Christmas Baking!

I love this time of year because I love to bake!! This year I decided that I would try to half my recipes and give most of the goodies away. Then I still get the fun experience of baking but don't have treats for weeks that I for sure will eat! Today I'm thinking about reindeer cookies, ginger cookies, homemade caramels, peppermint bark, M&M cookies, no-bake cookies, sugar cookies... pretty much any cookie. I am such a cookie person, can you tell?!
I should be thinking about my 10-pg. paper due on Friday, but I'm not. I'm thinking about cookies.
Here's the good news. I am at 147.8! That means I've actually lost weight this month, even though it's finals! Usually I gain during this crazy time. It's probably because I haven't had time to think about food. Or haven't had an appetite because I'm so nervous about school. It also is because every time I want to eat bad I think "Do you really want that or would you rather look hot?" :)
Merry Christmas everyone! Back to my paper.... ugh....

Thanksgiving is Over!

Thanksgiving is Over! Which means I need to stop eating pie and start counting calories again. I haven't really assessed the damage yet. I decided to take a week of being good and then weigh on Sat.
I had a great Thanksgiving enjoying time with my family and good food, but honestly, I am sick of pie and sick of feeling stuffed! :) I still have lots of leftovers so I am measuring to avoid the pigging out. I measured out 1/3 cup stuffing, 1/3 cup mashed potatoes, and turkey with two spoonfuls of turkey gravy for lunch. I brought some green beans but wasn't really hungry after my other food so I didn't eat them!
I am starting to write down what I eat again. That should help get me back on track.
Hope everyone had a great holiday! And don't worry if you pigged out for 3 days like me :) Just get back on track! :)

Dear Readers

Dear Readers,

I am a 24 year old full time student and employee trying to lose weight. I know that eating right is the key to really losing weight since exercising can only burn so many calories. I don't always have time to exercise but I can eat right. The problem is that I am really good during the week when my schedule is steady- go to work and go to school. I pack my food and only eat what I pack. The real problem is my weekends. There's always a family dinner with TONS of food, and I feel like I should "reward" myself for making it through another stressful week. I am sabotaging my own weight loss efforts! I gained 2 lbs last weekend and now am scrambling to get it off before Sat. Please Help!

Sincerely,
"Shrinking Me"

Slooooow Dooooown

Lately I've come to realize that I usually eat really fast. Maybe it's because I'm usually in a hurry, or because I let myself get too hungry and then I want to scarf it down!

Today in my Jillian Michaels newsletter they were giving tips on how to slow down your eating! They must have read my mind :)

Here they are:

"To slow down when eating, keep these tricks in mind:
If you're right-handed, eat with your left hand, and vice versa.
Cut your food into small pieces, and eat your meal one morsel at a time.
Make yourself put your silverware down in between bites.
Take a sip of a beverage in between bites. Water is always best. "

(Brandon has told me I don't drink enough when I eat :)

This week has been SOOOOO stressful and yesterday I was stressed and depressed and just wanted to go get something bad for me to eat. I thought about calling my friend Becky to get her support, but I didn't even have to call her to feel motivated. This may sound silly but I could hear what she would say in my mind and it helped! I thought about my goals and what I really wanted and made a choice not to eat bad food. Self control is hard! Making good choices can be hard. But so worth it.

Hope everyone's having a great week and Happy Friday!!

Motivation!!

This is from Summer 2008 in St. George. I look so skinny! I was about 10 lbs. lighter then.

I want to look like this again! Even better than this!

My Current thoughts on Free Days

I don't do well when my free days are on weekends. If I have a free day Sat. then I want one Sunday too. Next week I'm going to try having my "free day" on a weekday. If I even want a free day.

This weekend was really emotionally charged with lots of stuff going on and I ate lots of candy to drown my emotions. But the thing is that the candy wasn't even that good!!!!!!!!! Candy is not my favorite and if I'm going to eat bad that's not how I would like to do it, but that's what I had around so I ate it. And it made me feel sick to my stomach.

Lesson learned: Don't eat it if you don't want it, Amber! It will only make you feel yucky and all your hard work the week before is down the drain.

I'm finally seeing some results in losing weight and having motivation again and I'm not sure that free days are worth it. I have to work extra hard in the week to make up for the weekend. Just think- if I didn't have bad weekends and still worked that hard during the week, I could be so much healthier and lose so much more weight!

Guts and Perseverance

From LOSING IT! With Jillian Michaels, Friday, November 06, 2009
"Listen, getting in shape is all about setting goals. Losing weight, building muscle, and getting rid of the unhealthy eating habits take guts and perseverance. You're dealing with something big here. When you decide what you want, make it specific and concrete. For example, don't just say that you want to lose weight. Ask yourself some questions: How much weight? And is weight really the most important thing? Or is it more important that you climb your front steps with ease or lower your body-fat ratio? Think hard about what you want, and use your journal to keep track."

I want to be more specific in my goals. This week my goal was to lose the "Halloween weight" that I had gained by having TWO free days. :S I have accomplished that as of today so I want to now see if I can lose some more by tomorrow for my weigh-in.
My goal for next week is to reach 148 lbs. so I don't have to pay for WW and can be a Lifetime member again!
My goal for the end of the year is to be down to 139 lbs. ( I like the 1-3 part of that! It's always exciting to hit the next number.)

What are your goals for yourself? Remember to make them realisitic and mix the large with the small. If your overall weight to lose is daunting, break it up so you can see your progress in meeting your small goals!

Happy Friday! Yea for the weekend!

What's keeping me going today...

It's not whether you get knocked down; it's whether you get up. Vince Lombardi

Those who do not find time for exercise will have to find time for illness. - Earl of Derby

To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art. - La Rochefoucaul

Not Giving Up

So yesterday I was in my car which is still filled with all my Halloween stuff from the party including all the candy. As I was going to school straight from work I was hungry and a little depressed and so I started eating candy. I ate at least 5 pieces of chocolate and then called Brandon. When he answered I said "I ate candy" and he laughed. "That's why you called me?" But it was really helpful because he encouraged me and reminded me that not all is lost. I can make up for 5 pieces of candy.

I went to the gym last night and read my homework. I did the elliptical for an hour. It felt SOOO good. I have realized that by not making excuses I actually feel better about myself. Plus I am not distracted from getting my reading done and I get a workout. It feels good to be productive and use your time for good things.

Don't give up! So you ate 5 pieces of candy today. That doesn't mean all is lost and you can skip your workout or blow the whole week. Just get back on track. Not next week, not tomorrow- right now! You can do it!

