10 weeks of 12 weeks


weight today: gained one pound


Total lost: 9 pounds in 10 weeks


1/2 cup of oatmeal: 150
1 tsp of sugar:15
1 tbl of powder creamer: 30
2 tsp of sugar:30
total: 225

1 cup of Special K:120
1/2 cup of 1% milk:55
total: 175
------------
running total: 400

1 jumbo egg:80
1 jumbo egg white:20
lefse:30
1/2 cup of fat free cottage cheese:80
1 tsp of sugar:15
4 oz of apple:64
total: 289
-----------------------
running total: 689

3 oz of chicken breast:105
1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter: 15
1/2 cup of brown rice: 85
total:205
--------------------
total: 894

1/2 cup of brown rice: 105
1 tsp of Smart Balance Light butter:15
3 oz of chicken breast:105
total: 205
----------------
running total: 1,099

3 oz chicken breast: 105
1/2 cup brown rice:85
1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:15
total:205
-------------------
running total: 1304

1 Jolly Rancher Bomb pop:40
1 tbl of powder creamer with tea:30
2 tsp of sugar: 30
2 Hazelnut sticks: 100
total: 200
------------------
running total:1,504


Today's challenge: Staying on-calorie


Actual fitness: 3 mile lunch run, 2 1/2 run at night, 60 minute bicep and back work-out.


Note on picture: This is what I ate at the buffet on Saturday night. I estimated this plate of food to be about 511 calories. I had some icecream as well for an additional 300 calories.

About 10 weeks of 12 weeks

weight today: same

total lost: 10 pounds in 10 weeks

1/2 cup oatmeal: 150
1 tsp of sugar:15
1 tbl of creamer: 30
2 tsp of sugar: 30
total: 225

2 slices of bread: 180
1 slice of deli sliced provolone cheese:80 (est)
1/2 cup of smoked turkey soup containing 2 to 3 oz of dark turkey: 105
2 small squares of raspberry coffee cake: 200 (est)
1 cookie:50
total: 715
--------------
running total: 940

2 hazelnut chocolate pirouline: 100
------------
running total:1,040

1 cup of homemade bratwurst soup: 250 (est)
few handfuls of pita chips:140
1 Jolly Rancher bomb pop:40
total: 430
total: 1,470

1 tbl of powder creamer in tea: 30
2 tsp of sugar in tea:30
total:60
--------------
running total: 1,530

Today's challenge: We had guests today and also went over to another person's house to eat and so I was not eating my routine type of foods. I also did not count my calories throughout the day so I was guestimating my calories to try and keep on track. I feel like I did a good job. I do want to be able to eat out of my routine and not go over because life does take us away from our home where we need to make wise food choices. So, I look at today as an opportunity to practice eating sensibly. Normally I would have eaten several cookies, drank the calorie filled beverages that were available, or eaten the butter loaded garlic bread that was also available. But feel I made wise choices and that allowed me to stay close to my caloric range.

Actual fitness: 5 mile run in about 43-44 minutes. I used my stopwatch but forgot to start timing it until I'd already ran 2 1/2 blocks.

Note on no sweet-n-low and no caffeine: Began to feel a little stomach upset in the last mile of my five mile run. Still loving not being controlled by caffeine. I'm working on catching up on my sleep.

Note on picture: Yes, I know, I already showed you a picture of the french silk pie. But this thing tasted so good, I thought it deserved a closeup.

Have Your Pie And Lose Weight Too

9 1/2 weeks of 12 weeks

weight today: same

Total lost: 10 pounds in 9 1/2 weeks

1/2 cup of oatmeal: 150
1 tsp of sugar: 15
1 tbl of powder creamer with tea:30
2 tsp of sugar in tea:30
1/2 graham cracker sheet:35
total:260

1 Jimmy John Turkey Tom sub with no mayo, cheese added with Dijon mustard:422
------------
running total: 682

Buffet meal:
salad greens:10
1 tbl of 2% cottage cheese:15
black olives:20
3 crutons:8
1 tsp of fat free salad dressing:15
1 tsp of sesame seeds:20
1 tsp of peas:10
1 tsp of shredded carrots: 3
2 tsp of eggs:20
5 or 6 broccoli pieces: 20
salad: 141

2 tbl of breaded asian chicken dish:50
1 cinnamon roll: 200
2 oz of barbecued dark chicken meat:90
4 buttered green beans:30

1 cup of twist ice cream with chocolate sprinkles:300

total:811
-----------------
running total:1,493

Today's challenge: The challenge was eating out at the buffet. I think I did well. I may have overestimated on the icecream but I'd rather be a little over than under.

Actual fitness: 2 1/2 mile run, 60 minute leg work-out, abdominals

Note on no caffeine and no sweet-n-low: Well, there was no stomach upset on my run. I might eventually phase out this little update if my stomach upset ceases. I am tending to think the stomach upset was related to the caffeine just because when I get stomach upset now, it feels different like it's more connected to an oncoming bowel movement.

Note on picture: I dished this out for myself on Thanksgiving night when we went over to my brother's house to eat some pie and hang out. The French silk and pecan pie slices are about 1/16 of a Perkin's pie. The apple pie my sister made. I ate all the pecan pie slice and almost all of the french silk slice except for some of the crust. Then I only had a few bites of the apple pie. I estimated the first two pie slices at 200 calories a piece and the few bites of apple pie at 35 for a total of 435 calories. Let me tell you folks, that french silk was unbelievable!! After eating this on Thanksgiving night, I went on a five mile run. Then, the next morning I lost a pound. My total calories for Thanksgiving Day was 1,455.

See, you can have your pie and lose weight too.

Lost Another Pound...My Sister-in-law Is Pregnant

9 1/2 weeks of 12 weeks

weight today: lost one pound

Total lost: 10 pounds in 9 1/2 weeks

1/2 cup of oatmeal: 150

1 tsp of sugar: 15

1 tbl of powder creamer with tea:30

2 tsp of sugar:30

total: 225

1 Jimmy John's turkey sub with no mayo, but with cheese and Dijon mustard:422

1/2 graham cracker sheet:35

total:457

-------------------

running total: 682

Before run: 1 peanut butter chocolate chip granola bar:100

1/2 graham cracker sheet: 35

1/2 into workout: espresso bean energy gel:100

post work-out: 1 3/4 cup of garlic Alfredo fettuccine chicken: 268

total:503

---------------

running total:1,185

Today's challenge: The challenge today was accomplishing my 4x1-mile repeats, which I've completed and am happy with how I did.

Actual fitness: 1 1/4 mile warm-up to the track, 1st mile-7:03, 4-5 minute rest, 2nd mile 6:58, 4-5 minute rest, 3rd mile 7:00, 4-5 minute rest, 4th mile 7:02, 1 1/4 run home.

Note on no caffeine and no sweet-n-low: Had major stomach upset on my way back from my work-out. Had to use the bathroom so it may be that all of the activity occurred when my stomach was in the digestion process. At least it didn't happen during the one mile repeats. No caffeine is going great. With not "needing" a coffee any more, I find I have more calories for other things if I choose to not drink three teas a day. My coffees were totalling 180 calories a day. So, that's almost 200 calories that I can use on other stuff because I'm no longer addicted to caffeine. Pretty cool. I'm still trying to catch up on my sleep though.

