99 Days – 158lbs Up 1lb (Total Lost 9lbs)

Well yesterday was the family reunion.  After my day of oatmeal and a couple of other starches I awoke to a one pound gain, which isn’t surprising since glucose is stored along with water when it’s stored in the muscles

I started the day with my oatmeal and then meal 2 was at IHOP and I ordered 1 whole egg and  2 egg whites scrambled with onions and peppers.  Then it was onto the reunion.  It really was not as difficult as I expected. I just wasn’t even tempted.  There weren’t alot of choices for me so I made do with the meats available and had some smoked pork roast, just a bite of bbq’d pork, a small rib, a couple bites of coleslaw and about a cup of brunswick stew.  Overall, given the choices I was pretty pleased with myself.  Unfortunately, between the heat and something I ate  I got very sick.  I felt just awful the whole time and just wanted to get home.    I had a cup of coffee and few sips of my daughters tropical freeze drink on the way home, but couldn’t bring myself to eat anything else last night. 

Today, I’m still holding on to that pound. I got up hungry and still very sick feeling and had my oatmeal.  I ended up eating a tomato sandwich because my stomach was still so upset and it’s the only thing that sounded good.  I’m finely starting to feel a bit better now and about to eat some baked chicken. 

I’m feeling a bit conflicted about the oatmeal to be honest. While I’m glad that I feel better and the headaches have gone away…. I’m also not thrilled that I’ve gained and I’m concerned about what this means for future losses.  Will it lead to a major slow down or not?  I think I’m going to give it a couple of days, then maybe swap out the grains for fruit…. still carbs, but maybe easier on my body?  We’ll see.  I guess everything is still sort of an experiment at this point…. just trying to find what works for my body.

101 Days

I wrote yesterday about the fact that I’ve been having headaches and just not feeling very well for the last week. I talked to Meghan, my trainer, about it yesterday during my workout and we decided that instead of trying to lower carbs even more to stay in ketosis… I would include oatmeal as my first meal of the day to keep me out of ketosis and see if I could get rid of the headaches.  So this morning I ate oatmeal and loved every bite!! And the best part is that I felt soooo much better today! I was able to go workout and do both the Body Flow class as well as a half hour of cardio! This is a very big deal after the way I’ve felt this week.  The only problem is that I have been craving carbs all day. I ended up eating several crackers as well as about 1/4 cup of Orzo pasta at dinner.   Blech…. it has made me sick to my stomache!  So now I know it’s important to eat my oatmeal, but I really have to watch out for the cravings and such.  I really want to keep the rest of my meals as written with strictly protein and veggies.  

I have a family reunion to go to tomorrow and am not really looking forward to it.  This side of my family is absolutely famous for it’s cooking…. the best food you’ve ever tasted…. all starchy and fatty and calories be damned! LOL  So I am trying to come up with a plan to keep myself on track and out of all the things I’m not suppose to have.  I’ll be making up and taking several meals with me as it’s a long road trip.  I’m just hoping that somewhere on that buffet with be plain grilled meat and lots of veggies.  If I can stear clear of the casseroles and mayonaisse laden salads I should be fine. Desserts aren’t that tempting to me.   Please wish me luck and say you’re prayers that I can be strong.  This s the biggest temptation I’ve faced since starting, but just knowing that I’m going to have to come back here tomorrow night and be held accountable really will help I think.  I just need to spend the time going down there getting my mindset to the right place…. and that’s by repeating something that has truly helped me so far along the way as well as during those dang cardio sessions… and that is: 

It’s this moment that separates the Champions from every other competitor! It’s what I do in this moment that defines whether I will be a Champion!

During that last 10 minutes of cardio when I begin to lose steam… this is what I repeat to myself… and suddenly I’m refocused on my goal and what I have to do is clear. So tomorrow, that is the thought that I will keep repeating to myself… that this is a defining moment… am I a Champion or just another competitor….

102 Days – 157lbs Down 10lbs!!!

Sorry about being absent for so long! I let life get in the way a bit and just didn’t commit myself to writing every day the way I should have.  Promise I’ll be better from this point on!

