Gail's Getting Healthy

Blah, blah, blah...

2006-09-27T20:06:29Z

Oh, my. I've been horrible about updating this journal. However, I'm still going strong since I last posted here. Despite missing a scheduled three mile walk on Saturday, I still lost two pounds when I weighed myself yesterday. Yay! I'm quite happy with my progress thus far.

I suppose the reason for my lack of updates is that there isn't much to say. Chronicling my food choices here and in a paper diary is far too much work. I'm going to keep up the personal diary for myself, but there's really no reason to post everything on here everyday. Also, I've found that the excitement of "dieting" has worn off. I'm no longer cruising the forums every day, all day, trying to give and get motivation. I still enjoy talking to other people about it, but I'm using my online time for my other interests as well now, not just dieting. I think this is good. It shows that I can keep up this lifestyle and still retain my outside interests as well. I feel great about that, and I'm really enjoying this.

I've lost a total of 10 pounds since I began this course at the end of August. If I can do 8 to 10 pounds a month, I would be quite happy. If all goes well, I'll be down to the 230's in about two weeks. That would be quite amazing, considering that I probably haven't been there in two or three years. My goal of 180 by my birthday still stands. If I continue to lose at the rate I have been, then it shouldn't be a problem. Because my birthday is at the very end of May, I'll be able to start the summer off with much more confidence than I've ever had before. My long term goal is 150/160. I think I'll be quite comfortable at that weight. I really don't have any aspirations or desire to be extremely tiny. Medically, I should be between 120 and 150. So, if I can get down to 150, I would be ultra-happy, but 160 seems fine to me. If I can get down to 180 by the beginning of summer, I know I can shed an additional 20 to 30 pounds with all the summer activities out there. So, here's hoping that this winter and spring are productive ones. The amount of weight I need to lose right now is just daunting. I started at 254. That's 100 pounds. Sheesh. So, I'm breaking it down into sections. 230s, then 200s, then 180s, then 160s. I hot on the heels of my first mini-goal. When I break it down like that, it doesn't seem so bad. I just need to lose 20 pounds five times. Hey, I can do that.

Update

2006-09-17T20:39:49Z

I'm been horrible about updating this time. However, I have been keeping a paper food/exercise journal while I've been away from the internet.

Wednesday

Food
Breakfast
Smoothie (200)
Mini Bagel with Reduced Fat Peanut Butter (310)
Banana (115)
Snack
1 oz of Almonds (160)
Lunch
Lean Cuisine (210)
Yogurt (50)
Orange (50)
Snack
Goldfish Crackers (150)
Dinner
White Rice with Broccoli (400)
Snack
Bran Cereal with Skim Milk (100)

Exercise
Walked 2 Miles
30 Leg Lifts Each
10 Squats
20 Crunches
Weights - 2 Sets of 15 Reps

Water
120 oz

Thursday

Food
Breakfast
Smoothie (200)
Mini Bagel with Reduced Fat Peanut Butter (310)
Banana (115)
Snack
1 oz of Almonds (160)
Lunch
Lean Cuisine (210)
Yogurt (50)
Orange (50)
Snack
Goldfish Crackers (140)
Mints (60)
Dinner
2 Boca Burgers with Wheat Buns (400)
Homemade Potato Soup (265)

Exercise
Walked 2 Miles
30 Leg Lifts Each
10 Squats
30 Crunches
10 Minute Kickboxing Workout
Weights - 2 Sets of 20 Reps

Water
120 oz

Friday

Food
Breakfast
Smoothie (200)
Mini Bagel with Reduced Fat Peanut Butter (310)
Banana (115)
Lunch
Mini Bagel with Whipped Cream Cheese and Sprouts (200)
Yogurt (50)
Orange (50)
Dinner
Papa Nachos Bean and Cheese Buritto with Rice (900)
Snack
Two Small Pieces of Taffy (60)
Popcorn (160)

Exercise
Walked 2 Miles
40 Leg Lifts Each
20 Squats
40 Crunches
Weights - 2 Sets of 20 Reps

Water
120 oz

Saturday

Food
Breakfast
Mini Bagel with Reduced Fat Peanut Butter (310)
2 oz of Sonic Strawberry Slush (50)
Sonic Size Tater Tots (400)
Lunch
Orange (50)
Yogurt (50)
Dinner
Bennigans Black Bean Burger with Fries (800)
Snack
2 Low Fat Yogurt and Fiber Muffins (300)
1 Cup of Skim Milk (110)

Exercise
Walked 3 Miles

Water
72 oz

Weigh-in!!!

