Getting back in control...again

Control over your eating is great! What a feeling to see food and not feel the need to have to have some of it. And then to have to try ALL of it. My monthly visitor safely behind me, all those weird, uncontrollable cravings go with it. yay!

However, the countdowns continue:

#1. Countdown to Vegas baby, woo! I leave this Thursday and plan to never come back .....at least until Sunday when I return.

#2. Weigh-in for the $900 prize. Momma needs a new set of everything and my clothing are only getting looser by the day.  Still on that plateau and staying around the 183/184 range and I need to get down to 179 by Dec 13th (almost 2 weeks). The heat is on and I have to get thru Vegas to get to the other side - yikes!

Mostly clean eating for the next few weeks. Mostly. Tomorrow I'm going to a burger joint for dinner with a friend and plan to have the burger with the deep fried onions inside plus bottomless fries on the side. mmmmm I'll probably only be able to eat half of it but it will definitely be the DELICIOUS half. 

So of course breakfast and lunch will be VERY clean to compensate for the very messy, heavy and calorie laden dinner that I plan to consume. mmmmmm. stay tuned.

ROLL CALL:

Breakfast (930am)

1/2 cup of oatmeal

1 tbsp raisins

1 tbsp sunflower seeds

1 tbsp pumpkin seeds

sprinkle of cinnamon, nutmeg and a dash of vanilla

1 tsp of stevia natural sweetener

1 large boiled egg

Lunch (130pm)

Wanted something hot and delicious so I went with rare beef pho noodle soup and added tons of broccoli and chopped bok choy

 
Dinner (745pm) 
Craving a shrimp Caesar salad so I made one.

3 oz shrimp meat 

1 tbsp chopped garlic

1/4 cup sliced avocado

Chopped celery for the crunch

3 cups+ Romaine and mixed green lettuce

Kinda homemade dressing:

1 tbsp lite Caesar dressing

1/2 tbsp Italian dressing

1/2 lemon 
Dash of Worcestershire sauce, wasabi paste, and anchovy paste

 

TV Snack (8pm):

Handful of baked kettle chips

1 tbsp spinach chipotle dip

EXERCISE:

None today but I'm going to work out hard in the morning-630am I hear you calling me. Today is my rest day and although I hate rest days, tomorrow at the gym I'll be able to work out for longer and with more weights and go farther so I KNOW that resting is good for you even though it's sooo difficult sometimes to sit on your ass when you could be out at the gym!

DRINKS: 

7 glasses of water (yikes! I need to almost double this amount tomorrow)

2 cups of green tea (1 tea bag)

Happy Eating!

Oh I get it - I'm on a plateau!

I would actually prefer a pedestal but...

So the day after I scarf down bagels for lunch, cupcakes later on and other delicious foodstuffs, I actually dropped 1/2 a pound from the day before.

Go figure!

So now I'm back down to 183. yay. Only 25lbs to go. Double yay.

I'm gonna kick the pants off those last 25.

But I've been @ 183 for a few weeks now and there are only 2 weeks left until the December 13th weigh-in for the $900 prize. I'm currently leading but the person in second is now on one of those Dr. Bernstein type diets and is closing in fast.  I'll need to step up my game to maintain my lead. Another 5lbs or so in the next 2 weeks should do it. I'll start with a 90 minute boxing class in the morning followed by a protein shake and go from there. 

I'll keep you posted on that.

Vegas is coming up this weekend too. So excited! As I will be drinking all my calories in hard booze with diet sodas (who has time to eat in Vegas??) I'm not too worried about vacation eating. There will be no buffets or all-you-can-eats for me. Plus with all the dancing and walking my girlfriends and I will be doing, I know I'll be able to get my exercise in that way.

Also, whoever said you can't lose weight if you drink booze obviously didn't realize that you simply have to cut out the FOOD part if you're gonna be drinking. Meals this weekend will consist of limes, lemons, celery sticks, maraschino cherries and whatever else they garnish the drinks with there. 

Last time in Vegas (just a few months ago) I lost 5lbs over a 4 day period. 

