Weigh In Four...The One Month Edition

This has been another tough week for me. I did not exercise this past week. I am really going to try to do it this next week. I am super excited that I have had some help in my rewards, my wonderful In-Laws told me that they will buy me a new outfit when I get to 250, and take me to get a Pedicure when I get to 225.

In better news, I reached my first weight loss goal!!! I hit and passed the 270 mark, and I am so happy to finally be getting somewhere.

These next few weeks are going to get harder. We have 3 family birthdays in the next 3 weeks, with cake and junk food at all of them. My parents are coming to visit on Friday, and then when they leave on Wednesday, they are taking Eli to Michigan with them. I am supposed to leave for Michigan on July 8th that is 9 days without my baby. Up until now the longest I have ever been away from him is 2 days. With all the changes and disruptions in my life, it is going to be really hard to stick to my plan, but I am going to do my best. I am most worried about stress eating, while Eli is in Michigan. On the upside, I should have plenty of time to exercise.

My goal this week is to actually exercise, not just write that I will start exercising. Maybe if I can do 3 workouts in a week, drink lots of water, I will be well on the way to my next goal of 255.

Starting Weight:   285

Last Week:           272

Current:                268

Weight Lost:            4

Total Lost:             17

***I still need some more ideas for inexpensive rewards!***

Goal 1: 270 Reached 6-17-2011 Reward: New Swimsuit Top

Goal 2: 255 New Book.(Maybe I will take the time to enjoy it too?)
Goal 3: 250 New Outfit (Donated by my awesome In-Laws.)

Goal 4: 240 Workout Outfit

Goal 5: 225 Mani & Pedi (Again donated by my super awesome In-Laws!)

Goal 6: 210

Goal 7: 195 Shorts? (I haven't worn shorts since I was 10)(Even if it's winter, I want them!)

Goal 8: 180

Goal 9: 165

Goal 10: 150 Clothes!!!

It's Too Hard...

(Insert whining here.)

Losing weight is HARD. I hate it. I hate watching what I eat. I hate the thought of exercise(I haven't actually started working out yet.) I hate missing out on cake, and french fries.

Being fat is HARDER. I hate the way people look at me, like they are better than me. I hate not wearing things I like, because they don't come in my size. I hate the way I feel after I eat too much. I hate the guilt I feel after I run through McDonald's drive through after work. I hate that my pants are too tight. I hate that my legs rub together. I hate that my son imitates me, wanting to lose weight. I hate that he knows already.

I worry: that I won't be here for Eli, that Eli will be fat, that I won't fit on that airplane, ride, bench, or chair, that people won't like me because I am too fat, that people will treat Eli different because I am fat, that my husband doesn't think I am beautiful.

I want: to be healthy for me, to teach Eli a healthy way of life, to not be afraid of eating, to be confidant, to feel good about myself, to look in the mirror and smile, to hear someone say I am beautiful and believe it, to wear shorts, to have energy.

Most of all I want to be happy with myself.

On the Cheap...

So, as you all know, I love couponing. I love to save money. This whole eating healthy thing could be crazy expensive. Since this is now my new way of life, I need to find ways to fit it into my budget.

Here are a few tips for eating healthy on a budget...

• Shop the front page of your store's circular. They are the best deals, to get you into the store. The produce and meat's are going to be priced really well.
• Stock up when they are on sale. When meat is on a good sale buy extra and freeze it. A lot of produce is really good to freeze as well. Buy extra and freeze it as well.
• Frozen fruit and vegetables. They are great. They go on sale often, lots of times for free. My freezer is full of veggies, since they are so much better for you than canned, and often I don't want to take the time to make fresh.
• Make a "Buy Price" list. You need to know the rock bottom prices for the things you buy. Whether you write it down, or just keep track of it in your head, it's very important. I know that I can get Boneless Skinless Chicken breast for $1.79/lb, so why would I pay $4.99/lb. 
• Split Chicken Breasts are a good alternative to Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast. You can usually get them for $.99/lb, and it's really easy to cut the skin and bone off. It ends up being cheaper in the end, even though the bone and skin gets thrown away in the end.
• Skip the pre-cut, ready to eat produce. It's convenient, but costly. I find it is usually at least double the cost of doing it myself. I buy produce a lot at a time. When I come home I set aside the time to take care of it all right away, and keep it all in containers in the fridge. It is easier to grab an apple or strawberries if it's ready for me, than to worry about how many chips or cookies I eat.
• Buy local. Farmer's Markets are a great place to go. The less "middle-men" stuff has to go through the less added cost there is. Plus, they are fresher, and support your community!
• Write companies for coupons, tell them how much you love their product. While it is harder to find coupons for produce and meats, they do exist.

Hope this helps!!!

Weigh In Three...