SUCCESS! and then failure...

This week I lost 1.4 lbs! I am in the 140s! 149.2, but still! I love that it starts with 1-4. I was very proud since it was Halloween week. I didn't have any treats til Sat., my free day. Our Halloween party was really fun, but I ate too much, of course. Then we had leftovers on Sunday that we didn't want to go bad (of course) so I had another Free Day. Dangit. Brandon and I decided this counts for our free day for this week, so no treats til next Sunday.
I am going to have to be really strict eating this week. I am hoping just to not GAIN! I have 1.4 more pounds to lose to be Lifetime again and not pay at Weight Watchers.
I have been making excuses to not exercising- I'm too busy, I have way too much homework, I'm too tired, even I don't want to has been a good enough excuse for me lately. So today I am changing that. After class tonight I am going to the gym at my apt and working out while I read my homework. Two birds with one stone.
NO MORE EXCUSES!

Donuts AND Cookies!!?? Fighting Temptation

Today I'm at work and I get a stick-it (inter-office IM) that says there are donuts in the kitchen that one of our customers brought us. I LOVE DONUTS. I said to Maria, my office-mate and friend- "Don't read that stickit!" because we try to motivate each other. She already had though and we both "mmmmm"ed at the possibility of that delicious deep fried sugary goodness in our mouths. BUT- we decided to wait as people filed by hoping the donuts would all get eaten. Not 2 minutes later there was another stickit saying there were cookies in Accounting from another customer. Geez! Halloween treats everywhere! Yesterday in class BUCKETS of Halloween candy-the GOOD stuff- were passed around, and kept being passed around. I only ate one piece.

How do you resist all this temptation? For me it's closing the stickit right away and NOT even going over there to look. It's much easier when it's not right in front of you. And waiting. i gave it some time and didn't really want it. What I REALLY want is to lose weight this week. And I have 2 Halloween parties this weekend. I know I will have plenty of opportunity to eat junk and sweets on Sat. So I am waiting. I will get my donut then, on my free day. You know, I always want to lose weight, as most people do, but lately I just really want to prove to myself that I can do it. I want to feel good about myself.

I think my turning point was going to Dance last Sat. My friend, Becky invited me to an Adult Beginning Dance Class at Power Plus on 5400 S. and 3200 W. We went in the summer, but then school started and I had class at the same time. They moved the class to Sat. morning so I can go now! I had SOO much fun and my legs were very sore the next day. Instead of looking at my legs and thinking how chubby they wereI thought "Look at my strong legs that danced yesterday!" It's the best feeling, and I realized I wanted that feeling all the time. Exercise really helps me feel motivated because it helps me feel strong.

Tips to Survive Halloween at the Office

In my Weight Watchers newsletter they send weekly they had tips to survive Halloween at the office. (to get your free newsletter with reipes, tips, and weight loss success stories click here.)

Keep count.Studies show that diners at barbecue joints tend to eat more wings when waitresses continually take away their bones, says Dawn Jackson, RD, Nutrition and Exercise Specialist for The Wellness Institute at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. There's no reason to think that those mini-Butterfingers are any different. So while it's tempting to toss the wrapper as soon as you pop one in your mouth, keep the evidence on your desk as a visual tally.

Make a smarter choice.If you know that there's no chance you'll nibble a couple of Starbursts without tearing through the whole pack, it may be best to avoid them altogether. Steel yourself against temptation by pulling out a guilt-free snack you brought from home while everyone's flocking to the treat table, says Leslie Bonci, nutritionist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Fruit cups, Jell-O cups, meringue cookies and light hot chocolate are all satisfying alternatives.

Don't throw in the towel.We've all been there. You started the workday with a virtuous egg-white-and-veggie omelet and maintained monk-like self-control until your office manager took a meat-cleaver to your diet by bringing out a small truckload of mini-Mars bars at 4 p.m. You figure your diet is ruined for the day, and next thing you know you're in a booth at Taco Bell inhaling a double Gordita dinner. Not so fast, señorita. "The all-or-nothing mentality is what hurts people the most," says Jackson. "If I buy a dozen eggs and I break one, I clean the broken egg up and get on with my day. I don't break the 11 other eggs!"

Are you hungry, or are you just tense or tired?"At 3 p.m., often we don't really want to eat, we just need a drink of water and a breath of fresh air," says Jackson. Listen to your body, and then follow its prompts. If all you want is a little reward for finally finishing the report you've been slaving over, instead of making a self-congratulatory trip to the treat table, go for the grown-up equivalent of a "gold star" and splurge on a new CD, book or DVD. Find something you can look forward to enjoying after work.

It takes a village."No man or woman is an island," says Jackson. So decide with your coworkers to put the candy in an opaque container in the kitchenette this year — out of sight, out of mind. Or, Bonci suggests, rally the team to pool a couple of bucks a week from everyone for the month of October. Invest in fresh flowers or a Halloween happy hour instead of candy. (You'll stick to low-calorie light beer, of course.)

I actually lost weight!

I lost weight this week. I probably lost about 2 lbs since last week ( I didn't have an exact # last week), but since my last WW meeting I lost .2 lbs. So I am done to 150.2. I am so happy that I lost.

Brandon and I have made a pact. We are determined to lose weight and he reminded me that when one of us isn't trying it's really hard for the other person. So here's to a new start.
We have decided to try and give ourselves one "free day". Parties come up, friends want to go out to eat, life happens, but we can plan for it as much as possible and make that our "free day"

Some words on free day from Hussman Fitness:

"You should think of the free day as an opportunity to choose "unauthorized"
foods. It's not about losing control. It's about making choices and enjoying
those choices. The danger of going overboard is that a wild pig-out style free
day can blow several days of "caloric deficits" that are essential for fat loss,
and can also be detrimental for people who tend to be binge eaters. If you're
not a little careful, the idea of "free days" can create an "all or nothing"
mindset and sets up binge eating patterns that are hard to eliminate later. That
said, kept in perspective, the free day may help counter the risk that your body
senses a fasting state. Metabolically, you're trying to convince your body that
it doesn't have to lower its metabolism, shed muscle, or defend its fat stores
in response to the change in its "environment". You don't need a huge number of
extra calories to do that. It's good if your free meals make you feel warm, and
it's great if you actually break a light sweat. The free day gives you something
to look forward to, keeps your body "confused", and gives you a chance to have
that pizza and ice cream you've been eyeing all week, but don't go way
overboard. There's some evidence that cycling high and low caloric periods with
weight training can help muscle gains, but the effective cycle is evidently
about two weeks, not one day. And if your primary concern is fat loss, I
wouldn't try to get that fancy.
If you prefer, my impression is that you can
substitute the free day with 2 "free meals" between any Sunday-Saturday period
(following the program for other meals on those days). Don't try to "spread"
your free day across the whole week and then kid yourself that you're following
the program. That said, if you do have something that's "unauthorized," don't
fall into all-or-nothing thinking and say "I blew it! I'm a loser! The day is
ruined! Now it's a free day!" followed by a self-destructive binge. Just have a
little bit less to eat later that day, or the next day, to make up for that
small amount of lost ground. The main thing is that you don't turn small
indiscretions into self-destructive binges. We're all human. If you ate the
cookie, you ate the cookie. Now get on with your program!"

