Aug 23rd

my goal for this week is 1600 cal. I prob could of ended the day at 1200 but I was starving after clinical and had some eggs. least i still maintained my goal and made good choices

breakfast

coffee 90 cal

eggs 152 cal

lunch

ham sandwich 616 cal

dinner

pb & j sandwich 390 cal

chips 130 cal

apple 72

snacks

granola 150

total 1602 cal

Aug 18th

So today went pretty well and I'm excited that I've made it to the gym 3 times so far this week! go me!

breakfast
coffee 90 cal
granola ceral 100 cal

lunch
sloppy joe sandwhich 264 cal

dinner
beef stroginoff 671 cal

snacks cinimon bread 160
cheese its 325

toatl 1610

Lastly I swam for 20 min again today :D

aug 16th

breakfast

2 cups of coffee 75 cal

lunch

one bag of salad 270 cal

one serving of cheese its 260 cal

dinner

fishy mmm 214 cal

1/2 cup pasta 310 cal

salad 184 cal

green beens 68 cal

night time snack

1/2 cup of granola cereal 100

total 1481 cal

and I worked out for 20 min (swimming) :D

Ok so here is today's totals

breakfast

coffee with cream 45 cal

lunch

1/2 of a pizza 435 cal

1 serving of chex mix 130 cal

dinner

2 servings of hamberger helper 560 cal

cantalope 106 cal

dessert

1 small ice cream cone from dairy queen 230

total is 1506

i think it's closer to 1600 but not sure b/c serving sizes aren't exact

Aug 3 2010

Ok so I've not done this in forever but here it goes.

I used my calorie counter on my phone so everything is decently close.

breakfast
coffee with cream 45 cal

Lunch
soup from panera bread 210
french roll 180

afternoon snack
prezzels 240

dinner
sweet and sour chicken 555
ice cream 140

night time snack
popcorn 150

approx total 1520-1600 cal

Today's food for thought.

Today I read soemthing about how when chaning your life style you should take before and after pictures. I'm thinking this is a good idea but I think to keep track of your progress you should take pictures before, at 25%, 50% and 100% of goal. This gives you a visual of your goal. In addition I think I'll take some measurements this weekend because sometimes you see results more in inches then in lbs.

On to today's food

breakfast

coffee 45 cal

blueberries 100

lunch

smart one 350

chocolate covered almonds 200

snack

smoothie and veggies 250

dinner

beef strogenoff and potatoes 660

night time snack

pudding 60

banana 105

total 1770 out of 1800 :D

Day 2 diet

Ok so today was good and bad...I tried really hard but I think I went over my calories again. I was doing really good until I realized we were going to my grandma's house for her birthday tonight. If I'd known this I probably would of eaten differently today.

anyway here is what I ate

breakfast

Coffee with cream 45 cal

Lunch

chicken with pasta 400

lemonade 15

snacks (we went to costco and well...I had to try some stuff)

I tried a small cup of smoothie, some strawberries and chips

I estimated 200 cal for this

Dinner at grandmas (again I'm estimating)

Italian Beef sandwich 500 cal

veggies and dip 200

salad 200

chips 200

This totals 1760 which is actually within my calories but I'm not sure if my estimates are good.

Day One of a new life.....a Journey in a new direction

Ok so I've spent some time online looking up weight loss tips and the biggest one I think is that this is NOT a diet. This is a LIFESTYLE change. Therefore, I'm not on a diet. Now when considering a lifestyle change where do you start. How do you make those changes life style changes? I know loosing weight is easy...simply watch what you eat and exercise to burn more calories then you eat...however, I don't find this easy. I think in starting this journey the first thing I need to do is look at my eating habits. Now I know these fairly well. I know your supposed to eat breakfast but I'm just not a morning person. My coffee is really all I want. I can possibly get down some fruit but if I eat too much then I feel sick. Perhaps breakfast just isn't for me...or my breakfast is that 10 am snack I sometimes want.

My other habits I need to break are snacking....I love snacking! It so easy to nibble here and nibble there. Now I don't think that snacking shouldn't occur, I just think I need to choose more healthy snacks and have them at set times. I'm thinking this afternoon I might try a fruit smoothie for my snack and I think I'll have it around 3 or 4 when I come home from shopping. this is good because our dinner is around 7 and this should hold me till dinner.

