Back on Track

So, I know it has been a while since I posted. I'll admit it. I fell off the wagon. On the plus side, I only gained back like 2 lbs. But, I noticed I started going back to feeling tired all the time and I just didn't have the energy that I did when I was watching what I ate.

So now, I'm back on track.

One of my professors at school was strong enough to share her story with class a couple weeks ago. She admitted that, like me, she started chiro school overweight. Also, like me, she realized that she's not going to be able to tell a patient that they need to lose weight if she is also overweight. She talked a little about her journey and it helped a lot to know someone has been in my position and succeeded. I talked with her a little after class, and by the end of the conversation, I was reinvigorated.

A couple weeks ago, I decided to go back to Weight Watchers. I feel like for the first time, it is going to work for me. I have tried it in the past, and I think my head just wasn't in it. That is 99% of the battle. If you're head isn't in the game and you are not mentally ready to make that lifestyle change, it isn't going to work. And that is why it hasn't worked for me for the past several times I've tried it.

In two weeks, I'm down almost 5 lbs! Week 3 is usually my challenging week-- the one where I usually gain and then I just lose all motivation. I'm not going to let that happen this week. I'm being very strict with tracking what I eat, and I am determined to not gain.

I also slacked a lot with cooking. In fact, I rarely cooked. That is what I'm working on now, getting back in the habit of cooking healthy food. I've been looking at ideas online, both through pinterest and the WW site, and there are a lot of things I want to try. I just need to get back in the habit of cooking before finals creeps up on me. I don't want to end up entering finals week and have no motivation to cook.

Besides, I've set a small goal for myself. My boyfriend and I are going on a road trip over my next school break in August, and I'd really like to be down another 10-15 lbs before we go. It isn't going to be easy, but it is definitely achievable if I focus and get down to business!

2 Steps Forward, 1 Step Back

Wow....realizing it has been a while since I posted.

I survived finals, first and foremost. I was highly concerned about that because the crunchy/salty snacks I usually like when I'm studying combined with the lack of sleep are usually the death of me during those two weeks. However, I kept on track very well while I was immersed in the books.

After finals, I went on a road trip to Tennessee with Mark. We loaded coolers with healthy snacks so we would be less tempted to eat junk food on the road. For the most part, it worked. At least until we got to Nashville. The first night, I did fajitas at Hard Rock, and unfortunately, I broke down and decided to have a tortilla and a little of the sour cream and guacamole. The guac was probably okay with the diet, but not so much with the flour tortilla and sour cream. The really bad part was passing the Krispy Kreme and seeing that stupid light on. Mark and I decided to stop and split one. I suppose it could have been worse and we each could have had one (or more!), but we still probably should have passed it up.

The next day, we decided to just walk up and down all the streets in downtown Nashville. I love the fact that any time of day, you can hear live music somewhere. We stopped in all the shops, and I was convinced I wanted a cowboy hat, but I couldn't quite find the one. Though, I think I did decide that once I hit my final goal weight, I'm going to treat myself to a nice pair of cowboy boots! Lunch was good-- I did a salad and a blackened chicken sandwich with no bun.

Later that evening, after going back to the hotel and getting changed, we made it back to the downtown area. Mark had scoped out a couple karaoke places, but funny enough, we didn't make it to either of them. We ended up at two others. The first one was okay-- Troubadour's. There were a few locals there, and one drunk woman kept trying to get me to sing with her brother in law. Mark-- the genius that he is-- finally stepped in and told her that because we met doing karaoke, duets are something that we keep for each other. I knew I kept him around for some reason :) Once we had our fill of that one, we went back up the street and stopped at a place called Wanna B's. This one was really cool. They had the main DJ in the back, but they also had one outside on the sidewalk. It had a raised stage and windows behind it that opened up to the street. The crowd was small at first, but built up a little as time passed; it was a fun crowd at least! Mark and I each had done 6 songs before we decided to call it quits.

