Week 24: Day 1

Good morning!!  I slept through my alarm (liar, I chose to not get up), so no run this morning.  I plan to head up to the Y when Shaun gets home this evening and run then.  I think I need to switch some things up in order to see any loss on the scale.  I am getting SO discouraged!!!  Not with the running - strictly with the weight loss.  I was reading some other weight loss blogs and I definitely see a plateauing "trend"...seems like when you hit a major goal (for some it's 30 pounds, others it's 100+!), it is so easy to relax your efforts and then get frustrated with no loss, or even some gains.  I haven't seen anything less than 188.5 since July 1st, and I am really, really, really hoping Wednesday's weigh in shows that number or less.  Please oh please oh please!!

So, I had some thoughts.  I do believe I'm gonna get back on the Slim Fast train starting Wednesday.  I know I said I would give Jackie Warner's meal plan a shot, but I feel like I need to do something with less thought and more obvious results right now just to get me mentally back in the game.  I will be able to get to the grocery tomorrow and I can go ahead and get my first week of shakes and snacks.  I bought a "goal outfit" yesterday at Old Navy (thanks Katy H.!!), so I'm going to post my first picture of me wearing it on Wednesday - along with a weigh in picture of the scale.  I told Shaun I was giving myself 3 months to look very, very good in that outfit.  I mean, I can button it and all that right now, but I wouldn't DARE wear it out of the house.  Just for an internet picture.  Ha, ha, ha. 

This upcoming Saturday is the American Idol concert!!  A friend and I bought tickets way back during presale, so we have really, really been looking forward to this.  :)  It's a 24-hour vacation for mom!!!  I will not be sticking to any sort of dieting plan, but I think I can actually stay close.  Obviously, there will be alcohol consumed.  I'll try to stick to some low-cal beer options...Mich Ultra or something?  I am typically just a beer drinker, but after looking at some calorie websites, I might have to switch it up.  Southern Comfort appears to be the lowest in calories...whoooooo.  Anyway, just letting you know this is something we've had planned for a while.  I couldn't have known I would be at such a frustrating point in my diet.  It might actually do me some good to let loose, right? 

I have a  ton of pics of the kids from our adventures over the weekend, but haven't been able to edit any of them yet.  Here's a cute one for you...

At the zoo, squeezed into a double stroller.  That's how we roll!

And here's one more to share a new frustration.  :)  My husband thinks it's ridiculous for me to be in any way "upset" about this...

You like that bra hanging out of the shirt?  I have never had this problem...because I've never worn a bra that actually covered everything!  So, right before I started losing weight a friend gave me 4 brand new Victoria's Secret bras.  I love them, they are pretty and comfortable...and no longer fit.  :(  BUT, I still wear them!  Because I don't have money for nice new bras...I realize it's an awesome problem to not be able to afford new clothes, but need them because you have LOST weight.  Awesome, but no less frustrating.  I have lots of great new stuff in smaller sizes for the winter, but 90+ temps are not exactly suitable for jeans.  Grr. 

Okay, the end.  Have a great day!!

xoxo

Week 23: Day 5

Good morning!! 

First things first, my new socks AND shoes came in!!  I will highly recommend Zappos.com to anyone who's looking for shoes...that was some darn fast shipping!  I have exactly one very small issue, however. 

I had no idea the shoes were two different colors?!  I even checked the website again and absolutely NOWHERE is it mentioned...luckily, I don't hate it.  :)

They are growing on me.  Now, the socks pictured go up to my knees and are all-around awesome.  I felt super cool...kinda like a school girl who was pushing the rules.  :)  If I had ever gone to private school, I can guarantee you I wouldn't have done that then.  BUT, as an adult, I have some confidence...and lack of consideration for what others are thinking about me.  It's kinda nice.  Ha, ha.  These socks came in a "set" of 6, all with the black stripes, but the other colors are purple, green, orange, yellow, and red.  Then I got another set of six striped knee-high socks, but those are multi-colored.  I cannot wait to have a little extra money and buy some outfits to go with these combinations!!!  Building my "race wardrobe" is going to take some time, but at the end it will be SO cool.  These shoes are truly the ultimate "minimalist" shoe.  Very thin, VERY light...I was nervous that I may have overlooked their description and maybe they are more for wrestling or walking on the beach, but when I went back to double check they are definitely for running.  Specifically "cross country" running, so to my relatives in California - I may make it there yet!

