I'm still trying to catch up on all my blog reading but this link for Total Health Breakthroughs on Jimmy Moore's blog caught my eye and it is now my new favorite health blog/newsletter.
This is the newsletter for this week but be sure to poke around and check things out.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Back from the Cruise
I'm back!
First, let me just say that we had a truly great time on the cruise. We had great weather and calm seas the whole trip as Hurricane Dean headed West. There's so much to tell you, I don't know where to start...
I got exactly the reaction I was hoping for from each of my family members. First from my Dad and then from the rest of the family as each one arrived in town. The most commonly used phrase was "What happened to the rest of you?"
What a great feeling!
Once we got on the ship, the challenges were obvious. It's no secret that you are simply surrounded by food on a cruise. But what is important to remember is that the more food there is, the more choices there are. So it wasn't as hard as I anticipated.
Breakfast in either the dining room or the buffet offered omlettes so that was obviously fine. In fact in the dining room I was surprised to find turkey bacon the menu. I tried it once, and it was awful so I switched to regular bacon after that.
Lunch on the buffet seemed the best option for me. There was always a carving station or an easily identifyable chicken or fish that could be had with a salad.
The biggest issue with dinner was the amount of food, not necessarily WHAT was on the menu. I could always get a piece of grilled salmon or grilled chicken with veggies if nothing else on the menu tickled me.
I skipped the bread (obviously) and the pasta, rice and potatoes.
So where was the problem?
Dessert and alcohol.
I didn't order desert every night. But as I said before I left, I decided that I wasn't going to deny myself something that I knew was a unique experience that I couldn't get at home. So "hello, chocolate melting cake!" A truly yummy experience.
Add to that a few glasses of wine and "vodka and something" ... and well, you can guess how that adds up.
The good news is that I actually did go to the gym THREE times while on board. I did 30 minutes on the treadmill at a pretty brisk pace (3.8mph) interspersed with short spurts of jogging at 4.5
Aren't you impressed? I certainly am.
With all that said, I also KNEW that by the end of the cruise, I had definitely gained some. I was afraid to see how much.
According to my own scale this morning, I am up 8 pounds. But I am not discouraged.
Today I got right back to strict low carb eating and back on my Fitness Flyer for 25 minutes and fully expect to get rid of that cruise weight pretty quickly.
I'll get some pictures up as soon as I sort through all of them. In the meantime...
Stay tuned for less of me.
First, let me just say that we had a truly great time on the cruise. We had great weather and calm seas the whole trip as Hurricane Dean headed West. There's so much to tell you, I don't know where to start...
I got exactly the reaction I was hoping for from each of my family members. First from my Dad and then from the rest of the family as each one arrived in town. The most commonly used phrase was "What happened to the rest of you?"
What a great feeling!
Once we got on the ship, the challenges were obvious. It's no secret that you are simply surrounded by food on a cruise. But what is important to remember is that the more food there is, the more choices there are. So it wasn't as hard as I anticipated.
Breakfast in either the dining room or the buffet offered omlettes so that was obviously fine. In fact in the dining room I was surprised to find turkey bacon the menu. I tried it once, and it was awful so I switched to regular bacon after that.
Lunch on the buffet seemed the best option for me. There was always a carving station or an easily identifyable chicken or fish that could be had with a salad.
The biggest issue with dinner was the amount of food, not necessarily WHAT was on the menu. I could always get a piece of grilled salmon or grilled chicken with veggies if nothing else on the menu tickled me.
I skipped the bread (obviously) and the pasta, rice and potatoes.
So where was the problem?
Dessert and alcohol.
I didn't order desert every night. But as I said before I left, I decided that I wasn't going to deny myself something that I knew was a unique experience that I couldn't get at home. So "hello, chocolate melting cake!" A truly yummy experience.
Add to that a few glasses of wine and "vodka and something" ... and well, you can guess how that adds up.