Remember losing weight is about finding what works for you. And I'm beginning
to find that what worked for me 2 years ago, may not be the same as today.

The Biggest Loser and Halloweeeeeeen!

I love watching this show. But- it doesn't really motivate me. At all. I have to admit I like the drama, and I like seeing cool challenges, and love seeing how people look before and after. But.... no motivation. Hmmm... wonder why that is? Anyone else watch this show?

So this week is going pretty well. I have lost 1-2 pound I think. Next week is Halloween and me and Becky planned this great Halloween party for the Green couples, with lots of amazing yummy food. Most of it not low in calories. So I'm trying to prepare myself. Since I know what's on the menu, I can figure out calories now, so I will know what I'm eating. I don't know if planning what I'm going to eat beforehand is a good idea. It's a party, I want to eat what I feel like at the moment. And maybe I don't want something I planned to have. I want to be able to have fun and not worry about sticking to a strict plan. BUT- I don't want to eat so much that I feel awful about myself afterwards. So I think I have a solution. If I know how many calories something is approximately then I can keep track in my head. We'll see how it goes!

Happy Halloween everyone! Good luck losing weight with all the treats around! :)

What to say?

Thanks for the support friends! I started school again, what a nice week-long Fall break I had! Not having to go to school after work was glorious! I'm swamped again and feeling down. But my friend Chrissy told me about a 10k on the 24th and I thought- man! I should be doing that. But you know how long it's been since I ran? The last 5 k I did this past summer. How sad!

I know it's going to get harder with all the holidays coming. What can I do? Maybe I just need something new? Different? Maybe I just need to believe in myself? Planning more would probably help. Not buying sweets would probably help. Having someone pay me to lose weight would probably help! : ) There's something missing. Something I need to really boost me to make the changes, to stick to a plan, to lose weight. I need to find it.

I'm going to do this. Geez it's been hard. I am stuck at about 152 (it's painful to type that). That's 14 lbs. MORE than my best at 138. Oh to see that 1-3 again.
You know, life has thrown me curves this year, lots has happened, has changed. But I can never give up. Someday I will reach my goal. And I determine to make it happen sooner than later.

Last week

I blew it. Becky, help me! I went to a chinese buffet on Thursday and then had a Math conference on Friday and Saturday where they feed us good food, not so healthy though. I don't know how much exactly I gained since I couldn't go to my meeting on Sat. but I know it was at least 3 lbs. : (
This week is Fall Break for me, so no classes! I hope to get really on top of things so that my life isn't so crazy and stressful.
Yesterday we went to dinner for my brother's birthday, so beforehand Brandon and I made a plan. Since we knew there would be cake and ice cream we decided to only have 1/2 a piece and a glass of milk instead of ice cream. And we did! Then we didn't eat any apple pie that Becky made when we got home, because we'd already had a treat.
Any tips to staying on track? I just can't seem to find that steady gain I used to have. I have just been gaining back what I lose.

Wednesday

Hello friends. Today is Wednesday. I had a breakdown on Monday, a breakdown on Tuesday and today is much better. : ) Life is so busy. I am working 30 or more hours a week, and taking 15 credits. Most days I feel like I am barely making it by. But somehow I make it. I think about all my blessings and realize I have a lot to be thankful for even though life is crazy.

I have gained 2 lbs. this week, but it's okay. Still have 3 more days to make a change.

Another Week

Do you ever feel like you just got through a rough week just to start another one? *sigh* Monday again and I have not planned my meals for this week. Hopefully I will MAKE TIME between writing my paper tonight and fixing my dryer to plan at least tomorrows food. I have to lose 2 lbs this week in order not to pay at WW, but I would be glad for a pound lost.

I didn't eat so well Sat. and Sun. Those are the absolute hardest days for me because there's no set schedule, and usually get-togethers with lots of delicious food. It's easy during the week because I'm at work and school, so I can only eat what I brought. I have a hard time when the unexpected happens. I need to be better about rollin' with the punches, and keeping my motivation and self control when faced with temptation.

Good luck to everyone this week!

Wrappin' up the Week

Today I went to my Weight Watchers meeting and found out I lost 3 lbs. this week! Planning really helped me stay on track and feel less stressed. Thurs. and Fri. weren't as good with staying right on track, and fancy that, I didn't plan as well those days. Today I went to Olive Garden with the girls (my mom and sisters and sister's mother-in-law), and ate too many calories for the day. But I think I can make it up this week by staying on plan. Tomorrow we are having our tri-annual big family breakfast; sausage gravy and biscuits, eggs, bacon.... But I'm going to write down what I'm going to eat, since I know what's coming.

I still have 2 lbs. to lose to be at my Lifetime Goal Weight. If I lose 2 more lbs, I won't have to pay for the Weight Watchers meetings anymore.

Any good ideas for staying on track? I got through one week, but ladies, it's soon to be that time of the month and I'm worried I'm going to give in to cravings. Any help is appreciated! :)

Here's to Shrinking Me for another week!

Today I will eat...

Shredded wheat with skim milk
Grapes
SF Hot Cocoa (it's pretty cold, so I might want some :)
Omelet
Popcorn
Banana Bread
Sugar free Pudding

and.... I'm not sure what for dinner since I'm probably gonna be at Brandon's. Still feeling motivated though!

Hope everyone's having a great week! Thanks for all the encouragement!

I'm sure this is getting boring for some of you, but WOW! it's really helping me! I stayed on track yesterday again. :) I didn't eat my apple, so I had one pumpkin chocolate chip cookie instead after dinner. I am feeling so good. I also realized that I don't think about food as much when it's all planned and ready.

Meal Plan for Today 9/30:
Malt O Meal with Splenda
Strawberry Smoothie
Grapes
Sandwich
String Cheese
100 calorie CheezIts
Apple
Banana Bread
Omelet with cheese, bell peppers, spinach, onions, bacon bits

Meal Plan Success!!!

