Commence Diet Sabotage with Halloween Candy in Three…Two…..Wait. What, I do not HAVE To Sabotage My Diet?!

(It says: what a pimp!  HAHA!)

(And the longest post title award goes to…ME!)

So this weekend, or maybe already, we will be diving into those mini sweet treats that Halloween time is known for.  Yes candy will, or is, in full force right now!  Bite-sized candy bars, candy corn, caramel apples, cookies, caramel popcorn, cupcakes, pumpkin bread….really the list could go on and on (and on).

So what is a person to do during this time to stick to their diets, or at least avoid overindulging, when sweets are everywhere?  Well here are some tips that I have found and thought of to help us all during this time of year!!!

Allow yourself a couple sweet treats. I know, GASP!  I feel like when we deprive ourselves, we end up splurging later on.  A bite-sized candy bar is about 75-100 calories.  If you have one or two throughout the day, it is NOT going to destroy your diet…plus you will not feel deprived.  Try to avoid eating too many items, like cookies or candy mixes, that you do not know the calories on as it is good to keep those numbers in the back of your mind so you do not over eat.

Stick to your healthy diet as much as possible. Don’t think that just because you may have a couple sweet treats, that means you have to blow your diet altogether!  Eat healthy lunches & dinners consisting of lots of veggies, lean meats, high fiber grains, and fruits. Reward yourself with a couple sweet treats.  And try to eat a very well-balanced meal before digging into the candy…to avoid overeating the candy.

Make a candy cut off time.  I know I need to do this.  You are watching TV and see the candies sitting out at 9 at night and then watchout….wrappers are a flying! However, pick a time after dinner and dessert are done and PUT THE CANDY AWAY.  Preferably some place up high.  Put it in the cabinet above the fridge or somewhere that is not in eye site when you are looking for an evening snack. It may not stop you, but it will make it a bit harder to get too and gives you more time to think if you really should have it.

Don’t be tempted at work!  This is the hardest place.  It is 3pm, you are tired and sluggish and ready for a treat.  If your office is like mine, there are plenty of treats available….which is awful when you are on a diet.  Bring other snacks with you to help during that time.  Or maybe try drinking a low-sugar hot chocolate during that time to give you a bit of a chocolate kick.  Try to avoid eating the treats at work, it is SO easy to eat more than what you want!

Try to do a little extra exercise during this time.  Take a quick walk around the neighborhood in the nice brisk October air.  If you are too busy to workout, park in the farthest spots when you run errands or use stairs when possible.  By working out just a little bit more, it will help to burn any of those extra calories from the candy!

Keep count and/or limit your intake.  None of us want to keep count of all the fallen wrappers from throughout the day.  But doing so keeps us accountable for what we have eaten.  Set a limit at the beginning of the day and put those candies aside.  When they are gone…then they are GONE!  No sneaking any more.

Buy some candy you don’t like.  When we go to the store we buy all the candy we like and then we eat it.  But if you mix it in with candy you are not fond of then when the “good” candy is gone you will not snack anymore.

Try other lighter sweet treat option!  Just look around the interweb for some tasty and healthy sweet alternatives to have in your house.  Examples: Pop up some healthy popcorn or air-popped popcorn.  Sprinkle with no-calorie butter powder, toss with some no calorie sugar (splenda) and add some cinnamon.  This is a healthy snack for when you are craving both the sweet and salty!  Or how about a few toasted marshmallows! They are a low calorie snack that will fill you up!  And finally, apples with a light caramel dip….really, this is just delicious.  Especially this time of year!


Good luck!!

Dear Diet…..You Will Not Beat Me!

So I finished the first 4 days of the 4 Day Diet….and let’s just say I am calling for a redo.  Yep, I will be starting the first 4 days over today.

Why you ask? Because the weekend was not so great for my diet. Translation: my husband actually had a Saturday off work (which between school fulltime and working 50+ hours a week….this is rare) and we decided to go to P.F. Chang’s to have a nice meal as we hardly go out.  (I wouldn’t change my decision either….it is rare we get Saturdays like this!)

See, last time I did the diet I started on a Monday so the hardest 4 days of the diet would be done during the week as it is always easier for me to maintain my diet during the week instead of on the weekend.  This time, however, I started mid-week so that the day where I was supposed to eat all fruits and veggies was on a Saturday.  Oops, my bad.  This was a bit of a mistake for me.  While the diet provides a good balance of food, the first 4 days are harder and need a little more control and limit what you can eat, especially when eating out.  I am not going to lie, it is hard to have such strict guidelines (I am talking eating approx. 700 calories a day) on the weekend. Nope, it just ain’t going to happen.

So I am calling for a redo and starting the diet today, so that I can do it right.

Now, for the record I did not go crazy and indulge too much this weekend, I just didn’t follow the diet laid out.  I still kept my calories substantially under my recommended caloric intake to lose 1.5 pounds a week.  But the point of the first phase of the diet is to remove any of the added toxins from our bodies that would be in processed foods and sugars while creating more energy through low calorie & high fiber foods.  And while my caloric intakes were very reasonable and I managed to lose 4.2 pounds in 4 days (compared to 6.7 in 4 days the last time), I want to do this diet right.

So, while I still lost weight and am happy about that (even if it is mostly water weight) I am going to give Phase 1 another try.  I really do not want to quit….which is kind of unlike me because usually when I get frustrated I just stop.  But this time, I want to keep going and do it the best I can! Exciting and weird!

But I will be posting a question momentarily about eating out and dieting.  Stay tuned!!!

Back on the Diet Again

So I am back on The 4 Day Diet. (Insert fake shouts of joy followed by slight groans of annoyance.)

My sister and I were on The 4 Day Diet awhile back and I have to say while we were on it, it worked.  And worked well.  During the mere 3 weeks or so we were on it I lost 12 pounds and I kept 9-10 of those off permanently.  I thought the amount and variety of food I got to eat was very reasonable, considering I have yet to find a diet that features mashed potatoes, cheese, pasta, chocolate & Chinese foods as the main foods on the diet.  While in the first 8 days I did eat A LOT of salads, I also ate beans, brown rice, fruits, and started incorporated meat and snacks into my diet.  Because of the types of foods I ate, I felt full and satisfied!  Well except for the few times when we walked and K & I thought the asphalt looked like the top of a brownie….and then we wanted a brownie.  But other than that, we were good!! :)

Of course the diet isn’t easy…..I mean for crying out loud if diets were easy we would ALL be thinner and healthy!  But as diets go, this one works for me and seems to be the most balanced and sensible. Of course the diet is meant to actually get you to lose weight, especially the first 8 days. But it hits on some very important keys to maintaining a healthy diet after you reach your goal weight; which include eating the correct foods, eating the correct portions of those foods, and maintaining a balance between exercise & dieting.  It also hits on the mental blocks that happen with weight – which I majorly suffer from and will post about soon.  It also focuses on incorporating your real life and real foods into your diet and being sensible in your choices.  The idea is that if you know you are going to eat pizza for dinner have a salad for lunch or even have a salad with your dinner or order thin crust instead of thick crust.  Just making sensible choices, eating when your body is hungry, and cutting out extra calories when possible….which can be easier said than done. 