The good news is that I actually did go to the gym THREE times while on board. I did 30 minutes on the treadmill at a pretty brisk pace (3.8mph) interspersed with short spurts of jogging at 4.5
Aren't you impressed? I certainly am.
With all that said, I also KNEW that by the end of the cruise, I had definitely gained some. I was afraid to see how much.
According to my own scale this morning, I am up 8 pounds. But I am not discouraged.
Today I got right back to strict low carb eating and back on my Fitness Flyer for 25 minutes and fully expect to get rid of that cruise weight pretty quickly.
I'll get some pictures up as soon as I sort through all of them. In the meantime...
Stay tuned for less of me.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
GOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL!
Today I reached goal and I am just beside myself with joy!
In just about 4 months, I have gone from 177 to 139.5. From a size 14 (squeezing into a 12) to a size 6. I have NEVER been a size 6.
37.5 pounds GONE FOREVER thanks to a low carb life.
If you've been following my journey, you know that I leave on vacation tomorrow which was the immediate motivation for my quest for the single digit size. And there is no doubt I've reached that goal. But more than the weight loss, I have to admit I've undergone a transformation in other ways.
First, besides what it says on the scale, my shape has changed in ways I didn't expect. My face is visibly slimmer, my midsection seems flatter and more toned and while I've always thought of myself as a busty girl... I can now shop at Victoria's Secret because I'm actually a size they carry. This, I think, was nearly as shocking as the single digit dress size. I went from a 38DD to a 34C in 4 months. Not a place I expected to lose but hey, it's all gotta come from somewhere, right?
I've gone from eating whatever was handy to actually thinking about what I was putting in mouth and taking vitamins daily. Low carb eating keeps my Insulin Resistance in check and prevents my blood sugar from crashing by keeping those levels steady throughout the day.
I spend a fair amount of time reading the blogs and websites of other low-carbers hoping to pick up tips (which I do). And in the process, they have all inadvertently offered a level of support and encouragement that I never got anywhere else.
A month ago I actually took up some exercise. This was no easy feat 'cause I am LAZY. Ok, maybe lazy isn't the right word. More accurately, I have other priorities and figuring out where I was going to fit exercise has never been one of them. But rationally, I knew that if I really wanted to get the rest of the weight off, I was going to have to get my butt in gear somehow. So for all you couch potatoes out there...do something. Anything. I inherited a Fitness Flyer and the first week I committed to 10 minutes a day, every day. Then I worked up to 15 minutes. Now I'm up to 20.
So I'm not running a marathon anytime soon but it's something. And I've only missed ONE day since I started (and that was due to a business trip).
The bottom line is low carb eating works for me in a way that no other program ever did. I have more energy which is partly due to how I'm eating and partly due to my 5'3" frame not struggling to carry around 37.5 extra pounds.
Perhaps my initial motivation was the trip but my continuing motivation will be to stay this size because a size 6 feels wonderful.
And this time I will NOT be the fat girl in the cruise pictures.
Tomorrow, I'll get on a plane to Florida and gather with my family before we take off on our cruise. I have not seen my Dad and brothers since months before I started my low carb program. I have also not told them about my journey. I am looking forward to their reaction almost as much as the trip itself... almost.
Have a great week, everyone. I hope to see less of all of you when I return. ;)
In just about 4 months, I have gone from 177 to 139.5. From a size 14 (squeezing into a 12) to a size 6. I have NEVER been a size 6.
37.5 pounds GONE FOREVER thanks to a low carb life.
If you've been following my journey, you know that I leave on vacation tomorrow which was the immediate motivation for my quest for the single digit size. And there is no doubt I've reached that goal. But more than the weight loss, I have to admit I've undergone a transformation in other ways.
First, besides what it says on the scale, my shape has changed in ways I didn't expect. My face is visibly slimmer, my midsection seems flatter and more toned and while I've always thought of myself as a busty girl... I can now shop at Victoria's Secret because I'm actually a size they carry. This, I think, was nearly as shocking as the single digit dress size. I went from a 38DD to a 34C in 4 months. Not a place I expected to lose but hey, it's all gotta come from somewhere, right?
