Updates

Since this is my scheduled weigh in day, I have decided to give a little update.  The past month has been a series of ups and downs, and some big changes are coming to our family.  So I will admit that I’ve let anything and everything get in the way of my weight loss goals.  It sucks too, because I don’t want it to be that way.  And actually, I gained 1.5 lbs back over that time.  I have worked to lose it, and I have, but I shouldn’t have gained it back in the first place.  Anyway, that’s where I am right now, still only 14lb down, but working on losing the rest of this weight.  It’s not easy, this weight loss thing.  If it were, there probably wouldn’t be so many overweight people.  I’ve found that, for me, it takes a renewed commitment each day in order to be successful.  If I go into a new day and think “Meh, I’m not going to work hard today”, then guess what…I DON’T.  And my progress suffers for it.  I’m imperfect.  I’m flawed.  I’m human.  But I’m also determined (most days )  And I’m ready to be skinny again.  It will happen…if only I don’t get in my own way.

On the Wagon

Again.  Yes, I was off the wagon for a couple weeks.  I won’t elaborate as to why, but it was a pretty valid reason.  However, since then, everything has been figured out, so I am back ON the wagon again.  But I will be honest with you, my reasons for being OFF the wagon didn’t mean I had to eat as unhealthily as I did.  So I will make no excuses about that.  I have given myself a firm talking to, and have assured myself that I won’t let it happen again.

SO, having said all of that, I’m BAAACK!!  Eating well and feeling good today.  I’m about to get my shred  and hoop on, and hopefully by this afternoon I will be melted into a puddle of sweaty goodness.

“I Can Tell You’ve Lost Weight!”

How many people have to tell me that before it starts to sink in?  I can look at a few places on my body and tell that things are changing.  But as a whole, all I see when I look in the mirror is fat.  Yes, you can see my collar bones (if you squint your eyes and tilt your head ).  And yes, my double chin is shrinking.  And yes, my pants are falling off of me.  BUT, the visual changes are so slight, that unless you see me often, you probably would just think I’m an overweight housewife who sits on my bum all day.  This is the frustrating part of this process.  What you can’t see are my muscles getting stronger everyday, my fat cells shrinking ever so slowly, my confidence, motivation, and determination higher than it’s been in a very long time.  Things are changing.  Slowly.  But that’s just how it is with healthy long term weight loss.  But people are noticing.  I’ve been told  in the last week, “You’re looking great!” “I can really tell you’ve lost weight!” “Those pants are too big for you…they’re falling off!”  And even though the changes are slight, they’re still there.  And apparently noticeable.

Weigh-In Day!! Week 6 and 30 Day Shred Update

Well it’s that time again…WEIGH-IN DAY!!  And I’m happy to report that the scale DID show a loss this week   Not quite as much as yesterday’s weight check though.  Can’t I just use yesterday’s weight for today’s weigh in??  Please??  No?  OK fine.  So, I stepped on the scale today and am down 2.2lbs!!  That makes for a grand total of 14 lb total loss!  I’m feeling good and strong and healthy, so I think something is working.  I am, however, still trying to figure out the right calorie and exercise combination.  I’m sure I’ll figure it out soon enough.

THE SHRED – DAY 4

I thought I’d throw a shred update in here while I’m at it.  Today was day 4, and it was both easier and harder today.  Easier in that I am almost completely doing the full-on versions of the workouts….with the exception of push-ups. <insert stink eye here>  Push-ups.  Who in the world came up with that awful exercise anyway? *grumbles*  Anyway, it was harder today to get up off the floor to transition from one move to another.  Muscles tearing down and building up, and whatnot.  But I really feel great;  totally confident that I will be successful with this commitment.  And just think, when I finally feel like I’ve got Level 1 down, I’ll have to move on to Level 2.  I’m scared.

Cravings – And a Poll!

Last night, all I wanted in the whole wide world was a dozen cookies.  Snickerdoodles, to be exact.  (my favorite recipe)  Never mind that it would eat up (no pun intended) nearly a full day’s calorie allowance.  I. Needed. Them. But, in the end, I settled for a Kellogg’s Fiber Plus Caramel Coconut Fudge bar.  It was sweet and satisfying.  And while it wasn’t my precious snickerdoodles, it still hit the spot.