Basically, it is smart and I like that. 

NOW, that doesn’t mean I enjoy being on a diet but if I want to get into that swimsuit next May I need to do it….so I am giving it a shot.  It is actually perfect timing as both T. & K. are gone a few nights each week and there is no reason I can’t make rice and a salad for dinner for just me when I do not have to worry about cooking for others.  You feel less deprived when you are not watching your husband eat taco bell or a piece of cake. (On a side note…I HATE that. I don’t even want that french fry or cookie….but it is there and he has one and then I WANT it. I cave so easily.)

So here I go.  I will be updating after I complete my 4-day phases!  

Picture of The Week – Is This Good Motivation?

Our treadmill is in the basement which, among other things, is basically Terry’s mancave.  He “styled” the downstairs to his liking.  Well this Pink Floyd canvas that T. owns just happen to recently find its way to the wall where the treadmill is and is in direct eyesight of anyone who uses the treadmill. (I think he did it on purpose!)  Yep while I am sweating, gasping for air, and hating every moment of my workout….I get to stare at naked women and their perfect asses for an hour.  I have to tell you, besides annoying me that I have to stare at their butt cracks – it is also one HELL of a motivation to keep you on the treadmill just a few minutes longer in hopes your butt & waist will one day look that good!!

Which brings me to my question….what are your thoughts on posting pictures of girls in swimsuits you want to buy around your house as motivation to workout and stay away from treats?  I have often gone back and forth on this as part of me thinks it would be a good motivation because you are reminded of what you want to achieve and it may help you to stay focused; while other times I feel it is just an unrealistic and unhealthy expectation of beauty that will just guilt you into feeling more down on yourself.  Should I do this as a motivation or do you think it is more of a detriment to my weight loss and body image as I already have a very poor body image?

Here is why I have been thinking of it…. For the first time in over 6 years I am taking a vacation next summer and it is to a beach! AAAAHHHH!  I am SO excited to be going on vacation, but less excited at the fact that I am going to have to put on a bathing suit for the first time in over 7 years. Yep….it has been awhile and for good reasons.

I thought that maybe by posting pictures of swimsuits I want to buy it would be a great motivation to lose weight and then I can reward myself with new swimsuits for the vacation when I do lose weight. However, most pictures of swimsuits come attached with a totally fit and beautiful women. Boo.

These swimsuits are all pretty great (and only a fantasy of mine to wear), but I mean look at those freaks of nature women...I am not sure if this is motivation to be healthy and workout or to stop eating and lather myself up with self-tanning lotion and baby oil. sigh.

Come on seriously ladies?! EAT A DONUT, you are killing me and are NOT normal!!  

I know even if I lost a ton more weight and worked out I would never, ever look like that in a swimsuit.  

That is just not cool.

So, what are your thoughts on this type of motivation? Suggestions? What about the reward of picking out swimsuits?  (Maybe I can draw on the pictures and just give them all mustaches and big bellies?!)

And for the record, I think I am going to take the picture down the next time I workout.  It is motivating, but I don’t think I can workout one more time staring at naked girl’s behinds for that long!!

Here I Go, Here I Go, Here I Go Again.....

Girls, what’s my weakness?!


Um, Working out.


As much as I try to motivate myself to work out and as much as I, for whatever reason, seem to be able to motivate a few of my friends to workout I canNOT keep MYSELF motivated to workout. I go through spurts where I am doing really well and working out nearly every day. Then I slowly start cutting back or skipping work out days. Then, before you know it weeks have gone by with absolutely NO working out and I just feel discouraged.

To lose the amount of weight I want to lose, diet alone is not going to cut it. I have done a great job on cutting back and changing my diet and I have managed to lose 50 pounds since August of 2009 by changing my diet and at a tortoise pace I am continuing to lose weight solely based on cutting back portions and what I eat, but I want to lose more and lose it faster AND tone up......and for that working out is necessary.

So how do I keep myself motivated to work out?!!!!!


This is the question I do not know the answer too. I know I want to 1) feel better about myself; 2) be at a healthy weight and fitness level for when I get pregnant; 3) lose weight so I can wear a swimsuit before our vacation in May; and 4) have clothes that fit me the way they use too. Those are good reasons in my mind to lose weight and, ergo, keep working out!  However it seems that even with those reasons they alone are not always enough to keep me on track with working out especially when life just gets in the way.

I tried to start a blog or start challenges or find gimmicks to help keep me motivated to workout, but as time progresses I just get bored and even if I am seeing progress it isn’t enough to keep me going. And I just don’t get that!

I am sure part of it is just being lazy as well as my own accountability….meaning I CAN workout…..I just don’t. But I also think part of it is that I have just thought about my weight for as long as I can remember and I am just tired of thinking about it. Seriously, I was a little girl and worried about my weight. Not because I was necessarily overweight but I have always been taller and I think as a little girl I confused being taller with being bigger/fatter, especially when so many people, even boys were shorter than me until about 7th /8th grade. So yes, I am tired of thinking about losing weight, tired of thinking about working out, tired of talking about it, and very tired of constantly putting myself down for the way I think I feel and look. I am just tired of it all. I don’t want to have to think about it, I just want to be happy with my weight and move on….but then I can’t do that until I lose the weight, right?! Damn.

Nothing else and no one else can be the blame for ME not losing weight or finding time to workout. I am the cause and I know that. I say to myself so many times a week while I am laying in bed feeling frustrated and down on myself for not working out:

“You KNOW what you have to do…just do it.”

“Get up early and workout, you will feel better.”

“Come home and workout, you have time.”

“Don’t feel bad for yourself; you have already lost weight you can lose more if you want you just have to do it.”

“It doesn’t come easy, you have to work hard at this if you want to keep losing weight.”

“It takes time.”

“If you just work to lose the weight now, you will not have to think about it anymore.”


But as many positive and encouraging affirmations I can say to myself in the dark at night while laying in bed; the realization & motivation when I wake up in the morning seems to all but disappear and the frustration and insecurity I have once again set in and I just think this is it….I need to just accept this is how I will look. And NO, this is not necessarily totally a defeatist attitude because part of my problem IS me learning to accept the way I look and being OK with not just who I am on the inside but who I am on the outside. This can be a hard reality for me to achieve as no matter what weight I have been, this is the one thing that has never fit. Even when I was thin, I only "saw" what I use to look like when I was bigger….NOT what I actually looked like. Looking back at pictures now I don’t know if I should laugh or cry at the thought of how crazy I was when I complained about “how fat I looked”. So part of me even wonders if I will ever see the real me or if I will always have a distorted image of what I look like stuck in my head? And unfortunately I do not know the answer to that now and it really scares me.

So long story even longer, I am trying to get any enthusiasm I had back for working out. I am trying to find something in myself to push me to workout and stay focused. I honestly have no idea what it will be or when it will click in. I know I have to change the way I think about all of this stuff. My weight, working out, my body image. Until then I am just going to keep trying to go at this whole weight loss thing slowly and steadily….even if it takes more time then I want I am hoping that the result while still be the same in time.  And I am hoping that this thing inside me that is preventing me from seeing myself for how I really am will go away.  (More to come on some of this.)

