Drop those Fries!

How good does that look?

And you know what?

I read an article from a health mag that claimed that the McD's fries were the healthiest out there now.

Wanna know the worst?

Jack in the Box's Bacon Cheddar Potato Wedges!

They have so much fat and sodium that it's scary.

I've been doing a lot more driving lately (errands), and it has been super hard for me to resist fast food.

I have given up fast food since January of this year, and I'm very proud of that.

How easy is it to just drive by a McDonald's and pick up some grub?

I still remember just how tasty those chicken nuggets are even though they're probably not even made with real chicken. LOL.

It must be the fat they fry those things in because they're super addictive.

I haven't given in to my temptations.

I'm grateful for that.

I've also stayed away from soda since January.

This is getting harder too now that it's starting to get warmer, and there's nothing like a Diet Pepsi to cool you off!

Today's Food and Activities

3 mile run

1 cup Kashi Crunch cereal, 1/2 cup nonfat milk

7 almonds

1 multigrain english muffin, 1 TBS B&B spread, tomatoes, 2 oz. lean ham

1 apple

7 almonds

2 oz. Smart Ronzoni spaghetti, 1/2 cup traditional Prego sauce, 3 oz. lean ground turkey

1 WW lemon cake

Saturday's Food and Activities
P90X
hula practice
1 multigrain eng. muffin, 1 TBS B&B spread, tomatoes, 2 oz. lean ham
Vietnamese vermicelli salad
Eat what I want for dinner and dessert!

Sunday's Food and Activities
P90X Stretch
1 cup Kahi Crunch cereal, 1/2 cup nonfat milk
7 almonds
1 multigrain eng. muffin, 1 TBS B&B spread, tomatoes, 2 oz. lean ham
1 apple
7 almonds
grilled chicken and veggies

Today I'm thankful for you!
Thank you to my loyal followers and readers!
Your words strengthen me.
Welcome to my new followers!

I weigh myself on Saturday, so I'll see you all here on Monday for the update!

We're in this together!

Busy Day

Yesterday I saw a new doctor.
My last family physician went through a nasty divorce and moved out of state.
She was super nice and always gave me samples of medications, so I didn't have to worry about paying for them with my high co-pay.
I'm going to a male doctor.
He's the same doctor that my husband sees, and he really likes him.
He seems to be very thorough.
The doctor wants to do a whole evaluation of me and bloodwork, and I'm feeling okay with this.
I've been working out and eating right.
The only problem that I see is that I'm not getting the sleep that I need.
I've been lucky to get 4-5.
Yesterday was a pretty busy day for me and the twins.
Twin Boy has had a few allergic reactions to peanuts, so I got them tested yesterday.
We won't know the results until next week, but knowing will give me peace of mind.
I'll probably have to carry an "epi" pen with me and the twins at all times.
It was so hard to hold them down to get two vials of blood.
I know it hurt them, but it was for their own good.
Poor little babies!

Today's Food and Activities
3 mile run
1 cup Kashi Crunch cereal, 1/2 cup nonfat milk
7 almonds
1 multigrain english muffin, 1 TBS B&B spread, tomatoes, 2 oz. lean ham
1 apple
7 almonds
2 oz. Smart Ronzoni spaghetti, 1/2 cup traditional Prego sauce, 3 oz. lean ground turkey
1 WW lemon cake

Have a happy and healthy day!

Time for a Fitting?

Smaller?

Yes, it's true.

They've become smaller since I started this journey.

I've been gradually moving the clasps to my bras to make them fit tighter.

I really don't want to buy a whole bunch of new bras right now only to have to buy new sizes after I lose the last pounds of fat on my body.

Okay, I'll go out and buy maybe a couple of bras.

Lucky for me I have a stash of older bras that may fit.

Now the task is to find them... they hid away when they saw me gradually packing on the pounds.

It'll be fun though... shopping for some sexy stuff!

Today's Food and Activities

P90X Stretch

P90X abs

1/2 cup Special K granola, 1/2 cup nonfat milk

7 almonds

1 bagel thin, 2 oz. lean turkey, 2 TBS nonfat cream cheese, tomatoes

7 almonds

grilled chicken and veggies

Have a happy and healthy day!

Nothing Left

I am tired.

This is probably premature, but I'm cutting down the days I'm doing P90X.

Some of you have been asking about whether I like it or if it even works.

Let me tell you.

I like it.

It works.

It kicks my butt.

It kicks my butt so much that I've decided I have "nothing left in me" after the workouts.

