I can't believe it's been 5 weeks. I never would have imagined I'd see the difference in 5 short weeks that I've seen so far. Even though some of this post won't sound that way, I really am truly thrilled with the progress of the program. I actually look forward to Monday mornings to see how the progression has been. I weigh myself at home, and sometimes it's a little more, sometimes it's a little less than the scale at the doctor. Last week and today it was exactly the same.
This morning's weigh-in was good, but, personally, I struggled with it a bit. This week I lost 2.4 pounds for a total of 24.6 in five weeks. I was so disappointed as I had myself set for wanting to see a 25 pound total and it just wasn't there. I beat myself up about it but after discussion with the Medical Assistant, we think that the reason for the slow down (and the fact that I've actually been tired lately) is because I'm not eating enough food. We discussed that I'm still doing 6 days of step aerobics for 45 minutes a day and discussed what I eat in a given day. She really thinks it's because the program already has a very low caloric intake and if I'm not even eating 1/2 of the proteins on the list, then my metabolism will begin to slow down and the weigh loss will begin to slow down as well. I guess she might be right!
I did have a little struggle with the water this week as well. Work has been insanely busy and I just don't get the water in during the day. I come home at night and don't always manage it then either. It seems like if I go out, I tend to drink more water. This week I seem to have eaten out a lot, on the road with work and lots of lunches eaten out. I didn't deviate from the program, drank water when I was out to dinner and lunches, and this weekend we celebrated a birthday with a big family party at Olive Garden and I planned for it and ordered the Salmon with grilled veggies and plain salad. I must have had 4 glasses of water there, just during dinner, but I need to step up what I drink at home as well!
I also broke down this weekend and bought some new clothes. I was to the point where I really needed a few in-between pieces. I got a couple pairs of pants (all hemmed and ready to wear-thanks, Evie!). Work pants were the biggest issue, and a shirt or two. It's amazing what a few articles of clothing that fit can do for you! Now I really see a difference in where I've been losing.
This week I'm focusing on trying to eat more, smaller meals, more frequently and making sure I drink all of the water. The exercise routine will continue, although I've switched it to early mornings so that I can get through with less interruptions, and not have to stress about it if for some reason my day runs longer than I anticipate. It's great to be done with it before 7:00 am!
Thank you all so much for your support. I have been so encouraged by your words, comments, emails and phone calls! You all are awesome!!
“Desire is the key to motivation, but it's determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek.” ~Mario Andretti
January 26, 2009
January 19, 2009
Completion of Week 4!
It's Monday! Today has been a fantastic, yet busy day. I have one month down and 35% of the goal has been attained. I couldn't be happier. Today's official result was a loss of 3.4 pounds for a total loss of 22.2 pounds. It's officially been 27 days.
Today, because I hit a 'benchmark', I saw the doctor when I was in the office. I admitted to him that I struggled this week with the fact that the scale was moving at a much slower pace. The only change I'd made is incorporating the Wii Fit, but on a 6 day per week schedule of 45 minutes of cardio/step aerobics. I was pretty bummed toward the middle and end of the week that it appeared I'd only end up losing about two pounds. I KNOW two pounds is good, but frustrating when you are coming off of a 6 pound loss the prior week, with no changes. I was reminded frequently this week as I expressed my annoyance at "only two pounds" that I was still losing and that two pounds was a nice, healthy, easy to maintain weight loss for one week. I KNOW all of that--I've been on so many different programs throughout the years...it's all stuff that I know, but still!!
I also heard a few analogies over the past few weeks about how much I've lost and relating it to other things. One of my friends said something to the tune of it's like carrying around 12 boxes of butter...well, yes, I suppose it is, but, who does that? I don't carry around boxes of butter, ever...so that didn't really work for me as a great comparison. Someone else told me this week, ya know, it's like carrying around a 16 pound bowling ball, you're not doing that anymore. That kind of worked, but again, I don't typically go around carrying 16 pound bowling balls, unless I might be going bowling. Last night, however, I found an analogy that worked for me. I got home rather late, after being gone from mid-afternoon watching football and needed to feed Cocoa. I went to get her food out and remembered I needed to refill the container. I went to the garage to get the new bag of dog food I had just bought for her. It was an 18 pound bag of dog food. I brought it in the kitchen, picked it up to pour it into it's container...and it hit me....that's an 18 pound bag of dog food! Holy Crap! As of last Monday, I wasn't carrying that around ON ME anymore! Today, it's that bag, plus some! As I was walking upstairs to do my Wii Fit tonight, I thought that about a month ago, everytime I walked upstairs, I was carrying that dog food bag with me, but not anymore! Sometimes you just have to find the analogy that works for you.