I am also going to try to post more on this blog as it really is a great and much needed outlet and support for me. I am hoping that just talking about some of my issues, fears, and roadblocks will help me to start being able to get over them.   And this is one outlet I am trying to use.

Rewarding Your Accomplishments

So lately I have been thinking about the difficulty in buying new clothes while losing weight. I always think this is hard, especially if you have a little more than just a size or so to lose. As I am 5’11”, I have to lose about 15-20 pounds to fully transition between sizes and I have a few sizes to lose. Ugh. Transitioning between sizes is always hard and at times very frustrating. As you start to lose weight your clothes start fitting better and it is inspiring, then they start getting baggy and hang on you which can be frustrating but unfortunately you still don’t quite fit into the next size down so you have to wear those clothes and watch them get baggier and baggier until the day you finally put on the pants that are a size down and they actually fit! Then you start the process over again. That stage right before you transition to a new size is always the hardest because you want clothes that fit so you can feel better and show off the weight lost, but you do not want to spend the money (if you are like me) because hopefully in a couple months or so that pair of pants will also be too big for you. So I wear clothes to the point of nearly falling off of me then look through my closet for another pair of pants that will sort-of fit while I lose weight and try to avoid spending any money what-so-ever on new clothes unless I just have no choice but to buy pants (since wearing sweatpants to work has not been approved).


However, a couple weeks ago I absolutely needed a couple new shirts so headed over to the clearance section of Kohl’s and found a couple things that were under $10 that fit perfectly! Because I am use to wearing baggy clothes I forgot how much I love the feeling you get when you find something that looks good on you and that makes you feel good about yourself! After going in-between different sizes the past few months and having feelings of both excitement and frustration I decided at that moment that it is very important to buy one thing that makes you feel better about yourself and is a reward for the weight loss accomplishments you have achieved. It does not have to be anything expensive; I personally prefer lower-priced items because there is no guilt at all and the items tend to be more versatile. It does not just have to be a pair of pants or a shirt either…maybe some new under garments, PJ’s, some tank tops, or even new work out pants will make you feel better. I have never been one who uses gifts for myself as a reward. However, I have a new outlook on what will keep me motivated and I think within limits it IS important to reward myself for the hard work I have done....and anyone who is working to lose weight knows it is not easy....so rewarding yourself is a great motivator!!

So I have something for everyone to think about. Think of some goals in regards to your weight/exercise/diet and then give yourself rewards when you accomplish those things. Make sure your goals are attainable while also being somewhat challenging. For instance you may have a main weight loss goal of XX amount in XX number of days. But set smaller goals along the way that will help you achieve that bigger goal. As for your rewards, they can be anything. As I said maybe a new outfit, new tank tops but if you don't want clothes also try a new DVD or music you wanted, going to a movie, doing something fun you have wanted to do - nothing too expensive just something that is a special treat.



My Goals and Rewards

As I achieve these goals, I will create a new set of goals. Currently my goals are focused on working out, specifically walking*, as that is the area I struggle with the most but will have the biggest impact on my weight loss. Plus the amount I spend has to be equal to the goal achieved. I have budgeted what we can afford based on not only the goal but how long it should take me to achieve that goal.


1. I will be keeping track of the miles I walk during the week and when I have reached a total of 20 miles walked I am getting a couple tank tops.

2. When I have reached a total of 50 miles walked new workout pants.

3. When I have reached a total of 100 miles walked I am getting new outfit. (a bigger reward for a bigger goal)


So if interested in doing this as well think about YOUR goals and a few rewards that will keep you motivated! As always, if you feel like sharing please do!!

*my new plan to come

I’m Back….And So Are Some of My Bad Habits

Oh hello folks! I am sorry for my disappearance, but in case you forgot me my name is Jenn and I have this here weight loss blog.


So you may be asking:
Where have you been?
Did you forget about us?
How is the diet & weight loss going?
Are you ever going to write a real post on this blog again?

And to that I say:
Around but life just got in the way.
No I did NOT forget about you, how could I!
Um….Diet?!
Of course….starting right now.


So first, my deepest apologies for being away. To recap, I kind of took a few weeks off (not intentionally, it just happened) as I had a lot going on between work, family, and friends around and to be honest I just have not been in the mood (but more on that in a later post). I have not been on a strict diet unless coldstone creamery cupcakes, red velvet birthday cake, pizza, and Chinese are currently items in the latest fad diet. Seriously are they, because I would ROCK that diet. And though I have not lost any weight, I have also only fluctuated about ½ a pound in the last 3 weeks which is exciting to me as that means any weight I did lose on the diet was infact permanent weight loss! YAY A fear of mine with these “fad” diets is that you lose a lot of weight and gain it back as soon as you are done. So no weight gain = true weight loss!

Also, even though I did indulge a bit over the last few weeks I did make sure to monitor what I ate and not go crazy with my food portions. YES, I did have birthday cake but only on a couple days the past few weeks. I invited many people over to eat all our sweets in the house so they would not be in the house to tempt me. A couple pieces over 3 weeks is most definitely OK, especially since it is not something I regularly eat. Plus, I have taken tips from my previous diet when it comes to eating out. For instance, when I would have Chinese I would order brown rice and no sauce. And when I order pizza I also order a veggie salad with no or low-fat dressing and eat all of that and then have a slice or so of pizza, which is way better than just filling up on pizza! So basically I have been trying to just incorporate small lifestyle changes into my everyday life, and it is working pretty well and will be good when it comes to maintaining my final weight loss in the future.

So now that I am back to blogging, what am I going to do with weight loss? Well for starters, back to my diet and weight loss programs. Surprisingly, the past few weeks were a nice little break but I did feel sluggish and ready to get back on some sort of schedule and program when it comes to eating and working out. For me personally, accountability is KEY. Just saying “oh I will workout sometime this week whenever I have time” does not push me to workout. I need to have a schedule and know that these are the days I will be working out, no questions and no changes. I also love having a diet to fall back on. It is much easier to know what I will be eating and in what amounts for the week instead of just playing it by ear and leaving opportunities to take the easy way out and eat a bowl of Ramen noodles instead of chicken breast and a salad. I also finding having this blog forces me to stay on track, and when I am not keeping up on my progress I can easily fall back into my bad habits.

So let’s talk about that little diet killer…our Bad Habits!

I have to say one of the hardest things about any weight loss program is falling back in to your old/bad habits. During my little diet sabbatical if I did nothing else I really wanted to continue exercising. Over the past few months I have made great progress in working out regularly and didn’t want to just throw all that progress away. But with absolutely no program and just kind of doing what I wanted it was very easy to fall back into my old habit of just coming home and watching TV instead of working out. Sure I worked out some days when I FELT LIKE IT, but it wasn’t every day. And with no real diet in place it didn’t take long before having a little snack in the evening while watching TV became a more regular occurrence. I know these bad habits, even after all my weight loss, are going to be the things I will always have to be aware of and focus on. However at this point my main focus is not just controlling these bad habits but creating NEW, healthier habits that will allow me to continue with my weight loss.


So what are you going to DO about it?!

