Weight Loss Update - Day 36



14 months ago

 Day 36 of weight loss plan
(I know, no make up yet again)

I don't really have time to write a lot, but I did want to update my weight loss.  Surprisingly, I am not really losing a whole lot of weight. I am still only down about 11 pounds.  And yes, that part is still frustrating.  On the bright side, I can tell in my clothes that I am losing inches.  Based on my diet and exercise, the weight will have to fall off at some point simply because of the mathematics of the calories eaten versus calories burned.  It will just take time. 

I saw someone the other day that I had not seen in about 2 months and she made my day.  She was throwing compliment after compliment at me and even told my that my results have inspired her to start doing something herself.  I was very flattered!

On another note, I have got to figure out a way to vary my menu a bit.  That is the next thing on my agenda.  I will let you know how it goes.

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Weight Loss Update - Day 29

Alrighty, it's time for a weight loss update.  I have been at this very difficult endeavor for 29 days now.  That is 29 days with no bread or sweets.  This includes crackers, cookies, white rices, pastas, etc.  Although I am only down 11 pounds (had hoped to be down a tad more by now), my husband tells me that I am losing inches.  He is right about that part because I have lost a half inch off each upper thigh, in addition to losing in other places. When I look at the updated pic, I can tell you I don't near see the results I am looking for.  I have a long way to go!! It's actually quite frustrating. As a matter of fact, I am only posting an update pic because it was requested several times by my readers via email. I wasn't going to post a pic quite yet because I just don't think the results are that drastic. (Boo Hoo!) I am still exercising about an hour each day.  Here is a typical weekly workout schedule in no particular order:

1) run 1.5 miles, 30 minutes of circuit training with Jillian Michaels
2)run 1.5 miles, 30-40 minutes of kettle bell workout
3) run 1.5 miles,  30-45 minutes of Tae Bo
4) run 1.5 miles,  30-44 minutes of Brazil Butt Lift (HARD!)
5) run 4 miles
6) run 1.5 miles, weights at Gym
7) (maybe take off) run 1.5 miles, Ab Boot Camp

I am going to keep at this thing, and time will tell what the end result will be. I do feel better, so that is a plus!
 

This is day 18 or weight loss
minus 10 pounds.



no make up again, oh well!

This is day 29 of weight loss
minus 11 pounds

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Sprite Zero

Sprite Zero with Flavor Packets



The other day as I went to go grab a Sprite Zero®, I spotted some Crystal Light® type drink flavor packets on my kitchen counter.  It dawned on me... Why not try one in the Sprite!  To my surprise, it is absolutely great.  You end up with a fruit flavored drink with the yummy fizzy carbonation.  AND, the big bonus is the drink is low calorie, with about 10 calories per serving. I'm always looking for a de-lish low-calorie beverage!!  (hate drinking my calories!) I'm sure many people before me have tried this little beverage creation, but no one has ever brought it to my attention.  Not only do you have a variety of flavor choices, but they now make flavor packets with additional ingredients, such as vitamins and energy/metabolism boosters.  My favorite so far is the fruit punch.  Try this little Sprite Zero concoction and let me know what you think. 

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Car Seat Regulations

To face forward or not, that is the question.

Most parents look forward to the time when they can flip that car seat around and allow their toddler to ride in a car the 'normal' way.... facing forward.  How nice it is to actually be able to see what your child is doing. They can stretch thier legs out. They can see out the window. They are growing up!  Well, as of April of 2011, some startling statistics have been published. It's surely making me rethink things......

When I took my son for his one year well-check, his pediatricain mentioned that the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that children remain rear-facing in their car seat until the age of two.  I made note of what she said and of course, I felt it necessary to take the advice and follow it. I was quite surprised though, because my little guy is losing leg room by the week, and the poor guy is probably just ready to see the world like his big brother and sister.  As a month or so passed, I noticed a few other kids my son's age riding forward in their car seats.  This has prompted me to read up on this new suggestion by the American Academy of Pediatrics.  Keep in mind, at this point , keeping kids rear-facing in their car seat is simply a suggestion, although it is my guess at some point it may become law. After doing my own research, I think my little Huddie will remain rear-facing for some time to come.

