Reality

Here is my diet plan:
Wake up, 30 minutes of cardio right away
24 oz of water
Wait one hour
Meal One
4 egg whites
1/4 Plain oatmeal
24oz of water
Wait three hours
Meal Two
4oz chicken (boneless, skinless)
4 oz sweet potatoes or yams (not canned)
24 oz water
Wait Three Hours
Meal Three
1 can white albacor tuna
1/2 cup greens (broccoli or spinach)
24 oz water
Wait Three Hours
Meal Four
4 oz chicken (boneless, skinless)
1/2 cup greens (broccoli or spinach)
24 oz water
Wait Three Hours
Meal Five
4 oz lean ground beef
24 oz water

-Take vitamins and calcium chews before bed
-If hungry in between meals, drink more water or chew sugarless gum
-May only add Splenda, Cinnamon, Garlic, Onions, Salt, Pepper, Vinegar, Parkay butter spray, Original Pam or Olive Oil
-May have UNsweetened tea with Splenda or Lemon Water


Now... for anyone who has dieted you know that most diets try to incorporate flavors you like and enjoy with portion control and exercise combined. This is basically a crash diet. It is not fun. When you begin the diet, your body goes through a complete detox (NOT fun). The smell of absolutely any food (peanut butter, sausage, etc.) WILL drive you NUTS. Even with adding the allowed flavor enhancements the food is still bland at best. I started and am continuing this diet because I am the type of person who does not have time to count calories, bake thorough meals and I need guidelines to keep me disciplined.

The person who gave me this diet information lost 70 pounds in four months. Correct me if I'm wrong but that would be an average of a little less than 5 pounds a week. I was told that if following this diet correctly, one should loss 10-15 pounds a week.

My first week on this diet was a complete failure. I lacked discipline all together and did not fair well. After finally wrapping my head around the reality of how big I am, I buckled down. The meals started to not seem so bad and I even started to like broccoli for the first time in my life. That following weekend I felt like I needed a break. I felt like saying no to food that I actually like 24/7 and watching everyone else indulge was just a job. I just wanted to relax. I relaxed a little too much and gained back exactly the amount of weight I lost the previous week. The next week I did really well and lost twice what I lost the week before. I allowed myself to indulge over the weekend but I was extremely careful of what I ate and the portion I ate. I made sure to eat my burger patty without cheese, condiments or a bun. I did the same when I had sausage and a hot dog. I could have done without the hot dog, but it was the only meat at the event I was at.

Did I indulge? Yes. Did I gain any weight back this time? No. Someone very wise and very close to me said it to me best... you have to be a little bit crazy to follow this diet exactly to the "T" 24/7. There is a happy medium for allowing one to enjoy their food and not get out of control. I am sure to stay away from sugars and carbs (for the most part) when I allow myself to indulge.

I have not yet incorporated exercise into my daily routine. I made it a point in my last blog to state that I am completely aware that exercise is a vital part of dieting, losing weight and changing my lifestyle for my health. Because I have not incorporated exercise into my routine, does that make me lazy? Heavens no! I am a stay at home mother to a teething rebellious toddler and colic baby. That in itself takes up about 75% of my time and energy. Because I am home I make it a point to keep my house spotless and with a husband and two children that is a 24/7 job. Every single day I spend 2+ hours cleaning. I am a student and an entrepreneur. What alone time I rarely do get is dedicated to my school work and business development. I am a photographer, which that in itself is by no means a desk job.

I am not giving myself an excuse to not exercise. I know that it needs to be done and it will be done. I am pointing out that I do not sit on my rear end all day eating bon bons.

The reason for me writing this post in particular is due to the incredibly rude and unwarranted criticism from the person who gave me the diet information. This person hired an ex-body builder as a trainer, followed this diet and lost 70 pounds in four months. After reading my last blog post this person had the gull to CALL me and ask me what was going on, what was wrong? I had no idea what she was talking about and asked. She said that I am no where near the point that I can allow myself to give into temptation. She wasn't sure why I wasn't following the diet plan and why I was giving in. There was more said but the jist was that 16 pounds in a month apparently wasn't good enough for me.

