Want some Baby Back Ribs???

Hubby got a gift card for $20.00 for Chili's and we already had a $25.00 one that my sister Lara had given us a while ago, we decided to use it today, we were going to go to Lunch and a Movie, but we decided to go to lunch and then come home and watch movies we had and maybe play some games. So we had some Hot Spinach Artichoke dip as an appetizer, and I didn't have a ton of it, but man was it yummy. It was very cold still in the middle so they gave us an order to go for free to make up for it. Then I got the grilled Salmon on their 'light' menu and OMG it was SO nummy! It was served with Broccoi and Matchstick carrots, it was really good. Rob got their white molten chocolate lava cake for dessert and I had a couple of bites it was really good as well.

Heading Down again!

Breakfast 2g
2 Oscar Meyer Cheese Dogs
Lunch: 2g
Gourmet Salad (Greens w/sunflower seeds, almonds, bacon, cheese, lean turkey breast) and Ken's Lite Northern Italian Dressing
Dinner: 0g1 Chicken Breast (Fried in Coconut Oil)
Loaded Broccoli
Snacks:
Tortilla Chips & Guacamole

Water/Fluids:
2 Diet Cokes
4.5 (28oz Waters)

Total Carbs (aiming for 50-100)

Exercise:
3 Miles WATP

Thoughts:
210.8# Today the scale is still going down, I'm a VERY happy girl! I was so worried that I'd blown it entirely this past weekend. But I'm almost to my starting challenge weight. So I have a little more to go, I'm hoping I don't blow it again this weekend like I did last weekend. I have errands to run today, and then coming home to clean. I'm GOING to stay OP today! NO CHEATING! YEAH! No cheating! Had a VERY delicious dinner of Chicken, with loaded broccoli, this time I added some sour cream to it, and OMG it was to die for! Hubby had part of his baked tater, I was prout of him, he didn't eat the whole thing. Anyways Rob and I are going out on Saturday, we have gift cards for movies, and then he got a $20 gift card to Chili's today, and I had a $25 one my sister gave us too...so it won't cost us except a tip maybe YEAH! I've already visited the website and figured out what I will be eating so no big surprises for me. So I'm planning to succeed instead of failing to plan and having a bad day!

Things that make you go mmmmm.....

I have found several REALLY neat items this past week or two and I'd like to share them with you. The first one is a Water bottle. It's made for walmart, but the cool thing about it is the lid, has a straw that pops up and you can rotate the lid to hide the straw and close the bottle so it doesn't leak if it gets knocked over. This was VERY handy today. I am a clutz and am ALWAYS knocking things over. Here's a couple pictures: (****Addendum...wasn't sure if Rob would like it or not so I didn't get him one but he LOVES it so I will be picking him up one tomorrow).


Then the next AWESOME Find that has made my life EASIER is Ken's Lite Dressing that just has 1g Net Carbs! So far I've tried the Northern Italian and the Buttermilk Ranch that have the 1g Carbs. There are several other "Light" ones of his that have 2-6g carbs which isn't bad for a salad dressing as well.

The next is one that I've been considering for a while, just hadn't done anything about it is Coconut Oil www.coconutdiet.com There are supposed to be a LOT of health benefits from it, and I have several people I know who are taking it and having good results, so I'm excited for it. I'm all about the supplements and more 'natural' ways of doing things. Hubby calls me the supplement queen!

7 Minute Icing on Angel Food Cake

So it's not exactly "Diet" Friendly, but today was my dad's 66th birthday and I wanted to do something special for him. So I called my mom last night and asked what his favorite cake was...it is Angel Food Cake with his Mom's Seven Minute Frosting recipe. So I baked the cake last night at about 11:15 (Yah I was wired last night). Then this morning I attempted to make the frosting, the first attempt didn't really work out as we could only find 1/2 of our double boiler, and our hand mixer was acting up. So I was near tears and hubby gave the go ahead to go pick up a double boiler and a new hand mixer. I was so excited! So I made it and it's more like 20-30 minute frosting not 7 minute frosting :) I had to mix it for 20 minutes before it was forming peaks, so I probably should have gone a few minutes longer to get it even stiffer!