Yesterday was a success! I stuck to my meal plan. Even when Brandon and I went to see "Arsenic and Old Lace" and I REALLY wanted a candy bar. But then I thought about it and didn't want it as much as I want to be healthy and fit. I chewed some gum instead. I know it's only been one day, but I'm really proud of myself!

Today's Meal Plan:
Oatmeal and Grapes
Baked Potatoe with chives, cheese, and bacon
Apple with 1 Tbls. peanut butter
Banana Bread (for my class tonight if I get hungry, I have a test and want to be prepared!)
Spaghetti and veggies

Meal Plan for Today

I did it! I planned meals for a few days.
Today my plan is...
Breakfast: Banana bread and apple
Snack: string cheese
Lunch: Teriyaki chicken kabobs and brown rice
Snack: 94% Fat Free popcorm
Dinner: Tuna fish Sandwich, hard boiled egg and maybe pineapple if I feel like it!

Wow, this planning thing is going be really good.

Starting Over

Today I went to my Weight Watchers meeting in Holladay. I hadn't gone all last month, with the craziness of moving and starting school, but today I found where the new meeting is and went. It's the first time I was over my Lifetime Goal and had to pay for the meeting. I weighed in at 153.8 lbs. I have gained 6.8 lbs since starting the blog. But this is the start of a new day.

We talked about trigger foods today in my meetings and expanding our definitions of things. Like Success. Success is not just making the numbers go down on the scale. We need to expand our definitions to recognize more forms of success. My success today is going to my meeting. They also talked about an intersting concept with trigger foods. They said that one of the reasons we have trigger foods is because we deprive ourselves of them. If we work them into our diets, they don't become so desirable.

The main thing we talked about this week is preparing. "If you don't know where you're going, you'll probably end up somewhere else." Preparing by 1. Setting Goals 2. Making time 3. Meal Planning, and the rest I can't remember because I didn't write down. The main thing I am going to focus on this week is Meal Planning.

I'm going to take stock of my pantry and fridge, then make a meal plan for the week. Here's to Shrinking me!!!!!! :)

Here's Some Inspiration For Me and You

"You must do the thing you think you cannot do." Eleanor Roosevelt

"You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there." Unknown Author

"You've got to say, I think that if I keep working at this and want it badly enough I can have it. It's called perseverance." Lee Iacocca

"If we defend our habits, we have no intentions of quitting them."

"Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future." ~ Deepak Chopra ~

"Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent." - Marilyn Vos Savant

Time to get back on the wagon. Time to decide to not drown in the water by statying there, but swim and fight and kick til I get out of the water. Time to persevere. Time to make the choice to do it.

Where have you been?!

I have been wallowing in self pity and depression. HaHa! (sounds so funny when I say it out loud). Okay so I missed last week's weigh in because I was up at Brighton and didn't get a chance. And then my life started getting crazy and stressful and I got really emotional and.... decided to quit. That's right. I decided to quit trying to lose weight because it's not happening. I know why it's not happening: I am not exercising regularly, I am eating too much food, etc. but I decided I can't eat less, and I can't exercise, it's just too hard, and there's too much going on. So I quit. I have quit trying physically before, just by eating too much or giving myself a "free" day, but never in my head. Well this week I quit in my head. It is just too much, too hard......Then last night I decided to give it another chance. I got to sleep early so I was well rested, had a wonderful dream about my vampire boyfriend, and woke up feeling much better. :)

I wanted to write how I feel because I think it's important to remember how I was feeling. I can't remember if I felt this way my "first time around" when I lost 30 pounds and I think it would have been helpful to know.

I am crossing things off my list today so I'm not so stressed about my acne face and braces, starting a new school, studying for the PRAXIS I, finding a place to live in a month, finances, and sending my best friend off to Iowa :(.

I am going to keep trying. I am going to start over new, like I've never had to do this before. I'm going to read over all my Weight Watchers pamphlets and start keeping track.

I will not be a quitter.

Weekly Weigh In

This week was great. I am excited to be losing again.
Weight: 144.4 lbs.
Difference: -.8 lbs.
Total Lbs. Lost: 33.6 lbs.
Difference since starting the blog: -1.2
Total Percentage Lost: 18.8%
Pounds til Party: 10.9 lbs.

Writing down in my food journal has been really helpful. There are 22 more weeks in 2009. If I lost .8 lbs. every week until then I would lose 17.6 lbs.! If I only lost .5 lbs. per week I would lose 11 lbs. And reach my goal! It's okay if it takes me awhile. I just need to focus on losing each week, no matter how much it is, because it adds up!! : )

Day #1 and Day #2 of the Notebook Challenge

We're in the middle of day 2 so that day's not complete. I noticed I didn't get many vegetables on Monday so I am trying to do better today. I can usually guess fairly close to how many calories something has, but I need to be better at looking things up. (It's harder when it's something homemade like my chicken noodle soup and that tomato spinach stuff) . I know the calories to things I eat all the time, like my cereals and fruits. I think I'll try to use caloriecounter.com more often so I can really keep track better. Does anyone know a good online calorie counter? Or a good book to buy? I haven't looked into it much.

I also started to write down the water I drink. Even though my calorie count is not exact or complete, I think it's a good start! I'm feeling great and motivated!

Handy Dandy Notebook Challenge

# 5 on THE LIST is my Handy Dandy Notebook. Keeping track of what I eat is essential to my weight loss. The problem is I have been slacking on keeping track and I can see the difference. Studies have shown that keeping a food diary can DOUBLE weight loss. How cool is that? All you need is a small notebook and a pen. It's the cheapest way to lose weight. I found this article online that answers the question "Why is the Pen Mightier Than the Pounds?"

But why do the diaries work? Experts agree that the ultimate value lies in the
formation of a "foundation of personal accountability." Almost everyone agrees
that accountability is the most important ingredient behind any successful
lifestyle change, including weight loss.
Dr. Patrick O'Neil, director of the
Weight Management Center at the Medical University of South Carolina, agrees.
"Most of us don't really know how much we eat and drink; we have very charitable
memories," he says. (For the full article click here.)

I first really started using food journals when I joined Weight Watchers in 2007. They call them "trackers" where you record everything you put in your mouth, and also make you keep track of your milk servings, fruit and vegetable servings, healthy oil, water, whole grain, and lean protein. One of the first things I learned with tracking my food was that I was eating WAY too much for my body. My portion sizes were huge and I would stuff myself, thinking it was normal to feel that way. It also helped me to track my fruits and vegetables to make sure I was not just cutting calories but eating healthy.