Note on picture: We went out to a buffet last night for Thanksgiving dinner. This is what I ate. And not picture is some ice cream that I ate after this. 3-4 oz. of white turkey breast: 122, 1 cinnamon roll:225, 1 red jello square:20, 1 1/2 tbl of green been casserole: 25, salad greens:10, olives:10, 1-2 tbl of 2 % cottage cheese:35, 3-4 shoots of broccoli and cauliflower: 10, 2 tsp of fat free salad dressing: 20, 2 croutons:5, 1 tsp of sesame seeds: 15, 1 tsp of bacon bits: 7 total:504

ice cream afterward shared with son: 75

total: 579

Of course these are all estimated calories, but I bet I've come pretty close. Tomorrow I'll post the picture of the pies that I ate later that night.

Note on weight lost: Can you believe I lost another pound the morning after Thanksgiving day? The morning after I ate three different kinds of pie on Thanksgiving night? I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, and one of those things is having this diet blog. It helps me keep on track and keeps me accountable. Thank you everyone for your encouraging words and interest in what I'm doing.

Added note: Remember my sister-in-law that recently ran in a 5K with me and got sixth place out of 109 in her age group and 55th out of 1,300 other women? My brother and her announced last night that they are pregnant! This will be their fourth child. She's about 4 weeks along and plans to race the next few weekends and also in January and February if she's feeling up to it of course. Just another thing to be thankful for folks.

Happy Thanksgiving...Lost Another Pound

9 1/2 weeks of 12 weeks

weight today: lost one pound

total lost: 9 pounds in 9 1/2 weeks

1/2 cup of oatmeal:150

1 tsp of sugar:15

1 tbl of powder creamer in tea:30

2 tsp of sugar:30

total:225

1/2 graham cracker sheet:35

1/2 cup of brown rice:85

1 large egg:70

1 large egg white:16

1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:15

total: 221

------------------

total: 446

3-4 oz. of white turkey breast: 122, 1 cinnamon roll:225, 1 red jello square:20, 1 1/2 tbl of green been casserole: 25, salad greens:10, olives:10, 1-2 tbl of 2 % cottage cheese:35, 3-4 shoots of broccoli and cauliflower: 10, 2 tsp of fat free salad dressing: 20, 2 croutons:5, 1 tsp of sesame seeds: 15, 1 tsp of bacon bits: 7 total:504

ice cream afterward shared with son: 75
total: 579

--------------------

running total:1,025

small slice of French silk pie (ate all except part of the crust): 200 (est)

1 small slice of pecan pie: 200 (est)

two bites of home-made apple pie:30

total: 430

------------------

running total:1,455

Today's challenge: not overeating for Thanksgiving and also squeezing in my run.

actual fitness: 5-mile run in the evening after Thanksgiving dinner and pie.

Note on no sweet-n-low and no caffeine: Had major stomach upset on yesterday's run, but then I had to use the bathroom really bad so...it was probably that.

Note on picture: Had a light lunch today of 1/2 cup of brown rice 85, 1 large egg-70 and 1 large egg white:16, and 1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:15: 186 Trying to keep my calories low early on so that I can be more liberal with my portions for Thanksgiving dinner this afternoon.

Note on weight loss: Wow. That tilapia must be working!!

Trying Tilapia

9 1/2 weeks of 12 weeks

weight today: same

total lost: 8 pounds in 9 weeks

1/2 cup of oatmeal:150
1 tsp of sugar:15
1 tbl of powder creamer in tea:30
2 tsp of sugar:30
total:225

1/2 cup of brown rice: 80
1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:15
4 oz tilapia: 80
? :30
total:210
------------
running total: 435

some Pita chips: 30
peanut butter: 25
1/3 cup of crushed canned pineapple: 46
1 large egg:70
1 large egg white:16
1/2 cup of brown rice:85
1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:15
total:287
-----------------
running total:722

1 tbl of powder creamer with tea:60
2 tsp of sugar in tea:30
total:60
----------------
running total:782

1/2 cup of brown rice:85
4 oz tilapia: 80
1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:15
total:180
----------------
running total:962

1/2 cup of brown rice: 85
small can of canned chicken: 70
1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:15
total:170
----------------
running total:1,132

1 cup of Edy's low calorie ice cream:100
1 tsp of chocolate syrup: 20
1 tbl of powder creamer:30
2 tsp of sugar:30
total:180
----------------
running total:1,312

Today's challenge: getting in my work-outs, need to stop snacking on my kids' goldfish crackers when I give them the crackers.

Actual fitness: 3-mile lunch run, later 2 1/2 mile run with triceps and chest work-out, leg work-out and abdominals

Note on no sweet-n-low and no caffeine: No headaches or upset stomach lately, but I am struggling with trying to get enough sleep so I'm not tired during the day.

Note on picture: Finally tried a bite of tilapia last night. I'd cooked this up with some brown rice for my husband for the last few nights. Since I'm out of chicken breasts today, I'll be eating tilapia and brown rice for my snacks. Tilapia or fish, in these four ounce portions are only 80 calories and you get 19 grams of protein. Compare that to a 3 oz of chicken breast that gives you about 21 grams of protein and is 105 calories.

A New Icecream

9 weeks of 12 weeks

Weight today: same

Total lost: 8 pounds in 9 weeks

1/2 cup of oatmeal:150
1 tsp of sugar:15
1 tbl of powder creamer in tea:30
2 tsp of sugar in tea:30
total: 225

2 oz chicken breast:70
1/2 cup of brown rice:85
1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:15
some goldfish crackers:40
total:240
-----------------
running total: 465

1 large egg:70
1 large egg white: 16
1 slice of white Italian Rotello bread:55
1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:15
1/3 cup of fat free cottage cheese:53
1/4 cup of crushed canned pineapple: 35
bites of peanut butter:50
Quaker granola bar:100
total: 394
-------------
running total: 859

2 cups of Special K berries cereal:240
1 cup of 1 % milk: 110
gold fish crackers:50
other cereal bites:35
total:435
----------------
running total:1,294

1 Blue Bunny Bomb pop:40
1 tbl of powder creamer in tea:30
2 tsp of sugar:30
total:100
-----------------
running total:1,394

Today's challenge: My legs are tired, trying to decide if I should rest them...trying to figure out the work-out plan for this week.

actual fitness: 4 mile bike ride

Note on no sweet-n-low and no caffeine: No stomach upset on yesterday's run. No headaches lately.

Note on picture: Some friends who stayed with us last week bought this and put it in our freezer but never ate it. Last night I was looking for food and discovered this. It is only 100 calories per half a cup. Hmm....so I scooped it up. It was fluffy and actually had a rich vanilla home style smell, and home style taste. Definitely different than the Blue Bunny premium vanilla light version, but a very tasty alternative. Now...I wonder if they also make bomb pops.