So I work for my dad, my mom had physical therapy and needed a ride home today. My dad didn't have any appointments, so we 'booked' a phony one to keep him at work so we could surprise him. I picked up my mom, gathered all the employees in the exam room, set up the cake etc, and told my dad his appointment was there. Now mind you, he thinks he has a real appointment there so he's asking all sorts of questions, how old is it, how long has it been vomiting, has it had any shots? any diarrhea? Yah I was stuttering and stammering coming up with answers, but it worked. As we went into the exam room all the workers started singing Happy Birthday to him. The look of happiness, and joy on his face was a kodak moment for sure (wish I would have thought to grab my camera), he was SOOOOO happy. I also got one of his favorite icecreams vanilla/orange sherbert combo, his favorite drink Orange Crush too. Overall I think it went well, the only thing I should have done differently was cook/beat it a little longer. My mom was impressed with how it went and said I can be the official "Dad" birthday cake maker from now on HA HA! My Grandpa (RIP)'s birthday was on Feb 23rd, and he preferred German Chocolate Cake w/homemade frosting, then my dad's birthday was 2 days later so they had the Angel Food/7 Min Frosting cake 2 days later :)

Here is the recipe for Phoebe Smith's (Great Grandma) 7 Minute Frosting

From: Gilda Sims
Makes: 1 servings
Ingredients:
	2 egg whites 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup white syrup 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1/4 cup orange juice 1 tablespoon orange rind
Instructions:
	Make sure the cake is very cool before trying to frost. Beat all ingredients constantly in top of double boiler over medium-high heat, except orange rind, until stiff peaks form. Add orange rind and spread over cake.

Here are pictures of the cake I made:

Avoiding Self Sabotage

Breakfast Cheese Dogs
Lunch: Cheese Dogs & String Cheese
Dinner: 0g1 Chicken Breast (Fried in Coconut Oil)
Snacks: Almonds, 3 String Cheese, 3 Lean Turkey SlicesPork Rinds
Water/Fluids: 2 Diet Cokes, 4 (32oz Waters) so far

Exercise:
3 Miles WATP

Thoughts:
YEAH! I had a GREAT day today! Did really well with the diet, exercise and water consumption! I'm so proud of myself! It feels good to be back on track! I just hope that I got the kick in the pants with my 9# water/sugar gain to keep myself on track better. I picked up some Coconut Oil today and am VERY psyched to start using it. I tried using it with dinner...used it to cook my chicken tonight. I didn't think it tasted all that bad. I don't even mind eating it right off the spoon...hubby thinks that's too gross. I'm excited to try it in popcorn once I get off my 3 protein days. I did a WATP tonight 3 miles. My bum is SO sore still from slipping the other day. I just made Rob count my bruises, I have 1 large one (soft ball size), 1 golf ball size, then 3 other ones. No wonder it hurts to do anything!

Today's 'lesson' from the diet book was about "Self-Sabotage". It talks about 'What you CAn & Can't Control. Such as you can't control if there will be an accident on the road on your way home from work. BUT you CAN control what you put into your mouth. It also says' that some challenges are tougher than others. Whenever possible it's best to steer clear of potential problem situations while in weight loss mode. Each of us are responsible for our OWN actions. YOU have the ability to deal with the inevitable inconviences and difficulties that are sure to occur while on a diet and eating differently than you usually do. The KEY word here is 'differently". Most of us find it tough to change our patterns and do things differently. Change isn't easy, our routines become a way of life. When we know what to expect, we don't have to think about it. I definitely self-sabotage. I'm hoping if I prepare better for things that I will do better.

Starting Over....For Reals!

