Amanda's Menu Planning Spectacular!

[sharoncity]

Hey Amanda!! I haven't been around for a few days. Sounds like you are doing well "mentally"!! I really like your positive attitude. Watch out 140's!!! Here comes Amanda!!!
I know what you mean about missing hubby. Try to do a little extra exercise (to help the cause and wear you out!! ). Maybe a nice,quiet bubble bath, paint the toe nails..... All the stuff we manage to somehow not do when our significant other is around. Or just enjoy a good book. Then I like Lulu's idea for a romantic reunion..... You'll have plenty of free time to plan that too!
I hope you have a GREAT week Amanda! I just can feel great things for you this week!!
TTFN-
Sharon

 

[Samandmom]

It took us 30 minutes to find the car we liked and to test drive it.

It takes us 30 DAYS to find a car.
<------ Amanda in her new car as she is shedding pounds. (can't forget your princess hat)

Hope the time away from DH goes by quickly for you. It's in the air right now but DH might have to go for 6 weeks but he will be able to come back on weekends. It would not be too bad, but I KNOW Michael will miss him so badly. It's tough for a 3yr old to understand that he will be back on the weekends.

 

[septbride2002]

Thanks for coming by Nella and Sharon!

Yesterday was okay - I gave into a bratwurst with a bun but otherwise had a nice and healthy day.

I had to take the new car back to the dealership to get the keys (long story), have them fix some of the paint, and have them check the gas gage. It took me an hour to get the dealership (I've usually had dinner by then) so I was starving when I got there. Another hour later they explained to me that they needed the car a bit longer. Now I'm thinking about eating my arm. So I called my Mom to come and get me and I headed to their Custoer BBQ for some substance. That is where the bratwurst came in. Mom and went out to dinner because I was still hungry and she hadn't had dinner yet. I ended up with Chicken wings (Yummy!)

So menu from yesterday:
B: Protein Bar
L: Chicken Florentine and Salad
S: Coffee
D: Bratwurst and about 8 Chicken wings

Todays menu:
B: ??? I woke up late and didn't have any options this morning.
L: A Thick Burger from Hardees minus the bun. I have a craving for these.
D: ??? It will be just me so I'll probably make a big salad.

Last night wasn't bad - I did manage to sleep better then I thought I would. Tonight will probably be worse since I have nothing to keep me occupied until 9:30 at night. My plan is to go home and work out to THE FIRM, eat dinner, organize the office (I have paperwork everywhere) and then watch some TV.

~Amanda

 

[Strings]

Amanda,

I'm sorry you are missing your hubby. Just remember this is a great indication of how strong your commitment and marriage are. I think you are handling things very well. Sounds like your plan for the day is a good one. I like the Hardees burgers too.

Have a good one.
Beth

 

[ZerasPride]

Hi Amanda,

I'm stopping by to check on you my FIRM-sis! DH and I had a Hyndai (Elantra, it was silver). We looked at the Santa Fe but ended up getting DH an Explorer. Anyway, congrats on the new car! I think you're smart to buy something that someone else took the hit with the depreciation value. I'm leasing a Saturn L200 (which I love) and when my lease is up, I'm definitely looking for something that is at least 2 years old.

I'm so sorry you are missing your DH! I remember the first time me and my husband were apart after we were married and it tore me up inside! Even now after almost 11 years I hate being apart. I guess I sound pretty silly because I'm off to Disney in less than 40 days without him but I'm still not all that thrilled about it, if you know what I mean. Sigh.

You are doing so well with your progress. I know you'll reach your goal in no time. I hope you get in your FIRM work out. Take care and I'll stop back by and check on you soon!

 

[septbride2002]

WE ARE DOING GOOD TODAY!

B: Nothing - left the house to early
S: Peanuts - 5 carbs
L: Hardees burger - 3 carbs (and it was yummy)
S: Coffee - 5 carbs

Now I don't know if I will get to workout tonight. SIL is being a witch today and emailed me to let me know that MY husband her brother stained her carpet with punch and now it is RUINED! Of course she is trying to use pet stain remover to get the stain out and not something that would work on punch. So I am going to go over there after work with some Oxy Clean and attack the stain.

