Monday, June 6, 2011

Weigh In Day

Good Morning! 
So I have been back to see my friend Bikram (well his yogi's).. twice more since my last post.  I dreaded going each day but I have to say in the end I am proud I went.   With each class I get better, stronger, and more focused. It is crazy how quickly I can feel my body changing.

I was noticing yesterday the muscle tone in my legs, ...   I actually have some!  I feel stronger.. how is that possible after just 3 classes? 

This past week I have been super focused on losing again, and was down almost 6 lbs Friday.  But as of this morning it was back up to a 4lb loss for the week.  It really doesn't surprise me, as stated above, I feel my body changing, I feel fat being turned to muscle.  I am ok with that.  I know that once the muscle is there the fat comes off much easier and quicker. 

So my totals of this challenge so far:
Since last fall: 38lbs
Since I started this blog: 30lbs
Latest BL Challenge: 22lbs

I was stuck at 18 for the longest time, it seems my body just needed to change things up a little.  Do you find change helps you stay focused or get to your goal quicker?

Have a great day!

Friday, June 3, 2011

Lier Lier & My Panties were on Fire

So, I know I said I was going to get better at blogging... I lied.  I got worse I think.

To say the least, I have been burnt out.  Business has really picked up, and personal health issues have slowed down my Oomph. 

Here's the thing I have learned about myself this week.  When bad news comes, I give myself 3 choices. One: Eat myself numb to stop the feelings
Two: Ignore and move on (actually I am not sure I have ever been able to do this)
Three: Do something to make myself stronger

For the first week of my scare I ate.. Not terribly, but each day I would have some dark chocolate when I started to feel anything.   This week when the scare got a little worse, I decided to change my attitude. 

My attitude now is, if indeed my body will need to fight a good battle to heal then I need it to be in tip top shape, and mentally I need to be able to focus, I need to learn that I have amazing abilities inside of myself. 

The phone call came on Wednesday evening.  I had a cry, hugged my hubby, called my mom, and then went to the computer and printed off a groupon I bought months ago for hot yoga.  I got in the car and I started to drive, with the hockey game on I assumed there would be no traffic.  Nope, I made it 1 exit on the highway in 40 minutes. So I came home.  I think now, that it was probably best. 
Last night rolled around and I was ready (or so I thought).  I left a little earlier and I drove to North Van and I cashed in my groupon.

When I bent down the sweat dripped into my nose.. no joke.

I attended my first Bikrams Yoga.  I won't lied, I hated every 90 minutes of it.  I thought I was going to pass out, throw up, fail.   I did have to stop and just lay still a few times, and I was not good at any of the poses by any means.  But I stayed.  I did the 90 minutes.  (Although I think I stampeded out of the room faster than I could think once the class was over).. Ahh fresh air.  The teacher & the regulars said it was hotter than normal... perhaps they are trying to keep my hopes up for next class, so I'll come back.

Not me.. but I swear I had 2 gallons more sweat & my face looked like a tomato for 3 hours afterwards

I really didn't think I would make it through the 90 minutes,  I even sat there and tried to convince myself to leave.. little "shoulder Aly" kept saying "just quit, you'll never come back anyway, who cares what they all think..."   I don't know how, but somehow I mustered up the power to stay. I won a small battle against myself.  

I am sure my car will forever have a humidity problem, due to my hot body & sweaty mess...and for the first hour after the class, I was still hating it thinking of how I will never go back... and then a strange thing happened... the next hour that followed, my body was more alive than I had ever felt it.  It tingled, it was awake, it was happy.  I was happy. I was proud of myself, and this morning when I woke up after only 6 hours of sleep, I was awake.  I still had that same energy I had last night, and I have to tell you, it is the most energy I have had for the past month.

I did something I didn't think I could do, and in the end it felt great.

I now know I can take anything on, and I beat it. It may suck during, but the end result is fantastic.

And yes,  I plan on going back tonight.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Hello Old Friend

I have to admit, I am off the ball & the blog train.. I have been still doing my best at weigh loss... Regardless of the lack of blogs.

Well there is some non truth to that, I was really sick, my cold turned to bronchitis, and then pneumonia. So after a week of heavy duty antibiotics, I can breath again.    Here's the crazy thing, I gained weight for a few days by not eating more than soup.  However it left quickly after I started eating again.. but while I was sick I was not really dieting intentionally. 

