Merry Christmas

Look for more updates in the New Year as I work towards my short term goal of 175 by May.

220

219

221

To save everyone time I suggest you stop reading until the New Year as I'm not working on my weight loss at all right now.

219

I didn't realize it had been so long since I posted. Thanks for the reminder to get back on track.

Day 31

I haven't even weighed myself in a few days. I'm too scared of what I weigh. This is always a bad sign for me, not wanting to even weigh myself. It means I'm not even trying. Hopefully next week I will do better.

Trying to get through the day without a treat is so hard! It's the end of the day when I usually give in. Hopefully today I can make it.

Day 28 - 217.6

Still not eating well, still liking the numbers.  Strange!?!  Going to try to get back on the healthy eating for the next 5 days until my sister comes in to town on Friday and we go out for dinner!

My husband gave me a dress for my birthday.  It's a size 14.  I'm not sure if he was trying to be nice or if he  didn't realize that right now I'm in between a 16 and 18.  Or it was to motivate me.  Regardless, it's a really pretty dress so today I tried it on, I thought I would use it as a gauge of how well I fit in my clothes over time.  I was so excited that I was actually able to zip it all the way up.  Wasn't expecting to be able to do that!  It was too tight but I'm hoping maybe by February I'll be able to actually wear it out!  I should probably try on too small clothes every morning as a reminder of why I need to eat healthy that day.

One of the reasons I really want to follow through with and then maintain significant weight loss is, as I've mentioned, that I avoid pictures with my family because I hate the way I look.  We're planning a trip the beginning of May so my little bit shorter goal is to be 170 by May.

Day 27 - 218.8

I have to tell you this number actually makes me happy! If this is my weight during a week of not so great eating, ok down right bad eating, then I might just be making a little progress.

Day 26 - 219.6

3lbs in almost 4 weeks was definitely not my goal.  But still, better than gaining!  I'm not sure next month will be any better.  Trying to lose weight in December is just depressing.  I miss all the Christmas baking we did and ate when I was younger :(

219.6

:(

Day 22 - 219.2

I haven't been doing a great job lately which has made me not want to post.  I guess the positive is that I think I've really lost about 2lbs, not just water etc weight but really lost it.  Since my new high seems to be 219, instead of 222.  I guess that's three pounds.  The other positive is that although I haven't been eating the way I ideally would like, I haven't been doing the complete opposite either.  Unless you count the six cookies I ate yesterday.  I'm disappointed with myself that I haven't been working as hard as I could at this and have only lost 1/2 the weight I wanted to in the last three weeks.  I hope this week to do a better job and we'll see what the result is at the end of the week.  Thanks for reading!

Day 17 - 217.6

I feel like I'm finally getting in to a good rhythm now that I'm seeing some difference in the numbers.  Despite that, my first thoughts this morning were that I really wanted some starbucks.  For whatever reason Reese was awake almost all night so I got very little sleep and some coffee sounds oh so good right now.  Well, not regular coffee because I don't like regular coffee but a caramel frappuccino.  Don't worry though, I didn't go!

Day 16 - 219

It definitely makes it easier to continue on this journey when my weight goes down instead of up!

I found this interesting article and thought I would share.  You can find the link here and it is written, I believe by the "Eat This Not That" author.  I definitely have some of these.  I skip meals all the time, I eat quickly (not sure there's another option for a mom of 4!! unless I eat late but that that's on the no list too!), I take big bites which goes along with eating quickly.  It's eat quickly in big bites or don't eat which goes back to the skipping meals.  I just can't win.  And I am absolutely an emotional eater.

20 HABITS THAT MAKE YOU FAT

20. #1: Eating "low-fat":

It sounds crazy, but stop buying foods marketed as low-fat or fat-free. Typically, they save you only a few calories and, in doing so, they replace harmless fats with low-performing carbohydrates that digest quickly—causing a sugar rush and, immediately afterward, rebound hunger. Researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham found that meals that limited carbohydrates to 43 percent were more filling and had a milder effect on blood sugar than meals with 55 percent carbohydrates. That means you’ll store less body fat and be less likely to eat more later.

19. #2: Not seeking nutrition advice:

Good news here: By reading this, you’re already forming habits that can help you shed pounds. When Canadian researchers sent diet and exercise advice to more than 1,000 people, they found that the recipients began eating smarter and working more physical activity into their daily routines. Not surprisingly, the habits of the non-recipients didn’t budge. Don't lose your momentum: Sign up for our FREE Eat This, Not That! newsletter today.

