It's been awhile........

Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. 

I know I’ve been lax.   I have all sorts of excuses.  First, I have a lot of trouble blogging from work; the browser we use is older and doesn’t allow for me to properly enter info.  I found a way around that, but it does require me to open Word, create a HTML page, type up the doc, save, and then open in notepad to copy the HTML and paste it into the blog site.    That is what I’m doing now.

Second, I hate hate hate blogging using my phone or tablet. Most of the time I remember to blog while I’m on one of those and will not use them to blog.  The whole autocorrect and weird formatting irritates me to no end. Maybe I should get a blue tooth keyboard?

Third, I suck.

After that awesome initial 6lbs lost, I gained it right back.  Snap of the fingers and the weight was back on.   Don’t know what happened and have been trying my darnedest.  I’ve been staying within my calorie goal or at least going over by 200-300 calories.  Considering I’ve made my calorie limit well under what I can intake, this should not be an issue.    I’ve done several days of 45+ minutes on the bike.  The only thing laxing is my walking.

I started a new rotation at work about 3 weeks ago.  Because of meetings and or training, I have not been able to walk the halls. Throw in some cold days, no walking at home.  

See I have a lot of excuses….. Got on the scale this morning and am back down 1.6 lbs. 

I have a wedding coming up and I originally was so excited when I was losing weight. I figured at the rate I was going, I’d have been down at least 80 lbs by now.  Long way off wouldn’t you say?   I desperately need this weather to warm up.  I need my walks & hikes and all that other activity that helped me initially.  

Onto food. 

I’ve mentioned before, I believe, two of my favorite things to eat. 

First the Good Greens bars.  Still love them.   Since switching to them and not taking the other protein bars, my stomach distress has practically disappeared.   I’m way to sensitive to sugar alcohols.     I have about 2 a day.  Usually a Banana Nut and a yogurt for breakfast and I have a stash in my car to snack on one during my drive home.   My favorite is actually the Chocolate Mint.  I could eat those all day if someone let me or if I had no will power.   

Yogurt.  I don’t remember if I spoke about it here or on FB, but I am in LOVE with Dannon’s Light & Fit Greek Yogurt; The extra protein versions.  It will either say 2X the protein or just indicate 80 calories and 12g of protein.    Either packaging, it’s the same yogurt.   Really, if you’re up for it, buy yourself one of each (the regular 80 calorie version with 5 or so grams of protein and one with the 10-12g of protein) and you’ll see and taste the difference.   The extra protein version usually is thicker and has more taste in my opinion.  My favorite is the Strawberry Cheesecake, but that is extremely difficult to find.  You find one, tell me where.   This has definitely helped a bit with my morning cravings.

Something else that is also good news, I haven’t gone up a size.  Recently I tried on a bunch of dresses to wear to the upcoming wedding I mentioned above.  I’m still in the lower size.   I even bought a new pair of work pants. It’s nice to have a comfortable pair that isn’t very baggy. Most of my work pants are as I really cannot afford to buy many in the lower sizes.

I am trying though.   Desperately trying.  If we could afford an elliptical or treadmill, believe me I’d be on that daily.  It is what it is though.  

Choices

Hello dears. 

 

I apologize I have not updated in a bit.  

As I mentioned, I recently flew.  I can definitely check off the airport as one of my accomplishments.  Just a year ago I could barely stand or walk for more than five minutes. I needed the arm rest up in between seats in order to fit in the airplane seat.  I hated flying.  Now I fly through the airport on my own two feet and I’m am back into my own seat.  Times have changed.

 

Today’s topic is about choices.

I’m sad to say when I stepped on the scale this morning; it was NOT a pleasant outcome.  I’m sad to report I have gained more weight.  I figured it was coming because I could see it in the mirror.  

 

I have no one to blame but myself and the choices I made.   Each and every time I put food in my mouth, I have the choice to do so or not.  I have the choice on WHAT I put in my mouth.   I haven’t made good choices lately, although I am trying really hard to get better.

 

On my recent trip, it wasn’t a vacation. I spent a lot of time sitting while at the hospital.  I ate at the hospital.  I did walk.   I can’t say I scrapped that, but it was not as much as I have in the past.    So while I walked to try and work out, my food choices were to be desired.   I could have been a good girl and stuck to things that were healthy for me, but I chose not to.

