Fresh Start

 Introduction-

For those of you that don't know, I am currently enrolled at a community college studying Human Services, in pursuit of my Addiction Studies Certificate.  That in and of itself is a story on its own, but not for the immediate post at hand.  However, for the certificate one of my elective classes is "Self Esteem Strategies".  This class is where the idea spurred for starting afresh my "food journey" blog.  In class we are working on goal setting, with the aim of using visualization as one of the techniques to implement in attaining our goals.  I found it interesting and encouraging to learn that visualization is a technique also supported by science, according to one of the speakers of a Ted Talk You Tube video.  However, I myself have not looked at the research to determine how valid or reliable it is. Nevertheless, I am still able to create a goal, and work towards it.

Goal- 

So my goal is to lose 40 pounds safely within a 6 month time frame.  I want a great body!

Reward-

For every ten pounds lost, I have decided to reward myself.  I plan to get a new haircut (oh I may as well add highlights in there too, since I am starting to see more grays).  After 20 pounds lost, I will treat myself to a manicure.  After 30 pounds lost I will treat myself to a pedicure.  Finally when I have lost the 40 pounds I plan to treat myself to a professional muscle massage from the local Korean day spa. If during covid that is not an option, I will still do some kind of celebrating for my accomplishment.  It might be a new outfit, or 5 new outfits.  Anyways the rewards are set.

Every Sunday or once a week I will blog about my fresh start.  I will "discuss" with you the reader about how its going with my food intake.  Right now I am in the planning and preparation stage.  I have allotted some time of a week or two for both the menu planning and the grocery shopping for ingredients to make delicious low calorie low carb foods that I am likely to enjoy.  Lemons are on my mental list, for they are excellent to squeeze into a warm glass of water in the morning to aid digestion when I first wake up.  I say warm water only because its so cold in the mornings.  But cool water is fine if that's your preference I suppose.  

Action Plan-

• I will buy a dozen lemons within one week by Friday 3/12/21.
• I will create a weekly menu plan by same time frame Friday 3/12/21.
• I will go grocery shopping by ASAP Sunday 3/14/21.
• I will count calories, carbs, etc.  I will find the food diary and record it OR just buy a new food journal on or before Sunday 3/21/21.
• I will commit to a daily physical activity, such as strength training resistance, aerobic exercise such as zumba/dance, yoga/pilates, and.or walking neighborhood for 30 minutes daily by Saturday 3/6/21.  (I missed the deadline for starting my exercises yesterday, so my next best way to handle it is to start tomorrow on Monday 3/8/21 with walking at the minimum.)
• I will drink 8 glasses of H2O daily starting Saturday 3/6/21.  (Again I did not meet my quota nor deadline to start yesterday.  Fortunately, tomorrow Monday is a new day for me to start afresh on this aspect of my overall goal.)
• I will create and compile easy veggie recipes of the foods and flavors I like within a 2 weeks time so by 3/19/21.
• I will "blog" my journal ASAP with one or more weekly entries every Sunday starting on 3/7/21.  Yaye!  I did it!  I almost forgot then suddenly I remembered this goal.  So I also added it into my day planner now so to remind me what I've set myself to do each week.  I am planning to commit to blog (writing) each week for the next 6 months duration of "losing 40 pounds safely".  If a weekly blog turns out to be "too much" then I am free to adjust accordingly, and vice versa.  This is just my initial starting point.
• I will find one person to "join me" in weight loss.  I will "offer" to help him or her to lose weight also.  In other words, I am looking for a "study buddy" who will be my weight loss partner in crime.  I am looking for someone who will be my accountability partner and or someone I can teach or coach in weight loss.  The buddy system is such a great tool.  Why do something alone when doing it together is so much more fun and rewarding for all involved?  Yes, if you or someone you know wants to join me in this process feel free to come along!