Monday Feb 23rd

---

Breakfast
2 Oscar Meyer Cheese Dogs

Lunch: 19g
2 Oscar Meyer Cheese Dogs
1 String Cheese

Dinner:
1 Pok Chop

Snacks:
Almonds
1 String Cheese
3 Fat Free Turkey Slices (GV Brand)
1oz Teryaki Beef Jerky

Water/Fluids:
2 Diet Cokes
4 (32oz Waters) so far

Total Carbs 17g (aiming for 50-100)

Exercise:
20min on elliptical

Thoughts: Really disgusted with myself today, saturday and yesterday I 'binged' on CRAP! Pizza, Reeses, Skittles, Muffins, Bottlecaps. But what is important is that I realized the error of my ways and am once again RE-COMMITING to losing this weight, staying on plan etc. I plan to have 3 'protein' days if I can so I can 'kick' my body/butt into fat burning gear yet again....restarting the LFL/Rite Aid Weight loss plan today for the umpteenth time...this time I REALLY am committed though...I know you've heard that before, but I have to be...weight in this am at 217.6# SICKENING considering I was 208 on Friday!

So for day 1 the object is to have a "Daily Action Plan" in which I record all my meals, my fluids, pedometer, and plan to overcome today's obstacles. Well so far so good. Except I forgot my pedometer at home today. But I know I've been walking around lots so I know I've got in my 'walking' (10,000 steps) so far at work. It is also recommended BEFORE I eat ANYTHING to KNOW how many carbohydrates are in it! I think this is a valuable step as I often just eat then get disgusted by the carb levels. My goals why on the weight loss mode of this diet are: Here are some key parts to remember each day of the plan.

1. Weigh yourself every morning.
2. Drink 80oz of calorie-free fluids every day.
3. Eat a meal or a snack every two hours.
4. Strive for at least 30 minutes of walking or other physical activity every day.

Today's Affirmation:
"I AM taking the first step toward better health!"

End of day note: I did it! I actually stuck to my guns...even made my hubby rice-a-roni for dinner and WAS NOT even tempted! YEAH! Although after I got home from work I was 'munchy' munchy but I resisted temptation...even had a bag of m&m's in my hand, and I put it back in the cupboard. SO NOT worth the 'moment' for later on my hips....or as my hubby said when I told him that I gained 9# in water etc, he jokingly/lovingly said "Yah and it went all to your butt!" OUCH! Good thing we have a good relationship and can 'jest' like that with each other.

Starting Over....Yet Again

So I've had my "Lean for Life" Diet book from the library for a couple of months now, I've browsed it slightly, but nothing significant. Just mainly the 'plan' pages etc. I've been getting the daily e-mails from the free Rite Aid Weight Loss Plan (which is essentially the same as Lean for Life) for 2 months now...I briefly browse them, but for some reason it 'clicked' today. I really spent some time browsing the book and re-reading some e-mails. MAN there are some really neat 'kick in the butt' jump start motivations in there. I really needed to read that today. I guess in part because I felt bad for my 'bread' binge last night (I had 2 pieces of buttered bread with dinner) and boy have they done a number on me. I get bloated, tummy ached, and burp up yeast when I eat bread sometimes...okay most of the time. I think I'm sensitive to yeast or something. Anyways I really felt bad as I've been stagnant again for quit a while...because I keep yo-yoing on what I eat (adding Red Vines, Sun Chips, and other 'bad for me' foods when I know I shouldn't. So tomorrow is going to be the 'start' over on the Lean for Life diet. Each day I am going to read the pages in the book and the e-mail, probably blog about them and apply the concepts to my life.

I know I can do this, I've done it before (lost 70# in 2004/2005). I WILL be thin this year! I may need y'alls encouragement and support to keep me on my toes! Wish me luck!

Involvement vs Commitment: The difference between involvement and commitment is never more obvious than with a bacon-and-egg breakfast. The Chicken, was involved, but the pig was committed. This was taken from my LFL (Lean for Life) book. It really hit's home, while I've been 'involved' with my weight loss so far, I'm not 100% committed and I really need to become committed to it.

