Day 28

Okay, so I am going to have to stop labeling my posts by days now that I have officially decided to keep this blog going beyond the original 30 days. I figure April 30th will be my last "numbered" post. Now I will have to come up with something a little more creative!

Now, some exciting news first: I just found out that a blog I wrote on Shine (from Yahoo!) has been selected as an "Editor's pick". It is a piece I wrote that pertains to this blog, so I am super-excited about it! Sometimes it is the little things that makes one's day. I mean, I am just giddy with excitement right now, even though it is a small thing. Maybe I will write another blog for Shine...

Today was not a hugely eventful day. I did manage to do a little exercise, just not at the gym. I did some walking which I figured was better than nothing. I also went grocery shopping and I was pleasantly surprised to find that, not only were my food choices quite sensible, but it was a whole lot easier to shop than it has

been in recent weeks. It occurred to me that the reason for this is because I am already learning my food labels and already know what I should buy. This may seem like a small thing, but believe me--I see it as a huge step to making permanent, long-lasting changes.

Oh, and I still cannot find my Special K fruit crisps anywhere. I went to two different stores tonight in my vain search to find them. I guess I really don't need the processed food, but I sure miss them!

And on a side note, I kept having to pull my damned pants up the whole time I was shopping. A sign of weight loss? I sure hope so! But I am sticking to my promise not to weigh in again until I meet with my trainer again, which will be next Tuesday.

Not to stray too off topic, but I have to make a comment about the book I am reading, "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. I have never had a book cause so many emotions for me before! I am only on chapter 9 (and they are very short chapters, in case you haven't read it already), but I have never experienced a book quite like this before. I can relate to the author on so many levels (for example, it turns out we were both going through our respective divorces at the very same time). At the same time, I have never had the kind of "luck" she seems to have (a hint--chapter 8 reveals something about her luck). I started a journal of sorts, jotting down my thoughts and feelings as I read this. I can't explain it, but I felt compelled to do so. This book just has me mesmerized right now!

Tomorrow is back to work--again. I really feel like I needed more time off this week than what I had. At least I feel more prepared, food-wise. I am trying to be more conscientious this week about my fruit and vegetable intake. I am finally getting the hang of planning my 5-6 meals each day and staying within my 1500-1600 calorie range, I just need more fruit and vegetables than what I have been eating. The great part about the smaller meals is that I can't seem to eat as much as I used to. No more stuffing myself silly! I like it!

Thank you to everyone who has answered my poll and to those who have taken the time to post a comment. I truly value your feedback and comments! And Cassandra--what can I say? You have been my biggest cheerleader so far and have kept pushing me and feeding me advice and for that a big THANK YOU!

"Whether you think you can or you think you can't -- you are right."

Day 27

As you may have noticed, I have changed the name of my blog. I think it makes more sense and it is something I should have done a while ago. Especially if I plan to keep my blog going longer than 30 days.

What do you think? I'd love to hear some feedback!

Today I was just plain tired and I slept a lot more than I would have liked. My period started (of course) so that left me feeling tired and bloated and...well, all of the things we women know are associated with that time of the month. I certainly don't need to go into detail, do I? On the plus side, I kept my eating on track today. I was happy about that at least...

I decided to spend some time today cleaning out my e-mail. I have a ton of e-mails and junk emails that I just haven't gotten around to reading or deleting. While I was going through my -inbox, I noticed a bunch of e-mails for Sparkpeople, a web-site I had joined over a year ago. I am not sure why I haven't gone back and looked at that site until today, but I am so glad I did! I had forgotten how great the site is! They have hundreds of fabulous recipes in a variety of categories that suit just about any lifestyle or weight loss program. There are a multitude of articles, message boards and weight loss teams you can join. When you sign up or join, you have an arsenal of tools, tips and advice at your disposal. You can track exercise, water intake and a variety of other things through their site. I would encourage anyone who is trying to lose weight or looking for a healthier way of life to check it out: http://www.sparkpeople.com/ It is a site chock full of resources!

One article in particular stuck out for me today: Healthier Ways to Get Your Chocolate Fix
Anyone want to take a guess as to why that one in particular was of interest to me?

Speaking of chocolate, I finally had my Skinny Cow ice cream tonight. I thought it was delicious, especially for only 150 calories! Chocolate Fudge Brownie (yum): 150 calories, 2 grams of fat and 4 grams of fiber. I enjoyed it immensely and it certainly helped quell my chocolate cravings! It is a product I will most definitely buy again, especially as the warmer weather nears.

Ok, I have been dragging my feet with my confession that I did not go to the gym today. Something about cramping, bloating and fatigue just doesn't inspire one to haul the sorry butt to the gym. It probably would have been the best thing I could have done for myself today and the mind was willing, body was weak. It is at the top of my agenda for tomorrow, though.

I have decided that I need to start reading some inspirational books or something. You know, sort of the "feed the mind and soul" as well as the body type of thing. I have a book picked out but I just started it last night while I was at work and haven't gotten very far. It is the book "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. Has anyone else read it? If so, what are your thoughts?

Anyway, leave some feedback as to what you think of the new name of this blog or what you think of sparkpeople or "Eat, Pray, Love"...or anything else that is on your mind!

"Whether you think you can or you think you can't -- you are right."

Day 26

Well, I didn't make it to the gym today. I was so exhausted from work, that I just couldn't muster up the strength or energy. I guess that happens when you work long shifts like I do. I am off tomorrow so I will work out then for sure...

Today I am feeling fat. Probably because I am bloated and should be getting my period any day now. That would explain the fatigue, too. Although I notice I am not breaking out (acne) as much as I usually do. Must be the water!

Today was a very low-motivation day. Which is to say I did not have much interest in being vigilant about my food intake. Which is yet another way of saying I did not watch what I ate. I know that part of my problem is that I am just plain tired and cranky, but I also know that I need to find a way of dealing with both elements that doesn't include saying, "Who cares?" for the day. I really need to get focused on the fact that I do care because what I eat (or don't) ends up affecting me in ways that I really do care about--like gaining or losing weight! I guess I am still practicing the things I need to tell myself or things I need to do for days like this.

I just had a conversation the other day with a friend of mine who is on the Nutri-system diet plan and she was having some major motivation issues. She says the food tastes terrible and she is having a hard time sticking to it. She said it wasn't too hard at first because she was excited and motivated to get started. It also helped that she lost almost 10 lbs the first week. But then after the excitement wore off and she had been eating the same "gross" food day after day, it was becoming too hard. And, she hasn't lost anymore weight. Probably because she has been "cheating" too much. It reminded me that any "diet" has to be something sustainable for the long run. It also reminded me of the beginning of this blog and my 30 day challenge...

I know this is another short post, but I am just so tired. I have to get some sleep. Hopefully, with some sleep I can awaken with a fresh perspective and a brighter outlook.

Or at the very least, some decent sleep!

"Whether you think you can or you think you can't -- you are right."

Days 24 & 25

Well, once again work interferred with my ability to post anything here! Maybe it is a good thing I will be transforming this into a regular blog--at least that way people won't be too disappointed when a day is missing!