Dieting wise, I'm going to go out on a limb and anticipate a drop very soon.  I think I said I would weigh on the 27th?  Yeah...the numbers should definitely be down by then.  Something has occurred after being missing for a couple months...I'll stop there, sorry to any boy readers.  ;)  I will also take my measurements that morning, just in case the scale doesn't obey.  I have to mention that the kids have been messing around with it a LOT (I moved it to the kitchen so I wouldn't be so tempted every morning in the bathroom just to sneak a peek)...it's not an excuse, just sayin'. 

Also, I was doing some Googling last night and have found another training program I like!!  I feel like I have only been half following this 10K training...mainly because I'm so excited about the half marathon, I have been increasing the distances even though the training doesn't call for it.  Basically, I'm planning to start Hal Higdon's "Novice-1 Marathon Training" program on August 1st.  It is a plan for training to run a FULL marathon, but at the end of 8 weeks, he recommends doing a half!  August 1st will have me 8 weeks out from the Women's Half Marathon.  WOW.  That is coming up fast!!  I have signed up to do the Tomato Fest 5K, so I will definitely be running in that, but since it's only 3.1 miles and I'm supposed to run 7 that day, I was considering running a couple miles before the race starts.  Not at "race pace", but just jogging or walking a bit as a warm-up.  OR, I could do the race twice!  Ha, ha, ha.  I may be getting ahead of myself.  Since I am actually running this one as a RACE this time (against my time of 28:20 last time), I may be pretty worn out at the end. 

The rest of July's running plan is this:

Friday	Saturday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Cross	8 miles (run at least 4)	3 miles run	Cross	3 miles run	REST	Cross	9 miles (run at least 4.5)

Sundays are still REST days.  In the new training, I will rest on Sundays and Thursdays.  It's very, very similar (same trainer, after all), but only one day of Cross Training and I will start attempting a different tactic on the long run days.  Maybe.  We'll see how the next two Saturdays go.

"Cross" training for today has yet to be determined.  I really wanted to get out and run with my new shoes this morning, but Zoe woke us up screaming at 3:30 and then 4:30 came way too quickly, so I allowed myself to go back to sleep.  I am considering a zoo trip which will count...otherwise, I may just hit the Y when Shaun gets home and do some elliptical or biking.  Or a combination!  Tuesday I plan to take Zoe swimming for our last Tuesday alone together.  Awwww.  Then, next Friday I will PLAN to take the kiddos to the pool again.  I realize these are not your traditional "cross training" activities, but I really focus on keeping my body moving and playing with the kids and raising my heart-rate a couple of times at least...I figure it's better than sitting on the couch or a bench and watching them play! 

I ran into a little snag with shipping all of the promised goodies to Canada (cost of shipping to there is crazy!), so Bonnie is now trying to find out how much everything will cost her there so I can send out a check.  Unless any of my friends in Michigan are planning a trip to Windsor very soon???  :) 

I have one last thing to mention.  Last night for dinner I had the yummiest meal.  I mean, it was crazy simple, but it was SO tasty!!  I was browning some sausage to make spaghetti for the kids and Shaun, but I didn't want to make a whole box of spaghetti, so I browned a full pound of sausage and removed almost 1/2 before adding the sauce.  This half I added to half of a package of Steam Fresh Whole Grain Rice with Broccoli and Carrots.  The "broccoli and carrots" ended up not being as many veggies as I thought it would be, so I used a whole bunch of celery instead of a spoon to scoop it up and eat it!  Yummmm. 

That is all for now.  I will probably post tomorrow after the long run, but may not post again after that until the weigh in on Wednesday. 

Hey Erin, could you weigh LJ that morning, too??

xoxo - ALSO, PLEASE CLICK THE BANNER AND VOTE FOR ME AGAIN!  You can vote once every 24 hours.  I am dying to be in the top something or other.  I'm #5 on the Health and Fitness list, but #160-something on the main list. 

Week 23: Day 1

Good morning!