But then again I've been running four times a week, three miles a day.

My body needs to recover from both.

So I've decided that on the days that I run, I won't be doing P90X.

I know it's not what the program was intended for, but I need to look at my needs (rest, that is).

The twins can't have a "zombie mommy" 4 days out of the week.

I also don't want to quit reaching for my goals because I'm so tired.

That has happened in the past before this particular journey, and I've decided not to go to that ugly place AGAIN.

Here's the plan:

Sundays

rest or P90X Yoga

Mondays

run

P90X abs

Tuesdays

run

Wednesdays

P90X Stretch

P90X abs

Thursdays

run

Fridays

run

P90X abs

Saturdays

P90X

hula practice

Today's Food and Activities

3 mile run

1/2 cup Special K granola, 1/2 cup nonfat milk

7 almonds

1 bagel thin, 2 oz. lean turkey, 2 TBS nonfat cream cheese, tomatoes

7 almonds

veggie burrito with flour tortilla

Have a happy and healthy day!

It's a Beautiful Day

 

I weighed myself on Saturday, and I lost 1.5 pounds!

The past week has been a rollercoaster of emotions and physical strains on me.

I can't believe I ran over 12 miles this past week.

I'm so happy that I could just pass out.

Actually... there have been times when I feel like passing out and throwing up right after my runs.

This is a good thing, I think.

I must look crazy to those people who see me at the end of every run. I'm  nearly in tears. It's not pain that I feel; instead, I feel joy.

I'm so thankful for every ounce of energy (to run and/or work out) that has been given to me every time I ask for it from above.

I used to (and still do for that matter) watch people run as I drove by them and think,

"Gosh... they're in really good shape. Look at them run. I wish I could run like them. They're so cool. They look so determined and strong."

I never thought about how difficult it may have been like for them to start running.

I never imagined that they could've been as big as I was when I started working out.

I've developed a new appreciation for those runners.

Can I call myself a "runner?"

My husband has been telling me that I am "athletic."

I feel funny hearing that.

I was pretty active as a teenager. Although I never participated in sports outside of P.E. (We couldn't afford paying for me to participate in sports.),   I used to love to dance.

My friends and I would come up with our own dance routines and perform at dances and parties.

It was so much fun!

Can I really be called "athletic?"

Can I really be called a "runner?"

It would be nice to think of myself as something other than

"fat, tired, chubby, lazy, etc."

As of today, I am 13.5 pounds away from my goal weight.

As I lose this weight, I can't help but think that I'm still fat.

Yes, I know that I'm not skinny.

Yes, I know I've lost about 30 pounds, but I had this problem before.

I guess that's when you really realize that this "weight" problem isn't just a "weight" problem.

It's also a psychological problem.

I've been told by friends who have lost a lot of weight (50-100 pounds) that it takes a while for your brain to catch up with your body's changes.

The last time I lost about 45 pounds (about 7 years ago),  it took  me a while to "catch up."

I hope it doesn't take too long this time.

Today's Food and Activities

3 mile run

P90X abs (doing this every other day)

1 cup Kashi cereal, 1/2 cup 1% milk

7 almonds

1 english muffin, 2 oz. lean turkey, tomatoes, 2 TBS fat free cream cheese

7 almonds

ground turkey and 2 oz. whole wheat spaghetti with 1/2 cup low fat sauce

1 apple

Have a happy and healthy day!

100 Days To Go!

Just a quick post!

I normally don't post on Saturdays, but I thought this

is a very special day.

I have  100 days  left to kick some major "fat" butt before my "final" weigh-in this August.

I have less than 15 pounds of fat to lose in 100 days. 

I came across this quote, and it spoke to me.

"You must begin to think of yourself as becoming the person you want to be."

                                                                                                              ~David Viscott

I want to be

strong

lean

healthy

and

happy!

 

Work It Like You Mean It

I have today to work really hard and make tomorrow's weigh-in go well.

Do you do anything special the day before you weigh in?

Do you peek and weigh yourself early?

Do you eat a little less?

My tricks?

I make sure I drink plenty of water.

It sounds wierd, but the water actually flushes out all the impurities and helps you lose weight.

Of course, I would've been drinking plenty of water during the entire week.

Not drinking enough water actually makes your body retain the water it already has.

The result? Water weight.

I work my butt off.

I run.

I do an extra cardio workout.

Today I am thankful for my new laptop.

My hubby had to get it for his class, so now I have it at home, and it's super convenient to blog now. Yay!

