Vanilla Bean Ice Cream-3 points
Large handful Sunflower Seeds-2 points (guessing here)

Total points:30 out of 31 points for the day. But after the 10 minute treadmill the TRUE points value is 29 out of 31 points for the day!

I drank 6 glasses of water today! Granted I went to the bathroom many times today at work. I sure am glade we did not have a whole lot going on :)

I was so made that I forgot my pedometer at home today. I had it right by my keys and I did not grab it when I left. Today at work a co worker showed me that she puts her pedometer on her shoe. I think I am going to try it. and if for some reason it falls off, it was only $5 so I could go get another one. She said that she finds that it works MUCH better there because on her hip it was not reading well. Same problem I'm having. :) So lets see how many steps I get in tomorrow with it on my shoe.

TGIF!!! Have a great one.

Day 47

TIP OF THE DAY: Self-talk really does work, whether it is positive or negative. Lift your spirits and prolong your motivation every single day by telling yourself that you can and will succeed.

You may even find that it is helpful to say self-affirming phrases out loud. People around you may think you've gone crazy, but when you find it is quite effective, you won't mind.

Look in the mirror today, and say, "Nothing is going to stop me from meeting my weight loss goal."

Today was a good day. I got some more walking in at work and took the stairs when ever I could. I walked 6,965 steps. Not bad if I don't say so myself :)

When I am at work during the day I am all for going home and getting on the treadmill, but then when I get home, I am SO pooped that all I want to do is have dinner and relax since most of my steps are done at work.

Oh I did take the dog for a walk around the block today, that should count for something right?

OK on to what I ate;

BREAKFAST:
1 English Muffin-2 points
1Tbs. Peanut Butter-2 points
1/2 cup of yogurt-2 points
granola-1 point

LUNCH:
1 Weight Watchers Angel Hair Marinara-4 points
1 corn and peas mixture-1 point
2 cups green tea-0 points
1 Tbs. Honey-0.5 points
1 bagel-fulls-4 points

SNACK:
1 String Cheese-2 points

DINNER:
1 Bowl Appetite: herb chicken with rice and veggies-5 points
1 small bag of Cheetos-4 points (I know this was bad but I have been wanting then for a long time now and when I found this small bag, I had to have them.)

DESSERT:
1 small Ice Cream Cone-3 points

Total points: 30.5 out of 31 points for the day. I Stayed within my points today and basically ate all of them :)

I could have done better with my water intake. I only had 5 glasses of water not counting the 2 glasses of green tea. Should I count that, or no?

Thanks for following and have a great day. One more day to FRIDAY!!!

Day 46

TIP OF THE DAY: Does your plate look like this? Well, this is what a healthy plate should look like.

Today is going to be a short blog. I have to be up in about 6 hours but I did not want to miss a blog.

I was able to get on the treadmill and walk for 30 min. (1 mile) during the first 12 minutes my side was hurting me really bad but I just kept going and I'm glad I did. My goal for today was to get 20 minutes in on the treadmill but I was watching a TV show so I thought I would just stay on till it was over. I was not going very fast (2.0-2.5) but by the end I was sweating.

With the treadmill and working for 4 hrs. I got in 6,183 steps in. That is not doubled that is what the pedometer said. Today I think it worked.

OK so on to what I ate;

BREAKFAST:
1 Toaster Strudel-4 points

WORKOUT:
30 minute treadmill- ADD 2 points

LUNCH:
1 chicken breast-3 points
1/2 cup corn and peas in a buttery garlic sauce-1 point

DINNER: (I know this is not good but I substituted the fries for corn...) KFC
1 Grilled Chicken leg-2 points
1 Grilled Chicken Breast-4 points
Corn-2 points
1 Biscuit-4 points
a VERY small amount of butter-1 point
Just abut a Tbs. Feta-1 point
1 small wrap-9 points

Total points: 31 out of 31 points for the day. But after the workout the TRUE value is 29 out of 31 points.

I also drank 5 glasses of water today! not the 6 I was hoping for but 5 still good.

HAVE A GOOD DAY!!

Day 45

TIP OF THE DAY: Portion vs. Serving. What is the difference between the two? A portion is the amount of food/drink YOU choose to consume-It can be big or small-you decide. A serving is a measured amount of food or drink.

Again today was uneventful. All I did was work and come home. Work was OK, not to busy and not to slow...it was just right.