I think when anyone has something about themselves that they want to change they first have to specifically identify those things that need changed. So the first thing I am going to do is write down all my bad habits. I will do this in my next blog post so I have time to think about not only my bad habits but how they are prohibiting me from staying on my diet and how I can change my bad habits into healthier habits. Hopefully others will participate, consider it your Healthier You Homework Assignment!

I will be posting this “homework assignment” on my next blog. But until them please tell me how YOU are all doing the past month? Any progress? Any road blocks?

Challenge Days 9 – 16 / Jenn

So, I haven’t been writing down everything on the blog about the diet because it can be a pain to find time every day to write everything down and I imagine as a reader it is pretty boring to read. However, I have been keeping track in a journal of everything I have been doing the past week.


Here is the run down.

Days 9 – 12 was the Protein Phases and you pretty much eat the same thing every day and work out every day. This phase was designed to give you plenty of energy and smart and healthy foods. The exercise during this phase is 30 minutes of cardio and 20 minutes of weights. I did 30 minutes of cardio and 20 minutes of pilates because I don’t have weights.

What we ate:
- Coffee
- 2 Scrambled Eggs
- 1 slice turkey bacon (I did not choose to eat that, but we could have)
- A small protein shake of 200 calories or less
- 2 servings of fruit
- 1 cup raw veggies
- 2 servings cooked veggies
- 1 turkey sandwich on wheat bread
- 1 cup beans
- 1 cup brown rice

Kristen and I did the same thing where we had the fruit, veggies, protein shake and a turkey sandwich during the day and had the eggs, beans, rice, and cooked veggies for dinner. It was filling and more than enough to eat during the day. It can be boring having the same thing every day to eat, but this menu was actually good because it satisfied hunger and you didn’t feel too limited. Plus no salad was nice!

On day 12 Terry wanted to get Chinese. Friday night is usually one night where we always order something in and watch TV. My first ordering out challenge….will she take what she learned and be healthy or will she go back to her old habits and get that egg roll. Dun, dun, dun…..

Let it be known, I was good! The nice thing about the Chinese place we go to is that they serve brown rice so I got steamed vegetables with no sauce (added a little of my own soy sauce) with brown rice. It wasn’t too far off from what I was eating during the week anyways. No egg roll and no sauce cut my calories significantly and it was still very tasty!  I may just be getting the hang of this!

There were no real challenges, however after losing so much weight the first week there was no weight loss these 4 days….which I didn’t really expect. I was just happy to stay where I was and I feel better.


Days 13 – 16. Smooth Phase

This is the phase where you start bringing back those foods into your diet that are considered “guilty pleasures”. It is about how to incorporate these foods into your diet correctly and in what amounts. I really thought I would like this phase as the cravings for these types of foods have been high and I was looking forward to having some of my favorite foods…like pizza & pasta! However, after a couple days on it I must say that I am not a fan of this phase smack dab in the middle. Now, in the book he says that after the first two phases you can do any phase or phases you want and in whatever order you want. K & I decided to just follow the diet the way it was in the book. If/when we do this diet again we will have a better idea of what phases work and in what order. For as much as I was looking forward to this phase, I feel it kind of just messed up my flow of my diet. I wasn’t as hungry for these foods as I thought (it really is a mental thing thinking you want these foods) and really I just wanted a salad. Weird, no?! I had a piece of cake on Easter and it was just blah, infact I didn’t even get into my Easter candy on Easter day except for a few starburst jelly beans. What up with that?!

I also think my stomach was in a bit of shock about the foods I was eating and pepto has been my friend the past couple days. I also do not like how every day is different. It is not conducive for buying groceries and stretching out the items in your diet compared to what you spend. For example in the previous phase, I knew I was going to have 4 apples, 4 bananas, 4 cups of rice, 4 cups of beans, 8 eggs, and veggies for those days and I knew how much food to get and I didn’t waste money or food. I planned out my meals easily and had structure….which I liked. But every day during this phase the food is very different and if we buy a pizza we will have leftovers….and I don’t want leftovers because I don’t want to waste food and I don’t want to be tempted. (T. doesn’t eat leftovers so I would be tempted.) When I do this again, I think I would make this my very last phase because it will be a reward for finishing and allow you to buy food accordingly. I just feel blech about the foods I am eating right now and I do not want them. Maybe that is the point!

Now after a few days of a somewhat relaxed diet, I am eager to get back on a stricter diet and finish off the next 12-15 days with a bang! As it stands I would LOVE to lose 10 pounds by my birthday (April 22) to make my weight loss 50 pounds by my 30th! We will see. I am going to work really hard the next couple weeks to see what results I can get.

I also promise I am going to get back to real blogging and tips on this blog.....just been busy :)

Talk To Me – Accomplishments

So let’s talk about accomplishments.


I think many times we are so focused on reaching our big goal when it comes to weight loss or getting healthy that we often times overlook all our other accomplishments we make along the way. This past weekend I reached two accomplishments that I find very important and of course blog worthy.

The first being I have now lost a total of 41.6 pounds…I passed 40 pounds of weight loss!! (yikes that is alot – being 5’11” may sometimes help to hide weight easier but doesn’t help with the amount of weight you have to lose when you are overweight!) This has been a mental block for me. For some reason I have wanted to get to the 40 pound mark and though it is not my final goal, it is a great step in the right direction and a goal I am very happy to be at.

The second is that Saturday I walked from my house to downtown BG, shopped and walked home. It was 4 miles and I was gone for a couple hours! Now not only was the walking that distance an accomplishment, but it was more a mental thing for me. I use to walk everywhere in college. If I wanted to go to class, even when I was a mile or more off campus, I walked it and usually multiple times in a day. If I went somewhere around town I would walk. But when I started gaining weight not only did I stop walking I became more and more self-conscious about myself when I walked by myself in public. I would have it in my mind people were looking at me and judging me and so whenever I would think about walking somewhere by myself, my own crazy insecurities would make me talk myself out of walking. As I have been a little emotional recently, I thought I needed to get out of the house and enjoy the sun and briskness of the day to help my mood. I had errands to run so thought, hey just do it Jenn, just walk downtown! Of course I got ready and had a few moments were I almost talked myself out of it, but I felt I would be even more disappointed and down on myself if I didn’t do this and so went for it! I loved it. Plus it is not like a treadmill - when you get tired you just can’t stop you have to push yourself because your ass has to get home!! I did have moments of being very insecure and thinking crazy thoughts in my head, but overall I really needed to do this to get past that mental block. I felt so proud of myself not only physically, but more so mentally!

So these have been my recent accomplishments, what are YOURS?!

Remember, to continue with our progress of weight loss we need to recognize ALL our accomplishments…as big or small as you may think they are. Whether it is working out longer, dropping a pant size, wearing something again because for the longest time you didn’t like the way you looked in it…no matter what it is you should acknowledge it and be proud of it!!



What are your recent accomplishments?

Challenge – Day 7 & 8 Jenn (Current Results)

I combined these days as I felt very similar these two days. Last days of Transition phase.


