A Journal to bust a plateau!

[mabenoab]

Friday: Whew! The end of a busy week. Seems I was running every day, and hardly eating at all. I must be eating something though, because the scale has just been flooey! I know I shouldn't weigh myself every day, but it helps me honest, you know?

Today, I had my Atkins shake and a cup of coffee for breakfast, another Atkins shake for lunch (I was running in an out and had no time to stop to eat), then for dinner: both kids were out tonight so dh and I had some rare alone time. He went to the store and bought two chick lobsters, a steak and some asparagus. Then came home and broiled the steak outside, steamed the lobster & shrimp, and cracked open two Michelob Ultra beers (only 2.6 carbs ea.). It was such a lovely meal for just the two of us. And...the whole meal cost less than $30.00! We couldn't order lobster & steak for two in a restaurant for that price.

Good news is, even if the scale isn't moving too fast: today I wore a skirt that I could not fit into last summer...and it was plenty roomy & comfortable. That was a good thing!!

Happy Mother's Day weekend to all you moms out there!! May you be as loved as you love!!

Beth

 

[tbstein]

Beth, I also stalk the scale. I know I shouldn't. And to give an example, I had one day last week I gained 5 pounds overnight, and the next morning it was gone--thank goodness!

Wonderful on getting into that skirt. I know that sometimes how your clothes fit is a better indication than the scale!

Keep on going! Hope your mom's day was good. And that the rest of your week is busy! Ya know, the busier we are, the less we think about our waist line!

Wendy

 

[mabenoab]

What a weekend! Ds's prom, Mother's Day...When Sunday evening came, I hardly knew where the weekend had gone. I could use another one, please!

It was pretty easy to be good this weekend, though I did have some sweet late night Saturday...purely emotional eating, my son's prom ended at 11, and he called to say that the kids had to drop off another girl first and she lives waaaaay out in the far reaches. So he didn't end up home till nearly 1:00...that last hour killed me, and yes, I sought comfort in my arch nemesis...pop tarts. I don't know why I buy them.

Yes, I do, they're for the kids. The KIDS, I tell you!!

Anyhoo...Wendy, I sooo know what you mean about "stalking" the scale. I hate those water weight gains, and fluctuations...how come we can't fluctuate down? Wouldn't that be nice, like a sneak preview, or coming attractions. That'd be nice.

I won't bother re telling all I ate this weekend...trust me! I was good. I'm starting to like Mondays, its kind of like getting back in the saddle, always a new beginning. I had a shake for breakfast and then had coffee with some old friends this morning (these are the folks that instilled in me a passion for WDW!) and that was wonderful. Lunch was a couple of turkey, bacon lettuce & mayo rollups with a side of peanuts, and a low carb (2g) chocolate finger cake. Yummy. Dinner was a boneless pork chop with low carb bbq sauce on it, a side of broccoli in cheese sauce (5g). A cup of coffee and another low carb finger cake after my walk with dh tonight, and I'm calling it a day!

I'm going to try to post a pic of my dson and his gf...wish me luck!

Beth

 

[mabenoab]

oops.

 

[eeyore25]

HI Beth,

Your DH and his gf look great in their picture! I hope they had a good time!

You are doing a great job with your eating....even with the pop tart snafu! To answer your question about veggies, I don't really like any of them. I will eat green beans, but only fresh from my dad's garden. I usually don't get those but once a year and he lives in Nebraska. So I don't eat any veggies. My frozen lunches come with them and I pick them out! I will eat corn though, but that is not really all that good for you!!!

You are doing a great job, keep up the good work!

Have a great day

 

[mabenoab]

Thanks, Jamie! I really appreciate your support...it makes things so much easier just knowing that others are also working towards their goals. Re: the veggies, fresh green beans from the garden are wonderful, aren't they? So much better than the frozen or canned stuff we're getting this time of year. Our produce section at the store can be pretty slim pickings! Well, I guess its nothing a good multi vitamin and some fiber won't do, right?

Thanks for the note re: my son & his gf...they had an amazing time at the prom! I think it was magical for the both of them and all their friends. What a wonderful time of life they're in.

