La Dolce Vita

Day 48 through 50: Rachael 2.0 .. and Other Updates

2009-11-22T21:46:00.000-08:00

I got my hair cut today. It was desperately needed. Wanna see? Of course you do.

I really like it.

Also, I got a new scale. Finally a good one that (hopefully) won't go all wackadoodle on me. I'm taking her for the maiden voyage tomorrow.

Speaking of tomorrow, it's Husband and my anniversary! SEVEN WHOLE YEARS OF WEDDED BLISS. I feel so lucky to be married to my best friend. Life is good.

We are going out to dinner to celebrate tomorrow night. Should be interesting as it is not a Cheat Day for me, so I'll have to really order carefully. Good practice for me I think. The Plan continues very well and I certainly don't want to throw a wrench into the works.

I didn't get my usual Cheat Day yesterday because I'm doubling up for my birthday weekend coming up. Normally I would not want to double up but under the circumstances, it just can't be helped. But I have decided that I am honestly going to try to just eat as healthy as I can, and while I do plan to have birthday treats, I hope to enjoy them in moderation.

Oddly, I haven't really missed Cheat Day this week. I thought about it a few times during the day yesterday, but some part of me seemed almost relieved to just have another good ol' day on The Plan. Makes me wonder if I should change Cheat Day to a bi-weekly or even monthly thing. I'm really going to have to think about this.

Anyway, off to bed for me. An early morning run awaits. 'Night!

Day 47 through 50: Dipped

2009-11-19T08:50:00.000-08:00

I am so pleased to announce that my weight has officially dipped into the 140's. 149.5 to be exact. So proud!

I'm twenty pounds away from being the lowest weight I have been in my adult life and about twenty-six pounds away from my goal weight. I really am making progress and it feels great.

In the spirit of progress, I wanted to share with you some screenshots of my iPhone diet software (Lean Me Pro).

This one shows my projected vs. actual weight loss.

And this one shows my daily weigh-ins charted on a graph.

The Plan is working. And faster than I expected. I would love to keep up this momentum but I am fully aware that this may not happen; as I get smaller I suspect the weight loss will slow down by some factor. But I'm keeping hopes up that I will indeed reach my goal weight sooner than I originally planned!

I am loving the fact that my progress is seeming more and more real. At first, it was just the subjective "feeling better" and "pants fitting less snugly". Then there was a real change in the way my clothes fit, as well as a few compliments. Now I can say that I am officially down 15 pounds and there is no mistaking that I am losing weight.

Husband, Baby Girl and I will be attending a wedding in San Francisco in May next year and we've decided to make a mini-vacation out of it and stay for a week. The idea of traveling while being thin sounds fantastic. Especially in the Spring. The though of wearing cute vacation clothes, shopping in San Fran's little boutique stores, and just being active and having fun all around the city is sounding so exciting to me. Increases my motivation to keep going ten-fold. I have never once had a "thin" vacation. Sounds strange to consciously desire such a thing, but I do!

Day 44, 45 & 46: Fed Up

2009-11-15T08:38:00.000-08:00

I am feeling so done with Cheat Days. They are, almost without exception, always disappointing. Yesterday was no exception, save for a delicious Thai meal that I was able to share with my friend. But for the most part, I ate crap and felt like crap for pretty well the whole day.

Neither my body or the scale thanked me this morning. And you know what? IT JUST WASN'T WORTH IT.

I have been dieting and exercising with such momentum over the past couple of weeks. It's been lovely to see that scale go down down down. I guess it's true what they say: Nothing tastes as good as thin feels.

However, I can't just cut out Cheat Days. Or rather, I won't. I think they're extremely valuable for learning how to eat as well as for hormonal regulation. So I've decided to try something radical in light of all the recent Cheat Day disappointments: I am skipping next week's Cheat Day. I'm a little nervous about this because despite the constant disappointment, I always do look so forward to Cheat Day. So here's the thing - I will take TWO Cheat Days in a row the following weekend.

This plan was borne more out of necessity than science. My birthday is coming up and on November 27th, we're having a big family birthday party and on November 28th, I'm having a birthday lunch (and spa day!) with a friend. There truly will be no easy way to even remotely count calories at these events. So, since I have to take two Cheat Days in a row in two weeks, I am skipping next week's Cheat Day altogether.

I hope this will accomplish three things:

1. I will actually enjoy a Cheat Day.

2. Since there are 2 Cheat Days in a row, I won't feel the need to pack a bunch of crap into 24 hours.

3. I will have two solid weeks of awesome dieting momentum. This weekly break, while it certainly hasn't hurt me, always does throw things off a little.

And you know what? Instead of intentionally gorging myself on whatever crosses my path, I'm really going to try to just behave. And eat like a normal person. Of course there will be birthday cake and such which I fully plan to enjoy, but the rest of my day doesn't have to be unhealthy.

This should be interesting.

My big bowl of plain oatmeal has never sounded so appealing this morning. That's the one great thing about Cheat Day - eating on The Plan sounds so fantastic the next morning by comparison. I know I'm going to eat well and feel great all day and I love that.

Another 2 pounds are gone and my BMI is now right smack dab in the middle of "overweight". Since I started on the cusp of "obese", I'm quite happy about that.

Getting there. Slowly but SURELY.

Day 42 & 43: Skinny Jeans

2009-11-12T20:29:00.000-08:00

Well my friends, can you guess what I wore today? Yup, you guessed it. As the title suggests, I pranced around town in my smallest jeans today. And they fit perfectly. Well, almost perfectly - they are a very very low rise cut and honestly, not the most comfortable. Especially when it comes to bending over, which I happen to do all the time now that I spend my days chasing after a very mobile 14-month-old.

I even tucked my pants into my Ugg boots, a look that I was never that comfortable pulling off before. I must admit, I looked good today.

Baby Girl and I stopped by Husband's office to say hi and we ended up staying for a few minutes (Husband wanted to introduce Baby Girl to some of his coworkers). One of his friends who I met once before about 6 months ago, made a point of mentioning to Husband after I left that I looked like I'd lost weight. When Husband came home tonight and told me that, I was really flattered. Another compliment! I could get used to this.

On a completely unrelated note, I am thinking of straightening my hair. Permanently. I am considering having that Japanese Ionic Hair Straightening done. I went and met with a salon today for a consultation. In addition to being crazy expensive, it is QUITE the procedure. First of all, it takes about 4 hours (what would I do with Baby Girl?). Second, you can't get your hair wet for 3 days afterward and you can't use any clips, headbands, hats or anything else that would put a dent in your hair for at least 7 (SEVEN) days afterward. My first thought was - how the heck would I be able to run or go to hot yoga? Both involve (at the very least) sweating. Profuse sweating. Not to mention hair clips and showers. I'm really going to have to think about this.

Alright, pointlessly meandering post, this one. Just my random thoughts for the day.

Day 40 & 41: Rewards

2009-11-10T09:17:00.000-08:00

Folks, I'm starting to feel like I'm in a rut. The Plan is indeed working, but this weight loss thing is starting to get a bit... boring. It's a looooong journey to be on, and while it is going very well so far, I need some entertainment. A little game to play that will help keep me focused.

While I do believe that losing weight is its own reward, I have come up with some Weight Loss Rewards that should hopefully add a little spice to the trip down the scale. I thought this might keep me more engaged, with mini-goals to hit along the way.

So here is what I'm planning to indulge in:

1st 10 pounds lost - I get a 75 minute massage at the spa. Since I've already lost my first 10 pounds (check!), I have already booked the appointment. I am going with a girlfriend at the end of this month and we'll have a lovely leisurely lunch afterwards. I'm very excited.

When I get down to 140 - I get a new haircut (needed badly! as evident in my last post! hope I can wait that long!) at a posh salon, complete with a colour/highlights (again, needed badly!).

When I get down to 130 - I get a facial at the spa AND new makeup and skin care products. Good ones too. None of that drug store crap.

When I get down to my goal weight (123) - A NEW WARDROBE! I'm going to need it anyway, because nothing will fit me! I plan to spend about $1000. I'm not sure if this will be enough for all 4 seasons but I'll do my best to get some good quality basics to start with.

I haven't talked to Husband about all this yet so hopefully he'll approve!

What do you guys think about this? Do you believe in setting mini-goals with a reward system in place? What kind of rewards do you like to treat yourself to? I really want to know!

1 Month Progress Photos!

2009-11-08T20:40:00.001-08:00

Okay so to preface, it would appear that I really need a haircut. Yikes.

Here we go...

FRONT - BEFORE

FRONT - AFTER ONE MONTH

SIDE - BEFORE

SIDE - AFTER ONE MONTH

BACK - BEFORE

BACK - AFTER ONE MONTH

Not a huge difference, but I think I can see some small changes. Anyway, my clothes are definitely looser and I've gone down one, maybe even two dress sizes. Just over 10 pounds lost - about 30 more to go!

Day 38 & 39: Born Again on Sunday

2009-11-08T09:21:00.000-08:00

A wicked Cheat Day was had yesterday, and although it wasn't perfect, it was certainly the best Cheat Day I think I've had yet.

Complete with extravagant oatmeal (topped with banana and shortbread cookies!) for breakfast, a salmon sandwich with pretty much an entire bag of Sweet Onion Kettle Chips for lunch and pizza for dinner. You think I stopped there? Oh no I did not. I also purchased $10 in mini-cakes from the fancy french bakery downstairs and ate them all up, leaving not a crumb, and ohhhhhhhh. You definitely get what you pay for when it comes to desserts.

And I even managed to squeeze in a nice long run.

All in all, pretty darn good. My scale is only punishing me with one pound this morning so I really can't complain. And I suspect much of that 1 pound was from the salty chips. Whatever. It's all good.

And it always feels so wonderful to wake up the day after Cheat Day, feeling satiated and happy, and eager for some plain, healthy food. I can't believe I'm saying this but healthy, energy-giving food sounds so much more delicious than high calorie, sugar and fat laden food right now! My bowl of plain oatmeal and apples this morning was fabulous. I almost get the same high returning to The Plan that I get from embarking on a Cheat Day. Nice.

So today, I'm going to go for a night run (weather permitting) and a hot yoga class in the afternoon. Good times!

I also hope to finally take and post those darn progress pics later today. I'm anxious to see if you guys notice any difference.

And with regard to photos in general, I have been slacking. I don't know why. Will try not to be so lazy and be better at including more pics in this blog going forward.

Day 36 & 37: First Compliment

2009-11-06T08:28:00.000-08:00

Hello and Happy Friday! (Or as I like to call it, "Cheat Day Eve"!)

I'm meeting a friend for a run this morning so this will have to be a short post. But I did want to share two significant things that have happened to me in the last couple of days.

Yesterday: I got my first compliment. I bumped into our building caretaker on our way out and she exclaimed, "You look slimmer!" I was so flattered, it was the first time someone (other than Husband or my mum) has said something. What made it so special was that she had no idea that I have been dieting trying to lose weight. It was a compliment borne of pure observational honesty. Love it. Don't things like that just make your whole day?

Also yesterday: I had planned on going to yoga all day with my friend. She cancelled on me at the last minute because she wasn't feeling so great after getting her flu shot. I decided that since I was running late myself, I may as well bag it and go for a run instead. I was really excited about the unexpected opportunity to go for a run because I was thinking about it all day and wishing I could run instead of go to yoga. It just felt like a running day, ya know?

So anyway, I missed the evening class of yoga and made my arrangements to run instead. I put Baby Girl down for bed and announced to Husband that I was going out for a run and I'd be back in about 45 minutes. He looked at me like I had lost my mind. He exclaimed, "A run?? Are you CRAZY?? It's POURING RAIN!!"

