Another Update...

My Friend, the Diet

I have decided to befriend the diet. I may as well. If I want to get anywhere with my weight loss goal, I must befriend the diet. There are no options. If I want to lose weight I must play by her rules. Period.

I have tried eating healthier foods--protein bars instead of candy bars, yogurt instead of ice cream and nuts instead of chips, etc., etc. Yet it all comes down to counting calories. I can exercise all day long, but if I don't cut calories my efforts are for naught.

With all that said I must also admit that I have been eating myself into plateau land. I have been hovering around 250 for four or five months now. The truth is I am not on a plateau, I am eating too many calories! I'm tired of it.

I am also tired of shopping for a few healthy alternatives then blow the effort by eating them all in one night. Yes, in one night. That won't work well even with healthier options.

I have come to realize that I can eat banana splits all day as long as it's under 1800 calories per day. I just won't feel my best. So, the only secret to losing weight is 1800 calories a day. There are some "buts" though.

Eat 1800 calories BUT only 30% should be from fats. Eat 1800 calories BUT get enough protein BUT it's got to be lean protein. Eat from the food pyramid BUT be careful of servings from the upper levels of the pyramid. It always comes down to that.

In my opinion, people who are overweight are diet masters, they just don't act on what they know. I'm crossing over to the other side. I'm ready for the next level of thin-ness to take over my life. I'm ready for the next step, which is (can you guess?) no more than 1800 calories per day!

I will refocus on my diet/food plan and I will report it here... I am now a friend of the diet. And she is a friend to me.

The Arrival of Cookie Dough

I was chosen to receive samples of the new Cookie Dough varieties of the Zone Perfect nutrition bars. I was part of the media roll-out for this new variety. I don't quite know how I got on that list, but it's a good list to be on.

I received a heavy box a few days ago. I couldn't stop my mind from racing. "This is a lot of samples!" I thought. "I'm set for a few days!"

I opened that box like I hadn't seen food in a week. I was surprised when I found a white ceramic cookie jar. That accounted for the weight. I opened the jar and inside was the holy grail of nutritional candy bars. I got one sample each of peanut butter, chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin cookie dough nutritional bars.

I was a bit disappointed. I was envisioning a case each, and a few other samples as well, namely chocolate mint or strawberry yogurt nutrition bars. I know, kinda selfish since I still got three bars for free!

I must say the peanut butter was my favorite. It had a firm yet creamy texture and the flavor was not shy. The chocolate chip had lots of chips yet not too many to overshadow the cookie dough. The oatmeal was good, but some of the oatmeal pieces -- although small-- were  a bit dry.

There was no hint of all the vitamins and minerals that pack these nutrition bars. The flavor and texture of cookie dough was recreated successfully here. And each packed 10 grams of protein. I think they would be great to take during a Trikke ride for refueling as they don't have as much protein as the traditional zone bars.

So, just to recap, the cookie varieties are a big "yes!" but the regular protein bars are still the best (esp. chocolate mint and strawberry yogurt -- see a pattern?)! So if you like cookie dough, try them.

P.S. The cookie jar will be kept in a place that reminds me that the power of my words involved me in the media roll-out of a national product!
P.P.S. Check out www.facebook.com/zoneperfect for a month of give aways ending Nov. 1st

I Love Zone Bars, part 2

As stated earlier in one of my posts, I love Zone Bars. I would rather eat them than any candy bar, protein bar, or vegetable. Not only do they have a whopping 15 grams of protein, but they also contacted me from my previous post to offer a trial of their newest product, cookie dough varieties. I am still waiting for the delivery, probably sometime this week.

Now, this could be an example of how the universe works. Ask for something and it will come to you. I just put the word out for someone to send me Zone Bars like a celebrity, and BOOM, they are on their way. This is the power of the pen at work!

I think this could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship...

I'm In the Zone

I have not written about my weight loss journey lately. I think it has incorporated itself into my everyday life so thoroughly that I don't think, worry or ruminate about it much anymore. I am eating better, getting exercise and doing all the right things. I am not obsessing about the numbers right now. And, the numbers are staying firm.

I may be at a plateau. I have been at 250-ish for more than a month. I must admit I have been going crazy over the Zone Perfect bars, eating as many as five a day. Well, I do need my protein, after all. And at 15 grams a bar, I am getting it. Unfortunately I'm also getting 210 calories per bar.

Ok, the protein issue -- that's just an excuse to eat more of them. They are better than snickers bars!

