Nancy’s Weight loss Journey 5 Yrs & Counting

Exists each and every day.  It was June last year that a buddy wrote a blog about what  would you do once you get to your goal weight.  I wrote “To look in the mirror and love myself”.  It’s been one year since I wrote that statement to Chrisie.  Chrisie via email made me realize it doesn’t have to be like that.  From that moment on I started to look in the mirror and love who I am.  There are days I still don’t like who I see, both the inner and outer, but they are far and in between.   

What helps most is having Rodney as a partner.  All my insecurities, let’s be real, we all have them regardless of status, class, looks…..it exists, can only be an insecurity if we allow it.  I don’t like many things about myself but with his patience, I am still learning to overcome them.

Do I have high self esteem?  NO!  I am a work in progress.  Each day it gets easier.  The negative self talk is almost gone.  Hence, the reason why I now stand up for myself, my beliefs, my opinions and point of views.  I used to be a people pleaser and say things to please others.  Not anymore.  I will always have my own opinion and respect those of others.  But at the same time, I’m very bendable.  I love change and welcome it.  I hunger for knowledge and growth.  I am forever evolving.  

This morning the lines for Transformer II was rediculous.  They ended up opening 5 auditorium instead of 1.  It was worth it.  For us, our first date was the first Transformer movie.  We were excited to have our own little annivesary of sorts.  Now I’m running on less then 4 hours of sleep.  Movie is really good.  We will see it again next week in IMAX.  YAWN!

Blaithin, I decided not to run today.  I don’t feel the energy today.  BUT I will go to Kickboxing and Pilates.  I thought I would not have time to do it but the evening is open for 2 hours of fun.

Shellibean hon, my Cambodian name, is *Sreymoum*  meaning beautiful, honey….etc.  It’s a name designated for the eldest daughter.  Well, there’s many variation of it.  Because when my mom is mad at me she changes it to a mean version. :)    

Shaina, do get the BOSU.  It sells for about $70 to $80 online I think.

Oh my Lord, Blaithin, did I not just miss my outside run this morning, I overslept and completely late for work! 

Rod and I watched the “BIG Announcement” for John and Kate Plus 8.  It’s such a sad story to watch.  No fairytale ending but a divorce.  I remember watching it from the beginning when it was just a documentary versus a show.  I followed the show for the most part until recently because I’m so busy.  I enjoyed the show before the hype and media blitz about supposed affairs, facelifts, body lifts, etc. 

From Rod’s eyes, John left the marriage because he got fed up with Kate’s controlling ways.

I told him to not be so  judgmental because we don’t know the whole story.  Kate is a strong woman.  She has to be to take care of so many kids.  However, I can see the stardom got to her as well.  But why is it when a woman is strong she has to be a called a bi***?  It’s sad that she’s looked upon as the  bad guy.  John is no angel himself.  Why their marriage broke up?  Money and a host of other reason!  Money is good and evil.  Here’s a couple who saw an opportunity to make money and provide a better life for not a couple but 8 kids!!  Maybe greed got the best of them, I don’t know.  What I do know is those kids will suffer the consequences of this break-up.  I wish them all the best.

I wonder if it’s worth it?  I asked Rod, would it be worth it for us?  The money?  He said no!!! NO $$$$$ in the world could replace a broken family like that. 

See, Rod and I - we broke at the moment.  He doesn’t eat my food because it’s either healthy or Cambodian food which is hard on his nose.  So he’s eating cup of noodles and the beginning of peanut butter sandwiches.  Can’t make him eat what he doesn’t want to.

But I can tell you this much, beside WILDFIRE LOL, We are pretty happy.  We have close to nothing but we smile and hug and just funny together.  I can’t ask for more then that.

Well, I said something on someone’s blog that was off the wall.  I blame it on WILDFIRE.  This person, instead of blasting me on that blog, did something so almost unbuddyslim-like!  He wrote me a personal email.  That was sweet and that is a true gentlemen.  Again an act like this makes me think twice about leaving buddyslim.  Because you know for me being here sometimes I have to deal with negativity that is thrown at me and I’ve gotten fed up a few times and was ready to bounce.  Thanks buddy!!