By the time we decided to eat dinner, our options were limited. We ended up at a bbq place/bar down the street where a band was just setting up. Sadly, the bbq was dry and the service sucked, and thanks to the baked beans (the only side choice other than slaw), I ended up getting sick.

After a good night's sleep, we hit a couple other places in Nashville (Opryland area and Antique Archaeology-- one of the 2 shops owned by the guys on American Pickers), and were on the road to Memphis. ((Just as a side note-- if you ever go to Nashville, I highly recommend the Club Hotel. I got it for around $50/night on hotels.com, and it was super nice. They serve a hot breakfast and evening snacks and cocktails for free as well!))

For lunch, we were good again and ate the food we packed. I mostly ate crackers and plain chicken because I did not want to get sick again, especially on the road! And again for dinner, I was trying to be good. But at Logan's Roadhouse, they bring out these amazing looking rolls. I had pushed them over to Mark, and I learned that was a bad choice-- I should have just had the waitress take them away completely. Mark fell in love with them and suggested I try one. Well, falling back into old habits, one turned into two, because they were admittedly pretty amazing. *sigh* At least the dinner portion was in check-- grilled salmon and a double order of steamed broccoli.

Before deciding to go on vacation, I decided I would allow myself a cheat day, and decided that would be in Memphis. Yes, yes, I know-- I cheated before my actual cheat day. Still, I have to admit, this cheat day was worth it.

I just did a little fruit for breakfast before we headed out to Graceland. Mark and I did a couple of the tours (and holy crap is that place amazing!) before sitting down to lunch. We went to a 50s style diner on the grounds and sat in a booth with a signed John Stamos picture *swoon*. And honestly, you can't go to Graceland and not get a fried PB and banana sandwich, am I right? Mark and I decided to split that and the fries for lunch.

After that, we finished up our Graceland tour and got on the road to go to downtown Memphis. We had scouted out a place to go for dinner before hitting Beale Street. Mark had found a bbq place that he had seen on Man vs. Food, a show on the Travel Channel-- a place called Rendezvous. As much as I love all my different flavors of bbq sauce, the dry rub this place had was amazing. Mark and I split a combo platter with brisket and ribs, and an appetizer of smoked sausage, pickles, peppers and cheese, all dusted with their dry rub. Hands down, best bbq I have probably ever had.

For the rest of the evening, Mark and I decided to wander up and down Beale Street-- basically the heart of the nightlife there. Live music, bars galore, and they even had a small festival going on. The music was good, but all the vendors had the same stuff...the "hippie" style clothes, jewelry, and designer knock-offs.

Apparently, we had gotten there at the right time because after we had been there an hour or so, we saw the barricades where cops were doing security screens with the metal detectors and all, so luckily we didn't have to stand in line for that.

Of course, even after all that karaoke in Nashville, Mark and I find the one bar on Beale St. that is doing karaoke. This crowd was one of the most fun crowds I've been around. We were also lucky there because about 20 minutes after we got there, they started charging a $5 cover to get in! I think Mark and I each did 4 songs there, one of which I did on request (which also happened to be one I had never tried before!). I don't know about him, but I think I'm karaoke'ed out for a bit!

So, the next day, we started the trek home. We stopped at a Waffle House in Arkansas for breakfast, mostly because a) Mark has a love affair for WH, and b) Mark also has a thing for wanting to do something in each state. Two birds with one stone. I felt like there was nothing but farms all the way until we hit St. Louis. Neither of us had seen the Arch before, so we decided to go check things out. Unfortunately, we didn't get there until 4:30, so we didn't get to do much since it closed at 6, and the tram to the top was completely sold out. When we finally got out a little after 6, we started hearing the sirens going off for severe storms. Luckily, we got back to the parking garage before the hard stuff hit-- really heavy rains, nickel to quarter sized hail, high winds...it was crazy. I was just grateful we were on the inside of the parking deck and not out in it. Once it lightened up, we were on our way out of town. I had looked at the NOAA radar and saw there was another cell headed towards St. Louis so we wanted to get out of there before it hit.