I was shocked. I had no idea. Like, seriously zero clue. I should mention that we live in a condo, way up high and completely removed from the elements. And I had been inside most of the day with nary a glance out the window. I stepped out onto our patio and sure enough, it was torrential out there. Huge gusts of wind, sheets of rain, it was just gross. So I didn't get to exercise and honestly, I was truly bummed!!

What a strange sensation. I though the fact that I had honestly attempted to exercise and then was given a last minute reprieve would have been a secret relief. But nope, I was totally sad about it! I never ever thought I would be the kind of person that not only enjoys exercise but actually gets depressed when it's not available for me.

So weird. And cool! I guess I am changing, inside and out.

Day 35: 10 Pounds Lighter

2009-11-04T21:45:00.001-08:00

Yup, as the title of this post suggests, I have officially lost 10 pounds as of this morning. Hooray!

Had another great run tonight. Yin yoga tomorrow.

I'm glad that The Plan seems to be working because I have been so hungry all day. I guess some days are just "hungry days", aren't they?

10 down, about 30 to go...

Day 33 and 34: Faster and Stronger

2009-11-03T21:23:00.000-08:00

Naughty blogger. No cookie.

Sorry I haven't posted my 1-month progress pics. Husband has been busy and I keep forgetting to ask him to take the photos. Ah well. Will do it this weekend.

I just came home from the most amazing run. I went after Baby Girl went to bed so it was quite dark out, which was a bit unnerving (I live in the middle of downtown Vancouver), but other than that, night running is where it's at. I am so proud of myself; I am really enjoying running now and can run for what seems like forever without getting winded. It actually feels really good the whole time. It's amazing how fast improvement happens. To think that only one month ago, I could barley run for 30 seconds and now, I can run for at least 40 minutes and I'm loving every second of it.

Hot yoga is also going well. In one of my classes last week, I really felt like I was starting to "get it". And the best part was that after class, the instructor pulled me aside and said (and I quote), "You have a beautiful yoga practice." What a compliment! I pretty much walked home on a cloud.

The Plan is going great. I am sticking to it like glue and the weight continues to come off. Slowly. Very slowly.

I have written far too much about Cheat Day over the last few weeks so I'm not going to get into it again in this post, save to say that I am still finding Cheat Days challenging. I look so forward to them all week but once I get to Cheat Day, I am just not finding them satisfying. It's really weird and I don't understand it.

Anyway, nothing too exciting to report! Oh, except for this: None of my bras fit me properly anymore! Haha...

Day 30, 31 & 32: One Monthiversary!

2009-11-01T12:13:00.000-08:00

I have officially been on The Plan now for ONE WHOLE MONTH. And you know what? It's working!

I have lost 9 pounds and a few inches. Not bad! I am feeling not only leaner, fitter, healthier, smaller... but also really proud of myself.

I don't expect that I'll keep losing at this rate, I just don't think it's possible. But as long as I'm moving in the general downward direction, I'll be happy. Actually, truth be told, this losing weight thing has not been that hard. Sure, I've had my good and bad days but all in all, I'm not finding it that challenging. (Of course, now that I've typed this and had this thought in my head, I'll probably start struggling from here on out...haha)

The things that have helped keep me going strong so far are:

1. Having a well stocked kitchen with lots of healthy groceries.

2. The ease of having some great calorie counting and tracking software (the Lean Me app for my iPhone).

3. Oatmeal.

4. 100-calorie snack packs.

5. Fruit! Veggies! Spices!

6. An encouraging family.

7. Hot yoga.

8. Cheat Days.

9. Water.

10. The feeling of my clothing getting looser and looser.

Some challenges that I've noticed so far include:

1. Evenings after Baby Girl goes to bed. I start wanting sweets. Bad.

2. The fact that being pregnant has left me with a small amount of loose skin under my belly button. I don't think it will ever snap back. It's not terrible or anything, but it does bug me and the more I lose weight, the looser the skin seems. Considering plastic surgery when all is said and done. Crazy?

3. Being a mum. Don't get me wrong, I LOOOOOOVE being a mum. My daughter is my whole world. But it does make for a wonky exercise schedule because I have to workout around Baby Girl's schedule and sometimes that's not so straightforward.

4. Lack of exercise video for me to do while Baby Girl naps. See #3 above. Working on fixing this today.

5. The fact that my pans are stainless steel and not non-stick. I'm actually really picky about my cookware and prefer stainless steel above all else. And I don't believe in using Teflon anyway. But a stainless steel pan does not make it easy to prepare food without using oil.

6. A blister that I got on my heel recently. It sucks! And I wish I could say that I got it from some sort of intense physical activity but no, it was from wearing a new pair of shoes. It made it kind of painful to run for about 2 weeks. (But I still ran. Yay me!)

7. Never feeling really satisfied on Cheat Days. I had another questionable one yesterday. I'm not sure what's going on but I think that's another post.

8. Wanting. Let's face it. It's hard to avoid seeing, smelling and craving all the glorious foods out there in the world when one is on a diet. I am constantly wanting. It's no fun passing up delicious and readily available items when they are so desired. I just buttered a waffle for my daughter. Drool.

9. Cooking items with many ingredients. Like vegetable chili. Sure, it's easy, healthy, and delicious, but trying to figure out the calorie counts for a zillion ingredients, and then figuring out the per-serving count is confusing and time consuming. I admit that it's prevented me from attempting dishes that would probably be wonderful additions to my diet. Math is not my forte.

10. Patience. While it's true that the weight is coming offer faster than I thought it would and I am doing very well indeed, I am still fully aware that there is every likelihood that I will be on The Plan for at least another 6 months or so. That's a long time to be in a caloric deficit. And I haven't even begun to think about maintaining my weight loss. I will probably be counting calories for at least another year an a half. That seems daunting.

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Life is good, The Plan is working. I am happy with my progress so far but I still have a long way to go.

I will be posting some 1 month progress pics tonight. Stay tuned!

Day 29: Short and Sweet

2009-10-29T09:12:00.001-07:00

I had to wear a belt yesterday. On my tightest jeans from my "fat pants" collection. Just had to share!

And PS - 1 Month Progress Photos coming on November 1st! Stay tuned...

Day 28: On Indulging

2009-10-28T11:53:00.000-07:00

Well now. This post has been on my mind for a few days now. It's just now solidifying into a cohesive thought as I type this.

If you've read my blog in any capacity before, then you know I am a big believer in having a Cheat Day. However, my last couple of Cheat Days have been disappointing yet highly educational, especially in hindsight.

I've been approaching Cheat Day thus far with several planned indulgences in mind - stuff like buttered rolls, Indian food, gobs of almond butter and of course, that godforsaken Pumpkin Pie Blizzard. Over the preceding week, I have built these treats up in my head so much that by the time I get them, they almost can't help but be disappointing.; the buttered rolls were too starchy, I never got my Indian food, there IS such a thing as too much almond butter, and please do not get me started on that disgusting Blizzard (which I'm still lamenting).

Additionally, because I've got these treats so square in my mind for Cheat Day, I've found myself ignoring my natural desires for what sounds good right then and there. In other words, just because I crave Indian food on a Wednesday does not mean that I will still want it on a Saturday. I think I've done myself a Cheat Day disservice by deciding - days in advance - what I will indulge in for Cheat Day.

There is also one more problem that I haven't mentioned until now. Cheat Day - while it is meant to be a day of relaxing about food - does not necessarily mean that I have to go apeshit on the treats. I do not have to eat like I'm never going to have another meal, or another Cheat Day again. As much as Cheat Day is about relaxing, it is also about spending one day a week learning to eat like a real person who is not on a diet. In other words, it is about learning how to be intuitive about my eating. By stuffing myself full of guilty pleasures and ignoring what actually sounds good on that day, at that moment, I am actually robbing myself of the opportunity to learn how to eat.

So. Going forward.

I will still have FULL PERMISSION to eat whatever strikes my fancy on Cheat Day, whether it's Fettucini Alfredo, red velvet cupcakes or steamed broccoli. But instead of planning in advance all the things I want to indulge in and writing the menu for Cheat Day before it even arrives, I'm going to try to just go with the flow on Cheat Day. Waking up, without any expectations about food sounds grand; and definitely bang on with the spirit of Cheat Day.

So here's to some delicious eating AND some delicious learning for many Cheat Days to come.

Day 26 & 27: Now Weight Just a Minute

2009-10-27T13:03:00.000-07:00

Well hello!

I need to go grocery shopping. It is dire straights in my fridge and cupboards. So much so, that I've had to get really inventive. Behold what I came up with for lunch yesterday:Your eyes do not deceive you. You are looking at a spinach sandwich. I toasted two slices of multigrain bread and spread on some light onion and chive cream cheese. Then, I stacked as much spinach as I could reasonable get between two slices of toast and voila! Spinach sandwich. It was actually pretty good! The spinach was very fresh and had a satisfying crunch and the flavour worked very well with the cream cheese. Those are pink grapefruit slices you see in the background there. Citrus always gets eaten last around here, probably because it keeps so well in the refrigerator.

I found some leftover frozen vegetarian chili that I made on October 10th and had that for dinner yesterday. Not picture worthy.

I had my usual oats (1/2 cup oatmeal, 1 tablespoon almond butter and fruit of choice - today was a green apple) for breakfast this morning and then went on a nice long run in the sun. I was hesitant about going but once I was out there pounding the trail, it felt amazing. So glad I went. On my way home, I splurged on this:

More of a financial splurge than a dietary one, it was just a non-fat decaf latte. But it was very well made and it really hit the spot. Note on the bottom of the cup it boasts "Vancouver's Best Cheesecake!" This is not a word of a lie. Last cheat day, I had the privilege of a little taste and wow. No words. I am actually thinking of ordering a small cheesecake for my birthday this year (November 29th, so you better start your shopping now!). The only tough part is that they have a zillion flavours and it'll be agony to decide on one... Thinking about this...

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Okay so I've decided I hate my scale. Not the act of weighing myself, no, the scale itself. It is a royal piece of crap. It consistently weighs all over the map - plus or minus up to 10 pounds sometimes!!! I checked out the reviews on Amazon (I really should have done this before I purchased it) and found out that I am not the only one experiencing this problem. In fact, it only earned 1 star for the rating. And of course, I've long since discarded the receipt and the box (big mistake on my part) so I can't return or exchange it either. Poo.

So, in light of this, I have decided to purchase a doctor's scale. I know it must seem crazy, but I really need some accuracy in my regime. Having a wonky scale makes it so hard to see my progress and that in and of itself is discouraging. So I'm doing my research and I'm getting one. Fortunately, they're not as expensive as I originally thought they were - only about $150-$200 for a decent one. I just have to do a bit of looking around to decide which one I want to order.

Weighing myself everyday seems to work well for me. I am past the point of getting discouraged or excited by minor fluctuations. This small semblance of control really helps to keep me focused and maintain a tight rein on weight. It's not for everyone. But I think for me, it's an important part of The Plan. And long term, I expect I will weigh myself often just to make sure that I don't regain any of my hard-earned weight loss.

Day 25: Back on Track

2009-10-25T22:17:00.000-07:00

After a fairly unsatisfying cheat day, I am right back on track with my diet today and it feels great. Funny how after a day of eating too much not-so-great fare, my plain, wholesome, low-calorie food tasted extra fantastic today.

