Thursday, August 23, 2007

August so far...

My weight was 153.25 this morning. Last week I was on vacation AND got my period. (Not a good combo!) My calories got a bit out of control, but I stuck with my exercise and made it through!

My “period puff” and vacation indulgences are burning off, and it looks like I will have another good month! YEA!

Here is my weight loss graph for August so far:



I started August 1st at 153.00, and I think I can be that weight or less by the end of the month!
I remember when it was easy to lose a pound or two a week... Now I am lucky if I get that much busting my butt for a whole month!
Still doing my best, ;)
Jess

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Don't let "Fat Genes" keep you in your Fat Jeans!

At times I thought it was pointless for me to try and lose weight because I had convinced myself "Nature had made me fat." I was fat, and that was that! "You can't fight genetics!" And I had lots of overweight family members to back-up that belief. We are just plump people. That is how God made us, and we are stuck with our lot. Case Closed.

While it is true that you can not change the base body type you are born with, you can still make the best out of what you got!!! You can work with your body to gain muscle, increase your metabolism and change your body fat percentage. Don't use your genes as an excuse to stay unhealthy.

Chances are your body is good at storing fat. Back in "the caveman days" your ancestors were the ones able to live the longest during periods of food scarcity because they could live off the fat stores they easily created. (WOO! Rock on Great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - Grandma!! Survival of the fittest, or in this case, the fattest.)

The ability to easily store fat was an AWESOME survival mechanism - 5,000 years ago - but food is no longer in short supply. We live in a Calorie-dense world where food is abundant, served 24-7, deep fried with a side of ice cream!

But even with all that, you don't HAVE to be fat!!! Fat isn't who you are, it is just what your body is prone to storing. You can work hard and be healthy!!! It takes dedication but you can make your body the best it can be!

I have worked so hard these past 5 years to get to where I am today. :) I know that if you really commit yourself to getting healthy, you will be healthy too!

Cheers!

Jess

Thursday, August 2, 2007

July was really good!

I lost 3.75 pounds in July!

July 2007 was one of the best months I've had in a long time. :-D

I'm a bit worried about the next few months... I have a week long vacation coming up soon... and I hope I can keep it together. I will also be going to San Antonio for work the 2nd week in September... AGH!

I. Must. Chill. Out.

I really need this vacation! ;)


TODAY'S STATS:
===============================
AM WEIGHT: 152.75
===============================

140..........Oatmeal
160..........Huge Banana
250...........Clif Bar
330...........Chicken and Veggie Pizza
90.............Skim Milk
160...........Another Banana, they are getting ripe.
400...........Cheese Pizza
210...........48 Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Chips

TOTAL CALORIES: 1740

===============================
WORKOUT SUMMARY
===============================
40 minutes on the Precor Elliptical Trainer
3.48 Miles
400.9 Calories
5332 Strides
===============================

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

This is a treat, not a treatment!

I’ve lost 3.5 pounds so far this July. ( I weighed 153.25 this morning. ) This month has been my BEST for weight loss in a long time! :)

I still have a lot of ground to make up though...

I have 7 more pounds to lose to get back to the weight I was on 1/1/07. After that, I’ll need to lose another 7 to get back to my lowest weight. I am determined to get back there!

Injury and complacency over the past year allowed my weight to slowly creep up. Luckily, my pants still fit and I am turning things around! :)

I’ve been making huge strides on the mental front!

Since childhood we are all programmed to think of food as Love or a Reward. Most happy events involve food, (Birthday cake, Christmas Cookies, Wedding Cake…) and if you were naughty - you didn’t get dessert! Food becomes the focal point, and we associate positive emotions with the food.

When sad, depressed or stressed we can get a quick emotional boost from food. Food was my answer to life’s problems. “Work’s driving me crazy!!! Time to eat chocolate.” “I’m lonely... Ice cream is my friend!” “I am depressed about my weight... Pizza is the perfect pick-me up.”

I used Food to self-medicate myself. My binges would lead to an increase in my weight. That would just get me more depressed, and loathe myself more... which lead to me turning to food again!!! What a horrific cycle....

Seriously I am like a recovering alcoholic... but FOOD was my addiction. But unlike alcohol - you can't quit food cold turkey. You have to eat to be healthy... and that is SO HARD to do!