I miss counted my points today and went over, so since I don't work until 3p tomorrow I was going to jump on the treadmill for 20 min...if I can handle it, otherwise it will be for 10 minutes, just like the Dr. ordered :)

I was so happy that I put on my pedometer today, but I KNOW it did not work well. The pants that I had on were VERY baggy at the waist so I think it only counted how many steps that one leg took. And there were times when I noticed that I was at the same number of steps for about 10 minutes. Yes I was walking during that time. So for today I am going to double what the pedometer said. It said that I walked 3, 779 steps so if I double that, it would be 7,558. Now that sounds better to me!!

On to what I ate;

BREAKFAST:
1 English Muffin-2 points
1Tbs. Peanut Butter-2 points

LUNCH:
1 hamburger[leftover from yesterday's dinner] (without the bun)-3 points
1/2 cup of plain rice-2 points

SNACK:
Pretzels and Hummus-2 points

DINNER: (I mixed this all together)
1 cup rice-5.5 points
steak- 5.5 points
1/2 cup of cheese-3 points
1/2 cup of guacamole-5 points
Salsa-2 points
lettuce-0 points
1/8 cup sour cream-3 points

Some of the points for dinner are round about. if anything I think I over estimated on the points.

Total points: 35 out of 31 points for the day. So I had to use 3 points out of my extra weekly allowed points.

I drank 8 cups of water today!! WOO HOO!! :) So I am hoping that this will help flush my system some from going over my points.

Well, that's all for today. I hope to get more steps in tomorrow with the treadmill and going to work for 4 hrs.

HAVE A GREAT DAY!! :)

Day 44

TIP OF THE DAY: Use non-food alternatives to cope with stress.

Sooner or later, you're going to be faced with a stressful situation. Instead of turning to food for comfort, be prepared with some non-food tactics that work for you.

for example; reading a few chapters in a novel, listening to music, writing in a journal, practicing meditative deep breathing, or looking at a photo album of loved ones. What will yours be? List some ideas to help me with this.

Today was very uneventful. We just ran errands, payed bills, cleaned, and cooked dinner at home :)

So here is what I ate;

We slept in again today...It was lovely. The weekend is a great time to catch up on sleep since I wake up at 4:30am and typically don't go to bed until 9-10pm during the week.

BREAKFAST/LUNCH:
1 Pancake-3 points
Syrup-3 points
1 tsp butter-2 points
Hash-browns-3 points
1 egg scrambled-2 points
a little bit of Feta-1 point

SNACK:
hand full of crackers-2 points

DINNER:
Home made burgers-4 points (guessing here)
1 slice provolone cheese-3 points
3 New Potatoes with vinegar and oil-3 points (again guessing)
green beans-0 points

DESSERT:
1 Weight Watchers brownie a la mode-4 points
1 fruit Popsicle-1 point

Total points: 31 out of 31 points for the day. I ate all my points today!! WOO HOO!!! I am hoping that by eating all of my points will help me lose weight next week.

I was not good with my water today. I drank maybe 2 glasses. I did make some green tea with pomegranate and pored it over ice to make it ice tea, and I had 3 glasses of that...yum!

Again forgot that stupid pedometer. I WILL have it with me tomorrow!!

Well that's all for tonight, Have a good Monday.

Day 43 (3/20) Saturday

TIP OF THE DAY: Weight loss slow? (I know I am!) try weighing and measuring your portions for a day or two to keep an eye on their size. (This is where I wish I had a weight watchers scale!!)

When I was at the meeting today I was looking at there pedometers. they were I believe $22.95, but they also told you how many points you gained for walking those many steps in the day. I am thinking of getting it since, well, my pedometer seems to not be working right. But so I really want to spend that much money on a pedometer that may not work? Or since it is more expensive it may actually do its job? because granted the pedometer that I have was only $5. What do you all think I should do?

Well today for lunch we went out to Mongolian Grill. That place is great!! you can actually control your portion sizes since you are putting the food on your plate that you want them to cook. Stock up on those veggies and you'll be set :)

So on to the menu;

(I did not have breakfast because I slept in so late and by the time I got home from the meeting we left to go for lunch.)

BREAKFAST/LUNCH: (Mongolian Grill)
3 oz of steak-3 points
7 shrimp-3 points
1/4 cup pasta-3 points
1/2 cup of Brown rice-2 points
Teriyaki sauce-2 point
Veggies galore-0 points
3oz chicken-3 points

SNACK:
1/2 of a Slim Jim-3 points

DINNER:
1 Mini pizza-8 points

DESSERT:
1 cup frozen yogurt-5 points
assorted fruit-1 point
(This place is in the Joliet mall by the movie theater. I think it's called Yogen Fruz...YUM...a must try!! They also have all of the nutrition facts there for you to look at!)

