Labor Day = Results Day!

The much anticipated first results day! Ok, maybe more anticipated by me than by you, but still. I must admit I was nervous stepping on the scale this morning. Will all my work pay off? Did counting all those calories pay off? And....IT DID! In my first week, I lost four pounds! I found myself wishing and hoping that I could have results like that every week, but I realize that isn't going to be the case. So, for those of you who watch the Biggest Loser....today begins the dreaded Week Two!

Today was a good food day! I started out the day with a Jimmy Dean D-Lites Breakfast Bowl (230) and a banana (105). For lunch, I had what might be one of my new favorite go to foods, the BBQ Chopped Chicken Salad from Panera Bread. It was fantastic! And only 490 calories (including dressing!)! I wish I knew why salads always taste better out, than at home, but they just do. I had a great 50 calorie snack today too, a Mini Babybel Light. I wrapped up the day with a turkey and cheese sandwich (295), a pear fruit cup (70), and an ounce of cashews (160). And of course, who can forget dessert...a 100 calorie Skinny Cow Truffle Bar. I think today might be the first day that I have come in exactly at 1,500 calories.

Hope everyone had a great Labor Day!

Canton Sunday!

Today was a day with the girls, spent mostly at First Monday Trade Days in Canton, TX. If you don't know what First Monday is, well, it is often referred to as The World's Largest Garage Sale or Flea Market. I read on one website that there are 28 miles of aisles and pavilions to shop through, and after today, I believe it! I wore my pedometer to track our walking, and as I am sitting here tonight, my pedometer reads 29,196!!! For those of you keeping up, about 2,000 steps is a mile...which means we walked about 14 miles (more or less)! That is crazy! After Canton, we also ran up to the Allen Outlet Malls, so there was more walking done there, but the majority was done at Canton. That being said, I also decided that I didn't need to walk on my treadmill now that I am home. I am pretty sure I got enough walking in today!

Canton is also a place of very dangerous, State Fair-type foods (think funnel cakes, turkey legs, fried Twinkies, you get the idea), so I decided it would be smart to pack my own food. Our traditional Canton trips always start with a breakfast trip to McDonald's, where I got the Fruit and Yogurt Parfait (160 calories). My packed lunch and snacks consisted of: a banana (105), an Oatmeal Raisin Walnut Clif bar (240), 2 oz cashews (320), and a Nutz over Chocolate Luna Bar (180)...totaling 1000 calories for the majority of my day. I just finished dinner of a turkey and cheese sandwich (295) and a coke (140) making my daily count 1,435. I am debating on having an ice cream bar later (100) which will just barely put me over the daily calories, but with all those steps walked, I think it is ok!

Don't forget to check in tomorrow for the first weight loss results! Finger's crossed!!

Sic 'em Bears!

I love the beginning of college football season, and I loved it even more this year! Baylor was victorious over Wake Forest on the road! It is the beginning to what all Baylor fans hope is a great season. I am pulling for a bowl game!!

So, other than college football, today was spent doing my 30 minutes on the treadmill, running errands, and packing my lunch for tomorrow's adventure to Canton (but more on that tomorrow).

Breakfast

Banana - 105

Lunch

Chick-Fil-A Chargrilled Sandwich - 260

Medium Fries - 370

Snack

PopSecret 94% Fat Free Snack Popcorn - 130

Dinner

Turkey Sandwich - 295

Banana - 105

Smart Ones Peanut Butter Cup Sundae - 170

Coke (3/4) - 105

Total - 1,540

Friday Night Lights

Tonight was my first high school football game of the season, and for sure won't be my last! And I must say, the weather was just perfect! I am so excited football season is here and I can't wait for the first Baylor game tomorrow!!

Today was also my first day to work out on my treadmill. I don't think I have ever walked or run on one before, so it was definitely a new experience for me. It took a little while to get used to, but I caught on. I started with no incline, and increased to 2%, 3% and then 4% for the last 5 minutes. Right now I started with walking for 30 minutes. Each Friday I want to increase by 5 minutes, and each day I will be working on increasing speed.

Below is my food list for today. I ended up going to On The Border for dinner. I was pleasantly surprised that they had some healthy options. I ended up getting the Pico Shrimp Tacos with black beans and rice for 780 calories. Really it comes with veggies instead of rice, but I subsituted since I had extra calories to use.