I got lucky, really.  Some of my cravings don’t go away.  For instance, last week  my precious friend Amy mentioned that her hubby wanted to make sausage balls.  Mmmm….sausage balls.  Little nuggets of sausagey, Bisquicky, cheesy goodness.  Must. Have. Sausage. Balls.  It was all down hill from there.  All I thought about from that point on was sausage balls.  I had to make them.  So I did.  I used turkey sausage, but that was the only thing I changed from the original recipe.  And you know what?  It hit the spot.  Once I had them, I didn’t need them anymore.

So my question is:

Finding a Balance

As most of you know, I’m a proud breastfeeding mama.  We’ve been nursing for 14 months, and do not have a set “end date”.  But this also makes it tricky to lose weight.  For me, when I cut calories, I lose weight and it doesn’t affect my milk supply too much.  But since I’ve added in exercise, my milk supply is suffering, and little sister is nursing constantly.  It doesn’t do either of us any good, and will probably result in no weight loss, or even weight gain at the end of the week.  Finding the right balance of calories and exercise is proving to be a daunting task.  So, I did some digging and found a breastfeeding group on Spark People that had some great information.

What I Found

Apparently there is a formula that can tell you the right amount of calories you need each day.

First figure out your “dosing weight”: Height in inches minus 60, multiply by 5, then add 100, then divide by 2.2. (this is “ideal body weight” in kg)

Then take your current weight and divide by 2.2 (this is “actual weight” in kg).

Next take actual weight in kg minus ideal body weight in kg, multiply by 0.25, then add to ideal body weight. (this is “dosing weight” in kg)

Now you need to convert your height to centimeters. take height in inches and multiply by 2.54. (this is height in cm)

Now do this equation:
655 + (9.6 x dosing wt in kg) + (1.7 x ht in cm) – (4.7 x age)

Lastly, multiply the final number by 1.2.

This is your energy expenditure. Typically you add 500 calories for breastfeeding and you would subtract 500 calories for weight loss. So i would just use the number without any adding or subtracting.

I found that info here.

According to that formula, and without adding or subtracting any calories, I ended up with 1595 calories.  I’ve been eating between 1100-1300 calories, and working out, and have had a baby attached to me 24/7.  So, I’m thinking I need to up the calories a bit.  That way little sister gets more full per feeding, and I can still work out.  Because, let’s face it, this flab ain’t going away on its own.

So, fellow breastfeeding moms, how many calories are you eating?  Do you find it tricky to lose weight while maintaining a good milk supply?  Even though little sister is 14 months old and eating 2-3 meals per day plus snacks, she still gets the bulk of her nutrition from nursing.  Any advice you may have would be great!

The Shred – Day 1

I thought it would be a good idea to give periodic updates during my shredding adventure.

 

DAY 1 – It actually wasn’t nearly as hard as I thought it would be.  Last time I started the shred, I weighed 20lb more and was completely out of shape.  Not that I’m in shape now, but I am certainly much more active than I was.  I mean, exercising aside, I live in a 2 story house, so I climb the stairs several times a day.  Having said that, Jillian still kicked my butt.  But I was actually able to do the jumping jacks this time.  All of them.  Last time, I couldn’t even get through one set without modifying them.  I mostly did the modified version of everything else though.  The girls loved it.  They worked out along with me.  And when I was on the floor doing push ups and crunches, they were ON me.  Do I get extra credit for that??

 

Over all, I have a long way to go.  But I think I am off to a great start!

Commitments…Let’s DO this thing!!

I’m feeling very committed  today.  Not in the psychiatric hospital way.  Well…not completely in the psychiatric hospital way.  No sir, I’m in the business of making commitments.  Not the soft, rainbow-coated commitments, either.  Nope, I’m talking hard, gritty, sweaty commitments.  The uncomfortable kind.  The painful kind.  The slightly pain equals pleasure kind.  Yep, I’m a glutton for punishment.  At least for the next 30 days.  I’m making a public commitment to start and actually complete Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred.  I’ve had The Shred for over a year, and have done it maybe 5 times.  Lame-0.  No wonder I’m still fat, eh?  I’m also committing to doing at least 20 minutes of hooping per day.  I will easily surpass that most days, but I left the bar kind of low for those days when Jillian kicks my butt too hard.

I’m going to need your help.  PLEASE help keep me accountable.  I really don’t want to fail this mission.

