Nancy’s Weight loss Journey 5 Yrs & Counting

You GUYS! I FINALLY DROPPED ONE! ONE FREAKIN’ LB LOL!!! haha!  Yep after how long it finally dropped!! WHOO HOO!

Holly, I didn’t take those three lbs from last time but I’m taking my one lb.  No not a measly lb because my 1 lb takes a lot of work to lose.

Now, yes I am no longer on a losing weight journey, as noted in previous blogs, but to see one more lb finally leave is amazing!

If you don’t know me, please, one lb is a lot when I plateau for many months at a time.  IT’S A CELEBRATION FOR ME! WHOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Cats, I ate after 9pm, some dumplings which I didn’t add to my accountability last night.

I ate almost 2000 yesterday, not bad and on point.

My should is still sore from Wednesday’s Pilates.  No weights again today - tomorrow yes.  I’m going to leave for work soon, get a 5K walk in and tonight I’m doing a 5K run.

Breakfast:

Raisins, 0.2 cup (not packed) 87 23 0 1 Apples, fresh, 0.3 small (2-1/2″ dia) (approx 4 per lb) 19 5 0 0 Avocados, California (Haas), 100 grams 167 9 15 2 Trader Joe’s Frozen Spinach Lasagna, 0.5 serving 170 13 9 10 Steel Cut Oats, dry, 0.25 cup 140 27 3 6

Lunch:

Strawberries, fresh, 2.5 cup, halves 114 27 1 2 Romaine Lettuce (salad), 3.5 cup, shredded 27 5 0 3 Asian Spicy Peanut Vinaigrette, 1 tbsp 35 4 2 1 Chicken Thigh, 1 thigh, bone and skin removed 82 0 3 14

Dinner:

Cabbage, napa, 2 cup 26 5 0 2 Chinese, Pork Fried Rice, approx 2 cups, 1 serving 581 76 19 26

Snack:

Jack in the Box Extreme Sausage Sandwich, 0.3 serving 216 11 16 8 French Fries, 0.3 small 87 10 5 1 Dumplings, 1 serving 220 0 7 7

			CALORIES	CARBS	FAT	PROTEIN
			1,972	213	80	83

Already Sparkspeople forces me to change my exercise “goal” to meet my real exercise.  Thus throwing me into a different and higher calorie range. YAY!!! More food and it’s only Wednesday.  I love it.  It takes me right back to the 1700-2100 calorie range.  I ate a lot today but you know what?  For once I’m not too hungry and didn’t even make the minimum.

What can I say? Nygel is back and in charge!  She whipped me in kickboxing and the sub in Pilates worked my core!  WHOOO YAHH.

Not only that, I am going to sleep early, get up at 4:30 am to eat some hard boiled egg whites and rice.  Then to the gym at 6am for an hour of intensive interval training.  BOSU love is hot!  The only thing left to do Thursday is get some walking in, just 3 miles - nothing hard at work on my lunch and breaks.

Blaithin, I plan on getting a run in on Friday.  Just a 5K.  I should be good for that.  Sunday I’m going to attempt my second 10K run!

There’s a lot of growth on the site. WELCOME WELCOME!  In my opinion, one of the worse thing to do is keep putting this off.  Tomorrow will always be there.  Start now!  As I told a new friend, don’t wait on others!! WHY?  This is your body!  Not there’s.  That goes for the hubby, the boyfriend, the friend next door or the girl etc.  You can’t expect others to help you on this journey.  Start as Michael Jackson sung, with the woman in the mirror.  You have to get up and exercise!  You have to eat right!  You have to start cutting calories!  It’s all about you!

Victim!  Stop playing the victim role!  Just do it!!!  It’s easy to self-pity, it’s courageous to make a change.  If you are looking for sympathy, you will always carry that weight around.  Start doing something about it today, not tomorrow - today!

The result is in the body.  Those who want this enough, work hard enough, complains very little, stays consistent, is self-motivated, have self control, self love, self respect, hunger to win, usually does.

This will not end once you start losing weight.  It’s just the beginning.

YEP, PMS IS HERE!!! ANYONE  PLEASE HELP YOUR GIRL GET OFF THE SOAPBOX!