Wow.  It is Week 23?  That's pretty darn cool to me.  So, I guess I have 17 weeks left to lose 29-39 pounds?  29 would put me at my original 80 pounds goal...39 would be to my altered goal.  Wait, no.  It was 189.5 this morning (grrrr)...that is 49 pounds.  So, 31 pounds to original goal.  39.5 to altered goal.

Sorry for the written out math...it's still kinda early.  Even if I did run this morning...my brain is still on "normal time".  Ha, ha.

I don't have much to say today, but I wanted to announce I have a Challenger!!  Well, maybe that's not the right word.  She's not challenging ME...she's challenging her weight, though.  So, yeah, we'll still call her...."THE CHALLENGER".  It looks better in italics. 

Introducing Bonnie from Fat-Be-Gone.  Her blog is fantastic and funny and she is as real as they come.  She is also Canadian.  Not sure why that's important, but I just felt you should know.  :)  Check out her blog, feel free to become a "follower", and we will do more introduction when she gets her goodie box and is ready to begin her 14-day Jump Start!  Yaaaaayyyy, Bonnie!!

Judging from the photos on Facebook, Ashley appears to be enjoying her vacation.  I'm so jealous.

Well, as I mentioned above the scale showed 189.5 today.  My run went well and I did weigh AFTER the run and with wet hair...sorry.  Total joke.  I love making excuses when there isn't any need.  I will continue on this 14 day "journey"...maybe I will not weigh until after the 14th day?  Today is day 6.  I'll post a pic of the scale on the morning of July 27.  THEN, we will get back to Monday weigh-ins.  I love keeping you all on your toes!

I was thinking I don't seem to post much about my adventures with the kids these days...it's not because we don't have any, but it has been so hot outside, we really have been kind of sticking with the indoors lately.  Today, however, we will be heading out to the Smyrna Splash Pad, so I'll get some cute pics there and then we will go have lunch with my sweet grandfather. 

I guess I should go.  :)  I did want to say one more quick thing, though.  I downloaded a new "album" last night on iTunes.  It's 50 Praise & Worship songs re-vamped (right word?) to be workout music!  It was super cool to run to this morning!!!  It was kind of amusing at first, but definitely kept me pumped and reminded me of WHO was the real reason I am succeeding with my weight loss and fitness goals.  Awesome.

xoxo

Follower Challenge!

I have a proposition for you.  Yes, you. 

Please answer these questions (out loud is fine, but try to remember your surroundings):  Do you want to lose weight?  Do you have more than 50 pounds you want to drop?  Are you truly ready to begin your personal weight loss journey??

If your answers to these questions are "YES", then please seriously consider my challenge...

I have hit a plateau.  It seems like no matter what I do, I continue to see 190 on the scale.  Granted, I have seen 188.5, and a couple days it has shown 191, but let's just average it all out to stupid 190.  Ugh.  My true point to this blog was to try different diets and discuss them so Joe Consumer could visit my blog and get an honest "review" from a real person who had been there.  Luckily and fortunately (and awesomely) I have lost quite a bit of weight through my trials!  The only unfortunate point to this is that the diet "jump starts" don't seem to be working anymore.  Not that I'm going to do anything drastic, but I really, really like this 2 weeks jump start from Jackie Warner's book (This is why you're fat) and it is not doing anything for me.  I truly think this is due to the fact she is used to dealing with people coming off of eating all crap and this meal plan shocks their system.  Let me quickly make one point - I am NOT quitting this meal plan.  I will give it the full 2 weeks and I will give her "life time" plan 2 weeks.  I will continue to blog about how it does (and doesn't) affect me.

Here's where YOU come in.  I need someone else (preferably who has at least 50 pounds to lose, and hasn't been doing any real dieting recently) to do this diet for/with me.  All I am asking for is someone who will commit to at least the 2 week Jump Start.  It is so easy, truly.  You can either choose to be a co-author on the blog during your 2 weeks, or just "report" to me and I can relay your thoughts.  You can choose to be anonymous (to everyone but me), you can choose to not report your actual weight - maybe just how many pounds you want to lose.  We can cater this to you and your comfort level. 

First one to respond and truly "sign up" will receive the following:
     *  2 boxes of oatmeal to get you through your Jump Start!
     *  Since the book doesn't belong to me, I can't give it away, but I will photocopy all of the pages dedicated to the Jump Start for you. 
     *  1 box of decaf green tea
     *  1 container of Whey Protein for your shakes.

