Cam's New Lease on Life Journal (comments welcome!)

[goldcupmom]

Hang in there, Cam! My dad's been gone almost 12 years and he was my first, teary thought this morning.

Busy is good!! Hope you have a good day. Your eating sure looks good!!

You like the LC Paninis.... I tried one and it was awful & too hard to eat. Maybe I got a poorly frozen one. May have to try them again. they sure look good!

 

[eeyore25]

Hi Cam,

sorry I have been MIA for a while.....just getting caught up! You are doing a great job!! Congrats on the loss as well...I know I am a little late, sorry for that!!!

You are doing a great job! Keep up the great work!

Have a great Monday

 

[keenercam]

Thanks, Julie and Jamie!

Julie, I hope you will try the lean cuisine panini again. I really like the southwest chicken and the chicken, spinach & mushroom ones, though the chicken club and the beef, cheddar and mushroom are okay, too. Just be sure they are cooked enough but not overcooked. Mine take 3:15 in our powerful microwave at home, but nearly 4:30 at work.

Jamie -- So nice to see you. I have been lax in visiting other journals, but have wondered how you are doing. Thank you for stopping by.

Well, yesterday's eating was a bit different from planned. I am glad I earned 3 APs by doing the bike at the gym, but ended up using my first FPs of the entire week -- only 1.5 of them, though. I am really hoping to see real progress on the scale tomorrow night. Last week was a huge gain that I knew was from salt and too much water, so I need to lose 4+ to see real progress this week.

Yesterday's food:
B: 2 lite omelettes on lite english muffins; coffee w/sugar free creamer (5)
L: 1 laughing cow wedge (1) on flat out whole wheat slice (2); "free" salad w/ff italian dressing (0)
D: 2 lite english muffins (2); lite sauce & 1/2 cup FF mozzarella (2.5); fat free pringles (1)
snacks: movie popcorn, no butter (10) (<--- UGH! BIG weakness. Sick just thinking of it!); 3 pretzel bites w/cheese (2)
late night snack: 3/4 turkey burger (gave part to my sweet puppy) (3)


I went to the gym this morning in the hopes of accomplishing tonight some stuff for DD's party. I don't want my training plan to suffer because of other stuff that is going on this week. I did 5 minutes warm up (.33 miles) and 30 minutes of walking at 4.0 mph with the last 30 seconds being jogging at 6.0 mph (2.03 miles)

Food:
B: coffee w/cream (1) (still too full from last night's popcorn to eat breakfast)
L: 2 small apples (1); "free salad" (0); fat free dressing (.5); lean cuisine panini (6)
S: 3 wasa crisps w/1 wedge laughing cow cheese (2)
D: 2 lite EMs (2) with lite sauce (1) & fat free mozzarella (1.5); morningstar farms corn dog (3); fat free caramel pudding w/FF cool whip (1); graham cracker w/fat free coolwhip (2)
Dessert: fat free pringles & salt free mini pretzels (4)

I used one of my APs.

Gee, these guys are really funny, aren't they? I just put them in here because they made me smile!

 

[keenercam]

Today's food:
B: 2 reduced fat cheese mini omelettes (market day) on 2 lite english muffins; coffee w/SF creamer (6)
L: whole wheat pita (1) spread with 1 laughing cow cheese wedge (1); broccoli (0)

 

[goldcupmom]

Hope the day goes well, Cam! Yes, I'll have to try the Panini again - after FL - as I'm in 'clean out the freezer mode'.

Sounds like your training is going right as planned - AWESOME!!

 

[toystoryduo]

Julie, I hope you will try the lean cuisine panini again. I really like the southwest chicken and the chicken, spinach & mushroom ones, though the chicken club and the beef, cheddar and mushroom are okay, too. Just be sure they are cooked enough but not overcooked. Mine take 3:15 in our powerful microwave at home, but nearly 4:30 at work.

Hey Cam!

I love the Southwest Chicken Panini! We have a Stouffer's Retail Outlet near our home and that is always one of the first things I pick up. Yummy!

You are doing a great job with your training! Keep up the good work!

Have a wonderful week!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Cam-
You look like you are doing great!! Keep it up.
Sorry ihavent been around too much, but just wanted to stop by to say have a great weekend

 

[Blueeyes101817]

just checking in to say hi--have a great weekend!

 

[keenercam]

I know, I know, how can a journal help me if I am not posting in it?

Suffice it to say that while I have remained within my WW points (using up all FPs and APs too!), I have not been eating the way I should. My weight is reflecting that. I am still within the same range I have been in since last August and that is so frustrating. I have proven I can maintain at this weight.

