Today's Weigh In

Ever notice that the contestants don't take their shirts off for the final few weigh-in on Biggest Loser? My thoughts are that they have a lot of loose skin from losing weight so fast! I lost 3.4 pounds this week - which is more than I am comfortable losing on a consistent basis.

In this case, however, I think I've been holding in A LOT of water weight over the past month or so. Luckily, it seems my body is getting used to me drinking 80+ ounces a day (yesterday alone I consumed 90 or so).

I am in the final 9 weeks of this plan (though I know I'll keep blogging!) and have 11.4 pounds left to lose. Last week I had 15 pounds to lose and it averaged to 1.5 a week. I'm going to continue aiming for a pound and a half - especially since a big loss one week is usually countered with little loss, if any, the next week.

But I will say, this was a VERY active week!

Last Wednesday saw me mowing my front lawn - and burning 250 calories in the process. Then Thursday I walked 5 miles at an average pace of 4 mph (I usually walk long walks at 3 mph so it was a cardio workout for more than an hour!). Friday also found me mowing - my back yard this time and on Saturday I did A LOT of lifting and such for the garage sale. Sunday morning work me up bright an early for a 17-mile walk around town (took 7 hours with bathrooms stops and buying Gatorades at a couple of gas stations). I took a rest on Monday then walked 5 miles last night.

I feel like I'm balancing my calories accordingly - on my 17-mile walk Sunday I literally consumed 500 calories while walking! Sure, I burned more than 1500, but I didn't exactly skimp on my foods that day. Overall I consumed 1850 calories that day so maybe I can let myself have a smidge more next time ...

I'm pretty excited to see the 150s, by the way. There is no memory in my head of me weighing these numbers and it feels AMAZING!!!

Also, big congrats to Ben - he's officially lost 5 pounds!!!

Can't stand the heat? Don't cook in that kitchen!

I meant to write this post on June 21 - to mark the first day of summer - but I was too excited about Bella the Blender (not named bc of Twilight!) and got distracted.

Anyway, unless you are down under, summer has probably hit you smack dab in the sweat glands and the idea of cooking makes you ill and causes early signs of heat stroke.

In honor of that lovely picture, here is a collection of salad recipes courtesy of my email subscriptions!

Sweet and Tangy Four Bean Salad from Better Homes and Garden (though this involves some boiling a few hours before serving) Two servings and you are rocking with the protein of a meaty meal!

Greek Pasta Salad also thanks to BHG (also involves boiling)

Grilled Greek Potato Salad from Taste of Home (I love the idea of grilling it because the grill will leave my house cool!)

Chinese Slaw from the one and only Hungry Girl


Chunky Chicken Salad also thanks to Hungry Girl

Shrimp, Mango, and Avocado Salad again from Hungry Girl (UM, wow - yes, please!!!)

(Actually, Hungry Girl's new book has an entire chapter on no-cook meals!)

Women's Health has provided SIX interesting salad recipes here! (Shrimp and Feta Tabbouleh? Yes!)

Fruit Salads:
Melon and Grape Salad courtesy of Taste at Home - it's simple and sweet. Gotta love it!

Apple Slaw from Hungry Girl

Don't think that all salads are health-friendly!
Check out these no-no's courtesy of Eat This, Not That


HAPPY NO-COOKING!!!

Forgot my lunch! Again!

I hate it when I forget my lunch!

It always seems to happen on days when I don't have enough time to stop and get something.

I forced the time today - picked up lunch on my way to class. And managed to walk into class just as the professor started talking.

I decided to go to McDonalds because I know that 4 chicken nuggets is only 190 calories and I can get apple slices. But, I really didn't want to eat fried chicken - even if it is lower cal than a burger. Besides protein from the chicken, what nutritional value is in that?

I used a fast food calorie app on my phone to look at other things on their menu and decided upon a southwest fiesta salad with grilled chicken. Skipping the dressing, apparently it's only 320 calories!



While it was tasty, let me caution you all: Driving and eating a salad is a Bad Idea. Now, I didn't have a wreck, but I was close several times. And let's not to mention the dropped corn kernels and lettuce leaves all around my console! I ordered a couple of apple dippers to add fruit to the meal - saving one for my snack after class.

Nervous Natalie

I've got a confession to make - I cheated on Weigh Day - and have been weighing myself almost every day this past week.

I'm obsessed with this plateau and really don't want to get stuck. Especially since I am so close to my goal!

Things were looking up, too. When I weighted myself last Thursday, I was 161 pounds. Friday saw me at 160(!!!) pounds. So did Saturday. I was feeling good. It looked like I'd beaten the plateau. Until I weighed in yesterday at 162 again!!!

Oh man. I was so frustrated. I walked 15 miles Sunday! Plus, I'd only eaten 1100 calories on Monday (just how the meals fell, I'm still sticking to 1300 a day). How was I gaining weight after that????

So you can understand Nervous Natalie standing before the scale this morning.

It seemed to take Super Scale an extra long time to determine my weight, but when it did ....

