DOWN 3.6 lbs.
Total over last 3 weeks = 7.7
Total over the last few months = 10.5 lbs
Guess I will keep on going!!!!
'Nuff said
Monday, June 13, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Progress... progress...
Week 2 of my no/low carb diet proved a flop - I didn't lose an ounce. Not one. Nada. Nyet. Zilch.
BUT... I am not wavering. I did speak to a friend (doctor) who told me I needed some complex carbs in my diet, more than what I was getting. So here in week 3 I added sweet potatoes to my evening meals. I also started having oatmeal in the morning for breakfast. I was finding I wasn't full enough and started to feel a bit lightheaded by mid-morning. I've also been exercising (toning) in an effort to tighten up the jelly-belly!
She also suggested using a whole grain wrap - which I did. I bought, at her suggestion, wraps by "LaTortilla Factory". These are huge. They have 18g of carbs but 12g of FIBRE! So does that make it net 6g useless carbs? Yes. 6 g. Not bad. They taste good. I've been having those with roast turkey breast, lettuce, tomatoes, cukes, and a dash of spicy mustard. I cut them in half (big) and have 1/2 a wrap around 11:00 when I'm hungry, and save the other half for mid-afternoon when I'm hungry again. I'm finding that I'm not nearly has lightheaded (no blond jokes here please) nor am I at that ravenous hungry stage when I get home!
Better yet. I tried my dress on this morning for my daughter's wedding... it ZIPPED UP!!!!!!!! I was so excited I began to cry.
So what I learned this week was:
1. I need to eat a bit more (done)
2. I needed to add some complex carbs (done)
3. It's more about how I feel than how I look - the dress zipped up!!
4. Never - ever - give up!
I'll update you after weigh in Saturday! Until then... eat up! But eat well!
BUT... I am not wavering. I did speak to a friend (doctor) who told me I needed some complex carbs in my diet, more than what I was getting. So here in week 3 I added sweet potatoes to my evening meals. I also started having oatmeal in the morning for breakfast. I was finding I wasn't full enough and started to feel a bit lightheaded by mid-morning. I've also been exercising (toning) in an effort to tighten up the jelly-belly!
She also suggested using a whole grain wrap - which I did. I bought, at her suggestion, wraps by "LaTortilla Factory". These are huge. They have 18g of carbs but 12g of FIBRE! So does that make it net 6g useless carbs? Yes. 6 g. Not bad. They taste good. I've been having those with roast turkey breast, lettuce, tomatoes, cukes, and a dash of spicy mustard. I cut them in half (big) and have 1/2 a wrap around 11:00 when I'm hungry, and save the other half for mid-afternoon when I'm hungry again. I'm finding that I'm not nearly has lightheaded (no blond jokes here please) nor am I at that ravenous hungry stage when I get home!
Better yet. I tried my dress on this morning for my daughter's wedding... it ZIPPED UP!!!!!!!! I was so excited I began to cry.
So what I learned this week was:
1. I need to eat a bit more (done)
2. I needed to add some complex carbs (done)
3. It's more about how I feel than how I look - the dress zipped up!!
4. Never - ever - give up!
I'll update you after weigh in Saturday! Until then... eat up! But eat well!
Friday, June 3, 2011
Week 2 of no(low) carbs week.
To update you, last Saturday I weighed in after week one of pretty much no carbs. Much to my delight, I was down 4.1 lbs. YES!!! Success! But that was last week....
On Saturday evening (May 28) we had my husband's former staff and former work colleagues over for a BBQ. We handled all the food and "beverages" so that I would know exactly what was in everything and could plan accordingly. I did really well. For the most part. Not going to lie... had a few fistful's of 'trail mix'. I calculated the points to be 5 per fistful. UGH UGH UGH UGH UGH. I was successful though, with the main food - no bread - I had a burger and topped it with tomato, lettuce, pickles, etc but no bun. Ate it like a cheap steak. I sure hope this is not going to be the norm for the summer! No pasta salad - left that for our guests. I consumed mass quantities of a delicious spinach salad which was full of sliced mushrooms, very thinly sliced red onion, some other green leafy lettuce to add a variation on the green colour, and topped that with some fat free vinaigrette dressing.
