Day 24-AMber

I think I'm right at 1500 today. I was sitting at 1495 with my snickers ice cream already calculate but I had a couple bite of pizza crust, so I only ate half the Snickers. So I think I'm still at about 1500. Man it took just about everything I had to break that half of and put it back in the freezer!!

8 glasses of water has practically become a necessity for me, especially on workout days. But it feels more normal to drink it all. I had a tong of veggies on my homemade pizza tonight plus 3 veggies from earlier today, so I think I'm good. And check on 2 fruits. And I swam for about 40 minutes! I'm working on my flip turn in the pool...swallowed a lot of water due to that, heh. Did a few arm exercises and weights too. Good luck to the weekend everyone!!

Day 24 - Brooke

After lunch I was sitting at 1000, and for dinner I ate Subway. I had a 6 inch ham with cheese, honey mustard and lettuce. 330. TOTAL 1330, not bad after having barely escaped a terrible croissant attack earlier today.

Happy Friday everyone!

Day 24 - Paula - It is not over yet

The day is not over yet but I do not see any surprised in the future - I guess that is why they are called surprises.

Banana (100), granola bar (190), soup (140), chex (100), tuna (150) and that is where I am right now - 680.

I have another granola bar and some tangeloes but I do not know if I will eat them - I might just wait until I get home and have a chicken breast and a veggie.

The key is to just hold on until cheat day - this week seems to have been tough - probably because I did not go to the grocery store and therefore did not have a great many choices of what to eat - so lazy.

Well, if I go crazy and raid the fridge then I will post again otherwise signing off.

Changing one on time post at a time.

Croissant Attack

I swear they attacked me, they were just waiting for me to walk in the door and once I did they nearly shoved themselves down my throat. I couldn't stop them, I had no chance. No chance...

Frosted mini Wheats - 200
Salad from Cheddars - 300
2 Buttery goodness croissants from Cheddars - 500 (maybe even 600..can't wait until they release their nutritional info)
TOTAL = 1000

This is not looking good, I guess I will just eat a sandwich for dinner, nice and low calorie :)

Day 23 - Paula - How to plan for a kolache

So I had some milk (195) in the morning - this just made the schedule a little tighter. When I got to work what was there?? Kolaches - not just any kolaches, but sausage, sausage and cheese, and the big dog bacon, egg and cheese. These are not just good but FABULOUS! So I looked up the Kolache Factory nution listing - and was I surprised - not really - the big dog rings in at a whopping 400 calories. So of course I needed to have it. Then the planning begins - I wrote down what I had to eat for the day, did some calculation - and throughly enjoyed my big dog kolache. Yum. Let's just have a moment of silence for it's deliciousness.

Ok enough time. The rest of the day was pretty normal. Banana (100), tuna (150), tangaloo (50), some chicken (100), corn (120), and a bite of bread (20) - for a total of 1135.

Wahoooooo!!!!

Changing one kolache (no longer 2 or even 3 - there is no wonder why I need to lose weight) at a time.

Day 22 - Paula - What not to eat

Yes late again as usual these days.

So on Wednesday I had an orange (100), chex (100), a bite of lemon cake (35 - small), granola bar (190), tangelo??? (50), then realizing I had not eaten much during the day a biscuit (400) and eggs (140) and some shrimp (140) for dinner. A rousing total of 1190.

By the way for lunch I had planned a nice bag of HEB select frozen ratatouille medley - DO NOT EVER EAT THIS!!! It was so bad that I had to throw the whole thing away. Just nasty.

Changing one new meal at a time.

Steve's weigh in was way out

I went to Tirr today for 3 appt/tests, all went well. I saw three different sling lifts while there and every time I was too busy to ask about a scale I could use. i figured I'd do it before I left. Heck, I was thinking about that weigh-in all day long. Then when they said I was done I left there so quick I forgot to go find a scale. I was still in the parking lot when it dawned on me, but already in the driver seat and leaving. Oh well, maybe next week. I ate poahced eggs and toast, 240 split a flounder and shrimp cocktail with Robin, with bread, maybe half a piece, had to be less than 500 for the meal. 1 cup shredded wheat, plain with milk 250, 3x100 cal. snacks, 1290 total for day. No specific exercise but drove three hours there and 3 back, lots of transfers to drive and exam tables, etc. so I got my workout. Going to look at houses Friday at 1:30, wish us luck.

Day 23 - Amber

Ending today with 1487. Yay! Got a bit carried away with the chocolate wafer cookies, and didn't get 5 full servings of veggies...but I was able to get 5 veggies in, just not full servings. Had a smoothies with 2 fruits.

Tomorrow is swimming and hopefully some weight lifting. It was 7pm before I realized I didn't do any weights today! That's OK tomorrow will be a better day so I can practice my swimming technique without too much soreness and fatigue.

Finishing up Super Size Me made me realize how we all are sorta getting over the hump of lifestyle changes!! I mean we are half way through the 4th week!!! Fabulous! I mean we will all still have cravings, but ti seems like this should be getting a bit easier...and maybe we actually will be wanting the healthier foods by choice, and not by force! Anyone?

Lee still needs to eat more veggies :-( lol

Day 23 - Brooke

178.8 today, wow! 1300 really does work!

Frosted Mini Wheats - 200
Salad w/ grilled chicken and italian dressing - 350
Granola Bar - 100
BBQ sandwich - 200
Chips - 150
Potato Salad - 100
Bite of Cheesecake - 50
Wine - 250 (dang!)

TOTAL = 1400

Did pretty good, but the wino got me :( GNO got me...but not as bad as it could have!

Day 21 and 22 and 23 (why not)

Hmm, apparently Day 21 didn't get up.  I thought I had posted it.

21
Breakfast - Pineapple - 400 calories
Lunch - 1050 calories of pizza (1450 Total Calories)
Dinner - Fish and rolls - 660 Calories (2110 Total Calories)

22
Breakfast - 410 calories of chick-fila sandwich
Lunch - Missed it, got too busy
Dinner - 12 chicken wings with ranch - 900 calories (1310 Total Calories)

23
Breakfast - 300 calories of waffles
Lunch - 460 calories of Nuggets , 130 calories of ice cream cone - 590 calories (890 Total Calories)
Dinner - TBD

Day 22 - Amber

Ended today with 1415 plus a few more since IO had some tastes of the chicken salad I made and Mexican Cocktail. But I perceive it was still below 1500.

Went swimming today as well for about 20+ minutes. It was hard to gauge today, but I suspect at least 20 minutes.

Good on water and veggies, but didn't have any fruit today. That's OK occasionally I think.

I definitely can tell my stomach has shrunk because I'm not eating as much as I was in the beginning. :-)

Steve Thursday night

Okay, had 1350 today and go in to the doctor's office tomorrow. Hopefully they have a scale i can use. I'm sure they must, though they only weighed me at TIRR by a scale hooked up to the sling i'd get in and out of bed with. If not, I have a doc appt. next week in Galveston where I normally weigh myself. Feeling good about the ol' weigh-in!

Day 22 - Brooke

I am doing good on this less than 1300 a day so far....so far.

Frosted Mini Wheats - 200
Jason's Deli Salad (rasberry vinegarette, raisins, walnuts & almonds, lettuce and cheese) - 400
Jason's Deli pudding - 250
Beef O' Brady's Fish Salad (white fish filet, lettuce, balsamic vinegarette, cheese, and onion) - 350

Hint: Vinegarette dressings are only about 50 calories per 2 T and pretty tasty as well. Compared to ranch 150 per 2T. I have learned to like many other things nowadays!

TOTAL = 1200

Yeah me! AND this morning I was 179.2 again and this time I plan on staying under 180. FOR GOOD!

Day 21 - Amber

Finishing today with 1489. Phew! Tried to give plasma today and they preferred me eat some cheese crackers. I was sad because that was 125 calories (for I couldn't bring myself to eat them all) of food I didn't plan for or want. Either way, I stayed below my rate so I'm glad. All my water, veggies and fruit! And even swimming with a friend although it wasn't quite enough to be considered my 2nd workout for the week. But it's still part of my physical fitness. Yay. I'm pretty much exhausted. Goodnight.

Day 21 - Paula - Some days you need to eat more

Okay so today has been strange - I have eaten my granola bar (190), chex (125), pickles (70), chicken with yam and pinto beans - leftovers (200) for a rousing 435. I have no idea what I am eating for dinner I am sure I will find something but we will see. Milk is always my back up plan - kinda high in calories but very delicious.

I still need to go grocery shopping.

Changing one drive past McDonalds, Taco Bell, Chick-fil-a, Whataburger, Jack in the Box, Popeyes...

Day 21 - Brooke

Today was a decent day for me. I definitely stuck within my 1300 range ending up at 1250 for the day (and my teeth are brushed so no more eating).

Shreaded Mini Wheats dry - 200
Santa Fe Wrap guiltless style from Chilis - 600
2 fish filets - 220
1 roll - 180
Grapes - 50
TOTAL = 1250

Woohoo, I can eat less than 1300 calories, just takes some serious control!

Day 20 - Lee / Monday Weigh In

Weigh in 260.2 - Not what I wanted, but what I expected, I did a terrible job last week

Breakfast - Prime Rib skillet with egg whites at Denny's 600 calories

Lunch - Sandwich with some animal crackers - 400 calories

Dinner - 6 fried shrimp, 4 smalled embrochette, boudin - 900 calories (1900 Calories)

My goal starting today is 1700 calories on a non-workout day and 1900 on a workout day

Week 4 - Weigh In Results

Click chart to enlarge

Lowering my limit

I think 1500 is a thing of the past for me. It was the number I was suppose to eat to get me to 180 lbs and now that I have lost 80 lbs and I am at 180 lbs I need to eat less calories. According to my calculations I should be eating 1300 calories to get to 150 lbs. SO today I am going to shoot for under 1400 and probably the rest of the week and then next week I will shoot for 1300 a day. Removing 200 calories from an already reduced daily limit is going to be hard, but I will try my best. If I can get to 1300 a day I may start losing 3-4 lbs a week again.

Here's to pushing myself even further.

Steve wk3 Monday report

Did alright yesterday. Morning biked but had to stop due to cramps from trip, then tried to stretch but stopped due to cramps also. Laid down the rest of the day. Ate 240 breakfast poached eggs and toast, Ate 300 gumbo and crackers for lunch, 3x 100 calpax, Grilled boneless skinless chicken breast w/ greenbeans and corn dinner @300 more, 2 more x100calpax, and pudding cup 100, total 1440, over due to excessive snacking. Will watch that today. So far had 250 calories from oatmeal this morning. Plan to eat fruit and chees tray for lunch and fish for dinner.

Day 20 -Amber

Swim class today plus an xtra 20 minutes of swimming afterward. Every swim class makes me sore. I love it!

Ended calories today at about 1550. Plenty of water but possibly needed more veggies. Had a Subway tonight with plenty, and Okra this morning and bell pepper and mushrooms with scrambled eggs. But def not 5 servings. On to tomorrow. I am going to swim with a friend at Gold's Gym...she's used to be on a swim team, she's gonna help my technique.