Another 5K, Another Award...Lost Another Pound

9 weeks of 12 weeks

weight today: lost one pound

total lost: 8 pounds in 9 weeks

1/2 cup of oatmeal:150
1 tsp of sugar:15
1 tbl of powder creamer in tea:30
2 tsp of sugar:30
total: 225

bites of goldfish crackers: 50 (est)
3 tbl of chocolate malt-0-meal:130
1 tsp of sugar:15
2 tbl of 1% milk:12
total: 207
----------------
running total: 432

3 oz of chicken breast: 105
1/2 cup of Uncle Ben's brown rice:85
1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:15
1/2 cup of fat free cottage cheese:80
1/4 cup of crushed canned pineapple:35
1 tbl of powder creamer in tea:30
2 tsp of sugar:30
total:380
--------------
running total: 812

1 large egg:70
1 large egg white:16
1/2 cup of brown rice:85
1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:15
1/2 of graham cracker sheet:35
1 Blue Bunny Bomb Pop: 40
total: 261
-----------------
running total:1,073

3 oz of chicken breast: 105
1/2 cup of brown rice:85
1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:15
total:205
------------
running total:1,287

1/2 cup of Edy's slow churned light icecream:100
1 tsp of chocolate syrup:20
total:120
--------------
running total:1,407

Today's challenge: Challenges feel under control right now. Keeping on-calorie and getting in my work-out

Actual fitness: already completed 3 mile lunch run, 4-mile bike ride, abdominals and 60 minute biceps and back work-out.

Note on no sweet-n-low and no caffeine: No stomach upset on the lunch run. Love being able to drink my hot teas ANY time of the day unlike coffee.

Note on picture: Hmm....Ah...yes, this is what I won for the way I finished in my 5K race on Saturday...and aluminum water bottle and a nice pair of running socks.

*Note on weight loss*: You did notice the pound I FINALLY dropped. The pound I have been fighting against for the past what seems like three weeks?!? That pound? What a way to start a Monday! It's been since, oh....high school since I've weighed this low and my stomach has been this flat...baby!!

Another 5K, Another Award

Hi everyone. Hope you all had a fun weekend.

For some reason I was really, really nervous about this race. And it was driving me crazy. I actually kept waking up in the middle of the night and I even dreamed about the race...though, I can't recall the exact details of the dream, I knew it wasn't a necessarily happy dream.

This is one of those races that I like to chalk up as a "learning race". I did ok, but I felt like I didn't leave it all out there if you know what I mean.

In this race, there were over 1,300 women running/walking and over 600 guys running/walking. You had to predict your time going into the race and then at the start of the race they had people standing with big cardboard signs with say "21:00" on it. And if you thought that was how fast you'd run, you were suppose to start with that group.

Well, I predicted 22:40 and I wasn't about to go stand with my group and have all these people ahead of me at the start of the race. So, I stood with the 19:00 minute racers. I had the sense that people at this level were subtly checking each other out. Could've been my imagination.

I couldn't find my sister-n-law anywhere at the start of the race. When I got there, I immediately had to go the bathroom. And, after using it, I immediately had to use it again. Then after that I went outside and still felt like I had to pee. I considered a nearby bush, but decided my bladder would have to just make due.

About ten minutes before the start, I ran a few nearby loops to warm up. It was chilly and I ended up wearing running tights and two long sleeved shirts under my tank and some gloves.

I didn't bring a watch, I don't have a working stop-watch. But after today, I will get one. First off, there was a LOT of people and there was a lot of weaving in an out by other people. I eventually had to weave around a few people myself. What was strange about this race, is that they didn't have the 1-mile, 2-mile, or 3-miles marked. Though, I knew where I was and how far I had left because I'm from here, I didn't know exactly. So, I wasn't sure how fast I was going. I was actually hoping that they would be calling out times somewhere during the race.

I definitely felt challenged throughout the race, but I didn't feel like I was going to keel over at any minute. Also, to be honest I didn't give a death defying kick at the end either. We finished the race on the track. So, I didn't see my time until I rounded the corner and headed into the finish.

Out of 1,300 women I finished 45th. In my age group I finished 4th. There were 109 in my age group. My time was 22:38, two seconds faster than my predicted time. The gal in my age group who finished third beat me by one second. And, she happened to be a girl who I ran in high school with. So, part of me thinks...if I just ran faster at the end...

My sister-n-law finished sixth in our age group. They award the top five in each age group and she missed it by one second because fifth place beat her by one second. She finished with a time of 22:57 which is a huge improvement on her time of 23:36 from last week. I improved by 35 seconds.

For finishing fourth, I was delighted to receive the socks and aluminum water bottle. There are more racing opportunities December 5th and then again on the 12th.

I like to look at this as a learning experience, because I see some things I want to work on and improve on. Also, what's interesting is that I've never really raced in the winter. I could very well be running in snow in two or three weeks and will have to dress appropriately and get in a good warm-up.

Also for those who are interested, I put together a post on how four of our five children did on the little kid fun races that happened after the 5K race. Click here to see that.

Scone Bites

Almost 9 weeks of 12 weeks

Weight today: same

Total lost: 7 pounds in almost nine weeks

1/2 cup of oatmeal: 150
1 tsp of sugar:15
1 tbl of powder creamer:30
2 tsp of sugar:30
total:225

some fish crackers:30
1/2 graham cracker sheet:35
total:65
------------
running total: 290

1 Jimmy John's turkey sub with no mayo, cheese added and vinegar and oil: 472
bites of son's cherry scone: 60
------------
running total: 822

3/4 cup of rice: 128
1 1/2 tsp of Smart Balance Light butter:22
1 1/2 oz of chicken breast:52
1 large egg:70
1 large egg white:16
1 Blue Bunny Jolly Rancher Bomb Pop:40
total:348
----------------
running total:1,170

1 1/4 cup of Blue Bunny Premium light ice cream: 125
1 tsp of chocolate syrup:20
couple Pita chips:20
1 tbl of powder creamer in tea:30
2 tsp of sugar:30
total:225
------------------
running total: 1,395

Today's challenge: today wasn't too bad. Didn't really have a problem sticking to my calories.

Actual fitness: 2 1/2 mile run, 60 minute leg workout, abdominals

Note on no caffeine and no sweet-n-low: I have taken some drinks of my husband's coffee house mocha's. Haven't had any upset stomach lately. Headaches are gone. And love the whole being caffeine free thing. Love my teas.

Note on picture: These scones are the bomb! They are crumbly on top, with even a bit of crunch on the top edges where the sugar is. Our favorite local coffee shop makes these scones fresh every morning. This is cherry walnut, but they make them in all different flavors like blueberry walnut, pumpkin chocolate, currant, chocolate chip with blueberry...it's different everyday. Before my diet, I would love eating these. We took the kids to the coffee shop with us today and gave each one a scone to eat. Instead of eating a whole one, I took a few bites from the kids...which satisfied my desire for some of these delicious scones but didn't put me over.

Note on race: Sorry I'm making you all wait about the 5K race that I ran on Saturday. It's been hectic here and I plan to post about it tomorrow.

