Phase 1 of the diet ends today and I am down 7 pounds. It's pretty good considering there was no exercise and I cheated yesterday. I'm due for my period and my body was craving more food and in particular, chocolate and carbs. So I had a little pasta salad I had made over the weekend and a few chocolate chip cookies that I had baked.
I joined a gym last night, Planet Fitness. It just opened up nearby and it's only $10 a month with no commitment. The drawback is for that really low rate, it doesn't offer childcare so I'm stuck going to the gym after Lou gets home from work and if last night was any indication (I was there around 8:15 p.m.), that's peak workout time! They were very crowded in there. I'm going to either try to work something out with a sitter during the little one's naps or go closer to 9 in the evenings to avoid the crowds.
So I'm supposed to start Phase 2 today but I really haven't planned for it so the hubby (who is down 11 pounds by the way) and I have decided to continue on Phase 1 today until we've had a chance to plan some meal ideas based on what's allowed in the next phase.
More in a couple of days...
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Diet - Day 5
I've taken a few days off from posting but it's not because I haven't been following the diet. Diet is going well, though I have been cheating. I've been getting on the scale each morning to see my progress. At Day 5, I'm down 7 pounds. I'm really happy about that. I haven't worked in any exercise yet but I imagine my weight loss would be even higher had I been exercising those 5 days as well. I need to find the motivation and time to work it in.
I tried one of the recipes in the book, Vigorous Vegetable Soup. It was VERY good, easy to make and definitely did not feel like I was on a diet eating it. I plan on trying a few of the other recipes as well.
I tried one of the recipes in the book, Vigorous Vegetable Soup. It was VERY good, easy to make and definitely did not feel like I was on a diet eating it. I plan on trying a few of the other recipes as well.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Diet - Day 2
The rest of day 1 went pretty well. We had some steamed broccoli over plain brown rice, a salad with a little bit of olive oil and lemon dressing, and some roasted red peppers, again very little olive oil. It was actually quite satisfying. It's funny what bad habits try to creep up though. For example, I had made baked chicken tenders and french fries for the kids. And while I was plating it for them, it normally would have just been habit for me to take a couple of fries for myself. Later in the evening, my husband was giving an arrowroot cookie to our youngest and again, habit for him would have been to take one for himself. We both resisted - it was a conscious effort but hopefully it won't be so much of an effort going forward.
This morning, I took advantage of my 4 egg whites a day and made an omelet with red and yellow peppers and red onions. I could have eaten a fruit too but was too busy with the kids to get something else for myself. Now it's time for my snack and I'm ready for it!
I didn't consume any water at all yesterday, so I want to do better with that today. I'm used to drinking a lot of seltzer, instead of water, but I don't think that's allowed on the plan, at least not in this stage.
This morning, I took advantage of my 4 egg whites a day and made an omelet with red and yellow peppers and red onions. I could have eaten a fruit too but was too busy with the kids to get something else for myself. Now it's time for my snack and I'm ready for it!
I didn't consume any water at all yesterday, so I want to do better with that today. I'm used to drinking a lot of seltzer, instead of water, but I don't think that's allowed on the plan, at least not in this stage.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Diet - Day 1
Well it's a week since my last post and ask me how many times I went walking? Yep, you guessed it... nada! I always start with good intentions and then, I quit on myself. I'm hoping this new diet sticks. Today, my husband and I are starting the Fat Smash Diet, by Dr. Ian Smith. The first phase, which lasts 9 days, consists of eating fruits and veggies (except white potatoes and avocados), egg whites, brown rice, low fat yogurt, and milk - either lowfat, soy or skim. It also recommends eating every 3 hours or so. Yesterday, we went food shopping and bought loads of vegetables and I've spent a good deal of the morning washing and preparing them. I also bought a scale yesterday.
This morning, we both weighed ourselves. We both know roughly how much the other weighs but we still did it in private. Right now, I am at the highest weight I've ever been (not being pregnant). It frustrates and disgusts me, especially to think that I was about 30 pounds lighter last summer. Wow, can that be really true? I gained 30 pounds in less than a year? That is disgusting. But I can't allow myself to dwell on that fact or I'll quit right now. I need to stay positive and focused on what I am doing now.