 

Living a healthier lifestyle is difficult after you have not been doing so.  Each and every day I have the choice on whether or not I’m going to be active and walk or ride my bike. I have the choice on whether or not I’m going to have one more spoonful of peanut butter. I have the choice on what I’m ordering from that menu. It’s all on me.   My knee wasn’t really acting up this time around, so I can’t blame that.   This is all on me. 

 

I’m trying.  I’m only on day 2 of forcing myself to watch my calories and intake.  I am forcing myself to log ALL my food and close out the day in MyFitnessPal.  I need to get into a habit again of good eating. 

 

Yesterday my knee acted up when I was walking.  I chose to sit on my bike and take a leisurely “ride”, which was easier on my knees, in order to burn calories. 

 

I need to reevaluate my schedule to become better organized to allow myself to work out AND do the other things I need to.

The weather is turning SUCKY again, but I will continue to make the choice to try and get in focus.  

 

My temporary setback is the result of my bad choices.  If you want to lose weight or eat healthier, you need to make the right choices as well.   You have no one to blame but yourself  most of the time.

 

 

Flying is much different this time

No weight loss to report.  Weight gain? Unsure,  the scale moves up and down throughout the day.   I'm still in the! Same range add I have been,  so that's a positive.

I'm flying to Nashville again.  I do have a few thing to say about this experience.   Do you understand how much I enjoy walking? After being unable to walk or stand due to the pain,  walking through the airport and avoiding the people movers is such a thrill.   I can't wait for this wonder to be over so I can walk safely again.  I know Duchess misses it very much.   I came to the walking realization on my way to the D terminal in the airport.  I moved so easily,  I enjoyed it very much.   Please never take your ability to walk without issue for granted. 

I find myself having much more patience with those who do not hands that ability.  Been there . Done that. Keep the t- shirt.

As far as my behind in the plane,  noticeable difference.   I still require an extender.   Last time I flew in early October,  I was 15 pounds heavier.   Was does the 15 pound difference do?  Well,  it is still snug for me in the seat.  However,  all of me is in my seat.   I can,  for at least a flight of this length,  sit without needing the arm rests up in between the seats.  Positive signs that lift my spirits.

Another change in flying that doesn't deal with weight loss,  the ability to use this in plane mode as we take off.   That's right,  I'm composing this as we take off.

The only thing I've eaten this morning was a mini bagel from the United Club.   After last night,  that's a good thing.   Those who know me personally or flew me on FB read my ordeal.  Long story short,  car broke down.  Say on size of the highway for 4 hours.  Car impounded.

Well. 

not good news

Ooops posted this on the wrong blog.

Hi.  To start I want to let those of you who do not know me personally that this was a very bad week.

I'm a very very big dog lover.  Even more so towards my own. I love them as if they are my children.  This week I last my oldest.  Galen was over 14 years old.  We've had him since he was 4 months old.  I am heart broken and devastated.  We knew it was coming, but it does not hurt any less.

Since Tuesday, when it happened, I've not had focus. My diet had been poor.  I've faltered.

I've not abandoned my healthy eating at all.  I'm just allowing myself to participate in tonight's superbowl fiesta as a last hurrah before I regain my focus.

On one good note,  the pair of jeans I bought a few months ago and could not fit into now fit.

In hoping to begin blogging this next week.  I didn't have it in me this week.

Thank you.

It's Sunday~.

Well, I'd love to tell you about my weight loss but I have no idea.  
What does that mean?
One morning I got on the scale and I was down all the weight I gained.
The very next day, I'm up again.   Then down. Then up.

SO, I don't know.
I wish I could tell you it was good news, but I really truly have no clue.

What else to tell you, not really much right now.  No walking due to the snow.
I have been back on my bike, so yay!

This is the type of bar I'm talking about!

As I mentioned in a previous post, I've been having issues with chocolate.   A conversation between two friends ended up with a recommendation that has turned things around for me. 

