Completely Off Track - Losing Weight

This week has been one of very low lows in which I've been feeling horrible. I have the flu. I think it's finally starting to break through, so coughing is the main part of the cold that is still lingering. Even so, I've been eating non-diet like foods, chocolate, breads, fried chicken. In the first part of the week, I wasn't even sure if this was the flu and so I started eating my old ways thinking maybe I've been taking out too many probiotics from my system. I didn't know if I had drained my body of important stuff and therefore, had become very weak. It was a little scary because I just didn't have any energy, but that was really the only symptom, except for a never ending headache.

After eating normally for a while, the weakness started to dissipate, but the headache remained and this watery hollowness in my ears started to happen. That's when I knew this had to be a cold. My tonsils were swollen, but they didn't feel raw. They felt more like achy. Yesterday was the first time I treated myself for a cold/flu with Nyquil. The coughing really started up and the achiness in the tonsils became the raw feeling.

Anyway, so I've been off the diet now for about a week. I'm afraid to get on the scale...Let me do that now. I'll be right back. O.K. So I'm back. I'm 178 on the digital scale. This means I've gained about 1.5 pounds. I expected it to be worse, so I guess that's good. I'm hoping to get back on track today, but we'll see. I'm still not all together and I really need to feel right to continue dieting and exercising. I guess eating healthy foods won't necessarily make me feel horrible, so I'm going back to that for sure. The exercising will not be happening until I feel all better.

I'll tell you what I have been doing though. I've been watching movies. When you're sick wrapping up in your comforter with a good book or a movie is the perfect solution to a hard day. The only thing I need is
home theater lighting. My lighting at home is so uneven. Anyway, I hope you are still on track with your diet. I'll definitely get back on the bandwagon by this weekend, God Willing.

Still Feelin Yucky!

I'm still feeling pretty yucky and so I've been eating soups and soups and more soups. I'm sure the food I've been eating is not necessarily in line with my diet, but I just need to feel better. I've been feeling horrible headaches and I'm not sure if I'm getting an ear infection or if it's my throat that's going to be bad, but I just want it to get to that point where I know which issue to treat.

Right now I'm just taking Tylenol since I don't have a runny nose or any other type of cold symptoms that are obvious to treat. I am feeling the ache all over the body. I think I just need Calgon or royal caribbean to take me away. I can't wait until I feel better again.

Have The Flu This Weekend!

I thought I had caught a cold this weekend. All indications were there that a cold, it was. I had the sore throat, the runny nose and feelings of achiness all over. Then it really hit me. I was shivering and felt like a truck had hit me. My temperature was up and down. It still is. It's crazy! So, as far as dieting, last night I just decided to take care of me the best way I knew how. I ate chocolate. The sad thing is that it's just not the same anymore. I love chocolate, but it just doesn't do what it use to do for me. It's not even like a guilty feeling comes over me. I have a few m&ms and I'm done. I don't need anymore. Even so, I'm sure that I ate more than I should have. I had turkey with gravy from Boston Market and some sweet potato and mac & cheese.

A very good thing happened this weekend and for a little while, it actually helped me to feel like I wasn't as sick as I am. I can't say what it was yet because I heard that others in the family don't know yet. However, a hint...I am going to be traveling this winter. Maybe I'll even need travel health insurance. If you're curious, you'll find out what the good news is soon enough.

Until next time...

You Are What You Eat

Have you heard the saying, "You are What you Eat?" Well, it's true! If you eat junk foods, you will look like junk, you will feel like junk and in turn, your attitude about things will be more junky. On the other hand, imagine eating healthy foods, low fat, high energy, all out good for you foods. How do you think your body will feel? Yep! It will feel great. You will feel great. Your brain will thank you and your attitude and outlook on life will be better, more positive. Part of the reason is because you know you're doing right by your body.

As I was thinking about what to write today, I came across a website that reviewed this weight loss product called Orovo. On that page is an excellent breakdown, very brief and easy to read, about different foods that are super good for you, foods called SUPER FOODS! Please take a look and think about where you might be able to add these foods to your diet. They talk about Acai, Barley, Cayenne Pepper, Flax Seed and more under the subheading, "The Why."

O.K. I'll leave you with that. I hope you benefit from the reading there. I don't know too much about Orovo, but I do know about a few of those SUPER FOODs and they are super!