Instead of starting the day with my usual oatmeal, I was in a crazy rush this morning so I had this instead:A piece of toasted whole grain bread with almond butter. It was faster to prepare than oatmeal and we had to get out of the house fast in order to make it to my mum's house in a hurry. She agreed to babysit Baby Girl while I went for a run, but she herself had an appointment to keep later that morning so I had to shake a leg.

I had a great long run. That toast really held me over. And by the time I got home, I was ready for a real breakfast so I had this:My oats! But I fancied them up with a cup of cottage cheese (great addition to oatmeal, btw) and a crispy fuji apple. And of course I topped the works with LOTS of cinnamon. I was quite full after this meal.

I was planning on going to a yoga class in the afternoon. I put Baby Girl down for her nap and started getting ready to go. But then, this powerful wave of exhaustion washed over me and I proclaimed to Husband those famous last words, "I'm just going to close my eyes for 15 minutes. Wake me up if I fall asleep." Well, he did wake me up after 15 minutes as instructed, but by then I was a lost cause. I decided to skip the 2pm yoga class and go to the 4pm class instead. I just really needed a nap! Baby Girl had the right idea! So I had a delicious Sunday nap and it felt wonderful.

I woke up refreshed at 3pm and again, had every intention of going to yoga class. But somehow I got caught in a weird sort of alien time warp and next thing I knew it was 3:45 and I wasn't even dressed and there was no way I could have made it to class on time. So I missed yoga altogether today. Ah well. Baby Girl and I shared this snack:
My dad stopped by shortly thereafter to pick up his computer (which Husband was fixing for him). We decided to go downstairs to the coffee shop for a quick latte as neither one of us had our coffee for the day. I had an unpictured (forgot to bring my iPhone) tall non-fat decaf latte and it was good, although very bitter today.

I threw together an early dinner. Realizing that I hadn't really had any vegetables yet, I boiled some whole wheat pasta and made a sauce that I threw together out of red peppers, yellow peppers, onions, garlic and wilted spinach. I also added a little bit of jarred tomato sauce just to give it more of a sauce-like texture. Plus lots of italian seasoning.

It was pretty good, actually.

I even had enough calories leftover to enjoy this little treat after Baby Girl went to bed.

Nothing like a cuppa tea and my current favourite 100 calorie snack pack.

A perfect end to a lazy Sunday.

Day 24: Oh for the Love of Cheat Day

2009-10-24T21:50:00.000-07:00

What a weird day for eating.

My day started with this:

A big bowl of oatmeal with cinnamon, almond butter and bananas. I had planned to have one of my crusty rolls with butter and a cup of tea but oddly, my usual oatmeal just sounded better somehow. So I went with it.

Afterwards, I went for a run with my dad. And on the way home we stopped at a new coffee place and I got an unpictured non-fat decaf almond latte. It was good, if not maybe a bit too sweet. I also had a sample of a white chocolate and raspberry scone and a teeny bite of pumpkin cheesecake. Yum!

For my daughter's lunch, I whipped up some Annie's Organic White Cheddar Mac & Cheese and thought I'd follow suit for my own lunch. So we decided to share the box. While it was cooking, I had this for an appetizer:

A gorgeous toasted flax bun with butter. Drool.

To make lunch a little healthier, I added some green peas, some wild pink tuna and a dash of black pepper.Then I did something that most people will think is crazy. But in my family, we ALWAYS put ketchup on our mac & cheese! Yeah baby! This was a total "comfort food" kind of meal. And because I've been craving bread with butter, I paired lunch with this warm buttered roll.The mac & cheese was pretty tasty but the roll was disappointing. I wanted something crusty and this was more powdery. Eh.

Holy carbs, right?!

After Baby Girl woke up from her nap, I took her to the park where we met some friends. My girlfriend and I shared a few bites of chocolate together - some individually wrapped dark chocolate squares, smaller than the size of a matchbook. I had two. But they weren't that great, kind of waxy actually, and I didn't really care for them. And I forgot to take pictures!

Husband met us at the park and walked us home. I guess all my talk about my big Blizzard plans started to get to him because he decided that he wanted a milkshake. I had a few sips of that. Soooooo good.

Dinner got all screwed up. Because Husband had a late lunch meeting today, AND a HUGE milkshake on the way home from the park, he proclaimed that he would not be wanting dinner. He said, "If I get hungry, I'll just have a piece of fruit or something." Now normally, I'd be very supportive of the idea of not having to cook. But, since we were going to order Indian food tonight, I kinda had my heart set on it. And since our preferred Indian place has a $25 delivery minimum (and is just a few too many blocks to walk to) I had a conundrum on my hands. Certainly, I could not eat $25 worth of Indian food on my own. And I really didn't think I could deal with having leftovers in the house. So, after a lot of back and forth, and a solemn promise from Husband to make it up to me next Cheat Day, I decided to just go downstairs and grab some sushi instead.

California roll, yam roll, agedashi tofu and miso soup.

It was good, not exactly what I wanted, but good nonetheless.

I devoured it.

And for the big finale, the much anticipated, long awaited PUMPKIN PIE BLIZZARD:

And guess what? IT TOTALLY SUCKED. It was pretty gross and tasted so fake and yucky. I couldn't even finish half of it. Never EVER again. After all that waiting, I was so very disappointed.

So it was a Cheat Day that had it's ups and downs and sadly, for the most part, did not live up to my high expectations. Ah well, there's always next week. I am now sitting here at my computer at 10:30pm feeling full but still wanting something.... But I'm really scared of what the scale will say tomorrow. Especially after all that salt and soy sauce! Yikes. If you hear a loud shriek early tomorrow morning, rest assured, it's just me. Screaming from Canada.

And I must admit, after all the indulging I am REALLY looking forward to three healthy, light meals tomorrow. And a nice long run and a very hot yoga class. That is all sounding so good right now. And that's the thing about Cheat Day - Makes the dieting sounds like fun all over again.

Lesson learned from THIS Cheat Day: Going overboard isn't the answer. Feeling stuffed and knowing it's from eating all the wrong stuff just doesn't feel very good. It's not that I'm feeling guilty at all, I just feel like, 'what was the point of all that?'

This is only my 3rd ever Cheat Day, so it's still quite a novelty and I'm definitely still learning. But I think from now on, I'm going to try to keep this lesson in the forefront of my mind. I will still have absolute and full permission to eat whatever I want, but if I'm honest with myself, eating crap just isn't as satisfying as I think it will be. It never really is, is it? I think just larger portions of good, wholesome, healthy foods - plus a little taste of something sinful - that's the recipe for a really awesome Cheat Day.

Day 21, 22 & 23: Hello, Clavicles!

2009-10-23T13:57:00.001-07:00

Wow I have been wanting to post for the past two days, but as I've been dealing with a poor sick Baby Girl (she has a nasty cold) coupled with all the running and late night yoga classes, I have just not been able to find the time. Finally sitting down at my computer and catching up!

So two nights ago I was at yoga, and my mat was square in front of the mirror. I'm such a narcissist! As I was sitting cross-legged with my palms on my knees, I looked at my reflection. I could have sworn I saw a faint hint of muscle tone in my arms. My waist might have seemed a wee bit smaller than it did a couple of weeks ago. And what's this? I saw some old friends I haven't seen in a long, long time... My clavicles! After hiding under a layer of fat for a couple of years now, my clavicles are emerging triumphant once again and my chest now has some definition. Granted, those lovely clavicles are only just starting to peek out, but yup, there they are! The Plan is working. My body is indeed (slowly) changing shape. I'm loving it!

The weight loss has continued to go very well this week - I've lost a little over 2 pounds since Sunday - but I'm sure that I must just be experiencing a lovely windfall that will be short lived and not indicative of the general trend. I kinda think that's how weight loss goes. In fits and starts.

Tomorrow is Cheat Day! Oh how I adore you, Cheat Day! Here's what I'm planning to indulge in:
-a hot crusty roll with butter (maybe for breakfast with a cup of tea?)
-take-out Indian food for dinner (I am craving my favourite chickpea dish)
-that gosh darn Pumpkin Pie Blizzard from DQ. You know the one. The one I should have had last cheat day. It's my obsession of late.
Other than that, we'll just see how the day flows! So excited.

I swear, Cheat Day is the best thing I could have ever imagined. It works so well for my purposes. How? Why?

Because:
1. Obviously, it's lovely to satiate my cravings and enjoy some delicious food (especially those that are challenging to fit into a low calorie regime).
2. It's a chance, once a week, for me to practice eating like a real person who is not on a diet.
3. It keeps me motivated and strong through the rest of the week because I never feel deprived and I know if I want something I only need to wait until the next Cheat Day to have it. I think I very well may have given up on The Plan long ago because I would have felt deprived, would have probably started resenting The Plan, indulged, lost focus, felt bad about myself, continued indulging, vicious cycle...
4. Everyone deserves a break.
5. I can eat whatever strikes my fancy and I don't have to weigh, measure, or record anything. The only thing that's not allowed on cheat day is guilt. And you know what? The worst I've had so far was some of those 100 calorie snack packs and a monster bowl of cereal. And it was Special K at that. I almost feel like because I can have anything, I feel like I don't need to eat a bunch of crap. Does that make any sense? Of course, even if I did eat a bunch of crap, that's OK! It's Cheat Day! It's all good.

6. And no matter how much I eat on Cheat Day (and honestly, usually I'm pretty well behaved because I'm running on a week's worth of momentum), I really don't gain more than a pound - if even that - and most of it is probably just due to too much sodium the day before anyway. Think about it: I would have to eat an additional 3500 calories, over an above what my body requires in a day, to gain even a pound. That's not very easy to do in one day. It's not like I'm going to go out and eat 5 Burger King Whoppers (which would be about 3000 calories). I guess my point is that one day - heck, one WEEK - of anything really doesn't make that much of a difference either way. In my opinion, the key to weight loss success is consistency, not perfection.

Ironic that Cheat Day actually helps to keep me focused on my diet, eh?

On to some food. Here are my lunches from the last two days.

Wednesday's lunch was:Some fat free peach Activia yogurt, black plums and cinnamon with a side of whole wheat toast with almond butter. I needed to eat something that would sustain me through a run and a yoga class, so I put together this meal. It was just OK. I wish I would have had plain yogurt instead of the Activia because the fake-peach taste just did not work very well with the plums. But the addition of the almond buttered toast sure was tasty. And the meal as a whole did work as planned - I was full but not overly so and my energy was high through both my workouts with nary a hunger pang in site.

Thursdays lunch was:A chicken salad sandwich and cherry tomatoes. The chicken was leftover spicy BBQ marinated, and instead of celery, I employed some leftover aspargus in the chicken salad mix. It was really good. This whole lunch was delicious and truthfully I'm surprised it turned out so well because Baby Girl was just starting to feel sick and and being very surly while I was making it and I was absolutely starving by the time I sat down. I can't even believe I had the wherewithal to take a picture! I will be having a repeat of this lunch today, I think.

It's rainy and grey today, Baby Girl is still sick and I'm starting to feel a tickle in the back of my throat. I have decided to take the day off from exercise and just take it easy tonight. I've got the fire going and I'm already in my pajamas and it's only 2:30pm. Nothing like a lazy day at home to warm the soul. Now, if someone would just come over with some low-calorie chicken soup and crackers I'd be all set.

Day 20: My Sneaky Little Snack

2009-10-20T21:03:00.000-07:00

Yoga class was awesome tonight! Gosh that heat felt so nice after a couple days' break. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.

So The Plan is still going really well. And I've made peace with the scale. Today was the first day that I just didn't care what it said. Well, okay, maybe I did care a little.... Probably in light of yesterday's shocking discovery that my not-so-trusty scale sometimes fibs, I just weighed myself, recorded the number and went about my business. Up or down, it didn't really matter. I am feeling good and my clothes are getting looser by the day.

