20 pounds in 10 weeks...... this is the challenge my personal trainer has set out for me. Week one done, pounds lost n/a as it's "that time of the month" who can really say for sure... I'm staying away from the scale for now.

Biggest changes I've made since last posting:

• We have a pup now and he gets me out for a nightly 20-30 minute walk everyday! Big bonus!
• I eat breafast every morning, granted it's usually the same thing and my pt would like me to ad some variety, it is a huge leap considering that for years I have not been eating breakfast period
• having a personal trainer. very lucky! met Nancy at a tradeshow I was shooting and through some conversation we have worked out an agreement that suits us both, and we both benefit from one and others expertise!
• down so far 12/13lbs, petering on 196.something (again that time of the month). realizing I could have made more gains or rather losses in that last 2 months but I'm not beating myself up about it, still made progress and now it's time to get a little more serious.
• Journally/recording my food and sending it to Nancy (pt) this is big cause I know someone is going to review what I have eaten! oh dear! the embarrasement if I don't stay on track!

Day 3

Oh so typical of the ugly cycle I seem to spin in and out of frequently!!

So here I am and I haven't posted in a month and I am proud to tell you I'm on day 3 of a different eating plan. I will tell anyone I'm the queen bee when it comes to my dvd workout collection and collection of books. Well maybe not Queen bee but more then some I'm sure. So what am I giving a try this time?................. You: On a diet, Waist Management...... that's WAIST not weight. I don't know exactly what it is but the things I've read so far and the eating etc just seem to click, kinda like things are falling into place. I know what I'm suppose to do and eat but this time its making more senses to me then any other time over the last couple of years.

So like I said today is Day 3 of 14. I'm walking 30 minutes a day and eating as outlined. I made the garden veggie soup and cucumber salad and was totally blown away by how good they actually are. Also made the Mediterranean chicken with w. kidney beans Tuesday night and eat the second serving last night for dinner.

Some info http://www.realage.com/doctorCenter/Articles.aspx?aid=10447

So here's the breakdown

- suggestion is to eat the same thing for breakfast and lunch to minimize your food choices. It's proven that people who do this loose more weight
- adds up to about 1300 to 1500 calories a day and I haven't felt famished or overly hungry

Breakfast: whole wheat toast with 1 tbsp of PB + tea w/s.milk
Snack 1: piece of fruit or probiotic yogurt options
Lunch: Garden Veggie soup + cucumber salad
Snack 2: probiotic yogurt w/ a fist full of raisins or mandarin/tangerine orange
Dinner: list of options including recipes
Dessert: recipes provided but I'm going with the 1 oz. of dark (70% + cocoa) chocolate
Snack 3: optional and same as snack 2 options

So far so good. Tonight I'm making Royal Provence Pasta! The recipes are simple and straight forward. Had to buy a few new things but have yet to come across some ingredient that I haven't heard of or couldn't find at the regular grocery store. so that's a definite bonus.

Day 14

Not feelin' so hot today. Got the heating pad shooked up and feelin' toasty. The only things that's keeping me going today unfortunately. Massage tonight though so I'm definitely looking forward to that!

Massage was great and knocked me right out. Had dinner and then fell asleep on the couch, in bed by 9:15pm!!!!!!!! Holy cow!

Meal
1 - toast w/PB
2 - apple + 3 graham crackers
3 - apple
4 - flat bread w/salsa, lf sour cream + cheese
5 - blue label hambergers w/cheese + bun
6 -

Water - 96 fl.oz.

Day 13

Are you paying attention to how your time is spent?
Days don't get shorter. Our attention spans do. How can summer be over in a blink while it seems like the weekend will never get here? Because we're not paying attention. Five days out of seven, we're waiting for something else to happen in the future, and we don't take advantage of the day that we hold in our pocket. Have you ever had someone ask what you did last week- or even yesterday- and had trouble coming up with an answer? You probably wouldn't have had any problem at all if your time were spent on something meaningful for you. Don't wait for tomorrow! Ignore the calendar and work with one day at a time. Fill that one day with stuff you'll pay attention to, the stuff that memories are made of. A little bit of focus will help you get rid of that hectic blur. www.sparkpeople.com

Meal
1 - toast w/pb + s.milk
2 - veggies + dip
3 - leftovers - 2 sm. chicken fajitas
4 - orange + cheese + graham crackers w/PB
5 - egg, bacon, potatoe
6 -

Water 64 fl.oz.

Day 12

I got on the scale this weekend and I have definitely dropped so far and I have yet to start my TJammin' I'm down to 202.4lbs (5.5lbs) I realize this will probably start to slow now but it's a good boost. My focus this week will be to get that 202.4 under the 200 mark.

Meal
1 - toast w/pb
2 - veggies + dip
3 - ww pasta, o.oil, seasoning (left overs minus steak from last night)
4 - 2 hard boiled eggs
5 - 2 sm. chicken fajitas
(w lots of veggies, g.pepper, onion, carrot, zucchini) + salsa, low-fat sour cream
6 -

Water 64 fl.oz.

Day 11

Meal
1 - toast w/pb
2 - apple
3 - veggies w/dip
4 - orange
5 - steak with ww pasta + seasoning
6 - cantaloupe + graham crackers w/PB

Water - 8 glasses

Day 10


Meal
1 -
2 -
3 - late breakfast/lunch - bacon, eggs (mostly white), potato w/bacon
4 - cantaloupe
5 - steak, scalloped potatoes, corn
6 - whipped dessert (similar to cheese cake - low fat)

Water ??