Self Sabotage

Why do we do this to ourselves? I worked my 10 hour day yesterday, came home was munchie so I made me a bag of 100 Calorie popcorn which would have fit in my 'carb' limit for the day, EXCEPT that only made me hungrier so what do I grab? Red Vines and Sunchips! ARGH! I do this to myself more often than not and I am SICK SICK SICK of it! I need to quit doing that and just grab healthier snacks. It's not like I don't have them in the fridge WAITING for me...they are saying "Eat Me, Eat Me!" ARGH! Anyways that's my gripe for the day. I had a yummy 'chef/california cobb' salad for lunch today. Salad Greens, Hardboiled Egg, Olives, Almonds, Sunflower Seeds, Bacon, Tuna Fish....it was really good and hit the spot. I am a salad lover though, I don't have a problem eating salads with my meals. It's one of my favorite foods. The possibilities are endless as well which is always nice. There are so many things that you can add to salads. When I go to buffets I eat salads first, usually end up filling up on a nice healthy green salad with lots of yummy fixins.

"Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with

yourself. Do not lose courage in considering you own

imperfections but instantly set about remedying them - every

day begin the task anew."

-- Saint Francis de Sales

I have been overly tired this week, partially due to not taking my pills like I should have last week. I get behind then it's a vicious cycle. I haven't been 100% on my diet, I've been coming home from work and get so freaking hungry that I can't handle it. I have yet another new resolve. I am bound and determined to lose this weight. I am on a forum over at Choosing 2 Lose and we are having a "Lucky Charms" Challenge, and I am bound and determined that I am going to lose at least 8# with this challenge. The challenge ends March 31st, so there is plenty of time for me to get my butt back into gear and lose some of this weight. I started at 208.6# and would LOVE to be 200# by the end of this challenge. On a positive note my 16's are getting lose around my weight just have to lose my butt and thighs and I'll be the next size down!

Here is my siggy that I made for the challenge. I'm by no means a siggy expert just dabble with GIMP here and there. Although trying to perfect adding glitters to my siggies now.

Thursday February 12th

Today I had an epiphany....Romaine Lettuce has carbs in it! LOL! :) Don't ask me why or how but I had it in my head that it had no carbs. LOL! But it does have some fiber that cancels it out :)

Breakfast/Lunch (ate at 11:30pm): 7g
2 Bar S Original Franks 6g
1 Frigo Cheese Head String Cheese Light 1g

Lunch: 19g
1 100 calorie Guacomle Snack Pack
1 Serving Tortilla Chips

Dinner: 8g
1 Chef Salad 8g
(1.5 cups Romaine Lettuce, 2 Hardboiled Eggs, 1 Cheese Stick, 1 T Almond Accents, 1 T Bacon, 2 T Kens Northern Italian Dressing)

Snacks:
1 Skinny cow Bar

Water/Fluids:
3 Diet Cokes
4 (32oz Waters)

Total Carbs 36g (aiming for 50-100)

Exercise:
4.00 Miles on Elliptical 30:07 minutes

Thoughts: After a restless night...neighbors car alarm kept going off about 5 times starting at 4am! UGH! I didn't get up as early as I had hoped, and didn't get as much accomplished as I had planned but I still did okay. I have a renewed 'enthusiasm' today. Just going 'git r done'. I made my first 'oopsie' rolls tonight, and I need help with the mixing and folding. Rob is going to help me on Sat or Sun with it. YEAH!

