Tuesday, July 26, 2011

He was right!

Okay I am going to say this once- My husband was right...

This morning I woke up and weighed myself. I was down .8! Wahoooo!!! I guess I just needed to eat more.  I have been trying to up my calorie intake but keep my fat consumption down. I am snacking more too, which seems to help! 

I feel bad that I haven't been posting as frequently this week- it has been kind of crazy for me. I have had a lot of homework for school (I'm in University) and my friend is getting married this weekend. I am a bridesmaid! The wedding is about 300 miles away, so it will take a little planning on my part. My biggest goal is to not compromise my progress while celebrating with her!

Best of luck friends,
Xoxo,
Suzie

Monday, July 25, 2011

FYI- I Got a C in Chemistry

In highschool I worked really hard to get great grades. I studied  hard, handed my homework in on time, and always did extra credit. Yes, I was that kid.  I was flying through highschool when all of a sudden I hit Chemistry. I did everything I could -but to no avail. I spent every ounce of free time on that class but still no "A's", not even a "B", just a big fat "C". The only "C" I ever earned, and I use that term loosely. The problem with Chemistry was that I just couldn't wrap my head around it: the relationships between things, how some change while others don't, etc. Even though I really wanted to - I just couldn't succeed as well as I had hoped.

That being said, this is what my weekend looked like...

Friday, I learned  that I'm not so good with understanding Body Chemistry either. I kept listening to body, trying to figure out what to do but to no avail, yet again. First, I tried eating less calories and working out less. This resulted in, well, nothing. No weight gain, but no weight loss either. My husband told me I am in starvation mode and have to eat more to loose. After doing much research, I hesitantly agreed with him.

Now, what kind of Mind...well I won't use that word but I will give you a hint- add a certain "f" word at the end of Mind and you get it . Seriously though! Want to weigh less? Then eat less....But don't eat to much less or else you will just stay where you are: fat and frustrated. MUHAHAHAHA 

Begrudgingly I up my calorie intake while keeping my work outs the same, after all what you burn decreases your consumption. The first morning after doing this I gain .4lbs. REALLY?! My husband assures me that my body just has to adjust it's metabolism again. So, I decided to give it another go. After weighing myself the next day, I gained .6. UGH

My point in sharing this stuff is the importance of perseverance. We might not always see the number going down on the scale, but it's about changing your lifestyle. As people who struggle with weight, we have to understand that this is a war with our bodies.  There will be times when we do things correctly but do not see any result. When that happens, we need to stay strong and stay the course. I am hoping that if I stick to it, I will see the results I want to :)

Best of Luck,
xoxox
Suzie

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Temptation is Everywhere

     I had to share this! Yesterday, I was tested. ---AND I triumphed!!

    Yesterday, I had to take my car to the dealership for scheduled maintenance. I knew that it was going to be tough because the appointment was in prime snacking time- late afternoon. So, knowing that I would want to snack, I made low carb cheese crisps and brought a bottle of water.

    When I got to the dealership, there was only one seat left in the waiting room. The only seat was positioned in front of a vending machine with tons of chocolates-- my weakness. Next to that, right in front of me, was the box of free donuts. Now, it wasn't so hard to not get something out of the vending machine because I didn't bring any money. But the donuts... oh the doughnuts. I looked at them and literally felt my mouth salivating. I had to tell myself in my head that this is why I struggle. Each doughnut is another pound. It's setting me back. My husband was with me , so I told him that I was struggling. He reinforced what I had been thinking.

     It was weird because I knew that I wasn't going to actually eat one. But it was the thought that it was there that was tough. I haven't had to "say no" to food because I have rid my house of food I can't eat. This was good practice for me, but boy it was hard. It's important to put yourself in the line of fire because we can't always be in a safe diet bubble. Losing weight is more than just a diet, it's a lifestyle. You have to know that you will be tempted and that you can walk away.

Jillian is Kicking my....you know what!

      Okay, okay, let me catch my breath....Jillian Michaels (the notorious Biggest loser fitness coach) is kicking my butt...virtually. Let me tell you why/how.

