Day 180 - Rule your mind or it will rule you.....

Good morning everyone!  I apologize for my short post of yesterday.  I fell asleep on the loveseat after dinner and when I woke up it was time to go to bed.  It was a totally exhausting day at work and I had woken up real early. 

Breakfast (285)
1 pkg regular instant oatmeal
4 oz yogurt
4 oz 1% milk
8 oz orange juice

That's pretty much been it for today.  Have been throwing up since midmorning, fear I have the flu, going to bed with hopes that it passes quickly.

Day 179 - Don't obsess over calories, watch your portions ........

Breakfast
4 oz yogurt
1 mixed fruit cup

Lunch
6 oz salad w/1 tablespoon dressing
4 oz cottage cheese
8 oz V8 juice

Dinner
8 oz cabbage rolls
6 oz salad

Week 2 - Challenge Results

Last Week This week: Lose/Gain


Tessa 275.6 lbs - 275 lbs           0 .6 lbs lost


Tina 294.2 lbs - 292  lbs             2.2 lbs lost


Barb 266 lbs - 264 lbs               2.0   lbs lost

Byron 314.6 lbs - 313.8             0.8 lbs lost


TOTAL LOST: 13.6 pounds + 5.6 = 19.2 lbs to date

Way to go team, this week will be better!!!!!  We had no gains so that is good and a small lose is still a lose!!!

Day 178 - 275 lbs

Ok, weigh in was not as bad as I thought it would be.  It is not much of a lose but a lose just the same.  I am going to get back on program this week no matter what.  Sometimes I have no idea where my head is at when it comes to eating.  I know better and yet I still continue to punish my body by eating the wrong things. 

Breakfast
4 oz yogurt (35 calories)
1 large navel orange (90 calories)

Lunch
6 oz salad (40 calories) w/1 tablespoon dressing (15 calories)
4 oz cottage cheese (90 calories)
8 oz V8 juice (70 calories)

Thanks everyone for your words of encouragement, it means a lot to me.  It's funny when you think about it.  How we know what we should and shouldn't eat and can give advice freely and practically quote from nutrition books but somehow just cannot seem to practice what we preach.  I was a little discouraged but you are right a lose is a lose no matter how small.  I also have to keep focused on the fact that I have not regained what I lost so that is good motivation as well.

Dinner
8 oz homemade lazy cabbage rolls (4 oz lean grd beef, onions, lots of cabbage, tomatoes and 1/2 cup wild rice)  (300 calories)

Day 177 - Wish it had been better ....

Again, the weekend has ruined my good intentions.  We had company all weekend, so last night was BBQ and birthday cake for my daughter and her hubby and today my future daughter-in-law wanted to go for burgers for lunch.  Now normally I would have said no but it was getting late and we were out shopping and I hadn't taken the time to eat breakfast.  No one's fault but my own.  My legs and feet are killing me from being on them from dawn to dusk all weekend.  Hope you all had better days than I did.

Breakfast
nothing

Lunch
double mushroom burger
small order of fries/onion rings
large irish cream milkshake

Dinner
Healthy Choice Beef Merlot
1/2 cup ice cream

Day 176

Good morning everyone, I have just been to Tina's site and read her posting from yesterday.  If you do nothing else today please take a few minutes and head over there.  I think we could all take a lesson from this blog, http://myday-tinam.blogspot.com/ .  I'm definitely going to put some thought process into what I am eating and how I am preparing meals from now on.  Thank you Tina.

Breakfast
1 carmel pecan roll
1 tassimo coffee
2 mini mandarin oranges

Lunch
1 cup chicken noodle soup
3/4 cup diet jello

Dinner
4 oz BBQ pork tenderloin
4 oz roasted root vegetables
1 small piece carrot cake

Day 175 - If hunger is not the problem, then eating is not the solution...

Good morning everyone, it is Friday.  Don't know where the week has gone but it has disappeared.  Looking forward to the weekend, think we are just gonna veg and enjoy some nice weather.

Breakfast
1 pkg regular oatmeal (110 calories)
2 oz 1% milk (20 calories)
2 mini mandarin oranges (60 calories)

Lunch
8 oz V8 juice (70 calories)
8 oz M&M Shepherd's Pie (190 calories)
2 mini mandarin oranges (60 calories)

Dinner
8 oz chili
1 potato skin

Not much an appetite tonight, really tired, looking forward to the weekend.  Son, his fiance, daughter and her family going to come by.  Will be nice to see the kids.  Hope to get the basketball hoop in place and then they can play some one on one.

Day 174... You must begin to think of yourself as the person you want to be ...

I can't believe another 24 hours has passed since I last posted.  Man time sure does fly by the older we get the faster it goes.  Had a good day today, got lots done at work, got home on time and had a surprise visit from our old nieghbor, doen't get much better than that.