Breakfast Woe's

I work usually 4-5 days a week, 10 hour days. I usually have 'pre-made' frozen meals that I eat when I get to work, but the last 4 or 5 days it's been all I can do to 'force' myself to eat it. Some days I just feel too 'full' for breakfast, others I just don't feel hungry yet...but I know I should eat. This is what my breakfast typically are:
1/2 cup Egg Beaters
1 Sausage Patty (Great Value Brand from Wal-Mart)
1-2 Tbs Shredded Cheese
1 Tbs Low Carb Ketchup
I mix it all together then freeze in 'portion' sized containers, then I can just grab n go. I guess I need to find something 'lighter' for breakfasts maybe? But herein lies my dilemma, I am a 'walking' pharmacy so have to eat a 'big' breakfast or I get sick later with my morning pills. I've tried juggling pills around and it just doesn't work. I have to eat the 'right' combination or amount of food. In the past it's been like a yogurt, with an egg sandwich, and an apple/orange/banana, but since I'm low carbing...I have to keep that in mind. UGH!

Sorry so long, does anyone have any 'lower' carb breakfast ideas? Thinking maybe if I switch it up a bit maybe that will help wtih the 'blah'ness and the not wanting to eatness. Could just be a TOM thing too though...dunno.

Friday February 6th, 2009

Day 7 on plan (in a row) Day 4 of 5 Exercise --No elliptical today
Breakfast/Lunch (ate at 1:30pm): 14 Carbs
Egg/Sausage/Cheese
1/2 Cup Eggbeaters 2 carbs
1 Sausage Patty 1 carb
1 T Cheese 0 Carb
1 T Low Carb Ketchup 1 carb
1 Dannon Activia Light Strawberry Yogurt 10carbs

Lunch: See Above

Dinner: 30g
3 Hotdogs 9g
2 slices weight watchers cheese 2g
1 Light Strawberry Banana Yogurt 19g

Snacks: 15g
1/2 Banana 13g
2 String Cheese Slices 2g

Water/Fluids:
4 Diet Cokes Stressed today
4 (32oz Waters)

Total Carbs 59g (aiming for 50-100)

Exercise: 7.81 Miles Pedometer, 16,541 Steps Other than that I didn't have it in me tonight for my elliptical...see below...

Thoughts: I had a somewhat stressful, busy day at work, we did a lot and I stayed busy pretty much from 7am-6:30pm, I found out my 'newly' rescued Guinea Pig whom I've only had for about a month has some sort of disorder that is causing her to dilute her urine really bad. We are doing further diagnostic testing tomorrow hopefully. I'm hoping we will get to the bottom of it.I wasn't really hungry for breakfast, I felt 'full' even before I ate lunch but I figured I better eat something at lunch time.Then about closing time, hubby calls me and wanted me to go pick up a birthday cake from Costco, then drive an extra 20 minutes to his work to take for a co-worker of his...he couldn't have told me this EARLIER? UGH! I was VERY VERY crampy today which didn't help the stress.So I went to costco and picked up a cake...the only one they had in the 'type' he wanted was one with pink roses on it (serves him right lol!) I took it out there, but had to stop for gas, and um home for some quick...feminine needs, so I get about 1/2 way to his work and it starts POURING rain! If any of you know me, you'll know that I have SEVERE anxiety about driving in rain or snow stemming from an incident with a semi truck about 10 years ago, I am getting better SOMETIMES but other times the anxiety/panic hits and I have no control over it. Well today was one of the 'panicky' days, it wasn't gushing water on the roads, but I was nervous & upset about it, white knuckled (I've driven in WAY worse without issues). I called hubby to tell him I was almost there, he said something and I snapped...I was upset, it was raining, it was dark (I hate driving at night too), so I was 'grumpy' with him. On the way home I stopped at Petsmart to pick up some 'guinea pig' shampoo and then some medicated fish food for a fancy guppy at work that has 'swimmers bladder' (floats to top of tank). I started feeling bad, so I came home jumped on IM and apologized to hubby. He suggested I take a bath to take the edge off, so I did. I was in NO mood to exercise tonight (very very crampy to the point that the pain made me cry on way home from dropping cake off to hubby). On a more positive note...I am proud of myself for not coming home from dropping cake off to hubby and stuffing my face with bad things.

