Bye-Bye 2008

I decided that for 2009 I'm not going to make resolutions, instead I'm going to set goals for 2009. If I make resolutions then the first time I mess up I'm going to be angry with myself and quit... but goals are things you work towards achieving. If I mess up it's okay, I can get back up and keep going and it's okay. Goals are a work in progress. I like that idea better. Below I've posted my 2009 Personal Goals (pertaining to weight loss). I've included procrastinating because I think my procrastination effects all areas of my life... I get lazy and stall or I sometimes just allow myself to get distracted very easily. I'm done with that. Also improving my personal image isn't really weight related but sort of... I want to look in the mirror and feel good about myself. Right now I'm sort frumpy. Not just overweight, but also I dress sort of sloppy. I go any ol'way to work... I throw on whatever is clean. I don't want to be that way anymore. I'm currently going to school to further myself in the health industry, I need to start looking the part. I'm work as an Office Manager/Chiropractic Assistant. I'm basically the doctor's right-hand-woman. I know my job well. I have five years of experience under my belt, plus a background in management. But I don't feel people take me as seriously because of my appearance. It's sad but true. I want to feel good about myself, and for people to see as the professional that I am. I want to be taken serious. I want to start taking pride in the way I look. I do it during my time off, on the weekends when I'm spending time with Ross or going somewhere with Vi... I should be that caring everyday.

Here are my goals:
- No Procrastinating
- Improve Personal Image
- Reach WW Goal
- Make WW Lifetime
- Get to Personal Goal
- Exercise Everyday 5 days a week

Anyway, tomorrow is the start of a new year, and new beginnings. Here's to 2009!

CHALLENGERS! Our first Holiday challenge is over on Monday the 5th. Please have your weigh-in info to me by the 9th - that's next Friday. Also I'm sending every Challenger a little prize for participating, please send me your final weight and your mailing address if you haven't sent it already. Our new GET HOTT BY VALENTINE'S Challenge starts January 10th, I'll be posting details VERY soon. Let's get ready and get HOTT!

Happy 2009 Everyone!

Out Of Control

I feel like I've completely fallen off the wagon and my body is waiting for the first of January to get back on... even though it knows I can gain weight in the next two days...

Not having my regular weigh-in schedule/meeting has affected me. I think about a month ago around Thanksgiving I should of temporarly switched to Tuesdays because I know Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day were all going to fall on Thursdays. But I didn't, I thought I could handle it. But I can't... I need my meetings, I need my official weigh-ins and going on different days doesn't have the same affect. It doesn't. This week has been totally bad. I don't know if I've gained or have maintained because I know for sure I haven't lost anything.

I don't feel right, eating right I think has become a part of who I am... I feel terrible... since I've been off program almost every night I've had odd strange dreams. My body doesn't feel good and it's not even fun eating. I don't know what my deal is... I think for one I'm broke so I can't go grocery shopping right now to get the things that I need or want that are on program, and another thing is the holidays got the best of me... and not only that but not having my regular meeting to go to has truly thrown me off.

I'm trying to stay at least close to being on program. Tomorrow I'm going to do the same. I'm not trying to cause damage to what I've already lost but I think my mind is already set to start over on January 1st. I think I'll peek at the scale January 1st just to see what I've done... but my next official weigh-in won't be until the 8th exactly one week from the first... so it'll give me time to get rid of some of the holiday evidence.

I feel so gross right now.

Shortcuts to Healthy Cooking

If you're tired of takeout but too tired to cook, you can still eat healthy without a lot of effort.

Sometimes cooking healthy while you’re trying to lose weight can seem like extra effort, but it doesn’t have to be. If you're tired of takeout but too tired to cook, you can still eat well without a lot of effort. What's the secret? Cutting back on prep and cooking time, without adding calories.


Here are some recommendations

Shortcut Strategies

Purchase dried bean, rice and pasta mixes with flavor packets so that you don't have to measure out lots of spices and seasonings. (Buy reduced-sodium varieties if you're following a low-salt diet.)