Total points: 33 out of 31 points for the day. Now for not counting or even thinking of points today after my weight in, I would say I did pretty good.

I drank about 5 glasses of water. Sorry I lost count today for some reason. HA.

I yet again forgot my pedometer. If I don't put it right next to the bed before I go to sleep, I forget to put it on when I wake up. I will have to move it so that way I will have it for tomorrow.

That's all for now. Have a GREAT Sunday!!

Weigh in #6

I GAINED 0.2oz. OK now this is where I am starting to get discouraged. I walked so much this week and I ate a lot of salads!! (granted that did give me pain but not as bad as it used to)

Is it due to it being that "time" for me? Or is it that I am just not doing something right? I have not gone over my points, if anything I have not made my points. Could that also be why?

I feel like saying that if I am to gain AGAIN next week, this is just not for me. I don't know what else to do!? I was thinking about joining a step class at the YMCA down the street from me and see if that helps any.

IF YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE PLEASE SHARE IT WITH ME! LET ME KNOW THAT YOU ARE OUT THERE....

Day 42 (3/19) Friday

TIP OF THE DAY: People who exercise regularly not only lose weight faster, they are more successful at keeping it off. Exercise makes it possible to create a calorie deficit and lose weight without starving your body and slowing your metabolism.

At home, at the gym, or playing sports, participate in both aerobic and strength building activities on a regular basis. Not only does the exercise itself burn calories, but your body will continue to burn calories at a higher rate even after you're done exercising.

If walking is all you can do, then walk because it's great for you. But muscle burns more calories than fat, so put on a little muscle if you can and you will burn more calories just sitting there... looking good.

But don't sit too long. The human body is good at adapting. If you dig ditches without gloves, you will develop calluses to protect your hands. If you sit too long, you will develop extra padding to keep you comfortable!

Sorry for the long tip, but I liked it :)

I left my pedometer at home today! By the time I realized it I was already at work :(

Since I had such a long TIP OF THE DAY on to what I ate;

BREAKFAST:
1/2 bagel-1.5
1/2 Tbs. butter-1.5
1/2 Tbs cream cheese-1

LUNCH: (salad)
Lettuce-0 points
3 Tbs Thousand Island Dressing-4 points
8 Croutons-2 points
1 Tbs. Onion Chips-1 point
3 Tbs. Cheese-2 points


DINNER: (Subway)
1 foot long Veggie Sub-10 points

DRINK:
1 Miller light-3 points

Total points: 26 out of 31 points for the day!

I also drank drank 7 glasses of water today! WOO HOO!!

EXHAUSTED!!

I just wanted to get on here really quick to let you all know that I will not be posting today's blog until tomorrow. We went out with friends and just got back. I have been up for 19 hrs now. So tomorrow get yourselves ready for 2 blogs along with an update on my weight in!!

Sorry for the disappointment, and have a great Saturday morning!!!

Day 41

TIP OF THE DAY: Don't compare yourself to others along the weight loss journey. Every person is different and will encounter their own individual challenges and rates of weight loss.

We had such a busy day today that I did not even get a lunch! There will be days like this often. I walked a lot today as well and took stairs when ever possible. Also as I walked around the hospital I was doing my cardio walk. faster pace and arms moving fast.

Today at breakfast I was thinking about having a breakfast croissant sandwich that had eggs, cheese, bacon, and sausage. It looked and smelled SO good!! I kept walking around the cafeteria and just kept ending up back at this croissant. then the therapist that I was with said, "so what are you getting for breakfast?" I said I was debating between this croissant or a bowl of cereal. He then said to me, "It's up to you but if you are looking to lose weight and win some of the prizes, I would go with the cereal. I am so glade that everyone at work is helping me out with losing weight. I'm lucky to have co-workers that look out for you!

I am pooped!! So here is what I had to eat today;

BREAKFAST:
1 bowl of Special K cereal with skim milk-3 points

SNACK: (on the way home from work)
1 bag of Pretzels from the vending machine-4 points

DINNER:
2 slices of pizza-8 points
2 Crazy breads-4 points

SNACK:
1/2 of a Slim Jim-4 points
hand full of pumpkin seeds-2 points

Total points: 25 out of 31 points for the day.