Anyhow, no run due to sleep. :)  I have a Pilates and a SET class which is a combination of Steps and weights to do tonight.  2 hours of fun fun fun!!!!!!!

Well if you live in Cali, that’s one month of RENT for ya!! Yep, we just signed on our new lease for the next year. Went up to $1900 per month. For 1100 sq feet, 2 bedroom one bath, yay - it hurts! The perks? I live in a gated complex with a pool literally right outside my front door. I am 5 minutes away from Disney. So close I can hear the fireworks every single night. I’m 10 minutes away from Newport Beach, 45 min from LA, 1 hr or so from San Diego, 2 hrs from the mountains, 4 hours from Vegas.

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

Thank you so much for love on the picture blog! You guys are amazing. I would continue to hide those pictures forever but you know what, it’s all about progression right? It’s true though (thank you ladies) I used to be compared to my mom when I was heavier. People thought I was older and never got carded. That was throughout my 20’s. As soon as the weight started dropping I got carded all the time. Especially at the casino. So if there’s any perks to losing weight the healthy way is that it is a FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH.

I have to tell you I’m so proud of my Rod. He worked a deal with his friend/boss and got some bomb rims and tires for the Lexus. He’s looking into getting a rebuilt engine and putting it in himself - from Japan of course. Get this - he’s paying for all of it! I’m so happy! I told him, the car is his responsibility now because it’s paid off and needs a lot of TLC. As long as he pays for it he can do what he wants. Then it’s all about body work and paint job. That car will look like brand spankin’ new. The next part - HE BETTER GET ME ANOTHER CAR! So we decided to budget ourselves for the next couple of months. No spending whatsoever unless it’s food and gas. We hope to get enough money together to get a decent car for me for work. Then we are working on saving for a down payment on my first new car. That’s the plan. He’s good with cars. My own backyard mechanic. The rims are hot! And new tires too! OH the car is loving the love.

I forgot my shoes at home! The other one is in the other car. So no work time walking for me. I can’t wait to get to the gym and get a good workout on. I know I have a sub for kickboxing still. But Pilates - will be the bomb!!!! Dang, I look forward to my workouts all day. Gives me goosebumps. I love to sweat. Why not right? It’s the best way to get a natural high! I’m still very sore from all the tri-cep push-ups we did in yoga. It was I believe 100 or so and they were killer. Teaches me NOT to skip Nygel’s power yoga classes.

Remember how I told you guys I lost 70 lbs then gained 30 back?  Well, I think I gained more then that but I wasn’t honest with myself.  Today I give to you the girl that was months before I met Rodney and when I was on the way to gaining all my weight back.  I was able to stop myself.  You can too.

Tomorrow I am back at the gym! WHOOO HOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Got my kickboxing and Pilates to do and I want to get a 2 mile run in - in the morning.

This last one is me at over 220+ before I knew the difference between losing weight the right way versus the wrong way. ACTUALLY DIDN’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT LOSING WEIGHT.  All I did was eat eat and eat.  Exercise?  Don’t know the meaning of it.

AND MY ARMS NOW!! WHOOO HOOO! THANK YOU PUSH-UPS, PILATES AND YOGA!!

I checked the schedule and my favorite Exercise GURU Miss Nygel is still out for laser surgery.  I decided to work on rebuilding my IPOD!

OH YES BABY!  MAMA BROUGHT HER A GAME TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I ate 1/2 of my Apex Energy bar that and 1200 calories of food equal a wonder 3 mile straight run this evening! I WAS ON FIRE!  YEP NON-STOP AND ALL TO NEW TRANCE RE-MIXES!

Then I did my hard core Pilates class! Owwieee! I love the pain.

All in all today was a success.  The 4 days of food poisoning only strengthened me.  In total I did 7 miles of walk/run which is the 4 from this morning and my Pilates.

I have to say I’ve been biten by the runner’s bug!!! I’m contagious! OH YES!

Tomorrow morning 6 am - we have a date with JIM.  Yes, another 3 mile run tomorrow.  Can’t wait to do it all over again!!!!

OK, now I have to eat about 2300 calories total….I hear the food angels calling me to come and eat now!