Breakfast:

Whole Wheat English Muffin, 0.5 muffin 67 13 1 3 Jams, preserves, jelly, 1 tbsp 56 14 0 0 Beans, Kidney beans dark red 3 serv can, 0.5 serving 70 13 0 5 Steel Cut Oats, dry, 0.2 cup 112 22 2 5 Raisins, golden seedless, 0.15 cup (not packed) 66 17 0 1 green tea, 3 serving 0 0 0 0

Lunch:

green tea, 1 serving 0 0 0 0 Trader Joe’s Frozen Spinach Lasagna, 0.25 serving 85 7 5 5 Strawberries, fresh, 1 pint as purchased, yields 107 25 1 2 Romaine Lettuce (salad), 2.5 cup, shredded 20 3 0 2 Spinach, fresh, 1 cup 7 1 0 1 Red Ripe Tomatoes, 1 medium whole (2-3/5″ dia) 26 6 0 1 Asian Spicy Peanut Vinaigrette, 1.5 tbsp 53 6 3 1 Chicken Thigh, 1 thigh, bone and skin removed 82 0 3 14

Dinner:

White Rice, medium grain, 1.5 cup 363 80 1 7 Chicken Thigh, 1.2 thigh, bone and skin removed 99 0 3 16

Snack:

French Fries, 0.3 small 87 10 5 1 Congee (Asian Rice Porridge with Chicken), 0.5 cup 30 6 1 2 Ground beef, 1 oz 88 0 8 5 Bolthouse Farms Carrot Juice, 4 oz 35 7 0 1 Apples, fresh, 0.5 large (3-1/4″ dia) (approx 2 per lb) 63 16 0 0

			CALORIES	CARBS	FAT	PROTEIN
			1,513	246	32	70
			1,620 - 1,970	210 - 304	42 - 73	60 - 164

Yah I do the happy  happy sleeper dance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I was getting so fed up with Rodney.  This is the problem, I used to sleep around 10, 11 at the latest when I was single.  OH NO! Since Rod and his school almost every night it’s 12am.  For the past few months even 1am!!!!  It was effecting me every single day.  It effects my workout schedule, my attitude at work, my whole day.  Although I get up at 6,7 or earlier if I choose to get in a 6am workout, I still was not getting enough sleep.

In fact! Yesterday, I couldn’t go for a walk because my body was asking for sleep.  The night before We didn’t sleep till I think past 2am which gives me less then 5 hrs.  Luckily I ate light during the day, adjusted my food intake to get in  1500 or so cals because I did not get a 6 mile walk in.  I couldn’t.  The moment I came home and even after putting my shoes on I could not push myself to do it.  The combo of very little food and sleep deprivation made for no energy.  Well, look at me this morning!  I got in a full 8 hours and I’m happy happy happy!

I know I’m in a different stage then a lot of people here in terms of weight loss.  What is important I notice is to have body intuition.  That is, listen to your body talk to you.  If you are hungry, eat.  If you are tired, sleep or take a nap.

For me exercise is my love, you guys know that.  I have for the last year fine tune the art of listening to it.  Thus, no injuries at all!!! Even though I work out on average 12+ hours a week, I have not pulled, tore or overdone any one routine.  What I do every single morning is access my whole body.  If I did weights the day before, I listen for soreness and aches.  Aches in the right places, yep, I worked the right muscle group.  If I ran the day before, my legs ok?  Is there any muscle group that is tight?   Usually no.  If I did yoga, does everything feel stretched?  Usually yes.  If I did Pilates, is my core yelling at me?  Yep!

If there is any pain, soreness or anything out of place, I take a step back and relax!  Yep, rest it.

Since doing so I have been pain free, injury free and on the right track to keep toning up.  There’s nothing worse then working out too hard when you start and you hurt yourself.

If you feel pain, it’s an indication you either over time develop this pain from poor form or technique.  Or you didn’t warm up enough, stretch enough, cool down enough or stretch properly after cool  down.

If you don’t feel anything the next day, you should rev up and send the resistance level up a notch, run a little harder, add more weights…….etc….LISTEN TO YOUR BODY!

There is no skipping steps in your workout routine.  When you do, you will pay for it later.

Today is back to eating a real nice big breakfast, nice lunch and big snack - 1500 calories before kickboxing. 2000 calories for the day.

Today KICKBOXING AND PILATES! Talk about 2 hours of heaven!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’m soo soo mad!  My original blog is gone.  Darn computer didn’t save it.

Hmmm my fight with food and the love of bad processed food.

Have you ever wandered the aisles of bad food wanting to eat everything in sight?  It’s not like I’m hungry.  I already ate lunch which was the oatmeal and raisin.  I drank enough water.  But I found myself wandering the market with a full tummy wanting to eat everything in sight. 

