Off to a good start!

I lost 1.8 lbs this week!  I had a few cheating moments as well but stuck to my points on most days.  I did reach my goal of working out three times this week and I am SORE, which is great!!   I had an awesome workout this morning with The Firm...it is the BEST workout I have ever done...the "tall box climb" absolutely wipes me out so I know I am burning fat!  

When I weighed in last week, I decided I would like to lose 14 lbs.  My weight loss goal for this week is 1-2 lbs.   My current motivation is our 4th anniversary weekend in July...we are getting a hotel room in Sarasota for a couple of nights and plan on spending lots of time on the beach...so I would like to NOT feel like a gordita in my bathing suit, but a hottie instead! ;)   

Congrats Scale Dodger!  And Mamacita, you are SO not a gordita!!  Keep up the good work girls!!!  

Mamacita Gordita

The good, the bad and the ugly, we stick it out for 6 months, right? Well, this week I show a gain of 0.3 !!!!!!!! Oy, I ate 37 flex points, so maybe that is my problem? I also ate 29 points a day--maybe more than I needed? Maybe I should cut back to 25 pts a day.

I am so happy for you, Scale Dodger. I know you worked hard. Maybe I will join you next week in losing!

Scale Dodger Rejoices!

Hopefully we all feel a little better after the first week of our new routine. Eating better and adding in exercise always makes me feel better. Even when the scale doesn't move that much I just feel more balanced when I eat better and exercise. I didn't get to exercise as much as I had planned, but I think I can increase a little more each week. I did really good with my points. I had a few cheat moments, but I had exercised on those days to allow for more calories. Sadly, you really can't hide peanut M&M's from the scale in the morning. Today I weighed in and barely wanted to look at the scale because I thought it may not be very good. I had lost 2.8 lbs by Wednesday and then the scale creeped up a little each day. I was happy to see that the scale gave me a 2 pound loss for the week. I think that is a good amount for my first week back. Now if I can just maintain that and lose a little each week I'd be very happy.

Goals:
Exercise:
Cardio at least 4 times this week
Strength training 3-4 times this week
Stay within my point range (20pts) +5pts on workout days
Stay motivated........

The staying motivated is the hard part for me. I want to tone up and look better, but my clothes fit. Its when my clothes get uncomfortable that I get truly motivated. I get sloppy and a bit lazy when I am at a comfortable weight. Hopefully, I can stay motivated and keep up my healthy lifestyle. I did just get new running shoes, so hopefully I can get out and run a few times this week. These were a belated birthday present it wasn't my monthly goal prize. I will save that for June 26th girls night out!

Weighing in at 133.8lb (5-30-09)
Loss of 2 lbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hoping for 132.8-133.3 next week (6-6-09)

Declutter Diet

Good Morning! I am up early because of my darling baby. I felt the beginnings of a migraine coming on when I first woke up, so I decided to weigh-in before getting my Excedrin fix. Thankfully the scale moved back in the right direction, to 126.9, so hopefully I do not have a thyroid problem but rather a sodium problem. Maybe by Saturday I will see an actual loss!

I think I subscribe to too many diet tips! This is bad for my inbox & creates clutter there, but good for you because I post the best tips here for you. I read about the connection to decluttering & weight loss a while back, and I have been on my own little kick lately. Last night I decluttered half-a-shelf in the pantry while my daughter ate a snack. This may not seem like much, but carting two grocery bags of expired baby food & receiving a more streamlined shelf in exchange sure lifted my spirits!

Here's a tidbit from one that I got yesterday (as always, when I post these tips, scroll over to view the original source, though it will navigate you away from this page):

Do you know the best kept secret to improve your weight loss success?
Throw something away! Yes – that’s right. Reducing the clutter from your life helps you to reduce the weight from your body. It may seem like an unrelated and insignificant step but releasing unnecessary stuff emotionally frees you to release unnecessary weight.

You may also enjoy these links:

http://weight-loss-motivators.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_clutter_hinders_weight_loss#ixzz0GhaSsspT&B

Get Declutter & Weight Loss Tips from the FlyLady

Listen to Peter Walsh on Oprah.Com

Setbacks & All or Nothing Mentality

Here's a Quote from Jillian Michaels' Email Today:

"If you haven't already done so, it's definitely time to kill the all-or-nothing attitude. One great way to do that is to get real regarding setbacks. We are all bound to have lapses on the road to health and wellness, so it's critical that we learn how to handle small failures positively, to minimize their long-term destructive effects. One setback is one setback — it's not the end of the world, nor is it the end of your journey toward a better you!"

