Weight Loss Journey: Eating Out, Failure and a Progress Photo

My updates will be every two weeks, unless something super duper awesome happens.  I have got this down to a set routine now so not much changes.  I do meal prep on Sundays and take meat out of the freezer for the week.  I wanted to show you all this progress photo.  I was hanging out with a friend I hadn't seen in a while and he pointed out that he could really tell my progress from my face. I see myself every day so I didn't see it until I put these two photos side by side.   The first one is from about a year ago and the other is from a few weeks ago.

We have made a few extra trips north in the past two weeks so some of our meals have been eaten out.  I have talked about this before but you just have to be smart and not afraid to ask for what you want.  Below is an example meal from Wendy's.  It rings in at 415 calories.  It's an Asiago Ranch Chicken club with no bun and no sauce with a small chili.  Wendy's chicken is by far the best fast food chicken around.  It is an actual chicken breast, not a patty of ground up chicken with extra crap.

Last week, my weigh in was a tad disappointing.  Not sure what I did wrong but I was up 3 pounds.  And of course, I got a little depressed because I have been working really hard.  So Friday, I bumped my food intake down and my workout up.  Saturday's weigh in had me down 2 lbs but still more than last week.  We went to the Packwood Flea Market with my sister and her family on Saturday.  We had McDonald's on the way up, Mexican for a late Lunch.  Then we just snacked after we got home.  We did walk a total of 2.84 miles according to the fitness tracker on my husband's phone.

I've discovered that at my gym, in the locker room, when I take off my shirt to change, it signals the older women to start a conversation with me.  I've heard stories about diabetes, cheating husbands, the woes of retirement and weight loss.  I don't know why but my husband and I collect weird.  We must look approachable.  I was really proud of myself this week.  When I was doing the 30 minutes express last week, I actually used the steps.  My knees were really sore but I did it.  That was a huge achievement for me.  The photo below shows what the 30 Minute Express room looks like.  Another achievement was that I lost 16 lbs this month.  I am down a total of 69 lbs.  I had challenged myself to lose 15 lbs this month.  I think that is why I got so depressed last week when I was up.

I wanted to share a recipe that I tried this week.  It was my friend Jamie's birthday and she is allergic to gluten, soy and dairy.  Needless to say, a traditional cake was something she couldn't have.  I searched high and low for a good recipe for her.  I found this Lemon Drizzle Chickpea Cake.  The only cages I made were that I made a glaze of lemon juice and powdered sugar instead of the honey and I put raspberries on top.  The texture will not be for everyone but my husband and I both really liked it.  The lemon flavor is really pronounced.  Let me know if you give it a try.

Weight Loss Journey: In a Rut, Birthday and Zaycon

I haven't been really sure what to blog about this time.  I am kind of in a zone/schedule/rut.  Not even sure what to call it.  A rut sounds negative so I don't think that is the right word.  Here is what I am doing.

5:00 am up with the husband.  Sometimes I go back to sleep, some days I stay up and get some chores done.
8:00 am Work starts, I eat breakfast.
12:00 pm Pre-Work Out meal.  Usually consists of some carbs, protein and fat.
1:15 pm Head to the Gym.  M/W/F is Circuit Training, T/Th is Stationary Bike & Weight Training
2:30 pm Post-Work Out meal.  A salad with some kind of protein.  Either Chicken or Tuna.
5:00 pm Off work, head home to make dinner
6:00 pm Dinner
10:00 pm Bed Time

It's the same, every weekday, and I don't mind at all.  I have been going to the gym for a month now.  I still love it.  If I am having a crap day, I just go in, put my headphones on and work it out.  I don't think about much else than what I am doing.  I can't say that about any other time in my life.  Even at work, going to sleep or watching TV, I am thinking about other things that need to be done.  I guess you could call it my escape.

