New Lunch Plan

This week's results: Though I was hoping (ok, wishing) to lose 4 pounds this week, I knew that it wasn't very likely. Though this really is week 23 (is that really possible?!), it is like a "week 2" since last week was my first week back. That being said, I did manage to lose 1 pound, making the two week total 6.5 pounds. I am still 3 pounds from my pre-Christmas weight.

Today during lunch, two of my co-workers and I decided on a lunch plan. Each one of us will cook lunch one day each week and bring it for the three of us. The only rule - the meal must be 500 calories or less. I love this idea because there are so many recipes I want to try, but hate having to commit to eating that same meal for 4, 6, or sometimes even 8 meals! My first day to cook for everyone is tomorrow. Since the meal had 4 servings, I had one tonight for dinner to try it out. I decided to make Refried Bean Stuffed Poblano Peppers. Such an easy recipe, and for 300 calories, a pretty large and filling meal! I decided to add a few baked tortilla chips, a side of salsa, and a dab of sour cream to make the meal 400 calories. Since the meal was pretty easy, I decided to make a 100 calorie dessert as well! The picture isn't great, but it was pretty tasty, if I do say so myself. I modified the recipe somewhat for these Mini Cheesecakes with Mini Chocolate Chips and Chocolate Crust. I eliminated the peppermint (just felt too Christmas-y) and instead of making 54 calorie mini muffin size, I made 100 calorie (dropped a few calories for the peppermint candies) regular muffin size cheesecakes. Not a huge dessert, but enough to satisfy the sweet tooth in me! Hopefully the girls like their 500 calorie lunch (with dessert!) tomorrow! I can't wait to see what they bring!

Where Have I Been?!? The LONG Update!

Wow, it seems like it has been forever since I last posted....probably because it has been almost two months! The months seem to have flown by! Just after my last post I went to California for a few days for work meetings. That was where my "diet" began to go off course. Soon after getting back from the trip is when all of the festivities began....Christmas, Rachel's Birthday, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, and then several fun showers for Lauren (I thought I would share a couple of pictures of the lingerie shower I threw her!).

Needless to say, there wasn't much time for dieting and working out during the last two months. It was sad for me to see how fast you can put back on weight when not paying attention. For the first time since I started my blog, I am having to admit to a weight gain. I realized when this started, that this would probably happen. I am somewhat glad that it happened over the holidays, since I think that is when most people expect you to get off track. It is hard for me to admit, but over the past two months I gained 9.5 pounds back! That is such a huge number and it just amazes me that a gain like that is possible. It also makes me aware that I don't want that to happen again. This last week was my week to get back on track. I went back to measuring all of my food, writing down all my calories, and working out. It was actually pretty easy to get back into the habit, at least the food part. Working out has always been a little harder for me to be excited about. In order to help motivate me to workout on the treadmill, I decided that I would buy a show on DVD that I was only allowed to watch while working out. I ended up with the first season of Glee, and so far, I am loving it. Since there is only 1 season out so far (13 episodes), I am looking for suggestions for what my next show will be. Something that will suck me in, that I will want to watch, and is preferably hour long episodes. I also got back into finding new recipes for healthy foods. I made a foil packet cod based off of a recipe I found on Kraft Foods. I used minute rice brown rice, a piece of cod, spinach, red bell peppers, yellow bell peppers, a couple cherry tomatoes and a roasted red pepper vinaigrette. I have always been intimated to try and cook fish at home, but this was so easy! And even better, there is no clean up! You make the whole thing in a foil packet and then just plate and throw the foil away. I made a second dinner from Kraft Foods this week. It is called Quick Italian Spinach Pie and it was absolutely delicious! I modified the recipe by using egg beaters instead of real eggs and added chopped up ham (which doesn't really add any calories when switching out the egg beaters for the real eggs). I made it in a 9x9 square and ate 1/4 of the dish for 300 calories for a meal. It is so cheesey and feels like such a cheat meal...my favorite kind!!