There really hasn't been any struggles to report or any issues this week. Work is insanely busy, but that's a great thing in my opinion. I am adjusting well to what I can eat and what I need to do to get my water in and what works for me. I still have not deviated off the plan, and it does get easier and easier to adapt to what's on there. This weekend I had dinner out one night. It wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be, but I ate the part I could, and left the rest. The frustrating part of that was if I had just ordered a salad, with grilled chicken, It would have worked perfectly. So much for trying to do something a little different! I'm determined, I will reach my goal and look forward to every Monday to see how I'm progressing toward the next benchmark.
I think I've blogged before about "treats" and people suggesting that maybe for each 10 pounds I give myself a treat of one meal, whatever I want. I've not done that. I don't have a desire to have a "treat" meal. I am not having any issues and I really don't feel deprived of anything eating healthy, so why bother to "treat" myself at this point. As fast as the pounds are coming off, I'm good with waiting for something special to treat myself. At this point, the treat will be a glass of wine or an ice cold beer at my birthday party.
In closing....Have a fantastically awesome week!
“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments”
Today, because I hit a 'benchmark', I saw the doctor when I was in the office. I admitted to him that I struggled this week with the fact that the scale was moving at a much slower pace. The only change I'd made is incorporating the Wii Fit, but on a 6 day per week schedule of 45 minutes of cardio/step aerobics. I was pretty bummed toward the middle and end of the week that it appeared I'd only end up losing about two pounds. I KNOW two pounds is good, but frustrating when you are coming off of a 6 pound loss the prior week, with no changes. I was reminded frequently this week as I expressed my annoyance at "only two pounds" that I was still losing and that two pounds was a nice, healthy, easy to maintain weight loss for one week. I KNOW all of that--I've been on so many different programs throughout the years...it's all stuff that I know, but still!!
I also heard a few analogies over the past few weeks about how much I've lost and relating it to other things. One of my friends said something to the tune of it's like carrying around 12 boxes of butter...well, yes, I suppose it is, but, who does that? I don't carry around boxes of butter, ever...so that didn't really work for me as a great comparison. Someone else told me this week, ya know, it's like carrying around a 16 pound bowling ball, you're not doing that anymore. That kind of worked, but again, I don't typically go around carrying 16 pound bowling balls, unless I might be going bowling. Last night, however, I found an analogy that worked for me. I got home rather late, after being gone from mid-afternoon watching football and needed to feed Cocoa. I went to get her food out and remembered I needed to refill the container. I went to the garage to get the new bag of dog food I had just bought for her. It was an 18 pound bag of dog food. I brought it in the kitchen, picked it up to pour it into it's container...and it hit me....that's an 18 pound bag of dog food! Holy Crap! As of last Monday, I wasn't carrying that around ON ME anymore! Today, it's that bag, plus some! As I was walking upstairs to do my Wii Fit tonight, I thought that about a month ago, everytime I walked upstairs, I was carrying that dog food bag with me, but not anymore! Sometimes you just have to find the analogy that works for you.
There really hasn't been any struggles to report or any issues this week. Work is insanely busy, but that's a great thing in my opinion. I am adjusting well to what I can eat and what I need to do to get my water in and what works for me. I still have not deviated off the plan, and it does get easier and easier to adapt to what's on there. This weekend I had dinner out one night. It wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be, but I ate the part I could, and left the rest. The frustrating part of that was if I had just ordered a salad, with grilled chicken, It would have worked perfectly. So much for trying to do something a little different! I'm determined, I will reach my goal and look forward to every Monday to see how I'm progressing toward the next benchmark.
