How many things have I tried to do, to lose the extra pounds?
Shall I count the ways?
1. White Rice, Water, Subway "Diet"
This isn't actually a real plan of any kind; it is, however, something I've tried. I'll admit, when you have water in the morning, white rice for lunch and a 6 inch sub with no mayo and no cheese for dinner, you will probably lose a few pounds. Unfortunately, this "diet" is completely unrealistic and has absolutely no nutritional value.
3. sparkpeople.com
This is a free website dedicated to healthy living. This is something I would suggest to you if you need a bit more direction. You take a basic quiz when you sign up and the site gives you suggestions based on your answers. The amount of calories, carbs, protein, etc. you should be eating. How many calories you should be burning daily. How many glasses of water you should be drinking. They have easy tracking systems set up and they even have an iPhone app! You can create your own personal 'space' where you can blog and keep track of your progress. Overall, this is a thumbs up from me.
2. Living on Lean Cuisine
Never have I lost a significant amount of weight living on Lean Cuisines. I would say these may be good in a pinch, but the reality is most of these meals are filled with sodium and carbohydrates; two things I would recommend you cut way back on if you are serious about losing weight.
4. Atkins/Low Carbin It
Since April, I've lost about 35 pounds following this plan. If you stick to it and get creative, soon you will be following this plan without even realizing it. You don't have to follow it SO exactly, just try and stay away from bread, pasta, rice and anything with sugar. I know it sounds harsh but you can use other things to substitute when you really need a carbohydrate fix. I would suggest high fiber wraps; they are great with tuna fish or bacon, lettuce, tomato or just veggies galore. If you need something sweet, stick to berries...try them with mint, lime juice, coconut flakes, maybe a little whip cream and a tiny bit of dark chocolate shavings. And remember, any restaurant will sub your starch for extra veggies, or maybe even a side salad. If you're thinking about it, I would check out the website; if anything, the success stories are totally worth it. Oh and keep in mind that with this plan, you really have to accept the fact that this is a life change...Once you go back, you always go fat.
5. Auditioned for 'The Biggest Loser'
I, sadly, cannot tell you the positives/negatives or the outcome of this particular plan. Other than the very obvious outcome, “I didn't make it on the show”, BUT it was a very memorable day in my life. I was in line in front of the NBC studio with thousands of other 'thinly challenged' people for hours and hours. If I had it to do again, I would totally send in a video audition!
Sometimes it feels like there are SO many different “diets” that things start to get a little convoluted. You don't know if you should go this way or that way; it hurts my brain just thinking about it. Just try and find something REALISTIC! I cannot stress that enough!
And so I say this, to the hundreds of millions of "diet" plans shoving yourselves down our throats, "Back off! Geez!"
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
day 7: sunday funday
I get bunches of emails from friends with funny random thoughts and perfectly inspirational quotes, but where do they all go? They sit in 'inbox' land, never to be enjoyed again. SO...Sunday 'funny random thought and perfectly inspirational quote' day? I say yes!
Funny Random Thought:
There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.
Perfectly Inspirational Quote:
"If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere."
-Frank A. Clark
Thank you so much for helping me get through week one; only 51 more to go!
Funny Random Thought:
There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.
Perfectly Inspirational Quote:
"If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere."
-Frank A. Clark
Thank you so much for helping me get through week one; only 51 more to go!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
day 6: hummus!
I've had people ask me so many differnet questions about hummus. What is hummus? Can you make hummus at home? What the hell are garbanzo beans? The list goes on and on, but when I received this, so far favorite, question about hummus, 'What do you eat it on or do you just eat it by the spoonful?' (thank you , dear friend Dana), that's when I got excited because I knew I was going to write about it!
Let's first discuss what hummus is. Basically, hummus is a dip or spread made of chickpeas. Hummus, I recently learned, is the Arabic word for chickpeas. Some of you may know chickpeas as garbanzo beans. Same thing. And in case your wondering, garbanzo beans is the Spanish translation for chickpeas. This is so much learning!