2006-09-13T01:35:22Z

Yay!

SW: 254
LW: 249.5
CW: 246
Lost Last Week: 3.5
Total Lost: 8

Bust: 44 (-2)
Chest: 40 (-2)
Waist: 42 (-2)
Hips: 55 (-1)
Thighs: 28.5 (-3.5)
Knee: 20.5 (-1.5)
Calves: 19 (-1)
Upper Arm: 14.5 (-1.5)
Forearm: 11 (-1)

I have a short term goal of losing 40 pounds by January 1st. I'm already eight pounds into it on my second week. If can lose 2 pounds a week from here on out, then I'll just be two pounds shy of that goal by the first. I certainly hope I can do it. The next goal I set for myself is to be 180 by the time I turn twenty-six. My birthday is at the very end of May, so that gives me eight months to lose 74 pounds. If I can get the 40 down by the end of the year, then I'll have the winter and beginning of spring to finish the remaining 34. By the end of September 2007, I'd like to reach my goal of 160. I think I'll be happy at 160, but we'll see how I feel then. If I can do it, I'd love to get down to a medically healthy weight, which would require me at 135, I think. So, that's my plan. I'm not going to beat myself up over missing a goal or taking longer than expected. I just drive myself a little harder if I have a definite goal to work toward.

Food
Breakfast
Soy Milk, Strawberry, and Raspberry Smoothie (200)
Mini Bagel with Reduced Fat Peanut Butter (310)
Banana (115)
Lunch
Lean Cuisine (310)
Yogurt (50)
Orange (50)
Dinner
Two Boca Burgers on Wheat Buns (400)
Homemade Potato Soup (265)
Snack
Small Rice Krispie Treat (90)
Twizzlers (150)

Exercise
Walked 2 Miles
Weights - 2 Sets of 15
30 Crunches
30 Leg Lifts
15 Squats
Kickboxing - 10 Minute Beginners Workout

Water
120 oz

Update for Sunday and Monday

2006-09-12T02:10:52Z

Update time!

Food
Breakfast/Lunch
Soy Milk, Strawberry, and Raspberry Smoothie (200)
Mini Bagel with Reduced Fat Peanut Butter (310)
Banana (115)
Dinner
Homemade Potato Soup (265)
Two Boca Burgers on Wheat Buns (400)

Exercise
Walked 3 Miles

Water
90 oz

Food
Breakfast
Soy Milk, Strawberry, and Raspberry Smoothie (200)
Mini Bagel with Reduced Fat Peanut Butter (310)
Banana (115)
Lunch
Mini Bagel with Whipped Cream Cheese and Sprouts (200)
Orange (50)
Yogurt (50)
Dinner
1 1/2 Cups of White Rice with Brocolli (400)
Snack
15 Almonds (100)
1 Cup of Bran Cereal with Skim Milk (200)

Exercise
Walked 2 Miles

Water
120 oz

Weigh in and measurements tomorrow morning. Here's hoping I see a change!

Update for Friday and Saturday

2006-09-10T18:18:33Z

I'm still on the wagon. I've just been busy this weekend. Shopping, shopping.

Food
Breakfast
Smoothie (200)
Mini Bagel with Reduced Fat Peanut Butter (310)
Banana (115)
Lunch
Mini Bagel with Whipped Cream Cheese and Sprouts (200)
Yogurt (50)
Dinner
Bean and Cheese Buritto with Rice (800)*
Snack
Twizzlers (225)

Exercise
Walked 0.5 Miles (it started to rain and I had to come home)
Lifted 2 Pound Weights - 2 Reps of 10
20 Crunches
20 Leg Lifts Each
10 Squats

Water
120 oz

Food
Breakfast/Lunch
Smoothie from Euforia (300)*
Mini Bagel with Reduced Fat Peanut Butter (310)
Dinner
Half Pizza and House Salad from Scarpas (800)
Snack
Twizzlers (300)
Mints (60)

Exercise
Walked 2 Miles

Water
90 oz

I'm curious to weigh in on Tuesday to see if I can keep up the weight loss I've enjoyed so far. I don't expect to see nearly five pounds gone like last week, but I would love to see at least a two pound decrease. If I can keep up the two pounds a week gone, then I can be 100 pounds lighter this time next year. That would be beyond amazing. I would feel so much better.