I've gone from eating whatever was handy to actually thinking about what I was putting in mouth and taking vitamins daily. Low carb eating keeps my Insulin Resistance in check and prevents my blood sugar from crashing by keeping those levels steady throughout the day.
I spend a fair amount of time reading the blogs and websites of other low-carbers hoping to pick up tips (which I do). And in the process, they have all inadvertently offered a level of support and encouragement that I never got anywhere else.
A month ago I actually took up some exercise. This was no easy feat 'cause I am LAZY. Ok, maybe lazy isn't the right word. More accurately, I have other priorities and figuring out where I was going to fit exercise has never been one of them. But rationally, I knew that if I really wanted to get the rest of the weight off, I was going to have to get my butt in gear somehow. So for all you couch potatoes out there...do something. Anything. I inherited a Fitness Flyer and the first week I committed to 10 minutes a day, every day. Then I worked up to 15 minutes. Now I'm up to 20.
So I'm not running a marathon anytime soon but it's something. And I've only missed ONE day since I started (and that was due to a business trip).
The bottom line is low carb eating works for me in a way that no other program ever did. I have more energy which is partly due to how I'm eating and partly due to my 5'3" frame not struggling to carry around 37.5 extra pounds.
Perhaps my initial motivation was the trip but my continuing motivation will be to stay this size because a size 6 feels wonderful.
And this time I will NOT be the fat girl in the cruise pictures.
Tomorrow, I'll get on a plane to Florida and gather with my family before we take off on our cruise. I have not seen my Dad and brothers since months before I started my low carb program. I have also not told them about my journey. I am looking forward to their reaction almost as much as the trip itself... almost.
Have a great week, everyone. I hope to see less of all of you when I return. ;)
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Carribean Cruise vs. Low Carb Eating: Is success possible?
I know I can't be the only one on a low carb program who is taking a cruise this summer. And anyone who has been on a cruise knows what an overabundance of food there is at every turn.
You can literally eat yourself into oblivion 24/7.
Needless to say, after all of my hard work, I'm working myself into a bit of a frenzy over striking a balance between enjoying myself and not undoing all my hard work.
I've pretty much decided that I'm not going to deny myself anything that I REALLY want. But I also don't want every meal to be an invitation to overdo it.
So can it be done? Can I make good choices so that those "special" meals or treats are truly special? What can I do to offset the straying from my normal eating routine that is just plain bound to happen? And what consequences am I willing to live with so that I'm not at square one when the trip is over?
First things first. YES it can be done. I found this article from Cruise Traveler's magazine which has some great tips for staying on track even when surrounded by the temptation of a cruise. Most of this was stuff I already knew from my cruising experience but it was great to see it all in one place and remind myself that it's not impossible.
My plan is this:
I will keep this single digit size long after the cruise is over.
If you've taken a cruise while on a low carb program, I'd love to hear from you and hear about how you faced these challenges.
Stay tuned for less of me.
You can literally eat yourself into oblivion 24/7.
Needless to say, after all of my hard work, I'm working myself into a bit of a frenzy over striking a balance between enjoying myself and not undoing all my hard work.
I've pretty much decided that I'm not going to deny myself anything that I REALLY want. But I also don't want every meal to be an invitation to overdo it.
So can it be done? Can I make good choices so that those "special" meals or treats are truly special? What can I do to offset the straying from my normal eating routine that is just plain bound to happen? And what consequences am I willing to live with so that I'm not at square one when the trip is over?
First things first. YES it can be done. I found this article from Cruise Traveler's magazine which has some great tips for staying on track even when surrounded by the temptation of a cruise. Most of this was stuff I already knew from my cruising experience but it was great to see it all in one place and remind myself that it's not impossible.