February 5, 2009

Day 6 on plan (in a row) Day 4 Exercised (in a row)* Hopefully
Breakfast: 7 Carbs
Egg/Sausage/Cheese
1/2 Cup Eggbeaters 2 carbs
1 Sausage Patty 1 carb
1 T Cheese 0 Carb
1 T Low Carb Ketchup 1 carb
1 Light & Fit Diabetic Friendly Strawberries & Cream Yogurt 3g Carbs

Lunch: None (See Below) I didn't eat lunch because I was still full from breakfast and snack, and I knew I was going out tonight and it was gonna be 'heavy'.

Dinner: 32g
Went to a diner
Lemon Herb Chicken
Small French Fries 20g
Scone w/honey butter 12g

Snacks: 43.5g
1 Skinny Cow Vanilla Dipper 9g
Small Movie Theater Popcorn, No Butter 23.5g
1 Tortilla 10g
1 Wholly Guacamole Snack Pack 1g

Water/Fluids:
96oz Water
1 Diet Barqs Root Beer
1 Large Diet Coke Movie Theater
2 Diet Cokes Diner

Total Carbs 82.5g Carbs (aiming for 50-100)

Exercise: Elliptical Machine: Time: 25:09 Distance: 3.65 Miles Tension/Intensity 2
I increased the intensity today to get more of a 'workout' as it's been 'easy/peasy' so I got more of a workout today. I wasn't going to exercise as I really wasn't in the mood, but I "MADE" myself do it, I've already used enough excuses, it's time to get this body into shape!

Thoughts: Today I am trying to keep breakfast and lunch low as I am going to a movie and dinner with my sister today so It's gonna be a challenge avoiding a Movie Theater Popcorn as that is my downfall! We are going to eat at a local diner, and I am going to research the menu online and make my choice before I go so I'm not tempted to cheat or eat something very bad for me.

Well I didn't do so hot at the movies. We saw Gran Torino, and I must say it was a very good movie, it made me cry...my hubby will tell you that I cry at the drop of a hat, but seriously I was very impressed with the movie. Had a small popcorn w/no butter, large diet coke, then we went to a diner, and while I made a good choice with the chicken, I should have had a salad instead of the fries and avoided the scone....oh well, I was still within my range for the day just a little higher than I had hoped for.

Feb 4, 2009

Day 5 on plan (in a row) Day 3 Exercised (in a row)
Breakfast: 14 Carbs
Egg/Sausage/Cheese
1/2 Cup Eggbeaters 2 carbs
1 Sausage Patty 1 carb
1 T Cheese 0 Carb
1 T Low Carb Ketchup 1 carb
1 Dannon Activia Light Raspberry Yogurt 10carbs

Lunch: 26g
Apple/Cheese/Grape Snack thing w/Light Caramel Sauce from Walmart 18g (too many carbs but better than the potato chips I was eyeing)
Blue Bunny Light Peach Passion 4oz 8g

Dinner: 7.5g
Chicken Stir Fry (Using Stir Fry Mix from Costco) 5g
Low Carb "Cauliflower Rice" 2.5g

Snacks: 22g
2 String Cheese 1g
6 Slices Lean Turkey 1g
1 100 Cal Wholly Guacamole 1g
1 Tortilla Crisped LC 10g
1 Skinny Cow Mint Dipper 9g

Water/Fluids: 4g
128 oz Water
1 Cherry Coke Zero
1 8oz Glass Calorie Countdown Chocolate Milk 4g (I normally am NOT a big milk drinker but I was craving this for some reason).

Total Carbs 73.5grams (aiming for 50-100)

Exercise: Elliptical Machine 25.09 Minutes 3.76 Miles

Thoughts: Doing really good today, only have had 1 Coke. I had my 'meeting' with my staff, I bought them cupcakes and cookies and am happy to report I wasn't even tempted by them in the least, which was surprising as normally I am ALL over the soft cookies I bought them especially since I was stressing about staff meeting a little bit. YEAH! Today makes day 5 being on plan and I haven't felt this good in a long time. I have been taking all my medicine and that I think is helping my moods, productivity a lot. I was up at 8:30 on my day off for Pete's sakes That's a miracle all in itself. I normally wake up at 11:30-1pm on day's off. I spent like 30 min chatting with my sister last night on IM, which is surprising as we don't chat all that often, if felt great! She's getting a new puppy the end of the month! I'm excited for her.