BUT, I do not want to maintain at this weight. I WANT to lose another 35 pounds. I HAVE to lose another 35 pounds. If I work hard enough, I SHOULD be able to do that. God knows I have enough to lose that my body isn't "holding on to those last few pounds." This is ridiculous. I am being about 50% undisiciplined. The fact that I am being 50% disciplined is the only reason I am not gaining (much).

And let me tell ya -- It is NOT easy hauling all these pounds around a race course. How absurd for me NOT to be working harder when I KNOW I have to do these races -- I should be busting my butt to drop the pounds to make the races easier, right?

Okay -- Friday night I did 4 miles on the TM in 56:00. That is a solid 14 minute pace. Not bad.

Yesterday I did a 5K and did not show any improvement over the last race I did on 5/27. My pace yesterday was 15:16 with a finish time of 47:19. That is not good. I mean, compared to where I have been recently, I should have done better.

Here is my race log:
DATE -----DISTANCE-----FINISH TIME-----PACE

3/5/05-----5K-----54:40-----17:36

3/19/05----5K-----51:42-----16:41

7/4/05-----5K-----50:12-----16:09

7/23/05----5K-----49:47-----16:01

9/3/05-----5K-----47:24-----15:15

9/18/05----5K-----46:21-----14:55

9/28/05----5K-----46:55-----15:08

1/7/06---13.1 miles--3:21:59--15:24

3/18/06----5K-----43:33-----14:01

5/7/06----15K-----2:19:26---14:57

5/27/06---5 miles---1:17:26--15:30

7/4/06----5K-----47:19-----15:16

Obviously, I should be improving and am obviously not working hard enough on the race course. I have another 5K tomorrow night. I am hoping to finish much closer to a 15 minute pace.

Food today:
B: 2 sausage links on lite english muffin (4); coffee w/sugar free creamer (.5)
L: salad w/1/2 serving FF dressing (.5); broccoli & cauliflower steamed (0); grilled chicken with steamed mushrooms & onions (2)

Total points by lunch -- 7

 

[toystoryduo]

Hi Cam,

I want to thank you for your words of support and encouragement in my journal. I know what you mean about the weight thing. I've either maintained or gained a few pounds here and there over the past couple of years since I've been with WISH. I KNOW that you can lose the weight, Cam! You CAN do it!

I hope that you have a great day today!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Cam-Like you and tracy, ive also maintained or gained a few pounds here and there--it does get discouraging, doesnt it? Hang in there, i know you can lose it again!!!
Dont beat yourself up about the 5K too much--I think it is a great accomplishment to even finish it, and you had great times...if you arent happy with it, just work on it and im sure you will feel better after the next 5K..How did the one yesterday go?
Have a great weekend Cam!

 

[joelyfaithsmommy]

NOT JUST ME....hey girls (cam) remember me? Geeze...where has the year went? I can tell you that my winter/spring was an eating disaster! I'm happy you've been at least maintaining Cam, which is more than I can say for myself....I'm telling you I don't even want to step on a scale right now! it's sad really...all that work I put in last summer, destroyed because I went back to my OLD WAYS!...Jeff has put on weight tooo and we're just so sick and tired of being SICK AND TIRED!!! and I know you guys know what I mean by that...

I have a big long speal...but I won't get into it in your journal cam....just know I understand what you are going through....it's hard when you disappoint yourself....I have truly done that to myself...but keep in mind though YOU may not be where you want to be, you aren't where you were either...and that's a good thing

What is my motto again??? OH YEA...."just keep swimming "...I think I've been treading water for about 9 months now...UGH!!!!!! Ok, so I'm back on the boat, SO TO SPEAK...or in my case...swimming beside it...at any rate your post made me feel really good today Cam....I miss you guys...and though I've said it before, I mean it now....I'm BACK!!! (for good this time)...life is too short and i have much to do...I can't wait to dive right in....see my NEW journal (that I'll be creating shortly) for a total update on me!

huggies guys!
THE OTHER JEN

 

[keenercam]

Hi, Tracy, Jen & "the other" Jen! It is so great to see you guys here! I really appreciate your support. I am hoping that knowing you are all here and that we are in this together will help me stay on track!

Jen -- Thanks for asking about Thursday night's 5K. It went so much better than Tuesday, which is saying a lot considering it was an evening race after working all day.

My races for last week were:
Tuesday morning - 47:19 for pace of 15:16
Thursday evening -- 45:06 for pace of 14:33

So, I am very pleased with those results. My next race is on 9/22 and I am determined to finish that with a 14:20 pace or better. Hopefully, I will be able to jog more by then.

I have not been eating right again. Salty snacks are my downfall. Friday night we went to the movies to see Superman in IMAX and I ate too much popcorn. Last night we went to see POTC2 "Dead Man's Chest" and I took my own light popcorn with me and only tasted DH & DD's movie popcorn, so at least it felt like I was more controlled.