8 1/2 weeks of 12 weeks

weight today: same

total lost: 7 pounds in 8 1/2 weeks

1/2 cup of oatmeal:150
1 tsp of sugar: 15
total:165

Post Race Food:
3 small lemon sugar cookies:150
1 appr. 4 oz banana:100
small sections of bagel: 100
total: 350
------------------
running total:515

1 large egg: 70
1 large egg white:16
1 lefse:30
1/2 cup of fat free cottage cheese:80
1/4 cup of canned crushed pineapple:35
1 tbl of powder creamer in tea:30
2 tsp of sugar:30
1 breaded chicken tender:50
total:341
----------------
running total:856

1/2 graham cracker:35
1 Jimmy John's turkey sub with no mayo, with cheese and vinegar and oil: 472
total:507
---------------
running total:1,363

sips of husband's mocha:35
1/2 a bottle of beer:50
total:85
-----------------
running total: 1,448


Today's challenge: 5K race

Actual fitness: 1/2 mile warm-up, 5K race

Note on picture: My staple: 3 oz chicken 105, 1/2 cup of rice:85, 1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:15 total:205

Extra note: I'm a little nervous about the race.

More Chocolate ...And Re-Determination

8 1/2 weeks of 12 weeks

Weight today: lost a pound

Total lost: 7 pounds in 8 1/2 weeks

1/2 cup of oatmeal:150
1 tsp of sugar:15
1 tbl of creamer:30
2 tsp of sugar:30
total:225

Fish crackers:35
3 oz chicken breast:105
1/2 cup of rice:85
1 tsp of Smart Balance Light butter:15
total:240
--------------
running total: 465

1 large egg:70
1 large egg white: 16
1 lefse:30
1/2 cup of fat free cottage cheese:80
1/4 cup of crushed canned pineapple:34
another lefse:30
with Laughing Cow Swiss Cheese wedge:35
1 tbl of powder creamer in tea:30
2 tsp of sugar in tea:30
total:291
--------------
running total: 756

1/2 graham cracker:35
some fish crackers:20
total:65
-----------
running total:821

4 oz of chicken breast:140
3/4 cup of rice:127
1 1/2 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:22
1 Blue Bunny Premium Light Bomb pop (Jolly Rancher):40
total:329
------------------
running total:1,150

Today's challenge: staying on-calorie

Actual fitness:2 mile run, approximately 7 miles in bike riding

Note on no caffeine and no sweet-n-low: no stomach upset on yesterday's run, no headaches...but I need to get more sleep...geez Imagine that...I quit caffeine and I end up needing to modify my behavior to facilitate the transition because I am no longer using a drug. You'd think getting enough sleep wouldn't be THAT hard.

Note on picture: A friend gave me this yesterday and I saved it for my evening tea. It has a crunchy chocolate (dark) outer shell with a wafer-like inner layer with scrumptious creamy chocolate inside. This is a Ferrer Rondandt and only 55 calories. I guess the question here is...why the heck am I eating fun sized snickers when I could be eating this?

Note on weight loss: Ok...so I re-loss the two pounds I gained. But, now I am thoroughly annoyed and re-determined to get this next pound lost and somehow get myself back on track with a pound a week average. That means no over-eating on Thanksgiving, this weekend or next weekend when we have guests coming into town. I'm tired of fooling around at this weight. I'm actually feeling a little ticked at spending the last two weeks gaining and losing and losing precious weight loss time. But for me, being ticked and disgruntled is a good thing for weight loss.

Oh. Happy Friday!!!

Racing On Saturday...A Family Event

8 1/2 weeks of 12

Weight today: same

Total lost: 6 pounds in 8 1/2 weeks

1/2 cup of oatmeal:150
1 tsp of sugar:15
1 tbl of powder creamer with tea:30
2 tsp of sugar with tea:30
total:225

Some pretzels: 30
1 large egg:70
1 large egg white: 16
1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:15
1/2 cup of rice: 85
1/2 slice of Rotello white Italian bread:27
total:243
-----------------
running total: 468

2 large eggs:140
1 lefse:30
1/2 cup of fat free cottage cheese: 80
1/4 cup of canned pineapple:35
several corn chips:35
1 tbl of powder creamer:30
2 tsp of sugar:30
total: 380
------------------
running total:848
-----------------
bite sized Snickers:45
candy piece: 25
total: 70
----------------
running total: 918

2 oz of spaghetti: 180
3 oz of chicken breast: 105
Blue Bunny Bomb Pop:40
Bites of son's cheese bread: 30
total: 355
----------------
running total: 1,273

1 Ferrer Rondnant: 55
1 tbl of creamer with tea:30
2 tsp of sugar:30
total: 115
-------------------
Running total: 1,388

1/2 cup of Blue Bunny Premium light icecream:100
1 tsp of chocolate syrup: 20
total:120
------------
running total: 1,508

Today's challenge: Staying on-calorie

Actual fitness: a 3-mile lunch run

Note on no sweet-n-low and no caffeine: I ran pretty hard yesterday and my stomach held together well. Don't feel I had any major upset stomach issues. Don't really have any more headaches. I need more sleep though.

Note on picture: It's been awhile since I've felt like I've had enough calories for ice cream at night. This tasted great. After eating it, I warmed up with some hot tea. Makes sense doesn't it? First something cold and then the hot to warm back up. That's the routine I think needs to happen if you're living up north here and want ice cream in the winter. Unless of course, you take a really hot bath and need something cool to cool off. In which case, ice cream would come first. But you could still follow that up with hot tea.

Anyway, 1/2 cup of Blue Bunny premium vanilla light ice cream:100, 1 1/2 tsp of Nestle chocolate syrup:35 (estimated) for 135.

*Special Note* I'm having another truffle tonight that my friend gave me...another Ferrer Rocher...but this flavor is different. I'll be posting that photo tomorrow.

Racing On Saturday...

A Family Event

Good Day everyone!

Thought I'd let you all know that I'm running another 5K race this Saturday.

Also at this same event....

Our 14-year-old daughter will be running a 1 mile fun run.

Our 7-year old son will be running in a half mile fun run, as will his cousin be running it too.

Our five-year-old daughter will be running in a kid's dash, as will her cousin be running it too.

Finally, our 3-year-old son will also be in the dash with his older sister.

Our one-year-old son won't be in a race, and neither will my husband.

Then, to spice up things even more, my sister-in-law will also be running in the 5K race. I'm sure we'll both try to beat each other all in good fun.

right? right?

Good... fun.

Ok, so I couldn't resist a little poke at that because we are both very competitive and our latest 5K times are within 30 seconds of each other. I keep telling her she's fast and she keeps denying it. I keep telling her to sign up for races and kick some butt. Finally last weekend she runs this 5K race and gets second overall, (read medal) with a time of 23:36.

How exciting is that?

Yah, it's somewhat annoying to go through the whole "getting-up-early-for-the-race", being nervous, and getting winded in the middle, thing. But, holding a medal and being out there and a part of the race ends up being fun.

Now, the whole family gets to be involved.

Anyway...

My time four weeks ago was 23:13.

What's my goal?