To be continued-

I am so excited to be starting afresh on this goal.  I lost almost 60 pounds in 2011 and kept it off for 2 years before slowly regaining.  I am using both what has worked in the past before as well as a few new techniques.  I really hope someone will join me.  Last time I lost a large amount of weight my friend was the leader.  She taught me how to do it.  This time I am leading myself and I would be super blessed to help another person along the way also.  So if you are wanting to lose 5 pounds or 50 , I'm not a doctor but I can encourage coach and teach you about what I am doing.  Until next week, be safe and be well.  Always take good care of yourself.  Love yourself.  Accept yourself.  God is so for you and wants to bless you.  How can I say that?  Because that is the nature and character of my God.  Thanks for reading my blog.  God bless you always.

Monday

Breakfast: Warm water with fresh squeezed lemon juice, one smoothie with grapefruit and fresh cactus, one slice wheat toast with easy peanut butter, one cup of nonfat milk

Morning Snack: One banana, one cup of hot green tea, 2 shortbread cookies

Lunch: One orange, one cup of coffee black, and one mixed grain bagel with low calorie cream cheese

Afternoon Snack: None...well, a client gave me a medium 16 oz. sized Mexican hot chocolate...(milk, cocoa, and cinnamon, and loaded with sugar I'm sure!)

Dinner: One whole wheat medium sized tortilla, Brown rice with lentils and veggies, one cup of nonfat milk, so far that's it...

Packed an apple and yogurt parfait with fruit in my lunch but have not gotten to eat it yet...i guess save for tomorrow!

Summary of today: Not good not bad! A little cheating with the shortbread cookies and the Mexican hot chocolate. It is so hard to resist and say no sometimes! Especially when receiving someone else's "hospitality". However, I DID thorougly enjoy the hot cocoa!! So, no regrets there. It's 9:40 pm now; I have just enough time to go to gym and use elliptical machine if I want. Only problem is it's been raining today and is so cold now. Therefore, it's very difficult to get out of the house! But, if I truly wanted to, I could do it. Hmmm...that is THE question: do I really want to (go exercise now)?

Sunday Meals

7:30 am Breakfast, McMuffin and cup of coffee with 2 creams and 2 splendas, 300 calories

1:00 pm Lunch, One cup of nonfat milk, one small pice of rice cake (ddeok) with beans on top

4:00 pm Dinner, half cup of brown rice, half cup of cooked lentil beans with mixed veggies

4:30 pm Dessert, nonfat yogurt, one banana, honey, one tablespoon peanut butter

8:30 pm Snack, one cup of nonfat moo, one small gala apple, one more tablespoon of peanut butter

Sunday 12/4/11

Breakfast: one slice of white toast with nutella spread, half an orange, one cup of nonfat milk, one cup of hot green tea.

Lunch: yogurt and fruit parfait, one banana.

Snacks: carrot sticks and hummus, the other half an orange.

Dinner: humble black beans, Mexican rice, one cup of nonfat milk, and half a cup of green beans, everything PORTIONED CONTROLLED.

Dessert: one cup of instant coffee with cream and sugar (no bueno).

No exercise today.

Thoughts: Not good, but not bad. Just sort of right in the middle; average! Need to find time for exercise. Have been so busy past few weeks with work. Felt overwhelmed. And stressed. All I can do is my best. And, pray! Prayer will help alot. New week. New beginning!!

Give Me 5 More

Got up and ate an apple. I went off to the gym. I ran on the elliptical machine for 30 minutes. I burned a whole 300 calories!! Yes! Drank a fruit smoothie with whey protein mix. And, ate a half breakfast sandwich from Mother's. It had egg, bacon, a soy meat, tomato, avocado on a sourdough bread toasted or grilled. I dipped it in ketchup when I got home. It lasted me a long long time! Ate lunch from Trader Joes: a cabbage salad with couscous, garbanzo beans and tomato. Also had an organic orange and a banana, and a very small handful of trail mix with cashews, almonds and chocolate pieces. Drank a cup of soy milk. I am so full now. And, am drinking plenty of water today! And, green tea too.

My exercise plan for the week is yoga twice, Zumba twice, Body Abs twice, and Boot Camp once. I am also planning to do elliptical machine daily for 30 minutes. I want to do all this exercise, but, when the rubber meets the road we'll see how my body handles it. They say that we should exercise every day. I'll do it if my body cooperates. If not, then at least I have high expectations!!