Can you make hummus at home? Absolutely! It is incredibly easy, although I have to admit, I usually buy it from the store. But I should just make it...OK, OK I'll just start making it!
Very basic hummus will consist of only four ingredients:
1 can of chickpeas
1/4 cup of olive oil or less
1 Tbs. of lemon juice or less to taste
salt
Thats it! You place your chickpeas and lemon juice in the food processor, give it a blend and add your olive oil in stages, you may not need it all. You just want to get it to a texture that works for you. Then salt to taste. If you like, you could add 1-2 Tbs. of tahini, for extra flavor and richness; tahini is a paste made of ground sesame seeds, you can get it at any grocery store. Really this is another one of those things that does not require a recipe. You can grab a can of chickpeas, start adding a little of things you like to it (garlic, green olives, pine nuts, etc.), blend it up to a desired creaminess and you are ready to go.
I have been trying all kinds of hummus this past week. They sell several brands at your local grocery store. 'Athenos' and 'Sabra' brands seem to be the most popular. Both are good but I personally wasn't a fan of the Sabra Roasted Red Pepper. All of the garlic flavored brands that I've tried, I've liked. You'll also notice that if you purchase from the grocery store their brands are typically very creamy, almost like a spread. But if you purchase from say, Trader Joe's, theirs are going to be a bit more chunky. Having been overweight all of my life, chunky isn't one of favorite words, but I honestly don't mind the chunky hummus.
And so, Dana, to answer your question, "What do you eat it on or do you or do you just eat it by the spoonful?", I say to you..."A lot of people eat it with pita bread or crackers. I am not one of those "a lot of people". Try it on cucumbers, celery, zucchini sticks, bell peppers or my personal favorite...carrots! Never EVER eat it by the spoonful. Thank you SO much for this super amazing question!"
Let's first discuss what hummus is. Basically, hummus is a dip or spread made of chickpeas. Hummus, I recently learned, is the Arabic word for chickpeas. Some of you may know chickpeas as garbanzo beans. Same thing. And in case your wondering, garbanzo beans is the Spanish translation for chickpeas. This is so much learning!
Can you make hummus at home? Absolutely! It is incredibly easy, although I have to admit, I usually buy it from the store. But I should just make it...OK, OK I'll just start making it!
Very basic hummus will consist of only four ingredients:
1 can of chickpeas
1/4 cup of olive oil or less
1 Tbs. of lemon juice or less to taste
salt
Thats it! You place your chickpeas and lemon juice in the food processor, give it a blend and add your olive oil in stages, you may not need it all. You just want to get it to a texture that works for you. Then salt to taste. If you like, you could add 1-2 Tbs. of tahini, for extra flavor and richness; tahini is a paste made of ground sesame seeds, you can get it at any grocery store. Really this is another one of those things that does not require a recipe. You can grab a can of chickpeas, start adding a little of things you like to it (garlic, green olives, pine nuts, etc.), blend it up to a desired creaminess and you are ready to go.
I have been trying all kinds of hummus this past week. They sell several brands at your local grocery store. 'Athenos' and 'Sabra' brands seem to be the most popular. Both are good but I personally wasn't a fan of the Sabra Roasted Red Pepper. All of the garlic flavored brands that I've tried, I've liked. You'll also notice that if you purchase from the grocery store their brands are typically very creamy, almost like a spread. But if you purchase from say, Trader Joe's, theirs are going to be a bit more chunky. Having been overweight all of my life, chunky isn't one of favorite words, but I honestly don't mind the chunky hummus.
And so, Dana, to answer your question, "What do you eat it on or do you or do you just eat it by the spoonful?", I say to you..."A lot of people eat it with pita bread or crackers. I am not one of those "a lot of people". Try it on cucumbers, celery, zucchini sticks, bell peppers or my personal favorite...carrots! Never EVER eat it by the spoonful. Thank you SO much for this super amazing question!"
Friday, August 28, 2009
day 5: update
I have decided to update you all on my progress every Friday.