Last night we ate at Sweet Tomatoes. I had a cup of the Asiago Caesar Salad and half the plate of spinach, 1/4 cup kidney beans, cucumbers, and just dipped my fork in fat free ranch dressing. I also had a cornbread muffin, 1 cup of chicken noodle soup, and 1/2 cup fat free frozen yogurt. Oh gosh. Now that I've written this down I think I may have overeaten. I feel fine though. I don't feel stuffed. I guess we'll find out if I overdid it on Saturday's weigh-in.

Friday's Food and Activities

3 mile run

45 minutes walking with twins
Day 5 P90X
1 cup Go Lean cereal, 1/2 cup fat free milk
7 almonds
1 bagel thin, 2 TBS fat free cream cheese, 2 oz. lean turkey, tomatoes
1 apple
7 almonds
grilled chicken and veggies

Saturday's Food and Activities
no run- rest day
Day 6 P90X
1 hour hula dancing (I used to dance, and I got talked into doing a performance in three weeks.)
1 cup Go Lean cereal, 1/2 cup fat free milk
7 almonds
1 bagel thin, 2 TBS fat free cream cheese, 2 oz. lean turkey, tomatoes
1 apple
7 almonds
baked chicken and potatoes

Sunday's Food and Activities
no run- rest day
Day 7 P90X (Stretch)
1 cup Go Lean cereal, 1/2 cup fat free milk
7 almonds
baked chicken and potatoes
Eat whatever I want for dinner and dessert!

I weigh myself on Saturday, and I'll post the results here on Monday.

Have a happy and healthy weekend!

Pregnant Again?

No.
We're not pregnant.
Do we want to have more kids?
Yes.
Are we willing to go through in-vitro again?
Yes.
Can we afford it?
No.
But money isn't the big factor here.
My biggest concern is that I wouldn't have enough time or energy to give all the love and care that ALL of my children would need.
As of right now, the twins take up most of my time. I love them with all of my heart, and I can't imagine not trying to meet all of their needs.
It's so amazing how much love you can have for a child.
I know I would love the baby if we were to have another one.
But who's to say that we would only have a singleton pregnancy?
To increase your chances of getting pregnant, you are encouraged to put in more than one embryo at a time. We would definitely have to put in at least two. I would never do more than that.
Could you imagine me with 2 sets of twins?
Yikes.
I think I would be totally exhausted (if more is possible).
So no... I don't think we'll be having anymore children.
This makes me sad, but I do look forward to continuing to love and care for the twins that I already have with all of my heart.

Today I am thankful for ice. Yes, ice.
I'm thankful for the ice that reduces any swelling and/or pain in my feet when I occasionally get them from running.

Today's Food and Activities
3 mile run
Day 4 P90X
1 cup Kashi cereal, 1/2 cup fat free milk
7 almonds
english muffin, 2 TBS fat free cream cheese, 2 oz. lean deli ham, tomatoes
1 apple
7 almonds
grilled chicken with veggies

Have a happy and healthy day!

Keep Going

Today I am thankful for the examples of "perseverance" in my life.

This is something that I see every day in

*my husband who never gives up on his goals to achieve more in his career.

*my friend P who continues to amaze me with her "enduring to the end" attitude especially when she has lost two babies in birth and has had several miscarriages.

*my mom who seemed to always be that "no quitter" single mom.

I truly hope these examples of perseverance will inspire me to never give up on my dreams.

Yesterday's run went great!

I ran 3 miles and worked on my breathing.

I was pretty exhausted from Monday's P90X workout, but I ran anyway.

I've been very lucky that I haven't gotten those "side stitches."

Today's Food and Activities

rest day- no run

Day 3 P90X

1 cup Go Lean cereal, 1/2 cup 1% milk

7 almonds

grilled chicken and veggies

1 apple

7 almonds

liguine with clams and steamed veggies

1 WW cake

Have a happy and healthy day!

How Badly Do You Want This?

How badly do you want to lose it?

The weight that is.

Yesterday I ran for 3 miles without stopping. I ran outside in the nice cool weather.

The wind felt great as it kissed my face. I've been nervous about running outside because there IS

a difference with running outside on a surface and on a treadmill.

On a treadmill, you select the speed you're on and then pretty much stay on that speed (at least for my goals right now).

When you run outside on a surface, you're the one in charge of your pace.

You could be going slower or faster than the pace you're used to running on the treadmill.

I was afraid of that.

I've been running anywhere from 30-40 minutes on the treadmill on an even pace, and it keeps telling me that I've been going anywhere from 3-4.5 miles in that time.