      After realizing that I needed more than just a good walk, I began exploring other options to supplement my activity. I tried to go the gym, but seeing how I have never successfully worked out in my life...that didn't much work. I sort of looked like a kid pretending to wear mom's heels. I didn't try to kid myself, I don't know what the heck I am doing.


     Then I looked into getting a personal trainer. Sure this would work, I thought. I thought correctly but my wallet just can't do it. I am a full-time student/housewife. Needless to say, my husband and I are not exactly rolling in it. After crunching numbers, we quickly realized that it just couldn't happen.


    Well, that's frustrating! I then discovered a Biggest Loser game for the Kinect. We were both hesitant as to whether it could do the job or not. So instead of rushing out and loosing a bunch of money, we tried the demo. I'm not sure if you can picture this but there I was, sweat rolling down my face, cussing out the virtual trainer. After the workout, I flopped down on the couch. My husband asked me what I thought. All I said was, "It kicked my ass...I want it!"


    Today was my first day doing the workout. I am feeling it now. I highly recommend this game for someone who's in a similar situation- learning how to workout, overweight, or just out of practice. I don't see someone who works out daily and is trim really enjoying it or getting what they need from it. I hope to use it for about 6 months or so and then hopefully move to the gym. 

       So, that's how Jillian, we are on a first name basis, came to whip me into shape...I can see this is the beginning of a beautiful love/hate relationship. God, She's Good.

xoxo
Suzie

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Finally, SOMEONE Gets it!

When I had the TV on this morning, I saw an advertisement that was SPOT on....no pun intended.
Yes, this post is about our monthly friend...



     I LOVE this ad! It really spoke to me! I was like finally- someone gets it!! Yes, periods are a fact of life. But, that doesn't make them any easier to deal with. For each woman it's different, which can make it even harder to treat systematically.Over the past couple of months I have wondered from time to time if it is something that I should be "treating". I mean, it's a natural process of body- why should I try and change it through a hormonal Birth Control Pill?! Last month, I got sign from Mother Nature. She's good about cuing us in...as long as we listen. Anyway, I began to seriously consider going off the pill as a way to treat my period when three things happened. 


   The first problem was that my period started WAY to early. I am not talking a couple of days, I'm talking a whole week in advance. Then when it finally got to the time when I should have it, it was very out of whack.  When I called my doctor, she seemed to indicate that it was normal and to wait about 3 months of the same type of pattern before coming in. RED FLAG- let my body be out of complete whack for 3 months?! I don't think so...

    Problem number two? Migraines. Everyday, migraines. I had thought that I had a migraine in the past, but boy was I wrong. Almost evening I found myself laying on the couch covering my face and trying not to puke. My husband, a migraine vet, new the signs almost immediately. They were practically untouchable by any sort of Ibuprofen or Excedrin. 

     Last blinking sign? After talking to a friend what night she told me a story that spoke to my biggest apprehension- a friend of hers had been on the pill for about 10 years. When she wanted to have kids, she suddenly found her self unable to do so.  I can't imagine how scary that would be! Fortunately, after years of therapy they were able to conceive.

     That was it! I was done. Off the pill I went! Although there seems to be conflicting studies about the harmful side effects of the pill or "treating" your period, I thought it best to lean on the side of caution. I hope to treat my symptoms naturally. I plan on using my diet, exercise, and Evening Primrose Oil. I know it won't be easy, but it's worth letting my body do what it needs to.

      Here's a couple of good sites if you are interested in finding alternative ways to treat your pms.



Good Luck Ladies.
xoxo,
Suzie

Monday, July 18, 2011

For your viewing pleasure...

My 15 week old kitten, Juno. We have, had her for about 2 weeks!


The Healing Power of Clean

This is the current state of my living room.


Okay, so this isn't the picture of clean, I know. However, it is a sorting work in progress. After my husband and I got married, I started cleaning the deep and dark places of our apartment. The first thing to be tackled was the Evil Laundry monster. The second thing to be tackled was our Master Bedroom Closet. The closet was a complete zone. We spent the weekend going through clothes- hanging up the ones we want and giving away those we don't. It was exhilarating- shedding all of this extra stuff! Anyway, my most recent goal has been to tackle our storage closet. I am going through and putting all holiday things together, technology items together, and any other things we are storing.  Anyway- if you are feeling the stress of unnecessary clutter here are some quick questions you can ask yourself to figure out if you should keep something or not  ( a problem I struggle with).