This update may or may not consist of the following:
Weight Lost/Gained (Gained? Better not be gained!)
Strengths/Weaknesses
Exciting News
Delicious Recipes
Ideas for Success!
So let’s just dive right in, shall we?
This entire week has been dedicated to this raw fruits and veggies diet that I have been on. Oh, speaking of DIET…I will no longer use the word “diet”…I hate the word “diet”. From this moment on, any “diet” I may be following will be referred to as a plan. Sometimes plans work; sometimes they do not, but from experience, “diets” NEVER work. SO…this raw fruits and veggies plan that I have been on…
I explained it briefly in my blog entitled ‘day 2: dave’. To refresh your memory, it consists of 70% raw fruits, veggies, almonds or nuts and humus throughout the day and 30% protein (small piece of chicken, fish or even shrimp) with lightly steamed veggies for dinner. It was also recommended to me to take a B-12 supplement for energy. I take a dissolve in your mouth form of B-12, but I heard that zip fizz would work just fine. The first couple of days were pretty difficult but it really is getting easier and easier every day. This was originally going to be a 10 day plan, but it has been working so well and I feel great, so I think it might just stick with it.
My time in the kitchen has been interesting. Keeping chicken exciting is always a challenge but I’ve been being adventurous. See one of my more successful experiments in a separate post below: Roasted Garlic Stuffed Chicken . I seriously suggest that you play around with healthy, fresh ingredients. I use a lot of garlic, a lot of onion, fresh herbs, lemon and lime...get creative!
I, by the way, find it hilarious that Julie Powell, my biggest inspiration to start this, used enough butter in 365 days to make like 10 life size model of myself. Which would be so incredibly bizarre to see. It's pretty opposite content wise, but it was the idea of doing something, sticking to it and using it to help me, and maybe even inspire other's, to accomplish something very important...That's what got me excited about this blog.
I haven't side-stepped too far away from my path these last 7 days, except maybe a glass of wine or two with a certain co-worker. We are talking no coffee, no soda, no BUTTER, but a crap load of bananas, cucumbers, watermelon, oranges, carrots, apples, broccoli, pears, peaches, strawberries, which are all very yum. It has been paying off; in the past 7 days I have lost another 7 pounds. A pound a day is very rapid weight loss. If you are not losing a pound a day, please don't be discouraged. Every 'body' is different, but I find that having the thought process that I am going to be a success and visualizing how my body will look; that seems to be more powerful than what I'm eating.
Go Positive Thinking! Go!
This update may or may not consist of the following:
Weight Lost/Gained (Gained? Better not be gained!)
Strengths/Weaknesses
Exciting News
Delicious Recipes
Ideas for Success!
So let’s just dive right in, shall we?
This entire week has been dedicated to this raw fruits and veggies diet that I have been on. Oh, speaking of DIET…I will no longer use the word “diet”…I hate the word “diet”. From this moment on, any “diet” I may be following will be referred to as a plan. Sometimes plans work; sometimes they do not, but from experience, “diets” NEVER work. SO…this raw fruits and veggies plan that I have been on…
I explained it briefly in my blog entitled ‘day 2: dave’. To refresh your memory, it consists of 70% raw fruits, veggies, almonds or nuts and humus throughout the day and 30% protein (small piece of chicken, fish or even shrimp) with lightly steamed veggies for dinner. It was also recommended to me to take a B-12 supplement for energy. I take a dissolve in your mouth form of B-12, but I heard that zip fizz would work just fine. The first couple of days were pretty difficult but it really is getting easier and easier every day. This was originally going to be a 10 day plan, but it has been working so well and I feel great, so I think it might just stick with it.
My time in the kitchen has been interesting. Keeping chicken exciting is always a challenge but I’ve been being adventurous. See one of my more successful experiments in a separate post below: Roasted Garlic Stuffed Chicken . I seriously suggest that you play around with healthy, fresh ingredients. I use a lot of garlic, a lot of onion, fresh herbs, lemon and lime...get creative!
