Down 4 pounds

Well this weight loss challenge is going pretty good.  We weighed in and submitted our weight on 11/25/13 and my weight was uh, um, not sure I want to put it out here just yet.  

Anyway, I was able to lose 3 whole pounds a week later when I weighed in on 12/2/13.  I was SO freaking proud of myself considering it was over Thanksgiving weekend.  

Here's what I did:

When cooking dinner I didn't dabble as I cooked.  Sure I had a spoonful here and there if it was truly necessary or I relied on my taste testers to tell me what the recipe needed.  In years past it was like I already ate my meal before I sat down to actually eat.

I only had one plate of food and then when it was time for dessert I had a tiny, tiny piece of pie. 

I also watched my carb intake. I went to Olive Garden on Saturday for a lunch and only had one bread stick - not the usual 3 or 4. 

I've also been drinking tonz and tonz of water. 

I haven't been going out to lunch.  I did go out one day and ordered off the "lighter fare" part of the menu.  Not to say that I wasn't hungry an hour later, so I just had some almonds and cottage cheese. 

For dinner I make Michael cook mine separate with less or no butter and no salt. Then I only have one plate.  THEN I wait 20 minutes to see if I am still hungry instead of just assuming I am and continue eating.  

I've been limiting the sugar in my coffee that I love so much.

I have yet to start exercising but this isn't bad for just starting off. 

I also lost another pound this week already!

I'm not following a book or diet, it's all just what I KNOW!

Ok back to my lunch of 99% Fat Free Vegetarian Chilli. 

Sugar!!

Hi my name is Brooke and I'm addicted to sugar!! 

HI BROOKE!!!

Seriously though I need to kick this addiction.  I used to only have a salt addiction then when my high blood pressure kicked in - thanks Dad! - I stopped salting my food and have actually become quite sensitive to the stuff.  Now its the sugar.  

Ugh!! What to do?  

Well I did a quick search online and tonz of stuff popped up on Sugar Addiction.  They are all programs that cost money - of course!

Well I saw Dr. Oz and he's always a free and reliable source for some good health tips - I think. 

Here is one tip I am going to try from Dr. Oz's website.

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Combo
This tasty duo will satisfy even the most voracious sweet tooth. Melt a bar of dark chocolate and mix it into a jar of organic peanut butter. Leave it in the fridge so that it cools and the flavors blend. When a sugar craving strikes, have a spoon. One spoonful has 4.5 grams of sugar. Compare this to your average brownie with a whopping 30 grams of sugar, and you’re well on your way to shaking your sugar habit in healthy ways you never thought possible!

Um, did I mention I had two, yes, two (but small) chocolate peanut butter rice krispy treats for breakfast!! Lord help me!

  

At it Again!

I remember when my co-worker came back to work from maternity leave and was still fat I was puzzled!!  I mean she had three months  to shed some pounds?!?!  Well, that's what I get for judging.  I am back from taking 12 weeks off with my baby and I am still fat!

During those 12 weeks I was in survival mode.  I was just proud of myself for surviving my 12 hour days being outnumbered by the kiddos.  My life resembled the image below, but with only two kids, I have brown hair not blonde and we don't have a dog! Ha!

I have never been an ice cream eater until I was pregnant with baby number 2 and now I crave the stuff.

Anyway, my work is doing a weight loss challenge and I really want to win!! It starts November 25th - AWESOME!  Right before the holidays!?!  I'm convinced I can do it though! 

Wish me luck! 

Woo hoo!

Ok, so I am so sick of writing about how well I am doing to just fall off the wagon, but here I go.  I have been doing super awesome for a week and am down 6 pounds. 


I am drinking so much water, to be more specific, it's my weight in ounces.  Yikes!  So feeling a little water logged for obvious reasons.  I would much rather consume 150 ounces of water someday.


I am taking more time to eat my meals, that are half or even third of the portion I used to eat, I chew each bite about 20 times and set my fork down between each bite.


I no longer load my plate for seconds.  


I know, I know, this is all basic stuff, but it works! It works well.


I am kickin' ass takin' names!!


Oh yeah did I mention I need to lose a shit ton of weight by August 18th!!  Yikes!! 