Lastly I need to start exercising more. I have a gym membership but with this nice weather I don't want to be there 4-5 times a week. Therefore, I'm going to make an agreement with myself. I need to go to the gym at least 3 times each week. even if only for a 15-20 min work out on a machine. (this is what I did today) I figure I need to start off small and work up to big goals. If I can get myself to go to the gym for a 20 minute work out then I figure that's more then I was doing last week. In addition to this I need to do some work out every day. The days I'm not going to the gym I figure I could take a walk. If it's leisurely paced then it needs to be long. If it's a brisk walk it can be 20-30 min. I also think Lindsey has some evil plan to get me on a bike this weekend and attempt to get to the bike paths...I told her we'll see how that goes...I can make it to the paths...just not sure if I'll make it down them and then all the way home...got to pace myself. Now these are my ideas...does anyone else have anything to add about how how I can make this a lifestyle?

Coming back.

Ok So I've been MIA for about 2 months but I just finished 3rd semester successfully so now I figure it's time to focus on myself. I tried to keep track of calories today but I think I went a little over. My goal for this week is to stay the same or go down, as I gained like 3 lbs last week... It was just a very long and stressful week. To prepare myself for this I think I might organize the kitchen tomorrow. When I was doing Weight Watchers we used to have a snack cabinet of healthy food. this has kinda disappeared so when i'm hungry I travel to the pantry and don't always choose wisely...then after I'm like OMG...how many calories was that! I also went online and printed out a food journal that I put into a binder...gonna try and bite and write, then I'll transfer it here each night. So onto todays food.

goal was 1800 calories

breakfast

chi tea late approx 200 calories

Lunch

Smart ones meal 330 calories

gram crackers 260

Dinner (this was a bit heavy but I knew this going in)

sweet and spicy chicken 433 calories

veggie stir fry 127

ginger fried rice (I think I might have had 2 servings of this so I doubled the calories...serving size was sketchy) 560

total 1910. (now this is the total if I actually had 2 servings of rice. if I didn't I stayed within my calorie range. Either way for a fresh start...not to bad)

Goals for tomorrow

water...I must restart this...I think it will help with the cravings

better tracking of food

30 min work out (I've worked out once this week so far. my goal is 3)

Just wanted to gt on here and let you know I've not given up or forgotten about this. My computer contracted a virus so i've not been able to get on. I'm currently at Jose's house using his computer. hopefully mine will be fixed soon...mainly b/c my resume is on my computer and I really need it to send for a job possiblity! Any way this week has been un eventful. I didn't loose or gain anything. This doesn't upset me mainly b/c with school it's so hard to loose weight. My professors said I should focus on maintaining and if I happen to loose too then it's all good. So I think i'm happy if i maintain and would be even happier if I lost. well, once I get my computer back and running I'll start posting again...till then

The weekend day 5 and 6

So this weekend I spent relaxing with Jose. It was a very nice weekend but most of what I ate was approximated but I think I did all right. We didn't do much this weekend but relax at home. I had clinical on Friday then left and went straight to his house. we came back to my house on sat after meeting my family for pizza at wood field and some time at game works.

day 5 clinical and Jose's House

well I got up this morning and only had coffee and didn't even finish all of it because we were out of creamer so I had to use milk and splenda....yuck! Then I had 1/2 a bowl of chili at the hospital and then pasta and a blue berry muffin for dessert. not a bad day

breakfast
coffee 60 cal

lunch
chili 400 (prob not that much but I'd rather aim high)

dinner
Friday's pasta from Jewel. the entire bag was about 810 and Jose ate about 1/2 of it so I'll estimate it at about 500

dessert
blueberry muffin 250

Jose's house only has regular pop so I did have a glass of regular pop at 150

I was very bad with my water today...only got 2 glasses in....I find it so hard to get this in during clincial and I find if I don't start early it upset the entire day

I only ate about 1350 but I'm sure i prob had another glass of pop or something else so I want to say i actually at around 1600-1700. Not bad for an unplanned day.

day six

breakfast
coffee 100
peaches 80

Lunch/dinner
2 pieces of uno's deep dish pizza. I know I could of ordered something lighter but that pizza is amazing and I was not eating like a salad while everyone else ate my favorite pizza. I think each slice was about 500 so a total of 1000

snack
some Mexican dish at Jose's house I'm approximating about 250
a granola bar 150
a little bit of appetizers 200

total for today approx 1780 again not a bad day for yummy pizza...but no water...I know i'm bad...