I started off with a good breakfast: a slice of cantaloup, a 6 oz container of fat free yogurt, and half a red grapefuit. For my second meal, I had four boiled egg whites with a 1tbsp of extra virgin olive oil, half a raw yellow pepper and about 10 baby carrots, and 5 strawberries and a handful of blueberries and blackberries. It's going well so far; I'm a little hungry but let's face it - I'm on a diet!! I can't expect to feel full, and besides, I'll be eating again in just 3 hours. I'm planning to make a bean salad (I can use up to 3tbsp of virgin olive oil), brown rice with steamed veggies for dinner, and I could also have another 6 oz container of yogurt if I'm still hungry. And I also can much on carrots, apples, oranges, and pineapple.
The second part is getting in some exercise. With the kids being home from school this week, I definitely will be spending more time outdoors but it can't be considered exercise as I'll be walking at their pace, not a brisk walk. I'll try to work in some exercising when my husband gets home from work in the evenings. (That sounds very uncommittal, even to myself, but right now I can't promise more).
After the 9 days is up, we can weigh ourselves again and start with Phase II of the diet, which introduces some meats and fish. That phase will then last for 3 weeks. I'm trying not to even think much about that phase, instead I'm concentrating on the first nine days, getting through that.
I really wasn't sure which direction this online diary was going to take but I could definitely see myself using it to record my progress and vent my frustrations. Of course, I don't want to spend too much time online as that requires too much sitting on my ass and not enough exercising!!!
This morning, we both weighed ourselves. We both know roughly how much the other weighs but we still did it in private. Right now, I am at the highest weight I've ever been (not being pregnant). It frustrates and disgusts me, especially to think that I was about 30 pounds lighter last summer. Wow, can that be really true? I gained 30 pounds in less than a year? That is disgusting. But I can't allow myself to dwell on that fact or I'll quit right now. I need to stay positive and focused on what I am doing now.
I started off with a good breakfast: a slice of cantaloup, a 6 oz container of fat free yogurt, and half a red grapefuit. For my second meal, I had four boiled egg whites with a 1tbsp of extra virgin olive oil, half a raw yellow pepper and about 10 baby carrots, and 5 strawberries and a handful of blueberries and blackberries. It's going well so far; I'm a little hungry but let's face it - I'm on a diet!! I can't expect to feel full, and besides, I'll be eating again in just 3 hours. I'm planning to make a bean salad (I can use up to 3tbsp of virgin olive oil), brown rice with steamed veggies for dinner, and I could also have another 6 oz container of yogurt if I'm still hungry. And I also can much on carrots, apples, oranges, and pineapple.
The second part is getting in some exercise. With the kids being home from school this week, I definitely will be spending more time outdoors but it can't be considered exercise as I'll be walking at their pace, not a brisk walk. I'll try to work in some exercising when my husband gets home from work in the evenings. (That sounds very uncommittal, even to myself, but right now I can't promise more).
After the 9 days is up, we can weigh ourselves again and start with Phase II of the diet, which introduces some meats and fish. That phase will then last for 3 weeks. I'm trying not to even think much about that phase, instead I'm concentrating on the first nine days, getting through that.
I really wasn't sure which direction this online diary was going to take but I could definitely see myself using it to record my progress and vent my frustrations. Of course, I don't want to spend too much time online as that requires too much sitting on my ass and not enough exercising!!!
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Saturday in the park
Today started off iffy in terms of the weather, but now, at 5:00, it's absolutely gorgeous! Sun is out and it's about 70 degrees. I love this type of weather! The whole family went outside - the kids rode their bikes and their scooters, even my youngest went for a ride in his little car.
We know it's Spring in my neighborhood when we start seeing our neighbors out with their kids after hibernating all winter. It's good to get out and talk and see what everyone's been up to. (Ok so some may call it being nosy) One of my neighbors invited me to take a walk with her - not a leisurely one but an active walk for some exercise. I was embarrassed how out of breath I was and a bit slower than she as well, but if I can get past the embarrassment, I have to say I enjoyed it. The conversation was good and just getting out and exercising felt so good. She said we could do it more often and also work on building up my stamina so we can go further than we did today. I've had those offers in the past and usually turned them down, embarrassed by how out of shape I am. But I'm going to try to really take her up on it this time. It'd be easy to go three times a week on the days my other two children are in school. Wow, just walking three days a week would be such an improvement over what I'm doing now, which is NOTHING. I'll give her a call on Monday - it may be a bit late to lose a significant amount of weight before the summer but even 20 pounds by June would be wonderful!