We watched half of Super size me tonight...there were some ladies that said "who has time for that" in reference to exercise. I was kinda surprised there are people in the world that don't think it's important/don't value it. Glad I'm on track to healthier life, and I'd like to keep it this way.

Week 3 Weigh In - Paula

I think the tortillas from yesterday are still here.

Beginning weight: 227.5
Week 2 weight: 222
Current weight:221
Week 3 weight loss: 1

This week - no tortillas - not even one.

Day 18/19/20 - Paula - The Procrastinator

Yes, I have done it again - Lee don't kill me.

We now have 3 days to update instead of 2 or 1 - so here goes.

Day 18 - Not the guac again!

Brooke makes the best guac of anyone I know - I have tried to make it the same - I have the recipe and yet it is never quite the same. Which is probably a good thing considering how fat I already am - if I had everyday access to something that good I would probably starting this at 400 pounds. So the day started with an awesome women's conference at church with Susan O'Donnell from KSBJ speaking - she was totally hilarious. I had 2 bananas (200) and a chicken salad sandwich (350 est.) with a few chips (100). Then came the hard part - Phillip's bday party - crawfish boil and tacos with guac(yes the previously mentioned). I had 1 chip with a little guac (50), about 15 crawfish (93), 1 tiny piece of sausage (30 est.), 1 small potatoe (50) - yes I barely resisted making a pig out of myself with the giant bowl of guac :( When I got home I had a cup of milk (120) and some popcorn (100) for a total of 1093. Whew! I was happy that temptation day was over - did I mention they had trays of cookies and muffins at the church and there was SWEET tea at the party - 'nough said.

Day 19 - The unexpected

I have found that if I plan out my day and what I am going to eat and where I am going to go then I do better managing my calories. So on Sunday I did not eat breakfast - I just did not feel like making anything - so I figured I would go to Freebirds after church and pick up lunch and get the regular size one and still be okay for calories. Sweet! So I had the chicken freebird with cheese, roasted veggies, and beans - for 675 - yes high but the day was already halfway over. Then for a snack a couple of hours later - a chocolate chip cookie (150) and then the unexpected. Going out to eat with friends - of course one of my favorite places - La Casona (yes, Mexican). Did I get the guac - no. Did I get the queso - no. Did I get beef - no. I got grilled chicken (200)with veggies - gave away the rice and only ate 1 tortilla (150) for a total of 1175 - just under the mark.

Day 20 - I need to shop

Well, because I have been so lazy with my grocery shopping - I have not done any - I was not prepared for my meals today. So, I improvised - sorta. I got my granola bar (190) from the vending machine, had one of my cup bags of chex (100), my emergency mini cans of green beans for lunch (40), part of another bag of chex (75) - so I had plenty for dinner - baked chicken (150), yams (79 - much lower than I thought), and pinto beans (122 - also lower than I thought) for a current total of 756 - very much unexpected. Bottom line - I need to go shopping tomorrow - tuna, oranges, bananas, granola bars, soup... and so on.

Trying to change one catch up day at a time.

Day 20 - Brooke

Woohoo Day 20! Yeah us! Today I had regs 200, salad with raisins, walnuts, and rasberry vinegarette 450, pudding with chocolate chips 250, seafood salad w/ ranch 500. TOTAL = 1400.

I had a great day with food today, I am hoping to keep it up this week so I can be at 178 or lower by next Monday!!

Hope everyone else is having a great day!

Weigh IN- Amber Week 3

Official weigh in 142. HA!! I can't do anything but laugh cause I did that to myself with traveling on the road. Either way, 2 weeks in a row with big mess ups, I live and learn. Now I know how to better succeed.

Here's the real exciting news:...well if you're me...although after only 3 weeks it seems I could be stretching the truth here by measuring wrong BUT I'll post it anyway.

3/22/2010 measurements: Bust:38.5-39 Waist:30 Hips:42 Thigh:24
4/26/2010 measurements: Bust:38 Waist:29.25 Hips:41.5 Thigh:23.75

I always measure loosely with 2 fingers between me and the tape and did it no differently this month. So I think these are accurate. I can tell my waist is a bit slimmer in my swim suit already. By week 4 we'll see if anything larger changed.

Today begins a new week and more chances to make better and good decisions.

steve, back from vacation Philly

Not going to do all the totals, but starved low calories both travel days, less than 1200 each day for sure. Friday we went to Reading mkt. and "shared" many items, but ate small amounts, my guess for the day is about 2000, to include philly cheesstaek, pulled pork hoagie, pepperoni, onion, and roast pepper pizza, thin style, pumpkin roll, apple Amish dessert of some sort, homemade chocolate icecream, but I just had a few bites of each. It could have been a lot worse, but I was way full and uncomfortable as my stomach has definitely shrunk up since we started this diet. Saturday we had 200 for breakfast, oatmeal and yogurt, then two plain hotdogs w/mustard only at tournament, say 650 with cheetos. Had grilled chicken bonelss breasts, 2 and corn for dinner, say 550, so 1400 for day. All in all I behaved myself admirably and got to taste the regional fare at the same time. Today back to the grind, off to exercise.

Week 3 Weigh In - Brooke

This morning I weighed 180.2 and only lost .4 lbs...urgh. I knew eating bad those two days was going to be piss me off come Monday. I thought for sure I would be under 180 this week, but I ruined it and only have myself to blame. This week I plan on losing enough weight to make up for this last week!!! .4 is good, at least it's something, but it should have been 5! ugh. I hope everyone else did good!

Day 19 - Brooke

Wow was yesterday a very trying day for me food wise. For breakfast I ate some fruit at church 80, and then went to Chili's with Becca, Miller and Jacob for lunch and had the Santa Fe wrap (guiltless style) and I tore off 1/3 of the tortilla 500. Then came the hard part....I went to a baby shower at my Aunt's and there is ALWAYS great food when she has a party. There were fajitas, beans, rice, SPINACH DIP, shrimp dip, sangria, punch, cheesecake, cupcakes, etc etc etc. What did I eat you must be wondering?? I had 5 bites of spinach dip, 1 mini cheesecake bite, 10 crackers with shrimp dip and THAT IS IT! I am guessing around 400. For dinner we made chicken and I split mine with the boys 120, and 2 rolls 360. TOTAL = 1460.

yeah! I survived.

Day 19 is over!

I'm ending today with 1146 calories. I'm sure it helped that I slept till 11, and then took a 3 hour nap later in the day, ha! Anyway, I'm back on track. Swim class tomorrow! Can't wait!

Day 19 - Lee

Breakfast - 300 Calories of Waffles and Sugar Free Syrup, with banana 80 calories (380 Total Calories)

Lunch - Chilis Margarita Chicken - 530 Calories (920 Calories)

Dinner - Chicken Breasts 200 calories, 360 rolls - 560 calories (1480 Total Calories)

Day 19

Feeling so excited!! I'm sitting at 859 right now!!

Still going to eat dinner, but just relieved to be back to normal life! I told Caleb we are going to buy a cooler and bring lots of veggies on road trips. I think my main downfall is not eating enough protein and veggies. Especially because so much of my diet consists of vegetables that are naturally low calories and fill me up!!

So: next trip ice in a cooler and a TON of veggies and some fruit. It's a necessity for me to eat healthy and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Don't know about you guys, but veggies ward off disease...so even on vacation and gas stations, they are needed!!

Day 18 - Lee

Breakfast - Nothing, ate an early lunch

Lunch - Subway Meatball Sub - 1100 Calories

Dinner - Crawfish, a few pieces of sausage and 70 calories of corn, I'm really rough on this, but I'm guessing in the 1000 calories range total but could be well underneath that, (2100 Total Calories)

Days 17 & 18

OK, So I'm more on track. Yesterday and the day before, despite being on the road all day both days I tried to not eat so many little things that add up. And tried hard to stay at 1500, but decided if I at least stay below 2000 for those days I can live with myself.

Day 17 - I landed at a calculate 1897 but I had a few bites of vanilla wafers and chocolate chips.

Day 18 - Landed somewhere between 1415 and _____? We had dinner with my sister's dad and wife, and I calculated cornbread and butter into my calories, but had no idea for the 1C or so of the bean mixture...cause it had all types of bean and sausage...but also bacon drippings...UH maybe 350?

Today I'm officially in Austin and ready for some veggies and fruit and to get my calories back down.

Maybe next time I'm on a long unplanned road trip, I should just make some meal in containers...sorta hard when there's no fridge. I really don't wish I could say I could do another roadtrip better next time, now that I see more of my pitfalls, but I'd probably make the same dumb mistakes. Hmm.

Day 18 - Brooke

Today was a very tempting day but I think I did pretty good. I started off skipping breakfast because I slept until 9, thank you Lee. I took the boys to subway and had a 6 inch ham 330 and 1/2 a cookie 100. We went to a crawfish boil at the Baggett's and I had about 15 crawfish 50, Taco 250, chips with guacamole and cheese 700. TOTAL = 1430

Although I ate a ton of chips and guac/cheese I feel good about saying no to the sangria, second taco, and even more guac and cheese. haha YEAH ME!!! I better see some results for the hard work on the scale tomorrow.

Day 17 - Brooke

After lunch I was sitting at 1000 calories for the day, and then Dorinda wanted to go to Pappadeaux for dinner. I wasn't really wanting to go there because it's hard to eat good, CHEAPLY! ugh so I did bad....

I had a side salad with ranch, but they put the ranch on the salad and I forgot to ask for it on the side, so I am guessing about 250 for that. I had a piece of bread w/ butter 150, crabcake 275 in butter sauce with crawfish 75, and a nice 5oz glass of Reisling 120. TOTAL = 1870

I feel pretty crappy about yesterday and could have easily said no to the wine and cupcake to stay within range. URGH!!! Two bad decisions this week so far. I plan on being perfect this weekend to try to lose some weight because as of today I sit at 181 (.4 more than Monday) and that is unacceptable.

Crawfish boil tonight, will probably just eat some of that and some tacos. MUST STAY AWAY FROM SANGRIA AND DESSERT!!!!

Day 17 - Lee

Breakfast - 100 calories yogurt

Lunch - Grilled shrimp teriyaki and 1 1/2 cups rice - 650 calories (750 Calories)

Dinner - 1050 calories pizza, it's what we had (1800 Total Calories)

No workout, though I wanted to do so.  Hmm, I will absolutely get one in Sunday, and will try to do so today, though it could be a long day.

Day 17 - Paula

So today has been pretty normal - although I am craving a piece of like cake or cupcake or something along those lines.

Had the morning granola bar (190), tuna (150), shrimp (188), popcorn (100), chicken (75) and a cup of cheerios (100) - current total 803.
I have room for milk and a piece of chocolate maybe or maybe just the milk, who knows, but reading this I realize how boring my life is - so sad:( heheheh

Changing one boring day at a time.