total for the day

Day 3 and 4

Ok so I can't give you day 3 calories as I can't seem to find my book that I keep my count in. However, I do know it was a good day and ate right around 1800 cal. So onto today. Today I had my final in cardiology. It went very very well and I ended up getting an A in the class so I was psyched. Other then that I spent the day lounging around and getting psyched for the weekend. Another wonderful weekend with Jose, what more can I ask for? Well no clinical tomorrow would be nice but who's asking lol. other then that pretty much a boring day.

break fast
coffee 60
cottage cheese 100

lunch
healthy choice 250

snack
cheese and crackers 200
fruit 140

dinner
1 small slice of pizza 200
salad with grilled chicken 600

desert
ice cream 250

total for the day 1800 sweet! but only got in 3 glasses of water...the night is still young.

day 2

Ok so today was another hard day and I think I went over my calories by a little and I did a lot of estimating which always makes me nervous. could be high coudl be low...both are bad. Today we had another test at school. I did very well on the exam but afterward costco was there with food...so I gave in and split an apple pastry with a friend. We also had heavier dishes today which is not normal so I'm not really sure I could of correct much. I didn't work out today becuase my muscles are sore from yesterday. I hope to get to the gym tomorrow but I'm studyign for a final in cardiology so we'll see if that happens

Breakfast
coffee 100
2 eggs 140

snack
apple pastry I estimated 200 b/c paneras whole pastry is 300 and I split it with a friend

lunch
healthy choice 300
fruit 200

afternoon snack
granola bar 280

dinner
1 1/4 cup mac and cheese from cooking light 500 cal
salad with cottage cheese 250
milk 100

total 1870

all in all not a bad day only 70 calories over and I did get in 6 glasses of water today!

my thoughts and starting over

So I stopped posting because I became very discouraged. It's so hard to loose weight in my house. My mom continuously buys fattening snacks because she wants my sisters to gain weight. the problem is I like those snacks too. She buys cookies, granola bars, chips, candy ect and puts them out on the counter where they are so easy to get to. I started this diet thing over again today and ran into the same problem. the cookies were on the counter and I was stressed and bored so I ate some. then was like omg...how many calories was that. I'd lost 3 lbs and currently have gained all 3 lbs back because of mistakes like that. I'm frustrated and very close to giving up. but, I know that's not the answer. So here I am today continuing this even though it depresses me because I know i ate an ungodly amount of calories today in freakin cookies! I guess all I can do is be truthful about what I ate today and try to correct it tomorrow. and I'm sure if I'd posted in the last 2 weeks I probably would of only gained back like 1.5 lbs and not the total 3. So time to try this again.

breakfast
coffee 60 cal

lunch
sandwich
bread 150
turkey and cheese 200
mayo 50
3 cookies 320

total for the day

dinner
home made chicken noodle soup 270
blt 350
3 cookies 320
milk 100

total for the day
snack at night fruit 160

total for the day 1920

so today wasn't too bad but those 6 cookies cost me 640 cal of mindless eating. however, I did work out today with my trainer for an hour and got in my full 8 glasses of water. If I hadn't given into the cookies I probably would of done fantastic today. I'll be back here tomorrow same time with hopefully a better story.

Day 1 of march

So today was very good. I slept in which hardly ever happens so only had coffee for breakfast...I know i'm bad but I was gonna eat lunch like an hour later and I'm more into lunch food then breakfast. I also controlled myself at borders today...book and coffee speaking. I ordered my small nonfat chi tea latte and didn't get any books as I have 3 exams coming up in the next 2 weeks. For dinner my mom made these amazing sandwiches. I'm not sure of the calorie count but I'm assuming that for each little sandwich it was probably 300 cal. I did have 3...I know I'm aweful but they were yummy and two I had for dinner and ate another later for a snack...