Inside a Dove Promise™ chocolate, I read the message: "Chocolate always loves you back." But it should really read: "Chocolate always loves to add to the size of your backside." I love chocolate, but I had to learn to enjoy it as a treat, and not as a treatment for my stress and worries!!!

So I created a "happy list” of things I like - that do not involve eating. I have over 100 things on my happy list now!

You need to experiment with stress reducing alternatives and find one that works best for you.

Examples:

· Instead of getting a Snickers™ out of the vending machine when work makes you CRAZY - try brewing a cup of low cal cocoa, or even No Calorie tea.
· Take a quick walk around the block
· Call a friend, or go chat with a co-worker
· Escape into Fantasy, by playing a game, watching a movie or read a book.
· Watch the sunset
· Start writing an e-mail to someone about what is bothering you. (You don't need to send it - this just gets the frustrations out)
· Take deep breaths and try to see if you are really physically hungry, or if it is just the stress monster talking.
· Take up knitting! The repetitive motion and feeling of accomplishing something helps... also with all that yarn and needles in your hands, you can't get food into your mouth with your hands so occupied. ;)

Try making your own "happy list!” You know what makes you smile!! Even just READING the list helps you feel better without turning to food. :)

I hope something in my rambling helps you! :-D

Take Care!

Jess

Monday, July 16, 2007

Deep Fried Marshmallows

Deep Fried Marshmallows?!?!?! Yes. Thursday night / Friday morning I dreamt I was deep-frying marshmallows. I then used magic to levitate them out of the oil and float them around the kitchen, and out the window to children outside.

It was such a bizarre dream, I could not help but remember it. When I told my husband about it, he is like… we should try making them!

So this weekend we deep-fried some marshmallows. I tried about 5 recipes and the winner was:
    Jessica’s Deep Fried Marshmallows

    Ingredients
    ---------------------------------------------
    3 egg whites
    1 cup graham cracker crumbs
    A good pinch of ground ginger
    1 cup shredded coconut
    12 large Marshmallows
    Oil for frying

    Directions
    ---------------------------------------------
    Mix egg whites in a small bowl.
    Mix together graham crackers and ginger in another bowl.
    Dip marshmallow in egg, then roll in seasoned crumbs.
    Dip back in egg, and add second coat of crumbs.
    Dip in egg a 3rd time and then roll in the shredded coconut.
    Pat coconut into breading.
    Place on a tray lined with foil and freeze for about an hour.
    Heat oil to about 350. Fry marshmallows one at a time.
    NOTE: Spin Marshmallows with your spoon so all sides brown evenly.
    Fry until coconut is golden brown, or Marshmallow starts to leak! (About 30 seconds)
    Remove from oil and place on paper towel to drain and cool.

    They are cool enough to eat in about 2 minutes.


Today when I was telling a co-worker about them he teased, “I lost over 100 pounds eating Deep Fried Marshmallows!!!”

I laughed because it’s true, but very misleading. It’s like the magazines covers you read at the checkout:

“Drop 20 pounds by Labor Day!” right next to a big picture of pie…
Or
“Walk yourself slimmer” right next to a chocolate layer cake!!!

That is one of my biggest pet-peeves. Huge weight loss claims, next to pictures of seasonal desserts!

I also look at the women on the cover and think, “I’ve lost more than her!!” Someday I hope I will get to be the woman smiling on the cover… Sadly, the person from “People” magazine never got back to me... *SIGH*

Maybe Someday...

Anyway… I hope you keep healthy, and don’t eat these marshmallows unless you are willing to spend a week “recovering” from the experience - like I chose to do! ;)
Cheers!
Jess

Thursday, July 5, 2007

Balancing Your Energy

Think of your body as a car that operates 24 hours a day. You would never expect your car to get you from one place to the next without refueling.

You also know there's no point in putting more gas in the tank than it's designed to hold. Yet that's how many of us operate our bodies! We try to run on empty for hours, then dump in more "fuel" than we can handle.

Running on Empty: (muscle loss)

Working out on an empty stomach actually breaks down your muscles.

When starved for blood sugar, your body breaks down your muscles for fuel. It is stupid and starts cannibalizing the good stuff instead of burning off the fat you want it too!! This is very counterproductive! :(

Over-fueling: (fat gain)

Going without food for long period times then, when you're ravenously hungry, you eat everything in sight. This causes a large surge of insulin, which means you will easily store the extra calories as fat.