I definitely need that quote today! Again, my weight went up--an entire POUND since yesterday. I am frustrated and most of all worried that the medicine I am taking to raise my Prolactin levels is also slowing my thyroid function. I did some reading online & there is some connection to weight gain & Domperidone. Hopefully I am just bloated from a high sodium picnic-food weekend. Weigh-in is not until Saturday officially, so hopefully things will look brighter by then if I commit to doing the right things this week, instead of letting this turn into something with "long-term destructive effects." Regardless, I plan to wean off the medicine. I think it has done its job, & hopefully now that Leighton is almost 6 months we will be starting solids soon.

My game plan regarding the gym also falls right in line with steering away from an all-or-nothing mentality and moving more towards reaching for small goals. I think I should just aim to be there 3 times a week during this first month. If I make it more often, great. I am also shifting my focus from cardio to adding in more strength training. Today I did the strength circuit for 25 minutes & elliptical for 10 minutes. Normally I would try to do the reverse, but I would love to be toning up by getting in more strength sessions. And if I can't get to the gym during childcare hours, I will just bring the kids & push the stroller on the indoor track. Beats the heat!

Where do you need to tweak an all-or-nothing attitude?

It's a Marathon, not a Sprint!

That's the title of an article that came to my email today from Calorie Count. Today's article was particularly encouraging, as it was a lady's testimony after reaching her weight goal. It was also great to read because today I gained weight for the 2nd day in a row! I don't know if this has to do with Leighton sleeping more at night so I am "fuller" in the morning, or that I have slacked on my herbs which aid in digestion & do a great job of keeping the plumbing functioning properly, or if it's just that I haven't hit my "sweet spot" for how many points I should eat while nursing. PLUS, yesterday I went to a picnic & a bday party. Normally not a big deal, but we were late & the only thing left that was lo-carb were the meats & condiments. To feel full I had to eat 2 hamburger patties at the picnic, and 2 hotdogs at the party. I allowed myself the treat of a tiny serving of bday cake & ice cream. I am counting that as my "flex" points, and I definitely went over my 30 points no matter how you slice it for the day--cake or no cake. At this point I have 15 flex points that I can use today. I need to get serious. No mayonnaise on my Hamburger Salad today at Mimi's house. And maybe no cheese either. Maybe I will allow myself to have cheese again after my weight gets back to 126.5 or lower. I am so annoyed. A pound up. But again, "It's a Marathon, Not a Sprint." Which brings me to those promised 5 tips:

• Commit.
• Find some support and a tool that will really help, for instance
  Calorie Count.
• Research - you'll be surprised how much you don't know about your
  body.
• Don't get frustrated. Even if you gave in and took the day off or
  ate the cake, there is a reset button on the next meal or next day. It's never too late to start over.
• Losing weight is a marathon, not a sprint - so be realistic. Not everyone has the ability to focus only on losing weight, so if you aren't seeing as big results as everyone else, don't worry. As long as you are maintaining
  or losing anything, then you are headed in the right decision.

Scale Dodger Reporting In

Oh goodie, I got on the scale. I wish I could have dodged this one, but its all good. Last night I lost control as I smeared the peanut butter on top of the warm chocolate chip cookie my husband baked. Yes, he makes himself cookies almost every night. I usually don't care, but I figured this was my last chance to eat something crazy.

Today I was 135.7 lbs.

I exercised yesterday, but not today.

Breakfast: I ate an egg white omlette (1pt) with shredded mexican cheese (1pt) and a sandwich thin (1pt)grilled in the pan.

Coffee: 3 cups w/sugarfree creamer(3pts)

Lunch: sandwich thin (1pt) BBQ chicken (4pts)

Snack: cinnamon graham crackers (2pts) whipped cream (1pt)

Dessert: ice cream (5pt)

Total: 19pts

Okay so not the healthiest menu, but its a start. We didn't eat dinner because we had a late lunch.

Rewards Along the Weigh

Announcing our rewards system:

We will have a monthly meet-up. Just before this meet up, if you have stayed within the guidelines of your own healthy lifestyle "Slimdown" Plan, you are to go out and get yourself a self-esteem boost treat. This could be anything from a new shirt, lip-gloss, eye liner, eye brow waxing, shoes, or a new pair of jeans. The amount of money you spend is up to you. You are to reward yourself regardless of the number of the scale, because sticking to the Plan is reason enough to celebrate!