However I have been back at it this week and I am down 34lbs since last fall, 26 since January's first Biggest Loser competition, and 18 since this newest competition started.

Is it just me or do others have this issue.. My body seems to get stuck at just over the next goal..  What I mean is every time I get close to breaking into the next set of 10's (150,160,170,180 etc..) I get stuck at the 1.. so if I want to be 179 just to feel what its like to be in the 170's... I get stuck at 181 FOR WEEKS..up down, up down, stay the same.. I am stuck right now.  Is that just me or do others get that?

The other thing I know for sure is when I start a new diet I am SO strict for the first 2 weeks, and as time passes I get less strict with myself, I will have a bite of this or that, allow a glass of wine here or there, have a piece of chocolate because I can't stop thinking about it.. and I know that this is healthy & normal... I just wish I was one of those super competitive people who see a goal and can't deviate until I reach it. 

I am so easy to sway.. It's amazing I am not an alcoholic or drug attic.  Actually I am and it's called food.  I am addicted to food, but I think I have detoxed the sugar addiction. I had a bite the other day of regular (not dark) and it was so sweet I couldn't eat it.   So yahh me!!

Anyway,  I will try to get better at blogging as I really do see the difference in the scale when I blog, I think it keeps me more honest on top of myself, or maybe it's giving me 5 minutes a day to focus on me. 

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

THEY FIT THEY FIT

I am officially 2 sizes smaller than I was in February and 4 sizes smaller since last fall (If you count each number as a size).

I have been looking at my body naked in the mirror lately,  and not hating what I see.  I mean I still have my Mom jelly belly and I am not toned by any means, but I am starting to take the shape of what I consider to be a "normal" looking woman.   It's as though I am peeling layers off,  I have a few more to go but I can now start to see what I am going to look like at the end of this journey.  It is a really good feeling.

My sister gave me some lululemon shorts a few months back that were to big for her and she said that when I hit that size they would look great on me.  Well I was sure I could fit them then, but much to my demise they could barely get over my arse.

This morning while cleaning out my closet for the Canadian Diabetes's pick up tomorrow,  I came across the shorts.  And THEY FIT! and they fit well.  They do look good, my sister was right!  I am so happy the sun is shining in the lower mainland these days, these legs of mine just may get shown off for Mothers Day :)

I continued to try on other things,  such as the size 18 jeans I bought last fall (that were tight when I bought them) and I can now easily pull them on and off without undoing a button or a zipper.. very cool.  Oh an my scrubs fit!! I bought a pair of scrub pants probably 15 years ago from a vintageshop in Victoria and I loved them so much, that even though I grew out of them with my first pregnancy, I never had the heart to discard them.  And today when I tried them on.. THEY TOTALLY FIT...

FYI to my neighbours,  I do realize they are practically see through, but I do plan on wearing this as my home uniform.. so if you'd like a show "come and knock on my door".. Sorry got the theme of three's company stuck in my head..

all right, back to work, back to laundry & back to purging my closet of 16 & 18 sized clothes... on a related note, anyone have size 14 they are purging? 

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Starting 2nd segment

I am starting the second segment of the 17 day diet.  The 2nd segment allows you to have some carbs (whole grains, starchy veg etc..) every other day.  Still no booze, no chocolate, no sugar, (except for fruit), good fats only, and all carbs must be eaten before 2 pm.  So 1 day is no carbs, next day is, and so on.

This should be interesting.. is it bad that I am already planning out my days and which ones I should have my carb day on to coincide with the movies.. aka Popcorn.. and by that, I figure if I stay awake longer then the 2pm rule can be extended to 5:35.. (time of Thor)..

OMG it's Noon.. Must go eat my fruit & start baking my sweet potato!

Actually, truth be told, I am still very much under the weather and I do not feel like eating what so ever. 

On a getting better note, I have stopped sweating profusely.   This morning my daughter woke me trying to come cuddle with me.. and then she yelled at me for being all wet & why was the bed soaking... Perhaps my fever broke?.. Crossing fingers and toes..

Monday, May 2, 2011

being Sick pays off on the scale

Today was weigh in day for the Biggest looser competition.
Down 6 more lbs this week!

Now, I have been hit by one heck of a terrible cold and perhaps some of the loss is from the lack of appetite.  Although I did do my best not to go over board on unhealthy food while on the island either.

I will confess that I had the most insane craving for dark chocolate with sea salt...and I totally caved... So delicious...not surprisingly I got my monthly friend 2 days later..