It's really odd, but once you get back into eating the junk stuff, it's hard to break free again! Sunday morning, all I craved was trail mix! Weird but true. Yes - I had some. And counted it. And felt incredibly guilty. And.... then had more. And counted it. And felt incredibly guilty.... And moved the bag to a place that was inconvenient for me. But I found it on Monday!
For the most part, the week has been good with great successes. Last night I went to a "Ladies Night" and listened to a gentleman from a local garden centre talk about container planting. The dinner that was included with the ticket price was a salad supper - so there were about 12 different types of salad. I stuck to only the leafy green ones that were not already doused in dressing. Steered completely away from potato, pasta, etc. So, no protein for dinner last night. Boo. The desserts were a mass of gooey creations that looked fabulous but I knew would set me right back. There was a fruit tray - the lesser of all the evils - I had fruit.
I decided to post a picture of "the dress" on my fridge at home so that each time I open it I will see it and be reminded that it still needs to zip up by July 31!
I can do it! I think I can... I think I can.... I think I can.... wait - change thought patterns - I KNOW I can!!
Weigh in tomorrow. Hoping for 1-2 pounds. Wish me luck!
On Saturday evening (May 28) we had my husband's former staff and former work colleagues over for a BBQ. We handled all the food and "beverages" so that I would know exactly what was in everything and could plan accordingly. I did really well. For the most part. Not going to lie... had a few fistful's of 'trail mix'. I calculated the points to be 5 per fistful. UGH UGH UGH UGH UGH. I was successful though, with the main food - no bread - I had a burger and topped it with tomato, lettuce, pickles, etc but no bun. Ate it like a cheap steak. I sure hope this is not going to be the norm for the summer! No pasta salad - left that for our guests. I consumed mass quantities of a delicious spinach salad which was full of sliced mushrooms, very thinly sliced red onion, some other green leafy lettuce to add a variation on the green colour, and topped that with some fat free vinaigrette dressing.
It's really odd, but once you get back into eating the junk stuff, it's hard to break free again! Sunday morning, all I craved was trail mix! Weird but true. Yes - I had some. And counted it. And felt incredibly guilty. And.... then had more. And counted it. And felt incredibly guilty.... And moved the bag to a place that was inconvenient for me. But I found it on Monday!
For the most part, the week has been good with great successes. Last night I went to a "Ladies Night" and listened to a gentleman from a local garden centre talk about container planting. The dinner that was included with the ticket price was a salad supper - so there were about 12 different types of salad. I stuck to only the leafy green ones that were not already doused in dressing. Steered completely away from potato, pasta, etc. So, no protein for dinner last night. Boo. The desserts were a mass of gooey creations that looked fabulous but I knew would set me right back. There was a fruit tray - the lesser of all the evils - I had fruit.
I decided to post a picture of "the dress" on my fridge at home so that each time I open it I will see it and be reminded that it still needs to zip up by July 31!
I can do it! I think I can... I think I can.... I think I can.... wait - change thought patterns - I KNOW I can!!
Weigh in tomorrow. Hoping for 1-2 pounds. Wish me luck!
Friday, May 27, 2011
one week later....
Well, here we are - Friday already! Where did the week go??
I've had an interesting week. I thought I'd go through some kind of carb withdrawal, but I didn't. I feel good. Really good. I actually have some energy!!
I had a friend over for lunch today. For a few minutes I panicked on what to serve, but I came up with something healthy and brilliant! I had some Boston Lettuce in the fridge, some grape tomatoes, baby carrots, a red pepper... hmmm, what could I make? Well, I opened a tin of tuna (packed in spring water of course, not oil) and mixed that with a bit (bit being the word here) of low fat mayo and some finely chopped onion. Washed the Boston lettuce, put some broad leaves on our lunch plates and scooped some tuna into the center of that. Surrounded that with red pepper strips, baby carrots, and grape tomatoes. Ta da! Brilliant! Healthy! I added a few melba toast type of crackers to my friend's lunch, I opted out of those. Served it up with some nice herbal tea (it was a cold icky day, so the tea was great!) She's a health nut and so appreciated the healthy choice for lunch. I stayed completely on target today and I am ending the week, I feel, highly successful!