Breakfast
coffee 60cal

Lunch
3/4 cup of left over pasta from last night approx 200

snack
chi tea 130
granola bar 190

total for the day 580

dinner
sandwich 600
salad and fruit 150
low sugar lemonade 100

total for the day 1430

snack
another small sandwich 300

total for the day 1730

I do have 70-100 cal I can have if I need something but it is 9:00 and I try not to eat after this.
all in all a good day I think
PS check out the sandwich recipe on my low fat recipe page

weigh in number 3

Hey sorry my postings have been scarce this week...school got kinda crazy so this took a back seat. I can't believe I'm almost done with cardiology....just two more weeks and 3 more exams....sigh. Any way, I do keep my totals in general and had a decent week. I only worked out once...I know bad right but managed to stick around my goal almost every day. I did have pizza over the weekend which made my weight sky rocked on sat but then came back down today...got to love sodium... Any way today has been good so far. I worked out with my personal trainer today and got my butt handed to me again. I'm hoping I don't hurt as much this week so I can get back to the gym on wed. I weighed in tonight and found out I lost another lb. This was good news considering the mishap with the pizza. So I've lost a total of 3 lbs in 3 weeks. In my mind that's perfect. Nice and slow just like it should be. I will post my menu for today later tonight

With love,
Lauren

Feb 24

long day of validations and stuff so i'm just gonna post...

breakfast/lunch

100 coffee

150 granola bar

200 coffee cake

250 stir fry

Dinner

260 chicken

200 concious

200 muffin

peaches 100

ice cream 200

milk 160

total is 1820

good night

week 2 weigh in and feb 22nd menu

Ok so I was very pleased with my weigh in today. I lost 1.6 lbs! This was impressive b/c I really thought I'd maintain again this week. I did fairly well this week but had 1 or 2 days where I went over my calories by about 100-200 calories. I did manage to work out 3 times this week but not for as long as I'd like to. My goal this week is to really stick to my calories and not go over. I also would like to make it to the gym 3-4 times this week.

Feb 22nd menu

breakfast/Lunch
begal with egg and cheese 260 cal
healthy choice (steamed rice and veggies) 220 cal

total for the day 480 cal

snack
muffin 200 cal

total for the day 680 cal

dinner
1 slice of meat loaf 250
3 small potatoes 100
1/2 cup of peaches 80
8 oz glass of skim milk 100

total for the day 1210

snack
cereal (stupid receces puffs....) 200

total for the day 1410

so I have about 400 cal left for the day and I plan to make muffins for tomorrow morning. I'm thinking 1/2 a batch of oat/cranberry and i'm gonna try a new recipe for apple cinnamon. I'll prob eat one at 200 cal with some milk or juice at 100 or 120 cal

this should put be at about 1730
I'm also going to work out with the medicine balls and weights tonight down stairs. I'm planning for about a 30-40 min work out. I figure I'll do sets of 3 and try to work all muscles.
I'm not doing so well with my water today...I only have 2 glasses in...I just couldn't do it today. I'm hoping to get another 2 or 3 in before bed. all in all a good week.

Feb 20th

Ok So I spent this weekend at Jose's again. For having no plan I feel that I did really well. Plus we went to friday's with his sister and while I wanted really fatening pasta I chose a dish that was 1 chicken breast, rice and broccoli. I did have a little of the appetizer and one spoonful of dessert. Over all a very good day.

breakfast

cofee 150

1/2 begel 120

cream cheese 80

total for the day 350

lunch friday's

dragon fire chicken aprox 500

french onion soup 200

I had one chicken piece for approx 150 (i devided the total for the dish by how many strips where there...that's what Jose and I got)

I've added an extra 200 for the spoonful of icecream and a few chips and dip

totoal for the day aprox 1400

dinner

1 small slice of pizza 200

1 sandwich from 711 approx 200

total for the day 1800

Ok so this week I have my ups and down so i'm interested to see if I lost or gained tomor. I'll post that tomorrow some time. Off to make pancakes and start the count for today

Feb 18th

Ok so today was so not a good day. I'm not really sure where I am calorie wise today...I got frustrated and stopped counting mid day...I know that's not how I should handle it. here's the best I can figure

coffee 100
yogurt 80
healthy choice 350
baked chips 140
1/2 apple spiced donut 150 from here is was down hill
toast 200
chicken and dumplings approx 500
salad 200
apple 80
milk 160

that's approx 1960

I think i've decided that I need to stay out of the kitchen when i'm bored or frustrated. Most of what I ate today wasn't even satisfying or needed. It was just old habits coming back to bite me in the butt. Makes me more frustrated because days like these are causing me to maintain my weight and not loose it. I also haven't made it to the gym nearly as much this week as I wanted. I did force myself to do 15 min tonight on the elliptical machine. I would of stayed later but it was already late and I have clinical tomorrow. I'm very frustrated....