Whew, its about time… I need something SOLID that Im forced to look at everyday to hold myself accountable. Im not strong enuf to post my weight yet but I will be.. Im not doing this for comments, feedback or fishing for compliments. Im writing this for myself. So sometimes I may not make sense. Ill add to this as I find what works or what doesn’t work.


Goals

• To decrease overall body fat
• To alter body composition
• To feel confident and sexy
• To feel comfortable in my own skin

Guidelines

• No eating after 8p (at the most, a bowl of cereal. Preferably fruit or tuna.)
• Limit carb intake. If you must eat carbs, mix it up w/ a protein
• Be active for at least 30 minutes each day
• Drink at least 1 gallon of water each day
• Eat no more than 4 hours apart
• If you MUST eat candy, only Twizzlers, Junior Mints or 3 Musketeers
• For butt – Donkey kicks, 4 sets of 20 each leg
• Weigh in every Saturday morning (no more, no less)
• No Fast Food – Cook meals beforehand to avoid temptation.

Tuesday, August 01, 2006



Positives
So far Ive had 2.5 liters of water, ate a good breakfast and packed my lunch. Going rollerblading this evening.

Negatives
Due to lack of preparation, I hit the vending machine for Chilli Fritos and a Snickers.

Plan of Action
Make sure that I always keep myself armed w/ healthy snacks (must hit grocery store this weekend). Go for a walk to relieve frustration from work.

Congrats on getting started. Owning up to my number was the hardest for me too. I never told anyone until October of last year. It sounds like u have a really good realistic actionplan. Best of luck to you!

__________________

Being armed with healthy snacks is seriously one of the best defences you can have. I always tote around a water bottle, a piece of fruit and a granola bar or some mixed nuts. Great when you are in a jam or stuck in traffic.

Congrats, Kels. I am excited for you!!

Good luck, hun! You've got a great plan =]

Thank you guys!! I gotta hit the grocery store so Im compiling my list right now.. Gonna try to cut out alot of my carbs (except complex carbs). Im a big pasta girl.. but Im thinking pasta isnt my friend. I dont like generalized diets where everyone doesnt eat one particular thing.. but I went off carbs for about 10 days (this was a few months ago) and dropped like 9lbs.. I dont expect that now but I think I would do well w/o so many carbs in my life.. *sniff*.. goodbye Cinnamon Toast Crunch.. *sniff*..

Pasta with Three-Herb Pesto
Provided by: Cooking Light magazine
"A mixture of different pasta shapes adds visual interest and texture to this meatless main dish." Original recipe yield: 6 servings.

INGREDIENTS:
3 cups fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup fresh parsley sprigs
1/4 cup fresh oregano leaves
2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
1 tablespoon freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
8 cups mixed hot whole-wheat cooked pasta (such as farfalle, penne, and shells)

DIRECTIONS:
Place first 7 ingredients in a food processor; process until smooth. With processor on, slowly pour oil through food chute; process until well-blended. Toss with pasta.

I found this. It calls for whole wheat pasta. I believe that is okay for you. =]

Copied into our recipes section

You absolutely rock.

Wednesday, August 2, 2006

Positives
Ate brekkie yet again, but it was a crap brekkie. Going to market tomorrow to remedy that. Gotta find good brekkie ideas.. Packed lunch again, will drink tea to curb hunger before lunch.

Negatives
Last nite while on phone w/ SO, I ate like 6 mini biscuits w/ strawberry preserves... And I didnt workout this morning.

Plan of Action
Going to grocery store tomorrow evening to stock up on easy, healthy food. Looking online here and elsewhere for recipes, ideas, etc.

Personal Notes
Im trying to hard to get settled into my new place.. Trying to get organized which I think will assist w/ overeating - I eat out of frustration and annoyance (I think). Need more workout clothes, need motivation. I was supposed to kickbox last nite but wound up talking to SO for 3 hrs.. So I said Id get up this morning and workout. Couldnt find the drive, couldnt force myself to get out of bed. I changed clothes 6 times this morning becuz I felt fat in everything... None of my clothes fit properly ne longer. I feel my breasts spilling outta my bra. (ew) I just.. I just dont like me right now. But I want to. Im learning patience..