18. #3: Sleeping too little or too much:

According to Wake Forest researchers, dieters who sleep five hours or less put on 2½ times more belly fat, while those who sleep more than eight hours pack on only slightly less than that. Shoot for an average of six to seven hours of sleep per night—the optimal amount for weight control.

17. #4: Eating free restaurant foods:

Breadsticks, biscuits, and chips and salsa may be complimentary at some restaurants, but that doesn’t mean you won’t pay for them. Every time you eat one of Olive Garden's free breadsticks or Red Lobster's Cheddar Bay Biscuits, you're adding an additional 150 calories to your meal. Eat three over the course of dinner and that's 450 calories. That's also roughly the number of calories you can expect for every basket of tortilla chips you get at your local Mexican restaurant. What's worse, none of these calories comes paired with any redeeming nutritional value. Consider them junk food on steroids.

16. #5: Drinking soda—even diet!:

The average American guzzles nearly a full gallon of soda every week. Why is that so bad? Because a 2005 study found that drinking one to two sodas per day increases your chances of being overweight or obese by nearly 33 percent. And diet soda is no better. When researchers in San Antonio tracked a group of elderly subjects for nearly a decade, they found that compared to nondrinkers, those who drank two or more diet sodas a day watched their waistlines increase five times faster. The researchers theorize that the artificial sweeteners trigger appetite cues, causing you to unconsciously eat more at subsequent meals.

You'll also want to steer clear of these: the 20 Worst Drinks in America!

15. #6: Skipping meals:

In a 2011 national survey from the Calorie Control Council, 17 percent of Americans admitted to skipping meals to lose weight. The problem is, skipping meals actually increases your odds of obesity, especially when it comes to breakfast. A study from the American Journal of Epidemiologyfound that people who cut out the morning meal were 4.5 times more likely to be obese. Why? Skipping meals slows your metabolism and boosts your hunger. That puts your body in prime fat-storage mode and increases your odds of overeating at the next meal.

14. #7: Eating too quickly:

If your body has one major flaw, this is it: It takes 20 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain that it’s had enough. A study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that slow eaters took in 66 fewer calories per meal, but compared to their fast-eating peers, they felt like they had eaten more. What’s 66 calories, you ask? If you can do that at every meal, you’ll lose more than 20 pounds a year!

13. #8: Watching too much TV:

A University of Vermont study found that overweight participants who reduced their TV time by just 50 percent burned an additional 119 calories a day on average. That’s an automatic 12-pound annual loss! Maximize those results by multitasking while you watch—even light household tasks will further bump up your caloric burn. Plus, if your hands are occupied with dishes or laundry, you’ll be less likely to mindlessly snack—the other main occupational hazard associated with tube time.

Click here for all of today's nutrition, health, and fitness news 

12. #9: Ordering the combo meal:

A study in the Journal of Public Policy & Marketing shows that compared to ordering a la carte, you pick up a hundred or more extra calories by opting for the “combo” or “value meal." Why? Because when you order items bundled together, you're likely to buy more food than you want. You're better off ordering your food piecemeal. That way you won't be influenced by pricing schemes designed to hustle a few more cents out of your pocket.

11. #10: Facing the buffet:

Cornell researchers found that when eating at a buffet-style restaurant, obese diners were 15 percent more likely to choose seats with a clear view of the food. Your move: Choose a seat that places your back toward the spread. It will help you avoid fixating on the food.

10. #11: Eating off larger plates:

One study found that when given an option, a whopping 98.6 percent of obese individuals opt for larger plates. Translation: More food, more calories, and more body fat. Keep your portions in check by choosing smaller serving dishes. If need be, you can always go back for seconds.

Click here for all of today's nutrition, health, and fitness news! 

For more great swaps and completely up-to-date calorie counts and nutritional information, order Eat This, Not That! 2012 today.

9. #12: Putting serving dishes on the table:

Resist setting out foods buffet- or family-style, and opt instead to serve them from the kitchen. A study in the journal Obesity found that when food is served from the dinner table, people consume 35 percent more over the course of the meal. When an additional helping requires leaving the table, people hesitate to go back for more.

8. #13: Choosing white bread:

A study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that when obese subjects incorporated whole grains into their diets, they lost more abdominal fat over the course of 12 weeks. There are likely multiple factors at play, but the most notable is this: Whole grain foods pack in more fiber and an overall stronger nutritional package than their refined-grain counterparts.

