AmyM's Quest for a Better Bikini Body!

[traceycooper]

Glad you had a great trip
& congratulations on having such great willpower with the food & meeting your exercise challenge!!!

 

[lovinaz]

I made my exercise challenge!!! That is great since I missed my goal by 85 minutes last month… I signed up for another 1300 minutes in August. I think that is a good goal to shoot for. The next 2 weeks are going to be rough in the mornings. The kids had to switch day camps (the one they were going to ends 2 weeks before school starts – who’s the brainiac who thought that up? ). So they are going to the YMCA for the next 2 weeks, which is great, but it is farther away (and in the opposite direction of my work). We have to be out of the house by 6:15am. The kids go to bed at 8pm and they are still SO tired when I wake them up, now at 5:50am. Then I have to force feed DD, who is NOT a morning person. DS is fine once you get him out of bed, and he needs to eat right away, just like me. Needless to say, I will be eating a lot of chocolate oatmeal or yogurt/granola for breakfast these next couple weeks (no time to cook Egg Beaters)! When school starts back up (Aug 14), they go across the street to the neighbors and they don’t have to leave until 6:40am, which is a lot better. Doesn’t sound like much, but I think that extra 25 minutes of sleep means a lot to their little bodies! Yesterday I drank 100oz of water, 2 cups green tea, 18oz Diet Fuze and a DC:

6:00am: Chocolate Oatmeal
8:30am: FF Cottage Cheese; Blueberries
11:30am: Turkey-n-Jack on Wheat; Baby Carrots
2:30pm: LF String Cheese; Apple
6:00pm: 25 Goldfish; 10 Cheez-Its (while packing lunches)
6:45pm: Spinach Salad (w/turkey; FF Feta. Bacon, LF dressing); Fudge Bar
WORKOUT: Weights (30min); Treadmill (35min)
RESISTED: More Cheez-Its & Goldfish; Pumpkin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Amy, Buckley ate an orange marker yesterday and this morning there was a chewed-up glue stick in DS's room. I guess it never ends... I was very proud of myself for behaving all weekend. I am going to try to remember that I DID survive and use that knowledge for this coming weekend! I guess I just have to take it 1 weekend at a time. That is by far when I do the most damage to myself!

Jane, I don't want to see the 140's ever again! Hopefully I can continue the downward trend. My goal is 138 by this Friday!

Tracey, thanks! I definitely don't have strong willpower, so I am always shocked when I can behave in some situations...

 

[Jane E.]

Congrats on making the July Challenge!!!!

It only takes your kids 25 minutes to get ready in the morning?!? I'm impressed - how do you do it?

 

[Amy&Dan]

OMG if my kids had to get up that early it would be grim! My daughter has to get up at 7:15 and thats bad enough. And I agree, 25 minutes is alot for anybody, especially growing kids. And Benjamin once ate one of those huge jars of vaseline (the kind they for some reason give you when you have a baby). Don't ask, it was nasty as it worked its way through! Beagles are like sharks, they eat anything ! Great job making July's challenge and setting one for August. You can do it even with this hassle of taking the kids so early, I know you can!

 

[SunFloridaDisney]

Hi Amy, congrats on the July challenge, I'm joining you again in August. Keep up the good work!

 

[lovinaz]

I can't believe it is August already! An interesting thing happened on Monday. The plan was to have burritos (and I was going to have a taco salad) but the meat wasn’t thawed out, so I made pizza. I chose to have a salad instead. DS was shocked when he saw me with a salad and asked if I thought I was fat. I couldn’t believe he asked me that and DH was looking at me, anxiously awaiting my response (since I always complain to him that I think I’m fat). Of course I told DS “no” that I was just trying to eat healthier and let everyone else have more pizza if they wanted it. I asked DS why he would ask that and he said that people eat salads for dinner when they are on a diet. Funny, since that crazy kid has been eating a salad every day after dinner for several weeks now (he eats his dinner then asks if he can make a salad). So basically I lied to my children in hope that they won’t grow up with the warped sense of body image that I seem to have developed… Yesterday I drank 96.9oz of water, 2 cups green tea, a Minute Maid Light and a DC:

