Yard work is hard work!

I did over 2 hours of yard work. I am still not done but I will be continuing my hard work tomorrow. Today, I mowed the yard. Yes, it was on a riding lawn, but it was still work. I think my abs got a great workout. Sitting up straight and vibrating my way around the yard, for about an hour. Also, Josh and I went out and bought a weed-eater. After, we got it started Josh used it for a while. When it got to be my time, I didn't do so well. I kept hitting the shed and almost fell into the creek. So I have abdicated my throne of weed whacking to Josh. I do, however, get to use the loppers and cut all the big trees down along the creek and up front by the telephone pole. Anyways, time to head to bed, I have to get up early.

Buffets are the devil!

So we went out to celebrate my MIL's birthday. The family decided to go to Prairie Meadows Casino and race track. Well, fine, but I haven't mastered the eating healthy at a buffet. Plus it costs $15 and I want my money worth. Well, I definately ate my money's worth. And then after I stuffed my face until I was really unconfortable for a long time, I felt bad. I knew it wasn't the best move for my diet. I did do some good things yeaterday. Well, they weren't great but I could have done worse for myself. I ate breakfast before going to my training in the morning. Yeah 1 point for breakfast. Then, when I got home I grabbed a Fiber One bar. I thought it would keep me full for a little while with as much fiber as is in it. Well, it didn't but at least I didn't hit a fast food joint for "lunch". Ok so I should have had small meals though out the day instead of saving my calories for the huge meal I ate in the evening that night. But at least I didn't have 2 big meals on top of the huge meal I ate later.

Well, this week is to visualize a healthy life style. I really hope I can keep up with the other 3 goals plus adding this one. I also hope I don't injure myself while I work out because that really didn't help me last week when I could work out for most of the week. I haven't created my menu this week but that will probably be the next post I make today. After I go get dressed and take a walk around the block.

I am also going to have to start preparing for that time of the quarter again. It should be coming in a week or two. Which means I have to get really strict on my diet and exercise so I don't gain any weight during that time. We'll see what happens

Weigh in!!

I weighed in this morning. I am down 1 whole pound. Which isn't too bad! I wish it would be more but I will take it for what I could get. And you would think that would be a motivation for me to keep going, but no, I ate like crap today. I will have to enter that into my Sparkpeople and see how bad I really did do. I have almost got all my water intake for the day. I hope I can get back in to the swing of things and get my diet under control.

I also haven't worked out in a few days because I injured myself Monday. I think I am getting better now, so hopefully I can get back to working out tomorrow. I think tomorrow is a cardio day. Maybe I can get a walk in Ames/Randall.

This weeks goal is to visualize a healthy life. Along, with drinking water, exercising and not eating fast food or Chinese. Well, as sad as it is it is time for me to go to bed.

Good day 2!!

Well, today I had a good day. I stayed within my calorie range, protein and carbs. I was almost under on my carbs!!! I was 7 grams over my fat. And the only reason for that was that I ate peanuts for a snack. It was a good snack because it kept me full for a while. That was until I started craving something sweet. I ate some raisins and that took care of the craving. I even had enough calories for ice cream. I love weight watchers ice cream!!!!

Anyways, I didn't work out today because my butt and thighs are hurting like no other. I did some strength training last night. It involved lunges. Oh my goodness! My arms are also hurting because I actually did modified push ups correctly. I can't wait until the exercises actually start working and toning my body.

Good Day!!!!

I have had my second great day this week. I haven't gotten all my water in yet, but I did stay with in my calorie limit (and get ice cream too). I also did my first strength training session. I use SparkPeople to create my exercises. Today they had me doing lunges....Oh my god, my thighs are killing me right this second. I am hoping they will stop hurting in a few minutes. I think tomorrow find a stretch for the thighs before I do lunges ever again.

I am hoping the fitness center at work will get finished here soon so I can use that. That and I am trying to create a fitness area in my bedroom downstairs. I am considering making a deal with my self that if I work out X many days a week until Christmas I can buy myself some piece of fitness equipment. Be it a treadmill, elliptical or gazelle. I haven't decided yet. It is just an idea. Maybe I will buy a Boflex to work on my toning and weight lifting. Hey maybe Josh will get motivated.

Josh is being a pain in the ass right now. He is not supportive of my weight loss goals. He doesn't seem to think I can do it. Sure I have been trying to lose weight for about 2 years now and gotten no where, but I think I have finally hit rock bottom. I have realized that if I don't change something now I am going to look just like my mom in about 20 years. Not that my mom isn't beautiful but she could stand to lose a few pounds even if only for her own health. I have also decided that my students may not respect me as much. They will figure, if she doesn't care about herself enough to be healthy, why should we care about her. Stupid boys!!!!!
Well, that's enough for me for now. I will write to see how tomorrow is going then. Byes!

