3 Months

Three months ago today I gave birth to my baby girl and started my weight loss journey. I walked into the hospital at 232 lbs. After baby and other water weight left I was at about 215 lbs. My pre-pregnancy weight was actually 217, so I was happy I didn't go overboard. Now I am about a pound away from getting back into Onederland. Very excited. I always told myself I wouldn't let myself go past 200, but I just didn't feel like I had control over it and now I do!

I have a long way to go (about 70lbs), but I feel strong and able to do it! Even if I mess up one day or one meal, I get right back at it, because this is a lifestyle change not just a diet. Somedays I won't have a deficit and somedays I will have a big one. It all works out. Slow and steady wins the race.

Haha, a lot of cliches we've all heard before, but really once it makes sense, it just clicks.

Bum Bum No Go

Bum Bum attempt #2. Slightly better than 1st. I made it through with a lot of modifications. The problem is I now dread this video. It is not fun. There are plenty of videos that keep me working out but this is not one of them! So I decided to put BBL away for now and continue with Chalene Extreme. Someday if I get bored or when I have lost a bunch of weight I will try again, but for now I don't want it to mess up my exercise plan. This may be perfect for when I'm 130 lbs and have a flat butt. I would rather run than do Bum Bum and that is saying a lot.

The weight started falling off again. 4 lbs in 2 days. Not sure how or why this happened. I am completely lost  on this whole weight loss thing. I don't lose any for 3 weeks then bam 4 lbs. Yes, I focused on fewer processed food and sugars but I still ate them and I still ate around 2000 calories.

The first day I had a really high calorie burn and had about 1700 deficit that day. The 2nd day I didn't exercise, so my calorie burn was low. I even had a little binge last night of dark chocolate and fritos. So why did I still lose weight?

I am concerned that I lost my milk supply and not fat because my baby was up all night crying and eating. Today I am going to focus on drinking enough water to get my milk supply back up. I will see tomorrow if this makes me gain weight back.

Update: I think some of the weight was milk because today I am back up to 101.6. I was very drained and crabby yesterday, so I knew that I needed more calories and more sleep. It was not a good day even though I should have been excited to lose weight.

Cardio Axe

I just finished Brazilian Butt Lift Cardio Axe and wanted to write a review quick.

At first I thought, this is terrible, I can't get these moves, but that is how I feel when I first do any exercise and after a few workouts I get the hang of it and end up loving it. No one gets Zumba on the first try so don't expect to get this right away. Cardio Axe is a fun dance workout with 4 combos that are taught separately and then combined. My biggest complaint right now is that they don't do much of a cool down or any stretching.

I am happy with this workout. It is 30 minutes long so perfect to add to another workout. I will be doing High and Tight next.

I am 50/50 on recommending BBL right now. I personally find the guy a little annoying but some people love him. Denise Austin is way more annoying. The workouts are difficult and fast, so I will have to give it more time before I can give it a good review. I just wanted to give my first impressions right now.

Brazilian Butt Lift- Bum Bum

Here is a quick review of the video Bum Bum from BBL.

Holy wow! That video is rough. I have done all of Chalene Johnson's videos from Turbo Jam, Chalene Extreme and Turbo Fire, plus many, many other workout videos and I have rarely had to quit because of the intensity. I was done after 15 minutes. Bum Bum is really high pace and switches quickly from exercise to exercise with not even the slightest break in between. I was dripping sweat quicker then Zumba or even a HIIT exercise. 

Most of the moves require balance and strength. I don't want to discourage anyone by saying it is too tough. I think it is a workout to build up to. It is nice to know it will fit my purposes for a long time and I will not outgrow it as I get stronger. 

I will update as I complete more of the workouts.

I am trying to combine them with Chalene Extreme and C25K but I don't want to get burned out. My exercise limit is about 60-90 minutes a day. 

Day 1- Chalene Push 1, Bum Bum and C25K - total 85 minutes if I can finish BumBum

Day 2- Cardio Axe and High & Tight- 65 minutes

Day 3- Chalene Push 2, Bum Bum, C25K- 90 minutes

Day 4- Turbo Jam Cardio or Zumba- 50 minutes

Day 5- Push 3, High & Tight, C25K- 90 minutes

Day 6- Bum Bum, Tummy Tuck- 55 minutes

Day 7- Rest

I need a little visual motivation to keep up with this workout:

Skinny Bitch posted this on Facebook today. It sums up how I have been feeling lately. I feel like there is a secret but I know I just need to stop eating junk.


