After my hiatus

Okay folks, here it comes. Some people get into the business of Mary Kay or Park Lane jewelry. It has always bugged me that their product began to define them. To be honest, it still kind of does.  

But now I understand them…a little…because I think I’ve found my product. Although the word ‘product’ really doesn’t do it justice. It’s really more of a lifestyle change, fueled by this program.

Since October 20^th, I’ve lost 20 pounds. And that’s counting a 2 ½ week accidental hiatus – I was taking an herbal supplement that kicked me out of fat burning mode. (More on what fat-burning mode means to come.) This also explains my lapse in postings the past few weeks.

20 pounds! That’s huge! I’ve got 25 pounds more to go to reach my goal.

Yes 20 pounds is a big deal. But I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my ‘why’s’ and how none of them feature me wearing a sign around my neck advertising my weight. My ultimate goal is OPTIMAL HEALTH, not just losing weight. The numbers do speak the loudest and they are an easy way to convey that I’m choosing healthy options. So yes, I’ll probably still shout for joy over every poundJ

But let it be known that I definitely am shooting for more than just skinny. I’m shooting for running with Marley and being comfortable in my own skin. I’m getting there, I’m getting there.

Week 4

Tomorrow I hit my 30 day mark!!!

This post is going to be super short because I’m not feeling super positive. I’m really wishing I had measured myself in inches. I know my clothes fit better but I don’t have the numbers to fall back on this week.

I did okay on my goal and I’m ready for the next one! For the next 2 weeks I’m going to try 2 new recipes every week. Considering that most of my diet plan recipes make enough for 2 meals - that means I’ll have a new dinner for 4 nights per week. This week I already tried one, Chicken Fried Rice. But instead of rice, I used grated cauliflower. It was actually pretty good. Plus I got to have some real eggs. Yum! The cauliflower really just absorbs whatever flavor you mix it with so the only thing I was missing was the heartiness of the rice. But since it’s been a while since I’ve had real eggs – they felt plenty hearty.

My 2^nd recipe for this week will be buffalo chicken pizza with a cauliflower crust. So excited!!! It looks like the melty goodness that I’ve been craving for oh-so long. …uh…30 days long…  

I'm going to fold it over and put some crispy lettuce and juicy pico to make myself a little wrap. So excited!

Next week I’m trying breadsticks. I won’t be using flour so we’ll see how they turn outJ I’m actually bringing them to Thanksgiving dinner since my Grandma has to eat Gluten-Free – I figure I’ll share my breadsticks with her! I may try them out this week just to make sure they’re tasty. I’ll let you know!

Week 4 results: 20 lbs. down 25 to go!

Don't Cheat!!!

Trust me, it’s not worth it. No matter how good something looks or smells – imagine it coming right back up again. Imagine that flavor. Yeah – I just broke your craving right there didn’t I? Muah haha!

But seriously, I had the flu this weekend and as I started feeling better I justified going off the plan for 2 full days. Just to get my energy back up. I swore that was it. And I wasn’t going to go crazy, just enough to have some toast, saltines, pizza, bread, …oh wait, no, no, no. NOT crazy. The first day off the plan, I truly only ate a half piece of toast, a few saltines and …a half a slice of pizza.

But really, I needed the energy and nourishment to make me feel better. And if I had to taste one more Splenda sweetened nasty packet, I knew it was going to send me right back into my eat, sick, vomit cycle.

Second day off the plan, I finally had an appetite again. I ate some breakfast burrito, another half slice of pizza and… the meatballs off of a Subway sandwich. May I remind you, ‘Don’t cheat, it’s not worth it.’ A few sleepless hours later – it all came right back up. I will never eat a meatball again. Jaaaaaaack nasty!

There’s a reason that the pros at Take Shape for Life help you transition back into eating normal foods. Your body adjusts and overloading it with anything that it hasn’t had in weeks is bound to make you, and your whole digestive track, miserable. Learn from my mistake, don’t cheat. Ever.

Week 3

Well this week was a roller coaster! Pretty much no weight loss during week 3 but the very last day – the nasty 24 hour stomach flu hit. I was unable to keep anything down – even water. Ugh!