Fighting Temptation

Today I have eaten regs 200, Seafood Salad from Sabine River - 300, 2 small pieces of bread w/butter 250. It sounds like I did really really good, HOWEVER I really really really......really really......really wanted the grilled chicken sandwich croissant with bacon, cheese and honey mustard. BUT somehow I managed to mutter the words Seafood Salad instead. I say 300 but it was probably 200-250, all it had on it was baby shrimp, crab, tilapia chunks, lettuce, barely any cheese, and 50 calories worth of balsalmic vinegarette. I did gooooooooooood!!!

I am going to eat a cupcake at the baby shower today, so beware, but I may knock off half the icing, unless it's whipped. Tonight, Dorinda and I are getting dinner somewhere so I hope I can control myself there!

Day 16 - Hindsight makes U feel very ashamed.

Well, I slept a nap yesterday from about 8:30am to noon. Otherwise I'm ashamed to say from midnight on I ate a grand total of 2636. I just gave up last night. :-( We had gone to 2 restaurants that were closed at 9:30pm just gave up and went to Taco Bell. And I didn't even bother with calories. I knew I was being horrible, but I did it anyway. I'm pretty disappointed with myself. The worse my headache got and the hungrier I got the less I cared and at the same time I was ashamed of being careless and knowing it was gonna be a bad if I did that. The end. Starting over today...let try again for good decisions.

Day 14/15/16 - Paula - So I am a little behind

Okay so the posting procrastination bug hit - my apologies.

To finish up Day 14 - I managed to avoid the totally awesome Hawaiian sweet bread with spinach dip, the artichoke dip with wheat thins, the Blue Bell homemade vanilla and the list goes on. I finished up the day with 1155 - did you know that 1/12 of an angel food cake is bigger than you think.

Day 15

Granola bar (190), chex (100), shrimp (188), angel food cake (129), chex (100), part of a quesadilla (375) and a bag of popcorn (100) - 1182 - not bad and there was not much temptation.

Day 16

Okay starting to catch up. The granola bar (190), tuna (150) - light miracle whip taste pretty good - soup (160), chex (100), popcorn (100) and chicken fajitas (480) - no cheese, no guac, no beans, no rice but tasty non the less. Total 1180 and I am done for the day.

Changing one day of procrastination at a time.

Day 16 - Brooke

Today I had regs 200, 2 Arby's Jr. roast beef with cheese 440, granola bar 100, spaghetti 200, bread 360 and a cookie 200. TOTAL = 1500

Not to bad especially for a girls night! I didn't even drink or eat too too bad!! I am now sleepy and not really excited to blog so I will say goodnight!

Day 16 - Lee

Breakfast - Cereal 300 Calories

Lunch - Gumbo, didn't eat the roux 450 Calories, 7 boiled shrimp 100 calories, 3 fried shrimp 100 calories, some bread 100 calories - 750 calories - (1050 Total Calories)

Dinner - Steak 550 and rolls 360 - 910 Calories (1960 Calories)

Day What?...they're sorta jumbled

Caleb and I decided to take a last minute trip to Kansas/...uh...a little crazy! My sister, Heather, is 19 and driving to Texas from Wisconsin. So, we loaded up to meet her half way and drive half the way down with her. She has a crummy truck....and well, she's just a teenager still, so we wanted to help out a little.

That being said. I'm not sure relapse is the correct word for what's going on in my diet, but I'm having circadian rhythm confusion with food. HA! Caleb and I drove all night and switched off driving so I slept a couple hours. But we basically left at 4pm yesterday and now we are here in Kansas City, at 7:51 (arrived at hotel approximately 15 minutes ago) SO, I think I ate more than usual. I tried very hard to be sensible. But I did ingest different foods than usual including M&M's.

Anyway, I think, by the time midnight last night arrived I probably ingested about 2200 calories. But I think the bulk of those calories came from some cashews and Peanut butter and my veggie sub with light mayo...IDK, honestly, I'm was having a lot of trouble keeping track of everything.

Definitely NOT 8 C water, yes 5 veggies I think, 2 fruits, too.

So sometime between midnight and 8am this morning I ingested about 330 calories (half a chicken salad sandwich and baked lays) and a bagel with 1 tbs cream cheese 350. I'm about to go to sleep now...so maybe I will only have one more meal today? I don't know.

I need to start writing down the pros and cons of my days, because although this feels like a let down...I had a SANDWICH instead of a burger, BAKED Lays instead of regular, no coke, and only one bag of M&M's. ANd I haven't given up and just eaten anything and everything I want.

So as far as changing we're getting there, but still working on it. Did anyone know 6 okra is 30 calories!!??? That didn't help, but it was a veggie and I wanted to commit to at least attempting despite.

Cons: too many calories. Pro: baby steps to trips with lots of veggies and staying under calories.

Goodnight, guys.

headed to Philly

Yesterday was a great day with increase in workout, feel fine this morning instead of the dreaded soreness. Ate poached eggs and toast, 240; fruit and cheese, 275; 3x 100 cal. snacks; shrimp jambalaya over brown rice, 250; totalled 1065, not enough. Mags should be our "just the facts girl". She knows all about the food science involved. She said I should be eating at least 16-1800 calories a day to maintain without exercise, just normal body-burning calories to maintain my goal weight. The 12-1300 I am doing now, shouldn't be maintained after I reach my goal weight. My meal plans so far falll within healthy choice guidelines for protein, complex carbs, and fats which all are needed by our bodies. Cool stuff. Headed to Philly tonight to watch Brock's taekwando tourney this weekend. Will keep healthy choices along with a few always wanted to try items such as the pizzas and cheessteaks, but will eat in moderatioon. Robin says she'll share with me. Not bringing computer, so y'all have a great healthy weekend.

Day 15 - Brooke

After a big lunch we ate pretty low for dinner. I had 2 flounder filets 250, 1 1/2 rolls 270 and it looks like that puts me over my calories for the day with a grand total of 1620...damn. This makes me a little angry and motivates me to not do it again.

I hope others had a better day than I.

It's not looking good

Breakfast regs 200
Lunch Chuys 1 1/2 chicken soft tacos (1 scoop guac, cheese, chicken, tortilla, pico) 400, chips and jalepeno ranch 400, some bites of chicken and tortilla soup from the kids meals 100.
TOTAL = 1100, that's not good. I hope Lee is cooking something low calorie tonight. How about some fish honey?

I always freak out when I have less calories for dinner, but I always figure it out. Stupid chips!!! lol

I'm feeling the difference!

It's week 3 of my swim class...and I made it 25 yards and wasn't dying!! This says 1 of 2 things...I am improving my technique and swimming better, or my endurance is slightly better. I'll just pretend it's both yahoo!!!My swim instructor was hard core today...she told me..."girl why don't you just go ahead and do a 300."

A 300!!?? That's 6 laps! 6 There's and 6 backs!! It's was hard and good. And after class was over I swam about 12 or 13 more minutes, and just had some fun in the pool for a bit.

Probably a grand total of 40 minutes of swimming I'd say. I'm feeling WAY less tired than I was last week. By the time I got home from class I needed a nap. I think I'm adjusting. Thanks God and group for keeping me going!

day14-Steve

Had all healthy meals last few days staying within 1300 and high-protein. Feel better for it. Stepped up my exercise to include ab-crunches and side-bends and added more resistance to upper body regimen. Food yesterday was poached eggs and drytoast, 240; chef salad w/turkey and cheese, 300; gumbo,300; 3x100 calorie snacks, 1140 for day. Worked out over an hour. Heading to Philly tomorrow, i'm sure I can find someone to eat half of my cheesesteak. Excited and terrified about the flights to and from, should be interesting, my first since the fall.

Day 15 - Lee

Breakfast - 300 Calories of Honey Nut Cheerios (300 Total Calories)

Lunch - 25 chips for 250 calories, 250 calories of creamy jalapeño, beef fajitas 800 calories - 1300 Calories (1600 Total Calories)  I ate too many chips and too much jalapeno sauce.  Knew that going in

Dinner - 4 ounces of Flounder 250 Calories, 2 rolls 260 - 510 Calories (2110 Total Calories)

Alright, with the exception of crawfish Saturday I will eat "well" not just in my calories the rest of the week.

Day 14 -Amber

Landing at 1469 today. :-) About 4 Veggies, 1 fruit and 8+ waters. And rest day. Been an OK day.

Day 14 - Brooke

I was at 630 after lunch which gave me lots of room for eating terrible for dinner. I tried to keep it low even though we were going to Mc Donald's on our way to Josh's game. I had 2 cheeseburgers no pickle 600 and a parfait 160. I am sitting at 1390 for the day and I think I will remain there. This morning I weighed under 180 and I was thrilled, so I hope to stay there and don't go back up.

Day 14 Continued - Paula - AHHHHHH!!!!!

Okay, so I am here for the party and after lunch I consumed 1 bite of cake for 50 and celery and laughing cow for 60 - which brings me to a current total of 560 for the day (640 remaining).

And lo - what do I see when I enter for the party - a roll of FRENCH BREAD!!!!! - one of my favorite things - yes, I am crying inside, it all smells so good - but for dinner it is carribean chicken with brown rice (nixing the rice) and angel food cake with strawberries (minus the angel food cake) oh yes I ca do this - JUST STAY AWAY FROM THE BREAD!!!

Okay I am googling the calorie count of angel food cake. Okay it looks like it is about 129 for 1/12 of a 10" cake - of course different brands are different - so we shall wait and see. The rice is 216 for 1 cooked cup - which I think I can squeeze in. Yum yum yum.

The key is in the planning.

Changing one google episode at a time.

Day 14 - Lee

Breakfast - Cereal 300 Calories (300 Total Calories)

Lunch - Digiorno pizza 1050 Calories (1350 Total Calories)

Dinner - Not sure, but I will likely go over today and need to get on the treadmill tonight.  I have been having a rougher time the last few days being much hungrier for some reason.  That said, I'll do my best to make sure I don't net out to more than 2000 today.  Next week I go down to 1800 so I need to do better

UPDATE:  Dinner 460 calories of chicken nuggetts and 150 from an ice cream cone for 610 calories and I had 300 calories of ice cream at night (bad idea I know) but had burned 350 calories on the treadmill earlier.  (2260 Total Calories - 350 on the treadmill)

Day 13 & 14a - Paula

So I am posting in the middle of the day - an unusual thing for me.

I did not post yesterday - bad bad Paula - so here is yesterday.

Day 13
With the weigh-in in the morning looking the same as the past couple days I am not deterred. I had a granola bar (190) for breakfast, chex (100) for a snack, chicken with onions (150) for lunch, orange (100) for a snack, 1/4 of a quesadilla (est. 150 - I did not look it up because I was nowhere near the cals for the day) and a cup of milk (120). Rounding out the day at a whopping 810 - with there probably being a little extra on top for the quesadilla.