Eliminate slicing and dicing with packages of fresh or frozen vegetables that are already cleaned and chopped or shredded.

Take home a whole roasted chicken to make a quick chicken salad, burrito or wrap.
Use canned and dehydrated soups as bases for heartier soups and stews.

Short on Time, Long on Flavor

Jodie Shield, M Ed, RD, recipe developer and nutrition consultant to The Chicago Tribune, shares some of her super-fast meal ideas below. A few more tips come from Bev Bennett, cookbook author and weight-loss columnist for The Los Angeles Times Syndicate.
For quick jambalaya., stir-fry salad-size shrimp, diced low-fat Italian sausage and chopped bell pepper. Combine with a cooked Cajun-style rice mix until well blended.
One-dish pasta entrées. make simple family meals. Try adding chopped broccoli and diced lean ham to a cooked reduced-fat macaroni-and-cheese mix. Or make a vegetarian version with chopped fresh tomatoes and lightly steamed asparagus tips.
Feed a crowd with a wild rice-turkey casserole: Stir-fry leftover turkey breast, chopped broccoli and dried cranberries; combine with a cooked wild-rice mix.
Go vegetarian with black bean burritos.. Stir-fry diced onions and combine them with canned black beans (rinsed and drained) and a cooked rice mix. Layer down the center of tortillas, top with salsa and low-fat shredded cheddar cheese, roll up, and bake until heated through and the tortillas are slightly browned.
Add a dash of lime juice, hot sauce and a cup of chopped cooked chicken breast to canned chicken soup. Sprinkle with cilantro and you've got hot-and-sour soup. in a jiffy.
Slice and arrange store-bought, precooked polenta. in a 9-inch square pan; top with soy-based chorizo and a little tomato sauce. Bake until just heated through, and you'll be dining Italian-style with almost no effort.

Orginally posted on WeightWatchers.com (http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=3&art_id=48881&sc=3002)

BLAH

I feel so blah. I've fallen off program and I can't get up. Okay, not really I ate like crap yesterday and today. Yesterday I started the day off great but by the time we were on the drive to Ross' I hadn't eaten, caved and we went to Nations. This morning I got up and had homemade tortillas, hash browns, eggs and real Mexican hot chocolate from the disc, no prepackaged envelope bs. Ohhh it was sooo good. Now I feel like shit. I'm going to drink some water, not get to crazy and get back on program tomorrow.

I didn't go to weigh-in... so the next time I can go is Thursdays January 8th... so that gives me some time to get my butt back into gear and lose some weight before than.

How did your Christmas week go?

Super Saturday

I'm back on program today. I started out my day with oatmeal and a 1/2 cup fat free milk, sweetened with splenda. 3 points and it keeps me full for hours. I haven't journaled in two days. I need to find my passport thingy asap. I'm going to weigh-in tomorrow. I was only .2 away from my 15 pound goal last weigh-in, but that was before Christmas... who knows now. We'll see. Wish me luck.

The Day After

I didn't journal again today. I'm not even sure I know where my tracker and stuff are... but I think I did okay. I'm having an issue getting in all my water. Tomorrow's a new day... and the day before weigh in.

The holidays have thrown off my weighing-in schedule. I weighed-in on Tuesday, now I'm going to weigh-in on Sunday... my next weigh-in will have to be Thursday January 8th! Well at least it'll give me time to get a good first loss of the year going.

Not much going on here... getting my list of new year resolutions going.

For those of you who are doing the holiday challenge... make sure to get a finally weigh-in to me on January 5th. I'm getting my ideas for prizes together now. I'll also get hosting another challenge for those who want to participate... I'll have more details up soon.