I lovingly picked up some beef jerky, popcorn, Ritz, crackers, candy, chocolate….I wandered through the freezer section wanting to eat the pizza, the lean pockets, even the sausages…..

IT’S INSANE!!!!! It’s not like I’m not well fed! It’s not like I should eat any of that stuff!  I mean I get more food per serving with less calories when I eat my fruits and veggies.

But there I was gawking, wanting, lusting over the bad bad food.  Ahhhhhh How I would love to eat those pork rinds!!!

SICK SERIOUSLY SICK!  Well, that’s the mind of a food addict!

I have to take a really slo mo exercise day.  Yep, sticking with a 6 mile easy breezy walk.  Because tomorrow it’s back to kickboxing and Pilates and Friday it’s another 5K run aweights! 

I can not and will not let food control me.  Well, have to say after I came back to the office, I ate a small portion of healthier sweet potato chips and I’m fine now.  Craving over.

My Rod does not understand my struggle with food.  I’m sure many of you do though. 

OK BACK TO READING BLOGS!!

I used to never eat oatmeal.  In fact I never liked it.  Ewwww!  But I started with the sugar infested instant oatmeal, forgot the brand.  Then I graduated to organic instant oatmeal - which I thought was good for me.  Then I started eating rolled oats with no sugar.  Then I started eating rolled oats with raisins and gogi berries.

Well, just last week I looked into Steel Cut Oats and lo and behold my assistant brought some to work.  As I never heard of  it before Thursday of last week, all I know is that it takes longer to cooked then rolled oats.  So my assistant and I devised a way to soak the oats  for about 2 hours in the morning then microwave it.  IT WORKS!!!!  It so good with some raisins and gogi  berries.  And it keeps me full for hours.

Just 1/2 a cup makes over 1 serving of oatmeal, almost two I think and so filling.  This is my next step towards eating less and less processed food and so far it’s working.

Last night I did all my exercise of back to back to back classes! Loved it.  As a reward I ate over one serving of steamed then PAM fried dumplings!!! I was in food heaven.  God I ate like 2200 calories  yesterday but after burning a ton of calories it doesn’t matter.   Prob. is I got hungry after 9 pm because I got home from the gym at 8.

Today I’m just taking a very easy day and get a 6 mile walk in.

STEEL CUT OATS:

Steel cut oats are essential grains which are chock full of nutritional value, rich in B-vitamins, calcium, protein and fiber while low in sodium and unsaturated fat. In fact, just one cup of steel-cut oats contains 8 g of insoluble fiber.According to the USDA, whole grains reduce cholesterol and high blood pressure and help prevent heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Another added health benefit of whole grains is that they help eliminate fat and cholesterol from the body and Whole grains also help flush fat and cholesterol out of your system and provides added antioxidants that help you stay healthier, look younger, and live longer.

Steel cut oats are traditionally grown in fertile plains of Ireland. The steel-cut oats are whole grain groats, the inner portion of the oat kernel, which have been cut into only two or three pieces. They are a golden hue and look like chopped nuts or tiny grains of rice.

Usually, it takes 30-40 minutes to cook traditional steel-cut oats, but consumers can find instant options that take only five minutes of prep time. Spice up the inherently nutty flavor of the oats by adding blueberries, walnuts, cinnamon, and honey or real maple syrup.

 Steel cut oats, while even healthier than traditional rolled oats, takes considerably longer to cook because it is the whole unadulterated grain – simply not making them a practical go-to solution for most eat-and-run mornings.

BUT BUT BUT he doesn’t have any cows to give in dowry or money or an engagement ring because we are financially strapped.

So, my question dear friends, as you all know Rod from my incessent talk about my baby, should we do it?  Should we get engaged because it’s the right thing to do, the one thing his mom wants from us, the one thing Rod has asked from me 4 times, the thing my mom (despite their differences) would love from us….should we get engaged, but I not marry him until he produces the ring?

Why am I so hard on him with the ring?  My ex didn’t get me one.  This time I told Rod I won’t do it without one.

Once we decide this we will decide when to have a wedding.  His mom already told me she’s getting an African wedding dress for me. 

Lots to think about, opinions would help.  Rod wants this so bad!  It would be his first marriage, my second.  Second time is the best.

OH - the brother and Rod are bonding over cars!! Tensions lifting in the house. YAY!!!

Can’t wait for Nygel’s return to class today.  I get to do all three -Step, Kickboxing, and YOGA!  