Aw. You'll find the motivation soon! Patience is the key here, and I know how you feel...wanting to see results RIGHT AWAY. Hang in there sweetheart, we can do this together =]

Oh, and as for the recipe, I got it off of the South Beach Diet forum.

Mock French Toast,
which came out more like crepes. They were really delicious. I doubled the recipe and modified it a bit, and it made 8 crepes.

1 c. part-skim ricotta
1 egg + 1/4 c. Egg Beaters (or use 2 eggs)
2 packets Splenda
2 tsp. vanilla
cinnamon (to taste)

Blend everything in blender. Spray frying pan with cooking spray. Cook each crepe over medium to low heat (it takes awhile to cook--don't touch them until they look sort of dry on top). They are very delicate and are sometimes difficult to flip. The trick is not to be too hesitant -- they bend a bit when you're trying to slip the spatula underneath, but just keep pushing and then flip quickly! Some of mine ripped, and some I was able to flip in one piece. Either way, they were delicious and a great alternative to something like pancakes or french toast (definitely more crepe-like, though).

Mock Cinnabon:

1/2 C. cottage cheese
1 pkt. splenda
tsp cinnamon
few pecans

blend with fork
15 sec. in micro to take off chill

Flaxseed Muffin recipe:

3eggs,
1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp. oil
1/4 cup sugar free syrup, such as Da Vinci
2 tbsp. water
1 tbsp. vanilla
1 cup flaxmeal
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp. cinnamon 1/8 tsp salt
In a medium, bowl, beat the eggs with a fork. Beat in oil, syrup, water and vanilla. In small bowl combine remaining ingredients, then stir into egg mixture. Let stand 5 minutes. Spoon into well greased muffin cups (without paper) Bake at 350 F 12-15 minutes, Remove from tin at once to cooling rack. Store in fridge!

I somethimes add a couple of chocolate chips......
I used 12 pkts splenda and about a teaspoon of vanilla. Instead of syrup

Mock Oatmeal:

1/2 C. Ricotta
1 pkt splenda
1 egg
1 cap maple flavoring

Mix, cook in micro 3 minutes. This smells wonderful! The cooked egg within the cheese gives the texture somewhat of oatmeal.


Mock Danish

I use two small bowls. In one bowl I whisk two eggs and a Tbl. of splenda. I pour this into a preheated sprayed non stick pan. While this cooks (do not stir it) and sets up I use a fork to stir 1/4 brick of light cream cheese/neufchatel cheese (8 oz size) and 2 Tbl. splenda and 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract, in the other bowl. By this time the eggs are cooked and I spread the cream cheese mixture

Belgian Waffles
Phase 1!

Ingredients:

2 large eggs
1/4 C Lowfat Ricotta Cheese (store brand)
1 T Granular Splenda, more or less to taste
1/2 t. Baking Powder
1/4 t. Cinnamon, more or less to taste
(optional)
Dash Nutmeg, more or less to taste (optional)

Directions:

Preheat waffle iron. If no waffle iron is available, recipe can also be used for fluffy
pancakes, but that is not as much fun! Beat eggs with electric mixer on high for 1
minute to make them light and fluffy. Add all other ingredients. Beat until smooth.
Spray waffle maker with PAM or other cooking spray. Pour all batter, should fill bottom tray. Close and cook as usual for waffles.

Top with Smart Spread or other butter substitute, a sprinkle of splenda, and/or some
sugar free syrup. Serve with V8 for a complete and satisfying breakfast!

For Phase 2, top with berries. You can also nuke blueberries and add some splenda to make your own blueberry syrup. Other P2 variations include adding one of the following: 1 T wheat germ, 1 T ground flax seed, 1/4 C oatmeal. You may also try using cottage cheese instead of some of the ricotta.

Flaxseed meal "Pancake".

I modified my recipe from the one I found (I left out the metamucil- too scared to try it):

For 2 medium size pancakes:

1/2 c. all-white liquid egg substitute
3 Tbsp. ground flaxseed meal
1 tsp. baking powder
approx 1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 pkts. Splenda
cinnamon and nutmeg to taste

I mixed all ingredients in a small measuring cup. (the baking powder blobs up so you have to stir really well until they dissolve.)