Choosing2Lose's 12 Pounds of Christmas Final Challenge Update

Christmas Eve

I'm sorry I don't have time to do a real post. I'm running around today like a chicken with my head cut off... for me Christmas is a two-day celebration. If you mess up today, it's okay... just make sure to journal, journal, journal! Like my leader said at the last meeting... on Christmas if you over do it - journal it and call it a vegetable! I love that leader!

Merry Christmas!

Crazy Tuesday

It's been a crazy day... starting with losing 1.4 pounds this week! I am pumped. I spent the rest of the day roaming around San Francisco... we finally went to the holiday ice skating ring. We had sooooo much fun. I'll have to write a better entry tomorrow. Right now I need to get started on some holiday baking and journaling everything I had to day. I didn't have much, but it was bad stuff...

Throwing In The Towel

I'm throwing in the towel for this week... I feel hopeless about it. I'm feeling bloated, didn't eat my best... etc. Tomorrow is weigh-in which is good, because tomorrow I get to start all over again.

Laziness? Unmotivated?

I'm having a problem with journaling. I don't know what my deal is... laziness? I think I did pretty good yesterday, of course I don't know because I haven't journaled my food yet.

I did however pass up temptation to order pizza. Vi was totally pushing me into it... but nope. I didn't cave. Okay well... I did for a second but I picked myself up. I got online and started to place the order until I realized I didn't have any avaible money in my checking account and would have to pay for it when the guy came to deliver it. I was sort of too lazy to dig in my pockets so I decided against ordering pizza.

Today I'm motivated. I woke up late and haven't had breakfast, I'm going to get up and have some as soon as I finish this post. Imma have some oatmeal. I think I'll make beans and rice for dinner. I'll see if I can convince my mother to pick me up some chicken and I'll make rice bowls for dinner. Rice, beans, a little chicken and salsa.

For lunch maybe I'll have a Weight Watcher's Shake or pull something out of the freezer. I have to see what I have in there.

Well, I've got a busy day ahead of me. I have my living room to finish, and my kitchen to do. Sometime between now and Christmas Eve I have to find some time to go to the store and pick up some food for Christmas. Maybe I shouldn't of slept in this morning.

I've better get moving.

Super Saturday

Since I went over my points yesterday I need to be good today. I woke up but I'm not hungry at all. I'm going to have some oatmeal in a bit. I still haven't finished journaling my food from yesterday.

Giving it some thought I think for Christmas Eve and Christmas I'm going to allow myself to eat whatever I want, count it as my flex points but the main rule is I have to journal it and calculate the points before I eat it.

Well, I've better get going. I have tons to do today.

TGIF

I'm tired today, and I've over eaten. I don't know how much over my points I went but for sure I'll be super dipping into my flex points. I had two fried chicken breast. Now I feel sick to my stomach from all that grease.

Getting Back In Gear...

There's no excuse, but there are reasons. I had a gain this week... 1.2. I can't honestly say I don't know why. I ate! I ate, and ate and didn't journal properly and didn't stick to my points. That's why I had a gain. There isn't anything I can do to erase last week... I can only look forward to next week and really kick some Weight Watcher Ass!

This past week has been tough. I've been gathering my Christmas gifts, I haven't even wrapped them. My class final exam was today. It's been a stressful week and I'm starting to think when I get stressed I run to my old friend - Junk Food.

I already feel some of the stress ease up, just finishing off the semester and being 90% done gift shopping... my next weigh in is going to be on Tuesday due to the holidays.

Well... I've better get back to decorating the tree...

Sagging

In my 32 years of life, I never noticed any sagging... okay maybe slightly in my breast if I compared them to when I was 17... but that happens. But today in the mirror (in a very unflattering angle if I may add), I noticed MY BUTT IS STARTED TO SAG! I noticed my breast were a little lower last week... I just figured I needed better support .

First my breast now my butt?! I'm assuming it's from the almost 15 pounds that I lost. I haven't lost this much weight in a VERY long time... 2001 maybe. WTF AM I GOING TO DO?! I CAN'T LET THIS HAPPEN! I would rather have a big ol'booty and a big old stomach for my saggy breast to sit on.

