Feeling Better, Yes, Better Indeed!

When we were on vacation, I gained five pounds. I think most of that was water retention from the packaged foods we ate and also eating out. But still...five pounds!! I had to take it off before I started counting my weight loss again. Before vacation I had lost seven pounds. So that five pound gain was a blow to my spirits.

Thanks to my weight loss buddy, Rebecca, and her encouragement, along with the encouragement of my hubby, I hung in there and lost those five pounds. But the best part about it, is that on top of those five pounds, I've lost two more. Bringing my total weight loss to nine pounds. WOO HOO!

I believe a lot of that is due to my workout routine. Which is a lot of walking on the treadmill. I don't know how much longer I'll be able to keep that up though. I've decided to just keep it up and let my ankle tell me when it's time to stop. Bruce wrapped it tight the other day and that seemed to help a lot. So I'll keep doing that.

Anyway, stepping on the scale this morning made me want to shout, but I believe I only squealed.

Depressed

Well, being on vacation with my family who opted out of dieting during that time was not good for me! I'm not blaming my failure on them. I could have done better. But the temptation was so strong. I did gain weight and I was ready to give up all together Thursday morning. But my sweetie pie encouraged me and I decided that after the wedding and the birthday party I would start over. Now that they're over, I am in full swing again. He gained eight pounds over vacation and lost six his first night back to work. Do you know how long it would take me to lose six pounds? lol I think that's why it was so depressig. I don't think we have anything too tempting for several weeks now. So, that's good.

I was feeling quite depressed but woke up with a good attitude this morning. I keep telling myself, This is not a diet plan. But rather a change of life. There's no time limit of when I have to lose a certain amount of weight. It's just about losing weight. It's hard to remember that sometimes. Just the word diet sends my head into a frenzy.

Of Apples and Veggies

I had several friends that went to the mountains after bus ministry Saturday. They were supposed to bring me back apples from an apple orchard they were picnicing near, but said they couldn't find any good ones. Most were rotten so I was bummed. But right now, Hannah is in the kitchen peeling apples off of my friend, Freida's, apple trees, preparing them to make unsweetened applesauce. Freida picked them from her trees yesterday and brought me two bags FULL of big, beautiful apples. Thank you, Freida!!

I love steamed veggies. I figured out that if I put my serving of veggies in a ziploc baggie with a little water, zipped shut with a small hole for air to escape, it steams them to perfection. A little salt and...mmmm, good!

Big Mac Daddy

Kristi had a lovely post today, which I want to make sure you all read. If you don't, you will end up like this news clip that Br. Ted sent me.

36-Year Big Mac Attack Just call him the Big Mac "Daddy." A 54-year-old Fond du Lac, Wis., man says his obsessive-compulsive disorder drove him to eat 23,000 Big Macs in 36 years. Don Gorske, 54, says he hit the milestone last month, continuing a pleasurable obsession that began May 17, 1972 after he got his first car. So how did Gorske keep a tally of the Big Macs? He kept every receipt in a box. He says he was always fascinated with numbers, and watching McDonald's track its number of customers motivated him to track his own consumption.The only day he skipped a Big Mac was the day his mother died, to respect her request.

Kristi, Ted said he thought of you with your number obssession when he saw this.
Have a blessed Day!

Ten "Way of Life" Rules

This was in our Weight Warriors book and I thought they would be good to share. They're diet food for thought, if you will.
:)

1. I will not starve myself, but practice self control daily.

2. I will never, never, never, go on a fad diet (THOSE POUNDS COME BACK IN TWOS!)

3. When I am hungry between meals, I will remember that a growling stomach is an opportunity to lose a pound.

4. I will pray daily and ask the Lord to help me to lose weight for his glory so that I may be a better vessel for His use.

5. I will make a conscious effort not to eat after 7:30 PM, even if I only ate a little bit for dinner. Those night time snacks only add to my hips.

6. I will make a conscious effort to eat less fat. I will use the guideline: for every 100 calories, try to limit to 3 or less grams of fat.

7. I will make a conscioius effort to eat more high fiber foods. They make everything move faster.

8. I will make a conscious effort to eat less salt. My goal is to keep my sodium intake below 2000. I will remember to look at labels, eat fewer packaged and fast foods, and not add salt while cooking.

9. I will make a conscious effort to eat less refined sugar including honey.

10. When I am feeling week, wobbly, and have the urge to succumb, I will pray and call my partner for encouragement.

"Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand."

Philippians 4:5

YeeHAWWW! Get along little Doggies....

I am SO EXCITED! I feel like riding a horse, well ok NOT really. Horses always run away with me on their back. Anyway, I am so proud of Kristi!! I stepped on that bloomin' scale yesterday, and it said I hadn't lost a single pound! I was nearly upset, except in the hall before class, a sweet woman told me that I looked like I was losing weight in my mid-section! Whoohoo! I think I floated up those stairs to Sunday School.
Then last night, another young woman told me that I looked like I was losing inches or weight!
Wow, so even the little bit I have done is starting to be noticed.
I stepped on my trusty scientific scale this morning and weighed the lowest amount yet, since I have started! I was sooooooo thrilled. I ran and called Kristi first thing!
So as of this morning, by my scale, I have lost 9 pounds total.

Tomorrow is cheat day! LOL!
Ya'll have a blessed day.

It Ain't Broke

We weighed in this morning before Sunday School and !!woohoo!!, another four pounds! That makes seven pounds I've lost now. I was very happy when I stepped on the scale and those numbers were down. As a matter of fact, they were so down, I get to take my caloric intake down by two hundred calories. So, I'll be eating 1600 calories beginning in the morning.

Justin went out with a friend last night and bought a large stuffed crust pizza, bringing home most of that large pizza, believe it or not. Who would have thought two sixteen year old boys would have brought home one slice of pizza, much less four slices and two breadsticks? So today after church we each ate a slice of pizza with our veggies and fruit. You know I LOVE stuffed crust pizza. It's the best ever. So I ate my fruit and veggies first to, well, you know...get them out of the way...before slowly sinking my teeth into that wonderful slice of pizza. Mmmm, Mmmm, Mmmm, it sure was a nice treat for today. And I can honestly say that I have no guilt associated with it. lol

I'll admit that earlier in the week I was seriously considering Brother Ted's Snicker diet mentioned in Rebecca's post below. But I guess I'll stick with the current plan. After all, if it ain't broke...don't fix it.