Today is a Brand New Day

I’m going to be completely honest right now.  I had french fries yesterday.  And a crispy chicken sandwich.  In fact, I have been eating pretty crappily (is that a word??) for this entire week.  And why?  I don’t know.  Maybe it’s from frustration.  Maybe it’s because I just didn’t feel like cooking, and had no will power when eating out.  Maybe it’s because I’m so tired and hungry from nursing all the time (my 14 month old still nurses like a newborn most days), that I just didn’t care what I ate.  In fact, I’m pretty sure it’s a combination of all of that and more.

NO MORE EXCUSES!!!

But today is a brand new day.  And I’ve renewed my commitment to myself.  And while I do not want to let YOU (my faithful supporters) down, I don’t want to let MYSELF down even more.  Actually, I renewed my commitment last night when we opted for Subway rather than Chicken Express.  I’m feeling good, and eating well, and am ready for a great week of hooping and healthy living!

 

In light of my renewal, I will be moving my weigh in day to Fridays.  That way I don’t feel like I’m always trying to make up for the weekends, and I’ll have a whole week of healthy eating behind me when I weigh in.  As always, thank you so much for reading my blog and supporting me.  I know that there are a lot of people out there who are rooting for me, and I can’t express how grateful I am for you.

 

HEALTHY-HAPPY-WHOLE  That’s the goal.

A Friend Indeed

 

When I step into your embrace, the world slips away.  You always know just what I need.  I love the way you hug my every curve.  The way you move up and down my body, working muscles I didn’t even know I had.  Makes me hot.  And sweaty.  I love how I can lose myself in you.  When you’re surrounding me, my mind can’t think of anything else.  I forget about my worries and concerns.   I love how I can let go with you.  I love how I dance around with you, moving my body in a way that’s not suitable for public viewing.   I love how you love me unconditionally.  I love how you’re there for me…no matter what.  I love your consistency. Your stability.  I love the way you’re changing me.  Molding me.  Strengthening me.  My only regret is that we didn’t find each other sooner.

Everybody, this is Cindy Lou Hoop.  Cindy Lou Hoop, this is everybody

Weigh-In Day! Week 5

It’s that time of the week again…Weigh-In Day!!  I’m going to cut to the chase and say that the scale didn’t move today.  Yep, you read that right, I lost 0 lbs this week.  And while I’m super bummed, it’s outweighed by relief that I didn’t gain.  I’ll take a week of maintaining over a week of gaining any day.  But please know this:  I will be working super hard to make sure the scale shows a loss next week.  Cindy Lou Hoop and I have been getting nicely acquainted, and I believe this is the beginning of a wonderful friendship (more on that later).  So, you can bet your great Aunt Fanny that there will be less of me next week.

Things to work on this week:

• Snacking – I still snack, though not nearly like I used to.  But there are definitely times when I have a snack that is not needed.
• Portions – I need to be sure I’m eating correct portions.  I did have seconds last night, and I didn’t need it.
• Keeping a Food Journal – I need to start logging my food.  It will help keep me on track.
• Hooping – I need to make sure I’m getting in my 30min of hooping every day.  Not too hard considering I LOVE IT.

So yeah…there it is.  No loss. And you know what?  It ticks me off.  I’m mad because I know what I did wrong this week.  And I owe it to myself to work harder.  I’m worth it.

Saggy Butt

So, I have this pair of pants, right?  They have been hanging in my closet for 3 years because they were a little tight around the middle.  Well, I knew once I started losing weight, these would be the first pair of pants that would fit, as I have several transitional items.  Well, I put the pants on today, because let’s face it, I feel much better about myself when I’m actually dressed in clothes I wouldn’t mind being seen in public in, than sweat pants.  So I put them on, and guess what!   They FIT!  Actually, they sag in the butt.  And are falling off my hips a bit.  Looks like these won’t be around for much longer.  What a great problem to have!  My next transitional pants should fit soon…stay tuned

Good Food

Last night I made my own birthday dinner.  We had grilled boneless pork chops (on my handy Emeril grill pan), roasted cinnamon sweet potatoes, and roasted cauliflower.  Let me just say, we LOVE sweet potatoes.  The Mr.’s favorite way of eating them are covered in butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and syrup…the way I used to make them.  Can you imagine how much fat and calories were in those suckers??  I can’t even bear to think about it.  But now, I make it with a dash of cinnamon (about 1/2 tsp for 2 large sweet potatoes) only about a teaspoon of sugar, and a bit of canola oil….probably about 2 tablespoons.  This is for the whole batch.  And let me tell you, they are delicious.  You don’t miss the extra crap that made it taste like a dessert.  It was the perfect compliment to the grilled chops and roasted cauliflower (made with a little olive oil, salt and pepper).  I was savoring every bite of dinner last night.  And I almost felt guilty about it.  I mean, I had a weigh in the next morning…I shouldn’t be enjoying my food this much.  Because everyone knows that if it tastes good, it must be bad for you.  Not so, my friend.  Not only was my meal absolutely delicious, it was healthy.  Double whammy, yo.  Oh, you like that yummy food, big fat booty?  TOO BAD!!  It ain’t gonna stick to you!!!