I had such a hard time sleeping this morning.   So I got up at 4am and ate my pre-workout breakfast.  Once the alarm went of at 5:45am, I set off for the gym.  Blaithin, I don’t know, not in the mood to taking it out on the streets today.  Got my weights on the BOSU in.  You know after the initial BOSU workout, my first session where I sweated like a pig do a BOSU and weights combo, I don’t sweat as much anymore.  Hmmmmmmm, I have to add more weights now.  I was keeping light weights and high reps on it for fear of sliding of the BOSU LOL!  But my core is pretty strong.  I opted out on push-ups because the 200 from Friday is still burning my tri’s. ThenI did a 3 mile run untimed and a 30 min elliptical  run.  It feels sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good getting in so much this morning.

I have to sneak back into bed with the honey now.  When the Lakers play game 7 against the Rockets I’m leaving my babe so I can do yoga.  Whew! Great Sunday now.

Last night was not good.  Rod wanted to treat us to some yummy ice cream sundae.  Yep I ate some. So my calorie count is closer to 2000.  OUCHER for a non-exercise day but within’ range.  Per sparkspeople, I can still eat alot on my off day because of the amount of exercise I do each week.  YAH!!!!!!

I think I’m taking a page out of Becky’s play book - Becky, what do you think?  Should I just have a nice 3000 or 4000 calorie day?  I think I can.   :)  Why not right?  I’ve been scoring around 2000 but have a few low cal nights too…………we shall see

Date night Friday night.  We saw Star Trek.  Probably one of the best movie this year besides IronMan.  Ummm, we need to see a girl movie soon - he owes me.  Even if you are not a Star Trek fan, which I’m not, this is great movie to watch.

I wrote a blog earlier that I decided to privatize.  I like using blogs to vent.  I post most of them, others I keep just for me.  I was thinking about closing this account and focus on other interests.  Rod and I sat down and at 1am - this man convinced me to take a real hard look at myself and know that I already have the answer.  He said you are a smart woman.  You know what you have to do and should do.  Whatever your decision is I’m behind you 100%!  He said, remember, you have a role to play on that site.  You know what it is.  Don’t let your emotions control you.  So after about 30 minutes, I came back on and decided - I know what my role is here on Buddyslim. :)  I’m here to be a good friend.  I may not at some point be a “good friend” to everyone but I can sure try right?

Maya, I believe, in answering your blog question - support comes in being real, being honest and sincere.  I wear my heart on my sleeve.  In doing so I open myself up in ways I would never ever in a million years do.  As much as I give out, I take so much more from this place.  I have very good intentions - my intentions are to be a good friend to all that accepts me.  Recent events happened for a reason.  I don’t know what those reasons are.  But I know this much, I stayed very true to my beliefs.  If  I rubbed anyone the wrong way, I sincerely apologize.  My intentions were from the heart, perhaps the execution was not the best especially when emotions rule that very moment, that very second.  If one could only hear my conversations and private emails, they would understand I meant no harm.  I give my support all day long.  But I won’t be fake.  I just can’t.  If I do then I am no longer being a good buddy-in my eyes.  I by no means think I hold the key to weight loss.  All I hold is a few years experience that I love sharing with friends.  I know now who my true friends are.  Trust me! :)   I know that I will be more cautious of what I say to others.  I hold myself accountable for my actions.  No pointing fingers here.  I am not here to impose my beliefs on anyone.  We are all entitled and have the freedom to do as we wish.  I just know that the energy I have, I will give to those who truly wants my help.   I had some real concerns and took it upon myself to voice them.  Now  I know that not everyone wants my opinion, in private or in public.

One thing you will always get from me is honesty.  I am a grown woman with accountability.  I want to see my friends succeed in this process.  Success once and for all.  I just ask this, if you do not want my help, just let me know.  I only have certain amount of time on here.  I want to use it wisely.

I will lay it out right here.  I believe that losing weight is a job in itself.  It takes a lot of commitment, time, energy and patience.  There are many ways to lose weight.  There is no right or wrong way.   There is a very healthy way which I think is the likeliest way to keep it off.  If anyone wants to share that journey with me they are welcome to.

If you don’t need me or want me, let me know now on this blog and I will leave you alone.  I won’t read your blogs, I won’t comment in the forums.  I will keep my opinons to myself.  It’s that easy.    

I had such a great workout Friday morning!  Even had time for just a short 1 mile run I did at  8:49! YAH  Oh and got 200 regular push-ups in! WHOO HOO!

Saturday morning - I plan on another run - not sure how long but I will get one in and Yoga!