~Amanda

 

[septbride2002]

Hello. My name is Amanda, and I am a compulsive eater. Everyday for the past week I've made a recommitment to myself to eat right, stick to Induction, to try and make the scale move. Every night I have ended up eating things that were unhealthy for me because of impulse. Last night I ate a medium thin crust pizza (I will be heading over to the Binge Eating meeting after this). I don't know what is wrong with me. I want to lose, but I keep myself from fulfilling what I need to do. I have completely given up on exercise for the last 30 days, I am unmotivated, talk myself out of sticking to program, and feel as though I should just give up.

But I am not going to! I think I have been putting way to much pressure on myself about this wedding. And like Doe or Erin said (I can't remember which one) no one will remember how much I weighed but they will remember that I was there and that is the important thing. I am going to take my own advice and when feeling overwhelmed I am going to make a list. I will continue the list at home but I thought I would start it here.

1) This weekend we will go buy running shoes no matter how much they cost and start training for the marathon.

2) I will begin working out, even if it is for a short walk. I may not always have the hour to dedicate to THE FIRM but I will work in a walk or some form of exercise every single day.

3) I will plan meals better, I will start preparing things in advance so I do not have an excuse when I get home in the evenings.

4) For 7 days if I stick to the above 3 goals I will reward myself with some bronzer that I've been wanting or with some nail polish.

Okay - now that all of that is off my chest here is my plan for today:

B: 1 fried egg and 1 slice of cheese (2 carbs)
L: Tuna Salad (2) and 5 Whole Wheat Crackers (9)
S: Sugar Free Jello (0)
D: Noodless Lasagna (??)

The lasagna takes 20 minutes to bake - while it is baking I am going to go for a short but brisk walk.

DH is coming home tonight! :happy2: I woke up at 5:30 this morning and couldn't get back to sleep I was so excited. LOL! I guess absence does make the heart grow fonder. I just can't wait to see him and talk to him! DH isn't much of a phone talker so we really haven't even talked the last couple of nights.

Well I am off to start the day - I've got my water ready, I'm in an outfit that makes me feel self confident and in charge of my destiny, I am leaving work an hour early to pick up DH!!

~Amanda

 

[sharoncity]

Hey Amanda - Yeah! Hubby is coming home!! :happy2: I am sure it will be a nice "reunion" for both of you!
I know how you are feeling about the compulsive eating. I think this week you probably had some emotional/bored eating. But to get back on track, I try to just take 1 day at a time. I want to be cheat free for just today. Once I've got 1 day under the belt, the next is a little easier, and the next and the next.....Try to visualize what you want to look like at the wedding, in the bathing suit. Are you gonna look like that if you eat this? How will I get to that point if I keep doing this? Those are the questions I ask myself when faced with bad eating. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't.
The exercise? Well, I'm the last person who can help you with that one! But, yes, you need to start training if you truly are going to do the marathon. Guess you need to be honest with yourself on that one too. But like I said, I haven't mastered this area by a long shot!!
I like your goals and plans for the next 7 days. I know you can follow through and do it Amanda!!! Look how far you've come! Come on Amanda! Onward and Downward!!!
TTFN-
Sharon

 

[ZerasPride]

Hi Amanda!

to you. First off, I want to tell you that I so understand about that compulsive eating. I have been a compulsive eater since I was a little girl. One of my earliest memories is of the other kids in my family (I'm the oldest of 12) being outside in the summer playing in the evening while I snuck back in the house and "finished" off the food on their plates. Wow, I don't usually talk about that particular memory because it's so painful but it is a part of my past and what helped balloon me up to 280+ pounds. I can so relate to not feeling like you can control what you eat. Or making a commitment to yourself when the day starts to eat a certain way and by night time the plan is out the window.

