Lost 8 lbs in December!

Not too bad…considering it was the holiday season!  I realized that self -discipline is key and also thinking about the big picture as opposed to giving into every little urge.  I have to pick and choose when I’ll eat something that may not be the healthiest.  Like if I woke up late and wont have time to get something healthy before work b/c it isnt on the way AND I have to drop off my son at daycare… a muffin or egg ‘n cheese croissant from Dunkin’ Donuts won’t ruin me.  It’s eating that way everyday that puts me in bad shape ( literally!).  Plus it makes me be more diligent on buying ample breakfast foods…especially stuff I can take on the go so I dont have to punish my body with fast food

I also realized that eating a high calorie “treat” after reaching my desired weekly/monthly goal isn’t really a reward.  It only makes me think about what I’ll have to do in order to work it off.  What really is rewarding for me is making meals, teas, and snacks that are delicious and nourish my body and propel me toward my weight loss goal, not hold me back.  All in all, I’ve had to change the way I think about food.

Before I set out on this weight loss adventure, I thought about 9 years ago when I decided to be a vegetarian.  NO ONE in my immediate family or friends (at that times anyway) was a vegetarian.  I was still living at home then, so I had to buy my own meals, do my own research on how to eat vegetarian (instead of just eating pizza and french fries like i started out doing lol), and most of all motivate myself.  Most people around me did not think that I could do it considering I was a HUGE fan of ham and bacon!  But I did…I was even vegan for a short while.  I did it by myself because I knew in my heart that that was the lifestyle I wanted to lead.

Now 9 years later I am drawing on that same strength and determination to once again change my lifestyle.  Though my workouts are typically alone, I have more moral support now than I did then.  My brother (who lost a ton of weight himself) recommended I get a scale.  He read somewhere that people who have scales at home typically weigh less b/c they can monitor their weight better.  My mom recommended a cool website to me, www.sparkpeople.com. They have a great community of people who are losing weight.  They have a lot of excellent resources.

As of Jan. 4, 2010, I have 52lbs to lose by May 31, 2010.  That’s 13 lbs a month…3.25 lbs/week.  I have my work cut out for me, and its worth it!

Reflections on Week One 11/30-12/6

Pounds Loss in First Week:  2 lbs!

I felt amazing after working out last Monday.  I realized that picking the right music helps me not to slack off during my workout.  If I’m working out at home, it’s hard for me to stay focused.  Doing an awesome kettlebell routine to Lady Gaga and No Doubt help in that arena!  I got this cool brazilian workout dvd from Whole Foods.  Its a lot of fun and the music is great…lots of drumming.  It has samba, capoeira, and maculele.

On Wednesday, I walked 2 miles in the rain…from the art museum to Trader Joe’s and back again.  It felt great and the best part was that I didn’t have have any sciatic nerve pain!

Saturday night, I  attended my friend’s baby shower.  It was so much fun!  I definitely ate and drank more than what I probably should have.  I didn’t feel bad or guilty about it though.  It was a party and I knew that I had all day tomorrow to work off that delicious chocolate cake!  To my credit, I did stay away from the chocolate covered brownies on a stick lol

Sunday was nice…I didn’t go for a run like I intended, though I did do a good 40 minute workout-leg, arm, and core work. I have 5 lbs ankle weights so I did a lot of leg lifts. As always I did a lot of kettlebell swings and overhead lifts.  I love kettlebells because they work your whole body.

Goals for Week Two

• Continue to carry snacks with me
• Wake up at 6am everyday and stretch, meditate, and do core work. In bed by 10pm.

Week One Complete!

November

11/30

3 slices of apple pie

Green tea

Water w/ bladderwrack and amber, citrine, agate, sulphur gem essence tincture

Rice crackers w/ cheese, grape tomatoes, mild peppers, and carrots

Soy chicken, salad, butternut squash w/ carrots

*45 minute kettlebell, abs, samba and capoeira workout

December

12/1

1 cup of apple cider

1.5 cheese eggs

2 hash browns

1 mini cinnamon raisin bagel

2 soy sausages

Water

Banana w/ cottage cheese

Small pasta salad

Butternut squash w/ carrots

2 soy chicken patties

Salad w/ oil and vinegar

12/2

2 hash browns

Green tea

Water

Veggie burger

1 slice of Multi-grain bread w/ peanut butter, cinnamon, honey

Rice crackers

Salad with oil and vinegar

2 bananas w/ cottage cheese

2 fig bars

2 soy chicken patties

Salad with oil and vinegar

2 corn tortilla

* 2 mile walk from art museum to trader joes and back

12/3

2 eggs

2 corn tortilla

1 soy sausage

Chocolate/peppermint Luna bar

Tofurky sandwich w/ lettuce, apple slices, honey mustard, grada padano cheese

Green tea

Water

2 Corn tortilla

Dr. Praeger burger (1)

Brown rice with mixed veggies

12/4

3 small Cinnamon, nutmeg, banana pancakes w/ maple syrup

Tofurky, green apple slices, honey mustard, romaine lettuce, sandwich on multigrain bread

Cottage cheese, apple, banana

3/4 of a bag of popcorn

Water

Liver cleanse tea

Spaghetti with “meat” sauce

12/5

1.5 cheese eggs w/ 1 sausage and mushrooms

Water

Liver cleanse tea

3 fig bars

1 banana

1 small choco cake square

1 lavender cupcake

1 cake square

1 rectangle of veg. lasagna

Few potatoes

Few sweet potatoes

Chips dip

5 small slices of choco cake

3 glasses of beer

1 cup of red wine

1 cup of punch w/ champagne

Veg. beef lo mein (half)

12/6

Veg beef lo mein (half) w/ 1 sliced veg sausage, w/ ginger/garlic “sauce” I made

water