Day 87

Ah, one more day of classes to go and then I get to decompress for 4 GLORIOUS weeks!!! It will be good to not be tempted by the food at school. I will be going on vacation to Virginia Beach and then back home to Buffalo and these things always turn into eating fests. I think I've got my plan for Virginia down. Buffalo is a hard one- growing up there we do 3 things really well: eat, drink (the grown up type) and deal with large amounts of snow. REAL chicken wings, roast beef on 'weck, Theodore's Red Hots, and loganberry!!! Mmmmm. Yeah, Virginia's set- Buffalo I may indulge : ) I miss the flavors of home!

Day 86

This is early in the day, but I can't contain myself anymore...

Guess who got into a pair of shorts a size smaller this morning--WITHOUT sucking her stomach in???

me : )

Day 85

I know something you all don't know... (do-da! do-da!) Hopefully by Sunday I can share it : )

Today was a good day. Only challenge: I ate all of my points for the day by 2:30. I found a biscuit I couldn't resist! (Biscuits get me every time!) So I had a light salad at dinner with salsa for dressing and a tad of cheese and sour cream. Dipped a little bit into my extra weekly points allowance, but that's what they are there for. Tomorrow I won't have access to those pale temptresses- biscuits...

Day 84

Today was good. On track. Easy. Swim time in the pool (though not completely productive as I was employed to play catcher for a 4 year old's routine jumping in) and some extra tan action. : ) I'd call it a productive day!

Day 83

-2.8 lbs.!!!!!!

This brings my total weight loss to 29.6 lbs : ) Only another .6 lbs. and I'll have seen the end of the 220's. Back to the teens. The last time I was in the teens was just after my second son was born almost 4 years ago to the day. Wow!

I discovered this week that when I use more of my weekly points (Weight Watchers) I lose at a better rate. I think I make better choices all day long not feeling restricted to the 35 points I'm currently at and because of that I burn all the fuel I put into my body at a much faster rate. This week, we'll focus on that and on being in the pool doing laps at least 4 days--starting today. And this will help with my golden tan : )

Day 82

Well, last nite I went to the movies with my hubby and boys to see Cars 2 and it was so cute! What was not cute was the point total for my eating yesterday. Still on-plan, tracked every last bit of food that entered my mouth, but wow! I'm still confident about tomorrow, and will be cautious of the carb munchies I'm sure I'll have today (after eating all of those yummy pretzel bites!). Less carbs today- I can do it. I'm realizing they are my favorite things, even more than sugar and chocolate. Our friendship needs a time out.

Days 80 & 81

Getting back on track- taking food with me to school instead of eating there, food's just too heavy there... And if you're a new visitor to my blog I'm a student at The Culinary Institute of America. And despite the fact that we are there solely for food, it's hard to get a FIT meal. There are healthy options, but not necessarily friendly for people trying to lose weight.

I am actually one of 3 students in my graduating class that was significantly overweight (no thanks to our chosen degree field!) who have independently decided to attack weight loss head on. Each of us has succeeded to a very significant degree and it has been wonderful to have good company : )

I need to get active again; my weight loss hasn't slowed down, but I don't want it to. So moving more again will help.

Days 77, 78 & 79

Busy, busy, busy times... And I'm worried that falling out of my better habits is going to show this week. I've been eating within my plan, haven't gone astray, but I've been bad about getting all of the good and healthy stuff in everyday. I did better today though- all of my GHG's! And still a few points left for a treat : )

Also during these last few days I picked up my new swim suit from the store I had it shipped to and am sooooooooooooooooooo excited to wear it in Virginia beach in exactly 16 days! I also purchased a cute new pair of panties and some bright green nail polish... Feeling pretty good!

Day 76

Another loss this week! Another 1.2 lbs gone. Not as big as I had hoped for, but considering I played hostess for my son's 4th birthday party yesterday and prepared all of the yum-o food myself I did very well! This week will be only mildly less crazy, only school finals and projects to take care of, but a lot of them. So since the pool is open I'm going to try to get some laps in for activity... I did just buy a cute bathing suit after all!

Day 75

Today was my son's birthday party (yay Antonio! 4 years old, wow!) and of course I did all of the cooking... And I made:

• Rainbow cake and cupcakes (and about 3 times too many)
• Gazpacho served in cucumber shooters
• Home made guacamole
• Roasted red pepper and veggie wraps
• Roast beef and cheddar on caramelized onion rolls
• Turkey and Swiss one ciabatta rolls
• Ham and cheddar with tomato, lettuce, onion on multigrain
• Jello Mousse (house specialty)  : )
• Caprese salad skewers with fresh mozzarella
• Old fashioned Coke in glass bottles
• Macaroni salad and cole slaw
• Toasted ravioli with marinara dipping sauce

And I managed to eat only my daily allotment of points!!! I was so good! I enjoyed myself and am in good shape (I think) for the scale tomorrow morning.

Did I mention my new trick?  Bending over forward and not getting winded? Love that one!

Days 73 & 74

This is what I have discovered the last two days...


I can bend over FORWARD to pick things up like a normal (non-chubby) person : )  And still breath while doing so!

This is a big deal for me. It was one of my most frustrating things to do being overweight. Well, we're done with that now!

