LOSIN' IT

Getting Back on Track

noreply@blogger.com (~Moi~) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 17:18:00 +0000

Well, today I started on my plan to get back on track with this weight loss process. Since my father passed away we have eaten out non- stop until I am slap sick of eating out. So today I actually had the opportunity to eat breakfast at home and I jumped on it. Also, I started out the day with some good ole body-flex exercises, which always make me feel better and some old fashioned jumping jacks. I'm not big on gyms and it is too hot outside to do much outdoor exercising so I'm going to get creative for a while.

However, I am thinking about checking out Zumba next week. I've currently got enough booty to rumble the room and to shimmy my hips hard enough to make a Latino salsa job look like preschool art. Anyways, here we go and so far today I'm feeling pretty good!

This was my breakfast today: Rice Checks -150 calories- with Splenda and 3/4 of a cup of 1% lowfat milk-75 calories. Total calories = 225; total fat grams = 2.5. Let's go!;-)

-Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Losing for Vietnam

noreply@blogger.com (~Moi~) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:16:00 +0000

Well, here I am back on the weight loss bandwagon. This past year has been crazy! My job was a government job that was cut in August of 2010. The same week my job was cut, I had knee surgery. Eight weeks later I went to Israel, which was a wonderfully incredible, life changing experience. When I got home, I began to substitute teach and we headed into a new year. 2011 started off with a bang and life looked incredibly rosy. In April, disaster struck and my father died unexpectedly in a boating accident. I lost 20 pounds from January to March and was finally on the right track once again. However, following the loss of my Father and the subsequent weeks of consistent travel, I've gained everything I lost, plus some, back. So, here I am again.

This time I have a good reason, other than my simple health, to lose. I am planning a trip to Vietnam in October and must, must lose before I attempt this journey. My goal if 50 lbs and the journey begins now. This will be my journal of success, and failures, in addition to the progress made the next few weeks.

Cleanse: Day 3

noreply@blogger.com (~Moi~) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:39:00 +0000

Today is day 3 of our Advocare Herbal Cleanse. The drink about gagged me this morning, I'm not sure why, because I've been handling it pretty ok. However, I've had no diet pop since Sunday evening and had 1 piece of chocolate yesterday because my blood sugar dropped, so the sugar and pop is on the way out of my system. My eating has changed drastically and I am starting to feel the results. This morning I stepped on the scales just for kicks and just because and it said "-3 lbs!" Including that 3 lbs that is a total loss of 13 lbs since March the 1st. I was getting a little depressed through April and May as it seemed I was working harder to lose and losing less. Whoo hoo!!!! I can do this! I am starting to get my energy back. If I can get 15lbs off I am going to start interval training again. However, for now, my goal is to start doing body flex again everyday and to start walking again 4 times a week.

My meals have consisted of 6 small meals a day. I start my day with the cleanse, drink a fruit and yogurt smoothie or a light breakfast (usually a banana), have a snack around 10:30 am (usually cashews), eat a subway on grilled chicken, no cheese, with sweet onion dressing and veggies on the honey oat bread for lunch with baked lays, have a snack around 3:00 pm (usually fruit), eat supper before 7 (salad or whole-grain cereal with lite milk), and have a snack around 9:00 pm (usually fruit). My energy is starting to increase and I've been sleeping quite well. My body doesn't feel so bloated and bulky. Now if I could just do a cleanse and wash this MBA program out of my life.......;0) Have a wonderful Tuesday, my incredible, supportive friends and followers!! Here's a cartoon for your viewing pleasure. Gotta watch out for those men in your exercise classes! ;0)

(Comic courtesy of

http://www.gocomics.com/pickles/2010/03/07)

Starting with a Cleanse....

noreply@blogger.com (~Moi~) — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:44:00 +0000

Well, my sister, friends and I have officially started our herbal cleanse today. We are using Advocare's Herbal Cleanse:
It actually wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. However, I did add a touch of Advocare's Grape Spark to the mix, which definitely did help the flavor.