I wish I were a celebrity so that every time I mention Zone Perfect bars the company would send me a case. My favorite is chocolate mint. If it were Valentine's Day, I would still want a box of chocolates -- double chocolate Zone Perfect bars, (not those funky heart shaped boxes filled with chocolate flavored crap). Just slap a bow on the box. Don't send flowers, they die. Send strawberry yogurt Zone Perfect bars to get to my heart.

So my thought for today is don't get all your protein from a Zone Perfect bar, it may keep you from your goals. But one or two will make the world a better place to be. Thank you, Zone Perfect.

P.S. FYI -- I mentioned Zone Perfect bars seven times in this post.

Taking One for the Team

Today I have to go to my pain management doctor for a shot in my knee. The last one was very uncomfortable and there was pain. Enough to make me nervous thinking about it. If it helps the pain in my knee at all it will be worth it. But it might not help either. Remember, doctors practice medicine after all. All I can think about is that I need to take one for the team. My team, JT's and her Trikke's team.

I guess we can judge our adult-ness by facing situations like this one, especially needing to relax while very uncomfortable. "It's gonna hurt, so relax!", the doc says. HA! I'm a baby when it comes to this stuff. I squeal, hunch up, tense up and let the doc know how I feel about what he says is "uncomfortable." When they use that word, well, it's like when I take out the pet carrier for Jake. May as well stay under the bed, he isn't coming out.

So I must offer up my knee to the gods for sacrifice. It's not a virgin knee, but it will do. I can then add this to the list of knee work and go on to the next procedure if needed. Boy, what I won't do to trikke longer and harder.

Does Weight Loss While Sick Count?

I have been sick all week, I fell last Sunday with something I had been fighting the previous week. So I went to the Doctor yesterday and found out I have a sinus infection. Not my first, so I understand why I have felt so lousy. And yet when I got on the scale I had lost another 5 pounds!! Well, I know I've hardly eaten all week but some of it has got to count. I always have to say to the nurse, "up one more" to that 50 pound marker. Not anymore. I still have two more 50 pound chunks to go, but that will come with time.

I am amazed that no matter what I do I keep losing weight. I don't think I am eating my best, and another 2-3 pounds come off. Don't misunderstand. I have completely changed the way I eat, and I love eating more healthfully. I exercise and drink lots of water. I'm doing everything right, and it works!! I still overeat at night, so that effects how much I lose, but I'm not in a hurry. I don't want to have to lose these pounds twice.

So even though some of the five pounds will come back, I probably can forget a few of them. Isn't science wonderful? Eat the right things and you will lose weight. They said it would be like this.

The Slowest Striptease

I'm still trikking, and eating well. I am still losing weight. And every pound is a new thrill. Every week I am able to unpeel another layer, like an onion.

I kind of wondered if each pound or two would be as exciting as the first pound or two, and the answer is YES, every pound, ounce or gram is exciting and fulfilling. After all, I fought for each pound lost.

I am finding that my esteem is growing. I cannot help looking in windows as I pass by, each week looking better than the last. And even though I have lost only 21 pounds, my body has changed by leaps and pounds... I mean bounds.

Breaking news... I have lost a total of six inches overall, so far. I am so proud of myself! I need a reward. It used to boggle my mind that a reward would be anything but food. Yet now I am picking out things that have nothing to do with something I put in my mouth.

I now think a smaller size t-shirt is an amazing reward. I also think things like flowers and shoes and music are all satisfying. So many ways it's no trouble thinking them up. Like this reward right now... a Trikke ride. Bye!!

With My Last Few $$ I Bought Romaine

Things really are changing around here. I'm doing what "they" say to do. I'm cutting down on fats, I'm making better choices when I snack, and the other day I spent my last few dollars on romaine. I have never spent my last few dollars on any kind of green food.

I used to spend my money on ice cream and candy bars. For a while I was only eating butter lovers popcorn, 5 bags a day. I have had a love affair with junk food, going way back.

My mother used to shut me up with candy when I was a baby. I used to spend my allowance on candy bars. When I became diabetic I still couldn't kick my sugar/fat habit. I figured sugar to me is what alcohol was to my parents. And they died because of it. Am I resigning myself to die from a sugar related illness?

I don't think so. The other day I reached for an apple instead of some other form of edible crap. And I enjoyed it! I have a new found love for Gala apples. And dinner is never served without a huge salad, that I estimate to be about 3 servings of veggies. Instead of candy bars I eat protein bars, instead of ice cream I eat yogurt and for something crunchy I eat nuts.

It was a few days before pay day and all I had was about $7 on me. I went to the store because I ran out of salad fixings! So I bought romaine. When I stopped at the cash register, I was blown away. I really have changed my lifestyle.