So, I went to the gym as planned yesterday. I know I have only been a few times, but I already feel like there is a difference. I can't put my finger on it exactly, but I like it! I followed the exercises (again) as prescribed by my trainer. I am going to go again tomorrow...

I won't weigh myself, I have decided, until my next appointment with my personal trainer. My pants already feel a little looser, even though I can feel the bloat setting in that comes along with the "monthly visitor" (girls, are you with me here?). Even though I am PMSing, I still feel like I am making progress, which feels good!

The only tricky part lately for me is keeping track of my calories. I find myself spending a lot of time trying to find out the caloric count for the food I want to pack for my lunches, etc. When youu are trying to keep your calories within a certain range, it makes all the difference in the world if something has 50 or 100 calories! I am sure some of this will become second nature eventually, but it is hard to go from not paying any attention to what you eat to suddenly looking at everything you eat!

Been drinking my water and I have been fortunate enough the last few days at work to be able to drink the water and use the bathroom. Ah, the luxuries in life...

I know this is a short post, but work calls yet again. I've added a new poll--since I already asked what the worst fat-free food you have tasted is, I thought I would see if anyone had thoughts on what the best tasting were. Please answer the poll and leave a comment or two--I love to hear from you!

"Whether you think you can or you think you can't -- you are right."

Day 23 -- One Week Left?

Today is Day 23, which means there is supposed to be only one week left of this blog...

But really, I feel like I am just getting started! I feel like the first three weeks of this journey was sort of a discovery phase and now I feel like I am finally finding my bearings. I guess I will just need to re-name this blog...re-name it what, though??

I was in a foul mood this morning that took me a while to shake. I woke up starving, which really wasn't surprising since I had gone to bed hungry. I had some oatmeal and berries (blueberries and raspberries) and was so disappointed in the berries. They were so sour! Adding to my frustration was the fact that I had paid so much money for them. I added some Splenda, but it just didn't help much. I had a couple of protein shakes, a salad (more on the salad later) and some grilled chicken and vegetables for my day. Oh yes--my Morning Star chicken sandwich that I have really come to enjoy!

Well, I still cannot find my recipe for the delicious vegetable quiche. I have an e-mail to a friend asking if she still has it and, if so, could she send it to me. I will keep looking (I have a feeling it is being used as a bookmark somewhere!) In the meantime, I have a tasty alternative to fried chicken that I use all the time that I thought I would share:

Garlic & Herb Oven-Fried Chicken

1 cup Garlic & Herb flavored bread crumbs (I use Progresso brand)
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1-2 tablespoon reduced-calorie margarine
1 egg, beaten
Cooking spray (ie: Pam)
Parmesan cheese (optional)

Preheat oven to 375. Spray a glass baking dish with cooking spray. Put bread crumbs in a medium bowl. Melt margarine and add to bread crumbs, mixing well. Beat egg in a small mixing bowl. Dip chicken breasts into egg then add to bread crumb mixture, completely coating each piece. Place in baking dish. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese, if desired. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until done.I make this all the time for my family when I need a quick and easy meal. I usually throw some rice in my rice cooker while the chicken is baking and serve with green beans for a healthy meal. It is so good that they still don't know that it is good for them! In another post I will share my recipe for my savory chicken rice that I usually serve with this chicken. It is super-yummy!

I said I would post the results for my Ranch dressing and so today I tried it. It turned out much better than the gelatinous disgusting mess I made before. So 1/2 cup low-fat mayo, 1/2 cup regular mayo and 1 cup skim milk is the trick! I had some on my salad (with a bit of shrimp--yummy!) and I actually enjoyed it.

Tomorrow is back to the gym. I am looking forward to it, just hating the soreness! Today my arms were so sore! And it seems like I am making it worse--it hurts more each time I do my routine! Maybe I should be waiting longer between sessions?

So, that has to be all for now. I have work to do, so I need to wrap this up. But never fear--I will be back with all the gory details of tomorrow!

Until then....

"Whether you think you can or you think you can't -- you are right."

Day 22

Ah, I think I am going to like going to the gym! I went through all of the exercises that my trainer wrote up for me and included a 20-minute session on the treadmill for some cardio. All in all, I was at the gym about an hour. I saw my husband doing these wicked crunches using an exercise ball and decided to throw a few of those in, too. Yowza! What a work-out! My plan is to make it to the gym at least every other day to do the exercises my trainer set up for me. On my "off" days, I am going to hit my treadmill at home when I can. I have my first exercise goal, too. Tonight I walked at a pace of 3 miles per hour at an incline of 3 for 20 minutes. Not a hard work out by any stretch, but I want something to build up to. I want to gradually increase the time, speed and incline gradually so that I can build up to a jog. My first goal is to build up to 25 minutes at a speed of 3.5 and an incline of 5. I think that is an easy goal to shoot for and when I get there it will inspire me to push harder to the next goal.

I spent some time this evening looking on-line at calorie counts for different foods. It's back to work for me tomorrow, so I am trying to plan ahead. My trainer wants me to consume between 1500-1600 calories per day, eating 5 or 6 small meals each day. This means I need to know how many calories I am consuming when I have my "mini" meals. She told me that my protein drinks are fine and that I cannot "save up" my calories! I am supposed to aim for 250-350 calories in my "mini" meals, so I am trying to plan accordingly.


Since my husband is now inspired to eat better as well, I am trying to find meals for the both of us--a daunting task, indeed! To make it even more difficult, my goal is to lose weight while his is to gain muscle. As a result, our eating habits will be different as well. He is supposed to eat more nuts, eggs and protein while I am supposed to increase my fruits and vegetables and watch fat content.

I am sure I have mentioned previously that my husband is not a big vegetable fan, but he has agreed to eat more salads. The challenge is salad dressing. Judging by the poll results so far, most people seem to agree that fat-free salad dressings are gross. I tried once to make homemade fat-free Ranch dressing and the results were a thick, disgusting substance that I just did not wish to ingest. My theory had been that if homemade Ranch tastes so much better than store-bought, the same must be true of fat-free versions. Yeah. Not so much...

So, here is what I did: I tried the homemade thing again, only this time I used 1/2 cup of real, full-fat mayonnaise with 1/2 cup of the disgusting low fat crap (aptly named, if I do say so myself). I know using full-fat mayo is increasing the fat and calorie content, but if it gets my husband to eat a salad it will be worth it to me! I stuck with the non-fat milk since I didn't view the milk as the culprit in my last homemade attempt. I will post the results tomorrow...

I will post a recipe tomorrow. Still looking for that quiche recipe, but even if I can't find that one, I will post something tomorrow since I am long over-due for a recipe.

If you haven't already done so, please take a moment to answer my poll. It will end soon and I have the next one ready to go.

Maybe I should have added mayonnaise to the list of most disgusting fat-free items....

"Whether you think you can or you think you can't -- you are right."