You read that right!!! Remember Rod’s ex - the girl who didn’t won’t let the hubby to go to the strip club?  We are meeting her, my first physical meet with her for her birthday.  She’s a really great girl.  We are cool.  Talk all the time.  So we’re going up to LA to meet up with her for lunch.  Ummmmm, I don’t think her hubby knows we are meeting up, but hey, they-Rod and her broke up well over 5 years ago.  Do I think it’s weird?  No, This is the ex I get along with so we are good.  I have no problem with her.  She’s married, have her own life and all.  Rod is mine.  We are secure. 

Breakthrough last night.  I pulled my brother to my side and we all had a discussion.  It was ugly at first, until the boys kept talking and started sorting things out.  My brother’s concern, that Rod is like my ex-husband and is taking advantage of me.  But after tonight, I think he realize how strong and together our relationship is.  He realizes that he - the bro, never gave Rod a chance and made assumptions about him base on 1) his own ways as a man 2) my past.   We talked and talked and talked.  This is very important for all parties.  It did mess up my eating as I did not get to eat my normal food.  I kept picking and eating Rod’s Extreme Sausage - like 1/2 of it. :(  Then he’s going to get an ice cream sundae and I think I will have some.  Nice treat.   Again, it’s all about communication, when you talk it gives everyone an opportunity to let their side be heard.  I think it was a good thing.  My Rod is a good man.  I’m glad my brother is finally let all the walls down and giving him a chance.   Trust me, I could be writing about how both men went to jail after they fought - but that’s not the case here.  All is good.  Keeping fingers crossed.

For Rod, being a Black man, he always has to prove himself first.  It’s something he has to deal with all his life.  People made assumptions,like my brother, without giving him a chance.  By doing so, in this case, “He doesn’t love my sister & wants to use her” he never got to know Rod.  It took MY MAN, breaking it down and looking him in the eyes and telling him, I love her and I won’t hurt her, a firm handshake that MADE my brother realize that ding ding moment,  hey This MAN is not the ex-husband.  Rod sat here and had tears in his eyes, because for him, it his life -he works twice as hard to gain respect.  See, without a father, my brother is my father in this sense.  Rod wants nothing more then get his approval and his consent to be with me although it’s almost 2 yrs later.  Yep, I watched two grown men cry.  It was that powerful.   One is a brother’s love and protection, the other a man who all his life he has to prove his love and loyalty first.  I don’t know if any of this makes sense.  But it is our chance to mend some broken hearts.  Both men were hurt, in so many ways by so many things that has happened.  I’m glad we took the time to talk it out.  Rod is NOT BRENT.  He’s Rodney.

I can’t stay away from the gym too long. :(  I’m ready to eat some fruits and egg whites at 4am (right now).  Yep, have to get my morning intensive training fix in.

I’m having steel cut oats and kidney beans for my post exercise food.  Not together but certainly in the morning.

I discovered steel cut oats today!!! My assistant brought some in and they are sooooooooooooooooooooooo good. That with some raisins and dried cranberries yummo!!!!! I drool for some more.

Last night Rod and I had a really long conversation about everything that’s been going on. As I told you before, he has a webpage on a Cambodian site which, as much as I trust my honey, I was feeling insecure. Those girls are pretty! There is a ton of them and hey, they like my honey. Even though his page was jammed pack with my pics, I had issues with it. He even gave me the sign on & password to his site. But after some consideration, He decided to delete his profile. I appreciate it. I think that - that’s where my brother’s concern was - but it’s still none of his business. We have a very strong relationship, we talk about everything and there is never a time where he is not open and honest with me.

Of course post fight, post great sexercise after fight is better sex!! Am I right on that? LOL

LOL Last night/morning was hilarious! So we were dead asleep. And all of a sudden I felt a big old wack on my head - startled me. Turns out Rod thought my hair was a bug and he was trying to swipe it and instead nearly gave me a concussion. He felt so bad about it. Got a lot of nice kisses but hey, my head hurts. I told him he’s physically abusing me. LOL

Loni, if you read this, because I know you are busy. To answer your question about living with a man: It’s hard baby girl. A few key ingredients to making it work - open communication, learn how to listen and hear everything he says. If you fight, learn to walk away at the heat of the moment and only talk when you can control yourself. Make sure you all respect one another. Finances, my opinion - have your own money. I know he’s the breadwinner - but always have your own. Make sure you have a car - living in CA you can’t without a car - commuting here sucks. But most of all, just remember that it’s different from dating him. Living together is different and I wish you the best!!!!!