I did not drink as much water as I hoped I would. Like I said today at work was non stop and when I came home I took a nap. I drank about 4 glasses of water. Tomorrow I am going to take with me a bottle of water to have on the way to work and get 2 at work to have one at lunch (if I get one) and one on the way home. That should total about 7 glasses of water before I get home. So lets see how that plays out tomorrow.

Now the pedometer said that I walked 6,321 steps. I am thinking that this pedometer is only counting how many steps that one leg is taking because I KNOW I walked a heck of a lot more then that!! With all this walking I better lose weight on Saturday. The only reason that I could see me gaining is that it's that "time" for me.

Well that's all for today. HAVE A GREAT FRIDAY!!!! TGIF!!!!

Day 40

TIP OF THE DAY: To counteract a binge, keep your body's fat-burning furnace running on full blast by drinking Green Tea. Green Tea contains caffeine and the antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) , which is proven to boost metabolic rate. In fact, in a recent 3 month study, participants who took Green Tea extract lost 4.6% of their body weight without changing their diet. To get the benefit, drink at least 3 cups a day.

Today this afternoon at work I was running all over the hospital. Literally running and sweating! Within 3 hours 3 people tired to die. We saved 2 but lost 1.

The pedometer said that I walked a total of 5,673 steps! Now I KNOW I walked a heck of a lot more steps then that!! I am getting kind of annoyed by the pedometer because it is not "really" keeping track of my steps.

Well I am tired today so on to what I ate:

BREAKFAST:
1 bagel-3
1 Tbs. butter-3
1 Tbs cream cheese-2

LUNCH: (salad)
Lettuce-0 points
3 Tbs Thousand Island Dressing-4 points
8 Croutons-2 points
1 Tbs. Onion Chips-1 point
3 Tbs. Cheese-2 points
1 tsp. Sunflower Seeds-0 points

DINNER: (Subway)
1 foot long Veggie Sub-10 points


Total points: 27 out of 31 points for the day.

I also drank 5 glasses of water. I REALLY need to get back to the 6 glasses!!! Oh well, tomorrow is another day. HAVE A GOOD DAY!!

Day 39

TIP OF THE DAY: Make weight loss a commitment and promise to stick with it.

I walked around a lot today at work and then came home with a headache. So I did not get on the treadmill today because I thought it would just make my head heart worse.

Today at work I signed up for the Bottom Line Challenge. How it works is you get weighed and measured today. They also tell you your B.M.I and FAT INDEX. My B.M.I. is 41 (gross). Normal B.M.I is 20-25. My FAT INDEX is 48% Average is 25.4% (OK I just threw up in my mouth!) So that means that I am caring around 118 pounds of FAT!!!!!!! WOW!!! On May 17th (I believe) is when we get weighed and measured again for prizes. First place is $600. The catch is that you will get the first $400 now and then you have to weight in again at the Health and Wellness fair (which I do not know when that is) and if you are within 2% of body fat and/or 5 pounds or less of you last weigh in, you will get the remaining $200. 2nd place wins $400, $250 now and $150 later. 3rd place gets $250, $150 now and $100 later. Now the GRAND PRIZE is 1 week trip for two to Florida with $500 spending money!!!! My goal is to at least win one of the prizes. I am in it with a group of people from work so that should help.

Well, On to what I ate;

BREAKFAST:
1 pancake-1 point
1 slice Bacon-1 point
1 Tbs Syrup-1 point
1 Tbs Butter-2 points

LUNCH: (salad)
Lettuce-0 points
1 Hard Boiled Egg-2 points
3 Tbs Thousand Island Dressing-4 points
1/8 cup Cottage Cheese-2 points
8 Croutons-2 points
1 Tbs. Onion Chips-1 point
3 Tbs. Cheese-2 points
1 tsp. Sunflower Seeds-0 points

SNACK:
Palm full Pumpkin seeds-1 point

DINNER: (SUBWAY)
1 foot long Veggie Sub-10 points

Total points: 29 out of 31 points for the day.

I drank 5 glasses of water today. Tomorrow I want to hit at least 6 cups!

Today I walked a total of 8,836 steps today!! WOO HOO!!!

Well that's all for today! Wish me luck on the Bottom Line Challenge!!! Have a good Wednesday!!

Day 38

TIP OF THE DAY: Avocados have a heart healthy polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. Add a few slices to your sandwich as an alternative to mayonnaise.