Day 21

Well, I didn't wake up hating my trainer this morning, but I was sore...just not nearly as sore as I expected to be! What soreness I did experience was all over my entire body. Maybe that was why I didn't feel so bad--it was an all-over experience so my body couldn't focus on just one "pain".

I will say that I had places that were sore that I did not know had muscles! Today was a "resting" day, so tomorrow I get to do yesterday's routine all over again. At this rate, I hope to see some great results very quickly!

Went grocery shopping today and felt really good about my food choices. I found these small ice cream cups by Skinny Cow. Chocolate Fudge Brownie (yum): 150 calories, 2 grams of fat and 4 grams of fiber. I decided they would be perfect for those days I need something sweet for dessert. I also bought some shrimp, something I love to eat but never think to buy (unless I go out for dinner). My husband is not a big vegetable eater. He will eat green beans and salads loaded with salad dressing, eggs and sunflower seeds. While that may be the best choice for him (sans the copious amounts of dressing) since he is looking to gain muscle, it won't work so well for me, who is looking to lose weight (fat). I bought some salad shrimp because I can put that on my salad and not need very much dressing at all. I also bought the ingredients to make our own low-fat salad dressing.

I think Special K ran out of fruit crisps. I mean worldwide. I still cannot find them as they are still sold out...

My daughter made some tasty low-fat, high-fiber apple bran muffins for breakfast. Lunch was a Morning Star chicken patty on a high-fiber, multi-grain "sandwich thin" and spinach salad. I made Teriyaki chicken and rice for dinner with green beans. Delicious!

I can sure tell the difference in my energy level and clarity of mind when I drink plenty of water. I like water, too. I just can't figure out why I have such a hard time getting more water throughout my day. I haven't had a Diet Coke in a few days, but I am still not getting as much water as I would like to be drinking.

There was no weigh-in today since I was weighed yesterday. I know that my scale says something different from the gym scale, but I just couldn't bring myself to jump on my home scale after the disappointment I had yesterday. I know my trainer will weigh me again in two weeks, so I am hoping that the wait will be worth it.

So there is only supposed to be about a week left of this blog, but I think it has been decided to extend it and keep it going. Which means I should probably change the name. I am still amazed at how much has changed just in the three weeks since I started this blog. I started with the premise of sticking to a particular "diet" for thirty days and tracking my progress. And of course, now....well, now I feel like I am on the start of a whole new journey. One that certainly won't be finished in the next week!

I still can't find the recipe my friend gave to me for that delicious quiche. I am really disappointed, too since it was so good. I will keep looking, though. If I can't find it, maybe I will post another recipe...

Anyway, I will report back tomorrow with a report of how my gym experience goes!

Until then...

"Whether you think you can or you think you can't -- you are right."

Day 20 - Personal Trainer Day!

Oh wow! I had my first session with my personal trainer today and what a work out! She really worked me and I am surprised that I made it through the whole hour. I can tell already that I am going to be hurting tomorrow. She even warned me that she will have done her job if I woke up hating her in the morning...

My session started off with getting "pinched"--using a caliper to determine by percentage of body fat. I am currently at 36%, which appalled me. Then came the measurements (ick) and then the weigh in. The weigh in was probably the most devastating since the scale at the gym has me weighing in at 202 lbs. My trainer told me it is probably less (I had shoes on, etc), but I am betting that it still puts me at around 200 lbs. Still.

A little background about my trainer: In her office is a picture frame which contains two pictures. The first is a picture of when she was very over-weight. Yes, my trainer used to be fat. She told me her body fat used to be 69%. I can't remember how much she weighed--somewhere between 250-300 lbs. The second picture is a lovely photo of her in a beautiful blue bikini, looking cut, toned and fit. Motivational? You bet!

Anyway, after suffering through that humiliation, we talked about diet and I was so glad we did! She gave me a food journal and told me to write down everything I eat. We talked about my Starbucks addiction and we formulated a plan so that I could keep having my daily vice but gradually reduce the sugar and other no-no items so that it will become a very small part of my daily calorie consumption. She also gave me a food list of what is acceptable to eat (and what isn't) and a couple of web-sites to go to find out how many calories I am consuming:

http://www.calorieking.com/

http://www.thedailyplate.com/

The first one appears to be a "membership only" site that you have to pay for. The second one is a branch of http://www.livestrong.com/. After looking at "Livestrong" and "The Daily Plate" I feel even more inspired to face this challenge head on. I have not had the opportunity to look at the site more closely, but I plan to at some point tonight. I encourage others to click the links I have provided and check them out!

So after the small talk, it was down to business. Oh my! My trainer worked me non-stop for that hour and it was hard but I made it. I was so stoked to find that I could not only do the exercises but also meet the "goals" she had for some of them. For example, she has one move she calls "The Plank" and the goal is keep yourself in a push-up position (the "up" part) for a minute. It sounds easy, but when you already have spent an hour doing weights and other work-outs, it hurts! But I was able to do it, so I was very happy. I finished my hour tired and sore, but happy.

My trainer wrote out everything we did today and I am supposed to do those exercises plus 20-30 minutes of cardio 3-5 days per week. My next appointment is May 4 (two weeks) to resume more torture and analyze current results. The goal is to eventually get my percentage of body fat reduced by 10% and to get through these work-outs without feeling like I might die.

One thing is for sure--after a good, hard work-out like that, you definitely don't feel compelled to eat anything but healthy food! I think there is a sub-conscious feeling that you just put yourself through an hour of torture, why would you ruin it by eating a double cheeseburger? And nothing encourages water consumption quite the same way, either...

Ok, so that's it for today. I ate healthy, drank lots of water and had a great work-out. Maybe I should see my trainer every day to keep this going...

I am off to review those web-sites and make my grocery list for tomorrow. My husband and I plan to go back to the gym tomorrow for a little cardio work. That is if I can get myself out of bed after today. I will let you know just how sore I am tomorrow!

"Whether you think you can or you think you can't -- you are right."

Days 18 & 19

This is really starting to get old!

I couldn't post anything for Day 18 because of yet another double shift. I will tell you something else, too, they wreak havoc on a person's diet plan!

Needless to say, I have not been doing so well with watching what I eat, etc. It hasn't been as bad as I was eating previously, but I also have not been eating a lot of fruits or vegetables or drinking as much water as I should (one tends to avoid a lot of fluid when the ability to use the restroom is limited!) I know I need to find a way to reconcile this since this is going to be an on-going problem with work. It definitely needs to be addressed!

On a plus note, tomorrow is my first appointment with a personal trainer! I am nervous and excited. I have never had a personal trainer before, so I am really looking forward to learning from her. She wants to know what my goals are and I am wondering if it is too much to say, "Lose weight, tone up, have more endurance, and build some muscle". Am I supposed to pick just one?? I am looking forward to sharing what I learn!

Oh...and another side note--I still cannot find my Special K fruit crisps. I am really curious--has anyone else tried them? Obviously, others share my view that they are delicious because they have been sold out for three weeks now!!