So, that was my trip. It was a lot of fun, but I was a little disappointed in how much I let myself cheat. Granted, I did much better with the food than I would have in the past. However, I did put on some weight during the week. On the plus side, it only took 3 days to take off what it took 6 days to put on. However, I would have preferred to not put the weight on at all. I keep wanting to use the "Oh, well, I was on vacation" excuse. But that is what it is-- an excuse. I could have made better choices. I could have taken 30 minutes to work out at least a couple times that week. I am taking it as a learning experience. I know where the weaknesses are with it, and now I know where I can make improvements the next time I travel. Even though it is 2 steps forward and 1 back, what I have to focus on is that it is still progress!

Speaking of progress, I'm officially down over 20 lbs since beginning this 4 weeks ago!

((also, as a side note, I'll post some pics later on of my trip...once I figure out how to get them off my phone XD))

Keep on trucking

I think I've finally gotten into the groove with this diet :)

I discovered that xylitol (one of the two approved sweeteners I can use) and I do not get along. It has been fairly cold out recently, so I needed some nice warm tea. The one day I used the xylitol, I gained a pound back! O_O Not to mention, my stomach did not like it at all. So, no more of that for me!

I even managed to go out with the boy last night and have a dinner at a real restaurant (that, even better...I didn't have to cook!). We went to Outback Steakhouse, or as he mistakenly called it, Outhouse *facepalm* I had grilled mahi mahi with the tomatoes and artichokes on there, but nixed the sauce and seasonings, and had steamed broccoli and green beans. Very tasty! They did bring the bread to the table before we could tell them no, so I had to sit there drooling over it for about 15 minutes before we could get them to take it away. I am proud of myself that I didn't give in.

When I looked at my weight tracker today, I shocked myself that I'm already on day 10! Eleven days more, and I get to start adding a little more into my diet, and hopefully I won't be sensitive to some of my favorites! We will see, though.

So, as an update, I'm down 10.8 lbs :) The loss has slowed a little, but that is okay! Smaller increments are more sustainable in the long run. As long as it keeps going down, then I have no complaints, and so far, the only thing that has caused me to gain has been the xylitol. So, now, I have to try to find this brand of stevia they recommend, because a lot of the others (like truvia, I've come to discover) have fillers in them.

I also wanted to say thanks to those who have given me such positive feedback on my blog. It is helping me to stay on track, but in a small way, I am hoping it will help anyone else who is struggling or has struggled with weight issues, or for someone hoping to gain a different perspective. Thank you guys for your support!

Success!

I have to admit...the first few days of this program have been fairly rough.

Friday was my first day on the restricted diet. Because I didn't eat enough veggies, I ended up feeling very hungry and having a horrible headache.

Saturday went a little better. I made sure to have a good breakfast before work which definitely helped. I made myself a mini frittata with spinach, mushrooms and tomatoes. Quite tasty! :) I ended up having to take a few minutes off of work and go eat an apple because I started feeling my energy drain because everything was so hectic at work. Other than that, everything worked out okay.

Yesterday was very tough, though. Being a holiday, especially one where so much chocolate is consumed, it was a VERY tempting day to give in and cheat. I'm so proud of myself that I didn't. I treated myself to a little extra fruit and some extra chicken, though...lol. I had gone over to Mark's aunt's for dinner with the rest of his family, and we did a cookout. I had a little grilled chicken and a slider-size sirloin burger, with lots of grilled goodies-- pineapple, sweet peppers and zucchini. It was tough seeing the other things get passed around (potato salad, hawaiian salad, key lime pie, cookies, bbq ribs), but I am very proud of myself for putting me first and not giving in.

It is truly paying off. Since starting the restricted part of the diet, I've lost 11 lbs! That gives a net loss of over 7 lbs, as I did gain a few during the binge days (as expected). I had to weigh myself 3 times this morning to make sure the scale was reading right...lol.

