Checking In

Today has been good so far. I had my vegan whole wheat blueberry muffins (2) for breakfast and I didn't even snack before lunch time. I ended up at Panera with my friend Fredy. I ate the You Pick 2 - 1/2 Asian Sesame Salad and 1/2 Bacon Turkey Bravo for a grand total of 630 calories. Not too shabby, considering going to Baja for a burrito would have put me at over 1200 calories.

I wanted to share something that I made last night. (I'm all into vegan recipes now btw). I found this recipe on a blog called Averie Cooks for Cookie Dough Balls. It sounded yummy enough and looked easy enough so I gave it a try. I didn't have all the ingredients exactly so I used what I had on hand: pecans, coconut butter, agave nectar, vanilla extract, milk chocolate/white chocolate/peanut butter chips, quick-cooking oats and it took no time really to make. The oats and nuts and coconut butter went into food processor until really grainy like. Then I added in the agave, vanilla, and chips, then rolled them into balls and VOILA! They were delicious and pretty healthy actually (granted the chocolate chips weren't really vegan, but hey I'm trying!) Anyways, check out the link to a bunch of great recipes from this girl!


Now, what can I make tonight for a yummy dessert?

Getting Back on the Wagon (again)

Well, guys, I'm back again. I know I haven't blogged in ages.. but things have just been crazy. I had stopped focusing on my diet, on my health, on everything.. I think I might have actually been depressed. BUT, something clicked and I picked myself up and got back on the wagon again. I've lost about 22 lbs since June of this year. I'm down to 231.4 lbs. I've come a long way, but still have a long way to go.

There are a few things I want to mention that have helped me lose the weight:

1. It's a mind game. Seriously. If you can train your mind to think you are "skinny", it will work. But, you must stay MOTIVATED. There's all kinds of motivation for weight loss online that can be helpful.

2. Eat until your full. Now that sounds so simple, right? Well, not exactly. It is tough to do this sometimes. But, if you can eat slowly and feel how your stomach is reacting to what you are eating/drinking, you can learn the ways of your body.

3. Fruits and veggies! This is a given. But really, fruits and vegetables help to fill you up as well as give you the nutrients your body needs and many are virtually no calories!

4. Exercise! This is a huge factor in helping you burn calories and regulate blood sugar levels (oh, did I mention I have type 2 diabetes now? I was diagnosed while pregnant with my daughter Sofia early in 2011- I know, it sucks.)

Anyways, these are my thoughts for now. I hope to blog more often and report back more frequently.. Also, I might try doing a "healthy recipes" thing.. We'll see how that goes. LOL!

Bye!

A Reflective Moment

This weekend I didn't do too bad. I think part of the reason was me being a little sick or something. But either way I didn't go too crazy with food. I didn't really exercise though, which is bad. Exercise is my downfall always. I would ideally like to start using the treadmill again. I think what I am going to do is download a bunch of songs I like from iTunes and just get at it and work my butt off, literally.

Speaking of which, I remember when I used to do Weight Watchers back when in 9th grade. I would eat healthy, but sometimes I would go over board. But, every night I would get on the treadmill for like 45 minutes or an hour and just sweat off those calories. I think that's what really helped me lose the weight fast and keep it off. Once I stopped using the treadmill, however, is when I started gaining the weight back.

Ok. So that's my goal this week. I want to get on the treadmill at least 4 times this week. My endocronologist says I really need to do at least 30 minutes of exercise everyday. I'm going to try!

Hello again!

I haven't written in this blog for awhile, but I'm back ... I had my second child, Sofia, 6 weeks ago and now I'm back at work, and back up on my weight.. Ughh gosh. I feel extremely fat.. weighing in at 266 today at the doctor's office. Oh. I'm not sure if I mentioned this before, but I am officially a type 2 diabetic.

My plan is to lose weight and fast. I am trying to change my diet to not eat out too much, and to EXERCISE!! That is my biggest problem; trying to find time to exericse, or using my free time wisely to do it.

From now on, I have got to do exercise if I plan to get rid of this diabetes. I am too young to have this and to be this heavy.

I will post more later.

Bye!

Feeling like a failure and SICK of eating out!