What a great deal, right??  I really, really need you to think before you respond.  Are you willing to DO this?  Are you willing to write truthfully and honestly and really, really try to follow this plan??  Think about it.  It's 2 freakin' weeks.  What can't you do for just 2 measly short weeks??  Make sure you check your calendar.  However, the awesome part about this jump start is that you don't have to deny yourself the foods you want.  Just add in the ones she tells you to eat. 

If you're considering it and have any questions, write to me.  ALDUNKLE@msn.com  or message me on Facebook.  Or post a comment...your question may be a question someone else has and is too afraid to ask!  Or call me. 

Thanks!!!

Week 22: Day 6

Hello!!! Today has already been amazing.  Seriously.  Look ---------->

When it's later and this post has moved down, the arrow won't mean anything.  When that happens, you will just have to read my exclamation of....

I RAN (and walked) 7 MILES!!!    

I am really working on not looking at any amount of walking as "failure".  I mean, that is the wrong word for how I'm feeling, but I feel like I need to tell people when I run some and walk some, even though I did go from a point to a point and the total mileage was 7 miles and it could have taken me 7 hours and I should still be proud because of how far I've come, right!?  Anyway, 7 miles in about 1 hour and 20 minutes is pretty darn good for this girl.  YEEEEEEEHAW.

I haven't weighed, but I am just going to say again I like Ms. Jackie Warner's diet plan so far!  This morning I got up about 5:45 and ate a bowl of oatmeal and some strawberries.  I had frozen a whey protein drink last night so it could thaw during my run...that was perfect for an afterwards snack!  Cold and chocolatey...mmmmm.

I will be finding the winner to our first giveaway later this afternoon...the kids are kinda restless today, so I am limiting my computer time while they are awake.  Naptime will be good.  :)

I hope everyone is having a great day!!!

xoxo

Week 22: Day 5

Tomorrow is the drawing!!!  I have changed the rules a little bit...nothing major.  I discovered a website called Random.org and that is how the "drawing" will be done.  I am making a spreadsheet of everyone's entries, then I will have Random.org give me a random number that will correspond to someone on the spreadsheet.  Awesome.
So, this diet is my favorite so far.  I guess that would be kind of obvious considering I get to "eat what I want".  I am enjoying the add-ins, though!  I was already eating at least 2 fruit servings a day, and 3 vegetables is also easy since baby carrots are the best darn thing since....well, I don't know what, but they're good!  Also, celery rocks my world.  I've been dipping both of these in those Laughing Cow cheese spread wedges - Mmmmmmm!!!  One bowl of oatmeal is super easy to fit in, and the whey protein "shake" just gets chugged at some point in my morning.  (**side note, I totally agree with "anonymous" (mom?) about the fruit blended with the shake, but i don't own a blender.  Sad, I know.  Especially since Shaun and I were given 2 for Christmas in 2005.  We're hard on blenders!)  I intend to invest in one very soon (like, this weekend).  I have been scrambling two eggs for "dinner" while the rest of the family's dinner is in the oven, and I still stop eating at 6:00 pm.  Yesterday I did have a cup of decaf green tea, too, but missed it the day before.

So, for the past two days, outside of the making sure I get those items in, I have been eating whatever I want.  Turns out what I want is bread.  Lots and lots of bread.  This is resulting in quite the upset stomach on my part, so I think I have had my fill.  Today I'm going to start back to watching what I eat beyond the add-ins.  The weekends are kinda tricky when home with the kids (and husband) and the restock from the grocery trip(s), but I read a little further in TIWYF (This is why you're fat) and have decided to go ahead and start weaning out the chips and sugary treats for good.  I also plan to hit up Trader Joe's once a week and try some organic choices!  I have always complained that these are pricier, but I think we may be able to cut down on some costs in other ways (chips and sugary treats?) and just stock up on fruits and veggies.  Also, the kids love canned fruits, too, so I can just get a ton of those for them...