Special treat to come today or tomorrow. I will be taking my before pictures and I think I am brave enough to post them.

Green Bean Casserole

Favorite Recipe Makeovers

One of my favorite dishes especially for the holidays is Green Bean Casserole. My recipe is simple so it will be easy to adjust. I normally just mix home canned green beans with cream of mushroom soup and bake. Here is the adjusted version to get rid of the processed cream of mushroom.

Cream of Mushroom Soup
Ingredients:
8 oz fresh mushrooms, sliced
2 Tb onions, chopped
1-2 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tb butter
2-3 Tb flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup light cream or 1 cup evaporated milk
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp nutmeg

Directions:
Melt butter in frying pan. Add onions, garlic and mushrooms. Cook until onions are soft.
Mix in 2 Tb flour. Slowly add Chicken broth.
Mix together cream/ milk with 1 Tb flour and seasonings then add to the soup. Heat until thickened while stirring constantly.

Read more at: http://www.food.com/recipe/homemade-cream-of-mushroom-soup-264191?oc=linkback

Put drained green beans in casserole dish, home grown or unsalted canned would be best but any kind works. I use 2 cans or 1 quart. Pour soup over top and cook until heated.

The original recipe calls for French's fried onions on top, but obviously that is not healthy. If you prefer a crunch in your casserole I would suggest either frying your own onion by lightly battering them and frying in butter or olive oil.  You could also try a corn flake topping. I will cook mine without and save the hassle. This will be served at our upcoming Thanksgiving meal along with our homegrown chickens and a mashed cauliflower recipe instead of potatoes. I will post that one later.

I hate healthy food.

I have been a picky eater since I was little. I usually overlook all the recipes in Fitness magazine or other healthy recipes because there is always one strange ingredient that ruins it for me. I am making a list of acceptable and unacceptable foods, to help with my new healthy diet. Some of these foods like butter and cheese may seem unhealthy to some but my goal is to eliminate unnatural processed foods. I know I can't do it all at once so this is my baby step. My baby step to clean eating.

Natural foods I like:

Butter

Cheese

Doctored up eggs

Milk

Onion, garlic, peppers

Nuts

Peanut butter

Bananas

Most fruits in moderation

Granola

Oats

Tomatos

Lettuce

Meat

Yogurt

Potatos and corn in moderation.

Meal Ideas:

Scrambled eggs with ham, cheese and onion

Occasional breakfast muffin with egg, ham and cheese

Chicken breast salad or wrap

Banana with peanut butter and raisins

Yogurt with granola

Lunch wrap

Salad with garlic oil dressing

Parmesan chicken

Cheesy broccoli

Broccolli and chicken or ham casserole

Mashed cauliflower casserole

Spinach lasagna rolls

Cheeseburger, no bread or thin bun with lettuce and tomato

Pork battered in egg, milk and bread crumbs, fried in butter or olive oil

Popcorn with real butter

Homemade icecream? Or frozen yogurt

Some definite NO foods:

Cookies

Pancakes

Cake

Donuts

Chips

Ice cream

Granola bars or meal replacement

Lean cuisine or other types

Frozen pizza or any frozen food beside meat

No foods that claim low fat or diet because they are unnatural.

I have not decided yet on coffee. I believe coffee is a natural product but the cream I put in it is not. I will start with eliminating sugar from it.

Trying something different.

I was so excited when I got this BodyBugg and instantly I lost 5 lbs, but sitting I should not be at a plateau right now. I need to try something different. I have been sitting here wasting half my day, AGAIN, on researching diets and losing weight. My new conclusion:

No sugar!

No chocolate!

No processed foods!

Limit Carbs.

Eat protein, fats and veggies.

Yes, I have read this before, but I have also read that just creating a deficit calories will work, but it isn't for me and I am way to frustrated. 

The scale is back to 204.6 today. I could just scream! Of course after seeing that number I got upset and ate dessert for breakfast, because why does it matter?!?