I don't have answers for you. I do know that you have the power within you to win this battle. I so appreciate the list you have made to help reach your goals. I like also what Sharon has said about being cheat free. I probably have a good 18 full months from start to finish to reach my goal weight. I think if I would have thought about how long it would take to reach my goal when I started, I don't think I ever would have. But you know what? As she said, we don't have to be cheat free for a 100 days, we only have to be cheat free for 1 day and then repeat that process the next day and the next and the next and before we know it, we've had a week, then a month and even a year of cheat free days by taking it one day at a time.

You asked me about short FIRM workouts. I posted this on my journal but I'll copy it here for you too: I'm sorry you haven't been able to get the FIRM work outs in. Most of the tapes are pretty long. When I do cardio sculpt with Allie, I only do this one Saturday and usually stop when I get to 40 minutes because 55 minutes is just too long for me. I don't have the stamina or time. When I do body sculpt (twice a week) I either do lower or upper body but never both. Each section is about 24 minutes long and that's enough for me for a weekday. I bought cardio sculpt blater with Lisa Kay as instructor and it's a 30 minute from beginning to end video that has replaced regular cardio sculpt with Allie as my all time favorite FIRM work out. It's quick and efficient and you feel so goooooddd when you're done! Check it out if you have the chance. I found my VHS for $8 at Walmart about a month ago.

Please take care of yourself. I know you'll have a successful and cheat free day!

 

[DoeWDW]

Dear Amanda, I'm so sorry I haven't been to your journal sooner! I'm sending extra your way.

Please don't be too hard on yourself! You've been apart from your sweet DH for the first time. You've got an upcoming wedding to attend - I know that would be stressful for me! You've just bought a car. Changes to our normal routine are stressful - whether they are good changes (new car) or bad changes (missing DH).

Look back at your menus. It looks like you do just fine for the majority of the day and then have one slip-up. Is it at the same time every day? Are you eating because you're stressed, bored, needing comfort? We all do things for a reason, Amanda, so this eating must be serving some purpose or fulfilling some need in your life. Until you figure out what that purpose or need is and find another way to meet it, you're going to have a tough time breaking this habit of turning to food. I need to hear this same thing too, so I'm talking to myself as well as you today.

You're still doing more good things for yourself than you used to do, right? The majority of your meals are low-carb. You're drinking your water more often. You are on the right track but are encountering some bumps in the road, and that's to be expected. Celebrate the good things you do for you! Then, try to work on those areas that are tough - you may need to dig deep to find out why they are such problems and then find other behaviors to substitute, but overall, you're on the right track!!

Enjoy your reunion with Brian. I'm sure he's been missing you too! Take a deep breath and celebrate your success so far. Tomorrow you can move on and try to figure out some of those tough spots (nasty carby food, time for exercise). For today, it's enough to know that your DH will be home soon and you're doing many good things for a healthier you!

 

[Strings]

Hi Amanda,

I'd say it is a safe bet that you won't get this message until tomorrow. I wanted to give you a . You have been really stressed, and you are doing a great job. I'll second everything Doe said. She is much more eloquant than I am.

I started reinduction today. If you want, we can do this together. Enjoy your time with DH.

Beth

 

[DoeWDW]

Amanda, something tells me you've got a big grin on your face today! I hope you and DH enjoyed your reunion last night.

I wanted to stop in and thank you for your encouragement! I DID walk the puppy last night and I felt so much better afterward! I would not have done it without your support - you're a sweetie!! I even wore my hat while out walking!

I hope you have a wonderful, stress-free day today!

 

[septbride2002]

Beth - I would love to do induction together!

Doe - I'm glad to hear you had a great walk. Yes I am smiling today

Good Morning everyone! Well I did it - one day cheat free! Whew! It was not easy and it was not fun, but it is over and now I am just concentrating on today. I did not get to my walk yesterday......but I found other ways to exercise

Menu for the day:

B: 2 slices of american cheese (2 carbs) and No Carb Energy Drink (0)
L: Left over Noodless Lassagna
D: I may pick up Subway or Hardees on the way home from work.