I will admit today was the most challenging day so far with the cravings and being hungry/munchies. I tried to stay busy to keep my mind off of eating. Which is why I had more water/fluids today. It was also my day off which doesn't help matters much as I'm usually a lot more munchie on my day's off than I normally am, probably more boredom than anything. I was only going to do 15 minutes of exercise today, but I was watching CSI NY and I just kept 'pushing' myself, I was still comfortable physically (not dying of exercisedom) so I went for 20 minutes, then I said, I'm still doing good so I kept on going and I did 25 minutes! MOST time EVER with my elliptical! I've only had it since August....and I think I've used it more in the past 3 days than I have all together (not really but that's what it feels like). YEAH!

Exercise or Bust

Today's Affirmation:
"I take great care of myself by giving my body what it needs!"

Today's email from the Rite Aid Weight Loss plan was about taking vitamins and supplements. They recommend the following: Multi-Vitamin, Essential Fatty Acids, and Possibly Potassium or Sodium. When you are dieting you generally take in more fluids than normal so you can deplete your body of Potassium and Sodium. Low potassium causes fatigue and muscle cramps. I haven't ever really thought about that, the depleting the body of Potassium and Sodium. I am taking a Pre-Natal (suggested by Dr when TTC), I haven't taken Potassium before but so far I think I'm doing good in that regard.

Breakfast: 14 Carbs
Egg/Sausage/Cheese
1/2 Cup Eggbeaters 2 carbs
1 Sausage Patty 1 carb
1 T Cheese 0 Carb
1 T Low Carb Ketchup 1 carb
1 Dannon Activia Light Strawberry Yogurt 10carbs

Lunch: 24 carbs
2 cups Romaine Lettuce
1 T Cheese
1 Salmon Patty 2carbs
Rasperry Vinegerrette Spray Dressing 15 squirts 3 carbs
1 Yoplait Light Yogurt Cherry 19g

Dinner: 14g
1 Seasoned Grilled Chicken Breast (seasons: Garlic & Onion Powder & Season Salt)
1 cup Low Carb Penne Pasta seasoned w/garlic/parsley and butter 5g
2 cups Romaine Lettuce 0g
2T Light Raspberry Vinegerette Dressing 5g
1 T Tomato 1g
2/3c Green Beans

Snacks: 8g
2 String Cheese 1g
PM Snack: 8:00pm 2 String Cheese 1g
6 Slices Lean Turkey 1g
Low Carb Ice Cream 5g

Water/Fluids:
128 oz Water
3 Diet Cokes

Total Carbs 60 grams

Exercise: 19,996 Steps (9.44 Miles) Yeah I get my exercise in at work
20 Minutes Elliptical 3.08 Miles

Thoughts: Going to be strong today and avoid guzzling diet coke! Hoping to keep the number low! Wish me luck! Did pretty good with the Diet Cokes even with stressed, as you see my water is higher than normal....I tried to drink water every time I was craving a diet coke, it helped! It was just a MEGA STRESSFUL day at work today, having employee issues I need to deal with tomorrow (they weren't scheduled today or I'd have dealt with it today). YEAH I exercised again! 2 days in a row...that's like a new record for me lately! I tried rationalizing it but I 'forced' myself to do it, and I did longer than I have done in the past in a LONG time. So far 4 days on plan and 2 days exercise. I'm so excited, I'm feeling great, and positive!

Feb 2, 2009

Today's Affirmation:
"I AM losing inches!"

Today was a VERY stressful day at work, as a manager sometimes things can get hairy. I drank too many diet cokes (was aiming for another 1-2 day) but ended up drinking 4 of them, for some reason they 'calm' my frail nerves when I'm upset or angry about something. It's a nasty addiction one I'm hoping to break.