My food intake needs to be monitored this month as well. I want to end the year 2011 well and eat as healthy as I can throughout the month of December! Only healthy drinks here please! And, healthy meals too. Can I lose 5 more pounds this year, for a total of 50? I'm down 45 pounds since January of 2011. Let's see if my body will give me 5 more!

Leftovers for Dinner

I took leftover ddeok guk (a soup made with rice cakes) and turned it into a form of ddeokk pok gi (a kind of spicy rice cake concoction). I added some frozen green onion I had on hand, plus some shredded carrot, soy sauce, fish sauce, and go chu jang (a red pepper paste). I didn't have any unfrozen meat to add to it for protein, but I did find some soy beans still in the pods in my fridge, so I used those as a side dish. Soy beans contain enough protein like an egg, so I was quite proud of myself for coming up with this quick and tasty, reasonably nutritous meal. Furthermore, I made sure to portion control the spicy rice cakes, othersise if I ate too many it would show both on my body and on the scales!! And, to down it I drank a cup of nonfat moo.

Lunch today was semi-healthy. Caeser chicken salad with a fruit and yogurt parfait. The unhealthy part of the salad was definately the dressing. A serving of caeser dressing contains almost 200 calories!! Probably not worth it.

And, I did too much snacking today. I ordered a medium sized latte from Starbucks and two small bite size pastries. I'm sure that adds up to 500 calories alone. This was not a good nor healthy snack choice today.

On the plus side, I went to body works abs class this afternoon. It is a class at the gym utilizing the weights and repetitions for an hour. So that was a good use of my time!

I'm planning to hit the gym next week for classes M-Th at 8pm (due to my work schedule change). Am looking forward to the variety it will entail. Some aerobic, some stretching, and some toning. A combination of all the exercises "they" say we need!!

Heading into the holiday season will not put a damper on my healthy lifestyle efforts. If anything, it makes me have a new resolve in my heart to continue on the path. I am aware that I am at a pivotal time of my journey. Although I would love to lose 10 more pounds, its not all about the pounds. I definately don't want to GAIN IT ALL BACK like so many people do. So, I am and have been, at the maintaining stage. Now is the time to continue and maintain the path that I have been on, not go backwards. A continued focus, and priority of health and fitness is what is needed now for me.

Having health and fitness buddies on the same journey as I is also helpful. God has given me several health and fitness buddies and I am thankful for each and every one of them.

Thanksgiving Day Breakfast

For today's breakfast I made white toast with a little bit of butter and strawberry spread, one scrambled egg sauteed with garlic and made with onion, green bell pepper, a little cilantro and jalepeno, seasoned with salt and pepper, and topped with queso fresco, a Mexican style cheese made from skim milk. I cooked the onions and pepper in the microwave instead of in oil, to try and cut down on calories. But, then I used a tiny bit of oil to cook the eggs. I also had one small gala apple and one cup of nonfat milk.

Need to go to store for more nutella spread. I love that stuff on my toast. Once I use up my white bread, I am going to try to get wheat and/or multi grain bread instead. Still trying to eat up what's in the fridge, freezer and pantry before going to supermarket as much as possible. Have to buy some yogurt and fresh oranges.

I am 10 pounds away from my weight goal, though I am content with where I am at now too. I know I can lose this belly fat if I eat right and switch up my exercise routine. That is why, starting last week, I have intentionally added weight training to my exercise routine. I just take a class at my gym that uses weights and repetitions throughout the class. I am a beginner and at this point taking a class is the best way for me to learn how to use weights.

It may be Turkey Day, but that doesn't mean I have to eat like one!

Success

Today is Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving. Breakfast consisted of a bowl of kashi cereal with a cup of nonfat moo. I stopped at Starbucks for a iced coffee drink and a mini vanilla scone (140 calories for 3 or 4 bites of bliss). Not sure how many calories in the iced frap. Lunch was a ham and turkey sandwich from Subway on wheat bread with honey mustard and alot of veggies, plus a drink. I also ate a fruit and yogurt parfait. The yogurt was low fat yogurt. My drink was the green tea, but it is the sweetened with honey kind. And, it dawned on me, I wonder how many calories are in that drink? I wonder if there are "hidden" calories in that particular green tea drink that I have not accounted for? I should find out about that. If it contains too many calories then it may be worth taking it out of my diet. For dinner I ate a chicken salad with low calorie balsamic vinegarette dressing from Carl's Jr. I also took a new Zumba TONING class and then drank a protein shake at home. Finally, I warmed up while watching Biggest Loser, Thanksgiving Edition, at home with a hot cider worth another 80 calories.