So get in mind what it is you think would make you feel better about the way you look, even if it is new sunglasses, and save the date for June 26th. The rule is you have to wear or use your "Slimdown" prizes to our meetup. Details of the June 26th Meetup to follow. And yes, you may invite other ladies to the event, and yes, other ladies are free to join us, even after today! For them it can be a Five Month committment or they can just extend their end-date six months out from their join date.

Have a fabulous month and don't forget about June 26th!
--Mamacita here I go again! My my! How could I forget ya?

Low-Carb Breakfast Today

Mushroom & Provolone Frittata
* Saute Sliced mushrooms in Butter Flavor Pam
*Pour in 2 scrambled eggs
* Sprinkle with Chef Paul's Vegetable Magic
*Cover until eggs are fully cooked

Coffee with Half n Half & Sugar-Free Kahlua Coffee Syrup by DaVinci (available at Sam's Club)

Seasoning available @ Publix, can also be ordered online at http://www.kpauls.com/site.php?pageID=285&iteminfo=1&productID=229

Weigh-In Day #1

Today is my first weigh-in day. Before I tell you the number, let me explain that about 2 months ago I weighed 2.5 pounds LESS. May not seem like much, but it definitely makes a difference in the way my clothes are fitting. The good news is that maybe 2 weeks ago, I weighed anywhere from 2.5-4.5 pounds heavier. So I guess a few days of dieting is good for the soul--or at least the self-esteem. While I am sure this was just a drop in water weight, I will take it! It makes me feel so much better to get on the scale after watching what I eat for even 2 or 3 days. I realize the number is just a digit, but I like to see it lower before I actually get on the scale. Like on those first episodes of biggest loser, where they get on the scale and they act like they had no idea they weighed so much and they sometimes even cry--yep, that's how I feel after a few weeks of binging when I finally get back on the scale...

TODAY I WEIGHED 126.5
5/23/09 -- 126.5

Keep your eyes on the prize, ladies. Remember, it truly is not about the number on the scale but about a commitment to your personal healthy eating plan. Have a great week!
--Mamacita

Shake what your Mama gave ya!

Reporting my first exercise triumph! Last night...even in the midst of the torrential rain...I dragged my butt to Zumba class with a friend...it was 45 minutes of intense hip shaking, salsa, mambo, merengue fun! I love Zumba class!!! It is an awesome workout and the time flies by. Although being a Latin girl, you'd think it would come more naturally to me. But I grew up in a non-dancing household and only learned to Salsa when I was 15 for my friends "Quince". Waist down I can dance, but waist up? You'd think I was a white girl from Iowa! But I'm working on my shimmy...there's hope for me yet...;)

My goal is to do cardio/strength training for 30-45 minutes 5 times per week. I'll be doing a combination of going to the gym with the hubby in the mornings, Zumba, The Firm and Tae Bo bootcamp. I need a variety because I get easily bored. I'm hoping if I make 5 times per week my goal, I will AT LEAST exercise 3 times per week (Realism is also key!).

Good luck, Mamacita and Scale Dodger! We can do it!!!

Introducing Dieter #3: Elle B. Loser

You can call me Elle

My weight has fluctuated a LOT over the years...I was pretty thin as a kid but gained weight in high school and was at my heaviest senior year. Freshmen year of college I lost 35 lbs! A few years ago the weight went back up almost to my heaviest again, and between Weight Watchers and a Family Biggest Loser contest, I lost about 20 lbs. But again...I've gained a litt bit since then, so now my goal is to lose between 10 and 15 lbs (depending on what the dreaded scale says on Saturday morning).

I am really excited about the Six Month Slimdown because accountability has always been the key to my success in the past...in college I had friends who called me at 6am in the morning and yelled for my lazy butt to get out of bed! I've also noticed that its harder for me to lose weight the older I get...which means I HAVE to add in the element of exercise because dieting alone isn't enough. I may lose a few lbs with dieting but I won't get the toned body that I want. My desire is also to be healthy so I can live a long life with my family!