Ahhh, still not eating enough early on in the day.  I was so busy at work I could not get a lot of food in.  In the last 4 months I’ve progressively cut sugar and sodium out of my diet.  So no sugar with my coffee and oatmeals most days.  Today I had a hard time taking in regular oatmeal with no sugar.  As much as I wanted to add sugar I know it’s best that I don’t.  Perhaps one day I can get used to it and not want to vomit.  Sparks people tells me “Thai Curry chicken” which is the same as my curry chicken is full of sodium and high in cal.  Well, my home version is bland and I don’t think the calorie count should be that high because the ingredients are simple.  So I added my own in.  Same goes for my sour chicken.  They made it a high sodium dish but I know my home version doesn’t have that many in it.

Today was not a push-up day but got 100 in.  Ended up doing only 1/2 an hr of weights before going to Pilates.  I know what I did wrong, I forgot to eat that energy bar before class.  As much as I wanted to get a run in I opted out for tonight.  I can still here my baby in my ears telling me I’m trying too hard too soon.

I did my 100 push-ups before class because I felt like I didn’t get a good upper body work out in.  The instructor had us do some more but this time after we went to a high side plan position and into tri-cep push-up stance.  Not hard but just an awkward position for me.

Of course I already planned to get a run in tomorrow morning before work.  Perhaps just 3 miles?  Easy enough and I’m not going for time.  Just 3 hours at a nice pace.  Then in the evening I can do a 4 mile walk before Pilates again.  Now, if I can only get my baby to not spoil my night so I can eat and get up for the gym.

Breakfast:

Plums, 2 fruit (2-1/8″ dia) 61 15 0 1 Regular Coffee, 1 cup (8 fl oz) 2 0 0 0 Light Cream (coffee cream or table cream), 1 tbsp 29 1 3 0 Quaker Instant Oatmeal, prepared with water, 1 Packet 100 17 2 4

Lunch:

Roasting Chicken, light meat, 0.6 unit (yield from 1 lb ready-to-cook chicken) 72 0 2 13 Honey Mustard, 2 tsp 20 2 0 0 Romaine Lettuce (salad), 9 inner leaf 13 2 0 1 Red Ripe Tomatoes, 1 medium whole (2-3/5″ dia) 26 6 0 1 Bread, pita, whole-wheat, 0.65 pita, small (4″ dia) 48 10 0 2

Dinner:

White Rice, medium grain, 0.6 cup 145 32 0 3 WAI WAI, 0.4 serving 108 16 4 3 Roasted Filet Fish, 0.5 oz 165 1 1 9 Curry Chicken low soldium -homemade, 1 serving 300 0 0 0 Sour chicken soup - Homemade, 1 serving 250 0 0 0

Snack:

Coconut, raw, 0.1 cup, shredded 28 1 3 0 Mangos, 1 fruit without refuse 135 35 1 1 Crackers, regular, 6 cracker, round 90 11 5 1

			CALORIES	CARBS	FAT	PROTEIN
			1,592	149	21	39
			1,380 - 1,730	183 - 265	36 - 63	60 - 143
			0 - 138	34 - 116	15 - 42	21 - 104

Rough patch again yesterday.  I have been running on very little sleep these days.  Last night went to sleep at 1:30am and woke up around 6am.  Sleep is a luxury for the most part.  Eating wise I barely ate.  Suffice to say work life, home life is certainly taking a toll on this Cat.  I didn’t realize how exhausted I was.

The tribe, my girlfriends - all our wonderful buddies on here Anj, Kama, Nicole, Lori and Tracey pulled me out of a nasty funk.

Guys, I did plan a 5 mile run along the shores of Huntington Beach to Newport Beach but the lack of sleep made it too easy to come home and sleep.

I did get to kickboxing and Pilates!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Both classes were the bomb!! I had a ton of fun.  It lifted my mood for the most part.

Now I’m home, ready to read the postings, blogs and forum love that I missed out on all day.

