Always dieting

I’ve been dieting since April the 1st. I was on low-carb, and now I’ve switched to low-calorie. I’m down 18 pounds. I get frustrated because I always lose quickly at first and then slow WAY down. I’m wondering if I switch back and forth between the two – like two weeks on low carb, two weeks on low calorie – if that will get the scale moving again. And it will break up the monotony of meat, meat, meat or rabbit food. God forbid I should have to actually exercise to lose weight. Ugh.

I’m still alive

I don’t know why I’ve been blogging so sporadically lately. Probably b/c I’m on Facebook a lot more. The one-sentence status updates are so much quicker & easier than publishing a blog. But I miss being able to write something more than just a brief sentence …

So, I got a treadmill this weekend. Found it on craigslist, after looking for a LONG time for a nicer one at a decent price. I did 1 mile yesterday and a little over a mile today. And since I keep thinking to myself “why do I want to eat junk and un-do any good I just did by working out?” – I’m eating a lot better too.

I really hope this is the permanent solution to getting this weight off. I’m so, so, so tired of false starts and yo-yo dieting. I know it has to be done. But staying “on the wagon” for the long-haul … gosh, why does it have to be so dang hard?!? Maybe I should join an online support group or something. Know of a good one?

Anyway, in other news, my baby is turning 4 on Wednesday. I can’t believe it. She cracks me up daily, using big words mostly in the correct context. Her reading lessons are going well … she’s getting a little more fluid with it.

Well, I’ve got mountains of laundry to do, so gotta get to it …

Can I whine a little bit? Just for a minute?

I need somebody to whine to. My husband and my mom, my go-to people to whine to – are asleep.

I am feeling really wretched. I can’t tell if it’s from the bronchitis/pneumonia or the low-carb diet I’m on. Good news is I’m down 11 lbs.

I don’t want to stay on the low-carb diet for much longer, because I don’t think they’re really good for you (I have planned to transition to a low-fat diet) … but I’m afraid to quit. I lose so fast on them, and it’s so much harder sticking to a low-fat and/or low-calorie diet. At least it is for me.

I did find a low-carb, high-protein shake/drink that I like … EAS brand, chocolate flavor. I’m putting it and about 8 ice cubes into the blender and mixing them up. Good stuff. I mean, it’s not exactly a Frosty, but for someone eating nothing but meat and eggs and occasionally cheese – it’s a really nice change.

Yum!

I found a protein snack bar that I really like … and it gives me my chocolate fix.

It’s the South Beach Snack Bar Delights – Chocolate Raspberry. It’s pretty darn small at .98 oz, but I took tiny bites and savored every minute of it!

The breakdown:
100 calories
3g fat
0 mg cholesterol
125 mg sodium
16g carbohydrate
5g dietary fiber
5g protein

Anyone found any other good protein bars/snacks??? Please share.

Woohoo

I’m down 11 lbs. and one pants-size!

I have been really good … no cheating at all.

I am, however, planning on eating a really nice meal on my b’day (Apr. 22). I am going to lust about it for this next month. I’m thinking steak, a baked potato, a salad with real ranch dressing, and something decadent and chocolate for dessert. Oh, my gosh … the anticipation. And I’m probably going to cry the next day when I weigh myself.

I am still eating odd combinations of things, but two of the main things are turkey and grapes. I should write a book and call it the turkey and grapes diet. Hey, it beats bland “diet” products.

I did find a TV dinner that I liked, though … Lean Cuisine’s Lemongrass Chicken. It was SO good, and it’s one of the few TV dinners that I’ve ever seen that has brown rice instead of white.

It was a far cry from a Healthy Choice TV dinner I had not too long ago. I think it was BBQ Chicken. It was absolutely, honestly, terrible. The chicken tasted really strange, like it was some other meat altogether. Blech.

Diet/Lifestyle

So far so good. I’ve been eating lots of strange food combinations trying to find the foods that will give me the most bang for my … uh, calories, fat grams and carbs. And that taste good. I don’t ask for much, do I?