I'm pretty sure that treadmills today are pretty accurate. The one I've been running on is not even a month old. It's a beauty, and I wish I had it in my house. It would make it easier if I was able to run at home.

Anyways, as I've been running outside for the past 3 days, my pedometer (which I'm not quite sure if I've even set it right for my own average stride) kept telling me that I only ran 2 miles. I just don't know what to believe. Weather has been a challenge too. It has been hot here and windy too.

Friday's run: 2 miles

Saturday's run:  2.5 miles

Monday's run: I reset the strides and I ran for 50 minutes at 3.07 miles. I think it's set correctly now.

So I need to work on my pace.

I really booked it on my last quarter mile, and I surprised myself on how fast I was able to run.

Today I will try to run outside a little faster than the pace I've been on and let you know how I do.

So yesterday I did the Chest/Back and Ab Ripper X workouts. Oh. my. goodness.

I was so sore this morning that I thought I wouldn't be able to get out of bed. Wow.

The workouts were great. You go on your own pace and ability, but you do make sure you push yourself.

I can see how people lose weight and get really ripped on P90X.

I think my husband may be a little intimidated by my progress. I told him I was going to start P90X, and he thought it was a good idea. However, he hasn't said a whole lot about it since our first conversation.

He's pretty busy at work right now, and I think he's pooped when he gets home from work to even think about working out. He sleeps way too late to even try to swim before work.

I'm sure he'll figure out what he needs to do and lose 30 pounds in three weeks. Don't you ladies hate it when guys do that? They lose so much weight so much faster than us!

Today I AM thankful that my husband came home safely.

I love ya, Baby!

Today's Food and Activities

Day 2 of P90X

3 mile run

1 cup Kashi cereal, 1/2 cup 1% milk

7 almonds

english muffin, 2 TBS fat free cream cheese, 2 oz. lean deli ham, tomatoes

1 apple

7 almonds

1 veggie burrito with a medium sized flour tortilla

Have a happy and healthy day!

Breaking Through

Today I am thankful for this wall.

It has opened my eyes.

I hated this wall.

It was in the way.

I hit it and fell hard on my butt last week.

I visualized myself breaking through this wall.

I thought about walking around it. (Picture me with a gallon of rocky road ice cream, a large order of cheesey carne asada drizzled nachos, and a HUGE raspberry blue Slurpee in front of the TV watching 24.)

Yeah, I knew how to live it up back in the day.

It would've been so easy to go back to that.

We've all been there, right?

Not this time for me.

I refuse to give up.

I'm done wearing my fat suit.

I'm trading it in for a leaner, healthier me.

So I'm breaking through this wall. It'll take some time, but I'm doing it.

I weighed myself on Saturday, and I lost 1.5 pounds.

I'm very happy about this loss.

My running has been paying off.

My scale has made a difference.

You can do this too.
It's a slow process.
Didn't putting on all this weight take a while too?
I didn't just wake up with an extra 45 pounds on my body one day.
It was one bag of chips and fries at a time. (And boy, were they good.)
I'm not going to sit here and lie to you and tell you that I still don't have those cravings.
I do.
I set aside one day a week to have whatever I want.
I've become smarter about that day too.
I binged on so much junk on some of those "special days" that I went running to the porcelain throne at 2 a.m. the next day.
My body has been rejecting the greasy, fried food. We're talking about cramping and sweating.
Now I think really hard about the junk I put in my body that day.
I haven't thrown up whatever I've eaten that day in a while. I guess I'm learning.
This is all a learning process.
I'm learning to love myself a little more each day.
Have you started this journey?
Have you started loving yourself a little more each day through the choices you make?

Thank you to my newest readers and followers.
Thank you to those who have been reading and following me for a while. Your words inspire me.

Today's Food and Activities
40 minute run
Day 1 of Week 1 P90X (I'll be posting my Day 1 pic soon.)
1 cup Go Lean cereal, 1/2 cup 1% milk
7 almonds
grilled chicken and veggies
1 apple
7 almonds
grilled chicken, veggies, 1/2 cup white rice

Have a happy and healthy day!

Single Moms

I know a few single moms.

My mom is one of them.

Even when she was married, it was as if she was really single.

Her husband, my sisters' biological father, was never around.

I have learned to forgive him for his flaws and the things he failed to do. Believe me, there were and still are many.

They divorced years ago, and they only contact each other when it concerns my sisters. My sisters only see him once or twice a year, and he lives 20 minutes away.
They're now in their 20's, so I guess they don't miss him very much in their lives.