My plan is this:
- I will make good food choices whenever possible.
- I will stay away from high carb foods like bread, pasta and potatoes.
- When drinking, I will stay away from the fruity drinks that are full of sugar.
- I will allow myself to indulge in ONLY those foods that represent an experience that I cannot get anywhere else.
- I will not eat dessert every night just because I can.
- I will make every attempt to get to the gym on board several times during the week. (REALLY!)
- I am prepared to come back a few pounds heavier than when I left.
- I will not let it discourage my success after the trip.
I will keep this single digit size long after the cruise is over.
If you've taken a cruise while on a low carb program, I'd love to hear from you and hear about how you faced these challenges.
Stay tuned for less of me.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Remove whatever makes you unhappy
About 20 years ago, I stumbled upon the quote below by poet Nikki Giovanni. For years I carried it around in my wallet as kind of a mantra. But Melodie's post today over on Short Girl's Low Carb about being ready for change made me think of it. I hope after all this time that I remember it correctly... this is from memory...
"There is always something to do. There are hungry people to feed, naked people to clothe, sick people to comfort and make well. And while I don't expect you to save the world, I do think it is not asking too much for you to love those with whom you sleep, share the happiness of those you call friend, engage those among you who are visionary, and remove from your life those who offer you depression, despair and disrespect."Remove from your life all that makes you unhappy. What have you got to lose?
20 Percent
Two big pieces of news today.
One...I'm down another pound bringing my grand total to 35.5. And I'm obviously ecstatic about that.
Another pound and a half will put my BMI in the normal range. Yea, believe it or not, despite my new size 6 figure, those darn BMI charts still say I'm overweight. Go figure. Something is sick and wrong about that, dontcha think?
Another pound and a half also brings me to my original goal weight of 140.
Ideally, I'd really like to get to 135 so I feel like I've got some cushion....and because it would give me a big thrill to be in the 130s. Most of the ideal weight charts I've seen seem to want to put me in the 130s as well.
But, the other big news for the day is that with today's results on the scale, I can say that I have dropped 20% of my body weight. How incredible is that? Unbelievable if you ask me.
One more note... I'm re-reading Atkins for Life again. It the quest for a low carb life, I think you have to just keep reading, keep picking up tips because there is always something to learn.
Stay tuned for less of me.
One...I'm down another pound bringing my grand total to 35.5. And I'm obviously ecstatic about that.
Another pound and a half will put my BMI in the normal range. Yea, believe it or not, despite my new size 6 figure, those darn BMI charts still say I'm overweight. Go figure. Something is sick and wrong about that, dontcha think?
Another pound and a half also brings me to my original goal weight of 140.
Ideally, I'd really like to get to 135 so I feel like I've got some cushion....and because it would give me a big thrill to be in the 130s. Most of the ideal weight charts I've seen seem to want to put me in the 130s as well.
But, the other big news for the day is that with today's results on the scale, I can say that I have dropped 20% of my body weight. How incredible is that? Unbelievable if you ask me.
One more note... I'm re-reading Atkins for Life again. It the quest for a low carb life, I think you have to just keep reading, keep picking up tips because there is always something to learn.
Stay tuned for less of me.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Today's Epiphany
One week to go.
One week until I put my skinnier self on a plane and head to Florida for the trip I've been looking forward to and working towards for months.
And as I've mentioned before, I've been struggling with these last few pounds and I've come to accept that I may not get to that goal weight by next Thursday. I'm 2.5 pounds from it as of this morning. I'm watching what I eat and drink. I'm mixing things up so as to not fall into a rut and I've actually been (GASP) exercising. Last week was my first week using my inherited Fitness Flyer. I started out with 10 minutes a day...every day. I missed one day when I went to Boston but got right back on the next morning. This morning, as I close out the second week on the Flyer, I'm now up to 20 minutes. A true accomplishment from this self proclaimed couch potato.
