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!

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!

What's in it for me?

Anytime you diet, or sometimes when you are asked to do something (well I do this with my hubby), I ask "What's in it for me?" I am back on the Lean For Life Diet which is lower carbs (not as low as Atkins) but lower than the 'normal' diet. I am doing GREAT so far am down 6.4# since the beginning of the year. I love it! I have been so slow and stagnant with my weight loss it's nice to see a steady change in the numbers. I have decided to keep in my mind "What's in it for me?" so I can keep my focus for my weight loss. Here are some things that I have been/will benefit from in my weight loss:

1- Able to do my work at 'work' better....I am not as winded going up and down stairs all day --we have 3 flights of stairs at my work and it's a constant thing. I also do a lot of walking around, cleaning etc and I've noticed it's not as hard on me
2- I can go get the mail without having to use my asthma inhaler (it's about 3 buildings of 4 townhomes each) up hill to get our mail. When we first moved here in July I was lazy and drove to get it, then I decided that I needed the exercise
3- Feeling better about myself...yes I like to look good, I don't like to feel and look fat, I have always felt like people are just starting at me and I don't like the judgements
4- Cuter clothes....I'm sorry there just aren't a lot of choices for 'fat people clothes' nowadays. I am a size 16/18 now and my choices are expanding....
5- Healthier overall...I am off my Gastric Reflux medicine, I take an all natural supplement, and have only had like 3 episodes since November.
6- Hopefully I will get pregnant, I have PCOS so the Low Carb diet is REALLY going to help this as Carbohydrates FEED your insulin/glucose levels which is part of the PCOS.
7- My joints don't hurt as bad, I have noticed that even with just 40# gone, my knees don't ache as badly or as often as they did before.

I know there are more....I will add them when I think of them, but what a great list of "What in it for me for my Weight Loss" I'm psyched and pumped....still working on my hubby to get him on the "Weight Loss Bandwagon" it's so much easier when you have someone on it with you.

Watkins

I've had Several Requests for the Female Vitamin so here it is:
http://www.watkinsonline.com/productdetail.cfm?Product=02263&gCatalogLocale=USA
It is only $13.99 + S/H per month which truly honestly isn't bad. It is recommended that you take it in addition to their SuperFood Supplement

Here is what it says about the Female Formula: Feel better…every day of the month.Extra vitamins, minerals, phytoestrogenic herbs and isoflavones help keep iron and energy levels up, while easing cyclical discomforts, mood swings and skin flare-ups.*
If you want more information: http://www.watkinsonline.com/pdf/products/FemaleFormula.pdf

I am also using their Reduce Plus & the TheraTrim Supplements

If you do decide to get it please use associate #: 380279 When checking out.
If you decide you like it you can join them for $39.95, there are NO Quotas, and you get a 25% discount on products. Definitely worth it for me just for the discount on the Female Formula :)
Sponser ID is #380279 Heather Thompson