I'm starting to understand that weight is a range, not a fixed, tried and true integer.

In other news, I found something wonderful, quite by accident, in the snack aisle of the grocery store today. Behold:(Don't mind the French, I live in Canada.) I am a nut butter - especially peanut butter - slave (not that you could tell by this blog) so when I found these, I just couldn't resist. ) Quaker Crispy Delights Peanut Butter Crunch rice cake snacks - They are soooo good!What an awesome treat for when I need a little sumthin sumthin.

Okay, I know there are a lot of controversy over these 90 or 100 calorie snack packs. Yes, they're not real food. Yes, they're loaded with all kinds of chemicals and junk. Yes, they're just empty calories. And Yes, sometimes you need to put the contents of the package under a magnifying glass to see what you're about to eat. And don't get me started on the environmental impact of all that extra packaging. I get all that.

But ya know, sometimes you just need something. Something to remind you that you're not on a diet. A little taste of a snack that you used to love. All in a safe protective package that keeps you from over indulging. A treat that you can easily sneak into your diet without a lot of sacrifice. Hell, even if you go NUTS and have TWO, you're only into them for 200 calories. No biggie.

So YES, I admit it, I am a big, BIG fan of the 100 calorie snack pack.

Day 18 & 19: Scratch That Itch

2009-10-19T12:39:00.001-07:00

I finally broke out of the 160's this morning! Hooray! That must mean I'm doing something right.

Although I also discovered this morning that my scale is not really that accurate. When I first weighed myself, it showed that I was 158.8. I jumped for joy. Then a few minutes later I wanted to show Husband so I got on again and I was 162.2. What?? Booooo. But that seemed weird to me. So I then proceeded to bump, move, step on, step off, relocated and reset the scale. Now I'm 161 even. Without moving the scale, I stepped on a few minutes later. 159.8. I have no idea what was going on but I decided to just keep that last number as it was kind of the average of all the numbers I got this morning. And an important lesson was learned: That number really does mean ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. So next time I'm celebrating a 2 pound loss or mourning a 2 pound gain, I'm going to have to take that number with a grain of salt. Because apparently, it's really give-or-take 3 pounds.

So, unfortunately (and embarrassingly), I already failed my 50 day yoga challenge. I want to say it was beyond my control, but I think I let it happen. I was exhausted and when Sunday got too busy for me to fit in a yoga class, I relented and kinda gave up. I went for a long run instead.

I'm not too upset, I certainly did try and I'm definitely going to keep going to yoga everyday if possible. I think if I alternate running and yoga that would certainly make for a good fitness recipe. I will be going to yoga tonight, hopefully, as long as I can get Baby Girl down for bed at an early time.

Running has been going great. I am really getting into it. I can run for 30 minutes - no problem. (Although it should be noted that I run really slowly, at a snail's pace). And when the 30 minutes is up, I always feel like I could do more. That's just where I want to be for awhile. It feels great! I am so pleased with my progress.

I have been really lazy about photographing my meals lately. Or maybe it's more that I'm so freakin hungry by the time I eat that I'm not thinking straight. But anyway, here are the highlights from Cheat Day:

Chicken and vegetable yakisoba (homemade with leftover spaghettini noodles) mixed with lots and lots of edemame beans. Yummers!
And of course, lots and lots of almond butter. Mmmmmmm.

For dinner, I made some turkey tacos which turned out just OK. No pics.

The funny thing about my last Cheat Day is I wanted something but I couldn't figure out what. In hindsight, I realize that it was that Pumpkin Pie Blizzard from Dairy Queen that's been all over TV lately. To satiate myself, I tried eating lots of almond butter, a 100-calorie snack pack of chocolate covered pretzels, and a HUUUUGE bowl of cereal but by the end of the evening I was stuffed, but unsatisfied. And the scale was not kind to me the next day so to me it really wasn't worth it.

My valuable lesson learned on Cheat Day: If I'm going to indulge, at least make it count. It's not worth it to eat for the sake of eating. If it's not delicious then I shouldn't waste my time.

I spent all day thinking about that Pumpkin Pie Blizzard from DQ and I never got it because I was trying to behave myself. And now I wish I'd just gone ahead and satisfied that craving, rather than eating a lot of other stuff that didn't scratch that itch, KWIM?

Now I know.

Day 15 & 16: I Amazed Myself

2009-10-17T12:03:00.000-07:00

I'm writing to you from my second weekly Cheat Day! Hooray! I started the morning with a GIANT bowl of oatmeal with a creamy swirl of almond butter mixed in and topped with bananas. So, so good. Too good, actually, because I could only eat half of it!

On Thursday I arranged with my mum to look after Baby Girl so I could go for a nice (stroller-free) run. And run I did. I ran for 30 minutes. Albeit slowly, but without stopping. It was awesome! Truthfully, I probably pushed myself a little harder than I should have by I was just glowing afterwards. I totally amazed myself. I finally feel like I'm on the road to becoming the runner I used to be.

Good news! I dropped a dress size. From size 14 to 12. I discovered this yesterday, quite by accident, when I need to find something to wear and I was behind on the laundry. Out of curiosity, I tried on a pair of corduroy pants that I haven't worn in awhile and wow! They fit! Very comfortably! Made my day.

I'm feeling good and strong. So good in fact, that despite the fact that it's Cheat Day, my mum offered to give me some of her amazing hot-out-of-the-oven cookies and I declined. I did have a couple of nibbles (OMG were they good!) but I didn't want any more than that. I didn't need any more than that. I just want lots and lots of healthy food. Okay, okay, I admit, I am still thinking about that Pumpkin Pie Blizzard haha...

Went on another run today - this time with my dad. He is out of practice but he did really well. It was nice to run with some good company.

I took a few pics of my meals lately, but, well, I just don't feel like posting them. They're nothing all that exciting. I'm feeling lazy. And it's Cheat Day so I can do what I want!

Day 15: Two Weeks

2009-10-15T12:12:00.001-07:00

It's official. I've completed TWO WEEKS on The Plan. I've followed my diet to the letter and I've exercised every day. I am very proud of myself.

And my hard work thus far was rewarded this morning by some really good news on the scale. I have dropped to the lowest weight I've been since I've started the plan. I'd love to hope that maybe I'm finally out of this weird up-and-down weight fluctuation/plateau thing that has been plaguing me lately, but I'm smarter than that. But I'll take this little accomplishment and keep it in my back pocket. I weighed exactly 160.0 today. I'm one-tenth of a pound away from finally getting out of the 160's!!

Cheat Day is coming the day after tomorrow and of course I'm already daydreaming about what I want to eat. Almond butter tops the list again so I think that will be incorporated into my breakfast. I've also been eyeing up that Pumpkin Pie Blizzard that Dairy Queen has been advertising recently. I don't know if I will go as far as to have one but oh wow do they look good.

My mum is having a family party on Sunday and I thought about using my Cheat Day then, but the main course is going to be a beef dish and since I don't eat beef, I figure it's not worth it to use a whole Cheat Day up just so I can eat side dishes. I'll just pack my lunch instead! And if anyone asks why I'm not eating, I'm just going to be honest and tell them that I am on a diet.

I've been really focused on exercise over the last couple of days. It's almost impossible not to be when I've been going to nightly yoga classes. It's a bit hard, but not because the yoga itself is difficult (although it can be pretty intense). It's more of a challenge for me because evening after Baby Girl goes to bed is my time, when I get to relax in front of the TV, blog, check email, surf the internet. I am missing my shows! But my health and fitness is definitely worth more than an episode of America's Next Top Model and I just keep telling myself - it's only 50 days. I can get through anything for 50 days.

Here's my lunch today!An open-faced herbed cream cheese and spinach sandwich with a side of bright, beautiful cherry tomatoes.

Mum is going to babysit Baby Girl so I can go for a run today. Nice!

Day 13+14: Just a Regular Old Post with a Bonus Pep Talk at the Bottom

2009-10-14T11:28:00.000-07:00

I couldn't get around to posting yesterday because I had a late yoga class. Actually, I have yoga classes at night all this week so hopefully I'll have time to keep up my blog during Baby Girl's nap time.

The weight update: I'm still teetering up and down, but down more than up (I think/hope) so I guess there is some slow progress happening there. Much slower than I'd like, mind you. I'm still in the 160's. I just keep hoping to dip into the 150's one of these mornings -- man oh man that will be a good day. Patience, patience.

The food front: I haven't been taking pics of all my meals, partly because I keep forgetting and partly because they're just not that interesting or pretty to look at. But I did manage to snap a shot of last night's dinner (except I only remembered half way through eating it).It was Jamaican jerk chicken, wild brown rice and steamed seasoned carrots. It turned out really good, except the chicken (which I bought pre-marinaded from Whole Foods) was not that flavourful. Didn't stop me from finishing every last bite though. Husband liked it too.

And I had to take photo of breaky this morning. It was my usual cinnamon oatmeal but I topped it with something very special - fresh raspberries and strawberries. A great combo. It hit the spot!

And lunch today (which I'm munching on right now as I type this) is just some of the leftover vegetarian chili I made with a slice of whole wheat toast.You can't tell by looking at it but man is it spicy! I'm kinda wishing I had enough calories to throw in some cheese and sour cream to cool down this bowl of fire.

The running run-down: It's raining today so I couldn't take Baby Girl to the park this morning (which means I couldn't run there and run back for a bit of exercise). Boo. We ended up taking the subway to the mall outside of town where they have a kid's play area. She loved it. I guess some days I'll just have to take mandatory breaks from running. I do have a 90 minute hot yoga class tonight which promises to be brutal, so I'm not feeling too guilty about it.

---

So here's something I've known all along but I've decided to verbalize right here and now: Failure is not an option. This is happening, I will lose this weight. It will probably take a long time and it will definitely be hard work. But I'm in this for the long haul. This is a promise I've made to myself and I will not break it. No way. I will succeed.

Day 12: Physics and Math

2009-10-12T20:36:00.001-07:00

Ug. This morning I got myself into such a snit because I discovered upon waking that my scale was being a jerk again. The numbers went up. Again. Two days in a row.

Not a lot, mind you. Barely half a pound. Which I realize means nothing. But it truly was discouraging to see, especially in light of the fact that I've been working out like crazy and sticking to my diet perfectly. Am I eating too many calories? Not enough? How is it possible that my body is defying physics AND math? I always thought weight loss was a calories-in-calories-out kind of equation. What am I doing wrong??

I even had to call my mum to vent. She didn't have any answers for me but she was very supportive, as usual.

I am so tired of complaining about this.

Anyway, I ended up meeting a friend for coffee and a walk this morning, which got my mind off things. And by the afternoon I was feeling much better. I sort of came to the realization that if I'm going to weigh myself every day, I had just better start getting used to the discouragement and not let it affect me (as much). And I need to focus more on the indisputable fact that I'm feeling great, strong, and healthy and my pants are starting to feel a bit looser.

I had a great lunch today - I made an open-faced spinach and (light) cream cheese sandwich which was delish. Paired it with some cherry tomatoes and had a grapefruit for dessert. It was the perfect lunch before yoga class today, as it was nice and light and digested very quickly and easily. I forgot to take pictures of it, so instead I'll post a photo of yesterday's lunch: A toasted flax bagel with light herbed cream cheese, a sprinkling of canned salmon (my daughter loves this stuff so we shared) and a pile of carrots. I would have killed for some dried dill to sprinkle on top but alas it was not meant to be.The carrots were a bit disappointing. I usually buy organic carrots but the ones I found at my last visit to the grocery store had an expiration date a little too soon for my liking. So I bought regular carrots. Not as sweet.