160!!!!!

WOOHOO!!! That's right, my Ladies (and Gentleman) in Weighting - I have officially lost 35 pounds!!

Just call me Rocket Girl!

Say hello to my little friend!!!



I am super excited with my newest acquisition. It's a Bella Cucina ROCKET blender. SO. FREAKING. AWESOME.



Bella comes with 4 glasses that can be put on the blender blades PLUS a small food processor. I've already used her to make watermelon-lime-cilantro pop-sicles (only 40 calories each) and a banana coffee ice cream milk shake (only 190 calories).



Also, I have the stuff to make my own salsa and hummus this week! I am super stoked!!!!!!

Smoothies, anyone??? Yummmmmm.


Recipe for Watermelon-lime-cilantro popsicles

Photo coming soon ...

3 cups watermelon
3 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tbsp fresh honey
6 tbsp Splenda (or sugar)
2 tbsl cilantro

Put all in blender and blend until smooth. Pour into popsicle molds. If you don't have molds, you can pour it into dixie cups and stick a popsicle stick in em.

Have I hit the dreaded Plateau?

I read a lot about weight loss and the things people experience when they are working on losing a large amount (more than 20 pounds).

One thing most people experience is The Plateau: They just stop losing weight. No gaining occurs, but nothing is lost either. For some it lasts weeks, others months. The body gets used to the calories you're feeding it and your workouts become routine to your system. The body, essentially, tells the future and adjusts itself perfectly to what you feed it and how much you work it. The body wants to maintain and that's good - when maintenance is your goal. But I'm not there yet!

I hoped to avoid the plateau by shaking things up on a regular basis. First, it was just tracking the diet. Then, I slowly added (what I now consider) short treadmill jaunts. And lately I've added long distance walking.

But, after two weeks of weighing in at 162, I'm afraid I may have hit it. I may be stressing before a pattern hits (three weeks would really show one!), but I have 11 weeks to lose 17 pounds and I can't afford any time lost!

There could be other explanations: 1) muscle gain - things are looking a lot more defined these days 2) water-weight - I drink more than 70 ounces a day generally.

Bit if this truly is the markings of The Plateau, I need to figure out a way to solve it - fast! Usually, to get out of the plateau you have to shake your body up a lot. Shock the system, so to speak. I thought walking double-digit miles would be enough to combat that!

Any ideas?

My Measurements
Waist: 30.5 ... overall decrease of 9.5 inches (can't wait to get into the 20s!!!)
Hips: 40 ... overall decrease of 7.25
Thigh: 21 ... overall decrease of 7.5 inches
Calves: 15.25 ... overall decrease of 2 inches (There is a lot more definition now!)
Upper Arm: 12.5 ... overall decrease of 3 inches


Last Month:
Waist: 31.25
Hips: 40.5
Thigh: 21.25
Calf: 15.25
Upper Arm: 12.75

Starting Points:
Weight: 195 lbs
Waist: 40 inches
Hips: 47.25 inches
Thigh: 28.5 inches
Upper Arm: 15.5 inches
Calf: 17.25 inches

Changing it up worked

Well, yesterday was Weigh Day and I sadly reported no weight loss. I was a bit shocked, to be honest, considering the fact that I walked more than 30 miles last week.

But I my explanation came last night - and I'll leave it at that.

Things are settling down in my world. Rearranging my schedule, based on priorities, has really made a difference!

Now, my schedule is as follows:

6:30 - Wake up, eat breakfast, study
8:30 - Leave for classes
9:40 to 12:45 - In classes
12:50 - Leave for internship, eat lunch in car
2:00 - Arrive at work
5:00 - Leave work
5:30 - Arrive home, change into workout clothes
5:45 - ? Work out
Dinner, study after dinner

I don't feel nearly so rushed with this new schedule - and not nearly so exhausted by 5:30. It's wonderful :-) Plus, with the new semester starting in two weeks, work and school switch places and everything else remains the same.

I'm still busy - weekends are practically non-existent for me now since my training walks take at least 4 hours each and I'm working to raise money for the 3-Day.

Also, I am adding some new stuff to my workout regimen - and seeing many changes in my shape!

Check out my latest sale purchase!

A la Abby, I sit on the balance ball while reading and find myself wiggling a lot to stay settled. I hear this works on your core.

Plus, my attitude is changing. Having walked long distances several times, I feel a confidence growing in my body. Dare I say, I almost feel fit!

H20 yes!

Remember a few months ago, about the time I was first starting this endeavor, I blogged about drinking water? Basically, I said, I didn't like it. Fast forward more than 6 months ... and, while, I wouldn't call myself water's biggest fan, I am drinking it like crazy!

Yesterday alone saw me drinking more than 100 ounces of water! If you said it might have something to do with the number of miles I'm walking, you'd be partially right. Up until yesterday I was only carrying 32 ounces with me on each walk. Yesterday I was able to up it thanks the my new hydrating backpack (only $20!). But even before my walk started yesterday - at 5:30 p.m. I had already had the recommended 8 glasses a day.