But I've worked hard to lose these 15 pounds and I love the feeling of fitting in to most larges, more than Ex-larges. I think this is a sign that it's time to get serious about my workouts and tone up. I think I can lift them all up with some good old exercise.

On a better note, last night I was looking in my closet for possible coats I can share with the homeless... it's been beyond super cold over here - snow in the hills cold. We don't get snow in California... especially here by the bay. It just don't happen here, but it's been happening this week. Anyway... I pulled out this coat a co-worker had given me about 5 years ago. It fit snuggly then, so snug that I couldn't wear it comfortably. I would try it on from time to time but it always fit the same... uncomfortably snug. Last night I poured my saggy ass and boobs into it and guess what?! IT FITS! Yes! I couldn't believe it. I'm pumped. Imma start wearing it after new years.

For 2009, since I'm already losing weight - my resolution isn't to lose weight. It's to improve my self image. I'm going to get my home organized, and my closet together... get rid of clothes that aren't flattering and start dressing a little better. In the last few months I've been shopping around and have a nice collection of slacks at thrift stores. Now I just need shoes and a few more sweaters. It's time. I work in a professional environment, my boss dresses nicely and I look like a rundown intern. My hair is usually messy, I wear jeans and running shoes everyday. I'm 32, a full grown adult. It's time I start dressing like one.

Tomorrow's weigh-in. The holidays are tough and I haven't done my best this week but I think there is still hope for a loss. I'm going to stick to program and try to get more water in... I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.

Off

I'm off this week, I went over yesterday not too bad - but still it was over. I started to day wrong too. I'm going to get a grip. As soon as I'm done updating here, I'm going to make me a WW shake, pack some healthy snacks to take with me to the doctor (going with my mother to her appointment) and going to keep healthy in mind when planning dinner. I'm going to save the day.

Chocolate Marshmallow Bark

POINTS® Value: 3
Servings: 12
Preparation Time: 5 min
Cooking Time: 5 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy

A sweet treat for all your holiday gatherings. The name ‘bark’ sounds fancy but this candy bar-like treat couldn't be easier to make.

Ingredients
8 oz bittersweet chocolate
2 tsp unsalted butter
3 cup(s) Kraft Jet-Puffed Mini Marshmallows
* Line a 9- X 9-inch pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil.

* In a double boiler, melt chocolate and butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly combined; remove from heat and stir in marshmallows. Scrape chocolate mixture into prepared pan using a silicon spatula; smooth into a somewhat even layer. Refrigerate until chocolate sets, at least 1 hour; keep refrigerated until ready to eat. Cut into 12 pieces and serve. Yields 1 piece per serving.

Notes

* This basic recipe is very versatile: You can add your own favorite ingredients like nuts, dried fruit, crispy cereal, crisp crumbled cookies or even fresh fruit. If you use fresh fruit, however, the bark must be refrigerated and eaten the day it is made. Fresh strawberries, blueberries and pineapple are all excellent options (could affect POINTS values).

Festive Feta Spread

POINTS Value: 3
Servings: 16
Preparation Time: 15 min
Cooking Time: 0 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy

This dip was a favorite at a recent recipe tasting. It stays fresh in the refrigerator for up to five days so it's great for drop-in holiday guests.

Ingredients
7 oz roasted red peppers
1 pound(s) 1/3 less-fat cream cheese
4 oz reduced-fat feta cheese
1 large garlic clove(s)
1/4 tsp black pepper
3 tbsp dill
1/4 cup(s) dill
10 1/2 oz baked low-fat tortilla chips

Instructions

* Slice off a 1 1/2-inch piece of roasted pepper to use for garnish; wrap and refrigerate. In a food processor, combine remaining roasted peppers, cream cheese, feta cheese, garlic and black pepper; process until smooth. Add chopped dill; pulse until evenly distributed.