So here is how to balance things out:

  1. Eat as soon as you wake up in the morning.

  2. Make sure you eat something before you exercise, no matter what time of day it is. Food prevents your muscle tissue from becoming cardio chow.

  3. Eat soon after exercising, when your body has depleted its energy stores. Act fast, or you'll start burning muscle for energy.

  4. Eat 5 - 6 mini meals/snacks. Have some protein at every time you eat and some calcium-rich dairy at least twice a day.


My Typical Daily Menu
========================
130..........Milk
130..........Carnation Instant Breakfast
100..........Oatmeal
150..........Extra Large Banana
300..........Frozen Meal (Lunch)
110..........Yogurt
80..........1/2 cup All-Bran
140..........Snack Bar
500..........Dinner
200..........Dessert
=============================
1840 Total Calories

Friday, June 29, 2007

Nearly Recovered!

2.25 pounds of trip weight and period puff are gone!

I've been eating between 1800 - 2000 calories a day and working out.

6/26/07 Elliptical - 33:41 min, 2.72 mi, 300.0 cal, 4088 strides
6/28/07 Elliptical - 48:00 min, 4.03 mi, 462.0 cal, 6208 strides

I was 154.25 this morning, the same weight I was June first! Looks Like
I will break even this month. Hopefully things will continue turn
around, and I will get back under 150 by the end of July. :)


-= Mental Health =-

An article recently featured on WebMD talked about how being "good" can be bad for your weight loss.

Food should not be an ethical dilemma. Eating a piece of cake won't land you in dieter's prison, but dwelling in the good/bad mentality will make it harder for you to lose weight.

No carbs. No desserts. No food after 6 PM... people often set "rules" like these when trying to lose weight. But ironically, they're the very things that hinder success!

Setting diet rules creates an all-or-nothing mentality: You can't have or do something, and if you do, you've failed. Seeing yourself as a failure makes it easy to just give up entirely!

Dieters tend polarize foods as 'good or bad,' and then pass judgment on themselves based on what they eat. When you eat a 'bad' food, you're bad. Those negative emotions then spur you to eat more!

Rather than beating yourself up remind yourself that sometimes it's okay to splurge. As long as your next choice is a healthy one, you are back on track. :)

I have a sweet tooth. Cutting out sweets would make me feel deprived.
So allow yourself your favorite treat, in small amounts.

Chocolate
  • Adora calcium disks
  • Bite size or fun sized candy bars
  • Dove Promises
  • Hershey's Kisses
Ice Cream
  • Skinny Cow Ice Cream sandwich
  • 60 calories each Dove miniatures
Weight Watchers snack cakes....

You get the idea! ;)

Giving yourself permission to indulge will help evaporate guilt and quell the desire to overdo it.

When stress cravings strike, the first thing you should do is think or say out loud, 'Am I actually hungry, or would doing something relaxing like calling a friend or listening to music
make me feel better?' If you are honest with yourself, odds are food won't be the answer. Work to develop healthier coping strategies. And to prepare for future stress. Try making a list of your favorite food-free ways to unwind. I honestly have a text file called "Happy List.txt" at work, and when I feel stressed, I open it and read all the things that I am thankful for, and it makes me feel better. :)

But let's say your happy list is not around, and you start eating ice cream with a spoon driectly out of the containter... well here is a way to stop mid-binge.

Once you realize you are over-eating try popping a piece of gum. You could also try brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash. It sounds simple, but it provides an opportunity to think about whether you really want to continue eating.

I find that once I am "minty fresh," I don't want to dirty up my mouth again. Crazy but it works for me. :)

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Period + Trip = Not Good :(

Last Sunday I was in a car at this time riding down to Urban, IL for work.

I worked there Monday and Tuesday from 5 AM to 6 PM in the Hospital supporting the nursing staff.

Wednesday was another travel day, driving the 4 hours back to Wisconsin, then flying out to
Philadelphia! Thursday and Friday I worked at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Then yesterday, I finally got to fly home!!

It's been a busy week. I did not take time to really "exercise" because I was running around hospitals and through airports, etc... The majority of my meals this week were in hospital cafeterias. It was so hard to eat healthy. On top of all that - my period started at 12:45 AM (EDT) Friday Morning. AGH!