I think I've blogged before about "treats" and people suggesting that maybe for each 10 pounds I give myself a treat of one meal, whatever I want. I've not done that. I don't have a desire to have a "treat" meal. I am not having any issues and I really don't feel deprived of anything eating healthy, so why bother to "treat" myself at this point. As fast as the pounds are coming off, I'm good with waiting for something special to treat myself. At this point, the treat will be a glass of wine or an ice cold beer at my birthday party.
In closing....Have a fantastically awesome week!
“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments”
January 12, 2009
Completion of Week 3!
Today is officially day 20, but it's Monday, and as we all know by now, it's the weigh in day. This morning I went to my appointment, and the results sort of amazed me. I weighed less today on the doctor's scale than I did on mine, which is a switch! I was a little nervous, because for some reason I seem to think I'm going to have gained 2 pounds in the drive from work to the office-I obsess just a little bit over this!
I got there today, stood on the scale and found out that this week I lost 6.4 pounds for a total of 18.8 pounds so far. The medical assistant was thrilled, kept saying everything was great and I was doing fantastic. I'm sure she says that to everyone, but I feel really good about the progress.
I've still not deviated from the program. It's just not worth it to me. I'm motivated, I'm starting (finally!) to see a difference in my clothes, in my face and just overall the way that I feel. I've actively started a workout program on Wii Fit and do 45 minutes of Basic & Advanced Step 4 times a week. I have noticed that this actually makes me want to go to sleep a little earlier. That's definitely a good thing!
A couple of people had encouraged me to take new pictures of myself every week and post them here to show the progress. Well, I haven't been doing that, I think it's a little too much of me! But this weekend my God-daughter and her family were here and her mom took a few pictures so I could see if there was any progress.
I'm still debating on wheter to post the picture that I have that shows me at probably my heaviest ever weight. It was 3 years ago, next month. Just after starting my job, and when I look at that, I'm really amazed. I've decided not to post that picture quite yet. Someday, I'm sure it will be here!
So, here's the progress from October 2008:
And the start of the program:
And....yesterday, three weeks after the start of the program:
So, at this point, I'm fantastically happy with the progress, and don't anticipate any challenges that I haven't already made it through. I've determined that I can still occasionally eat out and still stay on plan. There's something I can eat everywhere, as long as they have grilled chicken and salad, I'm good to go! I am determined and focused and ready to meet the goal.
In closing, I just want to point out---some people emailed me or messaged me on Facebook and said they were unable to comment on the blog. If you don't have a Blogger ID or a Google account, you can post using the "Anonymous" option and just leave your name (if you wish) in the comment itself.
“Don't wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So what. Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and more and more successful.”
I got there today, stood on the scale and found out that this week I lost 6.4 pounds for a total of 18.8 pounds so far. The medical assistant was thrilled, kept saying everything was great and I was doing fantastic. I'm sure she says that to everyone, but I feel really good about the progress.
I've still not deviated from the program. It's just not worth it to me. I'm motivated, I'm starting (finally!) to see a difference in my clothes, in my face and just overall the way that I feel. I've actively started a workout program on Wii Fit and do 45 minutes of Basic & Advanced Step 4 times a week. I have noticed that this actually makes me want to go to sleep a little earlier. That's definitely a good thing!
A couple of people had encouraged me to take new pictures of myself every week and post them here to show the progress. Well, I haven't been doing that, I think it's a little too much of me! But this weekend my God-daughter and her family were here and her mom took a few pictures so I could see if there was any progress.
I'm still debating on wheter to post the picture that I have that shows me at probably my heaviest ever weight. It was 3 years ago, next month. Just after starting my job, and when I look at that, I'm really amazed. I've decided not to post that picture quite yet. Someday, I'm sure it will be here!
So, here's the progress from October 2008:
And the start of the program:
And....yesterday, three weeks after the start of the program:
So, at this point, I'm fantastically happy with the progress, and don't anticipate any challenges that I haven't already made it through. I've determined that I can still occasionally eat out and still stay on plan. There's something I can eat everywhere, as long as they have grilled chicken and salad, I'm good to go! I am determined and focused and ready to meet the goal.