Last week was my birthday and my Mom was so sweet and sent me flowers.  As I opened the box though, I called her the devil.  There was a box of chocolates in the bottom of the box.  Really Mom?  Why would you sabotage me like that?  I gave them to my boss.  Later in the day she called and apologized.  She didn't realize the package she sent included chocolates.  I apologized for calling her the devil.  We both laughed.  Roger took me to dinner that night at a local seafood restaurant.  I got a crab stuffed mushroom appetize, the cioppino and we shared a slice of chocolate cake.  I was terribly disappointed in the food and the service.  I guess that's why we eat at home so much.  If I am going to pay $70-80 for a meal, it better be damned good.

Last weekend we held our 29th Annual All High School Car Show.  It is strictly for High School Students in the area.  I had been really stressed going into it as there is a lot of work that needs to be done but it went off without a hitch.  I wish I could reassure myself in the weeks leading up to it that it always comes together but I just can't.  I am a worrier and a stresser.  It's just who I am.  It was such a hectic day that I forgot to take my medicine that morning.  I take a Multi-Vitamin, Iron, B-12, Complex D, Alpha Lipoic Acid and an anxiety medication.  I also forgot on Sunday.  Monday I felt pretty crappy and forgot to take them again.  I was light headed, nauseous and had a migraine.  When I got home, I complained to Roger about it and he suggested it was because I had missed my medicine.  I decided to go ahead and take them and within an hour, I felt 100% better.  Lesson learned.

Have I talked about Zaycon Foods here on my blog yet? We discovered them through my Tastefully Simple consultant, Tessie. She had posted about it on Facebook and I checked it out.  Let me tell you, I am so glad I did.  We are on our third order of Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast.  For just $1.99 per pound, we couldn't resist trying it.  You pick it up at the location.  You just drive up to the truck and they load it for you.  It comes in a 40 lb case, fresh from the processing facility.  All you have to do is portion them out, freeze and enjoy.  For a long time we steered clear of chicken breast because it always seemed to dry out, even in the crock pot.  We have never had a problem with these.  They stay moist and delicious.  We decided to order a case of ground beef and it came in on Wednesday.  It comes in 10 lb tubes and you get 4 of them.  We split this case with my Mom.  It is 93/7 lean ground beef and is so yummy.  There was virtually no fat in the pan after I fried up a small amount to taste.  We have bacon coming next week and my mouth is watering already!  I highly recommend you check them out.

I am writing this on Saturday morning and just weighed in.  I am down a total of 65 lbs!!!  My hard work is really paying off.  I really encourage anyone who is struggling or needs motivation to just look at yourself in the mirror and realize that you are worth it.  You are worth the sweat, the sore muscles, and the love for yourself.  I was never able to do this until my mind switched into "selfish" mode.  It's not really selfish to take care of yourself.  How are you going to take care of everyone else in your life if you aren't around or are too tired to do it?  Do it for you and you alone.  I love you all and I thank you for riding along with me on this journey.

Weight Loss Journey: Goodbye April

I have been a little lax on my blogging this week.  Nothing too exciting is happening.  I am just working more and going to the gym every week day.  I have been working on the Annual All High School Car Show that is May 9th.  Me, Roger and about 5 other people put it on.  It's a lot of work and I complain about it the entire time but the day of the show when that one kid thanks you for what you've done, it makes it all worth while.

Well my work schedule changed AGAIN so I am now working 8 am to 5 pm.   I am so used to getting off at 3:30 that it has been a tough adjustment.  At home it's not too bad.  We are eating dinner a little bit later which actually eliminates my evening snack.  I also now force myself to take a lunch hour.  I use the opportunity to go to the gym.  I've made it through 2 full weeks.  According to My Fitness Pal, I burned 3,169 calories last week.  I am really loving it.  It gives me a break from work, I am meeting some really cool people and I am feeling good.  One thing I don't like very much is that after my workout, my hands shake for about 30 minutes.  I have to come back to work and have a snack to calm it down.  Surprisingly WebMD said it was nothing to worry about.