Day 14a
I am currently eating my soup (140) for lunch as I try to catch up on the post from yesterday. I had a granola bar (190) for breakfast and 1/4 cup walnuts (120) for a snack. I have resisted the cake that shows up every Monday at work - a different kind each week - without a problem. I do not want to say that saying no to certain foods is getting easier but it just might be. The test will be tonight - Pokeno party - delicious and fattening foods all around - we will see how that goes.

Anyway, it is a good day, although I do need to start exercising.

Everyone have a great day.
Changing one bowl of soup at a time.

Week 2 Weigh In - Paula

Results for the past week a day late.

Beginning weight: 227.5
Week 1 weight: 224
Current weight: 222
Week 2 weight loss:2

Not the best but not the worst it could be.

Lunch can be lonely sometimes

It's been a long time since I ate lunch alone at my desk at work. I only do it every few months because usually there are plenty of people to eat with. Today so far I have eaten regs 200, Healthy Choice Sesame Chicken 330, Granola Bar 100. Tonight we have to grab food on the run because once I get home from work we are leaving to go watch Josh's baseball game in Clear Lake.

Now that I already ate my lunch I am kind of bored and I don't really want to work, but I guess I will after this is written since I need to leave on time tonight. I have gotten into a rhythm with my eating lately and it's been really great. I hope I can take this last bit of motivation down the road a few months and get to the 150lbs I have wanted to be for so many years. I feel like I am in a good place to get there. Glad you guys are along for the ride!

Day 13 - Amber

Today I sit at 1501 Calories...that's an actual 1501. No eating more and justifying because I worked out. I've been trying not to do that. But my wonder is...will you still get all your nutrients if you work out pretty hard and don't make up those calories? Anyone know?

Got my fruits, got my veggies, and even drank around 10-12 glasses of water since I'm donating plasma tomorrow! Wish me luck.

Had swim lessons yesterday and found a cool way to hang on to the side of the pool to practice kicks. I'll teach the boys this summer! Swam for about 20-30 minutes after the lesson. Then went to Caleb's gym in the evening and did the leg press, too. I think I'm sore from that.

I stuck with just one machine today and tried my hardest to quite while I was ahead. My knees were complaining by the end, so I vowed not to do any other machines (which was the plan anyhow). But it's exciting; I'll slowly start introducing more weight machines. I may do the leg press again this week...just haven't decided, it all depends on my knee condition. But today is full rest (unless I choose to do clams, or upper body toning).

It's crazy to think in college I used to do these things with ease, and wasn't painful. I never played sports in school, so I never really had much muscle anyway...but it's strange starting from what feels like scratch. I have long ligaments and no muscle to keep my joints from wobbling all over the place is what the physical therapist said. Time to fix it.

Working hard!! Great job everyone. Lee: eat some veggies and whole grains!

Week 3 - Weigh In Results

Click chart to enlarge

I'm Hungry...Good Night

1300 calories may not be enough for me, I am pretty hungry right now, but since I have already brushed my teeth and I am pretty tired I think I will head to bed instead. I may chug some water first.

Good night healthy eaters!

steve, too lazy to eat well? I think not!

Could not have been a lazier day than today and I ate well. Two poached eggs on one dry toast, 250, 200 cal. snacks, gumbo, 350, crackers, 100, 2 more snacks maybe later, or a cup of cereal if I feel like getting up. So... 900-1200 while in bed all day, not bad. Felt bad as well as lazy, so no exercise.

Day 13 - Brooke

Today has been great!! I lost 1.2 lbs last week and I am off to a great start eating well. I had regs 200 for breakfast and Jason's Deli for lunch. I had lettuce, shaved almonds, raisins, rasberry vinegarette, 1 large crouton and some chocolate pudding 600. We went to Chick-fil-a for dinner because Monday is family night and tonights theme was pirates and princesses. The boys had a blast and I had a salad 450, bites of ice cream 50. TOTAL = 1300 I wanted a granola bar when I got home, but when I got home the 4 granola bars that were there earlier today were gone :( boohoo, so I will just remain at 1300.

I hope everyone else did good today!

Day 13 - Lee

Breakfast - Umm, so it's not a real breakfast, but I have an awful sweet tooth.  An Oatmeal Cream cookie - (310 Total Calories)

Lunch - KFC Grilled Chicken 2 breasts and a wing 460 calories and a small potato wedges 260 calories - 720 calories (1030 Total Calories)

Dinner - Chick Fil A, technically this hasn't happened yet, but this is what it will be -  Chick Fil A chicken sandwich with wheat bun, medium fries and an ice cream cone for 950 calories (1980 Calories)

Ate a little more ice cream than I intended, but pretty close on the day

Week 3 Beginning Weigh In - Lee

I was 261.2 this morning, so down 3 pounds this week!  It's not the 6 or 7 I wanted, but let's be honest, I skirted the 2000 mark a lot of the week, so not terrible for sure!  Next week I'll be in the 250s again!

Day 12 - Lee

Breakfast - One and a half waffles - 350 Calories and 100 Calories of syrup (450 Total Calories)

Lunch - Freebird burrito 948 Calories (1398 Total Calories)

Dinner - Outback 11 ounce Sirloin Steak 457 Calories (though the site says that for the 12 ounce which doesn't exist), Garlic Mashed Potatoes 374 Calories, Green Beans 134 Calories and about 100 calories of bread and ice cream bites 1065 Calories (2463 Total Calories)

I also got on the treadmill and burned 500 calories, so that put me under 2000 for the day!

Week 2 Weigh In - Brooke

Today I weigh in at 180.6 (just .7 more to go to be under 180 again). My total weight loss this week is 1.2 lbs. HURRAY!! I think it would have been more if I had eaten healthier calories, but I did stay within my range all week and I am excited to lose the 1.2 lbs.

Lee and I also have a side bet we started a few weeks before this blog. Every lb we lose we get $10 for our personal money, and every lb we gain back we have to pay back $15. This 1.2 lbs gives me another $10 this week!! hurray!

Hope everyone else did good!

Weigh In: Week 2: Amber

142. No comment. :-(

Steve- My kingdom for a scale!

Q. What's worse than a paraplegic with the runs?
A. Same guy on a diet and no scale for two weeks!

Anyhoo, I just feel better and seem to have more energy. Also been eating viatamins every morning with Robin, eating well, averaging about 1300 calories per day. Exercise has been light but thorough, and cycling to keep my circulation in check for blood clots every day. Seems to be not just a diet but also a healthy lifestyle change for all of us. I'm very proud of everyone in the group. Let's keep it up until it's ordinary to eat like this without having to crunch the numbers. Key to it is shopping to where available foods are healthy available foods. Gotta go for now.

Day 12 - Paula - Oh yeah I'm good

Let me just say that it is hard to eat out twice in a day and not get crazy - the temptation is soo there. So I did not eat breakfast (a granola bar) because it just did not interest me. Avoided the donuts and everything else at church - yes they are Shipley's. We all went to lunch at Pei Wei - but after looking at the menu I did not want anything and most things had rice which is usually high but I love sooo much I just decided not to eat anything - that was ok I had the granola bar in my purse. Then I looked over a Lee and I was like where did the burrito come from? Freebirds next door is the answer. Woot woot - our old friend from the downtown area - I knew what I could eat there within reason.

To Freebirds I went - even though it was very slow I got my halfbird, now called the hybrid - who knows why, with cheese, white chicken, roasted veggies and salsa - 447 - yum yum. It filled me up and the next time I go back I have enough for my free Freebirds t-shirt - woohoo.

Then came home time - otherwise known as nap time on Sundays - and then dinner at La Casona - yes the usual Sunday Mexican meal. This Sunday I had a few more calories to work with - so I got chicken fajitas - yes of course I prefer beef - so I had two tortillas, chicken, grilled onions, about a big tablespoon of avacado and 3 chips with salsa - the meal rounded to 660 for a today total of 1107.

Rock it.

I am still looking forward to my 1st cheat day on the 32nd dat May 8th - yes I am crazy, but it gives me a 30 day good choices goal.

Changing one walk down to Freebirds at a time.

Day 12- Amber, Better than yesterday!!!

OK. Today was MUCH better than yesterday. I sit at 1499!! I'm eating my last 2 of 6 M&M's, too(that bring my calories to the 1499)! A small reward for working so hard today ha!

I worked so so hard today to eat well. Really, running totals in my head don't work, I have to see it. So I carried a calorie sheet around all weekend (including today.) Let's get into what I ate for once:

Grabola bar (i refuse to use the right spelling because i accidentally typed it this way and it just sound too funny this way :-) ), flat bread, 1 slice cheese, 5 slices ham (3 in mouth immediately and 2 on bread). Then the trip home to Austin. carrots, Snap peas, Red Bell Pepper, Crackers (only 13 allowed!) and some Fiber One and Smart Start cereals mixed with a few Walnuts. Then, Caleb bough snacks. I managed to only eat 5 gummies.....then like an hour later 5 more - a total of one serving! It was so difficult to watch him eat them all the way home and know I was saving my calories for Peanut butter M&M's. Then a cup of coffee with creamer. Spaghetti with pasta sauce, Lettuce (or...salad we called it) with light dressing and 4 meatballs. Then 1 Hershey chocolate and 6 Peanut Butter M&M's. 1499!!

I was freaking out when I got home. I couldn't figure out why after all my calculations I was in the 16 or17 hundreds!! I was quite upset after striving so much today and being a rational disciplined human. Then I realized I usually alot for a sweet fix in the evening but just adding those calories in the morning. That way all day long I already have taken those calories out of my budgeted and won't go over with a last minute fix. I apparently allotted for my M&M's (240 for the bag). So i recalculated everything without the bag and then only ate what I could afford...a whopping 6!! Eh...either way. Thank you Lord for a good day. In light of yesterday it was a very hard day for budgeting and discipline. I'm still pretty bummed about yesterday though, I just tried REALLY hard to be careful and save plenty for dinner!! And knowing what I ate...oh...it just adds up so quick. Anyway, I never thought I'd be so glad to see the day over!!



I really am in awe at how many calories i must have been taking in while out of town and during the weekends. Usually I eat granola and milk in the morning, and snacks, and some veggies. But just sorta eat and eat all day long. Tracking this weekend was SOOO hard, and really made me see how messed up my weekends and and trips are!! I thought it was just bad....bad it used to be disastrous apparently!!! OMG! Anyway, hooray for today!!

Day 12 - Brooke

I successfully went to Outback and ordered grilled chicken w/ broccoli (healthy style meaning no butter) and 1 piece of bread. I sit at 1500 calories today, hooray. Slight setback with the lunch, but I got myself back under control at dinner time. It's all about control. Taking control of your own destiny.

Lee and I are watching LOST now, best show on TV ever ever ever....I love it! Just a few more shows left and then all will be answered.

I am hoping for a low number on the scale tomorrow, and I am hoping all of you have low numbers as well.