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I had an AMAZING yoga class today. It was fairly challenging and I was one very sweaty pretzel by the end of it. It was only a 60 minute class but it sure felt like twice that. And afterward I felt great. Energized, yet calm and happy. Gosh I love me some yoga. It really seems to be treating me well.

I was feeling so great, in fact, that I decided afterwards to extend my workout and go for a run. Which I did - and that also went very well. One of the coolest things about running is the rate at which a new runner can improve. To think I just started running 12 days ago and today, I ran for a full 30 minutes (albeit slowly), only stopping twice to walk for about 2 minutes each time. That is a HUGE improvement and I really feel proud of myself for that.

Of course, I am pretty sore now, and I think tomorrow will be brutal so I will likely take the day off from running. Because I'm doing yoga every day for the next 47 days, I'm allowing myself to ease up on my running a wee bit. I *might* have overdone it a little today.

I know I shouldn't get so hung up on that silly number on the scale, but it sure would do my heart good to see some progress tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed.

Day 11: Rock and Roll

2009-10-11T12:19:00.000-07:00

Wow! I woke up this morning with SO MUCH ENERGY! I had a great sleep, and couldn't wait to get rockin' and rolling today. Baby Girl and I had a nice breakfast together - I had a big bowl of oatmeal with banana and cinnamon (I'm sparing you the pics - you've seen enough oatmeal for awhile) and then you know what we did? We went for a RUN! Well, I ran and Baby Girl sat in the stroller while I pushed her along.

Okay, we don't actually have a jogging stroller per se, but I'd say we did pretty well all things considered. I didn't go for a long run - just 15 minutes to the park, stopping to let Baby Girl have some fun on the swings and the slide, and then 15 minutes back. I worked up a nice sweat and it felt great. I am excited to know that I can now go for runs with Baby Girl, as opposed to being dependent on Husband's schedule so he can watch her while I go. My only complaint is that my upper arms are kind of sore, I think from holding the handlebars of the stroller. But I'm sure that will fade in time. All in all, an AWESOME morning.

I absolutely certain that my energy and mood today are thanks entirely to yesterday's yoga. In fact, I was feeling so great this morning that I didn't even freak out when I weighed myself and discovered that yesterday's Cheat Day resulted in a weight gain this morning of 0.8 pounds. Whatever. I'm not even thinking about it.

And because today is Sunday, I've updated my "Numbers" in the sidebar to the right (as I will do every Sunday). As you can see, I'm officially down 3.5 pounds. Not bad. But I've fluctuated so much over the last week, I'm starting to wonder if I'm ever going to get out of the 160's! What a great day it will be when that happens.

Anyway, I'm feeling fantastic, energized and healthy today. I think I'm going to make a big batch of homemade vegetarian chili for dinner tonight, even though it's Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend. Yes, it's a very un-Thanksgiving meal indeed, but I'm cool with it. We're just gonna take it easy.

Monster hunger is starting to set in. Must go forge for lunch!

Day 10: Such a Nutty Day

2009-10-10T19:33:00.000-07:00

I went to my first hot yoga class (in 5 years) today and it was just lovely. I had one heck of a workout, and sweated enough to fill a bucket. I struggled a bit from being out of practice, but I remembered most of the poses and the heat felt wonderful.

So today is Cheat Day and it has been very nutty. Literally. I guess I've been craving nuts - they're so hard to fit into a low calorie regime - so today I really went nuts with the nuts!

Breakfast was the first thing on my mind when I woke up this morning. I knew exactly how to start Cheat Day. With this:A toasted flax bagel positively slathered in almond butter. Drool. But, then I decided it was missing a little something so I added:Half a sliced banana and (of course) a sprinkling of cinnamon! I think cinnamon is my favourite spice ever.

Around noon, I decided I'd better eat again so I'd have lots of energy for my 3:30 yoga class. After much rummaging through the kitchen, I decided on a big bowl of oatmeal with raisins, the other half of the banana, lots and lots and LOTS of walnuts, cinnamon and skim milk. See?That little bowl of yum turned out to be quite a powerhouse because it kept me full and energetic straight through yoga. Awesome!

When I got home from yoga, however, I was absolutely famished. I snacked on an unpictured granny smith apple but that barely made a dent in my hunger so I knew I'd have to eat some dinner soon. Because it's Cheat Day (la dee dah!), I convinced Husband to order some take-out from our favourite Thai place, just around the corner from our loft. We split an order of cashew chicken with extra cashews (told you it was a nutty day!) and some brown rice.It was soooooo good. It was the perfect amount of spice, the veggies were crispy and the cashews were toasted to perfection. It didn't take Husband and I very long to inhale every last bite.

Now, I'm sitting here feeling a wee bit hungry again and thinking about a snack. Will it be a bowl of cereal? A piece of toast with almond butter? Some 100 calorie chocolate? All three??? VIVA LA CHEAT DAY!!!

Day 9: Bring on the Almond Butter, Bring on the Heat

2009-10-09T20:03:00.000-07:00

Well friends, here I sit on the eve of Cheat Day. Wahooooo!

I don't plan on going crazy tomorrow, really. But just eating whatever and whenever I feel like it, and not recording every single calorie, well that just sounds lovely. I am going to thoroughly enjoy my big gobs of almond butter (yeah baby) and I'm not going to worry about it. I am so excited.

I am also excited because tomorrow is the first day of my 50 DAY YOGA CHALLENGE. My muscles are primed and rested and I am ready to sweat!

Tonight's dinner was really good. I heated up some Fillo Factory Spanakopita that I bought from Whole Foods last week. They're all natural and 4 pieces were only 210 calories. Not bad! I threw some fresh tomatoes, cucumber and asparagus on my plate to go along with it. Decadent, filling, delicious and totally satisfying. I will definitely buy those again. Baby Girl really liked them too!

Here's what dinner looked like:

That's all for tonight! Gonna watch a movie with Husband and have a cup of tea and some 100 calorie chocolate. Mmmmmmmmm.

Why I Love Lululemon

2009-10-08T20:42:00.000-07:00

Let me count the ways...

Lululemon is my new favourite store. Why?

Well, it's not because they have the cutest and best quality workout clothing. It's not because they offer free LIFETIME alterations. It's not even because the salespeople are knowledgeable, helpful and friendly.

It's because AT LULULEMON, I AM A SIZE 8. Wheeeeeeee!

Every other store knows me as a size 14, so comfortably fitting into a size 8 is just too thrilling. I'm not sure if it's their stretchy Luon signature fabric, or if they are onto some kind of a fantastic marketing gimmick, but fitting into a size 8 anything pretty well makes me want to buy up the store.

And while I didn't buy up the entire store, I did come home with these lovely gems:

and...

Yes, you're reading that tag right - I bought the Ta Ta Tamer. These 36 double D baby-nursing Ta Tas definitely need to be told who's boss!

My shopping adventure wasn't cheap. All told I spent just under $400. That's for two pairs of yoga pants, two tank tops, and a sports bra. Yikes. Thanks, Husband!

Day 8: Shopping, Almond Butter & 50 Days of Yoga

2009-10-08T12:23:00.000-07:00

Well friends, hot yoga starts in two days and I've got to go dig out my mat, find some beach towels, and of course - do a bit of shopping here. I've already informed Husband that I plan to do quite a bit of damage and surprisingly, he was totally okay with it. I think I'm going to go today, just waiting for Baby Girl to wake up from her nap so I can feed her some lunch before we go shopping!

Speaking of Husband, he is STILL running (almost) every morning! I am so darn proud of him. I never thought he'd stick with it, but he is totally banging it out! He says when he skips a run, he really misses it. Amazing. He is such an inspiration and he truly helps me to stay motivated and focused. And my worries about Husband's eating preferences have been totally dashed. He even ate the vegetable lasagna I made (heated up) for dinner last night (I didn't take any pictures, it was nothing special) and liked it. I couldn't believe it! It sure makes dieting and exercise easier when your partner is involved, doesn't it?

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I've decided that my first Cheat Day will be on Saturday. I am so excited. All I can say are these two words: ALMOND BUTTER. It's all I can think about. I've been craving it since I started The Plan but as we all know, nut butters, while delicious and very healthy, are highly caloric and I find it a challenge to fit them into my low-calorie menus. So that's gonna be my big treat on Saturday. I may just have it for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

Now, normally, I would give myself a day off from exercise on my Cheat Day as well. But since I'm starting hot yoga on Saturday, I'm going to give myself tomorrow off instead, so I can rest my muscles. Mixing up Cheat Day a bit. That's allowed, right?

Did I mention that not only am I starting hot yoga on Saturday but I will be doing yoga for 50 straight days? You read that right. FIFTY as in 5-0. Why? Because the yoga studio I am joining has a great new student promotion for three weeks and then, during the month of November, they are having a "30-Day Yoga Challenge". This challenge is meant to encourage students to attend 30 classes in 30 days. If completed successfully, the students' names are entered into a drawing to receive one year of unlimited yoga. I WANT THAT PRIZE! So I'm going for it. And yeah, these two promotions together equal 50 consecutive days of yoga.

I'm totally going to take before and after photos because I have a feeling that 50 days of yoga might actually yield some visible results!

Day 7: Feeling It

2009-10-07T15:04:00.001-07:00

The most peculiar thing happened to me yesterday.

I went my run. The air was crisp and sweet, the sun was starting to set casting a warm glow all along my running path. My heart was pumping, my muscles were warm and... I felt thin. My body felt efficient. It was bliss. I have never enjoyed running so much in my life.

Unfortunately the feeling was fleeting, and as I started pushing through my workout it faded. Eventually, I became winded and I went from being full of energy to feeling like I was lumbering along, huffing and puffing. Happily, my quads have forgiven me and I my run wasn't painful at all, but having a taste of what running should feel like made me realize that I still have a long way to go in my practice. But, for the first time, I feel like I'm getting there. Slowly.

When I got home, I started making dinner - which was some chicken marinaded in half teriyaki sauce / half hot sauce, wild rice and snap peas. The chicken turned out beyond amazing, I am definitely making it that way again. I seared it on both sides and then baked it in the oven at 350 for about 30 minutes. I wish I had taken a picture of the inside because it was moist and juicy and I enjoyed every single bite of my dinner.This looks like a lot more rice than there actually was (only 3/4 cup), I guess it's an iPhone optical illusion! I didn't need to eat the whole chicken breast (although I easily could have), so I saved a small piece of it for my lunch the next day... I'll get to that in a sec.

Continuing on in my oatmeal adventures, I created a masterpiece this morning:Oatmeal topped with fresh raspberries and banana, and OF COURSE a cubic buttload of cinnamon. It was AWESOME.

After breakfast, I went for a walk with a friend and our babies. I was famished when I got home, and it was perfect timing because Baby Girl went down for a nap so I was able to sit and enjoy my lunch and not rush through it (a very rare treat in Mummyland!). I chopped up the rest of last night's chicken and a stalk of celery, and mixed in some light mayo and some really good stone ground mustard. And voila! Another fantastic chicken salad.I threw the works onto a tortilla in hopes that I could create some sort of chicken salad wrap, but alas, the filling was too plentiful and I had to settle for a weirdly shaped, but very tasty taco thing instead.Those tomatoes really were as red, ripe and delicious as they look!

