Another Update

Update 5

Update 4

A New Commitment To Exercise

I'll admit it.  I've failed to show up to the YMCA for a couple of months.  After picking up the kids and going home, I just never seem willing to go out again.  I finally found a solution and got to put it to use for the first time last night.  I play a pretty fair amount of games on my Xbox 360 and watch quite a bit of TV.  I picked up a portable recumbent bike that will allow me to pedal away while I engage in those activities.  Last night, I pedaled during an hour's gaming session on Halo 3 then followed that up after dinner with 90 minutes during the Presidential Debate.  I still am trying to avoid liquid calories by drinking Diet Rite (0 calories, 0 sodium, 0 caffeine, but surprisingly tastes better than any other diet drink I've tried) and eating light breakfasts and lunches.  I haven't done a good job of keeping up the exercise, but I think this is something that I have no excuse to avoid, so we'll see how it goes.  Wish me luck.

Update 3

2nd Update

Time to Recommit

I have been pretty lax about the weight loss lately. I haven't weighed in nearly a month. I don't think I've gained much, if any, but I have stopped with the low-carb diet. Lately, I've been avoiding eating out at lunch and am bringing my own breakfast to work, as well. Per thedailyplate.com, a person of my size and activity should be able to lose 2 pounds a week by staying under 2,803 calories per day. Based on my breakfast and lunch, I should be good if I can keep under 2,138 calories the rest of the day, which shouldn't be too difficult. I'm drinking Diet Rite, which has no caloric content and the only time I deviate from that is when I need some caffeine, which may cause me to go for the occasional Frappucino or Mt. Dew/Dr. Pepper, which would be 2-300 calories per drink, which should still be maneagable. I like the idea of being able to splurge once in a while, so long as I account for it in other meals, and this path seems to be simpler overall.

I will be using the site I mentioned above to track my meals/calorie intake so that I can keep up with where I need to be. I want to keep my football player moving to the right, so I will try to keep this updated.

Update

The Time Has Come

I will update weekly.

My Youtube Page

Losing quickly. Woohoo!

On Sunday morning, I weighed in at 341.8 lbs, nearly 17 lbs lost in a month and a half. I am feeling so good about it, and can't wait to get below that 300 lb mark, so I can move on to my next goal, 250 lbs. I think at this rate, I should be able to reach the mark in a year. I am doing a low-carb style diet. For breakfast, I typically eat a naked burrito (eggs, sausage, ham, etc.. topped with cheese) and a light iced coffee (5 carbs). For lunch, typically either tacos (usually don't eat the shells, but will occasionally eat one) or a burger, minus the bun (Wendy's double cheeseburgers and jr. bacon cheeseburger or McDonald's double cheeseburgers are all 99 cents). Dinner usually is similar to lunch, though we do eat chicken wings, grilled chicken, or fajitas with low carb tortillas fairly often. I've also found that I love Applebee's garlic shrimp steak, and it works very well on this diet. Joy and I are both losing weight at a pretty good pace and I do feel a lot healthier. It is exciting to look at the scale in the morning when a pound or more has fallen off. It is definitely motivating.

My weightloss tracker

215!!

I did it!! It took awhile but just this morning I hit 215.2lbs!! I was having a hard time getting below 218, for over a week I just keep fluctuating between 218 and 220, so I took about a week off of the diet and tried again. During that week my weight pretty much settled at about 220. I started back on the diet this past Monday morning hard core, dry tuna for lunch four out of five days this week, hard core.. and it has worked! I hit 215lbs!! I want to shout it from the roof tops!

Next goal 210 lbs...
...getting closer to 200... I can't wait!

I'm dropping the pounds.

I had let up for a while, but went on a high protien, low-carb diet seriously at the beginning of June. My weight had gone up to 358.6, so it was getting ridiculous. So far, I've lost nearly 13 pounds. I've discovered diet rite soda, which has Splenda instead of aspertame, so it is much safer to drink and has no caffeine. I needed to get rid of the caffeine, but it was difficult to give up soda, so this gives me a middle ground option. I stalled last week on the weight loss, but this morning, I had dropped two full pounds, so I am hopeful it's the start of a trend. I can't wait to get under 300, and eventually, my ultimate goal is 220 pounds.