These past few weeks have been the pits for me as far as eating is concerned. I don't know what my issue has been but I just feel like I want to eat all the time and all the bad foods. At work for 2 weeks in a row I didn't bring my lunch. You know what that means. I was going out everyday getting the nastiest, greasiest foods, and wasting my money at the same time. At home was no better. We have been eating out way too much. I'm just sick and tired of this. I feel so disgusted with myself and with my body. I let my progress just go down the drain. I might not have gained all the weight back. But, I'm up to 254. That's bad enough isn't it?

I just want to stop eating out and eat some healthy foods.. heck, even if I eat a can of Spaghetti and Meatballs (which I just ate) that's better than going to McDonald's or Taco Bell for lunch. At least it's under 500 calories for goodness sake.

I feel so unhealthy and fat. It's not a fun feeling at all. It's actually very depressing.

Today I have made a step in the right direction with eating my canned lunch.

I'm trying to improve. I want to just relax about what I eat, but just watch what I am eating and how much. I also need to start eating more fruit daily. I feel deprived of all things healthy and it's time to change this horrible behavior.

Going Crazy

I've really been baddddd this past week. I have not done anything as planned.

Today, however, I ate some mini muffins for 2 points. So I have got 28 points left. I would like to eat light today.

Last night, Alisha and I were talking about eating meat. She said she might eat it once a month... I'm thinking, maybe I should try to cut back on my meat intake as well. Afterall, meat IS heavy. Maybe I could try to fill up on more greens.. you know.. lettuce greens?

I don't think I can cut meat out completely, but maybe to start I could eat one meal with meat a day. Then maybe after that every other day. Then maybe once a week. I don't think once a month will work for me. But I'm going to start out small. Today I'm going to try to eat meat at only one meal and not at 2.

I love love love love Chipotle!

It's one of the greatest places to go. They have fresh delicious ingredients, although some not so healthy. But I don't care. You can't stop loving a place just because it's ingredients are a little on the heavier side. I ordered a  chicken burrito with rice, black beans, tomatoes, sour cream, cheese, lettuce, and guacamole, which was probably like 14 points. That's ok with me though. It's totally worth it! I still have half of it leftover for a little later. I couldn't be more satisfied right now!

Points Balance = 12 points

Ughhhhhh

Hey! It's been a long time. I'm sorry but Charlie was really sick and had to go to the ER and I didn't work for two days. Things were crazy. Food was a little crazy too. I've come to the conclusion that I don't have enough time and all do take a picture of every thing I eat, so if I eat something interesting I will post it. Otherwise, you'll just have to take my word for it.

This morning I ate a package of little bites muffins for 2 points and a glass of milk for 2 points.

Total Breakfast Points = 4 points
Points Balance = 26 points

Sticking with it

So.. I haven't drank a diet soda or had aspartame since Saturday, September 25! It's almost been 3 weeks. I'm not missing it, either. I think water and tea and an occasional juice or milk are treating me just fine. I'm happy with the choice I've made!

Breakfast

Breakfast this morning is:

• Wheaties Protein Bar- 4 points
• V8 Splash- 2 points

Total Breakfast Points = 6 points
Points Balance = 24 points

Today

I've eaten a banana and some apple juice for breakfast, and I'm about to eat an apple. Haven't taken pics right now. Kinda busy.

• Banana - 2 points
• Apple Juice - 1 point
• Apple - 1 point

Total Breakfast Points = 4 points
Points Balance = 26 points

Heavenly Hummus

Lunch was as follows:

• Egg salad sandwich - 5 points
• Pine Nut Hummus - 4 points
• Pita Chips - 4 points

Total Lunch Points = 13 points
Total Daily Points = 16 points
Points Balance = 14 points

That hummus was so delicious.. and it's quite addicting. I really need to watch myself with that.

Juicy Snack

I'm eating an apple for 1 point right now for my morning snack. It's not bitter or tart, but has a subtle sweet taste. Yumm..

Points Balance = 27 points

Rainy Monday morning

I figured I wouldn't get up this morning to do exercise.. I was tired and it was rainy and blah blah blah. I was just lazy. I don't know if my morning plan for exercise will work out, ever, because I'm not so much a morning person. I plan to keep my evening exercise plan but just increase the times.

For my breakfast I had a chewy bar for 2 points.