As my blood pressure quickly rose, I calmly replied that I am following the diet, I think that I am doing a great job and that losing 10-15 pounds a week is not healthy. Then I hung up. Let's just say this person is no longer on my "friends" list. I was appalled. Yes, this person lost 70 pounds in 4 months. At the end of the 4 months that person spent an entire weekend indulging herself in cheese fries, ice cream and other carnival treats. I did not see how she of all people felt the right to talk to me about giving into temptation.

I rarely post anything drama-related on Facebook these days since it has had a habit of biting me in the butt in the past. I chose to post about being insulted and received a great deal of support.

This all makes me think... why do I blog about my journey among other things? I'm putting all of this information out on the "information highway" for all to see, read and judge. I generally get great responses and find the support very helpful in my motivation to continue on. I do realize that by putting all of this out there I am opening myself up to criticism and negativity. Some people may have negative, mean or even hateful thoughts about what I write on my blogs. I am open-minded enough to recognize these facts.

The difference with this situation was that this was someone claiming to be a friend, claiming to be trying to help and saying hurtful and rude things. What hurt the most was this person questioning how badly I want this. I am not going to let this one situation stop me from my goal. I am going to continue on this diet and allow myself to occasionally indulge (or I may go insane). I am determined to reach a certain weight goal. I am determined to look on the outside how I feel on the inside. I may be at the beginning of my weight loss but this is by no means the beginning of my journey of happiness. I have overcome quite a bit to get to the point I am at today.

I have a long road ahead of me of hard work to reach my goal. I do need to step up my activity and I plan to do so.

Thank you so much to all of my family and friends who support me in a positive way. Your encouragement literally keeps me going!

Current Measurements:
Weight: 212 lbs (-16)
neck: 14 inches (-1)
bust: 43 inches (-1)
waist: 46 inches (same)
hips: 48 inches (-3)
thigh: 26 inches (-1)

Day 26

It's Day 26 of my diet. I was going to do my measurements today to find out inches lost but I left the measuring thing in the diaper bag which is in the nursery where my daughter is currently sleeping. So I will save my measurement updates for the next post. The diet is going well. I've gotten into the habit of eating each meal and the timing. I am still struggling on the weekends when I am working or away from home and around lots of good, yummy food. I try to remind myself that my food is my fuel and I need to be careful of not putting in dirty fuel.

On July 4th weekend I took a step back as I indulged a bit much and gained back the 5 lbs I had lost the week before. My indulging included a small piece of cake, two glasses of wine, three Diet Cokes, two hot dogs, and pasta. I was discouraged but only had myself to blame. I stuck to the diet very strictly the next week and was losing up to 2 lbs a day! This past weekend I allowed myself to indulge but I was much smarter about it. I passed up A LOT of absolutely yummy looking food while everyone stuffed their faces around me. I did have a sausage (no bun), some chips (very few), half of a hot dog, two potato slices, a few strawberries, one Diet Coke, two lemon squares and a little tiny bit of potato salad. I'm pretty sure that I was active and sweating enough that thankfully what I did have didn't make a difference. I didn't lose any weight on Saturday and Sunday but I didn't gain any either. I was also extremely careful about portion size and had tiny portions of the things I was not really supposed to have.

I have yet to work in a work out routine into my days. I know that this is going to be vital in my weight loss journey and is absolutely needed to get fit and healthy. We are currently adjusting to my husband's new work schedule as he went from working first shift to second shift. We have gotten a lot done in the nursery and now that is out of the way I foresee having time to work out in the mornings from now on. Perhaps I can lose more in a week's time than I have been!