* Scrape mixture into a serving bowl; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour (or up to 5 days) to firm up slightly and for flavors to blend.

* To serve, smooth surface of dip with a spatula. Arrange dill sprigs on top in a circular fashion to form a “wreath;” cut reserved piece of roasted pepper into tiny “berries" and place on wreath. Or create any other decorative pattern you desire. Yields about 3 tablespoons of spread and 8 chips per serving.

Notes

* This recipe can be cut in half to serve 8, but it keeps so well (up to 5 days refrigerated) that it makes sense to make the whole batch to have on hand for those unexpected holiday guests. Serve with pita wedges, whole grain crisp breads or crackers and/or raw vegetables. (The dip alone is 2 POINTS values for 3 tablespoons.)

Saturday

So far, I'm doing pretty good today. I haven't lost the weekend yet. We just made pizza, I'm waiting for it to cool. I might have to dip into my flex points tonight. We might go dancing or practice our Salsa video here at the house, so I might be getting some exercise in. I'm not going to work out today and I only got 28 minutes of slow walking in yesterday... tomorrow I'm getting on the treadmill.

Well that's about it for today... not much going on. Gonna to go enjoy my Ross Time...

Back 2 Blogging

Finally a written entry. I missed writing, but I committed myself to one week of videos and I did just that. This week I'm committing myself to one week on complete program, and I'm doing just that. I'm aiming to hit all my intake and exercise goals.

Last week, if you watched my videos - you'll know I didn't do so well. But luckily, I still lost. I don't like the feeling of getting on the scale and guessing/hoping/praying that I have a loss. I prefer getting on the scale and feeling confident I'm lower. I feel like a super star when I see a loss. I'm aiming for that every weigh-in.

My treadmill is still down, my goal this week is to find another way to exercise for now. I moved some stuff around this week in my living room so now I have room to do videos. 30 minutes 5 days is my exercise goal. Yesterday, we walked to Dollar Tree and back, it over an hour of exercise... so I counted it as 46 minutes. For everyday that I exercise I'm going to give myself a foil star sticker on my journal. My goal is to collect 5 a week and earn at least 10 activity points.

My weeks run from Thursday through Wednesday. So this week I'm planning to not workout Sunday and Wednesday. Sunday: just because it's Sunday and that's usually my lazy day, and Wednesday because I have a full day this next Wednesday. I work all day, then I have to prepare for my final Thursday morning.

One routine I'm aiming to get into is to plan and prepare my food the night before. Giving it some thought, I've some up with a lose plan:

- Almost every morning I have a Weight Watcher's shake, blended with a cup of fat free milk and ice. I can preload the blender with the milk and shake powder and store it in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning all I have to do is drop in the ice and blend it up.

- Also keeping low points snacks on hand and zero point veggies in baggies ready to pack in my lunch tote for work will help also. I just have to remember not to pack too many pointed snacks and focus on getting in more vegetables.

- Ideally, I would like to pack salads for lunch. But I need to work on that. I haven't had a salad in a long time. Dinner I still don't have worked out... I'm going to aim to have a healthy carb, protein, and vegetable.

My plan isn't fully worked out, but I'm getting there...

I just realized this morning when changing my email signature that I'm only 4.6 pounds away from reaching my 10%! This is very exciting for me. My next goal after reaching my 10% will be my 25 pound loss. That would put me at 171.2. I can't wait.

I'm also making changes in my BMI number. Starting my number was 34.8 now I'm a little down... 32.2 - getting to 29.9 (169) would get me out of the Obesity category in into the Overweight one. I have a long away to go, so I'll just keep chipping away.

Make-up But No Hair Brushing...

DietSodaDiva's One Week Marathon - Day 7

DietSodaDiva's One Week Marathon - Day 6

DietSodaDiva's One Week Marathon - Day 5

DietSodaDiva's One Week Marathon - Day 4

DietSodaDiva's One Week Marathon - Day 3

DietSodaDiva's One Week Marathon - Day 2

DietSodaDiva's One Week Marathon - Day 1

it's wednesday...