Points Balance = 28 points

Sunday, horrible Sunday

Sunday ended up being kind of a mess. It started with that pancake and went down hill from there. I had a tall Vanilla bean frap from starbucks for about 5 points. Then.. we went to King's Buffet and I went crazy. I lost track of my points there.

Then, I went to Chili's with my parents and Charlie. I didn't order anything but I was eating chips with salsa and queso dip and cheese fries, as well as part of Charlie's quesadilla. What a bust!

Breakfast and the unexpected weigh-in

Breakfast this morning was a chocolate-chip pancake made by me and a about 2 cups of fat-free milk. But even before that I weighed myself. To my surprise the scale said 248.6 lbs! Wow! It's not down a whole lot but it is better than it has been!

Anyways:

Total Breakfast Points = 7 points
Points Balance = 23 points

Saturday afternoon and beyond

After those quesadillas at 10:30ish in the morning, I didn't eat anything else until like 5:30 pm. It consisted of a piece of flank steak, cuajada cheese, 3 beans and cheese pupusas, repollo, and salsa.That was quite a bit of food, but I did share with Charlie. That was about 10 points maybe at the most.

Then 10:00 pm rolls around and I'm feeling hungry again.. So, stupid me decides to go to Wendys and get the baconnator and fries and sprite. Ughh!!! That was probably like 12-13 points!! I felt sick after eating that. A small hamburger minus the fries would have sufficed but I don't know what happens to me.

So I went over by 3 points for the day.

Point Balance = -3 points!!!

Eating Early

I was feeling hungry so I ate my lunch early: Friday's Chicken Quesadillas

• 2 Quesadillas - 6 points

Total Lunch Points = 6 points
Total Daily Points = 10 points
Points Balance = 20 points

My Exercise Problem

I don't know why I can start off doing intense exercise for awhile, and then I just give up. I don't understand myself. I KNOW that exercise is very important, and it will definitely help me lose weight faster. But, I don't know. I guess I'm crazy or something, because I'm always feeling lazy about it now. Remember when I talked about those rewards for my different weight loss goals? Yeah, well I haven't hit any goals because I am not doing an adequate amount of exercise. Duh! So, I was reading a couple of blogs and articles on the internet about rewarding yourself for doing exercise. I think this is what I need to start doing in order for me to drop some numbers, because I've been hovering around the same weight now for more than a few weeks. I lost that initial 10-11 lbs and the scale doesn't seem to budge now. It's because of that.. the lack of exercise.

In order for me to drop pounds, I have to do exercise. In order for me to exercise, I need to set exercise goals, and have a set SCHEDULE. If I have an exercise schedule, it will be easier for me to stick with it.

I'm going to be starting school the week of the 11th and I go Wednesdays and Thursdays, so exercise then is probably NOT going to happen. Every other day, however, I should be able to get some kind of exercise im. It will most likely be the treadmill!

This is a rough draft just straight out of my brain right now:

Monday, Tuesday, Friday-

• 30 minutes treadmill 6:15 am (I have to start geting up early. I just have to!)
• 15 minutes treadmill 6:15 pm (this time is subject to change.. It will be either when I'm cooking dinner or as soon as I get home or something.. I will figure it out)
• 15 minutes treadmill 8:30 pm (this will be after dinner)

Like I said, this is just a rough draft. The # of minutes might vary in the morning, if I, for some reason don't get up on time.. or maybe in the evening I feel like doing more.

Also, I would like to start up again with my lunchtime walks of 1 mile. That will help me as well.

Ok, so if I complete 3 days a week of intense 1-hour total workouts I will reward myself. It has to be something small.. like a new shirt. Nothing exepensive, but something cute, affordable, and motivating. Clothes motivate me, especially if they are smaller and I can wear them. :o)

So how's that? This coming week I will plan to start. And, I'm going to keep an exericse log and fill it in. I have done that before and it didn't work but this time I will make it work.

Come Monday morning, I will be up between 6:15-6:30 am and I will get on that treadmill and do exercise!

I'm all set. But you know what this means, right? I'm going to have to go to bed earlier now.. :( 

Pumped Up Breakfast

This morning I went to 7-Eleven on my way to work and got a Wheaties Protein Bar, peanut butter flavored. yumm...

• Wheaties Protein Bar - 4 points

Total Breakfast Points = 4 points
Points Balance = 26 points