I noticed that I haven't posted any new recipes in a while. I think I will try to change that since I will have the next few days off from work (woo hoo!!) I want to find a delicious recipe that a friend of mine once gave me for a vegetable quiche. It tastes so good, I swear you won't believe it is low fat and good for you!

My most recent poll is coming to a close and I see that the three people who voted (thank you!) all seem to think I should continue with this blog. I am in agreement since I have truly learned more than I ever thought I would by simply keeping a journal during this process. I think I will need to change the name, though, since the name "30 day challenge" really won't apply. Any suggestions??

So, I am hoping this will be the last of my "short" posts for the next few days since I will actually have a little more time to dedicate to writing. I hope you will stay tuned because I hope to have some exciting and useful information in the days ahead...

Stay tuned!

"Whether you think you can or you think you can't -- you are right."

Days 16 & 17

Well, as I feared, I was not able to post anything for yesterday since I had to work a double shift.

Not much to report for yesterday. There are some major issues going on where I work and, as a result, I did not have much of an appetite. I wound up eating only one meal that day--my dinner of chicken and mashed potatoes that my husband brought me. It was interesting to note that I had no appetite because of the stress I was dealing with, yet there have been other times that I would eat and eat and it was still emotional eating. So I thought about it more today and realized that I need to pay closer attention to my emotional eating habits.

As I thought more about my emotional eating habits, I started to see a few patterns emerge: I eat and eat when I feel somehow "deserving". In other words, I eat sometimes because it feels like deprivation or punishment otherwise. I find this to be true during stressful times where I might be already angry or upset about a situation or circumstance I have little or no control over. In my mind, it almost feels like even more punishment if I restrict what I eat or what I am eating during those times. Conversely, if I am experiencing a lot of stress where I am feeling anxious or scared (as opposed to angry) I find that I am unable to eat.

My first extreme experience with a total loss of appetite was when I went through a divorce several years ago. I became so dangerously thin during that time that my doctor threatened to have me hospitalized if I lost any more weight. After my divorce was final and things stabilized, so did my weight. I was a size 2, then a 4 for a long time. I find myself wishing I could go back to that size 4 person and tell her to stay right where she is (weight wise)! I certainly do not wish to go through something traumatizing just to lose weight, but I do wish I could tap into that ability while I am trying to lose weight now.

Anyway, I am still feeling pretty stressed out today because of work. It still is not resolved and I am not looking forward to dealing with it when I go back to work, so it has been weighing heavily on my mind today. I am supposed to begin my food journal today for my personal trainer (my appointment is Tuesday) and I don't have much to put on it for today. My husband (who knows all about what i s going on at work) was kind enough to cook dinner tonight. He grilled some steaks and baked potatoes. I will 'fess up--my baked potato was loaded. It tasted so good and to be perfectly honest, I just did not care today about "watching" what I eat. I am stressed and I had not eaten anything at all during the day, so I was ok with the loaded baked potato.

Still had my Starbucks--fat-free, of course. That is one change that is working well for me.

I am not looking forward to returning to work tomorrow, but I am looking forward to getting back on track. I have moments where I feel I am making slow but sure progress and I have other moments where I am taking one step forward and two steps back. I guess all I can do is keep moving forward, even when I stumble and fall.

"Whether you think you can or you think you can't -- you are right."

Day 15 & Half Way There!

Ah! So today felt like soooo much less of a struggle since I was allowed my cake and eat it, too (only in a manner of speaking, of course). I ordered my beloved Starbucks in the non-fat version and all felt right with the world! I can't explain it--it just made the rest of my food choices for the day seem so much easier. I guess by having my indulgence (minus the guilt) I didn't feel like the day was a total bust.

Speaking of indulgences, I cannot find my delicious Special K fruit crisps anywhere! They are so popular that they have been sold out for the last two weeks! And I am talking sold out at three different stores (yes, I went to three different stores for two weeks trying to find them). I am so bummed because I just love them. They are the perfect 100 calorie dessert or snack and I am missing them terribly--I have been out of them for a week!

What I did have today was a tangelo. It was so juicy and absolutely delicious! I know the picture shown today is a bunch of oranges, but I posted it today in honor of those tangelos. I bought a bunch of them and I am so glad I did. Perfect snack...

Before I get too much further into this post, I need to mention something about tomorrow's post: I may not be able to post anything until Day 17. I am scheduled to work a double shift tomorrow night and I do not know if I will be able to get to a computer at any point for my daily entry. So if you don't see anything tomorrow, don't panic! I am only working...

Anyway, now that I am upon the half-way mark of this blog, I am coming to realize that this may need to become more than a "30 day challenge". My initial intent was to follow the 30 day diet I had found on-line, but that has been discarded long ago. It was just not a sustainable diet. I think I would have been either committed to an insane asylum or been the subject of some wild Haagen Daz take-over (and certainly a major headline in the news) by now if I had stayed with that plan. And now with my new personal trainer entering the scene this week, I am beginning to feel that this changes the dynamic and purpose of this blog. I mean, it will take some time before I see any real changes from the work-outs--certainly longer than the two weeks left for this blog.

I guess I will make that my next poll!

Hopefully I will be able to post tomorrow, but if not never fear for you will hear from me soon!


"Whether you think you can or you think you can't -- you are right."

Day 14 and Another Weigh-in

Well, this week has certainly not been the success that last week was. While I was pleasantly surprised to find that I did actually lose a pound this week, I am disappointed that I have struggled as much as I have. This seems to have been the week for struggling with old habits that die hard...really hard!

I had a couple of posts here with suggestions about my Starbucks addiction and they came at a great time. Strangely enough, I had a friend suggest some of the same ideas: try low-fat or sugar free, but continue to "indulge". My friend (who is a very big fitness buff) told me that he drinks a Venti Starbucks mocha every day and I was so surprised since he always eats so healthy and is very big into exercise. It is his one indulgence that he allows himself every day and he tries to use the no-sugar syrups and non-fat varieties at least every other day. It gave me such hope! So I just had to try an experiment--I went to Starbucks and ordered my delicious toffee nut mocha in the fat-free form. I really expected it to not taste so good, but when I tried it I was amazed at how good it was. I was practically dancing for joy since this means I can keep my delicious drink but still conform to a healthier way of living just by making it fat-free. I think this could be just the breakthrough I needed!

I had a good work-out today. Did a lot of walking and climbing and I felt myself getting a good work-out. I think I can finally get back on track now that I have a few things resolved in my mind. I went grocery shopping tonight and I was happy with what I bought for meals. I feel pretty confident that meals will be tasty but healthy and, therefore, getting me back on track.

Oh! Something else my friend told me--my choice of ready-to-drink meal replacement was a good choice for those "pinch" moments. With his seal of approval, I bought more tonight.

All in all, I feel like I can finally get back to the mind-set I need to be in to be back on track. The struggle with my Starbucks indulgence seems to have a peaceful resolution that is livable. I am happy with the one-pound loss. I feel like this blog is helping me to sort through the changes I need to make for permanent lifestyle habits. I know this is supposed to be a 30 day blog, but I am trying to decide where to take it after that. Maybe I will save that for tomorrow...

