Wednesday, June 26, 2013

A few fun things

Too tired to type A blog but here are a few randoms! 

- Today I won my own front row/reserved parking spot at the office for the month of July for going to the gym the most in June! YES!!! Because our parking lot sucks!!!  

- was too tired to go to the gym this a.m. So my friend and I crushed the stairs at lunchtime. We ran up and down 4 flights of stairs for 20 minutes straight which were pretty sure equates to about 18 times. Which means we ran up and down damn near 72 stories today! My heart rate monitor said I burned 256 calories! 

- speaking of heart rate monitors ... If you're serious about tracking calories in  v calories out , I would suggest purchasing a monitor. Myfitnesspal on average gives me about 100 extra calories burned for every workout. The equipment at the gym always reads lower than MFP but its still higher than actual calories burned! Total bummer! 

I think that's all for tonight!! I'm outta gas! 

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Note to self ... Get over yourself

:) I had the best time at the color vibe run! My whole "can't sleep because I have to wear a tutu" was just stupid.  There were so many people and it was awesome. We walked and jogged about half and half .. I got so much color powder in my contacts that I had to just take them out on the trail and throw them on the ground. Ha!

hollee and christy ... I was looking for you but once my contacts were out it was hopeless!! Let's plan a date soon!

I'm so grateful for my girlfriends that made my bday morning super fun! After my hubs and I got home and got cleaned up we went out to lunch and had empanadas downtown, then we walked to a little chocolate factory. We took a tour, sampled chocolate and had iced coffees! Yummmm
It started to rain so our 10 minute walk back to the car was so funny in the rain! We got soaked!

Cheat day!! Ran and walked this biz off!!!






Friday, June 21, 2013

What Have I Gotten Myself Into?!?

Oh my gosh, I am lying here awake stressing about the absolute dumbest thing. Hopefully once I vent about it ill be able to sleep!!!!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh

First, i am excited to be running in the color vibe race tomorrow! Its my birthday and I have been looking forward to this for a couple of months! I am a big birthday person, not just for myself but for everyone. Two reasons for that 1) I don't think adults celebrate enough, we're always worried about everything and everyone else. I think everyone should have a wonderful birthday And be made to feel special 2) I also believe that people only remember 2 things about you, when you make them feel good and when you make them feel bad. So in my life, I hope I can make a lot of people feel good even if its just a small gesture like making a big deal out of a bday.

But......let me digress. I need to jump around to different stories to explain. 

As fellow wls patients, you all know its tough being big. no matter how confident and strong you are, the general population hates fatties. We've all heard the comments that people make within earshot of how horrifying obesity is. Plenty of times in my life I've walked past someone who just randomly calls me a fat ass, or had blind dates shake their head in disgust when they look at me. The comments people make are just really mean and no matter how tough you are they are incredibly hurtful. Knowing that, I try not to put myself in situations where people can make me feel that way. I dress in clothes that are my size, I try to accentuate good features while downplaying the bad ones. I don't wear jeans that let my entire ass crack hang out... You get the picture. 

This afternoon, one of my friends picked up all of our race gear for the colorvibe race. shirts/color packets/bibs etc. she dropped off the box at my office and inside was a garbage bag that said "this is your birthday outfit" Inside was a GIANT sized, hand made, adult tutu. I was mortified at the size... It was probably as big around as I am tall. 

Hold on to that image for a second while I share another experience with you. I just adore these baby tutus that are all the rage. i cant even handle little chubby baby legs and tulle. cutest thing ever. Last year, one of my co-workers and his wife had a baby. we have been good friends for a couple of years and i wanted to give them a little outfit after the baby was born.  I spent a lot of time and money making the sweetest pink tutu for their newborn girl along with a big flower headband and a sweet onsie. In addition to that, I made a dinner and took everything over to their house with my friend. When we got there his wife had a shit fit. She absolutely HATED the tutu and continually told me how much she hated pink and the handmade gift I had spent at least 3 nights working on. My friend, on the other hand loved it and wanted to take pictures of the baby in it right away. His wife hated it all so much that she had to take a walk and get some fresh air while her husband dressed up this sweet child and took a million pictures of her. It was incredibly bizarre and very rude. What an ungrateful bitch. I will never forget that.