Weekly Weigh-In – Week 4

Hello there!  Before I get to my weigh in, I would like to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who wished me a happy birthday yesterday.  It’s true…I turned 30 yesterday.  It was pretty anticlimactic, if I’m being honest.  It feels a lot like 29…just slightly more distinguished.  Anywho, I feel great and am glad to be a part of the 30′s club.

Now let’s get to the matter at hand.  It’s Tuesday, and you know what that means….WEIGH IN DAY!!!!  My favorite day of the week.  Mostly.  Unless I gain weight.  Then I hate it.  But today, folks, I’m not hating it.  I stepped on the scale this morning and was 2.4lb down from last week!!  That makes for a total of 11.8lb lost!!  I guess the cake didn’t do me in after all

It Snuck up on Me

It happened in the bathroom.  I had just taken a shower and was drying it off when I saw it.  The bathroom light was off, but the closet light was on and casting shadows in the darkened steamy room.  I was toweling my hair and happened to look at myself in the mirror.  There it was.  Just a hint.  Two bumps and two subtle lines with a small hollow in the middle.  My clavicle.  IT LIIIIIIIIIVES!!!!  I had given up all hope.  I thought I had lost it.  Then it snuck up on me.  Sneaky little collar bone.  I’ve missed you so much!

 

It’s worth it, folks.  It’s. Worth. It.

My New Best Friend…

…is on her way.  I think I will name her Cindy Lou Hoop.  Yes, folks, I have ordered my very own handmade fitness hoop from Hoop Mamas.  I am super excited for it to arrive!!  I was looking for a fun workout that I could do at home, and I think I’ve found it in hooping.  Only time will tell though.  I will post pics of my new BFF when she arrives.  Any other hoopers out there?

Weekly Weigh-In – Week 3

Well, today is weigh in day!!  Always my favorite day of the week (sometimes ).  Today I stepped on the scale and am 1.2lbs down from last week!  9.4 lbs total lost!  I’m going to celebrate this loss because I had a lot of things working against me this week.  However, I do need to step it up if I am going to make my anniversary goal.  But YAY for decreasing numbers!!

Dinner the RIGHT Way

I made some seriously delicious pork loin for dinner last night.  It was SO good.  Pork loin is a very lean cut of meat, so it was a double whammy:  Delicious and Healthy.  I served it with green beans and skinny mashed potatoes.  I haven’t had mashed potatoes in forever because they’re full of fat and calories.  Well, they were the way I made them.  But last night, I used skim milk (about 1/3 cup) and only 1 tbsp of butter.  I used to use whole milk and at LEAST half a stick of butter, but I honestly did NOT miss it.  The potatoes didn’t taste any different than the old way, and I saved a ton of f/c.  It’s little changes like this that are key to leading a healthy lifestyle.  I can still have my favorite foods, but without the guilt (and added pounds!)!

Fighting Through the Desires

I’m grumpy today.  Hmph.  When I’m grumpy, I don’t care about anything…especially eating right.  Like, right now, I’m full from lunch, and I’m fighting the urge to go rummage in the kitchen.  But instead of doing that, I’m here telling you about it.  That’s progress right?  A few weeks ago, I would have gone to the kitchen, fed my over-full belly, and then felt like crap.  So, I’m not going to beat myself up for having the urge to eat mindlessly.  Instead, I’m going to celebrate this victory over food!  Woo-Hoo!!

Got Crepes?

Have you ever had a crepe?  I haven’t.  Well, not before last night.  I found a great recipe for crepes on Gina’s Skinny Recipes.  Click here for the recipe.  She also has chocolate crepes and pumpkin crepes.   We had no fruit in the house last night, so we just had them with a little whipped cream, but they were really good!  I’m going to make a quick trip to the grocery store tonight to get some berries so we can have them for breakfast in the morning.  Who says healthy food can’t be delicious??