It’s been a while…

So I’m finally back after taking a 2-month blogging break!

The reason for the break:

I’m pregnant!!

My due date is July 11th and we will find out on February 10th whether we are having a little boy or a little girl.

The Bad News:

Since I’ve become pregnant I have let all my good eating and exercise habits go out the window.  I’m certain I’ve gained more weight than I should (I’m a little scared to step on the scale nowadays) and I’m definitely out of shape.  I’ve been eating the way I did before I started losing weight: way too much fast food, junk food, and convenience food and not nearly enough of the good stuff.

So I thought I’d stop by the blog again and review some of the stuff I used to eat in hopes that it would help me get a little more motivated.   This unhealthy stuff has gone on long enough. I am receiving WIC and some food stamps so I will be going to the store soon, hopefully tomorrow, to finally stock up on some good healthy stuff again.  Not sure if I’ll be taking pics of everything again but hopefully I can start posting on here and being a little more accountable.  I’m sure I won’t be nearly as strict as I was before but if I can get at least one or two healthier meals in most days, that will be a big step in the right direction.  I have a couple of prenatal workout DVDs that I can start doing and I’m going to try to get back in the habit of drinking more water.

So, that’s what has been going on with me.  I’m very excited about this little one and I can’t wait to meet him or her.  I’m really hoping to get back to my healthy habits so I can teach this child the right things from the start.  I want them to have a healthy relationship with food and not be obese their whole life like I was (and still am).  So I guess now is as good a time as any to start.  I know it’s not going to be easy after being out of practice for 2.5 months, but I’ll try to do the best I can.

Hiatus.

Just wanted to say that I’ll be taking a break for a little while. I’ve got a bunch of stuff going on at the moment. But don’t delete that bookmark just yet because I’ll probably be back in a few week after things calm down a bit.

MIA

Sorry I haven’t been around much lately. I have just sort of been taking a blog break for a little while.

I have been doing pretty good lately but could definitely be doing a little better with my diet and with getting more exercise. I am still losing weight. I was down to 185.5 this morning, but I can definitely tell I am becoming flabbier and less toned than I was, so I need to get back to getting more cardio and hopefully adding some strength training in.

We will be spending this weekend in Owensboro and then I will probably be starting my new job next week. Hopefully I will be getting back into the swing of things next week and get back to posting more regularly. In the mean time I hope you have a happy Halloween!

Wrong Way

That’s the direction I’m headed in right now.

Sunday was not a good day for my diet and exercise.  Not horrible, but definitely not good.

It’s not  a good sign when you start the day with a buttery, high sugar apple crisp for breakfast:

My mom and dad got this Mug’ems thing as a gift.  It is the cobbler ingredients in a mug with instructions on how to make it.  Mymom let me have it since she doesn’t cook at all.  So I thought it would be a yummy fall breakfast.  And it was!!  This was about half of the whole cobbler.
My mid morning snack was a Blueberry Chobs:

Lunch was a good old standby – Lean Cuisine Sweet and Sour Chicken:

I made a Sunday afternoon Walmart run for just a couple of things.  The only thing I ended up getting that was not on my list was an old favorite that I haven’t had in quite a while – Mediterranean Terra Exotic Root Vegetable Chips

These became my afternoon snack:

I’ve really missed these guys and their salty, crunchy deliciousness!  I’m pretty sure these are my favorite chips.

I had intended to go for a long walk in the afternoon but I was incredibly tired.  I ended up taking an hour long nap instead.  It was a DEEP sleep but I woke up super refreshed and ready to cook dinner.

I used my own recipe to make a really yummy turkey veggie meatloaf.  I used some of the roasted veggies I had cooked yesterday and mixed them into some lean ground turkey.  I also added some Ragu sauce, egg whites and panko breadcrumbs.  The result was delicious:

This was about half of the loaf.  My favorite way to eat this is with greek yogurt for dipping.  Talk about a protein-packed dinner!  I’m sure the other half of this loaf will be eaten tomorrow.

