4 weeks later...

I know I have discontinued by food and exercise logs - they proved to be a bit tedious and my internet access hasn't been all that reliable. Jeff and I will be going to the beach to celebrate our 5th anniversary this weekend so I doubt that I will be strictly counting points until next Thursday. I really have been counting although I haven't been journalling.

Today marks 4 weeks since I began this new diet. It has been a rough 4 weeks with very little weight loss. I really feel like my body is resisting this every step of the way. As of today I have lost a total of 3.6 lbs in 4 weeks. I still have 21.6 lbs to lose - that's still a lot. My exercise for the first 2 weeks was great - 4 times a week. I also only lost 1.6 lbs in those first 2 weeks. Then I fell on my stinkin' knee and haven't been able to run. I will start back at the gym this week and hopefully be running while we are at the beach.

Anyway - Just wanted to post my 4 week update. My entries will most likely be weekly updates with possibly some challenges and highlights during the week. Stay tuned...

Log for Wednesday, Oct. 25th

Notes on yesterday: Fiber one overdose

Breakfast:
1/2c. ff plain yogurt (1)
1c strawberries (1)
1/2c fiber one (0)
Western bagel (1)

coffee with little bit of creamer

mini bag of healthy pop (1)
WW yogurt (1)

Daily total: 5

Log for Tuesday, October 24th

Notes on yesterday: I feel myself really falling off of the diet. Yesterday was a HORRIBLE eating day - so much so that I didn't even finish my food log. I am just really stressed out right now and it is taking it's toll since I am truly an emotional eater. Hopefully today will be a new day and I can get back on track. If I would lose some weight then I would have at least a little motivation but my weight is basically staying the same or going up...very frustrating.

Breakfast:
1/2 c plain ff yogurt (1)
1 c. strawberries (1)
1/2c fiber one (0)
Western bagel (1)

Lunch:
turkey sandwich (3)
min bag of healthy pop (1)
2 sf jello (0)
WW yogurt (1)
sf hot cocoa (1)

Snack:
2 more sf jello (1)
2 sf pudding cups (3)

Dinner:
HC breaded chicken strip meal (3)
2 slices lite bread with butter spray (1)
bag of veggies (0)

Dessert:
quite a bit of fiber one with about 1 c. ff milk (6?)
60 cal. yogurt (1)

Daily total: 24

Exercise: None for me...my boo boo is on the borderline of feeling up to it so I sat at home while Jeff ran over 5 miles.

Log for Monday, October 23rd

Notes on yesterday:

Breakfast:
1/2c ff plain yogurt (1)
1c frozen blueberries (1)
1/2 fiber one (0)
Western bagel (1)

snack:
WW yogurt (1)

Lunch:
Taziki's chicken roll-ups with pasta salad and potatoes
sf hot cocoa (1)

Daily total: 3

Log for Sunday, October 22nd

Notes on yesterday: I felt like yesterday was a little out of control but, after writing it all down, I don't think I did too bad. I have watched my weight creep up the last part of this week though so I am debating on if I shoud continue counting my points, drop my points to 22 (even though my weight says do 24) or go back to Core.

Breakfast:
1/2c. plain ff yogurt (1)
1c. frozen blueberries (1)
1/2c. fiber one (0)
Western bagel (1)

Lunch:
turkey sandwich (3)
mini bag of healthy pop (1)
WW yogurt (1)
2 sf jello (0)

Snack:
2 sf jello with cool whip (2)
sf pudding cup (1)

Dinner:
green beans with butter spray (0)
HC Country Herb Chicken meal (4)
2 slices lite wheat bread with butter spray (1)

Dessert:
WW Miss. Mud Pie (3)
1 c. fiber one with 1/2 ff milk (3)

Daily total: 21

Log for Saturday, October 21st

I am actually writing this on Sunday because we were out all day yesterday. I didn't really count points very well either so I am going to just put what I ate.

Breakfast:
Same ole
1/2c ff plain yogurt (1)
1c. frozen blueberries(1)
1/2c. fiber one (0)
Western bagel (1)

Lunch:
Ruby Tuesdays salad bar
lots of lettuce, tomatoes, lite balsamic vin., chick peas, sunflower seeds
little pasta salad and
tons of broccoli salad
2 packages of prem. crackers (1)

Snack:
medium no sugar TCBY (3)

Dinner:
Tazikis pasta special (I ate all of the chicken and about 3/4c. of the pasta)
pita wedges

Dessert at home (still pretty hungry)
1 c. fiber one with 1/2c ff milk
WW yogurt
sf jello pudding cup

Exercise:
My main blog tells the story- I tried to run but slammed into the sidewalk after a mile so I ran 1.15 miles and hobbled my way back.