I love that I exercised today. I almost skipped my exercise to go visit someoene. But, I love the good feeling I get from working out. I love the energy it gives me! I also appreciate the decent eating I did today. Sure, I ate a mini scone from Starbucks. It is truly one of my indulgences, along with the mocha frap drink. However, I made healthy food choices throughout the rest of my day. A sandwich for lunch; a salad (with chicken) for dinner.

I could have added at least one more serving of fruit to make my day a wee bit healthier. But, I did do good by choosing the low cal vinegarette dressing! The past couple of days I'd been choosing the 100 calorie dressing with my McDonald's chicken salad.

I gave up eating fast food at the beginning of the year. Now, when I visit a Carl's Jr., or a McDonald's, I tend to lean towards the chicken salads, hands down!! I do alot of traveling with my tutoring job, and sometimes it is easier to grab something on the go than to pack it. My preference is to pack a sack lunch simply because it's cheaper, though it's not always possible or doable.

My workout plan for the next 2 weeks is to hit the gym classes M-Th at 8pm. Beginning with next week, I am tutoring again 4pm to 7 pm, so hitting the gym classes then won't be possible. I also have morning teaching classes Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for the next 2 weeks, so hitting the gym on those mornings will also be impossible.

After 2 weeks, then I will be freed up on Monday and Wednesday mornings to hit the gym if I want. And, I want!! There is a Wednesday morning Zumba class that I'd like to take. And, there is a Monday morning boot camp class that I think would be good, plus I like the instructor!!

I signed up for Zumba TONING classes starting in January. I am hoping to take some TONING classes at my gym in December, as my schedule allows.

Other goals related to fitness include running my 1st 5K, and becoming certified to teach Zumba. I have been mulling these things over in my mind for quite some time now.

The final benefit I like from living an active lifestyle (meaning getting a daily dose of exercise, or something close to it), is the mental benefit it brings to me. The endorphins and the energy it brings to my life benefits me immensely. I want to make diet and exerise an intentional part of my life from now on. (By diet I mean food intake is making healthy choices).


Finally, I need to invest in a scale for home. I've only been using the scale at the gym or the scale at the Korean spas to weigh myself!! I think it's time I get one for my home!!
Until next time...

How did I do today? I'm not sure. I think okay overall. But, probably could have done better. Here's the low-down:

Breakfast:
*2 slices of wheat toast (as opposed to one)
*with nutella spread
*one orange
*one cup of nonfat moo
*instant coffee with cream and sugar

Snack:
*one small gala apple

Lunch:
*ham and cheese melts on 2 corn tortillas, jack cheese, and seasoned with hot sauce and tomato slices on top, about half a tomato, maybe 4 oz. of cheese, and one serving of ham lunchmeat
*one banana
*a handful of nacho cheese tortilla chips, why did I do that? It was a craving!

Snack:
*mushrooms, about a handful
*celery, about 2 stalks
*2 T. hummus with jalepeno and cilantro

Dinner:
*fried rice with kimchi and soy bean sprouts, it was brown rice, fried with a little bit of leftover kimchi, and about a cup of the soy bean sprouts, along with soy sauce and sesame oil and seeds, not bad!
*one cup of nonfat moo
*one slice of leftover orange from morning

Exercise:
Zumba for about 40 minutes because I was late and the substitute Zumba instructor stopped 5 minutes early~I didn't dare weigh myself on the scale today. I'm too scared. I was going to do yoga tonight but I didn't get myself moving in time to go. Yeah, sometimes I get in a little bit of a funk, so today was kind of one of those days. I was happy to run into Cathy this morning as I was leaving the gym she was at the ATM machine. And then I took some time in the jacuzzi at home. Yes, it was a pleasant day; I even got to read a book. This book is by John Wimber on Intimate Prayer. Well, actually, it is more like a little booklet. Anyways, wow! There are so many jewels packed in that little book. Maybe I can share one with you. Hmmm...let's see. The reward of intimate prayer is not the answer but in intimacy alone with the Father. Well, I'm not sure if I am recalling it accurately, but I think that was the jist of the idea. Anyways, this is not a book review blog, this is a health and fitness blog!! Stick to the topic please. (Just kidding~) Thanks for reading. Have a nice day!! Leave me an encouraging note!!