Losing weight is actually very simple. At least the concept is. We are all living proof that's it's hard to stay on track - but think about it. If you eat less calories than you use, you WILL lose weight. This is where the food journal comes in. Write down all the calories you eat so you can eat less calories than you burn. But how do you know how many calories your body needs, or how many calories to eat to lose weight?

I found this great calculator: Click here for Women's Calorie Calculator
and here for Men's Calorie Calculator.
They will ask you your current weight, what you would like to weigh, your age, and height. Then it will calculate all kinds of cool results. See mine below:

You need 1992.2 calories per day to maintain your current weight without
exercise. You need 1941.1 calories per day to reach your goal weight slowly
and maintain that weight without exercise. If you reduce your
current caloric intake to 1492.2 calories per day you will lose one pound per week without exercise. If you increase your current caloric intake to 2492.2 calories per day, you will gain one pound per week.

Exercise and Calorie Needs
If you exercise for 30 minutes each day, you may increase your caloric intake to 2207.8 calories per day and still maintain your current weight. If you exercise for 60 minutes each day, you may increase your caloric intake to 2477.4 calories per day to maintain your current weight. If you exercise for 30 minutes each day, you
will be able to reach your goal weight with 2150.6 calories per day.
If you exercise for 60 minutes each day, you will be able to reach your goal weight
with 2412.5 calories per day.

Please remember that these calorie counts are an
average, you may need to adjust your calorie needs up or down slightly to get the results you want. Your results are calculated to help you understand how many calories you need to maintain your current weight, or the number of calories you need to lose weight slowly, over several months' time.

My biggest challenge is keeping track on weekends. I am REALLY bad at keeping track on weekends and it's noticeable because that's when I eat bad and gain weight. So Brandon and I challenged each other to keep track for one full week. Monday 7/20-Monday 7/27. That would include this holiday weekend. I am excited and know that if I keep track I can lose weight!

Weekly Weigh In

Sorry I'm so late with this! Man...
Here we go. I haven't lost those yucky 7 lbs. fully yet, but I did lose this week so that's good.

Weight: 145.2 lbs.
Difference: -.4 lbs.
Total Lbs. Lost: 32.8
Difference since starting the blog: -.4
Total Percentage Lost: 18.4%
Pounds til Party: 11.7 lbs.

I am glad that I lost, even if it was only a little, and am feeling really motivated again. I know how to lose weight. I've done it before and I just need to dig in my heels and DO IT! See the next post for my new challenge with Brandon!

Weekly Weigh In

Weight: 145.6 lbs.

Difference: -4.4 lbs.

Total Lbs. Lost: 32.4

Difference since starting the blog: 0.00 Same as when I started...

Total Percentage Lost: 18.2%

Pounds til Party: 12.1 lbs.

So this week was much better than last. As I said before, it's quite easy to gain 7 lbs and really hard to lose it! I am hoping to have those yucky 7 lbs all lost by next week! It feels good to be back on track.

I think the main reason I got off track was stress and anxiety. So, as silly as it sounds, I have really tried to recognize when I start to feel stressed or anxious, then take a deep breath, think about what I really want, and let it go. I learned I just need to stop worrying about things that haven't happened or are out of my control! :)

Off to a party and Bee's baseball game tonight! I am determined to allow myself some treats, but not overdue it. I've worked to hard to lose those 4.4 lbs!

My Favorite Workout DVD

I prefer going to the gym and working out for about an hour at a time. But sometimes, that's just not reasonable. So I have a backup-The Biggest Loser Workout DVD Vol. 1. I LOVE this workout DVD for several reasons:

1. There are 5 different sections to choose from: Warm Up, Low-Intensity Cardio, High Intensity Cardio, Strength and Sculpt, Boot Camp, and Cool Down.

2. Each section (minus the warm up and cool down) are only 20 minutes long.

3. The workouts are challenging, and there are varying levels. I started at the low-intensity cardio and now do the high intensity. I have only braved Boot Camp a couple of times and it is TOUGH. And some days I just want to take it easier and do the low-intensity.

4. I like the trainer Bob Harper. I think he is just full of positive energy and he never makes me feel stupid by screaming and saying "Faster you big slob! Get those legs up!" ; ) I don't respond to the "Jillian Michaels" way. He makes me feel like I can do it and is fun!

5. These exercises use muscles that I wouldn't normally use in just running or doing the elliptical at the gym.

6. The people doing the exercises were on the Biggest Loser, and this was taped before the finale, so they are not tiny skinny people. They sweat and are out of breath too. That's comforting! I don't feel stupid that I can't do something.

7. They have testimonials from the Biggest Loser contestants and whenever I'm feeling in need of some motviation I watch them again.

I like having a DVD workout that I can use when I just don't want to go to the gym, only have 20 minutes, and just want to get moving. This one tops the list in my book.
I'd love to hear about your favorite workout DVD!

More from the LIST #1

#1 on my list is Brandon a.k.a. Support:
Things are much easier with support and losing weight is no exception! Brandon, my boyfriend, is the best kind of support. He encourages me to eat good, helps me realize what happens when I get off track even though I just want to be depressed, goes to the gym with me sometimes, shows me how to use the weight machines, helps me resist food temptations and is a great example! He has lost weight consistently for months. He makes me want to be better. I love you hon! I am also grateful for the support I get from everyone who reads this blog and leaves comments! Thanks guys ; )

Weekly Weigh In - THE UGLY

There's always the good, the bad, and the ugly. This week has been quite UGLY. I am so hesitant to even write this post. Because it is really ugly. But that's what I promised myself when I started this blog. To post the good the bad AND the ugly. *sigh* Here it goes.

Weight: 150.00 lbs.

Difference: +7 lbs.

Total Lbs. Lost: 28 lbs.

Difference since starting the blog: + 4.6

Total Percentage Lost: 15.73%

Pounds til Party: 16.5

This morning I weighed in at 148 lbs. which is better. Last week was a really hard week emotionally. A lot of things were going on that made me really depressed. When I'm depressed I EAT. I didn't even go out to eat, I just ate a LOT of food. Wow. I still can't believe it. I wish it was as easy to lose 7 lbs. as it is to gain it!

So my hope in posting this is to help someone see that they're not alone. Sometimes we screw up, and gain 7 lbs. But- we have to keep going. I'm only human, right? So I'm going to stop being hard on myself and feeling down. I CAN DO THIS!