So really, except for the not walking thing, I hadn’t done too poorly for the day by this point.  But later in the evening, even though I wasn’t really that hungry, I gave in to the urge to eat.  I ended up eating:

• the rest of the leftover apple crisp
• a Chocolate Jello Mousse Temptations
• about 1/6 of Bobby’s Jimmy Dean Sausage Egg and Cheese Croissant that he didn’t finish.

I went to bed feeling kind of fat and bloated and generally not great about what I had just eaten.  Considering how I had done yesterday,  I seriously thought about not weighing in this morning.  But I wanted to know what damage I had done so I did anyway. And I was actually down another pound from yesterday!!!  I can’t believe it and I have no idea how I pulled that one off but I’m not complaining!  Now maybe if I can make some better choices this week I can build some more momentum again!

A Chilly Chili Saturday

I had a lovely lazy Fall Saturday. How about you?

I had the usual bowl of cereal to break my fast - Kashi Heart to Heart Warm Cinnamon Oat:

And a plum:

I started getting peckish again around 11 so I downed a couple of Sunsweet Prunes.

I didn’t want to eat too much, though, because I was heading out to Vettiner Park here in Louisville to meet some people from my SparkPeople Louisville Loser’s team for a chili potluck.  Despite the fact that it was freezing due to the blustery winds, we had a great time and I met some really nice people!  I did probably eat a little too much chili, though.  I forgot to take pics, but this is what I had:

• 1 small bowl of each of the 3 kinds of chili.  They were all delicious!!
• A little bit of Smart Balance Sour Cream in each bowl.  I didn’t even know Smart Balance made sour cream, but it was really thick and delicious!
• about 5 saltine crackers
• 2 small pieces of cheese
• Some baby carrots, celery, and cherry tomatoes with a little bit of Sabra Roasted Red Pepper Hummus.  I’m not a big hummus fan, but I liked this a lot better than the plain stuff.  I still wouldn’t buy it for myself, though.

The chili picnic was pretty much the only thing I did all day besides stay at home and chill with the hubby.  Pretty uneventful, but relaxing.  These days will come to an end soon enough though since I am about to start work.

The chili kept me full for quite a while but eventually I did get a little hungry again.  I figured I would make it an all veg dinner so I roasted up a huge tray of red and green peppers, onions, zucchini and squash.  I had a little bit of the roasted veggies alongside a sweet potato with Smart Balance and cinnamon and a little Chobani 0% on the side.

This too kept me very full and I could have gone to bed later without eating anything else but I had to have another small bowl of my new favorite ice cream: Edy’s Spumoni.  I’m already doing a terrible job at making this stuff last.

Delicious.

Mmmm….Pizza (and Ice Cream!)

So let me tell you about my day.  It began with a lovely bowl of Kashi Heart to Heart Warm Cinnamon Oat cereal with 1% milk:

And some grapes:

.

Today was a school day for the husband so I made it a gym day for me as well.  I decided to prevent the frustration that I knew a lousy run would eventually bring and just use the elliptical instead.  I did 43 minutes but took it a little easier than usual.  I ended up doing 3.32 miles and burning (according to the machine) 453 calories.

We ran home for lunch, which was some more of the yummy Imagine Organic Light in Sodium Sweet Potato Soup with a little Chobani 0% greek yogurt mixed in for protein:

And on the side I had a lovely piece of Ezekiel Low Sodium toast with Sargento Light Ricotta and honey:

.

Then it was off to school again and while he was in class I had a (not pictured) Tall Skinny Decaf Cinnamon Dolce Latte from Starbucks and a very short cat nap in the car.  After class I took Bobby to a doctor’s appointment which was surprisingly short!  Love it when that happens.

I was starving when we got home and had a snack of 7 Kashi Heart to Heart Roasted Garlic Whole Grain crackers and a Meijer brand Light String Cheese:

.

I needed to pick up some things from Walmart for a picnic I am going to tomorrow so I headed there.  I also felt like doing some impulse shopping and had a little bit of cash in my pocket to burn so I picked up some junk food for the husband, some kiwis and plums, a yogurt cup, some chicken breasts and ground turkey, a container of ice cream, and some Jello Mousse Temptations.