One search tells me I may not be eating enough calories and another search says that I am eating too many. I just can't get a straight answer. 

With the BodyBugg I am consistently burning about 2800 calories a day plus I add 450 calories for breastfeeding a 3 month old. I eat about 2300 calories a day, so a deficit of 950 calories. Some sources say my deficit is too much, some say I am not figuring my calories correctly. Another website said I should eat 1200 calories a day (plus 500 for breastfeeding), so 1700 calories. That seems low to me, but maybe?

I actually struggle to eat a healthy 2300 calories. I usually have an extra 500 calories a day that ends up being used on junk food. So I guess it is obvious I just don't want to admit it. NO MORE JUNK FOOD. If I have extra calories either don't use them or snack on unprocessed food like cheese, nuts, popcorn, fruit, and veggies. 

Also no more meal replacement bar for breakfast. I was noticing some nasty smells coming from my body and I believe it came from that.

Another Thought:

In the past I was able to drop weight consistently but when I started exercising I hit a plateau. Is that because I wasn't eating enough? I question if I should stop exercising, but it makes me feel good so I don't want to. Am I really not eating enough, or just not eating the right things? 

If I eat 1700 calories of healthy food, can I still lose weight? 

I guess all I can do is experiment with my diet and see what works.

I'll take it!

I am itching to get past 204 lbs since I have been stuck there for 2 weeks! This morning I got on the scale and it said 203.8. I'll take it. Yes, it is one sip of water away from 204 but I still got to see the 3 on there. Lets hope it sticks for tomorrow. 

I start Push Phase today. I am excited to see those workouts. I don't think I have ever made it this far in the program before.

Let's see some more effort!

Burn Phase Complete!

I finished the Burn phase of Chalene Extreme today. Wahoo! It took a little longer than the calendar but when I skipped days I picked right back up where I had left off, not skipping any workouts.

My results:
9/26/12                              11/10/12
Weight- 210.5                      204.2                   down 6.3lbs in 6.5 weeks
Stomach- 48.5"                       46                        down 2.5"
Waist-39.5"                            35.5                      down 4"
Hips- 46.5"                             45                         down 1.5"
Thigh- 26"                               25.5                      down .5"
Bicep- 13"                              12.5                      down ,5"


I lost the most in my waist (bottom of ribcage). I am whittling my waist away :) I don't count my breasts right now because I am breastfeeding and they change depending on milk supply.

I'm excited and frustrated at the same time. The weight was falling off and it slowed right down to a stop. I am averaging a pound a week even though I was hoping for 2 lbs a week. I keep telling myself progress is better than nothing or gaining.

Also I am excited to add to my schedule. On weight training days I am going to also do C25K. It is designed for 20 minutes 3 days a week so it fits perfectly with Chalene Extreme. On weight days I have to add more because I don't reach my calorie burn doing just that. Overall I need to hit 50-60 minutes of exercise everyday to reach at least 2650 calorie burn.

I have done C25K in the past and do like it even though I really don't care for running. With my ginormous kooboba's there is just too much bouncing. With small intervals it seems manageable.

My hubby also gave me permission to get a boob reduction next year. I have wanted one since 8th grade! That is motivation to get to my goal weight because I will not get one unless I have lost all the weight and know what they will look like. I would hate to get one then lose a bunch of weight and have size A cups. I know I at least want D or DD's because I will feel a little lost and insecure without them.

The Program:

Week	Workout 1	Workout 2	Workout 3
1	Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.	Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.	Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.
2	Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes.	Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes.	Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes.
3	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following: Jog 200 yards (or 90 seconds) Walk 200 yards (or 90 seconds) Jog 400 yards (or 3 minutes) Walk 400 yards (or three minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following: Jog 200 yards (or 90 seconds) Walk 200 yards (or 90 seconds) Jog 400 yards (or 3 minutes) Walk 400 yards (or three minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following: Jog 200 yards (or 90 seconds) Walk 200 yards (or 90 seconds) Jog 400 yards (or 3 minutes) Walk 400 yards (or three minutes)
4	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes) Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes) Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes) Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
5	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes) Walk 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog two miles (or 20 minutes) with no walking.
6	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 1 mile (or 10 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Jog 1 mile (or 10 minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2-1/4 miles (or 25 minutes) with no walking.
7	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.5 miles (or 25 minutes).	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.5 miles (or 25 minutes).	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.5 miles (or 25 minutes).
8	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.75 miles (or 28 minutes).	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.75 miles (or 28 minutes).	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.75 miles (or 28 minutes).
9	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 3 miles (or 30 minutes).	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 3 miles (or 30 minutes).	The final workout! Congratulations! Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 3 miles (or 30 minutes).