Here's hoping my luck hasn't run out.

Yay! I think a triple yay is in order here too. yay yay yay!

ROLL CALL:

Breakfast (2:45pm - had a house party last night & started day REAL late)

Shrimp omellet

3 oz Shrimp meat

1 egg plus 4 egg whites

1/4 cup Mushrooms, Onions & Green onions
1 oz goat cheese, crumbled

=I've been craving this for awhile and it was delicious.

  
Afternoon snack (5:30pm)

1 baby bel cheese

8 red grapes

Lunch (7pm)

Chicken stir fry

1/4 cup jasmine rice

3 oz chicken

2 cups broccoli, red/green/orange peppers and muchrooms

Garlic

Teriyaki sauce

soy sauce

Dinner (10:30pm)

Hot dog with ketchup, mustard and relish

DRINKS

9 glasses of water

1 americano

1 hot chocolate

EXERCISE

15 minutes on stairmaster (level 13)

25 minutes on treadmill (11 minutes of sprints, walking rest of time)

10 minutes weighted sqauts and lunges

10 minutes ab work and stretching

Happy Eating!

Elusive happiness... when will size-6 bliss come?

More compliments this week. Coworkers and people I haven't seen in a few months are bestowing me with multiple compliments and congratulations on my slimmer figure. I should feel amazing but I don't.

5'7 and in still in the 180s. Argh. Where are those magic pills when you need em!

This lead me to wonder " When does the 'happy' kick in?"

175 lbs is the short term goal and it is still several pounds away.

I know about inches and body shape and I know I should be happy that everything is moving (albeit VERY slowly) in the right direction but sheesh! C'mon already.

ROLL CALL

Breakfast

1/2 cup full fat plain yogurt

1/4 cup granola

3/4 cup sliced strawberries

Lunch

1/2 whole wheat pita

2 oz black forest ham

1 oz cheddar cheese

1/2 cup sliced Cucumber

1/2 cup sliced green pepper

Sliced tomatoes

1 cup potato and leek soup

Testing out the new camera on my brand new RIM Blackberry Bold 9700! If you don't know how cool this device is, then you aren't as into mobile phones as you should be. I think I like it. Look how crisp and green everything looks. Great colour! I'm sold. (Luckily I won it cuz the retail price is $699.95)

Dinner

5 pieces tuna sashimi

6 pieces salmon & avocado roll

1 White dinner roll

2 tbsp of peanut butter

EXERCISE

Whoops. None today. Worked OT at the first job today and had plans later so unfortunately the gym was the first to go. Luckily, I get to go tomorrow morning @ 7AM instead. I love early morning gym sessions!

DRINKS

8 glasses of water

3 cups of green tea (1 tea bag, mug refilled 3 times)

1/2 bottle of vitamin water (tangerine flavour)


Happy Eating!

Sunday Planning

First thing - Time to follow up on yesterday's goals:

1. Increase dietary fiber (ensure I'm eating 25g/day) Check!
   
2. Get 7.5+ hours of sleep per night (I know this works!) Check!
3. Take a multivitamin each day (Still need to purchase)
   
4. Drink 9+ glasses of water per day Check!
   
5. Reduce sodium (minimal sea salt additions) - Errr...need to purchase a sea salt alternative
   
6. Exercise for 60minutes min, 5+ days a week with lots of cardio, crossfit/boxing classes and hot yoga (REST DAY)
   
7. Increase protein intake (aim for150g/day) (Area to work on)
   
8. Plan, plan, plan and then plan some more. Then, of course, revisit these goals on a daily basis and modify, increase as needed. Check! I planned meals for the week and have planned out exercise and meals

5/8  or 62%. A passing grade, yay! Go me. But I'm sure I can do better. I'll get on it!

 

ROLL CALL

Breakfast:

1 cup All Bran cereal

1/2 cup slim milk

1 boiled egg

Lunch:

1 slice whole grain bread

1 tbs peanut butter 

1 Curve brand fiber bar

Dinner:

1 whole wheat pita

2 balls bocconcini cheese

1 oz pepperoni 

1 tsp parmesean cheese

1/2 cup mushrooms, onions, garlic, green & red peppers

Dessert:

1/2 cup turtles ice cream. mmmmmm

DRINKS:

8 glasses of water

1 tall long americano with a shot of caramel syrup

 

EXERCISE: Rest day

Happy Eating!