Accountability:

Breakfast: 11 oz of steamed sweet potatoe with skin 240 cal, 3 cups of green tea, coffee with cream

Snack:1 nectarine 100

Lunch: 4 cups of romaine lettuce - my usual lettuce wrap w/ steamed thigh and leg w/ my fish sauce and peanut dip 300

Preworkout food: 1 energy bar and 1 slice of pizza 500

Dinner: 1/2 slice of pizza 150, 3 egg and onion omelet w/ 1/2 cup rice 460

Water: 150 oz

My Angel is winning!

*DISCLAIMER* As always, what I write about is not professional opinion…just my opinion base on my experience.  I promised my girl Dagny a blog about why I don’t do crunches or full sit-ups.

You want flat abs as many of our buddyslimmers here desire.   Despite the facts, many people still think they can get flat abs if they just keep doing enough ab exercises. We think we can’t reach this goal because we’re doing doing something wrong. The reality, getting six-pack abs is hard and, if you haven’t seen yours yet, maybe it’s not what you’re doing that is preventing you from getting them.

The truth is, flat abs are difficult to get.  I will never have flat abs but I’m ok with that.  I want to look lean all around.

Wanna know what you really need for flat abs?

Despite what you think, ab exercises are NOT the number one thing you need to do for flat abs. In fact, getting flat abs requires hard work, commitment and something else you have no control over: genes.

The only way to get flat abs is to lose body fat and you already know what that requires:

1.  Regular cardio exercises

2.  Strength conditioning overall 2 to 3 times a week

3.  Healthy eating

Why I am not a fan of crunches and sit-ups

1000 sit ups and crunches a day and still no abs! “1000+ reps of ab work four days a week is an amazing feat of endurance, but that’s not how you get abs! You probably have outstanding development in your abdominal muscles. Unfortunately, if your abs are covered up with a layer of fat, you won’t be able to see them no matter how many crunches or sit ups you do. You “get abs” from reducing your body fat and you reduce body fat mostly through diet and cardio.” From a body building article.

So, what should you do?  What would I suggest?  My suggestion, strive for a strong core.  Your core is your powerhouse.  Weak core, not as much strength to carry through intensive workout.  Strong core…..you will kiss some nice a$$.  It doesn’t matter if you kickbox, swim,bike, run,walk, lift weights, practice yoga, pilates, climb mountains, run a marathon, swim a triathlon, you need a strong center.

What’s makes up your core?

From an article. Strengthening your ‘core muscles’ on a regular basis is one of the most important things you can do. These muscles include everything from your chest to your pelvis, with the abdominal muscles and lower-back muscles being the most important. Good ‘core strength’ is vitally important for complete fitness!

I am so not a fan of crunches either.  Only do them when I have to as warm-up mainly if anything.  Other then that I recommend yoga, pilates and push-ups to gain core strength.  A consistant yoga and Pilates practice will help you strength your core thus give you a lean look, the one we all strive for.  Push-ups because it’s my favorite single body conditioning regimen.  I hope to add my 400 puhs-ups into my routine real real soon.

Mat-based Pilates – the most popular form of Pilates.  This is a series of exercises performed on the floor using gravity and your own body weight to provide the resistance.  The central aim is to condition the deeper, supporting muscles of the body to improve posture, balance and coordination.

Just remember to learn the different breath for yoga and Pilates.  Never ever hold your breath.  You instructor, well I can tell because you will look stiff.  Breath, do your exercise and get those sexy abs.

ONE MORE THING - WHY SEXY BACK???  If you want to have nice abs - you must work on having a strong back!!!! Don’t forget, everything ties into together.

I missed last night’s class because I was tired and Rod wants me home.

I just got back from a kickboxing class and it was the bomb!!!!!!!!!! I am so pumped!

Can’t wait for weights and yoga tomorrow.  Weights is my own interval routine.

On the food front - I think I hit 2000 calories no problem probably 1700-2000!!!  Darn darn people!!! Why did they bring chocolate into the house!!!!!!!!!!!!   I know I set a goal to eat that much but I am mad I did.  Makes no sense but it’s done.  And I didn’t enjoy the chocolate. AUNT FLOW is so on her way to my house.

I ate sooooo well all day, but I snapped just a bit and ate more then I intended tonight.   It’s all good, first high cal day due to chocolate but good food all day long.  Night done…looking forward to tomorrow.