A Blog Step Away

I fell off the wagon...

2010-01-12T14:31:00.002+10:00

This weekend was so much fun! But I completely fell off the wagon as far as my diet goes. Friday I was so busy cleaning and running errands that I forgot to eat almost all day. Then I had friends over Friday night and we ordered pizza. By the time it got here, I was so hungry that I over indulged and had 3 pieces plus 2 breadsticks! To top it off I drank a lot of high calories alcoholic beverages (so good). By Saturday I was so exhausted (and hungover) that I didn't have the patience or motivation count calories. I didn't over indulge, and still tried to eat healthy but I'm sure I went over my daily calorie goal. Sunday I did a lot better, stuck to eating light more times a day, but still didn't count the calories. But the weekend definitely took a toll on my body. By Monday I was feeling sick. Eating anything made my stomach hurt like crazy, and I was SO thirsty that I'm sure I drank at least 2 gallons of water! My total calorie count for Monday was about 900.

Today is going pretty good so far. I've planned out all my meals and am sticking to it. I still feel kinda yucky when I eat, but no where near as bad as yesterday. Plus, I'm finally not hungry between meals. Well most of the time, and I'm finding that if I am hungry between meals, and just drink a glass of water, I feel much better afterwards and don't need to eat.

Day 3 - 4 lbs LOST!!!

2010-01-06T23:16:00.008+10:00

I weighed myself this morning before jumping in the shower, I'm down 4 lbs, since Monday! I'm sure it's all water weight, but holy cow! That was definitely the boost I needed to keep me motivated!

Breakfast:
Seedless Grapes: about 1/2 a cup - 50 calories
Apples raw w/o skin: less than 1/2 a cup - 26 calories

I ate breakfast a bit late so I didn't have lunch.

Dinner:
Leftover Garden Pasta Bake - 315 Calories
2 Hawaiian Sweet Rolls (w/ 1 TBSP of Country Crock Spread) - 250 Calories

Snack:
11 Sour Cream and Cheddar Chips - 160 Calories
Pepsi - 250 calories

For a total of 1,001 calories. A bit under my goal, I guess that makes up for yesterday!

As for exercise today, I didn't get any 'official' exercising done, but I did clean the kitchen and back porch, and picked up the junk (paint) that flew off the roof when they were pressure washing last week. I also did a little shopping. Normally, I wouldn't consider shopping exercise, but with a toddler...I think it's close to spending 20 minutes in the gym! ;)
Speaking of shopping...I bought a Weight Watchers recipe book today.

I'm so excited! I tried Weight Watchers a while back, lost a little bit of weight. But subscription ran out and I never renewed it. Weight Watchers though, has some really great recipes. Completely healthy food that does not sacrifice taste at all! Plus, their desserts are to die for! I'll be trying out some of these recipes over the next few months, and maybe sharing some of them too.

I also bought a workout DVD collection something or other. It's 10 Minute Solution Sculpt,Tone and Reshape and comes with 2 toning bands. So yea, we'll see how that goes. I really like working out with the Wii Fit, because it doesn't not feel like working out at all, but I'm hoping that in the near future it will just be too easy for me to continue to do as my main form of exercise.

Day 2 was not so great...

2010-01-06T22:35:00.006+10:00

Tuesday I took my son to a tumbling play date with his 'bestie'. We all had a great time! I got a bit of exercise too! We ran around, played basketball, chased the kids, etc. When it was over we decided to go out for lunch. Which was not a great idea. 2 days into a lifestyle change is a BAD time to tempt yourself! I was so hungry, but didn't want to over eat, or get something that was going to a billion calories in one bite. Logical solution was eat a salad, but YUCK! fast food restaurants salad look (and taste I suspect) similar to grass in a dog park. Next logical choice, chicken. I have issues with fast food chicken too. It's ok sometimes, but...I know, I know, in order to change my lifestyle I have to start DOING IT and stop making excuses. So anyway, back to the point...I ended up ordering a Whopper Jr. Value Meal. Burger King french fries are like heaven in a convenient little cup thingy, or in yesterday's case, death by calories! That meal alone cost me 930 calories! So for future reference don't go to Burger King if you're dieting!

So the break down for yesterday's calorie intake was:

Breakfast:
Seedless grapes: 1 cup (probably a little less) 100 calories

Lunch:
Whopper Jr. w/cheese no tomato's Value Meal (small drink, small fries): 930 Calories

Dinner:
Bologna on wheat bread with 1.5 TBSP of Miracle Whip. (It was a lazy night!lol)

For a grand total of 1,440 calories. Only 240 calories over my goal so not that bad. But I think I will be researching safe menu items at the local restaurants and fast food joints.

Anyone care to share their favorite low cal menu items?

BTW~ What do you think of the new blog look? I made a blog design for a friend who is blogging about her families dinners, and her little boy starting solids. Check her out! So I loved that design so much that I decided to change some images and use the template for this blog!

Day 1 - Eh? Not so bad...

2010-01-04T16:34:00.007+10:00

Day 1 started out ok, a little late, but still good. My plan to keep me in check is to make a list every night on what I need to do the following day, as well as making a list for each meal and snacks.

The plan for today was to have breakfast then to go out for a walk this morning, before it got too hot. Well by the time we got moving and got outside it was HOT! Thankfully, it started sprinkling shortly after we took off for our 1/2 mile trek through Paradise Estates.

My calorie count for today was pretty good. I'm shooting for 1200 calories a day. Since I'm the type to lose motivation if I don't see results fast, I'm also taking SLIMQUICK® Weight Loss caplets (1 twice a day).