Well, now, I already told you all in that questionnaire thing that my goal was the Olympics, so until then, I'll have to make little steps along the way and maybe go for a 22-something. Maybe a 22:30. It's be really nice to get 21-something actually...but, I know, one thing at a time.

After all the next Olympics is three years away.

What are you all doing this weekend?

Pound Down... A New Bomb Pop Flavor

8 1/2 weeks of 12 weeks

weight today: lost one pound (I'm playing tug-o-war with these pounds,)

Total lost:6 pounds in 8 1/2 weeks

1/2 cup of oatmeal:150
1 tsp of sugar:15
1 tbl of powder creamer in tea:30
2 tsp of sugar:30
total:225

3 oz of chicken breast:105
1/2 cup of rice:85
1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:15
bites of strawberry licorice that kids fed me: 25
total: 230
------------------
running total:455

2 large eggs:140
1 lefse:30
1/2 cup of fat free cottage cheese:80
1/4 cup of canned pineapple:35
1/2 graham cracker square:35
1 tbl of powder creamer in tea:30
2 tsp of sugar:30
total: 380
------------------
running total: 835

1 fun sized snickers:85
--------------
running total: 920

3 oz of chicken breast:105
1/2 cup of rice:85
1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:15
1/2 slice of Sara Lee whole wheat bread:35
1/2 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:7
1 Blue Bunny Bomb Pop:40
total: 287
-----------------
running total: 1,207

1/2 cup of Blue Bunny Premium vanilla light ice cream:100
1 1/2 tsp of chocolate syrup:35
1 tbl of powder creamer in tea:30
2 tsp of sugar:30
total:195
--------------
running total:1,402

Today's challenge: Getting through my work-out, staying on-calorie

Actual fitness:4x (about) 1-mile repeats at about 7:00-7:30 mile pace. 3 minute rest inbetween

Note on no caffeine and no sweet-n-low: Am enjoying the tea. Didn't really have much stomach upset yesterday. Nothing that sticks out.

Note on weight loss: I can actually feel that pound loss (my stomach feels flatter. Weird.) I think the second pound is on it's way out the door. I think my food transgressions last week may have put me behind a week now. Maybe if I don't overeat for a few weeks straight, I'll get back on track.

Note on picture: Tried out another Blue Bunny Bomb Pop flavor the other night. Sour Bomb pops with watermelon, top, then orange and then apple. It's definitely sour. But the trick is to not let the tip of your tongue soak up the initial bite. Instead place the bite in the middle of the tongue until it melts past the sour part, and goes into the sweet part. Ok, so I know what's the point of eating a sour bomb pop then? Well, it's not as sour. The kids liked it. It was ok. Still only 40 calories.

A Truffle With Tea

8 weeks of 12 weeks

weight today: same

Total lost: 5 pounds in eight weeks

1/2 cup of oatmeal: 150
1 tsp of sugar:15
1 tbl of powder creamer with Celestial Seasonings Sugar Cookie tea:30
2 tsp of sugar added:30
total: 225

3 tbl of chocolate malt-0-meal:130
1 tsp of sugar:15
2 tbl of 1% milk: 12
handful of pretzels:40
total:197
-----------
running total:422

2 large eggs:140
1 lefse:30
1/2 cup of fat free cottage cheese:80
1/3 cup of canned pineapple:46
1 tbl of powder creamer in tea:30
2 tsp of sugar:30
total: 356
--------------
running total: 778

2 oz of chicken breast:70
1/2 cup of rice:85
1 tsp of Smart Balance Light butter: 15
total: 170
----------------
running total: 948

3 oz of chicken breast:105
1/2 cup of rice: 85
1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:15
2 Blue Bunny Jolly Rancher Bomb pops (mine and my son's) :80
1/2 of a Schwan's biscuit with butter on top:100
total:385
----------------
running total:1,333

3 oz of chicken breast:105
1/2 cup of rice:85
1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:15
total: 205
-------------------
running total: 1,538

Today's challenge: Staying on-calorie, getting in work-outs and not being annoyed with weight...wait maybe that's as good thing.

Actual fitness: 3-mile lunch run, 2 1/2 mile run in evening with double work-out on 45 minute leg work-out and 45 chest and tricep work-out, and abdominals.

Note on no caffeine and no sweet-n-low: Had a little stomach upset on yesterday's lunch run. Headaches are pretty much going away. Need to get more sleep. Without caffeine, there's no replacement for lack of sleep.

Note on photo: A friend slipped me this Ferrero Rocher Hazelnut truffle last night. I've never really had one before and was quite surprised to bite into this middle and get an actual hazelnut with that smooth chocolate filling. Wow. These are good. And I calculated 75 calories. I had this with my tea last night. Very nice.

8 weeks of 12 weeks

weight today: gained another pound

total lost:5 pounds in eight weeks

1/2 cup of oatmeal: 150
1 tsp of sugar:15
1 tbl of powder creamer:30
2 tsp of sugar: 30
total:225

3 tbl of chocolate malt-o-meal:130
1 tsp of sugar:15
2 tbl of 1% milk:12
1 cinnamon graham cracker square:17
total: 174
------------------
running total: 399

2 large eggs:140
1 lefse:30
1/2 cup of fat free cottage cheese:80
1/4 cup of canned pineapple:35
1 tbl of powder creamer:30
2 tsp of sugar:30
handful of Lucky Charms cereal:45
total: 390
----------------
running total:789

3/4 cup of Cinnamon toast crunch: 130
1/3 cup of 1% milk: 33
pretzels:50
total:213
-----------------
running total: 1,002

3 oz of chicken breast:105
1/2 cup of rice:85
1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:15
1 sour Blue Bunny Bomb Pop:40
total:245
------------------
running total:1,247

1 oz of chicken breast:35
1 slice of whole wheat toast:70
1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:15
1 tsp of natural peanut butter:33
1 tbl of creamer with tea:30
2 tsp of sugar with tea:30
1 Ferrar Rocher Hazelnut chocolate truffle:75
total:288
------------
running total: 1,535
Today's challenge: Finding time to blog. :) oh, eating on-calorie too.

Actual fitness: 3-mile lunch run (already done), 2 1/2 mile nightly run with 60 minute bicep and back work-out, abdominals

Note on no sweet-n-low and no caffeine: Actually had some stomach upset on my run today...hmm... not sure what that means. Still have some headaches here and there. Overall, feel like my body is adjusting to no caffeine. Feels nice.

Note on weight gain: What can I say? This is temporary and annoying but nevertheless what the scale reads. I feel like I definitely have a better handle on my eating this week as compared to last week. I'm keeping my calorie in line yesterday (updating that) and the day before and today...so need to just keep chugging along.

Note on picture: Picked up this tea last night and it tastes nice. I've been adding creamer and some sugar to these teas and absolutely love it. Very good for my caffeine transition as much as I like the whole drinking something warm and soothing thing. Three coffees a day was just too much, and my personality is such that it's hard for me to want to stop at two coffees and then have a tea inbetween. All or nothing, baby!

New Shoes!!