Nope, most of the credit goes, I'm sorry to say, to a Wal-mart purchase.

First, I learned a few things about variables that make it easier for my to drink more water. 1. I don't like ice water. If it's too cold, I just won't drink much of it. 2. Straws make me drink more. 3. Carrying water with me at all times reminds me to drink it and keeps me from thinking about snacking. I'm like the Goldilocks of water bottles. I don't want the bottle to be too small so that I have to refill it a dozen times a day and I don't want the mouth to be too big because then it's hard to drink from it.

I found the perfect water bottle while buying dog food at the W-mart - and it was only $4!

It's 32 ounces (drink two bottles full and I've hit the recommended 8 glasses a day!), it's a quiet plastic (as opposed to those clangy metal bottles) and I don't have to turn it upside down to drink (like Nalgene bottles - I always spill!). Plus, it has a straw!!!

I fill it before leaving the house and sip all the way to school. Then, I fill it for my classes and use it as a way to keep myself attentive in class. Some days, I hit my 8 glasses by lunchtime!

As I learned this weekend, with as much walking in the heat as I'm doing this summer, hydration is VERY important (hence the purchase of the hydrating backpack! Read HERE for more on my water drama Saturday). Plus, water has other benefits - glowing skin, fewer UTIs and such.

Sure, I can't sleep past 7 anymore because I always have to wake up to potty, but in all honesty, I like having such a full day to get stuff done. Lord knows I need it!


ALSO:
Fascinating nuggets of information popping up in my health articles today ...

"Ground cinnamon can increase your cells' ability to metabolize sugar by up to 20 times. And according to USDA research, you can see the effect by consuming as little as 1/2 teaspoon each day." From Men's Health ...

"EAT THE BACON: Fat doesn't make you fat. Too many calories does. Fat is good. Just not too much." From the editor of Men's Health via Twitter

One bite at a time

I did it! I got everything done that was on the priority list today (except I just remembered I forgot to buy stamps - oops). Lesson learned: Take things slowly, one at a time, and prioritize them and you'll be amazed at what you can accomplish. I even got that 5-mile training walk done this evening!!!

Kevin joined me for the 5-mile walk after dinner and having done it makes me feel so good. I even got whistled at once. The whistler said to Kevin, "Nice girl." I smiled a big grin and hollered "Thank you!" over my shoulder.

Anyway, we left for the walk about an hour and half after dinner. Dinner, ladies, was whole wheat pasta, alfredo sauce and shrimp. I figure that many carbs for dinner is acceptable if you are working out later. Usually, however, I avoid a carby dinner because the carbs get wasted while you sleep. But many articles suggest a serving of complex carbs with every meal ...

My 5-mile walks take me to a lovely park that reminds me of a small version of Central Park. One of these days - I'll take some photographs of it. It's a popular location for engagement shots. Once we got to the park, Kevin and Chester left me and ran the track - (2 laps = 2.75 miles) while I hoofed it around the park once. Then, we met up and finished the rest of the walk.

Call it a coincidence, fate, karma, dumb luck, or my own conniving, but the 5-mile trek just so happened to take us by the McDonald's less than a quarter-mile from my house. So of course, having just walked 5 miles, we stopped and bought ice cream!

I still had the calories to spare from my day anyway, but that was some good, guilt-free ice cream!!! Plus, they say milk is great for post-workout recovery :-D

More than I can chew?

I missed my workout this morning - mainly because something just had to give. It looks like I may have bitten off more than I can chew.

My Competing Priorities:
School
Internship
3-Day training
50n50
Boyfriend
Animals
Grown-up responsibilities (bills, car maintenance, house maintenance, etc.)
Social Interactions

I'm having a really hard time maintaining my energy every day. I spent months juggling and fitting everything on that list into my life. But it's not going well.

Last night I made the mistake of spending the evening out on the town (Sex and the City 2!!!) - my first real social interaction (besides Kevin) in weeks. I was practically catatonic by the time I got home - and I still had reading to do and things to pack and ready for today.

When the alarm went off this morning, I hit snooze 3 times! I usually only hit it once. I needed to race to the gym to fit 5 miles in, read for my first class, make breakfast and had to make a choice. But instead of hoping up and getting the day started - I laid in bed, struggling to find conscious thought. Eventually, I chose school over my training. I made breakfast, sat at my bar and read for my classes today.

I feel guilty - I was supposed to walk 5 miles this morning - but I know I made the right choice. Class was better and easier to follow because I was prepared and now I feel fine about taking on the work I have for this afternoon. Then, once I get off work, I'm hoping to at least squeeze 3 miles in around the neighborhood (If I can convince Kevin to go with me, it will cover two of my priorities!).

It took a short stroll between classes this morning, but I feel a bit better about things. I was just feeling momentarily overwhelmed. Sometimes, our priorities fight for our attention and, as much as we try, we can't make it all fit. Today is just one of those days.