Today was a lame kind of day...I had no imagination when it came to food at all. Breakfast was a chocolate Atkins shake and a coffee, and lunch was two pieces of oven roasted turkey & a slice of ham rolled around some red leaf lettuce & mayo, with a side of peanuts, followed with a low carb finger cake and a bottled water. Dinner was 3 grilled hot dogs with some relish. Thats it except for 3 Russell Stover toffee candies (.2 carb for 3). Not a bad day for me, but dh is getting so grumpy lately. I think its his low carb diet. I may have to tackle him to floor and force feed him a Pop Tart!!

Hey, by the way: I made my final payment today on our upcoming WDW trip! I'm so excited!!

Good luck everybody, I hope your week is going well, and you're sticking to your goals!!

Beth

 

[mabenoab]

I'm so worried about Saturday's weigh in. My weight hasn't budged all week, and I'm being so good...I mean, not perfect, but good...I did have 2 glasses of wine on Tuesday, but I cut back on my meals that day, too.

Yesterday was pretty good. We ordered pizza for dinner, and I ordered a small mushroom & onion, but I did not even have one bite of crust. I was perfect with the no carb rule...but I did eat almost all of the cheese/mushroom & onions off the pizza. I think DH only had two or three pieces. Then, we had cake ( a checkerboard Ganache...which I have no idea what that is, but it looked pretty) for my son's friend's birthday. I was not even tempted! Not a single bite or finger of frosting.

Today was good...breakfast was a shake, lunch was two pieces of ham rolled up with a little mayo & a slice of swiss cheese, with a side of about 10 peanuts. Then I ate some Russell Stover low carb chocolate (there's no way thats really chocolate...I suspect its a laxative, to be honest) for about 3 grams of carbs. I might have had a low carb finger cake for a mid afternoon snack, but thats only 4g of carbs, and I can't remember if I ate it or not. Thats how good they are.

Dinner was a slice of salmon, with a side of green beans. Water, water everywhere.

Now, I have been ashamed of myself after reading everybody else's journals. Some folks really are busting their humps with exercise...and I was doing literally nothing more than a walk with dh after dinner. I looked in the mirror, and while I can see weight loss, I see flab. yuck. So I dusted off the Kathy Smith Fat Burning Workout and put myself through the paces for 1/2 hour this am, followed by 15 mins of stretches. Tonight I'll do my abs, and tomorrow some light weight work. Thats what other Disers have driven me to!

I'm off to look at other journals, you all inspire and motivate me every day! Thank you so, so much!

Beth

 

[tbstein]

Hey Beth!

Great pic! They sure look happy and excited. Bet they had a great time at the prom. The flowers are pretty. I love flowers! (BIG sigh because I am so waiting for the roses to come out!)

Don't worry about WI. I know you will have loss to report! It is hard to follow the no carb. It has gotten easier at work. As I mentioned, I haven't had bread on a sandwich in ages, and I really don't miss it as much as I thought. I do miss pizza. I will do as you did and just eat the toppings. I miss real pasta too. Ahhh, to indulge at the Macaroni grill would be close to heaven.

I was checking more into what was going on at WDW while DS will be there, and 3 of the 5 nights he is there, Spectomagic runs! OMG! I may have to sneak down there just to see it. That last time we went, it only ran one night and it was soooo crowded, we just went back to the room. I will live, but not well tho!

TIme to get moving. You will have a great WI! I know it! You are too determined not to!

Have a great weekend

Wendy

 

[mabenoab]

So the weight didn't drop one lb. this week. Unbelieveable! If you knew how much I would be eating if I wasn't on this diet...and the things I would be eating. When I started, my goal felt reasonable: a 2lb a week loss would have me at down 20 now, but I'm stuck here at down 16. The ONLY thing I ever cheat with is some wine once or twice a week. Ok, thats a lie, those of you who know me know that Pop Tarts are the bane of my existence. But I've had 3! in 10 weeks! No bagels with cheese, no chips & dip, no breads, rice, potatoes or french fries. No margaritas or tortilla chips with cheese...argh. Aunt Flo is on her way so I blame her! (more than you wanted to know, right?)

So yesterday was a shake for breakfast, some chicken breast cut up with celery & almonds & mixed with mustard and a little mayo for lunch, a low carb finger cake (110 cals, 4g carb), and water...a glass of wine with my friend when she came for a visit...then only 2 slices oven roasted chicken wrapped with 2 slices provolone cheese & lettuce for supper. Then water before bed. I'm not hungry, and am not really craving anything. I did my weights workout before bed.

Thats it. Its got to come off, right? Maybe I should add another protein shake at night, I can't imagine eating less. I'll keep on keeping on, I guess, I don't want to blow it now.