I am feeling really silly about yesterday's scale discouragement. I never wanted to be one of those girls who agonize over every little ounce. I realize that this is a process and it takes time. Weight loss is not a straight line from A to B, it's more like a "two steps forward, one step back" kind of thing, at least for me. But seeing that number, for better or worse, really does get under my skin.

It has been suggested that perhaps I should not weigh myself everyday and I couldn't agree more with that sentiment. Unfortunately, my iPhone calorie counting app does require that I weigh myself every day if possible, in order to provide the most accurate and up-to-date data. I think what I'm going to have to learn to do is weigh myself, record the number, and just forget about it.

I don't know what I was so discouraged about yesterday anyway. It was such silliness. Looking at the big picture, I have already lost about 4 pounds - in ONE week. That is great! Not to mentioned that I am already feeling better, and feeling fitter. I really need to stay more focused on my overall successes rather than the day-to-day numbers. Lesson learned.

Day 6: My Scale is Such a Jerk

2009-10-06T12:17:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning and weighed myself, only to discover that not only had I not lost anything, but I was actually up 2-tenths of a pound from yesterday. Now believe me when I say that I fully realize that 2-tenths of a pound means nothing. I know that. But I must admit that it was discouraging to see those numbers.

How is it possible that I am eating so well, exercising every day, and yet I actually gained a small amount? Am I eating too much? Too little? Is it water? Is it the fact that I demolished 10 prune plums in front of the TV last night leaving only this in my wake?

I'm trying to keep perspective about this whole scale thing and for the most part I am; it's just so easy to get hung up on those silly little numbers. *Sigh* Ah, but I digress.

Husband sweetly offered to buy me some new yoga clothes as a little gift for starting up hot yoga again. I am totally taking him up on this and I'm really excited to go shopping here on Friday. Not only is it one of my favourite stores, but they always seem to have just what I'm looking for in terms of workout clothing. I can't wait to show you all what I end up coming home with. And on SATURDAY (mark your calendars folks), I will be attending my first hot yoga class in 5 years! I am pretty darn stoked about it.

On another random note - this post is turning out to be all my random thoughts for the day - I am getting totally into oatmeal. No stranger to fellow food bloggers, oatmeal is the King of Breakfast and I'm starting to understand why. First of all, it's totally versatile and you can throw in practically anything. Second, it's cheap. Third, it's totally delicious and healthy. And fourth, it really keeps you full. Like, for HOURS! It sure keeps hunger at bay a lot better than my bowl of Special K was doing.

This is what I whipped up this morning.
Very simple, just threw in some apple pieces and stirred in lots and LOTS of cinnamon. It was great, low calorie, and oh so filling. I love looking at the photos and reading the descriptions of everyone's oatmeal breakfasts out there in the blogosphere. It gives me tons of ideas!

Tonight, after a good rest day yesterday, I'm going to attempt a run again. Wish me (or rather, wish my quads) good luck!

Day 5: Trying Something New

2009-10-05T12:19:00.000-07:00

I think I spoke a wee bit too soon when I mentioned in yesterday's post that I am no longer sore from running. Yesterday's run turned out to be sheer torture, and not only did I NOT enjoy it (at all!), but I actually felt like I might be hurting myself. I powered through it, but when I got home my quads let me know that I really shouldn't have pushed so hard.

I had to lie on the floor all evening and stretch out. A hot shower did help, and a good sleep helped even more, but I am still going to take the day off from running today - despite my best laid plans. I am still going to exercise - I think a brisk walk for at least 30 minutes will do - but sadly, running is just going to have to wait for tomorrow so I can give my poor legs a break. They just don't understand what's got into me the last few days.

And now that the weather is turning cooler, I've decided to get back into hot yoga (Bikram yoga). I used to love it about 5 years ago and because of life changes and stuff, I quit and never went back. I am feeling the call again, and am looking forward to some nice hot workouts. The best part about hot yoga is the calorie burn. A girl my size burns about 700 calories in a 90 minute class. That is insane! I'm not sure I could burn that many calories running uphill for an hour!

I'm going to start next week after the holiday (Monday is Canadian Thanksgiving) and my dear friend L is going with me. She is really excited and it's contagious. I can't wait! I think a mix of hot yoga and running will be a great combination for me. I'd also like to try pilates, I've never done them. Maybe that's next?

---

The scale hasn't really budged much in the last few days. I'm trying not to let it bother me, but I must admit that it is a bit discouraging sometimes. In the past, the first few days of losing weight were always so epic, and I feel like I'm off to a slow start. Oh well, I am feeling better already, and that's nothing to shake a stick at.

As I type this, I'm snacking on a crispy granny smith apple, and a small piece of sharp cheddar cheese. It's heaven. Wanna see? Of course you do.

Day 4: Best Breakfast Ever

2009-10-04T10:35:00.000-07:00

I wanted something really special for breakfast this morning, something with a little more oomph than my usual bowl of Special K.

So I made a bowl of old fashioned (slow cooking) rolled oats and topped it with some fruit salad left over from last night. I sprinkled the works with a generous dusting of cinnamon and it was maybe, just maybe, the best thing I've ever eaten. Observe:
Here it is again, mid-inhalation.

Satisfaction, thy name is Oatmeal.

In other news, I have decided to up my caloric intake by 100 calories a day starting today. My body was telling me that what I was taking in over the last 3 days was just a wee bit too low. If I'm going to be successful (which I am), I know that I've got to listen to my body and remain and be open to make changes as needed. This was a change I needed. I'll try adding the extra 100 calories to the next few days and reassess again. I have a feeling it will take a few days/weeks to find the exact right balance I'm after. I certainly don't want to send my body into famine mode!

I'm proud of myself for completing THREE straight days of running. And today, when I woke up, I'm not nearly as sore as I was yesterday. If that's not progress, I don't know what is.

Gotta run, Baby Girl is asking to play with her mummy!

Day 3: Sweet Ambrosia

2009-10-03T13:30:00.001-07:00

Isn't it funny how, when you're really really REALLY hungry, anything and everything sounds AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS? I ran some errands this morning, and had to stop at the market to get some extra veggies for dinner and some cereal for Husband. Walking through the produce section was every bit as mouthwatering as walking through a cupcake shop. I could have easily grabbed pretty much anything off the shelf and started ferociously gnawing my unwashed, raw vegetable treat like some wild animal. And I'm quite sure I would have enjoyed it every much as I would love eating a gorgeous piece of chocolate cake.

You should have seen me by the time I got to the cereal aisle. Visions of dancing Cocoa Puffs were swimming in my brain. I think my pupils even turned into little Honey Nut Cheerios.

Luckily, I did have to rush out of there because Baby Girl was getting sleepy and I needed to get her home for her nap. And the second she went down, I prepared this little light lunch for myself:

Toast topped with light herbed cream cheese, lots of sliced cucumber, cherry tomatoes and an Activia yogurt!

Things are going really well. I feel determined and remain full of conviction. But I must admit, I am looking forward to my first Cheat Day...hehe. I think I'll schedule it for some day next weekend. That will give me at least 9 great days under my belt and I have a feeling knowing that I've come that far will help me to resist going too crazy on Cheat Day. Going forward, I will get one Cheat Day a week but since I just got started on The Plan and I spent the last month having one prolonged Cheat Day, I'm going to give myself a good, solid start before the first one.

I'm actually not really worried about going overboard on Cheat Day, not that there would be anything wrong with that. While anything is allowed on Cheat Day, I truly feel like the "treat" on cheat day will be not having to write down what I've eaten and taking a day off from exercise. If I had the opportunity to pig out right now, I'd probably just have a big bowl of cereal some almond butter on toast or something. Go figure.

Day 2: Getting Into The Groove

2009-10-02T21:23:00.000-07:00

Today was another good day.

I woke up to discover that I had already lost 2 pounds, which is great (and probably in no small part because of yesterdays starving session), but I'm not putting much of a stake in the loss. I'm only going to "officially" weigh myself once a week on the weekend so I can get an accurate picture of how the weight loss is going. It's too easy to get hung up on that little number, especially when it can change day by day and that change can be due to something as insignificant as an extra glass of water or a bowel movement.

I stayed really busy all morning which was a great distraction from eating. But when lunchtime rolled around, I was definitely ready to eat! I ended up using last night's leftover chicken - I chopped it up and mixed it with half a granny smith apple, some light mayo, and some Ingelhoffer stone ground mustard. This combo made an awesome chicken salad, which I paired with the other half of the apple.After lunch I went for a walk with my girlfriend and our babies, and it was then that I realized that I am SORE! I guess I'm starting to feel the burn from yesterday's run. But that didn't stop me from going again today. Because of my sore, stiff quads, today's run wasn't *quite* as much fun as yesterday's, but I still enjoyed it and it still felt good to get out there.

When I got home, I made a GIANT plate of stir-fried chicken breast and veggies (cauliflower, red pepper, onion, garlic, asparagus, mushroom and carrot) and actually felt full afterwards, for the first time since I started The Plan. I made rice for Husband and Baby Girl, but didn't eat any of it myself.And because of today's walk, run, and careful eating, I even had enough calories leftover to enjoy this tasty little snack with my green tea this evening, as I type this post:

Sweet!

Day 1: And So It Has Begun

2009-10-01T21:17:00.000-07:00

My first day on The Plan went well; albeit a little confusing.

The best part of the whole day was my run. (And when I say run, note that I am following Hal Higdon's Beginning Runner's Guide so I am actually doing a combination of running, jogging and walking.) It was nothing short of exhilarating and when it was over, I actually wanted more. I can't wait to do it again tomorrow. It felt soooooo good.

I stuck to my caloric requirements all day long. I had a banana and a cup of pomegranate green tea before my run, two pieces of toast with light cream cheese and a huge plate of raw veggies for lunch, an Activia yogurt for a snack, and a crazy delicious salad with grilled chicken and quinoa for dinner. I thought about taking a picture of my dinner but it wasn't that pretty to look at and anyway I was too hungry to bother.

Which brings me to the confusing part of my day. After dinner, I found myself STARVING. Like, ready to eat cardboard starving. I checked my cool little iPhone program only to find that the exercise I logged didn't show up in my calorie allotment for the day. No wonder I was starving! So I fiddled with the program, and even emailed tech support and much to my surprise, I got a return email within a few minutes. Very impressive.

Anyway, I was able to get everything sorted out but even with the few extra calories to spare, I was (and am still) feeling very hungry. I am wondering if I may have been too ambitious in setting my weight loss goal at 6.5 pounds per month. I am going to stick it out today and see how I feel tomorrow. If I still feel this ravenous, then perhaps I will readjust my math a bit. I should also note that I am breastfeeding - not a lot, only 3-4 times a day - but that alone does demand a few extra calories. I'm not sure how many so I guess I better look that up. [Edit: Dr. Google tells me that breastfeeding burns 200-500 calories a day, but since I am only feeding 3-4 times a day, I am going to assume I am using about 100 and add that into my program starting tomorrow.]

I think it will likely take me a few days of messing around with my program, my goals and all my little bugaboos until I find the happy healthy weight loss balance I'm seeking. The most important thing, I think, is for me to stay adaptable and keep adjusting and readjusting until I get that balance just right.

But all in all, a great day. I am more inspired than ever, and it feels so good. Off to bed!

Ready...Set...

2009-09-30T15:32:00.000-07:00

I had a fun day today, a perfect way to spend the day before The Plan starts. Mum and I took the subway to the mall outside of town. They have a great play area there and Baby Girl had a blast playing with the other kids. Then we went and got some very greasy veggie burgers and fried zucchini sticks for lunch. So good.