Breakfast
1 pkg regular instant oatmeal
1/4 cup 1% milk
2 mini mandarin oranges

Lunch
1 mini pkg Kraft dinner
2 mini mandarins

Dinner
1 potato skin w/cheese and bacon
4 oz meatloaf
1 rosemary pull apart bun
1/4 cup peanut butter ice cream

Day 173 - A new dawn ..........

I had to laugh at myself as I read last evening's post.  Boy when I get tired I make absolutely no sense at all....lol.  I hope everyone had a good day yesterday and a that today will be even better.  They finally got me some temporary help at work so hopefully things will get caught up and I can relax a bit.  Year end is always so stressful.

Breakfast
1 pkg regular instant oatmeal (110 calories)
4 oz 1% milk (40 calories)
2 mini mandarin oranges (60 calories)

Lunch
1 pkg Michelina's Pepper Steak w/Rice (280 calories)
2 mini mandarin oranges (60 calories)

Dinner
4 pieces dry pork ribs (280 calories)
1/2 cup white rice (80 calories)
1 cup cucumber slices (25 calories)

Well I have finally finished the tax returns that were sitting on my desk.  Everyone should be happy as they are all getting a nice return back this year.  Now I just have to get mine ready to take to the accountant and that is tax time finished for another year.  Hope everyone has had a good day and I am now off to bed for a well deserved half hour with my book and a good night's sleep.

Day 172 - Wipe out..........

Sorry I am so late posting, I got home from work and then had to head out to a meeting, just getting back now.  Today has pretty much been a write off as far as posting what I ate.  I'm so tired not sure I can even remember but will try.

Breakfast
1 pkg regular instant oatmeal
4 oz 1% milk
2 mini mandarin oranges

Lunch
6 oz fresh veggies
2 cheese sticks
8 oz V8 juice
2 mini mandarins

Dinner
3/4 cup pasta w/canned tomoatoes
4 oz leftover roast beef
4 oz sliced cucumber

I hope everyone had a good day and I'll see you all tomorrow.

Week 1 Challenge Results

Last Week                          This week:                   Lose/Gain
Tessa 278.8 lbs                   275.6                          3.2 lbs lost


Tina 296.6 lbs                      294.2                         2.4 lbs lost

Barb 271 lbs                        266                            5    lbs lost

Byron 317.8 lbs                   314.6                         3.2 lbs lost
 
TOTAL LOST:  13.6 pounds
 
Way to go team!!!!!!

Day 171 - 275.6 lbs

Well it is Monday, and it was weigh in day.  I weighed in this morning as I am not attending my support group tonight because I will be off at a Reba concert.  I am so excited, I love her music and this is the 25th anniversary of Breast Cancer Campaign.  Breast cancer is very dear to my heart as my mom is a 2 time survivor so when I found out Reba was doing the anniversary fund raiser right here where I live I could not, not go.

I was surprised at the scale this morning as I am down 3.2 from last week.  In spite of my oopes I guess my walking has paid off.  Sometimes I think we have a tendancy to get down on ourselves when really we haven't done that much wrong.  I remember one day last week standing in front of the mirror yelling at myself for being so fat and calling myself all kinds of names.  It just kind of came out of the blue and I couldn't stop myself.

Breakfast
1 pkg regular instant oatmeal (110 calories)
4 oz 1% milk (40 calories)
2 mini mandarin oranges (60 calories)

Lunch
6 oz raw veggies (carrots, clery, orange pepper)
20 mini Breton cheddar cheese crackers (100 calories)
2 cheddar cheese sticks (120 calories)
8 oz V8 juice (70 calories)

Dinner
Tonight we are going out for dinner before the concert and I will be truthful I am going to enjoy myself.  I will practice portion control but not going to be crazy about it.  It's one of those nights where I just want to enjoy the company of my husband and our friends that are attending the concert with us.  Have a good evening everyone.  And for my challengers, job well done in spite of having fallen off the wagon once or twice during the week.  Just think what we could accomplish if we stuck to our eating plans and stayed on the wagon.  Job well done everyone!

Day 170 - How to be a failure.....

Yep, you guessed it.  Day started off good and then just totally feel apart, which is what usally happens to me on weekends.  Seems like the weekends are my weakest link in this quest.  Oh well, it's over and done no use crying over spilled milk, as the saying goes.  I really need to get focused or I am going to go back up the scale instead of down like I should be. 

I have absolutely no junk food in my house.  No cookies, no chips, no candy, no nothing and yet I can still manage to find things to stuff my face with.  For instance we had BBQ pork loin for dinner tonight.  I should have measured but didn't so I'm sure I had way more than I should have.  Lunch was also a disaster - got into the fibre bars plus had my Healthy Choice Meal.  So rather than a sensible 340 calories it was more like 560.