Rambling!  As I type this I am being constantly pulled in other directions to do other things.  The no tv rule is sticking and seems to be working well.  The kids don't even scream at me when it goes off at 7 anymore!  Progress!!  Tomorrow will be interesting as I head out for a long run and daddy will be home during the 7 o'clock hour.  I asked him to please uphold the rule and even gave him a couple of tips  on keeping them occupied away from television!  I plan to leave the house at 6:15 and promised to return by 9:30.  He'll be fine.  Right? 

So, as I join up as a follower to all these other blogs, I am noticing a lot of pictures being posted.  Does this mean my blog is boring with no pics?  I mean, I post them sometimes, but not every time....I think I'll start.  Here's how I'm feeling right this minute...

 

As I thought about what I wanted to google search, 2 of the boys began fighting and throwing markers at each other.  "Pulling Hair Out" is what came to me.  I think I feel like this at least once a day, so it's a good picture to start with! 

Anyway, today I'm going to do a Body Pump class for my 40 minutes of cross training.  Tomorrow's run is supposed to be 3 miles, but I am joining up with a group doing a 6 mile walk to get some more mileage on these feet!  Here's my plan:  My friend who told me about this group says they walk 3 miles to a point, then turn around and walk back to the cars.  This is all done on a greenway about half an hour from my house.  SO, I am planning to run at least the first 3 miles, then turn around and either walk all of it back, or (if I can) keep running until I can't anymore.  I haven't done anything (walking, running, or a combination) farther than about 4 miles, so I'm excited and maybe a little anxious about this plan!! 

Back to feeling like the picture, by the way...in the 2 minutes of trying to type that paragraph, two more children are fighting and screaming about who gets to carry the timer.  Seriously.  I have a timer because I discovered it is the BEST way to transition activities...they just get all caught up in who gets to carry it and who gets to push the buttons and who can put it up the highest on the fridge so the others can't reach....it's ridiculous.  I want to video all of this and use it as an at home "Sex Ed" class when they're older.  Think you wanna have sex and maybe have a baby?  Here's what you can look forward to kids.  Shoot - the boys may ask for vasectomies at 15!  Ha, ha.

Well, Zoe is "on the toilet" according to one of the twins...guess I'll end this now.

Week 22: Day Three

Good morning!  In case you were worried about me yesterday, I did end up getting that thing done I had forgotten to do.  Yeehaw.

Well, I have lots to share, but I am sitting at the table with my kiddos and may have to get up several times to retrieve things.  They are a needy bunch...and I very recently (yesterday) started banning television between the hours of 7 am and 5 pm.  They are going crazy.  I was allowing them to turn into total junkies, staring at that darn thing for hours!  It was bad.  Yesterday was fine, but I do have to mention they were at school from 9 to 3.  :)

This is a nice segue...while the boys were at school, Zoe and I visited a friend and her son for a morning play date!  We had a great time and I got the chance to do lots of catching up with someone I hadn't seen in a few months.  She also gave me a book that has led me to drop Weight Watchers!!  I know it is a great program and I am so happy that WW works for so many people who are close to my heart.  I love you all for wanting my success and recommending the plan.  Unfortunately, I'm not disciplined enough to follow the points system.  Maybe later, for maintenance?  Right now, though, I just find it way too easy to eat bad stuff and track it...then some part of my brain thinks we have "cheated" and just feels like we might as well keep going!  I'm not saying this is the right way to think...believe me, I wish I had some sense of portion control and moderation and all those great things.  I'm just not there yet.

The book is by Jackie Warner and is called "This is Why You're Fat (and how to get thin forever)".  Some of you may have watched the show on Bravo called "Work Out", Jackie is the owner of the gym.  She is tough and has a super hot body.  SO, her food plan begins with a 2 week jump start and I have started this today.  It is not about what you can't eat, but she tells you 7 things you MUST eat.  I have written each item on a piece of paper to cross off each day over the next 14 days.  Smart, right?  :)

Here's the added foods!

