Dieting in the Deep Freeze

Today is the second day that I have had off work because of the frigid temps. With actual temps around -15 and wind chills around -35, it is not safe to have the kid-os waiting outside for the bus. This will turn into a 5-day weekend for me because we already have Monday off for MLK. Since we have been back after Christmas, we have only had two 3-day work weeks now! And next week will be 4 days. I could get used to this!

I have to admit, it is VERY hard to be super-motivated during the deep freeze. Yesterday I did not want to leave the house so I did not go the gym. Bad dieter!!! Today will be different, however, as I have to leave the house to go get the poor cat catfood. Yesterday we fed her straight tuna! (She loved every second of it, though!)

Yesterday's Diet:
Breakfast: oatmeal, clementine, Matevana tea

Snack: 100-cal yogurt

Lunch: WW Tortellini Soup, Skinny cow sandwich

Snack: slice of cheddar cheese

Dinner: Trader Joe's Kung Pao Chicken , 60 cal pudding




Today's diet:
Breakfast: 2 blueberry, whole grain Kashi waffles with blueberries and sugar-free syrup, Matevana tea

Lunch: leftover Trader Joe's Kung Pao Chicken

No time for blogging!

UGH! The past week back at work has been more hectic and stressful than I have ever known! The new year at work hit me like a brick wall- and I'm feelin' it! I started my new semester of grad school, only to realize that taking two grad classes plus a crazy job plus planning my wedding is TOO MUCH ON ONE GIRL'S PLATE!!! Bart offered to hire his mom as our cleaning lady, but I took the stress level waaaaaay down by simply dropping one of my classes. That seems to have lowered my blood pressure level for the meantime. To boot, our computer seems to have caught a virus and has been pretty much inoperable for the last few days...hence, no blogging.

I have been doing my best to stay on the 'healthy wagon'- and you're just going to have to believe me on that one because I am far too stressed to remember what I've eaten and post about it!

Starting Over (again!)

The last few days have been some of the most stressful I can remember! I went back to work on Wednesday and found myself buried in work. To boot, I had to start my new trimester of grad classes on Monday and Wednesday nights, and it looks as if those are going to be much more work than I had anticipated. I'm even debating dropping one of them so I can maintain my sanity! All of this stress tackled my immune system, and made me feel (again) like I was getting a cold. I didn't want to develop a full-blown cold like I had just before Christmas, so I have not been working out.

I am very disappointed about this setback, but I am hoping that this weekend and this week I can shake the stress and get back on schedule. I am super embarassed about the things I have eaten (Ghiradelli squares and wine yesterday) so I don't even want to post them- not to mention I can't remember all the details of the last few days- they would be best forgotten!

I will 'start over' with today...
Breakfast: 1/2 bran muffin- 2 WW points
1 clementine- 1 WW point
Matevana tea

Lunch: stuffed pepper (not the best choice- but it was left-overs and it had to be eaten)
60 cal Jell-O

Dinner: stuffed orange roughy, broccoli and sweet potato
60 cal Jell-O

Exercise: 45 minutes elliptical, 12 minutes stairmaster, obliques/hams/quads

Looks like I'm back on the wagon!!! I took a picture of myself the other day in a swim suit- I hoping that will be my 'before' picture =)

I cheated today

Today was not the best, but also not horrible. I was super busy today so that was probably the reason I caved...I do better when I have lots of small meals.

My mom and I left at 8:15 a.m. to go for my first dress fitting- I have to say (IMHO) I looked pretty good in the dress, but my arms could be a little more toned. Then my mom and I went to lunch and we went back to my house to finish up the invitations. I finally finished them at 5 p.m., and then I set in to get some grading done, which I finished at about 8:30. Considering everything I had to do today, I knew I was not going to have a chance to get to the gym.

Breakfast: I wanted to have scrambled eggs with veggies, but we were out of eggs! (I need to go to the store!) so, I ate a Jimmy Dean 1/3 calorie breakfast sandwich. WW points=6

Lunch: Mongolian Barbeque Stir-Fry with shrimp and scallops, veggies and sweet and sour sauce and brown rice. Raspberry Lemonaide

Dinner: left-over stir-fry

Snack: apple with peanut butter

It would have been great if I would have just stopped eating there, but I did not. At about 8:30 p.m. I was soooooooo hungry so I threw a chicken quesadilla in the micro. I know that 'ruined' my day, but I have to allow myself every once in awhile.

