I figured I would post my menu for today… it equals out to about 1100 calories.

B- Wheat Chex w/skim milk – 250
S- Eggbeaters, 4 pieces microwave bacon, 2 pieces toast w/no butter – 245
L- Laughing Cow Cheese/tomato sandwich*, 1 rice cup – 335
D- Grilled chicken, mixed salad** – 150
S- Cottage Cheese, mixed salad** – 120

* Today’s laughing cow cheese/tomato sandwich was made with 2 pieces of low-cal bread, toasted (80), 2 wedges of Laughing Cow Swiss Cheese (70), 5 thin slices of tomato (15) = 165 calories. Made with an extra cheese wedge for added yumminess.
**I made the mixed salad last night, and it consists of: iceberg lettuce/carrot mix, cucumbers, tomatoes, tiny pieces of ham, mushrooms, yellow & orange peppers.

Calories are estimated for the salad because it’s mostly veggies! No fruit in today’s plan because I am trying to limit blood sugar spikes. (And because I am out of fruit currently).

Tags: Meals, menu

I had a great Halloween… got to spend some time with family and friends! I remember back to last year’s Halloween… I had gone to the hospital with bad chest pain that turned out to be acid reflux. (I wrote about it actually in this post if you want to read it). I was drinking alcohol somewhat heavily around that time (something I didn’t mention) and I know now that the reflux mainly had to do with that, although I never would have admitted it back then.

Last year around this time I had only begun on my fitness journey. While in New Hampshire for the month of October, I had begun walking 30-45 minutes or so per day while getting foliage pictures, and doing maybe 15-30 minutes on my stationary bike at the time. On an elliptical I was a level 1 because I never got a chance to use one. That 45 minute walk wasn’t a power-walk by any means and some days it really winded me. I mean, I was in BAAAD shape. I was drinking too much and was puffy around the face and body because of it.

Fast-forward to one year later… and things are much better! Now I can power-walk for more than an hour and feel absolutely fabulous (including hills); I am at level 8 on my elliptical but can go up to 12 if needed; (the elliptical downstairs goes up to 16); I don’t drink alcohol anymore (day 29 of sobriety, hoping to never touch another drink but I have to do it one day at a time, because I am an alcoholic despite my recent claim not to be); and these days I rarely get reflux. My blood pressure isn’t quite where I want it to be, but I’m working on that with weight loss. (It’s definitely not as high as it was last year though!)

And speaking of weight loss… I got on the scale this morning and have lost 3 pounds from when I last checked, the same 3 that I had gained back last week. So I’m back at my 10-pound-loss mark.

The last year hasn’t been all good or easy in terms of fitness, but I have made some major changes. I am more physically fit now than I have been in just over 2 years. I have a lot more stamina and have my blood sugar problem mostly under control.

The main thing right now that I still need to work on is… my weight. It’s the thing that is really NOT good right now, still. And that is why I have decided to continue on with my low calorie plan, except instead of trying to stick to 1000, I’ll give myself between 900-1300 on any given day. Every seventh day I will allow myself to go up to 2000 to jog my metabolism.

As for exercise, I am continuing on with it! Yesterday I did an intense 30 minutes on the elliptical at level 8. Today, I did my hour-long power walk which is now officially 55 minutes or so since I was able to up my walking pace even more. I have to admit that I feel really good physically right now! I still have plans to start bicycling as well as swimming… more on that later.

Today’s calorie count is looking to shape up to about 1100. Yesterday’s ended up being 1070.

Tags: calories, weight loss

I got up super-late today and I have a lot of stuff to do today/tonight, so… this will be a fairly quick post!

I have decided that it’s very important that I exercise today, so I am about to hop on my elliptical for an intense 30-minute level 8 workout. Once I’m done showering and getting ready, I’ll be heading over to my sister’s place to hang out for a few hours. Then I’m supposed to be going to a dinner gathering with some friends, which will likely take up the rest of the night. (I tend to stay out VERY late with this particular crowd, especially on the weekends). Food will be involved, so I’ve only had 360 calories so far today. The rest will be for dinner. Alcohol won’t be involved since I haven’t had a drink in 28 days, and this is a non-drinking crowd anyway.

I hope you all have a fabulous Halloween!

1 carton lite&fit yogurt (60)
1/4 cup of Fiber one (30)
A handful of various berries (raspberries, blueberries and blackberries) (10)

Mix together and enjoy!

Tags: 100 calorie meals, breakfast, Meals

Just a quick update…I’m finally done with my antibiotics! Yay!

Not much else to report. I’ve been sticking with my diet for the most part (give or take a hundred calories or so). I’ve gotten some comments from people thinking I’m going too hardcore, etc. I am sorry that a few of you feel that way.

However, I really can’t lose weight unless I get a bit hardcore with exercise and diet. I wasn’t blessed with a good metabolism or anything, so it’s up to me to deal with what I’ve got and make it work!

And that’s all I have to say on that topic.

Here is a quick lunch-time mini-meal idea:

1 sandwich, made with: low calorie bread (80), 1 wedge of laughing cow cheese (35), 1/2 of a tomato, thinly sliced (5 slices or so) (15).

Directions: toast pieces of bread, spread laughing cow cheese evenly on both slices, put sliced tomatoes on bread, put together as a sandwich and eat! Total calorie count is only 130! Add a scoop of 2% cottage cheese for an extra 90 calories and a piece of fruit.

Tags: Meals, mini meal

Well it’s day 3 of my thousand calorie diet… although yesterday I had about 1125. So I’m not doing too badly. Today is the first day for a while that I didn’t work out and don’t plan to.

I recall promising some calorie counts in a previous post, but haven’t made the time, so here they are for the past several days:

Saturday - 1450
Sunday - 1005
Monday - 1125
Tuesday - only 575 so far… I have a healthy protein/veggie meal planned for when I get home later tonight which will put me just under 1000.

I only have a couple more days left on the antibiotics, thank goodness! Although they don’t seem to have done anything much other than make me feel like crap. I still have some sinus and throat issues right now.

Oh well. Time for some more EmergenC…

On one last note, having a new guy around is really helping distract me from over-eating!

Tags: calories

I am going to be honest here and admit that I am currently sticking to a very strict 1000-cal per day diet as of yesterday. Normally I don’t go this low in calories, but I desperately want to jump-start my next bout of weight loss. I have been working out every day for the past 3 days at the highest setting on my elliptical and doing weights, which is probably responsible for my weight staying the same despite dieting.

So for the next 6 days, I am sticking to a very strict 1000 calorie diet and exercising every single day between 20-45 minutes. I know some people will tell me “OMG you are going to become anorexic” and “omg that is so unhealthy” and “omg you are staving yourself”. Well let me assure you all up front that: 1, I am 31 years old and not in any danger of becoming anorexic! 2, It’s more unhealthy to remain at this weight, as far as I’m concerned. My blood pressure is just too high and the only way to lower it without meds is to lose the extra weight. Period. Plus I am taking vitamins every single day now, and 3, 1000 calories is not starvation by any means, especially when done with vitamin therapy, plenty of rest and light exercise and ONLY for 7 days.

I will not be getting on the scale until Sunday morning to see what I have lost.

Basically I am still sticking to mini-meals - five tiny meals. One reason for this is to keep my blood sugar stable and to shrink my stomach a bit. Next week I will move into a semi low-carb mini-meal plan.

My blood pressure is just too high right now… and it’s time I took matters into my own hands and make a SERIOUS effort to lower it before I am forced to go on meds.

So, day 2… I’m supposed to go out to eat tonight with this new guy I’m dating, but I will be sticking to salad and lean protein!

Tags: diet plan