About 8 weeks of 12 weeks

weight today: gained one pound

Total lost: 6 pounds in about 8 weeks

1/2 cup of oatmeal:150
1 tsp of sugar:15
2 tsp of powder creamer 20
1 tsp of sugar:15
5 animal crackers at church nursery: 35
total: 257

1 Jimmy John's turkey sub (no mayonnaise, with cheese and mustard):422
-----------------------
running total: 679

2 graham cracker pieces:35
about 1 cup of cheeseburger macaroni hamburger helper:300
Schwan's icecream sandwhich:170
total:505
-------------------
running total:1,184

3 tbl of chocolate malt-o-meal: 130
1 tsp of sugar:15
2 tbl of 1% milk:12
1 sugar free jello cup:10
2 tbl of creamer:15
total:182
----------------
running total: 1,366

1 tbl of powder creamer in tea:30
2 tsp of sugar:30
total: 60
--------------
running total:1,426



Today's challenge: staying on-calorie

Planned fitness: off

Note on no caffeine and no sweet-n-low: Had pretty much no headaches yesterday and no stomach upset on my run.

Note on weight gain: ick! I'm not surprised after overeating last week, but this is also hormone related. It's just annoying because now I'll have to "wait" several days perhaps for the weight to even out again. Just need to make sure I'm eating on-calorie.

Note on picture: I know, not food, but using these shoes to run will allow me to eat "more" food. But aren't they pretty? Asics Gel Nimbus. I also bought a pair of compression socks. I'll let you know how they feel. This is the same kind of pair of shoes that I run in right now.

The Weigh-In That Didn't Happen

Week 7 4/3 of 12 weeks
(note: Actually posted for Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009)

Weight today: same

Total lost: 7 pounds in 7 3/4 weeks

1/2 cup of oatmeal: 150
1 tsp of sugar:15
1 tbl of powder creamer in tea:30
2 tsp of sugar:30
total:225

3 oz of chicken:105
1 lefse: 30
1 tbl of cheese:35
1/2 cup of fat free cottage cheese:80
a little over 1/4 cup of pineapple: 45
1/3 cup of leftover tator tot hot dish:100
1 tbl of powder creamer with tea:30
2 tsp of sugar:30
total: 455
---------------
total:680

3 oz of chicken breast:105
1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:15
1/2 cup of rice:85
6 graham cracker squares:105
total:310
---------------------
running total:990

Quiznos Turkey pesto Bullet sub: 325
1 Blue Bunny Bomb Pop:40
1 tbl of powder creamer with tea
2 tsp of sugar with tea:30
total: 425
------------------
running total: 1415

Today's challenge: staying on-calorie

Actual fitness: 2 1/2 mile run, 60 minute leg work-out, abdominals

Note on no caffeine and no sweet-n-low: Had a little headache action going on yesterday. No headaches so far today. Maybe my body is finally adjusting to the no caffeine. Didn't really have any upset stomach on my seven mile run last night.

Note on picture: I had this for part of my lunch today. Leftover taco-fied chicken breast with cheese sprinkled on, served on lefse. about 170 calories.

The Weigh-in That Didn't Happen

I've been to the doctor's office a lot over the past several years. With four pregnancies the procedure is the same. Even when I go in for things that aren't pregnancies, they do the same thing...

They ask you to step on the scale.

They take your blood pressure...

While also taking your pulse.

It's pretty predictable.

So, yesterday when I went to see the doctor about something, I knew what would happen.

The nurse led me into the room.

She sat me down and asked me to roll up my sleeve on my right arm.

Wait, I thought, what about asking me to step on the scale? Hmm...maybe she's just doing it out of order.

She complimented the color of my green sweater. I said, "thank you" and commented back that I had got it at Wal Mart for like $15 last year. I told her I liked it because it was really stretchy, perfect, in fact, for rolling up really high for getting blood pressure checks done.

Ha, ha we both laughed at that.

While she checked my arm, I glanced over at the mirror they have on the door wondering to myself, as I do every single time I'm in one of these rooms...

"Why do they put mirrors on doors like this that render a perfect reflection of your full body side profile as your sitting on the chair?"

I recalled a few years ago when I was sitting on one of these chairs, shortly after having the last baby and a good 50 pounds overweight and thinking to myself,

"My, Just what I wanted to see... a side angle of my butt while waiting for the doctor to come in."

"Ahh, but not today! Today I would have a great weight...well, as great as you can get at a doctor's office. Everyone knows that the doctor's scales are five pounds heavier than the ones at home. Also, you're weighing in the middle of the day with all of your clothes on...

The nurse goes, "60. Very good"

I said, "my resting pulse is 60 beats a minute?!?" (cool, that's an improvement from the 63 from five or six weeks back.)

She then says, "110 over 78. That's excellent."

Since I never really pay attention to blood pressure, I always ask the same thing, "What's good?"

Well, the normal range for the top number is between 120-160 and if you get below that, that's good and the second number you want to have in the 70s.

Then, she stands up grabs her little folder, smiles at me and says, "Well, I'll let the doctor know you're here."

And she left.

Gone.

No weight check.

I'm finally not overweight. I'm looking like a million bucks. I'm finally to the point where I'm like, "yah, doc, check my weight! I dare you to do it!"

And nothing.

She totally left without making me get on the scale.

"What the heck was that about? What are the odds of escaping a weigh-in? Better yet, What are the odds of escaping a good weigh-in?"

Maybe after my stellar pulse and blood pressure, she just looked at me and estimated. Maybe she didn't think I needed to be weighed.

But, Gosh darnet. Maybe I wanted to be weighed.

I've spent the last 19 weeks working and whittling this body down to a lean, mean running machine. Maybe I wanted to step on the scale and have the nurse clap her hands or something like on the Biggest Loser. And say, "Good job."

"But, no, only weigh me, when I dread what the numbers are going to say. Weigh me week in and week out while I'm gaining weight when I'm pregnant...and the numbers mess with my head and make me give up even trying to control my eating, but when I actually have a good number to post.... you don't weigh me."

Well, what did I do?

Nothing.

I let her walk away and thought to myself.

"It's just as well, It'd be higher than I'd want it to be because it's a doctor's scale and I'd just walk away annoyed."

Besides, let's get real here, who's going to actually ask to be weighed? We've been so programmed to avoid the scale...I just didn't have the gumption to say, "uhh, wait, mam, but you forgot to weigh me."

Can you just picture me asking to be weighed?

Maybe she would have turned around and said,

"Now, now missy...no bragging allowed here. We only weigh people that don't want to be weighed...we are a doctor's office after all. That is our job, to make sure you feel like you need to correct something about your body."

But, the ending wasn't too bad.

The doctor came in and the first thing she did was to sit down, smile really big and exclaim,

"You look great!"

"Yah, thanks... I've been on a diet and working out."

So, I guess it all worked out.

Weight check or not.

