Wordless Wednesday

New Sizes, 30 Pounds Lost

As I mentioned yesterday, I am now 31 pounds down. Sometimes it easy to miss the small things while thinking about the big picture. I have a long way to go with my weight loss journey, but I didn't realize how far I've come since the beginning.

I was scrolling through my phone yesterday and came across some pictures I took of myself on January 5th. This was the day after my appointment, and the day after I ordered the DASH book. The difference from then to now really struck me.

Then I realized that I had taken some pictures on Friday in the same shirt. I recognize that I am losing inches, going down in sizes, etc. And other people are noticing too. I get told a lot lately about how I'm losing weight, and they can tell. I actually always shy away from the attention, mainly because I feel like I've been here so many times. I really want to succeed with my weight loss goals this time.

Anyway, so before and afters.

My middle son picked the flowers and wanted me to wear them in my hair, lol!

It's so amazing to see the difference in pictures! I have such an apple shape, but now I'm getting a waist. I'd forgotten what mine looked like!

And with more weight loss in the past month, I am now in size 15s, down from 18/19 at the start. I've been almost in these jeans for a while, but now I can wear them comfortably. Like sit-down-and-my-midsection-circulation-isn't-cut-off comfortably, haha. 

Weigh In 3/28

Well, last week I made the statement that I was determined to have a good weigh in this week (or something like that). And I did it! I lost more last week than the 3 previous weeks combined. It's no secret that I've been bad about going off track with my eating. The culmination came with the pizza and getting sick from it. So I said enough with the BS and got back to basics. I cleaned up my eating big time last week and it certainly showed on the scale today. Funny how that happens.

This is a loss of 2.8 from last week, and 31.4 pounds overall. I have earned my 30 pound reward too!

Speaking of rewards, I finally got my 20 pound pedicure reward done on Friday too. Hence the sock-less weigh in pic, haha. I got it done just in time for Easter.

Messed up the big toe within 10 minutes of getting them done!

My boys and I before church.

My dress- Size 14!

On the exercise front, I got in my 4 workouts, 2 bike, and 2 walks. I also did 10 minutes on my rowing machine.

This week has started out with another walk with my mom and a bike ride tonight. My kids are out of school for spring break this week, so I don't know when I'll get to work out. I'm glad I have two down for the week. Pray my kids don't drive me crazy this week!

Foodie Friday- March Edition

I just realized that I have not done one of these in four weeks! And so much good eating in that time too! I do post some of my food pictures to my Instagram though. It's just so easy to do it that way.

For lunch and dinners the past few weeks, I've been trying to get creative with foods to fit into my new eating plan. I've discovered new-to-me foods and revamped some old recipes of mine.

One of the new foods I've found (which is all gone now) is Curly's sauceless pulled pork.

Source

And I found a great tangy sugar free bbq sauce to go with it.

Source

Here are just a few times I've had it in the past few weeks. I think I was able to get 6 servings out of the container.

At the beginning at the month I made Chicken Alfredo for dinner. I baked chicken tenders, then cut them up in chunks and cooked them on the stove top with broccoli. I used Bertolli Alfredo sauce (I'm not that good to make homemade sauce. Although I may look up a recipe next time I make this.) I ate mine just as pictured, but I made fettuccine for the menfolk. Amazingly enough, everyone liked this! This will definitely be made again.

My lunches have also been delicious. I made Italian shrimp one day. I adapted it from this recipe at Just a Pinch. I cut the whole recipe down to at least a fourth, because it was just for me. I've eaten this plenty of times in the past though, but it always involved pasta. But this was simple, filling, and a satisfying lunch. 

While at Sam's a couple of weeks back, I found this chicken sausage I wanted to try. It seemed like a great choice for lunch. Even though it came in a 15 pack, I decided to buy it anyway. I am so glad I did! It's fully cooked so you just have to warm it though. I decided to cut it into slices so all the little sides would get nice and browned in the pan. There were three flavors in all, but I just went with the one that sounded most appealing to me. 