For breakfast today, I had 2 oz of Butterball mesquite smoked turkey breast and 1/2 cup of red grapes. Odd, I know – but they both taste SO good compared to “diet” foods – and the combination kept me full all morning. And it was only 91 calories, 2 grams of fat and 9 grams of carbs. That’s less than a bowl of oatmeal, something that I have to choke down due to it’s lumpy, mushy texture – and it only holds my hunger at bay a couple of hours.

Day 3

So I’m on day 3 of a new “lifestyle.” I’m not calling it a diet because that mindset is a temporary fix … I know I have to make a permanent change.

When I was in Birmingham last week, I climbed the steep stairs up to my parents’ home and – in Southern parlance – liked to’ve died. Something snapped in my head and I knew for sure it was time to stop dragging my feet and make a change. I can make many excuses about the reason I got this way (depression, blood sugar issues) … but that’s not helping.

I started with the 5-to-6 small meals a day mindset, but I’m probably just going to wind up watching my calories and fat grams (and carbs as well) and just making sure they’re not going over a certain point. I’m using Fitday.com to keep track of my foods … it’s so convenient. That link actually takes you to my page. If anyone wants accountability, this is a great way to do it!

I’m also trying to get some activity back into my life. I’ve been working with Jay out in the garden, digging up seemingly endless layers of rock before we can plant the seeds. Now that it’s warming up, I’m going to try to walk with the kids to the local playground most days. I can’t afford a gym membership, but it’s OK – I really prefer “productive” exercise anyway.

If you’re the praying type, please pray that I will stay on track and not slip off. I feel like if I don’t make a major change, I’m going to die young. That’s an incredibly sobering statement to write, but I believe wholeheartedly that it’s true. High blood pressure and high cholesterol run in both sides of the family…. even in people who are on the thin side, like my mom.

Anyway … I feel hopeful for the first time in a long time. Maybe this time next year, I’ll be on the cover of a magazine or something … ha.

Christin on GMA

Christin Sherburne, who I’ve written about on this blog for her Kimkins diet/controversy story (and more recently, her bad car wreck), was on Good Morning America today. See video. She’s had quite the crazy last year or so.

Wow

You remember my friend Christin, who lost 100 pounds in less than a year on the Kimkins diet? Since then, she’s been on magazine covers, on TV and radio shows, and has had her life turned upside-down by the whole thing. She also came to find out that the Kimkins diet’s founder – “Kimmer” – was (allegedly) a fraud. She’s written about the whole ordeal at her blog.

That’s not the point, though: I just found out that Christin and her family were involved in a really bad car accident on 1/1. I looked at the photo and I just can’t believe no one was killed. Please keep the family in prayer as they recover.

Finally, my big butt pays off

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/health/2008/01/04/fortin.hfh.curvy.women.cnn

Woohoo

I’m starting day 4 of the Kimkins diet and I’m down 7 pounds. So far, so good.

I’m not being fussy about measuring everything out this time, I’m just eating sensible portions of everything, and it must be working. The measuring part was a real drag (I’m the world’s laziest cook), and I’m glad I can skip it.

I poured some sugar-free jello into popsicle molds and that turned out to be a nice treat. A little icy, but still good.

house, diet

 So, we have been looking for the perfect home for what seems like forever. We’ve toyed around with all kinds of ideas, from building our own house to living in an RV, but nothing has really worked out (either for financial reasons or feasibility reasons), so we’ve continued to look. 

Actually, we’re way more interested in the land than the home itself. It’s been hard to find acerage in a good area at an affordable price. And with a great view to boot.

But, we found it yesterday…. 2 1/2 acres in the far northern part of the county we live in now. The views are *gorgeous* … you can see rolling farmland and tree-speckled pastures for miles in every direction. The land has a 4/2 mobile home on it. Not my first choice for a place to live (I’m scard of tornadoes), but the land is so beautiful, it just might make up for it. And hopefully, we could eventually build a house on the land. The area surrounding has mostly site-built homes (ie – they’re not mobile homes) … even better for the land’s resale value. And the land is in a desirable school district.