We are having a meeting tonight with friends regarding our business idea. So it will be a working evening tonight - no exercise since I want to be fresh for the meeting and not all sweaty.

Thank you thank you thank you thank you for all the support yesterday! It really helped me to stay focused on the goal and not to feel overwhelmed. It is great to know there are people you can turn to that can help you when you can't help yourself.

~Amanda

 

[sharoncity]

Well, you did it! 1 day cheat free!! Yay!!!:thewave:
Now it will be a little bit easier to get through today! 1 day at a time Amanda, 1 day at a time!
And great job getting that exercise in yesterday! WTG!!!! Hopefully you are not too tired from all of it!:yawn:
I hope you have a wonderful, cheat free day Amanda!! Walk the straight and narrow today!!
TTFN-
Sharon

 

[Strings]

Congrats on a cheat free day Amanda.
Looks like you'll be really busy today. Maybe you can get some more exercise in tonight with DH. I'm hanging in there with induction. How's it with you. 12.5 days to go. What is the business you are going into?
Have a good one,
Beth

 

[septbride2002]

Hello! I did okay yesterday, not great, not wonderful, just okay - and I am okay with that. It was a very stressful day - but I managed to get through it.

I have gotten a lot of compliments today - as I was walking down the hall this morning our top manager yells out, "Amanda you are looking great today! We were all talking about it as you were walking in." Thanks! Then about 10 minutes ago another guy that I worked with told me I was looking good today. Not sure what is different - but I appreicate the compliments none the less.

Plan for today:
Brian and I made a goal for ourselves and we exceeded it this week so we are going to treat ourselves to dinner and a movie.

B: 2 slices of American Cheese and low carb energy drink ( I so need to get to the grocery store) (2 carbs)
L: Noodless lasasagna (6 carbs)
D: PF Changs Lettuice Wraps
We are going to see the move 13 going on 30 tonight. We are in the mood for a light hearted comedy and it seems to fit the bill. I'm going to try to get to journals today - I know I've been neglecting them lately.

~Amanda

 

[DoeWDW]

Amanda, you're doing great and the weekend is almost here!! :happy2: Your evening out sounds like a lot of fun! Let me know if the movie is good - maybe I'll take DD to the movies to see it.

Glad to hear those compliments are boosting your spirits today - you definitely deserve them!

Have a wonderful day!

 

[Strings]

Hello fellow induction sister,

You are doing a great job. Have fun tonight. Let us know how the movie is. I really like Jennifer Garner (?) Enjoy your weekend.
Beth

 

[septbride2002]

I am giving up trying to do induction (sorry Beth) I know my limits and this is certainly one of them. I can't make it more then a day and it is frustrating and I am tired of beating myself up over it every single day.

I've been thinking about my May Goals - I like Erin's idea of one day at a time which is exactly how I am going to focus for the month- just trying to take it one day at a time. I am going to try to focus more on getting my exercise done everyday if I can. DH and I are going today to buy him some running shoes so that we can start training for the marathon. I miss running so this will be great to get back on track with it. Plus I love working out with DH. Food wise - I'm going to try to keep it under 55 carbs a day since I will be working out more I'll need more carbs in my system. Although I am also making a pledge to avoid junky carbs and try to stick to whole foods, and avoid sweets, unless they are allowed such as sugar free jello and cheesecake rolls. May is going to be a very busy month for us so the easier the better is my opinion.

Tonight we are going to a Cardinals Baseball Game (if the rain stops) - I will be enjoying a hot dog on a bun because you just can't go to the game without one. That will be my only disgression since I'll peanuts the rest of the game and drink diet coke or water.

~Amanda

 

[Strings]

Hi Amanda,

Don't worry about it. You neede to do what is right for you. Induction is MUCH harder the 2nd time. You don't need to add any stress at this point. I'm sorry if I put any extra pressure on you. Enjoy your baseball game.

Beth