One of the things I've eaten often in the past are Protein bars. I tend to favor Atkins Chocolate Peanut Butter bar and Zone Perfect's Greek Yogurt Vanilla Berry.  While the Zone Perfect is my favorite one, it never fills me up.    The Atkins bar is good too but the sugar alcohols mess with my stomach.  
For those of you unfamiliar with Sugar Alcohol and their effects, just read this for a quick study: The Effects of Sugar Alcohols
(READ THE REVIEWS. Those are not jokes, TRUST ME!!)

So they were talking and long story short it got mentioned about my issues and this new brand of bars were recommended.  Good Greens bars. They're made by a local company and are not like the rest of the bars out there.   
First off, almost all, if not all, of the bars contain 100% of your daily fruits and vegetables. 
Then they're Vegan friendly, gluten free, 10-12 grams of protein, antioxidants, probiotics, and most are low glycemic.
Being the awesome neighbor that Sarah is, she stopped to pick up a few for me. 

Let me tell you right now, these things are heaven. They are full of delicious flavor. They are completely void of sugar alcohols. And I now can have a chocolate fix with minimal impact to my diet.     

There are so many flavors. To name a few:   chocolate mint, chocolate raspberry, chocolate coconut, chocolate peanut butter chocolate chunk, wild berry and the greek yogurt bars: banana nut, blueberry bliss, apple crumb, and pumpkin spice.    

I have tried: chocolate raspberry,chocolate peanut butter, chocolate coconut, chocolate chunk, banana nut, and apple crumb.  
All delicious. Rich has tried the blueberry bliss and swears by it. 

So I'm going to do a quick side by side comparison of the Atkins PB bar and Good Greens PB bar.

ATKINS			GOOD GREENS
NUTRITION FACTS			NUTRITION FACTS
Serving size 1 bar (60g)			Serving size 1 bar (50g)
	Value			Value
Calories	240 Kcal		Calories	195Kcal
Calories from Fat	120 Kcal		Calories from Fat	80 Kcal
Total Fat	14 g		Total Fat	9 g
Saturated Fat	8 g		Saturated Fat	2 g
Trans Fat	0 g		Trans Fat	0 g
Cholesterol	<5 mg		Cholesterol	0 mg
Sodium	190 mg		Sodium	65 mg
Total Carbohydrate	23 g		Total Carbohydrate	24 g
Dietary Fiber	9 g		Dietary Fiber	5 g
Sugars	1 g		Sugars	14 g
Sugar Alc.	11 g		Protein	10 g
Protein	17 g

Net Carbs: 2 for Atkins & 19 for Good Greens.  Yes, that may seem high but take into account the processed items that are in the Atkins bar, not to mention 11g of Sugar Alcohols.  

Additionally, full day's fruits & vegetables in the Good Greens. I personally think the extra carbs are worth it.  Then again, anything without sugar alcohols makes my day.

The big bonus here is that they taste wonderful.  I get my chocolate fix without the guilt or stomach upset.  

The big thing for me is the taste and curbing of my chocolate cravings.   Read about Good Greens here: http://www.goodgreens.com/

It's Sunday!

Hi, yet again.   

I'm hoping to get back to my regularly scheduled Sunday posts.   As you can see, I've been chatty the past few days.  I can't guarantee that I will continue to be so, but I promise to try.    If you've taken the time to come check in and read, I could make the effort to give you a little something.

Well, yesterday I was back on focus. I didn't make it under my calorie goal, but I was not too far off.  That's improvement to me.   

I did jump on the scale this morning. I think I may have lost a lb.    It's in the right direction, so I will take it.

Duchess is doing her part.  This morning, almost all morning long, she's been hyper. She and I played on the floor for awhile.   She did several laps around the living room and still wanted to wrestle a bit more.   On top of all that, she has been whining big time to my face.  So, as trained as I am, I got all wrapped up in layers, grabbed my boots, and her leash and off we went.

We walked in the snow (as the sidewalks and streets are still covered).   It was a work out to me as trying to walk in those boots and snow was definitely extra effort.   It wasn't as long of a walk as I'd have liked to burn her energy, but I'm still watching the knee.

She still has plenty of energy to burn so I may end up taking her on another later on. She really needs a play mate.   :(

Well, to keep some things positive, below was taken from my medical record. This is a graph of my weight . This pretty much sums up everything I've been blogging about.  You see the weight loss and then the plateau with slight gain.  Still, look at that slope!