"Whether you think you can or you think you can't -- you are right."

Day 13...and Starbucks is Kicking my A**

Ok, I cannot seem to break my Starbucks habit. That seems to be the one thing that is kicking my butt in my efforts to lose weight. I will admit that I bought one of my delicious toffee nut mochas today, convincing myself that it was my breakfast (and therefore somehow ok). Of course when I became hungry a couple of hours later, my "breakfast" choice didn't seem to be a very good one. Of course, it would have been better to get up earlier and make myself some oatmeal instead...

I am really dreading weigh-in tomorrow. I am pretty sure I am not going to like what I see. I will weigh-in, take my licks and then formulate a new strategy. I am not giving up!

I keep hearing that losing weight is the easy part--keeping it off is the hard part, but I am having a really hard time with that concept! This is hard! I am trying to find the motivation to get back on track and get going. I don't want to be fat--I want to be thin and attractive again! I know how I got here, now I am just trying to figure out how to get out of it and back on track to a better way of life. When did my battle with food begin? What happened? I used to be thin!

So, on that note I am back to square one: I will weigh in tomorrow, post the humilation here and then get back on track. I need to find a way to stay away from the Starbucks, but it's hard. I am beginning to think I need to start all over with this blog since I have strayed so far off course. 30 days is not going to be enough to determine anything.

I am off to see if I can find what motivates me. Any suggestions out there??

"Whether you think you can or you think you can't -- you are right."

Day 12

Well, it finally happened--I reached my "I really don't care" day. I am sure some of it is just plain exhaustion from my last few days of work, but today I just did not care one bit about "watching" what I eat, etc.

Another reason may be that I jumped on the scale. I know today was not weigh-in, but it was sitting there and curiosity got the better of me. Nothing. By that I mean that I have not lost any more weight since my last weigh-in. I couldn't have been more disappointed. How can that be? I have given up my coffee drinks (which I keep missing terribly) and have been eating so much better than I have for a very long time. I know I can't expect instant results, but I really expected to see the scale move at least a pound. It has just been one of those days where I felt like I was trying so hard for nothing. And it is only day 12!

So, I starting thinking that maybe what I have been doing for the last week isn't working. Maybe I need to go back to the meat-beans-veggies only diet. But of course I know that won't last for too long for me. So then I started to think about some quick-fix, fad diets. You know--the cabbage soup diet or drinking just Slim-fast for the next week. Because, in all honesty, I am worried that my next weigh-in is coming up and I will have to face everyone who reads this and have to explain why I haven't lost any more weight. That, and I just want to get the damned weight off!

After pondering those options for awhile, I wondered how many other people have used a "fad" diet for weight loss in the past (or maybe even presently??) It sounded like a good poll so please take a moment to answer this question.

Anyway, back to my lamentations...so I found myself frustrated and actually angry today. Again, I am sure exhaustion has a role in this, but I just wasn't in the mood to "do the right thing" diet-wise. I sort of felt like there was no point--I wasn't getting anywhere. So in my "screw it" mind-set, I blew it today. I suppose I will look at today as my "free day" and pick it up tomorrow, but I still feel pretty crappy. I had my Starbucks. I ate Chinese take-out. I had some Junior mints. And I didn't really care today.

I am sure I will pay the price for it, but for right now all I can do is re-commit and start afresh tomorrow. What's done is done, right?

I will be able to go to the gym tomorrow as well, so hopefully that will help me get back on track. I still haven't ruled out a day or two of cabbage soup! I just hope tomorrow brings a brighter outlook.

"Whether you think you can or you think you can't -- you are right."

Days 10 & 11

Wow! So I have been so freakishly busy the last couple of days I haven't even have the chance to post here!

First things first, I said I would post my quick and easy vegetable soup recipe, so here it is:

Quick & Easy Vegetable Soup:

· 1 pkg Lipton onion soup mix (I use the beefy onion for added flavor)
· 1 32 oz can beef broth (no fat, low sodium variety)
· 2 stalks of Celery, chopped
· 4 carrots, diced
· 1 16 oz can diced tomatoes
· 1 tablespoon minced garlic
· ½ teaspoon thyme
· 1 12 oz pkg frozen green beans
· 1 cup frozen peas
· Salt & pepper to taste

In mixing bowl, mix together soup mix and beef broth —set aside. In a large stock pot or dutch oven, combine celery and carrots. Pour soup mixture over celery and carrots. Add diced tomatoes, garlic and thyme. Cook over medium heat just until boiling. Add frozen peas and green beans, returning to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until vegetables are done. Season with salt and pepper.

I sometime vary the ingredients—for example, I made this recently using zucchini instead of carrots and added some bok choy during the last 2-3 minutes of cooking.

I have been eating a lot of this soup since I made a big pot of it a few days ago. Its been a huge lifesaver in terms of time for food preparation. Its quick and easy and really tasty! It hardly tastes like you are eating something that is so good for you.

Once again, there is not too much to report since much of my time in the last few days has been very work centered. I will say that I have felt a lot more energy as a result of my healthier eating habits. Getting though my hectic schedule has been easier since I have been eating more "fuel-efficient" foods. I have been eating a high-fiber oatmeal for breakfast which has been both delicious and filling. I have been trying to stay away from eating as many carbs throughout the day. I sauteed an entire bag of spinach with garlic for work and that worked out well, too. I ate that with either some grilled fish or chicken. One word of warning, though: Be sure to chew some powerful mint gum after eating so as to not offend co-workers! I've been keeping a couple of the ready-to-drink high protein shakes on stand-by, in case I get too busy to stop and heat something up or need it to be portable. I have really grown to depend on them to get me through in a pinch!

One of my co-workers brought in muffins and I was dying to have one. The blueberry ones just looked marvelous. As soon as I read the fat and calorie content, I was floored! 450 calories and 27 grams of fat, 43g carbs! Ouch! I was glad I didn't take one and seeing those numbers were a quick deterrent from contemplating it further. It occurred to me that I would have eaten one (maybe even two) in the past without even a moment's thought. It really made me realize just how careless I had become with my eating habits and grateful that I am making the effort to be more conscientious now.

I still haven't made it to the gym! I have been staying pretty active at work, but I still would like to get to the gym, so I am hoping to get there this week. I had an interesting conversation with a friend of mine who told me that weight loss/maintenance is only 20% exercise--the majority comes from what you eat and caloric intake. There has even been research recently that backs this up. So it is a 20/80 (20% exercise, 80% diet) formula. That is not to discourage exercise--it is a vital part of healthy living. It just won't help you lose weight if not combined with a proper diet.

So that is what I have for now. I know I crammed two days worth into one, but as I said before I have been slammed with work so there isn't much else to tell.

Until tomorrow...

"Whether you think you can or you think you can't -- you are right."

Day 9

This post is late since I have been called into work again. I am beginning to understand why people in my line of work tend to gain weight!

This post will be really short like Day8 since there isn't much to talk about--well, nothing related to this blog anyway.