1) Have you used the item in the past year?

  • If it's not being used, what use does it serve?


2) What does the item mean to you? 

  •  If it has sentimental value- will passing on the item diminish your feelings. For example, when my mom    passed away when I was a child, my Grandmother saved my of her personal items. As an adult, I have had the responsibility to go through these items and decided what to keep and what not. At first, it almost felt like if I gave something away, I was letting go of a physical piece of my mom. However, with time I have learned that the memory of my mother lives within me not items.
3) In five years, will you have a need for this item in 5 years?


  • For this one, you sort of have to imagine you gave the item away. Do you see yourself seriously having a moment where you wish you still had it AND had a use for it. 


Asking yourself these questions will help you to speed through on otherwise tough process of cleaning. Remember that memories live within you not in a physical realm. You will find that it is indeed true that cleaning out the old kitchen drawer that you haven't seen in years or the linen closet with cobwebs is a healing process.

xoxo,
Suzie


P.S. When it's done, I will post pictures!!!!

Nom, nom, nom...It's Monday, I'm in Love

Two words....ALMOND MILK

I have had almond milk in the past, but this time it's different. Previously, we have actually made Almond milk before and it was fairly easy. My previous complaint of the past would be that it wasn't very thick or creamy, watery even. However, Silk's Almond Milk is quite creamy. I chose to buy it at the grocery store because it had less sugar than regular milk. Well, let me tell you Almond Milk in protein shakes is AMAZING!!! It's a little more expensive, but definitely worth it! 

If you haven't tried Almond Milk, I strongly suggest it! It comes in Plain, Vanilla, Chocolate, and Light flavors. I really like the Light flavor because it is creamy but not super flavored. Also, with the "flavors" comes more sugar..no thanks! Anyway, give it a try...you might just like it ;)

xoxo,
Suzie

Friday, July 15, 2011

The Weekend!! A test to my commitment...

Today at about noon, I will be picking my husband up from work and heading to my hometown. We live about 350 miles away or so, a good 6 1/2 hour drive. We plan on visiting with family tonight, picking up a bridesmaid dress tomorrow morning (hopefully it fits), going to a Bachelorette party tomorrow evening, and then coming home Sunday morning. It is going to be very busy!! I am a little nervous about this trip because we are notoriously bad for eating crappy food on travel.  There have been times in the past when we have been on a good solid role and completely broke on travel. 

I feel confident that we will be able to stick to the diet because I am thinking ahead this time!!! This is how:

1)We are packing our lunch and snacks to eat in the car. This way we are not in the situation - We are wicked hungry and just want to find something resembling food...

2) I have agreed to be a D.D. . By choosing to be the DD, I will not be tempted to drink any alcoholic drinks. We all know how high in calories these are, plus it dehydrates your body!

3)Packing a simple breakfast. We are bringing protein powder to mix with water or milk for an easy breakfast on travel. My parents always have cereal or bagels, not exactly friendly to my low carb lifestyle.

4) Bring a bread alternative. We will be packing a lowcarb wrap for lunches with my parents. This way we will be able to join them for a lunch that meets our needs.

5)Telling the people around us that we are making healthier choices. I plan on telling my parents that we are low carbing so that we can have a dinner option for us. Also, I called the restaurant the the Bachelorette party had to figure out a head of time what would be okay for me to eat...or if I should eat ahead of time.

When you travel, the key is truly to think ahead. Consider what things are points of struggle for you and take steps to make sure they don't happen ahead of time. The last thing you want to do is try and figure this out with a bunch of hungry people around you! And you certainly don't want to break your progress!!!

I will let you know how it goes! Wish me luck. :)
xoxo
Suzie

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Whew, Today was a Doosy

I woke up this morning to a slight annoyance. Apparently, my scale wasn't weighing correctly because the battery was going. My husband replaced the battery and put it down for me try. The end result was that I actually weighed 301.8. I was so annoyed. My husband reassured me that that just means that my initial weight was higher and I am still making progress. Even though he was right, I was still very frustrated! I think part of my frustration is that I want to see more progress then what I am... I know I need to be patient, but I am just so over being like this. 