To be honest, the only day I really struggled was Wednesday. I had a very late meeting and didn't leave my office until after 7 p.m. I grabbed a bottle of water from my office (I keep a case there now) and headed to the station. No trains that time of day, so had to take a bus. Ugh. I didn't get home until quite late, and really didn't want to eat that late at night but felt that I needed to because I was STARVING. Grabbed one of my emergency meals from the freezer - Weight Watchers Santa Fe Rice and Beans for 8 points - and made some herbal tea. I was home in time to see the second half of theAmerican Idol finale. I resisted the urge, all evening, of grabbing food - any food - especially carbs! I was absolutely craving a bagel. Not a tiny little weight watchers one but a BIG giant bagel with tons of cream cheese or thick slices of cheddar. Thankfully, while we had the bagels in the house, there was no cream cheese nor cheddar to be found! I skipped the bagel and ended up having a 1/2 cup bowl of cereal (2 points) with 1/2 c skim milk (1 point) - 3 point snack rather than 9 point! I'd say that was success!
Anyway, bottom line, I think I did well all week. I have resisted stepping on the scales.... I'd rather see the surprise (and it better be a good one) tomorrow morning at my official weigh-in.
Scales - you better be ready for me - and you better record a healthy weight loss - or else!!!
Or else? Or else what? Or else I'll eat? Or else I'll kick the scales? What is my "or else?" Hmmm.... or else I'll strip down and weigh in naked! Oooh, that would teach those scales!!!
Happy Friday everyone!
I've had an interesting week. I thought I'd go through some kind of carb withdrawal, but I didn't. I feel good. Really good. I actually have some energy!!
I had a friend over for lunch today. For a few minutes I panicked on what to serve, but I came up with something healthy and brilliant! I had some Boston Lettuce in the fridge, some grape tomatoes, baby carrots, a red pepper... hmmm, what could I make? Well, I opened a tin of tuna (packed in spring water of course, not oil) and mixed that with a bit (bit being the word here) of low fat mayo and some finely chopped onion. Washed the Boston lettuce, put some broad leaves on our lunch plates and scooped some tuna into the center of that. Surrounded that with red pepper strips, baby carrots, and grape tomatoes. Ta da! Brilliant! Healthy! I added a few melba toast type of crackers to my friend's lunch, I opted out of those. Served it up with some nice herbal tea (it was a cold icky day, so the tea was great!) She's a health nut and so appreciated the healthy choice for lunch. I stayed completely on target today and I am ending the week, I feel, highly successful!
To be honest, the only day I really struggled was Wednesday. I had a very late meeting and didn't leave my office until after 7 p.m. I grabbed a bottle of water from my office (I keep a case there now) and headed to the station. No trains that time of day, so had to take a bus. Ugh. I didn't get home until quite late, and really didn't want to eat that late at night but felt that I needed to because I was STARVING. Grabbed one of my emergency meals from the freezer - Weight Watchers Santa Fe Rice and Beans for 8 points - and made some herbal tea. I was home in time to see the second half of theAmerican Idol finale. I resisted the urge, all evening, of grabbing food - any food - especially carbs! I was absolutely craving a bagel. Not a tiny little weight watchers one but a BIG giant bagel with tons of cream cheese or thick slices of cheddar. Thankfully, while we had the bagels in the house, there was no cream cheese nor cheddar to be found! I skipped the bagel and ended up having a 1/2 cup bowl of cereal (2 points) with 1/2 c skim milk (1 point) - 3 point snack rather than 9 point! I'd say that was success!
Anyway, bottom line, I think I did well all week. I have resisted stepping on the scales.... I'd rather see the surprise (and it better be a good one) tomorrow morning at my official weigh-in.
Scales - you better be ready for me - and you better record a healthy weight loss - or else!!!
Or else? Or else what? Or else I'll eat? Or else I'll kick the scales? What is my "or else?" Hmmm.... or else I'll strip down and weigh in naked! Oooh, that would teach those scales!!!
Happy Friday everyone!