I whipped up a batch of vegetable soup. Really quick, really easy. And there is enough to get me through the next few days. I will try to post the recipe on my Day 10 post. It tastes so good that I forget just how good for me it really is. I don't feel like I am missing out when I eat it.

Breakfast was a quick bowl of High Fiber oatmeal before I had to dash out the door. Then because I was on-call and didn't have the option of bringing food (no place to store, heat or refrigerate), the only option available to me was fast-food. I stuck with the Taco Bell fresco menu and my chicken soft tacos. Yummy! When I finally came back to where I could access my food, I selected a frozen Lean Cuisine entree. Had some vegetable soup in between.

My water consumption was sorely lacking today since I just flat out didn't have time to drink as much (or use the facilities, if you know what I mean). I felt the effects, too. I felt more tired and felt thirsty. Not something I plan to duplicate tomorrow!

That's about all I have time for now. I am not real happy about these short posts, but life doesn't stop for a blog!

Until tomorrow....


"Whether you think you can or you think you can't -- you are right."

Day 8...and Week 2 Begins!

Well, today started with being called into work. I didn't feel so well while I was showering and preparing for my day. For a moment, I thought I may have been coming down with whatever stomach virus had plagued my husband a few days ago. I still don't know what caused my extreme nausea, but it sure slowed me down. Fortunately, I felt better by the time I left the house, but that didn't leave me any time to cook anything or brew any coffee. I was very proud of myself for getting just a brewed coffee during my stop at Starbucks! I picked up a Subway turkey on wheat foot long sandwich (lots of veggies!) to get me through food-wise.

Of course, by the time I got to work there was no time to eat and I was starving. I grabbed a ready-to-drink health drink called EAS that I had forgotten in the back of my fridge. It was a double-chocolate flavor, low carb/high protein drink. It contained 110 calories, 17 grams of protein, and 6 grams of carbs. I can't remember fat content off-hand, but I do remember it was low, too. I don't plan to have one every day, but it did make for a great re-fuel when I didn't have time for anything else.

Great news! My gym membership has been re-activated. And as a bonus, I will have four sessions with a personal trainer! I am so excited! Unfortunately, I can't meet with the trainer for the first time until April 20th, but I can go and work out before then--which I plan to do! I am supposed to track everything I eat for three day prior to my first session. I guess part of the plan is to look at my diet and see what needs to be adjusted. I have never had a personal trainer before so I consider this a really exciting treat! I've been wanting to add exercise to my plan, so this is perfect.

Unfortunately, tonight's post is going to be short. I am still not entirely convinced I am not coming down with my husband's stomach virus and I had a long work day, so there really isn't much else for me to add for today.

One final note: I did manage to bring my water consumption back up for the day.

Hopefully I will feel better tomorrow. Until then...

"Whether you think you can or you think you can't -- you are right."

Day 7...Plus the First Results are in!

Week 1 is officially over! Today was my long-awaited weigh-in and my "free day"! What an interesting week, too. I learned a few things and I am sure this is just the beginning of my learning process. I am so glad I decided to keep this blog while embarking on this challenge because it has helped me to see what is working and what isn't...

Ok, the big news first: I lost 4 lbs on my first week! I was so excited when I jumped on the scale this morning and saw the scale had moved that much, especially since I had not been as vigilant as I should have been with the very restrictive diet.

That brings me to my first lesson on this journey so far--I am scrapping the diet I used for the first week. I realized (with a little help from some friends) that I need to build a plan that is livable. Diets don't work because people make the mistake of utilizing a diet that is not sustainable for the long haul and therefore, don't make the necessary permanent changes that keeps the weight off. As I stated in a previous post--beans have never been a major staple in my diet and they are not a food I can comfortably eat every day for the rest of my life. That means that I am not making any long-lasting changes by sticking to this program, which also means that my chances of keeping the weight off are slim (pun intended).

Does anyone remember the Optifast diet Oprah went on in 1988? She wheeled out the little red wagon on her show filled with 67 pounds of fat--the amount she had lost on that diet plan. Well, she gained it all back for a variety of reasons, the primary reason being that the diet was not a sustainable one--it was not a program she could live on the rest of her life. That is one of the lessons I have taken with me after this week as well.

My new plan is going to be a modification of the old one. I am sticking with the slow carb, low fat idea but I am making some changes. After doing some research, I found a whole list of low GI (glycemic index) carb foods that I can eat and still lose weight. This will open a lot of food choices up for me which will hopefully allow me to stay on track better. I will probably have one or two days dedicated to the old plan, but the rest of the time will be with a wider variety of other food. I look forward to sharing some of those menus!


Yes, I went to Starbucks and had my coffee--delicious! After weighing myself today I had a hard time just going wild with my food choices. Since I was already indulging with my calorie-laden coffee, I had Special K fruit crisp. Has anyone tried them? I love them! They are available in strawberry or blueberry and two crisps are only 100 calories. To me they taste like a Pop Tart, but not quite as sugary. They just don't taste like a 100 calorie snack--they are too good! Lunch was the big no-no: french fries. They tasted so good, though!! Dinner was much more sensible. Since I had not had any fast food for a week, I treated myself to the Drive-thru Diet at Taco Bell. I had two of the freso chicken soft tacos and they were fabulous! Each one is only 170 calories, but it certainly tastes like more. I had tried the steak burrito (from the frecso menu) previously and was not very impressed, but the chicken soft tacos tonight were absolutely delicious. I am glad I gave the drive-thru menu another shot. They were so good that I plan on making them my new fast-food treat!

After drinking water all week, I also had my first Diet Coke this evening and I have to say I was surprised to find it wasn't as appetizing as I thought it would be. It did not taste as good as I thought it would (like the coffee and french fries did). I find this to be good news since I know that soda (especially diet) is not good for you anyway. I think I may be making my first permanent change--water instead of soda. That is not to say I will never drink another soda again, I just think I will try to make it a once-in-awhile treat.

I've noticed that this post is probably going to take a full page, so I am going to stop here. Suffice it to say it has been a good first week with some interesting discoveries. I think the "free day" is great for indulgences and for reviewing the week, so I will be keeping the free day. I think the free day is good to keep motivation fresh because I am definitely looking forward to getting going again tomorrow. I am so happy with my 4 lb weight loss and I want to keep losing!

Let's see what this next week brings!

"Whether you think you can or you think you can't -- you are right."

Day 6

Ok, one last day before weigh in and I am feeling the pressure to toe the line and not screw up. I don't want to weigh in and find that I haven't lost anything because then I know I will feel very defeated.

I did some more thorough reading on the web-site where I found my diet and it left me feeling somewhat unsettled. The list of comments is quite extensive and, while I did spend quite a bit of time reading many of the posts, I did not read all of them. I really wish I had even though it literally would have taken hours. It seems that quite a few women left posts wondering if this was a diet designed just for men as they were not losing any weight using this system. Honestly, I cannot understand why it would work for a man and not a woman and I could not find anything by way of an answer. I am thinking of modifying the plan I am currently on, but I won't decide for sure until after my "free day" tomorrow.