My Trip to Wholesome Choice

So, like I said, I needed to buy some healthy snack alternatives to eat, since I was starting to eat cookies at least twice this week! So, off to Wholesome Choice I went, in search of healthy foods and some good deals.

I cannot believe what I found there this afternoon when I went! And, I am so pleased!! They had gala apples on sale, so I got some of those. They also had Valencia oranges on sale, so I grabbed some of those too. I found some hummus for buy one get one free, so I grabbed that. The carrots were a one or two pound bag for 59 cents!! And, the celery I'm not sure, but I think was super cheap too. I alos picked up a package of mushrooms for 99 cents. Alltogether I paid under $10, or just around $10 for all that yummy, delicious, and healthy produce. I also got some roma tomatoes for 59 cents a pound or some outrageous figure like that!! I'm not kidding. And, I'm so happy (about the savings I accrued today). I feel so blessed to have gotten a week's worth of fresh produce for my healthy snacks for $10. I'm not sure I've ever gotten such a good deal before from the market!!

But, I'm not done with my story! There's more!! So, as I was departing the market, the man from Salvation Army was there, taking monetary donations. And, he looked Hispanic to me. I cannot ignore this man! So, I talked with him in Spanish and told him that I was sorry that I didn't have any cash on me (which was true). And, then I asked him (in Spanish) if he would like some fruit? He said yes, so I gave him a banana, an orange, and an apple. I'm not sure who felt happier afterwards, him or me. I think I walked away from that situation feeling like a total winner!! I love when God gives divine appointments or little opportunities to bless others. I know a year ago I might have felt annoyed that this man was standing in front of me, begging for money. But, God has done a work in my heart and changed me. Yep. This is my story!!

Oh Noooooo

Uh-oh! I need to be careful!! Today I ate these delicious biscuit cookies from Trader Joe's. If I only had 3 or 4 cookies then that would have been fine. But, I snacked, and snacked, and snacked. Uh-oh is right. I better be careful.

If that was the only mishap then maybe I wouldn't have reason to worry. However, yesterday I also took a mis-step. Were they those chocolate fudge cookies again? Actually, that might have been Sunday; I'm not sure. But, I know I need to watch what I am putting into my mouth! Always.

Why am I so concerned about what I eat nowadays? For one thing, I lived almost a decade or longer without taking thought to what I injested. Consequently, I gained nearly 50 some pounds!! Secondly, I didn't lose all this weight for nothing; I mean, I didn't lose all this weight only to gain it all back again. So, it is necessary for me to pay attention to what I eat and to eat well, so that I might maintain a healthy weight from this day onward.

On a positive note, after our meeting tonight I went to the gym and worked on the elliptical machine for one hour and burned 550 some calories. I like when that happens!

So, yeah, this is my story!!

I'm Not at a Plateau Anymore

137 tonight at the gym with just a towel and flip flops on. I cannot believe it!! So, this tells me that my coach, trainer and friend, Jane, was right! She said to remain faithful and to keep eating right, and my body would do its thing. Well, those are my words but her concept!! I was around 139-141 for at least 3 months if not 4 or more!! I would have to check my actual records in order to know for certain. What I do know now, is, that, it is highly likely that my body will get down to at least 135 soon, and possibly 130 by the end of the year if not sooner. I feel like this is a strong possibility!!!

On another note, working out at the gym today was challenging. I did the elliptical machine for one hour. At the 30 minute mark I was ready to be done. But, I also wanted to push myself for another 30 because it's good for the heart and I like burning calories!! So, I did the 60 minutes in total, knowing that my body had rested enough. I hadn't been to the gym since Friday morning, so by Sunday afternoon my body should be able to hit the gym hard again. I could have given up like I did on Friday morning, but I didn't this time.