I, by the way, find it hilarious that Julie Powell, my biggest inspiration to start this, used enough butter in 365 days to make like 10 life size model of myself. Which would be so incredibly bizarre to see. It's pretty opposite content wise, but it was the idea of doing something, sticking to it and using it to help me, and maybe even inspire other's, to accomplish something very important...That's what got me excited about this blog.
I haven't side-stepped too far away from my path these last 7 days, except maybe a glass of wine or two with a certain co-worker. We are talking no coffee, no soda, no BUTTER, but a crap load of bananas, cucumbers, watermelon, oranges, carrots, apples, broccoli, pears, peaches, strawberries, which are all very yum. It has been paying off; in the past 7 days I have lost another 7 pounds. A pound a day is very rapid weight loss. If you are not losing a pound a day, please don't be discouraged. Every 'body' is different, but I find that having the thought process that I am going to be a success and visualizing how my body will look; that seems to be more powerful than what I'm eating.
Go Positive Thinking! Go!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Recipe: Roasted Garlic Stuffed Chicken
Roasted Garlic Stuffed Chicken
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 heads of roasted garlic (see tips below)
¼ cup of chopped onion
1 bunch of fresh basil
1-2 cups of sliced mushrooms
salt
pepper
olive oil (spray works great)
1. Slice chicken breasts down along the side, making sure not to cut all the way thru. Most stuffed chicken recipes say to flatten the chicken between waxed paper, but I didn’t do that and it worked out perfectly.
2. Squeeze both heads of garlic into a bowl. Add chopped onion and salt and pepper to taste. Spread one spoonful of mixture between each chicken breast.
3. Place a layer (or two) of fresh basil leaves directly on top of garlic mixture.
4. Arrange sliced mushrooms on top of the fresh basil. You can use other veggies if you prefer…as long as you can get the chicken around it. Example: sliced zucchini or asparagus. Keep in mind something like broccoli or cauliflower will probably only frustrate you.
5. Pull top half of chicken across your filling and secure with toothpicks.
6. Spray cooking sheet and top of chicken with olive oil. Season to taste with salt, pepper. You can also season with onion powder, garlic powder, etc.
7. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
Tips for Roasting Garlic
Cut the tip of garlic off, exposing the cloves. Drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Wrap in tin foil and place in a 325 degree oven for 45 mins. If you are short on time, peel several cloves, add a bit of olive oil to a frying pan, saute the garlic on medium low eat until soft. Be careful not to burn it!
If you have any questions, please let me know. In all honesty, I've never written a recipe before. You don't even really need a recipe for this, just grab anything and stuff your chicken with it! You'll be surprised how easy and delicious it is. Good luck!
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 heads of roasted garlic (see tips below)
¼ cup of chopped onion
1 bunch of fresh basil
1-2 cups of sliced mushrooms
salt
pepper
olive oil (spray works great)
1. Slice chicken breasts down along the side, making sure not to cut all the way thru. Most stuffed chicken recipes say to flatten the chicken between waxed paper, but I didn’t do that and it worked out perfectly.
2. Squeeze both heads of garlic into a bowl. Add chopped onion and salt and pepper to taste. Spread one spoonful of mixture between each chicken breast.
3. Place a layer (or two) of fresh basil leaves directly on top of garlic mixture.
4. Arrange sliced mushrooms on top of the fresh basil. You can use other veggies if you prefer…as long as you can get the chicken around it. Example: sliced zucchini or asparagus. Keep in mind something like broccoli or cauliflower will probably only frustrate you.
5. Pull top half of chicken across your filling and secure with toothpicks.
6. Spray cooking sheet and top of chicken with olive oil. Season to taste with salt, pepper. You can also season with onion powder, garlic powder, etc.
7. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
Tips for Roasting Garlic
Cut the tip of garlic off, exposing the cloves. Drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Wrap in tin foil and place in a 325 degree oven for 45 mins. If you are short on time, peel several cloves, add a bit of olive oil to a frying pan, saute the garlic on medium low eat until soft. Be careful not to burn it!