Getting past the texture was the most challenging part, as the longer it sits the more it thickens up. My sister just called to tell me her "gack" story as the mixture had thickened during our earlier phone call. She just about had me rolling in the floor laughing. We can do this! I know we can! :-) Our Advocare/healthy lifestyle coach (Miss G.V.) texted us early this morning to make sure we were off to a healthy start. Although, I think she may have gone back to bed after her cheery text message.

I'm trying two different things to see if I like the flavor and where I want to go from here. For breakfast I had a package of my Boss' Medifast Oatmeal. It was actually not too bad. She has been on Medifast for two weeks and has already lost 13 lbs. So, I've actually been considering that diet also. What we are doing through Advocare is not really a diet, it is simply a cleanse plan. Hopefully, we will lose weight during the process though as it calls for much healthier eating and cutting out Pop and Sugar.

I'll keep you posted about the results. The cleanse is for 10 days, so it may be a while before I feel the benefits. I'm looking forward to getting the toxins out of my body and starting afresh with a clean system. This weight best get ready to go, the war is on! If you're interested in this cleanse, it is supposed to be mild, completely herbal and easier on one's system than many of the others available. I also am great friends with a distributor. Miss G. Valverde, I'm sure, would be happy to hook you up with whatever you might need.

Happy Monday!! :-)

Losin' It is coming back online.....

noreply@blogger.com (~Moi~) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 21:32:00 +0000

Life has been crazy, what can I say. The last few months have been challenging in the weight loss sector, not too mention trying to wrap up this crazy MBA. Just when I think there is light at the end of the tunnel, another class comes along and makes my head spin. However, I am now down to three courses and this trip will be through!

Weight wise, I have fluctuated extremely, up one week, down the next. It is seriously frustrating! Honestly, I don't remember ever struggling so hard to lose weight ever before. Last week we were in New York City doing mission's work and I walked and climbed more stairs and ate less (like once, maybe twice a day) and came home to step on the scale and it showed a two lb weight loss. I almost wanted to cry. (Not to mention all of the running through airports chasing cancelled, delayed and rerouted flights!) I am going to re-weigh on the scales at work tomorrow and see what they say.

I am going to lose 50 lbs. this year no matter how hard the battle. Nothing is impossible and I will keep trying until I find the correct equation. In addition, I will finish school. It is almost over. While on this subject, let me just say what a premier online program that Walden University is. In researching online schools, I wanted to make sure that I was not getting a cracker jack box degree; therefore did intense research. Walden stood out to me and was my final choice. My courses have been intensely challenging, but my teachers, overall, have been phenomenal. The tuition increased this year and is a little pricey, but the convenience of working at home and not having to commute out of town is worth the price to me. I feel like I am getting a quality education that is challenging my intellect and teaching me the discipline necessary to grow in teaching as I desire to do so. If you are considering an online degree, be careful of where you go. Research, check the credentials and accreditation of the institutes you are considering, and check out Walden University!

The return of the JEDI.......

noreply@blogger.com (~Moi~) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:47:00 +0000

Well, maybe not that extreme, but I have been missing in action on this blog for quite a while now. And, it is probably more appropriate to say "return of the red eyes." School has been CRAZY and my whole focus the last bit has been on simply passing the beast of Master's level accounting. So far, I'm getting there.... :-) Only 3 weeks to go and then off to another hard course.

Things that have happened since the last time I blogged. I've lost about 1o lbs....and.....kept it off!!! Yay! I really have done not one thing special except stop eating out. And, when I do eat out, I'm really watchful of what I eat. On our trip to Branson I purchased a little book that really opened my eyes to the calories in things one eats when eating out. The book is:

Wow! Has this book ever changed my thinking! It's sorta like the Bible. ;) Did you know that Chili's Chipotle Chicken Crisper Meal has around 2400 calories, with sides (Fries and Corn on the Cob), and 99 grams of fat!