What I ate on Day 7:
Breakfast – 2 cups coffee & 3 tsp creamer (Slept in so didn’t eat breakfast)
Lunch – ½ Turkey Sandwich and 1 apple
Dinner – 3 cups salad with veggies, 4 ounces grilled chicken, 3 tbsp Italian dressing
Snack – 60 baby gold fish & 1 cup strawberries
Water – 6 cups

What I ate on Day 8:
Breakfast – 2 cups coffee & 4 tsp creamer
Mid-morning Snack – ½ cup cottage cheese, ¼ cup blueberries, 5 strawberries
Lunch – ½ Turkey Sandwich and 1 apple
Dinner – 2 cups salad with green peppers, 3 ounces grilled chicken, 3 tbsp Italian dressing, an ounce of cashews, 1 cup black and white beans
Water – 8 cups

Exercise – Day 7 was a Rest Day & Did not work out Day 8 :(

Reaction – Overall, I think this module was harder than the previous. First, this phase fell on the weekend and with the food being as limited as it was you really were just hungry and had to get past any mental stimuli that is usually associated with eating on the weekend. Second, even with the snacks available (which were great) it was not entirely satisfying. You always just wanted something a little more. Also by this point I am sick of salads and beans and really am just craving anything else. I think that is what makes this phase so hard, cravings are kicking in. I am very much looking forward to the next phase which is the Protein Module and contains no salad and will hopefully curve any cravings I am having.

What I liked – I liked the snacks and I like having an idea of what a 150 calorie or less snack was really like. This will really be beneficial in the future. I also was surprised how much meat I probably eat in one portion. 4 ounces of chicken was half a chicken breast! I really need to start having a better idea of exactly how much meat I am eating at one time and try to stay closer to my dietary recommendations and not necessarily eating the portion I am given.

What I didn’t like – The weekend…that was hard. Also, for the record 60 baby goldfish isn’t as many as you think! I could have easily eaten twice as much but I think that is the point, I need to realize what a portion is!

Challenges – Being hungry. Weekend eating.


OVERALL RESULTS:

Total weight lost: 2.2 pounds! This bumps my total weight lost since August 1, 2009 to 41.6 pounds!! I am SO excited about this.

Challenge – Day 6 Jenn

What I ate:

Breakfast – 2 cups coffee w/ 3 tsp creamer and sugar. Snack option: ½ cup cottage cheese, 5 strawberries, and 1 cup blueberries
Lunch –Snack option: 8 saltines and 2 tsp peanut butter, 1 apple, 1 cup carrots
Dinner – 2 cups salad, 4 ounces grilled chicken, 1 cup beans, 3 tbsp Italian dressing
I also snacked on a couple bites of tilapia
Water – 9 cups

Exercise – Walked 4 miles!!!! Post to come about this as it was a big mental and physical accomplishment.

Reaction – I was hungry today. I was home and just wanted to snack and never seemed able to curve this hunger I had. Maybe because I usually snack on the weekends because Terry is in class until 6:30 pm and I snack until I have a meal with Terry after his class. I am pretty sure that even though some was actually hunger, I think some of this was also mental. I also think that if you do not pick snacks that have more carbs you may get hungrier as it is not like the previous phase where we could have rice a few days. Though it is more calories, this phase is not as filling if you choose the wrong snacks.

What I liked – I really liked the snacks. It is nice when you can incorporate things like cottage cheese, peanut butter and crackers back into your diet. I was also super proud of myself of my working out and liked that I accomplished something like that.

What I didn’t like – Being hungry sucks. I also didn’t like when my lovely husband and his brother cooked up crab cakes, had some shrimp and snacked on hostess cakes in the evening while I just sipped on my ice water. I eventually just went to bed because I really just wanted to eat a (or 3) Twinkie…..and I don’t even like Twinkies that much!!!

Challenges – I had two challenges today. First, it was Saturday and I spent most of the day alone and I really wanted to just snack. It is easier to be on a diet when you are at work because you can really watch what you eat, but when you are at home just watching TV that is when the boredom kicks in and the urge to snack kicks in hard core. It was definitely a little harder today. Second, I miss drinking milk. I usually drink a few glasses a day and haven’t had a glass of milk for a week and I miss it horribly. I know I should stick to the diet, but I think a cup of skim milk is necessary and will have to be added to my diet at least every couple days from this point on.

Challenge – Day 5 (Transition) Jenn

What I ate:


Breakfast – 2 cups coffee w/ 3 tsp creamer and sugar. Snack option 1: ½ a 12 grain bagel and 1 ½ tsp light cream cheese. (mmmmmmm)
Lunch –Snack option 2: ½ Turkey sandwich and 1 cup carrots
Mid-afternoon Snack – 1 apple
Dinner – 2 cups salad, 5 ounces tilapia, 1 cup beans, 3 tbsp Italian dressing, 1 cup cabbage soup
Water – 11 cups

Exercise – 40 minutes walking

Reaction – I was happy to start having other foods aka real foods!! Right around the time you start getting bored you get to switch to the next phase which is really nice. However, I think this phase is going to be hard because other than the snacks you have the same thing every day for 4 days.

What I liked – My fish…delicious! I also liked all the 150 calorie or less snack options available. You can pick two each day and there is a huge variety and it is nice to have those options.

What I didn’t like – Salad & beans are going to get old by the end of this phase

Challenges – Nothing really

Challenge – Day 4 (Last Day of Detox Phase) Jenn

YAY…last day of Phase 1! On to the transition phase.


What I ate:
Breakfast – 1 cup coffee w/ 2 tsp creamer and sugar. 1 apple
Lunch – 1 cup brown rice. 2 cups lettuce. 3 ounces cashews. 3 tbsp fat-free Italian dressing.
Mid-afternoon Snack – 1 cup frozen grapes.
Evening Snack – 1 orange
Dinner – 1 cup rice. 1 cup cabbage soup. 1 cup green beans.
Water – 9 cups
Psyllium Husk – 1 ½ tbsp….LAST DAY!

Exercise – 40 minutes walking

Reaction – I felt really good today and am excited that it is the last day of the detox because that means tomorrow I can start adding bread and meat to my diet!! I had plenty of energy today but had one moment of cravings in the evening in between work and dinner. I really just wanted something filling and full of carbs and didn’t care what it was. However after an orange and thinking that I would be eating dinner shortly it passed, sort of.  It really is a mental thing and that is what I am working on!

What I liked – Honestly, that it was the last day. I could maybe go a couple more days and be fine….but I was thrilled that this phase was over.

What I didn’t like – Working out. It was snowing outside and I really was bored working out and don’t think I gave it my all. Just did it to get it over with.

Challenges – Working out.



OVERALL RESULTS:

Total weight lost for phase one: 6.7 pounds!! (I am certain a lot of this is water weight but I was very surprised how much I lost in only FOUR DAYS!) We will see what the next week is like, not expecting anywhere close to the same since so much was lost these 4 days.

Overall Reaction to Phase 1: It was not that bad. Really. Believe me I love food and love to eat, so if this was really that bad I would let you know. Yes you will feel hungry especially if you do not plan your food for the day out so you are eating something every few hours. However, if you plan accordingly, you will have more energy and not be as hungry. So far this is good and between reading the book and writing down my thoughts every day I am starting to see where my flaws with food and exercise lie.  I also like measuring things out as it gives me a better idea of portion sizes.