My aunt is getting married on October 1st and my mom and I have planned a special trip just the two of us to go! I am hoping to reach my goal of weighing 150 by then so that I can wear a sexy dress and feel beautiful! I'd also like to start trying on Bridesmaids dresses around that time (I'm in two weddings in 2012).

So far so good! A friend of mine stated this really is a lifestyle change rather than a diet. I have to agree, although I won't be eating this food everyday of my life, I am changing my eating habits completely. I am getting in the habit of portion control and thinking about what I am putting into my body.

Current Weight: 212 lbs
Total loss: 16 lbs

First goal: Get below 200!!! On my way there...

Goodbye Emotional Eating

It's Day 11 of my new diet. In 11 days I have lost three pounds. A slow start, but with reason. I began this diet and spent a lot of time in the bathroom. It was most definitely a change in taste as I never eat plain oatmeal or broccoli and I never drink this much water. I was feeling resentful of having to eat this way when we went to a Father's Day cook out. At the time my total loss in three days was three pounds. I had forgotten my meals and ended up caving into temptation. I thought "what's one day of good food? I'll just lose whatever I gain back." Well in one day of eating ribs and potato chips and sausage and potatoes I gained back all three pounds. I thought, "ok, a start over."

I went back to the diet starting that Monday and by Tuesday and Wednesday I was begging for a chocolate cake. In an effort to please me while in the "dog house" my husband actually bought a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. This actually had the opposite effect he was hoping for and got him further into the "dog house." I had to realize I was talking to a man and when he heard I wanted a cake and knew I was mad about something else, well the man provided what I said I wanted. I told him I will probably say I want a lot of things while on this diet, but do not give them to me! Since the cake was in the house and chocolate is my number one all time weakness, I caved. Since I was caving anyway I also indulged in a chicken sausage, hot dog bun, mustard, Parmesan pasta and juice. Back to my starting point YET AGAIN.

The next day I couldn't go back to my diet because I came down with the flu. I barely ate the next two days. When I was feeling better and wanted to eat, that chocolate cake was staring me down. My husband was enjoying a piece and just the thought of sweet heavenly chocolate goodness drove me nuts. I was literally getting silverware out and about to grab a piece when I saw my reflection in the window. I put the silverware back and I looked at myself and thought, "I don't want to be fat anymore."

And so I feel my journey now truly begins. Kind of like smoking, dieting is something you have to be mentally ready for. I spent some time the next day thinking about how bad I really want to lose this weight. If I don't start saying, "no" when I'm tempted then I will never lose this weight and I will forever be the fat girl. My main motivation behind starting this diet is to look good in the two weddings I'm standing in next year. I am determined not to be that fat girl stuffed in a dress next to a bunch of beautiful thin and fit women. I want to feel as beautiful outside as I do inside.

I am going to be continuously tempted and so I have come to the mental understanding that I need to stop being so emotionally attached to food. My problem is that I attach happy emotions with eating something "good." What I am focusing on now is thinking of food as fuel. I need to put clean, wholesome fuel into my body in order to shape into what I want. The mental change is incredibly difficult. I now need to look at that chocolate cake with chocolate fudge frosting (yes, it's still sitting in my kitchen) as toxic waste instead of the answer to bringing me happiness. A few seconds of "good" taste is not worth my health or my life.

Losing weight for me is not just about wanting to look good. I have two little girls who need their mother around. Technically speaking right now I am "morbidly obese" according to my doctor's chart. I think we all know the multiple risks that puts me in, especially since diabetes runs extremely high in my family.

It's time to be happy because I am happy with life and myself, not because I'm shoving something fat and greasy into my face.

Current weight: 219. Below 220 for the first time in a year and a half.

