Whirlwind

So Friday and Saturday were horrendous for my diet. I went off the plan both days for dinner AND drank alcohol both nights for the first time in about 3 weeks. This morning I am at 144.6 but I am really hoping that includes some bloat and water. I did exercise a lot both days- spinning on Friday, running (4 miles) on Saturday as well as a light football practice. This is probably why I don't actually weigh more than this since I was 143.6 on Thursday. My plan for today-
All protein, a lot of water, green tea and limit the salt. Good news is that I bought a dress for the bridal shower- an XS! And 3 pairs of shorts- one size 6, the other two are 4s! I was super excited! This is my motivation to keep trucking along :) my mom also got me two bikinis so I'm sure when those arrive I'll want to shape up for those too.

Sooo happy!

So I weigh myself everyday to stay in check but I only record my weight once a week to Gage my weight loss. This morning is my weekly weigh in and I lost another 2 lbs! My current weight is 142.6. I am really happy and I feel like this journey is so well worth it. I have 2 weeks and 6 days until my bridal shower in Florida so I'd love to be at a weight when I go there in which I can start Phase 3 so it will give me a little more flexibility with my eating (and drinking!). I cannot wait to see the 130s an be in this range for Florida. Now it will e tough to maintain but as long as I follow the plan to a tee I am trusting it! Just another 3 more weeks of this Phase 2 and I hope to begin Phase 3! Another 3 weeks should put me at 134 :) I've never been this low in my adult life so I am excited to see how this will feel!

Overcoming obstacles

Yesterday I went to a festival in our town and was surrounded by goodness in terms of food! I was good though, having a chicken kebab and some grilled shrimp. I even asked if any oil was included! I only ate protein yesterday and stuck to it. This AM I weighed in at 144.2 so I must've done something right yesterday!

Today I am back at work which makes it easier to stay on track! I had some cottage cheese for lunch, a piece of cheese as a snack. Half a leftover hamburger with mushrooms for lunch with a piece of chicken and steamed veggies. Snack was a hardboiled egg and some chicken meat.

For dinner I am having a chicken sausage, califlower mash, zucchini and maybe a hamburger with melted cheese and tomato.. Followed by (of course) oat bran.. which I thouroughly enjoy btw!

I am headed to Tabata at the gym shortly to burn some cals! Let's see how good I hold up since this is my first intense exercise back in the gym since I started Dukan. Although I've been working out every day- I've been just running, playing football (3 hours, this was the most intense) and speed walking for 30 mins every day. I need to get back to my gym routine, so today it starts.. back to bootcamp and weights!

My workout schedule is:

Monday: Tabata (an interval high-impact class at my gym- 45 mins- full body)
Tuesday- Boot camp (an interval high-impact class at my gym- 45 mins- full body)
Wednesday- Cardio/Running with abs (outside or at gym)- 30 mins cardio; 15 mins abs
Thursday- Power Walk (outside or on incline at gym) and abs- 30 mins cardio; 15 mins abs
Friday- Spinning in AM at gym- 45 mins
Saturday-Foodball practice
Sunday- Power Walk (outside or on incline at gym) and abs- 30 mins cardio; 15 mins abs

Day 2 of cruise phase

Today is day 2 of the cruise phase. Yesterday I ate decently (I thought) but today I weighted and was up a pound! So I'm at 145.6. I am devastated and not sure why or how this happened. My fingers were swollen yesterday enough to the point where I took y engagement ring into a jeweler to get it resized because it didn't fit.
I really hope my day today is better. I'm going to try to stay away from sodium as mch as possible today, drink a ton or water and green tea, etc.

Yesterday I played 3 hours of football so maybe that intense exercise has somethig to do with it. I am kinda sore today so perhaps I am retaining water? Whatever the reason, today is my protein only day so I hope to champion through this and see a great loss tomorrow morning. I'd love to be at my original goal of 141 by next Saturday for my first dress fitting and then lose another 10 or so pounds from there.

Progress

Yesterday was a success- I feel much less hungry and I ate very well yesterday! I had such a burst of energy and am super happy! I only lost .2 lbs overnight but I'm ok with it considering I ate some soy sauce at dinner. Today is my last day if pure protein and tomorrow starts my protein and veggie day. I am actually excited for this variety!

Weekly checkin and success!

So today is the day of the week in which I dreadfully weigh in... This time, a success!

I am down to 144.4! I am so very happy and I really think I can't do this and get to my goal! I am super happy and can't wait until I am in the 130s! Woohoo! To have a normal bmi I need to hit 141 but my own personal goal is lower. I cannot wait!