Chinese Food Doubts

We ate Pei Wei for lunch and the calories said 430 per serving for honey seared shrimp. That being said it was 860 for one plate. I honestly thought that included the rice, but apparently that does not. How is that possible? How is it possible that 12 shrimp even the deepest of fried is 860 calories? I don't believe it! lol BUT I will count it as so. Lunch - Honey Seered Shrimp, 2 1/2 fortune cookies, rice = 930. hmmmm bummer. Tonight we are going to Outback (last eat out dinner for a while) and I am thinking about eating grilled chicken, broccoli and 1 piece of bread which should keep me under 1500. Today I am at 1100 so far, shooting for 400 at Outback.

Wish me luck!

steve, after a great weekend

Sorry I am behind, but 2/3 of our group have been here in support of each other all weekend. Ate good and exercised good. What else to say? Doesn't get any better than this. will read weekend's posts and comment later.

Ice Cream is gooooooood

Instead of 2 - 100 calorie packs I decided to eat some icecream so I did and I landed right at 1500 yesterday. Yum ice cream, that little 1/2 cup of ice cream was so wonderful!

Today I have eaten a poached egg 70 and english muffin 100, I think Steve has gotten me hooked on something new. I need to go get me an egg poacher this week. I wonder if I can get as much fiber out of the english muffin as I do with the frosted mini wheats I normally eat (regs). Gotta keep myself regular!

Soon we are off to church where I plan on eating some fruit 50 and drinking some tea with sweet n low, yuck. I am trying to ween myself off of the sugar in my tea to save the calories.

Day 11 - Amber

Let's just be honest today hasn't been the best day. I rationed my calories all day long because I knew we were going to Reunion tower to eat appetizers. But still by the time I got there I only had a couple hundred left. I had a coconut rum and coke, and Caleb and I split spring rolls and tiny dumplings. No clue how many calories any of those are. Without counting those 3 things i sit at a 1435, so I definitely did not have a sane day yesterday. Oneida made this AMAZING snack called a Mexican Cocktail (no alcohol lol, it's food) but it had avocados in it. They didn't help me yesterday. Were racking up my calories fast. I', glad it was avacado though, that was doing it and not cookie dough this time... Either way bad day. 4 veggies, 1fruit, 500 C water lol. It was a day full of rationing but no success.

Day 11 - Paula - Fish Again?

Having avoided a tray of brownies and bucket of homemade cookies - I currently reside at 855 - yes I will eat something else tonight I am just not sure what. Perhaps popcorn or have a little more milk.
So the day started with a granola bar (190) then about 1/4 cup of walnuts for a snack (120) - grilled tilapia (from what I could find 150) for lunch. I am not sure that I like fish but I think that for a lifestyle change it is important to step out of the box and eat things I normally would not because if I continue to eat the same things that I do then there will be no change. I had a bite of bread (50) with the tilapia, yum.
Now for dinner so far it has been very healthy - a smore (125) over a fire - oh my - and 10 chips with salsa (100) and a cup of milk (120).
There is room calorie wise for more but I am not sure that I am hungry but I will update tomorrow if any more is eaten.
Overall, it has been a good day -
Changing one piece of fish at a time.

Day 11 - Lee

Breakfast/Lunch - 2 Kolaches 500 Calories, and I ate some doughnut holes during the day 300 calories - (800 Total Calories)

Dinner - Shrimp, roughly 150 Calories and some potatoes 150 calories (probably over shooting) Corn 140 Calories - 440 Calories (1240 Total Calories)

Snack - 3 100 Calorie packs, Robin and Steve have all kinds, it's a bad combo for me, but luckily shrimp are so low in calories! - 300 Calories (1540 Calories)

I think I'm going to have a little ice cream!

Day 11 - Brooke

Food Intake today consisted of english muffin 100, poached egg 70, cheese nips 100, cookie pack 100, wheat thins 70, tuna fish sandwich with mayo and sugar 350, cheese nip 100, shrimp (grilled and boiled) 125, mini corn on the cob 40, side salad 80, potato chunks 50, green beans 15. TOTAL = 1200. Hmmmm I think I will eat 2 more 100 calorie cookie packs to get me to 1400.

For dinner we got shrimp and we grilled some on the outside grill on skewers with onion, corn on cob and bell pepper (though I only ate shrimp and corn). We also boiled some for the side salad and then pan grilled some with carrots, tomatoes and onion. Delicious!!! I love shrimp and we had so many different options and they were all very low calorie. 4 large shrimp are only 22 calories!! yum...maybe I will go eat some more!

We are having a great time at the beach. Earlier today we burried Jacob, Austin, Lee and Josh in the sand and just now we were flying kites. Jacob has been begging me to fly a kite for weeks so it worked out very well.

Hope everyone else is getting to eat as good we are.....healthy AND Delicious!!!

No donuts please

Down at the beach it's customary to go to Dannay's for breakfast and get some DELICIOUS kolaches. Oh they are so so so very good, best kolaches in the world. This morning, I said no and had a 100 calorie english muffin and a poached egg 70. It was very good and I kind of want another, who knew. Thanks for breakfast Steve!! Losing weight one "no" at a time.

Day 10b -NO MORE Tonight-AMber

Today was not as great. I made brownies and cookies for a bake sale tomorrow. I guess it was a mild success to my usual behavior. USUALLY, I eat so much cookie dough or brownie dough I'm sick to my stomach and ready to vomit...(Hmm possible overeating syndrome for sure). I just keep eating and eating and eating..... However, today I had a Nalgene full of water and kept trying to drink it to distract myself. I did end up eating more than expected still though. BUT only 2 cookies and a brownie....I mean....I can't imagine how many calories I used to take in stuffing myself!!! Because 1/16th of a brownie is 200 calories!!!!! And 1 cookies (approx 1 Tbs) is 70!! SO a grand total of 340! Geeze! Seriously, this is a huge success, yet still WAY too much.

I landed, unfortunately at 1618 after a shot at Applebees. But I have this idea that maybe I still am shooting too low for calories for today....what if my cookies and brownie was more than calculated... I'm not gonna fuss. I'm done for tonight, and will start over tomorrow. 4 Veggies today. 1 Fruit. 8 C water.

Wish me more luck tomorrow. I'm, gonna be more careful, and allot more for the unexpected. We're having breakfast burritos. Yikes!

Day 9 & 10 - Paula - Bring It On!!!

Ok - so I was dissapointed in myself on day 8 but today I say bring it on!



Day 9



Yesterday was tough - I wanted to go crazy and eat a bunch of calories - but I ended up with a total of 1160.



I had a cup of milk (120) for breakfast with a granola bar (190). Then chicken breast for lunch (150) another granola bar (190). 1/2 a cup of rice chex (50) for a snack. Then when I got home a couple of bites of miscellaneous things - bite of beef, bite of like two other things for about 100 calories. Then for dinner some ground turkey (260) and then popcorn (100).



That was it for for yesterday - wahoo I made it through.



Day 10



Today.



I have found something new to eat - fish. I do not like fish but I thought it was time to try something that I normally do not eat if I am going to make it through the year. So, it began with a granola bar (190), part of a dum dum (15), chicken (150), orange (100), chex (50) and then on to dinner.

I looked up grilled catfish and found it to be (100) per fillet for wild and (220) for farm raised but since I do not knnow which one that I had I chose a number in the middle for 2 (320) add baby carrots, green beans adn two bites of a banana I now reside at 1035 for the day - yeah!!!

So I think that I am done eating for the day and am ready for bed but I did not want to put off posting for another day.

Good luck everybody for the weekend:)

Changing one good menu choice at a time.

Day 10 - Brooke

TGIF!! I had regs 200, california roll 350, rock and roll 550, chicken breast 120, green beans 30, potatoes 150, corn on the cob 70 and sugar in my tea at dinner 30. TOTAL = 1500. Thanks for the delicious low calorie dinner Steve!! Yum!

Lee, the boys and I are at the beach this weekend. I really look forward to being down here for many reasons. It's relaxing, quiet, good healthy food, quality time with my parents and best of all the boys LOVE it. I love watching them play and hearing them go on and on about grandma and grandpa after we leave.

I was heading to the eye doctor after work and when I got there I asked "you aren't going to charge me another $50 copay just to have the doctor confirm my eye is better are you?". "Yes ma'am, we are". I promptly turned around and left the eye doctor without seeing the doctor, you think I am going to spend $50 to let some eye doctor tell me my eye is better when I already know it is?? No, not me!

Tomorrow will be a nice day of relaxing at the beach. I look forward to some healthy eatin as well!

Day 9 and 10

Sorry for grouping these the last few days, but life has been hectic.  I've been running around trying to get stuff done before I go back into the workforce on Monday.  I'll try and be better about doing it the day of or the morning after.

Day 9
Breakfast - None, Brooke put her eye on my finger and screwed the day up ;-)

Lunch - Chick-Fil-A 12 nuggets 390 Calories and Medium Fry 350 Calories (740 Total Calories)

Dinner - 3 Servings Digiornio Pizza - 1050 Calories (1790 Total Calories)

Snack - 1/2 cup ish of ice cream 180 Calories (1970 Total Calories)

Day 10
Breakfast - IHOP 5 pancakes 550 Calories, the left over butter 100 Calories, Sugar Free Syrup 30 Calories (680 Calories)

Lunch - Crawfish 2.5 pounds, roughly 160 calories.  Frankly that's some of the best news in forever.  I love crawfish and I can eat the mess out of them now.  (840 Total Calories)

Dinner - 2 Chicken Breasts 300 Calories, potatoes 250 Calories, green beans 30 calories - 580 Calories (1420 Calories)

Snack - 100 Calories Pack (1520 Calories)

Pretty sure I'll be having some more calories for the day. Now I wish I had one of those crawfish potatoes!

Day 9a Tear

My 3 workouts for the week are met. 2 swims and a walk. But I was really hoping to go to the pool one more time (today) to practice. I used my Christmas money to pay for it, so I'm trying to really practice and get my technique down.

However, I got ready and went to the pool but they said their chlorine was at a 0, so legally they couldn't let anyone swim. When I got back in my car I thought I was going to cry I was so let down. I think this is God's way of saying "just rest your knee some more" but my almost tears were evidence I didn't care what He thought. I was determined, and then....fail. I know it's not a real fail; I met my goals for the week..but I guess my hopes were up.

Oh, I suppose it really is good for me. I"ll have to do some clams at least today though, to keep working on the hip muscles. I should really be doing them at least 5 times a week.

Additionally, I decided to get rid of all the barriers in the house keeping the dog contained. I think stepping over them all day long isn't helping my knees rest. So, down they go. We'll see how this goes!

Not sure if I'll have internet access in Dallas. So maybe plan on Sunday night update for the weekend. Adios.

easy night, tummy shrunk?

Hello all, went with a total of 1200 yesterday and no yearning to raid the pantry late evening. Poured 400 cal. of cereal for dinner and ate just over half, twas enough, so dumped the rest. Later had two snacks set aside, ate both, but regretted the second. Looking forward to some creative low-calorie company feeding this weekend. So used to rampant food fest down here when visited. Later

Day 9 - Amber

No weights today. My right knee was hurting. Took some ibuprofen a bit ago and it actually started to feel better - I wonder if it was inflamed just a bit, I've never noticed the pain leave due to Ibuprofin. I think resting it today was probably good. No biking to the pool tomorrow. But I intend to drive and swim. If I swim tomorrow that will be the 4th exercise for the week. Then rest for the weekend. I think I'm bringing Denice Austin with me to Dallas so I can convince Caleb's sister to do an ab workout with me, hehe. That would be awesome!