 

I said NO to brunch today

I have 2 countdowns taking place right now:

1. Countdown to girlie weekend in Vegas (Dec 3rd to 6th) 

2. Countdown to Group Weigh-In (Dec 13th) 

Time's run out. No room for excuses. The scale doesn't lie and my clothes need to get looser and fast! 

There is no place for major errors and all my slimming down efforts need to be increased and maintained for the next 3 weeks. Treats will be to a minimum and fruits and veggies will be at an all time max.

The prize for the biggest loser (% weight lost) - $900 to go towards my new slimmer me wardrobe which I desperately need! I'm wearing baggy size 12 & 14 clothes when I'm actually a size 10/11, ack!

Goals to achieve/maintain for the next 3 weeks:

1. Increase dietary fiber (ensure I'm eating 25g/day)
2. Get 7.5+ hours of sleep per night (I know this works!)
3. Take a multivitamin each day
4. Drink 9+ glasses of water per day
5. Reduce sodium (minimal sea salt additions)
6. Exercise for 60minutes min, 5+ days a week with lots of cardio, crossfit/boxing classes and hot yoga
7. Increase protein intake (aim for150g/day)
8. Plan, plan, plan and then plan some more. Then, of course, revisit these goals on a daily basis and modify, increase as needed. 

My friend invited me to brunch this morning. I LOVE brunch. I was made for brunching. If I could brunch everyday I totally would. Alas the place they were brunching at was a great Mexican restaurant that I have been to in the past and there are no healthy options there. Everything is fried, greasy, high calorie, high in fat and highly delicious. 

So I said no. December 14th is going to be a smorgasbord of eating. I know rewarding yourself with food is bad, a serious no-no and is heavily frowned upon but the hope is that I can increase my salad intake and decrease the 'other' food intake knowing that I can have one big treat day in the near future.

Oh gawd, wish me luck.

ROLL CALL:

Breakfast

Protein shake:

3/4 cup 1% milk
1 scoop of protein powder (25g of protein)

1/4 cup bananas

1 tbsp peanut butter

1 tbsp Nestle chocolate sauce

Dash of stevia (all natural sweetener)

Snack:   Elevate Me protein bar-Banana Nut bread flavour  (16g protein/9g fiber)

Lunch

1 small turkey breast and brie cheese (1oz) whole wheat panini

1 cup chick pea and red bean salad

1 cup fresh fruit (cantaloupe, red grapes, honeydew melon, watermelon)
Dinner
Garden salad
Rotisserie  chicken

EXERCISE:

15 minutes StairMaster (level 13)

25 minutes treadmill sprints

5 minutes ab work

10 minutes stretching

DRINKS:
8 glasses of water

1 cup Cafe Mocha with 2% milk

1/2 bottle Vitamin water - xxx

Happy Eating!

Brunch photo credit

"Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels" - Kate Moss

Oh it's sooo good to be back on my home computer. I don't know how people live without internet access at home. Even tho I did technically have access on my blackberry, on my work computer, at my friends' houses and even, I'm sure, at public libraries (do people still go online there?) However NOTHING beats your home PC (please pause while I give my Dell a big hug).
What's really silly is that my 2 bedroom apartment has 3 computers (1 desktop and 2 laptops) so you'd think between the 3 of them at least ONE would be up and running?? Ha! Properly working computers are for the rich.
 

So super model Kate Moss is under fire for reportedly saying "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels"  which is apparently a popular saying among pro-anorexia websites.
Wow. I guess there's a website for everything.
The problem for me is that I agree. It's part of the motivation I use to slim down and shed the extra pounds. Isn't that why the weight loss industry rakes billions of $$$ per year? Everyone wants to be 'skinny'.