Eggs (2 daily) - hard-boiled, soft-boiled, poached, or scrambled, but without added fat.  (**the only way I have ever eaten eggs is scrambled)
Oatmeal (1 cup daily) - she doesn't specify if this needs to be a certain kind of oatmeal, but she has a "tip" below that says "I keep packets of instant oatmeal on me at all times."  This leads me to believe I am fine with the Active brand of weight management oatmeal.
Hormone-Balancing, Detox Vegetables (2-3 cups daily) - veggies listed: artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, collard greens, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, garlic, green beans, kale, lettuce (all varieties), mushrooms, mustard greens, onions, parsley, peppers (all varieties), radishes, scallions, spinach, summer squash, Swiss chard, tomatoes, turnip greens, watercress, yellow wax beans, and zucchini.  (**wait, what?  the list says "garlic"???  a vegetable????  awesome.)
Fresh Fruit (2 servings daily) - apples, apricots, bananas (underripe), berries (all varieties), cherries, citrus fruits (all varieties), kiwi, guava, mango, melon (all varieties), papaya, pear, peach, pineapple, plum, pomegranate, and watermelon.  A serving generally equals one piece of raw fruit or one cup of chopped fresh fruit.
Water and Lemon Juice - so, she says lemon combined with water is a "bile thinner" and it prevents cravings.  I have no issues with getting all my water in each day, but I will be adding at least one full 8-12 ounces of water with fresh lemon squeezed in each day.
Whey Protein Shake (8 ounce serving daily) - We have some whey protein for Shaun, so I just mixed one scoop with 8 ounces of water and chugged it down.  It wasn't nearly as bad as I was expecting.  Ha, ha.
Herbal Teas - I am going to type exactly what she has in the book about this and ask for your input.  "To satisfy oral fixations (most late-night snacks are really about oral compulsions), have one packet of decaffeinated green tea with one packet of herbal fruit tea every evening.  Green tea contains L-theanine, a chemical that increases dopamine and serotonin in the brain, two chemicals that regulate appetite, mood, energy, and cravings.  It also contains compounds that block fat storage.  Ther herbal fruit tea gives green tea a delicious flavor."  Nevermind.  I was thinking I wouldn't do this, but after fully reading the description, I believe I will. 

 And that's it!  She literally says she doesn't care if you eat fried chicken or pizza or whatever, just make sure you eat these things also EVERY DAY.  I'm sure I will, at some point, be too full of these things to worry about eating other things, but this morning that has not been the case.  I'm thoroughly enjoying toast with honey.  I've eaten my fruits today already and had the whey protein drink one hour after my run.  I am taking my instant oatmeal to Bible study and planning to eat eggs when the kids lay down for quiet time/nap.  I will still stop eating by 6:00 pm and do my apple in the mornings.  Although, I am considering giving up my coffee.  Maybe not during this next two weeks...the coffee is actually NOT the problem, but I was reading her info on the sweetener I use and it's probably not the best thing for me.  I have never tried black coffee, so I guess it's not fair for me to say I don't like it, but I don't think I like it.  We'll see!

My run this morning was great.  Truly great.  I discovered a "track" about a 1/2 mile from my house that is just over a 1 mile around.  There used to be a great mall in town, but it went down several years ago and is now just an empty building with a Sears leftover!  The drive circle all the way around the perimeter is my new "track".  In order to not get "bored" or accustomed to my runs, I will be switching it up quite a bit, but this was really great to discover.  (Obviously I always knew the mall was there, but I never thought about running around it.  Plus, it was cool to learn the distance is doable and can be done a few times to rack up the mileage!)  On my 10K plan today I was supposed to do 2 miles and then strength train.  I didn't get around to any strength training this morning, but I have a couple of ideas for things I could do this afternoon.  Yesterday I went to the Y and did the elliptical for 30 minutes as my cross training.  I was going there for a Body Pump class, but I was late and I am incredibly shy when it comes to stuff like that. No, really...i am shy!!  I just fake it sometimes.  :)  The elliptical was a nice change. 

So, tomorrow is "rest" day and I sure am going to be RESTING.  Some friends and I have a "girly day" planned...pedicures in the morning and laying out by the pool afterwards.  Lunch ordered in and trashy magazines galore.  Ahhhhhh.  Jealous??  You should be!  :)  We have been looking forward to this for a couple of months now, and I cannot believe the day has come! 

Another note, since I'm not doing WW anymore, I will resume weighing on Monday mornings.  We'll get back to the original tracking method of trying to reach 80 (88.5) pounds in 40 weeks.  I cannot believe almost 23 weeks are almost done!!  Exciting.  :)

xoxo