Day 29

The Not So Good...I gained 2 lbs.....

This week I wasn't as strict about my eating as I have been. I did not overdo it, but I ate too much fried food.

Nevertheless I am still going strong.

The other day I was in a hurry to get out of the house so I grabbed a pair of pants that I knew I had no business wearing because they were a size 10. I knew I could fit my behind in them but I also knew from experience it would be cutting my circulation off at the waist.

Wasn't I surprised when I zipped those babies up and it didn't hurt. What the ...???...??? I thought.

...But I lost an inch around my waist

I can breathe!

The pants are zipped!

I can breathe and walk around and sit down and it doesn't hurt! I am not sucking my stomach in!

And then...

A few days later I went home to visit my family wearing my "safe pants". (Those are pants that I feel comfortable in.They usually have elastic around the waist but not always. But they are always between a size 12-14).

So I walked in the house in my 12's and my mom said. "Are you losing weight ?" (-giddy smile on my face-) "Why, can you tell?" I asked. "Yes" she said "Your pants are drooping"

This week I am not going to eat so much fried food. I don't want to get back into my old eating habits.

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Help & Inspiration: Fast Food Pit Falls

Currently Reading Stop the Insanity By Susan Powter see related

Day 15

Goal set on 9/19: maintain 7lb weight loss by 9/26

Status: *Accomplished*  additional 1 lb. lost

I love Sunday's. I get to see how much progress I have made in the past week and I also get to eat whatever I want. Yes, WHATEVER I WANT.  Of course this doesn't mean tearing up the cabinets and fridge looking for junk food. My eats for the day are carefully planned. And besides, since I do not tourment myself throughout the week, there is no reason for me to binge like a maniac.

For my cheat treat today I went to Burger King.

Oh my goodness, do you know how many calories are in that?!?!

Yes I do.

So now I bet you are going to do double the workouts.

No, I am not.

While watching what you eat is important, if you stress about every single calorie that you eat, it is going to be a looooong and painful process.  I have a pretty good idea of how many calories I eat daily, but at the same time I refuse to count becauseI do not want to live the rest of my life counting calories and making a chore out of eating.

Someone asked me how many calories should they eat....

The trainers and health professionals I have talked to recommend at least 1600 calories a day. That may seem like a lot but if you are eating in small portions, and exercising your body will burn it off quickly and then some.

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Help & Inspiration: "Think about your body and the fuel it needs to keep going- food is your fuel. Yet the first thing you do when you hate the way you look and feel is cut back...or reduce your calorie intake...Dieting is the way to lose weight right? WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. ..THE FIRST SYMPTOM OF STARVATION IS BINGEING. DIETING IS STARVATION...The second thing that happens [when you eat too few calories] is your body, the brilliant machine it is, will slow itself-its metabolic rate- down to whatever it is you are taking in. So if its 800 calories a day...that's the level your body will be functioning on." From Susan Powter's Stop the Insanity

Currently Reading Stop the Insanity By Susan Powter see related

 Day 12

I highly recommend that anyone who is looking to change their life by becoming fit and lean read the following book.

I have yet to complete the book, but so far it's great. I am not fond of the way it was written, but the information is priceless.

Background Info: For anyone who is not familiar with Susan Powter, she is someone who went from weighing 260 lbs to looking like this .

She didn't lose the weight by starving herself, obsessing over every calorie or beating herself up if she ate something that was not so healthy.

Now that is inspirational.

As for me, I am doing fine. I am starting to have more energy and it's becoming easier for me to wake up in the mornings. (Thank you Taebo).

I am doing a great job on portion control and substitution. George Foreman has become one of my best friends.

I believe I am doing so well because I am not tormenting myself. I am not hungry- when I get hungry, I eat. I am not missing anything- that's where the substitution comes in. I am doing exercise that I enjoy, and I am seeing results.

That's why diets don't work. They force you to torment yourself and then eventually you end up giving up and gaining the weight back.

You have to make a lifestyle change.

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Help & Inspiration: "If you want to get lean, you must start with eating. You must eat to be lean, no doubt about it. If you want to be healthy, you must eat. Food does not make you fat. Fat makes you fat." - From Susan Powter's Stop the Insanity

Currently Reading Stop the Insanity By Susan Powter see related

Day 8

Goal set on 9/12: lose 2 lbs by 9/19

Status: *Accomplished*  7 lbs lost

(Note to self: find out what causes water weight loss)

The week was spent focusing on reducing carbohydryate intake, portion control and substitution. Instead of eating a whole steak, I would only eat 3 oz and save the rest for another meal. Instead of eating a fried hamburger with a bun, I would eat a grilled hamburger with no bun. Instead of eating ice cream for dessert, I would eat sugar free jello.

I also incorporated breakfast into my diet. I either had a protein shake, a protein bar or regular oatmeal with a tsp of honey.

Exercise consisted of walking for at least 40 minutes every other day and Taebo on the days where I did not walk.

This week I will focus more on exercise and maintaining this weight that I have lost.

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Help & Inspiration: How do I calculate calories burned for weight loss?

Currently Watching TaeBo II: Get Ripped Basic Workout By Tae-Bo 2 2pak, Billy Blanks see related

Day 5

These people are making me sick

The more journals I read of people who are trying to lose weight, the more sickened I become. 

Iif you want to lose weight, do it the right way!

If you eat the right foods and exercise daily, you won't have to starve yourself (which actually makes it more difficult to lose weight), throw up after every meal (which leads to several health problems that just aren't worth it) or anything else that is unhealthy and/or disgusting.

Then there are the people with the "I want to look like this movie star" complex. It's so sad that these girl's don't realize that "this movie star" doesn't even look like "this movie star". Personal trainers, surgery, makeup artists and airbrushing can make practically anyone look great. (Most pictures in magazines are airbrushed in some way, shape, or form) Be yourself! Be happy! Be proud! And be educated!

*Please let me find some inspiring journals from intelligent individuals *

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Help & Inspiration: Could you have an eating disorder?