We’re trying to figure out what we can pre-qualify for, but if we do, I really think this one is a “yes.” My picky Jay said he “loved” it after seeing the property yesterday. I told him my only stipulation was that we get an in-ground tornado shelter installed. You can get one installed for about $3K. Not too bad. Maybe we can work that into the contract!

Anyway, please say a prayer for us as we consider this place. We’d be far enough away that we’d probably find another church, which is a huge move. I’ll keep you posted.

In other news, I’m on day 2 of my 2nd try on the Kimkins diet. I’m pretty much subsisting off of lean meat, eggs, diet Dr Pepper and sugar-free Jello. I always do well on diets until about the 2nd week, and then I fall apart. I have instructed Jay to not let me quit this time. We’ll see how THAT goes.

Christin’s a cover model!

My friend Christin, who I’ve mentioned on this blog before, is on the cover of the current issue of Woman’s World magazine, looking great – and skinny!

Christin, the amazing shrinking woman

My good friend from church, Christin, has lost 100 pounds in five – that’s right, FIVE – months while doing the “Kimkins” low-carb diet. She just found out last week that Women’s World magazine (it’s on the checkout stand at your local grocery store) wants to do a piece on her story and the Kimkins diet. They’re flying her out to L.A. early next week for a photo shoot – she will be on the cover of one of their upcoming magazines.

Woohoo

I just joined a gym recently and I’m starting to feel great after working out. Yea for endorphins. Now, if I could just get to the point where I LOOK as good as I FEEL. In time, I know.

I never cease to be amazed at people running on the elliptical machines. I didn’t last 20 seconds on that *#$*&$ thing. I guess I have to work my way up. I’ve mostly been doing the treadmill and exercise bikes. I’ll do weights when I’m closer to my weight-loss goal.

I forget if I blogged about this already, but I lost my driver’s license (shhhhh! don’t tell!). I think it fell out of my jacket pocket last week while I was shopping. No one’s turned it in. Not good. So, I’m driving unlicensed - but for once, I’m following all the traffic rules so I won’t get pulled over!

What’s that, up in the sky?

It’ s pouring down rain here. We never get just a shower here, it seems – it’s either drought or flood. We had some good storms here tonight, but nothing too bad. I was kinda hoping for at least a severe thunderstorm … oh, well – spring is still young.

Well, Tuesday will make two weeks since my interview and still no word. That can’t be good. I must not be as charming and witty in person as I think I am.

After a full week on this Kimkins diet, I’ve lost 16 pounds. I can already tell a difference in the way my clothes fit. How’s that for fast?!? I joined a gym today, so hopefully, I’ll maintain the quick loss. I know it will slow down some, but I’m determined to finally get rid of this “baby” weight.

I went out to a movie Friday night with one of my girlfriends. That was the first movie I’ve seen in a theater since The Terminal with Tom Hanks (I think that was 2003?) Needless to say, I don’t get out to the movies much! Anyway, my friend and I went to see Music and Lyrics, which was pretty cute. The whole thing was especially worth seeing for the hilarious cheesy-80s-band love ballad video at the start of the movie. What a riot.

Let’s see .. .what else? Oh, Mikaela made me laugh out loud the other day. I was changing her diaper, when she looked over and said very clearly, “Oh my gosh! I pooped!”

Saturday morning we had a pretty successful yard sale – we made $361 and gained a lot of storage space from selling some large items. Note to self: learn how to speak enough Spanish to communicate prices before next yard sale!

And another

The kids are sick with a stomach bug. I’ll spare you the gory details.

Saturday night, I had to take Mikaela to the ER because she was dehydrated. They put an IV in her arm and then put a splint on it so she wouldn’t bend it, topped off with a gauze wrap so she wouldn’t pull the cord out. She was *not* a happy camper about it, to say the least. She’s on the mend today, but Gabriel just came down with it. I can’t even joke about it anymore; I’m just over it.

Mikaela made me laugh last night. Jay and I walked into the room and there was a tone-deaf cartoon character singing on TV, and Mikaela had her fingers plugging her ears.

