Slimmer This Summer Week 9

So how has your week of eating healthy, tracking and exercise been??

Well, mine has been less than stellar.  Weight is about the same but I feel like crud.  Especially as haven't been drinking.  It's been hot as can be and I've been outside but I haven't been drinking. It just doesn't make sense.  I need to start back up tomorrow and get hydrated. 

In so many ways, I feel like I've been failing this challenge.  However, I KNOW that without it, I would have faired much worse.  I just know it. I haven't been setting the example that I wanted to set but am so thrilled at so many that ARE doing well.

Exercise has been going well, I admit, 2 months ago, I was hoping that I would have progressed farther by August but it's still going well. 

Speaking of August, can you believe that's it's already here??  Seriously?  When did that happen? 

Crazy Busy...Still Having Fun!

If someone had told me 14 years ago that I would be a mother to 3 and doing daycare and homeschool, I would have told them they were crazy! 


Many of us are in a different place than we would have thought. Maybe it's better? Maybe it's worse? Maybe it's just...different. 


I love my life. I love my kids and I wouldn't change it for the world.  I just wouldn't have predicted this for my life.  Maybe that's good thing!  Haha!

Sorry I've been MIA for awhile, life is crazy busy this week.  We have out annual kids party with over 90 people invited over to the house on Saturday. I think about 50 RSVP'd. Maybe more. I lost track.

But you know what?  The calendar is clear in August! Well, almost.  We're certainly going to do things but it will be the normal summer stuff, parks, beach, walks, that sort of stuff.  No more big parties, BBQ's, vacations and events. Nothing that takes a whole lot of planning.  Except for my meals of course!  :-)

Slimmer This Summer Week 8

Howdy ho, how does the diet go?

I'm in a goofy mood tonight. I just got back from an 50th Anniversary party and had a bunch of fun. I have 8 minutes to get this post up before midnight!  Yea, out way too late. We don't do that too much and it was a lot of fun. 

I've been tracking my food all week using my new toy the fitbit.  You can go to fitbit.com for more information. I'll be doing a review and giving more information on it in another post. I want to "play" with it a bit more. It's been fun though.  Today, I didn't really track though.  At KFC for lunch, not a lot but what little I ate was not healthy and the stomach did NOT like the grease!  Then I ate BBQ food which wasn't too bad.  A lot to choose from and I did get pretty full, I didn't overdo it.  My one bad was the 240 calorie A&W I drank there.  Seriously?  How stupid was that.  I haven't drank a pop in like months and the first one I drink has 240 calories?  Stupid. 

I've also been bad at blogging.  I just haven't had the time, energy or even the desire.  My goal was to visit everyones blogs and keep the momentum going but I just haven't been doing well.  I love that there are a lot still linking up and everyone is sticking with it!!  So many of you have been finding some real success and I commend you for that.  Those who are still struggling, well, we just have to remember WHY we started this challenge in the first place, right?  To lose weight. So what's stopping us!  Start now!

Oops!  It's midnight, I'll get the linky up!  Let's here how you did!  Don't forget about my Vitalicious Vitatop Giveaway!!

Vitalicious Giveaway

Remember I said something about giveaways this summer?  Here is the first of several!  Sorry it's taken so long for me to get these on my blog, I've been swamped!

Vitalicious has offered one of my readers a super sample pack of delicious Vitatops!  Have you heard of these before?  If not, you're missing out!  They totally rock!  The triple chocolate fudge is probably my favorite but really, I love them all. I have not found one that I avoid or don't care for.  They are all super tasty!  The cornbread muffins are awesome with chili, I buy those all the time.  Seriously, for 100 calories, there is no way I could make something that tasty.  I have to fight my 12 year old for the chocolate mint ones, he totally loves them. 

Not only are they tasty, they are super filling, nutritious and only 100 calories.  Everyone is on the 100 calorie bandwagon and I've tried them all. There is not ONE 100 calorie snack that is as filling as this in my opinion.  Not to mention, if you have a chocolate craving, this does the trick.  The chocolate ones are REALLY chocolaty, they satisfy the most intense cravings.  Let's not get started on the brownies, oh my.  100 calories and insanely awesome. And not tiny, very decent portions.  

So here's the deal, I recommend you check Vitalicious.com out and order some of these tasty vitatops.  They do sell them in some grocery stores but I think they are slightly more expensive and they don't have near the variety.  

TO ENTER: Like I said, Vitalicious.com will be giving one of my readers a super sample pack.  Check out the pack online and leave me a comment on this post letting me know which one sounds the best to you.  I can't wait to try the Pumpkin Spice!  That's a new one!

STS CHALLENGERS:
Those of you who are in the Slimmer This Summer Challenge get 2 extra entries!!  Leave your first comment with the kind of Vitatop that sounds the best to you and then leave 2 more comments letting me know that you're in the challenge and you will not quit!  :-)

Extra Entry:
This giveaway is being held on both of my blogs, head on over to Debbi Does Dinner Healthy and leave a comment with your favorite vitatop you want to try for another entry.  This actually won't post until NEXT Friday, I'll give you the link then to the giveaway post on the other blog next week. 

