Clean Eating: Day One!

Last week, while telling everyone I could possibly think of that I was going to start a healthy eating/work out regimen, my friend Erika and I had the idea of an "Email Support Group." Basically, every day we email back and forth about our goals, struggles, ideas, recipes, what we're eating, questions we have for each other, etc. There are four of us in the group at this point. It's a great way to keep ourselves accountable and motivated. We designated Wednesday as our "weigh in" day. We don't share our actual weight, but we share how much we gained or lost. This morning, with butterflies in my stomach, I stepped on the scale hoping for a loss to share with the group. I've lost 2.6 pounds!! I'm so happy for any loss, and it's encouraging to see the number on the scale drop after a week of hard work. I know that if I had worked out more last week, my loss probably would have been a little larger, so this week I'm really trying to step up the working out! I slept through my alarm this morning and didn't have time to go to the gym. I was really disappointed in myself and upset that I didn't get that work out in, but I tried to stay positive and focused on my other goal for the week: Clean Eating! Today was day one, and I think I did really well!

For breakfast, I had oatmeal with blueberries and a banana and my regular cup of green tea. I HATE oatmeal, so an old trainer of mine gave me this little trick to make it a little tastier. Just prepare regular oatmeal, then microwave 1/2 cup of frozen blueberries for one minute and mix them in! I add some Splenda to sweeten it, and this morning I decided to top it with the banana slices to make it extra filling. It's delicious!
Lunch was the hardest part of the day. I eat meat with almost every meal, so it was hard finding a substitute. I also hate most vegetables, so eating an entire meal made up of nothing but vegetables is unheard of. I bought a frozen veggie burger to try, and I was pleasantly surprised with how it tasted. I also made myself a salad with romaine lettuce, broccoli, baby carrots, snow peas, and golden raisins. Whenever the vegetable taste became too overwhelming, I would eat a golden raisin to cleanse my pallet. That helped me a lot.

I topped my salad with this wonderful dressing. I normally soak vegetables in ranch, but this was a tasty and more nutritious alternative. :)

In the middle of the day I got a text from one of my old trainers asking how my workout went this morning. I told her I had missed it and that I was disappointed. She gave me some great words of encouragement and gave me the motivation to work out when I got home instead of plopping down on the couch. I convinced Joel to come with me even though he was tired from work. It's always easier when you have someone there to talk to. I'm happy with my workout and proud of myself for actually doing it!

For dinner, I made black bean burgers from scratch! I got the recipe from N Her Shoes. Joel had baby carrots and broccoli with his. I opted for apple slices. We were both surprised at how well they turned out. There's no substitute for a real BEEF burger, but they were really good! (And much better for us.)

I'm planning on getting up tomorrow morning to do some cardio before work. And it will be day two of Clean Eating!

Long and Short-Term Goals

Well, I did it! I got up this morning and worked out before going to work. I set my alarm for 5:00 with the intention of getting in a good hour long workout. Of course, I hit the snooze button and didn't manage to get out of bed until 5:20. So, I had to cut my work out short, but I still did it! I started with 10 minutes on the treadmill to warm up, then did some circuits using the weight machines and free weights in the gym. I even did some jump rope, which is a whole lot harder than I remember it being in middle school! I didn't have as long or as hard a workout as I had hoped for, and I left the gym a little disappointed, but I'm very proud of myself for getting out of bed that early and working out at all! I can try again tomorrow to get up at 5:00 and fit in an hour at the gym.

After my workout, I made a protein-rich breakfast! This is my take on a healthier breakfast sandwich made out of whole wheat toast, egg, turkey bacon, and cheese. I also had a half of a banana, some grapes, and a glass of chocolate soy milk (yes, it's actually REALLY good!!)


When I got home from work, THIS had arrived in the mail!!
My mom told me about this book a long time ago. She heard about it from a trainer we used to go to. She had a client about my size who had dieted and worked out for a long time, but reached a plateau and couldn't seem to get past it (something I am all too familiar with.) She bought this book, and as soon as she started the program, the weight started melting off. She gradually went from being sedimentary, to slowly walking, to jogging, and finally to running in a marathon! So, that is a new long-term goal of mine. I want to get into good enough shape to run a marathon...obviously this will take some time, but I think it's a very realistic long-term goal! I can't wait to start reading!

Another goal I'm working on this week is "clean eating." I read an article about it today, and decided I'd like to give it a try. Basically, I will spend a few days on a "clean" diet to rid my bodies of toxins.