Success!!!

I have had success today!!!! I ate with in my calorie range!!! I worked out (walked) for 45 minutes. Tomorrow I am going to check out Curves. That way, I will get some strength training and cardio. I will still do some extra cardio and strength training but this will make sure I get at least a little exercise in every week.

I followed my plan today!!!!!!! Ok so I ate a cookie, and I we feeling bad about that but looking at my whole day I am doing great!!!

Refocused again

Ok, so I have refocused again. I am still following the vice-busting plan, But I am going to start working on planning my meals. I have created a whole menu for this week. I hope to stick to it. I have planned for eating out and for the other activities going on this week. For example, this week our school district is giving us breakfast and lunch one day. I put that in my plan but I will need to make sure I still eat healthy with my choices. I will also need to make sure that I take 1/2 my meal home one night when we are eating out. That way I have lunch for the next day since that is my plan. Yeah, I know plans change but I need to try really hard to stick with my plan. When I don't is when I end up failing on my lifestyle change.

I took pictures of myself this morning to show me at my heaviest (or what I hope to think I is my heaviest). The other day I checked out "The Biggest Loser" website. It had many pictures of others before and after pictures. I hope to post my before and after pictures on there some day. It was very motivational to see how others have lost so much weight. I have about 52 lbs to lose. That's about 1/4 of me. I can do this. I can!

Anyways, ot's time to get walking. I am going to go walk around the block. Then come back and finish cleaning out the kitchen. If anyone wants some snacks I got to get rid of some really bad for me snacks.

AHHHHH....

Ok, So I really don't have anyone to blame but me for my lack of weight loss. And apparently, I think I have give up the wrong diet vice. Recently, I have decided that Chinese take-out is my diet vice. I really need to stock our fridge so I don't go out and buy things that are not healthy for me. For example, chinese take out. I has been so easy to just run to Hy-Vee and pick up a meal. I think this is my true diet vice. With as many calories and fat (if I get the sweet and sour chicken) that are in Chinese take out, I have not been doing myself right. This week all around has been a bad week for my vice busting diet. I haven't gotten in my water on most days.

The goal this week was fast food. Ok so I haven't gone to a place with a drive through. Yeah for me a small accomplishment. I also haven't cooked at home really at all this week. So that means I must have eaten somewhere else. If fact I did. I ate a sit down restaurants where their portions are out of control and I didn't bring any home with me. So that means I ate it all. Guess how many calories that must have been.

The goal for this upcoming week is exercise before TV or computer. So that means I really should get off this computer and get my but moving. Oh but I am too lazy today. I did mow the lawn yesterday, but we have a riding lawn mower so I don't think it was that beneficial. I did clean and vacuum the house. Yeah a small step. I am thinking of going to Curves for a few months. I have a two week free trial from Avon that I need to use up soon. When I go they will fill me in on how much body fat I have and take all kinds of measurements. I think with my new job I should be able to afford the membership fee. And it's only 30 minutes. I can come home and shower after the workout. If they don't have showers there.

I am getting really disappointed with my lack of weight loss. I have actually gained weight this week. There have been a lot of changes in my life this week also however. I have started a new job, quit another job, applied for a second job, ate like crap, and went off my Lexapro. That has been a fiasco, but I think I am beginning to recover. I keep reading more about diet and exercise and nothing seems to work. I think my goal for next week (along with visualizing my healthy life) will be to track everything that enters my mouth. If I get an honest answers as to what is going in my mouth I may be able to figure out why I am not losing weigh but in fact gaining it.

Well, I think I am going to get in the shower and go to Curves. Maybe I can get my tour and fat analysis done today. I will post how that is going. We'll see ya later!

More disappointment and drama

So I came off of my Lexapro since the last time I posted. Well, it hasn't been the best time. I went out with friends Tuesday night and started bawling at the bar. What type of person does that? I really don't even know what made me cry. Other than Josh had been slightly upset with me about a small purchase I made. (and forgot to tell him about) I called the doctor the next day and they say I am normal for coming off my meds. The nurse said to try to stick it our for about a week more and if it doesn't get better than to go back on the meds. Well see what goes on.

I am also struggling with my weight loss this week. I have give up soda, and haven't eaten fast food all week and haven't lost any weight. I am about to give up but I will keep trying for a few more weeks. If I don't see improvement soon I will have to look into something different. Next week starts my exercise before TV and computer. I am hoping that will work. I have been walking with a friend a few days a week. It hasn't seemed to help so I will have to start working out more. I also need to work on my diet but we'll see when I get around to that.