It's only a matter of time before my body catches up.

Weight Loss, Oops!

I have not been writing about my weight loss lately, mostly because I lost focus for a few weeks. But that's ok, because I've got until 9/17/2011. This is my goal date, to be close to 175 lbs., or under. So I am going to get my focus back and stop eating more than 1800 calories a day.

I read an article that said to focus on three things that will help your weight loss success. So for this week I am focusing on NOT eating a days worth of calories after dinner, protein every four hours, and stretching after exercise.

Even though this is not the most widely read blog on the net, it helps me stay accountable to myself to read and write these words. And I feel like writing about this every week is too much and once a month is not enough, so maybe every other week would be better. I'll try it and see what happens.

Here's to strength and focus!

I'm going to smile anyway

I have been in bad shape the last several days. It started with my knees and legs aching badly. Followed by my thumb starting to pop and, Yeow! it hurts when I try to use it. Followed by an infected tooth, which I sat on all weekend. Then the extraction -- which was the most pain I've been in in decades. I was at 9.5 on the 1-10 pain scale, for over an hour. And now the residual pain as the tooth heals and the thumb goes to therapy.

I will still try to smile. It's because I have no need to feel badly for not trikking for a week, or walking for several days. I have no reason to feel guilty or lazy or as if I've been back-sliding. And besides, I will walk today.

I don't have to worry about losing all the "fitness" I've gained. And even if I did, well, I'm signed on for the long haul. Just like my food plan. If I eat badly today that's ok. It's not about today, it's about 2010.

Sitting With Myself

Ever since I put those two pictures of myself together (see 3/14 post), I have been quietly contemplating my success in the weight loss category. Upon closer inspection and an appointment with my doctor, I have lost about 12 pounds since the beginning of the year. That is about one pound per week. That is exactly where I am supposed to be. About one pound per week.

I look back at all the misery and complaining I did this year around losing weight. I thought I wasn't losing weight, then I thought I might have lost some weight and then I'd weigh myself on an old analog scale, which I was advised to throw away. WOW, no wonder I suffer from stress disorders.

I have learned that I AM successful with what I'm doing. I have changed my eating habits, stopped with all the candy, cookies and pies. I now eat yogurt, protein bars, and fresh fruit. I lay off bad oils and bake, steam or poach. I don't eat red meat and I do eat salmon a few times a week. That is all I have done.

Well that, and my love affair with my Trikke. That's just plain 'ole fun, not a workout.

Butt Shot

I love this butt shot. Even tho it's kinda dark, I can see development here. I remember my butt being flat and fat. In this pic I look like I have a tighten-ing ass with shape, actual shape! My butt's rising like popin' fresh biscuits. Okay so I got a little ahead of myself, but there is progress. I spent the last two months whining about nothing happening and now I'm posting shots of me exclaiming how much better I look while staring at the pics wondering if it's just camera angles or the dark colors I'm wearing that makes me look successful.

I am so disconnected from my body. This makes it hard to pinpoint what I really look like. Even the images in the mirror are distorted for me. I am used to seeing layers of flab, and even though the shape is the same, the size has gotten smaller. It's kinda like an optical illusion. Only I can see it, or not see it as the case may be.

I give in

Each week for the last few months I have been commenting on my progress down the weight loss hole. There is little recordable progress. And yet my body is changing. Like I have stated before, I am getting harder. I know that, I feel that and am proud of that, even though I can't record inches and pounds lost. With all this in mind I am changing to reporting in once a month with my weight loss news.

I will still ruminate daily.

I read an article that stated if I only concentrate on three life changes weekly, I will lose more weight. I can change them up or switch them around. Only three a week. Some of those include drinking more water, adding more color to the menu, eating protein every four hours and/or portion control. There are 20 choices. This article was in the most recent issue of First for Women magazine. So, I'll give this a shot, it's easier than trying to diet.

I'm so excited

I got on the scale today and it said 265, again. But this time I am not going back up, just to go back down again. I will continue to go down. This time it feels really good to be here. My body continues to harden, and have sharper angles.

When I get to 250, I'm going to throw a party, a pound party. With every 25 lb. block of weight that comes off I will throw a wild party. There will be photos of star struck me, moments captured for the blog.

This wild party will have a very restricted guest list. Mostly me and my pussy(s). It will be the highlight of the Gardens season. I'm already working on the seating chart. There's me rubbing Jake's belly while he sits along side me belly up, on the couch. Daisy sits on my far knee, holding on with her unclipped claws. Willa's easy 'cuz she sits on the arm of the couch, above Daisy, each paw holding onto that respective side. She has memories of sliding off.