I ran across this the other day:  "Diet" is not a verb, it is a noun.  The verb is "eat".  I don't diet, I eat.  Diet is what I eat.  I can't cheat on a diet.  If I eat something that was not on my plan, I didn't cheat.  I just didn't follow my plan.  If my plan isn't achieving what I intended or I can't follow my plan, I need a new plan.  It really helped me this last weekend when we were out of town.  We took an impromptu trip down the coast to Astoria, OR and Long Beach, WA.  Our first stop was Costco where we dropped way too much money, then to the fish market for oysters and clams and finally to the beach.

At Costco, we did like we normally do and had Sausage Dogs.  I decided to only have one and I am so glad I did because those things are packed with 570 calories each.  At the fish market we each got a crab cocktail which is about 2 or 3 ozs of crab meat.  It was so good, freshly caught and cooked that day.  Then at the beach, Roger really wanted Ice Cream so I had a small one scoop of Mocha Almond Fudge.  It was the perfect size and I didn't feel sick or guilty afterward.  Of course, I didn't bother to look up calories for anything the rest of the day either.  On our way home, we stopped by PJ's Pizza in Cathlamet.  There used to be one in Centralia that we went to all the time and when they closed we found out there was one in Cathlamet so we were on a mission to find out if they were the same.  Oh yes indeed they were.  The best chicken wings and pizza.  Yum Yum!

I have really been focusing on drinking a lot of water too.  In fact, I have been drinking only water except for 2 cups of coffee and one soda in the last 2 weeks.  I decided to look up how much water you should drink in a day.  There was a website that gave a calculation.  You take your current weight and times it by .66 and that is how many ounces you are supposed to drink.  So for me, 450 x .66 is 297 ounces plus 12 ounces for the 30 minutes of exercise I do a day is a total of 309 ounces.  that is nearly 2.5 gallons a day.  There is no way that I could EVER drink that much water and still get anything done.  I would be in the bathroom every 10 minutes.  I settled on shooting for 128 ounces a day, which is a gallon.  So far, it hasn't been a problem.  I stole a sports bottle from my brother-in-law the last time I was over and it holds 27 ounces.  I have 2 of them before the gym, 1 at the gym and 1 after.  Then when I get home, I drink at least 2 glasses of water.  I haven't noticed a huge difference but, I was only drinking tea and water anyway.

When I weighed in this morning, I had dropped below the 450 mark.  It was something I had been shooting for.  My total weight loss is now at 54 lbs.  I haven't been losing as rapidly as I would like but I know the first few weeks at the gym would be an adjustment.  I am entering into my third week now.  I met a very nice lady in her 60s yesterday who encouraged me to try the elliptical.  She said it was her best option because of her knees.  Thanks Rosie, and Happy Birthday!

100th Blog!

This is our 100th blog post here at the Pink Elephant Sisters.  Can you believe it?  I started this whole thing back on July 31st, 2012.  Initially, my focus was to keep me occupied and help me finish projects.  Soon, it changed to include my musings and life traumas.  Then, I added my sister to the mix and included her amazing crafting abilities.  Right now, the focus is on my Weight Loss Journey.  The point is, I love my blog.  I love my outlet.  I love sharing my stories and food and crafts.  Since this is a pretty momentous occasions, I thought I would compile out Top Ten Blogs according to page views.  Maybe you will discover a post you haven't seen before or reacquaint yourself with one you may have forgotten.  What is your favorite post of ours?

#10

Halloween Wrap Up

#9

March Goals Week 3

#8

Baking Bonanza

#7

Upcycled Storage Tins

#6

Repurposed Photo Frame Jewelry Hanger

#5

It's What's For Dinner:  Creamy Coconut Shrimp

#4

Weight Loss Journey:  A Break-Up, A Visitor and A New Page

#3

March Goals, Week 4:  Positivity

#2

Dollar Store Wreath

#1

Polka Dot Hello Kitty and TMNT Cakes 

Weight Loss Journey: Goals Reached, Proud Auntie and Gym Days

Friday morning, April 10th, I weighed myself before work.  I had done it, I reached my 50 lb goal in just 4 months.  I literally screamed with joy.  I wish someone had been home with me but I just had the cats to celebrate with.  I did post about it on Facebook and got so much positive feedback.  I can't say enough how much I appreciate all my friends and family for their support and love.  The guys at work want to celebrate but everything they can think of involves food.  My treat to myself is my Planet Fitness Membership and a new pair of athletic shoes.