Well, I start training tomorrow for school. I am really excited to get started. I am a little anxious though too. We'll see how it goes.

Disappointment and refocus

Well, today I stepped on the scale to see if I had made any progress with the small steps that I had been trying. Guess what? I actually gained another freaking pound. Normally this would be the point I give up and go crawling back to my soda. But today I didn't I decided to keep trying. I am going to keep trying for the next 11 weeks and see how this works. I know I should be eating a really healthy lunch, dinner and breakfast but since those changes haven't been on my plan yet I really haven't been doing that. Hopefully, if I keep up my water intake and no fast food (I really need to stop eating out though.) it will finally work this time. I think this is how my friend Tracy lost weight.

I think I will go back and re-read the section for this week. With that I will start the affirmations. That is one thing I haven't been doing enough yet.

I keep telling myself that I even if lose the weight at my 12 week mark or even a little after I will still look amazing on my honeymoon.

Oh yeah, I quit taking my Lexapro today. We will see how that affects my mood and my weight loss. I have heard that anti-depressants can cause weight gain. But really thinking about it I am thinking it has more to do with my eating and exercising habits than the meds I am on.

Exercise is the next step in the Vice -Busting Diet. I may try to get some extra exercise in this week to jump start my weight loss. I may even try to sneak some weight lifting in to help. We'll see if I really even get around to it or not. It has been so darn hot this past week I haven't wanted to do anything. Oh well we'll see how it goes. Anyways, I need to go work on our menu for this week and maybe some reading.

So I have done really good with drinking my water. The last two days I have gotten at least 8 glasses of water in. Yeah for me! As for my food though, today was my first day not eating fast food. My definition for fast food is anything I would be able to go through a drive through for. So Subway doesn't count. That's where I went for lunch. Last night, Josh had a going away party for one of his friends so I ended up with chicken strips and fires at the bar. I also had some spinach- artichoke dip later the night. My tummy was not feeling good after that food. I ate way to much. Tonight wasn't much better. We went to Amana for dinner. The restaurant we went to serves food family style. So it is like an all you can eat buffet, that comes right to your table. It was amazing! It wasn't amazing for my food plan/diet. Oh well, at least it wasn't fast food.

Progress

Yesterday was an ok day. I did get my water in. And that is my goal so I achieved my goal. I even got some exercise in also. My friend Tracy and I have been going walking at the mall after se gets off work. It has really helped me to get more active. Tracy is a very good role model. Over the past year or so she has managed to get her weight under control, got her depression under control, and is working on a financial budget. These are the exact goals I am working on. For her weight she is only a few pounds from her goal weight and looks amazing. She has gotten off of her depression meds and is working to control it on her own. That is my next goal. I will be coming off of my meds in about a week and a half. I hope everything goes well. As for my finanical standing. I am planning on being debt free before I am 30. I have about 6 years to get that done. This means I will be spending almost all of my money towards my bills and little for play money. I am getting a second job to help with that. I am planning to start working at Bath and Body Works for the holiday season. This will provide me with a little money left over to use to play with. I really hope I can achieve this goal. I have read a lot of money/budgeting books to help me with this.

First Post

I figured I would at least make one post now that I started a new blog. In this blog I plan to write about my trials and tribulations with my weight loss journey. I am hoping to reach a healthy weight of 155 before my honeymoon in November. It may not be possible but I am going to try. I have discovered a new "diet". It is called the Vice busting diet. Each week you add a new challenge/goal for that week, along with mastering the goals already added. This week I am working on drinking between 64 oz to half my weight in oz of water. Today I achieved the 64 oz. I think it will be a few more days or weeks before I get to half my weight in oz.

I have recently also had an a-ha moment in my weight loss story. I went to the doctor this past week for a regular check up and weighed in over 200lbs. At that moment I realized if I don't do something soon about my weight I will end up looking and being just like my mom. Don't get me wrong I love my mom to death. And I am so very proud of all the things she has accomplished in her life, but I don't want to have her health problems. She is borderline diabetic, has had a double bypass, and has a very strong caffeine addiction for years. Along with my mom's health, my dad doesn't have the greatest health either. He is full blown diabetic, has a long history of heart disease and is very overweight. I am hoping to show them and everyone else that you can lose weight and you don't have to give up all your favorite foods at once. It doesn't take a major overhaul of your diet to lose weight. Yeah, I probably won't lose it as fast as I would like to but I will still lose it. Anyways, that's enough for now. I need to get ready for bed. I hope to post again tomorrow and as many days after that as I can.

~Mel-o