The winner will be chosen randomly on August 26th at the end of the challenge.  Make sure I have an email address so I can contact you!

***Stay tuned, there will be several more giveaways over the next couple of weeks! 

Sadness and Despair

Our good friend Mir and her family are going through a horrible loss with the death of her nephew.  Let's keep her and her family in our prayers. 

A lot of us get sad, frustrated, despaired and depressed when we are unable to lose weight.  We "try so hard" but it just doesn't happen.  We have a choice.  No one pushing the food into our mouths.  We are in control of what we eat. It may not SEEM like we're in control, I GET that it is an addiction for some of us, I GET that we go to parties where there is no healthy food, I GET that we go on vacation and want to enjoy restaurants but overall, we still have a choice.  We control what we eat.  When you hear about someone so young dying and hear about the immense pain that a family is going through, somehow, the "problem" of how much food we stuff in our mouths just doesn't seem as important.

The ability to choose a variety of delicious foods is a gift from God.  He didn't have to create such variety.  We are privileged to have such an abundance of food here. Let's not abuse that privilege.

So while I pray for Mir and her family, I plan to thank God for the health and safety of my family and to thank Him for giving me a choice and thanks for wonderful variety he created for us.

Slimmer This Summer Week 7

Can you believe it's the middle of July? 

How are we all doing on the Slimmer This Summer Challenge?  Remember, whether you're doing well, just okay or rocking the challenge, we want to hear from you.  I love how many are still linking up and NOT QUITTING!  We've only had a small handful officially quit so I would love to see a post from everyone this week! 

Slimmer This Summer Progress

1. Track Calories = I tracked calories all week.I started using Myfitnesspal but didn't use THAT all week.  I still have my handy dandy notebook for tracking though when I don't get it entered. 

2. Under 10,000 calories a week = Just over, most days were very good but there still is a bit too much snacking in the afternoon.  Which means that dinner has to be light or else I'm over on calories for the day.  The stupid thing is, I'm not snacking because I'm hungry, just snacking because it's there.  Something I totally have to work on.  


3. Water = Good but not great.  I got a little dehydrated last weekend at the convention, as I didn't want to be getting up going to the bathroom.  So I've been working on rehydrating this week but it's been just "okay". 


4. Lose 18 lbs. = 3 lbs. down for the last 2 weeks.  4 lb. loss for challenge. 14 to go to make challenge goal. 


5. Exercise = I'm doing well with trying to get faster and going longer duration.  I had one day that was odd and I was stiff so I cut that walk short.  Otherwise it's going well. I have my weigh strengthening class, walks during the week, my stair exercises, Wii Dance and Wii Fit and the occasional Pilates video. 
6. Encouragement = I've been busier than usual so I haven't been to all of your blogs as planned.  I try to go to as many as possible but the week just goes so fast!  I can't believe it's Saturday already! 

So how did everyone else do for the week?

Just Live...Healthier

I read a lot of good stuff out there. I don't always comment as there are just so many hours in a day and just not enough days of the week.  Much as I would love to add an 8th blogging day in the week, it just isn't going to happen. 

I also often have trouble thinking of inspirational things to say.  Sometimes I'll be in an odd place like the shower or driving and I'll think of something that would be good to put on the blog, but then it just goes away and when I get to the computer, I either can't think of it or don't feel like tweaking those last few brain cells to remember how I wanted to word it. 

So when I read something that is well written and says exactly what I want to say, I want to share it.  This is the second time I've quoted this blog in like a week.  She writes very well and she's very direct. I like direct. I like bluntness. It works.  While she is blunt, she isn't rude so it works well for me.  Anyways, here are:

5 Reasons Why You Won't Lose Weight

I loved this article.  I especially loved the last part.  She wrote,


So really, prove me wrong – stop buying every silly product that comes out. Stop putting off workouts. Stop with the impatience (and, consequently, undue stress and pressure that comes with it.) Stop with the freaking diets. Just live… healthier. It’s that easy.
So true, so true. 

Excerpted from 5 Reasons Why You Won’t Lose Weight
A Black Girl's Guide To Weight Loss

This is linked to Motivational Monday at A Hippo with a Headband

Busy Summer

It's amazing how I look forward to summer so much and then when I turn around, it seems to be practically half over.  It is really already mid July?  What happened? 

So I had a super, awesome spiritual weekend at a convention.  Loved every minute of it.  The kids were very good and we all got a lot out of it.  I loved how they are focusing on kids so much, there is a lot of temptation for kids so they need a lot of help.  The kids enjoyed the pool with their friends after at the hotel too.  Always a perk. 

