Join Me For Another 10 Weeks! This is the first week of ten weeks starting October 22, 2012

Hi folks! I'm at it again. I'm going for another 20 pound loss in ten weeks. I've recently had another baby, a little girl, she is now five months old and I'm ready to drop some weight.





Tuesday, February 23, 2010

"I Have Something To Confess": Part 1

I'm dividing these "confessionals" up into a couple parts.
How IS everyone today?
I'm doing well, but there is something that I wanted to share with you all. I've been wanting to tell you for awhile, but I just didn't feel it was the time.
But there is another reason that I have been able to stick to my new diet plan. It hasn't just been my determination that has carried me through this new diet. And it wasn't only my wonderful resolve that helped me to get back on track after I'd fallen off the wagon a few weeks ago.
Remember the post when I said that I will often use fitness goals to help me achieve my weight loss goals? In this post, I said that weight loss isn't a big enough reason to keep us motivated to lose weight and stay in the gym. We need goals that we can utilize to help steer us toward our ultimate weight loss and body image goals.
I will also use smaller goals along the way to keep me focused. One example of this is the 100 push-up challenge or a 5K race. I will stack goals one upon another so that there is always another goal waiting in the wings to be met after a goal has been achieved. This ensures that my mind and body are constantly striving and working toward a physical achievement of some sort.
I would have never been able to drop those last fourteen pounds unless I had begun embarking on my most recent goal. I would never have had my eyes opened to the powerful effects of clean, wholesome eating unless I had begun chasing after this most recent goal.
The reason I hadn't shared this most recent goal with you is because I wasn't sure if I could do it. I wasn't sure if I could stick to the diet plan...I wasn't sure if the diet plan would work. I had no idea what would happen if I tried it.
But, now I know that it does work.
Some of you may suspect what my next goal has been because of the extensive amount of weight lifting that I have been doing. In fact, this goal has been in the back of my mind for a year and a half.
My most recent goal hasn't been to train for just a few 5K races, it has been to train to compete on stage in a two piece bikini in a figure competition, where body fat is lowered to exhibit your God-given physic and symmetry.
I have been tracking my body fat through fat caliper analysis. I had measurements taken before I began the new diet plan and three weeks into the new diet plan. In three weeks time, my body fat dropped four percent.
My next measurement has yet to be taken.
But, that's my first confession. See, it wasn't a bad confession. In fact, it's something very exciting for all of you to hear about. And this is why... Look at what I have recently achieved because of a fitness related goal. Look at how my perspective on food has changed because I stepped outside the box and started training for something that I had never done before.
Do you realize I've had five kids? Silly question, of course you do. I didn't think my belly would "look right" enough for a show after all that. But, you know what I discovered? You drop enough body fat, and things start to even out a little. I can walk around in a sports bra and shorts and not be ashamed. In fact, I look darn good if I don't say so myself.
So, that's the first confession.
In the mean time, here are some chocolate, protein oatmeal cookies that I cooked today. Remember yesterday's post where I said the oatmeal cookies I made tasted bland?
Well, these are better. Here they are again with a few different ingredients added:
1 cup of oatmeal (300 calories)
2 scoops of chocolate whey protein powder (220 calories)
4 egg whites (51 calories)
1 1/2 tsp of baking powder
1/4 cup of raisins (130 calories)
1/4 cup of crushed walnuts (180)
cinnamon to taste (oops, I forgot that today)
1/4 cup of sugar free syrup (15 calories)
cook at 350 degrees for several minutes
This batch made about 14 cookies which averaged out to 64 calories a cookie. If you took out the raisins and walnuts, the calories are only 41 calories a cookie.
I liked the crunchy texture. I did not use old fashioned oats, just quick oats. I think old fashioned oats would definitely add to the crunchy texture. I could taste the maple syrup flavor. I noticed that it was definitely a sweeter cookie than yesterday's version. Next time I might try it without the syrup and instead just try sweetner to see how that tastes.
What's great about these cookies is that you're getting over 3 grams of protein per cookie, and a healthy sources of fat (if you put in walnuts) and fiber. You also don't have to worry about the fat retaining effects of white flour and sugar because these cookies do not contain any. In fact, my dad who does not eat sugar, and must limit his salt intake could eat these. Maybe I'll make him some too.
And seriously, they take me a whole 20 minutes to whip up.
Push-Up Challenge Update
Oh, and on a little side note, last night I was able to complete the last day of week 6 in the push-up challenge. That means I completed nine sets of 26, 26, 33, 33, 26, 26, 22, 22, 60 for a total of 274 push-ups.
My husband is working on week 5 of the push-up challenge and recently completed eight sets of
20, 20, 24, 24, 20, 20, 22, 48 for 198 total.
We will continue are push-up training and aim to complete 101 push-ups on March 7, 2010, our 101st month wedding anniversary.
Hope your week is going well! And thank you again for all of your kind words and for taking the time to visit this blog.
Sincerely,
Sunshine Mama