Back to the giant tutu.........

I'm not sure if my love for newborns wearing tutus was misinterpreted as a personal love for tutus. Just because i love them on babies doesn't mean I'm trying to tie one on myself.   I am mortified at the thought of wrapping this six foot tutu around the fattest part of my body, while trying to run a 5k. running a 5k at my size already puts me in the standout-like-a-sore-thumb-category. 

What the hell do i do? I refuse to act like my friend's wife and completely bash a handmade gift. That thing is a 1/2 a mile long for God's sake, it must have taken her more than a week! Her fingers probably bled tying those knots. 

I also want to cry at the thought of wearing it and making myself the instant butt of every fat joke.  It's pretty much asking for 20 something's to fire hateful fat comments my way. I'm too old for this shit!!! 

Uggggghhhh I am mortified. I know I'm too old to be this dramatic about nothing, but this is really upsetting me!!!!!! I could barf, thank God my lapband is so tight or else I'd probably be stress eating right now!!!!



Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Weigh In Wednesday!

Down 1.6 lbs this week!! YES! 

I'm 47% to my goal of -45 lbs in 12 weeks



Sunday, June 16, 2013

Sunday Prep

Hope everyone had a fab weekend!! We definitely did! Last week we both went in for fills and I think we're officially off a dr yoo's shit list for being back on track. I think this fill was aggressive but good. The thought of food or even a shake makes me ill until about noon. We smoked wonderful ribs for our cheat day and I could barely stomach anything yesterday.  Hopefully this helps me get to my goal of 45 lbs lost by aug 11 (week 12 of body for life) 

I love designating Sunday as my prep day. If I don't have to cook during the week, then I probably won't be tempted to overeat during the week. PLUS not cleaning the kitchen during the week is a fab reward! 

Today I made turkey sausage patties, 5 roasted beets, a whole sweet potato cut up into 4 servings, and roasted brussel sprouts. 

This will take care of lunches for the week. Tomorrow night ill throw a pan of chicken tenderloins seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic powder and portion those out as well. 

I really like cubing the chicken or sausage patties up along with 1 portion of sweet potato and 1 beet. At work I put a tablespoon of dressing in the cup and shake it up. It's a really good lunch and perfectly sized portion for both body for life and lap band eating. 

MS is taking 1 portion of meatloaf that we smoked and froze a few weeks ago with some brussel spouts I roasted for him tonight. He's working OT tomorrow as well so he'll take a spinach salad and a chipotle black bean burger for his other meal. 

We cleaned up and now we're ready for the week... Which happens to be my favorite week of the year!!!!!! birthday week!!!!!!! My goal is to lose 5 lbs and celebrate at the color vibe 5k on Saturday!



Monday, June 10, 2013

Today's Menu

Feeling good! Officially 1/3 of the way through my first 12 weeks of Body For Life and I've lost 20 lbs. hoping to lose a little more by Wednesday, my official weigh in day! 

Here's an example of what I'll eat today: 

4:45 am 1/2 Atkins shake before the gym
6:00 am 1/2 after

9:15 am: 1 organic red delicious apple
               1 oz of 2% reduced fat sharp cheddar

12:30 pm 3 oz slow cooked Berbere Chicken thighs (recipe below) 
                1/2 flat out light italian wrap 
                 Cucumber slices

6:00 pm 2 oz turkey bratwurst patty (recipe below) 
              1/2 cup roasted Kohlrabi 
              1/2 cup steamed sweet potato 
              1/2 tablespoon of  Mustard or sweet baby rays on the patty. 

*If for any reason I'm still hungry ill have another turkey bratwurst patty! 