I've been very good about eating out so far. I never finish all of my entree. I eat about half (maybe a little more) and stop. I'm always full, but never stuffed. I'm also finding that I don't get hungry as quickly as I did before I started this week before last. I was always hungry then, but now I only get hungry about an hour before I expect to eat a meal. I've alway found that I don't got to bed hungry like I did the entire first week of this "diet". I think my huge stomach might have shrunk a bit.

Update for Wednesday and Thursday

2006-09-08T01:56:20Z

I had quite a bit going on last night, so I didn't update. Shame on me. I feel like I should weigh myself everyday, but I know that I would only be thrown off by the fluctuation of my weight. It's best to stick to just once a week.

Food
Breakfast
Smoothie (200)
Mini Bagel with Reduced Fat Peanut Butter (310)
Banana (115)
Lunch
Mini Bagel with Cream Cheese, Cucumber, Sprouts (180)
Soy Milk (110)
Yogurt (50)
Dinner
White Rice with Brocolli (460)
Snack
McDonald's Low Fat Ice Cream Cone (150)

Exercise
Walked 1.2 Miles
10 Squats
20 Leg Lifts Each
20 Sit-ups
2 Reps of 10 with 2 Pound Weights

Water
120 oz

Food
Breakfast
Smoothie (200)
Mini Bagel with Reduced Fat Peanut Butter (310)
Banana (115)
Lunch
Lean Cuisine (220)
Yogurt (50)
Dinner
Two Boca Burgers with Wheat Buns (400)
Homemade Potato Soup (265)
Twizzlers (150)

Exercise
Walked 1.6 Miles
10 Squats
20 Sit-ups
20 Leg Lifts Each
2 Reps of 10 with 2 Pound Weights

Water
140 oz

I bought a kickboxing DVD today. It breaks it down into four ten minute sessions. I thought I might be able to get two sessions in during my lunch hour when I do the squats and weights. I'm actually really beginning to enjoy working out.

Weigh-In and Tuesday Update!

2006-09-06T02:44:38Z

Weigh-in day! I'm excited because I'm 4.5 pounds lighter than last week. :-)

Starting Weight: 254
Previous Weight: 254
Current Weight: 249.5
Weight Lost Last Week: 4.5
Total Weight Lost: 4.5

I took my measurements, and they did change by about an inch each, but I'm only going to post those once a month or so. I have them recorded in my paper journal. I also took a picture of myself yesterday to remember the end of week one. Once I get a noticeable difference in pictures, I'll post them.

Food
Breakfast
Soy Milk, Strawberry, and Raspberry Smoothie (200)
Mini Bagel with Reduced Fat Peanut Butter (310)
Banana (115)
Lunch
Pita w/ No Fat Cream Cheese, Cucumber and Sprouts (150)
Yogurt (50)
Apple (60)
Dinner
Homemade Potato Soup (400)
Two Boca Burgers on Wheat Buns (400)
Snack
Twizzlers (150)

Exercise
Walked 1.6 Miles (-320)
Lifted Two Pound Weights for Ten Minutes
Twenty Leg Lifts
Twenty Squats
Twenty Push-ups
Twenty Sit-ups

Water
140 oz

Monday Update

2006-09-05T01:46:48Z

We went to a Labor Day barbeque today. One of the perks of being a vegetarian is that it isn't rude when you bring your own meal. While everyone else was pigging out on ribs and chicken, I had a plate of white rice and broccoli. I'm stuffed. I walked my two miles earlier today after I ate breakfast. I feel like a slob now since I had that big plate of rice, but I'm not walking.

Food
Breakfast
Soy Milk, Strawberry, and Raspberry Smoothie (200)
Mini Bagel with Reduced Fat Peanut Butter (310)
Banana (115)
Lunch
Yogurt (50)
Apple (80)
Soy Milk (130)
Dinner
White Rice with Broccoli (500)
Snake
A Cup of Throat Coat Herbal Tea with Honey (50)

Exercise
Walked 2.2 Miles (-440)

Water
96 oz

Tomorrow is weigh-in/measure day. I'm excited to track my progress.

Musings

2006-09-04T21:50:38Z

Since I started eating healthy and walking, I've noticed an insane amount of dieting advertisements on television. All of them promise fast results if you just buy their food. How silly. I don't spend any more than $35 dollars on my food each week, and I'm losing weight. I imagine that these programs will cost hundreds of dollars a month, and won't give much of a long-term result.