I also feel like I am getting the hang of the system finally. Yes, there is a lot of planning surrounding it, and if you can't or won't do that, then it is going to be pretty difficult for you to have success-- and I think that goes with any program. That was one of my biggest downfalls for me with Weight Watchers-- I never allowed myself the time for the planning and the tracking.

That is the key-- you have to take time for YOU in order to be successful.

Day 3

So, under the new program I'm on, the first two days include eating higher fat foods to "train" the amino acids I'm taking. I had stuff that I hadn't allowed myself to have for a while-- fried chicken, pizza, german chocolate cake...yum :)

Now, today is day 3. This is where I start eating a restricted diet, very much like paleo, but a little more strict. 2 meals, which can be spread throughout the day (grazing), consisting of a protein and 2 cups of veggies, along with 2 servings of fruits at some point. I decided for my early day meal, I would do plain greek yogurt with strawberries. Sounds good, right? Yeah, not so much. I discovered plain greek yogurt tastes NOTHING like any other greek yogurts I've ever had. It is bitter and bland, and not even the strawberries could salvage it. I may throw some stevia in the mix next time, because there's no way I can have the plain greek yogurt, well...plain.

I am going to cook some chicken in salsa for dinner, and have some brussel sprouts on the side. The kicker is, I can't use any oils for the next 21 days...no olive oil, no grapeseed oil, nada. So I'm going to have to get very creative with spices and condiments! I just have to keep telling myself-- it is only 3 weeks of the restricted diet, then I get to start reintroducing a wider variety of foods.

(I decided to go with chicken tacos, and put the chicken that I cooked in salsa on some boston lettuce leaves. Quite tasty!)

I do want to mention one thing-- I am doing this program under the supervision of a doctor. If this sounds like something you want to do, you should find a local chiropractor who does the "Shape ReClaimed" program. I am taking an amino acid that pulls the calories I need for energy from my own system-- under normal circumstances, the amount of food I am eating would not be enough, and my body would go into starvation mode, thereby holding onto my body fat and causing me to gain weight. Please do not do this on your own!

I feel like this disclaimer is necessary. I don't want to see anyone trying to eat such a little amount and wonder why they're not losing weight. The starvation mode is what will trip you up if you try it without the supplements.

Anyway, until next time!

New Challenge

So, the 30 day paleo challenge at school is over. I definitely had some successes, and had many learning experiences. I won't call them failures, because through my slip-ups, I've learned things.

First of all, I learned I don't like eating frozen veggies anymore. I used to eat them all the time, especially those boxes of Green Giant veggies that you just poke holes in the plastic bags and pop in the microwave. Yeah, not so much anymore. After eating fresh for even a few weeks, the difference in taste is absolutely astounding.

Second, I learned that I have to find other outlets for stress. I can't let what one or two people do or say completely derail my efforts. If I'm tempted to get off track, I need to call Mark and vent. I need to get dressed and go for a walk. I need to go down to the gym at school and just punch the crap out of the bags there. Anything to get my frustrations out, other than binge eating.

Third, I learned that I can't let one slip-up derail me. I don't have to say, "well, I'll do better next week." It has to become "I'll do better next meal!" Or even better than that, "I am not going to let myself down!"

But, I have to celebrate my successes, as well. Over this past month, I have majorly increased my water intake. I decreased my soda intake to practically nil (unfortunately, I have to count my bad days in there). I ate much healthier, and felt much better overall. On those days where I faltered, I felt horrible, physically.

Oh, and I lost 11 lbs over the month...even with the slip-ups and the trip to Vegas, I still managed to do pretty well.

Now, the question is...what's next?

Well, when I was in Vegas, I became friends with this great doctor and his super-sweet wife. I truly feel that things happen for a reason, and I'm glad I decided to go to Vegas even though things before the trip were shaping up pretty horribly.