Hope you’re all well. Sorry for the blog drought. I’m just too tired to be witty. ha.

Oh! I almost forgot … I just started a new diet this week, and it’s going pretty well. I’ve lost 10 pounds in 3 days. I know, some of that was water weight, but it’s encouraging nonetheless. Anyway, a friend of mine lost almost 100 lbs. on this diet from September until this month. Very inspiring. It’s low carb/low calorie. If you’re interested: Kimkins

Update on diet

You never saw any more Nutri-system emails because I quit after 4 days. Their food was HORRIBLE. I don’t know how they stay in business. I tried to keep my chin up and keep a positive attitude about it, but it wasn’t happening. I mean, literally, their food is almost unedible. Maybe I’m picky, but I just didn’t like it at all. I respect someone who has the willpower to stay on it … they definitely have more willpower than me!

In the meantime, I’m trying to eat sensibly. It’s going pretty well, but I could always stand to improve. Now, I really need to find a good gym..

*Crabby*

I’m HUNGRY. No, really … I’m not imagining. My stomach is growling and I’m done with my food for the day. >:(

I’m not so sure about this diet anymore. I still want to find a plan that works, but the food so far has been mostly so-so – and a few things were awful.

Has anyone else tried a healthy diet that works and doesn’t leave you starving?

Nutri-system, day 1

So far, so good.

For breakfast, I had the NS cranberry-orange pastry. It was okay - not wonderful and not awful. I could’ve also had a protein or dairy serving and a fruit serving, but I didn’t.

For lunch, I had the NS grilled chicken pre-mixed with thousand island dressing, mixed with salad greens (it was okay, but the chicken was pretty dry). I had a protein serving as well – 1/4 cup of fat-free ricotta cheese.

I skipped my afternoon snack.

For dinner, I had the NS beef stew, which was good. I also had a whole tomato, some green beans, 1/8 of an avocado and a nectarine. I’m full and the meal was good.

For dessert, I had the NS Nutri-Crunch chocolates. They tasted a little odd for chocolate, but still good enough to give me my chocolate fix.

I only have 10 ounces of water left towards my 64-ounce daily goal. The only other drink I’ve had all day is about 10 ounces of diet dr. pepper.

Since night-time is the most difficult for me (I get the munchies!), I will probably have the protein and fruit servings I skipped from breakfast sometime before I go to bed.

All in all, I feel really good. I think this diet might just work.

Okay, I lied

I’m starting the diet TOMORROW (Wednesday). If I don’t, please come to my house and kick my butt. I still had a few diet-type items to get at the grocery store, so I decided to wait one more day.

The low-down on Nutri-System – Women’s Plan

I always wanted to know more about Nutri-System going into it, so for those of you thinking about it, I’ll give you the run-down. I got my package delivered via UPS today. It was heavy!

The basics of this diet: one months’ worth of pre-packaged breakfasts, lunches, dinners and desserts are delivered to your door. You add dairy, fresh fruits and veggies, and some protein. For the specifics, keep reading:

Below: Examples of different Breakfasts (to which you add 1 fruit serving and 1 dairy or protein serving [for serving guides, see last two scanned pages posted below])

Below: Examples of Lunches (to which you add 1 dairy or protein serving, Salad vegetables, and 2 tbsp. fat-free salad dressing)

* Mid-afternoon snack: 1 fruit serving and 1 dairy or protein serving * 

Below: Examples of Dinners (to which you add 2 veggie servings, 1 salad or fruit serving, 2 tbsp. fat-free dressing, and 1 “Fat serving”)

Below: Examples of Desserts

Pages from NutriSystem’s Meal Planner/guidebook:

My first day of this diet is tomorrow. Sigh.

I’ll keep you posted on how things taste, how much weight I’m losing, etc.

Wish me luck.

Belated new year’s resolution

This is what I looked like in 1999.