Aaack! I used to eat that almost every time I went to Chilis, AND, that was only one meal of the day mind you, with the calories from two other ungodly meals and who knows what snacks added in. Can I say "I just didn't realize!?!?" However, after reading that handy, dandy little book up there, now I do realize and I just cannot eat out with the same mentality as before. Pretty much, my eating out has been cut down to half and most usually a quarter of what it typically was the last year. The super exciting part is not only has lbs been coming off (very slowly mind you, but that is ok), I've also saved A LOT of money!

So, if you have a chance, check out this little gem of a book. I promise it will blow your mind what you've been eating and how much fat and calories are in it if you eat out very much. And by the way, I'm baaaack........I think! :)

Body Flex Party Tonight!!

noreply@blogger.com (~Moi~) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:51:00 +0000

Here is just a small taste of what some friends and I will be doing tonight after work! And yes, it is HILARIOUS!! However, if one is consistent with it, it seriously works and is one of the easiest 15 to 18 minutes daily workouts one will ever do....... Working out in a group always seems to be more encouraging. And, this will be extremely fun, IF we don't all die laughing in the process first!

Join us! Google "Greer Childers and/or Body Flex," order the dvd and get your lion face/monkey face on!!! Party UP!!! ;)

H1N1....Yeah, It's Ugly!

noreply@blogger.com (~Moi~) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:26:00 +0000

I have not blogged for a bit. The last couple of weeks have been extremely busy for me. The week before last I was in Colorado for probably one of the most amazing church conferences that I have been to since the original PSR conferences held in Pastor Vaughn Morton's church in Fresno, CA. However, while gone, I contacted the H1N1 Flu. Yeah, yuck! Actually, I could've contacted it before I left KS as the schools here have been rampant and guess where I work. Yup! You guessed it, I work in a school, well actually a college, but yeah, it's a school and is all the same. :)

I began feeling sick in Colorado but kept rebuking it "in Jesus name" and as it started with nausea and other stomach issues, I thought I had simply eaten something that had messed my stomach up. Before leaving, we were made aware that some friends in Colorado were struggling with illness and so I tanked up on Vitamin C. We're talking like 6 to 8 Vitamin C a day. Well.....so much for that. Upon diagnosing me with the swine flu, my doctor told me "yeah, vitamin c.....sounds good, but does absolutely nothing for H1N1!" Seriously!!! The good news was, by the time I got diagnosed I was on the downhill stretch fighting with a temperature and a cough more than anything. The cough, would not go away!

Today, I am much better. I do still have a cough hanging on, but it is not half as bad as it was. The doctor says that one can be contagious up to 7 days after they lose the cough or break a fever. My poor job, they'll just have to deal with the "possibly contagious" issue as we have a major report due in 6 weeks and I have no more time to lay around.

Things I learned from my doctor or from the H1N1 experience:
1. People do not die from the flu, they die from the flu turning into pneumonia and from not treating themselves before becoming seriously ill.
2. The cough is not treatable. Cough syrup helps one rest, it however does not make the cough go away.
3. Hot tea with honey does wonders! Check out traditional medicinals brand of teas and focus on respiratory health teas or throat treatment teas, or cough season teas. (Thanks Kari) Yogi Cold Season organic tea is very helpful and does not taste half bad if you can get past the smell!
4. Mucinex expectorant and nasal decongestant does offer relief for the stuffy head part.
5. Putting a pan of water on the stove and letting it steam to put humidity in the air was extremely helpful with the cough. We tried running the humidifier, it made the cough worse.
6. No Pop! Caffeine and aspartame or sugar, not good! It dries one out and the sugar builds mucus.
7. Rest! It helps heal, even though one feels somewhat autistic after not being around human contact for days on end.
8. People over 60 are typically strongly immune to H1N1. Young people, children and babies are most susceptible and suffer the worst from it.
9. Organic, herbal and homeopathic treatment is the way to go.
10. If you get the bird flu, you get tweetment!
11. If you get the swine flu, you get oinkment!