7. #14: Taking big bites:

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people who took large bites of food consumed 52 percent more calories in one sitting than those who took small bites and chewed longer. By cutting food into smaller pieces, you can increase satiety and enjoy your food more thoroughly. A good general rule? The smaller your bites, the thinner your waistline.

6. #15: Not drinking enough water:

Adequate water intake is essential for all your body’s functions, and the more you drink, the better your chances of staying thin. In one University of Utah study, dieting participants who were instructed to drink two cups of water before each meal lost 30 percent more weight than their thirsty peers. And you can magnify the effect by adding ice. German researchers found that six cups of cold water a day could prompt a metabolic boost that incinerates 50 daily calories. That’s enough to shed five pounds a year!

Click here for all of today's nutrition, health, and fitness news! 

For more great swaps and completely up-to-date calorie counts and nutritional information, order Eat This, Not That! 2012 today.

5. #16: Having overweight friends:

Research from the New England Journal of Medicine indicates that when a friend becomes obese, it ups your chance of obesity by 57 percent. This probably has to do with the social norms that you’re exposed to. Rather than ditch a friend who starts to put on a few extra pounds though, suggest healthy activities that you can do together, and avoid letting him or her dictate the meal (“Let’s split the cheesecake!”).

4. #17: Eating too late :

Your body can burn flab while you sleep, but only if it isn't too busy processing a full stomach. A new study in the journal Obesity looked at the sleeping and eating habits of 52 people over seven days, and it found that those who ate after 8 p.m. took in the most daily calories and had the highest BMIs.

3. #18: Not using a scale:

Looking at your body weight reinforces weight-loss goals and makes it difficult to cheat your diet. When University of Minnesota researchers observed dieters who weighed themselves daily, they discovered that the routine of stepping on a scale helped those people lose twice as much weight as those who weighed themselves less frequently. Avoid being thrown off by natural fluctuations in body weight by stepping onto the scale at the same time every day.

2. #19: Drinking fruity beverages:

Most restaurants and bars have ditched their fresh-fruit recipes in favor of viscous syrups made mostly from high fructose corn syrup and thickening agents. As a general rule, the more garnishes a drink has hanging from its rim, the worse it is for your waistline.

1. #20: Eating when emotional:

A study from the University of Alabama found that emotional eaters—those who admitted eating in response to emotional stress—were 13 times more likely to be overweight or obese. If you feel the urge to eat in response to stress, try chewing a piece of gum, chugging a glass of water, or taking a walk around the block. Create an automatic response that doesn't involve food and you'll prevent yourself from overloading on 

Day 15 220.2

I do not know what is going on with this up and down. This has not happened before.

Day 14 - 222.2

Arrrrgggghhhh!

Day 13 220.2

Maybe I should just aim for 1lb/week!

Was about to get in the shower and unfortunately saw myself in the mirror which made me cry. I definitely try to avoid mirrors as it's just depressing. Seeing how big I really am makes it seem like it's impossible to get where I want to be. I know it's not impossible but at this moment that's how I feel.

Day 11 220.8

This week hasn't been a great week food wise and hasn't been a horrible week either (unless you're counting the half a cookie cake I ate for my birthday!).  Yesterday I took the kids to the Southern Christmas Show.  This has been a tradition in my family from the time I lived in Charlotte for a few years in the mid 90s.  When we went with my family when I was younger we would eat these enormous cookies with icing in the middle and fudge and strudel!  Yesterday I had nothing!  Not one single treat.  It was slightly depressing as for me, food is a very important part of special occasions and a lot of memories.

My sisters gave me work out clothes and dvds for my birthday which was very thoughtful.  I was reading the back of the dvds and noticed the length and I wanted to cry.  Not because I don't appreciate them, I do and I really want to exercise and since getting to the Y seems like an impossibility for the next few months I love the idea of the DVD.  I just don't know how to find 40-60 minutes to do it!  I'm already stressed about fitting in homeschooling, housework, and organizing my consignment sales and at present know that I am not doing any of those well enough so how do I add something else that takes so much time?  There just isn't enough time in my day to get done what I need to do without adding something else.  But I want to make time for it!  See the dilemma?  If not, come hang out with us for a few days and then you'll see what I'm talking about.