Friday was the 100th day of the year and also my first day at the gym. I got a 40 minute work out in during my lunch.  I did 5 minutes on the treadmill, 5 minutes (or 1 mile) on the stationary bike and 30 minutes of circuit training.  I know to some it make not seem like much but for me, it really was.  I have to start somewhere.  It got me sweating and my heart rate up.  I really like this gym.  It is not intimidating and all the staff are really nice.

Saturday we had breakfast with Roger's parents and my Mom and her boyfriend, Bruce.  Then I headed north for my nephew Logan's first T-Ball game.  It was probably the cutest thing I have ever witnessed.  He waved at the crowd on his way up to bat and took a bow when he crossed home plate.  It was hilarious and made me really proud.  After the game we went to dinner.  It was 5:30 and I hadn't ate since 10.  Needless to say, I was hungry.  We went to Brewery City Pizza.  Now, I have admitted many times that Pizza is one of my down falls.  But, I ordered hot wings and a Spinach salad while everyone else had pizza and I wasn't even tempted.  The salad was really good and I ended up only eating a few of the wings.  I took the rest home.  I sat next to my nephew Landon at dinner and he kept eating off my plate.  Kari and Josh both said that he normally doesn't eat greens so I had another Proud Auntie Moment that I was setting a good example for him.

Sunday I had some leftovers for breakfast and then we headed to a movie.  I splurged and we shared a large popcorn and I had a large diet soda.  Now I know it wasn't the best choice but we don't go to the movies often and I felt like it was a treat.  After the movie, we made a quick trip to Wal-Mart for a sports bra, a new broom and some other essentials.  Small rant about all the sports bras I've seen is that they do not provide coverage.  The band is large enough but the cups are not holding anything in.  I have to just wear it over my regular bra to help the jiggle.  I regress.  For dinner I made Cajun Seafood Stew.  As always, it was delicious and filled with seafood and flavor.  I did have a hard time falling asleep Sunday night.  I think it was probably the caffeine in that large soda.  I rarely have any caffeine so I am sure it stuck with me.

Monday was back to the grind.  This week my schedule is 7 am to 5 pm with an hour lunch.  During my lunch I am going to the gym.  It is a 5 minute drive, 5 minutes to change my clothes, then a 40 minute work out.  I think I am going to do 10-15 minutes on the bike with the remainder on the weight machines on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  On Tuesday and Thursday I will do the Express 30 Minute Circuit Training.  Then, the next week, I will swap them.

This Tuesday was my first day on the Express workout and it is a killer.  Ten machines and 10 step stations at 1 minute each.  I started out strong, doing stair steps but toward the end it was all I could do to walk in place.  I haven't worked that hard in a long time.  It felt kinda great.  My arms are extremely sore as well as my thighs.  But, this was just the first day.  It will only get better and easier as I keep going.  When I got home from work, I was extremely hungry.  I hadn't ate since noon and had burned all those calories at the gym.  I made Chicken Burritos and scarfed those down quickly.  The problem was, I still wanted more.  I finally got up and ate some grapes but even then, I was still wanting to eat.  I had to close myself off in my office and sew a tote bag in order to distract myself from wanting to eat.

Weight Loss Journey: A Break-Up, A Visitor and A New Page

It's a really sad day for me and I hate to even talk about this but I have to.  After last night, I am sad to report that we are breaking up.  We have been together for so long but it's time that we parted ways.  I wanted you all to hear it from me.  He has caused me too many stomach aches lately.  Cheese and I are over.  He has been my favorite for so long but apparently my stomach says he isn't allowed to come around anymore.  I may be able to sneak him in small doses but cheese quesadillas, nachos, or anything covered in an ooey gooey delicious layer of cheese is out.  (Pardon me while I wipe my drool and tears away.)

Now back to my normal ramblings.