Days 71 & 72

Have I mentioned that I don't get so winded going up four flights of stairs anymore?

Or that my knees don't bother me so much?

Or that I just might make it below 220 before my summer vacation in Virginia Beach?

Yup. It's getting good now!  : )

Day 70

Long. Day. 12.5 hours plastered to Quickbooks. Still not reconciling properly. Ugh.
Points eaten poorly, very few GHG's due to being on campus all day (factor in 2 hours travel time additional) and wonderful hubby who grilled me a cheeseburger at almost 10pm.

My wedding ring and engagement ring are beginning to spin on my finger : )

I bought a swim suit for the first time in 16 years yesterday... It's sooooooo cute!

Back at it again tomorrow.

Day 69

YEAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

10% of my starting weight is gone for a total weight loss of 25.6 lbs!

My total weight loss has reached a milestone and a significant one at that. Read below for some of the benefits of losing 10% of current weight (especially is you're over weight):

A Healthier Heart
By losing just 10 percent of your body weight, you can lower your cholesterol and reduce your blood pressure, says G. Ken Goodrick, PhD, psychologist and associate professor of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. High cholesterol and elevated blood pressure are two major risk factors for heart disease.
Lower Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
If you're overweight, you're at increased risk for type 2 diabetes, which means your body can't make enough, or properly use, insulin, a hormone that helps convert food to usable energy. By losing just 10 percent of your body weight, you'll improve your body's ability to use the insulin it makes, possibly preventing the onset of the disease, Miller-Kovach says. If you already have type 2 diabetes, shedding that 10 percent may improve your symptoms and possibly prevent complications, she adds.
More Pep
"Just a 10 percent weight loss increases feelings of vigor and vitality," says Miller-Kovach. "You'll feel better and have more energy."
A Mental Edge
Losing 10 percent can give you the self-confidence and motivation you need to keep going. "Success builds on success," says Miller-Kovach. But be sure you recognize it. "Losing 10 percent is a milestone in the journey," says Miller-Kovach. "Once you get there, take the time to congratulate yourself on your efforts."
Reality Check
After losing 10 percent, you gain a sense of what it will take to lose the rest and reach your final goal weight. "It gives you a context in terms of saying, 'Am I willing to put in that much more effort to lose even more weight?'" Miller-Kovach says. If the answer is no, that's okay. "Some people only lose 10 percent and that's it," says Goodrick. If that's you, pat yourself on the back. "Health-wise, a 10-percent weight loss is a great achievement," Goodrick says.

A few other numbers to celebrate...

•   -3 inches from my arms
•   -4.25 inches from my hips
•   -2.5 inches from my waist
•   -4.1 inches from my thighs
•   - 2 dress sizes
•   ZERO change in my bust, and considering I don't have much in the way of boobs this is completely ok with me : )

Thank you all for following me on my journey. I promise to be a better blogger and maintain my accountability going forward. See y'all tomorrow!


~Kara

Day 68... (no you didn't miss anything- I've been a bad blogger)

I've been a bad, bad blogger. And I'm afraid it may be biting me in the butt. I kind of left my accountability behind this week with not blogging, and the scale may show it. I haven't been good at all about eating healthy, not many GHG's in this week. I tracked and stayed within my points, but I've learned that when my points aren't largely made up of good foods my body just doesn't burn calories as efficiently. Well, we'll see what the bathroom scale has in store for me in the morning. Wish me luck.

(has anyone else noticed through my blog posts that after good weight ins where I lose a decent amount, the following week tends to be difficult for me? I need to explore this phenomenon)

Day 62

WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Another 3 pounds down! My current weight is now 226.4 and I'm only 1.4 pounds away from my 10% loss goal. I've also shed 12.75 inches overall including dropping one dress size (pants for me, I don't do dresses, yet!). This feels great. I'm off to start another week, trying my best to get in more exercise than I have been. Not as a matter of losing more weight, but as a matter of having a healthier lifestyle. I hope there will be warmer weather this week, my tan is coming along nicely : )

Days 60 &61

Wow!!! I've crossed the 60 day line. That's kind of impressive-I've never been so dedicated to weight loss to stick with it this long. I had a much better day yesterday with eating and feeling in control and o.k. with the plan. I'm hoping for a 2 pound loss this week, it'll keep me on my path to the 100 pounds in 365 days. I haven't been as physically active the last few weeks as I was in the beginning, so yesterday I got back outside and dug up some of my yard (for a reason, not just to dig). My boys are sick today and it's making being outside difficult, but I'll find a way! Check back tomorrow to see what my weekly weigh-in results are!

Days 57, 58 & 59

It's been a rough few days, hence my non-posting attitude. But I'm still here. I've hit a kind of tough spot where food isn't interesting me (partially due to the hot and unbearably humid weather) and all that appetizes me is junk. I've remained on plan though not making the healthiest choices all the time. I start off every day being committed, and today (Thursday) is no different. I'm off to The Culinary for the day and will be needing to save some room in my eating plan for a wine tasting seminar in the evening. I've snuck onto the scale early (again) just to see where I'm at, and I have lost so far this week. My goal for the week, though I don't think I posted it, has been to be more aware of sodium in my diet. I'm mostly curious to see how much sodium affects water retention especially when closely monitoring weight loss. I'll keep you posted!