Day 9

Persistence. Persistence. Persistence.
We keep hearing about how persistence is often the key to success. But what do you do when you've been striving for so long that it seems like your goal is never going to see light? How do you deal with the fear that you're about to fail? Simple. Give it just one more shot. And then one more. Think about the sweat and time you've committed already. You've come this far, you'd be unfair to yourself if you quit without a fight. Even if the odds are way out of your favor and you can't see how it can possibly help, reach out and take one last swing. You never know what will happen. Big, meaningful achievements don't just happen when everything goes your way. How many times have you seen tennis players make miraculous winning shots while lunging for a ball that seemed impossible to reach? Sometimes, you can find victory in the effort. www.sparkpeople.com

Meal
1 - toast w/PB + s.milk + tea
2 - banana
3 - left overs (1.5 cups ww pasta + tomatoe sauce) + 2 h.b.eggs
4 -
5 - pasta stew (w/m.balls + veggies)
6 - small piece of apple crumble + ice cream

At a friends house for dinner.

Water 72 fl.oz.

Day 8


Meal
1 - 2 h.boiled egg, cantalope
2 - veggies + dip
3 - leftovers
4 - orange
5 - 3 slices of dry salami
6 - ww pasta + homemade marinare/tomatoe sauce,
7 - light dessert (coolwhip, cream cheese, graham cracker crumbs, fruit spread)

Water - 64 fl.oz.

Day 7

A Positive Way to Look at Yourself
Do you weigh your self-esteem on the bathroom scales? Do you "feel fat" some days? Do you compare your body to other people's?

If you answered YES to these questions you are not alone, many people, especially women, are dissatisfied with their bodies. Body image is the mental picture you have of your body plus the feelings and judgements you have about this picture. This picture is often very inaccurate and has little to do with how you actually look or how other people see you. With positive thoughts and lifestyle choices you can change your body image and how others respond to you.

Ten Steps For Building a Positive Body Image

1) ACCEPT YOURSELF- Feeling good about yourself starts with accepting who you are and how you look. After all, healthy bodies come in all shapes and sizes. For some people, it may mean giving up the fantasy that being slimmer would lead to a happier life. Focus on your good qualities and pass over any negatives. Feel what it's like to love your body unconditionally. Treat your body with a bubble bath, a massage, or a manicure.

2) STEP OFF THE DIET ROLLER COASTER FOR GOOD! - Dieting brings temporary weight loss, but 1/3 to 2/3 of the weight is usually gained back in the first year. Almost all the weight is gained back within five years and sometimes much more.The cycle of losing and gaining can be harmful to your health and it can lead to frustration, anger and an even poorer body image. So, stop dieting. Instead, eat well and enjoy being active.

3) ENJOY EATING WELL - Eat for energy and for pleasure. Follow Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating. Choose more grains, pasta, legumes, fruits and vegetables. Choose lower-fat dairy products, leaner meats and foods prepared with little or no fat and see how good they taste.Ask yourself if you are eating because of hunger or for some other reason. Learn to trust your body to tell you when to eat and when to stop.Don't worry about having a chocolate once in a while. The trick is to only "indulge" once in a while! Think of balancing what you eat over the day or the week and remember that moderation is the key.

4) ENJOY BEING ACTIVE - How about a noon-time walk, a family hike or a swim with friends? Physical activity lets you enjoy the outdoors and helps you deal with stress while making you feel more energetic. All this helps you feel good about yourself.

5) CREATE A MENTAL SPA - Right now, go ahead: breathe deeply and relax. Think of a place where you feel peaceful, relaxed and contented. Doesn't it feel good to slow down and let go of your responsibilities for a while? Experience the magic when you quiet your mind and let yourself enjoy the stillness.

6) MAKE YOUR IMAGINATION WORK FOR YOU - Everyone has 5000 thoughts every hour! And you can choose thoughts that encourage you, or ones that drag you down. Use your imagination to practice attitudes you want in your life. Act as if you like your body and feel what that's like.

7) LOOK YOUR BEST ALWAYS - How you keep yourself shows how you feel about yourself. Wear clothes that fit and give away the ones you never wear. For fun, try a new hair style, tie on a scarf or indulge in a new pair of earrings. And remember to smile. It gives you and everyone you meet a real boost.

8) GET SUPPORT FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS - Ask for help when you need it. Organize a group of friends or find a buddy and help each other meet your goal to be the best you can be. Think of ways to create lots of fun and laughter for each other.

9) BE THANKFUL - To take your mind off negative thoughts, make a list of 10 things that give you pleasure and keep this where you can see it. Make another list of the beautiful aspects of yourself -- all the things your friends have complimented you on. This helps you realize how beautiful you really are.

10) EXPRESS YOUR CREATIVE SELF - Do things for fun -- instead of competing or trying to be perfect! Have fun expressing your personality through crafts, sewing, cooking, decorating, gardening or anything else that helps you feel happy. Know that you are unique and express it!

SUMMARY -- ONE POSITIVE STEP AT A TIME - Developing a positive body image is a gradual process. Relax, take your time, and congratulate yourself every step along the way as you learn to accept your body. And remember ... enjoy eating well, being active and feeling good about yourself.
http://www.healthunit.com/index.asp?mode=article&lang=english&articleID=10552


Meal
1 - halloween candy (10pts), cantalope + tea (no point in lying about it)
2 - halloween candy
3 - chicken, cheese, veggies + dip
4 - 2 h.boiled eggs
5 - curried chicken, peppers, onion + jasmine rice
6 -

Water