Most of all...... keep your head up, take vitamins, rest and you will get better, eventually! This is not any worse really than any other flu, despite the insane hype over it all. It is like any other illness, un-monitored it can be potentially fatal. If monitored, it will run it's course and life will be back to normal soon! It's truly not that bad, other than dealing with the snout and the hoofs.........

The good news.....I lost about 10 lbs. Now, let's see if I can keep that off. :)

Staying Healthy European Style.....

noreply@blogger.com (~Moi~) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:59:00 +0000

I haven't been so great at posting lately and cannot say I've truly been inspired. I have fallen off of the wagon of consistency due to a crazy schedule. However, that is no excuse for failure, so I am getting back on track.

Yesterday I ran across this great article that talked about how French women stay slim as a lifestyle due to daily habits rather than torturing themselves at the gym daily to make up for overindulgences. This is a great article that gives common sense advice for daily fitness based on a healthy and active lifestyle. You can read more about it at Shine.

The author, Mireille Guiliano, talks about walking or biking for transportation as much as possible rather than using a car. She also talks about "incorporating simple resistance movements into your daily routine" such as contracting your abs for 12 seconds at intermittent intervals throughout the day. Guiliano also stresses the importance of taking care of one's core which is what keeps most of the organs in place and of utilizing small to moderate free weights. Guiliano is of the mindset that if more women took care of themselves on a daily basis, used better portion control, multiplied their steps and utilized simple resistance movements; that their gym dollars could be put to better use.

So how can I improve my daily health this week?

Goals:

1. Use simple resistance movements throughout the day

2. Decrease portion sizes (again)

3. Multiply my steps

These sound like reasonable goals and ones that should be simple to attain. Baby steps is a good starting place many have advised, so let's take baby steps to success! If I work hard and stay focused, I know I can conqueror the fat devil. Happy Losing.....

I've Got to Move It, Move It.....

noreply@blogger.com (~Moi~) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 05:21:00 +0000

It's confession time! They say confession is good for the soul, well hopefully it's good for weight loss also. I have fallen off the wagon intermittently the last week! Even though I've walked more, I have not eaten as healthy as I was and the calorie watching has gone down the drain.....HELP!!! Argh! I get so frustrated with myself. Sometimes I can be so incredibly focused and others, well not so focused at all. This year, weight loss has been a serious struggle. The fair is in town and with it all of the goodies like corn on the cob, funnel cakes, cotton candy, pronto pups and so on.... However, I have only eaten a pronto pup so far and a few bites of D's cotton candy. I have to be super careful this week not to spree.

Unlike the song says, I don't like me big and I don't like me chunky so I best start likin' and wanting to "move it, move it!" I'm getting back on track this moment. Tomorrow it's back to breakfast bars and Healthy Choice lunches. Gotta get this monster under control before it consumes me. Pray saints Pray! Maybe this will be my motivation this week:

Hamburgers and French Fries......

noreply@blogger.com (~Moi~) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:46:00 +0000

.....are no longer allowed in my world, or vocabulary!

Red Robin Cheeseburger and Fries:

Nutrition FactsServing Size: 1 burger and 1 basket of fries
Amount per Serving
Calories 900

And that is not even including all of the extras......

YIKES!!!

450 Billion Years of Weight Loss.....

noreply@blogger.com (~Moi~) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:36:00 +0000

Pickles Comic
By: Brian Crane
This is sorta how I feel about all of the Weight Loss Attempts in my lifetime! I think I've probably lost 360 million tons, although, that has not happened every year. That is probably proportional to the total times I've lost weight, been on diets, and gone through numerous exercise regimes in my lifetime. :) I wish that I could shed weight as easily as the sun!

The last week has been crazy, thus, the lack of posting. My schedule has been so on and off. Some days I have done fabulous on watching what I eat. Other days, not so good! I have been on my feet and on the go non-stop for almost two weeks now without a day off and exhaustion has hit. The scary part is that this is only the first two weeks of the semester and my MBA fall courses have not even started yet. This is why it is so vital that I get on a good strong schedule of healthy eating and exercise. These two factors will be vital to my energy level the next 3 months.