So, after this REALLY long post, I guess you are wanting to know how I did this last week. Happily I get to report that I lost 5 1/2 pounds this last week! Not bad for the first week back on track. I am still 4 pounds up from the last post in December, but hopefully, next Monday or shortly after, I will be back where I was, and the can move forward. Only 4 1/2 months until I hit the big 3 - 0! I need to get busy!!

Measurements

A little late, but better than never...

This week was measurement week. The third time that I have taken them since the beginning of this journey. Here are the results...bust - lost 1/2 inch for a total of 2 1/2 inches since week 1, waist - lost 1 inch for a total of 3 inches, hips - lost 1 inch for a total of 2 1/2 inches, arm - lost 1 inch for a total of 2 inches, and leg - lost 1 1/2 for a total of 2 1/2. This month I lost a total of 5 inches and a total of 12 1/2 inches since the beginning!

It was great to watch the Biggest Loser finale this week. Seeing the end results of all of those contestants was inspirational and motivating. The at home winner lost 49.8% of her body weight and the grand prize winner, Danny, lost 239 pounds (I don't remember the percentage, but it was over 50%!)! I can't wait for the day of my "reveal"! Seeing the joy on all of their faces was so exciting! If you didn't watch it, you can catch it online.

Week 13 Results

I am amazed and excited to report that I lost 3 1/2 pounds this week! That brought me to a total of 22 1/2 pounds! Now, there is officially $200 in the pot for the first 20 pounds lost. From here on out, I will be putting the money in in $50, or 5 pound, increments. This was supposed to be the day to measure inches, but I forgot. So, I will try and measure tomorrow and post those results then.

Hope everyone is getting their Christmas shopping done!! And don't forget to tune into the Biggest Loser finale tomorrow night!

Week 12

I am happy to report that even with Thanksgiving (and all the food that goes along with it!), that I was down 1/2 pound for a total of 19 pounds in 12 weeks. Even though I didn't make my goal of being down 20 pounds this week, I am glad that I still was able to lose with the holiday!

Below is my food for today.

Week 11 Results

I am so happy to report that I am down 3 pounds this week for a total of 18.5 pounds! I haven't had a week this big since the beginning few weeks and I couldn't be happier about it! My goal, even with Thanksgiving this week, is to be down 1.5 pounds next week so I can hit 20 pounds in 12 weeks! In order to acheive that goal, I really need to watch my food intake for all the other meals this week and make sure to get plenty of workouts in.

I am thankful to all of you out there who send me encouragement. It really keeps me focused and on track. Knowing there are people out there that are proud of me and possible even inspired by me is a little overwhelming at times. Thank you so much for reading and keeping up with me.

Below is my food for today...

Week 10 Results

Today is week 10 results. I can't believe it has been 10 weeks already! This week I was down 0.5 pounds. Not a great week, but at least it was a loss. The last two weekends have been hard for me with food. Last weekend I went on a retreat where they liked to serve you meals and snacks like you might never see food again. I was happy when I got back from the retreat to discover that I had maintained my 15 pound loss. This weekend I went up to Oklahoma to visit some of my old youth girls. While I did pretty good for most of the weekend, I did have a hamburger and fries from Eskimo Joe's yesterday. I couldn't help it, it is a Stillwater icon. It is just something that had to be done!

But now it is time to strap down and get serious again. I don't want it to take 10 weeks for every 15 pounds. That is way too long! So hopefully I got all of that out of my system, and I can continue on, stronger than ever.

On another note, I think I have semi-decided on what I am going to do for my reward of staying strong and continuing on with my journey. Every pound that I lose will represent $10. When I reach a 15 pound mark, I am going to put the money into a fund, so I would have $150 right now. By the time I reach my goal weight, I will have a nice little fund to use on something I would never go out and just buy myself. Right now I am leaning towards a diamond tennis bracelet. Something that I can wear daily to remind me of all my hard work!

Below is my food for the day.