This morning for breakfast I had smoked salon, ff cream cheese, ff Greek yogurt with some truvia and cinnamon.
Lunch will be groud turkey, chicken breast an a laughing cow wedge.
Snacks- hard boiled egg, cheese, beef jerky.
Dinner- not sure yet-
Snack- oat bran after dinner

Workout- 30 min run on the treadmill and 10 mins on the row machine...
I am super excited to get up tomorrow morning to watch the royal wedding, so I'll be hitting the sack early tonight!

Dukan diet

Today was Day 3 of the Dukan diet that I've started.. Here are my results so far:
Started Monday after Easter and having eating wayyy too much salty ham...
Weight: 150
Current weight after three days of Dukan: 145.8

So far so good.

My menu today was:

Bfast: 1.5 tablespoons oat bran with skim milk
Snack: hardboiled egg with 1oz low fat cheese and mustard
Lunch: chicken with no skin and 1oz low fat cheese
Snack: beef jerky and 1/2 c of skim milk
Dinner: ground turkey with a laughing cow wedge


The basis of Dukan is the following (in a nutshell). Google for more info!
Attack phase: 2-5 days. Pure protein only, 20 min exercise each day, 1.5 tbs oat bran, 2 liters of water
Cruise phase: this phase you do until you hit your goal weight. My plan is to do 1 day pure protein (like attack phase) followed by one day of protein and veggies... Then repeat. Increase exercise to 30 mins per day and increase daily oat bran to 2 tbsp.

2 other phases follow this one but I'm not there yet so I will talk more as it gets closer. It does get better in phase 3- carbs, fruit, etc added slowly.

Wish me luck!

My Stats

Starting Body Fat: 24.8% Goal Body Fat: 21% Starting Weight: 148 Goal Weight: 130 (by mid August) Plan of action: Document all food consumption :( Workout 5 days a week and burn at 350-500 calories per cardio workout Maximum HR: 195 IDEAL Target HR: 165 (no lower than 130) Current Number of pushups: 30 Fitness ability: good

Wedding Update #1- Who wouldd've through bridesmaids shoes are so difficult?!

OK- So, plans have been made and before I knew it I woke up and its only 5 months until the wedding! Time FLIES (and its a bit scary!). Here is my update- Everything is planned EXCEPT for the rehearsal dinner and tuxes. Bridesmaid shoes and dresses are done (ps. what a freaking hassle!) All the other big items are done and booked. Costa Rica is our destination for the honeymoon and I will be enjoying a cold margarita in Mexico with my ladies for the Bachelorette Party in June! Not to mention, my bridal shower is Memorial Day weekend in Florida. I cannot wait! With all this warm weather talk (and after Monica send me lingerie and bikini pics for gift ideas) I realized that I am still not where I want to be in terms of weight and tone. SOOOO, here I am back to square one (but 50lbs lighter this time, thankfully). I went to my Equifit session at the gym today and here are the dreadful stats- see next post!

Weight loss success and wedding update

Well it's a work-from-home day for me because Hoboken got 19 inches of snow last night. This came out of nowhere! I didn't expect it at all!

Today was weigh-in day adn I am down 1 lb for a total of 4 lbs. It's only been two weeks and they haven't been perfect by any means, but we're at least going in the right direction :)

I just got over a dreadful cold and am feeling a lot better! Almost 100%. I still have one day left of the Z-pack so hopefully I will be cured by tomorrow.

Wedding talk/update- Ron and I are going up to the venue on Sunday for Bridal Day and to ask questions, pick our menu, etc. On Saturday, we have an appt with a travel agent to talk Honeymoon and get some ideas.

Also, as of this week, the photographer and band have been booked! We are very excited about this!

I'm baaaaack

In an attempt to get back into amazing shape, eat right and live a healthy lifestyle, I am picking back up where I left off about a year ago. 10lbs heavier than where I was a year ago and with a wedding on the way, I am determined to do THIS! I know I can, it's the self-control that is lacking for me! I am super proud of my mom and sister, who are both on their way to weight loss success! My mom already lose over 20lbs and my sister is exercising every day! I am really proud.

I just finished e-mailing Rachel (one of the trainers and class instructions at my gym) to inquire about personal training. I love this girl- she is super ripped and is hardcore. I hope she isn't crazy expensive so I can (at least) train with her once a week.

Loving my new Kindle that Ron got me for Christmas, I've read almost 4 books in less than a month and my next book will be one that is motivational. I've also vowed to give up red meat (again). It is not that I eat a ton of it but it's something that I am over and everytime I eat it I feel gross... so why do it?

I am also really excited to (hopefully) play for BvB (Blondes v Brunettes) which is a flag football game that is for the Alzheimer's Association charity. I have to raise more than $350 to get a spot on the team OR I just have to be super good... LOL... I'm going with the money donations instead! I cannot wait to play and feel great about it and get into shape while doing it as well!