I'm quite excited about updating with my weight tomorrow. I know I've lost at least four pounds, if not more in this first week. It gives me hope that I'll meet my goal of losing forty pounds by New Years Day. I just need to lose about three pounds a week, and I'll be above and beyond the amount that I'd like to get rid of by then.

I need to take photos of myself to place side-by-side each week as a way of motivating myself. I plan on taking the first one tonight. I'll take one every Tuesday to chronicle my weight loss. I want to keep the clothes similiar - a pair of black pants with a white shirt.

Sunday Update

2006-09-04T01:46:21Z

First, let me fully explain what I am now calling The Scale Debacle. For the last four years, any information on how much I weigh has been gotten from the scale in the women's bathroom of where I work. It's a small office with only five of us gals, and we all use it. Two years ago I overheard someone saying that the scale was a "few pounds off". Certainly a few means less than ten, probably less than five.

When I started this diet, I weighed myself using the scale at work. On Tuesday, I was 232 pounds, according to the work scale. On Thursday afternoon, I decided to buy a nice digital scale at Target just so I could weigh myself at home, and use half pounds. I stepped on the scale and...wham...253. Two-fifty-three?!? That's twenty-one pounds heavier. Gah. I nearly passed out. I stepped on it several times. Each time was the same. 2-5-3 in big ol' green numbers. I went back to work on Friday morning and weighed myself on that scale again. 231. Yay! A pound gone. But it's still wrong.

So, using the numbers on both scales, I'm going to assume that I lost a pound before Thursday, and that my beginning weight was 254. ::cringe:: My official weekly weigh-in is Tuesday. I wanted motivation today, so I hopped on the scale after my walk to see how much, if any, I had lost.

O_O 249.5 Ahhhh!!!! Four and a half pounds? That's so awesome. I couldn't believe it, so I stood on the scale again. Still 249.5. Again? 249.5. This is beyond awesome. I've lost 4.5 pounds since Tuesday. Maybe I can shed that last half before I step on the scale for the weigh-in that matters on Tuesday morning.

I walked a little over two miles again today. I think I might do the two mile walks on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and do the one mile walks the rest of the week. I can do a two mile in about 50 minutes. I'd love to get it down to 40 minutes. Then again, I have to stop to let Ferguson smell and pee on things, so he holds me back a bit.

I've stopped getting hungry until an hour before mealtimes. That's encouraging. Hopefully I can shrink my stomach back to a smaller size instead of the garbage dump it has been for so many years.

Food
Breakfast/Lunch
Soy Milk, Strawberry, and Raspberry Smoothie (200)
Mini Bagel with Reduced Fat Peanut Butter (310)
Banana (115)
Dinner
Two Boca Burgers on Wheat Buns (400)
Homemade Potato "Soup" with Skim Milk and Butter (265)
Snack
Two Cups of Throat Coat Tea with Honey (100)
Twizzlers (150)

Exercise
Walked 2.2 Miles (-440)

Water
96 oz

I have a minor goal that I'd like to reach by New Years. I want to be able to say that I weigh 206 by the first of the year. Let's see if I can do that.

Saturday Update

2006-09-03T02:43:23Z

Despite sticking to my planned diet and exercising everyday, I'm still worried that when I step on the scale on Tuesday it will still be at the same number as last Tuesday. I don't think it will be the same, but I still worry. That's what I do. Worry. If I lose two pounds I will jump around and do a happy dance. I've been sticking around this 250-something weight for some time, and I had been maintaining it with over 4,000 calories on some days. I could easily eat 3,000 on most days. So, keeping my intake under 2,000 and exercising, there's really no reason why I shouldn't see something.

Again with the eating out today. We got Chinese. I was bad and ate two egg rolls. Shame, shame.

Food
Breakfast
Four Berry Smoothie from Euphoria (300)
Mini Bagel with Reduced Fat Peanut Butter (310)
Lunch
Half a Pita with Whipped Cream Cheese (170)
Yogurt (50)
Apple (80)
Dinner
Vegetable Fried Rice (600)*
Vegetable Egg Rolls (400)*
Snack
Twizzlers (150)
*Estimate only.