Today was a good day. I got on the treadmill for 10 minutes. I am starting off slow per Dr. orders. On Thursday I will add 2 more minutes on the treadmill and every 3 or 4 days I will add 2 more minutes depending on how my body reacts to it. I am just doing a slow walk.

Today I was in some discomfort due to a flair up with Crohn's. I pushed myself to get on the treadmill today and I am glade I did. Yes the discomfort got a little worse but I just slowed down.

What I had today;

BREAKFAST:
1/4 cup Oatmeal-1 point (I had put 1/2 cup of oatmeal in the container but 1/2 of it spilled out into the microwave at work!)
1 banana-2 points

LUNCH:
1 6 inch Veggie sub-5 points
1 bag of Honey Wheat Pretzels-4 points (WOW, if I knew it was 4 points, I don't think I would have had it.)
1 Diet pop-0 points

(I needed some caffeine today to stay up and I can't drink coffee if I don't have time to spend in the bathroom and I was not sure what else to get so I grabbed a coke. but I did ask my coworkers, and they had told me to try some Green Tea on Ice. So tomorrow if I need that boost, I will try that.)

DINNER:
1 Gyro-11 points

WORKOUT:
10 minutes on the Treadmill- Gained 1 point!!!

Total points: 23 out of 31 points for the day. But after the workout the TRUE point value is 22 out of 31 points for the day. I know that I did not eat all my points but it seems like when I have a Crohn's flair up, my Acid Reflex seems to act up as well...

I had my pedometer on today but again I don't think it picked up every step. It said that I waled 4,2002 steps all day....hmm not sure about that.

I also drank 6 cups of water today as well!! WOO HOO I got it back up there!!

Well, that's all for tonight, Have a great day!!!

Day 37

TIP OF THE DAY: When you crave a different outcome you must change what you have been doing.

Today went well. The only thing is that I wish I drank more water and did not forget my pedometer!! I was so annoyed when I realized I forgot it today.

I tried a new fish today. Orange Roughy. It tasted a lot like chicken. Which I was surprised.

I did not have breakfast today because I was planning on having Communion until I remembered I had some meat yesterday. For those of you who do not know the Greek tradition, you are to fast the day that you take Communion. You cannot eat or drink anything until after you have received Communion. Also you cannot eat meat the day before.

This is going to be a short blog so on to what I ate;

LUNCH: (luncheon)
1 cup of Egg Lemon Soup-5 points
Wheat-1 point
Salad with vinegar and oil-3 points
1 small thin slice of feta-1 point
Steamed Veggies-0 points
Orange Roughy-2 points

DINNER: (Subway)
1 foot long Veggie sub-10 points because I added some extras

DESSERT:
1 cup of Ice Cream-7 points

Total points: 29 out of 31 points for the day.

I drank 5 glasses of water today.

While we were at Subway I ordered a 6 inch Veggie Sub to take with me for lunch tomorrow!

Well, that's all for today. HAVE A GREAT MONDAY!!

Day 36 (3/13)

TIP OF THE DAY: To liven up anything from a marinade to a dessert, in place of butter, oil or cream, use lemon juice or wine as a healthier alternative when cooking.

Again sorry for the delay on posting this blog. like I said with the Weigh in #5 blog I was running around like crazy yesterday and also today.

Last night we went to a birthday/St. Patrick's day party. I kept track of what I ate and points up until the party. If I don't wright it down right away or shortly after, I'll forget. So I am just going to say that I ate all of the remaining points at the party and not put what I ate because it was all appetizer/finger foods and I can't remember exactly what I put into my mouth. SORRY. But we did have fun!!

BREAKFAST:
1 Weight Watchers bar-1 point (it was a sample at the meeting)
1/2 cup of Oatmeal-2 points (this is the Quaker Oats oatmeal and I just added some Cinnamon to it for some extra flavor. So this is the real deal, not that processed stuff.)
1 banana-2 points (which I put in the oatmeal...yum!!

LUNCH:
1 Weight Watchers Chicken Enchiladas-6 points
11 Shrimp-3 points

DINNER:
Let just say it added to 17 points including the Sangria's :)

Total points for the day:31 out of 31 points

I also drank about 4 glasses of water. I know that this is bad and I have to improve it if I want the water weight to come off due to the high salty intake from Friday.

I walked about 4,961 steps for the day. Again not the best.