After the store I was still feeling a little munchy so I snacked on some totally random things:  2 garlic croutons, half an orange Twizzler and 3/4 of a plum.  Then I ordered dinner.

Earlier I had thought about how we have not ordered a single pizza since we moved to Louisville over 2 months ago and figured it might be time.  The idea came to me when we passed a pizza place very close to our neighborhood on the way home from the doctor’s office.  Originally I had decided it would just be a treat for Bobby and I would stick to the dinner I had already planned.  But later I thought what the heck and decided to have a slice or two for dinner.

So we ended up getting a large pepperoni pizza from Borromeo’s Pizza after reading several reviews saying it was the best pizza in town.  After trying it, I can tell you those reviews are wrong!  It wasn’t bad, but I’ve certainly had better pizza in Owensboro and if this is the best Louisville has to offer, then that would make me kind of sad.

I ended up having one whole slice and a couple of the Bobby’s crusts.  I’m the designated crust eater.  I feel that the crust is a very crucial part of the pizza.  And this crust did not really help the pizza that much.  It was too thick and chewy and lacked any flavor.  It made the pizza very heavy and filling.  The pizza could have used less cheese, less grease, and more sauce.  It wasn’t bad but I’m glad I only had one slice since it was VERY filling and I didn’t LOVE it.

The pizza slice kept me full all night and I could have skipped my usual evening snack(s) but I couldn’t wait to try the ice cream I bought earlier.

It was Edy’s Spumoni Ice Cream

and it was SOOOO GOOD!!  This is officially my favorite flavor of ice cream now (although I didn’t really have a favorite to begin with). Chocolate, cherry and pistachio ice cream together in perfect harmony.   This was my serving size:

I think it was definitely more than 1/2 cup but hopefully less than 1 cup.  My only problem is that now I have the container of this in my freezer beckoning me.  But I shall resist the temptation and make it last as long as I can.

I went to bed last night pretty full and extremely satisfied.

Right Direction

I think I’m headed in the right direction again.  Yesterday I did some things right again!! Finally.  I drank 72 oz. of water, exercised and ate well.  And apparently my body (and the scale) liked it because I’m down to 188.5 today!! I’ve finally recovered from last weekend!!  I think I can still make my goal of 185 by November 4.  That’s 3.5 pounds in 12 days.  If I stay on track I could make it!

Yesterday was so unproductive!! I don’t think I actually went anywhere, to be honest.  I did go outside for a walk/jog, but that’s about it.

Here’s the rundown.

B-fast:

Honey Bunches of Oats with Chocolate Clusters and half a peach (not pictured).

AM Snack:

LUNA bar – S’mores

Lunch:

This is the last of my leftover quinoa I made with garlic, olive oil, zucchini, squash, and onions.  I threw some grilled chicken in it today and sprinkled a little Old Bay on top.  It was yummy.

PM Snack:

4 Sunsweet Prunes

Dinner:

Repeat of yesterday’s dinner, but bigger.  Salad greens with grilled chicken, 1 whole peach, sliced and grilled, grapes, almonds, dried cranberries and walnuts and some more of Ken’s Raspberry Walnut Vinaigrette spray.

Dessert:

Peach Chobani plus 3 Dove Dark Chocolate Promises

Yesterday afternoon I went for another attempted run, jogged 15 minutes and then walked another 35.  This is apparently my new routine.  I started jogging uphill around the 15 minute mark and my news were apparently not happy about that, so I stopped and walked.  It is so hard for me to run again after I stop once.  I lose all of my momentum.  I keep telling myself that I will be able to build my running stamina back up eventually, so I don’t worry about it for now.  I’m just focusing on my weight loss and as long as I’m doing something active and still losing, I’m okay with that.

Lost Week

I wish the title of this post referred to a week full of events related to the hit ABC series LOST (Only 3 months ’til it returns!!) but sadly it refers to the past seven days of my weight loss.  Over the last week I had gained 2 pounds and then lost 1.5.  I’m back down to 190 as of this morning.

