End of the year reflections

Well- if anybody had told me that 2010 was going to be the year I lost 50+ pounds, I would have laughed-.
6 months ago I decided to take control of my life again- and  I have stuck to it.  Last June, I weighed 260 pounds- today i weighed 202... I would have loved to be under 200 for the new year- but this will just make me work harder!- A new year- with new goals- 180 here I come!   God Bless and have a fantastic New Year!!!!!!!

Need to focus

I am really sorry I have not posted anything- I need to keep my focus- when I get this busy- it could be dangerous.  On a lighter note- at that last weigh in- I was 219- I had lost another ten pounds! I weighed myself a couple of days ago- and i was 213- I have another official weigh in the week after thanksgiving- we will see....   I am still doing well with my eating and working out- even when I went away to Dallas-(though I ate entirely too much meat- the bbq was divine!)-  I did penance the following week by having 2 meatless days.  The holidays are coming- everyone batten down your hatches- I plan to enjoy- but not go crazy.  I hope....

I'm still here...

Sorry blog fans- have been so busy- good news coming soon- weigh-in is on Wednesday- but took a sneak peek today... you will have to wait until the official word on Wednesday- only the Besties and Big brother can know today - ciao for now!

Bless me, Father-for I have sinned...

Yes- it is what you think- today-I cheated.  It was Ring day at school- and I spent the morning running up and down the 198th street hill, helping my Senior's skate- after that, I helped run the ceremony and ran the sound and music for the Comedy Skit I wrote-all this I achieved on a mere bowl of Kashi cereal.  So when I arrived at UNO's for the luncheon at 12:30- needless to say- I was starving!  So yes- I had two mozzarella sticks before my meal- and a very tiny cupcake after- it really was so cute and tiny- one of the students baked them for everyone-.  I did good with the meal though- my co-worker Monica is on Atkins- so we ordered burgers- took them out of the bun and substituted side salads for the fries.  So- it's off to the gym tomorrow for penance and absolution... ciao for now!

Surrounded by the Devil

I spent the weekend surrouned by the devil... which is odd- because I went to a Catholic wedding and a retreat- but yet- the devil was there.
My first time at a wedding since my lifestyle change- As I entered the cocktail hour it hit me- in 5 seconds i was going to be in front of two long tables full of food and surrounded by smiling eager waiters with platters full of fried food and mini hotdogs- Oh Shit- I thought... I am ready for this?  Apparently I was because I did really well- I took some sauteed chicken and some other meats- loaded up on raw veggies and said no to the crab cakes, fried shrimp- and my favorites- the mini hot dogs wrapped in dough- a tear came to my eye as the waiter walked away...  Dinner was easier- ordered the salmon- ignored the cheesy potato, and gratefully
enjoyed the fresh steamed string beans.  Cut the slab of salmon they brought me in half- and I was ok..
They did the cake cutting ceremony- then announced the Venitian Hour- you know- three tables full of cannoli's, pastries etc- I promptly gathered my things, said good bye to the bride and the groom and my friend's family and jumped in the car and headed home, waving to the canoli's as I walked by-
The next day I arrived at the retreat I was scheduled to speak at and serve on- and as I walked in the door to Blair lodge- a place where I always encounter God- i was promptly greeted by....the Devil!
On each table in the conference room there was a huge bowl of candies- they must have just filled them up- the wrappers on the mini candy bars gleamed as the sunlight poured in the window- desperately- i ran into the dining room seeking refuge... only to find 3 huge boxes of donuts on the tables OMG I thought- there is no escape!!!!   I sat down and pulled an orange from my cooler i had brought with me- and I was ok-
After dinner my friend brought out the hugest marble pound cake i have ever seen- again- one of my favorites- i escaped to the kitchen and began helping to wash the pots... what do they say about idle hands?
I am proud to report i passed all the tests this weekend with flying colors- but i did experience about 10 seconds of weakness when I would have sold my soul for just one mini hot-dog (tear).

47 to go!

No, I am not changing the name of my blog- 57 to go symbolizes more than pounds to lose- it symbolizes a journey- however...... weigh in today....... i lost 10 more pounds!!! Yes I did- go ahead and cheer- for I am fabulous... I also know that the journey will get harder- but i hope to continue to lose 10 lbs a month- but only time will tell- I also did my sixty day re-training today- no lie- my arms are killing me and i have a headache- but i know it is worth it.  My coach put up my name on the wall today in 2 places- my little seahorse says that I have lost 20 pounds since i began working out at Curves- and my little foot shows that I have lost 18 and one quarter inches all over my body- my legs and arms are the most affected, but i won't be happy till its my hips and stomach.  But i know where i need to focus and that is important-and I have a seahorse on the wall at Curves- I have arrived...

GO FOR GREEN!

Well- I finally did it- after my work-out tonight, when I went to the computer to get my results- all the little dots on the little body were green- no more yellow!- This means that I am working all the muscles in my body 91% or more- most of them were at 100%- I was suprised because it is Monday and I didn't think I worked as hard today- but I did-!  Wednesday is my weigh in- the real moment of truth- see you then......

