Before and after

Should say during and not after as I'm not done yet.  It's hard to tell with my jacket on but, the purple shirt is not that far out for fun or pregnancy.  Looking back makes me feel a wide range of emotions.  This suit barely fit in May.  I remember the sleeves being so tight I was afraid they would rip at the seams.  Now the jacket fits but the pants are way too big.  That's a good thing but I did love this suit.  Not time for shopping yet (other than a few basics so I can go to work), it's time to get back to work.

Bam!  First items purchased that weren't in plus size in 12 years.  12!!!  Woo hoo!

4 months in

So, it seems I haven't posted in a while and didn't even post about the Skinny Girl Margarita.  Hmm..... I'll have to take care of that.....

At 4 months in, I have lost 38.5 lbs.  And, for the first time since I had my daughter, I purchased pants in the misses section.  Not that I'm still carrying baby weight as she is 12.  I guess my opportunity to blame it on her has passed me by.  :)

I've been looking for before pictures of myself but like many, I tried to be the one on the other end of the camera since I was so unhappy with how I was looking.  I do have a couple though and I'll post them within the next couple of days.

Hmm.......

3 weeks in....

3 weeks ago, I started the Weight Watchers journey.  As of today, I am down 11.5 lbs  To get to my first weight loss goal, I still need to loss 4.5 lbs.  I'd really like to get to that by next week but realistically, it's probably 2 weeks out.
I love that most fruits and veggies are "free" items.  I can't tell you how many times I feel hungry and just want to eat until I'm "full".  Grapes have been my salvation regarding that.
The first 2 weeks I focused on what I was eating while keeping in mind 21 days to create a habit.  A week ago, I added in walking.  In the first week of that, I walked 4 times.  I have 2 times in so far this week with yesterday completing 2.7 miles in about 50 minutes.  Tonight was only 1.4 miles in 24 minutes.  It would have been longer but, that's the problem with drinking as much water as I have been.  :)  So, the goal is to be walking 3 miles a day and next week to start sit-ups and maybe some other items I've found on Pinterest.  3 weeks until vacation and I want to be able to hike in the Smokies!!
Until next time!

Special K Protein Shake - strawberry

I've come to believe that protein drinks are just overall stinky.  Technical wording, I know.  But really, most of them I can tolerate the taste of if I don't smell it first.  What is it about the protein that makes it smell so bad?!?!  The Special K Protein Shake tastes similar to strawberry milk.  Reminding me or Nesquik's (spelling?) strawberry that I used to spoon into my milk at my grandmas..... Ahh.... good times.  Like the Atkin's Advantage, I get about half way through and I'm not sure I'll get to the bottom.  Although, overall, I do prefer this to the Atkin's one. 

Weight Watchers PointsPlus = 5 points.

Atkins Advantage protein drink

All I can say is.... ugh!  It starts off tasting like chocolate milk but the aftertaste is horrible.  I did manage to drink all of them that I have purchased but I will try some other things before going back to this.  Hopefully there is an option that doesn't make me want to hurl 3/4's in.  One tip for this product, recap and shake again about half way through.  That really seemed to help remix the protein.  Until next time!

Weight Watchers Points Plus = 5 points

South Beach Smoothie

One of the items I have tried in the past week is this South Beach diet Snack Smoothie in Wild Berry.  It's a milk based product and overall was pretty decent.  It does have a bit of an after taste and the flavor did take a little getting used to. (as every "diet" item really does) But of the two protein drinks I bought, I do prefer this one.

Weight Watchers PointsPlus = 2 points

On a new Journey

Monday, I started on a new journey towards weight loss.  I joined...... weight for it..... Weight Watchers.  As I have been looking into different plans, I took full advantage of one of my co-workers adventure in Physicians Weight Loss.  I also had won a prize at a local event for 75% the initial program.  While the start up was a doable price, I found the $100 weekly for food a little out of my reach.  Plus, I really would need a little more flexibility.  I refuse to give up having drinks with my friends or not allow myself to eat items I like for 8 to 16 weeks.  Especially, when on vacation!
So, I selected the online program.  The initial cost of $29.95 was waived during this promotion and will cost $18.95 per month.  So far this week is going well.  I like the flexibility and what I have learned about what foods I thought were better for me to eat.  While I joined on Saturday, I officially started on Monday.  Saturday night we went shopping for some food for this week, which I will be reviewing in the upcoming days.
I feel better this week already.  The will power has been tested but not broken.  I need to remind myself that I wasted a month of my Fit by 40 challenge.  But, on the flip side, our at-work health assessment showed I need to lose 15 pounds less than I thought I did so, maybe it's a wash?  No, thinking of it as time wasted should motivate me more.  :)

Goal Setting

While important to have a goal for pounds lost, I think it's also important to picture what you'd like to look like when the weight is lost.  My goal would just be to look like I did when I met my husband (which does coincide with the weight loss goal) .  One of my friends mentioned this today.  Not sure if she'll go for the hair, too or not!  :)

No cake for me, thank you!