And of course, the usual jacuzzi time afterwards. That's my favorite part, indeed!

Sunday 10/23/11

Half good, half so-so:

Breakfast:
*one biscuit easy with the butter and strawberry preserves
*one tangerine
*2 scrambled eggs with tomatoes, green onion and garlic, seasoned with salt and tapitio hot sauce
*topped the eggs with one half of an avocado
*one cup of nonfat milk
*one cup of hot green tea

Lunch:
*leftover chicken and rice-vegetable soup
*salad with turkey meat, cucumber and bean sprouts topped with easy sesame soy giner dressing
*one apple with 1 or 2 T. of peanut butter
*small serving of nonfat vanilla yogurt

Trying to drink plenty of water and may go to workout at the gym this afternoon. What's for dinner? Who knows?

Why did I just eat those chocolate fudge cookies? I'd been doing so well so far today. Grrr. One mistake. Little foxes spoil the vine. Grrr. Next time (tomorrow) hopefully I will do better! Anger, regret, acceptance, resolve.

Lazy Saturday

Ah, today is becoming a lazy Saturday! I love and hate when this happens!! Anyways, foodwise, so far so good. Breakfast just a simple slice of wheat toast with nutella, one orange, one cup of hot green tea. I ran out of milk so will have to go to store later to get some. Mid morning snack was a banana and another cup of hot green tea. Yes, I love green tea! So far dong fine. Now if I could only get my butt moving and doing something, then all would be well. He he.

Victory in Sight?

I totally enjoyed Jane's Zumba class last night (Thursday). But, getting up this morning and out the door on time for Dawn's morning Zumba class proved to be difficult. I think I did it last week, but this week I think the weather was affecting my mood. It is so overcast in the morning, it's like pulling me down a little bit. Or, maybe because I have a major decision to make in the next 10 days that is stressing me out a little. Maybe I feel a combination of all these. Whatever the case, I made myself get to the gym. Well, I was running late, so I got sidetracked with an errand, and then got myself to the gym. And, dance class was over by then. So, I opted for the elliptical machine.

I was hoping for one hour on the machine, but, after 30 minutes, I had to quit. My body was done! All I can think is that my body needs, or needed, a time of rest from last night's dance class. Last week when I was exercising every day for an hour, I was going in the evenings and allowed like a 24 hour rest in between most of the workouts.

Ok, so now for the success part of my entry. I don't know what compelled me, but I decided to check my weight on the scale this morning. 137?!! Really? I was elated. Esctatic. Unbelieveable! Just last night at the gym I thought the scale said 140 or 141. So, morning time is best time to take my weight! Ha ha. Yes, I'm 137 now. And, it makes me feel like a million bucks. Well, it also motivates me to continue on this road. It makes me want to keep eating the right foods and it makes me want to keep exercising.

Wow~thanks God for helping my body come down to the 130s range. I want my body to glorify You, too.

That's all for now.

Exciting Day

I woke up and changed up my breakfast today.

Today's Breakfast:
*One slice of wheat bread
*One tablespoon of nutella spread
*One orange
*One cup of non fat milk
*One cup of hot green tea
*Multi vitamin and fish oil supplement, fiber tablet too

Today's lunch is packed:
*One apple
*One banana
*Ham sandwich meat
*Non fat vanilla yogurt
*Cheddar cheese, 1 or 2 oz., for a mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack most likely

Thursday Redemption

Yes, Wednesday was a little bit of a fall from grace; I ate the whole slice of the dreaded cheesecake! I'm sure it must have been around 400 calories or more for that one slice. So, today (Thursday) I had a much improved day.

Breakfast
*Oatmeal
*Non fat milk
*Walnuts
*Cup of instant coffee with powdered cream and sugar

Lunch
*Rice noodle Vietnamese soup with beef
*Served with peppers, basil, cilantro and bean sprouts

After Lunch Dessert
*non fat frozen yogurt from yogrutland (chocolate, strawberry and taro flavors)
*topped with blueberries, strawberries and carob/chocolate chips

Late Afternoon Snack
*Hot green tea from Starbucks
*Petite Vanilla Scone (it's my other weakness)

Dinner
*steak fajitas with sauteed veggies (onion and peppers)
*no tortilla
*one cup of nonfat milk

Exercise
*Zumba with Jane for one hour. My favorite time of day. And, she played Waca Waca song. One of my current favorites!!