On my way home, we popped into Whole Foods and I picked up the last thing I needed in the way of groceries: Some organic chicken breasts and some organic chicken and turkey sausages. I bought 8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts and asked to have them wrapped for the freezer in packs of 2. It worked out so well because when I got home I was able to just toss them right into the freezer without having to handle them. Same for the sausages (and WOW does Whole Foods have a million varieties!). In fact, I was told that meat freezes better in the paper anyway so it couldn't have been better or easier! And the whole thing cost less than $40 CDN. Not too bad considering that all the meat is organic and will feed 2 adults and 1 Baby Girl for two weeks.

I only have one thing left to do and that's to make an exercise playlist for my new iPod. I'll do that tonight while watching America's Next Top Model and eating my final indulgence - a Dairy Queen Blizzard. Oh, and my mum said she can watch Baby Girl while I go for my run tomorrow so the challenge of Husband having to work late has been successfully averted.

I'm also going to have Husband take those "Before" pics of me tonight (in a bathing suit, YES I am absolutely crazy) so I should have them up on this blog very soon, either later tonight or tomorrow.

I am so excited - and SO READY - to get started tomorrow, I feel like I'm counting the seconds. I am so tired of living like this, and so sick of lumbering around in this heavy body.

Tomorrow, everything changes. I am going to turn this mutha out. You watch.

Early To Bed, Early To Rise

2009-09-29T11:28:00.000-07:00

It's not all just about eating right and working out. I'm also going to need to make another big change. This change is actually the pin that will hold the rest of The Plan together and I'm kinda surprised that I haven't considered it until now.

I MUST MAKE SLEEP A PRIORITY.

When I became a mum, sleep just sort of took a back seat to the rest of my life. There was always so much to do, and I became quite conditioned to function on a lot less sleep. The key word there is "function" because that is basically all I could do. I certainly wasn't living optimally.

Additionally, lack of sleep sends a message to the brain that energy is scarce. And when energy is scarce, the body often responds with feeling hungry. See where I'm going with this?

Part of my problem is that because I CAN function on little sleep, I often choose NOT to sleep (even when I am able to) simply because it is the only time that I have to myself. Please don't misunderstand - I absolutely love being a mum and I adore spending time with my Baby Girl, but when she goes to bed at night it's the only time I have to do what I want to do, adult things, ME things. I can email, surf, Facebook, blog, watch TV, shower, give myself a mani/pedi... all the things I can't do when I'm being a mum during the day. KWIM? I love this time, but I really need to institute some structure because staying up late is detrimental to my health and could possibly sabotage The Plan if I'm not careful.

I've gotten myself into a baaaaad habit: I stay up really late, even after Husband goes to bed at 10:00pm (not great for our marriage either). Then, when I finally get to bed, it feels like I get only a few hours of sleep before Baby Girl wakes up in the morning (the same time every morning - about 6:30/7:00am). I feed her and try to get her to go back to sleep so I can get some more sleep. I am usually successful and we wake up again at around 9:30am (essentially she just took her morning nap). Because we've woken up so late, Baby Girl's nap schedule gets all screwed up - she'll go down for a very late afternoon nap - and because of this, her actual bedtime turns into a battle. When we finally get her to go down again, I feel like I only have a few minutes to myself before Husband heads to bed at 10:00pm. So I stay up late. And the cycle continues.

This morning, Baby Girl woke up with Husband at her usual time. Instead of coaxing her back to bed, I just let her stay up and play. I did all the morning chores, we had breakfast nice and early, and she went down for a perfectly lovely morning nap at 10:00am on the dot. Baby Girl was sunshine all day and at her bedtime tonight, she went down like a champ. This is how the day is supposed to go.

There's also this: When I'm tired, I eat more (especially sugar); it's only natural - my body is looking for extra energy. I feel like there's no balance in my life.

So this is a very longwinded post about how I just need to get more sleep and stick to a better schedule. With that in mind, I banged one out on my iPhone on the subway today on my way to grocery shopping. Here's what I've come up with:

Speaking of grocery shopping, I went out and got EVERYTHING I'll need for the first TWO WEEKS of The Plan. Check out my fully loaded fridge. Look at all the colours in the produce drawers! My preparations are officially complete!

Weights & Measures

2009-09-28T21:30:00.000-07:00

So I picked up the last of my preparations today and, save for the actual groceries, I think I can now say that I am ready to go for October 1st.

I got these:

and this (cue scary music here):

The iPhone app I'll be using to track my calories - Lean Me (Pro) - uses height, weight, and body measurements to calculate BMR and calories spent during any given exercise. In the interest of being thorough, I am going to take all my measurements on September 30th. That's also the date that I'll be posting my "Before" Progress Pic of me in my BATHING SUIT. Yikes!

I'm getting very excited.

Unfortunately, despite all my planning, I ran into a small bump in the road already - no biggie - but Husband just informed me tonight that he has a late meeting scheduled for Thursday (October 1st) so I can't go running on my first day of my plan. (Because he's the one who would be watching Baby Girl while I go for my run.) But that's okay, I'll probably just do some brisk walking for the first week anyway to build up my endurance so I can just take Baby Girl with me in the stroller. When there's a will, there's a way.

And there is definitely a will!

Big Plans & Tiny Tunes

2009-09-27T21:04:00.001-07:00

Well friends, I am happy to report that I have the first two weeks of dinners all figured out. I made the meal plans and used the Shopper app on my iPhone to create a nice big grocery list. I am on fire!

Wanna know what delicious fare I'll be dining on starting Thursday October 1st? Of course you do.

Day 1: Seasoned Chicken Breast on Salad Greens
Day 2: Chicken and Veggie Stir Fry and Brown Rice
Day 3: Herbed Chicken, Brown Rice and Carrots
Day 4: Veggie (Onions, Peppers, Tomato, Mushrooms) Omelet with Fruit Salad
Day 5: Ravioli in Marinara Sauce and Salad
Day 6: Soft Tacos Made with Spicy Ground Turkey (I'll be making a double batch and freezing half to have later)
Day 7: CHEAT DAY
Day 8: BBQ Baked Chicken, Brown Rice and Sugar Snap Peas
Day 9: Turkey & Vegetable (Onion, Garlic, Peppers, Yam, Carrot, Corn, Mushroom) Chili on Brown Rice
Day 10: Veggie Burgers and Raw Veggie Sticks (Carrots, Celery, Cauliflower, Tomato, Cucumber)
Day 11: Pasta with Turkey Bolognese Sauce
Day 12: Taco Leftovers (from Day 6)
Day 13: Frozen Casserole (not sure exactly what yet, but I'll pick up something from Whole Foods) and Salad
Day 14: CHEAT DAY

There you have it! I'll probably mess around with the order of the meals, especially the Cheat Days, but this is MY OFFICIAL MEAL PLAN!

I know there is a LOT of poultry happening, but I don't eat red meat (I'll post on why that is someday) or pork and I'm really gun-shy about cooking fish. Not sure why, I've just never really done it before. So yeah, we eat lots of chicken and turkey 'round these parts. But I'm okay with that for now. I also eat canned (wild) salmon at least twice a week for lunch so I think (hope)I'm getting enough omega 3s.

I'm almost fully prepared! Just need to go and buy a measuring tape (yikes!) and several cheapie sets of plastic measuring cups and spoons. I have a great stainless steel set from Crate & Barrel but since I'll be measuring everything I'm going to want to have plenty at hand (and not have to wash the same set every time). I'm trying to make things as easy as possible.

And speaking of being prepared, check out this cute little baby Husband picked up for me today. (Believe it or not, this tiny thing is an iPod! It holds 2GB - or about 5,000 songs and clips to your clothing. Holy crap!)

Full Circle

2009-09-25T22:38:00.000-07:00

Alright, so tonight's ridiculously sinful treat consisted of yet ANOTHER cookie sandwich from Whole Foods. Similar to the peanut butter one that I described a few nights back, this one was vanilla frosting sandwiched between two soft dark chocolate cookies. Damn. In other news, all my clothes are getting tight.

But I digress.

I was thinking today about a couple of things:

Firstly, meal planning. I really need to get on this. This weekend, hopefully. I've been wracking my brain to come up with some great, low-calorie meal ideas, and what I've decided (since I'm still breastfeeding and not really into chemicals and stuff) is that I can pretty much make anything and just eat less of it than I normally would. And, of course, if I'm loading up my plate with lots and lots of veggies then I probably can't go wrong, right? Having said that of course, I think I'll try not to use at much fat and sugar in general when I cook. There must be ways around this BESIDES stupid Pam and stupid Nutrasweet/Splenda/Saccharine etc.

Secondly, I was also thinking about how inspired I've been by other bloggers out there. There are so many motivational stories out there, women who have really taken charge of their health and lives, overcome literally years of unhealthiness and many, many, MANY pounds. It leaves me thinking: If they can do it, I can do it. And I love that. Ya gotta love the blogsphere.

I know in my heart and soul that this is it. That sounds so corny as I'm re-reading the sentence that I just typed. But really, I am SO feeling this! I KNOW I am going to be a lot healthier. I KNOW I'm going to be a lot smaller, stronger and more energetic. I KNOW my life is going to change.

By this time next year, I hope I'm inspiring someone else out there.

From Blech To Elec(tric)

2009-09-23T22:42:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt just utterly uncomfortable in your skin?

Well, that's where I'm at now. As I sit here typing, I'm quite literally bursting out of my Juicy sweats and feeling just all around uncomfortable, encumbered and slow. I crave strength, health, balance and leanness. I want that buzz, that energy that can be felt in every muscle, joint and bone when the body is strong and healthy. That energy that radiates through your body when it's in balance. It's almost electric.

I'm so tired of this feeling of heaviness. I can almost imagine that simply lifting my arm or leg would be akin to lifting a truck. I feel so laden and weak.

I will be starting The Plan one week from tomorrow. And let me tell you, not a minute too soon. I feel like I am counting the seconds until October 1st. Having said that, setting my date and giving myself a few weeks before starting is maybe the best thing I've ever done. Not only has it given me ample time to prepare, but it has instilled a drive and focus in me that I haven't felt in years, maybe even ever. I have never been so motivated, inspired and READY to get healthy.

I have spent a lot of time over the past week visualizing myself as healthy. I have been consciously and subconsciously thinking about how I will feel, look and live as a balanced, lean, strong and confident woman. And I am seriously excited to meet that woman! If it's true that visualizing the goal is half the battle, then I really am half-way there.

PS- I will be taking (or, rather, have Husband take) some starting progress photos of me on October 1st. I am seriously considering putting on my bathing suit for this. I want to be totally honest here and let's face it: There is NOTHING more honest than a girl in her bathing suit. Do I dare? Can I really do it? For the entire blogosphere, the entire INTERNET to see? I've got a week to decide. Thoughts?

Coming Clean

2009-09-22T16:22:00.000-07:00

I told my best friend all about my big plans this morning. My theory is that if I tell everyone I know what I'm doing, it will help keep me accountable. Of course she was supportive and interested and that just makes me even more excited to start! I also told my mum and she will be starting her own health plan around the same time so hopefully we can cheer each other on. 8 days to go...

I've almost got everything I need ready to go for October 1st. Check out this little baby I picked up yesterday. (I bought one for Husband too.) If you're wondering about those pesky BPA's that Nalgenes are notorious for, relax -- this is a BPA FREE Nalgene bottle, dishwasher safe, sturdy, odor resistant, and as far as I can tell, every bit exactly like the old version minus those estrogen-mimicking, hormone-altering chemicals.

Now just gotta get a new iPod shuffle. I have my heart set on a red one (to match my Nalgene of course).