So, just how safe is it to just leave your child facing the rear?  or Maybe I should say, "What is the risk to your child by turning their car seat around before the age of two?"  Ever heard that a picture is worth  a thousand words?  Check this out:



Courtesy of University of Michigan Child Passenger Protection

   

If that picture doesn't make you rethink things, then watch this video:

How about a personal story?

Children under age 2 are 75 percent less likely to die or be severely injured in a crash if they are riding rear-facing

Children should transition from a rear-facing seat to a forward-facing seat with a harness, until they reach the maximum weight or height for that seat. (most people turn their child around at the minimum requirement of 20 pounds or age 1)

Toddlers are up to five times safer if they remain rear-facing until age two.

By the way, only 5% of impacts invloving kids are rear end impacts.

If you have a friend with a baby under the age of 2, share this blog posting. Those are startling statistics!!

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Weight Loss Update

Day 18 of my weight loss plan.........

Yep, to say I have been busting my butt would be a major understatement.  This is my 18th day without SUGAR or BREAD..... if you don't fully understand what that means, how about I say it this way....... my sandwiches are made with lettuce on the outside - NO bread, I eat salad with no croutons, I have things like egg and ham for breakfast............No cookies, no crackers, no brownies, no cake, no biscuits, basically nothing from a box!!!  It has been terribly hard, but it has gotten easier by the day.  I am finally starting to see some results.

As I have said before, I have always run.  I was pretty much running 3-5 miles a day when I started this 'make-over' plan.  I have taken my running down to 1 mile (without stopping) and then I go straight into some kind of other training that is a combination of strength, cardio, and abs.  I typically do about 45 minutes of total workout.  For this training I do a combination of free weights at the gym, Tae Bo with Billy Blanks, Circuit training with Jillian Michaels, and a few other DVDs. 

So, I have some picture updates to share.... Now, keep in mind that I didn't really take a starting picture, although I should have. You can visit the blog I wrote on my first day of the dieting to see a few before pictures from my pregnancy. The first picture I am going to post is on the 12th day of the weight loss plan.  The second picture is on the 18th day (today).  I can not believe the second picture is just 6... YES... SIX days after the first.  I am down almost 10 pounds from when I started, but I think the overall slim down from the training is really going to become apparent over the next several weeks.

Let me know what you think! I need some positive reinforcement...  :-)



Day 12

Day 18
 (no make-up in this picture.. oh well!)

By the way, I go to the beach in 7 weeks, so I better be looking damn good by then... (smile smile)

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Fat Kids

I was asked the other day what I thought of the new Georgia kids' anti-obesity campaign.  My answer was, "What campaign?"  So, of course I went and looked it up, and "Shocked!" would be my first reaction. In my opinion, it is on the verge of bullying.

In order for you to form your own opinion about this campaign, I would suggest you check out the website yourself  before you continue reading this blog posting:   Stop Childhood Obesity   What is the focus of this campaign?  On their Facebook page, they claim they are "radically dedicated to saving the next generation of Georgia’s 2.7MM children by fighting obesity – one child at a time. We will change the reality that Georgia has the 2nd highest rate of childhood obesity in the U.S. through information, education and empowerment." I will agree that they do have the radical part right.

So, why am I so shocked? 

It seems that all this campaign is doing is enlisting some overweight kids and plastering their faces on billboards and videos with the message that overweight (or they like to use the word FAT) kids have health problems... that overweight kids become overweight adults.... that if a child has two overweight parents, he is 60-80% more likely to be an overweight adult.  Do you keep seeing the word 'adult' here?  Well, I am shocked because, why isn't this campaign plastering the adults on the billboards and having them say things like, "Because I let my kid come home each afternoon and eat a bag of chips while he watches tv, he is now overweight."  or "My child suffers from diabetes because of me!"   Where is the accountability of the parents here?  One of the statistics they give is that "24% of Georgia's third graders are obese.".... so I ask this, "Are the third graders the ones doing the grocery shopping?"...that would be the ADULTS, yet again!!!

Why else am I shocked?