I can only begin to see and conjure up what my 100 lb. mark might look like.

I generally wait until the 10th of the month to measure my progress, but I'm too impatient, so off I go...

What ya think about me now?

Ok, I must admit that I am still not losing a lot of weight. I am at the same point as last September. I can feel my body changing, I cannot deny that, but weight loss, well, not so much.

This is what is so good about blogging on my weight loss, because I cannot lie to myself for very long. I keep posting pics and reporting on nothing every week. It makes me look long and hard into what I am doing wrong, or why I am not losing weight.

So, I am faced with looking at my plan from a different angle and I realized that the amount of calories I consume after dinner while watching TV is humongous! I am eating at least a thousand calories after dinner! That bite here and there really adds up fast. All the chocolate, yogurt, or nuts, and not just one serving but several servings. Damn girl!!

I think it's time to re-evaluate my eating plan. This is why it's important to write down what I eat, and stop at a certain point. I cannot lie to myself anymore. Trying to lose weight is not just choosing the right foods, but having one measured serving size. And knowing when to stop, after that one serving.

Ok now, let's see some weight loss!

It works if you work it...!

I have been Trikking all week. I love Trikking, I could go every day, if strength allowed. And yet today I find myself after 6 days straight, resting. Today is day three of resting. I am going through one of my fibro fog days, or maybe it's bipolar days. All I want to do is camp in front of the TV. The only reason I'm blogging today is I missed my Friday check-in. And there is good news...

I have lost a few inches! I cannot only feel it, but it has registered on the tape as well. My hips are at least one inch smaller and my chest area is smaller as well. Yeah! And yes, I am a woman celebrating a smaller chest!

My Butt is changing also. It used to be flat. Now it is getting rounder and it is rising. Years ago it fell and now it is rising! Just like yeast and flour. Even the fat between my knees is getting smaller. It is happening for me. I am not melting off pounds and inches, weekly. I am going at a slow rate and so this little bit here and there is expected. So this is BIG news! The scale is moving and so is the tape! What more can I expect?

Now, I just have to hang on for a year or two. Which should be easy since it's a life change not a diet, and I'm in for the long haul, baby!

Checking in weekly seems too short

Another week has gone by and this time I have GAINED 5 lbs. Maybe it was because I went to a taping of The Price Is Right on Monday. I spent most of the day standing or sitting in line. It was a messed up day that lasted 15 hours. I had very little to eat except candy here and there to jolt my energy level. Then the next day I was too beat up to cook so another day of poor habits, then another day and the week was over. THAT'S MY REASON, er, my excuse, er, reason.

As much as I'd like to think I can eat my daily calories in junk food and still stay on course, it just isn't true. Once you get on that hamster wheel you can't get off. Hell, it was easier for me to quit smoking.

My Trikke buddy, StanLe, suggested it might be muscle weight since I have been Trikking a lot lately -- that's why I love him! And he could be partially right. I'm gonna chalk up 2 lbs fat and 3 lbs muscle to my 5 lb weight gain. I can live with that!

270 lbs this week

The Scale Moved!

I weighed myself on my antique scale and it moved -- down. It moved 10 pounds down! I am so excited. And proud. After all, it takes a large amount of work to move a scale. I'm picturing Sisyphus or the slaves at the bottom of the great pyramid moving slabs of fat- I mean slabs of earth up the great walls.The scale says 265, which is what I say I am on my ID. I was right, I am shedding fat! My body feels different because it is different.

There is nothing better than losing weight! It's such an empowering feeling. I can tell because I want to stick exclamation points everywhere! See? So the momentum has started. It will keep going until I hit 150, my biggest best dream weight. And no excess skin, please.

weight 265, week four

Cigarettes Are Not Candy Bars

I stopped smoking at the end of August, 2009. I think it was to get ready for my new Trikke. I had wanted to quit for a long time but I just couldn't. I was waiting for that special time which comes to me every few years. It's like I get a break. I can quit smoking and have no cravings, dreams or setbacks. It is only during this window of opportunity that it happens. And it happened at the end of last August.

It is something I don't talk about or tell people. Why? It is a really BIG thing, after all. I guess because I wasn't driven up a wall, or paced a room, or had to call a friend. It was easy. It was nothing. Like changing from milk to dark chocolate.

Cigarettes are not candy bars. I think if I didn't have sugar every day I'd be blogging on the ceiling. So this is why I don't brag about quitting smoking. Believe me, the world will know when I beat my sugar addiction!