Not Feeling So Hot

Today is day #2 of my new diet. Yesterday was day #1. I spent a good part of the morning yesterday preparing a few days worth of food. I did not get to prepare my greens or beef though and ended up too busy with my business and forgot to eat my last two meals. Yesterday the diet seemed easy. The foods weren't too bad mixed with some allowed additives such as cinnamon and garlic. The plain oatmeal was tough to get down but I was also in a hurry as my daughter was needing my attention. It was tough to keep up on the water intake but I came pretty close. Even with skipping the last two small meals I went to bed feeling satisfied and woke up still feeling satisfied.

I was exhausted this morning and had absolutely no energy. As soon as I was woken up both my daughters were up wanting to be fed. Before I knew it it was 10:30 am, I had been up for three hours and not eaten or exercised. I also was starting to have some stomach pains. I didn't feel so hot and I didn't really want to eat anything. I kept up with the water intake but couldn't even think about the foods on my list to eat. I ate a handful of oyster crackers (not on the diet) and then became so busy with my two fussy girls that I forgot to eat again.

I've been having lots of tummy problems today. When the girls went down for their nap I could have eaten then but I wasn't feeling hungry and I was very exhausted so I took a snooze also. Upon waking I finally felt hungry. My daughter was starving (as she usually is after waking from a nap) and just the smell of peanut butter as I made a sandwich was driving me nuts. When the hint of the peanuty goodness hit my nose I wanted to quit right then and there. This is where my weakness for food usually overtakes my will to lose weight. As soon as I am uncomfortable or unhappy in what I'm eating and I see or smell yummy food that someone else has, I cave. Not this time!

I licked my fingers after I gave my daughter her sandwich and I thought, "O no! Sugar! I'm not supposed to have that!" That's when I decided I can't give up. Especially not so early! I HAVE to give this a good chance. My friend thinks that perhaps my body is draining the fat out. That could be it. I think I may have also caught a bug of some sorts since I'm so lethargic and not hungry. The bathroom part is probably my bodies reaction (I won't go into that. :)

So my first reaction was to cave and stuff my face. I overcame my first moment of weakness.

Start Over!!

Ok so I didn't do so well with trying to count calories. I have found a diet that tells me what to eat when and what to do for exercise and when. I think I will have better luck with this because there is no room for cheating. I have to stick to exactly what is written down on my paper. I'm just that type of person! Food is my biggest weakness!

I knew about a week ago that I would be starting this diet. I took the last week to enjoy all of the foods I love and won't be having for a very very long time! Pizza, burgers, ice cream (lots!) and so much more! Even with all of my pigging out in the last week, I didn't gain any weight back. I still have a loss of 5 pounds since I first started this blog. Hopefully I will be losing that plus some in this first week of the new diet!

Because this diet was given to me by a friend who paid money for it (we are exchanging services), I can't disclose the details of what I'm eating daily.

My hubby bought me a new food scale yesterday and I'm working now on making a few days worth of food! I'M SO EXCITED!!! BYE BYE COTTAGE CHEESE BUTT!

Starting weight on this diet: 222 pounds!

Week 1

So I decided that it isn't very realistic for me to do a daily post. I will instead do a weekly post! Between taking care of my girls, the house, school work and developing my business, it isn't easy to get time to write on here.

I had a few moments of weakness last week. My husband and I went out to TGI Friday's and I had ribs (which melted right off the bone), fries and a sangria. I wasn't able to get on the treadmill very much. That is going to be the number one obstacle... making time for working out. With both girls being up at different times and napping at different times and basically needing me 24/7 and my husband being gone 11 hours a day Monday through Friday, I'm going to have to figure something out.

By Friday I had lost 4 pounds. Yesterday I had gained 2 pounds back. That makes my total weight loss for the first week 2 pounds. My goal for this week is 5 pounds!

Day 3

Today was my rest day from walking. The baby is going through a minor growth spurt and eating every time I want to put her down so I decided that I would just use today to rest. For breakfast and lunch I had the usual and for dinner I made a delicious chicken encrusted in an almond and spice blend with green beans and noodles. I'm going to keep my entry for today short and sweet, not much to say other than that!