I’m feeling a little better though.  I’m ready to forget about my poor exercise and less than perfect diet this past week and concentrate on making my way through the 180′s. I need to start working out a little harder and more consistently now and drink more water.  I’m going to fill up my water bottle right now.

Hang on a sec…

Okay I’m back.

Here’s what I ate yesterday.

I started early, like 3:30 AM.  I had woken up and couldn’t go back to sleep and I was starving so I had

• 6 grapes
• 1/2 a Weight Watchers String Cheese
• 3 Sunsweet Prunes

Breakfast was Chocolate Honey Bunches of Oats with 1% milk and a kiwi (skin on, of course):

I finally made it back to the school’s gym and had some treadmill time.  Again I started running and ended up walking, but I did better than I have been.  I think I ran for close to 20 minutes.  I ended up doing 3 miles in 43 minutes.

Lunch was in prepared quickly and ended up being salad and yogurt:

This was salad greens with some dried cranberries and cherries, almonds, pistachios and some of Ken’s Lite Accents Raspberry Walnut Vinaigrette Spray (only 1 cal. per spray!).

And some plain Oikos with Kashi GoLEAN Crunch and honey.

My afternoon snack was a Fage Total with Honey.  These were a manager’s special on sale for 72 cents!  Of course the sell by date was two days ago but I had to get at least one for that price!  I knew I couldn’t let it sit in the fridge much longer either so I ate it became yesterday’s snack.

I got just a little bit creative for dinner.  I had a big salad with grilled chicken, grilled peach slices, grapes and almonds and some more vinaigrette.  It really could have used some walnuts and feta cheese.

Then I was still ravenous the rest of the evening.  After dinner I had 3 more prunes.  Then I had some Low Sodium Ezekiel toast with light ricotta and honey while watching SYTYCD.

Then I had 3 Dove Dark Chocolate Promises while watching Glee. Then I was still hungry and I can’t go to bed on an empty stomach so I had another kiwi.

I’m pretty sure I went a little bit over my calorie range yesterday, but that’s okay.  I usually don’t feel bad about it if I’ve chosen good foods and I only ate when I was hungry, which I did.

Not a bad day for the most part.

Feeling Blah…

I’m definitely in a plateau now.  Stuck around 190.5.  I am feeling bloated like I am retaining water and I just feel “fat” so I skipped weighing in this morning altogether.  My diet hasn’t really been that bad lately but my exercise has been severly lacking.  I said I was going for a run yesterday but it ended up being another walk.

So I’ll be going to the gym this morning to get some calorie burning in.  Great news though!! I may have a gym really close to home to go to in a couple of weeks!  There is an Anytime Fitness opening up less than 2 miles from our house!  I spoke with the owner yesterday and he said they’re having a special through the first week of November.  It’s a one year contract for $30 a month and a $30 joining fee.  This may be just what I need.  I really miss going to the gym every morning.  And maybe not being in a crowded college gym with a bunch of young weight lifting dudes will encourage me to use the weight machines!  I really need to do some strength training and get this show on the road.  I’m ready to get into the 180′s finally and this new gym might be just what I need, especially now that I’ll have even less time to work out with my new job.

So yesterday’s breakfast was a hot meal!

An egg white omelet with sauteed diced zucchini and onion, 1/2 a Weight Watchers String Cheese and seasoned with Garlic and Herb Old Bay.  And a piece of Ezekiel toast with Smart Balance Light Spread.

Lunch was a Lean Cuisine.  I finally tried out the Fiesta Grilled Chicken and wasn’t really a fan.  I added a little greek yogurt to the rice:

I didn’t really care for the sour cream sauce or the texture of the ckicken (kinda rubbery).

I went to Meijer in the afternoon since I was almost out of food and spent way too much on groceries but I got a couple of items I’m looking forward to trying.

Afternoon snack was a bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats with Chocolate Clusters and 1% milk.