With all of the responsibilities in my life energy is a must! One thing I have done extremely well with is no eating after 7:00 pm until last night. I sort of blew last night and ate a burrito. Bad me! I have felt so much better; however, going to bed on an pretty much empty stomach and do not wake up feeling half as bloated and yucky as before. Also, this Monday my sister-in-love and I started the week off again with a fast day. I love how this helps me to be more mindful of nutritious and un-nutritious habits throughout the week. Weighing in has not happened simply because a free moment to hit the scales in the weight room at work has not arisen. This Friday, I will make an effort to take an early morning break and weigh in before I eat my first meal of the day.

The tennis shoes have been going back to work with me and today a trek around campus was on the agenda. Afternoon breaks, will hopefully start to consist of a good strong mile or two mile walk. Things are starting to get into a routine for the semester and my class went SO much better this week. TTL! So, there is light on the horizon. Overall, I'm keeping my head up, working on getting on a good strong schedule of nutritious meals and exercise established and getting ready to jump in with both feet into my own program. Pray Saints Pray! :) Nah, it shouldn't be too bad, hopefully. Being organized, focused, disciplined and determined are the main keys to success! I can do this!!!

Tuesday News.....

noreply@blogger.com (~Moi~) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:06:00 +0000

This week has been CRAZY!!! Some days have been good nutritionally, others - not so great. My schedule is extremely nuts when school is in session, and I find it very hard to schedule consistent exercise sessions. This weight battle wouldn't seem so challenging, if exercise was a consistent thing.

However, this past week I did show a weight loss, although, not a large one. If I can do this every week, I will be happy. I'm not really too concerned with how much or how little I lose on a weekly basis as long as I am simply losing. My diet is pretty much the same and is not too exciting. It is my hope and goal to continue to fix supper at home. This will be challenging as my schedule gets crazy.

For Example; this is a brief glimpse of my week this week.

Monday:

Work: 8-5, Class: 6-9, SS Meeting: 9-9:30 pm.

Tuesday:

Work: 8-5, Church

Wednesday:

Work: 8-5, Bible Study: 7-8pm.

Thursday:

Work: 8-5, Church

Friday:

Work: 8-5, Youth Function: 7:00-10:00pm.

Saturday:

Bierocks Baking for the Fair - All Day (1500), Family Prayer: 8-9 pm.

Sunday:

Church

Night Off? What's that? And, the scary part is, my MBA program doesn't start until Sept. 8th. Those free hours will be filled very quickly once my program starts again. It all tends to work out, but is challenging sometimes to balance it all and find the time to eat healthy and exercise. I think my late night walks are going to have to become popular again. I'm talking about the 2 1/2 mile walks around campus at 11 pm at night, yep! :)

10 on Tuesday.....

noreply@blogger.com (~Moi~) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:29:00 +0000

1. I started training to be an advisor today. That should be fun and interesting.

2. My eating has been nutritious once again since, my fall from the wagon on Saturday.

3. My friend, Teri, gave me the key to good Cucumber/Tomato Salad, it works! It is equal parts vinegar and water and splenda (I also added salt/pepper) to taste. I made my salad last night with two large homegrown cucumbers and two large homegrown tomatoes, I also chopped about two slices of yellow onion into small pieces. I then put everything in a bowel and mixed it with 1/3 cup of white vinegar and one cup of water. I used just a tad more water as I did not want the vinegar to be too strong. Then, I used splenda to taste with a pinch of salt and a few shakes of pepper. My salad turned out delish!

4. School starts at my job next Monday, August 17th. This summer went by way too fast.

5. School starts for me at Walden, September 8th. This summer seriously went by way too fast!

6. I'll be finished with my MBA by December 2010 if everything goes according to the plan. However, with the weird twists that life has taken this year anything is possible.