Weekly Weigh In

This weigh in was surprisingly good.

Weight: 143.00 lbs.

Difference: -1.4 lbs.

Total Lbs. Lost: 35 lbs.

Pounds lost since starting the blog: 2.4 lbs.

Total Percentage Lost: 19.6% , 5.4 % til Goal!

Pounds til Party: 9.5 lbs.

I added a new one - "Pounds lost since starting this blog." I think that it's great to know how far I've come in 2 years with Total Lbs. lost, but I feel like starting this blog was a new start for me. It makes it more real to see that I've only lost 2.4 lbs. It makes me want to get down to business and be more serious about this. Especially when my boyfriend is whooping my butt with almost 20 lbs. lost! He has lost steadily every week. I hope I can follow in his footsteps closer.

I am finally over and beyond my vacation gain. I feel like I'm back on track! Well, that is until Sat. and Sun. hit. The weekends are absolutely KILLING me! I don't write anything down on the weekends, and just think I can eat whatever I want. Then Monday comes around and I'm eating broccoli and soup for 5 days to make up for it. Not the healthiest way to live, so I'm going to change it. I'm not sure if I can make up my "weekend eating" this week.

Okay this weekend was a little stressful and emotional. I don't like when food controls me. I KNOW I'm stronger than that. Just because I ran a 5 k on Sat. does not mean I shouldn't keep my calories in check. Rewarding myself would be like having a donut or even two if I want but not donuts for breakfast, pizza and popsicles for lunch, hot dogs, fried chicken, cinnamon rolls and cream puffs for dinner... That's seriously what I ate. Yuck. Yeah, it's embarassing. But it's the truth. Hopefully I'm not the only one who relates :)

Next weekend is July 4th. It's going to be a hard one! I don't know exactly what we're doing but I know that if I prepare myself mentally now, and only allow one unhealthy meal this weekend that I will do a lot better. I really need to write down what I eat on the weekends, it helps me regulate portion sizes and not eat too many calories just because something tastes good and it's free. :)

Thanks all for reading my rambling today! I really appreciate your support :)

Good luck to you all this week! Prepare for the holiday now. "If you Fail to Plan, you Plan to Fail." : )

Taylorsville Dayzz 5k!

Saturday I RAN A 5K!!! It was a spur of the moment decision Friday night. It was only $8 so I had to do it (usually races are $30-$40). It took me 41 minutes but I jogged the whole thing and never walked! I have done 2 5k's before but always ran and walked. About 2 years ago when Brandon and I first started running I literally could only run for 2 minutes before having to walk. it took awhile, but I've really improved. I like running because the second I start running I want to stop- but I don't, and that makes me feel good. :)

More from the "List" #8 - WATERMELON!

8. Watermelon (this time of year, but Fruit in general). I eat watermelon pretty much every day in summer. I love it because it is cold and juicy and oh so sweet! Sometimes it's enough to curb my cravings for sugar. I have found healthy foods that I really enjoy, which helps me feel less "deprived". Fruit is great for a snack, I like to always have some at work, along with my 94% Fat Free popcorn in case I get the munchies. And it's great if you want something sweet!

Weekly Weigh In

Okay, one of these weeks I'm going to actually post on Saturday when I'm supposed to!

Here's the deal-i-o:

Weight: 144.4
Difference: -4.4 lbs. (This is the difference from the Vacation Gain. But since June 6th I gained a pound)
Total Lbs. Lost: 33.6 lbs.
Total Percentage Lost: 18.87% , 6.13 % til Goal!
Pounds til Party: 10.9 lbs *sigh* I'm frustrated because I've been here before... I know I can do it though!!

So... I don't know what happened but it seems like I must have had a lot of water weight or it was just that time of the month, because I was down 4.4 on Saturday! I'm motivated and determined now that vacation is over to really buckle down and lose weight. My impending Fall semester is guaranteed to be a crazy stressful one, so I've got to embrace the time I have now!

Good luck this week to everyone! I'd love to hear how you're doing and what helps you accomplish your goals.

More from "the list" - # 3 Why I love Ziplocs!

#3. Ziploc bags and Ziploc containers The reason these are crucial to my weight loss is PORTION CONTROL. I hear it all the time but it's true! I portion things like cereal, Malt O'Meal, baked chips, fruit, veggies, etc, etc. This not only helps with portion control, but time. If my cereal's already measured, I just grab a bag and go! My favorite Ziploc containers are the circle 2-cup ones with a screw-on lid. The great thing about these is the versatility. They can hold liquids without leakage and they have a 1 Cup measuring mark. I use this to measure my 1/2 cup skim milk to bring to work for my cereal.


To see the whole "list" of things that help me lose weight click here: http://shrinkingamber.blogspot.com/2009/06/i-couldnt-do-it-without-you.html

Discouraged or Determined??

So I did it. I stepped on the scale. Brandon encouraged me, thinking it would help get me determined and back on track. And he was right! I definitely gained weight on the trip. About five pounds. Ugh. That sounds so awful. I was depressed for a day, then it turned into Determination. So I went to Macey's last night and this is what I got: a watermelon, oranges, apples, strawberries, bananas, Kellog's Mini Bites Honey Oat (First time to try them and I love them! And there's 6 g of fiber in a serving!) Also pancake mix, fat free sour cream, skim milk, Ziploc freezer bags, Special K Bars, boneless skinless chicken breast, sliced turkey, tomatos, and red peppers. In the checkout line, the man behind me said, "So that's what it looks like to eat healthy." That made me feel good! And the first thing I thought was, "I like eating like this. It makes me feel good."
Also last night I found another way to save money on produce! I bought 3 lbs of strawberries since they were on sale and am going to cut and freeze them myself, which is SO much cheaper than buying frozen fruit. Macey's also sells overripe banans for $.50.lb, so I got 2 bunches. They aren't so far gone that I can't freeze them for smoothies or use for banana bread!
So here's to a more determined outlook! Vacation happens, but I can get back on track! Thanks everyone for the support!

Weekly Weigh In

Well, this post is a little late, since I've been on vacation! I didn't have a scale last Saturday to weigh in, so we'll just have to see how I do this week.
Here's a few things to report on how I did on vacation. I did pretty darn good for the first 5 days, but not so good the last 5. I am not looking forward to weighing in on Saturday! But let's celebrate the good things. I had sandwiches instead of eating out sometimes. When we had burgers I held the condiments and used the ketchup in the packet so I could regulate how much to use. I also only used half of the bun and out the patty on top to hold it all together. I only had one small piece of pizza and a cucumber instead of eating several pieces of pizza. Our trip included lots of sightseeing, so we walked a lot. Hopefully that helped a little! I only got to workout 3 times the whole trip.