In closing, I just want to point out---some people emailed me or messaged me on Facebook and said they were unable to comment on the blog. If you don't have a Blogger ID or a Google account, you can post using the "Anonymous" option and just leave your name (if you wish) in the comment itself.
“Don't wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So what. Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and more and more successful.”
January 10, 2009
Work Week Challenge-MET!
I did it! My last post talked about how I felt as though I might struggle with drinking a gallon of water while being on the road on Thursday. It was almost easier than a regular day!
I brought a bottle (3 liter) of water with me in the car and my 1.5 liter, obnoxiously large, water bottle that I drink out of at home. I finished one full 1.5 liter bottle before even reaching our first agency appointment. Then I drank another throughout the day and of course, water with lunch. I then went out to watch the BCS game and drank what felt like another 1/2 gallon of water during that whole night. What a great game!
So, the water challenge this week definitely wasn't Thursday-but it's almost been a struggle every other day this week! Today I'm trying to fight a cold. You'd think that with all the fluid and vitamins I've been consuming, I wouldn't get sick, but alas, I am!
I really want some comfort food. When I don't feel well there are two things I like and want. I want a grilled cheese sandwich and gatorade. Neither of which I can have. It's a good thing I don't have any bread! I was going to make scallops and snow crabs for dinner, but I want to enjoy it and tonight I don't think I would!
It's been a quiet day, lots of Lifetime Movie Network and lounging on the couch. It was a beautiful day and I missed the whole darn thing! I hate being sick, but I met my challenge and I'm thrilled about that!
“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.”
I brought a bottle (3 liter) of water with me in the car and my 1.5 liter, obnoxiously large, water bottle that I drink out of at home. I finished one full 1.5 liter bottle before even reaching our first agency appointment. Then I drank another throughout the day and of course, water with lunch. I then went out to watch the BCS game and drank what felt like another 1/2 gallon of water during that whole night. What a great game!
So, the water challenge this week definitely wasn't Thursday-but it's almost been a struggle every other day this week! Today I'm trying to fight a cold. You'd think that with all the fluid and vitamins I've been consuming, I wouldn't get sick, but alas, I am!
I really want some comfort food. When I don't feel well there are two things I like and want. I want a grilled cheese sandwich and gatorade. Neither of which I can have. It's a good thing I don't have any bread! I was going to make scallops and snow crabs for dinner, but I want to enjoy it and tonight I don't think I would!
It's been a quiet day, lots of Lifetime Movie Network and lounging on the couch. It was a beautiful day and I missed the whole darn thing! I hate being sick, but I met my challenge and I'm thrilled about that!
“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.”
January 7, 2009
Work Week Challenge-Water!
As you all know, this program requires a gallon of water every day. This week I've had a bit of a challenge with the water. Monday I didn't even get half of the water down, no reason, nothing else to drink except a cup of tea, but just didn't want water. Tuesday, I did drink it all, but it was almost midnight by the time I was done. Today-much better. Done with water at 7:00 and will be enjoying a great cup of tea shortly as a reward!
Tomorrow is my day I'm really going to struggle. Tomorrow I am on the road for work. I'll be leaving home at 7:00 a.m., so I won't have a whole lot of water to drink before I leave. I'll also be in and out of agency appointments and driving, so it will be a challenge for sure.
All in all this week has gone so far, just a struggle with the water. I've started an exercise program, 40 minutes of step aerobics on Wii Fit every day, and the meds are still making me not tired until super late, but things around home are getting done, since I'm not sleeping much. If only I could find a way to enjoy the water consumption!!
In closing...
I believe that water is the only drink for a wise man. ~Henry David Thoreau
Tomorrow is my day I'm really going to struggle. Tomorrow I am on the road for work. I'll be leaving home at 7:00 a.m., so I won't have a whole lot of water to drink before I leave. I'll also be in and out of agency appointments and driving, so it will be a challenge for sure.
All in all this week has gone so far, just a struggle with the water. I've started an exercise program, 40 minutes of step aerobics on Wii Fit every day, and the meds are still making me not tired until super late, but things around home are getting done, since I'm not sleeping much. If only I could find a way to enjoy the water consumption!!