If this campaign was really geared to be beneficial, they would be educating kids. In the statement on their Facebook page, it states they want to "educate". Did you notice on their website they have absolutely no educational materials?  They tell you what the problem is, but they don't tell you how to fix it. They just call the kids FAT and move on.  Maybe they need me, the educator, to come up with some creative and fun educational materials to help kids understand calories and fitness.  How about a survey for kids to take so they can see if they are making wise decisions when it comes to food selection. How about a calorie calculator and journal pages where kids can see how many calories they  need in a day and then monitor those calories in their journal?  I could go on and on.

This campaign is gaining national attention, and rightfully so.  Most people seem to think just like I do.  How about you.... is this the way to handle childhood obesity?  Will this campaign work?  I will be the first to say that the statistics prove that obesity is on the rise.  Something needs to be done.  I just don't think this is the approach to take. Compassion for these kids, education for the kids and parents... let's try that first and see how it works.

As featured on The Today Show

 On an ending note, I know  there are some kids that have health problems that contribute to their obesity.  In that case, this message really doesn't deal with that topic. I know that some kids may sneak three brownies when Mom told them to eat one. Maybe that's not the Mom's fault. I know that to some level kids need to be held accountable, but until they are fully educated about the harms of sugar and sweets, all they  know is that it tastes good. So, with that said, I think the campaign should be "Stop Childhood Obesity...educate, don't berate!" 

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Speed Up Your Metabolism

Day 12 of my weight loss plan...................

This is exactly how I felt after doing the Jillian Michael's DVD called Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism. OH, MY ACHING BODY!

Now, keep in mind that despite the fact that I need to lose some weight, I am actually in pretty good shape. Or so I thought.  I mean, I typically run 3-5 miles a day. That's probably more than the average person can do, right?

If you have been following my blog, you know I am trying to lose weight.  So far, so good.  In addition to changing my diet,  I have made some changes in my exercise routine in order to burn more fat and speed up my metabolism.  Let's face it, as much as I enjoy the feeling I get from running, I know that running alone will not give me the results I want.  It's slow, steady, and actually not really productive for building the lean muscle that I need.

So, how has my exercise routine changed? I am now incorporating some exercise DVDs, such as Billy Blank's Ab Boot Camp and the DVD I mentioned earlier called Jillian Michael's Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism. I am also doing a few weight lifting sessions per week. I have about five of Billy Blank's Tae Bo DVDs but only the one by Jillian Michaels.  The one thing that I have maintained is a one mile run before each workout, which I do on the awesome Sole treadmill that I purchased right after Hudson was born.  Let's just say that I am feeling the pain from this new workout change.

OH MY GOODNESS!  After purchasing the Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism DVD, I went to Amazon.com to read some reviews. I was expecting it to be hard... just not THIS hard! Here is what some people said:

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"I purchased this DVD thinking it would be a nice "add on" when it's rainy outside or I can't get to the gym. HAHAHAHAHAHAAHA!! The first time I did it (and keep in mind I've been VERY active and strong for 3 years) I could hardly catch my breath and stopped it at the 30 min mark. It is DIFFICULT!"

"Be forewarned - this is NOT for beginners to fitness."

"This video is truly an 'EXTREME CARDIO' killer!!! Really, I was sweating so hard that I had to stop and take a rest after doing the 180's...... I thought that I was going to have a heart attack =).... "

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Okay, I think you get the point.  Based on what everyone is saying and by how I feel during and after the DVD, I better see some results. My goal is to be able to complete the entire circuit without stopping. There are seven circuits, but right now I can only do about 3-4 without having to call it quits.  I am drenched in sweat and my body aches.

Oh yeah, and you guys out there who think exercising with a girl is too girly for you... I challenge you to try the Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism workout routine and see if she busts your butt!!  Also, if you are like me and basically just a runner by nature and you think you are in shape, you have got to buy this DVD.  You will have a rude awakening! 

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Getting to Know The Blogging Mom

Have you ever visited a blog and you wanted to know more about the author?  Well, I have!  And since The Blogging Mom is gaining more and more dedicated readers daily, I thought I would share a bit about me. These are just tidbits of information about my life, things about my family, things I have accomplished, basically just things that make me who I am. I will rattle them off in random order, and I could probably share a million things, but I'm just going to share what pops in my head.