I hope this doesn't sound too whiny or that I am making excuses... but I just feel so over whelmed by it all.

I was 156.50 this morning... Last time I posted my weight here it was 153.50. That's three pounds this trip and my period added to me. Which isn't really that bad. Nearly typical for this time of the month.

I'll get to work on burning it off again, but it feels like I never get anywhere. There is always something that comes along and throws a wrench in my works.

I will be able to eat healthy this week and get back into my usual routine!

I just need to remind myself that even though I gained three pounds since the 15th, I still have over 130+ pounds that I have kept off for good. It's just these last 10 keep finding a way to come back! ;)

Cheers,

Jess

Friday, June 15, 2007

Tough Times Ahead

I was sick on Monday and Tuesday with that same recurring throat aliment. I feel a painful tightness or a “catch” when I swallow, speak, yawn, or even turn my head the wrong way. Last month it was diagnosed as GERD, but after a month of a restricted diet, and taking medication… It’s still there!! So my doctor sent me to a specialist.

The specialist x-rayed me eating barium-laced pudding and cookies. (Fun, fun...) But they still don’t know what’s wrong! Argh! On the plus side though, they did conclude that what is wrong with me is not GERD! Yeah! Spicy food here I come!! Oh! And I CAN EAT CHOCOLATE AGAIN!!!! Hallelujah!

Even with the “Welcome back chocolate” celebration I had, I am down another quarter pound. I was 153.50 pounds this morning! That’s 3/4 pounds gone in June so far! :-D But now things are going to get tough!

This Saturday is a big Family Reunion POTLUCK. You know, Grandma’s extra special homemade baked beans, potato salad, “Death by Chocolate”… Too much food that tastes way too good. It is going to be hard!

After the Potluck, Aaron and I are going on a “dinner-and-a-movie” date because I’m going on another week long business trip starting Sunday.

Next week I will be eating every meal at a restaurant. (Plus, the stress of traveling, and working 13+ hours in a healthcare setting...)

Last business trip I was able to come back the same weight as I left! Hopefully I will be just as successful this trip. I will be vigilant with my meals, and make time to do something healthy no matter how “tired” I am.


AM Weight 153.50

Elliptical
==================================
47:39 min, 4.05 mi, 470.1 cal, 6436 strides

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

My New "Toy"

As you may remember, I was in Physical Therapy for my tailbone a few months ago. I had been using a stationary bike for the majority of my exercise… but with my broken bootie, I couldn’t use it!

My therapist recommended I try swimming, or an elliptical trainer for aerobic exercise because of my bad tailbone, and “crunchy knees.”

I have very sensitive skin, so spending hours each week in a pool was not a viable option… and I did not want to join a gym, just to stand in line waiting for the ONE piece of equipment I can comfortably use… So we decided to save up to buy a really good elliptical trainer for our home.

While we researched machines and saved up, I gained about 7 pounds with my restricted exercise regimen. I did a lot of weight training, but no cardio. I gained about 1 ½ pounds each month. I’m pretty sure most of it was muscle, and tried not to get alarmed as my weight climbed.

Memorial Day Weekend we drove down to Loves Park, IL to shop for an elliptical trainer! I fell in love with the Precor EFX 5.21i. Precor invented the elliptical trainer, and had over 250 patients on their machine, and wow, could I feel a difference!





It was delivered and assembled on 5/31/07, and I’ve used it nearly every day since then! :)

I’ve dropped half a pound, and WOW, does that feels so good! ;-)


TODAY'S STATS
=====================================

AM Weight - 153.75

Exercise - Elliptical Trainer, Heart Rate Program
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
48:00 min, 447.7 cal, 5638 Strides, 3.93mi


Breakfast
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
110 Fat Free Yogurt
55 ¼ c. All-Bran Buds

AM Snack
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
180 Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars

Lunch
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
240 2 slices 12 Grain - Whole Grain Bread
80 4 slices Natural Turkey Lunchmeat
35 1 wedge Laughing Cow Light Original Swiss Cheese
10 Lettuce

PM Snack
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
140 Banana


700 total calories so far today.


I haven’t heard anything back from People yet.

Cheers!

Jess