In closing...
I believe that water is the only drink for a wise man. ~Henry David Thoreau
January 5, 2009
Completion of Week 2!
Today was the official weigh in for week # 2 on the program. I'm happy to say that in two weeks, I'm 20% to my goal! I weighed today with a 4.2 pound loss from last week for a total of 12.4 pounds in two weeks.
Last week I blogged about upcoming challenges being New Year's Eve and Girls Night. I've blogged about New Year's Eve already. Girls Night was much the same as New Year's Eve. NO issues with wanting what I couldn't have.
Girls Night has been at my house, so I get to plan the menu...of course, this time I just assumed it'd benefit me! I planned a menu of flank steak stuffed with spinach and cheese (mine, minus the cheese) a huge, yummy salad with portabella mushrooms, red peppers, cucumbers and spring lettuce mix, we also had steamed broccoli and mashed potatoes (none for me, thanks!). Dinner was great, but with this awesome group of women, it's definitely not about the food. I'm still sore from all the laughing!
I didn't do the appetziers I usually do, instead I asked the girls to bring appetizers and dessert. They looked amazing. There was a cheeseball (cheese is my weakness) and crackers and fresh sliced tomatoes with fresh mozzarella and french bread. Didn't touch any of it---celery is my new snack of choice! Dessert looked great too, but I stuck to fruit and water. Not even a pomegranate martini!
One difficult thing I realized this week is that I love to cook, mostly for other people. This is not typically a problem, however, I like to cook homemade things and I'm pretty limited as to what I can eat. I still very much enjoy cooking what I can't eat for other people, it's a small way I give back. My very good friends, Chris & Wayne are out of town for 8 days working, so I offered to make them some food to take with them since they are living in a hotel for so many days. I made my homemade chicken parmesan and a baked pasta dish. One thing I used to do is taste as I was cooking, to make sure there was enough of this or enough of that. Well, neither dish is on 'the plan', so I didn't taste as I went. I didn't even lick my fingers! Not that it was difficult to go through that---but my issue is I cooked for them, I care about what I made and have no clue if it is even any good! I told them if it sucked, I was sorry, but I didn't taste it first to make sure it was okay. God, I hope it's good! LOL
At the visit today, I did ask the questions that I had. I asked about the eggs--she said occasionally have a scrambled egg, but that in the hard-boiled ones sometimes people throw away the yolk. I certainly wasn't doing that. She also said that balsamic vinegar is fine to use as well. I'm actually getting used to the taste of red wine vinegar with salads though.
I talked to a friend from high school today who was curious as to what I was doing when I posted a Facebook status showing the total weight loss. She had an appointment to start a similar thing on Wednesday and wanted to know the real scoop. I know you'll do great, A! Call me if you need some more information and DRINK THAT WATER!!
I've started to actually notice a bit of the difference in losing 12 pounds. I can finally see in the mirror a difference, albeit not much, in my sides and in my face a bit. It's just more self-determination to continue on.
My friends and family have been super supportive, much more so than I expected. I thought my father would be upset that I was paying all this money for this, that I was taking medication to do it, etc... but I was willing to take that risk to get to my goal. Well, he certainly wasn't upset. He's thrilled and encouraging...(especially when he heard the words physician monitored!). My mom was here this weekend, and while I had nothing she wanted to eat on Sunday before she left, she was happy as well. I love hearing the encouragement and it helps immensely to get up and do it all over again the next day.
People at work are pretty much aware now and it's not the 'big secret' I thought I was going to make it. Funny how that works! I guess the more people that know, the more encouragement I'm going to get! :) DUH!
In closing, I thought this was a great quote...considering my start time for this program!
People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas. ~Author Unknown
Last week I blogged about upcoming challenges being New Year's Eve and Girls Night. I've blogged about New Year's Eve already. Girls Night was much the same as New Year's Eve. NO issues with wanting what I couldn't have.
Girls Night has been at my house, so I get to plan the menu...of course, this time I just assumed it'd benefit me! I planned a menu of flank steak stuffed with spinach and cheese (mine, minus the cheese) a huge, yummy salad with portabella mushrooms, red peppers, cucumbers and spring lettuce mix, we also had steamed broccoli and mashed potatoes (none for me, thanks!). Dinner was great, but with this awesome group of women, it's definitely not about the food. I'm still sore from all the laughing!