Speaking of...I am so excited tomorrow is "free day" and weigh-in! I am a little nervous because I don't know what the scale will read. I keep trying to remind myself that this is still Week 1 and not to expect much. Still, I can hardly wait...

Breakfast was simple--eggs. Yep, that was it! I wasn't very hungry and it was all I could stomach. Lunch turned out to be difficult. Without a long explanation, the only acceptable option available to me at the time was a small fruit-and-yogurt parfait. Not a bad choice, per se, but definitely not an option on this current plan I am on! Dinner was grilled chicken and sauteed spinach with garlic. It actually turned out to be quite tasty! Here's what I did:

Super-Easy Spinach Sautee:

• Olive oil Pam
• 1 teaspoon bottled minced garlic (or more, depending on preference)
• 2 1/2 cups of fresh spinach leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon of water
• salt & pepper to taste
  

Spray a sautee pan or frying pan with the Pam and sautee garlic for 1 minute on medium heat. Add spinach and water and sautee until spinach begins to wilt (1-2 minutes). Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Yum!

Beans did not make it into my diet again today. Another reason to re-think my current plan. I have discovered that, although I like beans just fine, I do not like them so well as to make them a part of my daily intake. As I have said before, this is just one of the many reasons I have this log--so I can look at what is working and what isn't.

Well, with "free day" being tomorrow, I have been thinking a lot about what I am going to eat. The plan I have been following says I can go wild, but I really hate that idea. I mean, it would be so easy to undo everything I have done for a week! One thing I do know for sure--I am hitting Starbucks! Brewing my own coffee has been fine and I haven't felt too much like I am missing out until today. I just really wanted a toffee nut mocha today! So tomorrow I am having it for sure!

I plan for tomorrow to also be a day of re-evaluating what has worked and what isn't. Tomorrow's post may be a long one, so everyone be forewarned!

One last note: in case you haven't already noticed, there is a new poll. Please take a moment to answer and, as always, please PLEASE leave a comment and/or any suggestions. And a big thank you to those who already have done so--keep 'em coming!

Until tomorrow.....

P.S. I am looking for a tasty lentil soup recipe. Anyone have a good one they can share?

"Whether you think you can or you think you can't -- you are right."

Day 5

Finally, a day off from work! My day didn't start off so well when I discovered that my e-mail account associated with my blog wasn't working. I sent an e-mail to Yahoo! asking what was going on and they are supposed to get back to me. I suspect someone may have reported one of my posts on one of their sites as spam, since I see all of my posts are gone as well. I did include a link to this blog so that people can see what I am doing here and I wonder if that is the reason. I am a little upset about that since I see flat out advertising done on their site regularly (in the comment section, no less). I see other people posting links to other sites, so I am confused. Hopefully, I am wrong about what is going on and I will find out soon.


With that off my chest, I can say today was not the most productive day. I guess I needed my rest! After sleeping in, I spent too much of my time trying to resolve whatever issue there is with my e-mail account, then I went searching for new recipes. I am already starting to really crave foods like potatoes and bread. I was going to have a ground turkey patty for lunch, but I really wanted it on a bun! The idea of eating just the turkey patty (sans bun) suddenly was so unappealing that I chose something else for lunch. From what I understand it is not at all unusual to start craving carbs after the first few days, so I am hoping this is temporary. I am really looking forward to my "free day" and find myself thinking about what I will eat on that day. Not a good sign this early in the game! So the recipe search is to find some new ideas to help keep me on track.

Another not-so-good sign: I went back to the web-site where I found this diet and found some posts by other women complaining that they did not lose any weight while on this program, despite strict compliance. A few of them complained of headaches, low energy and a being in a nasty mood. One woman gave up after 8 days because she only lost 2 lbs and couldn't handle the cravings, low energy and bad mood. She felt the weight loss was the result of just cutting out sugar anyway so she decided to craft her own plan. I am going to look a little further into what experiences other women have had and will post what I find tomorrow.


At any rate, breakfast was a chili omelette so I finally managed to fit the beans into my breakfast. Lunch was my left-overs from last night (chicken and vegetables in pesto sauce). Dinner was grilled fish and mixed vegetables (green beans, broccoli, and cauliflower). The fish was a great change of pace, too. Still not getting the quantity of beans that the diet calls for and I am beginning to have the dreaded thought that perhaps this wasn't the best choice for me in terms of a diet plan. Like I said before--not a good sign!!

I've noticed over the last few days that might water consumption has dropped so I know that I need to keep an eye on that for tomorrow. I am still drinking it, but I haven't had nearly as much as I did the first couple of days.

My husband was really sick today (maybe stomach flu?? I hope not and I hope I don't get it!) so did not get to the gym to re-sign. I am hoping to get there tomorrow since the work-outs have been sorely lacking. I have felt fairly confident that my activity level at work has been sufficient, I just feel like I am actually accomplishing something when I do a deliberate work out. If that makes sense at all...

Anyway, I am feeling a bit discouraged today. The fact that I am feeling this way so early in the challenge make me feel even more discouraged! I am trying to stay motivated and remind myself that "free day" is just 2 days away (so is weigh-in!!). Maybe I will look for some motivational articles, too.

So that was Day 5. Lots of time on the computer and trying to stave off cravings.

I'd like to hear from others who have experienced these same issues. How did you deal? What did you do to stay on track? Please leave a comment and let me know!

Until tomorrow...

"Whether you think you can or you think you can't -- you are right."

Day 4 - Happy Easter!

Ok, with today being Easter I could not resist the "urge to splurge" and had a bit of Easter candy. I felt really guilty as soon as I did, but it tasted fabulous today. I didn't over-do it, which normally I would if I "messed up". In the past, I would see any deviation from my diet plan as a total loss for the day and would indulge for the rest of the day with the intent of "starting over" the next day. Not a smart move, I know, but that was my mentality--one that I am trying to change for the better!

So, I indulged in some chocolate. And as I said, it tasted soooo good. Maybe it is the idea of forbidden fruit or just the fact I haven't been eating it on a daily basis that made me really enjoy it today. I am using the idea that if you don't allow yourself an indulgence every once in awhile, you are doomed to give in and binge at some point. I mean, come on--chocolate?? One's will-power can only be so strong!

I was given a suggestion from a friend of mine for breakfast for those days where I simply don't have time to fix myself a meal. A protein meal replacement shake. I guess some come in a low carb, high protein formula--perfect for my current diet regimen. I plan to look into them and will post what I find later this week.

Something else I will be doing this week--renewing my gym membership. My husband and I had a 3-month trial membership about a year ago. I hate to admit it, but I think we went a total of three times. It's not that I didn't like it--I actually enjoyed it very much while we were there--we just never took the time to actually go. After I realized more recently that I just won't have the time to exercise every day, I decided it would be better to do more on my days off. And rejoining the gym (and being committing to actually going) seems like the right move.