What's For Breakfast?

Good Saturday morning!!!!- I was so inspired by what I ate about an hour ago- I decided to write a breakfast/brunch blog!- So here are some brands of things I eat and a couple of simple recipies- to be honest I eat the ommelettes any time- breakfast- lunch- dinner- when I'm out at a Diner etc.

Cereal- can be your BFF or ... the Devil.  It's all about the whole grains and the sugar content- so read carefully.  Right now- i am on a Kashi kick.  Plain Special K is good too- or the berry one- but i am allergic to berries sooo- They have come out with some Kashi cereals that don't taste like your eating dry oats out of a horse feeding bag- cause those all-bran thingies are the worse- it's like eating twigs!  My fav right now-
Kashi- Heart to Heart Warm Cinnamon- 3 grams of sugar- so watch your portion- I believe it's 3/4's of a cup- and remember- Fat free milk!

Bread- is our friend- if it whole grain- multi grain- right now I am hooked on Arnold's Healthfull 10 grain bread- 80 calories a slice- big and hearty and full of protein. It also helps that it is on sale alot- 1.99- as opposed to most 10- 12-15 grain breads- 3.99- 4.39-  boooo.

Peanut Butter- Yes- peanut butter- in moderation of course- the serving size is 2 tablespoons- i try to use only one-one and a half.  spread on the above bread for anytime- morning or snack- throw in a half a banana and you're all set- oh yeah- you can have the banana with the cereal too.

Ommelettes- wow- i don't know how to spell that... Anyway they are truly great- one thing though- egg whites only.... ok now you're mad at me- "I'm not going to be separating eggs blah blah blah"- neither am I-
Better than eggs- egg white- real eggs not fake- in single serving cups- 3 for 2.99. Then the fun begins- you can put almost anything you want in it...  the No-No's- bacon- real, fake or otherwise-, Regular Cheese
(use fat free low sodium american or swiss or whatever you like and can find that is 98% fat free and low sodium).  oh- and one slice only...

Good things to put in your ommelettes-
Chopped Broccoli-Spinach-etc
Mushrooms- fresh, pre-washed pre-sliced- cook them first in a little water till they shrink a little. No canned
mushrooms- ever- Sodium Alert!
onions
peppers
If you want meat- chopped low salt lean ham is ok- just 2-3 ozs or- Morning side farms veggie sausage- 1 pattie- chop it up- 80 calories- sodium not so bad-.

Today I did the Veggie Sausage/Mushroom/Fat free american /egg white omellette oh and i saved the best for last- top it off with 2 tablespoons of Salsa- i use mild- use whatever you want- MMMMMMMMMM!
Had a slice of my ten grain bread and a small romaine salad on the side(fat free Italian Dressing- Wishbone)- YAY!

Here is what I ate and will be eating today- note the ounces and portion stuff- if you don't have a measuring cup and a food scale- buy them -NOW!!!

I serving Kashi heart to heart cinnamon/fat free milk- half a banana half an hour before..
 I worked out....
Came home- cleaned the kitchen then it was twelve- time for lunch-45 min-hour after the workout
The fabulous ommelette and salad
3 o'clock snack will be- 1 small orange- 1 tablespoon peanut butter 6 whole grain reduced fat Triscut crackers.
6pm dinner- 1 3-4 oz piece of grilled chicken (boneless/skinless)- whole grain brown rice with black beans, broccoli and salsa.- Follow the serving size on the rice bag/ box.  I use Sucess boiling bags- after I add everything i separate it into 3 portions-eat 1 pack the rest separately- i buy those disposable little plastic thingies. And I use Goya canned black beans- Low Sodium- the can has a light blue stripe on it-only 99 cents- YAY
9 o'clock snack- half a turkey sandwich- 1 slice 10 grain- 1 slice of turkey- NO MAYO- Spicy brown mustard- EVERYONE REPEAT AFTER ME- MAYO IS THE ........... DEVIL!!!!

Hope this was helpful- more to follow- now I'm off to grade freshmen essays- woo-who......
Peace!
Jeannie

Yay for Computerized Workouts!!!!!

So despite it being my first full week of class- i managed to stick to my eating habits and work out 4 days- I think that is quite an acomplishment!  Working out has become totally fun- i have my computer card now- and basically working out is like playing a video game!  Each machine has its own little screen and it tells you when to work harder or ease up- at the end of the workout i go to the main computer and it gives me the complete results- calories burned-(300 today) which muscles i'm working 100%- which ones i am lacking in- i'm actually doing good all around- just my legs and hips are a little behind because of the arthritis pain- but it gets a little better each time.
     Some of you who are reading my blog have asked for recipies- i will get around to that soon- maybe this weekend.  I do have to admit that i am quite tired today- but it is a good tired- not a sickly tired like it used to be.  I sleep really well- especially on the days i work out-
Well, everyone have a good weekend- eat well and put down the mouse and get out of the house!
Jeannie

Sorry, Grandma

Well- week one of school went really well.  I brought all my meals to school with me
and managed to work out 4 times this week!!! I also got good rest- which is mega important
when excerizing.  One slight stumbling block I encountered this week was that I am becoming bored with
the food I am eating! Using Salsa with my veggies has helped alot, but i have to watch the sugar content with that (can't give the Devil a chance)  So- when I went food shopping yesterday, I began to look for some new and exciting things.  One thing I have missed eating is cheese- I found a great fat free/low sodium American cheese at a deli near my house- but i needed something for my whole grain pasta to jazz it up a bit- so i did something no good Italian should ever do- I bought fat-free ricotta cheese- and i absolutely love it! My Sicilian grandmother is spinning in her grave... I made whole grain pasta with tomato sauce, squash and ricotta- and it was amazing- looking forward to experimenting more as the weeks go on to fight the bordem.
Sorry Grandma!!!!