But whether I hit that magic number by the time I step on a plane isn't the issue... because what is different THIS TIME as opposed to any other time, is that it is NOT just about losing the weight for this trip. It must be about losing the weight and keeping it off forever.
So what has changed?
Aside from making real life altering changes in the way that I eat and life altering changes in the way that I approach food in general. I've come to recognize that it is my responsibility as a wife, mother, daughter and friend to take care of myself. And that isn't easy. It's EASY to go to the fridge and put the first thing your hand touches in your mouth. And it's EASY to order dessert when you go out to dinner. But it's HARD to accept the responsibility for my actions if I take the easy way out.
And how can I expect to be an example to my daughters if I take a "do as I say not as I do." attitude?
I set out on this journey (this time) with that quest for the single digit size...but to be honest, I don't know that I 100% believed that I would get there. I had tried so many times before and fallen short. But I kept plugging along....and will continue to do so (beyond this glorious vacation). No one... and I mean NO ONE is more surprised than me at my success to date. At the ripe age of 42, am I finally showing some maturity and some responsibility for my actions?
I mean really? Whose fault is it that I was 177 pounds? Nabisco's? Breyers? Oh, I know, McDonald's!? Of course not. The fault was mine because I took no responsibility for what I put in my mouth. I blamed the food I ate for what it did to my body. I blamed the clothes in my closet for not fitting right. I blamed the fashion industry for not making clothes I liked in my size.
But in the end, it was no one's fault but my own. And I am certainly not saying it is easy. Everyone one of us who struggles with their weight...truly STRUGGLES with their weight and knows that it is HARD.
But keep going.
If you are struggling, keep going! The end result is SO worth it.
Stay tuned for less of me.
One week until I put my skinnier self on a plane and head to Florida for the trip I've been looking forward to and working towards for months.
And as I've mentioned before, I've been struggling with these last few pounds and I've come to accept that I may not get to that goal weight by next Thursday. I'm 2.5 pounds from it as of this morning. I'm watching what I eat and drink. I'm mixing things up so as to not fall into a rut and I've actually been (GASP) exercising. Last week was my first week using my inherited Fitness Flyer. I started out with 10 minutes a day...every day. I missed one day when I went to Boston but got right back on the next morning. This morning, as I close out the second week on the Flyer, I'm now up to 20 minutes. A true accomplishment from this self proclaimed couch potato.
But whether I hit that magic number by the time I step on a plane isn't the issue... because what is different THIS TIME as opposed to any other time, is that it is NOT just about losing the weight for this trip. It must be about losing the weight and keeping it off forever.
So what has changed?
Aside from making real life altering changes in the way that I eat and life altering changes in the way that I approach food in general. I've come to recognize that it is my responsibility as a wife, mother, daughter and friend to take care of myself. And that isn't easy. It's EASY to go to the fridge and put the first thing your hand touches in your mouth. And it's EASY to order dessert when you go out to dinner. But it's HARD to accept the responsibility for my actions if I take the easy way out.
And how can I expect to be an example to my daughters if I take a "do as I say not as I do." attitude?
I set out on this journey (this time) with that quest for the single digit size...but to be honest, I don't know that I 100% believed that I would get there. I had tried so many times before and fallen short. But I kept plugging along....and will continue to do so (beyond this glorious vacation). No one... and I mean NO ONE is more surprised than me at my success to date. At the ripe age of 42, am I finally showing some maturity and some responsibility for my actions?
I mean really? Whose fault is it that I was 177 pounds? Nabisco's? Breyers? Oh, I know, McDonald's!? Of course not. The fault was mine because I took no responsibility for what I put in my mouth. I blamed the food I ate for what it did to my body. I blamed the clothes in my closet for not fitting right. I blamed the fashion industry for not making clothes I liked in my size.
But in the end, it was no one's fault but my own. And I am certainly not saying it is easy. Everyone one of us who struggles with their weight...truly STRUGGLES with their weight and knows that it is HARD.