I am looking forward to my WW meeting tomorrow night. I am really committed to following the plan religiously from now until we leave for Disneyland for the 1/2 marathon on 9/15. That is 9.5 weeks away. My dream goal by then would be to lose 13.2 pounds from what the scale said this morning. It seems do-able, doesn't it? Unfortunately, I am really a 1 lb/week avg loss kind of person. I will work my tail off, though, in the hopes of seeing more progress than that. And I am really committed to getting to the gym more frequently and working out harder when I am there. I especially have to work on cardio, so that I can manage my breathing better during jogging.

Today's food:
B (8:00 am): turkey breast on lite EM (3); coffee w/sugar free creamer (1)
L (1:30pm): turkey burger w/FF cheese on steamed mushrooms & onions (4.5); "free" salad (0)

4:30 apple (1) -- I couldn't believe I was so hungry less than 3 hours after finishing lunch, but I really think my body "needs" food every 3 hours, for some reason.

5:30 weight watchers yogurt w/kashi go lean cereal (1.5) -- my stomach was actually talking to me by that point. I also retrieved a laughing cow cheese & baguettes snack from the fridge to eat at the same time, but it is still sitting on my desk at 6:10. Maybe if I give my body enough time to "remember" that it just had food, I will be able to save the cheese/cracker snack to eat on the way to the gym.


---------------------------------------------------
I just reviewed my food diary for June. I don't know who I thought I was kidding, thinking I was "on plan" for the month. I think I might have been "on plan" for some meals, and maybe a few days, but I really did not eat well. There were wayyy tooo many meals out, including around my daughter's graduation weekend and her graduation party weekend. Then there were those 3 nights we ate chinese, 2 of them at the buffet. Also a trip to Joe's Crab Shack and a dinner cruise and lots of leftover party food.

The good news is -- I earned 40 Activity Points in June! My goal is to earn significantly more than that this month and NOT to eat them all.

Already this month I have had many not so smart eating situations:
7/1 -- barbecue at friends' house
7/4 -- ice cream cone
7/6 -- chinese buffet (after the 5K)
7/7 -- dinner out (in Atlantic City) & movie popcorn
7/8 -- lunch at Italian restaurant, gelato for dessert; chips & pretzels later

Those are the situations in which I know I could have and should have made better choices. I intend to be more disciplined this month.

I have earned 14 Activity Points so far, though, so that is good. I am on track to do better this month, but I want to make it a LOT more than 40 APs.

 

[Tasha+Scott]

Hi, Cam!

I haven't posted to your journal in a LONG time! Just thought I'd say Hi! It looks like you are doing really well. I am sure your food will be right on track in no time! Looks like you are doing great with the exercise. Great job!

 

[keenercam]

So, last night, I went to the gym and did a 4 minute warmup on the TM and then my fastest mile ever 12:53! Then 20 minutes on the elliptical.

Arrived home very hungry but picked at veggies instead of chips or pretzels. Had boca crumbles mixed with chili seasonings, diced tomatoes and fat free cheese over salad. Lots of grilled veggies and some baked sweet potato "chips". Finished the day with 8 regular points left and 2 unused APs. Not bad.

Today's food plan so far:
B: cheerios "cup" (2); coffee w/creamer (1)
S: watermelon (2); hard-boiled egg white (0)
L: chili seasoned boca crumbles w/fat free cheese over salad (2.5)
S: weight watchers yogurt w/kashi (1.5); apple (1)
snack before and after workout: granola bars (3)
D: turkey cheeseburger on flatout wrap (6.5); fat free refried beans (3); fat free cheese (.5)

_______________
So, I ended today with a point left as well as APs. I did 1.7 miles tonight and the first mile was at a 12:36 pace! The second was something close to that pace-wise, but I must remember the number wrong,because the pace would be really fast if I had actually done that. So, I am content to say I did 1.7 with the first mile being at an even faster pace than yesterday.

Weigh in tonight was not inspirational. I am, in fact 12.4 pounds away from my mini-goal before the half marathon. 65 days until we leave.

12.4 pounds. 65 days. Can I do it? Sounds easy, doesn't it? Well, at least I can try.

 

[joelyfaithsmommy]

You go girl! You are sooo my inspiration! just popping in to brighten your day...hope it was a SUPER one!

huggies
jen

 

[keenercam]

Thank you so much, Jen, for your support!

Well, as I wrote in my journal in the wee hours of last night, I have 65 days to lose at least 12.4 pounds. I know that sounds really easy, but I don't know if it will be since it has been so long since I was absolutely committed to a goal.

I figure if I at least start by acknowledging the dates that are going to be a challenge to me (that I know of right now), it might give me time to prepare a plan and a mindset for dealing with those challenges.
Weekends are always hard, but when we are socializing, they become harder. So, here are the dates I know will be hard:
Tomorrow 7/13 -- dinner out with friends at Outback. I'll check the menu out ahead of time and likely order a huge salad and grilled shrimp. Sounds really good!