Well, I WILL be posting again tonight before bed. see you soon ;)

Weigh in #5

Sorry I did not post anything yesterday. I was running around like a chicken with it's head off!

I GAINED 1.6 pounds!!!! At the meeting she had said that salty food make you retain water. So I had asked her abut the dinner I had Friday night, the one slice of pizza and and Italian beef with out the bun. She told me that the Italian beef has SO much salt in it that that is probably why I gained. She said that starting Wednesdays to try and limit how much salt intake I have because that will make my body retain water, and so gain weight. So that made me feel a little better.

I also measured myself and I lost a total of 6.2 inches all over!!!

RIGHT UPPER ARM: -0.2 inches
WAIST: -2 inches
HIPS: -2.5 inches
RIGHT THIGH: -0.5 inches
BUST: -2 inches

So even though I gained weight this week I am so glad I measured myself. Who knows maybe it wasn't the salt that made me gain the weight but I am making a goal to lose the 1.6 pounds that I gained this week, next week!

Day 35

TIP OF THE DAY: Since St. Patrick's day is coming up he is a tip. This may go without saying, but they don't call it a beer belly for nothing. Alcoholic beverages are high-calorie and can lead to out-of-control eating. Try to cut down -- or better still, eliminate -- alcohol.

Work today was slow but I'm not complaining. That gave me a chance to look at thinks and really get to know their equipment and how to chart.

I am no feeling so good now for some reason. I am light headed and kind of dizzy. This started right after dinner today. So I am just going to get right to it so I can get to bed. I have been up for about 17 hours now. So that just may be why I'm feeling this way.

BREAKFAST:
1 plain bagel-3
1 Tbs. butter-3
1 Tbs Strawberry cream cheese-2

LUNCH: (Leftover dinner from last night :)
1 Chicken Breast-3 points
Just a little over 1 cup of rice-5 points
1 Slice garlic bread-5

SNACK:
1/2 cup grapes-0 points

DINNER: (at my dad's with my aunt and uncle from Florida)
1 Italian beef without the bun (yes I ordered it this way so I was not tempter to eat the bread. Out of sight, out of mind.)- about 6 points I would say.
1 Slice pepperoni Pizza-4 points (you can't have the whole house smelling like pizza without having one small piece, so I did.

Total points: 31 out of 31 points for the day.

I also drank 6 glasses of water and walked 5,421 steps. I know that it's not as good as yesterday but I got most of my walking in at work yesterday but I still did half of it. Much better then I would have done :)

Well, tomorrow is weigh in day and I believe measurement day as well!! I will try to get my post of gain/loss on here as soon as I can because we have to be at the cemetery by 1:00 tomorrow. So if its not up by 1:00 then It will be up later in the day. HAVE A GREAT SATURDAY EVERYONE :)

Day 34

TIP OF THE DAY: Switching to diet sodas may sound like a sure-fire way to lose weight since they're virtually calorie-free. However, there is a controversial issue about artificial sweeteners' indirect effect on weight loss that might surprise you. In the mid-1980's -- when the safety of artificial sweeteners was often headline news -- a study was published in a medical journal that suggested artificial sweeteners cause one's appetite to increase. More recently, some health experts have suggested that artificial sweeteners actually cause cravings for sweet foods to increase. If so, this reaction definitely sets you up for making poor food choices. This can lead to a big problem, particularly if you tend to binge when you eat high-carb and sugar-rich foods.

Today at work I walked around a lot and it seemed like the pedometer worked much better this time around. I got in 10,585 steps (THAT'S ABOUT 6.5 MILES WOO HOO!!!) I can't believe that just by going to work I can walk that much!! I knew I liked this job :)

Well since I worked all day I did not workout except walking the total 6.5 miles. But the Dr. did call me and everything came back normal. :) So that means that I can go back to working out. I just have to ease my body into it so I think for now I am going to stick to walking and then maybe 1 DVD workout a week.

Here is what I ate today:

BREAKFAST:
1 bowl Raisin Bran Cereal-5 points
1 Carton Skim Milk-2 points

LUNCH:
2 Slices White Bread-4
2oz Turkey Breast-2
2 Tbs. Light Mayo-2
2 Slices Pepper Jack Cheese-6
2 Tomato-0 points

Snack:
1 Weight Watchers Yogurt-1 point

DINNER:
1 Chicken Breast-3 points
1 Cup rice-4 points

Dessert:
1 Fruit Popsicle-1 point

Total points: 30 out of 31 points for the day!