I didn't do the appetziers I usually do, instead I asked the girls to bring appetizers and dessert. They looked amazing. There was a cheeseball (cheese is my weakness) and crackers and fresh sliced tomatoes with fresh mozzarella and french bread. Didn't touch any of it---celery is my new snack of choice! Dessert looked great too, but I stuck to fruit and water. Not even a pomegranate martini!
One difficult thing I realized this week is that I love to cook, mostly for other people. This is not typically a problem, however, I like to cook homemade things and I'm pretty limited as to what I can eat. I still very much enjoy cooking what I can't eat for other people, it's a small way I give back. My very good friends, Chris & Wayne are out of town for 8 days working, so I offered to make them some food to take with them since they are living in a hotel for so many days. I made my homemade chicken parmesan and a baked pasta dish. One thing I used to do is taste as I was cooking, to make sure there was enough of this or enough of that. Well, neither dish is on 'the plan', so I didn't taste as I went. I didn't even lick my fingers! Not that it was difficult to go through that---but my issue is I cooked for them, I care about what I made and have no clue if it is even any good! I told them if it sucked, I was sorry, but I didn't taste it first to make sure it was okay. God, I hope it's good! LOL
At the visit today, I did ask the questions that I had. I asked about the eggs--she said occasionally have a scrambled egg, but that in the hard-boiled ones sometimes people throw away the yolk. I certainly wasn't doing that. She also said that balsamic vinegar is fine to use as well. I'm actually getting used to the taste of red wine vinegar with salads though.
I talked to a friend from high school today who was curious as to what I was doing when I posted a Facebook status showing the total weight loss. She had an appointment to start a similar thing on Wednesday and wanted to know the real scoop. I know you'll do great, A! Call me if you need some more information and DRINK THAT WATER!!
I've started to actually notice a bit of the difference in losing 12 pounds. I can finally see in the mirror a difference, albeit not much, in my sides and in my face a bit. It's just more self-determination to continue on.
My friends and family have been super supportive, much more so than I expected. I thought my father would be upset that I was paying all this money for this, that I was taking medication to do it, etc... but I was willing to take that risk to get to my goal. Well, he certainly wasn't upset. He's thrilled and encouraging...(especially when he heard the words physician monitored!). My mom was here this weekend, and while I had nothing she wanted to eat on Sunday before she left, she was happy as well. I love hearing the encouragement and it helps immensely to get up and do it all over again the next day.
People at work are pretty much aware now and it's not the 'big secret' I thought I was going to make it. Funny how that works! I guess the more people that know, the more encouragement I'm going to get! :) DUH!
In closing, I thought this was a great quote...considering my start time for this program!
People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas. ~Author Unknown
January 1, 2009
A great start to 2009!
Happy New Year!
Today is day 9 of the program and it remains something that has been relatively easy to do. This morning, by my scale I was down 13 pounds. I seem to weigh about a pound more at the official weigh in, but I hope that I can attribute that to heavier clothes, the time of day (I weigh in at the doctor at 4:00 in the afternoon) and the fact that, typically by then, I'm pretty much done drinking the gallon of water. Either way, I'm very happy with the progress and the ease at which I can say no to any temptations.
Last night I was at Chris & Tina's New Year's Eve pajama party. We had dinner and the only thing I couldn't have was the potatoes, but the grilled vegetables and pork were fantastic. I also was able to snack on grapes and some of the veggies. There was definitely things that I liked, that I didn't have, but I don't think I had any less fun because I didn't have those things. One of those things was alcohol. At one point, Wayne asked what would happen if I did drink. The program strongly advises that you don't because of the medication side-effect potential. I told him I didn't know, probably nothing, but that it didn't matter, because I wasn't going to "cheat" by having a drink. Instead, I drank water.
At 11:55 I was pouring champagne into glasses for everyone to toast. I had decided I would toast and have a sip of champagne. Midnight struck, we all shouted Happy New Year, hugged and kissed our loved ones and toasted to 2009. I toasted and dumped my champagne into someone else's glass. I didn't do it. Not even a sip!