One of my main problems is eating out. Whenever I go to a sit down restaurant I feel like it's a special occasion so I want to eat the yummiest thing on the menu; not something boring. But the problem with that is...we eat out too often for it to not cause MAJOR problems on the scale! So I'm trying to drill it into my THICK SKULL that this is not a "diet" but a new LIFESTYLE for me. Yes, I can treat myself occasionally here and there but consuming a 2,000 calorie meal in one sitting is not ok...(hello, Outback cheese fries, how I love you!)...my point is everything in moderation is the key. That is why I love Weight Watchers...nothing is strictly forbidden...which works better for me because as soon as you tell me I can't eat something, I want it MORE! So I'll be on the WW plan and sticking to 20 points each day.

So let the games begin...bikini body, here I come right in time for summer!
--Elle

Salmon Imperial: Low Carb Dinner Idea

Salmon Imperial (Dinner Done)

Sweet Shredded Cabbage Salad & Tuscan Steamed Broccoli

I have read that 50% of our dinner plate should be made up of fruits & vegetables. Not sure how to make vegetables delicious? I have had many of my friends ask me about this over the years. I very rarely use starches as sides with my dinners.


My main dish came from Dinner Done, my secret to fresh & nutritious yet easy meals. Dinner Done is a prepare ahead kitchen, which saves me lots of time in the kitchen on busy week nights.

Tuscan Steamed Broccoli*
Bird's Eye Frozen Broccoli from Sam's Club
Add 2 tbsp butter & Tuscany Blend Bread Dip
Seasonings by JM Exotic Foods
*Cover & Microwave until hot

* Veggie Seasoning Tip: I use bread dip seasoning sprinkled over veggies. Great combinations are usually easy to find at your local grocery store. I also flavor with either butter,
olive oil, or Pam Butter Flavor Spray.

Sweet Shredded Cabbage Salad*
Taylor Farms Cole Slaw Purchased @ Sam's Club
Drizzle with Balsamic Vinegar & Olive Oil
Sweeten to Taste with Sugar Free Cary's Pancake Syrup
or Pure Maple Syrup
(I sprinkle with granulated Splenda to cut carbs)

*Did you know cabbage is packed with nutritional value?
I found this cool website with great info stating what puts cabbage into the power foods category

http://www.dietobio.com/aliments/en/cabbage.html

*
What are your favorite ways to prepare vegetables for a side dish?

Comments, please!

Exercise Success

Today I decided I would finally make it to the gym, but by the time everyone was loaded in the car I realized I would only have 15 minutes in the gym since the childcare would be closing soon. I decided to do the elliptical anyway, even if it was only 15 minutes. After my exciting workout, I took the kids for laps in the stroller inside the basketball gymnasium. Hey, in Florida when it's hot & muggy, I'll take a billion tiny laps over four more substantial laps outside in the sweltering humidity. So yay for actually doing something and not letting any excuses get in the way!

Since I was in a hurry, I shoveled in 2 slices of turkey & a slice of reduced fat American Cheese (Kraft Deli Delights). For a snack I had a Diet Mountain Dew & 1.5 slices of sharp cheddar cheese. For lunch I had a mushroom omelette. YUM. Dinner will be some salmon from Dinner Done.

Well, Good night & good luck.
--Mamacita

More about Committment than the Number

Today Scale Dodger & I were talking. She brought up an interesting point. This challenge is not so much about the number on the scale as the commitment to our healthy eating & fitness plan. We are committing to stick with it for six months, rain or shine, loss or gain. Now, the healthy eating plan happens to include reduced calorie intake so as to stimulate weight loss. YAY! I need to lose some serious Elle Bees (great nickname for any dieter who might wish to join our challenge).

Introducing Dieter #2: Scale Dodger

Here we go...hopefully this blog will encourage us and our readers. Let me start by saying that I am not a possible Biggest Loser candidate, however when I get on the scale I feel like a big loser. I have all the motivation in the world and determination too, but then something in life changes or shifts and I fall back into an old pattern. Your diet has to be something that you can live with. Otherwise everything you did to get there is gone. We started a strict diet on Weight Watchers in January. We made it to about April and then just stopped. I felt that I hit a plateau (sp?). I could not get below 130 lbs. I started at 142.6 and got down to 130.2. Now I am back up on the scale. On Saturday we will post our new weights...that should be fun. We are giving ourselves a little grace so that the scale is not so scary. Nice idea since I just got my monthly friend.