Source

Last, but not least, I made a big crockpot of the chicken taco soup. I got nine 3/4 cup servings out of it, and froze 4. I have eaten the four that were in the fridge (I ate one the night I made it.) The freezer ones will be good for a lunch or dinner on a night my husband cooks burgers or something. 

With Mexican blend cheese added on top!

Weigh In 3/21

I swear, it's like clockwork now. Every month this year, I have gotten sick when my cycle is on! I know there's no correlation, but it is crazy. Last month, I bought some Airborne gummies to help keep me healthy. Well they ran out right about the time my cycle started, and I got sick again on Wednesday last week. It wasn't as bad as last month thankfully, and I was still able to eat. Yep, including stuff I shouldn't have been eating. 

Confession time: I ate some mini chocolate chip cookies AND 2 slices of pizza on Saturday. That actually made me sick to my stomach, literally. I was up most of Saturday night puking up greasy Little Caesars pizza. Learned that lesson the hard way. It has seriously been so long since I had food like that. Maybe going back to last year. I have been on DASH the past 10 weeks, and my body isn't used to food like that anymore.

I did lose exactly one pound for the week though.

And I only got 3 workouts in instead of four. All on the bike. 

This week I have already worked out both days though. I went on a 40 minute walk with my mom yesterday, and just did a 10 mile bike ride. I really am determined to have a good weigh in for this week. 

Since I got sick last month and lost over 4 pounds in one week, I have lost 3.8 pounds total the last 3 weeks. That is still great, but I had been eating more and more "off plan" things. But since the incident with the pizza on Saturday, I have really straightened my act up. Not perfect, but much better than I have been this month. 

And reviewing my March goals, it's obvious that I will not reach my weight loss set goal. But I am moving forward and learning from my missteps. I know my doctor's appointment on April 4th will be great. My blood pressure has been looking great when I take it, before I've even taken my pill. And I never have to take my "as needed for b/p over 150/90" pill. So I am proud of myself!

So here's to getting back on track! 

Weigh In 3/14

Last week was the first week I've really struggled with my new eating lifestyle. Well, I should say, the first half. I did get my butt in gear with eating Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I stayed on plan and I feel so much better today than I did in my post Friday. Hormones, I tell ya. 

So a good last half of the week, combined with my 5(!) workouts, and I managed to lose 1.2 pounds this week, for a total of 27.6 pounds lost overall.

I'll take it! 

I actually have food plans/preparations for this week as well. My chicken taco soup is in the crockpot so that I can have lunch for 7 days. I will definitely be curbing the snacking from the pantry, and instead going back to my go-to snacks of pecans, cheese, yogurt. 

As I've mentioned, my workouts for last week were great. I exercised 5 times- 2 times walking, and 3 times on the bike. In addition to my pace PR walking last Wednesday, my bike average pace has improved so much. My speed has been around 12.1-12.2 mph average for a while. On Friday, my speed was 12.8 mph, and yesterday it was 13.8 mph. I'm able to not take as many breaks while biking now too. Before I couldn't go 3-4 minutes without having to stop and huffing and puffing. Now I can breeze through 10 minutes or more before I stop for a minute. 

On Thursday, my mom wanted to go for a walk only on the boardwalk portion of the nature trail. We went the the late afternoon and my sister watched the kids. We were out there for a little over thirty minutes and did a half 5k. According to the Fitbit anyway. 

This is something that I hope will become a regular thing!

Pace PR + Measurements

My eating has not been good this week at all. Way too much snacking- and not on carrots or fruit, which I have in the fridge. No, this snacking is coming straight from the pantry. Definitely not DASH friendly at all. I am T-3 days until AF, and I have struggled with PMS this month. Last month I was getting sick during this time and in January I had just started this lifestyle. So this was my first true test of getting through the "IWANTTOSTUFFMYFACEWITHANYANDEVERYTHING" phase of the month, and I am sad to say I have failed hard.

