Day #15 Weigh-In (58 more to go)

5 pounds
26 Pounds Total

Day #14 Hubby's Birthday (59 to go)

On-track!!! We went to a pizza restaurant that the kids brags about having fantastic pizza. They actually took 2nd place in western Regional Championship in Las Vegas. I must admit it looked fabulous Chicago style huge cashews, Canadian bacon. I didn't eat a bit! I brought my Kellogg's Protein water and just enjoyed the gathering. We then went back to the kids house for cake and ice cream, I had not a bite. I did bring my Nutri-System pound cake so I had a treat. I ate my planned lunch before I left and planned dinner when I got home.

Tomorrow is my weigh in!

Chat with you then.  Hugs, Gee

Day #13 A Moment When Your Glad No One Is Looking (60 to go)

Today was the first day since I started summer vacation that I actually left the yard. As I mentioned last week we are celebrating my hubby's 59th birthday tomorrow. Roman was taking me for my first ride in his new truck, while we were out we were going shopping at Target for birthday items. He parked his truck at the curb, I went out hopped in no problems. I am used to getting in trucks, we own 4, and my own vehicle is a truck. Mind you I am very very short only 5'1" and Roman's truck is a 3/4 ton our biggest one! I always back in, get my rump on the seat and swing my feet in.

After shopping we headed way out in the parking lot to the truck. Loaded up our shopping and I headed for the passengers seat. OMG the truck is HUGE and way of the ground with no running board or step. My rump wasn't anywhere near the seat, after three failed attempts of pulling myself up on the cab handle I still couldn't get my caboose in the seat. I was able to do it easily at home because I was standing on an 8" curb! DUH  I told my son, I can't get in!!! He walked around to my side and said, "I will put you in." I laughed you can't lift me! He said, "of course I can your my Mom." Then in one swoop I was in the truck. I am sure glad my son took weight lifting in college and he is no wimpy kid.  Anyhow I am glad we were way out in the parking lot and no one was looking.

I vow by the end of summer to lose some of this padding on my rear so I can get in the truck without assistance. On-track good eating day!

Chat with you tomorrow! Gee

Day #12 Friday Night Challenge (61 to go)

Friday night was a day that I looked forward to. A day to celebrate the end of a work week. Naturally celebrating to me meant food. Often I would find myself alone, Hubby off with his nephew,the way he celebrates his Friday every other weekend. Roman the 17 year old off with friends. Neither one generally arrives home until the midnight hour. I prefer to stay home, collapse in the chair watching Most Haunted or some other scary movie. I generally would stop by the market get me a deli salad; lettuce, cheese, olives of all kinds, tomatoes, garbanzo beans, sunflower seeds, artichoke hearts, topped with a creamy bleu cheese dressing and a pint of Ben & Jerry's. May not seem like a lot in volume but about 3,500 calories and 80 fats.

I must say today was challenge day #1 although Friday takes on a whole new meaning when you are on vacation. Roman's off with friends, hubby's weekend with nephew. I am alone!!!! There was that momentary thought of "Oh it's my free food night!" Then I thought about my Beck's workbook and caught myself. I AM NOT EVEN HUNGRY! It was a conditioned response to the word Friday. So I settled in my chair, turned on my show and drank my water. I worked to damn hard for that 21 pound loss. Later I will eat my planned meal! I will never stop the negative thinking, but I am training myself not to act on it.

I did it and it feels good.

Chat with you later, Gee

Day #11 Trying Not To Get Struck By Lightening - Literally (62 to go)

Well today was a lazy day for me. On-track good food day but no exercise to speak of. I used a few hands weight and did some leg lifts. Thank goodness no thunder showers today. Yesterday it did open up in the afternoon and rain hard followed by a couple big claps of thunder THEN the sirens. There were several very serious injuries that resulted. I stayed inside most of the day so didn't notice the down strikes. One poor 40 year old woman 10 miles away was walking down the sidewalk and was struck by lightening and killed. Just a few blocks over (thus the sirens) several teen boys that were standing by a chain link fence were rushed to the hospital when the fence was struck. They were released with bumps and bruises as the lightening strike was not a direct hit, rather they were blown down by the strike! YIKES!

