It Feels GOOD! Toot toot Tuesdays!

Trina @ MeSoHongry has started a fabulous thing with TOOT TOOT TUESDAYS!  Click on the link for details, and hopefully you all will participate!

As you know, I haven't been the best example of weight loss for the last few weeks.  Although that IS currently changing!  However, it doesn't negate the fact that I do have some accomplishments and things to toot about!  I started off the year wearing a TIGHTTTTT size 14 and size large everything.  Some XL.  But recently I went shopping and bought some clothes...check em out!

Pardon the wrinkles...they were in the car for a while as I ran other errands.  I spent so little on these clothes its ridiculous.  BUT THE IMPORTANT THING IS CHECK THE SIZES!!!!!!!

This is my first pair of shorts (other than those short style capris) since elementary school.  Yes....elementary.  I've always been self-conscious about the way my thighs looked in shorts.  So I've opted for sundresses, skirts and capris.  However even though I am not at my goal of a size 6 or 8, my thighs are considerably tighter and more toned than I ever remember them being in my entire life!  And....I look great in these shorts!  Throw on a pair of heels and watch out boysssss!!!!  lol.  Isn't it great when shopping is FUN again?!

In addition to my "feel good" shopping....I've had some exercise progress as well.  At the start of the year, I could not run up a set of stairs, I got winded just walking briskly on the treadmill, could barely do a set of ten push-ups "girly" style and now....

• I've run for over 3 minutes at speed of 5.0
• I walk briskly at an incline of at least 8.0+
• I can do 15 "man" style push-ups

I'm proud of my progress and yes indeed I am TOOTING about it!

Sodium Cutback...I'm doing it!

Okay when I first realized how much sodium I consume, I was appalled.  I knew I had a salt problem, but seeing the actual numbers was jarring.  So I set out to cut back...and after a couple of weeks of trying to cutback...I finally accepted that it isn't just added salt & seasoning that I use in my cooking - its the actual ingredients themselves.  I rely heavily on canned, frozen and processed items to make cooking quick and easy.  So it didn't matter that I was more aware of added salt because my sodium consumption was still through the roof!

In this month's issue of Shape magazine (with Ellen D. on the cover) there was an article that talked about the dangers of consuming too much salt.  Among them are increased blood pressure and increased LDL.  Also I am at risk for renal failure due to a strong family history of polycystic kidney disease - which is another reason I really want to cut back on salt.  The Shape article suggests staying below 2,000 mg of sodium per day*.  Today my total was 2056 mg!  Not as low as I would like it to be, but I am progressing.  I wonder if it will make a difference in this week's weigh in.

My day:

• Bfast:  Hard boiled egg, yogurt & water
• Morning snack:  Apple
• Lunch:  Casear salad (homemade with LF dressing and no croutons)
• Dinner:  Large Black Bean Soup (from Panera)
• After dinner snack:  Sugar-free Jell-O cup
• All I've had to drink today is water.
• 50 minutes of cardio

Now...I know the calories are really LOW.  But I am full and as you know from my last post I am truly trying to stick by the FSD.  So we will see how I do this week.

*Correction:  The article says "Experts recommend limiting sodium to 2,300 mg and saturated fat to roughly 18 grams per day."  I went back to check after Tammy's comment.  Thanks!

Snuck on the scale...

Wednesday is my official weigh in day...but I just had to sneak onto the scale yesterday.  LOL.  I tried to hold out but curiosity got the best of me.  Well, it read 164.2 which would be a 2.6 lb weight loss in 12 days...AWESOME for me!!!  I am going to hope and pray that a little bit more comes off by Wednesday my "official" weigh in day!  I think the key change for me was realizing I needed to eat MORE!!!  After I started tracking I realized I wasn't hitting even 1000 calories!  No good!  So now, I track like a fiend along with eating the allowed foods for the appropriate phase of the Fat Smash Diet.  I will officially enter Phase III today.  Technically, I have been here already but never really added the foods and then went back to Phase I to break through my plateau.  Who knew...eating more = weight loss!  :-)

Thank you to those who complimented my nails and wished me luck on my date.  Yes, I did do them myself...I've always had a "flair" for doing hair and nails but stopped once I went to college and got into wearing acrylic nails.  Eventually, I got tired of the money and upkeep as well as how weak it made my real nails and removed them.  Also, as medical students, we cannot wear fake nails - but polish?!  We can do that!  lol.

My date went well.  Nothing that is making me gush, but I did enjoy myself.  I'm attracted to him physically and he has some great personality traits, but we shall see...I will definitely be seeing him again to see where it leads.  All I am asking for at this point is to have someone I enjoy spending time with, no other expectations.

Still trying to find that "auto-pilot" with eating....it is definitely work for me to get my meals right so that I hit my calorie range consistently, but as with anything else, it will come with time.  Looking forward to working out this week!

No Loss No Gain...

So I weighed in yesterday and the scale read 167.0.  At first I was thoroughly upset - after all for the previous 2 weeks I had been losing 2 lbs per week and I had definitely stepped up my exercising!!! SO WTH?!?!  Then it hit me - my guilty pleasure I had been indulging in had caught up to it.  I have some chocolate fondue chips (round pieces of pure milk chocolate) that I have been nibbling on daily.  A few pieces here and a few pieces there.  I didn't think it was too damaging because despite having them I had continued to lose.  But this week, I guess it caught up to me.  I have a tiny bit left and I am debating about tossing the rest.  If I could limit myself to 1-2 pieces just to satisfy my sweet tooth it would be perfect.  But the chances of that happening are slim-to-none.  I know that I do not have that kind of discipline and self-control which is why I never even bring "allowed" sweets into my home unless they are in pre-determined portion sizes (i.e. 100 calorie packs).  So lesson learned, bits of chocolate MUST GO!