Log for Friday, October 20

Notes on yesterday:

Breakfast:
1/2c. ff plain yogurt (1)
1c. frozen blueberries (1)
1/2c. fiber one (0)
Western bagel (1)

2 cups of coffee with creamer (1)

Lunch:
Tazikis Greek Chicken Feast (chicken with tzatziki, few roasted potatoes and salad) (8)

Dinner:
can of green beans with butter spray (0)
2 slices lite bread with butter spray (1)
LC Thai Chicken (4)

Dessert:
2 WW cookie dough (6) with cool whip (2)
2 sf jello (1)

Daily total: 26 (used 2 of my 35 flex points - 4 of them gone so far)

Exercise:
Ran 5.2 miles today with my brand new running shoes and the Ipod Nano that Mom and Dad gave me - very nice run.

Log for Thursday, October 19th

Notes on yesterday: busy at work, no exercise - ick

Breakfast:
1/2c. ff plain yogurt (1)
1c. frozen blueberries (1)
1/2c. fiber one (0)
Western bagel (1)

Lunch:
Sandwich (2 slices lite bread, turkey, 2% cheese, mustard, pickles) (3)
15 ff pringles (1)
2 sf jello(0)
WW yogurt (1)

Snack: mini bag of healthy pop (1)

Dinner:
green beans with butter spray (0)
LC Thai Chicken (4)
2 slices lite wheat bread with butter spray (1)

Dessert:
2 (yes 2 again) WW miss mud pies (6) with cool whip (2)
1c. fiber one (2) with 1/2c. skim milk (1)

Daily total: 25

Belated end of week 2 posting

It seems a little pointless to post this mid-week but I had some computer trouble earlier in the week and my post never got published.

Last week was my final of 2 weeks on the Core plan. I had a great middle of the week but a bad food weekend. Weekends on Core were impossible for me because I stayed busy and ending up stuffing my face at the end of each day. For the two weeks on Core I did feel very good - no sugary foods or bad for me processed food which seems to cleanse my system. Unfortunately, the weight loss for me on Core is very slow though. Last week I was only down .6 lbs for a total of 1.8 lbs in 2 weeks. This leave me with 23.4 lbs still to lose.

Some successes from last week:
I worked out a total of 4 times (3 runs and 1 gym day).
I ran a 5K with a time of 30:40 - only 1 minute slower than my time last year - not bad considering I had surgery on my knee 6 months ago.

On to counting my points for this week. I have a total of 24 points each day with 35 extra to spread across the week however I like. I will cross my fingers for a good week this week and maybe at least a pound weight loss on Monday.

Log for Wednesday, October 18th

Notes on yesterday:
It was an ok food day - although when I went to bed I was HONGRY. I had a good workout also. A pretty fine day in diet-land.

Breakfast:
1/2 c. ff plain yogurt (1)
1c. frozen blueberries (1)
1/2c. fiber one (0)
Western bagel with butter spray (1)

decaf coffee with 2 tsp. (20 cal.) of creamer (0)

Lunch:
6 in. turkey sub on wheat from Subway (5)
bag of no fat plain chips (1)
WW yogurt (1)

Dinner:
Can of green beans with butter spray (0)
HC salisbury steak with garlic mashed potatoes (4)
2 slices lite wheat bread with butter spray (1)

Dessert:
1 WW cheesecake(3) with cool whip (1)
1 WW fudge cake (3) with cool whip (1)

Misc.
2 sf jello (0)
1 sf pudding cup (1)

Daily total: 24 points

Log for Tuesday, October 17th

Notes on yesterday: First day back on points and I wasn't nearly as hungry as I expected I would be. I have 24 points for each day plus 35 extras to use throughout the week. I had to eat a few small things last night to get the 24 in but I know it is very important to eat them all or else my body will go into a panic. I felt a little icky this morning and I think this is because I have re-introduced sugar into my diet after 2 weeks without it on Core.

Breakfast:
1/2 c. plain ff yogurt (1)
1/2 c. frozen blueberries (0 but counting 1)
1/2 c. fiber one (0)
Western bagel (1)

decaf coffee with some creamer (.5)

Lunch:
South Beach turkey and ham wraps (4)
15 ff Pringles (1)
2 sf jellos (0)
sf pudding cup (1)

another decaf coffee with some creamer (.5)

Dinner:
green beans with butter spray (0)
WW Chicken Parmesan meal (5)
2 slices lite wheat bread with butter spray (1)

Dessert:
2 (yes 2) WW Mississippi Mud Pie desserts with cool whip (6 for dessert + 2 cool whip)
WW yogurt (1)


Daily total: 25 points (used 1 of my 35 flex points)

Exercise: I went to the gym. 35 minutes on the elliptical, 30 on the arc trainer plus 4 arm and 2 leg weight machines.