7. My clothes are fitting better already and I don't feel as bloated from eating junk food. That is an extremely good thing.

8. H2O is my daily companion and a large squeeze bottle of it sits faithfully by my computer screen at work.

9. Obama's health plan is seriously scary. Don't just skim it in your research, please research it carefully in detail.

10. God is incredibly good. I weigh in tomorrow. Pray, pray, pray that the scales will be kind. :)

Tough Saturday.....

noreply@blogger.com (~Moi~) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 04:34:00 +0000

Today was a tough day! I ate out 3 times and yes, that is a shame and no, it was not remotely healthy. I was exhausted from working at my job all day yesterday and helping prepare cabbage for today's bierock's run until 11:30 pm last night. I woke up feeling yucky (allergy season) and exhausted. I started making bad choices at breakfast and didn't quit all day. The only thing that may save me from a gain, is the fact that I was on my feet solid moving pretty much consistently for five hours. We bake 925 Bierocks today for the Kansas State Fair and have 1575 to go. Literally!

I did not snack between meals AT All! Also, I guzzled water. However, I was in town all day and did not bring food with me (wrong move). A burrito, some pizza, a hot dog and small ice cream later (all of that was spread throughout the day, breakfast burrito at 9 am, pizza for lunch at 3pm and a hot dog and small ice cream at 9:30 pm), all I could think of was "how on earth did this happen?" This is why it is so necessary to have meals prepared and to carry lunch with me. Tomorrow, I'm eating breakfast at home, something healthy for lunch and then fasting until Monday. Gotta get this eating thing under control quickly. I had lost two lbs. but not sure if I'll maintain that loss after eating so unhealthy today. Oh well, guess I gotta pick myself up, and watch and prepare more carefully next Bierock Saturday.

Happy Sunday! Get a blessing, take a nap, and spend times with the special folks in your life. :)

First Weight Loss Goal......

noreply@blogger.com (~Moi~) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:25:00 +0000

I have finally set my first weight loss goal. My first goal to lose is 25 lbs. This is a reasonable weight loss and it will give me something to focus on for the present.

Rather than being completely overwhelmed by looking at the total weight loss that I need to fully attain over the next year, 25 lbs. is a reachable goal. I would like to see this weight loss by Passing the Torch conference in Pueblo, CO, which begins Oct. 7th, 2009.

This week, I've begun by keeping an eye on calorie intake and fat-grams. The question in one's mind may be "Well, what exact diet are you on?" I'm not on a diet! Why? Because I've tried a million of them and they work for a time, but true success at healthy living has to be lifestyle. So, rather than diet, I am on a mission to become nutritionally aware and accountable. Also, in this journey, exercise and daily activity are a key factor to my success. Therefore, I've joined a gym, Curves, (I actually did this in June) I've been walking again and Yes, I am once again doing the hilarious Body Flex exercises. As humourous as they are, they work! And, the instant energy that I receive from the deep breathing portion of the exercises is definitely a plus.

My lunch yesterday consisted of a half of bowl of potato salad with Wheat Thin crackers, Weight Watcher's string cheese, and homegrown cherry tomatoes. It was yummy and light.

For supper last night, I went home and made a Grilled tuna and cheese sandwich with honeygrain bread, fat-free cheese and light mayo. I garnished it with homegrown tomatoes, pickle slices and had some pringles and a very small portion of cottage cheese. For dessert, I had strawberries with splenda and whipped topping. It was delish! And, the perfect light and cool meal for a hot, summer night. :)

For breakfast, I've been eating Special K Breakfast Bars. They are VERY good and only 90 calories per bar with 1.5 fat grams. They come in 3 flavors; strawberry, vanilla crisp and chocolate drizzle and all 3 flavors are good.

I think I'm making progress in creating good habits. I sure hope so. :) Happy nutritious meal planning...........