So, I hit the 10lbs mark!!!  I really can’t believe how quickly the weight has been coming off.  It’s definitely slowed down a bit, but then again… so have my workouts.  I’ve been having headaches and not feeling terribly well. At first I just thought it was hormonal, but then it occurred to me what it might be.  I think that I may just be slipping in and out of ketosis because this diet is pretty low in carbs, and in the past when I’ve done low carb diets… I’ve gotten those keto headaches.  So, the question now is do I tighten up the diet a bit so that I stay in ketosis or do I add more carbs so I stay out of ketosis completely.  I am personally leaning toward staying in ketosis… simply because I am on a deadline and need the weight to come off as quickly as possible… and the quickest way to burn body fat… is to be burning body fat for fuel around the clock.   I’m enjoying the diet for the most part, although I did get burned out on the egg whites and spinach pretty quickly.  I’m decided to change it up a bit and saute fresh spinach and see if that makes a difference for me… I may also add a wedge of Laughing Cow Light Cheese… Yum!  

Now, one thing I am finding is that I may never actually be able to eat all the food that is listed on that plan…. that’s a lot a food!  When I eat the eggs, I typically eat 1 whole egg and 4 whites… and still don’t finish that.  I’ve also been struggling with getting in all the meals…. at this point it’s more like 4 meals than 6.  I’m gonna take some time today and prep my food for the next 3 days and try maybe shrinking down the veggie portions a bit… say 1/2c instead of 1c.  and see how that works.  I definitely don’t want to lower my protein intake…. gotta build those muscles!!  I’ll be back later on how my diet shook out for the day and how my workout went!

109 Days – 160.4lbs, Down 7lbs

Ok… somehow when I started the blog, I miscounted the number of days that I was counting down to… I have a few more days than I thought!  So I’m going back and changing the days to properly reflect the right number of days until the end of the competition.   

Things are going well, the food is getting boring, but that is my own fault…. I haven’t been trying or even cooking really.  Mostly steamed veggies and throwing a protein on the Foreman…. and protein shakes… lots of protein shakes,  LOL!   I know that I’m going to have to start really cooking and getting a bit more creative… even if it’s only for dinner.  

Miss Em has been sick this week and I haven’t been able to hit the gym since Monday…. I’m going crazy. I’m gonna workout here tonight after I put her bed.  At least get a little upper body work because I know Meghan’s gonna kill me with lower body tomorrow!  I have a total love/hate relationship with lower body workouts.  They are exhausting and difficult and I usually feel sick afterwards…. but oh how I LOVE when I feel those muscles all sore the next day!  It’s just one of those things that is so worth struggling through!

111 Days – 162.4lbs, Down 5lbs!!!!

Um…… 5lbs!! Are you kidding me!  I am so excited!!!!  Things are going fantastically so far…. I could not be more pleased with my progress!  Meghan gave me an incredible upper body workout today…. I felt like jello when I left… I LOVE THAT!  I had a terrible headache all day, still do infact, so I didn’t do cardio at all.

Not much else to say for today except 5 lbs!!!!

113 Days – 163.8lbs Down 3.6!!!

Ok… ok… I know I shouldn’t have weighed again today, but I just couldn’t help myself! Down another 1.6lbs!!!  Woo Hoo! 

I took yesterday off from working out completely. I just really did not feel well and felt like my body needed the rest, and today I feel fantastic!  Yesterday’s menu was as expected but I did miss 1 meal and a shake. I had a birthday party to go to and just ran out the door without my food.  I have to start packing my cooler and taking it everytime I leave the house, just in case.  I was able to completely resist the cookie cake that was served… not even a taste… it just didn’t even sound appealing, but then again I’m not much of a sweet eater.  Now, if they had served spicy french fries… well, then I would’ve had to run far, far away!

I slept in a little and missed my eggs w/ spinach, oh boo-hoo…. but got in my protein shake about an hour ago.   Next meal is chicken stir fry! Yum-Yum…

Well, off to the grocery store and get my Little Miss ready for the new school week. Ciao!

114 Days – 165.4, Down 2.0

I think I’m going to start a daily log… a countdown to D Day so to speak.  I’ll be logging my food, workouts and of course…. readings from  the evil scale!!!!  I would like to say I’ll only be weighing once a week, but ladies… we all know that’s a lie!  So whenever I do weigh… you’ll know about it, good or bad. 

I am planning to take before shots and already have my before measurements, but I think I may wait until the half way mark to post all that. I’m still feeling a bit shy about putting everything out there into the blogosphere… who knows though, maybe I’ll get a shot of courage!

Today’s menu is playing out as expected, had my eggs and spinach (blech, sick of it)  and am now enjoying my yummy Lean Dessert Cinnamon Roll protein shake! I add Virgin Coconut Oil to my shakes instead of the peanut butter called for in my diet plan. I just like it better and being a medium chain fatty acid it helps burn fat, especially belly fat!  There are a host of other benefits to virgin coconut oil… I’ll blog about it at another time and give some links!