Calories: think Steve has a good point, so I tried to shoot for 1400. Worked pretty well. ended at 1488, after a few unexpected gulps of chocolate milk. Still doing great on getting my 8C water in. Although, I think I'll be donating plasma next Tuesday and they say the day before drink 10-12C. How is that possible!!? Crazy! I'll just plan on having no life that day and keeping the bathroom light on. Heh. Veggies I got at least 4, a possible 5. And 2 fruits.

I'm dreading this weekend. We will be in Dallas. I'm gonna have to carry my calorie sheet in my pocket and plan for the BIG unexpected stuff! AND like Paula says, say no. A lot. That's OK, though this is good practice for a lifetime.

Day 9 - Brooke

My eye still hurts, but at least it is getting better. I hope tomorrow to be pain free, wishful thinking!! I do not want to wear my glasses anymore. I am seriously considering lasik...it may be worth it!

For dinner we had digorno pizza 530 and I had a granola bar 100. That brings my total to 1500 today. Woohoo! I did not exercise a lick, I slept all morning, had a doc appt and then worked all afternoon on the couch. Now I am considering going to bed because my eye hurts and when it's closed it feels oh so much better!

Going to the beach tomorrow, looking forward to some nice healthy delicious food!!!

Steve lost weight, 2010

Hey, I weighed in at 227 and that's without pooping for 5 days. Saving the best for last. Had a slice of toast dry for breakfast, 100. Ate with Robin at Landry's for lunch, grilled fish and shrimp w/rice and broccoli, maybe 500. All so far. Just got home from 2 doc. appt. and Landry's. To bed for now. maybe cereal for dinner, and a few 100 cal.snacks.

Eye full of pain

Today I have eating regs 200, Quarter Pounder with cheese 510 and a parfait 160. Total 870 so far. Not bad not bad.

Last night Lee's fingernail ran into my eye and it left me with a gash in my cornea. Today the doctor gave me anti-biotics and a "bandaid" type contact to protect it. Should be healed in 1-2 days. I am home today because when I got up to drive into work the lights and air, etc made my eyes water and blink so much I couldn't see where I was going. 1/4 mile down the road I turned around and came back home. I will try again tomorrow.

I hope everyone's weak moments this week are temporary! Come on guys, let's do this thing!

Day 8b - Brooke

Last night we took the boys to Yao's Restaurant downtown and then the Rockets game. I had sesame chicken and broccoli and 1/4 cup brown rice. 600 (and that is probably overshooting). I had 2 bites of cotton candy and I probably ended up around 1400 for the day. Not bad, I also did a lot of walking and I was carrying the 30lb baby Austin at the same time. If that isn't exercise I don't know what is.

Late Night Confessions

Just gonna go ahead an confess I ate chocolate covered cashews last night before bed. :-( A possible 300. I thought I could keep them around if I rationed them...but once start to eat them there's no stopping with me. :-(

Day 7 and Day 8

Sorry for not posting yesterday's sooner, but I had a hectic long day.  I did go on a permanent job type interview and it went really well though!

Day 7
Breakfast - 3 donuts 230 each (690 Total Calories) - Too much, but better than the 1400 or so I normally would have eaten
Lunch - McDonalds 10 piece Nuggets 460 calories and a McChicken 350 calories - 810 calories (1500 Calories total)
Dinner - BOB Shrimp wrap 450 calories and tater tots 220 calories -770 calories (2270 Total Calories)

I went and played basketball and tennis at night and easily burned off my 270 extra calories, so I'm good!

Day 8
Breakfast - Frosted Flakes, 2 servings - 300 Calories
Lunch - Bourbon Chicken 180 calories and white rice 250 calories - 430 Calories (730 Calories)
Dinner - Sushi and some sesame chicken - I got a bunch of different pieces and just a rough guess after looking at the average, I'm probably around 1500.  I said going in it would be my cheat meal of the week and it looks like I didn't even cheat that badly - 1500 calories (2230 Total Calories)

Add in about 50 calories of cotton candy and we get to 2280 Total Calories for the day.  I went over, but that was known going in.

Day 8 - Amber...pumped & working on the patience

Pretty good day. I sat on the bench and just waited for the lanes to clear up at the pool today so I could swim more after my class. An underestimate of how much I sawm total is probably about 37 minutes. So about 240 calories worth.

Also, I did some good ole Denise Austin upper body toning and weights: Chest, Shoulders, Arms, Back and Abs.

AND Caleb and I walked down the street instead of taking the car to get a movie from Red Box. All in all, no bad day. Tomorrow I will just tone up the legs if they aren't too sore. Walking the dog yesterday wasn't a good idea. My knees have been sore, but more importantly hurting a little, so it's time to practice patience.

Calories and food: 1811!! Got a little carried away when I knew i had burned 240 (or more even). After exercise, I rest at 1571. That doesn't include lifting weights. Got all my water, veggies and fruits in today. I would like my body to magically be more toned....I'm giving myself the month to at least see any little change. I hope.

Day 8 - Paula - Failure

Well, staying under the calories everyday could not last I am over by 15 calories for today a total of 1215 - I can eat no more. I know it does not seem like a lot but it could start a bad habit. I managed to avoid Shipley's Donuts and Chinese food - but I had just a scoop too much of ground turkey.

Well, it was still a good day - orange, banana, rice chex, a cup of soup, chicken, some veggies and eggs and ground turkey - no real exercise to be mentioned but maybe tomorrow.

Still changing one day at a time.

Day 8a - Brooke

The weekdays are so much easier to control eating than the weekends are. Today I had regs 200, Jason's Deli Salad Bar AGAIN and AGAIN I avoided seconds. I even went for the low fat honey mustard and barely even ate that. Salad 400 & Chocolate Pudding 100. Today I am at 700 so far, which is really good because that gives me 800 calories to eat tonight at Yao's Chinese Restaurant downtown. You would think eating healthy at a chinese food restaurant is easy to do, but it's not. I think I will go with grilled shrimp and walnuts in a brown sauce with veggies and BARELY any rice. Gotta cut out as many carbs as I can, they are so high in calorie and honestly you only need a little bit of rice to go a long way. I will avoid all food at the Rocket's game as well, I hope.

Work is going well today, I actually feel pretty full after that lunch. It wasn't much but it went a long way. I think in 2 hours I will be pretty hungry though :( We shall see. Luckily I have a few meetings to keep my mind off of eating food.

Hope everyone else is doing well this week. I was down to 180.4 this morning (just .5 more lbs to get below 180!) which is 1.8 less than what I weighed on Monday. Hurray!! If I stay on pace this could be a big weight loss week.

Another day trying really hard

Okay, when is my gut gonna shrink to fit my new diet? Started the day with breakfast sandwiches, 400, 100 cal. snack, 250 cal gumbo for lunch, w/ crackers 100, snacked on grapes 100, chicken breast and sides 500, snacks 150, cereal 250. 1850, way over my 1300 or so goal. Started too early eating breakfast at 5 am. Gave in on cereal when I knew I shouldn't. I could have cut breakfast in half easily as well. Woulda-couldas wonta losa the weighta. Today will be better. I did my stretches and biked 10 minutes. Lots of intense pain in the abdomen. might have pulled something below my level of feeling that is causing these spasms where I do feel it. Going from atrophy to exercise is a hard thing to do. Getting harder to start my exercise, not easier. Will not bike today or stretch my waist, just do my arms. Gotta heal the waist I guess. Also I have to drive myself tomorrow and that takes a lot of transfers and I can't spasm and drive at same time. Another day frustrated, glad you guys are there. Confession is good for diet as well as soul. Weigh-in is tomorrow for me. I hope it shows some loss from last week.

Day 7 - Amber

Walked the dog this morning..was a bit challenging - my knees were tired afterward for sure. But it wasn't as intense as bike riding. My knees already feel better and should be fine for swimming tomorrow.

Ran out of time and did not get to lift weights or tone. So I might do arms tomorrow, and legs Thursday.

Calorie-wise. If you subtract the workout calories, I'm at 1511. I think I calculated I burned about 250 calories walking. We walked for about an hour. Only got in 4 veggies, but good on water and fruit!

Now to rest....looking foward to the day my endurance builds and I can have a hard core workout. Maybe in a few months...patience is not my virtue.

Day 7 - Paula - Just want to go to bed...

Okay so today I have no appetite and nothing tasted right - I tried eating my apple, stawberries, grilled onion, green beans and it was all a no go. So, all that I had before I got home was a small amount of chicken (which did not tasted good but I needed to eat it) and some celery with laughing cow cheese (a life saver) which put me at 230 for the day.

I knew I needed to eat something else and even went to the grocery store - where nothing really appealed to me - no, not even the chili cheese fritos :(

So, I came home and had a biscuit and eggs to get in some good stuff and up my calories - now at 770 for the day - maybe I will have a 100 calorie bag of popcorn and some milk - but really, I just want to go to bed.

Hope everyone had a good day...

Changing one day at a time.

Day 7b - Brooke

For dinner we had Beef O'Brady's because we had this secret envelope they gave us a few weeks ago that we weren't allowed to open until this week, so we go tonight and it was a lame 15% off. I wanted a t-shirt! lol Anyhow, it was kids eat free so it was cheaper to just do kids eat free than use the 15% off coupon, what a waste. It was good either way and I had the grilled chicken wrap 400 with a tiny bit of ranch 80 and a fruit cup 70. When we got home I ate a granola bar 100 putting me at my total for the day.

Daily TOTAL = 1500

I was very hungry today but avoided the urge to eat a snack after work. I found my will power in the couch meaning I was too lazy to get off the couch and get a snack. This blog thing and the group we have created is really giving me the motivation I need to lose the rest of my 30 lbs. THANKS GUYS!

Week 2 - Weigh In Results

If you click the chart it will be larger to view.

* Steve can only weigh in at doctor's appointments so I will keep his weight the same until he weighs in again.

Day 7a - Brooke

Yes 7a because I will post 7b later, and maybe even 7c :)

Today has been great as well, I woke up and weighed 181.2, which is .6 less than yesterday, which was very encouraging in itself. I had my normal regs 200, then got to work and had grapes 70 for a morning snack. At lunch I had a beef fajita healthy choice meal 360 with raisins 130 and a granola bar 90. TOTAL = 850. I will keep this number low because we are eating Beef O'Brady's tonight to use our mysterious coupons we were given and I will either get grilled chicken and broccoli or a grilled chicken wrap. Either way the calories should be ok. I am thinking Lee and I should get a big fat brownie with ice cream to celebrate his job, BUT I think we will avoid that. We can celebrate some other way.