Three days at a hotel also means a lot of restaurants.  Oh, I have brought dinners before to keep the expense down but it really is a pain to be microwaving and preparing 5 dinners after the convention in a hotel room.  And then having to make lunches for the next day.  So this year we just ate out.  Famous Daves on the evening before, hubs has been itching to go there for awhile so I caved and we went.  I watched portions there but I didn't really eat healthy at all.  Subway the next day, very good eating there.  Dominos pizza on Saturday night.  I ate a couple slices of cheese pizza and breadstick.  Could have been worse.  Yes, there were too many snacks but all in all, it went well as far as eating.  Came home to a 4 lb. gain of sodium but it's pretty much back down this morning.

This week has been good as far as eating, I started using My Fitness Pal again.  It's hard to enter stuff when you have recipes for specific things but I just kinda wing it and it's been keeping me more on track. I always know how many calories a recipe is but I don't always know how to enter it.  Hopefully I can stick with it and keep using it.  My ID is Badgirl31 if anyone cares to be "friends" on it.  I know several others are using it. 

How is your food tracking going??

Slimmer This Summer Week 6

We're headed into week 6. Many of us are on track, eating well, tracking and succeeding.  Some are still struggling but trying to figure it out.  Let's keep working at it and all of us find success! 

I know many didn't link up last week as they were out of town and the holiday messed things up but I'm hoping that we can get everyone to link up this week so we can see how everyone is doing!!

Sorry I haven't been blogging much, as we all know, summers are busy and there just hasn't been as much time for the computer.  My tan is looking pretty good though!

Don't forget to visit others blogs and cheer each other on or kick each other in the butt. I will take any deserved butt kicking!

Calorie Counting

Why Am I Calorie Counting?

I could not have said it better.  Read this.   This is from Black Girls Guide to Weight Loss.  She writes wonderfully and I love her blog.

I know a lot of people use Weight Watchers instead of calorie counting which is similar, it still keeps you aware of what you are eating.  I just first learned calorie counting so it works for me.  (when used properly) 

Clearly I need to back and read it again.  Gosh I've been bad.  I'm still tracking but I'm not recording on the blog and I'm going over.  Blame it on the weather, blame it on the BBQ's, blame it on lack of focus, whatever the blame, it's still preventing me from losing weight. 

I'm off again for a 4 day weekend this weekend so this will be the only post for the week.  We have a spiritual convention this weekend that I am REALLY looking forward to.  We go to them every summer.  I always come back refreshed and feeling great! 

I do have a plan.  Eating should be "okay".  We are eating out quite a bit but it won't be too bad.  The thing that I've been bad at is snacking and being at an all day convention will prevent me from snacking. Which is a good thing.  I'll try to share some pictures on Monday when I get back!

I still will have the linky scheduled for the challengers on Sunday.  Even if we have an off week, let's try to get something posted in there.  Do Not Quit.  :)

STICK WITH IT!

So what typically happens a couple weeks into a diet?  You peeter out.  You give up.  I know I've done that.  It seems like it's taking F-O-R-E-V-E-R for the weight loss to happen!  Well, we didn't get fat overnight, did we!  This is going to take time and effort.  12 weeks of NOT GIVING UP. That's what you all signed on for.  12 weeks guys. 

Some of us will be reaching goal at the end of 12 weeks.  Some of us will just be beginning the journey but still it's 12 weeks of making a change.  I know I won't be done after 12 weeks.  After this 12 weeks I should be about 190. Still a long way to go.  So choosing to give up now or eat something that I shouldn't just DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.  It's just going to take me longer to get rid of this fat. 

I'm ready for it to be gone now.  So I'm sticking with it.  How are you doing?

I loved this quote I saw last week from Roni's Weigh.  “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius

 

Embarrassed?

It's been sorta a bum week.  My eating has just been "okay". I've been tracking but just sorta eating and then figuring out what I've been eating by the end of the day.  So NOT what I intended to do and so NOT what I tell others that they should do.  I've told others, plan first, then track so you know what's coming and prepared. Ya, that hasn't been happening this week.  

I'm mad at myself for not doing as well as planned.  I KNOW how to do this. It's not complicated so I don't know what the deal is. 

I'm kinda embarrassed that I have been trying to get everyone else to stick to their plans and eat well but I feel like I'm failing miserably.  I'm not gaining weight but I'm not sticking to the 1200 - 1400 that I want to need to.    I don't like the way I look, I don't like the way I feel, I don't like not being in control so yes, this is something that I NEED to do.  

Exercise has been actually pretty good. I started a new exercise class this week where I found some new muscles. This I will keep up weekly with.  Plus I stepped up my stair exercises and ordered a new exercise DVD that I can't wait to start.  It's been hot but a nice week so I was able to go on a few walks, I'm seeing a difference in speed and plan to increase distance when it's not quite so hot.

So, time to get back on track with food.  No more snacking! *sigh* I tracked the first part of the week and then fell off the wagon. I would start tracking and then "life" would come in and it would just all fall to pieces by the end of the day.   Busy week ahead but I have to do better.  Not just for the challenge, but for myself and my family.