Meal Plan for January 26, 2014

We have been eating a ton of soups lately!  This weather really dictates it! 

Meal Plan for January 26, 2014

Sunday: LO

Monday:  LO

Tuesday: Macaroni and Cheese

Wednesday: LO

Thursday: Fish

Friday: LO

Saturday: White Bean Chicken Chili

Week 3: The art of saying no

Challenge Week 3

Food or the image of food is everywhere.  It isn't easy sticking to your guns.  It is especially hard when you are on a diet.  Suddenly, the whole world is eating pizza and sweets.  Every.  Single.  Day.  I just glance at them and my metabolism slows to a crawl.  

Then there are the enablers out there.  Your mom, friends, etc.  It just means having more willpower on my part.  Learning to say no to these enablers is really hard.  Of course, I want whatever yummy treat you are offering but I don't need that yummy treat!  

So far my willpower is holding out and I know that one day I will say yes to the yummy treat.  I just need to remember that saying yes once in awhile isn't the end of the world.  I chose to have Chick-fil-a over the weekend.  I weighed my choices and ended up getting what I wanted rather than something that wouldn't have hit the spot.  That craving was satisfied and I can move on.  After the first week of wanting to eat every morsel of food in sight, I don't feel that excruciating hunger anymore.    

The hardest part of weight loss is the food choices but deprivation isn't going to work either.  The goal is to find that happy medium.  I know this is something I am going to work at each day.   

This week was a great success for me.  I lost 5 lbs.  New weight of 261.2    

Here is to the trials of next week! 

 

 

Meal Plan Week of January 19. 2014

I really suck at updating from home.  I try to stay off the computer and don't like blogging from the ipad.  Here is this week's menu....

Meal plan for week January 12, 2014       

Sunday: LO

Monday:  LO

Tuesday: Jambalya with turkey sausage

Wednesday: LO

Thursday: Cornish Hens

Friday: Fish

Saturday: Taco Soup

Week 2: The week when having a cold and being a girl suck

Challenge - Week 2

On the Biggest Loser, week 2 is notoriously a tricky week.  It never fails that the trainers are baffled by the results.  It is always a difficult week mentally and physically for the contestants.  Our group fell right into sync with the craziness that is week 2.  Some of us had a fantastic week and some of us struggled.  

I was a good mix of both.  I struggled physically.  My body was tired and it took a bunch of effort to even get to the gym.  On the other hand, I had success and lost 3.2 pounds.  New weight 266.2 and total 12.6 lbs.  

I know why I was tried and dragging....a cold and that awful bitch, Aunt Flo.  I am just now with the help of medicine feeling better and luckily Flo has stopped.  But man, did both of these whammy my motivation to workout.  My long run on Sunday felt like I was running through quicksand in the arctic (there was a bunch of ice covered snow).  I guess the good part is I did it and most of my other workouts for the week.  I can't say I had that euphoric moment of "heck yeah, I feel great" but I definitely felt better than lying on the couch in self pity.  I just made up for it by sleeping...a lot!  

I feel like I have been doing a pretty great job with diet.  I again tracked everything this past week.  We stuck to the meal plan except for one night of ordering Jimmy Johns.  I had plenty of calories remaining to even get bacon.   It really is the little pleasures when you are trying to be good.  I even went to a happy hour with co-workers and neither drank nor ate any of the yummy goodness.  It was torture but the wonderful conversations made it easier to withhold.  

I find even this early in the challenge that doing this with my girls is way better than alone.  I know as the weeks go on and I am more into training mode and less in the I need to lose weigh mode, they will keep me motivated to try and accomplish both.  That is really my challenge; to lose weight and training for half marathons.  However, I really need to drop some pounds before the double in May or that will be real torture!  I know that I can do it.  It will just take a bunch of discipline and shoulders to cry on!  

Until next week!  

Meal plan for week January 12, 2014       

Sunday: Pork Chops/couscous/veggies (squash,peppers)

Monday:  LO

Tuesday: Chicken & Dumplings in Crockpot

Wednesday: LO

Thursday: Fish

Friday: LO

Saturday: Salsa Chicken

Challenge - Week 1

The first week of our WL challenge has come to an end.  We all did well but realize there is a long way to go -- 11 weeks to be exact.  We can accomplish so much during this time and I can't wait to see what each of us can do. 

I made the decision to be all in this time.  In previous years of the gym's corporate challenge, I gave up after the first couple of weeks.  I had little motivation to succeed or a reason to keep going.  It feels very different to be in a challenge with some of your best friends.  We can support and motivate each other to succeed.  We all understand exactly what the other girl is thinking or feeling.  There is nothing more encouraging than tackling this battle with your girls.  

I was talking with my friend and workout buddy last night about my reluctance to share my weight with the group.  I wanted to control the spreadsheet because that way I wouldn't have to tell them.  I ended up sharing but I hated it.  I realized the reason is because I have failed myself and I've failed those I care about (including these girls).  I conquered this mountain once and I was embarrassed that I was having to do it again.  I gained 80 pounds in a year-ish.  Who does that?  Especially someone who runs half marathons and works out.  The answer: a person who actually struggled through half marathons and ate whatever the hell she wanted.  My diet choices had flown out the window.  I didn't want to cook or take care of any of those mundane details anymore.  I wanted life to be easy.  And sadly, the bad choices are usually much easier.  In addition, my job had gotten super stressful and I was barely treading water.  The stress from that hectic study was alleviated so I am starting to feel more like my old self again.  I can do this and I need to do this. 

 My starting weight was 278.8 pounds.  Yikes.  It actually feels good to put it out there.    

The first week went really well for me.  I planned out meals through March (long reason for this).  I tracked my food.  I cooked.  I measured.  I exercised and tried to reach my step goal.  I even drank water (not nearly what I should but some is better than nothing).

I lost 9.4 pounds!  

That is a pretty good start to this challenge.  Here's to Week 2.              
 

Meal Planning for Week January 1, 2014 and January 5, 2014

January 1 -  I planned meals to start on Wednesday. 

Here is the menu for this week: 

Wednesday: Chili 

Thursday: Fish

Friday: LO

Saturday: Tortilla Soup

January 5

Here is the menu for this week: 

Sunday: LO

Monday:  LO

Tuesday: Chicken & Rice in Crockpot

Wednesday: LO

Thursday: Fish

Friday: LO

Saturday: Taco Soup

I need to ease into this eating and cooking thing.  We haven't planned meals and our house since um, well I can't remember!  I think the first success was sitting down and planning out three months of meals! 

2014 Here we go....

Welcome to 2014!  That seems weird not sure why...but I digress.  Today marks the start of our group weight loss challenge!  I have some great and amazing girlfriends that need encouragement from all who read this entry!  Feel free to comment here or on whichever social media outlet got you here! 

Today was weigh-in day.  We probably all had to force ourselves on and off the scale.  I know I made myself re-do it about 10 times.  I was shocked at how much weight I had gained.  Wow!

The good news is that all changes now.  We have all lapsed and we have all had weight loss success.  As a group we can't help but succeed!  

Personally, I did my first workout to motivate me.  I ran 4.33 miles (pacing).  It was rough with an ankle that is cranky but I did it! 

I can't wait to see what the next 12 weeks bring!  

Girls, let's kill some fat cells!!!