Just keep swimming!!

Well, I am sticking to the diet this time... at least I have now for 3 weeks... That in and of itself is a big accomplishment for me. I don't think I've ever stuck with any diet for this long... but that is not accomplishment that I am here to report today... I have been hovering at just over 220lbs for over a week now... fluctuating all the way down to 220.8 several times but just couldn't seem to go any lower and I've been very frustrated... I couldn't wait to lose just one more pound and finally be below 220..... well, it took awhile but I MADE IT!!! When I weighed this morning I had dropped down to 218.8!! All I can think to say is I'M SO EXCITED!! I know, that's not exactly an original statement... but it is an accurate one. I want to celebrate in someway... but how? I can't think of an appropriate way to celebrate without food and without making the people around me think I've lost my mind... so, I guess I'll just sit here quietly and do the happy dance in my mind. I want to call everyone I know and tell them.... I woke my husband up at 6:30am to tell him... he tried to be happy for me but I could tell, he was just trying to find the quickest path back to sleep. I would have felt the same if he woke me up for something like that.

Last time I tried this diet, I was at 218...exactly where I am now when I gave up. There is a difference this time... first, 218 is more significant because I started at a higher weight this time so I had to work harder to lose more to get here. Also, my biggest challenge with any diet has been drinks... I love to drink!! Coke and Pepsi have always been a downfall. Last time, I worked at a place that provided free fountain sodas all day long. This time, I am not in that environment and I have a secret weapon to satisfy my drink cravings. It's Red Diamond Sugar Free Tea made with Splenda, it can be found in the refridgerated area of Wal-mart. It is sold by the gallon and by the 16oz bottle so it's portable, just like soda. If I didn't read it on the label I would never have believed that it was sugar free. It has no calories, no carbs, and it's YUMMY!! I still have one constant challenge.. Sonic!! It's the place where I feel the most temptation.... the coke, the mocha java chiller, frito chili pie, extra long cheese coney... none of these things that I love from Sonic are low carb and it seems like there is a Sonic on every corner. I realized early on, my will power isn't strong enough to go to sonic alone... I avoid it at all costs if I don't have someone with me to hold me accountable. Last night, we stopped at Sonic on a car trip... I ordered a burger and pulled off the bread... even that was risky b/c I definately had cravings while I sat and looked at the menu while we waited. So it seems that I've identified my biggest problem areas and found solutions.... Drink Red Diamond Tea and avoid Sonic!

My next milestone goal is 215lbs... wish me luck!

Trying again!

Well, when I fell, I fell hard.... I got up to 228lbs, more than I've ever weighed before... I started the low carb diet again on the Saturday before last... I've stuck with it for over a week now... even though it's been hard... I started on Saturday and didn't weigh until Monday, I'd lost five pounds, the next day, I weighed and lost another pound, I went from 228 to 222... then, I don't know why or how because I've been strict on this diet... I gained back up to 224.6... I almost gave up, but convinced myself to give this a real chance and stick with it for at least the first two full weeks of induction... I stuck with it and this morning when I weighed I was down to 224.0.. that's just over a half pound down... it doesn't sound like much but I'lll take it! I even went to work out one day last week...lol I know, I need to improve that to a few times a week, I'll get there. my goal right now... is to get down to 150lbs or a size 14 in the next 6 months. That sounds like a huge goal but when you do the math, it's only 3.3lbs a week.... that's doable right?? I know that a size 14 still sounds big but, I've been there before and I was fairly happy with it... I don't know if I've blogged this before but I am currently a size 22, by comparison a 14 is a good healthy size. Once I get there we can re-evaluate and see where we need to go from there, if anywhere... So, wish me luck!!

I fell

My willpower faltered... I ate a chocolate chip chocolate muffin.... then drank a Pepsi... and it got worse from there. So, yesterday is down the drain and today isn't off to a good start either. So, tomorrow... I diet once again.

218.8 and falling...

