today's reasons for losing weight

Lately, I have been thinking about things that will be nice about being fit.

New variety of clothing options-GO SHOPPING!
Confidence
More energy
Sleep better at night
Fit into certain seats more comfortably
Able to go on more adventures!

Please tell me your reasons!

Its not a diet, its a lifestyle change

I've decided its time to begin my weight loss blog again.  Hopefully this will give me more accountability to stick to my goals.  Those who know me, know that I went on a low carb diet last year.  I lost 40 lbs!  It was amazing.  However, I let my good habits slip making it difficult to gear back up for eating healthy again.  Its easy to justify a cookie here or a soda there.  Soon enough I was back to my bad habits again.  This must stop.  I hate feeling tired from too much sugar.  When I was good about not eating so many carbs, I had so much more energy.  I didn't feel like I needed as much sleep, and I felt like being more active.  Another bonus was that I didn't crave sugar and sweet treats didn't really taste that good when I did eat them.  I am changing my habits today so I can get back to that.
I also want to talk about how weight loss isn't about going on a "diet" but making a lifestyle change.  This isn't easy for many reasons.  The number one reason for me is that I turn to food for comfort.  Unfortunately a lifestyle change also means finding other ways to deal with depression, other sadness, anger, boredom etc. so I don't eat my feelings.   My goal is to recognize when I want to eat my feelings and to find another activity that I enjoy that I can do at that particular moment to alleviate those feelings so the hunger pangs will pass.  Additionally, if I view sugar as poison and belly fat, it is also easier to avoid eating it.  For instance, I used to pass the cereal aisle in the grocery store and call it the high fructose corn syrup aisle or belly fat aisle.  It helped to keep on walking past.

Sample daily menu:
Breakfast: protein shake (2 scoops-50 grams protein) with almond milk
Snack: 1 serving fruit
Lunch: grilled chicken with a salad
Snack:  greek yogurt or protein bar
Dinner: stirfry veggies and lean meat over quinoa
64-96 oz of water daily

228 lbs

I decided to sign up for water aerobics and went to my first class tonight.  It was a lot of fun.  The great thing was that there were only 2 other girls in the class.  I really like how the pool isn't crowded at all.  The teacher was really laid back and I ended up working out for 1 1/2 hours instead of an hour class as listed.  I just wish that I could go every day but the next three days I have to work during the times listed.  I'm looking forward to Friday!  Celebrate the small things right?!

free swimming!

I have been refusing to join a gym because I can't afford the extra cost but have really wanted to be able to swim for exercise.  Most of the gyms in the area don't have pools and the ones that do are pretty expensive.  Well the other day I was at the library and found a flyer for public swimming at a local middle school.  The best part is that it is free for me to do lap swimming!  I just didn't believe it so I stopped by yesterday to get more details.  Turns out this time of year, they don't have very many people who use the pool so when I go it will be pretty much to myself!  The only disadvantage is that the hours for lap swimming is limited to 5:15-7:15 am or 8:30-9:00 pm M-F.  It will be good for me to wake up early and so I will just have to motivate myself.  If I do go during open plunge hours I'm sure that I could still swim laps but it costs $3 per swim or $30 for 30 swims.  There is also another cost if I want to go to water aerobics.  I dug out my bathing suit and am excited for the pounds to just melt away!

233

chocolate sweet tooth.

Found a recipe to harness the chocolate sweet tooth without making an entire cake!  Not bad and only takes a few minutes!
Here is the recipe as well as the link:
http://www.instructables.com/id/5-minute-Chocolate-Cake/?ALLSTEPS

Ingredients:

• coffee mug
• 4 tablespoons flour - make sure you measure it right - or the cake is a lie!
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
• 2 tablespoons whisked egg - 1 egg is too much, 1 egg white is too eggy, 1 yolk is too dense, but 2 tblsp is justright!
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 3 tablespoons oil
• 3 tablespoons chocolate chips
• splash vanilla or other flavoring - try peppermint or cinnamon

For a fudgier version, omit egg!


Directions:

• Add all of the dry ingredients to the mug and mix.
• Add the egg and combine well. It gets pretty pasty at the point.
• Stir in milk and oil.
• Add chocolate chips* and splash of vanilla. Stir well.
• Microwave for 3 mins in 1000 w oven and 4 mins in 700 w oven

I made a few adaptations to make mine a little more guilt free:

2 T applesauce and 1 T oil. omit egg since I like it fudgier and didn't want to measure it out.

I also added white chocolate chips instead of regular kind since that is what I had open.  Another important detail is that I used cake flour and so added a little more since the volume is a bit lighter.  The best part of this recipe is that there are so many variations and if it doesn't work out you can try it again.  It doesn't take long to make another!

Delicious!

234 lbs

Kevin already owes me $5  Kinda sad when you can't make your goal even on the first week.  We decided to do this week's official weigh in on Monday morning since he is out of town this weekend.  


It was a good week for me because it was decently warm.  On Monday I walked to the library and back which is about a mile away.  On Thursday I drove to a neighborhood that is more hilly than mine and it was refreshing to walk somewhere different.  It snowed last night and this morning so a comfortable walk wasn't much of an option this morning.  I think I might still wander out later this afternoon anyway though.


Picked up my first bountiful basket this morning.  It was very exciting.  The produce is very fresh and there is a big variety too.  I already made up a green juice with spinach, green apples, radish greens, green grapes and celery. If you've never had a fresh juice it is quite the experience.  It kinda gives you a weird energy buzz.  I have heard stories of people getting a bunch of unusual things in their baskets.  Most everything I got was very common.   The most unusual things in my basket were english cucumbers and asian pears.  I think it will be fun to figure out what kinds of things I can do with each of the items in my basket.


234 lbs

temptations

Resisted a delicious looking slice of pizza today.  Satisfied myself with a fiber one bar instead.  Also attempted to eat fish for lunch.  Not so good.  I will have to think of a different way to prepare it besides dashing some spice on it and pan frying it.  Wish that fish sticks counted as a healthy source of fish.  I guess I could save those for my cheat days.  

I have been eating so much less than I normally eat and I'm really not as hungry all the time as I thought I would be.  I try to distract myself by doing other things and when I do feel hunger pangs I try to just drink some water. So far I've been able to stay really focused and that is encouraging to me.  I just have to keep it up!