No workout today…. feeling a bit yucky and I have a lot to do.  I may change my mind later, but probably not

My Basic Diet

One thing I love about fitness magazines is the way so many of the models and competitors are willing to share their menus and the things that work for them.  It always gives me ideas for ways to improve my own diet and routine.  So I thought that in the same spirit I would post the cutting diet that I am using during this competition.  It is fairly rigid, but I am making allowances and slight changes here at the beginning as a way to ease myself into it.  I am still drinking a couple of cups of coffee a day w/ sweet n low and fat free half n half… I know… not at all clean, but it is my one vice.  I’m also allowing myself to sub out some of the veggies to provide a little more variety, like instead of just broccoli, I’ll have a pack of frozen stir fry veggies, no sauce, but full of broccoli, peppers, onions and snow peas.  I’m also burned out already on the eggs with spinach… so I’m gonna have to figure out what to do there. 

Cut Diet 1500

Meal 1
8 egg whites
1 whole egg
1.33cup steamed spinach
6 almonds
6.5 oz PEELED ruby red grapefruit or 99g blueberries
35g protein, 25g carbohydrates, 10g fat

Meal 2
1.75 scoops Scivation Whey
4 tsp peanut butter or 12 almonds or 2 oz avocado
1 cup steamed Broccoli or green beans or 8 oz steamed asparagus
35g protein, 10g carbohydrates, 10g fat

Meal 3
5 oz grilled chicken breast or halibut/tilapia or Sirloin fillet or Tuna (albacore packed/canned in water)
1 cup steamed Broccoli or green beans or 8 oz steamed asparagus
4 tsp peanut butter or 12 almonds or 2 oz avocado
35g protein, 10g carbohydrates, 10g fat

Meal 4
4 oz grilled chicken breast or halibut/tilapia or Sirloin fillet or Tuna (albacore packed/canned in water)
1 cup steamed Broccoli or green beans or 8 oz steamed asparagus
4 tsp peanut butter or 12 almonds or 2 oz avocado
28g protein, 10g carbohydrates, 10g fat

Meal 5
1.75 scoops Scivation Whey
12 almonds
½ cup steamed Broccoli or green beans or 4 oz steamed asparagus
35g protein, 5g carbohydrates, 10g fat

Meal 6
4 oz grilled chicken breast or halibut/tilapia or Sirloin fillet or Tuna (albacore packed/canned in water)
½ cup steamed Broccoli or green beans or 4 oz steamed asparagus
1 oz avocado
28g protein, 5g carbohydrates, 5g fat

Protein – 190g = 760 Calories, Carbohydrates (not including Carbohydrate night) -
65g = 260 Calories, Fat – 55g = 495 Calories
Total Calories – 1515 Calories NON-carbohydrate night
Total Calories – 1938 – Carbohydrate nights

Every 18th meal is the Carb meal. It is the last meal and it replaces Meal 6. The Carb
Meal must be eaten in this order.
Meal must be eaten in this order.
1.5 cup steamed green beans or 12 oz asparagus = 15g carbohydrates
½ cup oatmeal (measured dry then add water and microwave) = 30g
carbohydrates
6.5 oz PEELED ruby red grapefruit or 99g blueberries = 15g carbohydrates
4-6 packets splenda for sweetening
12 almonds = 10g fat
6 oz yam or sweet potato = 45g carbohydrates
4 tsp peanut butter or almond butter = 10g fat
4-6 packets splenda for sweetening
105g Carbohydrates = 420 Kcals, 20g Fat = 180 Kcals

Welcome To My New Blog!

I’m starting this blog to document my journey into the world of fitness. I’m entering Tosca Reno’s Eat Clean Diet Challenge.  I have 4 months, actually 107 days, to get into the best shape of my life!  I absolutely believe that I can do it!  I have always dreamed of looking like one of those girls in Oxygen magazine… now I dream of being one of those girls!  Part of the Grand Prize and 6 1st Place Prizes is a spread in Oxygen Magazine!!! 

I’ve never in my life had the drive or discipline to go after something like this until now.  Since the accident… everything inside me has changed.  My personality, my ambition, my goals and dreams.  Being so injured and so weak truly made me appreciate a strong and healthy body… I always took my body for granted until now.  I never believed that I could be an athelete… that I could be that strong and focused… now I know that I can!

So come along on this journey with me… feel free to lend your encouragement and support and even a kick in the pants when I need it!  This will probably end up being a mish mashed blog of sorts with my daily updates on diet and exercise, yummy new recipes I’ve tried or delicious food finds, related articles, and a whole lot of ordinary life….. 

Can’t wait to see where this journey takes me……