Weight Loss and Deprivation.

I'm happy to report that my weight loss is moving in the right direction again. I have lost that 1.5 pounds I gained during my PMS stage and hopefully I'll see an even bigger improvement (maybe another 1.5 pounds by Monday. I intend to do some celebrating this weekend, but the funny thing is that I'm happy with my food choices. I don't absolutely deprive myself, but I am still careful what I eat.

For example, yesterday, I wanted some Combos. You know that really salty pretzel food with cheese stuffed in the middle. Well, instead of eating the whole bag, I just had one serving. I wasn't absolutely satisfied, but I did indulge and again, I'm happy with the way I handled my craving.

What I like most of all is comparing my now (16 lbs thinner) pictures with my pictures from back in January. Even though it's just a few pounds less, what a difference. My face looks smaller, I don't look so swollen and even my skin looks clearer. These are the benefits of losing weight and eating right. Why didn't I think of doing this before? Oh Yeah, I did. Why is it working now when it didn't work before? Because I wasn't committed. I wasn't ready to be. I wanted to eat anything I wanted. I can't stand working out. However, the reality is I owed it to myself to find out how to get away from fat. I owed it to my husband and my children too.

Now I don't take any fat burners or try to lose weight artificially, not yet anyway. I'm just watching my food choices and portions and moving a little more. You'll be surprised what you're satisfied with after you train your body to accept less addictive food choices.

Try it one day..actually a few days in a row. No Sugar! No Rice! No Bread! No Chocolate! It will be hard. You'll feel like you're in a daze. You might even feel angry and deprived. That's the addiction coming out. Then all of a sudden you won't feel those things so much. You won't feel them everyday. You'll be satisfied.

Happy Weight Loss!

Ten Weight Loss Encouragement Phrases to Boost Your Performance!

I've never had any issues with drugs, except for the legal kind, like sugar, coffee and chocolate, so I don't have any experience with drug treatment centers, but I would imagine one of the things that is done for drug addicts is to give encouragement, so I dedicate this weight loss moves post to encouragement to myself and to all of you who are reading this post and who want to lose weight.

It is a scientific fact that encouragement boosts performance, so here are ten phrases that might work for you. Print them. Read them. Remember them.

1. You Can Do It!
2. Keep It Going!
3. Push Yourself!
4. Good Job! Way to Go!
5. "Each indecision brings its own delays and days are lost lamenting over lost days. What you can do or think you can do, begin it. For boldness has magic, power, and genius in it." Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
6. "Be like a postage stamp. Stick to one thing until you get there." Josh Billings
7. Only One More Set and You're Done!
8. Go For It!
9. Plan! Plan! Plan! Know Your Objectives, be Realistic and then DO It!
10.Baby Steps Eventually Become Big Steps. Start Small and GAIN BIG Results!

So, I hope those phrases do it for you and your weight loss goals. There are many more. Can you come up with some that are not here? Comment below. I'd love to hear from you about encouragement or weight loss experiences!

Exercise - Where Do You Find the Time?

I have been planning on adding exercise to my weight loss plan and I just don't seem to have the time! It's amazing how the time flies and it's aggravating too. What with cleaning house, working and taking care of other family responsibilities, I just about get through the day and night. I'm not much for twiddling my thumbs as I am sure is the way of it with most moms. I couldn't if I wanted to. Can you imagine leaving the house a wreck, the garbage in the trash, the dishes in the sink, the bathroom smelly with towels all over the floor. It would be a horrible environment to work in and even more so to feel positive about your image.

I can't function if the house is a mess. I'm not a neat freak or anything, but I don't like too much clutter. It's counterproductive in my mind. But I digress. How do you find the time to exercise. After a few months of losing my addiction to sugar and chocolate (As you know, you need to undergo your own form of drug rehabilitation when it comes to sugar. I read it's one of the legal most addicting drugs in the world.), I am ready to lose my aversion to working out. I am just zapped of energy by the end of the day and don't even want to think about Taebo or Salsa dancing or anything else. I just want to curl up with a nice book and hot tea and fall asleep.

So, please make some suggestions. I'm all ears or "eyes."

Happy Weight Loss!

Losing Weight While PMSing.

