Food Log: 12.31.08

The last day of 2008 ended the year on a good note. I ate within the points range I wanted.

My favorite new thing is dried fruits & nuts by peeled snacks that are now available at a movie theater in downtown Houston. I had the bing cherry/apple/peach/walnut/cashew blend. It is so nice to be able to have a snack at the movies that isn't high in fat or sugar. I know where I am going to the movies from now on. I won't have to fight myself to only order a diet soda and be satisfied. I can have a snack too. Awesome!

food	ww points
b: coffee w/ sugar free creamer [1 - 16 oz]	2
b: light & fit carb & sugar control yogurt [1] *dannon*	1
b: bran buds [2/3 cup] *all bran*	2
b: banana [1 large]	2
l: smart & delicious tortillas [1] *latortilla factory*	1
l: flame grilled veggie burger [1] *boca*	2
l: stewed okra & tomatoes [5 oz] *texas chicken*	3
s: fruit & nuts [1 package] *peeled snacks*	6
d: sauteed snap peas & carrots [5 oz] *central market*	3
d: roasted yukon potatoes [5 oz] *central market*	4
s: coffee w/ skim milk [1 - 16 oz] *central market*	1
Total:	27

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

My food log @ Twitter is twim_food for anyone that wants to follow it there.

2008: That's A Wrap

I am not going to write a long, eloquent end of year post and wax nostalgic.

I am not going to bloviate on all of my plans for 2009.

What I will do is celebrate:

• I am leaving 2008 a whole lot lighter than I started it
  
• I have established real, consistent changes in my lifestyle
  
• I look and feel better than I ever have in my life

There will be no New Year's Resolutions from me. I don't believe in them because they put undue pressure on people to be perfect and nobody ever lives up to that.

My plans for 2009 do not include resolution, but merely a commitment to continue what was started in 2008:

• eat a rich and healthy diet filled with all of the fruits, grains, vegetables and beans that I can handle
• make exercise a top, non-negotiable, priority in my life
• look for new ways to make a happier and healthier me
• never beat myself up for slipping and always pick myself up when I do
• face each new day with enthusiasm to stick to the plan

That, in a nutshell, is how I feel about 2008 and what I aim to do in 2009. I hope you will join me in this endeavor. I love the constant stream of support that I have found here on the world wide web. I would love to have you along for the ride.

Happy New Year!

Food Log: 12.30.08

Today was such a great day food wise. I ate within my targeted points range. I ate healthy and tasty food and I feel like myself again. It feels amazing to have my routine back.

I did not walk yet again because I was helping my neighbor with her computer and it got too late to walk in the dark. This is frustrating. I need to walk! My goal is to get up early tomorrow morning and get it done before work.

food	ww points
b: coffee w/ skim milk [1 - 16 oz] *central market*	1
b: oatmeal w/ blueberries [5 oz] *central market*	4
b: banana [1 large]	2
l: spicy chik'n patty [1] *boca*	3
l: pasta rustica w/ portobello mushrooms [5 oz] *central market*	3
l: steamed vegetables [5 oz] *central market*	2
s: garlic & herb crackers [18] *all bran*	2
s: light swiss cheese [1 wedge] *laughing cow*	1
s: clementine [1]	1
d: couscous w/ spinach & feta [5 oz] *central market*	3
d: sauteed snap peas & carrots [5 oz] *central market*	3
s: coffee w/ skim milk [1 - 16 oz] *central market*	1
Total:	26

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

My food log @ Twitter is twim_food for anyone that wants to follow it there.

10 Reasons To Lose 10 Pounds

Linda @ Operation Stick To It AND Kiki @ Overhauling Me tagged me with a meme - 10 reasons to lose 10 plus pounds (for some...Another 10 lbs!)

Rules:

List the 10 reasons why you are losing weight

Tag 5 other

Be sure to post these rules on your post

Be sure to link the blog that tagged you

See, simple, right? 

My reasons for losing 10 pounds + a whole lot more are:

1. I want to live a long, healthy, happy life.  If I don't lose this weight  I won't get to have a life that is any of those things.
2. At some point I think I might actually want to start dating again.  I want to be attractive to the type of men that I find attractive.  Sex is much easier that way, or so I am told.
   
3. I want to take a backpacking trip through Europe.  I promised myself that I could go if I ever lost the weight.  I REALLY want to go.
4. My father died earlier than he should have because of his excesses.  I don't want that to happen to me because of mine.
5. I want to never look at any seat, booth or chair again and know that I am not going to fit into it without causing myself some serious embarassment, pain, and/or inability to breathe.
6. I want to know what it is like to be able to put on a bathing suit and go the pool or the beach and not have to cover myself with a tee shirt and shorts because I don't want to sicken anyone else by the sight of me.
7. Clothes.  I love them.  I want to be able to wear anything I want and know that I look good in it.
8. I don't want to have another surgery to remove or repair an organ that was perfectly healthy at birth.  My gallbladder will be my only victim.
9. I have found that I am quite addicted to the compliments I've gotten from people that see I am losing weight.  I want more!
10. I want to lose weight most of all because I don't want anything in this life to beat me.  This wall of fat has kept me hidden away from the world long enough.  I am doing this on my own without surgery and I am doing it my way.

My Tag Team...

Neelith @ Weight Loss: One Day at a Time

Denise @ It's Not a Diet, It's a Weigh Of Life

Sam @ On My Way to Being a Healthy Bride

Bunny Trails @ Naturally Wandering

Wendi @ So Long Self

Food Log: 12.29.08

I'm late posting yesterday's food log because I accidentally locked myself out of my apartment last night. I stayed the night with my neighbor, but didn't have access to the internet. I thought that her offering me a bed to sleep in was good, asking to use the internet seemed a bit much.