Monday, May 23, 2011
Monday - Winning!
Hello to my faithful 3 followers.....
So, it's Monday. And usually by now I've fallen off the proverbial food wagon. Not today. I'm still on track and tracking!
I need to clarify two things from my last post - someone emailed me and asked - when I said "food pairing", yes I meant food COMBINING. And when I said carbs, I meant starchy empty carbs and starchy vegetables - potatoes, peas, corn, and of course (not a veg) rice. Not saying you can't have these, just don't mix the starchy ones with protein.
I've been eating fruit - super fruits - such as raspberries, blueberries, strawberries. I've also doubled my tossed salad intake.
I am quite seriously feeling full all the time without adding those starches and carbs. Now, having said that I will have potatoes this week, but I probably will not have it with a protein. I may just have a baked potato for lunch one day and glam it up with some steam broccoli and about 1 tsp of butter. Yes, the dreaded butter... I love it, not giving it up! I prefer to have a natural product like butter in my body than to put 'edible oil substitute' into it, such as those crazy margarines that don't taste anything like butter! FYI 1 tsp of margarine (regular OR calorie reduced) is 1 point for 1 tsp. BUTTER is 1 point for 1 tsp. I'll take the butter thank you! Interesting point - on the WW food calculator site the margarine defaults to 1 tsp (1 point) but the butter defaults to 1 TBSP (3 points). There are 3 tsps in a tbsp, so you do the math!
Now, the challenge today will be a BBQ with a group of friends later today. I've already planned my 'plan of attack' for food intake. We are leaving in about an hour from now.... so here's my plan: I just ate a nice tossed salad with a low fat dressing, yum. I topped that off with a fat free yogurt with some fresh berries stirred in (about a cup). Of course, a nice cup of herbal tea (green) really topped it all off. Points for my 'lunch' = 2. You think I'd be hungry - but I'm not. Knowing that we are attending a BBQ with tons of people bringing "stuff" I have determined in my head (a scary place) that I will only have a burger patty (no bun), top it with tomato, lettuce, etc., stick to the tossed salads, and if there is fruit for 'dessert' I will have that. I was asked to bring something for dessert - and was told what to bring - a family specialty that is anything but low fat! So, I MAY have a small square (1" x 1") and have determined that tiny piece will be about 2 points. Ugh! Steering clear from pasta salads, potato salads, chips, dips, alcohol, all the fun stuff, sadly.
I am determined to be a winner... and I feel like I am WINNING!
Where are you?
So, it's Monday. And usually by now I've fallen off the proverbial food wagon. Not today. I'm still on track and tracking!
I need to clarify two things from my last post - someone emailed me and asked - when I said "food pairing", yes I meant food COMBINING. And when I said carbs, I meant starchy empty carbs and starchy vegetables - potatoes, peas, corn, and of course (not a veg) rice. Not saying you can't have these, just don't mix the starchy ones with protein.
I've been eating fruit - super fruits - such as raspberries, blueberries, strawberries. I've also doubled my tossed salad intake.
I am quite seriously feeling full all the time without adding those starches and carbs. Now, having said that I will have potatoes this week, but I probably will not have it with a protein. I may just have a baked potato for lunch one day and glam it up with some steam broccoli and about 1 tsp of butter. Yes, the dreaded butter... I love it, not giving it up! I prefer to have a natural product like butter in my body than to put 'edible oil substitute' into it, such as those crazy margarines that don't taste anything like butter! FYI 1 tsp of margarine (regular OR calorie reduced) is 1 point for 1 tsp. BUTTER is 1 point for 1 tsp. I'll take the butter thank you! Interesting point - on the WW food calculator site the margarine defaults to 1 tsp (1 point) but the butter defaults to 1 TBSP (3 points). There are 3 tsps in a tbsp, so you do the math!