Second annoyance for the day? The Stove in my home is shot! It broke out of no where and is going to take a couple of days  to be fixed. This made dinner really difficult because I had bought frozen veggies for steaming. Luckily, we do have a George Foreman which is great for grilling chicken. It just seemed like it was a test to see how we would respond to problems. Normally, my husband and I would have gone out to get dinner. Instead we went to the grocery store and got salad stuff. The salad was great, by the way. 

I guess in some ways today was really important in proving my commitment to my new lifestyle. Even though I felt frustrated and slightly overwhelmed, I still took 2 walks and made great healthy choices. This was really a circumstance where I could have easily reverted back to my old behavior. Honestly, I even though I felt frustrated it never came into consciousnesses that I could just go eat out. I have tried to loose weight in the past but always failed. For some reason this time feels different. I feel 100 percent committed to this, a feeling I have never felt before.

I hope you all stick out your journey. It might be hard right now, but it will get easier and you will be better for it! I urge you to wear your journey on your sleeve! I find that having this blog and having a twitter, helps me to feel more supported. Whether or not people actually read this or care, it's knowing that it is out there keeps me honest with my behavior. Ultimately, people who have a weight problem, like me, are fighting a host of problems: a food addiction, genetics, and changing your body's chemistry/metabolism. 

Good Luck Friends!
xoxo
Suzie

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Tuesday's Love

Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead !This documentary is a riveting story about Joe Cross, a man suffering from obesity and an auto immune disease. Fed up with taking multiple prescriptions, he embarks on a juicing journey for 60 days. In his journey, he drinks juice made from micro-nutrient rich food.  He ends up loosing more than 70 pounds, going off his medicines, and inspiring many others along the way.  I found this documentary to be very motivating. I am learning that losing weight is much more than controlling what we eat but changing your lifestyle. If you are looking for an inspiring story to help keep you motivated in journey. Check it out! Love, love, love!

xoxo
Suzie

Pleasant Surprise!

This morning started just as any other- The alarm goes off and I poke my husband groggily saying, "Snooze it! Please..." After two sets of "snooze"ing, I stumbled out of bed and made my way to the bathroom. Just as any other morning, I stepped on the scale...and so a number. I was a little confused and stepped  off it, rubbing my eyes. I stepped back on it again, getting the same number. I tried a third time just to make sure.  The scale read 301.6 :) YAY. I am attributing  the 1+ loss in a day to two main factors. The first thing being that I am finally off my monthly gift and I recently stopped taking a medication that has been known to make you gain weight. I am hoping I continue to loose a little bit at a time! Hopefully tomorrow is 301. :D

Monday, July 11, 2011

.6 down! Little Victories, my friends!

In two days I have lost .6 pounds! That means that as of today I am 303 even!!! I am so excited to see the number slowly going down! I hope to be under 300 by the end of July. I think this is a more than attainable goal. 
Anyway, my total weight loss as of two weeks low carbing is  3 pounds! I know that might not seem like a big feet to some, but I am ecstatic! Go ME!!! 

To my fellow low carbers- Great work, keep it up!!!!

xoxo
Suzie

Monday's Love

On Monday, July 11th, I am loving....

1001 Low Carb Recipes , My new cookbook! My husband and I discovered this treasure at our local book store. It's written by Dana Carpender and has tons of yummy recipes.  The recipes are divided by ingredient: poultry, fish, etc. The recipes are very easy and incredibly tasty! We made a chicken recipe and it only took about 20 minutes or so. My husband LOVED it!!! IF you are on the low carb diet, this book is a must! Variety is truly the key to success!!!

xoxo
Suzie

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Protein Powder!

All I have to say is "Yum, yum, yum!"

Try this for a yummy little protein shake! I love shakes! They are easy to make and quick to eat. The best part is that they keep me going until lunch time! Anyway, here's my newest favorite.

Very Berry Shake
1 Cup of your favorite protein powder ( I use a whey powder that is vanilla flavored)
1 Cup of Skim Milk
1 Cup of a Frozen Berry Mix

Blend in a mixer and you are done! Quick, healthy, and yummy. What more could you want?

xoxo
Suzie

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Saturday's Love

On Saturday, July 9th, I am loving....