I also drank 6 glasses of water

Well, I am off to bed for another early start to my day. HAVE A GREAT FRIDAY!!

Day 33

TIP OF THE DAY: Everyone has his or her favorite treats. Simply allow yourself a little indulgence, but watch out for the frequency and the quantity. Having a small treat once in a while can be rewarding to your weight loss experience. Cutting too much of your favorite treats usually lead to an early relapse. THIS IS SO TRUE!!

What a BEAUTIFUL day it was today. Let's just hope it stays! Today went well. For dinner we went out with friends but I looked up there menu before we went.

I still have not heard back about my blood work. I have my Dr. on Monday, they said that they just got my results back but the Dr. was not in so he will call you tomorrow. I called back on Tuesday and they were busy but he will call me when he looks at it later that day. I heard nothing. So I called back today and they said that the Dr. is not in the office on Wednesdays. I am getting so frustrated!!! I want to know my results and they are just sitting there! All he has to do is open my chart, read it and call me. Not that hard! I like my Dr. don't get me wrong, but I want to know if I can get back to my workout. the weather is getting better so I could go out and walk for a little bit but that can get old REAL fast. I want to go back to the biggest loser workout or the walk away the pounds DVD at least. I am hoping to hear back from him tomorrow or I will go into the office and sit there until he tells me the results, after work that is :)

AH, anyway today at work I was following a therapist that walked like speedy gonzales, so I got my cardio in for the day :) I think that my Pedometer was not working right because I got less steps in then yesterday. Granted this was a $5 pedometer so what do I expect. I'm sure that it misses some steps. But I am sure I did more then the 3,653 steps. I will test it again tomorrow and we will see if its a better day.

OK, on to what I ate;

As you will see I did not eat breakfast because we normally get a breakfast break but we were SO busy during that time that we had to skip it. I will have to get a small snack to put in my pocket to have handy if we get that busy again.

BREAKFAST/LUNCH:
1 Sun Dried Tomato wrap-3 points
3 Tbs light Mayo-3 points
lettuce-0 points
3 slices of Bacon-3 points

SNACK:
1 Soy Joy bar-2 points

DINNER: @ Applebee's
Chips and Salsa-3 points
1 Santa Fe Chicken Salad-16 points (yum)
2 Diet pops-0 points (I have not had diet pop in so long but I have decided that if we go out to dinner with friends/family I will treat myself to Diet pop)

Total points: 27 out of 31...I need to start planing ahead I think so that way I can make sure I get my points in. I will have to do that for Friday.

I also drank 6 glasses of water today!!

I am off to bed to get up at 4:45a for work :) Have a good day!!

Day 32

TIP OF THE DAY: Watch out for fruit juices, they often contain added sugars that can increase your calorie intake dramatically. Opt for water, or diluted fruit juice (three quarters water and one quarter juice).

Today as some of you may know is the 2 year anniversary of my mothers death. 2 years have gone by so fast and yet so slow. Not a day goes by when I don't think of my best friend. RIP Mom, I love you and miss you so much but I know you are watching over us all.

Mom, We'll always remember that special smile,that caring heart and that warm embrace you always gave us.You being there for Dad and us through good and bad times,no matter what.We'll always remember you Mom because there will never be anyone who can ever replace you in our hearts, and the love we will always have for you.

Because this was such a hard day for me I tried to keep myself occupied. Sometimes it worked and other times I had to hold back the tears. I know that she is in a better place now and not suffering but part of me is selfish and want her here with me!

sorry for the sappy intro but I have found that if I write down my feelings I don't turn to food for comfort. So with that being said, on to what I ate;

BREAKFAST:
1 strawberry yogurt-1 point
1 chocolate milk-1 point

LUNCH:
1 grilled Chicken breast-3 points
1 Bun-3 points
1 Tbs. Light Mayo-1 point
1 slice Cheddar Cheese-3 points

DINNER: @ Pockets (yum)
1 Greek salad in a whole wheat pita-13 points (again, YUM!!)

Total points- 25 out of 31 points. I am surprised that on this day I ate under my points. Again, writing down my feelings REALLY helped!

I also drank 9 glasses of water!! WOO HOO!!!

Today I walked 6,150 steps(3.2 miles!!) That is SO much better then yesterday. I can't wait to see what I get to tomorrow after I walk ALL OVER the hospital. :)

Well that's it for today, Have a GRRRREAT day!!