10 comments:

  1. Thanks for the recipe. I will share with hubby after I get over being cranky because he is a dip head.

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  2. I knew it!!
    I knew that had to be what you were planning after seeing all the diet changes & the weights you've been doing.
    Good for you. Rock the house Mom! :)

    Best wishes,
    Lynn

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  3. Can't wait to see those pictures!!! It's not Sunshine Mama...it's Sexy Mama!

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  4. That is SO awesome!! I was telling DH just the other day that in another life, in another world I would probably be doing competition body building too. It just appeals to me, and not because I want to get super built (because I really don't) - because of the major, MAJOR goal factor.

    It's going to be really fun to see you reach your goal because I know you're going to! Thanks for the motivation and you go, girl!!!

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  5. OH MY GOODNESS!!! I am so excited! Excited for you and this new challenge. I know you will be great and I know you can do it. Seriously! I have watched the transformation and the definition your muscles now have and the dedication you put in every day.

    Wow, this is pretty crazy (in a good way) I can't wait to see where this journey goes for you!

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  6. 4%????? WHOA!!!! That is incredible! My goodness!

    And, being a newer reader, no I did not know that you have had 5 kiddles! Wow! wow! wow! That brings my stretched out tummy some serious hope! There is always the sagging skin discussion that goes on in my brain. Goals are HUGE! Absolutely vital to weightloss, as well as to maintaining... would really love to know your workout routine, girl... I see your guns, and see your definition, and I wonder what you must be lifting to get that... pray tell??

    I work out 5 days a week... jog and power walk 5 miles, and incooperate weights and a core ball workout 2 times into that a week. I am seeing tone and definition, and as my body leans out, I am thinking... I wonder if I have the kind of muscles that could actually REALLY tone up... I don't even know where to start with that... still have my 10ish to lose... and maybe more after that. But let me know if you can do a post on what you are doing, well besides those awesome push ups.. heesh!

    Hugs.. And thankyou for living it out, girl! Such an inspiration to me and so many! Hugs.. Amy

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  7. I WANT STATS!!! ;-)

    You look amazing, so I think you should just go ahead and share how tall you are, how much you weigh and what your body fat % is. Right? Right. =)

    I am going to make those cookies for my kids and see how they like them. Thanks for the recipe!

    And I know you will do great at your newest challenge; the results you've already attained are amazing. =)

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  8. You and I share the same goal! I too want to look hot in a bikini! Umm..just kidding. So awesome for you...you and I do share the same need to have compound goals to keep the health and fitness passion afloat, though. I'm still far enough away from fitness goals to keep deciding on what to do with my bod!

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  9. Amazing!

    Two things:

    Congrats on that -4% amazing as I said before.

    Can you give me an idea on how you're running your push-up challenge? I'm asking because for the first time in my life I can actually do a push-up (from my knees - you have to start somewhere!)

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  10. Wow- you are one intense lady! I can't believe how amazing you are! You will do awesome! :)

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