"Spend a day or two eating as cleanly as possible: fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. For the time being, cut out dairy, animal products, sugar, white flour, and if you're strong-willed, caffeine. A seasonal bout of clean eating can feel like pressing reset on your system." (Check out the full article here: http://shine.yahoo.com/event/makeover/spring-clean-what-youre-eating-1237149/)

For the first few days of this diet, I am really going to try to cut out all meat. It will not only make my body feel clean and refreshed, but it is also a way to force myself into eating more vegetables (something I am constantly struggling with.) So, if anyone has any good vegetarian recipes, please send them my way! I am going to try some black beans burgers one night and a vegetable stir fry the next, but I need more ideas! Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks...whatever you've got, let me know! I'm starting tomorrow morning...after my work out!

Week Two

I'm having a difficult time getting motivated to work out. I know that I need to work out in the morning before work, but it's so hard to crawl out of bed at 5:00 am voluntarily. I always convince myself that it's okay to go back to sleep and that I'll work out when I get home from work. Of course, that never happens. By the time I get off work, it's about all I can do to fix dinner for myself and Joel, clean up the kitchen, and crawl into bed. I realize that my lack of energy is directly related to my being overweight and inactive, and that once I start working out more I will have more energy. It's a vicious cycle. The bottom line is I just have to make myself get out of bed an hour earlier than necesarry and go to the gym. If only it were as easy to do that as it is to say it. So, that is my goal this week. I have to buckle down on working out. I've done really well with food this past week. Especially after the fridge/pantry makeover. I'm coming up with new, inventive recipes, and making eating healthy really easy. I'm glad that part is coming so easily...I hope the working out will come easily at some point too.

Tonight for dinner I tried a recipe I found online, and it was great! It's always encouraging to try out a new recipe and it actually be delicious!

Whole wheat pasta with asparagus and a tarragon lemon cream sauce....yum!

Hopefully tomorrow I will have an easier time getting up early to work out. Maybe knowing that I will have to blog about it tomorrow night will inspire me not to flake out. Wish me luck!

Pantry/Fridge Makeover

I got my first pseudo-complaint out of the husband today. He's incredibly supportive of me eating better, working out, and trying to lose weight. I guess he just didn't realize that this life makeover of mine meant that he would be eating differently too. I went to the grocery store today, and when I got home with the groceries, I threw out all the junk in the fridge and pantry. I didn't buy any chips or snack cakes or any other junk food at the store. I was so excited to show Joel all the stuff I got and how hard I worked on the pantry and fridge. He was a good sport and pretended to be excited about Greek Yogurt and Organic Granola. After a few minutes he says...

"So...what do we have for snack food?"

"Well, we have vegetables, fruit, granola bars, Quaker rice snacks..."

"Oh, didn't you get chips or something?"

"No, we're not having junk in the house anymore because if it's here, I'll eat it. Plus, we all need to be eating healthier."

"I eat healthy..."

"Yeah, eating a whole bag of chips in one sitting is really healthy."

He paused, looked at me knowingly and said, "Oh...ok." He didn't complain. He just walked away and sat in the living room with a disappointed look on his face (presumably mourning the loss of fried foods from the pantry.) I couldn't help but giggle to myself a little.

So! That being said. I'm am very excited about my fridge and pantry makeover!

I'm trying some new things. I've heard a bit about Greek Yogurt lately, so I got a few different brands to try. I'm trying Egg Beaters as well. I'm skeptical, but trying to remain open-minded.

I'm also trying Soy Milk. I'm starting with the chocolate flavor. Adding chocolate to anything has to make it good.

Our freezer is now full of lean meats and frozen fruits and veggies. I also got some frozen meals for work lunches (until I get a better grip on planning out meals and eating healthy. These are an easy go-to for right now.) and some Smart Ones and Skinny Cow desserts because, honestly, who expects me to go without dessert? Yeah, no one.
The pantry is now full of tuna, granola bars, granola, trail mix, whole grain breads, etc. I'm trying bagel thins. I'd never heard of them until I started reading N Her Shoes (the link is on the right.) She uses them for pretty much any kind of sandwich she makes, so I'm going to try them.

Fruit Corner!

Vitamins!

And this is what we had for dinner tonight. Pork chops, long grain and wild rice, and broccoli and carrots. (Please note: it was INCREDIBLY difficult for me to measure out that 1/4 cup serving of rice and not go back to finish off the rest that was left in the pot.)