Hope everyone else is doing awesome! May your scales go downward, and your spirits go up!!
Beth

 

[mabenoab]

Thanks for your happy and supportive thoughts...I hope you know how much I appreciate them!

Thanks, too, for the comments about the kids. They did have a wonderful time, and were so happy. When they finally got home, they were trying to tell me what a good time they'd had, and then boom! both fell asleep right before my eyes in mid conversation.

So your ds will really get the chance to see SpectroMagic! I'm sure he'll tell you all about it, but I think you should see it for yourself (I never have) You should surprise him! or... take a romantic weekend with dh down this summer and see the show.

Hang on in there, and have a great weekend!!
Beth

 

[mabenoab]

Wow, only 32 days till our WDW trip. I'm so excited...then after that its something like 53 days till my trip to Vegas with my Mom & two sisters, so I'm very motivated to stick with this diet.

I haven't posted for about a week. I've hit another plateau, and I'm pretty frustrated. I added exercise to my mix, but not too much...1/2 hour aerobic exercise every morning, then every other night, about 20 minutes with arm weights, and 15 minutes of abdominals every night. I'm increasing the abdominal work because, crazy as it sounds, I kind of enjoy it, and results show up pretty quickly. Thats cool.

Of course, Memorial Day weekend was an interruption of my exercise, but I stayed pretty true to my diet. The eating part is so easy to stick to now...food seems much less of an event than it used to. Dh and I had a date on Friday night, so while we ate salads, we did have a few cocktails. I'm not sorry. Other than that, all went well.

I hope everybody on the boards had a safe and happy holiday weekend. Welcome summer!!

Beth

 

[C_leen]

Hi Beth-

I skimmed your journal today! I just wanted to reassure you that you are on the right road with your eating plan & increasing your exercise! You've lost 16 pounds & you know the rest will come off - just maybe not on your personal time plan...

One item you may want to look at is how many calories you are taking in and estimate how many you are burning. You may have cut too low.

Keep up the walks and the aerobics!

 

[dabute]

Hi Beth,

Just stopping by to wish you some good vibes. Hope all is going well for you.

Jennifer

 

[tbstein]

Hey there!

How are you? Looks like you have been busy too.

DS is very excited about his trip plans. He and his friend have taken all the info that I gathered for them and are planning out everyday. Such excitement.

Not much else it seems with summer coming on. I do much better with diet and exercise with the summer. I just love being outside in the back yard with the dog and such. I think it is all the fresh produce that is nice. You are able to have about 1000 calories, and all of them much better for you. We have to be sure not hit stravation mode, then the body doesn't loose anything.

Less than a month to your trip!

Time to walk the dog and all!

Wendy

 

[mabenoab]

Hey Wendy! Good to see you!! Yep, you know it: the end of the school year gets soo busy. My dd has so many field trips, and events going on, that it seems every night has been full. Not my tummy, though! I'm doing pretty well on the diet...but the weight moves so slowly. What I can't believe though is all the inches I'm losing. My pants are literally bagging out all over, and I love that! Abdominal exercises really make a difference fast. I'm just going to stick with it, and the scale just has to go down. Its a lifestyle, not a diet!

I'll bet your ds is getting excited for his trip. Has his friend been to WDW before? Its not his gf, is it?

My ds took SATs on Saturday, and he came out thinking he is really brilliant, or totally dim. Either he really knew what was on the test, or he didn't even know that he didn't know. Can't wait to see those scores!

Kids have 2 more weeks of school, and I cannot wait for it to be summer...on the other hand (she says sheepishly) I do enjoy the quiet of the morning after they've gone to school and I can have my coffee without interruption. Ahh well...

Good luck to you all in your dieting..no, lifestyle changes! We can do this, ladies!!

Beth

 

[eeyore25]

Hi Beth,

Sorry I have been MIA for a while, things have been crazy!!! Looks like you are doing a great job! The weight will come off.The good news is that you are seeing the loss in your clothes! How great is that!!!

Keep up the good work!!!

Have a great day

 

[tbstein]

Hey Wendy! . What I can't believe though is all the inches I'm losing. My pants are literally bagging out all over, and I love that! Abdominal exercises really make a difference fast. I'm just going to stick with it, and the scale just has to go down. Its a lifestyle, not a diet!