               

Slow Cooked Berbere Chicken Thighs

1 small onion, quartered
1 package of chicken thighs (breasts are fine too, but drier) 
1/2 cup diet sweet tea or any other liquid 
1 tablespoon Penzey's Berbere seasoning (any good spice blend you like will work)

Lay the onions on the bottom of the slow cooker, coat the chicken with seasoning and layer in the pot. Add 1/2 cup of liquid and let cook on low for 4-6 hours shred with fork or chop. 
3 oz serving = 104 cals 15.3 grams protein 


Turkey Bratwurst Patties
1 lb 99/1 ground turkey 
1 tablespoon Penzey's Bratwurst seasoning 

Mix meat with seasoning, refrigerate overnight. Form into 2oz patties and grill or pan fry (very light mist of olive oil works perfectly in a pan) 2 minutes on each side. 
1 patty = 60 calories and 13 grams protein 

If you've never been to penzeys spices check it out!! We are lucky enough to have a store nearby. But you can normally get free shipping online. They send a coupon every month for a Free small jar of spice with a 4 or 5 dollar purchase. It's an awesome way to try things you wouldn't normally try!! 

Saturday, June 8, 2013

The Scale Ruined My Cheat Day

Seriously, I have been dreaming about this cheat day from my diet all week. every day has been a struggle with my will power. cravings have been over the top...but I stuck to the plan no matter what. I dreamt about cupcakes and donuts (2 things that aren't even that amazing to me) and I compiled a mental list of things that I would like eat on my off day. 

Well this week I've also been losing weight and really making the most of my workouts. I compiled a detailed spreadsheet of my goal for this 12 weeks of body for life and broke the 12 weeks down into quarters so I could really track my progress and stay on top of it. I'm ahead of my schedule and I'm really working hard to reach my goal.

So this morning on this glorious diet cheat day, I stepped on the scale just to peek. I almost passed out because i have dropped 20 lbs since Returning from my cruise. TWENTY POUNDS. All of a sudden the need for a cheat day filled with donuts and cupcakes and macaroni and cheese just kind of vanished. The day that got me through the week is here and I don't think I want use it! That's AWESOME! 

However, I know myself very well and I know that I tend to do things like this for a few months and then totally fall off the bandwagon. So I am going to still have a cheat day today. However, I'm not going to go overboard. I'll have something cheesy and ill have a dessert today but nothing that will completely derail my diet. I need to allow that so I don't completely fall off next week. Just have to keep the balance and remind myself everyday that's this is how my life has to be in order to get myself to a normal weight. There's no end to this diet. It has to be a new lifestyle. 

Hope everyone has a great weekend and doesn't get rained out!! 

PS I apologize for the random capitalization or lack there of in these posts. My real computer needs to go to the shop and editing a blog from a tablet is a nightmare! 

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Summer Time Slow Cookin'


I had shrimp ceviche on our cruise and have been wanting to make it since we returned. Turns out ceviche is a very low cal, very delicious meal!!  If you're unfamiliar with ceviche it is fish cooked in salt and citrus juice.You throw everything together with the raw shrimp

and let the citrus cook it for you! its a really nice way to get a summery slow cooked meal! Here's the recipe we've come up with after two tries:

1 pound shrimp (medium) cut in half or leave whole (raw)
Half onion finely chopped
Half red pepper finely chopped
Half orange pepper finely chopped
Whole tomato diced
Half a cucumber diced
1 cup of chopped cilantro 
Quarter of a spicy pepper very finely chopped
2 limes (juiced)
2 lemon (juiced)
1 orange (juiced )
Tbsp of Splenda
Touch of cumin
Pepper to taste 
1/2 tbsp of salt 

(Optional - shredded lettuce and avocado to serve with) 

Throw everything except the lettuce and avocado in a covered bowl or ziplock bag. Marinate at least 6 hours or overnight, Turning or stirring the mixture a few times. 

To serve: put about 1/2 a handful of shredded lettuce in the bottom of a bowl. Top with 1/4 of an avocado diced. Spoon 1 cup ceviche over top making sure to get some of the dressing

1 cup of ceviche by itself = 69 calories, 9 grams of protein, less than 1 gram of fat
1 cup with 1/4 of an avocado = 194 calories, 10.5 grams of protein, 12 grams of fat