May I suggest - Stop drinking pop and snacks a week or so before if you do this to help you out! I gave that stuff up for lent but if I had to give all that up at the same time I am sure this would have been a lot harder.

Challenge Day 3 – Jenn

What I Ate:


Breakfast – 1 ½ cups coffee with 2 tsp sugar and 3 tsp creamer. 6 oz non-fat strawberry/banana yogurt
Mid-Morning Snack – 1 Orange
Lunch – 2 cups Salad with ½ cup cucumber and green peppers and ½ cup black and white beans. 3 tablespoons Italian dressing.
Afternoon Snack – Apple
Dinner – 1 cup cabbage soup, 2 cups sautéed spinach, and a ½ cup black and white beans.
Evening Snack – Did not have
Water – 10 cups
Psyllium husk – 1 ½ tablespoons with 1 cup lemon juice and water

Exercise – walked with my sister outside for 40 minutes

My reaction – Still going strong and am surprised at how full I really feel. True, I could and would never carry on with so few calories on a regular basis, but I am seeing what the proper size of food really is and just how much I really need. Again the hardest part in the day is the stretch in between my afternoon snack around 3:30 and about 6:00. Don’t know why this part of the day is the worst, but it is.

What I liked – I got to COOK today! I made a cabbage soup that also had carrots, potatoes and onions in it. It had a ham hock in it as well and actually tasted really good. As someone who loves to cook and finds it relaxing to cook and share dinner with my family, I was bummed Monday and Tuesday that I couldn’t cook (wilting spinach and poaching eggs does not count). So this made my day.

What I didn’t like – Again with the psyllium husk. (one day left) It actually only took me about 10 minutes to drink it today, which was a vast improvement from the 45+ that it took me Monday.

Challenge – Really there was no challenge today. I felt good, the diet was fine and I am eagerly anticipating Friday when I can start having snacks and some meat! Today was a good day.

Challenge – Day 2 / Jenn

What I Ate:


- 1 ½ cups coffee with 2 teaspoons sugar and 3 teaspoons of cream
- Breakfast: I medium apple
- Lunch: 3 cups salad with ¼ cup green peppers and cucumbers with 3 tablespoons low fat Italian dressing
- Afternoon Snack: ½ cup frozen red grapes
- Dinner: 2 Cups sautéed spinach, 1 cup brown rice and 2 poached eggs.
- Evening Snack: ½ cup sliced strawberries
- Water intake: 9 cups of water

Exercise: 40 minutes walking on the treadmill

Reaction: Today was a pretty good day. I seemed to have a lot more energy today and felt really good. I noticed that I am slowing down when I eat because I want to enjoy the food I have and make it feel like it lasts longer. Of course I may not be eating the actual foods I want to eat but I do not feel deprived yet.

What I like: I like that I am measuring everything out and getting a better idea of what the proper portions of something really is. Sometimes the proper portion is actually more than what I thought while other times it is way less. It is a very good lesson for me after I finish this diet. I also like drinking a cup of water before each meal because I feel it helps you not eat as fast and get fuller quicker. I will try to continue this even after I am done with this diet.

What I didn’t like: Right now because my body is readjusting my food intake and looking at food differently I am thinking about food – a lot. Though I am not always hungry I am also not stuffed either, which is actually a very very good thing. However, a couple hours after eating I am thinking and eagerly anticipating my next meal. This is just all a mental thing.

Challenges: Snacks. Plain and simple, I want something salty and crunchy in the evening.

Challenge 2, Day 2 - Kristen

The Facts:
Alright, yesterday I drank about one and a half cups of black coffee in the morning, while eating one medium apple for breakfast, with one medium banana as a morning snack. I ate three cups of a green garden salad with three tablespoons of nonfat Italian dressing for lunch. After doing 40 minutes of jogging on the treadmill, I ate one medium size banana. I then ate one cup of cooked brown rice, with two overeasy eggs on top, with two cups of cooked spinach on the side for dinner.

The Response:
Day 2 was actually harder than Day 1 for me. First, after I had finished my cardio, I sat down on the couch and started watching television. And what goes so well with television for me? Food! For the first time the whole day, I had cravings. They were much harder to resist, too, because I knew what was in the fridge that I could eat, and because the food was only 30 feet away. It was very difficult. Second, I ate dinner, which was surprisingly delicious, and was still hungry afterwards. I had eaten all my snacks, too, so I focused on drinking water to fill up my stomach for the rest of the night until I went to bed.

Because I'm only 30 pounds from my goal weight, I'm trying to keep an open mind about the next 28 days. Here are the numbers:
I'm 22 years old.
I'm 5'8" tall.
I weight 170pounds.
My goal weight is 140pounds.
And this is one area in which I'm struggling mentally. Since I am only 30pounds from my goal weight, I know that I won't be losing five pounds a week. I want to walk away maybe 10 pounds lighter and be proud of that accomplishment. But I can already tell that mentally, I won't accept that goal.

I think that over the next month, I really need to focus on the positives that are coming out of this experience, rather than the negatives that I create for myself.

Challenge – Day 1 Jenn

So yesterday was Day 1 of the 4 Day Diet Kristen and I started. Here is how the day went and my thoughts.

Day 1 – Induction Phase (Detox & Cleansing)

What I Ate:
- Breakfast: 1 ½ Cups coffee with 1 teaspoon sugar and 3 teaspoons of creamer. A 6 ounce non-fat strawberry/banana yogurt with ½ cup blueberries.
- Mid-Morning Snack: 1 orange
- Lunch: 2 cups lettuce with ¼ green peppers and ¼ cucumbers. 3 tablespoons reduced fat Italian dressing.
- Mid-Afternoon Snack: 1 apple
- Dinner: 1 ½ cups brown rice, 1 cup mixed black & white beans and 2 cups cooked spinach
- Evening Snack: I actually skipped my evening snack of strawberries because I was full from dinner….WHAT?!?!
- I also drank 7 grams in 1 cup homemade lemonade (aka pure lemons with a tsp of sugar…blech) of Psyllium Husk, which is a very high fiber supplement. GROSS.
- Water intake: Before every meal I had one cup of water. I drank at least10 cups of water today.

Exercise: None

My Reaction: I was surprised just how much food I got to eat and how filling it was, especially dinner. Yes it is a bit boring, a fairly plain salad with no cheese and croutons….what the heck is that about?! Plain rice with beans…where is the hot sauce?! But we are only doing this plan for four days and then on to the next so it really seems very tolerable and not that big of a deal at all especially because if you plan your day out right you are not hungry. If I had to eat the same thing for 2 weeks straight I would go crazy, but that is the beauty of the program you only have to do it for FOUR days!

What I liked: I liked that I actually was full and had energy. The only time I was actually hungry and feeling very tired was between about 4:30-6:00 because my snack was around 3 and we didn’t eat dinner till 7:30, but my delicious psyllium husk around 6:00 filled me up rather quickly. Yuck. I also like that I can choose when and in what order I can eat the foods on the list and made it a point to try to eat every few hours. I like this prgram, alot.  I feel encouraged to keep going....and yes I know I am on day 2 but those first days can be hard.