It's been a very productive and motivational day! Tomorrow I will do a lot of meal prep for next week.

One Week Down!

My digital camera came in! I'm incredibly excited about it. I've been taking random pictures of everything just to look at them on my fancy little LCD screen. (Yes, I realize I am behind, and that this technology is nothing new...but its new to me!)

I had to work this morning. At least it was only from 9 to 12. When I got home I tried out a new recipe that I got off Weight Watchers for Garlicky White Bean Dip. It was really good! I ate it for lunch with some carrots, pickles, string cheese, and some Quacker Rice Snacks.

This meal was actually surprisingly filling. I haven't been to the grocery store since earlier in the week so I had to make due with what I had in the fridge.

Joel and I are supposed to go play basketball at some point today. He and his son, Christian, are out running some errands. I'm about to go to the grocery store. I'm trying to plan out my week and get some prep work done over the weekend so that it will be easier to eat healthy all week long. I did pretty well last week, but I didn't have much variety in my diet, so that's what I'm aiming for next week.

Also, I am trying to ween myself off coffee. I drink it at work every morning and the only way I can make it taste good is by adding tons of creamer and sugar. I tried switching to green tea this week and I LOVE IT! I just sweeten it with a little honey and thats it! Much healthier.

I'm not a huge tea drinker, so I was really excited to find one that actually tastes really good! Well, time to plan my menu for the week!

Fighting The Alarm Clock

I set my alarm for 5:00 this morning. I always set it for about 20 minutes before I actually need to get up so I can hit the snooze a few times (it's a mental thing...I know I'm not the only person who does this.) I woke up at 4:55 on my own. At first I thought, "I should just get up now so that I don't get tired again and over sleep" but then my mind went to, "but five more minutes of sleep sounds good...I'll get up at 5:00. That's still earlier than I planned."

My famous last words: "5 more minutes."

At 5:00, I hit snooze. At 5:05, I hit it again. This went on for a while. I even ignored the cute little messages I left for myself on my cell phone that said "You can do it! Go work out!" and then "Seriously, Amy. Get up now!" (I know myself really well, apparently.) At 5:40, I finally got out of bed, but even after waking up I kept giving myself excuses for why I couldn't go to the gym.

"There's not enough time now. I have to start getting ready for work." and "I'll just work out when I get home tonight."

Amazingly, I found the strength to get out of bed and walk the very short (but somehow extremely daunting) walk to the gym. I did the treadmill for 20 minutes. And, instead of just walking the whole time, I did intervals of walking and running (i.e. slow jogging). Yes, I realize this is not a grueling work out, but it's better than not doing anything! I'm still in the "trying to make working out a habit" stage of this process, so any time I actually get off my butt and do something physical is a pretty big accomplishment. Hopefully it will give me the energy boost I need today!

This Time

Last weekend, I saw a friend I hadn't seen in years. I was sitting at the bar at a restaurant, and she walked in the front door. I saw her come in, and we made eye contact. I didn't recognize her at first, so I looked away. Then it dawned on me who she was and I did a double take. I didn't recognize her because she had lost 80 pounds since the last time I saw her! She looked like a completely different person. I was blown away. Apparently, she lost all the weight by doing Weight Watchers, something we've both tried many times before. We've actually done Weight Watchers together before. Like me, she's always struggled with her weight and tried many times to shed the pounds, but gained them back after any success. This time, she has kept the weight off for two years! Seeing her really hit home with me. It's hard to be motivated from a testimonial on the internet or a commercial. Those aren't real people. They come and go from my mind as quickly as I'm finished reading whatever article I'm reading or watching whatever commercial I'm watching. But seeing someone who I know, someone I've shopped with in the plus size stores, someone I've dieted with, cheated on diets with...she really lost the weight and is keeping it off! It's amazing. She is the reason why I've decided to give this another go. The night we saw each other she said to me, "I don't know what was different this time...something just clicked." I'm hoping that this time will be different for me too. I've let the frustrations of failed attempts keep me from even trying. Sadly, I had pretty much given up on it. Seeing her was exactly what I needed. So, Rachel, thank you for being at the right place at the right time and being my motivation! I can't wait to be able to shop with you again...in the "regular" stores.