Funky Monday.....

noreply@blogger.com (~Moi~) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:39:00 +0000

Today has been kind of an up and down day. I woke up in some type of weird funk, which is sort of odd as I went to bed in a really great mood last night. I think I slept well enough, just maybe didn't rest the best. There is a difference, or so they say. Also, I started fasting again. I fasted from lunch yesterday to lunch today and did a whole 24 hour fast. I'm going to try to start doing this again every week, the first day of the week. There are multiple benefits to starting the week off with a fast; 1. It usually improves the quality of the week overall in a spiritual sense, 2. It's a natural form of the cleansing process and is healthy if done correctly, 3. It helps me to discipline my eating for the week right from the start, and 4. It strengthens my faith regarding losing weight amongst the other things I've been seeking God about. This was a key part of my weight loss 3 years ago and is definitely a contributing factor to better health.

My brother-in-law is of the mindset that if people fasted one or two days a week and switched their days up randomly, they would never have to diet. He says that it keeps the body from getting accustomed to one set pattern of diet and shocks the metabolism into working better. He would possibly know seeing as he was a weight-loss, nutrition and fitness guru before Christ (bc). Also, it must work because he does it consistently and has never had a weight problem in all of the years that I've known him.

I had a fresco style chicken burrito and soft taco for lunch. For dinner, I think I'm going to take Grandma to Applebees. They have healthy choices. I haven't taken her to dinner for a while and need to get back to our Monday Nights out. I'll be extremely glad when I'm back in my own place and can start having her over instead of going out. I'm ready to start cooking at home again. Today is kind of a crazy day, as I have Bible Study at 7:30 pm immediately following supper. However, the rest of the week, I will be eating breakfast at home, and taking my lunch to work. The eating out has to stop, if I expect any type of success in this journey. I rarely eat out for breakfast anymore and have been bringing my lunch for about two weeks now. Food from home is so much yummier than restaurant choices. Especially all of the delicious homegrown veggies people share in the summer time. Hopefully I can start taking the money I used to spend on food and begin putting it in savings instead. That will be such a great switch.

Well, I better run........ Happy Monday!

Buffets.......

noreply@blogger.com (~Moi~) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 03:52:00 +0000

In the process of getting my mind prepared for and resolved to the changes I will be making the next few months, I've been going through a mental list of things that are going to change. This list has consisted of what will be allowed, accessed, removed, and deleted from my nutritional vocabulary, meal choices and restaurant choices. One of the first things that pops in my brain is Buffets. I know that many joke that when Paul speaks in the bible about buffeting his body, he is speaking of buffets. Not so, my friends! ;) Although, buffets consist of their own type of physical abuse.

Have you ever heard someone say they are going to a buffet to stay on their diet!?! I have. My dad loves to say this and for the longest time he was really convinced of this idea until we all started ribbing him to death about it! I mean, get real! Have you ever seen the size of the folks that haunt those joints? Diet my foot. I can almost guarantee the average size of the general buffet goer is 250 lbs or more, except for the young children. No offense intended, but I guarantee, once you've sat between two tables of cheesy, happy, 300+ lbs of buns on a consistent basis, you'll have a better idea of what it feels like to be a pork sandwich! And, I can promise you that I am no skinny miss myself.

In our town, we first "dieted" at Furrs Cafeteria. (The geriatric ward) I must admit that we could pretty well watch what we ate there and I generally liked their food. I was pretty sad when they left because, overall, they did have many healthy choices. Our second choice is now Sirloin Stockade, or as my mom calls it, the hog trough. No kidding, I cringe and shudder every time we go in there because I feel like I have melted into the society of the overweight of Hutchinson. Also, my dad's heart just thrills at the thought of Country Barfett, Home Grown Buffet (Hometown Buffet), and Ryans (I don't think we've come up for an alternate ego for this one yet). When the family gets together, one of these are usually his choice when we let him choose, although we are getting him delivered slowly but surely. ;) These are places where one can fill their plate 47 times if they so choose from the fattiest choices a restaurant menu can provide. Not to mention all of the foods un-naturally processed and full of preservatives and so forth.