Food journal for today:

Breakfast:
Yoplait Lite Yogurt Strawberry Shortcake (YUM!)- 110 Calories

Lunch:
Smart Ones Homestyle Beef Pot Roast - 180 Calories
11 Sour Cream and Cheddar Chips (I'm addicted to these!!) - 160 Calories

Snack:
100 Calorie Pack Thin Crisps Oreos - 100 Calories

Dinner:
Garden Pasta Bake - 315 Calories
2 Hawaiian Sweet Rolls (w/ 1 TBSP of Country Crock Spread) - 250 Calories

Snack:
3/4 cup Seedless Grapes - 75 Calories

For a total of 1,190 Calories!! Wahoo go me!

I've also had about 60 oz of water out of the 105 oz (I think) that I should drink a day.

Exercise:
30 minute walk, about 1/2 a mile (my 3 year old was on his bike, he had to stop a lot to check things out. uphill and downhill)
18 minutes doing Aerobics (step) on the Wii Fit.
5 minutes running in place (also on the Wii Fit.)
10 sit-ups
10 push-ups
45 minute walk (about a mile - my son wasn't on his bike so we could continue walking at a steady pace the majority of the time)

My estimated calories burned for the day (on Calorie Counter) is 2038. Pretty darn good for my first day, I think!

I know I could do more exercise, but I'm so outta shape that just 30 minutes on the Wii Fit and doing push-ups and sit-ups had me sweating and heaving like I'd just run a marathon in Texas! So I'm adding a new goal! I'd like to be able to run (moderate pace) for at least 30 minutes (is that too much to wish for?) by my goal date: July 5th.

And that's it for today! Not so bad, no major injuries, or excruciating hunger pains. Oh yea, and I also took my 'before' picture today, maybe when I've lost a bit of the weight I won't feel so uncomfortable posting it here. But for now, I think I'll just keep it hidden and give it a peek whenever I think about those double stuffed Oreo's sitting in my cupboard.

Delish Vegetarian Dish

2010-01-04T16:25:00.003+10:00

From the day my husband and I got married, he begged me to get his Mom's Garden Pasta Bake recipe. About a year later I actually got it. It is now one of our favorite dinners, and it's SO easy to make!

Garden Pasta Bake Recipe

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients
6 oz Rotini
1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 medium onion, cubed
14 1/2 oz Cut Green Beans
11 oz Mexicorn
14 1/2 oz Basil, Garlic, and Oregano Tomatoes, diced
10 3/4 oz 98% Fat Free Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 cup shredded cheese, separated

Directions

1. Cook Rotini as directed on package.

2. Preheat oven to 325.

3. In a large pan, sautee onion, over medium high heat, in Extra Virgin Olive Oil for about 5 minutes.

4. Add Green Beans and Mexicorn, and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes.

5. Mix in tomatoes, Cream of Mushroom Soup, and 1/2 cup of cheese.

6. Stir in cooked pasta

7. Transfer to a 13x9 baking dish (skip this step if your pan is oven safe)

8. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese on top.

9. Bake in oven 10-15 minutes or until cheese on top is bubbly and melted.

10. **Variations: Add cooked, cubed ham or chicken, about a cup of either.

Blogging my way to a happier, healthier me!

2010-01-04T00:58:00.000+10:00

Hi. My name is Beth, I'm a 25 year old SAHM to my 3 year old son. I've been married for 4 1/2 years to my best friend Michael. He's 26 and is in the Air Force.

I started battling with my weight as a teenager. I didn't like to eat, and (in hindsight) was always too thin. But I always thought I was so fat. I'd really like to go back in time and beat the crap outta myself! :)

After my son was born I lost some of the baby weight, but shortly after, my husband deployed and the stress of being a new mom away from any family (we lived in Italy at the time, all our family were back in the states) was too much for me, and I turned to food.

3 years later, I still turn to food when I'm stressed, though I'm trying to change that. I am what the doctors consider obese. I am very self conscious, and have a low self esteem.

I remember after my son was born, I felt so confident in myself. Happier than ever, and that nothing in the world mattered other than my son. But as my son started getting more and more active, I started to realize that I was just always too tired to play with him. Now he's 3 and even tossing the ball around with him wears me out.
I hate that I don't have the energy to run around with him like he wants me to. But most of all I hate that I'm pushing my crappy eating habits off onto him. All this kid wants to eat is bologna and cheese sticks!

A few weeks ago my husband left for another deployment, and I want so much to be happier and healthier when he gets home. I've tried all the dieting fads, and like so many other people, none of them worked for me. The few times I have gotten the motivation to really diet and exercise and do it right, I've quickly lost the motivation to keep going and have gained back anything I had lost (sometimes more). My husband is the sweetest man I know, and his only comment on my weight is "I want you to be happy". As sweet as this comment is, I think I use it to my (dis)advantage, so that I don't have to be accountable to anyone else (other than me) when it comes to my weight. But I feel it's unfair to him, in his career path, to let myself go as I have.

So I started this blog, even if no one else but me reads it, I'm still accountable to someone (something) else besides me.

I'm very uncomfortable posting my weight on here. So I think that it's even more important for me to do it. I'm sure there some logic to that thinking but right now I just don't know what it is. :)

As of January 3, 2010
Height: 5 ft nothing
Weight: 165.4 lbs

My goal is to be down around 130 lbs by my birthday (July 5th). Which is roughly 5 lbs a month. Can I do it? I don't know, but even 5 lbs lost will be an accomplishment in my book!

I invite you to join me in my fight for a happier, healthier me. Share your success stories, and even any trips or tricks you may have picked up along the way.