Hot hot hot!

Well the heat wave is still in progress... as are my good eating habits. Going into weeks 7, I have lost 13.6 pounds in total. I am 10.4 away from my first goal! So close! So far!

Everyone is doing great, and the rough days are few and far between. I was a bit worried this week because I didn't get as much exercise in, but I did ok with 50 000 steps.

Glad to see Mary Lou back at the meeting, really missed her last week.

Off to enjoy the day! Now that I am in the swing of things with work, posts will be more frequent.

For the love of food,
~The Food Lovin Diva

~To thine own self be true~

Blue Monday

I had a very stressful weekend. A few things happened that stressed me out in a big way. Both Sat and Sunday were messed up for eating. I didn't go over points on Sat, but I didn't eat the right things either. On Saturday I usually try to have a *cheat day*. If I am using bonus points during the week, that's the day I do it. However due to the crappy food served to me at the Ale House that I couldn't even eat... that was botched.

On Sunday I couldn't resist eating at Kredl's but I did watch what I ate the remainder of the day. I did have pasta in the evening, but walking was done as well, so I think it all balanced out.

When I weighed in on Sat, I was down another pound! Woot woot! Going along smoothly, but this week I want to kick it up a notch. I think last week I struggled with water a bit, because quite honestly, I'm in training at work, and I hate having to run out to pee so frequently...
But I know. I know... I need that water.

So let's see how the week goes!

For the love of food,
~The Food Lovin' Diva

~Today is the beginning of the rest of your life.... make it count!

Ruby Tuesday

It's Tuesday.

My pedometer reads 27000 steps! So far so good this week.
Oddly been under in points the past few days. But feeling full. Likely all the water I'm consuming. I went shopping and was able to buy lots of size 16's! I had to, all of my clothes are feeling rather roomy, and I just didn't feel comfy. So now, the size 16's will do me for a few and when I am done, I'll hand them down to Jenn!

Anyway, just wanted to update!

For the love of food
~The Food Lovin' Diva

~"The person who gets the farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore." Dale Carnegie

The end of the first month!

My first month rounded out with a 2 pound loss this week. My total loss is just over 10 pounds! Not bad if I do say so myself. I finished my week with just under 60 000 steps which is about 42 km's! Craziness!

Went to the car show today, put on over 7km's there! Good start to the week. Very tired. Promise to post more later!

~The Food Lovin' Diva

~I'll put a quote on my next post, promise. ;-)

TGIF...TGIF

It's Friday! I couldn't be happier.
My walk last night didn't get me too far, I ran into a friend and decided to go with them for their first time trying the local Sushi place. Sense of Tokyo. Just as a note, you get an abundance of food there for your point expenditure. Highly recommended.

Anyhow, I didn't eat much there as I had eaten a light supper, but I had about 17 points left. I may have eaten 10. Either way, it was nice to just do something unplanned while I was out on my walk. It really helped me unwind. I found this week because of stress I did want to eat. I never really noticed that about myself til this very week. However I managed to stay on track! This week I did spend 5 bonus points. But they were well spent. My pedometer reads 52 000 steps as of this morning. Should be interesting to see how weigh in goes tomorrow. Can I crack 10 pounds, or will it be another . something loss? Either way, a loss is indeed a loss. A gain is a gain right now. I'm following plan, and being more active than I have in a long time. That counts towards a success.

I had planned on walking to work today, however a few other things came up, and it's likely easier to have the car today. However next Friday, should the weather be good, I will be walkin!

For the love of food,
~The Food Lovin' Diva
“Success is a ladder that cannot be climbed with your hands in your pocket” ~ Unknown
~

Slack on the update but still truckin!

This week has been super busy with my new job. By the time I get home the last thing I have wanted to do was sit in front of my computer, so I have been walking. My target was 36000 steps again for this week, and I am already at 47 000. I've been taking the stairs at work, and walking on my lunches. It really makes a difference.

I've had a good food week, but I feel at a strange standstill. Not sure if it's just the stress of the first week of a new job or what. Need to get groceries on the weekend. Excited for that. I always love finding new foods to add to the menu!

Btw, lunches are hard... I want to have a good balance of fresh and easy meals. Sometimes it's hard. Gotta come up with a better plan.

Thinking of joining the Aquatic Centre Gym next week. Thinking of going after work... or before. I'm torn.

Speaking of exercise, I am gonna head out for my walk since the sun is out!

~The Food Lovin' Diva

~“A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are.” ~Unknown

Monday thoughts...

I start a new job today. So I have to promise myself, no matter what stress comes my way, eating will not cure it. Not that I've ever relied on food to relieve stress, but I am definitely more aware of when and why I eat.

The challenge this week... Lunches. To make lunches that will satisfy. Being home, I could grab something whenever I had the chance (apple, banana, yogurt) at work, not so easy. I am certain today will give me a clue to the environment I have, and how easy it will be to sneak a stockpile of veggies and fruit to work.

Yesterday, by the end of the day I had walked 21 000 steps! In the evening I walked down to the basketball court to take some photos of my friends playing ball hockey. The walk down the hill, and back up was a perfect way to end the day.

Today's commitment is to go for a walk along Harbour Passage tonight after supper.
If anyone who reads this walks in the evenings around that area and would like a walking buddy just let me know. I'd love the company once in awhile.

For the love of food,
~The Food Lovin' Diva

~“Success comes in cans; failure in can'ts”~ Unknown

Starting Week 4!

Yesterday I was down .6. It is a loss and that is what so totally counts!!
I know why it was how it was, and we'll see what next week brings.