I have been keeping up with my workouts though, and already have my four done for the week . The weekend will be busy with hubby so I may not get to work out anymore. I may go on another walk with my mom today. We went on a half 5k walk yesterday in the late afternoon, and it was great.

On Wednesday, I went to the nature trail for a 5k. I ended up with a pace of 17'52"! My Fitbit reports stats every 15 minutes. The first report told me that my average pace was over 20 minutes per mile. I immediately roll my eyes and groaned. I had actually been dreading the walk as it was my first one since last Monday when I wanted to set a PR. After that debacle, I was fed up with walking!

Anyway, I decided to keep pressing on, and I started going as fast as I could on the downhill portion of the trail. And even my uphill pace got faster. It helped that I went in the morning, right after I dropped my kids off at school, and there was no sun beaming on me. It was about 60* and perfect.

Super proud of that 3rd mile pace!

Today makes 2 months since I've started the DASH approach. I did not take measurements from the beginning, but I did take them last month on the 11th. I took my measurements again today, and am happy with the results.

Neck: -.5 in.
Right Arm: -.5 in.
Left Arm: -.5 in.
Bust: -1.75 in.
Waist: -2 in.
Hips: -2 in.
Right Thigh: -1 in.
Left Thigh: -1.25 in.
Right Calf: +.25 in. (who knows if I measured the same spot or not?)
Left Calf: Same

I'll really be glad when AF comes because I know I'll be back to normal. And I know this is really an excuse. I need to get it together. 

I just got back from Applebee's with my mom and sister for my sister's birthday. I ordered the Bourbon St. Chicken and Shrimp with mixed veggies. It was delicious. I ate about half and will eat the other half later. It was a tad bit salty, but it was about the best looking thing on the menu that I could have. I didn't research beforehand because my sister made up her mind at the last minute. Oh well. Trust me, it's one of the best choices I've made these past few days!

So I looked up the info, and no wonder it tasted salty...

Hello bloat! Not what I need at all, lol.

 Now to get through the weekend. 

Weigh In 3/7

The busyness rolls on. I actually did get in a weigh in yesterday before I left. I lost .4 pounds.

I put my fitbit on the charger Sunday night in preparation for Monday. But I was so busy trying to get everyone ready, I completely forgot to put it on! Sad face, lol. And I did a LOT of walking yesterday too (does it even count?!?!). My son went to see a scientific circus at the performing arts center in downtown Montgomery. We had to park quite a bit away and walk there. Lots of steps just standing around too. The circus itself wasn't even that good. My 7 year old was not impressed at all, haha!

Afterwards, we went to a park to have lunch. We paid for the kids to have Chick-fil-a as part of the field trip, so us adults went to Wendy's. I got the Chicken Apple Pecan salad in the full size, and only ate half! I could have saved $2 and gotten the half size, because I never got to eat the rest.

I did get my last workout in on Sunday as well. So I accomplished the goal of working out 4 times for the week. My walk last Monday, and biking Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

This week has started out great, so hopefully the weight loss will be more next Monday. Hubby's and my anniversary is Friday, but he has to work. We will be going out on Saturday, but I will stay on plan and not eat anything crazy. Here's to a great rest of the week!

Weekend Wrapup

This has been one of the busiest weekends we've had in a while. We went to birthday parties both days. A friend of my sister's had a Frozen theme party yesterday for her 5 year old daughter, and my cousin's son turned 12 today and they had a cookout for him. The kids really enjoyed themselves. Bouncy house yesterday and trampoline today, so lots of energy expended on their parts.

I was good and didn't eat any cake or anything at the parties. I ate before I went. There was no pressure and no food pushers either. And a couple of people told me they could tell I was losing weight! Woot!

Tomorrow, my oldest son has a field trip, so I probably won't get to post. That will be an all school day affair. Hubby's working, so my mom will keep the baby. Plus Cub Scouts tomorrow night. I'll probably just do my weigh in on Tuesday this week.