Courtesy of thehappyrock.com

This is great. Sometimes all you need is a little exercise to make you want more exercise.

Discouraged

I'm getting pretty frustrated because although I hit 203.2 pounds early this week since then I am stuck at 204. I have been that weight for almost 2 weeks now. Yes I messed up on Halloween but I have had some pretty good deficits that should have me at 203 or 202 by now. Why am I stuck? It is way too early to hit a plateau.

I checked my measurements and I am down a little there.

I really need to adjust my eating plan. I use all my extra calories for cookies or sweets. I did better when I gave all that up. So as hard as that is for me I really want to lose this weight.

I have also been incredibly crabby with the kids lately. After I get frustrated with them I end up searching the kitchen for chocolate than stuffing my face with it. Stress leads to eating. I  have found my source, but how do I remove stress from my life? Especially when it comes from my 4 children. I don't have anyone to take them once in awhile so I never get a break. I try to put my frustration into exercising, but I can't always do that if the baby needs attention.

I had a new idea of buying a Keurig and getting addicted to coffee because caffeine makes me happy. I know this is a bad idea though. Caffeine leads to ups and downs, I also don't want to be addicted to anything. The best idea is a well rounded diet. I need to start planning my meals out for the entire week. Today is shopping day so I will do that before I leave.

Maybe my calories are off somewhere and I am eating more than I think. Or maybe I am eating too much processed food or sugar.

Time for an adjustment, not a time for giving up!

Back on!

After falling off the wagon last week I watched the scale climb back to 207. When I told my husband I would start again on Monday, he asked, "Why not today?" Which got me thinking, "Why not?" Why do I have to wait for the beginning of the week to start over. Every DAY is a new start not every WEEK. In fact every MEAL is a new start.

I started over on Sunday and the weight came off quickly that I had gained because it was really just water weight. I could tell I was bloated, but if I hadn't restarted that weight would have stuck around. Tuesday morning I am down to 203.2. An extra pound from last week. Sometimes I think it is a good thing to fall off the wagon and get back on. It helped my body burn some more fat. It is not a good thing if you can't get back on the wagon.

My mind and body needed a few days rest and now I am back at it again. I just can't decide whether to do Zumba or Cardio Party today.

Oh, I also ordered a new video set called Brazilian Butt Lift. Can't wait to try it out! Plus my inlaws gave us P90X that was burnt in the fire but still usable. I'm not sure I am up to that yet, but I will be soon. Can you tell I'm a BeachBody junky? I love Beach Body and I am not even a coach.

If you haven't tried BeachBody programs and you are interested, I strongly suggest purchasing from Amazon or Ebay. BeachBody.com has terrible reviews, bad customer service and they try to add on subscriptions to your order for pills or shakes. The videos are awesome but you don't need that extra crap to lose weight.


Check out this site: fitsugar for extra tips on losing weight.

I fell off the wagon!

I was being so good too. Halloween candy did me in. I ate a bunch while trick or treating (at least 10 or 15 pieces). Then the next day I felt like crap! Headache, tired, crabby and lazy. What do I do? I eat more because I'm crabby! Wow, pretty dumb. So today I feel the same way. It makes me want to give up completely. I haven't exercised and I'm eating junk food because that is all my body is asking for.

What did I do to myself????

I have to come up with a game plan or I will get stuck in this rut.

1st: No exercise until Monday. The goal is to focus on my eating and not be overwhelmed by both.
2nd: Absolutely no chocolate! Candy has been put in cold car far away from my eyes.
3rd: Go grocery shopping and set up meal plans for the week so I know what to eat without thinking about it.

Monday restart exercise plan with strength training and some cardio.