Have you noticed that your appetite increases during your those days when you are about to start your menstrual? Have you noticed your craving for certain foods that can sabotage your diet plans? Well, I certainly have. Over the last week, I've been craving chocolate and salty foods, so I decided to look up the reasons for this by searching the phrase "cravings during menstrual cycle." What I came up with was an article on PMS and the affects of PMS on a woman's system.

Guess what! It's a normal response to lower than usual levels of serotonin. According to midlife-passages.com, "The theory is that when serotonin levels are low, the brain signals the body to eat carbohydrates, which in turn stimulates the production of serotonin from its naturally occurring amino acid "building block." Just in case women have ever wondered why their appetites seem out of control and willpower goes out the window during PMS, factors as strong as brain chemicals and hormone production may be powerful influences over behavior and physical cravings."

Further down in the article, I found information on how to counteract the low serotonin level reaction during PMS. It said, "Restricting sugar, salt and fat content generally helps decrease bloating and swelling, while avoiding caffeine, sugar, nicotine, and alcohol eases irritability and improves sleep patterns. Dietary recommendations for PMS sufferers vary from woman to woman, and because women with PMS can have other underlying conditions such as hypoglycemia and high blood pressure, special assessment and management are necessary prior to making dietary recommendations."

So, anyway, that was an interesting article that I thought you'd find stimulating and encouraging in regards to your weight loss. There are a few more actions that you are encouraged to take to control PMS, so I'd read that article in its entirety.

I believe now that my cycle has started, I'm no longer feeling those cravings and I'm no longer ravenous, so all is back to normal and well with the world. I gained 1.5 pounds over the past week. It's so hard to see that since it takes so long to lose that amount of weight, but I'm determined and and moving in the right direction towards my weight loss!

Now that I'm moving in the right direction, let me get going with my search for Kentucky Derby Party Invitations. It's coming up on May 1st and I have so many other things to think about that any party I attempt to plan will take time.

Happy weight loss! Oh, and by the way, please leave a comment. What do you think about PMS and weight loss?

Working Out A New Plan

I would like to lose weight more quickly. I have gradually lost about 16 pounds since I started my weight loss plan back in late January. That means in 8 weeks, I've lost about 2 lbs per week. I understand that two lbs a week is desirable for any person wishing to lose weight. I'm not complaining! However, I do want to lose weight more quickly, maybe 3 lbs a week until I get to my goal weight.

I was actually able to zip up a skirt the other day that I have never been able to zip up. The skirt is a size 12/14. When I bought it, I refused to go up one more size. After all, before I became pregnant, I was a 6/7 and had been for so long. I just couldn't get it through my head that I had actually doubled in dress size. Well, after zipping up, and not too snuggly - I might add, my spirits were boosted. My weight loss goals are coming to fruition, albeit slowly.

Let's see how this week goes. I took out those Taebo Tapes. Now I just have to pop them in them in the VCR. Yup! That's how old they are. O.K. happy weight loss!

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Losing Weight and Clearing Away The Cobwebs!

It's amazing what a little movement on the scale can do for your weight loss goals. Discouragement sets in when the scale doesn't move even though you think you're doing everything right. However, when that little number drops even just a fraction of a percent, your spirits are lifted and you feel a boost of energy towards losing more weight. It makes you continue to make the right food choices and even gives you the stamina to take that walk you've been putting off, or doing that exercise you've been meaning to do.

I am grateful for seeing even more movement this morning as my scale went down a fraction to 176.9...HEY! Half a pound is excellent, Don't you think? So now that I'm doing all I can to make my weight loss plan work for me, I can focus on other things that I have to do, like think about home insurance since hurricane season is coming up here in South Florida. It's like I'm clearing all the cobwebs in my body and spring cleaning. I am overjoyed!

So, how has it been going with you? I'm serious, let me know.

Moving Down Down Down!

Weight Loss sure doesn't come easy! There isn't a catch all way of making your plan work for you. It isn't just about eating less or working out or what have you. It's about doing all of those things together. I'm sure that if I continue to eat as healthy as I have been eating, in a year, I will see a dramatic difference in my weight.

My goal is to lose 30 pounds by September, but I'm not sure if that's going to happen or not. I do know that I should exercise, which I'm not doing consistently. The only consistent practice I have developed is eating right. Portion control is definitely a factor in weight loss. I have learned that subtracting bread and white rice from your diet is also a positive move in the right direction.