So there you have my day in a nutshell.  Not good but tomorrow will be better I hope.  I think part of it is due to being in a bit of a funk.  Things are just not what they should be in my mind and I can't seem to put my finger on what the problem is.  I will have to sit down and rethink some of my decisions and see if that is maybe the problem.  Making strong decisions and sticking with them is hard for me.  I am a people pleaser and have a hard time saying NO. 

Day 169 - You must begin to think of yourself as the person you want to be....

Good morning everyone!  Well I feel a little more rested this morning.  It's ridiculous how one night of insomnia can throw you whole day out of sort.  Not only the lack of sleep but my carb consumption made me physically ill.  And we know that I know better and yet I did it anyway.  My body will definitely remind me throughout the day of what I did.

Will be a busy day today with shopping and getting tax returns finished.  I only have 5 of them to do but they are complicated so will probably take most of the day.  I also have to stop by hairdresser's and make a small complaint.  I had a cut and color last week and I am not happy with either.  She's been doing my hair for almost 9 years and I've never had a problem till now.  Not sure what happened but she needs to know.

Hubby has to do some rental repairs today so that will keep him out from under my feet. It's supposed to be +13C today so hopefully he can finish cleaning up the puppy bombs in the back yard now the snow is gone. 

Breakfast
1 peaches fruit cup (60 calories)
1 pkg instant oatmeal (120 calories)
4 oz 1% milk (40 calories)
8 oz maxicchino (60 calories)

Lunch
6 oz salad w/2 tablespoons dressing (65 calories)
4 oz canned tuna (140 calories)
10 mini Breton cracked pepper & olive oil crackers (100 calories)
2 mini mandarin oranges (60 calories)

Dinner
4 oz roast beef (220 calories)
6 oz steamed brussel sprouts (40 calories)
6 oz salad w/1 tablespoon dressing (50 calories)
2 mini mandarin oranges (60 calories)

Day 168 - Thought is the seed of action .....

Good morning everyone!  It's a little cooler here in Alberta this morning, we actually had some snow flurries yesterday. 

Skippy's Mom thank you for your comments.  The Weight Control oatmeal was a sample pack and you are so right the regualr stuff in much better and tastes good too.  I love oatmeal and I was not impressed with the taste, texture or calories of the Weight Control kind.  It actually tasted like wallpaper paste.  I do have my oatmeal with milk and I use a spice grinder combo of cane sugar and cinnamon (Victorian Epicure product) so that I get the flavor but not the calories of regular brown sugar.

Michaela, welcome to my blog site.  It has been a long journey so far, and a hard on to say the least.  The life of a food addict trying to lose weight is stressful to say the least but I try to greet each day with a positive attitude.

Breakfast
1 pkg instant oatmeal (the good kind) (120 calories)
1/2 cup 1% milk (40 calories)
1 orange (60 calories)
1 cup of maxicchino (60 calories)

Lunch
6 oz salad w/1 tablespoon dressing (50 calories)
4 oz cottage cheese (90 calories)
8 oz V8 juice (70 calories)
1/2 cup diet jello (10 calories)

Waking up at 3 a.m. definitely has it's disadvantages.  I was really tired when I got home so dinner was not what it should have been.  Ended up making Canadian back bacon, eggs, hashbrowns and toast.  I didn't even bother to weigh or measure then promptly fell asleep after I ate.  Tomorrow will be better than today I am sure.

Day 167 - Do 12 x 3 shoulder lifts....

Sorry i'm so late posting this evening.  Had a union annual general meeting to attend so just getting home and settled for the evening now.  How's everyone doing this evening?  I have had a couple of off days.  Even though I think I am eating correctly when I don't have my scale with me and guess at portions it can get a bit dicey.

I tried a package of the weight control instant oatmeal for breakfast and all I can say is I know why they call it weight control.  It tastes so terrible that if you were to use it everyday you'd lose just because you couldn't eat it.  It was the most horrible tasting oatmeal I have ever eaten and I am not a fussy eater.  Yuck won't eat again, and besides it has more calories than the regular kind.  Go figure.