According to the research, there isn’t a whole lot of weight loss during week 3 – but once you take the time to measure yourself… THAT’s where the results are. I was able to buckle ALL of my pants comfortably, no more belly band! Plus Ben thought it was funny to tug on them since they’d immediately start falling off. I haven’t owned a belt in years – it always accented my muffin top – now I’m thinking I can start looking for a fewJ

Anyway, I did well on my goal this week – brushed every night (which means I ate all of my meals before 8pm – woot woot!). I’ll be doing it again this week to lock in the habit. But then it’s on to the more fun goals!

As I said before I didn’t lose a whole lot of weight during most of week 3, but when the flu hit me, I was unable to keep anything down. That means – you lose weight! I went down another 5 pounds in 36 hours. Obviously, this was not the most pleasant way to lose weight, but I’m looking on the bright side. Now I just have to keep it off! I know I’ll fluctuate back up a few pounds but as of this morning…

Drumroll please…

Week 3 results: down 19.5 lbs J 25.5 more to go

I love seeing that ugly red number get smaller and smaller.

For moms ONLY – or people comfortable with the word “Breastfeeding”

One thing I haven’t brought up yet is the fact that I am still providing milk to my little one while on this program. They have a specific plan tailored to nursing moms but I decided that I was close enough to the year mark to make it work. Marley was a week shy of 9 months when I started. I have about a months’ worth of milk in the freezer and I knew I wouldn’t dry up right away. Plus the doc said I could start mixing in one ounce of cow’s milk in each bottle once she hit the 10 month mark. That would stretch out my freezer stash a bit as well.

I hesitated to write this one but I know a lot of moms who are anxious to lose weight after having a baby. I went through it too. At 8 weeks postpartum, I joined a Biggest Loser contest. I wasn’t really invested (that $25 went down the drain) because I was more concerned with my milk supply and caring for my little one. I mainly did it for the social aspect.

A few months later, I started jogging again. Loved it but it was too hard to schedule workout time around pumping sessions, work, Marley’s naps, and while Ben was home to watch her. Again – this was not going to work for me. During this time, I was watching the weight melt off of my parents. I was very skeptical at first, I had to eat their special food? No fruits, or certain veggies? What kind of diet was this? As I learned more, it made total sense. You eat what puts you, and keeps you, in fat burning mode. It's like you're working out constantly. That’s it.

I was convinced that it wouldn’t mess with my supply and fortunately, it hasn’t. (Disclaimer: this is true for me. It may not be the case for everyone.) Now I get to work on myself while still giving the best of the best to Marley. See? You can have your cake and eat it too. You just have to find the right cakeJ

Week 2

For the next 2 and 1/2 months, every other week I will set a goal for myself related to healthy living. This doesn't have to center around food but since that is what I am focusing on right now - it just may be more often than not.

For the next 2 weeks I'm going to always brush my teeth at night with Marley before we go to bed. I'm good at brushing in the mornings before work (no one likes morning breath) but I'm not in the habit of brushing before bed.

This goal is actually my sneaky way of also requiring me to schedule my meals correctly so that I'm eating my last one before 8pm when Marley starts getting ready for bed. Two birds with one stone, that's how I roll:)

I'm good about always having Marley brush her teeth already before bed - well, if by 'brush' I mean hold the handle and chew on it:) I'll be sure to post a picture of her 'brushing' her tooth this week. It's freakin' adorable! Anyway, this goal is totally doable for me to do!

And now for the big news... Drum roll please....

Week 2 results: down 14 lbsJ 31 to go!

Week 1

This week was all about discovering the program foods that I like and the foods that I don’t. I already know what I’ll be ordering (and almost more importantly NOT ordering) the next time aroundJ. ‘Nuff said.

This eating plan actually really works for me. I’m always on the go and rarely have time for more than one sit down meal in a day anyway. For breakfast I have oatmeal or eggs. For lunch I warm up some soup and then my dinner with Ben is my real meal. I still get 3 snacks in there at some point. Woot Woot!

Week 1 results: down 9.5 lbsJ 35.5 to go.