Log for Monday, October 16th

Notes on yesterday: I have determined that it is really hard for me to do the Core plan on the weekends. Jeff and I were so busy that I missed lunch both days and ended up eating popcorn and a smoothie in the late late afternoon. By that point though I was so starved that I wanted to eat non-stop for the rest of the day. I definitely overate in the evenings both Saturday and Sunday and am paying for it today. Today officially ends Core and I begin counting my points again. My journals will now reflect points values of all my foods.

Breakfast:
1/2 c ff plain yogurt (1)
1c. frozen blueberries (1)
1/2c. fiber one (0)
coffee with little bit (maybe 2 tsp - 20 calories) of non-dairy creamer (0)

Lunch:
Zoe's Greek Chicken Pita (6.5)
marinated slaw (1.5)
WW yogurt (1)
2 sf jello (20 cal - 0)

Dinner:
Green beans with butter spray (0)
HC Country Herb Chicken meal (4)
2 slices lo-cal wheat bread with butter spray (1)

Dessert:
WW cheesecake with cool whip (3 dessert + 1 cool whip)
2 sf jello pudding cups (3)
plum (1)

Daily tally: 24 points

Exercise: None again today. I worked late and didn't feel like exercising. Boo me.

Log for Sunday, October 15th

Notes on yesterday:

Breakfast:
Shredded wheat n bran with skim milk and splenda
banana

Pseudo-lunch:
BIG strawberry banana smoothie
air popped popcorn with butter spray and mr. kernels seasoning

Dinner:
Salad with FF honey dijon dressing
about 1/2 c. brown rice with pot roast

Dessert:
Pumpkin gunk
Exercise: No "formal" exercise today but I did help Jeff blow insulation into the attic - more difficult than I anticipated.

Log for Saturday, October 14th

Notes on yesterday: pig out day - and my first time eating out in the past 2 weeks...rough day.

Breakfast:
banana pre-run
bowl of shredded wheat n bran with skim milk and splenda post-run

Pseudo-lunch:
air popped popcorn
small smoothie

Dinner:
pork chop
brown rice
2 mini corns

Dessert:
tons of almond joy pudding

Exercise: Jeff and I ran a killer 5K this morning. Our goal was less than 33 minutes (still recovering from my knee stuff and all) and he did 30:38 and I did 30:40 - my Garmin tells me that this was a 9:53 mile average....we are proud!

Log for Friday, October 13th

Notes on yesterday: After almost 2 weeks on core, I finally feel the sweet cravings subsiding. That was the purpose for these 2 weeks before switching to counting my points - to detox from all the candy I had been eating. One step in the right direction.

Breakfast:
Shredded wheat with skim milk and splenda
banana

Lunch:
Scrambled eggs (1 egg and 2 whites) with canadian bacon, onions, peppers
and ff cheese with salsa and black beans on top
ricotta dessert

Snack: big ole smoothie

Dinner:
grilled shrimp
baked potato (plain)
1 mini corn

Dessert:
more ricotta stuff

Exercise: today was a NO EXERCISE day

Log for Thursday, October 12th

Notes on yesterday: Yesterday was a decent diet and exercise day. I always feel guilty when I eat anything after 7:30 or so but I was starving last night so I had to cap my day off with a smoothie. Jeff said he doesn't think I am eating enough food but I really think I am - sometimes too much.

Breakfast:
Shredded wheat with skim milk and splenda
banana
sf hot cocoa

Lunch:
mini bag of 94% ff popcorn
pear
sf jello
ricotta dessert

post-run snack: sf/ff pudding

Dinner:
leftover chicken cutlet with ketchup
broccoli with butter spray

Dessert:
small cherry banana smoothie
yogurt with frozen blueberries and fiber one

Exercise: Ran 5 slow miles. This was totally in preparation for Saturday's 5K (Race for the Cure) - otherwise I would have bagged it. I was starving when I started since I basically had popcorn and a pear for lunch. I did run into one of my old running coaches from training last year and it was great to catch up with her a little bit. All in all, a decent run.

Log for Wednesday, October 11th

Notes on yesterday: I think I had a pretty good workout yesterday evening. I felt good for the first time in a while after a trip to the gym...maybe I'm at a turning point.