Breakfast
1 pkg weight control oatmeal (140 calories)
1/2 cup 1% milk (40 calories)
1 peaches fruit cup (70 calories)

Lunch
5 oz coleslaw with 2 tablespoons calorie wise dressing (100 calories)
4 oz cottage cheese (90 calories)
8 oz V8 juice (70 calories)
1/2 cup diet jello

Dinner
4 oz baked chicken breast (140 calories)
1/2 cup mashed potatoes w/2 tablespoons gravy (190 calories)
4 oz steamed peas and carrots (85 calories)
1 dinner bun w/1 teaspoon butter (95 calories)
1 small piece butter tart square (65 calories)

I thought a lot last night about the lady that wanted to weigh 1000 pounds and really couldn't come up with one good reason why any person would want to do that.  She has a 14 year old son, can you imagine his embarrassment among his peers.  And not only that she had her 4 year old daughter when she weighed 500 pounds.  I can't even imagine why any doctor would even allow someone that heavy to get pregnant.  The chances of survival for that child must have been impossible.  Curiosity got the better of me and I had to see what kind of a website this type of person would be a model for.  I was totally disgusted with what I saw and realized that I never want to look like that and just made me all the more motivated.  I am going to post the website here but I have to warn you that the content is totally and utterly disgusting so go there at your own risk.  I'm not posting this in support of this woman but rather so you can maybe get motivated such as I am because I never, ever want to look that way.  Please do not feel you need to view this site and again I warn you the material is graphic and terribly offending:   Supersizedbombsells.com.

I'm glad I only weight what I am now.  I hate being two people but I can not imagine being 4.

Day 166 - Eat a yummy salad....

Wondering if coleslaw can be substituted for salad?  Sorry for posting so late, I got up early but decided to work on tax returns before going to work.  How was everyone's day?  I had a very busy day at work and we had our Meet and Greet.  I managed to hold it together as far as the food but blew it with a drink.

Breakfast
1 pkg instant oatmeal (120 calories)
1/2 cup 1% milk (40 calories)
1 mandarin orange fruit cup (60 calories)

Lunch
1 piece of chicken/cheese pizza (160 calories)
califlower and cucumber pieces with 1 tablespoon dip (75 calories)
fresh strawberries, blackberries and raspberries (60 calories)
1 can non-diet green tea gingerale (I'm not sure of the calorie content and I forgot to read the can)

Dinner
1/3 pkg Stouffer's Shrimp Alfredo Saute Sensations (200 calories)
6 oz coleslaw (120 calories)
1/2 cup diet jello w/cool whip topping (25 calories)

I just read an article on MSN that was about a lady that weighs 600 pounds and wants to go to 1000.  Says she doesn't have any health problems other than she uses a scooter to get around.  I've got news for her, she has more problems than she knows, maybe not physically, yet, but definitely mentally and I suggest she get some counceling real soon.  The other thing that bothered me was she said her husband likes her big and encourages her in this whole thing.  He also has some serious mental issues.  Sounds like a death wish to me.  We are struggling to get fit and lose weight and this person is doing everything she can to eat herself to death, how daft is that.

Day 165 - Goals are the fuel in the furnace of achievement ....

Good morning everyone!  It's another bright, warm day here in sunny Alberta.  Tempature supposed to get to +14C today. 

We had an interesting discussion at my support group last night concerning stomach size.  According to the experts the stomach is the size of your fist and it does not shrink to be smaller than that.  It will expand when we eat but once it is empty it returns to it's normal size, thus the shrinking feeling.  If we look at the size by closing our fist and envision how much food that might be (my estitmate is about 10 - 12 ounces) then look at how much food we consume during a meal, it gives a good visual of how much we could possibly be stretching our stomaches to accommodate that food.  This makes me more and more certain that it is important that we weigh and measure our food at each meal.  Once we go over that 10 - 12 ounces we need to start envisioning what we are doing to our body in terms of stretching our stomachs and basically overeating what our body requires.

Congrats to Tina for investing in a food scale.  You will not be sorry for doing it.  We do not realize how much food we are consuming until we actually weigh it out and put it on a plate.  Research shows that the average dinner plate in 1956 was 8", today it is anywhere from 12 to 14".  That means that we can put almost twice as much food on a plate today as they did in 1956.  Now that's super sizing it!!!

Breakfast
2 oz hard cheddar cheese (220 calories)
1 medium banana (60 calories)

Lunch
6 oz salad w/1 tablespoon dressing (40 calories)
4 oz cottage cheese (90 calories)
8 oz V8 juice (70 calories)
1/2 cup diet jello (10 calories)

Dinner
4 oz sirlon steak pieces cooked w/ 1/2 cup white onion and 2 tablespoons mushroom sauce (310 calories)
6 oz steamed broccoli (40 calories)
3/4 cup diet jello (15 calories)

Tomorrow will be a bit of a challenge for me as we are having a Lifestyles lunch at work and they are ordering pizza.  I also made a dessert but I made just half of what I normally would.  In the past I have always felt like I had to take a huge dish to potlucks but have realized there is always so much food that if I make half as much no one will really notice.  So wish me luck.  I managed to get in a 15  block walk on my breaks today, wow that's equal to 5 miles.  My feet hurt tonight but they will get used to it.