What I didn’t like: Well first off I HATED the psyllium husk. (DUH) It tasted awful and had a horrible consistency. Here is something about me, there are few foods I hate simply based on taste alone it is the consistency of those foods that really get to me. Everyone asks why I hate fruit filled pies….it is because the consistency of warm jelly like fruit is SO gross to me. Well this stuff just had a horrible jelly like consistency and it took me forever to drink about a cup of this stuff. Granted, I am a bit of a baby but every time I would take a sip I would have to chug water and wait because I thought I would vomit. Kristen on the other hand took it like a champ and it only took her about 10-15 minutes to drink it all. Luckily, we only have 2 more days of this crap, so I think I will be ok. What else was a dislike? Well I am not a fan of drinking nearly black coffee. I like a little coffee with my cream and 2 teaspoons of cream to 1 ½ cups of coffee doesn’t cut it. However, I need the caffeine and I feel with all the fiber I am eating the coffee will help, um, lets just say stimulate the process (heehee) so I feel it is good during this detox phase! Finally I am not feeling the exercising. Yes I just came off the 30 day challenge but I have not worked out for about 9 days and I can tell it in my body. With this program you have to exercise 40 minutes every few days, this is going to be hard for this first week until I get back into the habit.

Challenges: The office ordered pizza for lunch and it smelled delicious. However, I actually didn’t care that I was not eating the pizza and putting something so heavy in my body. It really didn’t bother me at all. However, my husband bringing home Wendy’s for his dinner was VERY hard. It smelled good and of course he got fries…which is my biggest weakness and top guilty pleasure food. I so just wanted one little French fry….but refused temptation. But I am not going to lie, I wanted that damn fry.




Read my sister’s Day 1 thoughts below!!

Challenge 2, Day 1 - Kristen

Yesterday, Monday March 22, was Day 1 of the new fitness challenge.

The Facts:
In the morning I had about a cup and a half of coffee with a teaspoon of sugar, one 6ounce 99% fat free strawberry yogurt, and one medium apple for breakfast. I ate one medium banana for a mid-morning snack. Lunch consisted of two cups of a green garden salad with three tablespoons of non-fat Italian dressing. I ate another medium apple midway through the afternoon. Dinner was one cup of freshly squeezed lemonade, two cups of spinach, one cup of cooked kidney beans, and one and a half cups of cooked brown rice. I had an after-dinner snack of one more medium banana. I broke up my 40 minutes of cardio into 20 minutes of jogging on the treadmill before dinner and 20 minutes of fast walking on the treadmill after dinner.

The Reaction:
When I first saw the list of foods to eat, I remember thinking, "How am I ever going to not be hungry?" This diet tells you the list of foods to eat, but doesn't tell you when; you decide that for yourself. I made the smart decision of making sure I had snacks between meals to keep myself from being hungry. And I gotta tell you, I wasn't hungry.

Well, okaaaaay, I was hungry around 5:00pm. This was the longest stretch of time in the day that I went without food (3:30 to 7:30), and I was feeling it in the middle of my class. Otherwise though, I felt full the entire day.

I found it interesting, too, in how I would actually force myself to eat foods. I was instructed on this day to drink a glass of water before breakfast, lunch, and dinner, which fills up part of your stomach so that you eat less. I drank a glass of water before breakfast, and it took me nearly two hours to finish my yogurt and my apple because of that.

Dinner was surprising. I do not normally like beans. Kidney beans are one of the few beans that I actually like, simply because of its use in New Orleans' style cajun cooking. One and a half cups of brown rice actually took up half the plate! Add the beans and the spinach on top, and I was unable to finish my meal.

Who would have thought that I would be on a diet and actually write the words, "I was unable to finish my meal"?!

The cardio felt really good, too. I was able to find a speed on the treadmill in which I could jog and push myself, but I was just on the brink of feeling pain in my side. So this allowed me to jog for a longer period of time without getting discouraged that I had to slow down.

The Response:
I'm really surprised by the first day. I was surprised how consistently satisfied and nonhungry I was throughout the day. I was surprised by how much food I was actually eating. I was surprised by being able to jog for as long as I did.

I realized how difficult it was though during the afternoon. I stopped by a friend's apartment after work, before my class. Normally on these days, they feed me Ramen. Mmmmmm, sweet delicious Ramen, the staple of a college student's diet. So cheap. So noodly. I love your chicken packet. I miss you.

Then I go on campus. Oh, Starbucks. Oh, a smoothie. A burrito! Sushi! Chicken nuggets! Oh my God... I crave bacon.

And this is where it gets hard.

The emotional cravings I was having hit me like a ton of bricks (and now I have the desire to watch Who Framed Roger Rabbit?). I suddenly wanted to eat everything I could possibly want. All without being a single ounce of hungry. This is something I'm going to need to work on over the next month.

The Conclusion:
I am very excited to continue with this program. I'm enjoying it so far. Peeps... I'm actually enjoying a diet!

Challenge # 2

Ok, so my sister and I are kicking off our second Challenge today and I have to say this one is a bit harder. We are actually doing Dr. Ian Smith’s 4 Day Diet. Now, I have tried a few fad diets in college but I typically avoid them because I do not think they are a balanced way to help with a lifestyle change but rather an unhealthy way to lose weight fast. However, this diet seems different and is not a “crash diet” at all but a comprehensive look into yourself, the foods/portions we eat and the amount of exercise we do and my sister and I really wanted to give it a try.


The idea behind the diet/exercise program is that every 4 days you move to a different phase in the program thus keep your body unable to get use to certain eating habits and foods while also not getting bored of the same diet. (Though I imagine you may get bored of salad as there is a lot of that in this diet!) As someone who gets bored REALLY easily, I like that idea. Plus the diet itself, though strict during the first two phases, is the most reasonable and well-rounded program I have seen. Even during the first phase which is about detoxing, you still have a good amount of food you get to eat.

The phases of the diet are:

1) Induction (Detox/Cleansing)
2) Transition (Reintroducing all food groups)
3) Protein Stretch (Higher protein and cardio)
4) Smooth (Incorporating those “forbidden” foods like pizza and fries into your diet correctly)
5) Push (A stricter eating plan)
6) Pace (A Comfortable eating plan)
7) Vigorous (A way to lose weight faster)

To do this diet/exercise program you must complete the first two phases (8 days) but after that you have the freedom to do the remaining phases in whatever order you want or for as long as you want depending on your weight loss goal. (Though Kristen and I are following it as is for 28 days.) This program has a lot of flexibility and really makes sense, but also is strict enough to hopefully get results as it has laid out meal plans so you are not trying to guess what you should eat next. I enjoy knowing that this is what I am eating today and I don’t have to count calories or figure it out on my own. It just is what it is…so deal with it!!

And for me, the best and most beneficial part of the book is the first half where he talks about the mental blocks to weight loss. He talks about how weight loss is 80% mental and 20% physical and for me, and I know many others, the hardest part is getting past those mental barriers we have created. He has chapters talking about being honest with where you really are with your weight and how you got there, setting realistic goals, motivations, temptations, positive attitudes, eating right and rewarding yourself. There are actually questions you answer in the journal you keep for each of these chapters. It is actually very revealing as even though I knew all these things, just writing them down made me think about all the issues with weight, self-image, and motivation that I have. I know that the ONLY thing stopping me from losing weight is myself and I really need to get past some of these issues I have to move forward.