What was I thinking trying to start a diet plan the week before my birthday????  Ironically, this song was #1 this week in 1979.  

Temptations

I was so excited to go to the Mall of America on Saturday.  Thoughts of pedometer counts and calories burning without Sweatin' to the Oldies clouded the reality of Toll House cookies, Cinnabon, Auntie Anne's pretzels, Dairy Queen, Cold Stone.... and that was just one floor.  My biggest temptation will always be the Cinnabon.  While I didn't have one, I started thinking about alternatives.  Are there really any low cal/fat recipes out there?  Here's the actual Cinnabon nutritional info.  I never imagined 813 calories!!  When I think about how many I ate living in Nashville, it's no wonder I gained as much as I did while pregnant!!

The following recipe equates to 1 Weight Watchers Point (1 point per 50 calories or 12 fat grams).
http://ryleegrover.blogspot.com/2012/10/healthy-recipes-warm-cinnamon-swirls.html?m=1

I guess I'll add these ingredients to the list too.  And, at some point I might actually get to go grocery shopping.

Time to take aim!

Healthy Pizza?

While trying to decide what to have for supper, I found myself thinking about the foods I'm hungry for.  Pizza came to mind.  As did Chinese, and Cajun Pasta with chicken and shrimp.  I must be hungry today.
Tombstone Pepperoni Pizza - 1/4 of the pizza = 390 calories, 20g fat, and 36 carbs.  Hmm.....  Who really only eats 1/4 of the pizza?  So let's me honest, if I make a whole pizza and it's just me and my daughter, we each eat half of the pizza.  Which makes 780 calories, 40 fat grams, and 72 carbs, Oiy!!  How does that compare to my food intake goals?  1320-1670 calories per day, 29-65 fat grams and 148-271 carbs.  I guess we can say half a pizza is not an option since I've had other food already today.  Maybe on a day with only one meal.  :)
So, are there healthy pizza options that taste good?  Here's the first recipe I found:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/129047-healthy-pizza-alternative

I love turkey pepperoni so this might be a viable option.  But, the question came up, what is a flat out?
http://www.flatoutbread.com/
Mystery solved.... And, they have several recipes on their page including Healthy Pizza Options.

http://www.flatoutbread.com/category/recipes/flatbread-wraps/grillin-pizza/

I'm intrigued.  And equally intrigued by their lunches on the go which is another huge issue for me.  Subway gets old fast.

These will be the first thing on my shopping list for this weekend.  And thanks to the locator, they should be at SuperTarget, Walmart or Walgreens.  Yeah!

It all makes sense now!!

I don't like Veggies!

When everything you read, says "Eat more Veggies".... What's a girl who doesn't like veggies to do? 
I googled "Eating healthy if you don't like vegetables" and came up with a  couple of articles.  It's not entirely true that I don't like vegetables.  I should have more specifically said, "I don't like raw veggies".  I have no problem with beans, carrots, corn, spinich, and peas when cooked.  I like the articles below as they give some good ideas for us picky eaters.  I'm looking into some additional options and will update when I find something I really like.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/429346-healthy-snacks-for-people-who-dont-like-vegetables/

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/eat-your-vegetables-15-tips-for-veggie-haters

Today's the day!

No April Fool's joke here!  Today is the day my Fit by 40 challenge is starting.  I'm not sure what the overall outcome will be but I do know I'm not happy with my current health status.  Not that I'm experiencing any current issues but long term, I would like to avoid certain family reoccurring issues. 
I want to use the next year to improve myself while still living.  Plain and simple.

Week One
Exercise goal - 30 minutes daily.
Calorie goal - 1320-1670 per day.
Carbs goal - 148-271 per day
Water consumption - 64 oz (= 3.79 bottles of my 16.9oz bottle at my desk)

I have Pinned a bunch of recipes and workout options on Pinterest and will be trying out something different each week.  A big challenge for me will be eating out and alcohol.  So, I have pinned several "skinny" alcohol recipes to review.  I'm pretty picky on my drink quality.  :)

So here we go.....