A special word to my challengers:  Keep up the posts and a job well done today.  It was nice to see that you all visited each others blogs and left words of encouragement.  It's not always about the prize at the end but how you get there that counts.  Awesome!!!!

Challenge Participants

Alright, today was our first official day of the challenge.  Those participating are:

Tessa     278.8 lbs
Tina       296.6 lbs
Barb      271    lbs
Byron    317.8 lbs

I have checked all the blogs and everyone has posted today, wonderful.  Let's do a weigh in on Monday's and then we will all be consistent.  You will find that I may have the odd comment/suggestion for you as we post daily and please feel free to do so in return.

Day 164 - 278.8 lbs

Good morning everyone!  So are we all up to the challenge?  I am really pumped about this!!!  It's amazing what a little competition can do for a person.  It's like running a marathon without having to put on your running shoes.

I posted the picture last night and not sure why I decided to do it.  Maybe because a picture of just a body doesn't make it personal and I want this to be personal.  I want this to be about us as people not just overweight bodies.  The picture is of myself and my granddaughter, it was taken almost 3 years ago.  She was 6 weeks premature and only weighed 4 lbs 10 ounces.  She will be 3 next month and you wouldn't know by looking at her that she had a rocky start.  She is just one of the reasons (there are 8 more grandkids) that I want to get my weight down and be healthy.

Breakfast
banana/strawbery/yogurt smoothie (130 calories)
1 small banana (60 calories)

Lunch
6 oz salad w/1 tablespoon dressing (55 calories)
4 oz cottage cheese (90 calories)
8 oz clamato juice (70 calories)
1/2 cup diet jello (10 calories)

Dinner
2 egg cheese omelet (260 calories)

I did have a gain over last week but I am not going to get bent out of shape over it.  I have been walking and doing the Wii so I am hoping it is due to muscle building and not additional fat.

Start of the Challenge..

The challenge will officially start tomorrow, so for those of us that do not do weigh ins till Monday you can start with that weight.  My weigh in is not till in the evening so I will not post my weight till late tomorrow evening.  I will also post an official list of participants and their weights.  If you are a little shy about posting your weight just remember we are all in this together and it is only a number.  The important part of this challenge is to get us journaling and being accountable not only to ourselves but to others as well.  Of course, the prize money is an added incentive.

So far for participants I have:

Myself
Tina M
Barbara
Asphyxiated Emancipation - whom I shall call Byron cuz this is just to darn long to type every time

I will wait till tomorrow to see if anyone else is interested in joining us and if not then let the game begin.  I wish you all good luck and hope I win......lol.  Tina, you asked what do I get if I win, well I get to keep my $100 dollars so that's not a bad deal.

Day 163 - A challenge....

Good morning everyone!  The day has dawned with a promise of being beautiful.  We have been so blessed this winter!  We had one cold snap with lots of snow and it has been nice since.  I wonder what Mother Nature has in store for us this spring as it is only the middle of March and Alberta to boot.  She's a lady of many wonders and we never get a chance to truly figure her out.

I would like to offer a challenge to all of you that are following my blog and on a weight loss journey.  Some of us seem to be a little stalled in our journey and I think some friendly competition is in order.  I hereby challenge all of you to lose 24.75 pounds before May 31, 2010.  That is 77 days from tomorrow, and equals 2.25 pounds per week.  The prize will be $100.00 (Cdn) in the currency of your choice (easier to mail a money order than a gift).  The rules are simple:

1.  You must be a follower of my blog as of today
2.  You have to obtain the 24.75 pound lose before I do and you must do it by May 31st.  As I have no way of verifying your lose I will trust that all will be honest.
3.  You must blog daily and record what your meals have been, if you miss a day you will be disqualified.

 If you accept this challenge reply to this post with your current weight and we will start tomorrow.  Good luck to all that would like to participate.


Breakfast
1 small banana (60 calories)
1 strawberry/banana/yogurt smoothie (130 calories)
1 cup maxicchino (60 calories)

Lunch
1 serving shell-less taco salad (380 calories)
1/2 cup diet jello w/whipped topping (20 calories)

Dinner
4 oz roasted skinless, turkey breast (140 calories)
1/2 cup stove top stuffing (110 calories)
6 oz steamed asparagus (40 calories)

Day 162 - Shopping day, lots of walking .......

Not sure how much shopping I am planning on doing but I am going for a walk with hubby and the Pugs later.  First I have a hair appointment as it's getting a little unruly and I need a confidence boost.  I went walking yesterday at work (5 blocks) and that felt good.  So have started to incorporate some exercise into my routine.  Wish I could do a bit more at a time but this crappy artificial knee limits me to how much it will tolerate at one time.  The oxymoron is I know if the weight comes off the knee will function better, man everything in life seems to be centred on how much a person weighs. 