I am not saying any of this will be easy, but I really want to give it a try for a couple reasons. First I really want to change the way I look at food and maintaining a healthy diet. I know I need stricter portion controls and I need to put more of the right foods into my body and less of the wrong ones. Second I want to prove to myself that I CAN do this. I am able to do anything I set my mind to so this should be no exception. Finally, I obviously want to lose weight and re-kick start my weight loss.

So if anyone is interested in learning more about this diet please let me know. I understand this challenge is not for everyone but it is something that I want to do right now so if you are interested let me know! We keep a journal with all our information, but I was thinking of also putting my daily food intake and exercises on the blog. I think it is good to share. :)

So Kristen and I are going to be posting our results every day or two and also giving you our reactions about the program. Consider it our review on if this program works and the pros and cons to it! I know the blog will mainly be about this for the next month, but I am sure these posts will also give our readers tips and ideas for their own weight loss, diet and exercise programs. We will also be sharing our answers to the journal entries and encourage anyone fighting with losing weight to take the time to answer those questions privately…or publicly if you are so inclined.

Fitness Challenge #2…..Coming Soon To A Blog Near You

I know I have not posted the second fitness challenge, but it will be up by this weekend!! I have been very impressed with the results from people on the blog and from my friends outside of the blog who participated! WELL DONE!


In the meantime, don’t stop working out!!!

This is hard for me, especially right now with as busy as it is. Every evening it seems I have something going on and I have not been finding time for myself and the result is that I feel exhausted and sluggish. I do not like this feeling. I never realized how much better I actually feel and how much more energy I have when I work out, even if it is just for 20 minutes. Besides the obvious health benefits, there really is something (I am now realizing) that is mentally invigorating about getting that heart rate up and working out. I have not had that for a few days now and I can tell a difference in both how I feel and how my body feels. So I am really going to try to workout, even if it is just for 20-30 minutes until I start the next fitness challenge next Monday.



TALK TO ME…..what are you doing to workout? What types of workouts do you do when time is limited or when you are not feeling up to doing a long and intense workout? What types of workouts do you feel give you the best result in a short amount of time?

30 Day Fitness Challenge – Completed!!!

So the first 30 day fitness challenge is officially over…..phew!


So did I workout everyday for 30 days straight? NOPE.

Am I ok with that? Absolutely.

Will I continue to exercise? Why yes, infact I have another fitness challenge I came up with that I will be participating in! (more information to come soon!)

I have to say going from no exercise to exercising nearly every day was not easy but I do feel SO MUCH BETTER! My main goal for this entire month was just getting into the habit of working out and realizing that finding even 30 minutes a day to workout is not as hard as what I have made it out to be. It is easy for me to make an excuse to not workout, but making time to do something for myself that truly benefits me should be a priority in my life and not an excuse. Though the actual weight loss may not be as much as I wanted I do feel better both mentally and physically, I have more energy, I feel stronger, I am noticing a difference in my body and I feel very motivated to keep going. Slow and steady, right?!

Remember, my whole blog is about a LIFESTYLE change. The point of this challenge was not to discourage anyone from working out but rather was more to kick-start working out regularly so that we can all continue finding time each week to get healthy. I actually really liked a comment my sister made in a previous post. She said “I believe weight loss is more than a change in your physical appearance. It's a change in your mindset. We have to believe, before we ever start a video or jump on an exercise bike or go for a jog that we can do whatever we put our minds to.” That is what this was for me, changing my mindset and now as I move on to continue losing more weight and working out regularly believing that I can, infact, do this.

I hope everyone is getting something out of this 30 Day Challenge, no matter what that may be. I can’t wait to hear how it is going for everyone!


So here are days 21-30. Yes, there were a few no workout days as I left town this weekend, but I was proud of myself for actually using the fitness room for 40 minutes Saturday so I could workout.

Day 21 – Walk on the treadmill & Yoga
Day 22 – Pilates
Day 23 –Walk on the treadmill
Day 24 – Pilates
Day 25 – No Workout
Day 26 – No workout
Day 27 – Bike at hotel fitness center
Day 28 – No workout
Day 29 – Pilates
Day 30 – Circuit Training & Yoga

Results for this month only:

Total Weight Lost: 5 pounds

Inches Lost:
Hips – 1”
Thighs – 2” off each
Calf – 1” off each
Waist – 2”
Chest – 1”
Arm – ½” off each
Total inches lost this month: 11" (Thank you pilates)

Totals since August 2009:

Weight lost – 33 pounds

Hips – 5”
Thighs – 4” off each
Calf – 2” off each
Waist – 6”
Chest – 4 ½”
Arm – 1 ½” off each
Total inches lost – 30 ½”

I still got a ways to go, but I am getting there slowly and in as healthy a way as I can!!

Exercise of the Month

So some months I will highlight a different exercise. This month’s exercise is THE SQUAT! Eeek

Yes, we hate them because they are a pain in the butt (knees, thighs, calves) but do them because they really work.

The squat is one of the most effective strength exercises for toning and building muscle in the thighs, hips and buttocks…..and that is the area I need the most help with! They are also good for strengthening the bones, ligaments and insertion of the tendons throughout the lower body.

I have bad knees and when I do squats I can just hear them pop, grind and crack…HOWEVER, my doctor said they are great for building strength in my knees and legs which will help with my problems. Basically the stronger I get in my legs the less pressure on my knees. I have been trying to do some form of squat exercises at least 5 days a week this month and I have to admit that as I build strength they seem to be getting easier to do and in some cases causing less pain in my knees.


So here some squat exercises to help get our bottom half looking fabulous!




1. Basic Squat

 2. Basic Squat with One Dumbbell (or a medicine ball)

 3. Basic Squat with Two Dumbbells

 4. Plié Squat with or without dumbbells (in a wide stance, plié squat down then when you come up go up on your tip toes for a count of 5 then repeat.)

5. Cross Leg Behind Squat (Standing straight cross one leg behind the other and then squat.)

6. Sumo Squats (A very wide stance squat)

7. Wall Sits

8. Jump squat (Squat, then jump as you come up) This is what they call plyometrics exercise and are suppose to be very good for you and promote faster weight loss!

9. Squat with a Side Leg Lift (These kill, but are my favorite….goodbye saddlebags!!)

10. Advanced Squat: Do a sumo squat while on your tip toes. (yeah, maybe someday)

Repeat for 1-3 sets of 10-16 repetitions.

***Always keep the knees in line with the toes and weight on the ankles/heels!



Tips for Squatting Safely (haha, that sounds kind of funny!)

1. Keep the weight over the ankles and keep the heels on the floor throughout the movement.
2. Keep the knees in line with the toes.
3. Try not to go lower than 90 degrees.
4. Keep the knees behind the toes.
5. Keep the shoulders back, a natural arch in the lower back, and the head and neck in a neutral position throughout the exercise.