Day 9 -221.2

I really hesitated to write down today's weight.  But then I was thinking about it and I'm okay with it.  I didn't gain a pound and I didn't stay the same.  If I lose only 1lb/week for the next year I'd lose 52 lbs which is of course a huge improvement over gaining weight every year so while I do hope to lose more than 1lb/week if that is all I end up doing I will be pleased.  Right now I'm pretty sure the flu or something is coming on as I'm trying not to throw up and am really hot.

Day 7 - 220.8

I forgot to post yesterday!  Today is my 31st birthday which I find rather depressing.  I don't find anything exciting about birthdays after the age of 25 (when you can rent a car without the extra fee!).  This weekend's eating wasn't horrible but wasn't great either.  I think the up and down in my weight every day is from two things.  One, weighing myself at different times of the morning and two, (TMI coming) things not being too regular in the bathroom department.

It has been suggested to me that I not weigh myself every day.  For me, it is important.  When I'm not weighing myself every day it's because I know I'm eating too much and don't want to know what I way.

Day 5 - 219.8

I need to find a way to work exercise in to my very at the moment life.  I've been thinking about the 10,000 steps a day thing and think I should get on amazon and order a good pedometer and start working towards that.  Two days this week the kids and I went for walks.  But when you're walking with 4 small children (ok carrying one and walking with 3) there isn't a whole lot of exercise involved.  Unless you count carrying the baby and two scooters (that the kids got tired of riding) and pulling the 2 year old in the wagon as exercise.  10,000 steps is approximately 5 miles and that sounds like a good goal right now.  

I'm hoping with the time change that the baby will start getting to sleep earlier and then I could add 2 days/week swimming.  

Today was not a good eating day. We were out all day and didn't have food at the house to take with us so ended up eating fast food. Which was rather gross tasting.

This is where I tend to fall off the wagon. Because I had a bad day I figure the week is a waste and I will start again on Monday. But Monday is my birthday and I feel like I need bad food to make it special for me. So then I think that week is a waste too so I'll start the next week. That is how my crazy food addicted little mind works! Not that anyone asked. But not this time. This time I will acknowledge that not every day will be a perfect eating day and will get back on track the next day. Because it's a marathon, not a sprint!

Day 4 - 219.8

Went back down a little bit today which was great! So my birthday is next week which has me pondering when cheating is ok. I'm thinking one day a week but I don't know if it should just be one meal a week. It would really be nice to have one day a week to eat what I want but is that too much? I hate that my thoughts right now are so consumed with what I want to eat and then also what I need to eat to lose weight. I wish I was one of those few lucky people that can eat whatever they want. Not that that is healthy!

Day 3 - 221.4

Ugh!! Not the number I was hoping for today. My natural inclination is to either give up or try to eat almost nothing today. Instead I'm going to try to remember this is a long process not a quick fix and that in the long run, it will work if I am consistent.

Day 2 - 220.4

I was very happy this morning to see 220.4 on the scale!  My husband says that kind off initial weight loss is just water weight but I don't care.  Any downward trend in numbers is encouraging to me!  My problem has never really been not losing weight when making a real effort.  It's that at some point I say oh one day of eating whatever doesn't matter which turns in to one week which turns in to I'll start next month and lose twice as much weight.  And then I try that for a day, give up and say I'll try again next month.  Ten years and 80lbs later, I've decided that isn't really working well for me!

My sisters are concerned about my weight loss goal of 140lb.   They both think that is an unreasonable and unattainable goal.   I disagree.  I looked up several ideal weight and BMI calculators and that is how I arrived at my goal.  I weighed 140 before and I know how I looked and felt at the time and I was far from being too skinny.

Here is a website that gives several different formulas all in one place based solely on your height.  They do point out that there are differences based on your frame, etc. but I'd say I have a fairly average frame. Based on the recommendations from these various formulas my ideal weight is between 123-166.  I think 140 is a pretty good goal to go with.

You can find this calculator at www.caloriesperhour.com

Calculating Ideal Weight

Diet and Weight Loss Tutorial

In the past, life insurance tables used average weights to determine the appropriate weight for your height. But as the population grew heavier, those weights were no longer healthy. Today a healthy weight can be estimated using a number of different formulas.

It is important to understand that no formula can predict ideal body weight accurately. There are simply too many differences in body types (including bone structure or frame size) and body composition (percentage of muscle vs. fat). That said, we will estimate a healthy weight for your height using three different formulas to emphasize the point that there is no one-size-fits-all answer.