7 1/2 weeks of 12 weeks

weight today: same

total lost: 7 pounds in 7 1/2 weeks

1/2 cup of oatmeal: 150
1 tsp of sugar: 15
total:165

3 oz of chicken breast:105
1/2 cup of rice: 85
1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:15
1 tbl of creamer:30
2 tsp of sugar in tea:30
1 fun sized Almond Joy: 85
handful of Cheerios and 50
total: 400
----------------
running total: 565

1 fun sized Twix:85
1 fun sized Snickers:85
8 graham cracker pieces
2 tbl of peanut butter:200
total: 410
-------------------
running total: 975

3 oz of chicken breast: 105
1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter: 15
1/2 cup of rice:85
1 tbl of powder creamer in tea:30
2 tsp of sugar in tea:30
1 Blue Bunny Bomb Pop: 40
total: 305
-----------------
running total: 1,280

4 tbl of chocolate malt-o-meal: 172
2 tsp of sugar:30
1/4 cup of 1% milk: 27
1 tbl of powder creamer in tea: 30
2 tsp of sugar:30
total: 289
-----------------
running total: 1,569

Today's challenge: staying on-calorie

Actual fitness: 7 mile run

Note on no caffeine and sweet-n-low: Wanted a coffee really bad last night. Had a slight headache this morning. During my run yesterday, had a little stomach upset, but that may be from not having all the food digested.

Note on photo: Well, I finally ate the last of these Reeses Puffs cereal. I hope my husband doesn't buy these anymore. They are way too tempting. In fact, if I don't lose any weight this week it will be the the fault of these Reeses Puffs. They are 120 calories per 3/4 cup.

7 1/2 weeks of 12 weeks

Weight today: same

Total lost: 7 pounds in 7 1/2 weeks

1/2 cup of oatmeal: 150
1 tsp of sugar:15
total:165

2 tsp of powder creamer in tea:30
1 tsp of sugar: 15
3 oz of chicken breast: 105
1 tbl of Smart Balance light butter:15
1/2 cup of rice:85
total:250
--------------
running total:415

6 graham cracker pieces: 105
1 tbl of peanut butter:100
1 cup of Reeses cereal:160
1/2 cup of 1% milk:55

again over 1 cup of Reeses cereal: 200
over 1/2 cup of 1 % milk: 70
total: 690
-----------------
running total:1,105

2 to 3 oz of chicken in taco sauce:115
1 hard shell corn taco shell: 50
mozzarella cheese estimate 1/2 to 3/4 ounce: 60
olives:15
lettuce: 5
tomato:5
sour cream 1 1/2 tsp: 20
1/4 cup of Gatorade: 30
1 Blue Bunny Bomb Pop: 40
total: 340
--------------------
running total:1,445

(I think I had more to eat but I can't remember)

Today's challenge: Keeping on-calorie and getting my speed work-out done during lunch

Actual fitness: at least 4 x 1,200 at between 7:00 to 7:30 pace. I didn't actually have the distance measured out, so I ran hard for 5:37 which is a 7:30 pace. Judging the distances that I was covering, I estimate I was probably running faster than 7:30. Maybe next week I'll go on a track with a stop watch. Four miles total.

Note on no caffeine and no sweet-n-low: Had no stomach upset last night even after running two miles shortly after eating some chicken and rice. Did have a headache in the afternoon that was what I would call "mild". Trying to eat fewer calories 1,500 last night versus 2,000. Need to keep at 1,400 today.

Note on photo: Just because this is a diet blog, doesn't mean I'm only posting pictures of healthy food. I've noticed that since I'm on a diet, I love to look at food. We picked up this doughnut last night for my husband. We got it at the same place that makes my chocolate covered creme filled bismarks.(you know the doughnut I'm going to reward myself with after I reach my goal weight? ) In fact, I saw some of those doughnuts last night and even talked about bringing one home to photograph. But my husband says to me, "So, you're going to take a picture of it, but not eat it? Maybe you should just take a picture of mine."

He's right.

How could I bring home a chocolate covered creme filled bismark and not eat it? Or even worse give it away and watch someone else eat it. That would be the true test of strength wouldn't it? So, here you have it, the chocolate covered creme filled bismark's cousin...a glazed doughnut. And not just any glazed doughnut. This is a very yummy glazed doughnut. Big beautiful raised, with slightly crispy, fried outside. Anyway enough about doughnuts.

Did You Know Caffeine Suppresses Appetite?

7 weeks of 12 weeks

Weight today: same

Total lost: 7 pounds in 7 weeks

1/2 cup of oatmeal: 150
1 tsp of sugar:15
total:165

1 tbl of creamer in tea:30
2 tsp of sugar: 30
3 oz of chicken breast:105
1/2 cup of rice:85
1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:15
total: 265
---------------
running total: 430

1 large egg:70
1 large egg white:17
1 lefse:30
1/2 cup of cottage cheese:80
1/4 cup pineapple: 35
Blue Bunny Bomb Pop: 40
2 tsp of creamer with coffee:20
1 tsp of sugar:15
total: 307
--------------
running total: 737

3 oz of chicken breast:105
1/2 cup of rice:85
1 tsp of Smart Balance: 15
1 fun size Snickers: 85
total: 290
---------------------
running total: 1,027

3 oz of apple:48
3 oz of chicken breast:105
1/2 cup of rice: 85
1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:15
1/2 cup of Reeses Puffs cereal:80
1/4 cup of 1% milk:27
-------------------------
running total: 1,387

1/2 cup of Blue Bunny icecream vanilla premium light: 100
1 tsp of chocolate syrup: 25
total: 125
-----------------
running total: 1,512

Today's challenge: staying on-calorie

Planned fitness: double work-out with 45 minute leg work-out and 45 minute chest and triceps workout combined, 4 1/2 mile run, abdominals

Note on no caffeine and no sweet-n-low: Not really any headaches right now, I maybe had some slight ones yesterday morning. No stomach upset on my 5 mile run last night. I'm wanting to eat more food due to not having caffeine in my diet.

Note on picture: I made up some chicken in rice to have available to eat for snacks or meals. This way I can just grab one of these and know exactly how many calories I'm eating and know it's what my body needs. Each one has 3 oz of chicken breast, 105, 1/2 cup of rice, 85, and 1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter, 15, for a total of 205 calories.

Did You Know...

Caffeine Suppresses Appetite?

Hmmm... when I googled this topic last night, it seemed that everyone knew about this fact...except me.

Ok, you say, if I didn't know about this fact, why did I google it?

Well, because for the past two days, I can't. stop. eating. I roam the house like a lioness looking for something to kill. to eat.

I mean... I think about food and eating the Reeses Puffs cereal we have in our house. I think about the Halloween candy that I never really thought too much about before...I think about these things, and then I eat them.

Bad, Sunshine Mama!

But the big struggle basically started the very day that I cut my last cup of coffee. Yes, it took me two days to make a connection.

That was really the only thing that I have done differently. No caffeine and suddenly the last two days I've eaten 2,000 calories a day (I still have to update yesterday's food log) (can't wait) . Even on a bad day during the week I haven't screwed up this bad. Maybe on the weekend I'll screw up that bad but not two days in a row during the week.

So, finally last night, I googled that question, "Does caffeine suppress your appetite?"

And, guess what?

It does.

Conversely, taking caffeine away must then stimulate your appetite?

I'm not sure, but all I know is that my appetite has turned quite...shall we say...robust.