• My parents divorced when I was 6.
• I have been married almost 18 years to my high school sweetheart.
• My brother is a doctor, my sister is a police officer.
• My husband is a teacher.
• My husband and I  have 5 college degrees between the two of us.
• I have taught in the public schools  for 15 years.
• Both of my older kids are in the gifted program.... terrific athletes, too.
• I used to own a kids' consignment shop called ReWearables.
• I have written a book titled Building a Home by Staying at Home. I have a copyright on the book, and it can be found in the Library of Congress. I was offered a deal by a publisher, but I didn't agree with the terms. Maybe one day.
• I owned a very successful Internet company for four years called Stuff a Zoo.  I have a registered trademark on the name.  When I found out I was expecting baby #3, something had to give, so I sold off all merchandise.  It was a hard thing, but I have no regrets.
• I taught night classes at a local technical college for a couple of years. I taught adults who were taking classes in the elementary education and child development department.  
• I ran cross country and track in high school.
• I went on to run cross country in college for a couple of years. 
• I suffered from Anorexia as a young teenager.... doctors, psychologists, the whole bit. It was not a fun time in my life. I can remember the satisfaction I gained when I was in the eighth grade and the scale said 89 pounds. I plan to blog more about this one day.
•  I have no living grandparents.
• I had many jobs as a teenager: nursing home, day care, shoe sale's person, men's clothing store.
• My first car was a Honda Prelude.
• I had one miscarriage before my first child was born.
• I love coffee and Diet Coke.
• I was diagnosed with Grave's disease after the birth of my daughter. I am in a remission, but my thyroid is checked often.
• I have three kids that I adore.
• and I could go on and on!!! 

So, that's a bit about me.  I am who I am.... the good, bad, and (not so often) ugly.... Life is good!

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Starbucks Cup with Straw

As I was standing in the checkout line at Starbucks waiting for my coffee to be served, this cup caught my attention.

Between the water and protein shakes I am consuming, I pretty much have a cup in my hand at all times. So, as you can see, I bought it.  Something about this cup just makes my protein shakes look and taste better.  Not only that, but it is insulated, which of course means it will keep it cold just a tad longer. This cup is going to get a lot of use!

OH yeah, and if the people at Starbucks happen up on this blog, shoot me an email for my mailing address. I think I have earned a gift card, as I am going to be a walking billboard for sometime to come.

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Drinking Water for Weight Loss

Day 9 of my weight loss plan......

Here I am trying to lose weight and I know I should be drinking water. One problem though... I really do hate water.  I will drink water during my workout session or after I run, usually about 32 ounces or something like that, but other than that, I have to make myself drink water.  Some people love water. Some people drink water all day long. Me, I would rather drink a Diet Coke any 'ole day.  Here is the deal though, everything you read about weight loss and nutrition states you should be drinking water in order to speed up the metabolism and cleanse the body of all the bad stuff. And get this.... I also read you should get more than the standard 8 glasses if you are trying to lose weight:

"Eight 8-ounce glasses amount to about two quarts of water. This is okay for the average person, but if you're overweight, you should drink another eight ounces for every 25 pounds of excess weight you carry."

CRAP!!! So, where does that leave me? I thought 8 - 8 ounce glasses was going to be hard.  This is pretty much saying I need SIXTEEN eight ounce glasses. Are you kidding me???

Anyway, I am going to try and be positive about this. Today is the day that I am going to try to increase my water consumption.  Right now it's about 11:00 am, and I have already had 32 ounces (near miracle). For the first 16 ounces I used a  five-calorie flavor packet.  For the second-16 ounces I drank plain water.

I will let you know how it goes....... that is, only if I can break away from all the potty breaks I will be taking!

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Homemade Protein Shakes

Day 7 of my weight loss plan............

That's right... here we are at Day 7 of the diet, and I have shaken it up with lots of protein shakes. I am proud to say that I am down 5 pounds.  I know, five pounds in one week seems like a lot, but keep in mind that I have pumped up the protein and removed bad carbs. I'm still exercising, combining cardio with some weight training, so my hope is the pounds will continue to fall off. Honestly, I can't believe I have done this good for seven straight days.  Even though I had my mind set on making these changes, I had my doubts about myself and my ability to follow through with it.  