Now, the challenge today will be a BBQ with a group of friends later today. I've already planned my 'plan of attack' for food intake. We are leaving in about an hour from now.... so here's my plan: I just ate a nice tossed salad with a low fat dressing, yum. I topped that off with a fat free yogurt with some fresh berries stirred in (about a cup). Of course, a nice cup of herbal tea (green) really topped it all off. Points for my 'lunch' = 2. You think I'd be hungry - but I'm not. Knowing that we are attending a BBQ with tons of people bringing "stuff" I have determined in my head (a scary place) that I will only have a burger patty (no bun), top it with tomato, lettuce, etc., stick to the tossed salads, and if there is fruit for 'dessert' I will have that. I was asked to bring something for dessert - and was told what to bring - a family specialty that is anything but low fat! So, I MAY have a small square (1" x 1") and have determined that tiny piece will be about 2 points. Ugh! Steering clear from pasta salads, potato salads, chips, dips, alcohol, all the fun stuff, sadly.
I am determined to be a winner... and I feel like I am WINNING!
Where are you?
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Stubborn Stupid Scarbs (the "s" is silent on the carbs)
I've been very frustrated with my non weight-loss these past several months. I've been good - very good - and the weight stubbornly stays on. What is with that? Then, of course, there was the news report on various 'weight loss' programs, and wouldn't you know it, my beloved Weight Watchers came in no where near the top! Number 1 was Jenny Craig. For about 4 days I contemplated switching. Seriously. No brainer - they give you what you should eat, no guess work. Rated very highly for nutritional value and taste. Sounds perfect.....Until....the reality of my budget woke me up from my pathetic little food coma.....
What to do, what to do....
About 2 weeks ago I spent a business week in Calgary. On the final day of my visit, I stayed with a dear friend, Jess, who is a certified naturopathic nutritionist. I shared my struggle to lose weight, or rather my success at not losing weight (glass half full, glass half empty?). She shared some insights, mostly the way I eat or what I eat with what. For example - don't pair protein with carbs, ever. Ever. EVER. So, after this past week I decided to give it a try. I started my food 'revolution' on Friday morning in Ottawa. Here it goes....
First, I ordered breakfast. I was at the Westin Hotel in Ottawa. Beautiful property! If you are going to stay at a hotel, I highly recommend a Westin, they have a menu that is much easier to eat healthy from. Seriously! Anyway, I had an egg-white omelet with broccoli and a few pieces of cut up fruit. I opted not to have the hash brown potatoes with the omelet. Added a very small glass of O.J. (probably closer to about 1/2 cup), and some herbal tea, no milk. Day one, meal one. Success!
But my success was short-lived. I was on the train and in business class lunch is served to you. But I did make some good choices, other than the bread....and wine. ARGH.... CARBS!!!! and WINE!
Okay, dinner - back on track. My husband and I went to Swiss Chalet, yum. I ordered the spinach salad with slices of cold chicken breast and fat-free raspberry vinaigrette. The salad comes with these yummy deep-fried tortilla strips. I pulled them all off. No dessert. No carbs. Club Soda to drink. Success - twice in the same day.
Now, for those who know me, you will know that my daughter is getting married this July (71 days actually). I ordered a dress from Nordstrom's, online. It's beautiful! It came while I was in Ottawa. I tried it on after our dinner on Friday evening - I couldn't zip it up. I looked in the mirror and hated myself, my body, my lack of self-control. Then, I realized that yes, I COULD fit into it if I was truly dedicated to working out and losing weight. So... here we go.
Today, weigh in....Weigh in was not great, but I was down... a whopping 0.2. I'll take it for week one.
Breakfast - at our favourite place - but I made good choices - 1 poached egg (it came with 2 eggs, I gave one to my husband), 1 slice toast (yes, I had carbs with my protein, BAD Heather!) - I gave my 2nd piece of toast to my husband who I now named my 'recycling bin'. I had peameal (one slice and you know where the 2nd slice went), and opted for no home fries, and instead had sliced tomatoes. Other than pairing the toast with my protein - it was a good breakfast, and good choices.
Lunch - fat free yogurt and fresh berries. Yea!
Dinner - steak... I only had 4 oz of it, no baked potatoes (the rest of the family had those) tossed green salad, steamed asparagus, steamed broccoli. HUGE success. (My dinner was a whopping 5 points!)
Now, late in the evening, I'm having a snack - 1 cup of skim milk with 1/2 frozen banana - blended into a delicious mock-smoothie. Points = 2. Total points for the day = 19.