6:00am: Kashi Crunch; FF Yogurt; Blueberries
8:30am: FF Cottage Cheese; Honeydew
11:40am: Spinach Salad w/Chicken; FF Feta; Bacon; LF Dressing; Baby Carrots
2:30pm: 3 Egg Whites; Cherries; 8 Peanuts
6:30pm: Turkey Meatloaf; Mashed Potatoes; Broccoli; SF/FF Pudding; 5 SF Crème Savers
WORKOUT: None
RESISTED: Cheez-Its; Peanut Butter
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jane, the kids are only 10 and 7, they don't care too much about looks (although DS is starting to). They shower at night and I make sure they pick out their clothes the night before as well. Then I rush them through breakfast and put on my drill sergeant hat until they are ready... ::cop:

Amy, Vaseline?!?!? YUCK! Yesterday we lost a barrette to the teeth of the beagle. DH and I were discussing how it is like having a 2 year old. But we are used to it and have gotten the hint that it will never end! Lucky for him he's so darn cute! I might change my work hours to 8-4:30 when school starts. That way I can go to the gym in the mornings and not rely on my neighbor to watch the kids and get them to school (except Thursdays, when I have a 7am meeting). We'll see, I'm still weighing the pros & cons...

Kate, sometimes the exercise challenge is the only thing that keeps me going to the gym. I've been going consistently all year, you think it wouldn't be such a chore sometimes!

 

[Jane E.]

Don't you love it when your son worries about you? Dh loves salads. He used to ask for several a week. However, I could NEVER substitute a salad for a pizza....maybe the grocery store kind...especially if it has anchovies, mushrooms or black olives on it. YOu're fortunate that he actually asks for salads. Count your blessings! You've done a great job with him!

 

[kmp1191]

I started to post last night....then got called away....now I don't remember what I was gonna say....
A mind is a terrible thing to waste!!


oh.....I PRAY that my dog never eats vaseline!!! EEEEWWWWWWW!!!!!! he's just into shoes right now....and he ususally goes for the one's that don't fit anyway! Good dog!!
now I remember....my kids don't have to be to school until 8:45, so they'll sleep til 7:30....they'd KILL me if i got them up at 5:50....or anytime before 7!! The real world is really gonna suck for them!!

have a great day~!!
marie

 

[lovinaz]

I am back to weighing myself every morning and Tuesday I was at 139, Wednesday I jumped up to 141. I can’t see anything in my food that would have caused that. I was still at 141 this morning and I bet I will be there tomorrow. I’m really getting sick of being in this weight whirlpool, never losing anything and gaining overnight for no reason. And it’s not all about the number on the scale, it’s about being flabby around my middle. I told DH the same thing I posted a couple weeks ago. If I don’t start seeing an improvement by the end of Aug, I am DONE. I’m going to sound like DD7 and say IT’s NOT FAIR!!!!!!

So I am going to do an experiment. I was feeling pretty good about myself (i.e. NOT JIGGLY) when I came back from camping. And it occurred to me that I had only drunk about 80oz of water plus a DC for 2 days straight. I wonder if I am drinking too much? Normally I drink 100oz of water, but when I add up all the other stuff I drink (green tea, Minute Maid Light, Diet Fuze, etc), it is over 140oz most days! I am going to cut the water down to 80oz, plus 16oz green tea (2 cups) and 12oz DC (108oz total) and see if that helps matters any. It is hard because I sometimes drink a Minute Maid Light or something after work, to keep me from snacking. I’m just going to have to start chewing gum instead! I snacked a little too much yesterday, but OH WELL, like it even matters… Yesterday’s liquid consumption was 80oz of water, 2 cups green tea and a DC (108oz total):

6:00am: Chocolate Oatmeal
8:30am: FF Yogurt; Honeydew
11:30am: ½ Spinach Salad w/Chicken; FF Feta; Bacon; LF Dressing (the Feta was REALLY BAD so I had to throw half my lunch away); Baby Carrots; 10 peanuts
2:30pm: LF String Cheese; Banana; 8 peanuts
5:30pm: 10 Cheez-Its; 10 Goldfish; 10 Snap Peas-n-Hummus; 4 SF Crème Savers
7:30pm: Grilled Tri-Tip; Cauliflower; SF/FF Pudding; ¼ c Cookie Crisp
WORKOUT: Weights (30min); Elliptical (35min)
RESISTED: Almonds (to make up for my gross salad); Bread-n-Butter
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jane, DS has been "different" from Day 1 and I'm sure he will have an interesting life. Hardly anything he does surprises me because I expect him to do wacko things. He is eating all my spinach, which is fine, because then I can get the big tub at Costco and he can eat all he wants and I can still have enough for me! Resisting the pizza was not as hard as I thought it would be.