Off to bed to try to kick this fever + cold out of this body :)t

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

My cousin called me out

Ok... so I have been quiet because I have been bad..

Easter is a tragic holiday for a confessed chocoholic, who for some dumb reason decided to book a show on Easter Sunday.. Work on a holiday? What kind of fool does that.. second more what kind of fool brings a bowl full of chocolate eggs with their logo on them to give away..

Confession #1: Some meanie weenie of a lady hurt my feelings and I made it feel better by cracking my first egg.
Confession #2: I got tired after crashing from my first egg and had to have a second.
Confession #3: The drive home was exhausting and I had a third egg

By the time I got home I was ready for a delicious Easter dinner with all the trimmings.. That's it diet is blown, let's go all out.  After all it was the first year in 9 of being with my hubby that I didn't make it.. there for it already was going to taste better..

So I am home.. Smells delicious.. cuddle with my babes, they tell me about the egg hunt & their days.. dinner time, and my sweet, sweet husband made a turkey with roasted vegetables (all ones on my diet).. No mashed potatoes, no broccoli casserole and no candied yams.. he was being my rock when I was weak.  Let me tell you when I professed to him that I would have eaten all of that that night it broke his heart too.

So after dinner, I had a wee bit more chocolate.. and it tasted good.  I let go of the guilt and went to bed.

Next morning was weigh in for the challenge day.. I was up 1 from Saturday, but all in all still down 5 for the week, so really, who can complain.

But here's the thing, I am super sensitive and apparently an emotional eater.  Having a few blue days and a lot of weak moments I have managed to stay on the diet for 75% of Mon & Tues and so far 100% of today.

I have not lost a darn thing in the past few days which makes me think perhaps fat Aly is happy Aly?

I am off to the island for the remainder of the week and since I have yet to convince my husband that I need an ipad, I doubt I will be posting until next Monday.   

Saturday, April 23, 2011

I appologize..

It seems my last few posts have done nothing for the boredom of a diet.. Looking at the pictures I think I was torturing myself.  I am at the point of my diet that I start to miss variety.  Chicken or salmon & vegetables..fruit & yogurt... that's it.


I have been trying to come up new and inventive way to eat the same stuff,   here are a few things I have made while sticking to the diet:

Frozen Yogurt
I took yogurt, and frozen berries and blended together and whala! I had frozen yogurt.. It was really good and tasted sinful.

Delicious!

Chicken Caesar Salad
  Grilled chicken
Romaine lettuce
Fat free salad dressing
1 piece turkey bacon (fat soaked off in paper towel afterwards)

Turkey Meatballs
Lean ground turkey
1 egg
mustard
salt & pepper
onion
tomato

Mix together in a bowl, make little meat balls & bake at 350 for 15-20 min.. or saute in pam on stove top.  Easy & quick protein

Baked salmon
Salmon fillet
rock /sea salt
pepper
lemon
garlic

Coat the salmon with salt, pepper, garlic and then squeeze lemon over top. Bake for 20-30 min depending on size and the squeeze fresh lemon on top after coming out of the oven.. My daughter devours this..

Baked Veggies
Assorted veggies,  I like green beans, whole mushrooms, peppers, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, Italian onions, garlic

Cube zucchini,  cut peppers into strips put everything in a casserole dish, drizzle with olive oil, salt & pepper or sweet pepper flakes, bake at 305-400 for 10-15 min, veggies are still crunchy and full of flavour..




Thursday, April 21, 2011

WOOOHOOOOO!!!!

I have I mentioned how much I love this diet?


Well I have lost what I gained back & then some.. I am now over my first major hump.. The one I haven't been able to get over since I was 7 months pregnant with my first born (who is now 5).

I AM HOOKED.. LOVE LOVE LOVE THE 17 DAY DIET.

Ok.. next goal is bigger.. and better.. I may do new photo's/measurements soon..

Down 2 more lbs.. which puts me somewhere around 17 since January.

11 in the new competition :)  Wooohoooooo

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

I dreamt of cookies




I dreamt of cookies last night.. and not just any cookies, hot out of the oven chocolate chip, melt in your mouth cookies.. In my dream they came with ice cream .. but being the good girl I am, I opted for no ice cream..




Just as I was about to take a bite my son woke me up!!!  Great! even my dreams are on a diet.

I was just telling a friend yesterday that I didn't think I was going through sugar withdrawals this round.. as I didn't get the head-aches, sweats or irritability.. Perhaps I was wrong.. they have transformed to the sub-conscious.