If you have any questions, please let me know. In all honesty, I've never written a recipe before. You don't even really need a recipe for this, just grab anything and stuff your chicken with it! You'll be surprised how easy and delicious it is. Good luck!
day 4: getting personal
It's our fourth date...I feel it's a respectable time to get personal.
I have been “dieting” since I can remember. The school bus was a particularly hard time of the day. My best friend was very thin and they used to call us Ren & Stimpy; I give them points on creativity. I recall one day running home crying. Someone on the bus had shouted, “The only thing stopping you from Jenny Craig is the door!”. Till this day, I have no idea if the comment was directed towards me or what that comment even really means, but it did not matter. I told my mom that day that I wanted to go on a diet. She was very supportive and cooked me ‘good for you’ food. It was horrible (not the food, my mom is a wonderful cook) but the 'being a little girl and trying to lose weight'. I would literally sneak hand fulls of chili cheese Frito's while frantically watching over my shoulder to make sure nobody witnessed my failure. I was 9.
In sixth grade, I left my jacket in the lunch room. It was turned into the principle and, in my pocket, the diet pills I stole from my mom’s bathroom cupboard, were discovered. This, of course, produced many more tears. When I learned the meaning of Bulimia in high school health class, I thought my prayers had been answered. I never had the courage…Thankfully!
After one too many glasses of wine, my mother swears that it all started when visiting my dad and his family in California one summer. If I’m ever going to succeed I have to accept the fact that no matter when it started, no matter whom I would like (or my mom would like) to blame, the key is within ME!
Every “diet” path (until NOW) has led me straight into a brick wall. Usually at that point, I pull up a chair and hang out on the wrong side of the brick wall until I hit a new rock bottom; whatever it may be. Maybe it’s a simple and very rude question from a stranger, “Are you expecting?” or a long over do breakup with a boyfriend. I stay on track for a while but, without fail, life happens. I lose a job...now I don’t have a schedule, so I can’t stick to a “diet”. Christmas comes...there’s good food everywhere, so I can’t stick to a “diet”. Dating a new guy...why should I stick to a "diet". And so on, and so on.
As I've gotten older I have grown to accept my body. I look in the mirror each morning and know that this is the body I was given and that everything I do that day CAN change it. There is no magical overnight fix. The day that I accepted that...I say accepted and not realize because, honestly, I've known it all along...is day everything became that much easier.
And so I say to YOU…”Which side of the brick wall are you on?”.
I have been “dieting” since I can remember. The school bus was a particularly hard time of the day. My best friend was very thin and they used to call us Ren & Stimpy; I give them points on creativity. I recall one day running home crying. Someone on the bus had shouted, “The only thing stopping you from Jenny Craig is the door!”. Till this day, I have no idea if the comment was directed towards me or what that comment even really means, but it did not matter. I told my mom that day that I wanted to go on a diet. She was very supportive and cooked me ‘good for you’ food. It was horrible (not the food, my mom is a wonderful cook) but the 'being a little girl and trying to lose weight'. I would literally sneak hand fulls of chili cheese Frito's while frantically watching over my shoulder to make sure nobody witnessed my failure. I was 9.
In sixth grade, I left my jacket in the lunch room. It was turned into the principle and, in my pocket, the diet pills I stole from my mom’s bathroom cupboard, were discovered. This, of course, produced many more tears. When I learned the meaning of Bulimia in high school health class, I thought my prayers had been answered. I never had the courage…Thankfully!
After one too many glasses of wine, my mother swears that it all started when visiting my dad and his family in California one summer. If I’m ever going to succeed I have to accept the fact that no matter when it started, no matter whom I would like (or my mom would like) to blame, the key is within ME!