I was super excited to have my nephew come stay with us last weekend.  It was the first time he has come to our house.  We picked Logan up Friday evening and drove south.  We told him we lived pretty far away but a 4 year old has no concept of time or distance.  When we got to our house, he had to run around, meet our animals, check out each room and then say he was hungry.  We don't have traditional kid food in our house so I was going to make chicken nuggets out of chicken breast and panko.  The whole concept kinda blew his mind.  He kept running to the microwave to ask if they were done yet.

Later that night he told me about a video he watched on his tablet for banana ice cream.  Well, I had watched the same video and had put bananas in the freezer a few weeks ago so we made Banana "Ice Cream".  It takes just 2 ingredients:  frozen bananas and almond milk.  All you do is put the frozen bananas in the food processor and add almond milk until you get the consistency you want.  I probably added about 1/3 of a cup of the almond milk.  It was really creamy and he and Roger loved it.  You could fold in whatever you wanted, like chocolate chips or nuts.

Saturday we made Carrot Cake Cupcakes for Easter and Roger made Kitty Cat shaped pancakes.  We let him choose what he wanted for lunch and he wanted pizza so we ordered Pizza Hut.  I did what I said and just ordered wings for myself and I was much more satisfied.  He ate his pizza and then we painted on some canvases.  He really enjoyed that.

The most exciting part came around 2:00 when a strange woman knocked on our door telling us that our fence was on fire.  It turns out that our neighbors had been burning their garbage and left it unattended.  Well the other trash they had piled against our fence caught fire and in turn caught our fence on fire.  Roger went back with a hose but it wasn't working so we called the Fire Department.  Logan was so excited to see the firemen and they even let him sit in the truck and gave him a cool hat.  There wasn't a ton of damage to our fence but it will need replaced soon.

We took him home Sunday where he hunted for Easter Eggs with his brother.  Then we went to my Aunt Shelly's house to have Easter with the family.  After Shelly's we went to my Dad's place.  It was a ton of time in the car but seeing family was worth it.  We finally got home around 8pm.  Since we don't have kids, we just go where we're told for holidays.

I weighed in Sunday before leaving for Easter and I was down another 4 lbs.  A total of 47.  I am 3 lbs from my 2015 goal of 50 lbs.  Once I reach that, I will set another goal.  My schedule will be changing at work soon so I will have an hour lunch.  This is a good opportunity for me to join the Planet Fitness gym that is just a few miles from my work.  It is giving me major anxiety but I need to get out of my comfort zone a bit.  I signed up Thursday April 9th, exactly 4 months from my diagnosis.  The last 4 months have been really good for me.  I have a completely new attitude.

Repurposed Photo Frame Jewelry Hanger

Another easy project off my to do list and I made it all with stuff I had already at home.

About 7 years ago, we put our house on the market.  Our Realtor told us to unclutter and remove all personal photos.  We did and when our house didn't sell, we never put them back up.  Part of it was laziness and part of it was depression because we really wanted to move.  Well I finally got around to unpacking them and hanging most of them back up.  In the packing however, I had 2 frames that had broken glass.  I removed the glass and saved the frames to make this project.

Materials you will need are:

Frames

Scrapbook or wrapping paper

Scissors

Ink Pen

Tape

Lace

By the way, did you notice my repurposed old trunk coffee table?  We bought the trunk at a garage sale over 10 years ago.  It holds DVDs, VHS tapes and photos.  Roger bought a movers dolly at Harbor Freight and we placed the trunk on top.  Easy peasy and so useful.  I like it because I can move it easily and it has a cool story.

First step is to cut your paper and your lace.  I used a map scrapbook paper I had and cut out the west coast, since tat's where I am from.  I had an extra piece of lace from my Lace Painted Dining Table Project that I used.

I used the tape to hold the lace in place as I wrapped it around the scrapbook paper.  Then I just put them back in the frame.

For the earrings, I just hung them on the lace.  For the necklaces, Roger got me some S hooks at Wal-mart for 97 cents for 4.  I love the look of these and they dress up my bedroom nicely.