I am finding the need for an afternoon nap. My sleep is once again being interrupted by the alarm clock. My dear son is back taking college classes, although old enough for college he still asked me to ensure he gets up on time. His first Economics class starts at 7:30 then at 10:30 he is taking Earth Science. Since I never make it to bed before midnight 6:30 comes mighty early!

Chat with you tomorrow! Gee

Day #10 Just Doing It! (63 to go)

Another uneventful day of just doing it. Program is going well, I am satisfied. Pushing water today the weather is stormy so it is more difficult. It has literally been thundering all day long, a few scattered rain drops but nothing to measure. This is a little strange for Southern California in June. Roman has given up on shamming the drops off his new truck. LOL

Oh I did make banana bread today for the boys, didn't even taste it. I ate a Nutri-System Chocolate Peanut Butter bar instead. I also planned my hubby's 59th birthday party for Sunday.

Chat with you soon, Gee

Day #9 When Dieting Doesn’t Feel Like Dieting (64 to go)

The week of white-knuckling has passed. This week I feel quite content with my food. The lack of being hungry has brought about mixed feelings.  Is it possible to be on a diet and not be hungry? What will this week bring as far as weight loss following my HUGE first week loss? I personally associate dieting with being hungry so this is a new experience for me.

Even though Nutri-System does not require the counting of calories I methodically enter my calories on Daily Plate just to make sure. I have been consuming on the average of 1100 calories. I could have an additional fruit or veggie; I leave that in reserve for an emergency hunger pain. So far only one day did I feel the need to consume my emergency food item. I consider myself an active dieter. I blog, I plan, I research, I study, I count, I measure, I seek support, I journal, I exercise. I guess that is why summer vacation was the perfect time to commit to myself and improve my quality of life. By fall when I return to work I should have my groove back,

Other than sticking to my food plan, limiting salt, drinking copious amounts of plain water I am an advocate of eating 5-6 times a day. I learned this as a nurse that it stabilizing blood sugars prevents sugar spikes and valleys which can bring about craving. Those craving are generally for the BAD carbohydrates, items that contain refined sugars. Not only does eating small portions of food frequently prevent sugar spikes it also keeps metabolism running at its peak, something all dieters embrace. As much as exercise is important so is sleep, I now see to it that I get 8 hours a day.

Chat with you tomorrow, Gee

Day #8 Double Digit Weigh-In Day 65 to go

Day#7 66 to go "How Your Thinking Can Lead You Astray"

WoW a week has passed since I started my summer challenge. I can't say this was an easy week. There was a lot of white-knuckling being done. I struggled with identifying true hunger from cravings a lesson in Beck's workbook. The lesson must have sunk in because I managed to eat only at the times I set and the foods on my program.

Another lesson I found interesting and hit close to home was the use of excuses we come up with to go off program. I think we have all used them, I would have a hunch that is also why we are still struggling with weight issues. "How Your Thinking Can Lead You Astray" "I'm stressed/i'm hungry/I just don't care/I really want it/everyone else is having it/it looks good/I can't resist it/it won't matter/I'll start my diet again tomorrow/it's free/no one is watching/I'm celebrating. (Beck's Workbook, pg 16)." We sabotage ourselves, don't we?

Anyhow tomorrow is my weigh in day and I am looking forward to it.

Gee

Day#6 67 to go Nutri-System

Doing G-R-E-A-T! Love the simplicity of nutri-system. Love tracking on daily plate. Looking forward to my weigh in on Monday.

I  actually got my stability ball out and exercised. PHEW it didn't even POP!

Talk to you tomorrow, Gee