I've been thinking about single moms lately because I have been a single mom for the last five days.

My hubby has been out of town and will get back this weekend.

He's taking a class that will help him in his career.

Yes, I have been alone with my twin toddlers, doing everything around the house, and trying to lose weight and get fit at the same time.

This might not be a big deal for many of you, but it has been a big deal to me.

You see, every time my hubby comes home, it means I get a little "break."

I get to make dinner with little or no interruptions from the twins because he would be entertaining them.

I get to finish laundry without the twins trying to "help."

I get to shower.

Some "break," huh? LOL.

It's funny when a shower is a luxury.

I look forward to having my hubby home.

I also somewhat enjoyed having time away from him too.

Don't get me wrong. He is a good man, husband, and father.

But sometimes he is also like another child in the house. Sometimes it feels like I have three kids in the house instead of two. He's not a slob, but he could get a little better at putting his clothes away and throwing out the trash.
It has also been nice to just worry about the twins' meals and mine.
I pretty much cook the same dinners for me and my husband, but I don't measure his food. He's not as "health conscious" or OCD as me. LOL.
The twins eat the same dinners as us unless there's stuff in there that they're allergic to (peanuts, mostly).

I have a lot of respect for single moms (like mine) who do their best to be "both parents," work, and maintain a loving home.

Today I am thankful for my mom. She is supportive, loving, and caring. She is a great example of kindness to me.

Friday's Food and Activities

40 minute run
45 minutes walking with twins

abs

upper body with free weights

1 cup Go Lean cereal, 1/2 cup 1% milk

7 almonds

grilled chicken and veggies

1 apple

7 almonds

grilled chicken and veggies

Saturday's Food and Activities
40 minute run
45 minute walk with twins
abs

1 cup Go Lean cereal, 1/2 cup 1% milk

7 almonds

grilled chicken and veggies

1 apple

7 almonds

 Eat what I want for dinner and dessert!

Sunday's Food and Activities

no run- rest day

abs

50 push-ups

1 cup Go Lean cereal, 1/2 cup 1% milk

7 almonds

grilled fish and veggies

1 apple

7 almonds

grilled steak salad with rommaine

I weigh myself on Saturday, and I'll post the results here on Monday.

Have a happy and healthy day!

Growing Young

Sometimes I think to myself that it would be wonderful to start out old and then die young.

You remember that Brad Pitt movie, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, right?

I just think sometimes that we would probably have more to look forward to if we were to get younger every year. A little morbid and melancholy, I know.

This weight loss journey has been a little bit like the movie for me.

How so?

Well, if I hadn't lost the weight that I've lost so far...

I wouldn't be able to run as far and as long as I can now.

I wouldn't be able to go up and down the stairs of my house without losing my breath as I carry both the twins in my arms.

I wouldn't be able to do 20 jump squats without fainting or 20 real push-ups without stopping and falling on my face.

I wouldn't have the guts to post in FaceBook that I'll be running a 5K.

I wouldn't have been able to give away my bigger clothes.

I wouldn't have been able to go shopping and actually have fun doing it.

So I guess in a way I'm having a "Benjamin Button" experience of my own.

I feel younger as I lose more weight.

It has all been due to the fact that I decided to lose weight and began a healthier lifestyle.

That's the hardest part, isn't it? To start?

I've been reading weight loss blogs since January of this year, and it sounds like we all have very similar struggles.

Starting.
Clean Eating.

Activity.

Maintenance.

I guess if it was easy to be our skinny selves, then everyone in the world would be skinny.

This journey has many casualties. I am choosing not to be a casualty. I'm done with being heavy.

This journey has only begun for me. I still have over 16 pounds to lose.

Will it be hard? Yes.

Will I want to give up? Yes.

Will I do it anyway? Absolutely.

Today I'm thankful for naps.

They're so great to take, and they're so wonderful when the twins take them!

Yesterday I told you that I was going to try to run for 20 minutes without stopping. With tears in my eyes, I am very happy to let you know that I ran for 40 minutes straight. I burned about 380 calories, and when I was done with my warm-up, run, and cool-down the screen said I reached over 4 miles. I was very thirsty, and I drank periodically (while spilling it all over my shirt) as I continued to run. I felt strong. I felt invincible. I won't let myself get in the way of my goals.

Today's Food and Activities

45 minute walk with twins

Jillian Michaels' Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism

abs

upper body with free weights

1 cup Go Lean cereal, 1/2 cup 1% milk

7 almonds

grilled chicken and veggies

1 apple

7 almonds

lobster ravioli and veggies

Have a happy and healthy day!