After scrolling through the results, be sure to read What Really Matters. Now enter your parameters for all three formulas here then click on the Calculate button:

Measure: lbkgst    Sex: ?MF     Height:  ft  incm     

Reversing the BMI Formula

Calculating BMI, as described in the previous topic, has become the most popular method of categorizing your weight, from Underweight to Morbidly Obese. To calculate a healthy weight, we simply reverse the process. Instead of using your height and weight to calculate your BMI weight category, we use your height alone to estimate a weight range for the Normal Weight BMI category.

Weight for a Person 5 ft 8.5 in Tall:  145 lb (range 123 to 166 lb)

The Hamwi Formulas

Dr. GJ Hamwi's formulas have become very popular. They first appeared in a publication of the American Diabetes Association in 1964. The formulas are:

• For men:  106 lb for the first 5 ft; 6 lb for each inch over 5 ft
• For women:  100 lb for the first 5 ft; 5 lb for each inch over 5 ft

Weight for a Female 5 ft 8.5 in Tall:  143 lb

The above formulas are designed for a person with a medium size frame. Dr. Hamwi suggests that the results may be reduced by 10% for a person with an obviously light frame, and increased by 10% for a person with a heavy frame.

Light Frame:  128 lb
Heavy Frame:  157 lb

A Healthier Formula

Healthier, leaner versions of the Hamwi formulas can be found in the book Eat To Live:  The Revolutionary Formula for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss by Dr. Joel Fuhrman:

• For men:  105 lb for the first 5 ft; 5 lb for each inch over 5 ft
• For women:  95 lb for the first 5 ft; 4 lb for each inch over 5 ft

Weight for a Female 5 ft 8.5 in Tall:  129 lb

What Really Matters

As stated in the earlier topic, What It Takes to Lose It All, the goal of your diet and weight loss plan should not be to lose weight, but to lose body fat. Unless you are standing on a scale, no one will know how much you weigh. But they will see your body fat and muscle.

In the next topic you will learn how to measure your body fat and muscle mass so that you can track the factors of your appearance and health that really matter.

Day 1 - 222.2lbs

Today is day 1 of my weight loss journey.  You can see from this picture why I need to lose weight!  Today I weight 222.2lbs which is more than I've ever weighed (except when pregnant).  After baby #4 was born 4 months ago I weighed 214lbs.  I've gained 8lbs in 4  months instead of losing weight.  I basically spent my entire 20s gaining weight.  I weighed 145 during university so that's almost 80lbs in the last decade.  How did I let myself get this far?  I don't know but starting today I am determined to change that.  

  

 My goal is to weigh 140lbs by July 1st, 2012.

I'm tired of hating the way I look.  I'm sad that the first 7 years of my children's lives I've done my best to avoid having my picture taken with them.  I know as they get older I'm really going to regret that.  I know I have the power to change and I'm going to do it.  I'm going to be using an online software called Diet Power.  I used it to lose 30lbs after baby #3 and then stopped using it and gained all the weight back with unhealthy eating.  It's not a diet.  You just put in what your goal weight is and some information about yourself like your current weight, height, etc. and it helps you calculate how many total calories a day you can have to reach that goal.   As you enter your daily food, exercise and weight it adjusts to whatever your personal metabolism is for a more accurate calorie recommendation.   It also gives you your nutritional profile so you can see where you need to get more vitamins and minerals.  My 140lb goal by 7/1/2012 is about 2lbs/week.  According to Diet Power that is moderately difficult.  I feel like I can handle moderately difficult.  I'm doing a blog about this because I feel like the support of other people will help me reach my goal.  I am addicted to food.  Dessert is really my down fall.  Every night I go to bed upset with what I've eaten that day and determined to better the next day.  Then I wake up planning my day to start with a caramel frappuccino and a cinnamon roll!  I'd love your comments, suggestions and encouragement as I try to find my elusive willpower!

Hello and welcome to my blog.  Let me introduce myself.  My name is Meghan.  I am a 30 year old mom of four children who are currently 7, 5, 2, and 4 months old.  Like most mom's, my life is pretty busy.  Lately, it is so incredibly busy that if I didn't breath automatically I don't know that I would at all.  I work from home doing children's consignment sales and sell clothes on ebay for several people.  I also homeschool my children.  I am now fully aware of what it means to have no time to yourself.

As you can imagine, this current stage of my life leaves little time for eating, let alone exercising but somehow I have to find a way to change that.  I often don't eat til late at night when I finally get the baby to sleep.  Not a healthy habit!