This was a very hard week for me. I was emotional, to say the least. A terrible week at work, combined with missing my kid, means emotional eating. I am working on learning to handle my emotions better, but I had a setback this week. (There might me more rants on here or FB!!!) I am stressed about all the things I need to do before my parents get here in 11 days. 

I think/hope I might start adding workouts into my day this week. We have a fitness center in our apartment complex, I have never been there, but it should at least be enough to get me moving. I have 20 workout dvd's, a pool across from us, and almost every Wii workout game. I really have no excuse not to workout. I just don't feel like it. It's time to change that. This next week and a half will be really busy, but I am hoping to fit in time to work out anyway.

Starting Weight:   285

Last Week:          274

Current:               272

Weight Lost:            2

Total Lost:             13

***I still need some more ideas for inexpensive rewards!***

Goal 1: 270 Reward: New Swimsuit Top

Goal 2: 255 New Book.(Maybe I will take the time to enjoy it too?)

Goal 3: 240

Goal 4: 225

Goal 5: 210

Goal 6: 195

Goal 7: 180

Goal 8: 165

Goal 9: 150 Clothes!!!

My Week...

This has been the longest week of my life. I am so tired, which is why I haven't been posting at all. It just seems like everything has been going wrong this week.

First, this was a VERY long week at work, normally I only work 3-4 days, but this was a five day week for me. Which Eli has decided to guilt me with ALL week. "Mama, I miss you when you work all the time!" (Mommy Guilt! Ughh) And the job I mostly enjoy, has turned into one HORRIBLE job this week. We are understaffed, and overly busy. In fact, I cried at work last night. (Thank you, Carey) The worst part is there is no end in sight for the overwhelming craziness. At least I was off today, and next week is back to 4 days.

Then there was the crankiness. Holy NO NAP week. Eli is on strike for naps. I am so not ready to give up nap time. He is so not ready to give up nap time. I am pretty sure he has only taken 2 naps ALL WEEK!!! This also means that he is really cranky by 4 pm. At the latest. Not to mention that he is having a hard time with the transitions between Grammy and Papa's house and ours. When he comes home in the morning, he is whiny, and wants to go back, when it's time to go back, he want to stay home.

Next, I have decided that I need to get up early every day. This was definitely not the week to start it, but I did it anyway. The latest I got up this week was 8 am. I have been working until at least 11 almost every night this week, which means I am not getting to bed until 12 or 1, then I am up around 6. I am exhausted to say the least, since I am not a sound sleeper, I am getting 3-4 hours of sleep a night. This lack of sleep is being countered by a LOT of coffee. (Iced leftover coffee doesn't count into my daily coffee allowance, right?)

Oh yeah, and I am hormonal. I am an emotional basket case. I have a reason, (Hello TOM) but still...

So see why I haven't been around much? Oh wait!!! There's more... A friend is sleeping on my couch(who I thoroughly enjoy having, don't even start with me, you know who you are!!!), and my parents are coming down to visit in less than 2 weeks!!! Let's just pile on the stress. Hoping for a better week next week!!!

Weigh In Two...

This has been a rough week. I am sick,(swimmers ear), which makes me not want to eat, since it hurts to chew. Lots of Eli troubles, no naps=cranky kid. I did ok on my water intake, but not as well as I had hoped. Still working on that. I was planning on swimming with Eli alot, but I am not allowed to swim until my ear is better. I ate out this week, which is really hard for me, I don't make the best choices when I am out to eat, since it is such a rarity around here. Also since I shared with Eli I chose to get one side item for him, and one for me. Rolls and peanuts didn't help, and dessert was included. OOPS!!! Oh well back to the plan ! I have lots of fruit in my fridge, but the veggies are running low. I am hving a really hard time with finding vegetables that I can eat without a lot of adding to them. I still really don't like vegetables. Anyone have any ideas?

I am up 1 lb for the week, I kind of expected to not lose much, if anything since I had such a big loss last week. I am also not expecting much this week, due to a visit from Aunt Flow. If I can stay the same this week I will be happy.

Starting Weight:   285
Last Week:          273
Current:               274
Weight Lost:           -1
Total Lost:             11

Goal 1: 270 Reward: New Swimsuit Top
Goal 2: 255
Goal 3: 240
Goal 4: 225
Goal 5: 210
Goal 6: 195
Goal 7: 180
Goal 8: 165
Goal 9: 150

Milestones:

1. On Memorial Day I SKIPPED cake. ME. I skipped CAKE. I ate pineapple instead.
2. Water. I am drowning. SO MUCH WATER.

Focus this week:

• I don't know, I am miserable right now. TOM is kicking my booty right now. It is hard enough to stick to the plan, let alone add something else. I REALLY WANT FRENCH FRIES AND CHOCOLATE RIGHT NOW!!! 

Wordless Wednesday... The Faces of Eli

There are so many faces of my child. 

He is definitely emotional.