Basically, the food pairing that my nutritionist friend told me about was do not, ever, pair protein with carbs. You can still have carbs, just don't have them with protein, and don't overdo the carbs. I'm giving it a whirl this week.
I'm determined to get into that dress... come hell or high water!
I'll let you know how it goes.... stay tuned!
What to do, what to do....
About 2 weeks ago I spent a business week in Calgary. On the final day of my visit, I stayed with a dear friend, Jess, who is a certified naturopathic nutritionist. I shared my struggle to lose weight, or rather my success at not losing weight (glass half full, glass half empty?). She shared some insights, mostly the way I eat or what I eat with what. For example - don't pair protein with carbs, ever. Ever. EVER. So, after this past week I decided to give it a try. I started my food 'revolution' on Friday morning in Ottawa. Here it goes....
First, I ordered breakfast. I was at the Westin Hotel in Ottawa. Beautiful property! If you are going to stay at a hotel, I highly recommend a Westin, they have a menu that is much easier to eat healthy from. Seriously! Anyway, I had an egg-white omelet with broccoli and a few pieces of cut up fruit. I opted not to have the hash brown potatoes with the omelet. Added a very small glass of O.J. (probably closer to about 1/2 cup), and some herbal tea, no milk. Day one, meal one. Success!
But my success was short-lived. I was on the train and in business class lunch is served to you. But I did make some good choices, other than the bread....and wine. ARGH.... CARBS!!!! and WINE!
Okay, dinner - back on track. My husband and I went to Swiss Chalet, yum. I ordered the spinach salad with slices of cold chicken breast and fat-free raspberry vinaigrette. The salad comes with these yummy deep-fried tortilla strips. I pulled them all off. No dessert. No carbs. Club Soda to drink. Success - twice in the same day.
Now, for those who know me, you will know that my daughter is getting married this July (71 days actually). I ordered a dress from Nordstrom's, online. It's beautiful! It came while I was in Ottawa. I tried it on after our dinner on Friday evening - I couldn't zip it up. I looked in the mirror and hated myself, my body, my lack of self-control. Then, I realized that yes, I COULD fit into it if I was truly dedicated to working out and losing weight. So... here we go.
Today, weigh in....Weigh in was not great, but I was down... a whopping 0.2. I'll take it for week one.
Breakfast - at our favourite place - but I made good choices - 1 poached egg (it came with 2 eggs, I gave one to my husband), 1 slice toast (yes, I had carbs with my protein, BAD Heather!) - I gave my 2nd piece of toast to my husband who I now named my 'recycling bin'. I had peameal (one slice and you know where the 2nd slice went), and opted for no home fries, and instead had sliced tomatoes. Other than pairing the toast with my protein - it was a good breakfast, and good choices.
Lunch - fat free yogurt and fresh berries. Yea!
Dinner - steak... I only had 4 oz of it, no baked potatoes (the rest of the family had those) tossed green salad, steamed asparagus, steamed broccoli. HUGE success. (My dinner was a whopping 5 points!)
Now, late in the evening, I'm having a snack - 1 cup of skim milk with 1/2 frozen banana - blended into a delicious mock-smoothie. Points = 2. Total points for the day = 19.
Basically, the food pairing that my nutritionist friend told me about was do not, ever, pair protein with carbs. You can still have carbs, just don't have them with protein, and don't overdo the carbs. I'm giving it a whirl this week.
I'm determined to get into that dress... come hell or high water!
I'll let you know how it goes.... stay tuned!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Wedding pressures
The wedding is 6 months away and I'm feeling pressured!
Pressured to find the perfect dress - and shoes. Pressured to get it all done. Pressured to (gulp) lose enough weight to look sufficiently sexy at my daughter's wedding.
But, in spite of all the pressures, I still have this incredible addiction to and constant craving for FOOD!
Help!!!
Pressured to find the perfect dress - and shoes. Pressured to get it all done. Pressured to (gulp) lose enough weight to look sufficiently sexy at my daughter's wedding.
But, in spite of all the pressures, I still have this incredible addiction to and constant craving for FOOD!
Help!!!
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