I took the dreaded stairs today, as usual and I kept thinking that it was easier today than it was a few months ago. I remember it use to take 5 minutes for me to catch my breath and my legs were always burning. NOW it takes me 10 seconds to catch my breath and my legs never hurt. Pretty amazing actually. I wonder what other everyday activities I can do a different way to exercise. Anyone have suggestions for my arms?

day whatever, trying day at least

I had the famous fat attack last night big time. I had to take it easy yesterday exercise-wise due to spasms in my abdomen. I slept through lunch after a 300 cal. breakfast. Lately I have been having fruit and cheese for lunch to the point I feel full. I missed that. Buddy tired of me sleeping all day and though he generally wakes me at 1:30 for lunch (his and mine), he let me sleep in. I ate leftover shrimp and spaghetti, about 300 cal. at 5pm. Also had 100 cal. cookies. I was at 700 cal. at this point, 7pm, Robin was home and thought I was doing well. Before we retired for the night I figured I should eat something, so had a muffin, dark hot chocolate, and another 100 cal. cookie, 300 more. Filled me up for maybe an hour. Then the tummy started rumbling... I kept adding up in my mind, another 100 cal. cookie, now at 1100... Another hour... one 45 calorie dark chocolate and hand full of walnuts, about 1250, another hour... Okay, 1 cup shredded wheat and enough milk to wet it, another 250, so 1500 for the day. I've stayed reasonably satisfied all week on 1300 or less. Arrrggghhhh, I hate that. Key for me is to not miss any scheduled meals and forget about late night cereal. Still not bad for calories, but bad show for my will power, or should I say "won't power".

Day 6 So tired....

Not sure what all this being tired is about. In addition to a full day with 8 cups water, 5 veggies, and 2-3 fruits if possible, I'm trying to actually get in a routine of sleeping enough, not too much, and waking up early....earlier at least.

Today I had swim class again. But my body was SO tired. Like mentally I was fine, not falling asleep in the water or anything, but I couldn't even flutter kick on a kickboard from one side of the pool to the other without being pretty out of breath. Kinda bummed out about this. Could it be my body's getting used to working out and is tired for this reason? All last week after workouts I was just exhausted had to take naps some day, as I did today.

In every lane at the pool there was 2 to even 4 people, so I just went home after class, also bummed I coudn't try and practice. I feel the need to swim tomorrow to practice, but may not. Haven't decided yet. The goal is to walk the dog in the morning and do some leg weights. Not sure if it's a good idea to swim, too. I treaded A LOT of water during lessons though....my swim instructor brought the 3 of us plus her to the deep end....and really only 2 can fit side by side on the ledge (as one of our swimates is on the larger side) either way - I'm the only one confident enough to tread water and not need her assistance-and not fear drowning. Consequently, I'm a little bummed about this class. The instructor is teaching a beginning and intermediate at the same time...so we're paired. I feel sad I'm not being as challenged as I'd like....but then again, my endurance stinks, so I'm not sure I have room to talk. I just feel like I'm not getting my money's worth. :-( Either way, out of a 40 minute class, maybe I got a work out? Can I count today as my workout? Or should I just resolve to start Tuesday of still at 0 working toward 3 total workouts?

Anyway, I'm at 1566 for calories. Found some M&M's while babysitting some friends' kids. I was planning on having grapes and a piece of bread with my soup later, but threw those out since I ate the M&M's. They were so good....did I mention I have a problem with sweets?? I wanted to eat the rest of my calories in that sitting. But didn't....Gee I wanted to, and in my head, it would have been worth it. Feelin a little bummed about today. But alas, it's bedtime, and tomorrow's a comin'.

Weigh In Week 1 - Amber

Weighing in at the low low weight of 141!! Woohoo! (Started this week at 146.)

Day 6 - Paula

A pretty normal day except one thing - I had tortillas from yesterday (they did not fit in the calories) to go with the taco chicken I made last night yum yum. To go along with the usual celery and laughing cow cheese, an orange and some salsa. For dinner I had an onion (46 - slowly sauteed) with some chicken and fresh green beans. So right now I am rounding it out at 1021 - and to be honest I will probably just drink some milk or just go to bed. Yes it is a boring day, but it is good because it is within the calories.

Changing one less tortilla at a time.

Week 1 Weigh In - Paula

Ok - so I am pleased with the first week - I want to cry out with longing when I see a roll but hey a little sacrifice goes a long way.

Beginning weight: 227.5
Current weight: 224
Weight loss for week 1: 3.5

Woot woot

Day 6 - Brooke

Today was a great Monday! I started the day off like usual with my 200 cals worth of regs. For lunch I went to Jason's deli where I got the salad bar. I got mostly the super green lettuce and a few iceberg chunks, almonds, rasberry vinnegerette, raisins, walnuts, and a small spoonful of cheese. I had 2 bites of chocolate pudding and 1 bite of vanilla pudding. Once I finished this I had the slight urge to go back for seconds, after all I spent $7.57 I may as well get my money's worth. This is what the old Brooke would say, I hate wasting money! BUT I avoided the second trip and stuck to what I ate. Guessing about 500 cals total.

I got home after work and weighed myself and I weighed exactly what I did this morning, keep in mind I usually weight 3 lbs more at night. woohoo, guess I can eat a little more for dinner. Honestly I wasn't even that hungry. I made quesadillas and I had 1 1/2 of those, 525 cals WITH sour cream 75 cals. I then had a handful or raisins and a granola bar - 200 cals. TOTAL = 1500. Yeah I did good!

Here comes the GREAT News! Lee got a job working contract for MXEnergy, and has a possible full time position there for them as well. YEAH!! He starts on Monday! Woohoo!! Praise God!!

Day 6 - Lee

Okay, since I have some time to kill I'll start today off

Breakfast - Great googly moogly, I had a chicken biscuit and a sausage burrito, I had NO IDEA they were 450 calories each.  That was a mistake, never and I mean NEVER just assume I guess (900 calories)

Lunch - Fajita Burrito from Chicken kitchen 650 Calories (1550 Total Calories)

I'll update tonight, but I need to do better at breakfasts at eating at home.  I guess I'll be breaking out the treadmill tonight, bc there is no way I can survive on 450 calories the rest of the day.

UPDATE:

Dinner - 1 and a half homemade quesadillas - 500 calories (2050 Total Calories)

Snacks - A banana and some grapes - 125 calories (2175 Total Calories

So I went over, but did better than I could have, so that's nice.  I also kind of got a job, so that rules!

Week 2 Beginning Weigh In - Lee

I weighed 264.2 pounds this morning.  Started this off at 269.4, so a 5.2 lbs loss this week!!

I'm going to implement something that may not be for everyone, but I think will help me and has in the past.  I used to do an entire cheat day for food, but this time around I'm going to do one cheat meal a week.  It will likely be a weekend thing, though ideally I'd do it Wed or Thurs night.

I'm pretty happy with a 5 lb loss in the first week, but it could be better that's for sure.

I'm sitting in a Starbucks downtown and waiting for an interview.  Wish me luck!

Day 5 -- Lee

I think I might have gone over but made it up with playing basketball.  Let's see

Breakfast - 3 Donuts 230 a piece - 690 Calories
Lunch - Grilled Chicken Salad 400 Calories, Fried Okra 250 Calories, 2 Rolls 360 - 1010 Calories (1700 Total)
Dinner - 1 Shrimp Taco 200, 1 Chicken Taco 225, 1 taco no meat 175 - 600 Calories (2300 Calories Total)

Played basketball for an hour and a half.  Not sure how much that burned, but it seemed like a lot and I'm sure it was at least 300 calories

Week 1 Weigh In - Brooke

Week one is over with I went from 183.4 to 181.8. YEAH! I lost 1.6 lbs. GO ME! I am pretty sure if I hadn't eaten 200 cals over on Saturday I would have been down a little more because Sat morning I was 181.2 :( crap! oh well, this week I will strive to be better.

Day 5...right?

No exercise today - to give my knees more rest before swim class tomorrow. I did do Clams and other hip exercises, though. That's fabulous...I was not interested in them tonight, but sucked it up. Done.

Teeth are brushed (which means absolutely no food goes into me before bed....I hate eating after my teeth are clean - which reminds me, I should just post once my teeth are brushed, then I don't run the risk of eating anything else that night, heh) and I'm about to crash with about 1453 calories under my belt, and I didn't keep the best track of all my fruits and veggies and water...but I think I almost made all those goals, or am possibly 1 short on veggies. Either way, not shabby for a Sunday. I'll have to be a bit more committed to focusing on those details next weekend!

Lastly, I forewent the ice cream at my small group I lead on Sunday nights. AND the french bread....and that's a BIG deal!! I love bread and butter and garlic....and ice cream!! But the blog and everyone posting is helping me stay motivated to pick and choose foods that are worth it. And today...I decided coffee with Mocha in it was important, so there simply was no room for ice cream when it was all said and done.

OK...Monday is tomorrow!! The hardest part(the weekend) is over, at least for another 5 days.

Day 4 & 5 - Paula - No I did not post yesterday.

So I am making up for yesterday today.

Day 4

Saturday was very long - a rainy day with good bed time - I decided it was time for a healthy amount of bread. A biscuit (400) - homemade - with 2 eggs (140). Totally hit the spot, a little late in the morning and about half of my calories of the day. But let me tell you it was great - I avoided butter by just made the eggs over medium, split the biscuit and put them on top. It was delicious. Then I went to what has become the usual for the week: laughing cow cheese, tuna, chex mix (1/2 cup = 120), pineapple, chicken breast, sweet pickles, grilled onions and because there was a little space left over I could have my favorite - milk. The total for the day was 1170 - not including walking up and down the hill picking up sticks. No to bad - fairly healthy and a little exercise as well. Another day down.

Day 5

Today was very hard - I did not have breakfast because I figured we would go out for lunch after church - we did. When I found out it was Spring Creek Barbecue I thought about not going - I mean come on, sausage, fresh rolls, great root beer and mac & cheese. It sounded too hard, but I went.

I got the chicken (wow they give you like half a chicken) green beans - just a little, and the small ear of corn. No roll. No root beer. No mac & cheese. No sausage. No fried okra:(
But the chicken was great (don't worry I only ate a piece of the chicken not the whole half) and having never had the green beans (they look like lima beans) they were delicious. Wahoo I made it through lunch.

When I got home of course I had ten pieces of leftover fried okra and two thin slices of sausage - yummmmmm.

Then came dinner, La Casona, one of the best Mexican restaurants - I did good (sorry don't mean to be prideful) I had 10 chips, yes I counted, with salsa, and a couple slices of beef fajita with grilled onions and more salsa.

So, as it stands for the day I reside at 1025 - I should have had just one more slice of beef - so I shall partake of a nice cold cup of milk and end up at 1145.

I am really glad that everyone is keeping up with the posts - good eating, bad eating, exercise, no exercise - accountability makes a difference and so does encouragement. So, keep it up everyone and good luck on the weigh in tomorrow.