Speaking of protein, have you ever really looked at the recommended amount of protein for your daily diet?  I have looked at it before, but I have never really crunched the numbers, especially if you are looking to lose weight.  The amount of protein suggested is crazy high.  Although you can find differing numbers from various sources, here is one example from a website called Fat Loss School.

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There are 4 calories in a single gram of protein. Therefore 180 – 630 calories in terms of grams of protein would be roughly 45 – 157.5 grams of protein. Here’s a list of protein calories and grams you should be eating depending on the calories in your diet:

If you’re on a 1200 calorie diet, 120-420 calories (30-105 grams) of protein are recommended.


If you’re on a 1400 calorie diet, 140-490 calories (35-122.5 grams) of protein are recommended.


If you’re on a 1500 calorie diet, 150-525 calories (37.5-131.25 grams) of protein are recommended.


If you’re on a 1600 calorie diet, 160-560 calories (40-140 grams) of protein are recommended.


If you’re on a 2000 calorie diet, 200-700 calories (50-175 grams) of protein are recommended.

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Now, how many of you actually have a diet that consists of 150 grams of protein a day?  It is near impossible unless you are trying to achieve that goal.  Take a look at the packages of crap you eat each day. Most junk has incredibly high carbs and near zilch on the protein.  In order to get the protein high in my diet, I incorporate protein shakes. Here is the deal though, most protein shakes are not very tasty with just the powder alone.  Therefore, I have worked to devise some yummy protein shake recipes that are helping make this weight loss journey a tad easier. So far, my favorite is the Strawberry Vanilla protein shake.  It's practically sinful! Most of the shakes have 18 grams of protein and between 150-190 calories.

  

This is my white chocolate protein shake.



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BIRTHDAY GIVE AWAY- today only!



That's right! We are having a BIRTHDAY blog give-away, and it's ONLY today!! I hit the big 40 today.

Join the birthday fun and try to win. To be entered in the give away, you just have to the following steps listed below, and then follow the directions at the bottom to make sure you get credit for participating. If you have kids, this is a fun give away or it's a great gift! You are entering for the chance to win 4 teddy bear outfits that will fit the 15 inch Build a Bear animals. They are brand new outfits still in the package. And, its a whopping $40 value!!! Plus, we pay the shipping. You simply can't lose by entering. Good luck!! Scroll down for all the details.


IMPORTANT NOTE:  Spread the word, because in order for me to name a winner, I need at least 40 people to participate. That means 40 comments on 40 different facebook accounts. One entry per facebook account. If there are not 40 participants then there will not be a winner named. Oh well, but that's the birthday rule  :-)

SHIPPING TO U.S. address only!!!  (sorry)
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To enter - Post this message on your facebook wall and 'like' us: GIVE AWAY- hurry! enter today only.....It's The Blogging Mom's 40th birthday and she is giving away a gift worth $40. It's 4  brand new, still in the package, teddy bear outfits. These outfits will fit the 15 inch Build a Bear animals. You can pick for boy, girl, or both. Spread the word, she needs 40 participants for a winner to be named.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Blogging-Mom/169876523037748

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Remember, once you have posted the message on your facebook wall AND 'liked' us, please visit our wall on facebook and leave a comment under the birthday give-away posting (found under the discussion section) letting us know you did the requirements.

TONIGHT at 10:00 pm eastern time, we will use random.org to choose a winner! The winner will receive 4 teddy bear outfits. The winner will be named on May 2. We select the outfits but you can tell us if it's for boy or girl. We'll cover shipping! All entries MUST be posted as a comment to the ' birthday give away' under the discussion section on our facebook page - no exceptions. We will be counting these and then submitting that number to Random.org to choose the winner. Your designated number will be  based on the placement of your comment. For example, if you make the first comment your number will be 1. If your comment/entry isn't listed on facebook where we specified (under the birthday give-away posting- under the discussion section), it simply won't be counted. Entries close 5/01/11 at 10:00 pm.  If a winning comment cannot be verified, an alternate will be chosen.

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