Back to school...

Wow- so today I found out what the next 4 months are going to be like for me until Christmas break-
Waking up at 615- eating breakfast before i go to work- packing my lunch and snack- working from 7:30-3:30 or 4 or 5 or 6 then running home and finding the energy to work out... I did well today- worked out at six- already had dinner prepared (spent my Labor day cooking) came home, ate and now relaxing.  I'd be lying if i did not admit that i am a little scared that I will break my routine- I resolved today to stay focused and not let my fears bring me down.  Work went well- which was a plus- I was soley responsible for planning the faculty mass and it went really really well- which also helped me not be so stressed.  At lunch today many of my co-workers were very supportive and complementary about my weight loss- The school provided 6 foot heroes and pasta/potato salads for lunch- I had my own salad and tuna fish.  Then the dessert came out- brownies and cookies- dude it was hard- I made a few "Sugar is the Devil" jokes- a couple of people asked me for advice on how to change their habits- A couple of others gave me really dirty looks as they shoved the brownies into their mouth- but its ok- in a few months it will all be worth it- i hope.....

A Blessing and A Dilemma...

Today I did laundry- 4 loads of it.  I wanted to wash all my summer clothes to start putting them away and get my work clothes ready for the next couple of weeks.  I went to put on a pair of jean capris that I have not worn lately because it was too hot-so i could go to the laundry place- I stood up- and they fell off!
Well you may say- "But Jeannie- that's good right?"- yes it is- but in a way... I have to hold off buying clothes
because of my long term goals- however I am going to have a very limited wardrobe until then... Tops are not a problem yet- it"s really pants- well I have a few pairs with draw stings- which are very helpful- but for my dress pants I'm going to have to buy some new belts- the old one's are too big- even with added holes!!!  A couple of my friends also have offered their mom's services for taking some of my clothes in- which I may take them up on- I actually have had problems finding nice belts- aren't they in style any more? Well- tomorrow I will go hunting- wish me luck!!!!

Computerized Workouts

Went to the gym today and recieved my computer card and training- now my workouts will be customized- and the computer will tell me how I did after every workout- calories burned- range of motion etc.  Gym close until Tuesday- can't wait to do my first one!!! Actually kinda bummed that they are closed- gonna take a walk and maybe a swim this weekend to stay active- everybody have a great long weekend!

As a child  I was always thin- then I hit adolescence and it was all down hill from there... I have been over weight since then- never really making a serious effort to do anything about it.  Well- no more.  so far the past three months I have learned that as  Americans we eat all wrong.  Portion size is crucial- I have armed myself with a measuring cup, spoons and a digital food scale- everything that goes into my mouth gets measured or weighed.  "Oh Jeannie"- you may be thinking- "that won't last- you'll get tired"- no because it is becoming a routine and a lifestyle- it is not a diet-. One of the coaches at Curves said to me today- "I never say that I am dieting- why? - the first part of that word is- "Die"!!!!- (lol), Next you might say- "Oh so you're never going to eat out again?"- Of course not- Eating out is not the enemy- All if not most resturants (at least in NY) list calories for all of their dishes- and all you have to do is ask how something is prepared.  You can also swap things in and out- double veggies instead of potatoes or pasta- etc.  And- if the portion is huge- cut it in half- even 3 portions if you have to and take the rest home.  Don't get me wrong folks- I'm new at this and am still working to get it right. I guess my hope with this blog is maybe to help someone else who is struggling with their weight and is tired of fad diets.  The Journey I am on is not a diet- it is a complete lifestyle change and nutritional quest.  I'll stop rambling now- but not before I share some important things I have learned about nutrition-

1. Sugar is the Devil- Obliterate it from your life

2. Sodium is the Devil-

those cute little Healthy Choice frozen dinners you eat-Loaded with it-

start cooking your own food- NOW!!!!

3. Corn is not a vegetable- it is the Devil... it raises your blood sugar.

Eat green veggies- every day- 3x's a day!!!!

4. You know that saying- "An apple a day-" it really should be an Orange!-1 every day.

5. Physical activity is crucial- as my friend Jon says-"Put down the mouse and get out of the House!"

6. And finally- Portion control will save your life- use smaller plates- check

the serving size on the package or box- follow what it says-

Eat 6 small  meals a day instead of "three squares"

or else you'll stay round!

Until next time

Jeannie