On another note - working out has been going well.  I got a couple of new gym outfits, and for me its just like buying new clothes for a party, it helps me look forward to it a little more.  I got them from TJ Maxx so for both outfits and a zip-up sweatshirt it was only $45 after my 10% sales tax.  Pretty good, huh?  I still have not had my measurements taken which is why I haven't shared.  Yesterday I worked out with the trainer and he does a combination of strength and cardio training.  Today, I went to the gym again and used the treadmill.  I walked for 10 minutes at a speed of 3.5 and incline 4.0 then upped it to a light jog at speed 4.5 for 2 minutes.  I did this for a total of 3 cycles.  I also jumped rope for 5 minutes.  I felt SOOOOO good about myself when I finished.

Afterwards I stretched really well and then decided to unwind in the sauna.  I took a cue from my favorite beauty blogger, Traycee at Keep It Simple Sista and saturated my hair with Mane n' Tail conditioner, covered with a plastic bag and RELAXED while I deep conditioned.  My hair feels so so so so soft!!!  I am ecstatic that I tried this technique!  The sauna also helped relieve some of the tightness that had been plaguing my thighs as well.

Dinner tonight was quick and easy - as usual!  I grilled a Jennie-O Turkey Burger (the frozen straight to grill kind) marinated in Mesquite sauce, portabello mushroom caps (used instead of bread or roll), and some chopped tomatoes, onions and green peppers on my George Foreman.  It only took a total of 10 minutes to grill all of that and assemble my burger!  I enjoyed that with a side salad and believe me...it was so TASTY!   

Late with updating!

I totally have neglected my blog!!!  The importance of beginning this blog was not to gain followers, not to have a certain number of hits, etc. but to journal my innermost thoughts on losing weight.  Now that I have seemingly "left the building" for a few weeks let me recap the last few weeks.  I lost 3 lbs during my detox phase.  I was somewhat disappointed but realized I wasn't going to drop a big number for a few reasons:

1. I did not exercise 5 days a week as I was supposed to - it was more like 2 days a week.  This is probably the #1 reason I didn't lose more.
2. I don't weigh that much to begin with.  I am not minimizing my weight by any means.  I am overweight (yay for moving out of the obese category!) and I understand that.  But for most women in my weight category, losing between 1-2 lbs per week is normal.

That left me at 171.  I then entered Phase II of the diet and was doing really well, but then I left my parent's home and returned to school where I live alone.  Once I got back to my apartment, I did not have any food so I was eating out for a few days, didn't get right into exercising...yet again, and had a few "treats."  That being said, I did not gain any weight, but I did not lose anything either.

Now fast forward to today and I weigh 167.0 lbs!  YAY!  So in one month I have lost 6 lbs.  Not bad, but could be better.  I am definitely back on my game, eating extremely healthy and I have began exercising regularly - FINALLY!  I will give more details on my diet and exercise regimen in a separate post!  6 lbs down, approximately 1/5 of my goal!!!! Gotta celebrate the little victories!

Progress: Day 8

I'm almost finished with the first phase of The Fat Smash Diet!  I am so excited.  I honestly and truly believe in this program wholeheartedly.  For me the purpose of the Detox phase is to force me to rely on healthy choices when I am hungry.  Being able to have an unlimited amount of fruits and vegetables made me grab for them FIRST whenever my stomach growled and now that I am nearing the end, I've found I don't need as many to feel full & satisfied.  My parents have both commented that I look as if I've lost weight already - however I have not stepped back on the scale since my first day.  Wednesday, January 27 is my weigh in day.  Can I just tell you that I am scared?!  Seriously, I am.  The average amount of weight loss for the first phase is 6-8 pounds and I really wanted to make that at least!  I'm scared because although I stuck to the meal plan 100% I only worked out 3 times last week...and the book specifies 5 times.  I'm not going to be too hard on myself because something is always better than nothing!   But I wonder how that will play out on the scale. 

Now - what have I been eating?!  Well, I made a Mexican-inspired casserole with:  mexicorn, black beans, diced tomatoes, sauteed onions & green peppers and 2% mexican cheese blend.  Added 1 c. brown rice and some fat free salsa - SO TASTY!!!  And it lasted forever, about 4-5 days!!!  I also made the veggie soup recipe from the book - didn't really suit my tastes at all.  That soup tasted like I was on a diet!  lol.  Today I made vegetarian chili with diced tomatoes & kidney beans, and again added that over brown rice and topped with low-fat cheese.  Also made some fresh spinach as well.  Salad with no-fat dressing has been an awesome "filler" everyday!  Fruits, amazing snacks and I also discovered I could have (7) saltine crackers as a snack also, which helps.  I've eaten alot of yogurt as well.  A couple of mornings I had plain oatmeal with Splenda and it was edible.  Overall, the "no meat" thing is not nearly as difficult as it may sound.  Its really all about mind over matter, being creative with your meals, and having things on hand that fit into the diet.  My mother made sweet potato pies (her specialty) for my brother's birthday and I promise I was NOT even tempted!  I'm extremely proud of myself. 

My goals for this week/next phase are to exercise at least 4 days per week, preferably hitting 5 days.  I think I will begin to weigh in every week after Wednesday...that way I can track my progress just as I did with Weight Watchers.