Liar... Liar... Scale, You're Fired!

Check your scales, ladies and gentlemen!

Your FOOD SCALES, that is.

Okay... at the risk of sounding a little OCD again...

I had a feeling that my food scale wasn't exactly accurate.

It was about 8 years old, non-digital, and pretty grubby looking.

I was very careful at measuring the meat and cheeses I have been eating ever since I started this weight loss journey back in January.

Guess what!?!?

My scale has not been accurate for at least the past week.

I noticed that I had to measure and remeasure my food a few times because the scale was giving me various weights.

No, I don't weigh all of my food. I just weigh the ones that measure by ounces.

I threw out that stupid old non-working scale and bought me this digital beauty.

It is so beautiful and very accurate.

I measured my lean ham deli slices at 2 ounces, and I was shocked.

I was putting twice as much of that meat in my english muffins all of last week!

Don't even get me started on how much cream cheese I actually put on all of those muffins!

Yikes! That may be one of the reasons why I only had a 1/2 pound loss.

I measured all my meats and cheeses with that dumb non-working scale!

Anyways... this might be a small issue with you, but it's a pretty big deal to me.

Eating 4 oz. of pork sirloin is much healthier than almost 8 oz.!

So now...

*P90X is on its way to my house.

*I got a new, beautiful, digital, WORKING food scale.

*I'm running for longer times.

*I've put in yoga in my routine.

*I'm working with weights.

*I'm working on my abs.

I have no more excuses for small losses.

Today's Food and Activities

20 minute run

yoga

abs

upper body with free weights

1 cup Go Lean cereal, 1/2 cup 1% milk

7 almonds

grilled chicken and veggies

1 apple

7 almonds

Parmesan crusted fish and veggies

1 WW cake

Have a happy and healthy day!

A Nice Surprise

Today I am thankful for the number "20."

Strange, but true.

Yesterday I had a very small window of an opportunity to get a run in while my sis watched the twins.

I was supposed to warm up with a walk for 5 minutes and then repeat a pattern of running 7 minutes and walking 2 minutes (4 times). That didn't happen. I really wanted to stay on my own modified run/walk program, but due to the time crunch I decided to run longer. You see, I've been pacing myself as far as increasing my running time.

I warmed up with a 5 minute walk and then ran for 10 minutes and walked for 2 minutes twice.

My feet didn't hurt. In fact, nothing hurt. I think I could've done one more 10 minute run.

I couldn't believe it.

And get this!

I was smiling the entire time!

I could've cried the entire time too!

My breathing was nice and even. I wasn't even out of breath.

This really lifted up my spirits because that 1/2 pound loss I had when I weighed myself Saturday really made me mad.

I never imagined "10 minutes" could be easy for me- at least not this soon.

So I love the number "20."

I rest today, and I'll be running tomorrow. I think I'm going to try to run for 20 minutes straight.

I'll let you know how I do.

Today's Food and Activities

45 minutes walking with twins

Jillian Michaels' Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism

abs

upper body with free weights

1 cup Go Lean cereal, 1/2 cup 1% milk

7 almonds

grilled chicken and veggies

1 apple

7 almonds

tuna with multigrain sandwich rounds

1 WW cake

Have a happy and healthy day!

A Brick Wall

I feel like I've hit a brick wall with my weight loss.

People usually call it a "plateau."

I knew it would come, but I didn't expect it so soon.

I didn't lose as much as I expected and/or wanted to lose from last week's efforts.

In fact, I only lost 1/2 a pound.

I've asked myself,

"What did I do wrong?."

Did I overindulge last weekend for Easter? Probably.

Did I not work out enough these past few days?  Maybe.

Has my body gotten used to the workouts I've been doing?  Possibly.

Am I eating enough on my "clean" days? Absolutely.

Am I drinking enough water?  Yes.
With all that running through my head,

I've decided to:

*continue my running programs

*continue lifting weights

*continue working on my abs

*continue walking with the twins

*start doing yoga twice a week for flexibility and weight loss.

*start P90X 

Maybe the muscle confusion will help.

I am thankful that I did lose weight from last week.

It's a small loss, but it's better than a gain.

I know I'll get to my goal weight eventually.

I just have to believe that I can and be relentless in my efforts.
In the past when I hit these "walls," I often felt very discouraged.
It's usually the time I decide to give up and say things like,
"Why am I even trying?."
No more of that thinking for me.
I'm tired of being fat.
I'm tired of being "tired." 