I was reading Jenny's blog and she was talking about being a perfectionist.  I can totally relate as that is me also.  Yet the one thing that I have never been able to be perfect at is controlling my weight.  Strange how that is, but the operative word in that sentence is controlling, I have to learn that I have no power to control anything especially when it comes to things around me.

Breakfast
4 canned apricots w/juice drained off (60 calories)
4 oz yogurt (35 calories)
1 cup maxacchino (60 calories)

Lunch
1 serving shell-less taco salad (380 calories)
4 oz clamato juice (35 calories)

Dinner
4 oz pork tenderloin stirfried w/1 tablespoon sweet & sour sauce (245 calories)
6 oz stirfried veggies (celery, mushrooms, peppers, onions) (50 calories)
4 oz salad w/1 tablespoon dressing (60 calories)
1/2 cup diet jello w/1 tablespoon whipped topping (15 calories)

I prepared the stirfry a little differently tonight as before I was adding the vegetables to the meat and then measuring out 10 oz (4 oz meat & 6 oz veggies), but I think I was getting more protien than veggies so decided that this way I was getting exactly as I was supposed to.  All total is 940 calories for the day and I feel fine, lots of energy and no cravings.  This is so simple to follow and tastes so good I can't believe that I have fallen so many times.  I did about half an hour on the Wii this afternoon as it was too cold to go for a walk.  We had a strong north wind and snow flurries this morning and the Pugs hate being cold.  So thought I would substitute the Wii for the walk.  Think I'll do some bowling this evening as that is always fun too.

Day 161 - Drink 8 glasses of water....

I find it really difficult to get enough water intake in a day, especially when I am working.  I just forget when I am so busy and find the whole day going by and I've forgotten to have water. 

Breakfast
6 oz orange juice (90 calories)
1 pkg instant oatmeal (90 calories)
4 oz yogurt (35 calories)

Lunch
4 oz coleslaw w/2 tablespoons dressing (95 calories)
8 oz V8 juice (70 calories)
1 pkg Micelina's Meat Loaf (210 calories)

Dinner
4 oz baked cod (120 calories)
4 oz hash brown potatoes (160 calories)
8 oz yellow beans (50 calories)

Lots of good comments on the water, or lack thereof.  I personally have to be careful of my intake amount due to bladder problems.  My limit is 24 oz a day, but of course I never reach that amount.  They do say excess water can be bad for you and you can actually drown if you consume to much in a short period of time.  I'm not sure what the time frame or amount is but 64 oz a day would definitely have ill effects for me.  I think it all depends on your body, outside tempature and tolerance.  I can tolerate a lot more if it is really hot outside but in the winter I have to be careful as it causes major swelling in my extremities as my bladder cannot hold it and I go toxic.  Love reading your comments and seeing how others handle things that seem so minor sometimes but can have a major effect in our success.  Thanks again.

Day 160 - Do shoulder lifts, 12 x 3 ....

Well another day dawns on the journey of weight loss.  I've had a couple of days now to relax and put my thinking cap on to figure out what I need to do to be able to continue in the right direction.  Eating healthy is definitely on the top of the list.  I need to get more exercise because of course we all know that movement is good for us.  And for me more important as I sit all day at work and then come home and sit some more doing tax returns and our own company books.  Now that it is getting lighter outside I can start taking the dogs for a walk in the evening.  I'm going to park my vehicle at the far end of the parking lot so that I have to walk a bit more and start walking on my breaks again.

It's very hectic at work right now as we are coming down to year end.  The Director is coming down today to see what can be done about the heavy workload that I have as in the Q&C department.  We figured out yesterday that I probably have around 2500 invoices that have to be processed and there is no way that the two of us can handle it right now.  I am really hoping that when the Director sees what is going on he will insist that they hire another Q&C person even if only temporarily.

I'm going to post my meals again and this time I am going to put the calorie count behind each item.  This way I will know what I am consuming.  These will not be exact figures as I use literature from my support group to round out calories.  Such as 1 fruit is 60 calories, 1 serving of starch is 80 calories, etc.  If you have any questions please feel free to post them. 

I am loving all the comments and suggestions that you are making and trying to incorporate some of them into my journey.  I can't sit and write a journal but I can do the blog which is very similar.  I also love reading your blogs and being able to support you.  We shall keep marching forward and together we will succeed.

I need some suggestions on how to get a good nights sleep.  I am so tired at night that I fall right to sleep but then, like this morning, wake up at 3 a.m. refreshed and ready to get going.  I'm not tired during the day but fade out fast around 9 p.m. and if is worse if I decide to watch TV for awhile.