All in all, I took in way too many calories (without even counting, I know for sure!) and I did not exercise today. We will see how tomorrow goes...it is the first day back at work for me since xmas break and I have grad class. My goal is to get up early and do the Shred and to go to the gym after class if I get out of class early.

Monday, January 5

I woke up this morning feeling better than yesterday- I'm really good at kicking a cold in the butt before it gets too far with me. Tons of Vitamin C, Zinc and Echinacea do it every time. I am feeling a little 'off' this morning, though. Wondering if I should try and complete the 30-Day Shred today or not. I have grad class later this afternoon, so going to the gym is not an option today with all the other wedding-related things I want to accomplish (and the blogging I have to do!!!)

I did end up doing the 30 Day Shred right before lunch. Now I'm feeling more like myself again!

Breakfast: instant organic oatmeal- 4 WW points
skim milk- 2 WW points
Matevana tea

Snack: blueberry and strawberry smoothie- 3 WW points

Lunch: tuna melt (on multigrain light English Muffin, no mayo, cheddar cheese)
celery sticks

Snack: apple, almonds, dried cranberries

Dinner: chicken quesadilla with avacado

I got all of my errands done for today- I was so happy because school is starting again on Wednesday. I started my new trimester of grad classes- we only had class for about 30 min and then I took advantage of getting out early and went to the gym where I did 25 minutes running and 10 minutes on the stairmaster. I hadn't done that in a loooooong time, I'm predicting sore legs tomorrow, especially after doing the Shred today, too!

Tomorrow is my first dress fitting! I can't wait! The big day will be here in no time...

Sunday, January 4

A mere 100 days from today I will put on my gorgeous wedding gown to be married to the man of my dreams on the beach in Riviera Maya, Mexico. My goal is that the gown will be placed on a slim, trim body and not my current flabby one!



Breakfast:
1/2 bran muffin-2 WW points
2 cups of MateVana tea (I LOVE Teavana teas!)
Emergen-C Vitamin Water
Yoplait light yogurt-2 WW points



Lunch:
6-inch Subway sandwich w/ wheat bread, veggies, vinegar & oil, cheese- 6 WW points



Dinner:
I was talked into going to Panera Bread because we had been out registering and we were starving.

1 cup low fat Chicken Noodle soup- 2 WW points
1/2 tomato motzarella panini (I am going to look up nutrition info for this- I'm nervous... 8 WW points, not as bad as I thought it would be, but not great!)

Snack:
1 small apple with low-fat peanut butter- 3 WW points

Total WW points: 23...not bad for a Sunday when I was feeling crappy!



Exercise: Today I was not able to exercise because I feel run-down, as if I am about to get a cold (please-NO! because then I will be 'on the bench' for a few days!)

Getting started

I've decided to create a weight loss blog because apparently the idea of journaling my diet and exercise has not been enough to TRULY motivate me. Perhaps the thought of the whole world having access to my diet and exercise (or lack thereof) will light a fire under me.

A little over a year ago I began to be very strict with my diet and running almost 4-5 days a week. I was able to shed all the weight I gained while completing my first master's program in no time. I lost 20 pounds total. It came to a point where I had to take all of my pants to be taken in because none of them stayed up on my waist! It was hard work, but the weight fell off easily. I even achieved a personal best of running a 5K in 28 minutes!

Somewhere between Summer and Fall, however, I began to slowly put the weight back on. I am no where near my original weight (I still fit into all my 'skinny' pants) but, if I let myself go any more, I will no longer fit into them. I fell out of my diet and exercise regimine for a number of different reasons- perhaps because I began a second master's program, started a new job that really keeps me on my toes, or maybe because I simply began allowing myself to get away with eating improperly or not exercising some days.

Whatever the reason, I have to get on the diet train because my wedding in Mexico is exactly 100 days from today! The idea of spending 9 days in a swim suit is quite motivational for me, as is the idea of looking at all of those wedding photos that will engrave the memories of the most important day of my life. So, today the journey begins. I will record everything I eat as well as how much I exercise from now until the wedding. This blog is more about keeping myself accountable than anything else, but if I earn some occasional readers or followers along the way- great! Here we go...