Friday 7/14 -- sleepover for DS on his first day home probably with pizza and chips. [The plan is to eat a LC deep dish pizza or one slice of veggie pizza from our favorite pizzaria. The veggie pizza I like is often sold out and DH always offers to order a whole pizza and freeze whatever I don't eat, but I just don't have enough willpower to do that, so hopefully they will have one slice if we go there].

Saturday 7/15 -- birthday celebration for DS. Movie (with popcorn) and subs and chips afterwards. My plan -- take light popcorn to the movies (if I go) and eat a turkey, lettuce & tomato sandwich while everyone else eats subs

Sunday 7/16 -- Tree dedication for my best friend's parents (who were like parents to me) and then dinner at a restaurant. I have no idea what restaurant, so I am going to take fruit with me to eat in the car and some carrot sticks so I can save my points for dinner

Saturday 7/22 -- party at my brother's house -- he NEVER has any kinds of foods I should eat. Maybe I will take a turkey or veggie burger and ask him to throw it on the grill for me, and I'll take a veggie tray with fat free ranch dressing for dip.

August 3 -- my birthday. 'nuf said. I'll have to ask DH NOT to buy a cake.

August 25-17 -- weekend away near son's camp for "performance weekend" -- staying at a fishing lodge with breakfast included, and all other meals are at the camp. Last year I ate way too much while there. I am going to plan on veggie burgers with no bread, salads, and lots of fruits.

Today's plan:
B: lite english muffin (1); coffee (1)
S (11:30 -- very hungry): 2 hard boiled egg whites (0); apple (1)
L: cucumber & tomato mix (0); fat free refried beans w/onions and fat free cheese spread on flat out wrap (5)
S (4:00) steamed cauliflower & broccoli (0)

Tonight is supposed to be a "rest" night on my 1/2 marathon training plan, but I am hoping to go to the gym and just read a book on a bike for 45 -60 mins.

 

[keenercam]

It is so strange that I am really, really hungry today. I am going to have lunch soon, but am hoping to hear from DS (13 today!). He is away at the Hopkins Center for Talented Youth at a college about 1.5 hours from here and had to go to the emergency room last night for 8 stitches above his eyebrow. I spoke with him twice last night, in addition to the campus nurse, hospital ER registration, ER nurse, and ER doctor, but am still a little worried. Last night, before bed, he said the injury site was hurting, but I am hoping he is better today.

DH is driving back from Pittsburgh today and will detour to the campus to surprise DS with pizza & chips & soda for his evening floor meeting. Once DH sees him and assures me DS is okay, I will feel much better. I found him a new pair of adidas running shorts and a custom-made "cross country" cartoon shirt that DH mailed to him for me, but he'll get his real presents at his birthday celebration when he gets home Friday (he will have been gone just about 3 weeks!). I am hoping he has opened his presents by now and liked them.

Well, off to fix lunch.

 

[keenercam]

Last night's food:
1 granola bar on the way home from the gym (1.5)
Dinner: 2 oz whole wheat linguine (3) mixed with tomatoes & onions (0) and then cooked with egg beaters (2) and sprinkled with parmesan (.5)
Dessert: pina colada sorbet (2)

I also went to the gym and did 30 minutes on the bike even though it was supposed to be a rest day on my 1/2 marathon training plan. It was satisifying to just do something. I earned 2 APs that I didn't use and still had 6 points left at the end of the day.

I am so happy to overcome a challenge again last night. No late night eating and I did not go anywhere near any carbs after I ate the sorbet. The pretzels were calling my name but I wanted to be able to say I overcame the challenge a 3rd night in a row, and I did!

This morning I was up at 5:35 and went to the gym. I did today's scheduled training on the MfM walk the half training plan-- 40 minutes walking and speed drills of 1 min/30 seconds x4. Here's what that yielded
40 minutes --> 2.83 miles = pace 14:08 (NOT impressive)
6 minutes speed drills ---> .48 miles = pace 12:30 (that's better)

We are going out to dinner with friends tonight so I had to get the training in early today. I also treated myself to a small sesame bagel with a smidge of cream cheese on the way in to my office.

Today's food:
before workout: 1 granola bar (1.5)
after workout: small bagel w/cream cheese (4); coffee (1)
lunch: 2 oz whole wheat pasta w/tomatoes & onions (3); steamed veggies (0); spinach (0)

 

[goldcupmom]

I hope your DS is ok, Cam. I know how worrisome it is. Poor him, but as a mom, I know you're feeling it more than he is.

Sounds like you're doing very well.

Hang in there! August 3, bday, huh?? I'm 7/30 - we'll have to spend the week 'un-celebrating' together!!