Tassimo Cappachinno (90 calories)

Breakfast
4 oz yogurt (35 calories)
1 orange (60 calories)
1 pkg instant oatmeal (80 calories)

Lunch
6 oz coleslaw w/1 tablespoon dressing (95 calories)
9 oz V8 juice (70 calories)
1 pkg WW SmartOnes Cranberry Turkey Medallions (250 calories)

Dinner
4 oz crumbled lean ground beef w/1 cup sauted onions/mushrooms & 1 tablespoon honey garlic sauce (275 calories)
6 oz steamed broccoli (75 calories)
4 oz rice (80 calories)

It was a day from hell today.  The Director came in and didn't even bother to get to know any of us.  It was like we didn't exist so to hell with him.  From now on I work my hours, take my breaks and don't care one bit if the work gets done or not.  You bust your butt and along comes some guy who figures his crap don't stink and that he can treat us all like peons.  I don't know why they don't get the concept that even an attagirl/guy goes a long ways to making staff feel good about what they do.  URRRRR.....I am totally frosted at this guy!

I'm exhausted tonight and need to get a good night's sleep so going to take an Atavan and hope that will help.  It's a very low dose but should relax me enough to get me through the night.  I hate taking medication but sometimes the body needs a little help.  Good night everyone, have a wonderful evening.

Day 159 - Goals are the fuel in the furnace of achievement.....

Sorry I didn't post yesterday.  It was late when I got home from my 12 step meeting and I was really tired.  I took yesterday and today off of counting calories, following my food plan and just basically decided to regroup.  I will be back on track for tomorrow.  I haven't really overeaten just wanted to relax the regiment a bit and give my brain and body a rest. 

It was good to go to meeting last night as I hadn't been for a long time.  It was on 3 fold recovery and really started me thinking about some things.  My sponsor, bless her soul, has taken me back so I am going to work with her on fixing some of the spiritual and emotional things I need to get in order.

Dieting is one thing but for a food addict such as myself there is just so much more to recovery.  I need to learn that I am not in control and let go of some baggage. 

Hoping you all have had a couple of good days and I am off now to read your blogs.  Take care.

Day 157 - 276.4 lbs .... a turtle.... I can live with that

I was so dreading weigh in tonight but I managed a turtle which I figured was going to be gain.  I also stepped down as Leader to Co-leader.  Tina I took your advise and let them bring in some new blood.  I'm relieved but I will still be there to assist.  Glad that is over with till next year.  Now I can concentrate on myself insead of worrying about everyone else.  Just need to get back on track starting tomorrow and make this next 9 months some of the best I have ever had.

Day 156 - Do 15 kick ups.....

Good morning everyone!  The sun is shining and it looks like it is going to be another beautiful day.  The kind of day where you want to get out for some sunshine and exercise.  We are heading for church this morning, we haven't been since before Christmas and it will be nice to get back into the routine of going.

Breakfast
4 oz of yogurt
1 orange

Lunch
2 oz hard cheese
6 oz fresh raspberries

Dinner
4 oz stew meat simmered in a tomato sauce
6 oz steamed fresh brussel sprouts
6 oz salad with dressing

Day 155 - Thought is the seed of action........

Well it's 5:18 a.m. and I have been awake for an hour.  My mind does not want to shut off.  Too many things to do, I need to start making lists.  It's tax time and I have 4 to complete so far, and of course they are the furtherst thing from my mind.  I have some decisions to make and still not sure what direction to go with some of them.  Of course, I am tired right now so I am rambling, which will probably make this whole posting totally incomprehensible.  Just consider the musing of a deranged woman with way too much crap on her mind.

Well back to business.  First off, I did it again, I fell off the wagon last night.  These Friday evenings are killing me.  I look forward to the weekend but also tremble at the thought of Friday as I know that I will probably fall off the wagon and then have to pick myself up and start over again.  I would just like to get through one week without the Friday evening jump off. 

Ok, I am heading downstairs to work on income tax returns and hopefully get some semblance of order to my chaotic life.  Will come back later and let you know how it goes.

Ok so today has been a good day and I am back on track.  I skipped breakfast this morning, not something that I normally do, as I felt so bloated and out of sorts from my binge last night.  We went to Costco this morning and picked up fresh fruit and vegetables so there is lots of that in the house now.  Came home and made my tacoless taco salad for lunch.  We went out for Indian food tonight for supper and I did really well, having just a spoon of each of the dishes and some rice.  I think it's been ok.  Thanks Tina for suggesting I read the 344 lb blog, it so fit where I was at about yesterday.

I even managed to get started on the tax returns with a good attitude and that made my day so much better.  It's amazing how when we look at things with a smile it makes the day so much better.

Day 154 - Press on! A better fate awaits thee!