For example, yesterday I ate dinner sometime after 9:00 pm. What did I eat? Some avocado slices with fresh salsa, a broccoli/carrot dish and about ten shrimps sauteed in olive oil with tomatoes, onions, cilantro, garlic, and seasoned with sea salt and a little lemon juice. That's it. I was very full and very satisfied.

Maybe I shouldn't have eaten so late, but I am convinced that dinner wasn't such a horrible affair toward my weight loss plan.

So, weigh in on Friday, on my new digital scale, 177.5. This means 2 lbs down from Tuesday when I first weighed myself on that new scale. I think I'm gaining a new best friend towards my weight loss. Yay Digital Scale!

New Scale Weigh In

In my last post, I said that I bought a new digital scale. Since then I have weighed myself several times. I know I'm only suppose to weigh myself on Fridays, but since I'm getting use to this new scale, I thought I'd waive that restriction. Well, my weight hasn't moved on my old scale for about a week and a half now.

I'm sure you've experienced this next thing. When I stepped on my new "digital" scale, I weighed four pounds more than on my old scale. Oh how SAD! It's not like I did anything but buy a new scale for God's Sakes! Now I weigh 179 instead of 175! Well, this morning, I did weigh 178.4, so I guess I lost .5 pounds since yesterday, but WHO CARES!

I'm still adjusting to this new weight in my head and looking forward to seeing 175 on the new scale. I think I'm going to go through another colon cleanser program or maybe drink that slim tea that I have in my cupboard. That seems to clear me out pretty good. I wish, I wish, I wish I could lose five more pounds this month. We'll see.

I've been extra good on my eating habits and wanted to quickly share that I have noticed an interesting phenomenon. When I eat only a little, my body seems to hold on to my weight like it doesn't want to let go, and somehow, I even gain weight. When I eat what I am suppose to eat, I'm always full, then my weight starts dropping again. So, don't starve yourself. Your body knows how to retain your fat calories to give you the energy you need. If you don't feed yourself, your body will hang on for dear life to what you've already eaten.

I Bought a Digital Scale!

I bought a digital scale today at Costco and I can't wait to see what my weight is going to be tomorrow. On Friday, the scale showed that I didn't gain any weight this past week. However, I didn't lose any either. BUMMER! It has to be that I need to start exercising. I read that you must move as a part of your weight loss plan. I think I read that today too, in a book about the Biggest Loser.

About the Biggest Loser book...I have been tempted to buy that book twice now. The first time I was at a Walmart and it costed, I think, something like $15 and today I saw it at Costco for under $12. I skimmed through it and saw that it might be a very motivating book, but I have so many weight loss books. I don't even read half of them.

Well, I just wanted to share the Digital Scale purchase. I can see already that it is going to show a 3 lb weight gain. I'm not too cool with that, but I guess I'll just work from that point. I wonder if digital scales are more accurate than regular scales. I'm going to find out and get back to you on that. Until next time...

Weighing In - Friday.

Well, I officially should not have stepped on my scale to weigh in on my weight loss until tomorrow. I broke this evening and even though I know my true weight is best determined in the morning, I stepped on the scale anyway. I'm not even going to say what it was, because it's not what I want it to be. I'll let you know my actual weight tomorrow.

So, I've been excellent with my eating habits this entire week. Maybe I could have even eaten more, but I've pretty much stayed within the food plan. Exercise is something I'm going to have to put more effort towards. The only exercise I've done is clean my house really. Other than that, I've done zilch. I said I would be breaking out my old Taebo tapes, but I haven't done that yet. In fact, I did get this new Yoga DVD and a Salsa Dance DVD. They are both suppose to be beginner oriented, so I'll let you know how it goes. If I like them I will give you the names.

So, until tomorrow. Remember, weighing yourself is just part of the process of losing weight. It is not the entire process. It should not define your steps forward in your weight loss goals. It should only allow you to assess where you are at, at any given time so that you can adjust yourself. Love yourself and be happy in your weight loss. Just Do IT! YOU CAN lose weight now!

Scales and Losing Weight

I mentioned in a previous post that I have decided I will not step on a scale to determine my weight loss unless it's Friday. I started that plan this week. After routinely weighing myself every morning now for about two months, not doing so has been like breaking routine. I look at the scale every morning and I'm tempted to see if the scale moved, up or down, I almost don't care. I just want that reassurance or that feedback, if you will, that tells me that whatever I'm doing to lose weight, it's either working or not.