Breakfast:
Shredded wheat with skim milk and splenda
banana
sf hot cocoa

Lunch:
leftover chicken with black beans
sf jello
small pear

Dinner:
Green beans with butter spray
chicken cutlet with ketchup

Dessert:
Ricotta with cheesecake pudding mix

Late night snack (9pm)
Cherry banana smoothie (small)

Exercise:
Ran 5 miles. It was nice and overcast when I was on my way to the trail but the sun came out and it got hot. My last mile was really rough again - I'm wondering if this rough last mile thing is psychological. 5K race in just 3 days.

Log for Tuesday, October 10th

Notes on yesterday: That core chili caused me some major stomach discomfort - I have a ton of it in the fridge and I think it might have to go bye bye.

Breakfast:
Shredded wheat with skim milk and splenda
sf hot cocoa

Lunch:
Cup of Healthy Choice Country Vegetable soup
pear
sf jello
mini bag of 94% popcorn

Dinner:
Chicken breast
about 2 TB of brown rice
black beans
2 mini corns

Dessert:
SF/FF pudding

Snacks:
sf jello
pear

Exercise:
I went to the gym!! I did leg and arm weights, 35 minutes on the elliptical machine and 30 minutes on the arc trainer. I feel good - na na na na na na na.

One week down

I have now been on this renewed diet for one full week. When I started I said I would do the Core plan for 2 weeks to de-tox my body from all the sugar I've been consuming. Historically, I haven't lost a lot of weight on the Core plan but I feel so much better because it is a diet based on no sugar, no refined carbs and lots of fruits, veggies and dairy. Secretly I still hoped to lose a lot of weight this week...but it didn't happen. I weighed myself this morning and I'm down 1.2 lbs - nothing to sneeze at but I do weigh myself every day and I lost this weight by the 2nd day of this renewed diet - no weight loss in the past 5 days. This is my last week of Core and then I will be counting my stinkin points again.

Highlights of this week:

I ran a total of 14 miles (3 days of running)
I went to the gym once and did cardio and weights
I did 4 days of exercise even though I had an icky cold
I only used approx. 9 of my 35 weekly points (only for one flatout wrap and cool-whip on my desserts)

Overall, I do feel better and will not give up.

Now my 25.2 lbs is down to only 24 lbs to lose.

Log for Monday, October 9th

Notes on yesterday: My legs still hurt :(.

Breakfast:
Shredded Wheat n Bran with skim milk and Splenda
banana
SF hot cocoa

Lunch:
Core pumpkin chili
apple
sf jello

Snack:
Ricotta

Dinner:
Can of green beans with butter spray
smoothie
frozen blueberries with ff yogurt and fiber one

Really nutritious dinner I know.

Exercise: None today.

Log for Sunday, October 8th

Notes on yesterday:
I probably ate a little too much yesterday with my late night snack but I was HONGRY!

Breakfast:
Shredded Wheat n Bran with skim milk and Splenda
Banana

Snack: Big cherry banana smoothie

Dinner:
Sliced cucumber
lean hamburger patty with FF cheese
1/2 sweet potato baked as fries with olive oil

Dessert:
Ricotta with cheesecake pudding mix & FF cool whip


Exercise: Jeff and I ran 5 miles this morning. I have now reached the peak of sore legs...no running tomorrow.

Log for Saturday, October 7th

Notes on yesterday: I'm proud of myself for running yesterday - didn't feel like it but I was stressed out and needed it desperately.

Breakfast:
Shredded Wheat n Bran with skim milk and Splenda
Banana

Lunch:
Flatout wrap with chicken and FF cheese (1 of my 35 points for the week)
SF jello
apple

Dinner:
1/4 piece of cube steak
spaghetti squash with spray butter
2 mini corn cobs

Dessert:
Pumpkin gunk

Late night snack:
FF yogurt with frozen blueberries and fiber one

Exercise: Ran 4 miles with Jeff this morning. He amazes me with how fast he has gotten. It was pretty rough and I am guessing that it's because it was only 16 hours between my runs. We have a 5K next weekend so we have to do a few more runs between now and then.

Are Rolaids a Core food?

This pretty much says it all...I have been popping rolaids cause my tummy hurts. I hope they don't mess up the magic mixture of core foods that I am sticking to this week. :)

Food and Exercise Log for Friday, October 6th

Notes on yesterday: I feel a little slacker-ish at this time of the week. A lot going on and not feeling too great. After only 3 good days I need to kick it back into gear.