Meals today included my yummy chicken and vegetables in pesto sauce. The pesto is a mix that I buy by Knorr and is pretty good (for a packaged mix). The directions call for 1/4 olive oil and 1 cup water, but I usually use just a 1/2 cup of water and a tablespoon or two of the oil. I find it mixes with the vegetables and chicken better and contains less fat. I also had a couple of servings of lentil soup.

I finally have a few days off from work starting tomorrow, so I will be using my time to find more recipes and will have some more time to devote to this blog. I am excited about my upcoming weigh-in and I am really starting to look forward to my "free day"!

Stay tuned!

"Whether you think you can or you think you can't -- you are right."

Day 3...a Poll and a Recipe!

Here is day 3 already. And today was another fine example of why I need to pre-make my meals on my days off...

I needed to stop by the store before work for some last minute Easter shopping which meant I had even less time to cook. Fortunately, I have a super-quick meal that I made up on the fly one day and I use it as a stand-by for days just like this. I've listed it here for others to try...

Recipe for So-Easy Chicken and beans:

• 1 can of beans (any kind usually used in chili, etc.)
• 1 cup diced cooked chicken (I like using Tyson's heat-and-eat kind)
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 cup of salsa
• lo-fat shredded cheese
  

Rinse beans and place in microwave safe bowl. Add diced chicken. Add lime juice, mixing well. Blend seasonings into bean/chicken mixture and mix well. Add salsa, mixing again. Microwave 1-2 minutes (depending on microwave). Top with shredded cheese and heat for 1 minute. Enjoy! Makes 1-2 servings

I usually don't measure the ingredients, so these may need to be adjusted according to taste. For an even faster meal, I sometimes use a bit of Taco Seasoning mix instead of the other seasonings listed here. You can also add corn or tomatoes to change it up. Add lettuce and some low fat sour cream and you even have a low fat taco salad!

If anyone tries this recipe, please leave me a comment and tell me what you think. Let me know if you come up with any additions or modifications that might make it even better! Remember--I made this recipe based on my current plan which is pretty carb-restricted. There are all sort of additions for those who are not on such a plan.

Anyway, I had my first glitch in my plan--because I was running late I did not have time to make any breakfast. This left me in a quandary since fast food was my only real option. Needless to say, most places don't offer a lean meat-vegetable-legume menu! I decided that a Subway sandwich was the safest option. Turkey on whole wheat with lots of veggies. The bread was the big no-no since this is a slow carb diet, but I figured it was better than a burger and fries! I also ordered a salad to eat later with my chicken and bean casserole.

Another day with LOTS of water! No hunger problems as with day 1. I did notice I was a little more tired today than the last couple of days, but according to the "diet plan" I am using as a model, that is to be expected for the first few days as the body adjusts to the lower carb diet. Supposedly, I can expect a surge in energy in a few more days!

I've received a few comments from posters wondering what my goals are for this plan. As strange as it may sound, my goal is simply to make it through the 30 days on this stringent plan. Whatever weight I lose is a bonus since I do not want to get wrapped up in the numbers. I have always had a hard time picking a goal and sticking to it, which is why I started this blog. If others are reading what I am doing and how I am doing, then I feel a higher sense of accountability. Basically, I don't want to screw up!

Another note: my first weigh in is coming up! I plan to weigh in only once per week and will post the results when I do. Day 7 will be the first weigh in and I am looking forward to it. Look for weigh ins on days 7, 14, 21 and of course, day 30.

Last but not least, I have posted my first poll. Please take a moment to answer it and, as always, feel free to leave a comment. I will be posting new polls every few days.

"Whether you think you can or you think you can't -- you are right."

Day 2

Ok, I know this is going to sound premature, but I swear I feel that I have more energy already. Only day 2, right? But then, I thought about just how poorly my eating habits have gone downhill in the last several months and I can see why I would feel a difference already...

I thought a little about what my habits have been in the last few months and, well, it was bad. Fast food was becoming almost a daily habit I realized. Lots of snacking (the not-so-healty kind) and lots of sweets. My fruit and vegetable consumption was at an all-time low. I just became very complacent in what I was eating. If I was not making my self conscious of it, I wouldn't have to make more responsible choices. I knew I was gaining weight and avoided the scale like the plague. It was just too easy to pick up fast food or grab a bag of chips when I was hungry. No wonder I ballooned to this weight!

Anyway, I managed to do my 20 minutes on the treadmill. I am starting to realize that with my work schedule I may have to forego the idea of exercising every day. I work 12-hour night shifts (sometimes longer) and I find I am running ragged trying to fit the exercise in and cook my meals (But that was what this blog was for, right? So that others may benefit from my trials and errors!). Clearly, I will need to plan and make my meals on my days off. I have also decided that I will incorporate longer workouts on my days off. I get plenty of exercise when I am at work anyway!

Still drinking just water. I decided to take one poster's advice (thanks Cassandra!) and reserve my diet soda drinking for my "anything goes" day. I have read so many reports of how bad diet soda is for weight loss anyway. No need to make things worse! Besides, I see this as sort of a cleansing time...

Meals today: breakfast was another omelette--spinach & mushrooms and a little parmesan (remembered it today!) lunch and dinner was a delicious dish I created: asparagus, tomatoes, zucchini, mushrooms, yellow squash and diced chicken in a pesto sauce. It was fabulous! And two servings of lentil soup for the legumes. I brought a snack of natural almonds in case I got hungry later.

In conclusion, I had another good day. Didn't feel hungry at all like I did yesterday so that helped. Dranks LOTS of water again and I am feeling good. I am starting to miss my Starbucks toffee nut mocha, but I am hanging in there!


"Whether you think you can or you think you can't -- you are right."

Day 1

So here is Day One! And what a day it turned out to be...

So I started my day by waking up late. As a result, I was not able to do much on the treadmill (10 minutes instead of 20), but I did do the weights for my arms. This was just one of those days where Murphy's Law was in full effect. I bought one of those George Foreman grills and needed the extra time to grill my chicken for my lunch. I was also going to need extra time to make breakfast (something I would usually skip, but not a good idea on this plan). So, of course everything was about playing catch up as much as I could.

Breakfast was a veggie omelette--spinach, mushroom and tomatoes (I had planned to put a little Parmesan on but forgot in my haste). Brewed my own coffee (no Starbucks!)Didn't make any beans--just couldn't bring myself to have those with breakfast. But I see why this plan calls for it as I was hungry again not too long after I ate.

A note about the grill--love it! Made making my lunch and dinner a breeze. And the chicken turned out beautifully.

Lunch and dinner were the same--grilled chicken and broccoli. My beans for the day were a couple of servings of lentil soup. Drank LOTS of water.

Day one was not too bad. I noticed that I was still a little hungry and I already knew that would happen since I had not planned my meals very well for the day. I was called to stay over at work so that over time didn't factor in to the plan, either.

Need to go back and look at the diet again because I miss my Diet Coke and can't remember if it is allowed or not. Stuck to water just to be sure.

Hopefully, Day 2 will go more smoothly. And hopefully, I will be able to write more since I won't have to work over time!