These two people have to be a couple of the most genuine, generous, and selfless people I've ever met in my life. Words cannot describe how thankful I am to have met them.

They also brought up something that they use in their practice that they thought I would benefit from. It is a homeopathic amino acid therapy that is used to help decrease inflammation, and basically help my body get out of its own way of losing the weight. So, I told them I would give it a shot. Over the next month, I'll be taking the amino acids and eating a more strict paleo-style diet. After the first 3 weeks, I go into reintroduction of other foods into my diet. Overall, this is meant to reset my metabolism. I know it is going to be tough, especially because I have finals and vacation coming up. But, I need to make the committment. I'll have a friend at school doing this program with me, and Doc and his wife have made themselves available to me 24-7. It will be good to have a solid support system!

So, here's to the next challenge!

Meh

So, sadly, since my last post, things have not gone as great.

One thing I know about myself is that I'm an emotional eater. If I am upset, I crave those comforting foods, and preferably stuff I don't have to prep. Yes, I am the girl who cries over a pint of ice cream.

Granted, I didn't eat a pint of ice cream, but I didn't eat healthy either.

Saturday started off really well. I made a very tasty frittata for Mark and I. I sauteed some red peppers, red onions, zucchini, turkey sausage, and red chard leaves. When they were fairly cooked down, I added a mixture of 5 eggs and 3 egg whites that I had whipped up so that it would have lots of bubbles in it, making it nice and airy. I put it all together and put it in the oven at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes. (I left it in my frying pan, because it was one less dish, and it is 100% metal, so nothing would melt) He and I each had 1/4 of it, and I threw some salsa over mine. Quite tasty! I also learned yesterday and this morning that it does re-heat well for a nice quick breakfast. I also learned this morning that my microwave is now broken :( Maybe now I'll get the Hello Kitty one at Target XD I'm sure Mark will love that...lol.

Saturday evening, I had to work, and there were a lot of horrible people. I don't know who you-know-what'ed in their wheaties, but it seemed like every third or fourth customer was a jerk. Normally, I can deal with it just fine, but I hadn't had anything but a Larabar (cashew cookie...yummm) since the breakfast frittata, so grouchy me came out, and I just festered more about it after work. I ended up dumping paleo for the night and getting myself a personal sized pizza from the freezer section and some chocolate for dessert. I suppose it could have been worse-- it could have been a full pizza and I could've eaten the whole thing.

Sunday, again, started out great. Had left over frittata for breakfast before work, had some almonds while at work, and left hungry, but still on track. I got home, had some shrimp cooked in a little honey and raw coconut (so tasty!), and some stir fry veggies. However, not long after that, some issues started to arise that got me completely out of whack.

I'm supposed to be going on a trip for a seminar this week. I was informed on Sunday that because the girl who made the reservations for the room has some kind of personal issues with me (which I'm still completely in the dark about O_o), that I have to find alternate rooming arrangements. So, needless to say, I start freaking out. I leave on Wednesday, and I go from having my room paid for by a student organization to having to shell out probably $300 for a room. It would freak anyone out, especially a poor grad school student! So, after crying hysterically for an hour-- mostly for me not knowing what I did to make someone who was supposed to be a good friend of mine hate me enough to put me out on the street in Vegas, but also for the whole me not knowing what I was going to do-- it was time for Mark to pick me up so we could go do a karaoke competition at this little Mexican restaurant down the street. So, red-eyed and puffy faced, I go out to the car, and proceed to cry for another 1/2 hour before making Mark go buy me eye drops at Walgreens (he's so good to me :) ). Annnnd of course, when we get to the restaurant, diet goes out the window again. I have chips, I have my shrimp fajitas (complete with flour tortillas), and on top of that, Mark and I split a piece of chocolate cake *facepalm*

Again, it could have been much worse, but I have to find a way to channel my emotions better, and not let things go out the window. I think it boils down to the instant gratification. The stuff tastes and feels good for a while, but to be honest, my stomach feels like crap today :/