I've also managed to figure out meals. In the beginning I was having this or that and struggling with breakfast and the like. I've determined I can make an omlette with egg whites, fat free sharp cheddar, deli ham and green peppers and onions and it's pretty dang good! Tonight I made salmon baked with dill, cucumber and onions and steamed broccoli and fresh veggie sticks. It just takes a little imagination, and maybe a "focused" trip to the grocery store!
Yesterday I cleaned out my pantry and freezer of all of the things I can't have on the program. There was probably 6 bags of groceries I brought over to Chris & Tina's house so that it would get eaten instead of going bad and being thrown out. I still have one more party this week to get through, girls night dinner at my house on Saturday, but I've got the menu planned and should be good to go.
I'm anticipating Monday's weigh in and have a few questions about the food plan to get straightened out. I'm allowed 1 hard-boiled egg as a serving, or two egg whites. I get why the difference, but the thing I don't quite understand is why the egg has to be hard-boiled. Why can't I have one scrambled egg? It's just odd that the list is specific to hard-boiled. Also, I want to know can I have balsamic vinegar-it specifically says rice vinegar or red/white wine vinegar. I'm not sure again of the reasons there. Lots of little clarification pieces. It is what it is, but I just want to understand it!
That's all the latest from here. I hope you all had a safe and happy New Year's celebration and are looking forward to a fantastic 2009.
Today is day 9 of the program and it remains something that has been relatively easy to do. This morning, by my scale I was down 13 pounds. I seem to weigh about a pound more at the official weigh in, but I hope that I can attribute that to heavier clothes, the time of day (I weigh in at the doctor at 4:00 in the afternoon) and the fact that, typically by then, I'm pretty much done drinking the gallon of water. Either way, I'm very happy with the progress and the ease at which I can say no to any temptations.
Last night I was at Chris & Tina's New Year's Eve pajama party. We had dinner and the only thing I couldn't have was the potatoes, but the grilled vegetables and pork were fantastic. I also was able to snack on grapes and some of the veggies. There was definitely things that I liked, that I didn't have, but I don't think I had any less fun because I didn't have those things. One of those things was alcohol. At one point, Wayne asked what would happen if I did drink. The program strongly advises that you don't because of the medication side-effect potential. I told him I didn't know, probably nothing, but that it didn't matter, because I wasn't going to "cheat" by having a drink. Instead, I drank water.
At 11:55 I was pouring champagne into glasses for everyone to toast. I had decided I would toast and have a sip of champagne. Midnight struck, we all shouted Happy New Year, hugged and kissed our loved ones and toasted to 2009. I toasted and dumped my champagne into someone else's glass. I didn't do it. Not even a sip!
I've also managed to figure out meals. In the beginning I was having this or that and struggling with breakfast and the like. I've determined I can make an omlette with egg whites, fat free sharp cheddar, deli ham and green peppers and onions and it's pretty dang good! Tonight I made salmon baked with dill, cucumber and onions and steamed broccoli and fresh veggie sticks. It just takes a little imagination, and maybe a "focused" trip to the grocery store!
Yesterday I cleaned out my pantry and freezer of all of the things I can't have on the program. There was probably 6 bags of groceries I brought over to Chris & Tina's house so that it would get eaten instead of going bad and being thrown out. I still have one more party this week to get through, girls night dinner at my house on Saturday, but I've got the menu planned and should be good to go.
I'm anticipating Monday's weigh in and have a few questions about the food plan to get straightened out. I'm allowed 1 hard-boiled egg as a serving, or two egg whites. I get why the difference, but the thing I don't quite understand is why the egg has to be hard-boiled. Why can't I have one scrambled egg? It's just odd that the list is specific to hard-boiled. Also, I want to know can I have balsamic vinegar-it specifically says rice vinegar or red/white wine vinegar. I'm not sure again of the reasons there. Lots of little clarification pieces. It is what it is, but I just want to understand it!
That's all the latest from here. I hope you all had a safe and happy New Year's celebration and are looking forward to a fantastic 2009.
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