Here are my goals:
Nickname: Scale Dodger
I would like to be under 130 (125 or less)
I would like to look toned and healthy.
I plan to do cardio 5 days a week and strength training everyday.
(cardio: elliptical trainer or running/walking; strength training: abs, push-ups, etc.)

Just an FYI, I really want to get pregnant so the only reason I would deviate from this plan is if I get pregnant. Then I will just start planning for a healthy weight gain.

Current stats:
I am 32 years old
height: 5'5"
weight: ? (CHECK BACK ON SATURDAY)

Want to join in on the accountability?

Send us an email and we will post your info.

We want to know your stats, your story, and your goals. Give yourself a nickname and if you send pictures please crop out faces. We want to keep this as anonymous as possible.

When you reach your goal we can post your "after" photo if you like!

Gearing Up

I started my 2 week no-carb phase today. It happened by accident. I was meeting a girlfriend for lunch @ 11 AM so I didn't have time for my normal breakfast of old fashioned oats. Instead I just had my coffee, and made it to lunch about 10 minutes late. (Being late is a serious problem for me.) So Sara & I met @ the food court. I decided on the way over, today was my day. I had a clean slate. No breakfast. A very brief fast to gear up for the sudden diet change. Yesterday I was packing an ice cream dish as full as I could, and here today I had gotten it in my head to go no-carbs.

What did I eat on my first day back?
LUNCH:12 chicken nuggets (yes, they have carbs, but minimal), Buffalo Sauce
Snack: Sliced turkey, cheese wedge, cheese stick
Dinner: Salmon, cabbage salad
Snack: Walnuts, Matol Jello (leftover from pre-baby order)

And now just maybe I can get 20 winks before a darling 5 month old calls for his midnight snack!

Introducing Dieter #1: Mamacita

Briefly Introduce Yourself:
I'm MAMACITA. I am a stay-at-home WORK@home Mom & I have baby weight to lose. Just 20 pounds. I am guessing at that number because I refuse to officially weigh-in until Saturday.

Why have you started this challenge?
* I really miss my skinny jeans! I know I could get there quickly if I purchased the MATOL diet, but it is sooo expensive & not deemed "safe" for nursing mothers. I plan to set aside some money in a six-month c.d. and if I fail to reach my goal by my son's first birthday, then I will allow myself to use that money to purchase my diet food. But I really don't want to have to do that. I'd love to have that money for something else, to have as a reward for meeting my goal! So to help myself stay motivated, I am gathering my friends to participate in this six-month slim down.

Tell us a little about your weight history:
* I have always been a little overweight. Not enough to elicit too much teasing in high school, but enough to be invisible to most of my guy friends and to never even be asked to be a bridesmaid. Once I got out of college & started working I lost 25 pounds by joining Weight Watchers. I always thought I would have liked to get more tone, but after getting married & having a baby, I lost my desire to count points. When my husband & I were trying to have a second baby, things weren't going so smoothly in the fertility department, so to cheer myself up I switched over from the South Beach Diet to the pricey MATOL diet. It worked like a charm and I lost about 25 pounds in maybe 3 months. While we were TTC I actually weighed 10-15 pounds less than I did on our wedding day. Much to our delight, I did eventually conceive a son, the apple of my eye, and now I have some extra dimples on my thighs!

What's your diet plan &/or approach?
* It seems like I do really well on carb-restricted diets. Otherwise I seem to eat too much of the processed carbs & then slow down my weight loss. But it helps when I watch my portions, so I like weight watchers or else calorie counting for that. I weigh my food like crazy at home! I also believe I need to eat enough calories and that it is possible to eat too few. And like Weight Watchers suggests, I need to be hitting the gym almost daily. So I am aiming for 30 minutes 4-5x/week. We'll see how that goes with a 3yr old & 5 month old!

What's the Skinny?

So what's the skinny? Mama wants to get skinny. I know. I know. A zillion dieter blogs are out there. Well, this is mine. Okay, OURS. We are getting together our best girlfriends to post here for the next six months. Yes, six months. Because I am nursing and I don't feel right about doing the diet I want to do, so I have to find a way around that. So for six months I plan to do a spin on the Weight Watchers diet, the low-carb version. And my friends, they too are WW, but not nec low-carb.

We will post our feelings, our triumphs, and diet tips & tricks--winners & losers! Check back often for a good laugh and to commiserate along this six month journey. Each new poster will have an introductory post, along with optional "before" shots (fully clothed & faces cropped!).

Let the journey begin!