Changing one good choice at a time.

Day 5 - Brooke

Today was a great food day for me. After my 300 cal breakfast we went to church and I avoided the delicious muffin and doughnut spread. I decided to drink some tea, but instead of my usual 2 tsp serving of sugar in it I decided to go with the 0 calorie sweet-n-low, though I think it was some off brand. I put 2 packets in and it was WAY too much sweetner. I think next Sunday I will use 1 packet. Not bad, I guess I could get use to sweet-n-low until I hit my goal weight. Man I love real sugar!

After church we headed to Central Texas BBQ where I ate a southwestern salad without the guac and beans it normally comes with. I did eat a ton of ranch and one roll with it. 700 cals.

Tonight Lee and I had chicken fajitas for dinner and I added a granola bar to that. 500 cals.

TOTAL for the day = 1500

I took the boys to the park for an hour, pushed Austin on the swing, watched the boys play on the playground, didn't really burn many calories but I got out in the beautiful weather. I did run with Jacob in tow to the bathroom across the park because he had to go #2 really bad, and I was trying to get him there before he did it in his shorts. I guess I burned 50 cals doing that?? Maybe?

Hoping for a low number tomorrow for my weekly weigh in.

Steve for Sunday meals and workout

We did good today as well, had:
poached eggs on toast, one slice, 2 eggs 285
fruit and cheese tray 300
sticky chicken, mashed pot., corn 490
----
1075 total calories so far,
no snacks yet and headed for bed for the night. Have 2 snacks standing by if I get the urge, and plan on 2 squares dark chocolate 45cal.ea., because they are inherently good for me. So a possible 290, more likely 190. Less than 1400 for the day. Biked on the machine 10 minutes and did all my stretches. Decided to bike and stretch for my routine as the bowflex is too much right now, until I get to where the stretches alone don't hurt so much. Hope everyone else did well too. Steve

Day 4 - Lee

Breakfast - 4 pancakes (small ones - homemade) and some sugar free syrup - 250 Calories

Lunch - McDonald's 10 piece nuggets 460 calories and medium fries 380 calories - 840 Calories (1110 Calories Total)

Dinner - Crab Legs - 100 calories and 3 shrimp tacos with guacamole 500 calories and some extra shrimp and guacamole 150 calories - 750 calories (1860 Calories Total)

I don't remember eating anything else yesterday, No exercise sadly because it was nasty outside all day and we didn't get to play basketball as planned.  Maybe today!

Beginning Photo - Brooke

I took this picture about 2 months ago, but nothing has changed since then so I figured I would post it for my beginner photo. All the gross parts are labelled, but I would say the biggest part I want to work on is belly, hips and thighs. I think I will post a picture of my hideous body every month.

If anything this picture will make you lose your appetite ;)

The suspense is killing me

I love reading about what everyone is doing, seeing that Steve was able to eat so good yesterday while I failed miserably really motivated me this morning. This morning I had rice krispies with a banana (300 cals) and I plan on eating very healthy for the rest of the day. Just going to say no to the donuts at church.

I am left wondering this morning, how did Lee and Paula's day of eating go yesterday? Stop leaving me in suspense!!

Back to the Stable Number

When I first joined the blog I said I was 142.6. But in that previous week I had eaten so many Cadburry creme eggs (the death of me for sure) I actually went up to 146. But I seriously though this was just a water weight thing, and a complication of weighing myself in the evening that day. I figured after a day or so it would go back down to my stable number: 142.6. BOY was I WRONG. It took me all week long to get back to 142. But I'm proud to announce this morning I was officially at 142.4. Back to my stable weight!! Now on to change this lifestyle for a lifetime!! (and maybe get my weight down another 10 pounds!!!)

Little of nothing, but it was good and easy

We ate healthy today. BTW i weighed 230 at the doc yesterday, so we'll see next doc visit if it's working. Had two egg whites with one whole egg( Buddy ate the yolks) scrambled in saute'd onions and leftover steak about 3oz. lean, sliced thin like fajitas. One slice white cheese of some sort. No bread, just the steak n' eggs. It was too much to eat but Buddy didn't mind. About 350 calories for my portion. 4 shortbread girlscout cookies with hot tea, 100cal. Ate fruit and cheese for lunch with 100 cal worth of wheat thins, all totaled on that plate 275cal. Dinner we had seafood spaghetti home made. Boil 2 servings spaghetti noodles and let stand for later. Saute 1/2 roasted bell pepper, 1/2 onion diced and 3 roma tomatoes in 1tbsp. olive oil. in skillet then season 1 lb. peeled raw shrimp however you like. I used onion salt, Mrs. Dash garlic and herb, basil, and thyme. Then add the shrimp and 6oz. can of lump crab to saute'd veggies 3 minutes. Add cooked spaghetti noodles and mix well. Sprinkle an ounce of parmesan and eat. All told we figured the skillet to have 700 cal. I had 300 for my portion give or take, and was full. Two 100 cal. snacks for later. Total for day 1225. I'm satisfied now and have one of my 2 snacks in the hole for later. Exercise was stretching and biking 10 minutes. I'm pumped. I know if we start eating well I will feel better.

Day 4 -Amber

Today was probably the best Saturday I've had in the last year of being married. I've found if in the morning time I plan the food I am going to eat for the day it's easier to allot everything ad not be stuck starving in the evening time. A common problem of mine (usually dinner is the last of my calories...but I think I've discovered I need a snack after dinner if I eat too early. Plus, it doesn't take much food to fill me up, so when I do eat dinner, I get hungry in like 2 hours.) Today I'm at 1509 or so. No exercising or clams. My knees are very sore from the bike. I can feel them recouping though. They are feeling much better tonight than earlier today. Got all my veggies, fruits and water in. So we're doing OK. Tomorrow is the true test of self-discipline. We'll see how that goes...

Just a few more shrimp please

I am currently sitting at 1700 calories, but my daily goal is 1500. Oops...around 3 I started to get a little hungry so I decided to eat some raisins and grapes. Lee and I went grocery shopping today and I love having so many different options to choose from when it comes to snacking, but then again it always gets me in trouble. 300 cals.

We had shrimp fajitas and crab for dinner. DELICIOUS! I ate mine with tortilla, shrimp, guac, sour cream, cheese and pico de gallo. I even shared a granola bar with Jacob and Austin so I would only eat 30 cals instead of 90. 640 cals.

TOTAL = 1700 :(

Slipping up just makes me angry. I keep thinking I should go work out to burn that extra 200 cals, but I probably won't. Still waiting for someone to give me the secret to wanting to work out. Hopefully tomorrow I will be in better control of my eating.

In the zone

Almost two weeks have gone by and I am still eating well, avoiding the bad stuff, and losing weight. I lost 3.4 lbs the week before this one and I am already down 2 lbs this week. I am hoping to hold that 2 lbs off come Monday morning. I was 181.2 this morning, 1.3 lbs away from being in the 170's again....it will be a good day when I hit that mark.

Today has been very nice, I slept in until 9, got up and ready then headed to the mall with the family. Drove through Mc Donald's and I got 2 cheeseburgers and a parfait (760). I skipped breakfast because I hate eating breakfast so close to lunch. You are probably wondering why I never have drinks included in my calorie counts, well that is because I drink water 90% of the time. If I am not drinking water I drink tea with sugar, and I will include that in my calories, but since starting this blog I have only had water to drink. Yes, I love water and it's good for ya too! I do love Dr. Pepper, but luckily they give me migraines so I was able to kick the caffeine habit when I was 20, but I will drink one every few months just because I love them so much. Maybe I will reward myself with one when I hit 170 lbs. Dr. Pepper and a Brownie...is it right to reward yourself for losing weight with crappy food??

Steve's late night pantry raid! turning myself in. 4/10/10

Yes, pantry with an "R",okay? Here I am alone in the kitchen 1:30 a.m., eyeing anything that tastes. Rather than looking at my tongue in a mirror, decided to make a hot tea with lemon and orange slice and fess up to the blog instead. About done with the tea now and back to bed soon after reconciling my tummy to the fact that bowls of cereal late at night aren't cool. I had a tough day, having a doctor's appt. at 12:30, left at 11 back home by 4 I think. Doc had a sonogram done and the leg blood clot is gone, yeah! He thought I should do more circulatory exercise with my legs to keep the clots in check. Maybe more bike, and less weights, I dunno. We'll see what my body allows painwise. My pump has been turned up already 3 times since my fall last year which is a lot. Had lots of spasms on the drive home which is not good for surrounding drivers, but got home okay. I did my stretches today, then the appt. Total food intake was 1200 or so. Kept myself to two snacks, a waffle, and gumbo. Okay, back to bed, thanks for keeping me honest.

Day 3 - Paula - Just say NO!!!! or no thank you.

Wow after avoiding the homemade gorditas (I had to ask her the name today) I had to tackle lunch out with Mom - at 59 Diner no less. So I said no to the bacon cheesburger, the club salad (it has bacon), the fries, the shake - ok basically the whole menu. I ended up with the only thing I could get away with - the grilled chicken salad, honey mustard on the side - it had two thin slices of avacado, cucumber and half a head of lettuce and tomatoes but they had to go.

Did pretty good during work then I headed home to eat something before scrap night (yes on a Friday - I am open to better things to do) but ended up just grabbing an orange, pineapple, laughing cow cheese and some grapes. So I went and what are they having? Frito Pie!!! Oh so delicious - lots of cheese and chili - so what do I do? No thank you.

So after a large dill pickle, 120 calories of chex mix, an orange and some more laughing cow cheese - I am now at 925 - YEAH!!! room for milk, yummmm.

I also squeezed in a Ferrer Rocher (70 calories) and will stick with Dove for the future.

Just saying no can be pretty hard and not nearly as tasty.

Changing, one grilled chicken salad at a time.

Day 3 - Lee

Well, it's almost bedtime, but a little rant and then the day.  Ryan and I went to 24 Hour Fitness in Pearland tonight to play basketball.  Now mind you it is a Shaq edition, as in Shaquille O'Neal, Texas' own NBA superstar.  One little problem, they don't have a basketball court.  How in the world is that possible???  I mean, it just doesn't make any sense at all.  On to the calories:

Breakfast - I got caught in limbo of it being 9:30 and I hate eating breakfast so close to lunch.  Had a Strawberry Light Yogurt - 100 Calories

Lunch - Subway wanted me to eat a meatball sub, heck I wanted me to eat one, but I had the Oven Roasted Chicken because it was physically the same amount of food with 400 less calories.  - 740 Calories (840 total)

Dinner - 10 ounce Steak and Mashed taters - 570 for the steak, 200 for the Taters - 770 Calories (1610 Total)

Snack - I had a bit of chocolate (100), some Pez (30) and 200 calories worth of grapes - 330 Calories (1910 Total)

Then I worked out on an elliptical for 35 minutes and burned 400 calories.  I felt good about that because first idea was to leave the gym after there wasn't a basketball court, so I'm proud of myself (and Ryan for suggesting it).