Marie, my kids don't even sleep in on the weekends. They are both up by 7 AT THE LATEST. DD is definitely not a morning girl (she gets that from her dad) but DS is fine in the a.m. Their school starts at 7:55am. Only 1 more week of day camp, then they can go back to sleeping in until 6:15!

 

[goldcupmom]

Wow, Amy! I've just caught up on your new journal.

Definitely check out the hormone connection. I have but haven't read "Women, Weight and Hormones" by Vliet, and "Screaming to Be Heard: What Women suspect and Dr's still ignore" also by Vliet. These were recommended by my cardiologist in KS years ago when I was having panic attacks & he immediately correlated to hormones, but I never got them until recently. I started in peri-menopause at about 34, I turned 46 last weekend, and am still having problems. Symptoms vary from time to time, I've only truly skipped 3 months, but can have periods anywhere from 3 - 6 wks apart & lasting from 3 days to 3 wks. All considered 'normal'. VERY frustrating. A website I've found helpful is www.power-surge.com which has guest drs and lots of message boards from women going thru this. I also eat Revival Soy (not all the time) and that really helps my symptoms.

Anyway..... glad the weight is coming off. You've been doing very well at keeping on track.

Have a great rest of the week!

 

[Jane E.]

I hope you figure out whats causing your gain. I know that mine is from Milk Duds or cheese, but you eat right and drink tons of water. You're right - its not fair!!! I'm sure the hot weather isn't helping either - hang in there!

 

[lovinaz]

Weigh in today was 142. That is a gain of 3lbs since Tuesday, 8lbs since my surgery. Really nice… I’m just so sick of it all. I was snacky yesterday because I just don’t care anymore. I eat perfectly, I gain. I overeat, I gain. I could probably not eat at all and gain. I am going to take my friend’s (and DH’s) advice and make an appointment with a naturopathic Dr and possibly a dietician. There is something wrong with my body that is preventing me from succeeding with my weight loss efforts. And I know I am whining but right now I just feel like crying. Everything else in my life is so wonderful, and this weight thing is just tearing me apart inside. It’s just not right. OK, enough of the pity party. Yesterday’s liquid consumption was 76.9oz of water, 2 cups green tea and a DC:

6:00am: Chocolate Oatmeal
8:30am: FF Yogurt; Honeydew
11:30am: Turkey, Spinach & Jack on Wheat; Snap Peas-n-Hummus
2:30pm: 3 Egg Whites; Blueberries
5:00pm: 3/4c Pumpkin; 3 SF Crème Savers
7:15pm: 2 small Burritos (w/ground turkey, low carb wheat tortilla, pinch of cheddar, 1tbsp FF sour cream); Fudge Bar; 1/4c Trail Mix; 1/4c Honey Nut Cheerios
WORKOUT: None
RESISTED: Peanuts (the guy that sits next to me has a huge bag on his desk and my boss always throws some at me when he comes around)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Julie, thanks for that info, I will have to check out those books. Unfortunately the weight is not coming off, it's coming ON! I'm at my all time heaviest and I can't figure out why.

Jane, I feel like such a big whiner lately, but I've had it. I've been really good the last couple weeks and still gained. There has to be a medical explanation. I've read hundreds of nutrition and fitness articles over the years and there is nothing in them that I haven't done or am not aware of. So I am going to have to bite the bullet and bring in some professionals!

 

[kmp1191]

Hang in there Amy.....you're doing everything right...I'm betting it's the hormones. I know that doesn't make it any easier, but some things are beyond your control. Let us know what the experts say....I know KimWim8 went to a nutrionalist, and it worked for her....I'm sure it will work for you too. Just hang in there, and try not to get down on yourself! We've seen the pictures, you are a beautiful person...don't let a few pounds let you forget that!

marie

 

[Jane E.]

Amy, I think you're smart to call in a naturopath &/or dietician. You eat well and work out so there may be something in your system thats causing this. Don't let it get you down - you do a great job with your workouts and eating!