Breakfast: 3 Carbs
Egg/Sausage/Cheese
1/2 Cup Eggbeaters 2carbs
1 Sausage Patty 1 carb
1 T Cheese 0 Carb

Lunch: 5 carbs
2 cups Romaine Lettuce
1 T Cheese
1 Salmon Patty 2carbs
Rasperry Vinegerrette Spray Dressing 15 squirts 3 carbs

Dinner: 31carbs
Shake N Bake Pork Chops 8g
Green Beans/Corn Mix: 10carbs
2 Cups Romaine Lettuce
2 T Tomatoes 1 carb
Salad Dressing 0 carbs
Canned peaches (sweetened w/splenda) 12g

Snacks: 2 carbs
2 String Cheese 1g
6 Slices Deli Meat 1g

Total Carbs for day: 41 carbs (lower than it should be, I'm aiming for 50-100) need to add fruits to breakfast and lunch

Water/Fluids:
96oz Water
4 Diet Cokes

Exercise: 15min on Elliptical 2.39 Miles WAHOO! I exercised!

Thoughts: I was hoping not to drink as much diet coke, but you can see how well that went....stress happened at work today and that's my 'outlet'. Need to find a different outlet. It's not even the taste, I'm just addicted. I was determined to exercise tonight when I got home from work and by golly I did! YEAH! Big step for me. Now lets see if I can make it 2 days in a row by exercising tomorrow as well! Dinner was a higher carb meal, but I felt since I had low counts for breakfast and lunch it would be okay.

Super Bowl Sunday --Feb 1st

I am by no means a football fan, in fact I can't stand watching sports of any kind (well okay Dog Show's maybe...) I am glad I was able to find a Man who feels the same way.... :) I just felt since it was Superbowl Sunday I should have it in my title today. As it is Super Bowl Sunday which is a day all about championships & awesome commercials etc, it has caused me to reflect on how I am going to be the 'champion' in my own life. I have lost 40# in 6 months, which is pretty good, not as good as I can do but better than nothing or gaining. I didn't lose all that much in January, because I wasn't really giving in my all, I had too many days eating OFF plan, not exercising etc, I have resolved to do better, and am recommitted to losing this weight. My hopes is to be at my goal next New Years Eve. Which is 60# which is an average of 5.5# a month. I can do this if I keep on plan and incorporate regular exercise into my daily regime.

Sunday Feb 1, 2009 Day #2 Back on Plan
B- Egg, Mushroom, Cheese Scramble (3/4 cup Egg Beaters, w/1/4 cup mushrooms & 2 T Cheese) 4g Carbs
1 Orange 14g Breakfast Total Carbs: 18g
L- 2 Cheesy Hotdogs 2g, 2 String Cheese 0g, 1 Yoplait Light Fat Free Strawberries/Bananas Yogurt 19g Lunch Total Carbs: 22g
D - Low Carb Spaghetti 12grams: Break down-- 7carbs for 1/2 cup Sauce (Hunt's Mushroom) and 5g for Dream Field Noodles, Broccoli Normandy 3G & Green Salad w/tomatoes & low carb dressing spritzer Dinner Total Carbs: 15g
Snacks: 2 String Cheese 0g, Baby Carrots 8g, Broccoli 6g, Carb Smart Ice Cream Bar 5g Total Snacks Carbs: 19g

Fluids: 1 Diet Coke, 96 oz Water, 1 16oz Tide Me Over South Beach Banana Drink 1g
Exercise:
Total Carbs today: 75grams

Thoughts: My goal today is to limit my Diet Cokes. I know they are bad for me (aspartime) yet I keep drinking them, just like any addiction I need to overcome it. UPDATE: It is 8:38pm and so far I have ONLY had 1 Diet Coke! Yahoo!

Today's Affirmation:
"I AM a fat-burning machine!"