Well, I'm down another pound. Woohoo!! Last nightwas a big challenge... my sister-in-laws 21st b-day and she wanted to go to Zio's aka Pasta Pasta Pasta... Carbs Carbs Carbs... it was difficult to pass up the bread on the table and to drink water while everyone around me drank something yummy and to order a responsible chicken ceasar salad instead of the chicken parm that I love so much. But I did it!!! One pound at a time... this is working. One pound a day doesn't sound like much but after a month.... that's 30lbs... wow! It would be amazing if I could pull that off.

Woohoo!

Well, we bought a bathroom scale on Monday night. It's digital so there is no room for interpretation about our weight. Monday night when we got home I weighed 221.8. Yesterday morning I weighed 221.8. This morning I weigh 219.? I was so excited about losing weight that I've already forgotten what the .? was but I am happy about it.

Yesterday was my biggest challenge so far. I had several extreme cravings for a coke. The food doesn't seem to be my issue here.... it's the soda that it's hard for me to give up. I read the back of a pepsi bottle and 8 oz has 28 carbs. Wow! That's a day and a half worth of carbs for me in one small glass. I would typically have several 20oz glasses in a day at work plus at least one more with dinner which was always a large or route 44 type of cup. Sometimes even a two-liter at dinner time. Water is my new friend.

James and I agreed to do this together and that helps. Also, a co-worker has done the low carb diet before and has decided to do it again with me. Then, I found out Monday evening that my brother Danny began the low carb diet on Monday as well. What a happy coincidence. Knowing that I am not in this alone helps alot.

Hello, my name is Danny and I am a carb addict

I hate to admit it but it appears to be true. I am a carb addict. That is not good news. I am doing the low carb thing. I refused cake and ice cream today. I also ate vegetables for my supper...Brussel sprouts and brocolli. It isn't that great but I am getting healthy no matter what.

I weighed in today at 286. I have lost ground but only for the moment.

-Danny

I've made it this far

Well, I am a few hours into this new diet and I am surviving. I went shopping earlier for low carb foods. The kids aren't dieting and we always get donuts on Saturdays so, I brought home a box of donuts and told Jessica that it was her job to make sure that Dad and I don't eat any of them. I haven't even been able to get a glass of water from the kitchen now without Jessica following me to make sure I'm not getting the leftover donuts. She takes her job serioulsy. We went shoe shopping and stopped by the food court. We were standing in line and Jessica said "Remember Mom, diet..." lol I assured her I was only planning to get a cup of ice water. But she didn't mind eating a cookie in front of me. Really, so far the food isn't the issue.... not drinking coke or pepsi is my biggest challenge. So, far today I've had only water to drink and smoked sausage for breakfast/lunch and carbwatch ice cream from Braums for a snack... not sure what's for dinner yet.. either porkchops and spinach or chicken and spinach... hmm.

How many plans have I gone thru now? Here's a new one...

Hmmm... Well, we joined the YMCA... that's about as far as it's gotten. We've taken the kids to swim a few times and I have done a few laps each time but that has been it. Last time I weighed I was back at 224... exactly where I started. I am planning to weigh again today to see exactly where I am so I'll know what kind of difference my newest plan is making... hopefully the numbers will get smaller... but I fear an increase. New Plan: Low carb, high protein. Hmm... my husband swears it has worked for him in the past. Let's hope I can get some results. It gotten so that I get out of breath just walking into the office from the parking garage. I can barely manage a flight of stairs, bending puts me out of breath, when I lay down my chest and my chin touch and I feel like a blimp. I've got to find a way to take control of this... wish me luck.

Gotta do something about this...

Well, I weighed yesterday... 219/220ish.. depends on if I was standing straight up or not... This is not the improvement I had hoped for but since I've done very little to make it change, I can't blame anyone but myself. So, new plan. We are joining the YMCA. This should be an adventure, mostly I plan to use the treadmill, sauna, swim laps.. maybe join a water arobics class. I think my real goal is to get my body moving and have fun while I do it. The biggest loser couples is coming to town.... I don't think I'll be trying out for that.