I'm doing this for myself.

I'm doing this for my family.

I'm doing this because my life has and will continue to be more  enjoyable  and  worthwhile.

I CAN and I WILL do this.

A big thank you for those who have been supporting me, and welcome to my new followers and readers.

Today's Food and Activities
41 minutes run/walk program
yoga
abs
upper body with free weights
1 cup Go Lean cereal, 1/2 cup 1% milk
7 almonds
WW Salisbury Steak and potatoes
1 apple
7 almonds
Lean Cuisine pizza
1 WW cake

Have a happy and healthy day!

A Blender! For Me?

Today I am thankful for my new blender.

Do you remember the scene in "Father of the Bride" where the girl's fiance gives her a blender?

She totally frieks out.

Well... when my hubby gave me one for Easter (LOL), I was ecstatic.

I had to throw out our old blender when it started leaking from the bottom.

Now I'm ready to make fresh salsa, smoothies, and any other concoctions that require blending.

I know. I'm simple.

Friday's Food and Activities

no run- rest day
45 minutes Tae-Bo
45 minutes walk with twins
20 minutes abs
30 minutes upper body with free weights
1 cup Go Lean cereal, 1/2 cup 1% milk
1 light Activia yogurt
7 almonds
1 whole wheat english muffin, 1 TBS B&B spread, 4 slices tomatoes, 2 oz. lean ham
7 almonds
1 apple
stirfry chicken with veggies, 1/2 cup brown rice

Saturday's Food and Activities
no run- rest day
20 minutes abs
30 minutes upper body with free weights
1 light Activia yogurt
1 cup Go Lean cereal, 1/2 cup 1% milk
7 almonds
Vietnamese vermicelli salad with veggies and lean grilled pork
Date Night Dinner:  Eat whatever I want with dessert!

Sunday's Food and Activities
no run- rest day
20 minutes abs
30 minutes upper body with free weights
1 light Activia yogurt
1 cup Go Lean cereal, 1/2 cup 1% milk
7 almonds
1 whole wheat english muffin, 1 TBS B&B spread, 4 slices tomatoes, 2 oz. lean ham
7 almonds
1 apple
Thai chicken with veggies, 1/2 cup brown rice

I weigh myself on Saturday, so I'll post my weight on Monday.

Have a happy and healthy weekend!

Back to Normal

Today I am thankful for prebiotics.

I wondered.

Did you?

I kept seeing the Activia commercials, and I thought to myself,

"Does it really work in two weeks?."

Well... I am happy to say it does.

Actually... it worked faster than that for me.

You'd think that with all the fiber I eat every day that I wouldn't have a problem, but I did.

Now I'm back to normal. LOL.

Today's Food and Activities

37 minutes run/walk program

(6 min. run, 2 min. walk)
45 minutes walk with twins
20 minutes abs
30 minutes upper body with free weights
1 cup Go Lean cereal, 1/2 cup 1% milk
1 light Activia yogurt
7 almonds
1 whole wheat english muffin, 1/2 oz. lowfat cream cheese with chives, 4 slices tomatoes, 2 oz. lean turkey
7 almonds
1 apple
1 medium flour tortilla with 2 oz. sirloin steak fajita with veggies and black beans

Have a happy and healthy day!

Dinner Burn-Out

Today I am thankful for my Balega running socks.

They're padded just in right places, so I can run with no pain.

I'm getting tired of the dinners I've been preparing (with the exception of Thai food).

Yes, they've been successful at helping me lose weight.

No, I'm not totally going to stop making the recipes we've enjoyed.

I'm just looking for other options to keep dinner still tasting good and healthy.

Do you have any of these cookbooks?

I have a gift card from Barnes & Noble, and these were rated the highest according to their readers' reviews.

Let me know what you think!

Today's Activities and Food

37 minutes run/walk program

(6 min. run, 2 min. walk)

45 minutes walk with twins

20 minutes abs

30 minutes upper body with free weights

1 light Activia yogurt

1 whole wheat english muffin, 1 TBS B&B spread, 4 slices tomatoes, 2 oz. lean turkey

7 almonds

2 small corn tortillas, 1 turkey bacon slice, 4 slices tomatoes, 1/4 nonfat cheddar
lean ground turkey Sloppy Joe's, carrot sticks

7 almonds

9 mini rice cakes

Have a happy and healthy day!

Gratitude

My husband and I recently read an article together about gratitude.

We were reminded how important it is.