Despite the delicious dream,  I did manage to lose 1 lb yesterday.  1 more to go and I am back to pre-New York. 

Yesterday my friend and I walked the kids to gymnastics instead of driving,  and even in the rainy walk home we managed not to call 9-1-1 for a ride home. I would say small victory!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

I'm back..

OK here I am day 2 of take 3.. or day 2 of the system re-start.. Lost 2 lbs yesterday, so my theory of being bloated from flying is seemingly more plausible. 
I am swamped with work today so I will keep this quick and light..

Dinner 2 was the most delicious Thai food ever!!  The restaurant is called SEA, http://www.seathainyc.com/sea/meatpacking/flash/meatpacking.htm

It was in the meat packing district, which in and of itself is super cool. 




Peanut Curry was worth drooling over.. yumm!


Monday, April 18, 2011

I LOVE NY - post 1 of NY foodcapades

So my diet in New York.. Here's how it went..

First meal on Tuesday:  Brunch

First food stop - That's Koralle in the picture - the best NY friend a couple of gals could have

Success!  I had a veggie omelet, hold the potatoes, sans toast, cup of green tea.. Delish!

However, after walking 40 miles taking it all in,  I had decided that wine was a must with dinner..

And then after getting all gussied up we decided a stop for a pre-dinner cocktail was in order.. 

Very happy with my decision to sit & drink...
The best cocktail ever.. and we decided it was probably good for us to.. I think it was called a "whats up doc".. Carrot juice, elderberry, ground ginger & vodka...

Our delightful tour guide, who I got the feeling was famous in the foodie circle, made us reservations at the famous "The Darby"    with Executive Chef Alexandra Guarnaschelli From the Food Networks "Alex's Day Off", Iron Chef and many appearances on numerous talk shows.

http://www.thedarbynyc.com/

So how does one continue on a diet at one of the worlds best restaurants with a world's best chef?

She doesn't.  That's how.  Do you think I am an idiot?  Nope not me.. here's some pics of my most exquisite meal ever..


My Mom, note the wine & bread...

Appie - Wild Mushroom Ravioli (we shared), truffle cream sauce.. OMG too delish

Grilled wild salmon with sunchokes..Amazing

Grilled Octopus salad with cucumber, dill & red wine.. SO GOOD



German lb cake, with chocolate fudge, caramel & sea salt.  Seriously, to die for


That was night one.. I will continue pictures & stories tomorrow..  But where did all this leave me for weigh in today?  Up 4 lbs... for that I blame bloat from the flight.. couldn't have been the dessert..

So here I sit at home, back on the diet and after 32 pee's I am back on track :)

Monday, April 11, 2011

New York Bound

So I lost almost 10 lbs this week.  Pretty A-OK.  I am now .2 of a lb away from my first milestone goal..

I am off to New York and may not be posting while away.  I am going with the intention of continuing on with this diet, and plan to bringing my walking shoes.   I will however be bringing bagels home in my suitcase to freeze to eat when carbs are back on the menu.. always wanted to try a New York Bagel.

Well folks.. I must go pack.

For sure I will blog next Monday :)

Saturday, April 9, 2011

17 Day Diet

Before I go into the diet.. the scale stayed the same today..I think it's because I want that next .9 of a lb so bad.. And then 20 minutes ago my ladies only friend came to visit.. AWESOMENESS.  This is awesome for a couple of reasons.. 1. Normally I gain a solid 5 lbs before I get it.  2. I didn't have normal symptoms 3.It explains the lack of loss today.. so I am sure that in the next 5 days the .9 will come off easy peasy.


I have had a lot of requests about what the 17 day diet is.   I first saw Dr.Mike on ask Oprah's All Stars with Dr.Oz & Dr.Phil,  they both endorsed this weight loss plan.  Which to me is big,  something about that Dr. Oz guy that I just trust.

The plan is 4 segments,  each segment lasting 17 days.  Every 17 days the diet changes.. This is pretty interesting to me as I bore easily,  but somehow 17 days seems easy.

I am only on segment 1 of the diet but I can tell you there are very few carbs and those that are come in the form of fruit.  This is not a starvation diet by any means.  In fact I can't remember the last time I have eaten this much in a day.  I am always satisfied.

I almost bought the book on line in January or February when I saw the show with Dr.Mike on it.. but it was like $40 and out of the USA.. so I didn't want to deal with shipping & the border.   