Breakfast:
Shredded Wheat n Bran with smik milk and Splenda
banana
SF hot cocoa

Lunch:
Omelet with 1 egg and 2 whites, FF cheese, canadian bacon, red pepper and onion
magic ingredient: hot sauce
apple

Dinner:
1/2 can green beans with butter spray
1/2 plantain, sliced and cooked in olive oil
leftover lean burger patty with FF cheese

Dessert:
Ricotta with cheesecake pudding mix

Exercise: Ran 5 miles. I did pretty well on the first 2 but the last mile kicked my keester.

Food and Exercise Journal for Thursday, October 5th

Notes on yesterday: I feel like junk right now.

Breakfast:
Shredded Wheat n Bran with skim milk and splenda

Lunch:
Little bit of chicken and about 1/4 c. black beans
pear
ricotta

Snack: Cherry banana smoothie

Dinner:
Salad with FF Honey Dijon
1/2 baked chicken breast
brown rice (about 1/2 c.)
2 mini corns

Dessert:
Pear

Exercise: None today again - icky head feeling

Water: 2 liters - I was a slacker.

Food and Exercise Log for Wednesday, October 4th

Notes on yesterday: So happy that I made it to the gym yesterday even though I have the beginnings of a cold. I did eat an extra dessert last night but I threw out half my dinner because it didn't taste so red hot so I was still having a few hunger pangs before I went to bed. On to today...

Breakfast:
Shredded Wheat n Bran with skim milk and Splenda
Small honey crisp apple (these are so good)
SF hot cocoa

Lunch:
Cherry and banana smoothie
Mini bag of smart pop

Snack:
Apple

Dinner:
Can of green beans with butter spray
1/2 sweet potato cut into fries with 2 tsp. olive oil
4% lean hamburger patty with slice of FF cheese

Dessert:
More ricotta with cheesecake pudding mix (this stuff is good)
Almond Joy pudding

Exercise:
I think my body is giving in to the cold so I didn't work out today...hopefully I will feel better tomorrow.

Food and Exercise Log for Tuesday, October 3rd

Notes on yesterday: I made it through 1 whole day without candy! Woo hoo! I definitely ate enough food but did feel hungry for about 2 hours before dinner and then before I went to bed.

Today's food (will be very similar to yesterday since I am a creature of habit):

Breakfast:
Shredded Wheat n Bran with skim milk and Splenda
Banana
SF Hot cocoa

Lunch:
Chicken with black beans
1/2 cucumber
Honey Crisp apple
ricotta with cheesecake pudding mix & 2TB FF Cool Whip

Dinner:
Salad with FF Italian dressing
little bit of leftover chicken with 2 scoops of black beans and about 1/2c brown rice

Dessert:
Almond Joy pudding with 2TB FF Cool Whip
AND
more ricotta with cheesecake pudding mix

Water:
4 liters

Exercise:
I went to the gym! I did a pretty light workout - 30 minutes on the arc trainer, 15 on the elliptical, a few leg and arm weights and crunches.

Food and Exercise Log for October 2nd

I lost all my weight with Weight Watchers and truly believe in the principles of the program so I am going to stay on it this time. I am starting this go-round with a minimum of 2 weeks on the Core plan which is a lot like South Beach. This will help me purge my system of all the sugary food that I have been eating lately. My problem with this program is the "only eat until you are satisfied" principle. I will work on this. Anyway - today I have eaten:

Breakfast:
Shredded Wheat with skim milk & Splenda
Banana
SF hot cocoa

Lunch:
About a cup of black beans with some grilled chicken tenders mixed in
A yummy Honey Crisp apple
Some of my pumpkin gunk (pumpkin with pie spice and SF/FF butterscotch pudding mix)

Dinner:
Sweet potato with butter spray
2 mini corn cobs with butter spray
Small piece of sirloin steak
1/2 cucumber

Dessert:
Ricotta with cheesecake pudding mix + 2TB FF Cool Whip

Water:
4 liters

Exercise: I pulled into the gym parking lot and, lo and behold, it was closed today. I came home and helped Jeff mow the yard - at least that's some activity.

Today is a new day!

These pictures are 1) of me now with 25.2 lbs to lose 2) me about 5-6 years ago with my sister, Brandee, before any weight loss 3) me at my weight goal (with my eyes closed nonetheless) after losing 199.8 lbs in just under 2 years.





Today is the day that I recommit to my weight loss. I have had so much success in the past few years with losing weight but I have realized that my biggest struggle is maintaining that weight loss. I have been eating horribly lately and have managed to put on about 25 pounds which I really need to lose. I will be trying to make posts here every day to be accountable to myself.