Every “diet” path (until NOW) has led me straight into a brick wall. Usually at that point, I pull up a chair and hang out on the wrong side of the brick wall until I hit a new rock bottom; whatever it may be. Maybe it’s a simple and very rude question from a stranger, “Are you expecting?” or a long over do breakup with a boyfriend. I stay on track for a while but, without fail, life happens. I lose a job...now I don’t have a schedule, so I can’t stick to a “diet”. Christmas comes...there’s good food everywhere, so I can’t stick to a “diet”. Dating a new guy...why should I stick to a "diet". And so on, and so on.
As I've gotten older I have grown to accept my body. I look in the mirror each morning and know that this is the body I was given and that everything I do that day CAN change it. There is no magical overnight fix. The day that I accepted that...I say accepted and not realize because, honestly, I've known it all along...is day everything became that much easier.
And so I say to YOU…”Which side of the brick wall are you on?”.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
day 3: goal...a four letter word.
Goal: something that somebody wants to achieve.
Fail: to be unsuccessful in trying to do something.
Isn't it so sad that, more often than not, these two terms go hand in hand?
While I was employed as a Market Center Administrator (technical term for paper pusher) for a real estate company, I had the opportunity to learn all about goal setting. Here is a very brief rundown of the process:
1. Decide on a goal. Whether it has to do with health, wealth, business or personal, the goal must be specific.
2. Figure out what steps you need to take in order to reach your goal successfully.
3. Breakdown your goal into obtainable checkpoints. (example: I want to lose 60 lbs in one year; 5 lbs a month. or 1.25lbs a week) This can be used with ALL goals; it’s simple math. Make sure that this breakdown is REASONABLE. Do not set yourself up to fail.
a. Your goal isn't directly related to numbers? Let’s say that you want to have a better relationship with your spouse. Now, the steps want to take to reach that: watch a movie together every weekend, have sex four times a week (remember: don't set yourself up to fail), take a dance lesson two nights a week. Now you have numbers to work with. ONCE a week or FOUR times a month. You get the picture.
4. Commit!
5. After committing you MUST have accountability. At my office, this consisted of a weekly one on one meeting discussing each other’s goals and what we had done to accomplish those goals.
6. Succeed! Accomplish your daily goals, in order to accomplish your monthly goals which will, inevitably, cause your yearly goals fall into place.
Sounds easy enough. Yet daily, people are failing. Why? Although there are thousands of websites with insight as to why people fail their goals, for me it lies in step number 5...ACCOUNTABILITY! Who else will know that I have failed a goal other than myself? And what will ‘myself’ do if I fail at accomplishing that goal? Not a damn thing, other than weep quietly when no one is looking…or eat! Ha!
Not this time, my friends…NOT THIS TIME! Even though it has only been three days, I think about my blog every time I reach for a snack or fill up my water bottle. There was a moment of clarity the first time I started typing...I could just tell that this was it. If I am unsuccessful, who will know? The world (not that “the world” is reading my blog) but, again, you get the picture.
Succeed: to manage to do what is planned or attempted.
And so I say to myself, Self…"Take this goal, and kick this goals ass!"
Fail: to be unsuccessful in trying to do something.
Isn't it so sad that, more often than not, these two terms go hand in hand?
While I was employed as a Market Center Administrator (technical term for paper pusher) for a real estate company, I had the opportunity to learn all about goal setting. Here is a very brief rundown of the process:
1. Decide on a goal. Whether it has to do with health, wealth, business or personal, the goal must be specific.
2. Figure out what steps you need to take in order to reach your goal successfully.
3. Breakdown your goal into obtainable checkpoints. (example: I want to lose 60 lbs in one year; 5 lbs a month. or 1.25lbs a week) This can be used with ALL goals; it’s simple math. Make sure that this breakdown is REASONABLE. Do not set yourself up to fail.
a. Your goal isn't directly related to numbers? Let’s say that you want to have a better relationship with your spouse. Now, the steps want to take to reach that: watch a movie together every weekend, have sex four times a week (remember: don't set yourself up to fail), take a dance lesson two nights a week. Now you have numbers to work with. ONCE a week or FOUR times a month. You get the picture.