This is what I look like now:

No, seriously, all joking aside, I am in pretty bad shape. I can give you a whole list of excuses about how I don’t have time to work out, and how I have no energy after dealing with my kids all day, but that doesn’t change what I see in the mirror every day. And it doesn’t change the fact that my blood pressure and cholesterol are both high – not good for a 28-year-old who wants to live to see her grandchildren.

I’ve been on many quasi-diets over the last few years – mostly the Atkins or South Beach approach – high on protein, low on carbs. But that weight loss never seems to last.

So, this time, I’m trying NutriSystem. I just put in an order. I can do anything for one month, right? And then, if I lose a lot of weight in this coming month, hopefully that will be an inspiration to keep it up …

I want so badly for this to work. The biggest obstacle I have to overcome is giving up Dr Pepper. Gosh, why does it have to be so dang good?!?!?

Anyway, if you see me and my head is spinning around a la the Exorcist, I’m probably starving and craving a Dr Pepper.

Wish me luck in my quest. And hopefully, I’ll look more like the top picture again soon.

This low-fat, low-calorie yogurt tastes like …

… exactly what you’d expect a low-calorie, low-fat yogurt to taste like. Terrible.

I’m eating Weight Watchers’ Blueberry yogurt. Actually, “blueberry” is kind of a misnomer, since there are no whole blueberries to be found, just tiny specks that I’m assuming are of blueberry origin.

Sigh. So, how long do I have to eat this crap before I’m skinny?

Try again

Well, I fell off the diet wagon entirely the last few days. Or, maybe it’s been more like the last two weeks…

Anyway, I went to the doctor today for a physical, and I need to lose weight and lots of it (she says as she drinks her dr pepper and eats her pepperidge farm cookies). I told the doctor I’d tried south beach, but she said to try weight watchers, since it’s the only diet that’s ever been scientifically proven to take weight off and keep it off.

Oh, it would just be so much easier if I could buy some willpower.

Little heathens

So, my husband nearly Atkins-ed himself to death. I got a call from him this morning and he sounded like he was having a heart attack or something. He went to the nurse at his work and he took a test that indicated high levels of keytones and abnormally high levels of protein. The nurse advised him to quit the diet ASAP and move on to a more healthy, balanced diet with lots of veggies and whole grains.

So, to celebrate (the end of the strict diet), we went to a buffet tonight. I splurged for the first time in the last two weeks of dieting, and it was goooood.

But our children, on the other hand, were embarrassing. Mikaela drummed on the table incessantly, engaged in a kick fight with her brother, and tried to escape from her highchair. Gabriel belched loudly and then grinned broadly, as if to congratulate himself on a ‘good one.’

Threats never seem to work in those places, unfortunately, and my dirty looks go unheeded. I’m going to have to call my mom and ask for pointers on the stink-eye. One look from her stopped me in my tracks when I was a kid.

The Queen of Rationalization

Well, I’m no longer doing the Atkins/South Beach diet … I’m still doing low-carb, but I’ve added whole grains, some fruits (mostly berries) and – most importantly – dark chocolate (it’s good for you! The doctors say so! I swear! Now if I can just get them to say that about Krispy Kreme donuts…) back in to my diet.

The meat, cheese, egg and salad diet was getting old, and it was leaving me really tired. I feel so much better now. Now, if I can just make myself not rationalize drinking regular dr. pepper and chocolate ice cream, I’ll be doing well.

Another good day

Why haven’t I lost 80 pounds yet?!?

I hate being patient when there’s nothing else that you can be. Too bad instant gratification in the weight-loss area costs upwards of $5K.

Well, anyway, I am doing really well so far. We had the greatest filet pinwheels with spinach and feta cheese tonight. Yum.

I do miss fruit, though. Not bread as much – but, I sure could go for a nice summer peach right now. Sigh.

Diet going well

Still at it. My homicidal tendencies have subsided quite a bit, and I’m sure it’s due to finally coming down off my extended sugar high.

Low-carb diet, day number 3

Jay and I have once again purged the carb-y foods from our pantry and embarked on a low-carb diet again. We’ve had some great successes with it in the past, but we have trouble being disciplined enough to keep the weight OFF.