I've decided that I'm going to do Weight Watchers, too. I signed up for the online program yesterday. Through my years of dieting and exercising, I know a lot of theories about weight loss. I know HOW to do it. It's putting those theories into practice...that's the hard part. With a program like Weight Watchers, I will be forced to be more structured in my eating and really have to watch what is going into my mouth. I also like that the more I exercise, the more I get to eat, so exercise is my new best friend! Another nice little perk is that on the online Point Tracker, they have a section where I keep up with my servings of fruit/vegetables, water, whole grains, etc. When I reach my recommended daily amount, a little smiley face pops up next to that section. I strive all day to see that smiley face! I chug water like nobody's business just for that smiley face. It's the small stuff, I guess.


I found an awesome, and very simple smoothie recipe. I've had this smoothie for breakfast the last couple days.

1 medium banana
8 or 9 frozen strawberries
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup orange juice
whey protein powder

Just blend the ingredients together for about a minute, and that's all there is to it. It's delicious, and it hides the taste of the protein powder (which I am not very fond of.) If I'm exceptionally hungry (like I was this morning), I'll also eat a whole grain english muffin with Smucker's Simply Fruit Strawberry Jam.

I have a lot more recipes to try...if they're any good I'll post them here. (My new digital camera is in the mail. Once I get it, I'll post pictures of the new recipes.) Also, if you guys have any good, healthy recipes for me to try, please give them to me (Shaini)! If you have nutrition facts, that would be cool too (so I can calculate points.)

That's all for tonight!

Let's Try This Again...

I've struggled with my weight since I was born. Growing up as an overweight child is not something I wish on anyone. I've been made fun of, talked about, stared at (the list goes on) my whole life. I can't remember a time when I was able to wear clothes appropriate for my age because I didn't fit into them. I didn't partake in the same activities as kids my age because I was so self conscious. Everything I do and everywhere I go, I just know that everyone looking at me is thinking "Oh, my God. Look at the fat girl!" It wasn't until a couple years ago that I was finally able to come to terms with my weight and love myself regardless. But recently, the feelings of being a fat little kid have resurfaced, and I realize I shouldn't come to terms with this. This is not a burden I should carry for the rest of my life. It's not something I should learn to live with. I need to make a change...for myself, my family, my future children.

I cannot count how many times I've tried to lose weight throughout my life. I've tried every diet out there. I've worked with countless personal trainers. I've joined dozens of gyms. Initially, the weight comes off quickly and I think to myself "I can do this!" It's at about the two month mark that I start to get frustrated. I reach my ever looming twenty-pound plateau. It doesn't take long after that before I give up. My problem is, I make the same mistake every time. I decide that I need to finally lose the weight once and for all! I give my pantry a makeover. I change all of my eating habits. I change my workout habits. I go hardcore for my goals! I deprive myself of everything I really want to eat. That's my downfall every time. So this time, I'm doing things differently!

First, I'm taking baby steps. I'm starting with small goals instead of looking at the big picture. I will gradually introduce working out into my lifestyle so that it becomes a habit and not a chore. I will slowly and smartly change my eating habits so that I don't feel like I'm missing out on everything that I really want to be eating (i.e. chocolate). This way, it will become a lifestyle and not a diet.

Second, I'm telling EVERYONE! So many times before, I've kept my weight loss goals a secret from the people around me because, let's face it, it's embarrassing to admit you have a problem with yourself. It's so hard to make good choices while trying to hide it from everyone around you. Let me rephrase that...It's impossible to make good choices while hiding it from everyone. This time, I am depending on the people around me to be my support system. My coworkers will remind me not to get that burger and fries I so desperately want for lunch. My husband will help me remember to cook something healthy for dinner...and to eat more vegetables (ugh).

Third, I'm documenting it! What better way to achieve my goals than to have them posted online for all the world to see? I will probably think twice before eating raw cookie dough straight out of the package if I know I have to answer to the internet afterward. I want to share this journey with all of you. I encourage you to give me feedback, encouragement, advice, constructive criticism (please note, I said constructive). I want to know who is reading and watching my journey unfold. With people behind me, I really believe that this will be the time I finally reach my goal! (I figure, the more people I let down by not following through with this, the easier it will be to do...right?) Also, I hope I can be an inspiration to anyone else in my situation. We don't have to live our lives like this. We can make changes and become on the outside the way we feel on the inside! We deserve this!

I will try to post daily. I will document my goals, my frustrations, my motivation, my emotions. I'll try out new recipes and foods and share them with you. I'm ready to do this. This time will be different!