BOBBLE!This water bottle will literally change how you view all water bottles! I found this bottle at my local GNC for about ten dollars. Basically, it has a built in waterfilter that filters the water while you drink it.It's also made from recycled materials. For me, someone who is trying to increase the amount of water I drink, this is so convenient! No matter where I get my water from it is yummy! It also has a really simple design and is lightweight. It is small enough to fit right in my purse. The only complaint I might have is you have to be used to sort of pulling the water out, rather than it being poured out . However, I have found if you squeeze the bottle a bit it makes it much easier. I highly suggest buying one! Love, love, love!!!

xoxo
Suzie

Three Pounds, Baby!

So, I always weigh myself first thing in the morning after I go to the bathroom. I haven't weighed in a while and thought I might as well get on today. I stepped on the scale and saw that it said "303.2". YAY! That means that I have lost "3.6" pounds. That might not seem like a bunch, but it's progress.

This morning I am eating an orange with a little bit of Sesame Seed Treat on the side. I love oranges! They are a great fresh summer treat.

Today, we are going to go take a walk and visit an apartment community. I am hoping that we like the place that we see!!!

Happy Saturday :)
xoxo
Suzie

Friday, July 8, 2011

Ending the Day With a "Yum"!

I am not meaning to brag, but...I went  a whole day without cheating! All healthy choices :)

Anyway, to end the day I made a very special treat: Sesame Seed Bar

Okay, so here's the recipe:

1 cup of Sesame Seeds (I used blanched,  but toasted would be fine)
1 cup of Agave (Honey works better...Agave will make it chew not crunchy)
1 teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
Dash of Salt

Heat the Agave in a saucepan until bubbly. Allow for the Agave to bubble for about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in the Sesame Seeds and Vanilla Extract. When all of the sesame seeds have been covered by the Agave, pour mixture onto a nonstick backing pan (I put down Non-Stick Aluminium Foil). Let the mixture sit out four a couple of hours to firm up so that it is crunchy. I popped mine in the oven (310 F) for 20 minutes to speed up the process!


Enjoy!

xoxo
Suzie

Friday's Love

On Friday, July 8th, I am loving.....

Ugly Betty (ABC)! Yes, I maybe like two years too late. But, I  have fallen in love with the quirkiness of the show. I have been watching it on Netflix and am 8 episodes away from the series finally---I can't wait!!   Anyone who can appreciate a great quirky comedy/drama will love this show! I find myself constantly rooting for all of the characters! Love, love, love!!


xoxo
Suzie

Breakfast


The first meal of the day! Start your day off right! Blah, blah, blah...

Let me be honest, I make my breakfast in a sleepy stupor. I probably should have a more complicated breakfast, but frankly I don't trust my cooking skills this early in the morning.

Anyway, today's breakfast... A turkey sausage and cheese egg scramble. A.k.a. omelette flip gone wrong.

xoxo
Suzie

Laundry Monster

What's going on, yo?!

I find that with me staying at home, it helps me to write down my daily goals. Here are my goals for today!

  • Defeat the laundry monster!!!!!!
    • Ah, the laundry monster. ... You may have one in your home? I do. Since the day that I moved in with Mr. S, the laundry monster has plagued us. I think the main problem is that we have one of those stackable washer/dryers. It takes forever to dry laundry. I honestly cannot say there has ever been a time that we didn't have some amount of laundry that needed to be done. Today is the day ladies, two loads left. :D
  • Put my clothes away
    • I suppose this is part of the laundry monster....but it seems like a whole other battle.
  • Have Dinner Ready for Mr. S, his dad, and a family friend.
    • We will be having tacos with lettuce wraps... I will post a review! 
  • Homework Discussions
    • Because I go to school online, I have to answer weekly discussion questions. After I answer my question, I have to reply to other student's answers.
  • Dishes
    • Can I just tell you how much I hate Dishes?! We really need to invest in a dish washing fairy.The only good thing about the dishes is my yummy smelling dish soap :)
Let's see how much I can get done by 5... ANNND GO!

-xoxo-
Suzie