My excitments been kind of down. Can you tell? I've been feeling blah. I think Thanksgiving wore me out and I'm still trying to recover.

I haven't been very good on program. Yesterday, was the first day I didn't really journal. I remember what I ate, so I'll write it down today. I'm sure I went over my points.

This morning, I was thinking about what was going on with me. What is up with this week. I'm not really stressed. Sunday, Ross and I did watch a history channel documentary thingy about the end of the world, etc... which was pretty scary for me to think about and caused me anxiety for a couple of days. I don't like when people start talking about that, or speak of a bleak future. I like to think positive and dream of a positive future... not that the world we know today is going to turn into hell... anyway...

Even though the show caused a little anxiety, I don't think that has anything to do with my lack of motivation this week. I don't even think it's a lack of motivation... it's a lack of healthy options in my house. I wasn't able to get groceries this week... so Friday or Saturday morning I'm heading to the grocery store and getting my butt back into high weight losing gear.

Now, I just have to work out my exercise situation.

TOM came yesterday, gggrrrr... I got on the scale this morning and it said 182.5 even though it's only showing 1.1 pound for the last two weeks... it means (if my scale is correct) that these past two weeks I've:

- Broken the plateau
- Lost during Thanksgiving
- And am SUPER close to getting my 15 pound loss marker (only 1.3) more to go. Once I get my 15 pound marker I'm well on my way to earning my 10% award! After that I think I'll still be aiming for my mini 5-pound goals and set a medium goal of 17 more pounds. When I hit my 2nd 10% (17 pounds) that'll put me at a tiny bit over 1/2 of my total goal and at a smoking HOT 160.2. I was hot at 160ish. I have a picture of me that weight I'll have to post it later.

Well, I better get going now... I'll be posting a video tomorrow... hopefully.

Happy Losing...

So Tired

It's been a crazy long day, a full day in the math lab, then working at my mothers. I didn't journal at all... I know what I ate and tomorrow morning I'll journal it all... I don't think it's going to be good... this week was basically shot. I can't wait until Thursday to get weigh-in over with and start a brand new week. Starting Thursday for one full week I'm going to attempt to make a video a day. Lately, I've been on youtube a lot watching other weight losers videos... some post everyday. I don't think it's for me... but maybe for just a week if I make a video a day, it'll get me back in track. I'm still expecting a loss this week.

Sad Monday

Yesterday, I went over my points so I'll have to work those used points into my journal for the rest of the week. Yesterday, however I did get my butt moving on the treadmill and did a pretty good walk/run... the most I've done since I started exercising again...2.22 miles in 30 minutes! I went up from about 1.83 since I started either last week or the week before.

This morning Ross looked at my treadmill and declared it out of commission until he can see if he can fix it. I'm not sure if I mentioned it but when I'm on the treadmill the band moves to one side, and now it's all raggedy on the left side. Ross said for me not to use it until he can take a look at it. :( I'm going to clean up the living room today, so tomorrow I can get some exercise in using a video. I have a tae bo dvd, and a few other ones I can use. It won't be the same as going for a walk/run, but exercise is exercise... and the last time I tried tae bo it kicked my butt.

Thursday is weigh-in and I'm pretty confident I'll have a loss. Maybe not what I'm expecting but after being the same weight for 3-4 weeks in a roll, I'll take anything under 183.something.

Today, so far I feel pretty good. We went to bed late, so I slept in since I couldn't use the treadmill. I had my morning shake, and didn't really pack any snacks... I have tons of water drinking to catch up with so I'm doing that until lunch time. I'm not even hungry, I'm trying to get away from snacking just because I have the food and the points to eat it. I've totally cut down on my Fiber One bars, I was addicted to them for a minute there.

Well, that's it for now. I'm hoping to make a video this week... either tomorrow or Thursday. Most-likely Thursday.

Happy Week...