The day before my newest weight loss challenge started I was in Costco to get a scale and there was the book $18. Done deal.  I bought it and I have not regretted it. 

I am losing weight so fast (and he contradicts the 2 lb a week'ers & has evidence as to why this is a good thing) that I am staying motivated.. I mean after 5 days my pants are lose.. How cool is that!

The next segment of the diet is to go high cal, low cal, every other day according to his plan,  again super do-able.  Followed by adding foods back in during segment 3 and finally in segment 4 you learn to be normal... with cheat days on the weekend that is :)

Of course it is much more complex than that, but if you think you could do that.. and I know you can..If I can, you can.. it is a easy, fulfilling diet and I highly recommend it.

Thank you Dr. Mike!

Friday, April 8, 2011

So I bet your wondering....

It's been 5 days.. and I'm not sure about you, but with the .2 loss yesterday I was sure that was going to be the norm here on out.  Again.. I am not complaining.. that is a significant loss daily.  However it wasn't quite like that this morning...

I lost 2 lbs!  I am now officially .9 away from breaking bad.  Bad being the weight loss barrier I have not been able to hurdle in 5.5 years...

Will tomorrow be the morning I wake up and see a new set of numbers?? How awesome would that be! 

I will keep you posted tomorrow on if I was able to do it or not..

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Day 4



The biggest change in me is my energy.  This protein & veggie rich diet with the added yogurts & fruit gives me nothing but energy.  I feel GREAT! If only I could bank this..

Last night we went for a family walk down to the school,  while the kids played I went for a trail hike, short and sweet,  maybe 20 minutes, but it was so nice. 



When I got back to the playground,  I played.  I was surprised at how much of the equipment is made to build core strength!  It was hard,  way harder than when I was a kid.  So my hubby and I challenged each other to hanging crunches, balance walks and climbing walls.  It was a blast & my tummy felt the burn.  We are making this part of our evening routine.  When he gets home, we go for a walk & a family play time together.

We were all happy, the kids, the dog and even my normally grumpy after work hubby too. I look forward to more evenings spent this way. 

Today I am down .6 of a lb.  I can't complain,  I mean that is a lot in one day.  No 5 or 2, but I'll take it!  At this rate I will be down 10 this week and that is A-Mazing.  I am looking forward to the next 2.2 lbs,  I haven't been able to break that barrier in 5 years.. If I loose 2.3 lbs, I will have entered into the realm of my first weight loss goal.  This goal I have had for 3 years. I have tried Weight Watchers, gym, Women Food & God, and now.. the 17 day diet and this one feels so promising!!! I can see it.. I can smell it... come on 2.3lbs.. I need you now... More than words can say.. I need you now...OK enough of the cheesy song..

Have a great day!   Xox Aly

*Things you may missed without reading between the lines:  Going for a walk when you drink litres of water a day:  Peeing in the bush, that's right.. I'm a class act.. but better than my pants I suppose!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Where does it go?

OK, so I have a question.. Where does the weight go? How is it I can go to sleep a certain weight and when I wake up I am 4 lbs lighter? 


 


I can account for 1 lb (as I was gross and weighed myself before and after my morning ritual) .. But did the other 3 lbs come out during the 5am mega pee? Plausible It did last 3 minutes easy, perhaps 5.  But honestly WHERE does it go, does my body actually use it and there for like gasoline it just vanishes into "thin" ass I mean air?

That being said, no I didn't lose 4 lbs yesterday as I found 2 during the day.. but I am down another 2 from yesterday morning.  For a grand total of 7lbs.

WHAT THE WHAT! 
I have NEVER lost this quickly before.. then again it has been years and years since I have owned a scale & knew what I weighed at the same time daily (wearing only my birth-day suit)... and I used to  "weight" a week between weigh ins. 

So I have concluded that this means one of the following:

A. I will gain back 5 over the next few days to bring me to a 2 lb loss on Monday..
B. I will continue to lose 2 lbs a day and look FREAKING AWESOME for New York or
C. My scale is f*cking with me and thinks this is a hilarious joke on mankind.

I am going to go with option B.  Let's be honest more my style to think pie in the sky. - I learned that from an old boss I had.. Thanks Mike.

Diet friendly Pie
Not diet friendly pie

So here I sit drinking my morning lemon water, eating yogurt & blueberries and feeling freaking AWESOME! I have energy today for the first time in a month.. YAH!!!