Good morning everyone, woohoo it is Friday!!!  This is probably the hardest day of the week for me as I am usually totally exhausted from the week that all I want to do is order a pizza, crawl into my jammies and veg.  But alas, that is no longer on my plan of changing my lifestyle.  Oh well, sometimes you just gotta give up the old to have the new.

I have a topic of discussion for you all and would love your thoughts and suggestions.  Monday evening is election night for my support group.  Currently I am the leader and some of the members would like me to continue but I have some problem children so to speak.  One lady is so insecure in herself that she constantly disrupts meetings by trying to be what she thinks is humorous.  Others talk among themselves while I am trying to do a serious program.  What are your thoughts?  Should I run again or let it become someone else's problem?

Breakfast
4 oz yogurt
6 oz canned mandarin pieces, no juice

Lunch
5 oz salad w/1 tablespoon salad dressing
4 oz cottage cheese
8 oz clamato juice

Day 153 - Do 20 jumping jacks .....

Busy, busy day.  Went to the dentist, first time in 2 years, got a checkup and cleaning.  Everything looks good so that was a relief.  Wished I could get it done more often but unless I have some type of dental plan it's unaffordable.  That is the nice part about this job.  I tried something different for breakfast this morning and it really didn't sit well.  The calories were only 130 but I guess I'm just not used to that much in the mornings anymore and it felt really heavy.

Breakfast
1 strawberry/banana/yogurt smoothie
4 oz yogurt

Lunch
6 oz salad w/1 tablespoon dressing
4 oz cottage juice
8 oz clamato juice

Dinner
Smart Choice turkey dinner (210 calories)

Didn't feel much like eating after the dentist.  In fact came home with a huge migraine so laid down for an hor.  Felt better when I woke up but was really tired.  Going to go to bed real soon.

Welcome to pinkbunnyslippers, you have brought my total number of followers to 10.  That is exciting.  I hope I don't bore you tears with my rather mundane life. 

Day 152 - Be sure to have an open faced sandwich ....

Well right now sandwiches are not on my food plan but hopefully someday.  I started this post this morning and then had to run off to work so I guess I better finish it now.  It's been a long day but good to the point where I am exhausted. 

Trying to get a group together to go to Vegas for a girl's weekend the end of Sept but it's hard to coordinate everything when no one is sure about what they are doing.  Oh well if it is meant to be then it will come together.

Breakfast
4 oz yogurt
1 mandarin orange

Lunch
6 oz salad w/1 tablespoon low calorie French dressing
4 oz cottage cheese
6 oz V8 juice

Dinner
4 oz BBQ'd pork steak (lean without BBQ sauce)
6 oz salad w/1 tablespoon low calorie Ranch dressing
6 oz steamed kolirabi
4 oz Mott's Virgin Ceasar Mix

Feeling good about my food and feeling full all the time so that is a good thing.  I think my stomach is starting to shrink.  I am going out with one of the girl's from work on Saturday evening.  She is new to town and would like to try our East Indian restaurant.  That is good with me because I cannot eat to much of it due to the spices, so that will definitely keep me from overeating.

Day 151 - Treat yourself to a handful of nuts .....

Wow, I'm still reeling from weigh in last night.  Obviously, I did better than I thought I had.  A bit of a relief and definitely teaches me to always be on the look out for those things that can set off my binge eating.  The picture is of my future daughter-in-law and the dress she thinks she is going to wear for her wedding.  She looks absolutely gorgeous in it. 

A steak sandwich here consists of a steak (usually 6 or 8 oz), a baked potato, vegetables, garlic toast and either soup or salad.  I opted for the 6 oz with no potato, salad on the side and extra veggies with the garlic toast.  I always skip the potato as I am tempted to load it down with sour cream and bacon bits so figure the garlic toast is a much better choice.

Breakfast
4 oz yogurt
1 banana

Lunch
6 oz salad w/1 tablespoon low calorie French dressing
4 oz cottage cheese
6 oz V8 juice

Snack
1 cheese stick

Dinner
6 oz salad w/1 tablespoon low calorie Ranch dressing
7.5 oz Stouffer's Saute Sensations - Thai Shrimp (approximately 213 calories)
4 oz Mott's Clamato Virgin Ceasar (35 calories)

Day 150 - 276.4 lbs

Wow, I did it, down 3.4 pounds from last week.  Hubby is down 8.8 pounds.  Obviously, our little oops yesterday wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

Breakfast
4 oz yogurt
1 mandarin orange

Lunch
6 oz salad w/1 tablespoon low calorie French dressing
4 oz cottage cheese
6 oz V8 juice

Dinner
steak sandwich without the potato, extra vegetables
side salad with 1 tablespoon Ranch dressing
1 slice garlic toast

Ok, I am totally wiped so heading off to bed.  See you all tomorrow.