This week I want to eat more veggies. Eating a fair bit, however I am still a bread lover. Need to fill that gap with more veggies!

I already have in 16 000 steps. I went this morning and walked about 8000 of those. Off to a good start. With starting a new job tomorrow, I think this week will be a busy one. Hopefully I fit everything in I want. Well cooked meals, and walking!

For the love of food,
~The Food Lovin' Diva

~“Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success” ~ Napoleon Hill

Eve of Week 4.

I have weigh in tomorrow morn.
My monthly friend showed up yesterday. I can't stop worrying about water retention! How silly is that. Really silly considering my whole life, I've never had that bloating thing happen to me anytime of the month.

I stuck to plan all week. I got in 29.5 kms = 40880 steps. I spent zero bonus points.

Yet I worry. Expecting a gain. Let's see what the morning brings.

But my positive is this: I went and bought a dress for a wedding today. It's the first size 16 I've bought in more than 8 years!

~The Food Lovin' Diva

~“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude” ~ Zig Ziglar

The strange guilt...

Today wasn't a bad food day. I ate within my points, however I had pizza and I feel guilty. Where is this guilt coming from? Maybe it's because I know those points are filled with more fat that I've eaten most days. Either way, I had it, it tasted yummy. But I've discovered it is definitely a treat only.

Otherwise, I have about 6000 steps to go to achieve this weeks goal, so not far off. I find walking really helps me unwind, so it's a good activity for me.

Thinking I am going to start saving money for an elliptical machine. It's something I find myself wanting to have around a lot lately when the weather isn't the best for walking. Time to crack out a piggy bank and start saving! I think in a few weeks I will vow, for every pound I lose I will put $10 in the bank for the equipment. Sounds like great motivation!

I have no idea how weigh in will go this week. However I have noticed one very important thing. I need a belt. This makes me happy.

For the love of food, even when it doesn't love my hips,
~The Food Lovin' Diva

~“The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself.” ~ Mark Caine

Hump Day, sap that hunger!

This morning I had cereal. I should have eaten some fruit with it, but at the time I didn't feel like it really. But the tummy actually grumbled within the hour for fruit so I had some cherries!

Walking is at 28 000 steps, only 8000 more to go. I have a feeling I might get those in today and tomorrow with ease. Haven't used any bonus points yet this week, though I thought I did on Saturday night, I was right on the nose. If I am going to use any it will be today on supper. I am making Whole Wheat Spaghetti with a nice chunky veggie sauce with extra lean ground sirloin. I only used half of the small pack of meat. Depending on my portion size, it will fall between 8-10 points.

I have a remainder of 21 left so I'm good.

Finally feel like I am getting in the groove of eating, and what to eat, and when. Fear the groove will somehow cause a gain this week. 2.4 lbs... it's my mantra!

Enjoy the sunshine!
~The Food Lovin' Diva

~“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” Colin Powell

Survival of the BBQ

Just as a note I managed to survive the BBQ on Sunday. I made a 1 point per cup spinach, whole wheat pasta salad. Everyone loved it! I enjoyed a very small hamburger, but it so hit the spot, as well as a small chicken breast. Nummers!

It was topped off with wonderful Angel food cake and fresh fruit! I still had a few points to spare!

So it wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be with all the friends and food. So I am proud of myself for not going over.

Walked 6400 steps yesterday, and felt great. Ate too much salad yesterday, well so it seemed but I wasn't hungry between them. Likely all the water I drank!

My walking goal for this week isn't going to be has hard to attain. I'm already over 20 000 steps!

~The Food Lovin' Diva

“To succeed you need to find something to hold on to, something to motivate you, something to inspire you” ~ Tony Dorsett

Goals for the week ahead.

Last week I walked 34 000 steps. I want to increase that again this week. Since I increased by 10k over one week, I am going to lower my goal a bit to 36 000. Two reasons to this, I'm not going to over do it. Secondly, I need to do it at a place that prepares my cardiovascular system for running. Once I hit 50 000 steps a week, with ease, then I can start running, and build on the distance with the same increments. That's my overall plan.

Secondly, I want to try and get more milk in. I find it the hardest to fit in some days. The water has been quite easy. Points wise I usually have a few left every day, but not a large number. I also only use about 4 of my bonus points each week. This week I want to stick to plan, but fill those points with only snickers bars.... I'm so kidding! I don't even like snickers. No, this week will be Salad, Chicken and Fish. Err.. well a variety there of.

Since I have had two weeks of approximate 4 pound losses, I don't want to come to expect losses like that every week, but at the same time, my body feels great, I feel great and I want to keep on going. So, my weight goal for this week is 2.4 pounds. It gets me to my next 5 pound sticker.
If I surpass that goal, it's all frosting. If I don't lose 2.4 and am under... IT'S STILL A LOSS!

Just have to remember there maybe some bouncing in these first weeks. I can handle it. I can carry on past it.

Here is to a successful week!

~Food Lovin' Diva

“Success is focusing the full power of all you are on what you have a burning desire to achieve.” ~ Wilfred Peterson

The weigh in conquered!

It's very late. But the first time I've gotten to my puter since this morning.

Weighed in this morning. Down 4 more pounds! Color me surprised. One of my friends who is in the program with me had me prepared for a possible gain in my second week. To my surprise I was down. I am not going to let my small victory go to my head.
I will continue to increase how many steps I am walking and speed up the pace, as well try to fit all my water in, and more milk!

I am sure I will post again later when I am more awake, but for now that's my good news. 1/3 to my first goal.

Woot!

For the love of food,
~The Food Lovin' Diva