 

[lovinaz]

Since I was so ticked off about things yesterday, I did not go to the gym - we went out instead... I made myself go to class this morning. They got rid of On the Ball and instead have a new class called Bosu Fitness. Let me tell you, it was TOUGH! It was 25 minutes of intense cardio followed by 35 minutes of squats, lunges, push-ups, situps. Needless to say, I was not willing (or able) to do my usual 30 minutes of cardio after that! So I came home and pulled weeds, trimmed shrubs, etc. I was outside and active for 1.5 hours, I am going to count 30 minutes as a workout. I think that is fair, don't you? Yesterday I drank ~80oz water, a DC and 2 margaritas:

6:00am: Kashi Crunch; FF Yogurt; Blueberries; Fiber Cake
10:30am: FF Yogurt; Honeydew
11:30am: 2 small Burritos (w/ground turkey on low carb wheat tortilla); Baby Carrots
2:30pm: LF String Cheese; Cherries
5:00pm: Chips-n-Salsa (lots); Salmon Taco; Shrimp Taco
7:00pm: Single Scoop Apple Pie a la Mode on Sugar Cone; 1/4 c Trail Mix
WORKOUT: None
RESISTED: the rest of the bag of trail mix...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marie, I called my friend who is into naturopathic healing (she treated her cancer that way) and she recommended a Dr. I am going to call my Dr and hopefully get a referral so I can see the specialist. I know nothing is going to get fixed overnight, but at least the ND will listen to what I think is going on. I'll see how that goes, then ask for a recommendation for a nutritonist, if she feels that is necessary.

Jane, I have just really been depressed about this whole thing lately. It's not right. I've been working my butt off for a year and have nothing but flab to show for it. I know I am in good shape and I hope I can finally get some answers and get things fixed.

 

[traceycooper]

Hi Amy
Hope your feeling better!
I did some lunges a few days ago & have been hobbling around since doing them!!!
Not done any for years!!!

 

[lovinaz]

I did fairly decent yesterday, considering it was the weekend... My quads were SORE this morning and I almost didn't go to my class today, but I made myself go and I was glad I did (even though my legs are SUPER sore now!) Yesterday I drank 80oz water, 8oz FF Chai Latte, a DC, 1 glass gross Chardonnay, 1 glass gross Cherry Wine:

9:20am: Egg Beaters w/Spinach; Fiber Cake
12:00pm: Turkey-Provolone-Spinach on Wheat; Snap Peas-n-Hummus
3:30pm: Kashi Crunch; Blueberries; FF Yogurt; 100 Cal Pack (Nutter Butter)
6:30pm: Honey Teriyaki Salmon; Peas; Pumpkin "Pie"
8:00pm: 1/2c Trail Mix
WORKOUT: Bosu Fitness (60min); Heavy Duty Yard Work (30min)
RESISTED: More Trail Mix; More 100 Cal Packs
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tracey, my legs are sore too! And I know tomorrow they will be even worse. Sometimes working out again stretches everything out, but today, it just made everything hurt more!

 

[lovinaz]

I am still SO SORE today! I have not been sore like this is a very long time. And of course it is my legs, so every time I go up stairs I am dying… We are going camping again this weekend (this time FOR SURE so no rushing around last minute!). I behaved last time we went, so there is no reason I can’t do the same this time. We are grilling hamburgers one night and having brats the next. I also got stuff for s’mores, even though DS can’t have marshmallows (braces). I plan on having ONE, without chocolate. Yesterday I drank 80oz water, 8oz FF Cherry Chai Latte and ¾ of a DC:

7:30am: Egg Beaters w/Spinach; High Fiber O’s w/Skim Milk
11:00am: Kashi Crunch; FF Yogurt; Blueberries
2:00pm: Turkey-Ham-Provolone-Spinach on Wheat; 100 Cal Pack (Cheez-Its); Pumpkin “Pie”
4:45pm: Snap Peas-n-Hummus; 100 Cal Pack (Chips Ahoy)
7:15pm: Scalloped Potatoes & Sausage (in crockpot – potatoes, peas, turkey sausage, cream of celery, cheddar cheese soup, onions); Fudge Bar
WORKOUT: TBK (60min); ABT (30min)
RESISTED: Trail Mix; Protein Bar (DH got some really good tasting ones but they are 280 calories!)

 

[DisneyFan06]

Think of it like this - if your legs are swore, you know something must be working. After long and hard workouts I really feel the pain throughout the night and the next day; however, I know in the long run it will all be worth it.

Sounds like you have a great weekend planned. I wish I was going camping.

Take care.

Chris.

 

[eeyore25]

Hi Amy,

Just got caught up and I wanted to say I am so sorry for all that you are gong through with the weight. Hopefully once you see the ND he/she can figure something out.

Congrats on doing so well while camping...you can do it again. You proved that you can do it once, so I know you can do it again.

Keep up the good work....