Yes, I must honestly admit there are some healthy choices in such eating establishments, but seriously how many diners pass up the fat for the lean, the dessert bar for the fruit bar, the bread basket for the salad bar, and the fried food for the grilled section? Not many, I can promise ya. The majority of them are saying "I've really been watching what I eat this week so I can splurge and eat 4 different desserts instead of just one!" I've been guilty of this, have we not all? My Doctor calls this "eating yourself fat." He is of the mindset that there is no such thing as time off to splurge when changing ones lifestyle. I'm beginning to agree with him simply because, once you've splurged then the rest of the week tends to turn into a justification marathon of "splurges," not to mention the next month. Then the lifestyle change fizzles out yet again.

Because of all of these contributing factors, buffets are one of the things that I have decided t0 nix from my list of allowed eating establishments! First of all, I really don't honestly enjoy them. I tend to gross out when I walk up and see food that has been sizzling for two hours in the same pan. Also, do you know that many statistics show that more bacteria is found on salad bars than anyplace else in a restaurant establishment? Second, if we do happen to go somewhere where the crowd is busy and the food is hot and fresh, if I'm really hungry my eyes are bigger than my stomach. Many times, this is when good intentions fly out the figurative window.

So, ways that I can get around the buffet mentality: 1. Don't go to start with, find alternative choices, 2. If I am with a group that chooses such an eating establishment attempt to steer the decision towards an establishment that offers menu items also, 3. Pray, pray, pray that my running partners don't choose buffets, and 4. Excuse myself and eat at home that round. One of our favorite haunts locally is the Anchor Inn, which is a Mexican food buffet. The good thing about this eating establishment is that they have a full list of menu items and an incredible salad bar with many healthy choices. Luckily, this is one of the only buffets we really frequent. But, their incredible chocolate cake, cheese enchiladas, and dessert bar are going to have to go.

However, the bright side of this all, will be the relief that comes from watching the pounds melt away, the physical energy and pain free flexibility that my body will begin to experience, and the fun of finding myself in smaller sizes as time goes by. Not to mention, being able to take pictures again without sighing in despair over my prominent double chin, and other body parts. ;)

Happy losing!

Diary of a Frustrated Fat Girl......

noreply@blogger.com (~Moi~) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:18:00 +0000

So, here the diary begins. The weight loss struggle of a genetically cursed 5 foot 2 1/2 inch female will be journaled on these pages. This is an exercise for fun, for accountability, and to add a little humor hopefully to a somewhat dismal and, often times, discouraging battle. However, hope springs eternal and all of us fluffy gals can always have faith that someday we'll get it right and the weight WILL melt off! (And STAY off.) :)

My family is all heavy set, although, my brother has lost much weight recently and is doing quite well at it. Emotional and stress eating runs on both sides of the family in addition to all of the ugly diseases that come along with being overweight. We've tried every diet ever created, and some that we've made up, in the attempt to once and for all kill the fat devil. Some diets have worked and worked well, some longer than others. Let's just suffice it to say that I have a range of many sizes of clothing in my closet.

3 years ago I was 60 lbs lighter than I currently am and had maintained that weight loss quite well. Until, my hair started falling out in chunks and I had to begin a series of steroid shots to attempt to stem the onset of baldness. No one has ever quite figured out the cause of that strange event, but 39 steroid shots in the head and 65 lbs later, here I am once again attempting to lose weight.

I'm beginning to believe some of this might be a spiritual battle. I might be fooling myself, but I am praying that God helps me to become more nutritionally aware and accountable. Hopefully this online journal won't become too transparent to be embarrassing, but will offer some humorous insight into an often times frustrating life struggle. If it encourages someone through their own weight loss journey, that would be great also.

Feel free to stop in, vent, comment, and put in your two cents. Losing weight, I'm convinced, has to become a lifestyle and many have been there that know how to be successful at it. Your input is priceless.