Dieting - Me and Dance 2......

Okay Day 1 - I was good... Day 2 - and Day 3 - I took a break.... Now day 4 - I'm back on track... I have no idea why I took that 2 day detour - especially since I just started.. Any hoo - the detour was not too bad...

Now to add some kind of exercise to my daily routine... hmm... Because I have Lupus (or maybe because I am overweight) my joints are not in the best shape... I can no longer jog or run for long distances.. I can walk.. So I will do that... But I want to do something more.... Okay - I can ride my bike... And I could go to the Club - we only pay an arm and leg to be members..... my kids use it... so shall I... But there has got to be more....

One of my favorite blogger LaVender Shedrick at MOMSWEB gave me a great idea.... I taped my daughter and her friend dancing to Dance 2 on the Wii - it was amazing... What a work out.. So my goal is to do normal workouts - like walking - visiting the club.. but I'm also going to (in the privacy of my own home when NO one is looking) try working out on the Wii... and when I reach my goal... I will post my video of the work out to Dance 2... LaVender said that she would like to see me do it and was giggling thinking about it... I have to laugh out loud... cuz it would be a funny sight to behold......

Here is the work out/ dance routine that I will Master... for all to marvel and laugh with me... Oh, the strange guy on the left in the back is my husband - he cracks me up... He had no idea I was video taping - he thought I was taking pictures... Ha

On A Quest To Lose Some Poundage...

I was married on February 11, 1989... On that particular day - my waist was 21 inches.. I weighed 105 with my clothes wet... I wore a size 2 in most clothes and I thought my thighs were fat.... Now several years later... let's just say.. I'm not that size any longer... Not even close.... About 16 years ago I became hungry and my appetite hasn't gone away... and neither have my thighs..... not by a long shot!

You never really know how big you are until you see a picture of yourself with people you thought were fat and you are the biggest one in the bunch... or when you go to the movies and both sides of the seat are pressing down on your sides... Then you know it's time to do something.... It's WAY past time to be doing something.... so Here goes...

I am taking my girls on an adventure this summer - we are flying from sunny California to Washington DC, Manhattan, and Boston... We are going to spend over 2 weeks exploring American history... and walking... and walking.. up hills... down hills... and the state my body is in right not - it'll kill me... especially if you throw in the heat and humidity that the East coast is known for in the Summer time... well you get my point.

I spoke to a nutritionist about Slim Fast and she said that it's one of the healthiest and fastest ways to lose weight... She said that the shake has all the vitamins and minerals I really need but to make sure to add fruit and vegetables to my menu.... Yesterday was day 1 and I made it - wasn't too sure if I would... Around 11:30 PM - the leftover pizza from the girls dinner was calling my name or was it the caramel topping.. I'm not sure... but instead of indulging - I made a cup of hot tea and went to bed......

Yesterday's menu consisted of:
2 shakes 190 calories each
2 slim fast bar snacks 120 calories each
1 banana
lean cuisine spaghetti dinner around 300 calories
total intake: 900

I plan on adding some exercise into my daily routine... walking and the Wii... I'll keep you posted...

Getting In Shape For The Summer

The Hanging Lakes

Okay - two days ago was the day.... The day that I cut all wheat, sugar, and unhealthy carbs from my diet... Summer is coming up and I am out of shape and ... well, let's just say I'm out of shape.... My goal is to take my girls back up to the Rocky Mountains and stay at the Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge - if you have not been there - you have got to put it on your list of things to do before you die....

There are some amazing hiking trails - there's one in particular that I want to enjoy... It's called the Hanging Lakes - it's 1000 feet up a very steep incline - but once you make it - it's suppose to be worth it... Here's a link to the trails and pictures too - it'll make you want to go.. The Colorado River runs right through Glenwood - to cross the street - you cross a bridge over the River - it's beautiful... breathtaking....