My diet lacked enough fruit today, but, at least I didn't gorge out on cheesecake!! I was definately tempted today by all the sweets at Starbucks. I got a petite vanilla scone which has around 140 calories because you only get like 3 or 4 bites out of it!! I'm laughing because some of their other desserts and breads contain 300 or more calories!! Uh, yeah, I'm not doing much of that anymore! At least in theory anyways!!

Tomorrow is Friday. Another day to try and live right. Morning Zumba class with Dawn. And, that's all that I have planned for the day. Study and/or prepare for my ESL class. Maybe a little bit of both. And, try to eat healthily. This is my life. And saving $1.00 a day for next year's cruise with Vineyard!! I think that would be so fun to go on a cruise with Vineyard! Oh yeah!!

I'm So Angry!

The other day someone told me she had gained the weight she had lost! I don't know why, but I felt so mad inside. Why didn't she keep the weight off? Well, I should have talked with her more so that I could know and understand her story. But, as of now, I do not know her story. Why did she lose the weight? How did she gain it all back? What was that like for her?

And, I think it's not just her story in particular that makes me angry. But, I've heard of stories of other women, women that I know, who have made great strides in this area only to fail again. It makes me so sad for them! And, it makes me determined not to fall into the trap that they fell into.

I know how important what I feed my body is now. I have to constantly say "no" to sweets. For example, I am in a Starbucks Coffee Shop right now, and would I not just love one of their desserts? Yes, of course! Absolutely. And, once in a while is probably not going to cause me to gain 50 pounds. However, I mostly choose other foods because it is in my body and health's best interest to do so.

This is just where I am at today. I think when others around me who used to be thin and then become big again, hits close to home. I'm afraid of that happening to me. I love this new body that I have. I wouldn't even mind if I went down 10 more pounds if my body will do it. I can't imagine what it would feel like to lose 50 pounds only to gain it back.

Yes, I think I both fear that happening to me, and am projecting what I might feel if that did happen to me. I would feel sorrow and anger towards myself for regressing. A-ha; now I'm getting somewhere!!

So, I am motivated to maintain what I've gained thus far, and I welcome more poundage shed if possible. This is my story.

I Can't Get Noooo Sat-tis=fact-tion~

So, today I am like totally satisfied with myself overall. The only "down" side of the day was drinking the instant coffee which contained sugar and creamer already in it. That kind of coffee is my weak spot.

Breakfast today was the typical one scrambled egg, one orange, one cup of non fat milk, one cup of hot green tea, one slice of wheat toast with some nutella spread (probably too fattening), and one cup of cooked veggies.

Drank the instant coffee in the morning as a mid morning snack.

Lunch was a salad of spinach, cucumber, green beans and lean ham lunch meat (only 60 calories for the ham). Drizzled with 2 tablespoons of dressing from Trader Joes, the sesame ginger soy dressing (only 35 calories for 2 T). Also ate a 6 oz. portion of lowfat yogurt and about a half a cup of strawberries.

Drank iced green tea and an americano. I put some non fat milk in the americano along with one or two packets of splenda.

For dinner I made a fish and vegetable spicy stew, and served it with a half cup of cooked white and brown rice mixed, and some kimchi and a cup of non fat milk. Totally satisfying.

Exercise today was one hour on the elliptical type machine. I did it in 4 fifteen minute increments (just like they did on the Biggest Loser a few weeks ago). I burned somewhere between 500 and 550 calories in that one hour workout alone. My favorite part of working out is by far the jacuzzi time afterwards!! This has always been my truth.

I am pleased with myself today. I am hoping to hit the gym EVERY DAY this week (Monday through Friday) for one hour of cardio or toning classes. My other goal is to focus intensely on eating right throughout the week. One day down, 4 more to go. I'll tackle the weekend after that.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Thanks God for redeeming my body from what it was to where it is, and to where it may be going. I love Jesus because He 1st loved me!! Amen.