4. Commit!
5. After committing you MUST have accountability. At my office, this consisted of a weekly one on one meeting discussing each other’s goals and what we had done to accomplish those goals.
6. Succeed! Accomplish your daily goals, in order to accomplish your monthly goals which will, inevitably, cause your yearly goals fall into place.
Sounds easy enough. Yet daily, people are failing. Why? Although there are thousands of websites with insight as to why people fail their goals, for me it lies in step number 5...ACCOUNTABILITY! Who else will know that I have failed a goal other than myself? And what will ‘myself’ do if I fail at accomplishing that goal? Not a damn thing, other than weep quietly when no one is looking…or eat! Ha!
Not this time, my friends…NOT THIS TIME! Even though it has only been three days, I think about my blog every time I reach for a snack or fill up my water bottle. There was a moment of clarity the first time I started typing...I could just tell that this was it. If I am unsuccessful, who will know? The world (not that “the world” is reading my blog) but, again, you get the picture.
Succeed: to manage to do what is planned or attempted.
And so I say to myself, Self…"Take this goal, and kick this goals ass!"
Monday, August 24, 2009
day 2: dave
I received my first blog comments! Thank you so much everyone!
My first three comments in history were from 1. my boyfriend, 2. my boyfriends mom and 3. a good friend I've known for 15 years. I'd say that's pretty comparable to Julie's first comments, whom, according to the movie, was her very own mother. I may mention or refer to some comments in my daily blogs depending on how they fit in. My very first comment fits in delighfully for today.
Which really brings us to day two of my 365 days. The perfect time to introduce my boyfriend! Dave...I love you sugar pie.
Daves said...
Way to go Shawndra! It is nice to see that you found inspiration and have been able to set a goal for yourself. Do you know what you are going to do next to accomplish the goal you have set?- Dave
Very nice, very cute, very supportive comment. Don't you agree?
Here is a rundown of Dave's eating habits for the past few years:
First (when we met) - Pescatarian: Those who abstain from eating all meat with the exception of fish. I tell you because, I'll be honest, I had no idea what the word meant when I first heard it.
Next (started April 3rd)- Low Carber: Person who basically cuts out all flour and sugar. That isn't a technical term or definition, but he still went along with me for the ride...with great success; he has also lost a total of 40 lbs.
NOW (started last Wednesday) - I was introduced to a raw fruits and veggies 10-day plan. It is 70% raw fruits and veggies all throughout the day and 30% protein (small piece of chicken, fish or even shrimp) in the evening with lightly steamed veggies.
This is clearly a very brave man. I'm sure that he will come up from time to time and now it won't go like this...Dave (that's my boyfriend). Having someone so supportive there with me, experiencing it all, seeing the results together...words cannot describe how much it has helped me. It is encouraging, to say the least. And if he can get through 5 days of the raw fruits and veggies cleanse, he can certainly get through my new 'annoyingly passionate' outlook on the next 363 days.
And so, to answer your question...Do you know what you are going to do next to accomplish the goal you have set? I say to you, Dave...It may involve more celery, hun. Sorry.
My first three comments in history were from 1. my boyfriend, 2. my boyfriends mom and 3. a good friend I've known for 15 years. I'd say that's pretty comparable to Julie's first comments, whom, according to the movie, was her very own mother. I may mention or refer to some comments in my daily blogs depending on how they fit in. My very first comment fits in delighfully for today.
Which really brings us to day two of my 365 days. The perfect time to introduce my boyfriend! Dave...I love you sugar pie.
Daves said...
Way to go Shawndra! It is nice to see that you found inspiration and have been able to set a goal for yourself. Do you know what you are going to do next to accomplish the goal you have set?- Dave
Very nice, very cute, very supportive comment. Don't you agree?
Here is a rundown of Dave's eating habits for the past few years:
First (when we met) - Pescatarian: Those who abstain from eating all meat with the exception of fish. I tell you because, I'll be honest, I had no idea what the word meant when I first heard it.