This morning at the hotel something really cool happened! I ran longer than I ever had before! 3.2 miles straight! It took me 44:48 and I was only running 4.3 miles/hour but wow- I was so proud of myself.

Now that I'm back from vacation I feel a renewed determination to lose weight!!

Weekly Weigh In... from... El Paso!!

Weight: 143.8

Difference: -1.6!!

Total Lbs. Lost: 34.2 lbs.

Total Percentage Lost: 19.2 % Wow that feels good

Pounds til Party: 10.3 lbs.

Today I come to you from La Quinta in El Paso, Texas! Yesterday was filled with driving and driving and more driving! We left at 6:30 am and got here at about 11:00. I think I did pretty good with not snacking too much, eating my 94% FF popcorn and fruit. We did have burgers for dinner, but I got a small one and only had a few fries. It's hard on vacation, but I know I can do it! Good luck this week to everyone.

More on #9- Why Planning and Preparation?

9. Planning and Preparation
Although not everything always goes as planned, things usually go better when planned. When I plan out my day of what I'm eating I don't go overboard, and I don't reach for the first thing in the cupboard or stop at a fast-food place because I'm hungry and have nothing planned. Being prepared really helps. This weekend will be my biggest test. I have already bought some healthy snacks for my trip, turkey jerky, almonds, crystal light drink packets, and am planning to pop some popcorn that morning, stick it in a gallon bag, and bring fruit. I am preparing mentally by telling myself how well I've been doing, how much I want to be healthy and thin MORE than I want junk/fast food, and I just keep telling myself that I have the willpower to do it. I also have bought a "Dining Out Campanion" from Weight Watchers. It has many fast food places and how many "points" are in each food item. I also went online and looked up nutrition stats for places I know I will be going like Dunkin' Donuts. This really helps to put into perspective what I'm putting into my body. A donut = 350 calories. That's about 45 minutes on a stair stepper. Makes me think if I really want it. There are some things I will want to indulge in, since it's vacation and there are things that I won't be able to get here in Utah, but I'm hoping I can PLAN well and on the meals I'm treating myself, I will make sure I do good the rest of the day.

To see all ten things that help me lose weight click here: http://shrinkingamber.blogspot.com/2009/06/i-couldnt-do-it-without-you.html

I Couldn't Do it Without You

Most people have certain things to aid them in their weight loss. Here are my Top Ten

1. Brandon a.k.a. Support

2. Jolly Time 94% Fat Free Popcorn

3. Ziploc bags and Ziploc containers

4. My tennis shoes

5. Handy Dandy Notebook

6. Food Scale and Measuring Cups

7. Weekly Weigh Ins

8. Watermelon (this time of year, but Fruit in general)

9.Planning and Preparation

10. Fiber-rich foods

Look for upcoming posts that will discuss each point further!

Weekly Weigh In

So maybe the eating out caught up to me... is that possible? Well, Becky to answer your question whether or not I'm still shrinking the answer is not last week! Sorry my post is late, but I was bummed that I gained last week. But I promised to post the good the bad and the ugly! Here are the results:

Weight: 145.4
Difference: PLUS 1.2 (cancels out last week exactly!)Total Lbs. Lost: 32.6 Total Percentage Lost: 18.31%
Pounds til Party: 11.9 bummer...

Remember when I set a goal to TRACK what I ate? Well it didn't happen, not with a 3-day Memorial weekend! Weekends are so hard for me. It's easier at work when I eat what I bring and nothing else.

This week has already been better! I am looking to lose more than 1.2 pounds this week, make up for last week and get a little "ahead" before my 10-day vacation to TEXAS on Saturday!

Sometimes I wonder how I lost 32 pounds. It seems so hard sometimes! And it is, but I know it's worth it. Plus I have to keep reminding myself that it took me a whole year to lose that much so I'm not going to lose the last bit overnight. If I got discouraged every time I gained, I would have never lost those 32 pounds. So here's to a better week!

Weekly Weigh In

Weight: 144.2
Difference: -1.2!!
Total Lbs. Lost: 33.8 lbs.
Total Percentage Lost: 18.98% - 6.02% left!
Pounds til Party: 10.7!

Thoughts on this week: I was really excited that I lost weight this week. I knew I was going to have to work hard since I ate out and had cake and ice cream. It proves you can eat out and still lose weight! I started running this week. It makes me feel good because the second I start running I want to stop (no joke!) but I keep going and that makes me feel good.

Goal for next week: TRACKING. I firmly believe that writing down what I eat and keeping track of calories really helps me lose weight. I just have a hard time doing it. But I know it really really helps, so my goal this week is to right down EVERYTHING I eat. Wish me luck... : )

BMI CHECK

I checked out my BMI at http://www.runnersworld.com/cda/bmicalculator/1,7155,s6-242-306-314-0-0-0-0-0,00.html since it had been awhile and I couldn't remember what it was. I am BARELY NORMAL. Normal BMI for my height is 24.9. My BMI is 24.88. Granted this is not the most accurate way to figure it , but it gives me a good idea. I really don't like how close that is. But that's why I'm doing this blog right?

Brandon figured out that if I ate 1422 calories/day I would weigh 120 by Thanksgiving! Woah. That sounds so skinny.

Eating Out and Baked Chips

I'm not sure how this week's weigh in on Saturday is going to go. On Saturday night Brandon and I went to Rodizio's Grill with his family for his brother, Trevor's birthday. It was so much fun, but at a place like that, there's no holding back! They have an all you can eat salad bar and they come around to your table with all kind of meat on skewers. You've got to eat all you can since you paid $25 to eat! I didn't go too overboard, but then we went back to the apartment and somehow I found a way to fit yummy cake and ice cream in my already full tummy.

Brandon and I had not eaten out for a month before this. We decided we were eating out too much, gaining weight and spending a lot of money, so we told one person each that we would give them $100 if we broke our promise not to eat out (this included gas stations). It went well, and we're feeling better about ourselves, our bodies are appreciating it too! We went to Rodizio's and then on Tuesday had a huge yummy waffle at SLCC after the gym and now we're back to not eating out. I'm only doing it til June 6th because that's when I leave for Texas! And there's no way to avoid eating out when you're driving for 2 days.