Well, I am determined to get to Friday without that feedback. After all, weight is only a number, right? How do I feel? How do I look? How do my clothes fit. These are all indications that I'm either doing my body good or not. So, it's Tuesday and I've been back on task now for two days. I hope I've lost some weight, or if not, at least maintained. I want to start doing some Yoga. I got a Yoga DVD for beginners. I'll tell you how it goes. It seems doable.

But going back to that dumb scale, maybe I should just put it away until Friday, huh? LOL! It's just a machine. Who'd have thought that it would control my day. Have you ever decided that your day was going to be good or bad based on the number you saw on the scale? I know I have. When it's in the downward direction, I'm in a great mood, feeling energized and ready to continue. When the scale doesn't move at all or goes in the wrong direction, I'm bummed and feel like I need to do more. I'm basically dissatisfied with the world - well my own little world in my head. I try to dissimulate when I'm with the kids or my husband and for the most part, I forget that I've gained or that I feel frumpy.

I know I'm not alone in this. Just remember, weight is only a number. Your health is extremely important and determines your future in some way. Just try your best to eat right and get up and move, dance, walk, clean the house. Get away from the T.V. and stay far away from those sweets. It's doing the trick for me, at least when I stick to my own advice. Happy weight loss!

Weight Is Nothing But a Number!

Weight is nothing but a number, I'd like to believe, but health and happiness depend on your weight or, at least, how you feel about your weight. The laws of nature determine that when we eat right and weigh a healthy weight, within our body range, we'll feel better about ourselves and will respond more healthily to those around us. I'm not a weight loss expert, but I can tell you what my own experience with weight loss is teaching me.

When I was in my 20s, I was quite active. I could run and dance for hours and wouldn't get winded, not even one bit. Motherhood has brought with it changes to my body and my mind. Many of my motherhood experiences, most actually, are quite positive and beautiful to say the least. On the other hand, I don't feel as motivated to run and jump. I'm always tired and not so even tempered.

Since I started on this weight loss plan, I have noticed some positive changes in my body and my spirit. I am encouraged and uplifted when I see my efforts bringing results. This helps me when I interact with my children. I'm more patient, more alive and more ready for the challenges that motherhood brings. I feel confident and more energetic. All of this makes me a happier person all over.

It's not just an image thing for me. I love that I am looking healthier, but I love even more how much better I feel inside, about myself and my life. I am determined to lose at least 15 more pounds and even more after that. For this month of March, I'll be satisfied with 5-10 pounds of weight loss. I also want to develop an exercise routine to become more active. We'll see how it goes! What are your month of March plans?

Weight Loss and Family Dinners

My last weight loss number was 175 lbs. This means that I've lost a total of 14 lbs since starting on this weight loss journey. However, I tend to sabotage my diet goals every weekend. Do you find yourself doing that? While I'm set and ready during the week to stay on routine, the weekend comes and family dinners become elaborate.

For example, I usually try to have my sister and her family, my uncle and my mom over at least once a month. Yesterday was that day and we pigged out! My uncle is a chef, so he knows how to cook and he cooks high fatty foods. It's almost like he can't help himself. He cooked conch fritters and beer batter dipped talapia. I convinced him to stay in the seafood section for this dinner, so I didn't feel horrible about pigging out. Well, everything was deep fried and, of course, that takes all the "healthy" out of eating fish, doesn't it.

For the sake of my diet, I did stay away from the white rice and ate a lot of red beans. My mom, being the Puerto Rican that she is, makes some slammin white rice and red beans. Well, the beans were so good that I kept all of the left overs. My sister also made a very healthy salad that went nicely with the red beans. However, I was too stuffed from the conch fritters to appreciate much of it. Sadly, I feel that I have officially sabotaged my weight loss plan. On the other hand, if I look on the bright side, I surely could have done worse.

O.K., so enough about family dinners and sabotage. It's a new day, in fact, Sunday, so a new week. I am back on track. I will not go on a scale until Friday this week. I've decided not to check my weight everyday. It's just too stressful. Friday will be the weight loss count weigh in day. Do you have a weigh in day or do you check the scale everyday? I'd love to hear from you.