Back Fat

I remember the first day I discovered I had back fat.  I was 23.  I had on a new red, cute Southwest inspired sweater - sounds ugly, but would I wear anything ugly!?!  Ok anyway, I was at work and my new love interest worked there too.  Us girls were headed down to the cafeteria for lunch and my love interest would also be down there.  I used the bathroom to check myself out before I made my grandiose entrance into the lunchroom.  I turn around in the mirror to check my butt and I see back fat!! AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!  My day is over, who are we kidding, my day!?! My life!!!  My starving friends are yelling "come on!!! Let's go!!!" I want to cry.  Seriously.  I point out my gross back fat and they assure me it's the shirt? my bra? and not me - gotta love your girlfriends. I borrow my friends "windbreaker" that has been on the back of her desk chair for months maybe even years - with the inches of dust on it who really knows.

So we head to the breakroom.  I look awesome mind you.  I wear the windbreaker to get my food, spot my lover, we find a place.  i ask my friends to change me chairs so that my back fat doesn't hang over the back of my chair for him to see. They do. Now I am facing him and I shed the windbreaker and take minimal bites of my food. 

Ok that was long and drawn out but I remember that day perfectly.  I have lost and minimized my back fat over the years - like when I got married to said love interest and worked out a ton, then the back fat made a grand appearance back into my life a year after or so and has stayed until now!  Yes, that's right.  I am losing weight!  Woo hoo!!!  This working out shit is paying off.  I still kind of eat what I want.  I am working on that part slowly but surely - that's the hardest for me.

My scale is not my friend right now since the weight really isn't going down but I can tell I've lost inches!! YAY!!  my boobs and back fat are shrinking and I'm liking it!!

I am finding out that each time I lose weight and get serious about it; the weight seems to disappear from a different place first - my gut a few years ago, my butt after that and now my back fat and boobs.  It's a good day!!

I have been working out at least 3 times a week and loving it. Well I mean I love it and hate it and sometimes all within my 30 minute workout.  I have a wedding, family reunion and my daughter's 2nd birthday celebration all within a week of each other!! That's my motivation for sure.

Yay for goals and reaching them.

Woo hoo!!

I am down 5 pounds in 2 weeks.  I work out anytime my schedule allows so far 2 days a week, but that is going to change soon.  I have limited my carb intake a little - not a lot. Then I also limit my portion control.  I used to eat until I was stuffed and then felt sick after and now I don't do that.  I pause between bites, take smaller bites and then take a big break in the middle of my meal and if I am full I stop eating.  Easy peasy!

Growing up we were taught to eat all of our food or we couldn't "get down and play" or do what we want, so we were taught to eat everything on our plate and fast, so we could move on to bigger and better things.  Well that has taught me horrible habits.  I eat fast, it's not a contest, and I eat it all!!!  There is nothing wrong with saving it for another meal, sharing it or just giving it away completely.  I am trying really hard to change my mind set.  I am also going to teach this to my daughter.  I don't want her to feel like a garbage disposal and consume tonz of food she doesn't want or need.

I will admit the weekends are a little hard.  I really do enjoy drinking beer and have cut back significantly but the weekends tend to be a challenge and I know it's only going to get worse as the weather gets better - BBQ and Beer go hand in hand.  But as long as I am active and get more active I can have  a reward day and not feel too guilty about it. 

My mother bought me some birthday clothes for a girls trip we are taking in May.  I had her buy the pants a size smaller than I am now!  Scary!  But it's good to have a goal and know that if I don't lose weight I am going to look awfully silly and uncomfortable on my vacation and I certainly don't want that!

I want to welcome summer with open arms and no anxiety about how I look in shorts or even a bathing suit. 

Wish me luck!

It's Crunch Time!

The first time that I shed pound successfully is when I was getting married.  I knew I had to look great in my dress and I refused to get it altered unless it was for a smaller size. Anyway, I was successful in losing weight and fitting into my beautiful dress. The key for my weight loss is I had a goal and a specific date to work towards.

I also have another one!  It's August 11th and August 18th.  August is a HUGE month for us!!  It's my daughter's 2nd birthday and I refuse!  REFUSE!!!!  To be a big fatty for her b-day party and in her pictures.  UGH!  I want to wear a cute little number.  Then we also have my family reunion AND I am my besties Maid-of-Honor and I need to look fantastic for all to see.

So today is my first day to get back on track.  I was doing good there for a while.  I joined a gym and was working out 4 times a week, then I had a minor surgery that put my out of commission for a few weeks, well now it time to get serious again.  Woo hoo!!!
I don't want to put how much I weigh out there, but I am sure a few of those could guess and it would be correct, but also rather rude. ; )  Anyway, I want to get down as much as I can of course by then.  40 would be ideal but I ultimately have 50+ pounds to lose.  OK I am going to use all my knowledge and will power!!  Here we know!!!