But, let's all recall why I've cut caffeine. Let's refocus. I cut caffeine to see if my stomach upset would stop during my runs. First I cut the protein shakes to see if they caused stomach upset. My stomach was still upset. Then, I cut out sweet-n-low, but I still had stomach upset. And now I'm cutting caffeine to see if that affects my stomach upset during my runs.

If I still had stomach upset after all this, the next plan was to look at the possibility that I was running when my stomach was in the middle of digesting.

Well, here's an interesting kicker, I ran last night and felt like a million bucks. I felt fast, smooth and didn't really have upset stomach. I did have to pee and stopped someplace to go, but I didn't really have that aweful upset stomach feeling. So, I'll be continuing to conduct my "purely anecdotal test" for another week or so to see if my stomach upset goes away.

In the meantime, I need to come up with some new techniques for taming this hungry tiger inside me.

Maybe knowing what I'm up against will help.

Maybe I should just google that too.

Seven weeks of 12 weeks

Weight today: same

Total lost: 7 pound in 7 weeks

1/2 cup of oatmeal: 150
1 tsp of sugar:15
total:165

2 tsp of powder creamer with tea:20
1 tsp of sugar:15
1/3 cup of rice:70
1/2 tsp of light butter:7
3 1/2 oz of chicken breast:123
Blue Bunny Bomb pop:40
total: 275
-------------
running total: 440

2 large eggs:140
1 lefse:30
1/2 cup of cottage cheese:80
1/4 cup of canned pineapple:35
2 tsp of powder creamer:20
2 tsp of sugar with tea:30
1 fun sized snickers:85
total:420
---------------
running total:860

3 oz of chicken breast:105
1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:15
1/2 cup of Uncle Ben's white rice:85
1 cup of Reese Puffs cereal: 160
1/2 cup of 1% milk:55
1 Blue Bunny Bomb Pop:40
total :645
-----------------
running total: 1,505

4 tbl of chocolate malt-o-meal:172
2 tsp sugar:30
1/2 cup of 1% milk: 27
1 cup of Reeses Puffs cereal:160
1/2 cup of 1% milk:55
total: 444
--------------------
running total: 1,949

Today's challenge: not snacking. had a terrible time yesterday. Need to cook up my chicken and rice snacks for the week.

Actual fitness: 5-mile run

Note on no caffeine and sweet-n-low: Had some headaches and fatigue yesterday afternoon with no caffeine. No headaches right now. I'd highly recommend "weaning" from coffee versus going cold turkey. I don't feel as rough because I'm weaning. No upset stomach during the run last night.

Note on picture: I made up this pototato dish on Sunday. You basically cut up some potatoes, drizzle it with olive oil and then add bacon bits, parsley flakes, and garlic flakes and bake in the oven till done and eat it with whateve dipping you like. I, unfortunatley used potatoes that had some green on the skin, thinking it would still cook just fine. Wrong. Don't use green potatoes. The ones that weren't green tasted great!

Practice Makes Perfect

Seven weeks of twelve weeks

Weight today: same

Total lost: 7 pound in 7 weeks

1/2 cup of oatmeal:150
1 tsp of sugar:15
1 tbl of powder creamer with Pumpkin Spice tea:30
2 tsp of sugar added:30
total:225

1 cup of Reeses Puffs cereal:160
1/3 cup of 1 % milk:33
Bomb Pop:40
total: 233
---------------
running total: 458

2 large eggs:140
2 slices of Rotello bread:110
1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:20
4 oz apple:64
1 1/2 tsp of caramel:35
total:369
------------------
running total:827

small bites of greasy roll with frosting:75
chips:40
4 or 5 small bits of bread dipped in peanut butter:40
peanut butter:63
1 Twix fun sized bar:85
5 sheets of graham cracker:85
1 tbl of peanut butter:100
1 tbl of powder creamer in tea:30
2 tsp of sugar in tea:30
total:358
---------------
running total:1,185

4 tbl of chocolate Malt-O-Meal: 172
2 tsp of sugar:30
1/4 cup of 1% milk:27
total: 229
--------------------
running total:1,513

1 cup of Reeses Puffs cereal:160
1/2 cup of 1% milk:55
3 graham crackers:50
2 tsp of peanut butter:66
total: 331
--------------------
running total: 2,073

Today's challenge: First day of no caffeine. Should be interesting. Also, just need to stay focused with calories. My tongue is feeling a little better.

Actual fitness: 60 minute bicep and back work-out, abdominals, 3 mile run.

Note on no sweet-n-low and no caffeine: Went running last night just after eating and didn't start feeling stomach upset until the last five minutes. Will be interesting to see how no caffeine goes this week...if my stomach is still upset.

Note on picture: My husband brought home this piece of cake the other day and we shared it last night. It actually comes from the bakery that makes my chocolate covered cream filled bismarks. So, of course I had to have some. A little under half of that looks like a 100 calories right?

Practice Makes Perfect?

When it comes to dieting and eating and working out...these words seem to ring true.

I mean sticking to a diet, losing all this weight and looking great don't happen by accident. Everthing thing I eat, every exercise I do and every goal I make is part of plan, part of a calculated effort toward making one goal a reality.

Weight loss...and looking and feeling as spectacular as possible.

When I think back to high school and college and the weight I was able to get down to and not diet, I am amazed. I just started working out, running, training for track or cross country and the weight just kind of slipped off.

I suppose because I'm older, things are different with my metabolism. But what I've really noticed that is different now is that everything is done according to a plan that I have created. I didn't have some grand scheme when I was younger. I think I just hoped and probably tried to eat less, but it was a stab in the dark.

And I know that in real life eating situations, long term weight loss happens when you incorporate a life style change that involves more than just counting every calorie. Like dealing with your emotions versus using food to deal with it. Stopping at full. Making fitness a part of your life.

All of these changes take time to happen. I personally think these are things that you have to work on day by day. I think that I will probably always be practicing eating right. And I also think my "practice" will probably involve me being aware in some way or another of what my calorie count is every day. That's probably because I'm the personality type that I would rather "know" where I'm at with the eating situation than not know. I don't think this is an all doom and gloom as far as always being so stringent. I think that as time goes on I will refine how I count calories. Maybe there is one day or one meal a week where I don't count calories. But for me, "winging it" only really worked when I was in training for track or cross country.

So, I'm taking baby steps, I'm practicing eating away from my diet, by going out to eat on the weekends and ordering food that will fit into my caloric criteria. I make the plan of what to eat ahead of time in accordance to what I've already eaten so far that day. It's been a lot of fun eating sub sandwiches this last weekend. Although, I'm still working out the best way to order things.

Eating out is just one thing I need to practice. I also need to practice overcoming my urge to snack on whatever is in the house. I know I'm not hungry, but I want to just feed myself something anyway. So, there are plenty of things to practice here.

What I think is great, is that even while I'm "practicing" and working on all my food weaknesses, I'm still losing weight.

Which just proves the point that you don't have to be perfect to begin the journey of looking and feeling as perfect as possible.

In fact, making mistakes and learning from them is part of the process of...perfection?