I'll bet your ds is getting excited for his trip. Has his friend been to WDW before? Its not his gf, is it?

My ds took SATs on Saturday, and he came out thinking he is really brilliant, or totally dim.

Kids have 2 more weeks of school, and I cannot wait for it to be summer...on the other hand (she says sheepishly) I do enjoy the quiet of the morning after they've gone to school and I can have my coffee without interruption. Ahh well...

Good luck to you all in your dieting..no, lifestyle changes! We can do this, ladies!!

Beth

Hey Beth!

I agree, that when you can see the difference and feel it in your clothes, it keeps the positive thoughts going. I met up with someone I hadn't seen in over a year. She had wonderful things to say about how I looked. I was feeling so good afterward. I may not have lost all the pounds I want, but I feel my shape is certainly showing the hard work I have done. And you are right, with it as a lifestyle, we will get there!

DS is very excited. No, it isn't his GF going. She is still only 17 and parents would not let her unless I went. I am unable to go, since we hadn't budgeted for me to go, so she is a bit sad, but plans on having a trip to WDW when we go as a family in a few years. His friend has been to disney at least 6 times. DS has been over a dozen. They have been play buddies since pre-school. I know they will have a blast. I want to share it with him, but I know it is time for him to grow up and be his own man. The trials of parenthood.

I know your son did well with his SATs. They worry just as much as we do.

Enjoy the last few weeks of morning quiet. Mine are gone and will be for the next 3 months.

Off and running! Work is calling via esp!

Wendy

 

[eeyore25]

Hi Beth,

Just wanted to stop in and say hello

Hope all is well.

Have a great day

 

[tbstein]

Hello Beth!

How ya doing? Things are good here. It's hot, but the heaviness isnt' around, so I guess that means it won't rain. HA! I like a rainy night in the summer, so does the lawn, and it helps to keep the water bill down!

Hope the family is keeping you busy. Are they out for the summer? It has only been a week and DD is already talking about being bored. We really need to get her to the library!

Take care!

Wendy

 

[mabenoab]

First let me say how grateful I am for you all checking in on my journal. Your kind and supportive words mean so much to me...and really help keep me on track...and when I read your journals and how hard you ladies are working, and how conscientious you are about your eating, well, its so motivating!

Things have been crazy busy. Dh's overtime (he usually gets a lot, which I love) has been cut...so I've stepped up my work schedule to kind of make up the difference. Fortunately my clients are happy to have me work a little bit more...there's always lots to do! Today is the last full day of school...Monday is a 1/2 day only, so my kids are psyched!! Its been busy too helping them with final projects, studying for exams...and ds's band has their first ever public concert (really out in public, not just for their adoring girlfriends) this Saturday night. They're a little nervous, but they've done a good job securing the venue, creating flyers, and practicing, practicing! They have a studio set up in our basement so all week long my house has been vibrating to a loud bass beat. Which somehow makes me want to... eat!

One of the bandmembers graduates HS tonight, and another just had his birthday so I got a beautiful chocolate cake w/ chocolate frosting on it yesterday. I can so skip the cake, but frosting!! I scooped it up from the tray when everyone was done...dh raising his eyebrows and clearing his throat at me the whole time like he's the danged diet police or something. I may kill him. And yes...yes...while I'm here and being honest I will confess...I ate another pop tart. I admit it, and yes, I do feel guilty about it, but geez louise...I'm only human!

I'm compensating for my indiscretions with increased exercise. I've been doing cardio every morning and some weights, but I read an article in AARP magazine which said the perfect routine for those of us over 40 is one day 40 mins cardio, the next day 20 mins cardio, 20 mins weight training, then a day off, then start again...I have a hard time with the day off because I keep thinking if I stop, I'll never get started again, so I only take Sundays off. I'm feeling really good and strong!! Plus, I do 10-15 minutes of abdominals almost every night. I'm thinking this is why the scale isn't moving. I'm building muscle. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the chocolate frosting and pop tarts!!

Only just over two weeks till our WDW trip...I'm so excited to have some quiet time with my dh & kids. My brother is going to drive up from Miami to spend some of our trip with us, and I'm looking forward to seeing him. We talk every week, but I haven't seen him since last summer or spring. I hope he can make it, he's on call for work 24/7 so all plans are always tentative.

Any hoo... thanks for checking in, and good luck to all of you: Wendy, Jennifer, Jamie, Colleen...you ladies are awesome!!!!