Spray a pan with non-stick spray and pour half of the mixture in. It will immediately sort of fluff up like a pancake. Brown on one side and flip. I think the time varies. I cooked about 2 minutes on each side.

The "frosting" for this is optional, but I was having fun experimenting. I imagine you could put this on just about any concotion to make it sweeter.

"Frosting"
2 Tbsp cream cheese
vanilla
1/2 pkt Splenda

Like the original recipe I got (sorry I don't remember who I stole this from) I also used a small amount of yogurt on top.

Even when I can have real pancakes I think I'll opt for these. They are much lighter and fluffier (not to mention healthier) and they kept me very full without feeling like a hard lump in my stomach like traditional pancakes do.

I am doing Phase 1 for a second time after having sort of fallen off the wagon around Easter and then indulging in real cheescake last month for my birthday. I decided that I needed to re-do this "detox" phase to rid myself of sugar cravings and get back on track. Thanks to this recipe (and the others), my breakfasts no longer have to consist of scrambled eggs and omelets. I feel like now that I have more of a variety of breakfast options, staying on Phase 1 will be a breeze. It is also such a pleasant surprise that I can have a "sweet" breakfast without it being sugary cereal or a bagel with jelly etc.

I'm telling you all, the recipe sounds gross, but topped with the new yogurt and "frosting" and you'll have to remind yourself that this flour-less Phase 1 friendly pancake is made from eggs.


Flaxseed Meal Pancake

2 eggs
3 Tbsp. ground flaxseed
1 Tblsp. psyllium husks
1/8 tsp. salt
2 packets splenda
1 tsp. baking powder
dash vanilla

Stir until combined, let sit a couple minutes to thicken, add a couple tsps of water if you think its too thick. Pour into oiled or pammed skillet and brown on both sides. Makes 2 big pancakes. Serve with sugar free maple syrup or fresh fruit in P2.

Flaxseed "pancake" turned mock cinnabon:

After making the "pancake" make this filling:
1 oz ff or lite cream cheese or 1/4 c ricotta, or 1/4 cottage cheese
(cottage cheese works but is thinner when warmed)
vanilla to taste
1-2 packets of Splenda
cinnamon to taste

Micro anywhere between 10-25 second sjust to warm the cheese and stir until consistency is thinner.
Spread half of themixture on the pancake and roll.
Then "frost" the outside with the remaining mixture, sprinkle with a dash more of cinnamon and ground nuts of your choice.


Breakfast ideas!

Julia you are such a super star.. thx SO much..

Sunday August 6 2006

Positives
Actually went grocery shopping, been cooking instead of eating out @ fast food places

Negatives
Havent worked out since Thursday... Bout to start my cycle so just feeling BLAH, feel puffy.

Plan of Action
Prep gym bag for instant access. Keep gym clothes in the car so WHENEVER the mood strikes, I can just go w/o having to figure out too many things. Stop thinking of exercising as kickboxing for 90 minutes and start taking long walks. Just be active.

Personal Notes
Im realizing that alot of my 'friends' are actually toxic. This is regarding my eating and my emotions. Two in particular, just self absorbed and shallow. Everything is about how you look. But theyre always feeding me, almost like they want me to stay big. Last nite we went out and my one friend almost YELLED at me becuz I wouldnt order from Del Taco. I just dont want to get the taste of fast food in my mouth until Im able to gain more self control. And she was so upset.. and I dont know why. I think maybe shes used to me being the pudgy one and feels uncomfortable that Im making changes. That makes me very sad becuz I would be so happy if the roles were reversed. I would encourage her and workout w/ her if she wanted. But she just wants me to eat. Live and learn I suppose.. everyone isnt your friend. I was thinking about the boys and got so sad and depressed that I almost binged.. but I fought it and wouldnt allow myself. That was a big step for me. I have to learn how not to think so hard... I miss them, I think about them so much becuz so many things reminds me of them. But being sad and depressed wont bring them back. And I havent taken my meds in a while.. thats def. not helping. So I need to get it all together, just work on everything instead of getting obsessed w/ just one aspect of my life (eating, in this instance). It takes time..