I do still need to do one more work out for the week. I may just do a quick 30 minute bike ride.

Well, I'm off to try to get as organized as I can for tomorrow. I am so not a morning person, and tomorrow morning will be crazy try to get ready for the field trip and all.

Monthly Goals- March

I've decided to do a list of monthly goals of all things I'd like to accomplish, weight loss and fitness included of course. Sometimes, me being really pragmatic backfires, so I'm really trying to set goals I think I can reach.

On the weight loss front, I'd like to lose at least 6 pounds.  This is a very attainable goal. And it fits with the experts recommendations of losing 1-2 pounds per week.

With working out, I'd like to get in at least 4 workouts per week. Any combo of walking or biking or dancing. I haven't done the Just Dance in a while now that I think about it.

In order to get better sleep, I would like to get 7.5 hours average sleep for the week. My fitbit gives me averages for the week. The past two weeks, I've gotten 7 hr, 27 mins and 7 hr, 46 mins respectively. Plus, the science is clear that you feel better and lose weight when you get enough sleep.

To keep up with my new year's resolution, I need to read two books this month. I just finished The Racketeer  by John Grisham, and I'm now reading Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.

So, four great goals to accomplish this month. Let's get it!

Witty Wednesday

Saw this in my DASH facebook group and had to laugh at how true it was:

Then I remembered I had to renew my license in December, and actually had to go up on my weight. When I renewed my license in 2007, I was pregnant with my oldest son and was about 170, so that's what I put. In 2011, it was left the same (I can't remember what my weight really was). In December, there was no point in still claiming I weighed 170 when the woman looked me up and down and asked, "Weight still 170?" in a disbelieving tone. So even though I was pushing 220 then, I said 195. 

What's really funny about the above image now, is that as of Monday (194.8), I'm no longer a liar! Woot!

Spoke Too Soon?

Yesterday, I wrote about how would do a 4 miler for the leap day. Well, of course, I should have known better than to set a pace goal P.R. right?

Right away things went wrong. Because my oldest son has Cub Scouts on Monday night, it would have been hard for me to do the walk in the late afternoon like I would have wanted. So I had to do it before I picked up the kiddos from school. I planned to leave at 12:50 to get there at 1. That way I'd have an hour and 20ish minutes to get it done and still have time to get a decent spot in line.

Well, my baby who normally is up by 12 from his nap, slept a bit longer today. That pushed his lunch back, which pushed my lunch back. I actually didn't end up leaving until almost ten after 1. I got there and started to walk, only to realize the sun was shining directly overhead. And with it being "winter" and all, there was no cover because of bare trees. It was 78 degrees then, with almost no breeze.

Then to makes matters worse, about halfway through the second mile, my left hamstring started hurting. I had already made the decision based on my pace and lateness that I would only do a 5k anyway. And this just sealed the deal. I really struggled to get through the third mile, but  did it! I was so relived when that walk was over!

 

For the first time, I was able to compare my Garmin 10 with my Fitbit.

Pretty stark difference I'd say. According to the Garmin, my pace was over 2 minutes slower, and I went a full 1/4th mile less than the Fitbit says. Weird, since they both use GPS, and they were side by side on my wrist. I didn't realize the difference would be that much! Either way, I definitely have some improvement to do with my pace, lol. Not that I put much stock into calorie counts, but they were vastly different too. 329 for the Garmin (that has my weight stored in) and 437 on the Fitbit (which also has my weight). Anyway, interesting comparison. 

I also took some pictures to give an idea of the Nature Trail and it's hills and turns.

              

Left: Looking up at the biggest incline hill. Right: At the top of the hill, looking down. 

              

             

Standing about halfway in between the trail. The lake at the bottom and the fence at the top.

              

Twists and turns.

              

The Riverwalk/Broadwalk portion.

Today my legs are still sore, so I will be resting!