We learned that by simply being thankful for your blessings (big and small)

*helps you have a better outlook

*decreases stress levels

*improves your relationships with others

One way to remember to be thankful is to write in a journal every day about something you are thankful for.

Since this is a kind of journal for me, my weight loss, and life, I will begin here.

Today I am thankful for my 21 month old twins.

They are such blessings in our lives.

No matter how bad my day is I can look at them and feel how much Heavenly Father loved me to let me borrow these little miracles.

Today's Food and Activities

37 minutes run/walk program

(6 min. run, 2 min. walk)

45 minutes walk with twins

20 minutes abs

30 minutes upper body with free weights

1 light Activia yogurt

1 whole wheat english muffin, 1 TBS B&B spread, 4 slices tomatoes, 2 oz. lean ham

7 almonds

1 turkey patty, 1 cup green beans

1 apple

2 oz. linguine with clams in light broth sauce

 

What are you thankful for?

Have a happy and healthy day!

Like Butter, Baby!

Last Saturday, I weighed myself, and I lost 1 pound.

This is going to sound a little selfish and ungrateful, but I was a little disappointed.

I think I was disappointed because I've been running again, and I just really wanted to lose a little more.

I didn't want to feel that way about this success, so I took a picture of a pound of butter (4 sticks) to get a "better picture" of what I truly lost.

I feel much better about it today.

I should be proud of my accomplishments so far.

I've earned it!

Last week, I worked out 5 days and ran 4 days.

Not in my wildest dreams did I ever think I could be running to lose weight and get in shape.

Today I ran for six minutes four times with a quick walk for two minutes in between.

I couldn't believe how much energy I had.

I really think I can run the 5K in November if I keep this up.

I wasn't excited about working out last week, but I still did it anyway.

Thank you for supporting me and putting up with my occasional blues.

The next time you lose "only" one pound, please remember that's FOUR STICKS OF BUTTER!

Today's Food and Activities

37 minutes run/walk program

(6 min. run, 2 min. walk)

Day 1 Shred Level 2

20 minutes abs

30 minutes upper body with free weights

1 light Activia yogurt

1 whole wheat english muffin, 1/2 oz lowfat cream cheese, chives, 4 slices tomatoes, 2 oz. lean turkey

7 almonds

1 turkey patty, 1 cup green beans cooked in Pam

7 almonds

4 oz. Thai lemon grass sirloin pork stirfry, 1/2 cup brown rice

I received a Thai cookbook from my sis A for my birthday, and I've been loving learning how to cook Thai food! It's also super easy to calculate the points because it's mostly herbs and veggies. I just basically count the oil, peanuts (if any), and lean meat! It also gives me a chance to eat white rice (which is my love and number 1 enemy). If you haven't tried Thai food, then you're really missing out on healthy stuff! It's one of the healthy foods my hubby LOVES to eat with me!

Have a happy and healthy day!

Kick Butt Friday

No, that's not a picture of me.

Oh how I would love it to be, though!

So would my hubby. LOL.

The following are current pics of me.

I'm 138 pounds as of last Saturday.

Okay, so my arms aren't as wonderful and tone as they should be, but I'm feeling stronger than I ever have. I've been working with free weights 5-6 days a week, and I'm proud of that. I've never been as dedicated to working with my upper body as I have been recently.

This belly is what happens when you have twins.

I've also been working on my abs 4-6 days a week, and they do feel better when I compare it with how they felt when I embarked on this weight loss journey in January.

I know it's definitely smaller.

I'm afraid that I will always have extra skin in my abs even when I lose all the weight because I'm way too scared to go under the knife. I also think that my skin has lost some of its elasticity.

I weigh myself  tomorrow, and I NEED to exhaust myself  today.

Today's Food and Activities

35 minutes run/walk program

(5 min. run, 2 min. walk)

45 minutes walk with twins

20 minutes abs

30 minutes upper body with free weights

1 light Activia yogurt

1 whole wheat english muffin, 1 TBS B&B spread, 4 slices tomatoes, 1 turkey bacon slice

7 almonds

2 small corn tortillas, 1 turkey bacon slice, 4 slices tomatoes, 1/4 nonfat cheddar

7 almonds

grilled pork and veggies with 1/2 cup brown rice

9 mini rice cakes

It was too cold to take the twins out for a walk yesterday, so instead I did Turbo Jam Cardio Party Mix 2 for 45 minutes while they napped. I haven't done it in a while, and it felt great to move to the fun music.

I'll let you know on Monday how my weigh-in went on Saturday.
I hope you have a "kick butt" Friday and a super weekend!