What better motivation NOT to have that extra slice of pizza or that large chunk of chocolate cake or the fatty what-cha-ma-call-it, the deep fried whatever and to instead make healthier food choices.
Would people like it better if she said "Nothing tastes as good as a healthy body accompanied by a well balanced diet feels"? This is how I would interpret it anyway. As a girl who is still trying to make leggings looks good (not there yet) I need all the motivation & witty (if harsh) sayings I can find!

Are people mad that she said it or mad that she's right?


Anorexia (and its sister illness - Bulimia) is the side effect of our desire to be slender, skinny, tiny, small, petite, etc. Why kick the messenger (she's so skinny, they'd probably miss her anyway), maybe the naysayers would be better off looking at why they're mad at the message itself.

SLIMMING TIP:  Decide on your healthy size. There are a million tools out there to help us determine what a healthy weight and size is for our body types so we should utilize them. Knowing your proper weight range can help in setting realistic goals. 
At 5'7" with a large frame (I gain beautiful muscles quite easily,yay!) my healthy (or normal) weight range is 140lbs to 160lbs. My current goal - 150 to 158lbs. 
Caveat - make sure a variety of sources are used! Personal Trainers, physicians and various trusted health oritented websites combined can provide a great overall view of what proper physical fitness and a healhty lifestyle should look like.


Yee gads -according to one source, I should weigh less than 135lbs -yikes! I think I came out of the womb weighing in @ 145 so I have long since passed that low, low mark. :)



Happy Eating!






Kate Moss Photo credit: http://theskinnywebsite.com/site/category/kate-moss/ 
Dell photo credit: http://powerdeals.in/powerdeals/images/products/dell_desktop.230135040_std.jpg

Weight Loss on TV - Biggest Loser Review - Episode 9

Biggest Loser Review

ZIPLOC! This is obviously the product sponsor of this episode. I wonder if Bob or the contestants feel silly uttering insincere lines like 'oh I love this stuff', 'it’s green too?? Wow, that’s amazing!'


Yes folks, Ziploc green bags are powered by 15% wind power which is great but ads within the show - TACKY!

I want to go to any of their houses now and see which contestants actually paid for and are using those green bags.
Sheesh!

Anywho, makeovers? I LOVE makeovers. While it’s true that they've lost a lot of weight, if you were to meet any one of them for the first time, you wouldn't know that they had each lost a minimum of 50lbs! I had a friend with me as I forced myself to watch this week's episode and she asked repeatedly "oh so they've lost weight?"
I wasn't too impressed with the makeovers because they're all good looking people so adding a little makeup to the girls and some pizzazz to the fellas was all they really needed.

I can't wait for the finale when we get to see what they look like now. THAT will be a complete transformation and I can't wait to see it.!

It's at this point in the show where I get motivated. Now that they're slimming down to a point where the ladies are right at my weight range (in the 180's) that’s when I put the spoon and the turtles ice cream down (very slowly) and pick up the fresh strawberries instead.

Good luck to Amanda, my new fave character and a big BOOOO to Rudy who made Rebecca cry, was a jerk to Shay and tells others they don't keep their words or can't be trusted when in fact it HE who's the real jerk and fudger of the truth.
As an aside- kudos to Rudy on the hot wife! Wowza! Seeing his before, I'm impressed he got such a hottie who must have obviously been a chubby chaser. Great catch my man!

Computer Status Follow up (I received your emails, thanks for the support!):

What a pain in the arse it is to have a computer go down on you. Viruses are so mean! I have all the virus protection I thought I needed but I guess I needed a little bit more.


I realize too I don't like spontaneity. Well I like it but I like to plan for it. Viruses are the epitome of spontaneity and you certainly can't plan for them. Boooo I say, BOO!!

While my work computer is fast and wonderful - it is not always accessible and plus I have that ol day job to get in the way.

Luckily, no freelance writing jobs right now but I do have a social media project to start ASAP so I need my beautiful baby to work right now!
Good news! Help is arriving in the form of IT friends coming by my place tonight to fix up the ol 'puter, yay!


I will be blogging again daily in no time! Woo! :)