It's Here!

The treadmill is finally here! After sitting around and waiting for it to arrive this morning, it is finally here! The VERY large, VERY heavy box showed up around 12:30, and then off to work I went. I am very lucky to have a great and handy friend, Dave, who came over to help me put it together. I couldn't have been more thankful! Another bonus for today...I went by Lowe's after work and picked up a tool box, so now all my tools can be together in one place! Man, I sound like a real grown up!

So, I didn't take as many pictures as I thought I would while putting the treadmill together. To the left is the finished product, and below is the aftermath of all the large boxes and cardboard that are left over. I feel like I will be cutting down boxes and taking it out in the trash for a long time to come!

My food is below. Today was the first day that I had to deal with eating out with a friend. I tried to not eat too many calories during the day as I had no idea what Dave would want to have for dinner. I ended up leaving a whopping 970 calories for dinner! Dave picked this whole in the wall Italian place, Tony's (on NW Hwy at Easton), and there was a line out the door waiting for tables. We ended up ordering a large pepperoni pizza to go and then picking up some Shiner on the way back to the house. I ate one and a half pieces of pizza. I looked up calories on the internet, and according to what I found, one piece has 360 calories, so total for my pizza, 540. I also had one and a half Shiner's. I also used the internet, and looks like I drank 213 calories in beer...for a dinner total of 753 calories. Today was my first day that I am under my calories but a decent amount. Not great, but I was so scared of eating too many calories.

I didn't work out today either, other than putting together the treadmill...which actually was a pretty good workout! Overall today was my best food and exercise day, but it could have been worse!

More and more people are finding out about my blog daily, which is great because it is more and more accountability and encouragement for me! I originially didn't think I wanted that many people to know, but as the days go on, I am more and more willing to share with others. Dave even joked tonight that he was a horrible friend picking pizza for dinner when he was helping me put together a treadmill, so needless to say, he now knows about the blog!

Now off to finish watching Project Runway and get some sleep!

Hump Day

So, I got exciting news today...my treadmill is coming tomorrow. And I have already recruited a guy friend to come over tomorrow night to help me put it all together. The space is ready, the protective floor mat is laid, I can't wait! I am ready for a routine and to be able to do my walk before work.

I worked on putting together a list of foods that I think we will work in to my calorie plan while eating out. I am going to print it out and carry it with me, so that I can refer to while I am out and hopefully cut down on the stress of eating out!

Another day of success eating my allowed calories and did another mile and a quarter walk after work. My pedometer reads 12,332! I looked up to see how many steps equal mile, and it is approximately 2,000. So, today, over 6 miles walked!

Day Two

Day two was good. Day two was easier. Today was the first venture eating out for lunch, and I must say, I LOVE Chick-fil-A!! I have always loved CFA, but today, I had a new appreciation for them. Not only do they have great food, they have so many healthy options. Even better, they have a website that gives the nutrition information for all items (including condiments!) and a meal calculator that allows you to compile all your food for total calories, fat, everything! Such a handy tool. I love places that understand that people are watching what they eat, and any tool that can help with that is such a bonus and takes the stress out of decision making. There is no guess work, it is all right there for you.

I got this flyer the last time I was at CFA, so if you are looking for somewhere quick to eat on Labor Day, check it out!!

I think I figured out a better way to do my food list today, so hopefully this is easier for everyone to read! A new addition today are the goals for calories, fat, and fiber. As you can see, when I did this list, I had a deficit of 65 calories, but no fat left. I realize it is important to eat all my calories, but I was struggling with what I could have. Once I got home, I found the solution...Fat Free Chocolate Milk from Skinny Cow! Not only does it fill in the missing calories, I get chocolate and calcium! I deem that a success!!

Today I walked another 1.25 miles. I didn't wear my pedometer today...haven't quite figured out what to do when I wear a dress to work! The best part about today's walk, I got to share it with a friend! We decided that each week we would do something one day together. Such a fun thing! Trying different work outs, getting to hang out, and motivating each other. I couldn't ask for anything more!

Oh, and treadmill update...it gets delivered on Friday! This is two weeks before the "expected delivery date"! If you can't tell, I am a little excitied about it! So, Saturday will be a fun time figuring out how to put it together. I am sure there will be pictures of that event, so get ready!!