But keep going.
If you are struggling, keep going! The end result is SO worth it.
Stay tuned for less of me.
Low Carb Communities Popping Up Everywhere
It seems that the theme this week must be "great minds think alike." There's been much discussion about finding the right community for us low carbers. There's already a few well established ones out there but after the whole message board debacle over at that other program, many of felt there was room for new communities where we could feel at home.
If you are looking for a place to belong, the following new low carb boards have sprouted up thanks to some great low carb bloggers. Check them out and join the discussions.
If you are looking for a place to belong, the following new low carb boards have sprouted up thanks to some great low carb bloggers. Check them out and join the discussions.
Low Carb Discussion (set up by Jimmy Moore)
Short Girls Forum (although all are welcome!)
Healthy Low Carb Living (set up by Sparky's Girl)
Short Girls Forum (although all are welcome!)
Healthy Low Carb Living (set up by Sparky's Girl)
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Low Carb Challenges When Out of Your Comfort Zone
I'm fortunate that I don't have to travel often for work. But about once a month, I find myself spending a night or two in a nice hotel in Boston. (which is where I am as I type this). Traveling is mostly a hassle but even more so when you are watching your carbs. As we know, convenience food is typically wrapped in bread or sugar.
I usually travel by train (which takes about 3 hours) and there is a cafe car but like airplane food, it's not exactly low carb friendly. So, I tried to be smart about it and packed in my purse some low carb bars and some carb friendly trail mix.
Then I actually had a salad on the train and didn't have to dig into those snack bars at all...but I sure was glad I had them.
So it's not impossible to stick to the program even when out of your comfort zone of your own refrigerator. Not easy. But not impossible.
Tonight, I'll head out to dinner with a co-worker which is a challenge whenever a restaurant is involved. but I was able to check out the restaurant's web site and was thrilled to see all the broiled steak, grilled chicken and lots of fish. I'll let you know how well I do.
Also as little side note, since I tweaked my program, I've been struggling a little with appropriate carb, fat and protein levels. I completely expected my weight to fluctuate while in this transition phase. I went up and down all week and ultimately landed a half pound more than last Thursday. I'm not worried though. A few things are contributing to it, I'm sure. First, I'm so close to goal so I know my body is settling in... plus there's the adjustments in my diet, some bloating, and perhaps my daily efforts on my Fitness Flyer. (humor me and tell me the part about muscle weighing more than fat.)
We leave on our trip in exactly two weeks. I'd like to lose just 5 more pounds by then and I will do my best to get there!
Stay tuned for less of me.
I usually travel by train (which takes about 3 hours) and there is a cafe car but like airplane food, it's not exactly low carb friendly. So, I tried to be smart about it and packed in my purse some low carb bars and some carb friendly trail mix.
Then I actually had a salad on the train and didn't have to dig into those snack bars at all...but I sure was glad I had them.
So it's not impossible to stick to the program even when out of your comfort zone of your own refrigerator. Not easy. But not impossible.
Tonight, I'll head out to dinner with a co-worker which is a challenge whenever a restaurant is involved. but I was able to check out the restaurant's web site and was thrilled to see all the broiled steak, grilled chicken and lots of fish. I'll let you know how well I do.
Also as little side note, since I tweaked my program, I've been struggling a little with appropriate carb, fat and protein levels. I completely expected my weight to fluctuate while in this transition phase. I went up and down all week and ultimately landed a half pound more than last Thursday. I'm not worried though. A few things are contributing to it, I'm sure. First, I'm so close to goal so I know my body is settling in... plus there's the adjustments in my diet, some bloating, and perhaps my daily efforts on my Fitness Flyer. (humor me and tell me the part about muscle weighing more than fat.)
We leave on our trip in exactly two weeks. I'd like to lose just 5 more pounds by then and I will do my best to get there!
Stay tuned for less of me.
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