Kristina`s journey

Points

Breakfast (11): 1/2 C oatmeal, 1/4 C raisins, 1 C milk, 1/2 egg (toddler had the other half), mocha

Lunch (11): tuna sandwich (4), carrots (1), turkey soup (3), 1/2 apple (1), cheese (2)

Snack (1):5 animal crackers

Dinner (10): prkchop (4), rice (2), peas (1), beer (3)

rice binge (2)

Total:35

Activity: 2, walked the dog for 25 minutes

from the husband. Instead of freaking out about the damage, I went on with my day without a guilt binge.

Other positive things today

1. I drank a glass of water and waited for 15 minutes to see if I was really hungry
2. I planned exercise into my day around my husbands and toddlers schedule (and didn’t use it as an excuse not to exercise).

Points

Breakfast (9): 1/2 C oatmeal, 1 C milk, 1/4 C raisins

mid-morning (11): 2 x 4 inch pancakes, maple syrup and margerine

Lunch with toddler (8): grilled cheese sandwich, carrots, a couple of grapes, mocha

Snack (2): apple, 6 almonds

Dinner (8): Turkey soup, tea biscuit, margerine, 5 animal crackers

Total : 37

Activity: 2

25 walk with dog

I find it very difficult to stick to any weightloss program. I have, in the past, tried attending weightwatchers meetings and the online program. Unfortunately, I usually drift off the weightloss bandwagon within a few weeks with only a few pounds off (slow loss = what’s the point of denying myself = quick return to old habits). I did lose about 20 pounds in university, all I did was eat less but I gained it back eventually. Also, I lost 20 pounds after I had my son but as soon as I stopped breastfeeding, it crept back on.

I was always chubbier than my friends, 140 in grade nine and 150-160 by grade 12 (I’m 5″7′). I thought I was worthless because of my weight but boy I would love to be that weight now! Silly teenager!

At the moment, I am a successful 31 yo adult but I still have a few confidence issues kicking around. I am working on me to be a better mom to my 21 month old toddler, a nicer wife to my husband and taking better care of myself. Ha ha! Did you notice that I put myself last. I once heard that you have to make your relationship with your husband the number one priority for your children. I’m thinking that I need to deal with my unhappiness first.

So those are some good long-term goals, but they are not very measurable. As a measurable long-term goal, I am going to drop 20 pounds by my sisters wedding in July. I am the size eighteen among my sisters hot size 4-8 friends. My youngest sister is also a bridesmaid, she also wants to lose 20 pounds by the wedding and not be in a size 14 dress. She is a good influence because even though she has gained some weight back, she had lost about 60 pounds after my wedding 3 years ago and kept most of it off.

I don’t want to stress myself out about losing a lot of weight quickly, so I am taking the small steps a day… eat a bit less, get a bit more active and eat a bit more healthier. I saw a picture of myself recently when my son was about 6 months old and I was at about 191 pounds. I looked great! Pictures of me lately are not that flattering…. and I don’t want a photo album full of my sons early years without me in the pictures.

is difficult, especially when you haven’t a clue what went into mom’s chili or the calories in leftovers from a restaurant that refuses to provide nutritional details.  Here are today’s stats:

Points

Breakfast (8): milk (2), 1/2 C oatmeal (4), 1/4 C raisins (2)

Lunch (16): apple (1), medium potato (2), 1/4 C shredded cheese (2), 1/2 C chili (5?), mocha with milk (2), garlic bread (4?)

Snack (5): apple (1), mint tea, cheese stick (2), crackers (2)

Dinner (9): turkey soup (3), tea biscuit (5), margarine (1)

Total: 38

Activity: rode horse for 45 minutes

contemplation before action?

Silly me, Christmas is a tough time to start the action part. On the good side, I did not gain any weight, bought the bestlife diet book and made a few healthier choices.

I’m liking the bestlife diet book. For the first four weeks, there are only a few rules and none of them have anything to do with cutting calories.

For example, I currently consider myself sedentary. I do ride my horse twice a week but I do not count this as exercise. There are activity levels, I am at level 0 (i.e. no activity). To get to a level 2 out of 5, I will need to work up to 90-150 minutes of activity a week. This is started with 15 minutes three times a week, adding two more minutes a week until the activity level is reached. I think that getting myself active before the cutting calories part will make the latter easier. So, level 2 is my four week goal.

Eye opening scary calculator:

prevention.com/caloriecalculator

and using the activity definitions from preventions “slimming down the calories” article. A sedentary 210 pound me requires 2080 calories a day. That is nothing! An lightly active 210 pound me requires 2380 calories. Lightly active is similiar to the best lifes level 2 - 30 minutes three times a week.

So, for the next four weeks I think that I will count weightwatchers points but not try to limit myself to get a baseline. Also, I need to get more active so I am going to work on 90 minutes of activity (besides riding my horse) a week. Tonight, I walked my dog after my son went to bed in the snow and cold. Twenty-five minutes down, sixty-five to go.

Day 2

Got sidetracked by not having a snack planned while I was on the road and went to the grocery store tired and hungry.

The good

1. Had a healthy lunch (not McDonald’s)
2. Only had two bowls of that ice cream LOL!
3. I am going to bed without eating anymore ice cream even though the pity party is going on strong
4. Got some exercise even though I’m tired
5. Had the courage to look up the nutritionals on the less than ideal choices and journaled them.

Breakfast (7.5): 1/2 banana (1), 1 slice toast (1.5), 1 tbsp peanut butter (2), 1 mocha (1), hard boiled egg (2)

Lunch (15): sandwich (9), veggie soup (1), small french vanilla cap. (5!!!)

Opps: Bag of crispers (8)

Dinner (another opps!)(19): fish and chips (12), 2 bowls ice cream (7)

Total : 50 (Yikes!)

Exercise: rode horse for 45 minutes: 3

No matter how many times you’ve tried, it’s never too late to succeed!

DAY 1

Things that I am proud of today:

1. big paper due, didn’t stuff my face due to stress.
2. Instead of not allowing myself tosidos chips, I looked at the scary nutritional label and allowed myself 3 points worth instead of half a bag
3. Having a mocha and tea instead of food when I wasn’t hungry
4. That I started this journey!
5. I shoveled the lane way instead of sitting on my butt

Breakfast (8)

1. hard boiled egg; 2
2. toast; 3
3. orange: 1
4. margerine; 1
5. mocha: 1

Snack (3)

1. apple: 2
2. hard boiled egg: 2

Lunch (8)

1. wrap: 4
2. chicken: 2
3. salsa, cheese and sour cream: 2

Snack (3): 11 Tostido chips

Dinner (10)

1. 1 C whole wheat pasta: 4
2. 1/3 C tomato sause: 1
3. garlic bread: 2
4. grazing while making toddler and husband dinner: 2(???)
5. hand full of popcorn: 1

TOTAL: 32

ACTIVITY: 40 minutes of snow shoveling: 3