OK, signing off for today! Wish me luck! :)

10-week Kickboxing training starts tomorrow!

OK, its official... I signed up today at Club KO in Hoboken for a 10-week training program. The program consists of once a week personal training, nutrition counseling, and unlimited kickboxing classes and cardio equipment.

I am posting three pictures for inspiration... I will look as close as possible to one of these three pictures... Don't laugh!

I will try my best to document my progress on here.

My three goals are:

- Lose 20lbs

- Have a flat stomach

- Drop a size or 2....

Alright... Here goes nothing! Wish me luck! ;)

Vegan Shopping List Trial #1

OK, went to the grocery store tonight to prep for my vegetarian/vegan lifestyle...

Things I bought:

Earth Balance buttery spread (better than real butter IMO)

Collard Greens (never tried, but I have a good recipe)

All natural peanut butter

Rice cakes

Amy's Organic soups and Soy Mac & Cheese (the mac & cheese was amazing, I had it for dinner)

Silk Light soy milk (my favorite soy brand)

Celery (for a recipe)

Cabbage (for a recipe)

Raisins (for a recipe)

Pine Nuts (for a recipe)

Unrefined Sea Salt

Brown Rice Vinegar

Anyway, it is a start for now! I want to make one or two recipes at a time... I will be trying a collard green recipe and a noodle recipe over the next few days and will let you know how those go! Wish me luck! :)

This was supposed to be our Christmas card picture, but for some reason I couldn't make the Kodak creator work properly! Anyway, Merry Christmas to all! Peace, love and happiness from Ron and me!

I'm Baaaaack!

I am back on the bloggin wagon as of today! A lot has happened since Easter (my last blog), but I am back to report the happening of the holiday season and the beginning of 2010!

The good things that have happened since....

I lost 60lbs to date

I began working for weight watchers as a part-time receptionist on Saturday mornings

I started a new job

Ron and I are still holding strong

I got to see my family quite a bit over the last year (mostly for good reasons :)

Riley is losing weight!

I am sure there are others, but that's a brief overview for now!

I also haven't eaten red meat in a year! And I am prepping myself to go vegan... I read a book that changed my life and my outlook on the FDA and animal cruelty and I just can't bring myself to continue to eat animals. I know it sounds corny, but if you want to continue eating meat, DO NOT read The Kind Diet (although I do recommend :) I will be reporting on new vegan recipes that I am trying and will post updates on here as well. As I did with my weight loss journey, blogging has helped me stay true to myself and focused on my goals!

More Easter pics!

EASTER!

Tricia

HAPPY EASTER! I spend Easter with my aunt and family in upstate NY! It was so great seeing everyone and I am really glad that I was able to visit! I posted some pics of our egg dying/blowing lesson! Apparently (I learned) that my mom's family "blew out" eggs as an Ukrainian tradition growing up... so, my cousin, Tricia, and I decided that we'd carry on the tradition by blowing out the eggs and then hand painting them!  I painted the striped egg and Tricia decorated the more "fancy" aka "artsy" egg, LOL (above).

I had a great time and I really enjoyed seeing everyone, especially my aunt! My little chicklet! She still cracks me up! Love you Bon Bon! 

I have more pics that will follow of us cousins! 

Florida!

Here are some pics that I took in Florida!  It was so good seeing my family and friends! Definitely worth the week of unemployment I endured!  I was laid off on March 24th from my job that I was at for the last two years... not fun, but everything happens for a reason and I knew at some point, I needed to get out of there, because instead of growing, the company was shrinking fast! So, I interviewed for a Media Planner position only two days after my lay off day and a week later, they offered me the job! I will continue as a Media Planner, working on a variety of accounts, but my main account will be Equinox gyms.  I am very excited! I start tomorrow! Wish me luck! 

Anyway, enjoy my FLORIDA PICS!

Hiking up Bear Mountain!

Ron and I went hiking this past Sunday up Bear Bear in the Hudson Valley of NY.  We took the bus from Port Authority and spent the day hiking.  Of course, we had no map, but I looked back online afterwards and realized that the trail we took was marked "strenuous" and it was 2 miles up and 2 miles back down! It was SUCH an accomplishment! Ron and I packed a lunch and ate it on the top of the mountain! 

Here are some pics... the view was gorgeous! Don't mind the pics of Ron adn I.. they aren't the best... remember, like I said, the trail was marked "strenuous" LOL..

WANTED

I forgot to post this, but as Ron and I were walking in Chelsea, we found a Wanted sign posted in a corner deli of Ron.  Who knew he was wanted for sex abuse, LOL...

(It doesn't REALLY look like him, but as we were walking past it quickly, at a glance, it looked awfully similar...)