I don't think eating out is bad, I think you shouldn't deprive yourself of anything, but you should eat out in moderation (unless you're one of those super self-control people who can ask for everything "on the side" and only eat half of the entree, but that's not me.) Ooh self-control, something you must have when trying to lose weight- something I struggle with every day!

Anywho, I have tried to keep up on my workouts and eating really healthy to make up for the weekend, but it will be close. I am hoping I at least don't gain this week.

Random tidbit: I apparently cannot buy Baked Chips. Yeah, they are better for you than regular chips, but I can eat them and eat them and keep eating them, way more than a serving, which still adds up in calories and fat! *sigh* They are so crunchy and good. I need to buy some Ziploc bags and portion the whole bag before eating them. Maybe that would help. Hopefully I ran enough yesterday to make up for it : )

2 Miles!! and Support

Today I ran 2 miles straight- without stopping! I couldn't believe it. Granted, it was on a treadmill, which is easier than outside where the terrain is not smooth and steady, but still I was proud of myself. I am so lucky to have Brandon who is such a great support to me. For some reason I just kept thinking "Keep running, keep running..." so I could tell Brandon how good I did. He helped me figure out a circuit to do with the arm weight machines (I'm trying to build muscle, since it burns more calories, and it will help me look toned). He's doing great at losing weight too and it really helps me stay on track. He helps me set goals, he encourages me to go to the gym and just sets a good example. Yesterday I really wanted to eat more leftover birthday cake but saw Brandon being so good and not eating any that I didn't. Having someone to support me has really helped in losing weight. He makes me feel gorgeous just how I am but also knows I will be happier with myself if I lose more weight and helps me to achieve my goals. I love you Brandon! Just how you are, and am so grateful for all your support. Thanks for helping in the effort of shrinking me :)

Weekly Weigh In

Saturday is my Weight Watchers weigh-in day. So I decided to blog my weekly weigh in. The good, the bad and the ugly. Luckily this week is good. : )

5/16/09

Weight: 145.4

Difference: -.2 (since May 2nd the last time I weighed in at WW, but technically since last week I lost 1.6 lbs. :)

Total Lbs. Lost: 32.6 lbs.

Total Percentage Lost: 18.3%

Pounds til Party: 11.9!
(Brandon said he'd throw me a party if I lost 25%!!)

Celebrating the Small Things

An important thing I've learned in my life is to celebrate the "small" things. Me, and I know a lot of people, are way too hard on themselves. I used to think like this "I ran for 10 minutes, big deal, I should have run 15 minutes." But wait! I RAN 10 MINUTES! That's awesome. I think one thing that helps me to stay on track is celebrating my successes. Yesterday I pushed myself really hard. I ran 10 minutes straight, walked for three, then ran another 10 minutes straight. This is huge for me because I haven't run in so long and I really wanted to stop but didn't. Compared to others it's not much, but that's not what matters. I'm doing my best and that's awesome. I don't think it's bragging to celebrate your accomplishments, to pat yourself on the back sometimes. If I don't congratulate myself for that quarter of a pound I lost this week, or that I only ate one piece of pie when I wanted 3, or that I at least maintained my weight, then I get really discouraged and want to give up. Sometimes I won't see huge changes at once, but celebrating the small things keeps me going.

Eating my Emotions

Usually I eat my emotions. If I'm happy I want to celebrate with food, if I do something good I want a food "reward", if I had a hard day I "deserve" a treat, if I'm depressed I think it will make me happier... pretty much ANY emotion I have I think I deserve a treat, or that food will make it all better. This is one thing that has been really hard for me to overcome, my thinking about food. It's a constant struggle. I have started to try and think of food as FUEL. Does that pint of ice cream really make me feel better? Not really. Maybe for a minute but then I feel a lot worse for giving in, and physically my body feels yucky with all that sugar and fat. If I do something good, don't I deserve something to make me feel good and healthy? I realized that my emotional well-being is actually very closely tied to my physical well-being. This is a subject I feel strongly about and will explore the connection between the mind and body in further posts.
Here's the challenge for me now. Instead of reaching for the chocolate when I'm stressed (which is REALLY what I usually want to do) I should go for a walk, paint my nails, eat a piece of fruit, drink a glass of water, stretch, listen to good music, treat myself to reading time, movie time, or something else I enjoy. When I've had a hard day, I should treat myself to a bubble bath. I jsut want to make good choices, do something to make my body and mind feel good- something lasting that I won't regret doing later.
I actually put this into practice this week. I have been really stressed at work so instead of chowing down, I took a walk on my 30 minute lunch break. The next day I did the same thing and yesterday was so stressful I put on my tennis shoes and ran out my stress. Try it- it really helps and makes you feel good about yourself!
I would love more ideas on beating the urge to eat my emotions!

Trying Something New

Brandon, my boyfriend, always teases me about all the healthy recipes and cookbooks I have and never use. So tonight I made "Fried" Chicken Tenders. It uses 1/4 cup egg beaters and 1/2 cup FiberOne cereal, crushed, with garlic salt and pepper, and 6 oz. of chicken. Then I baked them at 375degrees for 10 minutes on one side and 10 minutes on the other side. It says to spray lightly with canola oil spray, which I think helps make the coating nice and crunchy. The crushed cereal was nice and crunchy but a tiny bit sweet I thought. Maybe next time I will try it with different spices. I have also tried this with buttermilk and crushed corn flakes.

I had some leftover pasta since I made the whole box. I kept trying to think of what I could with it besides serve it with red tomato-based sauce. I felt like a cold pasta salad and this is what I came up with.

Peparella Pasta

10 oz. penne pasta (I use Ronzoni Smart Taste)

8 slices Hormel Turkey pepperoni, chopped

2 oz. mozarella cheese, small cubed

1/4 cup chopped onion

2/3 cup chopped green bell pepper

2 Tbls. light italian dressing (I used Wishbone Light Italian)

Simply mix all ingredients.

Turned out pretty good! Not the best salad I've ever had. But I'm new to this creating thing and it's made with ingredients I already had on hand. Any other suggestions to make this salad better without increasing calories too much?

This time last summer...

This time last summer I weighed 5 lbs. less than I do now. My shorts and capris are too tight to wear. This last semester of school really put the stress on, and with it the pounds. I stopped working out when school got crazy and think I put on more inches than the pounds suggest! I am proud of the 33 pounds I have lost in the past 2 years, but I still have extra weight to lose. Hence the reason for this blog. I'll keep track of my progress, post recipes I like and exercises that work for me, debate controversial diet/weight loss topics, and hopefully provide some motivation and inspiration to others trying to lose weight. Please feel free to share comments or ideas on your successes!