Then I went for my attempted run but I gave up too easily on the running part.  I ended up walking for about 50 minutes, which is better than nothing I suppose.  The weather was nice at least.

Dinner was a bowl of Imagine Organic Light in Sodium Sweet Potato Soup with some plain Oikos mixed in for protein:

and a side of quinoa with sauteed diced veggies (zucchini, squash, onions) mixed in. This is a pic of some of it I ate the other day that had some tuna and Old Bay mixed in as well:

Dinner was pretty yummy!  I really enjoyed the soup.

Evening snacks were some Kozy Shack Simply Well Pear Mangosteen Pudding:

And 2 Sunsweet Prunes (not pictured), some Planters Nut-rition Healthy Digestion mix

and two Dove Dark Chocolate Promises:

Gotta run! I have to rush to get ready to leave now!!

Okay. I’m really back this time.

Hey guys!! Sorry it’s been a while.  I kind of got away from the blog for a little while!
So where to begin?  When I last left you I told you about my job interview on Thursday.  Well, I got the job!!  I will be working at Blockbuster beginning on October 28!!  I’m a little nervous just because I’ve really gotten used to having a lot of down time so it’ll be weird to have to work 20+ hours a week, but I think I’m ready for it.  And I’ll finally actually have a chance to meet some new people here in Louisville. Plus, free rentals!! I can watch movies again!

So I got the call with the job offer on Friday night while at David’s Bridal.  I went with one of my best friends who is getting married on August 7.  I have the honor of being a bridesmaid (it’ll just be my 2nd time!) and I’m excited.  I got to try on some dresses and all the 18′s were too big!  I think it’s safe to say I’m officially a size 16!  I even bought a pair of size 16 jeans from the Misses’ section this weekend and they fit great! Woo Hoo!

Unfortunately I allowed myself a couple too many indulgences over the weekend, primarily in the form of mexican food.  On Friday night my friend and I split an order of fajitas that were awesome!  I had just a little sour cream on mine and a couple of chips and salsa.  It wasn’t too bad, but I’m sure it was way more fat and sodium than I needed.  Saturday night we went to Tumbleweed and I had the Ancho Lime Tilapia with rice, skillet veggies, and cornbread.  I boxed half of my meal right away and took it home. I ended up eating it for lunch on Sunday.  It was another really good meal, but again it was too much in the fat and sodium department. Other than these meals I didn’t do too bad.  I think the things that have been getting me in trouble are my lack of exercise and my poor water intake.

My exercise has been anything but noteworthy since I last posted.  Saturday morning I attempted a run and ran about 14 minutes before walking and I only did about 20 something minutes total.  But I was feeling guilty about that so later that morning I ended up doing the Wii Fit and got about 28 minutes of actual exercises in.  It left me sore!! My left calf is still sore from it today!  Last night I knew I needed to do something and it was pretty nice out so I decided to go for a walk.  I ended up doing about 3.35 miles in about 45 minutes.  I didn’t really pay attention to the time.  I did get the urge to run once Queen’s “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Me Now” (I don’t know if that’s the actual title or not) came on my MP3 player, so I did.  I only did about 7 minutes because I was not properly dressed (I was wearing jeans and a sweatshirt) and I didn’t want to risk chafing or anything.  But it felt great!! I’m definitely going for a run today!

I seriously need to get back on track! I haven’t gotten that far off track, really.  But I’ve gained 1 pound over the last 4 days when normally I would have lost 1.5 pounds. So yeah.  Not too happy about it but I’m going to get the scale moving again in the right direction.  I’m going back to basics.  My plan is to:

• Drink enough water!!! I have really been sucking at this lately!

• Track everything in the food tracker!!!

• Eat in the middle to upper part of my calorie range!!

• Exercise every day (except occasional rest days)!! 40 minutes of cardio minimum and strength moves 3 times a week!!

I’m only 6 pounds away from no longer being obese and I’d like to get there by Nov. 4th.  So that’s 2 weeks, which is totally doable! But I better get moving if I’m going to do it.  It’s time to get back in the swing of things!