A few people have asked me recently, "Why October 1st? Why not just start now?" The answer, my friends, is that I am a planner. I like to have all my ducks in a row before I commit to something, especially a complete life change like this will be. For me to be successful, I need to have my plan thought out, meals planned, kitchen stocked, equipment at the ready. More importantly, I need some time to mentally prepare for all this. That takes time.

I've decided to start a "How I'm Doing This" (not sure if that's exactly what I'll call it) column on the side of this blog. It's basically going to be the rules, tips and tricks that I discover along my way as I proceed with The Plan. I figure this will be a dynamic list and one that I hope will serve as a rough guideline for myself and anyone who's interested in what I'm doing and how I'm doing it.

Laden

2009-09-20T20:49:00.000-07:00

I was unpleasantly surprised to discover today that my biggest, fattest, fat pants actually fit me again. Uncool. But not undeserved. I have been hitting the sweets pretty hard over the last few weeks.

I am feeling oh so ready to get started on my plan. I am just feeling so bloated and flabby and yuck today. The next 10 days can't go by fast enough. Seriously.

And for that reason, I'm glad I'm doing it this way. Rather then starting right away like I usually do, and feeling unprepared and deprived, I am feeling totally willing and ready to start on my journey to get fit. Plus, I am truly exhausting my cravings for sweets; as I type this I am eating a peanut butter cookie sandwich (2 glorious peanut butter cookies sandwiched around even more glorious peanut butter creme) AND a vegan spelt brownie - both treats from Whole Foods. And while they are beyond delish, I am starting to feel like I've had my fill. Now, and in general. I just feel so... greasy. Heavy. Laden.

We are lucky to have a great community centre about half a block from our condo. Husband, Baby Girl and I popped in today because I wanted to find out what time the baby playgroup drop-ins happen. I discovered that our community centre offers a ton of 'baby and me' fitness and yoga classes! I think I'm going to check them out and add a couple of days of this to my workout schedule.

I am brimming with inspiration right now. And anticipation for what lies ahead. Time for a change.

I Am Inspired By:

2009-09-19T23:42:00.000-07:00

Cindy Crawford's thighs
Ashley Judd's decolletage
Kelly Ripa's arms
My husband's morning runs (twice now!)
Kelly Osbourne's weight loss (I think she's kind of a douche but holy crap!)
My wedding photos
Jessica Biel's ass
My city (Vancouver)
Katee Sackhoff's back
My friend Mel

Runner Up

2009-09-18T21:20:00.000-07:00

T minus 12 days until I start The Plan! Much to do! (Can you tell that I am the kind of person that needs to feel ridiculously prepared?)

When I used to run 8 years ago, I remember getting started by using Hal Higdon's Website. He has a great beginner training program that worked beautifully for me, and I'd like to employ it again.

Speaking of running, Husband surprised me this morning by going for a run himself! Anyone who knows my husband knows that he never runs unless chased. But this morning, he just went for it - and made it a whole mile and a half! I am seriously so proud of him right now. Proud and inspired. And happy! My own weight loss regime will be a lot easier with Husband doing his thing.

I just ate TWO Klondike Bars. Sick, right? I told Husband that I am allowing myself to indulge in anything and everything I love to eat for the next 12 days and I refuse to feel bad about it. I am living it up with no limits until midnight of September 30th.

I hear you, I know what you're saying, you think I'm being stupid and borderline detrimental to my health by going on what is essentially a two-week binge. Relax. I'm not being insane or anything, I'm just eating a some extra sweets here and there. And maybe some chips. Limits or no limits, I can only pig out so much.

And it's weird, every time I feel like I've indulged a wee bit too much, it seems to strengthen my resolve to get healthy and lose weight. Isn't that strange? The more I eat and couch, the more I want to cut back and get active. I am starting to crave the feeling of having a body that's treated like a temple and functions like a well oiled machine.

Anyway, Happy Friday all! This weekend, I'm going to buy my new water bottle, an iPod shuffle and we're going out for dinner at one of my favourite Italian restaurants!

What's For Dinner?

2009-09-17T22:16:00.000-07:00

While I haven't officially started my big shiny fantastic new plan quite yet, I have been mulling over the details and have come up with a couple of questions.

Namely:

How will I stay inspired and motivated? (but I think I'll save that for another post)

AND

What the holy hell am I going to make for dinner?

The dinner thing really is a tough one. Husband is pretty non-adventurous when it comes to eating and really only likes a handful of meals. And trust me when I say that he has improved greatly since we got married (when we met he was all cheeseburgers and pizza). Still, I certainly couldn't get away with serving him up a big plate of baked tofu, steamed broccoli and quinoa or anything.

Plus, I have a one-year-old who is not only limited in terms of what she can eat (she only has 4 teeth after all!) but is also extremely picky.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't want to make THREE meals at dinnertime, but I also don't want to compromise my diet.

I'm going to have to stew on this one, and maybe start looking up some recipes. Ideally, I'd like to have an arsenal of (at least) two-weeks of menus at the ready, that I can repeat twice a month. The recipes will need to be husband, kid and diet friendly and also must be quick and easy to make, freeze well, and inexpensive. I feel like I am asking for the moon here.

I've got some work to do! Luckily I enjoy meal planning and at such time that I am finally able to figure out this dinner conundrum, I promise to share my magical carte du jour with the blogosphere. And if anyone out there has any ideas, I am all ears.

On Having a Plan

2009-09-16T22:06:00.001-07:00

Yes, yes, I have a plan!

But before I get to that, I must interrupt this post with a little confession (and if you can't be totally honest in your own blog than what's the point). I just finished polishing off a medium half Oreo / half Reese's Dairy Queen Blizzard. It was heaven and I felt entitled to it. It was a long day. Just had to get that off my chest.

Anyway, so about this plan...

The big fat question: How am I going to get healthier, stronger and lose all this weight?

There are so many options out there, it does feel a bit overwhelming. I've never been much of a dieter - honestly I've never believed in them. However, recently my belief system is starting to crumble. I have seen a few friends experience amazing success on Weight Watchers. I have another friend who counts calories and runs like a madwoman; she's lost 66 pounds so far. I know another woman who has embraced the low-glycemic thing and has seriously BANGED IT OUT. She went from a size 12 (I know because I got all her hand-me-downs) to a size 2. She looks fabulous. They all do!

Baby Girl went for her 1 year doctor's appointment yesterday and while we were there, I mentioned to our family doctor that I was ready to lose some weight. I asked for her doctorly recommendations. She said, "There's only one thing that really works and that's counting calories - calories in and calories out." I also asked her about Weight Watchers and she said it also works very well but pointed out that in essence, it's just modified calorie counting.

So, based on her recommendation, I think I'm going to start counting calories. I've already downloaded several calorie counting apps for my iPhone, including this one that I'm really excited about.

I've decided on a plan start date of October 1st. I don't really have a great reason for not wanting to get going on this right away, except to say that I would like a couple of weeks to prepare (mentally), and enough time to get some meals planned and the kitchen stocked with everything I need. I also want to buy an iPhone arm case that I can exercise with.

Speaking of exercising, I've chosen running for my cardio and lifting Baby Girl for my strength training. Running just feels right, and I used to really enjoy it so I hope I can get that groove back again in time. And I figure I lift my daughter about a million times a day anyway, may as well tweak it a bit and make it an official exercise. She is 22 pounds right now, and loves it when I toss her in the air and swing her around when we play. Crazy?

I plan to purchase a nice new water bottle (I like those BPA-free Nalgene bottles) as a commencement gift to myself and will drink at least 64 ounces of H2O a day. I know the whole 8-glasses-a-day thing has recently come under debate but I just know that when I'm hydrated I really do feel better.

I am also going to give myself one weekly "Cheat Day". I've never done this before in all my attempts to lose weight. It's always been all or nothing for me. And I can't help but wonder if perhaps a "Cheat Day" is just what I need to keep me right on track. I mean really, everyone needs a break, right? It's exhausting feeling deprived all the time. I am old enough to know that weight loss success isn't borne of perfection, it comes from consistency.

So here's my plan in a nutshell:

I will count calories (number and expenditure to be determined by my iPhone app).
I will run 6 days per week, ideally working up to about 45 minutes per session.
I will do at least 15 minutes of purposeful resistance training daily (lifting and playing with my daughter).
I will drink 64 ounces of water per day.
I will allow myself one Cheat Day per week where I can eat and do anything I want. The only thing that will not be allowed on Cheat Day is guilt.

There you have it. My grand plan. Henceforth known as "The Plan". I am really happy with it. It feels great just writing it down and clarifying it in my own head. The first step is done, only about 40 more to go...

I Should Have Been Born in the 16th Century

2009-09-14T23:27:00.001-07:00

I have always had the perfect figure for someone born in the 1500's. I've got an hourglass frame complete with a full bust, comparatively smaller waist and generous Rubenesque bum. I've got a round face and can definitely pinch an inch (or two). This would have been ideal for the cover of Farthingale Weekly, but unfortunately in 2009, my current shape just translates to 'chubby'.

And well it should. As I type this, I am sitting next to an EMPTY package of Whole Foods 365 Sandwich Creme Cookies. Ever since my daughter was born a year ago, my appetite for sweets has taken on whole new proportions. As has my poor unsuspecting body. I suppose I could try to blame it on my PCOS, recently diagnosed hypothyroidism, or the stress and hectic schedule that comes along with being a new mum, but that wouldn't be fair. I mean, I wasn't always like this.

I've never been considered thin (except for once - which I will elaborate on in a moment). But, by the same token, I've never been considered fat either. Even now, at very near my heaviest, I am lucky enough to be well-proportioned which makes it easier to hide my extra inches in strategically chosen clothing. That aside, however, I have always struggled with my weight. For as long as I can remember, I've hovered around a size 12 and have never felt comfortable with my shape and size. Except for once.

About 8 years ago, just before I married my husband, I spent the year prior learning how to be a runner. I remember hearing somewhere that "nothing tones a body faster than running," so I decided to give it a try. Within about 6 months, I was running 5-10 miles a day, 6 days a week. I felt fit, strong, and full of energy. My newfound fitness led to a holy host of what I considered then to be healthful dietary changes (though looking back I wouldn't consider my diet at that time to be necessarily healthy). I barely ate any fat at all. I swapped all the sugar in my diet for artificial sweetener. My daily afternoon snack consisted of a Diet Coke and a handful of Rold Gold pretzels.

But damnit, I looked good. I remember my weight getting as low as 129 (and of course, even then, I still felt like I should be 5 pounds lighter). It was the first and last time that anyone ever called me thin. And I looked great in my wedding dress. I've often wondered what my life would be like if I'd managed to maintain that weight.

And now, 8 years later, with carelessness, fertility treatments, pregnancy and age (literally) under my belt, I find myself out of shape, lethargic and chubby. I'm not sure how I got here, but I'm not happy. I am uncomfortable in my own skin, let alone my size 14 clothing. I know I can do better than this. I owe it to my daughter, and to myself.

Growing up, my own mum always struggled with her weight. It was hard for her; running her own business and taking care of two young kids meant that she always put herself last. I don't want to set that kind of example for my daughter. I want her to know that her mum values herself and her health. I want to keep up with her as she races around the playground. I want to take her kayaking, biking, and hiking. I want to meet her kid's kid's kid. I want her to be proud of me. I want to be proud of me.

This blog is therapy for me. And it's the first step in realizing my goal. I've got a plan. I've got ideas. And I know I can do this.

Goodbye sweets, hello La Dolce Vita.