Exercise
Walked 2.08 Miles (-400)

Water
120 oz

Friday, August 1st

2006-09-02T01:31:27Z

Today was my first real test as to whether I can stop eating when I'm full. We always eat out on Friday and Saturday nights. My meals so far this week have been menued and portioned out. I didn't cook more than I planned on eating. However, we went to the Mexican place today, and I got a gigantic bean and cheese burrito with a side of Spanish rice. I ate a little more than half the burrito and about half the rice. It filled me up quick nicely, and then I stopped. I know. Amazing. I could have eaten the entire thing, but then I would have felt tremendously guilty.

After the evil! bean burrito, I took Ferguson (my dog) and Bean (boyfriend's sister's dog) on a walk. I went a bit further than my usual half a mile out, but I thought it only right since I had eaten such a fatty piece of food. By the time I took a glance at my pedometer, I realized I had walked over 0.8 miles. I turned around and trudged back up the hill, speaking to a few other people sharing the path along the way. When I finally got home and did my cool down lap around the apartment complex, I had walked a little over 1.75 miles. Yay! And it took me less than an hour. I definitely plan on trying for an even two tomorrow. I might just keep that number up for the next few weeks to get these first few pounds off, and to compensate for my take out on the weekends.

Food
Breakfast
Soy Milk, Strawberry, and Raspberry Smoothie (200)
Mini Bagel and Reduced Fat Peanut Butter (310)
Banana (115)
Lunch
Half a Pita with Whipped Cream Cheese (170)
Baby Carrots (40)
Yogurt (50)
Dinner
Half a Large Bean and Cheese Burrito (550)*
Spanish Rice (250)*
*Estimate only.

Exercise
Walked 1.75 Miles (-335)

Water
140 oz

Thursday Update

2006-09-01T02:40:38Z

Geez. So, I've been making use of the scale at work to weigh myself for the past several years. Apparently, it is terribly old and inaccurate. I finally splurged and bought a nice digital scale for myself. I weight two hundred fifty three pounds. 253 NOT 232. Eek. That's an additional 21 pounds that I was unaware of. How freakin' depressing... But, I'm resolved to losing this weight. Really, I am. I stuck to my meal plan today, even thought I nearly grabbed a handful of something sweet after I discovered the hidden 21 pounds.

I've also been posting on 3fatchicks.com. They have a wonderful forum with many supportive people.

At any rate, my new (and significantly higher) ticker.

Food
Breakfast
Soy Milk, Strawberry, and Raspberry Smoothie (200)
Mini Bagel with Reduced Fat Peanut Butter (310)
Banana (115)
Lunch
Half Pita with Whipped Cream Cheese (170)
Celery and Baby Carrots (40)
Yogurt (50)
Soy Milk (130)
Apple (80)
Dinner
Two Boca Burgers with Wheat Buns (400)
Homemade Potato Soup with Butter and Skim Milk (265)

Exercise
Walked 1.25 Miles (-240)

Water
140 oz

Intro with Tuesday & Wednesday Journals

2006-08-31T02:07:55Z

Well, I'm finally making a real effort at losing weight. I'm motivated, organized, and knowledgable this time, so here's hoping that it pays off.

Weight: 232
Bust: 46
Chest: 42
Waist: 44
Hips: 56
Thigh: 32
Knee: 22
Calves: 20
Upper Arm: 16
Forearms: 12

I even made a ticker.

I plan on posting my food/activity journal each day in here. The calories for each item is listed in the parenthesis. I have a pedometer that measures the distance I walk and the calories I burn according to my weight. I've included the negative calories burned away on my walks as well.

Wednesday August 30th

Food
Breakfast
Soy Milk, Strawberry, Raspberry Smoothie (200)
Mini Bagel with Reduced Fat Chunky Peanut Butter (310)
Banana (115)
Lunch
Pita with Hummus, Carrots, and Celery (240)
Yogurt (50)
Apple (130)
Soy Milk (130)
Dinner
Long Grain White Rice with Broccoli (460)
Snack
Twizzlers (150)
Water
120 oz
Exercise
Walked 1.25 Miles (-240)

Tuesday, August 29th

Food
Breakfast
Vanilla Wafers (130)
Lunch
Frozen Smart Choice Lasagna (360)
Dinner
Tofu Chick Nuggets (270)
Seasoned Fries (650)
Snack
Goldfish Crackers (140)
Soy Milk, Strawberry, and Raspberry Smoothie (200)
Water
90 oz
Exercise
Walked 1.15 Miles (-220)

Testing...

2006-08-29T22:51:07Z

One, two, three, four...

Oh, thank god it works.