We know it's Spring in my neighborhood when we start seeing our neighbors out with their kids after hibernating all winter. It's good to get out and talk and see what everyone's been up to. (Ok so some may call it being nosy) One of my neighbors invited me to take a walk with her - not a leisurely one but an active walk for some exercise. I was embarrassed how out of breath I was and a bit slower than she as well, but if I can get past the embarrassment, I have to say I enjoyed it. The conversation was good and just getting out and exercising felt so good. She said we could do it more often and also work on building up my stamina so we can go further than we did today. I've had those offers in the past and usually turned them down, embarrassed by how out of shape I am. But I'm going to try to really take her up on it this time. It'd be easy to go three times a week on the days my other two children are in school. Wow, just walking three days a week would be such an improvement over what I'm doing now, which is NOTHING. I'll give her a call on Monday - it may be a bit late to lose a significant amount of weight before the summer but even 20 pounds by June would be wonderful!
Thursday, April 3, 2008
First post
So this is supposed to be my first post and I'm thinking about it way too hard. I'm stumped as to what to write! I'm trying to be clever and witty, well-written and intelligent. I need to just let it flow - the reason I started this blog was just to have a venue to lay out my thoughts, compose my ideas, maybe understand more about myself. A diary, where I can be honest, raw and uncensored (hence the adult warning.)
A quick summary of my life at this point: I'm 33, living in the suburbs of New York City with my husband of 10 years and my three children. I've had an interesting but not overly dynamic career in marketing and publishing. After the birth of my first child, I stayed home for about four years, in which time I had a second child. I went back into marketing/publishing in 2004 and stayed there until 2007 and I'm back home again with my third child. I'm not sure where I'm going next. I've started a small company to manage while I'm home with the kids and while I would love for it to grow into something major, in reality, I don't believe that that will happen. Pessimist? Maybe; or maybe just a realist.
Most days, I'm consumed with taking care of my kids, doing stuff around the house like cooking and cleaning. I love when my house looks clean and organized but I hate doing it, partly because we have so much "stuff" and not enough room in our house for it all. So it gets frustrating trying to find a home for everything and then I sometimes rather not deal with it at all. Other times, like this past weekend, I get a boost of energy and having a good cleaning session. My daughter's room was the lucky recipient of that boost.
I've struggle with my weight for most of my life. I had such terrible self esteem in high school and now I look at those pictures and die to look like that again. I was gorgeous! I think I still have it in me, I just haven't been able to commit to bringing it out. I don't have the will and the energy to stick with diet and exercise. Diet and exercise is hard and boring, booooooooooo. But I hate living my life like this so something is going to have to give.
Right now, my daughter is home from school early with a fever. I'm off to attend to her.
A quick summary of my life at this point: I'm 33, living in the suburbs of New York City with my husband of 10 years and my three children. I've had an interesting but not overly dynamic career in marketing and publishing. After the birth of my first child, I stayed home for about four years, in which time I had a second child. I went back into marketing/publishing in 2004 and stayed there until 2007 and I'm back home again with my third child. I'm not sure where I'm going next. I've started a small company to manage while I'm home with the kids and while I would love for it to grow into something major, in reality, I don't believe that that will happen. Pessimist? Maybe; or maybe just a realist.
Most days, I'm consumed with taking care of my kids, doing stuff around the house like cooking and cleaning. I love when my house looks clean and organized but I hate doing it, partly because we have so much "stuff" and not enough room in our house for it all. So it gets frustrating trying to find a home for everything and then I sometimes rather not deal with it at all. Other times, like this past weekend, I get a boost of energy and having a good cleaning session. My daughter's room was the lucky recipient of that boost.
I've struggle with my weight for most of my life. I had such terrible self esteem in high school and now I look at those pictures and die to look like that again. I was gorgeous! I think I still have it in me, I just haven't been able to commit to bringing it out. I don't have the will and the energy to stick with diet and exercise. Diet and exercise is hard and boring, booooooooooo. But I hate living my life like this so something is going to have to give.
Right now, my daughter is home from school early with a fever. I'm off to attend to her.
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