Yesterday went well. I stayed within the points range I was aiming for and am now starting to feel like myself after the Christmas indulgence. My body feels like mine again instead of this sluggish thing that I don't recognize.

I was all set to go walk my 3 miles when the locking out happened. I had iPod in hand and was walking out the door. I turned to grab my keys but another neighbors' conversation distracted me and I closed the door without them. So I am really raring to walk tonight - getting back into my routine is vital at this point. Once I reestablish that, I will be good for the new year.

food	ww points
b: coffee w/ skim milk [1 - 16 oz] *central market*	1
b: light & fit carb & sugar control yogurt [1] *dannon*	1
b: bran buds [2/3 cup] *all bran*	2
s: clementine [1]	1
l: flame grilled veggie burger [1] *boca*	2
l: couscous w/ spinach & feta [5 oz] *central market*	3
l: steamed vegetables [5 oz] *central market*	2
s: banana [1 large]	2
s: clementine [1]	1
d: pasta rustica w/ portobello mushrooms [8 oz] *central market*	6
d: wilted spinach [4 oz] *central market*	2
d: roasted rosemary potatoes [4 oz] *central market*	3
s: coffee w/ skim milk [1 - 16 oz] *central market*	1
Total:	27

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

My food log @ Twitter is twim_food for anyone that wants to follow it there.

On Target

I did something last night that I haven't done in at least a decade and a half. I bought clothes from Target.

I bought four pairs of pants:

1. Mossimo Black Plus Charcoal Striped Trousers
2. Merona Plus Plaid Pants Blue
3. Merona Plus Bramble Tan Calvary Twill Pants
4. Merona Plus Corduroy Pants Grey

I've needed new pants for a few months now because every pair that I own are baggy. I am walking around looking dumpy because I've lost so much weight that the fabric drapes off of me. I am starting to walk on the bottoms of most of them. I tripped over my own pants last week so much I thought I was going to hurt myself. While losing weight and having clothes too big for me is a good thing, it looks terrible and is starting to be a little dangerous.

The pants were on sale and, because I refuse to pay for shipping, I got all four pair for $85 and some change. So, I got new pants that will fit from a store that hasn't been an option for me in at least 15 years and I saved money. It is a really good feeling all around.

Food Log: 12.27.08

I debated whether I was even going to have my splurge day this week since I had my two days of indulgence for Christmas.  But I decided to go ahead with my routine because this weight loss journey is a marathon and not a sprint.  I have to do this for the long haul.  The only way to do that is if it works for me.  Splurge Saturday works for me.  It leaves me feeling fulfilled and able to do well the other 6 days of the week because I always know it is there waiting for me at the end of the week.  I did well though.  I only ate the maximum number of WW points I am currently allowed.  So, Splurge Saturday wasn't even that much of a splurge day.

Tomorrow will be a low points day to balance out splurge day and the Christmas free for all.  I have a project that I am working on that will take most of the day, so it should be quite easy to only consume around 11 points.

food	ww points
l: tortilla chips [1 basket] *chachos*	11
l: guacamole [6 oz] *chachos*	6
l: bean & cheese tacos [2] *chachos*	14
s: skinny vanilla latte [grande] *starbucks*	3
Total:	34

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

My food log @ Twitter is twim_food for anyone that wants to follow it there.

I went ahead and walked even though I really didn't want to do it today.  I managed to get 2 miles in.  This was my playlist:

Food Log: 12.26.08

I got right back on track today after my 2 days of Christmas. It was a difficult day because I wanted to eat all.day.long. But I had the right foods on hand and made it through without faltering.

I didn't walk 3 miles, but I plan on being really active this weekend and will more than make up for the lack of activity today.

food	ww points
b: coffee w/ skim milk [1 - 16 oz] *central market*	1
b: coffee w/ sugar free creamer [1 - 16 oz]	2
b: light & fit carb & sugar control yogurt [1] *dannon*	1
b: bran buds [2/3 cup] *all bran*	2
l: greek pasta salad [5 oz] *central market*	3
l: grilled asparagus [4 oz] *central market*	2
s: coffee w/ sugar free creamer [1 - 16 oz]	2
s: light & fit carb & sugar control yogurt [1] *dannon*	1
s: baked pita chips [4] *garden of eatin'*	1
s: light swiss cheese [1 wedge] *laughing cow*	1
d: vegetable lasagna [1 square] *central market*	9
d: wilted spinach [4 oz] *central market*	2
Total:	27

Table provided by Roni's Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

My food log @ Twitter is twim_food for anyone that wants to follow it there.

Game On

In the comments for my Time Out post, about taking a 2 day diet break for Christmas, MizFit asked:

how was it? are you feeling today?

Yes. I am most definitely feeling it today. My body is not happy with me at all. I ate things yesterday that I haven't eaten in months. I feel achy and very ill at ease.

I didn't dare step on the scale this morning because I don't want to know how much I regained in my Christmas indulgence all out food fest. I am not proud of myself at all. However, I am very much over any desire to indulge for a very long time now. I want my body to return to feeling like a well oiled machine that isn't bogged down with crap.

The good news is that today is a brand new day and the horror of Thanksgiving and Christmas treats is past and the New Year always brings new resolve. I am back on track and am looking forward to breaking the 100 pounds lost barrier sometime next month.

Game on!

Time Out

I decided to take a short break from my diet for the Christmas holiday.  I think it is important to indulge a little for these 2 days and then resume business as usual on Friday.

This will be no full scale indulgence.  I will still stick to the lacto-vegetarian diet and resist sugar for the most part.  I just won't count points and worry about calories or fat.  Sugar is my biggest enemy and as long as that is under control then I think 2 days of indulgence is not going to hurt me much.

The holidays are almost over and all of the temptations that it brings will disappear.

Merry Christmas Y'all!