The Lodge is old - Doc Holiday once stayed there so the rumor goes (there's a hiking trail to his memorial).... The lodge does have one thing that no other lodge or hotel in the world has... The world's largest natural hot spring pool... The pool is open everyday of the year... Last time I was there - we discovered a webcam on their pool slide - my girls and I made a webcam date with the husband.... I called him from my cell and we waved and acted silly for him - we said good bye and jumped into the pool... Unknown to the girls and I - he continued to stalk spy watch us... Later that night we chatted and he asked how the girls liked their ice cream cones..... funny...

I am looking forward to some "mommy and daughters" time again - we have fun and we are making memories... We do enjoy "daddy" time too - maybe the next time...

The Rotation Diet... Ths Time

I do not like the word diet.... It automatically makes me want to get a tube of chocolate chip cookie dough... But dieting is what I need to do... Healthier way of eating... yep Exercise aka torture is a given.... This week I have reviewed the many diets I have done.

Jenny Craig - okay tasting food... Not much to it.. Did not enjoy going in every week to talk to a stick thin girl who never in her entire life had an eating problem.. Pretty pricey.

Medifast - shakes.. gross soup.. different flavored shakes.. Not good tasting.. But what really turned me off was... (don't gag) I had left a cup with a little of the shake in our garage. There was an airtight lid on it... A few days later I discovered it and inside this airtight cup with a little medifast shake were about 50 little worms... I kid you not......EWWWWW

Optifast - You can have Five shakes a day - total calorie intake 800.. Go into a doctor's office every week for weigh in and blood pressure checks.. average cost $160 - 200 per week.

Nutri systems - One work YUCK ... Tried about 4 of their meals - ended up returning the 1 month supply of food and got my money back... They even messed up on the chocolate cake!

Weight watchers - I think this is a really good program... I did the on-line way and the group meeting way... Did not like the group meetings... I am too busy to listen to others complain... I might go back to this..... on line

Atkins - This was a really good program - I lost a great deal of weight... only to put it back on once I started eating carbs again..... I do love my bread, pasta, and potatoes..

The Rotation Diet by Martin Katahn is a good diet/way of eating. It teaches you portion control and it has you eating healthy foods from all the food groups. What can be difficult with this "way of eating" is the first three days of the diet... Calorie intake is 600 then it goes to 900 and then to 1200 and then back to 600 then 900 then 1200.... It is a 21 day plan that you can continue to follow.. It jolts your body to burn fat... and the food is not bad.. if you like a lot of tuna....

So I am thinking - I'm going to do The Rotation Diet this time...

Any suggestions?

The After Picture Is Gonna Take A While

There were many blogs I read today about different people's struggles with weight loss. Many of the stories were very uplifting and human.... making me realize that I am not alone. In my teens and young adulthood, I had a great body... at least I liked it and I know my husband did.. and then I got sick... I was diagnosed with Lupus... before anyone feels sorry for me..I am symptom free today and have been for fourteen years - I had kidney failure for a couple of months way back then but my kidneys came back... I am fine but I became fat...
I have my little comfort zone I live in... I have my friends that I see all the time and love me... there are clients that I have worked with for years and years and never met face to face and I like it that way... there are old high school friends that I would love to see but in my embarrassment, I have allowed other obligations to take priority and have not seen anyone... it was kind of sad to me the other day... I have a picture of me and Dusty (my husband) on a shelf in my family room. The picture was taken sixteen years ago when I was a size 2... My friend looked at the picture and asked me who the pretty girl with Dusty was..... can you feel my embarrassment...and I think my friend was embarrassed too...
I am tired of living my life in hiding... I know that this is my problem and my problem alone... At my ripe old age of 43 - I seriously doubt friends that love me for me could care less how small or large I am.. I think my clients may be surprised how I look.... my voice does not sound like I look... Don't get me wrong... I am not scary to look at.. I'm just over nourished...
So tomorrow is Memorial Day and I am going to start yet again another diet... another way of eating... making good choices and not eating that chocolate cookie dough calling my name from the refrigerator in the middle of the night.. I'm going to wear earplugs.. so wish me luck... pray for me if you will.. I am NOT going to post a before picture until I have an after to share (okay I will- accountability and all that). I am guessing the after won't be available for at least a year..