Next (started April 3rd)- Low Carber: Person who basically cuts out all flour and sugar. That isn't a technical term or definition, but he still went along with me for the ride...with great success; he has also lost a total of 40 lbs.
NOW (started last Wednesday) - I was introduced to a raw fruits and veggies 10-day plan. It is 70% raw fruits and veggies all throughout the day and 30% protein (small piece of chicken, fish or even shrimp) in the evening with lightly steamed veggies.
This is clearly a very brave man. I'm sure that he will come up from time to time and now it won't go like this...Dave (that's my boyfriend). Having someone so supportive there with me, experiencing it all, seeing the results together...words cannot describe how much it has helped me. It is encouraging, to say the least. And if he can get through 5 days of the raw fruits and veggies cleanse, he can certainly get through my new 'annoyingly passionate' outlook on the next 363 days.
And so, to answer your question...Do you know what you are going to do next to accomplish the goal you have set? I say to you, Dave...It may involve more celery, hun. Sorry.
day 1: 60lbs in 365 days
I saw Julie & Julia this weekend, so now I'm starting a blog. EWE...I wonder how many blogs have started out with that very sentence...
The fact is, that doesn't really matter to me.
There are a couple of things that I realized in watching Julie Powell's story:
1. I never knew how easy it is to start a blog. It took me WAY longer to actually come to the decision to do this than it did to create a blog and start blogging!
2. I think that blogging (I really hope that's a word) could, quite possibly, be the best form of accountability ever.
AND
3. I never finish anything either! I'm dying to finish something. What better way to finish something than to start something?
So what could I possibly be starting?
Here is the plan...
I am embarking on a weight loss journey. Again...EWE, but just hear me out.
For the past five months I have cut out carbs and sugary, delicious foods. I should also mention, that for the past 5 days I have been on a raw fruits and veggies cleanse (5 more days to go...Thanks Mom). In this time frame I have dropped 40 lbs. Exciting? Indeed! Have I met my weight loss goal? Not so much.
I loved loved LOVED, that Julie had a time frame to complete her goal. I have decided that I too will blog for 365 days. That gives me one year to lose an additional 60 lbs. Which would bring me to my ideal BMI. I'm 5ft 8in if you are interested in doing the math. So that's 60lbs in 12 months...5 lbs a month. Very reasonable, I'd say.
I know nothing about blogging and my grammar/spelling is, more than likely, disgusting some readers, but I feel hopeful and excited that this will keep me on the right track and possibly inspire others. And to Julie, I say...Thank you for sharing your story with the world!
The fact is, that doesn't really matter to me.
There are a couple of things that I realized in watching Julie Powell's story:
1. I never knew how easy it is to start a blog. It took me WAY longer to actually come to the decision to do this than it did to create a blog and start blogging!
2. I think that blogging (I really hope that's a word) could, quite possibly, be the best form of accountability ever.
AND
3. I never finish anything either! I'm dying to finish something. What better way to finish something than to start something?
So what could I possibly be starting?
Here is the plan...
I am embarking on a weight loss journey. Again...EWE, but just hear me out.
For the past five months I have cut out carbs and sugary, delicious foods. I should also mention, that for the past 5 days I have been on a raw fruits and veggies cleanse (5 more days to go...Thanks Mom). In this time frame I have dropped 40 lbs. Exciting? Indeed! Have I met my weight loss goal? Not so much.
I loved loved LOVED, that Julie had a time frame to complete her goal. I have decided that I too will blog for 365 days. That gives me one year to lose an additional 60 lbs. Which would bring me to my ideal BMI. I'm 5ft 8in if you are interested in doing the math. So that's 60lbs in 12 months...5 lbs a month. Very reasonable, I'd say.
I know nothing about blogging and my grammar/spelling is, more than likely, disgusting some readers, but I feel hopeful and excited that this will keep me on the right track and possibly inspire others. And to Julie, I say...Thank you for sharing your story with the world!
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